Cherokee County News-Advocate

05/19/2020

Win Free Groceries for a Year Sweepstakes

Win Free Groceries for a Year Sweepstakes

Enter Today and Every Day for Your Chance to Win FREE Groceries for a Year!

05/13/2020

The USA Today Network will pay tribute to senior high school athletes who did not get to participate in spring sports in the High School Sports Awards, premiering on June 18. Submit an athlete now and learn more at https://bit.ly/3fdbegj

05/05/2020

Win Free Groceries for a Year Sweepstakes

Win Free Groceries for a Year Sweepstakes

Enter Today and Every Day for Your Chance to Win FREE Groceries for a Year!

04/16/2020

Thursday Morning Search Warrant Leads to Discovery of Stolen Property, Meth

Thursday Morning Search Warrant Leads to Discovery of Stolen Property, Meth

...

04/15/2020

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - Kansas

Emergency personnel are on scene of a non-injury semi rollover at the Riverton Roundabout. Please try to avoid the area, if possible.

04/10/2020

Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas

A reminder to stay safe and take shelter from severe weather, even during the #COVID_19 response.

04/09/2020

Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508

This Friday April 10, 2020, Baxter Springs High School will join districts across the nation in the “Be The Light” campaign. For 20 minutes we will celebrate the Class of 2020, including all students, coaches, sponsors, and families having lost spring events.

The lights at John R. Hughes Memorial Stadium and the Field of Dreams will go on at 8:20PM and promptly off at 8:40PM, as a symbol we are thinking of them and we eventually return to school and competition.

We encourage you to drive by the lights and provide a honk or two. We ask participants to remain in vehicles in order to adhere to the social distancing guidelines.

Go Lions!

04/08/2020

Here are some photographs of the supermoon last night.
We'd like to see your supermoon photos, share them down below!

04/06/2020

A Cherokee County couple arrested following a search warrant.

https://www.sekvoice.com/news/20200406/cherokee-county-couple-arrested-following-search-warrant

04/02/2020

Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508

Baxter Springs Public Schools, USD 508

How we do it in Baxter Springs! The community coming together. Teachers (families) and local emergency personnel organize the Baxter Teacher Parade. Quite a sight! To say there is much grace, support, and encouragement for our students is an understatement. We pull for one another and reflect the human spirit. Go Lions!

04/02/2020

Kansas coronavirus update: Prison health provider raises alarm of 'catastrophic' outcomes; attorneys urge inmate releases

Kansas coronavirus update: Prison health provider raises alarm of ‘catastrophic’ outcomes; attorneys urge inmate releases

https://www.sekvoice.com/news/20200402/kansas-coronavirus-update-prison-health-provider-raises-alarm-of-rsquocatastrophicrsquo-outcomes-attorneys-urge-inmate-releases

Health care provider for 10,000 Kansas prison inmates claims transitioning to new contractor is dangerous; defense attorneys ask for release of medically

04/02/2020

Kansas COVID-19 Case Reports

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment shares a case summary on COVID-19.

https://public.tableau.com/views/COVID-19Data_15851817634470/KSCOVID-19CaseData?:display_count=y&:origin=viz_share_link

COVID-19 Data

04/02/2020

Columbus Schools USD 493

Columbus Schools USD 493

Tonight, Sheriff Groves wanted to say hello to all of his fellow Titans, and while he's at it he asked to be our guest reader. What better book than "If You Give a Dog a Donut" by Laura Numeroff! :) Thank you Sheriff Groves for reading with us tonight!!!

04/02/2020

Kansas Children's Service League

With the majority of our staff working from home, we're hearing all sorts of interesting stories about everyone's new "coworkers." 😂 Hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

#coronavirus #covid19 #weareinthistogether #socialdistancing #workfromhome #wfh #stayathome #togetherapart #happyandhealthy #fridayfunny #fridayfunday #athomecoworkers #newcoworkers #WhatIAmLearningInQuarantine

04/02/2020

Ascension Via Christi

As COVID-19 impacts our community, members of the community continue to reach out to show their support for caregivers at Ascension Via Christi hospitals and clinics. To provide an easy way to send messages of support for caregivers, you can send an email to [email protected].

Some community members, like Wichitan Jessica Vaughters, have shown up outside the hospital with homemade signs of appreciation as she did last week. Others send heartfelt notes of appreciation, as evidenced by the more than 100 thank-you letters received by Ascension Medical Group Via Christi's Immediate Care clinic in the past week.

"Our community is amazing in everyone's support for our physicians and staff," said Kevin Strecker, chief operating officer for Ascension Via Christi. "Even the simplest act of kindness and recognition has such a powerful impact on those who are serving patients during this stressful time."
#WeAreAscension

04/01/2020

City of Columbus Kansas

KDHE's update of Total Positive Cases has advanced to 482, adding 54 more cases from yesterday. According to today's update the death toll now stands at 10. For up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 please visit https://govstatus.egov.com/coronavirus.

Please continue to stay home and safe as much as possible and watch for new information as it become available to us.

04/01/2020

Spring River Mental Health & Wellness

We are here for you. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health or substance use services please reach out to us.

Riverton 848-2300
Columbus 429-1860
After hours Crisis Line 1-866-634-2301

04/01/2020

Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas

Crews are working to repair a busted main at the Rural Water District #4 plant. Water service for RWD#4 customers is expected to be disrupted for 2-4 hours. As a result, a boil order has been issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The order is below:

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a boil water advisory for Cherokee County Rural Water District No. 4, located in Cherokee County. This advisory is not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Customers should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.
• their physicians.

The advisory took effect on April 1, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of a line break resulting in a loss of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Protect and Improve the Health and Environment of all Kansans
For consumer questions, please contact the water system or KDHE at 785-296-5514. For consumer information please visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage: http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm Restaurants and other food establishments that have questions about the impact of the boil water advisory on their business can contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety & lodging program at [email protected] or call 785-564-6767.
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04/01/2020

Kansas Department of Commerce

Kansas Department of Commerce

Today, we launched a new website to help quickly connect job seekers to Kansas companies with urgent hiring needs related to the coronavirus pandemic. Kansas employers are invited to post all COVID-19-related jobs to the site at no cost. https://bit.ly/3bLY7Au #covidjobs

03/31/2020

Is 6 feet enough for social distancing? An MIT researcher says droplets carrying coronavirus can travel up to 27 feet.

Is 6 feet enough for social distancing? An MIT researcher says droplets carrying coronavirus can travel up to 27 feet.

https://www.sekvoice.com/zz/news/20200331/is-6-feet-enough-for-social-distancing-mit-researcher-says-droplets-carrying-coronavirus-can-travel-up-to-27-feet

The novel coronavirus has prompted social distancing measures around the world. One researcher believes what's being done isn't enough. Lydia Bourouiba,

03/30/2020

Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas

March 29, 2020 COVID-19 Daily Update

03/30/2020

Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas

Just a reminder Governor Kelly’s statewide “Stay at Home” Order will take effect tonight at 12:01 am. Under the order, Kansans are required to remain at home unless they are:

Going to work to perform an essential function

Seeking medical care

Obtaining food, medicine or other household necessities

Caring for children, pets, other family members or a vulnerable person at another location

Exercising outside while also abiding by the 10 person limit and adhering to social distancing guidelines

In announcing the Executive Order, Governor Kelly stated, “You can still leave your house. You can still go outside. You are not under house arrest.”

Any business who is not sure if they are essential under the Kansas Essential Function Framework should email [email protected] for clarification.

Under the Executive Order, local officials do not play a role in designating a business as essential or non-essential. Kansans are also reminded that they are required to self quarantine if they travel from any high risk areas designated by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (currently New York, Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, Washington State, Illinois, Louisiana and any location outside of the United States).

A copy of Governor Kelly’s Executive Order will he placed in the comment section.

03/29/2020

Cherokee County Sheriff's Office - Kansas

PRESS RELEASE:

Apparent Murder Suicide in Rural Galena Sunday Afternoon
03/29/2020

Around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 29, 2020, emergency personnel were dispatched to a rural Galena Kansas home for a reported shooting. Upon law enforcement's arrival, they discovered two deceased men inside the home.

"Our preliminary investigation indicates 50 year old Danny Allen Pennock and his father, 77 year-old Danny Wayne Pennock, were involved in a verbal altercation when Danny Allen Pennock retrieved a firearm, shot and killed his father, before then shooting and killing himself," according to Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves.

Two women, who also reside at the home with Danny Allen and Danny Wayne Pennock, were not injured during the shooting.

In addition to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, who is investigating the incident, officers with the Baxter Springs Police Department, Kansas Highway Patrol and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks also responded.

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03/27/2020

Cherokee County Health Department-Kansas

"In response to the COVID-19 pandemic currently impacting all states, including Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Agriculture strongly encourage all land owners and managers to voluntarily reduce the number of acres that they intend to burn this spring."

03/27/2020

For your information:

PRESS RELEASE: UPDATED ORDER OF THE CRAWFORD COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICER.

03/27/2020

City of Columbus Kansas

KDHE just released new COVID-19 totals. Kansas is up 34 cases from yesterday. Please keep washing hands, staying home and practicing social distancing.

03/27/2020

Columbus Schools USD 493

Columbus Schools USD 493

A huge thank you to Anna Moser for compiling this video for Central students. P.S. Watch until the end! You dont want to miss Mrs. Mosler's remix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M12AT3aI9f4&feature=youtu.be

03/25/2020

City of Columbus Kansas

Here are today's totals from the Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment. Our numbers are up by 28 total positive cases.

Please remember to practice 6 ft social distancing, and to keep your hands washed.

03/25/2020

A release from the Johnston Public Library:

Johnston Public Library has been closed since Oct. 23, due to a major water leak in the attic that resulted in flooding of the first and second floors of the building.

Over 2,000 books, DVDs, and audiobooks were destroyed. Computers, office equipment, and furniture were also damaged beyond repair. During the month of November, the library was dried out, cleaned, and gutted where necessary by professionals. Salvageable library materials were all packed up by staff and volunteers. All shelves were taken down and put in storage. Construction began in December and was completed in early March. Once shelves were reinstalled, employees and volunteers worked throughout March: cleaning, unpacking boxes, and re-shelving all library materials. Fortunately, the library does have insurance and most of the expenses have been covered. Under normal circumstances, the library would have reopened April 1.

Because of the current COVID-19 outbreak, Johnston Public Library, along with all Kansas libraries, will remain closed until further notice.

We appreciate your patience. We look forward to serving you again in the future. For questions regarding Hoopla, our digital library service, please email
[email protected] or call 620-856-5591 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

03/24/2020

This applies to Cherokee County businesses.

In these unprecedented times, the strength of a community depends on its people. It weathers the storm by staying connected, and by making sure that its members are safe and have what they need. Now more than ever, Cherokee County needs you, the local businesses that provide the goods and services that we depend on.

We want to do whatever we can to help you, your business and your family navigate these difficult circumstances, and help our community members find the things they need. We have the resource to help do just that in a very unique way.

We are launching two initiatives today to do just that.

The first is an interactive map of local businesses that will help you connect with your customers in a quick and efficient way to give them the information you want them to have - about changes in hours, special services like delivery, curbside pick up, or even virtual tours - whatever you need them to know. It’s a simple process. Just follow the link below to our Google Form that will ask you for basic information (business name, phone number, address, website URL, etc.) and what information you want your customers to know right now. We will take that information and import it to an interactive map that shows businesses throughout the area. When an individual clicks on a pin on that map, your information will show up. It’s a simple and easy way to get critical information out to our community and it will be updated daily.

Pittsburg Area LocaliQ Business Directory Form - bit.ly/2wxpajK

The second is a national initiative called Support Local. By visiting the URL in the second link, you will be directed to a website that encourages visitors to support local businesses by purchasing gift cards for goods and services to be used after we have weathered this storm. The businesses are grouped by cities, with cities being added as soon as one of their businesses is added. With a few clicks, you can add your business (and others that you would like to support) and provide a link to your website where people can go to purchase gift cards.

Support Local supportlocal.usatoday.com

There is absolutely no cost to participate in either of these programs. It is our way of doing our part to keep our community safe, healthy and strong, now and in the future. Please reach out to me today and let me help you get started.

***Please comment DONE when you have completed the Pittsburg Area LocaliQ Business Directory Form - bit.ly/2wxpajK ***

Sincerely,

Brittany McCarley
[email protected]
620.875.6248

03/24/2020

The Morning Sun

For your information:
Crawford County signed an order on limiting public access to all businesses on Tuesday.

*BREAKING*

The Crawford County Commission approved an order limiting public gatherings and access to businesses on Tuesday morning. The order goes into effect at noon on Wednesday.

EDITED: Here is the order from the county.

"The following actions are officially implemented by the Crawford County Board of Health and the Crawford County Public Health Officer and shall be in official force and effect at 12 PM on, March 25, 2020. This order shall remain in effect until modified or rescinded by the Crawford County Board of Health and the Crawford County Public Health Officer. This order is made pursuant to the powers granted to the Local Public Health Officer in K.S.A. 65-119 et seq. and the Emergency Declarations of the governments of the United States, the State of Kansas, and Crawford County, as well as the Home Rule powers of Crawford County under state statute.

Public Gatherings:

All large public gatherings of people in the County are prohibited unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Public Health or by the local health officer. Large public gatherings are those with more than ten (10) people in attendance or anticipated to attend, both indoor and outdoor, except for Essential Businesses. A "gathering' does not include normal operations at spaces where persons may be in transit or coming or going individually or in groups of less than ten (10) persons.

Essential Government Functions:

For purposes of this Order, all first responders, public health, emergency management personnel, emergency dispatchers, court personnel, and law enforcement personnel, are categorically exempt from this Order. Further nothing in this Order shall prohibit any individual from performing or accessing "Essential Governmental Functions provided said individuals perform their duties following the guidance of the Local Health Officer or delegated public health personnel. Essential Governmental Functions means all services needed to ensure the continuing operation of the government agencies and provide for the health, safety and welfare of the public, including judicial functions. All Essential Governmental Functions shall be performed in compliance with social distancing requirements to the extent possible.

Business Activity:

Crawford County is also restricting or prohibiting business activities for all nonessential businesses and is making recommendations for essential business functions as follows:

Essential Businesses:

The following have been determined to be Essential Business functions for Crawford County:

Grocery Stores - Grocery stores shall be allowed to remain open to the public for business to supply needed food and supplies to the citizens of Crawford County. It is recommended that these stores take precautions to reduce in-person contacts as much as possible, maintain social distancing (6 foot or more) when practical, and consider using curbside service whenever possible.

Convenient Stores/Gas Stations - Shall remain open to the public. It is recommended that these stores take precautions to reduce in-person contacts as much as possible, maintain social distancing (6 foot or more) when practical, and shall eliminate gathering places within the store to prevent social grouping activities.

Funeral Homes - Shall be allowed to remain open but efforts should be made to reduce numbers (family only gatherings recommended) and shall work to limit crowds and shall strive to maintain the recommended social distancing as described above.

Healthcare Facilities and Providers/Veterinary Clinics - Shall remain open and use social distancing and other techniques as applicable to help prevent the virus spread. Providers may want to have patients/customers stay in cars until their turn to avoid waiting area congestion and issues with maintaining social distancing.

Utility Providers - Shall be allowed to remain open. It is recommended that providers take steps to limit worker-to-worker interactions to help reduce the chance for losing multiple workers and/or causing utility disruptions. Call for service to individual residences should be prescreened prior to entering those locations.

Banks & Pharmacies - Shall be allowed to remain open for business. Whenever possible, it is recommended to close lobbies and inside operations and use the drive-throughs to conduct necessary business. People who are allowed to come inside the business should be prescreened prior to allowing entry.

Child Care Facilities - Shall be allowed to remain open as Child Care is a critical community service and support for families, especially during a disaster. Individual Child Care providers and Centers may close at their discretion. Child Care providers are encouraged to prescreen children daily to reduce the possibility of an ill child attending childcare.

Non-Essential Businesses (Open with Restrictions)

The following businesses have been determined to be Non-Essential businesses as related to this pandemic, however, they will be allowed to remain open with the following restrictions as described below. These restrictions shall be implemented by no later than 12 PM, 25 March 2020 and shall remain in a restricted status until this order is rescinded by the Crawford County Board of Health and the Crawford County Public Health Officer.

Parts Stores/Lumber Yards/Hardware Stores - These businesses shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the inside of the store shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curbside service and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

Bars/Restaurants - These businesses shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the inside of the bars/restaurant shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curbside service and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

Manufacturing - Manufacturing businesses shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the facilities shall be prohibited. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between workers whenever possible.

Agriculture Business - Agricultural business shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the inside of the store shall be prohibited. These businesses should use delivery or curbside services and maintain social distancing as much as possible during those activities.

Automotive Repair Shops - Shops shall be allowed to remain open, however, public access to the buildings and facilities shall be extremely limited. All efforts should be made to maintain social distancing between individual workers and customers whenever possible.

Other Retail Sales - Other retail sales not identified above may remain in operation, but the business shall keep doors closed and restrict business to one customer at a time in the store. Examples include liquor stores, gun stores, pawn shops, and other similar business types.

Non-Essential Businesses (Closed/Shut-Down)

The following businesses types have been determined to be Non-Essential as related to the pandemic and shall be closed shut down no later than IL PM d March 2020 and shall remain shut until this order is rescinded by the Crawford County Board of Health and the Crawford
County Public Health Officer:

Barber/Beauty Shops - Shall be shut down as there is no practical way to maintain social distancing.

Fitness Centers/Gyms - Shall be shut down.

Libraries - Libraries shall close and remain closed to the public until the order is rescinded.

Other Businesses - Businesses not otherwise described that cannot maintain or attempt to maintain the 6-foot social distancing shall be closed until this order is rescinded. This would include any business that by its very nature direct person to person contact of less than 6 feet. If your business type is not specifically included or defined by the above information and you have questions on what, if any restrictions apply please call the Crawford County Health Department for guidance at 620-231-5411."