washingtontimes--2020-11-07--The Latest: Malaysia’s coronavirus cases triple in month

BALTIMORE - The United States set a record of more than 126,400 confirmed cases in a single day on Friday .
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases in the U.S. is approaching 100,000 for the first time , according to data from Johns Hopkins University .
Total U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic are nearing 10 million , and confirmed cases globally are approaching 50 million .
Worldwide infection numbers are also setting records .
The world reached 400,000 daily confirmed cases on Oct. 15 ; 500,000 on Oct. 26 , and 600,000 on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the U.S. rose in the past two weeks from 772 on Oct. 23 to 911 on Friday .
Those numbers were higher in the spring and August .
The global death toll hit a daily record of 11,024 confirmed deaths on Wednesday .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : - Germany reports daily record of more than 23,000 virus cases - Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows diagnosed with the coronavirus HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been diagnosed with the coronavirus as the nation sets daily records for confirmed cases for the pandemic .
Two senior administration officials confirmed Meadows tested positive for the virus , which has killed more than 236,000 Americans so far this year .
Meadows traveled with Trump in the run-up to Election Day and last appeared in public early Wednesday morning without a mask as Trump falsely declared victory in the vote count .
He had been one of the close aides around Trump when the president came down with the virus more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases in the U.S. have increased more than 50 % in the past two weeks , the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rose from 61,166 on Oct. 22 to 94,625 on Thursday , according to an AP analysis of data from John Hopkins University .
KUALA LUMPUR , Malaysia - Malaysia ’ s government says it will expand movement restrictions to most parts of the country after coronavirus cases tripled in a month .
Another 1,168 new cases were reported Saturday , bringing the total tally to 39,357 — compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The death toll stands at 282 .
Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the entire peninsula Malaysia , except for three states , will be placed under a conditional movement control order from Monday until Dec. 6 .
He says the move will help curb the virus spread and allow targeted screening to be done .
The restrictions have been imposed since Oct. 14 in Kuala Lumpur , the administrative capital Putrajaya and the richest state of Selangor .
TEHRAN , Iran - Iran has reported 9,460 cases of the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The health ministry registered 423 deaths on Saturday , pushing its confirmed death toll to 37,832 , the highest in the Middle East .
Iran has seen a recent surge of infections as the government resists a centralized lockdown to salvage its sanctions-hit economy .
However , authorities have recently tightened movement restrictions and introduced travel bans and mask mandates as hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran near overwhelming numbers of patients .
Iran ’ s medical council announced Saturday that 300 health workers had died from the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday confirmed a new case of local transmission of the coronavirus , one of a handful discovered in recent months .
The Department of Disease Control identified the new case as a 37-year-old Indian man working as a waiter in the southern province of Krabi .
It says he tested positive for the disease when he applied Wednesday to have his work permit renewed .
Krabi is a province on the Andaman Sea and normally popular with tourists , though Thailand was completely shut to foreign tourists from early April until last month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 new cases of coronavirus , including the Indian man .
Two each had traveled from France , the United Arab Emirates , the United States and Myanmar , and one each from Mexico , Switzerland and the Netherlands .
All arrivals from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days .
Thailand has confirmed a total of 3,830 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths since January .
The Robert Koch Institute says that surpassed the record of 21,506 set the day before , which was the first time the country had registered more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths , a number trending upward but far lower than the high of 315 deaths reported one day in April .
Germany has imposed significant new restrictions to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed .
A four-week partial shutdown took effect on Monday , with bars , restaurants , leisure and sports facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed .
Shops and schools remain open .
Germany has recorded 642,488 coronavirus cases and 11,226 deaths since the start of the pandemic .
The national coronavirus task force says 364 people died on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the start of the pandemic .
It says 20,396 new infection cases were recorded , down slightly from Thursday ’ s record of 20,582 .
Overall , some 1.75 million people in Russia have been infected with the virus .
AUSTIN , Texas - A Texas district judge on Friday upheld an order from El Paso County ’ s top elected official shutting down businesses while the region fights an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases .
The decision from Judge Bill Moody of El Paso ’ s 34th District Court came as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ border region at the request of the state .
The county ’ s top elected official , El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego , ordered a two-week shutdown of nonessential activities late last week .
In making his decision , Moody pointed out that during the Spanish flu pandemic in the early part of the 20th century , city and county elected officials had authority to respond as they “ thought was necessary to protect the health and financial interests of their individual communities.
” Chris Hilton , an attorney with the Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state would appeal .
Attorney General Ken Paxton has argued that Samaniego ’ s order is illegal because it goes against Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ’ s statewide order to reopen businesses .
Meanwhile , three Air Force medical teams were expected to arrive in El Paso by the weekend , according to Seth Christensen , chief of media and communications for the Texas Department of Emergency Management .
El Paso joins a list of 10 other cities , including Houston , San Antonio and multiple communities in the Rio Grande @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Defense at the request of Texas officials , Christensen said .
CHICAGO - Faced with 20,000 new cases of coronavirus illness in the last two days , a stay-at-home order is possible if the spread is not slowed , Illinois Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said Friday just before his office announced that he was self-isolating after he had been exposed to the virus .
With a record 10,374 new infections reported Friday , and the 10,000-death mark passed this week , Pritzker was asked if he would order people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Illinois and many other states during the spring onslaught of COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re in a bad situation ( but ) I ’ m not looking at the broader mitigation of stay-at-home … as in something I would do in the coming days or a week .
But I can ’ t guarantee you what it looks like two weeks from now or three weeks , ” he said .
“ I just don ’ t know.
” About an hour after his daily COVID-19 briefing , Pritzker ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after learning that an infected person attended a meeting with Pritzker last Monday .
He is awaiting test results .
It is the third time during the pandemic that Pritzker has been exposed to the virus - twice previously it was the result of a staff member getting sick .
CHARLESTON , W.Va. - West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice said he and his staff tested negative for the coronavirus after a staffer in the Capitol building tested positive on Friday morning .
The attorney general ’ s office later said the employee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday evening .
Justice says he was tested for the virus minutes before a noon news conference Friday , where he announced a record high of new cases .
The state reported 540 confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours .
The employee who initially tested positive Friday morning works for the attorney general , said Curtis Johnson , a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Morrisey .
But after testing staff and the individual again Friday evening , “ all of our tests came back negative , ” Johnson later told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking appropriate precautions that include testing to ensure the safety of not only its employees , but all of those in the Capitol building and the surrounding community , ” Johnson had said Friday afternoon after the positive test .
The governor ’ s office declined to say exactly how many people were tested and whether anyone will consider quarantining .
FRANKFORT , Ky. - Kentucky reported 2,302 new coronavirus cases and 10 more virus-related deaths Friday .
More than 1,000 people remain hospitalized with the virus .
Democratic Gov .
Andy Beshear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classified as “ red zone ” counties to follow the state ’ s emergency recommendations .
In last week ’ s report , 68 Kentucky counties were on the red-zone list , due to the high prevalence of cases .
“ I know we ’ ve been in this fight for so long that it ’ s easy to get numb to the scary headlines and high case numbers , ” Beshear said .
” That ’ s normal .
It ’ s human nature .
But you have to understand this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the commonwealth and it is leading to more of our fellow Kentuckians becoming sick , being hospitalized and dying.
” The state ’ s test positivity rate Friday reached 6.77 % , the highest since June .
ANCHORAGE , Alaska — Officials in Anchorage plan to boost enforcement of an expanded mask mandate and restrict indoor gathering sizes in a bid to curb coronavirus cases .
The updated mask mandate , which takes effect Monday , requires masks to be worn , with some exceptions , in indoor public settings or communal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members is not possible .
Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson says the revision will get rid of loopholes in the order that has been in effect .
She says the municipality plans to bolster its enforcement efforts in response to concerns from the business community .
TOPEKA , Kan. - Kansas added a record-setting 5,418 new coronavirus cases over two days as hospitals warned that staffing was under strain .
The increases in confirmed and probable cases reported Friday brought the state ’ s total to 97,633 , a 5.9 % increase from Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health and Environment shows that state averaged 1,779 new cases a day for the seven days ending Friday .
The state also added 79 COVID-19 deaths to bring the total to 1,166 .
Deaths have more than doubled since mid-September .
State health department head Dr. Lee Norman says cases “ are just skyrocketing ” because people are spending more time indoors and attending public events and family gatherings without being diligent about wearing masks or social distancing .
He says he ’ s concerned cases will spike again from family Thanksgiving get-togethers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ haven ’ t done anything ” to check the surge .

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska on Saturday reported hitting a daily record in new coronavirus cases.
The state reported 604 cases, the highest in a single day since Oct. 25, when 526 cases were tallied, the Anchorage Daily News reported.
The Department of Health and Social Services says there were no new deaths from the virus. The state has had 19,306 cases and 79 deaths since the coronavirus hit.
The Daily News reports that 95 people were currently hospitalized with the virus in Alaska as of Saturday, slightly down from Friday’s record of 97 hospitalizations. Another 10 hospital patients were suspected of having COVID-19, according to state data.
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HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
- Biden wins White House, vowing new direction for divided US
- Italy hits record 39,800 daily coronavirus cases
- Germany reports daily record of more than 23,000 virus cases
- North Dakota, South Dakota have nation’s worst virus deaths per capita in last 30 days
- Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows diagnosed with the coronavirus
- Books? Hairdressers? Europeans split on lockdown essentials
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- Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/virus-outbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SANTA FE, N.M. - New Mexico on Saturday for the second day in a row reported nearly 1,300 additional COVID-19 cases and 16 additional deaths.
Officials say there are 1,287 additional cases, a one-day record that was the same number reported Friday. But officials on Saturday also said that 10 of the cases reported Friday had turned out to be duplicates or not lab-confirmed. With those adjustments and the latest reported cases, the statewide case total reached 53,671 with 1,104 deaths.
State officials warned Thursday that new records would be set over the coming weeks as the rate of spread remains high.
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WICHITA, Kan. - A council member in Kansas’ largest city has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the mayor and other council members to quarantine for about two weeks.
Wichita announced Council Member Brandon Johnson’s positive result Saturday in a tweet. The city says Mayor Brandon Whipple, members of the City Council and some staff, including city manager Robert Layton, must temporarily stay away from city hall.
“The City continues to strongly urge all Wichita residents and City employees to practice safe social distancing whenever possible, to wear face masks when distancing isn’t possible, limit public exposure and to wash hands frequently,” the City of Wichita tweeted.
The Wichita Eagle reports that Johnson said he had a cough Thursday that worsened Friday, so he went to be tested. He received his results Saturday morning.
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CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada has reported a record number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the second day in row. State officials on Saturday reported 1,846 additional cases with five additional deaths.
The state reported 1,562 new cases on Friday. The state’s totals increased to 108,746 cases and 1,850 deaths. State COVID-19 response Director Caleb Cage said Friday the case increase in Nevada is a surge in cases.
According to Johns Hopkins University data analyzed by The Associated Press, seven-day rolling averages for daily new cases and daily new deaths in Nevada increased over the last two weeks as the average for COVID-19 testing positivity dropped.
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HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating reports that a circuit court judge is endangering the health of workers and jurors by ignoring a statewide mask mandate in his courtroom.
The Oregonian/OregonianLive reports in a story on Saturday that Washington County Circuit Judge Charles Bailey describes the mask mandate as a “nanny state” requirement. He doesn’t wear a face covering and isn’t requiring others to do so in his Hillsboro courtroom. Bailey told attorneys and jurors in the Oct. 29 recording of the proceedings that it was up to them whether they wanted to wear a mask. The incident occurred as coronavirus infections surge in the state.
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OKLAHOMA CITY — The number of newly reported coronavirus cases in Oklahoma on Saturday more than doubled the previous one-day record, but the state Department of Health said a bureaucratic backlog and duplicate reporting partially account for the steep increase.
There were 4,741 new cases, bringing the total to 136,492 since the pandemic began, the department said. The previous one-day record of 2,101 new cases was recorded Thursday as cases in the state have surged in recent weeks.
“We have reason to believe that our normal case count would have continued on an upward trajectory without the backlog and duplication,” which is due to a transition from a manual to electronic reporting system, according to a health department statement. Officials said they were not sure how many cases were recorded twice but were investigating.
In a statement, Gov. Kevin Stitt, called on residents to wash hands often, socially distance and voluntarily wear masks at indoor public places.
“Oklahomans pulled together back in April so we could safely reopen our economy, and I am asking for that same unified effort once again to slow the spread of this virus and keep Oklahomans safe,” Stitt said.
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MILAN – Italy registered a record 39,811 daily confirmed coronavirus cases on Saturday.
That tops the 37,809 cases on Friday. In Lombardy, one quarter of the coronavirus tests came back positive for a daily total of nearly 11,500.
Lombardy is one of four regions designated a “red zone,” with a partial lockdown in effect since Friday.
Hospitalizations continue to rise, with 1,104 more people hospitalized on Saturday and 119 more in intensive care.
There are more than 862,000 total confirmed cases in Italy. Deaths nationwide rose by 425 for a confirmed total of 41,063, sixth highest in the world.
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NEW DELHI - India reported 50,356 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, while cases in New Delhi surpassed 7,000 on Saturday.
The country has seen an overall steady dip in positive cases after reaching nearly 100,000 a day in mid-September.
The government warned that the situation can worsen due to people crowding markets for festival shopping and high air pollution levels in the capital.
India’s confirmed cases exceeds 8.4 million, the second highest in the world behind the United States. The Health Ministry reported 577 deaths on Saturday, increasing the total confirmed death toll to 125,562.
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OMAHA, Neb. - Nebraska reported a record 2,681 coronavirus cases and a record 748 people in the hospital.
The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Nebraska has increased in the past two weeks from 836 cases on Oct. 23 to 1,408 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The state’s rate of coronavirus cases is the seventh highest in the nation.
The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services says nine staff members tested positive, bringing the confirmed total of 225 staff members.
Nebraska has a total of 80,693 confirmed cases. The state added 27 deaths Friday, bringing the total to 701.
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ATHENS, Greece - Health authorities registered 2,556 new coronavirus cases and a record 34 deaths on Saturday.
Greece has gone into a second nation-wide lockdown after a recent spike in cases.
All retail stores except those selling essential items such as food, medication and fuel have been shut. Travel inside the country is severely restricted.
Greece has a total of 54,809 confirmed cases and 749 deaths.
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HONOLULU - Hawaii public health officials reported 122 coronavirus cases and no deaths on Friday.
Oahu moved on Oct. 22 to the less-restrictive Tier 2 of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s four-tier economic recovery plan and must stay there for at least four weeks.
To move to Tier 3, Oahu must maintain a seven-day average of 49 cases or fewer and a seven-day average positivity rate of 2.49% or lower for two weeks.
The seven-day average cases reached 73 cases on Friday, with a positivity rate for Oahu at 3%.
Hawaii’s totals stand at 15,691 confirmed cases and 219 deaths.
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BALTIMORE - The United States set a record of more than 126,400 confirmed cases in a single day on Friday.
The seven-day rolling average of new daily cases in the U.S. is approaching 100,000 for the first time, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Total U.S. cases since the start of the pandemic are nearing 10 million, and confirmed cases globally are approaching 50 million.
Worldwide infection numbers are also setting records. The world reached 400,000 daily confirmed cases on Oct. 15; 500,000 on Oct. 26, and 600,000 on Friday.
The seven-day rolling average for daily deaths in the U.S. rose in the past two weeks from 772 on Oct. 23 to 911 on Friday. Those numbers were higher in the spring and August.
The global death toll hit a daily record of 11,024 confirmed deaths on Wednesday.
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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows has been diagnosed with the coronavirus as the nation sets daily records for confirmed cases for the pandemic.
Two senior administration officials confirmed Meadows tested positive for the virus, which has killed more than 236,000 Americans so far this year. Meadows traveled with Trump in the run-up to Election Day and last appeared in public early Wednesday morning without a mask as Trump falsely declared victory in the vote count.
He had been one of the close aides around Trump when the president came down with the virus more than a month ago.
The number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. have increased more than 50% in the past two weeks, the seven-day rolling average for daily new cases rose from 61,166 on Oct. 22 to 94,625 on Thursday, according to an AP analysis of data from John Hopkins University.
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KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Malaysia’s government says it will expand movement restrictions to most parts of the country after coronavirus cases tripled in a month. Another 1,168 new cases were reported Saturday, bringing the total tally to 39,357 — compared to just 13,993 cases a month ago. The death toll stands at 282.
Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob says the entire peninsula Malaysia, except for three states, will be placed under a conditional movement control order from Monday until Dec. 6. He says the move will help curb the virus spread and allow targeted screening to be done.
The restrictions have been imposed since Oct. 14 in Kuala Lumpur, the administrative capital Putrajaya and the richest state of Selangor.
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TEHRAN, Iran - Iran has reported 9,460 cases of the coronavirus, breaking its previous single-day record earlier this week.
The health ministry registered 423 deaths on Saturday, pushing its confirmed death toll to 37,832, the highest in the Middle East.
Iran has seen a recent surge of infections as the government resists a centralized lockdown to salvage its sanctions-hit economy. However, authorities have recently tightened movement restrictions and introduced travel bans and mask mandates as hospitals in the hard-hit capital of Tehran near overwhelming numbers of patients.
Iran’s medical council announced Saturday that 300 health workers had died from the virus.
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BANGKOK - Health authorities in Thailand on Saturday confirmed a new case of local transmission of the coronavirus, one of a handful discovered in recent months.
The Department of Disease Control identified the new case as a 37-year-old Indian man working as a waiter in the southern province of Krabi. It says he tested positive for the disease when he applied Wednesday to have his work permit renewed.
Krabi is a province on the Andaman Sea and normally popular with tourists, though Thailand was completely shut to foreign tourists from early April until last month.
The health agency says it confirmed 12 new cases of coronavirus, including the Indian man. Two each had traveled from France, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and Myanmar, and one each from Mexico, Switzerland and the Netherlands. All arrivals from abroad must be quarantined for 14 days.
Thailand has confirmed a total of 3,830 coronavirus cases and 60 deaths since January.
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BERLIN - Germany’s disease control center is reporting a daily record of 23,300 coronavirus infections.
The Robert Koch Institute says that surpassed the record of 21,506 set the day before, which was the first time the country had registered more than 20,000 daily cases.
It reported 130 deaths, a number trending upward but far lower than the high of 315 deaths reported one day in April.
Germany has imposed significant new restrictions to prevent the health system from being overwhelmed. A four-week partial shutdown took effect on Monday, with bars, restaurants, leisure and sports facilities closed and new contact restrictions imposed. Shops and schools remain open.
Germany has recorded 642,488 coronavirus cases and 11,226 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
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MOSCOW - Russia reports the coronavirus death toll has exceeded 30,000.
The national coronavirus task force says 364 people died on Friday, bringing the total to 30,251 since the start of the pandemic.
It says 20,396 new infection cases were recorded, down slightly from Thursday’s record of 20,582. Overall, some 1.75 million people in Russia have been infected with the virus.
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AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas district judge on Friday upheld an order from El Paso County’s top elected official shutting down businesses while the region fights an alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.
The decision from Judge Bill Moody of El Paso’s 34th District Court came as federal military medical teams deployed to the border region at the request of the state.
The county’s top elected official, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, ordered a two-week shutdown of nonessential activities late last week.
In making his decision, Moody pointed out that during the Spanish flu pandemic in the early part of the 20th century, city and county elected officials had authority to respond as they “thought was necessary to protect the health and financial interests of their individual communities.”
Chris Hilton, an attorney with the Texas attorney general’s office, said the state would appeal. Attorney General Ken Paxton has argued that Samaniego’s order is illegal because it goes against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s statewide order to reopen businesses.
Meanwhile, three Air Force medical teams were expected to arrive in El Paso by the weekend, according to Seth Christensen, chief of media and communications for the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
El Paso joins a list of 10 other cities, including Houston, San Antonio and multiple communities in the Rio Grande Valley region, to receive aid from the Department of Defense at the request of Texas officials, Christensen said.
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washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Ethiopia aims to remove leadership of defiant Tigray region

NAIROBI , Kenya ( AP ) - Ethiopia moved Saturday to replace the leadership in the country ’ s northern Tigray region , where clashes between regional forces and those of the federal government have led to fears that a major African power could slide into civil war .
Neither side appeared to welcome the dialogue that experts say is needed to avert disaster .
The vote by the upper house of parliament , the House of Federation , to set up an interim administration needs no further approval , and it gives Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership his government regards as illegal .
Ethiopia ’ s federal government said the interim administration will “ appoint officials , ensure the respect for rule of law , approve the region ’ s budget and facilitate the process of conducting elections.
” In a new statement Saturday , the Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister asserted that “ criminal elements can not escape the rule of law under the guise of seeking reconciliation and a call for dialogue.
” Experts and diplomats are watching in dismay as two heavily armed forces clash in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategic yet vulnerable regions , the Horn of Africa .
Observers warn that a civil war in Ethiopia , Africa ’ s second most populous country with 110 million people , could suck in or destabilize neighbors such as Sudan , Eritrea and Somalia .
A statement posted Saturday on the Facebook page of the Tigray government , the Tigray People ’ s Liberation Front , said it will win the “ justified ” war , and added that “ a fighter will not negotiate with its enemies.
” “ Tigray ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that could reach the seat of the infidels , ” it added , an apparent reference to Ethiopia ‘ s capital , Addis Ababa .
There was no reference to Saturday ’ s move by the federal government .
The conflict in Tigray is playing out between former allies in Ethiopia ‘ s ruling coalition who now see each other as illegal .
The TPLF long dominated the country ’ s military and government before Abiy took office in 2018 and introduced sweeping political reforms that won him the Nobel .
Those change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it broke away last year when Abiy sought to turn the coalition into a single Prosperity Party .
Tensions rose in recent weeks as the Tigray region , objecting to the delay of the national election until next year and Abiy ’ s extended stay in office , held a local election in September that the federal government called illegal .
The fighting began early Wednesday when Abiy accused the TPLF forces of attacking a military base in Tigray .
In a major escalation on Friday , Abiy announced that airstrikes in multiple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroyed rockets and other heavy weapons ” and made a retaliatory attack impossible .
The military operations will continue , the prime minister said , and he warned the Tigray population : ” In order to avoid unexpected peril , I advise that you limit group movements in cities.
” Communications remain almost completely severed with the Tigray region , making it difficult to verify either side ’ s assertions and leading to pleas from aid groups and human rights groups to restore internet and phone links .
They also warn of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which experts warn is likely if the two sides reject talks .
Tigray is increasingly boxed in by Ethiopian federal forces and a six-month state of emergency imposed by the federal government that sharply curbs public gatherings and movement .
“ If they come under pressure from the south , from Abiy Ahmed ’ s federal forces , then ( the TPLF ) may decide to make a strategic retreat or even punch into Eritrea , which would then internationalize this conflict , ” Dino Mahtani with the International Crisis Group said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Eritrea have a bitter history of a long border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea before the countries made peace in 2018 .
The TPLF ’ s only other real avenue out of Ethiopia is into Sudan , which finds itself “ in a very delicate position , ” Mahtani said .
Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has spoken by phone with a worried United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres , the U.N. said Friday .
Sudan ’ s eastern al-Qadarif province has closed its border with Ethiopia ’ s Tigray and Amhara regions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Tigray drama dominates conversation in Ethiopia , and many people commenting on social media appear to support the government ’ s move to get rid of the region ’ s leadership .
Some cite abuses by the TPLF while it was in power for well over two decades , or echo the federal government ’ s accusation that it incited recent violence across the country .
Those sympathetic to the TPLF are mostly silenced due to the communications blackout in Tigray , but those able to comment describe the federal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will lead to further escalation of the conflict .
Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia , and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed .

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - Ethiopia moved Saturday to replace the leadership of the country’s defiant northern Tigray region, where deadly clashes between regional and federal government forces are fueling fears the major African power is sliding into civil war. Tigray’s leader told the African Union that the federal government was planning a “full-fledged military offensive.”
Neither side appeared ready for the dialogue that experts say is needed to avert disaster in one of the world’s most strategic yet vulnerable regions, the Horn of Africa.
The upper house of parliament, the House of Federation, voted to set up an interim administration, giving Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed the power to carry out measures against a Tigray leadership his government regards as illegal. They include appointing officials and facilitating elections.
The prime minister, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, asserted that “criminal elements cannot escape the rule of law under the guise of seeking reconciliation and a call for dialogue.”
Experts and diplomats are watching in dismay as the two heavily armed forces clash. Observers warn that a civil war in Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country with 110 million people, could suck in or destabilize neighbors such as Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.
“It’s a very, very bad situation,” Audrey Van der Schoot, head of mission for aid group Doctors Without Borders in Ethiopia, told The Associated Press. Heavy shelling resumed Saturday morning, for the first time since Wednesday, near the group’s outpost in the Amhara region by the Tigray border. It was so close, Van der Schoot could hear it over the phone.
The clinic has seen six dead so far and some 60 wounded, all combatants from Tigray and Amhara, she said, adding that shelling came from both sides.
A statement posted Saturday on the Facebook page of the Tigray government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, asserted that it will win the “justified” war, adding that “a fighter will not negotiate with its enemies.”
In a letter to the AU chairman, South Africa’s president, Tigray leader Debretsion Gebremichael alleged that Ethiopia’s federal government and neighboring Eritrea have mobilized their forces near the Tigray border “with the intention of launching a full-fledged military offensive.”
The letter dated Friday, seen by The Associated Press, called Abiy’s behavior “unconstitutional, dictatorial and treasonous.” It said the African Union was well-placed to bring parties to dialogue to “avert an all-out civil war.”
The conflict is playing out between former allies in Ethiopia’s ruling coalition who now regard each other as illegal. The TPLF long dominated the country’s military and government before Abiy took office in 2018 and introduced sweeping political reforms that won him the Nobel. The changes left the TPLF feeling marginalized, and it broke away last year when Abiy sought to turn the coalition into a single Prosperity Party.
Clashes began early Wednesday when Abiy accused the TPLF forces of attacking a military base in Tigray. In a major escalation Friday, Abiy asserted that airstrikes in multiple locations around the Tigray capital “completely destroyed rockets and other heavy weapons.”
The military operations will continue, the prime minister said, and he warned the Tigray population: ”In order to avoid unexpected peril, I advise that you limit group movements in cities.”
Tigray is preparing for a “major offensive to come tomorrow or the day after from the federal government,” Kjetil Tronvoll, a professor at Bjorknes University College in Norway and a longtime Ethiopia watcher, told the AP. “That’s my estimate. Abiy has promised a quick delivery of victory, so he has to move fast.”
Ethiopia’s decision to replace the Tigray leadership leaves the region with essentially two options, he said: pursuing a “full-out war” with the aim of toppling Abiy’s government or declaring independence.
Encircled, the TPLF can’t afford a drawn-out conflict and might fight its way to the capital, Addis Ababa, or toward the Red Sea for an outlet, Tronvoll said.
He described one published estimate of Tigray having nearly a quarter-million various armed forces a “serious underestimate” and said they outnumber the federal army “by at least two or three multiples.” Addis Ababa has called for reinforcements from other regional forces, he said.
Communications remain almost completely severed with Tigray, making it difficult to verify the rivals’ assertions and leading aid groups and human rights groups to warn of a brewing humanitarian disaster.
A new United Nations assessment lists eight “recent military confrontations” across Tigray, most near its southern border with the Amhara region. The blockage of air and road networks significantly affects aid to more than a half-million people, the assessment said, and an escalation of fighting could “seriously increase” that number and send millions fleeing.
What’s more, “there is a concern that the vacuum left by security forces re-deployed from other critical areas may incite more ethnic violence including attacks on ethnic minorities” in other parts of Ethiopia, the U.N. report said.
Dino Mahtani with the International Crisis Group, in comments posted Friday, said that if the Tigray forces come under pressure they may “punch into Eritrea, which would then internationalize this conflict.” The TPLF and Eritrea have a bitter history of a long border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea before the countries made peace in 2018.
The TPLF’s only other real avenue out of Ethiopia is Sudan, which finds itself “in a very delicate position,” Mahtani said.
Sudan’s eastern al-Qadarif province has closed its border with Ethiopia’s Tigray and Amhara regions, the Sudan News Agency reported Saturday.
The Tigray drama dominates conversation in Ethiopia, and many people commenting on social media appear to support the government’s move to get rid of the region’s leadership. Some cite abuses by the TPLF while it was in power for well over two decades, or echo the federal government’s accusation that it incited recent violence across the country.
Those sympathetic to the TPLF are mostly silenced due to the communications blackout in Tigray, but those able to comment describe the federal government’s actions as an aggression that will lead to further escalation of the conflict.
___
Elias Meseret in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Vermont's Smugglers Notch reopen after warmth melts snow

STOWE , Vt. ( AP ) - The Vermont Agency of Transportation says Smugglers Notch between Stowe and Cambridge has @ @ @ @ @ , narrow and winding road known officially as Vermont Route 108 was closed earlier this @ @ @ @ @ .
The warm weather melted the snow and the roadway is open again .
It @ @ @ @ @ by weather conditions .

STOWE, Vt. (AP) - The Vermont Agency of Transportation says Smugglers Notch between Stowe and Cambridge has been reopened.
The steep, narrow and winding road known officially as Vermont Route 108 was closed earlier this week after a heavy snowfall.
The warm weather melted the snow and the roadway is open again.
It will remain open until closed by weather conditions.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Maine's fall turkey hunt ends for the year

AUGUSTA , Maine ( AP ) - Maine ’ s fall turkey hunt is ending for the season .
The @ @ @ @ @ , in the fall and spring .
Fall hunters are allowed to take turkeys of @ @ @ @ @ hunters can take only bearded turkeys .
The fall season ends Saturday for 2020 .
@ @ @ @ @ ending , numerous other fall hunts are still going on in Maine .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the state ’ s “ big four ” - deer , moose @ @ @ @ @ 28 .
Deer season extends into December for some archers and muzzleloaders .
The fall @ @ @ @ @ restrictions and other rules .
Hunters are advised to check with the Maine Department of @ @ @ @ @ .

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Maine’s fall turkey hunt is ending for the season.
The state has two turkey hunts, in the fall and spring. Fall hunters are allowed to take turkeys of either sex, while spring hunters can take only bearded turkeys. The fall season ends Saturday for 2020.
While the turkey season is ending, numerous other fall hunts are still going on in Maine. It’s still legal to hunt the rest of the state’s “big four” - deer, moose and bears - until Nov. 28. Deer season extends into December for some archers and muzzleloaders.
The fall hunts are subject to geographic restrictions and other rules. Hunters are advised to check with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife first.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Health conference to look at COVID-19 inequities

LEBANON , N.H. ( AP ) - A health conference partnering the public health associations in New Hampshire and Vermont with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health is focusing on COVID-19 and the pandemic ’ s effect on socioeconomic inequities .
The conference is scheduled virtually on Nov. 10 , 17 , and 19 from 9 a.m. to noon .
Each day will feature a keynote speaker followed by a panel discussion and two breakout sessions .
The topic for Nov. 10 is “ Health & Healthcare : The Health Haves and Have Nots in the Time of COVID-19 ” with Sandro Galea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University School of Public Health .
The Nov. 17 session will focus on “ COVID-19 Impacts on Jobs and the Economy ” with keynote speaker Jessica Santos , director of Community Engaged Research at the Institute on Assets and Social Policy .
The Nov. 19 session will center on “ Social Determinants of Health : Food and Housing Insecurity in the Wake of COVID-19 : Old Problems , New Opportunities ?
” The keynote speaker will be Kerri Lowery , deputy director and director for grants and research for the Network for Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law .

LEBANON, N.H. (AP) - A health conference partnering the public health associations in New Hampshire and Vermont with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health is focusing on COVID-19 and the pandemic’s effect on socioeconomic inequities.
The conference is scheduled virtually on Nov. 10, 17, and 19 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Each day will feature a keynote speaker followed by a panel discussion and two breakout sessions. The topic for Nov. 10 is “Health & Healthcare: The Health Haves and Have Nots in the Time of COVID-19” with Sandro Galea, a physician and professor at the Boston University School of Public Health.
The Nov. 17 session will focus on “COVID-19 Impacts on Jobs and the Economy” with keynote speaker Jessica Santos, director of Community Engaged Research at the Institute on Assets and Social Policy.
The Nov. 19 session will center on “Social Determinants of Health: Food and Housing Insecurity in the Wake of COVID-19: Old Problems, New Opportunities?”
The keynote speaker will be Kerri Lowery, deputy director and director for grants and research for the Network for Public Health Law, Eastern Region, based at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Mayor proposes $5.6M plan to address trash in Seattle

SEATTLE ( AP ) - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has proposed a $ 5.6 million plan to address trash and maintenance needs in parks and public spaces .
The city has strained to meet those needs since the COVID-19 pandemic began , the mayor ’ s office said Wednesday , The Seattle Times reported .
The mayor ’ s office cited a rise in trash and illegal dumping , a dip in staffing due to COVID-19 protocols and a reduction in volunteer cleanups .
Seattle Public Utilities collected 195 % more waste material in public spaces from July to September @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June ( 313,000 pounds ) , Durkan ’ s office said .
Durkan ’ s plan requires council approval .
It would add about $ 1.2 million to Seattle ’ s remaining 2020 budget and about $ 4.4 million in 2021 to boost trash pickup and maintenance .
Council members have been discussing similar ideas .
The mayor ’ s plan would include a program that increases the distribution and retrieval of trash bags at homeless encampments and expand a needle-disposal program .
It would also expand a twice-weekly litter and illegal-dumping abatement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It also would increase spending on graffiti removal and business-district cleanups while assigning teams to chip away at the city ’ s cleaning maintenance backlog , according to Durkan ’ s office .
The council has been discussing amendments to the 2021 budget plan the mayor submitted in September .
Durkan ’ s office published an updated economic forecast Monday that upped Seattle ’ s expected general-government revenues by $ 57 million in 2020 and 2021 .
The mayor is suggesting the council use some of that money to pay for her @ @ @ @ @

SEATTLE (AP) - Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has proposed a $5.6 million plan to address trash and maintenance needs in parks and public spaces.
The city has strained to meet those needs since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the mayor’s office said Wednesday, The Seattle Times reported. The mayor’s office cited a rise in trash and illegal dumping, a dip in staffing due to COVID-19 protocols and a reduction in volunteer cleanups. Seattle Public Utilities collected 195% more waste material in public spaces from July to September (921,000 pounds) than April to June (313,000 pounds), Durkan’s office said.
Durkan’s plan requires council approval. It would add about $1.2 million to Seattle’s remaining 2020 budget and about $4.4 million in 2021 to boost trash pickup and maintenance. Council members have been discussing similar ideas.
The mayor’s plan would include a program that increases the distribution and retrieval of trash bags at homeless encampments and expand a needle-disposal program. It would also expand a twice-weekly litter and illegal-dumping abatement program from eight neighborhood routes to 18.
It also would increase spending on graffiti removal and business-district cleanups while assigning teams to chip away at the city’s cleaning maintenance backlog, according to Durkan’s office.
The council has been discussing amendments to the 2021 budget plan the mayor submitted in September. Durkan’s office published an updated economic forecast Monday that upped Seattle’s expected general-government revenues by $57 million in 2020 and 2021. The mayor is suggesting the council use some of that money to pay for her trash-pickup and maintenance plan.
Durkan’s plan incorporates council ideas, she noted.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Health officials urge big side of precaution at Thanksgiving

MONTGOMERY , Ala. ( AP ) - State health officials are urging people to serve up a heaping side of precaution at Thanksgiving as the holiday comes during a national surge in COVID-19 cases .
Health officials are urging people to skip large family gatherings in favor of scaled-back events .
“ We all want to see our family at holiday time and yet this is a special year .
This is a year unlike any we ’ ve ever had , ” Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris said .
“ Many things maybe could be done virtually , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but certainly safer.
” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has i ssued guidelines .
Suzanne Judd , an epidemiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham ’ s School of Public Health , said Thanksgiving is particularly problematic because it ’ s a holiday celebrated by family gatherings indoors .
“ Gatherings greater than 10 people pose a substantial risk of one of the people being COVID-positive and not knowing .
You combine that with eating and drinking and socializing and laughing and singing , and it is just something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Judd said .
Health officials have expressed concern about an uptick in cases and hospitalizations .
Alabama Gov .
Kay Ivey this week extended the state ’ s mask mandate , although she lifted occupancy limits on stores and other places in the hopes of letting businesses make up lost economic ground .
Dr. Don Williamson , the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association , said health officials believe family gatherings are partly responsible for the spread of cases as well as people becoming tired of wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a combination of COVID fatigue .
I think it ’ s a combination of family gatherings and large group gatherings , ” Williamson said .
Harris said the risk increases as people mix with people from other households , particularly indoors .
“ Try to distance to the extent you can .
If the weather permits , try to do things outdoors if you can .
Be mindful of hygiene , ” Harris said .
He also pleaded with people to stay home if they think they may be ill. “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have Thanksgiving , if you have any concerns about your health , that is not the time to get around your friends and family , ” Harris said .
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - State health officials are urging people to serve up a heaping side of precaution at Thanksgiving as the holiday comes during a national surge in COVID-19 cases.
Health officials are urging people to skip large family gatherings in favor of scaled-back events.
“We all want to see our family at holiday time and yet this is a special year. This is a year unlike any we’ve ever had,” Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris said. “Many things maybe could be done virtually, which is not nearly as much fun but certainly safer.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has i ssued guidelines.
Suzanne Judd, an epidemiologist from the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Public Health, said Thanksgiving is particularly problematic because it’s a holiday celebrated by family gatherings indoors.
“Gatherings greater than 10 people pose a substantial risk of one of the people being COVID-positive and not knowing. You combine that with eating and drinking and socializing and laughing and singing, and it is just something that could lead to substantial COVID transmission,” Judd said.
Health officials have expressed concern about an uptick in cases and hospitalizations. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey this week extended the state’s mask mandate, although she lifted occupancy limits on stores and other places in the hopes of letting businesses make up lost economic ground.
Dr. Don Williamson, the former state health officer who now heads the Alabama Hospital Association, said health officials believe family gatherings are partly responsible for the spread of cases as well as people becoming tired of wearing masks.
“I do think it’s a combination of COVID fatigue. I think it’s a combination of family gatherings and large group gatherings,” Williamson said.
Harris said the risk increases as people mix with people from other households, particularly indoors.
“Try to distance to the extent you can. If the weather permits, try to do things outdoors if you can. Be mindful of hygiene,” Harris said.
He also pleaded with people to stay home if they think they may be ill.
“Even though we all want to go have Thanksgiving, if you have any concerns about your health, that is not the time to get around your friends and family,” Harris said.
___
Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--Virginia woman battles grief following brother's COVID death

KING GEORGE , Va. ( AP ) - Lynne Jenkins suspects she ’ ll live with the guilt and grief from her brother ’ s death from COVID-19 for the rest of her life .
Motley “ M.B.
” Self of Westmoreland County died Oct. 10 -Jenkins said she ’ ll never forget “ 10-10-20 ” - and as his medical proxy , she was responsible for making his health care decisions at the end .
When it became clear that he couldn ’ t overcome the virus , the way he had dealt with congestive heart failure and kidney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell doctors to take him off a ventilator and stop treatment .
Because she couldn ’ t risk exposing herself and her family to COVID-19 -and quarantining for two weeks- after one 15-minute visitation , she didn ’ t see him in the hospital .
He was alone in his last days , including when he drew his final breath-and that breaks her heart .
“ Every day I go to work and come home , and then I fall apart , ” said the King George County woman who works with elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I hope my children and grandchildren don ’ t ever have to make that decision for me .
I don ’ t want that for my boys , let me tell you , it ’ s hard.
” Jenkins contacted The Free Lance–Star because she wanted to speak for those who can ’ t be with their families as they die from COVID-19 in hospitals , nursing homes and assisted living facilities .
She doesn ’ t want anyone to think there was anything special about her or her brother ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life-and-death aspect of this pandemic is made even worse by those who don ’ t take it seriously .
“ People need to realize it ’ s real , it ’ s not a joke , ” she said .
“ If people want to be with their loved ones , they better wake up .
It ’ s sad when someone has to die by himself , no one holding his hand , no one saying it ’ s OK. ” Even health care workers trained to help patients during their last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presents .
“ I ’ ve been practicing for almost 40 years , and I ’ ve never encountered anything as difficult as this , ” said Dr. William Anderson , medical director of Mary Washington Hospice and Palliative Care Services .
“ Family members in this situation need a whole lot of support .
They need to know we ’ re struggling right along with them.
” Jenkins called her big brother “ M.B.
, ” short for Motley Booker Self , and others , like her two sons , simply referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He never married or had children and had asked her in 2018 , when his health problems began to worsen , if she would accept responsibility for his medical decisions .
Jenkins was the only daughter of four children born to the late Katherine and Motley Booker Self Sr .
The family had lived in Oak Grove , and that ’ s where M.B .
Self had remained .
He was a construction contractor for Ingleside Nursery for years until he became a self-employed craftsman , making cabinets and swings , bird feeders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woodworking , ” his sister wrote in a text .
“ Everyone in Westmoreland County has something he made .
Lol.
” Jenkins knows that people often say it ’ s the other health issues that kill a person , not necessarily the virus , but she doesn ’ t buy it .
He ’ d been living with heart problems , and his kidneys weren ’ t bad enough to require dialysis .
He ’ d just been to a Richmond hospital , where he was treated for a flare-up of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s when things went downhill .
A few days after his discharge , Self was coughing up blood .
A Westmoreland ambulance came to his home , and first responders suggested he go to Mary Washington Hospital , his sister said .
After he was admitted , a doctor called Jenkins to tell her Self had pneumonia and needed emergency dialysis .
Later in the evening , a nurse called to ask if anyone told her he also had COVID-19 .
“ I literally dropped my phone .
I said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my brother doesn ’ t have that , he just came out of the hospital , ’ ” she recalled .
“ It was just a shock.
” Jenkins doesn ’ t know how her brother contracted it .
He had tested negative while in a Richmond hospital , then she and other family members helped him get settled back home again .
After he was re-hospitalized in Fredericksburg , it quickly became clear he couldn ’ t beat this opponent .
The majority of patients who died from COVID-19 this spring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the type of chronic conditions Self suffered , according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association .
Determining if the virus or underlying issues are the cause of death can be complex , said Anderson , who fills out a lot of death certificates as a medical director for hospice .
He looks at the factors and timing-was COVID-19 at its peak when the person died , or had the patient recovered from it , then died months later ?
“ It varies in each case and can be a difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anderson also has seen the virus push people over the edge .
Those weakened from heart disease , lung problems or even dementia tend to have “ a certain amount of functioning reserve , ” but COVID-19 pushes them over the edge .
“ There ’ s no question about that , ” he said .
Nurses and doctors called Jenkins regularly to explain what was happening , and she ’ s grateful for their kindness and calming manner .
She wishes she ’ d had the presence of mind to write down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are a few nurses : Heather , Myra and Alyssa .
Heather helped Jenkins arrange a video chat with her brother ; when Self told her he needed to be put on a ventilator , Jenkins saw the fear in his eyes .
When she said her final goodbye , Heather again held the tablet close to Self , who already was unconscious , and told him she loved him and that he was going to beat this virus and come home .
“ I believe he heard me , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wonder what he was thinking .
Was he scared to be alone ?
Was he brave ?
Did the medication make him comfortable ?
Did he hear his brothers , Happy and Paul , and his nephews , Lee and Dan , on the video chat ?
Did he know how much they loved him ?
“ My list can go on , ” she said .
In and of itself , grief is hard enough , but COVID-19 has robbed people of the experience of “ shepherding their loved ones through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , owner of Thriveworks counseling service in Fredericksburg .
She hopes that Jenkins and others who ’ ve been through the same will realize it ’ s beyond their control to be at a person ’ s bedside during the final moments .
“ Of course , she would have been there , if it were an option , ” she said , but the fact that she didn ’ t have a choice doesn ’ t lessen the pain .
“ It ’ s a unique experience that many Americans are dealing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ and I hope and pray that there ’ s some solace in that .
”

KING GEORGE, Va. (AP) - Lynne Jenkins suspects she’ll live with the guilt and grief from her brother’s death from COVID-19 for the rest of her life.
Motley “M.B.” Self of Westmoreland County died Oct. 10 -Jenkins said she’ll never forget “10-10-20”- and as his medical proxy, she was responsible for making his health care decisions at the end. When it became clear that he couldn’t overcome the virus, the way he had dealt with congestive heart failure and kidney and circulation problems, she had to tell doctors to take him off a ventilator and stop treatment.
Because she couldn’t risk exposing herself and her family to COVID-19 -and quarantining for two weeks- after one 15-minute visitation, she didn’t see him in the hospital. He was alone in his last days, including when he drew his final breath-and that breaks her heart.
“Every day I go to work and come home, and then I fall apart,” said the King George County woman who works with elderly patients as a home health care provider. “I hope my children and grandchildren don’t ever have to make that decision for me. I don’t want that for my boys, let me tell you, it’s hard.”
Jenkins contacted The Free Lance–Star because she wanted to speak for those who can’t be with their families as they die from COVID-19 in hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. She doesn’t want anyone to think there was anything special about her or her brother; she just wants others to know the life-and-death aspect of this pandemic is made even worse by those who don’t take it seriously.
“People need to realize it’s real, it’s not a joke,” she said. “If people want to be with their loved ones, they better wake up. It’s sad when someone has to die by himself, no one holding his hand, no one saying it’s OK.”
Even health care workers trained to help patients during their last moments struggle with the realities that COVID-19 presents.
“I’ve been practicing for almost 40 years, and I’ve never encountered anything as difficult as this,” said Dr. William Anderson, medical director of Mary Washington Hospice and Palliative Care Services. “Family members in this situation need a whole lot of support. They need to know we’re struggling right along with them.”
‘JUST A SHOCK’
Jenkins called her big brother “M.B.,” short for Motley Booker Self, and others, like her two sons, simply referred to him as “Big Unc.” He never married or had children and had asked her in 2018, when his health problems began to worsen, if she would accept responsibility for his medical decisions.
Jenkins was the only daughter of four children born to the late Katherine and Motley Booker Self Sr. The family had lived in Oak Grove, and that’s where M.B. Self had remained. He was a construction contractor for Ingleside Nursery for years until he became a self-employed craftsman, making cabinets and swings, bird feeders and toy chests.
“He loved woodworking,” his sister wrote in a text. “Everyone in Westmoreland County has something he made. Lol.”
Jenkins knows that people often say it’s the other health issues that kill a person, not necessarily the virus, but she doesn’t buy it. He’d been living with heart problems, and his kidneys weren’t bad enough to require dialysis. He’d just been to a Richmond hospital, where he was treated for a flare-up of both, then was sent home.
And that’s when things went downhill. A few days after his discharge, Self was coughing up blood. A Westmoreland ambulance came to his home, and first responders suggested he go to Mary Washington Hospital, his sister said.
After he was admitted, a doctor called Jenkins to tell her Self had pneumonia and needed emergency dialysis. Later in the evening, a nurse called to ask if anyone told her he also had COVID-19.
“I literally dropped my phone. I said, ‘No, ma’am, my brother doesn’t have that, he just came out of the hospital,’ ” she recalled. “It was just a shock.”
Jenkins doesn’t know how her brother contracted it. He had tested negative while in a Richmond hospital, then she and other family members helped him get settled back home again.
After he was re-hospitalized in Fredericksburg, it quickly became clear he couldn’t beat this opponent.
The majority of patients who died from COVID-19 this spring in hospitals statewide were older and sicker with the type of chronic conditions Self suffered, according to data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association.
Determining if the virus or underlying issues are the cause of death can be complex, said Anderson, who fills out a lot of death certificates as a medical director for hospice. He looks at the factors and timing-was COVID-19 at its peak when the person died, or had the patient recovered from it, then died months later?
“It varies in each case and can be a difficult decision,” he said.
But Anderson also has seen the virus push people over the edge. Those weakened from heart disease, lung problems or even dementia tend to have “a certain amount of functioning reserve,” but COVID-19 pushes them over the edge.
“There’s no question about that,” he said.
‘THE DEATH PROCESS’
Nurses and doctors called Jenkins regularly to explain what was happening, and she’s grateful for their kindness and calming manner. She wishes she’d had the presence of mind to write down their names, but all she remembers are a few nurses: Heather, Myra and Alyssa.
Heather helped Jenkins arrange a video chat with her brother; when Self told her he needed to be put on a ventilator, Jenkins saw the fear in his eyes.
When she said her final goodbye, Heather again held the tablet close to Self, who already was unconscious, and told him she loved him and that he was going to beat this virus and come home.
“I believe he heard me,” she said.
Jenkins can’t help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he scared to be alone? Was he brave? Did the medication make him comfortable? Did he hear his brothers, Happy and Paul, and his nephews, Lee and Dan, on the video chat? Did he know how much they loved him?
“My list can go on,” she said.
In and of itself, grief is hard enough, but COVID-19 has robbed people of the experience of “shepherding their loved ones through the death process,” said Colette Brooks, owner of Thriveworks counseling service in Fredericksburg.
She hopes that Jenkins and others who’ve been through the same will realize it’s beyond their control to be at a person’s bedside during the final moments.
“Of course, she would have been there, if it were an option,” she said, but the fact that she didn’t have a choice doesn’t lessen the pain.
“It’s a unique experience that many Americans are dealing with right now,” Brooks said, “and I hope and pray that there’s some solace in that.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--'Marnie': The Sean Connery thriller shot in 1960s Baltimore

BALTIMORE ( AP ) - Sean Connery , the actor who died Oct. 31 at age 90 , starred in a film partially set in 1960s Baltimore .
There is no record of his actually working here on the movie , but its director , Alfred Hitchcock liked Baltimore ’ s marble steps , which appear in the completed film .
“ Only Alfred Hitchcock could create so provocative a love story , ” an ad of the time read .
According to an IMDB synopsis of the film , “ Mark ( played by Connery ) marries Marnie ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habitual thief and has serious psychological problems , and tries to help her confront and resolve them.
” It features a long shot of actress Hedren walking down a long railroad platform .
It looks like Camden Station .
There is even an industrial circular gas holder in the background that could be South Baltimore .
Except it ’ s actually California .
Hedren ’ s name appeared before Connery ’ s in the billing .
“ Marnie ” is set in rural Virginia , Philadelphia and Baltimore , where she visits her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blog posts indicate that Hitchcock came to Baltimore and scouted atmospheric locations for what the home of title character Marnie ’ s mother should be .
He wound up on Federal Hill ’ s Riverside Avenue and chose one-block long Sanders Street .
He said he liked Baltimore ’ s white marble steps and the street ’ s location on a small bluff overlooking Baltimore ’ s then industrial harbor .
Film histories also note that he hired children from a parochial school to appear as extras in a short part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a book he autographed as part of his non-publicized visit to Baltimore .
The school children were paid $ 50 and got part of the school day off .
Mark Adams , a Baltimore resident , has preserved a copy of the old News American from Nov. 22 , 1963 , that contained a photograph and caption , “ Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
” The photo of assistant director Jim Brown and actress Missie O ’ Brien said the pair were in Baltimore the day before to shoot scenes for “ Marnie.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Some area residents are being used as extras , ” the story also said .
Hitchcock wanted Baltimore to appear as he envisioned it - a city with a working harbor .
It was not unusual for ships to be visible in the old Bethlehem Key Highway shipyard not far from Sanders Street .
But on the day the Hollywood cameras arrived , no ship was in for repairs .
The shot that appeared in the finished film was indeed a classic Baltimore street scene , helped along with a studio technician @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John F. Kennedy was assassinated the day the picture of the assistant director and the actress appeared in The News American .
Accordingly , the filming of “ Marnie ” was set back a few days as the country went into mourning .
The finished film made its local debut in August 1964 .
Almost nothing was mentioned about Sanders Street and the parochial school children seen playing on the street in a brief glimpse .
The Sun ’ s two film critics , R. H. Gardner and Louis Cedrone wrote about “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the specifics of the location , except to criticize the Sanders Street shot as a “ phony looking Technicolor studio street.
” Gardner , however , said it was Hitchcock ’ s best film since “ Vertigo.
” Cedrone also praised the film .
“ Suspense is the old boy ’ s trademark and ‘ Marnie ’ is full of it.
” He described the film as “ a two hour Hitchcockian tour along the sex and psychiatry trail.
” The film opened in Baltimore neighborhood theaters - The Boulevard in Waverly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ambassador in Forest Park , the Patterson in Patterson Park , the Pikes in Pikesville , the Strand in Dundalk and at Harundale Mall .
Curiously , in that first run , “ Marnie ” did not play the McHenry Theatre , on Light Street , just blocks away from Sanders Street .
In his review of the film , Gardner concluded , “ Experts in psychiatry may smile indulgently at the rather pat ending in which all the heroine ’ s emotional problems are resolved by a simple act of enforced recall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not care .
As is true of most Hitchcock movies , ‘ Marnie ’ is less an accurate interpretation of life than a patently contrived bit of cinematic legerdemain whose sole purpose is to capture and hold the spectator ’ s interest throughout.
” The film was nominated for two awards : Cashiers du Cinéma , for which it took third place in 1964 , and a Satellite Award for outstanding classic DVD in 2005 .
“ Marnie ” is available for streaming on Peacock Premium .

BALTIMORE (AP) - Sean Connery, the actor who died Oct. 31 at age 90, starred in a film partially set in 1960s Baltimore. There is no record of his actually working here on the movie, but its director, Alfred Hitchcock liked Baltimore’s marble steps, which appear in the completed film.
The film is “Marnie,” a psychological tale.
“Only Alfred Hitchcock could create so provocative a love story,” an ad of the time read.
According to an IMDB synopsis of the film, “Mark (played by Connery) marries Marnie (Tippi Hedren) although she is a habitual thief and has serious psychological problems, and tries to help her confront and resolve them.”
It features a long shot of actress Hedren walking down a long railroad platform. It looks like Camden Station. There is even an industrial circular gas holder in the background that could be South Baltimore. Except it’s actually California. Hedren’s name appeared before Connery’s in the billing.
“Marnie” is set in rural Virginia, Philadelphia and Baltimore, where she visits her religious fanatic mother.
Film historians and blog posts indicate that Hitchcock came to Baltimore and scouted atmospheric locations for what the home of title character Marnie’s mother should be. He wound up on Federal Hill’s Riverside Avenue and chose one-block long Sanders Street. He said he liked Baltimore’s white marble steps and the street’s location on a small bluff overlooking Baltimore’s then industrial harbor.
Film histories also note that he hired children from a parochial school to appear as extras in a short part of the movie. He gave away copies of a book he autographed as part of his non-publicized visit to Baltimore. The school children were paid $50 and got part of the school day off.
Mark Adams, a Baltimore resident, has preserved a copy of the old News American from Nov. 22, 1963, that contained a photograph and caption, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents.” The photo of assistant director Jim Brown and actress Missie O’Brien said the pair were in Baltimore the day before to shoot scenes for “Marnie.” The photo was taken on Fort Avenue.
“Some area residents are being used as extras,” the story also said.
Hitchcock wanted Baltimore to appear as he envisioned it - a city with a working harbor. It was not unusual for ships to be visible in the old Bethlehem Key Highway shipyard not far from Sanders Street. But on the day the Hollywood cameras arrived, no ship was in for repairs. The shot that appeared in the finished film was indeed a classic Baltimore street scene, helped along with a studio technician’s painted background version.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated the day the picture of the assistant director and the actress appeared in The News American. Accordingly, the filming of “Marnie” was set back a few days as the country went into mourning.
The finished film made its local debut in August 1964. Almost nothing was mentioned about Sanders Street and the parochial school children seen playing on the street in a brief glimpse. The Sun’s two film critics, R. H. Gardner and Louis Cedrone wrote about “Marnie,” but did not discuss the specifics of the location, except to criticize the Sanders Street shot as a “phony looking Technicolor studio street.”
Gardner, however, said it was Hitchcock’s best film since “Vertigo.” Cedrone also praised the film. “Suspense is the old boy’s trademark and ‘Marnie’ is full of it.” He described the film as “a two hour Hitchcockian tour along the sex and psychiatry trail.”
The film opened in Baltimore neighborhood theaters - The Boulevard in Waverly, the Vilma on Belair Road, the Ambassador in Forest Park, the Patterson in Patterson Park, the Pikes in Pikesville, the Strand in Dundalk and at Harundale Mall.
Curiously, in that first run, “Marnie” did not play the McHenry Theatre, on Light Street, just blocks away from Sanders Street.
In his review of the film, Gardner concluded, “Experts in psychiatry may smile indulgently at the rather pat ending in which all the heroine’s emotional problems are resolved by a simple act of enforced recall, but the inveterate mystery fan will not care. As is true of most Hitchcock movies, ‘Marnie’ is less an accurate interpretation of life than a patently contrived bit of cinematic legerdemain whose sole purpose is to capture and hold the spectator’s interest throughout.”
The film was nominated for two awards: Cashiers du Cinéma, for which it took third place in 1964, and a Satellite Award for outstanding classic DVD in 2005.
“Marnie” is available for streaming on Peacock Premium.


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--High school football team navigates games in pandemic

BRIDGEVILLE , Del .
( AP ) - Woodbridge High was so close to winning another Division II football state crown last fall .
A mere point was all that separated the Blue Raiders and Howard in a 16-15 state title-game loss at Delaware Stadium .
And all Woodbridge ’ s players wanted was a chance to redeem themselves this season .
“ That ’ s been their goal since we walked off the field up there , ” said Raiders ’ coach Jed Bell .
“ That ’ s what kind of pushed them through the summer .
Really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tool just to keep the guys going because , mentally , it ’ s just been draining for them.
” So it was pretty crushing for Woodbridge ’ s players when it looked like they might not even be eligible for this year ’ s DIAA Division II state tournament because of COVID-19-related issues at the school .
But the Raiders got their hope back on Tuesday when the Henlopen Conference found a way for them to play a fifth game this season .
Fellow Henlopen South member Lake Forest ( 0-1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ host Woodbridge on Monday at 5 p.m. That will allow the Bridgeville school to complete its shutdown after reporting three COVID-19 positive test results in the building two weeks ago .
The football team will then be able to practice on Saturday and Sunday before facing the Spartans .
The Raiders ’ first two games of the season were already canceled .
If they couldn ’ t face Lake Forest this weekend , they would have been left with only four regular-season games .
Teams are required to play a minimum of five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state tournament berth .
Bell said it was great to be able to tell his players the good news on Tuesday .
“ They were fired up , ” he said .
“ Every day it was questions and concerns .
The whole time , kind of behind the scenes , we were pushing and just trying to find a way to make it happen .
“ When I could finally tell them , it was pretty cool to see their faces and their responses .
They were really excited .
As a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job to fight for our kids and push for them to have opportunities .
It ’ s all about them and giving them chances.
” But , in some ways , rescheduling a game was the easiest part of the equation .
Woodbridge was one of the schools in the state that didn ’ t allow its student-athletes to formally work out as a group over the summer .
The Raiders only started team practices on the state ’ s first day of the pre-season , Sept. 28 .
Now Woodbridge has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s already played two games .
The Spartans recently lost a tough 20-19 decision at St. Mark ’ s .
Bell , though , has faith in his team , which returns a number of key players from last year ’ s 11-2 campaign .
“ That ’ s kind of the name of our game to begin with , ” said Bell .
“ We just do what we do .
We ’ ve got kids that we trust .
We ’ ve got kids that grew up fast last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time .
“ You could really see the difference this year in camp - just in maturity and knowledge of the system and understanding their roles and responsibilities .
We feel good about that.
” The Raiders , as much as any football squad in the state , understand that nothing is guaranteed for them this fall - even now .
If they really are determined to make it back to the state tournament , they ’ re going to have to work hard for it - and keep their fingers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ echoed - and it ’ s one that I know every team is echoing - this thing is not guaranteed at all , ” said Bell .
“ Who knows ?
We could get shut down again .
Another team we ’ re supposed to play could get shut down , the state as a whole could get shut down .
“ You say it but then , when you live it , that ’ s when it hits you and you realize this thing is for real .
”

BRIDGEVILLE, Del. (AP) - Woodbridge High was so close to winning another Division II football state crown last fall.
A mere point was all that separated the Blue Raiders and Howard in a 16-15 state title-game loss at Delaware Stadium.
And all Woodbridge’s players wanted was a chance to redeem themselves this season.
“That’s been their goal since we walked off the field up there,” said Raiders’ coach Jed Bell. “That’s what kind of pushed them through the summer. Really, we’ve used that as a tool just to keep the guys going because, mentally, it’s just been draining for them.”
So it was pretty crushing for Woodbridge’s players when it looked like they might not even be eligible for this year’s DIAA Division II state tournament because of COVID-19-related issues at the school.
But the Raiders got their hope back on Tuesday when the Henlopen Conference found a way for them to play a fifth game this season.
Fellow Henlopen South member Lake Forest (0-1 South, 0-2 overall) agreed to host Woodbridge on Monday at 5 p.m. That will allow the Bridgeville school to complete its shutdown after reporting three COVID-19 positive test results in the building two weeks ago.
The football team will then be able to practice on Saturday and Sunday before facing the Spartans.
The Raiders’ first two games of the season were already canceled. If they couldn’t face Lake Forest this weekend, they would have been left with only four regular-season games.
Teams are required to play a minimum of five games this year to qualify for a state tournament berth.
Bell said it was great to be able to tell his players the good news on Tuesday.
“They were fired up,” he said. “Every day it was questions and concerns. The whole time, kind of behind the scenes, we were pushing and just trying to find a way to make it happen.
“When I could finally tell them, it was pretty cool to see their faces and their responses. They were really excited. As a head coach, it’s my job to fight for our kids and push for them to have opportunities. It’s all about them and giving them chances.”
But, in some ways, rescheduling a game was the easiest part of the equation.
Woodbridge was one of the schools in the state that didn’t allow its student-athletes to formally work out as a group over the summer. The Raiders only started team practices on the state’s first day of the pre-season, Sept. 28.
Now Woodbridge has to face a Lake Forest squad that’s already played two games. The Spartans recently lost a tough 20-19 decision at St. Mark’s.
Bell, though, has faith in his team, which returns a number of key players from last year’s 11-2 campaign.
“That’s kind of the name of our game to begin with,” said Bell. “We just do what we do. We’ve got kids that we trust. We’ve got kids that grew up fast last year, starting so many sophomores and juniors for the first time.
“You could really see the difference this year in camp - just in maturity and knowledge of the system and understanding their roles and responsibilities. We feel good about that.”
The Raiders, as much as any football squad in the state, understand that nothing is guaranteed for them this fall - even now.
If they really are determined to make it back to the state tournament, they’re going to have to work hard for it - and keep their fingers crossed.
“The message that we echoed - and it’s one that I know every team is echoing - this thing is not guaranteed at all,” said Bell. “Who knows? We could get shut down again. Another team we’re supposed to play could get shut down, the state as a whole could get shut down.
“You say it but then, when you live it, that’s when it hits you and you realize this thing is for real.”


washingtontimes--2020-11-07--West Virginia family finds hope after loss, hardships

CABIN CREEK , W.Va. ( AP ) - How is life like a pizza ?
You can assemble the most delicious ingredients , gather the best cheese and the tastiest sauce , have the directions right there in front of you .
And you still don ’ t know exactly what you ’ re going to get .
How else to sum up everything he and his family have been through ?
“ It ’ s been rough , ” he said , the laughter fading .
It ’ s a tale that spans more than one devastating loss , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And hope .
At the center of it all : Up Da Hollor , the long-dreamed-of pizza joint he and his wife , Jeannie Slack , opened - of all days - on Dec. 24 .
“ Let me tell you about that , ” he said , laughing again .
After months of renovating a run-down building with the help of a friend , Steve and Jeannie Slack quit their jobs and planned to open their new Cabin Creek business the day after Christmas .
“ We got everything done , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we got to the 23rd and my oldest son , Steven , was like , ‘ Let ’ s open up tomorrow.
’ And I was like , ‘ You ’ re goofy , opening up on Christmas Eve .
Ain ’ t nobody wants pizza on Christmas Eve.
’ ” “ I said , ‘ You ’ d be surprised , ’ ” chimed in Jeannie , who took on the role of step-mom to four of his boys when they got married four years ago .
Steve figured it would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and up to speed on a slow day .
They called a handful of workers and posted the news on Facebook .
“ I said , ‘ We ain ’ t really gon na push it .
We ’ ll just go with the flow and see what happens.
’ Well , by George , it was slammin ’ through the wall , ” Steve said , shaking his head .
At one point , there was a two-hour wait .
“ These tables were packed .
We had calls coming in left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hundred pizzas that day , ” said Jeannie , waving her hand around the sports-themed dining room .
It stayed that way even after the holiday .
“ A couple days of doing that , I looked at her and said , ‘ We can ’ t keep doing this .
We ’ re going to have to hire five , six people , ’ ” he said .
They both called their mothers in to help .
Things didn ’ t slow down for weeks .
Until they got some unexpected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and another who ’ d just left for Marine Corps boot camp , there were two boys living at home , 16-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Ethan .
Things were busy , but manageable .
“ That ’ s when we get the phone call about my sister being in the hospital , Feb. 13 , ” Steve said .
Stephanie Ann Hamilton was 44 and generally healthy , but had sudden , unexplained breathing problems and a high temperature .
“ I said , ‘ Mom , it ’ ll be fine .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ She ’ ll get some treatment , no big deal , ’ ” he remembered .
“ Then she called back and said , ‘ It ’ s bad , ’ and the nurse was in the background and she said , ‘ Y ’ all really need to get down here now.
’ So we jumped in the car , ” Jeannie said .
They had been at the Charleston Area Medical Center ’ s General Hospital for about three hours when they got the shocking word that Stephanie - who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had died .
“ It was like , what are we gon na do ?
” he said .
“ One of the guys on the respiratory team … said he was 100 percent sure it was one of the first cases of COVID , ” said Steven Slack the second , 21 , Steve ’ s oldest son .
The Kanawha Charleston Health Department health director , Dr. Sherri Young , said because of the lack of available tests there probably were COVID-19 cases in the area before they were detected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case would be speculative .
Whatever her specific cause of death , Stephanie Ann Hamilton left behind four children , two of them underage - 17-year-old Michael and his sister , 11-year-old Hope .
Michael remembers her great sense of fun , her constant laugh .
Hope remembers the coupon queen who took her on shopping sprees and hunted for bargains .
Her sudden passing was hard on everyone .
But for Jeannie Slack , it also conjured up hard memories of another unexpected loss .
It was February 2000 .
Cadi McCormick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 , were cheerleaders and elementary school students .
“ They were like salt and pepper , day and night , but they were sisters and they loved each other , ” said Jeannie , their mother .
They were walking along the side of W.Va. 94 with their dad just outside of Hernshaw when the load shifted on a coal truck rounding a curve .
Both girls were killed just a few hundred feet from the family home where Jeannie was waiting .
It happened on Feb. 17 , different years but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buried .
“ I went down the wrong road , ” Jeannie said .
“ I did drugs for 11 years.
” For a while , the meth she turned to eased the pain - or at least blurred it .
She went through every bit of a substantial settlement and then one day , she woke up .
“ I realized the rampage I was bringing in and out of people ’ s lives , my mom ’ s life , my sister ’ s life .
And my baby sister was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her I needed help , ” she said .
That was Oct. 16 , 2011 .
She went into treatment , and eventually began working at the facility .
Five years later , with an ailing mom , she decided to return to West Virginia .
On the way home , she and Steve , who had dated before , began talking once again .
They got married in 2016 .
Even now , “ I wouldn ’ t try to change this life .
There ’ s days I get up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever imagined , but I just know now that God ’ s doing for me what I couldn ’ t do for myself .
“ I look at everything , the way everything went in my life and think , this is where I ’ m supposed to be .
Everything with Hope and Michael , it ’ s taught me how to love again , in a way I thought I ’ d never feel again.
” The grim task of telling Stephanie ’ s children about her passing fell to Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living arrangements but things weren ’ t so clear for the younger two .
“ We asked them both , ‘ Who do y ’ all want to come stay with ?
’ And they both said with us , ” he said .
Pointing to tall , lanky Michael who towers over him , he added , “ This one right here about made me cry because he looked up and said , ‘ Well , if it ’ s OK with you , I ’ d like to stay with you.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ For one thing , “ it kind of gives my wife her motherhood back , ” Steve said .
Though it certainly did complicate things .
For starters , the family had lost “ pretty much everything ” to a fire in 2018 .
They ’ d been squeezed into a three-bedroom home ever since - and with one son now in the Marine Corps and another in college , they were finally starting to breathe a little .
Steve and Jeannie became legal guardians for Hope and Michael around the time COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new family members put the home back at max capacity .
“ So now we ’ re saving to add on another room , ” said Steve , “ so Hope can have her own space.
” One thing that wasn ’ t an option : slowing down the pizza business .
“ No , we couldn ’ t .
I quit my job to do this , so there was no way we could just stop doing this because of everything that happened - it ’ s our income now .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
They applied for and received a forgivable loan through the Kanawha County Commission ’ s Ukan program to help pay for a new HVAC system .
And the business continues to thrive .
All of the kids help here and there , Steve added , even Hope .
“ I got a little costume .
She ’ ll stand out with a pizza outfit on , pizza hat , holding her sign a little bit , ” he grins at the description .
It is funny , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of family has changed .
“ I think family is anybody you can put all your trust into and know that they will always be behind you no matter what you do , ” Michael said .
“ People that will take care of you without asking anything in return .
”

MARIA YOUNG, The Charleston Gazette-Mail

CABIN CREEK, W.Va. (AP) - How is life like a pizza? You can assemble the most delicious ingredients, gather the best cheese and the tastiest sauce, have the directions right there in front of you.
And you still don’t know exactly what you’re going to get.
“Oh, man,” said Steve Slack with a laugh.
How else to sum up everything he and his family have been through?
“It’s been rough,” he said, the laughter fading.
It’s a tale that spans more than one devastating loss, the comfort of family, new-found love. And hope.
At the center of it all: Up Da Hollor, the long-dreamed-of pizza joint he and his wife, Jeannie Slack, opened - of all days - on Dec. 24.
“Let me tell you about that,” he said, laughing again.
OPENING DAY
After months of renovating a run-down building with the help of a friend, Steve and Jeannie Slack quit their jobs and planned to open their new Cabin Creek business the day after Christmas.
“We got everything done, we’re ready to go, we got to the 23rd and my oldest son, Steven, was like, ‘Let’s open up tomorrow.’ And I was like, ‘You’re goofy, opening up on Christmas Eve. Ain’t nobody wants pizza on Christmas Eve.’”
“I said, ‘You’d be surprised,’” chimed in Jeannie, who took on the role of step-mom to four of his boys when they got married four years ago.
Steve figured it would be a good chance to get everybody trained and up to speed on a slow day. They called a handful of workers and posted the news on Facebook.
“I said, ‘We ain’t really gonna push it. We’ll just go with the flow and see what happens.’ Well, by George, it was slammin’ through the wall,” Steve said, shaking his head.
At one point, there was a two-hour wait.
“These tables were packed. We had calls coming in left and right. We probably put out a hundred pizzas that day,” said Jeannie, waving her hand around the sports-themed dining room.
It stayed that way even after the holiday.
“A couple days of doing that, I looked at her and said, ‘We can’t keep doing this. We’re going to have to hire five, six people,’” he said.
They both called their mothers in to help. Things didn’t slow down for weeks.
Until they got some unexpected news.
THE PHONE CALL
With one son in college and another who’d just left for Marine Corps boot camp, there were two boys living at home, 16-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Ethan. Things were busy, but manageable.
“That’s when we get the phone call about my sister being in the hospital, Feb. 13,” Steve said.
Stephanie Ann Hamilton was 44 and generally healthy, but had sudden, unexplained breathing problems and a high temperature.
“I said, ‘Mom, it’ll be fine. She’s at the hospital. She’ll get some treatment, no big deal,’” he remembered.
“Then she called back and said, ‘It’s bad,’ and the nurse was in the background and she said, ‘Y’all really need to get down here now.’ So we jumped in the car,” Jeannie said.
They had been at the Charleston Area Medical Center’s General Hospital for about three hours when they got the shocking word that Stephanie - who’d tested negative for the flu - had died.
“It was like, what are we gonna do?” he said.
“One of the guys on the respiratory team … said he was 100 percent sure it was one of the first cases of COVID,” said Steven Slack the second, 21, Steve’s oldest son.
The Kanawha Charleston Health Department health director, Dr. Sherri Young, said because of the lack of available tests there probably were COVID-19 cases in the area before they were detected, but added that commenting on any one case would be speculative.
Whatever her specific cause of death, Stephanie Ann Hamilton left behind four children, two of them underage - 17-year-old Michael and his sister, 11-year-old Hope.
Michael remembers her great sense of fun, her constant laugh. Hope remembers the coupon queen who took her on shopping sprees and hunted for bargains.
Her sudden passing was hard on everyone. But for Jeannie Slack, it also conjured up hard memories of another unexpected loss.
JEANNIE
It was February 2000. Cadi McCormick, 8, and Chelsea McCormick, 10, were cheerleaders and elementary school students.
“They were like salt and pepper, day and night, but they were sisters and they loved each other,” said Jeannie, their mother.
They were walking along the side of W.Va. 94 with their dad just outside of Hernshaw when the load shifted on a coal truck rounding a curve. Both girls were killed just a few hundred feet from the family home where Jeannie was waiting.
It happened on Feb. 17, different years but the same date that Stephanie Hamilton was buried.
“I went down the wrong road,” Jeannie said. “I did drugs for 11 years.”
For a while, the meth she turned to eased the pain - or at least blurred it.
She went through every bit of a substantial settlement and then one day, she woke up.
“I realized the rampage I was bringing in and out of people’s lives, my mom’s life, my sister’s life. And my baby sister was in Florida and I called her and told her I needed help,” she said.
That was Oct. 16, 2011. She went into treatment, and eventually began working at the facility.
Five years later, with an ailing mom, she decided to return to West Virginia. On the way home, she and Steve, who had dated before, began talking once again.
They got married in 2016.
Even now, “I wouldn’t try to change this life. There’s days I get up and it’s harder than I ever imagined, but I just know now that God’s doing for me what I couldn’t do for myself.
“I look at everything, the way everything went in my life and think, this is where I’m supposed to be. Everything with Hope and Michael, it’s taught me how to love again, in a way I thought I’d never feel again.”
REDEFINING FAMILY
The grim task of telling Stephanie’s children about her passing fell to Steve. The older two already had other living arrangements but things weren’t so clear for the younger two.
“We asked them both, ‘Who do y’all want to come stay with?’ And they both said with us,” he said. Pointing to tall, lanky Michael who towers over him, he added, “This one right here about made me cry because he looked up and said, ‘Well, if it’s OK with you, I’d like to stay with you.’”
It was more than OK.
For one thing, “it kind of gives my wife her motherhood back,” Steve said.
Though it certainly did complicate things.
For starters, the family had lost “pretty much everything” to a fire in 2018. They’d been squeezed into a three-bedroom home ever since - and with one son now in the Marine Corps and another in college, they were finally starting to breathe a little.
Steve and Jeannie became legal guardians for Hope and Michael around the time COVID-19 hit and schools shut down.
Two new family members put the home back at max capacity.
“So now we’re saving to add on another room,” said Steve, “so Hope can have her own space.”
One thing that wasn’t an option: slowing down the pizza business.
“No, we couldn’t. I quit my job to do this, so there was no way we could just stop doing this because of everything that happened - it’s our income now. I had to make sure this business lasted,” he said.
They applied for and received a forgivable loan through the Kanawha County Commission’s Ukan program to help pay for a new HVAC system.
And the business continues to thrive.
All of the kids help here and there, Steve added, even Hope.
“I got a little costume. She’ll stand out with a pizza outfit on, pizza hat, holding her sign a little bit,” he grins at the description.
It is funny, he added, how everyone’s definition of family has changed.
“I think family is anybody you can put all your trust into and know that they will always be behind you no matter what you do,” Michael said. “People that will take care of you without asking anything in return.”