Dillsboro Dam
The Dillsboro Dam has been in the news a lot recently, and here is a video I shot as a keepsake to remind me what it looked like and sounded like if the people at Duke Power have their way, and the renewable energy source is removed:
Dillsboro Rock Quarry
I have got to go get some shots of this place one day when I have time...
Dillsboro Loses Train Excursions,
Economy Blamed
DILLSBORO – Excursion train operator Great Smoky Mountains Railroad says it is shutting down its Dillsboro operations and dismissing 40 employees because of difficult business conditions.
The railroad will continue operating trips out of Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge in western Swain County, said Jeffrey Jackson, chief operating officer at Colorado-based American Heritage Railways, Great Smoky’s parent company. The change takes effect Aug. 8.
The general economic slowdown has cut business, and higher fuel costs have deterred visitors and raised the expense of operation, Jackson said Friday.
“We got real used to better economic times, and unfortunately that cycle has changed,” he said. “The businesses that want to withstand it have to change also.”
Railroad passengers are a significant portion of the customer base for many Dillsboro businesses.
The railroad brought about 60,000 people a year to the tourist-oriented Jackson County town, just west of Sylva, Great Smoky general manager Kim Albritton said.
Source: Asheville Citizen-Times
Hat Tip: Mountain Shout
I should be glad I got this video when I did:
Memorial Ride and Dinner Planned For Trooper Blanton
“NC Trooper David Shawn Blanton Jr was shot down at a routine traffic stop.His family needs our help.Saturday 7-12-2008 at 11:00am.Starting at Kearfott MSD 2858 U.S. Highway 70 west.Black Mountain NC. All bikes out at 1:oo PM ending at The Eagles Nest Maggie Valley A $10 donation per person is requested. All proceeds will go directly to his family. For information call Mack Kells Pub & Grill 828-253-8805 or Hooters 828-253-4660″
Source: Hendersonville Post
And, the Town of Dillsboro has a dinner and auction planned:
The town of Dillsboro will hold a benefit dinner on Thursday, July 17, with the proceeds going to the family of slain N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Shawn Blanton.
The dinner will be held in the fellowship hall of Jarrett Memorial Baptist Church and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children. Free parking will be available.
Food – which includes fried chicken, barbecue, hot dogs, baked beans, coleslaw, bread, cakes and more – is being donated by all of the restaurants in Dillsboro, Mayor Jean Hartbarger said. The dinner will last until 8:30 p.m.
Source: Sylva Herald
There will also be a silent auction, and local entertainers Matt Stillwell, Mountain Faith and other groups will be performing. Local radio station 680-AM WRGC will be broadcasting live from the event.
There is also a website set up in memory of Trooper David Shawn Blanton, Jr., with information on how you may help the family. I highly recommend that you visit it.
I will keep you updated as I find out more. If you have knowledge of an event, let me know, and I'll post about it.
Previously:
Video Tribute for Trooper David Blanton
Prayer Request For Infant Son Of Slain Trooper
Local Trooper Shot Dead (Updated With Information on the Suspect)
Erosion Concerns
Here is a video taken in Weaverville by FBRiverkeeper, followed by the description written by him/her:
This site is dumping sediment into an unnamed tributary that flows into Lake Louise, a popular recreation area in Weaverville
This is a clear turbidity violation and a violation of erosion control measures, becuase the site has not been maintained. Sediment is the largest polluter in the French Broad Watershed and the vast majority flow off new construction sites. Recent improvements have only margainly helped the problem.
And, you can watch a very short one on the Wal Mart in Weaverville.
Source: RBRiverkeeper
Commentary
Every construction site I have ever worked at had the same kind of run off turbidity, so I can't speak to that, although my employer at several of the jobs said it was okay. I trust his statement because he made us do a lot of stuff to preserve the environment that I thought was going way over board. He wouldn't allow machinery to be operated on a lot of slopes, and sent in work crews to do the clearing off by hand.
Anyhow, finding this video gives me an excellent opportunity to show off a video I made on the 4th when we had some heavy downpours come through:
This was taken on Scott's Creek in Dillsboro, NC just before it empties into the Tuckaseegee River.
Related: Ruminations From The Distant Hills
This site is dumping sediment into an unnamed tributary that flows into Lake Louise, a popular recreation area in Weaverville
This is a clear turbidity violation and a violation of erosion control measures, becuase the site has not been maintained. Sediment is the largest polluter in the French Broad Watershed and the vast majority flow off new construction sites. Recent improvements have only margainly helped the problem.
And, you can watch a very short one on the Wal Mart in Weaverville.
Source: RBRiverkeeper
Commentary
Every construction site I have ever worked at had the same kind of run off turbidity, so I can't speak to that, although my employer at several of the jobs said it was okay. I trust his statement because he made us do a lot of stuff to preserve the environment that I thought was going way over board. He wouldn't allow machinery to be operated on a lot of slopes, and sent in work crews to do the clearing off by hand.
Anyhow, finding this video gives me an excellent opportunity to show off a video I made on the 4th when we had some heavy downpours come through:
This was taken on Scott's Creek in Dillsboro, NC just before it empties into the Tuckaseegee River.
Related: Ruminations From The Distant Hills
