MURPHY
Man caught after chase
Narcotics agents within the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office were in the area of Dickey Road on June 3 when Tracy Mason was observed operating a motorcycle with a passenger.
When the agent attempted to initiate a vehicle stop, Mason failed to stop and began to flee, according to a release. A pursuit ensued on Shady Grove Road, and then onto U.S. 64 West, at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
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Mason continued to flee into Polk County, Tenn., before the pursuit was terminated. Warrants were obtained that same day for the arrest of Mason for crimes committed during this incident.
Through the evening and overnight hours of June 3, a joint effort began involving members of the Narcotics, Criminal Investigations and Patrol Divisions of the sheriff’s office uncovered information on the whereabouts of Mason. Officers responded to the area of Orton Road, where Mason was spotted driving another vehicle and taken into custody without incident after a successful vehicle stop.
Officers proceeded to the residence Mason left from just prior to the second vehicle stop where a stolen vehicle was located and recovered, the release says.
Mason was booked into the Cherokee County Detention Center on a charge of felony flee/elude law enforcement and was initially denied bond due to already being released on an outstanding bond. On June 4, Mason appeared before a judge and received a $2,500 secured bond.
At the time of the incident, Mason was out on bond for: five counts of habitual felon; two counts of possession of methamphetamine; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia; felony possession with intent to manufacture, sale, deliver schedule II controlled substance; simple possession of schedule IV controlled substance; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to Cherokee Scout archives, Mason, then 40, pled guilty on April 2, 2008, to two counts of larceny and two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver meth. Despite that, he was released for time served.
NEWPORT, Tenn.
I-40 traffic gets diverted
Interstate 40 has been closed in both directions near the North Carolina/Tennessee line due to a rockslide and flooding the day before, according to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
Spokesperson Mark Nagi told the Asheville Citizen-Times that work crews are on site. Videos showed vehicles stuck in mud June 18, swamped by the brown water on the flooded roadway. All stuck traffic moved out within hours of the flood.
In a June 19 update, Nagi said it will take at least two weeks for repairs and cleanup activities, according to a preliminary reopening estimate. The slide happened at mile marker 450 in Cocke County, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
Details: Visit DriveNC.gov.
MURPHY
Blood drive set for Friday
A blood drive for Blood Assurance will be held from noon-4 p.m. Friday at the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, 577 Regal St.
Participants are encouraged to eat a good meal, drink extra water, avoid energy drinks and bring their identification.
Details: Visit donor.bloodassurance.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/166021.
MURPHY
Co Response program here
In the last year, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office has been reaching out to partners to find a solution to the mental heath crisis.
On June 4, the sheriff’s office announce that Cherokee and Haywood counties have been selected to pilot a program for Co Response in a rural setting. This program will deploy mental health professionals to respond to these crisis calls – not only freeing up deputies to respond to criminal calls for service, but most importantly, connecting these individuals with the help they need.
The award is from the N.C. Department of Health & Human Services for $1,100,000 to cover all expenses, both start up and operational. The award is an immediate start date and will roll over to next year.
The funds will provide
one full-time team lead and two full-time crisis counselors to support each sheriff’s office. This funding supports the positions in entirety, with necessary equipment and travel. There is no county match, and Vaya Health will administer the program.
Sheriff Dustin Smith and his office are excited about this opportunity. “We especially look forward to working closely with Vaya Health and Appalachian Community Services to help care for those in our community at their most difficult times,” according to a release.
MURPHY
Free alcohol locks at ABC
Free alcohol locks are available at the Murphy ABC store, thanks to Mountain Strong, the prevention arm of Mountain Projects.
Using a grant from Community Impact North Carolina, the Mountain Strong team has placed three types of locks on displays in Murphy and several other ABC stores in western North Carolina. The displays include individual bottle locks, cabinet locks and locks to secure refrigerators where alcohol may be stored.
The free locks are part of Talk It Up Lock It Up, a campaign that encourages keeping kids safe from alcohol by locking it up. According to stats from TIULIU, two out of three youth say alcohol is easy to get from their home or the home of a friend or relative.
Details: Visit mountainstrongwnc.org.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.