HAYESVILLE
2 women found safe
Two women were enjoying a day of kayaking on May 20 in a section of the swift-running Hiawassee River in Clay County when they came across a tree that flipped both women into the cold water, according to Clay County Fire & Rescue.
The women were wearing life vests, and one of them made it to shore safely despite the swift currents. The other woman was stranded in the river and standing on a tree limb, officials said.
Clay County Fire & Rescue Station 1 responded to Spoon Hill Drive, where the boat was launched with Chief Brian Anderson and Firefighter Seth Merritt aboard. They took the department’s rescue boat to the stranded woman’s general area and deployed a raft, which successfully retrieved her.
She was taken back to the shore, where Emergency Medical Services was waiting. Officials said she was fine, just cold, and didn’t need medical attention. (From the Clay County Progress.)
RALEIGH
‘Lock up firearms’
The N.C. Department of Public Safety hosted the second annual S.A.F.E. (Secure All Firearms Effectively) Week of Action from June 2-8. This call to action – along with the proclamation issued by Gov. Roy Cooper – highlights the importance of safe gun storage in response to an increased number of gun thefts from vehicles and the alarming rate of firearm-related deaths and injuries of minors.
Through the S.A.F.E. initiative, NCDPS demonstrates its commitment to improving the lives of all North Carolinians. This week, and every week, the group is highlighting a crucial message: One simple step can make a lifesaving difference – lock up your firearms.
The following statistics highlight the need for safe gun storage:
- According to FBI data, the rate of gun theft from vehicles is three times as high as it was 10 years ago.
- North Carolina has 10 of the top 100 U.S. cities for reports of gun thefts from vehicles. In 2022, more than 2,500 guns were stolen from vehicles throughout North Carolina.
- Firearms are the leading cause of injury-related death among North Carolina youth.
Details: Visit ncsafe.org.
ASHEVILLE
Hotel scams on increase
If you are planning an upcoming trip, keep an eye out for hotel booking scams. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of travelers falling victim to lookalike websites.
It works like this: You search for hotels in the city you plan to visit. Among the top search results is what appears to be an official hotel website or a legitimate travel booking agency. When you click the link, you find a website with professional photos from the hotel and reasonable pricing.
Everything looks normal, so you decide to book a room. You enter your credit card information
and check out. However, when you review your credit card statement, you notice you’ve been charged a much higher rate than you agreed. It turns out that you weren’t on the official hotel website after all; you accidentally clicked on a third-party site without affiliation with the hotel.
When you contact the company to cancel your reservation, you may not be able to get through to anyone. And even if you do, they’ll likely tell you you’ve made a non-refundable reservation.
Details: Visit bbb.org/ScamTracker.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.