Story from KAKE.com...

Intense moments for Hyatt Hotel employees who rushed into action to save a man's life in downtown Wichita Tuesday afternoon.

Hotel workers saw the man heading across the Arkansas River just north of where the bridge crosses the waterway at Waterman Street.

The man apparently thought the river was frozen over enough to allow him to ride his bicycle over it but instead he plunged through the ice.

The employees sprung into action. While one called security for help, others were rushing to help pull the man from the river. Thanks to their quick thinking they were able to rescue him from the freezing water using a life buoy.

Tony Johnson was one of the employees who rushed to the man's aide after pulling him from the water. "We just tried to get his blood moving so he could get up," Johnson says. Employees took the man into the hotel lobby to help get him warm.

Mike Piland says he and the other employees tried to work fast. "By the time he got close enough for us to throw a buoy to him he was getting tired, Piland says.

"He was alert and everything and didn't have any problem walking when we got him out so I think he just made a poor decision. He should have taken the bridge," Piland adds.

"It feels pretty good to save someone's life," Hyatt employee Chris Campbell says, "especially in ice like that in the winter time."

No word yet on the identity of the man or why he was trying to cross the river on a bike.

What a great evening for a Christmas Lights Cruise. Our biggest turn out yet. Approximately 25 riders participated. From the Shamrock we rode to the Lights on St Paul, then back to the Vagabond and on to the Blue Lounge.

Photos here.

Video...

Once again just in time for the holidays, Bicycle X-Change will provide bicycles to more than 60 of Communities In Schools students. On Thursday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. CIS Site Coordinators will pick up the refurbished bikes from Bicycle X-Change, 908 W. Douglas.

Students who receive the bikes are chosen from CIS sites by the Site Coordinator. These students are selected because of need, good behavior or scholastic achievement.

Communities In Schools is dedicated to connecting children and families with existing services and resources to help them successfully learn, stay in school and prepare for life. Locally, CIS was established in 1990 and serves 25 elementary, middle, and high schools in the Wichita, Haysville, Derby, Catholic Diocese and Valley Center districts.

New Years Day pot-luck dinner and ride 1:00pm at the Park Villa shelter in Riverside Park (Map).
Please bring a food dish and your bike for a New Year's Day ride.
What better way to start off the New Year than with food, friends and a bike ride!

The plan was to ride in the Delano Christmas parade at noon and then the Bikes For Tots parade at 2:00pm. We got word that the BFT parade was postponed until 4:00pm so that gave us time to hang out in Delano after their parade which we did. I think there were 15 or so Coasters who braved the cold to participate with some really nicely decorated bikes.
Later we all met again for the BFT parade only to find out that it was canceled due to problems with the parade permit. So we all just drove to Club DebRicks instead of riding where we celebrated the accomplishments of the Bikes For Tots campaign with beverages and great food like the burgers from the Rolling Smoke bicycle BBQ trailer and all kinds of chili from Club DebRicks. Due to the donations and efforts of all involved over 170 new bikes will be given to area kids this Christmas. The Coasters donating 3 of those bikes after raising a total of $268.
What a great way to spend a Saturday!
Thank yous...
Historic Delano for inviting us to participate in their parade.
Everyone who participated in and/or donated to Bikes For Tots.
Dan for purchasing and delivering our BFT bikes.
Grillmaster Mitch for the burgers.
Club DebRicks for putting on the BFT and the party.
Whomever made al the great chili.

PHOTOS...
Delano Christmas Parade photos.

Bikes For Tots Parade photos.

Robert at River City Cyclist has photos and video here.

Delano parade video...