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**note** The Local and State News Segment has been moved below the Macon Calendar Segment.
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Weather
Hazards and Tropical Weather
Almanac
Macon Calendar
Local and StateNews
National News Roundup
COVID-19 News and Updates
Science and Technology
On This Day
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OUTLOOK
Cool, dry high pressure will remain in place through midweek, before a weak cold front approaches on Thursday night. This front initially appears to stall over Tennessee on Friday, before becoming stronger and bringing rain to our region over the weekend. Low pressure is forecast to move northeast across Florida early next week.
**Local Alert**
Macon County Public Health Hosting One-Time Vaccine Clinic for School Required Vaccinations
Macon County Public Health will be offering a one-time drive-thru vaccine clinic for students who need the TDap and/or Menactra (meningococcal) vaccines which are required for NC public school students in 7th grade or aged 12 years old (whichever comes first) as well as booster vaccinations in the 12th grade.
The clinic will be held on Monday, December 13th, 2021 from 2:00 pm to 4:00pm, a parent or guardian must be present to consent to the vaccine and appointments are required.
To schedule an appointment during this clinic, call 828-349-2081. Please bring a copy of your child’s insurance, Medicaid, or Healthy Choice card, so your insurance can be filed for the vaccinations. If your child is uninsured, their vaccinations may be covered through the state.
---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT---
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.
---END SPONSOR SEGMENT------
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Local Weather
National Weather Map for Today
General forecast through Friday Night
Franklin area
Today
Sunny, with highs near 62. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows around 40. Calm winds.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid 40s. Calm winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with highs near 70.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 50s.
Highlands Plateau
Today
Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph.
Tonight
Increasing clouds, with lows around 40. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph.
Thursday
Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the mid 50s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 40s. Winds out of the southwest 5 to 10 mph.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with highs near 60.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 50s.
Otto area
Today
Sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 7 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Light winds out of the southeast.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs in the mid 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 40s. Calm winds.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with highs in the upper 60s.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s.
Nantahala area
Today
Sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the southeast 3 to 5 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with lows in the lower 40s. Winds out of the southeast wind 3 to 5 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with highs near 60. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows around 50. Light winds out of the south.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid 60s.
Friday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid 50s.
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Hazards and Tropical Weather
Hazardous Weather is not expected today.
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Almanac
Air Quality
Air quality is in the extreme upper range of green for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the extreme upper range of green.
Fire and Smoke Map
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be in the low range (1.5 out of 12) today with a mixed trace of sources being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (1.6 out of 12).
Record Weather Events for December 15th
Record weather events for this date in Macon County
(1872-2016)
Highest Temperature 73°F in Highlands in 1927 lowest Temperature -10°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1962 Greatest One-Day Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands in 1901 Greatest One-Day Snowfall 4.0 inches in Franklin in 1958
Record weather events for December in Macon County
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin on Dec 31, 1951
Lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands on Dec 30, 1917
Greatest Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands on Dec 14, 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin on Dec 21, 1876
All-time record weather events for Macon County
Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993
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Macon Calendar
(send your event to calendar@maconmedia.com)
Experiencing Nature Through Expanded Senses
"Friends of the Greenway is hosting an indoor "Experiencing Nature Through Expanded Senses" with leader, Diane Wildermuth. Sessions will be held at FROG Quarters on December 15 at 10:30 AM or 12:30 PM. Contact Diane at 421-5539 or dswnatureguide@outlook.com for additional information or to register."
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is back in 2021! The 1¼ hour round-trip passenger excursion comes to life as the train departs the Bryson City depot for a journey through the quiet wilderness for a special visit at the North Pole. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, guests on board will enjoy warm cocoa and a treat while listening and reading along with the magical story. Children’s faces show the magic of the season when the train arrives at the North Pole to find Santa Claus waiting. Santa will board THE POLAR EXPRESS™, greeting each child and presenting them with a special gift as in the story, their own silver sleigh bell. Christmas carols will be sung as they return back to the Bryson City Depot. For tickets, see [GSMR.com]
Dillsboro Lights & Luminaries
Adapted from an old Scandinavian custom of lighting the way for the Christ child, more than 2,500 candles in small white bags line the streets and every storefront is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. Shopkeepers and restaurants are open late. See Santa and Mrs. Claus as they ride through town in their pickup truck. Write a letter to Santa and drop it off at his special mailbox. Live music on Front Street. For more information, see [Visit Dillsboro]
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Local and State News
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 15, 2021]
• Trooper shot, suspect dead after Yancey County chase [WLOS-TV]
• Say what?!? Asheville makes 'worst place to live' list, based on standard of living [Asheville Citizen-Times]
• 2021 Macon County Employee Service Awards [Macon Media]
Franklin Town Council - December 2021 Special Called Meeting
• Thank to Teachers: Mina Jenkins [WLOS-TV]
• Macon County Board of Education - December 2021 Regular Meeting [Macon Media]
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National and World News Roundup
Bushcraft Bear: La Palma Volcano Report for December 14th, 2021
• Prison time ordered for man who threatened to kill DC mayor and Speaker Pelosi [Courthouse News Service]
• Russia says it may be forced to deploy intermediate nuclear missiles in Europe [Reuters]
• House votes to hold Mark Meadows in contempt in Jan. 6 probe [AP News]
• DC Sues Proud Boys, Oath Keepers Over Jan. 6 Attack [NBC 4 Washington]
• Hobby Lobby raising minimum wage to $18.50 [KEPR-TV]
• Wisconsin attorney general won't enforce any abortion ban [AP News]
NBC Nightly News Full Broadcast - December 14th, 2021
PBS NewsHour Full Episode December 14th, 2021
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COVID-19 News and Updates
Since it looks like we may be in for a new wave of infections, here is a section on COVID-19. It will include local, regional, state, national, and global items.
COVID-19 Numbers for Macon County: [November 18, 2021]
• WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard [World Health Organization]
Globally, as of 5:02pm CET, 14 December 2021, there have been 270,031,622 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 5,310,502 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 13 December 2021, a total of 8,200,642,671 vaccine doses have been administered.
In United States of America, from 3 January 2020 to 5:02pm CET, 14 December 2021, there have been 49,625,855 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 790,920 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 10 December 2021, a total of 465,812,616 vaccine doses have been administered.
• Cornell University reports more than 900 Covid-19 cases this week. Many are Omicron variant cases in fully vaccinated students [CNN]
• Paper claiming a lack of evidence COVID-19 lockdowns work is retracted [Retraction Watch]
• Efficient Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from Exhaled Breath [The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics]
• Stochastic social behavior coupled to COVID-19 dynamics leads to waves, plateaus, and an endemic state [eLife Sciences]
• Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of concern [MedRxiv]
• Health officials: Georgia infant becomes youngest patient in the state to die from COVID-19 [WJCL-TV]
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Science and Technology News Roundup
• How to Determine If a Source Is Scholarly [Illinois Undergraduate Library]
Level1 News December 15 2021: Writing Checks That Your Facts Can't Cash
• United Airlines plans to purchase up to 100 hydrogen-electric engines [CNBC]
NASA's Parker Solar Probe Touches The Sun For The First Time
• Kronos hit with ransomware, warns of data breach and 'several week' outage [ZDNET]
• NASA launches Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer to study the X-ray universe [Digital Trends]
• Google is threatening to fire unvaccinated employees [The Verge]
• Dell’s Luna laptop concept is all about repairability [The Verge]
Cordkillers 388 - I Muted Everything (w/ Andrew Mayne)
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On This Day
December 15th is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 16 days remain until the end of the year.
Historical Events
(Please note that the Wikipedia articles often contain a bibliography and links to where you can learn more about a historical event)
533 – Vandalic War: Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Tricamarum.
687 – Pope Sergius I is elected as a compromise between antipopes Paschal and Theodore.
1025 – Constantine VIII becomes sole emperor of the Byzantine Empire, 63 years after being crowned co-emperor.
1161 – Jin–Song wars: Military officers conspire against the emperor Wanyan Liang of the Jin dynasty after a military defeat at the Battle of Caishi, and assassinate the emperor at his camp.
1167 – Sicilian Chancellor Stephen du Perche moves the royal court to Messina to prevent a rebellion.
1256 – Mongol forces under Hulagu enter and dismantle the Nizari Ismaili (Assassin) stronghold at Alamut Castle (in present-day Iran) as part of their offensive on Islamic southwest Asia.
1270 – The Nizari Ismaili garrison of Gerdkuh, Persia surrender after 17 years to the Mongols.
1467 – Stephen III of Moldavia defeats Matthias Corvinus of Hungary, with the latter being injured thrice, at the Battle of Baia.
1651 – Castle Cornet in Guernsey, the last stronghold which had supported the King in the Third English Civil War, surrenders.
1778 – American Revolutionary War: British and French fleets clash in the Battle of St. Lucia.
1791 – The United States Bill of Rights becomes law when ratified by the Virginia General Assembly.
1836 – The U.S. Patent Office building in Washington, D.C., nearly burns to the ground, destroying all 9,957 patents issued by the federal government to that date, as well as 7,000 related patent models.
1864 – American Civil War: The Battle of Nashville begins at Nashville, Tennessee, and ends the following day with the destruction of the Confederate Army of Tennessee as a fighting force by the Union Army of the Cumberland.
1869 – The short-lived Republic of Ezo is proclaimed in the Ezo area of Japan. It is the first attempt to establish a democracy in Japan.
1890 – Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull is killed on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre.
1893 – Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World" a.k.a. the "New World Symphony") by Antonín Dvořák premieres in a public afternoon rehearsal at Carnegie Hall in New York City, followed by a concert premiere on the evening of December 16.
1899 – British Army forces are defeated at the Battle of Colenso in Natal, South Africa, the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War.
1903 – Italian American food cart vendor Italo Marchiony receives a U.S. patent for inventing a machine that makes ice cream cones.
1905 – The Pushkin House is established in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to preserve the cultural heritage of Alexander Pushkin.
1906 – The London Underground's Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway opens.
1914 – World War I: The Serbian Army recaptures Belgrade from the invading Austro-Hungarian Army.
1914 – A gas explosion at Mitsubishi Hōjō coal mine, in Kyushu, Japan, kills 687.
1917 – World War I: An armistice between Russia and the Central Powers is signed.
1939 – Gone with the Wind (highest inflation adjusted grossing film) receives its premiere at Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
1941 – The Holocaust in Ukraine: German troops murder over 15,000 Jews at Drobytsky Yar, a ravine southeast of the city of Kharkiv.
1942 – World War II: The Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse begins during the Guadalcanal Campaign.
1943 – World War II: The Battle of Arawe begins during the New Britain campaign.
1944 – World War II: a single-engine UC-64A Norseman aeroplane carrying United States Army Air Forces Major Glenn Miller is lost in a flight over the English Channel.
1945 – Occupation of Japan/Shinto Directive: General Douglas MacArthur orders that Shinto be abolished as the state religion of Japan.
1960 – Richard Pavlick is arrested for plotting to assassinate U.S. President-Elect John F. Kennedy.
1960 – King Mahendra of Nepal suspends the country's constitution, dissolves parliament, dismisses the cabinet, and imposes direct rule.
1961 – Adolf Eichmann is sentenced to death after being found guilty by an Israeli court of 15 criminal charges, including charges of crimes against humanity, crimes against the Jewish people, and membership of an outlawed organization.
1965 – Project Gemini: Gemini 6A, crewed by Wally Schirra and Thomas Stafford, is launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida. Four orbits later, it achieves the first space rendezvous, with Gemini 7.
1970 – Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 successfully lands on Venus. It is the first successful soft landing on another planet.
1973 – John Paul Getty III, grandson of American billionaire J. Paul Getty, is found alive near Naples, Italy, after being kidnapped by an Italian gang on July 10.
1973 – The American Psychiatric Association votes 13–0 to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
1978 – U.S. President Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will recognize the People's Republic of China and sever diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
1981 – A suicide car bombing targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, levels the embassy and kills 61 people, including Iraq's ambassador to Lebanon. The attack is considered the first modern suicide bombing.
1989 – Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights relating the abolition of capital punishment is adopted.
1993 – The Troubles: The Downing Street Declaration is issued by British Prime Minister John Major and Irish Taoiseach Albert Reynolds.
1997 – Tajikistan Airlines Flight 3183 crashes in the desert near Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, killing 85.
2000 – The third reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is shut down.
2001 – The Leaning Tower of Pisa reopens after 11 years and $27,000,000 spent to stabilize it, without fixing its famous lean.
2005 – Introduction of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor into USAF active service.
2010 – A boat carrying 90 asylum seekers crashes into rocks off the coast of Christmas Island, Australia, killing 48 people.
2013 – The South Sudanese Civil War begins when opposition leaders Dr. Riek Machar, Pagan Amum and Rebecca Nyandeng vote to boycott the meeting of the National Liberation Council at Nyakuron.
2014 – Gunman Man Haron Monis takes 18 hostages inside a café in Martin Place for 16 hours in Sydney. Monis and two hostages are killed when police raid the café the following morning.
2017 – A 6.5Mw earthquake strikes the Indonesian island of Java in the city of Tasikmalaya, resulting in four deaths.
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Published at 4:00am on Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Author: Bobby Coggins
Resources used to compile the information in this article include, but are not limited to the following websites or books: MaconMedia.com, youtube.com, weather.gov, airnow.gov, wikipedia.com, onthisday.com, ncdcr.gov, ncsu.edu, utah.edu, https://www.microbe.tv/twiv/, wolfram.com, biorxiv.org, aps.org, nejm.org, plos.org, cell.com, researchsquare.com, cureus.com, spc.noaa.gov, nhc.noaa.gov, ncdenr.org, medrxiv.org, archive.org, ncpedia.org, nasa.gov, https://ww2days.com, nih.gov, carolinapublicpress.org, microbe.tv, smokymountainnews.com, psypost.org, blogspot.com, pollen.com, franklinnc.com, maconnc.org, spaceweather.com, solarham.com, loc.gov, ncleg.net, senate.gov, house.gov, whitehouse.gov, drudgereport.com, politico.com, realclearpolitics.com, ushmm.org, This Day in North Carolina History, World War II Day By Day, The Holocaust Encyclopedia, The Timetables of History, The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The World History and Book of Facts (multiple years), On This Day In History: Over 4,000 facts, The NASA Archives. 60 Years in Space, This Day in North Carolina History, The Smithsonian History of Space Exploration: From the Ancient World to the Extraterrestrial Future, Spaceflight, 2nd Edition: The Complete Story from Sputnik to Curiousity, The Story of Civilization (11 volumes), The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, American History, Volume 1: 1492-1877, American History, Volume 2: 1877 - Present, A Complete Chronolgy of the Second World War. Weather and Almanac 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, 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. Back to Top
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