Southern Torch — Vol. 6, No. 20

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THE SOUTHERN TORCH / FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2020 / VOL. 6, NO. 20 / $1.00

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Our New Normal?

By Marla Jones Managing Editor

marla@southerntorch.com

The DeKalb County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on May 12. President Rickey Harcrow, commissioners Scott Westbrook and Lester Black, along with County Administrator Matt Sharp and County Attorney Jeff McCurdy were the only ones in attendance due to the gathering restrictions. President Harcrow reported that the Courthouse would be opening from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning on

Monday, May 18. Circuit Judge Jeremy Taylor addressed the Commission regarding upcoming trials and COVID -19 restrictions. He asked the Commission to make the City of Fort Payne Auditorium a temporary Courthouse Annex for jury selection and bigger trials to adhere to requirements. The Commission passed a resolution to deem this facility a temporary annex. County Administrator Matt Sharp gave the

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By Zach Hester Reporter zach@southerntorch.com

At Tuesday's meeting of the DeKalb County Commission, it was reported that the DeKalb County Probate Office and Activities Building, as well as the public library, will reopen with limited hours on Monday, begging the question: as Alabama returns to "normal", what does our new normal look like? (Chris Pruitt | Wikimedia Commons)

Zoom meetings are the new normal for the DeKalb County Board of Education. (Marla Jones | Southern Torch)

marla@southerntorch.com

DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — The DeKalb County Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting on May 12, 2020. The following Retirements/ Resignations were approved: • Donnis Barkley Secondary English Language Arts Teacher Valley Head High School- Retirement • Karen Kirk Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Plainview High School - Retirement • Ann Brownfield -

Elementary Teacher Collinsville High School - Retirement • Melissa Smith Elementary Teacher Collinsville High School - Retirement • Daniel Williams Secondary Mathematics Teacher - Collinsville High School -Resignation effective 4/25/20 The following transfers were approved: (All transfers will have an effective date of 8/1/20 unless otherwise specified.) • Nikia Butler - CNP Worker to Assistant CNP Manager at Collinsville High School • Judd Stiefel Elementary Teacher at

Crossville Elementary School to Elementary Teacher at Fyffe • Whitney Stiefel Elementary Teacher at Geraldine High School to Elementary Teacher Fyffe • Misty Coots - High School Counselor to Elementary Counselor at Fyffe High School • Connie Coots - CNP Worker to Assistant CNP Manager at Fyffe High School • LaShania Bruce - Bus Driver at Crossville Schools to Bus Driver at Fyffe High School • Sheila Lewis - 4-hour Assistant Custodian to

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Ivey Amends "Safer At Home" Order

(Photo by Mickey Welsh | Montgomery Advertiser)

By Zach Hester Reporter zach@southerntorch.com

ALABAMA — On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) and State Public Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris delivered an update regarding the State of Alabama's "safer at home" order, which went into effect last week. The order, which initially kept some of the restrictions of Ivey's "stay-at-home" mandate issued in April, has now

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been amended to allow restaurants, salons, and gyms to reopen on Monday, May 11. This new order will be in place through Friday, May 22. The order also removes the limit on non-work gatherings of 10 or more people, but people are still required to remain six feet apart in public places. What's Changing With This Order • Restaurants and

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BOE Updates Graduation Schedule

The DeKalb County Board of Education announced a new graduation schedule on Tuesday. (File Photo)

Board Approves Transfers

By Marla Jones Managing Editor

TWEET

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DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — Just one week after setting a graduation schedule for DeKalb County schools in July, the DeKalb County Board of Education has announced a revised schedule of graduations that will now occur in May. "On Friday May 8, 2020, with the governor's updates to the 'Safer at Home' protocol as well as guidance from Dr. Eric Mackey, Alabama State Superintendent, it was shared that we could have graduations within our regular schedule given that some guidelines are met," DeKalb County Superintendent Dr. Jason Barnett said in a statement. The guidelines provided by Dr. Mackey include a six-feet distance between families, though family members from the same household may sit together without social distancing. Each graduate will be provided with six tickets to their graduation ceremony. The Updated Schedule: • Collinsville: May 20

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