WINSTON COUNTY - Confirmed cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in Alabama, with one confirmed case now being reported in Walker County.

STRONG>BEAR CREEK   - A motion on the table to hire a new town clerk and move present clerk Jamie White to water clerk was one of two major votes that fell by the wayside because of a lack of a second from the Bear Creek Town Council.

BEAR CREEK  - The Bear Creek Town Council meeting was coming to a close, with a motion on the table to adjourn, when a question asked by  town council member Chris Gillum led into a fiery discussion and comments on whether the town has a legal park and rec board, resulting in police escorting two individuals out of the meeting.

HALEYVILLE  - School officials are expressing concern that the closure of schools due to the Coronavirus or COVID-19 will be extended past the April 6 deadline, which would result in multiple complications administrators and staff would have to address.

In the second of what has been two daily updates this week on the statewide confirmed case count for coronavirus-2019, or COVID-19 in Alabama, the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) announced Wednesday afternoon that the confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Alabama is now 51.

WINSTON COUNTY - The Alabama Department of Public Health has released recommendations which essentially will stop all non-urgent dental procedures in the state through April 10, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama State Department of Education is taking a proactive approach to assist districts during the COVID-19 closure period.

HALEYVILLE - Haleyville Mayor Ken Sunseri issued a statement on the city's Facebook page late Tuesday afternoon addressing coronavirus-2019, or COVID-19. The statement, in its entirety, is as follows:

PHIL CAMPBELL - The Phil Campbell Study Club is postponing the BBQ pork and smoked chicken fundraiser scheduled for Thursday, March 19, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - Winston County Sheriff Horace Moore has announced changes to the inmate visitation policy at the Winston County jail out of precaution over coronavirus or COVID-19, after 29 cases were confirmed in the state by press time.

BLACK POND - A public message on the Facebook page Black Pond Community News posted Friday, March 6, stirred up strong emotions between members of the Black Pond Volunteer Fire Department and the public, leading to a public meeting at the fire department March 10.

DOUBLE SPRINGS - When Bill Hawkins passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 25, it left a council seat vacant at the Town of Double Springs. As events unfolded at the town council meeting Monday, March 9, another seat became available when Mayor Elmo Robinson read a resignation letter by council member Bart Seymour. Seymour’s resignation is due to him no longer living in the city limits.

MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is modifying its driver license division’s statewide operations in response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).

WINSTON COUNTY - After earlier reporting from the Alabama Secretary of State  that no absentee ballots would  be mailed out due to the Coronavirus scare, also known as COVID-19, that news changed with business  as usual, meaning absentee ballot applications are being accepted and ballots are being mailed out in preparation for the March 31 run-off election.

Also, the run-off election is still scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, reported Winston County Absentee Elections Manager J.D. Snoddy.

BIRMINGHAM - As the COVID-19 pandemic grows, many health care systems across the country are beginning to become overrun with patients experiencing symptoms that are common to many illnesses. To alleviate the pressure on health care workers, here is a guide from the University of Alabama at Birmingham to help you determine whether you have a cold, the flu or allergies or are indeed infected with COVID-19:

WINSTON COUNTY - As of 10:15 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 17, Alabama had 36 confirmed cases of Coronavirus-2019, or COVID-19.  There have been no deaths reported from in Alabama from the virus.  There are still no confirmed cases in Northwest Alabama.  The only cases in north Alabama are in Limestone and Madison counties, with one reported in each county.

In other related news:

NAUVOO - As of Monday, March 16, at 1:30 p.m., Camp McDowell will close due to coronavirus 2019. The camp plans to reopen Monday, April 6, as of right now. Those who have events scheduled between March 16 and April 6, should receive a phone call from camp operators.

WINSTON COUNTY - In an effort to keep the public informed about local news regarding Coronavirus-19, or COVID-19, the Alabamian will be posting daily an article containing all information that pertains locally to the pandemic. The post will be updated as needed throughout the day.

HALEYVILLE - In one of several all-call messages to parents of Haleyville City Schools students Sunday, March 15, HCS Superintendent Dr. Holly Sutherland announced the initial plan to feed students for the first two days of what will be an extended school closure due to Coronavirus 2019.