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COVID-19 has changed the way all of us conduct our daily lives and affects everyone, regardless of our neighborhoods, our political affiliations, our race, or our ethnicity. While many people have recovered from COVID-19, the disease can have serious, life-threatening complications, and its long-term effects are not known. Latest data show the number of Alabamians who have succumbed to COVID-19 is approaching 17,000, and numbers of deaths have exceeded births in the state for each of the past two years.

75 YEARS AGO FEBRUARY 1, 1947 The Barbour County FFA speaking contest and quartet contests were held in the Barbour County High School in Clio Monday night. Clarence Milldrum Jr.

Professional football fans had an exciting weekend watching the divisional round, the winners of which are now poised for their conference championships. We are very proud of Eufaula native Les Snead’s Los Angeles Rams pulling off a 30-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a final field goal. Snead is general manager of the Rams, who defeated legendary quarterback Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. All games were close with the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills going into overtime and a record number of points scored in less than two minutes. Get ready for some good football games on Sunday when the Bengals and Chiefs play for the AFC title and the 49ers and Rams vie for the NFC championship title.

Barbour County’s 4.6% unemployment rate for December 2021 is a significant improvement since the pandemic-high peak at 10.1% in September 2020 and from 6.7% last January, but we’re still a good ways behind our nation, state, neighboring counties and even our own pre-pandemic statistics.

"How shall we beguile the lazy time, if not with some delight?" -William Shakespeare This quote by The Bard himself always makes me think of enduring the long frigid winter. Now, I know some of our Yankee neighbors might have a chuckle at this sentiment as our winters here in South Alabama really can't compare to those "up North." And, yes, it is the truth that deep snow and icy roads are more a novelty here than the monotonous norm it is over the Mason-Dixon line.

75 YEARS AGO JANUARY 31, 1947 Gerald Parr, after much consideration, was the winner of the annual FFA Speaking Contest held at the Blue Springs High School January the 24th. There were two contestants, Marcus Walker and Parr.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that governmental entities at all levels are receiving an influx of revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state, along with counties, school boards, and municipalities are receiving one-time monies that must be spent wisely and with extreme accountability to the public they serve and for checks and balances purposes.

BY DR. LARRY TEASLEYMinister at Clayton United Methodist and Rocky Mount United Methodist churcheI recently read a devotional where the writer said that Christmas is… Login to continue reading Login…