Saline County has closed a section of East Farrelly Road.

East Farrelly Road between South Kipp Road and South Gypsum Valley Road is closed to through traffic as of today due to a condition of an existing drainage structure, according to information from the Saline County Road and Bridge Department.  

"Farrelly Road will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. It is Saline County’s intention to replace the drainage structure in the near future," the department noted.

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 side upon which the property lies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583459285903.png" alt="Map courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Map courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Saline County has closed a section of East Farrelly Road.East Farrelly Road between South Kipp Road and South Gypsum Valley Road is closed to through traffic as of today due to a condition of an existing drainage structure, according to information from the Saline County Road and Bridge Department. "Farrelly Road will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. It is Saline County’s intention to replace the drainage structure in the near future," the department noted.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 side upon which the property lies.

County closes part of East Farrelly Road

The work of Salina Central High School Visual Art Department students will be included in the exhibit “30 Artists” on display in Salina Public Library’s Gallery 708.

The exhibit is scheduled for Friday through March 31. A reception for the artists will be from 4-5:30 p.m. Friday, in conjunction with  First Friday Night Live. The exhibit features work by students of Larry Cullins, Salina Central High School art teacher. 

“30 Artists” includes a cross-section of drawing, painting, and mixed media art. Students were encouraged to experiment while mastering rendering and composition, while incorporating the elements of design-line, color, space, form, texture, balance, unity and emphasis. 

Artists participating in the exhibit include Missy Baker, Katherynne Bettes, Katie Buchanan, Bobby Campbell, Jessalyn Colborn, Mattison Cole, Marlie Coleman, Zane Cox, Dylahn Crough, Jillian DeVoe, Yornely Felix, Zoe Gilpin, Justice Gonzales, Joe Hall, Aleigha Haller, Isaiah Houltberg, Jesus Jasso, Layna Kinnaird, Ethan Layton, Shelby Memmott, Mialee Miller, Madeline Paradis, Shawn Pyeatt, Mayra Renteria, Samantha Rodriguez, Allexys Ronning-Franco, Avery Smith, Sydney Sorell, Israel Torres, and Mallorie Wisbey.

The public is welcome to view the exhibit during library hours, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. Sunday. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583456216128.jpeg" alt="This work by&nbsp;Shelby Memmott is part of the "30 Artists" exhibit in the Salina Public Library's Gallery 708. Photos courtesy Salina Public Library" />
 <figcaption>This work by&nbsp;Shelby Memmott is part of the "30 Artists" exhibit in the Salina Public Library's Gallery 708. Photos courtesy Salina Public Library</figcaption>
 </figure>The work of Salina Central High School Visual Art Department students will be included in the exhibit “30 Artists” on display in Salina Public Library’s Gallery 708.The exhibit is scheduled for Friday through March 31. A reception for the artists will be from 4-5:30 p.m. Friday, in conjunction with First Friday Night Live. The exhibit features work by students of Larry Cullins, Salina Central High School art teacher. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583456396447.jpeg" alt="This piece by&nbsp;Katie Buchanan also is in the exhibit." />
 <figcaption>This piece by&nbsp;Katie Buchanan also is in the exhibit.</figcaption>
 </figure>“30 Artists” includes a cross-section of drawing, painting, and mixed media art. Students were encouraged to experiment while mastering rendering and composition, while incorporating the elements of design-line, color, space, form, texture, balance, unity and emphasis. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583456843571.jpeg" alt="Art by&nbsp;Aleigha Haller." />
 <figcaption>Art by&nbsp;Aleigha Haller.</figcaption>
 </figure>Artists participating in the exhibit include Missy Baker, Katherynne Bettes, Katie Buchanan, Bobby Campbell, Jessalyn Colborn, Mattison Cole, Marlie Coleman, Zane Cox, Dylahn Crough, Jillian DeVoe, Yornely Felix, Zoe Gilpin, Justice Gonzales, Joe Hall, Aleigha Haller, Isaiah Houltberg, Jesus Jasso, Layna Kinnaird, Ethan Layton, Shelby Memmott, Mialee Miller, Madeline Paradis, Shawn Pyeatt, Mayra Renteria, Samantha Rodriguez, Allexys Ronning-Franco, Avery Smith, Sydney Sorell, Israel Torres, and Mallorie Wisbey.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583456955874.jpeg" alt="A piece by&nbsp;Sydney Sorell." />
 <figcaption>A piece by&nbsp;Sydney Sorell.</figcaption>
 </figure>The public is welcome to view the exhibit during library hours, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

Central students to display work in Gallery 708

By BARBARA AMES Wildcat District Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent

Does that morning doughnut leave you craving another treat two hours later? Do you feel the need to grab a candy bar to cope with your afternoon slump -- and then reach for a cola to get out of your post-slump slump?

If you’ve found that munching sugary snacks makes you crave them more, you’re not alone. Eating lots of simple carbohydrates -- without the backup of proteins or fats -- can quickly satisfy hunger and give your body a short-term energy boost, but they almost as quickly leave you famished again and craving more. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help you tame those pesky sugar cravings.

Added sugar in our diet is discouraged by nutritionists for two main reasons. First, it is linked to weight gain and cavities. Second, sugar provides “empty calories” because it lacks any nutritional contribution, and too much sugar in your diet can crowd out more healthful foods.

Sugar-sweetened beverages are by far the greatest sources of added sugar in the diet and account for more than one-third of the added sugar consumed as a nation. Other popular high-sugar foods include cookies, cakes, pastries, ice-cream, candy, and ready-to-eat cereals.

People crave sweet things for a number of reasons. “Sweet is the first taste humans prefer from birth,” said Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a dietitian and American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokeswoman. Carbohydrates, especially sugar, stimulate the “feel-good” chemical dopamine in the brain.

Consumption of foods and beverages high in sugar is also linked to stress. Feelings of stress can cause poor sleep, which can affect your hormone levels and cause you to crave sugary, high-calorie foods. 

Here are a few tips that may help you tame sugar cravings.

-Combine a sugary food you are craving with a healthful one. Dip a banana or strawberry in chocolate sauce, or mix some almonds with a few chocolate chips.

-When a sugar craving hits, walk away. Do something to change the scenery and get your mind off the food you are thinking about. Get out and take a walk or get some type of exercise.

-If you need to splurge on something sweet, go for quality — not quantity. Choose a delightful chocolate truffle over a king-sized candy bar, or split a decadent dessert with one or two other people.

-Skip artificial sweeteners. Research has shown that diet drinks and artificial sweeteners may increase your craving for sugar.

-Eat regularly throughout the day. If you wait too long between meals you could set yourself up to choose sugary, fatty foods to curb hunger. Eat something every 3 to 5 hours to keep your blood sugar stable.

-Slow down and focus. Often, poor food choices result from a lack of planning. Slow down, focus, and plan what you are going to eat so you are ready to make a healthful food choice, even when you are desperate.

-Eat just a little of what you are craving and allow yourself to enjoy what you love. Keep a sweet treat to 150 calories or less.

-Replace a candy dish with a bowl of fruit for when sugar cravings hit. If you like something sweet at the end of a meal, go for a fruit-based dessert or plain fruit. To curb a soda habit, try mixing a little fruit juice with seltzer water.

The above article was included in the March 5 Better Kansas blog from K-State Research and Extension. To see the entire blog or to subscribe to the email version of the blog, <a href="https://blogs.k-state.edu/ksrenews/">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583447085066.jpeg" alt="They look great, don't they? Chances are, if you eat one, you'll want another. Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/LAWJR-4448871/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=2285209">Larry White</a> courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=2285209">Pixabay</a>" />
 <figcaption>They look great, don't they? Chances are, if you eat one, you'll want another. Photo by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/LAWJR-4448871/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=2285209">Larry White</a> courtesy&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;amp;utm_content=2285209">Pixabay</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By BARBARA AMES Wildcat District Extension Family and Consumer Sciences AgentDoes that morning doughnut leave you craving another treat two hours later? Do you feel the need to grab a candy bar to cope with your afternoon slump -- and then reach for a cola to get out of your post-slump slump?If you’ve found that munching sugary snacks makes you crave them more, you’re not alone. Eating lots of simple carbohydrates -- without the backup of proteins or fats -- can quickly satisfy hunger and give your body a short-term energy boost, but they almost as quickly leave you famished again and craving more. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help you tame those pesky sugar cravings.Added sugar in our diet is discouraged by nutritionists for two main reasons. First, it is linked to weight gain and cavities. Second, sugar provides “empty calories” because it lacks any nutritional contribution, and too much sugar in your diet can crowd out more healthful foods.Sugar-sweetened beverages are by far the greatest sources of added sugar in the diet and account for more than one-third of the added sugar consumed as a nation. Other popular high-sugar foods include cookies, cakes, pastries, ice-cream, candy, and ready-to-eat cereals.People crave sweet things for a number of reasons. “Sweet is the first taste humans prefer from birth,” said Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a dietitian and American Dietetic Association (ADA) spokeswoman. Carbohydrates, especially sugar, stimulate the “feel-good” chemical dopamine in the brain.Consumption of foods and beverages high in sugar is also linked to stress. Feelings of stress can cause poor sleep, which can affect your hormone levels and cause you to crave sugary, high-calorie foods. Here are a few tips that may help you tame sugar cravings.-Combine a sugary food you are craving with a healthful one. Dip a banana or strawberry in chocolate sauce, or mix some almonds with a few chocolate chips.-When a sugar craving hits, walk away. Do something to change the scenery and get your mind off the food you are thinking about. Get out and take a walk or get some type of exercise.-If you need to splurge on something sweet, go for quality — not quantity. Choose a delightful chocolate truffle over a king-sized candy bar, or split a decadent dessert with one or two other people.-Skip artificial sweeteners. Research has shown that diet drinks and artificial sweeteners may increase your craving for sugar.-Eat regularly throughout the day. If you wait too long between meals you could set yourself up to choose sugary, fatty foods to curb hunger. Eat something every 3 to 5 hours to keep your blood sugar stable.-Slow down and focus. Often, poor food choices result from a lack of planning. Slow down, focus, and plan what you are going to eat so you are ready to make a healthful food choice, even when you are desperate.-Eat just a little of what you are craving and allow yourself to enjoy what you love. Keep a sweet treat to 150 calories or less.-Replace a candy dish with a bowl of fruit for when sugar cravings hit. If you like something sweet at the end of a meal, go for a fruit-based dessert or plain fruit. To curb a soda habit, try mixing a little fruit juice with seltzer water.The above article was included in the March 5 Better Kansas blog from K-State Research and Extension. To see the entire blog or to subscribe to the email version of the blog, <a href="https://blogs.k-state.edu/ksrenews/">click here</a>.

Taming those sugar cravings

The following was submitted to <a href="http://SalinaPost.com">SalinaPost.com</a> by former Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams.

First and foremost, I wish to extend my deepest apologies for all of the time spent on secondary fire department emergency access on the Grand Prairie Development. I have been rather silent on the matter however; the time has come for me to provide my side of the story as you. 

I have provided two (2) signed affidavits to the City of Salina regarding this matter in hopes that it would help clarify any confusions surrounding the issues at hand. Unfortunately, they have not appeared to have provide much if any conclusion to this matter. Since my retirement in 2017 I have moved to Texas and no longer reside in Salina, Kansas. As such, I am not able to attend the meetings or discussions regarding the on-going issues surrounding this phased development project. 

Unfortunately, Mr. Justin Hanke has been very accusatory of city staff, all the while playing what I would call a “shell game” with both the City of Salina Planning and City Commissioners. The underlying tone is very obvious if you dust off the smoke and mirrors regarding the secondary emergency fire apparatus access road. The simple fact is that Mr. Hanke has rallied the troops in the subdivision based on his lack of desire for development of patio / townhomes at the end of the subdivision. The thought would be that this part of the development would less than desirable and potentially decrease property values for existing home within the subdivision. So, instead of standing before the planning and city commissioners and express his displeasure with the proposed new development instead he had to come up with something to instill concern and fear to stop the project. 

I will not lower myself to the level of Mr. Hanke by name calling and unprofessionalism he has displayed throughout all the meetings. Although I was not in attendance, I have watched the meetings from start to finish.  I will, share with you the facts and truth about what transpired during the development review process(s).

The secondary emergency fire apparatus road was NEVER intended to serve as a primary day to day access into and out of the subdivision. So, Mrs. Hodges you stop with the silly Facebook Polls. So why the road you ask? The one thing that was never discussed by Mr. Hanke nor his other professionals was the small but deal-breaking topic called “Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems.” Yes, the International Fire Code required that if a development could not provide an acceptable means of a secondary emergency access road, the homes within that subdivision would have been required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed. Such a case happened in Manhattan Kansas not once but twice. Grand Bluffs and Scenic Meadows both in Manhattan Kansas were developments that the topography was such that a secondary emergency access road could not be installed and the homes within those two subdivisions were required to provide automatic fire sprinkler systems. But Mr. Hanke nor his “Professional” consultant Mr. Brad Crisp bothered to share that bit of information with you. In the interest of Economic Development, we evaluated all of the options with “Life Safety” being paramount. If you don’t believe me ask Donnie Maars with DMA Architects, Warren Ediger with Ediger Architects, Jeff Gillam and Charles Renz with Jones, Gillam, Renz Architects. I could continue but each of them would support this statement. Life Safety was ALWAYS my number one focus on every single project that crossed my desk. But again Mr. Hanke didn’t bother investigating the truth his show was all about smoke and mirrors and property values. That is why Mr. Hanke’s statement in December 2019 to the Salina Journal is way out of line. “While going through this process I have become increasingly concerned about the city’s transparency and willingness to sacrifice safety in order to make sure developers are able to maximize their profits on land.” 

The International Fire Code is a wonderful document, is it perfect NO it is not. The wonderful thing about the code is that it can be amended. I was involved in the code adoption / amendment and approval process. That process took nearly two years between meetings with stakeholders, committee members, drafts and re-drafts of proposed amendments presentations to the Building Advisory Board and finally to the City Commission for adoption into ordinance. Mr. Hanke never once talked about that process, had there been a flippant attitude toward the life safety of our community and residents, there would never have been that much time spent on trying to get the best level of fire safety for our community.  

The section of the International Fire Code surrounding this whole thing is in the Appendix of the book and is section D107.1. Believe it or not the Appendix is an option to incorporate into the adoption of the code and each appendix must be adopted locally for it to become effective within the local jurisdiction. Mr. Hanke and Mr. Crisp didn’t bother to share that with you either, not to mention that the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s which has adopted the 2006 International Fire Code which by the way the current code is the 2018 International Fire Code made the following state amendments. “(b) international fire code (IFC, international code council, 2006 edition, including the appendices but excluding the following: (1) Chapters 22, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 38; and (2) the references in chapter 45 to NFPA 10, 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 25, 30, 30A, 52, 72, 101, 110, and 385. Was this share with anyone? Nope it was not. 

Had Mr. Hanke truly done his research regarding Appendix D107.1 or secondary emergency access requirements, he would have found that many jurisdictions around the country have either not adopted the appendices or have made local amendments to them including increase the number of homes before a secondary access road is required which can simply be done if one really wanted to be educated on the matter. The City of Gallatin TN, made this amendment to Section D107.1, Appendix D Section D107.1 One or two-family residential developments is amended to read: “Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 50 shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads and shall meet the requirements of Section D104.3.” A simple Google Search populates many examples of communities that have amended this specific section of the code. Look for yourself because Mr. Hanke won't, it might blow away his smoke. 

Mr. Hanke and Mr. Crisp both stated that the pavers are unsafe and not capable of providing emergency access. Again, Mr. Hanke you are wrong you should get your facts straight before you go headhunting and accusing people of false intentions. The following link is just one example of how these types of paver are approved and used across the country for many purposes including “Emergency Access” sorry, I can make this stuff up especially when it is factual. There are many college campus’, business developments that are using this code compliant alternative when they want to close off streets for student foot traffic. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ndspro.com/products/permeable-pavers.html?fbclid=IwAR2Faw3qupKfnVFI4t5jNzMINLoUqwK6mfoR_KYbMJpmzku8tgumZih7TuU">https://www.ndspro.com/products/permeable-pavers.html</a>, again a simple Google search would show the facts that Mr. Hanke and his Code Professional Mr. Crisp didn’t want to share with you.

The distance of the road is meaningless as again the facts speak for themselves; Mr. Hanke would have you believe that D103.4 Dead ends. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet (45 720 mm) shall be provided with width and turnaround provisions in accordance with Table D103.4. If you want the table, contact your local Fire Marshal he can provide it to you. The interesting thing about the secondary emergency access road is that it isn’t a dead-end road, it continues throughout the subdivision whereby careful planning was considered in areas of acceptable turn-around locations for our emergency apparatus. That’s why the road looks so different than any other one in the community when it comes to subdivisions. Another careful planning element was in the main entrance drive, it is larger than many wanted but it was determined and agreed that it would provide yet another level of safety should one side become blocked or obstructed. Thus, decreasing the need or likelihood of using the secondary emergency access. But Mr. Hanke didn’t bother sharing that with anyone as it wouldn’t help his cause and that is not wanting the third phase to impact his property values. 

I would gladly keep going with the facts, but I think you get the point. The simple fact is the installation of the secondary emergency access road was a solution to the automatic fire sprinkler system installation requirement within the code. The truth is as a community, you can decide what level of safety you are comfortable with. The simple solution to this would be to amend the code and increase the minimum number of homes before a secondary access is required. This would be completely within the allowance of the code adoption process, but Mr. Hanke would not be in favor of that as again, it would deviate from his personal agenda. 

In closing, Salina is blessed to have a great fire department with excellent emergency services and extremely dedicated personnel. I wish my circumstance would have been different, so I wouldn’t have had to retire early in 2017. I would much rather be standing at the podium fading the heat before the commissioners and as such truly educating them on the facts and not being blinded by smoke and mirrors.

The following was submitted to <a href="http://SalinaPost.com">SalinaPost.com</a> by former Salina Fire Marshal Roger Williams.To the Citizens of Salina Kansas,First and foremost, I wish to extend my deepest apologies for all of the time spent on secondary fire department emergency access on the Grand Prairie Development. I have been rather silent on the matter however; the time has come for me to provide my side of the story as you. I have provided two (2) signed affidavits to the City of Salina regarding this matter in hopes that it would help clarify any confusions surrounding the issues at hand. Unfortunately, they have not appeared to have provide much if any conclusion to this matter. Since my retirement in 2017 I have moved to Texas and no longer reside in Salina, Kansas. As such, I am not able to attend the meetings or discussions regarding the on-going issues surrounding this phased development project. Unfortunately, Mr. Justin Hanke has been very accusatory of city staff, all the while playing what I would call a “shell game” with both the City of Salina Planning and City Commissioners. The underlying tone is very obvious if you dust off the smoke and mirrors regarding the secondary emergency fire apparatus access road. The simple fact is that Mr. Hanke has rallied the troops in the subdivision based on his lack of desire for development of patio / townhomes at the end of the subdivision. The thought would be that this part of the development would less than desirable and potentially decrease property values for existing home within the subdivision. So, instead of standing before the planning and city commissioners and express his displeasure with the proposed new development instead he had to come up with something to instill concern and fear to stop the project. I will not lower myself to the level of Mr. Hanke by name calling and unprofessionalism he has displayed throughout all the meetings. Although I was not in attendance, I have watched the meetings from start to finish. I will, share with you the facts and truth about what transpired during the development review process(s).The secondary emergency fire apparatus road was NEVER intended to serve as a primary day to day access into and out of the subdivision. So, Mrs. Hodges you stop with the silly Facebook Polls. So why the road you ask? The one thing that was never discussed by Mr. Hanke nor his other professionals was the small but deal-breaking topic called “Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems.” Yes, the International Fire Code required that if a development could not provide an acceptable means of a secondary emergency access road, the homes within that subdivision would have been required to have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed. Such a case happened in Manhattan Kansas not once but twice. Grand Bluffs and Scenic Meadows both in Manhattan Kansas were developments that the topography was such that a secondary emergency access road could not be installed and the homes within those two subdivisions were required to provide automatic fire sprinkler systems. But Mr. Hanke nor his “Professional” consultant Mr. Brad Crisp bothered to share that bit of information with you. In the interest of Economic Development, we evaluated all of the options with “Life Safety” being paramount. If you don’t believe me ask Donnie Maars with DMA Architects, Warren Ediger with Ediger Architects, Jeff Gillam and Charles Renz with Jones, Gillam, Renz Architects. I could continue but each of them would support this statement. Life Safety was ALWAYS my number one focus on every single project that crossed my desk. But again Mr. Hanke didn’t bother investigating the truth his show was all about smoke and mirrors and property values. That is why Mr. Hanke’s statement in December 2019 to the Salina Journal is way out of line. “While going through this process I have become increasingly concerned about the city’s transparency and willingness to sacrifice safety in order to make sure developers are able to maximize their profits on land.” The International Fire Code is a wonderful document, is it perfect NO it is not. The wonderful thing about the code is that it can be amended. I was involved in the code adoption / amendment and approval process. That process took nearly two years between meetings with stakeholders, committee members, drafts and re-drafts of proposed amendments presentations to the Building Advisory Board and finally to the City Commission for adoption into ordinance. Mr. Hanke never once talked about that process, had there been a flippant attitude toward the life safety of our community and residents, there would never have been that much time spent on trying to get the best level of fire safety for our community. The section of the International Fire Code surrounding this whole thing is in the Appendix of the book and is section D107.1. Believe it or not the Appendix is an option to incorporate into the adoption of the code and each appendix must be adopted locally for it to become effective within the local jurisdiction. Mr. Hanke and Mr. Crisp didn’t bother to share that with you either, not to mention that the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s which has adopted the 2006 International Fire Code which by the way the current code is the 2018 International Fire Code made the following state amendments. “(b) international fire code (IFC, international code council, 2006 edition, including the appendices but excluding the following: (1) Chapters 22, 30, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 38; and (2) the references in chapter 45 to NFPA 10, 13, 13D, 13R, 14, 25, 30, 30A, 52, 72, 101, 110, and 385. Was this share with anyone? Nope it was not. Had Mr. Hanke truly done his research regarding Appendix D107.1 or secondary emergency access requirements, he would have found that many jurisdictions around the country have either not adopted the appendices or have made local amendments to them including increase the number of homes before a secondary access road is required which can simply be done if one really wanted to be educated on the matter. The City of Gallatin TN, made this amendment to Section D107.1, Appendix D Section D107.1 One or two-family residential developments is amended to read: “Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds 50 shall be provided with two separate and approved fire apparatus access roads and shall meet the requirements of Section D104.3.” A simple Google Search populates many examples of communities that have amended this specific section of the code. Look for yourself because Mr. Hanke won't, it might blow away his smoke. Mr. Hanke and Mr. Crisp both stated that the pavers are unsafe and not capable of providing emergency access. Again, Mr. Hanke you are wrong you should get your facts straight before you go headhunting and accusing people of false intentions. The following link is just one example of how these types of paver are approved and used across the country for many purposes including “Emergency Access” sorry, I can make this stuff up especially when it is factual. There are many college campus’, business developments that are using this code compliant alternative when they want to close off streets for student foot traffic. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ndspro.com/products/permeable-pavers.html?fbclid=IwAR2Faw3qupKfnVFI4t5jNzMINLoUqwK6mfoR_KYbMJpmzku8tgumZih7TuU">https://www.ndspro.com/products/permeable-pavers.html</a>, again a simple Google search would show the facts that Mr. Hanke and his Code Professional Mr. Crisp didn’t want to share with you. The distance of the road is meaningless as again the facts speak for themselves; Mr. Hanke would have you believe that D103.4 Dead ends. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet (45 720 mm) shall be provided with width and turnaround provisions in accordance with Table D103.4. If you want the table, contact your local Fire Marshal he can provide it to you. The interesting thing about the secondary emergency access road is that it isn’t a dead-end road, it continues throughout the subdivision whereby careful planning was considered in areas of acceptable turn-around locations for our emergency apparatus. That’s why the road looks so different than any other one in the community when it comes to subdivisions. Another careful planning element was in the main entrance drive, it is larger than many wanted but it was determined and agreed that it would provide yet another level of safety should one side become blocked or obstructed. Thus, decreasing the need or likelihood of using the secondary emergency access. But Mr. Hanke didn’t bother sharing that with anyone as it wouldn’t help his cause and that is not wanting the third phase to impact his property values. I would gladly keep going with the facts, but I think you get the point. The simple fact is the installation of the secondary emergency access road was a solution to the automatic fire sprinkler system installation requirement within the code. The truth is as a community, you can decide what level of safety you are comfortable with. The simple solution to this would be to amend the code and increase the minimum number of homes before a secondary access is required. This would be completely within the allowance of the code adoption process, but Mr. Hanke would not be in favor of that as again, it would deviate from his personal agenda. In closing, Salina is blessed to have a great fire department with excellent emergency services and extremely dedicated personnel. I wish my circumstance would have been different, so I wouldn’t have had to retire early in 2017. I would much rather be standing at the podium fading the heat before the commissioners and as such truly educating them on the facts and not being blinded by smoke and mirrors.

Former Salina Fire Marshal addresses Grand Prairie issue

UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this event has been postponed.

CONCORDIA -- The Cloud County Health Center Auxiliary's Soup Supper &amp; Bazaar is coming up later this month.

The annual event is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. March 19 at the American Legion, 506 Washington Street in Concordia.

The soup supper will include chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, relishes, desserts, and drinks, all for a free-will donation, according to information from the organization.

Additionally, craft items and baked goods will be available for purchase, and there will be silent auction items and a drawing for prizes.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the Cloud County Health Center Building Project and healthcare scholarships.

UPDATE: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, this event has been postponed.CONCORDIA -- The Cloud County Health Center Auxiliary's Soup Supper &amp; Bazaar is coming up later this month.The annual event is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. March 19 at the American Legion, 506 Washington Street in Concordia.The soup supper will include chili, chicken noodle soup, vegetable beef soup, relishes, desserts, and drinks, all for a free-will donation, according to information from the organization.Additionally, craft items and baked goods will be available for purchase, and there will be silent auction items and a drawing for prizes.Proceeds from the event will go toward the Cloud County Health Center Building Project and healthcare scholarships.

UPDATE: CCHC Auxiliary Soup Supper & Bazaar postponed

MANHATTAN – Rising temperatures and breezy conditions are quickly drying fuels across the state, increasing concerns for an active fire season in Kansas.

“Despite recent moisture, Kansas's primary fuel – grass -- is abundant due to last year's above-normal precipitation,” said Chip Redmond, Kansas State University assistant meteorologist.

The timing of future precipitation between dry frontal passages will determine how active this fire season is, Redmond said.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e6168aade88be052e53b1ab">Gov. Kelly issues disaster declaration over fire risk</a>

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e5fee14de88be052e5394e0">Flint Hills burning season influences air quality</a>

Fire season in Kansas usually runs from early to mid-March through mid-April in the spring, and it appears to be getting a quick start this spring. A number of counties have already fought multiple wildfires in recent days, with a handful becoming large and challenging.&nbsp;

“Regardless, green up is only in the initial stages in far southeast Kansas. The potential for active fire behavior will remain through April as dead grass remains vertically aligned and volatile during any period of warm/dry and windy conditions,” Redmond said.

Eric Ward, the assistant fire management officer for the Kansas Forest Service, said that multiple reports from fire departments and people conducting prescribed burns this winter and spring have indicated that fire behavior has been much more challenging and difficult to control than the weather conditions would have indicated.

“Fire departments should be vigilant and prepared to dispatch more resources than they typically would in the event of a wildfire,” Ward said. “Landowners conducting prescribed burns are urged to carefully check the fire weather forecast, available on each National Weather Service website, prior to attempting any burn.”&nbsp;

Landowners are encouraged to check the weather for at least three days following any planned burn, as it has not been uncommon for an ember to get whipped to life by dry winds a day or two after a prescribed burn.&nbsp;

Ward said homeowners in rural areas, or any area where natural vegetation borders their property, should clear debris, keep their lawn mowed, clean out gutters and corners that collect fallen leaves, and remove anything that a blowing ember could light on fire and threaten their home.

For more information on protecting your property, contact the Kansas Forest Service or your local fire department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583429765931.jpeg" alt="Standing fuels, including grass pictured here in Thomas County, are present across much of the state after above-normal precipitation in 2019. Despite recent moisture, fuels are drying quickly which has increased fire danger. Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service" />
 <figcaption>Standing fuels, including grass pictured here in Thomas County, are present across much of the state after above-normal precipitation in 2019. Despite recent moisture, fuels are drying quickly which has increased fire danger. Photo courtesy Kansas Forest Service</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN – Rising temperatures and breezy conditions are quickly drying fuels across the state, increasing concerns for an active fire season in Kansas.“Despite recent moisture, Kansas's primary fuel – grass -- is abundant due to last year's above-normal precipitation,” said Chip Redmond, Kansas State University assistant meteorologist.The timing of future precipitation between dry frontal passages will determine how active this fire season is, Redmond said.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e6168aade88be052e53b1ab">Gov. Kelly issues disaster declaration over fire risk</a>READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e5fee14de88be052e5394e0">Flint Hills burning season influences air quality</a>Fire season in Kansas usually runs from early to mid-March through mid-April in the spring, and it appears to be getting a quick start this spring. A number of counties have already fought multiple wildfires in recent days, with a handful becoming large and challenging.&nbsp;“Regardless, green up is only in the initial stages in far southeast Kansas. The potential for active fire behavior will remain through April as dead grass remains vertically aligned and volatile during any period of warm/dry and windy conditions,” Redmond said.Eric Ward, the assistant fire management officer for the Kansas Forest Service, said that multiple reports from fire departments and people conducting prescribed burns this winter and spring have indicated that fire behavior has been much more challenging and difficult to control than the weather conditions would have indicated.“Fire departments should be vigilant and prepared to dispatch more resources than they typically would in the event of a wildfire,” Ward said. “Landowners conducting prescribed burns are urged to carefully check the fire weather forecast, available on each National Weather Service website, prior to attempting any burn.”&nbsp;Landowners are encouraged to check the weather for at least three days following any planned burn, as it has not been uncommon for an ember to get whipped to life by dry winds a day or two after a prescribed burn.&nbsp;Ward said homeowners in rural areas, or any area where natural vegetation borders their property, should clear debris, keep their lawn mowed, clean out gutters and corners that collect fallen leaves, and remove anything that a blowing ember could light on fire and threaten their home.For more information on protecting your property, contact the Kansas Forest Service or your local fire department.

KS Forest Service, K-State Mesonet: Prep for potentially active fire season

Someone caused a grass fire at the ball fields south of Sunset Park Wednesday night and Salina Police want to know who it was.

According to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester, emergency responders were dispatched to 1500 Coronado Street at 10 p.m. Wednesday where they found a fire in the grassy area of the ball fields. Approximately 300 square feet of grass burned before the blaze was extinguished by the Salina Fire Department, Forrester said.

Witnesses reported hearing what they believed to be fireworks and then noticed the fire, he said. Officers did find evidence that corroborated that report, Forrester added.

Someone caused a grass fire at the ball fields south of Sunset Park Wednesday night and Salina Police want to know who it was.According to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester, emergency responders were dispatched to 1500 Coronado Street at 10 p.m. Wednesday where they found a fire in the grassy area of the ball fields. Approximately 300 square feet of grass burned before the blaze was extinguished by the Salina Fire Department, Forrester said.Witnesses reported hearing what they believed to be fireworks and then noticed the fire, he said. Officers did find evidence that corroborated that report, Forrester added.

Police investigating grass fire at ball fields south of Sunset Park

Lott Implement, an AGCO dealer in Minneapolis, Kan., is looking for a service technician. The duties include repairing combines, tractors and hay equipment.

Lott Implement is looking for someone dependable and motivated, who has their own tools and is able to get along well with others.

Immediate opening with pay based on experience. Contact Jeff at 785-392-3110 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jlott2522@att.net">jlott2522@att.net</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582317675250.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lott Implement, an AGCO dealer in Minneapolis, Kan., is looking for a service technician. The duties include repairing combines, tractors and hay equipment.Lott Implement is looking for someone dependable and motivated, who has their own tools and is able to get along well with others.Immediate opening with pay based on experience. Contact Jeff at 785-392-3110 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jlott2522@att.net">jlott2522@att.net</a>.

Police: Salina man shows up at SRHC with two stab wounds to torso

UPDATE 7 a.m. Thursday: The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued red flag warnings for much of Kansas, including all of the counties in our area.

A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.

NWS in Wichita has issued a red flag warning for strong northwest wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 6 p.m. CST this evening for the following counties in our area.

Extreme grassland fire danger is forecast.

Winds: Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

Additionally, NWS in Wichita has issued a red flag warning for strong northwest wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 6 p.m. CST this evening for Lincoln County.

Winds: Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.

NWS in Topeka has issued a&nbsp;red flag warning in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.

WIND: Northwest 20 to 30 mph, with winds gusting as high as 35 to 40 mph.

HUMIDITY: Minimum relative humidity values 15 to 20 percent.

IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

NWS in Hastings, Neb., has issued a red flag warning in effect from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.

WINDS: Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 45 mph.

IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will spread quickly and be difficult to control...exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Use caution if engaging in activities that could start a fire.

Red flag warnings and a fire weather watch have been issued for counties in our area.

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Topeka has issued a red flag warning in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.

WIND: Northwest 15 to 25 mph, with winds gusting as high as 35 to 40 mph.

IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly.   Outdoor burning is not recommended.

WINDS...Northwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 40 mph.

RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Between 15 and 20 percent.

IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread quickly and be   difficult to control...exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Use   caution if engaging in activities that could start a fire.

Additionally, NWS in Wichita has issued a fire weather watch in effect Thursday afternoon for Lincoln County.

A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.

Winds...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.

Relative Humidity...As low as 17 percent.

Impacts...Any fires that develop may spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

UPDATE 7 a.m. Thursday: The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued red flag warnings for much of Kansas, including all of the counties in our area.A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.NWS in Wichita has issued a red flag warning for strong northwest wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 6 p.m. CST this evening for the following counties in our area.Ellsworth CountyMarion CountyMcPherson CountySaline CountyExtreme grassland fire danger is forecast.Winds: Northwest 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.Relative Humidity: As low as 19 percent.Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended.Additionally, NWS in Wichita has issued a red flag warning for strong northwest wind and low relative humidity, which is in effect from noon today to 6 p.m. CST this evening for Lincoln County.Extreme grassland fire danger is forecast.Winds: Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph.Relative Humidity: As low as 17 percent.Impacts: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended.NWS in Topeka has issued a&nbsp;red flag warning in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.Clay CountyCloud CountyDickinson CountyOttawa CountyRepublic CountyWIND: Northwest 20 to 30 mph, with winds gusting as high as 35 to 40 mph.HUMIDITY: Minimum relative humidity values 15 to 20 percent.IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.NWS in Hastings, Neb., has issued a red flag warning in effect from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.Jewell CountyMitchell CountyWINDS: Northwest 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 35 to 45 mph.RELATIVE HUMIDITY: 15 to 20 percent.IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will spread quickly and be difficult to control...exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Use caution if engaging in activities that could start a fire.Red flag warnings and a fire weather watch have been issued for counties in our area.A red flag warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now or will shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior.The National Weather Service (NWS) in Topeka has issued a red flag warning in effect from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.Clay CountyCloud CountyDickinson CountyOttawa CountyRepublic CountyWIND: Northwest 15 to 25 mph, with winds gusting as high as 35 to 40 mph.HUMIDITY: 15 to 20 percent.IMPACTS: Any fires that develop will likely spread rapidly. Outdoor burning is not recommended.NWS in Hastings, Neb., has issued a red flag warning in effect from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday for the following counties in our area.Jewell CountyMitchell CountyWINDS...Northwest 25 to 30 mph with gusts around 40 mph.RELATIVE HUMIDITY...Between 15 and 20 percent.IMPACTS...Any fires that develop will spread quickly and be difficult to control...exhibiting extreme fire behavior. Use caution if engaging in activities that could start a fire.Additionally, NWS in Wichita has issued a fire weather watch in effect Thursday afternoon for Lincoln County.A fire weather watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.Winds...Northwest 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.Relative Humidity...As low as 17 percent.Impacts...Any fires that develop may spread rapidly and become very difficult to control. Outdoor burning is not recommended.

UPDATE: NWS issues red flag warnings for all of area

SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (AP) — The stepmother of&nbsp; Colorado boy missing for over a month was arrested Monday in connection with his disappearance and presumed death, authorities said.

Letecia Stauch was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is being extradited to Colorado on charges including first-degree murder of a child in the death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, according to El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. The boy remains missing.

Letecia Stauch was held overnight Wednesday in the Saline County Kansas jail on her return to Colorado, according to online booking records.

“All evidence points to the disappearance of Gannon being foul play," FBI Denver special agent Dean Phillips said.

The document laying out the reasons for Letecia Stauch’s arrest was sealed and investigators and prosecutors declined to discuss details.

It was not known if Stauch has a lawyer representing her yet. She also faces charges including child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence, Elder said.

The sheriff’s office previously said that Stauch reported Gannon missing on Jan. 27, saying he left to go to a friend's house in the afternoon. Authorities called him a runaway when it first asked the public for help finding him. Three days later authorities said he was considered a missing and endangered child because of the length of time he had been gone, his age and his reliance on medication. Authorities did not describe the medication.

Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, sobbed during the press conference announcing the arrest, at times leaning on Gannon's father, Al Stauch.

“I never thought I would be standing here. It's a nightmare,” Hiott said.

Al Stauch, who is married to Letecia Stauch, said in a statement read by a sheriff’s department spokeswoman that the person responsible for his son’s death is someone that he gave more to than anyone else in the world.

“And that is a burden I that I will carry with me for a very long time,” Al Stauch's statement said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583413880453.png" alt="Stauch photo Saline County Sheriff's office" />
 <figcaption>Stauch photo Saline County Sheriff's office</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY, Kan. (AP) — The stepmother of&nbsp; Colorado boy missing for over a month was arrested Monday in connection with his disappearance and presumed death, authorities said.Letecia Stauch was arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and is being extradited to Colorado on charges including first-degree murder of a child in the death of 11-year-old Gannon Stauch, according to El Paso County Sheriff Bill Elder. The boy remains missing.Letecia Stauch was held overnight Wednesday in the Saline County Kansas jail on her return to Colorado, according to online booking records.“All evidence points to the disappearance of Gannon being foul play," FBI Denver special agent Dean Phillips said.The document laying out the reasons for Letecia Stauch’s arrest was sealed and investigators and prosecutors declined to discuss details.It was not known if Stauch has a lawyer representing her yet. She also faces charges including child abuse resulting in death, tampering with a deceased human body and tampering with physical evidence, Elder said.The sheriff’s office previously said that Stauch reported Gannon missing on Jan. 27, saying he left to go to a friend's house in the afternoon. Authorities called him a runaway when it first asked the public for help finding him. Three days later authorities said he was considered a missing and endangered child because of the length of time he had been gone, his age and his reliance on medication. Authorities did not describe the medication.Gannon's mother, Landen Hiott, sobbed during the press conference announcing the arrest, at times leaning on Gannon's father, Al Stauch.“I never thought I would be standing here. It's a nightmare,” Hiott said.Al Stauch, who is married to Letecia Stauch, said in a statement read by a sheriff’s department spokeswoman that the person responsible for his son’s death is someone that he gave more to than anyone else in the world.“And that is a burden I that I will carry with me for a very long time,” Al Stauch's statement said.

Stepmother in disappearance of missing Colo. boy held in Salina jail

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- A Kansas State University specialist in adult development and aging says that discussions about safe sex aren’t limited to young adults.

Erin Yelland has studied the topic of sexual intimacy in America’s long-term care facilities. Speaking recently on the&nbsp;<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/dig-deep-ksu/DigDeep-Yelland-PODCASTFINAL.mp3" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension podcast “Dig Deep,</a>” Yelland said there was a time when the purpose of sex was predominantly viewed as procreation. Now, it’s much more.

“It’s part of our personal wellness, our ‘relationship wellness,’ and research consistently shows how important intimate and sexual relationships are, well into older adulthood,” she said.

She notes that as some adults of the Baby Boom generation begin their migration into long-term care facilities, they will bring with them the morals and mores of the Sexual Revolution they led 60 years ago.

“This is the generation that first had access to the birth control pill from a young age,” Yelland said. “They've often been more permissive and more open-minded in their attitudes than many other generations before them."

Yelland points to data indicating that among all adults ages 45 and older, rates of sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections have slowly been rising for the past decade. In 2016, the American Association of Retired Persons&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/std-exposure-rises-older-adults-fd.html" target="_blank">reported rising exposure rates</a>&nbsp;among older populations, especially in retirement communities and skilled-nursing facilities (commonly known as nursing homes).

One of Yelland’s key areas of expertise is sexual wellness among older adults, including policy development within long-term care. She said that as a whole, the elder-care industry is still lagging behind its clientele.“Many facilities simply don’t have any policy in place to guide staff, residents and family members in navigating the muddied waters of sexual expression among residents,” she said. “Because there’s no policy and little to no training on the topic, staff and administrators are often left to bumble through these socially uncomfortable situations with little to no direction. Many staff members may have never learned what normal sexual development looks like for older adults, and it’s a challenge to navigate something that you don’t even recognize.”

Yelland said the lack of consistent policy introduces confusion; in response, health care staff may rely on their own personal values and ideas about what a sexual or intimate relationship should be like. This is where age comes into play. Yelland said that adults in their 70s often define “physical intimacy” differently than adults in their 20s or 30s.

“Many older adults may not have the physical capacity to engage in traditional intercourse anymore,” she said. “They may not have the physical stamina, or there may be other health issues that prevent them from engaging in more physically strenuous behaviors.”

“This doesn’t mean that people aren’t having traditional intercourse, though. But, we do know that as people get older, the way that they express their sexual desires will change. We might see more cuddling, hand-holding, hugging, smooching and these types of things. So it’s not always the more traditional sexual behaviors that we’re addressing.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://metoomvmt.org/" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>&nbsp;movement that came to prominence in 2017 pulled the issue of consent into the brightest spotlight it’s ever had. Yelland said consent needs to be continuously scrutinized in long-term care facilities as well because loss of cognitive capacity (such as a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis) is becoming more common.

“When talking about sexual expression in long-term care, consent is a huge priority, particularly if there’s a question on cognitive capacity,” Yelland said. “How do we consistently ensure that all people are protected in such a complex, ever-changing environment?

However, she adds, “we still want to protect those freedoms and one’s basic human right to sexual expression, with policies in place to protect everyone involved – policies that balance protection, privacy and freedom.”

Bodies may change. Living conditions may change. But people are still people, Yelland said, with the same basic needs they had 50 or 60 years earlier in their lives.“They are still sexual beings, and regardless of what kind of behavior they want to engage in – hand holding, cuddling, intercourse – we need to realize that these are adults with a sexual history and sexual interests,” she said. “We need to figure out the balance of protecting residents and staff from unwanted behavior and advances, while ensuring that residents can express what they desire in meaningful ways.“This also includes protecting our health care staff: doctors, nurses, home care providers, and administrators.”

Listen to the full interview with Erin Yelland on the&nbsp;<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/dig-deep-ksu/DigDeep-Yelland-PODCASTFINAL.mp3" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension podcast, “Dig Deep</a>.”

What is a sexual advance directive?

Statistically, 50% of adults age 85 and older will struggle with some form of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease is overwhelmingly the most common.

As the legal community continues to furnish clients with wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives, a new document has the potential to appear: the sexual advance directive. This idea first gained widespread attention in 2016, through&nbsp;<a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2813431" target="_blank">a research paper authored by Alexander Boni-Saenz</a>, an associate professor with the Chicago-Kent School of Law.

During the summer of 2019, Yelland led a group of students in researching the emerging concept of a&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;advance directive – a document that reads and functions much like its medical parent, but which addresses quality of life rather than its termination. Some of their findings were presented at a conference in January.“We basically described what a sexual advance directive could be; that you are allowing someone to put their sexual wishes in writing, so that long-term care administrators, family members, friends and other decision-makers could understand your preferences,” Yelland said.

“More than half of our adult respondents – about 65% – thought this was a great idea, and that such a document should be an option, and that the document should be active if they were to develop some form of dementia in the future.”

There are still plenty of details to be worked out. The language of such a document needs to be clarified and standardized. The sexual advance directive needs to be accepted by the legal community as a whole, and recognized as a binding contract. And perhaps last of all, the sexual advance directive will eventually have to be upheld in a court of law, and possibly within a criminal trial.

Yelland is taking her research a step further, delving into the more specific details of the document. “What specific activities and behaviors should a sexual advance directive address? Who should the ultimate decision-making authority be? We’re doing research to further our understanding of what this could potentially look like, more from the family science and gerontology side. And then in the legal world, they’re having similar conversations.”

“The concept of the sexual advance directive is very much in its infancy, but I don’t think it’s going to take very long for this ‘infant thought’ to grow up,” Yelland said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583379077066.jpeg" alt="Intimacy in later years is 'part of our personal wellness,' says Erin Yelland, a K-State specialist in adult development and aging. Photo courtesy KSRE" />
 <figcaption>Intimacy in later years is 'part of our personal wellness,' says Erin Yelland, a K-State specialist in adult development and aging. Photo courtesy KSRE</figcaption>
 </figure>MANHATTAN, Kan. -- A Kansas State University specialist in adult development and aging says that discussions about safe sex aren’t limited to young adults.Erin Yelland has studied the topic of sexual intimacy in America’s long-term care facilities. Speaking recently on the&nbsp;<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/dig-deep-ksu/DigDeep-Yelland-PODCASTFINAL.mp3" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension podcast “Dig Deep,</a>” Yelland said there was a time when the purpose of sex was predominantly viewed as procreation. Now, it’s much more.“It’s part of our personal wellness, our ‘relationship wellness,’ and research consistently shows how important intimate and sexual relationships are, well into older adulthood,” she said.She notes that as some adults of the Baby Boom generation begin their migration into long-term care facilities, they will bring with them the morals and mores of the Sexual Revolution they led 60 years ago.“This is the generation that first had access to the birth control pill from a young age,” Yelland said. “They've often been more permissive and more open-minded in their attitudes than many other generations before them."Yelland points to data indicating that among all adults ages 45 and older, rates of sexually transmitted diseases and sexually transmitted infections have slowly been rising for the past decade. In 2016, the American Association of Retired Persons&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/std-exposure-rises-older-adults-fd.html" target="_blank">reported rising exposure rates</a>&nbsp;among older populations, especially in retirement communities and skilled-nursing facilities (commonly known as nursing homes).One of Yelland’s key areas of expertise is sexual wellness among older adults, including policy development within long-term care. She said that as a whole, the elder-care industry is still lagging behind its clientele.“Many facilities simply don’t have any policy in place to guide staff, residents and family members in navigating the muddied waters of sexual expression among residents,” she said. “Because there’s no policy and little to no training on the topic, staff and administrators are often left to bumble through these socially uncomfortable situations with little to no direction. Many staff members may have never learned what normal sexual development looks like for older adults, and it’s a challenge to navigate something that you don’t even recognize.”Yelland said the lack of consistent policy introduces confusion; in response, health care staff may rely on their own personal values and ideas about what a sexual or intimate relationship should be like. This is where age comes into play. Yelland said that adults in their 70s often define “physical intimacy” differently than adults in their 20s or 30s.“Many older adults may not have the physical capacity to engage in traditional intercourse anymore,” she said. “They may not have the physical stamina, or there may be other health issues that prevent them from engaging in more physically strenuous behaviors.”“This doesn’t mean that people aren’t having traditional intercourse, though. But, we do know that as people get older, the way that they express their sexual desires will change. We might see more cuddling, hand-holding, hugging, smooching and these types of things. So it’s not always the more traditional sexual behaviors that we’re addressing.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://metoomvmt.org/" target="_blank">#MeToo</a>&nbsp;movement that came to prominence in 2017 pulled the issue of consent into the brightest spotlight it’s ever had. Yelland said consent needs to be continuously scrutinized in long-term care facilities as well because loss of cognitive capacity (such as a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis) is becoming more common.“When talking about sexual expression in long-term care, consent is a huge priority, particularly if there’s a question on cognitive capacity,” Yelland said. “How do we consistently ensure that all people are protected in such a complex, ever-changing environment?However, she adds, “we still want to protect those freedoms and one’s basic human right to sexual expression, with policies in place to protect everyone involved – policies that balance protection, privacy and freedom.”Bodies may change. Living conditions may change. But people are still people, Yelland said, with the same basic needs they had 50 or 60 years earlier in their lives.“They are still sexual beings, and regardless of what kind of behavior they want to engage in – hand holding, cuddling, intercourse – we need to realize that these are adults with a sexual history and sexual interests,” she said. “We need to figure out the balance of protecting residents and staff from unwanted behavior and advances, while ensuring that residents can express what they desire in meaningful ways.“This also includes protecting our health care staff: doctors, nurses, home care providers, and administrators.”Listen to the full interview with Erin Yelland on the&nbsp;<a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/dig-deep-ksu/DigDeep-Yelland-PODCASTFINAL.mp3" target="_blank">K-State Research and Extension podcast, “Dig Deep</a>.”What is a sexual advance directive?Statistically, 50% of adults age 85 and older will struggle with some form of dementia – Alzheimer’s disease is overwhelmingly the most common.As the legal community continues to furnish clients with wills, durable powers of attorney, and advance directives, a new document has the potential to appear: the sexual advance directive. This idea first gained widespread attention in 2016, through&nbsp;<a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2813431" target="_blank">a research paper authored by Alexander Boni-Saenz</a>, an associate professor with the Chicago-Kent School of Law.During the summer of 2019, Yelland led a group of students in researching the emerging concept of a&nbsp;sexual&nbsp;advance directive – a document that reads and functions much like its medical parent, but which addresses quality of life rather than its termination. Some of their findings were presented at a conference in January.“We basically described what a sexual advance directive could be; that you are allowing someone to put their sexual wishes in writing, so that long-term care administrators, family members, friends and other decision-makers could understand your preferences,” Yelland said.“More than half of our adult respondents – about 65% – thought this was a great idea, and that such a document should be an option, and that the document should be active if they were to develop some form of dementia in the future.”There are still plenty of details to be worked out. The language of such a document needs to be clarified and standardized. The sexual advance directive needs to be accepted by the legal community as a whole, and recognized as a binding contract. And perhaps last of all, the sexual advance directive will eventually have to be upheld in a court of law, and possibly within a criminal trial.Yelland is taking her research a step further, delving into the more specific details of the document. “What specific activities and behaviors should a sexual advance directive address? Who should the ultimate decision-making authority be? We’re doing research to further our understanding of what this could potentially look like, more from the family science and gerontology side. And then in the legal world, they’re having similar conversations.”“The concept of the sexual advance directive is very much in its infancy, but I don’t think it’s going to take very long for this ‘infant thought’ to grow up,” Yelland said.

K-State specialist studies safe sex between older adults

ABILENE --&nbsp;Employees of Memorial Health System (MHS) recently wore blue jeans at work for a Jeans Day fundraiser. 

Employees who made a donation of at least $5 were allowed to wear blue jeans on the last Friday of February. 

A total donation of $300 was presented to Kids in Crisis of Dickinson County. Kids in Crisis offers assistance for low-income youth living in Dickinson County. 

The day was organized by the MHS Employer of Choice (EOC) committee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583371671994.jpeg" alt="Pictured from left are Sara Boyd, EOC committee member; Haley Jones, EOC committee member; June DeWeese, Kids in Crisis of Dickinson County Coordinator; and Cindy Whittington, EOC committee member. Photo courtesy MHS" />
 <figcaption>Pictured from left are Sara Boyd, EOC committee member; Haley Jones, EOC committee member; June DeWeese, Kids in Crisis of Dickinson County Coordinator; and Cindy Whittington, EOC committee member. Photo courtesy MHS</figcaption>
 </figure>ABILENE --&nbsp;Employees of Memorial Health System (MHS) recently wore blue jeans at work for a Jeans Day fundraiser. Employees who made a donation of at least $5 were allowed to wear blue jeans on the last Friday of February. A total donation of $300 was presented to Kids in Crisis of Dickinson County. Kids in Crisis offers assistance for low-income youth living in Dickinson County. The day was organized by the MHS Employer of Choice (EOC) committee.

MHS employees make Jeans Day donation to Kids in Crisis

Today is Thursday, March 5, the 65th day of 2020. There are 301 days left in the year.

On March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who'd been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people.

In 1766, Antonio de Ulloa arrived in New Orleans to assume his duties as the first Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory, where he encountered resistance from the French residents.

In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. Johnson, the first U.S. president to be impeached, was accused of "high crimes and misdemeanors" stemming from his attempt to fire Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton; the trial ended on May 26 with Johnson's acquittal.

In 1933, in German parliamentary elections, the Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote; the Nazis joined with a conservative nationalist party to gain a slender majority in the Reichstag.

In 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he said: "From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an 'iron curtain' has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe."

In 1953, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died after three decades in power. Composer Sergei Prokofiev died in Moscow at age 61.

In 1963, country music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in the crash of their plane, a Piper Comanche, near Camden, Tennessee, along with pilot Randy Hughes (Cline's manager).

In 1982, comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose in a rented bungalow in Hollywood; he was 33.

In 1983, Country Music Television (CMT) made its debut with the video "It's Four in the Morning," performed by Faron Young.

In 1998, NASA scientists said enough water was frozen in the loose soil of the moon to support a lunar base and perhaps, one day, a human colony.

In 2002, President George W. Bush slapped punishing tariffs of eight to 30 percent on several types of imported steel in an effort to aid the ailing U.S. industry.

In 2003, In a blunt warning to the United States and Britain, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia said they would block any attempt to get U.N. approval for war against Iraq.

In 2013, Fox announced its 24-hour sports cable network called Fox Sports 1, which launched Aug. 17, 2013.

Ten years ago: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, visiting Guatemala, told reporters that demand for narcotics in the United States was fueling drug violence in Central America as she acknowledged a measure of U.S. responsibility for what she called "a terrible criminal scourge." New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said he was stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure." Andree Peel, 105, a member of the World War II Resistance, died in Bristol, England.

Five years ago: The U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was slashed in the face and arm by an assailant in Seoul. Actor Harrison Ford crash-landed his vintage plane on a golf course in Los Angeles after reporting engine failure shortly after takeoff. Convicted murderer Jodi Arias was spared the death penalty as a jury in Phoenix voted 11-1 in favor of execution — not enough to send Arias to death row for the slaying of her lover, Travis Alexander. Islamic State militants continued their campaign targeting cultural heritage sites in territories they controlled in northern Iraq, bulldozing the historic city of Nimrud. Cardinal Edward Egan, 82, the former Archbishop of New York, died.

One year ago: The Santa Anita race course in southern California canceled racing indefinitely to re-examine its dirt surface after the deaths of 21 horses in the preceding two months; the track would remain closed for racing for nearly a month. Forbes magazine proclaimed 21-year-old Kylie Jenner to be the youngest-ever self-made billionaire. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor, announced that he would not join the crowded field of Democrats running for president in 2020. (Bloomberg would reverse course and formally announce his presidential bid in November.)

Today's Birthdays: Actor Paul Sand is 88. Actor James B. Sikking is 86. Actor Dean Stockwell is 84. Actor Fred Williamson is 82. Actress Samantha Eggar is 81. Actor Michael Warren is 74. Actor Eddie Hodges is 73. Singer Eddy Grant is 72. Rock musician Alan Clark (Dire Straits) is 68. Actress-comedian Marsha Warfield is 66. Magician Penn Jillette is 65. Actress Adriana Barraza is 64. Actress Talia Balsam is 61. Rock singers Charlie and Craig Reid (The Proclaimers) are 58. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is 54. Actor Paul Blackthorne is 51. Rock musician John Frusciante is 50. Singer Rome is 50. Actor Kevin Connolly is 46. Actress Eva Mendes is 46. Actress Jill Ritchie is 46. Actress Jolene Blalock is 45. Model Niki Taylor is 45. Actress Kimberly McCullough is 42. Actress Karolina Wydra is 39. Singer-songwriter Amanda Shires is 38. Actress Dominique McElligott is 34. Actor Sterling Knight is 31. Actor Jake Lloyd is 31. Actor Micah Fowler is 22.

Thought for Today: "Tomorrow is a thief of pleasure." — Sir Rex Harrison, British actor (1908-1990).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock.com</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock.com</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Thursday, March 5, the 65th day of 2020. There are 301 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 5, 1770, the Boston Massacre took place as British soldiers who'd been taunted by a crowd of colonists opened fire, killing five people.On this date:In 1766, Antonio de Ulloa arrived in New Orleans to assume his duties as the first Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory, where he encountered resistance from the French residents.In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson began in the U.S. Senate, with Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase presiding. Johnson, the first U.S. president to be impeached, was accused of "high crimes and misdemeanors" stemming from his attempt to fire Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton; the trial ended on May 26 with Johnson's acquittal.In 1933, in German parliamentary elections, the Nazi Party won 44 percent of the vote; the Nazis joined with a conservative nationalist party to gain a slender majority in the Reichstag.In 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain" speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, in which he said: "From Stettin in the Baltic, to Trieste in the Adriatic, an 'iron curtain' has descended across the continent, allowing police governments to rule Eastern Europe."In 1953, Soviet dictator Josef Stalin died after three decades in power. Composer Sergei Prokofiev died in Moscow at age 61.In 1963, country music performers Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins died in the crash of their plane, a Piper Comanche, near Camden, Tennessee, along with pilot Randy Hughes (Cline's manager).In 1982, comedian John Belushi was found dead of a drug overdose in a rented bungalow in Hollywood; he was 33.In 1983, Country Music Television (CMT) made its debut with the video "It's Four in the Morning," performed by Faron Young.In 1998, NASA scientists said enough water was frozen in the loose soil of the moon to support a lunar base and perhaps, one day, a human colony.In 2002, President George W. Bush slapped punishing tariffs of eight to 30 percent on several types of imported steel in an effort to aid the ailing U.S. industry.In 2003, In a blunt warning to the United States and Britain, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Russia said they would block any attempt to get U.N. approval for war against Iraq.In 2013, Fox announced its 24-hour sports cable network called Fox Sports 1, which launched Aug. 17, 2013.Ten years ago: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, visiting Guatemala, told reporters that demand for narcotics in the United States was fueling drug violence in Central America as she acknowledged a measure of U.S. responsibility for what she called "a terrible criminal scourge." New York Democratic Rep. Eric Massa, facing a harassment complaint by a male staffer, said he was stepping down from his seat with "a profound sense of failure." Andree Peel, 105, a member of the World War II Resistance, died in Bristol, England.Five years ago: The U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, Mark Lippert, was slashed in the face and arm by an assailant in Seoul. Actor Harrison Ford crash-landed his vintage plane on a golf course in Los Angeles after reporting engine failure shortly after takeoff. Convicted murderer Jodi Arias was spared the death penalty as a jury in Phoenix voted 11-1 in favor of execution — not enough to send Arias to death row for the slaying of her lover, Travis Alexander. Islamic State militants continued their campaign targeting cultural heritage sites in territories they controlled in northern Iraq, bulldozing the historic city of Nimrud. Cardinal Edward Egan, 82, the former Archbishop of New York, died.One year ago: The Santa Anita race course in southern California canceled racing indefinitely to re-examine its dirt surface after the deaths of 21 horses in the preceding two months; the track would remain closed for racing for nearly a month. Forbes magazine proclaimed 21-year-old Kylie Jenner to be the youngest-ever self-made billionaire. Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York City mayor, announced that he would not join the crowded field of Democrats running for president in 2020. (Bloomberg would reverse course and formally announce his presidential bid in November.)Today's Birthdays: Actor Paul Sand is 88. Actor James B. Sikking is 86. Actor Dean Stockwell is 84. Actor Fred Williamson is 82. Actress Samantha Eggar is 81. Actor Michael Warren is 74. Actor Eddie Hodges is 73. Singer Eddy Grant is 72. Rock musician Alan Clark (Dire Straits) is 68. Actress-comedian Marsha Warfield is 66. Magician Penn Jillette is 65. Actress Adriana Barraza is 64. Actress Talia Balsam is 61. Rock singers Charlie and Craig Reid (The Proclaimers) are 58. Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin is 54. Actor Paul Blackthorne is 51. Rock musician John Frusciante is 50. Singer Rome is 50. Actor Kevin Connolly is 46. Actress Eva Mendes is 46. Actress Jill Ritchie is 46. Actress Jolene Blalock is 45. Model Niki Taylor is 45. Actress Kimberly McCullough is 42. Actress Karolina Wydra is 39. Singer-songwriter Amanda Shires is 38. Actress Dominique McElligott is 34. Actor Sterling Knight is 31. Actor Jake Lloyd is 31. Actor Micah Fowler is 22.Thought for Today: "Tomorrow is a thief of pleasure." — Sir Rex Harrison, British actor (1908-1990).Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- March 5

The group is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. June 5 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 South Santa Fe Avenue, Jane Gates, executive director announced today.

Tickets start at $49 and go on sale at noon Friday. Buy tickets direct from the Stiefel Theatre in person, or by calling 785-827-1998, or online at <a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org">stiefeltheatre.org</a>.

Performer information provided by the Stiefel Theatre

Coming hot off a triumphant, yearlong celebration of their 25th anniversary in 2019, the very last thing Collective Soul plan on doing in 2020 is rest on their laurels. If anything, these five fiery Georgia-bred rockers are only just getting started with the next phase of a thriving career that has seen them move millions of records and wow multitudes of fans all across the globe.

Thanks to the warm reception of their acclaimed 2019 album release Blood, Collective Soul are quite galvanized to add as much fresh material into their live sets as they can. “I think Blood is the beginning of a lot of good music to come,” observes frontman and chief songwriter E Roland, adding that even more new tunes are already in the works. “We’re doing the best that we can do. Blood is an accumulation of all the different styles we’ve used over the years — but it’s still Collective Soul. I think it’s the best we’ve ever done. I know you should think that, but I really do think it’s the best. It’s a good, consistent record. We’re just so proud of it.”

Collective Soul absolutely have a right to be proud of their new music, given that a number of key Blood tracks all fit seamlessly into their always dynamic live sets. Indeed, the hard-charging positivity of “Right as Rain,” the deeply introspective “Observation of Thoughts,” the full-throttle insistence of “Over Me,” and the acoustified good vibes of “Porch Swing” all stand tall live alongside such indelibly durable hits like “Shine,” “December,” “The World I Know,” “Gel,” “AYTA,” and “Heavy.”

Such effortless setlist integration really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how smoothly Collective Soul leapt into the national consciousness with the unbridled achievements of their multi-platinum 1993 debut Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid, a career-making debut album that contains such mega-smash hits like the aforementioned “Shine” and “Breathe.” In one fell swoop, Hints Allegations cemented Collective Soul’s status as the jukebox heroes of a new generation.

The special sonic elixir that fuels Collective Soul’s continued success story is a straightforward one: a profound mixture of insightful songwriting and impeccable band chemistry. “So much of what we do is based on the camaraderie-ship of the band,” Roland acknowledges. “The five us continue to work together as a family, and I’ve never been at more ease — and never been more pleased — than going onstage with these guys night after night.”

All of these fine textural nuances add up to a sharply focused and most exciting Collective Soul 2020, with even more invigorating live sets coming, straight ahead. “We want to play the hits as we always do, but we also love sharing new music with our fans,” concludes Roland. His sacred promise to everyone who attends a Collective Soul show: “We’re going at it hard, everyone! We’re going hard.”

"Heaven has clearly shined its light down on Collective Soul, now entering Year 26 with all cylinders firing, and no end in sight. Come on out and bask in their continual glow," Mike Mettler, official Soulographer, wrote.    

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583369971431.jpeg" alt="Collective Soul. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre" />
 <figcaption>Collective Soul. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre</figcaption>
 </figure>Collective Soul is coming to Salina!The group is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. June 5 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151 South Santa Fe Avenue, Jane Gates, executive director announced today.Tickets start at $49 and go on sale at noon Friday. Buy tickets direct from the Stiefel Theatre in person, or by calling 785-827-1998, or online at <a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org">stiefeltheatre.org</a>.Performer information provided by the Stiefel TheatreComing hot off a triumphant, yearlong celebration of their 25th anniversary in 2019, the very last thing Collective Soul plan on doing in 2020 is rest on their laurels. If anything, these five fiery Georgia-bred rockers are only just getting started with the next phase of a thriving career that has seen them move millions of records and wow multitudes of fans all across the globe.Thanks to the warm reception of their acclaimed 2019 album release Blood, Collective Soul are quite galvanized to add as much fresh material into their live sets as they can. “I think Blood is the beginning of a lot of good music to come,” observes frontman and chief songwriter E Roland, adding that even more new tunes are already in the works. “We’re doing the best that we can do. Blood is an accumulation of all the different styles we’ve used over the years — but it’s still Collective Soul. I think it’s the best we’ve ever done. I know you should think that, but I really do think it’s the best. It’s a good, consistent record. We’re just so proud of it.”Collective Soul absolutely have a right to be proud of their new music, given that a number of key Blood tracks all fit seamlessly into their always dynamic live sets. Indeed, the hard-charging positivity of “Right as Rain,” the deeply introspective “Observation of Thoughts,” the full-throttle insistence of “Over Me,” and the acoustified good vibes of “Porch Swing” all stand tall live alongside such indelibly durable hits like “Shine,” “December,” “The World I Know,” “Gel,” “AYTA,” and “Heavy.”Such effortless setlist integration really shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how smoothly Collective Soul leapt into the national consciousness with the unbridled achievements of their multi-platinum 1993 debut Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid, a career-making debut album that contains such mega-smash hits like the aforementioned “Shine” and “Breathe.” In one fell swoop, Hints Allegations cemented Collective Soul’s status as the jukebox heroes of a new generation.The special sonic elixir that fuels Collective Soul’s continued success story is a straightforward one: a profound mixture of insightful songwriting and impeccable band chemistry. “So much of what we do is based on the camaraderie-ship of the band,” Roland acknowledges. “The five us continue to work together as a family, and I’ve never been at more ease — and never been more pleased — than going onstage with these guys night after night.”All of these fine textural nuances add up to a sharply focused and most exciting Collective Soul 2020, with even more invigorating live sets coming, straight ahead. “We want to play the hits as we always do, but we also love sharing new music with our fans,” concludes Roland. His sacred promise to everyone who attends a Collective Soul show: “We’re going at it hard, everyone! We’re going hard.”"Heaven has clearly shined its light down on Collective Soul, now entering Year 26 with all cylinders firing, and no end in sight. Come on out and bask in their continual glow," Mike Mettler, official Soulographer, wrote.

Collective Soul to perform in Stiefel Theatre

Wow! Inservice and spring break! From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:

Wow! Inservice and spring break! From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD305/">USD 305</a> Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FUSD305%2Fposts%2F2786114438103696&width=500" width="500" height="191" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

USD 305: No school Friday and next week

Lang Diesel, Inc. (LDI) invites all Kansas-based 4-H groups to showcase their club and submit a video entry in the sixth annual LDI 4-H Video Contest starting April 1.

The video with the most fan votes when the contest ends will win a grand prize consisting of a $1,000 donation to their 4-H club and dinner on LDI for the whole 4-H group.

Videos must be no longer than one and a half minutes and creatively describe why the group deserves to win the contest and what they would do with the donation. If your club has won the LDI 4-H Video contest in the past, you are ineligible to win again.

Videos can be submitted April 1 through April 30 on the Lang Diesel Inc. Facebook page.

Voting runs for one week only: May 1 through May 8 and each Facebook user is limited to one vote per contest.

Last year was the fifth year for LDI’s 4-H video contest. The Barton County Jr. Leaders were last year’s winners. Barton County Jr. Leaders’ video featured pictures of the different skills their members had developed through 4-H as well as many of the activities they were involved in.

The $1,000 donation went towards growing their outreach programs to boost involvement in 4-H and to educate youth in their area about agriculture.

Lang Diesel, Inc. (LDI) invites all Kansas-based 4-H groups to showcase their club and submit a video entry in the sixth annual LDI 4-H Video Contest starting April 1.The video with the most fan votes when the contest ends will win a grand prize consisting of a $1,000 donation to their 4-H club and dinner on LDI for the whole 4-H group.Videos must be no longer than one and a half minutes and creatively describe why the group deserves to win the contest and what they would do with the donation. If your club has won the LDI 4-H Video contest in the past, you are ineligible to win again.Videos can be submitted April 1 through April 30 on the Lang Diesel Inc. Facebook page.Voting runs for one week only: May 1 through May 8 and each Facebook user is limited to one vote per contest.Last year was the fifth year for LDI’s 4-H video contest. The Barton County Jr. Leaders were last year’s winners. Barton County Jr. Leaders’ video featured pictures of the different skills their members had developed through 4-H as well as many of the activities they were involved in.The $1,000 donation went towards growing their outreach programs to boost involvement in 4-H and to educate youth in their area about agriculture.LDI’s 4-H Video Contest is an example of LDI’s commitment to serving Kansas through its full-service dealerships, product support and a “doing what it takes” attitude to providecustomers with the best quality products, parts, and service.“4-H programs make a positive impact on young people and provides them leadership opportunities and experiences they will remember their whole life,” said Shelly Macumber,marketing director at LDI. “It’s important to us at LDI to give back to the communities across Kansas in which we live and work, and we are thrilled to support our future leaders.”For more information on the LDI 4-H Video Contest, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LangDieselInc/">Lang Diesel, Inc. </a>Facebook page or stop by one of the twelve dealerships located throughout Kansas.The winning 4-H group will be presented with a $1,000 check signed from LDI following the contest’s completion, and the winning video will be posted to the LDI Facebook page.