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The University Participant Program at Western Carolina University was awarded $19,500 from the Evergreen Foundation, a mental health nonprofit.
The pilot program offers college-age kids with intellectual disabilities a chance to experience university life, including living on campus and taking part in the social scene. The grant from Evergreen will help eight student participants pay their tuition and college fees this year. The program has grant support from the U.S. Department of Education as a model-demonstration program.
up.wcu.edu or 828.227.3297.
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Medical billing and coding is considered one of the fastest-growing careers in the health care industry. Western Carolina University offers an 80-hour course that prepares students to pass national certification exams.
The cost is $1,799, including textbooks.
828.227.7397.
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Western Carolina University has been named a “military-friendly school” for the third consecutive year by G.I. Jobs magazine. The ranking honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America’s military members and veterans as students. Approximately 300 military students are enrolled at WCU this fall semester.
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Employees of Drake Enterprises collected and donated 721 pounds of food as a surprise 60th birthday present for founder and CEO Phil Drake. Drake is the owner of Drake Software, along with 19 other businesses, mostly based in Macon County. The food collected was donated to CareNet of Macon.
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The Raleigh area has grown so much that a new telephone area code has sprouted for the area.
The area code 984 has been added to the traditional Raleigh area code of 919. Starting next year, anyone in the Raleigh area has to dial the area code to make local calls.
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Three Highlands-Cashiers Hospital nurses received advanced certifications, specializing in emergency care.
Certified Emergency Nurses help patients when a diagnosis has not yet been made and the cause of the problem is unknown. Their focus is treating patients in the emergency or critical phase of their illness or injury.
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City Plumbing & Electric Supply Company has opened a storefront at 266 Highlands Road in Franklin.
The plumbing and electrical distributor sells display lighting, plumbing and appliances for the entire home. Store hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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The Franklin Lion’s Club displays the American flag throughout the town eight times a year; Labor Day, Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Presidents Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day. The charge is $25 a year.
828.421.0859.
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The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation raised more than $156,000 recently during its 2011 Annual Charitable Classic Golf & Gala to support services at MedWest-Haywood. Approximately 135 sponsors and 360 golfers participated in the two-day golf event .
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Southwestern Community College received a $500 check from First Citizens Bank for its New Century Scholars program.
The program is a locally funded initiative that improves academic readiness, bolsters student persistence toward high school graduation and increases the college-going rate of local students.
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Mission Hospital rolled out its new Bar Coded Medication Administration. Before administering a medication, medical staff will now scan a bar code of a patient’s wristband. This technology will automatically check for the “five rights of administration:” right drug, right patient, right dose, right route, right time.
The new technology has been proven to eliminate more than 80 percent of medication error.
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Allegiant Travel Company announced a new, nonstop jet service between Asheville and Orlando, Fla., via Orlando Sanford International Airport, beginning Nov. 18. Fares will start as low as $49.98 one way.
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A free seminar on Technology in Small Business will be held Nov. 21 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus.
The course will explore ways information technology supports small business success and how to identify IT needs and priorities for one’s own business.
Register at 828.306.7019 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
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For the eighth year in a row, the Angel Medical Center Auxiliary has received the coveted Five Star Award from the North Carolina Hospital Volunteers, which is the highest award available for hospital volunteer organizations.
Auxiliary volunteers raise donations and comfort the oldest and youngest of Angel Medical Center’s patients.
To volunteer, contact Jennifer Hollifield. 828.349.6869.
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Laura B. Leatherwood, vice president for student and workforce development at Haywood Community College, and Bobby J. Crumley, founder and chairman of the Crumley Roberts law firm, have been appointed to the advisory board for Western Carolina University’s College of Business.
Board members assist in fundraising, work with WCU students to help them obtain internships and jobs, and serve as “eyes and ears” for the college in the professional business world.
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The Cashiers Preservation Foundation made donations to local schools and community service organizations valued at $9,000.
The donations came from proceeds from the 2011 Cashiers Mountain Music Festival, held this past July 2-3 by the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce.
