At the Lineman’s Rodeo
Category: Bonner Springs
Lineman’s rodeo to be Saturday at Ag Hall
Five linemen from the Kansas City, Kansas, Board of Public Utilities will compete against hundreds of other utility workers from across the nation and as far away as Canada, Hawaii and the United Kingdom at the annual International Lineman’s Rodeo Saturday, Oct. 16, at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, Kansas.
The linemen will test their professional and trade skills in a unique competition that is open to the public.
Hundreds of utility professionals will be in town for an annual trade show and expo in Overland Park, Kansas, with the highlight being the “Lineman’s Rodeo,” a series of competitions testing various lineman skills and safety techniques on the Ag Hall grounds.
BPU will be represented by one team and two apprentice linemen. Eric Ferguson, Jake Janes, Trenton Overton, Josh Cook and Tommy Wombwell this year will be competing against more than 900 linemen representing over 200 teams from various private and municipal utilities.
The rodeo competition will occur on Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, kicking off at 7 a.m. Team and apprentice events will include the Hurtman Rescue, the Pole Climb, and several mystery events. An awards banquet will be held at the Overland Park Convention Center at 6 p.m. that evening.
The International Lineman’s Rodeo was first held in 1984, and was created to maintain a focus on safety and safe work practices and to recognize the technical craft skills of utility lineman. One other purpose has always been for the participants to have fun while sharing work knowledge with others in their trade from different companies and different parts of the country. Go to www.linemansrodeokc.com for more information about this event.
- Story from BPU
100 jobs coming to Bonner Springs
Gov. Laura Kelly today announced that Medline, the country’s largest privately held manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies, will invest $77.5 million to construct a new distribution center and create 100 new jobs in Bonner Springs.
“Medline’s decision to choose Kansas to expand their footprint is a testament to our central location, infrastructure network, and world-class workforce,” Gov. Kelly said. “This project is a major win for Bonner Springs and the state as a whole. This company exemplifies the type of businesses we are working to attract and retain, and this new facility will be a fantastic addition to the local and regional economy.”
Medline provides medical supplies to Kansas City area hospitals, long-term care facilities and across the continuum of health care. The company has outgrown its current facility and plans to bring 141 team members to Bonner Springs. The project also will create approximately 350 construction jobs.
The location is the southwest corner of 110th and Riverview, in the Compass 70 Business Park.
The expansion is part of the company’s Healthcare Resiliency Initiative to increase supply-chain efficiencies, reliability, and speed delivery to customers. Medline has prioritized planning and inventory management systems to ensure supplies can be delivered to its customers when and where they need them.
“Kansas is the perfect place to put down roots that reach the world, and we’re so excited to see Medline ready to do just that while putting more Kansans to work,” Lt. Gov. and Commerce Secretary David Toland said. “This news shows once again how our geographic position, infrastructure and workforce make Kansas the best place to invest, which more and more companies are discovering every day.”
“Medline is excited to expand our services to healthcare providers from our future home in Bonner Springs,” Bill Abington, Medline president of global operations, said. “Our state-of-the-art, medical-grade distribution center will allow us to deliver critical healthcare supplies to the entire continuum of healthcare, quicker, more efficiently, and to a broader territory, while creating quality new jobs and opportunity in Wyandotte County.”
“We are excited to welcome Medline to Bonner Springs with the knowledge that they will be a great addition to our city. With their commitment to the community, we are happy to have them select Bonner Springs as their regional distribution facility location,” Jeff Harrington, mayor of Bonner Springs, said.
“We look forward to Medline calling Bonner Springs home here in the Kansas City region in the Compass 70 Business Park. Its central U.S. location and access to the interstate makes this a great location for them to reach their customers,” Greg Kindle, president of the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, said. “Thank you to Medline, the city of Bonner Springs and the state of Kansas for bringing this project to fruition.”