State of Wisconsin Health Department website. Within Clark County more broadly, the Highway 29 corridor to Abbotsford is a hotspot. For nearby institutions of a different sort, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) has instituted systemwide testing of inmates, while an EMS call received by Chippewa County on November 23 from the Stanley Prison’s address of 100 Corrections Drive blacksout unspecified “complications” being experienced by an elderly gentleman as posted in the online media log at the county sheriff’s office website. While not confirmed as such, the blacked-out area is exactly five spaces wide, or just the right amount of room needed to contain the word ‘covid.’ At the same time, the Wisconsin DOC website at doc.wi.gov registered a pandemic-long total of 91 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among prison staff workers, while among inmates 344 at the local Stanley Prison had tested positive over the length of the pandemic thus far. Of cases among the inmate population, 18 were actively positive as of November 30, while numbers were unclear for active staff cases versus those recovered, although the Wisconsin DOC site lists 219 actively positive staff members statewide. Over the length of the pandemic a total of 1,816 staff have tested positive, including the 219 actively so. Reportedly one inmate has died from COVID at the Stanley Prison.
Shifting from lock-up to the hospital bed picture, just 15 percent of hospital beds were immediately available statewide, with over 88 percent of beds in use, including 87 percent of ICU beds as of November 30. COVID-19 testing, meanwhile, is listed on the state site as being available at Our Lady of Victory Hospital – Urgent Care and through the Ascension Medical Group at 704 Clark Street in Thorp, with local test sites including Prevea Health Center in Chippewa Falls (by appointment), along with a drive up and walk-thru event held December 1 at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair grounds at 225 Edwards Street, also located in Chippewa Falls.
An ongoing drive-up testing facility, meanwhile, is set to go live as of December 7, being located at 6697 US 12 West in Eau Claire Posted hours for the soon-coming drive-up test site are 11:00a.m. to 7:00p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. on Saturdays. In Eau Claire at present, ongoing community testing is being done at Memorial High School, the UW-Eau Claire Davies Center, and Sacred Heart Hospital on Clairemont Avenue by appointment.
For mostly old-age healthcare facilities with active public health investigations, meanwhile, Chippewa County lists Chippewa Manor and Rehab, Dove Bloomer, Dove Healthcare at the Wissota Health and Regional Vent Center, Meadowbrook at Bloomer, and the Wisconsin Veteran’s Home at Chippewa Falls. For Clark County, the listed facilities with ongoing investigations include Oakbrook Health and Rehabilitation, Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center, Neillsville Care and Rehabilitation, and the Colonial Center Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.
For Eau Claire meanwhile, the places under investigation for COVID spread are Augusta Health and Rehabilitation, Dove Healthcare South and Dove Healthcare West, Grace Lutheran Communities at Prairie Pointe Rehab Suites and River Pines Long-Term Concierge Care, and Oakwood Health Services. For Taylor County to the northeast, public health investigations related to COVID-19 are taking place at Aspirus Care and Rehab in Medford and Rib Lake Health Services.
Finally in terms of the ongoing holiday season and shopping, there are certain places in the Chippewa Valley that one may just want to avoid, if the data at the Wisconsin Department of Health website is taken into account. With cases catalogued according to census tract data, the hotspots range from a death rate of 1.06 percent (six of 485 cases) squeezed between highway 27 and the Chippewa River in the countryside, to 4.38 percent in census tract 102 of Chippewa County, at and around the intersection of 53 with 29. The area in question has hosted 23 of 51 deaths within Chippewa County, while census tract 4 in Eau Claire County, in and around the City of Altoona has registered 18 deaths out of 57 total countywide in Eau Claire County.
Clark County residents, meanwhile, will want to stay away from the Highway 29 corridor generally, together with those areas just to the south and north of it, as the Thorp area was tied with the Abbotsford census tract for 11 COVID deaths each as of Monday November 30, while the Owen-Withee area registered eight total deaths from COVID-19 on the Department of Health map at dhs.wisconsin.gov at the same interval. For Taylor County, the City of Medford had a death rate of 2.42 percent from COVID as of November 30 or five of the 207 confirmed cases.
on the projector screen.
“If you go back to the Community Conversation, these are the things that were identified,” the Superintendent said as he noted that the End policy was “more important than the limits (documents)” that the board reviewed periodically for re-approval at its regular board meetings.
Approved June 24, 2019 after the Community Conversation the previous Spring, the End Policy lists the School Mission as being “to ensure that all students will learn at a high level while becoming college and career ready.” Included in the vision statement section are the expectations that students have access to “relevant, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences every day,” administration, faculty and staff that work interdependently and enjoy their work, faculty collaboration with students, families and the community to ensure student acquisition of “necessary knowledge, skills, and core values,” and a school culture where every student, parent, staff and community member feels valued, respected, supported, and challenged in their interactions with each other on a daily basis. From there the document goes into goals or ends, listing these according to E – 1, E – 2, and E -3 classifications. Creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills using multiple measures of performance, along with effective communication, citizenship, and personal responsibility as contributing members to a diverse and global community” are among the things that students are expected to demonstrate per the Ends Policy. From Ends it was into the budget, which Madison wasn’t talking about, or so it seemed.
“I saw you said in an email that something came in less than was thought,” board member Chad Verbeten said to Koenig, adding that he was “as curious as the next person on the ongoing effects” of the present reality. There was reported to be “no talk” in Madison of the next budget and its impact on education.
Talking about district policy SL – 9 meanwhile, Koenig said in part that, “I think my biggest question on all these is what’s ‘in a timely manner?’” “It was probably left intentionally vague,” Carlson said of the language in question, “otherwise you wouldn’t be in compliance at some point.” Verbeten meanwhile, brought up how Koenig had told the board “right away” when the pool and other things happened, going on.
“Let’s just hypothetically say I don’t agree with policy governance,” he said. That notwithstanding, the district had policy governance. “We hired a superintendent—in this case you—and we trust” the teaching and other experience that you have, Verbeten told Koenig. As to Oriole Park, meanwhile, the district’s setup in terms of governance made a difference. For one example, Stanley-Boyd’s arrangement as a unified school board made it different than a common school district in that it had a budget hearing, as opposed to an annual meeting—but there was more. As one of the district residents chaired the annual meeting in a common school district, pushing through Oriole Park would have been harder, meaning that it might not have happened. Before long, it was time to adjourn for the night, possibly taking a break from workshop meetings for COVID safety reasons.
“Thanks for presenting,” Area Two representative Denise Hoffstatter told Ludy at the end of the night’s workshop on how to help the school.
“Thanks for asking,” Ludy replied.
Raymond Leland Stoe
1934-2020
Raymond “Ray” Leland Stoe, age 86 of Lindstrom MN, passed away on December 14, 2020 at home after a two year battle with MDS/AML leukemia. Raymond was born on May 11, 1934 to Ole and Alma (Hellesvig) Stoe at their home in Ross, MN.
Raymond grew up the youngest of ten on a sheep farm during the Great Depression. He loved sharing inspirational stories from his childhood.
Raymond joined the US Air Force in January 1954, serving in Labrador during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in October 1958 with the rank of Airman First Class while stationed at Lincoln Air Force Base in Nebraska. During his time in the Air Force, Raymond earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Ray met the love of his life, Delores “Dee” Jenson, daughter of Bernhard and Cora (Lee) Jenson of Badger MN. Ray and Dee were married May 9, 1959. They were blessed with three children, and the family enjoyed camping and gardening as well as many other hobbies.
Ray will be remembered and missed for many things: His love of music, outdoors, indomitable hope in the most dif_cult situations, his strong
faith in God, and maybe most of all, how much he loved being a grandpa to his eleven grandchildren and _ve great-grandchildren. He
prayed for each of his children and grandchildren each and every day, and he loved to encourage them and inspire them. He would often tell real-life stories of why we must never give up hope. Even in this dif_cult year
of 2020, he had a faith that never waivered. “Never give up” and “don’t worry, you’ll see” were some of his mottos, was a _y-in _shing SCHOOL
even in this dif_cult year.
FROM PAGE 1 Ray had many childhood stories of sheep, music, and the Great Depression. He had stories about hiding in the straw piles (from threshing) on the way to school to keep from freezing to death, and stories of riding his beloved sheep buck. Another favorite was a harrowing account of joining his siblings on the shed-roof to make wolf calls and being surprised when wolves actually showed up to surround the shed! He also had stories of enjoying music with his best childhood friend, _ddler Gilmore Lee. Gilmore would
play _ddle while Ray would
sometimes play back-up guitar. They were even on a Canadian radio station once, when they were teenagers.
Ray could pick up nearly any instrument and, without lessons, play it well enough to get the whole room dancing. He especially enjoyed organ, accordion, guitar, and concertina. One of his favorite songs to play was Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood”. Ray and Dee were beautiful to watch on the dance _oor of any wedding.
As a young man, Ray did custom combining for Texas and Oklahoma. He would begin by driving a combine from Roseau MN down to Texas and Oklahoma. He would combine the crops as they ripened, beginning in Raymond was preceded in death by his parents and by his parents-in-law. Four sisters and _ve
trip Geneva (Kenneth) Johnson, Margaret (John) Albin, Delores (Myron) Johnson, Mary (Morris) Bottem, Clarence Lee. Four brothers and one sister-in-law: An_n Stoe,
Henry (Audrey) Stoe, Delbert Stoe, Reuben Stoe. Sonin- law: Paul Hoage. Brother- in-law Ronald Jenson. One niece: Betty Manship.
Raymond is survived by his wife: Delores Stoe of Lindstrom, MN. Three children: Wyann Hoage of Stanley, WI, Leland “Lee” (Kate) Stoe of Apple Valley, MN, and Lori (Rick) Brown of Somerset, WI. Eleven grandchildren: David Back of Stanley, WI, Mathew “Matt” (Becky) Hoage of Eau Claire, WI, Joseph Back of Stanley, WI, Samantha “Sam/Sammy” Hoage of Minneapolis, MN, Isaac (Sara) Stoe of Somerset, WI, Tenner (Liz) Stoe of White Bear Lake, MN, Justin Brown of Somerset, WI, Jesse (Maggie Messman) Brown of Winona, MN, Mckenzie Brown of Lake Elmo, MN, Jordan Brown (Abby Cole) of Somerset, WI, Jonathan Brown of Somerset, WI. Five great-grandchildren: Miriam, Abigail “Abbie”, and Elisabeth “Ella” Hoage of Eau Claire, WI, Easton Stoe of Somerset, WI, Scarlett Brown of Winona, MN. Sister: Vivian Lee of Mound, MN. Sisterin- law Bev Stoe of Baxter, MN, Sisters-in-law and their husbands: Annette (LeRoy) Wiskow of Silver Bay, MN, Carol (Bob) Anderson of Minot, ND. Many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Special thanks to Ray’s oncologist Dr Touma at the VA, who showed the highest level of care in every instance, treating Ray as if he was his own dad, to the other wonderful staff at the VA, to the staff at Woodwinds Hospital, and to St Croix Hospice who were so helpful for the three plus days that they were involved. They helped Ray to accomplish his desire to leave the hospital and go home to his dear wife. And to Lord of Lakes Church, his friends and neighbors, and many more that are too numerable to mention. Most of all, it would be Ray’s desire to give thanks to his God, his Lord Jesus Christ, for the many wonderful years of life that he was given on this earth.
Due to Covid restrictions, the viewing (10:00 AM), funeral (11:00 AM), and internment (1:00) on December 23 will be limited to immediate family only. The viewing and funeral service will be held at Lord of Lakes Lutheran in Forest Lake, MN, with masks and social-distancing in place. Internment will follow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in St Paul, MN. The brief internment service will be live-streamed at 1:00 on December 23. Mattson Funeral Home of Forest Lake is helping the family with arrangements. A slide-show and video will be available on the website: mattsonfuneralhome.com.
brothers-in-law:
the South and working his way north towards North
Dakota, and _nally arriving
back at Roseau MN in time to harvest the local crops.
Ray worked most of his life as a factory worker, _rst
in sheet metal and later as an inspector of photographic and x-ray equipment. He loved the precision and exactness of getting things ‘just perfect’ within 5/1000 of an inch. He was in this position as part of the workforce at PAKO when the famous 1965 tornadoes took the roof off of the PAKO plant in Golden Valley, MN. He somehow survived by hiding with others under heavy metal tables and hanging onto metal poles until it was all over. He drove home in a car missing its rear window.
Ray was never a big man, but always strong. Just six years ago, at the age of 80, he went hunting and shot the biggest buck of his life. He managed to pull the 180 lb deer out of the woods by himself! Again, “Never give up!” He enjoyed _shing even
more, loving the peaceful surroundings of God’s creation. One of his favorite memories to Reindeer Lake in northern Saskatchewan with his buddy Ralph from card club.
Ray and Dee enjoyed being part of a card club that lasted 35 or 40 years, meeting one evening each month during the school year. Eight couples took turns hosting the monthly get-togethers, enjoying supper together before playing 500 until the wee hours of the morning. Then it was goodbye to their friends until the following month.
Ray greatly loved the outdoors from the time he was a child right up until the end. As a boy, he stayed out playing hockey a little too long, until his toes froze black. He didn’t lose them, although he had to miss quite a bit of school until the danger of gangrene was gone. Later as an adult, Ray loved that Dee joined him in many outdoor pursuits such as 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, and camping. Sometimes Ray’s insistence on going outside (every single day when possible) was a concern to others, but going outside always gave him such joy! For instance, Ray continued to snowblow now and then, even when he was weakened by cancer, and even though his neighbors offered to clear the driveway for him. He just loved getting outside!
Ray and Dee have enjoyed their retirement years by traveling to Sedona AZ and Branson MO, as well as watching the birds in their yard, meeting with their Bible-study group and attending church at Lord of Lakes Lutheran. Ray and Dee have especially enjoyed the Sunday morning Bible studies at Lord of Lakes. Most of all, they have enjoyed visits from their grandchildren and other family.
When Ray was _rst diagnosed with MDS (pre-leukemia), he immediately gave thanks to God for the many good years he has had. He truly had an attitude of gratefulness, even in the worst of circumstances.
