It has been quite a week, one that ended with Gov. Laura Kelly issuing a statewide stay-at-home order, effective Monday. The following letter will be sent this week to Ellsworth County health officials and others who can help us get the word out. Our goal is to let people know the I-R will keep residents informed of breaking Covid-19 news across print, social media and audio. Our number is (785) 472-5085. Call us if you have questions.

Meanwhile, please pass this information on. And stay healthy.

And stay healthy.

Dear Ellsworth County resident

Over the past two weeks, the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter has designed a communication plan we think has the potential to make information available to every resident — young and old — in Ellsworth County.

Here is a summary of the plan, which will be in place this week. The exception is the audio feature, which is expected to take an additional week.

1. We will continue to publish our weekly newspaper. It allows us to go beyond Covid-19 coverage to the heart and soul of Ellsworth County and the people who make this a special place to live and work. It’s also the foundation of what we do.

We also have extended the offer of a free threemonth subscription, no questions asked, to those confined to their homes with little outside contact. Plus all Covid-19 content is outside our pay wall and free to the public on our website.

Free content includes a directory with updated information on local businesses, including those considered essential services.

2. Our website will continue to be updated and linked to our Facebook page, which has more than 2,000 followers, the huge majority of them in Ellsworth County. We also plan to link our posts to “Ellsworth County, Kansas • Covid-19 Updates,” another way to spread the word on what’s happening locally.

Here are the new services we are offering readers:

1. We have a volunteer who has agreed to maintain our Twitter and Instagram accounts.

2. Finally, the I-R is partnering with the University of Kansas to make sections of the weekly I-R available in audio form. All someone has to do is dial a number, press a button and they can listen to the front page and other relevant information from each week’s edition. This service will be available mid-April.

How can you help with this? You will find an attached flier. Please pass this on to your employees and anyone else in the county. We need you to help us get the word out.

You also can send us any information you think residents should know. It’s important for everyone to have a place they can go and have access to all news Ellsworth County. The e-mail address is indy@eaglecom.net

Please call me if you have any questions. My cell phone number is (785) 472-7339.

At this point, the only service the I-R is charging for is a subscription to the newspaper beyond the three months we are offering the homebound. We are a small business, too. If you don’t already have a subscription and can afford it, we would appreciate your support.

A subscription form can be found on Page B7.

Stay safe everyone

Linda Denning

Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter