Tuckasegee residents block planned rock quarry - Tuckasegee residents battling a proposed rock quarry in their valley can claim victory after the company seeking a mining permit has withdrawn its appeal of a state decision blocking those plans. An administrative hearing initially slated for early April but postponed until Sept. 2 has now been cancelled after Carolina Boulder and Stone, the company that proposed to operate the quarry, decided not to go through with contesting the N.C. Department...

Much-needed rain swells river - Much-needed rain fell in Jackson County all day Tuesday (Aug. 26), sending torrents of water spilling over the Dillsboro Dam. Media reports indicate some 7.5 inches fell in the Cashiers area, while Sylva registered about 3.5 inches. Caney Fork overflowed its banks in two places Tuesday night, according to Cullowhee Fire Chief Richard Frady. Cashiers experienced the most problems, with the water washing across the road and into Ingle’s, forcing the store to close for...

County to add paid staff at each VFD - Starting next year, a paid county employee will be working at each of the county’s seven volunteer fire departments. Money for the positions is included in this year’s budget, said county Manager Ken Westmoreland. Those employees will answer to Alan Farmer, the county fire marshal, Westmoreland said. The county will start advertising the positions starting Jan. 1, 2009. According to Westmoreland, the fire department employees will serve a variety of functions. “When we had meetings with the fire chiefs, there really wasn’t a uniform need...

Member of school board faces charges - A member of the Jackson County Board of Education is facing a charge of misdemeanor child abuse. Mark Brooks, 37, of Penny Lane, Whittier, is charged in connection with a July 4 incident involving his daughter, who was under the age of 16, according to a warrant on file at the Jackson County Clerk of Court Office. The warrant alleges that Brooks inflicted physical injury on the child that caused “numerous lasting marks and bruises on both legs.” Brooks’ estranged wife, Christa Brooks of Canton, is listed on the warrant...

Fulton steps down as EDC chairman - Rick Fulton, chairman of the Jackson County Economic Development Commission, tendered his resignation late last week. In a letter dated Aug. 21 that he sent to commissioners and county Manager Ken Westmoreland, Fulton said that recent comments made “questioning the integrity” of the EDC board led to his decision. Statements questioning the EDC Board have been made by county residents at recent commissioners’ meetings as well as by some commissioners. Many of those comments revolve around an ongoing audit of the commission prior to 2007. It was in January 2005 that the county...

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