2020 Highlights: COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath is year s top story in northern Brainerd lakes area
Take a month-by-month look at some of the more important stories that appeared on the pages of the Echo Journal in 2020 Written By: Nancy Vogt | ×
14 Lakes Craft Brewing Co. s float was all ready for the Crosslake St. Patrick s Day parade, which was canceled. Nancy Vogt / Echo Journal
Traditionally, the Echo Journal doesn’t pick a top story of the year, but rather publishes a list of highlights from each month.
However, it’s next to impossible not to say that the COVID-19 pandemic and its many effects on all of our lives was the top story of 2020 - and not just locally, but across the world.
State takes action against 2 more Minnesota businesses over COVID-19 restrictions
A Dec. 18 Minnesota Department of Health inspection found the Long Pine Store and Pizza north of Pine River violated Gov. Tim Walz s executive order prohibiting bars and restaurants from offering indoor service.
Written By:
Forum News Service | 8:00 am, Dec. 29, 2020 ×
PINE RIVER, Minn. The Minnesota Department of Health announced Monday, Dec. 28, it issued a cease-and-desist order and notices of license suspension to Long Pine Store and Pizza north of Pine River after determining it violated an executive order intended to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Gov. Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-99 in mid-November prohibiting bars and restaurants from offering on-premises dining amid a rapid acceleration in cases and hospitalizations. That order was modified earlier this month to permit outdoor dining at 50% capacity, but indoor dining remains closed to the public.
According to Minnesota Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Dan Huff, enforcement actions are a last resort when it is clear education and outreach are not sufficient to help a regulated establishment come into compliance with requirements, a news release stated.
“COVID-19 protocols are designed to slow the spread of this virus and reduce the impacts of this pandemic,” Huff stated in the release. “Our preference is always to work with businesses to bring them into compliance, and we consider regulatory actions as a last resort. The vast majority of businesses are doing their best to help slow down the spread of COVID-19, and we owe it to them to have a consistent and fair enforcement approach.”
On Wednesday, McCulloch set up a GoFundMe page to solicit donations because he said several customers offered to do so themselves. As of late Friday night, 94 donors had contributed a total of $10,530 toward a $100,000 goal. He said any funds not needed as part of the legal battle would go to charitable causes and he’ll be transparent about how the money is spent, including posting receipts.
GO FUND ME UPDATES! Again, thank you from every single one of us! We had someone drive 50 miles to bring us $100 bill.Posted by Mission Tavern on Thursday, December 17, 2020
“I’m trying to partner with other bars to just be like one big case so that we’re not all fighting it individually. I think that s the best way of going about it,” McCulloch said. “ … I will be fighting this right now. … I will not be paying the fine. I’m going to go to court for that and see how far I have to take it until they force me to pay it.”
On Wednesday, McCulloch set up a GoFundMe page to solicit donations because he said several customers offered to do so themselves. As of late Friday night, 94 donors had contributed a total of $10,530 toward a $100,000 goal. He said any funds not needed as part of the legal battle would go to charitable causes and he’ll be transparent about how the money is spent, including posting receipts.
GO FUND ME UPDATES! Again, thank you from every single one of us! We had someone drive 50 miles to bring us $100 bill.Posted by Mission Tavern on Thursday, December 17, 2020
“I’m trying to partner with other bars to just be like one big case so that we’re not all fighting it individually. I think that s the best way of going about it,” McCulloch said. “ … I will be fighting this right now. … I will not be paying the fine. I’m going to go to court for that and see how far I have to take it until they force me to pay it.”