Stories from Monday, March 23, 2020

Due to the current concern with the coronavirus, the City of Storm Lake will be temporarily closing the Chautauqua Park Shelter House and the restrooms in all parks in the city until further notice.

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) was notified of one additional positive case of Iowans with COVID-10 Friday, for a total of 45 positive cases. 765 negative tests have been conducted at the State Hygienic Lab. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig announced efforts to keep the supply chain moving “so we can get food from the farm to the grocery store shelf.” An emergency proclamation temporarily suspends the oversized, overweight and hours of service regulations that apply to commercial vehicles transporting ag supplies and commodities such as livestock, fruit and vegetables and raw milk.. ...

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Albert City has cancelled all scheduled church services and activities until April 16 St John Lutheran Church - Storm Lake - All church activities including all Lent services, Saturday and Sunday church services, Bible studies, coffee hour, Sunday School, AA, OA, quilting, showers, church groups, youth activities, etc. will be suspended until April 1...

I was to have four committee meetings last Monday, but all were canceled on Sunday. For that reason I decided to stay home on Monday and monitor what was going on in Des Moines from home. There are people coming to the Capitol every day from all over Iowa. ...

Working from home, and tired of taking your break time to watch video? It might be time to go old school, and pick up a book. Either on Kindle, or the old-fashioned way of getting a physical copy, a book might be a great refuge, from the new norm. Here are some random selections that might be of some help...

Unraveling the dusted bandages of H.G. Wells’ classic 1897 science-fiction novel, writer-director Leigh Whannell has refashioned “The Invisible Man” as a bracingly modern #MeToo allegory that, despite its brutal craft, rings hollow. Our image of Wells’ villain — the white wrappings, the dark sunglasses — comes largely from James Whale’s also-classic 1933 film. ...

The story is a common one in the Upper Midwest: The dollar-per-item retail chain arrives in town and soon the town’s family-owned grocery store locks its doors. That’s not happening in Lake Park, although local shoppers will see a more gradual transition...

When Kevin Costner’s character Ray Kinsella had dreams of building a baseball diamond in the middle of Iowa, no one believed in his “Field of Dreams” aspirations. But, when Brett Hetland had a real-life dream of bringing hockey to a chain of lakes near the Minnesota border, people have lined up to lend a hand...

Spencer Hospital’s Emergency Department and Avera Medical Group Spencer have been contacted by local citizens who state they are being required by their business to be screened for COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) prior to being permitted to return to work following an illness. Testing of people who do not meet the Iowa Department of Public Health’s screening protocol is not necessary or feasible...

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, UnityPoint Health – Trinity Regional Medical Center has made the decision to postpone all elective procedures and surgeries beginning Monday, March 23, 2020 until further notice. The health and safety of our patients and team members is always our top priority. ...

LifeServe Blood Center, along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national partners, is urging blood donors to turn out in force to give blood. Across the blood industry, nearly 4,000 blood drives have been cancelled, resulting in some 130,000 fewer blood donations due to concerns regarding COVID-19. Around 500 of those lost donations come from LifeServe Blood Center’s drive cancellations from Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota...

Businesses and organizations are urged to donate personal protective equipment by contacting their local public health department and the county emergency management agency. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) is encouraging Iowa businesses and organizations to donate extra personal protective equipment to assist health care providers and health care facilities responding to COVID-19...

Hy-Vee, Inc. announces today that, in response to customer requests, it will be reserving one hour of shopping time prior to its new opening time each day for customers considered “high-risk.” “We are extremely concerned about the spread of this virus, and want to respond to our customers who are at higher risk of serious illness by offering them a time where they may feel a bit safer shopping in our stores,” said Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee’s chairman, CEO and president...

A story that needs to be told. The mock trial case received in late December tracked similar to the “Largest Unsolved Art Heist” in US history! On March 18, 1990 two thieves dressed up as police officers and entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. ...

The BVU dance team put on a show during halftime of a recent game. It would ture out to be their last, as the semester wasforced to go online - only.

A group of teachers have approached the Storm Lake Board of Education with a plan to jack up the rigor of the high school science sequence of classes, in hopes of better preparing students for college or careers. The goal, the teachers said, is to “empower Storm Lake graduates by helping them increase their scientific literacy and be inquisitive lifelong learners.”...

One thing the COVID-19 concerns has not cancelled is the Storm Lake Kiwanis food distribution to the needy. As of presstime, the monthly charitable event is set for Wednesday, 3-6 p.m. at the usual location, the former Sears building, 701 Seneca Street...

For area musicians Andy Juhl, and Josh Weitzel, their lives revolve around the creation of music. If it’s gigging with a band, or recording new original songs for a project, Andy and Josh are all in, on pretty much a daily basis. Each have jobs outside of the music business – Andy has a farm to help run, over by Marcus, while Josh works for Buena Vista University. ...

Iowa schools are closed, and parents are staying home from work with their children. Iowa’s bars and restaurants can’t serve customers in house, and the employees are feeling some financial strain. Closures aimed at stopping the potential spread of COVID-19 among the public are resulting in a loss of wages for some, and federal legislators are taking steps to provide financial relief...

Stressful situations often cause kids to worry, even if they don’t show it. They will have questions about the changes taking place in their world. A confident and calm approach to Coronavirus will help ease kids’ worries and make them feel secure, says Pam Bogue of Buena Vista County Public Health...