COVID-19 Vaccine Roll-out to
the Community Update

February 23, 2021 - The COVID-19 vaccination continues to be distributed to the community in a series of phases due to vaccine supply.  While the vaccine supply is limited right now, this phased approach allows for priority groups to receive vaccine first.
   The current priority groups include health care workers (paid & unpaid), long-term care staff and residents, police-fire-correctional institute personnel, and individuals age 65 and older.  We anticipate the WI Department of Health Services to open the next eligibility groups on March 1st. 
   The eligible groups are as follows in their priority order:
Education and Child Care
Individuals enrolled in Medicaid Long-Term Care programs (IRIS, Family Care, Katie Beckett)
Some public facing essential workers (Utility & communications workers, Public Transit, Food Supply workers)
Non-frontline health care essential personnel
Congregate Living
   Eligibility within many of these groups is based on their employment.  This will require some type of proof of eligibility upon receipt of the vaccine (ex. copy of pay stub, work ID cards, letter from employer using employer’s letterhead).
   This week, Crawford County Public Health has been allotted 200 doses of Moderna for first dose vaccinations.  We have scheduled individuals into clinics in Gays Mills and Wauzeka from our current waiting list.  “We continue to ask everyone to please remain patient as we do have a waiting list with more than 700 individuals on it and are only receiving limited amounts of vaccine weekly” says Cindy Riniker.  It is important to note that while the next priority group will be opened up March 1st, vaccinating those on our current list will take precedence.
   Crawford County Public Health plans to have the waiting list registration link updated to include education and childcare on March 1st.  To help manage our waiting list, we will open our registration link to the other priority groups in phases to keep our waiting list more current.  If you would like to be added to our waiting list, go to https://www.crawfordcountywi.org/health.html or call our office at 608-326-0229.

Interested Parties Zoom meeting aims to get
answers on delayed vaccine supplies

Update - Video our meeting with Kind rep, Baldwin rep, Pfaff, and Oldenberg.
Friday Feb 5th representation from Tammy Baldwin, Ron Kind, and Brad Pfaff are going to be present in our Crawford County Interested Parties Covid-19 zoom meeting.
   They are going to be fielding questions about COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. They are also interested in hearing from the public in our community. They were asked to come due to Crawford County not being targeted for any new vaccinations this week. All three were aware of the situation and said they will work towards answers.
   Our Interested Parties meeting contains representation from township, city, village officials, ems, fire, law enforcement, public health, county departments.
   Questions can be submitted to Bob Moses at the chamber of commerce.
Rmpdccoc@mhtc.net  608-326-8555 ext 12.  All questions will be accepted until Fri at 830 AM.  This meeting will be recorded and provided to the public.

Crawford County Public Health Will Have No
1st Dose Vaccine Next Week

Janurary 30, 2021 - Crawford County Public Health would like to let the community know that we were informed that we will be getting no vaccine for 1st doses next week, the week of February 1st.  “The health department is very discouraged by this news”, says Cindy Riniker, Health Officer “We have the infrastructure to deliver vaccine to the community but do not have the supply.”
   The health department will continue to share with the community the latest news on vaccine availability.  If residents are signed up to receive the vaccine with us, they can still sign up with their healthcare facilities as well.  The timeframe of getting through our list all depends on when and how much vaccine we get from the state.

Crawford County Public Health Recommends
Loosening Restrictions and Moving to Phase 3

Janurary 30, 2021 - Crawford County Public Health report the current metrics show we have a low virus activity in our community right now. The percent positivity rate is down to 2.4%, with total cases at 21 for an average case per day at 1.5 in the last two-week period.    Health care systems continue to report adequate staff and supplies and we have no new outbreaks. 
   With over half of our 8 metrics being green and our total case count decreasing by 68%, we feel comfortable continuing to ease restrictions.  We recommend moving to Phase 3. 
Crawford County’s Phase 3 includes the following recommendations:

Limit the amount of people in close contact at public gatherings to 75% of the total occupancy.
Limit indoor gatherings to 100 people or less. 
Limit outdoor gatherings to 250 people or less.
Be cautious when attending any large gatherings

While we see many positive signs of low virus activity, there was an increase in cases being from community spread, with no clear idea where they picked it up.  Therefore, we know the virus is still in our community, so it is important to continue to keep six-foot distance from others, wash hands often, wear a face covering, avoid non-essential travel, stay home when you are sick and get tested if you have symptoms.

Fatal house fire in Blue River - Victims identified

Update - February 1, 2021 - The Grant County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the State Fire Marshall's Office continues to investigate the fatal house fire that occurred in Blue River on January 23, 2021.  At this time the cause is undetermined and the investigation is still going; however there is no indication of foul play or that it was an intentional act.
Update - On January 25, 2021 at approximately 11:15 a.m., the Grant County Sheriff's Office was notified that Barbara Hurley, age 14 succumbed toher injuries she sustained in the house fire on Saturday in Blue River.
Update - January 25th - The Grant County Sheriff's Office in conjunction with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation continues to investigate the fatal house fire that occurred on Saturday January 23, 2021 in the Village of Blue River. 
   The family members of the deceased have been notified and the deceased are identified as:
   Andrew Brown - age 33 of Blue River
   Frederick Hurley - age 12 of Blue River
There are still two children in critical condition. Barbara Hurley, age 14 is currently in Milwaukee at a hospital and Francis Hurley, age 15 is at UW Madison.  The other adults, Jenny Joe Moe, age 37 and GIlbert Moe, age 38 have been treated and released from the hospital.
BLUE RIVER, WI - January 23, 2020 - At approximately 3:40am, Grant County Dispatch received a call of smoke coming from the residence at 105 Jay St. in the Village of BlueRiver. Blue River Fire and EMS responded to the scene along with Deputies from Grant and Richland County, and Officers from the Boscobel Police Department.
   Due to reports of multiple people people being trapped inside the residence, mutual aid was requested from Boscobel, Muscoda and Fennimore Fire Departments, along with EMS Units from Boscobel and Muscoda.
   3 adults and 3 children were transported to area hospitals. 2 Adults were treated and released. 1 child was transferred by med flight to UWHospital in Madison in critical condition. 1 child was air lifted to a hospital in Milwaukee. A 33 year old male and 12 year old male died as a result of injuries sustained in the fire.
   Fire Marshall's from the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. Other agenciesassisting at the scene were the Blue River Fire Department, Boscobel Fire Department, Muscoda Fire Department, Blue River EMS, BoscobelEMS, Boscobel Police Department, Richland County Sheriff's Office, Grant County Coroner's Office, Grant County Highway Department.
   The Red Cross was contacted to provide assistance to the family. The fire remains under investigation. The Sheriff's Office would also like to thank the Cenex Station in Blue River for assisting the first responders at the scene by providing food and hot drinks.

Guttenberg man dies in single vehicle crash

Clayton County, Iowa - On January 16th, 2021 at approximately 7:00 PM the Clayton County Communications Center received a report of a one vehicle accident on Great River Road near Errthum Road.
   Upon arrival it was determined a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado operated by Michael Scott Horn (53) of Guttenberg was traveling westbound on Great River Road when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway. Horn left the roadway, entered the north ditch and collided head-on with a rocky bluff.
   Horn was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. Assisting the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office on scene was Guttenberg Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Holy Cross Fire and EMS, and Autotek Service Center.

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