A meeting concerning the future of the expo center has been scheduled.

According to information from the City of Salina, the Salina City Commissioners and Saline County Commissioners are scheduled to meet for a joint session at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the expo center. The meeting, which is open to the public is to be in the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Visit Salina Annex room, 120 West Ash Street.

Saline County is asking for a 40-year lease from the city for the expo center property in Kenwood Park in exchange for the county investing $5.7 million in upgrades and renovations over the first five years of the lease. The city has not yet been willing to agree to a 40-year lease.

A meeting concerning the future of the expo center has been scheduled.According to information from the City of Salina, the Salina City Commissioners and Saline County Commissioners are scheduled to meet for a joint session at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the expo center. The meeting, which is open to the public is to be in the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Visit Salina Annex room, 120 West Ash Street.Saline County is asking for a 40-year lease from the city for the expo center property in Kenwood Park in exchange for the county investing $5.7 million in upgrades and renovations over the first five years of the lease. The city has not yet been willing to agree to a 40-year lease.

City, county commissioners to meet to discuss expo center

SM Hanson Music will have a special guest in the store Saturday, and the public is invited to meet her.

According to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Mrs. Santa Claus will be in the store in her rocking chair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and she's made a batch of her secret family recipe sugar cookies to share with those who visit!

SM Hanson Music is located at 335 South Clark Street.

"This is a free event for the kids," Hanson said. "The kids can tell her their Christmas wishes and get a picture taken."

Additionally, Mrs. Claus' piano teacher will be on hand playing Christmas songs. The kids can sit at the piano and play along, Hanson said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576258466270.jpeg" alt="Mrs. Claus is scheduled to be here Saturday. Salina Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Mrs. Claus is scheduled to be here Saturday. Salina Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SM Hanson Music will have a special guest in the store Saturday, and the public is invited to meet her.According to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Mrs. Santa Claus will be in the store in her rocking chair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and she's made a batch of her secret family recipe sugar cookies to share with those who visit!SM Hanson Music is located at 335 South Clark Street."This is a free event for the kids," Hanson said. "The kids can tell her their Christmas wishes and get a picture taken."Additionally, Mrs. Claus' piano teacher will be on hand playing Christmas songs. The kids can sit at the piano and play along, Hanson said.

SM Hanson Music to host Mrs. Claus Saturday

Check out this great deal for the paintball enthusiast on your gift list from Eagle Radio's Christmas Cyber Sale:

This Tippman Player Pack includes the following.

Everything you need to play paintball! The player pack retails at $150.

You could be the winning bidder and still pay a lot less than retail!

Eagle Radio's Christmas Cyber Sale has items to bid on and items that you can buy immediately. All items are from local and area businesses, so when you bid or buy, you’re helping the local and area economy.&nbsp;

So how do you bid or buy? Just&nbsp;<a href="https://cyberxmas19.givesmart.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>&nbsp;to get started.&nbsp;

The Christmas Cyber Sale ends at midnight on Dec. 30, so get to biding and buying today!

&nbsp;&nbsp;Christmas image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com/" target="_blank">(c) Can Stock Photo / Irisangel</a>

Check out this great deal for the paintball enthusiast on your gift list from Eagle Radio's Christmas Cyber Sale:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576257221122.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This Tippman Player Pack includes the following.Tippman 98 Custum Paintball MarkerMaskTankHopperEverything you need to play paintball! The player pack retails at $150.You could be the winning bidder and still pay a lot less than retail!Eagle Radio's Christmas Cyber Sale has items to bid on and items that you can buy immediately. All items are from local and area businesses, so when you bid or buy, you’re helping the local and area economy.&nbsp;So how do you bid or buy? Just&nbsp;<a href="https://cyberxmas19.givesmart.com/" target="_blank">click here</a>&nbsp;to get started.&nbsp;The Christmas Cyber Sale ends at midnight on Dec. 30, so get to biding and buying today!&nbsp;&nbsp;Christmas image courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com/" target="_blank">(c) Can Stock Photo / Irisangel</a>

Christmas Cyber Sale: Elite Sports Tippman Player Pack

It's almost time for the lighting of the mayor's Christmas tree!

The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Robert Caldwell Plaza, located between the Salina Public Library and the City-County Building.

The brief ceremony will include a visit from Santa Claus, with free hot chocolate and candy canes, followed by the official lighting countdown with Salina Mayor Trent Davis.  

It's almost time for the lighting of the mayor's Christmas tree!The event is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Saturday in Robert Caldwell Plaza, located between the Salina Public Library and the City-County Building.The brief ceremony will include a visit from Santa Claus, with free hot chocolate and candy canes, followed by the official lighting countdown with Salina Mayor Trent Davis.

Mayor's Christmas tree lighting Saturday

MANHATTAN – The Kansas State University Crops Team recently captured the title of national champions by winning both the Kansas City American Royal Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 19 and the Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 23. 

K-State teams have now won the collegiate crops contest championship in 17 of the past 21 years.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville was second at both events. Iowa State University was third in Kansas City and Purdue University took third in Chicago.&nbsp;

Official members of the K-State team were junior Blake Kirchhoff, Hardy, Neb., and seniors Noah Winans, Tekonsha, Mich., and Nate Dick, Inman. Alternate contestants were junior Madison Tunnell, Olathe,&nbsp; and sophomores Alex Kaufmann, Concordia; Evan Bott, Palmer; and Trevor Mullen, Salina. All are agronomy majors at K-State.

In both contests, the K-State team took first place in all three phases of the contest: plant and seed identification, seed analysis and grain grading. In addition, team members swept the one-two-three individual overall placings at both events. Such a sweep of all three contest components and the top three individual placings at both contests is very rare, and has only been accomplished three times before in the 86-year history of the events, all by K-State.&nbsp;

At Chicago, Blake Kirchhoff was first place individual overall, and he won all three contest components. Nate Dick was second overall, placing second in identification and grain grading, and third in seed analysis. Noah Winans came in third, placing second in seed analysis and fifth in identification and grain grading.&nbsp;

At Kansas City, Blake Kirchhoff was also the top individual, placing first in grain grading with a perfect score, second in identification, and fifth in seed analysis. Noah Winans was second high individual. He also made a perfect score in grain grading to tie for first, and he placed third in both seed analysis and identification. Nate Dick was third overall, placing first in identification, second in grain grading, and sixth in seed analysis.

The team was coached by Kevin Donnelly, K-State professor of agronomy. Luke Ryan, junior in agronomy from Solomon, Kansas, was the assistant coach.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the contests, participants are required to identify 200 different plant or seed samples of crops and weeds; grade eight different samples of grain according to Federal Grain Inspection Service standards; and analyze 10 seed samples to determine what contaminants they contain.

The American Royal coordinated the Kansas City contest. Corteva Agriscience was the primary awards sponsor. Additional sponsors were GFG Ag Services, American Society of Agronomy, Association of Official Seed Analysts, and South Dakota Crop Improvement Association.

The primary sponsor of the Chicago contest was the CME Group. Additional donors in Chicago included the Crop Science Society of America, Growmark Cooperative, and the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists.

Locally, sponsors for the K-State Crops Team include the Kansas Crop Improvement Association, K-State Department of Agronomy, K-State College of Agriculture, and the K-State Student Government Association.

For its performance, K-State received a team scholarship award from contest sponsors at Kansas City, and CME Group provided individual scholarships to the top five students at Chicago.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576185410341.jpeg" alt="Kansas State University 2019 Collegiate Crops Team from left: Luke Ryan (assistant coach, Alex Kaufmann, Evan Bott, Madison Tunnell, Blake Kirchhoff, Nate Dick, Noah Winans, Dr. Kevin Donnelly (coach, and Trevor Mullen. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Kansas State University 2019 Collegiate Crops Team from left: Luke Ryan (assistant coach, Alex Kaufmann, Evan Bott, Madison Tunnell, Blake Kirchhoff, Nate Dick, Noah Winans, Dr. Kevin Donnelly (coach, and Trevor Mullen. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – The Kansas State University Crops Team recently captured the title of national champions by winning both the Kansas City American Royal Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 19 and the Chicago Collegiate Crops Contest on Nov. 23. K-State teams have now won the collegiate crops contest championship in 17 of the past 21 years.The University of Wisconsin-Platteville was second at both events. Iowa State University was third in Kansas City and Purdue University took third in Chicago.&nbsp;Official members of the K-State team were junior Blake Kirchhoff, Hardy, Neb., and seniors Noah Winans, Tekonsha, Mich., and Nate Dick, Inman. Alternate contestants were junior Madison Tunnell, Olathe,&nbsp; and sophomores Alex Kaufmann, Concordia; Evan Bott, Palmer; and Trevor Mullen, Salina. All are agronomy majors at K-State.In both contests, the K-State team took first place in all three phases of the contest: plant and seed identification, seed analysis and grain grading. In addition, team members swept the one-two-three individual overall placings at both events. Such a sweep of all three contest components and the top three individual placings at both contests is very rare, and has only been accomplished three times before in the 86-year history of the events, all by K-State.&nbsp;At Chicago, Blake Kirchhoff was first place individual overall, and he won all three contest components. Nate Dick was second overall, placing second in identification and grain grading, and third in seed analysis. Noah Winans came in third, placing second in seed analysis and fifth in identification and grain grading.&nbsp;At Kansas City, Blake Kirchhoff was also the top individual, placing first in grain grading with a perfect score, second in identification, and fifth in seed analysis. Noah Winans was second high individual. He also made a perfect score in grain grading to tie for first, and he placed third in both seed analysis and identification. Nate Dick was third overall, placing first in identification, second in grain grading, and sixth in seed analysis.The team was coached by Kevin Donnelly, K-State professor of agronomy. Luke Ryan, junior in agronomy from Solomon, Kansas, was the assistant coach.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In the contests, participants are required to identify 200 different plant or seed samples of crops and weeds; grade eight different samples of grain according to Federal Grain Inspection Service standards; and analyze 10 seed samples to determine what contaminants they contain.The American Royal coordinated the Kansas City contest. Corteva Agriscience was the primary awards sponsor. Additional sponsors were GFG Ag Services, American Society of Agronomy, Association of Official Seed Analysts, and South Dakota Crop Improvement Association.The primary sponsor of the Chicago contest was the CME Group. Additional donors in Chicago included the Crop Science Society of America, Growmark Cooperative, and the Society of Commercial Seed Technologists.Locally, sponsors for the K-State Crops Team include the Kansas Crop Improvement Association, K-State Department of Agronomy, K-State College of Agriculture, and the K-State Student Government Association.For its performance, K-State received a team scholarship award from contest sponsors at Kansas City, and CME Group provided individual scholarships to the top five students at Chicago.

K-State crops team sweeps top individual awards to win 2019 national championship

MANHATTAN – Cold, winter days can often lead to thoughts of curling up under a blanket, kicking back on the couch, and putting on your favorite holiday shows.

But K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences specialist Sharolyn Jackson says that enjoying the season to the fullest should also include keeping yourself active and healthy.

“As we look at options for staying active in the winter months, the one thing that is a common theme is that it’s a conscious choice that you make,” Jackson said. “It’s not just going to happen. We are creatures that want to hibernate, so it’s a conscious choice to stay active in the winter months.

“It doesn’t mean that you have to go to a gym and have a really heavy workout. It’s just building activity into your entire day. We’ve done a really good job of engineering regular physical activity out of our day.”

The physical activity guidelines for adults suggest 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity, or 30 minutes five days each week. Weather conditions may prevent some from fully meeting that goal, but every little bit helps.

“A 10- or 15-minute walk is good, too, if that’s all you can get,” Jackson said. “Make the time to go for a good, brisk walk outdoors. You’re going to walk a little more quickly, perhaps, when you’re outside and it’s cold.”

When it’s snowing, kids love to be out in the snow. “As adults, we need to take that cue and go join them for a little bit,” said Jackson, who also suggests using outdoor chores such as raking leaves or removing snow as good activities that keep you moving and healthy.

“It’s very healthy to be outside, but just be prepared for it,” she said. “Dress in layers, paying attention to your hands, feet, and face. The outer layer needs to protect you from the wind and moisture. If it’s really cold and you’re really uncomfortable, it’s probably not a very good idea to be out there, but we get a lot of days in Kansas where it’s a little chilly and not too bad.”

Jackson said there are also many opportunities to be active indoors.

“The three things you should focus on are strength, flexibility, and balance,” she said. Strengthening and stretching exercises can be pretty simple, either with specialized equipment or using body weight. You can also do arm curls with cans of vegetables while watching TV, or buy resistance bands and follow the diagrams that come with the packaging.

Small jumps, or hops, around the home – jump rope, anyone? – help to build bone strength. Simple hops may feel silly for adults to do, but you can be creative to do what works for you.

“For balance, simple things can help,” Jackson said. “When brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, stand on one foot. That builds strength and balance.”

She also suggested a wide-leg squat, standing up and sitting down, while watching TV or talking with family.

“You’re never too young and never too old to do these exercises,” Jackson said. “You can start to add any type of activity, strengthening or stretching at any point in your lifetime, at a level that is appropriate for you.”

Jackson recommends a K-State Research and Extension program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/staystrong" target="_blank">Stay Strong, Stay Healthy</a>, as one way to stay active with a support group. The eight-week program helps older adults build appropriate muscle strength, and is offered in many counties in Kansas.

<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">Contact your local extension agent</a>&nbsp;to ask if the program is offered where you live.

Jackson also is the statewide director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walkkansas.org/" target="_blank">Walk Kansas</a>, an eight-week program that encourages teams of Kansans to get together and walk the equivalent distance of the state of Kansas. The popular program runs from March 15 to May 9 in the coming year.

“Social support is huge,” Jackson said. “We are seeing that in both of these programs. The social connection and the support to be more active is a huge motivating factor.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576182028531.jpeg" alt="Make time for a brisk walk outdoors.&nbsp; Photo courtesy&nbsp;© <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">Can Stock Photo / Enjoylife</a>" />
 <figcaption>Make time for a brisk walk outdoors.&nbsp; Photo courtesy&nbsp;© <a href="https://www.canstockphoto.com">Can Stock Photo / Enjoylife</a></figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – Cold, winter days can often lead to thoughts of curling up under a blanket, kicking back on the couch, and putting on your favorite holiday shows.Indeed, it can be a wonderful life.But K-State Research and Extension family and consumer sciences specialist Sharolyn Jackson says that enjoying the season to the fullest should also include keeping yourself active and healthy.“As we look at options for staying active in the winter months, the one thing that is a common theme is that it’s a conscious choice that you make,” Jackson said. “It’s not just going to happen. We are creatures that want to hibernate, so it’s a conscious choice to stay active in the winter months.“It doesn’t mean that you have to go to a gym and have a really heavy workout. It’s just building activity into your entire day. We’ve done a really good job of engineering regular physical activity out of our day.”The physical activity guidelines for adults suggest 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity, or 30 minutes five days each week. Weather conditions may prevent some from fully meeting that goal, but every little bit helps.“A 10- or 15-minute walk is good, too, if that’s all you can get,” Jackson said. “Make the time to go for a good, brisk walk outdoors. You’re going to walk a little more quickly, perhaps, when you’re outside and it’s cold.”When it’s snowing, kids love to be out in the snow. “As adults, we need to take that cue and go join them for a little bit,” said Jackson, who also suggests using outdoor chores such as raking leaves or removing snow as good activities that keep you moving and healthy.“It’s very healthy to be outside, but just be prepared for it,” she said. “Dress in layers, paying attention to your hands, feet, and face. The outer layer needs to protect you from the wind and moisture. If it’s really cold and you’re really uncomfortable, it’s probably not a very good idea to be out there, but we get a lot of days in Kansas where it’s a little chilly and not too bad.”Jackson said there are also many opportunities to be active indoors.“The three things you should focus on are strength, flexibility, and balance,” she said. Strengthening and stretching exercises can be pretty simple, either with specialized equipment or using body weight. You can also do arm curls with cans of vegetables while watching TV, or buy resistance bands and follow the diagrams that come with the packaging.Small jumps, or hops, around the home – jump rope, anyone? – help to build bone strength. Simple hops may feel silly for adults to do, but you can be creative to do what works for you.“For balance, simple things can help,” Jackson said. “When brushing your teeth or washing the dishes, stand on one foot. That builds strength and balance.”She also suggested a wide-leg squat, standing up and sitting down, while watching TV or talking with family.“You’re never too young and never too old to do these exercises,” Jackson said. “You can start to add any type of activity, strengthening or stretching at any point in your lifetime, at a level that is appropriate for you.”Jackson recommends a K-State Research and Extension program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/staystrong" target="_blank">Stay Strong, Stay Healthy</a>, as one way to stay active with a support group. The eight-week program helps older adults build appropriate muscle strength, and is offered in many counties in Kansas.<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/stateandareamaps.html" target="_blank">Contact your local extension agent</a>&nbsp;to ask if the program is offered where you live.Jackson also is the statewide director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.walkkansas.org/" target="_blank">Walk Kansas</a>, an eight-week program that encourages teams of Kansans to get together and walk the equivalent distance of the state of Kansas. The popular program runs from March 15 to May 9 in the coming year.“Social support is huge,” Jackson said. “We are seeing that in both of these programs. The social connection and the support to be more active is a huge motivating factor.”

Staying active contributes to healthy holidays

Today is Friday, Dec. 13, the 347th day of 2019. There are 18 days left in the year.

On Dec. 13, 1981, authorities in Poland imposed martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. (Martial law formally ended in 1983.)

In 1862, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched futile attacks against entrenched Confederate soldiers during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg; the soundly defeated Northern troops withdrew two days later.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.

In 1937, the Chinese city of Nanjing fell to Japanese forces during the Sino-Japanese War; what followed was a massacre of war prisoners, soldiers and citizens. (China maintains that up to 300,000 people were killed; Japanese nationalists say the death toll was far lower, and some maintain the massacre never happened.)

In 1944, during World War II, the light cruiser USS Nashville was badly damaged in a Japanese kamikaze attack off Negros Island in the Philippines that claimed 133 lives.

In 1977, an Air Indiana Flight 216, a DC-3 carrying the University of Evansville basketball team on a flight to Nashville, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 29 people on board.

In 1989, the film "Driving Miss Daisy," starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, was put into limited release by Warner Bros.

In 1993, the U-S Supreme Court ruled, five-to-four, that people were entitled to a hearing before real property linked to illegal drug sales could be seized.

In 1997, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Los Angeles for the $1 billion Getty Center, one of the largest arts centers in the United States.

In 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.

In 2001, The Pentagon publicly released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the September 11 attacks exceeded his "most optimistic" expectations.

In 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Boston archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal.

In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.

Ten years ago: The Senate passed, 57-35, a $1.1 trillion spending bill with increased budgets for vast areas of the federal government, including health, education, law enforcement and veterans' programs. An attacker hurled a statuette at Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, striking him in the face and leaving the stunned 73-year-old leader with a broken nose and two broken teeth. (The attacker, Massimo Tartaglia, was later found unfit to stand trial.) Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Samuelson died in Belmont, Massachusetts, at age 94.

Five years ago: Thousands of protesters marched in New York, Washington and other U.S. cities to call attention to the killing of unarmed black men by white police officers who faced no criminal charges. Congress cleared a $1.1 trillion spending bill for President Barack Obama's signature. Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Oregon player to earn the award. Bill Bonds, an iconic Detroit anchorman who'd also worked for ABC stations in New York and Los Angeles, died at age 82.

One year ago: Authorities confirmed that a 7-year-old girl who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with her father the previous week died after being taken into the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol; the girl had been flown to an El Paso hospital after she began having seizures. Bomb threats were emailed to hundreds of schools, businesses and government buildings across the country in what authorities said appeared to be a crude extortion attempt. The suspect in the shooting attack on a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg two days earlier was shot and killed by police. A Russian gun-rights activist, Maria Butina, admitted in a plea deal that she was a secret agent for the Kremlin who tried to infiltrate conservative U.S. political groups as Donald Trump rose to power. (Butina was deported the following October after serving a prison sentence.) Janet Jackson, Stevie Nix and Def Leppard were among those earning induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Today's Birthdays: Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz is 99. Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 94. Actor Christopher Plummer is 90. Country singer Buck White is 89. Music/film producer Lou Adler is 86. Singer John Davidson is 78. Actress Kathy Garver (TV: Cissy on "Family Affair") is 74. Singer Ted Nugent is 71. Rock musician Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is 71. Country musician Ron Getman is 71. Actor Robert Lindsay is 70. Country singer-musician Randy Owen is 70. Actress Wendie Malick is 69. Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is 69. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is 66. Country singer John Anderson is 65. Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert is 65. Singer-actor Morris Day is 63. Actor Steve Buscemi is 62. Actor Johnny Whitaker (TV: Jody on "Family Affair") is 60. Rock musician John Munson (Semisonic; Twilight Hours) is 57. Actress-reality TV star NeNe Leakes is 53. Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 52. Actress Lusia Strus is 52. Actor Bart Johnson is 49. Actor Jeffrey Pierce is 48. TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos is 45. Rock singer-musician Thomas Delonge is 44. Actor James Kyson Lee is 44. Actress Kimee Balmilero (TV: "Hawaii Five-0") is 40. Actress Chelsea Hertford is 38. Rock singer Amy Lee (Evanescence) is 38. Actor Michael Socha is 32. Neo-soul musician Wesley Watkins (Nathaniel Rateliff &amp; the Night Sweats) is 32. Actor Marcel Spears (TV: "The Mayor") is 31. Singer Taylor Swift is 30. Actress Maisy Stella is 16.

Thought for Today: "An orator without judgment is a horse without a bridle." — Theophrastus, Greek philosopher (c.371 BC - c.287 BC).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Friday, Dec. 13, the 347th day of 2019. There are 18 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 13, 1981, authorities in Poland imposed martial law in a crackdown on the Solidarity labor movement. (Martial law formally ended in 1983.)On this date:In 1862, Union forces led by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside launched futile attacks against entrenched Confederate soldiers during the Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg; the soundly defeated Northern troops withdrew two days later.In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson arrived in France, becoming the first chief executive to visit Europe while in office.In 1937, the Chinese city of Nanjing fell to Japanese forces during the Sino-Japanese War; what followed was a massacre of war prisoners, soldiers and citizens. (China maintains that up to 300,000 people were killed; Japanese nationalists say the death toll was far lower, and some maintain the massacre never happened.)In 1944, during World War II, the light cruiser USS Nashville was badly damaged in a Japanese kamikaze attack off Negros Island in the Philippines that claimed 133 lives.In 1977, an Air Indiana Flight 216, a DC-3 carrying the University of Evansville basketball team on a flight to Nashville, crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 29 people on board.In 1989, the film "Driving Miss Daisy," starring Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy, was put into limited release by Warner Bros.In 1993, the U-S Supreme Court ruled, five-to-four, that people were entitled to a hearing before real property linked to illegal drug sales could be seized.In 1997, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in Los Angeles for the $1 billion Getty Center, one of the largest arts centers in the United States.In 2000, Republican George W. Bush claimed the presidency a day after the U.S. Supreme Court shut down further recounts of disputed ballots in Florida; Democrat Al Gore conceded, delivering a call for national unity.In 2001, The Pentagon publicly released a captured videotape of Osama bin Laden in which the al-Qaida leader said the deaths and destruction achieved by the September 11 attacks exceeded his "most optimistic" expectations.In 2002, Cardinal Bernard Law resigned as Boston archbishop because of the priest sex abuse scandal.In 2003, Saddam Hussein was captured by U.S. forces while hiding in a hole under a farmhouse in Adwar, Iraq, near his hometown of Tikrit.Ten years ago: The Senate passed, 57-35, a $1.1 trillion spending bill with increased budgets for vast areas of the federal government, including health, education, law enforcement and veterans' programs. An attacker hurled a statuette at Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi, striking him in the face and leaving the stunned 73-year-old leader with a broken nose and two broken teeth. (The attacker, Massimo Tartaglia, was later found unfit to stand trial.) Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Samuelson died in Belmont, Massachusetts, at age 94.Five years ago: Thousands of protesters marched in New York, Washington and other U.S. cities to call attention to the killing of unarmed black men by white police officers who faced no criminal charges. Congress cleared a $1.1 trillion spending bill for President Barack Obama's signature. Marcus Mariota won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first Oregon player to earn the award. Bill Bonds, an iconic Detroit anchorman who'd also worked for ABC stations in New York and Los Angeles, died at age 82.One year ago: Authorities confirmed that a 7-year-old girl who had crossed the U.S.-Mexico border with her father the previous week died after being taken into the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol; the girl had been flown to an El Paso hospital after she began having seizures. Bomb threats were emailed to hundreds of schools, businesses and government buildings across the country in what authorities said appeared to be a crude extortion attempt. The suspect in the shooting attack on a Christmas market in the French city of Strasbourg two days earlier was shot and killed by police. A Russian gun-rights activist, Maria Butina, admitted in a plea deal that she was a secret agent for the Kremlin who tried to infiltrate conservative U.S. political groups as Donald Trump rose to power. (Butina was deported the following October after serving a prison sentence.) Janet Jackson, Stevie Nix and Def Leppard were among those earning induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Today's Birthdays: Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz is 99. Actor-comedian Dick Van Dyke is 94. Actor Christopher Plummer is 90. Country singer Buck White is 89. Music/film producer Lou Adler is 86. Singer John Davidson is 78. Actress Kathy Garver (TV: Cissy on "Family Affair") is 74. Singer Ted Nugent is 71. Rock musician Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is 71. Country musician Ron Getman is 71. Actor Robert Lindsay is 70. Country singer-musician Randy Owen is 70. Actress Wendie Malick is 69. Former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is 69. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is 66. Country singer John Anderson is 65. Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert is 65. Singer-actor Morris Day is 63. Actor Steve Buscemi is 62. Actor Johnny Whitaker (TV: Jody on "Family Affair") is 60. Rock musician John Munson (Semisonic; Twilight Hours) is 57. Actress-reality TV star NeNe Leakes is 53. Actor-comedian Jamie Foxx is 52. Actress Lusia Strus is 52. Actor Bart Johnson is 49. Actor Jeffrey Pierce is 48. TV personality Debbie Matenopoulos is 45. Rock singer-musician Thomas Delonge is 44. Actor James Kyson Lee is 44. Actress Kimee Balmilero (TV: "Hawaii Five-0") is 40. Actress Chelsea Hertford is 38. Rock singer Amy Lee (Evanescence) is 38. Actor Michael Socha is 32. Neo-soul musician Wesley Watkins (Nathaniel Rateliff &amp; the Night Sweats) is 32. Actor Marcel Spears (TV: "The Mayor") is 31. Singer Taylor Swift is 30. Actress Maisy Stella is 16.Thought for Today: "An orator without judgment is a horse without a bridle." — Theophrastus, Greek philosopher (c.371 BC - c.287 BC).Copyright 2019, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- Dec. 13

Saline County has announced that it will close part of Armstrong Road for drainage structure work beginning Friday.

Armstrong Road between Halstead Road and Fairchilds Road will be closed beginning Friday for replacement of a drainage structure, according to information from the Saline County Road and Bridge Department.

Motorists are advised to allow a few extra minutes of travel time to reach their destinations. Local and emergency traffic will be provided access to private property within the sections of closed road at all times but only from the half mile side upon which the property lies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576203054992.jpeg" alt="Map courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Map courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Saline County has announced that it will close part of Armstrong Road for drainage structure work beginning Friday.Armstrong Road between Halstead Road and Fairchilds Road will be closed beginning Friday for replacement of a drainage structure, according to information from the Saline County Road and Bridge Department.Motorists are advised to allow a few extra minutes of travel time to reach their destinations. Local and emergency traffic will be provided access to private property within the sections of closed road at all times but only from the half mile side upon which the property lies.

County closing part of Armstrong Road beginning Friday

LINCOLN COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Thursday in Lincoln County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Ranger driven by&nbsp; Ross, Fred Monroe Ross, 62, Junction, IL., was eastbound on Interstate 70 at 290th Road. The vehicle&nbsp; sideswiped an eastbound 2018 Ford F150 driven by Ivan Alexander Tidwell, 18, Kansas City, Kansas.

After the initial impact, the Ranger overturned at least three times, coming to rest on its side in the south ditch. 

EMS transported Ross to the hospital in Salina. Tidwell was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

LINCOLN COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Thursday in Lincoln County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Ranger driven by&nbsp; Ross, Fred Monroe Ross, 62, Junction, IL., was eastbound on Interstate 70 at 290th Road. The vehicle&nbsp; sideswiped an eastbound 2018 Ford F150 driven by Ivan Alexander Tidwell, 18, Kansas City, Kansas.After the initial impact, the Ranger overturned at least three times, coming to rest on its side in the south ditch. EMS transported Ross to the hospital in Salina. Tidwell was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized in Salina after pickup rolls

TOPEKA – Three Kansas Lottery players are feeling lucky this holiday season after they each won a $2,500 cash prize!&nbsp; 

The winners were drawn in the second of three&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/marketingpromotionslist/wheel-of-fortune/" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a>&nbsp;second-chance drawings. The three winners are:

To become eligible to win in the second Wheel of Fortune second-chance drawing, players submitted their non-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/games/instants/?gameid=108" target="_blank">$5 Wheel of Fortune</a>&nbsp;instant scratch tickets into the Kansas Lottery’s PlayOn Players Loyalty program from Aug. 12 through Dec. 8, 2019.&nbsp; There were 83,321 entries in the drawing.

Winners in the third and final Wheel of Fortune second-chance drawing will be announced Feb. 13, 2020.&nbsp; The two lucky Grand Prize winners will each win a trip to Hollywood, California to watch a taping of Wheel of Fortune, with a chance to also win $1 million!&nbsp; Each Grand Prize package is worth approximately $5,634 and includes the following:&nbsp;

Round trip airfare for two from any major commercial continental U.S. airport to Los Angeles. 

Three night’s deluxe accommodations at a Los Angeles hotel. 

Ground transportation to and from the Los Angeles airport and hotel. 

Ground transportation to and from the hotel and Sony Studios, and a tour of Sony Studios for two. 

Two studio audience tickets to the taping of Wheel of Fortune. 

Two tickets to the grand prize event where the grand prize winners will spin the Wheel of Fortune wheel for a chance to win a cash prize from $1,000 up to $1 million, less taxes. 

Mandatory state and federal income withholding taxes are paid for each grand prize package

Players may enter the Wheel of Fortune promotion as often as they wish, but may only win once per drawing. Any entry not selected as a winner in the previous two drawings are eligible to win in the Grand Prize drawing.

TOPEKA – Three Kansas Lottery players are feeling lucky this holiday season after they each won a $2,500 cash prize!&nbsp; The winners were drawn in the second of three&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/marketingpromotionslist/wheel-of-fortune/" target="_blank">Wheel of Fortune</a>&nbsp;second-chance drawings. The three winners are:Luz Maria Robinson of OxfordRyan Anderson of LindsborgHannah Jennings of FredoniaTo become eligible to win in the second Wheel of Fortune second-chance drawing, players submitted their non-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslottery.com/games/instants/?gameid=108" target="_blank">$5 Wheel of Fortune</a>&nbsp;instant scratch tickets into the Kansas Lottery’s PlayOn Players Loyalty program from Aug. 12 through Dec. 8, 2019.&nbsp; There were 83,321 entries in the drawing.Winners in the third and final Wheel of Fortune second-chance drawing will be announced Feb. 13, 2020.&nbsp; The two lucky Grand Prize winners will each win a trip to Hollywood, California to watch a taping of Wheel of Fortune, with a chance to also win $1 million!&nbsp; Each Grand Prize package is worth approximately $5,634 and includes the following:&nbsp;Round trip airfare for two from any major commercial continental U.S. airport to Los Angeles. Three night’s deluxe accommodations at a Los Angeles hotel. Ground transportation to and from the Los Angeles airport and hotel. Ground transportation to and from the hotel and Sony Studios, and a tour of Sony Studios for two. $500 in spending money. A bus tour of Hollywood for two. Two studio audience tickets to the taping of Wheel of Fortune. Two tickets to the grand prize event where the grand prize winners will spin the Wheel of Fortune wheel for a chance to win a cash prize from $1,000 up to $1 million, less taxes. Mandatory state and federal income withholding taxes are paid for each grand prize packagePlayers may enter the Wheel of Fortune promotion as often as they wish, but may only win once per drawing. Any entry not selected as a winner in the previous two drawings are eligible to win in the Grand Prize drawing.

Lindsborg's Anderson among lottery's Wheel of Fortune winners

HAYSVILLE – After one year of growing industrial hemp in test plots, Kansas State University researchers say they’ve moved closer to providing guidance to producers interested in growing the alternative crop in Kansas.

In April 2018, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a bill enacting the Alternative Crop Research Act, leading to the legal production of industrial hemp in the state. Kansas is one of 42 states approved to grow the crop; the Kansas Department of Agriculture reported that there were 207 Kansas growers in 2019.

None of those growers, however, had information available to show best practices for growing industrial hemp in Kansas soils.

“It’s a brand new crop that nobody in Kansas should have legal experience growing,” said Jason Griffin, director of the John C. Pair Horticultural Center, one of three sites where K-State’s research trials have taken place this year (research was also conducted at K-State facilities in Colby and Olathe). “Since it was new, we needed baseline information on how to grow the crop successfully.”

Griffin noted that “99% of the people growing industrial hemp in Kansas this year were growing for cannabidiol,” better known as CBD. Cannabinoids have high interest among consumers because of their purported medical and therapeutic benefits in humans and companion animals.

CBD and other varieties are legal to grow if they produce less than .3% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. If the plant’s THC level is greater than .3%, it is considered marijuana and not legal to grow or possess in Kansas.

“We knew that Kansas farmers wanted to get into this industry,” Griffin said, “and our job is to conduct research to help farmers be successful with the crop.”

Griffin and the research team at the John C. Pair center planted seven CBD varieties, including five in high tunnels, which are plastic-covered structures that provide some protection from the environment compared to open field conditions.

“It’s well-known that high tunnels in the specialty crops arena have certain advantages over crops grown outside,” Griffin said. “For our purposes, it reduced solar radiance, reduced wind and reduced pest presence. But, specifically for hemp, we had our high tunnel completely enclosed in insect screens, which is a really fine netting. We wanted to see if the insect screen would reduce the amount of pollination inside the tunnel. And it appeared it did.”

Griffin said that in the hemp industry, pollination “is a big deal. CBD is produced in the female flower buds, and if those female flower buds get pollinated, your concentration of CBD just tanks into the basement. You get almost none. So you have to keep pollen away from those female flower buds.”

That caused problems for the hemp varieties that K-State grew outside, Griffin said, noting that pollen can travel as far as three miles. “I think it would be very difficult to have a large-scale, outdoor CBD production system successfully without somehow protecting those plants from pollen.”

Because they were protected from insects and other pollinators, “the plants inside the high tunnel were just superior,” Griffin said. “In that protected environment, they were larger and had more flower buds. Because they had more buds, they had a higher CBD content.”

K-State’s work also looked at various production systems, including growing the plants with organic and conventional fertilizer. Researchers also looked at the potential of growing industrial hemp for fiber and grain.

The university’s work will continue in 2020, Griffin said. “This was our first year,” he said. “We probably made some mistakes and we’ll probably improve as any grower might as they get more experience with a crop.”

Griffin said updated information on K-State’s research with industrial hemp is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstateindustrialhemp" target="_blank">available on Facebook.</a>&nbsp;More information about the&nbsp;<a href="http://hnr.k-state.edu/about/off-campus-facilities/john-c-pair-center" target="_blank">John C. Pair Horticulture Center also is available online.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576171478949.jpeg" alt="In the first year, researchers have found that plants produce more CBD when grown indoors. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>In the first year, researchers have found that plants produce more CBD when grown indoors. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYSVILLE – After one year of growing industrial hemp in test plots, Kansas State University researchers say they’ve moved closer to providing guidance to producers interested in growing the alternative crop in Kansas.In April 2018, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a bill enacting the Alternative Crop Research Act, leading to the legal production of industrial hemp in the state. Kansas is one of 42 states approved to grow the crop; the Kansas Department of Agriculture reported that there were 207 Kansas growers in 2019.None of those growers, however, had information available to show best practices for growing industrial hemp in Kansas soils.“It’s a brand new crop that nobody in Kansas should have legal experience growing,” said Jason Griffin, director of the John C. Pair Horticultural Center, one of three sites where K-State’s research trials have taken place this year (research was also conducted at K-State facilities in Colby and Olathe). “Since it was new, we needed baseline information on how to grow the crop successfully.”Griffin noted that “99% of the people growing industrial hemp in Kansas this year were growing for cannabidiol,” better known as CBD. Cannabinoids have high interest among consumers because of their purported medical and therapeutic benefits in humans and companion animals.CBD and other varieties are legal to grow if they produce less than .3% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. If the plant’s THC level is greater than .3%, it is considered marijuana and not legal to grow or possess in Kansas.“We knew that Kansas farmers wanted to get into this industry,” Griffin said, “and our job is to conduct research to help farmers be successful with the crop.”Griffin and the research team at the John C. Pair center planted seven CBD varieties, including five in high tunnels, which are plastic-covered structures that provide some protection from the environment compared to open field conditions.“It’s well-known that high tunnels in the specialty crops arena have certain advantages over crops grown outside,” Griffin said. “For our purposes, it reduced solar radiance, reduced wind and reduced pest presence. But, specifically for hemp, we had our high tunnel completely enclosed in insect screens, which is a really fine netting. We wanted to see if the insect screen would reduce the amount of pollination inside the tunnel. And it appeared it did.”Griffin said that in the hemp industry, pollination “is a big deal. CBD is produced in the female flower buds, and if those female flower buds get pollinated, your concentration of CBD just tanks into the basement. You get almost none. So you have to keep pollen away from those female flower buds.”That caused problems for the hemp varieties that K-State grew outside, Griffin said, noting that pollen can travel as far as three miles. “I think it would be very difficult to have a large-scale, outdoor CBD production system successfully without somehow protecting those plants from pollen.”Because they were protected from insects and other pollinators, “the plants inside the high tunnel were just superior,” Griffin said. “In that protected environment, they were larger and had more flower buds. Because they had more buds, they had a higher CBD content.”K-State’s work also looked at various production systems, including growing the plants with organic and conventional fertilizer. Researchers also looked at the potential of growing industrial hemp for fiber and grain.The university’s work will continue in 2020, Griffin said. “This was our first year,” he said. “We probably made some mistakes and we’ll probably improve as any grower might as they get more experience with a crop.”Griffin said updated information on K-State’s research with industrial hemp is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kstateindustrialhemp" target="_blank">available on Facebook.</a>&nbsp;More information about the&nbsp;<a href="http://hnr.k-state.edu/about/off-campus-facilities/john-c-pair-center" target="_blank">John C. Pair Horticulture Center also is available online.</a>

K-State researchers make progress on work with industrial hemp

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More than seven pounds of marijuana was found during a traffic stop early this morning on Interstate 70 (I-70).

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said Thursday that a deputy stopped an eastbound 2010 Nissan Cube at milepost 259 on I-70 after noticing the Cube was unable to maintain its lane. Milepost 259 is one mile west of the Niles Road exit in northeastern Saline County.

While the deputy was talking with the two people in the Cube, he noticed drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, Soldan said. During a search of the vehicle, seven and a half pounds of marijuana, some methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were found, he said.

The driver of the Cube, Angela Browning, 39, of Ashland, Ky., was arrested on suspicion of the following, Soldan said.

Possession with intent to distribute marijuana

The passenger in the Cube, James Blankenship, 43, of Lettsburg, Ky., was arrested on suspicion of the following, Soldan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576169014645.jpeg" alt="The marijuana confiscated during the stop early this morning. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>The marijuana confiscated during the stop early this morning. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>More than seven pounds of marijuana was found during a traffic stop early this morning on Interstate 70 (I-70).Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said Thursday that a deputy stopped an eastbound 2010 Nissan Cube at milepost 259 on I-70 after noticing the Cube was unable to maintain its lane. Milepost 259 is one mile west of the Niles Road exit in northeastern Saline County.While the deputy was talking with the two people in the Cube, he noticed drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, Soldan said. During a search of the vehicle, seven and a half pounds of marijuana, some methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were found, he said.The driver of the Cube, Angela Browning, 39, of Ashland, Ky., was arrested on suspicion of the following, Soldan said.Possession with intent to distribute marijuanaPossession of drug paraphernaliaThe passenger in the Cube, James Blankenship, 43, of Lettsburg, Ky., was arrested on suspicion of the following, Soldan said.Possession with intent to distribute marijuanaPossession of drug paraphernaliaPossession of methamphetamine

More than seven pounds of weed found during traffic stop

Today is Thursday, Dec. 12, the 346th day of 2019. There are 19 days left in the year.

On Dec. 12, 2000, George W. Bush became president-elect as a divided U.S. Supreme Court reversed a state court decision for recounts in Florida's contested election.

In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1870, Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina became the first black lawmaker sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 1913, authorities in Florence, Italy, announced that the "Mona Lisa," stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1911, had been recovered.

In 1915, singer-actor Frank Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey.

In 1917, during World War I, a train carrying some 1,000 French troops from the Italian front derailed while descending a steep hill in Modane; at least half of the soldiers were killed in France's greatest rail disaster. Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town outside Omaha, Nebraska.

In 1946, a United Nations committee voted to accept a six-block tract of Manhattan real estate offered as a gift by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to be the site of the U.N.'s headquarters.

In 1963, Kenya became independent of Britain.

In 1977, the dance movie "Saturday Night Fever," starring John Travolta, premiered in New York.

In 1985, 248 American soldiers and eight crew members were killed when an Arrow Air charter crashed after takeoff from Gander, Newfoundland.

In 1989, in New York, hotel queen Leona Helmsley, 69, was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $7.1 million for tax evasion. (Helmsley served 18 months behind bars, plus a month at a halfway house and two months of house arrest.)

In 1995, by three votes, the Senate killed a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against Old Glory.

In 1997, Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the international terrorist known as "Carlos the Jackal," went on trial in Paris on charges of killing two French investigators and a Lebanese national. (Ramirez was convicted and is serving a life prison sentence.)

Ten years ago: Houston elected its first openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff with former city attorney Gene Locke. Rescue crews found the body of a climber on Oregon's Mount Hood while two others remained missing. (The bodies of the other two climbers were found in Aug. 2010.) Sophomore tailback Mark Ingram became the first player at the University of Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy.

Five years ago: President Barack Obama urged the Senate to ratify a $1.1 trillion spending bill opposed by some Democrats, judging it an imperfect measure that stemmed from "the divided government that the American people voted for." (The Senate passed the measure the next day.) Illustrator Norman Bridwell, 86, creator of Clifford the Red Dog, died in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

One year ago: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's one-time fixer, was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to conceal Trump's alleged sexual affairs. British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a political crisis over her Brexit deal, winning a no-confidence vote by Conservative lawmakers that could have brought an end to her leadership. (May announced her resignation as Conservative leader in June of 2019, after her Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament three times.)

Today's Birthdays: Former TV host Bob Barker is 96. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit is 87. Singer Connie Francis is 82. Singer Dionne Warwick is 79. Rock singer-musician Dickey Betts is 76. Hall of Fame race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi is 73. Actor Wings Hauser is 72. Actor Bill Nighy is 70. Actor Duane Chase (Film: "The Sound of Music") is 69. Country singer LaCosta is 69. Gymnast-turned-actress Cathy Rigby is 67. Author Lorna Landvik is 65. Singer-musician Sheila E. is 62. Actress Sheree J. Wilson is 61. Pop singer Daniel O'Donnell is 58. International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin is 57. Rock musician Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) is 56. Rock musician Nicholas Dimichino (Nine Days) is 52. Author Sophie Kinsella is 50. News anchor Maggie Rodriguez is 50. Actress Jennifer Connelly is 49. Actress Madchen Amick is 49. Actress Regina Hall is 49. Country singer Hank Williams III is 47. Actress Mayim Bialik is 44. Model Bridget Hall is 42. Actor Lucas Hedges is 23. Actress Sky Katz is 15.

Thought for Today: "If you possess something but you can't give it away, then you don't possess it... it possesses you." — Frank Sinatra (1915-1998).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Thursday, Dec. 12, the 346th day of 2019. There are 19 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On Dec. 12, 2000, George W. Bush became president-elect as a divided U.S. Supreme Court reversed a state court decision for recounts in Florida's contested election.On this date:In 1787, Pennsylvania became the second state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.In 1870, Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina became the first black lawmaker sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives.In 1913, authorities in Florence, Italy, announced that the "Mona Lisa," stolen from the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1911, had been recovered.In 1915, singer-actor Frank Sinatra was born Francis Albert Sinatra in Hoboken, New Jersey.In 1917, during World War I, a train carrying some 1,000 French troops from the Italian front derailed while descending a steep hill in Modane; at least half of the soldiers were killed in France's greatest rail disaster. Father Edward Flanagan founded Boys Town outside Omaha, Nebraska.In 1946, a United Nations committee voted to accept a six-block tract of Manhattan real estate offered as a gift by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to be the site of the U.N.'s headquarters.In 1963, Kenya became independent of Britain.In 1977, the dance movie "Saturday Night Fever," starring John Travolta, premiered in New York.In 1985, 248 American soldiers and eight crew members were killed when an Arrow Air charter crashed after takeoff from Gander, Newfoundland.In 1989, in New York, hotel queen Leona Helmsley, 69, was sentenced to four years in prison and fined $7.1 million for tax evasion. (Helmsley served 18 months behind bars, plus a month at a halfway house and two months of house arrest.)In 1995, by three votes, the Senate killed a constitutional amendment giving Congress authority to outlaw flag burning and other forms of desecration against Old Glory.In 1997, Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the international terrorist known as "Carlos the Jackal," went on trial in Paris on charges of killing two French investigators and a Lebanese national. (Ramirez was convicted and is serving a life prison sentence.)Ten years ago: Houston elected its first openly gay mayor, with voters handing a solid victory to City Controller Annise Parker after a hotly contested runoff with former city attorney Gene Locke. Rescue crews found the body of a climber on Oregon's Mount Hood while two others remained missing. (The bodies of the other two climbers were found in Aug. 2010.) Sophomore tailback Mark Ingram became the first player at the University of Alabama to win the Heisman Trophy.Five years ago: President Barack Obama urged the Senate to ratify a $1.1 trillion spending bill opposed by some Democrats, judging it an imperfect measure that stemmed from "the divided government that the American people voted for." (The Senate passed the measure the next day.) Illustrator Norman Bridwell, 86, creator of Clifford the Red Dog, died in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.One year ago: Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's one-time fixer, was sentenced to three years in prison for crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to conceal Trump's alleged sexual affairs. British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a political crisis over her Brexit deal, winning a no-confidence vote by Conservative lawmakers that could have brought an end to her leadership. (May announced her resignation as Conservative leader in June of 2019, after her Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament three times.)Today's Birthdays: Former TV host Bob Barker is 96. Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Pettit is 87. Singer Connie Francis is 82. Singer Dionne Warwick is 79. Rock singer-musician Dickey Betts is 76. Hall of Fame race car driver Emerson Fittipaldi is 73. Actor Wings Hauser is 72. Actor Bill Nighy is 70. Actor Duane Chase (Film: "The Sound of Music") is 69. Country singer LaCosta is 69. Gymnast-turned-actress Cathy Rigby is 67. Author Lorna Landvik is 65. Singer-musician Sheila E. is 62. Actress Sheree J. Wilson is 61. Pop singer Daniel O'Donnell is 58. International Tennis Hall of Famer Tracy Austin is 57. Rock musician Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) is 56. Rock musician Nicholas Dimichino (Nine Days) is 52. Author Sophie Kinsella is 50. News anchor Maggie Rodriguez is 50. Actress Jennifer Connelly is 49. Actress Madchen Amick is 49. Actress Regina Hall is 49. Country singer Hank Williams III is 47. Actress Mayim Bialik is 44. Model Bridget Hall is 42. Actor Lucas Hedges is 23. Actress Sky Katz is 15.Thought for Today: "If you possess something but you can't give it away, then you don't possess it... it possesses you." — Frank Sinatra (1915-1998).Copyright 2019, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- Dec. 12

Muir Road between Stimmel Road and Watkins Road had been closed since Tuesday for culvert replacement work. The road reopened Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575997435480.png" alt="Map courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Map courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Saline County has reopened Muir Road.Muir Road between Stimmel Road and Watkins Road had been closed since Tuesday for culvert replacement work. The road reopened Wednesday.

County reopens Muir Road after culvert work

The public is invited to the Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel's 26th annual Tree of Memories program Saturday. 

The program is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Roselawn, 1920 East Crawford Street. Persons wishing to memorialize a loved one are asked to contact the Roselawn staff by Wednesday by calling 785-827-8431 or via email at roselawn@roselawnsalina.com.

Participants may bring an ornament to honor a loved one and place it on the Roselawn Christmas tree.

The public is invited to the Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel's 26th annual Tree of Memories program Saturday. The program is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Roselawn, 1920 East Crawford Street. Persons wishing to memorialize a loved one are asked to contact the Roselawn staff by Wednesday by calling 785-827-8431 or via email at roselawn@roselawnsalina.com.Participants may bring an ornament to honor a loved one and place it on the Roselawn Christmas tree.

Roselawn's 26th annual Tree of Memories program Saturday

TOPEKA -- The Kansas Supreme Court is scheduled on Dec. 20 to review a petition from a former middle school counselor who was convicted in Saline County District Court of two counts of rape of a child under age 14.

Brooke Dinkel, 38, who was a counselor at Smoky Valley Middle school in Lindsborg, is appealing her convictions from 2014.

According to information from the Kansas Supreme Court, Dinkel was convicted of two counts of rape of a child under age 14. The victim was a student at the middle school. The incidents began in December of 2012 at her home in Salina.

The summary from the Kansas Supreme Court includes the following.

"It is undisputed that Dinkel and the victim, K.H., engaged in sexual intercourse. Dinkel's primary defense at trial was that K.H. raped her. She argued she could not be guilty of rape of a child under age 14 based on the pair's first sexual encounter because K.H. raped her. She also argued she could not be guilty of rape of a child under age 14 for subsequent encounters because she was suffering from trauma from the first sexual encounter (mental disease or defect) and could not form the requisite intent to commit the crime. Dinkel was granted a significant durational departure from a Jessica's Law sentence. Instead of a hard-25 life sentence, she was sentenced to 165 months—just under 14 years—on each count to run concurrently. Dinkel appealed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed her convictions. Issues on review are whether: 1) the Court of Appeals erred in holding that K.S.A. 21-5503(a)(3) imposes absolute criminal liability on an adult victim who is raped by a child; 2) Dinkel was denied her constitutional right to present a defense by the exclusion of mental disease or defect testimony; 3) the Court of Appeals erred in holding the rebuttal testimony of the police officer was neither false nor improper; and 4) Dinkel was denied the right to effective assistance of counsel."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576098642097.jpeg" alt="Brooke Dinkel. Photo courtesy KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Brooke Dinkel. Photo courtesy KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA -- The Kansas Supreme Court is scheduled on Dec. 20 to review a petition from a former middle school counselor who was convicted in Saline County District Court of two counts of rape of a child under age 14.Brooke Dinkel, 38, who was a counselor at Smoky Valley Middle school in Lindsborg, is appealing her convictions from 2014.According to information from the Kansas Supreme Court, Dinkel was convicted of two counts of rape of a child under age 14. The victim was a student at the middle school. The incidents began in December of 2012 at her home in Salina.The summary from the Kansas Supreme Court includes the following."It is undisputed that Dinkel and the victim, K.H., engaged in sexual intercourse. Dinkel's primary defense at trial was that K.H. raped her. She argued she could not be guilty of rape of a child under age 14 based on the pair's first sexual encounter because K.H. raped her. She also argued she could not be guilty of rape of a child under age 14 for subsequent encounters because she was suffering from trauma from the first sexual encounter (mental disease or defect) and could not form the requisite intent to commit the crime. Dinkel was granted a significant durational departure from a Jessica's Law sentence. Instead of a hard-25 life sentence, she was sentenced to 165 months—just under 14 years—on each count to run concurrently. Dinkel appealed, and the Court of Appeals affirmed her convictions. Issues on review are whether: 1) the Court of Appeals erred in holding that K.S.A. 21-5503(a)(3) imposes absolute criminal liability on an adult victim who is raped by a child; 2) Dinkel was denied her constitutional right to present a defense by the exclusion of mental disease or defect testimony; 3) the Court of Appeals erred in holding the rebuttal testimony of the police officer was neither false nor improper; and 4) Dinkel was denied the right to effective assistance of counsel."

State Supreme Court to review Dinkel appeal

A pickup that was stolen at lunchtime in northwest Salina Tuesday was recovered later in the day in the central part of the city.

Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Wednesday that Jason Seim, 47, of Salina, went home for lunch Tuesday and left the keys in his 2000 Toyota Tundra that he had parked in the driveway of his residence in the 100 block of South West Place. 

Seim had just entered the house when he heard his pickup door slam shut and the pickup back out of the driveway, Forrester said. When he looked out, he saw his pickup drive southbound on South West Place and then turn east onto University Place, Forrester said. The pickup was valued at $20,000, he added.

A couple of hours later, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Highland, where Seim had located his pickup, according to Forrester said. Approximately $200 worth of tools were missing from the pickup, but the vehicle was unharmed, he added.

A pickup that was stolen at lunchtime in northwest Salina Tuesday was recovered later in the day in the central part of the city.Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said Wednesday that Jason Seim, 47, of Salina, went home for lunch Tuesday and left the keys in his 2000 Toyota Tundra that he had parked in the driveway of his residence in the 100 block of South West Place. Seim had just entered the house when he heard his pickup door slam shut and the pickup back out of the driveway, Forrester said. When he looked out, he saw his pickup drive southbound on South West Place and then turn east onto University Place, Forrester said. The pickup was valued at $20,000, he added.A couple of hours later, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Highland, where Seim had located his pickup, according to Forrester said. Approximately $200 worth of tools were missing from the pickup, but the vehicle was unharmed, he added.

Pickup stolen in northwest Salina Tuesday later recovered

FORT RILEY -- Historic Fort Riley sites and homes will be open to the public for the 36th&nbsp;annual Tour of Homes Saturday.

The event is scheduled for 4-8 p.m.&nbsp; The tour, organized by the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley, will include several of Fort Riley's historic homes, starting with the Custer House.

The tour is self-guided and self-paced; maps are provided at the Custer House. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parking will be available at the Main Post Chapel. Weather permitting, the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard will provide wagon rides from the end of the tour on Schofield Circle back to the Custer House.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://squareup.com/store/HASFR/item/tour-of-homes-advanced-tickets" target="_blank">https://squareup.com/store/HASFR/item/tour-of-homes-advanced-tickets</a>.

Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance. Tickets on the day of the event are $12 and can be purchased at the Custer House.

The Tour of Homes is open to adults and children age 10 and older.&nbsp; Babies under two in an infant carrier are welcome, but strollers are not allowed.

For more information about the Tour of Homes, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fortrileyhistoricalsociety.org/" target="_blank">www.fortrileyhistoricalsociety.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hasfrtourofhomes@gmail.com" target="_blank">hasfrtourofhomes@gmail.com</a>.

Visitors to Fort Riley who don't have a DoD ID card will need to stop by the Henry Gate visitor's center to get a pass. Please note the visitor control center closes at 4 p.m. on weekends. DOD ID cardholders are considered

Trusted Travelers and may vouch for up to seven other people in their vehicle. You can learn more about accessing Fort Riley at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/riley/</a>&nbsp;or by calling (785) 239-2982.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576034615537.jpeg" alt="Custer House. Photo courtesy Fort Riley" />
 <figcaption>Custer House. Photo courtesy Fort Riley</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT RILEY -- Historic Fort Riley sites and homes will be open to the public for the 36th&nbsp;annual Tour of Homes Saturday.The event is scheduled for 4-8 p.m.&nbsp; The tour, organized by the Historical and Archaeological Society of Fort Riley, will include several of Fort Riley's historic homes, starting with the Custer House.The tour is self-guided and self-paced; maps are provided at the Custer House. Comfortable shoes are recommended. Parking will be available at the Main Post Chapel. Weather permitting, the Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard will provide wagon rides from the end of the tour on Schofield Circle back to the Custer House.Tickets can be purchased in advance online at&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://squareup.com/store/HASFR/item/tour-of-homes-advanced-tickets" target="_blank">https://squareup.com/store/HASFR/item/tour-of-homes-advanced-tickets</a>.Tickets are $10 if purchased in advance. Tickets on the day of the event are $12 and can be purchased at the Custer House.The Tour of Homes is open to adults and children age 10 and older.&nbsp; Babies under two in an infant carrier are welcome, but strollers are not allowed.For more information about the Tour of Homes, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fortrileyhistoricalsociety.org/" target="_blank">www.fortrileyhistoricalsociety.org</a>&nbsp;or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hasfrtourofhomes@gmail.com" target="_blank">hasfrtourofhomes@gmail.com</a>.Visitors to Fort Riley who don't have a DoD ID card will need to stop by the Henry Gate visitor's center to get a pass. Please note the visitor control center closes at 4 p.m. on weekends. DOD ID cardholders are consideredTrusted Travelers and may vouch for up to seven other people in their vehicle. You can learn more about accessing Fort Riley at&nbsp;<a href="https://home.army.mil/riley/" target="_blank">https://home.army.mil/riley/</a>&nbsp;or by calling (785) 239-2982.

Tour historic Fort Riley homes this Saturday

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer and rancher

The countdown for Christmas officially has begun in our house. This year, aside from a little felt Advent calendar we hang on a door to help the kids understand how many days are left until Christmas, we also added two chocolate Advent calendars — one for my son and one for my daughter. We figured it’d be easier to maintain the peace by giving them each their own calendar and allow them to enjoy their own candy each day as we prepare for Christmas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Our farm dog Rosie is a whip-smart Australian Shepherd. She’s a good dog, but sometimes she can get herself into some interesting situations.&nbsp;

My daughter and I recently came home to find Rosie had let herself into the house after my son and husband had walked out to a nearby shed. They had left the backdoor open and Rosie seized the opportunity to go inside.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As my daughter and I opened the door, Rosie happily greeted us. I immediately wondered what she had gotten into this time. Because when Rosie gets into the house and is unattended, she can get herself into some trouble.&nbsp;

In the past, she has rummaged through my daughter’s room and taken stuffed animals to claim as her own. She has picked up my son’s dirty socks and added them to her collection. She has devoured loaves of bread and destroyed the bags, leaving the evidence scattered throughout the house. She has shredded cereal boxes and eaten all of the contents. Afterward she’ll either let herself out the door she came in or takes a break and relaxes on the couch until her humans arrive to discover the path of destruction she has created.&nbsp;

This time Rosie had found the trashcan. As I was cleaning up that mess in the kitchen, my daughter yelled from the living room, “Christmas is ruined!”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rosie had discovered my daughter’s chocolate Advent calendar and then thoroughly destroyed it and ate the vast majority of its contents.&nbsp;

As I was trying to calm my hysterical 4-year-old who had now decided that Rosie’s act had not just ruined Christmas but officially canceled it, the boys returned home.&nbsp;

My son helped pick up the cardboard and plastic pieces and then came into the kitchen to reassure his little sister that everything would be OK, and Christmas would indeed still happen. He then brought his untouched calendar over to his sniffling little sister, opened his paper door, took out the small piece of chocolate, carefully bit it in half and offered it to his sister.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As my 4- and 7-year-old sat side by side, slowly eating their tiny pieces of chocolate, I couldn’t help but think that this was a profound moment on my son’s part. He recognized that his sister — who loves candy — would not be able to enjoy her chocolate because she no longer had any. He recognized that he had something that he could share, and he took action to ensure his sister could still experience the anticipation of Christmas.&nbsp;

May we not get overwhelmed this holiday season with events that might appear to alter the holidays. And may we recognize times where we can all provide loving acts that illustrate the spirit of giving.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer and rancherThe countdown for Christmas officially has begun in our house. This year, aside from a little felt Advent calendar we hang on a door to help the kids understand how many days are left until Christmas, we also added two chocolate Advent calendars — one for my son and one for my daughter. We figured it’d be easier to maintain the peace by giving them each their own calendar and allow them to enjoy their own candy each day as we prepare for Christmas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Our farm dog Rosie is a whip-smart Australian Shepherd. She’s a good dog, but sometimes she can get herself into some interesting situations.&nbsp;My daughter and I recently came home to find Rosie had let herself into the house after my son and husband had walked out to a nearby shed. They had left the backdoor open and Rosie seized the opportunity to go inside.&nbsp;&nbsp;As my daughter and I opened the door, Rosie happily greeted us. I immediately wondered what she had gotten into this time. Because when Rosie gets into the house and is unattended, she can get herself into some trouble.&nbsp;In the past, she has rummaged through my daughter’s room and taken stuffed animals to claim as her own. She has picked up my son’s dirty socks and added them to her collection. She has devoured loaves of bread and destroyed the bags, leaving the evidence scattered throughout the house. She has shredded cereal boxes and eaten all of the contents. Afterward she’ll either let herself out the door she came in or takes a break and relaxes on the couch until her humans arrive to discover the path of destruction she has created.&nbsp;This time Rosie had found the trashcan. As I was cleaning up that mess in the kitchen, my daughter yelled from the living room, “Christmas is ruined!”&nbsp;&nbsp;Rosie had discovered my daughter’s chocolate Advent calendar and then thoroughly destroyed it and ate the vast majority of its contents.&nbsp;As I was trying to calm my hysterical 4-year-old who had now decided that Rosie’s act had not just ruined Christmas but officially canceled it, the boys returned home.&nbsp;My son helped pick up the cardboard and plastic pieces and then came into the kitchen to reassure his little sister that everything would be OK, and Christmas would indeed still happen. He then brought his untouched calendar over to his sniffling little sister, opened his paper door, took out the small piece of chocolate, carefully bit it in half and offered it to his sister.&nbsp;&nbsp;As my 4- and 7-year-old sat side by side, slowly eating their tiny pieces of chocolate, I couldn’t help but think that this was a profound moment on my son’s part. He recognized that his sister — who loves candy — would not be able to enjoy her chocolate because she no longer had any. He recognized that he had something that he could share, and he took action to ensure his sister could still experience the anticipation of Christmas.&nbsp;May we not get overwhelmed this holiday season with events that might appear to alter the holidays. And may we recognize times where we can all provide loving acts that illustrate the spirit of giving."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 © 2019 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.