County’s 2009-10 budget doesn’t include tax hike - Commissioners June 24 unanimously passed their budget for 2009-10. Under the $61 million budget, the county tax rate will remain at 28 cents for the next fiscal year. The county is seeing a 3-percent increase in revenues, while expecting about a 1.8-percent increase in expenditures over last year’s budget. The budget does not call for a loss of personnel or any employee furloughs. In fact, the budget initially called for 10 new county positions – seven fire district service coordinators (one for each of the county’s volunteer fire departments) and three new housekeeping positions for...

Woman charged with negligence, incest in wake of dog attack - In the wake of a February dog attack on a 7-year-old boy, a Franklin woman has been charged with negligence and incest. Jennifer Lynn Higdon, 28, of No Name Road, Franklin, was arrested Friday (June 26) at the Jackson County Detention Center and charged with felony child abuse, according to Capt. Steve Lillard of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. This charge stems from a Feb. 19 incident involving her 7-year-old son, Dalton...

This year’s ‘peacemaker’ - The Rev. John Bunn of Sylva, right, was recognized as Peacemaker of the Year for Jackson County on June 2. The award, given by Mountain Mediation Services, recognizes someone who demonstrates peaceful means of resolving conflict in the local community. Lorraine Johnson, left, MMS director, presented the award and spoke about Bunn’s role in the community. “Dr. Bunn is a great scholar – and uses scholarship – to gain a better...

EDC ponders function, role of director - Members of the Jackson County Economic Development Commission Monday (June 29) spent much of their regular meeting questioning EDC bylaws and the role of the EDC director. EDC Chairman Joe Cline brought up the issues, saying he had concerns arising from the group’s budget process. This year the EDC was given a $516,369 budget from the county that was part of the overall $61 million county budget passed last week. Cline said from reading state statutes, he thought the EDC was supposed to prepare and approve its...

Officials OK $50,000 for Rescue Squad purchases - County officials June 24 approved an extra $50,000 in funds for the Jackson County Rescue Squad by a vote of 4-1. Commissioners Tom Massie, William Shelton, Mark Jones and Joe Cowan were in favor of the move, while Chairman Brian McMahan voted “no.” According to county Manager Ken Westmoreland, the money, which comes out of the 2008-09 budget, is needed to repay the squad for purchases its members made after acquiring funding for their new building in Webster. “They negotiated an interest...

Serjak retires after 32 years - For nearly 33 years, Bill Serjak has been standing in the pulpit of Sylva First Presbyterian Church, leading its congregation each Sunday. June 28, however, was Serjak’s last Sunday at the church he started at on Sept. 15, 1976. He was honored with a reception and “roast” following the day’s service. A native of Western Pennsylvania, Serjak attended the University of Miami. It wasn’t until he...

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