The extension of the Macon County Airport runway is approximately two months away from completion, according to airport engineer Eric Rysdon, who reported to Airport Authority members on April 25 that the paving process has begun.

“By the end of May or beginning of June they should be done with paving,” said Rysdon, adding that approximately one month after paving, the finishing touches of the extension will be applied while additional lights are installed to make the runway operational.

Rhodes Brothers Paving has taken on the paving project under the commission of Buchanan and Sons, Inc., based out of Whittier, who began the project last October for the price of $2.6 million.

Graduation ceremonies for Southwestern Community College will be held in two separate ceremonies Tuesday, May 10, to accommodate the largest graduating class in the college’s history.

Some 271 students are candidates for certificates, diplomas and degrees, including 14 Macon Early College students and 13 New Century Scholars.

The campus of Western Carolina University and surrounding areas that receive power through WCU Electric Resale will lose power for four hours starting at 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 10. This power outage is required for Duke Energy to repair a WCU campus substation damaged during a recent storm.

The outage will affect all residences and businesses on Little Savannah Rd., including the SECU; Cullowhee P.O.; Huddle House; faculty and staff housing behind Huddle House; Rabbit Ridge apartments; Cullowhee VFD; the Sunrise trailer community west of the fire department; the construction site of the WCU Health and Human Sciences Building; Cullowhee Quik Tan; Laurel Oaks apartments; and the Jackson County Recycling Center.

Some 1,250 members of Western Carolina University’s spring graduating class will be honored as the university holds a trio of commencement ceremonies, May 6-7, at Ramsey Regional Activity Center. Commencement for WCU’s Graduate School will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 6.

Commencement for the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education and Allied Professions, and Fine and Performing Arts will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, followed by a 3:30 p.m. ceremony for the College of Business, College of Health and Human Sciences, and Kimmel School of Construction Management.