BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2020 VOL. 58 NO. 26 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
ZEST FOR LIVING: Check out our special spring edition. PAGES 12-17
Speed change in Alpha on hold JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Medical facilities tackling virus and other illnesses JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Hospitals, clinics and medical facilities are on the front lines for the COVID-19 pandemic. While these facilities are handling those cases, they are also taking care of patients with non-virus-related illnesses. The Sentinel reached out to Burnett Medical Center (BMC) and St. Croix Regional Medical Center (SCRMC)
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has decided to not raise the speed limit in the Alpha and the Town of Wood River. The Sentinel reported the initial change was set at making the road 55 mph all the way through Alpha on State Highway 70, according to statements made by public officials. Jennifer Berg of WisDOT, clarified at a meeting in February that the proposed speed limit was 45. Berg is a traffic engineer based out of the Eau Claire Office for WisDOT. However, Berg said the speed limit will not be changed right now and may be reassessed in the future. The decision on the speed limit will hinge on driveways and access points on highway 70. “Access and parking lot changes in progress at the dairy will impact travel speeds,” the report states. “Recommend collecting new data when these changes are complete and leaving the speed zone as-is for now.”
on how they are handling the current situation and what the public needs to know. Burnett County remains one of six counties across the state that does not currently have any reported confirmed SEE HOSPITALS, PAGE 2 SUBMITTED
Medical Staff from SCRMC have been overwhelmed by some letters they’ve gotten from area children.
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
Pandemic locks out spring sports The WIAA announced the spring sports season is canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Athletes losing ‘out on the last opportunity to play not only for themselves but with their teammates.’ Story on page 26.
SEE ALPHA SPEED, PAGE 2
Survey: 35% of businesses believe they will close JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
A DOT study showed most drivers speed through the Alpha section on STH 70.
A statewide survey showed that 35% of Wisconsin businesses think they will be forced to close their doors if economic conditions continue for more than three months during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visions Northwest, one of nine regional economic development groups in Wisconsin, released the results recently. “The survey was conducted by Visions Northwest and the eight other regional organizations in the state along with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) and UW-Oshkosh
to assess COVID-19 business recovery ability and state and federal aid effort,” a press release stated. “It yielded nearly 2,550 responses from companies in 63 of the state’s 72 counties, covering the period April 1-10.” The results from the survey showed SEE BUSINESSES, PAGE 2
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