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.

NAME:&nbsp;Dean,Kevin Wayne REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;

Burglary; Non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crime

Theft of prop/services;Value $1,500 to $25,000

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Driving While Suspended,&nbsp;No Proof Of Insurance

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Agg Domestic Battery: impede breathing: nose/mouth

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry mannerCriminal restraint

NAME:&nbsp;Reynard,Matthew CharlesREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Sandoval Banuelos,Jose FranciscoREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;

Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor

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/2024/3/1711808871814.jpeg" alt="Dean,Kevin Wayne" />
 <figcaption>Dean,Kevin Wayne</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Dean,Kevin Wayne REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation ViolationBurglary; Non-dwelling to commit felony, theft, domestic violence, or sexually motivated crimeTheft of prop/services;Value $1,500 to $25,000<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711808979129.jpeg" alt="Delaughter,Arianna Rochelle" />
 <figcaption>Delaughter,Arianna Rochelle</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME: Delaughter,Arianna RochelleREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809054382.jpeg" alt=" Fedder,Matthew Randolph" />
 <figcaption> Fedder,Matthew Randolph</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Fedder,Matthew RandolphREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Driving While Suspended,&nbsp;No Proof Of Insurance<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809112805.jpeg" alt=" Garcia,Wilfredo Waldmar" />
 <figcaption> Garcia,Wilfredo Waldmar</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Garcia,Wilfredo WaldmarREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809166471.jpeg" alt=" Grant,Aaron Ashley" />
 <figcaption> Grant,Aaron Ashley</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Grant,Aaron AshleyREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809231660.jpeg" alt=" Morales,Marco Antonio" />
 <figcaption> Morales,Marco Antonio</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:Morales,Marco AntonioREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Agg Domestic Battery: impede breathing: nose/mouth<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809292557.jpeg" alt="Olson,Gary Godfrey" />
 <figcaption>Olson,Gary Godfrey</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Olson,Gary GodfreyREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry mannerCriminal restraint<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809339978.jpeg" alt=" Reynard,Matthew Charles" />
 <figcaption> Reynard,Matthew Charles</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Reynard,Matthew CharlesREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711809407277.jpeg" alt="Sandoval Banuelos,Jose Francisco" />
 <figcaption>Sandoval Banuelos,Jose Francisco</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Sandoval Banuelos,Jose FranciscoREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; MisdemeanorOperate a MV w/o a valid license

Saline County Jail Bookings, March 30

On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr.; also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and a District of Columbia police officer, Thomas Delahanty.

In 1822, Florida became a United States territory.

In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Jefferson, Georgia, first used ether as an anesthetic during an operation to remove a patient’s neck tumor.

In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.”

In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited denying citizens the right to vote and hold office on the basis of race, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.

In 1923, the Cunard liner RMS Laconia became the first passenger ship to circle the globe as it arrived in New York.

In 1945, during World War II, the Soviet Union invaded Austria with the goal of taking Vienna, which it accomplished two weeks later.

In 1959, a narrowly divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Bartkus v. Illinois, ruled that a conviction in state court following an acquittal in federal court for the same crime did not constitute double jeopardy.

In 1975, as the Vietnam War neared its end, Communist forces occupied the city of Da Nang.

In 1987, at the 59th Academy Awards, “Platoon” was named best picture; Marlee Matlin received best actress for “Children of a Lesser God” and Paul Newman was honored as best actor for “The Color of Money.”

In 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-c91bf24dd1ac4692aad59d2794420e91">President Barack Obama signed a single measure sealing his health care overhaul&nbsp;</a>and making the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process.

In 2015, Comedy Central announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/television-482003a0c073449a8056750bbe4822f9">Trevor Noah, a 31-year-old comedian</a>&nbsp;from South Africa, would succeed Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show.”

In 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-fcb59618f063452c9c701aab8538dbe1">thousands of Palestinians marched to Gaza’s border&nbsp;</a>with Israel and Palestinian health officials said 15 of the protesters were killed by Israeli fire on the first day of what Hamas organizers said would be six weeks of daily protests against a border blockade; it was the area’s deadliest violence in four years.

In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-us-news-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-tampa-6c8068e57e6d7fe80445f9f04bbd65ff">Florida authorities arrested a megachurch pastor&nbsp;</a>after they said he held two Sunday services with hundreds in attendance in violation of coronavirus restrictions. (The charges were later dropped.)

In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-roman-abramovich-kyiv-europe-ef9c28c44f94b34262fe6b7c296d58a6">Russian forces bombarded areas around Kyiv&nbsp;</a>and another city just hours after pledging to scale back military operations in those places to help negotiations with Ukraine.

In 2023, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-indictment-election-027d0e5ac1881a4c55c6379deae75faa">Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, the first ever criminal case against a former U.S. president

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711808234637.jpeg" alt="U.S. President Ronald Reagan waves just before he is shot outside the Washington Hilton, Monday, March 30, 1981. From left are secret service agent Jerry Parr, in raincoat, who pushed Reagan into the limousine; press secretary James Brady, who was seriously wounded; Reagan; Michael Deaver, Reagan’s aide; unidentified policeman; Washington policeman Thomas K. Delahanty, who was shot; and secret service agent Timothy J. McCarthy, who was shot in the stomach. (AP Photo/U.S. White House)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. President Ronald Reagan waves just before he is shot outside the Washington Hilton, Monday, March 30, 1981. From left are secret service agent Jerry Parr, in raincoat, who pushed Reagan into the limousine; press secretary James Brady, who was seriously wounded; Reagan; Michael Deaver, Reagan’s aide; unidentified policeman; Washington policeman Thomas K. Delahanty, who was shot; and secret service agent Timothy J. McCarthy, who was shot in the stomach. (AP Photo/U.S. White House)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Today in History:</h2>On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot and seriously injured outside a Washington, D.C., hotel by John W. Hinckley Jr.; also wounded were White House press secretary James Brady, Secret Service agent Timothy McCarthy and a District of Columbia police officer, Thomas Delahanty.<h2>On this date:</h2>In 1822, Florida became a United States territory.In 1842, Dr. Crawford W. Long of Jefferson, Georgia, first used ether as an anesthetic during an operation to remove a patient’s neck tumor.In 1867, U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward reached agreement with Russia to purchase the territory of Alaska for $7.2 million, a deal ridiculed by critics as “Seward’s Folly.”In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited denying citizens the right to vote and hold office on the basis of race, was declared in effect by Secretary of State Hamilton Fish.In 1923, the Cunard liner RMS Laconia became the first passenger ship to circle the globe as it arrived in New York.In 1945, during World War II, the Soviet Union invaded Austria with the goal of taking Vienna, which it accomplished two weeks later.In 1959, a narrowly divided U.S. Supreme Court, in Bartkus v. Illinois, ruled that a conviction in state court following an acquittal in federal court for the same crime did not constitute double jeopardy.In 1975, as the Vietnam War neared its end, Communist forces occupied the city of Da Nang.In 1987, at the 59th Academy Awards, “Platoon” was named best picture; Marlee Matlin received best actress for “Children of a Lesser God” and Paul Newman was honored as best actor for “The Color of Money.”In 2010,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-c91bf24dd1ac4692aad59d2794420e91">President Barack Obama signed a single measure sealing his health care overhaul&nbsp;</a>and making the government the primary lender to students by cutting banks out of the process.In 2015, Comedy Central announced that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/television-482003a0c073449a8056750bbe4822f9">Trevor Noah, a 31-year-old comedian</a>&nbsp;from South Africa, would succeed Jon Stewart as host of “The Daily Show.”In 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-fcb59618f063452c9c701aab8538dbe1">thousands of Palestinians marched to Gaza’s border&nbsp;</a>with Israel and Palestinian health officials said 15 of the protesters were killed by Israeli fire on the first day of what Hamas organizers said would be six weeks of daily protests against a border blockade; it was the area’s deadliest violence in four years.In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-us-news-ap-top-news-virus-outbreak-tampa-6c8068e57e6d7fe80445f9f04bbd65ff">Florida authorities arrested a megachurch pastor&nbsp;</a>after they said he held two Sunday services with hundreds in attendance in violation of coronavirus restrictions. (The charges were later dropped.)In 2022,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-zelenskyy-roman-abramovich-kyiv-europe-ef9c28c44f94b34262fe6b7c296d58a6">Russian forces bombarded areas around Kyiv&nbsp;</a>and another city just hours after pledging to scale back military operations in those places to help negotiations with Ukraine.In 2023, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-indictment-election-027d0e5ac1881a4c55c6379deae75faa">Manhattan grand jury has voted to indict Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>on charges involving payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of an extramarital sexual encounter, the first ever criminal case against a former U.S. president

Today in History, March 30

Easter celebrations are in town for Salina, view our interactive map above to see the variety of Easter celebrations this weekend.

<div><div class="flourish-embed flourish-map" data-src="visualisation/17343221"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div></div>By SALINA POSTEaster celebrations are in town for Salina, view our interactive map above to see the variety of Easter celebrations this weekend.

Salina Easter happenings — find out more through our interactive map

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Peabody public water supply system located in Marion County. The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Peabody indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;

For consumer questions, please contact the water system at:&nbsp;620-983-2174&nbsp;or you may call KDHE at&nbsp;785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDAzMzAuOTI2MDk1NjEifQ.z6HsfCVDXxoUgMoN3gW9--knjbgM9ZqYltpCrNDKBxw/s/1305935158/br/239873666716-l">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692907085194.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has rescinded a boil water advisory for the City of Peabody public water supply system located in Marion County. The advisory was issued because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.Laboratory testing samples collected from the City of Peabody indicate no evidence of bacteriological contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved. &nbsp;For consumer questions, please contact the water system at:&nbsp;620-983-2174&nbsp;or you may call KDHE at&nbsp;785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292LzQ2OC9Db25zdW1lci1JbmZvcm1hdGlvbi1SZWdhcmRpbmctYS1EaXNydXB0P3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyNDAzMzAuOTI2MDk1NjEifQ.z6HsfCVDXxoUgMoN3gW9--knjbgM9ZqYltpCrNDKBxw/s/1305935158/br/239873666716-l">kdhe.ks.gov/waterdisruption</a>.

Boil Water Advisory Rescinded for City of Peabody, Marion County

For the 2024 Lenten Season, Christ Cathedral in Salina featured 14 unique art pieces, in a variety of media, depicting Jesus' last moments.

With different styles and approaches, each artist expertly blends their personal experience and their response to reading sacred texts that tell the story of Jesus' crucifixion.

The artwork was displayed in the cathedral beginning on February 16 and concluded on Saturday, March 30, just in time for the celebration of Easter.&nbsp;

The “Way of the Cross," also called “the Stations of the Cross," is primarily a walking prayer. Each station, art piece, represents an episode in the narrative of the last moments of Christ’s life. "We walk, as Christ did, from the taking up of the cross, through the stumbling, the kindness of strangers, and their cruelty,"said MO Reverend Shay Craig Christ Cathedral.

"We walk, literally, from one moment to the next, and at each station, we pray. We walk, usually in a circle, in the case of this Cathedral, around the walls of the room.
It is an emotional journey, a humbling journey, and a cathartic journey. When we arrive at the end, we are physically feet away from where we started, but our hearts are in a whole new place."

"That curiosity is the genesis for this project; the desire to see with other people's eyes how these ancient and powerful words move them, how they interpret them, and what they see," Craig said.

READ MORE:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/78bc2314-7773-484c-a863-3184d4f5d8ce">📸 Friends and family of two local teens gather at roadside memorial for community vigil</a>

 The fourteen artists offer us a glimpse of what they see in the scripture that has shaped this holiday for more than a millennium. Their pieces articulate deep emotion, soaring imagination, and beautiful theology.

"Christ Cathedral is deeply honored to be able to exhibit the work of these wonderful artists and we are grateful for the generous gift of their time and talent. I pray that you will experience the holiness of seeking to see the world through another person's eyes," Craig said.

The Stations of the Cross 2024 Christ Cathedral

"As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation: and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, 'He deserves to die.' When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified."

Artist Reflection:&nbsp;"Jesus is trapped between two centers of power that want him silenced. Pilot, the local Roman authority, sees him as a provocateur trying to inspire public demonstrations or riots. He can't afford to have rumors of unrest reach Rome.
Local Jewish leaders see him as a false prophet challenging their authority.
They fear that he is trying to redefine Jewish law and cultural identity.

&nbsp;I wanted to portray these dangers closing in on Jesus.


The solid black
squares suggest the weight of threats from every direction. The compression of these forces is inevitable. Soon Jesus will be trapped. His fate is already determined, the only way to win is to surrender. The dark turbulent background feels oppressive. It could be storm clouds or smoke or just bad karma but it's already starting to swallow up some players in this tragedy. Eventually, it will consume everyone.

"Jesus went out, bearing his cross, to the place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before it's shearer is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."


Artist Reflection:
I chose the second station because of the contextual meaning that has been downplayed in so many images of the Stations of the Cross historically. In several examples, we find images that playfully appear as Act 1, Scene 2-the telling of a story,
but
avoiding real human
drama. "Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world" implies supreme sacrifice which is not carried in many of these images. There is no drama of prevailing death.

My intention for reinterpreting this&nbsp; second station is to bring focus to what must have been sheer agony. Bearing the weight of that cross had to be incredibly painful.
Christ, in human form, surely gets us as he felt the entire range of human endurance physically, emotionally, and mentally as he drug the implement of his own death.

 The drawing is in black and white, void of color, nothing pretty to be seen here. Shading is centered on the heavy cross and the painful expression on Christ's face. The loose linear structure of the drawing provides an element of intense energy that exudes from this cruel act. 

I wanted my drawing to be a meaningful component leading to the reality that "Surely this must be the Son of God."

Station Three, Jesus falls for the first time

"Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped: but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God."


Artist Reflection:
I selected the third station of the cross because the inspiration came to me instantly. I wanted this piece to be reverent and sacred. I began with the blue and ivory satin, a regal combination.

The gentle folds of the garment, the aureola as a circle of radiant light, and the crown of thorns are detailed with beads giving a delicacy to the piece.&nbsp; &nbsp;I quilted the wooden cross signifying the heavy burden he carried. A burgundy mat symbolizing the blood of Christ and the silver frame, the silver of a community chalice cup completes the third Station of the Cross
Creating this piece for the exhibit was an experience that touched my heart.


Art is something that makes you breathe with a different kind of happiness. Mixed media has proven to be the perfect canvas for me.

Station Four, Jesus meets his afflicted mother

"To what can I liken you, what can I compare you, daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For vast as the sea is your ruin.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended."


Artist Reflection:
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Mary watches from a distance, helpless to aid her beloved son, Jesus. He knew she was near and He was happy she was there to give him strength. Lord Jesus grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most Holy Mother. Help me to be grateful for those who love us.

This Station reminds me that I can, as a mother, only raise and protect my children to the best of my ability. They are "only on loan" from God.

Station Five, Jesus' Cross is laid upon Simon of Cyrene

"As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me: for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."


Artist Reflection:
When the artists chose the Station of the Cross they wanted to respond to, I waited for the last remaining station. No one wanted Station five and to be honest, it wouldn't have been my choice either. Immediately I turned to the Biblical passage in Luke 23:26.

"And as they led Jesus away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry behind Jesus."

 The first vision that jumped out at me was that Simon was following Jesus despite most artwork showing Jesus behind Simon. I knew I wanted to put Christ in front, 100% human but also larger than life, glowing with a gold halo depicting that He was also 100% God.


Further research revealed that Simon was just traveling home from work, neither a follower nor protester of Christ. The verse, Luke 14:27 came to mind: 

"Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." 

I would like to think through this experience that Simon became a disciple of Christ on this day.
Third, as I looked at the faceless crowd, one of the faces seemed to feel like Mary to me. I imagine Mary as an older woman, distraught with despair, reluctantly looking at her son being taken away for crucifixion.


Through my reflections on this station, full of intense and thought-provoking imagery, Station five became full of meaningful and powerful reflection for this Lenten season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Station Six, A woman wipes the face of Jesus

"We have seen him without beauty or majesty, with no looks to attract our eyes. He was despised and rejected by men: a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of men. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed."


Artist Reflection:
The Veil of Veronica-While there is no explicit reference to Veronica in the Gospels, her gracious act towards Jesus on the road to his crucifixion has lived on for centuries. This artistic image is a transparent copy of the same face of Jesus that is said to exist today on the true relic of Veronica's veil above the altar at the Shrine of the Holy Face in Manopello, Italy.
During the process of researching and recreating this image, a transcendent experience that I once felt as a young
woman became amplified.

 The 1984 life-changing instance happened after a period of searching for purpose. One day, as I stood in front of a mirror, I became transfixed. My mind was flooded with images at the very moment I looked into my own eyes. First, I saw Jesus on the cross from an elevated vantage point. Second, I understood the meaning of his death and resurrection. Then, I saw hundreds of people's faces - people I didn't know, yet felt deeply connected to. Simultaneously, l experienced God's love and understood that our love is His love and it is what binds all life together. 

Veronica literally means
"true image." Veils are intended to conceal and hide, yet her veil displays and reveals.

"Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken."


Artist Reflection:&nbsp;Before beginning, I researched the Stations of the Cross, looking at the work of other artists who have tried to depict the scene where Jesus falls again. What caught my attention was the long, arduous, painful journey Jesus was required to make.

 The humiliation his captors wished upon him was evident as He walked, sometimes dragging the cross, falling, then crawling.
Those mental images brought to my attention the role of the crowd that lined the path along his journey. What must it have been like to be a bystander? In many ways, I have become immune to Jesus' pain.

 On Sundays, I look up and see him nailed to the cross without thinking about the horrific reality of his suffering. I can only imagine the powerlessness I'd feel if&nbsp; such cruelty happened in front of me, the darkness that would enter my soul.
Witnesses could not rebel and save Jesus, but only watch... the sights, smells, and horror entering and staying forever.


Today, we are often bystanders, research shows that the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely any one of them will help the victim. This research, and the act of painting, have had a profound impact on my role as a bystander in the world of my questioning what kind of bystander | want to be?

Station Eight, Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem

&nbsp;"There followed after Jesus a great
multitude of the people, and among
them were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, "Daughters of
Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children."


Choosing to paint some detail rather than complete abstraction, I framed the scene with gold. First, I did a quick study in acrylic. Next, I began the oil version. The gold oil paint took almost a month to set. Initially, it was disheartening to look at the proportions and realize that the figure of Jesus was grossly oversized - correcting it meant repainting the sky and ground. I avoided the work for weeks.


Eventually, "Andre the Giant" was blobbed out. 

My self-reward was to work on the women's faces, hoping to show the emotion of this dark moment.&nbsp;

&nbsp;"I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.
He has made my teeth grind on gravel and made me cower in ashes. 'Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!'"

Artist Reflection:
 Layered mystery
 Deep commitment, resilience
 Spirit finds a way

Station Ten, Jesus is stripped of his garments

"When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull, they offered him wine to drink mingled with gall; but when he tasted it he would not drink it.
And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to fulfill the scripture which says. They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing"

Artist Reflection:
 He turned to see who ...
 In my painting, Jesus turns to look at his tormenters but remains silent
He is human... vibrant body... emotions... pain... determination... questions
 Gold highlights within the paint symbolize that he is more than human.&nbsp;

"When they came to the place which is called The Skull, they crucified him; and with him, they crucified two criminals, one on the right the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, 'He was numbered with the transgressors.'"

Artist Reflection:
There are times when an invitation pushes an artist's studio practice in an unexpected direction - one that would not have happened otherwise. This Lenten project has been that for me. / knew from the beginning that my Station eleven assignment would not be a literal interpretation.

As I reread the biblical texts that describe the crucifixion of Christ, I was aware of the specific presence of the natural world during the horrors of that day. Those who recorded the events were compelled to include earthquakes, rock slides, the thick temple veil torn, and an ominous darkness as omens not to be missed or dismissed. An unpredictable mystical presence settled
"over the whole land." 

My contribution to the Lenten Project, In The Darkness Of The Day, imagines with form and color the darkness of the created world during those hours between noon and three. I have painted with Alizarin Crimson mixed with the blues - Phthalo, Ultramarine, Prussian
- to make purples. But no black. The darkness comes from color.


I am grateful for the opportunity to join centuries of artists, poets, playwrights, and musicians who have given their creative spirits to the depiction of the crucifixion.&nbsp;

"When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, 'It is finished!" And then, crying out in a loud voice, he said, 'Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.' And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit."


Artist Reflection:
My watercolor is of the crucifix in Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary Church in Minneapolis, Kansas. If you stop and truly look at a crucifix, you will find yourself immersed in the profound significance of that moment - Christ's sacrifice encapsulates the very essence of Christianity.


The image of Christ, suspended on the cross, serves as a visual reminder of the depth of God's love for us-that even in the face of unimaginable suffering, Jesus remained steadfast in his commitment to save us.

Through his death on the cross, Jesus offers us the opportunity to find solace, forgiveness, and eternal life. So, the next time you encounter a crucifix, take a moment to truly look at it and allow its profound message to penetrate your soul. Let it inspire you to embrace the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and to live a life rooted in faith, compassion, and gratitude.

Station 13,&nbsp;The body of Jesus is laid on his mother 

 "All you who pass by, behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. My eyes are spent with weeping; my soul is in tumult; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. 'Do not call me Naomi (which means Pleasant,) call me Mara (which means Bitter;) for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.' "


Artist Reflection:
I selected the thirteenth station because it is the scenario from the crucifixion narrative that I most easily feel based on my human experience as a mother.

When viewing the iconography and art surrounding the Crucifixion, I am often struck by its dramatic and terrible beauty. Yet what I'm drawn to imagine is the underside of those baroque surfaces with their burnished patina and turgid emotion. 

Regarding this Station, neither the cross nor the bodies of Christ and his mother came to the fore when l envisioned portraying the moment. Instead, it was the heavy lifting, the
'machinery' of hands, the twisted cascade of the body's wrapping, the receiving hands of Mary. 

All characters are caught in the stunned blessing of a moment so filled with pain, darkness, awe, grief, fear, and sorrow that human imagery feels doomed to fail. I could imagine the topsy-turvy reaction of witnesses, the stigmata-like pain in the palms of those who lowered the body, and the impending weight in the hands of the mother even before she received the body. 

This scene evokes the heaviness at the heart of our mortal condition. The spirit of the body they lifted and lowered was no more in the world, having escaped all mortal chains.

"When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb." 

the penetrating stillness and darkness of death
 the cold and permanence of stone winter awaits spring
 nature's rebirth and the creed of resurrection imminent
 the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it

'Artists Way of the Cross' — Christ Cathedral observes Lent, Holy Week with local art

Storms will be possible Monday afternoon and evening with locations east of Interstate 135 having the best chance to see storms.  Large hail, damaging winds and a couple tornadoes will be possible with the stronger storms. 

With this storm system still a long ways off, the severe weather threat could still shift. So be sure to <a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">check back for updates</a>.

A cold front will bring some cooler temperatures to central and northeast Kansas on Saturday. Meanwhile, widespread highs in the 70s are anticipated for Sunday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711749570148.jpeg" alt="Severe storms possible Monday. Image Courtesy NWS Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Severe storms possible Monday. Image Courtesy NWS Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>Storms will be possible Monday afternoon and evening with locations east of Interstate 135 having the best chance to see storms. Large hail, damaging winds and a couple tornadoes will be possible with the stronger storms. With this storm system still a long ways off, the severe weather threat could still shift. So be sure to <a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">check back for updates</a>.<h2>Weekend forecast</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711750345645.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy NWS Wichita" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy NWS Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>A cold front will bring some cooler temperatures to central and northeast Kansas on Saturday. Meanwhile, widespread highs in the 70s are anticipated for Sunday.

NWS Wichita — Easter forecast, severe storms possible Monday

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."

In a small community near Mulberry Creek, just north of Interstate 70, dusty roads connect under a dozen modest rural homes in Glendale Township.

Before the small community established itself in 1915, French explorer Etienne Veniard de Bourgmont visited the region in 1724 to develop new relations with Native American Nations.

According to the Smoky Hill Museum, Bourgmont brought his allies from the Missouri, Otoe, Iowa, Kaw and Osage Nations to meet with trade representatives from the Comanche Nation just two miles east of what became Glendale.

Within the historic Comanche Territory, Bourgmont successfully negotiated agreeable trade relations with the Native Nations,&nbsp;

Undocumented history continued in the Glendale area throughout the next few centuries until the early 1900s, when the Salina Northern Railroad came to the budding community.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/85a96736-4237-4a84-824c-b8406f6b0efd">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - H.D. Lee Mercantile - Vol. 34</a>

The Salina Northern Railroad initially scouted Mulberry, a nearby community that already had a post office and general store.&nbsp;

Mulberry community members decided that the town lacked true growth potential, and citizens formed a "town founding committee" with Henry House as its president.

House and the founding committee established Glendale across the road from Mulberry, and the Salina Northern Railroad brought its line to the small community.

According to the Smoky Hill Museum, Glendale experienced a "growth spurt early in its history." One year after its founding, the Glendale State Bank opened for business on Main Street in 1916, quickly followed by a Lutheran Church and Township Hall in 1917.

Citizens continued opening businesses throughout the late 1910s, including a mercantile and grain elevator. In 1922, the town funded and constructed a $13,000 school with five teachers. Adjusted for inflation, the school cost just under $240,000.

Like similar <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6a550354-6897-43ad-9ea4-e99803bd1d61">small, growing communities in Saline County</a>, the 1920s and 1930s Great Depression and Dust Bowl decimated the community, driving many citizens away from the financial stress of low crop yields and farm prices.

By the mid-1930s, the town reported a population of 33 residents.

Glendale Township continues today in its scenic portion of Saline County, with a few residents continuing the quiet history of the community.

<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."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748995157.jpeg" alt="Glendale after an early day blizzard, circa 1912. Looking east with the stockyards in the foreground, the depot on the right and the grain elevator in the center. Fritz Bueker of Saline County took the photo. He was a farmer and one of the three brothers who did photography in the area from around 1900 to 1920. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Glendale after an early day blizzard, circa 1912. Looking east with the stockyards in the foreground, the depot on the right and the grain elevator in the center. Fritz Bueker of Saline County took the photo. He was a farmer and one of the three brothers who did photography in the area from around 1900 to 1920. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTIn a small community near Mulberry Creek, just north of Interstate 70, dusty roads connect under a dozen modest rural homes in Glendale Township.Before the small community established itself in 1915, French explorer Etienne Veniard de Bourgmont visited the region in 1724 to develop new relations with Native American Nations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748431565.jpeg" alt="Building the railroad east of Glendale c. 1900. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Building the railroad east of Glendale c. 1900. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Smoky Hill Museum, Bourgmont brought his allies from the Missouri, Otoe, Iowa, Kaw and Osage Nations to meet with trade representatives from the Comanche Nation just two miles east of what became Glendale.Within the historic Comanche Territory, Bourgmont successfully negotiated agreeable trade relations with the Native Nations,&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748302625.jpeg" alt="Glendale State Bank, c. 1900s. It closed in 1924. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Glendale State Bank, c. 1900s. It closed in 1924. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>Undocumented history continued in the Glendale area throughout the next few centuries until the early 1900s, when the Salina Northern Railroad came to the budding community.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748514206.jpeg" alt="Dedication of the Christ Lutheran Church, on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1917, in Glendale. The man on the right with a hat and book is Rev. H.G. Achtenberg. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum." />
 <figcaption>Dedication of the Christ Lutheran Church, on Sunday, Aug. 5, 1917, in Glendale. The man on the right with a hat and book is Rev. H.G. Achtenberg. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum.</figcaption>
 </figure>READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/85a96736-4237-4a84-824c-b8406f6b0efd">📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - H.D. Lee Mercantile - Vol. 34</a>The Salina Northern Railroad initially scouted Mulberry, a nearby community that already had a post office and general store.&nbsp;Mulberry community members decided that the town lacked true growth potential, and citizens formed a "town founding committee" with Henry House as its president.House and the founding committee established Glendale across the road from Mulberry, and the Salina Northern Railroad brought its line to the small community.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748724574.jpeg" alt="Photograph of the boys baseball team sitting in front of the Glendale High School c. 1938. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum." />
 <figcaption>Photograph of the boys baseball team sitting in front of the Glendale High School c. 1938. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Smoky Hill Museum, Glendale experienced a "growth spurt early in its history." One year after its founding, the Glendale State Bank opened for business on Main Street in 1916, quickly followed by a Lutheran Church and Township Hall in 1917.Citizens continued opening businesses throughout the late 1910s, including a mercantile and grain elevator. In 1922, the town funded and constructed a $13,000 school with five teachers. Adjusted for inflation, the school cost just under $240,000.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748903750.jpeg" alt="Glendale Rural High School Building c. 1938. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Glendale Rural High School Building c. 1938. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>Like similar <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/6a550354-6897-43ad-9ea4-e99803bd1d61">small, growing communities in Saline County</a>, the 1920s and 1930s Great Depression and Dust Bowl decimated the community, driving many citizens away from the financial stress of low crop yields and farm prices.By the mid-1930s, the town reported a population of 33 residents.Glendale Township continues today in its scenic portion of Saline County, with a few residents continuing the quiet history of the community.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711748946008.jpeg" alt="Family of John and Maria Wright, north of Glendale, circa 1913. John Matt came to America on August 15, 1898. He purchased land in Saline County just north of Glendale. Maria Gabriel came here on June 27, 1903. Her brother, Joe Gotti, sent money for her to come. John and Maria married on June 16, 1904. They had five children: August, Selma, Elsie, Johnny and Walter. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Family of John and Maria Wright, north of Glendale, circa 1913. John Matt came to America on August 15, 1898. He purchased land in Saline County just north of Glendale. Maria Gabriel came here on June 27, 1903. Her brother, Joe Gotti, sent money for her to come. John and Maria married on June 16, 1904. They had five children: August, Selma, Elsie, Johnny and Walter. Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>

📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Glendale Township - Vol. 35

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has enrolled 2,762 Kansas Veterans in VA health care over the past 365 days – 39.32% more than&nbsp;it enrolled the previous year. Nationally, VA&nbsp;enrolled 401,006 Veterans in VA health care over the past 365 days – 30% more than the&nbsp;307,831 it enrolled the previous year. This is the most yearly enrollees in at least five years at VA, and nearly a 50% increase over pandemic-level enrollment in 2020.

This historic enrollment has been made possible by the PACT Act, which has allowed VA to&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/" target="_blank">expand VA health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/" target="_blank">benefits</a>&nbsp;to millions of Veterans. VA is also conducting the most aggressive outreach campaign in its history, including hosting over 2,600 events since the passage of the PACT Act, launching a $16+ million&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-launches-advertising-campaign-to-encourage-new-veterans-to-sign-up-for-health-care-and-benefits/#:~:text=Press%20Room-,VA%20launches%20advertising%20campaign%20to%20encourage%20new%20Veterans%20to,for%20health%20care%20and%20benefits&amp;text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20Today%2C%20the%20Department%20of,and%20benefits%20they've%20earned." target="_blank">advertising campaign,</a>&nbsp;using&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/jonstewart/status/1765076636263944374?s=20" target="_blank">public service announcements</a>, and – for the first time ever – sending text messages to Veterans encouraging them to enroll in VA health care. VA is continuing these aggressive outreach efforts throughout 2024, with more than 550 in-person events already scheduled for this year.

Enrolling Veterans in health care is a top priority for VA and the Biden-Harris Administration because VA has proven to be the best care in America for Veterans.&nbsp;Veterans who receive VA health care have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-outperform-non-va-facilities-cms-ratings/" target="_blank">overall quality ratings</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/nationwide-patient-survey-shows-va-hospitals-outperform-non-va-hospitals/" target="_blank">patient satisfaction ratings</a>. Additionally, VA health care is often&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/" target="_blank">more affordable</a>&nbsp;than non-VA health care for Veterans. In total,&nbsp;VA is currently delivering more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in our nation’s history, setting&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/" target="_blank">an all-time record for health care appointments provided in 2023</a>.

<a>“We want&nbsp;every&nbsp;eligible Veteran to enroll in VA health care for one simple reason: Veterans who come to VA are proven to have better health outcomes – and pay less – than Veterans who don’t,” said&nbsp;VA Secretary Denis McDonough.&nbsp;“That’s why we’ve spent the past year meeting Veterans where they are – hosting thousands of events, sending millions of texts, advertising on every corner, and much more – to get them to come to VA. This aggressive outreach campaign has led more Veterans to enroll in VA care than during any year in at least a decade, and we’re not slowing down now.”&nbsp;</a>

“VA is the best, most affordable care in America for Veterans, so we want all eligible Veterans to enroll today,” said&nbsp;VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “Our clinicians know Veterans – they often are Veterans – and they know exactly how to help. Even if you don’t need this care today, you might need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. It’s quick and easy to apply, and once you’re in, you have access for life.”

VA recently&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/" target="_blank">expanded health care eligibility</a>&nbsp;for millions of Veterans nationwide, years earlier than called for by the PACT Act. As of March 5th,&nbsp;all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military and meet certain requirements became eligible to enroll directly in VA health care.&nbsp;This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll. VA also&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/all-wwii-veterans-are-now-eligible-for-no-cost-va-health-care-and-nursing-home-services/" target="_blank">recently expanded health care to all World War II Veterans</a>.

VA is able to serve these new enrollees, in part, due to last year’s record hiring in VA’s Veterans Health Administration.&nbsp;Last year, we exceeded&nbsp;our hiring goals in the Veterans Health Administration – growing at the fastest rate in 15 years and bringing in more than 61,000 new hires – to prepare for an increase in VA health care enrollment among Veterans under the PACT Act. In total, VHA now has more employees than ever before in our history, and VA’s retention efforts also led to a 20% decrease in turnover rate among VHA employees from 2022 to 2023.

Moving forward, VA will continue to aggressively reach out to Veterans to encourage them to come to VA. VA encourages all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/" target="_blank">learn more about VA</a>&nbsp;and apply for their world-class&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction" target="_blank">health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction" target="_blank">earned benefits</a>&nbsp;today.

For more information about VA care, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/" target="_blank">VA’s health care website</a>. For more information about the impact of the PACT Act, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://department.va.gov/pactdata/" target="_blank">VA’s PACT Act dashboard.</a>

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650578121737.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Department of Veterans AffairsWASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced that it has enrolled 2,762 Kansas Veterans in VA health care over the past 365 days – 39.32% more than&nbsp;it enrolled the previous year. Nationally, VA&nbsp;enrolled 401,006 Veterans in VA health care over the past 365 days – 30% more than the&nbsp;307,831 it enrolled the previous year. This is the most yearly enrollees in at least five years at VA, and nearly a 50% increase over pandemic-level enrollment in 2020.This historic enrollment has been made possible by the PACT Act, which has allowed VA to&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/" target="_blank">expand VA health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/" target="_blank">benefits</a>&nbsp;to millions of Veterans. VA is also conducting the most aggressive outreach campaign in its history, including hosting over 2,600 events since the passage of the PACT Act, launching a $16+ million&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-launches-advertising-campaign-to-encourage-new-veterans-to-sign-up-for-health-care-and-benefits/#:~:text=Press%20Room-,VA%20launches%20advertising%20campaign%20to%20encourage%20new%20Veterans%20to,for%20health%20care%20and%20benefits&amp;text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20Today%2C%20the%20Department%20of,and%20benefits%20they've%20earned." target="_blank">advertising campaign,</a>&nbsp;using&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/jonstewart/status/1765076636263944374?s=20" target="_blank">public service announcements</a>, and – for the first time ever – sending text messages to Veterans encouraging them to enroll in VA health care. VA is continuing these aggressive outreach efforts throughout 2024, with more than 550 in-person events already scheduled for this year.Enrolling Veterans in health care is a top priority for VA and the Biden-Harris Administration because VA has proven to be the best care in America for Veterans.&nbsp;Veterans who receive VA health care have better health outcomes than non-enrolled Veterans, and VA hospitals have dramatically outperformed non-VA hospitals in&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-outperform-non-va-facilities-cms-ratings/" target="_blank">overall quality ratings</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/nationwide-patient-survey-shows-va-hospitals-outperform-non-va-hospitals/" target="_blank">patient satisfaction ratings</a>. Additionally, VA health care is often&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/" target="_blank">more affordable</a>&nbsp;than non-VA health care for Veterans. In total,&nbsp;VA is currently delivering more care and more benefits to more Veterans than ever before in our nation’s history, setting&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/https:/news.va.gov/press-room/va-all-time-record-care-benefits-veterans-fy-2023/" target="_blank">an all-time record for health care appointments provided in 2023</a>.<a>“We want&nbsp;every&nbsp;eligible Veteran to enroll in VA health care for one simple reason: Veterans who come to VA are proven to have better health outcomes – and pay less – than Veterans who don’t,” said&nbsp;VA Secretary Denis McDonough.&nbsp;“That’s why we’ve spent the past year meeting Veterans where they are – hosting thousands of events, sending millions of texts, advertising on every corner, and much more – to get them to come to VA. This aggressive outreach campaign has led more Veterans to enroll in VA care than during any year in at least a decade, and we’re not slowing down now.”&nbsp;</a>“VA is the best, most affordable care in America for Veterans, so we want all eligible Veterans to enroll today,” said&nbsp;VA Under Secretary for Health Shereef Elnahal, M.D. “Our clinicians know Veterans – they often are Veterans – and they know exactly how to help. Even if you don’t need this care today, you might need it tomorrow, or the next day, or 30 years from now. It’s quick and easy to apply, and once you’re in, you have access for life.”VA recently&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/veteran-toxins-hazards-serving-eligible-va/" target="_blank">expanded health care eligibility</a>&nbsp;for millions of Veterans nationwide, years earlier than called for by the PACT Act. As of March 5th,&nbsp;all Veterans who were exposed to toxins and other hazards while serving in the military and meet certain requirements became eligible to enroll directly in VA health care.&nbsp;This means that all Veterans who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Global War on Terror, or any other combat zone after 9/11 will be eligible to enroll directly in VA health care without first applying for VA benefits. Additionally, Veterans who never deployed but were exposed to toxins or hazards while training or on active duty in the United States will also be eligible to enroll. VA also&nbsp;<a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/all-wwii-veterans-are-now-eligible-for-no-cost-va-health-care-and-nursing-home-services/" target="_blank">recently expanded health care to all World War II Veterans</a>.VA is able to serve these new enrollees, in part, due to last year’s record hiring in VA’s Veterans Health Administration.&nbsp;Last year, we exceeded&nbsp;our hiring goals in the Veterans Health Administration – growing at the fastest rate in 15 years and bringing in more than 61,000 new hires – to prepare for an increase in VA health care enrollment among Veterans under the PACT Act. In total, VHA now has more employees than ever before in our history, and VA’s retention efforts also led to a 20% decrease in turnover rate among VHA employees from 2022 to 2023.Moving forward, VA will continue to aggressively reach out to Veterans to encourage them to come to VA. VA encourages all Veterans, family members, caregivers, and survivors to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/" target="_blank">learn more about VA</a>&nbsp;and apply for their world-class&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction" target="_blank">health care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction" target="_blank">earned benefits</a>&nbsp;today.For more information about VA care, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/" target="_blank">VA’s health care website</a>. For more information about the impact of the PACT Act, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://department.va.gov/pactdata/" target="_blank">VA’s PACT Act dashboard.</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

PACT Act has resulted in more Kansans in VA health care

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina Post

Salina Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance Wednesday evening after a woman from Winfield, Kan., ran screaming from her vehicle away from her former boyfriend at the Rodeway Inn in Salina.

According to SPD Capt. James Feldman, around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, a witness reported a domestic disturbance at the inn at 429 West Diamond Drive after the woman took off screaming for help.

"It was reported that a male was breaking out a car window with a hammer," Feldman said. "He wanted her [the 42-year-old victim] to exit her car, she refused, and he then went to his vehicle and got a hammer, then walked up and broke out the driver's door window and was supposed to have threatened her to hit her with the hammer."

The victim reported that the former boyfriend, later identified as 48-year-old Hays resident Jay Weigel, was following her around town until stopping in the Rodeway Inn parking lot.

After Weigel demanded that the victim exit the car, she did and took off from the scene. Feldman said Weigel then allegedly slashed the victim's driver-side tire and stole her cell phone and wallet from the car.

"The damage to the car was valued at $200, and the missing items were valued at over $1,100," Feldman said.

Officers took the victim's report and then began looking for the assailant. Instead of finding Weigel early the following morning on their own, a Salina resident called SPD at about 1:15 a.m., Thursday, to report someone following them in town.

After the resident described the car, officers then found the vehicle and discovered it was Weigel who had committed the assault the previous evening.

Feldman said officers then arrested Weigel without incident in the area of North College Avenue and West Elm Street and requested charges for aggravated assault, criminal threat, vehicle burglary, theft and damage to property.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c021ea1a-a465-4335-9db2-50a9948b80bf">SFD investigating another house fire in Central Salina</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574355645622.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Salina PostSalina Police Department officers responded to a domestic disturbance Wednesday evening after a woman from Winfield, Kan., ran screaming from her vehicle away from her former boyfriend at the Rodeway Inn in Salina.According to SPD Capt. James Feldman, around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27, a witness reported a domestic disturbance at the inn at 429 West Diamond Drive after the woman took off screaming for help."It was reported that a male was breaking out a car window with a hammer," Feldman said. "He wanted her [the 42-year-old victim] to exit her car, she refused, and he then went to his vehicle and got a hammer, then walked up and broke out the driver's door window and was supposed to have threatened her to hit her with the hammer."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711728062848.png" alt="Weigel&nbsp;Photo Courtesy Saline County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Weigel&nbsp;Photo Courtesy Saline County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>The victim reported that the former boyfriend, later identified as 48-year-old Hays resident Jay Weigel, was following her around town until stopping in the Rodeway Inn parking lot.After Weigel demanded that the victim exit the car, she did and took off from the scene. Feldman said Weigel then allegedly slashed the victim's driver-side tire and stole her cell phone and wallet from the car."The damage to the car was valued at $200, and the missing items were valued at over $1,100," Feldman said.Officers took the victim's report and then began looking for the assailant. Instead of finding Weigel early the following morning on their own, a Salina resident called SPD at about 1:15 a.m., Thursday, to report someone following them in town.After the resident described the car, officers then found the vehicle and discovered it was Weigel who had committed the assault the previous evening.Feldman said officers then arrested Weigel without incident in the area of North College Avenue and West Elm Street and requested charges for aggravated assault, criminal threat, vehicle burglary, theft and damage to property.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/c021ea1a-a465-4335-9db2-50a9948b80bf">SFD investigating another house fire in Central Salina</a>

SPD arrests Hays man who threatened former girlfriend at Rodeway Inn

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):DWS; 3rd or subs conv and Driving while habitual violator

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Probation Violation and Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp; &nbsp;McClanahan, Keshawn Turrell

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

NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Hockett, Ronald Christopher

NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Dehorta Hernandez, Erving Edwardo

REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Pedestrians Under Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

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/2024/3/1711720328742.png" alt="Whitaker, Kyler Eugene" />
 <figcaption>Whitaker, Kyler Eugene</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Whitaker, Kyler EugeneREQUESTED CHARGE(S):DWS; 3rd or subs conv and Driving while habitual violator<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711720398333.png" alt="Schale, Elisha Daniel" />
 <figcaption>Schale, Elisha Daniel</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp; &nbsp;Schale, Elisha DanielREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;&nbsp;Probation Violation and Failure to appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711720449420.png" alt=" McClanahan, Keshawn Turrell" />
 <figcaption> McClanahan, Keshawn Turrell</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp; &nbsp;McClanahan, Keshawn TurrellREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711720491128.png" alt="Ledesma, Phillip Shane" />
 <figcaption>Ledesma, Phillip Shane</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Ledesma, Phillip ShaneREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711720533478.png" alt="Hockett, Ronald Christopher" />
 <figcaption>Hockett, Ronald Christopher</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Hockett, Ronald ChristopherREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711720580561.png" alt="Dent, Jerald Lee" />
 <figcaption>Dent, Jerald Lee</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Dent, Jerald LeeREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711627448801.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;&nbsp;Dehorta Hernandez, Erving EdwardoREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Pedestrians Under Influence of Drugs or Alcohol

Saline County Jail Bookings, March 29

Today in History: March 29, US combat troops leave Vietnam

On March 29, 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.

In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered plans for a relief expedition to sail to South Carolina’s Fort Sumter, which was still in the hands of Union forces despite repeated demands by the Confederacy that it be turned over.

In 1867, Britain’s Parliament passed, and Queen Victoria signed, the British North America Act creating the Dominion of Canada, which came into being the following July.

In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began, limiting consumers to store purchases of an average of about two pounds a week for beef, pork, lamb and mutton using a coupon system.

In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. (They were executed in June 1953.)

In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the 1968 My Lai (mee ly) massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.) A jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. (The sentences were commuted when the California state Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972.)

In 1974, eight Ohio National Guardsmen were indicted on federal charges stemming from the shooting deaths of four students at Kent State University. (The charges were later dismissed.)

In 1984, under cover of early morning darkness, the Baltimore Colts football team left its home city of three decades and moved to Indianapolis.

In 2002, Israeli troops stormed Yasser Arafat’s headquarters complex in the West Bank in a raid that was launched in response to anti-Israeli attacks that had killed 30 people in three days.

In 2004, President George W. Bush welcomed seven former Soviet-bloc nations (Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia and Estonia) into NATO during a White House ceremony.

In 2010, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in twin attacks on Moscow subway stations jam-packed with rush-hour passengers, killing at least 40 people and wounding more than 100.

In 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/49acb6e8ff5645db9204411fc520b714">Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats,&nbsp;</a>including 60 Americans, and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain.

In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-health-arts-and-entertainment-coronavirus-pandemic-311a45b00086bb8c61de422e59b37231">country singer Joe Diffie,&nbsp;</a>who had a string of hits in the 1990s, died at 61 from what a spokesman said were complications from COVID-19.

In 2021, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd went on trial with prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-7423d17dfc00daa660fce0b35b87a163">showing the jury video of Derek Chauvin pressing his knee</a>&nbsp;on the Black man’s neck for several minutes as onlookers yelled at him repeatedly to get off and Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe. (Chauvin would be convicted of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.)

In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-gordon-liddy-dead-d64dac896ea0c73e19079b19e171cf21">G. Gordon Liddy,</a>&nbsp;a mastermind of the Watergate burglary and a radio talk show host after emerging from prison, died at age 90 at his daughter’s home in Virginia.

In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-las-vegas-concerts-b8647159462adbb8e84c70e1b1ee3be0">Foo Fighters canceled all upcoming concert dates</a>&nbsp;four days after the death of the band’s drummer, Taylor Hawkins.

<h2>Today in History: March 29, US combat troops leave Vietnam</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711739791170.jpeg" alt="A Viet Cong observer of the Four Party Joint Military Commission counts U.S. troops as they prepare to board jet aircraft at Saigonís Tan Son Nhut airport, March 28, 1973. Nineteen planeloads of U.S. personnel left Vietnam as the withdrawal of American troops drew to a close according to the provisions of the Paris Accords. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich) " />
 <figcaption>A Viet Cong observer of the Four Party Joint Military Commission counts U.S. troops as they prepare to board jet aircraft at Saigonís Tan Son Nhut airport, March 28, 1973. Nineteen planeloads of U.S. personnel left Vietnam as the withdrawal of American troops drew to a close according to the provisions of the Paris Accords. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich) </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Today in History:</h2>On March 29, 1973, the last United States combat troops left South Vietnam, ending America’s direct military involvement in the Vietnam War.<h2>On this date:</h2>In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln ordered plans for a relief expedition to sail to South Carolina’s Fort Sumter, which was still in the hands of Union forces despite repeated demands by the Confederacy that it be turned over.In 1867, Britain’s Parliament passed, and Queen Victoria signed, the British North America Act creating the Dominion of Canada, which came into being the following July.In 1943, World War II rationing of meat, fats and cheese began, limiting consumers to store purchases of an average of about two pounds a week for beef, pork, lamb and mutton using a coupon system.In 1951, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for the Soviet Union. (They were executed in June 1953.)In 1971, Army Lt. William L. Calley Jr. was convicted of murdering 22 Vietnamese civilians in the 1968 My Lai (mee ly) massacre. (Calley ended up serving three years under house arrest.) A jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. (The sentences were commuted when the California state Supreme Court struck down the death penalty in 1972.)In 1974, eight Ohio National Guardsmen were indicted on federal charges stemming from the shooting deaths of four students at Kent State University. (The charges were later dismissed.)In 1984, under cover of early morning darkness, the Baltimore Colts football team left its home city of three decades and moved to Indianapolis.In 2002, Israeli troops stormed Yasser Arafat’s headquarters complex in the West Bank in a raid that was launched in response to anti-Israeli attacks that had killed 30 people in three days.In 2004, President George W. Bush welcomed seven former Soviet-bloc nations (Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia and Estonia) into NATO during a White House ceremony.In 2010, two female suicide bombers blew themselves up in twin attacks on Moscow subway stations jam-packed with rush-hour passengers, killing at least 40 people and wounding more than 100.In 2018,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/49acb6e8ff5645db9204411fc520b714">Russia announced the expulsion of more than 150 diplomats,&nbsp;</a>including 60 Americans, and said it was closing a U.S. consulate in retaliation for Western expulsions of Russian diplomats over the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in Britain.In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-health-arts-and-entertainment-coronavirus-pandemic-311a45b00086bb8c61de422e59b37231">country singer Joe Diffie,&nbsp;</a>who had a string of hits in the 1990s, died at 61 from what a spokesman said were complications from COVID-19.In 2021, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd went on trial with prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-7423d17dfc00daa660fce0b35b87a163">showing the jury video of Derek Chauvin pressing his knee</a>&nbsp;on the Black man’s neck for several minutes as onlookers yelled at him repeatedly to get off and Floyd gasped that he couldn’t breathe. (Chauvin would be convicted of murder and manslaughter and sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.)In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/g-gordon-liddy-dead-d64dac896ea0c73e19079b19e171cf21">G. Gordon Liddy,</a>&nbsp;a mastermind of the Watergate burglary and a radio talk show host after emerging from prison, died at age 90 at his daughter’s home in Virginia.In 2022, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-arts-and-entertainment-las-vegas-concerts-b8647159462adbb8e84c70e1b1ee3be0">Foo Fighters canceled all upcoming concert dates</a>&nbsp;four days after the death of the band’s drummer, Taylor Hawkins.

Today in History, March 29

Developing international markets is not so dissimilar to planting a wheat crop, as&nbsp;<a href="https://kswheat.com/node/118" target="_blank">Gary Millershaski</a>, farmer and chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission, learned during a recent board team trade mission to Sub-Saharan Africa organized by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uswheat.org/" target="_blank">U.S. Wheat Associates</a>&nbsp;(USW). Both require substantial investments upfront, and it takes time to reap the returns. Ultimately, however, it is the people who take the time to share their experiences and expertise with others that allow farmers and end-users to weather the difficulties of the day.

“It’s not what we did yesterday, but it’s the knowledge we accumulate today to make us better understand how to deal with (the market) and make more sales tomorrow,” Millershaski said.&nbsp;

Millershaski joined wheat farmers Bill Schroeder from Ohio and RJ Parrish from Oklahoma on the 10-day Sub-Saharan Africa Board Team trade mission in March. The mission was led by USW Director of Programs Catherine Miller. The team was connected to millers and wheat buyers in South Africa and Nigeria by USW Regional Director Chad Weigand and&nbsp;USW-Cape Town Programs and Marketing Specialist Domenique Opperman.

Sub-Saharan Africa covers 42 countries on the African continent and is home to a population of 1.1 billion people, which continues to be fast-growing and young. The region has averaged five percent market growth in wheat imports since the 2012/2013 marketing year. But, the market is extremely competitive, and the European Union has dominated exports to Sub-Saharan Africa for the last two years.&nbsp;

<a href="https://kswheat.com/node/1108" target="_blank">Nigeria</a>&nbsp;is the largest individual market within the region and traditionally imports a substantial amount of wheat. Thanks in large part to USW’s trade servicing and technical assistance and support from Kansas Wheat by organizing and hosting technical trainings and in-state trade team visits, Nigeria ranked as the fourth largest buyer of U.S. wheat in the 2021/2022 marketing year with a total of 65.15 million bushels (1.773 million metric tons), representing a 30 percent market share.

Shifting macroeconomic factors, however, are hurting the Nigerian economy, including inflation of more than 21 percent, a devalued currency that fell more than 70 percent against the U.S. dollar and escalating interest rates. When it comes to wheat, higher food prices have driven local consumption down. Millershaski reported that Nigerian flour mills — some of the largest in the world — were only running at 60 to 70 percent efficiency.&nbsp;

Those factors combined have meant a shift to importing the lowest-cost wheat in the world, in this case, of Baltic Sea origin. As a result, Nigerian imports of U.S. wheat are down more than 68 percent from the same time the year prior at 8.93 million bushels (243,000 metric tons) thus far in the 2023/2024 marketing year, according to the USW commercial sales report from March 21, 2024.&nbsp;

Despite the downturn, the USW board team members were welcomed by millers who purchase U.S. wheat as the team toured their facilities. These flour mills send regular representatives to the United States, including Kansas, to check out the growing wheat crop and snag rides in combines like Millershaski’s. Those relationships, developed by these back-and-forth trade missions, are part of that long-term investment between the two nations that helps weather economic difficulties and short harvests.

“We’ve sold a lot of wheat from Kansas to Nigeria, but not in the last year and a half,” Millershaski said. “It took us eight hours on two flights to get into Nigeria. The thing that really got me was that all of the mills were very happy to meet with us. And I was impressed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711653663579.png" alt="Photo Courtesy Kansas Wheat" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Kansas Wheat</figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatDeveloping international markets is not so dissimilar to planting a wheat crop, as&nbsp;<a href="https://kswheat.com/node/118" target="_blank">Gary Millershaski</a>, farmer and chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission, learned during a recent board team trade mission to Sub-Saharan Africa organized by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uswheat.org/" target="_blank">U.S. Wheat Associates</a>&nbsp;(USW). Both require substantial investments upfront, and it takes time to reap the returns. Ultimately, however, it is the people who take the time to share their experiences and expertise with others that allow farmers and end-users to weather the difficulties of the day.“It’s not what we did yesterday, but it’s the knowledge we accumulate today to make us better understand how to deal with (the market) and make more sales tomorrow,” Millershaski said.&nbsp;Millershaski joined wheat farmers Bill Schroeder from Ohio and RJ Parrish from Oklahoma on the 10-day Sub-Saharan Africa Board Team trade mission in March. The mission was led by USW Director of Programs Catherine Miller. The team was connected to millers and wheat buyers in South Africa and Nigeria by USW Regional Director Chad Weigand and&nbsp;USW-Cape Town Programs and Marketing Specialist Domenique Opperman.Sub-Saharan Africa covers 42 countries on the African continent and is home to a population of 1.1 billion people, which continues to be fast-growing and young. The region has averaged five percent market growth in wheat imports since the 2012/2013 marketing year. But, the market is extremely competitive, and the European Union has dominated exports to Sub-Saharan Africa for the last two years.&nbsp;<a href="https://kswheat.com/node/1108" target="_blank">Nigeria</a>&nbsp;is the largest individual market within the region and traditionally imports a substantial amount of wheat. Thanks in large part to USW’s trade servicing and technical assistance and support from Kansas Wheat by organizing and hosting technical trainings and in-state trade team visits, Nigeria ranked as the fourth largest buyer of U.S. wheat in the 2021/2022 marketing year with a total of 65.15 million bushels (1.773 million metric tons), representing a 30 percent market share.Shifting macroeconomic factors, however, are hurting the Nigerian economy, including inflation of more than 21 percent, a devalued currency that fell more than 70 percent against the U.S. dollar and escalating interest rates. When it comes to wheat, higher food prices have driven local consumption down. Millershaski reported that Nigerian flour mills — some of the largest in the world — were only running at 60 to 70 percent efficiency.&nbsp;Those factors combined have meant a shift to importing the lowest-cost wheat in the world, in this case, of Baltic Sea origin. As a result, Nigerian imports of U.S. wheat are down more than 68 percent from the same time the year prior at 8.93 million bushels (243,000 metric tons) thus far in the 2023/2024 marketing year, according to the USW commercial sales report from March 21, 2024.&nbsp;Despite the downturn, the USW board team members were welcomed by millers who purchase U.S. wheat as the team toured their facilities. These flour mills send regular representatives to the United States, including Kansas, to check out the growing wheat crop and snag rides in combines like Millershaski’s. Those relationships, developed by these back-and-forth trade missions, are part of that long-term investment between the two nations that helps weather economic difficulties and short harvests.“We’ve sold a lot of wheat from Kansas to Nigeria, but not in the last year and a half,” Millershaski said. “It took us eight hours on two flights to get into Nigeria. The thing that really got me was that all of the mills were very happy to meet with us. And I was impressed.”The earlier half of the USW board team mission provided an even closer-to-home moment of hope. On a tour of a flour mill in Durban, South Africa, the team met up with Shawn Thiele, associate director and flour milling and grain processing curriculum manager for K-State’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.grains.k-state.edu/igp/" target="_blank">IGP Institute</a>. Thiele was there as part of a technical assistance project to help South African mills improve their milling efficiency, including by running samples of U.S. wheat shipped over in containers. Working with flour millers is an important part of USW’s efforts in Africa, especially with up-and-coming millers who are just learning their trade.&nbsp;“It was so cool. Here we are in this mill in South Africa, and we see Shawn showing them how to adjust their equipment to be more efficient,” Millershaski said. “To me, that’s what USW is all about — helping the buyers make sure what they are getting and getting the assistance they need — whether it’s procurement or milling classes.”Millershaski and the other two wheat farmers on the trade mission returned home with a more global view of the struggles and success in the wheat industry. And as their wheat crops green up this spring, those millers overseas will certainly be keeping an eye out for a hopefully bountiful harvest.&nbsp;Learn more about the USW board team trade mission at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uswheat.org/wheatletter/video-wheat-farmers-from-kansas-ohio-and-oklahoma-explore-opportunities-challenges-in-african-markets/" target="_blank">uswheat.org</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;