At the Tuesday meeting of the Rooks County Commission held on December 15th, Rooks County Health Nurse Lori Eichman gave the commissioners an update on the COVID-19 numbers for the county. At the time of the report there were 23 active cases, nine deaths, and 435 total positive cases recorded in Rooks County since the first of March.

Rooks County continues to see new COVID-19 cases throughout the county. The absenteeism rate is at 6.7% above the baseline from 2019-2020. The positive testing rate has decreased slightly to 27.9% this week. We continue to monitor numbers closely. 

At the special Stockton USD No. 271 Board of Education meeting held on Friday, December 11th, the board members present through Zoom and via phone, voted to allow two parents/guardians per participant family to junior high/high school athletic events. Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. This spectator ruling is in effect through January 28th.

Participants include: players, coaches, student managers, cheer squads, dance teams, pep bands and student journalism.

John Russell “Russ” Reynolds, 80, of Russell, Kansas, died on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at the Willow House in Hays.