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Macon County Commissioners

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County Board of County Commissioners.

Franklin Town Board of Aldermen

Coverage of the meetings of the Franklin Town Board of Aldermen.

Macon County School Board

Coverage of the meetings of the Macon County School Board.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Daily Weather Briefing for Macon County
Tuesday, March 22, 2016

3/22/2016 04:12:00 AM Daily Weather Briefing 0 comments

National Forecast Map for today
Image courtesy NOAA Weather Prediction Center

OVERVIEW

Dry high pressure will build into the region today through Wednesday, allowing temperatures to return to seasonal levels. A cold front is expected to cross late Thursday with another later in the weekend, bringing an increased chance of rain with it.

LEGISLATIVE CALENDAR

Macon Media is restarting the daily legislative calendar, a feature that was suspended in April 2012 the calendar will allow Maconians to track the work of the state legislature. The legislative calendar for today may be seen at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/nc-general-assembly-calendar-for-03-22.html This includes the press release from the Lieutenant Governor's Office of a Special session of the state legislature to repeal the recent gender ordinance passed by the Charlotte City Council.

TODAY

Widespread frost before 9 am, mostly sunny with highs near the mid 60s and calm winds rising to come from the southwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

HAZARDS

A Freeze Warning is in effect for Macon County until 9 am today. Frost is expected to be widespread.

Current Advisories, Watches and Warnings issued by the National Weather Service for Macon County can be viewed at any time at http://is.gd/MACONWARN

POLLEN REPORT

The pollen level today will be medium-high (9.1 out of 12.0) with Maple, Juniper and Oak still being the main producers of pollen. The pollen levels are expected to be high (10.4 out of 12.0) and gradually increase to high (10.8 on a 0 to 12 scale) on Wednesday with pollen levels expected to remain medium high to high through at least Saturday.

TONIGHT

Clear with lows near the mid 30s and winds out of the south.

WEDNESDAY

Sunny with highs near 70 and variable light winds rising to come from the south 5 to 10 mph by mid morning.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Partly cloudy with lows near the mid to upper 40s and winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.

THURSDAY

Mostly cloudy with highs near 70. 50% chance of rain, mainly after 10 am.

THURSDAY NIGHT

Mostly cloudy with lows near 40. 70% chance of rain, mainly before 3 am.

WEATHER ADVISORIES, WATCHES AND WARNINGS

• Freeze Warning in effect from March 22, 12:00 AM EDT until March 22, 09:00 AM EDT

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have an event announcement, or wish to inquire about a day sponsorship, email the information to editor@maconmedia.com.
An advertising fee will be required for events that either charge admission or charge for vendor participation.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23RD
2:00 & 6:00 p.m.
“Appalachian Impressions: Hiking the Appalachian Trail” documentary.
Take the 2,173 mile journey along the most famous long-distance hiking trail in the world. Along the way you'll meet hikers who have embarked on the trek, carrying everything they need on their backs. Hear their stories and experience the thrills and pain of this epic journey.

SATURDAY, APRIL 2ND
8am to 1 pm
A Benefit Car Show for Operation Christmas Child, Western North Carolina, will be held Saturday, April 2nd from 8 am to 3 pm at Franklin High School parking lot, by football field. Registration Fee: $15 to enter a car. If you are interested in showing or participating please contact: Shelly Pilkerton at 828-371-7503 or e-mail: shellypilkerton@yahoo.com. For more information on the event, see http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/benefit-car-show-for-operation.html

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6TH
8:00am
Weekly Greenway Birdwalks begin. Meet at the Macon County Public Library parking lot.

MACON COUNTY WEATHER EXTREME ALMANAC FOR MARCH 22ND

Highest Temperature • 80°F in Highlands in 1935
Lowest Temperature • 10°F in Franklin in 1965
Greatest One-Day Precipitation • 3.49 inches in Highlands in 1955
Greatest One-Day Snowfall • 4.5 inches in Franklin in 1872

WEATHER EXTREMES FOR MARCH IN MACON COUNTY
(1872-2016)

Highest Temperature -- 86°F at the Coweeta Experimental Lab on March 15, 1967
Lowest Temperature -- -7°F in Highlands on March 7, 1899
Greatest One-Day Precipitation – 6.43 inches in Highlands on March 29, 1898
Greatest One-Day Snowfall – 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Lab on March 13, 1993

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 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

NC General Assembly Calendar for 03-22-2016

This came in after this legislative calendar in this article had been prepared. The NCGA website has not yet changed their calendar to reflect this announcement from the Lieutenant Governor.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

General Assembly Will Hold Special Session to Stop Radical Charlotte Bathroom Ordinance

Raleigh, N.C. - Senate and House leaders announced Monday they have obtained the necessary three-fifths majority in both chambers and will convene a special session on Wednesday to address a radical Charlotte City Council ordinance allowing men to share public bathrooms and locker rooms with young girls and women.

Below is a joint statement from Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, President of the Senate, and House Speaker Tim Moore:

"The Senate and House have received the necessary number of signatures from members of the General Assembly to call themselves back into session. In accordance with the State Constitution, we will so call for a special session. We aim to repeal this ordinance before it goes into effect to provide for the privacy and protection of the women and children of our state. "

This is a return of a feature that was run on this blog until I suspended it when I started the Daily Weather Briefing because I could not handle running both at the same time and the Daily Weather Briefing was more popular, so I put the Legislative calendar and the NCGA Project in mothballs until I could handle running both projects at the same time. I believe that time has arrived.

The state legislature [link] is not in session and will reconvene on Monday, April 25, 2016 when the NC Senate [link] and the NC House [link] are scheduled to meet at 7 pm. Until then, committees will be doing the type of work that our local advisory boards do that meeting, then report to the County Commissioners or Town Board of Aldermen.

I have posted the calendar of scheduled legislative activity along with links to where you can listen online to our state legislators as they go about their tasks. I plan on listening and recording what I can, so be sure to check back later today and see what audio I've managed to upload.

Another good source of live and recorded audio of the NC General Assembly is Voter Radio. Check out their website.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

2:00 pm

Committee on Access to Public Lands (LRC) [Website and Meeting Notices]

544 LOB [LIVE AUDIO]

Rankin Square, Early Spring of 2016

3/21/2016 02:55:00 PM blooms , Local Attractions , photoblog , Rankin Square 0 comments

Here are some photos taken in Rankin Square today to mark the first full day of Spring 2016.

PRESS RELEASE
North Carolina Republican Party Censures Chairman of Party

3/21/2016 07:57:00 AM Central Committee , Hasan Harnett , NCGOP 0 comments

The civil war in the state Republican Party continues. Here is a press release received from the party:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: communications@ncgop.org

From: North Carolina Republican Party
To: Interested Parties
Date: 3/20/16
RE: No Confidence, Censure and Restriction of NCGOP Chairman

The North Carolina Republican Party (NCGOP) Central Committee, in its duties to oversee the day to day management of the Party and to protect the Party’s integrity, passed a formal resolution of no confidence in NCGOP Chairman Hasan Harnett. Further, the Central Committee censured him for recent actions and placed severe emergency restrictions on his duties, pending a full review of charges of gross inefficiency by the NCGOP Executive Committee.

The Central Committee expressed extreme concerns about Mr. Harnett’s actions to change prices to the upcoming convention without regard to the financial health of the party, which according to the Central Committee, has suffered greatly under Mr. Harnett’s tenure because he has fallen well short of his own fundraising goals and promises.

Harnett was censured for actions deemed harmful to the North Carolina Republican Party including making false and malicious statements about other Republicans and staff.

In adopting A Resolution of No Confidence, Censure and Restriction, the committee reviewed what it believes to be gross violations of the Party’s rules (Plan of Organization), including the following:

The refusal to timely authorize the staff to send an official Call to the NCGOP Convention even after assuring NCGOP General Counsel he would do so, thereby requiring a duplication of the notice, a "gross inefficiency."
The usurpation of the power vested in the Central Committee of the NCGOP by unilaterally announcing an unapproved fee structure for the 2016 NCGOP Convention causing great confusion and consternation among delegates concerning the price of the convention.
The sending of a Call to Convention to various Republicans, including to some members of the NCGOP Executive Committee, that stated fees at variance with the action of the Central and Executive Committees of the NCGOP, which undermined the authority of these Committees and created confusion among delegates to the 2016 NCGOP Convention.
The wasting of staff and volunteer time by prolonged inaction and unilateral action at variance with the Plan of Organization of the NCGOP and in opposition to the decisions of the Executive and Central Committees of the NCGOP.
The posting or allowing to be posted on public blogs articles regarding the internal affairs of the NCGOP in a way that discredits the NCGOP and misrepresents facts and the NCGOP Plan of Organization.
The scheduling for hearing of Petitions before the Executive Committee to remove the Party leaders without following the clear process outlined in the NCGOP Plan or Organization. The Petitions were never properly vetted to determine that they could be placed on an agenda.
The taking of action which caused concern and expense regarding the security of the NCGOP computer systems and fundraising apparatus. These actions are not only “gross inefficiency,” but also have very serious implications.
The unilateral taking of personnel actions not delegated to the Chairman under the Plan of Organization. The creation of an uncertain and disrespectful environment which resulted in the loss of staff and morale.

The Central Committee passed this resolution with overwhelming support with only two members in opposition.

The Central Committee also censured member, Daniel Rufty, for false and malicious statements about other Republicans.

###

Frost Advisory and Freeze Watch Issued for Macon County
Effective March 20 and 21, 2016

3/19/2016 09:54:00 PM Advisories Watches and Warnings , weather 0 comments

FROST ADVISORY and FREEZE WATCH for Macon County
The National Weather Service has issued a Frost Advisory for Macon County that is effective from 4 am to 9 am Sunday morning and Freeze Wacth from late Sunday night into Monday morning.

The full text follows:

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
310 PM EDT SAT MAR 19 2016

...FREEZE AND FROST POSSIBLE...

.COOLER AIR ARRIVING OVER THE AREA WILL SUPPORT FROST IN THE NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS TONIGHT...AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES ACROSS MUCH OF THE WESTERN CAROLINAS...UPSTATE SOUTH CAROLINA...AND THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA ON MONDAY..

...FROST ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 9 AM EDT SUNDAY...

...FREEZE WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG HAS ISSUED A FROST ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 9 AM EDT SUNDAY. A FREEZE WATCH HAS ALSO BEEN ISSUED. THIS FREEZE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING.

* LOCATIONS...THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA.
* TEMPERATURES...BETWEEN 33 AND 36 DEGREES.
* WINDS...LIGHT.
* IMPACTS...DAMAGE TO TENDER VEGETATION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A FROST ADVISORY MEANS THAT FROST IS POSSIBLE. SENSITIVE OUTDOOR PLANTS MAY BE KILLED IF LEFT UNCOVERED.

A FREEZE WATCH MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE. THESE CONDITIONS COULD KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

Benefit Car Show for Operation Christmas Child

3/18/2016 11:19:00 AM Benefit , Local News 0 comments

A Benefit Car Show for Operation Christmas Child, Western North Carolina, will be held Saturday, April 2nd from 8 am to 3 pm at Franklin High School parking lot, by football field. Registration Fee: $15 to enter a car. If you are interested in showing or participating please contact: Shelly Pilkerton at 828-371-7503 or e-mail: shellypilkerton@yahoo.com.

Guests are requested to bring donations for the shoeboxes: pencils, crayons, combs, toothpaste/toothbrushes, etc. or cash. All proceeds are going to Operation Christmas Child.

Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse that delivers millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to children affected by war, natural disasters, disease, famine, poverty, and persecution in more than 100 countries worldwide. In 2015 Western North Carolina counties, which are Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, collected over 17,400 shoeboxes. They include items like toys, school supplies and hygiene items, creating gifts that can make a significant difference in the lives of hurting children around the world, for many of the children, these shoeboxes will be the first gift they have ever received. For many more suggestions and information about Operation Christmas Child see: www.samaritanspurse.org/occ

With a computer or mobile device, anyone can conveniently pack a personalized Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift on the Samaritan’s Purse website year-round. Go to samaritanspurse.org/occ to select toys and gift items, write a note of encouragement and “pack” them in a shoebox. After the shoebox is packed and sent by the Operation Christmas Child team, participants can discover where in the world their gifts will be delivered.

To learn about year-round volunteer opportunities or to serve with Operation Christmas Child visit samaritanspurse.org/occ or e-mail us at wncocc@yahoo.com.

Macon County Commissioners to Webcast Meetings Online

3/18/2016 09:27:00 AM local politics , Macon Commissioner Meetings 0 comments

The Macon County Commissioners will be webcasting their own meetings online beginning with the April meeting. Here is the announcement:

Camera Installation in Commissioner Boardroom

2016 Primary Elections Results for Macon County
Live Coverage

3/15/2016 05:27:00 PM 2016 Education , Elections , Live Event , Macon County , MaconGov , NC-120 0 comments

**update** 11:12 pm on March 15, 2016

Readers have reported several errors in the results, most often the error is a simple transposing of numbers in some races, and before the Board of Elections consented to handing out paper copies, I made other errors in transcribing from paper to computer in my haste. I apologize for any errors and will try to fix them as soon as I can. --Bobby

Macon Media will be attempting the first ever live video coverage of the election results, paying close attention to the races involving local candidates. The races that will be highlighted are the Republican primaries that include the race for the 120th NC House District seat that Kevin Corbin (Macon County) and Elliott Southworth (Cherokee County) are seeking. The other two races are the race for the District II County Commissioner that pits Karl Gillespie against Ron Haven and the District III County Commissioner race that is a three-way contest between incumbent Paul Higdon and challengers Greg Boyer and Emmanuel (Manny) Carrion. All the local Democratic races feature candidates that are running unopposed, so those races will not be covered. Since this is a one man show, the local Presidential results will not be posted unless the precincts are slow in coming in, and I do not expect any time to breathe during the live coverage.

Macon Media will attempt to stream live video from the bowels of the county courthouse. Internet access is notoriously sketchy down there, so don't be too disappointed if the video is not working.

Live text results will be posted here in reverse chronological order so the most recent results will always be displayed just below the video player. The results will also be mirrored on Facebook on the Macon Media New Weather and Information page and on the Macon Media twitter account under the hashtag #2016Macon [Example of search String]

Live streaming video by Ustream

**7:51 pm** The video feed went down because the internet speed downstairs got bogged down an is too slow.

I apologize for the problems and will not be attempting to relaunch.

 SCROLL DOWN TO SEE RESULTS BY PRECINCT

.......................................................................................................

Numbers for Precinct : Unofficial Total

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DISTRICT 2

Ron Haven	2424	43.48%
Karl Gillespie	3151	56.52%