County to reopen amid National uncertainty :: {fictional news article}

 SOUTHSTAR GLEN :: Aug. 21, 2020

Southstar County Clerk addressed in a early morning Zoom meeting today the results of month long talks and preparations for the reopening of the county amid national uncertainty and rising COVID19 cases nationally. 

" Today we take the cautious step to reopen a county which has been closed or limited in it's actions since February this year.  We don't take this choice lightly and understand there will be a process and many will voice their views for or against this ruling." stated officials within the televised zoom meeting. 

The county's decision was made via a 87% for, 13% against vote of county board officers this past Monday with the orders drafted throughout the week.  County Health Officials noted the below bullet points for business's and citizens as the county starts to reopen it's doors:

• We ask all Citizen's to respect others and maintain Social Distance as possible and suggest continued use of face coverings for a minimum of the remainder of the year a we navigate the COVID19 situation within the USA.

• Business owners are asked to limit crowding of spaces and maintain all appropriate governance to keep patron's safe and comfortable within your spaces.  Noting each patron's views will differ and should be accommodated as possible.

• All county education institutions will continue off-site learning via digital/streaming systems and intermittent visitation for resource material and Quality-of-Life assistance programs ( Food Assistance, Voting Location Use, Tutor Aid, & Administrative Actions) for remainder of 2020 school season.  Higher Education / Paid Admissions Learning Centers are suggested to offer credits to student's for Housing, Admissions, and Supplies costs as possible. 

• Public events are suggested to be postponed or cancelled until 2021 Year, due to logistics to maintain social distancing.  Smaller public gatherings are suggested to organize proper distance for patrons and offer added systems to improve comfort for those wearing face coverings.

• All Emergency and Social Assistance employee's are required to wear face coverings, scrubs, and/or gloves as required by task preformed on call.  Any employee's aiding COVID positive or probable patients must be tested within 12 hours of contact and are required a minimum of 7 day quarantine-in-place to reduce risk of spreading to other employee's and patients. 

 When asked about the face coverings requirement, County Clerk Ellison stated; " We are currently not Mandating a county-wide mask requirement nor enforcing the State mandate as priority.  We ask and suggest citizen's utilize face coverings when appropriate to minimize spread of droplet illnesses, be it COVID or common Cold and Flu". 

Late in July, Southstar County voted 92% for the reform of county law enforcement  through a 3 part bill which was unheard of for the area and the nation.  The bill, drafted as the "Duty to Service Reform Bill", called for reforms county wide for all county supported law enforcement agencies and went into affect July 10th, 2020. 

The bill's three big motions put the county in the spotlight as they were drafted to both re-evaluate the way the county enforces laws, the general equipment requirements for officers, and mandated county level review of all 3,000 law enforcement employee's within the county. At time of publishing; The county board had reviewed 760 employee's; of which 3 were sent documentation to appear in county court hearing early September for questioned actions or unclear texts. 

Opposition from some organizations and citizen's lead to the removal of wording within the 2nd part of the bill which would have removed all lethal means from officer's equipment.  Yet that same part puts heavy restrictions on lethal use and the daily carry of such items. 

" Bill 983C Part 2.b Revised Section 7SSG: The carry of lethal means arms and gear of daily use, common carry, or routine operations will be forbidden within the county of Southstar Glen starting the 10th day of July, the 2020 year.  All law enforcement employee's within public space or on common duty may carry blunt implement ( Baton, Switch-Stick, closed fist...), Issued Hand Restraint systems serialized to their possession and care, consumer grade pepper or retardant spray, and personal communication devices. Additional allowances of personal property ( Cell Phones, Automotive Keys, Door Keys, Identification Cards) allowable as long as not deemed a means of harm or lethal by county corrections statutes of 1997. " 

This section is also indented with new equipment requirements and  new uniform requirements of all employees including that all law enforcement vehicles contain basic fire fighting equipment and a mobile Advanced Life Support system.  Uniforms will now be required to have clear identifiable badges, patches, or stitching which shows an officer's Badge Number, Last Name, and Rank.  Uniforms are also required to now have Clearly noted text on back which denotes the department's rank ( City Police, Sheriff, or State Trooper) and Badge number.  Section 12SSG going as far as to prohibit the use of any uniform wear that could be mistaken as civilian or that would hinder the publics ability to identify law enforcement officers in crowds. 

" I personally have not heard any negativity to the new laws and many of my colleagues seem to feel these new laws are well overdue" noted Deputy Ingram who patrols Valley Pines North-Side.  " Some of us have even noted we feel the reduction of gear weight may improve our abilities to work as our gear on person has now reduced by 4 lbs" Ingram added; noting that officers will, at times, need to chase down offenders and the average gear weight for county officers has been 25 lbs. 

The county expects to assess the new bill's affects in Early December and expect employee reviews by the board will be completed by early 2021. They also plan to have polling guidelines in place by mid-September for November's voting. 

Valley Daily Times
Valley Pines, AR 

 

* This is a fictional news article used for general story development. It is in no way affiliated with any true news entity nor has any fact within it or to that of real events.  While of a political and current tone - it is in no way meant to choose a side within the political and moral landscape currently in place within the USA or World.  This is fully in reference to the story world lived in my my personal characters and not for re-post or to be taken as truth or for distribution.