CampCountyNow.com

February is the month that communities all over the U.S. celebrates the history and accomplishments of African Americans. According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Black History Month was created in 1926. Historian Carter G. Woodson announced the second week of February would celebrate the achievements of African Americans. This week was chosen because of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on Feb. 12 and Frederick Douglass on Feb. 20. Two men who worked to change the lives of African Americans for the better. Since the 19th century, on both of these dates, African American communities have celebrated together this week. From the beginning, Woodson planned to have public schools teach the importance of Black History. Woodson felt that teaching Black history would ensure the physical and intellectual survival of the race within society. He felt that this was a way to widespread the achievements of African Americans to the youth of that time.

Camp County, which is under Trauma Service Area-G (TSA) is no longer considered a high hospitalization area and may reopen many of its facilities to meet the requirements of the Executive Order GA-32. Executive Order GA-32 allows the reopening of certain venues to 75% capacity and allows resumption of elective surgeries in certain counties. This means that the counties that fall under TSA-G have had seven consecutive days where the COVID-19 hospitalized patients exceed 15 percent of the total hospital capacity. “The Trauma Service Area (TSA) [hospital region] that Camp County is in has reached seven consecutive days where the number of persons hospitalized with COVID-19 compared to the overall hospital capacity, has remained below 15%,” said Mayor David Abernathy. “Staying below that threshold for that duration, according to Governor Abbott’s Executive Order 32, allows businesses to go from 50% to 75% of their listed occupancy, allows elective surgeries to resume, and for bars to reopen. Please continue to practice all of the COVID-19 preventative measures recommended by the CDC.”

The Pittsburg City Council hosted its monthly meeting on zoom Monday, Feb. 8 at 5:30. The Fire Department submitted a request for permission to apply for the grant called the 2021 Assistance to Firefighter Grant. The grant would be to replace radio’s and radio repeaters in the fire department. The total that could be awarded for this grant is up to $500,000. Because the grant requires a match fee of five percent, if the fire department receives the grant but is denied the five percent fee waiver, the city/department must pay the fee. The city of Pittsburg agreed that they would pay up to $5000 of the five percent match if the grant is awarded.