The Macon County & Shopping Guide April 9, 2020 • 24 Pages Volume 37 Number 46 FREE INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER www.themaconcountynews.com FNP heads to NYC to fight COVID19 head-on MCPH reports first Brittney Lofthouse this is not an unpaid position. But Contributing Writer the risk and sacrifice are real. And after multiple conversations, Matt death from COVID-19 Aubrey Balmer has served as a and I decided that we either believe A Macon County resident diagnosed with COVID-19 Family Nurse Practitioner at Angel what God says, and follow when has died. The person was over the age of 65 and had un- Medical Center and Mission Hos- he leads us, which demands action. derlying medical conditions. To protect the families’ pri- pital since graduating with her FNP Or sit on the sidelines and live with vacy, no further information about this patient will be in 2012. She worked in emergency the regret of wondering ‘what if.’ released. medicine and urgent care for five If there is one thing I've learned in “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and years. Then, for the past three and my life, it is that I do not want to loved ones at this time. We want to reiterate the impor- half years, she ran the onsite health have regrets. I know not everyone tance of citizens staying home and practicing social dis- clinic for Harrah's Casino offering believes in God or has the same tancing until further direction from our government and both primary care and urgent care faith that I do. But, I'm so thankful health leadership,” stated Carmine Rocco, Macon for employees. With New York that in this historical moment in County Interim Health Director. “Our message to those City being deemed the epicenter history, I will be taking part in it by who are full-time residents, part-time residents, or vis- for the COVID19 virus, with a des- bringing the sacrificial love and iting Macon County: Stay at home. Stay safe. Practice perate shortage in qualified profes- peace that I built my life upon and social distancing. Quarantine if you have travelled. sionals, Balmer answered the call weaving it in to the lives of people Limit your trips outside of your home to necessities.” to spend the next month in the city who are scared and suffering.” Macon County Public Health regularly updates its providing help wherever it is Balmer attended Lenoir-Rhyne Facebook page with accurate and current information needed. where she obtained her BSN-RN. regarding COVID-19. The public is encouraged to check “If I'm honest, I didn't think I A year after graduating, she started the Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MaconPub- would ever be one to risk going to the FNP program at WCU. licHealth for up-to-date information. New York City,” Balmer said of “One of the best decisions I have Symptoms for COVID-19 are fever, cough, and other her decision to go. “I have a 5- Family Nurse Practitioner Audrey Balmer will be ever made was to become a Nurse lower respiratory illness (shortness of breath). If you be- year-old son. I want to be with my spending the next month in New York City fighting Practitioner,” she said. “It's al- lieve that you may have COVID-19, call the Health De- husband. It's much more comfort- the COVID-19 pandemic on the front lines. lowed me to serve other people partment at (828)349-2517. The call center is open able being at home with my boys and use my innate aptitude for Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm, until and going for runs every day. But, for two weeks every time medicine in not only a variety of health care settings but also further notice. I opened my Bible for my quiet time in the morning it was Submitted by Kathy McGaha, Public Information Officer to Psalm 91. I am going as a government contract employee, See FRONTLINES page 4 67IN THIS ISSUE Help is on the way Health care workers learn for small businesses of further cuts in benefits Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer Brittney Lofthouse – Contributing Writer New loans from the federal government are now available In 2019, Macon County EMS transported 28 patients to to small businesses following the COVID-19 national emer- Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital in Cherokee County — gency declaration. with an average of 30 patients transported to the facility an- Small businesses across the country headed to their local nually for the last five years. The majority of Macon County banks over the past week in hopes of applying to the Small residents transferred to Erlanger’s Cherokee County hospi- Business Administration’s emergency funds set up as part tal are Nantahala residents, who are about 20 minutes closer of Congress’s $2.2 trillion federal stimulus program. The to Erlanger than Angel Medical Center. Nantahala residents federal relief program has various loans and programs avail- are more frequently transported to Erlanger Hospital in able to business owners — depending on the individual Cherokee County than any other hospital in the region. needs of the business. Macon County residents who work at Erlanger Western Like most loans, the SBA loans will vary from one recip- Carolina Hospital were dealt another blow Monday via Page 13 ient to another. The official title of the SBA loans are Eco- email when they learned that specific positions within the nomic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). hospital system were having their salaries cut by 5 percent. Backyard gardening is making a comeback According to the SBA, the administration “offers loans Erlanger Health System announced at the end of March 828.369.6767 with long-term repayments in order to keep payments af- that they had enacted a "temporary expense reduction plan" PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID fordable, up to a maximum of 30 years. Terms are by furloughing some administrative employees, cutting www.themaconcountynews.com PERMIT 22 [email protected] GOODER PUBLISHING CORP. FRANKLIN, NC 28734-3401 See SMALL BUSINESSES page 2 See BENEFITS page 3 2 THE MACON COUNTY NEWS & SHOPPING GUIDE VOLUME 37 NUMBER 46 THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2020 be paid back at all. said the state continues to streamline the un- Continued from page 1 The process starts with an application on employment process for the state. SMALL BUSINESSES SBA.gov for an Economic Injury Disaster “We went from having one of the lowest determined on a case-by-case basis, based should apply as quickly as possible because Loan (EIDL). Applying for emergency funds unemployment rates in our state’s history, to upon each borrower’s ability to repay.” there is a funding cap. will entitle business owners to the $10,000 having 220,000 people file for unemploy- Macon County Economic Development The application process comes with con- cash advance — if you get approved for the ment in the last two weeks and it has over- Director Tommy Jenkins has been providing fusion from many local branches. In theory, EIDL, the $10,000 is taken from the total whelmed the system,” said Corbin. “The regular updates and information for local experts claim businesses could apply loan amount, if you do not get the loan, busi- state hired 50 new workers just to get the businesses via email during this time. through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or nesses may be able to keep the $10,000. process moving so I am confident we will “At this point, the EDC is working with through any federally insured depository in- Another program available under the loan see better results this week.” various strategic partners to provide local stitution, federally insured credit union, and businesses with the information they need to Farm Credit System institution that is par- access available resources, as well as as- ticipating. However, some banks, such as sessing the needs of the business commu- Bank of America have said that they will nity,” said Jenkins. only loan to businesses with existing ac- According to releases from Jenkins, small counts. businesses with 500 or fewer employees - Inquiries to Entegra Bank, which recently including nonprofits, veterans organizations, merged with First Citizens, regarding their tribal concerns, self-employed individuals, process yielded no answers. Entegra Bank sole proprietorships, and independent con- said while they are still operating under the tractors - are eligible. Businesses with more Entegra Bank name, questions needed to be than 500 employees are eligible in certain in- sent to First Citizens Bank. Questions to dustries. local branches were redirected to the head- Interest rates for SBA economic injury quarters in Raleigh, who then directed ques- loans depend on the classification of the ap- tions to the North Carolina Bankers plying organization. For nonprofit organiza- Association. tions, including nonprofit aging services Jenkins said for those who may not want providers, the interest rate is generally 2.75 to take out a loan, staying connected with percent. their customers is more important than ever. Per SBA, “The law limits economic injury “Stay connected with your customer base disaster loans to $2,000,000 … The actual by email and social media,” said Jenkins. amount of each loan is limited to the eco- “Promote online sales, gift card purchases nomic injury determined by SBA, less busi- for future use. If a restaurant, continue to ness interruption insurance and other offer take-out and delivery services. En- recoveries up to the administrative lending courage customers to ‘buy local.’ Work with limit. SBA also considers potential contri- resources such as SCC’s Small Business United Community Bank at 257 East Main Street is among those banks in Franklin that can help butions that are available from the business Center for new ideas and strategies.