By NATE KING Salina Post

Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme…You better get me to school on time! Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "School of Rock – The Musical" is coming to <a href="https://salinatheatre.com/">Theatre Salina</a> this month.

On this episode of "King in the Community" I sit down with Theatre Salina's Executive Director, Michael Spicer, to hear his take on what makes this season's finale unlike any production Theatre Salina has done in the past.&nbsp;

The musical is two hours in length, consisting of two-acts, plus intermission, based on the hit movie "School of Rock." The show opens on June 9 and will run on each Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the month of June.&nbsp;

 The tuner follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight–A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band.&nbsp;

"School of Rock it was a Jack Black musical and it just tore Broadway up. It [the show] is incredibly funny and again, the amazing thing about this show-when it was cast, we are by contract required to have the kids who play the kids, play the musical instruments," Spicer said. "We reached out to some of our resources in town and we, we recruited some of their students. And I'm here to tell you that these kids are phenomenal."

Spicer said Matt Gary, a Salina local who teaches guitar, plays guitar, and performs around town is playing the role of Jack Black.&nbsp;

"He's just got that energy and his beautiful wife, Stephanie is playing opposite him as the principal of the school. So that's phenomenal," Spicer said.&nbsp;

Lloyd Webber produced the stage musical on Broadway and in the West End, penning 14 new numbers for the show, which additionally features all of the original songs from the movie. The composer’s tracks “You’re in the Band” and “Stick it to the Man” are well on their way to becoming rock solid standards, while the finale with “Teacher’s Pet” brings audiences to their feet, eight shows a week.

School of Rock – The Musical, with its sensational live kids’ rock band, is a loving testimony to the transforming power of music.

For ticket information and showtimes <a href="https://salinatheatre.com/tickets/">click here</a>.&nbsp;

Ms. Sanders / Stella / Mrs. Sandford / Bartender –&nbsp;Callie Hobkirk

Ms. Gordon / Mrs. Turner –&nbsp;Kristina Freeland

Gabe Brown / Bob / Policeman –&nbsp;Bill Brown

Mr. Green / Doug / Mr. Spencer / Bar Guest –&nbsp;Spencer Wesley

Mr. Noble / Theo / Bar Guest –&nbsp;Evan Brandt

Mr. Bingham / Mrs. Hathaway –&nbsp;Stacy Jagodzinske

Mr. Woodard / Mr. Williams –&nbsp;Patrick Hoffman

Mr. James / Mr. Mooneyham –&nbsp;Jacob Brown

Mr. Hamilton / Snake / Teacher / Bar Guest –&nbsp;Allen Johnson

Ms. Macapugay / Jeff / Bar Guest / Mrs. Travis –&nbsp;Kinsleigh Showman

Visit Theatre Salina's&nbsp;<a href="https://salinatheatre.com/get-involved/" target="_blank">Audition Page</a>&nbsp;for more information.

🎙King in the Community: Theatre Salina presents 'School of Rock the musical'

Looking for a new podcast to keep you informed and connected within your local community? Look no further than Eagle Radio's latest podcast, "King in the Community."&nbsp;

Join Eagle Radio news director, Nate King as he talks with local and regional government officials, first responders, non-profit leaders and unique individuals with interesting stories from north central Kansas and beyond. Learn about how organizations in your neighborhood leverage their partnerships to create a more interconnected community.

Available on all your favorite platforms, including&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/king-in-the-community/id1687185014">Apple podcasts,</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/">Podbean</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZeCj4TK3kaOZEvgQaDlio">&nbsp;Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c78f2e2e-c714-4aaf-ad4c-4864a4038889">Amazon Audible</a>, TuneIn + Alexa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/king-in-the-community-5324914">Podchaser,</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/62430">Boomplay</a>.&nbsp;

No matter what streaming service you use, we've got you covered with engaging discussions and insightful interviews that will help you understand the issues that matter most to you.&nbsp; So why wait? Tune in to the "King in the Community" podcast today and discover a new way to stay connected to your local community.

For a full list of episodes<a href="https://kinginthecommunity.podbean.com/page/2/">&nbsp;click here</a>. Thanks for listening!

🎙The latest from 'King in the Community' with Nate King

Here's the lineup for this week's&nbsp;KINA Saturday Morning.

9:05 a.m.:&nbsp;Brad Anderson on Smoky Hill River Festival.

9:20 a.m.:&nbsp;Cori Sherman North, Curator, Burger Sandzen&nbsp; Memorial Gallery, Lindsborg, on Gun Safety.&nbsp;&nbsp;

9:35 a.m.:&nbsp;Vickee Spicer on "School of Rock" and audition workshop.

10:05 a.m.:&nbsp;Ben Miller on Stutzmans.

10:30 a.m.:&nbsp;&nbsp;Deb Wood, Shick Counselor, K-State Salina on 'The Senior Years."

This week's 'KINA Saturday Morning' lineup

Central Kansas Extension District’s hands-on “Preserve it Fresh, Preserve it Safe” food preservation workshop is set to return this summer.

The workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 901 E. Neal Avenue.

"As gardens are getting planted, so are plans to preserve the harvest to enjoy in later months. To safely preserve food, education is key to know the best method and recommendations," Lisa Newman, family and community wellness extension agent, told Salina Post.

K-State Research and Extension food scientist Karen Blakeslee will introduce participants to the most current, recommended methods of preserving foods through pressure canning, waterbath canning, dehydration and freezing. Participants will get to see and use various food preservation supplies and equipment on display – as well as take home some of the items preserved throughout the day.

"This annual workshop is always well attended and an excellent opportunity for novice to seasoned attendees to ensure their harvest is safely preserved," Newman said.

Preserving foods at home isn’t difficult, but it does require following research-based recipes and practices of preserving. Even if you have been a home food preserver for years or you are a first timer, attend to learn the latest recommendations.

Food preservation workshop set for June 20

OTTAWA COUNTY - The Kansas Department of Transportation announced today that a resurfacing project has begun on U.S. Highway 81 in Ottawa County.

Work on nine miles of northbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of Kansas Highway 106 to approximately seven miles north of K-106, KDOT noted in a news release.

Work on approximately three miles of southbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of K-106 to approximately one mile north of K-106.

"Traffic will be reduced to one 16-foot lane at a reduced speed through the work zone. Drivers should expect minimal delays, not exceeding five minutes," KDOT noted.

The project is expected to cost $8.9 million and is scheduled to be completed in September, weather permitting. The prime contractor for the project is APAC-Kansas Inc. of Hutchinson.

"KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas, go to <a href="http://www.kandrive.org">www.kandrive.org</a> or call 5-1-1," KDOT noted.

KDOT announces resurfacing project on US 81 in Ottawa County

Don't forget: The Salina Salvation Army is hosting a Community Garage Sale later this week.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 1137 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

"This is a great opportunity for you to declutter your homes and make some extra cash by selling your gently used items. It's also a chance to help The Salvation Army help the community through our various programs and activities," the Salvation Army noted in a news release.

Those wishing to sell items are asked to call 785-823-2251 to reserve a space. Each space is eight-foot by eight-foot for $20, or two spaces for $30. All participants are responsible for their own sales, the Salvation Army noted.

Food and soft drinks will be available for purchase during the event.

Salina Salvation Army Community Garage Sale Saturday

By CAROL KANDO-PINEDA Staff attorney, FTC Division of Consumer and Business Education

During the pandemic, states had to keep people enrolled in Medicaid so they didn’t lose their insurance. Now that the health emergency declaration is over, that requirement has been phased out — which means people eligible for Medicaid have to re-enroll in their state’s program or find new insurance, if they’re not eligible. So, where do the scams come in?

When big changes affect millions of people, scams will follow. That means people who’ve been on Medicaid — including people of modest means, children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with disabilities — will be targeted by health insurance scams.&nbsp;Here’s what to know:

●Medicaid won’t charge you to renew or enroll.&nbsp;You may get a call, text, or email from your state Medicaid agency to renew your enrollment in your state’s program. But the real Medicaid program won’t ask for money or personal information like your credit card or bank account number. Learn more about eligibility for Medicaid in your state at&nbsp;<a href="http://Medicaid.gov">Medicaid.gov</a>&nbsp;(scroll down to find the link to&nbsp;your state’s Medicaid agency).

●Visit HealthCare.gov to compare insurance plans, coverage, and prices.&nbsp;<a href="http://HealthCare.gov">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;lets you compare prices on health insurance plans, check your eligibility for healthcare subsidies, and begin enrollment.&nbsp;<a href="http://HealthCare.gov">HealthCare.gov</a>&nbsp;will ask only for your monthly income and your age to give you a price quote.&nbsp;If anyone asks for your bank account or credit card number to give you a quote for health insurance, that’s a scam. Don’t do it.

●Scammers try to sell you medical discount plans that are not major medical.&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/spot-health-insurance-scams#medical">Medical discount plans</a>&nbsp;charge a monthly fee for supposed discounts on some medical services or products from a list of providers. They’re not a substitute for health insurance, though some plans do give actual discounts. But others just take your money for very little in return. If you’re considering one, find out if your doctor participates in the plan. Check what coverage it gives for major events. And be sure to get the plan’s details in writing before you sign up.&nbsp;If anyone pressures you to sign up quickly or insists you’ll miss out on a special deal, say, “no, thanks.”

If you think you’ve spotted a scam, tell your friends and family about it so they can protect themselves. Then tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>&nbsp;and your&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.consumerresources.org%2Ffile-a-complaint%2F&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Farticles%2Fspot-health-insurance-scams">state attorney general</a>.

Consumer Alert: Spotting the Medicaid scams

The event is open to the public. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SalinaParksAndRecreation">Salina Parks and Recreation Facebook page</a>:

Salina Parks and Rec to dedicate Great Plains Playground at Lakewood

Following are the sports programs and events scheduled for KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) this week.

Saturday MRN&nbsp; Nascar Live&nbsp; 8am.

Sunday PRN The Pit Reporters:&nbsp; 9 a.m.

MRN Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill.:&nbsp; 1:30 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sports on KINA this week

The Sons of American Legion Squadron 62 and VFW Post 1432

Ann Mills-Griffiths will be the keynote speaker for the Memorial Day ceremony held at the Salina-Saline County War Memorial in Sunset Park, 700 Sunset Drive.

Mills-Griffiths serves as Chairman of the elected Board of Directors of the National League of POW/MIA Families. She served over 45 years leading the nonprofit, 501(c)3 humanitarian organization in Washington, DC. Having stepped aside from daily administration of the League’s national office on August 1, 2011, she has since focused primarily on policy, operations, and sustaining the League’s financial ability to press for and achieve accounting objectives. At the request of the Secretary of Defense, she also served on the Advisory Committee of the Defense Department’s 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration Commission. Mills-Griffiths is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the American Legion Auxiliary, the Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), a Life Member of the DAV and VFW Auxiliaries, and is an Honorary Life Member of the Special Operations Association (SOA) and the Special Forces Association (SFA). She was the 2019 recipient of the VFW Americanism Award.

From 1980 through 1992, Mills-Griffiths represented the families’ views as a founding member of the POW/MIA Interagency Group (IAG), the US Government’s senior-level policy development and implementation mechanism for achieving accounting results in the humanitarian, step-by-step context of developing bilateral relations with Vietnam and restoring normal bilateral relations with Laos and Cambodia. She was instrumental in setting up high level negotiations between Vietnam and the United States in 1982-83. Since then, she has continued to represent the POW/MIA families and America’s missing personnel through direct contacts with US and foreign leaders.&nbsp;

Mills-Griffiths has met frequently with senior officials in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, as well as with Thai, Russian, Chinese and other diplomats and senior officials in an effort to expedite answers. As a recognized leader on POW/MIA issues and recipient of numerous honors, she also has appeared frequently before congressional committees and subcommittees, national and international broadcast media, participated for decades in policy forums dealing with Southeast Asia, and been called upon for advice and counsel by foreign nations facing their own personnel accounting issues.&nbsp;

Commander James B. Mills, USN[R], Mills-Griffiths’ brother, was listed as MIA on Sept. 21, 1966, when the Navy F4B on which he served as Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) disappeared on a night, low-flying bombing mission over North Vietnam. He was on his second tour, assigned to Fighter Squadron 21, USS Coral Sea. His remains were discovered in 2018 along the shallow coast of North Vietnam.

Special guests&nbsp;Salina Mayor Michael Hoppock, Dale Pugh (brother to Major Dennis Pugh, the only individual from Salina County still MIA), and Ambassador David Lambertson, the former U.S. Ambassador to Thailand &amp; Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State will also be in attendance.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/259f6b7b-1322-4e0e-8924-25a974e97b7c">🎙King in the Community: Dale Pugh, brother of MIA/POW Dennis Pugh</a>

A new site at the war memorial, which was spearheaded by The Sons of the American Legion Squadron 62, will be unveiled and dedicated to 11 POWs from Saline County and Major Dennis Pugh, USN, still MIA.

Prior to the 11 a.m. ceremony in Sunset Park, which will include military organization honor guards and a firing squad, the VFW will hold a ceremony at 10 a.m. at Gypsum Hill cemetery, 2020 E. Iron Ave., followed by an American Legion ceremony at Roselawn Cemetery, 1920 E. Crawford St.&nbsp;

Lunch will be held after the last ceremony at the VFW Post 1432, 1108 W. Crawford.

Several Memorial Day ceremonies set for Salina

The following is from the Salina Public Library Facebook page.&nbsp;The McKenzie Center is located on the northeast corner of the N. Ninth Street-W. Elm Street intersection.

Reminder that we are closed for Memorial Day.

Lunch is served from 11:30-12:30 at the McKenzie Center north of the library. Youth are given priority and must be present to receive lunch.

Salina Public Library announces menu for week

MARION COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Nissan Maxima driven by Mallory Anne&nbsp;Seirer, 19, Newton was westbound on U.S. 50. three and one half miles east of the U.S. 77 Junction.

The Nissan was passing a 2004 Freightliner semi driven by David Allen Williams, 52, Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Seirer observed an eastbound vehicle. She swerved, lost control of the Nissan and struck the semi. After impact the Nissan traveled across the eastbound lanes and came to a rest in the south ditch.

EMS transported Seirer to Wesley Medical Center. Williams was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman hospitalized after crash with a semi

By TIM UNRUH For Saline County

Childcare is wrapped in a sticky web of issues affecting growth and quality of life improvements in Salina and Saline County.

Local leaders agree money is the biggest need to improve daily care for children. They’re relying on collaboration and a deep sense of community to offer higher wages for childcare professionals, and create more slots for children.

Many improvements are needed in the system, said Leigh Ann Montoy, child care coordinator at the Saline County Health Department.

“We are not taking care of our children,” she said.

Services especially for infants and toddlers, are lacking here, Montoy said, and nationally as well.

Cities all over have been dealing with shortages of quality, consistent childcare services for years, said Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

It is among the biggest detriments to local growth, she said, but also a “positive challenge,” serving as proof that expansion is taking place.

An intensified attack on the subject has entered a second decade in Salina and Saline County, that has bested some major snags.

“Housing and childcare: I live, eat and breathe conversations around those two issues,” Duxler said. “It takes a village to figure this out.”

In roughly 2017, the “Connecting the Dots Coalition” formed as a subcommittee of PIECE (Partners in Early Childhood Education) led by Child Advocacy and Parenting Services (CAPS) of Salina.

The subcommittee, consisting of Child Care Aware, the City of Salina, Salina Community Economic Development Organization, Martin Luther King Jr. Child Development Center, Salina Family YMCA, Saline Child Care Center, Heartland Early Education Services, and the Chamber, began to attack childcare shortages, she said, including a visit to a new childcare center in Garden City to learn and compare notes.

“This group came back, received grant funding from the Earl Bane Foundation and gained momentum,” Duxler said. “Then COVID hit and all of that came to a screeching halt. When I started at the Chamber in 2020, we were just starting to kind of touch on those conversations again, and since that period, a second wind has come about with the childcare discussion.”

Parents in the workforce simply could not afford to pay higher childcare fees to make wages competitive, said Claire Ludes, executive director of the Salina Area United Way.

Earlier, pay for childcare professionals was augmented by the 1998 multibillion dollar tobacco settlement.

“Then in 2012, those dollars were redirected somewhere else, and that’s when we really started seeing a ripple effect,” she said.

“(Childcare professionals) started leaving because the wages weren’t being supplemented. Staff was paid $8 to $10 an hour. Teachers weren’t being paid an adequate and relevant wage,” Ludes said.

Childcare centers can’t charge clients more, because they can’t afford it, said Mitch Robinson, executive director of the Salina EDO. Slots for childcare centers were reduced, leaving parents with tough choices.

“When a family makes the decision for the husband or wife to stay home, that’s also an issue on the workforce side. We want as many people to work as we can,” he said.

Incentives diminished for folks to continue working in childcare.

“There are people who love to take care of kids, but you still can’t starve to death,” Robinson said. “When you can work in retail or a restaurant for more wages than in childcare, it’s just not financially feasible. That’s what we’ve got to change.”

As childcare issues began to attack the local economy, Salina EDO “pivoted” its priorities, he said, especially when 1 Vision Aviation, Schwan’s and Great Plains Manufacturing embarked on huge expansion projects involving a collective need for thousands more workers.

“Our board prioritized housing and childcare as critical areas of importance for the community for a lot of reasons,” Robinson said. “The city’s made some major strides in getting a (housing) development selected.”

But childcare, he said, “has been up and down. With some (workers) staying home, it has continued to be a real problem. Several groups have come together trying to focus on the issues, and most recently, the United Way has volunteered to take the lead on that.”

Ludes is running the show, but the United Way has hired a childcare director. The nonprofit has applied for a bit more than $2 million Kansas Children’s Cabinet Accelerator Grant on behalf of three childcare centers. It would create 187 childcare slots in Saline County.

The three centers include the Salina Family YMCA McAdams Center, 1323 McAdams Road, near the Schwan’s plant in southwest Salina; St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church, 215 S. Chicago, and St. Mary’s Love N. Learn, 232 E. Cloud, part of St. Mary’s School (a division of the Salina Catholic Diocese).

Other centers would be eligible to apply for grant funding through the United Way to supplement the wage gap, Ludes said.

Those are Heartland Early Head Start, 700 Jupiter, which has three rooms closed equating to 60 slots, due to staffing issues, she said, while Martin Luther King Childcare Center, 1215 N. Santa Fe, is fully staffed and open, but has no capacity for expansion at this time. Childcare in the YMCA building is at maximum capacity, Ludes said, and the Y also runs Angels Academy in Church of the Cross United Methodist, 1600 Rush.&nbsp;

Elected county leaders have infused $400,000 from its share of the federal American Rescue Plan Act, to jumpstart childcare improvements.

United Way has applied for that funding, with $75,000 going toward the new childcare director position and $325,000 to be used as matching funds to encourage contributions.

“An agreement its being ironed out and will be presented to the County Commission for consideration once complete,” said Phillip Smith-Hanes, Saline County administrator.

United Way is also accepting private donations. Checks may be sent to 113 N. Seventh, Salina, KS 67401. Include the word “childcare” on the “for” line.

One center not on the list is Salina Childcare Center, 155 N. Oakdale, Suite 100 in the Donna L. Vanier Children’s Center. It closed four rooms before raising pay in 2020.

“When they did that, they were immediately able to hire all staff and reopen rooms,” Ludes said.

In that case raising pay for childcare professionals was a good move.

“It considerably increased their ability to hire,” Robinson said.

Ludes figures the system in Salina and Saline County needs $500,000 a year to grow the wages. It’s essential to provide a service that will fill youngsters’ needs.

“(Childcare centers) struggle to get and keep staff. When you have constant staff changing, that’s hard on kiddos, too,” she said. “If they’re not getting that consistency, it’s hard on brain development as they grow.”

United Way in Salina has started an Early Childhood Care Initiative. The fund currently contains $40,000, Ludes said. Much more is needed to keep staff from bolting for other lines of work.

“We are in the very initial stages of this program,” she said. “In-home childcare is not part of this phase because they are for-profit, but we are exploring how to help those providers in the future.”

An example of coming improvement in Salina/Saline County childcare can be found at Salina Area Technical College, where a childcare curriculum was launched last year, in response to the shortage, said Mike Strand, college spokesman. The class started with two students.

This fall, it’s full, he said, with 14 students enrolled, including adult and high school pupils.

“I was glad it filled up,” Strand said. “I think a lot of people are hearing about the need.”

A single completed semester — 17 hours of college credit — qualifies students to serve infants and toddlers; another semester is for pre-kindergarten children, covering 19 credit hours. One year covers both infants, toddlers and pre-K, with 33 hours credit, he said, and two years of study, with 62 credit hours, completes an associate degree.

&nbsp;“If someone is interested in going for the Associate Degree, they can start on that this fall, even if the Early Childhood classes are full, by taking some of the general education classes,” Strand said, “like English Composition or General Psychology.”

Women began entering the workforce in the 1970s and ‘80s, Ludes said, and childcare costs have since increased.

“It kind of goes back to centers never being able to charge enough to supplement wages, because families can’t afford it,” Ludes said.

United Way and other leaders have been visiting with major employers to gauge their willingness to contribute money to help improve childcare, and other shortfalls, such as worker shortages.

Linda Salem, principal advisor at Great Plains Manufacturing, 1525 E. North, provided this statement: “Great Plains continues to expand. With that, the need for housing and child care for our employees continues to grow.&nbsp;The City is addressing the housing need.&nbsp;It gives us continued confidence in our decision to expand here when we see this strong focus on child care.&nbsp;Salina is fortunate to have a really strong partnership between the community and business.&nbsp;Great Plains is committed to being part of the solution in our communities to assist with the child care challenge and we have confidence that the other business leaders will also want to participate.”&nbsp;

A number of employers have joined in discussions to develop solutions, according to local leaders.

“We will be meeting with local businesses in Saline County to help supplement wages across all nonprofit childcare centers,” Ludes said, “except for Salina Childcare Association.”

Salina Childcare Center, 155 N. Oakdale, Suite 100, in the Donna L. Vanier Children’s Center, had closed four rooms before raising pay in 2020.

“When they did that, they were immediately able to hire all staff and reopen rooms,” she said.

The drive melds with a June 2022 comment from Lori Blake, executive director of CAPS. She outlined a “three legged stool” with problems hampering childcare services, families, and employers.

“Providers and teachers can’t afford to stay and families can’t afford to pay,” Blake said. “Public investment is the way.”

She’s been engaged with this issue since 2001, and originally chaired Saline County Childcare Workforce Development, a work group of PIECE, which is a public/private community collaboration of more than 20 local organizations. Lindsey Rojas, early education initiatives program director at CAPS, is the facilitator of PIECE.

Among the most recent developments in the process is having an organization that can be a champion for childcare issues in the community, Blake said.

“We were missing a bridge from the practitioners in early education to connect with business and industry and the Salina Area United Way’s new position is doing just that, both fundraising, identifying needs, and writing grants on behalf of the entire community,” she said. “United Way is there for the issue and not for an individual organization.”

There are also less universal changes occurring.

In July 2022, for example, CAPS added childcare as a benefit for employees with children the age of 6, not enrolled in kindergarten, Blake said, and continues to “offer flex schedules to our employees as a family-friendly employment strategy. I am trained and willing to work with local employers on implementing such practices.”

“We’ve got to lead by example. We need to me walkin’ that talk,” she said. “We have been able to retain employees because of it. I think it’s a great benefit for employers to consider.”

With an influx of workers expected to take jobs available from a number of companies, chief among them the sizable Great Plains/Kubota and Schwan’s expansions in Salina, 1 Vision Aviation, and Vortex Companies, childcare is among the obstacles of filling jobs.

Schwan’s has entered a partnership with the McAdams Center, which is close to the company’s Tony’s Pizza plant.

“They are going to have that for their people, first right fo refusal, with overflow for the general public” Ludes said, “We have been meeting with people left and right, and it has the most momentum it’s ever had. I think we’re going to see some real progress being made before long.”

While the problems are far from solved, Montoy is encouraged.

“Everybody’s working hard. I’m sensing it’s getting better,” she said.&nbsp;“We want the best of the best taking care of our children, because they’re that important. Communities don’t work without safe, available childcare. It’s a critical component to making our society work.”

‘It takes a village’  Salina/Saline County aim to attract ‘best of the best’ in childcare

Schedule:	Full Time (64 hours/pay period)&nbsp;

Shift/Hours:	Generally, 3 days/week 9:30 am – 6:00 p.m. and 2 days/week 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Hours 		are flexible and occasional weekend/holiday shifts may be required.&nbsp;

Functions as a member of the Salina Surgical Hospital Dietary Department assisting the Salina Surgical Hospital healthcare team by providing appetizing, nutritionally sound meals of sufficient quantity to satisfy the appetites and needs of our patients, families, physicians, nursing staff and other support staff.&nbsp;

Must have a minimum of a high school diploma or documented work experience in the Food Service field.&nbsp;

Must be able to comprehend and follow both written and oral instructions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds multiple times.&nbsp;

Apply:		Online at <a href="http://www.salinasurgical.com/careers.php" target="_blank">www.salinasurgical.com/careers.php</a>&nbsp;

In person at 401 S. Santa Fe, Salina, KS&nbsp;

Salina Central releases names of students on second semester honor roll

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) – members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation – introduced legislation to invest new federal resources into the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Center of Excellence (CoE) formed by Wichita State University and the University of Washington, according to a statement from his office. The&nbsp;Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act&nbsp;broadens the scope of research conducted at the Centers of Excellence to include testing for accessible air travel for people with disabilities, including in-cabin wheelchair users and passengers with mobility challenges, as well as increases federal resources for the consortium to accommodate additional research capabilities. The bill also strengthens the centers’ research into advanced aerospace technologies such as carbon fiber polymers, thermoplastic composites and additive manufacturing. This research supports innovative future commercial aircraft designs. “Our universities are necessary partners and pivotal contributors to aviation safety research,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran, Ranking Member of the Commerce Aviation Subcommittee. “As the aviation industry continues to evolve, this legislation will help make certain the Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials can continue identifying solutions for advanced structures and materials issues, while meeting the demands of a changing ecosystem to ensure that any passenger who chooses to fly can do so and in a safe manner. I am pleased this legislation will continue to support and invest in the important research conducted at Wichita State University in the Air Capital of the World.” “Continuing the mission of FAA’s Joint Centers of Excellence for Advanced Materials is critical to advancing U.S. leadership in advanced materials and composites that will make planes lighter, safer, and more fuel-efficient. Extending the Centers’ research to advance the safe use of wheelchair restraint systems and personal wheelchairs in flight is key to improving the passenger experience for individuals with disabilities,”&nbsp;said Sen. Cantwell, Chair of the Commerce Committee.&nbsp;“With this bill, Senator Moran and I will continue investing in collaborative research between the University of Washington and Wichita State University to make air travel safer and more accessible for all passengers.” “As the aerospace industry continues to advance, the need for high-performance materials is more critical than ever and Wichita State University strongly supports the continuation of the FAA Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials,”&nbsp;said John Tomblin, WSU senior V.P. for Industry and Defense Programs and director of the Center of Excellence for Composites and Advanced Materials (CECAM). “At the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), we recognize the importance of investing in the development and testing of advanced materials to ensure the safety and sustainability of all aircraft and passengers. That's why we proudly support the FAA Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and its critical role in identifying, adopting, and testing the next generation of advanced materials. We're also proud to support the expansion of this center and the Aviation Safety Act and its goals, such as identifying cost-efficient options for wheelchair space on commercial aircraft while ensuring safety for all passengers. We at NIAR, and the South-Central Kansas region, applaud Senator Moran for his efforts and continued support to ensure the safety and accessibility of our skies and for being an advocate for our economy by promoting research and workforce development in advanced materials for aerospace and the expanded focus on accessibility to travel for individuals with disabilities.” “At the University of Washington, we pride ourselves in leading transformative research in partnership with industry leaders to make new and safe applications of advanced materials and composites possible,”&nbsp;said Dr. Marco Salviato, Associate Professor in the William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics &amp; Astronautics (A&amp;A) and Director of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials in Transport Aircraft Structures (AMTAS) at the University of Washington.&nbsp;“We welcome the opportunity to advance our work with our JAMS COE partners to research aircraft accessibility for all passengers using AMTAS expertise in computational crashworthiness modeling and CECAM’s state-of-the-art crash test facilities. We thank Senator Cantwell and Senator Moran for their continued support of the Joint Centers of Excellence for Advanced Materials and appreciate Senator Cantwell’s ongoing work to ensure Washington state continues to be a leader in aerospace research and innovation for years to come.” “All Wheels Up is very encouraged by the progress being made through the great support and leadership of Senator Cantwell and Senator Moran to achieve safe, accessible air travel for all,”&nbsp;said Michele Erwin, Founder and President of All Wheels Up.&nbsp;“The Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials and Safety Act is an important and vital step towards making air travel truly accessible. Expanding the scope of the FAA Joint Centers of Excellence for Advanced Materials to include further research in aircraft accessibility and wheelchair restraint systems, among other areas which would enable individuals to use their personal wheelchairs in flight, is a significant milestone for our vision of accessible air travel where passengers remain safely in their personal wheelchairs when flying on commercial airplanes. We unequivocally support this Act and appreciate the work of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations, and Innovation to propel accessible air travel forward and inevitably achieve a shared goal - a wheelchair spot on airplanes that provides passengers a dignified, equitable and safe travel experience."

Moran introduces legislation to support aviation safety, accessibility

🎤 Forward Ever: State Library of Kansas director of reference Cindy Roupe

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Kansas Highway Patrol Troopers responded Friday morning to a fully engulfed semi in McPherson County. 

Traffic on Interstate 135 near milepost 64, Pawnee Road (CR 448) is slow.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

KHP: Semi on fire, traffic slow on Interstate 135

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail.

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

NO IMAGE AVAILABLE NAME: Mayarda, Zachary Cruz REQUESTED CHARGES: Interference with law enforcement, outside warrant

NAME: Robertson, Kalob Michael REQUESTED CHARGES: Defacing identification marks on a firearm, Use/poss drug paraphernalia/human body, Poss of marijuana; 2 or more prior convictions

NAME: Gimeson-Smith,Dalton Remmington&nbsp;&nbsp; REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME: Dyrness,Gregory Edel Jay'mon Heaven REQUESTED CHARGES: Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500, Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance

NAME: Wright,Kyle Deon&nbsp;&nbsp; REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation Violation, Failure to appear

NAME: Burke,Jessica Lynn REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation Violation, Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Waterman,Amanda Kay REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation Violation, Failure to appear

NAME: Boyd, Justin James REQUESTED CHARGES: Failure to appear

NAME: Fryhover, Jordan Lyle REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation violation

NAME: Cherry, Danielle Dean REQUESTED CHARGES: Probation violation

Saline County Booking Activity, June 2

Kansas Wesleyan Athletics news release

&nbsp;Kansas Wesleyan Athletics has long been a leader regionally, both on the court and off. The championships, community service and academic support speak to that, as does the product provided by KWU Sports Information. That trend continues as KWU announces that it will change providers for its athletic web site, KWUCoyotes.com, at the end of June.

Some of the things KWU fans can look forward to include increased social media integration, easier access to game scores and schedules, quick links to streaming and prominent mentions of ticketing, the Jerry Jones Athletic Hall of Fame and more.

"David Toelle and his team are among the best in the NAIA, and this new site will continue to highlight their strengths," said Brad Salois, director of university marketing and communications. "It will embrace the best features from some of SIDEARM Sports' top sites and be fully customized, thereby creating an environment that is best for the Coyote fan."

"Coyote fans are some of the most loyal in the region," said Toelle, associate athletic director for athletic communications. "They deserve a great product, and this website will be a tremendous vehicle to deliver that. SIDEARM is the best provider in the industry and has already shown a true dedication to giving us a product customized for the Coyote experience."

KWU is currently scheduled to join the SIDEARM family during the overnight hours Sunday, June 28. The existing site remains live at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kwucoyotes.com/" target="_blank">www.kwucoyotes.com</a>.

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