Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.910kina.com/">910AM 107.5 FM.</a>

Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KINA&amp;embedOpened=true&amp;embedOpenedApp=song&amp;embedOpenedSong=910683and6831076845683KINA&amp;embedOpenedArtist=&amp;embedOpenedAlbum=">here.</a>&nbsp;

9:05-9:30 a.m. Jane Anderson, Friends of the River Foundation executive director shares the need to knows about the upcoming Spring Spruce up, and updates on the Smoky Hill River Project

9:30-10:00 a.m. Saline County Commissioner Joe Hay Jr. to discuss the ongoing water crisis at Sundowner Mobile Home and Trailer Park

10:00- 10:30 a.m. Brenda Gutierrez shares information about the Downs Storytelling Festival taking place April 26-27

10:30-11:00 a.m. Brent Curtis, Environmental&nbsp;Education &amp;&nbsp;Enforcement for the City of Salina shares information about E-Waste Recycling Day coming up in May

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591971280271.jpeg" alt="KINA New logo Blue Black" />
 <figcaption>KINA New logo Blue Black</figcaption>
 </figure>Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.910kina.com/">910AM 107.5 FM.</a>Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KINA&amp;embedOpened=true&amp;embedOpenedApp=song&amp;embedOpenedSong=910683and6831076845683KINA&amp;embedOpenedArtist=&amp;embedOpenedAlbum=">here.</a>&nbsp;9:05-9:30 a.m. Jane Anderson, Friends of the River Foundation executive director shares the need to knows about the upcoming Spring Spruce up, and updates on the Smoky Hill River Project9:30-10:00 a.m. Saline County Commissioner Joe Hay Jr. to discuss the ongoing water crisis at Sundowner Mobile Home and Trailer Park10:00- 10:30 a.m. Brenda Gutierrez shares information about the Downs Storytelling Festival taking place April 26-2710:30-11:00 a.m. Brent Curtis, Environmental&nbsp;Education &amp;&nbsp;Enforcement for the City of Salina shares information about E-Waste Recycling Day coming up in May

910 KINA Saturday Morning Show Lineup

By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County&nbsp;farmer and rancher

There was&nbsp;a line in one of those corny comedy/action-adventure movies&nbsp;that&nbsp;made me roll my eyes recently.&nbsp;A character asked,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;in Kansas?”&nbsp;about their inability to understand why a mutual friend moved to Kansas.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;not the line that made me roll my eyes. I am a transplant myself and know from experience that Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;seem very exciting until you see what makes it such a wonderful place to live.

The line I am still thinking about was the response,&nbsp;“she&nbsp;married a rich rancher.”&nbsp;The insinuation that the only thing making Kansas attractive to a highly affluent,&nbsp;college educated&nbsp;woman is lots of money, makes me&nbsp;little concerned about how many people think all ranchers and&nbsp;farmers are rich.

Since Tax Day is this week, I thought it would be appropriate to dive into how much money&nbsp;farmers make and why people have so many misconceptions about the topic.

In my opinion, several culprits create mystery around&nbsp;farm&nbsp;income levels. The first is non-farm&nbsp;people. I find it humorous to watch an outsider ask a&nbsp;farmer how many acres or cows they have. Some&nbsp;farmers see that as asking point-blank,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;your salary?”&nbsp;The poor outsider is probably just trying to show interest and&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;have a clue if 500 or 5,000 acres was&nbsp;normal, let alone have any insight on the value of a cow.

Farmers also contribute to the problem. Growing up, my parents had off-farm&nbsp;jobs, so I never really&nbsp;thought about if&nbsp;our dairy made money.&nbsp;In college, I&nbsp;meet&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids who somewhat proudly talked about getting Pell&nbsp;grants&nbsp;because their parents had a low income or at least had a low taxable income.&nbsp;I never liked that attitude and was glad to meet other&nbsp;farmers who were content to pay taxes because that meant their business was&nbsp;successful&nbsp;and they were&nbsp;being&nbsp;productive members of society.

Legislators and estate taxes are also part of the misunderstanding.&nbsp;Farming is incredibly capital intensive; high land and equipment prices make it&nbsp;really&nbsp;difficult to get started&nbsp;if you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;inherit family assets.&nbsp;Politicians regularly point to a lower threshold for estate taxes&nbsp;as a way&nbsp;to tax the rich. The reality for&nbsp;farmers and many family businesses is that property and equipment quickly add up to&nbsp;large&nbsp;figures.

Those dollar signs&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;the same as cash. They represent the tractor and field used to plant a crop. Most family&nbsp;farms would have to sell land and equipment to pay estate taxes if&nbsp;the threshold were lowered. Unless a&nbsp;farmer sells out, they will never see the&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;money in cash that makes people think they are rich.

Farmers deal with&nbsp;bigger&nbsp;numbers than other people. They may bring in $1 million in a great year and $100,000 the next – before expenses.&nbsp;After paying for seed, fertilizer, machinery, fuel, rent and other business costs, a&nbsp;farmer may make six figures or lose money for the year.

Farmers&nbsp;have&nbsp;tremendous amounts of money&nbsp;invested&nbsp;in equipment, inputs and land. Their risk level is high; they make many decisions without knowing if the weather or market at harvest will cover the costs&nbsp;they’ve&nbsp;already incurred.&nbsp;All&nbsp;farmers experience bad years. Sometimes&nbsp;they event&nbsp;put a&nbsp;farmer out of business. The stress and uncertainty of trying to keep the&nbsp;farm&nbsp;alive for the next generation&nbsp;is often cause of&nbsp;mental health issues.

Judging a&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;income is complicated and difficult because there are too many factors;&nbsp;rich or poor, materialistic or humble, heavily leveraged or paid in cash. My experience is that&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;finances may look different&nbsp;than&nbsp;the average American, but we really&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;that different at all.

"Insight"&nbsp;is a weekly column published by Kansas&nbsp;Farm&nbsp;Bureau, the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;largest&nbsp;farm&nbsp;organization&nbsp;whose&nbsp;mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575406519723.jpeg" alt="Jackie Mundt" />
 <figcaption>Jackie Mundt</figcaption>
 </figure>By JACKIE MUNDT Pratt&nbsp;County&nbsp;farmer and rancherThere was&nbsp;a line in one of those corny comedy/action-adventure movies&nbsp;that&nbsp;made me roll my eyes recently.&nbsp;A character asked,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;in Kansas?”&nbsp;about their inability to understand why a mutual friend moved to Kansas.&nbsp;That’s&nbsp;not the line that made me roll my eyes. I am a transplant myself and know from experience that Kansas&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;seem very exciting until you see what makes it such a wonderful place to live.The line I am still thinking about was the response,&nbsp;“she&nbsp;married a rich rancher.”&nbsp;The insinuation that the only thing making Kansas attractive to a highly affluent,&nbsp;college educated&nbsp;woman is lots of money, makes me&nbsp;little concerned about how many people think all ranchers and&nbsp;farmers are rich.Since Tax Day is this week, I thought it would be appropriate to dive into how much money&nbsp;farmers make and why people have so many misconceptions about the topic.In my opinion, several culprits create mystery around&nbsp;farm&nbsp;income levels. The first is non-farm&nbsp;people. I find it humorous to watch an outsider ask a&nbsp;farmer how many acres or cows they have. Some&nbsp;farmers see that as asking point-blank,&nbsp;“What’s&nbsp;your salary?”&nbsp;The poor outsider is probably just trying to show interest and&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;have a clue if 500 or 5,000 acres was&nbsp;normal, let alone have any insight on the value of a cow.Farmers also contribute to the problem. Growing up, my parents had off-farm&nbsp;jobs, so I never really&nbsp;thought about if&nbsp;our dairy made money.&nbsp;In college, I&nbsp;meet&nbsp;farm&nbsp;kids who somewhat proudly talked about getting Pell&nbsp;grants&nbsp;because their parents had a low income or at least had a low taxable income.&nbsp;I never liked that attitude and was glad to meet other&nbsp;farmers who were content to pay taxes because that meant their business was&nbsp;successful&nbsp;and they were&nbsp;being&nbsp;productive members of society.Legislators and estate taxes are also part of the misunderstanding.&nbsp;Farming is incredibly capital intensive; high land and equipment prices make it&nbsp;really&nbsp;difficult to get started&nbsp;if you&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;inherit family assets.&nbsp;Politicians regularly point to a lower threshold for estate taxes&nbsp;as a way&nbsp;to tax the rich. The reality for&nbsp;farmers and many family businesses is that property and equipment quickly add up to&nbsp;large&nbsp;figures.Those dollar signs&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;the same as cash. They represent the tractor and field used to plant a crop. Most family&nbsp;farms would have to sell land and equipment to pay estate taxes if&nbsp;the threshold were lowered. Unless a&nbsp;farmer sells out, they will never see the&nbsp;kind of&nbsp;money in cash that makes people think they are rich.Farmers deal with&nbsp;bigger&nbsp;numbers than other people. They may bring in $1 million in a great year and $100,000 the next – before expenses.&nbsp;After paying for seed, fertilizer, machinery, fuel, rent and other business costs, a&nbsp;farmer may make six figures or lose money for the year.Farmers&nbsp;have&nbsp;tremendous amounts of money&nbsp;invested&nbsp;in equipment, inputs and land. Their risk level is high; they make many decisions without knowing if the weather or market at harvest will cover the costs&nbsp;they’ve&nbsp;already incurred.&nbsp;All&nbsp;farmers experience bad years. Sometimes&nbsp;they event&nbsp;put a&nbsp;farmer out of business. The stress and uncertainty of trying to keep the&nbsp;farm&nbsp;alive for the next generation&nbsp;is often cause of&nbsp;mental health issues.Judging a&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;income is complicated and difficult because there are too many factors;&nbsp;rich or poor, materialistic or humble, heavily leveraged or paid in cash. My experience is that&nbsp;farmers’&nbsp;finances may look different&nbsp;than&nbsp;the average American, but we really&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;that different at all."Insight"&nbsp;is a weekly column published by Kansas&nbsp;Farm&nbsp;Bureau, the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;largest&nbsp;farm&nbsp;organization&nbsp;whose&nbsp;mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas — Farm finances

TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7% in March. This is unchanged from 2.7% in February and unchanged from 2.7% in March 2023, according to a media release from KDOL.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 6,400 from February. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 5,500 over the month, while government increased by 900.

The unemployment rate in Saline County is down from 3 percent in February to to 2.7 percent. Clay and Ellsworth counties saw a similar decline. The rate in Dickinson County remained steady at 3.5 percent.

Since March 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,800. This change is due to an increase of 16,400 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,400 government jobs.

“Preliminary estimates for March 2024 indicate strong job growth in Kansas, with total nonfarm jobs increasing 1.5% over the year, a gain of 21,800,” said labor economist, Nathan Kessler. “Private education and health services added 9,000 jobs, while government jobs increased by 5,400 since March 2023.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713536004069.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. – Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.7% in March. This is unchanged from 2.7% in February and unchanged from 2.7% in March 2023, according to a media release from KDOL.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 6,400 from February. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 5,500 over the month, while government increased by 900.The unemployment rate in Saline County is down from 3 percent in February to to 2.7 percent. Clay and Ellsworth counties saw a similar decline. The rate in Dickinson County remained steady at 3.5 percent.Since March 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,800. This change is due to an increase of 16,400 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,400 government jobs.“Preliminary estimates for March 2024 indicate strong job growth in Kansas, with total nonfarm jobs increasing 1.5% over the year, a gain of 21,800,” said labor economist, Nathan Kessler. “Private education and health services added 9,000 jobs, while government jobs increased by 5,400 since March 2023.”

Jobless rate down in Saline County, across the region

<a href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/political-anger-seems-to-override-inhibitions-online-study-finds">By RICK HELLMAN</a> KU News Service

A new study gives clues as to why anger is so pervasive in political discussions on social media.

The desire to express political anger seems so strong that it overrides the instinct, found in older research, to control one’s anger in public, according to a new paper co-written by a University of Kansas associate professor of communication studies.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231207853">“Emotion Work on Social Media: Differences in Public and Private Emotions about Politics and COVID-19 on Facebook”</a>&nbsp;published in late 2023 in the journal Social Media + Society, KU’s Ashley Muddiman and Emily Van Duyn of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ran an experiment with 518 people, comparing how they expressed emotion online about the topic of COVID-19 versus politics in general. They also compared the participants’ expression of emotion about the two topics compared with their actual feelings. For example, did they outwardly express what they were feeling inside, or did they hide their feelings? The latter condition, Muddiman said, is known as performing “emotional work.”

The experiment took place in early 2021, when COVID-19 vaccines were still rolling out across the country. Participants were asked to craft, but not to actually post, a social media post about one of the two topics.

Then, per the paper, “Participants were asked ... to indicate how much anger and anxiety they felt when crafting their specific message from never to often ...” Human coders then compared the emotions expressed in their posts to their inner feelings.

The authors write that theories of emotion work in communication suggest that people repress expressions of anger in public, fearing a loss of control over who receives the message. However, the experiment showed that was not the case with political posts. People asked to write political posts felt more angry than people asked to write posts about COVID-19,&nbsp; and were the most likely to express anger in public social media posts, Muddiman said.

“Just because people felt an emotion didn't mean they always expressed that emotion,” the KU researcher said.&nbsp;

That was particularly true with regard to online expressions about the pandemic.

“There were a lot of reasons to be mad about the situation surrounding COVID,” Muddiman said. “And people were not necessarily expressing that in public settings in our study.

“It seemed like people were ... not just saying, ‘I feel angry. I'm going to express that anger online,’ but they were being a little more strategic with expressing their emotions.

“The other big takeaway is that there's something about politics online that overrides that. If somebody felt angry, and they were expressing themselves about politics in a public setting, they were very willing to express that anger, which was against what we expected. We thought that people would tamp down their expression of anger, that even if they were very angry, they wouldn't want to share their political anger in public. And that was actually the opposite of what we found. So there's something about politics that made people want to express their anger publicly.&nbsp;That was very interesting to me.”

“We didn't test this directly,” Muddiman said, “but we can speculate at least that in our current political landscape, anger can actually show that you care about your political identity. And so there's something about being a partisan in public that gives people leverage in a political situation.

“I think our findings show that people might actually see expressing anger as a good thing in public, even though, theoretically, we thought it was going to be different than that. We thought that people would kind of rein in their anger because they were not in control of the people they were talking to. So we think there's something about anger that just overrides a lot of this and that invites or encourages people to share their political identities ... in public with everyone. And that might be one of the reasons why we see so much anger online, even when it's not always what people are feeling. There's a cachet to expressing anger in online political settings.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713542566793.jpeg" alt="The experiment asked participants to consider and craft Facebook posts. Credit: Julien Eichinger, Adobe stock image" />
 <figcaption>The experiment asked participants to consider and craft Facebook posts. Credit: Julien Eichinger, Adobe stock image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://news.ku.edu/news/article/political-anger-seems-to-override-inhibitions-online-study-finds">By RICK HELLMAN</a> KU News ServiceA new study gives clues as to why anger is so pervasive in political discussions on social media.The desire to express political anger seems so strong that it overrides the instinct, found in older research, to control one’s anger in public, according to a new paper co-written by a University of Kansas associate professor of communication studies.In&nbsp;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051231207853">“Emotion Work on Social Media: Differences in Public and Private Emotions about Politics and COVID-19 on Facebook”</a>&nbsp;published in late 2023 in the journal Social Media + Society, KU’s Ashley Muddiman and Emily Van Duyn of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ran an experiment with 518 people, comparing how they expressed emotion online about the topic of COVID-19 versus politics in general. They also compared the participants’ expression of emotion about the two topics compared with their actual feelings. For example, did they outwardly express what they were feeling inside, or did they hide their feelings? The latter condition, Muddiman said, is known as performing “emotional work.”The experiment took place in early 2021, when COVID-19 vaccines were still rolling out across the country. Participants were asked to craft, but not to actually post, a social media post about one of the two topics.Then, per the paper, “Participants were asked ... to indicate how much anger and anxiety they felt when crafting their specific message from never to often ...” Human coders then compared the emotions expressed in their posts to their inner feelings.The authors write that theories of emotion work in communication suggest that people repress expressions of anger in public, fearing a loss of control over who receives the message. However, the experiment showed that was not the case with political posts. People asked to write political posts felt more angry than people asked to write posts about COVID-19,&nbsp; and were the most likely to express anger in public social media posts, Muddiman said.“Just because people felt an emotion didn't mean they always expressed that emotion,” the KU researcher said.&nbsp;That was particularly true with regard to online expressions about the pandemic.“There were a lot of reasons to be mad about the situation surrounding COVID,” Muddiman said. “And people were not necessarily expressing that in public settings in our study.“It seemed like people were ... not just saying, ‘I feel angry. I'm going to express that anger online,’ but they were being a little more strategic with expressing their emotions.“The other big takeaway is that there's something about politics online that overrides that. If somebody felt angry, and they were expressing themselves about politics in a public setting, they were very willing to express that anger, which was against what we expected. We thought that people would tamp down their expression of anger, that even if they were very angry, they wouldn't want to share their political anger in public. And that was actually the opposite of what we found. So there's something about politics that made people want to express their anger publicly.&nbsp;That was very interesting to me.”“We didn't test this directly,” Muddiman said, “but we can speculate at least that in our current political landscape, anger can actually show that you care about your political identity. And so there's something about being a partisan in public that gives people leverage in a political situation.“I think our findings show that people might actually see expressing anger as a good thing in public, even though, theoretically, we thought it was going to be different than that. We thought that people would kind of rein in their anger because they were not in control of the people they were talking to. So we think there's something about anger that just overrides a lot of this and that invites or encourages people to share their political identities ... in public with everyone. And that might be one of the reasons why we see so much anger online, even when it's not always what people are feeling. There's a cachet to expressing anger in online political settings.”

Political anger seems to override inhibitions online, study finds

It’s hard to imagine Beloit without highway 24’s&nbsp;Becker Autos and Trailers.&nbsp; A 10 acre lot full of campers, vehicle, and trailer inventory.&nbsp; But, very soon you won’t have to imagine it, as it is with heavy hearts that the decision has been made to close Becker Autos &amp; Trailers, and to&nbsp;liquidate&nbsp;the camper and trailer inventory immediately.

Becker Autos, Trailers and Campers, Inc. is owned by Alvin and Debra Becker, as well as their son-in law Blake, and daughter Lydia Housh.

Lydia, General Manager of Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter&nbsp; states,&nbsp;“Dad or&nbsp;‘Big Al’, has finally decided that he wants to slow down and take a step back from ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve been in Beloit for over 15 years, and we love what we do.&nbsp; Thanks to your support we grew quickly, but it’s been a struggle to keep up.&nbsp;

With over 175 vehicles, trailers, and campers currently for sale on the lot, plus the service for hundreds of customers who’ve bought from us, it would be too much for Blake and I to take over without Mom and Dad’s partnership, so we have made the decision to dissolve the corporation.

It’s time for them to relax and just enjoy life instead of helping to carry the responsibilities of a large business.&nbsp;

The goal is to get Alvin and Deb out by July 4th, so we need to downsize inventory quickly!”

Close-out inventory consists of over 75 New Keystone campers and several used campers.&nbsp; Trailers, new and used, including several models of utility, stock, dump, enclosed and heavy-duty trailers from brands consisting of Titan, Big Tex, Carry-On, and a Hillsboro Aluminum pick-up bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Becker’s plans to continue to carry and replenish their used vehicle inventory through the going out of business process.&nbsp;

While planning to completely sell out of the current trailer and camper inventory immediately, Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter will continue to offer several financing options for most credit on all qualifying inventory, as well as extended service contracts and other products and services related to the purchase and aftercare of your vehicle or camper.&nbsp;

With it being the kick-off of camper season in Kansas, Becker’s service department is already in a back-log, and with the addition of an anticipated influx of close-out sales, they are only taking VIP customers who have purchased or are purchasing their units from Beckers.&nbsp; So, if you have work you want done for this Kansas summer camping season, it’s suggested that you make your service appointments early, and before the close-out process is completed.

To check out Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter Close-Out deals and vehicle inventory please visit&nbsp;BeckerAutos.com&nbsp;or for updates, text or call 785-534-1227.&nbsp;

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9eeabed8-0ce7-4367-84f3-88cd715d1a31">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713556452302.jpeg" alt="An aerial view of Becker Autos &amp; Trailers in Beloit, Kan. Image courtesy Becker Autos &amp; Trailers" />
 <figcaption>An aerial view of Becker Autos &amp; Trailers in Beloit, Kan. Image courtesy Becker Autos &amp; Trailers</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedIt’s hard to imagine Beloit without highway 24’s&nbsp;Becker Autos and Trailers.&nbsp; A 10 acre lot full of campers, vehicle, and trailer inventory.&nbsp; But, very soon you won’t have to imagine it, as it is with heavy hearts that the decision has been made to close Becker Autos &amp; Trailers, and to&nbsp;liquidate&nbsp;the camper and trailer inventory immediately.Becker Autos, Trailers and Campers, Inc. is owned by Alvin and Debra Becker, as well as their son-in law Blake, and daughter Lydia Housh.Lydia, General Manager of Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter&nbsp; states,&nbsp;“Dad or&nbsp;‘Big Al’, has finally decided that he wants to slow down and take a step back from ownership.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve been in Beloit for over 15 years, and we love what we do.&nbsp; Thanks to your support we grew quickly, but it’s been a struggle to keep up.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713556545618.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Becker Autos &amp; Trailers" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Becker Autos &amp; Trailers</figcaption>
 </figure>With over 175 vehicles, trailers, and campers currently for sale on the lot, plus the service for hundreds of customers who’ve bought from us, it would be too much for Blake and I to take over without Mom and Dad’s partnership, so we have made the decision to dissolve the corporation.It’s time for them to relax and just enjoy life instead of helping to carry the responsibilities of a large business.&nbsp;The goal is to get Alvin and Deb out by July 4th, so we need to downsize inventory quickly!”Close-out inventory consists of over 75 New Keystone campers and several used campers.&nbsp; Trailers, new and used, including several models of utility, stock, dump, enclosed and heavy-duty trailers from brands consisting of Titan, Big Tex, Carry-On, and a Hillsboro Aluminum pick-up bed.&nbsp;&nbsp;Becker’s plans to continue to carry and replenish their used vehicle inventory through the going out of business process.&nbsp;While planning to completely sell out of the current trailer and camper inventory immediately, Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter will continue to offer several financing options for most credit on all qualifying inventory, as well as extended service contracts and other products and services related to the purchase and aftercare of your vehicle or camper.&nbsp;With it being the kick-off of camper season in Kansas, Becker’s service department is already in a back-log, and with the addition of an anticipated influx of close-out sales, they are only taking VIP customers who have purchased or are purchasing their units from Beckers.&nbsp; So, if you have work you want done for this Kansas summer camping season, it’s suggested that you make your service appointments early, and before the close-out process is completed.To check out Becker Autos &amp; Trailers Camper SuperCenter Close-Out deals and vehicle inventory please visit&nbsp;BeckerAutos.com&nbsp;or for updates, text or call 785-534-1227.&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9eeabed8-0ce7-4367-84f3-88cd715d1a31">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts</a>

Becker Autos & Trailers announces going out of business

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;Jan Johnson.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HiZHgSSbXgE?si=TxdJjOj7HZupVOv2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with CASA of the High Plains executive director&nbsp;Jan Johnson.

🎤Forward Ever: CASA of the High Plains executive director Jan Johnson

Tonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low of around 40. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Light north-northwest wind becoming west-northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south-southeast in the evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713560949194.png" alt="NWS Weekend Forecast" />
 <figcaption>NWS Weekend Forecast</figcaption>
 </figure>Information Courtesy NWS-WichitaTonight A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low of around 40. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Saturday A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between 2pm and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Saturday Night A 20 percent chance of showers before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northwest wind 6 to 8 mph. Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. Light north-northwest wind becoming west-northwest 5 to 9 mph in the morning.Sunday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south-southeast in the evening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

NWS — weekend weather forecast

Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/">Smoky Hill Museum</a>. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Remember you are shaping yourself every second you live.” &nbsp;– Bessie Ellis Caldwell, Look Up and Live Always Moving.

In the early 1900s, all women had a hard time becoming teachers or leaders at colleges. However, women of color, particularly Black women, were notably absent in these roles. Before the 1960s, very few colleges admitted women of color, and even fewer hired them as teachers.

A Champion for Inclusion Professor Bessie Caldwell taught for three decades at Marymount College in Salina, initially an all-female catholic university. Marymount’s faculty was largely female. Caldwell stood out as a minority among her white peers.

From 1960 to 1975, she rose to chair of the Physical Education Department. Clear proof of her leadership skills in the academic community.

Caldwell’s daily schedule was typically bursting with activity. From sunrise to sunset, Bessie contributed her heart and soul to the lives of others. 

● Fresh, full breakfast for her family. ● Chairing the Physical Education Department and teaching at Marymount College. ● Managing and instructing Caldwell School of Dance. ● Choreographing dances for local schools, theaters, and studios. ● Judging competitions. ● Serving and fellowship with community organizations. ● Dinner and the support of her family.

Active in the NAACP, Caldwell fought against racial bias and discrimination. She notably teamed up with her colleague, Sister Evangeline Thomas. Together, they contested the unequal employment prospects for Black nurses at Asbury Hospital. Caldwell's dedication to fairness reached into the community as well. 

In the theater, she refused to choreograph or collaborate on projects that overlooked talented Black students for roles. Her unwavering stance echoed her belief in a truly inclusive and equitable society.

Caldwell's passion for dance traces back to her childhood with her dance lessons from instructor Mabel Williams in Kansas City. While in college, she gravitated toward modern dance. This prompted her to seek out new techniques by studying under acclaimed professionals like Lester Horton, Martha Graham and Hanya Holm. 

Caldwell generously shared her acquired knowledge with our community, leaving behind a lasting legacy.&nbsp;According to the American Association for University Women, in 2017, only 5.2% of tenured faculty were Black.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/cd380cd1-8473-41b2-a068-c1e3358951bd">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Lt. Dorethea LaFollette - Vol. 37</a>

Find out more about Caldwell's story and the legacies of other remarkable Salina women at the Smoky Hill Museum's newest exhibit titled,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1b0971b-8be5-4964-89a2-426f265584aa" target="_blank">"Step up to the Task"</a>&nbsp;running from April 12 - Oct. 5

All exhibits at the Smoky Hill Museum are free to the public.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691164615840.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smokyhillmuseum.org/">Smoky Hill Museum</a>. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present "Salina-Flashback Fridays."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712951451743.png" alt="Step up to the Task" />
 <figcaption>Step up to the Task</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POST“Remember you are shaping yourself every second you live.” &nbsp;– Bessie Ellis Caldwell, Look Up and Live Always Moving.In the early 1900s, all women had a hard time becoming teachers or leaders at colleges. However, women of color, particularly Black women, were notably absent in these roles. Before the 1960s, very few colleges admitted women of color, and even fewer hired them as teachers.A Champion for Inclusion Professor Bessie Caldwell taught for three decades at Marymount College in Salina, initially an all-female catholic university. Marymount’s faculty was largely female. Caldwell stood out as a minority among her white peers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713560547276.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From 1960 to 1975, she rose to chair of the Physical Education Department. Clear proof of her leadership skills in the academic community.Caldwell’s daily schedule was typically bursting with activity. From sunrise to sunset, Bessie contributed her heart and soul to the lives of others. ● Fresh, full breakfast for her family. ● Chairing the Physical Education Department and teaching at Marymount College. ● Managing and instructing Caldwell School of Dance. ● Choreographing dances for local schools, theaters, and studios. ● Judging competitions. ● Serving and fellowship with community organizations. ● Dinner and the support of her family.Active in the NAACP, Caldwell fought against racial bias and discrimination. She notably teamed up with her colleague, Sister Evangeline Thomas. Together, they contested the unequal employment prospects for Black nurses at Asbury Hospital. Caldwell's dedication to fairness reached into the community as well. In the theater, she refused to choreograph or collaborate on projects that overlooked talented Black students for roles. Her unwavering stance echoed her belief in a truly inclusive and equitable society.Caldwell's passion for dance traces back to her childhood with her dance lessons from instructor Mabel Williams in Kansas City. While in college, she gravitated toward modern dance. This prompted her to seek out new techniques by studying under acclaimed professionals like Lester Horton, Martha Graham and Hanya Holm. Caldwell generously shared her acquired knowledge with our community, leaving behind a lasting legacy.&nbsp;According to the American Association for University Women, in 2017, only 5.2% of tenured faculty were Black.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/cd380cd1-8473-41b2-a068-c1e3358951bd">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Lt. Dorethea LaFollette - Vol. 37</a>Find out more about Caldwell's story and the legacies of other remarkable Salina women at the Smoky Hill Museum's newest exhibit titled,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/e1b0971b-8be5-4964-89a2-426f265584aa" target="_blank">"Step up to the Task"</a>&nbsp;running from April 12 - Oct. 5All exhibits at the Smoky Hill Museum are free to the public.&nbsp;

📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Bessie Ellis Caldwell - Vol. 38

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina Post

This week, more than 250 junior and senior high school students descended on the Great Plains Convention Hall, filled with exhibits showcasing a look into construction, manufacturing and service.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.salinahba.com/">Salina Area Builders Association</a> (SABA) organized the first Salina Build My Future to introduce various blue-collar careers to students interested in the trades.&nbsp;

For most trade shows, exhibitors typically bring small equipment, pamphlets of information and small take-home items, but the one requirement for exhibitors at this show was interactivity.

"The vendors were creative with what they came up with. I'm so impressed with what they brought," said SABA board member Jessica Kindlesparger. "To me, I think it's eye-opening for them to actually get hands-on experience doing those things that maybe they didn't know they would be interested in."

Kindlesparger said 260 students attended the event, with schools like Concordia High School and Salina South High School bringing large portions of their junior and senior classes.

Although 260 attendees for a first-time event is large, Kindlesparger said she expects attendance to more than double next year after hearing feedback from various schools.

Larkin, Scott City, Holcom and Beloit were a few examples Kindlesparger said showed interest in the event.&nbsp;Some schools told her they&nbsp;intended to bring their entire&nbsp;junior and senior classes next year.

At the <a href="https://www.pestingerheating.com/">Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc</a>. booth, Master Electrician Travis Benoist presented simple motors made from copper wire and a battery.&nbsp;

At the same time, Megan Leyler, an electrician for Pestinger, introduced students to the basics of wiring a breaker box.

"Not everybody fits into this box of going to the four-year institution, so having these options anymore is critical," Benoist said. "I push for education with my workers all the time — the more educated they are, the better they understand what&nbsp;they're&nbsp;doing, and then the better they can apply those principles to their jobs."

Brian Thompson, a 17-year-old student at Salina South High School, visited the booth and tried wiring the breaker box, which he said he already had a little bit of experience by working on house construction.

"Most of the things we're doing,&nbsp;I already did a little bit," Thompson said.&nbsp;"A lot of it is kind of new, so I enjoyed it."

Many local Salina businesses and organizations presented exhibits at the event, including <a href="https://www.greatplainsmfg.com/">Great Plains Manufacturing</a>, <a href="https://www.vortex-companies.com/">Vortex</a>, the <a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/fire-department">Salina Fire Department</a> — complete with a fire engine for students to try out the hoses — and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PontonConstruction/">Ponton's Construction</a>.

"They [the students] started out a little timid, and now they're really intrigued," Kindlesparger said. "They're all interacting and asking questions and getting involved in all this — it's been really rewarding."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713557484473.jpeg" alt="Salina area high school juniors and seniors practice caulking the Pella logo during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, at the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall in Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Salina area high school juniors and seniors practice caulking the Pella logo during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, at the Great Plains Manufacturing Hall in Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina PostThis week, more than 250 junior and senior high school students descended on the Great Plains Convention Hall, filled with exhibits showcasing a look into construction, manufacturing and service.&nbsp;The <a href="https://www.salinahba.com/">Salina Area Builders Association</a> (SABA) organized the first Salina Build My Future to introduce various blue-collar careers to students interested in the trades.&nbsp;For most trade shows, exhibitors typically bring small equipment, pamphlets of information and small take-home items, but the one requirement for exhibitors at this show was interactivity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713557646438.jpeg" alt="Concordia High School student Sabastian Henderson, 15, learns how to use a nail gun at the Ponton's Construction booth during the Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Concordia High School student Sabastian Henderson, 15, learns how to use a nail gun at the Ponton's Construction booth during the Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>"The vendors were creative with what they came up with. I'm so impressed with what they brought," said SABA board member Jessica Kindlesparger. "To me, I think it's eye-opening for them to actually get hands-on experience doing those things that maybe they didn't know they would be interested in."Kindlesparger said 260 students attended the event, with schools like Concordia High School and Salina South High School bringing large portions of their junior and senior classes.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713557758522.jpeg" alt="Salina Planing Mill walked students through making picture frames during the Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Salina Planing Mill walked students through making picture frames during the Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Although 260 attendees for a first-time event is large, Kindlesparger said she expects attendance to more than double next year after hearing feedback from various schools.Larkin, Scott City, Holcom and Beloit were a few examples Kindlesparger said showed interest in the event.&nbsp;Some schools told her they&nbsp;intended to bring their entire&nbsp;junior and senior classes next year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713557953571.jpeg" alt="Concordia High School students Brock Loeffler, 15, left, and Karleigh Davis, 16, right, try out different power tools at the Ponton's Construction booth during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, at the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Concordia High School students Brock Loeffler, 15, left, and Karleigh Davis, 16, right, try out different power tools at the Ponton's Construction booth during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, at the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>At the <a href="https://www.pestingerheating.com/">Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc</a>. booth, Master Electrician Travis Benoist presented simple motors made from copper wire and a battery.&nbsp;At the same time, Megan Leyler, an electrician for Pestinger, introduced students to the basics of wiring a breaker box."Not everybody fits into this box of going to the four-year institution, so having these options anymore is critical," Benoist said. "I push for education with my workers all the time — the more educated they are, the better they understand what&nbsp;they're&nbsp;doing, and then the better they can apply those principles to their jobs."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713558066373.jpeg" alt="Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning Electrician Megan Leyler shows Salina South High School student Brian Thompson, 17, about wiring an outlet during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Pestinger Heating and Air Conditioning Electrician Megan Leyler shows Salina South High School student Brian Thompson, 17, about wiring an outlet during the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall at Tony's Pizza Events Center in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Brian Thompson, a 17-year-old student at Salina South High School, visited the booth and tried wiring the breaker box, which he said he already had a little bit of experience by working on house construction."Most of the things we're doing,&nbsp;I already did a little bit," Thompson said.&nbsp;"A lot of it is kind of new, so I enjoyed it."READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9eeabed8-0ce7-4367-84f3-88cd715d1a31">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713558137604.jpeg" alt="Large equipment filled the Tony's Pizza Events Center parking lot for the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Large equipment filled the Tony's Pizza Events Center parking lot for the first Salina Build My Future event on Tuesday, April 16, in the Great Plains Manufacturing Convention Hall in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Many local Salina businesses and organizations presented exhibits at the event, including <a href="https://www.greatplainsmfg.com/">Great Plains Manufacturing</a>, <a href="https://www.vortex-companies.com/">Vortex</a>, the <a href="https://www.salina-ks.gov/fire-department">Salina Fire Department</a> — complete with a fire engine for students to try out the hoses — and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PontonConstruction/">Ponton's Construction</a>."They [the students] started out a little timid, and now they're really intrigued," Kindlesparger said. "They're all interacting and asking questions and getting involved in all this — it's been really rewarding."

Salina Build My Future sparks interest for junior and senior high school students

<a href="https://salinarescuemission.com/">The Salina Rescue Mission</a> began its annual Plant Sale Fundraiser this week at <a href="https://stutzmans.com/our-locations/salina-garden-center/">Stutzmans Greenhouse and Garden Center</a> at the corner of Cloud and Ninth streets.

Throughout the sale, 20% of all proceeds from purchased plants will benefit The Salina Rescue Mission. A Central Kansas Extension District Master Gardener can assist those searching for new plants.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9eeabed8-0ce7-4367-84f3-88cd715d1a31">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts</a>

The fundraiser is available during Stutzmans' regular hours, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713551612808.jpeg" alt="The Salina Rescue Mission provides its annual plant sale fundraiser with Stutzmans Greenhouse and Garden Centers this weekend. Graphic courtesy The Salina Rescue Mission." />
 <figcaption>The Salina Rescue Mission provides its annual plant sale fundraiser with Stutzmans Greenhouse and Garden Centers this weekend. Graphic courtesy The Salina Rescue Mission.</figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted<a href="https://salinarescuemission.com/">The Salina Rescue Mission</a> began its annual Plant Sale Fundraiser this week at <a href="https://stutzmans.com/our-locations/salina-garden-center/">Stutzmans Greenhouse and Garden Center</a> at the corner of Cloud and Ninth streets.Throughout the sale, 20% of all proceeds from purchased plants will benefit The Salina Rescue Mission. A Central Kansas Extension District Master Gardener can assist those searching for new plants.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/9eeabed8-0ce7-4367-84f3-88cd715d1a31">Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts</a>The fundraiser is available during Stutzmans' regular hours, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

The Salina Rescue Mission Plant Sale Fundraiser continues into weekend

Through the average gusty weather of Kansas yesterday, Thursday, April 18, members of the City of Salina Parks and Recreation staff, leaders at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting at Oakdale Park's newest feature — full-size pickleball courts.

Stephanie Gillig, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce events and community coordinator, introduced Jeff Hammond, the director of Salina Parks and Recreation, to present some information on the privately funded courts.

"This project was born from a generous group of individuals who sought to provide pickleball to the community," Hammond said. "Anybody can freely use them and enjoy the sport of pickleball."

The anonymous group of donors provided about $500,000 in funding for the new courts, completely covering the construction cost.&nbsp;

Previously, Hammond said the city did have makeshift pickleball courts, so the new courts at Oakdale Park are an addition to the town.&nbsp;

"We do a lot of public-private partnerships, whether it be the Field House or the tennis complex," Hammond said. "But not to this degree and for this size of project and financial commitment, it was quite extraordinary."

After the ribbon cutting, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce offered a drawing for free pickleball equipment.&nbsp;

Some attendees began playing on the new courts to celebrate the grand opening.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f8169fe9-e03b-4e8b-998f-2ce10f24d094">Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713549945922.jpeg" alt="City of Salina Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond cuts the grand opening ribbon to celebrate the new public pickleball courts on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>City of Salina Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Hammond cuts the grand opening ribbon to celebrate the new public pickleball courts on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina PostThrough the average gusty weather of Kansas yesterday, Thursday, April 18, members of the City of Salina Parks and Recreation staff, leaders at the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and residents gathered to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting at Oakdale Park's newest feature — full-size pickleball courts.Stephanie Gillig, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce events and community coordinator, introduced Jeff Hammond, the director of Salina Parks and Recreation, to present some information on the privately funded courts.<div><div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/17636338"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713550232638.jpeg" alt="Marilla Colson, top left, Darin Boyer, top right, Jeff Herzog, front left, and Doug Werth, front right, play pickleball together after the grand opening of the new courts on Thursday, Friday 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Marilla Colson, top left, Darin Boyer, top right, Jeff Herzog, front left, and Doug Werth, front right, play pickleball together after the grand opening of the new courts on Thursday, Friday 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>"This project was born from a generous group of individuals who sought to provide pickleball to the community," Hammond said. "Anybody can freely use them and enjoy the sport of pickleball."The anonymous group of donors provided about $500,000 in funding for the new courts, completely covering the construction cost.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713550520260.jpeg" alt="Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Events and Community Coordinator Stephanie Gillig chats with the audience about the new pickleball courts during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Events and Community Coordinator Stephanie Gillig chats with the audience about the new pickleball courts during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>Previously, Hammond said the city did have makeshift pickleball courts, so the new courts at Oakdale Park are an addition to the town.&nbsp;"We do a lot of public-private partnerships, whether it be the Field House or the tennis complex," Hammond said. "But not to this degree and for this size of project and financial commitment, it was quite extraordinary."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713550402506.jpeg" alt="A pickleball player's pack hangs on the fence after the grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>A pickleball player's pack hangs on the fence after the grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday, April 18, at Oakdale Park. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>After the ribbon cutting, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce offered a drawing for free pickleball equipment.&nbsp;Some attendees began playing on the new courts to celebrate the grand opening.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f8169fe9-e03b-4e8b-998f-2ce10f24d094">Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot</a>

Salina Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Salina celebrate grand opening of new pickleball courts

DICKINSON COUNTY— Abilene Police Officers located an abducted child in Dickinson County.

Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, police in Abilene received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader that a vehicle associated with an abducted 5-month-old child from Minnesota was in Abilene, according to a media release.

Officers located the vehicle and occupants in the 2100 Block of North Buckeye Avenue. Officers learned the child had been taken from Minnesota by a non-custodial parent.

The child was placed into police custody without incident and arrangements are being made for a safe return to Minnesota.

DICKINSON COUNTY— Abilene Police Officers located an abducted child in Dickinson County.Just before 8 p.m. Thursday, police in Abilene received an alert from a FLOCK license plate reader that a vehicle associated with an abducted 5-month-old child from Minnesota was in Abilene, according to a media release.Officers located the vehicle and occupants in the 2100 Block of North Buckeye Avenue. Officers learned the child had been taken from Minnesota by a non-custodial parent.The child was placed into police custody without incident and arrangements are being made for a safe return to Minnesota.

Police in Abilene find 5-month old abducted in Minnesota

By TYLER HENRY Lead Sportswriter

Hello and happy Friday everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.

On Thursday morning it was announced that Paige Talbott would be taking the role of new head girl’s basketball coach at Salina Central

Talbott brings college coaching experience after spending the last two years as an assistant at Emporia State, as well as college playing experience at both Barton Community College and Bethany College.

The local product graduated from Ellsworth High School and with former head girls coach Chris Fear sliding over to coach the boys, fills out the basketball coaching positions for next winter

Last night was also a busy one in the NCAA as the Southeast of Saline baseball and softball teams did battle with Beloit in this year’s Trojan Wars

On the baseball side of things, the two teams split the series, with SES winning game one 9-5 and Beloit taking game two 9-0

On the softball diamond, SES prevailed in a clean sweep, defeating the Orange unit 7-2 and 14-4 to tighten their stranglehold on the league and take sole possession of first place

And finally, speaking of softball our Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Game of the Week takes us to Salina this evening, as Salina South hosts Newton at 4:00

Both games can be streamed live or on-demand 100% free on Salina Post or on our YouTube page

That’s your sports update for today, but for even more great area sports content like this, check out the Salina Post and stay tuned to KINA.

<div><div style="position:relative;overflow:hidden;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/KkGjN9Op-ATjzBQNW.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" title="Kinasu 4-19-24" style="position:absolute;" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div>By TYLER HENRY Lead SportswriterHello and happy Friday everybody, it’s Tyler Henry, back with another KINA Sports Update presented by Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697215856555.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Orthopedic &amp; Sports Medicine- Your home field advantage starts here.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>_________On Thursday morning it was announced that Paige Talbott would be taking the role of new head girl’s basketball coach at Salina CentralTalbott brings college coaching experience after spending the last two years as an assistant at Emporia State, as well as college playing experience at both Barton Community College and Bethany College.The local product graduated from Ellsworth High School and with former head girls coach Chris Fear sliding over to coach the boys, fills out the basketball coaching positions for next winter_________Last night was also a busy one in the NCAA as the Southeast of Saline baseball and softball teams did battle with Beloit in this year’s Trojan WarsOn the baseball side of things, the two teams split the series, with SES winning game one 9-5 and Beloit taking game two 9-0On the softball diamond, SES prevailed in a clean sweep, defeating the Orange unit 7-2 and 14-4 to tighten their stranglehold on the league and take sole possession of first place_________And finally, speaking of softball our Salina Regional Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Game of the Week takes us to Salina this evening, as Salina South hosts Newton at 4:00Both games can be streamed live or on-demand 100% free on Salina Post or on our YouTube page_________That’s your sports update for today, but for even more great area sports content like this, check out the Salina Post and stay tuned to KINA.

910 KINA Sports Headlines — April 19

By LESLIE MANNING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southeastspotlight">The Spotlight</a>

“I probably should’ve used a dart board,” Bill Tuzicka said. “I started out with 40-50 pieces of music laid out on the table and wrote down the titles. Each one I picked has a story.”

Tuzicka will conduct his last concert with the Salina Chorale at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at the Stiefel Theater. Tickets are $15 at the door.

“I couldn’t ask for better people to work with,” Tuzicka said. “Former students, acquaintances - we’re just coming together and we make music.”

Tuzicka ends not just his time with the Salina Chorale, but his residence in the community, as he and his wife, Susan, plan to move to Iowa in June, where their son, Chris, is the technical director at the University of Northern Iowa.

“When I started teaching at Southeast, I was impressed with the community,” Tuzicka said. “The people and the faculty that mentored me when I got there were just wonderful to be around.”

Tuzicka became familiar with Southeast of Saline when he was a high school student at Bison High School. His junior year of high school, he went to watch the state basketball tournament, and Assaria High School played in the tournament. The next year, when he returned to watch the tournament, the community returned a basketball team from Southeast of Saline High School, and they played Pawnee Rock, the winner of the regional bracket that Bison High School had played in.

“I decided to go to Bethany when I was in seventh grade,” Tuzicka said. “I was taking piano lessons from a lady that graduated from Bethany. Twice a year I would go down and take a master class from a piano teacher.”

He decided he wanted to be a music major in the seventh grade, also. In addition to running track and playing basketball at Bison High School, Tuzicka sang in the school’s choir, accompanied soloists for contests, played in the school’s concert band and pep band, competed in forensics and performed in the school plays.

“I started out with the oboe in fourth or fifth grade,” Tuzicka said. “As a freshman, I’d been marching with that crazy oboe, and asked to play something else. They needed another trombone player.”

In 1967, Tuzicka graduated from Bison High School and began studying music at Bethany College. It was in Lindsborg, where he met his wife, Susan.

“I was involved in Broadway RFD, and was in a couple performances there,” Tuzicka said. “My wife walked into the first rehearsal for Carousel. She was going to summer school, and there weren’t very many people to hang around, so that’s where we met. When I met her in college, I was an average student. After we starting going together and hanging out, I was a much better student. I was a much better person. She just made me better, and still does.”

Upon graduating from Bethany College with a bachelors in music education in 1971, Tuzicka sent off four or five applications for jobs - Southeast of Saline included. Jim Buxton was the principal at Southeast of Saline High School, and Eugene Flour was the principal at the middle school, and Tuzicka was invited to interview with the two of them.

“I went back to my dorm room, and someone knocked on my door,” Tuzicka said. “It was the superintendent from Southeast, Don Howe. He offered me a job.”

Tuzicka talked the opportunity over with Susan, and they decided a bird in the hand was worth three or four in the bush. Susan had one more year of college left, and the job would allow him to stay close and commute from Lindsborg.

“It was the right move,” Tuzicka said. “I never wanted to go any place else. When we were thinking of starting a family, I couldn’t think of a better place for my son or daughter to go to school than Southeast of Saline.”

According to Tuzicka, when he started teaching at Southeast of Saline, he had 18 kids in the choir.

“It was just a matter of going out and recruiting and talking to kids,” Tuzicka said. “I was young and still fairly active in sports, so I would go out and play basketball with them on weekends. I guess they thought ‘He’s not too bad, so we will go sing for him.’ I just went from there and had them come in and try it to see if they would like it.”

In his second year teaching at Southeast of Saline, Tuzicka started the Madrigal singing group after a conversation with the high school principal about how to go about the audition process.

“Buxton suggested to make sure that all the communities were involved,” Tuzicka said. “At the time he was telling me, it didn’t make much sense. It just so happened that it worked out, and I did have kids from all the communities. I really believe that part of the success I had in working with the kids out there was because of that conversation I had with Mr. Buxton.”

Tuzicka had a visceral understanding of the school district consolidation process, as Bison High School and Otis High School had consolidated shortly after he graduated from high school. His attitude for inclusion and ability to recruit nurtured a growing program.

“We started to grow, and it was fun,” Tuzicka said. “Once I got the enrollment up, I started doing musicals. I liked doing the musicals with Broadway RFD, so that was another thing we started doing.”

While growing the Southeast of Saline vocal program, his wife, Susan, would give vocal lesson to students. A couple years after Tuzicka took on the high school and middle school vocal program, an elementary music job opened up in the USD 306 school district, and she applied and was accepted.

“She was my right arm, and maybe more than that,” Tuzicka said. “Any amount of success I’ve had with what I’ve been doing, I can truthfully say, a lot of it has to do with her.”

Susan would teach the fundamentals of reading music, and inspire the love of music.

“By the time they got to me, they were so well prepared,” Tuzicka said. “They had an appreciation for music and they understood music. The elementary music teachers all across the nation are the building blocks of whatever takes place in the high schools and colleges, because they learn the stuff down there. That’s where they learn to enjoy it, and that’s what is important.”

The preparation from Susan at the elementary level, allowed Tuzicka to manage a vocal program that averaged 70-80 students in the choir, at 3A Southeast of Saline High School. One year, he remembers having a choir of over 110 students.

When Southeast of Saline USD 306 opened a K-12 building in 1978, Tuzicka offered tech classes. He had been taking some classes in Wichita in tech theater, and worked on some things with some of the technical people at Century II.

“There needed to be a group of students that understood the technical theater and how things worked in there, so we could maintain what was taking place,” Tuzicka said. “The design of the theater was a design for a multi-performance room. It worked for what we did.”

According to Tuzicka, when the building was first designed, the theater was about twice as big as it is, and the choral and band rooms were bigger. He says the whole building was much more elaborate, even including a swimming pool in the original design.

“Of course, the price on that, I don’t think that ever made it to the public to see,” Tuzicka said. “Things had to be cut back and changed.”

The theater was a trending design at the time, one that can also be seen at Beloit High School and Cloud County Community College. The movement was to go away from a proscenium type theater, and make spaces not so formal.

“We made some changes to it, to make it a formal concert venue,” Tuzicka said. “It made it more of a performance area, as opposed to just an open air space. We made it more of like a theater as much as we possibly could.”

The timing was near perfect, as the Southeast of Saline theater wasn’t the only new performance venue being constructed. The Salina Bicentennial Center was built in 1976, and Tuzicka was asked to work there with spotlighting.

“It was a part-time job, and then it kept snowballing, where I was doing more and more,” Tuzicka said. “I got involved with the stage hand union, and I was working all over Kansas helping set up different shows and concerts. It was kind of like on the job training for me. I would bring those things back to Southeast of Saline, like ideas for play sets. I would go see how the pros did it, and bring that information back to Southeast and try it there. It worked out very well.”

As the students at Southeast of Saline became adept in the technical side of performances, many started helping Tuzicka set up for shows at the Salina Bicentennial Center.

“There were times when I didn’t have things going on at Southeast, I would take seniors in,” Tuzicka said. “The acts always brought their own sound and lighting people. It was our job to get them set up and going right.”

After 1996, when the Fox Theater Discover Group formed to research the viability of the Fox Theater in downtown Salina, Tuzicka was called on to share his experience in theater technology.

“I knew they were refurbishing the theater, and since I was involved with some of the things over at the Bicentennial Center at the time, they called me and asked me to come in and look at the plans for the theater for bringing in concerts and so forth,” Tuzicka said. “I said ‘Here are a couple thing you might want to consider or redo or look at.’ That kind of started it, and they asked me to come in and help more.”

The Stiefel Theater opened in 2002, and by 2006, when Tuzicka retired from teaching at Southeast of Saline, the facility was starting to do more and more shows. Tuzicka was hired as the technical director, also overseeing the facility maintenance. The technical director at the Stiefel Theater involves similar job responsibilities as that of the Bicentennial Center, taking care of everything on the stage in terms of lighting and sound - setting it up so the lighting and sound guys will have the best control possible.

“It was kind of an extension of the career at Southeast of Saline,” Tuzicka said. “This is the greatest working environment. I’m so lucky to have the people, the board, Jane Gates, everbody. The best thing about my job, I get a chance to talk to some of these (performers.) My door is always open. They walk in. Martina McBride said it looks like someone actually works in here.”

Also upon retirement from teaching at Southeast, Tuzicka and his wife, Susan, joined the Salina Chorale under the direction of Dr. Joseph Figg. When health issues prevented Dr. Figg from continuing with the chorale in 2009, Tuzicka was asked to take over and finish out the semester.

“I’ve been doing it ever since,” Tuzicka said. “It’s my therapy. Every Monday night, I go to therapy.”

The last concert of the Salina Chorale, under the direction of Tuzicka, will involve some Southeast of Saline vocal program history.

“I think one of the things about music, there’s no such thing as a piece of music you’ve done, that cannot be elaborated on or made better,” Tuzicka said. “It’s never perfect. It’s always a work in progress. You can never be satisfied with it, because it is never done.”

In 1996, Tuzicka took his first group of students to sing in Washington D.C. One of the first stops when arriving in Washington D.C. was a visit to the Albert Einstein statue. The students crawled all over the statue for a photo opportunity, and Tuzicka, in an impromptu moment, directed the group in the song by the King Singers, You are the New Day.

“That was the first piece any of my choirs sang in Washington D.C.,” Tuzicka said. “The hope for a new day is what keeps everybody going.”

Along with You are the New Day, the Salina Chorale will sing Corner of the Sky from the musical Pippin. Pippin was the musical performed at Southeast of Saline in the fall of 1997, his son, Chris’s, senior year of high school.

A song titled, Kittery, is one of Southeast of Saline’s historical performance pieces, a version of the Lord’s Prayer sang with a kind of sound you can hear in Slovac countries.

“It’s a little bit different,” Tuzicka said. “It is a harsh sound. No great beautiful singing, so it is going to clean everybody’s ears to start with.”

Other pieces on the setlist include One Tin Soldier; Lonesome Road by James Taylor; Shenandoah; Cantique de Jean Racine; Prayer of the Children; Home in the Heartland - a piece from Riverdance written about the plains and the Midwest; River of Judea and The Old Irish Blessing as the encore. The Salina Chorale will also perform Home on the Range, because Tuzicka assumes that if he ever directs a choir in Iowa, they are probably not going to let him do Home on the Range.

A song special to the Salina Chorale, God Be in My Head, will be included in the set, as a remembrance to Dr. Joseph Figg.

“I am going to miss the community and I’m going to miss the people and I’m going to miss what I do, but, just turn the page,” Tuzicka said. “How much I feel indebted to the community at Southeast of Saline. I was so lucky to somehow get into that community, and they accepted me. I have always had the highest amount of respect for the people who are on the school board out there, the people who stepped forward and had the well being of the students and the young people of the community at heart. That’s doesn’t just come from the school board, that comes from all the community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713539227732.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Bill Tuzicka, and his wife and right hand, Susan, stand with the Salina Chorale. The chorale will perform their last concert under the direction of Tuzicka at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at the Stiefel Theater. Image Courtesy Leslie Manning" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Bill Tuzicka, and his wife and right hand, Susan, stand with the Salina Chorale. The chorale will perform their last concert under the direction of Tuzicka at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at the Stiefel Theater. Image Courtesy Leslie Manning</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE MANNING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southeastspotlight">The Spotlight</a>“I probably should’ve used a dart board,” Bill Tuzicka said. “I started out with 40-50 pieces of music laid out on the table and wrote down the titles. Each one I picked has a story.”Tuzicka will conduct his last concert with the Salina Chorale at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 21 at the Stiefel Theater. Tickets are $15 at the door.“I couldn’t ask for better people to work with,” Tuzicka said. “Former students, acquaintances - we’re just coming together and we make music.”Tuzicka ends not just his time with the Salina Chorale, but his residence in the community, as he and his wife, Susan, plan to move to Iowa in June, where their son, Chris, is the technical director at the University of Northern Iowa.<h2>Making music</h2>“When I started teaching at Southeast, I was impressed with the community,” Tuzicka said. “The people and the faculty that mentored me when I got there were just wonderful to be around.”Tuzicka became familiar with Southeast of Saline when he was a high school student at Bison High School. His junior year of high school, he went to watch the state basketball tournament, and Assaria High School played in the tournament. The next year, when he returned to watch the tournament, the community returned a basketball team from Southeast of Saline High School, and they played Pawnee Rock, the winner of the regional bracket that Bison High School had played in.“I decided to go to Bethany when I was in seventh grade,” Tuzicka said. “I was taking piano lessons from a lady that graduated from Bethany. Twice a year I would go down and take a master class from a piano teacher.”He decided he wanted to be a music major in the seventh grade, also. In addition to running track and playing basketball at Bison High School, Tuzicka sang in the school’s choir, accompanied soloists for contests, played in the school’s concert band and pep band, competed in forensics and performed in the school plays.“I started out with the oboe in fourth or fifth grade,” Tuzicka said. “As a freshman, I’d been marching with that crazy oboe, and asked to play something else. They needed another trombone player.”In 1967, Tuzicka graduated from Bison High School and began studying music at Bethany College. It was in Lindsborg, where he met his wife, Susan.“I was involved in Broadway RFD, and was in a couple performances there,” Tuzicka said. “My wife walked into the first rehearsal for Carousel. She was going to summer school, and there weren’t very many people to hang around, so that’s where we met. When I met her in college, I was an average student. After we starting going together and hanging out, I was a much better student. I was a much better person. She just made me better, and still does.”Upon graduating from Bethany College with a bachelors in music education in 1971, Tuzicka sent off four or five applications for jobs - Southeast of Saline included. Jim Buxton was the principal at Southeast of Saline High School, and Eugene Flour was the principal at the middle school, and Tuzicka was invited to interview with the two of them.“I went back to my dorm room, and someone knocked on my door,” Tuzicka said. “It was the superintendent from Southeast, Don Howe. He offered me a job.”Tuzicka talked the opportunity over with Susan, and they decided a bird in the hand was worth three or four in the bush. Susan had one more year of college left, and the job would allow him to stay close and commute from Lindsborg.“It was the right move,” Tuzicka said. “I never wanted to go any place else. When we were thinking of starting a family, I couldn’t think of a better place for my son or daughter to go to school than Southeast of Saline.”According to Tuzicka, when he started teaching at Southeast of Saline, he had 18 kids in the choir.“It was just a matter of going out and recruiting and talking to kids,” Tuzicka said. “I was young and still fairly active in sports, so I would go out and play basketball with them on weekends. I guess they thought ‘He’s not too bad, so we will go sing for him.’ I just went from there and had them come in and try it to see if they would like it.”In his second year teaching at Southeast of Saline, Tuzicka started the Madrigal singing group after a conversation with the high school principal about how to go about the audition process.“Buxton suggested to make sure that all the communities were involved,” Tuzicka said. “At the time he was telling me, it didn’t make much sense. It just so happened that it worked out, and I did have kids from all the communities. I really believe that part of the success I had in working with the kids out there was because of that conversation I had with Mr. Buxton.”Tuzicka had a visceral understanding of the school district consolidation process, as Bison High School and Otis High School had consolidated shortly after he graduated from high school. His attitude for inclusion and ability to recruit nurtured a growing program.“We started to grow, and it was fun,” Tuzicka said. “Once I got the enrollment up, I started doing musicals. I liked doing the musicals with Broadway RFD, so that was another thing we started doing.”While growing the Southeast of Saline vocal program, his wife, Susan, would give vocal lesson to students. A couple years after Tuzicka took on the high school and middle school vocal program, an elementary music job opened up in the USD 306 school district, and she applied and was accepted.“She was my right arm, and maybe more than that,” Tuzicka said. “Any amount of success I’ve had with what I’ve been doing, I can truthfully say, a lot of it has to do with her.”Susan would teach the fundamentals of reading music, and inspire the love of music.“By the time they got to me, they were so well prepared,” Tuzicka said. “They had an appreciation for music and they understood music. The elementary music teachers all across the nation are the building blocks of whatever takes place in the high schools and colleges, because they learn the stuff down there. That’s where they learn to enjoy it, and that’s what is important.”The preparation from Susan at the elementary level, allowed Tuzicka to manage a vocal program that averaged 70-80 students in the choir, at 3A Southeast of Saline High School. One year, he remembers having a choir of over 110 students.When Southeast of Saline USD 306 opened a K-12 building in 1978, Tuzicka offered tech classes. He had been taking some classes in Wichita in tech theater, and worked on some things with some of the technical people at Century II.“There needed to be a group of students that understood the technical theater and how things worked in there, so we could maintain what was taking place,” Tuzicka said. “The design of the theater was a design for a multi-performance room. It worked for what we did.”According to Tuzicka, when the building was first designed, the theater was about twice as big as it is, and the choral and band rooms were bigger. He says the whole building was much more elaborate, even including a swimming pool in the original design.“Of course, the price on that, I don’t think that ever made it to the public to see,” Tuzicka said. “Things had to be cut back and changed.”The theater was a trending design at the time, one that can also be seen at Beloit High School and Cloud County Community College. The movement was to go away from a proscenium type theater, and make spaces not so formal.“We made some changes to it, to make it a formal concert venue,” Tuzicka said. “It made it more of a performance area, as opposed to just an open air space. We made it more of like a theater as much as we possibly could.”The timing was near perfect, as the Southeast of Saline theater wasn’t the only new performance venue being constructed. The Salina Bicentennial Center was built in 1976, and Tuzicka was asked to work there with spotlighting.“It was a part-time job, and then it kept snowballing, where I was doing more and more,” Tuzicka said. “I got involved with the stage hand union, and I was working all over Kansas helping set up different shows and concerts. It was kind of like on the job training for me. I would bring those things back to Southeast of Saline, like ideas for play sets. I would go see how the pros did it, and bring that information back to Southeast and try it there. It worked out very well.”As the students at Southeast of Saline became adept in the technical side of performances, many started helping Tuzicka set up for shows at the Salina Bicentennial Center.“There were times when I didn’t have things going on at Southeast, I would take seniors in,” Tuzicka said. “The acts always brought their own sound and lighting people. It was our job to get them set up and going right.”After 1996, when the Fox Theater Discover Group formed to research the viability of the Fox Theater in downtown Salina, Tuzicka was called on to share his experience in theater technology.“I knew they were refurbishing the theater, and since I was involved with some of the things over at the Bicentennial Center at the time, they called me and asked me to come in and look at the plans for the theater for bringing in concerts and so forth,” Tuzicka said. “I said ‘Here are a couple thing you might want to consider or redo or look at.’ That kind of started it, and they asked me to come in and help more.”The Stiefel Theater opened in 2002, and by 2006, when Tuzicka retired from teaching at Southeast of Saline, the facility was starting to do more and more shows. Tuzicka was hired as the technical director, also overseeing the facility maintenance. The technical director at the Stiefel Theater involves similar job responsibilities as that of the Bicentennial Center, taking care of everything on the stage in terms of lighting and sound - setting it up so the lighting and sound guys will have the best control possible.“It was kind of an extension of the career at Southeast of Saline,” Tuzicka said. “This is the greatest working environment. I’m so lucky to have the people, the board, Jane Gates, everbody. The best thing about my job, I get a chance to talk to some of these (performers.) My door is always open. They walk in. Martina McBride said it looks like someone actually works in here.”Also upon retirement from teaching at Southeast, Tuzicka and his wife, Susan, joined the Salina Chorale under the direction of Dr. Joseph Figg. When health issues prevented Dr. Figg from continuing with the chorale in 2009, Tuzicka was asked to take over and finish out the semester.“I’ve been doing it ever since,” Tuzicka said. “It’s my therapy. Every Monday night, I go to therapy.”<h2>Telling the story</h2>The last concert of the Salina Chorale, under the direction of Tuzicka, will involve some Southeast of Saline vocal program history.“I think one of the things about music, there’s no such thing as a piece of music you’ve done, that cannot be elaborated on or made better,” Tuzicka said. “It’s never perfect. It’s always a work in progress. You can never be satisfied with it, because it is never done.”In 1996, Tuzicka took his first group of students to sing in Washington D.C. One of the first stops when arriving in Washington D.C. was a visit to the Albert Einstein statue. The students crawled all over the statue for a photo opportunity, and Tuzicka, in an impromptu moment, directed the group in the song by the King Singers, You are the New Day.“That was the first piece any of my choirs sang in Washington D.C.,” Tuzicka said. “The hope for a new day is what keeps everybody going.”Along with You are the New Day, the Salina Chorale will sing Corner of the Sky from the musical Pippin. Pippin was the musical performed at Southeast of Saline in the fall of 1997, his son, Chris’s, senior year of high school.A song titled, Kittery, is one of Southeast of Saline’s historical performance pieces, a version of the Lord’s Prayer sang with a kind of sound you can hear in Slovac countries.“It’s a little bit different,” Tuzicka said. “It is a harsh sound. No great beautiful singing, so it is going to clean everybody’s ears to start with.”Other pieces on the setlist include One Tin Soldier; Lonesome Road by James Taylor; Shenandoah; Cantique de Jean Racine; Prayer of the Children; Home in the Heartland - a piece from Riverdance written about the plains and the Midwest; River of Judea and The Old Irish Blessing as the encore. The Salina Chorale will also perform Home on the Range, because Tuzicka assumes that if he ever directs a choir in Iowa, they are probably not going to let him do Home on the Range.A song special to the Salina Chorale, God Be in My Head, will be included in the set, as a remembrance to Dr. Joseph Figg.“I am going to miss the community and I’m going to miss the people and I’m going to miss what I do, but, just turn the page,” Tuzicka said. “How much I feel indebted to the community at Southeast of Saline. I was so lucky to somehow get into that community, and they accepted me. I have always had the highest amount of respect for the people who are on the school board out there, the people who stepped forward and had the well being of the students and the young people of the community at heart. That’s doesn’t just come from the school board, that comes from all the community.

The Spotlight — Bill Tuzicka directs his last concert of the Salina Chorale  

The Salina Senior Theater Project (SSTP) will open its fourth season with Carol Nimmons's comedy&nbsp;"Mernie's Little Hoax" on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army 1137 North Santa Fe.

"Marnie's Little Hoax" is about a rich widow living in the Golden Gate retirement village. She is concerned because she has no known heirs to whom she can leave her fortune. She devises a hoax to see who among her so-called friends might be candidates in her will. When her fake demise backfires she becomes the victim of crazy shenanigans plotted by a network of unpredictable retirees.

Mernie Mayham.......Connie Gibson&nbsp; Maxine........................Taffy Speilman Sally.............................Judy Eilrich Helen...........................Laurie Moavec Herman.......................Mike Odell** Nellie...........................Carol Bragg Stanley........................Jack Owen ** Sadie...........................Kala Hurde Activities Director...Donna Tope ** Judge..........................Wally Hitchcock&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708533986894.jpeg" alt=""Mernie's Little Hoax" poster image. Image courtesy Salina Senior Theater Project" />
 <figcaption>"Mernie's Little Hoax" poster image. Image courtesy Salina Senior Theater Project</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Salina Senior Theater Project (SSTP) will open its fourth season with Carol Nimmons's comedy&nbsp;"Mernie's Little Hoax" on Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, at 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army 1137 North Santa Fe."Marnie's Little Hoax" is about a rich widow living in the Golden Gate retirement village. She is concerned because she has no known heirs to whom she can leave her fortune. She devises a hoax to see who among her so-called friends might be candidates in her will. When her fake demise backfires she becomes the victim of crazy shenanigans plotted by a network of unpredictable retirees.<h2>CAST **SSTP Debut</h2>Mernie Mayham.......Connie Gibson&nbsp; Maxine........................Taffy Speilman Sally.............................Judy Eilrich Helen...........................Laurie Moavec Herman.......................Mike Odell** Nellie...........................Carol Bragg Stanley........................Jack Owen ** Sadie...........................Kala Hurde Activities Director...Donna Tope ** Judge..........................Wally Hitchcock&nbsp;READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f8169fe9-e03b-4e8b-998f-2ce10f24d094">Hammer fight breaks out between coworkers in Dollar General parking lot</a>

Salina Senior Theater Project presents 'Mernie's Little Hoax' May 3-4

On April 19, 1993, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-35764ebe19af469d9c5238342c51c75f">51-day siege at the Branch Davidian</a>&nbsp;compound near Waco, Texas, ended as fire destroyed the structure after federal agents began smashing their way in; about 80 people, including two dozen children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed. Then on the same date in 1995, Timothy McVeigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Waco deaths,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68c26857c23158132a4f2a1c56ac6225">destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City</a>, killing 168 people. (McVeigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.)

In 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord.

In 1865, a funeral was held at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated five days earlier; his coffin was then taken to the U.S. Capitol for a private memorial service in the Rotunda.

In 1897, the first Boston Marathon was held; winner John J. McDermott ran the course in two hours, 55 minutes and 10 seconds.

In 1912, a special subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee opened hearings in New York into the Titanic disaster.

In 1943, during World War II, tens of thousands of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto began a valiant but ultimately futile uprising against Nazi forces.

In 1977, the Supreme Court, in Ingraham v. Wright, ruled 5-4 that even severe spanking of schoolchildren by faculty members did not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713538770420.png" alt="FILE - This April 19, 1995, file photo shows the north side of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building after a car bomb blast in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - This April 19, 1995, file photo shows the north side of the Alfred Murrah Federal Building after a car bomb blast in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo, File)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Today in History:</h2>On April 19, 1993, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-35764ebe19af469d9c5238342c51c75f">51-day siege at the Branch Davidian</a>&nbsp;compound near Waco, Texas, ended as fire destroyed the structure after federal agents began smashing their way in; about 80 people, including two dozen children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed. Then on the same date in 1995, Timothy McVeigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Waco deaths,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/68c26857c23158132a4f2a1c56ac6225">destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City</a>, killing 168 people. (McVeigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.)<h2>On this date:</h2>In 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord.In 1865, a funeral was held at the White House for President Abraham Lincoln, assassinated five days earlier; his coffin was then taken to the U.S. Capitol for a private memorial service in the Rotunda.In 1897, the first Boston Marathon was held; winner John J. McDermott ran the course in two hours, 55 minutes and 10 seconds.In 1912, a special subcommittee of the Senate Commerce Committee opened hearings in New York into the Titanic disaster.In 1943, during World War II, tens of thousands of Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto began a valiant but ultimately futile uprising against Nazi forces.In 1977, the Supreme Court, in Ingraham v. Wright, ruled 5-4 that even severe spanking of schoolchildren by faculty members did not violate the Eighth Amendment ban against cruel and unusual punishment.In 1989, 47 sailors were killed when a gun turret exploded aboard the USS Iowa in the Caribbean.In 2005,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-benedict-xvi-dead-timelime-e9472623b2af2e1556ac429bffe05029">Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany</a>&nbsp;was elected pope in the first conclave of the new millennium; he took the name Benedict XVI.In 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/levon-helm">Levon Helm</a>, drummer and singer for The Band, died in New York City at age 71.In 2013, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev (joh-HAHR’ tsahr-NEYE’-ehv), a 19-year-old college student wanted in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boston-marathon-bombing-anniversary-10-year-2c0640b1c7ce68f1c9c7c0f15fb56371">Boston Marathon bombings</a>, was taken into custody after a manhunt that had left the city virtually paralyzed; his older brother and alleged accomplice, 26-year-old Tamerlan (TAM’-ehr-luhn), was killed earlier in a furious attempt to escape police.In 2015, Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man, died a week after suffering a spinal cord injury in the back of a Baltimore police van while he was handcuffed and shackled. (<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-a82b81b31173487fa03f4900af06e718">Six police officers were charged</a>; three were acquitted and the city’s top prosecutor eventually dropped the three remaining cases.)In 2017,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/46a4547285844f9598949bcda54d4939">Fox News Channel’s parent company fired Bill O’Reilly</a>&nbsp;following an investigation into harassment allegations, bringing a stunning end to cable news’ most popular program.In 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-international-news-cuba-raul-castro-fl-state-wire-372b8b7798de410099e2f4fa73d93ad8">Raul Castro turned over Cuba’s presidency</a>&nbsp;to Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, the first non-Castro to hold Cuba’s top government office since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro and his younger brother Raul.In 2022, Russia assaulted cities and towns along a boomerang-shaped front hundreds of miles long and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-kyiv-world-news-europe-61ac8636ddb2d75a6df4605492889d7b">poured more troops into Ukraine</a>&nbsp;in a pivotal battle for control of the country’s eastern industrial heartland of coal mines and factories.In 2023, a Pennsylvania grand jury accused nine men with connections to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jehovahs-witnesses-child-abuse-pennsylvania-investigation-01660ed00de1f2a02f87c0597c9ae0af">Jehovah’s Witnesses of child sexual abuse</a>.

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