The annual Veteran’s Day program for Washington County will be held on the Northwest side of the courthouse at 11a on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The program will be broadcast live on Facebook for those who cannot attend.

Social distancing and masks are asked to be worn for those in attendance.

The schedule is as follows:

MASTER OF CEREMONIES—————–KEVIN BATEMAN CVSO
ATTEND THE FLAG—————————SCOUT TROOP 4029
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE——————-EVERYONE
INVOCATION———————————- Ricky Main (Retired SSG)
PRESENTATION OF COLORS—————AMERICAN LEGION
PLACING OF WREATHS——————- AMERICAN LEGION & VFW AUXILIARIES, DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
MUSICAL SALUTE—————————-Warriors of Christ 
INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER———— KEVIN BATEMAN CVSO
SPEAKER————————————— DELBERT WRAY
PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR FALLEN————VFW FIRING SQUAD
TAPS——————————————— AMERICAN LEGION
DISMISSAL————————————–KEVIN BATEMAN CVSO

WSLM will provide the sound system. 

A free lunch will be served at the American Legion by the ladies auxiliary immediately after the program on South Main Street.

Everyone is encouraged to attend to support and honor the local veterans.

In case of inclement weather, the program will be held inside the American Legion.

During the city’s update on COVID-19 in Louisville today, Mayor Greg Fischer and Public Health and Wellness Director Dr. Sarah Moyer stated that with Louisville’s COVID-19 case counts significantly increasing, extreme action is needed by everyone to stop the spread.

Jefferson County has surpassed 2,000 weekly COVID positive cases in the past two consecutive weeks.

Voicing her concerns of the city nearing record highs of COVID spread, Dr. Moyer said, “I want to make this clear: everyone in our community is at risk for catching COVID-19 or spreading it to your friends, family or coworkers if you let your guard down.

“We must renew and strengthen our commitment to fight this virus together. I know so many of you are doing the right thing. You have been sacrificing to protect yourselves but also because you care about others. Please don’t give up the fight. Stay strong. We can do this. But it will take all of us.”

“COVID-19 is a threat to our community, and it’s a threat that each of us needs to take more seriously than we have been,” said Mayor Fischer. “We are in the ‘red zone’ again this week. As we look ahead to the holidays and family gatherings, we have to factor COVID-19 into our plans, or we are potentially putting ourselves and our families in serious danger.”

Here are the key data metrics for the week of November 10:

• There were 2,300 new cases over the previous week.
• Louisville’s rolling two-week average positivity rate is at 6.8 percent.
• Hospitalization data:
  • 16% of patients currently hospitalized have COVID-19.
  • 66 patients in ICU with COVID-19 as of November 10, an increase from 58 the week prior.
  • 40 COVID-19 patients on ventilators as of November 10, compared to 34 last week.
• COVID-19 cases are in every Louisville ZIP code, with nearly all at the red alert level.
• Largest increase in cases remains in those ages of 15-34.
• Given the high level of community spread, any interaction with members outside your household leaves you at greater risk of bringing an infection home. Once one person is infected in a household, they are likely to spread it to other members.

As the amount of COVID spread in the community continues on an upward trajectory, Dr. Moyer issued her recommendations on how residents must adapt to break the chain of transmission. They included reducing all contact with people who you do not live with including refraining from attending bars, events such as parties, weddings, funerals, sports practices and other gatherings. 

“Simply put, in order to stop COVID-19 from spreading so rapidly, we need to severely limit where we go and who we are around,” she said. “With the record number of cases weekly, no indoor activity is safe from COVID.”

Updated Compliance Strategy

Due to the uncontrolled outbreak and increasing spread of COVID-19 cases across Jefferson County, Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness is expanding compliance and enforcement activity across Louisville.

“We want our community to know we are taking it seriously. COVID is the primary concern that we have in our community that is affecting our public health right now,” said Nick Hart, Environmental Health Manager.

According to Hart, environmentalists will quadruple the amount of time spent during evening, late-night and weekend surveillance, focusing on peak operation hours. Hart noted these are crucial periods where large numbers of people often congregate in shared spaces.

Additionally, inspectors will be observing businesses that are serving the public on a regular basis. Businesses will not know who is in attendance conducting surveillance, but could get a follow-up email or phone call afterward if a violation is observed.

“We’re not trying to disrupt businesses, but we are trying to get a realistic idea of what it looks like during the times we see people out in our community,” he said.

Hart said Public Health and Wellness plans to publish a violation list on its website for the public to see who is not complying with Healthy at Work or face-covering guidelines.

COVID Care Kits aim to alleviate stress for those in self-isolation

The Department of Public Health and Wellness Center for Health Equity has been working to increase support for residents affected by the virus.

Rebecca Hollenbach, Executive Administrator at the Center for Health Equity, said asking people to partake in new behaviors like self-isolating for 10 days or more can prove difficult.

To improve that experience, care kits are being distributed to individuals in Jefferson County who have tested positive and in the city’s contact tracing system.  Care packages include educational resources, medical resources and items for self-care.

“This is a gift of support from us to you to thank you for everything you’re doing to help keep yourself, your family and your community safe,” Hollenbach said.

First Responder Data

Currently, 116 members of LMPD, Louisville Fire, Metro EMS, Metro Corrections and the Sheriff’s Office are off-duty due to COVID-19:

• 54 are off with positive tests and in self-isolation
• 34 are off and quarantined due to exposure to someone who tested positive
• 28 are off with symptoms, pending test results

Positive test numbers for first responders/public safety since the incident began:

• 322 positive tests
• 269 have fully recovered and returned to duty

Metro Corrections inmate data:

Total Tested = 4040

Total Positive = 251

Total Recovered = 236

Total currently under medical isolation = 15

Total pending = 0

Ahead of the 2020 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals: Unleash The Beast Nov. 12-15 in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium, the league has announced the 39 riders who have qualified to compete at the sport’s most prestigious event.

One rider is poised to conclude the historic four-day event as the 2020 PBR World Champion, earning the coveted gold buckle and $1 million bonus.

After finishing No. 2 in the world title race the past two seasons, current world leader Jose Vitor Leme is riding to complete his dominant 2020 season with his career-first PBR World Championship.

Leme won a league-leading seven Unleash The Beast events during the regular season, in addition to topping the leaderboard in round wins (15), championship round wins (5), 90-point rides (8), bulls ridden (41) and riding percentage (41-for-60 – 68.33%).

The former semi-professional soccer player will enter the 2020 PBR World Finals with more than double the world points of any other rider except world No. 2. Joao Ricardo Vieira.

Vieira is in contention for his first PBR World Championship in a building where he has had great success, winning more than $895,000, including two Iron Cowboy PBR Majors inside AT&T Stadium

The 36-year-old veteran concluded the regular season on a high note, winning the final Unleash The Beast tour stop in Nampa, Idaho.

His momentum continued in the PBR Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Finals, finishing third on Saturday night to gain further ground on No. 1 Leme.

Vieira now trails his countryman by 424.59 points ahead of the 2020 PBR World Finals, Leme’s smallest lead since late August.

The remainder of the Top 5 includes No. 3 Kaique Pacheco (-688 points), No. 4 Daylon Swearingen (-738.34 points) and No. 5 Jess Lockwood (-745.5 points).

Lockwood, sidelined since early October due to a right shoulder injury, will return to competition at the 2020 PBR World Finals with the experience of overcoming daunting odds to win a world title.

Lockwood made a come-from-behind surge in 2019 to overcome Leme in the standings, winning both the World Finals event and PBR World Championship. The Montana man is the youngest two-time PBR World Champion in league history, winning his first title in 2017.

Two-time PBR World Champion J.B. Mauney earned his 15^th consecutive qualification to the PBR World Finals despite being sidelined until August as he continued to recover from right shoulder surgery.

The grizzled veteran was electric in his return to competition, recording five Top-10 finishes on the elite Unleash The Beast, including three consecutive fourth-places finishes to conclude the regular-season, vaulting him 157 positions in the world standings.

After announcing his retirement at the start of the season, Ryan Dirteater’s storied career will end inside the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Dirteater, who has now qualified for 12 PBR World Finals, has been plagued by injury in 2020.

After sustaining thoracic fractures in February, which kept him out of competition for three months, the Oklahoman broke his collarbone in August, requiring an additional two-month recovery.

Presently ranked No. 36 in the world, Dirteater is a former PBR World Finals event winner, victorious at the multi-day bull riding marathon in 2016.

In 2020, one rider has qualified for both the PBR World Finals and Wrangler National Finals Rodeo – Boudreaux Campbell. Amid his first season competing on the elite Unleash The Beast, Crockett, Texas native Campbell will make his PBR World Finals debut as the world’s No. 33-ranked rider, having logged three Top-10 efforts on the PBR’s premier series.

In addition to Campbell, several additional Texans have qualified to compete at the first-ever PBR World Finals in their home state including: 2016 PBR World Champion Cooper Davis (Jasper), 2020 Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour Champion Mason Taylor (Maypearl), 2012 PRCA Champion Cody Teel (College Station), 2020 PBR Rookie of the Year standings leader Cole Melancon (Paris), rising sensation Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale), Taylor Toves (Stephenville) and Tye Chandler (Celina).

The 35 qualifiers via the world standings who will put it all on the line in the Lone Star State are:

Jose Vitor Leme (Ribas do Rio Pardo, Brazil)

Joao Ricardo Vieira (Itatinga, Brazil)

Kaique Pacheco (Itatiba, Brazil)

Daylon Swearingen (Piffard, New York)

Jess Lockwood (Volborg, Montana)

Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas, Brazil)

Cooper Davis (Jasper, Texas)

Colten Jesse (Konawa, Oklahoma)

Mason Taylor (Maypearl, Texas)

Derek Kolbaba (Walla Walla, Washington)

Ezekiel Mitchell (Rockdale, Texas)

Dener Barbosa (Paulo de Faria, Brazil)

Cole Melancon (Paris, Texas)

Eduardo Aparecido (Gouvelandia, Brazil)

Alex Cerqueira (Iguatemi, Brazil)

Brennon Eldred (Sulphur, Oklahoma)

Cody Teel (College Station, Texas)

Marco Eguchi (Poa, Brazil)

Ramon de Lima (Rio Branco, Brazil)

Mauricio Moreira (Gaviao Peixoto, Brazil)

Stetson Lawrence (Williston, North Dakota)

Keyshawn Whitehorse (McCracken Springs, Utah)

Silvano Alves (Pilar do Sul, Brazil)

Claudio Montanha Jr. (Pacaembu, Brazil)

J.B. Mauney (Statesville, North Carolina)

Joao Henrique Lucas (Bastos, Brazil)

Boudreaux Campbell (Crockett, Texas)

Taylor Toves (Stephenville, Texas)

Tye Chandler (Celina, Texas)

Ryan Dirteater (Hulbert, Oklahoma)

Kyler Oliver (Roy, Utah)

Rafael Henrique dos Santos (Sebastianopolis, Brazil)

Amadeu Campos Silva (Atair, Brazil)

Junior Patrik Souza (Sonora, Brazil)

Dakota Louis (Browning, Montana)

While Fabiano Vieira, Matt Triplett and Andrew Alvidrez qualified to compete, all remain sidelined due to injury. Additionally, Aaron Kleier was unable to accept his qualification due to travel restrictions, and Dakota Buttar and Lachlan Richardson were ineligible.

Joining these 35 men at the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast are four qualifiers from the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour (PWVT).  

Andre da Cruz de Souza (Decatur, Texas) earned his career-first berth to the PBR World Finals compliments of fifth-place finish at the 2020 PWVT Finals.

Alex Cardozo (Indaiatuba, Brazil), Wallace Vieira de Oliveira (Goiania, Brazil) and Cody Campbell (Summerville, Oregon) punched their tickets to the prestigious event compliments of their season finish in the PWVT standings. Cardozo concluded the year No. 3, a slim 4.67 points behind standings leaders Taylor and Oliver, while Oliveira was No. 5 and Campbell was No. 7.

At 41 years of age, Oliveira is now the oldest rider in league history to qualify for the PBR World Finals. The record was previously held by Gary Richard (Houston, Texas) who was 40 when he qualified for the 2002 PBR World Finals.

Each rider will ride one bull per night during Rounds 1-3 from Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14. On Sunday, November 15 all riders who recorded a qualified ride through the first three days of competition will advance to Round 4. If fewer than 30 riders recorded a score, cowboys will be drawn back based on their world rank until the requisite field of 30 is filled. Following Round 4 on Sunday afternoon, the Top 15 riders will then advance to the championship round. While Round 1 and 3 will be done by random draw, Round 2 and 4 will feature rider drafted selections.

The rider that earns the most world points through the five rounds will earn the PBR World Finals event title and $300,000.

PBR also revealed the available World Finals bullfighters that will take to the dirt to protect the best bull riders in the world. Shorty Gorham, Frank Newsom, Jesse Byrne and Lucas Teodoro will be vigilant throughout each 8-scond ride or wreck throughout the week.

For more information on the 2020 PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast Nov. 12-15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, please visit PBR.com.

CBS Sports Network will broadcast every round of the PBR World Finals. Coverage will begin at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, November 12, 11:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 13, 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 14, and 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 15. Each night’s coverage will be preceded by the 30-minute B&W Hitches Inside the PBR World Finals, presented by YETI, preshow.

RidePass will also bring viewers LIVE coverage of all the action. Streaming will begin at 9:15 p.m. ET Thursday and Friday, 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, and 5:15 p.m. ET on Sunday at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

The 2020 PBR World Finals Week will also include the landmark $750,000 Women’s Rodeo World Championship, in partnership with WCRA (World Champions Rodeo Alliance). Featuring some of the world’s fiercest female athletes, the more than 200 contestants will compete in four disciplines (barrel racing, team roping (heading and heeling) and breakaway roping) with each champion earning a $60,000 bonus.

Apart from the action in the arena, the PBR will hold a free-to-attend, four-day fan zone in Lot 4 of AT&T Stadium. In addition to holding the 2020 MBR (Miniature Bull Riders) Finals, the fan zone will also feature LIVE tapings of Flint Rasmussen’s “Outside The Barrel,” talk show, mechanical bull rides from veteran rider Chase Outlaw (Hamburg, Arkansas), and a $10,000 Ultimate Bullfighters event. Texas Live! will also welcome PBR for two post-event concerts on No. 13-14, featuring Chevel Shepherd and Wynn Williams.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at ATTStadium.com or SeatGeek.com, or via the phone to PBR Customer Service at (800) 732-1727.