Governor Tim Walz, representatives of the state’s health care delivery systems, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota (U of M) today announced a breakthrough for rapid, widespread testing of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Standing together at the State’s Emergency Operations Center, they launched a statewide testing strategy to test all symptomatic people, isolate confirmed cases, and expand public health surveillance tools.
Everyone got bags of goodies, candy, and a wave from the Easter Bunny in the drive-thru of CornerStone State Bank on Saturday morning. The annual Easter Egg Hunt, which the bank and American Legion Club Pos 79 sponsor with many other sponors, was moved due to the coronavirus pandemic and stay at home orders. To make sure the kids and adults received toys, candy, and lunch to make at home, the bank and volunteers adjusted the hunt to be a drive-thru. After collecting the goodies behind the bank, the Easter Bunny was on hand to give waves and good wishes to everyone.
Rice County is asking for donations from residents and businesses of homemade face masks and other Personal Protection Equipment, as there is a very high need and an even greater shortage of these items. Donations received will be distributed to all First Responder agencies throughout Rice County including Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and Ambulance services.
A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for areas along and south of a line from Springfield through New Ulm to Cottage Grove in Minnesota, continuing to New Richmond and Rice Lake in Wisconsin. Alert area: Blue Earth; Dakota; Faribault; Freeborn; Goodhue; Le Sueur; Martin; Rice; Scott; Steele; Waseca; Washington; Watonwan.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for a small swath of
counties just to the north of that line, including the Twin Cities metro area.
The coronavirus pandemic emptied area churches for Easter this year. For many Christians, this religious holiday is dramatically different: a home-bound, shelter-in-place holy day. No Easter parades, no egg hunts at church, no church at all.
However, the parishioners of the Church of St. Patrick, Shieldsville were able to attend a live Easter service on Sunday - in their cars.
Mayo Clinic staff are doing extraordinary work, leading in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of, and committed to, our staff and our communities as they come together to fight this global health crisis. Mayo Clinic is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of these circumstances, including a financial impact that requires significant adjustments to our operations.
Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020. All data are preliminary and may change as cases are investigated.
Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19.
Updated April 10, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.
Dates provided are those when the case, hospitalization, or death was first posted in this situation report.
The City of New Prague received an application for a commercial building permit for the former Shopko. The permit is valued at an estimated $1.3 million and the applicant is HyVee Construction. The building is expected to be converted into a HyVee Dollar Fresh grocery store. For more see an upcoming print issue of The Times. (Patrick Fisher Photo)
In a 4 to 3 vote on Tuesday, April 7, Lonnie Seifert was selected by the Tri-City United School Board as the district's next superintendent.
Seifert was among three finalists for the position being vacated by retiring TCU Superintendent Teri Preisler at the end of June.
The finalists, who also included Lisa Edwards and Carmen Daniels-Strahan, completed a second round of interviews during the afternoon. The interviews included questions by the school board and other stakeholders, including staff and community members.
The Tri-City United School Board has selected three finalists to return for a second interview for the school district’s superintendent position. The semi-finalists are:
■ Carmen Daniels-Strahan, Principal, Mankato Public Schools, Mankato, MN
■ Lisa Edwards, Dir. of Continuous Improvement, Farmington Area Schools, Farmington, MN
■ Lonnie Seifert, Superintendent, GFW Schools, Gibbon, MN
The semi-finalists were selected from a pool of twenty-three applicants based on criteria established by the school board. Six applicants were interviewed last week.
As the United States faces the worst public health crisis in a generation, we want you to know we are here for you—and with you.
Whatever happens, whenever it happens, your newspaper will be there for you.
We’ll be there to let you know how our community is managing through this crisis—from business to government to the health care system and schools to the impact on individuals and families.
The search for the next Tri-City United superintendent went from 23 applicants down to six finalists Monday night.
They were selected based on criteria established by the school board.
At the TCU school board meeting, held via video conference due to the health pandemic and shelter-in-place order, school board members met with Barb Dorn of the Minnesota School Board Association to narrow the list of candidates for first-round interviews.
The Tri-City United School Board selected a new elementary school principal following the retirement announcement earlier this year by Montgomery principal Deb Dwyer.
At the March 30 school board meeting, the seven board members unanimously voted to approve Lisa Manders as the newest addition to the school district, as the principal of the pre-K to eighth grade principal in Montgomery.
Manders was one of more than 25 candidates vying for the position, according to TCU Superintendent Teri Preisler.
UPDATE - 4/2/20
Highway 93 between Highway 169 and Henderson opens after 5 p.m today Thursday,, April 2, 2020.
Crews monitoring Highway 19 closely.
Motorists are advised that Highway 93 from Highway 169 to Henderson remains closed due to flooding on the Minnesota River. The Minnesota Department of Transportation closed Highway 93 early Sunday morning.
MnDOT and area law enforcement are closely monitoring Highway 19 between Highway 169 and Henderson as current river forecasts indicate the potential closure later this week.