By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Rush County Sheriff's Office is rolling out a wave of new programs to keep residents safe and supported.
Rush County Sheriff Mark Knowles said a Bicycle Back-to-School Block Party is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 16 in the 200 block of West Seventh Street in La Crosse, and 84 bikes will be given away.
"One of the best things I wanted to do is start getting the children more involved, but I also wanted to start pushing safety," Knowles said.
Knowles said the event is open to families from surrounding counties to pick up a refurbished bike, thanks to Norton and Ellsworth correctional facilities. Models will range from those with training wheels to full-size adult bicycles.
Helmets will be available in limited supply. Knowles said bicycle education is a key part of the giveaway and will remain a focus throughout the event.
"The last thing I want is 100 kids out here riding bikes and not knowing about bicycle safety," he said.
Knowles said each donated bike will be registered through a bicycle permit program to help ensure lost or stolen bicycles can be returned to their owners.
The event will also feature a DJ, free food with grilling by the La Crosse Fire Department, snow cones from the Family Crisis Center in Great Bend, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and 20 booth spaces for businesses to showcase their work.
The Rush County Sheriff's office has recently initiated several other new projects.
Sara's Blessings program
Through a new partnership with the Family Crisis Center, the county is offering free items, including diapers, clothing, hygiene products and food to those in need. The program requires a one-time referral from law enforcement.
"My attitude about this is every single resource we offer, even if it helps one person or saves one person's life, then it was worth everything," he said.
The sheriff's office has been working with the crisis center for years, mostly with domestic violence and sexual assault victims.
Knowles said the county has limited resources, and those wishing to donate can contact the sheriff's office, 715 Elm St., to contribute to Sara's Blessings or choose from other programs to support.
What3Words app
The What3Words app helps first responders pinpoint a person’s location using a unique set of words, a tool especially useful when callers are in rural areas.
"Every three-meter-by-three-meter square in the world has been assigned a unique three-word address," he said. "If they're in the middle of a field or down in a ravine, for example, we're going to be able to know exactly where they are by them giving us those three words."
Knowles said the Rush County Sheriff’s Office is the county’s only full-time law enforcement and first responder agency in Rush County. They work alongside volunteer EMS and the fire department. The app is integrated into their 911 and law enforcement systems.
Knowles said families can also use the app. For example, a child stranded without gas could share their three words with a parent.
What3Words is available for free download on iOS and Android devices.
Operation Red File program
The sheriff’s office has partnered with the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging to provide Operation Red File, a program designed to save the lives of residents.
Although the free program is aimed at seniors, Knowles said it is open to anyone and is designed to keep an individual’s medical and emergency information readily accessible in case of an emergency.
Knowles said more than 200 have already been distributed in the county and can assist individuals who are unable to communicate directly with first responders or medical personnel.
Residents are provided with a red folder containing their medical history, a list of medications, emergency contacts, insurance details and optional documents, such as wills or powers of attorney.
Knowles said that first responders are trained to check for the red folder during emergencies, which can be taken with the patient in an ambulance to help EMS and doctors. Folders are available at the Rush County Sheriff’s Office.
Seat belt warning covers
The county is also providing seat belt covers for individuals with special or medical needs. The covers store personal information on the inside to protect privacy while ensuring first responders have access to critical details in an emergency.
"If we had a vehicle accident, for example, and the parent is unfortunately unconscious with children in there. Say that they were autistic. It would be a quick way to look at what we are dealing with and make sure that their needs are taken care of," he said.
Knowles said the idea came from a parent who suggested it to the sheriff’s office. He added that the inside pocket can be easily updated if medical providers, emergency contacts or other vital details change.
The covers are available free of charge at the sheriff’s office, with no medical documentation required.
You can learn more about the programs offered by the Rush County Sheriff's Office through the free Sheriff Connect app, available on iOS and Android.
You can also follow the Rush County Sheriff's Office on Facebook.