McDowell County EMS has ended its temporary pause on non-emergency transfers to Mission Hospital in Asheville as of January 18th. The pause was put into effect on November 6th of 2023 due to long wait times in the emergency department at Mission. In a news release on January 18th, McDowell County Emergency Services Director Will Kehler said a continuous monitoring of EMS wait and turnaround ...(more)
Power has been restored to the Altapass Convenience Center and it is now open on a regular schedule. It is open and will be on a regular schedule going forward. ...(more)
(Wednesday January 17 at 1:47 pm) Given the improved weather conditions and hard work of French Broad EMC, we have decided to close the shelter at Blue Ridge Elementary as of 1 pm today. Thanks to the American Red Cross, Yancey County DSS, Sheriffs Office, and Yancey County Schools for your dedication to the citizens of our county. ...(more)
The cold temperatures this week are the coldest the Western North Carolina Mountains have seen since December of 2022 and this Saturday is expected to be the coldest of the year so far with the overnight low predicted to be around zero. Mitchell and Yancey Counties are providing shelters on these cold nights. The Beacon Center at Spruce Pine United Methodist Church is open as a warming station ...(more)
A 20 month old child was tragically killed in an accident on Saturday afternoon January 13 in Yancey County. South Toe Rescue and Heritage EMS were called to the Murdock home on Lower Browns Creek in Yancey County. Services will be held on Sunday January 21st for Cora Laine Murdock. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to help the family. Cora’s legacy will live on as her heart was donated ...(more)
According to Yancey County Emergency Management, a warming shelter will be opened at Blue Ridge Elementary at 4 pm today (Tuesday, 1/16). ...(more)
Marion resident Jeffrey Coats couldn’t help but dance after a $5 Fast Play ticket, bought on his birthday, turned into a $515,731 jackpot win. “I started dancing around the coffee table,” he laughed. Coats said his girlfriend knew then that he must have won a big prize. “She said, ‘Oh he must have won something because he doesn’t dance,’” Coats recalled. He bought his lucky ...(more)
On January 3rd, Double Island Fire Department met all requirements set forth by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services to respond to medical emergencies in the Double Island Community at the Advanced EMT level. Advanced Life Support (ALS) is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend beyond Basic Life Support (BLS). This skill set is used to provide emergent ...(more)
Mayland Community College has received a $1,645,507 Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant. This five year grant is effective from October of 2023 to September 30, 2028. The largest amount of the grant distribution is the first year and decreases in subsequent years. This will allow the college to implement practices that will sustain success without continuous financial dependence. ...(more)
When Overnight temperatures are predicted to be in the 20s that brings out the Code Purple Flag at the Beacon Center of Spruce Pine. The warming station will open at 6:00 pm for anyone that is without heat and have nowhere to go. Cots, blankets, warm drinks and refreshments will be provided at no charge. Anytime the Beacon Center of Spruce Pine is open, the Code Purple flag will be flying in ...(more)
