The Lawrence County Municipal Court is adjusting its schedule due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

In a letter from Judge Donald Capper, he said the March 24 cases will be continued and a new date has not been set yet.

“Any person who has a summons will not be required to attend and there will be no enforcement action submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles due to non-appearance or failure to pay,” Capper said. “All civil hearings and trials are continued indefinitely. The court will not set hearings on small claims cases or forcible entries and detainers until further notice.”

He added that all criminal trials that are not time sensitive will be continued. Persons who have attorneys representing them should consult with their attorney about when they should appear in court. All persons having motions or pre-trials should consult with their attorney by telephone about their case.

The clerk’s office will remain open, but encourages everyone to make payments via mail or online at www.lawcomunicourt.com. Only persons having business before the court should appear in person. Anyone exhibiting symptoms of illness should not appear.

Any questions should be directed to the Clerk of Court by telephone at (740) 867-3127.

In a letter from Lawrence County EMS’s executive director of operations Mac Yates, the agency is taking a proactive stance concerning the COVID-19 threat.

“Our agency has been diligently working alongside local, state, and federal officials to prepare for this viral threat on a daily to hourly basis,” he said. “Our personnel are being kept up to date with needed information as it becomes available. LCEMS is mobilizing and securing needed equipment and supplies for our personnel to utilize if the need arises in Lawrence County.”

He added that Lawrence County Commissioners Freddie L. Hayes, Jr., President DeAnna Holliday, Dr. Colton Copley and the LCEMS will continue to prepare, grows, and take a proactive stance towards the coronavirus threat to our community.

And the City of Ironton will not be shutting off water for unpaid bills for a while.

“The City of Ironton Water Department will be suspending water shut offs until May 15,” said Ironton Mayor Sam Cramblit. “We understand that this can and may be a difficult time for a lot of us as we are being encouraged to isolate at home and we have our children home from school for an extended leave.”

Cramblit said the city is taking public health very seriously and know that access to clean water is vital to everyone’s daily lives.

“The safety of our community and the health of our citizens come first,” he said. “Remember to practice healthy hand hygiene and keep a distance from one another to help reduce risk of contracting the virus. We will fight this virus together and take every precaution to protect one another until it’s passed. We will get through this as a community.”