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U.S. Board on Geographic Names Approves Name Change for Clingmans Dome to Kuwohi
The U.S. Board on Geographic Names’ Domestic Names Committee unanimously voted on Wednesday to rename Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Kuwohi, the traditional Cherokee name for the mountain. Kuwohi, meaning “mulberry place,” reflects the cultural and historical ties of the Cherokee people to the region. This decision is the result of a years-long effort to restore the mountain’s original name. Clingmans Dome was previously named after Thomas Clingman, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina who had no direct connection to the Cherokee. In 1859, geographer Arnold Guyot named the area after Clingman, a decision now criticized due to Guyot’s promotion of “scientific racism,” a prevalent belief during his time. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) led the push for the name change, pointing out that naming the mountain after Clingman was disrespectful, given the Cherokee’s historical connection to the land. The National Park Service has expressed its support for the change, acknowledging the significance of the area to the Cherokee and emphasizing a commitment to working with the tribe to preserve the landscape and its history. The proposal to rename the summit was submitted in January by EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks, following efforts…
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Flint Gap Fire at 46 Acres As of September 17th
The Flint Gap Fire is 46 acres as of the last estimate. Although the fire is presently 0% contained, only a few areas are actively burning within the perimeter. Once firefighter access and safety in this remote and steep terrain is addressed, a full suppression strategy will be executed. The fire did not receive as much rain over the weekend as previously predicted; however, a local weather station did show that .34 inches fell on the fire this morning. Yesterday, the fire responded to decreasing relative humidities, 10 mph winds and afternoon direct sunlight with some increased activity and additional smoke. The fire is currently backing through fingers of available fuels with flame lengths of 1-3 feet in some areas. Fire activity is primarily in areas with pockets of pine litter and near drainages. Fire crews continue to develop options to mitigate safety concerns in order to transport firefighters and equipment safely to the backcountry. Crews are working to improve the existing Hannah Mountain Trail to allow for more efficient access to the fire, as well as the ability to rapidly extricate firefighters for medical or fire behavior purposes. Visitors may see firefighters and firefighting equipment in the Abrams Creek area starting…
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Flint Gap Fire estimated to be 28 acres
The Flint Gap Fire, which was started by lightning on Aug. 26, continues to burn slowly in a remote area of the park primarily in undergrowth in steep terrain. The fire is estimated to be roughly 28 acres and is not contained. The fire has grown minimally over the last several days due to weather conditions (high humidity and lack of strong winds) and shaded terrain. Increased smoke has been visible this week due to an inversion lifting and the relative humidity decreasing. Some rain is expected this weekend which will likely slow, but not extinguish the fire due the dense tree canopy and thick layer of duff (buildup of leaves and plant material) in this area. While there has been minimal growth on the fire to date, the acreage may increase as weather conditions change with the coming of fall. Park management and the fire incident management team are implementing a strategy to safely and effectively suppress the fire, given that it is burning in very steep, backcountry terrain with dense tree cover. It currently takes firefighters more than two hours on foot to reach the fire from either Parsons Branch Road or from Abrams Creek and there are no…
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BRP Visitors Infuse $1.4 Billion into Local Economy in 2023
A recent National Park Service (NPS) report highlights the significant economic impact of the Blue Ridge Parkway, revealing that 16,757,635 visitors to the park in 2023 contributed a substantial $1,390,803,000 in spending to local communities. This influx of revenue supported 19,159 jobs in the surrounding areas and delivered a cumulative economic benefit of $1,810,286,000. The findings are part of the NPS’s 2023 National Park Visitor Spending Effects report, which underscores the broader economic influence of national parks across the United States. The report details that 325.5 million visitors to national parks collectively spent $26.4 billion in nearby communities. This spending generated 415,400 jobs, $19.4 billion in labor income, and $55.6 billion in total economic output nationwide. Among the various sectors benefiting from this economic activity, the lodging industry saw the most significant direct contributions, with $9.9 billion in economic output and 89,200 jobs created. Restaurants followed with $5.2 billion in economic output and 68,600 jobs. The NPS has also introduced an interactive tool that allows users to explore visitor spending, job creation, labor income, and economic contributions by sector for national, state, and local economies. This tool includes year-by-year trend data, offering a comprehensive view of the economic impact of…
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Bryson City Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug Trafficking Convictions
A Haywood County jury has convicted a Bryson City man, Chad Ray Lequire, on seven felony charges related to drug trafficking, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced today. Lequire, 43, will serve 15 years in state prison following the verdict. Lequire was found guilty of trafficking fentanyl by transportation and possession, trafficking methamphetamine by transportation and possession, conspiracy to traffic both fentanyl and methamphetamine, and resisting arrest. The charges stem from an incident on February 9, 2021, when Deputy Hayden Green pulled over a pickup truck on Champion Drive in Canton for several traffic violations. Lequire, a passenger in the vehicle, was found holding an energy drink can with a modified lid. Suspicious of the unusual container, Detective Micah Phillips ordered Lequire to hand over the can. When he refused, a struggle ensued, prompting another officer to tase Lequire. Despite this, he continued to resist until officers were able to pull him from the vehicle and subdue him. Upon searching the can, officers discovered two plastic bags containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Additionally, deputies found two pipes, a syringe in Lequire’s pocket, and drug-laced scales inside the vehicle. The driver, Crystal Bell, 34, of Canton, pleaded guilty in December 2022 to…
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Wanted Man Apprehend In Jackson County
A man wanted in Forsyth County was arrested in Jackson County after fleeing from law enforcement. Toby Lewis McClenithan, 51, of Winston-Salem, was taken into custody on August 23, facing multiple charges. These include felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government employee, fleeing to elude arrest, possession of methamphetamine, and identity theft, as well as misdemeanor counts of driving while impaired, resisting a public officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. McClenithan was involved in a high-speed chase after a North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement officer attempted to stop his vehicle on Old Cullowhee Road for suspected DWI. He allegedly tried to hit the officer with his car before fleeing, eventually abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot. He was later arrested and found with methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and a stolen driver’s license, which he reportedly used to avoid legal trouble. He remains in Jackson County Detention Center under a $36,000 secured bond.
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Former Santa at Santa’s Land Arrested on Child Abuse Charges
Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight III, 78, who worked as Santa at Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo in Cherokee, was arrested on August 29 by the Cherokee Indian Police Department, facing 13 child abuse charges. The charges against Sleight include: – 2 counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse – 2 counts of Sexual Abuse – 2 counts of Abusive Sexual Contact – 3 counts of Offensive Touching – 2 counts of Contributing to the Delinquency, Undiscipline, Neglect, or Abuse of Minors – 2 counts of Child Abuse in the First Degree As a non-enrolled defendant, the Cherokee Tribal Court can prosecute Sleight under the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo has declined to comment on the arrest. On September 4, a release order was filed, allowing Sleight’s release on a $75,000 secured bond, with several conditions. The restrictions include: – No contact with the alleged victim, their family, or places they frequent. – Prohibition from possessing firearms or weapons. – Ban on alcohol or controlled substance use unless prescribed. – Restricted to remain within the Cherokee Court’s jurisdiction. – Electronic home confinement (EHC) with pre-trial supervision, only permitted to leave home for medical care…
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