NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.

The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.

Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.

Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.

A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.

It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>

The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.

But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.

Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue.

"While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Ticketmaster says <a href="https://twitter.com/Ticketmaster/status/1593333211769106433">it is canceling Friday's planned general public sale</a> for Taylor Swift's upcoming stadium tour because it doesn't have enough tickets.The decision came two days after a presale event caused the site to crash and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">left many fans without tickets</a>. The ticketing company <a href="https://business.ticketmaster.com/business-solutions/the-taylor-swift-on-sale-explained-2/">said in a statement Thursday</a>
 two million tickets to The Eras tour next year were sold during 
presales on Tuesday, the most tickets ever sold on the platform in a 
single day.Ticketmaster cited "extraordinarily high demands on 
ticketing systems and insufficient remaining ticket inventory to meet 
that demand" as a reason for calling off Friday's sale.Questions 
remain about how remaining tickets — and how many — would be sold. But 
Ticketmaster said about 1.5 million fans who had gone through an early 
verification process — called Verified Fan — were invited to purchase 
tickets and the remaining 2 million were placed on a waiting list.A company representative said Ticketmaster is not involved in ticket resales for Swift's shows.It's been a record year for Swift after releasing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-taylor-swift-930a204fbbfccea45f6012f0da4feef6">her latest album “Midnights," which also broke a Billboard record.</a>The
 52-date Eras Tour kicks off March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, and wraps up
 with five shows in Los Angeles ending Aug. 9. International dates will 
be announced as well. It’s Swift’s first tour since 2018.But fans and families around the country <a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">battled it out with long queues and error messages</a> to try to race to the checkout cart.Ticketmaster
 said that the site was overwhelmed both by real people and bot attacks 
resulting in unprecedented traffic on their site. The statement said 
about 15 percent of interactions with the site had problems, including 
errors that caused people to lose tickets after they had waited in an 
online queue."While it’s impossible for everyone to get tickets 
to these shows, we know we can do more to improve the experience and 
that’s what we’re focused on," the company statement said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Ticketmaster canceling next Taylor Swift concert ticket sale

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.

The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.

The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.

The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.

The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.

The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.

The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.

“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.

“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."

Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.

The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.

The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667933043117.jpeg" alt="AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball ticket sold in California snags record $2.04B win

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Boot Hill Distillery owner Hayes Kelman.

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Boot Hill Distillery owner Hayes Kelman.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5dXj8UcwAc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🎤 Forward Ever: Boot Hill Distillery owner Hayes Kelman

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab about the upcoming November 2022 election.

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab about the upcoming November 2022 election.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4CT12zEhq6M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🎤 Forward Ever: Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with American Cancer Society chief patient officer Arif Kamal.

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with American Cancer Society chief patient officer Arif Kamal. <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IeNjfIjMO0M" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

🎤 Forward Ever: American Cancer Society chief patient officer Arif Kamal

Salina’s popular Comic Con returns to Tony’s Pizza Events Center this weekend. This year’s event includes three special guests, cosplays contests, and plenty of shopping.

Best known to fans as Zhane, the original silver power ranger from Saban's Power Rangers in Space 1998. Oklahoma native Nimmo is also known for his roles in Pleasantville, American Indian Graffiti: This Thing Life, Dude, Where’s My Car?, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Justin has also been known to do look-alike work for Brad Pitt.

Nelson is best known for having played the iconic character of Darth Vader in the Special Edition re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy as well as in the Rebel Assault II and Dark Forces games from LucasArts.

Andrew, who began playing Vader for Lucasfilm in 1994, has portrayed the infamous dark lord for film, commercials, television shows, print, games, and live appearances. He has managed to spend more time in the official Vader costume than any other actor.

Fernandes is the only living Tusken Raider from the original 1977 Star Wars (later renamed Episode IV: A New Hope). He was one of two animal trainers who worked with the elephant which played the Bantha in the desert scenes.

Vendors will be on hand for attendees who want to buy, sell, and trade comic books, toys and pop culture memorabilia. Cosplay contests are Saturday at 4 p.m. for adults 16 and up; Sunday at 3 p.m. for kids 15 and under. The grand prize for this year’s adult cosplay contest is $1,000.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - $11 for ages 9 and up, 8 and under is free with paying adult.

Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - $9 for ages 9 and up, 8 and under is free with paying adult.

Tickets are on sale now at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center Box Office, and online at <a href="http://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com">www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657655699569.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Tony's Pizza Events CenterSalina’s popular Comic Con returns to Tony’s Pizza Events Center this weekend. This year’s event includes three special guests, cosplays contests, and plenty of shopping.This year’s guests are:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657655747280.jpeg" alt="Justin Nimmo. Photos courtesy Tony's Pizza Events Center" />
 <figcaption>Justin Nimmo. Photos courtesy Tony's Pizza Events Center</figcaption>
 </figure>Justin NimmoBest known to fans as Zhane, the original silver power ranger from Saban's Power Rangers in Space 1998. Oklahoma native Nimmo is also known for his roles in Pleasantville, American Indian Graffiti: This Thing Life, Dude, Where’s My Car?, and Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Justin has also been known to do look-alike work for Brad Pitt.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657655822034.jpeg" alt="C. Andrew Nelson" />
 <figcaption>C. Andrew Nelson</figcaption>
 </figure>C. Andrew NelsonNelson is best known for having played the iconic character of Darth Vader in the Special Edition re-release of the original Star Wars trilogy as well as in the Rebel Assault II and Dark Forces games from LucasArts.Andrew, who began playing Vader for Lucasfilm in 1994, has portrayed the infamous dark lord for film, commercials, television shows, print, games, and live appearances. He has managed to spend more time in the official Vader costume than any other actor.Alan FernandesFernandes is the only living Tusken Raider from the original 1977 Star Wars (later renamed Episode IV: A New Hope). He was one of two animal trainers who worked with the elephant which played the Bantha in the desert scenes.Vendors will be on hand for attendees who want to buy, sell, and trade comic books, toys and pop culture memorabilia. Cosplay contests are Saturday at 4 p.m. for adults 16 and up; Sunday at 3 p.m. for kids 15 and under. The grand prize for this year’s adult cosplay contest is $1,000.The show hours and ticket prices are:Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. - $11 for ages 9 and up, 8 and under is free with paying adult.Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - $9 for ages 9 and up, 8 and under is free with paying adult.Tickets are on sale now at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center Box Office, and online at <a href="http://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com">www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>.

Salina Comic Con this weekend at Tony's Pizza Events Center

Expedition Asia will open at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan on Saturday, April 9th. Special opening hour of 9 a.m.&nbsp; will be in effect at the Zoo that day. There will be a ribbon cutting, entertainment throughout the day, and the concession stand will be open.&nbsp;

You can explore new homes for tiger, sloth bears and leopards and enjoy views from the Overlook Pavilion.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1648912193280.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Expedition Asia will open at Sunset Zoo in Manhattan on Saturday, April 9th. Special opening hour of 9 a.m.&nbsp; will be in effect at the Zoo that day. There will be a ribbon cutting, entertainment throughout the day, and the concession stand will be open.&nbsp;You can explore new homes for tiger, sloth bears and leopards and enjoy views from the Overlook Pavilion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1648913884945.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Expedition Asia is headed to Sunset Zoo

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="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </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;

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;

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