We moved permanently to Waupaca 30 years ago, and were happy to find it as a loving and neighborly community.
It seemed everyone cared about each other, and did their best to treat their neighbors the way they would like to be treated.
Now that the pandemic has hit, we are seeing a side of the community we never thought we would see.
We understand how difficult it has been to be in your house or apartment for months, and the desire to get out. We understand that restaurants & bars must reopen for their livelihoods.
What we don’t understand is the disregard of some these businesses to open with staffs not wearing masks, and permitting their decks full of people, shoulder-to-shoulder, wearing no masks. Bands draw large crowds from the area, and vacationers, too.
But isn’t it up to the owners to follow the prescribed guidelines? Do they need entertainment to draw these big crowds? Don’t they believe these logical guidelines protect their staffs and customers alike?
As of June 11, Wisconsin had 926 new COVID-19 cases for the week. Eleven percent of these are hospitalized. And Waupaca ranks in the high category!
We were young once, too, and remember all of the fun times we had at the tourist spots here. When our kids their kids came, it was always such fun to go meet friends, and spend a fun Sunday afternoon.
But sadly, we are in a different time right now. We are all responsible for ourselves, families, and even strangers, to protect ourselves and them as well. If we would do our part, the coronavirus would not be spreading.
Two weeks ago, I walked into places to take a quick look. That was when I found no masks except on my face. I couldn’t have gotten through the crowds if I wanted to. When I called the Health Department and the Sheriff, I was told that there was nothing that could be done.
Since then, someone told me that she had gone to one of the places I visited, and found some changes in the place. I applaud them if this is true. However, this doesn’t mean that all of us are free to do nothing, and not wear masks. It doesn’t mean that we cannot try to be farther away from each other. We know you cannot eat or drink with a mask on, but you can keep your distance with others.
I hope that I’m wrong about Waupaca changing. I hope that those of you who believe this will carry an extra mask with you, and kindly ask someone without one to protect you and others by wearing it. If each of us touches just one other person, we might find the number of cases going down.
I know that our businesses can find innovative ways to do things. Let us hope they do. But, it is really up to us. Let us all do our part.
Rose Marie Reynolds
Waupaca