Ready to welcome summer with a splash? Here’s where to take a dip in Johnson County

The Johnson County Department of Health and Environment is distributing free at-home COVID-19 test kits from its office at 11875 S. Sunset Drive in Olathe.

Drive-thru pickups can be made between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. No appointment is needed.

Testing is recommended for those who are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Results are available within 15 minutes. To help health officials track the disease, patients are encouraged to report a positive at-home result at jocogov.org/department/health/covid-19/report-home-test-results.

Free PCR saliva tests are available upon request. Those tests also are self-administered but must be evaluated by a lab.

Merriam condemns ‘conversion therapy’

The Merriam City Council has passed a resolution condemning conversion therapy for gay, lesbian and transgender children as well as adults who cannot give their consent to it.

The measure falls short of an outright ban on conversion therapy like those approved in Roeland Park, Prairie Village, Lawrence and Kansas City among other places. City leaders opted for a resolution instead after being advised that a ban could put Merriam in legal jeopardy.

Before the resolution passed unanimously on April 25, two speakers opposed it on grounds that it went beyond the scope of city government; could violate parental rights and freedom of speech; and could interfere with legitimate mental health treatment improperly construed as conversion therapy.

Others said the measure didn’t go far enough.

Brian Shapley, who holds local and state leadership positions with the LGBTQ rights group Equality Kansas, said that organization does not support resolutions because they have no teeth and “don’t save kids.”

“In this case, part of me feels strongly that we are mildly suggesting that people not torture children in our city limits. That’s hard to accept.”

But speaking as a resident of Merriam, Shapley said he would prefer a ban on conversion therapy but is grateful that the city opened the conversation and is at least condemning the practice.

Olathe to open all outdoor pools plus beach

Many communities have found it challenging to hire enough lifeguards for the summer, but Olathe announced that it will open all its outdoor pools, as well as the beach at Lake Olathe.

Starting on May 28, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, swimmers can use Black Bob Bay, 14570 W. 151st St., and Lake Olathe beach, 14570 W. 151st St. Opening on Memorial Day are Frontier Pool, 15909 W. 127th St.; Mill Creek Pool, 320 E. Poplar St.; and Oregon Trail Pool, 1750 W. Dennis Ave.

The city website list these regular hours through Aug. 7:

▪ Beach at Olathe Lake: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Closed July 4 for Beach Fest.

▪ Black Bob Bay: 12:30 to 7 p.m. daily.

▪ Oregon Trail: 10 a.m to 5 p.m. daily. Closed July 4.

▪ Mill Creek: 12:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays; 12:30 to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Closed July 4.

▪ Frontier: 12:30 to 7 p.m. daily.

Visit OlatheKS.org/Pools for more details, including pass purchases and occasional early pool closings.

Roeland Park exploring citywide glass recycling

After a six-month experiment open to 654 households, the city of Roeland Park is exploring the idea of providing free curbside glass recycling throughout the city.

About 62% of eligible households participated in the pilot program, in which Ripple Glass made collections twice a month. A citizen survey found the community was split between being very supportive and non-supportive of curbside glass recycling.

In a workshop last month, the City Council was given four options:

▪ The city would pay a contractor to take curbside glass recycling citywide, at a cost of about $77,000 for monthly pickups.

▪ All residents would be charged an added fee for cityside service.

▪ Residents could opt in to such a service, with the possibility of a reimbursement program to offset some or all of the cost.

▪ Keep the status quo, which leaves it to individuals to drop off their glass or arrange for pickup if they choose.

Although some council members expressed concern about giving up capital projects to pay for glass recycling, a majority said the idea was worth exploring.

According to minutes of the April 4 meeting, Mayor Mike Kelly said it’s important to consider the environment as well as the economic impact on residents. He said the program each year has the potential to keep about 830,000 pounds of glass out of the landfill, and he noted that the city pays for many amenities that not everyone uses, including parks and city events. He said he wants to consider fresh citizen input and get a good measurement of the environmental impact.

Olathe teacher earns national award

Chemistry and engineering teacher Bruce Wellman, of Olathe Northwest High School, has won the Northrop Grumman Excellence in Engineering Education Award given by the National Science Teaching Association.

The award comes with $5,000 for classroom materials and equipment, a cash prize of $3,000 and $2,000 to attend the NSTA National Conference on Science Education.

JoCo ranked healthiest county in Kansas

Johnson County continues to be the healthiest county in Kansas, according to the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Johnson County ranked first for quality of life (low number of poor physical or mental health days) and a low number of deaths before age 75. It also topped the state for access to medical and dental care, exercise opportunities and a healthy food environment. The county also ranked low in child poverty and high in education after high school.

However, the study found health risks related to obesity, excessive drinking and smoking in adults.

The report also noted a decrease in the number of workers who commute alone (81% versus 85% last year), which could reduce traffic crashes and improve air quality and a more active lifestyle.

KU names University Scholars

Five Kansas City area residents are among only 15 University of Kansas sophomores to be recognized this year as University Scholars, who were chosen for their rigorous academic achievement, intellectual promise, curiosity and leadership:

▪ Elizabeth Appel, a civil engineering major from Kansas City.

▪ Fatima Asif of Overland Park, who is majoring in biochemistry and English.

▪ Bethlehem Kelecha of Olathe, who is majoring in English and political science.

▪ John Lubianetsky of Kansas City, who is majoring in Chinese language and literature; global and international studies; and political science.

▪ Miles Luce of Kansas City, who is majoring in women, gender and sexuality studies; and the history of art.

Scholars attend a multidisciplinary seminar, receive $1,500 scholarships and are assigned a faculty mentor to help develop their academic and research interests.

Mental health course focuses on youth

The Johnson County Mental Health Center will offer a Youth Mental Health First Aid course this month that’s designed for parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches and others who deal with adolescents and teenagers.

The virtual course, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 18, teaches people how to recognize signs of addiction and mental health issues, and how to deal with people in crisis. The cost is $25, and limited scholarships are available. Register at connect.jocogov.org/training-opportunities.

The course also will be offered in September.

This story was originally published May 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Ready to welcome summer with a splash? Here’s where to take a dip in Johnson County."