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Matt Manatee for April 30, 2021 Ocala Star-Banner
Hi, friends!
I loved reading all of your letters! It was so fun learning about your favorite animals! This week I want to know: If you were a superhero, what would your name be and what powers would you have? Would you be able to fly or turn invisible? Tell me about your hero persona! I can’t wait to read your letters!
Your friend,
Matt Manatee
Editor s note: Please send letters, jokes and pictures to calendar@starbanner.com and write Matt Manatee in the message line. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday, May 7. A selection will be published on Friday, May 21. T-shirts will be available once the Star-Banner office reopens; that date is still to be determined.
Matt Manatee for Jan. 29, 2021
Ocala Star-Banner
Hello friends,
I loved hearing about all of your favorite books. I will definitely be reading all of your suggestions! Something I like to do when I read is eat a snack. I have such a sweet tooth! What are your favorite snacks? Why do you like them?
I can’t wait to read all of your letters!
Your friend,
Dear Matt,
My favorite books are the Magic Tree House series because they are cool! They are about the past and I like them. They’re great books!
Your friend,
Dear Matt,
I think you would like the Star Wars books because they have great animations. The book has cool glowing lightsabers.
Marion schools: 67 new COVID-19 cases amid bus driver shortage
Marion County Public Schools, which recorded 67 new COVID-19 cases this past week, is fighting through a bus driver shortage that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
School district spokesman Kevin Christian said the district has 270 bus drivers. Before the pandemic, the district has been experiencing about 10 percent absences on any given day.
But I’d say that’s double now thanks to COVID-19 cases and direct contacts, Christian said. As a result, some drivers double- and triple-up on routes, which creates delays in getting students to school and home.
Christian added that we always need bus drivers, not just now because of COVID.
COVID-19 cases in Marion County Public Schools continue to spike, with nearly 100 students and staff receiving positive test results from Dec. 11-17.
School officials said that shouldn t surprise anyone, since school numbers will mirror increases and declines in the community. Friday was the last day of school for Marion County until the week of Jan. 4.
Marion County Public Schools officials reported Friday that 98 people (57 students and 41 staff members) tested positive for COVID-19 from Dec. 11-17. That is up from 77 students and staff during the week of Dec. 4-10, according to a news release.
The report for Nov. 20-Dec.3 show that 100 people tested positive for COVID-19 in a two-week period. There were 54 people who tested positive from Nov. 13-19, 25 cases from Nov. 6-12, and 16 from Oct. 30-Nov. 5.