Staff at Gundersen Health System Medical and Eye Clinic in Waukon received their own special dose of treatment when they arrived to work Monday morning, March 22 as they were greeted by some special messages chalked on to the clinic’s entrance sidewalk over the weekend. A pair of elementary-age cousins, Braelyn Zuercher and Mila Mathis of Waukon, provided the messages, making the most of getting out of the house during a time when their schools are closed due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak to write and draw colorful messages with sidewalk chalk that included such sentiments as “Doctors and nurses are superheroes!” and “Thank you, have a good day,” along with smiley faces, hearts and other drawings and short messages of appreciation and thoughtfulness in an effort to brighten the day of some of the local healthcare providers who find themselves on the frontlines of the current battle against COVID-19.
Local health officials advising individuals to follow prevention guidelines and to stay at home unless absolutely necessary
by Lissa Blake
Those who don’t want to be the next person diagnosed with the coronavirus should stay home, self-isolate and wash their hands.
That was the message from Veterans Memorial Hospital Administrator Mike Myers Friday afternoon, March 20 following the diagnosis of the third person testing positive for COVID-19 in Allamakee County. Since then, however, three more county residents have been reported as testing positive, bringing the county’s total to six as of Monday, March 22, adding to the current (Monday) total of 105 positive cases in Iowa affecting more than two dozen counties.
Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator Corey Snitker shared the following information and perspective concerning local efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak:
Hi, and I hope everyone is doing well as we deal with the coronavirus known as COVID-19. I wanted to let everyone know that Allamakee County Emergency Management and Allamakee County Public Health are working together and have been able to also include other agencies and organizations within the county, as well as working with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Iowa’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. We are also working with city and county government, our county emergency responders, long term care facilities and the hospital.
In these unprecedented times of pandemic outbreak, schools in Allamakee County are trying to do their part until life returns to normal.
“I’d love to see students back to school in the near future, but that’s not likely to happen,” said Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Superintendent Jay Mathis. Mathis is among a group of about 30 superintendents who consistently meet via videoconference to discuss what measures each district is taking during this time of forced closure in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We just sent out a notice last week that Prom has been canceled,” said Mathis of the event originally scheduled for April 25 at Waukon High School.
Mathis added while graduation is still set for Sunday, May 17, he wouldn’t be surprised if school closures will be extended, forcing additional cancellations of such activities. “We sure hope we can get the students back and have graduation,” he said.
Call VMH to request testing for COVID-19, for Urgent Care visits and special visiting arrangements
Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon has been restricting all visitors to the hospital within this past week. The restrictions are in an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
In the event of a special circumstance, such as a terminal patient, family members may call Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411 and speak with the charge nurse about the situation.
Anyone with flu-like symptoms that is requesting to be tested for COVID-19 must meet all criteria to qualify for a test. Initial screenings will be performed over the phone by calling the hospital at 563-568-3411 and asking for the COVID-19 phone line.
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Monday, March 23 to address a full agenda of items including the Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2021 Allamakee County Budget, setting the level of County support for libraries and the approval of compensation increases for elected officials. There was no Public Comment.
The Public Hearing for the proposed Fiscal-Year 2021 Allamakee County Budget was opened with Allamakee County Auditor Denise Beyer indicating that no comments have been received. Beyer and Chairperson Larry Schellhammer each briefly commented on the proposed budget with both indicating that the budget process went well. The Public Hearing was closed.
As this country comes together to make decisions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, connection to the internet is more important than ever. With the current State-recommended school closings in mind, AcenTek announced Wednesday, March 18 that the company will offer free broadband and WiFi internet access until June 1 of this year to students and teachers who do not currently have internet service with the company.
Installation fees will also be waived for the new customers living within the service area. Students (K-12/college) and teachers facing the effects of the shutdown, will now have access to free internet to learn, work and communicate remotely. Contact the AcenTek office at 888-404-4940 or visit AcenTek.net to learn more.
Water and Sewer Departments from all local communities are urging citizens to not flush anything but toilet paper down their toilets. Items such as disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, napkins, paper towels and tissues have been clogging up community sanitary sewer systems, and may very likely do the same to individual residential or business sewer systems as well. Many of these products are labeled “flushable” or “septic safe,” but have proven not to be.
Because they don’t break down and decompose the way toilet paper does, disposable wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on community wastewater collection and treatment equipment, and cause cities to spend thousands on premature equipment repair and replacement, according to local Water and Sewer authorities.
The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held Monday, March 16. The board approved the agenda as presented and proceeded on to the public hearing on the 2020-2021 budget.
There were no public comments on the proposed budget. EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier highlighted some of the specifics about the proposed budget. Later in the meeting the budget was unanimously approved.
The board approved the Resolution entitled “Approve Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, Dated April 1, 2012 and Levying a Tax for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 for the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2012, Dated April 1, 2012”. In addition, the board received and filed the Fiscal Year 2019 Audit Report.
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) board members met Thursday morning, March 19 for a special session to address two issues resulting from the mandatory closing of the schools earlier in the week due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The first item of business was to approve recommendations regarding staff pay during the forced closure.
The board members approved a resolution regarding pandemic response and emergency suspension of policy. The resolution allows for the district to continue paying hourly non-exempt employees in order to retain current employees as well as boost morale during this difficult time. The hourly non-exempt employees will be put on paid administrative leave for up to four weeks during the school closure. Should the closure last longer than four weeks, the board members will then re-evaluate the situation at that time.
