LAKE SANTEETLAH
Senior dies in a cycle wreck
A single-vehicle accident on July 26 claimed the life of a Florida resident.
According to a report from the N.C. Highway Patrol, John A. Friede, 78, of Port St. Lucie, was operating a 2008 Yamaha MC and traveling east on N.C. 143 around noon when he failed to properly navigate a left-hand curve near Martha Wachacha Road. Friede exited the roadway and struck an embankment.
Despite life-saving measures, Friede was pronounced dead at the scene.
ASHEVILLE
Rock removal starts on I-40
A critical process has been completed permitting the N.C. Department of Transportation and its project team to extract rock necessary for reconstruction of Interstate 40 in the Pigeon River Gorge.
DOT officials received permits Friday from the Army Corps of Engineers and N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Water Resources Division. The permits identify efforts to reduce impacts to the natural environment, and the department will continue to update the permit as design plans are refined.
“The USDA Forest Service has made long-term Helene recovery a priority, and there are few projects in western North Carolina more important in the recovery process than rebuilding I-40,” N.C. Forest Supervisor James Melonas said.
“We will proceed with this phase of construction with strict adherence to the construction plans and permit requirements,” DOT Division 14 Engineer Wesley Grindstaff said. “We have the goal of minimizing impacts to natural resources while fully restoring transportation services on I-40.”
Details: Visit DriveNC.gov.
RALEIGH
Sheriffs get new training
The N.C. Sheriffs’
Association hosted sheriffs, sheriffs’ personnel and
their families last week for the annual Business Conference.
Each summer, sheriffs from all across the state gather for several days of training classes, panel discussions and networking with fellow law enforcement officers. This year, sheriffs received training on topics including managing relationships with county managers, procurement programs and use of force investigations.
The association also elected McDowell County Sheriff Ricky Buchanan as president.
Details: Visit ncsheriffs.org.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown.