Governor Tim Walz, representatives of the state’s health care delivery systems, the Mayo Clinic, and the University of Minnesota (U of M) today announced a breakthrough for rapid, widespread testing of COVID-19 in Minnesota. Standing together at the State’s Emergency Operations Center, they launched a statewide testing strategy to test all symptomatic people, isolate confirmed cases, and expand public health surveillance tools.

The City of Montgomery approved a grant program on Monday to help small businesses hurt by the coronavirus outbreak.  
The plan offers $1,000 grants for qualified businesses impacted by Governor Walz’s executive orders 20-04 and 20-08. The money can be used for expenses like rent, mortgage payments, utilities, payroll, accounts payable, or other immediate operational expenses.

One of the biggest events for Titan high school students will still be held, according to TCU High School principal, Alan Fitterer.
Fitterer told sophomores, juniors and seniors over the weekend that Prom and the Post Prom event has been changed to July 18 and 19. It had been scheduled for Saturday, April 25 but was changed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Grand March will be held in the high school gym. Prom, dinner and dance will be held at the Science Museum of MN, followed by Post Prom at The Dakotah! Sport and Fitness Center in Prior Lake.

https://www.health.state.mn.us/.../coronav.../situation.html

Francis (Fritz) Barta, 91, died on April 20th, 2020 at Central Health Care in Le Center, Minnesota, his family at his side.
He was born on September 27th, 1928 to Frank and Mary Barta (Malecha) on their family farm East of Lonsdale, MN; attending and graduating from school there as well.

Everyone got bags of goodies, candy, and a wave from the Easter Bunny in the drive-thru of CornerStone State Bank on Saturday morning. The annual Easter Egg Hunt, which the bank and American Legion Club Pos 79 sponsor with many other sponors, was moved due to the coronavirus pandemic and stay at home orders. To make sure the kids and adults received toys, candy, and lunch to make at home, the bank and volunteers adjusted the hunt to be a drive-thru. After collecting the goodies behind the bank, the Easter Bunny was on hand to give waves and good wishes to everyone.

Rice County is asking for donations from residents and businesses of homemade face masks and other Personal Protection Equipment, as there is a very high need and an even greater shortage of these items.  Donations received will be distributed to all First Responder agencies throughout Rice County including Law Enforcement, Fire & Rescue, and Ambulance services.

The coronavirus pandemic emptied area churches for Easter this year. For many Christians, this religious holiday is dramatically different: a home-bound, shelter-in-place holy day. No Easter parades, no egg hunts at church, no church at all.
However, the parishioners of the Church of St. Patrick, Shieldsville were able to attend a live Easter service on Sunday - in their cars.

A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for areas along and south of a line from Springfield through New Ulm to Cottage Grove in Minnesota, continuing to New Richmond and Rice Lake in Wisconsin. Alert area: Blue Earth; Dakota; Faribault; Freeborn; Goodhue; Le Sueur; Martin; Rice; Scott; Steele; Waseca; Washington; Watonwan.
A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for a small swath of
counties just to the north of that line, including the Twin Cities metro area.

Mayo Clinic staff are doing extraordinary work, leading in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are proud of, and committed to, our staff and our communities as they come together to fight this global health crisis. Mayo Clinic is facing unprecedented challenges as a result of these circumstances, including a financial impact that requires significant adjustments to our operations.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. Numbers are cumulative since Jan. 20, 2020. All data are preliminary and may change as cases are investigated.
Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19.
Updated April 10, 2020
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.
Dates provided are those when the case, hospitalization, or death was first posted in this situation report.

The Minnesota River Conference (MRC) voted on March 30, 2020, to accept Lester Prairie/Winsted Holy Trinity into the conference beginning with the 2021-22 school year.
The new school replaces Jordan that leaves the MRC after this year. According to Dan Gardner, MRC Executive Director, Lester Prairie/Winsted Holy Trinity approached the conference about joining last fall.
“It’s been discussed since and the final vote was yesterday (via a Zoom meeting),” Gardner said. “That will put us at eight teams for the 2021-22 school year.”

The start to the 2020 DRS Baseball League is currently on hold.
According to League President Mike Sticha, they are waiting for more information from the Minnesota Baseball Association before rescheduling.

William “Bill” Schultz, age 89, of Montgomery (formerly of Belle Plaine, Aitkin, and Eagan) passed away peacefully surrounded by family on April 5, 2020.
Bill was born April 17, 1930, in Milwaukee, WI to Edward and Edna Schultz. After High School he proudly served in the US Army during the Korean War. Bill married Marlene Wiesner on December 4, 1954.

Walleye angling on Mille Lacs Lake will be catch-and-release only for this year’s open water season, with the exception of the month of July, when walleye fishing will be closed.
Additionally, anglers will not be allowed to use live bait for any species in July, except sucker minnows greater than 8 inches in length for targeting northern pike and muskellunge.
The new walleye rule is among several regulations changes this year. Bass and northern pike also have new regulations.