Western Carolina University has shifted its spring semester schedule in response to record-high COVID-19 cases and a resulting strain in critical care resources.

Classes at Cullowhee Valley School will transition to remote-only instruction tomorrow due to a spike in COVID-19 cases among staff members. 

By Megan McLeod, AmeriCorps Program Officer and Training Coordinator for North Carolina

Jorden Rice, a graduating senior at Brevard College, is on the path to realizing her dream of becoming a teacher following a remarkable student teaching experience this past semester in the remote-learning environment necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Did you know, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities?

By Martin Dyckman • Guest Columnist | During the Spanish Civil War, which the Fascists won, one of their generals said there was a “fifth column” inside Madrid that would capture the capital before any of their four advancing formations could reach the city. Ever since, the phrase has stood for any group of disloyal people aiming to subvert their own country.

To the Editor:

As one of Mr. Madison Cawthorn’s constituents in the 11th District, I wish to inform him that I find his recent words and actions with regard to the presidential election to be beyond troubling.

To the Editor:

In 1974 Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he committed, may have committed, or may have taken part in during the period from Jan. 20, 1969, through Aug. 9, 1974.

As 2020 shifts to the rearview, Friends of Panthertown is celebrating a slew of accomplishments earned despite an ongoing pandemic. 

A section of the Blue Ridge Parkway near Linville Falls will be closed through summer for a bridge rehabilitation project at the Linville River Bridge. 

Two road sections in the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed for bridge replacement through Friday, March 26. 

More than 200 acres have been added to the Pisgah National Forest at Linville Gorge thanks to a recently completed project by The Conservation Fund. 

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Banquet will be postponed until later in the year after a vote by its board of directors.

Macon County Public Health was overrun with phone calls to schedule COVID-19 vaccination appointments and testing appointments on Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 11-12.

Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 191 new cases of COVID-19 in the last four days.

In the process of implementing new systems to create a fair and equitable COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Haywood County Public Health recently made the public aware of a mistake that was made.

The future of a massive development proposed for the Cashiers crossroads is still up in the air following a Jan. 6 meeting of the Cashiers Area Community Planning Council.

Question: What are "ancient grains" and are they better for me if I have celiac disease?

Over 80 firefighters, EMS, and rescue squad personnel who are frontline care providers were vaccinated Wednesday afternoon at a drive-through clinic organized by Haywood County Emergency Services in partnership with Haywood Health and Human Services.

Between Jan. 5 and Jan. 7, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 155 new cases of COVID-19.  As of 5 p.m. Jan. 7, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 2,487 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began. There are 361 people isolating with COVID-19. The health department is monitoring these cases.

Vaccinations are underway in Haywood County and currently, we are nearing completion on the first phase, known as 1A, which includes frontline health care workers and long-term care facility residents and staff. 

Lake Junaluska began the drawdown of the lake on Dec. 30. The lake drawdown, which happens every few years, allows for removal of silt from the lake’s floor as well as repairs, maintenance and litter cleanup. The lake will be filled again by Easter.

Macon County Public Health has identified a COVID-19 outbreak at Macon Valley. Thirteen residents and four staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. All patients who have tested positive are doing well and are isolated from others. Staff who have tested positive will not return to work until they are no longer infectious.

As we focus on relationships this week, we reached out to our Rumble readers to get their insight into what makes a marriage last. They offered some pretty powerful advice! 

Beginning Jan. 6, Haywood County residents over the age of 75, who have not already been included in a previous vaccination group, may begin pre-registering for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. 

Starting Monday, Jan. 11, the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville will resume its normal winter hours of 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the entrance gates closing at 6 p.m.

By Geoff Cantrell • Contributing writer | In a typical school year, Highlands Biological Station serves nearly 10,000 students through more than 250 programs for 50-plus schools across the mountain region. 

This was not a typical school year. 

By Jonathan Austin • Contributing writer | A recently documented bee species has been identified living in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Will Kuhn, director of science and research at Discover Life in America, said the bee, Epeolus inornatus, was found during two observations off Baskins Creek Trail, located just outside Gatlinburg.

By Heather Hyatt Packer • Guest Columnist | There’s a lot of discussion about freedom, rights and patriotism when discussing coronavirus restrictions. Americans today have no idea what it means to make sacrifices for the greater good nor do they seem interested. We’re in the throes of a national crisis. Coronavirus is very real. Many in our community have lost their lives or face long-term health problems. Yet a large number of residents are still in denial, though I’m not sure it’s denial. It’s defiance.

To the Editor:

“Incitement of discontent or rebellion against a government, or any action (especially in speech or writing) promoting such discontent or rebellion.” That is Webster’s least complicated definition of sedition and what, in my modest opinion, the President of the United States, 18 states attorney generals, at least 126 congressmen and women, and a multitude of enablers who eagerly signed on to Trump’s ill-advised, short-sighted, half-baked and very, very dangerous endeavor to overturn a free and fair election, are guilty of.

To the Editor:

I am worried. Our newly elected congressman Madison Cawthorn contests what he has tweeted about as the right to a free and fair election. As he stated: “the right to vote is the cornerstone of our Republic.” 

To the Editor:

Arts organizations have had an extraordinarily challenging time during the pandemic, and it’s been no different for Folkmoot. 

Packaging: Family-size vs personal grab-n-go - For many years we had seen the rise in "grab-n-go" beverages and personal size convenient to carry snack and food items. With "stay at home" and work at home becoming more commonplace during the pandemic, the popularity of family size packaging has reemerged as the shopper's choice.

When you get to the point of marriage in a relationship, it’s important to establish a strong foundation beforehand. Part of that strong foundation involves getting to know your partner on a deep level. It’s time to push past the surface and get to know your partner’s thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of “what-ifs” that could happen in the course of your relationship. 

In the week since the last press release, Haywood County Public Health has received notice of 327 new cases of COVID-19. As of 5 p.m. Jan. 4, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has recorded a total of 2,332 cases in Haywood County since the pandemic began. There are 284 people isolating with COVID-19. The health department is monitoring these cases.

The mountain counties of Western North Carolina posted yet another strong month of home sales in November according to the latest Canopy MLS housing report for the Asheville region.

Haywood County Health and Human Services is reporting six more COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total number now to 68. 

On Monday, Jan. 4, Down Home North Carolina Haywood and local community members will hold a press conference to announce their “NO NEW JAIL!” campaign. The event will be held in front of the Historic Haywood Courthouse at 8 a.m. immediately before the first Haywood County Commission meeting of the year. 

RALEIGH —The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced beginning Jan. 4, households can apply for the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) and the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) online at www.epass.nc.gov.

Three Macon County residents diagnosed with COVID-19 have passed away. The persons were over the age of 65 and had underlying health conditions. To protect the family ́s privacy, no further information will be released about these patients. These deaths bring Macon County to 12 deaths related to COVID-19.

Former National Park Service Director Gary Everhardt passed away on Sunday, Dec. 27, following a battle with COVID-19 and just days after his beloved wife, Nancy died on Dec. 23. He was 86 years old.

Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has begun distribution of its first allotment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. 

The Junaluska Sanitary District experienced a discharge of untreated sewage from a broken sewer main.

No one needs reminding that this year was dismal. In addition to our commonly shared pandemic misery, I have endured one of the more turbulent eras in my 38-year history of relationships.

Happy New Year, Rumble readers! As we bring 2020 to a close, we wanted to share some lessons we learned this year and our thoughts on making resolutions for the new year. 

A series of horticulture classes aimed at home gardeners will be offered in the New Year through Haywood County Cooperative Extension. 

The N.C. Agricultural Hall of Fame now has three new members following the induction of John Holman Cyrus, Fred N. Colvard and Marshall W. Grant. 

Rob Young, director of Western Carolina University’s Program for the Study of Developed Shorelines, was recently appointed by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to a technical advisory committee as part of the Virginia Coastal Master Planning Framework, which will guide development of the state’s master plan to adapt to environmental changes.

Biologists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking the public, particularly anglers, to submit any sightings of mudpuppies to the agency.