HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man wanted for a parole violation was arrested in Hutchinson after he fled from law enforcement Thursday night.

Gabriel Sanchez is being held on a bond of $29,300 on numerous counts including flee and elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and criminal damage to property.

According to police, Sanchez was spotted in the 500 block of E. Avenue A around 9 p.m. When authorities tried to take him into custody he got in a vehicle and tried to flee. Sanchez allegedly rammed a patrol officer’s vehicle and drove at two police officers before leaving the area. The chase wound its way from Avenue A into South Hutchinson before heading back into the city.&nbsp;

The chase ended when Sanchez lost control of the truck he was driving and crashed at the intersection of Sherman and Severance where he was taken into custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594397442656.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man wanted for a parole violation was arrested in Hutchinson after he fled from law enforcement Thursday night.Gabriel Sanchez is being held on a bond of $29,300 on numerous counts including flee and elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, and criminal damage to property.According to police, Sanchez was spotted in the 500 block of E. Avenue A around 9 p.m. When authorities tried to take him into custody he got in a vehicle and tried to flee. Sanchez allegedly rammed a patrol officer’s vehicle and drove at two police officers before leaving the area. The chase wound its way from Avenue A into South Hutchinson before heading back into the city.&nbsp;The chase ended when Sanchez lost control of the truck he was driving and crashed at the intersection of Sherman and Severance where he was taken into custody.There were no injuries reported.

Hutchinson man arrested after chase through the city

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce is asking members to take a survey regarding the use of masks during this pandemic life we live in. The survey will cover the issue of mandated wearing of masks in Reno County.&nbsp;

No such order exists at this time although the Governor signed an executive order that masks be worn when out in public. The chamber stated they would like to hear from the business community on their opinions on this issue.&nbsp;

With Kelly's recent executive order, mask-wearing has become a debated topic of business owners and communities across Kansas. The chamber says they’ve not taken an official position on the issue, but are requiring employees to wear masks when walking throughout the office and interacting with the public.

The survey can be found at <a href="http://hutchchamber.com">hutchchamber.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594396687816.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce is asking members to take a survey regarding the use of masks during this pandemic life we live in. The survey will cover the issue of mandated wearing of masks in Reno County.&nbsp;No such order exists at this time although the Governor signed an executive order that masks be worn when out in public. The chamber stated they would like to hear from the business community on their opinions on this issue.&nbsp;With Kelly's recent executive order, mask-wearing has become a debated topic of business owners and communities across Kansas. The chamber says they’ve not taken an official position on the issue, but are requiring employees to wear masks when walking throughout the office and interacting with the public.The survey can be found at <a href="http://hutchchamber.com">hutchchamber.com</a>.

Chamber offers survey on mask wearing

NEWTON,
Kan. — 
The Harvey County Health Department, in consultation with Public Health Officer Dr. Doyle Detweiler, has identified community spread of COVID-19 in Harvey County.

Community spread means individuals have been infected with COVID-19 in the area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.

“We did not determine this lightly. The Health Department has worked meticulously to verify the sources of exposure in the majority of our cases,” Detweiler said. “However, as cases have increased, so have the number of cases where we cannot definitively determine a transmission method for COVID-19.”

Harvey County has had 63 COVID-19 cases to date, including 59 confirmed and four probable cases. There have been 47 new confirmed cases over the past three weeks.

Of the 63 total cases, 18 have an unknown source of exposure, or 29 percent.

“Community spread isn’t a reason to panic, but it does justify a sense of urgency in our communities,” said Harvey County Health Department Director Lynnette Redington. “It’s an opportunity for each of us to renew our personal commitments to the precautions that worked so well early on for our county. COVID-19 is in our county, and each of us needs to respond accordingly.”

The Health Department continues to adamantly support taking preventative steps to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. That includes frequent hand washing or using hand sanitizer, practicing social distancing, and wearing a face cover when social distance cannot be maintained.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593790914635.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEWTON,
Kan. — 
The Harvey County Health Department, in consultation with Public Health Officer Dr. Doyle Detweiler, has identified community spread of COVID-19 in Harvey County.Community spread means individuals have been infected with COVID-19 in the area, including some who are not sure how or where they became infected.“We did not determine this lightly. The Health Department has worked meticulously to verify the sources of exposure in the majority of our cases,” Detweiler said. “However, as cases have increased, so have the number of cases where we cannot definitively determine a transmission method for COVID-19.”Harvey County has had 63 COVID-19 cases to date, including 59 confirmed and four probable cases. There have been 47 new confirmed cases over the past three weeks.Of the 63 total cases, 18 have an unknown source of exposure, or 29 percent.“Community spread isn’t a reason to panic, but it does justify a sense of urgency in our communities,” said Harvey County Health Department Director Lynnette Redington. “It’s an opportunity for each of us to renew our personal commitments to the precautions that worked so well early on for our county. COVID-19 is in our county, and each of us needs to respond accordingly.”The Health Department continues to adamantly support taking preventative steps to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. That includes frequent hand washing or using hand sanitizer, practicing social distancing, and wearing a face cover when social distance cannot be maintained.

Harvey County identifies community spread of COVID-19


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti sees the upcoming fall season as something of grave concern if people do not make personal choices to slow the spread of COVID-19.

"For the mainstay of the mortalities that we've seen in the nation and in the state, underlying conditions are a significant indicator of the potential of COVID enacting a fatality," Baldetti said. 

Baldetti's concern is that even if there aren't other comorbidities, we could be facing multiple respiratory threats once the weather cools.

"The concern is not that COVID-19 as a viral body itself is going to enact widespread death," Baldetti said. "That isn't the concern, but what needs to be understood is that SARS-CoV-2 virus, the way it impacts the human body, it is an immunoparalyzing viral body."

Once we're into flu and pneumonia season, the multiple threats could cause further problems, if COVID-19 isn't stopped now.

"Simply because you contract SARS-CoV-2 virus, doesn't mean you cannot contract anything else," Baldetti said. "As such, I would hope that people understand the implications of that. Having a large amount of people infected with this virus at a time when we have other seasonal bacterial and viral infections floating around, I hope that impresses upon people, how potentially dangerous the fall and winter can be if we do not mitigate the spread now."

Baldetti believes that any talk of future shutdowns, if they even come up, will be political in nature. Baldetti believes that should not be the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1589983765832.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Reno County Health Department Director Nick Baldetti sees the upcoming fall season as something of grave concern if people do not make personal choices to slow the spread of COVID-19."For the mainstay of the mortalities that we've seen in the nation and in the state, underlying conditions are a significant indicator of the potential of COVID enacting a fatality," Baldetti said. Baldetti's concern is that even if there aren't other comorbidities, we could be facing multiple respiratory threats once the weather cools."The concern is not that COVID-19 as a viral body itself is going to enact widespread death," Baldetti said. "That isn't the concern, but what needs to be understood is that SARS-CoV-2 virus, the way it impacts the human body, it is an immunoparalyzing viral body."Once we're into flu and pneumonia season, the multiple threats could cause further problems, if COVID-19 isn't stopped now."Simply because you contract SARS-CoV-2 virus, doesn't mean you cannot contract anything else," Baldetti said. "As such, I would hope that people understand the implications of that. Having a large amount of people infected with this virus at a time when we have other seasonal bacterial and viral infections floating around, I hope that impresses upon people, how potentially dangerous the fall and winter can be if we do not mitigate the spread now."Baldetti believes that any talk of future shutdowns, if they even come up, will be political in nature. Baldetti believes that should not be the case.

Baldetti warns fall could be rough if COVID-19 isn't stopped soon


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Gas prices are still lower than previous years and they appear to be finding their level.

"In the past week, we've seen a pretty stable situation with gas prices both nationally and here in Kansas," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "There's been fairly low volatility in the market. That's led to gas prices staying fairly stable. We're up one cent per gallon nationally at $2.18 a gallon. Here in Kansas, we were up two cents in the past week to $1.98 on average."

Kansas has the 10th cheapest gas in the United States.

"In Reno County, it's looking like $1.96 a gallon average, which is a little less than the state average," Steward said. "In Hutchinson, it's a pretty wide range. It really depends on the station that you visit, but we're looking at a range anywhere from $1.89 to $1.99."

Will we see $2 gas consistently? Even as close as we are in Kansas, Steward is still unsure if we'll stay there.

In the past week, we actually saw a slight drop in demand, despite the holiday weekend," Steward said. "As more states are reporting increases in COVID-19, that could potentially put a little bit of a damper on travel again as people reconsider summer outings, so we're just going to kind of have to take a look at that."

A year ago in Kansas, the average was $2.50 a gallon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579620767389.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Gas prices are still lower than previous years and they appear to be finding their level."In the past week, we've seen a pretty stable situation with gas prices both nationally and here in Kansas," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "There's been fairly low volatility in the market. That's led to gas prices staying fairly stable. We're up one cent per gallon nationally at $2.18 a gallon. Here in Kansas, we were up two cents in the past week to $1.98 on average."Kansas has the 10th cheapest gas in the United States."In Reno County, it's looking like $1.96 a gallon average, which is a little less than the state average," Steward said. "In Hutchinson, it's a pretty wide range. It really depends on the station that you visit, but we're looking at a range anywhere from $1.89 to $1.99."Will we see $2 gas consistently? Even as close as we are in Kansas, Steward is still unsure if we'll stay there.In the past week, we actually saw a slight drop in demand, despite the holiday weekend," Steward said. "As more states are reporting increases in COVID-19, that could potentially put a little bit of a damper on travel again as people reconsider summer outings, so we're just going to kind of have to take a look at that."A year ago in Kansas, the average was $2.50 a gallon.

Gas prices staying stable, close to $2 a gallon

TOPEKA, Kansas – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff
Zmuda announced Friday that one staff member at Hutchinson Correctional Facility
(HCF) tested positive for COVID-19.

This is the seventh KDOC facility with a
confirmed case, with the first cases reported at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF),
Wichita Work Release Facility, Topeka Correctional Facility, Kansas Juvenile
Correctional Complex, El Dorado Correctional Facility and Ellsworth Correctional
Facility, according to a media release from the KDOC.

The staff member at HCF is a male over the age of 20. In order to protect the identity
of the person, no other information will be released. Mandatory mask protocol for
staff was implemented at HCF on July 3 and on July 6 for residents.


The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances.&nbsp;

The living unit where the staff member worked will quarantine in place for a minimum of 14 days. Testing of the living unit will be conducted. Contact tracing was conducted to determine who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with this individual. KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms.

“We know that our battle with this virus is far from over, as positive cases in our state
are continuing to rise,” Zmuda said. “We know far more about COVID-19 today
than we did three months ago, so we are very hopeful that the risk to any others is
low. We will continue to diligently monitor those within our care for symptoms.”


The Hutchinson Correctional Facility is Kansas’ second-oldest prison and houses
1,884 men. Formerly known as the Kansas State Industrial Reformatory, the facility
has three buildings including the Central (all custody levels), East (low-medium custody) and South (minimum custody) units.


TOPEKA, Kansas – Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) Secretary Jeff
Zmuda announced Friday that one staff member at Hutchinson Correctional Facility
(HCF) tested positive for COVID-19.This is the seventh KDOC facility with a
confirmed case, with the first cases reported at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF),
Wichita Work Release Facility, Topeka Correctional Facility, Kansas Juvenile
Correctional Complex, El Dorado Correctional Facility and Ellsworth Correctional
Facility, according to a media release from the KDOC.The staff member at HCF is a male over the age of 20. In order to protect the identity
of the person, no other information will be released. Mandatory mask protocol for
staff was implemented at HCF on July 3 and on July 6 for residents.
The KDOC has been in consultation with officials from the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment (KDHE) on next steps to address these circumstances.&nbsp;The living unit where the staff member worked will quarantine in place for a minimum of 14 days. Testing of the living unit will be conducted. Contact tracing was conducted to determine who among our staff and residents have been in close contact with this individual. KDOC will remain diligent in monitoring other staff and residents for symptoms.“We know that our battle with this virus is far from over, as positive cases in our state
are continuing to rise,” Zmuda said. “We know far more about COVID-19 today
than we did three months ago, so we are very hopeful that the risk to any others is
low. We will continue to diligently monitor those within our care for symptoms.”
The Hutchinson Correctional Facility is Kansas’ second-oldest prison and houses
1,884 men. Formerly known as the Kansas State Industrial Reformatory, the facility
has three buildings including the Central (all custody levels), East (low-medium custody) and South (minimum custody) units.

Confirmed COVID-19 case at Hutchinson Correctional Facility


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
As of Thursday evening, Reno County has an active COVID-19 case count at 36. 

109 total positive tests have occurred since the beginning of the pandemic. 3064 tests have been administered with 2955 negatives, for a positive case rate of 3.56%. 4.87% of the population has been tested.

No one in Reno County has had COVID-19 listed as the primary cause of death thus far. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593790914635.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
As of Thursday evening, Reno County has an active COVID-19 case count at 36. 109 total positive tests have occurred since the beginning of the pandemic. 3064 tests have been administered with 2955 negatives, for a positive case rate of 3.56%. 4.87% of the population has been tested.No one in Reno County has had COVID-19 listed as the primary cause of death thus far. Three people are currently hospitalized.

Reno County active case count at 36 as of Thursday evening

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As it looks like the Kansas State Fair will be canceled for this year, area businesses that rely on the fair are bracing for the financial impact.

LeAnn Cox with the Hutchinson Convention and Visitors Bureau says canceling the fair will have an impact on the community.

“It obviously will be very disappointing for those in the community that participate, whether that be from a vendor perspective or whether that be from their individual business that benefits from those that do travel into the community,” Cox said.&nbsp;

Cox says that the cancelation of the fair will just add to what has been a miserable year for local hotels.

“Our hoteliers have been hard hit by this entire COVID situation dating back to mid-March when we couldn’t finish the 3A basketball and we had to cancel altogether the NJCAA basketball,” Cox said. “So it’s been a really rough road for the hotels.”

Cox says local restaurants will also feel the pinch of not having the extra visitors to the fair.

“A significant number of our restaurants, to a certain extent, have limitations,” Cox said. "Whether that’s their hours, whether that’s the days of the week they’re open, whether it’s the menu options that they’re offering. They’re being cautious in getting back into a routine.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

While no dollar loss can be placed on the cancellation of the fair, Cox says it is a big number.

“That’s a larger event than something we could ever put a dollar figure to,” Cox noted. “Ten years ago, the state fair commissioned an economic impact study by KU. Ten years ago it was well over $5 million that transitioned during that period of time.”

Cox also noted that the nation’s travel and tourism business will continue to suffer from the pandemic with some studies predicting it could be 2024 before the travel industry gets fully back to where it was before the pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568929115476.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As it looks like the Kansas State Fair will be canceled for this year, area businesses that rely on the fair are bracing for the financial impact.LeAnn Cox with the Hutchinson Convention and Visitors Bureau says canceling the fair will have an impact on the community.“It obviously will be very disappointing for those in the community that participate, whether that be from a vendor perspective or whether that be from their individual business that benefits from those that do travel into the community,” Cox said.&nbsp;Cox says that the cancelation of the fair will just add to what has been a miserable year for local hotels.“Our hoteliers have been hard hit by this entire COVID situation dating back to mid-March when we couldn’t finish the 3A basketball and we had to cancel altogether the NJCAA basketball,” Cox said. “So it’s been a really rough road for the hotels.”Cox says local restaurants will also feel the pinch of not having the extra visitors to the fair.“A significant number of our restaurants, to a certain extent, have limitations,” Cox said. "Whether that’s their hours, whether that’s the days of the week they’re open, whether it’s the menu options that they’re offering. They’re being cautious in getting back into a routine.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While no dollar loss can be placed on the cancellation of the fair, Cox says it is a big number.“That’s a larger event than something we could ever put a dollar figure to,” Cox noted. “Ten years ago, the state fair commissioned an economic impact study by KU. Ten years ago it was well over $5 million that transitioned during that period of time.”Cox also noted that the nation’s travel and tourism business will continue to suffer from the pandemic with some studies predicting it could be 2024 before the travel industry gets fully back to where it was before the pandemic.

CVB knows cancellation of State Fair will be a big hit

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local resident who helped with a special book drive last year in Reno County is holding another one as the school year approaches.&nbsp;

Sarah Reade is teaming up with Reno County First Call for Help for the third year to add brand new books to the backpacks of area students in need.

“Everyone’s hope is to have the kids safely in school," Reade said. "If, for some reason, distance learning becomes a reality again I want our local children to have access to books in their homes. It’s essential.”&nbsp;

Statistics show there is one age-appropriate book for every three hundred children in low-income areas. This is a statistic Reade hopes to put a dent in within the local community.&nbsp; Last year, with Reno County First Call for Help and local community members, &nbsp;over 400 books were provided to area students. This year the goal has doubled.

“This is the third year for this book drive and each year it grows. Our hope is to be able to provide two books for each child that comes to First Call for Help for a backpack,” Reade said.

Usborne Books &amp; More will match 50% of every dollar donated to the drive and Reade has sponsorship levels for local businesses. The book drive will run through July 20th.&nbsp;

If you would like to donate or find out how you can be part of this effort, you can contact Reade at <a href="http://readewithme@gmail.com">readewithme@gmail.com</a> or visit the fundraising website at<a href="https://chuffed.org/project/booksforbackpacks"> https://chuffed.org/project/booksforbackpacks</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594323001686.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local resident who helped with a special book drive last year in Reno County is holding another one as the school year approaches.&nbsp;Sarah Reade is teaming up with Reno County First Call for Help for the third year to add brand new books to the backpacks of area students in need.“Everyone’s hope is to have the kids safely in school," Reade said. "If, for some reason, distance learning becomes a reality again I want our local children to have access to books in their homes. It’s essential.”&nbsp;Statistics show there is one age-appropriate book for every three hundred children in low-income areas. This is a statistic Reade hopes to put a dent in within the local community.&nbsp; Last year, with Reno County First Call for Help and local community members, &nbsp;over 400 books were provided to area students. This year the goal has doubled.“This is the third year for this book drive and each year it grows. Our hope is to be able to provide two books for each child that comes to First Call for Help for a backpack,” Reade said.Usborne Books &amp; More will match 50% of every dollar donated to the drive and Reade has sponsorship levels for local businesses. The book drive will run through July 20th.&nbsp;If you would like to donate or find out how you can be part of this effort, you can contact Reade at <a href="http://readewithme@gmail.com">readewithme@gmail.com</a> or visit the fundraising website at<a href="https://chuffed.org/project/booksforbackpacks"> https://chuffed.org/project/booksforbackpacks</a>.

Local resident to team up with First Call for Help in book drive

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@gmail.com" target="_blank">hutchpost@gmail.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140944016.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@gmail.com" target="_blank">hutchpost@gmail.com</a>.

Recent obituaries


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — After insisting they would host this year’s fair the Kansas State Fair Board will meet on Monday where they will take action on a proposal to reconsider holding the event after all. 


If approved by the Board the fair would be canceled for the first time in over 100 years. GM Robin Jennison says the change comes more from things outside of their control.

“We have a couple of issues with the vendors,” Jennison said. “ Some of them couldn’t get enough help. They legitimately wanted to be here, but when it came down to it they couldn’t get enough help.”

Jennison says fairs being canceled in Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska also weighed into the equation.

“We have vendors that really run the circuit that when it came down to it with Nebraska scaling back, Oklahoma scaling back and now Texas scaling back, it didn’t make much sense for some of those guys to come up to Kansas&nbsp; when that was the only place they would be going.”

Jennison says that there were also fears expressed by the public regarding close contact with each other during the pandemic, but expressed confidence that the fair could have been held safely.

“We heard from people who quite frankly were concerned for themselves,” Jennison said. “I really believed that when we get into September you’re going to see a lot of people doing exactly what our staff recommended and that’s the universal use of masks. I don’t think this society is going to stay shut down.”

Jennison says that people would have adjusted to the pandemic by the time the fair came to town.

“We’re confident that we would have gotten a good response from the people that come to the fair to social distance and to wear the masks, and we think it would have been safe,” Jennison said. “We were just putting a plan together to keep our staff safe. That was my goal is that we not have any of our 600 people that work the fair get sick, and so we were putting all of those plans in place and I think we had a good plan.”

The board is scheduled to meet Monday morning at 10 a.m. where a decision on this year’s fair will be made.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585171484470.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By ROD ZOOK
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — After insisting they would host this year’s fair the Kansas State Fair Board will meet on Monday where they will take action on a proposal to reconsider holding the event after all. 
If approved by the Board the fair would be canceled for the first time in over 100 years. GM Robin Jennison says the change comes more from things outside of their control.“We have a couple of issues with the vendors,” Jennison said. “ Some of them couldn’t get enough help. They legitimately wanted to be here, but when it came down to it they couldn’t get enough help.”Jennison says fairs being canceled in Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska also weighed into the equation.“We have vendors that really run the circuit that when it came down to it with Nebraska scaling back, Oklahoma scaling back and now Texas scaling back, it didn’t make much sense for some of those guys to come up to Kansas&nbsp; when that was the only place they would be going.”Jennison says that there were also fears expressed by the public regarding close contact with each other during the pandemic, but expressed confidence that the fair could have been held safely.“We heard from people who quite frankly were concerned for themselves,” Jennison said. “I really believed that when we get into September you’re going to see a lot of people doing exactly what our staff recommended and that’s the universal use of masks. I don’t think this society is going to stay shut down.”Jennison says that people would have adjusted to the pandemic by the time the fair came to town.“We’re confident that we would have gotten a good response from the people that come to the fair to social distance and to wear the masks, and we think it would have been safe,” Jennison said. “We were just putting a plan together to keep our staff safe. That was my goal is that we not have any of our 600 people that work the fair get sick, and so we were putting all of those plans in place and I think we had a good plan.”The board is scheduled to meet Monday morning at 10 a.m. where a decision on this year’s fair will be made.

State Fair Board to meet Monday to reconsider hosting this year's fair

Governor Laura Kelly and KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the Spring 2020 round of Cost Share projects during a press conference Thursday morning.

Awardees included the&nbsp;Wheatridge Paving Extension in the city of Newton and the&nbsp;Cleveland Ave Intersection improvements in Sterling.

&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/CostShare/Spring_2020_Cost_Share_Award_List.pdf">Click here </a>to see a list all 24 awardees.

These are transportation construction projects funded through state and local partnerships. 

Thursday's announcement is the first round of cost share projects announced since the passage of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594310741538.png" alt="Rep. Tim Hodge of North Newton during Thursday's press conference" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Tim Hodge of North Newton during Thursday's press conference</figcaption>
 </figure>Governor Laura Kelly and KDOT Secretary Julie Lorenz announced the Spring 2020 round of Cost Share projects during a press conference Thursday morning.Awardees included the&nbsp;Wheatridge Paving Extension in the city of Newton and the&nbsp;Cleveland Ave Intersection improvements in Sterling.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ksdot.org/Assets/wwwksdotorg/CostShare/Spring_2020_Cost_Share_Award_List.pdf">Click here </a>to see a list all 24 awardees.These are transportation construction projects funded through state and local partnerships. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594310788887.png" alt="Governor Laura Kelly attended the announcement" />
 <figcaption>Governor Laura Kelly attended the announcement</figcaption>
 </figure>Thursday's announcement is the first round of cost share projects announced since the passage of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

 Newton among 2020 Cost Share Program awardees 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Due to the increased COVID-19 activity, recently seen in Reno County, the Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that they are postponing the First Friday Coffee that was scheduled to take place this Friday, July 10th at Plains State Bank and will notify members when a new date is scheduled.

The Chamber will continue to evaluate all upcoming events on whether or not there is a need to modify, postpone, or cancel these events.&nbsp;

The Chamber asks its members to monitor the situation for potential changes to scheduled events. For more information go to hutchchamber.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594310460291.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Due to the increased COVID-19 activity, recently seen in Reno County, the Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that they are postponing the First Friday Coffee that was scheduled to take place this Friday, July 10th at Plains State Bank and will notify members when a new date is scheduled.The Chamber will continue to evaluate all upcoming events on whether or not there is a need to modify, postpone, or cancel these events.&nbsp;The Chamber asks its members to monitor the situation for potential changes to scheduled events. For more information go to hutchchamber.com.

Chamber postpones First Friday Coffee


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Veterinarian Roy Russell from Country Junction in Hutchinson wants pet owners to be sure they are thinking ahead to keep their furry family members safe from ticks and fleas.

"Long-lasting injections, some of those have been going real well," Russell said. "The latest ones are the pills that they take. We have one now that is good for 12 weeks. The thing you have to be aware of or really watch is do these drugs get rid of the parasite that you want to get out? A lot of them will maybe give only flea control, but it won't say anything about the ticks."

It's also important to note if your pet has allergies.

"We're seeing more dogs coming in with severe allergies," Russell said. "We look at the records back and it's strange that a year ago the same week, we had the same problem. Some of these are just like grass allergies from going out or some from allergies in the house of carpets and dish soaps. This type of thing can create severe itching and really become a problem."

If you have questions about your pet, call your veterinarian. If you're looking for a vet, you can call Country Junction at (620) 663-6150.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Veterinarian Roy Russell from Country Junction in Hutchinson wants pet owners to be sure they are thinking ahead to keep their furry family members safe from ticks and fleas."Long-lasting injections, some of those have been going real well," Russell said. "The latest ones are the pills that they take. We have one now that is good for 12 weeks. The thing you have to be aware of or really watch is do these drugs get rid of the parasite that you want to get out? A lot of them will maybe give only flea control, but it won't say anything about the ticks."It's also important to note if your pet has allergies."We're seeing more dogs coming in with severe allergies," Russell said. "We look at the records back and it's strange that a year ago the same week, we had the same problem. Some of these are just like grass allergies from going out or some from allergies in the house of carpets and dish soaps. This type of thing can create severe itching and really become a problem."If you have questions about your pet, call your veterinarian. If you're looking for a vet, you can call Country Junction at (620) 663-6150.

Russell seeing a lot of flea and tick issues, allergies in pets this summer


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Artist Talk that was scheduled for July 16 with Sia Joung has been cancelled. 

The Hutchinson Art Center will still be open for Third Thursday until 8:00 that night with the new exhibit by Joung available for viewing.&nbsp;

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Artist Talk that was scheduled for July 16 with Sia Joung has been cancelled. The Hutchinson Art Center will still be open for Third Thursday until 8:00 that night with the new exhibit by Joung available for viewing.&nbsp;

Artist Talk at Hutchinson Art Center cancelled for July 16

MCPHERSON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Wednesday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Larry R. Magaee, 52, Utica, Mississippi, was&nbsp; westbound on U.S. 56 just west of 7th Avenue.

The semi rear-ended a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Joseph&nbsp;Balikowa, 44, Tulsa, OK., who had slowed&nbsp;down to make a left turn.

The 2015 Freightliner, carrying a load of baby chicks&nbsp; then entered the ditch, overturned and caught fire.

EMS transported a passenger in the 2015 semi Lester D. Curry, 58, Utica, Mississippi, to Wesley Medical Center.

Magaee and Balikowa were not transported for treatment. Curry was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594250929943.png" alt="Wednesday crash scene photo courtesy KHP" />
 <figcaption>Wednesday crash scene photo courtesy KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Wednesday in McPherson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Freightliner semi driven by&nbsp; Larry R. Magaee, 52, Utica, Mississippi, was&nbsp; westbound on U.S. 56 just west of 7th Avenue.The semi rear-ended a 2016 Freightliner semi driven by Joseph&nbsp;Balikowa, 44, Tulsa, OK., who had slowed&nbsp;down to make a left turn.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594250882930.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>The 2015 Freightliner, carrying a load of baby chicks&nbsp; then entered the ditch, overturned and caught fire.EMS transported a passenger in the 2015 semi Lester D. Curry, 58, Utica, Mississippi, to Wesley Medical Center.Magaee and Balikowa were not transported for treatment. Curry was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

1 man hospitalized after semi carrying baby chicks crashes in McPherson Co.


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Reno County Health Department clarified in a release Wednesday that they are not conducting COVID-19 testing. 

They are requesting that you call your medical provider if you believe you need to be tested.

If you do not have a medical provider, you can call Hutchinson Clinic at (620) 669-2500 or PrairieStar at (620) 663-8484, but both locations require that you call ahead to ensure test availability and to allow staff to follow proper infection protocol.

Please practice good hygiene with frequent hand washing, proper respiratory etiquette such as coughing and sneezing into your elbow bend, wearing a mask when going out in public, limiting handshakes and physical contact. Stay home if you are feeling ill and call your primary care physician to discuss your symptoms.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Reno County Health Department clarified in a release Wednesday that they are not conducting COVID-19 testing. They are requesting that you call your medical provider if you believe you need to be tested.If you do not have a medical provider, you can call Hutchinson Clinic at (620) 669-2500 or PrairieStar at (620) 663-8484, but both locations require that you call ahead to ensure test availability and to allow staff to follow proper infection protocol.Please practice good hygiene with frequent hand washing, proper respiratory etiquette such as coughing and sneezing into your elbow bend, wearing a mask when going out in public, limiting handshakes and physical contact. Stay home if you are feeling ill and call your primary care physician to discuss your symptoms.

Reno County Health Department not conducting COVID-19 testing

WICHITA —Dr. Garold Minns, Local Health Officer for Sedgwick County&nbsp; signed an Emergency Public Health Order Wednesday that will require any person within Sedgwick County to cover his or her mouth and nose with a mask or other face covering. 

According to a media release, the order also calls for Phase 3 of the Ad Astra Plan to be adopted and incorporated into this order along with limiting mass gatherings of more than 45 individuals in one location where social distancing is not available.

This order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning, July 10, 2020 and to be in place until at least midnight Sunday night, August 9, 2020.

Specific expectations and exceptions to this rule are included in the document and can be <a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/media/57378/july-8-local-health-officer-order.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1m1QpeGlZarvFHFLYXcAih-5wfBGMx6nQbQtOWT_v5x-aD3GAcO0jfjtE">found here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590784947764.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA —Dr. Garold Minns, Local Health Officer for Sedgwick County&nbsp; signed an Emergency Public Health Order Wednesday that will require any person within Sedgwick County to cover his or her mouth and nose with a mask or other face covering. According to a media release, the order also calls for Phase 3 of the Ad Astra Plan to be adopted and incorporated into this order along with limiting mass gatherings of more than 45 individuals in one location where social distancing is not available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588354966337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This order will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday morning, July 10, 2020 and to be in place until at least midnight Sunday night, August 9, 2020.Specific expectations and exceptions to this rule are included in the document and can be <a href="https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/media/57378/july-8-local-health-officer-order.pdf?fbclid=IwAR1m1QpeGlZarvFHFLYXcAih-5wfBGMx6nQbQtOWT_v5x-aD3GAcO0jfjtE">found here.</a>

Sedgwick County will require masks in public starting Friday

Hutchinson USD 308 looking for enrolees for 4-year-old preschool


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — According to Hutchinson USD 308, there was a COVID-19 exposure during summer volleyball and girls’ basketball workouts last week. Under the direction of the Reno County Health Department, athletes were notified of the exposure but not required to quarantine.

Families have been asked to monitor their athletes for symptoms and in the event the student develops symptoms they are to contact their physician or the Reno County Health Department at 620-694-2900.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — According to Hutchinson USD 308, there was a COVID-19 exposure during summer volleyball and girls’ basketball workouts last week. Under the direction of the Reno County Health Department, athletes were notified of the exposure but not required to quarantine.Families have been asked to monitor their athletes for symptoms and in the event the student develops symptoms they are to contact their physician or the Reno County Health Department at 620-694-2900.

USD 308 athletes potentially exposed to COVID-19


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Dr. Mark Steffen’s campaign for the 34th District State Senate seat announced Wednesday it has been endorsed by the Kansas Chamber PAC. 

The Kansas Chamber PAC is the political action committee of the Kansas Chamber and represents the Kansas business community and job creators across Kansas. 

Steffen, a local physician, small business owner, oilman and farmer is running against incumbent Ed Berger for the Republican nomination in Kansas Senate District 34. 

“As the leading voice for the state’s business community, the Kansas Chamber’s policy and legislative success would not be possible without the Kansas Chamber PAC identifying and endorsing the election of free-enterprise, pro-business legislators,” said Alan Cobb, Kansas Chamber President and CEO. “If we want Kansas to be a top state to do business, we need to elect legislative champions who understand the fundamental role that business plays in the economic health of Kansas and who will promote legislation that lowers the cost of doing business in our great state.”

“I am honored by the Kansas Chamber PAC’s endorsement and look forward to working alongside them in Topeka to lower the tax burden on our families, jump-start our economy and crack down on Communist China for lying to the world about COVID-19," Dr. Steffen said. "My experience as a doctor, business owner and farmer has well prepared me to help Kansas during this incredibly challenging time.”

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Dr. Mark Steffen’s campaign for the 34th District State Senate seat announced Wednesday it has been endorsed by the Kansas Chamber PAC. The Kansas Chamber PAC is the political action committee of the Kansas Chamber and represents the Kansas business community and job creators across Kansas. Steffen, a local physician, small business owner, oilman and farmer is running against incumbent Ed Berger for the Republican nomination in Kansas Senate District 34. “As the leading voice for the state’s business community, the Kansas Chamber’s policy and legislative success would not be possible without the Kansas Chamber PAC identifying and endorsing the election of free-enterprise, pro-business legislators,” said Alan Cobb, Kansas Chamber President and CEO. “If we want Kansas to be a top state to do business, we need to elect legislative champions who understand the fundamental role that business plays in the economic health of Kansas and who will promote legislation that lowers the cost of doing business in our great state.”“I am honored by the Kansas Chamber PAC’s endorsement and look forward to working alongside them in Topeka to lower the tax burden on our families, jump-start our economy and crack down on Communist China for lying to the world about COVID-19," Dr. Steffen said. "My experience as a doctor, business owner and farmer has well prepared me to help Kansas during this incredibly challenging time.”The primary is August 4th.

Steffen endorsed by Kansas Chamber PAC in State Senate race


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman knows it is important to get back to school in buildings in August.

"We will open schools on August 13," Couchman said. "We will open schools as safely as possible, with as many safety precautions as can realistically be implemented and still open our buildings. We won't be able to mitigate all risk for our staff and students, but that mitigating the risk is our priority. We want to keep our staff and our students safe and we also know that we need to be in our buildings."

Couchman believes that the obstacles schools face can be overcome with a positive attitude and hope for the future.

"We've been provided this unique time in our school systems to really reimagine things," Couchman said. "That's really what hope is about, to imagine that tomorrow, it can be magical. We have great hope for this school year next year and expectations for high achievement."

The key to that is the concept of agency not only for administration, but for teachers and staff. It's about empowering everyone to work individually and together, no matter what the new school year throws at the district.

"We want to give our staff agency," Couchman said. "I want to give my administrators agency. Sometimes definitions change on that, but, for me, that sense of agency comes from writing your own script and being the hero in your own story. Giving that agency to our teachers and our staff and our administration is really, I think, the way that you build trust."

Couchman was one of three chairs of the Continuous Learning Task Force in March that helped put together the state's Continuous Learning Plan.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman knows it is important to get back to school in buildings in August."We will open schools on August 13," Couchman said. "We will open schools as safely as possible, with as many safety precautions as can realistically be implemented and still open our buildings. We won't be able to mitigate all risk for our staff and students, but that mitigating the risk is our priority. We want to keep our staff and our students safe and we also know that we need to be in our buildings."Couchman believes that the obstacles schools face can be overcome with a positive attitude and hope for the future."We've been provided this unique time in our school systems to really reimagine things," Couchman said. "That's really what hope is about, to imagine that tomorrow, it can be magical. We have great hope for this school year next year and expectations for high achievement."The key to that is the concept of agency not only for administration, but for teachers and staff. It's about empowering everyone to work individually and together, no matter what the new school year throws at the district."We want to give our staff agency," Couchman said. "I want to give my administrators agency. Sometimes definitions change on that, but, for me, that sense of agency comes from writing your own script and being the hero in your own story. Giving that agency to our teachers and our staff and our administration is really, I think, the way that you build trust."Couchman was one of three chairs of the Continuous Learning Task Force in March that helped put together the state's Continuous Learning Plan.

Couchman: School will open in buildings in August


HARVEY COUNTY — The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its 54th and 55th cases of COVID-19 in Harvey County.

One confirmed case is a female in her 50s. She is in home isolation. This case is under investigation.

One confirmed case is a female in her 40s. She is in home isolation. The individual was in contact with another individual with COVID-19 in another county.

Testing in both cases was completed by private labs. The Health Department will regularly monitor the health of the individuals, as well as follow up on all close contacts.

Harvey County has had 55 COVID-19 cases to date, including 51 confirmed and four probable cases. There are 15 known active cases in Harvey County. None of these individuals are currently hospitalized.

There have been 1,910 tests for COVID-19 conducted in Harvey County.

As of Monday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed 16,901 cases of COVID-19 in the state to date. The KDHE reported 202,219 completed tests in Kansas.

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HARVEY COUNTY — The Harvey County Health Department has confirmed its 54th and 55th cases of COVID-19 in Harvey County.One confirmed case is a female in her 50s. She is in home isolation. This case is under investigation.One confirmed case is a female in her 40s. She is in home isolation. The individual was in contact with another individual with COVID-19 in another county.Testing in both cases was completed by private labs. The Health Department will regularly monitor the health of the individuals, as well as follow up on all close contacts.Harvey County has had 55 COVID-19 cases to date, including 51 confirmed and four probable cases. There are 15 known active cases in Harvey County. None of these individuals are currently hospitalized.There have been 1,910 tests for COVID-19 conducted in Harvey County.As of Monday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment confirmed 16,901 cases of COVID-19 in the state to date. The KDHE reported 202,219 completed tests in Kansas.

Harvey County confirms 54th, 55th cases of COVID-19, 15 active cases in county


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Americare operates Senior Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care across 144 communities in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Mississippi, including Waldron Place in Hutchinson. 

In early March, when the signs of the COVID-19 pandemic were just beginning, Americare made the investments that have allowed their residents to stay connected with family and friends, even once quarantine procedures were required.

On March 13, all outside visitors to its facilities were discontinued and all group gatherings stopped. Americare believed that even though it was necessary to shut out visitors, that did not have to mean shutting down social and informational connections.

That meant an extensive investment in equipment, training and learning among staff and residents and families to ensure that residents did not feel isolated or cut off, and that families could feel connected and informed. It also meant an investment in training, protocols and tracking to stay ahead of potential issues across the company.

• iPads shipped to every community for resident use and training of staff to help residents keep in touch with loved ones.

• “Join Me” accounts for residents and families.

• Extra training for the facility Lifestyle Teams on various communications.

• Activity software on iPads and computers so residents can be physically active, mentally active and engaged through brain games and exercises.

• Enabling staff remote access to all property systems to provide care and help properties creating less need for property visits.

• Set up eFax capabilities to replace the multi-function device (print, scan, fax, copy) that is typically used by staff and residents thus eliminating potential cross contamination between non-COVID and COVID areas.

• Gathered emails for all resident family members for updates.

• Email protocols established and activated in any community with a COVID case to keep everyone informed (did not activate where there was no activity so as not to create alarm).

• Creation of an “our community and COVID” channel for updates to families online in communities with COVID activity.

• Developed a series of surveys and reports so the company and properties could see the impact/progression of the virus, staffing needs, and PPE availability.This snapshot allowed learnings from one community to be shared with others and ensured availability of people and equipment where needed when needed.

• An aggressive local media outreach to ensure that when there was a COVID issue at a property, the media would have the facts and no need to bother staff or families, thus protecting everyone.

• Extensive use of property level social media to give a window into the facility that helps ease the minds of families outside.

The actual medical equipment used was also upgraded for such items as vital signs monitoring so that taking vital signs and uploading them into systems was easier. This created more accessible data that gave a consolidated view for monitoring vitals and spotting areas of concern or trends in advance so that testing, treatment, and even quarantine decisions could be made faster and ahead of the virus’ potential progression.

“We believe the investments in technology made at the beginning of the pandemic and as we progressed through the months created an environment of communication to benefit the physical and mental health of residents and families, as well as creating lifestyle opportunities to keep residents engaged during this difficult time,” said Patricia Cokingtin, Senior Vice President of Americare. “In addition, our investments in staff training, software and database management put us in a position to identify issues and even potential issues and react to them in terms of supplies, personnel and evasive actions that we believe kept the virus contained within or even away from communities.”

For more information on how Americare facilities are addressing the coronavirus pandemic please visit <a href="https://www.americareusa.net/coronavirus">https://www.americareusa.net/coronavirus</a>.

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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Americare operates Senior Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Memory Care across 144 communities in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Illinois, and Mississippi, including Waldron Place in Hutchinson. In early March, when the signs of the COVID-19 pandemic were just beginning, Americare made the investments that have allowed their residents to stay connected with family and friends, even once quarantine procedures were required.On March 13, all outside visitors to its facilities were discontinued and all group gatherings stopped. Americare believed that even though it was necessary to shut out visitors, that did not have to mean shutting down social and informational connections.That meant an extensive investment in equipment, training and learning among staff and residents and families to ensure that residents did not feel isolated or cut off, and that families could feel connected and informed. It also meant an investment in training, protocols and tracking to stay ahead of potential issues across the company.Among the investments were:• iPads shipped to every community for resident use and training of staff to help residents keep in touch with loved ones.• “Join Me” accounts for residents and families.• Extra training for the facility Lifestyle Teams on various communications.• Activity software on iPads and computers so residents can be physically active, mentally active and engaged through brain games and exercises.• Enabling staff remote access to all property systems to provide care and help properties creating less need for property visits.• Set up eFax capabilities to replace the multi-function device (print, scan, fax, copy) that is typically used by staff and residents thus eliminating potential cross contamination between non-COVID and COVID areas.• Gathered emails for all resident family members for updates.• Email protocols established and activated in any community with a COVID case to keep everyone informed (did not activate where there was no activity so as not to create alarm).• Creation of an “our community and COVID” channel for updates to families online in communities with COVID activity.• Developed a series of surveys and reports so the company and properties could see the impact/progression of the virus, staffing needs, and PPE availability.This snapshot allowed learnings from one community to be shared with others and ensured availability of people and equipment where needed when needed.• An aggressive local media outreach to ensure that when there was a COVID issue at a property, the media would have the facts and no need to bother staff or families, thus protecting everyone.• Extensive use of property level social media to give a window into the facility that helps ease the minds of families outside.The actual medical equipment used was also upgraded for such items as vital signs monitoring so that taking vital signs and uploading them into systems was easier. This created more accessible data that gave a consolidated view for monitoring vitals and spotting areas of concern or trends in advance so that testing, treatment, and even quarantine decisions could be made faster and ahead of the virus’ potential progression.“We believe the investments in technology made at the beginning of the pandemic and as we progressed through the months created an environment of communication to benefit the physical and mental health of residents and families, as well as creating lifestyle opportunities to keep residents engaged during this difficult time,” said Patricia Cokingtin, Senior Vice President of Americare. “In addition, our investments in staff training, software and database management put us in a position to identify issues and even potential issues and react to them in terms of supplies, personnel and evasive actions that we believe kept the virus contained within or even away from communities.”For more information on how Americare facilities are addressing the coronavirus pandemic please visit <a href="https://www.americareusa.net/coronavirus">https://www.americareusa.net/coronavirus</a>.