Weather Briefing for Thursday, February 12, 2026

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• ...Hazardous Weather is not Expected Today or Tonight...

• [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. Increased Fire Danger across northeast Georgia this afternoon and early evening. Dry conditions persist through Saturday allowing low relative humidity to develop each afternoon, mainly east of the mountains.

2. Widespread rain is expected over the weekend, with precipitation most likely early Sunday morning through Sunday evening. This generally should be beneficial rain for most of the area. Localized heavier rainfall is possible, which could lead to nuisance flooding of poorly drained areas, and/or isolated bankfull conditions on area streams.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

Macon Media Weather is being sponsored by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook.

It is time for new leadership in the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. I have the education and experience to successfully lead and represent the Office into the future. I will listen and respond to concerns of every citizen. I will ensure the employees have equal opportunities for promotion and transfer. Please trust me with your vote. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 828-371-4475, Facebook: Bob Cook for Sheriff. Early voting begins February 12, 2026, and the primary is March 3, 2026.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook Sheriff.

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DAY 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....Mostly sunny this morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this morning.

..TONIGHT....Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. North winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY....Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. South winds around 5 mph.

..SATURDAY NIGHT....Cloudy. Rain likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..SUNDAY....Rain. Highs in the lower 50s. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..SUNDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Rain likely, mainly in the evening. Lows in the lower 40s. Chance of rain 70 percent.

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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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• Executive Summary (and video) of the February 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

After Helene, some WNC residents still waiting for private bridge repairs to start | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• NCDOT to shut down US 64 to remove a wrecked propane truck [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• North Carolina college students lose court battle to open early voting sites on campus [NC Newsline]

• North Carolinians have lost millions in romance scams. What FBI, BBB warn ahead of Valentines Day [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Macon sheriff faces Republican primary challenger [Smoky Mountain News]

• Here’s where you’re most likely to catch measles spreading in NC [Raleigh News and Observer]

• WNC sheriffs accused of lies, affairs, extortion; DA seeks ousters [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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Bondi asked to apologise to Epstein survivors amid furious scenes in Congress | Sky News



Epstein survivors speak out after Attorney General Pam Bondi hearing | NBC News



• Trump Flat-Out Threatens Republicans — After 6 Jump Ship to Tank Key Tariff Vote: You Will ‘Seriously Suffer the Consequences’ [Yahoo News]

• Nancy Guthrie disappearance: New letter to TMZ claims to know who kidnapper is [Fox News]

• Bondi clashes with Democrats as she struggles to turn the page on Epstein files furor [AP News]

Pam Bondi testifies on Epstein files at oversight hearing (full) | Associated Press



Rep. Massie questions Attorney General Pam Bondi on Epstein case | PBS NewsHour



Top Moments From Pam Bondi's Testimony on Epstein Files | WJLA-TV (Washington, DC)



• Epstein files: AG Pam Bondi seemed to have Rep. Jayapal’s DOJ database search history at hearing [CNBC]

• Congressman Says Redacted Part of Epstein File Suggests Trump Never Banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago [People Magazine]

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Feb. 12, 2026 | ABC News



Countering Russia & China: NATO’s new Arctic mission | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 11, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• BBC in Nancy Guthrie's hometown as sniffer dogs help search for clues [BBC News]

• Gallup will no longer measure presidential approval after 88 years [The Hill]

How stable is the theocratic regime 47 years after the Islamic Revolution? | DW News



• ‘We’ll Find the Remnants of Ancient Alien Civilizations’: Read Musk’s Gibberish Rant from His xAI All-Hands Meeting [Gizmodo]

• House votes to override Trump’s Canada tariffs [CNBC]

• Watch Vulcan Centaur rocket launch 'neighborhood watch' satellites for the US military early today (02-12) [Space.com]

OpenClaw: The Viral AI Agent that Broke the Internet - Peter Steinberger | Lex Fridman Podcast #491‬



How Plants Turned Fire Into a Weapon | PBS Eons



• Coinbase Launches Wallet for AI Agents With Built-In Guardrails [Decrypt]

• Is China hoarding gold so yuan becomes global reserve instead of USD? [Coin Telegraph]

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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, February 12, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Weather Briefing for Wednesday, February 11, 2026

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• ...Hazardous Weather is not Expected Today or Tonight...

• [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. A cold front brings morning rain and gusty winds before dry conditions return this afternoon into Friday. Well above normal temperatures stick around today before cooler temperatures and lighter winds return behind the front Thursday into Friday.

2. Widespread rain still looks likely over the weekend, with precipitation most likely Saturday night and Sunday. This generally should be beneficial rain for most of the area. Localized heavier rainfall is possible, which could lead to nuisance flooding of poorly drained areas, and/or isolated bankfull conditions on area streams.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

Macon Media Weather is being sponsored by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook.

It is time for new leadership in the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. I have the education and experience to successfully lead and represent the Office into the future. I will listen and respond to concerns of every citizen. I will ensure the employees have equal opportunities for promotion and transfer. Please trust me with your vote. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 828-371-4475, Facebook: Bob Cook for Sheriff. Early voting begins February 12, 2026, and the primary is March 3, 2026.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook Sheriff.

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DAY 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....Patchy fog this morning. Mostly cloudy with rain this morning, then sunny this afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

..TONIGHT....Mostly clear. Much cooler with lows in the upper 20s. North winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 25 mph.

..THURSDAY....Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the morning.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows around 30. North winds around 5 mph.

..FRIDAY....Partly sunny in the morning, then clearing. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around 5 mph, becoming west in the afternoon.

..FRIDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

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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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• Executive Summary (and video) of the February 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

Data centers, crypto mining concerns | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



• Wildfire in Nantahala National Forest at 256 acres, 50% containment [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• AG Jeff Jackson touts North Carolina crime lab milestone [NC Newsline]

• Stein, Republican NC lawmakers square off in court over control of elections [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• NC senator’s Bad Bunny Super Bowl post goes viral, crosses party lines [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Mission Health monitor to hold community meetings in March. How to attend [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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At least ten killed and 25 injured in Canada school shooting | Sky News



Person detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie's disappearance | NBC News



• US grand jury rejects bid to indict Democrats over illegal orders video [Yahoo News]

• Grand jury rejects DOJ effort to indict Democratic lawmakers who urged military to defy illegal orders [Fox News]

• As ICE expands, an AP review of crimes committed by agents shows how their powers can be abused [AP News]

Why China Believes Trump Will Chicken Out on Taiwan | Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl



Ro Khanna reveals 6 redacted names in the Epstein files on the House floor | Rep. Ro Khanna



• Congressman Says Redacted Part of Epstein File Suggests Trump Never Banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago [People Magazine]

ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Feb. 10, 2026 | ABC News



Russian losses in Ukraine bigger than ever | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 10, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Netanyahu to meet Trump as Iran nuclear talks reach critical stage [BBC News]

• GOP rebels rebuke Trump tariffs, blocking ban on snap repeal votes [The Hill]

Are Russia and China actually doing anything to support Cuba? | DW News



• World’s Dumbest People Think They Can Solve the Nancy Guthrie Ransom Case With Grok [Gizmodo]

• The AI threat wrecked software stocks. Now financial stocks look next with LPL closing 8% lower [CNBC]

• A city on the moon: Why SpaceX shifted its focus away from Mars [Space.com]

Source of the Mysterious 21-Minute Pulse Finally Identified | Anton Petrov‬



The Level1 Links with Friends Show February 11 2026: Delicious Cables, Yes-Yes



• OpenAI Adds Custom ChatGPT to Pentagon Platform as Expert Warns of Risks [Decrypt]

• Did a Hong Kong fund kill Bitcoin? Bithumb’s ‘phantom’ BTC: Asia Express [Coin Telegraph]

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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 Wednesday, February 10, 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

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Executive Summary of the February 2026 Franklin Town Council Meeting

The Franklin Town Council met on Monday, February 09, 2026, for its regular meeting for February 2026. Here is an Executive Summary of the meeting. Bear in mind that I (Bobby) have no formal training as a journalist; I was trained as an engineer and wanted to be a scientist.

The video has been published early for subscribers on Facebook and Patreon. It will be added here on Wednesday Morning.

Franklin Town Council | Macon County  




Media and Candidate Attendance

• Macon Media (Bobby)
• The Franklin Press (Mia)

• Don Willis, candidate for District One County Commissioner
• Nick Lofthouse, candidate for District Two County Commissioner

Key Highlights

Mayor Stacy Guffey took a few minutes at the start of the meeting to make some comments and recognitions

• He celebrated the town's 171st incorporation anniversary (Feb 10).
• Recognized Tourism Development Authority (TDA) members.
• Congratulated Town Manager Amy Owens on receiving the Duke Citizenship Award.
• Special thanks and a gift presented to staff member Justin for heroic work during a recent cybersecurity crisis (served as IT Director, Planning Director, and Interim Fire Chief).
• Appreciation was also extended to the NC Joint Cybersecurity Task Force and Macon County IT for assistance.

Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Marketing Update (Stewart Communications)

• Extensive research confirmed visitors come primarily for mountains, waterfalls, hiking, and authentic experiences; 50% from Florida.
• Strong emphasis on partnerships (Visit Smokies / Smoky Mountain Host), new billboards, video series post-Helene, updated website, and high-quality visual content.
• Results: ~5.7 million social media reach, website traffic exceeding 15,000 clicks/month, two new billboards (~4.8 million annual views), second-highest occupancy tax year on record, regional increases of 25% in key months.
• 2026 goals: print visitor guide, double Facebook followers & email list, promote "affordable, authentic, approachable" brand, enhance website trip curation.
• Discussion on future beautification (murals, sculptures), events, cultural tourism (Women's History statue, Nikwasi Mound return to Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), and TDA–TDC collaboration.

Announcements & Updates

• Town received a $4.32 million EPA resiliency grant for a Clearwell project at water treatment plant (major capacity & drought resilience improvement).
• Historic downtown designation hearing scheduled for Thursday.
• Nikwasi Mound deed signing expected soon.
• Positive comments on improving TDA / TDC / Chamber relationships and downtown merchants association activity.

Public Hearing & Votes

The council took the following formal actions (all passed unanimously 6-0 unless noted):

• Adoption of the meeting agenda → Approved.
• Approval of consent agenda → Approved.
• Waiver of all utility late fees for January and February 2026 bills due to prolonged cybersecurity/system outage → Approved. 

• Quarterly street closure approvals (6 events, including farmers market parking, Picking on the Square, Law Enforcement Memorial, 9/11 Remembrance, Constitution Day, Firefighters Memorial) → Approved as a block.
• Lease of town property at 95 East Main Street (15 ft × 40 ft area for outdoor dining – mirrored lease to previous one, $300 annual escalator, for Junior Chop House) → Public hearing held (no speakers); approved.

Other Business & Departmental Reports

Public Works, Water Treatment, Wastewater, and Streets supervisors gave updates:

• Snow/ice response success (priority: emergency access).
• Ongoing capital projects (water main replacements, generators on natural gas, Sunnyside Park bathroom & playground improvements, fire hydrant upgrades).
• High winter water usage (faucet dripping by residents to prevent freezing).
• Water loss tracking for state plan due April 1.

Next meetings: Council retreat (Feb 20–21 at Fontana Village), regular meeting (March 2).

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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 5.30am on Tuesday, February 10 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, February 10, 2026

---

• ...Hazardous Weather is not Expected Today or Tonight...

• [Public Safety Notifications]

• [SEVERE WEATHER CHANNEL]

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

---

NWS GENERAL OUTLOOK

Confidence remains relatively low on the details of precipitation types this weekend, though it still appears most areas will see only rain, and wintry precip would be confined to colder spots in the mountains and northern foothills if it develops at all.

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WEATHER SPONSOR

Macon Media Weather is being sponsored by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook.

It is time for new leadership in the Macon County Sheriff’s Office. I have the education and experience to successfully lead and represent the Office into the future. I will listen and respond to concerns of every citizen. I will ensure the employees have equal opportunities for promotion and transfer. Please trust me with your vote. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 828-371-4475, Facebook: Bob Cook for Sheriff. Early voting begins February 12, 2026, and the primary is March 3, 2026.

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Bob Cook Sheriff.

---

DAY SPONSOR


This space available

---

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 mid 60s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph this afternoon.

..TONIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Rain likely after midnight. Patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the upper 40s. West winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

..WEDNESDAY....Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain in the morning, then sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

..WEDNESDAY NIGHT....Mostly clear. Much cooler with lows in the upper 20s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.

..THURSDAY....Sunny in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.

..THURSDAY NIGHT....Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s.

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HAZARDOUS WEATHER


Hazardous weather is not expected today or tonight.

---

---

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

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---

State and Local News

---

2026 County Commissioner Forum (Republican Primary - 02-07-2026) | Macon Media



• Franklin Town Council (February 2026) [Macon Media]

Billy Strings returns to perform in Asheville | WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)



•Crews respond to 80-acre wildfire in Nantahala National Forest [WLOS-TV (Asheville, NC)]

• NC lawmaker proposes bill easing snow, ice removal after storms [NC Newsline]

• North Carolina sports betting in January tops $600 million for record fifth straight month [WRAL-TV (Raleigh, NC)]

• Why NC lawmakers keep bringing local leaders to Raleigh for grilling sessions [Raleigh News and Observer]

• Will it be a warm spring in NC? See Old Farmer's Almanac 2026 outlook [Asheville Citizen-Times]

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Other News

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King Charles ready to ‘support’ police over Andrew | Sky News



Epstein abuse survivor speaks out on Maxwell's calls for clemency | NBC News



• Trump is threatening to block a new bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening [AP News]

Why China Believes Trump Will Chicken Out on Taiwan | Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl



Thomas Massie And Ro Khanna Hold A Press Briefing After Viewing Unredacted Epstein Files | Forbes Breaking News



ABC World News Tonight with David Muir Full Broadcast - Feb. 9, 2026 | ABC News



Crisis of confidence and credibility. Inside Munich Security Conference | World News Tonight | TVP WORLD



• Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 9, 2026 [Institute for the Study of War]

• Trump's world order hangs over Europe on eve of key defence conference [BBC News]

• Conservatives battle over Trump’s criticism of Bad Bunny [The Hill]

Will this scandal end Sir Kier Starmer as British prime minister? | DW News



• Deja Vu at the SLS Launchpad: Why Can’t NASA Shake Its Hydrogen Leak Curse? [Gizmodo]

• U.S. urges ships to stay ‘as far as possible’ from Iran’s waters in Strait of Hormuz after boarding attempts [CNBC]

• A city on the moon: Why SpaceX shifted its focus away from Mars [Space.com]

How JWST Created the Highest Resolution Dark Matter Map Yet | Anton Petrov‬



How Everyday Technology Is Used In Spaceflight | Scott Manley



• Vitalik Buterin Calls for Ethereum-Led Alternative to the 'Race for AGI' [Decrypt]

• BTC traders wait for $50K bottom: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week [Coin Telegraph]

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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, February 09 2025
Author: Bobby Coggins

Read More