Update: Dec. 13, 2018  The Kansas Department of Health and Environment rescinded a boil water advisory today for the city of Overbrook. The advisory was issued Dec. 11, 2018, because of two line breaks resulting in losses of pressure in the system. Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.

Laboratory testing samples collected from the city of Overbrook indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.

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OVERBROOK, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a boil water advisory today for portions of Overbrook, Kan. The boil water advisory will affect water users in the following areas of town: Elm Street south of Market Street, on Second Street one block west of Elm Street, and east of Maple Street between Highway 56 and Fifth Street. This also includes users along Highway 56 east of Maple Street to the city lake, including Casey’s General Store and Grace Community Church.

The advisory took effect Dec. 11, 2018, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. KDHE officials issued the advisory because of two-line break resulting in loss of pressure in the system.

Overbrook City Clerk Jim Koger said it was discovered that water tower levels were dropping Monday evening, and three valves were shut off due to a break found in the 200 block of Elm Street. That resulted in the loss of service to customers south of the intersection of Elm and Market, on both sides of Elm headed south through the trailer court at 105 Elm St., and one block of Second Street west of Elm. Once the valves were off, the tower levels climbed, Koger said, and the repair should be underway soon on this leak.

Koger said another leak was found about 10 p.m. Monday night on the west side of Cedar Street, just north of Sixth Street. As of 10 a.m. today, valves had not yet been shut down for this repair, but once the repair work commences, it will result in a loss of service to customers east of Maple Street, from Highway 56 south to Fifth Street. Users on the north side of U.S. 56 from Walnut east to the City Lake will also be affected.

Boil advisories are issued because failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination. Regardless of whether the public water supplier or KDHE announced a boil water advisory, only KDHE can issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.

Water users should observe the following precautions until further notice:

• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.
• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so that water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

For more information about the boil advisory, contact Overbrook City Hall at 785-665-7328 or KDHE at 785-296-1317. For information about how the boil advisory impacts restaurants and other food establishments, contact the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s food safety and lodging program at 785-564-6767.

The Lyndon Carnegie Library will host a holiday open house 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Guests will decorate ginger bread houses and dip tasty treats in chocolate. The library will supply white and dark milk chocolate, marshmallows and pretzels, but participants can bring items from home to dip. Children will also be writing letters to Santa.

Families are invited to mingle and enjoy some hot cocoa or apple cider with goodies.  The children’s book sale will be going on upstairs all through the month of December.  

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt is advising consumers to take steps to protect their personal information following the announcement last week by the Marriott hotel chain that its reservation system had been hacked, potentially exposing the personal information of more than 500 million people.

“This large-scale data breach is yet another reminder of the importance of protecting our own personal information,” Schmidt said. “While we work to learn more about what happened in this data breach, consumers who may have been affected should take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of identity theft.”

Schmidt offered the following tips for protecting personal information:

The Osage City Chamber of Commerce is inviting everyone to enjoy several holiday-decorated homes in Osage City during the annual holiday tour this Sunday, and enjoy a chili soup supper and entertainment at the Lutheran Chuch, 210 Holliday St., Osage City.

The tour and chili soup supper will be 4-7 p.m. Dec. 9, 2018. Advanced tickets are available at Ramblin’ Rose; tickets day of tour will be available at the chili supper or at each of the homes.

Before or during the home, entertainment at the church will include the Osage City High School Choir and Jazz Band, and Tanya Fraker, organist for the Lutheran church. The chili soup supper is served for a freewill donation, and will include chili, cinnamon roll, relish tray and drinks.

The five homes on the tour are Koch Guesthouse (Maurice and Cindy Koch), 1122 N. 15th St.; Rick and Dena Gardner, 7312 W. 221st St.; Brent and Erin Rounds, 704 S. Fourth St.; Clint and Lindsay Silver, 821 Romine Ridge; Mickey and Pam Suppon, 509 N. Fifth St.