West Burlington, Iowa, Aug. 21, 2020 – To protect the health of patients, employees and the
community, Great River Health will begin further restricting visitors Monday, Aug. 24, because
COVID-19 cases in southeast Iowa are increasing rapidly.
Great River Medical Center and Fort Madison Community Hospital, which also is part of Great
River Health, are announcing changes separately.
At Great River Medical Center, there will be no visiting in inpatient units and clinics; however,
there are a few exceptions. Visitors who are at least 18 years old will be allowed in the areas
and situations described below:
• Adult patients requiring assistance may have one visitor.
• Day Hospital, Day Surgery, Heart & Vascular Center and oncology patients may have one
visitor.
• Emergency Department – Visitors may be allowed based on the patient’s clinical situation.
• End of life when death is imminent – Patients may have two visitors.
• Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – One birth parent plus one significant other
may visit.
• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays who require a caregiver
to help provide safety may have one visitor.
• Patients with disruptive behavior whose family member is key to their care may have one
visitor.
• Obstetrics Unit – Only the mother’s designated support person may visit, unless COVID-19
is suspected in the mother.
• Pediatrics Unit /patients under 18 – One parent or guardian may visit.
• Women’s Health patients may have one visitor for ultrasound appointments only.
Visitors must pass a screening and stay in the patient’s room or designated visitor area.
Patients are limited to the same visitor for the entire time they are hospitalized. The hospital
cafeteria is not open to visitors.
Screening process
Visitors should use the main hospital entrance. It is open from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
weekdays, and 7:45 a.m. to noon Saturdays. At other times, use the Emergency Department
entrance. Visitors will be asked about the presence COVID-19 and recent travel, and their
temperatures will be taken.
Visitors must wear a mask the entire time they are the building. Masks are available at
screening stations.
Where to go for more information
• For more information, visit greatriverhealth.org
• For COVID-19 questions, call the Iowa Department of Public Health by dialing 211.
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Accident Report
On August 19th, at approximately 2:41PM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Highway 218 and School Avenue near Olds. An investigation determined that Julie Shaw, of Burlington was driving southbound on Highway 218 when Peggy Huggins, 66, of Collins Iowa pulled out in front of her. Huggins did not see the approaching Shaw vehicle as she attempted to cross the southbound lanes of Highway 218. Only minor injuries were reported. Huggins was issued a citation for Failure to Yield Upon Entering a Through Highway.
Marlin Larry Putney
Marlin Larry Putney, 81, of Mt. Pleasant, IA, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital, in Iowa City, IA.
According to his wishes, Larry has been cremated. There will be no services. A memorial fund has been established for Midwest Old Threshers. The Olson Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Larry and his family. Messages may be sent to the family at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.
Born September 11, 1938, in Van Meter, IA. Larry was the son of Henry and Ora (Hymes) Putney. He was a 1957 graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. On January 4, 1959, Larry was united in marriage to Connie Williams at the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Pleasant.
They made their home in the Mt. Pleasant community. Larry worked for Continental Telephone Company, REC, Putney Electric and was the owner of the DX gas station. Larry retired from the University of Iowa Athletic Department, where he worked as a grounds keeper at Kinnick Stadium.
Larry was a member of the Methodist Church. He enjoyed working, golfing, traveling and volunteering at Midwest Old Threshers.
Survivors include his wife Connie of Mt. Pleasant, daughter Dana (Terry) Stotts of New Richmond, WI, two grandsons Wyatt and Garrett Stotts. He is also survived by 7 siblings, Peggy Snyder of Valparaiso, NE; Ardith Naifeh of Prattville AL; Kenneth Putney of Iowa City; Marvin Putney of Indianola; Theresa Rude of Palmetto, FL; Susie Gordan of Arvada, CO; and Tim Putney of The Villages, FL.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ora Putney, brothers Henry Lee Putney, Morris Putney and Bill Putney.
Dennis Charles Nellor
Dennis Charles Nellor, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2020, at his home. According to his wishes, Dennis has been cremated. A private family service will be held, with a Facebook Live stream available. The video can be found on the Powell Funeral Homes Facebook page, as well as www.powellfuneralhomes.com. Visitation will be held late next week, family will not be present. Please check the website for updated information. A memorial fund has been established for Henry County Conservation and Every Step Hospice. The Olson Powell Memorial Chapel is caring for Dennis and his family.
Born, January 26, 1948, Dennis was the son of Alfred and Virginia (Peterson) Nellor. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1966 and from the University of Iowa in 1971 with a degree in Business and Finance. Dennis was united in marriage to Kathy Walters on May 29, 1971 in Danville, Iowa.
They made their home in the Mt. Pleasant community, where Dennis worked as the business manager for the Prison and Mental Health, retiring in 2002.
Survivors include his wife Kathy of Mt. Pleasant, two daughters Natalie (Justin) Burgus and Rachel (Duane) Bebb, both of Mt. Pleasant; one grandson, Garrett Burgus; 2 sisters, Debora (Eric) Edmonds of Los Angeles, CA and their children Alex and Chelsea and Dorene (Roy) Jennings of Austin, TX; special niece and nephew Jenny Talley of Burlington and Rob Nichols of Mt. Pleasant; his father Alfred Nellor of Mt. Pleasant and mother-in-law Elaine Walters of Mt. Pleasant.
Dennis was preceded in death by his mother Ginny and father-in-law Charles Walters.
Semi On Its’ Side Blocks Traffic
On August 20, 2020, at approximately 11:10 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received several 911 calls of a single motor vehicle rollover on Highway 34 near mile marker 229. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and began an investigation into the cause of the collision.
An investigation determined Kyle Blubaugh, 31 of Chariton, was operating a 2009 Kenworth pulling a refrigerated trailer when it left the roadway. Brubaugh attempted to regain control of the vehicle but oversteered causing the commercial vehicle to roll onto the passenger side. The commercial motor vehicle came to rest blocking all east bound traffic.
Blubaugh was cited for failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, a simple misdemeanor. No injuries were reported at the scene. A dollar amount of cargo and vehicle was not determined at this time.
The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Mount Pleasant Police Department, Henry County Health Center Ambulance, Iowa State Patrol, Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement, Henry County Road Department, Iowa Department of Transportation, Lee County Health Department, and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals.
Eva Marie Wellman
Eva Marie Wellman, 70, of West Point, Iowa, passed away at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday, August 19 2020, at the Great River Hospice House, West Burlington, Iowa.
Eva was born November 8, 1949 to Reinhard and Gertrud Goerlich in Berlin, Germany. On April 3, 1971 she married Raymond “Red” Wellman at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in West Point.
She was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in West Point. She enjoyed tending to her flower gardens and going to the casino. Eva was an excellent cook and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Red; three sons: Dan (Kristine) Wellman of Sherman, Illinois; Geoff (Kristy) Wellman of Burlington, Iowa; Stefan (Tracy) Wellman of Boise, Idaho; seven grandchildren: Elek, Evan, Kenzie, Raegan, Braylan, Enslee, and Jordan; two great grandchildren: Isabelle and Hadley; one brother: Peter Goerlich of Berlin, Germany; one sister: Inge Herlcher of Berlin, Germany; and one brother-in-law: John Beumont of West Point, Iowa.
Eva was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Barbara Beumont; and her brother, Fred Perske.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2020, at Schmitz Funeral Home in West Point, with Father Dennis Hoffman as celebrant.
Following the service there will be a gathering for family and friends at the West Point City Park.
Those attending will be encouraged to wear a mask and social distance.
A burial will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in West Point.
A memorial is established in her memory for PAWS or West Point Fire and Rescue.
Schmitz Funeral Home of West Point is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.schmitzfuneralhomes.com.
SCC Receives Federal Grant to Boost Student Success and Retention
West Burlington, IA – Southeastern Community College (SCC) has received a grant from the US Department of Education to continue its Student Support Services Program. The five-year grant will provide $380,984 annually to fund programming and initiatives designed to increase college retention and graduation rates of program participants.
A component of the Federal TRIO Program, the Student Support Services (SSS) Program provides academic and other support services for low-income, first-generation, or disabled college students who intend to earn a four-year degree. SCC has offered its SSS program for over 20 years.
Vice President of Student Services Joan Williams explains the application process is very competitive.
“Not every college gets accepted into the SSS program, and not every college’s program is renewed,” she says. “This grant award is due in part to a strong record of student success by our current program.”
TRIO SSS Program Director Sibyl McIntire says the program serves 225 students annually in West Burlington and Keokuk. Students receive assistance through specialized support, academic advising, and activities that focus on their first-year college experience, second-year college experience, career exploration, learning communities, and transferring to four-year colleges.
“Many of the students we serve are most at risk of not completing college, and COVID-19 is putting them in even more challenging circumstances,” she says. “Getting this grant renewal means SCC can continue our work of helping these students succeed.”
She praises her team for the exceptional academic advising they offer to SCC students. She says they are confident that participants of the program will continue to excel academically, despite the pandemic.
For more news or to learn about Southeastern Community College, visit www.scciowa.edu
Public reminder of HCHC’s COVID-19 safety precautions
Your health and safety is Henry County Health Center’s top priority. During this pandemic, we are prepared and committed to caring for you and your loved ones. As we continue to adjust to this dynamic time, our current safety precautions require the following:
- Facemasks are required to be worn by all patients and visitors.
- All healthcare providers wear Personal Protective Equipment.
- Patients, staff and visitors must undergo health screenings.
- One visitor is allowed per patient per day and visitors must be 18 and older.
- Inpatient visitation hours are from Noon to 5 pm.
- Social distance in the halls and waiting areas.
- Practice good hand hygiene.
- Remember to cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home when ill to protect our community and help stop the spread of COVID-19.
For more COVID-19 resources, visit www.hchc.org. For answers to questions about COVID-19 and information about area resources, call the COVID-19 call center at 800-871-3313.