By Dewey Terrill
Little Apple Post
For now, anyway, the face mask mandate for people in public issued by Governor Kelly beginning today ( Friday ) will be in place in Riley County. The Riley County Commission discussed the topic on Friday but did not approve any motions.
Counties can opt out of the requirement but the governing body expressed desire to gather more information and learn what the City of Manhattan might do next week.
Debbie Nuss, Chair of the Flint Hills Wellness Coalition, told the governing body the Coalition recommended that they uphold the executive order from the Governor, "requiring face masks in stores, shops and restaurants and in any situation in which social distancing of six feet cannot be maintained including outside.
Brenda Jordan, attorney , said she was frustrated. "This is not just a local control thing. This is a personal rights issue that you are stomping on. And I realize there's a pandemic but I also see and realize that there are just as many studies but I also see and realize that there are just as many studies out there that say that the masks are not as significant in the impact that is being stated here. I also see just as many studies that say that requiring people to wear masks can be just as detrimental for other health reasons."