COVID-19

HSHS, Prevea Health workers get second dose of COVID vaccine

Published by admin on Tue, 01/12/2021 - 7:57pm

Prevea Health began administering second doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Jan. 6 to its health care workers, along with those at its HSHS hospital partners in Wisconsin. The second dose, which is required for maximum effectiveness (94%) of the vaccine, is given 21 days after the first dose.

COVID death toll continues to climb in Oconto County

Published by admin on Thu, 12/24/2020 - 8:57am

The Oconto County death toll from COVID-19 rose into the mid-30s last week.

Human Services Director Mike Reimer told the county board Dec. 17 that the state Department of Health Services was reporting 35 deaths among county residents.

“The death figure is about a month behind usually, because it takes a little time for the medical examiner to certify the death. So the number is certainly higher than that,” Reimer said. As if to confirm that statement, the state’s official count rose to 36 the next day and to 37 over the weekend.

Oconto Falls School Board stands pat on Jan. 4 return date

Published by admin on Mon, 12/21/2020 - 8:16am

The Oconto Falls School Board is standing by its decision to have students return to in-person learning on Jan. 4.

The board on Dec. 14 let stand its November decision to return to the schedule that started the school year, with students in class four days a week and virtual instruction on Wednesdays.

Lambeau to limit gameday attendance to family of Packers employees for remainder of regular season

Published by admin on Fri, 12/11/2020 - 1:18pm

For the remainder of the 2020 NFL regular season, game attendees at Lambeau Field will be limited to Packers employees and their household families, the organization announced Dec. 8.

While infection rates in Brown County and in many areas in Wisconsin currently are trending in a better direction, the rate overall remains at a high level locally (fourth-highest among NFL cities). Also, with the holiday season coming up, there is concern that the rate may spike again.

St. Clare ER nurse keeps serving during COVID-19

Published by admin on Tue, 12/08/2020 - 4:32pm

Lena Public Library expands Wi-Fi outside its building

Published by admin on Thu, 12/03/2020 - 9:32am

In a response to the challenges of COVID-19, Lena Public Library has recently expanded its Wi-Fi access to extend the range outside of the library building.

The new upgrade is designed to help keep the community connected to the internet even when entrance to the building is limited. The Wi-Fi is free and activated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No password is required to connect.

Aspirus head optimistic on COVID-19 vaccine, cautious on availability

Published by admin on Mon, 11/23/2020 - 6:00pm

Matt Heywood, Apsirus system corporate executive officer (CEO) and president, issued a strong caution as he celebrated the prospect of effective COVID-19 vaccines becoming available in the near future.

“So it’s not going to get us through the holidays. It’s not going to be here in a mass quantity until probably later spring and summer. When hopefully, we’re going to get somewhat back to normal,” he said.

Aspirus doctor offers insights into COVID-19

Published by admin on Mon, 11/23/2020 - 5:56pm

“We may all want to get together at Thanksgiving and see our loved ones,” Dr. Stephen Phillipson said, expressing the desire of many people.

The Aspirus Wausau Hospital Director of Medicine then posed the question, “But how are you going to feel if you were the asymptomatic person who gave it to gramma and gramma is dead or she’s in an ICU or she’s sick for weeks and weeks and weeks on a ventilator? And that’s the reality of this illness.”

Thanksgiving weekend events still on the calendar

Published by admin on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 1:04pm

Thanksgiving is a time when Americans are accustomed to gathering their extended families together, and the pandemic has thrown a monkey wrench into those annual plans. But a number of local traditions are soldiering through, with adjustments made for the omnipresent virus.

• Hillside Assembly of God Church, 5890 State Highway 22 West, Gillett, has scheduled its 30th annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner for 3:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25. Seating is limited this year, and diners are asked to pick a specific time when they make reservations: 3:30, 4:30 or 5:30 p.m.

Abrams theater to hold online auction

Published by admin on Wed, 11/18/2020 - 12:59pm

Abrams Spotlight Productions Inc. seeks donations for its online virtual auction scheduled in early December. A wide variety of prizes will be up for grabs at the ASPI Spotlight Auction Dec. 4-6 at www.biddingowl.com/ASPI.

These dates coincide with the planned opening of “Elf, The Broadway Musical,” which was canceled along with “My Fair Lady” and “The Diaries of Adam and Eve” due to COVID-19. The auction is a way for the community theater to recover some of the revenue these shows would have provided.