Community leaders give updates on COVID-19 measures

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Community leaders gathered via conference call on Wednesday morning for the second week in a row. The conference call among community partners and leaders has become a weekly way to stay informed about the local response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Updates were given by local agencies and organizations on what is being done to prepare and provide safety to the community. These updates are as follows:

Vernon County

“This virus is, no doubt, very contagious — yet, so is the fear that is being derived from it,” noted Presiding Commissioner Joe Hardin. “This is a scary time considering all the unknowns, but there's a lot of facts that are provided by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) that we can use to make decisions in our daily lives. We just need to continue to encourage people to get properly educated by the proper professionals and practice personally responsibility based on facts, rather than fear.”

Hardin went on to state that all of the government agencies and all first-responding agencies are in daily contact with one another. “They're all working collaboratively to properly serve and protect our community,” added Hardin. “Many of you know that years ago this cooperation did not necessarily exist, but I promise you it does now.”

City of Nevada

“We are continuuing to run our Fare Share program,” stated Interim City Manager Mark Mitchell. “We'll continue to operate, but I must stress we'll only operate as long as we're able to keep our drivers and our riders safe. I echo what Commissioner Joe Hardin says — we are working together and we're looking out for the best of our community. Our fire and police departments are fully staffed and operating.” Mitchell went on to say that the City of Nevada is keeping essential services operating. “At this time, we're going to continue to do so,” added Mitchell. “As this progresses, we may see some of those services cease until the threat passes. We are working hard and diligently to get through this as I know you are as well.

Nevada R-5

“Right now, we're still in that holding pattern,” stated Nevada R-5 School District Superintendent Dr. Tyson Beshore in regards to the school closure. “I foresee us, probably within the next week, following suit and shutting down through like April 24. A lot of schools in the Springfield area are going to make that known today and I think it will probably trickle down to us within the next, probably, two to three days.”

The Nevada R-5 School District began providing free breakfast and lunches, once classes were postponed, to all area children 18 years and younger. “The food program is going well,” stated Beshore. “I think as long as we are out, it will continue to increase each week. This week we are serving over 500 students each day. They're getting a lunch and a breakfast. It's lunch today, followed with a breakfast for tomorrow morning. Our numbers each day continue to grow. If we were to go out through towards that end of April mark, I would foresee those numbers increasing every week.”

In addition to this, Hardin noted that the YMCA is also serving approximately 400 meals a day. “Our other rural community school districts are serving over 200 per day,” continued Hardin. “Realistically, we're probably close to 1,300 to 1,500 meals per day being served. No matter how we move forward with more strict restrictions, if that comes down from the leadership role, we will obviously keep that operation going because that is very crucial to the survival of our youth during these times.”

Walmart

“We are not short food,” noted Nevada Walmart Store Manager Henry Wallace. “We've limited quanitities going out the door and it seems to have helped. They actually pushed me an extra truck yesterday, not that you can walk through here and tell, but we are putting it on the counter just as fast as we get it. I keep getting word that there is no shortage, it's just a matter of the distribution centers being able to load it and get it to us. As it stands now, the best time for milk, eggs, meats and bread is early in the morning. We've done senior shopping hour every Tuesday until April 28. It allows those folks time in here to shop in a clean store and be able to get some of those essentials. Toilet paper is still at a huge demand. I hate to speculate this, but we get that usually sometime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., every day, and that goes straight out. But, as far as any shortages, there's nothing up the pipeline that we're seeing. As soon as we get it in the door, it's coming to the floor to get on the shelf.”

Woods Supermarket

“We're pretty much in the same position,” stated Woods Supermarket Manager Jason Woods. “We're getting trucks in three days a week. We have vendors bring things in daily. We see customers somewhat try to keep social distance, but we're still struggling with that a little bit. Other than that, things are going. We are slowly rebuilding and paper is the same shortage — we're having the same issues as Walmart.”

Emergency Management

“I sent an email to several people yesterday that came from the state,” stated Emergency Management Director Derik White. “I talked to the state director last night. She wants to make sure that everybody that is nonprofit, or any emergency department, goes in and fills out that EM3482 form on the FEMA.” If you are a business, these can be accessed at www.sba.gov. “This form has to be filled out by April 12,” noted White.

On My Own, Inc.

“We're a center for independent living, that's what we do,” stated Executive Director Jennifer Gundy. “We refer people and get people resources. If you need to refer anybody to us, we'll serve anybody and everybody. We have a whole list of resources. We will start putting that more often on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/OnMyOwnInc). If you're needing to refer anybody to get anything that they need — groceries, or any kind of resources or needs they might have, we can help with that.” Gundy noted that the organization can't pay for the groceries, but they've already started a delivery system to get groceries to those in need.

Community Outreach

“In our case, the community has been marvelous,” noted Community Outreach Director Barbara Long. “They drop by things all the time. Our doors are closed and we are doing curbside service – it seems to be working. Several churches have been concerned and so we are going to offer 60-year-olds and older to have their commodities taken to their home if we can get that worked out. The soup kitchen is serving out the door bags of food for their lunches to anybody that comes. We have up to 119 at the door.”

Mitchell closed by stating that the conference calls will continue to occur every Wednesday, at 10 a.m. “As this issue moves forward, we may schedule more calls during the week as new information becomes available,” Mitchell noted in closing. “Our main goal is to keep everyone informed and our main goal, as community leaders, is to keep everyone safe.”

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