OUTLOOK
Shower and thunderstorm chances will prevail for the rest of the week. The best chance for any activity to occur will be today and Saturday as an approaching cold front makes its way into the region from the northwest. The front may stall near the southern part of the area Sunday into early next week, keeping isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms in the forecast.
GoFundMe Established to Benefit Children of David and Dawn Head
On Saturday, 5/23/2020, Macon County Sheriff's Deputy David Head and his wife, Dawn, a Physical Therapist with Highlands/Cashiers Hospital, were tragically killed in an automobile accident. They leave behind four children, Jeslyn Head (17), J.D. Head (13), Erin Sanborn (17), and Sidney Sanborn (19). This fund has been set up by the employees of the Macon County Sheriff's Office in an effort to help all 4 children of David and Dawn Head. [LINK]
DAY SPONSOR
Macon Media is being underwritten today by Franklin Health & Fitness, home of #ResultsForEveryone and the FREE 7-Day Guest Pass.
Franklin Health and Fitness has opened their showers and pool area for members only. To see updates related to COVID-19, please click: franklinhealthandfitness.com
There are also On-Demand Fitness Videos located at https://franklinhealthandfitness.com/blog/
Most Recent Local Government Meetings
The Macon County Board of Commissioners met on June 2nd. [LINK]
The Franklin Town Council met on June 1st. Members of the public and local media outlets were allowed in the town hall. [LINK]
General Forecast Through Saturday Night
New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Today
Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Highs ranging from the lower 70s in the higher elevations to near 80 in the valleys. Winds out of the west around 5 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight
A chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the 60s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday
Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs ranging from the mid-70s to the lower 80s. Winds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly cloudy after midnight. Lows in the 60s. WInds out of the northwest around 5 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Sunday
Partly sunny. Highs ranging from the lower 70s in the higher elevations to around 80 in the valleys.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy. Lows in the 60s.
Hazards
Isolated thunderstorms will develop this afternoon. The main threats will be cloud to ground lightning and gusty outflow winds.
---BEGIN SPONSOR SEGMENT ---
Weather Sponsor
Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month.
Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:
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All your masonry needs are available. Our phone number is 828.524.8545, the public is welcome, we’ll help you with your next project.
---END SPONSOR SEGMENT---
Tropical Weather
(The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th)
Tropical Tidbit from Levi Cowan
Tropical Weather Outlook
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL
800 PM EDT Thu Jun 4 2020
For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico:
The National Hurricane Center is issuing advisories on Tropical Depression Cristobal, located inland over northern Guatemala and eastern Mexico.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 5 days.
Five Day Cone for Cristobal
End Daily Weather Segment
Begin COVID-19 Update
Here are some numbers from the CDC, the NCDHHS, and the Johns Hopkins Dashboard. Macon Media prefers the Johns Hopkins Dashboard because the counts include those non-residents that are left out of the CDC and NCDHHS numbers.
The CDC website [LINK] reports 30,777 people in North Carolina are infected, 939 have died, and infections are widespread, the NCDHHS website [LINK] reports 31,966 confirmed cases from 468,302 targeted tests, and 659 hospitalized and 960 deaths in the state. The Johns Hopkins Dashboard [LINK] reports 32,075 people infected and 1,006 deaths (these include non-residents located in NC).
COVID-19 Data for Macon County from Coronaction. [LINK]
Detected 89
Recovered 23
Deceased 1
Actives 65
Data from Macon County Public Health [LINK] http://www.maconnc.org/health-department.html
Detected 120
Recovered 14
Deceased 1
Actives 105
Testing Data
MCPH Tests 1,321
Other Tests 343
Total Tests 1,664
Resources for Reliable Information about the Corona Virus (COVID-19) [LINK]
Macon County Public Health has announced that a Macon County Employee has tested positive for COVID-19. A portion of the press release is posted below:
PRESS RELEASE
Macon County Public Health
June 4, 2020
Macon County Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19
Macon County has identified that a Macon County employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee is isolating at home and doing well. Close contacts of the employee have been notified, tested, and are quarantined until they receive their results. The County Maintenance department has performed the necessary steps to disinfect the affected area.
Since March, Macon County has implemented strong infection control standards in all county facilities to protect employees and citizens.
These measures include:
• providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees who need it,
• limiting access to county building and congregate areas,
• implementing a health screening process for all employees, such as taking temperatures before work,
• assuring that employees who work in an office-based setting are maintaining social distancing measures,
• moving to appointment-based services and limiting walk-in services, and
• implementing teleworking agreements for some personnel to work from home (should their job allow).
Macon County is confident the risk of exposure for employees and citizens is minimal, and by implementing these measures, the county has been and will continue to provide services safely.
As local businesses open, Macon County leadership encourages all businesses to implement measures to keep employees and customers safe while visiting their establishment. Count On Me NC is a public health initiative that empowers guests and businesses to help keep everyone safe from COVID-19, to access the free training visit https://countonmenc.org/.
Positive cases are increasing in Macon County. Macon County recommends that business owners consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance on what employers and employees should do if they have been
exposed to COVID-19. Macon County leadership is committed to remaining transparent with the public and encourages businesses to be open with the public as well. For more guidance about employee exposure, visit the CDC at: https://bit.ly/critical_workers.
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Published at 10:45pm on Thursday, June 4, 2020
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