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March 26, 2020 Public Update COVID-19

For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/26/20 at 11 a.m.

Total Positive Cases
168
Private Labs
111
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab (KHEL)
57
Deaths (included in above numbers)
3
Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases*
(not counted in Kansas numbers)
2

Total Negative Cases for Kansans
2,869
Positive Case Information
County Number

Bourbon
1
Mitchell
2
Butler
3
Morris
2
Cherokee
2
Neosho
1
Crawford
3**
Pottawatomie
1
Doniphan
1
Reno
4
Douglas
13*
Riley
1
Franklin
1
Sedgwick
16
Jackson
1
Shawnee
4
Johnson
59
Sumner
1
Leavenworth
12
Woodson
1
Linn
4
Wyandotte
34
Lyon
3
*Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents.
**1 case in Douglas and 2 cases in Crawford are presumptive positive at a reference lab, but were not confirmed through the KDHE lab, so are included in the county numbers, but not in the overall state total or demographics at this time.

Demographics
Gender

Female
78

Male
90

Age Range
Age range on patients is 7 to 90 years of age, with a median age of 54.

Connecting Communities

Carla Nemecek is Southwind District Director and agent.

Do you belong to a committee, board, club or other organization who needs to discuss important issues while trying to respect social distancing guidelines? Until groups of 10 or more can meet face-to-face, the Southwind Extension District can help you by remotely connecting individuals who need to plan and discuss issues important to our communities.

 

This is an on-demand service, so please call the Southwind Extension District at 620-365-2242 or email [email protected] to establish the details for your meeting, and we will be happy to assist you. This technology is available to anyone who utilizes a computer, smart phone or land-line phone and wants to connect for community purposes. Best of all, there is no cost to utilize this service!

 

The Extension mission continues, and the Southwind Extension District is committed to being innovative to connect you with research-based resources and education. We appreciate your patience as we all encounter the challenges, and we look forward to assisting you with research-based information and services that will help you navigate these unprecedented times.

 

For more information, you can find the Southwind Extension District on Facebook, and on our website at www.southwind.ksu.edu for information important to Allen, Bourbon, Neosho and Woodson Counties.

 

Carla Nemecek
Southwind Extension District
Director & Agent
[email protected]
620-365-2242
1 North Washington, Iola, KS 66749

Official Statement from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism

 

 

Public Visitation

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis and remains vigilant in implementing appropriate safety protocols to ensure public use areas remain safe and open to the public.

 

In counties with local Stay At Home mandates, KDWPT will work with local officials regarding any other restrictions. State parks, state fishing lakes and wildlife areas remain open.

 

License Fees

KDWPT is not currently considering waiving fishing license fees. KDWPT is funded solely from the sale of licenses and permits, and that funding is crucial to keeping gates and facilities open and law enforcement in place.

 

“During this time of unprecedented changes, there is value in those things that can stay consistent,” said Secretary Brad Loveless. “We’re committed to keeping Kansas’ state parks, state fishing lakes and wildlife areas open so that Kansans can continue to safely enjoy the outdoors. To achieve this, we must keep game wardens, public land managers, and park staff working in the field.”

KDHE and KDA recommend voluntary reduction in burning

 

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

“With the potential for this pandemic overwhelming the state’s medical facilities, any additional respiratory concerns that could be produced from breathing smoke from prescribed fire need to be mitigated,” Dr. Lee Norman, KDHE Secretary, said.

Common health problems related to smoke can include burning eyes, runny nose, coughing and illnesses such as bronchitis. Individuals with respiratory issues, including COVID-19, pre-existing heart or lung diseases, children and the elderly may experience worse symptoms.

With resources of the county emergency response staff already being taxed with COVID-19 response, it is important to minimize responses that would come with prescribed fire activity.

It is critical that land managers in areas included in the Smoke Model available online at ksfire.org consult the model if they do choose to burn. The model indicates the level at which a burn would contribute to urban area air quality problems. Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam urges land managers to refrain from burning, especially if your area is predicted in the large (red) contribution range.

“Prescribed burning is a valuable land management tool in the efforts to fight invasive species and maximize land productivity, and this request should not be interpreted as an indictment of the practice of burning,” Beam said. “However, the circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic have created a situation that calls for reducing burned acres this spring.”

For the latest information related to COVID-19, and to sign up for daily updates sent to your email inbox, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s COVID-19 Resource Center at www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus.

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Governor announces appointments to the Kansas Agricultural Remediation Board

 

 

Governor Laura Kelly appointed Jodi Guetterman, Kevin Dieckmann and reappointed Kamyar Nikoomanesh to the Kansas Agricultural Remediation Board.

 

The Board administers the Kansas Agricultural Remediation Fund and the remediation reimbursement program.

 

“Remediation is an important tool for production agriculture, public health, and environmental stewardship,” Kelly said. “The Board serves the important purpose of reimbursing Kansas farmers for these expenses, and I know that these appointees will work diligently to do so.”

 

Guetterman, Bucyrus, has been appointed to the seat reserved for agricultural producers.

 

Dieckmann, Olathe, has been appointed to the specialty chemical distributor seat.

 

Nikoomanesh, Lenexa, has been reappointed to the seat reserved for agricultural processors, and was also appointed as Chair of the board.

Governor announces appointments to the Kansas State Fair Board

 

 

Governor Laura Kelly appointed John Bottenberg to the Kansas State Fair Board, and reappointed Harmon Bliss, Nick Ketzner and Robert Atkisson.

 

The purpose of the Board is to promote and showcase Kansas agriculture, industry and culture; to create opportunity for commercial activity; and to provide an educational and entertaining experience that is the pride of all Kansans.

 

“The Fair provides tremendous opportunities for commerce, entertainment and education in Kansas each year,” Kelly said. “I feel confident that these appointees will ensure the success of the Fair through their service on the Board.”

 

Bottenberg, Topeka, served on the board previously and was appointed to an at-large seat. He is a former state representative.

 

Bliss, Jetmore, is the current Board president and was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the southwest agriculture extension district.

 

Ketzner, Bird City, was reappointed to the northwest agriculture extension district seat.

 

Atkisson, Stockton, was reappointed to the seat reserved for a representative from the Kansas Fairs Association.

March 25, 2020 Public Update COVID-19

For more information: www.kdheks.gov/coronavirus
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Kansas Test Results
Updated 3/25/20 at 11 a.m.

Total Positive Cases
126

Private Labs
77
Kansas Health and Environmental Lab (KHEL)
49

Deaths (included in above numbers)
3

Out-of-State Resident Positive Cases*
(not counted in Kansas numbers)
2

Total Negative Cases for Kansans
2,360

Positive Case Information
County Number

Bourbon
1
Linn
2
Butler
3
Lyon
2
Cherokee
2
Mitchell
2
Crawford
1
Morris
2
Doniphan
1
Neosho
1
Douglas
10
Pottawatomie
1
Franklin
1
Reno
2
Jackson
1
Sedgwick
11
Johnson
44
Woodson
1
Leavenworth
11
Wyandotte
27
*Ford and Miami Counties reported positive cases in out-of-state residents.

Demographics
Gender

Female
54
Male
72

Age Range
Age range on patients is 7 to 90 years of age, with a median age of 51.

Obituary of Judith Brandt

\Judith Ann Brandt, 75 of Centerton, Arkansas, passed away Monday evening, March 23, 2020 at her home. She was born on March 9, 1945 in Wichita, Kansas the daughter of Paul Stewart and Lillie Ann Sivey Elliott. She married Larry Kenneth Brandt on June 24, 1978 in Wichita, Kansas, he survives of the home.

Judy was a member of the Fort Scott High School Class of 1963. She was a transcriptionist for the Ozark Guidance Center for over 20 years. She loved gardening and restoring dolls to give to underprivileged children.

In addition to her husband, Larry, she is survived by a son, Justin Brandt and wife, Cheryl of Anderson, Missouri, a daughter, Jill Brandt Allen and husband, Stephen of Castle Rock, Colorado, a brother, Larry Elliott and wife, Pam of Fort White, Florida and a step-sister, Kathy Voyles of Jefferson City, Missouri, and two granddaughters, Skyler Brandt and Elizabeth Allen.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Jesse Brandt.

Rev. Don Elliott will officiate graveside services for Judith Ann Brandt at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 27, 2020 at the Pleasant View (Large) Cemetery, under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Aaron K. Stern Foundation, donations may be sent to, or left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, P.O. Box 309, 15 W. Wall St., Fort Scott, Kansas 66701. Condolences to the family may be sent to the online guestbook at konantz-cheney.com.

Obituary of Darrel George

William Darrel George passed away March 21, 2020, at the age of 66 in Fort Scott, Kansas.

Darrel was born on May 11, 1953, in Fort Scott, Kansas, to William “Bill” and Doris George. He was raised in Uniontown, Kansas, and attended Uniontown High School where he graduated in 1971.

During his high school career, he was very involved with 4-H and FFA in addition to playing sports and working on the family farm. Darrel then attended Fort Scott Community College and later Kansas State University earning a degree in Livestock Production.

His passion for agriculture and caring for the land grew and after college, Darrel returned to the family farm in January of 1976 and formed G-Three Cattle Company with his father, Bill, and brother, Gale.

Darrel’s perseverance and devotion to his family and the farm were unending and he continued to work diligently for 44 years as a farmer and rancher.

Darrel met the love of his life, Laura Koester, in his childhood while showing horses and livestock in 4-H at the Bourbon County Fair. After college, they reconnected again at the county fair and they were married May 14, 1977. Darrel and Laura resided in Uniontown where they happily spent their 42 years of marriage, both of them loving the outdoors, showing and riding horses, raising their four children, and caring for the land and legacy they were building for the future.

His love of the Bourbon County Fair began in his youth and continued throughout his life. Darrel spent many of his years serving the Bourbon County Fair Board in various roles and on many committees. He served as the Fair Board Vice President from 1998 to 2000, as the President from 2005 to 2016 and as the Bourbon County Horse Project Leader for nearly 20 years. He was also selected as the “Fair Board Member of the Year” in both 2011 and 2015. In addition to his leadership roles, Darrel gave countless hours working to maintain the grounds, caretaking and preparing the rodeo arena, donating supplies, and supporting events. His passion, however, was working with the youth. He loved to help the 4-Hers learn and enjoy their projects and never forgot that the fair is ultimately for the benefit of the kids. One of his greatest accomplishments was being inducted into the Kansas Fairs and Festivals Hall of Fame in 2019 and this honor truly shows the amount of love, enthusiasm, dedication, and time Darrel gave to this organization.

In addition to his dedication to the county fair, Darrel also served as the president of the Mid-Eastern Kansas Western Horse Association (MEKWHA), on the K-State Southeast Agricultural Research Advisory Committee, and as the Uniontown Saddle Club President. He was a member of the Working Ranch Cowboy Association, American Quarter Horse Association, National Cutting Horse Association, and the Kansas Livestock Association.

Some of Darrel’s other honors included: Kansas Farm Family of the year in 1994, Kansas Master Farmer/Master Homemaker in 2007, Grassland Award in 2001, and the Bourbon County Extension Appreciation Award in 2000.

However, it is not the titles or roles he is remembered for. Darrel was the embodiment of hard work, grit, and integrity. His dedication never ceased and he spent all of his days working diligently to be a worthy caretaker of the land and livestock. There were countless late nights on the tractor planting after sundown while listening to the Royals on the radio and numerous early mornings gathering and shipping cattle at sunrise.

He had an unrivaled work ethic and never quit until the job at hand was completed. He was known to tell his children, “We don’t eat dinner until the animals have had theirs”.

This old cowboy loved doing all things horseback and had a way with horsemanship that can never be matched. He taught his children and grandchildren to love the outdoors and agriculture and to always do the right thing.

Darrel’s life was filled with compassion for his work, pure joy and love for his family, and hope for the future to come. His time on earth has been fulfilled by the countless hours of dedication and devotion he put into life. Much like the end to a long day of work, the end of his life is the completion of a job well done.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents William Miles and Freda Doris George, Uniontown. He is survived by his wife, Laura, Uniontown; two daughters, Lindsey Huseman and husband Mark, Ellsworth; and Lacey Wray and husband Mark, Ottawa; two sons, Cole George and wife Erika, Uniontown; and Drew George, Denver, Co. Darrel’s legacy will certainly live on in his five beloved grandchildren, Hagen and Heidi Huseman, Ellsworth; Sage and Sadie Wray, Ottawa; and Brielle George, Uniontown. Darrel is also survived by his four siblings; Sharon Hixson and husband Warren, Hutchinson; Herschel George and wife Carol, Uniontown; Gale George and wife Kathy, Uniontown; and Steve George and wife Myra, Salina; and his nieces and nephews, and the rest of his family and friends.

Services are still pending. However, the family plans to hold a private burial in the coming weeks.

There will be a celebration of life later this year for all family and friends to remember and honor this man who will never be forgotten.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Bourbon County Fair Association for the rodeo arena upgrades and maintenance, and may be left in care of Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.