StarNews. (Carrollton, GA) 20??-current, August 09, 2020, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Texty CARROLL COUNTY, GE StarNews CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA'S ONLY LOCALLY OWNED LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS AUGUST 2020 • VOLUME 26 NUMBER 8 www.starnewsgaonline.com StarNews monthly traditional print publication /StarNews Online daily local news Runoff: Tues. Aug. 11 Three runoff elections in Carroll: state court judge; state representative District 28 Republican candidate; state senator District 30 Democrat candidate Carrollton Center for the Arts to kick off performance season with cocktail party on August 20 th Runoff Candidates STATE COURT JUDGE Erica Tisinger Met Lane Runoff Candidates STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 30 DEMOCRAT Montenia Edwards James Runoff Candidates STATE REPRESENTATIJ E DISTRICT 18 Tyler Paul Smith Cason Hightower by Prissi Sullivan The Carroll County Primary Election Runoff is Tuesday, August 11th (early vot ing ended Friday, August 7th). This runoff See RUNOFF AUGUST 11th page 4 from press release The Carrollton Center for the Arts’ 2020- 2021 season will bring a broad spectrum of per- fonnances, exhibits and special events to down town Carrollton into the coming year. The cen ter kicks off its performance season with a cocktail party, Saturday, August 29, 2020, 6- 7:30 p.m. The gathering will feature food and spirits and costs $20 to attend. An Evening with Shawn Megorden, follows, featuring the vocal See ARTS SEASON page 13 Mysterious/unknown seed packages from China being delivered to U.S. residents Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black warns residents to not touch seeds/ mail packages to state agri department The Georgia Department of Agriculture has been notified that several Georgia residents have received unsolicited packages containing seeds that appear to have originated from China. Recipients are strongly advised not to open the packages or plant the seeds. “At this time, we are not sure what the seeds are and therefore are urging everyone to be exceedingly vigilant,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black says. “If you have received one of these packages in the mail, please use extreme caution by not touching the contents and securing the package in a plastic bag.” Carroll County Extension Agent Paula Burke said, “We got our first report/call in Carroll County of unsolicited China origin seeds being delivered to residents through the United States See UNKNOWN SEEDS page 8 Area schools open for fall semester under various CoVID-19 rules by Sue Horn Due to the continuation of the COVID- 19 pandemic, school year 2020-2021 will be unlike any other in the nation’s history, as school systems struggle to find a bal ance between keeping students and staff physically safe from the threat of the potentially fatal illness and achieving actual learning milestones. As the school year progresses, infection rates are expected to rise. This could force school boards to reassess prior decisions. This is a fluid situation that will be affected by the speed (fast or slow) and reach (few or many) of the infection rate. A major factor in decisions was the availability, or not, of internet access for students, which, without, cannot utilize the Virtual Learning option (learning from home). Another major decision was whether to mandate masks or not: each school system has its own rules on health safety. At least one school system, Heard County, is requiring assigned seating on school buses. In the event a student tests postive for CoVID, the school system will be able to identify nearby students and notify parents. Heard County School See RETURN TO SCHOOL page 32 Villa Rica mayor issues executive order requiring masks for city employees and all visitors entering a city facility by Prissi Sullivan Villa Rica Mayor Gil McDougal has issued an executive order requiring any one working in or entering a city facility to wear a mask covering their nose and mouth as protec tion from COVID- 19 as per recom mendations from the CDC and Tanner Health System. There has been some push- Villa Rica Mayor back and disagree- Gil McDougal ment, but wears a “We Are McDougal is deter- VR” protective mined to do any- face mask thing in his power to protect the citizens of Villa Rica. Six city employees have had or have Covid-19, including City attorney David Mecklin. McDougal stated that even See WE ARE MASKED page 31 Carroll County’s E-911 director and E-911 operations manager exit their positions The Carroll County public relations department issued a statement that the county’s E-911 Director Trisha Orr and E-911 Operations Manager Tyler Shadix have simultaneously “resigned” their positions. No other information was given, and the jobs have not been posted as of press time. Carroll County Prison Warden Jeff Richards was appointed as interim E- 911 director until a new director is hired. Richards will continue with his duties as warden while interim director. Paid for by Friends of Erica Tisinger PO Box 2382 Carrollton. GA 30112 Please remember to VOTE in the Runoff Election on AUGUST 11th Dear Voter, and I am running for State Court Judge this May. I know that you vote consistently and I want to thank you for your civic participation. It takes time and effort to vote. I want to express my gratitude for your service. Without your commitment, our local and state government doesn't work. I am ERICA TISINGER © DON’T MISS AN ISSUE! READ DIGITAL MONTHLY 1 SSU U PR / NT EDITIONS on www.starnewsgaonline.com n LIKE US at facebook.com/ StarNewsGaOnline PINTEREST Sherryreynolds.StarNews FOLLOW US on TWITTER @starnewswga contact us at: suehorn.stamews@gmail.com waynereynolds.starnews@ gmail. com

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StarNews. (Carrollton, GA) 20??-current, August 09, 2020, Image 1