Recent law enforcement events across the nation have focused attention on the conduct, policies and procedures of law enforcement agencies, prompting protests and rallies as well as calls for review and changes related to various law enforcement topics. Locally, there have been peaceful protest marches and rallies, and at the last two Salina City Commission meetings, citizens have brought forth qu...
Saline County’s 2021 budget will be discussed during the County Commission’s Tuesday June 30th meeting. The budget includes a $20,000 “equipment” purchase for the “Sheriff’s Office/Jail” for a fryer. Back in 2015, I saw a deep fat fryer in the jail’s kitchen. Through an “open records” request, I saw menus that included “hamburgers/French fries” and “super nachos”...
COVID-19 is prompting the Salina Public Library to again close its facility to the public. According to the library, after careful consideration of the current COVID-19 risks they are temporarily closing their building to the public. Pickup Service will be available in the north lobby from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and digital services are available ...
Kurt Carraway has been named department head of the unmanned aircraft systems flight and operations program at Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus. Currently the UAS executive director at the Applied Aviation Research Center at K-State Polytechnic, Carraway is expanding his leadership role to include overseeing the undergraduate degree option. With expertise in flight training, flight op...
District Magistrate Judge Mary Thrower will retire August 14 after serving 14 years in the 28th Judicial District. Thrower manages the juvenile offender and child in need of care dockets in the 28th Judicial District, which is composed of Ottawa and Saline counties. "These are some of the most trying cases, no doubt," she said. "We are often dealing not only with the youth but also with pare...
The Saline County Health Department is warning of a possible COVID-19 exposure at a recent soccer game. According to the agency, on June 22nd a soccer game took place in Sunset Park. At least one symptomatic person participated in that game and potentially exposed others to COVID-19. This game took place between 7:30 - 9:30 PM. This was not an organized game, so there is no roster of at...
Salina Area United Way has granted out the remainder of its COVID-19 Relief Fund to community partners providing direct services to those affected by coronavirus. According to the agency, the following grants were awarded: Volunteers of America (Salina, KS) - $5,000 to purchase 73 essential food baskets with cleaning supplies for senior living in low-income housing at Market Place and Sali...
COVID-19 continues to spike in Saline County. The Saline County Health Department reports 21 new cases. According to the agency, there are 21 new positive COVID-19 cases in Saline County that have been identified since Wednesday. The total for the county is now 98, with 60 cases that are actively being monitored by the Health Department. All of the new cases are associated with prior posi...
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, along with local public health, is encouraging people who are attending sporting tournaments to please exercise appropriate prevention measures for COVID-19 as clusters are beginning to develop and potential exposures have occurred. “Sports settings by their very nature may pose a higher risk for spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Lee Norman, ...
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment wants to alert Kansans to a potential air quality impact from Saharan dust. Steps to protect your health on days when particulate matter is present in your community include: Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise. People with respiratory or heart related illness should remain indoors. Help keep indoor air clean...
