by Becky Andrus | Jan 12, 2021 | Regional News
Governor Whitmer Requests Authorization to Directly Purchase up to 100,000 Doses of the Safe, Effective COVID-19 Vaccine for the State of Michigan
LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar requesting permission to directly purchase up to 100,000 doses of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the State of Michigan. Governor Whitmer also noted that since she and eight other governors sent a letter to the Trump Administration requesting that they distribute the millions of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses that are currently being held back, she has not received a response.
“We remain ready to accelerate distribution to get doses into arms,” said Governor Whitmer. “Toward that end, I am writing to request permission for the State of Michigan to make a one-time purchase of up to 100,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine directly from Pfizer to be distributed and administered consistent with CDC guidelines and the FDA’s Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine.”
Governor Whitmer has been working around the clock with leaders in state government and local health departments to cement Michigan’s status as a nationwide leader in vaccine distribution. On Wednesday, the CDC released new data that shows Michigan is in the top 15 states when it comes to vaccine distribution.
Last week, Governors Gretchen Whitmer, Gavin Newsom (CA), Laura Kelly (KS), J.B. Pritzker (IL), Tim Walz (MN), Andrew Cuomo (NY), Tony Evers (WI), Jay Inslee (WA), and Kate Brown (OR) sent a letter to Secretary Azar and General Perna requesting that the federal government distribute the millions of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses that are currently being held back by the Trump Administration. According to publicly reported information, the federal government currently has upwards of 50% of currently produced vaccines held back by the administration for reasons unknown. After the governors sent the letter, the incoming Biden administration announced that they will release all of the available vaccine doses that the Trump Administration is holding back.
|
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Regional News
Governor Whitmer Lowers Flags to Honor Two U.S. Capitol Police Officers
LANSING, Mich. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags within the State Capitol Complex and upon all public buildings and grounds across the state of Michigan to be lowered to half-staff immediately from January 11 through January 13 at sunset to honor United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood.
“Our nation has a heavy heart following the deaths of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood,” Whitmer said. “Both Brian Sicknick and Howard Liebengood are heroes in every sense of the word as they worked to protect the institutions of our democracy during one of the darkest days in our nation’s history. My thoughts are with their family and friends during this difficult time.”
The State of Michigan recognizes the duty, honor and selfless service of United States Capitol Police Officers Brian D. Sicknick and Howard Liebengood by lowering flags to half-staff. Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments and other organizations also are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff.
To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
Flags should be returned to full-staff by Thursday, January 14.
|
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
By Sammy Taormina
Oak Park at Warren DeLaSalle: The Knights have become a story as of late posting four victories in the postseason including a stunning 30-23 victory over Livonia Churchill in the regional finals last week. Oak Park will have a very tall task ahead of them as they will travel to Wayne State to play Warren DeLaSalle. The Pilots and Knights are no strangers to each other especially in the postseason. Warren DeLaSalle has eliminated Oak Park in two of the last three years including a 35-7 home loss in 2018 and a 14-7 loss in 2017. The Pilots had a very turbulent offseason with a hazing scandal that caused a ton of changes in the administration at Warren DeLaSalle. They named Dan Rohn as the new head coach back in March taking over for Mike Giannonie whom ended up taking over at New Baltimore Anchor Bay. Rohm had a ton of success coaching at Grand Rapids West Catholic. Warren DeLaSalle has a very good quarterback in Brady Drogosh. He is a very good runner and passer. Brett Stanley is very solid at running back and is also the team’s punt returner. He had two rushing touchdowns against Warren Mott. The Pilots also have very talented wide receivers Alton McCullum and Jack Yanachik. Their top defender is Will Beesley. Drogosh is an RPO quarterback. He was very instrumental throwing for a touchdown and rushing for a score against Warren Mott last week in a 45-3 blowout. Warren DeLaSalle had 395 total yards of offense in that game. The Pilots really haven’t been that tested in the postseason despite wins over Roseville, St. Clair Shores Lakeview, Port Huron and Warren Mott by a combined 174-23. They do play in the always tough Catholic League with Birmingham Brother Rice, Orchard Lake St. Marys, and Novi Detroit Catholic Central in the Catholic League Central going 2-1 with a 21-13 win over the Eaglets. Their losses were to Birmingham Brother Rice 27-25, Novi Detroit Catholic Central 13-10, DeWitt 43-3, and Detroit Cass Tech 35-0. What should help the Knights in this game is that they played in the Red and have played schools with more than 2,000 kids (Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.) They have been on the road a ton so this will be nothing new for them. They are playing with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
West Bloomfield at Belleville: This is round three between the Lakers and Tigers. Both teams have been dominant in the postseason and have been on a collision course. West Bloomfield has been rolling very good teams in the regular and in the postseason. They have outscored their last seven opponents since the loss to Clarkston 323-23 including their last two opponents in Sterling Heights Stevenson and Romeo by a combined 115-20. Donovan Edwards has had 10 touchdowns in the last two games for the Lakers. West Bloomfield has had a lot of trouble with Belleville and they will be going back to Wayne County for a third straight year. The Lakers have lost to the Tigers in the last two years which included a 13-10 loss in 2018 and a 27-22 loss in 2019 in which they blew a 22-0 lead. Belleville has been very dominant in the postseason in 2020-2021. They have outscored their last eight opponents by a combined 474-60 in that span including a combined 177-46 in the postseason. The Tigers have a very talented quarterback in Christian Dhue-Reid. He has the State’s career record holder for touchdown passes at 132 including 37 passing scores this season. Belleville is well coached under Jermaine Crowell. This has been the round the Tigers have had problem where they have lost in the last two years. They fell 22-19 to Brighton last season and 28-16 to Chippewa Valley in 2018. Belleville besides Dhue-Reid is very talented with wide receivers Darrel Johnson and Tyree Lockett whom had two touchdowns against Detroit Cass Tech and a very good running back in Kobe Johnson. Belleville is very good defensively. The numbers have proven why they have been dominant. They have a very good defensive lineman in Damon Payne. Payne has had a strong year for the Tigers. Belleville’s linebacking core is very solid in linebackers Cameron Dyson, Aaron Alexander, Ahzahnn Byrd, along with JaShawn Green. The secondary is very good as well in defensive back Myles Rowser whom didn’t play and Charles Wilson whom is also in the secondary. The Tigers had three defensive touchdowns in their game against the Technicians in a 43-10 blowout. Belleville will pose a huge challenge to quarterback Alex Short. This could be the best defense he has seen all season long. It will be a huge challenge for Coach Ron Bellamy and his staff but this is something that the Lakers have been waiting for two years.
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Feature Writers, High School Sports
Covering all 22 OAA teams with insight and thoughts on each team from Northern Oakland County to Southern Oakland County.
Sunday, January 10, 2021
By Sammy Taormina
A Look Back At Oak Park’s Incredible Journey, Still Going On.
Written Sunday January 10th at 1:00 PM
When the State Playoffs began the Oak Park Knights just went 0-6 after playing a very difficult Red schedule going up against Clarkston, Lake Orion, Oxford, Southfield Arts and Tech, and West Bloomfield. They were heading to Grosse Pointe to play a Grosse Pointe South program riding a ton of confidence after playing in the Macomb Area Red division. They had wins over Chippewa Valley, Romeo, and Utica Eisenhower and have played Sterling Heights Stevenson and Macomb Dakota.
The Knights came off a 47-0 blowout loss to Clarkston and was riding no momentum heading into the postseason.
Nobody gave them a chance including myself and Ian Locke even though there were hints due to the Knights schedule that they could do this.
After that game against Grosse Pointe South, things changed and they became whole.
The Knights have been a very successful program under Coach Greg Carter. Carter came to Oak Park in 2011 and is also the Athletic Director as well. Even though they were 3-6 that season the foundation was set for the future. The Knights have made the playoffs the last eight years.
2019-lost 12-6 to Farmington in first round
2018-lost 35-7 to Warren DeLaSalle in district final
2017-lost 14-7 to Warren DeLaSalle in regional final
2016-lost 34-7 to Detroit Martin Luther King in district final
2015-lost 38-14 to Southfield in first round
2014-lost 14-13 to Southfield in district final
2013-lost 14-8 to Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit in district final
2012-lost 10-6 to Wyandotte in regional final
But in 2020 something was different outside of moving to the Red. They wanted to shock the State, going from worst to first. This team wearing the black helmet, white uniform with red elbows, and red pants.
They wanted to pull off the unthinkable.
They have been playing with nothing to lose and look where it has gotten them thus far.
They beat Grosse Pointe South 35-27 in the first round
They beat Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit 27-21 in the district semifinal
They beat Wyandotte 27-14 in the district final
Then came the regional final. A round that Oak Park hasn’t gotten past even with good teams they have had. Their season usually ends in this round.
All of that changed on Saturday afternoon
They got a huge pass play for a touchdown with 41 seconds left trailing 23-22 and the Knights players and fans went crazy. They got that defensive stand and got past Livonia Churchill 30-23 earning their first regional title in school history.
They will have a chance to make even more history and get to their first State Final. They will have to overcome a program that has given them two postseason losses when they play Warren DeLaSalle on Saturday afternoon in the Division Two State semifinals at Wayne State.
This postseason run has been nothing short of incredible when describing the Knights. They were left for dead heading into the postseason but with them being whole good things have been happening for Oak Park.
A lot of the credit has to go to lineman Rayshawn Benny. Benny has been battling an injury throughout the regular season and really got back when they played Clarkston. Ever since that game he has played like a man on a mission on both sides of the line. Benny being back has really helped guys like Bwana Miller and Davion Primm at running back make plays and create holes along with quarterback James Burnley whom looks like a completely different quarterback compared to the regular season. Amari Harris and KyShawn Jackson has saw their confidence rise with Benny’s return.
Also Carter and his staff deserves a ton of credit as well through out all of this.
Oak Park’s run in the postseason has opened up a debate. Should everyone make the playoffs??? If this were the current format or even the 2019 format they would have not made the postseason, this is something that Carter acknowledges.
The Knights are playing another week and another tough opponent. They are playing with nothing to lose.
Just how they like it.
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Regional News
Goal is for all Michigan school districts to offer in-person learning option March 1 or sooner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2021
Contact: Bob Wheaton, 517-241-2112
LANSING, MICH. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced new guidance for schools today to keep students, staff and communities safe during the COVID-19 pandemic while providing the in-person instruction that is crucial to learning and development.
The state’s goal is to have all Michigan school districts offer an in-person learning option for students no later than March 1, and earlier if possible.
Guidance emphasizes use of scientifically proven methods of reducing the risk of COVID-19 spread, include wearing masks, ventilation improvements, frequent hand washing and social distancing.
Vaccination of teachers and other school staff will begin by Jan. 11 due to educators’ roles as essential frontline workers.
“MDHHS will continue to do what it takes to save lives and limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Director Robert Gordon. “At the same time, in-person instruction is critical for the current and the future well-being of children, especially young learners and students who are disadvantaged. We encourage schools to reopen as soon as they can do so with proven protections for staff and students.”
“The value of in-person learning for our kids is immeasurable, and we must do everything we can to help them get a great education safely,” said Gov. Whitmer. “Over the last 10 months, medical experts and epidemiologists have closely followed the data and have learned that schools can establish a low risk of transmission by ensuring that everyone wears a mask and adopting careful infection prevention protocols. I also announced this week that educators and support staff will be eligible for the next phase of COVID vaccinations beginning Jan. 11 to help protect them and their families as they return to work. I strongly encourage districts to provide as much face-to-face learning as possible, and my administration will work closely with them to get it done.”
Guidance is for grades pre-kindergarten through 12 and includes early childhood education, such as Head Start and Great Start Readiness Program.
Drawing on evidence from Michigan, the United States, and countries around the world, the guidance document outlines specific infection control measures that have worked in schools during the pandemic.
Wearing masks is especially important for controlling COVID-19 transmission and masks should be worn inside schools by all staff and students, except during meals and in other limited circumstances. Face masks may be made of cloth or may be disposable surgical-style masks.
Other infection control measures in the new MDHHS guidance include:
- When feasible, assigning children to cohort groups and limiting their interactions to their cohorts to reduce the number of contacts.
- Keeping children 6 feet apart from one another to the extent feasible, making creative use of school spaces to facilitate distancing.
- Providing adequate hand sanitizing supplies and reinforcing proper handwashing techniques.
- Improving air ventilation.
- Having staff and students conduct self-screenings for symptoms at home every day before going to school.
- Ensuring school plans are in place in coordination with their local health department if there are any positive COVID-19 tests.
- Having staff and students who either test positive or are close contacts of those who test positive follow the guidance issued by MDHHS as well as local health departments. Anyone who is considered a close contact of someone who tests positive but does not have symptoms should quarantine for 10 days under CDC guidance.
Additional recommendations can be found in the State of Michigan Guidelines for Operating Schools Safely on Michigan’s Schools COVID Testing website.
In November, MDHHS paused in-person learning in high schools as part of an order to limit indoor gatherings to address an alarming increase in COVID-19 cases and deaths and in hospital occupancy rates.
After case numbers decreased, high schools were permitted to resume in-person classes effective Dec. 21.
The guidance is subject to change. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
by Becky Andrus | Jan 11, 2021 | Regional News
Coulter: Oakland County Needs More Vaccine To Meet Demand
Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Executive David Coulter issued the following statement on the availability of COVID-19 vaccine in Oakland County:
“Oakland County is in the early stages of administering the COVID-19 vaccine but supply is limited. Our Health Department is currently vaccinating priority 1A individuals including emergency medical personnel, healthcare workers, and residents of long-term care facilities. We look forward to expanding to the next phase which will include essential workers and residents 65 and older but ask for their patience because the number of appointments available is limited to the number of doses we have received from the state. We urge the State of Michigan to increase Oakland County’s vaccine allotment while expanding the number of providers administering the vaccine. Meanwhile, our Nurse on Call line is flooded with questions about appointment availability. Please visit our vaccine webpage for the latest on our vaccine supply and scheduling appointments.”
To go to Oakland County’s vaccine webpage, type OakGov.com/COVID and click on the “Vaccine” button.
For media inquiries only, please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County media & communications officer, at 248-858-1048.
