North of Asheville From Milepost 376 to Milepost 355
(Asheville, NC) – After several weather and contract related delays, work has now begun on a section of Blue Ridge Parkway closed from Milepost 376 at Ox Creek Road to Milepost 355, near the entrance to Mt. Mitchell State Park. This project will stabilize a failed slope just north of Tanbark Ridge Tunnel, at Milepost 374.
While alternate routes are available, the detour route marked with road signs directs traffic from Asheville, NC, along Interstate 40 to U.S. Route 221, back to the Parkway at Spruce Pine, NC, and alternately from Spruce Pine south to Asheville via U.S. Route 221 and Interstate 40. Mt. Mitchell State Park will remain open and accessible from the northern approach along the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 330, near Spruce Pine, NC, or from state Route 80.
Due to the dangerous nature of this slope stabilization project, complete closure of the Parkway to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists is necessary. Contractors doing the work plan to be on site 24-hours a day, utilizing night lighting when possible. Parkway managers ask for the public’s cooperation with this closure, asking motorists to stay alert, be aware of barrier
Article source: http://www.mountainx.com/article/55482/Updated-information-regarding-Parkway-closure-north-of-Asheville If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com
3 teens charged with burning opossum
TOBACCOVILLE (AP) — Three teenagers have been arrested on animal cruelty charges after Forsyth County sheriff’s deputies were told about a video in which an opossum was burned and killed.
Eighteen-year-old Kalob Jennings Hubbard of Tobaccoville, and a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old have been charged.
Chief Deputy Brad Stanley says investigators received a tip last month about a video posted on Instagram where people captured, burned and killed a wild opossum.
Arrest warrants say the incident happened in late October or early November in Tobaccoville.
Stanley says the video has been removed, but the sheriff’s office has a copy of it.
North Carolina sentencing laws indicate Hubbard could face six to eight months in jail if he is convicted.
2-alarm house fire in Charlotte kills pets
CHARLOTTE (AP) — Authorities say several cats and dogs belonging to an east Charlotte family have died in a two-alarm house fire.
The Charlotte Observer reports an investigator said the fire was
Article source: http://www.salisburypost.com/article/20140109/SP01/140109730/1058/nc-briefs If you need a cheap air ticket, hotel or rental car please visit http://www.airticket.com