Riley County has identified 1,202 new COVID cases and 389 additional recoveries since the last report on January 5. This is the highest increase in case numbers in Riley County since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;

Two Riley County residents have died in the last four days after testing positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;

“We have to hope that this surge will pass quickly and that the health system holds,” said Riley&nbsp;County&nbsp;Health Department Director Julie Gibbs. “What people can do now is stay home if they are sick, get medical care if they need help, and rely on information from medical professionals, health departments, and the CDC if they have questions. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Vaccines are your best resource to avoid serious illness.”&nbsp;

There are currently 1,017 active cases in Riley County and the percent of positive test results rose to 20.19% for the last two-week period.&nbsp;

Ascension Via Christi is currently caring for 18 COVID-positive patients. Six patients, all unvaccinated, are in the Intensive Care Unit. Four are on ventilators.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nine of the other 12 patients are unvaccinated.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;40-year-old&nbsp;unvaccinated male tested positive on December 21, 2021 and died January 7&nbsp;at Ascension Via Christi&nbsp;in&nbsp;Manhattan. An&nbsp;86-year-old&nbsp;vaccinated male tested positive for COVID-19 on January 8 and passed away January 10 at Ascension Via Christi.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There have been at least five cases of the Omicron variant in Riley County as identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDHE tests roughly&nbsp;two percent&nbsp;of positive cases for variants of concern, such as Omicron.&nbsp;

“Thankfully, most people who get the Omicron variant have mild symptoms, but the hospitals in Kansas are facing serious challenges as case numbers soar,” Gibbs&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

At 1:15 p.m. this Thursday, January 13 Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs and Ascension Via Christi President and CEO Robert Copple will appear live on the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page to provide an update and answer questions. The video will be shared live with the public at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and saved to the page so people can watch it later.&nbsp;

The next written update will be published Wednesday, January 19.&nbsp;

Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 10,372&nbsp;

Week 1 (January 2 - 8) &nbsp;19.99%&nbsp;

Week 52 (December 26, 2021 - January 1, 2022) 20.58%&nbsp;

Total Tested:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;1,798&nbsp;

Contact Riley County Health Department&nbsp;

<h2>Two deaths, five cases of Omicron</h2>Riley County has identified 1,202 new COVID cases and 389 additional recoveries since the last report on January 5. This is the highest increase in case numbers in Riley County since the start of the pandemic.&nbsp;Two Riley County residents have died in the last four days after testing positive for COVID-19.&nbsp;“We have to hope that this surge will pass quickly and that the health system holds,” said Riley&nbsp;County&nbsp;Health Department Director Julie Gibbs. “What people can do now is stay home if they are sick, get medical care if they need help, and rely on information from medical professionals, health departments, and the CDC if they have questions. It is not too late to get vaccinated. Vaccines are your best resource to avoid serious illness.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1642020489206.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There are currently 1,017 active cases in Riley County and the percent of positive test results rose to 20.19% for the last two-week period.&nbsp;Ascension Via Christi is currently caring for 18 COVID-positive patients. Six patients, all unvaccinated, are in the Intensive Care Unit. Four are on ventilators.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nine of the other 12 patients are unvaccinated.&nbsp;A&nbsp;40-year-old&nbsp;unvaccinated male tested positive on December 21, 2021 and died January 7&nbsp;at Ascension Via Christi&nbsp;in&nbsp;Manhattan. An&nbsp;86-year-old&nbsp;vaccinated male tested positive for COVID-19 on January 8 and passed away January 10 at Ascension Via Christi.&nbsp;&nbsp;There have been at least five cases of the Omicron variant in Riley County as identified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.&nbsp;&nbsp;KDHE tests roughly&nbsp;two percent&nbsp;of positive cases for variants of concern, such as Omicron.&nbsp;“Thankfully, most people who get the Omicron variant have mild symptoms, but the hospitals in Kansas are facing serious challenges as case numbers soar,” Gibbs&nbsp;said.&nbsp;At 1:15 p.m. this Thursday, January 13 Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs and Ascension Via Christi President and CEO Robert Copple will appear live on the Riley County Health Department’s Facebook page to provide an update and answer questions. The video will be shared live with the public at https://www.facebook.com/Rileycountyhealthdepartment/ and saved to the page so people can watch it later.&nbsp;The next written update will be published Wednesday, January 19.&nbsp;<h2>Riley County Stats for January 12, 2022</h2>Total positive cases in Riley County Residents: 10,372&nbsp;Total active: 1,017&nbsp;Total recovered: 9,287&nbsp;Total deaths: 68&nbsp;Percent Positive&nbsp;Two-Week Average: 20.19%&nbsp;Tested Positive: 1,087&nbsp;Tested Negative: 4,298&nbsp;Total Tested: 5,385&nbsp;Week 1 (January 2 - 8) &nbsp;19.99%&nbsp;Total Positives: 717 &nbsp;&nbsp;Total Tested: &nbsp; 3,857&nbsp;Week 52 (December 26, 2021 - January 1, 2022) 20.58%&nbsp;Total Positives: &nbsp; 370&nbsp;Total Tested:&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;1,798&nbsp;Contact Riley County Health Department&nbsp;COVID-19 testing (785) 323-6400&nbsp;COVID-19 vaccine (785) 565-6560&nbsp;--from RCHD

Record COVID surge in Riley County

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;

The Omicron variant is burying the&nbsp;Riley County Health&nbsp;Department in cases.&nbsp;Guidance changes&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;are&nbsp;issued&nbsp;at every slight turn, sending local&nbsp;health&nbsp;officials into a scramble to&nbsp;modify public policy.&nbsp;

RCHD&nbsp;Director Julie Gibbs&nbsp;said Omicron is driving the surge in cases beyond&nbsp;the department’s capacity.&nbsp;More than 500 cases have erupted in the county since&nbsp;Christmas.&nbsp;

“We're seeing so much now and&nbsp;it's&nbsp;just come on so quickly,” Gibbs said. “I can almost guarantee that it’s the&nbsp;Omicron&nbsp;variant."

Gibbs said the Health Department has&nbsp;unfortunately had to send some cases to KDHE, but “we're hanging on to all of our cases 18 and younger, and 55 and older.”&nbsp;

RCHD can&nbsp;send KDHE up to 50 cases per day&nbsp;and they have maxed that limit on several recent days.&nbsp;

After assigning some cases to KDHE, the Health Department&nbsp;manages 40 to 50 cases per day.&nbsp;

Currently,&nbsp;RCHD is following the latest guidance&nbsp;from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment; KDHE&nbsp;is trying to follow the latest&nbsp;guidance from the&nbsp;CDC; and CDC&nbsp;issues&nbsp;confusing,&nbsp;and&nbsp;often contradictory,&nbsp;new&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;with alacrity.&nbsp;

RCHD is&nbsp;still offering&nbsp;in-house,&nbsp;rapid symptomatic testing Monday through Friday&nbsp;form 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDHE is still available&nbsp;on the west end of the Manhattan Town Center&nbsp;mall&nbsp;parking lot. The location was&nbsp;shut down for a couple days last week due to the cold, creating a logjam of patients seeking tests once the weather broke.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gibbs said she is&nbsp;working on “Plan B”:&nbsp;looking for a suitable facility that will allow inside testing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

RCHD is adequately supplied for the time being, but Gibbs said her department is seeking other options for test kits and other vital supplies.&nbsp;

“We're actively searching for another source&nbsp;of&nbsp;tests,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;“We're just trying to keep up with the demand.&nbsp;

“We're OK right now but it's a matter of time before our supplies run out.”&nbsp;

RCHD is&nbsp;still&nbsp;waiting on the final written&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;from KDHE&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;schools,&nbsp;but&nbsp;Gibbs said her department is working with USD 383 to&nbsp;formulate&nbsp;guidance.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It's been very confusing especially when CDC comes out with&nbsp;new&nbsp;guidance,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RCHD is communicating directly with district health personnel&nbsp;to clarify guidelines.&nbsp;

"We&nbsp;work with the&nbsp;school&nbsp;nurses to make it more streamlined,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;“We&nbsp;finally have some really good written guidance out for all the schools to follow.”

Under the best of circumstances, access to daycare facilities is challenging. COVID regulations forced&nbsp;them&nbsp;to shut down&nbsp;temporarily,&nbsp;creating financial devastation in the industry.&nbsp;

As&nbsp;regulations&nbsp;have&nbsp;eased, daycares that survived&nbsp;still face challenges – they either cannot find&nbsp;enough workers, or they don’t have enough&nbsp;kids to sustain themselves because&nbsp;far fewer&nbsp;people are working now.&nbsp;

“We haven't seen any&nbsp;new&nbsp;information for&nbsp;daycare settings,” Gibbs said,&nbsp;“and so they're sticking with the&nbsp;old&nbsp;guidance.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gibbs said&nbsp;several&nbsp;Riley County daycares&nbsp;have&nbsp;been forced to close.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;The Omicron variant is burying the&nbsp;Riley County Health&nbsp;Department in cases.&nbsp;Guidance changes&nbsp;from&nbsp;the&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;are&nbsp;issued&nbsp;at every slight turn, sending local&nbsp;health&nbsp;officials into a scramble to&nbsp;modify public policy.&nbsp;RCHD&nbsp;Director Julie Gibbs&nbsp;said Omicron is driving the surge in cases beyond&nbsp;the department’s capacity.&nbsp;More than 500 cases have erupted in the county since&nbsp;Christmas.&nbsp;“We're seeing so much now and&nbsp;it's&nbsp;just come on so quickly,” Gibbs said. “I can almost guarantee that it’s the&nbsp;Omicron&nbsp;variant."Gibbs said the Health Department has&nbsp;unfortunately had to send some cases to KDHE, but “we're hanging on to all of our cases 18 and younger, and 55 and older.”&nbsp;RCHD can&nbsp;send KDHE up to 50 cases per day&nbsp;and they have maxed that limit on several recent days.&nbsp;After assigning some cases to KDHE, the Health Department&nbsp;manages 40 to 50 cases per day.&nbsp;Currently,&nbsp;RCHD is following the latest guidance&nbsp;from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment; KDHE&nbsp;is trying to follow the latest&nbsp;guidance from the&nbsp;CDC; and CDC&nbsp;issues&nbsp;confusing,&nbsp;and&nbsp;often contradictory,&nbsp;new&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;with alacrity.&nbsp;RCHD is&nbsp;still offering&nbsp;in-house,&nbsp;rapid symptomatic testing Monday through Friday&nbsp;form 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;KDHE is still available&nbsp;on the west end of the Manhattan Town Center&nbsp;mall&nbsp;parking lot. The location was&nbsp;shut down for a couple days last week due to the cold, creating a logjam of patients seeking tests once the weather broke.&nbsp;&nbsp;Gibbs said she is&nbsp;working on “Plan B”:&nbsp;looking for a suitable facility that will allow inside testing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Supply Situation</h2> RCHD is adequately supplied for the time being, but Gibbs said her department is seeking other options for test kits and other vital supplies.&nbsp;“We're actively searching for another source&nbsp;of&nbsp;tests,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;“We're just trying to keep up with the demand.&nbsp;“We're OK right now but it's a matter of time before our supplies run out.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641989388091.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-12 Schools</h2>RCHD is&nbsp;still&nbsp;waiting on the final written&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;from KDHE&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;schools,&nbsp;but&nbsp;Gibbs said her department is working with USD 383 to&nbsp;formulate&nbsp;guidance.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It's been very confusing especially when CDC comes out with&nbsp;new&nbsp;guidance,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;&nbsp;RCHD is communicating directly with district health personnel&nbsp;to clarify guidelines.&nbsp;"We&nbsp;work with the&nbsp;school&nbsp;nurses to make it more streamlined,” Gibbs said.&nbsp;“We&nbsp;finally have some really good written guidance out for all the schools to follow.”<h2>Daycares</h2>Under the best of circumstances, access to daycare facilities is challenging. COVID regulations forced&nbsp;them&nbsp;to shut down&nbsp;temporarily,&nbsp;creating financial devastation in the industry.&nbsp;As&nbsp;regulations&nbsp;have&nbsp;eased, daycares that survived&nbsp;still face challenges – they either cannot find&nbsp;enough workers, or they don’t have enough&nbsp;kids to sustain themselves because&nbsp;far fewer&nbsp;people are working now.&nbsp;“We haven't seen any&nbsp;new&nbsp;information for&nbsp;daycare settings,” Gibbs said,&nbsp;“and so they're sticking with the&nbsp;old&nbsp;guidance.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Gibbs said&nbsp;several&nbsp;Riley County daycares&nbsp;have&nbsp;been forced to close.&nbsp;

COVID variants, inconsistent guidance mire Health Department  

Around&nbsp;noon on January 9th, two female suspects entered&nbsp;Ulta&nbsp;beauty in the Manhattan Town Center with&nbsp;a&nbsp;baby stroller.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The women appeared to shop and look around the store.&nbsp;Police reports say the women&nbsp;then&nbsp;slipped&nbsp;10 bottles of designer perfume into the stroller and left the store.&nbsp;

The 10 bottles of&nbsp;fragrance&nbsp;are valued at&nbsp;approximately $1,246.&nbsp;

The tactic is relatively common, according to RCPD officials.&nbsp;

They&nbsp;say this is not the&nbsp;first time&nbsp;thieves have used&nbsp;phony babies in strollers or&nbsp;baby carriers&nbsp;to&nbsp;steal from&nbsp;Ulta,&nbsp;as well as other retailers in the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Last September thieves took $5,767 worth of perfume, and in October crooks stuffed $1,330 worth of perfume into a phony baby carrier and walked out the door.

The RCPD released security photos of female suspects from three incidents at Ulta,&nbsp;and&nbsp;asks&nbsp;anyone who can identify any of the suspects to call the&nbsp;Manhattan Riley County&nbsp;Crime Stoppers&nbsp;at (785) 539-7777&nbsp;or Toll free at&nbsp;1-800-222-TIPS (8477).&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641938230833.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Around&nbsp;noon on January 9th, two female suspects entered&nbsp;Ulta&nbsp;beauty in the Manhattan Town Center with&nbsp;a&nbsp;baby stroller.&nbsp;&nbsp;The women appeared to shop and look around the store.&nbsp;Police reports say the women&nbsp;then&nbsp;slipped&nbsp;10 bottles of designer perfume into the stroller and left the store.&nbsp;The 10 bottles of&nbsp;fragrance&nbsp;are valued at&nbsp;approximately $1,246.&nbsp;The tactic is relatively common, according to RCPD officials.&nbsp;They&nbsp;say this is not the&nbsp;first time&nbsp;thieves have used&nbsp;phony babies in strollers or&nbsp;baby carriers&nbsp;to&nbsp;steal from&nbsp;Ulta,&nbsp;as well as other retailers in the area.&nbsp; &nbsp;Last September thieves took $5,767 worth of perfume, and in October crooks stuffed $1,330 worth of perfume into a phony baby carrier and walked out the door. The RCPD released security photos of female suspects from three incidents at Ulta,&nbsp;and&nbsp;asks&nbsp;anyone who can identify any of the suspects to call the&nbsp;Manhattan Riley County&nbsp;Crime Stoppers&nbsp;at (785) 539-7777&nbsp;or Toll free at&nbsp;1-800-222-TIPS (8477).&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641938526459.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>

Sneaky thieves take more than $1K worth of perfume from Manhattan Ulta 

Just before 2&nbsp;a.m. on&nbsp;Sunday,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Riley County officer was on routine&nbsp;patrol&nbsp;when he saw&nbsp;a white 1997 Acura Integra&nbsp;turn the wrong way on Laramie Street in&nbsp;Manhattan.&nbsp;

The officer flashed the patrol car's lights and siren but the car did not stop. In fact, the officer had to back&nbsp;his&nbsp;vehicle out of the way&nbsp;to&nbsp;prevent the suspect from hitting the patrol car.&nbsp;

Police reports say that the suspect fled the area after the&nbsp;officer activated the emergency signals, turning and racing north on&nbsp;Juliet&nbsp;Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;

After losing&nbsp;sight,&nbsp;RCPD&nbsp;officers patrolled the area, eventually spotting the vehicle&nbsp;heading east on&nbsp;Allen Road&nbsp;near&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Creek Boulevard.&nbsp;

Patrols finally located the vehicle in the 300 block of Holly Place. After an extensive search RCPD officers were unable to locate the suspect.&nbsp;

The vehicle was impounded and authorities are seeking a 27-year-old male suspect for eluding a law enforcement officers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 2&nbsp;a.m. on&nbsp;Sunday,&nbsp;a&nbsp;Riley County officer was on routine&nbsp;patrol&nbsp;when he saw&nbsp;a white 1997 Acura Integra&nbsp;turn the wrong way on Laramie Street in&nbsp;Manhattan.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641937208919.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The officer flashed the patrol car's lights and siren but the car did not stop. In fact, the officer had to back&nbsp;his&nbsp;vehicle out of the way&nbsp;to&nbsp;prevent the suspect from hitting the patrol car.&nbsp;Police reports say that the suspect fled the area after the&nbsp;officer activated the emergency signals, turning and racing north on&nbsp;Juliet&nbsp;Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;After losing&nbsp;sight,&nbsp;RCPD&nbsp;officers patrolled the area, eventually spotting the vehicle&nbsp;heading east on&nbsp;Allen Road&nbsp;near&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Creek Boulevard.&nbsp;Patrols finally located the vehicle in the 300 block of Holly Place. After an extensive search RCPD officers were unable to locate the suspect.&nbsp;The vehicle was impounded and authorities are seeking a 27-year-old male suspect for eluding a law enforcement officers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wrong-way driver eludes RCPD 

Annual recognition event planned for April

On Saturday, April 9,&nbsp;Bruce Snead&nbsp;will be recognized as the 2022 Friend of the Flint Hills by the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) Foundation at their annual spring&nbsp;event.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Snead has been an integral part of the evolution of the FHDC from its initial development and opening in 2012 through the establishment of the Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FHDC Foundation has given the “Friend of the Flint Hills” award to an individual, couple, non-government organization or public institution each spring since 2012. The award honors significant time, effort and resources devoted to the cause of conserving the Flint Hills of Kansas and northern Oklahoma.&nbsp;

As a Manhattan City Commissioner and Mayor, Snead provided leadership during the initial development of the FHDC concept.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Snead has served as President of the FHDC Foundation since its creation in 2012, leading initiatives in support of the mission of the FHDC.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I cannot think of a more deserving individual for this honor than Bruce Snead,” Susan Adams, Flint Hills Discovery Center Director, said. “Bruce has led the Foundation for over a decade. His leadership has propelled our mission forward to preserve the amazing ecological and cultural riches of the Flint Hills region.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

To learn more about the Friend of the Flint Hills event&nbsp;on&nbsp;April 9, please contact Foundation Director, Lesley White at fhdcfoundation1@gmail or 785-748-1275.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The FHDC Foundation functions to advance the mission and work of the Flint Hills Discovery Center through dynamic and vibrant development programs which identify, cultivate, solicit and express appreciation to donors of the Foundation. The Foundation seeks capital and programming, along with deferred and endowed gifts in support of the Flint Hills Discovery Center.&nbsp;

<h2>Annual recognition event planned for April</h2>On Saturday, April 9,&nbsp;Bruce Snead&nbsp;will be recognized as the 2022 Friend of the Flint Hills by the Flint Hills Discovery Center (FHDC) Foundation at their annual spring&nbsp;event.&nbsp;&nbsp;Snead has been an integral part of the evolution of the FHDC from its initial development and opening in 2012 through the establishment of the Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;The FHDC Foundation has given the “Friend of the Flint Hills” award to an individual, couple, non-government organization or public institution each spring since 2012. The award honors significant time, effort and resources devoted to the cause of conserving the Flint Hills of Kansas and northern Oklahoma.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641914703154.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As a Manhattan City Commissioner and Mayor, Snead provided leadership during the initial development of the FHDC concept.&nbsp;&nbsp;Snead has served as President of the FHDC Foundation since its creation in 2012, leading initiatives in support of the mission of the FHDC.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I cannot think of a more deserving individual for this honor than Bruce Snead,” Susan Adams, Flint Hills Discovery Center Director, said. “Bruce has led the Foundation for over a decade. His leadership has propelled our mission forward to preserve the amazing ecological and cultural riches of the Flint Hills region.”&nbsp;&nbsp;To learn more about the Friend of the Flint Hills event&nbsp;on&nbsp;April 9, please contact Foundation Director, Lesley White at fhdcfoundation1@gmail or 785-748-1275.&nbsp;&nbsp;The FHDC Foundation functions to advance the mission and work of the Flint Hills Discovery Center through dynamic and vibrant development programs which identify, cultivate, solicit and express appreciation to donors of the Foundation. The Foundation seeks capital and programming, along with deferred and endowed gifts in support of the Flint Hills Discovery Center.&nbsp;--from FHDC Foundation&nbsp;

Discovery Center Foundation announces 2022 Friend of the Flint Hills Recipient

The Manhattan Best Buy has reportedly been hit again by smash and grab crooks.&nbsp;

According to known Best Buy source,&nbsp;late Saturday afternoon,&nbsp;January 9,&nbsp;a suspect snatched an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max from its display and promptly exited&nbsp;the store. The device is valued at $1,100.&nbsp;

Officers filed a report for theft.&nbsp;On December 30, 2021, three suspects stole&nbsp;four&nbsp;iphones&nbsp;from the Manhattan store.&nbsp;

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Manhattan Best Buy has reportedly been hit again by smash and grab crooks.&nbsp;According to known Best Buy source,&nbsp;late Saturday afternoon,&nbsp;January 9,&nbsp;a suspect snatched an Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max from its display and promptly exited&nbsp;the store. The device is valued at $1,100.&nbsp;Officers filed a report for theft.&nbsp;On December 30, 2021, three suspects stole&nbsp;four&nbsp;iphones&nbsp;from the Manhattan store.&nbsp;Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Another iPhone snatched from Manhattan Best Buy

By Scott Edger Little Apple Post

Monday the Riley County Board of Commissioners approved&nbsp;renaming a portion of road&nbsp;just west of Tuttle Creek&nbsp;Reservoir.&nbsp;

A portion of&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Cove Road&nbsp;is&nbsp;actually a private road&nbsp;that&nbsp;joins&nbsp;Tuttle Cove Road. Numerous residences have been built on the road and the&nbsp;Next Gen 911&nbsp;committee&nbsp;proposed a name change to better clarify address&nbsp;locations for emergency services.&nbsp;

The committee had proposed&nbsp;the name&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Cove&nbsp;Lane.&nbsp;Planners later&nbsp;received a petition from property owners&nbsp;in favor of&nbsp;the name&nbsp;Hayovel&nbsp;Place.&nbsp;

While the&nbsp;Hayovel&nbsp;Place&nbsp;name has a consensus among residents, some indicated confusion regarding the new numbering&nbsp;for their homes.&nbsp;

Emergency services personnel responded that&nbsp;the&nbsp;numbering&nbsp;component&nbsp;is an attempt to maintain consistency with the GIS grid system.&nbsp;Riley County spends a considerable amount of time&nbsp;training employees to understand the county grid, and the numbering system allows emergency responders to know exactly which part of the county they are needed.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger Little Apple PostMonday the Riley County Board of Commissioners approved&nbsp;renaming a portion of road&nbsp;just west of Tuttle Creek&nbsp;Reservoir.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641852863707.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A portion of&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Cove Road&nbsp;is&nbsp;actually a private road&nbsp;that&nbsp;joins&nbsp;Tuttle Cove Road. Numerous residences have been built on the road and the&nbsp;Next Gen 911&nbsp;committee&nbsp;proposed a name change to better clarify address&nbsp;locations for emergency services.&nbsp;The committee had proposed&nbsp;the name&nbsp;Tuttle&nbsp;Cove&nbsp;Lane.&nbsp;Planners later&nbsp;received a petition from property owners&nbsp;in favor of&nbsp;the name&nbsp;Hayovel&nbsp;Place.&nbsp;While the&nbsp;Hayovel&nbsp;Place&nbsp;name has a consensus among residents, some indicated confusion regarding the new numbering&nbsp;for their homes.&nbsp;Emergency services personnel responded that&nbsp;the&nbsp;numbering&nbsp;component&nbsp;is an attempt to maintain consistency with the GIS grid system.&nbsp;Riley County spends a considerable amount of time&nbsp;training employees to understand the county grid, and the numbering system allows emergency responders to know exactly which part of the county they are needed.&nbsp;

County improves emergency tracking with new street name

The Riley County Health Department is no longer able to provide contact tracing for every person in the community who tests positive for COVID-19. 

Some cases are being referred directly to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for contact tracing, but that system is backlogged as well.

“While we are doing everything we can to catch up, we know we will not be able to get to everyone,” said Julie Gibbs, director of Riley County Health Department.

Some people who test positive may not be contacted for contracting tracing by either agency.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;“Each individual must take responsibility to care for themselves and their families, and to notify people who are close contacts. We will share information with the public about care and treatment, and we will do everything we can to continue to help the community. The new case numbers are simply too high, and we don’t have the resources to keep up.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Close Contacts&nbsp; A close contact is generally someone who has been near a person with COVID-19 for at least 10 minutes when health and safety measures were not in place or were insufficient. If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or if you test positive, please call the people who have been your close contacts starting two days before symptoms began. If you test positive but do not have symptoms, call close contacts starting two days before you tested positive.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; If you’re a close contact of someone who is sick or tests positive for COVID-19, follow quarantine guidelines based on your vaccination status.

Please note, a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days is considered exempt from quarantine requirements if they do not have any symptoms. Anyone with symptoms is required to isolate for at least five days, or longer than five days if their symptoms continue. Find more information from the CDC at <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20843/2022-COVID-Guidelines">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#calculating-isolation</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Testing&nbsp; The Riley County Health Department offers free testing for people who have symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms and would like to schedule a test with RCHD, call (785) 323-6400 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon.&nbsp; You may also contact your medical provider for testing, or visit the drive-through testing site provided by KDHE in the north parking lot of Manhattan Town Center open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Please note, hospital emergency rooms treat emergency patients, they are not a location for COVID testing. There is also a very high patient cost for testing in an emergency room setting, and the patient will be billed. Hospital resources are needed to help patients who are very ill. Please do not visit an emergency room if you are just looking for a COVID test. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have an emergency.&nbsp; &nbsp; Contact Riley County Health DepartmentCOVID-19 testing (785) 323-6400 (available 8:00 a.m. to&nbsp;noon)COVID-19 vaccine (785) 565-6560&nbsp; The next update will be published Wednesday, January 12.&nbsp;

The Riley County Health Department is no longer able to provide contact tracing for every person in the community who tests positive for COVID-19. Some cases are being referred directly to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) for contact tracing, but that system is backlogged as well.“While we are doing everything we can to catch up, we know we will not be able to get to everyone,” said Julie Gibbs, director of Riley County Health Department.Some people who test positive may not be contacted for contracting tracing by either agency.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;“Each individual must take responsibility to care for themselves and their families, and to notify people who are close contacts. We will share information with the public about care and treatment, and we will do everything we can to continue to help the community. The new case numbers are simply too high, and we don’t have the resources to keep up.”&nbsp;&nbsp; Close Contacts&nbsp; A close contact is generally someone who has been near a person with COVID-19 for at least 10 minutes when health and safety measures were not in place or were insufficient. If you are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 or if you test positive, please call the people who have been your close contacts starting two days before symptoms began. If you test positive but do not have symptoms, call close contacts starting two days before you tested positive.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; If you’re a close contact of someone who is sick or tests positive for COVID-19, follow quarantine guidelines based on your vaccination status.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641842781418.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Please note, a person who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days is considered exempt from quarantine requirements if they do not have any symptoms. Anyone with symptoms is required to isolate for at least five days, or longer than five days if their symptoms continue. Find more information from the CDC at <a href="https://www.rileycountyks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/20843/2022-COVID-Guidelines">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html#calculating-isolation</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Testing&nbsp; The Riley County Health Department offers free testing for people who have symptoms of COVID-19. If you have symptoms and would like to schedule a test with RCHD, call (785) 323-6400 Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to noon.&nbsp; You may also contact your medical provider for testing, or visit the drive-through testing site provided by KDHE in the north parking lot of Manhattan Town Center open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; Please note, hospital emergency rooms treat emergency patients, they are not a location for COVID testing. There is also a very high patient cost for testing in an emergency room setting, and the patient will be billed. Hospital resources are needed to help patients who are very ill. Please do not visit an emergency room if you are just looking for a COVID test. Go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have an emergency.&nbsp; &nbsp; Contact Riley County Health DepartmentCOVID-19 testing (785) 323-6400 (available 8:00 a.m. to&nbsp;noon)COVID-19 vaccine (785) 565-6560&nbsp; The next update will be published Wednesday, January 12.&nbsp; --from RCHD

Overwhelmed Health Department stops COVID contact tracing

Following nine years of flat funding, Riley County Community Corrections and its sister agencies around the state are in crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Riley&nbsp;County&nbsp;Community&nbsp;Corrections&nbsp;Director Shelly Williams&nbsp;told the&nbsp;Board of the&nbsp;Board of Commissioners&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;that&nbsp;her agency needs&nbsp;its&nbsp;direct support and action in order to fulfill&nbsp;its&nbsp;mandated mission.&nbsp;

Riley County Community Corrections provides supervision of moderate to high-risk adult felony and juvenile offenders in Riley and Clay Counties.&nbsp;

There are&nbsp;about 115 adult offenders currently registered with Riley County community corrections, according to Williams, with about 70 of those being&nbsp;for person felonies.&nbsp;

Kansas has a trifurcated system of community supervision. Three different entities&nbsp;currently&nbsp;fulfill roles within the system.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas judicial branch&nbsp;provides&nbsp;support services and, while the County&nbsp;funds operations and provide space,&nbsp;the&nbsp;workers are state employees.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Department of Corrections operates jails and runs the parole system, again with state employees funded through&nbsp;the&nbsp;DOC&nbsp;budget.&nbsp;

For&nbsp;this fiscal year, the Kansas legislature appropriated roughly $10.8 million for judicial branch pay increases and $4.3 million for its support officer&nbsp;positions.&nbsp;

The DOC provides Community Corrections with&nbsp;funding and oversight,&nbsp;however&nbsp;individual officers are&nbsp;county agencies&nbsp;and staffed with&nbsp;county employees.&nbsp;

This year governor Laura Kelly issued an executive order&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;before Thanksgiving that allocated just over $500,000 for&nbsp;parole officer pay increases fiscal year 2022,&nbsp;and almost $1&nbsp;million for 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to Williams, Community&nbsp;Corrections agencies did not receive any of&nbsp;the approved&nbsp;new funding.&nbsp;

“Those salary increases for the other agencies impact Community Corrections’ ability to maintain its own workforce,” she said, “and as a result public safety is, and will be negatively impacted.”&nbsp;

She&nbsp;also pointed out that for at least the last nine years funding for&nbsp;community corrections has remained essentially flat.&nbsp;Community Corrections funding comes out of the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;general fund -&nbsp;competing against roads and schools and every other line item.&nbsp;

Williams said that when agencies are underfunded and understaffed, caseloads become too large to adequately supervise high risk offenders and “intensive supervision is at risk.”&nbsp;

The offenders her agency supervises in the community have serious criminal histories and over 53&nbsp;percent have both mental health and substance use issues,&nbsp;according to Williams.&nbsp;She said it simply comes down to having enough staff to do effective work.&nbsp;

“Community Corrections officers do not have enough time to spend with these offenders doing the difficult work of changing offender behavior,” she said. “Underfunded agencies cannot afford to dedicate staff time to programming targeted teaching.”&nbsp;

Williams asked commissioners to use whatever influence or connections they may have&nbsp;two&nbsp;influence legislation to better compensate community corrections personnel, and hopefully maintain and attract&nbsp;employees.&nbsp;

“The inability to recruit and maintain skilled staff means less experience and specialized officers,” Williams said, “and less means more... more crime,&nbsp;more victims,&nbsp;more jail confinement,&nbsp;more future recidivism.”&nbsp;

Williams said agencies around the state are working closely with the&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of Corrections,&nbsp;Jeff Zmuda,&nbsp;who is advocating strongly for&nbsp;increased&nbsp;funding for Community Corrections.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;Following nine years of flat funding, Riley County Community Corrections and its sister agencies around the state are in crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Riley&nbsp;County&nbsp;Community&nbsp;Corrections&nbsp;Director Shelly Williams&nbsp;told the&nbsp;Board of the&nbsp;Board of Commissioners&nbsp;Monday&nbsp;that&nbsp;her agency needs&nbsp;its&nbsp;direct support and action in order to fulfill&nbsp;its&nbsp;mandated mission.&nbsp;Riley County Community Corrections provides supervision of moderate to high-risk adult felony and juvenile offenders in Riley and Clay Counties.&nbsp;There are&nbsp;about 115 adult offenders currently registered with Riley County community corrections, according to Williams, with about 70 of those being&nbsp;for person felonies.&nbsp;Kansas has a trifurcated system of community supervision. Three different entities&nbsp;currently&nbsp;fulfill roles within the system.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas judicial branch&nbsp;provides&nbsp;support services and, while the County&nbsp;funds operations and provide space,&nbsp;the&nbsp;workers are state employees.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Department of Corrections operates jails and runs the parole system, again with state employees funded through&nbsp;the&nbsp;DOC&nbsp;budget.&nbsp;For&nbsp;this fiscal year, the Kansas legislature appropriated roughly $10.8 million for judicial branch pay increases and $4.3 million for its support officer&nbsp;positions.&nbsp;The DOC provides Community Corrections with&nbsp;funding and oversight,&nbsp;however&nbsp;individual officers are&nbsp;county agencies&nbsp;and staffed with&nbsp;county employees.&nbsp;This year governor Laura Kelly issued an executive order&nbsp;shortly&nbsp;before Thanksgiving that allocated just over $500,000 for&nbsp;parole officer pay increases fiscal year 2022,&nbsp;and almost $1&nbsp;million for 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Williams, Community&nbsp;Corrections agencies did not receive any of&nbsp;the approved&nbsp;new funding.&nbsp;“Those salary increases for the other agencies impact Community Corrections’ ability to maintain its own workforce,” she said, “and as a result public safety is, and will be negatively impacted.”&nbsp;She&nbsp;also pointed out that for at least the last nine years funding for&nbsp;community corrections has remained essentially flat.&nbsp;Community Corrections funding comes out of the&nbsp;state's&nbsp;general fund -&nbsp;competing against roads and schools and every other line item.&nbsp;Williams said that when agencies are underfunded and understaffed, caseloads become too large to adequately supervise high risk offenders and “intensive supervision is at risk.”&nbsp;The offenders her agency supervises in the community have serious criminal histories and over 53&nbsp;percent have both mental health and substance use issues,&nbsp;according to Williams.&nbsp;She said it simply comes down to having enough staff to do effective work.&nbsp;“Community Corrections officers do not have enough time to spend with these offenders doing the difficult work of changing offender behavior,” she said. “Underfunded agencies cannot afford to dedicate staff time to programming targeted teaching.”&nbsp;Williams asked commissioners to use whatever influence or connections they may have&nbsp;two&nbsp;influence legislation to better compensate community corrections personnel, and hopefully maintain and attract&nbsp;employees.&nbsp;“The inability to recruit and maintain skilled staff means less experience and specialized officers,” Williams said, “and less means more... more crime,&nbsp;more victims,&nbsp;more jail confinement,&nbsp;more future recidivism.”&nbsp;Williams said agencies around the state are working closely with the&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of Corrections,&nbsp;Jeff Zmuda,&nbsp;who is advocating strongly for&nbsp;increased&nbsp;funding for Community Corrections.&nbsp;

Community Corrections in crisis

Redline ripped off&nbsp; On January 6, a 21-year-old male reported that someone stole his chrome Redline 340 BMX bicycle from the bed of his truck in the 3100 block of Heritage Court in Manhattan. Officers filed a report for theft. The estimated loss is $500.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Turns out it's not rent-a-car&nbsp;&nbsp;

On January 6, a 62-year-old female reported a 49-year-old female suspect stole her white 2004 Kia Sorento&nbsp;in the 300 block of Fifteenth Street in Ogden.&nbsp;Officers filed a report for theft.&nbsp;The&nbsp;loss is approximately $3,500. The car was later returned to the victim by the suspect, the victim no longer wished to pursue charges.&nbsp;

Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640879143657.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Redline ripped off&nbsp; On January 6, a 21-year-old male reported that someone stole his chrome Redline 340 BMX bicycle from the bed of his truck in the 3100 block of Heritage Court in Manhattan. Officers filed a report for theft. The estimated loss is $500.&nbsp;&nbsp;Turns out it's not rent-a-car&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641580918750.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On January 6, a 62-year-old female reported a 49-year-old female suspect stole her white 2004 Kia Sorento&nbsp;in the 300 block of Fifteenth Street in Ogden.&nbsp;Officers filed a report for theft.&nbsp;The&nbsp;loss is approximately $3,500. The car was later returned to the victim by the suspect, the victim no longer wished to pursue charges.&nbsp;Anyone with information can contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.&nbsp;

Police Briefs Jan 7

Last Thursday, the Riley County Board of Commissioners were notified that Flint Hills Regional Council was increasing membership dues&nbsp;for 2022. FHRC asked the Board&nbsp;to name a&nbsp;representative&nbsp;and decide whether or not the county would pay the increased dues by January 15.&nbsp;

During its regularly scheduled meeting, the Board voted 2-0 against the increased dues and withdrew from the FHRC.&nbsp;Commissioners John Ford and Greg McKinley voted to leave the group.&nbsp;Commissioner Kathryn Focke abstained.&nbsp;

Last week, commissioners&nbsp;asked Clancy Coleman,&nbsp;director of Administrative Services, to&nbsp;provide Commissioners&nbsp;with&nbsp;information on&nbsp;the Council&nbsp;and try to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;benefits of remaining a member.&nbsp;

Commissioners John Ford and Greg McKinley&nbsp;took exception to the requested increase, and indicated the Council’s increase is&nbsp;due to&nbsp;self-imposed financial woes&nbsp;and&nbsp;has not demonstrated real value&nbsp;in the past.&nbsp;

“I have&nbsp;problem&nbsp;with that,” Ford said. “I don't believe&nbsp;their loans&nbsp;should be placed on the backs of taxpayers.&nbsp;That's something that should be taken care of internally.&nbsp;I'm a point&nbsp;with&nbsp;this where I'm honestly ready to move on.”&nbsp;

McKinley said much of what he has seen from FHRC “was not useful” and that he&nbsp;hasn’t seen any value in the Council for years.” He noted discrepancies in&nbsp;claims made by&nbsp;FHRC leadership&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;population, and&nbsp;ineffective, generic results.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;Last Thursday, the Riley County Board of Commissioners were notified that Flint Hills Regional Council was increasing membership dues&nbsp;for 2022. FHRC asked the Board&nbsp;to name a&nbsp;representative&nbsp;and decide whether or not the county would pay the increased dues by January 15.&nbsp;The Council got its answer today.&nbsp;During its regularly scheduled meeting, the Board voted 2-0 against the increased dues and withdrew from the FHRC.&nbsp;Commissioners John Ford and Greg McKinley voted to leave the group.&nbsp;Commissioner Kathryn Focke abstained.&nbsp;Last week, commissioners&nbsp;asked Clancy Coleman,&nbsp;director of Administrative Services, to&nbsp;provide Commissioners&nbsp;with&nbsp;information on&nbsp;the Council&nbsp;and try to&nbsp;identify&nbsp;benefits of remaining a member.&nbsp;Commissioners John Ford and Greg McKinley&nbsp;took exception to the requested increase, and indicated the Council’s increase is&nbsp;due to&nbsp;self-imposed financial woes&nbsp;and&nbsp;has not demonstrated real value&nbsp;in the past.&nbsp;“I have&nbsp;problem&nbsp;with that,” Ford said. “I don't believe&nbsp;their loans&nbsp;should be placed on the backs of taxpayers.&nbsp;That's something that should be taken care of internally.&nbsp;I'm a point&nbsp;with&nbsp;this where I'm honestly ready to move on.”&nbsp;McKinley said much of what he has seen from FHRC “was not useful” and that he&nbsp;hasn’t seen any value in the Council for years.” He noted discrepancies in&nbsp;claims made by&nbsp;FHRC leadership&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;population, and&nbsp;ineffective, generic results.&nbsp;

Riley County pulls out of Flint Hills Regional Council

The next Hazardous Household Waste collection is this Saturday, January 8,&nbsp;from 8 a.m. to noon&nbsp;at Howie’s Recycling&nbsp;– no matter what.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The collections happen every second&nbsp;Saturday of the month.&nbsp;Mike Boller, director of&nbsp;Riley County Noxious Weed/HHW Department, said “cleanouts are one of those things that, rain or snow or cold weather, we still put that on.”&nbsp;

No business waste will be accepted at this event.&nbsp;

Boller said the facility has lots of recycled latex paint&nbsp;and&nbsp;household products on recycling&nbsp;shelves&nbsp;to give away&nbsp;free to the public&nbsp;

One-gallon and five-gallon containers&nbsp;are&nbsp;available.&nbsp;The&nbsp;office is open Monday – Friday from 7:30&nbsp;to&nbsp;4&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;

The next Hazardous Household Waste collection is this Saturday, January 8,&nbsp;from 8 a.m. to noon&nbsp;at Howie’s Recycling&nbsp;– no matter what.&nbsp;&nbsp;The collections happen every second&nbsp;Saturday of the month.&nbsp;Mike Boller, director of&nbsp;Riley County Noxious Weed/HHW Department, said “cleanouts are one of those things that, rain or snow or cold weather, we still put that on.”&nbsp;No business waste will be accepted at this event.&nbsp;Boller said the facility has lots of recycled latex paint&nbsp;and&nbsp;household products on recycling&nbsp;shelves&nbsp;to give away&nbsp;free to the public&nbsp;One-gallon and five-gallon containers&nbsp;are&nbsp;available.&nbsp;The&nbsp;office is open Monday – Friday from 7:30&nbsp;to&nbsp;4&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;

HHW collection Saturday

Clearly unambitious thief steals random loot, for some reason&nbsp;

On January 4, a 57-year-old male reported that someone&nbsp;broke into a box truck and stole boat paddles, a smelter pot, a desk lamp, a set of copper welder leads, a hose, and a door cart. Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 9700 block of Condray Road. The loss is approximately $835.&nbsp;&nbsp;

$6.5k? Must’ve been some nice golf clubs

On January 4, a 22-year-old male reported that someone stole his unlocked white 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt with a set of Slazenger golf clubs inside. Officers filed a report for theft in the 2400 block of Vaughn Drive in Manhattan. The loss is approximately $6,500.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Good luck finding a replacement&nbsp;

On January 4, a 30-year-old female reported that someone stole a PlayStation 5 from a box delivered to her home. Officers filed a report for theft in the 3300 block of Woodduck Way in Manhattan. The loss is approximately $500.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640879143657.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Clearly unambitious thief steals random loot, for some reason&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641400009078.jpeg" alt="Exactly. Why?" />
 <figcaption>Exactly. Why?</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 4, a 57-year-old male reported that someone&nbsp;broke into a box truck and stole boat paddles, a smelter pot, a desk lamp, a set of copper welder leads, a hose, and a door cart. Officers filed a report for burglary and criminal damage to property in the 9700 block of Condray Road. The loss is approximately $835.&nbsp;&nbsp;$6.5k? Must’ve been some nice golf clubs<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641400207789.jpeg" alt="Unofficial sketch of vehicle" />
 <figcaption>Unofficial sketch of vehicle</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 4, a 22-year-old male reported that someone stole his unlocked white 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt with a set of Slazenger golf clubs inside. Officers filed a report for theft in the 2400 block of Vaughn Drive in Manhattan. The loss is approximately $6,500.&nbsp;&nbsp;Good luck finding a replacement&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641400392526.jpeg" alt="PS5 backordered until infinity" />
 <figcaption>PS5 backordered until infinity</figcaption>
 </figure>On January 4, a 30-year-old female reported that someone stole a PlayStation 5 from a box delivered to her home. Officers filed a report for theft in the 3300 block of Woodduck Way in Manhattan. The loss is approximately $500.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police Briefs Jan. 5

John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit with KSDE, will kick off the Living Well Wednesday program series on January 12. Calvert will convey the dangers of social media apps and how to keep children safe.&nbsp;

On January 26th, the series continues with "The Art of Gratitude." Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.&nbsp; &nbsp; Learn more about these topics by registering at:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/KSRELivingWellWebinars?fbclid=IwAR36Kg6UXJqP9iS4j9LnKHuKFcGy0Ix0FtlaSZan_5n_EiWg10x4_Kmcy0s" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/KSRELivingWellWebinars</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641382029588.jpeg" alt="ksu research extension.jpg" />
 <figcaption>ksu research extension.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>John Calvert, Director of Safe and Secure Schools Unit with KSDE, will kick off the Living Well Wednesday program series on January 12. Calvert will convey the dangers of social media apps and how to keep children safe.&nbsp;On January 26th, the series continues with "The Art of Gratitude." Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.&nbsp; &nbsp; Learn more about these topics by registering at:&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/KSRELivingWellWebinars?fbclid=IwAR36Kg6UXJqP9iS4j9LnKHuKFcGy0Ix0FtlaSZan_5n_EiWg10x4_Kmcy0s" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/KSRELivingWellWebinars</a>&nbsp;

2022 Living Well Wednesday program series kicks off

Northeast Kansas is in for another blast of winter weather.&nbsp;

The NWS issued a Wind Chill Advisory and Hazardous Weather Outlook for much of north central Kansas.&nbsp;

The wind chill advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight to noon Thursday. Very cold wind chills are expected with temps as low as 20 below zero in many portions of east central and northeast Kansas.&nbsp;

The cold wind chills causes frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.&nbsp;

Officials urge people to use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate layered clothing that covers exposed skin, as well as a hat and gloves.&nbsp;

“Wind chill can be very dangerous, very quickly,” said Kansas NOAA meteorologist Brandon Letkeman. “People need to bring pets inside&nbsp;and be cautious traveling in isolated areas.”&nbsp;

Light snow is expected across the entire outlook area beginning this evening into Thursday morning. Forecast snowfall amounts range from a trace to two inches south of I-70 to 1 to three inches north of I-70. &nbsp;

Thursday morning through the weekend, dangerous wind chill values ranging from 15 to 20 degrees below zero will continue during the overnight hours especially. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect from&nbsp; midnight tonight to noon Thursday.&nbsp;

The weather warnings are for the counties of Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Geary, Morris, and Wabaunsee, and include the cities of Marysville, Blue Rapids, Frankfort, Sabetha, Seneca, Hiawatha, Horton, Manhattan, Wamego, St. Marys, Holton, Junction City, Council Grove, Alma, Eskridge, Maple Hill, Alta Vista, McFarland, Harveyville, and Paxico.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;Northeast Kansas is in for another blast of winter weather.&nbsp;The NWS issued a Wind Chill Advisory and Hazardous Weather Outlook for much of north central Kansas.&nbsp;The wind chill advisory remains in effect from midnight tonight to noon Thursday. Very cold wind chills are expected with temps as low as 20 below zero in many portions of east central and northeast Kansas.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641381650626.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The cold wind chills causes frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.&nbsp;Officials urge people to use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate layered clothing that covers exposed skin, as well as a hat and gloves.&nbsp;“Wind chill can be very dangerous, very quickly,” said Kansas NOAA meteorologist Brandon Letkeman. “People need to bring pets inside&nbsp;and be cautious traveling in isolated areas.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641381446506.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Light snow is expected across the entire outlook area beginning this evening into Thursday morning. Forecast snowfall amounts range from a trace to two inches south of I-70 to 1 to three inches north of I-70. &nbsp;Thursday morning through the weekend, dangerous wind chill values ranging from 15 to 20 degrees below zero will continue during the overnight hours especially. A Wind Chill Advisory is in effect from&nbsp; midnight tonight to noon Thursday.&nbsp;The weather warnings are for the counties of Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Riley, Pottawatomie, Jackson, Geary, Morris, and Wabaunsee, and include the cities of Marysville, Blue Rapids, Frankfort, Sabetha, Seneca, Hiawatha, Horton, Manhattan, Wamego, St. Marys, Holton, Junction City, Council Grove, Alma, Eskridge, Maple Hill, Alta Vista, McFarland, Harveyville, and Paxico.&nbsp;

Dangerous wind chills blowing in 

Tuesday night, the Manhattan City Commission held a special meeting to formally reorganize itself and swear in newly elected and re-elected members.&nbsp;

City Administrators and commissioners recognized outgoing commissioner Aaron Estabrook, who served for the last two years. &nbsp;

Estabrook said the naming of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive as one of the highlights of his two years on the commission. “That was very important to me,” he said, “and then of course the issues that we've begun to address with housing. I think it's transformative what we're able to do now compared to two years ago and I look forward to all the success in the future.”&nbsp;

Hatesohl noted that while broader issues can reveal philosophical differences between individual commissioners, when it comes to “all those important things that people expect the city government to do” the Commission is virtually always unanimous. "Everybody wants the best things for the city of Manhattan,” he said.&nbsp;

Newly re-elected Commissioner Usha Reddi agreed. “We tend to agree,” she said. “We do have good civil discourse and it's good to have that kind of discourse when we make our decisions.”&nbsp;

New Commissioner John Matta, in his second stint on the Commission, is looking forward to seeing upcoming projects and said he hopes to present himself in a way that people can predict how he will vote. “I think we've got some fantastic projects coming up,” he said. “I'm happy to be back again and I plan on&nbsp;using that same philosophy.”&nbsp;

Commissioners voted to name Linda Morse as Manhattan mayor. Mark Hatesohl was chosen as mayor pro tem.&nbsp;

Mayor Morse is encouraged with recent census numbers reflecting growth in Manhattan. “We had been pretty stagnant financially and population-wise.”&nbsp;

Morse foreshadowed Commission discussions about possible annexation of the Green Valley area in Pottawatomie County and further economic development initiatives being pursued, as well as the recently approved strategic plan. “We need to kind of tear it apart and make it ours,” she said. “Piece by piece we will implement that for the betterment of the city and the betterment of our city staff.”&nbsp;

Commissioner Wynn Butler reflected on his time as mayor, his second round at the position, saying he enjoyed the ceremonial elements and “spending a lot of time shaking the tree to get people to come out and serve on boards,” he said.&nbsp;

The property tax increase was Butler’s one disappointment, but he is optimistic as the city has collected approximately $900,000 higher sales tax receipts than last year. &nbsp;

Butler’s final proclamation as mayor is a declaration of January 15th-17th as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration and Days of Service in Manhattan.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger&nbsp; Little Apple Post&nbsp;Tuesday night, the Manhattan City Commission held a special meeting to formally reorganize itself and swear in newly elected and re-elected members.&nbsp;City Administrators and commissioners recognized outgoing commissioner Aaron Estabrook, who served for the last two years. &nbsp;Estabrook said the naming of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive as one of the highlights of his two years on the commission. “That was very important to me,” he said, “and then of course the issues that we've begun to address with housing. I think it's transformative what we're able to do now compared to two years ago and I look forward to all the success in the future.”&nbsp;Hatesohl noted that while broader issues can reveal philosophical differences between individual commissioners, when it comes to “all those important things that people expect the city government to do” the Commission is virtually always unanimous. "Everybody wants the best things for the city of Manhattan,” he said.&nbsp;Newly re-elected Commissioner Usha Reddi agreed. “We tend to agree,” she said. “We do have good civil discourse and it's good to have that kind of discourse when we make our decisions.”&nbsp;New Commissioner John Matta, in his second stint on the Commission, is looking forward to seeing upcoming projects and said he hopes to present himself in a way that people can predict how he will vote. “I think we've got some fantastic projects coming up,” he said. “I'm happy to be back again and I plan on&nbsp;using that same philosophy.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641344440942.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Commissioners voted to name Linda Morse as Manhattan mayor. Mark Hatesohl was chosen as mayor pro tem.&nbsp;Mayor Morse is encouraged with recent census numbers reflecting growth in Manhattan. “We had been pretty stagnant financially and population-wise.”&nbsp;Morse foreshadowed Commission discussions about possible annexation of the Green Valley area in Pottawatomie County and further economic development initiatives being pursued, as well as the recently approved strategic plan. “We need to kind of tear it apart and make it ours,” she said. “Piece by piece we will implement that for the betterment of the city and the betterment of our city staff.”&nbsp;Commissioner Wynn Butler reflected on his time as mayor, his second round at the position, saying he enjoyed the ceremonial elements and “spending a lot of time shaking the tree to get people to come out and serve on boards,” he said.&nbsp;The property tax increase was Butler’s one disappointment, but he is optimistic as the city has collected approximately $900,000 higher sales tax receipts than last year. &nbsp;Butler’s final proclamation as mayor is a declaration of January 15th-17th as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration and Days of Service in Manhattan.&nbsp;

New Commission formed; Morse voted Manhattan mayor

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has updated isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the general population and healthcare workers. The Riley County Health Department has adopted the new guidelines as outlined by KDHE effective immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;

CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. At this time, guidance for school-aged children and congregate facilities has not been changed.&nbsp;

Details about changes to quarantine and isolation periods are outlined on the CDC website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The most significant changes to guidelines relate to the number of days for quarantine and isolation in certain situations,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “We have remained consistent with KDHE and CDC guidance since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to do so.”&nbsp;

Calls and requests for testing and vaccine appointments continue to increase in Riley County.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As more people seek testing appointments and resources, it may take longer to get test results,” said Gibbs. “Please stay home and stay away from others if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID and follow the advice of your doctor.”&nbsp;

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has updated isolation and quarantine guidance following the recent changes by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the general population and healthcare workers. The Riley County Health Department has adopted the new guidelines as outlined by KDHE effective immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;CDC is in the process of updating guidance for other settings such as correctional facilities, long-term care facilities, preschool, K-12 schools and institutions of higher education. At this time, guidance for school-aged children and congregate facilities has not been changed.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641319654620.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Details about changes to quarantine and isolation periods are outlined on the CDC website at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;“The most significant changes to guidelines relate to the number of days for quarantine and isolation in certain situations,” said Local Health Officer Julie Gibbs. “We have remained consistent with KDHE and CDC guidance since the beginning of the pandemic and will continue to do so.”&nbsp;Calls and requests for testing and vaccine appointments continue to increase in Riley County.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As more people seek testing appointments and resources, it may take longer to get test results,” said Gibbs. “Please stay home and stay away from others if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID and follow the advice of your doctor.”&nbsp;

New CDC guidance adopted by Riley County Health Department 

Due to the closure of Anthony Recreation Center until 5:30 p.m. daily, Peace Memorial Auditorium will be available for open pickleball for the remainder of the week, January 4-7, from 8:30 am – 11:30 am daily.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641301562821.jpeg" alt="Manhattan PARD information about pickleball and other adult activities can be found <a href="https://www.mhkprd.com/151/Adult-Sports">here</a>." />
 <figcaption>Manhattan PARD information about pickleball and other adult activities can be found <a href="https://www.mhkprd.com/151/Adult-Sports">here</a>.</figcaption>
 </figure>Due to the closure of Anthony Recreation Center until 5:30 p.m. daily, Peace Memorial Auditorium will be available for open pickleball for the remainder of the week, January 4-7, from 8:30 am – 11:30 am daily.&nbsp;

PARD opens auditorium for pickleball

Monday night,&nbsp;in a special meeting of&nbsp;the USD 383 Board of&nbsp;Education, board members voted 4-1 to again require masks inside all district facilities.&nbsp;

District Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade recommended a temporary return to mask requirements&nbsp;in all&nbsp;district&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;

Members of the district’s Medical Advisory Team, made up of local doctors and representatives of the Health Department,&nbsp;also addressed board members.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Doctor Ryan Knopp told the board that the likelihood of&nbsp;the district&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;“unprecedented numbers”&nbsp;of COVID cases&nbsp;and children hospitalized&nbsp;in the next four to eight weeks&nbsp;“is the highest it’s been so far in the pandemic,”&nbsp;he&nbsp;said.&nbsp;

Knopp said that the situation a month ago, when the MAT recommended&nbsp;optional&nbsp;masks&nbsp;at the high school, warranted the loosening of mask restrictions, but as developments progressed the situation changed dramatically.&nbsp;The combination of the lingering delta variant the fast-paced onset of the omicron variant – at a contagiousness level comparable to measles – took everyone by surprise.&nbsp;

“We humbly have to say we did not see this coming,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He said that surging&nbsp;COVID&nbsp;numbers, in conjunction with surges of influenza and&nbsp;other seasonal respiratory illness led to a very challenging situation in healthcare.&nbsp;

The MAT pointed out that the masks would be a proactive measure&nbsp;and a step toward keeping schools open, rather than&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;for a massive surge in illnesses and being forced to take reactive action&nbsp;and shut down schools.&nbsp;

“This&nbsp;gives us a chance to get going after winter break,” Wade said.&nbsp;“Then we could review where we’re at,” Wade said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The board will review&nbsp;the&nbsp;action&nbsp;at their February 2nd meeting.&nbsp;

By Scott Edger Little Apple PostMonday night,&nbsp;in a special meeting of&nbsp;the USD 383 Board of&nbsp;Education, board members voted 4-1 to again require masks inside all district facilities.&nbsp;The policy starts today.&nbsp;District Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade recommended a temporary return to mask requirements&nbsp;in all&nbsp;district&nbsp;facilities.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629209461436.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Members of the district’s Medical Advisory Team, made up of local doctors and representatives of the Health Department,&nbsp;also addressed board members.&nbsp;&nbsp;Doctor Ryan Knopp told the board that the likelihood of&nbsp;the district&nbsp;seeing&nbsp;“unprecedented numbers”&nbsp;of COVID cases&nbsp;and children hospitalized&nbsp;in the next four to eight weeks&nbsp;“is the highest it’s been so far in the pandemic,”&nbsp;he&nbsp;said.&nbsp;Knopp said that the situation a month ago, when the MAT recommended&nbsp;optional&nbsp;masks&nbsp;at the high school, warranted the loosening of mask restrictions, but as developments progressed the situation changed dramatically.&nbsp;The combination of the lingering delta variant the fast-paced onset of the omicron variant – at a contagiousness level comparable to measles – took everyone by surprise.&nbsp;“We humbly have to say we did not see this coming,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said that surging&nbsp;COVID&nbsp;numbers, in conjunction with surges of influenza and&nbsp;other seasonal respiratory illness led to a very challenging situation in healthcare.&nbsp;The MAT pointed out that the masks would be a proactive measure&nbsp;and a step toward keeping schools open, rather than&nbsp;waiting&nbsp;for a massive surge in illnesses and being forced to take reactive action&nbsp;and shut down schools.&nbsp;“This&nbsp;gives us a chance to get going after winter break,” Wade said.&nbsp;“Then we could review where we’re at,” Wade said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The board will review&nbsp;the&nbsp;action&nbsp;at their February 2nd meeting.&nbsp;

Masks again required in all USD 383 facilities

On New Year’s Eve&nbsp;night&nbsp;a frightened Riley County driver called the Riley County&nbsp;Police Department to report a&nbsp;vehicle speeding and weaving all over Tuttle Creek Boulevard&nbsp;near&nbsp;Gumbo Hill Road&nbsp;north&nbsp;of&nbsp;Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Riley County patrol&nbsp;cars&nbsp;quickly responded to the area&nbsp;and an&nbsp;officer pulled over&nbsp;a 36-year-old male suspect&nbsp;for reckless driving&nbsp;just south&nbsp;of&nbsp;the intersection&nbsp;of&nbsp;Allen Road&nbsp;and Tuttle Creek Boulevard&nbsp;about 9:40&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;

The officer approached the vehicle and engaged in an initial conversation with the man, during which the man provided&nbsp;positive&nbsp;identification.&nbsp;When the&nbsp;officer saw suspected marijuana&nbsp;all over&nbsp;the&nbsp;vehicle,&nbsp;the suspect threw the vehicle in gear and&nbsp;raced&nbsp;away.&nbsp;

RCPD&nbsp;followed&nbsp;the&nbsp;suspect into the Casement Road area but soon lost sight. The&nbsp;area was searched but the vehicle was not found.&nbsp;Authorities have a positive identification&nbsp;but are still seeking&nbsp;the suspect.&nbsp;

The situation is still under investigation. The suspect is being sought for possession of marijuana, fleeing or eluding, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

On New Year’s Eve&nbsp;night&nbsp;a frightened Riley County driver called the Riley County&nbsp;Police Department to report a&nbsp;vehicle speeding and weaving all over Tuttle Creek Boulevard&nbsp;near&nbsp;Gumbo Hill Road&nbsp;north&nbsp;of&nbsp;Manhattan.&nbsp;&nbsp;Riley County patrol&nbsp;cars&nbsp;quickly responded to the area&nbsp;and an&nbsp;officer pulled over&nbsp;a 36-year-old male suspect&nbsp;for reckless driving&nbsp;just south&nbsp;of&nbsp;the intersection&nbsp;of&nbsp;Allen Road&nbsp;and Tuttle Creek Boulevard&nbsp;about 9:40&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp;The officer approached the vehicle and engaged in an initial conversation with the man, during which the man provided&nbsp;positive&nbsp;identification.&nbsp;When the&nbsp;officer saw suspected marijuana&nbsp;all over&nbsp;the&nbsp;vehicle,&nbsp;the suspect threw the vehicle in gear and&nbsp;raced&nbsp;away.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1641245010069.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RCPD&nbsp;followed&nbsp;the&nbsp;suspect into the Casement Road area but soon lost sight. The&nbsp;area was searched but the vehicle was not found.&nbsp;Authorities have a positive identification&nbsp;but are still seeking&nbsp;the suspect.&nbsp;The situation is still under investigation. The suspect is being sought for possession of marijuana, fleeing or eluding, and interference with a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Police: Driver flees Riley Co. traffic stop, kindly provides positive ID  

Beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, visitors will no longer be required to wear&nbsp;masks when inside&nbsp;City-operated facilities, except when entering secure, staff-only areas where mask required signage is present. 

Beginning Monday, January 3, 2022, visitors will no longer be required to wear&nbsp;masks when inside&nbsp;City-operated facilities, except when entering secure, staff-only areas where mask required signage is present. To protect the workforce and maintain programs and services, City employees are still required to wear masks that cover their mouth and nose when inside all areas of indoor&nbsp;City-operated facilities. The decision to modify the mask policy for City facilities was made by City Manager Ron Fehr.   &nbsp; “I made the decision to modify our mask policy primarily based on our ability to reasonably and adequately enforce mask requirement provisions, which can be very stressful and lead to confrontations," said City Manager Ron Fehr. “If you're a visitor seeking in-person services&nbsp;at City Hall, participating in a City Commission or Advisory Board meeting in the City Commission Room or accessing programs or gyms at one of our recreation centers, masks won't be required, but are strongly recommended. However, if you're meeting with City staff in any of our private office areas, masks will be required or an alternative engagement provision may be developed. Please refer to the signage at our facilities. We echo the recommendations of health officials on the use of medical type masks versus&nbsp;cloth masks. I also encourage community members to get vaccinated if they haven't already, and also receive a booster if eligible.” &nbsp; This mask policy is related to indoor, City-operated facilities only. In secure, staff-only areas where masks are required,&nbsp;the policy&nbsp;applies to people older than two years of age, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. There is no&nbsp;City-wide mask ordinance that has been approved or&nbsp;is&nbsp;being considered at this time.   &nbsp;Manhattan Regional Airport&nbsp;will continue to&nbsp;follow federal laws&nbsp;requiring masks for all people at airports. Masks&nbsp;must&nbsp;be worn at Manhattan Regional Airport,&nbsp;and&nbsp;visitors and&nbsp;travelers should refer to federal guidelines for the latest information.&nbsp;&nbsp; Signs will be posted at the entrance&nbsp;of each facility and at entries to secure, staff-only areas. Medical type masks are available upon request for those visiting city facilities.  Contact the City facility for options to conduct business remotely if preferred.&nbsp; &nbsp; More information about the City of Manhattan is available online at www.cityofmhk.com, on Facebook at /Cityofmanhattan and on Twitter @cityofmhk.

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