One of the residents at the Carter House Assisted Living facility, shut down due to an outbreak of Covid-19, has passed away from the virus. 90-year-old Darrell Dibben, is Washington County’s first confirmed death from the Coronavirus, confirmed by Three Rivers Public Health Department last evening. Dibben passed away Sunday. He spent 30 years teaching communications, language arts and education classes at Dana, retiring in 1995. He was also a Blair Lion’s club member. His obituary is online at CampbellAman.com. Dibben’s death bring’s the state’s total Coronavirus fatalities to 18
Covid-19 is prompting Blair’s Mayor, Rich Hansen, to declare an emergency for the City of Blair in tonight ‘s city council meeting. Several other matters are on the agenda that relate to Covid-19. The council will also consider the final design for the Blair South Bypass project, and the Mayor will announce the appointment of the new Assistant City Administrator. That meeting starts at 7 PM. A link on the city’s website – BlairNebraska.org, will guide you to that Zoom online meeting.
A grant from Blair’s Keno Funds for the Washington County Food Pantry is also on the agenda for that city council meeting. The pantry has received a record number of requests for help from area families who are out of work or have reduced hours due to the pandemic. Other area pantries are struggling to find more food for families whose income has been trimmed by Covid-19 closures. Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts yesterday encouraged support for the state’s pantries.
For more coverage of the Coronavirus and local community response, including news from Connie Green and guest host interviews with Kelly Johnson, click here.
Missed Mayor Hansen speaking with Kelly Johnson today about tonight's upcoming council meeting? You can listen here.