CONCORDIA - The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery will be the upcoming production by Cloud County Community College's Theatre Department.

The spring play is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. March 5 in Cloud County Community College's Cook Theatre. Tickets are $5 per person. Cloud County Community College students will be admitted at no charge.

About the play from Cloud County Theatre

Shocking events keep interrupting the dress rehearsal for a British murder mystery, and mayhem ensues as the line between fiction and reality becomes increasingly blurred. The players at The Murder Mystery Playhouse are rehearsing a new show, Putting a Little English on It.&nbsp; At the final dress rehearsal, the lights go out and a character dies onstage – only this murder wasn’t in the script! Will the show go on? Or will it be the final curtain call for the whole cast?

Scarlet Mays/Ms. Polly: Aeryn Rekward, Wamego

Holly Hanover/Mrs. Margaret Polk: Ryah Klima, Concordia

Sandy Smith/Gertrude Polk: Kaitlyn Beikmann, Clifton

Misty Gere/The Maid, Brooklyn Stevens: South Bend, Ind.

Richard Green/Mr. Frederick Polk: Asher Ross, Onaga

Tom Baines/Mr. Humphrey Black: Warren Abonza, Manhattan

Gary Ferguson/Inspector Bradshaw &amp; Brian D. Taylor: Mason Knudsen, Paola

Adele Sears: Carryna Light, McCool Junction, Neb.

The production will be directed by Julia Galm, Cloud County speech and English instructor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677435732930.jpeg" alt="The Cloud County Community College Theatre Department will present “Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery” in Cook Theatre next weekend. Photo courtesy Cloud County Community College" />
 <figcaption>The Cloud County Community College Theatre Department will present “Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery” in Cook Theatre next weekend. Photo courtesy Cloud County Community College</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTCONCORDIA - The Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery will be the upcoming production by Cloud County Community College's Theatre Department.The spring play is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. March 5 in Cloud County Community College's Cook Theatre. Tickets are $5 per person. Cloud County Community College students will be admitted at no charge.About the play from Cloud County TheatreShocking events keep interrupting the dress rehearsal for a British murder mystery, and mayhem ensues as the line between fiction and reality becomes increasingly blurred. The players at The Murder Mystery Playhouse are rehearsing a new show, Putting a Little English on It.&nbsp; At the final dress rehearsal, the lights go out and a character dies onstage – only this murder wasn’t in the script! Will the show go on? Or will it be the final curtain call for the whole cast?CastScarlet Mays/Ms. Polly: Aeryn Rekward, WamegoHolly Hanover/Mrs. Margaret Polk: Ryah Klima, ConcordiaSandy Smith/Gertrude Polk: Kaitlyn Beikmann, CliftonMisty Gere/The Maid, Brooklyn Stevens: South Bend, Ind.Richard Green/Mr. Frederick Polk: Asher Ross, OnagaTom Baines/Mr. Humphrey Black: Warren Abonza, ManhattanGary Ferguson/Inspector Bradshaw &amp; Brian D. Taylor: Mason Knudsen, PaolaErica Stone: Hannah Brown, EllsworthBrett Donahue: Jeremiah Johnson, SalinaSusan Wells: Kiana Champlin, ConcordiaInspector Wright: Zoe Merz, ConcordiaInspector Fuller: Mary Shaffer, LebanonAdele Sears: Carryna Light, McCool Junction, Neb.The production will be directed by Julia Galm, Cloud County speech and English instructor.

CCCC Theatre Department to present spring play

By GARY DEMUTH Salina Symphony

Stir up a bit of Bizet, Broadway and The Beatles, and what do you get?

A soufflé of a pops concert from the Salina Symphony titled, appropriately enough, Love is All You Need.

The concert’s title comes from the lyrics of one of The Beatles’ most popular songs and will feature an orchestral tribute to the Fab Four encompassing the range of their unmatched musical legacy.

“I’ve done this Beatles tribute before, and it’s great,” said Yaniv Segal, conductor and music director of the Salina Symphony. “It includes both well-known and less known Beatles songs. It follows the scope of their music, which I think is timeless and generation-less.”

The Salina Symphony’s All You Need is Love concert will begin at 4 p.m. March 5 at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Guest performer will be Samantha Rose Williams, a Philadelphia-based mezzo-soprano and crossover singer who has performed in numerous operas and such classic musicals as My Fair Lady and Sweeney Todd.

Williams will perform several Broadway-based romantic ballads during the concert, including I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,&nbsp; from Evita and&nbsp; On the Steps of the Palace from&nbsp; Into the Woods.

“(Williams) is a wonderful singer joining us,” Segal said. “She has such a great stage presence and can sing both Broadway and opera.”

Orchestral selections performed by the Salina Symphony, in addition to The Beatles tribute, will be a mixture of timeless romantic classical works and contemporary romantic symphonic movie scores.

Selections will include the overture from the Disney animated classic Beauty and the Beast, Claire de lune by Debussy, L’amour est un oiseau from Carmen by Bizet, the waltz from Sleeping Beauty&nbsp;by Tchaikovsky and Across the Stars, the love theme from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by John Williams.

“Somewhere you’ve heard a lot of this music, whether it’s in movies or commercials,” Segal said. “In this concert, I’m trying to blur the lines between what's considered pop and light classical.

The concert will end with Love is All You Need, the Beatles tribute arranged and orchestrated by Bruce Healey.

“The Beatles laid it down - it’s just incredible what they accomplished,” Segal said. “Everyone knows their music, so if people want to sing along with it, I’ll be more than happy.”

Segal will host a pre-concert talk beginning at 3 p.m. March 5 in the Stiefel Theatre’s Watson Room. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Those attending are instructed to enter through the main theater doors.

Samantha Rose Williams earned a bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and a master's degree in music in voice performance at the University of Michigan. In addition to performing on opera and musical stages throughout the U.S., Williams is manager of institutional giving for Opera Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

Williams said she was invited by Segal to sing with the Salina Symphony after a previous collaboration at Ann Arbor, Mich., was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

“We had done all of our rehearsals just before everything shut down,” she said. “Then he sent an email asking what I was doing this year and said he would be honored if I would do this concert with him.”

Segal said that after their first concert was canceled, he wanted to work with Williams again if given the opportunity.

“Some tunes I had suggested she do, but I also asked what she would like to sing,” he said.

During her visit to Salina, Williams plans to visit Southeast of Saline High School and Kansas Wesleyan University to perform selections from her most recent artistic project American Patriots, a staged song cycle that seeks to examine patriotism from three different American perspectives: African American, Native American and white working class American.

“It’s a newly commissioned work that encourages people to think about American patriotism,” she said.

Williams said she is excited about performing with the Salina Symphony.

“Singing in front of an orchestra is what it’s all about, using every centimeter of your body to make sure you project over all those instruments,” she said.

Segal said he didn’t want to limit himself to one genre of music when putting together what he called a “pops crossover” concert.

“It’s meant to be a lighter concert, and now is a good time for that,” he said. “It’s just an afternoon of great music that just happens to be about love.”

Tickets for the Salina Symphony Love is All You Need concert start at $29. Tickets may be purchased at the Stiefel Theatre box office, by calling 785-827-1998 or online at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">www.salinasymphony.org</a>.

The concert is sponsored by Bank of Tescott, Heritage Real Estate Advisors and Tom and Maggie Hemmer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677361803989.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Salina Symphony" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Salina Symphony</figcaption>
 </figure>By GARY DEMUTH Salina SymphonyStir up a bit of Bizet, Broadway and The Beatles, and what do you get?A soufflé of a pops concert from the Salina Symphony titled, appropriately enough, Love is All You Need.The concert’s title comes from the lyrics of one of The Beatles’ most popular songs and will feature an orchestral tribute to the Fab Four encompassing the range of their unmatched musical legacy.“I’ve done this Beatles tribute before, and it’s great,” said Yaniv Segal, conductor and music director of the Salina Symphony. “It includes both well-known and less known Beatles songs. It follows the scope of their music, which I think is timeless and generation-less.”The Salina Symphony’s All You Need is Love concert will begin at 4 p.m. March 5 at the Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Guest performer will be Samantha Rose Williams, a Philadelphia-based mezzo-soprano and crossover singer who has performed in numerous operas and such classic musicals as My Fair Lady and Sweeney Todd.Williams will perform several Broadway-based romantic ballads during the concert, including I Could Have Danced All Night from My Fair Lady, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Misérables, Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,&nbsp; from Evita and&nbsp; On the Steps of the Palace from&nbsp; Into the Woods.“(Williams) is a wonderful singer joining us,” Segal said. “She has such a great stage presence and can sing both Broadway and opera.”Timeless classicsOrchestral selections performed by the Salina Symphony, in addition to The Beatles tribute, will be a mixture of timeless romantic classical works and contemporary romantic symphonic movie scores.Selections will include the overture from the Disney animated classic Beauty and the Beast, Claire de lune by Debussy, L’amour est un oiseau from Carmen by Bizet, the waltz from Sleeping Beauty&nbsp;by Tchaikovsky and Across the Stars, the love theme from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones by John Williams.“Somewhere you’ve heard a lot of this music, whether it’s in movies or commercials,” Segal said. “In this concert, I’m trying to blur the lines between what's considered pop and light classical.The concert will end with Love is All You Need, the Beatles tribute arranged and orchestrated by Bruce Healey.“The Beatles laid it down - it’s just incredible what they accomplished,” Segal said. “Everyone knows their music, so if people want to sing along with it, I’ll be more than happy.”Segal will host a pre-concert talk beginning at 3 p.m. March 5 in the Stiefel Theatre’s Watson Room. Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. Those attending are instructed to enter through the main theater doors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677361854906.jpeg" alt="Samantha Williams. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony" />
 <figcaption>Samantha Williams. Photo courtesy Salina Symphony</figcaption>
 </figure>Guest performerSamantha Rose Williams earned a bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and a master's degree in music in voice performance at the University of Michigan. In addition to performing on opera and musical stages throughout the U.S., Williams is manager of institutional giving for Opera Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.Williams said she was invited by Segal to sing with the Salina Symphony after a previous collaboration at Ann Arbor, Mich., was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.“We had done all of our rehearsals just before everything shut down,” she said. “Then he sent an email asking what I was doing this year and said he would be honored if I would do this concert with him.”Segal said that after their first concert was canceled, he wanted to work with Williams again if given the opportunity.“Some tunes I had suggested she do, but I also asked what she would like to sing,” he said.During her visit to Salina, Williams plans to visit Southeast of Saline High School and Kansas Wesleyan University to perform selections from her most recent artistic project American Patriots, a staged song cycle that seeks to examine patriotism from three different American perspectives: African American, Native American and white working class American.“It’s a newly commissioned work that encourages people to think about American patriotism,” she said.Williams said she is excited about performing with the Salina Symphony.“Singing in front of an orchestra is what it’s all about, using every centimeter of your body to make sure you project over all those instruments,” she said.Pops crossoverSegal said he didn’t want to limit himself to one genre of music when putting together what he called a “pops crossover” concert.“It’s meant to be a lighter concert, and now is a good time for that,” he said. “It’s just an afternoon of great music that just happens to be about love.”Tickets for the Salina Symphony Love is All You Need concert start at $29. Tickets may be purchased at the Stiefel Theatre box office, by calling 785-827-1998 or online at <a href="http://www.salinasymphony.org">www.salinasymphony.org</a>.The concert is sponsored by Bank of Tescott, Heritage Real Estate Advisors and Tom and Maggie Hemmer.

Salina Symphony pops crossover concert March 5

ABILENE - Emmanuel Church in Abilene is having an escape room fundraiser for its mission teams Thursday through Saturday.

"It is a super fun escape room event that is challenging enough for adult groups but also kid-friendly," the church noted in information released to Salina Post.

The suggested donation for the event is $10 per person.

Use the QR code below to reserve your time or click here.

By SALINA POSTABILENE - Emmanuel Church in Abilene is having an escape room fundraiser for its mission teams Thursday through Saturday."It is a super fun escape room event that is challenging enough for adult groups but also kid-friendly," the church noted in information released to Salina Post.The suggested donation for the event is $10 per person.Use the QR code below to reserve your time or click here.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677116485520.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Abilene church plans escape room fundraiser for mission teams

Calling them "fresh" and "exciting," Salina Arts &amp; Humanities today announced the main stage acts for this year's Smoky Hill River Festival. 

The 47th annual Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park. 

“Entertainment will feature an eclectic group of performers this year. Festival goers will hear a variety of genres including country, rock, soul, indie, and innovative fusion groups,” said festival entertainment coordinator Sarah Keck. “We will see the return of some family favorites and experience the largest number of new main stage performers to the festival in recent years. Attendees will get to enjoy both familiar and new sounds across the park.”

Following are the main stage acts as provided by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.

Paramount – Friday Headliner Traveling with amazing sound and light production, Paramount delivers a live experience of the decade called “The Big 80s!”

Welshly Arms - Saturday Headliner After dropping their anthemic single Legendary in 2017, the indie rock world was quickly introduced to Welshly Arms’ penchant for unleashing larger-than-life alt-rock bangers and spine-tingling live performances.

Howard Mahan &amp; Friends – Sunday Headliner Fresh off the release of their second record, Marigold, Howard Mahan &amp; Friends blend a variety of styles from roots blues to psychedelic rock.

Barnaby Bright Becky and Nathan Bliss make up the critically-acclaimed group Barnaby Bright and have accumulated a dedicated following that feeds on their ability to spin storytelling into sonic treasures.

Gabe Lee Equal parts classic songwriter and modern-day storyteller, Lee has built his own bridge between country, folk, and rock over the course of three acclaimed albums.

King Margo Two lifelong musicians who met in Nashville, Tenn., when they were hired for the same touring band. They are known for their blend of high-energy musicianship, thoughtful lyrics, and soaring harmonies.

Splatt Kansas City’s newest brass innovation. A collaborative pairing of vocalist/trombonists Kadesh Flow and Trevor Turla, Splatt blends soul, hip-hop, jazz, and funk together to generate a powerful, trombone-fronted musical experience.

The Freedom Affair The Freedom Affair is a nine-piece soul juggernaut. The band formed in 2017 with a vision to write original soul music inspired by the traditions of the genre’s past with a universal message looking toward the future.

Caitlin Krisko &amp; The Broadcast Krisko is known for her soaring vocal performances. This group is a powerhouse soul-rock band hailing from Asheville, N.C.

Making Movies A band that makes American music with an asterisk: because Making Movies’ sound encompasses the entirety of the Americas. It’s through this broader perspective that Making Movies crunches classic rock into Latin American rhythms — African-derived percussion and styles like rumba, merengue, mambo, and cumbia — in a way that feels oddly familiar, yet delivers the invigorating chills of hearing something singularly special.

Candice Hill Band An eclectic group highlighting the unique sounds of steelpan (also known as steel drum), mixed with guitars, vocals, bass, and percussion. The band entertains listeners with styles from calypso music, Latin jazz, soca, pop, reggae, and more.

Rudy Love Jr. &amp; The Encore A singer/songwriter/keyboardist with deep musical DNA, Rudy Love Jr. has developed a distinctive voice, giving his all with every performance. Rudy Love Jr. &amp; The Encore provides a seamless blend of R&amp;B, soul, funk, pop, and rock to the festival mainstage.

Latin Grammy-winning music duo 123 Andrés will be featured on the Children's Stage. Their catchy songs and lively performances get the whole family dancing, singing, and learning! These high-energy, joyful shows celebrate the Latinx experience and incorporate Spanish, English, and ASL languages.

Salina Arts &amp; Humanities noted that the entire entertainment roster will be available later this spring.

By SALINA POSTCalling them "fresh" and "exciting," Salina Arts &amp; Humanities today announced the main stage acts for this year's Smoky Hill River Festival. The 47th annual Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park. “Entertainment will feature an eclectic group of performers this year. Festival goers will hear a variety of genres including country, rock, soul, indie, and innovative fusion groups,” said festival entertainment coordinator Sarah Keck. “We will see the return of some family favorites and experience the largest number of new main stage performers to the festival in recent years. Attendees will get to enjoy both familiar and new sounds across the park.”Following are the main stage acts as provided by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677102548141.jpeg" alt="Paramount. Photos courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Paramount. Photos courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure>Paramount – Friday Headliner Traveling with amazing sound and light production, Paramount delivers a live experience of the decade called “The Big 80s!”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677102714947.jpeg" alt="Welshly Arms" />
 <figcaption>Welshly Arms</figcaption>
 </figure>Welshly Arms - Saturday Headliner After dropping their anthemic single Legendary in 2017, the indie rock world was quickly introduced to Welshly Arms’ penchant for unleashing larger-than-life alt-rock bangers and spine-tingling live performances.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677102796722.jpeg" alt="Howard Mahan &amp; Friends" />
 <figcaption>Howard Mahan &amp; Friends</figcaption>
 </figure>Howard Mahan &amp; Friends – Sunday Headliner Fresh off the release of their second record, Marigold, Howard Mahan &amp; Friends blend a variety of styles from roots blues to psychedelic rock.Barnaby Bright Becky and Nathan Bliss make up the critically-acclaimed group Barnaby Bright and have accumulated a dedicated following that feeds on their ability to spin storytelling into sonic treasures.Gabe Lee Equal parts classic songwriter and modern-day storyteller, Lee has built his own bridge between country, folk, and rock over the course of three acclaimed albums.King Margo Two lifelong musicians who met in Nashville, Tenn., when they were hired for the same touring band. They are known for their blend of high-energy musicianship, thoughtful lyrics, and soaring harmonies.Splatt Kansas City’s newest brass innovation. A collaborative pairing of vocalist/trombonists Kadesh Flow and Trevor Turla, Splatt blends soul, hip-hop, jazz, and funk together to generate a powerful, trombone-fronted musical experience.The Freedom Affair The Freedom Affair is a nine-piece soul juggernaut. The band formed in 2017 with a vision to write original soul music inspired by the traditions of the genre’s past with a universal message looking toward the future.Caitlin Krisko &amp; The Broadcast Krisko is known for her soaring vocal performances. This group is a powerhouse soul-rock band hailing from Asheville, N.C.Making Movies A band that makes American music with an asterisk: because Making Movies’ sound encompasses the entirety of the Americas. It’s through this broader perspective that Making Movies crunches classic rock into Latin American rhythms — African-derived percussion and styles like rumba, merengue, mambo, and cumbia — in a way that feels oddly familiar, yet delivers the invigorating chills of hearing something singularly special.Candice Hill Band An eclectic group highlighting the unique sounds of steelpan (also known as steel drum), mixed with guitars, vocals, bass, and percussion. The band entertains listeners with styles from calypso music, Latin jazz, soca, pop, reggae, and more.Rudy Love Jr. &amp; The Encore A singer/songwriter/keyboardist with deep musical DNA, Rudy Love Jr. has developed a distinctive voice, giving his all with every performance. Rudy Love Jr. &amp; The Encore provides a seamless blend of R&amp;B, soul, funk, pop, and rock to the festival mainstage.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677102943441.jpeg" alt="123 Andrés" />
 <figcaption>123 Andrés</figcaption>
 </figure>On the Children's StageLatin Grammy-winning music duo 123 Andrés will be featured on the Children's Stage. Their catchy songs and lively performances get the whole family dancing, singing, and learning! These high-energy, joyful shows celebrate the Latinx experience and incorporate Spanish, English, and ASL languages.Salina Arts &amp; Humanities noted that the entire entertainment roster will be available later this spring.

Smoky Hill River Festival main stage performers announced

Former Kansas Poet Laureate Huascar Medina is returning for a two-day residency in Salina area schools thanks to Salina Arts &amp; Humanities' Arts Infusion Program.

The residency is scheduled for March 1-2, according to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.

Additionally, the residency includes a poetry reading and discussion at 7 p.m. March 1 at Harmony Hideaway, 3488 N. Crystal Springs Road. The event is open to the public at no charge, however, registration is required. Persons interested can register online at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/huascar-medina-tickets-547725661197">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/huascar-medina-tickets-547725661197</a> or by calling 785-309-5770.

About the artist courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities

Many will recognize Medina for his previous work in Salina during the Spring Poetry Series. Medina has published two poetry books: Un Mango Grows in Kansas and How to Hang the Moon. He was the Poet Laureate of Kansas from 2019-2022. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Latino Book Review, KANSAS! Magazine, and Green Mountains Review, among other publications. He is a literary editor for seveneighfive magazine, a Sunday columnist for the Kansas Reflector, and a staff editor at South Broadway Press.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677037154862.png" alt="Huascar Medina. Photo courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Huascar Medina. Photo courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTFormer Kansas Poet Laureate Huascar Medina is returning for a two-day residency in Salina area schools thanks to Salina Arts &amp; Humanities' Arts Infusion Program.The residency is scheduled for March 1-2, according to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.Additionally, the residency includes a poetry reading and discussion at 7 p.m. March 1 at Harmony Hideaway, 3488 N. Crystal Springs Road. The event is open to the public at no charge, however, registration is required. Persons interested can register online at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/huascar-medina-tickets-547725661197">https://www.eventbrite.com/e/huascar-medina-tickets-547725661197</a> or by calling 785-309-5770.About the artist courtesy Salina Arts &amp; HumanitiesMany will recognize Medina for his previous work in Salina during the Spring Poetry Series. Medina has published two poetry books: Un Mango Grows in Kansas and How to Hang the Moon. He was the Poet Laureate of Kansas from 2019-2022. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Latino Book Review, KANSAS! Magazine, and Green Mountains Review, among other publications. He is a literary editor for seveneighfive magazine, a Sunday columnist for the Kansas Reflector, and a staff editor at South Broadway Press.

Huascar Medina returning to Salina for two-day residency

Sharks have arrived at the Rolling Hills Zoo! And while work continues on the new Bamboo Bay exhibit, you can visit a related exhibit in the Wildlife Museum's Earl Bane Gallery.

Bamboo Bay: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep will take visitors on a deep dive into prehistoric Kansas, 73 million years ago, when it was once covered by an ancient inland sea. The waters of the Western Interior Seaway that covered what is now Kansas, as well as much of the United States, "were warm, shallow, and inhabited by a plethora of marine animals, including bony fish like the monstrous Xiphactinus, sharks, mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, pteranodon, mollusks (including ammonites), protophyraenas, and winged pterosaurs, which patrolled the skies overhead," the zoo explained in a news release issued late this afternoon.

"Fossils from these long extinct species are now on display courtesy of Ramo and Pam Decker and their three children, Kerstin, Kelsey, and Ray. Over the last 20 years, this family of avid paleontologists has been collecting fossils throughout Kansas, focusing much of their efforts on a specific layer of rock in north-central Kansas known as Codell Stone," the zoo noted.

Among the fossils found by the Deckers are 22 shark species, 13 fish, and three reptiles, including the plesiosaur and mosasaur.

"One of the shark species discovered was previously unknown, and the first of its kind to ever be found! This newly unearthed species of extinct shark would later be named Squalicorax deckeri in honor of the Deckers," the zoo reported.

Additionally, as the zoo continues to renovate the former Reptile Building into its new Bamboo Bay, the zoo's new cat chain sharks can be seen in the Earl Bane Gallery’s saltwater aquarium along with a skate embryo (a developing baby cat shark), according to information from the zoo. The developing shark is still in a tough leathery pouch known as a mermaid’s purse, which is protecting the embryo.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1677028530962.jpeg" alt="The&nbsp;Bamboo Bay: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep exhibit in the Earl Bane Gallery. Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>The&nbsp;Bamboo Bay: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep exhibit in the Earl Bane Gallery. Photo courtesy Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTSharks have arrived at the Rolling Hills Zoo! And while work continues on the new Bamboo Bay exhibit, you can visit a related exhibit in the Wildlife Museum's Earl Bane Gallery.Bamboo Bay: Uncovering the Mysteries of the Deep will take visitors on a deep dive into prehistoric Kansas, 73 million years ago, when it was once covered by an ancient inland sea. The waters of the Western Interior Seaway that covered what is now Kansas, as well as much of the United States, "were warm, shallow, and inhabited by a plethora of marine animals, including bony fish like the monstrous Xiphactinus, sharks, mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, pteranodon, mollusks (including ammonites), protophyraenas, and winged pterosaurs, which patrolled the skies overhead," the zoo explained in a news release issued late this afternoon."Fossils from these long extinct species are now on display courtesy of Ramo and Pam Decker and their three children, Kerstin, Kelsey, and Ray. Over the last 20 years, this family of avid paleontologists has been collecting fossils throughout Kansas, focusing much of their efforts on a specific layer of rock in north-central Kansas known as Codell Stone," the zoo noted.Among the fossils found by the Deckers are 22 shark species, 13 fish, and three reptiles, including the plesiosaur and mosasaur."One of the shark species discovered was previously unknown, and the first of its kind to ever be found! This newly unearthed species of extinct shark would later be named Squalicorax deckeri in honor of the Deckers," the zoo reported.Additionally, as the zoo continues to renovate the former Reptile Building into its new Bamboo Bay, the zoo's new cat chain sharks can be seen in the Earl Bane Gallery’s saltwater aquarium along with a skate embryo (a developing baby cat shark), according to information from the zoo. The developing shark is still in a tough leathery pouch known as a mermaid’s purse, which is protecting the embryo.

Sharks in residence at Rolling Hills Zoo; exhibit looks at ancient sea over Kansas

A group of five Kansas Wesleyan University students has been selected to&nbsp; perform as part of the Kansas Intercollegiate Orchestra.

The performance is part of this year’s Kansas Music Educators Association event Thursday-Saturday in Wichita.

Abigail Ramos (Garden City), Aubreigh Heck (Hutchinson), Maria Stanislow (Junction City), Luke Moore (Garden City) and Alex Burns (Fort Collins, Colo.) were selected by audition for the prestigious ensemble, which features collegiate string players from across Kansas.

“Each of these five has tremendous talent, but more than that, they each represent the work ethic it takes to truly manifest that talent,” said Leonardo Rosario, director of strings at KWU. “This is a well-deserved honor, and I look forward to seeing what all of the students accomplish moving forward.”

The ensemble will be conducted by James Mick of Ithaca College (N.Y.), conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676948241005.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy KWU" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWU</figcaption>
 </figure>KWUA group of five Kansas Wesleyan University students has been selected to&nbsp; perform as part of the Kansas Intercollegiate Orchestra.The performance is part of this year’s Kansas Music Educators Association event Thursday-Saturday in Wichita.Abigail Ramos (Garden City), Aubreigh Heck (Hutchinson), Maria Stanislow (Junction City), Luke Moore (Garden City) and Alex Burns (Fort Collins, Colo.) were selected by audition for the prestigious ensemble, which features collegiate string players from across Kansas.“Each of these five has tremendous talent, but more than that, they each represent the work ethic it takes to truly manifest that talent,” said Leonardo Rosario, director of strings at KWU. “This is a well-deserved honor, and I look forward to seeing what all of the students accomplish moving forward.”The ensemble will be conducted by James Mick of Ithaca College (N.Y.), conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.

Five KWU students selected for KMEA performance

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press

LONDON — Andrew Lloyd Webber, the English composer who created the scores for blockbuster musicals such as "Cats,'' "The Phantom of the Opera'' and "Evita,'' has written the anthem for King Charles III's coronation, adapting a piece of church music that encourages singers to make a "joyful noise."

The work by Webber is one of a dozen new pieces Charles commissioned for the grand occasion taking place May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It includes words adapted from Psalm 98 and is scored specifically for the abbey's choir and organ.

"I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion," Webber said in a statement distributed by Buckingham Palace.

The program for the king's coronation ceremony includes older music and new compositions as the palace seeks to blend traditional and modern elements that reflect the realities of modern Britain. New pieces were composed by artists with roots in all four of the United Kingdom's constituent nations, as well as in the Commonwealth and foreign countries that have sent so many people to its shores.

The service will include works by William Byrd (1543–1623), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), Edward Elgar (1857–1934), Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941), William Walton (1902–1983), Hubert Parry (1848–1918) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958), whose music has featured in previous coronations, along with a piece from the contemporary Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.

There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J. Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams and Debbie Wiseman.

"The decision to combine old and new reflects the cultural breadth of the age in which we live,'' said Andrew Nethsingha, the organist and master of choristers at Westminster Abbey.

"Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey since 1066. It has been a privilege to collaborate with his majesty in choosing fine musicians and accessible, communicative music for this great occasion," Nethsingha said.

In all, six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission — spanning the classical, sacred, film, television and musical theater genres — were created for the coronation.

The program will also include personal touches, including a musical tribute to Charles' late father, Prince Philip, who was born a Greek prince. The new monarch requested Greek Orthodox music, which will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.

Though specifics on some of the material are being kept under wraps, one hymn will definitely be part of the service: Handel's "Zadok the Priest."

The hymn, with its robust chorus of "God Save the King," has been played at every coronation since it was commissioned for the coronation of King George II in 1727.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676831948421.jpeg" alt="Andrew Lloyd Webber. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, 2009 File)" />
 <figcaption>Andrew Lloyd Webber. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, 2009 File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DANICA KIRKA Associated PressLONDON — Andrew Lloyd Webber, the English composer who created the scores for blockbuster musicals such as "Cats,'' "The Phantom of the Opera'' and "Evita,'' has written the anthem for King Charles III's coronation, adapting a piece of church music that encourages singers to make a "joyful noise."The work by Webber is one of a dozen new pieces Charles commissioned for the grand occasion taking place May 6 at Westminster Abbey. It includes words adapted from Psalm 98 and is scored specifically for the abbey's choir and organ."I hope my anthem reflects this joyful occasion," Webber said in a statement distributed by Buckingham Palace.The program for the king's coronation ceremony includes older music and new compositions as the palace seeks to blend traditional and modern elements that reflect the realities of modern Britain. New pieces were composed by artists with roots in all four of the United Kingdom's constituent nations, as well as in the Commonwealth and foreign countries that have sent so many people to its shores.The service will include works by William Byrd (1543–1623), George Frideric Handel (1685–1759), Edward Elgar (1857–1934), Henry Walford Davies (1869–1941), William Walton (1902–1983), Hubert Parry (1848–1918) and Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958), whose music has featured in previous coronations, along with a piece from the contemporary Welsh composer Karl Jenkins.There will also be new works by Sarah Class, Nigel Hess, Paul Mealor, Tarik O'Regan, Roxanna Panufnik, Shirley J. Thompson, Judith Weir, Roderick Williams and Debbie Wiseman."The decision to combine old and new reflects the cultural breadth of the age in which we live,'' said Andrew Nethsingha, the organist and master of choristers at Westminster Abbey."Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey since 1066. It has been a privilege to collaborate with his majesty in choosing fine musicians and accessible, communicative music for this great occasion," Nethsingha said.In all, six orchestral commissions, five choral commissions and one organ commission — spanning the classical, sacred, film, television and musical theater genres — were created for the coronation.The program will also include personal touches, including a musical tribute to Charles' late father, Prince Philip, who was born a Greek prince. The new monarch requested Greek Orthodox music, which will be performed by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble.Though specifics on some of the material are being kept under wraps, one hymn will definitely be part of the service: Handel's "Zadok the Priest."The hymn, with its robust chorus of "God Save the King," has been played at every coronation since it was commissioned for the coronation of King George II in 1727.

Anthem for Charles III's coronation written by Lloyd Webber

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-492&amp;fbclid=IwAR1jvZzUVF78obe-tE3D4Yi_H_R_GPz7b4nsO9-522CV4v2F1irzH7ivs_0" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-492</a> ***

There are three new bestsellers, 15 new movies, one new audiobook, and 141 other new books. The new bestsellers this week are "Go-To Dinners," "Happy Place," and "Homecoming." The new movies this week include "The Old Way," "Joe Pickett: Season One," and "House Party."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-492&amp;fbclid=IwAR1jvZzUVF78obe-tE3D4Yi_H_R_GPz7b4nsO9-522CV4v2F1irzH7ivs_0" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-492</a> ***There are three new bestsellers, 15 new movies, one new audiobook, and 141 other new books. The new bestsellers this week are "Go-To Dinners," "Happy Place," and "Homecoming." The new movies this week include "The Old Way," "Joe Pickett: Season One," and "House Party."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676736678400.jpeg" alt="what's new at SPL 2182023.jpg" />
 <figcaption>what's new at SPL 2182023.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at Salina Public Library

Attention artists: Salina Downtown, Inc., needs your help! From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc">Salina Downtown, Inc., Facebook page</a>:

Attention artists: Salina Downtown, Inc., needs your help! From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc">Salina Downtown, Inc., Facebook page</a>:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsalinadowntowninc%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0tKf5Ss751fRXK9e1FBfyuYH6KJgTKrN8kLr2WD8NbqqQ5qHUJmNeJennLuT63Kfl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="687" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Salina Downtown, Inc., seeks artists for mural project

Smoky Valley Arts &amp; Folklife Center

LINDSBORG – Smoky Valley Arts &amp; Folklife Center seeks entries for its upcoming 11th Lindsborg Collects…Lindsborg Art exhibition.

The exhibition is scheduled for March 10 through April 9 in the gallery at 114 ½ S. Main Street. This exhibition celebrates local collectors of art, focusing on the stories behind their favorite works made by local artists.

A community reception for the exhibition is scheduled for March 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the center.

Entries are open to anyone in the USD 400 school district or with a 67456 mailing address who has a piece of Lindsborg art or craft in any medium and is willing to loan it and share its story for the exhibit. For this exhibit, the story is as important as the artwork. The story can reflect the Lindsborg art economy, when and how it was purchased or acquired. It could be about the unusual nature of the piece itself or a personal connection to the artist.

The deadline for entries is March 5, and works can be delivered to SVAFC during regular hours, Friday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., or at The Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main, during regular weekday hours. The entries may be picked up April 10 before noon at SVAFC.&nbsp;

Entry forms are available at SVAFC or on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyvalleyartsandfolklifecenter.org/" target="_blank">www.smokyvalleyartsandfolklifecenter.org</a>.

Smoky Valley Arts &amp; Folklife CenterLINDSBORG – Smoky Valley Arts &amp; Folklife Center seeks entries for its upcoming 11th Lindsborg Collects…Lindsborg Art exhibition.The exhibition is scheduled for March 10 through April 9 in the gallery at 114 ½ S. Main Street. This exhibition celebrates local collectors of art, focusing on the stories behind their favorite works made by local artists.A community reception for the exhibition is scheduled for March 12 from 2-4 p.m. at the center.Entries are open to anyone in the USD 400 school district or with a 67456 mailing address who has a piece of Lindsborg art or craft in any medium and is willing to loan it and share its story for the exhibit. For this exhibit, the story is as important as the artwork. The story can reflect the Lindsborg art economy, when and how it was purchased or acquired. It could be about the unusual nature of the piece itself or a personal connection to the artist.The deadline for entries is March 5, and works can be delivered to SVAFC during regular hours, Friday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., or at The Red Barn Studio, 212 S. Main, during regular weekday hours. The entries may be picked up April 10 before noon at SVAFC.&nbsp;Entry forms are available at SVAFC or on its website,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyvalleyartsandfolklifecenter.org/" target="_blank">www.smokyvalleyartsandfolklifecenter.org</a>.

Smoky Valley Arts & Folklife Center seeks exhibition entries

A musical triple treat is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in August.

Jane Gates, Stiefel executive director, announced Thursday that Trombone Shorty &amp; Orleans Avenue and Ziggy Marley with Mavis Staples are scheduled to perform beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Tickets start at $99 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Buy online at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a> or by calling the Stiefel at 785-827-1998. The Stiefel box office is open for phone or walk-up sales from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

About the artists courtesy the Stiefel Theatre

It’s been a remarkable year for Trombone Shorty, who released his most recent album, Lifted, last April. He performed “Shotgun” at the MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson during Grammy week this month and also performed at the Grammy Salute to Paul Simon Concert which aired this past December on CBS. Additional television appearances in 2022 included the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ESPN’s Sportscenter, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Good Morning America.

Shorty spent much of 2022 with his band headlining prestigious venues including Red Rocks, the Hollywood Bowl and Central Park Summerstage. Just last week, he helped to kick off the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans with his 3rd-annual Shorty Gras concert following the Krewe of Freret Parade, which featured his very own parade float.  In January he led a cultural exchange trip to Cuba in partnership with his own Trombone Shorty Foundation. The five-day “Havana Funk Expedition” trip celebrated the longstanding musical and cultural connections between New Orleans and Cuba. Other 2022 highlights include his first-ever GRAMMY win for his work on Jon Batiste’s album and an in-depth interview with Marc Maron's WTF podcast where Marc attested “I can’t remember the last time I heard a power horn band like that.”

Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years. The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful songcraft. Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity, while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing; alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.

It’s impossible to listen to a voice like Mavis Staples’ without contemplating all she’s been through in her life—the album cover features a heartrending Gordon Parks photo that speaks to the casual cruelty of racial segregation in 1950’s Alabama—but it only serves to make her optimism and resilience that much more inspiring and contagious. There is darkness and doubt on the album to be sure (the spirit of Pops Staples informs the mournful “Heavy On My Mind,” which recognizes that some wounds never heal, while the poignant “Never Needed Anyone” stings with the pain of lingering regret) but it’s consistently overpowered by hope and conviction. “Been holding on too long to let go / Running too hard to slow down / Believing too deep to not have faith,” Staples confesses on the soulful “One More Change To Make.” In that sense, the album’s title is more than just an observation. When Staples and Harper join forces to sing “We Get By,” it’s a prayer, a promise, an invitation.

“I sing because I want to leave people feeling better than I found them,” Staples concludes. “I want them to walk away with a positive message in their hearts, feeling stronger than they felt before. I’m singing to myself for those same reasons, too.”

Even the messenger needs a reminder every now and then.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676588528012.jpeg" alt="Trombone Shorty and Ziggy Marley. Photos courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Trombone Shorty and Ziggy Marley. Photos courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTA musical triple treat is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in August.Jane Gates, Stiefel executive director, announced Thursday that Trombone Shorty &amp; Orleans Avenue and Ziggy Marley with Mavis Staples are scheduled to perform beginning at 7 p.m. Aug. 12 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676588612738.jpeg" alt="Mavis Staples" />
 <figcaption>Mavis Staples</figcaption>
 </figure>Tickets start at $99 and go on sale at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Buy online at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a> or by calling the Stiefel at 785-827-1998. The Stiefel box office is open for phone or walk-up sales from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.About the artists courtesy the Stiefel TheatreIt’s been a remarkable year for Trombone Shorty, who released his most recent album, Lifted, last April. He performed “Shotgun” at the MusiCares Person of the Year event honoring Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson during Grammy week this month and also performed at the Grammy Salute to Paul Simon Concert which aired this past December on CBS. Additional television appearances in 2022 included the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, ESPN’s Sportscenter, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Good Morning America. Shorty spent much of 2022 with his band headlining prestigious venues including Red Rocks, the Hollywood Bowl and Central Park Summerstage. Just last week, he helped to kick off the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans with his 3rd-annual Shorty Gras concert following the Krewe of Freret Parade, which featured his very own parade float. In January he led a cultural exchange trip to Cuba in partnership with his own Trombone Shorty Foundation. The five-day “Havana Funk Expedition” trip celebrated the longstanding musical and cultural connections between New Orleans and Cuba. Other 2022 highlights include his first-ever GRAMMY win for his work on Jon Batiste’s album and an in-depth interview with Marc Maron's WTF podcast where Marc attested “I can’t remember the last time I heard a power horn band like that.”Ziggy Marley is an eight-time Grammy winner, Emmy winner, musician, producer, activist and humanitarian who has cultivated a legendary career for close to 40 years. The eldest son of Bob and Rita Marley, Ziggy has hewed his own path as a musical pioneer, infusing the reggae genre with funk, blues, rock and other elements through mindful songcraft. Equal parts master storyteller and motivational guide, he deftly explores issues from environmental awareness to self-empowerment, social injustice to political inequity, while returning again and again to the transformative power of love. And over the past 15 years with his own companies, Tuff Gong Worldwide and Ishti Music, Marley has complete control of his masters and publishing; alongside his charity URGE – benefiting the well-being of children in Jamaica, Africa and North America.It’s impossible to listen to a voice like Mavis Staples’ without contemplating all she’s been through in her life—the album cover features a heartrending Gordon Parks photo that speaks to the casual cruelty of racial segregation in 1950’s Alabama—but it only serves to make her optimism and resilience that much more inspiring and contagious. There is darkness and doubt on the album to be sure (the spirit of Pops Staples informs the mournful “Heavy On My Mind,” which recognizes that some wounds never heal, while the poignant “Never Needed Anyone” stings with the pain of lingering regret) but it’s consistently overpowered by hope and conviction. “Been holding on too long to let go / Running too hard to slow down / Believing too deep to not have faith,” Staples confesses on the soulful “One More Change To Make.” In that sense, the album’s title is more than just an observation. When Staples and Harper join forces to sing “We Get By,” it’s a prayer, a promise, an invitation.“I sing because I want to leave people feeling better than I found them,” Staples concludes. “I want them to walk away with a positive message in their hearts, feeling stronger than they felt before. I’m singing to myself for those same reasons, too.”Even the messenger needs a reminder every now and then.

Trombone Shorty, Ziggy Marley, Mavis Staples coming to Salina

Ben Folds is bringing his What Matters Most Tour to Salina in August.

Folds is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 11 in downtown Salina's Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Tickets start at $69 and are scheduled to go on sale at noon Friday. Buy online at: <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a> or by calling the Stiefel at 785-827-1998. The Stiefel box office is open for phone or walk-up sales from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

About the artist from the Stiefel Theatre

Folds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.

He's created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.

For over a decade he's performed with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras and currently serves as the first-ever artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

Folds released his first book - a collection of interrelated essays, anecdotes and lessons about art, life and music - in 2019, which debuted as a New York Times Best Seller, and he hosted a podcast series spinoff of his book titled Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds. In addition to solo rock and orchestral touring, he's also developing a new unscripted tv series with Fred Rogers Productions, continues to appear in various film/tv guest starring roles, and is working on two new albums.

An outspoken champion for arts education and music therapy funding in our nation's public schools, Folds has served for more than five years as an active member of the distinguished Artist Committee of Americans For The Arts (AFTA) and serves on the Board of AFTA's Arts Action Fund.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676521913622.jpeg" alt="Ben Folds is scheduled to perform in Salina's Stiefel Theatre in August. Photo ©ALYSSE GAFKJEN 2023 courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Ben Folds is scheduled to perform in Salina's Stiefel Theatre in August. Photo ©ALYSSE GAFKJEN 2023 courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTBen Folds is bringing his What Matters Most Tour to Salina in August.Folds is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 11 in downtown Salina's Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Tickets start at $69 and are scheduled to go on sale at noon Friday. Buy online at: <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org">www.stiefeltheatre.org</a> or by calling the Stiefel at 785-827-1998. The Stiefel box office is open for phone or walk-up sales from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.About the artist from the Stiefel TheatreFolds is widely regarded as one of the major music influencers of our generation.He's created an enormous body of genre-bending music that includes pop albums with Ben Folds Five, multiple solo albums, and numerous collaborative records.For over a decade he's performed with some of the world's greatest symphony orchestras and currently serves as the first-ever artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.Folds released his first book - a collection of interrelated essays, anecdotes and lessons about art, life and music - in 2019, which debuted as a New York Times Best Seller, and he hosted a podcast series spinoff of his book titled Lightning Bugs: Conversations with Ben Folds. In addition to solo rock and orchestral touring, he's also developing a new unscripted tv series with Fred Rogers Productions, continues to appear in various film/tv guest starring roles, and is working on two new albums.An outspoken champion for arts education and music therapy funding in our nation's public schools, Folds has served for more than five years as an active member of the distinguished Artist Committee of Americans For The Arts (AFTA) and serves on the Board of AFTA's Arts Action Fund.

Ben Folds scheduled to perform in Salina in August

Kansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will begin its spring schedule of on-campus performances Sunday, when the university’s choral and jazz ensembles perform in Sams Chapel. 

The event gets underway at 2 p.m. and admission is free.

The Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Anne Gassmann, will perform Gloria from Mozart’s Mass in C Major, K. 317, the Sanctus from French composer Gabriel Faure’s Requiem,&nbsp;and a contemporary piece called The Honey Bee from The Bee and the Frog by David von Kampen.

The Wesleyan Chorale, also conducted by Gassmann, will perform Sing we and chant it by English Renaissance composer Thomas Morley, an arrangement of Louis Armstrong’s popular hit What a Wonderful World, and It’s You I Like, composed by Fred Rogers.

The KWU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Steve Lueth, will provide a selection of standard jazz repertoire pieces, including Hoagy Carmichael’s Georgia on My Mind, Summertime by George Gershwin, and Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima.

KWUKansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will begin its spring schedule of on-campus performances Sunday, when the university’s choral and jazz ensembles perform in Sams Chapel. The event gets underway at 2 p.m. and admission is free.The Philharmonic Choir, conducted by Anne Gassmann, will perform Gloria from Mozart’s Mass in C Major, K. 317, the Sanctus from French composer Gabriel Faure’s Requiem,&nbsp;and a contemporary piece called The Honey Bee from The Bee and the Frog by David von Kampen.The Wesleyan Chorale, also conducted by Gassmann, will perform Sing we and chant it by English Renaissance composer Thomas Morley, an arrangement of Louis Armstrong’s popular hit What a Wonderful World, and It’s You I Like, composed by Fred Rogers.The KWU Jazz Ensemble, directed by Steve Lueth, will provide a selection of standard jazz repertoire pieces, including Hoagy Carmichael’s Georgia on My Mind, Summertime by George Gershwin, and Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima.

KWU music to open spring schedule Sunday

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-491&amp;fbclid=IwAR2A2fHZTlUrEbRB7AMLVaTb5JrF5Yxl-KyP7l2S36McxZnqBKLJNsTTJhI" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-491</a> ***

There are 32 new movies, 31 new music CDs, and six new books. The new movies this week include "A Man Called Otto," "Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist," and "The Whale."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-491&amp;fbclid=IwAR2A2fHZTlUrEbRB7AMLVaTb5JrF5Yxl-KyP7l2S36McxZnqBKLJNsTTJhI" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-491</a> ***There are 32 new movies, 31 new music CDs, and six new books. The new movies this week include "A Man Called Otto," "Left Behind: Rise of the Antichrist," and "The Whale."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676134394878.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Clarence the Catfish is the 2022 SculptureTour Salina People's Choice Award winner.

Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock, who also serves as chair of SculptureTour Salina, made the announcement late this morning at Clarence's current location near the northeast corner of N. Santa Fe Avenue and E. Iron Avenue.

"This would not be possible without our sponsors and our friends. This is a privately funded sculpture tour and without those individuals, the funding would not be available," Hoppock said of the tour.

The current tour, which features 22 pieces of art throughout downtown Salina, including Clarence the Catfish, will be available for public viewing through mid-April.

"So if you haven't had a chance to come down and see them, pick a nice day, come downtown, see the sculptures, visit the merchants. Downtown Salina is vibrant and continues to grow in excitement, so we'd love to have you down here," Hoppock said.

Clarence the Catfish was created by Joe and Terry Malesky, the artistic team of New Adventures Sculptures, Strafford, Mo., according to information from SculptureTour Salina.

As the People's Choice Award winner, Clarence the Catfish will be purchased by the City of Salina for its permanent sculpture collection and will be placed somewhere in the city for the public to enjoy. This will be the 12th year that the city purchases the People's Choice Award winner, Hoppock said. Previous People's Choice Award winners appear below.

Hoppock first announced the Kids' Choice Award winner: Say Cheese by Justin Deister of Louisville, Colo. That award carries with it a $500 cash prize for the winner.

"We think it's important that the youth get involved in this so we started doing a kids' choice," Hoppock said.

Say Cheese currently is located in front of Barolo Grille, 112 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

The other award announced was the People's Merit Award which is given to the sculpture that receives the second most number of votes in the People's Choice voting, and carries with it a $1,000 cash prize. This year's People's Merit Award winner is Ratatouille by Dale Lewis of Hastings, Minn.

Ratatouille currently is located in front of Martinelli's Little Italy, 158 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Hoppock also said that the artwork for the 2023 sculpture tour has been selected. The UNwrap Party for the 2023 sculpture tour is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 6 at the City Lights Stage on the southwest corner of N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street. More information about the UNwrap Party will be announced at a later date.

Previous People's Choice Award-winning sculptures and their locations in Salina include the following, according to SculptureTour Salina.

2011 – Watch Dog by Louise Peterson, on display in Oakdale Park Sculpture Garden, 730 Oakdale Drive

2012 – Sweet Kisses by Marianne Caroselli, on display in Oakdale Park Sculpture Garden, 730 Oakdale Drive

2013 – Farmer by Lawrence Starck, soon to be on display at Salina Senior Center, 245 N. Ninth Street.

2014 – Next Up by James Haire, on display at Kansas Wesleyan University, 100 E. Claflin Avenue, near the tennis courts.

2015 – Daughters of Peace by Benjamin Victor, on display on the second floor of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.

2016 – Slim by Dale Lewis, on display at Tony’s Pizza Event Center, 800 The Midway.

2017 – Picasso’s Violin by Jodie Bliss, on display at The Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

2018 – Patches by Dale Lewis, on display at The Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue.

2019 – Wheat Harvest by James Mages, on display at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.

2020 – For the Love of Steel by Sunny Corbett, on display on N. Santa Fe Avenue in front of The Voo, 249 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

2021 – Butterfly Tree by Reven Swenson, on display south of the Salina Public Library, 301 W. Elm Street.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676058507327.png" alt="Mike Hoppock announces the People's Choice Award winner, "Clarence the Catfish," in downtown Salina Friday morning. Photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc">Salina Downtown Inc. Facebook Live video</a>" />
 <figcaption>Mike Hoppock announces the People's Choice Award winner, "Clarence the Catfish," in downtown Salina Friday morning. Photo courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc">Salina Downtown Inc. Facebook Live video</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostClarence the Catfish is the 2022 SculptureTour Salina People's Choice Award winner.Salina Mayor Mike Hoppock, who also serves as chair of SculptureTour Salina, made the announcement late this morning at Clarence's current location near the northeast corner of N. Santa Fe Avenue and E. Iron Avenue."This would not be possible without our sponsors and our friends. This is a privately funded sculpture tour and without those individuals, the funding would not be available," Hoppock said of the tour.The current tour, which features 22 pieces of art throughout downtown Salina, including Clarence the Catfish, will be available for public viewing through mid-April."So if you haven't had a chance to come down and see them, pick a nice day, come downtown, see the sculptures, visit the merchants. Downtown Salina is vibrant and continues to grow in excitement, so we'd love to have you down here," Hoppock said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676058707392.jpeg" alt=""Clarence The Catfish." Photos courtesy SculptureTour Salina" />
 <figcaption>"Clarence The Catfish." Photos courtesy SculptureTour Salina</figcaption>
 </figure>Clarence the Catfish was created by Joe and Terry Malesky, the artistic team of New Adventures Sculptures, Strafford, Mo., according to information from SculptureTour Salina. As the People's Choice Award winner, Clarence the Catfish will be purchased by the City of Salina for its permanent sculpture collection and will be placed somewhere in the city for the public to enjoy. This will be the 12th year that the city purchases the People's Choice Award winner, Hoppock said. Previous People's Choice Award winners appear below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676058831133.jpeg" alt=""Say Cheese"&nbsp; by Justin Deister" />
 <figcaption>"Say Cheese"&nbsp; by Justin Deister</figcaption>
 </figure>Hoppock first announced the Kids' Choice Award winner: Say Cheese by Justin Deister of Louisville, Colo. That award carries with it a $500 cash prize for the winner."We think it's important that the youth get involved in this so we started doing a kids' choice," Hoppock said.Say Cheese currently is located in front of Barolo Grille, 112 S. Santa Fe Avenue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676058953532.jpeg" alt=""Ratatouille"&nbsp;by Dale Lewis&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>"Ratatouille"&nbsp;by Dale Lewis&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The other award announced was the People's Merit Award which is given to the sculpture that receives the second most number of votes in the People's Choice voting, and carries with it a $1,000 cash prize. This year's People's Merit Award winner is Ratatouille by Dale Lewis of Hastings, Minn.Ratatouille currently is located in front of Martinelli's Little Italy, 158 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Hoppock also said that the artwork for the 2023 sculpture tour has been selected. The UNwrap Party for the 2023 sculpture tour is scheduled for 11 a.m. May 6 at the City Lights Stage on the southwest corner of N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street. More information about the UNwrap Party will be announced at a later date.Previous People's Choice Award-winning sculptures and their locations in Salina include the following, according to SculptureTour Salina.2011 – Watch Dog by Louise Peterson, on display in Oakdale Park Sculpture Garden, 730 Oakdale Drive2012 – Sweet Kisses by Marianne Caroselli, on display in Oakdale Park Sculpture Garden, 730 Oakdale Drive2013 – Farmer by Lawrence Starck, soon to be on display at Salina Senior Center, 245 N. Ninth Street.2014 – Next Up by James Haire, on display at Kansas Wesleyan University, 100 E. Claflin Avenue, near the tennis courts.2015 – Daughters of Peace by Benjamin Victor, on display on the second floor of the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.2016 – Slim by Dale Lewis, on display at Tony’s Pizza Event Center, 800 The Midway.2017 – Picasso’s Violin by Jodie Bliss, on display at The Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe Avenue.2018 – Patches by Dale Lewis, on display at The Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue.2019 – Wheat Harvest by James Mages, on display at the City-County Building, 300 W. Ash Street.2020 – For the Love of Steel by Sunny Corbett, on display on N. Santa Fe Avenue in front of The Voo, 249 N. Santa Fe Avenue.2021 – Butterfly Tree by Reven Swenson, on display south of the Salina Public Library, 301 W. Elm Street.