King in the Community

Michelle Weis, Saline County Emergency Management Director

On this episode of King In the Community, podcast host Nate King discusses the urgent water crisis at the Sundowner Mobile Home Park with Saline County Emergency Management Director Michelle Weis.
Learn about the high levels of manganese contaminating the water supply, the county's response, and the lack of communication from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Corporation Commission.
Michelle, an alumnus of Kansas Wesleyan University, studied Emergency Management and Criminal Justice. Her passion for Emergency Preparedness comes from assisting healthcare organizations with their Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements. Michelle currently serves on the Executive Committee for the North Central Healthcare Coalition and is the Vice Chair for the North Central Regional Homeland Security Council. 
Tune in for an insightful conversation on the ongoing water quality issues impacting the residents of the Sundowner Mobile Home and Trailer Park in Hedville, Kansas. 
 

Smoky Hill Museum Director, Susan Hawksworth

Join host Nate King on the "King in the Community" podcast as he sits down with Susan Hawksworth to discuss the new exhibit at the Smoky Hill Museum in Salina.
The exhibit's title is "Step Up to the Task" and will be open to the public from April 12 to Oct. 5. 
Discover the inspiring stories of remarkable Salina women who made significant contributions to local and regional history. From groundbreaking achievements in male-dominated professions to promoting gender equality in their fields, these women have left a lasting impact on their communities.
Tune in to learn more about the interactive parts of the exhibit and the upcoming plans for renovation and expansion at the museum. Don't miss out on this fascinating conversation about the women who have stepped up to the task in Salina. 

Salina City Manager, Mike Schrage

In the latest episode of "King in the Community," Salina Post News Director and host, Nate King meets with Salina City Manager Mike Schrage for their monthly conversation about civic matters.
Through thoughtful discourse and analysis, the episode navigates a wide variety of relevant topics, from the philanthropic Match Madness event to the controversy surrounding possible public art at Salina Fire Station Four.
Listen in and hear about the city's strategic vision for including public art in capital improvement projects like the fire station rebuild. Schrage also discusses the associated costs of expanding the municipal landfill. 
King asks Schrage about the recent data breach in Salina, shedding light on the robust cybersecurity measures being deployed to fortify defenses against attacks The imperative of civic engagement through service on city boards and commissions is underscored, with over 200 volunteer positions available to actively contribute to the community's advancement.
Join Nate King each month for an update from Salina City Manager Mike Schrage. 

Phil Smith-Hanes, Saline County Administrator, County Goverment month and more

Join Salina Post News Director, Nate King, in this episode of "King in the Community" as he sits down with returning guest, Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith Hanes. They dive into various topics impacting Saline County, Kansas, including the Oliver Haag scholarship for agriculture students, investments in rural fire districts, county government services, the relationship between the county and city of Salina, and the low voter turnout in the Presidential Preference Primary. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion about the local government and community initiatives in Saline County.

Leslie Bishop, Salina Downtown Inc. Executive Director

Spring is in the air and Salina Dowtown Inc., SDI, is back with LIVE first Fridays beginning in April. Nate King chats with SDI Executive Director, Leslie Bishop about the new farm and art market in downtown Salina.
Click the link above and hear Bishop explain how the market got started and the ways public and private community stakeholders are partnering to make the farm and art market a success for its debut season. 
The farm and art market kick-off takes place on May 18 and will take place on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m., May 25 - October 19 at the City Lights Stage, 199 N Santa Fe Ave.
With a mission to connect and bring farmers, artisans, and residents of the Salina area together, while also fostering a sustainable, welcoming, and thriving downtown community, SDI is encouraging Salina residents to grow it, raise it, make it, bake it and support the Salina Downtown Farm and Art Market. 
Interested in selling your baked goods, home grown produce, handmade crafts or locally raised livestock? Check out Salina Downtown's website here for an application. 

Project Salina Board Members, Mike Paul and Dean Atteberry

Join Dean, Mike, and Salina Post News Director Nate King in a conversation about Project Salina's mission to support local nonprofits through sustainable food donations. 
 
They discuss the upcoming kick-off event in April, the increased need for food support in the community, and the impact of monetary donations on purchasing food for those in need. Learn how you can get involved and team up with coworkers to make a difference in Salina with Project Salina.

Brad Anderson, Director of Arts and Humanities at City of Salina

In this episode of King in the Community Salina Post News Director, Nate King speaks with Brad Anderson, director of Arts and Humanities at the City of Salina about local arts and culture. Anderson shares how it felt when he was selected to represent Salina in the 2024 Leadership Kansas Class.The episode also explores the vibrant arts and culture scene in Salina. Anderson talks about the city's transformational changes, downtown revitalization, and how art serves as a catalyst for community developement and the expression of ideas. 
Anderson gives an overview of public art projects, partnerships between arts organizations the significance of public art budget allocation for projects like the new fire station four in Salina, where city officials aim to allocate 4% of the $10 million budget for art.
 
Anderson highlights the the importance of community involvement in public art commissioning, how art can serve a purpose in project design, and the how project stakeholders such as, architects, artists, and community members collaborate and design public art. 
 
To learn more about Salina Arts and Humanities, click here. 

State Representative Susan Concannon on Sundowner Mobile Home Trailer Park, Foster Care in Kansas and more

 
In this episode of King in the Community, I speak with State Representative Susan Concannon (R-107th District) to hear about her journey from healthcare to politics, her advocacy for her community, and her work on issues like the water crisis at Sundowner mobile home trailer park. We also discuss her role as chair of the Child Welfare and Foster Care Committee, the challenges facing the foster care system, and her experiences serving on the Kansas House Appropriations Committee. Tune in for insights into public service, community advocacy, and the current political landscape in Topeka. 

BSL and Sign Code, Salina City Manager, Mike Schrage

Join host Nate King for his monthly conversation with Salina City Manager, Mike Schrage. Nate asks about the history behind Salina's breed-specific law and seeks answers about the ongoing conversation regarding Salina's sign code. 

Phil Smith-Hanes, Saline County Administrator

On this episode of King in the Community, Nate King hears an update from Saline County Administrator, Phil Smith-Hanes. 
Listen in and hear about a range of local issues impacting Saline County. From the challenges faced with the new jail building, including heating and plumbing issues, to the allocation of ARPA funding for rural fire districts, Phil provides valuable insights into the current state of affairs in Saline County.
 
We also touch on the importance of wildfire prevention, the shortage of prosecutors in the area, and the upcoming presidential preference primary in Kansas.
 
All of this and more on King in the Community.