Kalamazoo Headlines: March 2020- Just Before Everything Changed
As we approach one year of lockdowns and dealing with Coronavirus, take a quick look back to what the city was talking about in March of 2020 and looking forward to.
Is recent history really history? Time has been so distorted by the pandemic, it is hard to believe that a year ago, in the beginning of March 2020, only those who closely followed World News had heard of Wuhan, China and a disease that had stricken the city. The American attitude of it can t happen here didn t last long as everything soon changed and we realized that it truly is a small world after all.
It forced us to keep our distance, wash our hands and wear masks.
The pandemic led to the cancellation of many yearly events around Branch County including the Branch County Fair, the Bronson Polish Festival, Coldwater’s Strawberryfest and Applefest, the Car Show and Swap Meet and Quincy’s Pints in the Park.
With the Tibbits Opera House forced to shut down, performances of Tibbits Summer Theater were downsized and held outdoors at the Ponds.
The plight of the Capri Drive-In was picked up by national news media outlets as they could not open last spring due to the state’s COVID-19 restrictions. Claiming they had to open in order to survive, the Capri reopened in the middle of May with COVID-19 protocols in place. There was a long line of cars along U.S. 12 that stretched back to the Branch County Memorial Airport on opening night.