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INDEPENDENT APPEAL

Volume 118, Issue 48

50 cents

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Governor: ‘Take this seriously’ Lee requires residents to stay at home By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor

Tennesseans must now stay at home. Gov. Bill Lee signed Executive Order 23 requiring residents to stay home unless they are carrying out essential activities as data shows an increase in citizen movement across the state. “Over the last few weeks, we have seen decreases in movement around the state as Tennesseans socially distance and stay

at home,” said Lee on Thursday. “However, in recent days we have seen data indicating that movement may be increasing and we must get these numbers trending back down.” Order 23 updates Lee’s previous executive order to clearly require Tennesseans stay at home

unless they are carrying out essential activities. Data from the Tennessee Department of Transportation analyzed traffic patterns for March 2020. While safer at home measures and further restrictions on businesses showed a steep drop-off in vehicle movement from March 13-29, data beginning on March 30 indicates travel is trending upwards. The administration also analyzed data from Unacast to understand cell phone

mobility and determine movement trends among people. Unacast indicates the movement of Tennesseans is trending toward pre-COVID-19 levels. “The month of April stands to be an extremely tough time for our state as we face the potential for a surge in COVID-19 cases,” said Lee. “Every Tennessean must take this seriously, remain at home and ensure we save lives.” The executive order remains in effect until April 14, 2020 at 11:59 p.m.

Unusual year for district

COVID-19

Assistant Editor

Assistant Editor

Expect the unexpected. McNairy County Director of Schools Greg Martin has plenty of experience with unforeseen situations over the last nine months. “It has been a rough year for sure,” said Martin. “Every time we Martin got over things, something else came along.” The latest to hit McNairy County Schools is COVID-19. The coronavirus put a halt to school on March 17 following Gov. Bill Lee’ recommendation to dismiss school. “The virus is stressful in a

COVID-19 positive tests have now risen to six in McNairy County. McNairy County Mayor Larry Smith was notified of three more residents who have the coronavirus on Monday. “McNairy County is not immune to COVID-19,” said Smith. “COVID-19 will impact many lives in our county before we recover from this health crisis.” The county’s first case was reported on March 29. The second positive test was April 1 with a third on April 2. A total of 83 people have been tested in the county. Smith said a health care hotline has been established for anyone who has any questions about the virus. The number is 731-240-1771. On Monday, the McNairy

Cases now stand at 6 in county By Steve Beavers

By Steve Beavers

See UNUSUAL, 7

Staff Photo by Joel Counce

A Selmer man was killed Friday when he lost control of his vehicle and was struck by a truck.

Man fatally injured in wreck By Joel Counce Staff Writer

A Selmer man was fatally injured when his vehicle spun out of control and was struck by a truck. Forty-seven year old Cecil Sanders was pronounced dead at the scene after he lost control of his 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier around 4:22 p.m. Friday on Highway 142

near Brooks Road. Sanders was eastbound on Highway 142 when he crossed the center line going off the north side of the road and overcorrected. The car started to spin when it was hit, according to the Tennessee Highway Patrol report. The Cavalier was struck on the driver’s side by a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado headed east on Highway

142. The driver of the truck was 21-year-old Marvin Ellis of Bethel Springs. Sanders was not wearing a seatbelt. Ellis, who was wearing his seatbelt, was not injured. Medical Center EMS, Selmer Fire Department and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office all responded to the call.

See CASES, 7

Virus patient feeling better Some local boards turning to video-type meetings By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor

Judy Hammons is feeling much better. The retired McNairy County teacher was the second person to test positive for COVID-19. Her quarantine ended Tuesday following a two-week bout just sitting in a chair. “I didn’t have any idea it was coronavirus,” said the 70-year-old Hammons. “It affects people so different

... the sickest I got was just sitting in a chair.” Hammons was notified of her positive test on Wednesday, April 1. “I was feeling much better that Tuesday,” she said. Her symptoms were chest congestion, cough and low-grade fever. “I went to the doctor and they thought it was sinusitis,” she said. Hammons didn’t get any better after a couple of

more trips to the doctor’s office. “It was kind of scary because I didn’t get any better ... I was feeling worse,” said Hammons. An x-ray on her final visit to the doctor showed she had a touch of pneumonia in one lung. It was then she was given the COVID-19 test. “This wasn’t my worst sickness,” said Hammons. “I missed two weeks of school with the flu in 1970.”

By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor

Board meetings are entering a historic phase. Efforts to practice social distancing is changing the usual corporate fashion way of meeting to the video web conferencing method. County Mayor Larry Smith and the county commission tested the new fashion on Thursday. “I don’t know how it will shape out,”

said Smith of the April 13 meeting. “But this is how we will be doing the meeting.” The county is using Zoom Pro mobile app that allows users to meet online with or without video. Users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects and share or annotate on one another’s screens, all with one easy-to-use platform. “We couldn’t use just Zoom because it didn’t offer enough time to complete the meeting,” said Smith.

See MEETINGS, 7

Churches to celebrate Easter in different fashion By Steve Beavers Assistant Editor

Church sanctuaries are normally at full capacity on Easter Sunday. COVID-19 will make sure it doesn’t happen this Sunday. Local churches will celebrate the Risen Lord in mostly empty sanctuaries. Live and online services have become the new normal over the past few weeks. The change isn’t going to stop

pastors from delivering the word. “This has rocked the Christian world because this is the first time most of us have not been able to meet on Easter Sunday,” said Lakeview Church Pastor Bro. Clint Overton. “I told the staff here we had to move from a brick and mortar church to a completely online church.” The online move hasn’t been an issue for Lakeview, according to Overton. “We have had a strong online

presence for several years,” he said. “The key thing for us is to stay connected without the opportunities to meet ... this is the generation for SnapChat, Tick Tock, Facebook.”

Overton believes God is going to use the virus to do something good. “I can see him turning people toward him,” said Overton. “We had everything handed to us on a silver platter and when this is over, we need to appreciate that and better not take it for granted.” First Baptist Church-Selmer will continue its online service on Easter Sunday. “We are going to do what we have been doing, but put a twist

Did you know? An early-morning fire destroyed the Grecian Steak House on Feb. 28 of 1983.

on it,” said First Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Joey Johnson. Johnson believes every Sunday for a Christian is Easter. “We should celebrate the Risen Savior every Sunday,” he said. The virus is providing churches a chance to reach out to lost people. “This is a great opportunity for us,” said Johnson. “It’s a window that will not stay open so we

See EASTER, 7

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