The weekly new COVID-19 cases in Rooks County have doubled in just one short week, from an average of 9 new cases per week to 18 new cases in the past seven days. Last week at this time we had 11 active cases in our county, this week we have 22. The two-week percent positive test rate rose from 7.5% last week to 11.2% this week. The unpredictability of this virus is frustrating and concerning. Fortunately, our absenteeism rate in the schools remains stable and relatively few students and teachers have been impacted by illness or quarantine.

On Thursday, September 24, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), updated its list of public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae.

Webster Reservoir, which had been added back to the "Watch" list on the 17th of September has now been removed from the "Watch" list a week later.

Get out to the area lakes and enjoy what's left of this beautiful fall weather with warm summer-like temperatures.

Phil Conyac, who has coached the Stockton Tigers for the past five seasons, was removed from that position at a special meeting of the Stockton Unified School District No. 271 Board of Education held on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. The motion to remove him as head high school football coach effective immediately, and to put Justin Basart as interim head high school football coach and Clint Bedore as interim assistant high school football coach, effective immediately, was made by vice president Stephanie Niblock.