NEW LAW IN NORTH CAROLINA: 

A law was passed recently in North Carolina that everyone needs to be aware of.

When driving on a highway that consists of four or more lanes and an emergency vehicle with flashing lights is stopped at the right of the highway, approaching drivers must change to the left lane, even if the emergency vehicle is completely off the road and the right lane is clear.

The reason for this law is that highway patrolmen have been killed by cars that were in the right hand lane. 

TRI-COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

According to the year 2000 census, the median family income for Cherokee, Graham and Clay County all average almost $10,000 less than the rest of the state.

This cloud may have a silver lining.  Tri-County Community College is one of locations in North Carolina that recently received a grant from the state in order to create a "telecenter" which will be used to give residents a chance to learn and use computer and Internet skills.  These skills will range from using e-mail all the way up to becoming certified in system engineering.   

It is hoped this $437,000 grant will provide an opportunity for residents to improve their computer skills and therefore attract higher paying technical  jobs to the state and this area.     

NEW STATE PARK:

Are you bored with hiking in Joyce Kilmer, fishing the Nantahala River, riding mountain bikes on the Tsali Trail, boating in the Fontana, camping along the Little Tennessee River?  Then you might be ready to tackle Gorges, one of North Carolina's newest state parks.

Whether you want to spend a few hours or a few days, Gorges State Park offers all these activities and more.  The park also has several waterfalls plus acres and acres of solitude.  

Since the park is still so new, there are only a few trails and facilities (Can you spell "R-U-S-T-I-C"?) but is proving to be a popular place where people can visit when they want to get away from it all and enjoy some of the best that nature has to offer.

Gorges is located near Sapphire, NC and is open year round.  To view the park's web site for more information, click on the following line:

www.ils.unc.edu/parkproject/visit/gorg/home.html