City of Orrville battling through COVID-19

Published 2:16 pm Wednesday, April 22, 2020

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Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin said the city is successfully battling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lumpkin said she’s followed the guidelines set by Gov. Kay Ivey last month under the “stay at home” order that would stay until its expiration date on April 30.

Lumpkin, a Rural Carrier for the Orrville Postal Service, said overcoming the virus is a tough challenge both personally and professionally.

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“The coronavirus has kept me at home,” Lumpkin said.

“Being in a leadership role this is the time your leadership will get tested,” Lumpkin said. “Our sales tax has swindled down. Just like other communities, Orrville had to put guidelines in place. We’re asking for the citizens of Orrville to use their best judgment on the curfew. We’re asking for their cooperation to only leave home when it’s necessary.”

One of the city’s biggest events, the Orrville Wild Game Cook Off scheduled for March 21at the Orrville Community Center, was cancelled. “Music and Lyric” The Piano Bar Experience scheduled for March 27, was also cancelled.

Lumpkin, a two-term mayor, is keeping a positive outlook for the future. The Orrville Farmer’s Market, the city’s most popular business, is scheduled to open Friday.

“Overall, we are doing good,” Lumpkin said.

Clifton Reeves, Athletic Director and basketball coach at Keith High, the city’s only high school, said last month he understood Ivey’s decision to close schools K-12 statewide and AHSAA ending spring sports.

“As a coach, you hate it that your athletes won’t get to participate in the sports they’re playing because you know the time and effort they put in, but at the end of the day, their safety is the most important thing,” Reeves said. “You don’t want to put the health of the athletes, coaches and anyone else involved at risk.”