The "Manhattan Optimist Club Bulletin": Vol. 2025 #24: 4-9-25
VOLUME 2025 APRIL 9 NUMBER 24
President Greg McCune welcomed the membership and guests, then shared a reflection. The flag salute followed.
Heather Peterson introduced Jeff Sackrider, Wamego Telecommunications Company. His topic was “WTC Service Expansion West.” Jeff has been with WTC for 24 years in various customer service positions. In September 2023, he became the Manhattan Market Manager, where he leads WTC Fiber's expansion into the Manhattan area.
Wamego Telephone Company recently celebrated a birthday, as WTC was incorporated February 9, 1912 by a group of farmers in Wamego. Jeff noted they don't just serve Wamego or sell very many telephones now, so they are now known as WTC Fiber. They have 47 full-time employees and serve 750 square miles from Rossville to nearly Ogden and from Westmoreland to Alma; they have nearly 14,000 internet subscribers today. Their main office is in Wamego. They began to bring fiber to Wamego in 2003. Fiber is the best network for internet service. About eight years ago they began the process of bringing fiber to Manhattan to serve businesses on the east side of town, however they found there was a much greater need in Manhattan for quality internet service at a fair price. They spent five years building a fiber network around Manhattan to serve businesses, costing about $20,000,000. When they completed that project, they had many people asking when they could get fiber to their house, and that seemed like the natural progression for WTC to serve residential areas.
In February, they announced a $50,000,000 project to bring fiber to every residential unit in Manhattan. A consortium of Manhattan banks came together to provide that line of credit; they are employing local people, borrowing local money, and paying interest locally on this construction project. Being part of the community and giving back is just part of their culture. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and on the Chamber Board, on the Executive Team of Wareham Hall, the Board of the Beach Museum, the Board of Common Table, and he helped start a nonprofit for public art and was instrumental in facilitating about 20 murals around Manhattan. WTC makes time for employees to give back to the community and be good corporate citizens.
They hope to have the Manhattan fiber project done by the end of next year. Service is currently available in the Green Valley neighborhood east of Manhattan. The the downtown Historic District from City Park and HyVee and all the way up to Ratone is built, as is Grand Mere, Snowbird, and Miller Parkway is finishing up. Tatarrax north of Marlatt Ave. is complete. Part of Northview is done, and the rest of Northview will be done this year. They are also building south and west of City Park this year. They have engaged a number of contractors who are building fiber all over Manhattan. Residents can sign up on line without obligation if they want a fiber line at their house, either now or in the future , even for some future resident of the dwelling. He expressed their service is local and they are easy to get in touch with if service is needed. Their fiber is new, buried under the ground and is tornado and ice resistant. They have a fiber ring around their service area, so if one side goes down, they have redundancy. They are also very competitively priced. They serve about half of the apartments in Manhattan. Their service can be started by online registration, and it is activated electronically, thus no technician needs to come to your house. They also provide remedial service to any damage caused by contractors installing the fiber network. They are interested in the communities they serve and employees are provided ways to help their communities, even during work hours. For more information about WTC Fiber and to sign up for notifying them you may be interested in their service now or in the future, go to their home page. Home | WTC
Jack Carlson won the March Madness Basketball Pool.
Kendahl Goetzmann, new Optimist member who works for WTC, delivered a baby girl on March 21st. Congratulations to her and her husband!
The MHS Robotics team won a spot for their first championship attempt and will travel in Houston, Tx for the competition. They presented to us last year and the Optimist provided some funding for them.
There was a work day scheduled for today, Wednesday afternoon at Optimist Park.
The marketing campaign continues; an ad was placed in the “Little Apple Post.”
The Optimist directory is progressing; if you have not sent in your information or photo, please do so soon.
The IPS essay winners will be celebrated during their class at MHS on Friday. The winners will read their essay at our April 23rd meeting.
Grow Green is scheduled for April 22nd. Funds are matched with some limitations.
Jim Franke updated the group on the Spaghetti Dinner project. Attendance was 545 with a profit of $10,914. $1,550 in ticket sales came from Manhattan Fastpitch Association members. Donated items included $1,270 for food items and $2,900 in items for the silent auction. Thirty-nine Optimist members worked the event. Ninety-two pounds of pasta were cooked, 37 gallons of sauce were made, 100 loves of bread were baked, eighty pounds of salad were served and five gallons of salad dressing were used. Jim thanked everyone who participated.
Bruce announced a softball tournament at Optimist Park on April 19th and help is needed to park cars and to maintain fields between games. A sign-up sheet was on the tables, or contact Bruce Bidwell.
GUESTS: Jeff Sackrider, Wamego Telecommunications Co.
Meeting adjourned with the Optimist Creed
APRIL 16: MORNING MEETING: Program: Jared Trembley, Planning Manager Flint Hills MPO: Topic: “EV Preparation, Connect 2050, Growth of Bike- Pedestrian Trails”
APRIL 23: NOON MEETING: Ed Klimek: Topic: “Interpersonal Skills Essay Contest Awards Presentation”
APRIL 30: MORNING MEETING: Program: Youth of the Month Presentations: Bluemont & Flint Hills Christian Elementary
