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SPORTS: Three Highland baseball players sign with Division colleges. Page 12.
January 6, 2021
Our 204th year | Vol. 204, No. 1
I
| www.Fauquier.com | $1.50
Students to start semester under virtual model
Community spread of coronavirus forces school board to abandon hybrid plan for now; will reevaluate Jan. 11 By Robin Earl
Times Staff Writer
Members of the Fauquier County School Board voted 4 to 1 Dec. 30 night to begin the next semester on Wednesday, Jan. 6, under the virtual instructional model, with the option for the hybrid model to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 19. They further decided to reevaluate the return to in-person learning at their Jan. 11 meeting. Chairman Duke Bland (Marshall District) voted against the motion. He said he thought the schools should offer only remote learning
“It used to be we’d have 82 cases in a week in our five counties; now we have 315 or even 415.” DANIEL FERRELL Epidemiologist, Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Virginia Department of Health
through the end of January. Board members and school administrators met virtually in the emergency session to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic is playing out in the county – and how it is affecting the plan to welcome children and staff back into school buildings
after the winter break. April Achter, population specialist with the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District of the Virginia Department of Health and Daniel Ferrell, epidemiologist with the RRHD, presented the latest COVID-19 data. Achter pointed to slides that reflect
the upward trajectory of cases in Fauquier. She cited a 400% increase in cases over the last eight weeks. “Hospitals are expressing concern,” she said, and added that the rise in cases is expected to continue into January. Achter said that many residents are not following health department recommendations on mask wearing and social distancing. “Parents have been hosting parties for their teenagers. We have significant numbers of children who are sick.” See VIRTUAL, page 4
Something old, something brew
Despite the pandemic, two new businesses are welcoming customers. The owners of Death Ridge Brewery in Jeffersonton (left) and Something Old, Something New Bridal (right) both believe they have something unique to offer. See pages 6 and 7.
Precision Orthopedic practice opening in Warrenton - See page 8 INSIDE Classified............................................20 Opinion...............................................11 Obituaries...........................................16 Puzzles...............................................10 Sports.................................................12
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