By KIRA KROWN Consumer education specialist, FTC

Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?

Someone may call, tell you they’re from a&nbsp;<a href="http://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonator-scam">government agency</a>, and say you owe taxes or a fine. Or they may pretend to be a family member or friend in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scammers-use-fake-emergencies-steal-your-money">trouble</a>,&nbsp;who needs money right away. Or they may say&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fake-prize-sweepstakes-lottery-scams">you’ve won a prize</a>,&nbsp;but first must pay fees or other charges.&nbsp;

In these and similar scenarios, here are signs you’re dealing with a scammer:

●The caller says it’s urgent. They tell you to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They try to pressure you into acting quickly, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don’t pay. It’s a scam.

●The caller usually tells you which gift card to buy. They might tell you to put money on a Google Play, Target, or iTunes gift card — or send you to a specific store like Walmart, Target, or CVS. Sometimes they tell you to buy cards at several stores, so&nbsp;cashiers won’t get suspicious. If so, stop. It’s a scam.

●The caller asks you for the gift card number and PIN. The scammer uses that information to get the money you’ve loaded on the card. Don’t give them those numbers. It’s a scam. You’ll lose your money, and you won’t be able to get it back.

If you paid a scammer with a gift card,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/giftcards">tell the company that issued the card</a>&nbsp;right away. Keep the card and find any receipts you have. Then tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.

Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/giftcards">ftc.gov/giftcards</a>&nbsp;for more information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670259759685.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy FTC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy FTC</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIRA KROWN Consumer education specialist, FTCLooking for a New Year’s resolution? Here’s one for you: Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Then help others spot and avoid them, too. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone. But what do gift card scams look like?Someone may call, tell you they’re from a&nbsp;<a href="http://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-government-impersonator-scam">government agency</a>, and say you owe taxes or a fine. Or they may pretend to be a family member or friend in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scammers-use-fake-emergencies-steal-your-money">trouble</a>,&nbsp;who needs money right away. Or they may say&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fake-prize-sweepstakes-lottery-scams">you’ve won a prize</a>,&nbsp;but first must pay fees or other charges.&nbsp;In these and similar scenarios, here are signs you’re dealing with a scammer:●The caller says it’s urgent. They tell you to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They try to pressure you into acting quickly, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don’t pay. It’s a scam.●The caller usually tells you which gift card to buy. They might tell you to put money on a Google Play, Target, or iTunes gift card — or send you to a specific store like Walmart, Target, or CVS. Sometimes they tell you to buy cards at several stores, so&nbsp;cashiers won’t get suspicious. If so, stop. It’s a scam.●The caller asks you for the gift card number and PIN. The scammer uses that information to get the money you’ve loaded on the card. Don’t give them those numbers. It’s a scam. You’ll lose your money, and you won’t be able to get it back.If you paid a scammer with a gift card,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/giftcards">tell the company that issued the card</a>&nbsp;right away. Keep the card and find any receipts you have. Then tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ftc.gov/giftcards">ftc.gov/giftcards</a>&nbsp;for more information.

’Tis the season to spot and avoid gift card scams

Jerry Ivey Memorial Park pond and the Smoky Hill River Greenway Trail 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 can also send written comments or questions to City Commissioners by visiting the City of Salina’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salina-ks.gov/">www.salina-ks.gov</a>&nbsp;and using the “Email City Commission” icon on the home page.

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 meet in a study session at 2:30 p.m. Monday to hear options for the future of Jerry Ivey Memorial Park pond. Included will be information about a timeline for filling the blue-green algae-plagued pond and a timeline for designing and reconstructing the site.

Additionally, information will be provided concerning a potential survey via cellphone voting.

To see the information packet for the study session, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=500205&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

Commissioners also are being asked to consider authorizing the mayor to accept property from the Salina Family YMCA for Phase 2 of the Smoky Hill River Greenway Trail. 

Additionally, they are being asked to consider authorizing the city manager to accept Phase 1 property and execute six agreements with property owners. According to information from the city, each of the six property acquisitions "is estimated to be minimal and well within the city manager's purchasing authority."

The city also noted that "there is minimal fiscal impact to the city other than the long term maintenance involved with the property and trail upkeep."

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

●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute renewals of agreement for administrative services for a Self-Funded Health and Prescription Benefit Plan and individual and aggregate stop-loss coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.

●Consider authorizing the city manager to renew an agreement for life insurance benefits with MetLife.

To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=500202&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

By SALINA POSTJerry Ivey Memorial Park pond and the Smoky Hill River Greenway Trail are among the items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday.About the meetingStudy 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 can also send written comments or questions to City Commissioners by visiting the City of Salina’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salina-ks.gov/">www.salina-ks.gov</a>&nbsp;and using the “Email City Commission” icon on the home page.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.Study sessionCommissioners are scheduled to meet in a study session at 2:30 p.m. Monday to hear options for the future of Jerry Ivey Memorial Park pond. Included will be information about a timeline for filling the blue-green algae-plagued pond and a timeline for designing and reconstructing the site.Additionally, information will be provided concerning a potential survey via cellphone voting.To see the information packet for the study session, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=500205&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670201180032.jpeg" alt="The Smoky Hill Rive Greenway Trail. Map courtesy City of Salina" />
 <figcaption>The Smoky Hill Rive Greenway Trail. Map courtesy City of Salina</figcaption>
 </figure>Regular meetingCommissioners also are being asked to consider authorizing the mayor to accept property from the Salina Family YMCA for Phase 2 of the Smoky Hill River Greenway Trail. Additionally, they are being asked to consider authorizing the city manager to accept Phase 1 property and execute six agreements with property owners. According to information from the city, each of the six property acquisitions "is estimated to be minimal and well within the city manager's purchasing authority."The city also noted that "there is minimal fiscal impact to the city other than the long term maintenance involved with the property and trail upkeep."Other items on the Salina City Commission agenda for Monday include the following.●Consider authorizing the city manager to execute renewals of agreement for administrative services for a Self-Funded Health and Prescription Benefit Plan and individual and aggregate stop-loss coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.●Consider authorizing the city manager to renew an agreement for life insurance benefits with MetLife.To see the full Salina City Commission meeting packet for Monday, <a href="http://weblink.salina.org/WebLink/Browse.aspx?id=500202&amp;dbid=0&amp;repo=Salina">click here</a>.

Jerry Ivey pond, Smoky Hill River trail among Salina City Commission agenda items

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Multiple items, including two mule deer mounts, were stolen from a south Salina storage unit last month.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that sometime in November, items were stolen from a storage unit in the 3000 block of S. Ninth Street, including the following.

●A 21-point mule deer mount, valued at $600

●A 12-point mule deer mount, valued at $600

●A Bostitch roofing nail gun, valued at $260

●Milwaukee portable band saw, valued at $350

The 39-year-old Salina man who owned the items was told by the site manager that his unit did not have a lock on it. When the man went there on Sunday, he discovered the items missing, Forrester said.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostMultiple items, including two mule deer mounts, were stolen from a south Salina storage unit last month.Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that sometime in November, items were stolen from a storage unit in the 3000 block of S. Ninth Street, including the following.●A 21-point mule deer mount, valued at $600●A 12-point mule deer mount, valued at $600●A Bostitch roofing nail gun, valued at $260●Milwaukee portable band saw, valued at $350The 39-year-old Salina man who owned the items was told by the site manager that his unit did not have a lock on it. When the man went there on Sunday, he discovered the items missing, Forrester said.

Mule deer mounts, power tools stolen from storage unit

Police are looking for two people seen on surveillance video taking cash and coins from a vending machine at a central Salina laundry.

Thursday at approximately 3:45 p.m., a white man and a white woman entered Speedy Wash at 514 E. Iron Avenue. They brought with them an assortment of keys and attempted to use them to get into a vending machine. 

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that when the keys didn't work, the duo broke into the vending machine and stole approximately $500 in cash and coins.

Total loss, including damage to the vending machine, was estimated at just under $1,000, he said.

The duo was captured on surveillance video.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice are looking for two people seen on surveillance video taking cash and coins from a vending machine at a central Salina laundry.Thursday at approximately 3:45 p.m., a white man and a white woman entered Speedy Wash at 514 E. Iron Avenue. They brought with them an assortment of keys and attempted to use them to get into a vending machine. Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that when the keys didn't work, the duo broke into the vending machine and stole approximately $500 in cash and coins.Total loss, including damage to the vending machine, was estimated at just under $1,000, he said.The duo was captured on surveillance video.

Two people sought in theft from laundry vending machine

Recently, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee accepted the resignation of Eric L. Brown. Eric accepted a position with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and his last day with the chamber will be in early January 2023.

Brown first joined the Chamber staff in 2011 as the workforce development director and held roles as the business development director, vice president, and since 2019, has been the president and CEO.

“The years of my Salina Chamber career have been very fulfilling and exciting, and I’ve enjoyed providing leadership to this organization and also helping the business community grow and prosper,” said Brown. “It has truly been my pleasure and honor to work with so many dedicated volunteers on a wide variety of programs and projects and I wish to thank everyone from the board, staff, and membership for all of their support over the past decade.”

The Board has named current staff member, Renee Duxler, economic and workforce development&nbsp;director to serve in an interim role. Duxler has been essential in supporting the economic development activities of the Chamber including overseeing Imagine Salina workforce development efforts, growing the

Project Open Salina small business development program, and assisting with the governmental affairs efforts of the Chamber. She has non-profit management experience and is well prepared to lead the agency through this transition.

While there’s never a perfect time for a transition, the financial stability, much-improved stakeholder relationships, and the overall momentum of Salina and its economy gives the Board confidence that a qualified and strong replacement will be secured. The organization will announce search process details for the president and CEO position when finalized.

Travis Young, 2022 Chairman of the Salina Chamber Board of Directors, said, “While we are sad to see Eric leave the organization, the board appreciates his efforts and dedication to the business community, membership, and stakeholders. At the same time, we are excited about the future of our chamber.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642793194945.jpeg" alt="Eric Brown. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Eric Brown. Photo courtesy Salina Area Chamber of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Area Chamber of CommerceRecently, the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee accepted the resignation of Eric L. Brown. Eric accepted a position with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and his last day with the chamber will be in early January 2023.Brown first joined the Chamber staff in 2011 as the workforce development director and held roles as the business development director, vice president, and since 2019, has been the president and CEO.“The years of my Salina Chamber career have been very fulfilling and exciting, and I’ve enjoyed providing leadership to this organization and also helping the business community grow and prosper,” said Brown. “It has truly been my pleasure and honor to work with so many dedicated volunteers on a wide variety of programs and projects and I wish to thank everyone from the board, staff, and membership for all of their support over the past decade.”The Board has named current staff member, Renee Duxler, economic and workforce development&nbsp;director to serve in an interim role. Duxler has been essential in supporting the economic development activities of the Chamber including overseeing Imagine Salina workforce development efforts, growing theProject Open Salina small business development program, and assisting with the governmental affairs efforts of the Chamber. She has non-profit management experience and is well prepared to lead the agency through this transition.While there’s never a perfect time for a transition, the financial stability, much-improved stakeholder relationships, and the overall momentum of Salina and its economy gives the Board confidence that a qualified and strong replacement will be secured. The organization will announce search process details for the president and CEO position when finalized.Travis Young, 2022 Chairman of the Salina Chamber Board of Directors, said, “While we are sad to see Eric leave the organization, the board appreciates his efforts and dedication to the business community, membership, and stakeholders. At the same time, we are excited about the future of our chamber.”

Eric Brown leaving Salina Area Chamber of Commerce

The teaching profession is “...at or near its lowest levels in 50 years” according to a November study just published by Matthew Kraft of Brown University and Melissa Lyon at University at Albany. While plenty of studies have documented the recent dramatic loss of teachers across the nation, their study uses a wide array of long term surveys and data going back a half century.

In “The Rise and Fall of the Teaching Profession: Prestige, Interest, Preparation, and Satisfaction over the Last Half Century,” they examine long-term changes in “...education funding, teacher pay, outside opportunities, unionism, barriers to entry, working conditions, accountability, autonomy, and school shootings.”

The authors point out that K–12 schools need over 3.7 million teachers.&nbsp; Therefore each normal year requires schools to fill over 200,000 newly vacant positions. But they contend “the sheer number of teachers needed limits the ability of most educator preparation programs and schools to be highly selective about whom they admit and employ....” This is wrong. When we look at Finland, Sweden and some other advanced countries, they take their teachers from the top of their college graduates. Our lack of selectivity reflects the American anti-intellectual valuing of teaching as a semi-profession. A factor these authors do not recognize. &nbsp;

They examine over a dozen data sets across the last 50 years to detect changes in: “professional prestige, [teaching] interest among students, preparation to enter the profession, and on-the-job satisfaction.” They found “...three major periods of change in the status of the teaching profession...across the last half century. Prestige, interest, preparation, and satisfaction declined rapidly in the 1970s, rose swiftly in the early to mid-1980s, remained somewhat steady for the next 20 years, and then began declining precipitously....” Since I taught middle and high school science starting in 1969, I was in the classroom to witness these changes in income, public attitude, and governmental interference.

While they document the decline in the 1970s, they fail to realize the impact of the spirit of that time. Russia had launched Sputnik in 1957 and America invested in solid reforms in education for a decade. Then there were three national assassinations from 1963 to 1968. The U.S. public and students went into an academic depression, with SAT scores dropping 35 points by 1977. While these authors fail to recognize this major factor for this first nosedive in scores, they do provide graphed evidence for other factors that also continued to depress U.S. education and teacher morale.

Harris and Gallup Poll data compare public attitudes across the last 50 years. Parents wanting their child to become a teacher dropped from 75 percent in 1970 to 36 percent in 2021. Those who perceived teaching as “prestigious” dropped from 80 percent in 1996 to under 60 percent in 2020. College freshmen pursuing a career in teaching dropped from 18 percent in the 1970s to 4 percent in 2019.&nbsp; The percentage of college graduates nationwide completing a BA or MA with an education major dropped from 26 percent in 1972 to 8 percent in 2020. They found that “teachers’ job satisfaction is also at the lowest level in five decades, with the percent of teachers who feel the stress of their job is worth it dropping from 81 percent to 42 percent in the last 15 years.”

The most severe decline has occurred following the implementation of the No Child Left Behind and subsequent modifications that have severely eroded teacher professionalism. While it is unthinkable that politicians would interfere with medical doctors’ practices and demand every patient survive and be cured by 2014, essentially the demand on teachers laid down by NCLB, there has been growing tension over student performance leading to political interference. The authors note “This tension has led to repeated efforts to raise instructional quality by controlling teacher practices with top-down management and standardization, diminishing teachers’ autonomy and disregarding their expertise.”

This de-professionalization of teaching through imposing standardized outcomes has been the main concern of my K–12 biology teaching colleagues in these last 20 years, and there is no indication that this decline will turn around until teachers are given back their full authority to teach. Nor are there any actions being taken by state boards of education nationwide toward restoring professionalism.&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 SCHROCKThe teaching profession is “...at or near its lowest levels in 50 years” according to a November study just published by Matthew Kraft of Brown University and Melissa Lyon at University at Albany. While plenty of studies have documented the recent dramatic loss of teachers across the nation, their study uses a wide array of long term surveys and data going back a half century. In “The Rise and Fall of the Teaching Profession: Prestige, Interest, Preparation, and Satisfaction over the Last Half Century,” they examine long-term changes in “...education funding, teacher pay, outside opportunities, unionism, barriers to entry, working conditions, accountability, autonomy, and school shootings.” The authors point out that K–12 schools need over 3.7 million teachers.&nbsp; Therefore each normal year requires schools to fill over 200,000 newly vacant positions. But they contend “the sheer number of teachers needed limits the ability of most educator preparation programs and schools to be highly selective about whom they admit and employ....” This is wrong. When we look at Finland, Sweden and some other advanced countries, they take their teachers from the top of their college graduates. Our lack of selectivity reflects the American anti-intellectual valuing of teaching as a semi-profession. A factor these authors do not recognize. &nbsp; They examine over a dozen data sets across the last 50 years to detect changes in: “professional prestige, [teaching] interest among students, preparation to enter the profession, and on-the-job satisfaction.” They found “...three major periods of change in the status of the teaching profession...across the last half century. Prestige, interest, preparation, and satisfaction declined rapidly in the 1970s, rose swiftly in the early to mid-1980s, remained somewhat steady for the next 20 years, and then began declining precipitously....” Since I taught middle and high school science starting in 1969, I was in the classroom to witness these changes in income, public attitude, and governmental interference. While they document the decline in the 1970s, they fail to realize the impact of the spirit of that time. Russia had launched Sputnik in 1957 and America invested in solid reforms in education for a decade. Then there were three national assassinations from 1963 to 1968. The U.S. public and students went into an academic depression, with SAT scores dropping 35 points by 1977. While these authors fail to recognize this major factor for this first nosedive in scores, they do provide graphed evidence for other factors that also continued to depress U.S. education and teacher morale. Harris and Gallup Poll data compare public attitudes across the last 50 years. Parents wanting their child to become a teacher dropped from 75 percent in 1970 to 36 percent in 2021. Those who perceived teaching as “prestigious” dropped from 80 percent in 1996 to under 60 percent in 2020. College freshmen pursuing a career in teaching dropped from 18 percent in the 1970s to 4 percent in 2019.&nbsp; The percentage of college graduates nationwide completing a BA or MA with an education major dropped from 26 percent in 1972 to 8 percent in 2020. They found that “teachers’ job satisfaction is also at the lowest level in five decades, with the percent of teachers who feel the stress of their job is worth it dropping from 81 percent to 42 percent in the last 15 years.” The most severe decline has occurred following the implementation of the No Child Left Behind and subsequent modifications that have severely eroded teacher professionalism. While it is unthinkable that politicians would interfere with medical doctors’ practices and demand every patient survive and be cured by 2014, essentially the demand on teachers laid down by NCLB, there has been growing tension over student performance leading to political interference. The authors note “This tension has led to repeated efforts to raise instructional quality by controlling teacher practices with top-down management and standardization, diminishing teachers’ autonomy and disregarding their expertise.” This de-professionalization of teaching through imposing standardized outcomes has been the main concern of my K–12 biology teaching colleagues in these last 20 years, and there is no indication that this decline will turn around until teachers are given back their full authority to teach. Nor are there any actions being taken by state boards of education nationwide toward restoring professionalism.&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.

EDUCATION FRONTLINES: Teaching status reaches 50 year low

Today is Monday, Dec. 5, the 339th day of 2022. There are 26 days left in the year.

On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president, died at age 95.

In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.

In 1792, George Washington was reelected president; John Adams was reelected vice president.

In 1848, President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in California.

In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.

In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.

In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO under its first president, George Meany.

In 1994, Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.

In 2009, a jury in Perugia, Italy convicted American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, of murdering Knox's British roommate, Meredith Kercher, and sentenced them to long prison terms. (After a series of back-and-forth rulings, Knox and Sollecito were definitively acquitted in 2015 by Italy's highest court.)

In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush was mourned at a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral attended by President Donald Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter along with their spouses; former president George W. Bush was among the speakers, eulogizing his dad as "the brightest of a thousand points of light."

In 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she had asked the relevant House committee chairs to begin drawing up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, saying his actions left them "no choice" but to act swiftly; in response, Trump tweeted that Democrats had "gone crazy." (Trump would be impeached by the House on charges of obstruction and abuse of power, but the Senate voted to acquit in the first of two Trump impeachment trials.)

In 2020, at a Georgia rally where he urged supporters to turn out for a pair of Republican Senate candidates in a January runoff election, President Donald Trump spread baseless allegations of misconduct in the November voting in Georgia and beyond. Hours before the rally, according to officials with knowledge of the call, Trump asked Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to order a special legislative session to give him the state's electoral votes, even though Joe Biden had won the majority of the vote; Kemp refused to do so.

Ten years ago: Port clerks ended an eight-day strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach after winning guarantees against the outsourcing of jobs. Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died in Norwalk, Connecticut, a day before he would have turned 92.

Five years ago: Democratic congressman John Conyers of Michigan resigned from Congress after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job amid the sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation's workplaces. In a bitterly contested runoff election, Atlanta voters narrowly chose Keisha Lance Bottoms as the city's next mayor; a result that would be upheld after a recount requested by rival Mary Norwood. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea after concluding that members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games; some Russians would be able to compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

One year ago: Bob Dole, who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans, died at 98. U.S. health officials said that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus was rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggested it could be less dangerous than the delta variant, which continued to drive a surge of hospitalizations. Buck O'Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges and three others in being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by veterans committees.

Today's Birthdays: Author Calvin Trillin is 87. Actor Jeroen Krabbe is 78. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 76. Musician and singer Jim Messina is 75. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett is 75. World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins is 73. Actor Morgan Brittany is 71. Actor Brian Backer is 66. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Art Monk is 65. Country singer Ty England is 59. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 57. Country singer Gary Allan is 55. Comedian-actor Margaret Cho is 54. Writer-director Morgan J. Freeman is 53. Actor Alex Kapp Horner is 53. Actor Kali Rocha is 51. Rock musician Regina Zernay (Cowboy Mouth) is 50. Actor Paula Patton is 47. Actor Amy Acker is 46. Actor Nick Stahl is 43. Actor Adan Canto is 41. R&amp;B singer Keri Hilson is 40. Actor Gabriel Luna is 40. Actor Frankie Muniz is 37. Actor Ross Bagley is 34. MLB outfielder Christian Yelich 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, Dec. 5, the 339th day of 2022. There are 26 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa's first Black president, died at age 95.On this date:In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.In 1792, George Washington was reelected president; John Adams was reelected vice president.In 1848, President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of '49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in California.In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.In 1955, the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations merged to form the AFL-CIO under its first president, George Meany.In 1994, Republicans chose Newt Gingrich to be the first GOP speaker of the House in four decades.In 2009, a jury in Perugia, Italy convicted American student Amanda Knox and her former Italian boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, of murdering Knox's British roommate, Meredith Kercher, and sentenced them to long prison terms. (After a series of back-and-forth rulings, Knox and Sollecito were definitively acquitted in 2015 by Italy's highest court.)In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush was mourned at a memorial service at Washington National Cathedral attended by President Donald Trump and former Presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter along with their spouses; former president George W. Bush was among the speakers, eulogizing his dad as "the brightest of a thousand points of light."In 2019, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that she had asked the relevant House committee chairs to begin drawing up articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, saying his actions left them "no choice" but to act swiftly; in response, Trump tweeted that Democrats had "gone crazy." (Trump would be impeached by the House on charges of obstruction and abuse of power, but the Senate voted to acquit in the first of two Trump impeachment trials.)In 2020, at a Georgia rally where he urged supporters to turn out for a pair of Republican Senate candidates in a January runoff election, President Donald Trump spread baseless allegations of misconduct in the November voting in Georgia and beyond. Hours before the rally, according to officials with knowledge of the call, Trump asked Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to order a special legislative session to give him the state's electoral votes, even though Joe Biden had won the majority of the vote; Kemp refused to do so.Ten years ago: Port clerks ended an eight-day strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach after winning guarantees against the outsourcing of jobs. Jazz composer and pianist Dave Brubeck died in Norwalk, Connecticut, a day before he would have turned 92.Five years ago: Democratic congressman John Conyers of Michigan resigned from Congress after a nearly 53-year career, becoming the first Capitol Hill politician to lose his job amid the sexual misconduct allegations sweeping through the nation's workplaces. In a bitterly contested runoff election, Atlanta voters narrowly chose Keisha Lance Bottoms as the city's next mayor; a result that would be upheld after a recount requested by rival Mary Norwood. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and its sports leaders from the upcoming Winter Olympics in South Korea after concluding that members of the Russian government concocted a doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Games; some Russians would be able to compete as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."One year ago: Bob Dole, who overcame disabling war wounds to become a sharp-tongued Senate leader from Kansas, a Republican presidential candidate and then a symbol and celebrant of his dwindling generation of World War II veterans, died at 98. U.S. health officials said that while the omicron variant of the coronavirus was rapidly spreading throughout the country, early indications suggested it could be less dangerous than the delta variant, which continued to drive a surge of hospitalizations. Buck O'Neil, a champion of Black ballplayers during a monumental, eight-decade career on and off the field, joined Minnie Miñoso, Gil Hodges and three others in being elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by veterans committees.Today's Birthdays: Author Calvin Trillin is 87. Actor Jeroen Krabbe is 78. Opera singer Jose Carreras is 76. Musician and singer Jim Messina is 75. College Football Hall of Famer and former NFL quarterback Jim Plunkett is 75. World Golf Hall of Famer Lanny Wadkins is 73. Actor Morgan Brittany is 71. Actor Brian Backer is 66. Pro and College Football Hall of Famer Art Monk is 65. Country singer Ty England is 59. Rock singer-musician John Rzeznik (The Goo Goo Dolls) is 57. Country singer Gary Allan is 55. Comedian-actor Margaret Cho is 54. Writer-director Morgan J. Freeman is 53. Actor Alex Kapp Horner is 53. Actor Kali Rocha is 51. Rock musician Regina Zernay (Cowboy Mouth) is 50. Actor Paula Patton is 47. Actor Amy Acker is 46. Actor Nick Stahl is 43. Actor Adan Canto is 41. R&amp;B singer Keri Hilson is 40. Actor Gabriel Luna is 40. Actor Frankie Muniz is 37. Actor Ross Bagley is 34. MLB outfielder Christian Yelich is 31.

Today in History - December 5

ABILENE - Memorial Health System has announced that after two years of training with Herman Hoffman, the previous director of plant operations, Ryan Crist stepped into the director role on Nov. 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Crist has worked for MHS for 17 years now.&nbsp; He came to Memorial Health System after seeing an open position in maintenance for Village Manor.&nbsp; At the time, he was self-employed and felt he needed to find a job that would provide good benefits for his growing family.&nbsp; Eventually, Village Manor promoted him to maintenance supervisor.&nbsp; In 2019, he transferred to the hospital to begin working alongside Hoffman to learn as much as he could before Hoffman decided to retire.&nbsp; He was fortunate to be a part of many different projects over the last two years and add to his skill set.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Abilene became home to Crist in 2000 after moving from Salina where he grew up and graduated from Salina Central High School.&nbsp; He and his wife, Kristin,&nbsp; have five children; Michael, Kailin, Katharin, Olivia, and Ava.&nbsp; Kristin works for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Salina.&nbsp;

MHS has benefited greatly from the years Hoffman served as the director, and will continue to do so with Crist taking the lead.&nbsp; 

“I have enjoyed learning the maintenance and operating systems of the hospital from Herman,” said Crist.&nbsp; “We have a good maintenance crew with some great new hires over the past couple of years.”&nbsp; 

The department is full of capable employees who have various skills in electric, plumbing, construction, yardwork, carpentry; you name it they can probably do it!&nbsp; There have been many projects that the employees of this department have been able to tackle without having to hire external help, which in turn has saved MHS a lot of money over the years.&nbsp; 

Hoffman still remains in the department as one of the crew.&nbsp; He plans to be completely retired soon, but until he is, he still contributes his strong work ethic to the department, and of course, offers his expertise to Crist and the team whenever it is needed.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

“He has been a good mentor and has left me with a good vision for the future,” said Crist.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670207372524.png" alt="Ryan Crist. Photo courtesy Memorial Health System" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Crist. Photo courtesy Memorial Health System</figcaption>
 </figure>Memorial Health SystemABILENE - Memorial Health System has announced that after two years of training with Herman Hoffman, the previous director of plant operations, Ryan Crist stepped into the director role on Nov. 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;Crist has worked for MHS for 17 years now.&nbsp; He came to Memorial Health System after seeing an open position in maintenance for Village Manor.&nbsp; At the time, he was self-employed and felt he needed to find a job that would provide good benefits for his growing family.&nbsp; Eventually, Village Manor promoted him to maintenance supervisor.&nbsp; In 2019, he transferred to the hospital to begin working alongside Hoffman to learn as much as he could before Hoffman decided to retire.&nbsp; He was fortunate to be a part of many different projects over the last two years and add to his skill set.&nbsp;&nbsp;Abilene became home to Crist in 2000 after moving from Salina where he grew up and graduated from Salina Central High School.&nbsp; He and his wife, Kristin,&nbsp; have five children; Michael, Kailin, Katharin, Olivia, and Ava.&nbsp; Kristin works for Farm Bureau Financial Services in Salina.&nbsp;MHS has benefited greatly from the years Hoffman served as the director, and will continue to do so with Crist taking the lead.&nbsp; “I have enjoyed learning the maintenance and operating systems of the hospital from Herman,” said Crist.&nbsp; “We have a good maintenance crew with some great new hires over the past couple of years.”&nbsp; The department is full of capable employees who have various skills in electric, plumbing, construction, yardwork, carpentry; you name it they can probably do it!&nbsp; There have been many projects that the employees of this department have been able to tackle without having to hire external help, which in turn has saved MHS a lot of money over the years.&nbsp; Hoffman still remains in the department as one of the crew.&nbsp; He plans to be completely retired soon, but until he is, he still contributes his strong work ethic to the department, and of course, offers his expertise to Crist and the team whenever it is needed.&nbsp;&nbsp; “He has been a good mentor and has left me with a good vision for the future,” said Crist.&nbsp;

MHS: Crist steps into new role as director of plant operations

In 1999, an early season winter storm produced a 30-mile wide swath of six to 10 inches of snow across south-central Kansas from around Kingman, east northeast across the Wichita metropolitan area, to around Hillsboro. The greatest accumulations occurred across northern Sedgwick, Harvey and McPherson counties. The snow was convective, with thunder and lightning reported over most of these areas. The heavy wet snow also damaged many trees and power lines.

In 2009, Houston, Texas, received its earliest snowfall when one-inch was measured at Bush Intercontinental Airport. As of this same date, Syracuse, N.Y., had yet to receive any snowfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

National Weather ServiceIn 1999, an early season winter storm produced a 30-mile wide swath of six to 10 inches of snow across south-central Kansas from around Kingman, east northeast across the Wichita metropolitan area, to around Hillsboro. The greatest accumulations occurred across northern Sedgwick, Harvey and McPherson counties. The snow was convective, with thunder and lightning reported over most of these areas. The heavy wet snow also damaged many trees and power lines.In 2009, Houston, Texas, received its earliest snowfall when one-inch was measured at Bush Intercontinental Airport. As of this same date, Syracuse, N.Y., had yet to receive any snowfall.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This Day in Weather History: Heavy snow in McPherson Co. in 1999

Kansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will follow Christmas by Candlelight with the winter concert for its instrumental ensembles on Tuesday in Sams Chapel. 

Admission is free and the event, which features the String Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble, gets underway at 7 p.m.

The concert, titled A Season of Light, features the three groups in performances of both classic and contemporary literature.

The String Orchestra, under the direction of Leonardo Rosario, will perform several seasonal favorites, including A Joyous Christmas, the traditional German carol Still, Still, Still, God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

The orchestra will also perform a piece titled Celtic Carol, which will feature student dancers Saria Taylor and Tru Haesemeyer. The choreography for the piece was created by KWU Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Karen Babcock Brassea.

Finally, the orchestra will perform Violin Concerto in F minor by Antonio Vivaldi, a work outside the holiday spectrum.

The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Steve Lueth, will perform two jazz classics, Darn that Dream by Jimmy Van Heusen and Moanin’ by Bobby Timmons, alongside the Christmas classic The Christmas Song, by Bob Wells and Mel Torme.

The Wind Ensemble, conducted by Department of Music Chair James McAllister, will perform a mix of classic works and holiday pieces, as well.

A concert march by William Latham, titled Brighton Beach will begin this part of the program, followed by a moody piece by Brian Balmages called Nevermore. This piece will feature a student conductor, KWU junior Taiton Reed.&nbsp;

Two holiday works, selections from film composer Danny Elfman’s score to The Nightmare Before Christmas and the more traditional Carol of the Drum by Katherine Davis will follow. The program concludes with Robert Jager’s Third Suite.

The performance is scheduled to be live streamed via the KWU Student Media YouTube page, with precise links available on social media prior to the show.

KWUKansas Wesleyan’s Department of Music will follow Christmas by Candlelight with the winter concert for its instrumental ensembles on Tuesday in Sams Chapel. Admission is free and the event, which features the String Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble, gets underway at 7 p.m.The concert, titled A Season of Light, features the three groups in performances of both classic and contemporary literature.The String Orchestra, under the direction of Leonardo Rosario, will perform several seasonal favorites, including A Joyous Christmas, the traditional German carol Still, Still, Still, God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen and It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.The orchestra will also perform a piece titled Celtic Carol, which will feature student dancers Saria Taylor and Tru Haesemeyer. The choreography for the piece was created by KWU Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Karen Babcock Brassea.Finally, the orchestra will perform Violin Concerto in F minor by Antonio Vivaldi, a work outside the holiday spectrum.The Jazz Ensemble, directed by Steve Lueth, will perform two jazz classics, Darn that Dream by Jimmy Van Heusen and Moanin’ by Bobby Timmons, alongside the Christmas classic The Christmas Song, by Bob Wells and Mel Torme.The Wind Ensemble, conducted by Department of Music Chair James McAllister, will perform a mix of classic works and holiday pieces, as well.A concert march by William Latham, titled Brighton Beach will begin this part of the program, followed by a moody piece by Brian Balmages called Nevermore. This piece will feature a student conductor, KWU junior Taiton Reed.&nbsp;Two holiday works, selections from film composer Danny Elfman’s score to The Nightmare Before Christmas and the more traditional Carol of the Drum by Katherine Davis will follow. The program concludes with Robert Jager’s Third Suite.The performance is scheduled to be live streamed via the KWU Student Media YouTube page, with precise links available on social media prior to the show.

KWU instrumental winter concert Tuesday in Sams Chapel

HERINGTON -&nbsp;Hospice of Dickinson County is sponsoring its annual Remember Me Tree, to honor the memory of loved ones during the holiday season. 

The tree will be on display through the end of December and can be found in the Home Health and Hospice office, 11 N. Broadway, in Herington.

Anyone may place an angel on the tree to honor or remember a loved one. Donations are accepted for the ornaments. For donations of $20 or more, porcelain keepsake ornaments are available. Donation boxes can be found at the Home Health and Hospice office and other Herington businesses.

Placing an ornament on the Remember Me Tree is a wonderful way to remember or honor a loved one during the holidays. These donations directly benefit local Hospice patients and programs.

The annual community-wide Candlelight Ceremony will be held Dec. 15, at the Christian Church, 15 S. First&nbsp;Street, in Herington beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone from the community is invited. There will be a short memorial reading followed by honoring those whose names appear on the Remember Me Tree.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670167573369.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Memorial Health SystemHERINGTON -&nbsp;Hospice of Dickinson County is sponsoring its annual Remember Me Tree, to honor the memory of loved ones during the holiday season. The tree will be on display through the end of December and can be found in the Home Health and Hospice office, 11 N. Broadway, in Herington.Anyone may place an angel on the tree to honor or remember a loved one. Donations are accepted for the ornaments. For donations of $20 or more, porcelain keepsake ornaments are available. Donation boxes can be found at the Home Health and Hospice office and other Herington businesses.Placing an ornament on the Remember Me Tree is a wonderful way to remember or honor a loved one during the holidays. These donations directly benefit local Hospice patients and programs.The annual community-wide Candlelight Ceremony will be held Dec. 15, at the Christian Church, 15 S. First&nbsp;Street, in Herington beginning at 6 p.m. Everyone from the community is invited. There will be a short memorial reading followed by honoring those whose names appear on the Remember Me Tree.

Remember Me Tree at Home Health and Hospice in Herington

Dry weather conditions expected for today through Tuesday across the region. A weather system could bring chances of rain and a rain/snow mix to the area for Wednesday into Wednesday night.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670167168645.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>National Weather ServiceDry weather conditions expected for today through Tuesday across the region. A weather system could bring chances of rain and a rain/snow mix to the area for Wednesday into Wednesday night.

NWS: Mild, dry until Wednesday

The Saline County Health Department has seen an increase in the number of calls pertaining to current Isolation and Quarantine COVID-19 guidelines.

Please see the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k6Kum1VEjvPYIpYAD4geJ-8orghj-vLO0_YsRqhbEHujVzRlliDlrgA1fhjxz_JTjzKgxt9bZzVok46AIcsbQptOKGHn323QIAnmyg_Wsnzlq0f07iACV7a732D5n25B19F7OsF_Rw_JudtqCBp_qd-UPO6j3IQbsNmTlEjAb5X2ckVAhNqsBxRnMms4BxSHAI2GPcr1dRVWCnQWu820WrnKICqdzx3ZXTNqbxImOEThSL9e1LsX56DNnIWQk4K7&amp;c=AYo5v39oxjQGqVM8I9wyrjionq5vGtbpNL2YhpKv2sXyMzJc2ehAGw==&amp;ch=4ucLWF5FJKUk7doXy0nIiBYnoR2eQGazXwpZn_9R_nYwekwwSyI6CQ==" target="_blank">CDC Isolation and Quarantine Guidance</a>&nbsp;or the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k6Kum1VEjvPYIpYAD4geJ-8orghj-vLO0_YsRqhbEHujVzRlliDlrgBHdaygjFtMTS2LL-l8Mn3vmOc-3NdWJTMeuJha3nmqptGMtMjnvcOZeWemhArYkb0E7FymqcCkYkg6dShku0iovBrLN9Eo1ZKsGMLg0mz3&amp;c=AYo5v39oxjQGqVM8I9wyrjionq5vGtbpNL2YhpKv2sXyMzJc2ehAGw==&amp;ch=4ucLWF5FJKUk7doXy0nIiBYnoR2eQGazXwpZn_9R_nYwekwwSyI6CQ==" target="_blank">KHDE COVID-19</a>&nbsp;website for the most updated information.

Saline CountyThe Saline County Health Department has seen an increase in the number of calls pertaining to current Isolation and Quarantine COVID-19 guidelines.Please see the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k6Kum1VEjvPYIpYAD4geJ-8orghj-vLO0_YsRqhbEHujVzRlliDlrgA1fhjxz_JTjzKgxt9bZzVok46AIcsbQptOKGHn323QIAnmyg_Wsnzlq0f07iACV7a732D5n25B19F7OsF_Rw_JudtqCBp_qd-UPO6j3IQbsNmTlEjAb5X2ckVAhNqsBxRnMms4BxSHAI2GPcr1dRVWCnQWu820WrnKICqdzx3ZXTNqbxImOEThSL9e1LsX56DNnIWQk4K7&amp;c=AYo5v39oxjQGqVM8I9wyrjionq5vGtbpNL2YhpKv2sXyMzJc2ehAGw==&amp;ch=4ucLWF5FJKUk7doXy0nIiBYnoR2eQGazXwpZn_9R_nYwekwwSyI6CQ==" target="_blank">CDC Isolation and Quarantine Guidance</a>&nbsp;or the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k6Kum1VEjvPYIpYAD4geJ-8orghj-vLO0_YsRqhbEHujVzRlliDlrgBHdaygjFtMTS2LL-l8Mn3vmOc-3NdWJTMeuJha3nmqptGMtMjnvcOZeWemhArYkb0E7FymqcCkYkg6dShku0iovBrLN9Eo1ZKsGMLg0mz3&amp;c=AYo5v39oxjQGqVM8I9wyrjionq5vGtbpNL2YhpKv2sXyMzJc2ehAGw==&amp;ch=4ucLWF5FJKUk7doXy0nIiBYnoR2eQGazXwpZn_9R_nYwekwwSyI6CQ==" target="_blank">KHDE COVID-19</a>&nbsp;website for the most updated information.

Saline County Health Dept.: Check online COVID-19 guidance

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

The pilot has come in for a landing. In this case, the pilot is the famous aviator Amelia Earhart (or her replica in the form of a bronze statue), and her landing place isn’t an airport – it’s the nation’s capitol.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was recently honored by the State of Kansas by having her statue placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Statuary Hall is that area of the capitol that displays statues depicting people representing all 50 states. Each state is authorized to send two statues to this collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas recently replaced one of its statues with one of Amelia Earhart, who captured the world’s attention as a pioneer in aviation.&nbsp;

With support from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, her statue was unveiled in the National Statuary Collection in July, 2022.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison on July 24, 1897. She must have been quite the adventurous child.&nbsp;&nbsp;One time she and friends built a homemade roller coaster by greasing boards with lard and suspending them from the top of a toolshed. Amelia made the trial run on this roller coaster in a wooden crate and crashed part way down.&nbsp;

She came up with a torn dress and split lip but a big smile, proclaiming, "Oh! It's just like flying!"&nbsp;

During World War I, she worked as a nurse’s aid at a military hospital and heard the military pilots talk about their flights. Amelia’s interest grew when she attended an airshow in Canada.&nbsp;

In 1921, Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Six months later, she bought her first plane.&nbsp;

Amelia went on to make history: She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a women's aviation organization; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; first woman to fly solo coast-to-coast; and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland.&nbsp;

Through her husband, a publisher, she published several books and articles. She designed fashion clothing and had her own luggage line. She received many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, before disappearing on an ill-fated attempt to fly around the globe.&nbsp;

So what is Statuary Hall and how did Amelia Earhart come to land there? Statuary Hall goes back to the 1860s when a south wing was added to the U.S. Capitol building. The House of Representatives moved into its new chamber where it still meets today.&nbsp;

The House was debating what should be done with the former chamber that it had vacated. A suggestion came from Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont. (This was the same congressman who authored the Morrill Act that authorized land grants for public higher education and under which Kansas State University became the nation’s first operational land grant university.)&nbsp;

Morrill suggested that the former House chamber become a place to display statues from each state. His suggestion was adopted. Every state was allowed to have two statues.&nbsp;

One might ask, who were the two statues from Kansas? Would you guess, George Glick and John J. Ingalls? When I led capitol tours years ago, our visitors would ask,&nbsp;&nbsp;“Who are those guys?&nbsp;&nbsp;Never heard of them.” &nbsp;

I learned that George Glick was a one-term governor of Kansas and John J. Ingalls was a long-time Senator during the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2003, Kansas became the first state to change its two representative statues. The Kansas Legislature voted to replace Glick and Ingalls with statues depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart, provided the statues were funded with private money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ike was placed there in 2003 and Amelia followed in 2022.&nbsp;

The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation paid for the statue of Amelia. The foundation is also working toward opening an aviation museum in her honor. That would be a wonderful addition to the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Atchison, population 10,885 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation" target="_blank">www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation</a>.&nbsp;

This pilot has come in for a landing – that is, landing a spot in the Statuary Hall collection in Washington DC.&nbsp;

We commend the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation for making a difference by honoring her legacy. I hope Amelia’s ideals keep flying high.&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 UniversityThe pilot has come in for a landing. In this case, the pilot is the famous aviator Amelia Earhart (or her replica in the form of a bronze statue), and her landing place isn’t an airport – it’s the nation’s capitol.&nbsp;Amelia Earhart was recently honored by the State of Kansas by having her statue placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670166278924.jpeg" alt="The Amelia Earhart statue in the U.S. Capitol." />
 <figcaption>The Amelia Earhart statue in the U.S. Capitol.</figcaption>
 </figure>Statuary Hall is that area of the capitol that displays statues depicting people representing all 50 states. Each state is authorized to send two statues to this collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas recently replaced one of its statues with one of Amelia Earhart, who captured the world’s attention as a pioneer in aviation.&nbsp;With support from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, her statue was unveiled in the National Statuary Collection in July, 2022.&nbsp;Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison on July 24, 1897. She must have been quite the adventurous child.&nbsp;&nbsp;One time she and friends built a homemade roller coaster by greasing boards with lard and suspending them from the top of a toolshed. Amelia made the trial run on this roller coaster in a wooden crate and crashed part way down.&nbsp;She came up with a torn dress and split lip but a big smile, proclaiming, "Oh! It's just like flying!"&nbsp;During World War I, she worked as a nurse’s aid at a military hospital and heard the military pilots talk about their flights. Amelia’s interest grew when she attended an airshow in Canada.&nbsp;In 1921, Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Six months later, she bought her first plane.&nbsp;Amelia went on to make history: She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a women's aviation organization; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; first woman to fly solo coast-to-coast; and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland.&nbsp;Through her husband, a publisher, she published several books and articles. She designed fashion clothing and had her own luggage line. She received many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, before disappearing on an ill-fated attempt to fly around the globe.&nbsp;So what is Statuary Hall and how did Amelia Earhart come to land there? Statuary Hall goes back to the 1860s when a south wing was added to the U.S. Capitol building. The House of Representatives moved into its new chamber where it still meets today.&nbsp;The House was debating what should be done with the former chamber that it had vacated. A suggestion came from Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont. (This was the same congressman who authored the Morrill Act that authorized land grants for public higher education and under which Kansas State University became the nation’s first operational land grant university.)&nbsp;Morrill suggested that the former House chamber become a place to display statues from each state. His suggestion was adopted. Every state was allowed to have two statues.&nbsp;One might ask, who were the two statues from Kansas? Would you guess, George Glick and John J. Ingalls? When I led capitol tours years ago, our visitors would ask,&nbsp;&nbsp;“Who are those guys?&nbsp;&nbsp;Never heard of them.” &nbsp;I learned that George Glick was a one-term governor of Kansas and John J. Ingalls was a long-time Senator during the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 2003, Kansas became the first state to change its two representative statues. The Kansas Legislature voted to replace Glick and Ingalls with statues depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart, provided the statues were funded with private money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ike was placed there in 2003 and Amelia followed in 2022.&nbsp;The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation paid for the statue of Amelia. The foundation is also working toward opening an aviation museum in her honor. That would be a wonderful addition to the&nbsp;rural&nbsp;community of Atchison, population 10,885 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation" target="_blank">www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation</a>.&nbsp;This pilot has come in for a landing – that is, landing a spot in the Statuary Hall collection in Washington DC.&nbsp;We commend the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation for making a difference by honoring her legacy. I hope Amelia’s ideals keep flying high.&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: Amelia Earhart

Today is Sunday, Dec. 4, the 338th day of 2022. There are 27 days left in the year.

On Dec. 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.

In 1783, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his Continental Army officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson left Washington on a trip to France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference.

In 1942, during World War II, U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time with a raid on Naples. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.

In 1965, the United States launched Gemini 7 with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Cmdr. James A. Lovell aboard on a two-week mission. (While Gemini 7 was in orbit, its sister ship, Gemini 6A, was launched on Dec. 15 on a one-day mission; the two spacecraft were able to rendezvous within a foot of each other.)

In 1978, San Francisco got its first female mayor as City Supervisor Dianne Feinstein was named to replace the assassinated George Moscone.

In 1980, the bodies of four American churchwomen slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. (Five Salvadoran national guardsmen were later convicted of murdering nuns Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Dorothy Kazel, and lay worker Jean Donovan.)

In 1986, both houses of Congress moved to establish special committees to conduct their own investigations of the Iran-Contra affair.

In 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions.

In 1995, the first NATO troops landed in the Balkans to begin setting up a peace mission that brought American soldiers into the middle of the Bosnian conflict.

In 2000, in a pair of legal setbacks for Al Gore, a Florida state judge refused to overturn George W. Bush's certified victory in Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a ruling that had allowed manual recounts.

In 2016, a North Carolina man armed with a rifle fired several shots inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C., pizzeria, as he attempted to investigate an online conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were harboring child sex slaves at the restaurant; no one was hurt, and the man surrendered to police. (He was later sentenced to four years in prison.)

In 2018, long lines of people wound through the Capitol Rotunda to view the casket of former President George H.W. Bush; former Sen. Bob Dole steadied himself out of his wheelchair to salute his old friend and one-time rival.

Ten years ago: Two Australian radio disc jockeys impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles made a prank call to a London hospital and succeeded in getting a nurse to tell them the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was being treated for acute morning sickness; another nurse who had put the call through would be found dead three days later in an apparent suicide.

Five years ago: Declaring that "public lands will once again be for public use," President Donald Trump scaled back two sprawling national monuments in Utah; it was the first time in a half century that a president had undone that type of land protection. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Trump formally endorsed Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate.

One year ago: James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan teen charged with killing four students at a high school earlier in the week, were arrested in a Detroit commercial building where police said they'd been hiding; a judge later imposed a combined $1 million bond for the couple, who pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting rampage. CNN fired anchor Chris Cuomo less than a week after new information emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier in the year. Country musician Stonewall Jackson, who sang on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and had No. 1 hits with "Waterloo" and others, died after a long battle with vascular dementia; he was 89.

Today's Birthdays: Game show host Wink Martindale is 89. Pop singer Freddy Cannon is 86. Actor-producer Max Baer Jr. is 85. Actor Gemma Jones is 80. Rock musician Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) is 80. Singer-musician Chris Hillman is 78. Musician Terry Woods (The Pogues) is 75. Rock singer Southside Johnny Lyon is 74. Actor Jeff Bridges is 73. Rock musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd; the Rossington Collins Band) is 71. Actor Patricia Wettig is 71. Actor Tony Todd is 68. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 67. Country musician Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) is 67. Rock musician Bob Griffin (formerly with The BoDeans) is 63. Rock singer Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) is 60. Actor Marisa Tomei is 58. Actor Chelsea Noble is 58. Actor-comedian Fred Armisen is 56. Rapper Jay-Z is 53. Actor Kevin Sussman is 52. Actor-model Tyra Banks is 49. Country singer Lila McCann is 41. Actor Lindsay Felton is 38. Actor Orlando Brown is 35. MLB pitcher Joe Musgrove is 30. Actor Scarlett Estevez (TV: "Lucifer") is 15.

<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, Dec. 4, the 338th day of 2022. There are 27 days left in the year.Today's Highlights in History:On Dec. 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins gathered for the first and only time for a jam session at Sun Records in Memphis.On this date:In 1783, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his Continental Army officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York.In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson left Washington on a trip to France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference.In 1942, during World War II, U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time with a raid on Naples. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the dismantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression.In 1965, the United States launched Gemini 7 with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Cmdr. James A. Lovell aboard on a two-week mission. (While Gemini 7 was in orbit, its sister ship, Gemini 6A, was launched on Dec. 15 on a one-day mission; the two spacecraft were able to rendezvous within a foot of each other.)In 1978, San Francisco got its first female mayor as City Supervisor Dianne Feinstein was named to replace the assassinated George Moscone.In 1980, the bodies of four American churchwomen slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. (Five Salvadoran national guardsmen were later convicted of murdering nuns Ita Ford, Maura Clarke and Dorothy Kazel, and lay worker Jean Donovan.)In 1986, both houses of Congress moved to establish special committees to conduct their own investigations of the Iran-Contra affair.In 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered American troops to lead a mercy mission to Somalia, threatening military action against warlords and gangs who were blocking food for starving millions.In 1995, the first NATO troops landed in the Balkans to begin setting up a peace mission that brought American soldiers into the middle of the Bosnian conflict.In 2000, in a pair of legal setbacks for Al Gore, a Florida state judge refused to overturn George W. Bush's certified victory in Florida and the U.S. Supreme Court set aside a ruling that had allowed manual recounts.In 2016, a North Carolina man armed with a rifle fired several shots inside Comet Ping Pong, a Washington, D.C., pizzeria, as he attempted to investigate an online conspiracy theory that prominent Democrats were harboring child sex slaves at the restaurant; no one was hurt, and the man surrendered to police. (He was later sentenced to four years in prison.)In 2018, long lines of people wound through the Capitol Rotunda to view the casket of former President George H.W. Bush; former Sen. Bob Dole steadied himself out of his wheelchair to salute his old friend and one-time rival.Ten years ago: Two Australian radio disc jockeys impersonating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles made a prank call to a London hospital and succeeded in getting a nurse to tell them the condition of the Duchess of Cambridge, who was being treated for acute morning sickness; another nurse who had put the call through would be found dead three days later in an apparent suicide.Five years ago: Declaring that "public lands will once again be for public use," President Donald Trump scaled back two sprawling national monuments in Utah; it was the first time in a half century that a president had undone that type of land protection. The Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to fully enforce a ban on travel to the United States by residents of six mostly Muslim countries. Trump formally endorsed Republican Roy Moore in the Alabama Senate race, looking past sexual misconduct allegations against the GOP candidate.One year ago: James and Jennifer Crumbley, the parents of a Michigan teen charged with killing four students at a high school earlier in the week, were arrested in a Detroit commercial building where police said they'd been hiding; a judge later imposed a combined $1 million bond for the couple, who pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting rampage. CNN fired anchor Chris Cuomo less than a week after new information emerged about how he assisted his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as the politician faced sexual harassment allegations earlier in the year. Country musician Stonewall Jackson, who sang on the Grand Ole Opry for more than 50 years and had No. 1 hits with "Waterloo" and others, died after a long battle with vascular dementia; he was 89.Today's Birthdays: Game show host Wink Martindale is 89. Pop singer Freddy Cannon is 86. Actor-producer Max Baer Jr. is 85. Actor Gemma Jones is 80. Rock musician Bob Mosley (Moby Grape) is 80. Singer-musician Chris Hillman is 78. Musician Terry Woods (The Pogues) is 75. Rock singer Southside Johnny Lyon is 74. Actor Jeff Bridges is 73. Rock musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd; the Rossington Collins Band) is 71. Actor Patricia Wettig is 71. Actor Tony Todd is 68. Jazz singer Cassandra Wilson is 67. Country musician Brian Prout (Diamond Rio) is 67. Rock musician Bob Griffin (formerly with The BoDeans) is 63. Rock singer Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) is 60. Actor Marisa Tomei is 58. Actor Chelsea Noble is 58. Actor-comedian Fred Armisen is 56. Rapper Jay-Z is 53. Actor Kevin Sussman is 52. Actor-model Tyra Banks is 49. Country singer Lila McCann is 41. Actor Lindsay Felton is 38. Actor Orlando Brown is 35. MLB pitcher Joe Musgrove is 30. Actor Scarlett Estevez (TV: "Lucifer") is 15.

Today in History - December 4

WICHITA —&nbsp;With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the end-of-year holidays are right around the corner. As holiday decorating gets into full swing, many will be opting for a live Christmas tree as part of their celebrations. While artificial trees have continued to grow in popularity, there are still about 25 to 30 million live Christmas trees sold every year in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association.

AAA urges everyone to prioritize safety when transporting a Christmas tree and preventing it from becoming a fire hazard. While home fires can happen at any time, they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months.

“If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals, distorted window frames, or even worse, it could fly off the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers,” said&nbsp;AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.&nbsp;“In addition to safely transporting a Christmas tree, we urge those displaying live trees in their homes for the holidays to do so properly and remember to watch the tree daily to avoid having it dry out and become a fire hazard.”

Tie one on, properly One holiday staple―the Christmas tree―has been popping up on top of cars and in windows earlier than in pre-pandemic years, extending the amount of time a tree is in the house for the holiday. However, this extended display time increases the potential for live Christmas trees to become fire hazards.

●44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods.

●20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle&nbsp;without&nbsp;using a roof rack.

●24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck&nbsp;unsecured.

●Among those planning to purchase a live Christmas tree this year, 16 percent have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport.

●An improperly secured Christmas tree can cost drivers as much as $1,500 or more in repairs.

●Previous research from AAA found that road debris caused more than 200,000 crashes during a four-year period, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.

“Twine that is wrapped around trees and looped through door jambs or open windows can cause serious vehicle damage, such as scratched paint, torn door seals and distorted window frames―damage that could cost up to $1,500 or more to repair,” said Steward.&nbsp;"Worse yet, improperly securing a Christmas tree to your vehicle could present a serious road danger if it comes loose and flies off into traffic.”

AAA notes that transporting a real Christmas tree is easy as long as you have the tools and follow these simple tips:

●Use the right vehicle.&nbsp;It’s best to transport a Christmas tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack. However, if you do not have a roof rack, use the bed of a pickup truck or an SUV, van or minivan that can fit the tree inside with all doors closed.

●Bring proper tools.&nbsp;Bring strong rope or nylon ratchet straps to secure the tree to your vehicle’s roof rack. Avoid the lightweight twine offered by many tree lots. Bring an old blanket and gloves.

●Protect the tree―and your vehicle.&nbsp;Have the tree wrapped in netting before loading it. If netting is unavailable, secure loose branches with rope or twine.&nbsp;Use an old blanket to prevent paint scratches and protect the vehicle finish.

●Point the tree trunk towards the front.&nbsp;Always place the tree on a roof rack or in a pickup bed with the bottom of the trunk facing the front of the vehicle.

●Tie it down.&nbsp;Secure the tree at its bottom, center and top. At the bottom, use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop around the trunk above a lower branch, to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement. The center and top tie-downs should be installed in a similar manner.

 ●Give it the tug test.&nbsp;Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.

●Drive slowly and easily.&nbsp;Take the back roads, if possible. Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage your Christmas tree and challenge even the best tie-down methods.

Getting lit ― safely Once the Christmas tree reaches its holiday home safely, proper placement and decorations are key to preventing a devastating house fire. The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUX9JY8-2FVNQT2afwKQfF-2FPoz1FWIlfdJFwenb-2F7tpYFX0RUV-2Ber-2B319IHpFzJVwnZPWkM5NG2-2Fc9cDDguHZ7w1rc5crRPPsksl7IspL96uqc8D0oT1cCjyug0ceWuGEzosZ6-2FdKxrEeSqEuQl6oYcbMg-3D0Z-z_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zNwXX-2FpF2F7fjD9VSWSXXrIhmn8-2FJbwbofMgb9o-2BJuWBSMu65ffjMGRjVMAj06E8M8H5d2DurIQ25jIaJT1usHIzCw8OJL-2BcBuluvu9Gh0qs4OG5NQ706ufVDADT5s2s2CQk0MxN2CZqz1-2FVAwW3Pg-2FU-3D" target="_blank">National Fire Protection Association</a>&nbsp;reports that:

●Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.

●Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs.&nbsp;Six percent were started by candles.

●Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.

●Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.

●Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

●Year round, more than one-third (35 percent) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 45 percent of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (19%) of decoration fires.

●U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home&nbsp;structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage.

Make sure the fireplace is all that gets “lit” AAA and&nbsp;the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offer the following tips to reduce the risk of a house fire this Christmas:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670120859678.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy AAA" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy AAA</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How to tie one on and get lit safely</h2>AAA KansasWICHITA —&nbsp;With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, the end-of-year holidays are right around the corner. As holiday decorating gets into full swing, many will be opting for a live Christmas tree as part of their celebrations. While artificial trees have continued to grow in popularity, there are still about 25 to 30 million live Christmas trees sold every year in the U.S., according to the National Christmas Tree Association.AAA urges everyone to prioritize safety when transporting a Christmas tree and preventing it from becoming a fire hazard. While home fires can happen at any time, they generally increase during the fall and winter, with December and January being the peak months.“If not properly secured, a tree can cause vehicle damage such as scratched paint, torn door seals, distorted window frames, or even worse, it could fly off the vehicle and become a danger to other drivers,” said&nbsp;AAA Kansas spokesman Shawn Steward.&nbsp;“In addition to safely transporting a Christmas tree, we urge those displaying live trees in their homes for the holidays to do so properly and remember to watch the tree daily to avoid having it dry out and become a fire hazard.”Tie one on, properly One holiday staple―the Christmas tree―has been popping up on top of cars and in windows earlier than in pre-pandemic years, extending the amount of time a tree is in the house for the holiday. However, this extended display time increases the potential for live Christmas trees to become fire hazards.According to AAA research:●44 percent of Americans who plan to purchase a real Christmas tree will transport the tree using unsafe methods.●20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle&nbsp;without&nbsp;using a roof rack.●24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck&nbsp;unsecured.●20 percent will tie the tree to the roof of their vehicle&nbsp;without&nbsp;using a roof rack.●24 percent plan to place the tree in the bed of their pickup truck&nbsp;unsecured.●Among those planning to purchase a live Christmas tree this year, 16 percent have previously experienced a Christmas tree falling off or out of their vehicle during transport.●An improperly secured Christmas tree can cost drivers as much as $1,500 or more in repairs.●Previous research from AAA found that road debris caused more than 200,000 crashes during a four-year period, resulting in approximately 39,000 injuries and 500 deaths.“Twine that is wrapped around trees and looped through door jambs or open windows can cause serious vehicle damage, such as scratched paint, torn door seals and distorted window frames―damage that could cost up to $1,500 or more to repair,” said Steward.&nbsp;"Worse yet, improperly securing a Christmas tree to your vehicle could present a serious road danger if it comes loose and flies off into traffic.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670120905412.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy AAA" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy AAA</figcaption>
 </figure>AAA notes that transporting a real Christmas tree is easy as long as you have the tools and follow these simple tips:●Use the right vehicle.&nbsp;It’s best to transport a Christmas tree on top of a vehicle equipped with a roof rack. However, if you do not have a roof rack, use the bed of a pickup truck or an SUV, van or minivan that can fit the tree inside with all doors closed.●Bring proper tools.&nbsp;Bring strong rope or nylon ratchet straps to secure the tree to your vehicle’s roof rack. Avoid the lightweight twine offered by many tree lots. Bring an old blanket and gloves.●Protect the tree―and your vehicle.&nbsp;Have the tree wrapped in netting before loading it. If netting is unavailable, secure loose branches with rope or twine.&nbsp;Use an old blanket to prevent paint scratches and protect the vehicle finish.●Point the tree trunk towards the front.&nbsp;Always place the tree on a roof rack or in a pickup bed with the bottom of the trunk facing the front of the vehicle.●Tie it down.&nbsp;Secure the tree at its bottom, center and top. At the bottom, use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop around the trunk above a lower branch, to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement. The center and top tie-downs should be installed in a similar manner. ●Give it the tug test.&nbsp;Before you leave the lot, give the tree several strong tugs from various directions to make sure it is secured in place and will not blow away.●Drive slowly and easily.&nbsp;Take the back roads, if possible. Higher speeds create significant airflow that can damage your Christmas tree and challenge even the best tie-down methods.Getting lit ― safely Once the Christmas tree reaches its holiday home safely, proper placement and decorations are key to preventing a devastating house fire. The&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUX9JY8-2FVNQT2afwKQfF-2FPoz1FWIlfdJFwenb-2F7tpYFX0RUV-2Ber-2B319IHpFzJVwnZPWkM5NG2-2Fc9cDDguHZ7w1rc5crRPPsksl7IspL96uqc8D0oT1cCjyug0ceWuGEzosZ6-2FdKxrEeSqEuQl6oYcbMg-3D0Z-z_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zNwXX-2FpF2F7fjD9VSWSXXrIhmn8-2FJbwbofMgb9o-2BJuWBSMu65ffjMGRjVMAj06E8M8H5d2DurIQ25jIaJT1usHIzCw8OJL-2BcBuluvu9Gh0qs4OG5NQ706ufVDADT5s2s2CQk0MxN2CZqz1-2FVAwW3Pg-2FU-3D" target="_blank">National Fire Protection Association</a>&nbsp;reports that:●Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in more than two in five home Christmas tree fires.●Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by lamps or bulbs.&nbsp;Six percent were started by candles.●Roughly two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room.●Candle fires peak in December and January with 11 percent of candle fires in each of these months.●Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, followed by Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.●Year round, more than one-third (35 percent) of home decoration fires were started by candles. This jumped to almost half in December when candles started 45 percent of such fires. Cooking started one-fifth (19%) of decoration fires.●U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated average of 790 home&nbsp;structure fires per year that began with decorations, excluding Christmas trees. These fires caused an annual average of one civilian fire death, 26 civilian fire injuries and $13 million in direct property damage.Make sure the fireplace is all that gets “lit” AAA and&nbsp;the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) offer the following tips to reduce the risk of a house fire this Christmas:●Make sure the Christmas tree is at least three feet away from any heat source (fireplace, radiator, candles, heat vents, or lights).●Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit.●Add water to your tree daily.●Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Never use lit candles to light the tree.●Always turn off the lights on the tree before going to bed or leaving home.“No one wants to have their holiday ruined―or face a tragedy―because of a house fire that could have been&nbsp;prevented,” said Steward.&nbsp; “While you may look at your tree as the centerpiece of your holiday decorations, you must treat it as a potential fire danger and take steps to protect your family and your home.”About AAA AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 63&nbsp;million&nbsp;members nationwide and more than 350,000 members in Kansas.&nbsp;AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. AAA is a&nbsp;non-stock, membership corporation working&nbsp;on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, access a&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUZq7fhzRb2URGDQo-2F50oBEr-2Fbwhu8fPUyM1UGHM2bacFFA3Jf5NCJEcqU1rYMpo-2B7BEohQndgte3obSbPOg00n9FouHS9x9pGXl1JHu0Vl-2FaLIg69vty8Q3jtYMEA-2BXbOA-3D-3D_OyE_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zN4sOOnPLl1gx9jV7BaGADhqyErbFFDz3rZXUJAbVv4ekD5NDEc-2FGGTaQX4571RwC4DVSsUoMIBvPAHrLpW0Q2cbpCwnNQuQKwxeMQy5MCFSccvo6qhBGTaH6R1vkGJbEogs2J7gXP8JE7ggnonTXnZQ-3D" target="_blank">COVID travel restriction map</a>, find local gas prices and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUf5vDzC6voLYAPhUgWPKW1SAOm0OriNB3cOVo30c-2Fc523y6f_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zN9fbr6hLjmiJANWNgVY2ht8kyRo2GdZkGdfrkzNj7rhkM9PnxBOuh1Afj9baPqyOB6PePi9UZ2kiENomHqHM3d6V5su4LekHn33xmBnZHxJQwHsGIXKWzxJncwe3wMuhAFfg0p6LEmSoychrqNo5YJ4-3D" target="_blank">electric vehicle charging stations</a>,&nbsp;discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9hd7gt5w4RnNVYldceL1C0Mr-2BgWuTHSr0gcdduVCeTe6aWvq_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zNzDCvQVDJg8wI7j3XFKWkV4-2FY7fcetb2prLFuTeYahF7UqARETZZPUo1nAkj9tOMSWFYbEEw8SUZn-2F5fO8BI8JJxxpvQ9ZbwqUCctSTL5XedUNzg8xLg5jxYQFIB1hylsa7UYIkfQ-2BJ318b2MjMYg7g-3D" target="_blank">AAA.com/mobile</a>) for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9jbf-2FfQz5ExMUplWZDyodiQ-3DdJDW_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqnr36Bz-2FX7x-2BRJfm1jhyKW-2FTCp5aY-2FVJ4JCxnjvk-2FRRDwnt24kMBsxeKi7alWPlpMNWd26xqDiyhvULBRt1ZzVZBYb-2BCM-2FNpGrFx-2F1bwTwQStJ0ha-2BlPmWXtXzxvtA5zN36ac5SEcr3F0-2FYV7s-2F3d2YN-2FynuKkr8Lgu05RSytB3-2Bu4kCSpIUsgRZ3MWvH4LNhV-2FUTbiPfkKx-2FzL70fHLm5Qpotso8atA0j5rogf-2FpfSYfuxGcqWmdjC-2BHPykwqejqD08SgRAPaG0nzQ7rmbproA-3D" target="_blank">www.AAA.com</a>.

Local