PINEPINE CITYCITY THURSDAY, MARCH 18 , 2021 VOL. 136 NO. 11 www.pinecitymn.com $1.00 SPECIAL SECTION: Look inside for the Pine County Delinquent Tax List. PAGE B1 Local woman outwits scammer BY MIKE GAINOR Something was wrong. But [email protected] the story seemed like it could possible, even though she was The voice on Judy’s voicemail immediately suspicious of what message was friendly, but that the caller was saying. was just part of the trick. “It was elaborate,” Judy said. A person calling himself Roy However, she knew better claimed that he was reaching than to call a number that an out from Amazon customer unknown caller claimed was support. He gave an employee billing and fraud prevention. ID number, and said the call Instead, she did the smart was regarding a purchase thing. She checked her Amazon made on Amazon for $909.99. account herself online. And of He gave an order number for course, there was no record of the supposed purchase. any transaction like the one “If you have made this online described on the call. purchase ... then simply hang But just to be sure, she also PHOTOS PROVIDED up the call and your order will got a hold of her credit card be shipped shortly to Los An- company. geles,” he said. “But if you have “The gal said there had been Eagle gets a lift from Pine County deputy not made any such transaction no activity on the credit card, then immediately call [the] and the number he gave me On Saturday afternoon the Pine County Sheriff ’s Offi ce was dispatched to an injured eagle on Highway billing and fraud prevention was not an Amazon number,” 48 east of Hinckley for an eagle that may have been hit by a car. The fi rst photo is a still shot from the department.” Judy said. deputy’s body camera as he picked up this majestic bird from the roadside. The second photo is the same And then he left a phone num- This scam has been con- eagle on the way to Osprey Wilds east of Sandstone. The sheriff ’s offi ce was told that the eagle eventually ber. fi rmed on websites like was brought to the Raptor Center. “Here’s to a speedy recovery for our feathered friend,” the Pine County Of course, Judy knew she had Sheriff ’s Offi ce posted on Facebook. never placed such an order. SEE SCAMMER, PAGE 10 Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine now? BY KIRSTEN FAURIE AND MIKE GAINOR severely affected. to register for an appointment, [email protected] Palmblade is a registered selecting and time and some nurse who works with patients health screening questions. Options continue to open up dealing with mental illness. They will not be registered to Pine County residents eli- She is also a member of the for an appointment until they gible to receive the COVID-19 Pine City school board and complete this second online vaccine. said she’s ready to have more form. A larger than expected face to face interactions. Priority will be given to supply of vaccine meant it was “I’m going to get my vaccine those who live in or near Pine recently all hands on deck for because I’m sick of Zoom,” she County. Those who do not have the staff of Welia Health. said, laughing. access to internet or email are “It feels like Disneyland. asked to call the Pine County Everyone is so excited,” PINE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 hotline at 320-591- said Becci Palmblade as she Those interested in receiv- 1690 where public health staff checked in for her fi rst dose of ing a COVID-19 vaccine from will help individuals register Pfi zer vaccine. Pine County Public Health, or join the vaccination waiting “It’s the year that felt like should fi rst fi ll out and submit list. 10,” she said. With the vaccine, an eligibility form (online at “It feels like we’re busting https://cutt.ly/BzBsrBo). WELIA HEALTH out.” If the submitter is eligible, Residents of Pine and Kana- Palmblade said being vacci- they will receive an email bec counties may email or call nated gave her a sense of secu- invitation when appointments Welia Health to be added to rity that she wouldn’t spread become available. At that their waiting list. KIRSTEN FAURIE | THE PIONEER the disease to her clients, the point, the submitter will need Becci Palmblade of Pine City gets her fi rst dose of the Pfi zer vaccine elderly or others that might be to fi ll out another online form SEE VACCINE, PAGE 10 during a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Welia Center (formerly FirstLight Community Wellness Center) in Mora. 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[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Scan me with your smartphone 2A PINE CITY PIONEER MARCH 18, 2021 www.pinecitymn.com COVID outbreak forces high school back into distance learning Winter high school 1, our high school is experi- situation. other than those affected are School will continue. activities will continue encing what is perhaps its “What is most concerning Pine City students.” Tryggestad said that high most pervasive outbreak of right now is the lack of con- Tryggestad pointed out that school students and their fam- BY MIKE GAINOR COVID-19 to date,” Tryggestad necting points between our when the state relaxed allowed ilies began to pick up meals [email protected] said. “We moved from zero confirmed cases,” Tryggestad students to return to in-person for the distance learning days cases to at least nine cases in said. “Contact tracing is under- learning, they were told that beginning on Wednesday, An outbreak of at least nine three days. We expect more taken to determine the source local data and consultation March 17. cases of COVID-19 at Pine City confirmed cases in the coming of the virus, where it was con- with local public health was to The schools will still have High School is forcing school days.” tracted, and to whom it may guide their decisions on learn- spring break from March 29 officials to put students back According to Pine City have passed. We have been ing models. to April 2, with no classes for into distance learning. High School Principal Troy unable to ‘connect the dots’ be- “In this instance local data staff or students. Monday, Pine City School Super- Anderson, they have about 90 tween confirmed cases. Public and the Public Health recom- April 5 is a non-student day, intendent Curt Tryggestad students in quarantine as well Health believes that there may mendation indicates we need and on Tuesday, April 6, high announced on March 16 that as the nine confirmed COVID be a person or persons who to change our learning model,” school students will return to all high school students would cases. are attending when not feel- he said. “ Moving to ‘hybrid’ in-person learning. move to distance learning on Anderson noted that if you ing well or are asymptomatic would not accomplish the need- “I really wish we didn’t have March 17, with plans to return add in all the students – includ- (showing no symptoms). We ed break in student contact to to make a learning model to in-person learning on Tues- ing student athletes – who were just don’t know. Also concern- stop the spread of the virus.” change, but under the circum- day, April 6. already distance learning, the ing is that the large majority Tryggestad said that the stances it is the right thing to High School Students move total is around 250 – about one- of new confirmed youth cases VISION, elementary and early do,” Tryggestad said. “Each of to Distance Learning on third of the total high school in the county are occurring in childhood program will contin- our neighboring schools have Wednesday, March 17, 2021. student population. our high school. In the past, ue with in-person learning. needed to do a hard-reset at They will return to In-Person Tryggestad said that Pine we have been able to identify ALC will continue with its some point during this school Learning on Tuesday, April 6. County Public Health contact- and isolate those affected using current learning model. year. Unfortunately, this time “After a successful return to ed him Monday afternoon to contact tracing. This time He also said that winter it’s our turn.” in-person learning on March discuss the school’s escalating there are not common threads activities at Pine City High Better broadband program kicks off in Pine County BY MIKE GAINOR 87 counties in the state for broadband Administrator David Minke pointed in Pine County. [email protected] speed and access according to a Blan- out that the COVID-19 pandemic has Nineteen community members have din Foundation report – better than highlighted the disparity in broadband signed up for the group, including coun- Government officials, business only Yellow Medicine, Redwood and coverage and left many in the commu- ty, Mille Lacs Band, city and township leaders, and local residents are coming Kanabec counties.