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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 VOL. 124 NO. 18 www.whitebearpress.com $1.00
VALENTINE’S DAY: 6 local spots to celebrate at PAGE 8A
Coronavirus poses ‘low immediate risk’ but state prepared to respond BY ELIZABETH CALLEN SHOREVIEW EDITOR
2019-nCoV, more widely known as coronavirus, has not yet made its way to Minnesota, but state health officials say that should that change any time soon, they are prepared to deal with it “While what we know today about this virus and other viruses from the same family suggests that this is really a low immediate risk for the general public, we, of course, consider any new infectious disease a serious concern and we’re taking precautions,” said Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm in a recent news conference. The term “coronavirus” applies to a large family of viruses, which are estimated to cause approximately one-third of all cases of the common cold. The strand associated with this recent outbreak, 2019-nCoV, is a viral respiratory illness caused by a member of the coronavirus family and has not been previously seen in humans before. While it is unknown exactly how 2019-nCoV spreads, Malcolm said that health officials have learned “a great deal” from previous outbreaks of other coronaviruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus in 2012. “We know that finding cases quickly and responding to them quickly is so very key. That rapid response helps ensure that the ill persons receive the care that they need, and it lessens the chance of other people getting sick, thereby containing the spread of the virus,” Malcom said. With similar viruses, person-toperson spread occurs primarily through close contact, when an infected person coughs or sneezes, thereby spreading respiratory
share stories, advice BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR
If newlyweds are in need of some advice, they can surely find it at Good Life Senior Living in Hugo. Three couples are represented there by a cumulative total of 178 years of marriage experience. Their love stories are inspiring not only to their families, but also to Good Life Activities Director Sarah Cairins, who gets emotional when she talks about these successful couples. “They have inspired me to find the perfect relationship. I have never been married, but they have taught me to never settle,” she said.
Bob & Marilyn Rosenquist Bob and Marilyn Rosenquist have lived in Hugo since 1972. Marilyn originally hails from Two Harbors, Bob from St. Paul. “I came to the cities to work, and then I met him and ended up staying here,” Marilyn explained. “I talked my friend from Two Harbors into coming down for a job, and we found an ad in the paper for (a) Girl Friday. I sent my friend over there and she met
Bob, but she had (already) met her husband so she was not interested in Bob.” Feb. 10 marked the couple’s 58th wedding anniversary. Bob worked for a construction company for many years while Marilyn did clerical work. Marilyn then chose to stay home and take care of their two children. Bob said his favorite thing about their relationship is that they have always spent a lot of time together. “She wanted to be a part of the things I was doing, and I wanted to be a part of the things she was doing,” he said. Even now, Bob makes sure to stop by Good Life on a daily basis to visit his sweetheart, who lives at the new facility situated along Forest Boulevard in Hugo. Marilyn said her favorite thing about Bob is his intelligence. “He is smart. When I want to know something, I always go to him,” she said. The Rosenquists have many fond memories of traveling and exploring new places together and with their children and grandchildren.
ALL PHOTOS SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Three couples at Good Life Senior Living in Hugo have all been married for well over five decades. Pictured are Bob and Marilyn Rosenquist (center), William and Maggie Snyder (left) and Stan and Marietta Wilson (right).
Bob said if he could give newlyweds advice, it would be to go to church. “Once our kids started getting boyfriends and girlfriends, I always told them to go to church ... I think religion secures a family,” he said. “I’ve also learned after 58 years that you can’t train your wife.”
William & Maggie Snyder William and Maggie Snyder are from White Bear Lake. They have been married for 62 years. Maggie said the two met each other many moons ago while she was working in a drugstore. “He stopped in and had a Coke,” she recalled. The two dated for about a year before they got married. William worked at an oil refinery in SEE SENIOR SWEETHEARTS, PAGE 9A
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Love that lasts: Longtime couples
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