Local School Systems Receive Funding to Bridging the Gap with STEM-E

PRESS RELEASE

Cherokee, NC — Seven local school systems and four schools were awarded the “Bridging the Grant with STEM-E” grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation. This CPF funding will increase accessibility to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) by providing elementary through high school students with mobile science unit field trips, exploration in entrepreneurship, STEAM study within their classrooms, and teacher STEAM professional development. In all, this grant will provide the teachers and students in the far Western North Carolina area tools for increasing STEAM literacy for a stronger future workforce. Students and Teachers from Cherokee Central, Cherokee County, Clay County, Graham County, Haywood County, Macon County, Swain County, New Kituwah Academy, Mountain Discovery Charter, Shining Rock Classical Academy, and Catamount School will be included within the grant. This grant partnership includes the schools, WRESA (Western Region Education Service Alliance) and The Mountain Satellite Office of The Science House of NC State.

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Weather Briefing for Friday, March 20, 2026

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• ...Hazardous Weather Not Expected Expected Today...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]

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NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Temperatures will trend warmer through the weekend. Isolated or widely scattered showers and non-severe thunderstorms are possible in some of the area Saturday.

2. Anomalously warm temperatures develop through the end of the weekend and into the beginning of the new workweek.

2. Unsettled, but generally low-impact, weather continues through the end of next week.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

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DAY SPONSOR

Macon Media is being underwritten today by Bourbon & Bacon. (Formerly Franklin Office Supply)
Visit their store at 161 Highlands Road in Franklin or check out their website at bourbonandbaconfs.com

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

..TODAY....Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows around 50. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph after midnight.

..SATURDAY....Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning. Chance of rain 40 percent.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening. Lows in the lower 50s. West winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

..SUNDAY....Sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)

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State and Local News

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Asheville police focus on prevention and youth outreach after recent shootings | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• NCDMV launches estimated wait times and capacity status tool on its website [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NC sues to stop TV news merger, saying it will drive up prices, reduce content [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Former NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson admits porn habit, says he lied to protect Trump [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Did the Save Act pass? Latest on the bill that would change voter ID laws [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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What is happening on board ships in the Persian Gulf? | Update on Strait | Trump Admin Acts | What's Going on With Shipping?



Iran missiles hit Haifa refinery in Israel in major escalation | Al Jazeera



• Iran Update Special Report, March 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

Bondi, Garcia and Comer speak after Democrats walk out of Epstein briefing | CBS News



Iran strikes energy targets across the Middle East after Israel's strike on South Pars gas field | Sky News



Some DHS contractors say they were asked to pay Trump ally Corey Lewandowski | NBC News



• Cuba readies for first Russian oil shipment of the year as energy crisis deepens [AP News]

• Olympians speak out against Iran's public execution of champion wrestler Saleh Mohammadi [Fox News]

• $200 billion for the war in Iran? Trump calls it a 'small price to pay.' [Yahoo News]

• Trump signals DOJ should continue Powell probe, complicating Warsh Fed nomination [CNBC]

Trump Meets Takaichi; US, Israel Seek to Ease Oil Worries | The Asia Trade 3/20/2026 | Bloomberg Television



ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - March 19, 2026 | ABC News



PBS News Hour full episode, March 19, 2026 | PBS NewsHour



Washington Today (3-19-26): Pres. Trump: Israel won't hit Iranian energy; DoD asks for $200B for war | C-SPAN



Hungary blocks €90B Ukraine aid again | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 19, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Denmark planned to blow up Greenland runways if US invaded, reports say [BBC News]

• 5 takeaways on Gabbard’s grilling in House worldwide threats hearing [The Hill]

What the attacks oil & gas facilites in the Middle East mean for global energy security | DW News



• The equinox sun rises due east and sets due west [EarthSky]

• Gum disease bacterium linked to breast cancer growth and spread [Science Daily ]

• Concerns Over Meta’s Smart Glasses Have Reached the U.S. Senate [Gizmodo]

• RFK Jr. has destroyed over a quarter of health dept’s expert panels [Ars Technica]

• Earthshine will reveal the moon's hidden face this week — here's how to see it [Space.com]

The Level1 Links with Friends Show March 20 2026: Space Hummus, Lunar Lavash



Tokaimura Tragedy - History's Worst Criticality Accident | Kyle Hill



• Kentucky Senate Urged to Strip Hardware Wallet Provision From Crypto Bill [Decrypt]

• FBI warns fake FBI token on Tron is trying to scam users [Coin Telegraph]

Bitcoin: The Bear Market Blues | Benjamin Cowen

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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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

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Published at 6.00am on Friday, March 20, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins







Both are in drydock for maintenance. Comfort is due out in April, Mercy in July. There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. That's funny, because the Mercy won't be available until July 2026 and the Comfort won't be available until at least April 2026. 42m Reply Top fan Bobby Coggins There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. -->

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Weather Briefing for Thursday, March19, 2026

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• ...Hazardous Weather Not Expected Expected Today...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]

---

NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Warmer conditions return to end the work-week. Mostly dry outside of the potential for some rain showers across the northern North Carolina mountains Friday night.

2. Very warm this weekend. A cold front could bring showers on Monday and cooler temps on Tuesday.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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STORM SPONSOR

This space available

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

..TODAY....Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 30s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY....Partly sunny in the morning, then becoming mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. West winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 0s.

..SUNDAY....Sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)

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State and Local News

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NC is Rethinking Property Taxes | State Lines Special | PBS North Carolina



• Friend recalls final moments of N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt, who died of leukemia [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NC Rep. Mike Clampitt dies, just weeks after winning primary election [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• North Carolina lawmakers want to take property tax cap to state voters [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Western NC Rep. Mike Clampitt dies after battle with cancer [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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FOMC Press Conference, March 18, 2026 | Federal Reserve



• Summary of Economic Projections [Federal Reserve (17 Page PDF)]


Key takeaways from Fed Chair Powell's presser | Yahoo Finance



Confirmation Hearing: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Testifies to be DHS Secretary | C-SPAN



Has the Strait of Hormuz Chokepoint Become a Checkpoint for Iranian Shipping? | What's Going on With Shipping?



'This is America’s war': Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi | Al Jazeera



• Iran Update Special Report, March 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

Key moments from Gabbard and Ratcliffe's Senate hearing on worldwide threats | CBS News



Why isn’t Iran using its cruise missiles? | Iran War Briefing Day 19 with Prof Michael Clarke | Sky News



How the Cesar Chavez allegations impact the Latino community | NBC News



• Democrats storm out of Justice Department leaders’ briefing on the Epstein files [AP News]

• Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent under FBI investigation for alleged classified leaks [Fox News]

• Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, keeps 1 cut in play this year as uncertainty mounts [Yahoo News]

• CNBC Daily Open: Iran vows ‘eye-for-eye’ in energy attack escalation [CNBC]

Trump 'Knew Nothing' About Israeli Attack on Iranian Gas Field | The China Show 3/19/2026 | Bloomberg Television



ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - March 18, 2026 | ABC News



PBS News Hour full episode, March 18, 2026 | PBS NewsHour



Washington Today (3-18-26): DHS Sec nominee Markwayne Mullin testifies on immigration enforcement | C-SPAN



Rift over Iran deepens between U.S. and European allies | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 18, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• The Iran war is causing a global energy crisis - can China withstand it? [BBC News]

• The Memo: Trump fumes as foreign leaders show new willingness to defy him [The Hill]

US federal judge blocks Trump's shut down of international broadcaster Voice of America | DW News



• A comet breaks apart, and Hubble sees it happen [EarthSky]

• Your daily coffee may be protecting your brain, 43-year study finds [Science Daily ]

• Kash Patel Admits the FBI is Buying Private Data on Americans [Gizmodo]

• Users hate it, but age-check tech is coming. Here’s how it works. [Ars Technica]

• NASA will roll Artemis 2 moon rocket out to the launch pad on March 19 [Space.com]

New Fossil Reveals Giant Fish Once Hunted Plesiosaurs | 7 Days of Science



Most Powerful Laser In the Entire Universe | Anton Petrov



• Democrats Press Meta Over Facial Recognition Plans for Smart Glasses [Decrypt]

• Crypto industry ties were a liability in Illinois primary [Coin Telegraph]

Bitcoin: Post-FOMC | Benjamin Cowen

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Support Macon Media


• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534

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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Become a Patron!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 6.00am on Thursday, March 19, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins







Both are in drydock for maintenance. Comfort is due out in April, Mercy in July. There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. That's funny, because the Mercy won't be available until July 2026 and the Comfort won't be available until at least April 2026. 42m Reply Top fan Bobby Coggins There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. -->

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National Forests in North Carolina to continue prescribed burning

Boteler and Nantahala Branch Fires Nov 11th, 2016 Photo by Bobby Coggins

 (Asheville, N.C., March 17, 2026) The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service will resume prescribed fire operations across the four National Forests in North Carolina as early as Wednesday, March 18, through the end of spring, pending all required approvals. Fire managers expect prescribed burning to occur over the coming weeks as weather conditions allow.  

Prescribed fire is used to reduce hazardous fuels, improve forest health, and help protect nearby communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from the risk of damaging wildfire. Since the beginning of March, the Forest Service has completed more than 10,500 acres of prescribed burning, including: 

• Pisgah National Forest -- 1,555 acres
• Nantahala National Forest -- 4,509 acres 
• Uwharrie National Forest -- 1,110 acres 
• Croatan National Forest -- 3,390 acres 

Burning may take place across ranger districts when conditions meet specific safety and environmental requirements. Fire managers carefully evaluate weather, fuel conditions, and smoke dispersion before each burn begins. 

Some areas may close to the public for several days for safety. Visitors should watch for posted signs along roads and trails near prescribed fire areas before and after operations.  

Residents may see or smell smoke during prescribed burns. For more information about air quality, visit AirNow.gov or download the mobile app. When driving, slow down, turn on headlights, watch for firefighters and equipment working along roadways.  

Prescribed fire is one of the most effective tools land managers use to reduce wildfire risk and maintain healthy forest ecosystems. These carefully planned burns help remove excess vegetation that can fuel large wildfires while supporting wildlife habitat and resilient landscapes.  

Updates about prescribed burning will be shared through the National Forests in North Carolina website (www.fs.usda.gov/nfsnc) and Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/nfsnc). An interactive map of planned burn areas is available at www.fs.usda.gov/nfnc/burnmaps.

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Weather Briefing for Wednesday, March 18, 2026

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• ...Hazardous Weather Not Expected...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at [LINK]

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NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

1. Cold air mass lingers over the region through tonight, keeping well below normal temperatures around. Lows tonight will drop near to below freezing, impacting sensitive vegetation that has already started blooming from the recent abnormally warm weather.

2. Warming trend still on track starting Thursday into weekend. A backdoor cold front still could bring showers on Monday and cooler temps on Tuesday.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

This space available

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STORM SPONSOR

Young Tree Service is sponsoring Macon Media for the duration of this storm.

They offer 24 hr emergency service and Danger Tree removal.

They provide complete tree care, are licensed and insured. Specializing in low ground impact. Crane Service, Pruning, Views. Call 828-421-0967 for more information.

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GENERAL FORECAST

(since this is a quick forecast intended to cover the whole county, bear in mind that higher elevations may experience cooler temperatures than this and the lower elevations may experience higher temperatures than those in the forecast)

..TODAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 40s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows around 30. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..THURSDAY....Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. West winds around 5 mph.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. West winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. West winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 40s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER



Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

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NEWS UPDATES
(Links aggregated to show what various news outlets are reporting)

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State and Local News

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NC Gov. Stein on tourism | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Rising fuel costs ripple through supply chain, raising concerns about higher prices [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• More health care price changes could be on the way in NC for state employees [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC Senate leader Phil Berger files formal protests in tight GOP primary election [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Here's what Chuck Edwards has to say about Iran war, FEMA reform, more [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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Has the Strait of Hormuz Chokepoint Become a Checkpoint for Iranian Shipping? | What's Going on With Shipping?



Iraq’s capital Baghdad rocked by powerful blasts near US embassy | Al Jazeera



• AP News Liveblog [AP News]

• Jerusalem Post Liveblog [Jerusalem Post]

• BBC Liveblog [BBC News]

• Al Jazeera Liveblog [Al Jazeera]

• Fox News Liveblog [Fox News]

Lawmakers, Trump react to Joe Kent resigning | CBS News



Trump says he's 'disappointed in Starmer' | Sky News



How Iran’s use of cheap drones is affecting the war | NBC News



• Top US intelligence officials set to testify about Iran war and threats confronting the homeland [AP News]

• Next US move on Iran: Seize Kharg Island, secure uranium or risk ground war escalation [Fox News]

• Oil price spike likely to keep rates on hold but deepen divisions among Fed officials this week [Yahoo News]

• France ready to help U.S. secure Strait of Hormuz — but not while ships are under attack [CNBC]

Iraq Resumes Oil Exports Via Turkey & Trump Gives Up On Hormuz Help | Daybreak Europe 3/18/2026 | Bloomberg Television



ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - March 17, 2026 | ABC News



PBS News Hour full episode, March 17, 2026 | PBS NewsHour



Confirmation Hearing: Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) Testifies to be DHS Secretary | C-SPAN



Trump hits NATO allies on Iran war: “We don’t need them” | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 17, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Ukraine faces missile shortage due to Middle East war, says Zelensky [BBC News]

• Joe Kent resignation over Iran war reveals an internal MAGA Trump division [The Hill]

Are the US and Israel waging a war on Iran's terms? | DW News



• Sonic boom from a meteor shakes Ohio and Pennsylvania [EarthSky]

• AI-powered robot learns how to harvest tomatoes more efficiently [Science Daily ]

• U.S. Wants to Mass Produce the Drone Design It Stole From Iran [Gizmodo]

• Arizona indicts prediction market Kalshi for running illegal gambling operation [Ars Technica]

• Rare daytime fireball spotted from orbit as residents report powerful sonic boom [Space.com]

An Earth-Directed Storm Blasts a Big Wave | Space Weather Mid Week 17 March 2026 | Dr.Tamitha Skov



Evidence That Mushrooms Were The First and Most Important Life on Earth | Anton Petrov



• Democrats Press Meta Over Facial Recognition Plans for Smart Glasses [Decrypt]

• ‘Bitcoin Standard’ author explores reality where decentralized gold stopped WWI [Coin Telegraph]

Bitcoin: An Unfortunate Pattern [Update] | Benjamin Cowen

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Support Macon Media


• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

 
• You can now support Macon Media with a $1.99 monthly Facebook subscription at https://www.facebook.com/MaconMediaNews/posts/pfbid0sraDv94aqwTXUA5KqivnmL3U4H5bhjgkZkYdmknBUx5fedENQXAWuQZqndTyNhUel?comment_id=1161740932841534

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. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.

Become a Patron!


Or, if you prefer Pay Pal, try PayPal.me/MaconMedia


Published at 6.00am on Tuesday, March 18, 2026
Author: Bobby Coggins







Both are in drydock for maintenance. Comfort is due out in April, Mercy in July. There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. That's funny, because the Mercy won't be available until July 2026 and the Comfort won't be available until at least April 2026. 42m Reply Top fan Bobby Coggins There was an incident a US Navy submariner was airlifted by a Danish Defense Seahawk helicopter, deployed from the Vædderen, a Danish military patrol ship. Maybe he's upset that we required medical assistance from them. -->

Read More