WEDNESDAY DEC. 2, 2020
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COVID spike may force schools to go all-virtual
NEWS
By JOHN FEW john@themadisonrecord.com
Emergency Blood Drive A community blood drive will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the LifeSouth Madison Blood Center, 8190 Madison Blvd. The drive will be called, Joy of Giving. The event is to highlight that giving blood is a joy. Page 3A
MADISON - Officials with Madison City Schools are trying to avoid having students switch to an all-virtual format, but they admit they are nearing that decision. Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols announced last week that
students would return to a hybrid schedule this week in an effort to continue school-based interaction. “As all of you are Nichols aware, the current numbers of COVID-19 have risen these past few weeks,� he said in
a message to parents. “With the rise in cases and the corresponding shortage of substitutes, we will follow a hybrid schedule after the break for all students.� The school district used a hybrid schedule earlier this fall when they transitioned from all-virtual education to allowing students to attend
classes in school if they wanted to. Students were split into A and B groups by alphabet. The A group attended on Monday and Tuesday and the B group on Thursday and Friday. All groups went virtual on Wednesday to allow for buildings to be sanitized between rotational groups. See COVID Page 2A
EVENTS
Gathering today for the official announcement are: SIGMATECH Inc. CEO John Jones, American Legion Post 229 Commander Larry Vannoy, MCS Community Development Coordinator Lee Shaw, and Commissioner Steve Haraway.
Cars Under The Stars Madison Parks and Recreation department will host an outdoor movie event on Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Madison City Schools stadium, featuring The Grinch and Christmas Vacation. Page 5A
EDUCATION
Fantasy Playhouse to build new facility Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy has announced plans to build a new theatre arts campus costing approximately $12-million for the 60-year-old performing arts organization. Page 7A
SPORTS
COVID hits winter sports The COVID-19 pandemic continues to interfere with high school athletics, although guidelines have been set forth to help prevent the spread of the virus. Page 1B
Girls Scouts in Troop 708 exchanged ideas about democracy at a meeting with Madison City Council members Connie Spears and Ranae Bartlett (back row).
Madison councilwomen serve as an inspiration for local Girl Scouts By GREGG PARKER Gregg.Parker@madisoncountyrecord.com MADISON – Recently elected and sworn in, Madison City Council now has a female majority in its members. This fact has not gone unnoticed by Girl Scouts in Madison. “Girl Scouts USA has done a wonderful job finding highly-respected national companies to partner with to create over 70 new badges for girls in grades K-12. Being an election year and 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, it only seemed natural to celebrate all these female achievements by sharing with a younger generation,� Troop 708 Leader Beth Crocker said. One of the newest badges added to Girl Scouts’ curriculum is the Democracy Badge. “Each level is required to learn about local and state government, as well as the three federal branches of government,� Crocker said. “Connie Spears and Ranae Bartlett did a great job explaining all these roles to the girls and even shared some personal stories about the challenges of campaigning during COVID,� Crocker said. “Ranae
shared a case she worked on as legal counsel for Walmart Corporation that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Yep, she won!� After Bartlett and Spears left, Crocker asked her troop, full of rising middle-schoolers, who was interested in running for student council next year. Almost half of the girls raised their hands. “Girl Scouts is raising the next generation of females to be leaders and to have a servant’s heart. I’m humbled to be a part of it. Our sincere thanks go to Connie and Ranae for sharing themselves with Troop 708,� Crocker said. Girls Scouts can earn six different Democracy Badges. Another Girls Scout leader, Beverly Champion, commented on the council’s new configuration. “Did you know that four of the seven newly elected council are women!? Wow.� For the last four years, the only female council member was Maura Wroblewski for District 1. In addition, to help Scouts with their Democracy badge, council members Bartlett, See COUNCILWOMEN Page 2A
City stadium getting new flag pole, huge American flag By STAFF REPORTS
MADISON - Madison City Stadium will soon fly Old Glory in a more magnificent way. The stadium is getting a new 60foot flagpole and 15-foot by 25-foot American Flag. American Legion Post 229 of Madison and local defense company, SIGMATECH Inc., are partnering with Madison City Schools and Madison County Commission District 2 to provide this new addition to the stadium. Officials gathered at stadium today to announce the project. Larry Vannoy, commander of American Legion Post 229, said the initiative grew from seeing other school and municipal stadiums displaying the American flag in a more grand fashion. “We love our country, are big supporters of our country and are patriots,� he said, adding he felt that Madison City Stadium could do better. Veterans in the community began discussions and soon had defense company SIGMATECH on board to fund the new flag project, he said. Commissioner Steve Haraway said District 2 workers See NEW FLAG Page 2A
CLASSIFIEDS
INSIDE Records .......... 2A Events ............. 5A Education ........ 6A Sports ............. 1B
Business ......... 4B Kids................. 5B Church ............ 6B Lifestyles ......... 7B
16 pages • 2 sections
Two arrested after deputy discovers items used to make meth By STAFF REPORTS MADISON COUNTY - Last week, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office made a couple of arrests after items commonly used to make methamphetamine was discovered in an area parking lot. According to the MCSO, Deputy
Daniel Brinson observed a suspicious vehicle parked in a parking lot that resulted in illegal items being located inside the vehicle. “Deputy Brinson encountered one subject that claimed ownership of the vehicle in question. During the iniSee METH Page 3A
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MCSO said deputies searched a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot last week and found several items used to make meth.
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FIND JOBS INSIDE: There are plenty of jobs within today’s classifieds pages. See page 4A.