Hooper’s absences continue to raise oversight questions
Last month, an investigation by The Smoky Mountain News revealed that Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper had missed at least 13 of 16 meetings of various oversight or advisory boards she volunteered to serve on after her November 2024 election. Since then, new information has come to light showing she’s now missed at least 14 of 17 meetings, but Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Chairman Robert Jumper still can’t cite any authority that exempts Hooper from the removal policy stated in TDA’s own bylaws.
NCDEQ Division of Water Resources urges caution around discolored water
Amid summer’s high temperatures, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources reminds the public to avoid contact with discolored water that could indicate the presence of an algal bloom.
Forest Service advisory group seeks new members
The committee responsible for advising on U.S. Forest Service recreation fees is looking for new members.