A highly anticipated Christmas show is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in late November.

The Amy Grant &amp; Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour, with special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151. S. Santa Fe Avenue. The Stiefel performance will be one of only nine stops on the tour.

Tickets start at $89 and go on sale at noon July 29. Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office, online at <a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org">stiefeltheatre.org</a>, or by calling the box office at 785-827-1998.

Multi-platinum, GRAMMY® winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are joining forces once again to co-bill their popular Christmas tour this upcoming holiday season, where they will be joined by special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys. Presented by Balsam Hill®, this iconic pair is set to kick off their combined holiday show on Nov. 26, in Memphis and travel to nine markets, including Salina. 

The highly anticipated Christmas concert will feature selections spanning the artists’ expansive Christmas repertoires and combine the vast collection of critically-acclaimed holiday albums between them. Both Grant and Smith’s recordings have become part of the backdrop of Christmas for families all over the world, and their holiday tour is one of the most heralded events of the season to the delight of fans at sold-out shows throughout North America.  

"I look forward to every chance I have to share the stage with Michael...especially at Christmas," Grant said. “He is such a gifted musician and I enjoy creating these special memories with him on stage. This tour is one we both can’t wait to do every single year.”  

“It’s no secret how much I love Christmas music,” Smith added. “And performing some of these classic holiday songs with Amy makes it even more special. This time of year is made even better because we get to spend the Christmas season on stage together.”  

“Having Michael Tait join us this year is something Amy and I are both looking forward to,” Smith said. “We’ve been friends for years, and to now have his voice and energy incorporated into this show is going to make it even more incredible!” 

In support of their longstanding relationship with Compassion International, Grant and Smith will be bringing awareness to their child sponsorship experience at each show.  

Smith and Grant will also be supporting Heartlight Ministries, a ministry and residential facility offering healing and hope for parents and struggling teens.

Grant's career spans more than 40 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into becoming an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. With three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, her total career album sales have exceeded 30 million and over one billion global streams. 

Grant’s chart success has been consistent throughout her career with six No. 1 hits, 10 Top 40 pop singles, 17 Top 40 Adult Contemporary tracks and multiple Contemporary Christian chart-toppers. 

In addition to her six GRAMMY® Awards, Grant has earned 26 Dove Awards (including four Artist of the Year Awards) and has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the Music City Walk of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Conventional wisdom has it that Grant put Contemporary Christian Music on the map becoming the first Contemporary Christian artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the Pop charts and the first to perform at the GRAMMY® Awards. With that, her legacy as one of the most influential artists of the past four decades is assured.

Grant’s philanthropic work dates back to the beginning of her career having come from a long line of philanthropists in her family. Her work with St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The Red Cross, Compassion International, Second Harvest Food Bank, MusiCares, The Nashville Symphony and Nashville Rescue Mission to name a few, has been a passion for decades. 

Grant said, “My heroes are people that help other people” and she has devoted her life to live that example. 

Over the course of the last decade, through her Helping Hands Foundation, Grant has opened her farm to various organizations including Barefoot Republic, Citygate Network, Music Therapy For Veterans and several others as an oasis for hope and healing. In February 2020, The T.J. Martell Foundation – the music industry’s leading nonprofit to fund innovative medical research focused on treatments and cures for cancer – honored Grant with the Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award at their 2020 Honors Gala.

In April of 2021, Grant celebrated the 30th anniversary of her 5x platinum album Heart In Motion, which featured her iconic No. 1 pop-hit Baby Baby, with a year-long tour, television appearances and a double disc 30th Anniversary Edition with previously unreleased tracks. 2022 has already been a busy year with touring as well as a new single release, a cover of the classic song Put A Little Love In Your Heart which closes out Grant’s current shows.

Additionally, 2022 marks anniversaries of her platinum-selling classic Age To Age album and the gold-selling, critically acclaimed Behind The Eyes album which will receive an expanded edition release on Sept. 9, 25 years to the day of the original release, including 30 songs and an extensive vinyl collection for the very first time. The remainder of 2022 will have Grant on on the road for a fall tour, a Christmas tour with Michael W. Smith, and ending the year with Christmas At The Ryman, the annual 12-show residency she shares with her husband, Vince Gill.

Smith has been releasing new music regularly and performing around the world to sold-out crowds for the last 35+ years. During his storied career, he's written and recorded more than 36 No. 1 songs, been honored with three GRAMMY® Awards and 45 Dove Awards, one American Music Award, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than 15 million albums. 

Amassing an in-depth catalog of achievements, Smith was also recently honored with a star-studded tribute concert in Nashville to celebrate his 35 No. 1s, by a myriad of legendary performers. 

His recent USA Today, Yahoo! Music and Billboard-acclaimed studio album A Million Lights and Parade, Good Morning America-featured and GRAMMY nominated live worship album Surrounded have together become his 30th and 31st Top 10 hits on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, more than any other solo artist in history.

In October 2020, he released a longtime passion album, STILL Vol. 1, an atmospheric listening experience of improvisational music coupled with inspirational scriptures.

More than just an outstanding songwriter and performer, Smith has given back to the global community throughout his career. Smith has raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa, started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped more than 70,000 children through Compassion International. 

He has also written several bestselling books, including Old Enough To Know and Friends Are Friends Forever.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658335759456.jpeg" alt="Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant are bringing their nine-stop Christmas tour to Salina. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre." />
 <figcaption>Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant are bringing their nine-stop Christmas tour to Salina. Photo courtesy Stiefel Theatre.</figcaption>
 </figure>Stiefel TheatreA highly anticipated Christmas show is coming to Salina's Stiefel Theatre in late November.The Amy Grant &amp; Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour, with special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Stiefel Theatre, 151. S. Santa Fe Avenue. The Stiefel performance will be one of only nine stops on the tour.Tickets start at $89 and go on sale at noon July 29. Buy in person at the Stiefel Theatre Box Office, online at <a href="http://stiefeltheatre.org">stiefeltheatre.org</a>, or by calling the box office at 785-827-1998.Multi-platinum, GRAMMY® winners Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith are joining forces once again to co-bill their popular Christmas tour this upcoming holiday season, where they will be joined by special guest Michael Tait of the Newsboys. Presented by Balsam Hill®, this iconic pair is set to kick off their combined holiday show on Nov. 26, in Memphis and travel to nine markets, including Salina. The highly anticipated Christmas concert will feature selections spanning the artists’ expansive Christmas repertoires and combine the vast collection of critically-acclaimed holiday albums between them. Both Grant and Smith’s recordings have become part of the backdrop of Christmas for families all over the world, and their holiday tour is one of the most heralded events of the season to the delight of fans at sold-out shows throughout North America. "I look forward to every chance I have to share the stage with Michael...especially at Christmas," Grant said. “He is such a gifted musician and I enjoy creating these special memories with him on stage. This tour is one we both can’t wait to do every single year.” “It’s no secret how much I love Christmas music,” Smith added. “And performing some of these classic holiday songs with Amy makes it even more special. This time of year is made even better because we get to spend the Christmas season on stage together.” “Having Michael Tait join us this year is something Amy and I are both looking forward to,” Smith said. “We’ve been friends for years, and to now have his voice and energy incorporated into this show is going to make it even more incredible!” In support of their longstanding relationship with Compassion International, Grant and Smith will be bringing awareness to their child sponsorship experience at each show. Smith and Grant will also be supporting Heartlight Ministries, a ministry and residential facility offering healing and hope for parents and struggling teens.About Amy GrantGrant's career spans more than 40 years and stretches from her roots in gospel into becoming an iconic pop star, songwriter, television personality and philanthropist. With three multi-platinum albums, six platinum albums and four gold albums, her total career album sales have exceeded 30 million and over one billion global streams. Grant’s chart success has been consistent throughout her career with six No. 1 hits, 10 Top 40 pop singles, 17 Top 40 Adult Contemporary tracks and multiple Contemporary Christian chart-toppers. In addition to her six GRAMMY® Awards, Grant has earned 26 Dove Awards (including four Artist of the Year Awards) and has been awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as well as the Music City Walk of Fame and the Nashville Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Conventional wisdom has it that Grant put Contemporary Christian Music on the map becoming the first Contemporary Christian artist to have a platinum record, the first to hit No. 1 on the Pop charts and the first to perform at the GRAMMY® Awards. With that, her legacy as one of the most influential artists of the past four decades is assured.Grant’s philanthropic work dates back to the beginning of her career having come from a long line of philanthropists in her family. Her work with St. Jude Children’s Hospital, The Red Cross, Compassion International, Second Harvest Food Bank, MusiCares, The Nashville Symphony and Nashville Rescue Mission to name a few, has been a passion for decades. Grant said, “My heroes are people that help other people” and she has devoted her life to live that example. Over the course of the last decade, through her Helping Hands Foundation, Grant has opened her farm to various organizations including Barefoot Republic, Citygate Network, Music Therapy For Veterans and several others as an oasis for hope and healing. In February 2020, The T.J. Martell Foundation – the music industry’s leading nonprofit to fund innovative medical research focused on treatments and cures for cancer – honored Grant with the Tony Martell Outstanding Entertainment Achievement Award at their 2020 Honors Gala.In April of 2021, Grant celebrated the 30th anniversary of her 5x platinum album Heart In Motion, which featured her iconic No. 1 pop-hit Baby Baby, with a year-long tour, television appearances and a double disc 30th Anniversary Edition with previously unreleased tracks. 2022 has already been a busy year with touring as well as a new single release, a cover of the classic song Put A Little Love In Your Heart which closes out Grant’s current shows. Additionally, 2022 marks anniversaries of her platinum-selling classic Age To Age album and the gold-selling, critically acclaimed Behind The Eyes album which will receive an expanded edition release on Sept. 9, 25 years to the day of the original release, including 30 songs and an extensive vinyl collection for the very first time. The remainder of 2022 will have Grant on on the road for a fall tour, a Christmas tour with Michael W. Smith, and ending the year with Christmas At The Ryman, the annual 12-show residency she shares with her husband, Vince Gill. About Michael W. SmithSmith has been releasing new music regularly and performing around the world to sold-out crowds for the last 35+ years. During his storied career, he's written and recorded more than 36 No. 1 songs, been honored with three GRAMMY® Awards and 45 Dove Awards, one American Music Award, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than 15 million albums. Amassing an in-depth catalog of achievements, Smith was also recently honored with a star-studded tribute concert in Nashville to celebrate his 35 No. 1s, by a myriad of legendary performers. His recent USA Today, Yahoo! Music and Billboard-acclaimed studio album A Million Lights and Parade, Good Morning America-featured and GRAMMY nominated live worship album Surrounded have together become his 30th and 31st Top 10 hits on Billboard's Top Christian Albums chart, more than any other solo artist in history. In October 2020, he released a longtime passion album, STILL Vol. 1, an atmospheric listening experience of improvisational music coupled with inspirational scriptures. More than just an outstanding songwriter and performer, Smith has given back to the global community throughout his career. Smith has raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa, started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped more than 70,000 children through Compassion International. He has also written several bestselling books, including Old Enough To Know and Friends Are Friends Forever.

Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith Christmas Tour coming to Salina

“Why are people anti-science, and what can we do about it?” was just published July 12 in the&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences&nbsp;by Aviva Philipp-Muller at Simon Fraser University along with two colleagues.&nbsp; Because refusing vaccination against COVID-19 “...is costing lives now and will continue to do so in the future,” they summarize a large body of research in psychology and communication in order to determine why there is so much dissent in the Western world.

To discern why anti-science sources are effective and scientists are not successful, they bring together over a hundred studies that have addressed various factors, many related to the easy spread of misinformation by social media. They identify four “principles driving anti-science attitudes.”

The first problem arises when scientists are not perceived as experts or lack credibility and are therefore ignored. They break that into the recipient looking for expertise, honesty and objectivity in the scientist. Some will dismiss scientists for being elitist. Others note that in the past scientists have lied for the tobacco or auto industries. Some see scientists as atheists. And medical scientists can be seen as dishonest agents for pharmaceutical companies.

The second factor arises when the listener is a member of a group that holds anti-science attitudes. This includes both political and religious groups. This polarization can result in immediate rejection of any message from the outgroup without any consideration of the content of the message itself. These groups are now much more easily held together with social media.

The third problem is when the scientific message itself is rejected based on what people already believe is true. The authors describe “cognitive dissonance, which arises when a person is exposed to information that conflicts with their existing beliefs, attitudes or behaviors.” This leads to rejecting the science or making it trivial, etc.&nbsp; In addition, corrections provided by media often reinforce their disbelief. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The final problem they describe is the message not matching how the recipient sees the world. This would include a broader view of common sense being more valuable than intellectual book learning. They note viewers of CNN or Fox News will automatically trust their source and disparage the opposition without thinking the issue through.

Unfortunately, this report considers “increasing a population’s general scientific literacy” to be “ineffective.” Instead, they promote “scientific reasoning skills” as if there is a method to determine accuracy in science that is separate from the science knowledge itself.&nbsp; But the major problem in these last two years has been the ability to communicate the basic human anatomy and physiology involved, the nature of viruses, and the way the immune system works.

The United States ranks near the bottom of all developed countries in science literacy, is top in number of deaths, and it is very close to the top in deaths per 100,000. And science literacy is a very good predictor of the number of deaths per 100,000 from COVID-19, as can be accessed online at the Johns Hopkins, statista, and ourworldindata websites. German citizens receive comprehensive science education in public school to the extent they can self-refer themselves to a medical specialist. While our covid death rate is 3,171 per million, Germany’s is only 1,682.

And death rates are far lower in South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, etc. due to a different culture where citizens take far more responsibility for protecting the health of everyone around them—they have worn face masks for decades. They are likewise far more willing to use advanced smartphone technology to monitor exposure for rapid contact tracing.

These authors also take aim at technical jargon. Yet, the language of science is not jargon but necessarily specific and accurate terms that only appear to be jargon to the science illiterate. If you do not understand the concept of diffusion, you will not understand why we wear a face mask to protect others more than ourselves. Unfortunately, it has taken the U.S. many decades to sink to our low level of average science literacy, and would take a long time for future generations to gain it back. &nbsp;

Meanwhile, the marketing psychology in this P.N.A.S. report will do little to solve our problem.&nbsp; &nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCK“Why are people anti-science, and what can we do about it?” was just published July 12 in the&nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences&nbsp;by Aviva Philipp-Muller at Simon Fraser University along with two colleagues.&nbsp; Because refusing vaccination against COVID-19 “...is costing lives now and will continue to do so in the future,” they summarize a large body of research in psychology and communication in order to determine why there is so much dissent in the Western world. To discern why anti-science sources are effective and scientists are not successful, they bring together over a hundred studies that have addressed various factors, many related to the easy spread of misinformation by social media. They identify four “principles driving anti-science attitudes.” The first problem arises when scientists are not perceived as experts or lack credibility and are therefore ignored. They break that into the recipient looking for expertise, honesty and objectivity in the scientist. Some will dismiss scientists for being elitist. Others note that in the past scientists have lied for the tobacco or auto industries. Some see scientists as atheists. And medical scientists can be seen as dishonest agents for pharmaceutical companies. The second factor arises when the listener is a member of a group that holds anti-science attitudes. This includes both political and religious groups. This polarization can result in immediate rejection of any message from the outgroup without any consideration of the content of the message itself. These groups are now much more easily held together with social media. The third problem is when the scientific message itself is rejected based on what people already believe is true. The authors describe “cognitive dissonance, which arises when a person is exposed to information that conflicts with their existing beliefs, attitudes or behaviors.” This leads to rejecting the science or making it trivial, etc.&nbsp; In addition, corrections provided by media often reinforce their disbelief. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; The final problem they describe is the message not matching how the recipient sees the world. This would include a broader view of common sense being more valuable than intellectual book learning. They note viewers of CNN or Fox News will automatically trust their source and disparage the opposition without thinking the issue through. Unfortunately, this report considers “increasing a population’s general scientific literacy” to be “ineffective.” Instead, they promote “scientific reasoning skills” as if there is a method to determine accuracy in science that is separate from the science knowledge itself.&nbsp; But the major problem in these last two years has been the ability to communicate the basic human anatomy and physiology involved, the nature of viruses, and the way the immune system works. The United States ranks near the bottom of all developed countries in science literacy, is top in number of deaths, and it is very close to the top in deaths per 100,000. And science literacy is a very good predictor of the number of deaths per 100,000 from COVID-19, as can be accessed online at the Johns Hopkins, statista, and ourworldindata websites. German citizens receive comprehensive science education in public school to the extent they can self-refer themselves to a medical specialist. While our covid death rate is 3,171 per million, Germany’s is only 1,682. And death rates are far lower in South Korea, Japan, China, Singapore, etc. due to a different culture where citizens take far more responsibility for protecting the health of everyone around them—they have worn face masks for decades. They are likewise far more willing to use advanced smartphone technology to monitor exposure for rapid contact tracing. These authors also take aim at technical jargon. Yet, the language of science is not jargon but necessarily specific and accurate terms that only appear to be jargon to the science illiterate. If you do not understand the concept of diffusion, you will not understand why we wear a face mask to protect others more than ourselves. Unfortunately, it has taken the U.S. many decades to sink to our low level of average science literacy, and would take a long time for future generations to gain it back. &nbsp; Meanwhile, the marketing psychology in this P.N.A.S. report will do little to solve our problem.&nbsp; &nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities during 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

EDUCATION FRONTLINES: Why are people anti-science?

<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten">Obituary for Eileen (Londene) Garten | Ryan Mortuary</a>

Wilma Eileen Londene Garten&nbsp;of Abilene, KS passed away July 13, 2022 at the age of 95. Eileen was born June 7, 1927, in Navarre, KS to Fred and Siri Boberg Londene. Eileen attended Ninety Nine, Miller, and Navarre schools and graduated from Chapman High School in 1945.

She worked at K-State in the file department of the agricultural building after high school and then worked at the Western Merchandise Company (Duckwall's) office in Abilene operating a posting machine.

Eileen and Clarence M. Garten, Jr. were united in marriage on September 11, 1949, at the Abilene Methodist Church. 

She was a farmer’s wife and best known for her cooking and hosting guests in their home as she provided a place to stay, meals to eat, an ear to listen, or the gospel to share. Mom was the ultimate hostess and served people from other countries, off the street, or friends and relatives both near and far. All were welcome! When they weren’t on the farm, Clarence and Eileen loved to travel as far away as England, France, Ireland, Israel, Africa, and Haiti.

Eileen was a member of Rural Life, Sunflower Club and Chatter Club. She was both a 4-H member and leader teaching cooking and sewing. Eileen was a member of Emmanuel Methodist Church, Lay Witness Mission Co-Coordinator, Auxiliary Member of Gideons and founding member and president of Abilene Christian Women’s Club. She was also involved in the Dickinson County Jail Ministry. Her loving faith was central to all that she was involved in.

She used her cooking skills to bake at Genny’s Country Cupboard and prepared meals for XYZ Seniors at Emmanuel Church. She also won numerous Dickinson County cooking contests.

She is survived by her children Janette Fulton (Dennis) of Nampa, ID, Marsha Pavkov (Roger) of Salina, KS, Larry (Jean) Garten of Olathe, KS, and Scott (Jamie) Garten of Abilene, KS, 14 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, sister Joyce Whitebread of Littleton, CO, and brothers Fred J. Londene of Huntsville, AL and Carl Londene of Albuquerque, NM.

Proceeding her in death were her husband Clarence, son Steven, parents Fred and Siri Londene, sisters Mildred Londene, Helen Swarts, Dorothy Bean and Virgilee Springer and brothers Lowell, Francis, and Duane Londene.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., July 30, at Emmanuel Church, 1300 N. Vine St., Abilene, KS. There will be a luncheon following the service for all who attend.

The visitation with the family will be on Friday, July 29, at Emmanuel Church, 1300 N. Vine St., Abilene, KS from 6-8 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Gideons or the Clarence and Eileen Garten 4-H Memorial. Memorials may be mailed to Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, KS 67401. Cards may be mailed to the family at 2454 Hwy. 15, Abilene, KS 67410.

To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/sympathy">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Eileen (Londene) Garten, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/sympathy">visit our floral store.</a>

<h2>Eileen (Londene) Garten, Abilene</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658068374071.jpeg" alt="Eileen (Londene) Garten" />
 <figcaption>Eileen (Londene) Garten</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten">Obituary for Eileen (Londene) Garten | Ryan Mortuary</a>June 7, 1927 ~ July 13, 2022 (age 95)Wilma Eileen Londene Garten&nbsp;of Abilene, KS passed away July 13, 2022 at the age of 95. Eileen was born June 7, 1927, in Navarre, KS to Fred and Siri Boberg Londene. Eileen attended Ninety Nine, Miller, and Navarre schools and graduated from Chapman High School in 1945.She worked at K-State in the file department of the agricultural building after high school and then worked at the Western Merchandise Company (Duckwall's) office in Abilene operating a posting machine.Eileen and Clarence M. Garten, Jr. were united in marriage on September 11, 1949, at the Abilene Methodist Church. She was a farmer’s wife and best known for her cooking and hosting guests in their home as she provided a place to stay, meals to eat, an ear to listen, or the gospel to share. Mom was the ultimate hostess and served people from other countries, off the street, or friends and relatives both near and far. All were welcome! When they weren’t on the farm, Clarence and Eileen loved to travel as far away as England, France, Ireland, Israel, Africa, and Haiti.Eileen was a member of Rural Life, Sunflower Club and Chatter Club. She was both a 4-H member and leader teaching cooking and sewing. Eileen was a member of Emmanuel Methodist Church, Lay Witness Mission Co-Coordinator, Auxiliary Member of Gideons and founding member and president of Abilene Christian Women’s Club. She was also involved in the Dickinson County Jail Ministry. Her loving faith was central to all that she was involved in.She used her cooking skills to bake at Genny’s Country Cupboard and prepared meals for XYZ Seniors at Emmanuel Church. She also won numerous Dickinson County cooking contests.She is survived by her children Janette Fulton (Dennis) of Nampa, ID, Marsha Pavkov (Roger) of Salina, KS, Larry (Jean) Garten of Olathe, KS, and Scott (Jamie) Garten of Abilene, KS, 14 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren, sister Joyce Whitebread of Littleton, CO, and brothers Fred J. Londene of Huntsville, AL and Carl Londene of Albuquerque, NM.Proceeding her in death were her husband Clarence, son Steven, parents Fred and Siri Londene, sisters Mildred Londene, Helen Swarts, Dorothy Bean and Virgilee Springer and brothers Lowell, Francis, and Duane Londene.A celebration of life service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sat., July 30, at Emmanuel Church, 1300 N. Vine St., Abilene, KS. There will be a luncheon following the service for all who attend.The visitation with the family will be on Friday, July 29, at Emmanuel Church, 1300 N. Vine St., Abilene, KS from 6-8 p.m.Memorials may be made to the Gideons or the Clarence and Eileen Garten 4-H Memorial. Memorials may be mailed to Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. 8th, Salina, KS 67401. Cards may be mailed to the family at 2454 Hwy. 15, Abilene, KS 67410.To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/sympathy">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Eileen (Londene) Garten, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Eileen-Garten/sympathy">visit our floral store.</a>

Eileen (Londene) Garten

<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker">Obituary for Dava M. (Boock) Walker | Ryan Mortuary</a>

ABILENE –&nbsp;Dava M. Walker, 64, passed away Monday, July 11, 2022.&nbsp; She was born in Sterling, KS to David and Edna (Harris) Boock.

Dava graduated from Kansas State University and was a lifelong Wildcat fan.&nbsp; She taught preschool special education for many years and dearly loved her students.&nbsp; 

Dava enjoyed listening to music but also had a talent for writing original songs.&nbsp; When traveling she always had time to stop at a casino and try her luck on the slots.&nbsp; Dava was proud of her family’s Native American and farming heritage.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Dava is survived by her husband Ronnie Walker; dog Buddy; and many loving relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. &nbsp;

Inurnment will be in Sterling Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2022. &nbsp;

Memorial to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center. &nbsp;

To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/sympathy">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Dava M. (Boock) Walker, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/sympathy">visit our floral store.</a>

<h2>Dava M. Walker</h2><a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker">Obituary for Dava M. (Boock) Walker | Ryan Mortuary</a>May 8, 1958 ~ July 11, 2022 (age 64)ABILENE –&nbsp;Dava M. Walker, 64, passed away Monday, July 11, 2022.&nbsp; She was born in Sterling, KS to David and Edna (Harris) Boock.Dava graduated from Kansas State University and was a lifelong Wildcat fan.&nbsp; She taught preschool special education for many years and dearly loved her students.&nbsp; Dava enjoyed listening to music but also had a talent for writing original songs.&nbsp; When traveling she always had time to stop at a casino and try her luck on the slots.&nbsp; Dava was proud of her family’s Native American and farming heritage.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;She was preceded in death by her parents.Dava is survived by her husband Ronnie Walker; dog Buddy; and many loving relatives and friends.A visitation will be held from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2022 at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. &nbsp;Inurnment will be in Sterling Cemetery at 10 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2022. &nbsp;Memorial to the Tammy Walker Cancer Center. &nbsp;To&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/sympathy">send flowers</a>&nbsp;to the family or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/1074854/memorial-tree">plant a tree</a>&nbsp;in memory of Dava M. (Boock) Walker, please&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ryanmortuary.com/obituary/Dava-Walker/sympathy">visit our floral store.</a>

Dava M. Walker

An open conversation about the Aug. 2 vote to amend the Kansas Constitution concerning abortion is set for Monday.

The event is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Monday at Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House, 141 N. Santa Fe Avenue. Sponsored by People United for Safety and Health, the event is open to the public. 

"Minds may not be changed, but an idea exchange seems critical. Most agree that the simple word 'abortion' is only a snapshot of a much more complex picture. Those interested in sharing their ideas and personal stories about how this amendment (and the issue of women’s reproductive rights generally) may affect them are welcome. Willing listeners are also welcome," People United for Safety and Health noted in a news release.

Time allotted for each speaker will be generous but not unlimited, according to the organization. Three-to-five-minute readings of poetry, articles, editorials, and other written material is also fair game. After readings and presentations, time will be allotted for open discussion among attendees.

By SALINA POST An open conversation about the Aug. 2 vote to amend the Kansas Constitution concerning abortion is set for Monday.The event is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Monday at Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House, 141 N. Santa Fe Avenue. Sponsored by People United for Safety and Health, the event is open to the public. "Minds may not be changed, but an idea exchange seems critical. Most agree that the simple word 'abortion' is only a snapshot of a much more complex picture. Those interested in sharing their ideas and personal stories about how this amendment (and the issue of women’s reproductive rights generally) may affect them are welcome. Willing listeners are also welcome," People United for Safety and Health noted in a news release.Time allotted for each speaker will be generous but not unlimited, according to the organization. Three-to-five-minute readings of poetry, articles, editorials, and other written material is also fair game. After readings and presentations, time will be allotted for open discussion among attendees.

Open mic night about proposed constitutional amendment set

JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday opened his first visit to the Mideast since taking office by offering anxious Israeli leaders strong reassurances of his determination to stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">Iran’s growing nuclear program,</a>&nbsp;saying he’d be willing to use force as a "last resort."

The president's comments came in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 taped before he left Washington and broadcast Wednesday, hours after the country's political leaders welcomed him with a red-carpet arrival ceremony at the Tel Aviv airport.

“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” Biden said. Asked about using military force against Iran, Biden said, “If that was the last resort, yes.”

U.S. ally Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, citing its nuclear program, its calls for Israel’s destruction and its support for hostile militant groups across the region.

The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties and strengthening past calls to take military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program. A senior Israeli official said before Biden arrived that both countries would commit to “using all elements of their national power against the Iranian nuclear threat.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending the formal release of the statement.

Israeli leaders made clear as they marked Biden’s arrival that Iran's nuclear program was the top item on their agenda.

“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as he greeted the Democratic president at the airport ceremony in Tel Aviv.

Biden said he would not remove Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, even if that kept Iran from rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.

Sanctions on the IRGC, which has carried out regional attacks, have been a sticking point in negotiations to bring Iran back into compliance with the agreement meant to keep it from having a nuclear weapon. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.

Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.

Biden's visit to Israel follows the collapse of a coalition-led government headed by Naftali Bennett. The president was greeted by Lapid, the caretaker prime minister who is hoping to hang on to power when Israelis hold their fifth election in three years this fall.

Lapid reminded Biden of when they first met roughly eight years earlier. Biden was vice president and Lapid was finance minister.

“You said to me, ‘If only I had hair like yours, I would be president' to which I answered, 'And if only I had your height, I would be Prime Minister,” Lapid said.

Biden made reviving the Iran nuclear deal, brokered by Barack Obama in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018</a>, a key priority as he entered office. Biden said Trump made a “gigantic mistake” by withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal.

“There are those who thought with the last administration we sort of walked away from the Middle East, that we were going to create a vacuum that China and or Russia would fill, and we can’t let that happen," he said.

But indirect talks for the U.S. to reenter the deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-dubai-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-cb297fc7bbe0f59acf5b20cdefe352a7">have stalled</a>&nbsp;as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">made rapid gains</a>&nbsp;in developing its nuclear program. That's left the Biden administration increasingly pessimistic about resurrecting the deal, which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

At the airport, Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden for championing Israel during his more than 50 years in public office. He then reminded the U.S. president of the “security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbors and endangering our region.”

Israelis seemed determined to underscore the imminent threat from Iran. Soon after he arrived, Biden was briefed on the country’s “Iron Dome” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-naftali-bennett-israel-middle-east-946f3744cfb6afd59a6ce1b053999ae1">new “Iron Beam” missile defense systems.</a>

The president later visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-international-news-israel-ap-top-news-f9158489b5c24b0c80473e8f2fc329dc">Yad Vashem</a>&nbsp;memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem.

Biden, wearing a skullcap, was invited to rekindle the eternal flame in the memorial's Hall of Remembrance. Two Marines placed a wreath on the stone crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims and Biden listened as a cantor recited the remembrance prayer.

He then greeted two Holocaust survivors, kissing the women on their cheeks. His eyes welled with tears as he chatted with them.

“My mother would say ’God love you, dear,'” Biden told the women.

One of the survivors, Rena Quint, 86, later said she told Biden how her mother and brothers were killed in a death camp. Quint, who was born in Poland, said she was reunited with her father in a male slave labor factory, where she pretended to be a boy. Her father also was murdered. She later was adopted by a childless Jewish couple after she arrived in the United States in 1946.

“Did you see the president hug me?” she asked “He asked permission to kiss me and he kept on holding my hand and we were told not to touch him.”

Biden is set to meet Thursday with Israeli officials, including Lapid, Herzog and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He'll meet Friday Friday with Palestinian officials.

Biden said he will emphasize in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders his continued support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but acknowledged that outcome likely wouldn't be feasible “in the near term.”

He maintained that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure a “future of equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden would not offer any proposals during the trip aimed at restarting talks.

The White House has also been frustrated with repeated Iran-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-israel-middle-east-iraq-iran-5c6273b14cc07ef68c6a5f4b57645647">attacks on U.S. troops based in Iraq</a>, though the administration says the frequency of such attacks has dropped precipitously over the last two years. Tehran also backs the rebel Houthis in a bloody war with the Saudis in Yemen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-35773313fc24f039977c670376818077">A U.N.-brokered cease-fire</a>&nbsp;has been in place for more than four months, a fragile peace in a war that began in 2015.

Sullivan said this week that the administration believes Russia is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-iran-jake-sullivan-4a9f1b2749893d8f1ed9f039869cf119">turning to Iran</a>&nbsp;to provide it with hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, including weapons-capable drones, for use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. Sullivan said Wednesday that Iranians showing a willingness to assist Russia is something that should be of great concern to the Israelis, Saudis and other Gulf allies that Biden will be meeting with this week.

“We think that this is of interest, to put it mildly, to countries we will be visiting on this trip,” Sullivan said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657763232824.png" alt="The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday opened his first visit to the Mideast since taking office by offering anxious Israeli leaders strong reassurances of his determination to stop&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">Iran’s growing nuclear program,</a>&nbsp;saying he’d be willing to use force as a "last resort."The president's comments came in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 taped before he left Washington and broadcast Wednesday, hours after the country's political leaders welcomed him with a red-carpet arrival ceremony at the Tel Aviv airport.“The only thing worse than the Iran that exists now is an Iran with nuclear weapons,” Biden said. Asked about using military force against Iran, Biden said, “If that was the last resort, yes.”U.S. ally Israel considers Iran to be its greatest enemy, citing its nuclear program, its calls for Israel’s destruction and its support for hostile militant groups across the region.The U.S. and Israel are expected Thursday to unveil a joint declaration cementing their close military ties and strengthening past calls to take military action to halt Iran’s nuclear program. A senior Israeli official said before Biden arrived that both countries would commit to “using all elements of their national power against the Iranian nuclear threat.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity pending the formal release of the statement.Israeli leaders made clear as they marked Biden’s arrival that Iran's nuclear program was the top item on their agenda.“We will discuss the need to renew a strong global coalition that will stop the Iranian nuclear program,” said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, as he greeted the Democratic president at the airport ceremony in Tel Aviv.Biden said he would not remove Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps from the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, even if that kept Iran from rejoining the Iran nuclear deal.Sanctions on the IRGC, which has carried out regional attacks, have been a sticking point in negotiations to bring Iran back into compliance with the agreement meant to keep it from having a nuclear weapon. Iran announced last week that it has enriched uranium to 60% purity, a technical step away from weapons-grade quality.Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, though United Nations experts and Western intelligence agencies say Iran had an organized military nuclear program through 2003.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657763210542.png" alt="Officials show President Biden where to walk as he arrives in Israel on Wednesday- White House&nbsp; photo" />
 <figcaption>Officials show President Biden where to walk as he arrives in Israel on Wednesday- White House&nbsp; photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Biden's visit to Israel follows the collapse of a coalition-led government headed by Naftali Bennett. The president was greeted by Lapid, the caretaker prime minister who is hoping to hang on to power when Israelis hold their fifth election in three years this fall.Lapid reminded Biden of when they first met roughly eight years earlier. Biden was vice president and Lapid was finance minister.“You said to me, ‘If only I had hair like yours, I would be president' to which I answered, 'And if only I had your height, I would be Prime Minister,” Lapid said.Biden made reviving the Iran nuclear deal, brokered by Barack Obama in 2015 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-iran-cead755353a1455bbef08ef289448994">abandoned by Donald Trump in 2018</a>, a key priority as he entered office. Biden said Trump made a “gigantic mistake” by withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal.“There are those who thought with the last administration we sort of walked away from the Middle East, that we were going to create a vacuum that China and or Russia would fill, and we can’t let that happen," he said.But indirect talks for the U.S. to reenter the deal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-iran-dubai-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-cb297fc7bbe0f59acf5b20cdefe352a7">have stalled</a>&nbsp;as Iran has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-iran-nuclear-united-nations-51cb62796ace2c64ba9278197d9b5464">made rapid gains</a>&nbsp;in developing its nuclear program. That's left the Biden administration increasingly pessimistic about resurrecting the deal, which placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.At the airport, Israeli President Isaac Herzog thanked Biden for championing Israel during his more than 50 years in public office. He then reminded the U.S. president of the “security challenges emanating directly from Iran and its proxies, threatening Israel and its neighbors and endangering our region.”Israelis seemed determined to underscore the imminent threat from Iran. Soon after he arrived, Biden was briefed on the country’s “Iron Dome” and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-naftali-bennett-israel-middle-east-946f3744cfb6afd59a6ce1b053999ae1">new “Iron Beam” missile defense systems.</a>The president later visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-international-news-israel-ap-top-news-f9158489b5c24b0c80473e8f2fc329dc">Yad Vashem</a>&nbsp;memorial to Holocaust victims in Jerusalem.Biden, wearing a skullcap, was invited to rekindle the eternal flame in the memorial's Hall of Remembrance. Two Marines placed a wreath on the stone crypt containing the ashes of Holocaust victims and Biden listened as a cantor recited the remembrance prayer.He then greeted two Holocaust survivors, kissing the women on their cheeks. His eyes welled with tears as he chatted with them.“My mother would say ’God love you, dear,'” Biden told the women.One of the survivors, Rena Quint, 86, later said she told Biden how her mother and brothers were killed in a death camp. Quint, who was born in Poland, said she was reunited with her father in a male slave labor factory, where she pretended to be a boy. Her father also was murdered. She later was adopted by a childless Jewish couple after she arrived in the United States in 1946.“Did you see the president hug me?” she asked “He asked permission to kiss me and he kept on holding my hand and we were told not to touch him.”Biden is set to meet Thursday with Israeli officials, including Lapid, Herzog and opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He'll meet Friday Friday with Palestinian officials.Biden said he will emphasize in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders his continued support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but acknowledged that outcome likely wouldn't be feasible “in the near term.”He maintained that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure a “future of equal measure of freedom, prosperity and democracy for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” His national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said Biden would not offer any proposals during the trip aimed at restarting talks.The White House has also been frustrated with repeated Iran-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-israel-middle-east-iraq-iran-5c6273b14cc07ef68c6a5f4b57645647">attacks on U.S. troops based in Iraq</a>, though the administration says the frequency of such attacks has dropped precipitously over the last two years. Tehran also backs the rebel Houthis in a bloody war with the Saudis in Yemen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-yemen-middle-east-35773313fc24f039977c670376818077">A U.N.-brokered cease-fire</a>&nbsp;has been in place for more than four months, a fragile peace in a war that began in 2015.Sullivan said this week that the administration believes Russia is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-iran-jake-sullivan-4a9f1b2749893d8f1ed9f039869cf119">turning to Iran</a>&nbsp;to provide it with hundreds of unmanned aerial vehicles, including weapons-capable drones, for use in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">its ongoing war in Ukraine</a>. Sullivan said Wednesday that Iranians showing a willingness to assist Russia is something that should be of great concern to the Israelis, Saudis and other Gulf allies that Biden will be meeting with this week.“We think that this is of interest, to put it mildly, to countries we will be visiting on this trip,” Sullivan said.

Biden delivers tough talk on Iran as he opens Mideast visit

TOPEKA—The <a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FChI--OY7T95OmH9EKdI_5pFcUopAPoSARuHYfOE2Is" target="_blank">28th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a> will meet at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 3, to interview nominees to fill two district judge posts and one district magistrate post.

The district magistrate judge post will be Saline County. The new judge positions were certified by&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FChI--OY7T95OmH9EKdI_zHjRHkhNUpiS9JnjjAlvJQ" target="_blank">Administrative Order 2022-JA-020</a>&nbsp;after the Kansas Legislature passed and the governor signed 2022 House Substitute for Substitute for Senate Bill No. 267 to fund them. The 28th Judicial District is composed of Saline and Ottawa counties.&nbsp; &nbsp; Public interviews  &nbsp; &nbsp; Interviews are open to the public. They will take place at:&nbsp;  &nbsp; Saline County Courthouse&nbsp; Room 107&nbsp; 300 W Ash.&nbsp; Salina, KS&nbsp;  &nbsp; The interview schedule will be announced once it’s finalized.  &nbsp; &nbsp; The nominees for the district judge posts:&nbsp;

●Samantha Angell, Salina, chamber counsel, U.S. Federal Court

●Nathan Dickey, Abilene, assistant county attorney, Saline County

 ●Jeffery Ebel, Salina, county attorney, Saline County

●Patrick Hoffman, Salina, county counselor, Barton and Reno counties

 ●Brad Sutton, Assaria, assistant county attorney, Saline County

●Andrea Swisher, Lindsborg, private practice

●Amy Taylor-Norton, Salina, assistant attorney general

The nominees for district magistrate judge:

●Richard Buck, Salina, county attorney, Ottawa County

●Andrew Couch, Salina, attorney, Young Williams, P.C.

●Jeffery Ebel, Salina, county attorney, Saline County

●Claire Serrault-Wiseman, Salina, court services officer, 28th Judicial District

The nominating commission will convene by&nbsp;phone at&nbsp;1:15 p.m.&nbsp;Monday, July&nbsp;11, to review nominations.  &nbsp; The meeting is open to the public. &nbsp; To listen,&nbsp;call 1-866-705-2554 and enter guest passcode 4581358.  &nbsp;

ADA accommodation  &nbsp; &nbsp; Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible:  &nbsp; &nbsp; ADA Coordinator  &nbsp; <a href="mailto:ADA@kscourts.org" target="_blank">ADA@kscourts.org</a>&nbsp; 785-296-2256  &nbsp; TTY at 711  &nbsp; &nbsp; Eligibility requirements &nbsp; &nbsp; Nominees for district magistrate judge must be:

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

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

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

Nominees for district judge must be: &nbsp;

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

●a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.

District judge nominees to the governor &nbsp; &nbsp; The nominating commission will interview nominees for the district judge positions and then select from three to five people for each vacancy whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the positions according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint. &nbsp; Term of office&nbsp; After serving one year in office, a new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.&nbsp; Nominating commission&nbsp; The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair; David Stanley of Bennington; Jay Macy of Minneapolis; Lance Cochran, Robert German, Peter Johnston, Donald Merriman, and Christine Ritter of Salina; and Robert Martin of Solomon.&nbsp;

Kansas Judicial BranchTOPEKA—The <a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FChI--OY7T95OmH9EKdI_5pFcUopAPoSARuHYfOE2Is" target="_blank">28th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a> will meet at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 3, to interview nominees to fill two district judge posts and one district magistrate post.The district magistrate judge post will be Saline County. The new judge positions were certified by&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascourts.org/l/FChI--OY7T95OmH9EKdI_zHjRHkhNUpiS9JnjjAlvJQ" target="_blank">Administrative Order 2022-JA-020</a>&nbsp;after the Kansas Legislature passed and the governor signed 2022 House Substitute for Substitute for Senate Bill No. 267 to fund them. The 28th Judicial District is composed of Saline and Ottawa counties.&nbsp; &nbsp; Public interviews  &nbsp; &nbsp; Interviews are open to the public. They will take place at:&nbsp;  &nbsp; Saline County Courthouse&nbsp; Room 107&nbsp; 300 W Ash.&nbsp; Salina, KS&nbsp;  &nbsp; The interview schedule will be announced once it’s finalized.  &nbsp; &nbsp; The nominees for the district judge posts:&nbsp;●Samantha Angell, Salina, chamber counsel, U.S. Federal Court●Nathan Dickey, Abilene, assistant county attorney, Saline County ●Jeffery Ebel, Salina, county attorney, Saline County●Patrick Hoffman, Salina, county counselor, Barton and Reno counties ●Brad Sutton, Assaria, assistant county attorney, Saline County●Andrea Swisher, Lindsborg, private practice●Amy Taylor-Norton, Salina, assistant attorney generalThe nominees for district magistrate judge:●Richard Buck, Salina, county attorney, Ottawa County●Andrew Couch, Salina, attorney, Young Williams, P.C.●Jeffery Ebel, Salina, county attorney, Saline County●Claire Serrault-Wiseman, Salina, court services officer, 28th Judicial DistrictThe nominating commission will convene by&nbsp;phone at&nbsp;1:15 p.m.&nbsp;Monday, July&nbsp;11, to review nominations.  &nbsp; The meeting is open to the public. &nbsp; To listen,&nbsp;call 1-866-705-2554 and enter guest passcode 4581358.  &nbsp;ADA accommodation  &nbsp; &nbsp; Any person with a disability who requires accommodation to access the nominating commission meeting should notify the judicial branch ADA coordinator as early as possible:  &nbsp; &nbsp; ADA Coordinator  &nbsp; <a href="mailto:ADA@kscourts.org" target="_blank">ADA@kscourts.org</a>&nbsp; 785-296-2256  &nbsp; TTY at 711  &nbsp; &nbsp; Eligibility requirements &nbsp; &nbsp; Nominees for district magistrate judge must be:●a resident of Saline County at the time of taking office and while holding office;●a graduate of a high school, a secondary school, or the equivalent; and ●either a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas or able to pass an examination to become certified within 18 months.&nbsp;Nominees for district judge must be: &nbsp;●at least 30 years old;●a lawyer admitted to practice in Kansas and engaged in the practice of law for at least five years, whether as a lawyer, judge, or full-time teacher at an accredited law school; and●a resident of the judicial district at the time of taking office and while holding office.District judge nominees to the governor &nbsp; &nbsp; The nominating commission will interview nominees for the district judge positions and then select from three to five people for each vacancy whose names will be submitted to the governor to fill the positions according to statutory qualification and residency requirements. The governor has 60 days after receiving the names to decide whom to appoint. &nbsp; Term of office&nbsp; After serving one year in office, a new judge must stand for a retention vote in the next general election to remain in the position. If retained, the incumbent will serve a four-year term.&nbsp; Nominating commission&nbsp; The 28th Judicial District Nominating Commission consists of Supreme Court Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair; David Stanley of Bennington; Jay Macy of Minneapolis; Lance Cochran, Robert German, Peter Johnston, Donald Merriman, and Christine Ritter of Salina; and Robert Martin of Solomon.&nbsp;

28th Judicial District commission to interview judge nominees

Position Title:&nbsp;Service Technician / Quality Control Specialist

The Service Technician at Weddle and Sons will be tasked with assessing leaks, planning and performing many different small to medium-size roof repairs on steep/low slope roofs along with other company projects. Ability to perform repairs on the following materials: composition shingles; single ply membranes and built-up roof systems. This person will be able to work independently with little or no supervision; must also be able to work well with a team and know when to ask for outside input and support.

The Quality Control Specialist (QCS) at Weddle and Sons will develop and demonstrate skill in overseeing the day-to-day operations of a residential roofing crew and will show an advanced level of initiative in communication with supervisors, subordinates, and clients. A QCS must be committed to the core values of the company and must show the potential to coach others to higher levels of execution.

The starting hourly rate in the range of $16.00 - $20.00 based upon level of experience, paid biweekly, per 40 hours worked in a week with overtime paid at time-and-a-half.

The company provides 5 days of paid vacation and seven paid holiday days annually. Employees are eligible to join a company-sponsored health insurance plan after 30 days of employment. Employees are eligible for a company-sponsored 401k plan after 12 months of employment.

Weddle and Sons team members must support our Mission of “Building Better Lives” and embody our Core Values. We make hiring, retention, and advancement decisions largely on how well team members exemplify our core values in each aspect of their job. Our Core Values are:

1. Commitment to Clients: We will act in the best interest of those we serve

2. Responsibility: We will hold ourselves and each other accountable for excellent work

3. Integrity: We will exemplify fairness and honesty in our actions, decisions, and communications

4. Positivity: We choose to view and respond to life and work in a positive way

5. Never Settle: We are committed to constantly improving personally and professionally

1. Successfully solve client problems through effective issue identification, troubleshooting, and repairs

2. Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with clients and team, communicating clearly and with a positive attitude, actively listening to customer concerns, and explaining our recommendations, options, and timing

3. Maintain current and accurate records of existing conditions, recommendations, work performed, time spent, and materials purchased for each project

4. Manage multiple tasks, prioritizing and carefully planning to maximize daily efficiency and minimize down time and unnecessary trips while quickly responding to urgent needs

5. Proactively seek service leads in the Salina area by networking and initiating with key service clients and potential clients

1. Keeping the client informed of the re-roof process

2. Keeping sub-contractors informed and scheduled ahead of time so that the client may plan appropriately.

4. Ensuring materials delivery is timely, accurate and correct

6. Informing the crew of safety requirements and promptly addressing violations

7. Managing the quality of installation by the sub-contractor

8. Maintain industry-best cleanliness of the job site, with specific attention to trash and nail clean up

9. Completing roof inspection form before leaving the job-site

11. Performing the installation of custom chimney flashing and skylight installation

13. Proper documentation of job notes on company platform

14. Regular communication with the Production Manager on ways to improve processes

1. Basic knowledge of roofing systems (and ability to learn quickly) with overall technical proficiency

2. Physical fitness sufficient to perform tasks that can be demanding at times

3. Problem-solving ability to troubleshoot roofing (and related) issues: ability to identify symptoms and systematically eliminate potential causes until solving the issue

a. Customer service skills (listening, positive communication, patience)

b. Competence in grammar and spelling preferred

c. Ability to send clear and mistake-free written communications

5. Ability to organize many competing and concurrent workstreams, while prioritizing and following through on commitments

Working Environment and Expectations:

Hours: A typical work week is expected to be not less than 40 hours. Given the seasonality of this business, we expect that there will be many weeks in middle of the year that require well over 40 hours of work. At the same time, there will be many weeks in the winter that may require somewhat less than 40 hours. At any time, and especially during the winter months, the service technician may be asked to assist with various company initiatives.

Travel: A service technician role is likely to involve occasional travel for company training, and projects. At times, business demand or weather events may require that the QCS spend time working in other company locations.

This is an “At Will” employment agreement. Nothing in the company’s policies, actions, or this document shall be construed to alter the “At Will” nature of Employee’s status with the company, and Employee understands that the company may terminate his/her employment at any time for any reason or for no reason, provided it is not terminated in violation of state or federal law. Likewise, the company recognizes the employee’s right to resign from employment for any reason.

Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weddleandsons.com/apply/">https://www.weddleandsons.com/apply/</a>&nbsp;and select the “Salina” branch and “Service Technician/Quality Control Specialist” job.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1656094503581.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>Position Title:&nbsp;Service Technician / Quality Control SpecialistLocation:&nbsp;Salina, KSReports to:&nbsp;Branch ManagerGeneral Description:The Service Technician at Weddle and Sons will be tasked with assessing leaks, planning and performing many different small to medium-size roof repairs on steep/low slope roofs along with other company projects. Ability to perform repairs on the following materials: composition shingles; single ply membranes and built-up roof systems. This person will be able to work independently with little or no supervision; must also be able to work well with a team and know when to ask for outside input and support.The Quality Control Specialist (QCS) at Weddle and Sons will develop and demonstrate skill in overseeing the day-to-day operations of a residential roofing crew and will show an advanced level of initiative in communication with supervisors, subordinates, and clients. A QCS must be committed to the core values of the company and must show the potential to coach others to higher levels of execution.Compensation:The starting hourly rate in the range of $16.00 - $20.00 based upon level of experience, paid biweekly, per 40 hours worked in a week with overtime paid at time-and-a-half.The company provides 5 days of paid vacation and seven paid holiday days annually. Employees are eligible to join a company-sponsored health insurance plan after 30 days of employment. Employees are eligible for a company-sponsored 401k plan after 12 months of employment.Mission and Core Values:Weddle and Sons team members must support our Mission of “Building Better Lives” and embody our Core Values. We make hiring, retention, and advancement decisions largely on how well team members exemplify our core values in each aspect of their job. Our Core Values are:1. Commitment to Clients: We will act in the best interest of those we serve2. Responsibility: We will hold ourselves and each other accountable for excellent work3. Integrity: We will exemplify fairness and honesty in our actions, decisions, and communications4. Positivity: We choose to view and respond to life and work in a positive way5. Never Settle: We are committed to constantly improving personally and professionallyResponsibilities:Service Technician1. Successfully solve client problems through effective issue identification, troubleshooting, and repairs2. Demonstrate professionalism in all interactions with clients and team, communicating clearly and with a positive attitude, actively listening to customer concerns, and explaining our recommendations, options, and timing3. Maintain current and accurate records of existing conditions, recommendations, work performed, time spent, and materials purchased for each project4. Manage multiple tasks, prioritizing and carefully planning to maximize daily efficiency and minimize down time and unnecessary trips while quickly responding to urgent needs5. Proactively seek service leads in the Salina area by networking and initiating with key service clients and potential clientsQuality Control Specialist1. Keeping the client informed of the re-roof process2. Keeping sub-contractors informed and scheduled ahead of time so that the client may plan appropriately.3. Being available: cell phone; email4. Ensuring materials delivery is timely, accurate and correct5. Abiding by OSHA laws6. Informing the crew of safety requirements and promptly addressing violations7. Managing the quality of installation by the sub-contractor8. Maintain industry-best cleanliness of the job site, with specific attention to trash and nail clean up9. Completing roof inspection form before leaving the job-site10. Removing left over inventory11. Performing the installation of custom chimney flashing and skylight installation12. Managing weather hazards13. Proper documentation of job notes on company platform14. Regular communication with the Production Manager on ways to improve processesSkills:1. Basic knowledge of roofing systems (and ability to learn quickly) with overall technical proficiency2. Physical fitness sufficient to perform tasks that can be demanding at times3. Problem-solving ability to troubleshoot roofing (and related) issues: ability to identify symptoms and systematically eliminate potential causes until solving the issue4. Written and verbal professionalisma. Customer service skills (listening, positive communication, patience)b. Competence in grammar and spelling preferredc. Ability to send clear and mistake-free written communicationsd. Good phone demeanor and tone5. Ability to organize many competing and concurrent workstreams, while prioritizing and following through on commitmentsWorking Environment and Expectations:Hours: A typical work week is expected to be not less than 40 hours. Given the seasonality of this business, we expect that there will be many weeks in middle of the year that require well over 40 hours of work. At the same time, there will be many weeks in the winter that may require somewhat less than 40 hours. At any time, and especially during the winter months, the service technician may be asked to assist with various company initiatives.Travel: A service technician role is likely to involve occasional travel for company training, and projects. At times, business demand or weather events may require that the QCS spend time working in other company locations.Employment Terms:This is an “At Will” employment agreement. Nothing in the company’s policies, actions, or this document shall be construed to alter the “At Will” nature of Employee’s status with the company, and Employee understands that the company may terminate his/her employment at any time for any reason or for no reason, provided it is not terminated in violation of state or federal law. Likewise, the company recognizes the employee’s right to resign from employment for any reason.To apply:Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weddleandsons.com/apply/">https://www.weddleandsons.com/apply/</a>&nbsp;and select the “Salina” branch and “Service Technician/Quality Control Specialist” job.

Dwight Alan Schmidt

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his resignation Thursday amid a mass revolt by top members of his government, marking an end to three tumultuous years in power in which he brazenly bent and sometimes broke the rules of British politics.

Months of defiance ended almost with a shrug as Johnson stood in 10 Downing Street and conceded that his party wanted him gone.

The brash, 58-year-old politician who took Britain out of the European Union and steered it through COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine was brought down by one scandal too many — this one involving his appointment of a politician who had been accused of sexual misconduct.

The messiest of prime ministers did not leave cleanly. Johnson stepped down immediately as Conservative Party leader but said he would remain as prime minister until the party chooses his successor. The timetable for that process will be announced next week, he said.

But many in the party want him gone before then, and his government has been shredded by scores of resignations.

Among the possible candidates to succeed him: former Health Secretary Sajid Javid, former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.

Johnson had clung to power for two days, defiantly telling lawmakers on Wednesday that he had a “colossal mandate” from voters and intended to get on with the business of government.

But he was forced to concede defeat Thursday morning after one of his closest allies, newly appointed Treasury chief Nadhim Zahawi, publicly told him to resign for the good of the country.

“In the last few days, I tried to persuade my colleagues that it would be eccentric to change governments when we’re delivering so much and when we have such a vast mandate," Johnson said outside his office. “I regret not to have been successful in those arguments, and of course it’s painful not to be able to see through so many ideas and projects myself.’’

About 50 Cabinet secretaries, ministers and lower-level officials had quit the government over the past few days, often castigating the prime minister for his lack of integrity.

The mass resignations had left numerous positions unfilled, and the crisis had stalled the business of some parliamentary committees because there were no ministers available to speak on the government’s behalf.

“It is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader of that party and therefore a new prime minister,” Johnson said.

Zahawi, who was promoted earlier this week as Johnson tried to shore up his Cabinet, said he and a group of colleagues had privately expressed their concerns to the prime minister on Wednesday and he decided to go public after Johnson ignored the advice to resign.

“I am heartbroken that he hasn’t listened and that he is now undermining the incredible achievements of this government,” Zahawi said in a letter posted on Twitter. “But the country deserves a government that is not only stable but which acts with integrity.”

It is a humiliating defeat for Johnson, who not only pulled off Brexit but was credited with rolling out one of the world’s most successful mass vaccination campaigns to combat COVID-19.