ST. LOUIS COUNTY
St. Louis County receives 900 applications requesting $16.4 million in small business relief grants

The application period has closed for Phase 3 of St. Louis County's Small Business Relief Grants, and it is clear that the need is far greater than the funds that are available. During the 15-day application period, 900 businesses submitted requests totaling $16.4 million. The county has $3.8 million in funding from the state to offer in grants. 
 
The St. Louis County Planning and Community Development Department is now sorting through the applications, removing those that are ineligible, and ranking others based upon the demonstrated need and the nature and importance of services the business provides in its community.  
"We knew the need was great and I’m happy the county can provide some assistance," said Matthew Johnson, St. Louis County Planning and Community Development Director. "We need businesses to recognize that most will receive only a portion of what they requested, and some may not end up receiving a grant at this time. We certainly can appreciate the difficult position they are in, but we have less than a quarter of the funding needed to satisfy all of these requests.
 
"At the same time, I hope this serves as a reminder to all of our citizens to support the small businesses in their community and is evidence for our federal and state partners that more funding assistance is needed to help our business community weather these difficult times."
 
All Phase 3 Small Business Relief Grants will be awarded by March 15, although funding notifications will begin within the next few weeks.
FAMILY HEALTH LEADERS
Essentia Health eases visitor restrictions

By Louie St. George III
Amid a slowdown in the spread of COVID-19 across our region, Essentia Health is updating its visitor policy.

One adult visitor per patient per day is now allowed in all Essentia Health clinics and hospitals, including emergency departments. Previously, visitors only were allowed for special circumstances.

However, since the dangerous surge we experienced in November and December, the number of COVID patients in Essentia Health hospitals has dropped significantly. It’s important to note that these changes do not impact long-term-care facilities.

There are variances to this policy. For example:

. In pediatric units, two caregivers are permitted per patient per day.

. In neonatal intensive care units, two caregivers are permitted per day.
. In emergency departments, two caregivers are permitted for pediatric patients.

. In birthing centers, one adult visitor is permitted to visit. The birth partner is permitted at all times and is not considered a visitor. A certified doula will be allowed during labor.

. People under the age of 18 may visit an immediate family member who is dying when they are escorted by an adult.
Click here for complete details of Essentia Health's updated visitor policy.

For adult inpatient COVID-19 patients, no visitors are allowed except for end-of-life situations, when additional visitors may be admitted at the discretion of hospital leadership and the patient’s primary physician. Chaplains are available to patients and families for support, ritual and prayer.
Throughout the pandemic, Essentia Health has continuously re-evaluated its visitor restrictions to protect patients and staff from the transmission of COVID. Essentia Health updates its policy as necessary — either because of an increase in new cases or a continued decrease in community spread.

Essentia Health's ability to relax this policy depends on the behavior of visitors, not only within facilities but in the community. Essentia Health is asking for the community’s help to make this policy change safe and successful on an ongoing basis. Specific measures must be in place to continue to safely allow visitors in Essentia Health facilities.

It’s important also to note that Essentia Health continues to require all staff, patients and visitors to wear a mask that covers their mouth and nose. All approved visitors will be screened for COVID and will not be permitted if symptomatic.
SPORTS
Quote Me, Howie

UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo (pictured) on the NCHC Frozen Faceoff pivoting to the University of North Dakota's Ralph Engelstad Arena in an eight-team, single-elimination format: "We are excited to have a plan for the NCHC Frozen Faceoff given all of the uncertainty we faced going into the season. While we would love to be able to host the quarterfinals at Amsoil Arena and the championship at the Xcel Energy Center, current restrictions do not allow for such. As always, a BIG thank you to Bulldog Country for their continued support of men's hockey and all of our great teams. To have three teams ranked in the top-6 in the nation this week is flat-out impressive and a credit to our student-athletes and coaches."
Mythical Duluth Times High
School Boys Hockey League Standings
(As of Tuesday, Feb. 9)

1. Duluth East 2-1-1 (7 points). Results: T Denfeld 4-4; W Cloquet 2-1; L Grand Rapids 3-0; W Cloquet 5-1. Remaining league games: host Hermantown (Tuesday), host Grand Rapids (Mar. 2), at Hermantown (Mar. 9), at Denfeld (Mar. 11). Predicted finish: 2nd

2. Grand Rapids 2-0 (6). Results: W Cloquet 6-1; W Duluth East 3-0. Remaining league games: at Hermantown (Thursday), at Duluth East (Mar. 2), host Hermantown (Mar. 4), host Cloquet (Mar. 6), at Denfeld (Mar. 16), host Denfeld (TBA). Predicted finish: 1st

3. Hermantown 1-0 (3). Results: W Cloquet 6-0. Remaining league games: at Duluth East (Tuesday), host Grand Rapids (Thursday), host Denfeld (Feb. 16), at Denfeld (Feb. 25), at Grand Rapids (Mar. 4), host Duluth East (Mar. 9), host Cloquet (Mar. 11). Predicted finish: 3rd
4. Denfeld 0-0-1 (1). Results: T Duluth East 4-4. Remaining league games: at Cloquet (Tuesday), at Hermantown (Feb. 16), host Hermantown (Feb. 25), host Cloquet (Mar. 8), host Duluth East (Mar. 11), at Grand Rapids (Mar. 16), at Grand Rapids (TBA). Predicted finish: 5th

5. Cloquet 0-4 (0). Results: L Grand Rapids 6-1; L Duluth East 2-1; L Hermantown 6-0; L Duluth East 5-1. Remaining league games: host Denfeld (Tuesday), at Grand Rapids (Mar. 6), at Denfeld (Mar. 8), at Hermantown (Mar. 11). Predicted finish: 4th

Editor's Note: Mythical Duluth Times High School Boys Hockey League teams collect three points for a regulation victory, two points for an overtime victory, one point for an overtime loss, and one point apiece for an overtime tie. All teams will play each team in the league twice in home-and-home series.

CITY OF DULUTH
Snow train to begin Wednesday

By Kate Van Daele
City of Duluth street maintenance crews will be conducting a snow train in the East Hillside and Chester Park neighborhoods beginning on Wednesday. Crews will remove snow on East 9th Street between 6th Avenue East and 14th Avenue East.

On Thursday, crews will remove snow on East 8th Street between 15th Avenue East and Woodland Avenue. No parking signs have been posted in the affected areas. Residents are asked to not park in the areas between the areas of 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on the day of snow removal.

DULUTH TIMES ARCHIVES