COVID-19 mitigation increased in NE Iowa

One affected county has only one confirmed case Residents in 14 northeast Iowa counties are now prohibited from all gatherings of any size with anyone who doesn’t live in their same household. Gov Kim Reynolds issued a new order Thursday, effective at 11:59 pm, enhancing efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

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Wendell Durlam, 1922 – 2020

Wendell Jesse (Rex) Durlam was born on January 7, 1922, in Jefferson. He was one of 10 children born to Mike and Faye Durlam. Wendell passed away peacefully on April 13, 2020, at the age of 98. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Wendell grew up in Jefferson and had many adventures with his twin…

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Child welfare topic of daily COVID press briefing

Iowa Department of Human Services director Kelly Garcia highlighted what she called “the human side of our state’s response” to the COVID-19 pandemic at Gov Kim Reynolds’ daily press briefing April 15. “At a time when it’s critical that Iowans stay home… we must also recognize that home is not a safe place for all Iowans…. Data from past disasters…

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The diary of a coronavirus rebel

Diary entries by Cori O’Virus (as dictated to Colleen O’Brien) I have secured a safe place to watch. My name is Cori, short for Corona. I am from the Virus family. We have many friends and relatives who are categorized in that branch of human science that deals with viruses – “virology,” the study of us, named with the preciseness…

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Impact Award suspended for 2020

The Impact Award board of directors has suspended this year’s Impact Award due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying uncertainty in the next few months. The reasons are several: libraries, where nomination papers are located, have been shuttered; people are encouraged to remain in their homes; the size of gatherings has been limited; and the time “normalcy” will return…

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Planning has been going on for years

First time county has activated long-standing Emergency Operations Center How’s your memory? How many inches of snow did Greene County get during the winter storms of 1973? What year did Jefferson get hit with derecho winds that ended up with the city receiving a Governor’s Declaration of Disaster? During Tom Heater’s tenure as sheriff, what year did we have a…

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Iowa sees huge swing in temps, less rain than normal

Fields began to dry for most of Iowa early in the week ending April 12, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. However, northwest Iowa saw accumulating snow on Sunday, April 12, with rain falling over much of the rest of the state. Statewide there were 4.1 days suitable for fieldwork during the week. Field activities for the week…

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Coronavirus website has new dashboard, more info

Gov Kim Reynolds started her daily press briefing 45 minutes late Tuesday due to glitches in the updated COVID-19 website that was the topic of the day. Reynolds showed a beta version of the new dashboard on the  website, https://coronavirus.iowa.gov, at the briefing, and said it would be available later in the afternoon. It was well into the evening when…

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In the neighborhood

April 13, 2020 History Day virtual judging – I have participated as one of the judges for the state National History Day competition in Iowa for the last seven or eight years. This contest is a wonderful way for students to explore a given theme in Iowa history and beyond.

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