Today is Thursday, June 1, the 152nd day of 2023. There are 213 days left in the year.

On June 1, 1813, the mortally wounded commander of the USS Chesapeake, Capt. James Lawrence, gave the order, "Don't give up the ship" during a losing battle with the British frigate HMS Shannon in the War of 1812.

In 1533, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was crowned as Queen Consort of England.

In 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state.

In 1812, President James Madison, in a message to Congress, recounted what he called Britain's "series of acts hostile to the United States as an independent and neutral nation"; Congress ended up declaring war.

In 1916, Louis Brandeis took his seat as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the first Jewish American to serve on the nation's highest bench.

In 1943, a civilian flight from Portugal to England was shot down by Germany during World War II, killing all 17 people aboard, including actor Leslie Howard.

In 1957, Don Bowden, a student at the University of California at Berkeley, became the first American to break the four-minute mile during a meet in Stockton, California, in a time of 3:58.7.

In 1958, Charles de Gaulle became premier of France, marking the beginning of the end of the Fourth Republic.

In 1967, the Beatles album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released.

In 1980, Cable News Network made its debut.

In 2009, General Motors filed for Chapter 11, becoming the largest U.S. industrial company to enter bankruptcy protection.

In 2020, police violently broke up a peaceful and legal protest by thousands of people in Lafayette Park across from the White House, using chemical agents, clubs and punches to send protesters fleeing; the protesters had gathered following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis a week earlier. President Donald Trump, after declaring himself "the president of law and order" and threatening to deploy the U.S. military in a Rose Garden speech, then walked across the empty park to be photographed holding a Bible in front of St. John's Church, which had been damaged a night earlier.

Ten years ago: In a scene reminiscent of the Arab Spring, thousands of people flooded Istanbul's main square after a crackdown on an anti-government protest turned city streets into a battlefield clouded by tear gas. The death toll rose to nine a day after a tornado struck Oklahoma City. A nationwide smoking ban went into effect for most public spaces in Russia. Grant Hill, a seven-time NBA All Star who had his best years with the Detroit Pistons, announced his retirement.

Five years ago: After a week of hard-nosed negotiation and diplomatic gamesmanship, President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-weapons summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un that he had earlier canceled would take place on June 12th in Singapore. Trump directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to take "immediate steps" to bolster struggling coal-fired and nuclear power plants to keep them open, calling it a matter of national and economic security. An Ecuadorean immigrant, Pablo Villavicencio, was held for deportation after delivering pizza to an Army installation in Brooklyn, New York; a judge later ordered him freed while he continued his efforts to gain legal status. Health officials said four more deaths had been linked to a national food poisoning outbreak blamed on tainted lettuce, bringing the total to five.

One year ago: The U.S. unveiled a $700 million package of sophisticated weapons for Ukraine, in an urgent effort to prevent Russia from seizing the final swaths of land in the Donbas region. A Virginia jury ruled in favor of Johnny Depp in his libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, vindicating his stance that Heard fabricated claims that she was abused by Heard and awarding him $15 million. But jurors also found in favor of Heard, who said she was defamed by Depp's lawyer when he called her abuse allegations a hoax, giving her $2 million. A federal judge found that John Hinckley, who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was "no longer a danger to himself or others" and should be freed. (Hinckley would be released two weeks later.)

Today's Birthdays: Singer Pat Boone is 89. Actor Morgan Freeman is 86. Opera singer Frederica von Stade is 78. Actor Brian Cox is 77. Rock musician Ronnie Wood is 76. Actor Jonathan Pryce is 76. Actor Gemma Craven is 73. Actor John M. Jackson (TV: "JAG," "NCIS: Los Angeles") is 73. Blues-rock musician Tom Principato is 71. Country singer Ronnie Dunn is 70. Actor Lisa Hartman Black is 67. Actor Tom Irwin is 67. Singer-musician Alan Wilder is 64. Rock musician Simon Gallup (The Cure) is 63. Actor-comedian Mark Curry is 62. Actor-singer Jason Donovan is 55. Actor Teri Polo is 54. Basketball player-turned-coach Tony Bennett is 54. Actor Rick Gomez is 51. Model-actor Heidi Klum is 50. Singer Alanis Morissette is 49. Actor Sarah Wayne Callies is 46. Comedian Link Neal (Rhett &amp; Link) is 45. TV personality Damien Fahey is 43. Americana singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is 42. Actor Johnny Pemberton is 42. Actor-writer Amy Schumer is 42. Former tennis player Justine Henin is 41. Actor Taylor Handley is 39. Actor Zazie Beetz is 32. Actor Willow Shields is 23.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Thursday, June 1, the 152nd day of 2023. There are 213 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On June 1, 1813, the mortally wounded commander of the USS Chesapeake, Capt. James Lawrence, gave the order, "Don't give up the ship" during a losing battle with the British frigate HMS Shannon in the War of 1812.On this date:In 1533, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was crowned as Queen Consort of England.In 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state.In 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state.In 1812, President James Madison, in a message to Congress, recounted what he called Britain's "series of acts hostile to the United States as an independent and neutral nation"; Congress ended up declaring war.In 1916, Louis Brandeis took his seat as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the first Jewish American to serve on the nation's highest bench.In 1943, a civilian flight from Portugal to England was shot down by Germany during World War II, killing all 17 people aboard, including actor Leslie Howard.In 1957, Don Bowden, a student at the University of California at Berkeley, became the first American to break the four-minute mile during a meet in Stockton, California, in a time of 3:58.7.In 1958, Charles de Gaulle became premier of France, marking the beginning of the end of the Fourth Republic.In 1967, the Beatles album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" was released.In 1980, Cable News Network made its debut.In 2009, General Motors filed for Chapter 11, becoming the largest U.S. industrial company to enter bankruptcy protection.In 2020, police violently broke up a peaceful and legal protest by thousands of people in Lafayette Park across from the White House, using chemical agents, clubs and punches to send protesters fleeing; the protesters had gathered following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis a week earlier. President Donald Trump, after declaring himself "the president of law and order" and threatening to deploy the U.S. military in a Rose Garden speech, then walked across the empty park to be photographed holding a Bible in front of St. John's Church, which had been damaged a night earlier.Ten years ago: In a scene reminiscent of the Arab Spring, thousands of people flooded Istanbul's main square after a crackdown on an anti-government protest turned city streets into a battlefield clouded by tear gas. The death toll rose to nine a day after a tornado struck Oklahoma City. A nationwide smoking ban went into effect for most public spaces in Russia. Grant Hill, a seven-time NBA All Star who had his best years with the Detroit Pistons, announced his retirement.Five years ago: After a week of hard-nosed negotiation and diplomatic gamesmanship, President Donald Trump announced that the nuclear-weapons summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un that he had earlier canceled would take place on June 12th in Singapore. Trump directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to take "immediate steps" to bolster struggling coal-fired and nuclear power plants to keep them open, calling it a matter of national and economic security. An Ecuadorean immigrant, Pablo Villavicencio, was held for deportation after delivering pizza to an Army installation in Brooklyn, New York; a judge later ordered him freed while he continued his efforts to gain legal status. Health officials said four more deaths had been linked to a national food poisoning outbreak blamed on tainted lettuce, bringing the total to five.One year ago: The U.S. unveiled a $700 million package of sophisticated weapons for Ukraine, in an urgent effort to prevent Russia from seizing the final swaths of land in the Donbas region. A Virginia jury ruled in favor of Johnny Depp in his libel lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, vindicating his stance that Heard fabricated claims that she was abused by Heard and awarding him $15 million. But jurors also found in favor of Heard, who said she was defamed by Depp's lawyer when he called her abuse allegations a hoax, giving her $2 million. A federal judge found that John Hinckley, who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981, was "no longer a danger to himself or others" and should be freed. (Hinckley would be released two weeks later.)Today's Birthdays: Singer Pat Boone is 89. Actor Morgan Freeman is 86. Opera singer Frederica von Stade is 78. Actor Brian Cox is 77. Rock musician Ronnie Wood is 76. Actor Jonathan Pryce is 76. Actor Gemma Craven is 73. Actor John M. Jackson (TV: "JAG," "NCIS: Los Angeles") is 73. Blues-rock musician Tom Principato is 71. Country singer Ronnie Dunn is 70. Actor Lisa Hartman Black is 67. Actor Tom Irwin is 67. Singer-musician Alan Wilder is 64. Rock musician Simon Gallup (The Cure) is 63. Actor-comedian Mark Curry is 62. Actor-singer Jason Donovan is 55. Actor Teri Polo is 54. Basketball player-turned-coach Tony Bennett is 54. Actor Rick Gomez is 51. Model-actor Heidi Klum is 50. Singer Alanis Morissette is 49. Actor Sarah Wayne Callies is 46. Comedian Link Neal (Rhett &amp; Link) is 45. TV personality Damien Fahey is 43. Americana singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile is 42. Actor Johnny Pemberton is 42. Actor-writer Amy Schumer is 42. Former tennis player Justine Henin is 41. Actor Taylor Handley is 39. Actor Zazie Beetz is 32. Actor Willow Shields is 23.

Today in History - June 1

DICKINSON COUNTY —After over a one month investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit has made two arrests, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.

Just after 3a.m. May 26, deputies assigned to the Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop with a Buick Le Sabre in the 3400 Block of Kansas 15 Highway to execute a search warrant on the vehicle. Jordan Daniel Greene, 37, and Justyne Marie Hanson, 40, both of Abilene were taken into custody.

The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Abilene Police Department, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 Block of NW 3rd Street in Abilene.&nbsp; Officers seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia during the search of the vehicle and the residence.

Greene was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute opioid, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and no drug tax stamp.

Hanson was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute opioid, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685566518739.png" alt="Greene-photo Dickinson Co." />
 <figcaption>Greene-photo Dickinson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —After over a one month investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit has made two arrests, according to Sheriff Jerry Davis.Just after 3a.m. May 26, deputies assigned to the Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop with a Buick Le Sabre in the 3400 Block of Kansas 15 Highway to execute a search warrant on the vehicle. Jordan Daniel Greene, 37, and Justyne Marie Hanson, 40, both of Abilene were taken into custody.The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the Abilene Police Department, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 400 Block of NW 3rd Street in Abilene.&nbsp; Officers seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia during the search of the vehicle and the residence.Greene was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute opioid, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and no drug tax stamp.Hanson was booked into the Dickinson County Jail on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute opioid, possession of drug paraphernalia, and no drug tax stamp.

2 accused of selling fentanyl, meth in Dickinson County

K-State Research and Extension News Service

K-State Research and Extension,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/localfoods/index.html" target="_blank">Local Foods Systems</a>&nbsp;administrator Rebecca McMahon describes numerous ways that people with physical limitations can enjoy the benefits of gardening.&nbsp;

“Gardening often seems like it's an activity that is really only available to those in great physical health with no limitations in what they can do, whether they can bend, or stand or kneel or things like that,” McMahon says. “But there are lots of different tools and styles of gardening that can make gardening accessible to you, no matter what your limitations might be.”&nbsp;

Some accessibility options include vertical gardens, a ‘salad table,’ raised beds and other accommodations. Numerous tools can also make gardening easier, particularly for those who have reduced strength to grip tools.&nbsp;

More tips on accessible gardening and other topics are available in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">2023 Kansas Garden Guide</a>, released earlier this spring.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension video by Matthew Campbell&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension News ServiceK-State Research and Extension,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rrc.k-state.edu/localfoods/index.html" target="_blank">Local Foods Systems</a>&nbsp;administrator Rebecca McMahon describes numerous ways that people with physical limitations can enjoy the benefits of gardening.&nbsp;“Gardening often seems like it's an activity that is really only available to those in great physical health with no limitations in what they can do, whether they can bend, or stand or kneel or things like that,” McMahon says. “But there are lots of different tools and styles of gardening that can make gardening accessible to you, no matter what your limitations might be.”&nbsp;Some accessibility options include vertical gardens, a ‘salad table,’ raised beds and other accommodations. Numerous tools can also make gardening easier, particularly for those who have reduced strength to grip tools.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4s5eYeBauxk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>More tips on accessible gardening and other topics are available in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S51.pdf" target="_blank">2023 Kansas Garden Guide</a>, released earlier this spring.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension video by Matthew Campbell&nbsp;

🎥Options for accessible gardening

By PETER SMITH and HOLLY MEYER Associated Press

The Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.

Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.

Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone.

Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">intractable debates</a>&nbsp;over theology and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">role of LGBTQ people</a>. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-marriage-b6a4ec4a28ce2674932573ba6c850f4a">stark differences</a>&nbsp;over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.

But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.

Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go.

According to the Great Plains conference agenda packet, 103 churches' disassociation are set to be approved by resolution Wednesday.

Kansas churches that have voted to leave the denomination include:

Agra, Arnold, Bazine, Bellevue, Blue Mound, Brewster, Burdett, Burlington, Caney, Cawker City, Cherryvale, Copeland, Deerfield, Denton, Dwight, Elkhart, Ellsworth, Fulton, Glasco, Glen Elder, Grainfield, Green, Greensburg, Gypsum, Healy, Holcomb, Howard, Hugoton, Ionia, Iuka, Jetmore, Kanopolis, Kanorado, Kirwin, Kismet, Lancaster, Lenora, Leonardville, Liberty, Long Island, Lucas, Luray, Lydia, Madison, Marysville, Medicine Lodge, Miltonvale, Natoma, Ness City, Norwich, Offerle, Oketo, Oneida, Oxford, Peru, Plains, Quinter, Randolph, Ransom, Republic, Richfield, Rolla, Roeland Park, Satanta, Sawyer, Sharon Springs, Stockton, Utica, Virgil, Wakefield and Webber.

The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as “Beacon” or “Oasis,” but the idea is the same.

"The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor.

Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that it’s committed to staying United Methodist, so they won’t have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.

Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church — the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry — also voted to leave.

"Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming,” said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation.

Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination.

Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldn’t imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality: “It’s a place where I don’t have to check my logic and reason at the door and blindly accept things.”

Hahn said he, his wife and daughters have found “a very warm and welcoming environment” in the Stokesdale congregation, with people saying, "We’re glad to have you here, we want to walk through this period with you.”

Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations.

While the Global Methodist Church doesn’t have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying.

That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church.

Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood.

“We’re not there just to go to church on Sunday for an hour; we’re there to help the community," said member Neil Kline. The enthusiasm of participants is evident, he said: “They can’t wait to get to church, and they don’t want to leave.”

Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church's pastor.

The group's previous congregation “was a good church,” Farmer said, and he wished it well. But “my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, what’s going on in the United States, particularly."

The ongoing schism has been long in the making.

The United Methodist Church — with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad — has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy.

The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches.

More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations.

That’s a fraction of the United Methodists’ 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states.

Therrell said he had no problem with the Lighthouse concept but renewed his call to allow churches to disaffiliate on reasonable terms.

“I want everyone to be in the theological home that is the best fit,” Therrell said. “Certainly, the United Methodist Church is welcome to try to create churches to do that. I hope they would respect traditionalists and allow us to get to the place where we need to be.”

In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches — out of roughly 600 total — have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conference’s new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described “exiles, refugees, nomads” to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected.

“We’re just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality,” Roberts said. “I love the word ‘hospitality’ because the word ‘hospital’ comes from that word. It is about providing healing."

In the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 17 congregations officially became Lighthouse congregations as of May 1.

About a third of the estimated 800 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference — a sprawling 23-county region — are seeking to have their disaffiliations approved at the conference's June annual meeting, according to Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi.

“There have been very few votes where it was unanimous,” she said. For those on the short end of those votes — sometimes described as pilgrims — the Lighthouse congregations offer places where they can join or just find temporary harbor until they figure out next steps.

But Lighthouse churches aren’t places to settle into old routines, she said.

“This has been an opportunity to really think about folks who are unchurched, and how this nucleus of people looking for a church home might help us discern needs in the community and create faith communities” to reach people in new ways.

Added B.T. Gilligan, senior pastor at Nixon United Methodist Church, a Lighthouse congregation in Butler, Pennsylvania: “I really hope this extends and goes far beyond the disaffiliation, but allows for people who have been hurt by churches for all different kinds of reasons.”

By PETER SMITH and HOLLY MEYER Associated PressThe Rev. Bill Farmer reached the point where he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-methodist-church-breakaway-lgbt-f599979835addfd354856ff5b2024989">couldn’t stay in the United Methodist Church</a>&nbsp;anymore — but the congregation he attended was staying.Michael Hahn always wanted to stay in the UMC — but his congregation was leaving it.Each has found new church homes, and they’re not alone.Thousands of United Methodist congregations have been voting on whether to stay or quit one of the nation’s largest denominations amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-f3fc3ec9e1f39501495d227d5a0963f8">intractable debates</a>&nbsp;over theology and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-marriage-1ed8df15ecbb36700cbe638b29dc6617">role of LGBTQ people</a>. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-religion-marriage-b6a4ec4a28ce2674932573ba6c850f4a">stark differences</a>&nbsp;over recognizing same-sex marriage and ordaining LGBTQ clergy.But the dividing line isn’t just running between congregations. It’s running right through the pews of individual churches, separating people who had long worshipped together.Those who come up on the short end of a disaffiliation vote face the dilemma of whether to stay or go.<h2>Churches leaving</h2>According to the Great Plains conference agenda packet, 103 churches' disassociation are set to be approved by resolution Wednesday.Kansas churches that have voted to leave the denomination include:Agra, Arnold, Bazine, Bellevue, Blue Mound, Brewster, Burdett, Burlington, Caney, Cawker City, Cherryvale, Copeland, Deerfield, Denton, Dwight, Elkhart, Ellsworth, Fulton, Glasco, Glen Elder, Grainfield, Green, Greensburg, Gypsum, Healy, Holcomb, Howard, Hugoton, Ionia, Iuka, Jetmore, Kanopolis, Kanorado, Kirwin, Kismet, Lancaster, Lenora, Leonardville, Liberty, Long Island, Lucas, Luray, Lydia, Madison, Marysville, Medicine Lodge, Miltonvale, Natoma, Ness City, Norwich, Offerle, Oketo, Oneida, Oxford, Peru, Plains, Quinter, Randolph, Ransom, Republic, Richfield, Rolla, Roeland Park, Satanta, Sawyer, Sharon Springs, Stockton, Utica, Virgil, Wakefield and Webber.The splintering — often grievous and tense — has spurred new initiatives to provide havens for the unmoored. Some United Methodist regional conferences have begun designating “Lighthouse” congregations — ones that actively welcome people who wanted to stay United Methodist but whose former churches voted to leave. Other conferences use different names, such as “Beacon” or “Oasis,” but the idea is the same."The pain is real, and there is a lot of grief and a lot of heartache over the split in the United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Lynda Ferguson, the great-grandchild of a circuit-riding Methodist pastor.Her North Carolina church, First United Methodist Asheboro, became a Lighthouse congregation. That assures newcomers that it’s committed to staying United Methodist, so they won’t have to worry about another disaffiliation vote. More than 400 congregations have disaffiliated in North Carolina.Ferguson said she can personally relate to those from departing congregations. Her childhood church — the one that shaped her faith and where at age 12 she felt the call to ministry — also voted to leave."Part of the Lighthouse mission is to let people know the United Methodist Church is still here and still welcoming,” said the Rev. Ed McKinney, pastor of Stokesdale United Methodist Church in Stokesdale, North Carolina, which also became a Lighthouse congregation.Michael Hahn and his family are among a group of newcomers who have begun participating in Stokesdale after their previous congregations left the denomination.Hahn, whose family has been Methodist for generations, said he couldn’t imagine leaving the denomination, which he values for blending faith and rationality: “It’s a place where I don’t have to check my logic and reason at the door and blindly accept things.”Hahn said he, his wife and daughters have found “a very warm and welcoming environment” in the Stokesdale congregation, with people saying, "We’re glad to have you here, we want to walk through this period with you.”Many of the departing churches are joining the conservative Global Methodist Church, created last year. Others are going independent or joining different denominations.While the Global Methodist Church doesn’t have a program like the Lighthouse initiative, it has begun launching or adopting congregations that can become homes for those who want to leave the United Methodist Church but whose congregations are staying.That was the case with the founders of Grace Methodist Church. They launched the church in January in Homosassa, Florida, after their previous congregation voted to stay in the UMC. The new church immediately affiliated with the Global Methodist Church.Grace Methodist has been renting a former lodge hall for its services and has already started Bible studies and community outreaches, while also working to attract attendees from their neighborhood.“We’re not there just to go to church on Sunday for an hour; we’re there to help the community," said member Neil Kline. The enthusiasm of participants is evident, he said: “They can’t wait to get to church, and they don’t want to leave.”Farmer came out of retirement to serve as the church's pastor.The group's previous congregation “was a good church,” Farmer said, and he wished it well. But “my struggle was with the United Methodist structure, what’s going on in the United States, particularly."The ongoing schism has been long in the making.The United Methodist Church — with about 6.5 million members in the United States and at least that many abroad — has long debated its bans on same-sex marriages and the ordination of openly LGBTQ clergy.The denomination has repeatedly upheld the bans, largely through the voting strength of the growing, more conservative churches abroad. But conservatives chose to form a new denomination amid growing defiance of the bans in U.S. churches.More than 3,500 U.S. congregations have received their local conferences’ permission to disaffiliate from the UMC, according to United Methodist News Service. With conference season underway, disaffiliations are closing in on 4,000 and could rise even more by the end of the year, said the Rev. Jay Therrell, president of the Wesleyan Covenant Association, a conservative group advocating for departing congregations.That’s a fraction of the United Methodists’ 30,000 U.S. churches, though several of the departing congregations are among the largest in their states.Therrell said he had no problem with the Lighthouse concept but renewed his call to allow churches to disaffiliate on reasonable terms.“I want everyone to be in the theological home that is the best fit,” Therrell said. “Certainly, the United Methodist Church is welcome to try to create churches to do that. I hope they would respect traditionalists and allow us to get to the place where we need to be.”In the Arkansas Conference, more than 100 churches — out of roughly 600 total — have received permission to disaffiliate. That leaves parts of the state with few or no remaining United Methodist congregations, said the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of the conference’s new Restart Initiative, which is hoping to enlist congregations to be Beacon churches. Such churches would invite self-described “exiles, refugees, nomads” to worship services, help them start home groups or develop other ways to keep them connected.“We’re just really simply inviting churches to consider how they can provide this kind of hospitality,” Roberts said. “I love the word ‘hospitality’ because the word ‘hospital’ comes from that word. It is about providing healing."In the Western Pennsylvania Conference, 17 congregations officially became Lighthouse congregations as of May 1.About a third of the estimated 800 churches in the Western Pennsylvania Conference — a sprawling 23-county region — are seeking to have their disaffiliations approved at the conference's June annual meeting, according to Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi.“There have been very few votes where it was unanimous,” she said. For those on the short end of those votes — sometimes described as pilgrims — the Lighthouse congregations offer places where they can join or just find temporary harbor until they figure out next steps.But Lighthouse churches aren’t places to settle into old routines, she said.“This has been an opportunity to really think about folks who are unchurched, and how this nucleus of people looking for a church home might help us discern needs in the community and create faith communities” to reach people in new ways.Added B.T. Gilligan, senior pastor at Nixon United Methodist Church, a Lighthouse congregation in Butler, Pennsylvania: “I really hope this extends and goes far beyond the disaffiliation, but allows for people who have been hurt by churches for all different kinds of reasons.”

Kansas Methodist churches vote to split from denomination

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

BENNINGTON - Fun and festivities will be the rule of the day in Bennington Saturday.

The day will begin with the Bennington Family Fun Day and will conclude with the Bennington PRCA Rodeo.

"Fun Day is a great chance to get outside and kick your summer off right. Parents with young children will love the inflatable activities, turtle races, face painting, and the pedal tractor pull. Older kids will enjoy the FFA ag olympics, 3-on-3 basketball, and the early-morning 5k Fun Run. And people of all ages can enjoy the cornhole tournament, vendor booths, local restaurants and businesses, and the antique tractor show," Jeff Shamburg, president of the Bennington Family Center told Salina Post.

"Of course after all of that fun, we wrap up the afternoon with a parade and Bennington PRCA Rodeo!" he added.

The full schedule of events can be seen below.

Shamburg explained that the Family Fun Day began in the early 1980s as a grassroots community fun day that was always held in conjunction with the Bennington PRCA Rodeo.

"It's a chance for our community to come together downtown, enjoy old time games and entertainment and kick off the summer," he said.

Each year, a planning committee of eight to 12 community volunteers works to organize Family Fun Day.

"On the day of the event, dozens of volunteers from the community and local businesses help keep the various events moving along smoothly," Shamburg said.

This year is the first year that the Bennington Family Center has been in charge of organizing Family Fun Day.

"Bennington Family Center is a new non-profit that was started by a group of community members that wanted to meet some of our immediate childcare needs. As we organized, we quickly discovered that our community needed access to quality childcare, but once that need was met, there were many other challenges that were holding community families back from being successful," Shamburg explained.

The Bennington Family Center was established "to lead and support our community in building the best foundation for families by providing early childhood, school-age and adult education and access to social services that help strengthen the family unit," he said.

"We're working to get organized to deliver this by providing childcare, parent and guardian classes, and a home-visit program that will help new parents, but also continue to work with families to assess their needs and make connections to resources that can help their needs be met," Shamburg said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685549893398.jpeg" alt="A previous Bennington Family Fun Day. Photos courtesy the organizing committee" />
 <figcaption>A previous Bennington Family Fun Day. Photos courtesy the organizing committee</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostBENNINGTON - Fun and festivities will be the rule of the day in Bennington Saturday.The day will begin with the Bennington Family Fun Day and will conclude with the Bennington PRCA Rodeo."Fun Day is a great chance to get outside and kick your summer off right. Parents with young children will love the inflatable activities, turtle races, face painting, and the pedal tractor pull. Older kids will enjoy the FFA ag olympics, 3-on-3 basketball, and the early-morning 5k Fun Run. And people of all ages can enjoy the cornhole tournament, vendor booths, local restaurants and businesses, and the antique tractor show," Jeff Shamburg, president of the Bennington Family Center told Salina Post."Of course after all of that fun, we wrap up the afternoon with a parade and Bennington PRCA Rodeo!" he added.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685549984772.jpeg" alt="Lining up for a previous year's parade" />
 <figcaption>Lining up for a previous year's parade</figcaption>
 </figure>The full schedule of events can be seen below.Shamburg explained that the Family Fun Day began in the early 1980s as a grassroots community fun day that was always held in conjunction with the Bennington PRCA Rodeo."It's a chance for our community to come together downtown, enjoy old time games and entertainment and kick off the summer," he said.Each year, a planning committee of eight to 12 community volunteers works to organize Family Fun Day."On the day of the event, dozens of volunteers from the community and local businesses help keep the various events moving along smoothly," Shamburg said.This year is the first year that the Bennington Family Center has been in charge of organizing Family Fun Day."Bennington Family Center is a new non-profit that was started by a group of community members that wanted to meet some of our immediate childcare needs. As we organized, we quickly discovered that our community needed access to quality childcare, but once that need was met, there were many other challenges that were holding community families back from being successful," Shamburg explained.The Bennington Family Center was established "to lead and support our community in building the best foundation for families by providing early childhood, school-age and adult education and access to social services that help strengthen the family unit," he said."We're working to get organized to deliver this by providing childcare, parent and guardian classes, and a home-visit program that will help new parents, but also continue to work with families to assess their needs and make connections to resources that can help their needs be met," Shamburg said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685550201204.png" alt="Image courtesy organizing committee" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy organizing committee</figcaption>
 </figure>

Family Fun Day, PRCA Rodeo set for Bennington Saturday

OTTAWA COUNTY - The Kansas Department of Transportation announced today that a resurfacing project has begun on U.S. Highway 81 in Ottawa County.

Work on nine miles of northbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of Kansas Highway 106 to approximately seven miles north of K-106, KDOT noted in a news release.

Work on approximately three miles of southbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of K-106 to approximately one mile north of K-106.

"Traffic will be reduced to one 16-foot lane at a reduced speed through the work zone. Drivers should expect minimal delays, not exceeding five minutes," KDOT noted.

The project is expected to cost $8.9 million and is scheduled to be completed in September, weather permitting. The prime contractor for the project is APAC-Kansas Inc. of Hutchinson.

"KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas, go to <a href="http://www.kandrive.org">www.kandrive.org</a> or call 5-1-1," KDOT noted.

By SALINA POSTOTTAWA COUNTY - The Kansas Department of Transportation announced today that a resurfacing project has begun on U.S. Highway 81 in Ottawa County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685551337045.png" alt="The resurfacing project on U.S. 81 northbound in Ottawa County. Maps courtesy KDOT" />
 <figcaption>The resurfacing project on U.S. 81 northbound in Ottawa County. Maps courtesy KDOT</figcaption>
 </figure>Work on nine miles of northbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of Kansas Highway 106 to approximately seven miles north of K-106, KDOT noted in a news release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685551421906.png" alt="The resurfacing project on&nbsp;U.S. 81 southbound in Ottawa County." />
 <figcaption>The resurfacing project on&nbsp;U.S. 81 southbound in Ottawa County.</figcaption>
 </figure>Work on approximately three miles of southbound U.S. 81 will be from approximately two miles south of K-106 to approximately one mile north of K-106."Traffic will be reduced to one 16-foot lane at a reduced speed through the work zone. Drivers should expect minimal delays, not exceeding five minutes," KDOT noted.The project is expected to cost $8.9 million and is scheduled to be completed in September, weather permitting. The prime contractor for the project is APAC-Kansas Inc. of Hutchinson."KDOT urges all motorists to be alert and obey the warning signs when approaching and driving through a highway work zone. To stay aware of all road construction projects across Kansas, go to <a href="http://www.kandrive.org">www.kandrive.org</a> or call 5-1-1," KDOT noted.

KDOT announces resurfacing project on US 81 in Ottawa County

A Cuba, Kan., man allegedly shut down the electricity to half of a hotel and ended up in the hospital after an incident in west Salina late Tuesday afternoon. 

Officers and EMS were dispatched to Spangles, 1720 W. Crawford Street, at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday for the report of a person who had been shocked elsewhere and was covered in burns, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.

Forrester said the man, identified as Jay Kroulik, 44, of Cuba, Kan., had walked to the Spangles parking lot seeking help after he allegedly removed a fuse from an Evergy transformer box behind Value Inn &amp; Suites, 1640 W. Crawford Street, and was shocked. The fuse was found on the ground near the transformer box.

The removal of the fuse caused electricity to go out in half of the Value Inn &amp; Suites building, Forrester said. An Evergy crew restored power to the building.

Kroulik was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with burns over approximately 30 percent of his body, Forrester said. It is believed that Kroulik was later transferred to a burn unit in Wichita, however Forrester said he did not have details about that.

Forrester said Kroulik was arrested on the following requested charges.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Cuba, Kan., man allegedly shut down the electricity to half of a hotel and ended up in the hospital after an incident in west Salina late Tuesday afternoon. Officers and EMS were dispatched to Spangles, 1720 W. Crawford Street, at approximately 5 p.m. Tuesday for the report of a person who had been shocked elsewhere and was covered in burns, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.Forrester said the man, identified as Jay Kroulik, 44, of Cuba, Kan., had walked to the Spangles parking lot seeking help after he allegedly removed a fuse from an Evergy transformer box behind Value Inn &amp; Suites, 1640 W. Crawford Street, and was shocked. The fuse was found on the ground near the transformer box.The removal of the fuse caused electricity to go out in half of the Value Inn &amp; Suites building, Forrester said. An Evergy crew restored power to the building.Kroulik was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with burns over approximately 30 percent of his body, Forrester said. It is believed that Kroulik was later transferred to a burn unit in Wichita, however Forrester said he did not have details about that.Forrester said Kroulik was arrested on the following requested charges.●Trespassing●Theft

Man receives shock when allegedly removing transformer fuse

Don't forget: The Salina Salvation Army is hosting a Community Garage Sale later this week.

The event is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 1137 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

"This is a great opportunity for you to declutter your homes and make some extra cash by selling your gently used items. It's also a chance to help The Salvation Army help the community through our various programs and activities," the Salvation Army noted in a news release.

Those wishing to sell items are asked to call 785-823-2251 to reserve a space. Each space is eight-foot by eight-foot for $20, or two spaces for $30. All participants are responsible for their own sales, the Salvation Army noted.

Food and soft drinks will be available for purchase during the event.

By SALINA POSTDon't forget: The Salina Salvation Army is hosting a Community Garage Sale later this week.The event is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Salvation Army, 1137 N. Santa Fe Avenue."This is a great opportunity for you to declutter your homes and make some extra cash by selling your gently used items. It's also a chance to help The Salvation Army help the community through our various programs and activities," the Salvation Army noted in a news release.Those wishing to sell items are asked to call 785-823-2251 to reserve a space. Each space is eight-foot by eight-foot for $20, or two spaces for $30. All participants are responsible for their own sales, the Salvation Army noted.Food and soft drinks will be available for purchase during the event.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683986768879.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Salina Salvation Army" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Salina Salvation Army</figcaption>
 </figure>

Salina Salvation Army Community Garage Sale Saturday

MARION - A small earthquake rattled part of eastern Marion County late Tuesday night.

According to the Kansas Geological Survey, a 2.4 magnitude quake struck at 10:56 p.m. Tuesday northeast of Marion near the Marion-Chase county line. The quake was centered just east of Clover Road between 220th Street and 240th Street.

By SALINA POSTMARION - A small earthquake rattled part of eastern Marion County late Tuesday night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685537535377.png" alt="The location of the 2.4 magnitude, 10:56 p.m. Tuesday Marion County&nbsp; earthquake. Map courtesy Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption>The location of the 2.4 magnitude, 10:56 p.m. Tuesday Marion County&nbsp; earthquake. Map courtesy Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Kansas Geological Survey, a 2.4 magnitude quake struck at 10:56 p.m. Tuesday northeast of Marion near the Marion-Chase county line. The quake was centered just east of Clover Road between 220th Street and 240th Street.

Small quake shakes eastern Marion County Tuesday night

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;Bennet, Taylor Brooke; 23; Salina

CHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Probation Violation

NAME:&nbsp;Fairbanks, Dusty Dale; 35; Salina

NAME:&nbsp;Gilbert, Ronmel; 44; Lindsborg

NAME:&nbsp;Heath, Brooke Leann; 33; Salina

CHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance

NAME:&nbsp;Inscho, Gage Allen; 19; Salina

Unlawful acts: vehicle registration violation

NAME:&nbsp;Pancost, Katelyn Rae; 25; Salina

CHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner

NAME:&nbsp;Woodcox, Dylan Wade; 24; no city listed

Interf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrant

Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Criminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

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/2023/5/1685536048365.jpeg" alt="Bennet, Taylor Brooke" />
 <figcaption>Bennet, Taylor Brooke</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Bennet, Taylor Brooke; 23; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED: Failure to appear <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536130158.jpeg" alt="Boland, Indy Ray" />
 <figcaption>Boland, Indy Ray</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Boland, Indy Ray; 23; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Probation Violation<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536219144.jpeg" alt="Fairbanks, Dusty Dale" />
 <figcaption>Fairbanks, Dusty Dale</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Fairbanks, Dusty Dale; 35; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Failure to appearFailure to appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536298126.jpeg" alt="Gilbert, Ronmel" />
 <figcaption>Gilbert, Ronmel</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Gilbert, Ronmel; 44; LindsborgCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Driving While SuspendedFailure to appearImproper stop lamp/turn signal<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536412252.jpeg" alt="Heath, Brooke Leann" />
 <figcaption>Heath, Brooke Leann</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Heath, Brooke Leann; 33; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Violation of protection order; Unknown circumstance<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536507092.jpeg" alt="Inscho, Gage Allen" />
 <figcaption>Inscho, Gage Allen</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Inscho, Gage Allen; 19; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Failure to appearDriving While SuspendedUnlawful acts: vehicle registration violationFailure to appear<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536581304.jpeg" alt="Pancost, Katelyn Rae" />
 <figcaption>Pancost, Katelyn Rae</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Pancost, Katelyn Rae; 25; SalinaCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685536711968.jpeg" alt="Woodcox, Dylan Wade" />
 <figcaption>Woodcox, Dylan Wade</figcaption>
 </figure>NAME:&nbsp;Woodcox, Dylan Wade; 24; no city listedCHARGES REQUESTED:&nbsp;Probation ViolationFailure to appearUse/poss drug paraphernalian/human bodyInterf w/LEO; obstr/resist/oppose felony warrantPoss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulantCriminal trespass; Remain in defiance of order by owner

Saline County Booking Activity, May 31

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher &nbsp; It seems as though the news is full of headlines about nothing but bickering at all levels of government. I don’t know about you but at times I want to send them all to their corners until they can be civil to each other. Often, I hear from people that this discord and constant fighting are why they have no confidence in our leaders, and they think our government is broken. I disagree with the notion that our government is broken. It has survived this long, and I would guess our ancestors saw this level of political bickering before. I do agree it is disheartening and downright irritating. The elected officials are in office to represent our best interests, not what many of us consider extreme political views. Do you know whose fault this is? Sure, some of the blame should be cast on the parties and elected officials but much of the blame for the disconnect between government and the people lies with us. Yes, we have only ourselves to blame if we don’t like what is going on at any level of government and it doesn't change. The only way real change can happen is if citizens become involved or engaged. That is why the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) along with diverse groups such as the Kansas League of Municipalities, Kansas Association of School Boards, and the Kansas Chamber to name just a few partners have launched Engaged Kansas. This nonpartisan effort is meant to help citizens understand how government works and how to engage or become active in local bodies. The website, www.engagedkansas.org, states right off the bat it is for “building civic minded leaders.” There are different tabs that one can use to research what involvement at different levels such as school boards, city councils or county commissions would look like and what would be involved at each level. It also has links to&nbsp;KFB’s Campaign School and the Kansas Leadership Center for more in-depth information. The website is a gateway or a starting point for those who want to make a difference and help guide how our government is run. Let’s also be honest, while Topeka and D.C. capture all the headlines, local government such as your school board and county commission have far more impact on your day-to-day life and tax bill. Local government at the most basic level is also where we can see the most change and make the most difference. Who knows, after you get your feet wet at the local level you might be ready to move up and try to effect change at a higher level. That is what we need – more citizens to take an active interest in what happens at all levels of government. Then we will start to see our elected officials have their feet held to the proverbial fire, but it all starts at the most local levels and that happens when citizens become engaged. Take an interest, get involved, after all it is a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2023 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher &nbsp; It seems as though the news is full of headlines about nothing but bickering at all levels of government. I don’t know about you but at times I want to send them all to their corners until they can be civil to each other. Often, I hear from people that this discord and constant fighting are why they have no confidence in our leaders, and they think our government is broken. I disagree with the notion that our government is broken. It has survived this long, and I would guess our ancestors saw this level of political bickering before. I do agree it is disheartening and downright irritating. The elected officials are in office to represent our best interests, not what many of us consider extreme political views. Do you know whose fault this is? Sure, some of the blame should be cast on the parties and elected officials but much of the blame for the disconnect between government and the people lies with us. Yes, we have only ourselves to blame if we don’t like what is going on at any level of government and it doesn't change. The only way real change can happen is if citizens become involved or engaged. That is why the Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB) along with diverse groups such as the Kansas League of Municipalities, Kansas Association of School Boards, and the Kansas Chamber to name just a few partners have launched Engaged Kansas. This nonpartisan effort is meant to help citizens understand how government works and how to engage or become active in local bodies. The website, www.engagedkansas.org, states right off the bat it is for “building civic minded leaders.” There are different tabs that one can use to research what involvement at different levels such as school boards, city councils or county commissions would look like and what would be involved at each level. It also has links to&nbsp;KFB’s Campaign School and the Kansas Leadership Center for more in-depth information. The website is a gateway or a starting point for those who want to make a difference and help guide how our government is run. Let’s also be honest, while Topeka and D.C. capture all the headlines, local government such as your school board and county commission have far more impact on your day-to-day life and tax bill. Local government at the most basic level is also where we can see the most change and make the most difference. Who knows, after you get your feet wet at the local level you might be ready to move up and try to effect change at a higher level. That is what we need – more citizens to take an active interest in what happens at all levels of government. Then we will start to see our elected officials have their feet held to the proverbial fire, but it all starts at the most local levels and that happens when citizens become engaged. Take an interest, get involved, after all it is a government of the people, by the people and for the people."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2023 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: Engaged Kansas

Today is Wednesday, May 31, the 151st day of 2023. There are 214 days left in the year.

On May 31, 1889, some 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, perished when the South Fork Dam collapsed, sending 20 million tons of water rushing through the town.

In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U.S. copyright act.

In 1859, the Big Ben clock tower in London went into operation, chiming for the first time.

In 1921, a race riot erupted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as white mobs began looting and leveling the affluent Black district of Greenwood over reports a Black man had assaulted a white woman in an elevator; hundreds are believed to have died.

In 1949, former State Department official and accused spy Alger Hiss went on trial in New York, charged with perjury (the jury deadlocked, but Hiss was convicted in a second trial).

In 1962, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel a few minutes before midnight for his role in the Holocaust.

In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Peru claimed an estimated 67,000 lives.

In 1977, the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, three years in the making despite objections from environmentalists and Alaska Natives, was completed. (The first oil began flowing through the pipeline 20 days later.)

In 1989, House Speaker Jim Wright, dogged by questions about his ethics, announced he would resign. (Tom Foley later succeeded him.)

In 2009, Dr. George Tiller, a rare provider of late-term abortions, was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church. (Gunman Scott Roeder was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years.) Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, died in Southampton, England at 97.

In 2014, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan, was freed by the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Bergdahl, who'd gone missing in June 2009, later pleaded guilty to endangering his comrades by walking away from his post in Afghanistan; his sentence included a dishonorable discharge, a reduction in rank and a fine, but no prison time.)

In 2019, a longtime city employee opened fire in a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, killing 12 people on three floors before police shot and killed him; officials said DeWayne Craddock had resigned by email hours before the shooting.

In 2020, tens of thousands of protesters again took to the streets across America, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings overshadowed by unrest; officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers and enacted strict curfews in major cities.

Ten years ago: A tornado in the Oklahoma City metro area claimed eight lives, including those of storm chasers Tim Samaras, his son, Paul, and Carl Young; 13 people died in flash flooding. Four firefighters searching for people in a blazing Houston motel and restaurant were killed when part of the structure collapsed. Actor Jean Stapleton, who played Archie Bunker's far better half, the sweetly naive Edith, in TV's groundbreaking 1970s comedy "All in the Family," died in New York at age 90.

Five years ago: The Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from Europe, Mexico and Canada in a move that drew immediate vows of retaliation. Western Europe got its first populist government as Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League formed a governing coalition. Comedian Samantha Bee apologized to Ivanka Trump and to her viewers for using an expletive to describe the president's daughter on Bee's TBS show "Full Frontal." President Donald Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud; Trump said D'Souza had been "treated very unfairly by our government." The Golden State Warriors won Game 1 of the NBA finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime; Cleveland's J.R. Smith inexplicably failed to take a go-ahead shot after a missed free-throw as time ran out in regulation.

One year ago: A week after a gunman ran into an Uvalde, Texas grade school and started shooting, the first of 21 funerals was held. Hundreds of mourners turned out for an afternoon Mass to remember Amerie Jo Garza, with six pallbearers carrying her small casket into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was one of 19 students killed, along with two teachers. The European Union agreed to ban the overwhelming majority of Russian oil imports after tense negotiations. The move was the most significant effort to that point to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine. K-Pop sensation BTS visited the White House to discuss combating the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans with President Biden.

Today's Birthdays: Actor-director Clint Eastwood is 93. Singer Peter Yarrow is 85. Humanitarian and author Terry Waite is 84. Singer-musician Augie Meyers is 83. Actor Sharon Gless is 80. Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath is 80. Broadcast journalist/commentator Bernard Goldberg is 78. Actor Tom Berenger is 73. Actor Gregory Harrison is 73. Actor Kyle Secor is 66. Actor Roma Maffia is 65. Actor/comedian Chris Elliott is 63. Actor Lea Thompson is 62. Singer Corey Hart is 61. Actor Hugh Dillon is 60. Rapper Darryl "DMC" McDaniels is 59. Actor Brooke Shields is 58. TV host Phil Keoghan is 56. Jazz musician Christian McBride is 51. Actor Archie Panjabi is 51. Actor Merle Dandridge (TV: "Greenleaf") is 48. Actor Colin Farrell is 47. Rock musician Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish) is 46. Actor Eric Christian Olsen is 46. Rock musician Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy) is 43. Country singer Casey James (TV: "American Idol") is 41. Actor Jonathan Tucker is 41. Rapper Waka Flocka Flame is 37. Pop singer Normani Hamilton (Fifth Harmony) is 27.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Wednesday, May 31, the 151st day of 2023. There are 214 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On May 31, 1889, some 2,200 people in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, perished when the South Fork Dam collapsed, sending 20 million tons of water rushing through the town.On this date:In 1790, President George Washington signed into law the first U.S. copyright act.In 1859, the Big Ben clock tower in London went into operation, chiming for the first time.In 1921, a race riot erupted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as white mobs began looting and leveling the affluent Black district of Greenwood over reports a Black man had assaulted a white woman in an elevator; hundreds are believed to have died.In 1949, former State Department official and accused spy Alger Hiss went on trial in New York, charged with perjury (the jury deadlocked, but Hiss was convicted in a second trial).In 1962, former Nazi official Adolf Eichmann was hanged in Israel a few minutes before midnight for his role in the Holocaust.In 1970, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake in Peru claimed an estimated 67,000 lives.In 1977, the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, three years in the making despite objections from environmentalists and Alaska Natives, was completed. (The first oil began flowing through the pipeline 20 days later.)In 1989, House Speaker Jim Wright, dogged by questions about his ethics, announced he would resign. (Tom Foley later succeeded him.)In 2009, Dr. George Tiller, a rare provider of late-term abortions, was shot and killed in a Wichita, Kansas, church. (Gunman Scott Roeder was later convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years.) Millvina Dean, the last survivor of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, died in Southampton, England at 97.In 2014, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, the only American soldier held prisoner in Afghanistan, was freed by the Taliban in exchange for five Afghan detainees from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Bergdahl, who'd gone missing in June 2009, later pleaded guilty to endangering his comrades by walking away from his post in Afghanistan; his sentence included a dishonorable discharge, a reduction in rank and a fine, but no prison time.)In 2019, a longtime city employee opened fire in a municipal building in Virginia Beach, Virginia, killing 12 people on three floors before police shot and killed him; officials said DeWayne Craddock had resigned by email hours before the shooting.In 2020, tens of thousands of protesters again took to the streets across America, with peaceful demonstrations against police killings overshadowed by unrest; officials deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers and enacted strict curfews in major cities.Ten years ago: A tornado in the Oklahoma City metro area claimed eight lives, including those of storm chasers Tim Samaras, his son, Paul, and Carl Young; 13 people died in flash flooding. Four firefighters searching for people in a blazing Houston motel and restaurant were killed when part of the structure collapsed. Actor Jean Stapleton, who played Archie Bunker's far better half, the sweetly naive Edith, in TV's groundbreaking 1970s comedy "All in the Family," died in New York at age 90.Five years ago: The Trump administration imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum from Europe, Mexico and Canada in a move that drew immediate vows of retaliation. Western Europe got its first populist government as Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League formed a governing coalition. Comedian Samantha Bee apologized to Ivanka Trump and to her viewers for using an expletive to describe the president's daughter on Bee's TBS show "Full Frontal." President Donald Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza, who had pleaded guilty to campaign finance fraud; Trump said D'Souza had been "treated very unfairly by our government." The Golden State Warriors won Game 1 of the NBA finals over the Cleveland Cavaliers in overtime; Cleveland's J.R. Smith inexplicably failed to take a go-ahead shot after a missed free-throw as time ran out in regulation.One year ago: A week after a gunman ran into an Uvalde, Texas grade school and started shooting, the first of 21 funerals was held. Hundreds of mourners turned out for an afternoon Mass to remember Amerie Jo Garza, with six pallbearers carrying her small casket into Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was one of 19 students killed, along with two teachers. The European Union agreed to ban the overwhelming majority of Russian oil imports after tense negotiations. The move was the most significant effort to that point to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine. K-Pop sensation BTS visited the White House to discuss combating the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans with President Biden.Today's Birthdays: Actor-director Clint Eastwood is 93. Singer Peter Yarrow is 85. Humanitarian and author Terry Waite is 84. Singer-musician Augie Meyers is 83. Actor Sharon Gless is 80. Football Hall of Famer Joe Namath is 80. Broadcast journalist/commentator Bernard Goldberg is 78. Actor Tom Berenger is 73. Actor Gregory Harrison is 73. Actor Kyle Secor is 66. Actor Roma Maffia is 65. Actor/comedian Chris Elliott is 63. Actor Lea Thompson is 62. Singer Corey Hart is 61. Actor Hugh Dillon is 60. Rapper Darryl "DMC" McDaniels is 59. Actor Brooke Shields is 58. TV host Phil Keoghan is 56. Jazz musician Christian McBride is 51. Actor Archie Panjabi is 51. Actor Merle Dandridge (TV: "Greenleaf") is 48. Actor Colin Farrell is 47. Rock musician Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish) is 46. Actor Eric Christian Olsen is 46. Rock musician Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy) is 43. Country singer Casey James (TV: "American Idol") is 41. Actor Jonathan Tucker is 41. Rapper Waka Flocka Flame is 37. Pop singer Normani Hamilton (Fifth Harmony) is 27.

Today in History - May 31

Job Title: Route Delivery Driver in McPherson

Load, unload, and transport products/cylinders in a safe, timely manner while adhering to assigned routes and time schedules. Successful drivers are polite and prompt with a commitment to providing our customers with an excellent experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safely Load and unload vehicle with specified products/cylinders for delivery

• Deliver products to customers while abiding by load safety, DOT and general safe driving guidelines.

• Complete the orderly product loading of vehicles which ensures the efficient use of time and scheduling of delivery routes Maintain records and logs related to deliveries and vehicle maintenance

• Obtain appropriate signatures to verify receipt of items delivered

• Follow all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations including maintaining all DOT physicals &amp; drug screens required to maintain CDL

• Operate assigned vehicle safely and efficiently

• Maintain the proper cleanliness of assigned vehicles and carefully complete pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections.

• Perform routine maintenance &amp; servicing of vehicle

• Report major repairs, service needs, incidents, or accidents to proper authorities

• Perform as back-up for other route drivers

• Assist with such other duties or responsibilities as may be assigned.

• Hazmat endorsement (or ability to obtain)

• Able to move or lift products (up to 75 lbs.) and materials of varied sizes and weights

• Knowledge of safe driving practices and traffic laws

• Clean driving record and ability to pass drug testing and background check requirements

LAMPTON&nbsp;PERKS · Full Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, STD, and LTD) · Amazing 401(k) Match · Company Profit Sharing · 100% Company Paid Uniform · Generous Christmas Bonus · Paid Holidays · Paid Time Off · Home on Nights/Weekends

<a href="http://www.lampton.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lampton.com/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678817571516.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Job Title: Route Delivery Driver in McPhersonReports to: Branch ManagerGENERAL DESCRIPTIONLoad, unload, and transport products/cylinders in a safe, timely manner while adhering to assigned routes and time schedules. Successful drivers are polite and prompt with a commitment to providing our customers with an excellent experience.ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES• Safely Load and unload vehicle with specified products/cylinders for delivery• Deliver products to customers while abiding by load safety, DOT and general safe driving guidelines.• Inventory truck in and out each day• Complete the orderly product loading of vehicles which ensures the efficient use of time and scheduling of delivery routes Maintain records and logs related to deliveries and vehicle maintenance• Obtain appropriate signatures to verify receipt of items delivered• Follow all Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations including maintaining all DOT physicals &amp; drug screens required to maintain CDL• Operate assigned vehicle safely and efficiently• Maintain the proper cleanliness of assigned vehicles and carefully complete pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections.• Perform routine maintenance &amp; servicing of vehicle• Report major repairs, service needs, incidents, or accidents to proper authorities• Perform as back-up for other route drivers• Assist with such other duties or responsibilities as may be assigned.QUALIFICATIONS• Class B CDL• Hazmat endorsement (or ability to obtain)• Able to move or lift products (up to 75 lbs.) and materials of varied sizes and weights• Knowledge of safe driving practices and traffic laws• Strong verbal communication skills• Clean driving record and ability to pass drug testing and background check requirementsLAMPTON&nbsp;PERKS · Full Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision, STD, and LTD) · Amazing 401(k) Match · Company Profit Sharing · 100% Company Paid Uniform · Generous Christmas Bonus · Paid Holidays · Paid Time Off · Home on Nights/Weekends <a href="http://www.lampton.com/" target="_blank">http://www.lampton.com/</a>

Consumer Alert: Spotting the Medicaid scams

Maintenance and operations positions will be the focus of the next USD 305 Mini Job Fair.

According to information from the district, the Mini Job Fair will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in the conference room of the ditrict Operations Center, 1835 S. Broadway. 

According to information from USD 305, maintenance and operations supervisors will be available "to discuss a range of employment opportunities – whether you're looking for part-time, full-time, seasonal or year-round positions."

Additionally, a benefits package includes medical, dental, life insurance and disability, as well as paid leave plans, the district noted.

By SALINA POSTMaintenance and operations positions will be the focus of the next USD 305 Mini Job Fair.According to information from the district, the Mini Job Fair will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday in the conference room of the ditrict Operations Center, 1835 S. Broadway. According to information from USD 305, maintenance and operations supervisors will be available "to discuss a range of employment opportunities – whether you're looking for part-time, full-time, seasonal or year-round positions."Additionally, a benefits package includes medical, dental, life insurance and disability, as well as paid leave plans, the district noted.

Salina Public Schools to host Mini Job Fair on Friday

LINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conferred a record 3,753 degrees during commencement exercises May 19 and 20.

The 3,669 graduates are from 59 countries; 47 states, the District of Columbia and Guam; and more than 240 Nebraska communities.

The Bob Devaney Sports Center hosted a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees May 19; Memorial Stadium hosted a ceremony for undergraduates May 20; and the Lied Center for Performing Arts hosted a ceremony for law graduates May 20.

University of Nebraska-LincolnLINCOLN, Neb. - The University of Nebraska-Lincoln conferred a record 3,753 degrees during commencement exercises May 19 and 20.The 3,669 graduates are from 59 countries; 47 states, the District of Columbia and Guam; and more than 240 Nebraska communities.The Bob Devaney Sports Center hosted a ceremony for students earning graduate and professional degrees May 19; Memorial Stadium hosted a ceremony for undergraduates May 20; and the Lied Center for Performing Arts hosted a ceremony for law graduates May 20.Chancellor Ronnie Green, who plans to retire at the end of June, delivered the keynote addresses during the graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies. JoAnn Martin, former CEO of Ameritas and longtime university supporter, posthumously received the 2023 Nebraska Builder Award during the undergraduate ceremony. Bob Kerrey, former Nebraska governor and former U.S. senator for Nebraska, received an honorary Doctor of Law during the ceremony. Nebraska Supreme Court Justice Stephanie F. Stacy spoke to the law graduates.Following is a list of area graduates, listed alphabetically by hometown, with their college(s) and degree(s).Clay Center: Charlotte Claire Straley, College of Business, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.Salina: Alisa Holst, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology with high distinction.For the full list of May graduates, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/32IxTgwFGaalFTsuZasCITgFSes8EfAJApgMpp-swRrpJDMpmi5lAxT1Jf79_G7Q/3we/KtTO6MZKSJe4GEu3W_e0Wg/h0/dkj8lXiKjkVWuBX1sUzWem2x39gm5SbrFQO4wDXL9wA" target="_blank">https://go.unl.edu/grads-may23</a>.