connection www.rainbowtel.net 800-892-0163 Contact Us Office Hours All locations open Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.–4 p.m. Atchison Office 721 Commercial St., Atchison, KS 66002 Everest Office 608 Main St., Everest, KS 66424 Hiawatha Office 628 Oregon St., Hiawatha, KS 66434 Seneca Office 513 Main St., Seneca, KS 66538 24/7 Technical Support Center 800-892-0163 24 hours a day, 7 days a week October/November/December 2025 THE RAINBOW Cornerstone Group © 2025 Rainbow began the Gift of Giving program in 2010 as a creative way to thank our business customers during the holiday season. Angie Kreider, Director of Business Development, explained, “The Gift of Giving came from the idea that the holidays are more about giving than receiving. We were struggling to come up with a good way to ‘gift’ our business customers in appreciation for their support of Rainbow and to recognize them during the holidays. The concept of Rainbow making donations in their name to a local charity of their choice seemed like the perfect solution.” Each November, Rainbow business customers receive a Gift of Giving letter along with a reply postcard. They select the recipient organization for the donation made in their name. Both customers and charities look forward to the tradition each year. Recipient organizations rely on the contributions to support important community work. Charities currently active in the program include: • Atchison County Food Pantry • Atchison County Rural Fire District #5 (Lancaster) • Atchison County Rural Fire District #2 (Effingham) • Trinity Center Food Pantry (North Brown County) • South Brown County Food Pantry • Sabetha Community Food Pantry • Eleanor’s Pantry • Nemaha County Food Pantry • Muscotah Christmas Ministry • Native American Family Services –White Cloud, KS • Jingle Bell Ride – Brown County Christmas Bureau • Nemaha County Christmas Bureau • Doniphan County Christmas Bureau The program has grown steadily and been embraced by customers and communities alike. The total donated since 2010 is $97,429, and the annual average donations are around $6,500. Best of all, every dollar helps brighten the holiday season (and beyond) for local families. Have a Ball This Fall The fall season is full of opportunities to watch sports, whether it’s from the stands of a local football field or in your home on the TV screen. Rainbow hopes you have fun cheering for your favorite teams. We also thank you for being on our teamby choosing us as your communications provider. (L to R) Julie Bergman, Senior Business Development Specialist; Riggsby Scott, Rainbow Esports Scholarship recipient; and Keith Jaloma, Executive Director of the HCC Foundation. A Rainbow Tradition: The Gift of Giving
Fiber Construction Update Rainbow’s fiber network is taking shape across our communities, bringing you faster, more reliable Internet than ever before. In Seneca, construction is complete, and we’re busy upgrading every home to fiber Internet—418 of 736 homes are already connected, and we expect to finish by year’s end. In Wathena, construction is 97% complete, and Troy is 71% complete. New extension areas outside both towns are ready, with rural installs beginning in September. Current Rainbow customers in Troy andWathena will soon receive their informational packets and begin scheduling their in-home fiber installations in October. Fibermeans lightning-fast speeds, ultra-low lag for gaming, seamless streaming onmultiple devices, and the capacity to handle tomorrow’s technology—plus greater reliability during peak usage. In Highland, construction kicked off in August, with installations expected to start in February 2026. We’re excited to deliver the power of fiber to every home we serve! Last June, Rainbow hosted its Summer Youth Advisory Council (YAC), bringing together eight high school students from across our service area for a week of leadership development, broadband education, and hands-on learning. Meeting each morning at Rainbow’s Hiawatha office, the group participated in interactive activities led by our marketing team—Jackie Petersen, Kinsey Elias, and Taylor Jacobsen—while discovering how broadband connects and empowers rural communities. Participants were: ACCHS - Alexis Ellerman, daughter of Joe and Jessica Ellerman Doniphan West High School - Derek Blanton, son of Jeremy and Melissa Blanton Hiawatha High School - Taryn McMullen, daughter of Chris and Sara McMullen; Harper Chandler, daughter of John and Holly Chandler; Brynnan Boye, child of Noel and Hillary Boye; and Aya McPeak, daughter of Eric and Leah McPeak Horton High School - Emaleigh Baker, daughter of Cory and Kristie Baker Troy High School - Charli Rush, daughter of Casey and Abra Rush. Day 1: Rainbow’s Story & Broadband Debate The week opened with a warm welcome, a cooperative history lesson, and a spirited debate on whether every child in America should have access to high-speed Internet. Students also took part in focus groups and video recordings to share how they use the Internet and view Rainbow as a brand. Day 2: Cybersecurity in Action Students learned about phishing, password safety, and digital footprints. Using Canva and their phones, they created short videos and radio ads for Rainbow’s Cybersecurity Month campaign, showcasing creativity and insight. Day 3: Broadband in the Community A field trip to the Amelia Earhart Airport Hangar Museum in Atchison highlighted how Rainbow’s fiber Internet powers interactive exhibits—an experience several students named as their favorite of the week. Day 4: Leadership & Core Values Students completed a DISC personality assessment, identified personal core values, and compared them to Rainbow’s. They also learned about scholarships, communitygrants, and the FRSYouthTour. Day 5: Behind the Scenes at Rainbow The program concluded at Rainbow’s Everest headquarters with breakfast alongside leadership, a network operations center tour, and a fiber-splicing demo. Inspiring the Next Generation: Rainbow’s Summer Youth Advisory Council Derek Blanton, Alexis Ellerman, Aya McPeak, Emaleigh Baker, Charli Rush, Taryn McMullen, Harper Chandler, Brynnan Boye
Cornerstone Group © 2025 Employee Spotlight: Lindsay Matthias Lindsay Matthias has been with Rainbow as an accountant for over two years. Her passion for numbers began about five years ago when she discovered her interest in accounting. So, when a position opened up at Rainbow that aligned with her growing interest in bookkeeping and accounts payable, it was a natural next step. Each day, Lindsay handles vital tasks that keep our business running. They include paying company bills, managing monthly State and Federal tax reporting, and setting up work orders for our technicians to track materials and supplies on projects across our service area. One of Lindsay’s favorite things about her job takes place not at her desk but out in our communities. “Throwing candy at parades is my favorite!” It’s a great way to connect with our customers,” she said. She’s especially proud of Rainbow’s expansion into Doniphan County—a place close to her heart. As a Doniphan County graduate, she’s thrilled to see her hometown community gain access to the fast, reliable Internet and unmatched customer care Rainbow is known for. “I’m so excited for the wonderful people there to experience our great service,” she said. When asked what truly sets Rainbow apart, Lindsay replied, “Our customer service is TOP NOTCH!” Outside of work, Lindsay’s time is spent with her husband and three daughters on the family farm, tending to livestock and enjoying farm life. And here’s a fun fact—she collects coffee mugs from every family vacation to remind her of special memories made. At Rainbow, we pride ourselves on more than cutting-edge broadband technology. We’re also built on the dedication and heart of people like Lindsay. Her commitment to both precision in her work and connection in her community is exactly what drives our mission forward. Lindsay plays a vital role in helping Rainbow deliver not just Internet, but opportunity, growth, and hometown pride to the rural communities we serve. Lindsay’s Favorite Recipe: Creamy Tomato Tortellini Soup Ingredients 2 large garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 (10.75 oz) cans of tomato soup 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (or 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomato paste) 2 cups half-and-half 2 cups chicken stock 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 (9 oz) package cheese-filled tortellini (fresh or refrigerated) 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Instructions 1. In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute, just until fragrant. Don’t let it brown. 2. Stir in the tomato soup and the sundried tomatoes (or sun-dried tomato paste). Cook for 2-3 minutes. 3. Add the half-and-half and chicken stock, stirring until smooth and well combined. Add the onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. 4. Bring the soup to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for 5–10 minutes. Don’t boil, or the dairy may curdle. 5. Add the tortellini and cook according to the package directions (usually 5–7 minutes) or until tender. Stir occasionally. 6. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and the soup is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. 7. Ladle into bowls and garnish with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs if you like. Lindsay and family
P.O. Box 147, Everest, KS 66424 800-892-0163 • www.rainbowtel.net www.facebook.com/ RainbowCommunications RainbowCommunications See You There! Join Rainbow Communications this winter for an array of exciting events. From community parades to festive celebrations, there’s something for everyone. October 4 – Old Time Saturday Night, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Main Street, Sabetha October 25 – Spooktacular, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Main Street, Seneca October 25 – Atchison Halloween Parade, 2:00 p.m., Commercial Street, Atchison October 31 – Trick or Treat on Main Street, 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Main Street, Sabetha October 31 – Hiawatha Halloween Parade, 7:00 p.m., Oregon Street, Hiawatha November 29 – Night of Lights, 5:00 p.m., Civic Center, Horton December 6 – Atchison Christmas parade, 5:30 p.m., Commercial Street, Atchison Don’t BelieveThese Password Myths There are lots of myths about passwords. Let’s debunk a couple of them. Myth: I have a strong password, so I don’t need to worry. It’s great if you have a long and strong password with a blend of letters, numbers, and special characters. However, you needmore than one. Every account and device should have its own password—don’t use the same one inmultiple places. If you reuse passwords, it means that if one of your accounts is hacked, all of your other accounts are at risk. It’s also recommended that you enableMFA (multi-factor authentication) for every account, which doubles up your protection beyond your password. Myth: Password managers aren’t safe because they could get hacked. Sometimes people express concerns about storing all their passwords in one place. However, high-quality password managers are the safest way to store your passwords. These programs also ensure that you’re using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Because of the technology password managers use, the password manager company doesn’t even know your master password. When you enable MFA on your password manager, it becomes even more secure. There have been incidents when password manager companies get hacked. However, when you use a strong master password and MFA, you can maintain your security even in these situations. Password managers are safer than notebooks, sticky notes, or documents saved on your computer.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTMzNDE=