Accumulating Snow Expected Saturday Into Sunday Night
Two To Four Inches Of Snow Expected Saturday Into Saturday Night
Winter Weather Advisory
324 PM EST Fri Jan 15 2021
.An area of low pressure will cross the region Saturday into
Saturday night. Snow will fall from this system starting Saturday
morning, and conclude late Saturday night. Around two to four
inches of snow are expected to accumulate at the highest
elevations, especially those at or above 3000 ft.
Ashe-Watauga-Tazewell-Smyth-Grayson-Mercer-Summers-
Independence, Whitetop, Troutdale, Volney, Bluefield, Hinton,
Hix, Quinwood, Duo, and Rainelle
324 PM EST Fri Jan 15 2021
.WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM SATURDAY TO 7 AM EST SUNDAY.
Chief Justice Newby Issues New Court Directives Published: 15 January 2021
In this new order, Chief Justice Newby has allowed several of the emergency directives in the December 14, 2020, order to expire because they concern matters best decided at the local level. The dangers posed by COVID-19 remain serious, and Chief Justice Newby’s order encourages local judicial officials to adopt appropriate safety precautions in addition to those mandated by the order.
“Today’s order allows local courthouse leadership, who assess the threat of COVID-19 every day, to tailor preventative measures to meet their specific local challenges,” said Chief Justice Newby. “But they are not alone in this fight. I have requested that the Governor prioritize our court personnel in the COVID-19 vaccination schedule so we can fulfill our constitutional ‘open courts’ mandate to provide equal justice to all in a timely manner.”
COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Now Includes Those 65 And Older Published: 15 January 2021
Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Mandy Cohen announced Thursday that the agency is expanding its vaccination guidelines to include those 65 and older in the current phase.
The expansion follows new federal priorities, and vaccine providers that are ready to, can expand to now vaccinate all health care workers, and anyone who is 65 years and older. Cohen said North Carolina is receiving about 120,000 doses of the vaccine every week. Cohen said that counties are in various stages of the vaccine rollout, as they deal with new cases and vaccinations. That along with limited supply means that many folks will have to wait before a vaccine is available for them. Cohen reiterated that a person will not be immune from COVID-19 until one to two weeks after they have received their second dose, so folks should continue to follow the guidelines.
Tourism Booming In High Country, Some Attractions, Lodging Sold Out For MLK Weekend Published: 15 January 2021
NC High Country winter tourism is off to a great start. The region is experiencing sell-out weekends and large volumes of weekend day-trip visitors.
According to the Avery County Chamber of Commerce, for the upcoming Martin Luther King weekend, ski resorts and snow tubing with online bookings (including Beech & Hawksnest) are already sold out for Saturday and Sunday.
Sugar Mountain Resort offers in-person ticket sales, but they expect to sell-out quickly after opening.
Most area lodging is booked as well.
Following N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper’s current restrictions, ski resorts and area attractions have limited capacity and most are selling tickets online.
Senator Ballard Re-Appointed To Education Committees Published: 14 January 2021
North Carolina State Senator Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga) has announced that Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) re-appointed her as Co-Chair to both the Education/Higher Education Policy Committee and the Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee.
As a member of the Education Committees, Senator Ballard will work on issues of importance, including getting students safely back into the classroom, refining virtual learning options, continuing to improve student literacy, addressing student mental health needs, economic recovery for community colleges, as well as public and private college affordability.
Senator Ballard was also appointed as Co-Chair of the Pensions Committee where she will work on issues related to the state retirement system and with pension laws that affect state employees, firefighters and law enforcement.