Here’s a check of the latest from WataugaOnline.com.
FEMA is awarding more than $101 million to North Carolina, funding 52 projects for disaster recovery and resilience. More than $100 million comes through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses communities for debris removal, emergency protective measures and repairs to damaged infrastructure. Banner Elk will receive more than $2.1 million for culvert repairs and a bridge replacement. Other awards include more than $49.4 million to N.C. Emergency Management for debris removal and emergency protective measures, more than $6.7 million to Asheville and more than $4.9 million to Lake Lure. FEMA is also awarding the state more than $1 million for projects that reduce future disaster damage.
The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has added 372 acres to its Roan High Preserve in Mitchell County, permanently protecting land on the southern flank of the Roan Massif. The conservancy acquired the land in September in three tracts: Feeding Ridge, Cook Creek and Chestnut Ridge. The tracts border Pisgah National Forest and other protected land, and the addition brings the preserve to 1,449 contiguous, permanently protected acres. The land is highly visible from the Appalachian Trail and surrounding communities.
Dayton Thomas Cole of Boone, who served as Appalachian State University’s first and only chief legal officer for 30 years and counsel to five chancellors, died Oct. 22 at age 72. Cole moved to Boone with his family in 1988 and advised the chancellors, the Board of Trustees and other university officers as University Attorney and then General Counsel. After retiring from Appalachian in 2018, he served Campbell University as Interim General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and Senior Associate Counsel, and became a certified mediator for North Carolina Superior Court and in the field of family law.
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— WataugaOnline