US and NC Flags to Remain at Half-Staff in Honor of State Highway Patrol Trooper Nolan J. Sanders

File photo of Macon County Courthouse



Governor Roy Cooper ordered all United States and North Carolina flags at state facilities to remain lowered to half-staff until sunset Friday, April 3, 2020 in honor of State Highway Patrol Trooper Nolan J. Sanders who passed away while in the line of duty in Wayne County on Friday, March 27. Trooper Sanders joined the State Highway Patrol in 2015. Prior to this role, he served as a deputy with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.

Governor Cooper released the following statement on Friday:

"We are mourning the loss of NC Highway Patrol Trooper Nolan Sanders who died in the line of duty in a car accident. Kristin and I are grateful for his courage and commitment to protecting North Carolinians. We send our prayers and deepest sympathy to his family, friends and all members of the NC Highway Patrol family."

As a show of respect, individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the duration of time indicated.

Please note, all North Carolina flag announcements are issued in accordance to regulations outlined in the US Flag Code.



###

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Press Release: 43rd Prosecutorial District District Attorney Says Wheels of Justice Continue to Turn

PRESS RELEASE
43D PROSECUTORIAL DISTRICT
DA ASHLEY WELCH

District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said Tuesday the judicial system remains open for business with measures in place to counter the coronavirus pandemic.

“The health and well-being of employees and community members we serve is a top priority,” said Welch, who oversees the 43^rd Prosecutorial District, made up of the state’s seven westernmost counties. 

“Our office is working with others in the court system, including judges, clerks of court, defense attorneys and local law enforcement, to strike a balance between the needs of public health and public safety, while providing constitutional due-process rights as guaranteed under the constitution.”

Law enforcement officers continue to arrest offenders, including domestic-violence suspects, people who drive while impaired and others who commit criminal misdeeds. The District Attorney’s Office continues to process these cases.

Welch emphasized anyone who violates Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order or who ignores locally enacted ordinances could face criminal charges.

“If law enforcement takes action, my office will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” she said. “People need to understand these regulations are in place for the good of all, to try to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

Earlier this month, N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued a set of emergency directives. Her orders to the judicial system included postponing most cases in Superior and District courts. She also instructed local officials to limit the risk of coronavirus exposure in courthouses.

Welch said members of the District Attorney’s Office are deemed essential employees. To limit the potential for coronavirus exposure, administrative staff members are working different shifts districtwide. This both provides protection and allows all seven county offices to stay open, with a staff member in each office available during business hours. 

Otherwise, to the extent possible, she and her 31-member staff are working remotely from their homes.

District Attorney Welch also said:

• Though still operational, the District Attorney’s Office is closed to members of the public. 

• Don’t worry about speeding tickets or other citations if you have a court date. These infractions are being continued to future dates. If you have an attorney, contact them. If you want to know the continued date, then call the Clerk of Court’s office in your county.

• Victims of crimes who have questions about open cases can call the District Attorney’s office in their respective county and leave a message. These messages will be returned as promptly as possible.

• www.nccourts.gov/services is available for handling some court business, including citation services, paying your ticket, court payments, signing up for court-date notifications and reminders and eFiling court documents for certain courts and case types. 

Read More

Mission Health Stands Up Triage Tents at Local Hospitals to Prepare for COVID-19 Tents Next Step in Emergency Planning Protocols

Following is a press release from Mission Health. The tents at Angel Medical Center are going up on Thursday.


PRESS RELEASE
Mission Health
Asheville, NC

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – March 31, 2020 – Mission Health announced today the organization would be moving forward with standing up tents at its hospitals in the coming days to create additional capacity for triaging patients outside of emergency departments, should it become necessary as the COVID-19 outbreak evolves.

“All Mission Health facilities have well-established protocols in place to care for patients with infectious diseases, and our emergency planning efforts related to COVID-19 began weeks ago,” said Greg Lowe, President of the North Carolina Division of HCA Healthcare. “While Mission Health has the bed capacity, staffing, supplies and equipment we need at this time, we continue to plan by accessing the resources, support and best practices across HCA Healthcare to help ensure we remain able to meet the needs of the communities we serve as this situation continues to evolve.”

The tents are part of Mission’s standard emergency planning protocols and are simply a precaution at this time. Over the coming days, Mission will conduct training exercises and drills in the tents, allowing caregivers to become comfortable in the environment should the tents need to become operational.

“Over the coming days and weeks, you may see our caregivers conducting these exercises within these tents,” Lowe said. “It’s important to know that we have not yet seen widespread transmission of COVID-19 at this point in our community or a surge in our hospitals. This is an ongoing process to ensure we’re able to provide safe, compassionate care for those we serve.”

Lowe recognized that residents in local communities are feeling fear and uncertainty during this time.

“While it is impossible to know for certain how this unprecedented outbreak will affect our communities in the coming weeks, we are learning effective strategies from other HCA Healthcare divisions across the country already seeing escalated outbreaks and implementing those for our community. Mission Health and our team of exceptional doctors, nurses – our entire team of caregivers - are here for you,” Lowe said. “Our top priority is protecting the health and safety of our patients and colleagues, and we are working every day to provide the resources we need to provide high-quality care for you and your family during this challenging time.”

Lowe continued, “All of us can take steps to help slow COVID-19’s spread and reduce the number of cases. Mission Health is supportive of Governor Cooper’s Stay at Home order as a way everyone can contribute to protecting the safety of our communities and our medical providers.”

Mission will continue to monitor the situation and work closely in partnership with local and state health departments, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ABOUT MISSION HEALTH

Mission Health, an operating division of HCA Healthcare, is based in Asheville, North Carolina, and is the state’s sixth largest health system. Mission Health operates six hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers, post-acute care provider CarePartners, long-term acute care provider Asheville Specialty Hospital and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. With approximately 12,000 colleagues and 2,000 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visit missionhealth.org or @MissionHealthNC.

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Outlook

A low-pressure center will move east just south of the area today then moves off the Carolina coast tonight. Canadian high pressure will build into the region from the north through Friday, bringing cooler temperatures and dropping us into the upper 30s at night. A weak cold front is expected to move through on Sunday.

We are now in the spring fire season, so please check with the local county ranger before you burn off any debris or fields. [Link]


Headlines

New COVID-19 Forecasts: US Hospitals Could Be Overwhelmed in the Second Week of April by Demand for ICU Beds, and US Deaths Could Total 81,000 by July [LINK]

Coronavirus job losses could total 47 million, unemployment rate may hit 32%, Fed estimates [LINK]

Stay at Home Ordered in North Carolina until April 30th [LINK]

The Town of Franklin and Macon County add further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [LINK]

The CDC website [LINK] reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are spreading person-to-person, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 1,167 cases, 91 hospitalizations, and 5 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 1,189 people infected and 6 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

Curated links and video about humanity's response to the COVID-19 pandemic [LINK]


Recent Meeting Videos Delayed

Thanks to an assist from the folks at Wired, the video editing computer is back up and videos should be forthcoming. Thanks to everyone who has been patient and thanks to the donor who has made it possible to have a new video editing computer built that will be in service soon.


Public Safety Log
(this section is temporarily deprecated until I get caught up with videos from past meetings.



THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
The maps have been switched from showing the eastern United States to the Western Atlantic Region in anticipation of warmer weather when our weather pattern is more susceptible to being impacted by what happens in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.



The next one shows the forecast for rain in 24hour totals over the next few days.



And this one shows the forecast for surface pressure (in mb) and winds at 10 metres (30 feet) over the same time period.

---

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 next project.

---

Weather Hazards

Hazardous weather is not anticipated for today. We are now in the spring fire season, so please check with the local county ranger before you burn off any debris or fields. [Link] https://www.ncforestservice.gov/Contacts/macon.htm

---

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. 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

---

WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]

---

FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today

Rain likely this morning, then showers after 9am. Highs in the lower 50s. Winds out of the northeast 3 to 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely before 2am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm after dark.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 40.

---

OTTO AREA FORECAST


Today

Rain likely, mainly in the morning, then showers after 9am. Highs near 50. Winds out of the northeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southeast around midmorning. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely before 1am, then a chance of rain between 1am and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. the chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 60. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 6 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 40.

---

HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST


Today

A chance of rain before 7am, then showers, mainly after 7am. Patchy fog after 2pm. Highs in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southeast by midmorning. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely before 1am, then a chance of rain between 1am and 3am, then a chance of showers after 3am. Patchy fog before 11pm. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50. WInds out of the north 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows around freezing. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s.

---

NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST


Today

A chance of rain before 7am, then showers, mainly after 7am. Highs near 50. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three-quarters and one inch possible.

Tonight

Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Patchy fog before 10pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 50s. Winds out of the north 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Thursday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 60.

Thursday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows around 40.



Published at 5:00am on Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Read More

COVID-19 Update for Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Several curated videos and links to articles are posted below to allow you to follow the course of humanity's response to this global pandemic.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests temporarily shut down trailheads, access points to Appalachian National Scenic Trail [LINK]

Governor Roy Cooper Issues "Stay at Home" Order for the state to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 [LINK]

The Town of Franklin and Macon County have added further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [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. 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

COVID-19 Update for March 30th


The CDC website [LINK] reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are widespread, the NCDHHS website [LINK] also reports 935 cases, 87 hospitalized and 4 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 1,063 people infected and 5 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

VIDEO BRIEFINGS

World Health Organization


White House Coonavirus Task Force


North Carolina

English

Spanish




GOOD NEWS

Zookeepers Self-Isolate In A Wildlife Park For 12 Weeks To Look After The Animals [LINK]

Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds Donate $400,000 to New York Hospitals Amid Coronavirus [LINK]

Police officer pulls over speeding doctor — and gives her his safety masks [LINK]

Social distancing restrictions are slowing coronavirus infections, new data suggests [LINK]

Medtronic to share ventilator designs [LINK]

Supercars team Erebus Motorsport designs equipment to aid fight against coronavirus [LINK]

THE FALLEN

New York neurosurgeon who separated conjoined twins dies from complications of Covid-19 [LINK]

90 Yr Old Woman Dies From Coronavirus After Refusing Ventilator, Tells Doctor To Save It For Sick Younger People [LINK]

REGIONAL COVID-19 NEWS

Buncombe’s COVID-19 rules stricter than state order [LINK]

Coronavirus update: Buncombe has had 21 COVID-19 cases, peak expected in three weeks [LINK]

Watauga County: Grocery Stores Taking Extra Precautions to Deal with the COVID-19 Coronavirus Spread [LINK]

Swain County closes hotels, rentals as precaution [LINK]

Macon County: Food banks deal with spike in demand [LINK]

Macon County: CareNet partners with Free Little Pantry to feed the community [LINK]

Henderson County: Churches turn to online services, parking lot sermons, drive-by birthdays during coronavirus in Henderson County [LINK]

Macon County: Cooking up a new strategy [LINK]

Cherokee County: Coronavirus clampdown: Disease spreads to area [LINK]

Graham County: County clarifies closure of borders [LINK]

Haywood County: So long tourists: Coronavirus safeguards target visitors, second-home owners [LINK]

Qualla Boundary: Harrah's extends casino closure [LINK]

Qualla Boundary: Trump signs CARES Act, includes billions for Indian Country [LINK]


GENERAL ARTICLES

New COVID-19 Forecasts: US Hospitals Could Be Overwhelmed in the Second Week of April by Demand for ICU Beds, and US Deaths Could Total 81,000 by July [LINK]

(VIDEO) Update from Dr John Campbell


What to Say if People You Know Aren't Taking The Pandemic Seriously [LINK]

The @EmpireStateBldg reminding us that the city is in the middle of an emergency. pic.twitter.com/50TjEjOogN

— Rita J. King (@RitaJKing) March 31, 2020

Dr. Birx predicts up to 200,000 U.S. coronavirus deaths 'if we do things almost perfectly' [LINK] 

(VIDEO) WHY THE CORONAVIRUS DEATH RATE WILL INCREASE--I'm A Surgeon--Here's The SCIENCE


Coronavirus job losses could total 47 million, unemployment rate may hit 32%, Fed estimates [LINK]

L.A. Suspends All Farmers Markets After Another Crowded Weekend [LINK]

(VIDEO) Coronavirus Pandemic Update 46: Can Hot/Cold Therapy Boost Immunity? More on Hydroxychloroquine


Six Days Before Dying From COVID-19, He Tried to Get Tested and Was Turned Away [LINK]

A 25-year-old pharmacy tech dies from coronavirus. It's an urgent warning for young people [LINK]

CDC considering recommending general public wear face coverings in public [LINK]

Not wearing masks to protect against coronavirus is a ‘big mistake,’ top Chinese scientist says [LINK]

Bodies loaded by forklift into truck as coronavirus death toll nears 1,000 in New York [LINK]

Tampa megachurch pastor arrested after leading packed services despite 'safer-at-home' orders [LINK]

West Allis police shut down Hobby Lobby for being a non-essential business [LINK]

New York governor says ventilator prices went from $20,000 to $50,000 in a matter of weeks [LINK]

Entire county in Colorado getting tested for COVID-19 [LINK]

World Health Organization encourages playing video games during coronavirus pandemic [LINK]

New York man refuses to let son back in house after taking spring break trip amid coronavirus outbreak [LINK]

Managing Steam Bandwidth During COVID-19 Pandemic [LINK]



BAD PEOPLE

Amazon fires warehouse worker who led Staten Island strike for more coronavirus protection [LINK]

New York City man arrested for running speakeasy where people were drinking and gambling during coronavirus lockdown [LINK]

Spring breakers who came to Gulf Shores test positive for COVID-19 [LINK]

Hospital administrators are trying to silence and threatening retaliation against doctors and nurses who comment on COVID-19 shortages [LINK]


COVID-19 Update Archive

March 2020

03-30 [LINK]
03-29 [LINK]
03-28 [LINK]
03-27 [LINK]
03-26 [LINK]






Published at 4:00am on Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Read More

COVID-19 Update for Monday, March 30, 2020

Several curated videos and links to articles are posted below to allow you to follow the course of humanity's response to this global pandemic.

ABOVE THE FOLD

Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests temporarily shut down trailheads, access points to Appalachian National Scenic Trail [LINK]

Governor Roy Cooper Issues "Stay at Home" Order for the state to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 [LINK]

The Town of Franklin and Macon County have added further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [LINK]

COVID-19 Update for March 30th


The CDC website [LINK] reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are spreading person-to-person, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 1,167 cases, 91 hospitalizations, and 5 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 1,189 people infected and 6 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

HEADLINES

Trump extends federal social distancing guidance for 30 days [LINK]

Fauci predicts millions of coronavirus cases in US, and more than 100,000 deaths [LINK]

Food Safety and Coronavirus: A Comprehensive Guide [LINK]

New blood tests for antibodies could show true scale of coronavirus pandemic [LINK]

Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency. FDA is issuing this guidance to provide a policy to help expand the availability of general use face masks for the general public and particulate filtering facepiece respirators. [PDF]

---BEGIN ADVERTISEMENT---
DAY SPONSOR


Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
---END ADVERTISEMENT---


Dr John Campbell Update for Sunday, March 29th

Part One



Part Two



White House Task Force



GOOD NEWS

Nordstrom alterations teams to sew more than 100,000 medical masks for health care workers [LINK]

Columbia Sportswear employees to receive regular pay as CEO cuts own salary to $10,000 [LINK]

Usage of Masks "Flattened" Growth of Coronavirus Cases in Czech Republic [LINK]

Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus squad give up $100 million in wages amid coronavirus outbreak [LINK]

Cigna and Humana waive coronavirus treatment costs [LINK]


THE FALLEN

FDNY mechanic, an ‘unsung hero’ who kept ambulances running, dies of coronavirus [LINK]


GENERAL ARTICLES



COVID-19 Coronavirus: Just Like the Flu or Worse???



President Trump Participates in a Meeting with Supply Chain Distributors



New Yorkers who break social distancing rules will now face fines up to $500 [LINK]

Alan Merrill, songwriter of 'I Love Rock and Roll' dies of COVID-19 [LINK]

NYPD: 730 uniformed members test positive for coronavirus [LINK]

Western Michigan University student dies of coronavirus weeks before graduation [LINK]

Wuhan Residents Claim The True Death Toll From Coronavirus Is Close To 47,000 [LINK]

Wuhan COVID-19 death toll may be in tens of thousands, data on cremations and shipments of urns suggest [LINK]

FDA approves use of Battelle’s mask sterilizing technology at full capacity [LINK]

WHO ignored Taiwan's warnings about coronavirus in December [LINK]

'Stealth Transmission' of COVID-19 Demands Widespread Mask Usage [LINK]
(Registration required to read article)

A 37-year-old pregnant woman with coronavirus and her baby die in La Coruña [LINK] (article in Spanish)


DUMB PEOPLE

Choir practice turns fatal. Airborne coronavirus strongly suspected [LINK]


MCHD: Numbers of people hospitalized in Alabama won’t be shared with the public [LINK]

Central pastor continues to defy Governor’s orders, hosts more than 1,200 for Sunday service [LINK]

BAD PEOPLE

Coronavirus: Rudy Giuliani has Twitter account temporarily blocked for spreading 'COVID-19 misinformation' [LINK]

Exclusive: Justice Department reviews stock trades by lawmakers after coronavirus briefings [LINK]

ER doctor fired after criticizing coronavirus response at his hospital in Washington [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. 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 8:30am on Monday, March 30, 2020

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Monday, March 30, 2020

Outlook

A weakening cold front will move east of the area tonight with high pressure spreading back over the region today. Rain chances will increase again on Tuesday as low pressure moves across the area from the west. Canadian high pressure will spread back over the region on Wednesday and linger through the end of the week.

DAY SPONSOR

Carrion Tree Service is underwriting Macon Media for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.

Their phone number is 371-4718.

They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.


Headlines


Governor Cooper's "Stay at Home" Order takes effect at 5pm today [LINK]

The main gist of the order is if you are not engaged is essential activities, like going to and from work or resupplying your household, or assisting other people with resupplying, stay at home. Outdoor exercise and walking your dogs are permitted. Read the order at the link above if you have any questions.

The Town of Franklin and Macon County have added further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [LINK]

The CDC website [LINK]  reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are spreading person-to-person, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 1,167 cases, 91 hospitalizations, and 5 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 1,189 people infected and 6 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

COVID-19 Updates Have Moved

Since the COVID-19 section of the daily news and weather briefing has grown rather large and unwieldy, they've been moved to their own article. The update is late today, so look for it to be published around 7am or so.




Recent Meeting Videos Delayed

Thanks to an assist from the folks at Wired, the video editing computer is back up and videos should be forthcoming. Thanks to everyone who has been patient and thanks to the donor who has made it possible to have a new video editing computer built that will be in service soon.


Public Safety Log
(this section is temporarily deprecated until I get caught up with videos from past meetings.



THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
The maps have been switched from showing the eastern United States to the Western Atlantic Region in anticipation of warmer weather when our weather pattern is more susceptible to being impacted by what happens in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.



The next one shows the forecast for rain in 24hour totals over the next few days.



And this one shows the forecast for surface pressure (in mb) and winds at 10 metres (30 feet) over the same time period.

---

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 next project.

---

Weather Hazards

Hazardous weather is not anticipated for today.

---

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. 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

---

WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]

---

FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today

Partly sunny, with highs near 70. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. Winds could gust as high as 25 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. WInds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm after dark. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 8am. Highs in the mid-50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Calm winds increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s.

Wednesday Night

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s.

---

OTTO AREA FORECAST


Today

Partly sunny, with highs near 70. WInds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 3 to 5 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 8am. Highs in the mid-50s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the southeast 5 to 10 mph by midmorning. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Calm winds increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. the chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 50s.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s.

---

HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST


Today

Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 7am. Highs near 50. Winds out of the northeast 5 to 10 mph shifting to come out of the southeast by midmorning. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Light and variable winds increasing to come out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 70%.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-30s.

---

NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST


Today

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Increasing clouds, with lows in the mid-40s. Light winds out of the northwest. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers. Highs in the mid-50s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the east around 5 mph by midmorning. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Calm winds increasing to come out of the northwest around 5 mph after midnight. The chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with highs near 50.

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s.



Published at 5:30am on Monday, March 30, 2020

Read More

Daily Weather Briefing for Sunay, March 29, 2020

Outlook

A weakening cold front will push through the area today, bringing cooler temperatures back to the region and the potential for showers and thunderstorms mainly over the mountains. Temperatures will trend cooler Monday following that front, with another chance for rain Tuesday as low pressure passes nearby. Cool and mostly dry conditions are expected for the latter half of the week.




Headlines


Governor Roy Cooper Issues "Stay at Home" Order for the state to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 [LINK]

The Town of Franklin and Macon County have added further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [LINK]

The CDC website [LINK] reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are spreading person-to-person, the NCDHHS website [LINK] also reports 763 cases and 3 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 944 people infected and 5 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

COVID-19 Updates Have Moved

Since the COVID-19 section of the daily news and weather briefing has grown rather large and unwieldy, they've been moved to their own daily article. [LINK]




Recent Meeting Videos Delayed

Thanks to an assist from the folks at Wired, the video editing computer is back up and videos should be forthcoming. Thanks to everyone who has been patient and thanks to the donor who has made it possible to have a new video editing computer built that will be in service soon.


Public Safety Log
(this section is temporarily deprecated until I get caught up with videos from past meetings.



THREE DAY GFS FORECAST
The maps have been switched from showing the eastern United States to the Western Atlantic Region in anticipation of warmer weather when our weather pattern is more susceptible to being impacted by what happens in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

This animated image shows a forecast of precipitation, air pressure and thickness level (cold-air damming) for three days in six-hour increments.
Green, Yellow, and Red indicate rain. Orange and Purple Indicate Freezing Rain or other freezing precipitation. Blue indicates snow.



The next one shows the forecast for rain in 24hour totals over the next few days.



And this one shows the forecast for surface pressure (in mb) and winds at 10 metres (30 feet) over the same time period.

---

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 next project.

---

Weather Hazards

Hazardous weather is not anticipated for today.

---

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. 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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---

WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 7 am, 1 pm, and 7 pm.
[click on any image in this article to enlarge]

---

FRANKLIN AREA FORECAST
Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then isolated showers. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-70s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph shifting to come out of the northeast by midmorning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of rain is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday

Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm befoe midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 9am. Highs in the upper 50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. the chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 40s. the chance of precipitation is 60%.

---

OTTO AREA FORECAST


Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then isolated showers. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-70s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 15 mph shifting to come out of the northeast by midmorning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday

Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with lows around 50. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 9am. Highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph by midmorning. the chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s. The chance of precipitation is 70%.

---

HIGHLANDS PLATEAU FORECAST


Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms before noon, then scattered showers between noon and 2pm. Partly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 60s. Winds out of the west 10 to 15 mph in the morning increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.

Monday

Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the northwest 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph decreasing to become winds out of the north after midnight. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 9am. Highs near 50. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. The chance of precipitation is 70%.

---

NANTAHALA AREA FORECAST


Today

Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then isolated showers. Patchy fog between 7am and 9am. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with highs in the upper 60s. Winds out of the west 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday

Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid-to-lower 60s. Winds out of the northwest 5 to 10 mph.

Monday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph decreasing to become calm before midnight.

Tuesday

Showers, mainly after 9am. Highs in the mid-50s. The chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday Night

Showers likely, mainly before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. The chance of precipitation is 70%.



Published at 7:05am on Sunday, March 29, 2020

Read More

COVID-19 Update for Sunday, March 29, 2020

Several curated videos and links to articles are posted below to allow you to follow the course of humanity's response to this global pandemic.

Cherokee, Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests temporarily shut down trailheads, access points to Appalachian National Scenic Trail [LINK]

Governor Roy Cooper Issues "Stay at Home" Order for the state to mitigate the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 [LINK]

The Town of Franklin and Macon County have added further restrictions to the State of Emergency currently in effect. [LINK]

COVID-19 Update for March 29th


The CDC website [LINK] reports 764 people in North Carolina are infected and that the infections are widespread, the NCDHHS website [LINK] also reports 935 cases, 87 hospitalized and 4 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 1,063 people infected and 5 deaths.

Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]

Good News

Volunteers sewing supplies for health care workers [LINK]

Blue ribbons popping up along streets in Abbotsford in praise of B.C. healthcare workers [LINK]

Parents Work on the Front Lines. Where Do Their Children Go All Day?
An experimental program attempts to fill the void of shuttered public schools. [LINK]

PlayStation Employees Working from Home Until 30th April, Will Receive Full Pay and Equipment Budget [LINK]

BBC Joins Netflix In Making $600,000 Donation To Coronavirus Emergency Relief Fund [LINK]



Research

Over 20,000 academic articles on Coronavirus are free for public access [LINK]

Donor's Blood May Help Recipient Fight COVID-19 [LINK]

Russia claims it produces drug to treat COVID-19 [LINK]

Coronavirus: pathogen could have been spreading in humans for decades, study says [LINK]

Coronavirus Video Briefings
(There were no video briefings on Saturday, so the Friday Briefings have been left up


World Health Organization Briefing



White House Coronavirus Taks Force Briefing


Governor's Coronavirus Briefing for North Carolina

English

Spanish

General Articles

President Trump Delivers Remarks at Naval Station Norfolk Send-Off for USNS Comfort


More on Zoom and privacy [LINK]

How Russia is using authoritarian tech to curb coronavirus [LINK] 

How Taiwan Used Big Data, Transparency and a Central Command to Protect Its People from Coronavirus [LINK]

Canada turning to makeshift hospitals to house patients as COVID-19 pandemic stretches capacity [LINK]

Can Tesla, GM And Ford Help Solve The Coronavirus Ventilator Shortage?


How To Tell If We're Beating COVID-19


TED || How we must respond to the coronavirus pandemic


A 3D-printed ventilator designed for Spain's coronavirus patients. [LINK]

Virus Protection Basis [LINK]

March 28th Update from Dr John Campbell


2 arrested, 70 cited for violating stay-at-home orders, Honolulu police say [LINK]

Government Tracking How People Move Around in Coronavirus Pandemic [LINK]

‘Off the charts’: Virus hot spots grow in middle America [LINK]

Confirmed Coronavirus Cases Is an ‘Almost Meaningless’ Metric [LINK]

Politics
(The following section is presented to give the reader an idea of how people are attempting to report on this pandemic through the lens of their own political agendas)

Trump drops idea of New York lockdown as U.S. death count crosses 2,000 [LINK]

One-Worlders Exploit Pandemic For Global Government [LINK]

Trump backs down on NY quarantine threat after Cuomo slams president’s ‘anti-American’ coronavirus proposal [LINK]

The Mega-Bailout Leaves 4 Mega Questions [LINK]

Anarchy and the coronavirus [LINK]

The first casualty of war, even war against a virus, is truth [LINK]

Giuliani Urges Governors And Mayors Grovel To Trump For COVID-19 Help [LINK]

Dictatorship of the immunocompromised? [LINK]




Archive

Mach 28th Update [LINK]


March 27th Updates [LINK]

March 26th Update [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. 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 6:20am on Sunday, March 29, 2020

Read More