Adair County Community Voice

Without YOU We'd Be Speechless!

Headline News

New Death Reported in Adair County Saturday from COVID-19

by

While the commonwealth celebrated news that no new deaths from COVID-19 were reported on the first day of the Memorial Day weekend, Adair County got word that there was a new death Saturday, an 85-year-old female who was a resident at Signature Healthcare at Summit Manor.

The Lake Cumberland District Health Department reported the death, and local and state reports often vary depending on when the state gets official information.

The Summit Manor resident had been released from isolation and was considered negative of the coronavirus but later succumbed to lingering complications of the disease, the LCDHD reported.

Five more people were released from isolation district-wide, bringing the total of confirmed cases that have recovered to 84 percent. On Friday, the district’s report included one new confirmed case in Taylor County, a 59-year-old female, and one person released from isolation.

Fortunately, Adair County only has three current cases and all three people are self-isolated and not hospitalized. The county has suffered the greatest loss in the 10-county Lake Cumberland district, losing 19 lives, all directly or indirectly related to the nursing home. Four people have died in Russell County and two have died in Pulaski County.

According to the LCDHD, it is being reported from all around the district that there are many people out and about, a significant number of whom are not wearing masks. Don’t forget that you can have and be spreading COVID-19 without even knowing you’re sick. Avoiding crowds as much as possible is your best way to reduce your risk. Wash your hands with soap and water often and thoroughly; wear a mask when out in public; stay home if you have a fever or are coughing; increase sanitation, and avoid touching your face to further reduce your risk.

LCDHD UPDATE FOR SATURDAY, MAY, 23, 2020:

One New Coronavirus Case Reported in Adair on Thursday

by

The Lake Cumberland District Health Department reported on Thursday that a new case of the coronavirus was confirmed in Adair County. A 66-year-old male from Adair is believed to have contracted the virus in a way indirectly related to the nursing home and brings the county’s total of confirmed cases to 96.

There were no deaths reported in the district Thursday. Seven were released from home-isolation (recovered), so 82% of total confirmed cases in the district have recovered. Three other cases were reported in addition to the Adair County resident: a 60-year-old male, a 65-year-old female, and a 70-year-old male in Pulaski.

 

 

Free meal box for Adair County students

by

Adair County Board of Education still wants to provide food and nutrition to students even during this time while school is closed, so they’re announcing a new program that will deliver meals at student doorsteps for free. This program is called Meals-to-you, and it is a partnership between Adair County School District, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Baylor University. Student(s) enrolled at Adair County Schools are eligible to participate in the program.

When a family signs up to get a Meals-to-you, every other week they’ll get a Meals-to-You box delivered to their home for each child 1-18 in the household. Each box will include 10 breakfasts and 10 lunches/suppers—enough food for each kid for two weeks.

All foods are shelf stable, which means there’s no worry about them expiring anytime soon. With Meals-to-you, kid-friendly meals are delivered—for FREE–directly to doors, eliminating worry about extra trips to the grocery store, money spent on food and time planning meals your kids will like.

 

If you no one is home when the box is delivered, no worries. The boxes are packed for security, and because the food is shelf stable, the foods don’t have to be refrigerated immediately. If no one is able to pick up their box(es) on a given day, a neighbor or family get it. Receiving this benefit will NOT affect any other existing benefits.

HOW TO SIGN UP: Fill out an online sign-up form and submit it as soon as possible. Access the online form by clicking this link:

https://mealstoyou.org/emergency-meals-to-you-application/.

Enrollment dates are May 26 through May 29. You must enroll online during this time period to receive the meals.

Boxes will be provided on a first come, first served basis, so sign up today. For questions or more information, please contact Adair County Board of Education at 270-384-2476, ext. 2003 or 2004. Also visit www.mealstoyou.org

Board approves water, sewer rate increases

by

All sewer customers and 80 percent of the county’s water customers will experience a rate increase soon, with water rates for some people increasing by more than 20 percent.
The Columbia Adair County Utility District board of directors approved the rate increases during a teleconference meeting last Thursday. All members took part in the conference call and supported the increase.
The district will implement the new rates as funding is approved for several proposed new projects and could be in effect by Aug. 1.

A total of 1,555 of the district’s 8,060 water customers use less than 1,000 gallons of water and will not see a change in their bill. Board member Richard Grant said the board wanted to set new rates that would not negatively impact individuals who live on a fixed income.
Currently, residential water bills are set at a minimum bill of $19.90 for the use of up to 2,000 gallons of water. The next 3,000 gallons are set at $7 per 1,000 gallons, followed by 5,000 gallons at $6.25, the next 15,000 gallons at $5.20 and over 25,000 gallons at $4.45 per 1,000 gallons. These rates apply to customers with a 5/8 x 3/4 inch meter, which applies to most residents.

Under the new rate structure, the minimum bill is set at $19.90 but usage is reduced to 1,000 gallons. For the next 4,000 gallons, the cost is an additional $7 per 1,000 gallons. The remaining rates stay the same.
Larger customers on a 1 inch meter will see the rate for the first 5,000 gallons increase from $40.90 to a $47.90 minimum bill. Rates for greater usage remain the same.
Overall, the rate is a 20.7 percent increase for a customer using 4,000 gallons of water.
Rates for the county’s 1,744 sewer customers will increase by almost 39 percent, with the minimum bill increasing from $5 to $7. Per gallon rate increases from $5.20 to $7.20 per 1,000 gallons.

The district expects to see an increase of $612,000 annually from the increased water rates and another $300,000 in increased revenue from the wastewater rate increase.
The district must receive approval from PSC for the rate increases, which are also tied into an application process for a $2.6 million project. The board approved several steps required to receive $1,945,000 as a USDA Rural Development loan and another $647,930 in grant funding for the project.

The project includes several improvements or expansions. The funds will be used to add an 8-inch waterline on the bypass between Burkesville Road and Jamestown Street, to replace a 6-inch line to repair leaks in the Shepherd and Little Cake areas, to add new waterlines in the Montpelier, White Oak areas, which would add from 20 to 40 new customers, to replace a countywide telemetry system, and to make improvements to the sewer system.
While the rate increase is required by USDA Rural Development to balance the budget before approving the new project, district manager Lenny Stone told the board that rates would need to be changed even without the new project.

“Our rates have not been adjusted since 2012. This is something we’ve got to do,” he said. He provided board members with a comparison of rates at other utility districts, with some higher and some lower than Adair County’s rates.
Also during last week’s teleconference meeting, the board accepted a petition for a request to add a main waterline on Tree Top Lane. Houses on the road do have water access but they are joined by service lines. Stone said there is a leak in the area but the area is solid rock and the project could not be completed in-house. Accepting the petition makes it possible to add the addition to future projects should the board choose to do so but does not approve any action.

Wid Harris is chairman of the board. Other board members are Doug Sapp, Junior Brown, Richard Grant and David Jones.

By Sharon Burton
snburton@adairvoice.com

 

Drive Through Testing for COVID-19 Available Today

by

5/21/20

Cumberland Family Medical Center, Inc. will provide drive-through testing for COVID-19 on Thursday, May 21 from 10 AM – 2 PM. Testing will be conducted from your car at the Pinewood Shopping Center in front of the First Choice Immediate Care Clinic.

Testing is open to anyone who wishes to have the test done regardless of symptoms or exposure. Although not required, those wishing to expedite the testing process may pre-register by calling the DrOnCall service at 270-384-9981 at least one hour prior to arriving at the test site. Results will be available within 48 hours following the test.

“Cumberland Family Medical is happy to provide this service to the residents of Adair and surrounding counties. It’s a quick process and may provide peace of mind for those who may not have had access to testing before,” stated Dr. Eric Loy, CEO of Cumberland Family Medical Center. “Medical providers will be on site to answer questions and make sure your test is completed properly, safely, and with full HIPAA compliance.”