Fired boss at Tyson Iowa pork plant says COVID-19 betting pool was a 'morale boost' Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press Watch: Gov. Kim Reynolds confirms Tyson plant outbreak in Storm Lake; disclosure of outbreak information only when necessary Replay Video UP NEXT IOWA CITY, Iowa – One of the Tyson Foods managers fired for betting on how many workers would contract COVID-19 at an Iowa pork plant said the office pool was spontaneous fun and intended to boost morale. Don Merschbrock, former night manager at the plant in Waterloo, said he was speaking in an attempt to show that the seven fired supervisors are “not the evil people” that Tyson has portrayed.