The Rock River Rapids Aquatic Park in Derby is slated to open on Monday, June 8. City and recreation officials made the announcement in a joint news release Wednesday. “Given the risks of COVID-19, a great deal of preparation has occurred to ensure the park is as safe as possible and meets or exceeds all CDC guidelines, state orders, and Kansas Recreation and Parks Association (KRPA) recommendations,” the release said.

Residents in a small Kansas town don’t have to worry about their past due water bills after someone anonymously paid all of their balances. Julie Roller Weeks with the Abilene Convention & Visitor’s Bureau said Friday’s donation was for $2,000. The donor told her that he and his wife did not need the coronavirus stimulus money they received and wanted to do good with it. “The act of kindness is something very positive that has come from something very unsettling in this pandemic,” Weeks said. The donation helped 41 local residents to become current on their water bills, nearly one third of the total of past due bills in Abilene.