Phase two begins no earlier than May18, 2020, as directed by Executive Order 20-29
Mass gatherings of more than 30 individuals are prohibited. Mass gatherings are defined as instances in which individuals are in one location and unable to maintain 6 feet of distance between individuals (not including individuals who reside together) with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity. Businesses or functions that are already in operation pursuant to KEFF may continue to function while, if possible, avoiding gatherings of more than 30 individuals where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. Local governments retain authority to impose equal or more stringent restrictions during this phase is permitted to do so, except with regards to essential functions in KEFF. Any federal restrictions imposed and still in effect must be followed
Guidance for individuals during this phase
Masks: Individuals are encouraged to wear cloth masks in public settings as appropriate.
Outdoor Activities: When in public (e.g., parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas), individuals (not including individuals who reside together) should maintain 6 feet of distance from others with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
Social Gatherings: Avoid socializing in person with groups of more than 30 individuals in both indoor and outdoor settings, especially in circumstances that do not allow for a physical distance of 6 feet or more between individuals or groups with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity. (e.g., receptions, trade shows).
High-Risk Individuals: High-risk individuals are advised to continue to stay home except for essential needs.
Travel: Minimize nonessential travel and follow KDHE travel and quarantine guidelines for travel to high-risk areas. Essential travel includes travel for urgent and necessary family, medical, and business related needs as determined by the individual or business
Guidance for employers during Phase One
Telework: Strongly encouraged for all employees when possible.
On-site Operations: Avoid large gatherings of employees in groups of more than 30 where social distancing protocols cannot be maintained except for infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity and continue to phase in employees on-site as possible while maintaining 6 feet of distance between employee workstations.
Potentially Sick Employees: Any employees exhibiting symptoms should be required to stay at home and asked to call their health care provider.
Business Travel: Minimize nonessential travel and follow KDHE travel and quarantine guidelines for travel to high-risk areas. Essential travel includes travel for urgent and necessary family, medical, and business related needs as determined by the individual or business.
Visits to Long-term Care Facilities or Correctional Facilities: In-person visits to these facilities should be prohibited. Those who must interact with residents must adhere to strict protocols regarding hygiene.
All businesses otherwise specified MAY OPEN IF: They can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between consumers (individuals or groups). Restaurants or dining establishments may meet this requirement by using physical barriers sufficient to prevent virus spread between seated customers or groups of seated customers and fundamental cleaning and public health practices are followed.
Businesses should follow industry specific guidelines as provided on covid.ks.gov.
Compliance with any additional best practices guidance from each business sector is strongly encouraged and businesses must avoid any instances in which groups of more than 30 individuals are in one location and are unable to maintain 6 feet of distance with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity. This does not limit the total occupancy of a facility, but requires that facilities limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as in tables, entrances, lobbies, break rooms, checkout areas, etc.
The following businesses MAY OPEN IF they comply with the requirements in the paragraphs above and ONLY to the extent described below:
Bars and nightclubs may open at 50% total occupancy and can otherwise continue operating curbside and carryout services.
Casinos (non-tribal), but only if they comply with uniform guidelines approved by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
K-12 facilities remain subject to the provisions EO 20-07 regarding school closures, except that up to 30 students, instructors, or staff may be present for normal operations. K-12 facilities should continue to follow the guidelines of the Continuous Learning Plan developed by the Kansas State Department of Education.
Districts with facilities in more than one county or city should follow any applicable directives issued by the county or city in which their district office is located.
Higher education facilities that are closed before May 4 should remain closed for in person learning or events involving groups of more than 30 individuals present at a time. Licensed childcare facilities may reopen or continue operations pursuant to state and local regulations. All activities and venues not prohibited MAY OPEN IF:
They can maintain at least 6 feet of distance between individuals or groups and fundamental cleaning and public health practices are followed. Compliance with any additional sector specific best practices guidance is strongly encouraged and avoid any instances in which more than 30 individuals are in one location and are unable to maintain 6 feet of distance with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.
This does not limit the total occupancy of a facility, but requires that facilities limit mass gatherings in areas and instances in which physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as in entrances, lobbies, locker rooms, etc.
The following activities and venues MAY OPEN IF they comply with the requirements to the above and ONLY to the extent described below:
Organized sports facilities and tournaments, except that concessions must not include self-service food or beverages
The following activities and venues DO NOT OPEN in this phase:
- Outdoor and indoor large entertainment venues with capacity of 2,000 or more
- Fairs, festivals, carnivals, parades, and graduations
- Summer camps
Local governments retain authority to impose equal or more stringent restrictions on businesses during this phase, except as to essential functions in KEFF.
NEWS
Commissioners hire Economic Development Services Director
During the meeting held on Monday, May 11, the Linn County Commissioners entered into a 15-minute executive session for personnel matters for the purposes of interviewing for the Economic Development Services position. Following the session a motion was made to hire Ashlee Allen... [More]
USD 344 board sees gym floor design
The board of USD 344 met Monday night and saw new renderings of artwork that will adorn the high school gymnasium. Superintendent Don Epps shared drawings and said that namely, there will be one color of blue, rather than five like currently colors the gym. He said the... [More]
Mound City hears from McLiney on bond probability
Mound City hears from McLiney on bond probability By BARBARA PROFFITT Linn County News linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com Joey McLiney, McLiney and Co., spoke with the Mound City council during the May 5 meeting about financing options for the proposed utility... [More]
More News
- Pleasanton City Council denies appointment to police chief, city attorney, city administrator
- Commissioners hear ISO rating concerns
- Commissioners appoint interim fire chief and emergency management coordinator
- Commissioners question department heads on April 13 storms
- Pleasanton City Administrator announces retirement Aug. 3
- Linn Valley discussed storm shelters
- Couple survives home destruction from EF1 tornado
- Questions asked following storms that hit county
SPORTS
Prairie View softball has a busy week
The Prairie View softball team has been busy as they played a single game against Archie and double-headers against Anderson County and Osawatomie. The Lady Buffs defeated Archie 12-1 at home on April 30 and defeated Anderson County in both games, 26-17 and 18-6, on the road... [More]
Jayhawk baseball finishes regular season at 11-11 with a split against Uniontown
The Jayhawk Linn baseball team finished their regular season last week with a home double-header against Uniontown on May 7. The Hawks split against the Eagles winning the first game 18-8 and then losing the second game 7-10. This gave the Hawks an overall regular season record... [More]
Pleasanton track competes in tough Humboldt meet
The Pleasanton track team traveled to Humboldt on May 7 to compete in the Humboldt Invitational. This is a very tough meet that features 20 schools. The girls placed ninth with 17.5 points while the boys were 12th with 12 points. Here are the top individual results for the... [More]
More Sports
- Jayhawk track hosts home invitational
- Pleasanton track battles at Jayhawk
- Jayhawk baseball goes 4-0 against Erie and Yates Center
- Pleasanton sweeps St. Paul, splits against Uniontown
- Prairie View baseball 3-0 against Osage City and Butler
- Jayhawk baseball falls to Southeast Cherokee
- Prairie View baseball falls to Burlington and splits against Lebo
- Pleasanton baseball falls to Central Heights and Marmaton Valley
COMMUNITY
Debbie Grigsby-Lynch: Art, Music, and Faith
If you walk into Stonetree Coffee & Pottery, you’ll see canvases lining the walls; fluid pours, pumpkins, flowers, and sweeping landscapes. They’re beautiful, and you might find yourself wondering who created them. Well, I’ve got the answer. Most of the... [More]
Pleasanton teachers take students to the lake!
A day out of class always sounds nice to any student but to teachers, it can become chaotic; especially if you are supervising the kids on a field trip, right? Not for Derek Brown and Dee Botkin! Brown and Botkin are teachers at Pleasanton Elementary School and they took... [More]
Children’s room project shifts to painting a mural
The Pleasanton HIVE Library’s effort to redesign its Children’s Room took a colorful turn this month when Pleasanton High School art students stepped in to create two large‑scale murals for the newly renovated space. What began as a single mural request quickly... [More]
More Community
- Weather Awareness Class Monday, May 4
- USD 346 presents spring play Friday
- Senior’s three‑year project becomes massive Blu-Jay centerpiece
- Community fundraiser to support Honor Flight trip for local veteran
- A blink into the past: April 15 edition
- Conley earns Radenburg Scholarship
- Ray Scholarship recipients determined by USD 344 BOE
- PES holds Battle of the Books competition


