Fair time is just around the corner and Riley County Extension Agent Jennifer Wilson told county commissioners it’s a busy week in her office.
Her office, by the way, moves to the Riley County Fairground this week in Pottorf Hall.
“It’s fair week,” she said. “We already have some of the stuff in place out there, but we will get busy setting everything up this evening.”
Wilson said the Riley County Fair kicks off Thursday evening with the fair parade, which will begin at Manhattan Town Center at 6 p.m. and travel through Poyntz Avenue to City Park.
Wilson said there are little restrictions for anyone interested in being involved with the parade.
“Anyone can be involved in the parade,” she said. “You do not have to pre-register. We just ask that you come to the old Sears parking lot down at the Manhattan Town Center. Check in with our parade marshals, they’ll be wearing orange vests, and they’ll get you set up in that parade line-up.”
Wilson also said the dog park in Cico Park will be closed during the evening hours while the fair is going on.
“The dog park is going to be closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings leading up to and during the rodeo,” she said. “Just not a good idea to have dogs and horses and people all in that one confined little space, so we ask you to visit another dog park or go somewhere else with your canines those evenings, just for the safety of everybody involved, there.”
In other items, Riley County Emergency Management Director Pat Collins spoke about the county’s new communications system.
Collins said the county signed a new contract with Everbridge to communicate with citizens and businesses during emergencies and other critical events.
“I think it’s really robust and it has more features than what we had with IRIS,” he said. “Getting this converted over and getting people to register is our big concern right now.”
Citizens can sign on for emergency alerts by going to www.rileycountyks.gov/alerts.
