BURNETT COUNTY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2020 VOL. 58 NO. 39 www.burnettcountysentinel.com $1.00
FALL SPORTS: WIAA votes to push back start of contact sports to Sept. 7 P3
County issues mask guidance for public JONATHAN RICHIE EDITOR@BURNETTCOUNTYSENTINEL.COM
Burnett County Public Health along with the county’s COVID-19 Response Team is encouraging everyone who is able to wear a mask to wear one when in a public setting. This guidance was recently announced in a press release shortly after the county announced a seventh positive case in Burnett County.
Since then the number of cases in Burnett County has increased to 12 total cases amongst residents. On Monday, Burnett County Public Health reported 13 confirmed cases. They also reported 1,337 negative cases, 75 cases being monitored and four people have recovered from COVID-19. Earlier this month, Webster Village board recommended everyone wear a mask in public. Some retailers have also put mask
requirements in place. Dollar General is asking all customers to wear a mask at their stores as well as larger retailers in the region like Wal-Mart. “Burnett County Public Health and the Burnett County COVID-19 Response Team are encouraging everyone who is safely able to do so wears a mask when they are in a public setting,” a press release stated. “The Centers for Disease SEE MASKS, PAGE 2
2020 Gandy Dancer Days canceled There won't be a 23rd Annual Gandy Dancer Days in Webster this year. "Masks, social distancing, sanitizing to the max -- those just aren't elements compatible with Gandy Dancer Days' fun, entertainment and activities, " said Bill Summer, Webster Area Chamber of Commerce. "It just isn't worth the risk to our elders, families, tourists, and seasonal residents." The annual three-day summer celebration is normally scheduled for the second weekend in August. In addition to the COVID-19 safety precautions, Summer decided soliciting donations from local businesses and non-profit organizations just didn't seem the right thing to do, given the economic circumstances. Those donations and grants underwrite events like the bicycle rodeo, pony rides live music and other activities. The cancellation also means no income generated for the Central Burnett County Fair Board, Webster's American Legion Otis Taylor Post 96 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 96, which is a hardship for those organizations. "It's really a loss all the way around, and we regret having to take this action," admitted Summer. "We really hope that either when the pandemic subsides or a vaccine is finally available to protect folks, we’ll be able to plan on having a really big blast in August 2021 so please understand, be patient and hang in there!"
JONATHAN RICHIE | SENTINEL
Crews have been at the Burnett Dairy Cooperative for a week cleaning up the debris from the fire in the Wood River Creamery.
A 'truly amazing response' JONATHAN RICHIE SENTINEL EDITOR
When Burnett Dairy Cooperative employees reported a potential structure fire in the Wood River Creamery building it could have been an unmitigated disaster. However, Burnett County First Responders and fire crews from the surrounding area jumped into action. Those men and women from countless departments from Burnett County and the greater
Your healthcan’t-wait partner NEWS 715-463-2341 editor@burnettcountysentinel.com
surrounding area were given the appropriate praise by officials. The Burnett County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement acknowledging Grantsburg, Siren, Webster, St. Croix Hertel, Frederic, Cushing, Pine City and Rush City Fire departments were all on the scene Monday night and into Tuesday morning. Later on Tuesday, after the Sentinel went to press, another press release stated that fire departments in Danbury, Scott, Webb Lake, Shell Lake and Spooner helped with the
fire on Tuesday. While those departments were handling the fire at Burnett Dairy, Jackson Fire Department was covering the county in case another fire broke out. Many of them are volunteers and Siren Chief of Police Chris Sybers pointed out that these men and women worked their jobs that day then went to fight the fire for roughly 12 straight hours. Sybers than made the call to SEE DAIRY FIRE, PAGE 20
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