Gov. Kay Ivey announced school campuses will not reopen this school year during a joint press conference today with State School Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey and State Health Officer Scott Harris.
Educators were preparing for students to return to classrooms on Monday, April 6. Marion County and Winfield City schools have been closed since Monday, March 16.
• Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have grown to seven in Marion County, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s database. The numbers were recorded around noon on Thursday, March 26, nearly doubling the county’s case count from the previous day of four. The first confirmed case, a Hackleburg resident, was made on Saturday, March 21.
• According to Northwest Medical Center officials, the Winfield hospital has collected 37 samples as of Thursday, March 26--four of which have been confirmed as positive for COVID-19.
Marion County Commissioner Bob Burleson discusses the commission’s plan to use the county’s one-cent hospital tax to fund a new jail facility.
The Hamilton City Council voted unanimously during its Monday, March 16, meeting to pledge $200,000 a year to the Marion County Commission to help cover payments for up to a $10 million bond for a new jail.
The pledge was passed with a provision that the commission not raise lock-up fees for the Hamilton Police Department.
HAMILTON - Construction on Hamilton’s new Love’s Travel Stop and Country Store has been pushed back again.
Hamilton Mayor Bob Page told the council during a work session held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, that Love’s March 21 start date has been delayed until April.
Love’s officials had projected construction on its new $12 million facility to begin in December. The store will be located off Interstate 22’s Exit 14 in Hamilton, off County Road 35 and River Road Drive.
HACKLEBURG - A Hackleburg resident has Marion County's first positive case of COVID-19, according to Hackleburg Mayor Darryl Colburn.
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) confirmed on Saturday, March 21, that it had recorded Marion County's first case of the virus. Colburn made a statement on social media the next day (Sunday, March 22) notifying the public that the case was in his town.
TUPELO, MISS. - Mayor Jason Shelton has issued a shelter-in-place order for Tupelo, Miss., in an attempt to stifle the spread of COVID-19.
The order restricts travel only to and from essential businesses and self and family care.
Essential businesses include:
The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has confirmed Marion County's first positive case of coronavirus, according to state Rep. Tracy Estes.
Estes told the Journal Record state health officials contacted him Saturday morning, March 21, to inform him of the positive test. The state health department said it would not be providing any other information regarding the case.
MONTGOMERY—Attorney General Steve Marshall warns those who would seek to illegally profit from the current public health emergency that Alabama’s price gouging law has been activated.
On March 13, 2020, Gov. Kay Ivey declared a State Public Health Emergency in Alabama relating to the appearance of the 2019 novel coronavirus known as COVID-19. Alabama’s price gouging law comes into effect when the governor declares a State of Emergency and it prohibits the “unconscionable pricing” of items for sale or rent.
Alabama Power is sharing information on a scam targeting customers over the phone claiming to be a representative from Alabama Power and requesting immediate payment on accounts.
In some instances, scammers have altered a customer’s caller ID to falsely read Alabama Power Company.
Walker County, which borders the southeast corner of Marion County, has confirmed its first case of coronavirus.
For information on where to get tested, residents may call the Alabama COVID-19 24/7 hotline at 1-888-264-2256 for testing sites and hours of operation.
The following counties have confirmed COVID-19 cases by the Alabama Department of Public Health:
MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) on Thursday, March 19, issued a statewide health order to aid in Alabama’s efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has been notified that an administrative employee tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first confirmed case within the ADOC. Due to HIPAA restrictions and security concerns, the ADOC will not release the name of the individual or the facility at which they work. As of this release, there are no positive COVID-19 cases reported within the inmate population.
(Updated: Tuesday, March 17, 3:00 p.m.) - This article has been published in its entirety courtesy of the Journal Record. Updates will be made as soon as they become available.
(Editor’s note: The coronavirus outbreak is developing every day, and at the time of this publication, many details are likely to have changed. To stay up-to-date, please visit the Journal Record’s website, myjrpaper.org. SBJ)
The Journal Record office in Winfield is closing.
Marion County’s newspaper office in Hamilton will remain open, but simply due to the costs involved with staying in business, according to Journal Record Publisher Horace Moore and General Manager Jesse Lamar, the closing of the Winfield office is something they regretfully must do.
HAMILTON - Personal information and data are believed to be secure following a cyber attack that hit the Marion County Courthouse in Hamilton on Monday, March 2.
On the day before the Tuesday, March 3, primary election, a server housing data for Marion County’s probate and revenue commission offices was infected by ransomware, shutting down operations at both offices for the rest of the week.
Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.
HAMILTON - A local bill being filed with the Alabama Legislature would consolidate eight voter boxes into three.
The bill was discussed during the Marion County Commission’s meeting on Monday, March 9, when Marion County Probate Judge Paige Vick gave notice to the commission on behalf of the Secretary of State’s Office that there is push to assure handicap accessible polling places.
She explained that the issue is a primary concern for the U.S. Department of Justice in 2020.
HAMILTON - Hot, freezing, rain or shine—all in the same week, or for that matter, all on the same day. Yup, Alabama weather has a way of keeping you guessing.
Living through this reality during the first few months of 2020 were enough to inspire Hamilton’s Anna Kate Warner, 18, to pen an original song, “Alabama Weather,” that is quickly getting attention.
The lyrics to Anna Kate’s song can be found on page 3B.
Anna Kate, a senior at Hamilton High School and the daughter of Chris and Deana Warner, was born and raised in music.
Hamilton - During late February and early March pre-trial hearings in 25th Judicial Circuit Court, Marion County District Attorney Scott Slatton’s office accepted 75 guilty pleas.
During the hearings, which took place Feb. 25-27 and March 9 in Hamilton, The DA’s office also recommended 16 cases be dismissed and reached agreements on 10 additional cases for them to be placed on the inactive docket in order for defendants to complete certain requirements before official dismissal.
MARION COUNTY - Gov. Kay Ivey has formally signaled the open of Census 2020 participation statewide.
For the first time in history, the Census is now available online at my2020Census.gov.
Additionally, invitation letters have been mailed and will continue to arrive in mailboxes across the state through Friday, March 20.
Individuals can participate in the 10-question Census online, by phone or through traditional paper form.
