After it saw a large increase in the service this past year, Saline County Senior Services has received a grant from Salina to help offset Meals on Wheels costs.
The grant, which is part of the COVID-19 block grant funds that came from the federal government, will be used to cover costs of meals for low-income residents within city limits.
During the county commission meeting Tuesday, Rosie Walter, senior services director, said the agency originally applied for $10,000 but more funding was available. Senior Services was the only applicant, so we were contacted by the city if we wanted the $35,000, Walter said. Of course we said yes.
Salina’s free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sponsored by the Salina Area United Way will be at a new location with a few program changes from previous years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program served over 900 people last year, despite shutting down early due to COVID-19 in 2020. In years prior, it served over 1,600 taxpayers.
The new VITA location will be the Salina Area United Way office, 113 N. 7th St., where clients can pick up forms in the organization’s lobby to get the process started. Only one individual or one family, all wearing masks, will be allowed in the volunteer-staffed lobby at all times. Clients may complete the intake form in their vehicle at the parking site or at home. Detailed instructions on required identification documents are printed on the forms, which must be returned to the United Way lobby no later than March 29.
Salina South and Sacred Heart students competed and debated their way into being the 2021 KSHSAA State Debate Champions over the weekend.
Salina South seniors Maya Daily and Tiana Marion are the 2021 KSHSAA Class 5A state debate champions who competed in the state competition hosted by Olathe Northwest High School. Sacred Heart s Sara Del Real and Lillina Perrin were the Class 3-2-1A champions, and their classmates Kiera Cochran and Stephanie Silverman received second during the state competition hosted by Lyons High School.
Virtual debates
The state debate competitions were held online for the first time due to taking coronavirus safety precautions. During the June 2020 KSHSAA Executive Board meeting, the board unanimously passed a virtual debate policy for the 2020-21 school year. The students debated several topics throughout the year, such as social justice, the death penalty and immigration.
Salina Dental Arts dentists and staff will host their third annual Give Kids A Smile event from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, to provide free dental services to underserved children. We served approximately 100 children last year and hope to serve 100-150 this year, said Karlie Miller, office administrator for Salina Dental Arts. Our goal is to raise awareness of the epidemic of untreated dental disease in our community because we know that nearly one in four children under the age of 5 already has cavities, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We want to do our part to try to help the children in our community maintain good oral health and feel comfortable going to the dentist.
Salina chainsaw artist turns tree stumps into works of art
By Danton McDiffett
“I never had the idea there was something I couldn’t do,” says Salina chainsaw artist Tim Rickman.
Rickman has been carving a variety of wooden sculptures, chairs, benches and tables for the past four years, though he has enjoyed woodworking since he was 16.
He recently carved “Three Bears” at the Edward Street home of Boone Vidricksen out of a dead maple tree.
“I had a tree with three trunks,” Vidricksen said. “What comes in threes? I considered the three Wise Men, but thought that might be too difficult. Then I came up with the Three Bears.”