Chamber Members & Friends,   
I hope you are doing well. We are now starting to see the impact of business closures of dining in, gathering spots, hair salons and more. These closures impact close to 100 businesses in the Owatonna area.
 
We are seriously concerned about the impact on these businesses and their employees.   

All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This decision protects the population they serve and their employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, they are still able to provide critical services.

Mayo Clinic Health System will temporarily close two of its regional part-time clinics in Blooming Prairie and Kenyon. The temporary closures are necessary to reallocate staffing resources to other critical care needs deployed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

A message from Dodge and Steele Counties Public Health Director Amy Caron. 
Good Afternoon,
I have recorded a message for the public in regards to the Covid-19 situation.  
Here is the YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/5ClO6d8BSMQ

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement after the passage of a coronavirus (COVID-19) response bill in the U.S Senate.

The Dodge County Semcac Food Shelf is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays for its clients.
Staff will be handing out prepared boxes of food during regular hours.
Please call ahead (507-634-4350) to let them know when you will be coming.

OWATONNA – Due to the current restrictions of gathering in public places and following the recommendations of the CDC and the Minnesota Health Department, Little Theatre of Owatonna feels it’s best for the safety and health of our community members to postpone the upcoming auditions and production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
 

Sandra JoAnn Peterson, 58, of Blooming Prairie, died Friday, March 13, 2020 at her home.She was born March 2, 1962 in Dodge Center the daughter of Robert and Renee (Kiefer) Hedberg. Sandra married Jeffrey Peterson on Jan. 26, 1980 at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church. The couple farmed together and were later divorced.

The past few days have been challenging to say the least in keeping our readers informed of perhaps the greatest crisis of the modern age.
Information is constantly changing and new twists and turns are coming at every angle. It seems what had been addressed one hour is changing the next. It’s a struggle for us to keep up with everything and to provide you with factual information that will benefit your life.