This is a community petition asking the Fort Payne City School system to make masking OPTIONAL for all students, teachers, staff, and visitors in our city school buildings. Wearing a mask…

This is a community petition asking the Fort Payne City School system to make masking OPTIONAL for all students, teachers, staff, and visitors in our city school buildings. Wearing a mask…
Marla Jones, Managing Editor marla@southerntorch.com FORT PAYNE, Ala.-- The Fort Payne City council announced on Tuesday, that due to the current COVID status, masks and social distancing will be required at…
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com ALABAMA — Despite the end of the State of Alabama's mask mandate, several major retailers are opting to continue mask requirements for customers and staff…
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com DeKALB COUNTY, Ala. — DeKalb County is labeled under the "very high risk" for contracting and spreading COVID-19 for the second week in a row. The…
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo: Stephen Quinn/ABC 3340) MONTGOMERY, Ala. — On Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) announced another extension of the State of Alabama’s “Safer-At-Home” Order and mask…
By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com (Photo via Consumer Reports) ALABAMA — At a press conference last week, Governor Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) opted against taking action to enforce masking in the…