The Downs Arts Council and Kansas Storytelling invites amateur storytellers to tell their favorite tale at the Tall Tales contest on October 14, 7 p.m. in Downs, Kansas.

The popular October preliminary contest will narrow down the contestants to four. The four will then move on to vie for the traveling trophy, the storytelling shovel, at the Kansas Storytelling Festival Tall Tale Contest the last weekend in April.

"A Tall Tale is some truth and some facts. I find great enjoyment telling good-natured stories to a live audience," said Kenneth Lee, Master Storyteller, Downs, Kansas.

For more information and to register to tell a story in the competition, call 785-454-1177.

All are welcome to enjoy an evening of stories that will tickle the funny bone and warm the heart. The contest location is Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1019 Blunt St., Downs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696081443430.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Downs Arts Council and Kansas Storytelling invites amateur storytellers to tell their favorite tale at the Tall Tales contest on October 14, 7 p.m. in Downs, Kansas. The popular October preliminary contest will narrow down the contestants to four. The four will then move on to vie for the traveling trophy, the storytelling shovel, at the Kansas Storytelling Festival Tall Tale Contest the last weekend in April."A Tall Tale is some truth and some facts. I find great enjoyment telling good-natured stories to a live audience," said Kenneth Lee, Master Storyteller, Downs, Kansas.For more information and to register to tell a story in the competition, call 785-454-1177.All are welcome to enjoy an evening of stories that will tickle the funny bone and warm the heart. The contest location is Zion Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 1019 Blunt St., Downs.

Kansas Storytelling invites amateur storytellers to  Downs, KS Oct. 14

Above-normal temperatures will continue across the region through Monday. A weather system will move into the central plains on Tuesday and bring chances of showers and storms to the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696050435479.jpeg" alt="4-day Forecast NWS -Wichita" />
 <figcaption>4-day Forecast NWS -Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>Above-normal temperatures will continue across the region through Monday. A weather system will move into the central plains on Tuesday and bring chances of showers and storms to the region.

NWS-Wichita 4-Day Weather Forecast

Kansas Wesleyan’s String Orchestra will perform alongside Salina South High School’s orchestra in a special event Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the high school’s auditorium. The event will get underway at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

“We’re glad to partner with Salina South for the second of our side-by-side concerts,” said Dr. Leonardo Rosario, director of the KWU String Orchestra. “It’s a great chance for those who follow us locally to come out, hear some great music and support our program. We hope to see a packed house!”

Tuesday’s concert marks the second of three scheduled collaboration concerts with local high schools this fall, as KWU awaits the opening of the renovated Sams Chapel in Fall 2024. The department previously played alongside Smoky Valley High School (Sept. 19) and will join with Manhattan High School on Oct. 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696049297476.jpeg" alt="KWU String Orchestra" />
 <figcaption>KWU String Orchestra</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Wesleyan’s String Orchestra will perform alongside Salina South High School’s orchestra in a special event Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the high school’s auditorium. The event will get underway at 7 p.m. and admission is free.“We’re glad to partner with Salina South for the second of our side-by-side concerts,” said Dr. Leonardo Rosario, director of the KWU String Orchestra. “It’s a great chance for those who follow us locally to come out, hear some great music and support our program. We hope to see a packed house!”Tuesday’s concert marks the second of three scheduled collaboration concerts with local high schools this fall, as KWU awaits the opening of the renovated Sams Chapel in Fall 2024. The department previously played alongside Smoky Valley High School (Sept. 19) and will join with Manhattan High School on Oct. 26.

KWU Orchestra to perform with Salina South High on Tuesday

Not all Kansas wildfires make headline news, so it may come as a surprise to many that the Sunflower State reported more than 8,000 wildfires in 2022.

Eight…thousand…fires. As in, about 3,000 more than the state’s yearly average.

Drought in much of Kansas is partly to blame for 2022’s bump in wildfires, but Kansas Forest Service fire management officer Mark Neely said many other factors contribute to heightened risk of fire.

“The landscape is changing and land management practices are changing; the vegetation that is out there is changing,” Neely said. “Dry conditions certainly heighten our risk, but other factors that contribute to fire risk include keeping your property maintained, mowing your yard, cleaning gutters and beds of leaves and not stacking firewood directly next to your house.”

Neely said the Kansas Forest Service has led an effort to build a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/fire_management/wrap.html">Wildfire Risk Assessment tool</a>&nbsp;to help Kansans protect their life and property. Darci Paull, a geographic information systems analyst with KFS, has spent much of the last half-decade building the free, online tool.

“The Wildfire Risk Assessment tool can be used by anybody, from a single occupancy landowner to community leaders, fire chiefs, emergency managers…and many others,” Paull said. “It will allow all of these people to assess the fire risk in their realm of responsibility.”

She calls it “an awesome tool to give to Kansans.”

“You know, you spend a lot of time on something and you wonder how people are going to use it,” Paull said. “It is neat for me to be able to hand it to a landowner, someone who doesn’t know anything about wildfire or GIS, and by putting in their address, they will know their wildfire risk.”

She added that users of the tool can print a report detailing the risk, and how to mitigate it.

“If you are a landowner with a lot of land, or an emergency management professional or even a firefighter, you can go into an advanced viewer…choose a fire district or county and create a bigger report,” Paull said. “We have 34 datasets that go into this tool, so they can find more data that may be overwhelming for the average landowner, but would mean so much more to people that are making community decisions."

Neely adds: “The one thing about Kansas is that fire will happen. This is not in any way going to eliminate wildfires in the state. This is our way of helping Kansans become more resilient toward naturally occurring fires that threaten homes or property or livestock.”

The Kansas Forest Service has scheduled two training sessions to help community leaders and others understand more fully how the Wildfire Risk Assessment tool can be used for wildfire community planning. The first session is Oct. 10 in Wichita, and the second will take place Oct. 12 in Manhattan.

Information on both sessions, as well as registration,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/fire_management/wrap.html">is available online</a>, and at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasforests.org/">www.kansasforests.org</a>. The cost to attend is $10.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VKFB63R0iys?si=E9LPMQ7bDr_4_EgR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>By PAT MELGARES KSRENot all Kansas wildfires make headline news, so it may come as a surprise to many that the Sunflower State reported more than 8,000 wildfires in 2022.Eight…thousand…fires. As in, about 3,000 more than the state’s yearly average.Drought in much of Kansas is partly to blame for 2022’s bump in wildfires, but Kansas Forest Service fire management officer Mark Neely said many other factors contribute to heightened risk of fire.“The landscape is changing and land management practices are changing; the vegetation that is out there is changing,” Neely said. “Dry conditions certainly heighten our risk, but other factors that contribute to fire risk include keeping your property maintained, mowing your yard, cleaning gutters and beds of leaves and not stacking firewood directly next to your house.”Neely said the Kansas Forest Service has led an effort to build a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/fire_management/wrap.html">Wildfire Risk Assessment tool</a>&nbsp;to help Kansans protect their life and property. Darci Paull, a geographic information systems analyst with KFS, has spent much of the last half-decade building the free, online tool.“The Wildfire Risk Assessment tool can be used by anybody, from a single occupancy landowner to community leaders, fire chiefs, emergency managers…and many others,” Paull said. “It will allow all of these people to assess the fire risk in their realm of responsibility.”She calls it “an awesome tool to give to Kansans.”“You know, you spend a lot of time on something and you wonder how people are going to use it,” Paull said. “It is neat for me to be able to hand it to a landowner, someone who doesn’t know anything about wildfire or GIS, and by putting in their address, they will know their wildfire risk.”She added that users of the tool can print a report detailing the risk, and how to mitigate it.“If you are a landowner with a lot of land, or an emergency management professional or even a firefighter, you can go into an advanced viewer…choose a fire district or county and create a bigger report,” Paull said. “We have 34 datasets that go into this tool, so they can find more data that may be overwhelming for the average landowner, but would mean so much more to people that are making community decisions."Neely adds: “The one thing about Kansas is that fire will happen. This is not in any way going to eliminate wildfires in the state. This is our way of helping Kansans become more resilient toward naturally occurring fires that threaten homes or property or livestock.”The Kansas Forest Service has scheduled two training sessions to help community leaders and others understand more fully how the Wildfire Risk Assessment tool can be used for wildfire community planning. The first session is Oct. 10 in Wichita, and the second will take place Oct. 12 in Manhattan.Information on both sessions, as well as registration,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasforests.org/fire_management/wrap.html">is available online</a>, and at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasforests.org/">www.kansasforests.org</a>. The cost to attend is $10.

Kansas Forest Service launches online tool to assess state’s wildfire risk

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

The Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday, Sept. 26 to discuss a battery-based electric storage and distribution facility proposed by Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC (Plus Power). The proposed site is located on approximately 40 acres at the southwest corner of McReynolds Road and Simpson Road.

Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC, also known as Plus Power, specializes in developing advanced battery-based electrical storage and distribution facilities. The Planning &amp; Zoning Department reviews land use for the unincorporated areas of Saline County, issues building permits for all construction projects, and maintains the county’s comprehensive plan. According to a press release distributed to media on Friday, Sept. 29, Saline County wishes to provide clarity on the voting outcome of this meeting, at which six Planning and Zoning Commissioners were present. The commission first voted on whether to table the discussion with three in favor, and three against – the matter was not tabled. The commission then voted on approving the facility with three in favor, two against, and one abstention. The Commission Chair deemed the motion failed due to the abstention; unfortunately, this was in error. A vote to deny the application followed with four in favor, one against, and one abstention – the application was deemed denied.

According to K.S.A. 12-745, actions of the planning commission require a majority vote of the members present and voting. Three out of the five present and voting members voted in favor, which constitutes a majority of those voting. Therefore, the motion to approve the application is passed, rendering the subsequent vote to deny invalid.

All decisions on the Conditional Use Permit, CUP23-103, may be appealed by the applicant or by affected property owners to the Saline County Commissioners. The full Code of Ordinances, Section 13A-13.06.12 can be found at <a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/media/Codes/Section13A.pdf">https://www.salinecountyks.gov/media/Codes/Section13A.pdf</a>

An appeal by property owners shall be accompanied by a petition which is duly signed and acknowledged by the owners of twenty (20) percent or more of the total area required to be notified, except streets and ways. According to Saline County administrative staff, the total area required to be notified involves 1500 feet surrounding the parcel that the projected project is slated for. This total area involves six residences, who would have received a letter in May from the Saline County Planning and Zoning regarding the project.

Appeals must be made within fourteen (14) days after a decision has been made by filing an application for appeal with the Saline County Planning and Zoning administrator. The application shall specify the grounds for such appeal. An application for appeal is available by contacting the Saline County Planning and Zoning office, via email is preferred, and they can email it out.

Upon receipt of an application for appeal and an application fee, the Saline County Planning and Zoning administrator will transmit to the Saline County Commissioners all of the papers constituting the record upon which the decision being appealed was based.

A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Saline County Commissioners is required to overturn a planning commission decision on a conditional use permit.

Minutes from the Tuesday, Sept. 26 Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be available by close of business Wednesday, Oct. 4. The Planning Commission, with the Saline County staff, acknowledges the public’s concerns regarding the complexity of the recent series of motions. The commission and staff claim a commitment to revisiting and enhancing their training protocols to ensure clarity and to avoid such confusion in the future.

By LESLIE MANNING <a href="https://www.facebook.com/southeastspotlight">The Spotlight</a>The Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission met Tuesday, Sept. 26 to discuss a battery-based electric storage and distribution facility proposed by Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC (Plus Power). The proposed site is located on approximately 40 acres at the southwest corner of McReynolds Road and Simpson Road.Mountain Peak Energy Storage, LLC, also known as Plus Power, specializes in developing advanced battery-based electrical storage and distribution facilities. The Planning &amp; Zoning Department reviews land use for the unincorporated areas of Saline County, issues building permits for all construction projects, and maintains the county’s comprehensive plan. According to a press release distributed to media on Friday, Sept. 29, Saline County wishes to provide clarity on the voting outcome of this meeting, at which six Planning and Zoning Commissioners were present. The commission first voted on whether to table the discussion with three in favor, and three against – the matter was not tabled. The commission then voted on approving the facility with three in favor, two against, and one abstention. The Commission Chair deemed the motion failed due to the abstention; unfortunately, this was in error. A vote to deny the application followed with four in favor, one against, and one abstention – the application was deemed denied.According to K.S.A. 12-745, actions of the planning commission require a majority vote of the members present and voting. Three out of the five present and voting members voted in favor, which constitutes a majority of those voting. Therefore, the motion to approve the application is passed, rendering the subsequent vote to deny invalid.All decisions on the Conditional Use Permit, CUP23-103, may be appealed by the applicant or by affected property owners to the Saline County Commissioners. The full Code of Ordinances, Section 13A-13.06.12 can be found at <a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/media/Codes/Section13A.pdf">https://www.salinecountyks.gov/media/Codes/Section13A.pdf</a>An appeal by property owners shall be accompanied by a petition which is duly signed and acknowledged by the owners of twenty (20) percent or more of the total area required to be notified, except streets and ways. According to Saline County administrative staff, the total area required to be notified involves 1500 feet surrounding the parcel that the projected project is slated for. This total area involves six residences, who would have received a letter in May from the Saline County Planning and Zoning regarding the project.Appeals must be made within fourteen (14) days after a decision has been made by filing an application for appeal with the Saline County Planning and Zoning administrator. The application shall specify the grounds for such appeal. An application for appeal is available by contacting the Saline County Planning and Zoning office, via email is preferred, and they can email it out.Upon receipt of an application for appeal and an application fee, the Saline County Planning and Zoning administrator will transmit to the Saline County Commissioners all of the papers constituting the record upon which the decision being appealed was based.A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Saline County Commissioners is required to overturn a planning commission decision on a conditional use permit.Minutes from the Tuesday, Sept. 26 Saline County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be available by close of business Wednesday, Oct. 4. The Planning Commission, with the Saline County staff, acknowledges the public’s concerns regarding the complexity of the recent series of motions. The commission and staff claim a commitment to revisiting and enhancing their training protocols to ensure clarity and to avoid such confusion in the future.

Saline County Planning and Zoning error means Plus Power battery storage passes

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Friday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Justin D. Harris, 33, Gypsum, was eastbound on Mentor Road just east of Kipp Road.

The car left the roadway on the north side and rolled into the ditch. EMS transported Harris to Salina Regional Health Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Friday in Saline County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Justin D. Harris, 33, Gypsum, was eastbound on Mentor Road just east of Kipp Road.The car left the roadway on the north side and rolled into the ditch. EMS transported Harris to Salina Regional Health Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Saline Co. man hospitalized after car rolls into ditch

Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave and Sam this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="https://910kina.com/">910AM</a>.

Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. They're committed to making a difference in their community and keeping listeners up-to-date with updates from new and returning guests.

9:05 a.m.&nbsp; Natasha Cundy, Deputy Director of Emergency Management on Preparedness Month. 

920 a.m.&nbsp; Tyler Henry, Voice of the Yotes on the McPherson football game. 

9:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jenny Sites, Director of Community Engagement, CAPS on Every Child Matters Fund Raiser Banquet. 

10:05 a.m. John Reynolds and Byron Erickson on Masonic Cancer Screening, October 14, and First Responder Breakfast, October 28. 

10:30 a.m.&nbsp; MO Shay Craig, Christ Cathedral on Blessing of the Pets.

<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?CFID=2c1da70f-c71b-40ed-9ee4-c029accb2bbb&amp;CFTOKEN=0&amp;stationCallSign=KINA&amp;onDemandAutoStart=true&amp;p75046869=true&amp;relocateURL=true">To listen to previous Saturday Morning Shows check out the podcast here.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691172591916.png" alt="Dave and Sam" />
 <figcaption>Dave and Sam</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTJoin 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave and Sam this Saturday from 9-11 a.m. on&nbsp;<a href="https://910kina.com/">910AM</a>.Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. They're committed to making a difference in their community and keeping listeners up-to-date with updates from new and returning guests.9:05 a.m.&nbsp; Natasha Cundy, Deputy Director of Emergency Management on Preparedness Month. 920 a.m.&nbsp; Tyler Henry, Voice of the Yotes on the McPherson football game. 9:30 a.m.&nbsp; Jenny Sites, Director of Community Engagement, CAPS on Every Child Matters Fund Raiser Banquet. 10:05 a.m. John Reynolds and Byron Erickson on Masonic Cancer Screening, October 14, and First Responder Breakfast, October 28. 10:30 a.m.&nbsp; MO Shay Craig, Christ Cathedral on Blessing of the Pets.<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/index.cfm?CFID=2c1da70f-c71b-40ed-9ee4-c029accb2bbb&amp;CFTOKEN=0&amp;stationCallSign=KINA&amp;onDemandAutoStart=true&amp;p75046869=true&amp;relocateURL=true">To listen to previous Saturday Morning Shows check out the podcast here.&nbsp;</a>

910KINA Saturday Morning Show lineup

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696052990690.png" alt="3-5A Scores" />
 <figcaption>3-5A Scores</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696052925116.png" alt="1-2A Scores" />
 <figcaption>1-2A Scores</figcaption>
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Week Five Area High School Football Scoreboard

On Sept. 30, 1955, actor James Dean was killed at age 24 in a two-car collision near Cholame, California.

In 1777, the Continental Congress — forced to flee in the face of advancing British forces — moved to York, Pennsylvania.

In 1791, Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” premiered in Vienna, Austria.

In 1938, after co-signing the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, “I believe it is peace for our time.”

In 1947, the World Series was broadcast on television for the first time; the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in Game 1 (the Yankees went on to win the Series four games to three).

In 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end.

In 1954, the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, was commissioned by the U.S. Navy.

In 1960, “The Flintstones,” network television’s first animated prime-time series, debuted on ABC.

In 1962, James Meredith, a Black student, was escorted by federal marshals to the campus of the University of Mississippi, where he enrolled for classes the next day; Meredith’s presence sparked rioting that left two people dead.

In 1972, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente’s had his 3,000th, and final, hit, a double against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium.

In 1986, the U.S. released accused Soviet spy Gennadiy Zakharov, one day after the Soviets released American journalist Nicholas Daniloff.

In 1988, Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev retired President Andrei A. Gromyko from the Politburo and fired other old-guard leaders in a Kremlin shake-up.

In 2001, under threat of U.S. military strikes, Afghanistan’s hardline Taliban rulers said explicitly for the first time that Osama bin Laden was still in the country and that they knew where his hideout was located.

In 2012, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels became the first rookie in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season.

In 2013, Pope Francis announced during a meeting with cardinals that he would canonize two of his most influential predecessors, John Paul II and John XXIII.

In 2017, Monty Hall, the long-running host of TV’s “Let’s Make a Deal,” died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 96.

In 2021, with only hours to spare, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed legislation to avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3.

In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to illegally annex more occupied Ukrainian territory in a sharp escalation of his seven-month invasion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1696050323756.png" alt="Visitors talk near a painting of James Dean in downtown Fairmount, Ind., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, during the James Dean Festival and Run. (AP Photo/The Chronicle-Tribune, Jeff Morehead)" />
 <figcaption>Visitors talk near a painting of James Dean in downtown Fairmount, Ind., on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, during the James Dean Festival and Run. (AP Photo/The Chronicle-Tribune, Jeff Morehead)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Today’s Highlight in History:</h2>On Sept. 30, 1955, actor James Dean was killed at age 24 in a two-car collision near Cholame, California.<h2>On this date:</h2>In 1777, the Continental Congress — forced to flee in the face of advancing British forces — moved to York, Pennsylvania.In 1791, Mozart’s opera “The Magic Flute” premiered in Vienna, Austria.In 1938, after co-signing the Munich Agreement allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain said, “I believe it is peace for our time.”In 1947, the World Series was broadcast on television for the first time; the New York Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 5-3 in Game 1 (the Yankees went on to win the Series four games to three).In 1949, the Berlin Airlift came to an end.In 1954, the first nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, was commissioned by the U.S. Navy.In 1960, “The Flintstones,” network television’s first animated prime-time series, debuted on ABC.In 1962, James Meredith, a Black student, was escorted by federal marshals to the campus of the University of Mississippi, where he enrolled for classes the next day; Meredith’s presence sparked rioting that left two people dead.In 1972, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente’s had his 3,000th, and final, hit, a double against Jon Matlack of the New York Mets at Three Rivers Stadium.In 1986, the U.S. released accused Soviet spy Gennadiy Zakharov, one day after the Soviets released American journalist Nicholas Daniloff.In 1988, Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev retired President Andrei A. Gromyko from the Politburo and fired other old-guard leaders in a Kremlin shake-up.In 2001, under threat of U.S. military strikes, Afghanistan’s hardline Taliban rulers said explicitly for the first time that Osama bin Laden was still in the country and that they knew where his hideout was located.In 2012, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels became the first rookie in Major League history to hit 30 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season.In 2013, Pope Francis announced during a meeting with cardinals that he would canonize two of his most influential predecessors, John Paul II and John XXIII.In 2017, Monty Hall, the long-running host of TV’s “Let’s Make a Deal,” died of heart failure at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 96.In 2021, with only hours to spare, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed legislation to avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3.In 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed treaties to illegally annex more occupied Ukrainian territory in a sharp escalation of his seven-month invasion.

Today in History, Sept. 30

Four of the five candidates for USD 305 School Board attended the forum

USD 305 School Board candidate Dana Kossow was not.&nbsp;

"There are two types of people in this country today: a consumer and a citizen," forum moderator Randy Picking said. "You are all citizens because you're interested in what's going on. These folks up here [school board candidates] are citizens because they want to run for a zero-paid job and they catch flack from radio talk show hosts."

Four other school board candidates, Mark Bandre, Scott Gardner, Paul Gebhardt and Ann Zimmerman discussed issues such as&nbsp;

Positives and areas of concern in local education

Zimmerman Positives "We have a big initiative this year called visible learning, and it's looking at research of all the things that teachers do. Almost everything teachers do positively affects learning for the students, but there are certain things they do that have a bigger, positive influence on student learning. And this is a study of that and there are books on it," Zimmerman said. "We are training our teachers on it now.

"Thanks to our great super superintendent Linn Exline, the people are seeing what really works. And so if you've got a choice of two or three possibilities for teaching methods, and you can use the one that works better than any of them, that's what you want to do because the teachers all want the kids to learn. That's one of our big strengths this year positive things."

Area of Concern "One of the big challenges now has become chronic absenteeism. There have been so many students since the pandemic who are absent. It was somewhat of a problem before but even more so now that students who are absent more than 10% of the year maybe make up to 40% of our students are absent that much of the year. So we have started an effort to talk to the parents to call them not just wait till their way to end, but to call the parents to check with the families and do our very best to get those kids back in school. Because when you're not there, they're losing out and the more they're gone, the harder it is to catch up." Gebhardt "Well, I think that we have adequate funding for what we've done. We have over the last 20 years increased twofold our amount of funding available. So looking at that it's a matter of how we spend so that we can avoid having problems with retaining good teachers, and quality teachers and ensuring that those funds are used for the appropriate reasons where we might spend on infrastructure or ancillary items. It comes down to the teachers and their function that really is the big one and that's that's been a problem for a while already. Making sure that we have good-quality teachers." Gardner Positive "I think the positive thing is that the system that we're in right now and just the three to five years, we're not afraid to change as we learn more, we adapt, we make changes as necessary. That's the thing that we always have to be ready to do - modify what we're doing to change it in order to reach the goals that we're trying to reach," Gardner said. "If we're doing something that isn't working we need to stop as quickly as possible, change course and adapt the policy."

Area of Concern "The thing that's a big concern, as far as I'm concerned, is the funding that we're supposed to get from the state for special education. Those numbers are drastically underfunded, and because of that, we have to take money from other areas to help fund it necessary." Bandre Positive "I come from a family that's always valued education. I have a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. My brothers are both lawyers. My parents are both college graduates and three of my four grandparents went to college. So I come from that perspective, the current board president, he and I've talked long about the different ways people become contributing members of the community. But one of the really, really cool things about what USD 305 does is all the diverse ways we prepare people for whatever it is they want to do, but you can leave Salina South or Salina Central with a welding tech certificate from Salina Area Technical College. You can join the military.

"We prepare people in a lot of different ways, and part of the reason we're able to be successful and all the different offerings for those over many years of leadership from our predecessors on the board. For Mrs. Exline and her predecessors and superintendent and the great things teachers have done we've planned ahead financially. We don't see this a lot and let you very carefully study the budget that we put out each year. But Salina school districts are in great shape financially, they have adequate savings, and they have a master plan for making sure that facilities are well taken care of. For me, it's a real honor to be able to help shepherd that budget through the process. That's one of the key things the board does."

Areas of Concern "I want to echo the two things that Ann [Zimmerman] and Scott [Gardner] said, getting kids to come to school is a real challenge. A part of that stems from poverty in the community. We have a number of families that just struggle with how to get from A to B each day," Bandre said. "We talked about a student recently where they just can't afford the gas money to get them in there but they're within the two-and-a-half mile range where we're allowed to do bussing. So solving some of those problems. I got one of the things we can do, that I hope to work on if reelected, is figuring out better ways to help inform our state and federal elected officers. The special education funding is a problem without a doubt."

'Winning back' parents and students who left public school during COVID-19

Bandre "The pandemic disrupted a lot of things. That was not a fun time for anybody, any stretch of the imagination, and parents made choices. I want to make sure that every family has the ability to make a choice about the best place they want to go to school whether that's private school, or public school. I want to make sure that Salina Schools put their best foot forward on that. I think many of you've seen or heard over the last year and a half, I think two years now we've been doing some pretty extensive marketing programs. We actually hired an outside firm to do some studies of 'Why did people leave the school system to potentially do to get them back?'

"I'm sure you're aware that the state legislature has recently made it possible where students from other communities could choose to go to school here if they want to. That has pros and cons as well. One of the things we're worried about in the district is right now if somebody from Salomon wanted to send their kid to Salina, they could more or less choose which building they want to go to. If they pick our building that already has full seats, it's not fair to people who are within the district. You have to go to the neighborhood school that you live in. So try to find parity.&nbsp; 

"But again, going back to the marketing study, we've tried to help make sure people know what the outcomes are from Salina Schools and to make sure they know that our teachers are wonderful people that are doing great work within the limited finances that we're able to use to pull everything together." Gardner "I would agree with Mark the marketing studies is powerful. But one of the things that I think we really need to be concerned about is giving them exactly what they need in order to be successful. We can do that we have to find out what they deem as important. So it's not about what we think or what we want. It's about being able to deliver what's necessary in order for them to be successful. As long as we're being meaningfully unique for what our community and what our people are asking for. We've all got our degrees and we moved on. We've got to make sure that the generation coming behind us is able to be successful."

Gebhardt " I think that a lot of the pandemic brought on a lot of challenges that people weren't capable of getting past. It put challenges on the school systems and educational systems that they weren't able to get past. And I think they're getting what they need, just like Scott said, matter of fact, the unique taught lessons and information, the foundational skills is going to be the critical piece that needs to get together because, after the pandemic, we're going to have years before we actually truly see how much impact that actually made on everything we're having to deal with now and then making changes through each of these events and getting past this. It's going to be time before we get all out in the wash. So getting us to that point. I think it's going be the biggest challenge." Zimmerman "How to Win students back to public schools. Well, some parents learned during the pandemic, how hard it is to educate children, and they were happy to have kids go back to public schools and we were happy to have them."

"I hope that people can get good information about public schools in Salina, about us about USD 305. There's a lot of innuendo out there that you hear about public schools, which is not based on facts in our district. If you're hearing bad things about public schools, you might want to take a visit to our public schools and find out how hard those teachers are working, how engaged those students are, how much they're learning, and there is a lot of learning gap from the time that the pandemic and they're working very hard to make up that gap."

"I am concerned about kids who are spending their high school years and even their middle school years working online. So much of middle school and high school, we all remember, was about social interaction. You learn so much there now not all social action in middle school and high school is positive, but neither is social interaction anywhere. You learned to navigate things that you would never come close to learning if you were just doing things online. So the market study is good, we hope that the information is out there that people read it, that people hear it and get good information about our district, and that they will make wise choices. I think the wisest choice is almost always to go to public schools."

Balancing quality education with taxpayers' burden

Zimmerman "Much of our school district money comes from the state and there's a 20 mill levy that's all across the state.&nbsp; Districts that have a very rich tax base which would include Johnson County Schools and maybe like some oil well schools out in western Kansas - they have lots and lots of income from that 20 mils and other school districts have very little value in their property taxes in their district." "That money is spread even is tried to spread evenly across the state to I mean, not usually but to compensate for those differences. And so already, there's a sharing of that part of the tax burden among the whole state so that you don't get a poor education because you live in one zip code, a great education because you live in another."

"We have an extremely well planned out budget that has planning for all our roof replacements and concrete replacements and so we do our very best to use every single dollar in a way that's not gonna hit us up with an emergency spending that we need to grab money from our local taxpayers that wasn't planned. So I think we're doing a really good job using the taxpayer money." Gebhardt "I think it's the best way of verifying that we're doing right by all the students and the teachers and the community as a whole by looking into the cost-benefit analysis or return on investment, making sure that the way that the tax money is being spent is being yielded back to the people through evidentiary filings, ie grades, making sure that the grades are up to snuff as a measure."&nbsp; "Making sure that we don't have anything sitting and nothing not being used. If we have investments in things that are not being utilized. Then we need to trim the fat because that's costing the taxpayers more money." Gardner "It comes back to education. That comes back to educating our adult citizens as to how mill levies and all of that actually work with the revenue neutral rate, and what it actually equivalates to because even while we're not revenue neutral, the average increase probably effects someone by about $9 or $10.

"We hear these numbers, but we really don't understand how the numbers actually work. And even working for the city. That's what I do, I look at numbers all day, and I find ways and find different methods to save money and to reduce costs."

"We might realize that it's really not that big of a number, actually, depending on if your taxes have gone up. If your taxes don't go up, it doesn't affect you at all. What you're actually looking at is we're going to get revenue from different things that were not on a tax basis, that particular year, but now they are."

"For example, we give businesses tax incentives. We didn't get any money from them because we returned it back to them. Well, now that those incentives are gone, we will tax them, and that money will come in. If we say we're not, that money won't come in anymore. We try to do things to get businesses to come to Salina. When that time is up, we have to go back and start to recoup so that we can do things for new businesses coming to Salina. If we never change that tax thing, we will never see that growth and we will not be able to get businesses to come in because we won't have the money to put into the system." Bandre "There's pros to go at first and this order approach. I want to tell you a quick story on this. My father-in-law has been on the school board in Garnett where he lives for 36 years. Believe it or not, this is his last year. He was on the school board when the Wolf Creek Nuclear power plant was built in Burlington. One of the fun things for Garnett at that time funds set in quotes was a lot of the workers doing the work in Burlington. Lived in Garnett. So the kids were going to school there at that time some of the revenue-neutral things Dan was talking about where the mill levy dollars are equitably spread across the state. It wasn't done quite the same."

"So Burlington and beautiful schools that will Creek ultimately funded but the workers were all living in Garnett, which didn't get some of that revenue. So there's some history behind why the dollars are better spread out but are allocated across the state. I hope that we keep doing that. Part of that comes from one of the answers earlier like helping to educate the folks in Topeka, Washington but how does the decision they make affect the local schools. As Scott mentioned earlier about the special ed not being adequately funded. I don't remember the exact percentage but it's something like 62% of what they're supposed to be funding might be worse than that is what actually comes through and that that hurts in every other sense."

"I think the key thing that the taxpayer needs to know is that Salina Public Schools has done an excellent job using the dollars that are available. There's been a lot of press the last couple of weeks, Salina Public Schools has found $4 million in savings over the life of the 30-year bond because of how it was refinanced. Over the course of all the bonds that USD 305 has done over its history. This company has found ways to save something like $16 million while having quality facilities."

"It's important for our students to be able to have quality facilities here new softball fields. All that's part of the system. So I think I'm biased certainly one of the good things about being on the board and having access to this budget for four years. But I feel really confident about the way dollars are being spent. I know my taxes have gone up in my house this year because somebody decided my house is worth more. So I understand that side too. But those dollars that come in I think are being shepherded wisely and you folks have questions about that. Let me know and we'll talk about it."

Candidate's stance on removing library books from shelves due to their "inappropriate nature"

Clarke Sanders, Republican State Representative, 69th District was in attendance for the forum. Sanders asked the candidates how they felt USD 305 is doing in alignment with keeping "appropriate" books on school library shelves. He cited a list of 30 books that have been deemed "questionable in nature."

"There's been controversy in the last two or three years about books on the school library shelves. In fact, I think there's a list of about 30 books that are questionable in nature. How do you feel we're doing in alignment with keeping appropriate books on school library shelves," Sanders said.&nbsp;

"One of the really great things about any educational system is giving students access to literature. You have to be able to read. You have to be able to discern. We're all faced with things every day, especially with these things beeping at us. We all have access to information. There's tons of information we were talking about the good old days when my parents got a newspaper at home and that was the only source of information was that one public newspaper."

"Now we get information from everywhere. I think the key thing that we can do in our public schools is help young people discern what they're reading. How do you make good quality decisions based on what's there? I personally as somebody that followed things this last year, am aware I'm not in favor of banning books for any reason. I am in favor of educating our librarians and our students and making sure that the things that are brought into the schools in the first place have value behind them. Your definition of value may not agree with my mine&nbsp; but we're trying to make good informed decisions about what's there.

"The second thing beyond that, one of the things we did this last year during some of the contentions that Clark alluded to, was we've as a school board made sure that parents have a right to come in and have a voice and what their students are reading. Without a doubt, they should be aware of this. They have access to check with librarians about what what books their students are checking out. When my sons were in school, I didn't care what they read. I wanted them to read. I wanted them to inform themselves and learn how to interpret that literature, whatever it might be. But as parents, they have the right to come in and pull those back out if they want to. So great question. That's what I think on the matter and I want people to read and be informed." Gardner "I agree with Mark, as a parent, it is my responsibility to educate my kid at home first. It's my responsibility to give my kids right from wrong as I as I see it, are they going to be perfect? No. But as long as I know that I've&nbsp; raised them the right way. Then I want to expose them so that we can have that conversation so that I can tell you okay, this is how I did this is how mom and dad sees that. Before you get out into the public eye and you hear what somebody else has to say."

"I think far too much we don't educate at home. We look and let somebody else do it. And then when they do it wrong, we want to get mad. I know at my church, you drop your kid off. That kid is mine now. And so if you haven't disciplined them, I'm going to correct it. And my opinion or my statement back to you won't raise your kid I will, otherwise don't bring them here.

"I think that we have to do a better job of raising our kids ourselves, instead of blaming somebody else for not raising them the way that we think they should be raised. So I really don't care what's on the library shelf, because I raised my kids. That is something you don't need to be reading. I trust that when they get there to look at it like no, I'm not interested in that. Are they gonna always do that every time? No, they're not. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to expose them to that and then allow them to go to college and then get exposed to it and actually make the wrong decisions. So yes, let's have this conversation." Gebhardt "Much like Mark and Scott, I don't believe in the banning, because I don't think that solves the problem. I think if you're if you have questionable material on the shelves for the students, it's condoning it and condoning its endorsing. And so in that case, it doesn't if it doesn't benefit the students, then it's money not spent wisely. And in that case, it goes back to the librarians. Librarians need to be educated and they need to be judicious about how they curate their libraries." Zimmerman "We had three book objections this year, three different people. Not one of them was the parent of children in our schools. And not one of them had read the book. It was the same boook, "All Boys Aren't Blue." But we had a policy are you set up from the 80s that said what to do in a book objections. The first thing was to talk to the principal and the librarian at that school, and if they didn't agree with that, there was a committee from the school of faculty, the library and the principal and some community people, and they all read the book."

"The question was, is there enough social value or literary value or artistic value in this book, that if there's some part of it that makes you cringe somewhat, which there was from this one, but is there enough other stuff that it's still worth having? Does it deal with an issue that some kids need to know about? Then there was another committee from the other high school and more community people and then there was the appeal to the board and all of us read that book. And we all agreed that there was value in that book. 

"I was dismayed that the objectors hadn't read the book. They took a couple of pages that will make you cringe and it's true did but they didn't read any of the rest of the book, as far as I can tell. And books are great things. I read some books in high school that were probably not quite appropriate to me. And it did not turn me into any kind of monster, I don't believe."

Zimmerman "I am having a great time on the school board. It's a lot of work. It's a lot of meetings. It's a lot of reading every week. You're reading dozens if not hundreds of pages. But it is really worthwhile. I really want our schools to be great. I want our kids to be successful. I want our kids to be wise, to wisest 18-year-olds they can be when they get out of school and to have a great life on the way up.

"I had a wonderful time in Salina Public Schools, and a great transformative education can stretch minds, can stretch hearts, and can leave you with more wonder for life and wonder for the earth and the world. That's what I want for our kids to be full of wonder when they graduate and ready to discover more. When you turn 18, you're not grown. You have a lot more room to do so, that's what I want for our kids is transformational education."

Gebhardt "I would like to make sure that if I get elected, that I'm I'm able to do the things that I can do to impact our community in a positive manner. I think the educational system is the heart of the community. And I think that's one of the reasons that drives me to run to do this venture. I want to go and utilize all my skill sets from my leadership in the Navy to my time as a student out here as well as all my previous time going to the school system here using things like Project XL and various other programs that were going on.

"I've seen other places around the nation and other places around the world. And while we're very sheltered here in Salina, there are a lot of other places that are a lot more rife with problems."

Gardner &nbsp;"I hope that you will reelect me. It's an honor to do that. But I think one of the biggest things about me is who I am is exactly who you've met. But when I sit on this board, it's not about me. It's not about my beliefs. It's about what's best for our kids and what is best for our community. So, there have been a lot of things that I voted for that me personally, Scott would not have done. But because of what's necessary to move forward in the community. I'm either behind it or maybe against it. I have to do what's best for the community."

Bandre " I spent most of my life involved in education. But despite that, I have learned a tremendous amount over the last four years, and part of the reason I'm running again is to try and keep on using some of that knowledge to help benefit our students and our families. Again, you're not always going to agree with me. I'm not always going to agree with you, but I'm going to respect your opinion."

"I can assure you that even during the height of COVID-19, we had so much controversy about masking. If people disagreed with me, no doubt about it. But I respect your opinion. I wrote back to every single person who wrote to me, and I'm going to keep on doing that. So I feel like similar to what Scott said, I put my heart and soul into this the last four years. I've read a tremendous amount of material, trying to help figure out what's best for our students, and our teachers to make sure that Salina Schools are the best place to learn."

2023 Election: Candidates for school board weigh in on local issues at forum

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with the inaugural Limestone Preservation Award winners Jack and Kathie Crispin.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nP_jN_9URlU?si=ZqqKxZsG0lsSpv39" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with the inaugural Limestone Preservation Award winners Jack and Kathie Crispin.

🎤 Forward Ever: Post Rock Limestone Preservation Award winners Jack, Kathie Crispin

<figure>
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 <figcaption>Veterans Field Guide to Government Shutdown</figcaption>
 </figure>

VA provides Veterans with field guide to looming government shutdown

Centennial Road between Rose Hill Road and Sundgren Road is scheduled to be closed from September 27 to December 1 for a bridge replacement project approximately 0.1 miles south of Sundgren Road.

Motorists are advised to allow a few extra minutes of travel time to reach their destinations.&nbsp;

Local&nbsp;and emergency traffic will be provided&nbsp;access to private property within the sections of the&nbsp;closed&nbsp;road&nbsp;at&nbsp;all times but only from the side upon which the property lies.

Driving around road closure barricades is not just unlawful but extremely unsafe. For your safety and the safety of the construction workers, please obey all traffic signs.

Thank you for your patience and understanding

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639621309216.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedCentennial Road between Rose Hill Road and Sundgren Road is scheduled to be closed from September 27 to December 1 for a bridge replacement project approximately 0.1 miles south of Sundgren Road.Motorists are advised to allow a few extra minutes of travel time to reach their destinations.&nbsp;Local&nbsp;and emergency traffic will be provided&nbsp;access to private property within the sections of the&nbsp;closed&nbsp;road&nbsp;at&nbsp;all times but only from the side upon which the property lies.Driving around road closure barricades is not just unlawful but extremely unsafe. For your safety and the safety of the construction workers, please obey all traffic signs.Thank you for your patience and understanding

Centennial Road between Rose Hill Road and Sundgren Road closed

By NATE KING Salina Post

On this episode of King in the Community, I sit down with Katie Zey, head of marketing at The Salina Public Library to talk about the TEEN-TOBER campaign focussed on engaging teens in the community.&nbsp;

Since she started working for the Salina Libary last year, Zey said she has been blown away by how much the library does for the local community.

"There is always something to do at the Library," Zey said.&nbsp;

Zey will be a regular guest on the podcast to give us updates on events and programs at the Salina Public Library.&nbsp;

For more information go to&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapubliclibrary.org/">https://salinapubliclibrary.org/</a>

<div><iframe title="Katie Zey, Salina Public Library" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=dqdvc-149b930-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By NATE KING Salina PostOn this episode of King in the Community, I sit down with Katie Zey, head of marketing at The Salina Public Library to talk about the TEEN-TOBER campaign focussed on engaging teens in the community.&nbsp;Since she started working for the Salina Libary last year, Zey said she has been blown away by how much the library does for the local community."There is always something to do at the Library," Zey said.&nbsp;Zey will be a regular guest on the podcast to give us updates on events and programs at the Salina Public Library.&nbsp;For more information go to&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapubliclibrary.org/">https://salinapubliclibrary.org/</a>

🎙King in the Community: Katie Zey, Salina Public Library

Salina Post proudly presents Flashback Friday in partnership with the Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present “Salina-Flashback Fridays.”

Salina founders William A. Phillips, David Phillips, Alexander M. Campbell Sr., A.C. Spillman and James Muir set aside land on the 200 block of South Eighth Street for the city's first public school.

The location held the former Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High School, and by 1868, the building proved too small for Salina's growing population.

In 1873, contractors built the first "Central" on a large block between Mulberry and Walnut Streets and Seventh and Eighth Streets.

A Mustang represented the school's spirit, acting as its mascot since its founding in the late 1800s, and remains today as Salina Central High School Mustangs.

Just four years later, the school made a $30,000 addition to include a high school in 1877, where before the single building served all grades.

In the 1880s, Salina continued to grow, adding multiple grade schools. Eventually, most residents knew Salina Central as a high school.

By 1900, contractors tore Salina Central down at Mulberry and Walnut Streets and built a new school at Seventh and Mulberry Streets, and renamed the building, Lincoln High School.

<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/39be6989-60f4-4308-b386-d8deabaf186d">READ: Flashback Friday: Salina Post-Smoky Hill Museum- Vol. 8&nbsp; Salina Opera House/United Building</a>

Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Smoky Hill Museum - Vol. 8

Later, Lincoln High became known as the Grammar School or Junior High for seventh and eighth-grade students. Later, in 1909, Salina built Washington High School at Second and Mulberry Streets and served the community until 1952.

The new Salina High School opened in 1952, standing in its current location today on the southeast corner of Crawford and Front Streets. In 1971, the school was renamed Salina Central High School after the addition of Salina South High School.

&nbsp;For years, tales circulated that a ghost haunted Salina’s Washington High School theatre. When the building was razed in 1972, the ghost supposedly moved to Central High. 

In 1949, Joyce Diller performed the lead in the Washington High production of "Death Takes a Holiday," in which Death spares her character after an auto accident.&nbsp;In a case of life imitating art, Joyce’s car collided with a gasoline truck the following year.

Tragically, Joyce did not fare as well as her character. 

Shortly after her death, students saw her face in the curtains and felt her presence on the catwalks and in the lights. Skeptics claimed, however, that the supposed face in the curtain was just a water stain.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Joyce seems to be a benevolent spirit, as she helps actors with forgotten lines or keeps cast members from falling on stage. But sometimes, those who skip school are not treated so amicably.

A famous story claims that the stage curtains were moved from Washington to Central with Joyce in tow. This is unlikely, for the building remained used for theatre productions after the new high school was built in 1952.

<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 Smoky Hill Museum. Enjoy a weekly tidbit of local history from the staff at Salina Post and the Smoky Hill Museum as we present “Salina-Flashback Fridays.”By SALINA POSTSalina founders William A. Phillips, David Phillips, Alexander M. Campbell Sr., A.C. Spillman and James Muir set aside land on the 200 block of South Eighth Street for the city's first public school.The location held the former Roosevelt-Lincoln Junior High School, and by 1868, the building proved too small for Salina's growing population.In 1873, contractors built the first "Central" on a large block between Mulberry and Walnut Streets and Seventh and Eighth Streets.<div><div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/15190218"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div></div>A Mustang represented the school's spirit, acting as its mascot since its founding in the late 1800s, and remains today as Salina Central High School Mustangs.Just four years later, the school made a $30,000 addition to include a high school in 1877, where before the single building served all grades.In the 1880s, Salina continued to grow, adding multiple grade schools. Eventually, most residents knew Salina Central as a high school.By 1900, contractors tore Salina Central down at Mulberry and Walnut Streets and built a new school at Seventh and Mulberry Streets, and renamed the building, Lincoln High School.<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/39be6989-60f4-4308-b386-d8deabaf186d">READ: Flashback Friday: Salina Post-Smoky Hill Museum- Vol. 8&nbsp; Salina Opera House/United Building</a><h2>Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Smoky Hill Museum - Vol. 8</h2>Later, Lincoln High became known as the Grammar School or Junior High for seventh and eighth-grade students. Later, in 1909, Salina built Washington High School at Second and Mulberry Streets and served the community until 1952.<div><div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/15189771"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div></div>The new Salina High School opened in 1952, standing in its current location today on the southeast corner of Crawford and Front Streets. In 1971, the school was renamed Salina Central High School after the addition of Salina South High School.<h2>Washington High's Ghost Tales</h2>&nbsp;For years, tales circulated that a ghost haunted Salina’s Washington High School theatre. When the building was razed in 1972, the ghost supposedly moved to Central High. In 1949, Joyce Diller performed the lead in the Washington High production of "Death Takes a Holiday," in which Death spares her character after an auto accident.&nbsp;In a case of life imitating art, Joyce’s car collided with a gasoline truck the following year. Tragically, Joyce did not fare as well as her character. Shortly after her death, students saw her face in the curtains and felt her presence on the catwalks and in the lights. Skeptics claimed, however, that the supposed face in the curtain was just a water stain.&nbsp;&nbsp;Joyce seems to be a benevolent spirit, as she helps actors with forgotten lines or keeps cast members from falling on stage. But sometimes, those who skip school are not treated so amicably.A famous story claims that the stage curtains were moved from Washington to Central with Joyce in tow. This is unlikely, for the building remained used for theatre productions after the new high school was built in 1952.

📸 Flashback Friday: Salina Post - Smoky Hill Museum - Vol. 9

On the morning of Sunday, September 9, 2023, Officers with the Salina Police Department were sent to the 2300 block of Melrose, Salina, in regards to a vehicle burglary and unlawful use of a financial card.

The victim reported their wallet was stolen from their vehicle the previous day while it was parked at their residence and the Salina Country Club. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet from inside the vehicle, which contained financial cards. The cards were later used at multiple retail establishments in Salina, McPherson and Wichita. Several transactions totaling over $4500 were made with the stolen cards. Surveillance video shows the suspect below using the stolen financial cards to make a purchase. The suspect walks with a limp and was seen driving a silver or beige 4 door passenger car.

If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Wymore, case 2023-28170.

On the morning of Sunday, September 9, 2023, Officers with the Salina Police Department were sent to the 2300 block of Melrose, Salina, in regards to a vehicle burglary and unlawful use of a financial card.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695990288036.jpeg" alt="Saline County Crimestoppers 09/29" />
 <figcaption>Saline County Crimestoppers 09/29</figcaption>
 </figure>The victim reported their wallet was stolen from their vehicle the previous day while it was parked at their residence and the Salina Country Club. The suspect stole the victim’s wallet from inside the vehicle, which contained financial cards. The cards were later used at multiple retail establishments in Salina, McPherson and Wichita. Several transactions totaling over $4500 were made with the stolen cards. Surveillance video shows the suspect below using the stolen financial cards to make a purchase. The suspect walks with a limp and was seen driving a silver or beige 4 door passenger car.If you have any information concerning this incident or identification of the individual involved, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS. You can also make an on—line tip at: <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#">https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=950#</a>. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000. Tipsters may also contact the Salina Police Department at (785) 826-7210, or Officer Wymore, case 2023-28170.

This week’s Crimestoppers: Vehicle burglary, stolen financial card

There are just a few weeks remaining to see the Smoky Hill Museum’s exhibit,&nbsp;Fire: Embers of Discovery. In this exhibit, you will encounter major fires in our Nation’s history as well as stories from Salina’s past.&nbsp;These fires helped shape our understanding of fire and what it takes to keep us safe from its terrible destruction.&nbsp; Have you heard of the Sad Yule or the Great Chicago Fire? Do you know the fiery history of the local H.D. Lee buildings? What about the huge prairie fire that left a path of destruction in Saline County in 1982? These stories and many more are awaiting you at the Smoky Hill Museum.&nbsp; You won’t want to miss this exhibit. The last day to see&nbsp;Fire: Embers of Discovery&nbsp;is October 21, 2023.

The Smoky Hill Museum is a nationally accredited history museum in the heart of downtown Salina, Kansas. This FREE museum is open&nbsp;Tuesday-Friday 11-5,&nbsp;Saturday 10-5. Also, be sure to stop by the Museum Store&nbsp;for a wide variety of regional and Kansas products, local artwork and gifts for all ages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695988707317.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Submitted There are just a few weeks remaining to see the Smoky Hill Museum’s exhibit,&nbsp;Fire: Embers of Discovery. In this exhibit, you will encounter major fires in our Nation’s history as well as stories from Salina’s past.&nbsp;These fires helped shape our understanding of fire and what it takes to keep us safe from its terrible destruction.&nbsp; Have you heard of the Sad Yule or the Great Chicago Fire? Do you know the fiery history of the local H.D. Lee buildings? What about the huge prairie fire that left a path of destruction in Saline County in 1982? These stories and many more are awaiting you at the Smoky Hill Museum.&nbsp; You won’t want to miss this exhibit. The last day to see&nbsp;Fire: Embers of Discovery&nbsp;is October 21, 2023.The Smoky Hill Museum is a nationally accredited history museum in the heart of downtown Salina, Kansas. This FREE museum is open&nbsp;Tuesday-Friday 11-5,&nbsp;Saturday 10-5. Also, be sure to stop by the Museum Store&nbsp;for a wide variety of regional and Kansas products, local artwork and gifts for all ages.

Last Chance to see Exhibit on Fire at the Smoky Hill Museum

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;Dickerman,Wade Erin REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation, Failure to appear

NAME: Green,Derrick NathanielREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violations

NAME: Lawrence,Raymond MonroeREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Obrien,Bailey Eugene REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Outside warrant/NCIC hit

NAME:&nbsp;Parker,James David REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Criminal Deprivaton of Property,&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact

NAME:Presley,Khadeizsha Monay REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Failure to appear

NAME:REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Failure to appear,&nbsp;Harass by telecom device; Phone call with intent to abuse/threaten/harass

REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Driving while suspended.

NAME: Jamison,Nathaniel LaneREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation,&nbsp;Driving While Suspended,&nbsp;Failure to appear

Following is recent booking activity for the Saline County Jail, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County JailAll persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987527123.jpeg" alt="Dickerman,Wade Erin" />
 <figcaption>Dickerman,Wade Erin</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Dickerman,Wade Erin REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation, Failure to appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987656635.jpeg" alt=" Green,Derrick Nathaniel" />
 <figcaption> Green,Derrick Nathaniel</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME: Green,Derrick NathanielREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violations<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987733609.jpeg" alt=" Lawrence,Raymond Monroe" />
 <figcaption> Lawrence,Raymond Monroe</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME: Lawrence,Raymond MonroeREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987817830.jpeg" alt="Obrien,Bailey Eugene" />
 <figcaption>Obrien,Bailey Eugene</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Obrien,Bailey Eugene REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Outside warrant/NCIC hit<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987898933.jpeg" alt="Parker,James David" />
 <figcaption>Parker,James David</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Parker,James David REQUESTED CHARGE(S): Criminal Deprivaton of Property,&nbsp;Domestic Battery: rude physical contact<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695987959603.jpeg" alt=" Presley,Khadeizsha Monay" />
 <figcaption> Presley,Khadeizsha Monay</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:Presley,Khadeizsha Monay REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Failure to appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695988021005.jpeg" alt="Rader,Brietan Ron" />
 <figcaption>Rader,Brietan Ron</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:REQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Failure to appear,&nbsp;Harass by telecom device; Phone call with intent to abuse/threaten/harass<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695988097582.jpeg" alt=" Wallace,Shakeila Marie" />
 <figcaption> Wallace,Shakeila Marie</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:Wallace,Shakeila MarieREQUESTED CHARGE(S): Driving while suspended.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688562049999.png" alt="Jamison,Nathaniel Lane " />
 <figcaption>Jamison,Nathaniel Lane </figcaption>
 </figure>NAME: Jamison,Nathaniel LaneREQUESTED CHARGE(S):&nbsp;Probation Violation,&nbsp;Driving While Suspended,&nbsp;Failure to appear

Saline County Jail Activity, Sept 29

K-State's Blakeslee says sugar or pie pumpkins are best for cooking

By MADDY ROHRKSRE It is nearly October, which means pumpkins are everywhere, including in popular food and drink items.

When the popular fall treat is used for baking and cooking, Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says sugar or pie pumpkins are the No. 1 choice.

“They are smaller than pumpkins used for carving festive jack-o-lanterns,” Blakeslee said. “They have dense flesh and high sugar content. The flesh is less stringy and the color is usually darker.”

When cooking, 1 3/4 cups of mashed fresh pie or sugar pumpkin can replace a 15-ounce can of pumpkin.

“Home canning is not recommended for any mashed pumpkin or winter squash. The only directions for canning these are for cubed pieces. Mashed products can be safely frozen,” Blakeslee said.

Mashed pumpkin or winter squash has a thick density in mashed form which prevents adequate heat transfer to the center of the jar. Blakeslee warns of insufficient research to establish a single, safe processing time for mashed pumpkin or winter squash products.

“This can lead to under processing or uneven processing and harmful bacteria can survive after canning,” Blakeslee said. She suggests freezing mashed pumpkin or winter squash as the safest method of preservation.

Some grocery stores sell sugar or pie pumpkins, but Blakeslee recommends looking for U-pick farms that grow pumpkins.

"Before cutting, always rinse with water and scrub the outside of the pumpkin to remove any dirt and debris. Check for damage to the rind such as soft spots or spoilage and remove those spots,” she said.

Blakeslee, who also coordinator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/">K-State’s Rapid Response Center for Food Science</a>, publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on food safety. More information is also available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695986532476.png" alt="Home canning is not recommended for any mashed pumpkin or winter squash, said K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee. image courtesy KSRE&nbsp; " />
 <figcaption>Home canning is not recommended for any mashed pumpkin or winter squash, said K-State food scientist Karen Blakeslee. image courtesy KSRE&nbsp; </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-State's Blakeslee says sugar or pie pumpkins are best for cooking</h2>By MADDY ROHRKSRE It is nearly October, which means pumpkins are everywhere, including in popular food and drink items.When the popular fall treat is used for baking and cooking, Kansas State University food scientist Karen Blakeslee says sugar or pie pumpkins are the No. 1 choice.“They are smaller than pumpkins used for carving festive jack-o-lanterns,” Blakeslee said. “They have dense flesh and high sugar content. The flesh is less stringy and the color is usually darker.”When cooking, 1 3/4 cups of mashed fresh pie or sugar pumpkin can replace a 15-ounce can of pumpkin.“Home canning is not recommended for any mashed pumpkin or winter squash. The only directions for canning these are for cubed pieces. Mashed products can be safely frozen,” Blakeslee said.Mashed pumpkin or winter squash has a thick density in mashed form which prevents adequate heat transfer to the center of the jar. Blakeslee warns of insufficient research to establish a single, safe processing time for mashed pumpkin or winter squash products.“This can lead to under processing or uneven processing and harmful bacteria can survive after canning,” Blakeslee said. She suggests freezing mashed pumpkin or winter squash as the safest method of preservation.Some grocery stores sell sugar or pie pumpkins, but Blakeslee recommends looking for U-pick farms that grow pumpkins."Before cutting, always rinse with water and scrub the outside of the pumpkin to remove any dirt and debris. Check for damage to the rind such as soft spots or spoilage and remove those spots,” she said.Blakeslee, who also coordinator of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/">K-State’s Rapid Response Center for Food Science</a>, publishes a monthly newsletter called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/newsletter">You Asked It!</a>&nbsp;that provides numerous tips on food safety. More information is also available from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local extension offices</a>&nbsp;in Kansas.

How to preserve pumpkins this fall

On Sept. 29, 1938, British, French, German and Italian leaders concluded the Munich Agreement, which was aimed at appeasing Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.

In 1789, the U.S. War Department established a regular army with a strength of several hundred men.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695986399655.jpeg" alt="British Premier Sir Neville Chamberlain shakes hands with German leader Adolf Hitler, sealing a peace treaty, in Munich, Germany, September 30, 1938. Chamberlain was successful in his peace saving effort in conjunction with the French, German and Italian heads of state. The pact was one of several diplomatic successes that strengthened Hitler’s hold on Germany, expanded his European power and set the stage for conquest in Europe. Next to Hitler stands interpreter Paul Schmidt, and British ambassador Nevile Henderson stands next to Chamberlain. (AP Photo) " />
 <figcaption>British Premier Sir Neville Chamberlain shakes hands with German leader Adolf Hitler, sealing a peace treaty, in Munich, Germany, September 30, 1938. Chamberlain was successful in his peace saving effort in conjunction with the French, German and Italian heads of state. The pact was one of several diplomatic successes that strengthened Hitler’s hold on Germany, expanded his European power and set the stage for conquest in Europe. Next to Hitler stands interpreter Paul Schmidt, and British ambassador Nevile Henderson stands next to Chamberlain. (AP Photo) </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Today’s Highlight in History:</h2>On Sept. 29, 1938, British, French, German and Italian leaders concluded the Munich Agreement, which was aimed at appeasing Adolf Hitler by allowing Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia’s Sudetenland.<h2>On this date:</h2>In 1789, the U.S. War Department established a regular army with a strength of several hundred men.In 1829, London’s reorganized police force, which became known as Scotland Yard, went on duty.In 1943, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Italian Marshal Pietro Badoglio signed an armistice aboard the British ship HMS Nelson off Malta.In 1962, Canada joined the space age as it launched the Alouette 1 satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, creating the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts.In 1978, Pope John Paul I was found dead in his Vatican apartment just over a month after becoming head of the Roman Catholic Church.In 1982, Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules laced with deadly cyanide claimed the first of seven victims in the Chicago area. (To date, the case remains unsolved.)In 1986, the Soviet Union released Nicholas Daniloff, an American journalist confined on spying charges.In 1989, actor Zsa Zsa Gabor was convicted of battery for slapping Beverly Hills police officer Paul Kramer after he’d pulled over her Rolls-Royce for expired license plates.In 2000, Israeli riot police stormed a major Jerusalem shrine and opened fire on stone-throwing Muslim worshippers, killing four Palestinians and wounding 175.In 2005, John G. Roberts Jr. was sworn in as the nation’s 17th chief justice after winning Senate confirmation.In 2012, Omar Khadr, the last Western detainee held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, returned to Canada after a decade in custody.In 2017, Tom Price resigned as President Donald Trump’s secretary of Health and Human Services amid investigations into his use of costly charter flights for official travel at taxpayer expense.In 2018, Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, agreed to pay a total of $40 million to settle a government lawsuit alleging that Musk had duped investors with misleading statements about a proposed buyout of the company.In 2020, the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden deteriorated into bitter taunts and near chaos, as Trump repeatedly interrupted his opponent with angry and personal jabs and the two men talked over each other.In 2021, a judge in Los Angeles suspended Britney Spears’ father from the conservatorship that had controlled her life and money for 13 years, saying the arrangement reflected a “toxic environment.”In 2022, rescue crews piloted boats and waded through flooded streets Thursday to save thousands of Floridians trapped after Hurricane Ian destroyed homes and businesses and left millions in the dark.