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Endangered Bats Under Threat?
Conservation organizations have initiated legal action against the U.S. Forest Service, asserting that the existence of endangered bats is under threat. The Center for Biological Diversity stated on April 19, 2024, highlighting deficiencies in the Nantahala-Pisgah forest plan that jeopardize federally protected bat species such as the northern long-eared bat, Indiana bat, Virginia big-eared bat, and gray bat. The finalized plan for Nantahala and Pisgah Forest was released by the US Forest Service in February 2023. Critics contend that the plan failed to adequately consider the long-term safeguarding of specific wildlife and forested regions, especially old-growth forests, and exposed them to logging activities. Another lawsuit, filed separately in February, argued that the Southside timber project is “inconsistent with the Nantahala National Forest’s governing management plan and therefore violates the National Forest Management Act.”
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One Person Rescued in Early Morning Fire
One person was rescued from a structure fire in Canton on Tuesday morning, April 23rd. The Canton Fire Department announced via a Facebook post around 5:20 a.m. that crews were actively engaged at the scene of a residential fire along Boxwood Terrace. Assisted by the Junaluska Fire Department, the Canton Fire Department confirmed the rescue of one victim. Presently, details regarding the condition of the individual and the extent of the damage remain unknown. The Junaluska Fire Department mentioned that investigations into the cause of the fire are underway.
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Cashiers Man Sentenced to Prison On Drug Charges
John Allen Wise, age 45, hailing from Cashiers, N.C., has been sentenced to 121 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for his involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine and illegal possession of firearms. This announcement was made by Dena J. King, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. Joining U.S. Attorney King in this announcement were Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), responsible for overseeing the Charlotte District Office, and Sheriff Doug Farmer of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, Wise was under court-ordered supervised release after serving a federal drug conviction sentence. On August 5, 2022, law enforcement from the U.S. Probation Office and the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrived at Wise’s residence to arrest him on a supervised release violation warrant and conduct a planned search. During the encounter, Wise was found with a small bag containing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on his front porch. A further search of the residence yielded fentanyl, cocaine, and additional methamphetamine, along with digital scales and items indicative of drug distribution. Additionally, a loaded semiautomatic pistol and multiple…
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NPS Asks For Help Locating Missing 35 Year Old
Urgent Notice from the Great Smoky Mountains: Search Underway for Missing Individual Efforts are underway by park rangers to locate a 35-year-old man in the vicinity of Townsend Wye, Tremont, and Cades Cove within the park. Jacob Riggs was last sighted in Maynardville, TN on April 7, and his vehicle was discovered within the park on April 8. Riggs is described as a Caucasian male, with black hair, a dark beard, and brown eyes, standing at 6’2” tall and weighing 185 pounds. Multiple organizations are collaborating with the National Park Service in this search operation, with additional resources slated to join the effort tomorrow. If you have any information regarding Riggs’s whereabouts or have seen him, please reach out to us via: CALL the NPS Tip Line: 888-653-0009 SUBMIT A TIP ONLINE: go.nps.gov/SubmitATip EMAIL: nps_isb@nps.gov In case of EMERGENCY, dial 9-1-1.
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Crucial Oversight with NC Parents Bill of Rights
Last year, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the Parent Bill of Rights, yet recent revelations have uncovered a potentially life-threatening oversight within its wording, as acknowledged by Dana Ayers, Superintendent of Jackson County Public Schools. Ayers expressed concerns, particularly regarding students exhibiting suicidal tendencies, stating that while obtaining parental consent for surveys or evaluations isn’t typically an obstacle, it becomes one when dealing with urgent cases like suicidal ideation. In response, school systems statewide are drafting resolutions advocating for an exception to the Parent Bill of Rights concerning suicide risk assessments. Ayers presented a version of this resolution to the school board on March 19, urging their support to highlight the necessity of addressing student well-being promptly. The Parent Bill of Rights mandates parental consent for students to participate in any survey or assessment revealing mental health issues, including suicide screeners. Notably, a suicide screener is distinct from a comprehensive risk assessment, focusing on immediate crisis risk and being less invasive. While Ayers emphasized the importance of parental involvement, he stressed the urgency of initiating the screening process to ensure student safety, underscoring that the ultimate goal is to keep students secure and alive. The resolution proposed by the…
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Man Charged For Child Pornography Possession
A man from Jackson County is being charged with a felony for having documents related to child sexual abuse. The 23-year-old Sylva resident Jacob Colby Nicholson is accused of three felonies related to second-degree sexual exploitation of minors. A warrant for Nicholson’s arrest was obtained on March 25th in connection with his suspected possession of sexually graphic photos of young children. He is charged with duplicating various kinds of photos in July 2023. The images show children being sexually abused in a number of unsettling ways, such as a prepubescent girl being raped by an adult male, two kids having sex—a girl between the ages of 9 and 13 and a boy between the ages of 9 and 10—and a girl between the ages of 7 and 10. Second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor is a Class E felony carrying a possible sentence of 15 to 31 months imprisonment if convicted. Nicholson was booked into the Jackson County Detention Center and released under a $75,000 secured bond.
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Sanchez-Cruz Held on $25,000 Bond for Assault
A man is facing serious legal actions following an incident that transpired late last month. Carlos Sanchez-Cruz, aged 38 and hailing from Sylva, has been apprehended on a felony charge of assault inflicting serious bodily injury. The arrest of Sanchez-Cruz by Sylva Police occurred on March 25, subsequent to a report received around 6:27 p.m. regarding an altercation near McDonald’s on Asheville Highway. Chief Chris Hatton stated that although the caller provided limited information about the incident’s location, they weren’t present at the scene, and the victim didn’t initiate the report. Subsequently, Sylva Police, in collaboration with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a search in the vicinity for the alleged perpetrator. Ultimately, Sanchez-Cruz was found in an abandoned building across the street, near Little Caesars Pizza. Sanchez-Cruz stands accused of assaulting Jeremy Trantham with a presumed knife or similar sharp object. Chief Hatton noted that no weapon was discovered either at the scene of the assault or in possession of the suspect. According to court records, Trantham reportedly sustained lacerations to his bicep as a result of the attack. He was initially taken to Harris Hospital and later airlifted to Mission Hospital in Asheville for further medical attention. There’s…
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