ABILENE -- Memorial Health System (MHS, in Abilene, is taking precautions to protect patients, staff, and the community. 

While there are currently no known cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dickinson County, MHS is working closely with state and local entities to ensure preparedness.

MHS officials are announcing new visitor restrictions, and are closely monitoring the situation, and will implement further measures as necessary.

Memorial Health System locations are implementing the following measures to limit potential exposure to staff, visitors, and patients:

Memorial Hospital’s Inpatient Unit, Birthing Center, and Emergency Department patients will be limited to one healthy visitor.

Patients are being asked to come to their appointments alone, or with only one other person if necessary.

Screening all visitors before visit occurs. Discouraging visits from people who are not immediate family or caregivers.

Allowing needed community services such as home health, pharmacy and grocery deliveries. Restricting visitors to one family member. Not allowing group gatherings.

SCREENING AND TREATMENT PRECAUTIONS

Everyone arriving at MHS locations are being screened for possible COVID-19 infection. People will be asked if they:

• Have a cough or shortness of breath and have traveled within the state, outside of the state, or outside the US in the past 14 days.

• Have had direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.

MHS staff will follow Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) procedures for assessment. If COVID-19 testing is warranted, and approved by KDHE, MHS does have the ability to collect specimens to send them to the state lab for analysis.

WHEN TO SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTION

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs and symptoms include*:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

• Persistent pain or pressure in your chest

*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IMPLEMENTED

In order to provide care for the community, MHS needs its employees to remain healthy, therefore:

• All non-essential work-related travel has been suspended including educational conferences and vendor meetings.

• All employees are strongly encouraged to postpone any planned travel to COVID-19 affected areas following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on travel recommendations.

• All employees are instructed to stay home when ill, especially if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness.

Working to slow the spread of COVID-19 is a top priority, and EVERYONE can play a role in taking preventive actions as part of their everyday lives. This will ultimately save lives and allow the health care system to care for those who do become ill:

• Wash your hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Do your best to avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth).

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

• Follow additional guidance set by the KDHE and CDC.

--<a href="http://mhsks.org">Memorial Health System</a>--

ABILENE -- Memorial Health System (MHS, in Abilene, is taking precautions to protect patients, staff, and the community. While there are currently no known cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Dickinson County, MHS is working closely with state and local entities to ensure preparedness.MHS officials are announcing new visitor restrictions, and are closely monitoring the situation, and will implement further measures as necessary.Memorial Health System locations are implementing the following measures to limit potential exposure to staff, visitors, and patients:HOSPITAL VISITOR RESTRICTIONSMemorial Hospital’s Inpatient Unit, Birthing Center, and Emergency Department patients will be limited to one healthy visitor.HEARTLAND HEALTH CARE CLINICPatients are being asked to come to their appointments alone, or with only one other person if necessary.VILLAGE MANORScreening all visitors before visit occurs. Discouraging visits from people who are not immediate family or caregivers.FRONTIER ESTATESAllowing needed community services such as home health, pharmacy and grocery deliveries. Restricting visitors to one family member. Not allowing group gatherings.SCREENING AND TREATMENT PRECAUTIONSEveryone arriving at MHS locations are being screened for possible COVID-19 infection. People will be asked if they:• Have a fever.• Have a cough or shortness of breath and have traveled within the state, outside of the state, or outside the US in the past 14 days.• Have had direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.MHS staff will follow Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) procedures for assessment. If COVID-19 testing is warranted, and approved by KDHE, MHS does have the ability to collect specimens to send them to the state lab for analysis.WHEN TO SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL ATTENTIONIf you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention immediately. Emergency warning signs and symptoms include*:• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath• Persistent pain or pressure in your chest• New confusion or inability to arouse• Bluish lips or face*This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS IMPLEMENTEDIn order to provide care for the community, MHS needs its employees to remain healthy, therefore:• All non-essential work-related travel has been suspended including educational conferences and vendor meetings.• All employees are strongly encouraged to postpone any planned travel to COVID-19 affected areas following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on travel recommendations.• All employees are instructed to stay home when ill, especially if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness.CONTINUED WELLNESSWorking to slow the spread of COVID-19 is a top priority, and EVERYONE can play a role in taking preventive actions as part of their everyday lives. This will ultimately save lives and allow the health care system to care for those who do become ill:• Wash your hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.• Do your best to avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, and mouth).• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.• Stay home if you are sick.• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.• Follow additional guidance set by the KDHE and CDC.--<a href="http://mhsks.org">Memorial Health System</a>--

Abilene's Memorial Health System: New visitor restrictions

CONCORDIA -- Cloud County Community College has extended its spring break for an additional week through March 22. 

This extension of spring break applies to students only and specifically to students residing in residential housing and/or taking face-to-face classes. This extension does not apply to students enrolled in online courses.

“Currently, much of our student population is dispersed throughout the country and the world on spring break. When everyone returns to campus, the risk of spreading COVID-19 could increase,” said Dr. Adrian Douglas, president of Cloud County. “With this ever-changing situation, we feel it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, staff, and the community to extend our spring break.”

Regarding coursework, students&nbsp;enrolled in&nbsp;online courses&nbsp;will resume classes as scheduled on Monday. However, all students taking face-to-face classes will access their coursework through Canvas beginning on March 23&nbsp;through&nbsp;at least March 29.

“While not ideal, this extended break will give us time to assess the spread of this virus.” Douglas said. “We, as a college need to keep the health of our communities in mind, and we will be working on taking precautionary measures for when our students return to Concordia.”

During the week of March 16-22, students are strongly encouraged to travel home or remain at home until classes resume. For those who cannot go home, the campus will remain open and residence halls and dining services will be available.&nbsp;The Cloud County Community College administrative team will continuously monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed to take the most prudent course of action.

CONCORDIA -- Cloud County Community College has extended its spring break for an additional week through March 22. This extension of spring break applies to students only and specifically to students residing in residential housing and/or taking face-to-face classes. This extension does not apply to students enrolled in online courses.“Currently, much of our student population is dispersed throughout the country and the world on spring break. When everyone returns to campus, the risk of spreading COVID-19 could increase,” said Dr. Adrian Douglas, president of Cloud County. “With this ever-changing situation, we feel it is in the best interest of our students, faculty, staff, and the community to extend our spring break.”Regarding coursework, students&nbsp;enrolled in&nbsp;online courses&nbsp;will resume classes as scheduled on Monday. However, all students taking face-to-face classes will access their coursework through Canvas beginning on March 23&nbsp;through&nbsp;at least March 29.“While not ideal, this extended break will give us time to assess the spread of this virus.” Douglas said. “We, as a college need to keep the health of our communities in mind, and we will be working on taking precautionary measures for when our students return to Concordia.”During the week of March 16-22, students are strongly encouraged to travel home or remain at home until classes resume. For those who cannot go home, the campus will remain open and residence halls and dining services will be available.&nbsp;The Cloud County Community College administrative team will continuously monitor the situation and make adjustments as needed to take the most prudent course of action.

Cloud County Community College to extend spring break

The Salina Downtown Pub Crawl scheduled for Saturday has not been canceled. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc/">Salina Downtown, Inc.</a>, Facebook page:

The Salina Downtown Pub Crawl scheduled for Saturday has not been canceled. From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinadowntowninc/">Salina Downtown, Inc.</a>, Facebook page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsalinadowntowninc%2Fposts%2F3149419751743608&width=500" width="500" height="671" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Salina Downtown: Pub Crawl still on for Saturday

ABILENE -- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home will close at 5 p.m. today and remain closed to the public until further notice in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

ABILENE -- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home will close at 5 p.m. today and remain closed to the public until further notice in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak.

Eisenhower complex in Abilene closing to public because of COVID-19

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3400 block of North Muir Road in rural Saline County for a report of a burglary. 

Sometime between Feb. 28, 2020, and March 4, 2020, unknown suspect(s) entered the residence and stole jewelry, money, and a .25 caliber Republic handgun in a leather holster. Total loss and damage is estimated to be in excess of $1,925.

If you have any information concerning who attempted to commit this crime, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637, or visit <a href="http://www.pd.salina.org">www.pd.salina.org</a> and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2020, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office responded to the 3400 block of North Muir Road in rural Saline County for a report of a burglary. Sometime between Feb. 28, 2020, and March 4, 2020, unknown suspect(s) entered the residence and stole jewelry, money, and a .25 caliber Republic handgun in a leather holster. Total loss and damage is estimated to be in excess of $1,925.If you have any information concerning who attempted to commit this crime, call Crimestoppers at 825-TIPS, text SATIPS to CRIMES (274637, or visit <a href="http://www.pd.salina.org">www.pd.salina.org</a> and follow Crimestoppers link to submit a web tip. You may receive a cash reward of up to $1,000 and you are not required to give your name.

Crimestoppers seeks tips about burglary on North Muir Road

Areas of rain will be overspreading the region today. 

According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita, areas of southeast Kansas will see the highest rainfall amounts through Saturday. 

Snow will be possible in north-central Kansas and into northwest Kansas during mainly the evening hours. Snow accumulations of around and inch can be expected during the overnight hours, NWS noted. 

Snow could mix in during the night as far south as U.S. Highway 54 but no accumulations are expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584129283169.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Areas of rain will be overspreading the region today. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita, areas of southeast Kansas will see the highest rainfall amounts through Saturday. Snow will be possible in north-central Kansas and into northwest Kansas during mainly the evening hours. Snow accumulations of around and inch can be expected during the overnight hours, NWS noted. Snow could mix in during the night as far south as U.S. Highway 54 but no accumulations are expected.

NWS: Rain, snow possible Friday

The Salina Police Department has released the name of the man who died after a barricaded incident at 133 South Chicago on Wednesday.

Kenney Lambert, Jr., 50, was found dead in the residence, Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus said this morning. An autopsy is being conducted today in Kansas City, Hanus said. According to Hanus, the autopsy was a necessary part of the investigation.

"The cause of death needs to be determined by a forensics doctor. We are not trained as forensics doctors," he said.

Hanus also said that additional charges have been requested for Danielle Reed, the 36-year-old woman who was in the residence with Lambert for much of the incident. Those requested charges include the following.

Additionally, Reed was taken into custody once she exited the residence for an outstanding District Court felony warrant for a probation violation, according to a news release from the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Wednesday.

The incident began at 9:07 a.m. Wednesday when a Salina police officer observed a subject (Lambert) riding a bicycle on West Walnut Street near South Chicago Street, according to the SPD information. The officer knew Lambert had an active Saline County District Court felony burglary warrant and attempted to make contact with him.

According to the original SPD release, Lambert "attempted to evade the officer while still on his bicycle. The officer was able to determine that the subject had run into a residence located at 133 S. Chicago. While officers were outside waiting for backup, several individuals exited the home and stated there was a white male inside who had a gun in his mouth. An individual who exited the home advised that he knew the subject who had burst into his home, and he also confirmed that the subject was in possession of a handgun."

Officers on the scene also were advised that a female (Reed) was inside. Hanus said this morning that at that point the officers on scene were treating the incident as a hostage situation as they did not know whether Reed was being held against her will.

The two persons remaining in the residence were ordered to exit the residence, but did not respond, the news release stated.

At 10:06 a.m., the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called out to attempt to resolve this incident involving a barricaded and armed suspect with a possible hostage, the SPD release stated. During a meeting with media Thursday, Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said that the initial duty in such a situation is to isolate the suspect and protect those in the immediate area.

SWAT Team members train a minimum of 16 hours per month on various scenarios, including barricaded subject and hostage situations, he said.

"Thankfully they don't happen often in this community," Nelson said.

After continuous efforts were made to communicate with the occupants via a PA system from a patrol vehicle, a SWAT officer delivered a phone to the porch of the residence at 11:30 a.m. in an attempt to initiate communication, the initial release stated. 

"More than one hour of on-and-off communications occurred between the female and the negotiators and it became clear the female was not being held against her will," the release noted.

During this time, Reed told police that "the male, who she identified by name, was suicidal and had a handgun. She also said several times that he intended to burn the house down if law enforcement personnel tried to make entry," the release stated. 

Hanus said today that at no time during the incident did police negotiators speak with Lambert directly.

At 12:44 p.m., Reed agreed to exit the residence, and she confirmed that Lambert was the only person left inside and that he had a handgun, according to the SPD release.

At 12:57 p.m., SWAT officers injected four rounds of CS cold gas into the back of the residence in an effort to get Lambert to exit the residence, according to the release. 

"This gas is delivered in a micro-powder form which is not considered flammable as it does not create heat," the release noted. 

Approximately two minutes later, Lambert was observed in the front portion of the residence and within minutes, it was clear there was a fire in that same area, the release stated. Shortly after, officers reported hearing several gun shots from inside the rear of the home, Hanus said today.

The Salina Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:04 p.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, according to the release. Lambert was found dead in the rear portion of the home, SPD information noted.

Hanus said this morning that at no time did officers fire shots during the incident. Additionally, no officers entered the residence prior to the fire and the gunshots being heard, he said.

The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, Hanus added.

The Salina Police Department has released the name of the man who died after a barricaded incident at 133 South Chicago on Wednesday.Kenney Lambert, Jr., 50, was found dead in the residence, Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus said this morning. An autopsy is being conducted today in Kansas City, Hanus said. According to Hanus, the autopsy was a necessary part of the investigation."The cause of death needs to be determined by a forensics doctor. We are not trained as forensics doctors," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584020868964.jpeg" alt="Danielle Reed. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Danielle Reed. Photo courtesy Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>Hanus also said that additional charges have been requested for Danielle Reed, the 36-year-old woman who was in the residence with Lambert for much of the incident. Those requested charges include the following.Felony obstructionPossession of a stimulantPossession of drug paraphernaliaAdditionally, Reed was taken into custody once she exited the residence for an outstanding District Court felony warrant for a probation violation, according to a news release from the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Wednesday.The incident began at 9:07 a.m. Wednesday when a Salina police officer observed a subject (Lambert) riding a bicycle on West Walnut Street near South Chicago Street, according to the SPD information. The officer knew Lambert had an active Saline County District Court felony burglary warrant and attempted to make contact with him.According to the original SPD release, Lambert "attempted to evade the officer while still on his bicycle. The officer was able to determine that the subject had run into a residence located at 133 S. Chicago. While officers were outside waiting for backup, several individuals exited the home and stated there was a white male inside who had a gun in his mouth. An individual who exited the home advised that he knew the subject who had burst into his home, and he also confirmed that the subject was in possession of a handgun."Officers on the scene also were advised that a female (Reed) was inside. Hanus said this morning that at that point the officers on scene were treating the incident as a hostage situation as they did not know whether Reed was being held against her will.The two persons remaining in the residence were ordered to exit the residence, but did not respond, the news release stated.At 10:06 a.m., the SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Team were called out to attempt to resolve this incident involving a barricaded and armed suspect with a possible hostage, the SPD release stated. During a meeting with media Thursday, Salina Police Chief Brad Nelson said that the initial duty in such a situation is to isolate the suspect and protect those in the immediate area.SWAT Team members train a minimum of 16 hours per month on various scenarios, including barricaded subject and hostage situations, he said."Thankfully they don't happen often in this community," Nelson said.After continuous efforts were made to communicate with the occupants via a PA system from a patrol vehicle, a SWAT officer delivered a phone to the porch of the residence at 11:30 a.m. in an attempt to initiate communication, the initial release stated. "More than one hour of on-and-off communications occurred between the female and the negotiators and it became clear the female was not being held against her will," the release noted.During this time, Reed told police that "the male, who she identified by name, was suicidal and had a handgun. She also said several times that he intended to burn the house down if law enforcement personnel tried to make entry," the release stated. Hanus said today that at no time during the incident did police negotiators speak with Lambert directly.At 12:44 p.m., Reed agreed to exit the residence, and she confirmed that Lambert was the only person left inside and that he had a handgun, according to the SPD release.At 12:57 p.m., SWAT officers injected four rounds of CS cold gas into the back of the residence in an effort to get Lambert to exit the residence, according to the release. "This gas is delivered in a micro-powder form which is not considered flammable as it does not create heat," the release noted. Approximately two minutes later, Lambert was observed in the front portion of the residence and within minutes, it was clear there was a fire in that same area, the release stated. Shortly after, officers reported hearing several gun shots from inside the rear of the home, Hanus said today.The Salina Fire Department arrived on the scene at 1:04 p.m. and quickly extinguished the fire, according to the release. Lambert was found dead in the rear portion of the home, SPD information noted.Hanus said this morning that at no time did officers fire shots during the incident. Additionally, no officers entered the residence prior to the fire and the gunshots being heard, he said.The state fire marshal's office is investigating the cause of the fire, Hanus added.

Police ID man who died at standoff; request additional charges for woman

OCCK, Inc. has announced the appointment of Trell Grinter as director of transportation, effective this past Monday.

Grinter is a Salina native with more than seven years of training and management experience. She holds a BS degree in Elementary Education from KSU, with emphasis in Special Education and previously served as a Rural Transportation Assistance Programs Trainer for OCCK.

"We believe Trell's vision and enthusiasm will influence our team and the communities we serve," said Patrick Wallerius, OCCK's VP/CFO. "We look forward to her leadership at OCCK."

Grinter has served as the Training and Employee Engagement Coordinator for the Transportation Department since September, 2018. She has been responsible for significant growth in the new hire training program, and she has improved and strengthened the on-the-job employee development for drivers and supervisors.

"I am truly excited to have a larger influence on the growth of the Transportation Department," said Grinter. "This team has an amazing opportunity to serve passengers of Salina and North Central Kansas."

OCCK, Inc. provides services in north central Kansas to anyone with any type of long or short-term disability, starting as early as birth and following people through their whole lives.&nbsp;OCCK provides an array of supports for success at home and in the community, including independent living skills and supports, employment and career training, Alzheimer's supports, autism services, assistive technology, children's services, transportation, specialized therapies, and home health care.&nbsp;In 2020, OCCK, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of service.

OCCK Transportation serves 14 counties in north central Kansas, including Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Osborne, Mitchell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, McPherson, Marion, Dickinson and Clay, with the following public transit options:

CityGo, Salina's fixed route bus system. 

Regional Paratransit, a origin to destination service. 

Med-A-Van, a partnership with Salina Regional Health Center. 

Non Emergency Medical Transportation for those individuals with Medicaid. 

81 Connection, the fixed route bus service that runs from Belleville to Salina. 

City of Abilene Public Transportation within the city limits of Abilene. 

KANcycle, regional rural bike sharing in 8 communities&nbsp;

For more information about OCCK, Inc., visit <a href="http://www.occk.com">www.occk.com</a>.&nbsp;For more information about CityGo and OCCK Transportation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salinacitygo.com/" target="_blank">www.salinacitygo.com</a>. Or, contact the OCCK Transportation Center at 785-826-1583.&nbsp;Additional information about statewide transportation resources can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksrides.org/" target="_blank">www.ksrides.org</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584066417726.jpeg" alt="Trell Grinter. Photo courtesy OCCK" />
 <figcaption>Trell Grinter. Photo courtesy OCCK</figcaption>
 </figure>OCCK, Inc. has announced the appointment of Trell Grinter as director of transportation, effective this past Monday.Grinter is a Salina native with more than seven years of training and management experience. She holds a BS degree in Elementary Education from KSU, with emphasis in Special Education and previously served as a Rural Transportation Assistance Programs Trainer for OCCK."We believe Trell's vision and enthusiasm will influence our team and the communities we serve," said Patrick Wallerius, OCCK's VP/CFO. "We look forward to her leadership at OCCK."Grinter has served as the Training and Employee Engagement Coordinator for the Transportation Department since September, 2018. She has been responsible for significant growth in the new hire training program, and she has improved and strengthened the on-the-job employee development for drivers and supervisors."I am truly excited to have a larger influence on the growth of the Transportation Department," said Grinter. "This team has an amazing opportunity to serve passengers of Salina and North Central Kansas."OCCK, Inc. provides services in north central Kansas to anyone with any type of long or short-term disability, starting as early as birth and following people through their whole lives.&nbsp;OCCK provides an array of supports for success at home and in the community, including independent living skills and supports, employment and career training, Alzheimer's supports, autism services, assistive technology, children's services, transportation, specialized therapies, and home health care.&nbsp;In 2020, OCCK, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of service.OCCK Transportation serves 14 counties in north central Kansas, including Saline, Ottawa, Cloud, Republic, Jewell, Smith, Osborne, Mitchell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, McPherson, Marion, Dickinson and Clay, with the following public transit options:CityGo, Salina's fixed route bus system. Regional Paratransit, a origin to destination service. Med-A-Van, a partnership with Salina Regional Health Center. Non Emergency Medical Transportation for those individuals with Medicaid. 81 Connection, the fixed route bus service that runs from Belleville to Salina. City of Abilene Public Transportation within the city limits of Abilene. KANcycle, regional rural bike sharing in 8 communities&nbsp;For more information about OCCK, Inc., visit <a href="http://www.occk.com">www.occk.com</a>.&nbsp;For more information about CityGo and OCCK Transportation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salinacitygo.com/" target="_blank">www.salinacitygo.com</a>. Or, contact the OCCK Transportation Center at 785-826-1583.&nbsp;Additional information about statewide transportation resources can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksrides.org/" target="_blank">www.ksrides.org</a>

Grinter new OCCK director of transportation

United Airlines has responded to the coronavirus global pandemic with stepped up safety precautions to ensure travel has a minimal impact on health, as well as changes to provide customers flexibility at this time.

“The health scare, related to the COVID-19 virus,&nbsp;could worry people about boarding a plane,” said Gary Foss, managing partner of the ArkStar Group, air service consultant to Salina, “but United is moving to calm concerns about air travel.”

Safety is the top priority for all flights, including the daily treks from Salina to Chicago O’Hare and Denver International airports, according to a United Airlines release:

Among in-flight service changes will be fresh, clean glasses for every drink refill; customers may see flight attendants wearing gloves; and of course, all tableware, dishes, cutlery, carts and glassware are washed and sanitized after each use.

Flight attendants will hand food to travelers rather than travelers making their own food selections from a tray.

Extra cleaning supplies — gloves and masks — for flight crews, are being used to and from higher alert zones, as identified by the CDC.

To encourage travel, airlines have lowered many fares, some drastically.

“I can certainly see where people will be looking to stay closer to home this summer, particularly given restrictions on flights to Europe, Asia and elsewhere,” Foss said. “And they will be looking for a deal.”

On the list of top destinations from Salina, some roundtrip fares are significantly lower, among them:

Salina to Seattle dropping as low as $171, from $404 to $233.

Salina to Salt Lake City, cut as much as $62, from $433 to $371.

Salina to Puerto Vallarta, down $71, from $708 to $637.

Salina to Houston, trimmed to as low as $25, from $286 to $261.

Salina to Cabo San Lucas in Baja, Calif., down as much was as $24, from $509 to $485.

Salina to Phoenix has dropped as much as $22, from $385 to $363.

Check&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013oSfc6d-jib0EdxdzcGGdzpQ6umO2yJJO-meRVFUWEAVDt3MKZ2k-76MSamsUbaHCd-MTteROwzWIbwlkNJWPXyHm5LxJlOemnb6bfvj_Rhaudzrxw-pSq9Ot_KEDwGND8tq3XbsflSSYZX8JOP0etS4P9pa6PWP&amp;c=9GDVdfOd1sIn0h1rSN3YXPjEnMQ717TXphEaF_3ndj6tXjaecBVFOQ==&amp;ch=q4BJYNM5uA-d9u_lNd8lcQWO00iEtspsnteJpuTNoAev_Qygp7lnlA==" target="_blank">united.com</a>&nbsp;for changes in fares and other adjustments.

While no changes to United’s schedule at Salina have been announced or are expected, United’s April 2020 flight schedule has other changes elsewhere to match the current state of global travel, such as a 10 percent reduction on domestic flights and 20 percent in international service reductions, including suspending service to Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, and Hong Kong in China.

Domestically, flight frequencies from many destinations are being reduced by Day of Week and some travelers are being routed over other United hubs to their final destinations. Additionally, some seasonal market launches are being delayed.

No markets will be canceled in their entirety, according to United’s announcement.

To help travelers’ confidence during these uncertain times, United is waiving change fees and giving travelers more flexibility:

The change fee waiver policy applies to all tickets, all fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, and all travel dates available for sale.

For tickets affected by schedule changes, travelers can use the ticket’s value for up to 15 months, up from the original priced of 12 months for them to remain valid.

By SALINA AIRPORT AUTHORITYUnited Airlines has responded to the coronavirus global pandemic with stepped up safety precautions to ensure travel has a minimal impact on health, as well as changes to provide customers flexibility at this time.“The health scare, related to the COVID-19 virus,&nbsp;could worry people about boarding a plane,” said Gary Foss, managing partner of the ArkStar Group, air service consultant to Salina, “but United is moving to calm concerns about air travel.”Safety is the top priority for all flights, including the daily treks from Salina to Chicago O’Hare and Denver International airports, according to a United Airlines release:<ol>
 <li>All touchable surfaces on United aircraft are cleaned with high-grade disinfectants between flights.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>When the Federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) alerts the airline that a potentially infected passenger has been on one of its flights, the plane is taken out of service for decontamination procedures.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>United uses state-of-the-art air circulation systems similar to those found in hospitals, equipped with high efficiency (HEPA) filters that remove up to 99.7 percent of onboard airborne particles.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>The airline plans to start using electrostatic foggers to disinfect the air within the cabin on all international arrivals into all of United’s U.S. hubs, including Honolulu and Guam.</li>
 </ol>Among in-flight service changes will be fresh, clean glasses for every drink refill; customers may see flight attendants wearing gloves; and of course, all tableware, dishes, cutlery, carts and glassware are washed and sanitized after each use.Flight attendants will hand food to travelers rather than travelers making their own food selections from a tray.Extra cleaning supplies — gloves and masks — for flight crews, are being used to and from higher alert zones, as identified by the CDC.To encourage travel, airlines have lowered many fares, some drastically.“I can certainly see where people will be looking to stay closer to home this summer, particularly given restrictions on flights to Europe, Asia and elsewhere,” Foss said. “And they will be looking for a deal.”On the list of top destinations from Salina, some roundtrip fares are significantly lower, among them:Salina to Seattle dropping as low as $171, from $404 to $233.Salina to Salt Lake City, cut as much as $62, from $433 to $371.Salina to Puerto Vallarta, down $71, from $708 to $637.Salina to Houston, trimmed to as low as $25, from $286 to $261.Salina to Cabo San Lucas in Baja, Calif., down as much was as $24, from $509 to $485.Salina to Phoenix has dropped as much as $22, from $385 to $363.Check&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0013oSfc6d-jib0EdxdzcGGdzpQ6umO2yJJO-meRVFUWEAVDt3MKZ2k-76MSamsUbaHCd-MTteROwzWIbwlkNJWPXyHm5LxJlOemnb6bfvj_Rhaudzrxw-pSq9Ot_KEDwGND8tq3XbsflSSYZX8JOP0etS4P9pa6PWP&amp;c=9GDVdfOd1sIn0h1rSN3YXPjEnMQ717TXphEaF_3ndj6tXjaecBVFOQ==&amp;ch=q4BJYNM5uA-d9u_lNd8lcQWO00iEtspsnteJpuTNoAev_Qygp7lnlA==" target="_blank">united.com</a>&nbsp;for changes in fares and other adjustments.While no changes to United’s schedule at Salina have been announced or are expected, United’s April 2020 flight schedule has other changes elsewhere to match the current state of global travel, such as a 10 percent reduction on domestic flights and 20 percent in international service reductions, including suspending service to Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, and Hong Kong in China.Domestically, flight frequencies from many destinations are being reduced by Day of Week and some travelers are being routed over other United hubs to their final destinations. Additionally, some seasonal market launches are being delayed.No markets will be canceled in their entirety, according to United’s announcement.To help travelers’ confidence during these uncertain times, United is waiving change fees and giving travelers more flexibility:The change fee waiver policy applies to all tickets, all fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, and all travel dates available for sale.For tickets affected by schedule changes, travelers can use the ticket’s value for up to 15 months, up from the original priced of 12 months for them to remain valid.

United aims for continued safe travel from Salina



HAYS – One-room schools across Kansas are brought back to life through the new oral history collection available online from Forsyth Library at Fort Hays State University.

The&nbsp;<a href="http://contentcat.fhsu.edu/digital/collection/p15732coll23" target="_blank">FHSU College of Education One Room Schoolhouse Oral History Collection</a>&nbsp;in Forsyth Digital Collections saved and preserved a valuable record of the history of education in rural Kansas.

The collection consists of 213 oral histories featuring interviews with former one-room schoolhouse teachers and students who talk about the curricula, classroom conduct, and educational norms. In addition to providing insight into the origins of education in rural Kansas, the interviews bring out the local history, ancestry, social and cultural expectations of the one-room school era, and insight to life during the Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and other significant historical events.

The interviews are primary sources for regional history and supplement other materials that reside in Forsyth Special Collections and the University Archives.

“The interviews were conducted between 1977 and 1997 by students in the graduate-level History of American Education class taught by retired FHSU professor Dr. Allan Miller. The capstone project for the class was to make a cassette tape interview with teachers who had worked in one-room schools in Kansas,” said Elizabeth Downing-Turner, digital curation librarian and lead of this significant digitization and preservation project.

“Audio tapes,” she said, “even under good circumstances, eventually de-magnetize, and some of these cassettes, exposed to far-from-perfect conditions, were already in bad shape.”

Contracting specialists to convert analog tapes to digital files was prohibitively expensive, so Downing-Turner began researching options. Over 20 months, 247 cassette tapes were digitized using an inexpensive converter and software Forsyth Library already had to restore the sound, reduce background noise, and enhance audio to improve the user experience of the collection.

“By migrating this media to digital, the original cassette tapes can be preserved in the University Archives while the digital surrogates are available for research use,” said Downing-Turner.

“The remastered digital files will be preserved in Forsyth Library’s digital preservation system so the material remains accessible over time,” she said.

Representing 67 Kansas counties and with nearly 200 hours of material, this collection has great research potential for genealogy research and for research in the fields of education and history. The collection is searchable by interviewer name, interviewee name, location, and school name.

“It is such a gift to share with the entire world, bridging the past and the present so thoughtfully,” said Dr. Robb Scott, assistant professor of advanced education programs at FHSU.

“I believe the One Room Schoolhouse Oral Histories are a real treasure for FHSU and the global community utilizing Forsyth resources,” he said.

The One Room Schoolhouse Oral History Collection, with many other digital collections of life and culture of the university and region, is accessible through&nbsp;<a href="http://contentcat.fhsu.edu/digital">Forsyth Digital Collections</a>.

--<a href="http://fhsu.edu">FHSU</a>--

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584068637272.jpeg" alt="The Forsyth one-room school map. Photo courtesy FHSU" />
 <figcaption>The Forsyth one-room school map. Photo courtesy FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>

HAYS – One-room schools across Kansas are brought back to life through the new oral history collection available online from Forsyth Library at Fort Hays State University.The&nbsp;<a href="http://contentcat.fhsu.edu/digital/collection/p15732coll23" target="_blank">FHSU College of Education One Room Schoolhouse Oral History Collection</a>&nbsp;in Forsyth Digital Collections saved and preserved a valuable record of the history of education in rural Kansas.The collection consists of 213 oral histories featuring interviews with former one-room schoolhouse teachers and students who talk about the curricula, classroom conduct, and educational norms. In addition to providing insight into the origins of education in rural Kansas, the interviews bring out the local history, ancestry, social and cultural expectations of the one-room school era, and insight to life during the Great Depression, Dust Bowl, and other significant historical events.The interviews are primary sources for regional history and supplement other materials that reside in Forsyth Special Collections and the University Archives.“The interviews were conducted between 1977 and 1997 by students in the graduate-level History of American Education class taught by retired FHSU professor Dr. Allan Miller. The capstone project for the class was to make a cassette tape interview with teachers who had worked in one-room schools in Kansas,” said Elizabeth Downing-Turner, digital curation librarian and lead of this significant digitization and preservation project.“Audio tapes,” she said, “even under good circumstances, eventually de-magnetize, and some of these cassettes, exposed to far-from-perfect conditions, were already in bad shape.”Contracting specialists to convert analog tapes to digital files was prohibitively expensive, so Downing-Turner began researching options. Over 20 months, 247 cassette tapes were digitized using an inexpensive converter and software Forsyth Library already had to restore the sound, reduce background noise, and enhance audio to improve the user experience of the collection.“By migrating this media to digital, the original cassette tapes can be preserved in the University Archives while the digital surrogates are available for research use,” said Downing-Turner.“The remastered digital files will be preserved in Forsyth Library’s digital preservation system so the material remains accessible over time,” she said.Representing 67 Kansas counties and with nearly 200 hours of material, this collection has great research potential for genealogy research and for research in the fields of education and history. The collection is searchable by interviewer name, interviewee name, location, and school name.“It is such a gift to share with the entire world, bridging the past and the present so thoughtfully,” said Dr. Robb Scott, assistant professor of advanced education programs at FHSU.“I believe the One Room Schoolhouse Oral Histories are a real treasure for FHSU and the global community utilizing Forsyth resources,” he said.The One Room Schoolhouse Oral History Collection, with many other digital collections of life and culture of the university and region, is accessible through&nbsp;<a href="http://contentcat.fhsu.edu/digital">Forsyth Digital Collections</a>.

--<a href="http://fhsu.edu">FHSU</a>--

Oral histories from one-room schools across Kansas 

Today is Friday, March 13, the 73rd day of 2020. There are 293 days left in the year.

On March 13, 2013, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope, choosing the name Francis; he was the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.

In 1639, New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure prohibiting Union military officers from returning fugitive slaves to their owners.

In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a measure allowing black slaves to enlist in the Confederate States Army with the promise they would be set free.

In 1901, the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, died in Indianapolis at age 67.

In 1925, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a bill prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution. (Gov. Austin Peay signed the measure on March 21.)

In 1933, banks in the U.S. began to reopen after a "holiday" declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1934, a gang that included John Dillinger and "Baby Face" Nelson robbed the First National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, making off with $52,344.

In 1954, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu began during the First Indochina War as Viet Minh forces attacked French troops, who were defeated nearly two months later.

In 1969, the Apollo 9 astronauts splashed down, ending a mission that included the successful testing of the Lunar Module.

In 1975, the first Chili's restaurant was opened in Dallas by entrepreneur Larry Lavine.

In 1980, Ford Motor Co. Chairman Henry Ford II announced he was stepping down, the same day a jury in Winamac, Indiana, found the company not guilty of reckless homicide in the fiery deaths of three young women in a Ford Pinto.

In 1996, a gunman burst into an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, and opened fire, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.

Ten years ago: At least 30 people were killed in a series of Taliban suicide bombings in Afghanistan in what appeared to be a failed attempt to free inmates from a Kandahar prison. The Vatican denounced what it called aggressive attempts to drag Pope Benedict XVI into the spreading scandal of pedophile priests in his German homeland. With the biggest fight crowd in the U.S. in 17 years cheering him on at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao dominated Joshua Clottey from the opening bell to retain his welterweight title.

Five years ago: In his first visit to the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital whose practices sparked a health care scandal, President Barack Obama acknowledged lingering weaknesses in the federal government's response to the chronic delays and false waiting lists in the VA health system. Al Rosen, the muscular third baseman who won the 1953 AL MVP and played on the last Cleveland Indians team to win the World Series, died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 91.

One year ago: A late winter storm brought blizzards, floods and a tornado across more than 25 states from the northern Rocky Mountains to Texas and beyond. A federal judge in Washington increased to a total of seven and a-half years the prison sentence for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for misleading the government about his foreign lobbying work; Manafort was also hit with fresh state charges in New York accusing him of giving false information on mortgage loan applications. (A state judge later threw out those charges.) Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be convicted of child sex abuse, was sentenced in Australia to six years in prison for molesting two choirboys in an Australian cathedral. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order granting reprieves to all 737 condemned inmates on the nation's largest death row, putting a moratorium on executions during his term as governor.

Today's Birthdays: Jazz musician Roy Haynes is 95. Country singer Jan Howard is 90. Songwriter Mike Stoller is 87. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka is 81. R&amp;B/gospel singer Candi Staton is 80. Opera singer Julia Migenes is 71. Actor William H. Macy is 70. Comedian Robin Duke is 66. Actress Dana Delany is 64. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is 63. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2) is 60. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard is 58. Actor Christopher Collet is 52. Rock musician Matt McDonough (Mudvayne) is 51. Actress Annabeth Gish is 49. Actress Tracy Wells is 49. Rapper-actor Common is 48. Rapper Khujo (Goodie Mob, The Lumberjacks) is 48. Singer Glenn Lewis is 45. Actor Danny Masterson is 44. Bluegrass musician Clayton Campbell (The Gibson Brothers) is 39. Actor Noel Fisher is 36. Singers Natalie and Nicole Albino (Nina Sky) are 36. Actor Emile Hirsch is 35. Olympic gold medal skier Mikaela Shiffrin is 25. Tennis star Coco Gauff is 16.

Thought for Today: "History repeats itself. That's one of the things wrong with history." — Clarence Darrow, American lawyer (born 1857, died this date in 1938).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Today is Friday, March 13, the 73rd day of 2020. There are 293 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On March 13, 2013, Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected pope, choosing the name Francis; he was the first pontiff from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium.On this date:In 1639, New College was renamed Harvard College for clergyman John Harvard.In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure prohibiting Union military officers from returning fugitive slaves to their owners.In 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis signed a measure allowing black slaves to enlist in the Confederate States Army with the promise they would be set free.In 1901, the 23rd President of the United States, Benjamin Harrison, died in Indianapolis at age 67.In 1925, the Tennessee General Assembly approved a bill prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution. (Gov. Austin Peay signed the measure on March 21.)In 1933, banks in the U.S. began to reopen after a "holiday" declared by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.In 1934, a gang that included John Dillinger and "Baby Face" Nelson robbed the First National Bank in Mason City, Iowa, making off with $52,344.In 1954, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu began during the First Indochina War as Viet Minh forces attacked French troops, who were defeated nearly two months later.In 1969, the Apollo 9 astronauts splashed down, ending a mission that included the successful testing of the Lunar Module.In 1975, the first Chili's restaurant was opened in Dallas by entrepreneur Larry Lavine.In 1980, Ford Motor Co. Chairman Henry Ford II announced he was stepping down, the same day a jury in Winamac, Indiana, found the company not guilty of reckless homicide in the fiery deaths of three young women in a Ford Pinto.In 1996, a gunman burst into an elementary school in Dunblane, Scotland, and opened fire, killing 16 children and one teacher before killing himself.Ten years ago: At least 30 people were killed in a series of Taliban suicide bombings in Afghanistan in what appeared to be a failed attempt to free inmates from a Kandahar prison. The Vatican denounced what it called aggressive attempts to drag Pope Benedict XVI into the spreading scandal of pedophile priests in his German homeland. With the biggest fight crowd in the U.S. in 17 years cheering him on at Cowboys Stadium, Manny Pacquiao dominated Joshua Clottey from the opening bell to retain his welterweight title.Five years ago: In his first visit to the Phoenix Veterans Affairs hospital whose practices sparked a health care scandal, President Barack Obama acknowledged lingering weaknesses in the federal government's response to the chronic delays and false waiting lists in the VA health system. Al Rosen, the muscular third baseman who won the 1953 AL MVP and played on the last Cleveland Indians team to win the World Series, died in Rancho Mirage, California, at age 91.One year ago: A late winter storm brought blizzards, floods and a tornado across more than 25 states from the northern Rocky Mountains to Texas and beyond. A federal judge in Washington increased to a total of seven and a-half years the prison sentence for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort for misleading the government about his foreign lobbying work; Manafort was also hit with fresh state charges in New York accusing him of giving false information on mortgage loan applications. (A state judge later threw out those charges.) Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic to be convicted of child sex abuse, was sentenced in Australia to six years in prison for molesting two choirboys in an Australian cathedral. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order granting reprieves to all 737 condemned inmates on the nation's largest death row, putting a moratorium on executions during his term as governor.Today's Birthdays: Jazz musician Roy Haynes is 95. Country singer Jan Howard is 90. Songwriter Mike Stoller is 87. Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka is 81. R&amp;B/gospel singer Candi Staton is 80. Opera singer Julia Migenes is 71. Actor William H. Macy is 70. Comedian Robin Duke is 66. Actress Dana Delany is 64. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., is 63. Rock musician Adam Clayton (U2) is 60. Jazz musician Terence Blanchard is 58. Actor Christopher Collet is 52. Rock musician Matt McDonough (Mudvayne) is 51. Actress Annabeth Gish is 49. Actress Tracy Wells is 49. Rapper-actor Common is 48. Rapper Khujo (Goodie Mob, The Lumberjacks) is 48. Singer Glenn Lewis is 45. Actor Danny Masterson is 44. Bluegrass musician Clayton Campbell (The Gibson Brothers) is 39. Actor Noel Fisher is 36. Singers Natalie and Nicole Albino (Nina Sky) are 36. Actor Emile Hirsch is 35. Olympic gold medal skier Mikaela Shiffrin is 25. Tennis star Coco Gauff is 16.Thought for Today: "History repeats itself. That's one of the things wrong with history." — Clarence Darrow, American lawyer (born 1857, died this date in 1938).Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- March 13

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. Thursday:&nbsp;According to the Kansas High School Activities Association&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshsaa.org/">website</a>, "After the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, the 2020 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament will be canceled. Given the escalating concerns regarding COVID-19, the best decision for the safety of the student-athletes and spectators was to cancel the remainder of this championship tournament. The KSHSAA regrets the lost opportunity for teams and players that have worked to achieve their goals."

Currently all tournament sites are proceeding as scheduled with fans. We encourage everyone attending a state basketball tournament to continue to take the proper precautions in preventing illness transmission including proper and frequent hand washing with soap or sanitizer, covering the face when coughing or sneezing and keeping your hands away from your face. Anyone who is feeling sick or suffers from a significant health issue should stay home.

KSHSAA is continuing to monitor the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education regarding the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation.

All state basketball tournament sites are working diligently and taking additional precautions to provide the safest possible environment for the teams, fans and workers. We will continue to monitor new information from our public health organizations as it becomes available and make any changes to the state basketball tournaments if needed. Any updates will be provided at www.kshsaa.org and through Twitter (@KSHSAA).

<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center</a>

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC Coronavirus Information</a>

UPDATE 8:45 p.m. Thursday:&nbsp;According to the Kansas High School Activities Association&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshsaa.org/">website</a>, "After the conclusion of the quarterfinal round, the 2020 KSHSAA State Basketball Tournament will be canceled. Given the escalating concerns regarding COVID-19, the best decision for the safety of the student-athletes and spectators was to cancel the remainder of this championship tournament. The KSHSAA regrets the lost opportunity for teams and players that have worked to achieve their goals."KSHSAACurrently all tournament sites are proceeding as scheduled with fans. We encourage everyone attending a state basketball tournament to continue to take the proper precautions in preventing illness transmission including proper and frequent hand washing with soap or sanitizer, covering the face when coughing or sneezing and keeping your hands away from your face. Anyone who is feeling sick or suffers from a significant health issue should stay home.KSHSAA is continuing to monitor the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas State Department of Education regarding the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation.All state basketball tournament sites are working diligently and taking additional precautions to provide the safest possible environment for the teams, fans and workers. We will continue to monitor new information from our public health organizations as it becomes available and make any changes to the state basketball tournaments if needed. Any updates will be provided at www.kshsaa.org and through Twitter (@KSHSAA).Additional Resources:<a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus/index.htm">KDHE COVID-19 Resource Center</a><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html">CDC Coronavirus Information</a>

UPDATE: Kansas cancels state basketball tournaments

CLAY CENTER -- Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) is taking an active
approach to the coronavirus outbreak. 

While there are no known cases in Clay County,
the hospital medical staff and administration are monitoring new information
daily.

“We are taking the virus seriously and have plans ready
to activate should Clay County or one of our neighboring counties be affected,”
said Austin M. Gillard, CEO of CCMC. “The best course of action for the public
is to practice good hand hygiene, disinfect surfaces in your home and
workplace, and stay home if you feel sick.”

“The current threat of exposure in Clay County is very
low,” Gillard said. “KDHE has put a very sound statewide plan into place and is
communicating well with all hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities to
keep everyone up-to-date with daily changes and numbers. Our communities should
feel very safe.”

If a person suspects they have been exposed to
coronavirus, they should contact their medical provider for further
instruction. Most cases, even PUIs, can be managed without hospitalization,
however, patients should expect to follow a protocol for testing and isolation
if they have suspect they been exposed.

In order to meet cleanliness guidelines, the
environmental services team at CCMC has special processes and procedures for
cleaning and disinfecting inpatient areas and exam rooms that have been exposed
to viruses such as influenza and coronavirus.

“Our team does a fantastic job at keeping CCMC above
standards for cleanliness and have been closely monitoring their work since the
beginning of flu season,” Gillard said.

This does not mean that visitors will be able to access
every part of CCMC. Visitors are asked to check in at the nurse station to be
escorted to patient rooms by a member of our nursing staff. This precaution has
been in place since early winter as a way to prevent the spread of influenza to
or from patients and the public.

Coronavirus has similar symptoms to the cold and
influenza. The virus is very similar to other air-borne illnesses and the
defense against it is the same. Like influenza, coronavirus is a respiratory
virus that can mean fever, coughing, runny or stuffy nose and fatigue.&nbsp; 

“Common sense such as staying away from other people if
you are ill, covering coughs or sneezes, and washing your hands frequently will
help stop the spread coronavirus, influenza and the common cold,” Gillard said.
“We can’t stress enough how important it is to stay home if you have any of
these symptoms.”

CLAY CENTER -- Clay County Medical Center (CCMC) is taking an active
approach to the coronavirus outbreak. While there are no known cases in Clay County,
the hospital medical staff and administration are monitoring new information
daily.“We are taking the virus seriously and have plans ready
to activate should Clay County or one of our neighboring counties be affected,”
said Austin M. Gillard, CEO of CCMC. “The best course of action for the public
is to practice good hand hygiene, disinfect surfaces in your home and
workplace, and stay home if you feel sick.”“The current threat of exposure in Clay County is very
low,” Gillard said. “KDHE has put a very sound statewide plan into place and is
communicating well with all hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities to
keep everyone up-to-date with daily changes and numbers. Our communities should
feel very safe.”If a person suspects they have been exposed to
coronavirus, they should contact their medical provider for further
instruction. Most cases, even PUIs, can be managed without hospitalization,
however, patients should expect to follow a protocol for testing and isolation
if they have suspect they been exposed.In order to meet cleanliness guidelines, the
environmental services team at CCMC has special processes and procedures for
cleaning and disinfecting inpatient areas and exam rooms that have been exposed
to viruses such as influenza and coronavirus.“Our team does a fantastic job at keeping CCMC above
standards for cleanliness and have been closely monitoring their work since the
beginning of flu season,” Gillard said.This does not mean that visitors will be able to access
every part of CCMC. Visitors are asked to check in at the nurse station to be
escorted to patient rooms by a member of our nursing staff. This precaution has
been in place since early winter as a way to prevent the spread of influenza to
or from patients and the public.Coronavirus has similar symptoms to the cold and
influenza. The virus is very similar to other air-borne illnesses and the
defense against it is the same. Like influenza, coronavirus is a respiratory
virus that can mean fever, coughing, runny or stuffy nose and fatigue.&nbsp; “Common sense such as staying away from other people if
you are ill, covering coughs or sneezes, and washing your hands frequently will
help stop the spread coronavirus, influenza and the common cold,” Gillard said.
“We can’t stress enough how important it is to stay home if you have any of
these symptoms.”

CCMC taking active approach to coronavirus outbreak

While there are currently no known cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Salina, Lindsborg and Concordia communities, Salina Regional Health Center, Lindsborg Community Hospital and Cloud County Health Center are working closely with state and local entities to ensure preparedness. 

Patient care staff members at Salina Regional and its affiliates are undergoing training to safely care for COVID-19 patients.

“We have been monitoring this situation since Coronavirus first appeared in China in January and have been making internal preparations since then,” said Bethanie McDowell, director of Accreditation and Infection Prevention at Salina Regional Health Center. “We continue to monitor this very fluid situation and will implement further measures as necessary.”

As part of these efforts, all locations have implemented a number of measures to limit potential exposure to staff, visitors and patients:

• All visitor restrictions that began in January with influenza season will remain in place and be strictly enforced.

• In the Emergency Department, all patients will be limited to 1 visitor who is a non-sick immediate family member.

• Confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients will not be allowed visitors.

• Birth Center visitors will be restricted to IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY.

• DO NOT VISIT if you are ill or have any signs and symptoms of illness (cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue).

Patient screening &amp; treatment precautions

Patients arriving at all locations are being screened for possible COVID-19 infection. All patients will be asked if they:

• Have a cough or shortness of breath and have traveled outside the US in the past 14 days.

Patients who answer in the affirmative to one or more of these questions will be given a mask and escorted to a room to await further assessment. Staff members will follow Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) procedures for assessment. If COVID-19 testing is warranted, Salina Regional Health Center and its&nbsp;affiliates have the ability to collect specimens to send them to the state lab for analysis.

Business and employee travel restrictions implemented

As many plan spring functions and travel we are mindful of the potential health risks posed by traveling to areas that have been highly impacted by COVID-19 and gatherings of large groups of people. As a result:

• All large group public gatherings and internal meetings of groups of 25 people or more have been postponed.

• All non-essential, SRHC supported, work-related travel has been suspended including educational conferences and vendor meetings.

• All employees are strongly encouraged to postpone any planned travel via cruise ship or to COVID-19 affected areas following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on travel recommendations.

Protecting the health of our community is our first priority. As we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 everyone can play a role in taking preventive actions as part of their everyday lives:

•Do your best to avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579021775004.png" alt="Salina Regional Health Center. Salina Post stock photo" />
 <figcaption>Salina Regional Health Center. Salina Post stock photo</figcaption>
 </figure>While there are currently no known cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Salina, Lindsborg and Concordia communities, Salina Regional Health Center, Lindsborg Community Hospital and Cloud County Health Center are working closely with state and local entities to ensure preparedness. Patient care staff members at Salina Regional and its affiliates are undergoing training to safely care for COVID-19 patients.“We have been monitoring this situation since Coronavirus first appeared in China in January and have been making internal preparations since then,” said Bethanie McDowell, director of Accreditation and Infection Prevention at Salina Regional Health Center. “We continue to monitor this very fluid situation and will implement further measures as necessary.”As part of these efforts, all locations have implemented a number of measures to limit potential exposure to staff, visitors and patients:Hospital Visitor Restrictions• All visitor restrictions that began in January with influenza season will remain in place and be strictly enforced.• In the Emergency Department, all patients will be limited to 1 visitor who is a non-sick immediate family member.• Confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients will not be allowed visitors.• Birth Center visitors will be restricted to IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY.• DO NOT VISIT if you are ill or have any signs and symptoms of illness (cough, runny nose, fever, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue).Patient screening &amp; treatment precautionsPatients arriving at all locations are being screened for possible COVID-19 infection. All patients will be asked if they:• Have a fever.• Have a cough or shortness of breath and have traveled outside the US in the past 14 days.• Have had direct contact with someone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19.Patients who answer in the affirmative to one or more of these questions will be given a mask and escorted to a room to await further assessment. Staff members will follow Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) procedures for assessment. If COVID-19 testing is warranted, Salina Regional Health Center and its&nbsp;affiliates have the ability to collect specimens to send them to the state lab for analysis.Business and employee travel restrictions implementedAs many plan spring functions and travel we are mindful of the potential health risks posed by traveling to areas that have been highly impacted by COVID-19 and gatherings of large groups of people. As a result:• All large group public gatherings and internal meetings of groups of 25 people or more have been postponed.• All non-essential, SRHC supported, work-related travel has been suspended including educational conferences and vendor meetings.• All employees are strongly encouraged to postpone any planned travel via cruise ship or to COVID-19 affected areas following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on travel recommendations.• All employees are instructed to stay home when ill, especially if they are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness.Continued WellnessProtecting the health of our community is our first priority. As we work to slow the spread of COVID-19 everyone can play a role in taking preventive actions as part of their everyday lives:• Wash your hands often using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.•Do your best to avoid touching your face (eyes, nose and mouth).• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.• Stay home if you are sick.• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.• Follow additional guidance set by the KDHE and CDC.

Local