EDITOR'S NOTE: The story referenced in the below letter to the editor was published on Salina Post on Aug. 12.

A recent article published by the Kansas Reflector on August 12, 2022, and reprinted in multiple newspapers, detailed the Federal forfeiture and civil lawsuit involving Saint Francis Ministries and a few of its former leaders. The article contained inaccurate statements about Saint Francis Ministries, which could have been avoided had the news outlet taken the time to contact us for comment.

The article suggests that millions of dollars were not properly accounted for; these statements are false. The comments in the article lead the reader to an inaccurate understanding of the situation. Over the past twenty-two months, the Saint Francis Ministries team has cooperated with investigators, auditors, and state partners to ensure accurate accounting and complete transparency. In summary, there are no unaccounted dollars as we continue to openly assist and support government organizations with their inquiries.

The article also claims that Nebraska severed ties with Saint Francis over performance concerns. This is also inaccurate. Both parties agreed to mutually terminate the contract.

Nebraska ended privatization in the state, and did not replace Saint Francis with another contractor. Nebraska and Saint Francis continue a strong working relationship in providing services for Nebraska children and families.

Thankfully, Saint Francis Ministries is financially sound. Our fiscal operations are healthy and our systems are strong. This outcome is due to hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the entire

Saint Francis Ministries team. What has transpired in the past will not define our legacy. Saint Francis Ministries has faithfully transformed lives for over 75 years and remains committed to our mission of providing healing and hope to children and families. We serve more than 11,000 children and families, across six states, employing over 1,550 dedicated individuals. We are proud of our work, and we will continue to rebuild trust with those we serve and the partners who support our mission.

Alison Kossover Chief Administration Officer Marketing &amp; Human Resources Saint Francis Ministries

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story referenced in the below letter to the editor was published on Salina Post on Aug. 12.A recent article published by the Kansas Reflector on August 12, 2022, and reprinted in multiple newspapers, detailed the Federal forfeiture and civil lawsuit involving Saint Francis Ministries and a few of its former leaders. The article contained inaccurate statements about Saint Francis Ministries, which could have been avoided had the news outlet taken the time to contact us for comment.The article suggests that millions of dollars were not properly accounted for; these statements are false. The comments in the article lead the reader to an inaccurate understanding of the situation. Over the past twenty-two months, the Saint Francis Ministries team has cooperated with investigators, auditors, and state partners to ensure accurate accounting and complete transparency. In summary, there are no unaccounted dollars as we continue to openly assist and support government organizations with their inquiries.The article also claims that Nebraska severed ties with Saint Francis over performance concerns. This is also inaccurate. Both parties agreed to mutually terminate the contract.Nebraska ended privatization in the state, and did not replace Saint Francis with another contractor. Nebraska and Saint Francis continue a strong working relationship in providing services for Nebraska children and families.Thankfully, Saint Francis Ministries is financially sound. Our fiscal operations are healthy and our systems are strong. This outcome is due to hard work, sacrifice, and dedication of the entireSaint Francis Ministries team. What has transpired in the past will not define our legacy. Saint Francis Ministries has faithfully transformed lives for over 75 years and remains committed to our mission of providing healing and hope to children and families. We serve more than 11,000 children and families, across six states, employing over 1,550 dedicated individuals. We are proud of our work, and we will continue to rebuild trust with those we serve and the partners who support our mission.Alison Kossover Chief Administration Officer Marketing &amp; Human Resources Saint Francis Ministries

Letter to the Editor: Saint Francis Ministries responds to story

LINDSBORG - Bethany College topped $11 million in gifts and pledges, as it ended its fiscal year on June 30, but its efforts won't stop there.

During a gathering last week, Bethany College President Elizabeth Mauch told faculty, staff, and board of trustees members of a new five-year strategic plan - Path to Your Purpose - that will focus on fundraising and student experience in three areas:

●Prioritizing the success of a diverse student population

●Elevating high-impact practices for every student

●Strengthening community relationships by connecting with business and industry partners

Additionally, what is being called "a core component" of Path to Your Purpose is the plan to have 100 percent of Bethany students participate in a service-learning experience by 2026. 

"As Bethany College continues to rebuild after several financially fragile years, there are many significant financial improvements. The Bethany College Trust Fund has grown 16 percent over the same time last year, the college established a new quasi-endowment allowing for short-term projects to be financed and finished the fourth quarter of 2022 with a 25-percent increase over the previous year’s fourth quarter fundraising efforts," the college noted in a news release.

These efforts enabled the college to make significant renovations to several buildings and other campus spaces.

"Both Warner and Gregory Resident Halls were renovated by a special gift from Roy and Donice '73 Applequist," the college noted. 

Additionally, Nelson Science Center and the Athletics Complex also received updates and improvements.

"The Path to Your Purpose initiative was implemented to connect Bethany students with pathways to career successes by providing experiential internship opportunities in new areas," the college reported. "A bridge program was expanded to further support rural areas in summer school programs and a task force was formed to explore ways to better support first-generation students at Bethany College."

Areas of tradition also were developed and strengthened. Bethany College was able to launch a search for a fulltime campus pastor thanks to an anonymous gift to the Campus Chaplaincy. Additionally, the successes of the Messiah Festival and the Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley "further enriched Bethany College's musical heritage," the college noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661392469728.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy Bethany College" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Bethany College</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTLINDSBORG - Bethany College topped $11 million in gifts and pledges, as it ended its fiscal year on June 30, but its efforts won't stop there.During a gathering last week, Bethany College President Elizabeth Mauch told faculty, staff, and board of trustees members of a new five-year strategic plan - Path to Your Purpose - that will focus on fundraising and student experience in three areas:●Prioritizing the success of a diverse student population●Elevating high-impact practices for every student●Strengthening community relationships by connecting with business and industry partnersAdditionally, what is being called "a core component" of Path to Your Purpose is the plan to have 100 percent of Bethany students participate in a service-learning experience by 2026. "As Bethany College continues to rebuild after several financially fragile years, there are many significant financial improvements. The Bethany College Trust Fund has grown 16 percent over the same time last year, the college established a new quasi-endowment allowing for short-term projects to be financed and finished the fourth quarter of 2022 with a 25-percent increase over the previous year’s fourth quarter fundraising efforts," the college noted in a news release.These efforts enabled the college to make significant renovations to several buildings and other campus spaces."Both Warner and Gregory Resident Halls were renovated by a special gift from Roy and Donice '73 Applequist," the college noted. Additionally, Nelson Science Center and the Athletics Complex also received updates and improvements.The college also transformed programs."The Path to Your Purpose initiative was implemented to connect Bethany students with pathways to career successes by providing experiential internship opportunities in new areas," the college reported. "A bridge program was expanded to further support rural areas in summer school programs and a task force was formed to explore ways to better support first-generation students at Bethany College."Areas of tradition also were developed and strengthened. Bethany College was able to launch a search for a fulltime campus pastor thanks to an anonymous gift to the Campus Chaplaincy. Additionally, the successes of the Messiah Festival and the Chamber Orchestra of the Smoky Valley "further enriched Bethany College's musical heritage," the college noted.

Bethany College raises more than $11M; announces strategic plan

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

Police are looking for a car involved in a hit-and-run collision in downtown Salina Wednesday afternoon.

A 2007 Toyota Avalon driven by Marcia Marcotte, 55, of Salina, was northbound on S. Santa Fe Avenue and stopped at the stop sign at the Mulberry Street intersection when it was rear-ended by an older model white four-door vehicle, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.

After the collision, the white vehicle was last seen going eastbound through the Homewood Suites parking lot.

Marcotte and an 83-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Avalon were not injured, Forrester said.

The Avalon sustained rear-end damage and the white vehicle is believed to have front end damage, he said.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostPolice are looking for a car involved in a hit-and-run collision in downtown Salina Wednesday afternoon.A 2007 Toyota Avalon driven by Marcia Marcotte, 55, of Salina, was northbound on S. Santa Fe Avenue and stopped at the stop sign at the Mulberry Street intersection when it was rear-ended by an older model white four-door vehicle, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.After the collision, the white vehicle was last seen going eastbound through the Homewood Suites parking lot.Marcotte and an 83-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Avalon were not injured, Forrester said.The Avalon sustained rear-end damage and the white vehicle is believed to have front end damage, he said.

Car rear ends another, flees after collision downtown

Approximately $1,500 worth of items were stolen from a north Salina residence Tuesday.

A 36-year-old Salina woman told police that sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday someone entered her residence in the 200 block of N. 13th Street and stole multiple items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. It is believed that entry was made through a damaged window on the west side of the residence.

An Apple watch with a leopard print scrunchy band

Total loss was estimated at just under $1,500, Forrester said.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostApproximately $1,500 worth of items were stolen from a north Salina residence Tuesday.A 36-year-old Salina woman told police that sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday someone entered her residence in the 200 block of N. 13th Street and stole multiple items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning. It is believed that entry was made through a damaged window on the west side of the residence.Items stolen include the following.A black Xbox OneA white Xbox OneA Vivo ASUS laptopA pink HP Pavilion laptop	An Apple watch with a leopard print scrunchy bandA DeWalt 40-piece bit setAn iPhone 6SA white iPad miniTotal loss was estimated at just under $1,500, Forrester said.

Multiple items stolen from north Salina residence during daytime

SALINE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is urging drivers to use caution southbound on Interstate 135 near Water Well Road, exit 88.

The Kansas Department of Transportation and first responders are on the scene of a cement truck that rolled, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.

There are no initial report of injuries. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661435208762.png" alt="Photo courtesy KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is urging drivers to use caution southbound on Interstate 135 near Water Well Road, exit 88.The Kansas Department of Transportation and first responders are on the scene of a cement truck that rolled, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol.There are no initial report of injuries. Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

KHP: Cement truck overturns south of Salina

By MARK TALLMAN Kansas Association of School Boards

I was honored this summer to be asked to visit with two community gatherings, in Goddard and Haysville, to welcome students, parents, staff, and patrons to the 2022-23 school year.

I saw the usual excitement about getting back to the business of teaching students. I felt hopeful optimism that the worst of the COVID pandemic is over, and we are closer to "normal" than ever. And I heard concerns about continuing criticism of public schools regarding academic performance and parent input.

As a lobbyist for KASB for over 30 years, I was asked how school supporters can be more effective advocates for their public schools. My answer: advocacy is communication. As school leaders, we must continuously communicate our vision and the outcomes we are trying to achieve; the results we are getting, both good and bad; what we are doing as school leaders to improve those results; and finally, what help we need from others.

What are schools trying to do: improve student success individually, socially and economically.

When people are asked what they expect schools to teach, the first thing most will say usually is something like the traditional "reading, writing and arithmetic." These skills are the foundation of most other learning. But asking people what they want students to learn often gives different answers, like practical or "life skills," problem-solving and communications, employment or workforce skills, which for most jobs will require some education beyond a high school diploma.

Last summer, 5,000 Kansans participated in State Board of Education meetings to discuss the State Board of Education's Kansans Can vision and overwhelmingly agreed with responses collected almost five years ago: to be successful as an adult, students need not only foundational academic skills, they also need personal skills for healthy individual lives; they need interpersonal skills to function in a democratic society and their community; and they need to be able to support themselves and their families economically.

Those skills are reflected in state education goals called the "Rose capacities" identified by the Kansas Supreme Court and adopted in state law by the Legislature, as well as the State Board's Kansans Can vision.

What are the results: long-term success, short-term challenges; high standards.

The Kansas Constitution requires a public school and higher education system for educational improvement. Over the long term, we have succeeded. The latest data from the U.S. Census shows that educational attainment – the percentage of the population finishing high school, attending college and completing postsecondary degrees – has never been higher. Kansas continues to exceed the national average in these areas.

That's never been more important because employers increasingly require more education, and salaries for higher-skill jobs have risen accordingly. That means schools are expected to bring more students to higher skill levels than in the past. Based on adult attainment levels, we have done that.

However, short-term measures are more concerning. After improving during the 2000s, since the early 2010s, Kansas academic test scores have been dropping. After a decade of growth, high school graduation rates and postsecondary degrees flattened or dropped in the past two years.

What changed? School funding shortfalls and an unprecedented health emergency.

Through 2009, K-12 funding increased but fell behind inflation and the U.S. and regional average for eight years from 2009 to 2017, with a loss of 2,000 educators and support staff and declining teacher salaries and student support programs. In response to the Gannon school finance decision, the Kansas legislature adopted a six-year plan to restore funding to 2009 levels after adjusting for inflation, beginning in 2018. The final step will be this school year. However, just as new funding began to flow, schools were hit by the COVID pandemic, cutting learning time and increasing stress on students, families and educators.

The impact of COVID was not unique to Kansas. It has been called the most significant event to damage educational progress in at least decades. The full impact on schools in Kansas and across the nation is still not clear.

Another change is that the State Board of Education adopted new state academic tests with higher standards, aiming to get 75 percent of students to "college ready" levels, similar to the ACT or SAT test. These new state tests and standards are the most rigorous in the nation when benchmarked against the National Assessment of Educational Progress. For example, no state has over half of its students meeting such standards on the NAEP. Even Kansas's highest performing schools – public or private – have only about 50 percent or fewer students meeting these high standards.

What is the plan: kindergarten readiness, academic skills, health and safety, civic engagement, individualized plans, postsecondary success.

How do we recover from past underfunding and COVID learning loss and get more students to meet higher standards and success after high school? The Kansans Can vision addresses those issues in six areas which are also the basis of the new Kansas school accreditation system. As a new year begins, school leaders should share their local plans, progress and challenges, and support needed in these areas.

Kindergarten readiness is an education issue, a family issue and an economic issue. Quality preschool programs help all students arrive in kindergarten ready to learn, assist parents as their child's first teachers and allow parents to participate in the workforce. Research shows investing in early childhood education improves long-term educational outcomes, and school-based preschool programs have been expanded. However, child care remains out of reach for many because of cost or lack of programs. &nbsp;

Academic skills mean students acquire fundamental reading, writing, math and other academic and cognitive skills to function individually, in society and in the workforce. Students need to reach levels of competency that give them options for postsecondary choices. Students dealing with poverty, disability and health issues often lag behind on these measures. More students are falling into these categories, and these students were most impacted by the pandemic. State and federal funding has been increasing in some of these areas, but part of the increase is temporary, and funding for special education has fallen far behind actual costs.

Health and safety programs are designed to allow students to learn in a safe and healthy environment and understand physical and mental health. Schools work with families, communities and other partners to address issues that interfere with students' ability to learn. Aided by state and federal funding, districts have been strengthening these efforts.

Civic engagement means students learn about political and economic systems and cultural heritage with an opportunity to engage with their community. Many believe students will be more successful as adults if they learn to make connections, give back to their communities, and understand the key concepts of government, politics and economics in their own lives, so districts are expanding programs in these areas.

Individualized education helps students develop skills for education and employment after high school based on their interests, including broader skills than academics alone. This includes more flexibility in when, how and where students can learn and more hands-on learning experiences. It's based on the idea that students are more likely to learn if they see relevance and make connections to the real world. This requires changes in the design of schools to a more individualized and personalized approach, which the state and school districts are working to implement.

Postsecondary success means students acquire the skills needed for individual economic security and meeting workforce needs in an economy where 90 percent of jobs will require a high school diploma and about 75 percent of jobs will require education beyond high school. These are levels of achievement Kansas has never before reached. The first five areas all support this goal, as well as specific programs to encourage graduation, expanding dual enrollment programs with colleges to give students a start in high school, and helping students prepare for the transition from school to college. These are particularly important for students who are the first generation to make this transition.

Your district's "back to school message" is particularly important because this is the time of year when education may be getting the most focus from everyone: students and parents, school leaders and staff, and the entire community. This is when school advocates have the best chance to make an impression and share their message.

Advocating for public education means recognizing that schools cannot achieve these goals alone. Some of the help required is the financial resources and authority determined by the Legislature, State Board of Education and federal government. Other help is less material: stronger partnerships with families to support personalized learning; with businesses to provide real-world experiences; with communities to find more effective and efficient ways to serve students and families; and with postsecondary education to help students who are making the transition.

To enlist this support, school advocates must help their communities understand the wide range of work underway across the six areas listed above and, equally important, understand why that work is essential. It means presenting honestly the needs, challenges and successes in each area.

Finally, like all true communications, it means listening to those you seek to enlist.

In addition to writing The Tallman Education Report, Mark Tallman also serves as the associate executive director for advocacy for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kasb.org/">Kansas Association of School Boards</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK TALLMAN Kansas Association of School BoardsI was honored this summer to be asked to visit with two community gatherings, in Goddard and Haysville, to welcome students, parents, staff, and patrons to the 2022-23 school year.I saw the usual excitement about getting back to the business of teaching students. I felt hopeful optimism that the worst of the COVID pandemic is over, and we are closer to "normal" than ever. And I heard concerns about continuing criticism of public schools regarding academic performance and parent input.As a lobbyist for KASB for over 30 years, I was asked how school supporters can be more effective advocates for their public schools. My answer: advocacy is communication. As school leaders, we must continuously communicate our vision and the outcomes we are trying to achieve; the results we are getting, both good and bad; what we are doing as school leaders to improve those results; and finally, what help we need from others.What are schools trying to do: improve student success individually, socially and economically.When people are asked what they expect schools to teach, the first thing most will say usually is something like the traditional "reading, writing and arithmetic." These skills are the foundation of most other learning. But asking people what they want students to learn often gives different answers, like practical or "life skills," problem-solving and communications, employment or workforce skills, which for most jobs will require some education beyond a high school diploma.Last summer, 5,000 Kansans participated in State Board of Education meetings to discuss the State Board of Education's Kansans Can vision and overwhelmingly agreed with responses collected almost five years ago: to be successful as an adult, students need not only foundational academic skills, they also need personal skills for healthy individual lives; they need interpersonal skills to function in a democratic society and their community; and they need to be able to support themselves and their families economically.Those skills are reflected in state education goals called the "Rose capacities" identified by the Kansas Supreme Court and adopted in state law by the Legislature, as well as the State Board's Kansans Can vision.What are the results: long-term success, short-term challenges; high standards.The Kansas Constitution requires a public school and higher education system for educational improvement. Over the long term, we have succeeded. The latest data from the U.S. Census shows that educational attainment – the percentage of the population finishing high school, attending college and completing postsecondary degrees – has never been higher. Kansas continues to exceed the national average in these areas.That's never been more important because employers increasingly require more education, and salaries for higher-skill jobs have risen accordingly. That means schools are expected to bring more students to higher skill levels than in the past. Based on adult attainment levels, we have done that.However, short-term measures are more concerning. After improving during the 2000s, since the early 2010s, Kansas academic test scores have been dropping. After a decade of growth, high school graduation rates and postsecondary degrees flattened or dropped in the past two years.What changed? School funding shortfalls and an unprecedented health emergency.Through 2009, K-12 funding increased but fell behind inflation and the U.S. and regional average for eight years from 2009 to 2017, with a loss of 2,000 educators and support staff and declining teacher salaries and student support programs. In response to the Gannon school finance decision, the Kansas legislature adopted a six-year plan to restore funding to 2009 levels after adjusting for inflation, beginning in 2018. The final step will be this school year. However, just as new funding began to flow, schools were hit by the COVID pandemic, cutting learning time and increasing stress on students, families and educators.The impact of COVID was not unique to Kansas. It has been called the most significant event to damage educational progress in at least decades. The full impact on schools in Kansas and across the nation is still not clear.Another change is that the State Board of Education adopted new state academic tests with higher standards, aiming to get 75 percent of students to "college ready" levels, similar to the ACT or SAT test. These new state tests and standards are the most rigorous in the nation when benchmarked against the National Assessment of Educational Progress. For example, no state has over half of its students meeting such standards on the NAEP. Even Kansas's highest performing schools – public or private – have only about 50 percent or fewer students meeting these high standards.What is the plan: kindergarten readiness, academic skills, health and safety, civic engagement, individualized plans, postsecondary success.How do we recover from past underfunding and COVID learning loss and get more students to meet higher standards and success after high school? The Kansans Can vision addresses those issues in six areas which are also the basis of the new Kansas school accreditation system. As a new year begins, school leaders should share their local plans, progress and challenges, and support needed in these areas.Kindergarten readiness is an education issue, a family issue and an economic issue. Quality preschool programs help all students arrive in kindergarten ready to learn, assist parents as their child's first teachers and allow parents to participate in the workforce. Research shows investing in early childhood education improves long-term educational outcomes, and school-based preschool programs have been expanded. However, child care remains out of reach for many because of cost or lack of programs. &nbsp;Academic skills mean students acquire fundamental reading, writing, math and other academic and cognitive skills to function individually, in society and in the workforce. Students need to reach levels of competency that give them options for postsecondary choices. Students dealing with poverty, disability and health issues often lag behind on these measures. More students are falling into these categories, and these students were most impacted by the pandemic. State and federal funding has been increasing in some of these areas, but part of the increase is temporary, and funding for special education has fallen far behind actual costs.Health and safety programs are designed to allow students to learn in a safe and healthy environment and understand physical and mental health. Schools work with families, communities and other partners to address issues that interfere with students' ability to learn. Aided by state and federal funding, districts have been strengthening these efforts.Civic engagement means students learn about political and economic systems and cultural heritage with an opportunity to engage with their community. Many believe students will be more successful as adults if they learn to make connections, give back to their communities, and understand the key concepts of government, politics and economics in their own lives, so districts are expanding programs in these areas.Individualized education helps students develop skills for education and employment after high school based on their interests, including broader skills than academics alone. This includes more flexibility in when, how and where students can learn and more hands-on learning experiences. It's based on the idea that students are more likely to learn if they see relevance and make connections to the real world. This requires changes in the design of schools to a more individualized and personalized approach, which the state and school districts are working to implement.Postsecondary success means students acquire the skills needed for individual economic security and meeting workforce needs in an economy where 90 percent of jobs will require a high school diploma and about 75 percent of jobs will require education beyond high school. These are levels of achievement Kansas has never before reached. The first five areas all support this goal, as well as specific programs to encourage graduation, expanding dual enrollment programs with colleges to give students a start in high school, and helping students prepare for the transition from school to college. These are particularly important for students who are the first generation to make this transition.Who is responsible: everyone.Your district's "back to school message" is particularly important because this is the time of year when education may be getting the most focus from everyone: students and parents, school leaders and staff, and the entire community. This is when school advocates have the best chance to make an impression and share their message.Advocating for public education means recognizing that schools cannot achieve these goals alone. Some of the help required is the financial resources and authority determined by the Legislature, State Board of Education and federal government. Other help is less material: stronger partnerships with families to support personalized learning; with businesses to provide real-world experiences; with communities to find more effective and efficient ways to serve students and families; and with postsecondary education to help students who are making the transition.To enlist this support, school advocates must help their communities understand the wide range of work underway across the six areas listed above and, equally important, understand why that work is essential. It means presenting honestly the needs, challenges and successes in each area.Finally, like all true communications, it means listening to those you seek to enlist.In addition to writing The Tallman Education Report, Mark Tallman also serves as the associate executive director for advocacy for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kasb.org/">Kansas Association of School Boards</a>.

TALLMAN: Our back to school plan for student success

Heartland Early Education Program has announced that it will host the Saline County Safe Sleep Community Baby Shower in early October.

Due to space limitations, the event is open to all new (as of July 1) and expecting moms residing in Saline County. Moms may bring one support person.

The baby shower is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Heartland Early Education facility, 700 Jupiter Avenue. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program is scheduled to begin promptly at 6 p.m. There will be no admittance after 6 p.m.

According to information from Heartland Early Education, the program will include information about safe sleep techniques, breast feeding resources, smoking cessation, refreshments, and drawings and prizes.

Additionally, a safety approved Pack-n-Play and Sleep Sack will be given to each new mom after completion of the program while supplies last.

For more information about the baby shower, email <a href="mailto:diane.cusick@usd305.com">diane.cusick@usd305.com</a> or call 785-309-5042.

By SALINA POSTHeartland Early Education Program has announced that it will host the Saline County Safe Sleep Community Baby Shower in early October.Due to space limitations, the event is open to all new (as of July 1) and expecting moms residing in Saline County. Moms may bring one support person.The baby shower is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Heartland Early Education facility, 700 Jupiter Avenue. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program is scheduled to begin promptly at 6 p.m. There will be no admittance after 6 p.m.According to information from Heartland Early Education, the program will include information about safe sleep techniques, breast feeding resources, smoking cessation, refreshments, and drawings and prizes.Additionally, a safety approved Pack-n-Play and Sleep Sack will be given to each new mom after completion of the program while supplies last.For more information about the baby shower, email <a href="mailto:diane.cusick@usd305.com">diane.cusick@usd305.com</a> or call 785-309-5042.

Saline County community baby shower set for October

Today is Thursday, Aug. 25, the 237th day of 2022. There are 128 days left in the year.

On Aug. 25, 2018, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who had spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam before a 35-year political career that took him to the Republican presidential nomination, died at the age of 81 after battling brain cancer for more than a year.

In 1718, hundreds of French colonists arrived in Louisiana, with some settling in present-day New Orleans.

In 1875, Capt. Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, getting from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in 22 hours.

In 1928, an expedition led by Richard E. Byrd set sail from Hoboken, N.J., on its journey to Antarctica.

In 1944, during World War II, Paris was liberated by Allied forces after four years of Nazi occupation.

In 1958, the game show "Concentration" premiered on NBC-TV.

In 1980, the Broadway musical "42nd Street" opened. (Producer David Merrick stunned the cast and audience during the curtain call by announcing that the show's director, Gower Champion, had died earlier that day.)

In 1981, the U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 came within 63,000 miles of Saturn's cloud cover, sending back pictures of and data about the ringed planet.

In 1985, Samantha Smith, 13, the schoolgirl whose letter to Yuri V. Andropov resulted in her famous peace tour of the Soviet Union, died with her father in an airliner crash in Auburn, Maine, that also killed four other passengers and two crew members.

In 2001, R&amp;B singer Aaliyah was killed with eight others in a plane crash in the Bahamas; she was 22.

In 2009, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the U.S. Senate, died at age 77 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, after a battle with a brain tumor.

In 2014, a funeral was held in St. Louis for Michael Brown, the Black 18-year-old who was shot to death by a police officer in suburban Ferguson.

In 2020, two people were shot to death and a third was wounded as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle during a third night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. (Rittenhouse, who was taken into custody in Illinois the next day, said he was defending himself after the three men attacked him as he tried to protect businesses from protesters; he was acquitted on all charges, including homicide.)

Ten years ago: Neil Armstrong, 82, who commanded the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing and was the first man to set foot on the moon in July 1969, died in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Five years ago: Hurricane Harvey, the fiercest hurricane to hit the U.S. in more than a decade, made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, with 130 mph sustained winds; the storm would deliver five days of rain totaling close to 52 inches, the heaviest tropical downpour that had ever been recorded in the continental U.S. The hurricane left at least 68 people dead and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage in Texas. President Donald Trump pardoned former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted of a misdemeanor contempt-of-court charge for defying a judge's orders that he stop conducting immigration patrols; the 85-year-old retired lawman had faced the prospect of jail time at his sentencing in October.

One year ago: Secretary of State Antony Blinken said about 4,500 Americans had been evacuated so far from Afghanistan; officials believed there were about 6,000 Americans wanting to leave when the U.S. airlift began in mid-August. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a security alert warning American citizens to stay away from three specific gates at the airport in Kabul. (There would be a deadly suicide bomb attack at the airport the following day.) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any state or local mandates requiring people to be vaccinated against COVID-19; the move came as Texas reported the most COVID-19 patients in its hospitals since the pandemic began. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo that military troops must immediately start getting the COVID-19 vaccine. A man who was angered by state-ordered coronavirus restrictions was sentenced to just over six years in prison for planning to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Ty Garbin was among six men charged in federal court, but was the first to plead guilty.

Today's Birthdays: Actor Tom Skerritt is 89. Jazz musician Wayne Shorter is 89. Movie director Hugh Hudson is 86. Author Frederick Forsyth is 84. Movie director John Badham is 83. Filmmaker Marshall Brickman is 83. R&amp;B singer Walter Williams (The O'Jays) is 79. Actor Anthony Heald is 78. Rock singer-actor Gene Simmons is 73. Actor John Savage is 73. Author Martin Amis is 73. Country singer-musician Henry Paul (Outlaws; Blackhawk) is 73. Rock singer Rob Halford is 71. Rock musician Geoff Downes (Asia) is 70. Rock singer Elvis Costello is 68. Movie director Tim Burton is 64. Actor Christian LeBlanc is 64. Actor Ashley Crow is 62. Actor Ally Walker is 61. Country singer Cyrus (AKA Billy Ray Cyrus) is 61. Actor Joanne Whalley is 61. Rock musician Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard) is 60. Actor Blair Underwood is 58. Actor Robert Maschio is 56. Rap DJ Terminator X (Public Enemy) is 56. Alternative country singer Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) is 55. Actor David Alan Basche is 54. Television chef Rachael Ray is 54. Actor Cameron Mathison is 53. Country singer Jo Dee Messina is 52. Model Claudia Schiffer is 52. Country singer Brice Long is 51. Actor Nathan Page is 51. Actor-writer-director Ben Falcone is 49. Actor Eric Millegan is 48. Actor Alexander Skarsgard is 46. Actor Jonathan Togo is 45. Actor Kel Mitchell is 44. Actor Rachel Bilson is 41. Actor Blake Lively is 35. Actor Josh Flitter is 28.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Thursday, Aug. 25, the 237th day of 2022. There are 128 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Aug. 25, 2018, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, who had spent years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam before a 35-year political career that took him to the Republican presidential nomination, died at the age of 81 after battling brain cancer for more than a year.On this date:In 1718, hundreds of French colonists arrived in Louisiana, with some settling in present-day New Orleans.In 1875, Capt. Matthew Webb became the first person to swim across the English Channel, getting from Dover, England, to Calais, France, in 22 hours.In 1928, an expedition led by Richard E. Byrd set sail from Hoboken, N.J., on its journey to Antarctica.In 1944, during World War II, Paris was liberated by Allied forces after four years of Nazi occupation.In 1958, the game show "Concentration" premiered on NBC-TV.In 1980, the Broadway musical "42nd Street" opened. (Producer David Merrick stunned the cast and audience during the curtain call by announcing that the show's director, Gower Champion, had died earlier that day.)In 1981, the U.S. spacecraft Voyager 2 came within 63,000 miles of Saturn's cloud cover, sending back pictures of and data about the ringed planet.In 1985, Samantha Smith, 13, the schoolgirl whose letter to Yuri V. Andropov resulted in her famous peace tour of the Soviet Union, died with her father in an airliner crash in Auburn, Maine, that also killed four other passengers and two crew members.In 2001, R&amp;B singer Aaliyah was killed with eight others in a plane crash in the Bahamas; she was 22.In 2009, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the liberal lion of the U.S. Senate, died at age 77 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, after a battle with a brain tumor.In 2014, a funeral was held in St. Louis for Michael Brown, the Black 18-year-old who was shot to death by a police officer in suburban Ferguson.In 2020, two people were shot to death and a third was wounded as 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle during a third night of protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin, over the police shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake. (Rittenhouse, who was taken into custody in Illinois the next day, said he was defending himself after the three men attacked him as he tried to protect businesses from protesters; he was acquitted on all charges, including homicide.)Ten years ago: Neil Armstrong, 82, who commanded the historic Apollo 11 lunar landing and was the first man to set foot on the moon in July 1969, died in Cincinnati, Ohio.Five years ago: Hurricane Harvey, the fiercest hurricane to hit the U.S. in more than a decade, made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, with 130 mph sustained winds; the storm would deliver five days of rain totaling close to 52 inches, the heaviest tropical downpour that had ever been recorded in the continental U.S. The hurricane left at least 68 people dead and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage in Texas. President Donald Trump pardoned former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been convicted of a misdemeanor contempt-of-court charge for defying a judge's orders that he stop conducting immigration patrols; the 85-year-old retired lawman had faced the prospect of jail time at his sentencing in October.One year ago: Secretary of State Antony Blinken said about 4,500 Americans had been evacuated so far from Afghanistan; officials believed there were about 6,000 Americans wanting to leave when the U.S. airlift began in mid-August. The U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a security alert warning American citizens to stay away from three specific gates at the airport in Kabul. (There would be a deadly suicide bomb attack at the airport the following day.) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order banning any state or local mandates requiring people to be vaccinated against COVID-19; the move came as Texas reported the most COVID-19 patients in its hospitals since the pandemic began. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo that military troops must immediately start getting the COVID-19 vaccine. A man who was angered by state-ordered coronavirus restrictions was sentenced to just over six years in prison for planning to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Ty Garbin was among six men charged in federal court, but was the first to plead guilty.Today's Birthdays: Actor Tom Skerritt is 89. Jazz musician Wayne Shorter is 89. Movie director Hugh Hudson is 86. Author Frederick Forsyth is 84. Movie director John Badham is 83. Filmmaker Marshall Brickman is 83. R&amp;B singer Walter Williams (The O'Jays) is 79. Actor Anthony Heald is 78. Rock singer-actor Gene Simmons is 73. Actor John Savage is 73. Author Martin Amis is 73. Country singer-musician Henry Paul (Outlaws; Blackhawk) is 73. Rock singer Rob Halford is 71. Rock musician Geoff Downes (Asia) is 70. Rock singer Elvis Costello is 68. Movie director Tim Burton is 64. Actor Christian LeBlanc is 64. Actor Ashley Crow is 62. Actor Ally Walker is 61. Country singer Cyrus (AKA Billy Ray Cyrus) is 61. Actor Joanne Whalley is 61. Rock musician Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard) is 60. Actor Blair Underwood is 58. Actor Robert Maschio is 56. Rap DJ Terminator X (Public Enemy) is 56. Alternative country singer Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) is 55. Actor David Alan Basche is 54. Television chef Rachael Ray is 54. Actor Cameron Mathison is 53. Country singer Jo Dee Messina is 52. Model Claudia Schiffer is 52. Country singer Brice Long is 51. Actor Nathan Page is 51. Actor-writer-director Ben Falcone is 49. Actor Eric Millegan is 48. Actor Alexander Skarsgard is 46. Actor Jonathan Togo is 45. Actor Kel Mitchell is 44. Actor Rachel Bilson is 41. Actor Blake Lively is 35. Actor Josh Flitter is 28.

Today in History - August 25

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Recent obituaries and service times

OCCK, Inc. is experiencing amazing growth, and they are excited to be adding to their teams!

· Physical Therapists or Physical Therapist Assistant

· Team Leaders for Direct Supports with Supervisory Experience

We have openings in all areas Salina, Abilene, Concordia, and Beloit!

Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://occk.com/">OCCK.com</a>&nbsp;for more information or to apply today!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660307484228.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OCCK, Inc. is experiencing amazing growth, and they are excited to be adding to their teams!Currently looking for:· Administrative Support Specialist· Human Resources Specialist· Home Care Attendants· Direct Support Professionals· Targeted Case Managers· Physical Therapists or Physical Therapist Assistant· LPN· Employment Consultant· Drivers· Team Leaders for Direct Supports with Supervisory ExperienceWe have openings in all areas Salina, Abilene, Concordia, and Beloit!Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://occk.com/">OCCK.com</a>&nbsp;for more information or to apply today!

NWS: Warm, dry through Friday; chance for rain beginning Saturday

There will be no regularly scheduled Salina City Commission meetings for the next two Mondays.

Commissioners will not meet on Monday due to that day being the fifth Monday of the month.

Additionally, the city commissioners will not meet on Sept. 5 due to the Labor Day holiday.

The next regularly scheduled Salina City Commission meeting will be Sept. 12.

By SALINA POSTThere will be no regularly scheduled Salina City Commission meetings for the next two Mondays.Commissioners will not meet on Monday due to that day being the fifth Monday of the month.Additionally, the city commissioners will not meet on Sept. 5 due to the Labor Day holiday.The next regularly scheduled Salina City Commission meeting will be Sept. 12.

No Salina City Commission meetings on next 2 Mondays

Salina Regional Health Center is modifying its COVID-19 visitation guidelines.

Effective today, August 24, there will no longer be restrictions to visit or accompany patients based on age. The hospital had previously required all visitors be age 12 or older.

Hospital inpatients will still only be allowed to have two visitors at the same time. Visitors can alternate in and out of the facility throughout the day.

Visitors must come and go using the hospital’s main entrance between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

All hospital outpatients and Salina SRHC-affiliated clinic patients also will no longer have age restrictions on visitors/assistants that accompany them to appointments. This includes Emergency

Department patients and outpatients with appointments for surgery, lab, radiology, physical therapy, and other services and doctor’s visits. Hospital outpatients and clinic patients will still be limited to having two visitors/assistants accompany for their appointments.

“Our modification today is aimed at accommodating more families who, for various reasons, would like to have younger children visit or accompany them,” said Bethanie McDowell, infection prevention director at SRHC.

• Visitors will be asked to wear a mask throughout the visit including in hallways, public areas and the patient’s room.

• Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 risk and given an ID bracelet upon entry.

• Inpatient visitors may only enter the hospital main entrance between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

• Visitors are not allowed to access the main hospital through the Emergency&nbsp;Department entrance at any time.

• Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they like within routine hospital visiting hours.

• Visitors should remain in the patient’s room as much as possible.

Current visitation guidelines can be found at <a href="http://www.srhc.com">www.srhc.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599583306541.jpeg" alt="Salina Regional Health Center main entrance off of S. Santa Fe Avenue. Photo courtesy Salina Regional Health Center" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Health Center main entrance off of S. Santa Fe Avenue. Photo courtesy Salina Regional Health Center</figcaption>
 </figure>SRHCSalina Regional Health Center is modifying its COVID-19 visitation guidelines.Effective today, August 24, there will no longer be restrictions to visit or accompany patients based on age. The hospital had previously required all visitors be age 12 or older.Hospital inpatients will still only be allowed to have two visitors at the same time. Visitors can alternate in and out of the facility throughout the day.Visitors must come and go using the hospital’s main entrance between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.All hospital outpatients and Salina SRHC-affiliated clinic patients also will no longer have age restrictions on visitors/assistants that accompany them to appointments. This includes EmergencyDepartment patients and outpatients with appointments for surgery, lab, radiology, physical therapy, and other services and doctor’s visits. Hospital outpatients and clinic patients will still be limited to having two visitors/assistants accompany for their appointments.“Our modification today is aimed at accommodating more families who, for various reasons, would like to have younger children visit or accompany them,” said Bethanie McDowell, infection prevention director at SRHC.Other visitation guidelines include:• Visitors will be asked to wear a mask throughout the visit including in hallways, public areas and the patient’s room.• Visitors will be screened for COVID-19 risk and given an ID bracelet upon entry.• Inpatient visitors may only enter the hospital main entrance between the hours of 5 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.• Visitors are not allowed to access the main hospital through the Emergency&nbsp;Department entrance at any time.• Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they like within routine hospital visiting hours.• Visitors should remain in the patient’s room as much as possible.Current visitation guidelines can be found at <a href="http://www.srhc.com">www.srhc.com</a>.

Salina Regional drops age restrictions on visitation

The Saline County Health Department plans to host a Child Care Recruitment Fair Thursday.

The event is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday at 125 W. Elm Street, and is open to the public at no charge.

Those attending will learn about funding, training, and educational opportunities. Additionally, those attending will be able to find information about the availability of childcare center openings, as well as learn how to open their own child care facilities, according to information from the health department.

Child care vendors also will be on hand and door prizes will be awarded.

By SALINA POSTThe Saline County Health Department plans to host a Child Care Recruitment Fair Thursday.The event is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Thursday at 125 W. Elm Street, and is open to the public at no charge.Those attending will learn about funding, training, and educational opportunities. Additionally, those attending will be able to find information about the availability of childcare center openings, as well as learn how to open their own child care facilities, according to information from the health department.Child care vendors also will be on hand and door prizes will be awarded.

Child Care Recruitment Fair set for Thursday evening in Salina

Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau

ABILENE – The number of individuals who have the privilege of working with the President of the United States on a daily basis is rather limited. Even fewer are the number of people who can say their job was to provide direct communications support for the Commander-in-Chief.

Thirteen former members of the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) plan to share their memories when they gather for a reunion next month in Abilene. The public is invited to hear them speak from 7-9 p.m.&nbsp; Sept. 7, at the Abilene Public Library.

These public servants – all military veterans – worked directly with presidents from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton and, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson, everyone in between. The accounts they plan to share are as diverse as the presidents themselves.

Harland Priddle, for example, will discuss planning President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China and the Soviet Union as well as the Watergate scandal that led to the president’s resignation. Priddle was WHCA deputy commander while serving from 1970-74. He would later become the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture as well as the first Kansas Secretary of Commerce.

Mike Ebbing, who also served during Nixon’s tenure, will present his personal conversations with the president while acting as a switchboard operator. He also will share audio recordings from 50 years ago of conversations from the secret White House tapes.

WHCA is a joint military organization that was established in 1942 to provide direct communications support to the president. The agency has served in this role for the past 80 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It is fitting that this talented group who served seven different presidents would select the hometown of yet another one, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for their reunion,”&nbsp;said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “Their duty to country – not only as members of the White House Communications Agency but as military veterans – reflects a commitment to service much greater than themselves. On behalf of Governor Laura Kelly and the State of Kansas, I offer our sincere gratitude.”

While in Abilene, the group is planning a visit to the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and will tour the nationally known Seelye Mansion. President Eisenhower’s granddaughter, Mary Jean Eisenhower, will have lunch with the group there. Following lunch, she will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the president’s gravesite.&nbsp;

“We are so glad they are coming to our town,”&nbsp;said Abilene Mayor Dee Marshall. “We love sharing our little city.”

That evening, the lieutenant governor will give opening remarks at the public meeting, which is co-sponsored by the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State of Kansas Tourism Office.

Overview of White House Communications Agency Reunion Attendees

Mike Ebbing, Lake Forest, California. Time in WHCA:&nbsp;1970-1972, President Nixon. Chief Switchboard Operator, Camp David and multiple presidential trips.

Harland Priddle, McAlester, Oklahoma. 1970-1974, President Nixon. Headquarters, Deputy Commander.

Larry Hawthorne, Woodward, Oklahoma. 1972-1980, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. Electronics.

Tom Glotzbach, Topeka, Kansas. 1963, President Kennedy. Camp David Communications Center.

Jim Ferguson, Pittsburg, Texas. 1972-1974, President Nixon. Transportation Division and Administrative Support.

Dave Ludwig, West Branson, Missouri. 1974-1978, President Nixon, Ford and Carter. Satellite Technician at Key Biscayne and Andrews Air Force Base Communications Contingency Team.

Bob Ethen, Caledonia, Michigan. 1973-1976, Presidents Nixon and Ford. Transportation Division.

 Wayne Vorland, Ashby, Minnesota. 1971-1974, President Nixon Transportation Division.

Gary Paul, Powell, Ohio. 1972-1975, Presidents Nixon and Ford. White House switchboard operator.

Ken Bench, Vine Grove, Kentucky. 1973-1979, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. White House Communications Center and Camp David.

 Donald Murray Robert, Missouri. 1987-1997, Presidents Regan, Bush and Clinton. Graphics, Travel and Operations.

Roger Newton, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 1973-1978, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. Television section, audio visual branch, Camp David.

Abilene Convention and Visitors BureauABILENE – The number of individuals who have the privilege of working with the President of the United States on a daily basis is rather limited. Even fewer are the number of people who can say their job was to provide direct communications support for the Commander-in-Chief.The stories they must have.Thirteen former members of the White House Communications Agency (WHCA) plan to share their memories when they gather for a reunion next month in Abilene. The public is invited to hear them speak from 7-9 p.m.&nbsp; Sept. 7, at the Abilene Public Library.These public servants – all military veterans – worked directly with presidents from John F. Kennedy to Bill Clinton and, with the exception of Lyndon B. Johnson, everyone in between. The accounts they plan to share are as diverse as the presidents themselves.Harland Priddle, for example, will discuss planning President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China and the Soviet Union as well as the Watergate scandal that led to the president’s resignation. Priddle was WHCA deputy commander while serving from 1970-74. He would later become the Kansas Secretary of Agriculture as well as the first Kansas Secretary of Commerce.Mike Ebbing, who also served during Nixon’s tenure, will present his personal conversations with the president while acting as a switchboard operator. He also will share audio recordings from 50 years ago of conversations from the secret White House tapes.WHCA is a joint military organization that was established in 1942 to provide direct communications support to the president. The agency has served in this role for the past 80 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is fitting that this talented group who served seven different presidents would select the hometown of yet another one, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, for their reunion,”&nbsp;said Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland. “Their duty to country – not only as members of the White House Communications Agency but as military veterans – reflects a commitment to service much greater than themselves. On behalf of Governor Laura Kelly and the State of Kansas, I offer our sincere gratitude.”While in Abilene, the group is planning a visit to the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum and will tour the nationally known Seelye Mansion. President Eisenhower’s granddaughter, Mary Jean Eisenhower, will have lunch with the group there. Following lunch, she will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the president’s gravesite.&nbsp;“We are so glad they are coming to our town,”&nbsp;said Abilene Mayor Dee Marshall. “We love sharing our little city.”That evening, the lieutenant governor will give opening remarks at the public meeting, which is co-sponsored by the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State of Kansas Tourism Office.Overview of White House Communications Agency Reunion AttendeesMike Ebbing, Lake Forest, California. Time in WHCA:&nbsp;1970-1972, President Nixon. Chief Switchboard Operator, Camp David and multiple presidential trips.Harland Priddle, McAlester, Oklahoma. 1970-1974, President Nixon. Headquarters, Deputy Commander.Larry Hawthorne, Woodward, Oklahoma. 1972-1980, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. Electronics.Tom Glotzbach, Topeka, Kansas. 1963, President Kennedy. Camp David Communications Center.Jim Ferguson, Pittsburg, Texas. 1972-1974, President Nixon. Transportation Division and Administrative Support.Dave Ludwig, West Branson, Missouri. 1974-1978, President Nixon, Ford and Carter. Satellite Technician at Key Biscayne and Andrews Air Force Base Communications Contingency Team.Bob Ethen, Caledonia, Michigan. 1973-1976, Presidents Nixon and Ford. Transportation Division. Wayne Vorland, Ashby, Minnesota. 1971-1974, President Nixon Transportation Division.Gary Paul, Powell, Ohio. 1972-1975, Presidents Nixon and Ford. White House switchboard operator.Ken Bench, Vine Grove, Kentucky. 1973-1979, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. White House Communications Center and Camp David. Donald Murray Robert, Missouri. 1987-1997, Presidents Regan, Bush and Clinton. Graphics, Travel and Operations.Roger Newton, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 1973-1978, Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter. Television section, audio visual branch, Camp David.

Former White House Communications Agency members to visit Abilene

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas State Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced the USDA is investing $639,854 in critical infrastructure across rural Kansas.

●A&nbsp;$2,157 grant&nbsp;will help replace a furnace and air conditioner at Marmaton Market Inc. in&nbsp;Moran. The HVAC replacement project is estimated to save 9,144 kWh of electricity and 6.9 MCF of natural gas. This equates to 20.4 percent of their energy usage.

●A&nbsp;$10,187 grant&nbsp;will help install a 22.27 kWh rooftop solar photovoltaic system. MWI, LLC is an agriculture irrigation supply company&nbsp;in&nbsp;Hiawatha.&nbsp;This project will realize $3,503.27 per year in savings and generate 31,070 kWh, 88.69 percent of annual usage, enough to power more than 2.5 homes. MWI currently has 10 employees.

 ●A&nbsp;$6,314 grant&nbsp;will help Butler Ranch Operation, LLC, purchase and install a 9 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Butler Ranch Operation is a property rental business based in&nbsp;Andover. The project is estimated to replace 9,805 kWh per year. Butler Ranch Operation currently has one employee.

●A&nbsp;$3,871 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 10.1 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Russell Entz, Inc. is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Whitewater. The project is estimated to generate 8,273 kWh per year. Russell Entz currently has one employee.

●A&nbsp;$2,689 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install lighting and windows at Seifert Jewelry in&nbsp;Clyde. The project is estimated to save 10,632 kWh per year. This equates to 16.08 percent of their annual energy usage and is enough energy to power one home. Seifert Jewelry currently has three employees.

●$5,650 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 5 kW rooftop mounted solar array. James Tobald is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Glasco. The project is estimated to generate 10,112 kWh per year enough to power one home. James Tobald currently has two employees.

●A&nbsp;$5,957 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 9.2 kW rooftop mounted solar array at Mojo's Coffee Bar, a coffee shop and bakery in&nbsp;Newton. The project is estimated to generate 12,453 kWh per year, enough energy to power one home.

●A&nbsp;$9,299 grant&nbsp;will help Graber Accounting, LLC, purchase and install a 22 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Graber Accounting is a tax preparation service based out of&nbsp;Newton. The project is estimated to replace 29,630 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Graber Accounting currently has six employees.

●An&nbsp;$11,092 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install an 18 kW rooftop mounted solar array at Dan's RV Park, LLC, in&nbsp;Lindsborg. The project is estimated to replace 25,974 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Dan's RV Park currently has one employee.

●A&nbsp;$16,250 grant&nbsp;will help Dave Slyter purchase and install a new wind turbine on an existing tower. Dave Slyter is a real estate manager and cattle operator in&nbsp;Paola. The turbine is expected to produce 38,269 kWh per year. This equates to 126.69 percent of their energy usage and is enough electricity to power three homes. Dave Slyter currently has three employees.

●An&nbsp;$11,610 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 24.6 kW rooftop mounted solar array. CEO Planning, LLC, is a real estate development company in&nbsp;Beloit. The project is estimated to replace 34,190 kWh per year, enough energy to power three homes. CEO Planning currently has four employees.

●A&nbsp;$9,061 grant&nbsp;will help Ned Bergkamp&nbsp;purchase and install a 16 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Ned Bergkamp is an agricultural producer based out of&nbsp;Cheney. The project is estimated to replace 21.932 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Ned Bergkamp currently has one employee.

●A&nbsp;$6,912 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a new HVAC system. 324 Investments, LLC, is a property management company in&nbsp;Alma. The project is estimated to save 7,318 kWh per year. This equates to 29.45 percent of their energy usage. 324 Investments currently has one employee.

●An&nbsp;$8,605 grant&nbsp;will help Simons Farms, Inc. purchase and install a 15 kW Bergey wind turbine. Simons Farms is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Wichita County. This project will realize $2,818 per year in savings and will replace 28,155 kWh, which is enough electricity to power two homes.

●A&nbsp;$30,200 grant&nbsp;will help purchase a law enforcement vehicle with all necessary equipment and decals for the City of&nbsp;South Hutchinson's law enforcement department. Once active, the city will have an additional patrol vehicle to enhance protection for the community.

●A&nbsp;$500,000 grant&nbsp;will help purchase a ladder truck for the City of&nbsp;Concordia. The current ladder truck is reaching the end of its useful working life. Once this project is completed, the community will be better prepared to tackle an expected increase in fire events.&nbsp;&nbsp;

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Kansas State Director for Rural Development Christy Davis today announced the USDA is investing $639,854 in critical infrastructure across rural Kansas.The Kansas recipients are:●A&nbsp;$2,157 grant&nbsp;will help replace a furnace and air conditioner at Marmaton Market Inc. in&nbsp;Moran. The HVAC replacement project is estimated to save 9,144 kWh of electricity and 6.9 MCF of natural gas. This equates to 20.4 percent of their energy usage.●A&nbsp;$10,187 grant&nbsp;will help install a 22.27 kWh rooftop solar photovoltaic system. MWI, LLC is an agriculture irrigation supply company&nbsp;in&nbsp;Hiawatha.&nbsp;This project will realize $3,503.27 per year in savings and generate 31,070 kWh, 88.69 percent of annual usage, enough to power more than 2.5 homes. MWI currently has 10 employees. ●A&nbsp;$6,314 grant&nbsp;will help Butler Ranch Operation, LLC, purchase and install a 9 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Butler Ranch Operation is a property rental business based in&nbsp;Andover. The project is estimated to replace 9,805 kWh per year. Butler Ranch Operation currently has one employee.●A&nbsp;$3,871 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 10.1 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Russell Entz, Inc. is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Whitewater. The project is estimated to generate 8,273 kWh per year. Russell Entz currently has one employee.●A&nbsp;$2,689 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install lighting and windows at Seifert Jewelry in&nbsp;Clyde. The project is estimated to save 10,632 kWh per year. This equates to 16.08 percent of their annual energy usage and is enough energy to power one home. Seifert Jewelry currently has three employees.●$5,650 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 5 kW rooftop mounted solar array. James Tobald is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Glasco. The project is estimated to generate 10,112 kWh per year enough to power one home. James Tobald currently has two employees.●A&nbsp;$5,957 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 9.2 kW rooftop mounted solar array at Mojo's Coffee Bar, a coffee shop and bakery in&nbsp;Newton. The project is estimated to generate 12,453 kWh per year, enough energy to power one home.●A&nbsp;$9,299 grant&nbsp;will help Graber Accounting, LLC, purchase and install a 22 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Graber Accounting is a tax preparation service based out of&nbsp;Newton. The project is estimated to replace 29,630 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Graber Accounting currently has six employees.●An&nbsp;$11,092 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install an 18 kW rooftop mounted solar array at Dan's RV Park, LLC, in&nbsp;Lindsborg. The project is estimated to replace 25,974 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Dan's RV Park currently has one employee.●A&nbsp;$16,250 grant&nbsp;will help Dave Slyter purchase and install a new wind turbine on an existing tower. Dave Slyter is a real estate manager and cattle operator in&nbsp;Paola. The turbine is expected to produce 38,269 kWh per year. This equates to 126.69 percent of their energy usage and is enough electricity to power three homes. Dave Slyter currently has three employees.●An&nbsp;$11,610 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a 24.6 kW rooftop mounted solar array. CEO Planning, LLC, is a real estate development company in&nbsp;Beloit. The project is estimated to replace 34,190 kWh per year, enough energy to power three homes. CEO Planning currently has four employees.●A&nbsp;$9,061 grant&nbsp;will help Ned Bergkamp&nbsp;purchase and install a 16 kW rooftop mounted solar array. Ned Bergkamp is an agricultural producer based out of&nbsp;Cheney. The project is estimated to replace 21.932 kWh per year, enough energy to power two homes. Ned Bergkamp currently has one employee.●A&nbsp;$6,912 grant&nbsp;will help purchase and install a new HVAC system. 324 Investments, LLC, is a property management company in&nbsp;Alma. The project is estimated to save 7,318 kWh per year. This equates to 29.45 percent of their energy usage. 324 Investments currently has one employee.●An&nbsp;$8,605 grant&nbsp;will help Simons Farms, Inc. purchase and install a 15 kW Bergey wind turbine. Simons Farms is an agricultural producer in&nbsp;Wichita County. This project will realize $2,818 per year in savings and will replace 28,155 kWh, which is enough electricity to power two homes.●A&nbsp;$30,200 grant&nbsp;will help purchase a law enforcement vehicle with all necessary equipment and decals for the City of&nbsp;South Hutchinson's law enforcement department. Once active, the city will have an additional patrol vehicle to enhance protection for the community.●A&nbsp;$500,000 grant&nbsp;will help purchase a ladder truck for the City of&nbsp;Concordia. The current ladder truck is reaching the end of its useful working life. Once this project is completed, the community will be better prepared to tackle an expected increase in fire events.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Area entities among those receiving USDA grants

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Sunflower Fair is back, and seniors, caregivers, and anyone who plans to celebrate more happy birthdays all are invited to participate! 

A North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging event, the Sunflower Fair is scheduled for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 20 in Salina's Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. 

The registration fee before Sept. 10 is $20 and includes lunch. After that date, the registration fee is $25. Interested persons can register and pay by credit card by calling the area agency at 1-800-432-2703 or they can register and pay through PayPal by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ncfhaaa.com/sunflowerfair2022">ncfhaaa.com/sunflowerfair2022</a>.

Additionally, those interested can connect with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ncfhaaa">North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency’s Facebook page</a> for a chance to win two free tickets and other prizes, according to information from the area agency.

Bus transportation to the event is available along an Interstate 70 route, however, space is limited. Those interested should call 800-432-2703 for details.

The Sunflower Fair features health screenings, exhibitors, entertainers, workshops, vaccines and boosters, practical information, silent auction, and a sit-down banquet lunch. Speakers on a variety of topics, including fall prevention, advance directives and estate planning, Medicare, and downsizing, are scheduled, the area agency noted.

Featured speakers include national award-winning journalist Larry Hatteberg of Hatteberg’s People and Malia Jones, a researcher and science communicator with the Center for Demography Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin.

County honorees and the role that friendship meals centers played in addressing needs of older Kansans during the COVID-19 pandemic also will be recognized, the area agency noted.

Entertainment is scheduled to include prize drawings and toe-tapping music by the group Bob and Friends featuring Bob Delk of Marion County, who celebrated his 100th birthday in early August.

The area agency is now accepting silent auction donations. Those who donate items by Sept. 5 will be listed in the Sunflower Fair program. 

Exhibit space is still available, but space is limited. 

To donate an item or be an exhibitor call 800-432-2703.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661301009461.jpeg" alt="Attendees check out exhibitor booths at a previous Sunflower Fair. Photos courtesy&nbsp;North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging" />
 <figcaption>Attendees check out exhibitor booths at a previous Sunflower Fair. Photos courtesy&nbsp;North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTAfter a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Sunflower Fair is back, and seniors, caregivers, and anyone who plans to celebrate more happy birthdays all are invited to participate! A North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging event, the Sunflower Fair is scheduled for 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 20 in Salina's Tony's Pizza Events Center, 800 The Midway. The registration fee before Sept. 10 is $20 and includes lunch. After that date, the registration fee is $25. Interested persons can register and pay by credit card by calling the area agency at 1-800-432-2703 or they can register and pay through PayPal by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ncfhaaa.com/sunflowerfair2022">ncfhaaa.com/sunflowerfair2022</a>. Additionally, those interested can connect with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ncfhaaa">North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency’s Facebook page</a> for a chance to win two free tickets and other prizes, according to information from the area agency.Bus transportation to the event is available along an Interstate 70 route, however, space is limited. Those interested should call 800-432-2703 for details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661301127927.jpeg" alt="Participants consider their bids at a previous Sunflower Fair silent auction." />
 <figcaption>Participants consider their bids at a previous Sunflower Fair silent auction.</figcaption>
 </figure>Activities aboundThe Sunflower Fair features health screenings, exhibitors, entertainers, workshops, vaccines and boosters, practical information, silent auction, and a sit-down banquet lunch. Speakers on a variety of topics, including fall prevention, advance directives and estate planning, Medicare, and downsizing, are scheduled, the area agency noted.Featured speakers include national award-winning journalist Larry Hatteberg of Hatteberg’s People and Malia Jones, a researcher and science communicator with the Center for Demography Health and Aging at the University of Wisconsin.County honorees and the role that friendship meals centers played in addressing needs of older Kansans during the COVID-19 pandemic also will be recognized, the area agency noted.Entertainment is scheduled to include prize drawings and toe-tapping music by the group Bob and Friends featuring Bob Delk of Marion County, who celebrated his 100th birthday in early August.Silent auction and exhibitorsThe area agency is now accepting silent auction donations. Those who donate items by Sept. 5 will be listed in the Sunflower Fair program. Exhibit space is still available, but space is limited. To donate an item or be an exhibitor call 800-432-2703.

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