Articles by Special to The News-Herald/Sentinel
Pandemic forces officials to rewrite hurricane prep playbook
As Gadsden County reels from the devastating impacts of COVID-19, another challenge looms for Gadsden Countians still grappling to get back on their feet: the 2020 North Atlantic Hurricane Season. The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season officially began this past Monday, and experts predict a busier-than-average season, a scientific storm prophecy that already appears to be…
Free drive-thru / walk-up coronavirus testing now available in Gadsden County
With COVID-19 case numbers continuing to climb and even spiking recently in local communities, free drive-thru/walk-up coronavirus testing in Gadsden County arrived not a moment too soon. This past Saturday, the Florida Department of Health in Gadsden County (FDOH-Gadsden) launched its free COVID-19 community drive-thru testing site at Capital Regional Medical Center – Gadsden Memorial…
Pandemic unable to thwart prayer event at Chattahoochee church
For many years, First United Methodist Church of Chattahoochee has hosted the National Day of Prayer. Even amid a global pandemic that has managed to put the kibosh on dozens of beloved community traditions and annual events – both religious and secular – once more, the dedicated, undaunted flock of Chattahoochee First United Methodist will…
Pilot program allows Florida SNAP recipients to buy groceries online
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced this week that Florida will pilot a program allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to purchase groceries online using their EBT card – in theory reducing the need among SNAP users to leave the safety of their homes and risk exposure to the highly contagious…
Downtown Chattahoochee streetscape set to undergo major facelift
On Tuesday, April 7, the preferred concept plan was presented to the City Council. The preferred concept is based on all community input received since inception of the project, as well as guidance from the Florida Department of Transportation, Capital Region Transportation Planning Agency (CRTPA), the Florida Dept. of State’s Division of Historical Resources, and…
Shiny new Chromebooks facilitate bright futures for homebound students
Gadsden County Public Schools’ new distance learning initiative is getting a powerful, chrome-plated boost this week in the form of 1,000 shiny new laptop computers earmarked for local students. At a time when students are homebound due to state-mandated school closures, barred from assembling in classrooms for face-to-face instruction, Gadsden County, like much of the…
New COVID-19 call center in Gadsden County
With the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Gadsden County more than doubling over the past week, local emergency officials report that they are fielding a rapidly increasing number of phone calls from concerned citizens, as well. In response, Gadsden County Emergency Management is partnering with the sheriff’s office and Florida Department of Health Gadsden…
“14 lonely days in a sick L.A. haze…”
Confirmed coronavirus-positive and stuck in Los Angeles, Gadsden County native son checks in with hometown from quarantine; urges locals to “take this disease seriously.” Upon receiving word that one of Gadsden County’s own had tested positive for coronavirus while out-of-state and far from friends, family and the comforts of home, Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young decided to try and…