TOPEKA—The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FLlxZoQ8InC7Ya-PAn974ZWJrz-ehZX5i7gzIA_kEWU" target="_blank">8th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a>&nbsp;has sent the names of nominees for two district judge vacancies to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancies.

The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion and Morris counties.

The nominees for one vacancy, which was created by Judge Steven Hornbaker’s June 1 retirement are:

●Krista Blaisdell, Geary County Attorney;

●Keith Collett, district magistrate judge, Dickinson County; and

The nominees appointed to fill Hornbaker’s position must be a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office. The nominees for the second vacancy, which is created by Chief Judge Michael Powers’ Aug. 20 retirement are:

●Keith Collett, district magistrate judge, Dickinson County;

●Douglas Jones, district magistrate judge, 5th Judicial District; and

 ●Susan Robson, an attorney in private practice.

The nominee appointed to fill Powers’ position must be a resident of Marion County at the time of taking office and while holding office. Eligibility requirements A nominee for district judge must be:

●a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and

●meet residential requirements specific to the position.&nbsp;

Terms of office After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.

The 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Kevin Harris and Douglas Thompson, Abilene; Ashley Iverson, Council Grove; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Keith Henry, Junction City; Daryl Enos and Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion; and Eric Coffman, Milford.

TOPEKA—The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FLlxZoQ8InC7Ya-PAn974ZWJrz-ehZX5i7gzIA_kEWU" target="_blank">8th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a>&nbsp;has sent the names of nominees for two district judge vacancies to Gov. Laura Kelly, who has 60 days to decide who will fill the vacancies.The 8th Judicial District is composed of Dickinson, Geary, Marion and Morris counties.The nominees for one vacancy, which was created by Judge Steven Hornbaker’s June 1 retirement are: ●Krista Blaisdell, Geary County Attorney;●Keith Collett, district magistrate judge, Dickinson County; and●Laura Viar, Morris County Attorney.The nominees appointed to fill Hornbaker’s position must be a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office. The nominees for the second vacancy, which is created by Chief Judge Michael Powers’ Aug. 20 retirement are: ●Keith Collett, district magistrate judge, Dickinson County;●Douglas Jones, district magistrate judge, 5th Judicial District; and ●Susan Robson, an attorney in private practice.The nominee appointed to fill Powers’ position must be a resident of Marion County at the time of taking office and while holding office. Eligibility requirements A nominee for district judge must be:●at least 30 years old;●a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and●meet residential requirements specific to the position.&nbsp;Terms of office After serving one year in office, the new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term. Nominating commissionThe 8th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice Caleb Stegall as the nonvoting chair; Kevin Harris and Douglas Thompson, Abilene; Ashley Iverson, Council Grove; Darrell Miller, Dwight; Keith Henry, Junction City; Daryl Enos and Edwin Wheeler Jr., Marion; and Eric Coffman, Milford.

8th Judicial Dist. Nominating Comm. sends nominee names to governor

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday.

●19 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.

●64 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.

●165 variants were identified in the 289 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.

Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 19 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19.

There have been 64 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday making 82 cases in the last five days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7056 confirmed cases, and at least 6399 people have recovered from COVID-19.

KDHE has identified variants in 162 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing.

An additional 430 people have been vaccinated in Saline County this week. This brings the total number of vaccinated people to 23,802 or 43.9 percent of the population- an increase of .8 percent over last week.

Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding.

More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanh96V4qcKupotC9Ou7WzFOFfKJChieVlOwZFOg0VqMbxUQqor3Yz1BBnVJ404L5JQEk4vFI1TWzMzok1J-Piqi-YGtca5aG6wSfr1bJ1iFcE&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanjtEA9fZOr1mMS66FvhP4JYBe2Rl_v45js658iQfXdp1dwU9N2mizlWS7pZGiA6JyMUVoGPVGzEdcUAVgzyzBPnRiMy1nLeCld3m8SNDuX73hTfPwJFLgsoikvWMBi_MAo97GobcsnnF&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTano5CjPvENURcqi2hG2nQy_8AqBbBX6BebFA7dRQ-frK1X9b30hgrFc2UaoniE28xR2kqCZmNOaNVBvigTwnqlkyn2lXolhWggj35qMY3C-Z8FdN7WSddkEjRqaw01odywokvx6_xEu7o&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:

●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.

●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTansxNnxenGSeur-w8yZ10b0tfee0wZlnuUxbwXLHk0VS2y4crdNKfBGAbofj0tbz2fvz1ia0m08X2ROAV84YAtCMqoZhwEuPNDA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n94RVNgQ26-4PTU46SiE6GM-UTaoADUUTu9g-1PJs10UH4XcudyqcrHzaN2jX6TTdyD31qleQO_GnYcEWcB_sflKA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.

●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.

●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.

●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n9402k6JgMVVjCkC8Ot_IMJk_Q0JMF4LqSGd9531SMTZrqFVqmlXBbCKNUt0x86gm3fE7MLrjYVac--p4-FprDsXuR0BzBsrUP54-QkU-q8B9zKNvjA7edab0dDGZkYHm258jRWBbiF8wk6xSDATvkCaXT2NspGgld2&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>

●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629323453925.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday.●19 people are currently hospitalized due to COVID-19.●64 new cases of COVID-19 since Monday.●165 variants were identified in the 289 samples sent from Saline County to KDHE for sequencing.Salina Regional Health Center reports they currently have 19 patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19. There have been 64 new COVID-19 cases identified since our last update on Monday making 82 cases in the last five days. The Saline County Health Department staff is actively monitoring 530 cases of COVID-19. There has been a total of 7056 confirmed cases, and at least 6399 people have recovered from COVID-19. KDHE has identified variants in 162 of the 289 specimens sent from Saline County for sequencing. An additional 430 people have been vaccinated in Saline County this week. This brings the total number of vaccinated people to 23,802 or 43.9 percent of the population- an increase of .8 percent over last week. Due to the overwhelming number of new cases and hospitalizations, vaccination/ re-infection rates are not available at this time. The Saline County Health Department and Salina Regional Health Center thank you for your patience and understanding. More data and additional information can be found on the&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanh96V4qcKupotC9Ou7WzFOFfKJChieVlOwZFOg0VqMbxUQqor3Yz1BBnVJ404L5JQEk4vFI1TWzMzok1J-Piqi-YGtca5aG6wSfr1bJ1iFcE&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">Saline County Coronavirus webpage</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanjtEA9fZOr1mMS66FvhP4JYBe2Rl_v45js658iQfXdp1dwU9N2mizlWS7pZGiA6JyMUVoGPVGzEdcUAVgzyzBPnRiMy1nLeCld3m8SNDuX73hTfPwJFLgsoikvWMBi_MAo97GobcsnnF&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">KDHE COVID-19 Information Site</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTano5CjPvENURcqi2hG2nQy_8AqBbBX6BebFA7dRQ-frK1X9b30hgrFc2UaoniE28xR2kqCZmNOaNVBvigTwnqlkyn2lXolhWggj35qMY3C-Z8FdN7WSddkEjRqaw01odywokvx6_xEu7o&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">CDC COVID-19 Tracker</a>.

The best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 and thus prevent mutation of the virus is:●Stay home&nbsp;if you are sick.●Get tested&nbsp;if you feel unwell, even if you don’t believe it is COVID.You can find testing centers at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTansxNnxenGSeur-w8yZ10b0tfee0wZlnuUxbwXLHk0VS2y4crdNKfBGAbofj0tbz2fvz1ia0m08X2ROAV84YAtCMqoZhwEuPNDA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">gogettested.com</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Get vaccinated.You can find a vaccine at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n94RVNgQ26-4PTU46SiE6GM-UTaoADUUTu9g-1PJs10UH4XcudyqcrHzaN2jX6TTdyD31qleQO_GnYcEWcB_sflKA==&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">vaccines.gov</a>&nbsp;or contact your local medical provider.●Wear a mask, especially if you are not fully vaccinated. If you are fully vaccinated, wear a mask when in-doors in crowded spaces.●Maintain at least6 feet of distancebetween yourself and those with whom you do not live.●Do not travel to&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001rxkboVRWXfCPVkSCcDM32P4zbyMKcz7nJOznBvxvq-xe853IFkTanmuYoQl36n9402k6JgMVVjCkC8Ot_IMJk_Q0JMF4LqSGd9531SMTZrqFVqmlXBbCKNUt0x86gm3fE7MLrjYVac--p4-FprDsXuR0BzBsrUP54-QkU-q8B9zKNvjA7edab0dDGZkYHm258jRWBbiF8wk6xSDATvkCaXT2NspGgld2&amp;c=zP913MNYgLo52ZsWhLbGHjUbKXv3qcSrp9Fbmuliml0YuV9MnK0kug==&amp;ch=iUqHbYYtUg2sDoSUtMHcILFrAUR_91Lp1FkZzfW2mmzzjBo9HFuMOw==" target="_blank">“hot spots."</a>●If you test positive, isolate immediately and be open and honest with COVID caseworkers about your contacts.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County: 64 new cases of COVID-19; 6,399 of 7,056 recovered

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-08-18/a-kansas-doctor-tells-the-story-of-sending-her-critically-ill-covid-patient-570-miles-away">Kansas News Service</a>

Last Thursday, the 25-bed hospital in Abilene sent a patient 570 miles away by air ambulance to Wisconsin.

Like many rural hospitals, Memorial Health System does a bit of everything. But it doesn’t have an intensive care unit.

In a pre-pandemic world, anyone needing critical care got transferred to Salina Regional Health Center, 30 miles away. Occasionally, a patient might get sent to Topeka or Wichita.

The Kansas News Service talked with Abilene physician Megan Brown about how she finally found an ICU bed for her gravely ill patient last week. Her interview has been edited for length and clarity.

We had a patient who did happen to be a COVID patient. …&nbsp; But, I mean, it would have been the same really probably for any patient needing an ICU.

His condition was getting worse to the point where we weren’t able to continue taking care of him here. He really needed to be on a ventilator — which typically we don’t keep ventilated patients here, because those patients should be in an ICU.

Talking with him and his family … we gave them the option of keeping him here and keeping him comfortable, knowing that he may or may not survive. Versus, transferring him out to a bigger hospital.

So, the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) has set up what they’re calling mission control — where you can call and they’ll help make those phone calls (to other hospitals) to find a bed for the patient.

So I called them and they said, “Well, I have four patients needing an ICU bed in front of you. We’ve already called (hospitals across) Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. And there are no beds available.”

They said, “The last patient we were able to place was in Des Moines, Iowa. We think maybe there’s some beds available in Minneapolis. Do you want us to add you to the list?”

And I said, “Well, yes.” But knowing that there were four patients ahead of us, we ended up making phone calls as well.

So I had to cancel an entire afternoon of clinic (hours) and spent three-and-a-half hours on the phone calling hospitals further and further away, trying to find a bed for this patient.

I had a medical student that was helping me, and she’d called South Dakota. And they said, “We’re getting calls from as far away as Louisiana.”

So at that point, we said, “You know, everyone else who’s looking for a hospital is calling the biggest cities in the states.” And so we kind of thought we needed to shift our focus and try to call some smaller hospitals.

And we were already kind of calling around in Wisconsin. And I had gone to college as an undergrad in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I knew they had some ICU beds. Whether they were available or not, I didn’t know.

So I called them. And they finally were like, “We don’t have any beds — but have you called this hospital in Oshkosh?” And (they) gave me the number.

And then we finally found a bed there.

But that took three-and-a-half hours of phone calls. And then we had another hour waiting for transport to get here.

(An air ambulance) plane flew into Dickinson County Airport. EMS brought (the air ambulance crew) to the hospital, picked up the patient. Once they were ready to go, took them back to the airport.

And they flew into Oshkosh, and then an ambulance on that end had to pick him up to take him to the hospital.

It was frustrating with the amount of time it was taking. (And) it made me more concerned for patients. You know, I think patients are going to die needlessly, because there’s nowhere to go.

It’s been a real mess and very difficult — not just for COVID patients.

Now we have to do the same thing for any patient that needs a higher level of care than what we can provide. Like I said, we don’t have any specialists here.

I was having a conversation with somebody, and they said, “You know, the real problem is the shortage of nurses.”

And I said, “I’m not gonna argue that the shortage of nurses isn’t part of the problem.”

But the issue is — say you have a 20-bed ICU, but you only have enough nurses for 10 beds. If you have 10 COVID patients in those beds — something that’s now preventable by vaccines — then you don’t have any beds to take anyone else. But if those patients had been vaccinated, then you might still have nine beds for other things.

Twice in the last two weeks we’ve had to go on diversion for admissions because somebody called in sick. I mean, we’re at a point where our hospital is full enough right now that if one nurse on a shift calls in (sick), we can’t add any more patients to the hospital.

Then (patients are) stuck with — there’s nowhere else to go.

If a patient came to the ER and they needed to move to (an inpatient bed in) the hospital … we didn’t have the staff or a bed for them. So then our ER is tied up trying to find a bed (at a different hospital).

Our ER is staffed with a nurse practitioner and a nurse and a tech, usually. So we have three people to take care of anything that comes into the ER. So they don’t really have time to be spending hours on the phone.

(Reporter: What are families supposed to do if their loved one is transferred far away?)

If you have the resources (so) you can take off and get a hotel room and drive several states away to be with a family member, great. But most people don’t have those resources. And then depending on what happens while (the patient is) there, you’ve got to get that patient back. So either they’re alive and you’ve got to get them back, or they pass away and you’ve got to get that body back. And so it just adds extra layers of complications.

The vaccines are safe … they’re effective.

We’ve got to keep doing the things we can to prevent spread, because there’s nowhere to go if you get sick.

Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:celia@kcur.org">celia@kcur.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629310297611.png" alt="Photo by David Condos courtesy Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Photo by David Condos courtesy Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-08-18/a-kansas-doctor-tells-the-story-of-sending-her-critically-ill-covid-patient-570-miles-away">Kansas News Service</a>Last Thursday, the 25-bed hospital in Abilene sent a patient 570 miles away by air ambulance to Wisconsin.Like many rural hospitals, Memorial Health System does a bit of everything. But it doesn’t have an intensive care unit.In a pre-pandemic world, anyone needing critical care got transferred to Salina Regional Health Center, 30 miles away. Occasionally, a patient might get sent to Topeka or Wichita.The Kansas News Service talked with Abilene physician Megan Brown about how she finally found an ICU bed for her gravely ill patient last week. Her interview has been edited for length and clarity.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629310385037.png" alt="Megan Brown is a family doctor in Abilene. Submitted" />
 <figcaption>Megan Brown is a family doctor in Abilene. Submitted</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Megan Brown's storyWe had a patient who did happen to be a COVID patient. …&nbsp; But, I mean, it would have been the same really probably for any patient needing an ICU.His condition was getting worse to the point where we weren’t able to continue taking care of him here. He really needed to be on a ventilator — which typically we don’t keep ventilated patients here, because those patients should be in an ICU.Talking with him and his family … we gave them the option of keeping him here and keeping him comfortable, knowing that he may or may not survive. Versus, transferring him out to a bigger hospital.And they elected to transfer.So, the KDHE (Kansas Department of Health and Environment) has set up what they’re calling mission control — where you can call and they’ll help make those phone calls (to other hospitals) to find a bed for the patient.So I called them and they said, “Well, I have four patients needing an ICU bed in front of you. We’ve already called (hospitals across) Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. And there are no beds available.”They said, “The last patient we were able to place was in Des Moines, Iowa. We think maybe there’s some beds available in Minneapolis. Do you want us to add you to the list?”And I said, “Well, yes.” But knowing that there were four patients ahead of us, we ended up making phone calls as well.So I had to cancel an entire afternoon of clinic (hours) and spent three-and-a-half hours on the phone calling hospitals further and further away, trying to find a bed for this patient.I had a medical student that was helping me, and she’d called South Dakota. And they said, “We’re getting calls from as far away as Louisiana.”So at that point, we said, “You know, everyone else who’s looking for a hospital is calling the biggest cities in the states.” And so we kind of thought we needed to shift our focus and try to call some smaller hospitals.And we were already kind of calling around in Wisconsin. And I had gone to college as an undergrad in Appleton, Wisconsin, and I knew they had some ICU beds. Whether they were available or not, I didn’t know.So I called them. And they finally were like, “We don’t have any beds — but have you called this hospital in Oshkosh?” And (they) gave me the number.And then we finally found a bed there.But that took three-and-a-half hours of phone calls. And then we had another hour waiting for transport to get here.(An air ambulance) plane flew into Dickinson County Airport. EMS brought (the air ambulance crew) to the hospital, picked up the patient. Once they were ready to go, took them back to the airport.And they flew into Oshkosh, and then an ambulance on that end had to pick him up to take him to the hospital.It was frustrating with the amount of time it was taking. (And) it made me more concerned for patients. You know, I think patients are going to die needlessly, because there’s nowhere to go.It’s been a real mess and very difficult — not just for COVID patients.Now we have to do the same thing for any patient that needs a higher level of care than what we can provide. Like I said, we don’t have any specialists here.I was having a conversation with somebody, and they said, “You know, the real problem is the shortage of nurses.”And I said, “I’m not gonna argue that the shortage of nurses isn’t part of the problem.”But the issue is — say you have a 20-bed ICU, but you only have enough nurses for 10 beds. If you have 10 COVID patients in those beds — something that’s now preventable by vaccines — then you don’t have any beds to take anyone else. But if those patients had been vaccinated, then you might still have nine beds for other things.Twice in the last two weeks we’ve had to go on diversion for admissions because somebody called in sick. I mean, we’re at a point where our hospital is full enough right now that if one nurse on a shift calls in (sick), we can’t add any more patients to the hospital.Then (patients are) stuck with — there’s nowhere else to go.If a patient came to the ER and they needed to move to (an inpatient bed in) the hospital … we didn’t have the staff or a bed for them. So then our ER is tied up trying to find a bed (at a different hospital).Our ER is staffed with a nurse practitioner and a nurse and a tech, usually. So we have three people to take care of anything that comes into the ER. So they don’t really have time to be spending hours on the phone.(Reporter: What are families supposed to do if their loved one is transferred far away?)If you have the resources (so) you can take off and get a hotel room and drive several states away to be with a family member, great. But most people don’t have those resources. And then depending on what happens while (the patient is) there, you’ve got to get that patient back. So either they’re alive and you’ve got to get them back, or they pass away and you’ve got to get that body back. And so it just adds extra layers of complications.The vaccines are safe … they’re effective.We’ve got to keep doing the things we can to prevent spread, because there’s nowhere to go if you get sick.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:celia@kcur.org">celia@kcur.org</a>.

Area doctor tells story of sending critically ill COVID patient 570 miles away

Following is a statement from the Saline County Health Department.

Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012FlXc78pmTDQ2OnB_EjK1Le2tDGV3-J0MAfJq_bUb8xk9OOITld73tRB1c7bPn-xAD7_1ZNpJmiUj2bOMLAIFAGD4QlYaFk5jUnqnJAm5cu4TFC3b3cFmoCBm_QJetXBOVOfQtptY5to0d1noXYshUpiP2OtmF02DRB1ZqZTpv6LLYJmqk8HxN8lGzHXccI6f5R-btztaQHH8yPJRGwFLZXnCLbI1rPn&amp;c=qlNSEhKmlRrCkwQGPFV7NORlSTKMjWKe5Ro1GSa5zIDfqPQqzWlmQA==&amp;ch=l_rAh5-2MlhETUBOoDYr3vrVbDA05ihF-PRVAadcT9OEneSF50dCiA==" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people.

The Saline County Vaccine Collaborative partners are in the beginning stages of planning a local response to this new information.

As always, please contact your primary medical provider if you have questions or concerns about receiving a third vaccination for COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following is a statement from the Saline County Health Department.Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012FlXc78pmTDQ2OnB_EjK1Le2tDGV3-J0MAfJq_bUb8xk9OOITld73tRB1c7bPn-xAD7_1ZNpJmiUj2bOMLAIFAGD4QlYaFk5jUnqnJAm5cu4TFC3b3cFmoCBm_QJetXBOVOfQtptY5to0d1noXYshUpiP2OtmF02DRB1ZqZTpv6LLYJmqk8HxN8lGzHXccI6f5R-btztaQHH8yPJRGwFLZXnCLbI1rPn&amp;c=qlNSEhKmlRrCkwQGPFV7NORlSTKMjWKe5Ro1GSa5zIDfqPQqzWlmQA==&amp;ch=l_rAh5-2MlhETUBOoDYr3vrVbDA05ihF-PRVAadcT9OEneSF50dCiA==" target="_blank">a statement</a>&nbsp;on the Administration’s plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people. The Saline County Vaccine Collaborative partners are in the beginning stages of planning a local response to this new information. As always, please contact your primary medical provider if you have questions or concerns about receiving a third vaccination for COVID-19.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Local vaccine collaborative planning for booster shots

CONCORDIA -&nbsp;Cloud County Community College’s community music ensembles, under the direction of music instructor Chris Langsford, are accepting new members.

The ensembles, Pep Band, Rolling Thunder Drumline, Community Concert Band, Cloud 9 Jazz Choir, Community Chorale, and Cloud Kicks Jazz Band are all open to both Cloud students and members of the community, ages high school and older.

The Pep Band is the college activity band and provides school spirit and energy for college athletic events. This ensemble rehearses three times a week.

The Rolling Thunder Drumline performs frequently for athletic events, music concerts and other various school activities. The Drumline also rehearses three times a week.

The Community Concert Band is a non-auditioned, community ensemble that primarily features traditional wind and concert band repertoire. This ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings from 6:30-7:50 p.m.

The Cloud 9 Jazz Choir is an auditioned choir that consists of nine singers who perform standard blues, jazz and other popular selections, while accompanied by a full rhythm section. The Jazz Choir rehearses twice a week.

The Community Chorale is a non-auditioned community vocal ensemble that is open to singers in the area. The Chorale focuses on fostering arts and music for the Concordia community and region, and rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:50 p.m.

The Cloud Kicks Jazz Band is an auditioned ensemble, open to both college and community members that performs blues, jazz, big band, Latin, and rock selections. The ensemble is sometimes combined with the Cloud 9 Jazz Choir, and rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m.

The community ensembles will begin rehearsals the week of August 30, but will still be open for membership throughout the semester.

Contact Langsford to join one of these ensembles at 785.243.1435, ext. 286, or by email at chris.langsford@cloud.edu.

CONCORDIA -&nbsp;Cloud County Community College’s community music ensembles, under the direction of music instructor Chris Langsford, are accepting new members.The ensembles, Pep Band, Rolling Thunder Drumline, Community Concert Band, Cloud 9 Jazz Choir, Community Chorale, and Cloud Kicks Jazz Band are all open to both Cloud students and members of the community, ages high school and older.The Pep Band is the college activity band and provides school spirit and energy for college athletic events. This ensemble rehearses three times a week.The Rolling Thunder Drumline performs frequently for athletic events, music concerts and other various school activities. The Drumline also rehearses three times a week.The Community Concert Band is a non-auditioned, community ensemble that primarily features traditional wind and concert band repertoire. This ensemble rehearses on Monday evenings from 6:30-7:50 p.m.The Cloud 9 Jazz Choir is an auditioned choir that consists of nine singers who perform standard blues, jazz and other popular selections, while accompanied by a full rhythm section. The Jazz Choir rehearses twice a week.The Community Chorale is a non-auditioned community vocal ensemble that is open to singers in the area. The Chorale focuses on fostering arts and music for the Concordia community and region, and rehearses on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-7:50 p.m.The Cloud Kicks Jazz Band is an auditioned ensemble, open to both college and community members that performs blues, jazz, big band, Latin, and rock selections. The ensemble is sometimes combined with the Cloud 9 Jazz Choir, and rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7-8:30 p.m.The community ensembles will begin rehearsals the week of August 30, but will still be open for membership throughout the semester.Contact Langsford to join one of these ensembles at 785.243.1435, ext. 286, or by email at chris.langsford@cloud.edu.

CCCC community music ensembles looking for members

DICKINSON COUNTY—An Abilene woman died in an accident just after 2a.m. Wednesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Nissan Altima driven by Kristen A.&nbsp; Teeters, 22, Abilene, was&nbsp;southbound on Brady Street in Abilene at a high rate of speed.

The driver failed to stop at the 14th Street intersection and lost control of the car.

It then struck a curb, left the roadway at the 13th Street intersection, rolled and came rest on Hillside Street and partially on a private property.

&nbsp;Teeters was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Martin-Becker Funeral Home.

EMS transported passengers William V.&nbsp;Donahue, Jr., 21, Salina; Mason J. Barnes, 20, Salina, and Sadie L. Smith, 19, Abilene, to Salina Regional Health Center. The driver and passenger in the Nissan were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

DICKINSON COUNTY—An Abilene woman died in an accident just after 2a.m. Wednesday in Dickinson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Nissan Altima driven by Kristen A.&nbsp; Teeters, 22, Abilene, was&nbsp;southbound on Brady Street in Abilene at a high rate of speed.The driver failed to stop at the 14th Street intersection and lost control of the car.It then struck a curb, left the roadway at the 13th Street intersection, rolled and came rest on Hillside Street and partially on a private property.&nbsp;Teeters was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Martin-Becker Funeral Home.EMS transported passengers William V.&nbsp;Donahue, Jr., 21, Salina; Mason J. Barnes, 20, Salina, and Sadie L. Smith, 19, Abilene, to Salina Regional Health Center. The driver and passenger in the Nissan were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Abilene woman dead, 3 hospitalized after rollover crash

A Salina man is out more than $1,100 worth of property that was stolen from his SUV early Tuesday morning.

Bryant Lymas, 33, of Salina, told police that sometime between 4:30-6:30 a.m. Tuesday someone entered his unlocked 2012 Chevrolet Captiva that was parked in his driveway in the 1900 block of Dover Drive and stole the following items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.

●An additional shaft for one of the pool cues

A Salina man is out more than $1,100 worth of property that was stolen from his SUV early Tuesday morning.Bryant Lymas, 33, of Salina, told police that sometime between 4:30-6:30 a.m. Tuesday someone entered his unlocked 2012 Chevrolet Captiva that was parked in his driveway in the 1900 block of Dover Drive and stole the following items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning.●A pool cue case●Two pool cues●An additional shaft for one of the pool cues●A portable battery chargerTotal loss was estimated at $1,160.

Multiple items stolen from unlocked SUV in southwest Salina

By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher

The past couple of weeks I had the privilege of attending several Farm Bureau events in person — Big Tent Reunions, Summer Summit and Young Farmers and Ranchers Leaders Conference — without masks, and it was awesome. This isn’t a statement about restrictions, masks or vaccinations, it is a statement of how much we all need social interaction and how valuable relationships are. The whole time we were staying at home, I knew I was missing people. I just didn’t realize how much. I don’t know how many times in the last two weeks I commented on the fact I couldn’t remember the last time I saw whomever I was talking to. In many cases it was prior to March 2020. That is a long time to not see friends, and I truly believe that took as much of a toll as the virus itself. Except for a very few of us, we humans are social beings and to not be able to do so really hurts our mental wellbeing. I saw it in conversations I participated in and those I overheard. Often, they would start with the usual topics like “How much rain are you getting?” or “How do the crops look?” and then evolve from there. Many times, what started out as a fairly routine conversation would lead to much deeper topics. It makes sense, for almost a year and a half we have really only talked to our spouses, kids and close family, and they didn’t need to be told because they were there living it like we were. Here we are with 16, 17 months of pent-up joys, disasters, concerns and observations and no one to share them with. Let’s face it, it is one thing to vent to your wife and kids, but it is far more therapeutic to find sympathy and empathy from a peer. I guess that is why it was so good to attend the Big Tent Reunions I did. It was cathartic to see old friends, to share the life happenings and to find out what was going on in their lives, too. I guess I have come to realize that one of the best benefits to Farm Bureau is the friends you develop because of your involvement. I hope everyone else got as much out of the meetings and events we have recently hosted. Don’t get me wrong, the education, advocacy and service are all things our organization is built on and represent the good and important work we do. However, at the end of the day it is the relationships and friendships we gain with fellow farmers and ranchers that make it all worthwhile. I tell young farmers and ranchers on their way to their first YF&amp;R Conference that the most important thing you learn is you are not alone, and there are people going through the same things you are. I believe that to be true and something that does not change with age. The last 18 months may have limited our interactions, but I am grateful for these recent gatherings and looking forward to catching up with everyone again soon. Let’s all do our part to stay safe and ensure we can see each other in person at Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in December.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576508626397.png" alt="Glenn Brunkow. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Glenn Brunkow. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancherThe past couple of weeks I had the privilege of attending several Farm Bureau events in person — Big Tent Reunions, Summer Summit and Young Farmers and Ranchers Leaders Conference — without masks, and it was awesome. This isn’t a statement about restrictions, masks or vaccinations, it is a statement of how much we all need social interaction and how valuable relationships are. The whole time we were staying at home, I knew I was missing people. I just didn’t realize how much. I don’t know how many times in the last two weeks I commented on the fact I couldn’t remember the last time I saw whomever I was talking to. In many cases it was prior to March 2020. That is a long time to not see friends, and I truly believe that took as much of a toll as the virus itself. Except for a very few of us, we humans are social beings and to not be able to do so really hurts our mental wellbeing. I saw it in conversations I participated in and those I overheard. Often, they would start with the usual topics like “How much rain are you getting?” or “How do the crops look?” and then evolve from there. Many times, what started out as a fairly routine conversation would lead to much deeper topics. It makes sense, for almost a year and a half we have really only talked to our spouses, kids and close family, and they didn’t need to be told because they were there living it like we were. Here we are with 16, 17 months of pent-up joys, disasters, concerns and observations and no one to share them with. Let’s face it, it is one thing to vent to your wife and kids, but it is far more therapeutic to find sympathy and empathy from a peer. I guess that is why it was so good to attend the Big Tent Reunions I did. It was cathartic to see old friends, to share the life happenings and to find out what was going on in their lives, too. I guess I have come to realize that one of the best benefits to Farm Bureau is the friends you develop because of your involvement. I hope everyone else got as much out of the meetings and events we have recently hosted. Don’t get me wrong, the education, advocacy and service are all things our organization is built on and represent the good and important work we do. However, at the end of the day it is the relationships and friendships we gain with fellow farmers and ranchers that make it all worthwhile. I tell young farmers and ranchers on their way to their first YF&amp;R Conference that the most important thing you learn is you are not alone, and there are people going through the same things you are. I believe that to be true and something that does not change with age. The last 18 months may have limited our interactions, but I am grateful for these recent gatherings and looking forward to catching up with everyone again soon. Let’s all do our part to stay safe and ensure we can see each other in person at Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting in December."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: Grateful for gatherings

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

The Tri-Rivers Stadium has seen its last rodeo.

Some local residents are not willing to accept the long-standing stadium's fate, however, believing very public decisions made by both city and county governments are, well, horse-pucky.

As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, a <a href="http://change.org">change.org</a> petition started by Karody Robbins, after the stadium's fate was sealed, in the hope of saving the rodeo grounds from the wrecking ball had 5,310 signatures.

The petition puts the blame for the planned demolition of the stadium squarely on the City of Salina, which voted in March to partner with a private local group, Salina Net Generation, to build a $2.6 million tennis facility on the site of the stadium and the old Municipal Swimming Pool. The old pool house will be turned into a clubhouse that will include restrooms and showers. As a part of the deal, USD 305 will assume control of the tennis courts at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park. 

The stadium's fate, however, was sealed well before that March vote when Saline County declined to include the stadium in its negotiations with the city to lease part of the city-owned Kenwood Park for the county expo center and on July, 28, 2020, approved a 30-year lease agreement with the city for the expo center grounds to the south of Tony's Pizza Events Center. The rodeo grounds were not a part of the lease.

"I do think there's quite a bit of confusion between roles of Saline County and the City of Salina, and this is probably a good example of that. Understandably so," City Manager Mike Schrage said during the Aug. 9 city commission meeting. "As you know, the city owns the ground that Kenwood Park sits on, which would be the rodeo grounds and the expo center. So we're essentially the landlord. Have been for decades. And the county leases those sites from us. And then ultimately, they, in a roundabout way, sublease the rodeo grounds to the Saline County Fair Association."

Schrage said that during the lease negotiations, the city requested that the county agree to address long-standing deferred maintenance at both the stadium and the expo center, as well as exterior improvements that would tie the city and county-leased sites together. 

"As you well know, the lease negotiations played out over an extended amount of time, literally over multiple years. There were several public meetings in both bodies, as well as joint meetings of the bodies with extensive media coverage of those lease negotiations. The Saline County Fair Association and other stakeholders were fully aware of those ongoing discussions, engaged both governing bodies on more than one occasion, I believe. I believe they addressed the county commission on multiple occasions," Schrage said.

Schrage's comments did not deter a number of people from participating in the citizens forum portion of the city commission meeting on Monday, including Robbins, who told city commissioners that the tennis complex will not affect as many Salinans as does the Tri-Rivers Fair Stadium.

"Nearly 100 percent of citizens in this city have been to an event there. That is something that is a significant cultural part of this city and a lot of people feel a fair amount of attachment to it," Robbins said. 

She did not explain how she determined the percentage of Salina citizens who she believes have attend an event in the stadium.

When asked to comment about why the county did not include the stadium in its negotiations for a new lease from the city for the expo center, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes told Salina Post, "The past process for developing a new lease on the expo center site was protracted, involved many twists and turns, and included many public meetings. What I will comment on is the present and the future. Saline County is excited to be moving forward with the improvements we committed to as part of the lease, which will provide an improved visitor experience over the next 29-1/2 years. Any concerns with the future of Tri-Rivers Stadium need to be addressed to the property owner."

Fair Board President Amber Fair told Salina Post that some people were devastated by the loss of the Tri-Rivers Stadium, however she acknowledge that the matter was out of the fair board's hands.

"There's a lot of history being torn down," she said.

One item that will not be demolished is the sign that has stood in front of the stadium for years. Fouard said the fair board plans to preserve it in some fashion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629262896393.jpeg" alt="Members of the fair board gathered in front of the Tr-Rivers Stadium sign on Aug. 7, the last full day of the Tri-Rivers Fair. The are,&nbsp;

back row from left: Rex Lacy, Ron Kinkelaar, Ken Wasserman, Chris Rost, Carl Garten, and Eric Blomquist; front row from left: Linda Lecklider, Denise Stein, Melissa Theel, Nancy Paugh, Kim Norwood, Abbe Hicks, Linda Lilly, Amber Fouard, and Kathy White. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Members of the fair board gathered in front of the Tr-Rivers Stadium sign on Aug. 7, the last full day of the Tri-Rivers Fair. The are,&nbsp;

back row from left: Rex Lacy, Ron Kinkelaar, Ken Wasserman, Chris Rost, Carl Garten, and Eric Blomquist; front row from left: Linda Lecklider, Denise Stein, Melissa Theel, Nancy Paugh, Kim Norwood, Abbe Hicks, Linda Lilly, Amber Fouard, and Kathy White. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThe Tri-Rivers Stadium has seen its last rodeo.Some local residents are not willing to accept the long-standing stadium's fate, however, believing very public decisions made by both city and county governments are, well, horse-pucky.As of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, a <a href="http://change.org">change.org</a> petition started by Karody Robbins, after the stadium's fate was sealed, in the hope of saving the rodeo grounds from the wrecking ball had 5,310 signatures. The petition puts the blame for the planned demolition of the stadium squarely on the City of Salina, which voted in March to partner with a private local group, Salina Net Generation, to build a $2.6 million tennis facility on the site of the stadium and the old Municipal Swimming Pool. The old pool house will be turned into a clubhouse that will include restrooms and showers. As a part of the deal, USD 305 will assume control of the tennis courts at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park. The stadium's fate, however, was sealed well before that March vote when Saline County declined to include the stadium in its negotiations with the city to lease part of the city-owned Kenwood Park for the county expo center and on July, 28, 2020, approved a 30-year lease agreement with the city for the expo center grounds to the south of Tony's Pizza Events Center. The rodeo grounds were not a part of the lease."I do think there's quite a bit of confusion between roles of Saline County and the City of Salina, and this is probably a good example of that. Understandably so," City Manager Mike Schrage said during the Aug. 9 city commission meeting. "As you know, the city owns the ground that Kenwood Park sits on, which would be the rodeo grounds and the expo center. So we're essentially the landlord. Have been for decades. And the county leases those sites from us. And then ultimately, they, in a roundabout way, sublease the rodeo grounds to the Saline County Fair Association."Schrage said that during the lease negotiations, the city requested that the county agree to address long-standing deferred maintenance at both the stadium and the expo center, as well as exterior improvements that would tie the city and county-leased sites together. "As you well know, the lease negotiations played out over an extended amount of time, literally over multiple years. There were several public meetings in both bodies, as well as joint meetings of the bodies with extensive media coverage of those lease negotiations. The Saline County Fair Association and other stakeholders were fully aware of those ongoing discussions, engaged both governing bodies on more than one occasion, I believe. I believe they addressed the county commission on multiple occasions," Schrage said.Schrage's comments did not deter a number of people from participating in the citizens forum portion of the city commission meeting on Monday, including Robbins, who told city commissioners that the tennis complex will not affect as many Salinans as does the Tri-Rivers Fair Stadium."Nearly 100 percent of citizens in this city have been to an event there. That is something that is a significant cultural part of this city and a lot of people feel a fair amount of attachment to it," Robbins said. She did not explain how she determined the percentage of Salina citizens who she believes have attend an event in the stadium.When asked to comment about why the county did not include the stadium in its negotiations for a new lease from the city for the expo center, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes told Salina Post, "The past process for developing a new lease on the expo center site was protracted, involved many twists and turns, and included many public meetings. What I will comment on is the present and the future. Saline County is excited to be moving forward with the improvements we committed to as part of the lease, which will provide an improved visitor experience over the next 29-1/2 years. Any concerns with the future of Tri-Rivers Stadium need to be addressed to the property owner."Fair Board President Amber Fair told Salina Post that some people were devastated by the loss of the Tri-Rivers Stadium, however she acknowledge that the matter was out of the fair board's hands."There's a lot of history being torn down," she said.One item that will not be demolished is the sign that has stood in front of the stadium for years. Fouard said the fair board plans to preserve it in some fashion.

Fate of Tri-Rivers Stadium doesn't sit well with some people

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 18, the 230th day of 2021. There are 135 days left in the year.

On August 18, 1894, Congress established the Bureau of Immigration.

In 1587, Virginia Dare became the first child of English parents to be born in present-day America, on what is now Roanoke Island in North Carolina. (However, the Roanoke colony ended up mysteriously disappearing.)

In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces led by Gen. Stephen W. Kearny occupied Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico.

In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing American women's right to vote, was ratified as Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.

In 1954, during the Eisenhower administration, Assistant Secretary of Labor James Ernest Wilkins became the first Black official to attend a meeting of the president's Cabinet as he sat in for Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell.

In 1958, the novel "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov was first published in New York by G.P. Putnam's Sons, almost three years after it was originally published in Paris.

In 1963, James Meredith became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York, wound to a close after three nights with a mid-morning set by Jimi Hendrix.

In 1983, Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas coast, leaving 21 dead and causing more than a billion dollars' worth of damage.

In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush accepted the presidential nomination of the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.

In 1993, a judge in Sarasota, Fla., ruled that Kimberly Mays, the 14-year-old girl who had been switched at birth with another baby, need never again see her biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, in accordance with her stated wishes. (However, Kimberly later moved in with the Twiggs.)

In 2014, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis convulsed by protests over the fatal shooting of a Black teen. Don Pardo, 96, a durable radio and television announcer known for his introductions with a booming baritone on "Saturday Night Live" and other shows, died in Tucson, Arizona.

In 2017, Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's top White House strategist, was forced out of his post by Trump. (Bannon would step down as Breitbart News chairman in January 2018 after the release of a book in which he criticized Trump and members of his family; he was pardoned by Trump in the final hours of Trump's term after being charged with diverting money from donors who believed the money would be used to build a wall along the southern border.)

Ten years ago: President Barack Obama and European leaders demanded that Syrian President Bashar Assad resign, saying his brutal suppression of his people made him unfit to lead. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

Five years ago: For the first time since declaring his presidential run, Republican Donald Trump offered an apology to those who might have been hurt by his caustic comments, saying he regretted some of what he had said "in the heat of debate." Former NFL star Darren Sharper was sentenced by a federal judge in New Orleans to more than 18 years in prison for drugging women in order to rape them — double the sentence recommended by prosecutors. At the Rio Games, Jamaica's Usain Bolt completed an unprecedented third consecutive sweep of the 100- and 200-meter sprints. Retired Army Gen. John W. Vessey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died in North Oaks, Minnesota, at age 94.

One year ago: Democrats formally made Joe Biden their 2020 presidential nominee at their all-virtual national convention. The Republican-led Senate intelligence committee concluded that the Kremlin had launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential contest on behalf of Donald Trump, and that the Trump campaign's interactions with Russian intelligence services had posed a "grave" counterintelligence threat. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he would "suspend" some operational changes to mail delivery until after the November election; critics had blamed the changes for widespread delays and warned that they could disrupt the voting. Wall Street clawed back the last of the losses unleashed by the coronavirus, as the S&amp;P 500 reached a new all-time high.

Today's Birthdays: Former first lady Rosalynn Carter is 94. Movie director Roman Polanski is 88. Actor-director Robert Redford is 85. Actor Henry G. Sanders is 79. Actor-comedian Martin Mull is 78. R&amp;B singer Sarah Dash (LaBelle) is 76. Rock musician Dennis Elliott is 71. Comedian Elayne Boosler is 69. Actor Denis Leary is 64. Actor Madeleine Stowe is 63. Former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is 60. ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff is 60. The former president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, is 59. Actor Adam Storke is 59. Actor Craig Bierko is 57. Rock singer-musician Zac Maloy (The Nixons) is 53. Rock singer and hip-hop artist Everlast is 52. Rapper Masta Killa (Wu-Tang Clan) is 52. Actor Christian Slater is 52. Actor Edward Norton is 52. Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner is 51. Actor Kaitlin Olson is 46. Rock musician Dirk Lance is 45. Actor-comedian Andy Samberg (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 43. Country musician Brad Tursi (Old Dominion) is 42. Actor Mika Boorem is 34. Actor Maia Mitchell is 28. Actor Madelaine Petsch is 27. Actor Parker McKenna Posey is 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Wednesday, Aug. 18, the 230th day of 2021. There are 135 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On August 18, 1894, Congress established the Bureau of Immigration.On this date:In 1587, Virginia Dare became the first child of English parents to be born in present-day America, on what is now Roanoke Island in North Carolina. (However, the Roanoke colony ended up mysteriously disappearing.)In 1846, during the Mexican-American War, U.S. forces led by Gen. Stephen W. Kearny occupied Santa Fe in present-day New Mexico.In 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, guaranteeing American women's right to vote, was ratified as Tennessee became the 36th state to approve it.In 1954, during the Eisenhower administration, Assistant Secretary of Labor James Ernest Wilkins became the first Black official to attend a meeting of the president's Cabinet as he sat in for Labor Secretary James P. Mitchell.In 1958, the novel "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov was first published in New York by G.P. Putnam's Sons, almost three years after it was originally published in Paris.In 1963, James Meredith became the first Black student to graduate from the University of Mississippi.In 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York, wound to a close after three nights with a mid-morning set by Jimi Hendrix.In 1983, Hurricane Alicia slammed into the Texas coast, leaving 21 dead and causing more than a billion dollars' worth of damage.In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush accepted the presidential nomination of the Republican National Convention in New Orleans.In 1993, a judge in Sarasota, Fla., ruled that Kimberly Mays, the 14-year-old girl who had been switched at birth with another baby, need never again see her biological parents, Ernest and Regina Twigg, in accordance with her stated wishes. (However, Kimberly later moved in with the Twiggs.)In 2014, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon ordered the National Guard to Ferguson, a suburb of St. Louis convulsed by protests over the fatal shooting of a Black teen. Don Pardo, 96, a durable radio and television announcer known for his introductions with a booming baritone on "Saturday Night Live" and other shows, died in Tucson, Arizona.In 2017, Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump's top White House strategist, was forced out of his post by Trump. (Bannon would step down as Breitbart News chairman in January 2018 after the release of a book in which he criticized Trump and members of his family; he was pardoned by Trump in the final hours of Trump's term after being charged with diverting money from donors who believed the money would be used to build a wall along the southern border.)Ten years ago: President Barack Obama and European leaders demanded that Syrian President Bashar Assad resign, saying his brutal suppression of his people made him unfit to lead. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Five years ago: For the first time since declaring his presidential run, Republican Donald Trump offered an apology to those who might have been hurt by his caustic comments, saying he regretted some of what he had said "in the heat of debate." Former NFL star Darren Sharper was sentenced by a federal judge in New Orleans to more than 18 years in prison for drugging women in order to rape them — double the sentence recommended by prosecutors. At the Rio Games, Jamaica's Usain Bolt completed an unprecedented third consecutive sweep of the 100- and 200-meter sprints. Retired Army Gen. John W. Vessey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, died in North Oaks, Minnesota, at age 94.One year ago: Democrats formally made Joe Biden their 2020 presidential nominee at their all-virtual national convention. The Republican-led Senate intelligence committee concluded that the Kremlin had launched an aggressive effort to interfere in the 2016 presidential contest on behalf of Donald Trump, and that the Trump campaign's interactions with Russian intelligence services had posed a "grave" counterintelligence threat. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he would "suspend" some operational changes to mail delivery until after the November election; critics had blamed the changes for widespread delays and warned that they could disrupt the voting. Wall Street clawed back the last of the losses unleashed by the coronavirus, as the S&amp;P 500 reached a new all-time high. Today's Birthdays: Former first lady Rosalynn Carter is 94. Movie director Roman Polanski is 88. Actor-director Robert Redford is 85. Actor Henry G. Sanders is 79. Actor-comedian Martin Mull is 78. R&amp;B singer Sarah Dash (LaBelle) is 76. Rock musician Dennis Elliott is 71. Comedian Elayne Boosler is 69. Actor Denis Leary is 64. Actor Madeleine Stowe is 63. Former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is 60. ABC News reporter Bob Woodruff is 60. The former president of Mexico, Felipe Calderon, is 59. Actor Adam Storke is 59. Actor Craig Bierko is 57. Rock singer-musician Zac Maloy (The Nixons) is 53. Rock singer and hip-hop artist Everlast is 52. Rapper Masta Killa (Wu-Tang Clan) is 52. Actor Christian Slater is 52. Actor Edward Norton is 52. Actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner is 51. Actor Kaitlin Olson is 46. Rock musician Dirk Lance is 45. Actor-comedian Andy Samberg (TV: "Saturday Night Live") is 43. Country musician Brad Tursi (Old Dominion) is 42. Actor Mika Boorem is 34. Actor Maia Mitchell is 28. Actor Madelaine Petsch is 27. Actor Parker McKenna Posey is 26.

Today in History - Aug. 18

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

Recent obituaries

Are you a person interested in gathering customer information to analyze, provide teaching for staff, and strategically lead an organization forward with quality services?

Are you looking for a career to assist an organization to provide the highest quality services possible?

We are looking for a high-energy candidate who has the ability to understand multiple systems and regulations, and can translate that into easily understood standards to communicate.

The Quality Services Coordinator will work to develop, interpret, comply with, and evolve OCCK’s quality assurance standards. This position will also demonstrate continuous effort to track and improve the quality of services being provided to ensure services are meeting the expectations of people in our communities.

The Quality Assurance Coordinator would have the opportunity to work with multiple departments and various staff to assure the best services possible are being provided to people.

OCCK is a growing, diverse business celebrating 50 years of services in North Central Kansas.

We have a strong benefits package and competitive wages. Traveling is involved with this position.

A degree in related field is required. Come join our team.

Please send your resume to OCCK, Inc. Attention Janae Cramer, PO Box 1160, Salina, KS, 67402-1160.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592535783410.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Are you a person interested in gathering customer information to analyze, provide teaching for staff, and strategically lead an organization forward with quality services?Are you looking for a career to assist an organization to provide the highest quality services possible?We are looking for a high-energy candidate who has the ability to understand multiple systems and regulations, and can translate that into easily understood standards to communicate.The Quality Services Coordinator will work to develop, interpret, comply with, and evolve OCCK’s quality assurance standards. This position will also demonstrate continuous effort to track and improve the quality of services being provided to ensure services are meeting the expectations of people in our communities.The Quality Assurance Coordinator would have the opportunity to work with multiple departments and various staff to assure the best services possible are being provided to people.OCCK is a growing, diverse business celebrating 50 years of services in North Central Kansas.We have a strong benefits package and competitive wages. Traveling is involved with this position.A degree in related field is required. Come join our team.Please send your resume to OCCK, Inc. Attention Janae Cramer, PO Box 1160, Salina, KS, 67402-1160.

City seeks citizen input concerning pond at Jerry Ivey Memorial Park

TOPEKA—The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/AVHV_TN4S7S78jAGnzynIu3U4UyMehFopRhOx_0sK5k" target="_blank">12th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a>&nbsp;will convene by telephone conference at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 20, to discuss the nomination process to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy. The vacancy is created by Judge Brian Grace’s Oct. 1 retirement. The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties. Public access The meeting is open to the public. To listen: call 1-877-400-9499; and enter conference code 2199381974. Accommodation Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible: ADA Coordinator <a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/AVHV_TN4S7S78jAGnzynIh1yXgTLTsHgJ4kT82uP1_0" target="_blank">ADA@kscourts.org</a> 785-296-2256 TTY at 711 Eligibility requirements Kansas law requires that this district magistrate judge be:

●a resident of Lincoln County at the time of taking office and while holding office;

●a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and

●either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 months

The nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to interview nominees. Interviews are open to the public.&nbsp;The commission will then appoint a district magistrate judge. Term of office After serving one year in office, the magistrate judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term. Nominating commission The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair; Carol Good, Barnard; William Navis, Belleville; Dwight Daniels, Curtis Frasier, and Jerry Harrison, Beloit; Dana Brewer and J. Bradley Lowell, Concordia; Tanner Johnson, Courland; Daniel Metz, Lincoln; Darrell Miller and Roger Rightmeier, Mankato; and Bruce Meyer, Palmer.

TOPEKA—The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/AVHV_TN4S7S78jAGnzynIu3U4UyMehFopRhOx_0sK5k" target="_blank">12th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a>&nbsp;will convene by telephone conference at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 20, to discuss the nomination process to fill a district magistrate judge vacancy. The vacancy is created by Judge Brian Grace’s Oct. 1 retirement. The 12th Judicial District is composed of Cloud, Jewell, Lincoln, Mitchell, Republic, and Washington counties. Public access The meeting is open to the public. To listen: call 1-877-400-9499; and enter conference code 2199381974. Accommodation Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible: ADA Coordinator <a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/AVHV_TN4S7S78jAGnzynIh1yXgTLTsHgJ4kT82uP1_0" target="_blank">ADA@kscourts.org</a> 785-296-2256 TTY at 711 Eligibility requirements Kansas law requires that this district magistrate judge be: ●a resident of Lincoln County at the time of taking office and while holding office;●a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and●either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 monthsThe nominating commission seeks nominations and then meets to interview nominees. Interviews are open to the public.&nbsp;The commission will then appoint a district magistrate judge. Term of office After serving one year in office, the magistrate judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term. Nominating commission The 12th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair; Carol Good, Barnard; William Navis, Belleville; Dwight Daniels, Curtis Frasier, and Jerry Harrison, Beloit; Dana Brewer and J. Bradley Lowell, Concordia; Tanner Johnson, Courland; Daniel Metz, Lincoln; Darrell Miller and Roger Rightmeier, Mankato; and Bruce Meyer, Palmer.

12th Judicial District Nominating Commission to meet Aug. 20

During a more than five-hour meeting Monday night, the Salina City Commission did not approve a petition-driven proposed ordinance that sought to limit the commission's authority to impose restrictions on businesses or citizens in response to public emergencies and defered discussion about how to proceed on the matter to next Monday's meeting.

The petition, written by Kevin Korb and circulated by a number of individuals, was verified by the Saline County Clerk's Office and delivered to the city clerk on July 28.

A summary of the proposed ordinance is as follows.

"This ordinance prevents the City of Salina Governing Body from enacting any ordinance, in response to a public emergency, that imposes restrictions on businesses or citizens, leaving that responsibility to Saline County and subject to the Kansas Emergency Management Act."

Several people, including Korb, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance, however, several others encouraged the commission to not relinquish its authority.

City staff prepared for commissioners a three-step approach to dealing with the petition, the first step being to consider inacting the proposed ordinance. The proposed ordinance was not enacted due to a lack of a motion to do so.

The commission also can pursue a "declaratory judgment in Saline County District Court regarding the validity and status of the petition and proposed ordinance," according to information in Step 2.

Step 3 would be consideration of placing the proposed ordinance on the Nov. 2 ballot. Items for the Nov. 2 ballot must be in place by Sept. 1. 

The commission also could do a hybrid of Step 2 and Step 3 and submit the proposed ordinance for the November ballot while pursuing a declaratory judgment from the court.

After a 15-minute executive session, the city commission voted 5-0 to defer discussion about the next step in the process to next week's meeting in order to allow city counsel time to pull together the additional information that commissioners requested in order to make a decision on how to proceed.

Additionally, city counsel confirmed that by taking the petition matter under consideration at the meeting, the commission did, indeed, fulfill its obligation to adress the matter within 20 days as specified by state statute.

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostDuring a more than five-hour meeting Monday night, the Salina City Commission did not approve a petition-driven proposed ordinance that sought to limit the commission's authority to impose restrictions on businesses or citizens in response to public emergencies and defered discussion about how to proceed on the matter to next Monday's meeting.The petition, written by Kevin Korb and circulated by a number of individuals, was verified by the Saline County Clerk's Office and delivered to the city clerk on July 28.A summary of the proposed ordinance is as follows."This ordinance prevents the City of Salina Governing Body from enacting any ordinance, in response to a public emergency, that imposes restrictions on businesses or citizens, leaving that responsibility to Saline County and subject to the Kansas Emergency Management Act."Several people, including Korb, spoke in support of the proposed ordinance, however, several others encouraged the commission to not relinquish its authority.City staff prepared for commissioners a three-step approach to dealing with the petition, the first step being to consider inacting the proposed ordinance. The proposed ordinance was not enacted due to a lack of a motion to do so.The commission also can pursue a "declaratory judgment in Saline County District Court regarding the validity and status of the petition and proposed ordinance," according to information in Step 2.Step 3 would be consideration of placing the proposed ordinance on the Nov. 2 ballot. Items for the Nov. 2 ballot must be in place by Sept. 1. The commission also could do a hybrid of Step 2 and Step 3 and submit the proposed ordinance for the November ballot while pursuing a declaratory judgment from the court.After a 15-minute executive session, the city commission voted 5-0 to defer discussion about the next step in the process to next week's meeting in order to allow city counsel time to pull together the additional information that commissioners requested in order to make a decision on how to proceed.Additionally, city counsel confirmed that by taking the petition matter under consideration at the meeting, the commission did, indeed, fulfill its obligation to adress the matter within 20 days as specified by state statute.

City commission defers discussion of petition to next week

As the clock counts down for the 45th-anniversary River Festival, the start of Festival Medallion Quest 2021 draws near.

The first Medallion Quest clue will be shared live from the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue, on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Starting Thursday, clues will be available at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m each day, at <a href="http://www.festivalmedallionquest.com">www.festivalmedallionquest.com</a>, simultaneously posted on the signboard near the S. Eighth Street or west-facing doors of the museum and SAH offices in downtown Salina.

The Festival Medallion Quest was launched in 2009 by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities to demonstrate the creativity and connectivity that the River Festival embodies year-round. Since the Medallion Quest’s inception, thousands have taken part.

The Medallion is a unique object designed each year by a local or regional artist. This year, the Quest returns to the former system of two separate, word-only (not graphic) clues released each day. While the daily clues may be shared independently by local media or on social media, the Quest website and SAH-posted clues remain the sole official sources for timely Festival Medallion Quest details.

Details and rules on how to play the Festival Medallion Quest can be found at www.festivalmedallionquest.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629225565057.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the clock counts down for the 45th-anniversary River Festival, the start of Festival Medallion Quest 2021 draws near.The first Medallion Quest clue will be shared live from the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue, on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Starting Thursday, clues will be available at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m each day, at <a href="http://www.festivalmedallionquest.com">www.festivalmedallionquest.com</a>, simultaneously posted on the signboard near the S. Eighth Street or west-facing doors of the museum and SAH offices in downtown Salina.The Festival Medallion Quest was launched in 2009 by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities to demonstrate the creativity and connectivity that the River Festival embodies year-round. Since the Medallion Quest’s inception, thousands have taken part.The Medallion is a unique object designed each year by a local or regional artist. This year, the Quest returns to the former system of two separate, word-only (not graphic) clues released each day. While the daily clues may be shared independently by local media or on social media, the Quest website and SAH-posted clues remain the sole official sources for timely Festival Medallion Quest details.Details and rules on how to play the Festival Medallion Quest can be found at www.festivalmedallionquest.com.The Festival Medallion Quest 2021 prize package includes:●$1,000 in cash●$2,000 in Festival Gift Certificates, to be used for purchases in the Fine Art and Craft Show or Art/Craft Demonstration Area, during Festival weekend only.●Four complimentary Festival weekend-admission Wristbands●One on-grounds Festival parking pass (weather permitting)●An invitation for four to attend the premiere Art Patron Party on Sept. 2.●Admission to the advance Art Patron shopping hour on Sept. 3 at 9 a.m.●Four Smoky Hill River Festival T-shirtsThere is no cost to participate in the Festival Medallion Quest. Participants must be 18 years of age to claim any prize. See complete Medallion Quest rules at www.festivalmedallionquest.com or by clicking on the Participate tab at the top of the <a href="http://www.riverfestival.com">www.riverfestival.com</a> home page.For more information on the Festival Medallion Quest or the Smoky Hill River Festival, call 785-309-5770, visit <a href="http://www.riverfestival.com">www.riverfestival.com</a> or go to <a href="http://www.Facebook.com/SHRiverFestival">www.Facebook.com/SHRiverFestival</a>.