1) Lees-McRae College Receives Accreditation as EMS Educational Institution
Lees-McRae College is proud to announce that it has received accreditation from the state of North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) as an authorized emergency medical services educational institution.
This designation allows Lees-McRae to instruct students in this new program and allows students to obtain North Carolina state certifications as an EMT-Basic or EMT-Paramedic as part of the overall Bachelor of Science degree in emergency medical services and management (EMSM).
“Obtaining this level of accreditation from the state of North Carolina is the first step in a process that allows students to earn their Bachelor of Science at Lees-McRae College and then go on to be leaders in EMS anywhere in the country,” said Justin Allen, director of the EMSM program.
The Lees-McRae emergency medical services and management program will utilize the most advanced simulation technologies housed in the Hart Simulation Center, as well as a completely equipped and outfitted critical care ambulance in the EMSM classroom. “The simulation environment is designed to make the students’ exposure as real as possible,” stated Gary Harmon, EMSM educational program coordinator. “Students will have the benefit of using real equipment and supplies as if they were actually on an ambulance responding to a call for help.”
In addition to the emergency medical services and management program, the May School of Nursing and Health Sciences offers bachelor degree programs in pre-licensure nursing and athletic training. All students enrolled in the May School have access to $1.2 million in technology in the multi-faceted Hart Simulation Center which features high-fidelity human simulators, a simulated inpatient hospital unit complete with exam tables, hospital beds and a replicated efficiency apartment. The simulation center was recently designated a Gaumard premiere site, one of only 33 in the country.
For more information about the emergency medical services and management program at Lees-McRae College, please contact the Office of Admissions at 828.898.5241 or admissions@lmc.edu, or visit lmc.edu/nursing.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Lees-McRae College is a private, four-year college offering diverse baccalaureate degrees, strong athletic programs and outstanding faculty. With 950 students hailing from 31 states and more than 8 countries, Lees-McRae’s broad core curriculum is enhanced by field-specific career preparation and experiential learning. For more information, please visit www.lmc.edu or call 828-898-5241.
2) Genealogy Presentation at the Library on Saturday
Join Richard Starbuck of the Moravian Archives in Winston-Salem for a special program on Saturday in the meeting room of the Watauga County Public Library, 140 Queen St. in downtown Boone. Starbuck will speak and show examples relating to “Genealogy Hunting at the Moravian Archives.” All are welcome. Free and open to the public. This presentation takes the place of the usually-scheduled Watauga Library Genealogy Gathering, which meets otherwise on first Tuesdays in April through October. Call the library at 828-264-8784 ext. 2 for more information.
3) NASCAR Sports Writer Tom Higgins to Speak at ASU on June 12
Tom Higgins, who has been called NASCAR’s storyteller, will talk about his sports writing career June 12 at Appalachian State University. Higgins wrote about motorsports for the Charlotte Observer for more than three decades.
Higgins’ talk is sponsored by Belk Library and Information Commons. The free event will begin at 4 p.m. in room 321. A reception will follow.
The fourth recipient of the Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, Higgins was honored during NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremony in January and featured in an exhibit at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte.
The Burnsville native began his career as a sports writer in the late 1950s, covering sports for the Canton Enterprise after graduating from Brevard College, where he played baseball and basketball.
He later joined the Asheville Citizen-Times, and said in an interview with the paper that, “Once I got to Asheville and heard the clacking of those teletype machines and was part of the excitement of putting out a daily newspaper, I was hooked.”
His first auto race was at the Asheville Weaverville Speedway.
Higgins is the author of “Racing into the Past,” which covers the early years of NASCAR, “NASCAR Greatest Races: The 25 Most Thrilling Races in NASCAR History” and coauthor of “Junior Johnson: Brave in Life.”
4) “A Cool 5” Race Weekend at Beech Mountain, June 19-20
Eastern America’s highest town announces five options for runners during this year’s “A Cool 5″ race weekend. This year the event will consist of five different races held over a two-day period emphasizing outdoor activity and showcasing the beauty of Beech Mountain.
Families are encouraged to participate in the two running events Friday afternoon, June 19. The first is the Kids’ Cool Popsicle Relay, which takes place at 4 p.m. on the athletic fields at the Buckeye Recreation Center. The free popsicle relay offers competition in different age groups. Friday afternoon is the “Buck-A-Thon” fundraiser in which participants pledge a dollar for each lap they complete on the Buckeye Rec Center walking track. On Friday night, 5 -7 p.m. is the “Taste of Beech,” where local restaurants provide samples and coupons for runners, residents, and guests. If you register to run, the Taste of Beech is FREE! For non-runners, it’s only a “cool” $5.
The bulk of racing takes place Saturday morning, June 20, with a 5-mile run; 1.5-mile fun run/walk; and a pet-friendly 1.5-mile walk & wag. All three begin at Town Hall at 8:30 a.m.
Adult registration for the 5-mile run is $25; and $30 race day. Entry fees for the Fun Run/Walk and the Walk & Wag are $20 before day of race and $25 day of race.
Youth registration (12 and under) is $10 for all races. Kids are FREE for Friday events.
“The fun run/walk has moderate elevation changes with many locations for spectators to cheer and encourage all racers. Meanwhile, the walk & wag features runners of the four-legged variety on a route that circles the town’s Bark Park and includes stations with doggy water and treats followed by a canine cool down at the Bark Park.”
Thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, and community members!
Complete details and online registration is now open at www.acool5race.com.
Call the Buckeye Rec Center for more information at 828-387-3003.
5) Evening Programs on the Parkway for Saturday
Dinosaurs and the Blue Ridge Mountains: 7 p.m. at the Linville Falls Campground Amphitheater, milepost 316. Can you find dinosaur fossils in the mountains around here? This is a frequently asked question by our Park visitors. Learn the answer and more about dinosaurs, fossils, geology and paleontology of the mountains of Western North Carolina at this ranger led program.
Wilderness Skills: Get Lost in the Woods: 7 p.m., Crabtree Falls Campground Amphitheater, milepost 340. There are a myriad of activities that can take you into the woods, but what happens when you get lost? Join a ranger and discuss the best way to get lost in the woods, and so you get found.