The coronavirus (COVID-19) is edging its way toward Stevens County. Already local businesses and churches are feeling the brunt. If some of our locals are able to stay open safely, please be sure to help them out whenever possible.

Most county entities are having their meetings via Zoom since the orders to limit group meetings.

The Hugoton Senior Center has closed their dining room. If you wish or need a meal from there, carry outs are being offered at a charge. To receive a carry out meal you need to call the day before or that day before 8:30 a.m. @544-8041 or 544-2283. Then you must pick the meal up between 11:30 to 12:30 at the kitchen door. If you are homebound or needing a meal for a homebound person, please call and they can set up deliveries for them.

The Stevens County Health Department has limited access. Individuals need to call ahead for an appointment – 544-7177. No walk-ins will be allowed – you must have an appointment.

Pioneer Manor is in total lock-down. No visitors are allowed. Visiting by phone or video chat is encouraged. All the regular church services at the Manor by outside churches have been canceled. Stevens County Hospital is limiting their visitors and doing screening before patients, visitors or employees are allowed in. The clinic is remaining open for all patients who are sick with urgent or emergency care needs. Call for an appointment.

Gary Baughman and his staff at Animal Health Center advises that they are open regular hours. They are not crowded so far, so all they are doing is extra cleaning and precautions. Prairie Pet Mobile Vet advises: Go back to your car and call them @ 620-655-4882 and they will be right out to escort your pet in while you wait. The staff will go over all your questions with you. Kates Dog Grooming is open regular hours and taking care of their regular customers. If you would like, Linda advises that if you pull up in front and honk she will come out and take you fur baby inside for you.

The Stevens County Courthouse is closed to the public. They will remain closed until April 27 unless something changes. You can call for an appointment.

Kansas schools are closed for the remainer of the year. Home schooling plans are in the works.

Eating establishments are taking hard hits. The Jet Drive In will be doing drive through orders only. They are observing their regular hours. Acosta’s/ Nieto’s will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m then back open from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. They will have delivery during the noon hour as well as in the evening. So far they are doing dine-in since it is not crowded. Lupe advises that he is trying to stay in touch with the Health Department for advice. His establishment is disinfecting every 15 minutes. Subway is doing carry out orders only. They will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Los Agaves is open for dine-in until further notice. Of course you can get carry-out also which they are doing a lot of. China is carry-out only, no dine-in. McDonalds is drive through only. Daylight Donut is drive through and carry out only. Pizza Hut is open regular hours with drive through only. If truck drivers want to order they can call the order in and it will be carried out to them – 544-8587. Home delivery is available from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stumpy’s is open. They are doing lots of carry outs and constant disinfecting.

Well it happened! At press time the Health Department notified the restaurants that they cannot have dine in anymore. Stumpy’s advised to call in your order and it will be delivered to your home or to curbside.

Beginning Monday, March 23, Citizens State Bank will have restricted access to the lobby until at least April 6. Drive -up tellers remain open regular hours, Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lobby business will be by appointment only 544-4331 or online at CSBKS.com. Tammy said that Equity Bank lobby is still open until they are advised different. They are running regular hours.

Casey’s is open from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. There is no dining in and some items are limited.

Hugoton Drug advises they are open regular hours for right now. If the orders come through, they may have to go to delivery only. Stevens County Retail Pharmacy lobby is closed. They have drive through only from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can drop off your prescription or call it in.

Carter’s Thriftway is open from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. for senior citizens only. At 10:00 a.m. they are open to the public until 9:00 p.m. Dollar General is open 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The first hour is reserved for senior citizens. DG advises that they do have a limit on basic items.

Stevens County Gas and Historical Museum is open regular hours. Check out the Library news for their hours. They are curbside service only.

Now for the area churches. A lot of churches will not be offering regular services, except for those that have small congregations. Many will be available through streaming services online. Assembly of God is streaming only Sunday mornings at 10:45 on Facebook. Bethel Friends Church is streaming at 10:30 a.m. on their website, bethelfriend schurch.net. Church of Christ is having their regular services until told otherwise. Some of their older folks are staying home which is fine. First Christian Church services are postponed for now. They are streaming their service to Facebook. There are no Wednesday services. Send a friend request to their Facebook page.

My Father’s House is offering their services in person and online. River of Life Church will be having their services as usual. St Helen Catholic Church has canceled their services as has Trinity Baptist Church.

Most all group meetings and events have been canceled including the health fairs, the Kiwanis Auction and Dermot Suppers. The LEPC meeting was turned into a ZOOM meeting. The Fitness Center is closed as is Hugoton Recreation.