Year-in-Review: January-April / Beginning of a global pandemic

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

The past year has been challenging for most — a global pandemic began in late 2019 and into early 2020 that is still raging on. Many are hopeful for the year ahead, while still recalling the challenges of the previous year. Throughout this week, we will take a look back at the events that unfolded during 2020. In today's edition, the months of January, February, and March are examined.

January

Church Demolition

Demolition of the old First Baptist Church in Nevada, Mo., began on Jan. 2. Designed by F.L. Macaff, the church was built in 1900 at a cost of $6,696.40 and replaced the original First Baptist Church at Washington and Walnut Street.

The original building, built in 1871, was rented to Company H of the Missouri National Guard then to a lumber yard before it burned in 1936.

The steeple and stained glass windows from the original building were incorporated into the Hunter and Main Street building. The steeple was replaced in 1946.

Demolition work began Jan. 2, by Coonrod Construction although the oldest part of the building - the chapel - was too tall for Coonrod's equipment and a crane with a 6,500-pound wrecking ball had to be called in. The crane began work earlier in the week and by Thursday had the remains of the building on the ground. The cost of the demolition - $139,000.

Jeff Coonrod said this was the largest demolition project they have undertaken.

Tobacco Sales

President Donald Trump signed a provision Dec. 20 saying anyone under the age of 21 can no longer legally buy cigarettes, cigars or any other tobacco products in the United States.

Locally, convenience stores and other places that sell tobacco products had begun placing signage declaring that nobody under the age of 21 may buy tobacco products.

The new regulation comes amid nationwide concern about increasing nicotine use among young people and the possible health risks of electronic cigarette products.

Delayed Hospital Sales Tax

On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the anticipated topic of the Nevada Regional Medical Center Board of Directors meeting was the delayed hospital sales tax. On-hand to discuss the issue were both City of Nevada Treasurer Kristie Modlin and Interim City Manager Mark Mitchell. Mitchell went on to state that the actual tax revenue that the hospital would have received, based on a five-year average, if it had been implemented Jan. 1, 2020, would have been an estimated $693,000. “So, actually, the $800,000 wouldn’t come until around Christmas — we’re always like two months behind,” stated Mitchell.

The NRMC board received an email at 4 p.m., on Dec. 31, from the City Treasurer stating that there was an issue with the hospital sales tax. Missouri Department of Revenue advised the City of Nevada that they do not have the record of the sales tax approval by vote in August 2019. It was anticipated that the rate would become effective April 1, 2020. First payment to the hospital would be in May from the sales tax. According to Nevada Regional Medical Center CEO Steve Branstetter’s report, the hospital was looking at missing out on $300,000 due to the error. The City of Nevada has stated that they are working on better processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

Beginnings of COVID-19 in the United States

With more than 100 dead and thousands sickened around the world, the coronavirus had caused worldwide concern in late January prompting travel limitations and even a citywide lockdown where the virus originated in Wuhan, China. As of Jan. 27, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reported, “As of this morning, five confirmed cases have now been reported within the United States in the states of Washington, Illinois, Arizona, and California. There are more than 100 active investigations across the nation. To date, there has been one patient under investigation in Missouri who tested negative for 2019-nCoV.

“While we have no identified cases in Missouri, we will continue to be vigilant in our surveillance while tracking and monitoring national cases,” stated Dr. Randall Williams, director of DHSS, at the time.

February

Kansas City Chiefs win Superbowl

A half century after winning their first Super Bowl, the Chiefs were champions once more, winning Super Bowl LIV at Hard Rock Stadium. Kansas City, led by Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20, making the Chiefs the first team in NFL history to win three games after trailing by 10 or more points in a single postseason.

Water Treatment Plant Revenue Bond

“We’re asking for voters help, to see if they’d consider allowing us to go get financing for the water plant upgrades,” stated City Manager Mark Mitchell to the Nevada Daily Mail on Feb. 12. “We need voter approval to do that. We’re looking at maybe a state revolving fund and also the USDA — those are the two options we’re looking at. The USDA would probably be our first choice just for the fact that there’s possible grant money that comes along with that.” Mitchell went on to stress that the grant money was a possibility with the USDA option, and not necessarily guaranteed.

According to the plans drawn up by Black & Veatch, “The City of Nevada, Water Treatment Plant Improvements Project will include improvements to the reverse osmosis (RO) system, chemical storage and feed systems, air stripping and scrubber system, valve/gate replacement, electrical upgrades and plant control system improvements at the Nevada Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The plant was originally designed and constructed between 1983 and 1984 to provide a total plant capacity of 2 million gallons per day. Originally, the RO system was designed and operated with hollow fiber membranes, however, upgrades were made in the 1990s to convert the plant to spiral-wound membrane technology.”

Vernon County hires new Economic Development Director

Kaysinger Basin Regional Planning Commission and Build VC announced on Feb. 18 the hiring of Benjamin Vickers to fill the position of Economic Development Director.

A native of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Vickers was expected to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Missouri State University in May 2020. He was also expected to complete a certification in Small Town Planning and Development. In addition to completing his degree this semester, he will be working with Kaysinger on various trainings and conferences.

March

Area schools and colleges suspend face-to-face instruction

After talking with local, regional and state officials regarding the COVID-19 situation and how to mitigate the spread of the virus, Cottey College’s Presdient’s Council made the decision that it was in the best interest of the College to suspend face-to-face instruction on campus and move to alternative instruction for the remainder of the semester. In addition, many area schools took measures on March 15 (most notifying student’s parents via phone or email) to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among students returning from Spring Break. Nevada R-5 School District released the following message on their website: “All the schools in the district have extended their Spring Break through March 22. The closure affects all school programming, including before- and after-school activities, all athletic and extracurricular practices and competitions, and all weekend events.”

Social Distancing mandatory statewide

Building on Missouri’s efforts to address COVID-19, on March 21 Governor Mike Parson directed Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams to order statewide social distancing. The Order included new measures to protect the health and safety of Missouri citizens and frontline workers. This Order did not prohibit people from visiting a variety of places, including grocery stores, gas stations, parks, and banks, so long as necessary precautions were taken and maintained to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, including maintaining at least six feet (6’) of distance between all individuals that are not family members.

Economic Relief Plan passed (CARES Act)

In late March, in a bipartisan move, a $2 trillion economic relief plan was passed and then subsequently signed by President Trump. The plan was set up to offer assistance to Americans and American households affected by the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. The relief included payments to individuals, expanded unemployment coverage, student loan changes, and more.

April

Stay-At-Home order issued for Vernon County

On Thursday, April 2, 2020, the Vernon County Commission entered an order declaring a public health emergency and issuing a “stay-at-home” order. The order went into effect at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, April 4, 2020, and would expire on Saturday, April 25, 2020, unless it was extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing.

Under the order, individuals in Vernon County “may leave their residences or place of rest only to perform essential activities.” The order states that any sheriff deputy or other law enforcement officer of the state or any political subdivision within Vernon County, Mo., is “hereby ordered to assist in the execution or enforcement of this order.”

In addition, the order stated that “violating a public health order designed to ‘prevent the entrance of infectious, contagious, communicable or dangerous disease’ into Vernon County can be punishable of a fine of up to $2,000.”

Nevada R-5 Grab-and-Go meals

With school out until April 24, and potentially longer, the Nevada R-5 school district began providing free lunches to school-aged children,18-and-under.

Gov. Parson issues statewide Stay Home Missouri order

Building on Missouri’s efforts to control, contain, and combat COVID-19, Governor Mike Parson issued a statewide “Stay Home Missouri” Order on April 3, effective beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, April 6, 2020, until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2020. The Order explicitly stated that individuals currently residing within the state of Missouri shall avoid leaving their homes or places of residence unless necessary.

Gov. Parson orders school remain closed for remainder of academic year

In an April 9th COVID-19 briefing, Governor Mike Parson announced that all Missouri public and charter school buildings would remain closed through the remainder of the academic year.

This recommendation was made to Governor Parson by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and several school superintendents from rural and urban areas across the state.

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