Community News Stories

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2020
Contact: Krista Vanden Brink BA, RN Nancy Sacquitne RN, BSN
kvandenbrink@winneshiekhealth.org nsacquitne@winneshiekhealth.org
First Case of COVID-19 Confirmed in Winneshiek County
A case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been confirmed in Winneshiek County. According to the
Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), the individual is self-isolating at home.
“While this is Winneshiek County’s first case, it may not be the last, and that’s why we encourage all
residents to continue to make prevention a priority,” said Winneshiek County Public Health Director
Krista VandenBrink.
• Washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds each time.
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue or elbow/upper arm.
• Staying home when ill.
Approximately 80% of Iowans infected with COVID-19, will experience only a mild to moderate illness.
Most mildly ill Iowans do not need to go to their healthcare provider or be tested to confirm they have
COVID-19. Sick Iowans must stay home and isolate themselves from others in their house. Stay home
and isolate from others in the house until:
• You have had no fever for at least 72 hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of
medicine that reduces fevers)
AND
• other symptoms have improved (for example, when your cough or shortness of breath have
improved)
AND
• at least 7 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared.
If you think you may need healthcare, call first. Your provider can assess whether you need to be seen in
the office or if you can recover at home. There may also be options for you to talk to a medical provider
from home using technology.
If additional questions, we encourage use of the 2-1-1 call line.
For up-to-date information on COVID-19, visit the IDPH webpage at https://idph.iowa.gov/EmergingHealth-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow the department on Facebook at
@IowaDepartmentOfPublicHealth and on Twitter at @IAPublicHealth.
###

Update Coronavirus

Gov. Reynolds issued a State of Public Health Disaster Emergency activating the public health response and recovery aspects of the State Disaster Emergency Plan effective at noon March 17, 2020 for Covid-19 response.

Social Distancing remains a main focus of concern.  Mass gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited at ALL locations and venues, this includes festivals, conventions, fundraisers, and parades. This is important in slowing the spread of disease.

Restaurants and bars were ordered closed and many local establishments are offering take-outs or carry outs. Please call your local favorite and support them BUT call them first.

It remains essential that each individual covers their cough, washes their hands often, and stays home if not feeling well.

If you are an elderly person or someone in the high-risk category, please make every effort to stay home and away from public locations. Businesses have made changes to allow curbside, carry out, pick-up deliveries so call them and check out your options.

Ask your family first or perhaps ask a neighbor to assist you with running your errands such as picking up needed groceries or medication.

Limit visitors into your home if you are in the high-risk category. Have visitors wash their hands and maintain the social distance of six (6) feet, if they must come in.

Reminder to all residents that you must NOT use anything but toilet paper in the toilets. That is the only things that breaks down properly to avoid damage to yours and the municipal sewer pipes. Do NOT flush wipes down the toilet, put them in the trash!

If questions, regarding the Coronavirus, please call the Iowa Department of Public Health call line at 2-1-1.

Check out www.cdc.gov/covid19 or www.iowa.idph.gov  and look for COVID-19 resources for more information.

Own your energy future. Go solar today! The Winneshiek solar fair is no longer happening at the county fairgrounds.  Instead visit energydistrict.org/solarfair on Saturday, March 21st at 10 am for a live stream solar presentation and Q&A with Joel Zook, energy planner.  Get the tools you need to go solar in 2020 from the comfort of your own home!    This event is generously sponsored by Decorah Bank and Trust and Wennes Communications

Vosseteig Funeral Homes Press Release Re: COVID-19

For Immediate Release

March 18, 2020

Vosseteig Funeral Homes Press Release Re: COVID-19

The health and safety of our guests and employees is our top priority. We want to assure you that Vosseteig Funeral Home is taking proactive measures to help prevent the spread of any potential illness. We are closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization’s statements, along with Wisconsin Department of Health Services, regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and following guidelines from these agencies and our local health departments.

Beginning Tuesday, March 17, Governor Tony Evers announced an emergency order banning mass gatherings of 10 people or more. Funeral homes are not exempt from this. This presents an obvious challenge in gathering families for funeral services. Recognizing loss is a human instinct and is a vital component to the healing process. Simply put, funerals are important. Yet, in times of critical health importance, we stand with these difficult decisions made to protect public health.

We are handling this situation by honoring family requests, and please know we are not cancelling any events. However, events will need to be limited to 10 people in our facilities at a time.

Please make an extra effort to support those that have lost a loved one during this time. Your support is more important than ever with the added stress of these extraordinary circumstances. For those who refrain from coming for any events you are encouraged to leave messages for the family on our website, www.vossfh.com or on our Facebook page.

Losing a friend or family member is never easy, and we are very aware that these unsettling times can amplify feelings of grief and anxiety. Please know that we are here for anything else you may need to honor life, support loved ones, and initiate the healing process. Do not hesitate to reach out with concerns, questions, or if you need someone to talk to we are here day and night for our community.

Our prayers go out to those affected by the recent changes.

*****We request that guests who are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms including fever, cough and shortness of breath or have been in contact with or have recently traveled to any of the affected countries refrain from visiting the funeral home at this time*****

Please free to call us with any questions. (608) 637-2100

MiEnergy Cooperative offices close to the public

Co-op makes changes to annual meeting

Rushford, MN (11 a.m. March 18, 2020)— As of today, MiEnergy Cooperative’s offices in Cresco, Iowa and Rushford, Minn. are closed to the public until further notice due to COVID-19. Members are encouraged to call the cooperative at 800-432-2285 if they would like to talk with someone regarding electric service as employees are working and crews will continue to respond to outage calls 24/7.

Members who normally come into the office to make a payment can drop off payments in the drop box at the office locations. Other alternatives include using the payment phone line (1-877-853-6517) or submitting a payment online through SmartHub (www.MiEnergy.coop).

ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION NOTICE

The date was set, the announcement was made, the ballots will be mailed, but due to COVID-19 precautions, MiEnergy Cooperative will not have an annual meeting for members to attend on April 22.

The elections for District 1 board directors will continue as planned. A ballot package will be mailed to members living in District 1 on March 20 with details on how to vote. Contrary to what the cover letter will say with the package, as it was already pre-printed for mailing prior to changes due to the pandemic, members will not be able to cast their ballot in person.

“Information in the ballot package will explain how to cast a vote by mail with the paper ballot or online with an electronic ballot. There will be no in-person option,” explained Brian Krambeer, MiEnergy’s president and CEO. “Consistent with our bylaws, mail ballots and electronic ballots will be counted toward a member quorum to allow for director elections to proceed.”

MiEnergy’s directors will meet on April 22 to accept the elections results and adjourn the meeting. Results of the elections will be made available.

An independent firm is collecting and tabulating the ballots. Security measures are in place to protect the confidentiality of votes and to prevent duplicate voting. The cooperative encourages its members living in District 1 to submit their vote by mail or online. All details on how to submit a ballot are included with the mailed ballot package. No ballots will be accepted at MiEnergy’s office locations or in payment drop boxes.

MiEnergy Cooperative is a member-owned electric distribution cooperative and is the result of a merger between Hawkeye REC, of Cresco, Iowa and Tri-County Electric Cooperative, of Rushford, Minn. in 2017. It maintains 5,500 miles of power lines covering most of Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties in Minnesota and Chickasaw, Howard and Winneshiek counties in Iowa. The cooperative also serves small pockets bordering those counties. It provides electricity to more than 18,800 members in northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. MiEnergy is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

Spring Grove Public Schools is eligible to serve Free Meals (Breakfast and Lunch) to ALL children under the age of 18 during this mandated school closure.  We encourage familes to take advantage to this opportunity. 

We will not be able to serve meals in the cafeteria, therefore meals will be Grab ‘n Go and “bundled”. When you or your child/ren pick up lunch, breakfast for the following morning will also be included. Meals will be standard and will include all required meal components. Janet will be working on a menu for next week that we will publish. 

Pick-up times will be from 11:00 am. to 12:30 p.m. on regularly scheduled school days. Locations for pick-up are: Spring Grove Schools, Door #1 (Main Entry) and Viking Memorial Park, either the white school van or the log cabin (depending in weather). 

Please complete the survey below as we are trying to determine how many meals we should tenatively plan for. We want all children that want or need a meal to have one. We will put out another survey at the end of this week, for next week. 

If you have any questions, please email me at tanya.elton@springgrove.k12.mn.us. 

Thank you for your patricipation! 

https://forms.gle/ZpmPafiwt6sCQeg6A

NEICAC Family Services & Food Pantries Still Serving Residents

For immediate release –

Decorah, Iowa

March 18, 2020

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) will continue operations in all service area county Family Services offices. In following recommendations, offices will not be seeing customers face-to-face with the exception of Food Pantry pick-up at office doors. All area residents are encouraged to apply for the low-income home energy program and other assistance by phone or online. Workers who have lost wages due to the COVID-19 crisis are especially encouraged to apply. Residents of Allamakee, Bremer, Chickasaw, Clayton, Fayette, Howard & Winneshiek counties can apply online at www.neicac.org or by calling the local Family Services office listed below. Applications for assistance can be completed without visiting an office. Eligibility (175% of the federal poverty level) is based on either the household’s last 30 days of income or the most recent tax return, whichever is most beneficial to the household.

Additionally, NEICAC Food Pantries in Waverly, Decorah and Cresco will provide pre-bagged food and may be able to deliver food supplies to households needed for an emergency. To request food, residents can call or email the Food Pantry in their community.

It is important for everyone to stay home to prevent the community spread of COVID-19. NEICAC is prepared to provide needed services without requiring face-to-face appointments.

XXX

For more information, please contact:

Trisha Wilkins, Executive Director
Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation
563.387.4911

-Don Jose in Decorah: has decided to stop delivery services at this time and stick with takeout. **To call in your order call, 563-382-6052**

-Empty Nest Winery is offering Curbside Pickup at the Winery Saturdays 10-5 & Sundays 1-5pm. Our tasting room & event room are closed to the public, BUT with this curbside delivery you can either orderline, call during those hours with your order or we will take your order from your car & deliver it back to your car in our parking lot the same time. Available to order: wines, fresh sangria, growlers of tap beers & hard ciders all available for curbside pickup Saturdays 10-5 & Sundays 1-5 until further notice. Stay in your car and we will take care of you!

-The Family Table  Restaurant is Closed until March 31st

-TBocks in downtown Decorah is closed until April 2nd

-Magpie Cafe & Coffeehouse Decorah is now closed until April 1st

-Barney’s in Burr Oak: open 11am-8pm for carry out food and beer! Call us 563-735-5900

-Tapt out west union. 11 til 7- 563-412-1185

-The Creamery, Rushford
-Burdey’s Cafe, Peterson
-Shawnee’s, Rushford
-Stumpy’s Rushford
-Subway, Pam’s Corner- Rushford
-The Pizza Place, Spring Valley
-Rack’s, Spring Valley

-Diane’s Cafe, Hawkeye 563-427-3315

-Pizza Hut, Decorah – CARRYOUT & DELIVERY. Now offering delivery times 11am-2PM & 4pm-close.

-Dairy Queen, West Union 563-422-6284

-the Mint in Protivin

-In Lansing: Safe House Saloon: 563-538-4288, Shep’s Riverside Bar & Grill: 563-538-2009, Milty’s: 563-538-4585, NutMeg’s Cafe and Bakery: 563-538-9214, Main Channel Grill & Lodging: 563-538-4955, Fajitas Grill: 563-538-3000

-The Zipper in Festina: 563-534-7181 ,Monday-Saturday: 11-1:30 ,Wednesday Night: 5:30-8:30, Fish Fry Fridays 4:30-8:30

–South Side Bar and Grill in Cresco (563)547-4242

-Jets MEATS AND CAFE 563-568-2620

-Buzzards In New Albin IA 544-4422

-Luana Tap. 563-539-4380

-Green Valley Getaway -Update on hours! 430-730 pm Tue-thurs take out only! Friday 11-1 take out only! Fri-sunday 4-8 take out and delivery available!

-Ktown tap, Kendallville 563-547-3256

-Oneota Coop: ONLINE ORDERING IS LIVE! http://oneotacoop.com/covid-19-and-the-co-op/?fbclid=IwAR0AA7iO8dxaCE02WD2PDsdMyPUiQrI_MauM9jY_eYwI7geHZMnw9NEbET8

– Riverside, Waucoma Takeout only: 563-776-4971

–Stone Hearth has To -Go and Carry outs available 563-382-4614 Hours are 11-2 and 5-7

-The Fort in Ft Atkinson is open for carry outs from 11 am to 2 pm and then from 4 to 8 pm every day 563-358-9006!

–Alpha Tap, Alpha: 563-429-3051

-Farr Side, Spillville. 563 562 3114

–Buzzards, New Albin 563-544-4422

-The Barrel Drive in in West Union IS Open

-Little Miami, Freeburg- We will be open for carry outs and off sales ONLY, no dine in Wednesday – Sunday 11-7 p.m.
Our full menu is available.

-NutMeg’s Cafe & Bakery, Lansing- NutMeg’s will be doing carry-outs only and have a limited number of baked good and donuts on hand for the foreseeable future. We will still be taking bakery orders so just give us a call.

-Gus and Tony’s in West Union dine-in closed. Carry-outs and deliveries still availiable! Call: 563-422-9500

-Culver’s of Decorah dine-in is closed. Drive-thru will remain open! Call ahead orders are also accepted: 563-382-5120

-Mabes Pizza Decorah plans to be open 11am-9pm for carry-out and delivery only. Find their menu at www.mabespizza.com!

-Family Table in Decorah will be taking take-out orders! Call 563-382-2964!

-Pizza Ranch Decorah- Pizza Ranch in Decorah is not doing buffets or dine ins until further notice. We will still do carry outs and deliveries until further notice. Please spread the news.

-Ede’s Angry Pickle Decorah is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:30am to 2pm for Curbside pickup. Call to order at 382-9600 and Ede will deliver out to the curb.

-Elsie’s in Caledonia has a window available for food pick up. Open 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm. Call 507-725-3313 to order.

-Jet’s Meat & Cafe Waukon open for carry outs from 9-2 Monday -Sunday and meat counter open Monday – Friday 8-5.  563-568-2620

-Two Tree’s Pizza of Ossian will be offering take out Pizza’s along with offering delivery to all places within 5 miles of Ossian.

-Milty’s of Lansing will be open for pick up orders.  Call them and they will get it ready for you.

-Ivy Grove Cafe in Spring Grove will be providing carry out orders only until further notice. Please call 507-498-5450.

-Toppling Goliath Decorah. Curbside Pick-Up AND Carry-Out services. Their full menu PLUS To-Go Beer, including cans and NEW growler fills, are all available for easy, safe pick-up.  Check out TG’s full menu online at tgbrews.com then call 563-387-6700 to place your order.

-Fireman’s Inn Ridgeway-  Will be switching gears to curbside/carryout food and beverage. We ask that you call when you arrive outside. Please pay by card over the phone, check or exact cash. We will deliver the food to you in either parking lot. We will be open normal business hours – Wednesday through Sunday 11:00am to 9:00pm. Thank you for your patience. Stay healthy and safe! The Fireman’s Inn Team.

https://www.auctionsgo.com/bill.cfm?bid=prestby2003210901&st=&key=prestby&tr=key&itm=&dbx=uhoas4zcipk4n48h3yed5q3hs

Good afternoon friends of HSNEI, in the midst of the international pandemic of COVID-19 we are in preparations for all scenarios and that includes limiting staff and non essential personnel in and out of HSNEIs facilities, especially with many of our current staff members being Luther students who will no longer be in the Decorah area. We are hoping and searching for emergency fosters at this time to lessen the burden at the shelter. If you are able and willing to accommodate a cat or two or a dog in your home during these uncertain times we would very much like to get in contact with you. Please apply for fostering at https://www.hsnei.org/foster-homes so we can get you approved as soon as possible. We appreciate and thank you in advance for your outreach