Smolan News

For nearly a week, forecasters had warned on and off of the potential for serious storms.

' Marlysue Holmquist, Smolan, has filed as a Democrat for election to the 3rd District Saline County Commission seat currently held by Republican Sherri Barragree.

Fire damaged a shed housing a machine shop at the southwest edge of Smolan Wednesday morning.

' Lori Baxter, 43, Smolan, was in fair condition Monday morning at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, after she stepped out of moving car Saturday and hit her head on the pavement.

TIM UNRUH Significant rain and some hail were reported in north-central Kansas overnight, but the area escaped the pounding that was felt in portions of southwest and central regions, according to the National ... via Salina Journal

Moses M. Osborne, 35, and Holly A. Dean, 28, both of Salina; Douglas E. Laas, 48, Brookville, and Renee A. Ricard, 50, Smolan; Thomas R. Nece, 26, and Lynnsey M. Shelton, 21, both of Salina; Antonio D. Holston, ... via Salina Journal

“However, you need to listen to the voice of the rural people.”

Saline County commissioners on Tuesday chose to delay considering approval of the controversial plan to adopt a two-mile road grid maintenance system to save the county money. via Salina Journal

“We need to bring back some trust in leadership to the government. It just seems to be struggling in that respect.”

Jerry Fowler, who was Saline County's director of public works from 1991 to 2005, has filed to run for a seat on the Saline County Commission. via Salina Journal

“I love teaching the kids. Hopefully, that will keep me young”

North-central Kansas natives John Carlin, Kansas' 40th governor, and nationally renowned photojournalist Jim Richardson will be honored Jan. via Salina Journal

“With all the high heat it's going to have, it will cause that to dry out and eventually burn pretty cleanly”

As Salina Landfill workers lit the first pile of tree limbs at 7:30 Tuesday morning, thick, white smoke rode a stiff south wind toward Knollcrest, a rural neighborhood three-quarters of a mile to the north. via Salina Journal

The Assaria man arrested over the weekend for allegedly molesting a 15-year-old boy is a registered sex offender. via Salina Journal

“The case is still under investigation”

Benjamin J. Workman, 26, Assaria, was arrested Friday night in connection with the criminal sodomy of a 15-year-old boy on Dec. via Salina Journal

“Everybody's tempers are a little short.”

LaVonne Woody will forever have warm thoughts for the neighbor and the electrician who rescued her and her husband, John, from three cold days in the wake of last week's ice storm. via Salina Journal

“They might find that they want to isolate from others. They might find that they have more conflict with other people than they usually do”

With such a big mix of people, "you can expect tempers to flare, especially with what's going on with the weather," Kochanowski said. via Salina Journal

“It's crazy. We've got fires, power outages and trees coming down all over the place”

Thousands in neighboring states left without power

More than 115,000 Kansans were without electricity Tuesday as the state endured a major winter storm that largely skipped the Wichita area but wreaked havoc across the Midwest.

The storm system was blamed for 23 deaths, including 15 in Oklahoma, as cars skidded off highways and trees and power lines snapped under the weight of ice.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius issued a disaster declaration for the entire state.

Ice coated trees and highways in central and north-central Kansas, but higher-than-expected temperatures spared the Wichita area from the storm's worst. Read more

Salinan linked to broken windows A Salina woman is accused of paying someone $50 to break windows in her ex-boyfriend's pickup. via Salina Journal

“Iron has a lot of impurity. Steel basically has the impurities cooked out of the material, so it's more ductile. It gives more as it's loaded”

It's apparent that the 118-year-old bridge on Halstead Road just south of Smolan Road has been approached with hesitancy before. via Salina Journal

“It's recognized as unlikely that funding from sources outside of Saline County are forthcoming”

By all accounts, the idea of raising even the bare-minimum $32 million needed to upgrade Saline County roads and bridges to acceptable standards was a pipe dream. via Salina Journal