How COVID-19 is affecting Ozark County


Image by Thor Deichmann from Pixabay

In December 2019, several people in Wuhan, China, began displaying symptoms of a new coronavirus. Since then, COVID-19 has swept swiftly through the world, officially being declared a pandemic on March 11 by the World Health Organization.

At press time Tuesday, eight cases had been confirmed in Missouri and no deaths had occurred in the state. No cases had been reported or confirmed in Ozark County; however, neighboring states have more confirmed cases, including 16 in Arkansas. At press time Tuesday, more than 4,400 cases had been reported in the U.S., and at least 87 people had died of COVID-19. 

More than 7,100 people have died worldwide from the virus, and unprecedented measures are being taken around the world in hopes of slowing  the pandemic. WHO and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging everyone to take extra precautions. 

CDC guidance, as of Sunday, recommends that for the next eight weeks, “organizers … cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more.” However, at a press conference Monday afternoon, President Donald Trump advised that Americans not gather in groups of more than 10 people. Monday evening, residents of some sections of California had been ordered to “shelter in place” to help stop the spread of the virus. 

Everyone is encouraged to stay home whenever possible to avoid catching or spreading the illness.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses, schools and events are being closed or canceled nationwide. This week’s Times includes a roundup of stories outlining some of the closures and cancellations that have been announced in Ozark County and surrounding area. 

Readers are cautioned that this evolving situation  changes quickly, including the information shared here. Before heading to an event or place, it’s wise to call first to confirm that the event is still happening and the place is still open.  

 

COVID-19 COMMUNITY BRIEFS

 

Sheriff: Those in need  of food or emergency items are encouraged to call OCSD

Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed encourages residents who are in need of food or other emergency items during the COVID-19 crisis to contact the sheriff’s office at 417-679-4633. 

The offer of help applies to all residents, not only to families with children, Reed said. 

 

State FFA Convention postponed

The Missouri FFA Association has announced that the state high school FFA Convention scheduled for April 23-24 will be postponed. The organization’s Facebook page says a contingency plan is being developed for State Convention, State Leadership Development, and State Career Development events. The post also recommends that FFA chapters “reconsider holding all area and district FFA events involving significant numbers of students.”

 

The Center closes  until March 30, frozen meals are being delivered

The Center in Gainesville is closed until Monday, March 30, when the SeniorAge board in Springfield, which oversees this area’s centers serving older residents, will consider whether the centers should remain closed or can safely reopen. The closures were made in response to concerns about the COVID-19 virus.

The Center’s usual distribution of frozen, home-delivered meals was completed Monday, March 16, as scheduled, with volunteers delivering the meal packages to front doors, waiting while the recipients took the bags inside to empty them and then sterilizing the bags after the recipient returned them to the door for the volunteer to pickup. The procedure, designed to prevent the spread of the virus, allows deliveries to be completed with no contact between the volunteer and the meal recipients.

The frozen meals will also be distributed Monday, March 23, and will be delivered the same way, a spokesperson for The Center said.

Those who normally eat their noon meal in The Center’s dining room on Highway 5 north at the Gainesville city limits may call The Center at 679-4746, and an employee will deliver a frozen meal to their car in the parking lot. 

The closures came as SeniorAge responded to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service. 

 

No visitors allowed at GHCC

Gainesville Health Care Center is not allowing visitors at this time.

“The safety and well-being of our residents, their families and our employees is a top priority,” GHCC administrator Sherri Beasley said in a press release. 

“Our senior management team, clinical leadership and chief medical officer are closely monitoring evolving concerns and are taking every precaution to minimize the threat to our community,” Beasley said. 

The press release also said GHCC is complying with recommendations from the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Health Care Association.

 

Deb & Lou’s Cafe closes for two weeks

During the COVID-19 crisis, Deb Garcia and her husband, Lou, were initially serving only “to-go” orders  Deb & Lou’s, on the west side of the Gainesville square, but

according to an internet post March 17, the cafe will be closed for at least 2 weeks.

In their recommendations for helping to stop the spread of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control recommend that individuals stay a distance of 6 feet apart and avoid person-to-person contact whenever possible.

To order take-out from Deb & Lou’s, call 417-679-0048.

 

Historium closing for at least two weeks

The Ozark County Historium will be closed for at least two weeks amid COVID-19 concerns. Volunteers will make a determination as to the reopening date at the end of the two weeks. Volunteer Janet Taber expressed disappointment that the closure comes while the Historium is hosting the “Struggle for Statehood” exhibit from the Missouri Humanities Council. The Historium will request an extension of the time allotted for the exhibit here, but most likely it will have to move on to the next stop on its tour, she said.

Meanwhile, Taber encourages would-be Historium visitors to use this “shut-in time” to “search online for your ancestors! Start that genealogy project you’ve been thinking about; write down some of the family stories you’ve gathered, label those old photos so future generations will know who they are; use your down time productively and have fun doing it!”

Watch the Times  and the Historium’s Facebook page for updates on the plans to reopen. 

 

OC Library closed indefinitely 

The Ozark County Volunteer Library closed Monday in an attempt to curtail any potential spread of COVID-19 and will remain closed until volunteers feel it is safe to reopen. 

Library board president Kathryn Atkinson told the Times Monday that almost all of the library volunteers are older adults and well within the CDC’s designated category of being at higher risk of catching the virus. 

Library patrons who have books checked out can return them in the library’s drop box while the library is closed, but Atkinson said that the library will not impose any past due fees during the closure. 

“We hate closing, but almost everyone is within the at-risk zone,” she said. “It’s just not safe right now.”

 

Firefighting class postponed until after May 1

A structural firefighting techniques course, scheduled for March 20-21 at the Gainesville Volunteer Fire Department, has been postponed until later this year. GVFD chief Ed Doiron said he was contacted Monday by Mark Arnold with the Missouri University Fire and Rescue Training Institute, who said all MU fire trainings have been canceled and will be rescheduled sometime after May 1. Watch for updates on the rescheduled date in the Times and on the Gainesville Fire and Rescue Facebook group. 

 

WRVEC closes offices, suspends disconnections due to members’ non-payment

White River Valley Electric Cooperative has closed its offices at all area locations, including the Gainesville branch. 

Drive-thru windows will still be open with member representatives available to assist customers. Front-line employees will have gloves and sanitizing materials on hand to safeguard themselves during and in between transactions. 

WRVEC has also announced that it will suspend all electric service disconnections due to non-payment until April 30, and it will continue to monitor the need after that. Late penalties will not be applied, and member representatives are available for payment arrangements for those struggling during this difficult time. 

Payments can be made through WRVEC’s SmartHub app or by calling WRVEC at 1-800-879-4056 or 417-335-9335. 

For more information, visit whiteriver.org. 

 

Dora’s RAD Nite postponed

Terry Newton with Dora R-III School Foundation says the RAD (raffle, auction, dinner) Nite scheduled for March 28 will be postponed to a later date. Newton said it was a difficult decision, but after speaking with school officials, organizers decided to postpone the event until more information is obtained on the COVID-19 situation. A new date will be posted on the Dora R-III School Foundation Facebook page and will be published in the Times. 

 

Women’s prayer brunch canceled

The Ozark County women’s prayer brunch, scheduled for March 21 at Theodosia United Methodist Church, has been canceled amid COVID-19 concerns. 

 

Cross-cultural ministry event cancelled

Jake and Stephanie Flageolle have announced that their cross-cultural ministry event, scheduled for March 20 at Anew Church, has been canceled due to the pandemic. 

The Flageolles say they hope to reschedule the event in the future. Watch the Times for updates on a new date.

 

Court Square operating drive-thru only

Court Square Pharmacy in Gainesville on Tuesday transitioned to conduct all business through the pharmacy’s drive-thru window. The inside lobby is closed. Call the pharmacy at 417-679-2650 for more information. 

 

MSHP suspends driver road exams statewide

The Missouri State Highway Patrol announced Tuesday it has suspending driver road testing at all locations through at least March 31 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

MSHP is monitoring the status of the COVID-19 and will update the public on testing after March 31 as more information becomes available. Written testing services will continue, but the Patrol will restrict the number of applicants allowed in each facility at one time to ensure recommended social distancing measures are followed. The location of services is subject to change due to building closures in some jurisdictions.

 

Lake Bums BrewCo closes amid COVID-19 concerns

Pontiac microbrewery Lake Bums BrewCo announced Tuesday that it has closed its doors through the end of the month in response to federal health officials’ guidelines for social distancing and the government’s recommendation to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people.

A Facebook announcement was posted around 9 a.m. Tuesday.

“...On March 31 we will re-assess the situation based on information available at that time. This was not an easy decision for our small business to make, but we feel it was the right decision in order to help ensure the safety and well-being of our customers, our friends and community, and ourselves. We hope you and your families stay healthy (and sane) during this challenging time. We love and appreciate you all, we thank you for your patience and understanding, and we look forward to seeing your smiling faces on the other side of the bar very soon.”

 

Ozark County Jail suspends all

in-person visitation, P&P meetings

The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department has suspended indefinitely all in-person visitation with inmates housed in the Ozark County Jail. 

“Inmate visitation, court probation services and probation and parole check-in will be suspended until further notice,” Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed said Monday. “All [inmates] affected will need to make contact with their reporting officer. Visitation in the office will be conducted by phone or video conferencing. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause, but this office is taking every precaution necessary to keep citizens safe.”

Douglas County Jail and Baxter County, Arkansas, Jail are also closed to in-person visitation and probation and parole meetings. The Howell County Sheriff’s Office announced in a Facebook post Monday that it has also suspended any visitation in the back of the jail. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423