Accident on US-441 Near Lowes Access Road Creates Traffic Congestion

At 5:35pm, EMS and Fire were dispatched to an accident involving three vehicles at the intersection of US-441 (Georgia Road) and Lowes Access Road. The map above shows the traffic congestion as of 5:50pm. Please reroute around this area for the next hour or so.

**note** Facebook is down right now. Remember to add the following locations to your bookmarks when Facebook goes down again so you can keep informed on what is happening.

Web: MaconMedia.com

Twitter: twitter.com/WNCscan

Mewe: https://mewe.com/p/maconmedianews


DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Health and Fitness, home of #ResultsForEveryone. Try FHF with a FREE 3-Day Guest Pass! To claim your pass, and to learn more about Franklin Health and Fitness, visit franklinhealthandfitness.com.

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Thursday, November 1, 2018

News Brief

Automobile Accident Kills One, Injures Three on Winding Stairs Mountain



An accident occurred below the overlook on US-64 yesterday afternoon when a pickup was passing another vehicle and met another pickup head-on shortly before 12:38 pm. The latest reports indicate one individual is dead and three others were seriously injured. 

Two victims were airlifted from a landing zone established at West Macon Fire Department and on the highway next to the fire department. AirLife-14 from Georgia and LifeForce-4 from Erlanger in Tennessee responded. West Macon Fire Department and Macon County EMS responded to the scene and Franklin and Clarks Chapel Fire Departments assisted. 

The Macon County Sheriffs Office and the North Carolina Department of Transportation diverted traffic during the response and during the investigation by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. One lane was re-opened at 4:12 pm. Macon Media live-blogged the response and notified motorists to re-route around the accident and landing zone on Facebook. [LINK] 

WLOS-TV [LINK]

Early Voting

As of 7 pm last night (Oct 31st), 6,974 Maconians (26.46% turnout) had cast a ballot on early voting. Early voting is taking place at the Board of Elections Office in Franklin and the Highlands Civic Center in Highlands. Weekday hours are from 7 am to 7 pm and the last day to vote early will be Saturday, November 3rd, from 8 am to 1 pm. Election Day is Tuesday, November 6th, from 7 am to 7 pm. If you do not know where to vote on Election Day, use the handy-dandy lookup tool on the North Carolina State Board of Elections website. [LINK]


Other numbers from early voting in Macon County are posted below:

October 31st

By Affiliation (greatest numbers first)

Total for the Day 534 (down 61 from previous day)
Republican 235 (down 20 from previous day)
Unaffiliated 143 (down 23 from previous day)
Democrat 151 (down 12 from previous day)
Libertarian 5 (up 4 from previous day)

Total to Date
By Affiliation by number and percentage of those registered by that affiliation
(greatest numbers first)

Republican 3,015 (28.24% turnout)
Unaffiliated 2,016 (22.41% turnout)
Democrat 1,921 (29.38% turnout))
Libertarian 22 (15.67% turnout)

By Sex

Female 3,718 (309 voted on the 31st, down 14 from the previous day)
Male 3,234 (283 voted on the 31st, down 46 from the previous day)
Undesignated 22 (2 voted on the 31st, down 1 from the previous day)

The current forecast is calling for rain on election day, so if you don't want to get rained on while waiting to vote, Early today, Friday and Saturday will be your last chances to avoid that sad fate. LOL


DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by the Giles for Sheriff Campaign.

A Chili & Soup Dinner with Eric Giles will be taking place at the Nantahala Community Center on Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 5 PM – 7 PM. [LINK] Facebook Event Page https://www.facebook.com/events/184180139162046/

For more information on the campaign, please visit the following:

Facebook: [LINK]

Website: [LINK]


OUTLOOK

A frontal system will bring increased chances of rain today and overnight. Fair skies and above normal temperatures will give way to cooler and unsettled weather as the front moves through the region late Thursday into early Friday. Drying high pressure is expected to briefly spread back over the region this weekend.

The Ashton & Alex Zari Superhero Benefit

Location: South Macon Elementary at 855 Addington Bridge Rd

There will be a BBQ/Hot Dog Dinner that starts at 5:00....Cake Walk starts at 5:30....and The Auction starts at 6:30! We will have a dessert bar, face painting, a jumping castle and much more!! We are raffling off an AR-15, a 55" Samsung UHD TV and a $100 Gas Card!! Please come out and support this precious family!! May God Bless You and Yours!! #becauseofcaleb #becauseofshane

Facebook Event Page [LINK]


THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
Testing a new feature that shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.




WEATHER SPONSOR



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your with your next project.


Record Weather Events for November 1st

Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)

Highest Temperature 81°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2016
Lowest Temperature 15°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest Rainfall 2.70 inches in Nantahala in 1951
Greatest Snowfall 2.2 inches in Highlands in 2014


Record Weather Events for November (1872-2017)

Highest Temperature 83°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Nov 4, 2003
Lowest Temperature -3°F in Highlands on Nov 25, 1950
Greatest Rainfall 4.69 inches in Highlands on Nov 29, 1914
Greatest Snowfall 6.0 inches in Highlands on Nov 28, 1922

An expanded almanac is available that covers record weather events, climate averages, and an astronomy section. [LINK]


WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm. 
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
(These images replace the three-day forecast maps)





--------------------------------------
FRANKLIN AREA

Today

Rain, mainly after 2pm. Patchy fog between 10am and 11am. High near 67. South wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers between midnight and 4am, then rain likely after 4am. Patchy fog. Low around 55. South wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Friday

Rain likely before 8am, then showers likely, mainly between 8am and 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Southwest wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 36.



--------------------------------------
OTTO AREA

Today

Rain, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog between 7am and noon. High near 65. South wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then showers between 1am and 4am, then rain after 4am. Patchy fog. Low around 56. South southwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Friday

Rain likely before 8am, then showers likely, mainly between 8am and 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 58.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 38.



--------------------------------------
HIGHLANDS AREA

Today

Rain, mainly after 1pm. Widespread fog, mainly between 10am and noon. High near 59. South wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 2am, then showers between 2am and 4am, then rain after 4am. Areas of fog. Low around 51. South southwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday

Rain before 8am, then showers likely, mainly between 8am and 3pm. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 56. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 51.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 36.



--------------------------------------
NANTAHALA AREA

Today

Rain, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog between 8am and noon. High near 64. Breezy, with a south wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then showers between midnight and 2am, then rain after 2am. Patchy fog. Low around 51. Southwest wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Friday

Rain before 8am, then showers likely, mainly between 8am and 1pm. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 57. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday Night

A slight chance of showers before midnight, then a slight chance of rain after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 52.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 36.



--------------------------------------


GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
11:57 pm last night to 2:52 am this morning

GeoColor is a multispectral product composed of True Color (using a simulated green component) during the daytime, and an Infrared product that uses bands 7 and 13 at night. During the day, the imagery looks approximately as it would appear when viewed with human eyes from space. At night, the blue colors represent liquid water clouds such as fog and stratus, while gray to white indicate higher ice clouds, and the city lights come from a static database that was derived from the VIIRS Day Night Band.

Geocolor was developed at the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) and STAR's Regional and Mesoscale Meteorology Branch (RAMMB).


HAZARDS

A wind advisory is in effect until 11 am this morning. A copy of the advisory is posted below.

Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN




GOES 16 - Band 15 - 12.3 µm - Dirty Longwave Window - IR (Precipitation)
11:57 pm last night to 2:52 am this morning

12.3 µm - "Dirty" Longwave IR Window Band - 2 km resolution - Band 15 at 12.3 µm offers nearly continuous monitoring for numerous applications, though usually through a split window difference with a cleaner window channel. These differences can better estimate low-level moisture, volcanic ash, airborne dust/sand, sea surface temperature, and cloud particle size.


TROPICAL OUTLOOK

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Thu Nov 1 2018

For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.




MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphics. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.

Organizers of political events must make themselves available for a video interview at least 7 days before a political event they wish Macon Media to promote. Two weeks is the preferred time frame to maximize awareness.

Giles for Sheriff Meet and Greets

Chili & Soup Dinner with Eric Giles

Thursday, November 1, 2018 at 5 PM – 7 PM

Eric Giles candidate for Macon County Sheriff will be holding a meet and greet dinner for the fine people of Nantahala Community. There will be homemade soup and homemade chili and of course some tasty desserts. This will be a fun time to fellowship and talk with Eric Giles one on one, ask questions and get to know him. Everyone is invited to attend. Facebook event page >> https://www.facebook.com/events/184180139162046/

The Ashton & Alex Zari Superhero Benefit

Location: South Macon Elementary at 855 Addington Bridge Rd

There will be a BBQ/Hot Dog Dinner that starts at 5:00....Cake Walk starts at 5:30....and The Auction starts at 6:30! We will have a dessert bar, face painting, a jumping castle and much more!! We are raffling off an AR-15, a 55" Samsung UHD TV and a $100 Gas Card!! Please come out and support this precious family!! May God Bless You and Yours!! #becauseofcaleb #becauseofshane

Facebook Event Page [LINK] https://www.facebook.com/events/577400109349269/


REACH Purple Purse Challenge



During the month of October, REACH is participating in the Purple Purse Challenge. This Challenge unites nonprofits in a national competition to raise funds for life-changing services for domestic violence survivors. 100% of donations go directly to REACH and they allow REACH to compete for weekly cash prizes and bonus challenges supported by the Allstate Foundation!

You can make a donation securely online through the link below:
www.crowdrise.com/reachofmaconcounty-purplepurse2018

Thank you for your time and support!

Visit REACH of Macon County online at the following locations:

Facebook [LINK]

Website [LINK]

If you have an emergency situation regarding domestic violence, please call 911

REACH 24/7 Hotline:

Macon County 828-369-5544
Jackson County 828-586-8969


Uptown Gallery classes
(These are on-going classes – repeat weekly)

Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm or on Thursday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Bring your own materials and join an on-going drawing course led by gallery artists on Fridays, from 11am – 2 pm. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at (828) 349 – 4607.

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.



Sun and Moon


Sun

Begin civil twilight 7:29 a.m.
Sunrise 7:55 a.m.
Sun transit 1:17 p.m.
Sunset 6:39 p.m.
End civil twilight 7:05 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 1:15 a.m.
Moon transit 8:21 a.m.
Moonset 3:21 p.m.


Phase of the Moon on November 1, 2018: Waning Crescent with 39% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Last Quarter on October 31, 2018 at 12:40 p.m. (local daylight time)


Sky Guides for this week


Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


There will be three solar and two lunar eclipses in 2018. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.


Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

Published at 3:17 am on November 1, 2018

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety


Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, Sky and Telescope Magazine, Astronomy Magazine, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, University of Utah Department of Atmospheric Sciences, and the Weather Prediction Center.

Read More

Traffic Accident Closes Siler Road

A head-on collision involving a report of multiple injuries has resulted in the temporary closing of Siler Road so emergency vehicles can respond. Please avoid the area for the next couple of hours or so. A map has been added here to assist motorists in avoiding the area. Franklin Fire Department, Franklin Police Department, and Macon County EMS are on the scene.


The Macon Media public safety facebook page has been embedded here so readers can receive updates in real time.






CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.


Become a Patron!
If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online.

3:55 pm on October 03, 2018

Read More

Fire Department Extricates Two from Accident Under Bridge One Being Flown to Asheville

An accident has occured off the Little Tennessee River Bridge on the US-441 bypass and traffic has been restricted to one lane going westbound. More information is on our facebook page. Click on the traffic map above to see more detail on where the accident is located so that you might avoid the area. The accident was dispatched at 7:41 am.



Audio clip of the initial dispatch added at 8:38 am.



**9:39 am update**

The Franklin Fire Department has posted pictures:



**9:41am**They've terminated command and are returning to the fire station.


A reader who witnessed the accident reported:

"For anyone wondering about the accident this morning, the car clipped the guard rail while traveling in the left lane west bound. It sent them down through the grass in the middle of the median and launched them airborne down between the bridges onto the greenway service road. They actually scraped against the inside of the westbound lane bridge before crashing down on its side under the bridge. Car was a red pick up (older model) looked like a dodge."



CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia


time published 8:28 am on 04-18-2018

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, July 26, 2017

LOCAL NEWS

An accident on US23/74 in Haywood County at about 2:53 pm on Tuesday claimed the lives of two people and seriously injured a trooper working for the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The road was closed for several hours and traffic diverted until the road was opened again at 11:15 pm after the State Highway Patrol Reconstruction Unit finished investigating he accident and then the vehicles and debris was removed from the roadway.

Real time updates on the traffic situation was provided by and for motorists on Facebook by Macon Media and the WNC Road Warriors Facebook Group.

Read more about the accident at the following locations:

WLOS-TV

2 Dead, Trooper Airlifted

Haywood County Crash Snarls Traffic

WRGC-AM

Deadly Accident in Haywood County

The Mountaineer Newspaper

Accident Details Emerge

Serious Accident Shuts Down US 23/74

LOCAL OUTLOOK

High pressure moving by to the north is expected to provide cooler temperatures today. Another front will move in from the northwest late in the week, with cooler and drier conditions arriving behind it for the weekend.

DAY SPONSOR

The Southeastern Private Property and Federal Land Use Conference in Bryson City is underwriting Macon Media today.

The Southeastern Private Property and Federal Land Use Conference will be taking place in Bryson City on Saturday, July 29th. The purpose of the conference is to examine how the shrinking amount of taxable private property in rural counties leads to below-average economic conditions for businesses and people in those areas. Additionally, the conference will focus on the changing management of federal lands and how this affects rural counties and forest users in the mountains. Learn more about the conference and how you can attend at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2017/07/the-southeastern-private-property-and.html

WEATHER SPONSOR



Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for the month. They have all your masonry products (block, mortars, tools), plus feature Belgrade Pavers and Sakrete Products. Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC.

Visit their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

Their phone number is 828.524.8545, all are welcome, let them help you with your next project.


Weather Almanac for July 26th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 94°F in Franklin in 1999
Lowest Temperature 39°F in Highlands in 1911
Greatest Rainfall 3.06 inches in Highlands in 1943

Record weather events for July in Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on July 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on July 27, 1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on July 29, 1879


THREE DAY OUTLOOK

TODAY



Patchy fog, dense in some locations, in the morning. Sunny with highs in the upper 80s and calm winds. Slight chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2 pm.

TONIGHT

Mostly cloudy with fog developing after midnight and lows in the upper 60s. Calm winds. Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly before midnight.



THURSDAY

Patchy fog in the morning. Partly sunny with highs in the mid-80s and calm winds in the morning, then from the southwest in the afternoon. Chances of scattered showers and thunderstorms increase through the afternoon.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s and out of the southwest. Scattered showers and thunderstorms.



FRIDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs in the low-80s. Showers and thunderstorms are likely.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-60s. Showers are likely.

HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected.

For more information on dealing with excessive heat, please check out http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/heat/

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN



TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Jul 26 2017

For the North Atlantic...The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:

1. A tropical wave, located a few hundred miles south of the Cabo Verde Islands, is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. Some slow development of this system is possible this weekend as it moves westward at 10 to 15 mph.

* Formation chance through 48 hours...low...near 0 percent.
* Formation chance through 5 days...low...20 percent.


MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphic. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.

Wednesday, August 2nd

7:00 p.m. in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room- "A Trip to the Moon and Beyond: The fantastical science fiction silent films of George Melies"
Each short film will be presented with a LIVE soundtrack featuring musicians Tyler Kittle and Michael Libramento.

Free and open to the public.


September 27th, WEDNESDAY

HOSPICE HOUSE FOUNDATION OF WNC

PEACEFUL JOURNEY
3rd annual charity dining event
hosted by RISTORANTE PAOLETTI at 440 Main Street in Highlands

For information, visit http://hhfwnc.org/peaceful-journey/


National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.



Astronomy

Twilight Begins: 6:09 am
Sunrise: 6:38 am
Sunset 8:41 pm
Twilight Ends: 9:09 pm

Day Length (Sunrise to Sunset) 14 h 3 m
(1 min shorter than yesterday)


Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent with 11% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
The next New Moon will occur during a total solar eclipse at 2:36:40 pm on August 21, 2017.

Moonrise 10:05 a.m.
Moonset 11:05 p.m.


Sky Guides for this week

Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


Earth Sky has an article on the eclipses of 2017. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia


Published at 4:15 am on July 26, 2017

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety

Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center. 

Read More