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Community Corner

Figuring out "how to live with this thing" + Hope For Limetree

Governor Bryan weighs lifting some COVID-19 safety restrictions while the virus claims it's 72nd victim in the USVI.

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Ashleigh Baldwin, Neighbor
Governor Bryan addressing the press during the weekly Government House press briefing.
Governor Bryan addressing the press during the weekly Government House press briefing. (Government of the United States Virgin Islands)

Good Morning, Ashleigh Baldwin here with today's roundup of news from across the Territory. If you're enjoying this new version of Patch USVI, why not invite your friends to sign-up? You can send them this link to subscribe.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny with a stray shower. High: 86 Low: 79.

Here are five stories worth reading this morning:

  1. "We have to figure out how to live with this thing, because it's not going away," said Governor Albert Bryan Jr. during the Government House press briefing on Monday. The Governor said that it might be time to start lifting restrictions, even as cases remain high on St. Croix. "We want to start to do these things before tourists come." (Virgin Islands Daily News)
  2. A new group of unidentified investors has stepped forward to bid on the shuttered Limetree Bay refinery in St. Croix. The group, dubbed St. Croix Energy, has engaged an outside firm to determine what steps must be taken for the refinery to come back online. "We are 100 percent committed — not just to the sustainable, economic growth of St. Croix, but also to the environment and to the Virgin Islands as a whole, since most of the partners live here," said Ashley Scotland, St. Croix Energy director of communications and public relations. (The Virgin Islands Consortium)
  3. An 89-year-old St. Croix man is the 72nd COVID-19 related death in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are currently 204 cases in the territory; 156 on St. Croix, 41 on St. Thomas and seven on St. John. (St. Croix Source)
  4. Medicaid employee Everton Garvey has been arrested for defrauding the government by doctoring Medicaid applications, according to the V.I. Department of Justice. Garvey was allegedly changing applications on behalf of people who earned too much or were otherwise ineligible for Medicaid. What remains unclear is whether or not Garvey personally benefitted from the fraud. (St. Thomas Source)
  5. And since we like to end on a good note: the News of St. John reports that Cinnamon Bay Campground will reopen this winter. (News of St. John)

Today's US Virgin Islands Daily is brought to you by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

Don't miss these events happening today. We especially recommend the Poetry In The Dark event at UVI. Don't forget to wear black!

US Virgin Islands Patch Notebook

  • Government House: "Due to Facebook being down most of the day on Monday, October 4, Governor Bryan's Weekly Press Briefing was unable to air live at 1pm. Here is the press briefing in it's entirety." (Facebook)
  • Virgin Islands Department of Health: "As of 10/05/21, here is the latest VIDOH information on COVID-19 cases, demographics, and testing numbers. " (Facebook)
  • Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands: "CFVI awarded a grant to CMCArts, Inc (Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts), with funding provided by Liberty Foundation to operate a four-week summer camp for 20 young people between the ages of 10-16 that culminated in a closing presen..." (Facebook)
  • Government House: "Governor Albert Bryan Jr. has ordered that all U.S. flags in the Territory fly at half-staff in Memory of former Senator and humanitarian Edgar M. Iles." (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another update. And again, if you're feeling these newsletters (I know I am), consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: Hi there! I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com or 215-534-1014.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming US Virgin Islands Daily? You can email me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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