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About

Showing posts with label Economic Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economic Development. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Weather Briefing for Tuesday, July 6, 2021



OUTLOOK

Continued warmer and more humid conditions are expected today. Rain chances will increase more sharply Wednesday through Thursday, as a trough of low pressure approaches from the west, and moisture from Tropical Cyclone Elsa possibly passes through or near the region. An active mid-summertime pattern will develop by the weekend as the synoptic pattern becomes more amplified with a chance for showers and thunderstorms each day by this weekend and into the early part of next week.


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Local News Update
(National News is published after the Macon Calendar section)

Drake Software opening Waynesville call center [The Mountaineer]

2021 Fireworks Display in Franklin, NC [LINK]

Bob Scott Announces Retirement

PRESS RELEASE (07-06-2021) BOB SCOTT, MAYOR OF FRANKLIN

It’s time for me to pack up my bust of Harry Truman and my “No Sniveling” desk plaque and move on. I will not be seeking a fifth term as mayor.

Most politicians bow out saying “to spend more time with family.” Which is code for getting out before an indictment or a scandal breaks. Not me. I am just too darn old. Franklin needs a new mayor.

I would have run again, but Council Member Jack Horton has filed to run for mayor. Jack is qualified and well known across the state. I can leave knowing that if elected, Franklin will be in good hands with Jack.

I will be gone in three months from Town Hall. I will leave knowing I had little support from some other politicians in trying to save our hospital from a for profit company. A huge disappointment. There were other ideas I had which were blocked, for whatever reason, in the last two terms I have served.

I do hope to get the skate park in place. Turn the Sunnyside property into public use with recreation facilities, and use federal relief funds to improve our infrastructure.

I campaigned on open government. In my four terms, the town got away from being a “who you know” town. It is now a “what you know” town. We have professionalized Franklin’s government. We are a town we can all be proud of. Our employees deserve the credit. Not me.

We have had very few closed meetings during my time as mayor. My philosophy has been one of instead of finding a reason to go behind closed doors find a reason to keep the doors open. I always have believed the mayor and town council exists for only one reason. To conduct the public’s business.

I hope the Town Council will keep working to preserve the fascination which makes Franklin a delightful place in which to live and work.

The toughest year of my service has been the year of the pandemic. Mayors across the nation became the lightning rod for anger and frustration. I certainly was. On social media I was called unique expletives I did not know existed. But on the other hand, I have had folks who understood town government. There was more support than anger. In looking back, I adopted the understanding that people were angry, scared and facing hardships. As mayor, I was a convenient politician to jump on. I was accessible. I answer my phone. You can catch me ambling along our sidewalks.

I do have some future plans. I have hobbies I have neglected. I will return to writing and photography. America is in serious danger as Democracy is in peril. I will find some way to express my contempt of authoritarianism.

Please never allow Franklin to become partisan. We are just fine as a non-partisan unit. Please fight to keep it non-partisan from those who want to change it for political power.

Does anyone have a small backhoe I can borrow to clean out my office? I need it by the first Tuesday in November. It has been a hoot to serve as mayor. My high school teachers would be astounded.

Mayor Bob Scott Town of Franklin, NC

Vet's Portrait Project for 2021 

 The Macon County Art Association in Franklin is pleased to announce that the Vet’s Portrait Project will be held this year. This will be our ninth year for this event. Unfortunately the pandemic precluded the project last year but the artists are ready to go for 2021. This year there are spots for 4-7 veterans as we had applications remaining from 2019. Please announce the call for Macon County Veterans or their family members to apply to have the Veteran’s portrait painted by one of our local artists. Vets or their families may apply at the gallery between Memorial Day and July 4th of this year. There is no cost to apply or for the portraits. The only requirement is that the Veteran or their family member be present to receive the portrait on Veterans Day November 11, 2021. Community members who wish to help support the costs for this program are also welcome. Contact the project chair by email at karen@programservices.org.

NC Dept of Justice Releases May 2021 Highlights [LINK]


National Weather Map for Today



General forecast through Wednesday Night


Franklin area

Today

Areas of fog before midmorning. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Light and variable winds.

Tuesday Night

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Partly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Light winds out of the southeast. Chance of rain is 20%.

Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 4pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the low-to-mid 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 60s. Light and variable winds. Chance of rain is 60%.

Thursday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 60%.

Highlands Plateau

Today

Sunny, with highs in the upper 70s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 2am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 60. Light winds out of the south. Chance of rain is 20%.

Wednesday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the low-to-mid 70s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 60. Winds out of the northeast 3 to 5 mph. Chance of rain is 60%.

Thursday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely before midafternoon, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 3pm. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a chance of showers between 2am and 5am. Lows around 60. Chance of rain is 80%.

Otto area

Today

Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-80s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Isolated showers before 1am, then a slight chance of showers after 2am. Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 20%.

Wednesday

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs near 80. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight. Chance of rain is 60%.

Thursday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Highs near 80. Chance of rain is 80%.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 9pm, then a chance of showers between 9pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 65. Chance of rain is 60%.

Nantahala area

Today

Mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 80s. Calm winds becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night

Isolated showers between 7pm and 8pm. Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 20%.

Wednesday

A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 11am. Partly sunny, with highs in the upper 70s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Calm winds. Chance of rain is 60%.

Thursday

Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Highs in the mid-70s. Chance of rain is 80%.

Thursday Night

Showers and thunderstorms likely before 10pm, then a chance of showers between 10pm and 5am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-60s. Chance of rain is 60%.

HAZARDS

Hazardous Weather is not anticipated today.

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK



Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
800 PM EDT Mon Jul 5 2021

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

The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Storm Elsa, located over west-central Cuba.

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


b>TROPICAL TIDBITS

Tropical Tidbits is a website run by Macon Media's favorite no-nonsense tropical forecaster, Levi Cowan. He does not post material just to get clicks or to sensationalize the storms he covers to "make them more exciting." He is reliable and sober, unlike The Weather Channel crowd of Drama Queen Meteorologists.

Levi typically posts videos late in the afternoon or early before midnight on Youtube. [Youtube Channel]

Elsa to Cross Cuba During Late Monday, Approach Florida on Tuesday (recorded July 5th)





Tropical Storm Elsa Discussion Number 23
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL052021
1100 PM EDT Mon Jul 05 2021

Radar data from Cuba and Key West, Florida, along with surface observations, indicate that the center of Elsa is back over water, having emerged off the northern coast of of Cuba around 0200 UTC. Doppler velocity data from the NOAA WSR-88D at Key West indicate values of around 55 t at 10,000 ft, which supports equivalent surface winds of 49 kt. An Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flying just offshore the north coast of Cuba over deep water measured reliable SFMR surface winds of at least 50 kt. Based on these data, the intensity has been increased to 50 kt.

The initial motion estimate is 330/10 kt. Just like over the past three days, no significant changes have been made to the previous track forecast or synoptic reasoning. Elsa is now moving north-northwestward around the southwestern periphery of a deep-layer ridge whose axis extends westward across the Atlantic to central Florida. The cyclone should gradually move around the ridge over the next 36 hours, turning northward on Tuesday and then north-northeastward Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. By late Wednesday, Elsa should accelerate northeastward ahead of a mid-latitude trough and frontal system, moving across the eastern United States to near Atlantic Canada. The new NHC track forecast is very similar to the previous advisory track, but was nudged slightly eastward due to the more eastward initial position, and lies a tad east of of the various tightly clustered track consensus models.

Some additional strengthening is expected over the next 36 hours, with some of the SHIPS and global models showing Elsa possibly reaching 60 kt just before landfall along the northwestern Florida peninsula. This would typically require a Hurricane Watch for a small portion of northwest Florida. However, given that Elsa has been hugging a very tight mid-level moisture gradient -- a condition that is expected to continue until landfall occurs in about 36 hours -- the new official intensity forecast remains similar to the previous advisory and holds the peak intensity at 55 kt due to expected intermittent dry-air intrusions. Subsequent NHC forecasts can assess the new reconnaissance and model data that will be coming in later tonight, and determine if an increase in the intensity forecast and the issuance of a hurricane watch or warning is required. By 96 hours, the global models suggest that the cyclone will merge with a frontal zone, so the new intensity forecast continues to shows extratropical transition at that time.

Key Messages:

1. Heavy rain will impact the Cayman Islands and Cuba tonight resulting in significant flooding and mudslides over Cuba. As Elsa approaches the Florida Keys, Florida Peninsula, and southeast Georgia through Wednesday, heavy rainfall may result in isolated flash, urban, and minor river flooding, with considerable flooding possible in southwest and western portions of Florida. Mid to late week, heavy rains across coastal South Carolina, North Carolina, and southeastern Virginia may result in isolated flash and urban flooding.

2. There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along portions of the west coast of Florida Tuesday night and Wednesday, and a Storm Surge Warning has been issued for that area.

3. Tropical storm conditions are expected to continue across portions of central and western Cuba tonight, and spread northward across portions of the Florida Keys and the Florida west coast through Wednesday, where a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect.

4. There is a risk of tropical storm conditions along portions of the coasts of Georgia and the Carolinas Wednesday and Thursday.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT 06/0300Z 23.5N 82.3W 50 KT 60 MPH
12H 06/1200Z 24.9N 82.9W 55 KT 65 MPH
24H 07/0000Z 26.9N 83.3W 55 KT 65 MPH
36H 07/1200Z 29.2N 83.1W 55 KT 65 MPH
48H 08/0000Z 31.6N 82.0W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
60H 08/1200Z 34.0N 79.8W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
72H 09/0000Z 36.9N 76.1W 30 KT 35 MPH...INLAND
96H 10/0000Z 43.3N 66.0W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP
120H 11/0000Z 50.5N 52.4W 40 KT 45 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP



Air Quality




Air quality is in the middle range of yellow for most of the county, with the ridges and other higher elevations today being in the middle range of yellow.

Fire and Smoke Map
(There are no significant sources of smoke in the region as of 3am on 04-22-2021.)

Pollen

Pollen levels are expected to be in the low-medium range (3.1 out of 12) today with Grasses, Plantain, and Dock being the main culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be in the low range (2.4 out of 12).


Weather Extremes for Macon County on July 6th


Highest Temperature 93°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2012
Lowest Temperature 45°F in Highlands in 1915
Greatest Rainfall 4.00 inches in Nantahala in 1959
Greatest Snowfall (No snowfall recorded on this date since records started being kept in 1872)


July Weather Extremes for Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on 07-29-1952
Lowest Temperature 34°F in Highlands on 07-27-1911
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on 07-29-1879
Greatest Snowfall no measurable snowfall has been recorded since records started being kept in 1872


Macon Calendar

The Macon County Art Association (a not for profit member organization) is offering classes in encaustic painting on Specified Fridays from 10AM-12PM at the Uptown Gallery 30 E Main St Franklin NC. Specific class dates are Friday July 9 and 23, August 3 and 27, September 3 and 17, October 29.

For more information contact the instructor, Karen Smith, at karen@programservices.org

National News Update

Level1 News July 6 2021: Polish Prez Pilloried, Police Pull In Pupils



WeatherBrains #807



National Mall fireworks in Washington DC celebrates July 4th | WUSA-TV



PBS NewsHour full episode, July 5, 2021



On This Day

July 6th is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar; 178 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)


371 BC – The Battle of Leuctra shatters Sparta's reputation of military invincibility.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Leuctra]
• [The Battle of Leuctra 371 BC]

640 – Battle of Heliopolis: The Muslim Arab army under 'Amr ibn al-'As defeat the Byzantine forces near Heliopolis (Egypt).
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Heliopolis]
• [Muslim Conquest of Egypt 640 - Battles of Babylon and Heliopolis]

1253 – Mindaugas is crowned King of Lithuania.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Mindaugus]

1348 – Pope Clement VI issues a papal bull protecting the Jews accused of having caused the Black Death.

1411 – Ming China's Admiral Zheng He returns to Nanjing after the third treasure voyage and presents the Sinhalese king, captured during the Ming–Kotte War, to the Yongle Emperor.
• [Wikipedia: third treasure voyage]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Zheng He]
• [Zheng He's Floating City: When China Dominated the Oceans]
• [How China Could Have Conquered The World | When China Ruled The Waves | Timeline]

1415 – Jan Hus is condemned by the assembly of the council in the Konstanz Cathedral as a heretic and sentenced to be burned at the stake. (See Deaths section.)
• [Wikipedia Bio: Jan Hus]

1438 – A temporary compromise between the rebellious Transylvanian peasants and the noblemen is signed in Kolozsmonostor Abbey.

1483 – Richard III is crowned King of England.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Richard III]
• [Was Richard III Really Britain's Worst Tyrant King? | Richard III: Fact Or Fiction | Timeline]
• [Richard III - The Archaeological Dig]

1484 – Portuguese sea captain Diogo Cão finds the mouth of the Congo River.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Diogo Cão]

1495 – First Italian War: Battle of Fornovo: Charles VIII defeats the Holy League.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Fornovo]
• [Wikipedia: First Italian War/a>]
• [
Italian Wars 3/10 - The Battle of Fornovo 1495]

1535 – Sir Thomas More is executed for treason against King Henry VIII of England.
• [Wikipedia Bio: Thomas More]

1557 – King Philip II of Spain, consort of Queen Mary I of England, sets out from Dover to war with France, which eventually resulted in the loss of the City of Calais, the last English possession on the continent, and Mary I never seeing her husband again.
• [Wikipedia Bio: King Philip II of Spain]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Queen Mary I of England]

1560 – The Treaty of Edinburgh is signed by Scotland and England.
• [Wikipedia: Treaty of Edinburgh]

1573 – Córdoba, Argentina, is founded by Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera.

1573 – French Wars of Religion: Siege of La Rochelle ends.
• [Wikipedia: Siege of La Rochelle]
• [Wikipedia: French Wars of Religion]

1614 – Raid on Żejtun: The south east of Malta, and the town of Żejtun, suffer a raid from Ottoman forces. This was the last unsuccessful attempt by the Ottomans to conquer the island of Malta.
• [Wikipedia: Żejtun]

1630 – Thirty Years' War: Four thousand Swedish troops under Gustavus Adolphus land in Pomerania, Germany.
• [Wikipedia: Thirty Years' War]
• [Wikipewdia Bio: Gustavus Adolphus]
• [Why the Thirty Years' War Was So Devastating - European Wars of Religion]

1685 – Battle of Sedgemoor: Last battle of the Monmouth Rebellion. Troops of King James II defeat troops of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth.
• [Battle of Sedgemoor]
• [Monmouth Rebellion]
• [LINKTEXT]

1751 – Pope Benedict XIV suppresses the Patriarchate of Aquileia and establishes from its territory the Archdiocese of Udine and Gorizia.
• [Patriarchate of Aquileia]

1777 – American Revolutionary War: Siege of Fort Ticonderoga: After a bombardment by British artillery under General John Burgoyne, American forces retreat from Fort Ticonderoga, New York.
• [Siege of Fort Ticonderoga]
• [Fort Ticonderoga: The Revolutionary War in Four Minutes] (American Battlefield Trust)

1779 – Battle of Grenada: The French defeat British naval forces during the American Revolutionary War.
• [Battle of Grenada]

1801 – First Battle of Algeciras: Outnumbered French Navy ships defeat the Royal Navy in the fortified Spanish port of Algeciras.
• [First Battle of Algeciras]

1809 – The second day of the Battle of Wagram; France defeats the Austrian army in the largest battle to date of the Napoleonic Wars.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Wagram]
• [Wikipedia: War of the Fifth Coalition]
• [Napoleon's Revenge: Wagram 1809]

1854 – In Jackson, Michigan, the first convention of the United States Republican Party is held.

1885 – Louis Pasteur successfully tests his vaccine against rabies on Joseph Meister, a boy who was bitten by a rabid dog.

1887 – David Kalākaua, monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii, is forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution, which transfers much of the king's authority to the Legislature of the Kingdom of Hawaii.

1892 – Three thousand eight hundred striking steelworkers engage in a day-long battle with Pinkerton agents during the Homestead Strike, leaving ten dead and dozens wounded.

1917 – World War I: Arabian troops led by T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") and Auda ibu Tayi capture Aqaba from the Ottoman Empire during the Arab Revolt.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Aqaba]
• [T.E. Lawrence And How He Became Lawrence Of Arabia I WHO DID WHAT IN WW1?]
• [Lawrence of Arabia (5/8) Movie CLIP - Attack on Aqaba (1962) ] (movie dramatization)

1918 – The Left SR uprising in Russia starts with the assassination of German ambassador Wilhelm von Mirbach by Cheka members.
• [Left SR uprising]
• [The Other Russian Revolutionary Parties: Kadets, Mensheviks and Socialist-Revolutionaries (SRs)]

1919 – The British dirigible R34 lands in New York, completing the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by an airship.
• [dirigible R34 ]
• [R34 First Round Trip]

1933 – The first Major League Baseball All-Star Game is played in Chicago's Comiskey Park. The American League defeated the National League 4–2.

1936 – A major breach of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal in England sends millions of gallons of water cascading 200 feet (61 m) into the River Irwell.

1937 – Spanish Civil War: Battle of Brunete: The battle begins with Spanish Republican troops going on the offensive against the Nationalists to relieve pressure on Madrid.
• [Wikipedia: Battle of Brunete]
• [Great Battles of the Spanish Civil War - Ep.8 - the Battle of Brunete] (English subtitles)
• [Ten Minute History - The Spanish Civil War and Francisco Franco (Short Documentary)]

1939 – Anti-Jewish legislation in prewar Nazi Germany closes the last remaining Jewish enterprises.
• [Wikipedia: Anti-Jewish legislation in pre-war Nazi Germany]
• [The Path to Nazi Genocide]

1940 – Story Bridge, a major landmark in Brisbane, as well as Australia's longest cantilever bridge is formally opened.
• [Wikipedia: Story Bridge]
• [Silent Newsreel]
• [Drone Footage Shot at Night]

1941 – World War II: The German army launches its offensive to encircle several Soviet armies near Smolensk.
• [Battle of Smolensk (1941)]
• [Barbarossa Visualized: The Battle of Smolensk [July 1941] [Episode 5]]

1942 – Anne Frank and her family go into hiding in the "Secret Annexe" above her father's office in an Amsterdam warehouse.

1944 – Jackie Robinson refuses to move to the back of a bus, leading to a court-martial.
• [Wikipedia: Jackie Robinson]
• [Jackie Robinson Clip: 1944 Court-Martial]

1944 – The Hartford circus fire, one of America's worst fire disasters, kills approximately 168 people and injures over 700 in Hartford, Connecticut.
• [Wikipedia: Hartford circus fire]
• [The Hartford Circus Fire | A Short Documentary | Fascinating Horror ]

1947 – Referendum held in Sylhet to decide its fate in the Partition of India.

1947 – The AK-47 goes into production in the Soviet Union.
• [Wikipedia: AK-47]
• [Developmental History of the AK with Max Popenker]
• [Russia Today: Legendary Kalashnikov - Story of AK-47 Rifle]

1957 – Althea Gibson wins the Wimbledon championships, becoming the first black athlete to do so.

1957 – John Lennon and Paul McCartney meet for the first time, as teenagers at Woolton Fete, three years before forming the Beatles.

1962 – As a part of Operation Plowshare, the Sedan nuclear test takes place.
• [Wikipedia: Operation Plowshare]
• [Wikipedia: Storax Sedan]
• [The largest human-made crater in the Mainland United States Project Sedan 104Kt]
• [Why Apollo Astronauts Trained in Nuclear Bomb Craters]

1962 – The Late Late Show, the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster, airs on RTÉ One for the first time.

1964 – Malawi declares its independence from the United Kingdom.

1966 – Malawi becomes a republic, with Hastings Banda as its first President.

1967 – Nigerian Civil War: Nigerian forces invade Biafra, beginning the war.
• [Wikipedia: Nigerian Civil War]
• [Nigeria's civil war explained - BBC News]
• [An Honest Explanation of the Nigerian Civil War | The Biafran Story]

1975 – The Comoros declares independence from France.

1986 – Davis Phinney becomes the first American cyclist to win a road stage of the Tour de France.

1988 – The Piper Alpha drilling platform in the North Sea is destroyed by explosions and fires. One hundred sixty-seven oil workers are killed, making it the world's worst offshore oil disaster in terms of direct loss of life.
• [Wikipedia: Piper Alpha]
• [A Brief History of: The Piper Alpha Oil Rig Disaster (Short Documentary)]
• [Explosion in the North Sea (Piper Alpha)]

1989 – The Tel Aviv–Jerusalem bus 405 suicide attack: Sixteen bus passengers are killed when a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad took control of the bus and drove it over a cliff.
• [Wikipedia: bus 405 suicide attack]

1990 – The Electronic Frontier Foundation is founded.
• [Wikipedia: Electronic Frontier Foundation]
• [Elliot Harmon | The Electronic Frontier Foundation]
• [Official Youtube Channel]

1995 – In the Bosnian War, under the command of General Ratko Mladić, Serbia begins its attack on the Bosnian town of Srebrenica.
• [Wikipedia: Bosnian War]
• [Wikipedia Bio: Ratko Mladić]
• [Ratko Mladic disrupts court with angry outburst, gets life sentence for war crimes]
• [Yugoslav Wars | 3 Minute History]

1996 – A McDonnell Douglas MD-88 operating as Delta Air Lines Flight 1288 experiences a turbine engine failure during take off from Pensacola International Airport, killing two and injuring five of the 147 people on board.

1997 – The Troubles: In response to the Drumcree dispute, five days of mass protests, riots and gun battles begin in Irish nationalist districts of Northern Ireland.

1998 – Hong Kong International Airport opens in Chek Lap Kok, Hong Kong, replacing Kai Tak Airport as the city's international airport.

2003 – The 70-metre Yevpatoria Planetary Radar sends a METI message (Cosmic Call 2) to five stars: Hip 4872, HD 245409, 55 Cancri (HD 75732), HD 10307 and 47 Ursae Majoris (HD 95128). The messages will arrive to these stars in 2036, 2040, 2044, and 2049, respectively.
• [Wikipedia: Cosmic Call]

2006 – The Nathu La pass between India and China, sealed during the Sino-Indian War, re-opens for trade after 44 years.

2013 – At least 42 people are killed in a shooting at a school in Yobe State, Nigeria.
• [Wikipedia: Yobe State school shooting]

2013 – A Boeing 777 operating as Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crashes at San Francisco International Airport, killing three and injuring 181 of the 307 people on board.

2013 – A 73-car oil train derails in the town of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec and explodes into flames, killing at least 47 people and destroying more than 30 buildings in the town's central area.

2016 - Pokémon Go, the real-world mobile game by Niantic, is first released
• [Wikipedia: Pokémon Go]
• ["I Remember Summer 2016" - Pokemon Go Retrospective (2018)]
• [Shiny Trifecta! 5th Anniversary Event Is Insane! Shiny Starters, Lure Modules, Darumaka | Pokémon GO]

2017 - France announces it will ban petrol and diesel cars by 2040
• [rance goes green: Plan to ban petrol and diesel cars]

2020 - America officially begins withdrawing from the World Health Organization
• [US withdraws from WHO: Trump tells congress he formally withdrawn from World Health Organization]
• [U.S. formally withdraws from WHO]
• [Dr. Fauci on rejoining WHO and how Biden’s COVID plan will affect vaccine rollout l GMA]
• [US rejoins WHO under Biden administration]





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Published at 4:00am on Tuesday, July 06, 2021



Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Commissioners Meet to Support Project Wayah

Tommy Jenkins, Director of the Macon County Economic Development Commission, addresses Commissioners during their Special Called Meeting of August 28, 2018.

The Macon County Board of Commissioners met yesterday afternoon to pass a resolution in support of attempting to obtain a grant of $412,500 from the North Carolina Department of Commerce in support of the business concern identified as Project Wayah. The business will be identified at a later date.

The purpose of the grant is to renovate an existing building in Macon County. A public hearing on the matter will be held at a time to be determined later. The grant requires a 5% match ($20,625) from Macon County.

A gavel-to-gavel video of the meeting is posted below, as is a roll call of media outlets present and a copy of the resolution. The next meeting of the Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, 2018.





MEDIA ROLL CALL
Media Outlets with representatives present at the meeting

Macon Media (me)
The Franklin Press
WFSC-AM/WNCC-FM

Elected Critters

Sheriff Robert Holland

No one from the public attended this meeting.

Resolution in Support of Project Wayah

(original spelling and grammar of the original document is retained)

RESOLUTION FROM THE MACON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING AND AUTHORIZING AND RATIFYING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIVISION, RURAL GRANTS/PROGRAM FOR A GRANT FROM ITS BUILDING REUSE PROGRAM

THAT WHEREAS, Macon County has been approached by “Project Wayah”, a business concern to be identified by Macon County at a later date, with the request to apply to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division, Rural Grants/Programs for a $412,500.00 Grant from its Building Reuse Program in order to assist in its renovating project for the construction and development of an existing business in Macon County, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Macon County has determined that the receipt of such a grant is likely to create at least 33 new jobs in Macon County, will likely result in the upgrade and modernization of an existing building in Macon County which will in turn likely result in an increase in its ad valorem tax base and otherwise contribute to the economic development of Macon County; and

WHEREAS, Macon County desires to assist and support "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified by Macon County at a later date, in its renovation project for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building located in Macon County, North Carolina, by making this Resolution in support of an authorizing an application to be submitted on behalf of Macon County unto the North Carolina Department of Commerce seeking a $412,500.00 Grants/Program from its Building Reuse Program in order to assist in the renovation for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building in Macon County, by "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified at a later date.

NOW THEREFORE, upon Motion of Commissioner Shields, seconded by Commissioner _(unintelligible)_, and duly approved, be it hereby resolved by the Macon County Board of Commissioners as follows:

RESOLVED, that Macon County does hereby support and authorize the making of an application to be submitted on behalf of Macon County on unto the North Carolina Department of Commerce seeking a $412,500.00 Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division, Rural Grants/Programs from its Building Reuse Program in order to assist in the renovation project for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building in Macon County, North Carolina, by "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified by Macon County at a later date; and

RESOLVED, the purpose of the project for which such Grant is being sought is a renovation project for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building in Macon County, North Carolina, by "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified by Macon County at a later date; and

RESOLVED, that Macon County is in full support of such renovation project; and

RESOLVED, that Macon County does hereby make its commitment to provide a cash match of five (5%) of the Grant request amount set forth hereinabove toward such renovation project, should the grant applied for be made, before entering a grant agreement for the same, and subject of course to the public hearing required and a determination thereafter to make an appropriation of the same;

RESOLVED, that Jame P. Tate, the Chairman of the Macon County Commissioners, is hereby authorized and directed to complete, fill in, execute and deliver on behalf of Macon County, North Carolina, an application seeking a Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division, Rural Grants/Programs from its Building Reuse Program in order to assist in the renovation project for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building in Macon County, North Carolina, by "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified at a later date; and

RESOLVED, that Jame P. Tate, the Chairman of the Macon County Commissioners, is hereby authorized and directed to complete, make, execute and deliver the certifications which are required by the North Carolina Department of Commerce in connection such Grant Application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Rural Economic Development Division, Rural Grants/Programs fro its Building Reuse Program in order to assist in the renovation project for the construction, improvement and development of an existing business building in Macon County, North Carolina, by "Project Wayah", a business concern to be identified by Macon County at a later date.

Adopted at the August 28, 2018, Special Meeting of the Macon County Board of Commissioners.

James P. Tate, Chairman of the Macon County Board of Commissioners



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


Published at 4:00 am on August 29, 2018

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety




Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Franklin Town Council Declares Intent to Make Economic Grant to "Project Wayah"



The Franklin Town Council declared its intent to make an economic grant in the form of approximately one acre of land to a business concern that has been code-named Project Wayah. The council went into a closed session at 6:00 pm to discuss the grant and came back into open session at 7:15 pm and passed a resolution (a transcribed copy of which is below) by a vote of 5-1 (Culpepper voting against). A copy of the petition to the town council at the behest of the business concern has also been transcribed by Macon Media and posted below.

A public hearing regarding this economic development grant has been scheduled for October 1, 2018, at 6:05 pm 

 A full video of this meeting is available. [LINK]


Project Wayah Video Segment




Transcribed Copy of Resolution
(Editor's Note: the grammar of the original document is retained; GS is replaced with NCGS)

RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN DECLARING ITS INTENT TO MAKE CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS

WHEREAS, intending to promote prosperity and the general welfare by increasing the population, taxable property, agricultural industries and business prospects of the Town of Franklin, the Board of Aldermen duly adopted economic development grants guidelines at its regular meeting of June 7, 2010;

WHEREAS, pursuant to NCGS § 158-7.1, the Town is authorized to make grants and conveyances of real property in furtherance of the purposes of economic development and to aid the and encourage the location and expansion of manufacturing enterprises, making industrial surveys, and locating industrial and economic plants in or near the Town's corporate limits;

WHEREAS, the Town Council has now been petitioned to make an economic development grant in the form of approximately one (1) acre of Town-owned real property to be clearly defined at a later date (the "Economic Development Grant"), to be used by Project Wayah a business concern to be identified by the Town at a later date;

WHEREAS, the Town Council is informed that the Economic Development Grant is necessary to permit Project Wayah to locate within the Town of Franklin, and without the same Project Wayah will choose to locate in another city and state at.d

WHEREAS, the Town of Franklin finds that the making of the Economic Development Grant will increase the population, the taxable property, and the business prospects of the Town of Franklin.

NOW, THEREFOR BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council for the Town of Franklin, the following:

Section 1. The Town Council intends to enter into an Economic Development Agreement with Project Wayah, in accordance with the requirements of NCGS § 158-7.1 and any other applicable law, by which the Town of Franklin would convey the Economic Development Grant to Project Wayah.

Section 2. A public hearing shall be held at the regular Town Council meeting on October 1, 2018, at 6:05 pm, at which time the Town Council will consider granting final approval of conveyance of the Economic Development Grant.

Section 3. The Town Clerk is directed to publicize a notice of the public hearing in The Franklin Press and on the Town's website, for two consecutive weeks prior to the public hearing.

Adopted at the regular meeting of the Town Council, this 21st day of August 2018, upon motion by Council Member __________, seconded by Council Member ________, and passed by a vote of 5 in favor and 1 against.


Copy of Petition to the Town of Franklin

(Editor's Note: the grammar of the original document is retained; GS is replaced with NCGS)

August 22, 2018

Project Wayah (Code Name)
Franklin, NC 28734

Re: Request for Economic Development Grant from Town of Franklin by Project Wayah

Dear Sirs:

Project Wayah, a business concern to be identified by the Town of Franklin at a later date, has requested an Economic Development Grant from the Town of Franklin. In connection with your Economic Development Request, the following was represented and related unto the Town of Franklin:

A. That Project Wayah will make a capital investment of $3,000,000 (of which $1,500,000 will be in the form of improvements to real property and $1,500.000 will be in the form of tangible personal property) during the year 2018;

B. That Project Wayah will make a capital investment of $2,000,000 (of which $500,000 will be in the form of improvements to real property and $1,500,000 will be in the form of tangible personal property) during the year 2019;

C. That Project Wayah will hire an additional 23 employees in Franklin, North Carolina, for a total of 105 employees in Franklin, North Carolina, during the year 2019;

D. That Project Wayah will hire an additional 10 employees in Franklin, North Carolina, for a total of 115 employees in Franklin, North Carolina, during the year 2020;

E. That all such employees will be fully employed to at least 40 hours per week at an average wage of $46,509 per year, and that wages for all such employees shall be above the median wage for the Town of Franklin as listed annually by the North Carolina Department of Commerce Finance Center;

F. That Project Wayah shall provide health insurance and other benefits to all said employees at a level commensurate with other Franklin, North Carolina businesses;

G. That Project Wayah shall keep all such employees fully employed to at least 40 hours per week through and including at least 2024.

Based upon these representations, and a determination made by the Town Council of the Town of Franklin that the making of this Economic Development Grant set forth herein will increase the population of the Town of Franklin, the taxable property in the Town of Franklin and the business prospects of the Town of Franklin, the Town of Franklin is prepared to make an Economic Development Grant to Project Wayah in accordance with the following terms and conditions:

A. Convey to Project Wayah or its assigns, a parcel of real property consisting of approximately one (1) acre, said property to be identified and described at a later date, and pursuant to terms to be formalized by the Economic Development Agreement referenced below, and secured by way of a note and deed of trust against the real property to be conveyed.

B. This Economic Development Grant is to be made expressly subject to the following conditions:

1. Project Wayah must enter into an Economic Development Agreement with the Town of Franklin, North Carolina, in accordance with the provisions of NCGS § 158-7.1 which is wholly satisfactory unto the Town of Franklin, North Carolina;

2. The real property to be conveyed pursuant to the Economic Development Agreement will be valued at $115,878 per acre for the purposes of the Agreement and compliance with NCGS § 158-7.1 and other applicable law and

3. Project Wayah must fully account for all expenditures at the end of each fiscal year for which such expenditures were appropriated.

Very truly yours,

Summer Woodard, Town Manager
Town of Franklin


CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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Become a Patron!

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

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


Published at 8:15 am on August 22, 2018

#MaconGov #FranklinNC #WNCnews



Daily Weather Briefing for Wednesday, August 22, 2018





SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

The Franklin Town Council had a Special Called Meeting last night. JEPACA, Inc withdrew their street closing request, the council approved a barking dog ordinance and the board met in closed session from 6:00 pm to 7:15 pm and passed a resolution to hold a public hearing regarding granting an Economic Development Grant to a business concern they code-named “Project Wayah.” A copy of that will be added once Macon Media has digitized the physical copy provided at the meeting. Video of the meeting is available on the blog. [LINK]

LOCAL WEATHER OUTLOOK

High pressure will build into the region today, and should then control our weather through Saturday as it moves past to the north, giving us a brief break from the usual summertime weather. An upper ridge will move east over the region on Sunday, bringing hot and humid weather back for the better part of next week.


WEATHER SPONSOR



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

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

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

Weather Almanac for August 22nd (1872-2016)
Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 99°F in Franklin in 1983
Lowest Temperature 42°F in Highlands in 1918
Greatest Rainfall 3.58 inches in Highlands in 1969

Record Weather Events for August (1872-2017)

Highest Temperature 99°F in Franklin on August 9, 1980
Lowest Temperature 40°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on August 29, 1968
Greatest Rainfall 9.68 inches in Highlands on August 13, 1940


WEATHER FORECAST MAPS

Forecast maps for 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm. 

[click on any image in this article to enlarge]
(These images replace the three-day forecast maps)





THREE DAY OUTLOOK



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

FRANKLIN AREA

TODAY

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. North northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Light and variable wind.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. Calm wind.

FRIDAY

Sunny, with a high near 80.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with low around 60.


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

OTTO AREA

TODAY

Mostly sunny, with highs near 80. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. North northwest wind 5 to 9 mph.

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the morning.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 50s. Calm wind.

FRIDAY

Sunny, with highs in the mid-to-upper 70s.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.


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

HIGHLANDS AREA

TODAY

Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with highs in the lower 70s. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with a lows in the mid-50s. North wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

THURSDAY

Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-50s. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 7 mph after midnight.

FRIDAY

Sunny, with a high near 70.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-50s.
--------------------------------------

NANTAHALA AREA

TODAY

A 20 percent chance of showers. Areas of fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with highs in the lower 70s. North northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

TONIGHT

Partly cloudy, with lows in the mid-70s. North wind 6 to 9 mph.

THURSDAY

Sunny, with highs in the low-to-mid 70s. North northeast wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the low-to-mid 50s. Calm wind becoming east southeast around 5 mph after midnight.

FRIDAY

Sunny, with highs in the mid-70s.

FRIDAY NIGHT

Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-50s.

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



GOES-16 GeoColor - True Color daytime, multispectral IR
12:47 am to 3:42 am this morning


HAZARDS

Hazardous weather is not expected.


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

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



GOES 16 - Band 15 - 12.3 µm - Dirty Longwave Window - IR (Precipitation)
3:47 am this morning

TROPICAL OUTLOOK




Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
200 AM EDT Wed Aug 22 2018

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

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


Suminski Family Books Summer Film Fest for Families

All ticket sales sold by FROG volunteers benefit:

FRIENDS OF THE GREENWAY, INC.

Location: Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
Start time for each movie: 7:00 PM
Save When You Pre-Buy Your Tickets!

Single Ticket $5 for each movie (pre & at the door)
Season Pass $15 1 ticket to each movie Family of 4 Season Passes $50 4 tickets to each movie

Movies and Dates:

Paddington 2 on July 12, 2018
Hidden Figures on July 19, 2018
Peter Rabbit on August 19, 2018
Wonder on August 26, 2018 (benefits Friends of the Greenway)

Purchase at FROG Quarters, 573 E. Main (next to new bridge) Hours: Wed-Fri, 9 AM-2 PM

There are 3 other non-profits involved: Folk Heritage Association of Macon County NC, Grandpa’s Woodshed Project, Women’s History Trail, and Read2Me. The FROG-specific specific movie is Wonder, but our members can pre-sell tickets to all movies.

Franklin Health & Fitness 30th Anniversary Celebration [LINK]
http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2018/07/franklin-health-fitness-announces-their.html

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

Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session every Tuesday from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm or on Thursday from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Bring your own materials and join an on-going drawing course led by gallery artists on Fridays, from 11am – 2 pm. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at (828) 349 – 4607.

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South


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

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

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

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

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

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



Sun and Moon

Sun

Begin civil twilight 6:32 a.m.
Sunrise 6:59 a.m.
Sun transit 1:36 p.m.
Sunset 8:14 p.m.
End civil twilight 8:40 p.m.


Moon

Moonset 3:27 a.m.
Moonrise 5:59 p.m.
Moon transit 11:07 p.m.
Moonset 4:17 a.m. tomorrow morning


Phase of the Moon on August 22, 2018: Waxing Gibbous with 87% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Full Moon on August 26, 2018 at 7:56 a.m. (local daylight time)

Sky Guides for this week


Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


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

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

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

CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES


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


Become a Patron!

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

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


Published at 4:10 am on August 22, 2018

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety


Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, 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.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Press Release:
Angel Medical Center Announces Changes to OB/GYN Program





PRESS RELEASE
Angel Medical Center


Angel Medical Center Announces Changes to OB/GYN Program


FRANKLIN, NC (April 25, 2017) – Angel Medical Center (AMC), a not-for-profit Critical Access Hospital located in Franklin, North Carolina, has announced plans to modify its OB/GYN program with the goal of sustaining women’s health services and hospital services in Macon County. AMC will discontinue labor and delivery services but will continue to provide pre- and post-natal services, gynecological services, surgical procedures as well as preventive, routine and complex care for women of all ages.

AMC is in the process of exploring several options for transitioning these services to Mission Hospital in Asheville, where a quarter of all Macon, Jackson and Swain county women already choose to deliver their babies, or alternatively to DLP Harris Hospital in Sylva to ensure that patients have access to needed care. A final plan will be in place before June, and July 14, 2017 will be the last date for labor and delivery component of Women’s Services at Angel Medical Center.

“Mission Health is contemplating significant, new investments totaling as much as $46M for a newly built hospital and upgrades to existing facilities based upon a detailed analysis of our population, broad healthcare delivery trends and pending health policy changes. As part of that plan, we will be transitioning labor and delivery services from Angel Medical Center, looking to identify the optimal approach that reflects women’s existing choices and that will benefit our families in Franklin,” said Karen Gorby, RN, President and CNO, Angel Medical Center. “Our final decision will ensure that we have excellent labor and delivery services for our moms and babies combined with full-time, local pre- and post-natal care, gynecology services and other women’s health services in Franklin. We will share more information on the details of the transition of labor and delivery services in the coming weeks,” said Ms. Gorby.

The decision to discontinue labor and delivery services was made after an extensive analysis of AMC’s Women’s and Children’s services. Based on an assessment of the medical center’s clinical services, OB-GYN and pediatric practice stability and fiscal sustainability, AMC and Mission Health determined that discontinuing labor and delivery services at AMC is the responsible decision for the sustainable future of Macon County’s community health, wellness and inpatient services.

AMC and Mission Health remain fully committed to providing outstanding local care for Macon County patients, families and community partners and plan for continued growth and investments in its dedicated caregivers and communities.

ABOUT ANGEL MEDICAL CENTER

Angel Medical Center, a member of Mission Health, is a full-service, not-for-profit community hospital serving Macon and the surrounding counties. Located in Franklin, N.C., Angel Medical Center is a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital offering inpatient services that include a women’s and children’s health unit, an intensive care unit, and a medical and surgical unit. Outpatient services include a wound clinic, chemotherapy services, a full laboratory, digital mammography, CT, MRI, nuclear medicine, rehab therapy, as well as surgical and endoscopy services. The hospital also operates the Angel Urgent Care Center and Angel Home Health & Hospice. For more information, please visit angelmed.org.

ABOUT MISSION HEALTH

Mission Health, based in Asheville, North Carolina, is the state’s sixth-largest health system and was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems from 2012-2015 by Truven Health Analytics, formerly Thomson Reuters, becoming the only health system in North Carolina to achieve this recognition. 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 team members 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 mission-health.org or @MissionHealthNC.


Wednesday, February 1, 2017

AT&T Plans to Deploy Broadband Over Powerlines
A Brief History of Local Broadband Discussions

Image CC BY-SA 3.0 NY


Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) is one of the ways that acceptable internet speeds can be delivered to a large chunk of America, especially locations in rural areas where fiber optic to the home or internet via radio towers is not an option for telecommunication companies unwilling or unable to make an investment in their infrastructure. 

Edit with link added from commenter on Facebook: Whether or not they can make it work without causing interference to other users of the radio spectrum is a different question. [LINK]

Digital Trends has an article about BPL that makes for interesting reading. [LINK] It is where the video posted above originated.

BPL could fill in the gap until longer term delivery systems, like orbiting drones, come into play. Even that future is in doubt after Google has dropped it's plan to use drones to deliver internet access to under served locations. [LINK]

Residential access to internet speeds in excess of 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up is going to be crucial to economic success in the next few years. 


Definitions

BPL = Broadband over Power Line [LINK]
Mbps = Megabits per second [LINK]

FCC Redefines Broadband [LINK]



Local Broadband Discussions

Access to a faster, and more reliable, internet service has been a topic of discussion for Macon County for a while now. Here are some links to how the discussion has gone in past years, with most recent videos and links first:

Broadband Presentation - December 2016




Broadband Discussion - October 2016




County Planning Board - September 2016






December 2015 Planning Board Meeting



Of course, the current delivery methods used by those who provide internet service is not going to be able to meet the FCC Definition of Broadband access (25 Mbps Up and 3 Mbps down) anytime soon, except in very small geographically confined locations.

Perhaps the biggest barrier to accessing faster internet is the government itself, as can seen seen in a TechDirt article from Jan 2016. [LINK]



I'll leave you with perhaps the granddaddy of the broadband discussions in Macon County, a meeting that took place in December 2011 hosted by MCNC and Advantage West at Southwestern Community College: [LINK]




Commentary and Call to Action

We geared up and won World War Two in less time than the period that has elapsed since the need for higher speed internet has been recognized.


To keep track of national developments in increasing access to broadband, keep an eye on the FCC web page "Measuring Broadband America." [LINK]

In the coming days, the 2017 report should be posted on that page. 

Perhaps the best way to ensure we get faster internet is to keep reminding your elected officials at the local, state and federal levels...and call your internet provider to ask them what they're doing to increase their internet speed.

Contact Details and Links to More Information

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen [LINK]

Macon County Commissioners [LINK]

State Representative [LINK]

State Senator [LINK]

US Congressman [LINK]

US Senators [LINK] 

FCC Consumer Guide to Getting Broadband [LINK]

NC Broadband [LINK]

National Broadband Map [LINK]

National Telecommunications & Information Administration Blog [LINK]

If you have any comments to add, please leave them on our Facebook Page. [LINK]


CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

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

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

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

You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

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