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Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Jackson County Administration Building
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon for the construction of the Jackson County Administration Building at the 800 block of Skyland Drive next to the Skyland Service Center in Sylva. County Manager Kevin King, Jackson County, said he is excited to see the construction of the new building as a place for residents to come and take care of several county services. “Being located next to the Skyland Service Center where other county services are already provided will certainly make this new location more convenient for our residents to efficiently manage their county needs and services.” King was joined by John Smith, Jackson County Commissioner, District 2; Odell Thompson, Architect; Erin Renwick, senior project manager, Vannoy Construction; and other construction representatives for the ceremony. Also in attendance were various department heads of the county departments that will be housed in the new building. Those county departments currently in the Jackson County Justice and Administration Building located at 401 Grindstaff Cove Road in Sylva that will locate to the new building include Jackson County Administration, Human Resources, Economic Development, Information Technology, Finance, Tax Administration, and Register of Deeds. The License Plate Agency will also relocate to the…
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Park Visitors Should Be Aware of Increased Bear Activity
Rangers in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are monitoring increased bear activity after several recent incidents involving visitors. Park officials say rangers responded to three bear-related incidents over the weekend on the Ramsey Cascades Trail, including two encounters where a bear approached visitors and took two backpacks, and a third in which a bear showed aggressive behavior and briefly chased a group. As a result, Ramsey Prong Road and Ramsey Cascades Trail are closed until further notice while rangers continue to monitor the area. Park officials also reported three incidents last weekend on Abrams Falls Trail involving an aggressive black bear, including one case where a visitor was bitten after entering a closed area. That trail and access road have now reopened after several days with no observed bear activity. The National Park Service says spring is a sensitive time as mother bears emerge from dens with cubs in search of limited food sources, increasing the chances of human-bear encounters. Visitors are reminded to stay at least 50 yards away from bears, secure all food and trash, avoid stopping in the road to watch wildlife, and never feed a bear. The park says Great Smoky Mountains National Park is…
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Two Busted for Drug Traffiking Charges
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says two people are facing multiple drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop in the Cashiers area. According to the sheriff’s office, the Criminal Suppression Unit conducted the stop on April 20 after spotting a traffic violation. During the stop, K-9 Ziva alerted deputies to the possible presence of narcotics in the vehicle, leading to a probable cause search. Investigators say they found about 42 grams of suspected fentanyl, 56 grams of suspected methamphetamine, more than 20 Xanax pills and about 4 grams of suspected marijuana. Authorities charged rs with multiple counts including trafficking in fentanyl by possession and transportation, trafficking in methamphetamine by possession and transportation, possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule Four controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hunter Duke Fortner faces similar charges, including trafficking in fentanyl and methamphetamine, possession charges, maintaining a dwelling for controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sheriff Doug Farmer praised his staff for what he called their continued efforts to remove dangerous drugs from Jackson County.
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Annual Synchronous Firefly Viewing Lottery
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is set to host its popular synchronous firefly viewing event at Elkmont, and the event is so popular, a lottery is held for vehicles to attend. According to an April 21 news release, the event will be held eight days in May – from May 20-27. A lottery for vehicle reservations opens at 10 a.m. April 24 and closes at 11:59 p.m. April 27. Visitors can enter the lottery atrecreation.gov for a $1 fee. Visitors may select two preferred viewing days when entering the lottery. The park will issue 120 reservations per night for a total of 960 for the event, the park said in the release. Each reservation admits one vehicle with up to seven occupants.Every year in late May or early June, hundreds of visitors gather near Elkmont to watch Photinus carolinus, a firefly species known for its synchronous flashing, the release said. The park limits access to the Elkmont area during the eight-day period of predicted peak firefly activity to ease traffic, keep visitors safe and protect the fireflies during their mating season. Applicants will be notified by email by May 6 about their lottery status. Selected applicants will automatically receive a…
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Burn Ban In Effect For WNC
Jackson County remains under severe drought conditions, and officials say some residents are still ignoring the statewide burn ban. Firefighters continue responding to reports of illegal burning, only to arrive and order flames put out while reminding people the ban is in effect. Much of Jackson County was listed in Level 3 drought in the latest report, with some lower elevations in Level 2, and forecasters warn conditions could worsen if meaningful rainfall does not arrive soon. Meteorologists say a small chance of rain this weekend is not expected to do much to ease the drought, with only light amounts in the forecast and no strong signal for a soaking rain over the next couple of weeks. Fire officials say that means wildfire danger will remain elevated, and they stress that quick showers will not solve the long-term dryness. Jackson County is also enforcing stricter rules than state guidance, with no burning allowed even near occupied homes. Despite the dry conditions, the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority says its customers are not in danger of water restrictions at this time because its water supply remains stable behind Cullowhee Dam. However, officials say people who rely on wells and springs should…
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WNC Feels Gas Price Increases
Drivers across Western North Carolina are continuing to see higher prices at the pump, with new AAA data showing noticeable increases in both the Asheville and Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton metro areas. As of Friday, March 20, AAA listed the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline at $3.556 in Asheville and $3.581 in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton. The increases have been sharp over a short period of time. In the Asheville metro, the average price is up nearly 29 cents from a week ago, when regular gas stood at $3.271 per gallon. It is also up about 85 cents from a month ago, when the average was $2.706. In the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area, drivers are paying nearly 22 cents more than a week ago and nearly 94 cents more than a month ago. Even with those increases, western North Carolina remains slightly below broader averages. AAA says North Carolina’s statewide average for regular gasoline is now $3.648 per gallon, while the national average has climbed to $3.912. That means drivers in the Asheville and Hickory markets are still paying less than the statewide and national averages, but the overall trend remains upward. AAA says the seasonal rise is being driven in part by stronger spring…
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Clampitt Remembered
North Carolina Representative Mike Clampitt has died. The North Carolina General Assembly announced that Clampitt, who represented District 119, died Wednesday, March 18, after battling cancer. He was 71 years old. Clampitt served Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties in the N.C. House and had recently won the March 3 Republican primary. In a statement, House Speaker Destin Hall called Clampitt a friend, colleague and true patriot, saying public service was both a calling and a duty for him. Hall praised Clampitt’s years as a fire captain and his service in the General Assembly, saying he cared deeply about the people of Western North Carolina. Clampitt’s office said he died at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon at Duke University Hospital after a battle with leukemia. Governor Josh Stein also paid tribute, saying Clampitt was one of the first people he called about rebuilding Western North Carolina after Helene, and remembered him as a steadfast public servant for the region. Clampitt, a Bryson City Republican, was first elected to the N.C. House in 2016 and also won election again in 2020. He was known for advocating on issues important to Western North Carolina and for sponsoring legislation, including a bill to lower the state’s…
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