Join 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on 910AM 107.5 FM.

Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">here.</a>&nbsp;

9:05-9:30 a.m. Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce gives a chamber update.

9:30-10 a.m. Brad Anderson, executive director of Salina Arts and Humanities gives a recap of how the 48th Annual Smoky Hill River Festival went.

10-10:15 a.m. A recording of Nate King's conversation with Jack Maytum, Senior Broadband Analyst with Design Nine. Maytum has worked with dozens of town, county, and city broadband feasibility and planning studies.

10:15-10:30 a.m. Molly Johnson, committee chair for the 'Old Fashioned Fourth of July' taking place in Lindsborg, Kans. on July 4

10:30-11 a.m.&nbsp;Brenda Gutierrez and Lisa Newman share information about the upcoming Saline County Back to School Fair.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591971280271.jpeg" alt="KINA New logo Blue Black" />
 <figcaption>KINA New logo Blue Black</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTJoin 910KINA's Saturday Morning Show hosts Dave Foor and Nate King this Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m. on 910AM 107.5 FM.Hear highlights about community events, public affairs, and all things happening in Salina. Their approach is friendly, informative, and entertaining. To listen to past 910KINA Saturday Morning Shows head on over to the KINA podcast homepage&nbsp;<a href="http://910kina.com/">here.</a>&nbsp;9:05-9:30 a.m. Renee Duxler, president and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce gives a chamber update.9:30-10 a.m. Brad Anderson, executive director of Salina Arts and Humanities gives a recap of how the 48th Annual Smoky Hill River Festival went.10-10:15 a.m. A recording of Nate King's conversation with Jack Maytum, Senior Broadband Analyst with Design Nine. Maytum has worked with dozens of town, county, and city broadband feasibility and planning studies.10:15-10:30 a.m. Molly Johnson, committee chair for the 'Old Fashioned Fourth of July' taking place in Lindsborg, Kans. on July 410:30-11 a.m.&nbsp;Brenda Gutierrez and Lisa Newman share information about the upcoming Saline County Back to School Fair.

910 KINA Saturday Morning Show Lineup

“I am delighted to continue to create and share memorable performances and experiences with the Salina Symphony this year,” said Yaniv Segal, music director. “From classics to newer works, Cabaret to Disney, and Tchaikovsky to Mozart, we invite you to explore the amazing colors of music together with us and enter the Kaleidoscope that is a symphony orchestra.”

The Kaleidoscope season opens with “Fantastique” October 6 featuring colorful and imaginative music. Salina percussionist Hannah Applequist will command the spotlight in Paul Dooley’s new percussion concerto, The Soaring Souls, an energetic yet lyrical composition inspired by the tragic love story of Francesca da Rimini. 

The adventure continues with Symphonie Fantastique, a highly evocative and expressive work full of fantastical imagery, written by Berlioz in response to his own experiences of heartbreak and unrequited love. Prepare to be transported to a world of passion, drama and excitement with this unforgettable concert.

The Symphony will kick things off November 10 for “Lights, Camera, Cabaret.” with music from the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret followed by two new works by Kyle Saulnier, a multi-instrumentalist and composer who fuses American music with industrial rock. 

Singer Janie Brokenicky and dancer Alison Hiatt will tell the story of Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, an accessible and satirical tale that uses wit, theatrical flair, dancing, cabaret music and a Greek chorus to explore the complexities of human nature and society.

Celebrate the holiday season with the Salina Symphony and Ballet Salina production of Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet, The Nutcracker, Dec. 14 &amp; 15. This beloved story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream never fails to touch the heart and create a lasting memory for the whole family.

Uplifting tunes and exuberant rhythms abound “Rocking Tchaikovsky” January 12. Following a lively opener by Maestro Segal, the incredible principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, Mark Kosower, will perform Friedrich Gulda’s Cello Concerto, a wild and catchy work described by the composer as “jazz, a minuet, rock, a smidgen of polka and a march.” 

On the second half, Tchaikovsky’s monumental and heroic Fifth Symphony paints the ultimate picture of victory over strife. From the lush orchestration to the soaring melodies, you won’t want this concert to end.

Bring the entire family to the Symphony March 1 for Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time, a magical journey of storytelling that only the timeless tales of Disney can evoke. 

Brought to life by the talents of four Broadway caliber singers and featuring clips from the original films, Disney in Concert features beloved music from Encanto, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Lion King and more.

The mainstage season ends May 4 with Mozart’s majestic final work, the Requiem, a masterpiece of both solace and intensity reflective of the timeless themes of life, death and redemption. On the first half, the program opens with a spiritual work by Florence Price featuring principal clarinetist Chris Johnson. Young virtuoso Lun Li will then bring Joseph Bologne’s remarkable and “Mozartean” Ninth Violin Concerto to life.

Encore performances begin September 28 with Chamber Music in the Courtyard, featuring two of Mozart’s most beloved chamber works. The woodwind quintet will present The Melting Pot by Alyssa Morris, K-State associate professor of oboe, with movements titled “Bubbly,” “Sweet” and “Crunchy.” Following the concert, enjoy dinner in Downtown Salina to top off this delightful autumn evening.

Following rave reviews from last year’s event, Andrew Lipke will return to the Stiefel Theatre on January 18 to continue the conversation about how music transcends boundaries. Performing alongside the Salina Symphony String Quartet (featuring Maestro Segal), Andrew will unveil the deep-rooted connection between the history of the string quartet in both classical and contemporary music through an evening of storytelling and performances of rock works, including original music by Andrew himself. Don't miss this exciting 2nd annual collaboration with the Stiefel Theatre.

Out of the Box returns April 26 at Theatre Salina’s Black Box with wide-ranging and exhilarating music championed by Alarm Will Sound, an innovative chamber ensemble described by the New York Times as “one of the most vital and original ensembles on the American music scene” and “as close to being a rock band as a chamber orchestra can be.” 

From dance beats to Ten Thousand Birds, a work about the birds of the Great Plains by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams, get ready to hear new music that is as fun and exciting to listen to as it is to play.

The annual Symphony at Sunset D-Day Commemoration Concert will be held June 7 on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. The outdoor event will feature patriotic and popular music from the Salina Symphony and the Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division Band.

Season Tickets on Sale Now BOGO for New Subscribers

Season tickets are available for $265 and $215. The Symphony is offering buy-one, get-one free season tickets for first-time subscribers. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 785-823-8309 or in person at the Symphony Office, located on the second floor of the Stiefel Theatre. Single tickets will go on sale September 3.

The Salina Symphony is dedicated to enriching lives through artistic music performance and education. For more information, contact the Symphony Office at (785) 823-8309 or visit <a target="_blank" href="http://salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719607254825.jpeg" alt="Salina Symphony Season.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Salina Symphony Season.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Symphony“I am delighted to continue to create and share memorable performances and experiences with the Salina Symphony this year,” said Yaniv Segal, music director. “From classics to newer works, Cabaret to Disney, and Tchaikovsky to Mozart, we invite you to explore the amazing colors of music together with us and enter the Kaleidoscope that is a symphony orchestra.”The Kaleidoscope season opens with “Fantastique” October 6 featuring colorful and imaginative music. Salina percussionist Hannah Applequist will command the spotlight in Paul Dooley’s new percussion concerto, The Soaring Souls, an energetic yet lyrical composition inspired by the tragic love story of Francesca da Rimini. The adventure continues with Symphonie Fantastique, a highly evocative and expressive work full of fantastical imagery, written by Berlioz in response to his own experiences of heartbreak and unrequited love. Prepare to be transported to a world of passion, drama and excitement with this unforgettable concert.The Symphony will kick things off November 10 for “Lights, Camera, Cabaret.” with music from the Tony Award-winning musical Cabaret followed by two new works by Kyle Saulnier, a multi-instrumentalist and composer who fuses American music with industrial rock. Singer Janie Brokenicky and dancer Alison Hiatt will tell the story of Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins, an accessible and satirical tale that uses wit, theatrical flair, dancing, cabaret music and a Greek chorus to explore the complexities of human nature and society.Celebrate the holiday season with the Salina Symphony and Ballet Salina production of Tchaikovsky’s timeless ballet, The Nutcracker, Dec. 14 &amp; 15. This beloved story of a young girl’s Christmas Eve dream never fails to touch the heart and create a lasting memory for the whole family.Uplifting tunes and exuberant rhythms abound “Rocking Tchaikovsky” January 12. Following a lively opener by Maestro Segal, the incredible principal cellist of The Cleveland Orchestra, Mark Kosower, will perform Friedrich Gulda’s Cello Concerto, a wild and catchy work described by the composer as “jazz, a minuet, rock, a smidgen of polka and a march.” On the second half, Tchaikovsky’s monumental and heroic Fifth Symphony paints the ultimate picture of victory over strife. From the lush orchestration to the soaring melodies, you won’t want this concert to end.Bring the entire family to the Symphony March 1 for Disney in Concert: Once Upon a Time, a magical journey of storytelling that only the timeless tales of Disney can evoke. Brought to life by the talents of four Broadway caliber singers and featuring clips from the original films, Disney in Concert features beloved music from Encanto, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Tangled, The Lion King and more.The mainstage season ends May 4 with Mozart’s majestic final work, the Requiem, a masterpiece of both solace and intensity reflective of the timeless themes of life, death and redemption. On the first half, the program opens with a spiritual work by Florence Price featuring principal clarinetist Chris Johnson. Young virtuoso Lun Li will then bring Joseph Bologne’s remarkable and “Mozartean” Ninth Violin Concerto to life.Encore performances begin September 28 with Chamber Music in the Courtyard, featuring two of Mozart’s most beloved chamber works. The woodwind quintet will present The Melting Pot by Alyssa Morris, K-State associate professor of oboe, with movements titled “Bubbly,” “Sweet” and “Crunchy.” Following the concert, enjoy dinner in Downtown Salina to top off this delightful autumn evening.Following rave reviews from last year’s event, Andrew Lipke will return to the Stiefel Theatre on January 18 to continue the conversation about how music transcends boundaries. Performing alongside the Salina Symphony String Quartet (featuring Maestro Segal), Andrew will unveil the deep-rooted connection between the history of the string quartet in both classical and contemporary music through an evening of storytelling and performances of rock works, including original music by Andrew himself. Don't miss this exciting 2nd annual collaboration with the Stiefel Theatre.Out of the Box returns April 26 at Theatre Salina’s Black Box with wide-ranging and exhilarating music championed by Alarm Will Sound, an innovative chamber ensemble described by the New York Times as “one of the most vital and original ensembles on the American music scene” and “as close to being a rock band as a chamber orchestra can be.” From dance beats to Ten Thousand Birds, a work about the birds of the Great Plains by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams, get ready to hear new music that is as fun and exciting to listen to as it is to play.The annual Symphony at Sunset D-Day Commemoration Concert will be held June 7 on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene. The outdoor event will feature patriotic and popular music from the Salina Symphony and the Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division Band.Season Tickets on Sale Now BOGO for New SubscribersSeason tickets are available for $265 and $215. The Symphony is offering buy-one, get-one free season tickets for first-time subscribers. Tickets may be ordered by phone at 785-823-8309 or in person at the Symphony Office, located on the second floor of the Stiefel Theatre. Single tickets will go on sale September 3.The Salina Symphony is dedicated to enriching lives through artistic music performance and education. For more information, contact the Symphony Office at (785) 823-8309 or visit <a target="_blank" href="http://salinasymphony.org">salinasymphony.org</a>.

The Salina Symphony announces its 'Kaleidoscope' 2024-2025 season

<a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>Director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University

What do you take with you when you travel? A suitcase? Extra clothes? A book to read?

Today we’ll learn about a group of people who traveled halfway around the globe to Kansas 150 years ago. They brought with them something that would change the history of Kansas and the nation. I’m referring to the Mennonite families who brought with them Turkey Red wheat.

Fern Bartel is director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Bartel grew up at Goessel, attended Emporia State and met and married her husband. She enjoys art and volunteered on the board of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum for 15 years before becoming director in 2017.

LISTEN:&nbsp;🎙<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f22652ff-ed46-4cd6-95d7-5e22969eeba3">King in the Community — Nikki Goding, Salina City Clerk</a>

2024 is a special year in Goessel. It was 150 years ago that Mennonite families on the plains of Ukraine emigrated to the plains of Kansas. Fifty years ago, on the centennial of that migration, Goessel dedicated a new museum to share that story. The museum has now grown into eight buildings in a village-like setting.

In 1874, Mennonite farmers and their families in southern Russia chose to migrate because their religious freedoms were being curtailed by the government. The Santa Fe Railroad recruited them to come to the central plains of the United States, and built barracks-like structures called Immigrant Houses as temporary housing for the arriving families.

Many Mennonites made the journey and settled in southcentral Kansas. They brought with them seeds of Turkey Red winter wheat in large jars and sacks.

This variety of wheat would prove well-suited to the Kansas climate. According to the Kansas Wheat Commission, its introduction “revolutionized the wheat industry in Kansas, and Turkey Red wheat is now the ancestor to all hard red winter wheat varieties grown across the plains today.”

Alexanderwohl was the name of one of the southern Russian villages from which some of the Mennonites came. When immigrant houses were built here, a church that carried the village name was built nearby. The Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church is still active in Goessel today.

The city was named after Captain&nbsp;<a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_von_Goessel">Kurt von Goessel</a>&nbsp;who went down with his ship after it was rammed in the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel">English Channel</a>.

Almost all of the original population of Goessel was Mennonite. After the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum was established, it came to include many display cases that traced the lineage and descendants of the first settlers.

The first building to be included in the museum complex was the Goessel Preparatory School, which was constructed in 1906. In later years, it served as the high school’s industrial arts classroom until the 1970s. The proposed demise of this building sparked the idea of a museum and led to the building being moved to its current site. A replica of a railroad Immigrant House also was constructed.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/31f6d68a-8395-4efd-8526-48808a883b85">Wheat Scoop: Gone with the Wind</a>

A new building constructed in 1974 was called the Turkey Red Wheat Palace. That includes a large variety of antique farm equipment plus the Wheat Straw Liberty Bell. This is a giant replica of the Liberty Bell, constructed of wheat and straw over wire and tubing. It was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute and built by the Mennonites at Goessel to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial.

The bell is eight and a half feet tall and accurate in every detail. The body is straw and the crack is marked by wheat berries outlined by black thread.

Other buildings added to the complex and their years of construction include the 1902 Schroeder Barn, the 1911 Friesen House, the 1910 Goessel State Bank, the 1875 South Bloomfield School, and the 1875 Krause House. The museum has drawn visitors from across the nation and beyond.

It’s a remarkable resource to be found in a rural community such as Goessel, population 556 people. Now, that’s rural.

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goesselmuseum.com/">www.goesselmuseum.com</a>.

What do you take with you when you travel? We’re so thankful that these Mennonite families brought Turkey Red Wheat with them, and we’re grateful that Fern Bartel and others are making a difference by preserving and sharing this heritage. For modern-day visitors, it is worth the travel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719509143759.jpeg" alt="Fern Bartel is director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Bartel grew up at Goessel, attended Emporia State and met and married her husband. She enjoys art and volunteered on the board of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum for 15 years before becoming director in 2017. Image Courtesy Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development" />
 <figcaption>Fern Bartel is director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Bartel grew up at Goessel, attended Emporia State and met and married her husband. She enjoys art and volunteered on the board of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum for 15 years before becoming director in 2017. Image Courtesy Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:rwilson@ksu.edu" target="_blank">By RON WILSON </a>Director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State UniversityWhat do you take with you when you travel? A suitcase? Extra clothes? A book to read?Today we’ll learn about a group of people who traveled halfway around the globe to Kansas 150 years ago. They brought with them something that would change the history of Kansas and the nation. I’m referring to the Mennonite families who brought with them Turkey Red wheat.Fern Bartel is director of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum in Goessel, Kansas. Bartel grew up at Goessel, attended Emporia State and met and married her husband. She enjoys art and volunteered on the board of the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum for 15 years before becoming director in 2017. LISTEN:&nbsp;🎙<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f22652ff-ed46-4cd6-95d7-5e22969eeba3">King in the Community — Nikki Goding, Salina City Clerk</a>2024 is a special year in Goessel. It was 150 years ago that Mennonite families on the plains of Ukraine emigrated to the plains of Kansas. Fifty years ago, on the centennial of that migration, Goessel dedicated a new museum to share that story. The museum has now grown into eight buildings in a village-like setting.In 1874, Mennonite farmers and their families in southern Russia chose to migrate because their religious freedoms were being curtailed by the government. The Santa Fe Railroad recruited them to come to the central plains of the United States, and built barracks-like structures called Immigrant Houses as temporary housing for the arriving families.Many Mennonites made the journey and settled in southcentral Kansas. They brought with them seeds of Turkey Red winter wheat in large jars and sacks.This variety of wheat would prove well-suited to the Kansas climate. According to the Kansas Wheat Commission, its introduction “revolutionized the wheat industry in Kansas, and Turkey Red wheat is now the ancestor to all hard red winter wheat varieties grown across the plains today.”Alexanderwohl was the name of one of the southern Russian villages from which some of the Mennonites came. When immigrant houses were built here, a church that carried the village name was built nearby. The Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church is still active in Goessel today.The city was named after Captain&nbsp;<a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_von_Goessel">Kurt von Goessel</a>&nbsp;who went down with his ship after it was rammed in the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Channel">English Channel</a>.Almost all of the original population of Goessel was Mennonite. After the Mennonite Heritage and Agricultural Museum was established, it came to include many display cases that traced the lineage and descendants of the first settlers.The first building to be included in the museum complex was the Goessel Preparatory School, which was constructed in 1906. In later years, it served as the high school’s industrial arts classroom until the 1970s. The proposed demise of this building sparked the idea of a museum and led to the building being moved to its current site. A replica of a railroad Immigrant House also was constructed.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/31f6d68a-8395-4efd-8526-48808a883b85">Wheat Scoop: Gone with the Wind</a>A new building constructed in 1974 was called the Turkey Red Wheat Palace. That includes a large variety of antique farm equipment plus the Wheat Straw Liberty Bell. This is a giant replica of the Liberty Bell, constructed of wheat and straw over wire and tubing. It was commissioned by the Smithsonian Institute and built by the Mennonites at Goessel to commemorate the nation’s bicentennial.The bell is eight and a half feet tall and accurate in every detail. The body is straw and the crack is marked by wheat berries outlined by black thread.Other buildings added to the complex and their years of construction include the 1902 Schroeder Barn, the 1911 Friesen House, the 1910 Goessel State Bank, the 1875 South Bloomfield School, and the 1875 Krause House. The museum has drawn visitors from across the nation and beyond.It’s a remarkable resource to be found in a rural community such as Goessel, population 556 people. Now, that’s rural.For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goesselmuseum.com/">www.goesselmuseum.com</a>.What do you take with you when you travel? We’re so thankful that these Mennonite families brought Turkey Red Wheat with them, and we’re grateful that Fern Bartel and others are making a difference by preserving and sharing this heritage. For modern-day visitors, it is worth the travel.

KSRE — Now That’s Rural: Fern Bartel, Mennonite Museum

By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina Post

The Saline County Commission met on Tuesday, June 25, where all five commissioners discussed a Pride Month proclamation, Right of Way Acquisition with Saline County Road and Bridge and its last action item — procuring insurance through a pool.

District One — Monte Shadwick District Two — Robert Vidricksen District Three — Rodger Sparks District Four — James Weese District Five — Chairman Joe Hay Jr.

Raiden Gonzales, the Smoky Hills Equality Coalition secretary, presented the 2024 Pride Month Proclamation to commissioners and provided some details on the last few Pride events.

Once Gonzales finished his presentation, Chairman Hay excitedly stood up to hand him the proclamation, but Shadwick pushed the motion, which Weese seconded. The motion passed 5-0, and Saline County proclaimed June as Pride Month.

Justin Mader, the Saline County Engineer, then proposed a new Road and Bridge project that needed commissioner approval to claim the right of way to improve Simpson and Schippel roads.

The project totaled $12,000, and commissioners approved it unanimously.

As property, casualty, liability and cyber security insurance premiums continue to climb across the country, Saline County Commissioners searched for an alternative option since its regular Travelers Insurance jumped by almost $150,000.

During last week's commission meeting, Saline County Administrator Phil Smith-Hanes told commissioners that with the increasing premiums, he planned to bring possible insurance options to commissioners this week.

"They've gone up so significantly that I felt it would not be responsible not to look at other options," Smith-Hanes said during last week's meeting.

This week, Smith-Hanes presented that option to all five commissioners — the Kansas County Association Multiline Pool or KCAMP.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3ce3a991-b8dc-4cf1-9cc3-cf4fc0050885">Saline County to host broadband community forums this week</a>

KCAMP, established in 1991, now works with 79 Kansas counties, with Butler County accounting for the largest population in its membership.

Smith-Hanes described KCAMP as a "risk-management pool," which is how the county obtains workers' compensation insurance. Pool insurance is also popular among public entities, with 80% of school districts, counties and municipalities using this type of insurance for coverage.

"This is another one of those circumstances where Saline County is in a weird size position," Smith-Hanes said. "If we were three times smaller than we are, we would have done this 25 years ago. If we were three times larger than we are, then we would self-insure."

Saline County's limited size has allowed commissioners to continue procuring insurance through the commercial market, where most commercial insurance groups turn away from larger populations.

The new Travelers Insurance premium totaled $633,519, but switching to KCAMP would cost $597,715 for 2025, saving the county more than $40,000. Although it would save the county $40,000 next year, it is still more than $100,000 more than last year's insurance cost, which totaled $485,837.

"We depend on the staff, or at least I depend on the staff to bring us the best options that we can get," Hay said.

Smith-Hanes responded with, "And none of these options are good."

Once commissioners aired their concerns with the switch, Smith-Hanes requested that KCAMP Administrator and CEO David Luke present further information on the pool insurance model.

Vidricksen asked about the reliability of pool insurance and how Saline County's size would impact future membership prices.

Luke shared some advantages of switching to pool insurance membership, including increased rate stability and transparency, alongside an attractive $100,000 deductible per damaging event. 

With traditional insurance, that deductible would be $250,000 per damaged structure with this year's rate increases.

"That's a hefty self-insurance program that you probably haven't intended yourself to get into," Luke said. "That's a significant change that's being thrust on you without being able to deliberate and decide if that's what you want to do."

Another aspect Luke touched on was that members of the insurance pool can deliberate and weigh in on rate and service changes regularly months before the renewal cycle. Luke said that when the organization had its largest rate increase, it had notified its members six months in advance.

Vidricksen shared additional concerns, prompting Smith-Hanes to ask Mark Skidmore, president of Iron Insurance Partners, to share his thoughts.

LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/eae10ec3-c65e-4809-9b6a-33c0ab90fe57">🎙King in the Community — Dr. Matt Thompson, KWU President/CEO</a>

"I think given everything we've seen here today, we should lean in," Skidmore said. "As a taxpayer, I really think you guys should go into KCAMP."

"We can stay with Travelers, but we don't know what that'll look like in a year."

Once Skidmore finished his thoughts and answered a few questions, Vidricksen said he changed his mind about the pool insurance idea.

"You're saying things that have calmed me somewhat," Vidricksen said. "Switched my mind 180 degrees all of a sudden — the fact that you're telling me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear."

Shadwick then moved for the commission to vote on the matter, which Weese seconded. Commissioners unanimously approved the new insurance model.

Commissioners also held two executive sessions where they took no action.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697467290838.jpeg" alt="The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier" />
 <figcaption>The Saline County and Salina City building at 300 West Ash Street in Salina. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier</figcaption>
 </figure>By OLIVIA BERGMEIER Lead Reporter - Salina PostThe Saline County Commission met on Tuesday, June 25, where all five commissioners discussed a Pride Month proclamation, Right of Way Acquisition with Saline County Road and Bridge and its last action item — procuring insurance through a pool.Board of County Commissioners:District One — Monte Shadwick District Two — Robert Vidricksen District Three — Rodger Sparks District Four — James Weese District Five — Chairman Joe Hay Jr.Raiden Gonzales, the Smoky Hills Equality Coalition secretary, presented the 2024 Pride Month Proclamation to commissioners and provided some details on the last few Pride events.Once Gonzales finished his presentation, Chairman Hay excitedly stood up to hand him the proclamation, but Shadwick pushed the motion, which Weese seconded. The motion passed 5-0, and Saline County proclaimed June as Pride Month.Justin Mader, the Saline County Engineer, then proposed a new Road and Bridge project that needed commissioner approval to claim the right of way to improve Simpson and Schippel roads.The project totaled $12,000, and commissioners approved it unanimously.<h2>A new way for Saline County insurance</h2>As property, casualty, liability and cyber security insurance premiums continue to climb across the country, Saline County Commissioners searched for an alternative option since its regular Travelers Insurance jumped by almost $150,000.During last week's commission meeting, Saline County Administrator Phil Smith-Hanes told commissioners that with the increasing premiums, he planned to bring possible insurance options to commissioners this week."They've gone up so significantly that I felt it would not be responsible not to look at other options," Smith-Hanes said during last week's meeting.This week, Smith-Hanes presented that option to all five commissioners — the Kansas County Association Multiline Pool or KCAMP.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/3ce3a991-b8dc-4cf1-9cc3-cf4fc0050885">Saline County to host broadband community forums this week</a>KCAMP, established in 1991, now works with 79 Kansas counties, with Butler County accounting for the largest population in its membership.Smith-Hanes described KCAMP as a "risk-management pool," which is how the county obtains workers' compensation insurance. Pool insurance is also popular among public entities, with 80% of school districts, counties and municipalities using this type of insurance for coverage."This is another one of those circumstances where Saline County is in a weird size position," Smith-Hanes said. "If we were three times smaller than we are, we would have done this 25 years ago. If we were three times larger than we are, then we would self-insure."Saline County's limited size has allowed commissioners to continue procuring insurance through the commercial market, where most commercial insurance groups turn away from larger populations.The new Travelers Insurance premium totaled $633,519, but switching to KCAMP would cost $597,715 for 2025, saving the county more than $40,000. Although it would save the county $40,000 next year, it is still more than $100,000 more than last year's insurance cost, which totaled $485,837."We depend on the staff, or at least I depend on the staff to bring us the best options that we can get," Hay said.Smith-Hanes responded with, "And none of these options are good."Once commissioners aired their concerns with the switch, Smith-Hanes requested that KCAMP Administrator and CEO David Luke present further information on the pool insurance model.Vidricksen asked about the reliability of pool insurance and how Saline County's size would impact future membership prices.Luke shared some advantages of switching to pool insurance membership, including increased rate stability and transparency, alongside an attractive $100,000 deductible per damaging event. With traditional insurance, that deductible would be $250,000 per damaged structure with this year's rate increases."That's a hefty self-insurance program that you probably haven't intended yourself to get into," Luke said. "That's a significant change that's being thrust on you without being able to deliberate and decide if that's what you want to do."Another aspect Luke touched on was that members of the insurance pool can deliberate and weigh in on rate and service changes regularly months before the renewal cycle. Luke said that when the organization had its largest rate increase, it had notified its members six months in advance.Vidricksen shared additional concerns, prompting Smith-Hanes to ask Mark Skidmore, president of Iron Insurance Partners, to share his thoughts.LISTEN:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/eae10ec3-c65e-4809-9b6a-33c0ab90fe57">🎙King in the Community — Dr. Matt Thompson, KWU President/CEO</a>"I think given everything we've seen here today, we should lean in," Skidmore said. "As a taxpayer, I really think you guys should go into KCAMP.""We can stay with Travelers, but we don't know what that'll look like in a year."Once Skidmore finished his thoughts and answered a few questions, Vidricksen said he changed his mind about the pool insurance idea."You're saying things that have calmed me somewhat," Vidricksen said. "Switched my mind 180 degrees all of a sudden — the fact that you're telling me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear."Shadwick then moved for the commission to vote on the matter, which Weese seconded. Commissioners unanimously approved the new insurance model.<h2>Informational Items</h2><ol>
 <li>Recommended Budget for 2025</li><li>County Administrator Update </li>
 </ol>Commissioners also held two executive sessions where they took no action.<h2>Tuesday, July 2 Agenda Items</h2><ol>
 <li>Road and Bridge Update</li><li>Emergency Management Update </li><li>ARPA - Ambulance RFA </li>
 </ol>

Saline County Commission switches to cost-saving insurance model, approves Pride Month proclamation

The lives of one Kansas farm family were forever changed after a large and violent long-track tornado tore across north central Kansas on May 25, 2015. Ranking as one of the most violent tornadoes of the season with an EF4 rating and estimated winds of 180 miles per hour, the funnel was on the ground for more than a staggering 90 minutes, bending railroad tracks and snapping trees three or four feet wide in half.&nbsp;

The worst damage was to a single farmstead one mile southwest of Chapman, where the home and all the outbuildings were completely blown away as the operation’s matriarch hid in the basement underneath pillows. But what could be only a story of devastation is also one of hope, community and resilience for Ken and Deb Wood, who shared their story with Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations and host of the Wheat’s on Your Mind podcast.

Today, Ken is a retired wheat farmer, who has served on the boards of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the National Association of Wheat Growers. He still serves as a board member for the National Wheat Foundation. Deb works as a family resource management agent for K-State Research and Extension in Salina.

The day the tornado struck wasn’t expected to be a very severe weather day. Ken was away in Hays for KAWG meetings and Deb went to and came home from work like normal. Their farmstead was picturesque, located in a river bottom with a traditional farmhouse, nine outbuildings and all the machinery you would expect on a working farm – minus the combines that were stored at a different location. Ken had all his corn and about half of his soybeans planted and he recalled he was three weeks to a month out from wheat harvest.

Deb came home like any other day, got a bite to eat and had the news on. There was a storm building east of Bennington, but it was Kansas and May, so thunderstorms and tornadoes are just part of the normal weather broadcast.

“There’s tornadoes around Kansas all the time, so I didn’t think too awful much of it until things started getting closer,” Deb said. “Looking back, if I knew then what I know now, I would have put as much stuff into my vehicle as I possibly could have and gotten the heck out of Dodge.”

Ken stayed in Hays for supper. He got an alert on his phone that there was some severe weather developing, but he just watched as it developed like a normal storm. He got on the road and headed for home, but the longer he drove, the more he realized the storm was developing into something dangerous.

In Kansas, tornadoes typically move from the southwest to the northeast or due north. This night’s tornado moved west to east, took a right turn, went south across I-70 and hit the Wood’s farmstead out of the northwest as a monster.

“When you live in Kansas, you spend a lot of time in the basement when there’s a warning,” Deb said. “Most of the time, I go downstairs and I just kind of sit there, listen to the radio and wait for it to be over with. I had done that and then I had gone back up as I was getting texts from people. And that’s when I started worrying.”

Deb quickly gathered what she could – some medicine, work clothes and, importantly, Ken’s work boots. Then she ducked under a desk in the basement, taking pillows off the bed in the room and stuffing them around her. Still, it didn’t occur to her that the storm would take everything else.

Then the storm hit. The glass broke. The subfloor was totally blown away. And the entire house was gone.

“There was nothing left at the farm and I mean nothing left,” Deb said. “There was just nothing. It just chewed everything up into little pieces.”

The glass all broke, it ripped off the subfloor totally.&nbsp;The house’s center beam broke into two and a wall landed on Deb. Then it started raining and then it started hailing. Still, Deb kept her cool.

“I called Ken to let him know we’d taken a direct hit, but I was fine, but I couldn’t get out,” Deb remembered.

A local fireman who had lost part of his own farming operation in a 2008 tornado that hit nearby Chapman was first on the scene. Deb could hear him calling for her, so she started hitting on top of the wall. He removed what he could but had to wait for help to get her out entirely.

Ken got the call when he was in nearby Abilene. He raced down the road but was stopped on his normal route on Old 40 Highway because there were poles across the road. When a deputy came flying around the corner and heading north towards I-70, Ken got behind him and followed him all the way – not stopping at a single stop sign, only slowing when they hit a heavy hailstorm.

By the time Ken got home, it was still light enough to see the damage. Deb had very deep bruises on her back, but no broken bones. Although they had no house, no clothes, no food, the community immediately rallied together. Ken and Deb stayed that night at Ken’s brother’s house, but neither slept a wink.

The next morning brought help that did not stop – from family, friends, neighbors, the community, former co-workers, the KARL program, the wheat family. Anyone and everyone who could offer help did. Two former teachers of Ken offered to rent them a two-story farmhouse west of Junction City that was fully furnished. The couple moved in with half a trash bag full of clothes and a pan of lasagna from a neighbor and lived there for 10 months. Although, the fridge was already so full of offerings that the lasagna barely fit.

In addition to the farmhouse and yard, the couple lost irrigation pivots, bins, other buildings and a couple of pieces of equipment.&nbsp;But one of the hardest chores was cleaning up all the acres where debris was scattered like crumbs.

“It literally just chewed stuff up and so there was a lot of stuff that was spread out over the fields,” Ken said. “Little pieces. You’d find a handle off a truck, and there was a lot of things that you couldn’t tell what they were.”

In addition to picking up individual pieces of debris, Ken and his helpers burned wheat stubble and then had to mine the debris hidden under the stubble. It couldn’t be done all at once, so it was done one smoky, dusty terrace at a time.

Within just a few weeks, it was time for wheat harvest. Luckily, Ken was no stranger to borrowing trucks or tractors from his brother or neighbors. And wheat harvest felt like a return to something normal.

“That was the first thing that felt like I was doing something that’s not picking stuff up and not tornado-related,” Ken said. “Although harvest was a real trip, cutting around stuff out in the wheat fields, that was what got me back into the right frame of mind to at least start a plan.”

The couple navigated insurance and deciding where and how to rebuild their farmstead. The home builders broke ground at the end of September and they moved into their brand-new home the first weekend of the next April.

Their story does not end there. When health issues popped up, Ken made the difficult decision to retire. One of the neighbors who stepped up after the tornado and brought out a loader to help out had a son coming home and wanted to expand his operation. So Ken and Deb made the calls – first to their landlords and then to others – it was time to turn over the operation to a new generation.

“One weekend, that’s about all I did was call people and let them know,” Ken said. “As it turned out, I’ve been way healthier than I was expecting to be from this whole deal, so I could have kept going. But once you make the decision, I’ve been at peace with it pretty much.”

While COVID-19 disrupted retirement travel plans, the Woods have found themselves as busy as ever. Deb now helps share her story about taking an inventory of both everything in the machine shed and in the house, but also putting together a grab-and-go box with all the policy and phone numbers needed if the worst happens. And Ken found he missed serving on wheat industry boards, so he quickly applied when a spot opened up for the board for the National Wheat Foundation.

“Now I’m probably busier than I want to be, but it’s self-inflicted,” Ken said. “So I’m good with that.”

Through it all – farming, tornadoes, rebuilding a home, retiring – Ken and Deb know one truth above all else – it’s the people around you that matter most.

“I feel like we’ve come out on the other side stronger and more resilient,” Deb said. “All of the people that helped us get through the recovery; we couldn’t have done it without them. Building those relationships and keeping in touch with people and having that community – it really helps you get through things like this.”

Listen to Ken and Deb’s full story on the podcast or find other episodes of “Wheat’s On Your Mind” at&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RmWZ_PX4vSzc-5iqlzbNHOLHxJSkNwPEmmTeP0wbLGU7Wa3YmrBYy2ueagzcICGKgyrH-D0X-ekqbAMEAn55kDw9CdegRL7BFcnVEr0Uv4s17Bv5ySNUYmJZ-4UMDoEKqXeOr5XUH6IaUlrNgdZASsDwXrXneqmL&amp;c=s9TZlWvQvJVkm0uHr-SJ8_G99JTAxPjmx4qltvsrMhENW9HQPZQUCQ==&amp;ch=S_m_534jOf3J3zYLZ0klmXQXLWpQsKIWJ0xFaMYP37xPAJ1IRmS6Ag==">wheatsonyourmind.com</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655426692793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatThe lives of one Kansas farm family were forever changed after a large and violent long-track tornado tore across north central Kansas on May 25, 2015. Ranking as one of the most violent tornadoes of the season with an EF4 rating and estimated winds of 180 miles per hour, the funnel was on the ground for more than a staggering 90 minutes, bending railroad tracks and snapping trees three or four feet wide in half.&nbsp;The worst damage was to a single farmstead one mile southwest of Chapman, where the home and all the outbuildings were completely blown away as the operation’s matriarch hid in the basement underneath pillows. But what could be only a story of devastation is also one of hope, community and resilience for Ken and Deb Wood, who shared their story with Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations and host of the Wheat’s on Your Mind podcast.Today, Ken is a retired wheat farmer, who has served on the boards of the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and the National Association of Wheat Growers. He still serves as a board member for the National Wheat Foundation. Deb works as a family resource management agent for K-State Research and Extension in Salina.The day the tornado struck wasn’t expected to be a very severe weather day. Ken was away in Hays for KAWG meetings and Deb went to and came home from work like normal. Their farmstead was picturesque, located in a river bottom with a traditional farmhouse, nine outbuildings and all the machinery you would expect on a working farm – minus the combines that were stored at a different location. Ken had all his corn and about half of his soybeans planted and he recalled he was three weeks to a month out from wheat harvest.Deb came home like any other day, got a bite to eat and had the news on. There was a storm building east of Bennington, but it was Kansas and May, so thunderstorms and tornadoes are just part of the normal weather broadcast.“There’s tornadoes around Kansas all the time, so I didn’t think too awful much of it until things started getting closer,” Deb said. “Looking back, if I knew then what I know now, I would have put as much stuff into my vehicle as I possibly could have and gotten the heck out of Dodge.”Ken stayed in Hays for supper. He got an alert on his phone that there was some severe weather developing, but he just watched as it developed like a normal storm. He got on the road and headed for home, but the longer he drove, the more he realized the storm was developing into something dangerous.In Kansas, tornadoes typically move from the southwest to the northeast or due north. This night’s tornado moved west to east, took a right turn, went south across I-70 and hit the Wood’s farmstead out of the northwest as a monster.“When you live in Kansas, you spend a lot of time in the basement when there’s a warning,” Deb said. “Most of the time, I go downstairs and I just kind of sit there, listen to the radio and wait for it to be over with. I had done that and then I had gone back up as I was getting texts from people. And that’s when I started worrying.”Deb quickly gathered what she could – some medicine, work clothes and, importantly, Ken’s work boots. Then she ducked under a desk in the basement, taking pillows off the bed in the room and stuffing them around her. Still, it didn’t occur to her that the storm would take everything else.Then the storm hit. The glass broke. The subfloor was totally blown away. And the entire house was gone.“There was nothing left at the farm and I mean nothing left,” Deb said. “There was just nothing. It just chewed everything up into little pieces.”The glass all broke, it ripped off the subfloor totally.&nbsp;The house’s center beam broke into two and a wall landed on Deb. Then it started raining and then it started hailing. Still, Deb kept her cool.“I called Ken to let him know we’d taken a direct hit, but I was fine, but I couldn’t get out,” Deb remembered.A local fireman who had lost part of his own farming operation in a 2008 tornado that hit nearby Chapman was first on the scene. Deb could hear him calling for her, so she started hitting on top of the wall. He removed what he could but had to wait for help to get her out entirely.Ken got the call when he was in nearby Abilene. He raced down the road but was stopped on his normal route on Old 40 Highway because there were poles across the road. When a deputy came flying around the corner and heading north towards I-70, Ken got behind him and followed him all the way – not stopping at a single stop sign, only slowing when they hit a heavy hailstorm.By the time Ken got home, it was still light enough to see the damage. Deb had very deep bruises on her back, but no broken bones. Although they had no house, no clothes, no food, the community immediately rallied together. Ken and Deb stayed that night at Ken’s brother’s house, but neither slept a wink.The next morning brought help that did not stop – from family, friends, neighbors, the community, former co-workers, the KARL program, the wheat family. Anyone and everyone who could offer help did. Two former teachers of Ken offered to rent them a two-story farmhouse west of Junction City that was fully furnished. The couple moved in with half a trash bag full of clothes and a pan of lasagna from a neighbor and lived there for 10 months. Although, the fridge was already so full of offerings that the lasagna barely fit.In addition to the farmhouse and yard, the couple lost irrigation pivots, bins, other buildings and a couple of pieces of equipment.&nbsp;But one of the hardest chores was cleaning up all the acres where debris was scattered like crumbs.“It literally just chewed stuff up and so there was a lot of stuff that was spread out over the fields,” Ken said. “Little pieces. You’d find a handle off a truck, and there was a lot of things that you couldn’t tell what they were.”In addition to picking up individual pieces of debris, Ken and his helpers burned wheat stubble and then had to mine the debris hidden under the stubble. It couldn’t be done all at once, so it was done one smoky, dusty terrace at a time.Within just a few weeks, it was time for wheat harvest. Luckily, Ken was no stranger to borrowing trucks or tractors from his brother or neighbors. And wheat harvest felt like a return to something normal.“That was the first thing that felt like I was doing something that’s not picking stuff up and not tornado-related,” Ken said. “Although harvest was a real trip, cutting around stuff out in the wheat fields, that was what got me back into the right frame of mind to at least start a plan.”The couple navigated insurance and deciding where and how to rebuild their farmstead. The home builders broke ground at the end of September and they moved into their brand-new home the first weekend of the next April.Their story does not end there. When health issues popped up, Ken made the difficult decision to retire. One of the neighbors who stepped up after the tornado and brought out a loader to help out had a son coming home and wanted to expand his operation. So Ken and Deb made the calls – first to their landlords and then to others – it was time to turn over the operation to a new generation.“One weekend, that’s about all I did was call people and let them know,” Ken said. “As it turned out, I’ve been way healthier than I was expecting to be from this whole deal, so I could have kept going. But once you make the decision, I’ve been at peace with it pretty much.”While COVID-19 disrupted retirement travel plans, the Woods have found themselves as busy as ever. Deb now helps share her story about taking an inventory of both everything in the machine shed and in the house, but also putting together a grab-and-go box with all the policy and phone numbers needed if the worst happens. And Ken found he missed serving on wheat industry boards, so he quickly applied when a spot opened up for the board for the National Wheat Foundation.“Now I’m probably busier than I want to be, but it’s self-inflicted,” Ken said. “So I’m good with that.”Through it all – farming, tornadoes, rebuilding a home, retiring – Ken and Deb know one truth above all else – it’s the people around you that matter most.“I feel like we’ve come out on the other side stronger and more resilient,” Deb said. “All of the people that helped us get through the recovery; we couldn’t have done it without them. Building those relationships and keeping in touch with people and having that community – it really helps you get through things like this.”Listen to Ken and Deb’s full story on the podcast or find other episodes of “Wheat’s On Your Mind” at&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RmWZ_PX4vSzc-5iqlzbNHOLHxJSkNwPEmmTeP0wbLGU7Wa3YmrBYy2ueagzcICGKgyrH-D0X-ekqbAMEAn55kDw9CdegRL7BFcnVEr0Uv4s17Bv5ySNUYmJZ-4UMDoEKqXeOr5XUH6IaUlrNgdZASsDwXrXneqmL&amp;c=s9TZlWvQvJVkm0uHr-SJ8_G99JTAxPjmx4qltvsrMhENW9HQPZQUCQ==&amp;ch=S_m_534jOf3J3zYLZ0klmXQXLWpQsKIWJ0xFaMYP37xPAJ1IRmS6Ag==">wheatsonyourmind.com</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Wheat Scoop: Gone with the Wind

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appears poised to allow emergency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortions</a>&nbsp;in Idaho when a pregnant patient’s health is at serious risk, according to a copy of the opinion briefly posted on the court's website Wednesday and obtained by Bloomberg News.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rJo5436tVr08/v0">document</a>&nbsp;suggests the court will find that it should not have gotten involved in the case over Idaho's strict abortion ban so quickly. By a 6-3 vote it would reinstate a lower court order that had allowed hospitals in the state to perform emergency abortions to protect a pregnant patient’s health, Bloomberg said.

Such an outcome would leave the issues at the heart of the case unresolved. It would also mean key questions remain unanswered, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurrence.

“Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is delay,” she wrote.

The Supreme Court acknowledged that its publications unit inadvertently posted Wednesday. An opinion in the Idaho case would be issued "in due course,” court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said in a statement.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch are listed as dissenting from the decision.

The finding may not be the court's final ruling because the justices' decision has not been officially released. The decision would mean the case would continue at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court, and could end up back before the justices.

The Supreme Court may be reluctant to make an abortion-related decision on the merits – rather than procedural grounds – in an election year, said Greer Donley, a reproductive law scholar and professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults favor protecting access to abortions for patients who are experiencing miscarriages or other pregnancy-related emergencies.

The decision would reverse the Supreme Court's earlier order that allowed an Idaho abortion ban to temporarily go into effect, even in medical emergencies. Several women have since needed medical airlifts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-emtala-hospitals-emergency-room-2fdc3943ffc9278f885263f722cc262f">out of state</a>&nbsp;in cases in which abortion is routine treatment to avoid infection, hemorrhage and other dire health risks, Idaho doctors have said.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said that it hoped the court "listened to the scientific evidence and medical experts and will ultimately affirm the availability of emergency abortion care for people in every state,” said general counsel Molly Meegan.

The case started when the Biden administration sued Idaho, arguing that its abortion ban conflicted with federal healthcare law because doctors wouldn't be allowed to provide abortions to stabilize pregnant patients in rare emergency cases when their health is at serious risk.

Idaho argued its ban does allow abortions to save a pregnant patient’s life and that federal law does not require the exceptions to expand. The state attorney general’s office declined to comment Wednesday.

Katie Daniel, the state policy director of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said an Idaho state court had ruled that women’s lives don’t need to be in immediate danger to act.

Most Republican-controlled states began enforcing restrictions after the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;two years ago, and Idaho is among 14 states that outlaw abortion at all stages of pregnancy with very limited exceptions.

The case is likely to return to the Supreme Court again, said Rachel Rebouche, dean of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and a reproductive law scholar. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-life-of-mother-texas-appeal-83770a43f44c908d81b5fa0dfc0d87e4">ruled in a similar case</a>&nbsp;that the federal law does not take precedence over an abortion ban in Texas.

So while the Supreme Court’s ruling would allow abortion in medical emergencies in Idaho, at least for now, Rebouche said, “Nearly 38 million people live in the 5th Circuit. That’s a lot of people whose lives aren’t changed at all by this.”

Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that a decision without explicit guarantees that patients could get abortions in medical emergencies would be "catastrophic.”

Reports of pregnant women being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnancy-emergency-care-abortion-supreme-court-roe-9ce6c87c8fc653c840654de1ae5f7a1c">turned away from U.S. emergency rooms</a>&nbsp;spiked after the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning the constitutional right to abortion, according to federal documents obtained by The Associated Press.

If the high court were to rule in Idaho’s favor, it would create a “world in which women would have to lose their reproductive organs,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a George Washington University health law and policy professor who is an expert on the federal EMTALA law.

The Justice Department’s lawsuit came under a federal law that requires hospitals accepting Medicare to provide stabilizing care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The law is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA.

Nearly all hospitals accept Medicare, so emergency room doctors in Idaho and other states with bans would have to provide abortions if needed to stabilize a pregnant patient and avoid serious health risks such as the loss of reproductive organs, the Justice Department argued.

Idaho argued that its exception for a patient’s life covers dire health circumstances and that the Biden administration misread the law to circumvent the state ban and expand abortion access.

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, said his group was glad the Justice Department says its arguments apply to rare cases.

Doctors have said Idaho’s law has made them fearful to perform abortions, even when a pregnancy is putting a patient’s health severely at risk. The law requires anyone who is convicted of performing an abortion to be imprisoned for at least two years.

A federal judge initially sided with the Democratic administration and ruled that abortions were legal in medical emergencies. After the state appealed, the Supreme Court allowed the law to go fully into effect in January.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;appears poised to allow emergency&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/abortion">abortions</a>&nbsp;in Idaho when a pregnant patient’s health is at serious risk, according to a copy of the opinion briefly posted on the court's website Wednesday and obtained by Bloomberg News.The&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/iqjWHBFdfxIU/rJo5436tVr08/v0">document</a>&nbsp;suggests the court will find that it should not have gotten involved in the case over Idaho's strict abortion ban so quickly. By a 6-3 vote it would reinstate a lower court order that had allowed hospitals in the state to perform emergency abortions to protect a pregnant patient’s health, Bloomberg said.Such an outcome would leave the issues at the heart of the case unresolved. It would also mean key questions remain unanswered, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote in a concurrence.“Today’s decision is not a victory for pregnant patients in Idaho. It is delay,” she wrote.The Supreme Court acknowledged that its publications unit inadvertently posted Wednesday. An opinion in the Idaho case would be issued "in due course,” court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said in a statement.Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch are listed as dissenting from the decision.The finding may not be the court's final ruling because the justices' decision has not been officially released. The decision would mean the case would continue at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court, and could end up back before the justices.The Supreme Court may be reluctant to make an abortion-related decision on the merits – rather than procedural grounds – in an election year, said Greer Donley, a reproductive law scholar and professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults favor protecting access to abortions for patients who are experiencing miscarriages or other pregnancy-related emergencies.The decision would reverse the Supreme Court's earlier order that allowed an Idaho abortion ban to temporarily go into effect, even in medical emergencies. Several women have since needed medical airlifts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-emtala-hospitals-emergency-room-2fdc3943ffc9278f885263f722cc262f">out of state</a>&nbsp;in cases in which abortion is routine treatment to avoid infection, hemorrhage and other dire health risks, Idaho doctors have said.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said that it hoped the court "listened to the scientific evidence and medical experts and will ultimately affirm the availability of emergency abortion care for people in every state,” said general counsel Molly Meegan.The case started when the Biden administration sued Idaho, arguing that its abortion ban conflicted with federal healthcare law because doctors wouldn't be allowed to provide abortions to stabilize pregnant patients in rare emergency cases when their health is at serious risk.Idaho argued its ban does allow abortions to save a pregnant patient’s life and that federal law does not require the exceptions to expand. The state attorney general’s office declined to comment Wednesday.Katie Daniel, the state policy director of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said an Idaho state court had ruled that women’s lives don’t need to be in immediate danger to act.Most Republican-controlled states began enforcing restrictions after the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;two years ago, and Idaho is among 14 states that outlaw abortion at all stages of pregnancy with very limited exceptions.The case is likely to return to the Supreme Court again, said Rachel Rebouche, dean of the Temple University Beasley School of Law and a reproductive law scholar. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-life-of-mother-texas-appeal-83770a43f44c908d81b5fa0dfc0d87e4">ruled in a similar case</a>&nbsp;that the federal law does not take precedence over an abortion ban in Texas.So while the Supreme Court’s ruling would allow abortion in medical emergencies in Idaho, at least for now, Rebouche said, “Nearly 38 million people live in the 5th Circuit. That’s a lot of people whose lives aren’t changed at all by this.”Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said that a decision without explicit guarantees that patients could get abortions in medical emergencies would be "catastrophic.”Reports of pregnant women being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pregnancy-emergency-care-abortion-supreme-court-roe-9ce6c87c8fc653c840654de1ae5f7a1c">turned away from U.S. emergency rooms</a>&nbsp;spiked after the Supreme Court's 2022 ruling overturning the constitutional right to abortion, according to federal documents obtained by The Associated Press.If the high court were to rule in Idaho’s favor, it would create a “world in which women would have to lose their reproductive organs,” said Sara Rosenbaum, a George Washington University health law and policy professor who is an expert on the federal EMTALA law.The Justice Department’s lawsuit came under a federal law that requires hospitals accepting Medicare to provide stabilizing care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. The law is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA.Nearly all hospitals accept Medicare, so emergency room doctors in Idaho and other states with bans would have to provide abortions if needed to stabilize a pregnant patient and avoid serious health risks such as the loss of reproductive organs, the Justice Department argued.Idaho argued that its exception for a patient’s life covers dire health circumstances and that the Biden administration misread the law to circumvent the state ban and expand abortion access.Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, said his group was glad the Justice Department says its arguments apply to rare cases.Doctors have said Idaho’s law has made them fearful to perform abortions, even when a pregnancy is putting a patient’s health severely at risk. The law requires anyone who is convicted of performing an abortion to be imprisoned for at least two years.A federal judge initially sided with the Democratic administration and ruled that abortions were legal in medical emergencies. After the state appealed, the Supreme Court allowed the law to go fully into effect in January.___

Supreme mistake: New abortion ruling accidentally posted to website

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday sided with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411">Click here to listen</a> to a replay of the oral arguments from March

By a 6-3 vote, the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24778084-murthy-v-missouri">threw out lower-court rulings</a>&nbsp;that favored Louisiana, Missouri and other parties in their claims that officials in the Democratic administration leaned on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the court that the states and other parties did not have the legal right, or standing, to sue.

Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented.

The case is among several before the court this term that affect social media companies in the context of free speech. In February, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express. In March, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>.

The cases over state laws and the one that was decided Wednesday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.

The states had argued that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who applied “unrelenting pressure” to coerce changes in online content on social media platforms.

But the justices appeared broadly skeptical of those claims during arguments in March and several worried that common interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.

The Biden administration underscored those concerns when it noted that the government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.

The Supreme Court had earlier acted to keep the lower-court rulings on hold. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.

Free speech advocates had urged the court to use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government’s acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.

A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday sided with the Biden administration in a dispute with Republican-led states over how far the federal government can go to combat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-biden-administration-lawsuit-injunction-6322aae981bdc5c9009babde4b31ab60">controversial social media posts</a>&nbsp;on topics including COVID-19 and election security.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2023/23-411">Click here to listen</a> to a replay of the oral arguments from MarchBy a 6-3 vote, the justices&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24778084-murthy-v-missouri">threw out lower-court rulings</a>&nbsp;that favored Louisiana, Missouri and other parties in their claims that officials in the Democratic administration leaned on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view.Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote for the court that the states and other parties did not have the legal right, or standing, to sue.Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented.The case is among several before the court this term that affect social media companies in the context of free speech. In February, the court heard arguments over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-florida-texas-820e90e58e49c1146b69101ece4dd9d5">Republican-passed laws in Florida and Texas</a>&nbsp;that prohibit large social media companies from taking down posts because of the views they express. In March, the court laid out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-social-media-public-officials-973f1d18e74faccaa4bfce3bd65cc1af">standards for when public officials can block their social media followers</a>.The cases over state laws and the one that was decided Wednesday are variations on the same theme, complaints that the platforms are censoring conservative viewpoints.The states had argued that White House communications staffers, the surgeon general, the FBI and the U.S. cybersecurity agency are among those who applied “unrelenting pressure” to coerce changes in online content on social media platforms.But the justices appeared broadly skeptical of those claims during arguments in March and several worried that common interactions between government officials and the platforms could be affected by a ruling for the states.The Biden administration underscored those concerns when it noted that the government would lose its ability to communicate with the social media companies about antisemitic and anti-Muslim posts, as well as on issues of national security, public health and election integrity.The Supreme Court had earlier acted to keep the lower-court rulings on hold. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas would have allowed the restrictions on government contacts with the platforms to go into effect.Free speech advocates had urged the court to use the case to draw an appropriate line between the government’s acceptable use of the bully pulpit and coercive threats to free speech.A panel of three judges on the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled earlier that the Biden administration had probably brought unconstitutional pressure on the media platforms. The appellate panel said officials cannot attempt to “coerce or significantly encourage” changes in online content. The panel had previously narrowed a more sweeping order from a federal judge, who wanted to include even more government officials and prohibit mere encouragement of content changes.

🎧Supreme Court rules Biden admin. can regulate social media 

John Rabun Fletcher July 4, 1964 ~&nbsp;June 20, 2024

John Rabun Fletcher, 59, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at his home.

John was born July 4, 1964 in Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was one of three children born to Dick and Betty (Rabun) Fletcher.&nbsp; He grew up in Goodland, Kansas, and graduated from Goodland High School in the Class of ’82.

John was united in marriage to Heather Werner on June 11, 2004 in Russell.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell.

John served the citizens of Russell County as a civil servant for forty years, most recently as the former Russell County Administrator from 2013 to 2024, until his retirement on March 1.&nbsp; Before that he was the Governor Selection to be the Russell County Sheriff in 1999, and then was re-elected as Sheriff until his retirement in 2015.&nbsp; Prior to serving as the Sheriff, John worked as an EMT and Jailer for Russell County and later was a patrolman for the City of Russell in 1988 until his appointment as Sheriff.&nbsp; In 2008, he graduated from the FBI National Academy Program, Quantico, Virginia.&nbsp; John was past president of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association and after his retirement as Sheriff, he served as the Deputy Director of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association until his death.

He was a member and past ruler of the Russell Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club of Russell, the Economic Development Board, past member of the Russell City Fire Department and served eight years on the USD Board of Education.

John enjoyed doing yardwork (no joke!), he took great pride in maintaining his yard, and could often be seen mowing in “road gear”.&nbsp; In his spare time, he enjoyed trips to the casino, playing golf, shooting, and cheering on his beloved Dallas Cowboys, Texas Tech University and Kansas State University.

John had a gift in his ability to make those around him feel safe.&nbsp; He was kind, reliable, and the voice of reason.&nbsp; The calm during the storm, and a pillar of strength to many in their times of darkness.&nbsp; He was a great listener, and could be a man of few words, but he was also lighthearted, enjoyed a good joke, and had a great laugh.&nbsp;

John’s surviving family include his wife and best friend of 20 years, Heather of the home; daughter, Jessica Fletcher-Sudlow (Ryan) of Enid, Oklahoma; son, Justice Becker of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Rick Fletcher (Kelly) of Austin, Texas; sister, Kandi Zimmerman (Mark) of Abeline, Texas; and two grandchildren, Tristan and Willow.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents.

Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) in John’s name. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, who is in charge of these arrangements.

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5afa7698-82f3-4c7b-9df8-7aa78e480679">World’s Largest 'I Like Ike' Button Unveiled in Abilene</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719409960167.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>John Rabun Fletcher July 4, 1964 ~&nbsp;June 20, 2024 John Rabun Fletcher, 59, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at his home.John was born July 4, 1964 in Amarillo, Texas.&nbsp; He was one of three children born to Dick and Betty (Rabun) Fletcher.&nbsp; He grew up in Goodland, Kansas, and graduated from Goodland High School in the Class of ’82.John was united in marriage to Heather Werner on June 11, 2004 in Russell.&nbsp; They made their home in Russell.John served the citizens of Russell County as a civil servant for forty years, most recently as the former Russell County Administrator from 2013 to 2024, until his retirement on March 1.&nbsp; Before that he was the Governor Selection to be the Russell County Sheriff in 1999, and then was re-elected as Sheriff until his retirement in 2015.&nbsp; Prior to serving as the Sheriff, John worked as an EMT and Jailer for Russell County and later was a patrolman for the City of Russell in 1988 until his appointment as Sheriff.&nbsp; In 2008, he graduated from the FBI National Academy Program, Quantico, Virginia.&nbsp; John was past president of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association and after his retirement as Sheriff, he served as the Deputy Director of the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association until his death.He was a member and past ruler of the Russell Elks Lodge, Kiwanis Club of Russell, the Economic Development Board, past member of the Russell City Fire Department and served eight years on the USD Board of Education.John enjoyed doing yardwork (no joke!), he took great pride in maintaining his yard, and could often be seen mowing in “road gear”.&nbsp; In his spare time, he enjoyed trips to the casino, playing golf, shooting, and cheering on his beloved Dallas Cowboys, Texas Tech University and Kansas State University.John had a gift in his ability to make those around him feel safe.&nbsp; He was kind, reliable, and the voice of reason.&nbsp; The calm during the storm, and a pillar of strength to many in their times of darkness.&nbsp; He was a great listener, and could be a man of few words, but he was also lighthearted, enjoyed a good joke, and had a great laugh.&nbsp;John’s surviving family include his wife and best friend of 20 years, Heather of the home; daughter, Jessica Fletcher-Sudlow (Ryan) of Enid, Oklahoma; son, Justice Becker of Wichita, Kansas; brother, Rick Fletcher (Kelly) of Austin, Texas; sister, Kandi Zimmerman (Mark) of Abeline, Texas; and two grandchildren, Tristan and Willow.&nbsp; He was preceded in death by his parents.Celebration of John’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at St. Mary, Queen of Angels Catholic Church.&nbsp; Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers a donation may be made to Russell County Area Community Foundation (RCACF) in John’s name. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, who is in charge of these arrangements.READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5afa7698-82f3-4c7b-9df8-7aa78e480679">World’s Largest 'I Like Ike' Button Unveiled in Abilene</a>

John R. Fletcher

By NATE KING Salina Post

The Salina City Commission held a study session and meeting yesterday, June 24 to discuss various topics, including the renewal of the City's agreement with Travelers Insurance for property and casualty insurance.

Nancy Schuessler, director of risk management for the City of Salina presented the agreement at the meeting on Monday. 

"The City purchases property and casualty insurance to cover a multitude of things like buildings, equipment, autos, law enforcement liability, cyber liability etc. Shortly after the beginning of each year," Schuessler said. "Since property/casualty insurance carriers almost exclusively utilize the agency/broker system to market and sell their policies, the City uses Iron Insurance Partners as our intermediary. Charlesworth Consulting is a contractual extension of City staff offering a wide range of resources, one of which is serving as an advisor during the renewal process."

READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/0426ff33-1a9f-41e0-ab9e-b0628658137d">SPD arrests Salina man for attacking Kwik Shop employees with sticks while naked</a>

The City first entered into an agreement with Travelers in 2001, with the current insurance agreement set to expire on June 30, 2024. In February, Iron Insurance Partners and Charlesworth Consulting presented a study session to commissioners, preparing them for renewal. City Staff updated city commissioners on the likely increase in costs associated with property/casualty insurance.&nbsp;

 "The February study session included considerable discussion of property and liability coverage concerns and their volatility," Schuessler said. "Inflation is impacting values, product availability, and labor rates and there has been an increase in liability claims nationwide. At the study session, it was estimated we could go from paying&nbsp;last year $700,000 in premium to $880,000."

Then in March, Travelers returned to commissioners saying the insurance premium could be as high as $914,000. Ultimately, it came in just shy of $908,299, with Travelers taking a 30% premium increase, which equates to $211,009. 

"It is no surprise that property saw the largest increase,&nbsp;Schuessler said. "This year marks the fourth year in a row that global catastrophic losses have exceeded $100 billion. Of the Top 10 total economic losses in 2023, two were actually storms that hit the Midwest." 

Following&nbsp;Schuessler's remarks, Salina Mayor Bill Longbine said he was experiencing a little bit of sticker shock.&nbsp; "The sticker shock here it feels like we're now California or Florida," Longbine said. "Do we pay this [$908,299] in one lump sum?" 

Schuessler replied, "Yes, it is a big check."

LISTEN:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f22652ff-ed46-4cd6-95d7-5e22969eeba3">🎙King in the Community — Nikki Goding, Salina City Clerk</a>

Salina City Manager Mike Schrage provided commissioners with further context regarding the increase.&nbsp;

"The dollar cost of the premium, the value of the buildings is going up and the minimum amount of coverage is going up, so it is not just the cost of the premium going up," Schrage said.&nbsp; 

Commissioner Mike Hoppock asked whether or not city-leased vehicles that sustain minor hail damage would be required to be fixed or if minor dings could be left as they were. 

"Enterprise told us that if we chose not to repair it because there were only a few dings, that would be fine. They would be okay with that, but we would not see the return on that vehicle," Schuessler said. "They would deduct that. They basically need to assess each vehicle to determine if it makes sense to repair them." 

Schuessler said most vehicles are repaired, with only a few older police vehicles not being repaired.&nbsp; Mark Skidmore, president of Iron Street Insurance Partners, was also present at the meeting. Commissioner Mike Hoppock asked Skidmore if the City of Salina could expect to see additional increases in the future. 

"I hope not. I'm only 30," Skidmore replied. "I look like I'm much older than that." 

Hoppock jokingly responded, "The insurance friends I have are becoming less of a friend because of what they charge me now."&nbsp;

Skidmore said that in retrospect, looking at the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, he thinks the marketplace will catch up.&nbsp; 

"Once they get building values appropriately insured and figure out the storm systems, they will figure out where to get their price model. I just hope it's sooner rather than later," Skidmore said. 

Longbine asked Skidmore whether private industries like Great Plains and Schwans were also seeing increases in their premiums.&nbsp; "Exactly. There is nothing against the City of Salina here," Skidmore said. "Whether it's county government or large manufacturers, it's the same." 

According to James Charlesworth, who advises the City through the renewal process, a viable replacement for Travelers was not found. 

"I'm optimistic that we are nearing the end... hopefully, this will come to an end in a year or two, but this is not sustainable," Charlesworth said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708725680505.jpeg" alt="Salina City Commission" />
 <figcaption>Salina City Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>By NATE KING Salina PostThe Salina City Commission held a study session and meeting yesterday, June 24 to discuss various topics, including the renewal of the City's agreement with Travelers Insurance for property and casualty insurance.Nancy Schuessler, director of risk management for the City of Salina presented the agreement at the meeting on Monday. "The City purchases property and casualty insurance to cover a multitude of things like buildings, equipment, autos, law enforcement liability, cyber liability etc. Shortly after the beginning of each year," Schuessler said. "Since property/casualty insurance carriers almost exclusively utilize the agency/broker system to market and sell their policies, the City uses Iron Insurance Partners as our intermediary. Charlesworth Consulting is a contractual extension of City staff offering a wide range of resources, one of which is serving as an advisor during the renewal process."READ MORE:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/0426ff33-1a9f-41e0-ab9e-b0628658137d">SPD arrests Salina man for attacking Kwik Shop employees with sticks while naked</a>The City first entered into an agreement with Travelers in 2001, with the current insurance agreement set to expire on June 30, 2024. In February, Iron Insurance Partners and Charlesworth Consulting presented a study session to commissioners, preparing them for renewal. City Staff updated city commissioners on the likely increase in costs associated with property/casualty insurance.&nbsp; "The February study session included considerable discussion of property and liability coverage concerns and their volatility," Schuessler said. "Inflation is impacting values, product availability, and labor rates and there has been an increase in liability claims nationwide. At the study session, it was estimated we could go from paying&nbsp;last year $700,000 in premium to $880,000."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719333779606.png" alt="Travelers Insurance premiums summary" />
 <figcaption>Travelers Insurance premiums summary</figcaption>
 </figure>Then in March, Travelers returned to commissioners saying the insurance premium could be as high as $914,000. Ultimately, it came in just shy of $908,299, with Travelers taking a 30% premium increase, which equates to $211,009. "It is no surprise that property saw the largest increase,&nbsp;Schuessler said. "This year marks the fourth year in a row that global catastrophic losses have exceeded $100 billion. Of the Top 10 total economic losses in 2023, two were actually storms that hit the Midwest." Following&nbsp;Schuessler's remarks, Salina Mayor Bill Longbine said he was experiencing a little bit of sticker shock.&nbsp; "The sticker shock here it feels like we're now California or Florida," Longbine said. "Do we pay this [$908,299] in one lump sum?" Schuessler replied, "Yes, it is a big check."LISTEN:<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/f22652ff-ed46-4cd6-95d7-5e22969eeba3">🎙King in the Community — Nikki Goding, Salina City Clerk</a>Salina City Manager Mike Schrage provided commissioners with further context regarding the increase.&nbsp;"The dollar cost of the premium, the value of the buildings is going up and the minimum amount of coverage is going up, so it is not just the cost of the premium going up," Schrage said.&nbsp; Commissioner Mike Hoppock asked whether or not city-leased vehicles that sustain minor hail damage would be required to be fixed or if minor dings could be left as they were. "Enterprise told us that if we chose not to repair it because there were only a few dings, that would be fine. They would be okay with that, but we would not see the return on that vehicle," Schuessler said. "They would deduct that. They basically need to assess each vehicle to determine if it makes sense to repair them." Schuessler said most vehicles are repaired, with only a few older police vehicles not being repaired.&nbsp; Mark Skidmore, president of Iron Street Insurance Partners, was also present at the meeting. Commissioner Mike Hoppock asked Skidmore if the City of Salina could expect to see additional increases in the future. "I hope not. I'm only 30," Skidmore replied. "I look like I'm much older than that." Hoppock jokingly responded, "The insurance friends I have are becoming less of a friend because of what they charge me now."&nbsp;Skidmore said that in retrospect, looking at the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation, he thinks the marketplace will catch up.&nbsp; "Once they get building values appropriately insured and figure out the storm systems, they will figure out where to get their price model. I just hope it's sooner rather than later," Skidmore said. Longbine asked Skidmore whether private industries like Great Plains and Schwans were also seeing increases in their premiums.&nbsp; "Exactly. There is nothing against the City of Salina here," Skidmore said. "Whether it's county government or large manufacturers, it's the same." According to James Charlesworth, who advises the City through the renewal process, a viable replacement for Travelers was not found. "I'm optimistic that we are nearing the end... hopefully, this will come to an end in a year or two, but this is not sustainable," Charlesworth said.Shortly before the vote to decide whether or not to renew the agreement with travelers, Hoppock shared why it would be beneficial to stick with Travelers. "I think it would be advantageous, depending on that price difference to stay with someone you've been with for 20 years," Hoppock said. "You've built up a reputation. If you switch to someone else and have a large claim, I could see you getting canceled... It would take a lot from me to jump ship."&nbsp; Vice-Mayor Greg Lenkiewicz made the motion to renew the agreement with Travelers for&nbsp;property and casualty insurance, with Commissioner Trent Davis seconding it. The commissioners voted unanimously in favor of renewing, and the final vote was 5-0.