SELMA SUN | May 7, 2020

SHINING THE LIGHT ON SELMA AND DALLAS COUNTY, ALABAMA

www.selmasun.com

May 7, 2020 | Volume 7 Issue 19

75 ¢

More Selma residents put hat in mayoral race

BY CINDY FISHER

Selma Sun Staff Two more residents have thrown their name in the hat this week to run for mayor of Selma.

For mer police chief Robert Green and businessman Havard Spencer have announced that they are running for the top spot in Selma that is up for grabs in 2020.

They join Miah Jackson, current City Councilwoman, and former Mayor James Perkins Jr. who have announced in the last several months of their plans to run for mayor of Selma. Current Mayor Darrio Melton has not officially said if he is running for re-election.

Qualifying opens July 7 for the candidates to make their run official and the primary election is set for Aug. 25.

Green has been in law enforcement for his career and wants to improve the crime rate. But he also lists nearly 40 years of city government experience.

In his announcement,

Havard Spencer, owner of the Robert Green served as interim Miah Jackson is a current City James Perkins Jr. is running for Henderson House, is running for chief of Selma’s police department Councilwoman and running for mayor. Perkins previously served as Selma’s first black mayor from mayor. until Dec. 31. mayor of Selma.

2000-2008.

Green said city leaders need to compromise.

Local businessman and investor Havard Spencer and his wife, Nancy, moved to Selma last year to renovate the Henderson House that was formerly owned by Larry Striplin and built in 1853.

Spencer, who has experience in health care and development, says he chose to move to Selma because its

beauty reminds him of his hometown in Louisiana.

In the first two weeks of living in Selma, Spencer says he was “drawn to the city’s political drama of Mayor vs City Council” and felt “the city taxpayers and their tax dollars were being misappropriated in a way that I could not just sit back and complain.”

He began attending City Council meetings and was

active in getting more streetlights in Old Town around Henderson House. He also was disappointed in the results of the financial audit released in March from the State Examiners of Public Accounts, saying “the City of Selma is in financial turmoil. So much wrong and not enough right.”

As a business owner, he read the city’s financial budget and expenditures, and

said the numbers did not add up.

“Internal audits should be done on a regular basis and the assets and its values,” Spencer said. “The basic idea I have...Irresponsible spending and bad business decisions. When you are Mayor you have to be a business-savvy person for the day-to-day operations.”

He released a platform for

his campaign, which includes not taking the mayor’s $70,000 salary the first year.

He would put in place an effort to save $250,000 a month, which adds up to $3 million a year. He wouldn’t expound, saying it is his research not to be shared with opponents.

Spencer also has run for office before. He ran for commissioner in that Georgia municipality.

“Maybe one day citizens/ voters might vote for a person that is bonafide...and not just a hand shaker with false promises. We are adults now.

Let’s stop voting for the quarterback and head cheerleader like we did in high school.

We need to save this community, save the crazy spending and bring back the street sweeper machines and the old Selma years ago where things got done. We need to go back to basics and fix potholes, fix traffic lights, fix water drains/storm water and get the big “ego” out of the mayor’s office and bring votes for a business-sensible person.”

Selma quarantine curfew still in place despite state Safer at Home order

BY TODD PRATER

Selma Sun Staff After Gov. Kay Ivey lifted the Stay at Home order and issued a much more lenient Safer at Home order, there has been question as to whether or not the overnight quarantine ordered by Selma Mayor

Darrio Melton for the city is still in place.

The answer is yes; the proclamation issued by the mayor on March 28 imposing quarantine for the hours of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., is still in effect until further notice. The proclamation spells out who is and is not included in the nightly quaran-

tine. The mayor said that failure to comply with the quarantine order will be cited and face a fine and jail time.

Melton added that part of his order states that the city will adhere to any orders imposed by the state, which means now with the safer at home order allowing retail outlets to open,

the city will enforce the 50% of fire marshal’s occupancy in the building at one time. He said social distancing will still be enforced, no groups of 10 or more and maintaining distance between each other of six feet.

Melton reminds that restaurant dining rooms are still closed, however most have

pick-up, curbside or drive through service. City parks are still closed, but Melton said when people go outside, they are encouraged to practice social distancing. All city buildings that would be rented for gatherings are closed “because if you can’t have groups of over 10, we’re not

going to rent a building for a big meeting.”

The mayor said he is still concerned that not everyone is taking the need for social distancing seriously but recommends everyone do so. The proclamation made by the mayor is at the city of Selma website; www.selma-al.gov.

Walmart-Quest partnership brings COVID testing to Selma

BY FRED GUARINO

Selma Sun Staff Walmart and Quest started COVID-19 mobile testing in Selma at Memorial Park on Friday.

The unit is traveling between Selma, Demopolis and Thomasville on a rotating basis and testing those who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. It is in Selma on Mondays and Fridays.

Walmart said the mobile COVID-19 testing initiative was set up to provide a drive-thru site in “certain communities to expand access to testing.”

In addition, all health care providers and first responders can be tested whether or not they are exhibiting symptoms. An appointment for testing can be made at www.

MyQuestCOVIDTest.com, but on-site scheduling also will be available for those who have difficulty scheduling online. The site is supported

by Walmart, Quest Diagnostics and state and local officials.

The testing schedule is as follows: Selma - Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., weather permitting at Memorial Stadium, 108 W Dallas Ave.; Demopolis Tuesdays from 10a.m. – 3 p.m., weather permitting at the Alabama National Guard Armory, 1701 US-43; Thomasville, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., weather permitting at Thomasville Regional Medical Center (parking lot in the back), 300 Medical Park Dr. “Expanding testing is important to reopening the

The mobile COVID-19 testing initiative from Walmart and Quest launched Friday at several sites in Alabama, including Selma. state in these challenging times,” said Gov. Kay Ivey.

“We are working to make even more testing available to Alabamians, and we appreciate Walmart and Quest Diagnostics for launching this mobile initiative to reach many of our smaller communities.”

“Walmart is committed to supporting the state of

Alabama’s efforts to expand COVID-19 testing, especially in communities that have had limited access to testing,” said Glen Wilkins, Walmart Public Affairs Director for Alabama.

“We are grateful to our pharmacists and associates who are supporting these testing sites, and to Quest Diagnostics and local officials as we work together to open sites that will

help Alabamians access timely testing.”

Dr. Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) said, “The Alabama Department of Public Health is aware that commercial labs are working with various partners, including Walmart, to provide COVID-19 testing.”

She said, “Commercial labs

do not require specific approval from ADPH to conduct COVID-19 testing. Commercial labs are required to report positive and negative COVID-19 tests to ADPH.” According to information provided by Marilee McInnis, head of Health and Wellness Communication at Walmart, the testing site will require an appointment

through Quest’s MyQuestTM online portal and app, www.

M y Q u e s t C OV I D T e s t . c o m , which will screen and schedule appointments for those individuals who meet medical eligibility for the testing sites. On-site scheduling will be available for those who are not able to schedule online.

Those being tested will need to stay in their cars for verification of eligibility criteria, ID check and self-administered test. For the safety of all those on-site, the test site is not available to walk-ups; those being tested must be in a car.

The site will use a self-administered nasal swab test that will allow those being tested to swab their own nose onsite while in their vehicles, observed by a trained medical volunteer to ensure the sample is taken correctly, and drop the sealed sample into a container on their way out of the drive-thru site.

Quest Diagnostics will handle processing test samples and communicating results to those tested and to the health department.

Any questions regarding testing and appointments, call Quest’s dedicated COVID-19 line at 866-448-7719, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET. The site will be staffed by volunteers, including Walmart health care professionals and Quest employees.

While individuals who are tested are awaiting results, please follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in your home and community.

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2

May 7, 2020

Selma Sun

COMMUNITY

Old Cahawba Archaeological Park reopens

BY FRED GUARINO

Selma Sun Staff The Alabama Historical Commission (AHC) has reopened the grounds of select historic sites that have “green spaces” available to the public, including the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park near Selma.

The AHC announced May 1 that the park will be open during standard hours of operation. According to AHC, the visitors’ center on site will remain closed to ensure the safety of visitors and AHC staff. AHC encourages all visitors to wear protective facial coverings, observe social distancing regulations and all other recommended safety guidelines.

Park visitors can pay admission ($2 each for adults and $1 each for children) at an “honor box” located at the visitors' center parking lot, a park official said Friday. The restrooms located near the ghost structure of the first statehouse is open for public use.

“It was great to welcome visitors back to Old Cahawba,” said Andi Martin, marketing and public relations manager for AHC. “We enjoyed seeing new friends and old ones over the weekend, and we invite all to enjoy the park in its spring bloom. There are hundreds of acres to explore with hundreds of stories to tell.”

Linda Derry, site director at Old Cahawba Archaeological Park for AHC, said “it was

Old Cahawba Archaeological Park reopened to the public May 1 while the visitors’ center remains closed and admission paid at an “honor box.” great to see the park come alive again.”

“Over the weekend, we saw families walking, bicyclists, kayakers, people on horseback, dog walkers and even three singers vocalizing on the front steps of our church,” Derry said. “We heard from people who hadn't been to the park for years; they wanted to tell us how much they loved the new interpretive signs.”

Derry said, “Of course, many of our regular visitors made their way back to the park as soon as the gates were reopened, including the

retired schoolteacher that visits nearly every week to take pictures of Cahawba's many butterflies. In fact, she has already sent us some beautiful butterfly pictures! It is such a joy to know that people love Cahawba for so many different reasons, and amazing to think that on their first weekend out, they chose to take their families to historic Old Cahawba.”

The AHC reports it has been closely monitoring developments related to the Coronavirus and COVID-19, following the guidelines and

Pictured are the junction of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers and the Crocheron Columns.

Photos by Fred Guarino.

recommendations of Gov. Kay Ivey and the Alabama De par tment of Public Health.

"As we enter a new stage of response to the ongoing situation, Gov. Ivey and public health officials have instituted a phased re-opening strategy," the AHC said. “All in-person programs and events have been cancelled through May 30, and gatherings of 10 persons or more are not permitted.”

The AHC also reports visitors are encouraged to explore the social media platforms of

each of the AHC sites where many have developed virtual engagement opportunities.

According to the AHC, their leaders have been “very mindful of the availability of personal protective equipment for the staff and cleaning supplies, which are factored in for the safety of all. The move to re-open select sites was made only after evaluating supply chain options so that these essential items could continually be made available at our sites.”

Lisa D. Jones, executive director of the AHC, said the

AHC “remains vigilant” of the COVID-19 situation. “We are dedicated to the safety and well-being of our employees and historic sites visitors,” Jones said. “These protocols have been implemented to serve the public and maintain safety for all those impacted under the AHC umbrella.”

Martin, marketing and public relations manager for AHC, said, the AHC “will continue to defer to the recommendations and guidelines instituted by the authorities. Safeguarding the staff and visitors is our primary concern.”

Selma Housing Authority distributes food to elderly The Selma Housing Authority gave out more food to the elderly residents on May 1. In a post on Facebook, the

authority said, they would "like to thank the staff members for coming together and getting the job done as a team. Whenever

you are asked for your participation, you are there and we are grateful to have you a part of the housing authority family.”

The staff organized bags of food for giveaway at the complexes on Friday.

As we move forward healthcare might look different.

But at the heart of our care are the same trusted and dedicated healthcare heroes you’ve relied on for all your health needs.

We’re again here to provide a range of healthcare services, from your annual screenings and physicals to quality of life procedures that help you make the most of every moment moving forward.

Our doctors, nurses and entire team are working hard to ensure a safe place of care for you and a healthier community for all of us. www.VaughanRegional.com

Selma Housing Authority staff wore masks while Trailers and trucks were used to transport the goods preparing and delivering. to the complexes.

David Daniel Jr. joins the Dallas County Extension staff

BY CALLIE N. NELSON The Dallas County Extension Office announced the addition of a new staff member, David Daniel Jr. He joins the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as a Regional Extension Agent in the area of animal science and forage crops. He will be responsible for delivering educational programs in a 10-county region, which includes Wilcox, Marengo, Choctaw, Sumter, Perry, Hale, Dallas, Greene, Tuscaloosa and Pickens counties.

Daniel grew up in Dallas County and graduated from Selma High School in 2003.

He is a graduate of Auburn University where he completed his B.S. in Animal Science Production Management in 2007. In 2008, he began working as a technician for the

David Daniel Jr. joins Extension Staff as Regional Extension Agent in the area of animal science and forage crops.

Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine in the Animal Health Research Department. While employed

there he worked on and received his master’s degree in agriculture in 2012. His last seven years were spent working for the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension as the Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent in Greene County Georgia.

Daniel said he is excited to be back home in West Central Alabama and looks forward to working with local livestock and forage producers.

His goal is to continue supporting the Extension mission of coordinating education programs and providing research-based information that can help our livestock producers continue improving the sustainability of their livestock operations.

Daniel can be reached at 334875-3200 (office), 334-407-9374 (cell) or via email at danieda@ aces.edu

Selma Sun

May 7, 2020

3

NEWS

Selma City Council Selma Housing Authority names Brandon Wooten receives $309,692 for Municipal Court judge COVID-19 relief

BY CINDY FISHER

BY NATHAN PREWETT

Selma Sun Staff

Selma Sun Staff

The Selma City Council named a new Municipal Court judge Tuesday night.

Selma native Brandon Wooten, an attorney at his firm The Wooten Law Firm and 2002 graduate of Selma High School, was named one of the judges of the city’s Municipal Court during the virtual City Council meeting Tuesday night. It was also announced by City C ou n c ilwoman Ang el a Benjamin on Facebook.

Wooten joins the Municipal Court that has been under scrutiny recently. An audit of four years of the city of Selma’s finances by the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts released in March revealed many problems with Selma’s Municipal Court, including a lack of written internal control procedures that would establish costs for traffic tickets and assign case numbers so court personnel can collect fees.

The audit found that the City’s Municipal Court’s

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL7) has announced that 17 housing authorities in the seventh district have been awarded more than $8 million in COVID-19 relief funds, including the Selma Housing Authority, which was given $309,692.

“I am thrilled by the additional funding allocated to public housing authorities across my district to support their efforts to protect their

residents against the health threats and serious financial hardships caused by the Coronavirus,” Sewell said in an announcement.

“This pandemic has only amplified the real health and economic challenges facing vulnerable communities. I know that these funds are not enough to solve this problem, but it is my hope that they will help bridge the gap as we continue to work toward finding a vaccine and cure to the COVID19 crisis.”

The funds were included in CARES Act supplemental public housing operating funds that was passed recently. A total of $8,243,026 were given to the seventh district’s housing authorities.

“I am so grateful for all of Congresswoman Sewell’s work in securing these funds,” said SHA Executive Director Kennard Randolph. “These funds will go a long way toward helping us keep our staff and continue to operate, providing necessary services for our most vulnerable.”

Dallas County COVID cases rise to almost 70

BY CINDY FISHER

Selma Sun Staff Brandon Wooten, Selma attorney, was named Municipal Court judge by the Selma City Council last week. records system listed 2,282 cases with total balances due

of $514,792.45 that had not been collected.

Dallas County’s confirmed COVID-19 cases pushed 70 by Wednesday, an increase of more than 30 from the previous week.

The increase of confirmed cases sped up after a slight loosening of the stay at home order on May 1. Dallas County

reported 37 cases on April 27, then 59 confirmed cases on May 3, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks Division.

The death rate remains at three. The county has given 736 tests so far.

The state’s “Safer at Home” order loosened rules on closure of some businesses starting on

Friday. The increase could also be attributed to additional testing that started May 1 with a drive-thru set up at Memorial Park.

There are currently 8,437 confirmed cases in Alabama and 315 reported deaths related to the virus, with 107,602 tests conducted as of May 5, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Vaughan Regional Medical COVID-19 antibody testing Center begins process of resuming elective procedures available at MainStreet,

BY CINDY FISHER

Selma Sun Staff Vaughan Regional Medical Center announced last week that it will begin the process of resuming some elective and non-urgent surgical procedures that were rescheduled due to the coronavirus.

Vaughan said in a press released they are taking the appropriate steps to safely resume procedures and said the decision was made in accordance with federal and state guidance and aimed to help preserve critical resources in the event of a surge of COVID-19 patients in the community.

Current projections indicate a lower than expected volume of COVID-19 in the region, which means less strain on healthcare resources, the release said.

“Resuming these important services is an essential component of meeting our community’s health needs and advancing our mission of Making Communities Healthier,” said David McCormack, Chief Executive Officer of Vaughan Regional Medical Center. “As this work gradually gets underway in our hospital again, we remain committed to con-

serving critical supplies, being vigilant in our fight against COVID-19, and ensuring that our facility is a safe place for all patients, providers and employees.”

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Vaughan has continued to carefully follow guidance from federal, state and local officials, monitor the prevalence of the virus in the community, and evaluate supplies and resources – including personal protective equipment like masks, gowns, gloves and goggles, the release said.

The decisions about which procedures can safely move forward will be made only after assessing a comprehensive pre-operative checklist and evaluating potential risks. The hospital will initially focus on scheduling patients with more time-sensitive health needs, and those decisions will be made in partnership with the attending physician/surgeon/proceduralist. Patients who are scheduled and approved for procedures must meet specific requirements, including passing standard COVID-19 screenings. Surgical patients also will be asked to practice “safer at home” behaviors for seven days prior to

their procedure to minimize potential exposure; check their temperature twice a day during this 7-day period and report temperatures over 100°F to their provider; and undergo testing for COVID-19.

Patients awaiting information about their previously postponed procedure can expect to hear from their provider or provider’s office to discuss rescheduling at the appropriate time.

Vaughan will continue to screen and mask everyone who enters the facility and maintain a zero-visitor protocol for the foreseeable future. These important measures have had a positive impact on ensuring a safe environment, and they also are aligned with the federal government’s guidelines.

Additionally, the facility has implemented new processes and procedures to further protect the health of patients, providers and employees.

Visit www.VaughanRegional. com to learn more.

As a reminder, if you are having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or go directly to the Emergency Room. If possible, tell the dispatch agent if your emergency involves symptoms possibly related to COVID-19.

Contributors:

Publisher: Cindy Fisher

Todd Prater

Fred Guarino

Chico Cleveland

Brad Fisher

Nathan Prewett

Ronald Lane

Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part other than for personal use is prohibited without the express written consent of the publisher Kingfisher Media LLC The Selma Sun is a news source for the community of Selma and Dallas County, Alabama. Information gathered for coverage of Selma-Dallas County is from sources that are considered reliable, but accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Issues with accuracy or errors should be brought to the attention of

KidsStreet clinics

BY NATHAN PREWETT

Selma Sun Staff MainStreet Family Care and KidsStreet Urgent Care locations throughout the state are now offering viral and antibody testing for coronavirus or COVID-19.

As Alabama prepares to slowly reopen businesses, testing is being stressed by medical experts to slow the spread of COVID-19 before things begin returning to normal. Testing for antibodies is being offered for employers as workers return to employment.

According to a press release from MainStreet, antibody tests are performed by drawing blood samples and sending them to labs to be processed. Antibody tests can tell if a patient has had the virus and recovered from it.

“Antibodies for the COVID-19 develop 1-2 weeks after becoming infected. However, it is possible to still be actively infected and contagious for a week or more after developing the antibodies,” said MainStreet Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Timbo Taylor.

“A positive antibody test paired with a negative virus infection test will help conclude if a patient has already had the virus and is no longer actively contagious.”

The viral infection test is performed by swabbing and tells if a patient already has the virus. Testing positive for antibodies may reveal that a patient has had it and may be potentially immune.

The press release said that MainStreet has identified an estimated 4% of positive COVID-19 cases in Alabama.

The release also said an estimated “8%-9% of patients tested for COVID- 19 in one of the 16 statewide locations have tested positive.”

“We have always known that our rural communities deserve access to the same quality care as big cities. That’s the entire foundation of our company, and it’s no different when it comes to this pandemic,” said MainStreet CEO Sam Eskildsen.

“The majority of the state’s testing has been conducted in urban areas, but if we want things to get back to normal, we’ve got to expand testing to the furthest reaches of the state.”

Patients can walk into any MainStreet or KidsStreet clinic at any time to arrange for testing.

ALDOT SEEKS INPUT ON PROPOSED PERMIT PROCEDURE REGARDING PUBLIC SAFETY SENSORS ON RIGHTS-OF-WAY The Alabama Department of Transportation is seeking public comments on a proposed permit procedure regarding public safety sensors beinglocated on ALDOT rights-of-way. These sensors would include, but would not be limited to, surveillance cameras, license plate reading devices and gunshot detection arrays. To view the full public notice and proposed rule, go to www.dot.state.al.us under “Doing Business.”

The public comment period runs through May 29, 2020. Those who wish to comment may do so by emailing publicsafetysensors@dot.state.al.us or by standard mail sent to: Alabama Department of Transportation ATTN: Maintenance Bureau, Permits and Operations 1409 Coliseum Boulevard Montgomery, AL 36110

the publisher at publisher@selmasun.com.

Email news tips to news@selmasun.com The Selma Sun (USPS) is published weekly for $32 per year by Kingfisher Media, LLC, 711 Alabama Avenue, Selma, AL 36701. Periodicals postage (USPS #21110) at Selma, Alabama.

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4

May 7, 2020

Selma Sun

VOICES

Alabama leaders under 45 who affect the political arena

BY STEVE FLOWERS Last week I discussed Alabama’s outstanding leaders in the political arena. This week allow me to share with you some of the state’s leaders under 45 who are shaping and molding our state from outside the actual pit of the political arena.

The most prominent political power in the under-45 category, who is not in an elected posi-

tion, is Katie Boyd Britt, who heads the Business Council of Alabama. Katie was born to be an Alabama leader 37 years ago in Enterprise. She was a high school leader and was governor of Girls State. Then she went on to The University of Alabama and excelled academically and was president of the Student Government Association. After college at Alabama, she graduated from law school at The University.

She practiced law a couple of years, then went to work for our Senior Senator, Richard Shelby. She was his chief of staff before becoming chairman of the Business Council of Alabama. Katie is married to a popular young leader in the state, Wesley Britt, who played football at Alabama and went on to play pro ball for the New England Patriots. They have two beautiful children.

Katie has a younger sorority sister, who is also a Wiregrass girl – Mary Margaret Carroll

from Ozark. She was also an SGA president at The University of Alabama and is one of Alabama’s brightest young lobbyists.

Clay Ryan heads Governmental Affairs for the University of Alabama System.

He is smart and savvy. He worked on Supreme Court races when Karl Rove was brought in by the business community during the tort reform wars. He was directing governmental affairs for a prominent Birmingham law firm when he moved to the University of Alabama System. The 42 year old leads the governmental directions of the state’s largest employer.

Alabama Power will remain the most powerful governmental entity in the state for the next generation with the likes of Houston Smith (40) and R.B. Walker (33), who are prolific governmental affairs specialists.

Houston is the son of a prom-

inent Power Company couple.

Both his mother and dad were top officers in the company.

Houston is steeped in knowledge of utilities and Alabama government. R.B. grew up in Montgomery and was president of the Student Government Association at The University of Alabama. He understands politics.

Speaking of utility companies, Power South has a superstar lobbyist arising in 35-yearold Montgomery native Taylor Williams.

Gov. Kay Ivey has some young super stars on her staff. She has a husband-andwife team that are outstanding in Bill and Liz Filmore. Liz has been with Kay Ivey going back to her campaign for Lt. Governor. She commands the Governor’s respect because of her unwavering loyalty and keen political senses.

Her husband, Bill Filmore, is the Governor’s legislative director. He has the respect of

both parties and leaders of both chambers. He is very knowledgeable and a straight shooter.

Bill comes from a political family. His daddy is a Wiregrass judge and Bill was SGA president at Troy University.

Leah Garner, who is the Governor’s communications director, is very bright and sees the big picture of Alabama politics. Gina Maiola does an outstanding job as the Governor’s press secretary. She is an extremely talented wordsmith.

She shoots straight with the press, and they appreciate her honesty and accessibility.

Speaking of the media, you have some outstanding under45 superstars covering the political world in Alabama. Sean Ross (26) joined Yellowhammer News in 2018 and quickly became editor. He is doing a super job of putting this online media news network on top. He understands Alabama politics amazingly for his age. He is a graduate of The University of

Alabama and was involved in student politics.

Jeff Poor has taken over talk radio in Huntsville. He is very knowledgeable and conservative in an erudite way. Talk radio is very popular in that part of the state. He brings a less strident and quality voice to that medium, especially in that market.

Young Jack Royer, at the ripe age of 24, has become the television anchor rock star in the state. He anchors the CBS 42 nightly news with Sherri Jackson. The Birmingham media market dominates the state. Jack, who only graduated from the University of Alabama two years ago, was born to be a television reporter and anchor. His dad, Mike Royer, was a renowned and very highly respected TV anchor in Birmingham for decades.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers, a former legislator from Troy, is a columnist and commentator.

AARP Alabama calls on Congress to address growing needs of older Americans amid Coronavirus crisis

AARP Alabama met virtually with federal lawmakers on April 30 and May 1 to urge more help for older Americans and their families as they face growing health and economic challenges due to the coronavirus crisis. Residents in nursing homes, those who are food-insecure, and people who have lost their jobs are particularly in need.

“AARP Alabama appreciates the significant bipartisan work Alabama’s members of Congress have already accomplished on behalf of older Americans during this unprecedented crisis, and more actions are now urgently needed,” said AARP Alabama State Director,

Candi Williams. “Older adults are at much greater risk from the coronavirus. It is critical that Congress continues to help older Americans confront health care and financial needs that are only growing.”

Leaders from AARP Alabama held virtual meetings with lawmakers and the staffs in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, including Sen. Richard Shelby, Sen. Doug Jones, Rep. Martha Roby, and Rep. Bradley Byrne. The visits were part of AARP’s nationwide Virtual Lobby Week, in which AARP called for legislation to: • Protect Residents in Nursing Homes and Other Care

Facilities Residents of care facilities have been hard hit by this pandemic, including the 22,848 residents in Alabama’s 228 nursing homes. AARP urges that facilities be required to provide and support virtual visitation for their residents, so they can remain connected to loved ones and their families can stay apprised of their health and wellbeing. AARP is also asking Congress to support increased testing, adequate personal protective equipment for staff, and sufficient staffing in all longterm care facilities. Finally, AARP is also urging the daily public release of the names of nursing homes and other

care facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases among residents and staff and ensuring transfer and discharge rights for residents and their families.

• Invest More in Federal Nutrition Programs and Offer Greater Flexibility To ensure older adults can continue to access food through the pandemic and economic crisis, AARP urges Congress to temporarily increase both the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum benefit and the minimum monthly benefit.

AARP also asks to suspend all rulemaking that would restrict SNAP eligibility or reduce benefits, as well as explore ways

to expand access to online grocery shopping and delivery using SNAP benefits, which also helps protect public health.

• Provide Additional Support for State and Local Governments More financial support will help state and local governments meet emerging needs.

States are likely to exhaust their unemployment insurance (UI) trust funds, and Congress should provide grants to ensure benefits continue to be paid.

Further, states that adopt mailin balloting to protect public health during upcoming elections are likely to require more funding.

As part of AARP’s Virtual

Lobby Week, leaders from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico met virtually with Capitol Hill offices to ensure their representatives prioritize the needs of older Americans and their families in this difficult time.

To learn more about AARP’s efforts amid the coronavirus pandemic, visit www.aarp.org/ coronavirus.

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. To learn more, visit www. aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

Selma Sun

May 7, 2020

5

PUBLIC NOTICES Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Notice to the Creditors of the Estate of Regena Lynn Holmes, Deceased Letters of Administration on the Estate of said decedent having been granted to the undersigned on the 4th day of March, 2020, by the Probate Judge Jimmy L. Nunn of Dallas County, Alabama, notice is hereby given that all persons having claims against said estate are hereby required to present the same, duly sworn to, in the Probate Court of said county within the time allowed by law, or else same will be forever barred.

Ebonie Dionne Brown Personal Representative James A. Minter IV Minter Law LLC 706 Broad St. Selma, AL 36701

under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in said mortgage, will sell at public outcry to the highest bidder for cash, in front of the main entrance of the Courthouse at Selma, Dallas County, Alabama, on March 18, 2020, during the legal hours of sale, all of its right, title, and interest in and to the following described real estate, situated in Dallas County, Alabama, to-wit: Lot 6, of Block A, according to the map of Cardinal Hills Subdivision recorded in Map Book 5, at page 36, in the Probate Office, Dallas County, Alabama.

Property street address for informational purposes: 501 Columbus Drive, Selma, AL 36701 THIS PROPERTY WILL BE SOLD ON AN “AS IS, WHERE IS” BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTY OR RECOURSE, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO TITLE, USE AND/ OR ENJOYMENT AND WILL BE SOLD SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF REDEMPTION OF ALL PARTIES ENTITLED THERETO. Alabama law gives some persons who have an interest in property the right to redeem the property under certain circumstances.

Programs may also exist that help persons avoid or delay the foreclosure process. An attorney should be consulted to help you understand these rights and programs as a part of the foreclosure process.

This sale is made for the purpose of paying the indebtedness secured by said mortgage, as well as the expenses of foreclosure.

The successful bidder must tender a non-refundable deposit of Five

Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) in certified funds made payable to Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the time and place of the sale. The balance of the purchase price must be paid in certified funds by noon the next business day at the Law Office of Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. at the address indicated below. Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. reserves the right to award the bid to the next highest bidder should the highest bidder fail to timely tender the total amount due.

The Mortgagee/ Transferee reserves the right to bid for and purchase the real estate and to credit its purchase price against the expenses of sale and the indebtedness secured by the real estate.

This sale is subject to postponement or cancellation.

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. successor by merger to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. f/k/a Norwest Mortgage, Inc., Mortgagee/Transferee The above mortgage foreclosure sale has been postponed until 04/29/2020 during the legal hours of sale in front of the main entrance of the courthouse in the City of Selma, Dallas County, Alabama.

The above mortgage foreclosure sale has been postponed until 06/08/2020 during the legal hours of sale in front of the main entrance of the courthouse in the City of Selma, Dallas County, Alabama Tiffany & Bosco, P.A. 2311 Highland Ave S. Ste 330 Birmingham, AL 35205 Attorney for Mortgagee/ Transferee 452911

January 16, 23, 30, 2020 and April 2, 2020 and May 7, 2020

be available from the Issuing Office. Neither Owner nor Engineer will be responsible for full or partial sets of Bidding Documents, including Addenda if any, obtained from sources other than the Issuing Office.

Each proposal must be accompanied by a bid guaranty in the amount of five (5) percent of the total amount of the bid, but not to exceed $50,000. The bid guaranty may be by certified check or bid bond made payable to the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority.

All Bidders bidding in amounts exceeding that established by the State Licensing Board for General Contractors must be licensed under the provisions of Title 34, Chapter 8, Code of Alabama, 1975, and must show evidence of license before bidding or bid will not be received or considered by the Engineer; the Bidder shall show such evidence by clearly displaying the license number on the outside of the envelope in which the Proposal is delivered. “A contractor must have a Heavy and Railroad major license or a Heavy and Railroad specialty license to bid as prime for this project.”

Bids may be held by the Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days from the date of the bid opening for the purpose of evaluating bids prior to award of contract.

Award of contract is subject to requirements in the contract documents including, but not limited to, the following Federal provisions: 1) Buy American Preference

2) Civil Rights – Title VI Assurances 3) Equal Employment Opportunity 4) Davis Bacon 5) Debarment and Suspension 6) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise 7) Foreign Trade Restriction 8) Lobbying Federal Employees 9) Recovered Materials A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Goal of 10.82% has been established for this project. The CRAIG FIELD AIRPORT AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The CRAIG FIELD AIRPORT AND INDUSTRIAL AUTHORITY reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any informality or irregularity in the bids received.

Mr. James M. Corrigan, Executive Director Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority P.O. Box 1421 Selma, Alabama 367021421

Selma Sun April 30, May 7, 14, 2020 MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE Default having been made in the payment of the indebtedness secured by that certain mortgage executed by Leon Hatcher and Ellen S. Hatcher, his wife, originally in favor of Molton, Allen & Williams Corporation, on the 15th day of October, 1993, said mortgage recorded in the Office of the Judge of Probate of Dallas County, Alabama, in Volume 1094 Page 355, as re-recorded in Volume 1095 Page 627, and modified in RLPY Book 1531 Page 527 and RLPY Book 1578 Page 407, together with Assumption Agreement With Release of Liability in Volume 1120 Page 794; the undersigned Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. successor by merger to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. f/k/a Norwest Mortgage, Inc., as Mortgagee/Transferee,

Selma Sun

REQUESTS FOR BIDS CRAIG FIELD AIRPORT SELMA, ALABAMA Sealed bids will be received until Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Craig Field Airport and Industrial Authority located at 48 5th Street, Selma, Alabama 36701 and at said time bids will be publicly opened and read aloud for furnishing all labor, materials and equipment and performing all work necessary for: TAXILANE REHABILITATION at Craig Field Airport. Major items of work include: Taxi lane Striping, concrete spall repair, joint repair, and lighting.

Prospective Bidders may examine the Bidding Documents at the Issuing Office Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc., 207 Church Street, Andalusia, Alabama 36420; Attn: Patsy Stinson; Ph: 334-271-3200; Email: patsy.stinson@gmcnetwork.com.

Printed copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office, during the hours indicated above, upon payment of a one-time administrative fee of $20.00 for digital access/file sharing access and/or payment of $50.00 for each printed set. Said cost represents the cost of printing, reproduction, handling, and distribution, therefore no refund will be granted. Checks for Bidding Documents shall be payable to “Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc.” Partial sets of Bidding Documents will not

Selma Sun May 7, 14 and 21, 2020

Door-to-door census will start back soon

BY TODD PRATER

Selma Sun Staff The Covid-19 pandemic has affected almost every aspect of life, even the 2020 Census.

Just as workers were starting to go door to door to deliver census packets to homes that have not yet filled out the census, the pandemic hit, and they had to stop the process in the interest of limiting contact. But they are about to start back.

Marilyn Stephens, the assistant regional census manager for the U.S. Census Bureau, said that folks that get their mail from post office boxes have not yet received anything from the Census Bureau. She explained these are homes where the census packets are hand delivered, but Coronavirus interrupted that process. Stephens said the deliveries will start back in a few weeks.

The people delivering the packets are “just going to drop it off,” Stephens said.

“They’re not there for conversation. They’re just dropping it off and moving to the next house.”

Stephens said that if anyone needs help filling out the Census form or has questions, they can call 1-844-3302020. This number is also printed on the packet. To fill out the Census online and for more information go to https://www.census.gov/ Stephens said a lot of people are hesitant to fill out the Census because they do not want the government knowing too much personal information. She explained that two laws protect the data collected by the Census Bureau.

Title 13 states that the Census Bureau is prohibited from publishing any information that may identify a person or anyone in the family at a particular address.

Stephens also said the Title 13 prohibits any agency from obtaining personal information. “No FBI, no CIA, no IRS, no police or immigra-

tion,” Stephens said. “It can’t be subpoenaed by the court or even obtained by the President.” Breaking this law is punishable with five years in prison and a fine of a quarter of a million dollars.

The other is Title 44, which says the specific and personal information collected by the Census Bureau is sealed for 72 years. Stephens said in 2012 the 1920 Census was released. The next will be the 1950 Census released in 2022.

Stephens said the main reason for counting the people of the country is to determine the number of representatives each state gets in Congress. She emphasized the fact that this is highly important so each state and each district is accurately and fairly represented. Stephens reiterated that Alabama could lose a seat in Congress if more Alabamians do not fill out the census.

She encouraged all citizens to participate.

But it goes further; the

accurate count of the population in a given area also determines how much federal moneys are available to an area for a wide range of programs.

“For this cycle, more than $674 billion in resources will go through the pipeline down to states, down to counties, down to cities, down to communities,” she said. This flow of money is based on population data collected by the Census.

“If emergency management, Medicare, rural hospitals and community health centers are important to you, then fill out the Census,” Stephens said. “If education programs like Early Head Start, Head Start, Title 1 grant, and the national student free- and reduced-lunch program are important to you, then fill out the Census.”

Stephens also listed senior assistance programs like Meals on Wheels, highway repair and construction, Pell Grants for college students

and services for our military veterans as programs that use Census data to determine the need and amount of funding in each district.

“The numbers must justify the need for funding,” she said. The way the numbers do that is through the Census, and Stephens said there is no “do-over.” If you fail to be counted, then you suffer for 10 years, when the next census comes around. “Be counted,” she said. “The Census is your voice for your community.”

There is a side benefit of participating in the Census.

It is the Age Search Program.

Although personal information is protected from being released, individuals can obtain their own information or a legal guardian can get the information of the person in their care. Say you have an elderly relative whose birth certificate was lost or burned up in a house fire along with the family Bible where age and other information may

be recorded. If that relative needs official documentation of their age to receive services, that person or their legal guardian can petition the Census Bureau for information that could verify age and other details. Census information is also accepted official identification documentation for obtaining a passport.

“The U.S. Census counts every resident in the United States,” Stephens said. “It is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution and takes place every 10 years.”

The first Census was taken in 1790, just three days after the Continental Congress met. There were only 25 members of congress at the time, and they realized the need to know the population so the people could be more accurately and fairly represented. That’s the same reason we have the Census today.

More information is available at 1-844-330-2020 or at https://www.census.gov/

During this quarantine time, TUNE IN to hear local news & entertainment on the

The

Sun Spot Show

Every Wednesday morning from 7 to 8 a.m. on Classic Country KIX 101.5 FM station.

Hosted by Selma Sun Publisher Cindy Fisher and KIX Country host Todd Prater!

Brought to you by:

6

May 7, 2020

Selma Sun

LIFESTYLE

Selma baker offers honey nut biscuit recipe for Mother’s Day

BY KATE WOOD

Special to the Selma Sun Happy almost-Mother’s Day to all those baby mamas out there who are crushing it.

To the ones who are working hard to raise babies, punch time clocks and so on and so forth. You work it 365 days a year, usually without any thank you, awards or so much as time to enjoy an extra generous pour of wine during the witching hour.

Mother’s Day is a day where, in an ideal world, you would get to do you. You could wake up, leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee and, maybe, nibble on one of these honey nut biscuits. There’d be flowers waiting at your bedside, and well-behaved children would have already fed, groomed and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 entertained themselves while you adjusted to the morning 11 12 13 10 light.

But let’s be real: the chanc15 16 14 es of that happening are slim.

More than likely, there’s a 19 20 17 18 dirty diaper or a Cheerios Kate Wood, a Selma resident, has an active social media following of her recipes. explosion waiting for you.

21 22 23 24 25 There’s a dishwasher to 16. Take care to not overwork unload, laundry to fold and sausage, eggs or maybe even Instructions 29 30 26 27 28 your dough, as this can yield a few knees that will require just a pad of butter and a drizzle of honey. I promise that bandages.

1. Preheat the oven to 415 tough biscuits.

33 31 32 17. Brush the tops of the bisMotherhood is work. It’s your mama will thank you for degrees. exhausting and exhilarating it. These biscuits are sweet, 2. Prepare a baking pan by cuits with the melted butter 35 36 34 all at the same time. No mat- buttery, incredibly flaky and lining it with a sheet of parch- and sprinkle with additional chopped pecans, if desired. ter how many books you read, almost too good to be true. ment paper.

37 38 39 40 41 18. Bake in the preheated mommy bloggers you follow Perfect for the mom in your 3. Combine the flour, bakor packs of diaper wipes you life who needs all the thanks ing powder and salt in a medi- oven for 12-14 minutes or until 44 45 46 47 42 43 the edges and tops of the bisbuy at the store, it’s near- in the world. um-sized bowl.

Give these honey nut bisly impossible to be prepared 4. Using a pastry cutter or cuits are adequately golden.

49 50 48 19. Serve buttered with addifor everything this life will cuits a try on Mother’s Day, the backs of two forks, cut the hand you. Motherhood is the whether for yourself or for butter into the dry ingredients tional honey, if desired.

52 53 51 job you can’t clock out of, the special lady in your life. until there are pea-sized clumps but it’s also the one with the It’s good to share gratitude, throughout.

Notes most benefits. It’s a beauti- and I can almost guarantee 5. Toss in the pecans. ful role we play, and despite that the effort will mean the 6. In a small bowl or mea• Be sure to use very cold buthow much I often disdain wip- world to her. Happy Mother’s suring cup, combine the milk ter and milk. Butter and milk Across Down Down Across ing one more nose, making Day to my beautiful friends and honey, stirring until well- that are not cold enough can 1 1 Upscale hotelamenity amenity 1 Rotisserie feature 1 Rotisserie feature Upscale hotel one more bottle or hearing and readers who make this mixed. prevent your biscuits from ris 4 4 US abbr.

2 Au __: home helper 2 Au __: home helper USaccountant, accountant, abbr.

“NO!” for the millionth time, mama’s life and world a little 7. Add this to the flour and ing well.

7 7 Word in a Shakespeare 3 Soprano's Word in a Shakespeare comedy 3 title Soprano's song, perhaps perhaps I’llsong, always be honored to walk bit nuttier and sweeter. You butter mixture and fold gen• Do not overwork your dough comedy 4 Aegean vacation locale 10 ___title 4 Aegeanin for the course vacation these locale mama shoes. Even if guys are the best. Cheers. tly just until all of the flour has at any phase of the preparation.

10 ___ for the course 5 Digital camera shots5 Digital camera 11 Computer processor they’reshots covered in baby food been moistened.

• The folding of the dough 11 Computer processor 6 Adder's cousin spit-up.

8. Do not overwork the helps to create flaky layers with13 Tot's timeout 6 Adder'sand cousin Honey Nut Biscuits 13 Tot's timeout 7 Herb with trumpet shaped I’ve gotshaped just flowers the thing to dough. in the biscuit, but is not neces14 Big 7 Herb with trumpet Big Ben's Ben's three three 14 Prep Time: 30 minutes flowers help you celebrate all the 9.

Dump the dough out onto sary if you don’t care about this.

15 8 Trade show Glossy black bird 15 Trade show Cook Time: 20 minutes 8 Glossy black bird moms you know: breakfast! a floured surface and pat the • For flakiest layers, use a 16 9 Hundred pounds, for short Select, with ''for'' 16 Hundred pounds, for short 9 Select, with ''for'' Total Time: 50 minutes Why buy mom a gift when dough out until it’s a 1-inchsharp biscuit cutter and push 17 Stretch 12 "Le ___ de Monte-Cristo" Stretch 17 Yield: 12 12 "Le ___ de Monte-Cristo" you can make her something thick rectangle. straight down into the dough.

19 NASCAR 19 number 18 Category: Breakfast NASCAR number Room for a broom 18 Room for a broom entirely satisfying and deli10. Working quickly, fold the • Refrain from twisting the 21 necklace 21 Tiki 20 Food-conducting Tiki bar bar necklace plant the tissuecomfort of 20 Food-conducting plant tis- cious from dough in thirds, as you would cutter as you insert it into the 23 Rolling Stones "Under My 23 Rolling Stones "Under My ___"sue 22 Far fromyour friendly own kitchen? And if Ingredients a letter. dough, as this can cause the ___" 26 "And did I mention ..."

22 Far from friendly 24 Crossedyou’re a mama reading this, 11. Rotate the dough 90 edges to seal off and keep from • 3 cups all-purpose flour 26 "And did I mention ..."

29 Young Clinton 25 Scroogethinking, interjection“There’s no way my 24 Crossed • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking degrees and repeat the folding rising well.

29 Young Clinton 31 1985 movie based on three Stephen 26 First-class 25 King Scrooge kids//husband//crazy land- powder shortinterjection process.

• You can substitute walnuts, 31 1985 movie based on three lord will be able to pull off 12. Rotate the dough 90 almonds or another preferred stories • 1 teaspoon salt 26 First-class 27 Internet gamer's complaint Stephen King short stories of these breakfasts for me • 10 tablespoons cold, degrees once more and repeat variety of nut for this recipe, if

27 Internet gamer's28 com33 Affirmation Time inone the cooler 33 Affirmation desired. plaint 34 Long-necked Long-necked wading 30 Cut off on their own,” then I would unsalted butter, chopped into the folding process.

34 wadingbird bird charge you to make something 13.

Gently pat out the dough • You can substitute addilarge chunks 28 Time in the cooler 35 Anguish 32 Dental anesthetic of old 35 Anguish delicious for yourself. You’ve tional melted butter with heavy • 1 cup pecans, finely to 1 inch thick.

30 Cut off 37 KJV KJV suffix suffix 36 Tended a squeaky wheel 37 earned it.

14. Use a 2-inch round biscuit cream or milk. chopped 32 Dental anesthetic of 38 Urge Urge 38 39old Piano mover's cry I’m sharing with you this • To reheat biscuits, toast in a • 1 cup cold milk (I use cutter to cut out biscuit rounds 36 Tended a squeaky wheel 42 up 42 Fired Fired up 40 Prefix with zone most delicious recipe for honey whole or 2%) and place them on the prepared toaster oven until fragrant.

39 Piano mover's cry 44 marquis 44 Not Not yet yet aa marquis 41 "___ Onnut Me"biscuits.

Bill Withers These are all butbaking sheet.

• 1/4 cup honey 40 Prefix with zone 47 47 Shade Shade 42 Idyllic place ter, Southern-style biscuits, 15. Gather dough scraps and Kate Wood’s recipes can be • 2 tablespoons melted but 41 "___ On Me" Bill Withers 48 list 48 Abbr.

Abbr. on on aa list 43 ___ Too Late (Carole King hit) naturally sweetened with gently pat them together to found on her Wood and Spoon ter 42 Idyllic place 49 Mystical poem 49 Mystical poem honey • Additional pecans for form another 1-inch-thick flat blog and on Facebook, Instagram 45 Summerlocal stretch, abbr. and flecked with SUDOKU

by Myles Mellor Flanagan

43 and “___Susan Too Late” (Carole 50 Augustan, e.g. bitsabbr. of toasted pecans. sprinkling on the biscuits, if of dough and continue cutting and Pinterest. This also ran on 50 Augustan, e.g.

46 Geneticlittle material, 51 It comes from the bottom King hit) Serve these with bacon and desired. out biscuits.

Alabama NewsCenter.

It comes from the bottom of one's 45 hearth Summer stretch, abbr. of51 one's hearth 52 Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9X9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller Travel aimlessly 46 Genetic material, abbr.

52 Travel aimlessly 53 Emerged Emerged victorious 53 victorious grids of 3X3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each

Community Calendar

of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult.

Level: Medium

Sudoku 9

8

7

3

4

9

7 6

5 1

8

3

7

6

4 8 2

4 7

3

2 6

5 3

1

4 3

Solutions 8 7 3

2

6 5

3 9

2

1

1 4

7 8

9

6

9 6 1 7 4 8 2 5 3

Sudoku Solution

3 5 4 9 1 6 8 7 2

1 9 7 8 2 4 3 6 5

2 8 6 5 3 7 4 9 1

6 2 5 4 7 3 9 1 8

7 3 9 1 8 5 6 2 4

4 1 8 2 6 9 5 3 7

4

9 6

5 4

8

Bus Drivers Needed -Selma City Schools-Employment offerings include competitive pay and flexible hours. Know someone? Have them contact the Director of Operations at 334-874-1600 ext. 6090 or Human Resources at 334-874-1600 ext.

7470.

Edmundite Missions is Looking for Volunteers to be tutors, coaches, admin support, greeters, room monitors, active adult teachers, team organizers and more for the Dr. Michael and Catherine Bullock Community Recreation CenterFor more information call 334872-2359 or stop by the administrative office at 1002 Minter Avenue, Selma, AL. Pet Adoptions— Selma Animal Shelter in conjunction with the Human Society of Central Alabama are open on the 1st Saturday of the month from 10: 00 am – 2:00 pmAdoptions Only! No take ins.

All adoptions are fully vetted, ready to go to a loving home.

334- 877-2204.

Free Legal Services for Adults and Children with Disabilities—Call ADAP (Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program) at 1-800-826-1675 to set up an appointment -ADAP is in Selma the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 9 am- noon and the 4th Tuesday of every month from noon-4 pm. The ADAP

Office Location in Selma is at 801 Alabama Avenue (Inside the offices of Legal Services of Selma).

Walton Theater Selma is closed until further notice.

NOTE: Some events may be cancelled or postponed as the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic continues. Please check online or call the event hosts for updates.

May 12

The Selma City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall at 222 Broad Street. Date changes will be posted seven days before the meeting.

May 20

Dallas County Department of Human Resources presents the 24th Annual Job Fair at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Selma Convention Center on 211 Washington Street. Meet recruiters from local businesses and government agencies, learn about career/educational opportunities and get personal career coaching and strategic planning. Sponsored by the DHR’s Jobs Task Force Committee.

May 21

The Selma Redevelopment Authority Board will hold its

regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Authority on the third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. at EyeMax Vision Center on 2401 Medical Center Parkway for the purpose of transacting such business or taking such action as may come before the Board of Directors of the Authority. These meetings are open to the public. For further information please contact Juanda Maxwell, Chair at juandamaxwell@gmail.com.

May 26

The Selma City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall at 222 Broad Street. Date changes will be posted seven days before the meeting.

May 31 - June 1

United for the City Youth 7th-12th Grade Camp: United for the City (Selma) is a movement. This dream turned into a student missions week, where Christ followers serve united all around our community for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Get involved, unite, serve and reverb your faith. Individual deposits are $50 and due on May 1. Final forms are due on May 11.

June 6

B.Y.O. (Bring Your Own) Bike Tour: is from 10 – 11 a.m. Come explore Alabama’s

most famous ghost town on two wheels. On this one-hour tour, your guide will lead you over 4 miles of mostly unpaved roads, exploring a landscape of relics, ruins, and graveyards. Bring your bike, water, and snacks. ($8) Guided tours for the morning may be requested on other days a minimum of two weeks before your requested date. We offer wagon tours, walking tours, and step-on bus guides. For more information, call 334872-8058 or visit the park at 9518 Cahaba Rd in Orrville or at www.facebook.com/oldcahawba or www.cahawba.com.

June 9

The Selma City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 5 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall at 222 Broad Street. Date changes will be posted seven days before the meeting.

June 18

The Selma Redevelopment Authority will hold its regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Authority on the Third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m. EyeMax Vision Center, 2401 Medical Center Parkway in Selma for the purpose of transacting such business or taking such action as may come before the Board of Directors of the Authority.

Selma Sun

May 7, 2020

7

EDUCATION

The Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative at Wallace Community College Selma, AMSTI-WCCS/ASU, recently donated 2,000 gloves, 500 masks, and 50 goggles to the Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma to support employees, doctors and nurses during the coronavirus pandemic.

Morgan Academy wins major awards from AISA in SGA spring convention SELMA SUN STAFF REPORT Morgan Academy won several awards at this year’s Alabama Independent School Association’s SGA spring convention held online Tuesday.

Elementary AAA Teacher of the Year – Terri Austin

AISA AAA Treasurer – Maggie Holladay AAA Can-a-thon – Morgan Academy AAA Scrapbook – Morgan Academy AAA Best SGA – Morgan Academy for the third year in a row

It’s time to move

BY AVIS WILLIAMS

Remember that song with the lyrics, “I like to move it, move it”? Well, that song has the right idea. You may know that many moons ago, I was a personal trainer. Still a fitness fanatic, I am now a committed runner, avid weightlifter and occasional cyclist. Moving and staying physical have been my saving grace over the last few weeks.

It’s no secret that exercising is a documented remedy for stress relief. Further, it is one

of the best methods of weight control. The “quarantine 15” can easily be a reality as so many of us grapple with staying home more, stress eating and being less active.

To be clear, now is not the time to start a strict diet or begin an intense exercise regimen. Clear your new program with your health professional. However, with obesity being one of the risk factors for Covid-19 complications, it’s a great idea to prevent weight gain and establish or continue healthy habits.

AISA AAA Scholarship went to senior Richard Alan Waters, who is Morgan’s SGA president.

The SGA executive officers include president Richard Alan Waters and co-sponsors Kim Jones and Karim Oaks.

If you are working from home as a result of the pandemic, you are moving less and consequently burning fewer calories. Be intentional about getting up and moving. This means not only taking occasional stretch breaks during the day but also scheduling time to walk, do an online yoga class or get up and dance.

Yes, dance! It’s fun and only requires your favorite play list and a little bit of floor space.

You may even find that your favorite artists are performing free online concerts. Take advantage of their gift.

If you’re like me, you may want to get outside and walk or

Arts Revive teamed up with Sophia P Kingston Elementary School to distribute G Mommas Cookies’ coloring books to children in our community. Selma City Schools’ Courtney Washington arranged for them to give out distributed hundreds of books across Selma through the school’s meal delivery team.

run. But how do you exercise outside safely? Do you have to wear a mask?

Using good judgment is key. If you are exercising and not engaging in close proximity with others, then you can choose to forego the mask. If, however, your route takes you to an area where social distancing is a challenge, then a mask is recommended. Again, use good judgement and lean on the side of safety.

Did you know that you can also burn significant calories by cleaning and gardening?

Moving does not have to be regimented or formal. For example, simply get up and move

for several minutes every hour.

You can do a load of laundry, walk around the house and if you have stairs go up and down them a few times. Follow this with some stretching in place.

Keep it simple but get moving.

While you’re at it, look on the bright side. Exercising at home eliminates travel time to the gym and your shower is just a few rooms away. You can even watch your favorite TV show while you break a sweat.

Your body and mind will thank you for it. It’s time to move.

For more information, please reach out to me at avis.williams@selmacityschools.org.

Class of 2020 The Selma Sun is featuring the 2020 graduates of Selma and Dallas County schools in a special Graduation Edition on May 21.

Show your support for Selma's seniors by Congratulating them in this special edition that is more important this year than ever!

ASK US FOR OUR RATES! For more information, contact Publisher Cindy Fisher at sales@selmasun.com or 205-789-0973.

Space is limited so call today!

8

May 7, 2020

Selma Sun

COMMUNITY Things you can do if you can’t pay your bills

BY CALLIE N. NELSON The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted household finances. Social distancing and the stay-at-home orders implemented in our state has caused a decrease in income for numerous individuals and families. Many are taking on expenses they would not normally have, such as increase food expense with children being at home 24/7. Some have lost income while others continue to work.

At some point, some will run out of money. With this unknown factor, people must decide how to wisely spend

their regular or unemployment income as well as the stimulus funds from the government.

No matter what income is being received, some consumers will not be able to pay their bills.

The Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) offers aid to individuals and families amid this crisis by the government in the form of the $1200.00 stimulus funds. These funds are not a bonus and should be managed wisely.

If you’ve found yourself in the situation described above, there are some important steps you need to take now –these include making a plan and pri-

oritizing and contact your creditors. As with anything, communication is vital.

1.

Make a Plan- Start by figuring out how much money you must spend, which will require setting up a spending plan. Next, cut back on your spending as much as possible. Buy only things you need.

Needs are necessities that include housing, food, toiletries, utilities, electricity, water, insurance, prescriptions, and a phone, in many cases. As much as it may hurt, put other things that you just want on the backburner for now.

If you have been laid off work, file for unemployment.

Selma residents graduate from two Alabama universities SELMA SUN STAFF Kiremia Lee of Selma graduated from Troy University during Term 3 of the 2019/2020 academic year.

Lee graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree while attending the Montgomery Campus.

Term 3 includes students at TROY's campuses in Dothan, Phenix City and Montgomery, Ala., along with teaching sites outside of Alabama and online.

A dozen Selma residents earned degrees from The University of Alabama in the spring semester.

Receiving their degrees from

UA were: Bart H. Adams Jr., bachelor’s in commerce business administration; Nautica L. Davis, bachelor of social work; Eddie T. Ford, bachelor’s in education; Alexis Deanna Smith, bachelor of arts, Bryan E. Hurt, bachelor’s in civil engineering; Ryan E. Hurt, bachelor’s in civil engineering; Mary L. Kelley, master of accountancy, Maricka A. Sewell-Watts, bachelor of arts; Shaqueria Jo’ Nay Dial, bachelor’s in human environmental science; Christopher E. Fancher, bachelor in commerce and business administration; Emily E. Sherrer, bachelor of science; Kalissa A. Johnson, master of social work.

In all, 6,326 students received

a degree at the end of the spring semester.

Although any plans depend on how the summer outlook progresses, all spring graduates are invited to participate in the summer commencement events scheduled for July 31 and Aug. 1, according to a statement from UA. “We will also be recognizing the achievements of our spring 2020 graduating class in May through online and social media outlets to highlight our shared pride in them,” said UA President Stuart Bell. “No matter where students are as they finish the semester, they are an important and special part of our UA family.”

If you are self-employed, you should also qualify under the new stimulus packet.

2. Contact your Creditors - Try to continue paying your bills on time and as agreed to so they will remain current. But if you can’t pay your bills, contact the companies you owe—all of your creditors. Try to work out a payment plan that you can afford. If your bills get out of hand, consider seeing a credit counselor for guidance. Look for a nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency.

If this does not work, you may consider applying for a consolidation loan, which is

one large loan to pay off all of your debt. The payment on the new loan should be smaller than your previous total monthly payments.

If you can’t afford to make payments in full because you are temporarily out of work, you may be able to set up a payment plan to pay the amount due in small installments over time (some companies are allowing delayed payments for up to six months, but you must contact the company). Make sure it’s a plan you can afford.

Keep in mind that if you fall behind on payments, your debt will be considered delinquent.

This could possibly harm your credit score. Your delinquent account(s) could be described as 30-days, 60-days, or more days delinquent. Also, if you continue to fall behind making payments, your debt may go into default. Don’t ignore calling and working out a plan with your creditors; many of them have programs to help you work through this difficult period.

For more information search our website at www.aces.edu and click on the Coronavirus link.

Callie N. Nelson is coordinator of the Dallas County Extension.

Dallas County Courthouse still closed SELMA SUN STAFF The Dallas County courthouse, annex and other facilities will remain closed to the public through at least May 15, when the governor is set to reevaluate the stay-at-home order.

Probate Judge Jimmy Nunn said all employees’ works status along with essential employees will remain the same through this period.

“Myself along with the (Dallas County) commission will review the closure prior to May 15 to determine whether we will continue with the clo-

sure,” Nunn said. “We are not for sure whether it will be a full opening or a phased in opening when the decision is made to open the courthouse.”

Nunn said a key metric for each phase of reopening is the trend in the number of coronavirus cases.

“It is very important that we have a 14-day period of downward trajectory of either documented cases or the percentage of positive cases,” Nunn said. “At this point in time, the number of cases is still rising in Dallas County.”

The courthouse closed to the public on April 1 as efforts to slow the pandemic went in place. Staff has remained at the courthouse to take phone calls and assist with online services.

Services that can be done online include: Tag Renewal: www.dallascountyproperty-tags.com.

Driver’s Licenses: www.alea.

gov.

Hunting/Fishing Licenses: www.outdooralabama.com or call 334-876-4829 to obtain additional information.

Land and Probate Records: w w w. s y s c o n o n l i n e . c o m / remote.

Title searchers, abstractors, or attorneys, etc. in need of in-person searches can call 334-874-2516.

Recording or Probate court filings: The news release noted that attorneys can call for appointments or mail recordings to Probate Court at P.O. Box 987, Selma, Alabama 36702.

For more information, call Probate Recording at 334-8742516 or 334-876-4830.

Property Taxes: To pay taxes on line and/or property searches, visit www.dallascountyproperty-tags.com. For more information, call 334-874-2519.

Marriage Certificates – www.alabamapublichealth.gov.

Record in Probate for $75.

Selma historians regroup after lost Pilgrimage funds SPECIAL TO THE SELMA SUN The Selma Dallas County Historic Preservation Society says they are scrambling for ways to replace the funds lost by the cancellation of the 45th Historic Selma Pilgrimage that was meant to be held on March 20 and 21 and how to celebrate Preservation Awareness month.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the group to “back up and punt” after many scheduled events this spring were cancelled.

“We rely on the pilgrimage as our largest fundraiser of the year,” the group said in statement. “The funds are used to maintain structures owned by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society and to spread awareness of the other historical structures and homes in the city that desperately need rescuing. Selma’s historic district features more

than 1,200 structures, plenty of projects to keep us busy for years to come.”

The society is also in the middle of their yearly membership drive. Joining the SDCHPS gets people involved with and talking about preserving local history. You can find more info on joining here: http://historicselma.org/about-us/membership-benefits-and-form/ “While we have not been out and about much with all the social distancing mandates, we are still looking at ways we can be more active and community minded,” the society members said.

They recently started a project that awards a home or business a beautification award for property owners who have contributed to the cultural, aesthetic, environmental and natural landscape of the city and county. More info can be found here: http://historicselma.org/ beautification-awards/

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alabamapublichealth.gov/imm