Escambia County (Ala.) School Superintendent John Knott says we will start school on Friday, Aug. 7; we've got dates for the beginning of college football, high school football, major league baseball and basketball.
Don't believe what they tell you. I'm not calling Knott a liar. Knott is and his school board are making the best decisions they can with the information they have in front of them.
I had already written a story Wednesday morning about some changes Flomaton had made concerning the COVID-19 pandemic. At about 10 a.m., the Flomaton Public Library was open with restrictions that included people using masks and getting their temperature checked.
I had to rewrite most of that story about 2 p.m. when I learned the library was closed. There are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the library but the decision was made. I appreciate, and you should too, with the transparency the town showed. As soon as a conference all ended with Mayor Dewey Bondurant, Jr., I got the call. I had to change the story.
But as I've said since this pandemic started, don't believe dates and time frames you read in the newspaper and definitely don't believe dates and time frames you read on social media. Those dates change sometimes daily and sometimes hourly.
I feel like we, at the Tri-City Ledger, have an obligation to keep the people informed to the best of our ability as we wade through this pandemic. I'm writing this column Wednesday afternoon, the front page story about Flomaton was written and re-written earlier. By time you read this Wednesday night or Thursday, things will have likely changed.
I've said it before, we are in unchartered waters with this pandemic. But the fact remains that the numbers of people testing positive have skyrocketed and they climb everyday. By now I imagine most of us have at least been exposed and many of us have already had the virus and we didn't know it.
I listen to a lot of talk radio driving up and down the road and whether it's the public radio station that I listen too most or sports shows like Paul Finebaum, the million dollar question is whether or not we have college football this year. My prediction is no.
If we do have college and/or high school football, it won't be the same. It will be an abbreviated version at best. Hey, I heard the other day that Las Vegas has a betting line on whether or not Alabama and Southern Cal will open the season in a game.
I've read where Major League Baseball is going to monkey around with the traditional baseball rules and while I love baseball, I don't think I'll watch with a designated hitter in the National League, that takes most of the coaching out of the game. Putting someone on second base to begin extra innings is not baseball. I love the cat and mouse game in the National League when the pitcher has to bat or be taken out for a pinch hitter.
I did get a kick out of listening to Danny Sheridan on the radio a few weeks ago. Betters and bookmakers will have stomach aches. You bet on one team on Wednesday and find out Friday that the quarterback and offensive line has tested positive for COVID and the line changes by 14 points.
I watch the numbers, I've seen them on the rise and my bet is we will continue to see them rise. Businesses that had lobbies open two weeks ago are now closed; we get conflicting reports about whether or not facemasks really work. More public places are testing temperatures and if you fail, you are not allowed in.
I know John Knott pretty well. He's giving out dates for school, but he knows those dates could change tomorrow. I do trust him and the school board to make the right decision based on the information they have in front of them. Schools are in a kind of 'damn if I do and damn if I don't' predicament. They are in a no-win situation.
Take care of yourself and don't pay attention to numbers and 'facts' printed or published. They change quickly.
