Special: COV-19 Causes Concerns and Cancellations

by Krista Norton | March 19, 2020

In a moment, the world can change. This article you are reading on Thursday could be obsolete information other than for historical purposes. The world as it was on Wednesday morning, March 18, 2020.

Last week, COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus, didn’t effect us much here in the rural midwestern United States. 

Then suddenly it did. Federal and State mandates came down and restaurants and businesses were forced to change business practices. 

“This is a difficult but essential step to further encourage social distancing and stem the spread of COVID-19,” Governor Laura Kelly said. 

“While public health and safety must always come first, COVID-19 will undoubtedly have a devastating economic impact on Kansas small business owners and workers,” Kelly said. 

Small businesses that are hurting can log on to ksready.gov where Kansas is working to gain eligibility for citizens to obtain Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance for economic losses suffered since January 31, 2020 due to COVID-19. If your business has sustained economic loss due to COVID-19 please complete the worksheet below and email to amy.selm@ks.gov.

In addition, Governor Kelly asked the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) to suspend utility disconnects until April 15.       

We reached out to several local businesess and organizations for information on what they are doing to help stop the spread of the virus and were encouraged by all the precautionary measures taken. Almost every business has taken time to report on social media what they are doing to help stop the spread of COV-19. 

Some places are business as usual like Q’s Corner Donut shop. “We are a mostly carry out business and follow health codes,” said owner John Platt. 

Most local business owners have been doubling up on their cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting of their facilities, while some are implementing new guidelines or closers in compliance with the Center for Disease Control (CDC). 

Salons such as Sophisticuts are implementing some extra measures. “We are wiping everything down every 15 to 30 minutes,” stylist Tracy Barnes said. 

Brent Hinrich, manager of Syracuse Food Center, stated they are getting regular shipments of supplies, but are currently short on a few items. “We are not out of toilet paper, just a limited selection of brands but we have not been able to get hand sanitizer or masks for weeks.” 

He explained their Affiliated Foods warehouse in Amarillo, TX, reported they had 450 semi loads of orders but only 250 semi loads went out due to lack of drivers. “We had a holiday’s worth of sales in two days, business has been ridiculously busy.” 

On the store level, they sold all their supply of Clorox wipes, so they don’t have wipes at the door for customers to disinfect the carts or baskets. He hopes to have some in on the next truck. 

Hinrich added, “We have to be here, people need food and we will not close down.” 

Hamilton County Drug store is offering curb side service or home delivery to someone who is not feeling well or someone who is high-risk. 

According to pharmacist, Jeremi Whitham,  “We are making sure people have what they need when they need it.” 

They are out of masks and hand sanitizer.  They do have a handout with a recipe of how to make your own, and currently have supplies available.     

Loves, Eagle and U-Pump-It are diligently doing courtesy checks cleaning bathrooms, hard surfaces, door handles, every 30 minutes instead of every hour.  They have also removed their fountain cups, lids, straws out of the public reach.  Customers must request a cup from employees and they no longer allow refills when customers bring in their own cups, at refill prices. 

Loves manager, Shylah Booker said their store is taking a big hit. “We are hurting since last week with less and less travelers which may be due in part to closing of ski resorts.” 

Booker said, “We have an extensive list of sanitizing cleaning that we need to do every two to four hours, not only to protect travelers, but I’m doing this to protect my community.” 

Ali Tarmen, U-Pump-It manager, stated, “Our deli sales seem to be down, but a lot of the sales are local, and she feels people are staying home.”   

Lacy Roberts, manager of Eagle, says sales are holding steady and they are also diligent in keeping items their customers come in contact with cleaned and sanitized more often. Inside seating closed. 

Bulldog Pizzeria has closed their dining room, shutting down their buffet and salad bar, until further notice.  They offer curb side pickup and home delivery options. Owner and manager, Jordan Spears, says, “I encourage customers to pay with debit and credit cards which will help limit exposure to cash.  They have also postponed their Date Night, scheduled for March 27. 

The Black Bison Pub is complying with the CDC guidelines of gatherings of no more than 50 people.  They will monitor the number of customers and want to remind people of their take out option. 

Denice Kennedy, owner of Porky’s Parlor prides themselves in always keeping their restaurant clean, but they are disinfecting their napkin holders, salt and pepper shakers more often.   She had noticed a decline in patrons dining in, more specifically the elderly, but the drive up has picked up.  “But with cold weather, business is usually slow.”   

KC’s Restaurant, will be closed this week as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19. 

The Ole Cook Shack has changed their credit card machine so customers can pay outside and do not have to sign a receipt.  Owner Stan Englert is working to set up online ordering so customers can order and pay online. 

Sherri Rome, manager of Dollar General was unable to comment.

Both financial institutions reported they are open for business and everything is status quo. They also offer online bill pay and mobile deposit options. 

Kim Brown, President of the First National Bank of Syracuse encourages customers, if they do not want to come in the bank, to utilize the ITM located outside on the north of the bank. “This machine is also an ATM, and if people need assistance, they can push the help button and have face to face interaction with a teller.” 

Tim Kohart, President of The Valley State Bank stated the bank always has a pandemic policy in place and are prepared to implement that in the event of a breakout locally.  “We did have a customer at our branch in Garden City withdraw cash, thinking they may not be able to access their money.”  He wants to reassure customers the bank is open and should the lobby close, the drive up will remain open.

The Northrup Theatre is being overly cautious, instructing their concessionists to wipe all doorknobs, toilet handles and hard surfaces throughout the evening. They also have a large container of hand sanitizer and following the movie are wiping down armrests and all the hard surfaces where viruses may spread after patrons leave. 

The theater has seating for 276 people so patrons can spread out, but they will observe the CDC recommendation of no larger gatherings than 50.

  Chamber of Commerce president, Steve Phillips, stated should the theater have to close to follow CDC recommendations, announcements could be made as late as Friday.  People can receive updates by calling 620-384-7688 or via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

Phillips, Hamilton County Emergency Management Coordinator is carefully monitoring the situation, via conference call twice daily, and will update the community as information comes out pertaining to Hamilton County. 

Hilltop Lanes plan to remain open as usual.  Their leagues vary in size but the biggest is less than 50 at any one time, and their leagues will finish the season the end of March, then they will be closing. 

True to small town, two local residents, Crystal Lampe and Jeniffer Brand are taking an active role by helping out those at greatest risk, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, by doing their shopping and delivering to their homes. 

Lampe said, “our plan is also to put together care packages for these individuals such as toilet paper, disinfectant spray, Clorox wipes, personal hygiene products and shelf staple easy to prepare food.” 

If donated items are not needed, they will take them to the Hamilton County Food Pantry. 

Items may be dropped off at Lampe’s home or she would be happy to pick them up by calling 620-499-9277