If you’ve been driving around the Ken-Tenn area, you’ve probably seen teddy bears or stuffed animals in house windows or outside on front porches.

The “bear hunts,” as they’ve been called, are a way for communities to get involved and help keep citizens entertained while self-distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, there’s a different activity that’s begun that a Thunderbolt Radio listener thought would be nice for the local area.

Residents in Paris and Henry County have begun ringing bells and chimes at 7:00 every night as a sign of hope, prayer, and unity during the pandemic.

The listener challenged our news departments to get the word out in hopes of getting it started in Weakley and Obion Counties and beyond.

All non-essential businesses in Tennessee are closing for the next two weeks after Governor Bill Lee issued a stay-at-home order Monday to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

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Governor Lee also announced the closing of all non-essential businesses including personal appearance businesses, such as barbershops, hair and nail salons, retail with no exclusive delivery or curbside pickup, entertainment and recreational facilities, such as bowling alleys and skating rinks, arts and crafts businesses, gyms, movie theaters, shopping malls, golf courses, dance schools, and private clubs.

The order is in effect until April 14th.

The Tennessee Department of Health reported 1,834 cases of COVID-19 Monday afternoon and 13 deaths.

There have been 148 individuals hospitalized with the virus.

Shelby County has the highest number of cases in the state with 396, while Davidson County’s case count is up to 364.

Locally, Carroll and Gibson Counties are reporting five cases each, Benton and Dyer Counties have three, with Henry, Obion, and Weakley Counties reporting one case each.

The highest number of cases continues to be in the 21-30 age group with 462, followed by the 41-50 age group with 299, and the 31-40 age group with 286 cases.

Weakley County Schools Director Randy Frazier announced Monday that the district will continue to follow the latest social distancing guidelines and, therefore, extend school closures until April 30.

“Safety must be a priority for us,” noted Frazier after receiving word of the national recommendation. “We will continue our meal distribution, and this week we will be rolling out our instructional suggestions, and we will do it all as safely as possible.”

Last week meals went to the highest number of students to date – 1,453.

Weakley County Nutrition staff along with administrators, teachers and school staff are at 13 locations throughout the county from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday and Sunday meals are included in Friday’s distribution.

On Thursday, students will receive a page of instructional suggestions for continued learning engagement.

“We want our students and parents to know that even though we are not in a classroom, students can continue to learn. We are offering suggestions to encourage structure to days that may already be showing signs of ‘cabin fever,’” Frazier pointed out. “But these ideas are not for grades.

“We want to underscore what the Tennessee General Assembly has stated — the closure will not negatively affect students who were on track prior to the closure,” he added.

The handout is to ensure that all students will receive some assistance in their continued learning. Teachers are making calls this week to their students asking about accessibility to the internet and to WLJT and the PBS programming. The PBS programming is currently in development with the Tennessee Department of Education and is scheduled to begin from 10 a.m. to noon weekdays on April 6.

Also, by Friday, Weakley County Schools’ website will add a section at weakleyschools.com offering additional links for those who want to take the suggestions from the handout further.

Beginning immediately, the City of Dresden is implementing a mandatory curfew from dusk to dawn to fight the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Dresden Mayor Jeff Washburn tells Thunderbolt Radio News…

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Mayor Washburn adds that implementing a city-wide curfew was not an easy decision to make.

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Washburn says the Dresden Police Department will be enforcing the curfew.

Along with the curfew, the City of Dresden is closing all city parks and activities at Wilson Park will be prohibited.

The Walking Trail will remain open to pedestrian traffic, but persons will be required to maintain a separation of six feet and use other social distancing guidelines from the CDC.

The City of Dresden is implementing a curfew and other mandatory social distancing measures to address the continued spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Dresden.

The following is a statement from the City of Dresden:

Today, Monday, March 30, Mayor Jeff Washburn announced additional measures to disrupt the spread of the virus within the city. These measures include the implementation of a curfew in the City of Dresden from dusk to dawn each day until further notice. The curfew will be applicable to vehicular traffic, pedestrians walking upon the streets and sidewalks in the city, and use of all city owned facilities that are not otherwise closed. Exceptions to the curfew will be persons transiting by vehicles through the City of Dresden, individuals driving or walking to a place of employment, and persons enroute by vehicle to destinations outside the city. The Dresden Police Department will be enforcing the curfew.

All city parks within the city are as of Monday completely closed and all activities will be prohibited at Wilson Park. Traffic gates allowing traffic in the park are being closed and additional barricades put in place to limit access to the park by vehicles. The Dresden Police Department will be enforcing the park closure.

The Walking Trail will remain open to pedestrian traffic, but persons using the trail are required to maintain a minimum of six foot separation and use of other social distancing guidelines published by the CDC.

The City of Dresden encourages our most vulnerable citizens,which includes the elderly, persons with cardiac or respiratory issues, diabetics, and persons with auto-immune disorders to shelter in place at home and limit social interactions with families and friends.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Governor Bill Lee’s COVID-19 Unified Command announced the following actions taken for a COVID-19 outbreak at the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing.

Unified Command is a joint operation between the Tennessee Department of Health, Tennessee Department of Military and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.

“Unified Command has worked in partnership with the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing and local partners in testing residents, transporting the sick and further evaluating those at risk,” said Unified Command Director Stuart McWhorter. “This situation has escalated quickly and we urge nursing homes and assisted care facilities to reach out to us as soon as cases are identified within their populations.”

The following timeline outlines actions taken by the COVID-19 Unified Command. The Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing will undergo further investigation and is believed to have followed proper protocols at this time.

Sunday, March 22, 2020
Gov. Lee signs Executive Order 17 restricting outside visitors to assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Friday, March 27, 2020
The State of Tennessee, through the Unified Command of TDH, Military, and TEMA, worked with the Gallatin Center for Rehabilitation and Healing to transport 23 residents to Sumner Regional Medical Center on Friday, March 27, 2020. On short notice, the State mobilized to arrange the transport of the residents through an ambulance strike team of EMS professionals from Sumner Co., Cheatham Co., Dickson Co., First Call, and MedicOne. EMS strike team members are highly-trained for these types of emergency health situations, and stand-up quickly to provide valuable life-saving care. The health emergency at the private Gallatin facility necessitated quick decision-making on the part of State and Local emergency professionals to act for the well-being of these residents.

Saturday, March 28, 2020
More than 20 National Guard personnel onsite assisted Gallatin Center with COVID-19 testing for all residents and staff. Residents exhibiting symptoms were isolated pending results. Further guidance was issued to all nursing homes and assisted care facilities across the state, outlining reporting expectations and best practices.

Sunday, March 29, 2020
Results were returned with 59 additional residents testing positive for COVID-19. These residents are now being transported to Sumner Regional Medical Center for care. 33 members of the Gallatin Center staff have tested positive and are now isolated at home. The State of Tennessee is facilitating deep cleaning and disinfecting of the facility and providing supplemental support for residents who currently do not have COVID-19.

This is an ongoing situation and details will be provided as they are available.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools to close, courthouses to close their doors to the public, industries to reduce their workforce, and restaurants to adapt to curbside or delivery only service.

It’s what Weakley County Mayor Jake Bynum calls the “new normal.”

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In discussing the authority of issuing a “shelter in place” or mandatory closings, Bynum says…

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While the Weakley County Courthouse and other county offices are closed to the public, the county is still working and providing services.

A list of all departments, contact phone numbers, email listings and more information can be found on the county’s website at weakleycountytn.gov.