Cavalier County
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Republican
Single Copy Volume 134
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Copyright © Langdon, North Dakota
COVID-19 Guidelines:
Gov. Doug Burgum, Tufte and state health officials strongly recommend North Dakotans follow the guidelines released by the White House to slow the spread of coronavirus, including: • Stay home and don’t go to work if you feel sick. • Practice good hygiene: wash your hands, avoid touching your face and cover coughs and sneezes. • If someone in the household has tested positive for coronavirus, keep the entire household at home. • Older individuals and those with underlying health conditions should stay away from other people. • Work from home when possible. • Avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people. • Avoid eating or drinking in bars, restaurants and food courts – use drive-thru, pickup or delivery options. • Avoid discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits.
Index
PAGE 4 PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 8-9 PAGE 10 PAGE 11-12 PAGE 13
As panic spreads amongst consumers across the nation, residents within Cavalier County and surrounding area will soon feel the full effects. It can be seen locally already as supply for certain products becomes limited and restrictions begin being implemented for certain services. Essential businesses, government, and healthcare facilities that are needed for the functioning of the community have already begun implementing measures to safeguard staff and customers. The Cavalier County Republican will provide these updates to readers as we are able. Those most at risk to this virus are the elderly - those over 65. The medical care facilities of Osnabrock Community Living Center (OCLC) and Maple Manor Care Center (MMCC) have already gone into lockdown and will not be allowing visitors access to residents. Families are asked not to visit their loved ones at the centers but are encouraged to call, send letters, and both facilities are working on providing families and residents a means to see their family's faces through video chatting. Activities have been limited at MMCC to strictly oneon-one with eating, and interaction of residents is limited. OCLC and MMCC are testing staff daily to ensure the safety of the residents. “We are following, of course, the North Dakota Department of Health, Governor Burgum’s, and CDC’s guidelines on what to do in this instance,” Connie Hankinson, MMCC director, said. “Trying to keep things calm, cause we don’t know
Farmers & Merchants State Bank 816 3rd Street, Langdon, ND 58249
(701)256-5431 • www.fmbanklangdon.com
Member FDIC
Monday, March 23, 2020
Number 12
COVID-19 spreads but now is not the time to panic By Melissa Anderson Republican Editor
OPINION AG CHURCH COMMUNITY SPORTS PROF DIR PN CLASSIFIED
Official Newspaper of Cavalier County Published since 1889
when and if there will ever be anything in Cavalier County. We are very vigilant about trying to protect the residents and staff at this point." Cavalier County Memorial Hospital and Clinic is following the CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 and have closed the clinic to walk-in visits at this time. CCMH CEO Jeff Stanley shared that all visits must be conducted via appointment, and visitors are being discouraged. If patients come with someone, that person will be asked to remain in the vehicle unless they are necessary to assist the patient with their visit. “We don’t want people waiting in the lobby that are not waiting for their own appointment,” CCMH Chief Nursing Officer Jamie Nienhaus said. CCMH’s Chief Operating Officer Darla Roder explained that all patients will be asked questions prior to their appointment such as: do you have a cough, do you have a fever, where have you traveled recently? CCMH administrators provided the following advice to the community. “Limit your exposure to social media. A lot of what is on social media is not helpful. It may cause you to be either flippant about this or cause you to panic about this, and we don’t think either of those things are useful. You want information about COVID-19? The CDC and the North Dakota Department of Health have wonderful resources,” they stated. In addition, CCMH says to use common sense during this time: wash hands, stay out of crowds, social distancing such as waiting in line- stay six feet away from others, if you don’t feel well- stay home. Do not be flippant about the virus as
many may not become critically ill from COVID-19, but the chances of giving it to someone who will are increased for the area due to the high concentration of vulnerable population of the older community. “These are the same things that we’ve been telling people and hearing from public service announcements for weeks, and it’s the stuff that will work. This virus seems to be fairly contagious so you are pretty likely to get it if you get in contact with somebody who has it,” they said. CCMH is in preparation mode with the goal of setting the number of people who may become ill from this over an extended period of time. Staff have been trained and supplies are being ensured to be available. “I don’t think we need to panic over it; I think we are managing our resources well. We are trying to flatten the curve.” At Langdon Community Drug, owner and head pharmacist Lyle Lutman shared that the pharmacy is preparing and has begun asking customers who are at high risk to call in their prescriptions and the pharmacy will deliver or mail them to them. The staff are keeping the store as sanitary as possible. “There hasn’t been a reported case here yet, but it’s just a matter of time. I don’t know when it’s going to hit, but it will hit and the less contact that we have the safer we are all going to be,” Lutman said. Langdon Community Drug
has not closed but is working on a plan should that be necessary in the future. Lutman shared that this will be a last resort as the pharmacy is essential to the health of the community. “I think what would help is if the community would just take heed to this and stay home. It’s highly contagious, and there is no vaccine for it. The elderly especially are vulnerable to it, and not only the elderly, but anybody that has any chronic medical conditions regardless of what your age is,” Lutman said. At the government level, the City of Langdon encourages residents to stay home if at all possible and practice good hygiene. Water systems play a vital role in public health, and the ND Department of Environment Quality has assisted the city in creating measures for the systems to ensure seamless operations during the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Public water systems are expected to continue to monitor water quality and provide sample results to regulators during the COVID-19 epidemic. “With the limit supply of toilet paper we do not want residents to be putting other items such as paper towels or tissue down the drains. As this will cause blockage and lift stations to back up,” Langdon City Auditor RoxAnne Hoffarth said. “Please do not travel if you don’t have too. Please stay home.” The Langdon City Commiscont. on page 2
CHS ready to help producers with fertilizer needs While the rest of the economy may come to a grinding halt, one sector that will not is the agricultural producers and those that assist in the growing of crops year after year. CHS, Inc., an agri-business cooperative owned by farmers and local cooperatives across the United States, has invested into the communities of Cavalier County and is ready to meet the fertilizer demands. “This is going to be huge cause this is going to give our
better. Crockett notes that with last year’s tough fall and many unable to apply their inputs before snow fell, the demand in spring 2020 will be even greater. “Just getting the product here is going to be an issue and getting it here timely. That’s the big thing, and this gives CHS another 25,000 tons that we will have under our roof ready to go,” Crockett said. Having the supply on hand in Langdon will provide relief
area producers a constant supply of fertilizer. They are not going to have to worry about running out. Our growers have been asking for this,” Jim Crockett, Northwest Branch manager. For Cavalier County, the tax base will provide substantial revenue. Employment will also be increased as a result of the new fertilizer plant. The supply chain for the product will make access to the necessary input that much
to the demand. This is especially good news considering the shortages of fertilizer that have been experienced at crucial times the last few planting seasons. “We’ve got supply, and we are going to have it for the growers,” Crockett said. Between the warehouse room and the ability to have it delivered by rail, Crockett is confident that CHS will be cont. on page 3
Our lobby will be closed to walk-in traffic beginning Wednesday, March 18 until further notice. See full details on page 3
