King in the Community

Mike Schrage, Salina City Manager discusses Friends of the Salina Animal Shelter, the Cozy Inn civil case and more

Join Salina Post News Director Nate King for another conversation with Salina City Manager, Mike Schrage. Discover how the city supports the Smoky Hill River Festival through extensive planning and coordination, ensuring a smooth and safe event despite unpredictable weather.
Schrage also discusses the ongoing civil suit affecting signage regulations. Learn about the recent changes to the city’s proclamation process, which now allows organizations to present their proclamations independently, balancing free speech with the city's role.
Lastly, Schrage provides the City's perspective regarding the recent dissolution of the Friends of the Salina Animal Shelter and the city's efforts to maintain high standards despite changes in volunteer participation. Stay informed and engaged with the issues that matter in Salina on the King in the Community podcast.

Jack Maytum, Senior Broadband Analyst with Design Nine

Tune in for another episode of the King in the Community podcast with Salina Post News Director Nate King. This episode features Nate's conversation with Jack Maytum, Senior Broadband Analyst at Design Nine, Inc. Maytum speaks about the importance of reliable broadband access and the comprehensive broadband study for Saline County. Maytum outlines the assessment of existing infrastructure, usage patterns, and coverage gaps, and proposes strategies for improvement.
Call to Action:
Community participation is crucial. Residents and business owners are urged to complete the broadband surveys by clicking on one of the links below. 
Resident Survey Business Survey Español
 
No Internet? No Problem: Paper surveys are available at these locations:
Eagle Communications Media Center, 1825 S Ohio St, Salina, KS 67401
Ad Astra Coffee, 135 N Santa Fe Ave, Salina
Assaria Hardware, 104 W Main St, Assaria, KS 67416
Gypsum Exit 14 Restaurant, 512 Maple St, Gypsum, KS 67448
Salina Public Library, 301 W Elm St, Salina, KS 67401
City/County Building, 300 W. Ash St., Salina, KS 67401
Salina Family Healthcare Center, 651 E Prescott Rd, Salina, KS 67401
Funded by $48,000 in ARPA funds, this study is essential for identifying service gaps and developing strategies to improve broadband access in Saline County.

Salina City Clerk, Nikki Goding

Join Salina Post News Director Nate King for an insightful conversation with Nikki Goding, the Salina City Clerk, as she takes us behind the scenes of the city's digital transformation and governance. 
In this episode, we dive into:
Nikki's Role and Responsibilities: Learn about the pivotal functions she performs as the City Clerk and her journey in public service.
Digital Transformation Efforts: Discover how Salina is leveraging technology to enhance city services, improve transparency, and engage citizens more effectively.
New City Commission Meeting Schedule: Hear how the revised meeting schedule is impacting city workers and what it means for the community's involvement in local governance.
Tune in and find out more about the inner workings of city government on this episode of King in the Community

KWU President and CEO, Dr. Matt Thompson

Join Salina Post News Director Nate King as he interviews Kansas Wesleyan University President and CEO Dr. Matt Thompson. Listen in as they discuss the university's record-setting growth in enrollment and the successes in academic programs, athletics, and community engagement. Dr. Thompson emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and reflects on the university's resilience following the loss of two faculty members.
The conversation also covers Kansas Wesleyan's rapid growth and commitment to excellence, with exciting new initiatives on the horizon. Additionally, they explore sustainable agriculture and the university's partnerships with local food systems, highlighting efforts to source food within a 30-mile radius.
Tune in to learn about the innovative strides Kansas Wesleyan University is making and their positive impact on the Salina community.

Friends of the River Foundation Puppets

Join host Nate King on The King in the Community Podcast for a special episode featuring Smoky Hill River critters Bella Beaver, Bartholomew Bullfrog, Edna C. Channel Cat, and Timmy the Turtle. These hand puppets, created by Anne Hoekstra, education outreach coordinator for the Friends of the River Foundation, are animated by Anne and Friends of River Foundation Executive Director, Jane Anderson. 
In this episode, the discussion centers on protecting the Smoky Hill River through responsible waste management, community education and teamwork. Anne and Jane share their experiences with using puppetry to engage both children and adults in learning about river ecosystems. This is an episode the whole family will love. Hear from the cast of critters as they share their stories of living on the river in Saline County. 
 
Want to meet the puppets in person? Friends of the River Foundation’s river puppets are on the loose at the 48th Annual Smoky Hill River Festival on FRIDAY ONLY. Watch for Bella Beaver, Bartholomew Bullfrog, Edna C. Channel Cat, and other characters from their educational outreach program as they share stories of the Smoky Hill River.

C.J. Wise, Salina Police Chief

Join Nate King, News Director of the Salina Post, in this episode of "King in the Community" as he engages with Salina Police Chief C.J. Wise. They discuss the revival of Salina's drug task force after a hiatus due to manpower issues, highlighting significant achievements in the past four months, including major drug seizures and community outreach.
Explore the ongoing drug problem in Salina, and the necessity of partnerships with other law enforcement agencies. Chief Wise also addresses building trust with underserved communities and the difficulties in recruiting and retaining officers.
Stay informed and connected with "King in the Community," where every episode brings you closer to the critical issues affecting Salina.

Susan Eberwein, Artyopolis Coordinator

Join Nate King on this episode of King in the Community as he chats with Susan Eberwein, Director of Artyopolis at the Smoky Hill River Festival. Susan shares her journey from working at the festival as a teen to taking her children there, and the amazing growth of Artyopolis from a single table to a vibrant kids’ zone featuring Creation Crossing, Paintchooo Plaza, and more.
Get excited for the return of the Flint Hill Fairies, a lineup of new and returning entertainers at Arty's Stage, and amenities like a misting station and baby station. Susan also shares need to know details about the nostalgic First Treasures event, where kids aged 4-13 can purchase exclusive artwork at a reasonable price. 
Tune in to see what activities children can do at the 48th Annual Epic Arts Party in Oakdale park.
 
For more information check out riverfestival.com

Kansas Lt. Gov./Sec. of Commerce, David Toland

Join Salina Post News Director Nate King as he sits down with Kansas Lieutenant Governor/Secretary of Commerce David Toland to explore the economic growth of Salina and statewide initiatives.
Toland discusses factors driving Salina’s success, such as population growth, housing, and arts investments. Toland also commends local economic development leaders Salina Area Chamber of Commerce's Renee Duxler and Salina Community Economic Development Organization's Mitch Robinson. 
This episode covers key topics like the passage of the Attracting Powerful Economic Expansion (APEX) Legislation, Panasonic’s $4 billion plant made possible thanks to APEX, workforce challenges in the state, broadband internet development in rural areas, and the strategic use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
Toland also addresses Medicaid expansion and its potential benefits for Kansas.
On this episode of King in the Community, listen to Toland share an overview of recent local and statewide economic developments and the importance of civic engagement and community involvement. 

Jane Anderson, Update on Smoky Hill River Renewal Project funding

Join Nate King as he interviews Jane Anderson, Executive Director of the Friends of the River Foundation, about the exciting Smoky Hill River revitalization project. Discover the impact of local and federal funding, the challenges faced, and the potential generational impact on the Salina and the Central Kansas community. 
During the podcast, Jane provides a timeline of project construction, historical context for how the river ecosystem deteriorated, and the ways that US Senator Jerry Moran has helped make this dream project a reality.
 

Sarah Keck, Smoky Hill River Festival Entertainment Director

Join host Nate King on the King in the Community podcast as he talks with Sarah Keck, entertainment director for the 48th annual Smoky Hill River Festival in Salina, Kansas. Sarah shares a sneak peek of the music acts at the festival, including diverse genres and performers.
Sarah also discusses the collaborative effort in selecting artists and highlights returning favorites like Papa Green Shoes and new additions like Wilderness and Scott Mulvahill. Don't miss this celebration of music and community spirit at the 48th annual Smoky Hill River Festival June 13-16.