Strong south winds will are likely along and east of the KS Turnpike through late evening. Strongest winds will be across southeast KS where gusts up to 50 mph will be possible.

In the Salina area, maximum wind gusts are expected to be around 30 mph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672236451266.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceStrong south winds will are likely along and east of the KS Turnpike through late evening. Strongest winds will be across southeast KS where gusts up to 50 mph will be possible.In the Salina area, maximum wind gusts are expected to be around 30 mph.

Windy Wednesday: Gusts to around 30 in Salina area

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie&nbsp;County farmer and rancher We are on the verge of welcoming a new year in. I don’t know about you, but I will not be sad to see 2022 in the rearview mirror. Any way you cut it, this year was tough whether it was the economy or the weather. In many ways 2023 can only get better. Our sense of optimism is one of the best qualities of agriculture. Each year is a blank slate, a new beginning with endless possibilities. It doesn’t matter how bad the last year might have been, this next one is our year. It is because we are in the business of nurturing new life each year. If we plant crops, we put seed in the ground with the hope rains will come, the sun will shine and the new growth will break through the soil. We count on two things that we cannot control, rain and sunshine. Yet each year we place a small seed in the soil and hope it will sprout, grow and produce grain. If that does not take faith, hope and optimism, I don’t know what does. If we raise livestock of any species, most of us are responsible for bringing new life into this world. Very little creates more wonder for me than to watch a newborn lamb or calf come into this world. I don’t care how many times I witness the miracle of life; it will never get old. The planning and preparation for that moment was months or even years in the making. All the work, all the waiting is worth it in those first few moments. A sense of optimism and hope abounds with all livestock producers this time of the year. Hope and optimism are inherent to farming and ranching, it is the one thing we all have to have. We approach each year knowing we need to feed a hungry world and to do that we need to have help. There is so much of agriculture that we cannot control, and that makes faith in the future so important. We plan and work hard to do all we can, but in the end our livelihood comes down to what Mother Nature decides to do. To keep going each year requires a resolve few others understand. That optimism for the future is what keeps each of us going through the bad years and disappointments. It is what makes us so special and why we are the backbone of society. No matter the situation, no matter how bad things might get, we move forward with eternal hope and the knowledge things will get better. I hope that this year will send rains at the right time and sunshine when we need it. I hope the crops are bin busters and your livestock are sleek and fat. Most of all I hope the upcoming year is a good one. May 2023 bring the best for you with hope that 2024 is even better.

"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 © 2022 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&nbsp;County farmer and rancher We are on the verge of welcoming a new year in. I don’t know about you, but I will not be sad to see 2022 in the rearview mirror. Any way you cut it, this year was tough whether it was the economy or the weather. In many ways 2023 can only get better. Our sense of optimism is one of the best qualities of agriculture. Each year is a blank slate, a new beginning with endless possibilities. It doesn’t matter how bad the last year might have been, this next one is our year. It is because we are in the business of nurturing new life each year. If we plant crops, we put seed in the ground with the hope rains will come, the sun will shine and the new growth will break through the soil. We count on two things that we cannot control, rain and sunshine. Yet each year we place a small seed in the soil and hope it will sprout, grow and produce grain. If that does not take faith, hope and optimism, I don’t know what does. If we raise livestock of any species, most of us are responsible for bringing new life into this world. Very little creates more wonder for me than to watch a newborn lamb or calf come into this world. I don’t care how many times I witness the miracle of life; it will never get old. The planning and preparation for that moment was months or even years in the making. All the work, all the waiting is worth it in those first few moments. A sense of optimism and hope abounds with all livestock producers this time of the year. Hope and optimism are inherent to farming and ranching, it is the one thing we all have to have. We approach each year knowing we need to feed a hungry world and to do that we need to have help. There is so much of agriculture that we cannot control, and that makes faith in the future so important. We plan and work hard to do all we can, but in the end our livelihood comes down to what Mother Nature decides to do. To keep going each year requires a resolve few others understand. That optimism for the future is what keeps each of us going through the bad years and disappointments. It is what makes us so special and why we are the backbone of society. No matter the situation, no matter how bad things might get, we move forward with eternal hope and the knowledge things will get better. I hope that this year will send rains at the right time and sunshine when we need it. I hope the crops are bin busters and your livestock are sleek and fat. Most of all I hope the upcoming year is a good one. May 2023 bring the best for you with hope that 2024 is even better."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 © 2022 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: Here's to the new year

Today is Wednesday, Dec. 28, the 362nd day of 2022. There are three days left in the year.

On Dec. 28, 2014, the war in Afghanistan, fought for 13 bloody years and still raging, came to a formal end with a quiet flag-lowering ceremony in Kabul that marked the transition of the fighting from U.S.-led combat troops to the country's own security forces.

In 1612, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei observed the planet Neptune, but mistook it for a star. (Neptune wasn't officially discovered until 1846 by Johann Gottfried Galle.)

In 1895, the Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the first public showing of their movies in Paris.

In 1908, a major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian city of Messina, killing at least 70,000 people.

In 1912, San Francisco's Municipal Railway began operations with Mayor James Rolph Jr. at the controls of Streetcar No. 1 as 50,000 spectators looked on.

In 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.

In 1972, Kim Il Sung, the premier of North Korea, was named the country's president under a new constitution.

In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon.

In 1981, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American "test-tube" baby, was born in Norfolk, Virginia.

In 1991, nine people died in a crush of people trying to get into a rap celebrity basketball game at City College in New York.

In 2007, Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest as the country's army tried to quell a frenzy of rioting in the wake of her assassination.

In 2015, a grand jury in Cleveland declined to indict a white rookie police officer in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a Black youngster who was shot while playing with what turned out to be a pellet gun.

In 2016, film star Debbie Reynolds, who lit up the screen in "Singin' in the Rain" and other Hollywood classics, died at age 84 a day after losing her daughter, Carrie Fisher, who was 60.

Ten years ago: Dockworkers along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico agreed to extend their contract for more than a month, averting a strike that could have crippled major ports from Boston to Houston and bottled up billions of dollars' worth of cargo. (A new contract was ratified in April 2013.) Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

Five years ago: Twelve people died in a Bronx apartment building fire; officials said it was caused by a 3-year-old boy playing with stove burners. (A 13th victim died of his injuries days later.) Officials in Alabama certified Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of a special U.S. Senate election over Republican Roy Moore, who charged that the election was "fraudulent." Rose Marie, who began her career in show business as a child in the 1920s and co-starred on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" in the 1960s, died at her Los Angeles-area home at the age of 94. Apple apologized for secretly slowing down older iPhones, a move it said was necessary to avoid unexpected shutdowns due to battery fatigue.

One year ago: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid died at his Nevada home of complications from pancreatic cancer; the Democrat was 82. Hall of Fame football coach and broadcaster John Madden died at 85; his exuberant calls had provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Dame Maggie Smith is 88. Former Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota is 76. Rock singer-musician Edgar Winter is 76. Actor Denzel Washington is 68. TV personality Gayle King is 68. Actor Chad McQueen is 62. Country singer-musician Marty Roe (Diamond Rio) is 62. Actor Malcolm Gets is 59. Actor Mauricio Mendoza is 53. Actor Elaine Hendrix is 52. Political commentator Ana Navarro is 51. Talk show host Seth Meyers is 49. Actor Brendan Hines is 46. Actor Joe Manganiello is 46. Actor Vanessa Ferlito is 45. R&amp;B singer John Legend is 44. Rapper-musician-producer Terrace Martin is 44. Actor Andre Holland is 43. Actor Sienna Miller is 41. Actor Beau Garrett (TV: "The Good Doctor") is 40. Actor Thomas Dekker is 35. Actor Mackenzie Rosman is 33. Pop singer David Archuleta is 32. Actor Mary-Charles Jones (TV: "Kevin Can Wait") is 21. Actor Miles Brown is 18.

<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, Dec. 28, the 362nd day of 2022. There are three days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 28, 2014, the war in Afghanistan, fought for 13 bloody years and still raging, came to a formal end with a quiet flag-lowering ceremony in Kabul that marked the transition of the fighting from U.S.-led combat troops to the country's own security forces.On this date:In 1612, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei observed the planet Neptune, but mistook it for a star. (Neptune wasn't officially discovered until 1846 by Johann Gottfried Galle.)In 1895, the Lumiere brothers, Auguste and Louis, held the first public showing of their movies in Paris.In 1908, a major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian city of Messina, killing at least 70,000 people.In 1912, San Francisco's Municipal Railway began operations with Mayor James Rolph Jr. at the controls of Streetcar No. 1 as 50,000 spectators looked on.In 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.In 1972, Kim Il Sung, the premier of North Korea, was named the country's president under a new constitution.In 1973, the Endangered Species Act was signed into law by President Richard Nixon.In 1981, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, the first American "test-tube" baby, was born in Norfolk, Virginia.In 1991, nine people died in a crush of people trying to get into a rap celebrity basketball game at City College in New York.In 2007, Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was laid to rest as the country's army tried to quell a frenzy of rioting in the wake of her assassination.In 2015, a grand jury in Cleveland declined to indict a white rookie police officer in the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice, a Black youngster who was shot while playing with what turned out to be a pellet gun.In 2016, film star Debbie Reynolds, who lit up the screen in "Singin' in the Rain" and other Hollywood classics, died at age 84 a day after losing her daughter, Carrie Fisher, who was 60.Ten years ago: Dockworkers along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico agreed to extend their contract for more than a month, averting a strike that could have crippled major ports from Boston to Houston and bottled up billions of dollars' worth of cargo. (A new contract was ratified in April 2013.) Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a law banning Americans from adopting Russian children.Five years ago: Twelve people died in a Bronx apartment building fire; officials said it was caused by a 3-year-old boy playing with stove burners. (A 13th victim died of his injuries days later.) Officials in Alabama certified Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of a special U.S. Senate election over Republican Roy Moore, who charged that the election was "fraudulent." Rose Marie, who began her career in show business as a child in the 1920s and co-starred on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" in the 1960s, died at her Los Angeles-area home at the age of 94. Apple apologized for secretly slowing down older iPhones, a move it said was necessary to avoid unexpected shutdowns due to battery fatigue.One year ago: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid died at his Nevada home of complications from pancreatic cancer; the Democrat was 82. Hall of Fame football coach and broadcaster John Madden died at 85; his exuberant calls had provided a weekly soundtrack to NFL games for three decades. Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was named the Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.Today's Birthdays: Actor Dame Maggie Smith is 88. Former Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota is 76. Rock singer-musician Edgar Winter is 76. Actor Denzel Washington is 68. TV personality Gayle King is 68. Actor Chad McQueen is 62. Country singer-musician Marty Roe (Diamond Rio) is 62. Actor Malcolm Gets is 59. Actor Mauricio Mendoza is 53. Actor Elaine Hendrix is 52. Political commentator Ana Navarro is 51. Talk show host Seth Meyers is 49. Actor Brendan Hines is 46. Actor Joe Manganiello is 46. Actor Vanessa Ferlito is 45. R&amp;B singer John Legend is 44. Rapper-musician-producer Terrace Martin is 44. Actor Andre Holland is 43. Actor Sienna Miller is 41. Actor Beau Garrett (TV: "The Good Doctor") is 40. Actor Thomas Dekker is 35. Actor Mackenzie Rosman is 33. Pop singer David Archuleta is 32. Actor Mary-Charles Jones (TV: "Kevin Can Wait") is 21. Actor Miles Brown is 18.

Today in History - December 28

UPDATE 12:55 p.m. Tuesday: Southbound Interstate 135 south of Salina has been reopened, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a>.

If you are planning to travel on southbound Interstate 135, be aware that traffic is being detoured in southern Saline County due to a cattle truck rollover.

According to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a>, southbound I-135 is closed near milepost 86 because of the rollover and is expected to be closed for several hours.

Traffic is being diverted onto W. Water Well Road.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol was assisting with the cattle roundup.

Salina Post will have more when information becomes available.

UPDATE 12:55 p.m. Tuesday: Southbound Interstate 135 south of Salina has been reopened, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672151431489.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; Photo courtesy the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a>" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Photo courtesy the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTIf you are planning to travel on southbound Interstate 135, be aware that traffic is being detoured in southern Saline County due to a cattle truck rollover.According to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KHPTroopC">Kansas Highway Patrol Troop C Facebook page</a>, southbound I-135 is closed near milepost 86 because of the rollover and is expected to be closed for several hours.Traffic is being diverted onto W. Water Well Road.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that the Saline County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol was assisting with the cattle roundup.Salina Post will have more when information becomes available.

UPDATE: KHP reopens southbound I-135 after cattle truck rollover

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

In addition to working three injury accidents Sunday night into Monday morning, Saline County Sheriff's Office personnel also worked multiple weather-related non-injury accidents.

Those accidents are as follows, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

6:35 p.m. at milepost 261 on Interstate 70 A vehicle slid off the road and struck a barbed wire fence.

6:47 p.m. at milepost 261 on I-70 A vehicle was eastbound when another vehicle changed lanes and slowed down in front of it. The driver of trailing vehicle tapped his breaks but ended up hitting the lead vehicle. Both went into the median.

11:37 p.m. at milepost 263 on I-70 An eastbound tractor-trailer rig lost control and jackknifed in the ditch.

2:12 a.m. at milepost 263 on I-70 An eastbound motorhome was struck by a tractor-trailer rig. The tractor-trailer rig jackknifed and went into the ditch.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostIn addition to working three injury accidents Sunday night into Monday morning, Saline County Sheriff's Office personnel also worked multiple weather-related non-injury accidents.Those accidents are as follows, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.Sunday6:35 p.m. at milepost 261 on Interstate 70 A vehicle slid off the road and struck a barbed wire fence.6:47 p.m. at milepost 261 on I-70 A vehicle was eastbound when another vehicle changed lanes and slowed down in front of it. The driver of trailing vehicle tapped his breaks but ended up hitting the lead vehicle. Both went into the median.11:37 p.m. at milepost 263 on I-70 An eastbound tractor-trailer rig lost control and jackknifed in the ditch.Monday2:12 a.m. at milepost 263 on I-70 An eastbound motorhome was struck by a tractor-trailer rig. The tractor-trailer rig jackknifed and went into the ditch.

Saline County Sheriff's personnel also work multiple non-injury wrecks

A Salina man was injured when a garbage truck he was driving spun out of control and rolled into the median on Interstate 70 northeast of Salina early Monday morning.

Taylor Redmond, 27, of Salina, was eastbound on I-70 in a green Peterbilt Waste Connections garbage truck when he lost control of the vehicle at approximately 2:25 a.m. Monday near milepost 263, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. The truck spun 180 degrees and entered the median before rolling onto the passenger side.

Redmond was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with a possible broken wrist, Soldan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672163376213.jpeg" alt="This Waste Connections garbage truck spun on an icy I-70 before rolling in the median early Monday. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>This Waste Connections garbage truck spun on an icy I-70 before rolling in the median early Monday. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA Salina man was injured when a garbage truck he was driving spun out of control and rolled into the median on Interstate 70 northeast of Salina early Monday morning.Taylor Redmond, 27, of Salina, was eastbound on I-70 in a green Peterbilt Waste Connections garbage truck when he lost control of the vehicle at approximately 2:25 a.m. Monday near milepost 263, Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning. The truck spun 180 degrees and entered the median before rolling onto the passenger side.Redmond was transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center with a possible broken wrist, Soldan said.

Garbage truck spins, rolls on I-70 early Monday; Salina man injured

ASSARIA - A McPherson teen was trapped in a minivan after it slid across an icy Interstate 135 Sunday night and crashed into a signpost south of Salina.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that Logan Vessar, 22, of Idaho, was northbound on I-135 near the Assaria exit at milepost 82 when he lost control of the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan he was driving. The minivan went into the median, crossed the southbound lanes, and struck an interstate signpost.

The accident occurred at approximately 8:05 p.m. Sunday.

A passenger in the minivan, Brianna Leon, 19, McPherson, was trapped in the vehicle, Soldan said. She was extricated from the minivan and transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672161602605.jpeg" alt="A McPherson teen had to be extricated from this minivan after it slid off I-135 Sunday night and struck a signpost. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>A McPherson teen had to be extricated from this minivan after it slid off I-135 Sunday night and struck a signpost. Photos courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostASSARIA - A McPherson teen was trapped in a minivan after it slid across an icy Interstate 135 Sunday night and crashed into a signpost south of Salina.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that Logan Vessar, 22, of Idaho, was northbound on I-135 near the Assaria exit at milepost 82 when he lost control of the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country minivan he was driving. The minivan went into the median, crossed the southbound lanes, and struck an interstate signpost.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672161771244.jpeg" alt="The minivan came to rest after striking this signpost." />
 <figcaption>The minivan came to rest after striking this signpost.</figcaption>
 </figure>The accident occurred at approximately 8:05 p.m. Sunday.A passenger in the minivan, Brianna Leon, 19, McPherson, was trapped in the vehicle, Soldan said. She was extricated from the minivan and transported by EMS to Salina Regional Health Center, he said.

Minivan hits ice, slides off I-135 Sunday night; McPherson teen hurt

Russell County USD 407 is seeking applicants for treasurer. &nbsp;

Must have Associate of Science in accounting or finance; 5 years of financial management, supervises accounting operations, accounts payable and budget. &nbsp;

For more information or to apply, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd407.org/">www.usd407.org</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671029274787.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Russell County USD 407 is seeking applicants for treasurer. &nbsp;Must have Associate of Science in accounting or finance; 5 years of financial management, supervises accounting operations, accounts payable and budget. &nbsp;For more information or to apply, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.usd407.org/">www.usd407.org</a>

Jeep slides off I-70 Sunday night; Enterprise woman injured

LINDSBORG - A milestone is on the horizon for the Old Mill in Lindsborg in 2023.

"As the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum comes into view, 1898 is big and bold on the side of Smoky Valley Roller Mills. Do a bit of math, and you’ll discover an amazing milestone. The Old Mill turns 125 years old in 2023!" the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau noted in a release.

Known as the only fully restored and operational roller mill in the United States, the mill is part of the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum at 120 E. Mill Street, and staff have been planning multiple ways to celebrate.

One focus will be Millfest on May 6, when visitors will be able to see the original machinery running. There also are plans for "a special birthday party event," according to the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau.

"Collectible items for the anniversary are also coming – including a custom wood ornament (planned for a 'Christmas in July' release) and a commemorative coffee table book," the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau reported.

Community members also are asked to share with museum staff their memories and stories of the mill, as well as photos, videos, and memorabilia of the mill to be used in celebrations and publications. Email the museum staff at <a href="mailto:info@oldmillmuseum.org">info@oldmillmuseum.org</a> or stop by the facility at 120 E. Mill Street, and visit with the staff in person.

In addition to the Old Mill's historic milestone, the museum staff has another reason to celebrate. Staff recently announced that thanks to "74 distinct gifts from individuals, families, and organizations, museum supporters have successfully met the $50,000 Match Challenge!"

Because of the success of the match challenge, the original donor has added a $5,000 Stretch Challenge.

"Focusing specifically on encouraging additional museum memberships before the end of 2022, the Stretch Challenge will match 1 to 1 all new and renewing individual and family memberships made by the end of business on Dec. 31, effectively doubling the value of each membership to the museum," staff noted in a news release.

Museum memberships can be purchased online at <a href="http://www.oldmillmuseum.org/members">oldmillmuseum.org/members</a> or by calling 785-227-3595 Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1635994805108.jpeg" alt="Part of the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum in Lindsborg. Photos courtesy the museum" />
 <figcaption>Part of the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum in Lindsborg. Photos courtesy the museum</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTLINDSBORG - A milestone is on the horizon for the Old Mill in Lindsborg in 2023."As the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum comes into view, 1898 is big and bold on the side of Smoky Valley Roller Mills. Do a bit of math, and you’ll discover an amazing milestone. The Old Mill turns 125 years old in 2023!" the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau noted in a release.Known as the only fully restored and operational roller mill in the United States, the mill is part of the Lindsborg Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum at 120 E. Mill Street, and staff have been planning multiple ways to celebrate.One focus will be Millfest on May 6, when visitors will be able to see the original machinery running. There also are plans for "a special birthday party event," according to the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau."Collectible items for the anniversary are also coming – including a custom wood ornament (planned for a 'Christmas in July' release) and a commemorative coffee table book," the Lindsborg Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau reported.Community members also are asked to share with museum staff their memories and stories of the mill, as well as photos, videos, and memorabilia of the mill to be used in celebrations and publications. Email the museum staff at <a href="mailto:info@oldmillmuseum.org">info@oldmillmuseum.org</a> or stop by the facility at 120 E. Mill Street, and visit with the staff in person.In addition to the Old Mill's historic milestone, the museum staff has another reason to celebrate. Staff recently announced that thanks to "74 distinct gifts from individuals, families, and organizations, museum supporters have successfully met the $50,000 Match Challenge!"Because of the success of the match challenge, the original donor has added a $5,000 Stretch Challenge."Focusing specifically on encouraging additional museum memberships before the end of 2022, the Stretch Challenge will match 1 to 1 all new and renewing individual and family memberships made by the end of business on Dec. 31, effectively doubling the value of each membership to the museum," staff noted in a news release.Museum memberships can be purchased online at <a href="http://www.oldmillmuseum.org/members">oldmillmuseum.org/members</a> or by calling 785-227-3595 Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Old Mill to celebrate 125th; successful Match Challenge prompts Stretch Challenge

Today is Tuesday, Dec. 27, the 361st day of 2022. There are four days left in the year.

On Dec. 27, 1979, Soviet forces seized control of Afghanistan. President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and executed, was replaced by Babrak Karmal.

In 1822, scientist Louis Pasteur was born in Dole, France.

In 1831, naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a round-the-world voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.

In 1904, James Barrie's play "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" opened at the Duke of York's Theater in London.

In 1932, New York City's Radio City Music Hall first opened.

In 1945, 28 nations signed an agreement creating the World Bank.

In 1958, American physicist James Van Allen reported the discovery of a second radiation belt around Earth, in addition to one found earlier in the year.

In 1985, Palestinian gunmen opened fire inside the Rome and Vienna airports in terrorist attacks that killed 19 people; four attackers were slain by police and security personnel. American naturalist Dian Fossey, 53, who had studied gorillas in the wild in Rwanda, was found hacked to death.

In 1995, Israeli jeeps sped out of the West Bank town of Ramallah, capping a seven-week pullout giving Yasser Arafat control over 90 percent of the West Bank's 1 million Palestinian residents and one-third of its land.

In 1999, space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew returned to Earth after fixing the Hubble Space Telescope.

In 2001, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners would be held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

In 2002, a defiant North Korea ordered U.N. nuclear inspectors to leave the country and said it would restart a laboratory capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons; the U.N. nuclear watchdog said its inspectors were "staying put" for the time being.

In 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, accompanied by President Barack Obama, visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where he offered his "sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives" in Japan's 1941 attack; Abe did not apologize, but conceded his country "must never repeat the horrors of war again." Actor Carrie Fisher died in a hospital four days after suffering a medical emergency aboard a flight to Los Angeles; she was 60.

Ten years ago: An Indian-born man, Sunando Sen, was shoved to his death from a New York City subway platform; suspect Erika Menendez later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. (Authorities say Menendez pushed Sen because she thought he was Muslim; Sen was Hindu.) Retired Army general Norman Schwarzkopf, 78, died in Tampa, Florida.

Five years ago: Freezing temperatures and below-zero wind chills socked much of the northern United States. Houston Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve was named AP Male Athlete of the Year after leading the team to its first World Series title. A power outage struck parts of Disneyland in California, forcing some guests to be escorted from stalled rides.

One year ago: U.S. health officials cut isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans infected with the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts needed to quarantine; officials said the guidance was in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus were most infectious in the two days before and the three days after symptoms developed. Defense officials said a U.S. Navy warship, the USS Milwaukee, remained in port in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with about two dozen sailors – or nearly a quarter of its crew – testing positive for COVID-19.

Today's Birthdays: Actor John Amos is 83. Rock musician Mick Jones (Foreigner) is 78. Actor Gerard Depardieu is 74. Jazz singer-musician T.S. Monk is 73. Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff is 71. Rock musician David Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 70. Actor Tovah Feldshuh is 69. Journalist-turned-politician Arthur Kent is 69. Actor Maryam D'Abo is 62. Actor Ian Gomez is 58. Actor Theresa Randle is 58. Actor Eva LaRue is 56. Wrestler and actor Bill Goldberg is 56. Bluegrass singer-musician Darrin Vincent (Dailey &amp; Vincent) is 53. Rock musician Guthrie Govan is 51. Musician Matt Slocum is 50. Actor Wilson Cruz is 49. Actor Masi Oka is 48. Actor Aaron Stanford is 46. Actor Emilie de Ravin is 41. Actor Jay Ellis is 41. Christian rock musician James Mead (Kutless) is 40. Rock singer Hayley Williams (Paramore) is 34. Country singer Shay Mooney (Dan &amp; Shay) is 31. Actor Timothee Chalamet 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 Tuesday, Dec. 27, the 361st day of 2022. There are four days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 27, 1979, Soviet forces seized control of Afghanistan. President Hafizullah Amin, who was overthrown and executed, was replaced by Babrak Karmal.On this date:In 1822, scientist Louis Pasteur was born in Dole, France.In 1831, naturalist Charles Darwin set out on a round-the-world voyage aboard the HMS Beagle.In 1904, James Barrie's play "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up" opened at the Duke of York's Theater in London.In 1932, New York City's Radio City Music Hall first opened.In 1945, 28 nations signed an agreement creating the World Bank.In 1958, American physicist James Van Allen reported the discovery of a second radiation belt around Earth, in addition to one found earlier in the year.In 1985, Palestinian gunmen opened fire inside the Rome and Vienna airports in terrorist attacks that killed 19 people; four attackers were slain by police and security personnel. American naturalist Dian Fossey, 53, who had studied gorillas in the wild in Rwanda, was found hacked to death.In 1995, Israeli jeeps sped out of the West Bank town of Ramallah, capping a seven-week pullout giving Yasser Arafat control over 90 percent of the West Bank's 1 million Palestinian residents and one-third of its land.In 1999, space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew returned to Earth after fixing the Hubble Space Telescope.In 2001, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld announced that Taliban and al-Qaida prisoners would be held at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.In 2002, a defiant North Korea ordered U.N. nuclear inspectors to leave the country and said it would restart a laboratory capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons; the U.N. nuclear watchdog said its inspectors were "staying put" for the time being.In 2016, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, accompanied by President Barack Obama, visited Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, where he offered his "sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives" in Japan's 1941 attack; Abe did not apologize, but conceded his country "must never repeat the horrors of war again." Actor Carrie Fisher died in a hospital four days after suffering a medical emergency aboard a flight to Los Angeles; she was 60.Ten years ago: An Indian-born man, Sunando Sen, was shoved to his death from a New York City subway platform; suspect Erika Menendez later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 24 years in prison. (Authorities say Menendez pushed Sen because she thought he was Muslim; Sen was Hindu.) Retired Army general Norman Schwarzkopf, 78, died in Tampa, Florida.Five years ago: Freezing temperatures and below-zero wind chills socked much of the northern United States. Houston Astros star second baseman Jose Altuve was named AP Male Athlete of the Year after leading the team to its first World Series title. A power outage struck parts of Disneyland in California, forcing some guests to be escorted from stalled rides.One year ago: U.S. health officials cut isolation restrictions for asymptomatic Americans infected with the coronavirus from 10 to five days, and similarly shortened the time that close contacts needed to quarantine; officials said the guidance was in keeping with growing evidence that people with the coronavirus were most infectious in the two days before and the three days after symptoms developed. Defense officials said a U.S. Navy warship, the USS Milwaukee, remained in port in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with about two dozen sailors – or nearly a quarter of its crew – testing positive for COVID-19.Today's Birthdays: Actor John Amos is 83. Rock musician Mick Jones (Foreigner) is 78. Actor Gerard Depardieu is 74. Jazz singer-musician T.S. Monk is 73. Singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff is 71. Rock musician David Knopfler (Dire Straits) is 70. Actor Tovah Feldshuh is 69. Journalist-turned-politician Arthur Kent is 69. Actor Maryam D'Abo is 62. Actor Ian Gomez is 58. Actor Theresa Randle is 58. Actor Eva LaRue is 56. Wrestler and actor Bill Goldberg is 56. Bluegrass singer-musician Darrin Vincent (Dailey &amp; Vincent) is 53. Rock musician Guthrie Govan is 51. Musician Matt Slocum is 50. Actor Wilson Cruz is 49. Actor Masi Oka is 48. Actor Aaron Stanford is 46. Actor Emilie de Ravin is 41. Actor Jay Ellis is 41. Christian rock musician James Mead (Kutless) is 40. Rock singer Hayley Williams (Paramore) is 34. Country singer Shay Mooney (Dan &amp; Shay) is 31. Actor Timothee Chalamet is 27.

Today in History - December 27

Cloud County Community College will be offering adult education and GED classes in January in Concordia and Junction City.

The Adult Education program at CCCC offers an adult learning atmosphere to gain skills necessary for success at home and in the workplace. The classes are open to individuals 16 and older who are not enrolled in school. Basic skills and diploma preparation classes are offered afternoons and evenings in Concordia, and mornings, afternoons, and evenings in Junction City to accommodate working adults’ schedules. Classes are small with both classroom and computer instruction.

Those who attend can also improve on basic skills in everyday reading, math and English, as well as learn employability skills while earning WorkReady Credentials. Computer skills are also a part of the courses, where students can gain basic Microsoft Word and Internet skills, and also earn technology certificates.

GED test preparation instruction is also available at both locations. The centers are located at CCCC’s Concordia campus and at the Geary County campus in Junction. All students must attend orientation before enrolling in classes. Students are to call for an orientation appointment. For both locations, orientation appointments can be made for January 10 and 11. Registration for orientation is due by Jan. 9. The first day of classes at both locations is Jan. 17.

All classes are limited in size. For more information or to register for orientation in Concordia or Junction City, contact Debbie Kearn, ABE/GED Director, Cloud County Community College at (785) 243-1435, ext. 335 or (800) 729-5101, ext. 335.

CCCCCloud County Community College will be offering adult education and GED classes in January in Concordia and Junction City.The Adult Education program at CCCC offers an adult learning atmosphere to gain skills necessary for success at home and in the workplace. The classes are open to individuals 16 and older who are not enrolled in school. Basic skills and diploma preparation classes are offered afternoons and evenings in Concordia, and mornings, afternoons, and evenings in Junction City to accommodate working adults’ schedules. Classes are small with both classroom and computer instruction.Those who attend can also improve on basic skills in everyday reading, math and English, as well as learn employability skills while earning WorkReady Credentials. Computer skills are also a part of the courses, where students can gain basic Microsoft Word and Internet skills, and also earn technology certificates.GED test preparation instruction is also available at both locations. The centers are located at CCCC’s Concordia campus and at the Geary County campus in Junction. All students must attend orientation before enrolling in classes. Students are to call for an orientation appointment. For both locations, orientation appointments can be made for January 10 and 11. Registration for orientation is due by Jan. 9. The first day of classes at both locations is Jan. 17.All classes are limited in size. For more information or to register for orientation in Concordia or Junction City, contact Debbie Kearn, ABE/GED Director, Cloud County Community College at (785) 243-1435, ext. 335 or (800) 729-5101, ext. 335.

CCCC offering GED classes in Concordia, Junction City

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science – announced more than $13 million in new funding for Kansas law enforcement in the FY2023 Appropriations Package.

“Our Kansas law enforcement officers need the best tools and training to be able to do their jobs and keep their communities safe,”&nbsp;said Moran. “I appreciate the county sheriffs, chiefs of police, state troopers and officers who speak with me frequently about what their departments are facing on a daily basis and inform me of the resources they need to be successful. These conversations help inform my work in advocating for federal resources for our men and women in blue. I stand with our law enforcement and am proud to support these federal resources for our law enforcement.”

Kansas Law Enforcement Receiving Federal Resources:

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.) – the lead Republican on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science – announced more than $13 million in new funding for Kansas law enforcement in the FY2023 Appropriations Package.“Our Kansas law enforcement officers need the best tools and training to be able to do their jobs and keep their communities safe,”&nbsp;said Moran. “I appreciate the county sheriffs, chiefs of police, state troopers and officers who speak with me frequently about what their departments are facing on a daily basis and inform me of the resources they need to be successful. These conversations help inform my work in advocating for federal resources for our men and women in blue. I stand with our law enforcement and am proud to support these federal resources for our law enforcement.”Kansas Law Enforcement Receiving Federal Resources:Allen County Sheriff’s OfficeAndover Police DepartmentColwich Police DepartmentDerby Police DepartmentDodge City Police DepartmentEdwards County Sheriff’s OfficeEllis County Sheriff’s OfficeGreat Bend Police DepartmentHays Police DepartmentHugoton Police DepartmentHutchinson Police DepartmentIndependence Police DepartmentJefferson County Sheriff’s OfficeJunction City Police DepartmentKansas City, Kansas Police DepartmentLenexa Police DepartmentLeavenworth CountyMorton County Sheriff’s OfficeOlathe Police DepartmentPrairie Village Police DepartmentRooks County Sheriff’s OfficeRussell Police DepartmentSalina Police DepartmentSaline County Sheriff’s OfficeSeward County Sheriff’s OfficeShawnee County Sheriff’s OfficeShawnee Police DepartmentTopeka Police DepartmentWabaunsee County Sheriff’s OfficeWallace County Sheriff’s OfficeWichita Police Department

Moran: Local law enforcement among funding recipients

UPDATE 4:45 a.m. Tuesday:&nbsp;The Salina Police Department has canceled its Emergency Accident Reporting Plan. Normal reporting of motor vehicle accidents has resumed.

The “Emergency Accident Reporting Plan” has been implemented due to severe weather and/or hazardous driving conditions as the number of motor vehicle accidents exceeds the Department’s ability to respond in a timely manner.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/1dcb2975-d167-488f-a330-71816d32481a">UPDATE: More area counties under winter weather advisories</a>

Eligible accidents: Any non-hit and run, non-personal injury motor vehicle accident that does not require towing, and does not involve alcohol or drugs.

Driver requirements: Exchange personal information with the other driver(s) involved or property owner.

Complete an Emergency Accident Reporting Plan accident report form as completely as possible and mail or deliver the completed report to the Salina Police Department within 48 hours.

Emergency Accident Reporting Plan forms are available at the Salina Police Department, they are also available on-line at <a href="http://www.salina-ks.gov/reportsandnotifications">www.salina-ks.gov/reportsandnotifications</a> by selecting the Emergency Accident Report Form.

The local media will be notified when the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan has ended.

UPDATE 4:45 a.m. Tuesday:&nbsp;The Salina Police Department has canceled its Emergency Accident Reporting Plan. Normal reporting of motor vehicle accidents has resumed.Salina Police DepartmentThe “Emergency Accident Reporting Plan” has been implemented due to severe weather and/or hazardous driving conditions as the number of motor vehicle accidents exceeds the Department’s ability to respond in a timely manner.READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/1dcb2975-d167-488f-a330-71816d32481a">UPDATE: More area counties under winter weather advisories</a>Eligible accidents: Any non-hit and run, non-personal injury motor vehicle accident that does not require towing, and does not involve alcohol or drugs.Driver requirements: Exchange personal information with the other driver(s) involved or property owner.Complete an Emergency Accident Reporting Plan accident report form as completely as possible and mail or deliver the completed report to the Salina Police Department within 48 hours.Emergency Accident Reporting Plan forms are available at the Salina Police Department, they are also available on-line at <a href="http://www.salina-ks.gov/reportsandnotifications">www.salina-ks.gov/reportsandnotifications</a> by selecting the Emergency Accident Report Form.The local media will be notified when the Emergency Accident Reporting Plan has ended.

UPDATE: Salina Police cancel Emergency Accident Reporting Plan

GRAHAM COUNTY—A Salina man died in an accident just after 11p.m. Saturday in Graham County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Cadillac Deville driven by Ali K. Swanson, 40, Salina, was eastbound on N Road.

The driver of failed to negotiate a curve at 255th Avenue. The Cadillac left the roadway, rolled and came to a rest on its top facing west.

&nbsp;Swanson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Stinemetz Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

GRAHAM COUNTY—A Salina man died in an accident just after 11p.m. Saturday in Graham County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Cadillac Deville driven by Ali K. Swanson, 40, Salina, was eastbound on N Road.The driver of failed to negotiate a curve at 255th Avenue. The Cadillac left the roadway, rolled and came to a rest on its top facing west.&nbsp;Swanson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Stinemetz Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Salina man dies in rollover crash on Christmas Eve

Ice from the re-freeze of wet roads, walks, and elevated surfaces is expected early to mid-morning Monday.

The high temperatures in our area are expected to rise to near-freezing or above by this afternoon, however.

That warming trend is expected to continue until at least Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672066633362.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTIce from the re-freeze of wet roads, walks, and elevated surfaces is expected early to mid-morning Monday.The high temperatures in our area are expected to rise to near-freezing or above by this afternoon, however.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672066665866.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>That warming trend is expected to continue until at least Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

NWS: Icy start today, but temps warming through much of week

“Today we burn the rocks. Tomorrow we burn the oceans!” This was an unforgettable statement from one of the 16 mm films I showed to my students when I taught in 1971. My school district was poor. There was no money for audio-visuals. But I could borrow free films from the Oak Ridge Nuclear Lab in Tennessee. We also offered 9-week phase elective courses so students chose the science topics they wanted to study. One of my mini-courses was on Nuclear Power.

In my class, they learned about alpha, beta and gamma radiation. They watched Oak Ridge films, including tests at the Hanford site in Washington state, where they pushed the uranium rods to go critical and melt, in order to develop safe power plants. These were all examples of nuclear fission power generated from the splitting of atoms of uranium-235 enriched to 3-to-5 percent. Uranium is mined from special deposits, just like coal is mined. This was what was meant by “today we burn the rocks.”

“Tomorrow we burn the oceans” referred to the use of nuclear fusion, the combining of hydrogen isotopes derived from water. These hydrogen atoms have an extra neutron or two: deuterium and tritium.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they are fused into one heavier nucleus, it is not as heavy as the two nuclei were before, and the “leftover weight” is transformed into energy. Uncontrolled fusion is what occurs in the sun and in hydrogen bombs. Current nuclear power plants operate on fission. But developing power plants that work with controlled fusion would produce tremendously more power. That has proven to be a difficult task.

When news broke on Dec. 13 that the Lawrence Livermore Lab in California had achieved a point of “fusion ignition” where more energy was released (3.15 megajoules) than was input (2.05 megajoules), you might assume that the U.S. was a leader in this technology. Of the major news sources, only PBS got it correct by briefly interviewing Steve Dean, President of Fusion Power Associates. He explained that the leaders in this science were elsewhere (China, the United Kingdom, Japan and France).&nbsp;

In an online interview, Dean explained the two major aspects to fusion power research: physics experiments to advance understanding and the practical engineering required to build and make a fusion power plant work. While the Lawrence Livermore Lab verified the ability of lasers to get more energy out than is put in, it does not address the actual development of the technology needed. U.S. government funding barely supports the physics. Participation of engineers and industry is not occurring in the U.S.

A major engineering concern is containing the fusion reaction. That will require a magnetic bottle system of plasma, a “tokamak.” The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in France is such a facility and the U.S. is one of 35 countries (including China) participating. The ITER reactor is expected to begin working in 2025, but not commercially.

China has three major engineering and research projects. On October 21 this year, The South China Morning Post described the HL-2M reactor in Sichuan that generated a plasma current over one million amperes. Earlier in 2022, Newsweek described another unit called a “Z pinch machine” that uses “...an electric current inside a hot gas known as plasma to generate a magnetic field.” This compresses or pinches the plasma to create the conditions necessary for fusion.” This Z-FFR unit is scheduled to be built by 2025, produce power by 2028 and be commercially operating by 2035.&nbsp; China also has the&nbsp; Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in Hefei and J-TEXT at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The Nuclear Engineering International journal likewise documented China’s engineering advances in its November 1, 2022 issue. &nbsp;

In 1971, my young students noted that nearly all of the major scientists in our Manhattan Project to build the bomb (Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard, Hans Bethe, Albert Einstein, etc.) were foreign immigrants. Over fifty years later, the majority of U.S. physics and engineering graduates are still foreign students. Nationwide, our state governing boards for both K-12 and higher education are reducing STEM requirements and eliminating the testing that rewards students who have a study ethic. The U.S. no longer leads in half the science fields, including fusion research, due to the anti-science actions of the last four decades. And our public media for the most part fails to report this serious problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCK “Today we burn the rocks. Tomorrow we burn the oceans!” This was an unforgettable statement from one of the 16 mm films I showed to my students when I taught in 1971. My school district was poor. There was no money for audio-visuals. But I could borrow free films from the Oak Ridge Nuclear Lab in Tennessee. We also offered 9-week phase elective courses so students chose the science topics they wanted to study. One of my mini-courses was on Nuclear Power. In my class, they learned about alpha, beta and gamma radiation. They watched Oak Ridge films, including tests at the Hanford site in Washington state, where they pushed the uranium rods to go critical and melt, in order to develop safe power plants. These were all examples of nuclear fission power generated from the splitting of atoms of uranium-235 enriched to 3-to-5 percent. Uranium is mined from special deposits, just like coal is mined. This was what was meant by “today we burn the rocks.” “Tomorrow we burn the oceans” referred to the use of nuclear fusion, the combining of hydrogen isotopes derived from water. These hydrogen atoms have an extra neutron or two: deuterium and tritium.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When they are fused into one heavier nucleus, it is not as heavy as the two nuclei were before, and the “leftover weight” is transformed into energy. Uncontrolled fusion is what occurs in the sun and in hydrogen bombs. Current nuclear power plants operate on fission. But developing power plants that work with controlled fusion would produce tremendously more power. That has proven to be a difficult task. When news broke on Dec. 13 that the Lawrence Livermore Lab in California had achieved a point of “fusion ignition” where more energy was released (3.15 megajoules) than was input (2.05 megajoules), you might assume that the U.S. was a leader in this technology. Of the major news sources, only PBS got it correct by briefly interviewing Steve Dean, President of Fusion Power Associates. He explained that the leaders in this science were elsewhere (China, the United Kingdom, Japan and France).&nbsp;In an online interview, Dean explained the two major aspects to fusion power research: physics experiments to advance understanding and the practical engineering required to build and make a fusion power plant work. While the Lawrence Livermore Lab verified the ability of lasers to get more energy out than is put in, it does not address the actual development of the technology needed. U.S. government funding barely supports the physics. Participation of engineers and industry is not occurring in the U.S. A major engineering concern is containing the fusion reaction. That will require a magnetic bottle system of plasma, a “tokamak.” The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor in France is such a facility and the U.S. is one of 35 countries (including China) participating. The ITER reactor is expected to begin working in 2025, but not commercially. China has three major engineering and research projects. On October 21 this year, The South China Morning Post described the HL-2M reactor in Sichuan that generated a plasma current over one million amperes. Earlier in 2022, Newsweek described another unit called a “Z pinch machine” that uses “...an electric current inside a hot gas known as plasma to generate a magnetic field.” This compresses or pinches the plasma to create the conditions necessary for fusion.” This Z-FFR unit is scheduled to be built by 2025, produce power by 2028 and be commercially operating by 2035.&nbsp; China also has the&nbsp; Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in Hefei and J-TEXT at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The Nuclear Engineering International journal likewise documented China’s engineering advances in its November 1, 2022 issue. &nbsp; In 1971, my young students noted that nearly all of the major scientists in our Manhattan Project to build the bomb (Enrico Fermi, Leo Szilard, Hans Bethe, Albert Einstein, etc.) were foreign immigrants. Over fifty years later, the majority of U.S. physics and engineering graduates are still foreign students. Nationwide, our state governing boards for both K-12 and higher education are reducing STEM requirements and eliminating the testing that rewards students who have a study ethic. The U.S. no longer leads in half the science fields, including fusion research, due to the anti-science actions of the last four decades. And our public media for the most part fails to report this serious problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

ED. FRONTLINES: Nuclear fusion — a fuller picture

Today is Monday, Dec. 26, the 360th day of 2022. There are five days left in the year.

On Dec. 26, 2004, more than 230,000 people, mostly in southern Asia, were killed by a 100-foot-high tsunami triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean.

In 1799, former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

In 1865, James H. Nason of Franklin, Massachusetts, received a patent for "an improved coffee percolator."

In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African-American boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.

In 1917, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation authorizing the government to take over operation of the nation's railroads.

In 1941, during World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.

In 1980, Iranian television footage was broadcast in the United States showing a dozen of the American hostages sending messages to their families.

In 1990, Nancy Cruzan, the young woman in an irreversible vegetative state whose case led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the right to die, died at a Missouri hospital.

In 1994, French commandos stormed a hijacked Air France jetliner on the ground in Marseille, killing four Algerian hijackers and freeing 170 hostages.

In 1996, six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. (To date, the slaying remains unsolved.)

In 2003, an earthquake struck the historic Iranian city of Bam, killing at least 26,000 people.

In 2006, former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.

Ten years ago: Toyota Motor Corp. said it had reached a settlement worth more than $1 billion in a case involving unintended acceleration problems in its vehicles. Soul singer Fontella Bass, 72, died in St. Louis.

Five years ago: The snowfall total from a storm that began on Christmas Day reached 53 inches in Erie, Pennsylvania - the biggest-ever two-day total in the state's history. The cities of New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia sued the Defense Department, charging that the military failed to properly use the national background check system for guns; the lawsuit said the failure to report criminal records of service members had allowed a former member of the Air Force to kill more than two dozen people at a Texas church in November. Voters in Liberia went to the polls for a runoff election that saw former soccer star George Weah elected as the African country's new president.

One year ago: South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu died at 90; the retired archbishop had been an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights. A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada.

Today's Birthdays: R&amp;B singer Abdul "Duke" Fakir (The Four Tops) is 87. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh is 77. Country musician Bob Carpenter (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 76. Funk musician George Porter Jr. (The Meters) is 75. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 75. Retired MLB All-Star Chris Chambliss is 74. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 68. Former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana is 67. Humorist David Sedaris is 66. Rock musician James Kottak (The Scorpions) is 60. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 59. Actor Nadia Dajani is 57. Rock singer James Mercer (The Shins; Flake) is 52. Actor-singer Jared Leto is 51. Actor Kendra C. Johnson is 46. Rock singer Chris Daughtry is 43. Actor Beth Behrs is 37. Actor Kit Harington is 36. Actor Eden Sher is 31. Pop singer Jade Thirlwall (Little Mix Actor) is 30. Actor Zach Mills 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 Monday, Dec. 26, the 360th day of 2022. There are five days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 26, 2004, more than 230,000 people, mostly in southern Asia, were killed by a 100-foot-high tsunami triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean.On this date:In 1799, former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."In 1865, James H. Nason of Franklin, Massachusetts, received a patent for "an improved coffee percolator."In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African-American boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia.In 1917, during World War I, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation authorizing the government to take over operation of the nation's railroads.In 1941, during World War II, Winston Churchill became the first British prime minister to address a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.In 1966, Kwanzaa was first celebrated.In 1980, Iranian television footage was broadcast in the United States showing a dozen of the American hostages sending messages to their families.In 1990, Nancy Cruzan, the young woman in an irreversible vegetative state whose case led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the right to die, died at a Missouri hospital.In 1994, French commandos stormed a hijacked Air France jetliner on the ground in Marseille, killing four Algerian hijackers and freeing 170 hostages.In 1996, six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was found beaten and strangled in the basement of her family's home in Boulder, Colorado. (To date, the slaying remains unsolved.)In 2003, an earthquake struck the historic Iranian city of Bam, killing at least 26,000 people.In 2006, former President Gerald R. Ford died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 93.Ten years ago: Toyota Motor Corp. said it had reached a settlement worth more than $1 billion in a case involving unintended acceleration problems in its vehicles. Soul singer Fontella Bass, 72, died in St. Louis.Five years ago: The snowfall total from a storm that began on Christmas Day reached 53 inches in Erie, Pennsylvania - the biggest-ever two-day total in the state's history. The cities of New York, San Francisco and Philadelphia sued the Defense Department, charging that the military failed to properly use the national background check system for guns; the lawsuit said the failure to report criminal records of service members had allowed a former member of the Air Force to kill more than two dozen people at a Texas church in November. Voters in Liberia went to the polls for a runoff election that saw former soccer star George Weah elected as the African country's new president.One year ago: South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu died at 90; the retired archbishop had been an uncompromising foe of apartheid and a modern-day activist for racial justice and LGBT rights. A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada.Today's Birthdays: R&amp;B singer Abdul "Duke" Fakir (The Four Tops) is 87. "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh is 77. Country musician Bob Carpenter (The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) is 76. Funk musician George Porter Jr. (The Meters) is 75. Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk is 75. Retired MLB All-Star Chris Chambliss is 74. Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith is 68. Former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana is 67. Humorist David Sedaris is 66. Rock musician James Kottak (The Scorpions) is 60. Rock musician Lars Ulrich (Metallica) is 59. Actor Nadia Dajani is 57. Rock singer James Mercer (The Shins; Flake) is 52. Actor-singer Jared Leto is 51. Actor Kendra C. Johnson is 46. Rock singer Chris Daughtry is 43. Actor Beth Behrs is 37. Actor Kit Harington is 36. Actor Eden Sher is 31. Pop singer Jade Thirlwall (Little Mix Actor) is 30. Actor Zach Mills is 27.

Today in History - December 26

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas sheriff's deputy was injured in an accident just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Explorer&nbsp;with emergency equipment activated and driven by Ellsworth County Deputy Adam M. Macy, 27, Salina, was responding to a collision on&nbsp;Kansas Highway 14 one quarter miles north of Ave H.

The driver lost control on the ice. The SUV entered the ditch and rolled one time.&nbsp; EMS transported Macy to the hospital in Ellsworth. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas sheriff's deputy was injured in an accident just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Explorer&nbsp;with emergency equipment activated and driven by Ellsworth County Deputy Adam M. Macy, 27, Salina, was responding to a collision on&nbsp;Kansas Highway 14 one quarter miles north of Ave H.The driver lost control on the ice. The SUV entered the ditch and rolled one time.&nbsp; EMS transported Macy to the hospital in Ellsworth. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. deputy hospitalized after SUV rolls on icy road

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Dodge Ram driven by Jose L. Murillo, 47, Colorado Springs, Colo., was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile east of 6th Road&nbsp;just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.

The driver lost control due to ice on the roadway. The pickup left the roadway, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the median.

An infant, one of three children in the vehicle, had a minor injury.&nbsp; Murillo and another passenger in the vehicle were not injured. The injured child was not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Dodge Ram driven by Jose L. Murillo, 47, Colorado Springs, Colo., was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile east of 6th Road&nbsp;just before 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.The driver lost control due to ice on the roadway. The pickup left the roadway, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the median.An infant, one of three children in the vehicle, had a minor injury.&nbsp; Murillo and another passenger in the vehicle were not injured. The injured child was not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Baby injured after pickup strikes guardrail on I-70

Tips on how to dispose of and utilize Christmas trees at the end of the season

K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;Christmas trees bring Christmas glee, but they can bring even more than that once the holiday season is past, said Kansas State University forester Charlie Barden.&nbsp;

“An old Christmas tree can be used to benefit birds, fish and the landscape by placing it in a corner of your deck, and spreading some birdseed nearby, or tying it to a deciduous tree or post near a bird feeder,” he said.&nbsp;

Christmas trees can give birds an escape from hawks or cats and keep them protected from the wind chill on cool nights. Or, Barden said, a tree can improve fish habitat and fishing by sinking it into a pond.&nbsp;

“The tree serves as little coral reef, in that the branches provide substrate for water plants to grow, and cover for minnows and other forms of small aquatic life,” Barden said.&nbsp;

Barden said sinking a tree is simple: Tie a cinder block with a short, stout rope to the base of the tree and drop it in - with permission from the pond owner.&nbsp;

Christmas trees can also be allowed to dry and used as firewood. But, Barden cautions, “beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions.”&nbsp;

Another option, according to Barden: Many municipalities allow Christmas trees to be placed on the curb for pickup, then burned or ground for mulch.&nbsp;

Barden and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with more tips on maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;

Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Ward Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672020662824.jpeg" alt="Fresh Christmas trees remain useful after the holiday. Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Fresh Christmas trees remain useful after the holiday. Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Tips on how to dispose of and utilize Christmas trees at the end of the season</h2>K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN —&nbsp;Christmas trees bring Christmas glee, but they can bring even more than that once the holiday season is past, said Kansas State University forester Charlie Barden.&nbsp;“An old Christmas tree can be used to benefit birds, fish and the landscape by placing it in a corner of your deck, and spreading some birdseed nearby, or tying it to a deciduous tree or post near a bird feeder,” he said.&nbsp;Christmas trees can give birds an escape from hawks or cats and keep them protected from the wind chill on cool nights. Or, Barden said, a tree can improve fish habitat and fishing by sinking it into a pond.&nbsp;“The tree serves as little coral reef, in that the branches provide substrate for water plants to grow, and cover for minnows and other forms of small aquatic life,” Barden said.&nbsp;Barden said sinking a tree is simple: Tie a cinder block with a short, stout rope to the base of the tree and drop it in - with permission from the pond owner.&nbsp;Christmas trees can also be allowed to dry and used as firewood. But, Barden cautions, “beware that most conifer species tend to spark and pop more than hardwoods, as resin pockets in the wood make tiny explosions.”&nbsp;Another option, according to Barden: Many municipalities allow Christmas trees to be placed on the curb for pickup, then burned or ground for mulch.&nbsp;Barden and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with more tips on maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Ward Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.&nbsp;

Once Christmas is over, what happens to the tree?

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

It’s the Big 12 championship football game in Arlington, Texas. The offensive starters take the field. The big offensive linemen get in position for the first snap. A look at the roster reveals that this is homegrown talent: Three of K-State’s five starting offensive linemen come from the state of Kansas.&nbsp;

Cooper Beebe, Hadley Panzer, and Hayden Gillum are the Sunflower State starting linemen who help anchor Kansas State’s offensive line. Beebe is from Kansas City, Kansas and attended Piper High School. Panzer is from the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Lakin, population 2,205, and Gillum is from the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Plainville, population 1,746 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

Cooper Beebe became a starter at K-State in 2020 – the same year he first earned All-Big 12 Academic honors. In 2021, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the league’s coaches and Associated Press -- the youngest offensive lineman to be named to the first team by either organization.&nbsp;

Beebe also was the first Wildcat freshman or sophomore offensive lineman to be named a First Team All-Big 12 performer since Dalton Risner in 2016. Beebe entered the 2022 season with lots of accolades: Pre-season All Big 12, pre-season All-American, and named to the Outland Trophy watch list.&nbsp;

At 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, Beebe’s 2022 season has been outstanding. He was named a First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press for a second-consecutive season and First Team All-American by The Sporting News.&nbsp;

Named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league's coaches, Beebe did not allow a sack among his 395 passing blocking snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Beebe has not surrendered a sack in his last 28 games dating back to 2020.&nbsp;

Lakin’s Hadley Panzer is only a sophomore, but stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 300 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hayden Gillum was a four-year letter winner at Plainville before coming to K-State as a walk-on. He earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Now 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, he has become a standout center for the Wildcats.&nbsp;

Speaking of walk-ons, Austin Moore is from Louisburg and walked-on at K-State in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a reserve linebacker, he earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors and was one of 13 players in the league to be nominated with a 4.0 GPA. He achieved First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors again in 2021.&nbsp;

Nicknamed ‘The Machine’ by his teammates, Moore started every game at linebacker in 2022. He finished the regular season with 82 tackles and led the Wildcats in tackling in three games.&nbsp;

Jaylen Pickle from Cimarron was another significant contributor for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder started at defensive end.&nbsp;

D.J. Giddens came to K-State from Junction City. He not only emerged as back-up running back to All-American Deuce Vaughn, he became a weapon for the Wildcats in his own right. Against West Virginia, the freshman had a 49-yard run for a touchdown.&nbsp;

Then there is punter/placekicker Ty Zentner from Topeka. He achieved Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he was named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 team.&nbsp;

As a punter, Zentner enters bowl season ranked 17th in the nation and second in the Big 12 with a 44.7-yard average, a mark that currently ranks second in school history. He has 19 punts this season that have traveled at least 50 yards, while a career-high 26 of his punts have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.&nbsp;

As a placekicker, Zentner went 29-for-29 on extra-point attempts and 9-for-9 on field goals, including the one in overtime that gave K-State the Big 12 championship.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671987177011.jpeg" alt="Big 12 Championship trophy presentation. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Big 12 Championship trophy presentation. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityIt’s the Big 12 championship football game in Arlington, Texas. The offensive starters take the field. The big offensive linemen get in position for the first snap. A look at the roster reveals that this is homegrown talent: Three of K-State’s five starting offensive linemen come from the state of Kansas.&nbsp;Cooper Beebe, Hadley Panzer, and Hayden Gillum are the Sunflower State starting linemen who help anchor Kansas State’s offensive line. Beebe is from Kansas City, Kansas and attended Piper High School. Panzer is from the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Lakin, population 2,205, and Gillum is from the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Plainville, population 1,746 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;Cooper Beebe became a starter at K-State in 2020 – the same year he first earned All-Big 12 Academic honors. In 2021, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the league’s coaches and Associated Press -- the youngest offensive lineman to be named to the first team by either organization.&nbsp;Beebe also was the first Wildcat freshman or sophomore offensive lineman to be named a First Team All-Big 12 performer since Dalton Risner in 2016. Beebe entered the 2022 season with lots of accolades: Pre-season All Big 12, pre-season All-American, and named to the Outland Trophy watch list.&nbsp;At 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, Beebe’s 2022 season has been outstanding. He was named a First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press for a second-consecutive season and First Team All-American by The Sporting News.&nbsp;Named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league's coaches, Beebe did not allow a sack among his 395 passing blocking snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Beebe has not surrendered a sack in his last 28 games dating back to 2020.&nbsp;Lakin’s Hadley Panzer is only a sophomore, but stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 300 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hayden Gillum was a four-year letter winner at Plainville before coming to K-State as a walk-on. He earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Now 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, he has become a standout center for the Wildcats.&nbsp;Speaking of walk-ons, Austin Moore is from Louisburg and walked-on at K-State in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a reserve linebacker, he earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors and was one of 13 players in the league to be nominated with a 4.0 GPA. He achieved First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors again in 2021.&nbsp;Nicknamed ‘The Machine’ by his teammates, Moore started every game at linebacker in 2022. He finished the regular season with 82 tackles and led the Wildcats in tackling in three games.&nbsp;Jaylen Pickle from Cimarron was another significant contributor for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder started at defensive end.&nbsp;D.J. Giddens came to K-State from Junction City. He not only emerged as back-up running back to All-American Deuce Vaughn, he became a weapon for the Wildcats in his own right. Against West Virginia, the freshman had a 49-yard run for a touchdown.&nbsp;Then there is punter/placekicker Ty Zentner from Topeka. He achieved Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he was named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 team.&nbsp;As a punter, Zentner enters bowl season ranked 17th in the nation and second in the Big 12 with a 44.7-yard average, a mark that currently ranks second in school history. He has 19 punts this season that have traveled at least 50 yards, while a career-high 26 of his punts have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.&nbsp;As a placekicker, Zentner went 29-for-29 on extra-point attempts and 9-for-9 on field goals, including the one in overtime that gave K-State the Big 12 championship.&nbsp;The state of Kansas has been good to the K-State football program. Since 1990, Wildcat players earning all conference honors have come from 33 cities in Kansas.&nbsp;The Big 12 championship game is over, and confetti rains down as a Big 12 championship is celebrated by the Wildcats – including those big offensive linemen. We commend all Kansas kids for making a difference in playing so well for their in-state teams because we appreciate homegrown heroes.&nbsp;Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.