Community News
Effects of coronavirus being felt locally. ***Updated March 13***
By Dave Whitaker
Mar 12, 2020, 23:11

While there have been no confirmed positive tests for the coronavirus in Middle Georgia, its effects are being felt locally. Thursday afternoon, the GHSA announced the postponement of this weekend’s state literary championship. BCHS is region champion and will be a part of the competition once a reschedule date is announced.

Acting on remarks from Gov. Brian Kemp who said school districts should close schools for two weeks if it’s “prudent,” GHSA Executive Director Dr. Robin Hines said the organization was recommending all schools suspend spring sports for two weeks. In a statement, Hines said they could only recommend, the decision would come from local districts.

Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith said their current plan was to continue spring sports unless circumstances dictate otherwise, or the other school didn’t wish to play. He added,” That is my answer today. It might change tomorrow. Our AD (Von Lassiter) is in constant communication with other AD’s.”

Two sports have already had their weekend plans cancelled. Lowndes County cancelled this weekend’s Lowndes Invitational tennis tournament the high school teams regularly attend.

Lamar County cancelled tomorrow night’s track meet the BCHS track teams were scheduled to attend. In addition, Warner Robins High School announced the International City Relays meet scheduled for March 18 has been moved to April 7. The Fendley Relays scheduled for March 26 has been moved to April 9.

In other weekend sports news, the girls home soccer match versus Treutlen has been cancelled, the boys will play Montgomery County at 5:30 pm. Friday's Royals baseball game versus Dodge County has been postponed as a result of Dodge cancelling all athletics for two weeks. Middle school baseball Diamond Day has been cancelled.

Also, a Tweet by the district stated that parent surveys would be going home with all students tomorrow to determine who has Internet access and device access. This would be in the event school had to close.

One school will be closed to students is Middle Georgia State University. In a statement released Thursday afternoon, MGA said all campuses would “temporarily suspend instruction” starting March 14.

The statement goes on to say students currently on spring break are encouraged not to return to campus and asks those in residence halls to be out by the close of business on March 13. Campuses will remain open during the two weeks with normal business operations.

Earlier today, the Cochran Bleckley Rec. Department issued a statement regarding the coronavirus on its Facebook page. The statement asks no water bottles be kept in dugouts during practices or games. Rather, it asks parents to keep drinks with them to help keep children from drinking after one another. The gym water fountain has been turned off.

It also asks parents to encourage their children to wash their hands before and after participating in rec. department sports and to keep them home if their child has a fever or otherwise feels sick. The statement goes onto say they would follow the school district’s lead in terms of any suspending of attendance. Opening Day for spring ball is currently scheduled for March 28.

Cochran Motor Speedway said in a statement on its Facebook page that this weekend’s makeup races for the world championships would go on as scheduled. It said additional sanitation stations had been put in various places around the track and officials would be working with staff to put other precautions in place. The statement concluded by saying should conditions warrant a change of plans, they would act in the best interests of fans, staff, and drivers.

Bleckley Christian Learning Center announced the Founders' Day Celebration Hymn sing scheduled for March 19 has been postponed. The Chamber of Commerce announced the Founders' Day celebration scheduled for March 21 has been cancelled.


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