THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF THE TENNESSEE VALLEY SINCE 1912 RACK PRICE: 75¢ Tuesday, May 4, 2021 decaturdaily.com decaturdaily @decaturdaily FORECAST LEGISLATURE TODAY WED THU Time tight for gambling proposal 77°/60° 72°/47° 70°/49° marijuana, in the Alabama Legisla- bill, which bans treat- has already passed and Medical marijuana, ban certain ture’s 2021 session. ments including puberty Gov. Kay Ivey has signed A2 Complete forecast, transgender bills medical House Speaker Mac blockers and surgery. a bill requiring high school also have only 3 treatments McCutcheon, R-Mon- “We’re working with athletes to only compete CORONAVIRUS for trans- rovia, said the prospect Senate leadership so I in sports as their gender days left gender of floor votes on the can’t speak as firm on assigned at birth. By Caroline Beck youth and gambling and medi- that one as we can the McCutcheon wasn’t McCutcheon Latest data Alabama Daily News expand cal marijuana bills was gaming or the medical sure about the vote out- Statistics on COVID-19 reported gambling have yet to “promising” in the House. marijuana, but it is being look on the gambling by the Alabama Department of MONTGOMERY — Bills receive a vote in the House He wasn’t as certain for considered,” McCutch- Public Health as of Monday (totals that would allow medical with three voting days left the transgender medical eon said. The Legislature SEE LEGISLATURE, A3 through Saturday in parentheses for comparison): Alabama deaths: 10,913 (10,913) Alabama cases: 528,784 (528,309) DECATUR LIMESTONE COUNTY Morgan cases: 14,250 (14,240) Lawrence cases: 2,996 (2,994) Limestone cases: 9,935 (9,927) Commission Deaths in 3 local counties: 527 (527) ‘The building rejects limits on SPORTS quarry trucks didn’t abandon us’ By Marian Accardi Staff Writer ATHENS — A Limestone County commissioner’s effort to prohibit heavy truck traffic on certain roads near a quarry failed Monday as another commissioner said defend- Trash Pandas ing a lawsuit by the quarry owner would cost more than the road ready to play ball maintenance. The Rocket City Trash Pandas District 2 Com- begin their inaugural season tonight missioner Danny in Chattanooga, and their roster Barksdale’s motion includes pitcher Reid Detmers, to post “No Thru who was a first-round draft pick in Trucks” and “Local 2020, and Torii Hunter Jr., son of the Deliveries Only” former major league All-Star. B1 signs on Bradford Barksdale Road and the north section of Newby Road from Gray NATION Road to U.S. 72 died for the lack of a second from commissioners at their Severe storms cause meeting Monday. The quarry, oper- ated by The Rogers Group, is located damage across South in Huntsville-annexed Limestone Severe storms spawning multiple County. tornadoes moved across the South “Heavy gross weight trucks are on Sunday and Monday, damaging a necessary and important part of homes and uprooting trees from our economy and transportation Mississippi to Kentucky. A tornado Latasha Shackelford works with her products last week. She opened Diva Hair, a wig shop, at Tha Yard on system,” but they should be managed spotted in Atlanta forced thousands West Moulton Street and First Avenue Southwest. [BAYNE HUGHES/DECATUR DAILY] to limit their “negative effects on our to seek shelter, and one man was roads and citizens,” Barksdale said. killed when a falling tree brought “I understand (the issue) tremen- power lines onto his vehicle. A7 Tha Yard on W. dously,” said Commissioner Jason Moulton is home Black, who represents District 3, in which a different BUSINESS to new businesses quarry is located. But By Bayne Hughes the measure “pretty Restaurants, bars Staff Writer much just points a finger at one business have renewed hope A dilapidated, 82-year-old and says, ‘You’re not Thousands of restaurants and building on a major Decatur going to be able to use Black bars decimated by the COVID-19 corridor seemed destined for this road.’” outbreak have a better chance at rubble until a local family led There’s “no way to really enforce” survival as the government begins by Rodney and Tara Gordon the resolution if that’s the main handing out $28.6 billion in grants transformed it last month access to and from the quarry, Black — money to help these small busi- into Tha Yard, a facility Tha Yard, located at West Moulton Street and First Avenue Southwest, said, adding that the county doesn’t nesses stay afloat while they wait designed to be a home for opened last month and houses an eclectic mix of businesses. [ERIC impose weight limits on roads, only for customers to return. B8 fledgling businesses. FLEISCHAUER/DECATUR DAILY] bridges. Located on First Avenue Putting a weight limit on a road, he Southwest, along the CSX of businesses, social spots on West Moulton Street, said, is “going to cost us a lot more AREA DEATHS Railroad and just off West and a religious group. met with their daughter and money to pay (for defending) that Moulton Street, Tha Yard is The Gordons, who also Charles Baker Sr., Decatur now home to an eclectic mix own a group home business SEE DECATUR, A3 SEE COUNTY, A3 Sebra Binkley, Somerville Howard Cooke, Danville Dwight Key, Moulton Donna King, Moulton ALABAMA GOVERNOR: Minnie Lawrence, Hartselle Linda McIntosh, Somerville Lillie Rawls, Decatur June Rea, Decatur Loretta Roden, Decatur Pandemic ‘managed,’ orders to end Myra Sivley, Hartselle By Jay Reeves infection rates, fewer 6, she said in a statement. Connie Williams, Decatur The Associated Press hospitalizations and “For over a year now, A5 Death notices, obits, more widespread immu- Alabamians, like people Abby ................... B5 Horoscopes ......... B5 BIRMINGHAM — nizations, Ivey said the around the globe, have Business ............. B8 In the Community A8 Declaring the COVID-19 current health order made sacrifices and Classified ............ B6 Lotteries ............. B1 pandemic “absolutely” encouraging people to adjusted to a temporary Comics ................ B4 Obituaries ........... A5 Crossword........... B5 Sports ................. B1 managed despite lagging follow health recom- ‘new normal.’ We have Editorials ............ A4 Weather .............. A2 vaccinations, Alabama mendations and requiring learned much since last Gov. Kay Ivey said some precautions for year, and this is absolutely Decatur, Alabama Monday she will end a senior citizens and long- now a managed pan- 110th year, No. 48 state health order meant term care facilities will demic. Our infection rates 16 pages, 2 sections to guard against the end on May 31, barring a and hospitalizations are in spread of an illness that sharp rise in cases. better shape, and over 1.5 has killed nearly 11,000 A state of emergency million Alabamians have Workers staff a mostly empty COVID-19 vaccination clinic people statewide. declared because of the located at Cathedral of the Cross A.O.H. Church of God in Bir- Citing improved health threat will end July SEE PANDEMIC, A3 mingham on Monday. [JAY REEVES/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS] -Classifieds on thecover- -Classifieds on thecover- -Classifieds on thecover- -Classifieds on thecover- -Classifieds on thecover- HARDWOOD Honoring thosewho have LabradoodlePuppies M&SBoutique PositionsAvailable sacrificedfor ourfreedom Forthe name-brand SeeMore REFINISHING •CNC Mill Operator Memorial DayTribute 7femalesand 1male BUTnot theprice!! in Today’s ♦CompetitivePrices ♦Dust Born March4th.Wormed •HandBags •CDL TruckDriver Containment ♦Licensed & Submission Deadline +First Shots,$600ea. (Class A) Insured ♦Affordable 5/18/21$40 •Clothing +More SoutheasternExtrusion &Tool, Inc. Classified ♦Decatur/Huntsville area. Call or text 256-483-6280 Locatedinthe BeltlineOffice Plex 256-353-6000 LexingtonArea next to Westmeade Baptist. [email protected] 256-585-5854 256-476-4741 410218-1 Section 256-766-6421 A2 Tuesday, May 4, 2021 | The Decatur Daily THOUGHT FOR TODAY “When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt.” YOUR NEWS — Henry J. Kaiser, American industrialist (1882-1967). CELEBRITY NEWS PHOTO OF THE DAY This combination of photos shows actor Timothée Chalamet, from left, singer Billie Eilish, poet Amanda Gorman, and tennis star Naomi Osaka who will co-chair the Met Gala on Sept. 13. [AP FILE PHOTOS] arrested two Eilish, Chalamet, people after Gorman and Osaka receiving a report of headline Met Gala trespassers NEW YORK — The star power near the home is back. When the Met Gala of Britain’s Prince Andrew returns in September, it will fea- Prince ture a heavy-hitting contingent Andrew, the second-oldest son of celebrity co-chairs: Actor Tim- of Queen Elizabeth II. othée Chalamet, musician Billie Thames Valley Police said Eilish, poet Amanda Gorman and a 29-year-old woman and a tennis star Naomi Osaka. 31-year-old man, both from Honorary chairs for the eve- London, were arrested after ning will be designer Tom Ford, a report of intruders on the sponsor Instagram’s Adam Mos- grounds of the Royal Lodge seri, and Vogue’s Anna Wintour. in Windsor Great Park on The museum made the April 25. Police said there announcement Monday on was no risk to anyone at the traditional day of the Met the lodge, Andrew’s official Gala — the first Monday in May. residence. Those plans, of course, were Police were also called to the Frances Nungester Elementary School students watch a red-tailed hawk flap its wings on Monday during an educational program by upended by the pandemic. The Royal Lodge on April 19. Auburn University’s Southeastern Raptor Center and the Alabama Forestry Association. More photos at decaturdaily.com. [JERONIMO Sept. 13 gala will be a more inti- The Sun newspaper NISA/DECATUR DAILY] mate affair, to be followed by a reported that during the larger one on May 2, 2022. Both earlier incident, a 43-year- will launch a two-part exhibition, old woman spent 20 minutes a survey of American fashion to on the grounds of the lodge be on view for almost a year.