Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County

It’s one thing for a homeowner or renter to follow a stay-at-home order. It’s entirely something else for someone without a home, and with all the libraries, coffee shops and indoor gathering spaces closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson County’s homeless population is running out of places to go. It’s been about a week since the CORE 4 governments put a stay-at-home order in place for the Kansas City metro area. The libraries have been closed even longer than that. Restaurants, coffee shops, bars and breweries have shuttered their dining and drinking spaces, operating on curbside pickup, takeout and deliveries. Those [...]

State election officials and the Kansas Democratic Party are forging ahead – albeit with caution – on election plans this year that have become focused on mail-in ballots and recruitment of high school and college students to run the polls. Johnson County officials hope to use a simple on-line request form for advance ballots by mail. But that idea and any bigger changes must come from the secretary of state’s office, said Election Commissioner Connie Schmidt. And as of last week, that office was calling for business as usual, with the caveat that things could change. (Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)

An administrative staff member with the Overland Park Fire Department has tested positive for COVID-19, the department confirmed Thursday. “The person’s symptoms appeared while not at work and it is believed their exposure was non work related,” read a release from the department. OPFD is also tracking the condition of two additional employees who are on home quarantine and being monitored for possible infection as a result of contact with the person who tested positive. Like the staff member confirmed to have COVID-19, neither of those individuals is a first responder who would have had contact with the general public on [...]

An air of uncertainty hung about the Shawnee council chambers last night, while city leaders and staff conducted a council meeting in line with social distancing guidelines and a 10-person limit. Some cities in the Shawnee Mission area canceled their meetings or agreed to conduct their meetings remotely, while other cities’ council meetings took place last week. Shawnee’s meetings fall on the second and fourth Monday each month, and last night’s meeting happened to occur the day before a metro-wide stay at home order for 30 days was to begin. (Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for [...]

As the number of Johnson County COVID-19 cases climbs, county officials have removed an exemption for weddings, funerals and religious activities from the attendance limit of up to ten people. Meanwhile the county’s top public health officer urged residents to limit their public exposure. “We recognize that it’s quite difficult for people to maintain,” said Dr. Joseph LeMaster, chief public health officer. “We’re hoping, praying that we will not have to go to more draconian measures such as sheltering in place.” “I will not promise you that we will not come back to you and make that sort of order even [...]

With 11 presumptive positive cases as of Wednesday, Johnson County accounts for more than half of the COVID-19 infections in the state. And the fact that a number of those cases have been attributed to local transmission — that is, people who contracted the virus from someone in the county who already had it as opposed to during travel elsewhere — has prompted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to limit the number of tests it will deploy here. In a series of new directives issues Wednesday, KDHE set guidelines for how the state will use the limited number of [...]

An 80-foot Sprint cell tower along Shawnee Mission Parkway is getting an extension so it can host more antennas. Located at 12902 Shawnee Mission Parkway, the Sprint monopole was built in 1996 and will have a 5 feet in height added to accommodate new antennas. The Shawnee planning commission considered the plans in its Monday meeting, which was predominantly conducted via teleconference. (Read more: Shawnee Mission Post – Community news and events for northeast Johnson County)

As stores and restaurants shut down and workers head home to socially isolate themselves and their families, people in Missouri and Kansas continue to look outward. They are finding ways to help others — even as needs among the elderly, homeless and most vulnerable grow more severe. Social media sites are filled with offers to run errands and even pay for groceries for neighbors in need. Kenzie Borland, a Wichita State University student who lives with her grandparents, said she understands why the elderly and immunocompromised, who are more at risk for COVID-19, can’t leave home right now. After posting on [...]

Prairie Village Mayor Eric Mikkelson on Monday declared a local state of emergency for the city in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The declaration will prompt the closure of city hall and the public works administration building to the public starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday. Additionally, it gives the city the authority to order business establishments, including bars and restaurants, to close temporarily; and to enforce the governor’s recently announced statewide restriction on gatherings of 50 or more people. The city council will convene at a special session Wednesday afternoon to discuss the length of the emergency declaration. (Read more: Shawnee [...]

Johnson County Librarian Sean Casserly announced Saturday that the system would be closing its branches to the public through Tuesday, March 31 in an effort to minimize the risk of transmitting COVID-19. “The Library serves and employs a number of at-risk populations, with an average of 38,000 patrons per week entering our facilities,” Casserly wrote. “Johnson County Library wants to do everything it can to help protect our community and curb this viral outbreak.” During the closures, overdue fines will not accrue. Current holds will be made available to patrons when the branches reopen. (Read more: Shawnee Mission Post)