Organizers of the American Red Cross blood drives in New Franken are holding a drive Wednesday, May 6 after the New Franken Fire Department offered to host it. The April blood drive was canceled because its usual location, a church is closed to the public during the COVID-19 crisis.

The drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the fire department, 507 E. Ronsman Road. To maintain social distancing standards, appointments are required. Blood is especially needed because donations have decreased during the pandemic.

To make an appointment, call 920-495-0858 or visit redcrossblood.org/give.

COVID-19 cases rise to 13 in county

The total number of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus in Kewaunee County increased by three Tuesday, from 10 to 13, Public Health Director Cindy Kinnard told the County Board during its Tuesday meeting.

The county has seen its positive tests inch up by two or three a week over the past three weeks. The state Department of Health Services reported 11 confirmed cases in the county in its afternoon briefing, but Kinnard said she was informed of two more before the meeting. The number is similar to neighboring counties according to the state, which reported 12 positives in Door County and 11 in Manitowoc County as of Tuesday. 

Of the 13 positives, Kinnard said six have been cleared following quarantine while six are still active. The virus has caused one death in the county. Kinnard said one case resulted in hospitalization.

On the other hand, 157 tests on county residents have come back negative, and 41 results are pending, Kinnard said.

Kinnard said a limited number of tests are available through clinics in the county, at Bellin Health in Kewaunee and the Door County Medical Center clinic in Algoma. Those require referrals from a person's primary care doctor. She said the health department also has five tests on hand, but those are reserved for possible use by the coroner in case of the death of a person exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

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ATV park delays opening

Riverview ATV Park in Kewaunee will delay the opening of its season, mainly because of the safer-at-home orders mandated by the state during the COVID-19 pandemic but also partially because of wet trail conditions.

The park on County L will remain closed until the end of May or when safer-at-home is lifted, the Kewaunee County Promotions & Recreation Department announced Tuesday. It's a seasonal facility that normally opens in the beginning of May and runs through November.

Partially funded and operated by the Bay Lake ATV Club, the park's 20-plus miles of trails play host to off-road recreational vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs, dirt motorcycles and mountain bikes. It not only is popular among local residents but brings in a number of visitors from outside the county, which is a concern these days because of the possible spread of the COVID-19 virus.

“Aside from Kewaunee County residents using Riverview ATV Park, we see a lot of riders from neighboring counties and, while we would like to open sooner, it’s just safer for everyone that we delay the start of the season,” said Dave Myers, director of the Promotions & Recreation Department. “A benefit to this is also giving the trails time to dry out and allowing the Baylake ATV Club, our not-for-profit friends group, more time to groom and prepare the park for the season."

For updates on the park, visit visitkewauneecounty.com/explore/parks-and-trails/ or call the Promotions & Recreation office at 920-388-0444.

Nonprofits can apply for grants

The Greater Green Bay Community Foundation is seeking applications from nonprofit organizations in Kewaunee County that need funding to support increased service demands because of the strain of COVID-19.

The foundation has awarded more than $742,000 to some of the most immediate calls for assistance throughout Brown, Oconto and Kewaunee counties through its Emergency Response Fund, a central pool of funds donated by individuals and businesses that nonprofits in those counties can access for support during the COVID-19 crisis.

Those funds are directed to organizations supporting the critical basic needs of community members. The foundation's Packers Give Back Fund for COVID-19 Relief also has awarded grants to area nonprofits in need.

In Kewaunee County, recipients include the Kewaunee County Food Pantry, Kewaunee School District (for WiFi hot spots for at-home virtual education) and Literacy Partners of Kewaunee County. Lakeshore CAP, an economic self-sufficiency and housing organization based in Manitowoc but offering services in Kewaunee County, also received an emergency grant from the foundation.

Nonprofits can apply through the Community Foundation website at ggbcf.org. A list of grants distributed from the funds also is available on the website.

Algoma, Kewaunee libraries begin curbside pickups

The Algoma Public Library and Kewaunee Public Library began offering curbside pickup service this week. At this time, items at the libraries are the only available items because deliveries between libraries have been suspended. Library patrons can learn what items are available by visiting online catalog InfoSoup at infosoup.org/search and selecting the Algoma or Kewaunee library.

Patrons wishing to use the service must contact the library to let it know items they’d like to check out.

The Algoma library is taking all precautions that it can with quarantine and cleaning, but it recommends that checked-out materials are set aside for 24 hours before using. It also asks households with people who are sick to refrain from using library services at this time.

Also, Algoma library staff are not able to take curbside returns directly; patrons returning items are asked to place them in the drop-box by the library's main entrance. Items will not be checked in for 72 hours for the safety of staff.

Pickups must be scheduled in advance; available times in Algoma are between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

When patrons arrive at the Algoma library to pick up materials, they are asked to stay in their vehicles; staff will bring out the items at their scheduled times. Patrons who walk to the library are instructed to wait a safe distance from the door, where staff will meet them, and maintain six feet of social distancing if someone else is at the door.

To make a request for materials from Algoma, call 920-487-2295, visit algomapubliclibrary.org and fill out the Curbside Request Form, or email [email protected]. Staff will return messages about the items requested and schedule pickups at that time.

Those who use the Kewaunee library can call 920-388-5015 or email [email protected] with requests for materials. They will receive a callback or email letting them know when the items are available and to schedule a pickup time. Pickup hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Fridays and 1 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays.

When patrons arrive to pick up materials at the Kewaunee library, they should call to let staff know they're there. Staff will place the orders outside the front door. Returns should be left in the library book drop.

BBQ available for carryout

Thumb Knuckle Brewing Co. in Luxemburg will have the food truck from the award-winning Thermal Chaos BBQ Team on site three times in the next three weeks for carryout barbecue.

A variety of barbecued meats, tacos, sandwiches and sides will be available along with Thermal Chaos' signature BBQ sauce from 4 to 7 p.m. May 1 and 15 and noon to 3 p.m. May 16. Plus, Thumb Knuckle is continuing to offer carryout growlers, kegs and six-packs of its craft beers during its limited hours after the taproom temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Thumb Knuckle is at E0208 State 54, Luxemburg. Carryout brews are available from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays during the closure. For more information, call 920-323-6543 or visit facebook.com/ThumbKnuckleBrewingCo.

Contact Christopher Clough at 920-741-7952, 920-562-8900 or [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Coronavirus in Kewaunee County: 13 positive tests reported; blood drive in New Franken