[Marshall, Texas, May 19, 2020]

[Marshall, Texas] Mayor Terri Brown has issued a New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease on May 19, 2020. The declaration shall continue in effect until the Marshall City Commission terminates its consent to the continuation of this declaration or until the Mayor terminates this declaration, whichever occurs first.  This declaration is a direct reflection of Executive Order GA-23 issued by Governor Greg Abbott on May 18, 2020.

Valid immediately on May 18, 2020, these local orders allow the following openings:

• Massage establishments and other facilities where licensed massage therapists or other persons licensed or otherwise authorized to practice under Chapter 455 of the Texas Occupations Code, provided all facilities must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating work stations.
• Tattoo studios, piercing studios, hair removal services, and hair loss treatment and growth services, provided all facilities must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating work stations.
• Child-care services other than youth camps as described below.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22, 2020, in Marshall:

• Dine-in restaurant services may operate at up to 50 percent of the total listed occupancy of the restaurant; provided, however, this applies only to restaurants that have less than 51 percent of their gross receipts from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, interactive games, and video arcades, must remain closed.
• Bars and similar establishments that hold a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed indoor occupancy of the establishment. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, interactive games, and video arcades, must remain closed.
• Aquariums, natural caverns, and similar facilities (excluding zoos) may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy or, for outdoor areas, at up to 25 percent of the standard operating limits as determined by the facility owner if permitted by the city. Interactive functions or exhibits, including child play areas, must remain closed.
• Bowling alleys, bingo halls, simulcast racing to the extent authorized by state law, and skating rinks may operate at up to 25 percent of the total listed occupancy of the establishment; provided bowling alleys must ensure at least six feet of social distancing between operating lanes. Video arcades must be closed.
• Rodeos and equestrian events may operate at up to 25 percent of the facility’s total listed occupancy or, for outdoor areas, up to 25 percent of the standard operating limits as determined by the facility owner. This policy does not permit a larger gathering, such as county fairs, where such an event is not authorized.
• Drive-in concerts, under guidelines that facilitate appropriate social distancing, that generally require spectators to remain in their vehicles, and that minimize in-person contact between people who are not in the same household or car.
• Amateur sporting events are eligible where there is no access to the general public allowed. All participants have tested negative for COVID-19 before the event. Participants are to be quarantined for the duration of the game, temperature-checked and monitored for symptoms daily, and tested again for COVID-19 at the end.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, May 31, 2020, in Marshall:

• Youth camps, including but not limited to those defined as such under Chapter 141 of the Texas Health and Safety Code, and including all summer camps and other daytime and overnight camps for youths.
• Youth sports programs may begin practice on May 31, 2020, with only one parent or guardian in attendance and maintaining social distancing at each practice. Youth sports games may commence on June 15, 2020. At all games, spectators should avoid being in a group larger than ten individuals and maintain social distancing.

The City of Marshall “New Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency” dated May 19, 2020, the City of Marshall maintains the requirement for food establishments within the city limits to have all employees wear a face mask at all times. Separate employees must perform cash handling functions and food serving functions.

In providing or obtaining essential services or reopened services, individuals and businesses should follow the minimum standard health protocols recommended found at www.dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus. As COVID-19 positive tests continue to rise, residents should implement social distancing, use recommended hand sanitizing, and maintain environmental cleanliness. Individuals are encouraged to wear appropriate face coverings.

The City of Marshall will perform inspections to verify the proper implementation of all policies and procedures. Failure to comply with any of the mandated provisions of this Order constitutes an imminent threat to public health. Per Texas Government Code §418.173, a person who knowingly or intentionally violates this Order commits an offense punishable by a fine up to $1,000.00. Each violation shall constitute a separate offense.

Best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

1. Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.
2. Maintain Social Distancing with a safe distance of six (6’) feet between all individuals.
3. Every person shall avoid large gatherings.
4. Residents shall not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
5. Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
6. Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.
7. If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
8. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the house if one person in the home exhibits symptoms.

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[Marshall, Texas, May 7, 2020]

[Marshall, Texas] The City of Marshall announces the opening of Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course on Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Oak Lawn is a 9-hole course that is owned by the City of Marshall located at 4307 Victory Drive in Marshall. This opening date will allow staff to prepare the course for competitive play.

In order to protect the health of each player and the staff, there are stipulations that must be followed in order to use the facilities at Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course.

•             Oak Lawn will be closed on Mondays and open all other normal business hours.

•             The only access to the clubhouse will be to pay fees. No socializing with other players inside the clubhouse.

•             Players must maintain social distancing suggested by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) of 6’ between individuals not in the same immediate family.

•             Only one person is allowed per cart. Two individuals are allowed to utilize the same cart if they are in the same immediate family.

On the course, the City of Marshall requests everyone to follow the CDC guidelines to keep you and those around you safe, and to minimize any possible exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19). At Oak Lawn, workers urge our golfers to heighten their awareness on exposure to surfaces like flagsticks, golf balls, bunker rakes, tees, carts and scorecards. We all need to do our part to respect expert advice and make the right decisions to protect each other.

If you have any questions, please contact Stormy Nickerson at (903) 934-7995. Upon opening, please contact Oak Lawn Municipal Golf Course at (903) 935-7555.

By George Smith

I hate wishing for things that WILL NOT happen, but in this case I’m going to wish for it anyway.

I wish upon a star that Michelle Obama would agree to be Joe Biden’s choice for vice president.

Hoot and holler and laugh if you will, but adding her to the ticket would ensure Donald Trump would be a one-term, disgraced, impeached-for-eternity president.

That woman on the ticket would solidify every segment of the Democratic Party — true-blue party loyalists, women and minorities, and a goodly number of Republicans (men and women) dog-tired of the Trump shenanigans, lies and foibles.

Intelligent-cubed, scandal-and rumor-free, the former First Lady would excite the Democratic base like no other candidate.

And, she is the perfect fallback for any voter concerned about Biden’s age or overall health.

She won’t take the job; she’s already been in that public bubble for eight excruciating years. And, as the “most admired woman in America” several years running, she simply does not need the hassle of being hassled throughout a months’-long presidential campaign.

She won’t take the job. Or…would she if she believed her addition to the ticket would be the only way to oust Trump from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

And, wouldn’t it be a certified YeeHaw moment to witness a debate between her and uptight Mike Pence? Now, that would be a Pay-for-View moment in TV history.

Shoot, I’d bet dollars to donuts that the current FLOTUS, Melania Trump, would vote for a Biden-Obama ticket…anything to get out from under the microscope of living in the White House.

Com’ on, Michelle. Give the country a little love. Sign up on Uncle Joe’s team.

Take one for the team! 

Experience in Spain

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April 17, 2020

Harrison County reports 36 COVID-19 cases 

COVID-19 cases increase slightly in Caddo, no new deaths reported

What’s Happening With Remdesivir?

(A CAUTION TO A HOT STORY AND RUN ON THE MARKET TODAY) 

Editorial: We know who really decides when Texas gets back to work. It’s not President Trump or Gov. Abbott.

CDC REPORT FOR 16 APRIl

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

PRO CYCLIST DELIVERS MEDICINE

MARSHALL WOMAN MAKES HUNDREDS OF FREE MASKS FOR THOSE IN NEED

AT WAR: NATIONAL GUARD CONSIDERATIONS

If you are having a bad day, don’t read the rest of this.

STATISTICAL MODELS AND CONSIDERATIONS:

Influential Covid-19 model uses flawed methods and shouldn’t guide U.S. policies, critics say

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Covid-19 model (IHME) is what the U.S is using to make many decisions. Many, many, (most?) statisticians consider the IHME model badly flawed and inaccurate and dangerous.

Caution Warranted: Using the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Model for Predicting the Course of the COVID-19 Pandemic (ANNALS OF INTERNAL MEDICINE) 

“Major policy decisions need model input, but models are valuable only to the extent that outputs are transparent, are valid, are based on accurately documented sources, are rigorously evaluated, and yield robust and reliable projections.”

“… but countries that have flattened death curves earliest may not provide a basis for extrapolating trends in areas where similar control could prove elusive.”

“… The model rests on the likely incorrect assumption that effects of social distancing policies are the same everywhere and that suppression policies will be implemented in all regions and will remain effective throughout.”

*J. Harris note: I never knew much about statistics, and I don’t expect politicians to know much about them either. Today, I include articles with criticisms of some U.S. efforts and statistical guesses. I’d like to see more open discussion about our statistical model (IHME) before we guess wrong and relax our vigilance too early or incautiously. I hope that medical and political leaders will be very, very, very cautious in their decisions making and not get in too big a hurry. I’d rather see the U.S. make people unhappy rather than dead.

In addition, the Chinese count of deaths is now known to be maliciously inaccurate and might further invalidate the IHME.

COVID-19 in the USA: a question of time

*J Harris:This is the British medical view of what has happened in the US and does not necessarily reflect my views. If you are feeling edgy, don’t read it. I am not interested in political squabbles.

COVID-19 exacerbating inequalities in the US

More British opinion. I have included it because of the mention that many of our rural hospitals closed or were acquired by large hospital corporations because some states refused to accept the Affordable Care Act Medicaid. Rural America is lucky that we aren’t too crowded but unfortunate that definitive medical care is lacking in many rural areas.

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[Marshall, Texas, April 14, 2020]

In a joint effort, the City of Marshall under the direction of Mayor Terri Brown and Harrison County under the authority of County Judge Chad Sims have today, both issued a Second Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease to extend the timeframe to safeguard our community from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Under these amended orders, residents of the City of Marshall and Harrison County are still permitted to perform essential duties for their families; including obtaining medical supplies, visiting a health care provider, obtaining supplies they need to work from home, grocery shopping, engaging in outdoor activities while maintaining social distancing, and to perform work defined as an essential service. Citizens at a high risk of illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to remain in their residence except to receive medical care.

As of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2020, the positive COVID-19 testing data includes:

Total Positive COVID-19 Cases in Harrison County             31*

City of Marshall Positive Cases                                                   24

Harrison County Positive Cases                                                  7

*The Overall Count includes two casualties.

Gender

Male – 12

Female – 19

Age 0-19 –  0

Age 20-39 – 9

Age 40-59 – 7

Age 60+ – 15

“We understand the increase in positive COVID 19 cases can be concerning to residents. A number of these positive cases were diagnosed as a result of previously reported positive case investigations.   We urge residents to continue to stay home to reduce your risk of exposure,” stated Jennifer Hancock, Director of the Marshall – Harrison County Health District.

[Marshall, Texas] In a joint effort, the City of Marshall under the direction of Mayor Terri Brown and Harrison County under the authority of County Judge Chad Sims have today, both issued a Second Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease to extend the timeframe to safeguard our community from the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Under these amended orders, residents of the City of Marshall and Harrison County are still permitted to perform essential duties for their families; including obtaining medical supplies, visiting a health care provider, obtaining supplies they need to work from home, grocery shopping, engaging in outdoor activities while maintaining social distancing, and to perform work defined as an essential service. Citizens at a high risk of illness from COVID-19 and people who are sick are urged to remain in their residence except to receive medical care.

As of 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2020, the positive COVID-19 testing data includes:

Total Positive COVID-19 Cases in Harrison County                 31*

City of Marshall Positive Cases                                               24

Harrison County Positive Cases                                              7

*The Overall Count includes two casualties.

Gender Male – 12 Female – 19

Age 0-19 –  0 Age 20-39 – 9 Age 40-59 – 7 Age 60+ – 15

“We understand the increase in positive COVID 19 cases can be concerning to residents. A number of these positive cases were diagnosed as a result of previously reported positive case investigations.   We urge residents to continue to stay home to reduce your risk of exposure,” stated Jennifer Hancock, Director of the Marshall – Harrison County Health District. 

On Thursday, April 9, 2020, the City of Marshall City Commission approved an Ordinance consenting to the Amended Declaration of Local Disaster Proclaimed for the City of Marshall by the Mayor on March 31, 2020, and any Matters Incidental or Related to said Declaration.

On March 13, 2020, the City of Marshall suspended all events in city facilities and parks beginning March 16, 2020, and lasting until April 15, 2020. This safeguard included events at facilities, such as the Marshall Convention Center, Memorial City Hall, Marshall City Arena, Marshall Visual Arts Center, Marshall Main Street downtown, Community Centers and all-league events in parks.

As a further action, the City of Marshall implemented further modified operations for city facilities to protect the health of our staff, citizens, and visitors on March 17, 2020. The departments included the Water Billing Department, Municipal Court, Marshall Public Library, Oaklawn Golf Course and all Marshall city playground equipment.

On March 31, 2020, Harrison County Judge Chad Sims and City of Marshall Mayor Terri Brown confirmed the third diagnosed case of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Harrison County. In response, Judge Sims and Mayor Brown are both issued Mandatory Shelter in Place orders effective at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2020, until April 13, 2020, which has now been extended by today’s actions.

The City of Marshall Emergency Management Team will continue to meet with leaders from Harrison County, Marshall – Harrison County Health District, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Health System – Marshall, and City of Marshall leaders to monitor this fluid situation on an ongoing basis and provide notices to residents.

In order to safeguard our community from more cases, citizens are urged to follow all orders by the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC), Executive Orders by Governor Greg Abbott, Harrison County, and the City of Marshall Second Amended Declaration of Local Disaster and Public Health Emergency Related to Communicable Disease.

1.         Restrict physical contact and publicly used areas.

2.         Maintain Social Distancing with a safe distance of six (6’) feet between individuals.

3.         Every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of 10 or more per Executive Order of Governor Abbott.

4.         Residents should not visit nursing homes, retirement, or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.

5.         In accordance with the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors. Residents may still utilize drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options through the Executive Order.

6.         Regularly wash hands with warm soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

7.         Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth.

8.         If soap is not available, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

9.         Avoid close contact with people who are sick. All persons should remain in the home if one person in the home exhibits symptoms.

10.       An essential errand should be conducted by only one adult from the household. All other family members should remain sheltered at home.

11.       CDC recommends wearing a cloth face mask in public. The mask will fit snugly, be secured with ear loops, and be able to be laundered and machine dried often. A mask should not be placed on children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or unable to remove the mask without assistance. A mask with multiple layers of fabric should allow for breathing without restriction. The cloth face coverings recommended are not surgical masks or N-95 respirators as those critical supplies that must continue to be reserved for healthcare workers and first responders.

Total testing data will be released on Wednesday, April 15, 2020, by the Marshall – Harrison County Health District.

By George Smith

There are people in our society whom too few people think about, much less care about.

It is sad and even loathsome.

What have you done, will you do today and into the future to make a positive difference in some’s  life without expectations of some form of “prid pro pro”?

I haven’t thought of this in years but the memory hit me this morning.

Twenty-five years ago, I was the new publisher of the Las Cruces Sun-Times in New Mexico. In learning about the town, I was shocked to discover Dona Anna County had the highest per capita homeless population in the nation!

Why? It boiled down to three key factors: Good weather year-round (it only rained an average of 28 days a year); a benevolent population that were tolerant of those less fortunate than themselves; and, a benign city and county government that cared not if a disproportionate percent of the population slept in parks, parking lots fields or under bridges.

Every day driving my 5.6 miles to work,
from my isolated hacienda on a golf course, I saw numerous men, women and children panhandling by the roadside, at traffic lights, in parking lots of convenience stores.

One day, not out of a revelation of do-goodliness, but out of a focused business need — I wanted to increase circulation — I, and several of my managers, solicited and signed up more than 20 homeless people to sell newspapers in specific locations.

The deal was simple: Sell papers as independent contractors for 50 cents; the contractor kept a quarter. They all had to fill out contractor forms and were responsible for taxes. The deal was not catch-as-catch-can: in the contract, they acknowledged they were representatives of the paper and could be dismissed under certain conditions, moral and at the discretion of management. We bought the all collared shirts with the Sun-Times logo and told them to go forth, smile amd make money.

The paper’s circulation jumped 15 percent the first month of the experiment and I was a corporate hero.
But not in Las Cruces.

I was summoned to a meeting in the mayor’s office and lambasted for  causing a nuisance by selling newspapers around town, “causing problems at traffic lights” and other areas.

I pointed out the homeless that had been panhandling at traffic lights were now employed and offering a service.
And, they were earning more money to spend in local businesses.

They put me on double-naught secret probation but let me continue the program. Within a year, several of those homeless hawkers were full-time employees of the paper.

Point?

The only point is sometimes people need help. Maybe, just maybe, you can be an integral part of the solution to a problem.

Many of us have a little extra time to think in this era of social distancing. Use a little of the time to think what you can do help others…now and in the future.

Stay safe.

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By George Smith

Coronavirus.  COVID-19.

I know some people who are not taking this pandemic seriously. They are flirting with disaster of the most personal kind.

BobJean and I are among the lucky ones. We live of County Road 31, off State Highway 73 in big-time rural Nevada County, Arkansas. 

Our house is at the end of a dirt road and at the end of a 220-yard lane. If you come to our house, you are looking for us or you are lost.

Our intent is to keep this highly infectious disease away from the house on Bedspring Ridge and stay healthy.

To achieve that end, we go to town only when we have to, wearing gloves and masks and wiping down everything we might touch outside our realm of isolation. 

We even wipe down the mail with Clorox wipes, UPS or FedEx packages, too, outside and contents. We used to save grocery sacks for friends; now, we dispose of them.   

Following the advice from a website, we have a “dirty” and “clean” side of our large countertop island. Groceries or other items brought in are put on the dirty side and unpacked; all items are washed and/or wiped down with sanitary wipes and placed on the “clean” side. After all items are put away, the entire counter is wiped down with Clorox wipes.

When I go check on my aunt and uncle, I wear gloves and touch nothing. I take them food occasionally and make sure the containers have been wiped down. 

Overkill? Who knows. But at our age —fast approaching 73 and 75—and with certain medical conditions, why take a chance?

Being a “semi-colon” people (you know, when you hit a semi-colon in a sentence…it means you ain’t done yet!) we have a ton of living to do. We have places to see, grandkids to hug and spoil, ideas to be explored and college students to inspire us to keep living and sharing. 

And, we have each other. After being separated for more than four decades — from being young and stupid (me) to finding each other again was like winning the lottery of life.

This time of our life is too good, to precious, to throw it away by being hard-headed or neglectful or forgetful.

Be smart. Stay safe. Stay healthy.

We are all valuable cargo and our time to live is…right now.

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