Enewsletters

Here’s today’s latest:

• The City of Southport has revised its State of Emergency to include a requirement for individuals within city limits to wear a face mask any time they are in contact with others who are not household members in spaces where it is not possible to maintain social distancing practices.  More information on the city’s order is available here.
  
  
• This coming July 4^th is Free Fishing Day here in North Carolina, which means that anyone in North Carolina, including residents and visitors from out of state, can enjoy the day fishing for free and without a license.  Note that while anyone may fish without a license, all other fishing regulations apply.  More information, including interactive fishing and boating maps for waterways across the state, is  available here.
  
  
• The state of North Carolina has launched NCCARE360, a robust resource that will help connect patients and families in need with health care and human services providers as we recover from the COVID-19 crisis.  Those in need can request assistance through the portal for a variety of service types – food, employment, healthcare, housing, transportation, and others – and be connected with a local service provider best suited to meet those needs.  Visit NCCARE360 for more information.
  
  
• Johnston County has updated its list of COVID-19 testing sites in the county.  You can view the latest list of public testing sites, as well as the latest statistics on the spread of the virus within Johnston County, on its COVID-19 page here.
  
  
• Here is the latest COVID-19 update from Columbus County, released yesterday.  The county reported two additional COVID-associated deaths since the county’s last release on the 18^th.
  
  
• The Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield’s Virtual Summer Program starts today, which encourages kids to read over the summer months to continue their learning and bridge the gap between school years.  Students may download reading logs from the library’s website here to participate, and the logs can be returned to obtain a prize.

For today’s good news story, I’m highlighting Professional Insurance Services, Inc., of Sampson County, which is donating $1,000 for the purchase of hand sanitizer in advance of the Sampson Strong Together Brunch and Bows shopping events planned for later in the year.  Events like these will be key to helping our small retail businesses recover from the months-long COVID shutdown, and these sorts of donations will help them take place safely.

As always, stay tuned to Coronavirus.gov and the NC Department of Health and Human Services’ website for the latest on the outbreak.