by DJ | Aug 12, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Smoky Mountain News, (Opinion by By Kelli R. Brown, chancellor of Western Carolina University • Guest Columnist) These are uncertain and challenging times. Our communities, our state and our nation are grappling with an unprecedented set of issues that affect each...
by DJ | Aug 12, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Smoky Mountain News, Written by Holly Kays Seventeen employees at University of North Carolina System schools — including two from Western Carolina University — are suing the university system and Gov. Roy Cooper in a class-action lawsuit demanding a halt to plans to...
by DJ | Aug 12, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Carey Phillips and Dave Russell While the rate of infection is dropping locally, Jackson County has reported three more deaths in the past week from COVID-19. That brings the total to seven since the pandemic started in March. The Jackson County...
by DJ | Aug 12, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Beth Lawrence As students migrated out of other towns and states into Western Carolina University residence halls and student housing, WCU’s Faculty Senate debated a resolution to oppose in-person learning. Upwards of 400 people from staff,...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Beth Lawrence Vecinos, a nonprofit dedicated to meeting healthcare and other needs of Western North Carolina’s farmworkers, has had to change the way it delivers its services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The biggest impact to Vecinos has been the...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald Editor’s note: The Herald submitted a series of questions to Western Carolina University leadership regarding the opening of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Below are answers from various campus leaders. The Herald thanks Chief...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Carey Phillips Western Carolina has reported seven student-athletes tested positive for COVID-19 last month. Meanwhile the Catamount athletic department is waiting for direction from the NCAA Board of Governors and Southern Conference chancellors...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Stabilizing trends are good but fragile, and now is the time to double down on safety measures Governor Roy Cooper today announced that North Carolina will remain paused in Safer At Home Phase 2 for another 5 weeks as students and staff return to schools, colleges and...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) today announced its selection of seven vendors to hire and manage over 250 Community Health Workers, who will be deployed in 50 targeted counties to connect North Carolinians affected by COVID-19 with...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has 38 upcoming community testing events scheduled in Alexander, Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Columbus, Duplin, Graham, Henderson, Hertford, Jackson, Lenoir, Pitt, Randolph, Sampson, Wake and Wilson...
by DJ | Aug 7, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Dave Russell The Jackson County Department of Public Health reported Monday the death of a fourth county resident related to COVID-19. The individual was between the ages of 65-74 with underlying health conditions. The health department...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, News
Smoky Mountain News, by Admin United Way of North Carolina launches a statewide survey today to assess how COVID-19 has impacted community members across the state. All North Carolina families are invited to complete the United Way of North Carolina COVID-19 survey...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Blue Ridge Public Radio, by Lilly Knopp Catamount Athletics says that seven people who have been back on campus for sports training have tested positive for COVID-19. In total 145 people were tested – all student-athletes in sports with permitted summer access...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Carey Phillips Part of Smoky Mountain’s men’s soccer workouts were shut down last week after a player tested positive for COVID-19. Athletic Director Adam Phillips said one pod of 10 players was shut down for two weeks. N.C. High School Athletic...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Kelly Morgan Jackson County’s long-standing food bank and soup kitchen, the Community Table, has faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. In an email brief last week, the organization described the adjustments it has made to cope with the...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates, Uncategorized
The Sylva Herald, By Kelly Morgan Face masks, this year’s most notable fashion statement, have been a mandatory part of North Carolina’s dress code for more than a month. Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order June 24 stating that retail businesses must have all...
by DJ | Aug 3, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Dave Russell Jackson County COVID-19 cases rose by 22.1 percent over the last week. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Jackson County Department of Public Health reported 376 cases of full-time residents and 8,203 tests reported to the agency. The county...
by DJ | Jul 27, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Smoky Mountain News, Written by Admin The Jackson County Department of Public Health has identified a COVID-19 cluster in a local church. Eight individuals who attended a three-day revival on July 12-14 at the Cashiers Church of God have tested positive for COVID-19....
by DJ | Jul 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Smoky Mountain News, By Jessi Stone Jackson County has seen a steady growth in active COVID-19 cases in the last week as an outbreak was reported at a local skilled nursing facility on July 17 and a cluster was announced at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino on July 20. Five...
by DJ | Jul 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Carey Phillips The N.C. High School Athletic Association has postponed the beginning of fall sports practices from Aug.1 to at least Sept. 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For now, workouts can continue with significant restrictions under Phase I...
by DJ | Jul 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Dave Russell Tuesday’s 6 p.m. meeting of the Jackson County Board of Education could go a long way in determining how local schools will open on Aug. 17. Gov. Roy Cooper held a press conference last Tuesday to lay out some tweaks to previous...
by DJ | Jul 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, By Beth Lawrence The Jackson County Board of Commissioners is considering new rules for conducting meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The topic was introduced to the board by county Manager Don Adams at the July 14 work session. Adams and...
by DJ | Jul 24, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Julie Creason, Scott Fisher, Kimberly Tinklepaugh and Gretta Phillips of the Jackson County Department of Public Health operate the COVID-19 testing station Tuesday at the health department. The clinic is offered each Tuesdays from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., weather...
by DJ | Jul 16, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
Districts may choose to conduct school entirely by remote learning; North Carolina will continue to pause in Safer At Home Phase 2 for three more weeks. Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS) Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen...
by DJ | Jul 16, 2020 | COVID-19 Updates
The Sylva Herald, Written by Admin., July 15 The Jackson County Department of Public Health has confirmed that two recent deaths in Jackson County residents are related to COVID-19. The first individual was between the ages of 25-49 years of age and had underlying...
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