A3 / NEWS A11 / NEWS Companies test Biden introduces VP antibody drugs to treat, choice Harris; much prevent COVID-19 history, no crowd Daily Mountain Eagle “The newspaper that cares about Walker County” MOUNTAINEAGLE.COM THURSDAY, AUG. 13, 2020 75 CENTS JASPER CITY SCHOOLS FallFest cancelled in Jasper due to COVID-19 By ED HOWELL other cancellations recently, was due to churches and community organizations Daily Mountain Eagle the COVID-19 pandemic. who plan this event thank you for your New faculty “We’re sad to make this announce- support through the years and look for- Organizers of the annual FallFest in ment, but feel confident that this was the ward to seeing you next year at FallFest announced downtown Jasper announced Wednesday safest and smartest choice for now. See 20201.” that it would be cancelled this year. y’all in 2021,” a post on the page said. Area churches of various denomi- The announcement was made on the Attached was a statement that said, nations have presented the event in in Jasper FallFest Facebook page. “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City Schools The decision to cancel the event, like FallFest 2020 has been cancelled. The See FALLFEST, A8 JASPER By NICOLE SMITH Daily Mountain Eagle Ahead of the new school year Funding enhances health starting next Thursday, the Jasper City Board of Education has wel- comed new educators to the school system. safety in downtown Jasper A video posted to the Jasper City Schools’ By NICOLE SMITH Facebook Daily Mountain Eagle page Wednes- day morning A grant has made busi- shared a nesses safer in downtown photo of each Jasper during the COVID-19 Photo Special to the Eagle teacher and pandemic. announced Jasper Main Street Exec- Diann Williams was given the classes utive Director Mike Putman a retirement party Tues- they will be said the Walker Area Com- day at Shadescrest Health teaching. munity Foundation provided Care Center in Jasper. She New teachers include math funding for a number of is retiring after 44 years. teacher Matt Diekemper, computer health safety initiatives for science/math teacher Terrell Gow- 20 local businesses, following ins, physical education teacher Luke a proposal from Main Street Lanier, geometry teacher David Alabama to assist down- ‘It’s Sellers, and English and theater town Jasper businesses with teacher Faith Butler — all of Jasper COVID-19 relief. High; general aide Joy Kelley (Jas- “What it means for small like my per Jr. High); and English teacher businesses is it says, ‘Hey, Loni Ursey, special education teach- we’re listening, we see you, er Brittany Palmer, science/history we see you struggling, and teacher Jill Jones, language arts/ it’s our job to help you get home’ writing teacher Rachel Self, and over this hump,’ and that’s English teacher Brooke Dickerson what we’re trying to do,” Housekeeper retiring — all of Maddox Intermediate. Putman said. after working 44 A number of teachers will also A total of $500 has provid- years at Shadescrest join the school system’s elementa- ed hand sanitizing stations ry schools, including third-grade to be strategically placed teachers Caroline McKellar and throughout downtown Jas- By ED HOWELL per, and each business was Daily Mountain Eagle See FACULTY, A8 also offered $500 for COVID Diann Williams will work relief. her last day Friday at Shade- Some of the funds were screst Health Care Center in used to offer touch-free Jasper before retiring after CARBON HILL entrances and exits at busi- Photo Special to the Eagle 44 years of service. CITY COUNCIL nesses, as well as signage to Williams, 64, was given a encourage the public to take Hand sanitizing stations can be found in downtown big retirement party on Tues- proper precautions to limit Jasper, thanks to a grant aimed at helping small busi- day, where she was given a Herron seeks the spread of COVID-19. nesses. plaque, a cake, presents and Money was also invested in a money gift. social distancing floor decals dent of Main Street Alabama, Jasper on June 29 to help urgent funds She started serving in for businesses. said a COVID-19 Economic for Blue Gym Mary Helmer, the presi- Recovery Team gathered in See SAFETY, A8 See WILLIAMS, A8 student help By ED HOWELL Hendrix awarded $2,000 Daily Mountain Eagle KFC’s REACH scholarship CARBON HILL — Carbon Hill Mayor April Kennedy Herron said By ED HOWELL announcement last week at Tuesday night she is looking at Daily Mountain Eagle the restaurant. Hendrix has grants from sources ranging from been working at the KFC the Walker Area Community Foun- A young team member of since October. dation to the state for emergency the KFC in Jasper has been “One of the qualifications repairs at the Blue Gym to allow awarded a $2,000 scholar- for this is you have to be Raising Arrows help local students. ship from a company founda- employed with KFC for six Herron -who said talks and re- tion. months prior to applying,” search are in the earliest stages, Hannah Hendrix, 19, of Parnell said. with nothing “a done deal or a Jasper, received the scholar- Hendrix, the daughter for-sure thing”-told the Carbon Hill ship from the REACH KFC of Jeff and Tina Hendrix, Photo Special to the Eagle City Council about the plan, which Educational Grant Program applied through the grant she started thinking about on the of the KFC Foundation. program, Parnell said. She Sonya Parnell, left, owner of the KFC in Jasper, presents Sonya Parnell, the owner a ceremonial $2,000 scholarship check from the REACH See COUNCIL, A8 of the local KFC, made the See REACH, A8 KFC Educational Grant Program to Hannah Hendrix. DEATHS WEATHER INDEX SOCIAL Classifieds .................. A10 LEFT Patsy Sue Jay Conner, 83, Empire Comics .......................... A9 ON Ricky Lynn Taft, 61, Cordova Dear Abby ..................... A9 Opinion .......................... RED Morris Taft, 83, Cordova Use your A4 phone to Religion ......................... A5 Find us on your Noah “Tony” Crawford, 90, Empire High Low quickly sign Sports .......................... A12 favorite podcast up for our streaming 89 71 weekly e-mail platforms. OBITUARIES / A2 newsletter One section, 12 pages A2 — DAILY MOUNTAIN EAGLE Jasper, Ala., Thurs., Aug. 13, 2020 www.mountaineagle.com Today’s weather DEATHS & FUNERALS Forecast for Thursday, August 13, 2020 TENN. Oxford 83/72 Huntsville Patsy Sue Jay Conner Ricky Lynn Taft ARK. 86/69 Patsy Sue Jay Conner, 83, of Empire, passed away Ricky Lynn Taft, 61, of Cordova, passed away Tues- Tuesday August 11, 2020, at her residence. She was day, August 11, 2020, at Ridgeview Health Services. GA. born November 27, 1936. She was an active member of Dora Church of God for more than 50 years. Collins-Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205-384-5571 Greenville Birmingham 88/74 87/73 Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 16, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. in the New Horizon Memori- al Chapel. The Rev. Lewis Smith and the Rev. T.J. Morris Taft Millican will officiate. Burial will follow at Dilworth Morris Taft, 83, of Cordova, passed away Wednes- Jackson Montgomery Church of God cemetery. 87/73 93/72 day, August 12, 2020, at Ridgewood Health Services. Visitation will be held Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Arrangements will be announced later by Col- the funeral home. lins-Burke Funeral Home. Brookhaven Hattiesburg She was preceded in death by her husband, William 89/74 90/74 L. Conner; parents, Rufus and Lena Jay; grandson, Collins-Burke Funeral Home, Jasper; 205-384-5571 Jason Conner; daughter-in-law, Yolanda Conner; son- Mobile 88/74 FLA. in-law, Fleming Lukela; brothers, John E. Jay and LA. Mickey Jay; and sisters, Jean Gamble, June Wallace and Lila Farr. Noah ‘Tony’ Crawford Survivors include her daughters, Kim Burgess Noah “Tony” Crawford, 90, of Empire, passed away (Tony), Deborah Lentz (Steve) and Terry Lukela; Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at Diversicare Health son, William L. Conner, Jr.; grandchildren, Brian Care. Lukela (Lauren), Scott Williams (Kristen), Shannon Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, ©2020 AccuWeather, Inc. Williams, Bryan Creekmore, Candace Baker, Michael August 14, 2020, at Bell Sumiton Chapel, with burial Lentz (Heather), Jeremy Lukela, Keleka Tucker (An- at Brasfield Cemetery in Burnwell. Visitation will be ton), Shawn Conner and Cory Conner; great-grand- held one hour prior to the service. Bell Funeral Home children, Kobe, Baleigh, Jalyn, Nalani, Dylan, Ciara, Sumiton has been entrusted with the arrangements. Ryan, Audrey, Isabella, Haley, Kelia, Braxton, Mr. Crawford was an ordained minister and was 3 dead, 6 in Blakely, Henry and Jace; brother, Donald Jay (Joan); retired from Hayes/Pemco Air Craft. He was also a sisters, Jane Howard, Rita Hamrick (Bruce) and veteran of the Korean War. hospital after train Sandra Yow (Jimmy); and many other relatives and a Preceding him in death were his son, Larry Craw- host of friends. ford; his parents; and several brothers and sisters. Pallbearers will be Scott, Shannon, Michael, Survivors include his wife, Sarah Crawford; daugh- derails in Scotland Shawn, Kobe, Ryan, Jeremy and Bryan. ters, Virginia Brook and Pat Saylor (Chuck); sons, The family wishes to express their thanks to all the Paul Crawford, Danny Crawford and Kenneth Craw- LONDON (AP) — Three people were killed and six staff of Affinity Hospice. “We appreciate each of you ford; step-children, Donnie and David Ray, Rick and others injured Wednesday when a passenger train and could not have done this without each of you.” Sandra Roach and Chase Carr and Ciara Scott; and a derailed in northeast Scotland after heavy rain and Online condolences may be expressed at www.