Community

TIFFIN– Ashton and Stella Welch were happily playing in their garage when told to put on their coats and come outside. In the driveway of their Tiffin home, chairs and blankets, to cut the chill of a strong breeze, were waiting. Minutes later, several units from the Tiffin and Oxford Fire Departments slowly turned the corner from Redbird Run onto West Goldfinch Drive with all of the emergency lights flashing.
With their eyes wide in excitement, the twins heard “Happy Birthday Ashton and Stella!” from a loudspeaker on one of the trucks.

NORTH LIBERTY– The North Liberty City Council approved a 28E agreement with Johnson County for funding the GuideLink Center, also known as the Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center (BHUCC), or access center. The council, meeting online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, voted 5-0 in favor of the agreement, which provides a $500,000 contribution for construction of the facility. Payments by the city will be made at various points throughout the project, which was scheduled to resume construction the week of March 2, with a November completion and December opening anticipated.

AMANA– Whirlpool’s Amana refrigeration plant was shut down on Tuesday, March 24, after an employee had been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus.
According to Whirlpool spokesman Chad Parks, the individual had not been in the plant since Tuesday, March 17, but did report close contact with one other employee, who was subsequently sent home.
“We are working closely with local health authorities to provide the necessary support for our colleagues and we are wishing them well,” Parks said in response to an email inquiry.

TIFFIN– In addition to shutting down until April 13, and the putting on-hold of all activities, the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Community School District has seen another impact from the coronavirus pandemic as five high school exchange students have been sent back to their home countries.

SWISHER– The COVID-19 pandemic has led to store shelves being emptied as worried shoppers grab supplies they think they need in case of being quarantined or ordered to remain at home.
Among the items being hoarded is hand sanitizer.
While not a replacement for soap and water, it is a product recommended to help minimize the spread of illnesses, including COVID-19, and recently people most at-risk have had great difficulty in finding hand sanitizer to purchase.