Author: KMAN Staff

Riley County Historical Museum Director Cheryl Collins was our guest Monday. The topic for the conversation was Outgrown, Outdated or Obsolete: Objects that once were common, that are now uncommon.

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The Wamego Hospital Foundation has been gifted a large passenger van with a wheelchair lift to help transport patients. The van is valued at $23,500 and was donated from Diamond Health, operating partner of Heritage Senior Behavioral Health in Wamego. It will be used to transport patients to and from other facilities for non-emergent care. “We recognize the challenges that lack of transportation may pose, especially in rural communities, in obtaining necessary health care. Diamond is honored for the opportunity to provide this donation,” said Trey Steckline, Vice President of Operations for Diamond Health. Prior to the donation, the hospital…

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Riley County is retaining an hour of operation limit for restaurants, but removes additional restrictions for child care operators in the local iteration of Kansas’ plan to re-open businesses and public facilities. Local health officials updated the public on the COVID-19 response online Friday, saying the county remains at 12 active cases despite an additional positive test coming in since Wednesday. An additional recovery report brings the local recovery total to 47 individuals out of a cumulative 60 residents who tested positive. Two people under investigation remains hospitalized, and one local person has died from the disease. Read here for…

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Despite Gov. Laura Kelly not moving onto to phase two of the reopening plan, Riley County offices will open to the public on Monday. Health Department Director Julie Gibbs says county offices are allowed to reopen Monday, with limited services. She told Riley County Commissioners Thursday she’s been pleased that positive cases for the most part have remained steady. “With the first phase of reopening, we knew that we would start to see a spike in our numbers as early as yesterday.  As long we can stay steady onto Monday, then we hope we have reopened at a good place,”…

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On Friday’s edition of In Focus we spoke with Kansas State Research & Extension 4H Agent John Jobe. We also spoke with Riley County Seniors’ Service Center Director Jami Ramsey. Pottawatomie County HR Director and Public Information Officer Crystal Malchose also joined the program. T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter Director Deb Watkins wrapped up the program with a preview of the animals they have.

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Gov. Laura Kelly has slowed down the reopening of Kansas’ economy. Rather than allowing phase 2 to begin on Monday, Kelly on Thursday signed into executive order phase 1.5, which orders bars and bowling alleys to remain closed through the end of the month. It also extends restrictions in place until near the end of next month. The limit on public gatherings of 10 or fewer people will remain in place starting Monday, rather than increasing to 30 as initially planned. Nail salons, barber shops, hair salons, tattoo parlors and tanning salons are allowed to open, but only by appointment.…

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A federal judge has weighed in on a lawsuit involving a former Riley County employee who claimed he was wrongfully terminated. Olsburg resident Steven DeHart worked as an environmental health specialist and claimed he was fired in 2017 after trying to report alleged environmental violations by the county at Riverchase Reservoir and Rocky Ford Water District. He also continually spoke out about commissioner Ron Wells and a private sewer hookup on the Wells family property, claiming he blew the whistle on alleged misconduct because Wells wasn’t paying for the sewer services. The county contends DeHart was fired for insubordination. U.S.…

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Manhattan Regional Airport Director Jesse Romo gave an update on parking lot construction during Thursday’s episode of In Focus. He says while there were some concerns about the parking lot project, the recent lack of travelers has made making progress on construction easier. According to Romo, this project should be completed by early November. Romo also gave an update on the installation of a new runway, saying this task isn’t as far along as the parking lot project. Airport officials plan to go to the Manhattan City Commission in June with proposals for grants that would help pay for runway-design costs.

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