SPORTS, PAGE B1: WETUMPKA GIRLS DEFEAT SEHS, CLAIM COUNTY TITLE
THE WETUMPKA HERALD Elmore County’s Oldest Newspaper Est. 1898 | thewetumpkaherald.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2021 | VOL. 123, NO. 02 | $1.00
COVID vaccines to soon be available for first responders, elderly STAFF REPORT TPI Staff
Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama Department of Public Health announced Friday that ADPH will provide COVID-19 vaccinations for
people 75 years old or older, as well as first responders, including law enforcement and firefighters, statewide by appointment only beginning Jan. 18. Appointments at locations throughout the state are made first-come, first-
Staff quarantines force 2 county schools to go virtual this week
served. The addition of these groups is not a full expansion into the next phase of the vaccine rollout. “I appreciate the swift work of ADPH to establish a system to efficiently provide our
limited resources of vaccine to as many Alabamians as possible,” Ivey said. “We have previously worked to provide vaccines to our health care workers who are on the front lines of the pandemic, and now are diligently working to
expand access to our seniors, law enforcement officers and various members of our first responders. It is critical for everyone to remain patient; demand is high, and supply See VACCINES • Page A6
STOP THE SPREAD
By BRIANA WILSON Bureau Chief
With an increased number of personnel quarantined and selfisolated at Coosada and Holtville elementary schools, all students at both schools have transitioned to virtual platforms for the remainder of this week. Superintendent Richard Dennis said 11 employees are absent at Coosada Elementary and 12 are out at Holtville Elementary. However, not all of them have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of the 11 employees absent See VIRTUAL • Page A6
2 Wetumpka residents killed in Tuesday wreck
Briana Wilson / The Herald
By BRIANA WILSON Bureau Chief
A lab technician with Elmore Community Hospital assisted with the hospital’s new COVID clinic during its opening on Tuesday.
A single-vehicle crash on Tuesday claimed the lives of two Wetumpka residents. Around 10:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Tobaius D. George, 28, of Wetumpka, was killed when the 2007 Hyundai Sonata he was driving left the roadway, struck a tree and overturned before catching fire, according to a report from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The passenger in the vehicle, Miracle D. Johnson, 19, of Wetumpka, who was not using a seat belt, was killed when she was ejected from the vehicle. George and Johnson were both pronounced dead at the scene. The wreck occurred on Chapel See WRECK • Page A6
Elmore Community Hospital opens COVID clinic indefinitely By BRIANA WILSON Bureau Chief
In an effort provide some relief for area clinics overwhelmed with COVID19 testing, Elmore Community Hospital opened a COVID clinic on Tuesday. Hospital marketing director Heidi Smith said the clinic will be open indefinitely. “There are about seven clinics located in the vicinity of the hospital and they are all overflowing with COVID patients and they need some relief,” Smith said. Smith said patients who have illnesses and injuries unrelated to
intravenous infusion treatments can also be arranged for people who test positive and are considered to be highrisk. However, for the IV treatment to be effective, high-risk patients who test positive must be asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. The clinic is housed in a tent set up outside of the hospital. Residents will be required to preregister by calling 256-307-4010 and setting up an appointment. All forms of insurance will be accepted. After opening on Tuesday, the clinic will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents do not have to be symptomatic to get tested.
Registration begins for youth baseball, softball
File / The Herald
Registration has begun for Wetumpka Youth Baseball and Softball League and will end Feb. 7.
By BRIANA WILSON Bureau Chief
Registration is now open for parents interested in registering their child for the Wetumpka Youth Baseball and Softball League. Registration began Thursday and will continue until Feb. 7, said league commissioner Matt Fallin. The cost of registration is $110 for
Today’s
CONTACT US
52 30
334-567-7811 Fax: 334-567-3284
Weather High
COVID are having a hard time being seen by practitioners and are experiencing two to three-hour waits to be seen. With the hospital’s COVID clinic up and running, Smith said area clinics will hopefully have less COVID-related patients to tend to. The hospital’s drive-thru clinic provides rapid COVID tests as well as other services related to COVID. Those who get tested at the clinic can expect results by the end of the day, said clinic administrator Tori Maklary. For patients who test positive, the clinic will set up appointments for them with primary care physicians. COVID
Low
THURSDAY: HIGH 59 LOW 40
USPS 681-260
one child and decreases by $10 for an additional child in a family. So, the cost of the second child would be $100 and a third would be $90. Youth ages 5 to 18 are eligible to play in the league. To register, go to Wetumpkayouthleague.com. Parents may also sign up for free softball and baseball clinics set for the end of January. Softball clinics will be held Jan.
23 and 30. Another one will take place Feb. 6. Baseball clinics will be held Jan. 17 and 31. Spaces are limited for the clinics and are reserved on a firstcome, first-served basis. Player evaluations will take place Feb. 13 and practice is set to begin Feb. 18. Games are set to begin on March 29. See SPORTS • Page A6