As Johnson County lifts more coronavirus restrictions, it is expanding testing for residents with symptoms of the disease. Beginning Monday, they can make an online appointment to get a free test with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment. But testing supplies and appointment times remain limited.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
The Johnson County Library, which serves the entire county, with the exception of Olathe, set a May 18 date for reopening its book drops at the Blue Valley, Lenexa City Center and Monticello branches only. Starting May 26, the drive-thru windows will open at those three branches for patrons to pick up held materials. Go to jocolibrary.org to place a hold on that book you wish you could have read during the coronavirus stay-home order. The Olathe Public Library was working on a phased plan to resume holds and checkouts by the end of May.
(Read more: Joco 913 News)
Creating a six-lane freeway on Interstate 70 from MacVicar to 4th Street in downtown Topeka is one of 40 highway expansion projects Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Department of Transportation announced Thursday. Kelly, KDOT secretary Julie Lorenz and Sen. Carolyn McGinn revealed the projects as part of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, a 10-year engineering initiative approved in March by the Kansas Legislature. The IKE program will target major highway projects for modernization and expansion every two years rather than once every decade under previous programs. “Working alongside local officials and stakeholders through the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, we can build a transportation future for Kansans that meets the needs of our communities, helps grow our economy and creates jobs,” Kelly said.
(Read more: Local – The Topeka Capital-Journal)
A Wichita police officer received a public compliment after buying Starbucks for the woman who had offered him free coffee. The Wichita Police Department received a note this week that Police Chief Gordon Ramsay shared in a Facebook post. “Officer compliment of the week — highlighting the good things our officers do every minute of everyday. … Nice work Officer Kevin McKenna!” Ramsay said.
(Read more: Local News |)
The City of Wichita will begin reopening city facilities and programs in phases, Mayor Brandon Whipple announced Thursday. A news release from the city said the plan is aimed at being responsive to the community’s needs for programs and services but is flexible to prioritize the health and safety of staff and residents. The city is coordinating with the county and state to best formulate reopening regulations, the release said. “Employees are working hard to prepare buildings and programs and institute robust health and safety processes.”
(Read more: KAKE – News)
Gov. Laura Kelly signed an executive order transitioning the economy next Monday to a less-robust-than-anticipated phase of her statewide COVID-19 recovery plan for reopening businesses and facilities shuttered during the pandemic. Kelly said Phase 1.5 — not the full Phase 2 contemplated previously — would retain the 10-person maximum on gatherings of people. It would allow barber shops, tattoo parlors, hair salons, tanning shops and nail salons to open for customers by appointment only. Also Monday, fitness centers and health clubs can open for business but cannot offer in-person group classes and or make full use of locker rooms. She said this phase lasting through the month of May would allow for indoor graduation ceremonies if limited to no more than 10 persons who maintained social distancing. Comparable outdoor drive-through celebrations will be acceptable, she said.
(Read more: Local – The Hutchinson News)
The city of Mission is the latest in Johnson County to decide not to open its municipal pool for the 2020 season. The Mission city council on Wednesday evening approved a resolution outlining the city’s reopening plan, which included not opening the Mission Family Aquatic Center this summer due to limitations brought on by COVID-19. City Administrator Laura Smith said among the deciding factors were the lack of lifeguard applicants and the inability to “flip a switch and open up these facilities” to coincide with the fluid dates of reopening plans. “It becomes this waiting game and this guessing game about when is the right time to fill a pool, can we get our guards certified, can we get open,” Smith said. “I think we came to the conclusion that we would not really be able to effectively do that.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Jason Green, the emergency medical services chief for the Overland Park Fire Department, spent more than a month at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission — including 18 days on a ventilator — fighting COVID-19. Green’s prognosis wasn’t great, and at one point intensive care staff thought he wasn’t going to make it. Now, after recovering from the virus and being reunited with his wife and two daughters, Green wanted to show appreciation for his critical care team. Thursday morning Green and his family surprised his caregivers with a special show of appreciation in front of the hospital. Green said he wanted to thank the team that gave him the opportunity to see his oldest daughter off to Kansas State University in fall 2020.
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
The Shawnee Parks and Recreation Department on Wednesday afternoon unveiled its re-opening plan for facilities that closed and services that discontinued during the COVID-19 shutdown. The plan outlines a phased approach for the Shawnee Civic Centre, programs, classes and camps, rentals of park shelters and courts, and Shawnee Town 1929. Additionally, city staff reiterated tentative plans to open the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center this summer. “Thank you for bearing with us as we navigate and adapt to continuing recommendations from local, state and national health organizations,” city staff wrote in the announcement. “We are eager to fill our parks, programs, facilities and museum site with energy and laughter again.”
(Read more: Prairie Village Post)
Local youths and adults won’t be able to use the Paola Family Pool this summer, as it will remain closed throughout the 2020 swim season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the city announced Thursday, May 14. “For us, late February started as usual. City staff solicited advertisements for pool concession workers and lifeguards,” city officials stated in a news release. “Then, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged and forced city staff to rethink the typical timelines, processes and procedures for the pool.” During the past two months, city staff members have evaluated the city’s ability to safely and effectively open the municipal pool for the 2020 season, and the issue was discussed at length during the Paola City Council meeting Tuesday, May 12.
(Read more: The Miami County Republic)
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