COVID-19 related closures, postponements, cancellations and rescheduling

To limit the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus, the following offices and public buildings have announced closures, postponements and event cancellations. To forward closure information, please contact The Graphic-Advocate office at (712) 464-3188 and lcgraphic@iowatelecom.net, Editor Tyler Anderson at (641) 229-5188 and at gaeditor@windstream.net or Toni Venteicher at toni.venteicher4@gmail.com.

Calhoun County Courthouse and other offices

In Calhoun County’s efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 the Calhoun County Courthouse, Annex 1, Annex 2, County Attorney and all other county offices will close to the public as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. County employees will continue to work normal hours and will be accessible by phone and email.

South Central Calhoun Community School District

April 3: Following Gov. Reynolds' announcement to close all schools through April 30 made on April 2 in Johnston, all South Central Calhoun CSD buildings will be closed until the end of the month. Additional sign up for meals will be made available next week, with distribution starting on April 13.

March 25: The SCC High School Play is rescheduled to 7 p.m. on April 24 and April 25 at the SCC High School Auditorium in Lake City. Prom is now set for May 9, starting with the Grand March at 5 p.m.

March 24: Starting on March 25, the SCC Meals for Kids program will shift to different locations in Rockwell City and Lake City, due to a high number of meals to prepare. The Lake City location for delivery will be on east side of SCC High School, while the Rockwell City location switched to the east side of SCC Middle School. Those locations will be used from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

March 19: The South Central Calhoun Community School District announced on Wednesday evening that SCC facilities are closed to everyone until further notice except for essential personnel at discretion of the superintendent.

The district also announced that it will offer a meal service, located at SCC Middle School in Rockwell City and at SCC High School in Lake City. The two locations are for Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20. Starting on March 23, the district will deliver meals to various locations throughout the district. 

To sign up, please visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1g9xJVIq8-SaCqWcSnSP8jO30kIvxI5op5VAk8LXm5iM/viewform?edit_requested=true.

March 18: The South Central Cahoun food pantry remains available, by appointment or delivery. For more information, you may contact SCC Elementary School Principal Nicole McChesney at (712) 210-5168 or at nmcchesney@scc.k12.ia.us.

March 17: Following the recommendation from Gov. Kim Reynolds, the South Central Calhoun Community School District has chosen to close schools for four weeks. Therefore, SCC will be closed from Wednesday, March 18, through Monday, April 13.

During this time, there will be no school-related activities. Teachers and high school students are scheduled to return on Tuesday, April 14, and the elementary and middle school students are set to return on Wednesday, April 15.

SCC High School will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, for parents or students to retrieve essential items.

Online courses for high school students (through Iowa Central Community College) will resume on Tuesday, March 24.

SCC Middle School and SCC Elementary Schools will be open from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, for parents to pick up essential items.

City of Rockwell City

Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Rockwell City Mayor Phil Heinlen and City Council have decided to close all city buildings to the public in order to protect public health and safety of the public and its employees. The City of Rockwell City is hoping by doing this, it will help reduce the spread of the virus.

City Hall will remain closed to the public until at least April 7, 2020. At that time, city officials will reevaluate the need to remain closed to the public. City Hall is encouraging everyone to utilize the drop box for payments and to contact the city employees by phone with any needs, questions or concerns.

City Hall will continue to be available Monday through Friday from the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can contact City Hall by calling (712) 297-7041.

City of Lohrville

Lohrville City Hall is open to the public, but will not be open from March 23 to March 27. 

Rockwell City Public Library

Effective on March 17, the Rockwell City Public Library will be closed until April 7.

During this time, patrons may still access the library’s Wi-Fi in front of the building and our online resources available on our website: www.rockwellcity.lib.ia.us

You may download the Overdrive or Libby app to access free e-books and audio books. If you need to know your patron number, please message the library and they can provide the number for you.

For all other questions, please leave a message at (712) 297-8422 or email director@rockwellcity.lib.ia.us.

Lake City Public Library

March 31: The Lake City Public Library has announced that it will temporarily stop handing out library materials starting on April 4.

As a preventative measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), the Lake City Public Library will remain closed, as long as the South Central Calhoun Community Schools are closed.

All library programs and meeting room gatherings are canceled until further notice. Library staff will still be working at the library and are available for home delivery of books to the library's older patrons. The library will also deliver books to your car.

The Lake City Public Library also offers e-books, downloadable audiobooks and magazines and a large variety of databases accessible here on our webpage. For assistance or for inquires regarding the library, call (712) 464-3413.

J.J. Hands Library, Lohrville

On March 17, the J.J. Hands Library announced that it is closed until further notice. The library will provide more details soon.

Lytton Public Library

The Lytton Public Library will be closed to the public until further notice.

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital

As Stewart Memorial Community Hospital continues to monitor the changes related to COVID-19 to keep patients, visitors and staff safe, there are a few updates the Lake City hospital will be making, beginning on March 18. These updates are in line with the guidance from Iowa Department of Public Health and our partnering hospitals that are following suit.

In order to protect staff, patients and visitors, all persons that enter SMCH or any McCrary Rost Clinic location will be screened by having their temperature taken and will be logged. All entrances except ER and the Clinic Entrance will be disabled or locked in Lake City.

The ER entrance is available 24 hours a day. If you need access after 10:00 PM, please use the red phone to call for someone to open the door. You will need to be screened and logged in.

The Clinic Entrance is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff will be situated at these entrances to screen and log all those that enter.

Community Pharmacy in Lake City is moving to drive up only. This includes patients that are seen in the clinic that day. They will need to go to their cars and drive up for all pharmacy needs.

Opportunity Living

Opportunity Living regrets to inform you, that sadly, the very popular Egg-Stravaganza event, that was scheduled for April 11, must be postponed due to the new guidelines from the CDC for the presumptive outbreak of COVID-19 and flu activity remaining high, according to a March 17 news release from the Lake City-based intermediate care facility.

Egg-Stravaganza is a popular fundraiser for Opportunity Living and it saddens its administration and staff to postpone the event. The administration and staff know that many people love the great breakfast, hunting for eggs, getting precious photos with the Easter Bunny and offering silent auction baskets for a very worthwhile cause.

The health and wellbeing of our clients, staff and community is of utmost importance to Opportunity Living. Therefore, Opportunity Living and its staff will take every measure necessary to keep everyone safe.

Instead, Opportunity Living is working on an event later this year that will be fun for the entire family. The potential event will have activities for kids, food to nibble on and a silent auction filled with great baskets from supporters near and far.

Stay tuned to Opportunity Living's Facebook page, as the details develop and group gatherings are deemed safe for this new event.

If you have offered to donate a basket or already have, Opportunity Living appreciates your support and are still accepting donations to be used at the event later this year. Please call Jayne Wilhelm at (712) 464-8961 to make arrangements or if you have questions.

Capri Theatre, Lake City

On March 18, the Lake City Capri Theatre announced that it will be closed until further notice, as a preventative measure to stop the spread of COVID-19. During this time, the theatre plans to complete its restroom remodeling project, as well as installing new water and sewer lines.

SCC Titan Soccer

The soccer league that the South Central Calhoun soccer clubs participate in has announced that its season has been cancelled, due to the increased risk of the COVID-19 coronavirus.