Change was in the air throughout 2000

By Lynn Hotaling

Elected Chairman Jay Denton, who has been full-time county manager for the past two years, will serve as interim county manager while a search committee seeks a professional manager.

Local schools will get a new leader in 2001 as well. Mack McCary of Elizabeth City will replace Superintendent Frank Burrell Feb. 1. Though the change won't occur until 2001, the search for a superintendent dominated school board members' priorities from May until November. It took five months and four rounds of interviews before school officials made their selection.

Zoning issues came up with regard to the Village of Forest Hills proposed extra-territorial jurisdiction. The town's plan to create an ETJ that extended a mile from its town limits sparked a furor throughout Cullowhee. Even county commissioners got involved by passing a resolution to ask the state Legislature to review ETJ statutes.

This past year's ongoing governmental lawsuits revolved around a dispute between a local developer and the town of Sylva over a road closing. Sylva businessman Wayne Smith filed and dropped one lawsuit against the town before filing another, which remains in the court system. At issue is whether Sylva acted legally when it closed Broad Street in April. Smith contends that the town's action to close the street at First Charter Bank, before it reaches his property, caused irreparable harm to his plans to build a trailer park there. A temporary agreement was worked out in October that allows Smith limited access via Broad Street while the matter proceeds through the court system.

Construction proceeded on a number of fronts as county leaders moved to meet the needs of schools, recreation and law enforcement. Work was completed on classroom additions at Smokey Mountain and Fairview elementary schools and the Smoky Mountain High field house. Progress continued on the new Scotts Creek school, which is expected to be complete in April.

School projects begun during 2000 include the SMHS workforce addition and an eight-classroom addition at Blue Ridge.

In other capital improvements, work has begun on a multi-purpose recreation facility in Cullowhee, and plans for a new jail are nearing completion.

County residents were saddened this year by the loss of legendary Solicitor Marcellus Buchanan and Webster Mayor Bob Baker.

On a happier note, attendance was good at downtown events. April's Greening Up the Mountains festival and the Fourth of July celebration attracted their largest crowds ever. The annual Christmas Parade was termed a success as well.

The year was marked by change in a number of key positions. Former SMHS Principal Kenny Nicholson came out of retirement to reclaim leadership of the county's largest school; Wanda Fernandez became principal at Scotts Creek; Richard McHargue was named SPIR director; and Steve Gray took over as mayor of Webster. In economic news, Jackson residents were hit with news that Orkand was ceasing Sylva operations after two years. Some 200 jobs promised by Orkand officials never materialized.

Economic highlights included news that Harrah's plans a high-rise luxury hotel across Soco Creek from the Cherokee casino. That facility is expected to be ready in October.

Winter weather held off until January at the beginning of 2000, but came early at the end of the year, closing schools Nov. 20 and then disrupting high school exams in December.

Tragedy touched the county this year in September with the crash of an N.C. Forest Service helicopter near Balsam Gap. Some 200 Jackson County volunteers helped with the day-and-a-half search, but both occupants were found dead at the crash site. Sad news also came with the March news that a Western Carolina University sophomore had apparently murdered her newborn infant. The child's body was discovered at the Macon County landfill.

Finally, 2000 brought apparent closure to the matter of December 1999 pipe bomb detonations at the Scotts Creek school construction site. Five of six teenagers facing felony charges in connection with the incident pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and received suspended sentences and were ordered to perform community service. Fallout from the explosions extended to SMHS graduation exercises when it was learned that school officials, during negotiations with top-ranked senior Jennifer Parker, had eliminated the traditional titles of valedictorian and salutatorian. Parker and four other SMHS seniors were suspended from school after they were charged in connection with the pipe bombings. All five were barred from attending graduation, though all received diplomas.

The deal was made public by the parents of second-ranked A.J. Rowell, who said it was unfair for school officials to take away the salutatorian title their son had earned. School officials, through a lengthy statement, later cleared the way for Rowell to be named salutatorian.

All in all, it was an eventful year in the mountains.

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