The deadline for 2020 first half of Saline County property taxes is coming up in just a few weeks.

Saline County Treasurer Jim DuBois announced today that 2020 first half tax payments are due Dec. 21. While normally due on Dec. 20, the first half 2020 property taxes are due Dec. 21 since Dec. 20 falls on a Sunday, DuBois explained. The second half property taxes are due May 10, 2021, he added.

The 2020 tax statements were mailed out on Friday.

"Please send the remittance stub from the bottom of the tax statement with the payment. Please remember to indicate on the stub if you want a paid receipt returned to you," DuBois noted in the announcement. "Can’t find your statement? Call the Treasurer’s Office at (785) 309-5860 for the amount due and the tax ID number. A copy of the statement can be emailed or mailed upon request."

Interest will be due on any 2020 first half property taxes not paid by the deadline, according to DuBois.

The deadline for 2020 first half of Saline County property taxes is coming up in just a few weeks.Saline County Treasurer Jim DuBois announced today that 2020 first half tax payments are due Dec. 21. While normally due on Dec. 20, the first half 2020 property taxes are due Dec. 21 since Dec. 20 falls on a Sunday, DuBois explained. The second half property taxes are due May 10, 2021, he added.The 2020 tax statements were mailed out on Friday."Please send the remittance stub from the bottom of the tax statement with the payment. Please remember to indicate on the stub if you want a paid receipt returned to you," DuBois noted in the announcement. "Can’t find your statement? Call the Treasurer’s Office at (785) 309-5860 for the amount due and the tax ID number. A copy of the statement can be emailed or mailed upon request."Interest will be due on any 2020 first half property taxes not paid by the deadline, according to DuBois.

County treasurer: First half property taxes due Dec. 21

As the need for blood donations continues to become ever-more critical, the American Red Cross is partnering with Eagle Radio to both raise awareness and funding for the organization.

In conjunction with the Robert E &amp; Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation, Eagle Radio markets in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri will also be raising funds in an effort to help bolster the Red Cross vehicle fleet.

Donations will help the Red Cross purchase new community emergency vehicles that deliver critical blood needs across the region.

Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Schmidt Foundation.

“The mission of the American Red Cross is more important today than ever, and Eagle Radio is proud to help strengthen the organization and its life-saving efforts,” said Eagle Radio Chairman Gary Shorman, who is also the Schmidt Foundation chairman of the board. “We urge our listeners and readers to consider helping this great cause — and strengthen the health and safety of our community at the same time.”

• Text to give: You can be a part of our community emergency vehicle campaign by texting the word RCFLEET to 41411 to make a donation.&nbsp;

• <a href="http://bit.ly/donateeagleradioschmidt">Eagle Radio microsite</a>

• <a href="http://bit.ly/GoFundMeEagleRadioRedCross">GoFundMe</a>

• Mail:&nbsp;American Red Cross 707 N. Main St., Wichita, KS 67203. Please indicate&nbsp;Eagle Radio Blood Fleet Campaign&nbsp;on the memo line of your check. Or you can download a mail-in donation form <a href="https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/donations/2019_Updated%20IRF%20Form_v1_FINAL_RSG00000MCDF.PDF">HERE</a>.

Last year, in the Eagle Radio markets, Red Cross collected over 370,000 units of lifesaving blood in support of more than 200 area hospitals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605915957336.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As the need for blood donations continues to become ever-more critical, the American Red Cross is partnering with Eagle Radio to both raise awareness and funding for the organization.In conjunction with the Robert E &amp; Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation, Eagle Radio markets in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri will also be raising funds in an effort to help bolster the Red Cross vehicle fleet.Donations will help the Red Cross purchase new community emergency vehicles that deliver critical blood needs across the region.Donations will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Schmidt Foundation.“The mission of the American Red Cross is more important today than ever, and Eagle Radio is proud to help strengthen the organization and its life-saving efforts,” said Eagle Radio Chairman Gary Shorman, who is also the Schmidt Foundation chairman of the board. “We urge our listeners and readers to consider helping this great cause — and strengthen the health and safety of our community at the same time.”Donations can be made by:• Text to give: You can be a part of our community emergency vehicle campaign by texting the word RCFLEET to 41411 to make a donation.&nbsp;• <a href="http://bit.ly/donateeagleradioschmidt">Eagle Radio microsite</a>• <a href="http://bit.ly/GoFundMeEagleRadioRedCross">GoFundMe</a>• Mail:&nbsp;American Red Cross 707 N. Main St., Wichita, KS 67203. Please indicate&nbsp;Eagle Radio Blood Fleet Campaign&nbsp;on the memo line of your check. Or you can download a mail-in donation form <a href="https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/donations/2019_Updated%20IRF%20Form_v1_FINAL_RSG00000MCDF.PDF">HERE</a>.Last year, in the Eagle Radio markets, Red Cross collected over 370,000 units of lifesaving blood in support of more than 200 area hospitals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1604516806024.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Eagle Radio teams with Red Cross to replenish vehicle fleet

A car belonging to the local newspaper was stolen from a parking lot on North Santa Fe overnight.

A blue Ford Focus valued at $1,500 and belonging to the Salina Journal was stolen from a parking lot at 621 North Santa Fe sometime between 8:30 a.m. Sunday and 4:35 a.m. Monday, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

The keys were left in the driver's side door, he reported.

A car belonging to the local newspaper was stolen from a parking lot on North Santa Fe overnight.A blue Ford Focus valued at $1,500 and belonging to the Salina Journal was stolen from a parking lot at 621 North Santa Fe sometime between 8:30 a.m. Sunday and 4:35 a.m. Monday, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.The keys were left in the driver's side door, he reported.

Local newspaper vehicle stolen from north Salina lot

In much of the world, China’s coronavirus vaccines may be used first. That is the concluding statement in the brief summary of world vaccine efforts in the November 25 journal&nbsp;Science&nbsp;online. While the American press has mostly ignored vaccine efforts outside of the American “Warp Speed” effort, even our press coverage of the Pfizer (partner with BioNTech) and Astrazeneca (partner with Oxford) trials have downplayed the fact that these technologies are German and British efforts. And when the American press highlighted the start of the Phase 3 vaccine trials back in the middle of August, full trials were already underway with the Chinese coronaVac and Oxford vaccines weeks earlier.

Of the first eight vaccines beginning development early this year, four were in China. Three were conventional vaccines that used the whole virus that had been inactivated, similar to Salk’s safe polio vaccine. The problem China faced (along with Taiwan and South Korea) is that they rapidly halted the spread of the virus through extensive isolation of populations, massive testing and digital tracking. China did not have enough COVID-19 cases to run vaccination testing trials at home. They must have some level of infection to determine protection between the vaccination and placebo groups.

Therefore China arranged to conduct Phase 3 trials in Brazil, Indonesia and 13 other countries including the Arab world. In exchange, Chinese companies have promised to deliver large shipments of a successful vaccine to those countries, or in many cases produce the successful vaccine in-country.&nbsp; Because China and its neighbors have near-zero COVID, they are not in a panic to innoculate themselves.

China has likewise signed on to the international agreement “Covax,” now with 156 total nations, to share their vaccines with countries worldwide. This has been termed “vaccine diplomacy.”&nbsp; Medical scientists worldwide recognize that no one will be safe from a resurgence as long as this highly contagious coronavirus still infects any persons somewhere in the world. Only Russia and the United States have failed to join Covax, an act seen by the rest of the world as “vaccine nationalism.” &nbsp; China’s researchers began working on vaccines on January 11, one day after they solved the genetic sequence of the virus. There was the possibility that this coronavirus would be contained and ended through patient isolation, similar to the 2003 SARS coronavirus. But soon the realization that there were asymptomatic carriers made this pandemic unstoppable.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The first vaccine to cause an immune response was produced by CanSino. It used an active harmless adenovirus to carry the COVID spike gene into a person’s body, stimulating an immune response.&nbsp; However, the immunity was weaker, perhaps due to our response also to the adenovirus carrier. Sinovac and CNBG, a branch of Sinopharm both independently pursued use of the “killed” (chemically inactivated) COVID virus, that would trigger a bigger immune response since the full virus is presented, similar to the safe and effective Salk polio vaccine. Such conventional vaccines do not require expensive ultra-cold freezers, making them more affordable and useful in remote rural regions.

With animal studies as well as Phase 1 and 2 trials showing the Chinese vaccines to be safe, China is moving ahead vaccinating troops who contribute to UN peacekeeping. Healthcare workers, border inspectors and others in high risk groups can likewise receive vaccinations on a completely voluntary basis and with informed consent. The new Western vaccines are likely to be much more expensive. &nbsp;

Another major conference provided an assessment of progress and future problems. The Lancet, the top medical journal in the world (based in the U.K.), held its annual conference with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences on November 24-25. Over 20,000 of us went online to hear top experts from Harvard, University of Hong Kong, Imperial College of London, and Columbia University join counterparts from China to discuss today’s COVID-19 situation. Richard Horton, The Lancet’s editor-in-chief summarized the many conclusions, from the zero-Covid Asian countries that had suppressed it with non-pharmaceutical tactics, to the long-COVID concern that we might never fully get rid of this virus. A need for better education to overcome false public security is critical. But the infant and child educational development suppressed by education shutdowns was an even greater concern.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKIn much of the world, China’s coronavirus vaccines may be used first. That is the concluding statement in the brief summary of world vaccine efforts in the November 25 journal&nbsp;Science&nbsp;online. While the American press has mostly ignored vaccine efforts outside of the American “Warp Speed” effort, even our press coverage of the Pfizer (partner with BioNTech) and Astrazeneca (partner with Oxford) trials have downplayed the fact that these technologies are German and British efforts. And when the American press highlighted the start of the Phase 3 vaccine trials back in the middle of August, full trials were already underway with the Chinese coronaVac and Oxford vaccines weeks earlier. Of the first eight vaccines beginning development early this year, four were in China. Three were conventional vaccines that used the whole virus that had been inactivated, similar to Salk’s safe polio vaccine. The problem China faced (along with Taiwan and South Korea) is that they rapidly halted the spread of the virus through extensive isolation of populations, massive testing and digital tracking. China did not have enough COVID-19 cases to run vaccination testing trials at home. They must have some level of infection to determine protection between the vaccination and placebo groups. Therefore China arranged to conduct Phase 3 trials in Brazil, Indonesia and 13 other countries including the Arab world. In exchange, Chinese companies have promised to deliver large shipments of a successful vaccine to those countries, or in many cases produce the successful vaccine in-country.&nbsp; Because China and its neighbors have near-zero COVID, they are not in a panic to innoculate themselves. China has likewise signed on to the international agreement “Covax,” now with 156 total nations, to share their vaccines with countries worldwide. This has been termed “vaccine diplomacy.”&nbsp; Medical scientists worldwide recognize that no one will be safe from a resurgence as long as this highly contagious coronavirus still infects any persons somewhere in the world. Only Russia and the United States have failed to join Covax, an act seen by the rest of the world as “vaccine nationalism.” &nbsp; China’s researchers began working on vaccines on January 11, one day after they solved the genetic sequence of the virus. There was the possibility that this coronavirus would be contained and ended through patient isolation, similar to the 2003 SARS coronavirus. But soon the realization that there were asymptomatic carriers made this pandemic unstoppable.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The first vaccine to cause an immune response was produced by CanSino. It used an active harmless adenovirus to carry the COVID spike gene into a person’s body, stimulating an immune response.&nbsp; However, the immunity was weaker, perhaps due to our response also to the adenovirus carrier. Sinovac and CNBG, a branch of Sinopharm both independently pursued use of the “killed” (chemically inactivated) COVID virus, that would trigger a bigger immune response since the full virus is presented, similar to the safe and effective Salk polio vaccine. Such conventional vaccines do not require expensive ultra-cold freezers, making them more affordable and useful in remote rural regions. With animal studies as well as Phase 1 and 2 trials showing the Chinese vaccines to be safe, China is moving ahead vaccinating troops who contribute to UN peacekeeping. Healthcare workers, border inspectors and others in high risk groups can likewise receive vaccinations on a completely voluntary basis and with informed consent. The new Western vaccines are likely to be much more expensive. &nbsp; Another major conference provided an assessment of progress and future problems. The Lancet, the top medical journal in the world (based in the U.K.), held its annual conference with the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences on November 24-25. Over 20,000 of us went online to hear top experts from Harvard, University of Hong Kong, Imperial College of London, and Columbia University join counterparts from China to discuss today’s COVID-19 situation. Richard Horton, The Lancet’s editor-in-chief summarized the many conclusions, from the zero-Covid Asian countries that had suppressed it with non-pharmaceutical tactics, to the long-COVID concern that we might never fully get rid of this virus. A need for better education to overcome false public security is critical. But the infant and child educational development suppressed by education shutdowns was an even greater concern.&nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

EDUCATION FRONTLINES: China vaccines may distribute first

Salina police followed drag marks in a gravel alley to determine from where two items were stolen. Now they need to find the person who did the dragging.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning that at 9:45 a.m. Friday, officers were sent to the alley in the 300 block of Woodlawn Avenue for the report of a subject dragging items down the alley. 

Two reporting witnesses observed a white male wearing a white hat, black mask, and gray hoodie, dragging a blue hydraulic jack and a red engine stand down the alley. The officers found the items abandoned in the alley.

Forrester explained that one of the officers followed the tracks in the gravel back to the location from where the items were taken. They had been stored at Mid Kansas Repair, 314 West Cloud Street, he noted. 

The items, valued at $600, were returned to their owner.

Salina police followed drag marks in a gravel alley to determine from where two items were stolen. Now they need to find the person who did the dragging.Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning that at 9:45 a.m. Friday, officers were sent to the alley in the 300 block of Woodlawn Avenue for the report of a subject dragging items down the alley. Two reporting witnesses observed a white male wearing a white hat, black mask, and gray hoodie, dragging a blue hydraulic jack and a red engine stand down the alley. The officers found the items abandoned in the alley.Forrester explained that one of the officers followed the tracks in the gravel back to the location from where the items were taken. They had been stored at Mid Kansas Repair, 314 West Cloud Street, he noted. The items, valued at $600, were returned to their owner.

Police seek suspect seen dragging stolen items down alley

Using the lawn at the senior center as a host site for a city-owned sculpture is among the agenda items for the Saline County Commission meeting Tuesday.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. via Zoom and the county's YouTube channel. This decision to revise the meeting format was made to align with the mass gathering limitations imposed by the Saline County Commission and Saline County Health Officer.

Meetings can be viewed on Saline County’s YouTube channel:

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwwZp_cTSJ3Nepp_5rOGevA">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwwZp_cTSJ3Nepp_5rOGevA</a>

To participate in the meetings, citizens will need to use the Zoom link. Use the following link and put in the Meeting ID and passcode.

<a href="https://zoom.us/j/96835819901?pwd=bUEvaExUb2ppMEFaUnd6cUd6MmNMUT09">https://zoom.us/j/96835819901?pwd=bUEvaExUb2ppMEFaUnd6cUd6MmNMUT09</a>

If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the Chairman requests public comment on an item, they must raise their hand so that the meeting host can allow them to speak.

Citizens can also send comments or questions to county commissioners via email by going to the Saline County website and clicking on the County Commissioner’s page under the Department tab.

The Department of Senior Services has been working with Salina Arts &amp; Humanities to bring a statue to the lawn of the center, 245 North Ninth Street, according to information in the county commission meeting packet.

If approved by the commission, the bronze statue, Farmer, would be placed in the southeast corner of the lawn at the center. There is no cost to the county for placing the statue at that location, the packet information noted.

Additionally, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes is scheduled to provide a CRF funding update and discuss donations to Rural Fire Districts No. 5 and No. 7 during his weekly update.

Commissioners also are scheduled to meet in two executive sessions for the following topics.

To view the entire Saline County Commission meeting packet for Tuesday (7-page pdf), <a href="https://www.saline.org/Portals/0/Content/Commissioners/Documents/Agenda/Current/20201201.pdf?ver=z1ufDnUdbvHmfJhMYJimqg%3d%3d">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606744370128.png" alt="The proposed statue for the senior center lawn. Photo courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>The proposed statue for the senior center lawn. Photo courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Using the lawn at the senior center as a host site for a city-owned sculpture is among the agenda items for the Saline County Commission meeting Tuesday.The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. via Zoom and the county's YouTube channel. This decision to revise the meeting format was made to align with the mass gathering limitations imposed by the Saline County Commission and Saline County Health Officer.Meetings can be viewed on Saline County’s YouTube channel:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwwZp_cTSJ3Nepp_5rOGevA">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwwZp_cTSJ3Nepp_5rOGevA</a>To participate in the meetings, citizens will need to use the Zoom link. Use the following link and put in the Meeting ID and passcode.<a href="https://zoom.us/j/96835819901?pwd=bUEvaExUb2ppMEFaUnd6cUd6MmNMUT09">https://zoom.us/j/96835819901?pwd=bUEvaExUb2ppMEFaUnd6cUd6MmNMUT09</a>Meeting ID: 968 3581 9901Passcode: 144636If citizens wish to speak, either during the public forum or when the Chairman requests public comment on an item, they must raise their hand so that the meeting host can allow them to speak.Citizens can also send comments or questions to county commissioners via email by going to the Saline County website and clicking on the County Commissioner’s page under the Department tab.The Department of Senior Services has been working with Salina Arts &amp; Humanities to bring a statue to the lawn of the center, 245 North Ninth Street, according to information in the county commission meeting packet.If approved by the commission, the bronze statue, Farmer, would be placed in the southeast corner of the lawn at the center. There is no cost to the county for placing the statue at that location, the packet information noted.Additionally, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes is scheduled to provide a CRF funding update and discuss donations to Rural Fire Districts No. 5 and No. 7 during his weekly update.Commissioners also are scheduled to meet in two executive sessions for the following topics.●Non-elected personnel●Land acquisitionTo view the entire Saline County Commission meeting packet for Tuesday (7-page pdf), <a href="https://www.saline.org/Portals/0/Content/Commissioners/Documents/Agenda/Current/20201201.pdf?ver=z1ufDnUdbvHmfJhMYJimqg%3d%3d">click here</a>.

Commission to discuss adding statue to lawn at senior services facility

CLAY CENTER -- Meadowlark Hospice began hosting Tree of Light ceremonies thirty years ago to celebrate the life of or in honor of someone during the holiday season. These remembrance ceremonies are usually held in the communities they serve. 

The Tree of Light ceremonies this year, however, will be virtual events via Facebook Live on Dec. 6 and 13, at 2 p.m. 

"We value the importance of face-to-face time to remember those we love and miss, but feel it is the best interest for our communities to make the change to a virtual event. We hope that we can host in-person remembrance ceremonies in the spring," Meadowlark Hospice noted in a news release.

The Dec. 6 live event will be placing the angels on a tree outside office building. The angels will have names on them of loved ones who are remembered this holiday season. The names will be read during the event. If you would like to add an angel to the tree they are available at the Meadowlark office at 709 Liberty Street in Clay Center.

Then, on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m., Meadowlark Hospice will host a Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony via Facebook Live. Join us for a pre-recorded candlelight remembrance ceremony to remember your loved ones during this holiday season. Gather your friends and family and have a candle ready to light in memory of your loved one.

CLAY CENTER -- Meadowlark Hospice began hosting Tree of Light ceremonies thirty years ago to celebrate the life of or in honor of someone during the holiday season. These remembrance ceremonies are usually held in the communities they serve. The Tree of Light ceremonies this year, however, will be virtual events via Facebook Live on Dec. 6 and 13, at 2 p.m. "We value the importance of face-to-face time to remember those we love and miss, but feel it is the best interest for our communities to make the change to a virtual event. We hope that we can host in-person remembrance ceremonies in the spring," Meadowlark Hospice noted in a news release.The Dec. 6 live event will be placing the angels on a tree outside office building. The angels will have names on them of loved ones who are remembered this holiday season. The names will be read during the event. If you would like to add an angel to the tree they are available at the Meadowlark office at 709 Liberty Street in Clay Center.Then, on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m., Meadowlark Hospice will host a Candlelight Remembrance Ceremony via Facebook Live. Join us for a pre-recorded candlelight remembrance ceremony to remember your loved ones during this holiday season. Gather your friends and family and have a candle ready to light in memory of your loved one.

Meadowlark Tree of Light ceremonies going virtual this year

Today is Monday, Nov. 30, the 335th day of 2020. There are 31 days left in the year. 

On Nov. 30, 2000, Al Gore's lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors. 

In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.

In 1803, Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.

In 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known as Mark Twain — was born in Florida, Missouri. 

In 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.

In 1900, Irish writer Oscar Wilde died in Paris at age 46. 

In 1936, London's famed Crystal Palace, constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, was destroyed in a fire. 

In 1940, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were married at the Byram River Beagle Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. (The marriage ended in divorce in 1960.)

In 1960, the last DeSoto was built by Chrysler, which had decided to retire the brand after 32 years. 

In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe. 

In 1987, American author James Baldwin died in Saint Paul de Vence, France, at age 63.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers. 

In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush, a World War II hero who rose through the political ranks to the nation's highest office, died at his Houston home at the age of 94; his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, had died in April. On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, President Donald Trump and the leaders of Canada and Mexico signed a revised North American trade pact. 

Ten years ago: Pentagon leaders called for scrapping the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" ban on openly gay military service after releasing a survey about the prospect of openly gay troops. (The policy was rescinded in 2011.) The Obama administration announced that all 197 airlines that flew to the U.S. had begun collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government could check them against terror watch lists before they boarded flights.

Five years ago: Jury selection began in Baltimore in the trial of Officer William Porter, the first of six policemen to face charges in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man who died of a severe spinal injury while in police custody. (All charges against Porter were dropped after a mistrial; three other officers were acquitted; all remaining charges were later dropped.)

One year ago: Nine members of an extended Idaho family died and three others were injured in the crash of a small plane after taking off from the airport in Chamberlain, South Dakota; investigators found that the pilot and a passenger had spent three hours clearing snow and ice from the plane before departure. Wintry weather plagued Thanksgiving weekend travelers across the country, as a powerful and dangerous storm moved eastward, dumping heavy snow from parts of California to the northern Midwest. Amid mounting pressure from mass anti-government protests, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi submitted his resignation to parliament.

Today's Birthdays: G. Gordon Liddy is 90. Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 83. Movie director Ridley Scott is 83. Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward is 80. Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 77. Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 75. Playwright David Mamet is 73. Actor Mandy Patinkin is 68. Musician Shuggie Otis is 67. Country singer Jeannie Kendall is 66. Singer Billy Idol is 65. Historian Michael Beschloss is 65. Rock musician John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs) is 63. Comedian Colin Mochrie is 63. Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 58. Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 57. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 55. Rock musician Mike Stone is 51. Music producer Steve Aoki is 43. Singer Clay Aiken is 42. Actor Billy Lush is 39. Actor Elisha Cuthbert is 38. Actor Kaley Cuoco is 35. Model Chrissy Teigen is 35. Actor Christel Khalil is 33. Actor Rebecca Rittenhouse is 32. Actor Adelaide Clemens is 31. Actor Tyla Harris is 20.

<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 in History Today is Monday, Nov. 30, the 335th day of 2020. There are 31 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 30, 2000, Al Gore's lawyers battled for his political survival in the Florida and U.S. Supreme Courts; meanwhile, GOP lawmakers in Tallahassee moved to award the presidency to George W. Bush in case the courts did not by appointing their own slate of electors. On this date: In 1782, the United States and Britain signed preliminary peace articles in Paris for ending the Revolutionary War; the Treaty of Paris was signed in September 1783.In 1803, Spain completed the process of ceding Louisiana to France, which had sold it to the United States.In 1835, Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known as Mark Twain — was born in Florida, Missouri. In 1874, British statesman Sir Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.In 1900, Irish writer Oscar Wilde died in Paris at age 46. In 1936, London's famed Crystal Palace, constructed for the Great Exhibition of 1851, was destroyed in a fire. In 1940, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz were married at the Byram River Beagle Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. (The marriage ended in divorce in 1960.)In 1960, the last DeSoto was built by Chrysler, which had decided to retire the brand after 32 years. In 1981, the United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva aimed at reducing nuclear weapons in Europe. In 1987, American author James Baldwin died in Saint Paul de Vence, France, at age 63.In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Brady Bill, which required a five-day waiting period for handgun purchases and background checks of prospective buyers. In 2018, former President George H.W. Bush, a World War II hero who rose through the political ranks to the nation's highest office, died at his Houston home at the age of 94; his wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, had died in April. On the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, President Donald Trump and the leaders of Canada and Mexico signed a revised North American trade pact. Ten years ago: Pentagon leaders called for scrapping the 17-year-old "don't ask, don't tell" ban on openly gay military service after releasing a survey about the prospect of openly gay troops. (The policy was rescinded in 2011.) The Obama administration announced that all 197 airlines that flew to the U.S. had begun collecting names, genders and birth dates of passengers so the government could check them against terror watch lists before they boarded flights.Five years ago: Jury selection began in Baltimore in the trial of Officer William Porter, the first of six policemen to face charges in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old Black man who died of a severe spinal injury while in police custody. (All charges against Porter were dropped after a mistrial; three other officers were acquitted; all remaining charges were later dropped.) One year ago: Nine members of an extended Idaho family died and three others were injured in the crash of a small plane after taking off from the airport in Chamberlain, South Dakota; investigators found that the pilot and a passenger had spent three hours clearing snow and ice from the plane before departure. Wintry weather plagued Thanksgiving weekend travelers across the country, as a powerful and dangerous storm moved eastward, dumping heavy snow from parts of California to the northern Midwest. Amid mounting pressure from mass anti-government protests, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi submitted his resignation to parliament. Today's Birthdays: G. Gordon Liddy is 90. Country singer-recording executive Jimmy Bowen is 83. Movie director Ridley Scott is 83. Screenwriter Geoffrey C. Ward is 80. Movie writer-director Terrence Malick is 77. Rock musician Roger Glover (Deep Purple) is 75. Playwright David Mamet is 73. Actor Mandy Patinkin is 68. Musician Shuggie Otis is 67. Country singer Jeannie Kendall is 66. Singer Billy Idol is 65. Historian Michael Beschloss is 65. Rock musician John Ashton (The Psychedelic Furs) is 63. Comedian Colin Mochrie is 63. Former football and baseball player Bo Jackson is 58. Rapper Jalil (Whodini) is 57. Actor-director Ben Stiller is 55. Rock musician Mike Stone is 51. Music producer Steve Aoki is 43. Singer Clay Aiken is 42. Actor Billy Lush is 39. Actor Elisha Cuthbert is 38. Actor Kaley Cuoco is 35. Model Chrissy Teigen is 35. Actor Christel Khalil is 33. Actor Rebecca Rittenhouse is 32. Actor Adelaide Clemens is 31. Actor Tyla Harris is 20.

Today in History -- Nov. 30

Don't forget! The Salina City Commission will not meet Monday, as it typically does not meet on the fifth Monday of the month.

The next Salina City Commission meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7.

Don't forget! The Salina City Commission will not meet Monday, as it typically does not meet on the fifth Monday of the month.The next Salina City Commission meeting is scheduled for Dec. 7.

No Salina City Commission meeting on Monday

Plenty of sunshine and seasonal temperatures are expected for the start of the work week, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita. 

Look for highs Monday and Tuesday to generally be in the 45 to 50 degree range.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606697001587.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Plenty of sunshine and seasonal temperatures are expected for the start of the work week, according to the National Weather Service in Wichita. Look for highs Monday and Tuesday to generally be in the 45 to 50 degree range.

NWS: Sunny and seasonal temps to start work week

Mahaska is looking for a dependable, hard-working and reliable full-time loader. Typical schedule is Monday-Thursday from 2:00pm until finish and Friday 1:00pm until finish. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to; effectively read build sheets, maintain the ability to build loads in a timely manner, and utilize a pallet jack and physical labor. Applicants must possess the ability to work independently and with a team, have the ability to life up to 50 lbs. repeatedly, and build load sheets.

Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://mahaska.com/careers">Mahaska.com/careers</a>

Mahaska is an Equal Opportunity Employer

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579746866145.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mahaska is looking for a dependable, hard-working and reliable full-time loader. Typical schedule is Monday-Thursday from 2:00pm until finish and Friday 1:00pm until finish. The responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to; effectively read build sheets, maintain the ability to build loads in a timely manner, and utilize a pallet jack and physical labor. Applicants must possess the ability to work independently and with a team, have the ability to life up to 50 lbs. repeatedly, and build load sheets.Apply at&nbsp;<a href="http://mahaska.com/careers">Mahaska.com/careers</a>Mahaska is an Equal Opportunity Employer

New broadband access grant program for rural and underserved communities

Wind advisories have been issued for counties in our area today.

Additionally, the winds, combined with lowering humidity levels will result in very high grassland fire danger this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita.

NWS in Wichita has issued a wind advisory in effect from 1-6 p.m. Sunday for Marion County.

North winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected.

Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

NWS in Wichita also has issued a wind advisory in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606660481053.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wind advisories have been issued for counties in our area today.Additionally, the winds, combined with lowering humidity levels will result in very high grassland fire danger this afternoon, according to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita.NWS in Wichita has issued a wind advisory in effect from 1-6 p.m. Sunday for Marion County.North winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected.Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.NWS in Wichita also has issued a wind advisory in effect from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday for the following counties in our area.Ellsworth CountyLincoln CountyMcPherson CountySaline CountyNorth winds 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected.Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

NWS: Wind advisories, very high grassland fire danger for Sunday

The City of Salina has announced street work for this week.

Monday through Friday, APAC Shears of Salina will continue work on the City of Salina’s
annual asphalt mill and inlay project.&nbsp;
The schedule is as follows, weather permitting:

The work consists of
milling the existing asphalt street surface 1.5” and replacing it with new asphalt
to rehabilitate and preserve the pavement section.&nbsp; Permanent pavement markings will be placed
shortly after the resurfacing.

The work will be
completed with lane closures.&nbsp; Motorists
are encouraged to seek alternate routes to their destinations.

The $811,000 project is a major
component of the City of Salina's $4.7 million 2020 maintenance capital
improvement program.

The City of Salina has announced street work for this week.Monday through Friday, APAC Shears of Salina will continue work on the City of Salina’s
annual asphalt mill and inlay project.&nbsp;
The schedule is as follows, weather permitting:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606625439861.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The work consists of
milling the existing asphalt street surface 1.5” and replacing it with new asphalt
to rehabilitate and preserve the pavement section.&nbsp; Permanent pavement markings will be placed
shortly after the resurfacing.The work will be
completed with lane closures.&nbsp; Motorists
are encouraged to seek alternate routes to their destinations.The $811,000 project is a major
component of the City of Salina's $4.7 million 2020 maintenance capital
improvement program.

City: More mill and inlay work scheduled for this week

By RON WILSON Kansas State University

“Hungry Hungry Heroes.” Hmm, that sounds like the game called Hungry Hungry Hippos. This variation on that name is one example of the creative ways that leaders in Mitchell County supported their communities during the pandemic with a collaboration called Mitchell County Strong.&nbsp;

Heather Hartman is Mitchell County director of community development. A Beloit native, she had been a small business owner in Mitchell County before becoming county community development director in 2012.&nbsp;

“When the pandemic hit, it was scary,” Heather said. “There were projections that 30% of locally owned small businesses would close.” Heather’s office in Beloit is co-located with two other offices: the Chamber of Commerce and the community foundation. “Each of us was a separate organization, but what we did would never have happened if we weren’t all here together,” Heather said.&nbsp;

As shutdown orders were being issued, the three directors of these units immediately met to discuss what could be done. “Our main goal was to help these businesses and nonprofit organizations stay afloat,” Heather said.&nbsp;

One of their board members had heard from Manhattan Running Company about Manhattan’s gift certificate program and disaster recovery fund through the Manhattan Community Foundation. These women decided to try something similar.&nbsp;

They launched a “Buy 1, Give 1” initiative through which people could buy a gift certificate to a store in Mitchell County, and MCS would match it with a grocery gift card to be donated to a local family in need. The initiative took off.&nbsp;

“We were trying to think of a name for this, and somebody posted a comment about how we were trying to keep Mitchell County strong,” Heather said. That became the name.&nbsp;

Mitchell County Strong, or MCS, became the title of this collaboration between the Solomon Valley Community Foundation,&nbsp;the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce, and Solomon Valley Economic Development.&nbsp;

The gift card purchases immediately put much-needed revenue into local businesses and helped families who were struggling. “We sold more than $10,000 of gift cards in the first three days,” Heather said.&nbsp;

Other people wanted to help directly. A disaster relief fund was established at the community foundation. “Based on the advice we received from the ministerial alliance, we kept the application process really simple, and it worked,” Heather said.&nbsp;

MCS also recognized the need for businesses to use online marketing due to the pandemic. “Lots of our local businesses didn’t even have a website,” Heather said. The coalition organized an online store on which customers could buy gift cards from local businesses. MCS also offered a grocery assistance program plus mini-grants for local nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;

A local auctioneer with Hansen Auction Company agreed to conduct an online auction to benefit the project, while waiving the selling fee and donating the buyers’ fees to the disaster recovery fund.&nbsp;

MCS programs were county-wide, supporting stores in the county seat of Beloit plus&nbsp;rural&nbsp;communities such as Cawker City, population 469, Glen Elder, population 427, and Tipton, population 210 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;

Mitchell County Strong wanted to honor frontline workers, so its organizers invited the public to nominate a deserving person to receive a free lunch weekly. As a play on the Hungry Hungry Hippos name, they called the program Hungry Hungry Heroes.&nbsp;

“We thought people would nominate doctors and EMTs, but they also nominated their trash workers and grocery store clerks, which was great,” Heather said. MCS delivered a meal to a different winner each week.&nbsp;

A beautiful promotional video about Mitchell County was already being developed and is posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mitchellcountystrong.com/mitchell-co-welcome-home" target="_blank">on the website</a>.&nbsp;

Ultimately, the project generated more than $53,000 in gift card sales, $52,000 from the online auction, and $48,000 in partnership support. “We got more than $150,000 into the hands of our local citizens and businesses,” Heather said. Other than one early retirement, not a single local small business has been lost.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mitchellcountystrong.com/" target="_blank">www.mitchellcountystrong.com</a>.&nbsp;

Hungry Hungry Heroes. That’s one example of a creative program to support community citizens. We commend Heather Hartman and her partners in Mitchell County who are making a difference with their creativity and commitment. They are Helping Helping Heroes.

Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.

Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600566316666.jpeg" alt="Ron Wilson. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Ron Wilson. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Kansas State University“Hungry Hungry Heroes.” Hmm, that sounds like the game called Hungry Hungry Hippos. This variation on that name is one example of the creative ways that leaders in Mitchell County supported their communities during the pandemic with a collaboration called Mitchell County Strong.&nbsp;Heather Hartman is Mitchell County director of community development. A Beloit native, she had been a small business owner in Mitchell County before becoming county community development director in 2012.&nbsp;“When the pandemic hit, it was scary,” Heather said. “There were projections that 30% of locally owned small businesses would close.” Heather’s office in Beloit is co-located with two other offices: the Chamber of Commerce and the community foundation. “Each of us was a separate organization, but what we did would never have happened if we weren’t all here together,” Heather said.&nbsp;As shutdown orders were being issued, the three directors of these units immediately met to discuss what could be done. “Our main goal was to help these businesses and nonprofit organizations stay afloat,” Heather said.&nbsp;One of their board members had heard from Manhattan Running Company about Manhattan’s gift certificate program and disaster recovery fund through the Manhattan Community Foundation. These women decided to try something similar.&nbsp;They launched a “Buy 1, Give 1” initiative through which people could buy a gift certificate to a store in Mitchell County, and MCS would match it with a grocery gift card to be donated to a local family in need. The initiative took off.&nbsp;“We were trying to think of a name for this, and somebody posted a comment about how we were trying to keep Mitchell County strong,” Heather said. That became the name.&nbsp;Mitchell County Strong, or MCS, became the title of this collaboration between the Solomon Valley Community Foundation,&nbsp;the Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce, and Solomon Valley Economic Development.&nbsp;The gift card purchases immediately put much-needed revenue into local businesses and helped families who were struggling. “We sold more than $10,000 of gift cards in the first three days,” Heather said.&nbsp;Other people wanted to help directly. A disaster relief fund was established at the community foundation. “Based on the advice we received from the ministerial alliance, we kept the application process really simple, and it worked,” Heather said.&nbsp;MCS also recognized the need for businesses to use online marketing due to the pandemic. “Lots of our local businesses didn’t even have a website,” Heather said. The coalition organized an online store on which customers could buy gift cards from local businesses. MCS also offered a grocery assistance program plus mini-grants for local nonprofit organizations.&nbsp;A local auctioneer with Hansen Auction Company agreed to conduct an online auction to benefit the project, while waiving the selling fee and donating the buyers’ fees to the disaster recovery fund.&nbsp;MCS programs were county-wide, supporting stores in the county seat of Beloit plus&nbsp;rural&nbsp;communities such as Cawker City, population 469, Glen Elder, population 427, and Tipton, population 210 people. Now, that’s&nbsp;rural.&nbsp;Mitchell County Strong wanted to honor frontline workers, so its organizers invited the public to nominate a deserving person to receive a free lunch weekly. As a play on the Hungry Hungry Hippos name, they called the program Hungry Hungry Heroes.&nbsp;“We thought people would nominate doctors and EMTs, but they also nominated their trash workers and grocery store clerks, which was great,” Heather said. MCS delivered a meal to a different winner each week.&nbsp;A beautiful promotional video about Mitchell County was already being developed and is posted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mitchellcountystrong.com/mitchell-co-welcome-home" target="_blank">on the website</a>.&nbsp;Ultimately, the project generated more than $53,000 in gift card sales, $52,000 from the online auction, and $48,000 in partnership support. “We got more than $150,000 into the hands of our local citizens and businesses,” Heather said. Other than one early retirement, not a single local small business has been lost.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mitchellcountystrong.com/" target="_blank">www.mitchellcountystrong.com</a>.&nbsp;Hungry Hungry Heroes. That’s one example of a creative program to support community citizens. We commend Heather Hartman and her partners in Mitchell County who are making a difference with their creativity and commitment. They are Helping Helping Heroes.Audio and text files of Kansas Profiles are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kansasprofile.com/" target="_blank">http://www.kansasprofile.com</a>. For more information about the Huck Boyd Institute, interested persons can visit&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.huckboydinstitute.org/" target="_blank">http://www.huckboydinstitute.org</a>.Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.

Now That’s Rural:  Heather Hartman, Mitchell County Strong

K-State horticulture expert gives tips on maintaining the popular plant

MANHATTAN – For many, the rich color of poinsettias is a comforting symbol of the holidays. With proper care, the popular plant can last through the end of the year and beyond.&nbsp;

Ward Upham, a horticulture expert with K-State Research and Extension, said poinsettias should be kept in a spot where daytime temperatures are 65 to 75 degrees F, and 60 to 65 at night.&nbsp;

“Temperatures above 75 will shorten the life of blooms, and below 60 degrees may cause root rot,” Upham said.&nbsp;

“Place your poinsettia in a sunny window or the brightest areas of your room, but don’t let it touch cold window panes. Move plants away from drafty windows at night, or draw the drapes to avoid cold damage.”&nbsp;

Upham called poinsettias “finicky” when it comes to soil moisture.&nbsp;

“Avoid over-watering poinsettias because they do not like ‘wet feet,’” he said. “On the other hand, if the plant is allowed to wilt (due to not getting enough water), it will drop some leaves.”&nbsp;

To maintain proper moisture, Upham suggests sticking a finger about ½ inch deep into the soil. “If it’s dry to ½ inch, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension has produced a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/choosing-the-best-poinsettia" target="_blank">video to help in choosing the best poinsettia</a>.&nbsp;

Despite rumors to the contrary, poinsettia leaves are not poisonous to humans or animals. Upham said that members of the Society of American Florists have tried to dispel the rumors in the past by eating poinsettia leaves at press events.&nbsp;

He said the plant could cause an allergic reaction to the milky sap in the leaves. There has never been a recorded case of poisoning due to a poinsettia, he said.&nbsp;

Some members of the genus Euphorbia, to which the poinsettia belongs, have a toxin that can cause vomiting. The poinsettia, however, does not contain that toxin.&nbsp;

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606627269576.jpeg" alt="&nbsp; Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Annie Spratt</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/poinsettia?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@anniespratt?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Annie Spratt</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/poinsettia?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-State horticulture expert gives tips on maintaining the popular plant</h2>MANHATTAN – For many, the rich color of poinsettias is a comforting symbol of the holidays. With proper care, the popular plant can last through the end of the year and beyond.&nbsp;Ward Upham, a horticulture expert with K-State Research and Extension, said poinsettias should be kept in a spot where daytime temperatures are 65 to 75 degrees F, and 60 to 65 at night.&nbsp;“Temperatures above 75 will shorten the life of blooms, and below 60 degrees may cause root rot,” Upham said.&nbsp;“Place your poinsettia in a sunny window or the brightest areas of your room, but don’t let it touch cold window panes. Move plants away from drafty windows at night, or draw the drapes to avoid cold damage.”&nbsp;Upham called poinsettias “finicky” when it comes to soil moisture.&nbsp;“Avoid over-watering poinsettias because they do not like ‘wet feet,’” he said. “On the other hand, if the plant is allowed to wilt (due to not getting enough water), it will drop some leaves.”&nbsp;To maintain proper moisture, Upham suggests sticking a finger about ½ inch deep into the soil. “If it’s dry to ½ inch, the plant needs water,” he said. “When it becomes dry to the touch, water the plant with lukewarm water until some water runs out of the drainage hole, then discard the drainage water.”&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension has produced a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/choosing-the-best-poinsettia" target="_blank">video to help in choosing the best poinsettia</a>.&nbsp;Are poinsettias poisonous?&nbsp;Despite rumors to the contrary, poinsettia leaves are not poisonous to humans or animals. Upham said that members of the Society of American Florists have tried to dispel the rumors in the past by eating poinsettia leaves at press events.&nbsp;He said the plant could cause an allergic reaction to the milky sap in the leaves. There has never been a recorded case of poisoning due to a poinsettia, he said.&nbsp;Some members of the genus Euphorbia, to which the poinsettia belongs, have a toxin that can cause vomiting. The poinsettia, however, does not contain that toxin.&nbsp;Upham and his colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a weekly Horticulture Newsletter with information on these and other horticulture-related topics. The newsletter is&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html" target="_blank">available to view online</a>&nbsp;or can be delivered by email each week.&nbsp;Interested persons can also send questions to Upham at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wupham@ksu.edu" target="_blank">wupham@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.

With care, poinsettias can last through the holidays

Today is Sunday, Nov. 29, the 334th day of 2020. There are 32 days left in the year. 

On Nov. 29, 1929, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd, pilot Bernt Balchen, radio operator Harold June and photographer Ashley McKinney made the first airplane flight over the South Pole. 

In 1864, a Colorado militia killed at least 150 peaceful Cheyenne Indians in the Sand Creek Massacre.

In 1910, British explorer Robert F. Scott's ship Terra Nova set sail from New Zealand, carrying Scott's expedition on its ultimately futile — as well as fatal — race to reach the South Pole first. 

In 1924, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini died in Brussels before he could complete his opera "Turandot." (It was finished by Franco Alfano.)

In 1952, President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower secretly left on a trip to Korea, keeping his campaign promise to assess the ongoing conflict first-hand. 

In 1961, Enos the chimp was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft, which orbited earth twice before returning. 

In 1963, President Johnson named a commission headed by Earl Warren to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy. 

In 1981, film star Natalie Wood drowned in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island, California, at age 43. 

In 1987, a Korean Air 707 jetliner en route from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok was destroyed by a bomb planted by North Korean agents with the loss of all 115 people aboard. 

In 2000, bracing the public for more legal wrangling, Vice President Al Gore said in a series of TV interviews that he was prepared to contest the Florida presidential vote until "the middle of December." 

In 2001, George Harrison, the "quiet Beatle," died in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer; he was 58. 

In 2008, Indian commandos killed the last remaining gunmen holed up at a luxury Mumbai hotel, ending a 60-hour rampage through India's financial capital by suspected Pakistani-based militants that killed 166 people. 

In 2009, a gunman shot and killed four Lakewood, Washington, police officers at a coffee shop (suspect Maurice Clemmons was shot to death by a Seattle police officer two days later). Iran approved plans to build 10 industrial scale uranium enrichment facilities in defiance of U.N. demands it halt enrichment.

Ten years ago: An Afghan border policeman killed six American servicemen during a training mission in a remote area near the Pakistani border. Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, admitted for the first time that a computer worm had affected centrifuges in Iran's uranium enrichment program. Climate negotiators began a two-week conference in Cancun. Former New York Congressman Stephen J. Solarz, 70, died in Washington, D.C.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama, arriving in Paris late at night for a climate conference, briefly visited the Bataclan, the concert hall that was the scene of the worst of France's terror attacks 16 days earlier. Pope Francis visited the conflict-wracked Central African Republic, where he urged the country's Christian and Muslim factions to lay down their weapons and instead arm themselves with peace and forgiveness. Andy Murray gave Britain its first Davis Cup title in 79 years when he beat Belgium's David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first of reverse singles.

One year ago: Usman Khan, who'd been released from prison early after a conviction on terrorism charges, stabbed two people to death and wounded three others next to London Bridge before being shot and killed by police. Fewer shoppers visited stores than on past Black Fridays, but they made up for it with a Black Friday record of $7.4 billion in online transactions. Bill Peters resigned as coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames after it was disclosed he had directed racist slurs at a Nigerian-born player in the minors a decade earlier, and had kicked and punched players behind the bench during his recent time with Carolina. The NFL suspended Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw through at least the end of the 2020 season for betting on NFL games on multiple occasions during the 2019 season. Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma, a construction worker who'd been hurt in the October collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel construction site in New Orleans, was deported to his native Honduras. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone died at the age of 101.

Today's Birthdays: Hall of Fame sportscaster Vin Scully is 93. Blues singer-musician John Mayall is 87. Actor Diane Ladd is 85. Songwriter Mark James is 80. Composer-musician Chuck Mangione is 80. Country singer Jody Miller is 79. Pop singer-musician Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals) is 78. Former Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee is 74. Actor Jeff Fahey is 68. Movie director Joel Coen is 66. Actor-comedian-celebrity judge Howie Mandel is 65. Former Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano is 63. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is 61. Actor Cathy Moriarty is 60. Actor Kim Delaney is 59. Actor Tom Sizemore is 59. Actor Andrew McCarthy is 58. Actor Don Cheadle is 56. Actor-producer Neill Barry is 55. Pop singer Jonathan Knight (New Kids on the Block) is 52. Rock musician Martin Carr (Boo Radleys) is 52. Actor Jennifer Elise Cox is 51. Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera is 51. Actor Larry Joe Campbell is 50. Rock musician Frank Delgado (Deftones) is 50. Actor Paola Turbay is 50. Contemporary Christian singer Crowder is 49. Actor Gena Lee Nolin is 49. Actor Brian Baumgartner is 48. Actor Julian Ovenden is 45. Actor Anna Faris is 44. Gospel singer James Fortune is 43. Actor Lauren German is 42. Rapper The Game is 41. Actor Janina Gavankar is 40. Rock musician Ringo Garza is 39. Actor-comedian John Milhiser is 39. Actor Lucas Black is 38. Actor Diego Boneta is 30. Actor Lovie Simone (TV: "Greenleaf") is 22.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Sunday, Nov. 29, the 334th day of 2020. There are 32 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Nov. 29, 1929, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd, pilot Bernt Balchen, radio operator Harold June and photographer Ashley McKinney made the first airplane flight over the South Pole. On this date: In 1864, a Colorado militia killed at least 150 peaceful Cheyenne Indians in the Sand Creek Massacre.In 1910, British explorer Robert F. Scott's ship Terra Nova set sail from New Zealand, carrying Scott's expedition on its ultimately futile — as well as fatal — race to reach the South Pole first. In 1924, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini died in Brussels before he could complete his opera "Turandot." (It was finished by Franco Alfano.)In 1952, President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower secretly left on a trip to Korea, keeping his campaign promise to assess the ongoing conflict first-hand. In 1961, Enos the chimp was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft, which orbited earth twice before returning. In 1963, President Johnson named a commission headed by Earl Warren to investigate the assassination of President Kennedy. In 1981, film star Natalie Wood drowned in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island, California, at age 43. In 1987, a Korean Air 707 jetliner en route from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok was destroyed by a bomb planted by North Korean agents with the loss of all 115 people aboard. In 2000, bracing the public for more legal wrangling, Vice President Al Gore said in a series of TV interviews that he was prepared to contest the Florida presidential vote until "the middle of December." In 2001, George Harrison, the "quiet Beatle," died in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer; he was 58. In 2008, Indian commandos killed the last remaining gunmen holed up at a luxury Mumbai hotel, ending a 60-hour rampage through India's financial capital by suspected Pakistani-based militants that killed 166 people. In 2009, a gunman shot and killed four Lakewood, Washington, police officers at a coffee shop (suspect Maurice Clemmons was shot to death by a Seattle police officer two days later). Iran approved plans to build 10 industrial scale uranium enrichment facilities in defiance of U.N. demands it halt enrichment.Ten years ago: An Afghan border policeman killed six American servicemen during a training mission in a remote area near the Pakistani border. Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, admitted for the first time that a computer worm had affected centrifuges in Iran's uranium enrichment program. Climate negotiators began a two-week conference in Cancun. Former New York Congressman Stephen J. Solarz, 70, died in Washington, D.C.Five years ago: President Barack Obama, arriving in Paris late at night for a climate conference, briefly visited the Bataclan, the concert hall that was the scene of the worst of France's terror attacks 16 days earlier. Pope Francis visited the conflict-wracked Central African Republic, where he urged the country's Christian and Muslim factions to lay down their weapons and instead arm themselves with peace and forgiveness. Andy Murray gave Britain its first Davis Cup title in 79 years when he beat Belgium's David Goffin 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 in the first of reverse singles.One year ago: Usman Khan, who'd been released from prison early after a conviction on terrorism charges, stabbed two people to death and wounded three others next to London Bridge before being shot and killed by police. Fewer shoppers visited stores than on past Black Fridays, but they made up for it with a Black Friday record of $7.4 billion in online transactions. Bill Peters resigned as coach of the NHL's Calgary Flames after it was disclosed he had directed racist slurs at a Nigerian-born player in the minors a decade earlier, and had kicked and punched players behind the bench during his recent time with Carolina. The NFL suspended Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw through at least the end of the 2020 season for betting on NFL games on multiple occasions during the 2019 season. Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma, a construction worker who'd been hurt in the October collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel construction site in New Orleans, was deported to his native Honduras. Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone died at the age of 101. Today's Birthdays: Hall of Fame sportscaster Vin Scully is 93. Blues singer-musician John Mayall is 87. Actor Diane Ladd is 85. Songwriter Mark James is 80. Composer-musician Chuck Mangione is 80. Country singer Jody Miller is 79. Pop singer-musician Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals) is 78. Former Olympic skier Suzy Chaffee is 74. Actor Jeff Fahey is 68. Movie director Joel Coen is 66. Actor-comedian-celebrity judge Howie Mandel is 65. Former Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano is 63. Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is 61. Actor Cathy Moriarty is 60. Actor Kim Delaney is 59. Actor Tom Sizemore is 59. Actor Andrew McCarthy is 58. Actor Don Cheadle is 56. Actor-producer Neill Barry is 55. Pop singer Jonathan Knight (New Kids on the Block) is 52. Rock musician Martin Carr (Boo Radleys) is 52. Actor Jennifer Elise Cox is 51. Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera is 51. Actor Larry Joe Campbell is 50. Rock musician Frank Delgado (Deftones) is 50. Actor Paola Turbay is 50. Contemporary Christian singer Crowder is 49. Actor Gena Lee Nolin is 49. Actor Brian Baumgartner is 48. Actor Julian Ovenden is 45. Actor Anna Faris is 44. Gospel singer James Fortune is 43. Actor Lauren German is 42. Rapper The Game is 41. Actor Janina Gavankar is 40. Rock musician Ringo Garza is 39. Actor-comedian John Milhiser is 39. Actor Lucas Black is 38. Actor Diego Boneta is 30. Actor Lovie Simone (TV: "Greenleaf") is 22.

Today in History -- Nov. 29

Weather History for Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 by the National Weather Service in Wichita: In 1988, severe thunderstorms spawned five tornadoes in North Carolina just after midnight. One violent tornado, an F4, ran an 83- marathon and averaged 200 yards wide. Sprinting at speeds around 50 mph, this powerful tornado ripped through a densely populated section of Raleigh. There were 4 fatalities (2 in Raleigh), 154 injuries, and around $77 million damage. In 1960, an extremely powerful winter storm smacked Lake Superior. Duluth, Minnesota was hit by a severe blizzard that produced around a foot of snow with gusts measured at 73 mph. The winter storm produced waves 20 to 40 FEET HIGH on Lake Superior. In 1952, Salina set its all-time record low for November when the mercury plunged to 5 below zero.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Weather History for Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020 by the National Weather Service in Wichita: In 1988, severe thunderstorms spawned five tornadoes in North Carolina just after midnight. One violent tornado, an F4, ran an 83- marathon and averaged 200 yards wide. Sprinting at speeds around 50 mph, this powerful tornado ripped through a densely populated section of Raleigh. There were 4 fatalities (2 in Raleigh), 154 injuries, and around $77 million damage. In 1960, an extremely powerful winter storm smacked Lake Superior. Duluth, Minnesota was hit by a severe blizzard that produced around a foot of snow with gusts measured at 73 mph. The winter storm produced waves 20 to 40 FEET HIGH on Lake Superior. In 1952, Salina set its all-time record low for November when the mercury plunged to 5 below zero.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This Day in Weather History: Salina was a tad bit chilly in 1952

EMPORIA -- In spite of a school year that was interrupted and adapted to online instruction, a handful of Kansas teachers were able to persevere to achieve the highest honor of the teaching profession.

The four educators worked to renew their national board certification and were notified recently by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards that they were successful.

Karla Fickes, English/language arts teacher at Clay Center Community Middle School, USD 379 Clay Center, certificate area: early childhood to young adult/exceptional needs specialist; who has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2011. Fickes is one of four NBCTs in USD 379.

Patrick Kelly, directed studies teacher at Seaman High School, USD 345 Seaman, certificate area: early childhood to young adult/exceptional needs specialist; who has been a NBCT since 2001. Kelly is one of seven NBCTs in USD 345.

Nicole Miller, English/language arts teacher at Frontier Middle School, USD 233 Olathe, certificate area: middle childhood/generalist; who has been a NBCT since 2001. Miller is one of 51 NBCTs in USD 233.

DeAnn Ricketts, Math and AVID teacher at Truesdell Middle School, USD 259 Wichita, certificate area: early adolescence/mathematics; who has been a NBCT since 2011. Ricketts is one of 43 NBCTs in USD 259.

"This process of board certification is similar to how a doctor becomes certified in a special area," said Alvin Peters, the director of the program that guides teachers through working toward their national board certificates. "This is voluntary - no state, school district, or program is demanding them to go through this process. That's why - a decade after earning their certification the first time - it's a huge commitment to say, 'Yes, I want to do it again.'"

Teachers can seek certification in one of 25 certificate areas representing 16 different disciplines and four developmental levels and is applicable to most teachers in U.S. public schools.

"National Board certification is a different kind of honor. Teachers must submit extensive documentation of their instruction, including videos of their students at work in the classroom," Peters said, as often the process is misunderstood to mean a teacher passed a test or was nominated for the award.

Because of the global pandemic of coronavirus, NBPTS extended the deadline for teachers to submit their work. Those teachers who submitted their portfolios at the later deadlines will receive word in 2021 as to whether they successfully renewed their national board certification.

Emporia State's Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification maintains a 99.5% renewal rate since 2005 with candidates achieving recertification on their first attempt. More information about Emporia State's national board program can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/EK01aZvwbK530bRKUIS7kAaJRbvPll-B3f2yXobnPOR4pdW6iVBfyd8I0jRrlpa0OEg6fzx_3e6rUPdTPh9jokgyQdzbHSii31HO8mV3Q0g7W4So5ksrVlI011POW9sRpNnroWCU8OSlu3v73x3wnnMpsL18hsiVgQQRJ3oqqUluFUyOJCuZFbGIjMgO2hKS2F-Y1z7atE2fhYPTcNqJvQ/374/L8PE9_8zR4OBChLTzyGs-g/h0/GOIFeEQxp6zTX6SqU-J9O2qXO1x-XDwzFUA-gyUsp7k" target="_blank">www.emporia.edu/gpcntc</a>.

They are among the best teachers in the profession, undergoing a rigorous process taking at least one year to complete.

They are told to expect a 400-hour time commitment, and less than half will achieve certification on their first try.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1606573483579.jpeg" alt="Karla Fickes, Clay Center, was among those who recently renewed National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Photo courtesy ESU" />
 <figcaption>Karla Fickes, Clay Center, was among those who recently renewed National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Photo courtesy ESU</figcaption>
 </figure>EMPORIA -- In spite of a school year that was interrupted and adapted to online instruction, a handful of Kansas teachers were able to persevere to achieve the highest honor of the teaching profession.The four educators worked to renew their national board certification and were notified recently by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards that they were successful.The teachers are:Karla Fickes, English/language arts teacher at Clay Center Community Middle School, USD 379 Clay Center, certificate area: early childhood to young adult/exceptional needs specialist; who has been a National Board Certified Teacher since 2011. Fickes is one of four NBCTs in USD 379.Patrick Kelly, directed studies teacher at Seaman High School, USD 345 Seaman, certificate area: early childhood to young adult/exceptional needs specialist; who has been a NBCT since 2001. Kelly is one of seven NBCTs in USD 345.Nicole Miller, English/language arts teacher at Frontier Middle School, USD 233 Olathe, certificate area: middle childhood/generalist; who has been a NBCT since 2001. Miller is one of 51 NBCTs in USD 233.DeAnn Ricketts, Math and AVID teacher at Truesdell Middle School, USD 259 Wichita, certificate area: early adolescence/mathematics; who has been a NBCT since 2011. Ricketts is one of 43 NBCTs in USD 259."This process of board certification is similar to how a doctor becomes certified in a special area," said Alvin Peters, the director of the program that guides teachers through working toward their national board certificates. "This is voluntary - no state, school district, or program is demanding them to go through this process. That's why - a decade after earning their certification the first time - it's a huge commitment to say, 'Yes, I want to do it again.'"Teachers can seek certification in one of 25 certificate areas representing 16 different disciplines and four developmental levels and is applicable to most teachers in U.S. public schools."National Board certification is a different kind of honor. Teachers must submit extensive documentation of their instruction, including videos of their students at work in the classroom," Peters said, as often the process is misunderstood to mean a teacher passed a test or was nominated for the award.Because of the global pandemic of coronavirus, NBPTS extended the deadline for teachers to submit their work. Those teachers who submitted their portfolios at the later deadlines will receive word in 2021 as to whether they successfully renewed their national board certification.Emporia State's Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification maintains a 99.5% renewal rate since 2005 with candidates achieving recertification on their first attempt. More information about Emporia State's national board program can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/EK01aZvwbK530bRKUIS7kAaJRbvPll-B3f2yXobnPOR4pdW6iVBfyd8I0jRrlpa0OEg6fzx_3e6rUPdTPh9jokgyQdzbHSii31HO8mV3Q0g7W4So5ksrVlI011POW9sRpNnroWCU8OSlu3v73x3wnnMpsL18hsiVgQQRJ3oqqUluFUyOJCuZFbGIjMgO2hKS2F-Y1z7atE2fhYPTcNqJvQ/374/L8PE9_8zR4OBChLTzyGs-g/h0/GOIFeEQxp6zTX6SqU-J9O2qXO1x-XDwzFUA-gyUsp7k" target="_blank">www.emporia.edu/gpcntc</a>.Is your teacher board certified?They are among the best teachers in the profession, undergoing a rigorous process taking at least one year to complete.They are told to expect a 400-hour time commitment, and less than half will achieve certification on their first try.NBCTs represent less than one percent of all educators in Kansas. The voluntary process is the equivalent of national board certification for physicians and other health professions.There are 467 teachers in Kansas who are NBCTs and nearly 126,000 NBCTs across the country.To see a list of NBCTs, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://email.readme.readmedia.com/ss/c/EK01aZvwbK530bRKUIS7kO3cEYCsckcy_vzxDopJRAwD4zSuGvQyiW1H2gI6iPXK/374/L8PE9_8zR4OBChLTzyGs-g/h1/Is-sVBcGulJTco9TUOO5AiOeOJBTW8IEtNrrUYIfu7E" target="_blank">www.nbpts.org/nbct-directory/</a>.