Today is Monday, Nov. 14, the 318th day of 2022. There are 47 days left in the year.

On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC-9 crashed while trying to land in West Virginia, killing all 75 people on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.

In 1851, Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale" was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain.

In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss pusher rolled off a sloping platform on the deck of the scout cruiser USS Birmingham off Hampton Roads, Virginia.

In 1915, African-American educator Booker T. Washington, 59, died in Tuskegee, Alabama.

In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry.

In 1965, the U.S. Army's first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang. (The fighting between American troops and North Vietnamese forces ended on Nov. 18 with both sides claiming victory.)

In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon.

In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.

In 1973, Britain's Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in Westminster Abbey. (They divorced in 1992, and Anne remarried.)

In 1996, singer Michael Jackson married his plastic surgeon's nurse, Debbie Rowe, in a ceremony in Sydney, Australia. (Rowe filed for divorce in 1999.)

In 1997, a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, decided that Pakistani national Aimal Khan Kasi should get the death penalty for gunning down two CIA employees outside agency headquarters. (Five years later on this date, Aimal Khan Kasi was executed.)

In 2013, former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger was led off to prison to begin serving a life sentence at 84 for his murderous reign in the 1970s and '80s. (Bulger was killed Oct. 30, 2018, hours after arriving at a federal prison in West Virginia.)

In 2020, Donald Trump supporters unwilling to accept Democrat Joe Biden's election victory gathered in cities across the country including Washington, D.C., where thousands rallied; after night fell in the nation's capital, demonstrators favoring Trump clashed in the streets with counterprotesters, resulting in injuries to demonstrators and police officers and charges against nearly two dozen people.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, in his first news conference since winning a second term, challenged congressional Republicans to let taxes rise on the wealthiest Americans, saying that would ease the threat of another recession as the nation faced a "fiscal cliff." Israel said it had killed the leader of Hamas' military wing in a wave of airstrikes launched in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Baseball's Cy Young Awards went to Tampa Bay's David Price in the American League and R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets in the National League.

Five years ago: Three UCLA basketball players who'd been detained in China on suspicion of shoplifting returned home; they were then indefinitely suspended from the team. Papa John's Pizza apologized for comments made by CEO John Schnatter, who had blamed sluggish pizza sales on NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House would require anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all members and their staffs; the announcement came hours after two female lawmakers spoke about sexual misconduct involving sitting members of Congress.

One year ago: A 9-year-old Dallas boy became the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston nine days earlier; a family attorney said Ezra Blount died at a Houston hospital, where he'd been placed in a medically induced coma after he suffered serious injuries in the crush of fans during a performance by rapper Travis Scott. (The crowd surge left 10 people dead.) Libya's election agency said Seif al-Islam, the son and one-time heir apparent of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, had announced his candidacy for the country's December presidential election.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Kathleen Hughes is 94. Former NASA astronaut Fred Haise is 89. Composer Wendy Carlos is 83. Britain's King Charles III is 74. Rock singer-musician James Young (Styx) is 73. Singer Stephen Bishop is 71. Blues musician Anson Funderburgh is 68. Pianist Yanni is 68. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is 68. Former presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett is 66. Actor Laura San Giacomo is 61. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 61. Rapper Reverend Run (Run-DMC) is 58. Actor Patrick Warburton is 58. Rock musician Nic Dalton is 58. Country singer Rockie Lynne is 58. Pop singer Jeanette Jurado (Expose) is 57. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling is 56. Rock musician Brian Yale is 54. Rock singer Butch Walker is 53. Actor Josh Duhamel is 50. Rock musician Travis Barker is 47. Contemporary Christian musician Robby Shaffer is 47. Actor Brian Dietzen is 45. Rapper Shyheim is 45. Rock musician Tobin Esperance (Papa Roach) is 43. Actor Olga Kurylenko is 43. Actor-comedian Vanessa Bayer is 41. Actor Russell Tovey is 41. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is 29. Actor Cory Michael Smith is 36. Actor Graham Patrick Martin is 31. NHL forward Taylor Hall is 31.

<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, Nov. 14, the 318th day of 2022. There are 47 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Nov. 14, 1970, a chartered Southern Airways DC-9 crashed while trying to land in West Virginia, killing all 75 people on board, including the Marshall University football team and its coaching staff.On this date:In 1851, Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick; Or, The Whale" was published in the United States, almost a month after being released in Britain.In 1910, Eugene B. Ely became the first aviator to take off from a ship as his Curtiss pusher rolled off a sloping platform on the deck of the scout cruiser USS Birmingham off Hampton Roads, Virginia.In 1915, African-American educator Booker T. Washington, 59, died in Tuskegee, Alabama.In 1940, during World War II, German planes destroyed most of the English town of Coventry.In 1965, the U.S. Army's first major military operation of the Vietnam War began with the start of the five-day Battle of Ia Drang. (The fighting between American troops and North Vietnamese forces ended on Nov. 18 with both sides claiming victory.)In 1969, Apollo 12 blasted off for the moon.In 1972, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 1,000 level for the first time, ending the day at 1,003.16.In 1973, Britain's Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips in Westminster Abbey. (They divorced in 1992, and Anne remarried.)In 1996, singer Michael Jackson married his plastic surgeon's nurse, Debbie Rowe, in a ceremony in Sydney, Australia. (Rowe filed for divorce in 1999.)In 1997, a jury in Fairfax, Virginia, decided that Pakistani national Aimal Khan Kasi should get the death penalty for gunning down two CIA employees outside agency headquarters. (Five years later on this date, Aimal Khan Kasi was executed.)In 2013, former Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger was led off to prison to begin serving a life sentence at 84 for his murderous reign in the 1970s and '80s. (Bulger was killed Oct. 30, 2018, hours after arriving at a federal prison in West Virginia.)In 2020, Donald Trump supporters unwilling to accept Democrat Joe Biden's election victory gathered in cities across the country including Washington, D.C., where thousands rallied; after night fell in the nation's capital, demonstrators favoring Trump clashed in the streets with counterprotesters, resulting in injuries to demonstrators and police officers and charges against nearly two dozen people.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama, in his first news conference since winning a second term, challenged congressional Republicans to let taxes rise on the wealthiest Americans, saying that would ease the threat of another recession as the nation faced a "fiscal cliff." Israel said it had killed the leader of Hamas' military wing in a wave of airstrikes launched in response to days of rocket fire out of Hamas-ruled Gaza. Baseball's Cy Young Awards went to Tampa Bay's David Price in the American League and R.A. Dickey of the New York Mets in the National League.Five years ago: Three UCLA basketball players who'd been detained in China on suspicion of shoplifting returned home; they were then indefinitely suspended from the team. Papa John's Pizza apologized for comments made by CEO John Schnatter, who had blamed sluggish pizza sales on NFL players kneeling during the national anthem. House Speaker Paul Ryan said the House would require anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for all members and their staffs; the announcement came hours after two female lawmakers spoke about sexual misconduct involving sitting members of Congress.One year ago: A 9-year-old Dallas boy became the youngest person to die from injuries sustained during a crowd surge at the Astroworld music festival in Houston nine days earlier; a family attorney said Ezra Blount died at a Houston hospital, where he'd been placed in a medically induced coma after he suffered serious injuries in the crush of fans during a performance by rapper Travis Scott. (The crowd surge left 10 people dead.) Libya's election agency said Seif al-Islam, the son and one-time heir apparent of late Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, had announced his candidacy for the country's December presidential election.Today's Birthdays: Actor Kathleen Hughes is 94. Former NASA astronaut Fred Haise is 89. Composer Wendy Carlos is 83. Britain's King Charles III is 74. Rock singer-musician James Young (Styx) is 73. Singer Stephen Bishop is 71. Blues musician Anson Funderburgh is 68. Pianist Yanni is 68. Former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is 68. Former presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett is 66. Actor Laura San Giacomo is 61. Actor D.B. Sweeney is 61. Rapper Reverend Run (Run-DMC) is 58. Actor Patrick Warburton is 58. Rock musician Nic Dalton is 58. Country singer Rockie Lynne is 58. Pop singer Jeanette Jurado (Expose) is 57. Retired MLB All-Star pitcher Curt Schilling is 56. Rock musician Brian Yale is 54. Rock singer Butch Walker is 53. Actor Josh Duhamel is 50. Rock musician Travis Barker is 47. Contemporary Christian musician Robby Shaffer is 47. Actor Brian Dietzen is 45. Rapper Shyheim is 45. Rock musician Tobin Esperance (Papa Roach) is 43. Actor Olga Kurylenko is 43. Actor-comedian Vanessa Bayer is 41. Actor Russell Tovey is 41. New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is 29. Actor Cory Michael Smith is 36. Actor Graham Patrick Martin is 31. NHL forward Taylor Hall is 31.

Today in History - November 14

UPDATE 7 a.m. Monday: The National Weather Service has adjusted its snowfall forecast for Monday.

Rain is expected to change to snow by Monday afternoon and continue into early Monday evening. 

Snowfall amounts are generally expected to range from a trace to up to two inches, which may cause slick roads, especially for the evening commute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668432880071.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE 7 a.m. Monday: The National Weather Service has adjusted its snowfall forecast for Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668351820737.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceRain is expected to change to snow by Monday afternoon and continue into early Monday evening. Snowfall amounts are generally expected to range from a trace to up to two inches, which may cause slick roads, especially for the evening commute.

UPDATE: National Weather Service adjusts snowfall forecast

Scooters, a proclamation, an alerting system, and proposed citizen appointments are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.

Study sessions and city commission meetings will take place in–person in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street, and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings also can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas">https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas</a>.

To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587</a>.

The meeting also can be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID:892 7598 4587 when prompted.

If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens attending via Zoom must raise their hands so that the meeting host can allow them to speak. Those who attend the in-person meeting will have the opportunity to speak at the podium.

Citizens also can send written comments or questions to city commissioners via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:citycommission@salina.org">citycommission@salina.org</a>.

In order for the commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, please email your comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meetings.

Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a study session concering Bird Scooters at 3 p.m. Monday.

Mike Butler with Bird Scooters made a presentation to commissioners on April 25. After the presentation, commissioners directed staff to collect information from the public and from neighboring cities concerning the use of the use of electric vehicles.

During Monday's study session, staff are scheduled to present "the findings from surveying neighboring municipalities, our citizens, and our interim police chief," according to information in a memo from Lauren Driscoll, Community &amp; Development Services director.

The commission's regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Monday.

Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of Dunbar School. Scarlet Sharpe, a fifth-grade student at Cottonwood Elementary School, is scheduled to read the proclamation.

Commissioners also are scheduled to consider appointing members to citizen boards, commissions, and committees. Proposed appointments include the following.

Kevin Cool, reappointed until Aug. 31, 2026

David Driscoll, reappointed until Aug. 31, 2025

Tobias King, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026

Michael Coone, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026

Robert Brown, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026

Other items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday include the following.

●Consider authorizing the Salina Fire Department to purchase a new Fire Station Alerting System from US Digital Designs (Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System).

●Consider renewal of a land lease for property located approximately at Section 30, Township 14 South, Range 2 West in Saline County and bounded by the old and new Smoky Hill River channels.

Commissioners also are scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel the subject of ongoing legal considerations related to the Drever Partners, LLC, development proposal, including discussion of confidential terms of negotiation of a potential development agreement for possible implementation of a version of the proposal by Presido Development Partners, LLC, of San Francisco, Calif., with the benefit of participation and input during the executive session from rpresentatives of Stifel, the city's financial advisor. Possible action to follow.

To view to full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=499485&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590456274194.jpeg" alt="The City-County Building in Salina. Salina Post file photo" />
 <figcaption>The City-County Building in Salina. Salina Post file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTScooters, a proclamation, an alerting system, and proposed citizen appointments are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.<h2>About the meeting</h2>Study sessions and city commission meetings will take place in–person in room 107 of the City-County Building, 300 West Ash Street, and via Zoom until further notice. Meetings also can be viewed at the City of Salina YouTube channel,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas">https://www.youtube.com/cityofSalinaKansas</a>.To participate via Zoom, citizens will need to use the following link:&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89275984587</a>.The meeting also can be accessed by phone at 1-346-248-7799. Enter Meeting ID:892 7598 4587 when prompted.If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the mayor requests public comment on an item, citizens attending via Zoom must raise their hands so that the meeting host can allow them to speak. Those who attend the in-person meeting will have the opportunity to speak at the podium.Citizens also can send written comments or questions to city commissioners via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:citycommission@salina.org">citycommission@salina.org</a>.In order for the commissioners to have an opportunity to review comments in advance of the meeting, please email your comments or questions by 5 p.m. the Sunday prior to the Monday meetings.<h2>Study session</h2>Commissioners are scheduled to begin with a study session concering Bird Scooters at 3 p.m. Monday.Mike Butler with Bird Scooters made a presentation to commissioners on April 25. After the presentation, commissioners directed staff to collect information from the public and from neighboring cities concerning the use of the use of electric vehicles.During Monday's study session, staff are scheduled to present "the findings from surveying neighboring municipalities, our citizens, and our interim police chief," according to information in a memo from Lauren Driscoll, Community &amp; Development Services director.<h2>Regular meeting</h2>The commission's regular meeting is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Monday.Commissioners are scheduled to consider a proposed proclamation recognizing the 100th anniversary of Dunbar School. Scarlet Sharpe, a fifth-grade student at Cottonwood Elementary School, is scheduled to read the proclamation.Commissioners also are scheduled to consider appointing members to citizen boards, commissions, and committees. Proposed appointments include the following.Building Advisory BoardKevin Cool, reappointed until Aug. 31, 2026Solid Waste Management CommitteeDavid Driscoll, reappointed until Aug. 31, 2025Tree Advisory BoardTobias King, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026Michael Coone, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026Robert Brown, appointed until Aug. 31, 2026Other items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday include the following.●Consider authorizing the Salina Fire Department to purchase a new Fire Station Alerting System from US Digital Designs (Phoenix G2 Fire Station Alerting System).●Consider renewal of a land lease for property located approximately at Section 30, Township 14 South, Range 2 West in Saline County and bounded by the old and new Smoky Hill River channels.Commissioners also are scheduled to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel the subject of ongoing legal considerations related to the Drever Partners, LLC, development proposal, including discussion of confidential terms of negotiation of a potential development agreement for possible implementation of a version of the proposal by Presido Development Partners, LLC, of San Francisco, Calif., with the benefit of participation and input during the executive session from rpresentatives of Stifel, the city's financial advisor. Possible action to follow.To view to full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=499485&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

Appointments, proclamation, scooters on Salina City Commission agenda

By EIAN PRACHT Smoky View 4-H Club reporter

On Oct. 16, the Smoky View 4-H Club held its October club meeting at the Salemsborg Fellowship Center to install officers for the new 4-H year.&nbsp;

During the meeting, 4-H parents took the place of their 4-Hers to show members what to do in their officer position. This meant parents gave the reports for offices that their children have been elected to.&nbsp;

Smoky View members also were given their 4-H record books and took a picture together.&nbsp;

Later, 4-H members were installed to their offices with a ceremony in which each officer added an ingredient to a trail mix. The trail mix represented the different kinds of officers working together to support the club.&nbsp;

Then the club sang a Halloween song and played a game in which members had to guess famous people when given clues by a partner.&nbsp;

Club members celebrated their district-level achievements on Nov. 6 at the Minneapolis Elementary School in Minneapolis during the Central Kansas District Celebration of Achievements.

The club will meet again on Nov. 20 at the Salemsborg Fellowship Center.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668394543447.jpeg" alt="On Oct. 16, Smoky View 4-H members Krew Swisher and Beau Johnson added Junior Mints to a trail mix as part of a ceremony during the club's officer installation. They are the club's new junior officers. Photo by Adam Pracht,&nbsp;a Smoky View 4-H Club leader" />
 <figcaption>On Oct. 16, Smoky View 4-H members Krew Swisher and Beau Johnson added Junior Mints to a trail mix as part of a ceremony during the club's officer installation. They are the club's new junior officers. Photo by Adam Pracht,&nbsp;a Smoky View 4-H Club leader</figcaption>
 </figure>By EIAN PRACHT Smoky View 4-H Club reporter On Oct. 16, the Smoky View 4-H Club held its October club meeting at the Salemsborg Fellowship Center to install officers for the new 4-H year.&nbsp;During the meeting, 4-H parents took the place of their 4-Hers to show members what to do in their officer position. This meant parents gave the reports for offices that their children have been elected to.&nbsp;Smoky View members also were given their 4-H record books and took a picture together.&nbsp;Later, 4-H members were installed to their offices with a ceremony in which each officer added an ingredient to a trail mix. The trail mix represented the different kinds of officers working together to support the club.&nbsp;Then the club sang a Halloween song and played a game in which members had to guess famous people when given clues by a partner.&nbsp;Club members celebrated their district-level achievements on Nov. 6 at the Minneapolis Elementary School in Minneapolis during the Central Kansas District Celebration of Achievements.The club will meet again on Nov. 20 at the Salemsborg Fellowship Center.&nbsp;

Smoky View 4-H Club holds club officer training

Have some books you would like to get rid of? The Friends of the Salina Public Library can help.

The Friends' Drive Up, Drop Off Book Donation Day is set for 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, 301 W. Elm Street.

Persons donating are asked to drive up to the front of the library, where volunteers will unload the donated materials. Accepted donations include the following.

●Gently used fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children

●Textbooks and travel books less than three years old 

No encyclopedias, magazines, VHS tapes, or homemade recordings can be accepted.

Donations will be included in upcoming Friends of the Salina Public Library Used Book Sales. All proceeds from the sales go directly yo support programs and activities of the Salina Public Library.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668393594273.png" alt="Image courtesy Friends of the Salina Public Library" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Friends of the Salina Public Library</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTHave some books you would like to get rid of? The Friends of the Salina Public Library can help.The Friends' Drive Up, Drop Off Book Donation Day is set for 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, 301 W. Elm Street.Persons donating are asked to drive up to the front of the library, where volunteers will unload the donated materials. Accepted donations include the following.●Gently used fiction and nonfiction books for adults and children●Textbooks and travel books less than three years old ●Audio Books●Music and movie CDs/DVDs●Video gamesNo encyclopedias, magazines, VHS tapes, or homemade recordings can be accepted.Donations will be included in upcoming Friends of the Salina Public Library Used Book Sales. All proceeds from the sales go directly yo support programs and activities of the Salina Public Library.

Friends of Salina Public Library collecting books, other items

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

In this case, I’m not referring to the temperature. HOTT is an acronym for Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow, an organization that is working to promote higher education opportunities for Hispanic students in the Emporia area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes of Emporia are active in&nbsp;Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. Rebeca is of Spanish and Mexican descent and grew up in Atlanta.&nbsp;

“Moving from&nbsp;a large metropolitan city in the east to the great plains of the Midwest was a culture shock,” she said. “I have now been in Emporia for four years. This wonderful community has welcomed me with open arms.”&nbsp;

She is now&nbsp;membership director at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

Saenz-Reyes is a self-described “border baby,” born in El Paso. Her mother is an American citizen and her father is Mexican. Patricia went to school in Juarez, Mexico until the 9th grade when she transferred to El Paso to continue her education.&nbsp;

Her career took her to west Texas where she was an insurance executive before coming to Emporia. Now she is the migrant community resource coordinator and student and family resource specialist with the Emporia school district.&nbsp;

“HOTT started in 1999 with just six members,” Saenz-Reyes said. “People saw there was a need for more support for Hispanic students to continue into higher education.”&nbsp;

Emporia, at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 335, has long been a major location for significant employers. “Actually, it goes back to the 1930s when the Santa Fe railroad was needing workers,” Saenz-Reyes said. The 1960s saw large beef packing operations and other manufacturers come to Emporia. Job opportunities attracted a diverse workforce.&nbsp;

According to data from the Emporia school district, in 1992 Hispanics made up 11.3% of the student population. By 2022, that number was 47.5%.&nbsp;

HOTT members sought to enhance scholarship opportunities for Hispanic youth. They developed two big festivals to raise funds for scholarships. One is Cinco de Mayo in the spring, and the other is Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in the fall. &nbsp;

Both events involve lots of food and fun. “All of the proceeds from our fried taco sales go to the scholarships,” Herrera said. “It’s super nice to see our community embracing our culture.”&nbsp;

Cinco de Mayo is, of course, held on the fifth of May. It commemorates Mexican history and culture.&nbsp;

Day of the Dead occurs in late October, but is not a Halloween event. “It is more of a spiritual day to celebrate those who have passed,” Saenz-Reyes said. “We bring out shrines, light candles, and prepare favorite foods of our departed loved ones.”&nbsp;

In Emporia, Day of the Dead is a day-long festival, featuring Latino artists, games, prizes and a downtown parade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who emcees the parade? Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. As many as 3,000 people attend this event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Not only are these events unifying for Emporia, they also bring together diverse groups within the Hispanic community itself. “People may assume that all Hispanics are from Mexico, but we have people here from Central and South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico,” Saenz-Reyes said. “There are also international students at Emporia State (University).” &nbsp;

Together, these events have raised $100,000 for scholarships. What’s more, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will match them. That’s remarkable in a&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community like Emporia, population 24,139 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

One of the scholarship recipients was Omar Herrera, who used his scholarship to help earn a masters degree in architecture at K-State. Omar is now Rebeca’s husband. He serves as&nbsp;the facility planner project manager with university facilities at Emporia State University.&nbsp;

“I love the diversity of Latinos in Emporia and how much this small&nbsp;rural&nbsp;town has to offer,” Rebeca Herrera said.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hottfiesta.com/" target="_blank">www.hottfiesta.com</a>.&nbsp;

Emporia is HOTT – not the temperature, but the organization known as Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. We salute&nbsp;Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes for making a difference with their cross-cultural communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think this is HOTT stuff.&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>.

By RON WILSON Kansas State UniversityEmporia is HOTT.&nbsp;In this case, I’m not referring to the temperature. HOTT is an acronym for Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow, an organization that is working to promote higher education opportunities for Hispanic students in the Emporia area.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668380429211.jpeg" alt="Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes of Emporia are active in&nbsp;Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. Rebeca is of Spanish and Mexican descent and grew up in Atlanta.&nbsp;“Moving from&nbsp;a large metropolitan city in the east to the great plains of the Midwest was a culture shock,” she said. “I have now been in Emporia for four years. This wonderful community has welcomed me with open arms.”&nbsp;She is now&nbsp;membership director at the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;Saenz-Reyes is a self-described “border baby,” born in El Paso. Her mother is an American citizen and her father is Mexican. Patricia went to school in Juarez, Mexico until the 9th grade when she transferred to El Paso to continue her education.&nbsp;Her career took her to west Texas where she was an insurance executive before coming to Emporia. Now she is the migrant community resource coordinator and student and family resource specialist with the Emporia school district.&nbsp;“HOTT started in 1999 with just six members,” Saenz-Reyes said. “People saw there was a need for more support for Hispanic students to continue into higher education.”&nbsp;Emporia, at the crossroads of Interstates 35 and 335, has long been a major location for significant employers. “Actually, it goes back to the 1930s when the Santa Fe railroad was needing workers,” Saenz-Reyes said. The 1960s saw large beef packing operations and other manufacturers come to Emporia. Job opportunities attracted a diverse workforce.&nbsp;According to data from the Emporia school district, in 1992 Hispanics made up 11.3% of the student population. By 2022, that number was 47.5%.&nbsp;HOTT members sought to enhance scholarship opportunities for Hispanic youth. They developed two big festivals to raise funds for scholarships. One is Cinco de Mayo in the spring, and the other is Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in the fall. &nbsp;Both events involve lots of food and fun. “All of the proceeds from our fried taco sales go to the scholarships,” Herrera said. “It’s super nice to see our community embracing our culture.”&nbsp;Cinco de Mayo is, of course, held on the fifth of May. It commemorates Mexican history and culture.&nbsp;Day of the Dead occurs in late October, but is not a Halloween event. “It is more of a spiritual day to celebrate those who have passed,” Saenz-Reyes said. “We bring out shrines, light candles, and prepare favorite foods of our departed loved ones.”&nbsp;In Emporia, Day of the Dead is a day-long festival, featuring Latino artists, games, prizes and a downtown parade.&nbsp;&nbsp;Who emcees the parade? Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes. As many as 3,000 people attend this event.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only are these events unifying for Emporia, they also bring together diverse groups within the Hispanic community itself. “People may assume that all Hispanics are from Mexico, but we have people here from Central and South America, Cuba and Puerto Rico,” Saenz-Reyes said. “There are also international students at Emporia State (University).” &nbsp;Together, these events have raised $100,000 for scholarships. What’s more, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College will match them. That’s remarkable in a&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community like Emporia, population 24,139 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;One of the scholarship recipients was Omar Herrera, who used his scholarship to help earn a masters degree in architecture at K-State. Omar is now Rebeca’s husband. He serves as&nbsp;the facility planner project manager with university facilities at Emporia State University.&nbsp;“I love the diversity of Latinos in Emporia and how much this small&nbsp;rural&nbsp;town has to offer,” Rebeca Herrera said.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.hottfiesta.com/" target="_blank">www.hottfiesta.com</a>.&nbsp;Emporia is HOTT – not the temperature, but the organization known as Hispanics Of Today and Tomorrow. We salute&nbsp;Rebeca Herrera and Patricia Saenz-Reyes for making a difference with their cross-cultural communication.&nbsp;&nbsp;I think this is HOTT stuff.&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>.

NOW THAT'S RURAL:  Herrera, Seanz-Reyes – Emporia HOTT

From the Salina Public Library Facebook page:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-478&amp;fbclid=IwAR2lVH95cYECZ81YUIt9_fKHbSmciL62QzgkFeUpLZ3SkI6w6WdO1WVWgxo" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-478</a> ***

There are nine new movies. The new movies this week include "You: Season 3," "The Quintessential Quintuplets: Season 2 [Blu-ray]," and "The Quintessential Quintuplets: Season 1 [Blu-ray]."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the Salina Public Library Facebook page:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-478&amp;fbclid=IwAR2lVH95cYECZ81YUIt9_fKHbSmciL62QzgkFeUpLZ3SkI6w6WdO1WVWgxo" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-478</a> ***There are nine new movies. The new movies this week include "You: Season 3," "The Quintessential Quintuplets: Season 2 [Blu-ray]," and "The Quintessential Quintuplets: Season 1 [Blu-ray]."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668351395772.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at the Salina Public Library

By NATE KING Salina Post

Performances at Theatre Salina are drawing more people from outside Saline County than ever before. The organization is also in early concept development stages for building a new stage shop at their campus on&nbsp; E. Iron Avenue in Salina.&nbsp;That's the word from Theatre Salina Executive Director Michael Spicer during an exclusive interview with Salina Post earlier this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The scope of what the theater does now is broader than it has ever been," Spicer said.

The Salina Community Theatre Association was first organized in 1960. At the time there was no building dedicated to the theatre or to the members of the community who supported local theatre.&nbsp;

"The organization moved around to different places, even out to Indian Rock Park in the summer, sometimes, at the Washington High School building," Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;By 1968, the theatre board realized that it needed its own building. The Theatre raised $213,000 for construction and equipment.&nbsp;

"In 1972, when the Kephart Theatre was built, which was a seminal moment in our organization," Spicer said. "When you&nbsp;have a home where people can find you, and you're consistently there, you begin to build a production motif that makes sense for you."&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The Addams Family" marked the 350th&nbsp;subscription production for Theatre Salina.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"That is just main-stage performances, that doesn't even count the Center for Theatre Arts performances," Spicer said. "When we counted all shows, including CTA, there were 582 lines on the excel spreadsheet."&nbsp;

Spicer arrived at Theatre Salina in 1997 making this year his 26th&nbsp;season with the theatre. The measurability of dollars spent on tickets each year was not readily known when Spicer first arrived.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"In 1997, when I got here, we just didn't have the statistics. But when we began gathering them more than a decade ago, we were at about 30 percent of ticket sales came from outside Saline County. After about a decade of being here, we had grown that to 40 percent," said Spicer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

That trend in outside dollars coming in is continuing. According to Spicer in the two most recent musicals, Kinky Boots and The Addams Family,&nbsp; nearly half of every dollar spent on ticket sales came from outside Saline County.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The continued growth in regional sales comes on the heels of the theatre changing its name from Salina Community Theatre to Theatre Salina. The name change, which took place earlier this year, was years in the making and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After theatre board members held roundtable discussions with patrons, community members, and business leaders, the board decided to change the name in order to accurately present their motif to visitors and tourists who might have a preconceived notion when they hear the words "community theatre."&nbsp;&nbsp;

"One of the most common conversations I have is that when our patrons and longtime volunteers bring people in from outside the area to see shows here, one of the most regular comments is 'this doesn't feel or look like a community theater,'" Spicer said. "And when they see the productions, 'The Play that Goes Wrong,' 'Kinky Boots,' and 'Addams Family,' their notion of what community theater is, becomes expanded."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Theatre Salina has supported children’s programming since its beginning, bringing in a variety of traveling productions for young people. Salina Theatre for Young People (STYP) was the first incarnation of a structured children’s program. Over the years, the program’s name has been updated to Center for Theatre Arts (CTA). Classes available to students have expanded to include theatre classes, vocal, music theatre and dance classes for all ages. According to a CTA brochure, it is the&nbsp; only performing arts academy between Topeka and Denver.&nbsp;

In 2011, the theater was expanded to meet the needs of CTA’s growing roster of students.&nbsp;

“When we built this building, we hoped we would grow registration from 50 to maybe 150 student registrations a year. Well, we've been consistently at 350 student registrations for several years now,” Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The COVID-19 pandemic did impact day to day life at the theatre including the wearing of masks on stage and increased social distancing measures for cast and crew. However, student enrollment at CTA was not greatly impacted.&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Our enrollment did&nbsp;drop down a little bit during COVID, but only down to about 275. This year we have 353 student registrations,” Spicer said.&nbsp;

Broadening horizons with theatre education&nbsp;

Salina has a variety of extracurricular sports teams for young people to enjoy, but Spicer spoke about the importance of theatre education in the lives of young people.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The city has focused a lot on sports. I grew up playing football and doing gymnastics in high school. I know how they benefited me. I also know that I did theater in high school. And that benefited me too," said Spicer. "You have to look at your child and see what might expand their horizons some. I think that it is unimpeachable that taking theater classes, teaches you to communicate, it teaches you to collaborate, it teaches you to be creative, it teaches you to come up with solutions outside the box, often."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Maggie Spicer Brown, is the education director for Theatre Salina.&nbsp;Brown grew up in the Salina area, and was very active with Theatre Salina. She graduated from Salina South High School in 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Theatre Salina raised me, so I am very lucky to help be part of the formation of our education department that will in turn raise our current students to be the best versions of themselves," Brown said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brown was offered the position after Megan Coberly, former CTA education&nbsp;director,&nbsp;moved to New York City with her husband who currently works at Columbia University.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The program was left to me in great form so I'm very fortunate that I get to continue to&nbsp;build&nbsp;upon that and grow it further," Brown said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Brown received her&nbsp;Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University before moving to New York City, where she lived on and off for the better part of seven years. During that time,&nbsp; Brown worked as a professional actor with favorite credits including&nbsp;Mamma Mia&nbsp;and&nbsp;Matilda&nbsp;at Casa Manana in Texas,&nbsp;Freaky Friday&nbsp;and&nbsp;A Little Night Music&nbsp;at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and the North American tour of&nbsp;The Wizard of Oz.&nbsp;Brown has also been able to choreograph many musicals at Theatre Salina, as well as pieces for the summer contemporary shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Previously as a teacher, choreographer and director, I was a little more one on one with students, so my decisions shift into bigger picture ideas than just immediate preparations for rehearsals and class as before," Brown said. "I have really enjoyed it so far. Theatre education is so important, our students value the theatre as their safe space and home away from home and our teachers are passionate. That is what makes this job so easy to love."&nbsp;&nbsp;

Future builds and upcoming season at Theatre Salina

Spicer also told Salina Post that Theatre Salina has preliminary designs to build another series of studios and classrooms for education along E. Iron Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“What we're going to build is hopefully a new scene shop, two more dance studios, three vocal performance studios and a parent's lounge in some land along Iron Street. That means we've got to go to the city and ask them to give us some land in Founders Park,” he said.

The Theatre Salina campus is also in preliminary talks to build a new scene shop on their campus in Salina.

“We are in the very beginning stages of the next evolution of this campus. And it's being driven&nbsp; by our need for more storage area. We could build a storage facility and make it bigger than the current one we have and make it climate controlled and have security,” Spicer said.&nbsp; “But it wouldn't be with the best interest of the river project. As the walking path goes by, they don't want to have a storage building out there.”&nbsp;

The theatre looked at the cost of purchasing land, and building a remote storage facility off campus.&nbsp;

“When we counted what it would take and man hours and transportation to go back and forth between But to go several miles, takes our set manager, JR, out of the building and that takes him off of building which slows our process down,” Spicer said.&nbsp;

According to Spicer the best solution to their problem was to build a second, newer scene shop— and he knows exactly where they want it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;“Where it should have been built the first time, which is based on the theory of theater that James Hall Miller created, that Charles Shaver designed into this facility,” Spicer said. “The scene shop should have been built directly behind the stage house with two big doors, so that you can take scenery in a big circle.”&nbsp;

This project would also include a possible turntable built into the floor of the stage.&nbsp;

The turn table would allow us to move scenery. That would be an exciting possibility. And we are investigating now what the cost of that would be,” Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The theatre also is looking to enhance its lighting features by installing a permanent LED wall on the upstage part of the stage. According to Spicer this will replace the need to project scenes onto a screen, providing audience members with an ancillary design element.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The theatre board is also looking at contracts for next season's shows which will be the 63rd&nbsp;season at Theatre Salina.&nbsp;

"This is this is always a lengthy process. This is the committee that meets probably more often and more regularly than most other committees. This one does it every couple of weeks for August through December, sometimes even January, February, depending on how long it takes for us to come up with the season that makes sense for us," Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"We're doing four musicals this year, because we are re-engaging, our partnership with Kansas Wesleyan to do a fourth musical. And so the discussion is, next year do we do four non-musicals and three musicals? I&nbsp;think that we are going to do four musicals again next year for a number of reasons, some of which are artistic, and some of which are financial. But we're not sure what that's going to mean yet."&nbsp;

Upcoming shows at Theatre Salina include the following.

A Christmas Story: The Musical, Nov. 18- Dec. 3 and Dec. 16- Dec 18&nbsp;

A Doll's House Part 2, Jan. 6-22&nbsp;

The Savannah Sipping Society, Feb. 3-19&nbsp;

Something Rotten: The Musical, in partnership with Kansas Wesleyan, March 31-April 15&nbsp;

School of Rock: The Musical, June 9-25&nbsp;

By NATE KING Salina PostPerformances at Theatre Salina are drawing more people from outside Saline County than ever before. The organization is also in early concept development stages for building a new stage shop at their campus on&nbsp; E. Iron Avenue in Salina.&nbsp;That's the word from Theatre Salina Executive Director Michael Spicer during an exclusive interview with Salina Post earlier this month.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The scope of what the theater does now is broader than it has ever been," Spicer said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667940046583.jpeg" alt="Theatre Salina Executive Director Michael Spicer. Photo courtesy Theatre Salina" />
 <figcaption>Theatre Salina Executive Director Michael Spicer. Photo courtesy Theatre Salina</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Nomadic beginnings</h2>The Salina Community Theatre Association was first organized in 1960. At the time there was no building dedicated to the theatre or to the members of the community who supported local theatre.&nbsp;"The organization moved around to different places, even out to Indian Rock Park in the summer, sometimes, at the Washington High School building," Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By 1968, the theatre board realized that it needed its own building. The Theatre raised $213,000 for construction and equipment.&nbsp;"In 1972, when the Kephart Theatre was built, which was a seminal moment in our organization," Spicer said. "When you&nbsp;have a home where people can find you, and you're consistently there, you begin to build a production motif that makes sense for you."&nbsp;&nbsp;"The Addams Family" marked the 350th&nbsp;subscription production for Theatre Salina.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That is just main-stage performances, that doesn't even count the Center for Theatre Arts performances," Spicer said. "When we counted all shows, including CTA, there were 582 lines on the excel spreadsheet."&nbsp;Spicer arrived at Theatre Salina in 1997 making this year his 26th&nbsp;season with the theatre. The measurability of dollars spent on tickets each year was not readily known when Spicer first arrived.&nbsp;&nbsp;"In 1997, when I got here, we just didn't have the statistics. But when we began gathering them more than a decade ago, we were at about 30 percent of ticket sales came from outside Saline County. After about a decade of being here, we had grown that to 40 percent," said Spicer.&nbsp;&nbsp;That trend in outside dollars coming in is continuing. According to Spicer in the two most recent musicals, Kinky Boots and The Addams Family,&nbsp; nearly half of every dollar spent on ticket sales came from outside Saline County.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667939901595.jpeg" alt=""Kinky Boots"" />
 <figcaption>"Kinky Boots"</figcaption>
 </figure>The continued growth in regional sales comes on the heels of the theatre changing its name from Salina Community Theatre to Theatre Salina. The name change, which took place earlier this year, was years in the making and was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After theatre board members held roundtable discussions with patrons, community members, and business leaders, the board decided to change the name in order to accurately present their motif to visitors and tourists who might have a preconceived notion when they hear the words "community theatre."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667939930298.jpeg" alt=""The Play that Goes Wrong"" />
 <figcaption>"The Play that Goes Wrong"</figcaption>
 </figure>"One of the most common conversations I have is that when our patrons and longtime volunteers bring people in from outside the area to see shows here, one of the most regular comments is 'this doesn't feel or look like a community theater,'" Spicer said. "And when they see the productions, 'The Play that Goes Wrong,' 'Kinky Boots,' and 'Addams Family,' their notion of what community theater is, becomes expanded."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667940011069.jpeg" alt=""The Addams Family"" />
 <figcaption>"The Addams Family"</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Center for Theatre Arts</h2>Theatre Salina has supported children’s programming since its beginning, bringing in a variety of traveling productions for young people. Salina Theatre for Young People (STYP) was the first incarnation of a structured children’s program. Over the years, the program’s name has been updated to Center for Theatre Arts (CTA). Classes available to students have expanded to include theatre classes, vocal, music theatre and dance classes for all ages. According to a CTA brochure, it is the&nbsp; only performing arts academy between Topeka and Denver.&nbsp;In 2011, the theater was expanded to meet the needs of CTA’s growing roster of students.&nbsp;“When we built this building, we hoped we would grow registration from 50 to maybe 150 student registrations a year. Well, we've been consistently at 350 student registrations for several years now,” Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The COVID-19 pandemic did impact day to day life at the theatre including the wearing of masks on stage and increased social distancing measures for cast and crew. However, student enrollment at CTA was not greatly impacted.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Our enrollment did&nbsp;drop down a little bit during COVID, but only down to about 275. This year we have 353 student registrations,” Spicer said.&nbsp;Broadening horizons with theatre education&nbsp;Salina has a variety of extracurricular sports teams for young people to enjoy, but Spicer spoke about the importance of theatre education in the lives of young people.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The city has focused a lot on sports. I grew up playing football and doing gymnastics in high school. I know how they benefited me. I also know that I did theater in high school. And that benefited me too," said Spicer. "You have to look at your child and see what might expand their horizons some. I think that it is unimpeachable that taking theater classes, teaches you to communicate, it teaches you to collaborate, it teaches you to be creative, it teaches you to come up with solutions outside the box, often."&nbsp;&nbsp;Maggie Spicer Brown, is the education director for Theatre Salina.&nbsp;Brown grew up in the Salina area, and was very active with Theatre Salina. She graduated from Salina South High School in 2010.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Theatre Salina raised me, so I am very lucky to help be part of the formation of our education department that will in turn raise our current students to be the best versions of themselves," Brown said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brown was offered the position after Megan Coberly, former CTA education&nbsp;director,&nbsp;moved to New York City with her husband who currently works at Columbia University.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The program was left to me in great form so I'm very fortunate that I get to continue to&nbsp;build&nbsp;upon that and grow it further," Brown said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Brown received her&nbsp;Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University before moving to New York City, where she lived on and off for the better part of seven years. During that time,&nbsp; Brown worked as a professional actor with favorite credits including&nbsp;Mamma Mia&nbsp;and&nbsp;Matilda&nbsp;at Casa Manana in Texas,&nbsp;Freaky Friday&nbsp;and&nbsp;A Little Night Music&nbsp;at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and the North American tour of&nbsp;The Wizard of Oz.&nbsp;Brown has also been able to choreograph many musicals at Theatre Salina, as well as pieces for the summer contemporary shows.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Previously as a teacher, choreographer and director, I was a little more one on one with students, so my decisions shift into bigger picture ideas than just immediate preparations for rehearsals and class as before," Brown said. "I have really enjoyed it so far. Theatre education is so important, our students value the theatre as their safe space and home away from home and our teachers are passionate. That is what makes this job so easy to love."&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Future builds and upcoming season at Theatre Salina</h2>Spicer also told Salina Post that Theatre Salina has preliminary designs to build another series of studios and classrooms for education along E. Iron Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;“What we're going to build is hopefully a new scene shop, two more dance studios, three vocal performance studios and a parent's lounge in some land along Iron Street. That means we've got to go to the city and ask them to give us some land in Founders Park,” he said.The Theatre Salina campus is also in preliminary talks to build a new scene shop on their campus in Salina.“We are in the very beginning stages of the next evolution of this campus. And it's being driven&nbsp; by our need for more storage area. We could build a storage facility and make it bigger than the current one we have and make it climate controlled and have security,” Spicer said.&nbsp; “But it wouldn't be with the best interest of the river project. As the walking path goes by, they don't want to have a storage building out there.”&nbsp;The theatre looked at the cost of purchasing land, and building a remote storage facility off campus.&nbsp;“When we counted what it would take and man hours and transportation to go back and forth between But to go several miles, takes our set manager, JR, out of the building and that takes him off of building which slows our process down,” Spicer said.&nbsp;According to Spicer the best solution to their problem was to build a second, newer scene shop— and he knows exactly where they want it.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Where it should have been built the first time, which is based on the theory of theater that James Hall Miller created, that Charles Shaver designed into this facility,” Spicer said. “The scene shop should have been built directly behind the stage house with two big doors, so that you can take scenery in a big circle.”&nbsp;This project would also include a possible turntable built into the floor of the stage.&nbsp;The turn table would allow us to move scenery. That would be an exciting possibility. And we are investigating now what the cost of that would be,” Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The theatre also is looking to enhance its lighting features by installing a permanent LED wall on the upstage part of the stage. According to Spicer this will replace the need to project scenes onto a screen, providing audience members with an ancillary design element.&nbsp;&nbsp;The theatre board is also looking at contracts for next season's shows which will be the 63rd&nbsp;season at Theatre Salina.&nbsp;"This is this is always a lengthy process. This is the committee that meets probably more often and more regularly than most other committees. This one does it every couple of weeks for August through December, sometimes even January, February, depending on how long it takes for us to come up with the season that makes sense for us," Spicer said.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We're doing four musicals this year, because we are re-engaging, our partnership with Kansas Wesleyan to do a fourth musical. And so the discussion is, next year do we do four non-musicals and three musicals? I&nbsp;think that we are going to do four musicals again next year for a number of reasons, some of which are artistic, and some of which are financial. But we're not sure what that's going to mean yet."&nbsp;Upcoming shows at Theatre Salina include the following.A Christmas Story: The Musical, Nov. 18- Dec. 3 and Dec. 16- Dec 18&nbsp;A Doll's House Part 2, Jan. 6-22&nbsp;The Savannah Sipping Society, Feb. 3-19&nbsp;Something Rotten: The Musical, in partnership with Kansas Wesleyan, March 31-April 15&nbsp;School of Rock: The Musical, June 9-25&nbsp;

Theatre Salina: Future building expansions, Center for Theatre Arts, and more

Today is Sunday, Nov. 13, the 317th day of 2022. There are 48 days left in the year.

On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris on the national stadium, restaurants and streets, and a crowded concert hall, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II.

In 1775, during the American Revolution, the Continental Army captured Montreal.

In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to a friend, Jean-Baptiste Leroy: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

In 1909, 259 men and boys were killed when fire erupted inside a coal mine in Cherry, Illinois.

In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure lowering the minimum draft age from 21 to 18.

In 1956, the Supreme Court struck down laws calling for racial segregation on public buses.

In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars.

In 1974, Karen Silkwood, a 28-year-old technician and union activist at the Kerr-McGee Cimarron plutonium plant near Crescent, Oklahoma, died in a car crash while on her way to meet a reporter.

In 1979, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan announced in New York his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.

In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city.

In 2019, the House Intelligence Committee opened two weeks of public impeachment hearings with a dozen current and former career foreign service officials and political appointees scheduled to testify about efforts by President Donald Trump and others to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump's political rivals.

In 2020, speaking publicly for the first time since his defeat by Joe Biden, President Donald Trump refused to concede the election. Masked workers in teams of two began counting ballots in counties across Georgia; the hand tally of the presidential race stemmed from an audit required by a new state law.

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama put a hold on the nomination of Afghan war chief Gen. John Allen to become the next commander of U.S. European Command as well as the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe amid questions over documents and emails involving Allen and Tampa socialite Jill Kelley (a Pentagon investigation cleared Allen of professional misconduct). Christie's auctioned off the Archduke Joseph Diamond in Geneva for nearly $21.5 million, a world auction record price per carat for a colorless diamond.

Five years ago: A second woman accused Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her as a teenager in the late 1970s; Moore described the charge as "absolutely false" and a "political maneuver." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Moore should drop out of the race. (Moore went on to lose a special election to Democrat Doug Jones.) A North Korean soldier was shot several times by his comrades as he fled over the border to the South; he underwent surgery and recovered at a South Korean hospital. The Oakland Raiders broke ground on a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas.

One year ago: Almost 200 nations at a climate conference in Scotland accepted a compromise deal aimed at keeping a key global warming target alive, though some were disappointed by a last-minute change put forward by India to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal power. A prolonged gunbattle between rival gangs inside Ecuador's largest prison killed at least 68 inmates and wounded 25; authorities said it took most of the day to regain control.

Today's Birthdays: Journalist-author Peter Arnett is 88. Actor Jimmy Hawkins is 81. Blues singer John Hammond is 80. Country singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard is 76. Actor Joe Mantegna is 75. Actor Sheila Frazier is 74. Actor Tracy Scoggins is 69. Actor Chris Noth is 68. Actor-comedian Whoopi Goldberg is 67. Actor Rex Linn is 66. Actor Caroline Goodall is 63. Actor Neil Flynn is 62. Former NFL quarterback and College Football Hall of Famer Vinny Testaverde is 59. Rock musician Walter Kibby (Fishbone) is 58. Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is 55. Actor Steve Zahn is 55. Actor Gerard Butler is 53. Writer-activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali is 53. Actor Jordan Bridges is 49. Actor Aisha Hinds is 47. Rock musician Nikolai Fraiture is 44. Former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Ron Artest and Metta World Peace) is 43. Actor Monique Coleman is 42. Actor Rahul Kohli is 37. Actor Devon Bostick is 31.

<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 Sunday, Nov. 13, the 317th day of 2022. There are 48 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Nov. 13, 2015, Islamic State militants carried out a set of coordinated attacks in Paris on the national stadium, restaurants and streets, and a crowded concert hall, killing 130 people in the worst attack on French soil since World War II.On this date:In 1775, during the American Revolution, the Continental Army captured Montreal.In 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote in a letter to a friend, Jean-Baptiste Leroy: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."In 1909, 259 men and boys were killed when fire erupted inside a coal mine in Cherry, Illinois.In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a measure lowering the minimum draft age from 21 to 18.In 1956, the Supreme Court struck down laws calling for racial segregation on public buses.In 1971, the U.S. space probe Mariner 9 went into orbit around Mars.In 1974, Karen Silkwood, a 28-year-old technician and union activist at the Kerr-McGee Cimarron plutonium plant near Crescent, Oklahoma, died in a car crash while on her way to meet a reporter.In 1979, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan announced in New York his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.In 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.In 1985, some 23,000 residents of Armero, Colombia, died when a volcanic mudslide buried the city.In 2019, the House Intelligence Committee opened two weeks of public impeachment hearings with a dozen current and former career foreign service officials and political appointees scheduled to testify about efforts by President Donald Trump and others to pressure Ukraine to investigate Trump's political rivals.In 2020, speaking publicly for the first time since his defeat by Joe Biden, President Donald Trump refused to concede the election. Masked workers in teams of two began counting ballots in counties across Georgia; the hand tally of the presidential race stemmed from an audit required by a new state law.Ten years ago: President Barack Obama put a hold on the nomination of Afghan war chief Gen. John Allen to become the next commander of U.S. European Command as well as the NATO supreme allied commander in Europe amid questions over documents and emails involving Allen and Tampa socialite Jill Kelley (a Pentagon investigation cleared Allen of professional misconduct). Christie's auctioned off the Archduke Joseph Diamond in Geneva for nearly $21.5 million, a world auction record price per carat for a colorless diamond.Five years ago: A second woman accused Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexually assaulting her as a teenager in the late 1970s; Moore described the charge as "absolutely false" and a "political maneuver." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Moore should drop out of the race. (Moore went on to lose a special election to Democrat Doug Jones.) A North Korean soldier was shot several times by his comrades as he fled over the border to the South; he underwent surgery and recovered at a South Korean hospital. The Oakland Raiders broke ground on a 65,000-seat domed stadium in Las Vegas.One year ago: Almost 200 nations at a climate conference in Scotland accepted a compromise deal aimed at keeping a key global warming target alive, though some were disappointed by a last-minute change put forward by India to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal power. A prolonged gunbattle between rival gangs inside Ecuador's largest prison killed at least 68 inmates and wounded 25; authorities said it took most of the day to regain control.Today's Birthdays: Journalist-author Peter Arnett is 88. Actor Jimmy Hawkins is 81. Blues singer John Hammond is 80. Country singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard is 76. Actor Joe Mantegna is 75. Actor Sheila Frazier is 74. Actor Tracy Scoggins is 69. Actor Chris Noth is 68. Actor-comedian Whoopi Goldberg is 67. Actor Rex Linn is 66. Actor Caroline Goodall is 63. Actor Neil Flynn is 62. Former NFL quarterback and College Football Hall of Famer Vinny Testaverde is 59. Rock musician Walter Kibby (Fishbone) is 58. Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel is 55. Actor Steve Zahn is 55. Actor Gerard Butler is 53. Writer-activist Ayaan Hirsi Ali is 53. Actor Jordan Bridges is 49. Actor Aisha Hinds is 47. Rock musician Nikolai Fraiture is 44. Former NBA All-Star Metta Sandiford-Artest (formerly Ron Artest and Metta World Peace) is 43. Actor Monique Coleman is 42. Actor Rahul Kohli is 37. Actor Devon Bostick is 31.

Today in History - November 13

Herbert Dettmer&nbsp;asked for candles, salt and a small statue so he could continue to practice his beliefs while he was incarcerated in Virginia in the early 1980s. He was denied access to these items — considered prison contraband — even though similar items were allowed in other religious ceremonies performed by prison chaplains.

The Virginia Department of Corrections did not recognize Dettmer’s beliefs as a legitimate religion. Dettmer, a member of the Church of Wicca, sued and won. In&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/617/592/2246829/" target="_blank">Dettmer v. Landon (1985),</a>&nbsp;the District Court of Virginia formally recognized the Church of Wicca as protected by the First Amendment. The court reasoned that because Wiccan beliefs and rituals are “spiritual” and display “similarity to other more widely recognized religions,” the Church should be considered a “real” religion.

Dettmer and people who are a part of religious communities that are less visible should be protected by the First Amendment, but that doesn’t always happen because of ongoing tensions in how our courts define religion. Only by upholding protection of the most vulnerable religious minorities does the First Amendment protect religious freedom for all.

Wicca is a modern religion rooted in pre-Christian paganism in which followers practice witchcraft through rituals honoring the divine and natural world. Dating back to the Roman Empire, the term pagan historically referred to any “religious other” ­— primarily non-Christians — but today the word is used to characterize a wide array of religious traditions, most of which center around a reverence for nature.

Wicca is a largely decentralized religion, meaning there is no central authority dictating its rules. However, some communities adopt a more formal structure, such as the Church of Wicca, founded in 1958, of which Dettmer was a member. While all religious traditions are internally diverse, the varieties of practices within Wicca are particularly broad. For instance, some Wiccans worship both a feminine and masculine deity while others believe in one or none. Rituals within the Wiccan tradition differ widely but often center around the natural world, such as the 8 Sabbats, festivals marking the passing of the seasons.

Although Wiccans make up a small minority of the population, long-held misconceptions equating Wicca with devil worship have led to prejudice toward adherents. In August 2022, evangelical Christian protestors at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.witchsfestusa.org/" target="_blank">WitchsFest USA</a>, an annual pagan festival, disrupted the gathering, forcing some events to be canceled. Festival attendees said that harassing communities for their religious beliefs defies the spirit of the First Amendment.

Do courts protect religious traditions like Wicca?

When our courts interpret and apply the First Amendment’s protection of religious exercise, they sometimes protect Wiccans like Dettmer, but not always.

One reason:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freedom-of-religion/religious-freedom-faq/#ReligionFAQ6" target="_blank">Our courts have never agreed</a>&nbsp;upon a single definition of religion. Previous attempts to define religion were based on checkboxes that worked for the Christian majority, such as a belief in a single God, one central written text, a clear hierarchy of authority, etc. As a result, Christian (especially Protestant) traditions are structurally favored in religious freedom law.

But this cookie cutter definition does not work for non-Christian, decentralized traditions. The less a religious minority resembles the majority — in belief, hierarchy, rituals, holidays, etc. — the less likely it is to be considered a legitimate religion. Traditions that differ from those of the majority are more likely to be labeled as personal ideology or philosophy, making it more challenging for followers to access their First Amendment rights. Wiccans, whose practice doesn’t include the structures, central text or uniform code of beliefs that Christian traditions do, sometimes struggle to protect their First Amendment rights. Had Dettmer been an independent practitioner of Wicca, instead of a formal member of the Church of Wicca, the court may not have sided in his favor.

What happens when we (re)define religion?

Over the past few decades, our court system has expanded its definition of religion, slowly moving away from applying explicitly Christian standards. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/" target="_blank">as the Christian majority shrinks</a>&nbsp;and alternative religious communities increase in popularity, the questions remain: How are we still inadvertently limiting religious freedom when our standard of legitimate religion hinges on similarity to the religious majority? On the other hand, what unintended consequences might befall us if the court adopts a more expansive definition of religion? If we extend our definition of religion, do we open the door for communities such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spaghettimonster.org/" target="_blank">the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0GsLNj648Q" target="_blank">followers of the Star Wars-inspired Jedi Order</a>&nbsp;to make First Amendment free exercise claims? How should the courts balance what religious studies scholar and lawyer&nbsp;Winnifred Fallers&nbsp;Sullivan deems the&nbsp;<a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691180953/the-impossibility-of-religious-freedom" target="_blank">“impossibility of religious freedom”?</a>

While the law evolves, one thing is certain: Simply because you find a religious tradition unfamiliar does not change its First Amendment protections. Whether you are Christian, Jewish,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19vkPqL8b-4" target="_blank">atheist</a>&nbsp;or Wiccan, at some point in time&nbsp;your&nbsp;tradition was likely deemed illogical, new or threatening. When we protect the free exercise of our most vulnerable religious minorities, we protect religious freedom for all.

Hannah Santos is the religious freedom program coordinator at the Freedom Forum.

By HANNAH SANTOSHerbert Dettmer&nbsp;asked for candles, salt and a small statue so he could continue to practice his beliefs while he was incarcerated in Virginia in the early 1980s. He was denied access to these items — considered prison contraband — even though similar items were allowed in other religious ceremonies performed by prison chaplains.The Virginia Department of Corrections did not recognize Dettmer’s beliefs as a legitimate religion. Dettmer, a member of the Church of Wicca, sued and won. In&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/617/592/2246829/" target="_blank">Dettmer v. Landon (1985),</a>&nbsp;the District Court of Virginia formally recognized the Church of Wicca as protected by the First Amendment. The court reasoned that because Wiccan beliefs and rituals are “spiritual” and display “similarity to other more widely recognized religions,” the Church should be considered a “real” religion.Dettmer and people who are a part of religious communities that are less visible should be protected by the First Amendment, but that doesn’t always happen because of ongoing tensions in how our courts define religion. Only by upholding protection of the most vulnerable religious minorities does the First Amendment protect religious freedom for all.What is Wicca?Wicca is a modern religion rooted in pre-Christian paganism in which followers practice witchcraft through rituals honoring the divine and natural world. Dating back to the Roman Empire, the term pagan historically referred to any “religious other” ­— primarily non-Christians — but today the word is used to characterize a wide array of religious traditions, most of which center around a reverence for nature.Wicca is a largely decentralized religion, meaning there is no central authority dictating its rules. However, some communities adopt a more formal structure, such as the Church of Wicca, founded in 1958, of which Dettmer was a member. While all religious traditions are internally diverse, the varieties of practices within Wicca are particularly broad. For instance, some Wiccans worship both a feminine and masculine deity while others believe in one or none. Rituals within the Wiccan tradition differ widely but often center around the natural world, such as the 8 Sabbats, festivals marking the passing of the seasons.Although Wiccans make up a small minority of the population, long-held misconceptions equating Wicca with devil worship have led to prejudice toward adherents. In August 2022, evangelical Christian protestors at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.witchsfestusa.org/" target="_blank">WitchsFest USA</a>, an annual pagan festival, disrupted the gathering, forcing some events to be canceled. Festival attendees said that harassing communities for their religious beliefs defies the spirit of the First Amendment.Do courts protect religious traditions like Wicca?When our courts interpret and apply the First Amendment’s protection of religious exercise, they sometimes protect Wiccans like Dettmer, but not always.One reason:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomforum.org/freedom-of-religion/religious-freedom-faq/#ReligionFAQ6" target="_blank">Our courts have never agreed</a>&nbsp;upon a single definition of religion. Previous attempts to define religion were based on checkboxes that worked for the Christian majority, such as a belief in a single God, one central written text, a clear hierarchy of authority, etc. As a result, Christian (especially Protestant) traditions are structurally favored in religious freedom law.But this cookie cutter definition does not work for non-Christian, decentralized traditions. The less a religious minority resembles the majority — in belief, hierarchy, rituals, holidays, etc. — the less likely it is to be considered a legitimate religion. Traditions that differ from those of the majority are more likely to be labeled as personal ideology or philosophy, making it more challenging for followers to access their First Amendment rights. Wiccans, whose practice doesn’t include the structures, central text or uniform code of beliefs that Christian traditions do, sometimes struggle to protect their First Amendment rights. Had Dettmer been an independent practitioner of Wicca, instead of a formal member of the Church of Wicca, the court may not have sided in his favor.What happens when we (re)define religion?Over the past few decades, our court system has expanded its definition of religion, slowly moving away from applying explicitly Christian standards. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2022/09/13/modeling-the-future-of-religion-in-america/" target="_blank">as the Christian majority shrinks</a>&nbsp;and alternative religious communities increase in popularity, the questions remain: How are we still inadvertently limiting religious freedom when our standard of legitimate religion hinges on similarity to the religious majority? On the other hand, what unintended consequences might befall us if the court adopts a more expansive definition of religion? If we extend our definition of religion, do we open the door for communities such as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spaghettimonster.org/" target="_blank">the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0GsLNj648Q" target="_blank">followers of the Star Wars-inspired Jedi Order</a>&nbsp;to make First Amendment free exercise claims? How should the courts balance what religious studies scholar and lawyer&nbsp;Winnifred Fallers&nbsp;Sullivan deems the&nbsp;<a href="https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691180953/the-impossibility-of-religious-freedom" target="_blank">“impossibility of religious freedom”?</a>While the law evolves, one thing is certain: Simply because you find a religious tradition unfamiliar does not change its First Amendment protections. Whether you are Christian, Jewish,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19vkPqL8b-4" target="_blank">atheist</a>&nbsp;or Wiccan, at some point in time&nbsp;your&nbsp;tradition was likely deemed illogical, new or threatening. When we protect the free exercise of our most vulnerable religious minorities, we protect religious freedom for all.Hannah Santos is the religious freedom program coordinator at the Freedom Forum.

FIRST 5: Courts don't have single definition of religion

K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;With a change of seasons, Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said there are some important factors to consider when taking care of your home garden.

Knotweed Control&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Knotweed is an annual that germinates in late February or early March,” Upham said. “So a pre-emergence herbicide can be used in the late fall.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The beginning of November is the ideal time to apply herbicide. For pre-emergence knotweed, Upham recommends brand names Scotts Halts, Weed Impede, Barricade, Dimension or XL. For post-emergence, Trimec, Weed-Out, Weed-B-Gon or Weed Free Zone can be applied in spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If seeding in the spring, another option is tilling, which will adequately control knotweed without the addition of a herbicide.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Compost Pile&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fallen leaves and other materials are abundant for the compost pile. It is vital to keep the compost pile moist in order for the materials to efficiently decompose.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“(T)he compost needs to be kept moist so that the bacteria and fungi can break down raw materials,” Upham said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During times without a recent rain, a sprinkler can be used to soak through the pile. After wetting, the pile can be allowed to drain. Aim for the entire pile to be moist but not waterlogged. Edges can dry out quicker than the rest of the pile and can be lightly sprinkled to be moistened again.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information on composting, the K-State Department of Horticulture provides an instructional video or series of publications.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668282398156.jpeg" alt="Compost bins still need to be tended to. Photo courtesy Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Compost bins still need to be tended to. Photo courtesy Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research and Extension News Service&nbsp;MANHATTAN —&nbsp;With a change of seasons, Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said there are some important factors to consider when taking care of your home garden.Knotweed Control&nbsp;&nbsp;“Knotweed is an annual that germinates in late February or early March,” Upham said. “So a pre-emergence herbicide can be used in the late fall.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The beginning of November is the ideal time to apply herbicide. For pre-emergence knotweed, Upham recommends brand names Scotts Halts, Weed Impede, Barricade, Dimension or XL. For post-emergence, Trimec, Weed-Out, Weed-B-Gon or Weed Free Zone can be applied in spring.&nbsp;&nbsp;If seeding in the spring, another option is tilling, which will adequately control knotweed without the addition of a herbicide.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q0qULMjcrfc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Compost Pile&nbsp;&nbsp;Fallen leaves and other materials are abundant for the compost pile. It is vital to keep the compost pile moist in order for the materials to efficiently decompose.&nbsp;&nbsp;“(T)he compost needs to be kept moist so that the bacteria and fungi can break down raw materials,” Upham said.&nbsp;&nbsp;During times without a recent rain, a sprinkler can be used to soak through the pile. After wetting, the pile can be allowed to drain. Aim for the entire pile to be moist but not waterlogged. Edges can dry out quicker than the rest of the pile and can be lightly sprinkled to be moistened again.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information on composting, the K-State Department of Horticulture provides an instructional video or series of publications.&nbsp;&nbsp;Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with tips for maintaining home landscapes. The newsletter is available to view online or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;&nbsp;Interested persons can also send their garden- and yard-related questions to Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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