The U.S. Forest Service has completed an environmental analysis for the Buck Project on the Nantahala National Forest's Tusquitee Ranger District in eastern Clay County. Once implemented, the project will provide important young forest habitat for wildlife through commercial timber sales that over time will also result in more oaks and hickories providing acorns and nuts. The project will also promote unique Serpentine Barrens within the project area through the use of prescribed burning and it will aim to improve water resource conditions through stream improvement projects.

"I appreciate the engagement from state agencies, conservation and environmental organizations, and the public as we developed this project. Everyone is able to find parts of the project where their input made significant impacts but like all compromises no one is getting everything they want," said Tusquitee District Ranger Andy Gaston. "Ultimately we all want a healthy, diverse forest that sustains wildlife and the Buck Project will achieve that by creating young forest that is now largely absent in this area."

Removing patches of older trees gives young trees access to sunlight and water allowing them to sprout and grow. In these openings fruit, nutritious leaves, and flowers attract pollinators and other insects and support small mammals that are prey for larger animals. Openings can be created by natural processes such as storms or intense wildfires but without these disturbances openings need to be created through active management.

Jonathan McCall, Southern Mountains Wildlife Forester for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, was a collaborative partner on the Buck Project. "I am happy to see it moving forward. This area is in dire need of sustainable management work and the Buck Project will help create critical habitat for many of our declining wildlife species," said McCall. "New young forests are vital to many species ranging from the humble honey bee to golden wing warblers and even some game species such as ruffed grouse and turkey. We are committed to helping sustain as many of these species as possible by continued creation of new young forests while moving toward a more natural distribution of all forest age classes. I'd like to thank all of the partners who have helped move this project forward!"

Nearly 70 percent of national forest in the project area is over 81 years old. Across the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, the trend towards older trees is increasing such that in 50 years nearly half of the forest will be comprised of trees older than 130 years. Only 0.5 percent of the project area is young forest, defined as trees up to 10 years old.  Areas which have been identified for timber harvesting have been reviewed by a team of natural resource specialists.  The work to be done must meet Federal, State, and local regulations for best management practices to protect soil and water resources.  

The Buck Project will leave 96 percent of the 20,638-acre area untouched and will not use clear cutting. Instead it uses a silviculture treatment called "shelterwood with reserves" that leaves some large trees behind. In 30 separate stands over an area of 795 acres, most large trees will be cut to make room for young trees to grow. The average opening in each stand will be 26 acres.

"To do this work we need to harvest timber in areas that don't currently have roads and that has created some controversy," said Gaston. "This is one of the few places in this part of the Tusquitee Ranger District where we can create the young forest that's needed because the analysis area is bordered by wilderness and roadless areas. We've reduced the risk of sedimentation to streams through several measures including reusing old road beds wherever possible."

Other changes to the proposed project based on public engagement and interagency coordination include protections for sensitive areas, old forest communities, rare plants, seeps, streams, and boulderfields.

The Buck Project includes 17 stream improvement treatments to restore stream habitat quality and connectivity and reduce sediment to streams. Additional treatments include thinning and prescribed burning to improve ecological conditions in fire-dependent plant communities like the serpentine barrens.

The serpentine barrens is the rarest and most restricted habitat on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. True to its name the serpentine barrens once had fewer trees but fire suppression has resulted in a closed canopy of trees and shrubs. This unique community has over 20 state-listed rare plants and 4 state-listed rare butterflies. Two plants, Serpentine ragwort and Rhiannon's aster, are so rare that this is their only known location in the world. Restoring the serpentine barrens ensures the survival of species that literally have nowhere else to grow.

 Work in the project area could begin in 2020 and will continue for 5 to 7 years.

The environmental analysis follows a deliberative, science-based approach with input from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The Buck Project was introduced to the public in 2017 through the National Forests in North Carolina website, by mail, and at a public meeting at the Hinton Rural Life Center on November 2, 2017. A draft environmental assessment was released for a 30-day notice and comment period on April 10, 2019.

More information is available at https://go.usa.gov/xV3Ew.  

FROM NCDOT:  The N.C. Department of Transportation has been surveying the rail corridor boundaries along the Andrews-to-Murphy rail line. We started this work on Sept. 10, 2018. The survey is being done to determine the limits of the existing rail corridor. We needed to better understand the rail corridor boundaries because no survey had been conducted of the rail corridor since the state acquired the property from Norfolk Southern in 1988.
 
We understand some residents have been concerned about the survey work. We want people to understand that this survey is not related to any project and there are no plans to expand the corridor.  
 
We’ve been reaching out to property owners, elected officials and others interested in our work to let them know what we’ve been doing and why we’ve been doing it. Staff in our agency made door-to-door contact with individual property owners starting in August 2018. We’ve also sent property owners letters (see the attached), issued a news release Sept. 4, 2018 and publicized a notice in the local newspapers.

Blue Ridge Mountain EMC will release a new outage texting service on August 1. The new outage texting service provides another option for members to communicate outages to BRMEMC.

Currently, power outages are reported by a phone call or by reporting it online and entering your phone number or account number. The new texting service will also allow members to report an outage as well as receive updates on a previously reported outage—this is particularly helpful during inclement weather situations.

“Providing another option for member-customers to report outages ensures we know about outages immediately and the location of the outage,” said General Manager Jeremy Nelms. “We see the outage texting service as being advantageous to communicating updates to member-customers as well.”

BRMEMC members will automatically be opted in to the outage texting service with the cell number they have on file with their membership account. If you’re unsure your cell number is on file or if you would like to add your cell number to your account, call BRMEMC’s customer service department at (706) 379-3121.

The outage texting service is easy to use. You will be able to text OUT to (800) 292-6456 to report an outage and text STATUS to receive updates. You may opt out at any time.

The new outage texting service is free to BRMEMC members, but standard text messaging rates apply. For more information, visit brmemc.com.

Funding is available to help North Carolinians in crisis pay utility bills or secure fuel or cooling resources. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Crisis Intervention Program provides assistance to qualifying, low-income households who are experiencing a cooling related crisis (or heating related crisis in the winter). Applications are available through county departments of social services.

“This program is designed to help alleviate cooling emergencies during the summer months and heating emergencies during the winter months,” said David Locklear, Deputy Director of Economic and Family Services in the Division of Social Services. “The state is experiencing extreme temperatures, and this assistance can help keep families safe and healthy.”

A household is in a crisis if it is experiencing or is in danger of experiencing a life-threatening or health related emergency and sufficient, timely and appropriate assistance is not available from any other source. A life-threatening emergency is defined as a household which has no heating or cooling source or has a disconnect notice for primary heating or cooling service, and the health or well-being of a household member would be in danger if the heating or cooling crisis was not alleviated. 
 
The Crisis Intervention Program is funded federally by the Administration for Children and Families. The funds are distributed through county departments of social services directly to the vendor or utility. During state fiscal year 2018-19, county departments of social services helped 106,253 North Carolina households experiencing a crisis by assisting with utility bills or securing fuel or cooling resources.

​Applications may be made at county departments of social services offices through June 30, 2020, while the funds are available. Households are individually evaluated by county departments of social services staff to determine whether there is a heating or cooling crisis. Benefits for families may vary, depending on the amount needed to alleviate the crisis. 

To be eligible, a household must have at least one person who meets certain criteria, including being income eligible, and have a heating or cooling related emergency. Full eligibility details are available online at www.ncdhhs.gov/crisis-intervention-program.  

The following press release has been issued by Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 
​
Murphy, NC— Sheriff Derrick Palmer announced the June 25th, 2019 arrest of 35-year-old Nestor Alberto Bardales, and 39-year-old Hispanic male from who reported a Tucker, Georgia address and Miranda Mae Whidden, a 35-year-old white female who reported a Hiwassee, Georgia address for violations of the North Carolina Controlled Substances Act.

On June 25th, 2019, investigators of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a vehicle stop of a white jeep on Hiwassee Street, in Murphy, North Carolina for a traffic violation. During the stop, Bardales was the operator of the vehicle while Whidden was the passenger. While conducting the stop, the Sheriff’s Office canine Ajax provided indication to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle.

In a search of the vehicle approximately 17 grams of suspected heroin and approximately 6 grams of suspected methamphetamine were located and seized. Additional information was made known that the couple had stayed at a local motel and a search warrant of the room was conducted but no additional illegal substances were located or seized.

While conducting the investigation, Bardales became lethargic and because of concern for his safety he was transported to Erlanger Western Carolina Medical Center by Cherokee County Emergency Services personnel where he was seen and later released.

Miranda Mae Whidden was arrested and brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center where she was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The North Carolina Magistrate set a $1000.00 unsecure bond and Whidden was booked and released pending a July 18th, 2019 district court date.

Upon his release from Erlanger Western Carolina Medical Center Bardales was brought to the Cherokee County Detention Center and charged with: Trafficking in Opium or Heroin, Possession With the Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Heroin, Possession With Intent to Manufacture/Sell/Deliver Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Maintaining a Place for Controlled Substance. The North Carolina Magistrate set a $100,000.00 secure bond. Bardales is currently incarcerated in the Cherokee County Detention Center and is expected to be in Cherokee County District Court on July 18th, 2019.

Sheriff Derrick Palmer stated, “Everyone knows the destructive nature of illegal controlled substances, however Heroin is extremely dangerous and we are glad to get it off the streets. Good job to the investigators and deputies on this investigation.”

To report suspicious activity and suspect violations of the law, please call 828-837-1344 or submit a tip at crime.tips@cherokeecounty-nc.gov.