Reno County salt and historical museums announce reopening

2020-05-22T08:50:18-05:00May 21st, 2020|

The Reno County Museum and Strataca: Underground Salt Museum will both reopen to the public on Tuesday, museum officials announced. “During the interim, the organization is making all the necessary preparations to ensure the protection and safety for the staff and our guests,” said executive director Michael Ables. “When the museums reopen, our guests will see some necessary changes.” For example, frontline staff will wear face masks, Ables said. (Read more: Local - The Hutchinson News)

How To Safely Enjoy Kansas State Parks During Memorial Day Weekend

2020-05-22T08:50:31-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Kansas’ 28 state parks, 63 state fishing lakes, and more than 100 wildlife areas remain open to the public and will be popular destinations over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. From camping and horseback riding, to boating and disc golf, there’s no shortage of fun to be had at Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) areas, but visitors must remain steadfast in practicing social distancing, among other safety measures, to ensure these special places remain open and accessible to all. “We want visitors to enjoy themselves, so long as social distancing is practiced,” Kansas State Parks director Linda Lanterman [...]

Overland Park’s 5 outdoor pools will stay closed for summer 2020

2020-05-22T08:52:09-05:00May 21st, 2020|

As Kansas fast forwards its timeline to reopen the state in phases, Overland Park has put a halt to the idea of any of its five city pools opening this summer. The city was weighing a plan this week that would have opened only Tomahawk Ridge Aquatic Center this summer. But in the end city leaders decided it wasn’t worth the cost and the risk. That plan would have called for Tomahawk to open July 1 to 80 pool guests at a time. Bluejacket, Marty, Stonegate and Young’s would have remained closed ether way. (Read more: fox4kc.com | FOX 4 - [...]

Kansas early childhood educator (from Winfield school district) named 2020 National Teacher of the Year

2020-05-22T08:54:37-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Teacher Tabatha Rosproy’s preschool class met inside a nursing and retirement home in rural Kansas, forming a bond with residents that continued even when social distancing requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic forced her classroom to close down. After a school year of unprecedented disruptions, Rosproy was chosen as the 2020 National Teacher of the Year for bridging the worlds of her community’s oldest and youngest. Her selection from among 55 award-winning teachers around the country was announced Thursday by the Council of Chief State School Officers, with the selection committee praising her in a statement for embodying “hope and inspiration.” [...]

Sedgwick County announces reopening plans

2020-05-22T08:55:08-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Sedgwick County has released its update on when County offices and buildings will reopen after being mostly closed during the coronavirus pandemic. The main courthouse and the juvenile courthouse will reopen to the public on Tuesday, May 26. Both will have a screening process for visitors. If they pass the screening process, visitors will be issued a mask to wear while in the building. County employees will wear masks when working closely with the public and while in public common areas. Court hearings will be conducted by appointment only. (Read more: KSN-TV)

Leavenworth to lift playground restriction

2020-05-22T08:55:27-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Beginning Friday, members of the public will be allowed to use playground equipment at city parks in Leavenworth. City Manager Paul Kramer said signs prohibiting the use of playground equipment will be removed on Friday. “Please just use your best judgment on what you think is appropriate,” he said regarding usage of the equipment. Kramer’s remarks came Wednesday during a virtual town hall meeting hosted by Leavenworth Mayor Mike Griswold. (Read more: Leavenworth Times)

Lawrence wins census response competition with Manhattan; Manhattan mayor must wear KU jersey

2020-05-21T10:29:04-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Last month, Lawrence Mayor Jennifer Ananda accepted a challenge from the mayor of Manhattan for the two cities to compete for the highest self-response rate — meaning that residents responded either online, by mail or by phone — to the 2020 Census for each city. It was agreed that the mayor of the losing city had to wear the other city’s university jersey to a City Commission meeting. Ananda announced at the commission’s meeting Tuesday that Lawrence had won the competition, which hinged on which city had the highest self-response rate by May 15. She said that Lawrence and Manhattan had [...]

AG Schmidt issues formal legal opinion on criminal enforcement of emergency orders

2020-05-21T09:58:27-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has issued a formal legal opinion addressing whether a state law that authorizes criminal prosecution of Kansans who violate emergency orders issued by the governor is constitutional and enforceable. The opinion is a consolidated response to separate requests for the attorney general’s legal opinion on closely related subjects from Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder, State Senator Richard Hilderbrand, and State Representatives Tory Marie Arnberger, Renee Erickson, Susan Humphries, Brenda Landwehr, Barbara Wasinger and Kristey Williams. The Opinion notes that the Kansas Emergency Management Act (KEMA) places on the governor responsibility to respond to disasters and [...]

Leawood City Council approves expedited permits for outdoor restaurant seating

2020-05-21T09:57:03-05:00May 21st, 2020|

Leawood restaurants now have an easier path to adding outdoor seating as they reopen for dine-in service amid loosening restrictions on businesses in Johnson County and the state of Kansas during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Leawood City Council this week unanimously authorized City Administrator Scott Lambers to temporarily issue expedited permits for the city’s restaurants to add outdoor seating, bypassing the normal planning process. At the council’s Monday meeting, Lambers proposed using the permits because “all the reports on the restaurants that are trying to reopen is that the indoor space requirements are basically a killer.” “They have to really judge [...]

Roeland Park, Fairway and Westwood cancel annual Fourth of July fireworks display due to COVID-19 concerns

2020-05-21T09:56:03-05:00May 21st, 2020|

The partnering cities unanimously agreed that it was in the best interest of public health and safety to cancel the 2020 fireworks display. The cities of Roeland Park, Fairway and Westwood on Wednesday morning announced the cancellation of the joint, annual Fourth of July fireworks display due to the coronavirus pandemic. City officials from all three cities and various departments — administration, public safety, public works and public relations — as well as Bishop Miege High School staff met virtually on May 7 to discuss whether or not to host the annual event. Originally scheduled for July 3 at Bishop Miege, [...]

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