The winter of 2024-2025 brought colder-than-normal temperatures, below-average precipitation, and continued drought conditions across Kansas, according to the latest <a>National Weather Service Wichita climate report</a>.

Kansas recorded its coldest winter since 2013-14, with cities such as Salina, Russell, and Wichita experiencing sustained periods of below-normal temperatures. Despite increased snowfall in some areas, precipitation levels remained low, continuing a trend of drought across much of the state.

Winter temperatures were significantly below average, with Salina recording an average of 30.0°F (-2.9°F below normal), marking its coldest winter since 2013-14. Wichita experienced an average temperature of 33.1°F (-2.4°F below normal), making it the coldest since 2020-21.

February 2025 followed a similar pattern, with many locations seeing their coldest February in years. Salina averaged 29.2°F, which was 5.7°F below normal, making it the coldest February since 2021. Russell saw even greater departures from normal, averaging 27.8°F, or 6.1°F below normal.

A particularly cold stretch in mid-February resulted in record-breaking low temperatures across the state. On February 20, Salina dropped to -10°F, setting a new record for the date. Wichita also saw subzero temperatures, hitting -8°F on the same night.

Snowfall Increases Despite Below-Normal Precipitation

While overall precipitation levels were below normal, snowfall totals were above average across much of Kansas.

Wichita recorded 7.5 inches of snow in February, making it the snowiest February since 2022. Salina saw a seasonal total of 18.2 inches, the most since 2013-14.

Goodland, in western Kansas, recorded 17 inches of snow in February, its highest total for the month since 1997. Meanwhile, Topeka saw its snowiest winter since 2010-11, with seasonal totals exceeding 27 inches.

Despite these above-average snowfall totals, overall precipitation remained below normal, contributing to worsening drought conditions across the state.

The lack of rainfall continued to fuel drought concerns across Kansas. February precipitation totals were well below average:

Salina: 0.40 inches (-0.47 inches below normal) Wichita: 0.54 inches (-0.66 inches below normal) Chanute: 0.48 inches (-1.08 inches below normal)

With 47% of Kansas classified as abnormally dry or in drought, the region saw little improvement over the winter months. The latest <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a> shows that light to moderate drought conditions persisted across the state, particularly in north-central and western Kansas.

Drought intensity remained mostly steady over the past two months, with some areas of far western and southern Kansas seeing slight worsening conditions. Soil moisture levels also declined, posing concerns for the upcoming planting season.

As Kansas heads into spring, meteorologists warn that the ongoing weak La Niña pattern could lead to warmer and drier conditions in the coming months.

The March-May outlook from the <a href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/">Climate Prediction Center</a> suggests equal chances for above- or below-normal temperatures, but slightly drier-than-average conditions are expected in western Kansas.

With drought persisting, farmers and county emergency preparedness officials will be monitoring precipitation trends closely. If spring rainfall does not arrive at expected levels, soil moisture deficits could impact crops and increase wildfire risks.

For continued updates on Kansas weather and drought conditions, visit the <a>National Weather Service Wichita</a> and <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741014818481.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTThe winter of 2024-2025 brought colder-than-normal temperatures, below-average precipitation, and continued drought conditions across Kansas, according to the latest <a>National Weather Service Wichita climate report</a>.Kansas recorded its coldest winter since 2013-14, with cities such as Salina, Russell, and Wichita experiencing sustained periods of below-normal temperatures. Despite increased snowfall in some areas, precipitation levels remained low, continuing a trend of drought across much of the state.<h2>Cold Temperatures Grip Kansas</h2>Winter temperatures were significantly below average, with Salina recording an average of 30.0°F (-2.9°F below normal), marking its coldest winter since 2013-14. Wichita experienced an average temperature of 33.1°F (-2.4°F below normal), making it the coldest since 2020-21.February 2025 followed a similar pattern, with many locations seeing their coldest February in years. Salina averaged 29.2°F, which was 5.7°F below normal, making it the coldest February since 2021. Russell saw even greater departures from normal, averaging 27.8°F, or 6.1°F below normal.A particularly cold stretch in mid-February resulted in record-breaking low temperatures across the state. On February 20, Salina dropped to -10°F, setting a new record for the date. Wichita also saw subzero temperatures, hitting -8°F on the same night.<h2>Snowfall Increases Despite Below-Normal Precipitation</h2>While overall precipitation levels were below normal, snowfall totals were above average across much of Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741014936631.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Wichita recorded 7.5 inches of snow in February, making it the snowiest February since 2022. Salina saw a seasonal total of 18.2 inches, the most since 2013-14.Goodland, in western Kansas, recorded 17 inches of snow in February, its highest total for the month since 1997. Meanwhile, Topeka saw its snowiest winter since 2010-11, with seasonal totals exceeding 27 inches.Despite these above-average snowfall totals, overall precipitation remained below normal, contributing to worsening drought conditions across the state.<h2>Drought Conditions Persist</h2>The lack of rainfall continued to fuel drought concerns across Kansas. February precipitation totals were well below average:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741014835217.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Salina: 0.40 inches (-0.47 inches below normal) Wichita: 0.54 inches (-0.66 inches below normal) Chanute: 0.48 inches (-1.08 inches below normal)With 47% of Kansas classified as abnormally dry or in drought, the region saw little improvement over the winter months. The latest <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a> shows that light to moderate drought conditions persisted across the state, particularly in north-central and western Kansas.Drought intensity remained mostly steady over the past two months, with some areas of far western and southern Kansas seeing slight worsening conditions. Soil moisture levels also declined, posing concerns for the upcoming planting season.<h2>Looking Ahead to Spring</h2>As Kansas heads into spring, meteorologists warn that the ongoing weak La Niña pattern could lead to warmer and drier conditions in the coming months.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741014914770.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The March-May outlook from the <a href="https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/">Climate Prediction Center</a> suggests equal chances for above- or below-normal temperatures, but slightly drier-than-average conditions are expected in western Kansas.With drought persisting, farmers and county emergency preparedness officials will be monitoring precipitation trends closely. If spring rainfall does not arrive at expected levels, soil moisture deficits could impact crops and increase wildfire risks.For continued updates on Kansas weather and drought conditions, visit the <a>National Weather Service Wichita</a> and <a href="https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/">U.S. Drought Monitor</a>.

Kansas faces coldest winter in a decade, persistent drought continues

Salina Public Schools is proud to announce that Ryan Stuart, South High School (SHS) athletic director, received the Art Newcomer Promising Athletic Director Award through the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA). Ryan’s character, drive to learn and dedication to supporting others make him an ideal fit for this award.

“The KIAAA is an extremely strong organization, made up of many colleagues I have admired and held in high regard throughout my career,” said Stuart. “I am extremely humbled and honored to be recognized by them.”

In Stuart’s 23 years at Salina Public Schools (SPS) he has taken on a variety of roles that highlight his passion for education and athletics. He has taught at both South Middle School and South High School (SHS), served as SHS assistant principal and for the past three years led as the SHS athletic director. Stuart has also been the head coach for SHS girls’ basketball, and both SHS girls’ and boys’ tennis teams, in addition to other assistant coach positions.

“Athletics have been a central part of my life,” said Stuart. “I love being around competitions of all kinds and genuinely enjoy watching our student-athletes compete in a variety of events and activities.”

Stuart has run 5A State Tennis, a pre-season soccer tournament and more. Under his leadership, each event has been outstanding. “His communication with administration and coaches from other schools is top notch,” said Greg Maring, athletic director at Central High School. “Everyone knows the plan before the event.”

As tournament director and seeding coordinator for Regional Tennis competitions, Stuart’s organization ensures everything runs smoothly. He also plays a vital role in supporting the Salina Invitational Tournament. While his organizational skills are impressive, it’s Stuart’s passion and purpose behind everything he does that makes him so special and truly sets him apart.

“You always see Mr. Stuart at South High Activities at home and on the road,” said Maring. “It is very evident he has the support of his coaches and there is no doubt that he supports his coaches. More importantly, he cares about kids.”

He knows that the importance of being involved in high school activities and clubs cannot be overstated. “While we have strong participation in most of our athletic teams and activities, I would love for even more students to get involved,” said Stuart. “Salina Public Schools offers a wide range of opportunities, and I encourage every student to take advantage of them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741010028309.jpeg" alt="Ryan Stuart" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Stuart</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedSalina Public Schools is proud to announce that Ryan Stuart, South High School (SHS) athletic director, received the Art Newcomer Promising Athletic Director Award through the Kansas Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (KIAAA). Ryan’s character, drive to learn and dedication to supporting others make him an ideal fit for this award.“The KIAAA is an extremely strong organization, made up of many colleagues I have admired and held in high regard throughout my career,” said Stuart. “I am extremely humbled and honored to be recognized by them.”In Stuart’s 23 years at Salina Public Schools (SPS) he has taken on a variety of roles that highlight his passion for education and athletics. He has taught at both South Middle School and South High School (SHS), served as SHS assistant principal and for the past three years led as the SHS athletic director. Stuart has also been the head coach for SHS girls’ basketball, and both SHS girls’ and boys’ tennis teams, in addition to other assistant coach positions.“Athletics have been a central part of my life,” said Stuart. “I love being around competitions of all kinds and genuinely enjoy watching our student-athletes compete in a variety of events and activities.”Stuart has run 5A State Tennis, a pre-season soccer tournament and more. Under his leadership, each event has been outstanding. “His communication with administration and coaches from other schools is top notch,” said Greg Maring, athletic director at Central High School. “Everyone knows the plan before the event.”As tournament director and seeding coordinator for Regional Tennis competitions, Stuart’s organization ensures everything runs smoothly. He also plays a vital role in supporting the Salina Invitational Tournament. While his organizational skills are impressive, it’s Stuart’s passion and purpose behind everything he does that makes him so special and truly sets him apart.“You always see Mr. Stuart at South High Activities at home and on the road,” said Maring. “It is very evident he has the support of his coaches and there is no doubt that he supports his coaches. More importantly, he cares about kids.”He knows that the importance of being involved in high school activities and clubs cannot be overstated. “While we have strong participation in most of our athletic teams and activities, I would love for even more students to get involved,” said Stuart. “Salina Public Schools offers a wide range of opportunities, and I encourage every student to take advantage of them.”

Salina South High’s Ryan Stuart recognized with KIAA award

Saline County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:00 a.m. 300 W Ash Room 107 Salina, Kansas 67401

County offices will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.

If you need any assistance in participating in any meeting or event due to a disability as defined under ADA, please call the County’s ADA Coordinator at (785) 309-5812 or email leamerm@salinecountyks.gov prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request accommodations.

B. Flag Salute &amp; Moment of Silence

4. Approval of Annual Health Department Aid to Local grant Signature Page for SFY2026

5. Approval of Contract with NF Construction for construction of the Brookville Fire Station

6. Agreement Between the City of Salina, Kansas and 28th Judicial District Community Corrections Agency

1. Discussion of Commission Participation on Boards and Committees

2. Discussion of the Downtown Campus Master Plan

3. Concept Discussion - Local Purchase Preference

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639621309216.png" alt="new Saline County logo sq.png" />
 <figcaption>new Saline County logo sq.png</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTSaline County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:00 a.m. 300 W Ash Room 107 Salina, Kansas 67401Board of County Commissioners:Monte Shadwick - District 1Annie Grevas - District 2Chairman, Rodger Sparks - District 3James Weese - District 4Joe Hay Jr. - District 5County offices will be open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted.If you need any assistance in participating in any meeting or event due to a disability as defined under ADA, please call the County’s ADA Coordinator at (785) 309-5812 or email leamerm@salinecountyks.gov prior to the scheduled meeting or event to request accommodations.<h2>Regular Meeting Agenda</h2>A. Call To OrderB. Flag Salute &amp; Moment of SilenceC. Public ForumD. Consent Agenda1. Approval of Tax Roll Adjustments2. Approval of Accounts Payable3. Approval of Public Forum Agenda4. Approval of Annual Health Department Aid to Local grant Signature Page for SFY20265. Approval of Contract with NF Construction for construction of the Brookville Fire Station6. Agreement Between the City of Salina, Kansas and 28th Judicial District Community Corrections AgencyE. Informational Items1. Road and Bridge Bi-Monthly Update2. Commissioner Comments3. AnnouncementsF. Concept Discussion1. Discussion of Commission Participation on Boards and Committees2. Discussion of the Downtown Campus Master PlanG. March 11 Agenda Items1. Financial Projection2. Review of Commission Districts3. Concept Discussion - Local Purchase Preference4. Bid Award Traffic Paint &amp; BeadsH. Adjournment

Downtown campus, Brookville fire station on Saline Co. Commission March 4 agenda

Although some days it may not seem like it, spring is on its way and with it the prospect of severe weather, including thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes, and floods.

To remind Kansans to be prepared for such weather,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;signed a proclamation on Feb. 28 designating March 3-7, 2025, as Severe Weather/Flood Preparedness Week in Kansas.

“Preparedness is key to staying safe during Kansas’ severe weather events,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said. “I urge all Kansans to ensure they are prepared in case severe weather hits comes their way and to remain vigilant during the coming months.”

Being prepared includes being aware of weather conditions and having a family emergency kit and emergency plan. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management advises everyone to prepare a home emergency kit with supplies to sustain every family member for a minimum of seven days. Kits should include nonperishable foods, a gallon of water per person per day, blankets, flashlights and batteries, a weather radio, extra clothing, necessary medications, and other survival items. Kits should also be prepared for household pets.

As part of the week’s activities, Kansans are urged to take part in the statewide tornado safety drill on Wednesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. The far eastern tier of counties (Doniphan, Atchison, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Miami, and Linn) will do their test at 11 a.m.

To avoid any confusion to the public, a live tornado warning will not be sent out on the NOAA Weather Radio. Instead, there will be a Routine Weekly Test message asking people to practice sheltering. County emergency management offices may also sound alert sirens at that time.

Information on emergency preparedness and building a home disaster kit can be found online at <a href="http://www.ready.gov">www.ready.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727295768279.png" alt="Kansas Division of Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Division of Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedAlthough some days it may not seem like it, spring is on its way and with it the prospect of severe weather, including thunderstorms, hail, tornadoes, and floods.To remind Kansans to be prepared for such weather,&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;signed a proclamation on Feb. 28 designating March 3-7, 2025, as Severe Weather/Flood Preparedness Week in Kansas.“Preparedness is key to staying safe during Kansas’ severe weather events,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly&nbsp;said. “I urge all Kansans to ensure they are prepared in case severe weather hits comes their way and to remain vigilant during the coming months.”Being prepared includes being aware of weather conditions and having a family emergency kit and emergency plan. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management advises everyone to prepare a home emergency kit with supplies to sustain every family member for a minimum of seven days. Kits should include nonperishable foods, a gallon of water per person per day, blankets, flashlights and batteries, a weather radio, extra clothing, necessary medications, and other survival items. Kits should also be prepared for household pets.As part of the week’s activities, Kansans are urged to take part in the statewide tornado safety drill on Wednesday, March 5, at 10 a.m. The far eastern tier of counties (Doniphan, Atchison, Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson, Miami, and Linn) will do their test at 11 a.m.To avoid any confusion to the public, a live tornado warning will not be sent out on the NOAA Weather Radio. Instead, there will be a Routine Weekly Test message asking people to practice sheltering. County emergency management offices may also sound alert sirens at that time.Information on emergency preparedness and building a home disaster kit can be found online at <a href="http://www.ready.gov">www.ready.gov</a>.

Governor Kelly signs proclamation for Severe Weather/Flood Preparedness Week

Sabrina Rosario knew a trip to Europe would be about making and strengthening connections. But she also discovered some important ones she didn’t know about.

Rosario is the director of Kansas Wesleyan’s Community Resilience Hub (CRH). CRH&nbsp;is&nbsp;launching hands-on training in regenerative agriculture and addressing food security, among other things, to advance community resilience.&nbsp;

Her husband, Dr. Leonardo Rosario, is the director of the strings program at Kansas Wesleyan. In November, he was accepted into a conducting masterclass with the Berlin Sinfonietta in Germany. Naturally, Sabrina wanted to be there when he directed the sinfonietta at the end of the class.

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is only about an hour away by train from Berlin. It and Kansas Wesleyan are members of the Resilience Studies Consortium, a group of nine universities and colleges across the U.S. and Eberswalde that promotes educational opportunities in sustainability and resiliency.&nbsp;

Eberswalde invited Sabrina Rosario to speak, and she connected with Eberswalde’s international office coordinator to explore if&nbsp;our students could participate in an exchange program. She also met with faculty and students studying food systems, sustainable agriculture and agroforestry.

“I was impressed that the whole institution is about sustainable development,” she said. “I was surprised they also were impressed with what we’re doing in Kansas and that they would be interested in&nbsp;sending&nbsp;students here to learn how we are teaching regenerative agriculture.”

An exchange program is still at the conversation stage, but Rosario sees the possibility as “a great&nbsp;opportunity for our students.” She discovered another opportunity for students in Italy.

“I had the chance to do something different when we went to Italy,” Rosario said. “The Rodale Institute has a research center there, in Parma.”

Kansas Wesleyan and Rodale are connected through the Heartland Rodale Institute Farmer Training Program (RIFT), a course that trains gardeners and farmers in regenerative, sustainable farming practices. The first Heartland RIFT course at Kansas Wesleyan will start in March and last until October, one complete growing season. The first cohort is full, and there is a waiting list.&nbsp;

The research center in Parma studies food and researches ingredients that go into sustainable cosmetics made by the Davines Group.

“The dream&nbsp;in Italy&nbsp;would be a longer-term project than in Germany,” Rosario said. “If any of our students would like to learn about farming in Europe, the director would be open to receiving them as interns.”

Rosario said the company also has a branch in the U.S. In conjunction with Rodale, Davines promotes the Good Farmer Award, which is given to people farming less than 10 years and using sustainable practiwho have been ces. It for will be the first time use.S. award will be given.This in the U.S

“I was invited to be part of the panel of judges to decide who will be given the&nbsp;Good Farmer Award&nbsp;on Earth Day in New York,” she said, considering it an honor.&nbsp;

Rosario also made a personal connection: a cousin who lives near Cremona, Italy. They had been corresponding for 20 years or more but had never met. Their great-grandfathers were brothers and grew up on a farm.

“She took me to the farm where my great-grandfather was born,” Rosario said. “For me, it was very emotional — when I saw the building where he was born, I literally hugged it.&nbsp;

“It was a very special moment to hear about it and to think that what I do with the CRH today is going back to my roots. At first, I thought it was so special my ancestors were farmers and the tie-in with my job today.&nbsp;

“But maybe all of us, if we go back a few generations, will find a much stronger connection to the land. We have become so disconnected to the land, but our ancestors were not. I came back thinking how can we give anyone — our students, the people in the program that I’m working with&nbsp;and our community&nbsp;— the chance to feel connected with the land again.”

For more information on CRH, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kwu.edu/crh">www.kwu.edu/crh</a>.&nbsp;For more information on Kansas Wesleyan University, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kwu.edu/news">www.kwu.edu/news</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741010444564.jpeg" alt="Photo of Rosario (Left) and Dario Fornara, director, Rodale Institute Research Center, Parma, Italy. Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Photo of Rosario (Left) and Dario Fornara, director, Rodale Institute Research Center, Parma, Italy. Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KWUSabrina Rosario knew a trip to Europe would be about making and strengthening connections. But she also discovered some important ones she didn’t know about.Rosario is the director of Kansas Wesleyan’s Community Resilience Hub (CRH). CRH&nbsp;is&nbsp;launching hands-on training in regenerative agriculture and addressing food security, among other things, to advance community resilience.&nbsp;Her husband, Dr. Leonardo Rosario, is the director of the strings program at Kansas Wesleyan. In November, he was accepted into a conducting masterclass with the Berlin Sinfonietta in Germany. Naturally, Sabrina wanted to be there when he directed the sinfonietta at the end of the class.Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development is only about an hour away by train from Berlin. It and Kansas Wesleyan are members of the Resilience Studies Consortium, a group of nine universities and colleges across the U.S. and Eberswalde that promotes educational opportunities in sustainability and resiliency.&nbsp;Eberswalde invited Sabrina Rosario to speak, and she connected with Eberswalde’s international office coordinator to explore if&nbsp;our students could participate in an exchange program. She also met with faculty and students studying food systems, sustainable agriculture and agroforestry.“I was impressed that the whole institution is about sustainable development,” she said. “I was surprised they also were impressed with what we’re doing in Kansas and that they would be interested in&nbsp;sending&nbsp;students here to learn how we are teaching regenerative agriculture.”An exchange program is still at the conversation stage, but Rosario sees the possibility as “a great&nbsp;opportunity for our students.” She discovered another opportunity for students in Italy.“I had the chance to do something different when we went to Italy,” Rosario said. “The Rodale Institute has a research center there, in Parma.”Kansas Wesleyan and Rodale are connected through the Heartland Rodale Institute Farmer Training Program (RIFT), a course that trains gardeners and farmers in regenerative, sustainable farming practices. The first Heartland RIFT course at Kansas Wesleyan will start in March and last until October, one complete growing season. The first cohort is full, and there is a waiting list.&nbsp;The research center in Parma studies food and researches ingredients that go into sustainable cosmetics made by the Davines Group.“The dream&nbsp;in Italy&nbsp;would be a longer-term project than in Germany,” Rosario said. “If any of our students would like to learn about farming in Europe, the director would be open to receiving them as interns.”Rosario said the company also has a branch in the U.S. In conjunction with Rodale, Davines promotes the Good Farmer Award, which is given to people farming less than 10 years and using sustainable practiwho have been ces. It for will be the first time use.S. award will be given.This in the U.S“I was invited to be part of the panel of judges to decide who will be given the&nbsp;Good Farmer Award&nbsp;on Earth Day in New York,” she said, considering it an honor.&nbsp;Rosario also made a personal connection: a cousin who lives near Cremona, Italy. They had been corresponding for 20 years or more but had never met. Their great-grandfathers were brothers and grew up on a farm.“She took me to the farm where my great-grandfather was born,” Rosario said. “For me, it was very emotional — when I saw the building where he was born, I literally hugged it.&nbsp;“It was a very special moment to hear about it and to think that what I do with the CRH today is going back to my roots. At first, I thought it was so special my ancestors were farmers and the tie-in with my job today.&nbsp;“But maybe all of us, if we go back a few generations, will find a much stronger connection to the land. We have become so disconnected to the land, but our ancestors were not. I came back thinking how can we give anyone — our students, the people in the program that I’m working with&nbsp;and our community&nbsp;— the chance to feel connected with the land again.”For more information on CRH, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kwu.edu/crh">www.kwu.edu/crh</a>.&nbsp;For more information on Kansas Wesleyan University, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kwu.edu/news">www.kwu.edu/news</a>.

KWU’s Sabrina Rosario explores sustainability, education, and heritage abroad

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Violation of restrictions on driver's license or permit

Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741006946426.jpeg" alt="Eilrich,Jessica Coraleann .jpg" />
 <figcaption>Eilrich,Jessica Coraleann .jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Eilrich,Jessica Coraleann REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Violation of restrictions on driver's license or permitDriving While SuspendedNo Proof Of Insurance<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741006996051.jpeg" alt="Pfeifer,Jara Lyn " />
 <figcaption>Pfeifer,Jara Lyn </figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Pfeifer,Jara Lyn REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741007034010.jpeg" alt="Redmond,Diego Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Redmond,Diego Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Redmond,Diego JosephREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Failure to appearDriving While Suspended<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741007063134.jpeg" alt="Sailor,Montana Lynn" />
 <figcaption>Sailor,Montana Lynn</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Sailor,Montana LynnREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human bodyPoss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741007080605.jpeg" alt="Smith,Tony Lee" />
 <figcaption>Smith,Tony Lee</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Smith,Tony LeeREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human bodyDriving While SuspendedPoss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Saline County Jail Bookings, March 3

Today Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Windy, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest 21 to 31 mph. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph.

Tuesday Night Rain likely, mixing with snow after 9pm, then gradually ending. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 29. Windy, with a north northwest wind 28 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741005024174.jpeg" alt="IMG_1477.jpeg" />
 <figcaption>IMG_1477.jpeg</figcaption>
 </figure>Today Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. South southeast wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Tuesday A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Windy, with a southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north northwest 21 to 31 mph. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Tuesday Night Rain likely, mixing with snow after 9pm, then gradually ending. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 29. Windy, with a north northwest wind 28 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 11 to 16 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph. Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

NWS three day weather forecast

Work is progressing on Centennial Road, south of Crawford Street, and Cloud Street, east of Centennial Road. Following the concrete pour, these streets will remain closed to allow the material to cure properly before reopening to traffic. They are expected to reopen once the concrete reaches the required strength, which is anticipated by Wednesday, March 12th.

The concrete repair work spanned the entire width of the roadway at each location. As a result, Centennial Road is closed from Crawford Street to Republic Avenue, and Cloud Street is closed from Centennial Road to Westwood Road.

Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes and use caution near the work zones.

This work is part of the City of Salina’s 2024 Major Concrete Maintenance Project, fully funded with a total budget of $445,000. Motorists’ cooperation and understanding are appreciated to maintain road integrity and safety.

Starting Wednesday, February 26, Vogts-Parga Construction, LLC of Moundridge, Kansas, will begin concrete repairs on Centennial Road, south of Crawford Street, and Cloud Street, east of Centennial Road.

The repairs will span the entire width of the roadway at each location. As a result, Centennial Road will be closed from Crawford Street to Republic Avenue, and Cloud Street will be closed from Centennial Road to Westwood Road. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes and use caution near the work zones.

The project is expected to take 10 to 14 days, weather permitting.

This work is part of the City of Salina’s 2024 Major Concrete Maintenance Project, which has a total budget of $445,000. Motorists’ cooperation and understanding are appreciated to maintain road integrity and safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740761547141.jpeg" alt="Picture1 - Centennial, Crawford to Republic.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Picture1 - Centennial, Crawford to Republic.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>City of SalinaWork is progressing on Centennial Road, south of Crawford Street, and Cloud Street, east of Centennial Road. Following the concrete pour, these streets will remain closed to allow the material to cure properly before reopening to traffic. They are expected to reopen once the concrete reaches the required strength, which is anticipated by Wednesday, March 12th.The concrete repair work spanned the entire width of the roadway at each location. As a result, Centennial Road is closed from Crawford Street to Republic Avenue, and Cloud Street is closed from Centennial Road to Westwood Road.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740761569225.jpeg" alt="Picture2 - Cloud, Centennial to Westwood MAP.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Picture2 - Cloud, Centennial to Westwood MAP.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes and use caution near the work zones.This work is part of the City of Salina’s 2024 Major Concrete Maintenance Project, fully funded with a total budget of $445,000. Motorists’ cooperation and understanding are appreciated to maintain road integrity and safety.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1701016826196.jpeg" alt="Snow blankets the Salina City and Saline County building during a snowstorm on Saturday, Nov. 25, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>Snow blankets the Salina City and Saline County building during a snowstorm on Saturday, Nov. 25, in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>City of SalinaStarting Wednesday, February 26, Vogts-Parga Construction, LLC of Moundridge, Kansas, will begin concrete repairs on Centennial Road, south of Crawford Street, and Cloud Street, east of Centennial Road.The repairs will span the entire width of the roadway at each location. As a result, Centennial Road will be closed from Crawford Street to Republic Avenue, and Cloud Street will be closed from Centennial Road to Westwood Road. Drivers are advised to plan alternate routes and use caution near the work zones.The project is expected to take 10 to 14 days, weather permitting.This work is part of the City of Salina’s 2024 Major Concrete Maintenance Project, which has a total budget of $445,000. Motorists’ cooperation and understanding are appreciated to maintain road integrity and safety.

Centennial and Cloud Street closures continue as concrete repairs progress

By&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/author/blaise-mesa/">BLAISE MESA</a> <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/25/kansas-property-tax-where-do-tax-cuts-stand-so-far/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022525">The Beacon</a>

Debbie Detmer has a lot of memories in her house. She’s lived there 40 years and raised three children in it.&nbsp;

Detmer is retired now and lives on a fixed income in Johnson County. She hasn’t done any work on her house, yet she pays more in property taxes each year. The bill is rising so much it’s becoming too much to manage.&nbsp;

Last year, she paid $100 more a month and this year she is paying $50 more a month in property taxes. That’s before her homeowner’s insurance goes up because a more expensive house means more expensive insurance.&nbsp;

Her property taxes are making her choose between paying for taxes or other essentials — compromising her retirement.&nbsp;

“You keep turning the heat down. You keep (it) hotter in the summer,” she said. “You just got to cut back.”&nbsp;

Lawmakers have multiple tax proposals&nbsp;

Kansas lawmakers are trying to ease the property tax burden, but&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/21/new-kansas-laws-lawmakers-advance-dozens-of-bills/">halfway through the session</a>&nbsp;it doesn’t look like there’s consensus on how to do so.&nbsp;

Constitutional amendments on property taxes have headlined the tax cut debate so far.

The Senate passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">3% cap on valuation increases</a>. Property taxes could increase more than 3% in a year, but the appraised value of a home would be capped at 3% unless it was renovated or qualifies for other exemptions.

The House has a similar proposal that would use a rolling average of a home’s value, likely a six-year rolling average.

Both ideas would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;

The Senate’s proposal passed with more than a two-thirds majority. But the House hasn’t acted on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5011/">valuation cap proposal</a>.&nbsp;

House Committee on Taxation chair Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican, said these constitutional amendments are gimmicks that don’t provide real relief. He isn’t alone. Some Senate Republicans voted against the 3% cap and almost every Senate Democrat opposed it.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said this is California tax policy that shouldn’t come to Kansas.&nbsp;

Senate Democrats have instead proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb217/">increasing property tax exemptions</a>&nbsp;from $75,000 to $125,000. Democrats will also get a hearing on a bill expanding “<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb215/">the property tax rebate program</a>&nbsp;for seniors and disabled veterans by excluding Social Security payments from the definition of household income and increasing the household income and appraised value thresholds for eligibility related to increased property tax homestead claims.”&nbsp;

Sen. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, has another idea. He tried to amend the 3% cap during an early February floor debate to tie tax increases with inflation. Property taxes could only rise with the rate of inflation. Taxing bodies could still raise taxes higher than inflation, but that would require voters to approve of the increase.&nbsp;Owens’ amendment failed.&nbsp;

“We certainly cannot predict the actions of the other chamber,” Owens said during the Senate debate. “It is generally assumed that (<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">this constitutional amendment</a>) is not the final product. If this is not the final product, we want to go in with the strongest position possible on truly giving our taxpayers a tax break.”&nbsp;

Concern about a 3% cap is simple. Capping the appraised value doesn’t stop governing bodies from just raising property taxes anyway. Agricultural associations and business lobbyists also worry that capping residential valuations would then shift more tax burden to farms and businesses.&nbsp;

Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, is the chair of the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation. She is leading the push to pass the constitutional amendment. She disagrees that her 3% cap does nothing. She’s looked back at decades of tax rates and has seen valuations jump. Had the cap been in place, those valuations would not have jumped as high and those homeowners would pay less in property taxes.&nbsp;

The property tax cap also would start based on 2022 home values. That would cap property tax increases before a recent surge in valuations.

Tyson said she’s seen someone’s property tax rise even though they did no work on their house. The price jumped because their neighbor renovated their home. The current system doesn’t work, she said.&nbsp;

“We are not inventing the wheel here,” Tyson said at a past debate. “We have looked to other states to see what to model after.”

For Detmer, the homeowner on a fixed income, property tax relief needs to come soon. She might have to move, and depending where she buys, that could mean moving farther away from her grandchildren.&nbsp;

Property taxes mean cutting back, Detmer said. But she’s annoyed that the county government doesn’t cut back as hard as she does.&nbsp;

“When I bought it, I had no intention of moving,” Detmer said. “I raised my family here. I have no intentions of going anywhere unless (taxes) force me out.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740674495312.jpeg" alt="Lawmakers may be hashing out how to provide tax relief, but there is bipartisan consensus on the need to address property taxes. Photo by Niko Schmidt / The Beacon" />
 <figcaption>Lawmakers may be hashing out how to provide tax relief, but there is bipartisan consensus on the need to address property taxes. Photo by Niko Schmidt / The Beacon</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/author/blaise-mesa/">BLAISE MESA</a> <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/25/kansas-property-tax-where-do-tax-cuts-stand-so-far/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022525">The Beacon</a>Debbie Detmer has a lot of memories in her house. She’s lived there 40 years and raised three children in it.&nbsp;Detmer is retired now and lives on a fixed income in Johnson County. She hasn’t done any work on her house, yet she pays more in property taxes each year. The bill is rising so much it’s becoming too much to manage.&nbsp;Last year, she paid $100 more a month and this year she is paying $50 more a month in property taxes. That’s before her homeowner’s insurance goes up because a more expensive house means more expensive insurance.&nbsp;Her property taxes are making her choose between paying for taxes or other essentials — compromising her retirement.&nbsp;“You keep turning the heat down. You keep (it) hotter in the summer,” she said. “You just got to cut back.”&nbsp;<h2>Lawmakers have multiple tax proposals&nbsp;</h2>Kansas lawmakers are trying to ease the property tax burden, but&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/21/new-kansas-laws-lawmakers-advance-dozens-of-bills/">halfway through the session</a>&nbsp;it doesn’t look like there’s consensus on how to do so.&nbsp;Constitutional amendments on property taxes have headlined the tax cut debate so far.The Senate passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">3% cap on valuation increases</a>. Property taxes could increase more than 3% in a year, but the appraised value of a home would be capped at 3% unless it was renovated or qualifies for other exemptions.The House has a similar proposal that would use a rolling average of a home’s value, likely a six-year rolling average.Both ideas would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;The Senate’s proposal passed with more than a two-thirds majority. But the House hasn’t acted on its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hcr5011/">valuation cap proposal</a>.&nbsp;House Committee on Taxation chair Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican, said these constitutional amendments are gimmicks that don’t provide real relief. He isn’t alone. Some Senate Republicans voted against the 3% cap and almost every Senate Democrat opposed it.&nbsp;Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said this is California tax policy that shouldn’t come to Kansas.&nbsp;Senate Democrats have instead proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb217/">increasing property tax exemptions</a>&nbsp;from $75,000 to $125,000. Democrats will also get a hearing on a bill expanding “<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb215/">the property tax rebate program</a>&nbsp;for seniors and disabled veterans by excluding Social Security payments from the definition of household income and increasing the household income and appraised value thresholds for eligibility related to increased property tax homestead claims.”&nbsp;Sen. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, has another idea. He tried to amend the 3% cap during an early February floor debate to tie tax increases with inflation. Property taxes could only rise with the rate of inflation. Taxing bodies could still raise taxes higher than inflation, but that would require voters to approve of the increase.&nbsp;Owens’ amendment failed.&nbsp;“We certainly cannot predict the actions of the other chamber,” Owens said during the Senate debate. “It is generally assumed that (<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1603/">this constitutional amendment</a>) is not the final product. If this is not the final product, we want to go in with the strongest position possible on truly giving our taxpayers a tax break.”&nbsp;<h2>Debate over passed plans</h2>Concern about a 3% cap is simple. Capping the appraised value doesn’t stop governing bodies from just raising property taxes anyway. Agricultural associations and business lobbyists also worry that capping residential valuations would then shift more tax burden to farms and businesses.&nbsp;Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, is the chair of the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation. She is leading the push to pass the constitutional amendment. She disagrees that her 3% cap does nothing. She’s looked back at decades of tax rates and has seen valuations jump. Had the cap been in place, those valuations would not have jumped as high and those homeowners would pay less in property taxes.&nbsp;The property tax cap also would start based on 2022 home values. That would cap property tax increases before a recent surge in valuations.Tyson said she’s seen someone’s property tax rise even though they did no work on their house. The price jumped because their neighbor renovated their home. The current system doesn’t work, she said.&nbsp;“We are not inventing the wheel here,” Tyson said at a past debate. “We have looked to other states to see what to model after.”For Detmer, the homeowner on a fixed income, property tax relief needs to come soon. She might have to move, and depending where she buys, that could mean moving farther away from her grandchildren.&nbsp;Property taxes mean cutting back, Detmer said. But she’s annoyed that the county government doesn’t cut back as hard as she does.&nbsp;“When I bought it, I had no intention of moving,” Detmer said. “I raised my family here. I have no intentions of going anywhere unless (taxes) force me out.”

Kansas lawmakers offer dueling ideas on property tax relief

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Deherrera, Angela Nicole

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Violation of restrictions on driver's license or permit, Driving While Suspended and No Proof Of Insurance

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp; Failure to Appear

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Failure to appear and Driving While Suspended

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740944578145.png" alt="Collicott, Christopher Shawn" />
 <figcaption>Collicott, Christopher Shawn</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Collicott, Christopher ShawnREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740944618269.png" alt="Deherrera, Angela Nicole" />
 <figcaption>Deherrera, Angela Nicole</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Deherrera, Angela NicoleREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740944660417.png" alt="Eilrich, Jessica Coraleann" />
 <figcaption>Eilrich, Jessica Coraleann</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Eilrich, Jessica CoraleannREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Violation of restrictions on driver's license or permit, Driving While Suspended and No Proof Of Insurance<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740944717848.png" alt="McClure, Heather Ann" />
 <figcaption>McClure, Heather Ann</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;McClure, Heather AnnREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp; Failure to Appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740944758682.png" alt="Redmond, Diego Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Redmond, Diego Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Redmond, Diego JosephREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Failure to appear and Driving While Suspended

Saline County Jail Bookings, March 2

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The most extensive database on Vietnam War causalities was the passion of a man from Hays.

The late Richard Coffelt, a longtime Hays attorney, spent years and his own money researching and amassing the <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Coffelt Database</a>, which is now available for free through the National Archives.

Although others contributed to the database and Coffelt wanted the record source named something more accessible, the database was named in honor of him.

Jo Ann Jennings, Coffelt's wife, recounted information about the database during a lecture at the Hays VFW on Feb. 16.

Coffelt was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He had no connection with the Vietnam War.

However, in 1980, he became acquainted with the mother of&nbsp;Gary Lee Binder of Hays. Gary Binder, who served with the Navy, was killed in action in 1967 in Vietnam, and Coffelt wanted to learn more about the circumstances of Binder's death.

Jennings explained this was before the rise of personal computing and Google, which meant hours spent at libraries, especially the&nbsp;Presidential Library of Lyndon Baines Johnson in Austin, Texas. She said she spent many vacations accompanying Richard on research trips, sometimes at his side in study rooms.

Johnson sent a letter of condolence to every family of a service member killed in Vietnam during his administration. Those letters included the unit numbers of the service members, which made them valuable in Coffelt's research.

Jennings said Richard spent countless hours taking notes on yellow legal pads.

Coffelt saw the need to connect soldiers with other soldiers. The men who served wanted to know what had happened to their buddies.

Jennings said Coffelt was interested in working on the research because the federal government didn't keep track of the units the men who were killed in action were from.

He said having a unit designation was the most important thing to know if you wanted to know what happened to your friend.

“I felt that if I just looked long enough, hard enough, I would hit the mother lode,” Coffelt was quoted as saying in a story published in the February 2012 edition of the VVA Veteran magazine. 

“I still felt that there had to be some government source that would have all this information. It became kind of a game to try and locate the information in some government repository somewhere.”

In 1993-94, after PCs had become commonplace, Tom Holloway (Emory University, Atlanta) changed the landscape by obtaining the Department of Defense's casualty database and the Army Adjutant General's database in digital form, according to the database's website.

"Using the university's mainframe computers to read the reel-to-reel computer tapes,&nbsp;Holloway integrated the two databases and converted the information into a commonly used small-computer format. The "Holloway Database" effectively became the public's sole source of information regarding all American Vietnam dead," the database website said.

The database website said that in the late 1990s, others joined Coffelt's effort, contributing information and collating the collected material into digital form using the Holloway database as a baseline, the database said.

"The additional resources allowed the project's scope to expand to include units of assignment information for all service branches," according to the database's website. "In 2002, an early version of the Coffelt Database was deeded to the National Archives, which made it available online as a searchable database," the database said.

Jennings said Coffelt amassed a library that filled a room floor to ceiling with more than 300 books on Vietnam. She said her husband had read every book.

She said her husband had an almost photographic memory of the information. She recalled a person from Australia writing Coffelt, asking him if he might know what happened to his uncle.&nbsp;

Without the need to look at any source, Coffelt was able to write him a page of the entire account of the battle in which the man's uncle was killed and what happened in that battle.

"He had super-detailed information just from his remembrance," Jennings said.

A Vietnam veteran who worked on the database with Coffelt spoke at his funeral and said, "Richard knew more about what happened in Vietnam than any soldier that was there, and he wasn't there."

Today, the database contains more than 60,000 names and more than 1 million pieces of information. Gary L. Noller, Co. B, 1/46th Infantry, Vietnam 1970-71, called the database a gift to and for Vietnam veterans and their families.

He said in a letter on the database, often, the child or grandchild of a Vietnam casualty wishes to contact a veteran who served with their deceased family member.

Prior to the Coffelt Database, a search of this kind was often overwhelming. The official record listed casualties by unit at the division or brigade level,&nbsp;Noller said in his letter.

Coffelt's research expanded the casualty database to list the company and battalion-level casualties, Noller said.

"This effectively reduced the search for a veteran from a magnitude of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100. It can be said that the Coffelt Database made the search at least 100 times easier to conduct,"&nbsp;Noller said.

Vietnam veteran Dick Arnold worked on the database with Coffelt.&nbsp;

In a 2011 letter published on the database's website, he said, "I consider my participation in the creation and continued improvement of The Coffelt Database to be one of the proudest parts of my life. I also consider it a singular honor to have known and worked with Richard these last few years. All of us Vietnam veterans owe him a huge debt ..."

Although Coffelt and the others who contributed to the database were offered money to privatize the data, Coffelt and his fellow researchers insisted the database remain a free, open-source of information, Jennings said.

By 2009, Coffelt developed Lewy body dementia. He died on Jan. 25, 2012.

Hays VVA Chapter 939&nbsp;dedicated a plaque at the Hays Regional Airport to honor Coffelt's work in creating the database.

Not only is the Coffelt database still available and in use today. But a story on the database sparked an unlikely friendship between Jennings and a WWII veteran who read a story on the database in a veterans magazine.

Frank Malizia, who was 92 at the time, read that story and recognized Hays as a familiar place. He had been stationed in Great Bend during the war and was familiar with Hays and Ellis County. This led him to contact Jennings.

Read more on Malizia and Jennings' long friendship and correspondents at&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/74f5a4c8-b37b-458a-b1a8-ddb7a744b869">NWester: WWII soldier laid to rest next to 'love of his life' in Antonino</a>.

You can access the Coffelt Database online for free. <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Click here for a link</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740765066874.png" alt="Richard Coffelt Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Richard Coffelt Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post The most extensive database on Vietnam War causalities was the passion of a man from Hays.The late Richard Coffelt, a longtime Hays attorney, spent years and his own money researching and amassing the <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Coffelt Database</a>, which is now available for free through the National Archives.Although others contributed to the database and Coffelt wanted the record source named something more accessible, the database was named in honor of him.Jo Ann Jennings, Coffelt's wife, recounted information about the database during a lecture at the Hays VFW on Feb. 16.Coffelt was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean War. He had no connection with the Vietnam War.However, in 1980, he became acquainted with the mother of&nbsp;Gary Lee Binder of Hays. Gary Binder, who served with the Navy, was killed in action in 1967 in Vietnam, and Coffelt wanted to learn more about the circumstances of Binder's death.Jennings explained this was before the rise of personal computing and Google, which meant hours spent at libraries, especially the&nbsp;Presidential Library of Lyndon Baines Johnson in Austin, Texas. She said she spent many vacations accompanying Richard on research trips, sometimes at his side in study rooms.Johnson sent a letter of condolence to every family of a service member killed in Vietnam during his administration. Those letters included the unit numbers of the service members, which made them valuable in Coffelt's research.Jennings said Richard spent countless hours taking notes on yellow legal pads.Coffelt saw the need to connect soldiers with other soldiers. The men who served wanted to know what had happened to their buddies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740519068072.png" alt="Richard Coffelt when he was in the service. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Richard Coffelt when he was in the service. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Jennings said Coffelt was interested in working on the research because the federal government didn't keep track of the units the men who were killed in action were from.He said having a unit designation was the most important thing to know if you wanted to know what happened to your friend.“I felt that if I just looked long enough, hard enough, I would hit the mother lode,” Coffelt was quoted as saying in a story published in the February 2012 edition of the VVA Veteran magazine. “I still felt that there had to be some government source that would have all this information. It became kind of a game to try and locate the information in some government repository somewhere.”In 1993-94, after PCs had become commonplace, Tom Holloway (Emory University, Atlanta) changed the landscape by obtaining the Department of Defense's casualty database and the Army Adjutant General's database in digital form, according to the database's website."Using the university's mainframe computers to read the reel-to-reel computer tapes,&nbsp;Holloway integrated the two databases and converted the information into a commonly used small-computer format. The "Holloway Database" effectively became the public's sole source of information regarding all American Vietnam dead," the database website said.The database website said that in the late 1990s, others joined Coffelt's effort, contributing information and collating the collected material into digital form using the Holloway database as a baseline, the database said."The additional resources allowed the project's scope to expand to include units of assignment information for all service branches," according to the database's website. "In 2002, an early version of the Coffelt Database was deeded to the National Archives, which made it available online as a searchable database," the database said.Jennings said Coffelt amassed a library that filled a room floor to ceiling with more than 300 books on Vietnam. She said her husband had read every book.She said her husband had an almost photographic memory of the information. She recalled a person from Australia writing Coffelt, asking him if he might know what happened to his uncle.&nbsp;Without the need to look at any source, Coffelt was able to write him a page of the entire account of the battle in which the man's uncle was killed and what happened in that battle."He had super-detailed information just from his remembrance," Jennings said.A Vietnam veteran who worked on the database with Coffelt spoke at his funeral and said, "Richard knew more about what happened in Vietnam than any soldier that was there, and he wasn't there."Today, the database contains more than 60,000 names and more than 1 million pieces of information. Gary L. Noller, Co. B, 1/46th Infantry, Vietnam 1970-71, called the database a gift to and for Vietnam veterans and their families.He said in a letter on the database, often, the child or grandchild of a Vietnam casualty wishes to contact a veteran who served with their deceased family member.Prior to the Coffelt Database, a search of this kind was often overwhelming. The official record listed casualties by unit at the division or brigade level,&nbsp;Noller said in his letter.Coffelt's research expanded the casualty database to list the company and battalion-level casualties, Noller said."This effectively reduced the search for a veteran from a magnitude of 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100. It can be said that the Coffelt Database made the search at least 100 times easier to conduct,"&nbsp;Noller said.Vietnam veteran Dick Arnold worked on the database with Coffelt.&nbsp;In a 2011 letter published on the database's website, he said, "I consider my participation in the creation and continued improvement of The Coffelt Database to be one of the proudest parts of my life. I also consider it a singular honor to have known and worked with Richard these last few years. All of us Vietnam veterans owe him a huge debt ..."Although Coffelt and the others who contributed to the database were offered money to privatize the data, Coffelt and his fellow researchers insisted the database remain a free, open-source of information, Jennings said.By 2009, Coffelt developed Lewy body dementia. He died on Jan. 25, 2012.Hays VVA Chapter 939&nbsp;dedicated a plaque at the Hays Regional Airport to honor Coffelt's work in creating the database.Not only is the Coffelt database still available and in use today. But a story on the database sparked an unlikely friendship between Jennings and a WWII veteran who read a story on the database in a veterans magazine.Frank Malizia, who was 92 at the time, read that story and recognized Hays as a familiar place. He had been stationed in Great Bend during the war and was familiar with Hays and Ellis County. This led him to contact Jennings.Read more on Malizia and Jennings' long friendship and correspondents at&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/74f5a4c8-b37b-458a-b1a8-ddb7a744b869">NWester: WWII soldier laid to rest next to 'love of his life' in Antonino</a>.You can access the Coffelt Database online for free. <a href="https://www.coffeltdatabase.org/">Click here for a link</a>.

Coffelt Database on Americans killed in Vietnam was passion of Kan. attorney

NAME:&nbsp;Arellano,Natalia Caridad REQUESTED CHARGE(S):

Theft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500

NAME:&nbsp;Brooks,Anthony Joseph REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Cottrell,Dakota Anthony Keith REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;

Criminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption

NAME:&nbsp;Delatorre,Victor Vicente REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Hano,Dalan Lukela REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;

Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

NAME:&nbsp;Helm,Christa Lee REQUESTED CHARGE(S):Driving While Suspended

NAME:&nbsp;Hensley,Michael Rae REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Stalking; Reckless conduct causing fear to person or family

NAME:&nbsp;Oneill,Jennie Othea REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME: Smith,Stephen Michael REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839618923.jpeg" alt="Arellano,Natalia Caridad" />
 <figcaption>Arellano,Natalia Caridad</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Arellano,Natalia Caridad REQUESTED CHARGE(S):Probation ViolationFailure to appearTheft of prop/services:Value less than $1,500Outside warrant/NCIC hit<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839632610.jpeg" alt="Brooks,Anthony Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Brooks,Anthony Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Brooks,Anthony Joseph REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839644146.jpeg" alt="Cottrell,Dakota Anthony Keith" />
 <figcaption>Cottrell,Dakota Anthony Keith</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Cottrell,Dakota Anthony Keith REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Agg assault; w/ deadly weaponCriminal threat; Cause terror, evacuation or disruption<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839661754.jpeg" alt="Delatorre,Victor Vicente" />
 <figcaption>Delatorre,Victor Vicente</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Delatorre,Victor Vicente REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839695099.jpeg" alt="Hano,Dalan Lukela" />
 <figcaption>Hano,Dalan Lukela</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Hano,Dalan Lukela REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839708219.jpeg" alt="Helm,Christa Lee" />
 <figcaption>Helm,Christa Lee</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Helm,Christa Lee REQUESTED CHARGE(S):Driving While Suspended<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839772749.jpeg" alt="Hensley,Michael Rae" />
 <figcaption>Hensley,Michael Rae</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Hensley,Michael Rae REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Stalking; Reckless conduct causing fear to person or family<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839861772.jpeg" alt="Oneill,Jennie Othea" />
 <figcaption>Oneill,Jennie Othea</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Oneill,Jennie Othea REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740839891349.jpeg" alt="Smith,Stephen Michael" />
 <figcaption>Smith,Stephen Michael</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME: Smith,Stephen Michael REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

Saline County Jail Bookings, March 1

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.

On Thursday, Kansas Highway Patrol posted a photo taken by Trooper Ely on patrol on Interstate 70 in Saline County.

The patrol did not report whether the trooper gave the driver a warning or a ticket with a significant fine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740777188831.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement across Kansas continue to see more drivers traveling well above the posted speed limit, despite a statewide campaign to crack down on excessive speeding.On Thursday, Kansas Highway Patrol posted a photo taken by Trooper Ely on patrol on Interstate 70 in Saline County.The patrol did not report whether the trooper gave the driver a warning or a ticket with a significant fine.

Driver caught traveling 111mph on I-70 in Saline County

By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/26/kansas-republicans-want-to-elect-state-supreme-court-justices/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022825">The Beacon</a>

Robert Edmunds won three judicial elections in his home state of North Carolina. He was elected to the state Court of Appeals before serving two terms on the state’s Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Edmunds said he never would have risen through the ranks without elections. He didn’t have any political connections to the governor. He didn’t run any big-city law firm. Edmunds won his races because he proved to voters he was the most qualified.&nbsp;

“Elections tap into the biggest talent pool,” Edmunds told Kansas lawmakers. “Any lawyer in good standing who has ambitions to serve on the bench can take a shot at it.”

Kansas lawmakers are now debating that question. Should voters elect justices to the Kansas Supreme Court? Or should the state keep its merit-based nominating process?

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1611/">The proposal</a>&nbsp;is a “colossal sea change” from the state’s current system, said Fred Logan with the Kansas Bar Association, and it would require the Kansas Constitution to be amended. A majority of voters would need to approve the change.&nbsp;

Supporters of the change, which include the state attorney general’s office and Americans for Prosperity, say a direct election of justices is needed so everyday Kansans have a voice in the judicial system. But opponents say this proposal demolishes an already effective system and pours dark money into the courts.&nbsp;

The Kansas Supreme Court’s current system

Kansas does not use the federal system for picking justices. The governor alone does not pick someone and there is no Senate confirmation.&nbsp;

The current system has a nominating commission that includes four lawyers and four nonlawyers. Each congressional district must have a lawyer and nonlawyer appointed to the commission.&nbsp;

Nonlawyers are appointed by the governor and lawyers are elected by other lawyers in their congressional district. A ninth member — a lawyer and chair of the commission — is elected by a statewide pool of lawyers.

The commission questions candidates in public interviews then selects three names and the governor makes the final decision from there. This system was approved by voters in 1958 after a controversial selection to the state Supreme Court.&nbsp;

In 1956, then-Gov. Fred Hall lost reelection during the primary. Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court Bill Smith was also sick and considering retirement but worried the incoming Democratic governor would appoint a liberal to the Supreme Court. Hall, Smith and Lt. Gov. John McCuish hatched a plan.&nbsp;

Smith retired from the Supreme Court. Hall resigned as governor and was replaced by McCuish. McCuish was governor for 11 days and appointed Hall to the state Supreme Court. That infuriated Kansas voters, who reformed the system and created the merit-based process we have today.&nbsp;

Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said the current system works well and there’s no reason to change it.&nbsp;

Supporters of the bill who want to change the law acknowledged that elected judges and appointed judges are of the same quality. Those supporters also said the system needs to be overhauled to give voters more say in the state’s highest court. Kansans already vote on justices through retention elections where voters can kick justices off the bench if they want.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740770429634.jpeg" alt="State justices are appointed through a nominating commission, unlike the federal process. (Courtesy/The Kansas Supreme Court)" />
 <figcaption>State justices are appointed through a nominating commission, unlike the federal process. (Courtesy/The Kansas Supreme Court)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BLAISE MESA <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/26/kansas-republicans-want-to-elect-state-supreme-court-justices/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=Free%20stories%20from%20The%20Beacon&amp;utm_campaign=Republishing%20email%2022825">The Beacon</a>Robert Edmunds won three judicial elections in his home state of North Carolina. He was elected to the state Court of Appeals before serving two terms on the state’s Supreme Court.&nbsp;Edmunds said he never would have risen through the ranks without elections. He didn’t have any political connections to the governor. He didn’t run any big-city law firm. Edmunds won his races because he proved to voters he was the most qualified.&nbsp;“Elections tap into the biggest talent pool,” Edmunds told Kansas lawmakers. “Any lawyer in good standing who has ambitions to serve on the bench can take a shot at it.”Kansas lawmakers are now debating that question. Should voters elect justices to the Kansas Supreme Court? Or should the state keep its merit-based nominating process?<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1611/">The proposal</a>&nbsp;is a “colossal sea change” from the state’s current system, said Fred Logan with the Kansas Bar Association, and it would require the Kansas Constitution to be amended. A majority of voters would need to approve the change.&nbsp;Supporters of the change, which include the state attorney general’s office and Americans for Prosperity, say a direct election of justices is needed so everyday Kansans have a voice in the judicial system. But opponents say this proposal demolishes an already effective system and pours dark money into the courts.&nbsp;<h2>The Kansas Supreme Court’s current system</h2>Kansas does not use the federal system for picking justices. The governor alone does not pick someone and there is no Senate confirmation.&nbsp;The current system has a nominating commission that includes four lawyers and four nonlawyers. Each congressional district must have a lawyer and nonlawyer appointed to the commission.&nbsp;Nonlawyers are appointed by the governor and lawyers are elected by other lawyers in their congressional district. A ninth member — a lawyer and chair of the commission — is elected by a statewide pool of lawyers.The commission questions candidates in public interviews then selects three names and the governor makes the final decision from there. This system was approved by voters in 1958 after a controversial selection to the state Supreme Court.&nbsp;In 1956, then-Gov. Fred Hall lost reelection during the primary. Chief Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court Bill Smith was also sick and considering retirement but worried the incoming Democratic governor would appoint a liberal to the Supreme Court. Hall, Smith and Lt. Gov. John McCuish hatched a plan.&nbsp;Smith retired from the Supreme Court. Hall resigned as governor and was replaced by McCuish. McCuish was governor for 11 days and appointed Hall to the state Supreme Court. That infuriated Kansas voters, who reformed the system and created the merit-based process we have today.&nbsp;<h2>The desire for change</h2>Rashane Hamby, director of policy and research at the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, said the current system works well and there’s no reason to change it.&nbsp;Supporters of the bill who want to change the law acknowledged that elected judges and appointed judges are of the same quality. Those supporters also said the system needs to be overhauled to give voters more say in the state’s highest court. Kansans already vote on justices through retention elections where voters can kick justices off the bench if they want.&nbsp;The current system lets the governor and the nominating commission grill candidates about their qualifications for the job, and that’s how the decision is made. Elections require candidates playing politics, Hamby said. Candidates aren’t always chosen based on qualifications but on money and donations from political groups that might have cases before the court.&nbsp;“The Supreme Court should not be for sale to the highest bidder,” she said.&nbsp;Almost two dozen states elect their judges. In Wisconsin, Hamby said, $51 million was spent on the 2023 Supreme Court race. The state’s race later this year is expected to top that spending and become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-supreme-court-musk-trump-spending-4d95c11f76be495cc5acadaf9981a42b">the most expensive Supreme Court race</a>.&nbsp;Logan, with the Kansas Bar Association, said politics, fundraising and campaigning are all fine for the governor’s office or state officials. Not for the courts. Logan said the current system is free from politics and it should stay that way.&nbsp;But Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, doesn’t agree that the current process is free from politics.&nbsp;He said the process of getting selected by the commission has political jostling. Holding elections gives everyone a chance to have their voice heard, not just a small group of people.&nbsp;“Elections are how we govern from the bottom up,” Masterson said.Masterson and other Republicans say they support changing the system so people have a voice. Supporters of the change also said that Supreme Court justices can time their resignations based on what political party holds the governor’s office. Allowing a regular vote would remove the possibility of selections being timed in a partisan manner, supporters say.&nbsp;Kansas lawmakers have tried to change how Supreme Court justices are picked before. These debates are more than a decade old, but the Kansas Supreme Court’s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2022/07/28/kansas-vote-on-abortion/">uphold abortion rights</a>&nbsp;has raised the stakes on this debate.&nbsp;“I would just comment that I would ask committee members and others to go out and read some of the justices’ opinions,” said Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican, during the debate.&nbsp;“I have,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, “and there’s concern in there.”