March 11: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Mar. 9, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 564,268 on Monday, Mar. 1 to 566,871 on Monday, Mar. 8. That is a statewide increase of 2,603 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,412 to 6,481, an additional 69 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
Wisconsin continues to be a national leader in COVID-19 vaccine administration. As of March 5:
• 1.6 million doses administered
• 9.8 percent of Wisconsin’s population (over 572,000) has completed their series
• 59.8 percent of people age 65 or older (over 600,000) have received their first dose
March 11: News from around the Driftless Area
‘News from Around the Driftless Area’ is a compilation showcasing the excellent work and interesting tidbits from the community journalists sprinkled throughout our area.
VIROQUA –Kickapoo Corners Family Restaurant will receive monthly funding for COVID-19 relief from Barstool Sports. Kickapoo Corners owner Dionne Cary submitted a video plea to Barstool Fund after not receiving adequate government aid. On Monday, February, 10 she received a Facetime call from the sports and pop culture company s creator Dave Portnoy confirming she d receive $5,000 per month. Cary has been able to pay her staff, but had to close the restaurant on Mondays and Tuesdays. According to Barstool s website, they have raised over $36 million dollars and helped 282 small businesses in the United States… Effective Wednesday, March 17, the Westby Times and Vernon County Broadcaster will combine to become the Vernon County Times and be a Wedn
March 4: Weekly Driftless Region COVID-19 update Number of UK variant cases in Wisconsin triples in the last week
Editors note: this story is updated as of Tuesday, Feb. 23, in the COVID variants section to reflect growth in numbers.
DRIFTLESS - Over the past week COVID-19, diagnoses statewide increased from 559,998 on Monday, Feb. 22 to 564,268 on Monday, Mar. 1. That is a statewide increase of 4,270 cases. The number of deaths increased from 6,284 to 6,412, an additional 128 deaths, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).
BREAKING NEWS: On Thursday, March 4, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services announced that the number of B.1.1.7 (UK variant) cases in Wisconsin had more than tripled in the last week, rising to 19. No information was given about where those cases are located in the state. Last known news was that there had been one case in the Eau Claire area, and several cases in the Milwaukee area.
March 4: News from around the Driftless Area
‘News from Around the Driftless Area’ is a compilation showcasing the excellent work and interesting tidbits from the community journalists sprinkled throughout our area.
VIROQUA –The Friends of Vernon County Parks & Forests recently concluded their successful series of ‘Winter Hikes and Bonfires’ with a hike at Sidie Hollow County Park. Expect an announcement soon about a spring series of ‘Spring Ephemerals Hikes,’ to begin in April… The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded more than $2.7 billion in funding to nearly 2,900 public housing authorities (PHAs). This includes $273,937 to the Viroqua Housing Authority, and $70,170 to the Prairie du Chien Housing Authority… Students in grades 7 to 12 at Viroqua Area Schools who have been part of the hybrid learning model since the school year began will resume in-person learning five days a week, Monday, March 1. Students who are taki
Coon bites Independent-Scout editor RACCOON IS PRO-CESSED for trip to Wis-consin Lab of Hygiene for a rabies test, which came back negative.
UTICA TOWNSHIP - It was a pleasant Friday afternoon around 2 p.m. last week. My plan was simple. I’d travel to Prairie du Chien attend to some things at the courthouse and in the county administration building and return home by 5 p.m.
It seemed simple anyway. The only thing to do was round up the dogs and get them inside before I left. I went outside after them and heard the border collie start barking around the corner of the house. The Australian shepherd and I started around the corner and he took off barking.