Entries by Walter Geiger

After a presentation by Dr. Carlos del Rio, the executive associate dean for Emory at Grady Health System, to mayors, city managers, county commission chairs and county managers across the state, the Georgia Municipal Association has encouraged the state's 538 cities to shut down all non-essential businesses within their boundaries.

GMA feels Gov. Brian Kemp's restrictions announced Monday night are not harsh enough and provided cities and counties with a model resolution to use in making those declarations.

Lamar County held steady at three confirmed COVID-19 cases in the noon case count report issued by DPH.

Georgia now has recorded 1026 confirmed cases and 32 deaths.

Spalding County has five cases. Monroe County has three while Butts has two.

UPDATE: DPH has confirmed three cases in Pike County that are not on the case count map.

Upson has no cases.

Lamar County remained steady at three confirmed COVID-19 cases in the DPH report released at 7 p.m. Monday.

Georgia has 800 total confirmed cases. Of those, 26 have died.

The BBQ & Blues Festival and Buggy Town Steak Showdown set for April 17-18 have been postponed indefinitely due to coronavirus.

In a press release issued Friday at 5:45 p.m., Gov. Brian Kemp reported he had transferred $19,552,646 from the governor's emergency fund to cover the cost of medical suppllies.

The funds were used to pay a bill run up by GEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and the state department of public health.

The release was issued after business hours Friday and has received only scant news coverage.

Here is the release verbatim:

Today Governor Brian P. Kemp issued Executive Order 03.20.20.01 and Executive Order 03.20.20.02 authorizing a transfer of $19,552,646 from the Governor's Emergency Fund and reducing regulations to assist in the state's response to COVID-19. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and Georgia Department of Public Health have purchased $19,552,646 in medical supplies and equipment.

Lamar held steady at three confirmed coronavirus cases in the 7 p.m. Sunday case count by DPH.

The state now has 620 cases with 25 known deaths.

Georgia now has 555 confirmed COVID-19 cases and the death toll has risen from 14 at noon to 20 on the 7 p.m. DPH count. The case count is up by 48 since noon.

Lamar still reports only one case.

The Lamar County school system issued this statement Friday, March 20.

Students & Parents,

The purpose of this communication is to provide an update on the current plan for instruction for Lamar County students. Friday, March 13th, students were given 5-day packets to work on this week. Beginning Monday, March 23rd, Lamar County teachers will be reaching out to their students and families to monitor the progress of this week's work and to roll out an additional 5-day packet. This information will be shared online. Please be sure to read the curriculum update posted on our website and social media.

We understand that not all students have online access. If you do not hear from your child's teacher by Wednesday, March 25th, or you cannot access this information via Internet or with a digital device, please contact your child's principal at the email below, so we can work to arrange for a paper copy to be delivered. We will have a number you can call by next week.

PS: [email protected]
ES: [email protected]
MS: [email protected]
HS: [email protected]

As you are aware, there are many unknowns. At this time, the health and safety of our students and staff are top priority. Limiting social contact is extremely important. We will continue to work to meet the academic needs of all students, to the best of our ability.

As a reminder, ALL students ages 3-18 (up to 21 with special needs) can pickup FREE breakfast and lunch meals daily, Mon-Fri, 11-12, at one of two locations:
-Milner Public Library
-Downtown Barnesville, near GA South BBQ

The Milner Public Library site is serving meals via "drive through". There is no need to exit your vehicle; volunteers will look for a head count and distribute meals accordingly. This method allows for a quick and easy exchange, while limiting exposure. Again, these meals are FREE and available to ALL children. Please help us spread the word.

Our plan is for teachers to reach out to their students on a weekly basis, Mon.-Tues. to assess progress on current assignments and discuss the next week's work. It is important we keep open communication lines between teachers and students/parents.

On another note: Our Spring Break is scheduled April 6-10. Our return to school is subject to change and will require authorization by the Governor. The Lamar County School System will not return to the buildings before Monday, April 13.

We sincerely appreciate your patience, flexibility, and understanding as we work through this challenge together.

Take Care & God Bless