50¢ Friday/ Saturday December 11-12, 2020 www.perrynewspapers.com Poor attendance also a concern: Students scoring low must go back to class Students enrolled in Superintendent of Schools are doing nothing. We have the local online virtual Dr. Danny Glover Jr. that some parents who are doing school program could findwould require all Taylor an amazing job with digital themselves back inside a E-Learning Canvas (TEC) learning, but we also have traditional classroom if students to return to “brick some where the students are they have failing grades or and mortar” school if they falling way behind,” Glover a poor attendance record. do not meet certain grade or said. On Tuesday, the Taylor attendance requirements. Under his proposal, County School Board will “We have a lot of kids ➟ Please see page 2 consider a request from -- digital learners – who Blount retires after 9 NFL seasons, 3 rings After pounding and carries, including a 21-yard five players to ever win hurdling his way for more touchdown run, to lead back-to-back Super Bowls than 6,300 yards and 56 the Philadelphia Eagles to with different teams. touchdowns over nine their first-ever Super Bowl “I am so proud, happy seasons in the NFL, three- win – defeating his former and glad that I have had time Super Bowl champion Patriots team, 41-33. the opportunity and was running back LeGarrette blessed enough with the Blount has officially hung‘ ability to play as long as I up the cleats he once used I am so proud, did,” Blount said Tuesday to pay tribute to his Taylor happy and glad from his home in Arizona. County roots. that I have had the Blount broke the news Before taking the field opportunity and of his retirement Friday, for his final Super Bowl Dec. 5 online, writing, “It’s appearance in 2017, Blount was blessed enough been fun and fulfilling!! I scribbled “Taylor County,” with the ability to just want to inform y’all “Bulldog Pride,” “TCHS” play as long as I did that I’m officially retiring. I and “850” on his cleats – LeGarrette Blount have thought long and hard to express his love for his 3-time Super Bowl Champion about this decision, and I’ve hometown. talked to my closest family Perry’s own LeGarrette Blount is shown with his first Super Bowl ring and the Lombardi Trophy Blount then proceeded ’ members and friends about won when New England defeated Seattle, 28-24 on Feb. 15, 2015 in Arizona, where Blount currently to run over, around and In addition to claiming this. We collectively agreed resides. Blount officially retired this past week after winning three Super Bowl rings (2014, 2016 and through the New England his third Super Bowl ring, ➟ Please see page 3 2017) in nine NFL seasons. defense for 90 yards on 14 Blount became one of only Century takes over EMS Jan. 2 Century Ambulance, have been working with Necessity” (COPCN) for provider of emergency, non- meeting.) that time, Pemberton said, which was selected by the Century to negotiate a Century. emergent ambulance and Last month, the “We started meeting with Taylor County Commission contract to bring to the “This would enable EMS standby services,” she commission selected Century weekly to start the to take over ambulance board for approval. Century Ambulance said. “That is outside of our Century as the company transition of countywide services from Doctors’ A special meeting is Service to possibly be helicopter transport. The to take over emergency ambulance services. Memorial Hospital (DMH), expected to be called added as soon as tomorrow COCPN is a requirement medical services (EMS) Conrad spent his weekend plans to begin providing later this month to allow as an additional provider to obtain licensure by the in the county at a cost reviewing the draft services here as soon as Jan. the county to review and to Taylor County in order State of Florida.” of $817,000 per year. contract.” 2, 2021. approve the contract in to provide support for Commissioner Michael Century was one of two “A letter has been typed According to County order for Century to begin Doctors’ Memorial Hospital Newman made a motion companies that responded out to LaWanda,” Bishop Administrator LaWanda providing emergency Emergency Medical to approve the certificate.to the county’s request for said. “What I’ve done Pemberton, who gave an medical services. Services,” Pemberton said. Commissioner Jamie proposals (RFP) to assume in the past is I condense update to the commission At Monday’s meeting, “Once the contractual English seconded, and EMS management from the agreement so you at its Monday, Dec. 7, the commission also agreement is executed the measure passed 4-0. DMH. don’t have to pour over meeting, she and County approved a “Certificatewith Century, of they would (Commissioner Pam Feagle Providing an update on ➟ Please see page 2 Attorney Conrad Bishop Public Convenience and be identified as the solewas not present at the what has happened since Perry fills missing ‘Park & Plug’ piece of Hwy. 19 puzzle With a ribbon-cutting ribbon-cutting ceremony ceremony held here to celebrate the installation Tuesday, downtown Perry of the new electric vehicle officially became one of(EV) charging station the last “missing puzzle located on a city-owned lot pieces” for electric vehicle behind the Taylor County owners needing to charge Courthouse. their batteries when driving The local station is from Tampa to Tallahassee among more than 550 that on U.S. Highway 19/98. Duke Energy Florida has Duke Energy Florida installed as part of its “Park State President Catherine & Plug” program, which Stempien joined City helps complete the electric of Perry, Chamber of charging infrastructure Local officials cheered Tuesday as Duke Energy Florida State President Catherine Stempien cut Commerce and Taylor ➟ Please see page 9 the ribbon on Perry’s new electric vehicle charging station located on a city-owned lot downtown County officials for a just behind the Taylor County Courthouse. Perry Primary School demolition nears The Taylor County complete bid out of three being asked to review the Anderson said. Clark Street. The former primary School District is expected submitted for consideration. bid they submitted. The Pete Slaughter Land Registration will begin at school building opened to award a $236,640 bid Other bidders included reason for the withdrawal Clearing submitted an 8:30 a.m. followed by the in the early 1970s. The to Boyer Construction Curts Construction was their failure to calculate incomplete bid. auction at 9 a.m. push to replace it with a Tuesday for the demolition ($341,491) and Great a major expenditure into the The district will hold Items to be auctioned new facility begin in 2009 of the old Perry Primary Southern Demo ($187,000). final bid number,” Taylor a public auction this include furniture, and then gained ground School. “Great Southern Demo County School District Saturday, Dec. 12, at the old equipment and sidewalk Boyer had the lowest withdrew their bid after Facilities Director Dan school site located on North awnings. ➟ Please see page 2 Index One section 131st Year, No. 49 Weather Friday Saturday Sunday Looking Back ........ A-4 Sports ................... A-8 69˚ 71˚ 73˚ Religion .................. A-5 Entertainment ..... A-10 43˚ 48˚ 56˚ Community ............ A-7 Classifieds .......... A-11 A-2 Perry News-Herald December 11-12, 2020 County officials still negotiating EMS contract CENTURY a negotiation there,” he not have data to provide don’t think is unreasonable. would like to start on Jan. meeting],” she said. “We said. to them,” Pemberton said. Neither proposer would 2, which is just around the still have some negotiations Continued from page 1 “There are some other “So, they’re asking for 120 commit to those response corner,” Pemberton said. to complete with Century it like I did. That will go things on there, but days to determine if our times. “I believe we have a before we would finalize out tomorrow. I’ve asked generally speaking, it’s times are something they “We may ask for a special little bit of time before a contract and ask for a LaWanda to give you a a pretty good contract,” can meet or not, which I meeting, because Century we need to [call a special meeting.” copy of the contract and my Bishop said. letter for you to look at it. Bishop also noted that “It didn’t have an escape there was nothing in the 64 COVID cases reported in December clause,” he said of the contract about keeping the contract. “I wanted there current EMS personnel as Taylor County surpassed were 65 years of age or dashboard, 44 percent institutions, while the state’s to be an escape clause. Century employees. 1,700 positive coronavirus older. Taylor County has (748) of Taylor’s cases correctional case mix is just They’re going to need Pemberton said Century (COVID-19) cases reported just four deaths in were related to correctional two percent. to do something about included a provision in during the peoplefirst under the 10 age of 65. days of that. its proposal that would December, reporting 64 new The local hospitalization “There were also a couple give current DMH EMS cases in that time frame, and death rates continue to things I didn’t like about it, employees preferential including three additional fall below the state average like increasing the $68,000 consideration. hospitalizations and oneby one percent each. Taylor per month that we’re going English asked about death. County’s hospitalization to pay by 3% or by the whether there were According to the rate is four percent, while [consumer price index].