A drive-up COVID-19 testing clinic will be offered at the Fayette County Health Department on Tuesday, May 5, from 10 a.m. - noon while testing supplies are available. Please call (205) 932-5260 for an appointment and to preregister. The address of the Fayette County Health Department is 215 1st Avenue NW, Fayette.

Following the postponement of the March 31 primary runoff election to July 14, Secretary of State John H. Merrill reminds Alabamians of the option to vote by absentee ballot. “Amid coronavirus concerns, it is important to remember that Alabamians who are concerned about contracting or spreading an illness have the opportunity to avoid the polls on Election Day by casting an absentee ballot,” shared Secretary Merrill. “Alabamians can access the application online or by visiting or calling their local Absentee Election Manager’s office.”

Several Fayette County residents recently enjoyed what for many was a “trip of a lifetime” when they ventured overseas to tour the Holy Land. The trip was organized by Fayette County Baptist Association Director John Killian, and consisted of approximately 30 people, with almost all of the travelers being residents of Fayette County and the surrounding area. Some of the local residents making the trip, many for their first time, were: Jerry Robertson, Kathy Carroll, Barbara Wright, Fayette Mayor Ray Nelson, Jody Taylor, Daniel Smith, Stacy Bennett and Emily Bennett.

The Fayette City Council discussed placing two speed bumps in residential areas of town during its April 14 meeting. One of the speed bumps would be located on 9th Street NW and another on the adjoining 2nd Avenue NW. All council members were in attendance for the meeting. Councilman Cedric Wilson said that residents in the area have petitioned for the speed bumps since there are several children residing in the area. Wilson said that two children were almost hit by vehicles a few weeks ago.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to increase in intensity throughout the state, with Fayette County remaining at four confirmed cases at press time. Although the number of cases have increased to more than 5,000 statewide with more than 100 confirmed deaths, some medical authorities are predicting that the peak is near and a lessening of restrictions might begin to occur within the state as soon as May.

The Glen Allen Town Council met on Tuesday, April 7 for its regular monthly meeting. Councilwoman Bobbie S. McCraw was not in attendance for the meeting. Due to statewide guidelines concerning the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the council meeting was held in the Glen Allen Community Center parking lot with all councilors remaining in their own personal vehicles in an attempt to abide by the recommendations of the COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

Fayette Progress Club II sponsored a the Miss Fayette County Pageant for contestants from birth through 12th grade on March 14 at the Fayette Civic Center.

At 10 a.m. on April 15, Alabama topped the 4,000 mark in COVID-19 cases, with a total of 4,006. The number of confirmed deaths from the Coronavirus in Alabama is 75. Fayette County remains among the lowest number of cases of the virus in the state with four confirmed cases.

A series of thunderstorms on Easter Sunday caused considerable tree and road damage throughout the county. The storms began in the county at approximately 3 p.m. and continued periodically until approximately 9 p.m. The wind and more than three inches of rainfall caused numerous trees to either break or topple over, many of the trees falling unto roadways and power lines. According to Fayette County Emergency Management Director (EMA) Russ Taylor, his office had not received any reports of structural damage or injuries due to the storms.

The Fayette Christian Center of Concern opened in Sept. 1990 and has helped serve the physical needs of numerous Fayette Countians for almost 30 years. Redonia Keeton started at the center approximately six months after it opened, and said that the facility has been a blessing to so many people during the tough times of their lives. “A lot of people in the county have very little income to buy food and get very few food stamps,” she said. “We are able to supplement their needs and help them survive.

After recording its first COVID-19 case on Monday, March 30, Fayette has gained three additional cases during the past few days to now total four cases. No details have been released concerning the four cases documented within the county, but the new cases have been recorded as the number of individuals tested within the county has increased to approximately 125.

The Berry Town Council voted at its April 6 meeting to allow Tier II employees in the Town of Berry to change the way their benefits would be structured at retirement. Councilman Chris Rice was absent from the meeting, with the remainder of the council members present. The meeting was moved from Berry Town Hall to the Berry Civic Center due to the need for “social distancing” requested by the state health department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 5 p.m. on April 9, the Alabama Department of Public Health listed 2,810 cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Alabama. Fayette County is listed as one of the lowest total number of cases in the state with one confirmed case.

As of 10:15 a.m. on April 8, Fayette County still had only one confirmed case of the COVID-19 virus out of 91 tests performed. Statewide, there were 2,241 cases of the virus reported with 48 confirmed deaths.

Former Fayette County Administrator John Ray Gordon lost his lengthy and courageous battle with cancer on April 1. He was 68 years old. Ironically, the day he died was his official retirement date from the county as administrator, having served 22 years doing the job that he truly loved. Gordon was a native of Arkansas, but many years ago he moved to Fayette and totally became one of the “locals” through the sharing of his talents, charm, laughter and generosity.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a “Stay-at-Home” order, effective at 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 for the entire state. Under the order, people are allowed to leave their homes for “essential” activities, but must remain at home otherwise.  Included as reasons to be away from home are to provide or seek services at essential businesses, obtaining groceries or medical services, and caring for the sick. The entire order and allowable activities can be obtained by accessing the governor’s web site at: governor.alabama.gov At press time, the COVID-19 toll continues to grow across the nation.

Hubbertville FCCLA members attended the State Leadership Conference and STAR Event Competition, held March 4 - 6 in Montgomery. The students from Hubbertville competed against students from across the state in FCCLA STAR events.

The Fayette City Council held a work session on March 31 to discuss the city’s financial stability and actions during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. All council members were in attendance for the meeting. Prior to the council’s discussion of finances, an emergency situation was declared concerning one of the city’s pumps at the wastewater treatment facility. John Dill, manager of the wastewater treatment plant, told the council that one of the facility’s intermediate pumps had worn out and had to be replaced.

The Fayette County Health Department is hosting a drive-through Coronavirus testing site in Fayette at the Fayette County Health Department, 215 1st Avenue NW, Fayette this Thursday, April 9 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Contact the Fayette Co. Health Department for additional information regarding qualifications for the test and to schedule a test time.