Town of Lake Lure, 

North Carolina

To an old Florida boy, autumn is a marvel of nature. Down in the land of perpetual heat and humidity, we read about winter and are glad we aren’t freezing with all those poor folks that can’t come south and we experience spring and summer eleven and a half months of the year, but autumn rarely comes to mind. My first autumn in the mountains was truly splendid. Not only was it glorious to look at, but the haze of summer disappeared and I could see forever from my ridge. The weather was crisp and pleasantly cool at night, but warm enough for short sleeves during the day. It instantly became my favorite season. I’m glad its back.

Speaking of autumn, we want to celebrate the beauty of the season with four musical concerts. “Music on the Point” will be held each Friday evening through the month of October at the pavilion on Memorial Point in Morse Park near the Town Marina. On tap will be four groups with roots in this area which play acoustic bluegrass, country, folk, swing and blues - mountain style. The series is the idea of the Parks and Recreation Board who want to take advantage of the beautiful Lakeside setting and the fall colors to provide some entertainment for our residents and guests. If this is successful, they hope to hold a series of music events over the summer season next year. The board has to charge an admission fee of $5 for the October concerts to help offset costs, but hopes to find sponsors for the summer series so that admission can be free.

While on the topic of October events, don’t forget “Octoberfest 2000” on October 7 and 8 in front of the Lake Lure arcade building at "beautiful downtown Lake Lure". Also, there will be a halloween festival and haunted boat tour at the town community center/marina area on the 28th and 29th.

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TOWN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

by Betty Hinson, Personnel Director

Chuck Ammacher, employee of the month, has been employed with the Town of Lake Lure since May 1996. He is a certified Water Treatment Facility Operator and a Water Distribution System Operator. Chuck received these certifications from the North Carolina Water Treatment Facility Operators Board of Certification.

Chuck is always willing to go the extra mile to help someone else. In addition, Chuck has extensive computer knowledge which he often offers support to all of us.

Chuck is on call every other weekend responding to water problems throughout the town. We can count on him being there when a water leak occurs. Thank you Chuck for a great job.

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TOWN COUNCIL ACTIVITIES

REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, September 12, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

Under the "consent agenda," Council:

* approved the minutes of August 8, 2000 (regular meeting);

* approved resolution no. 00-09-12 (Rutherford County Solid Waste Plan);

* approved request from the Hickory Nut Gorge Kiwanis Club to: (1) hold an Octoberfest October 7-8, 2000 on town property located in front of the Lake Lure Arcade Building; and (2) suspend the town peddling ordinance in order to sell crafts and food during the festival; and

* ratified approval of the Lake Lure Republicans request to suspend section 63.01 of the Town Code of Ordinances in order to serve wine at the Town Community Hall during candidate's night September 7, 2000 at 6:30 p.m.

In other activities, Town Council:

* approved a request from Terry Duffy for an easement across a parcel of town property allowing Duke Power to run underground electric service to the Lake Side Estates townhouses;

* appointed Mayor Jim Proctor to serve as voting delegate and Town Manager H. M. Place as alternate voting delegate to represent the Town of Lake Lure at the North Carolina Municipal League business meeting;

* adopted ordinance no. 00-09-12 (licensing and regulating the use of video gaming machines within the Town of Lake Lure); and

* held a closed session meeting pursuant to G.S. 143-318.11(a)(3) to discuss the handling and settlement of pending legal claims.

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Recently, the North Carolina General Assembly and the Lake Lure Town Council have approved legislation concerning video gaming. Both the state law and town ordinance require video gaming machines to be registered with the Sheriff of the county and the Town Clerk, respectively. New machines, their locations, and hours of operation are all regulated by this new legislation.

Owners and operators of video gaming machines may contact the Lake Lure Police Department for copies of this new legislation, as well as, accepted interpretation of these statutes and ordinance.

Just this week, local resident Butch Kelly was selected as the new Lake Lure Youth Center Director. Kelly was examined in much the same way police personnel are selected. He underwent a rigorous background investigation, psychological examination, and drug test. Kelly brings an already established personal relation-ship with many of our youth. His loyalty will ensure a good start when the Youth Center formally opens.

Congratulations to Sergeant Eric Hester, Officer Sean Humphries, and Reserve Officer Steven Kim in their recent apprehension of three burglary suspects from York County, South Carolina. These suspects were arrested minutes after burglarizing Lawter’s Fruit Stand in Lake Lure. Well done gentlemen.

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To date this year, we have issued 80 zoning permits, 75 land disturbance permits, 20 lake structure permits and 26 sign permits.

As most everyone is aware by now, or should be, any construction within the town’s limits requires a permit. Any change of use of a structure, and any land disturbance also requires a permit from the town. Putting a sign up anywhere in Lake Lure requires a permit. Now, not every sign needs one, but most do.

Any of these activities undertaken without a permit could create a problem not only for the homeowner, but also for the contractor performing the work.

Most people are not aware of the fact that remodeling their home, deck, boathouse or dock requires a permit. In some instances, landscaping a property will necessitate a permit. No matter how small the project, it is always better to check ahead of time rather than pay a fine. If you have any questions at all, please call 828-625-9983 ext. 107. If I am out of my office, please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Permit fees are as follows:

Zoning Permit             35.00

Land Disturbance         10.00

Lake Structure         35.00

Sign Permit             10.00

Any appeals or requests for variances cost $75.00. There is much more paperwork involved in processing those requests! The Board of Adjustments, Zoning/Planning Board, and Lake Structures Appeals Board meet once every month. Citizens are always encouraged to attend these important meetings.

I am currently seeking volunteers to serve as alternates for these Boards. Anyone interested please give me a call. The only requirement is that you are a full time resident of Lake Lure. You will have some reading to do, but serving on these Boards is very rewarding.

We at Town Hall are working to clean up some of the areas of the town which have become an eyesore. We cannot find every place that causes someone concern, so if there is an area which concerns you by the growth of weeds, abandoned vehicles, rubbish or just general disrepair, feel free to give us a call and let us know to look into it. This is not an invitation to start Word War III in your neighborhood because you just do not agree with the way somebody wears his or her jeans. Legitimate concerns will be addressed immediately.

I encourage everyone to take part in local government in some form. You never know how your contribution could change the world in which you live.

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It is an exciting time at the golf course. There are lots of improvements on the grounds including a new retaining wall at #2 tee. The first retaining wall to the driving range is now complete with more to follow. We will be edging all of the sand traps and putting in new white sand to make them more playable, as well as, pleasing to the eye. We are also looking into having a new rain shelter put in at #4 tee for the convenience of our many walkers.

In the pro shop we have a lot of new items for sale. Our whole line of logo items are now here. We have t-shirts, hats, towels, and balls all with our new logo. So come out and pick one up today.

I would like to remind everyone about the specials being offered. On Monday's seniors can enjoy two 18 hole rounds of golf for the price of one. Wednesday is parent-child 2 for 1 day for 18 holes. We also have our after 2:00 p.m. special of 18 holes for the price of 9 holes.

The operation hours for the golf course during fall are 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. starting October.

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It has been about nine months since I have served the Town of Lake Lure as a Commissioner and Mayor Protem. For two years, I have been involved on Rutherfordton County Boards and Commissions which include Hospice, Economic Development, and Tourism Development. It is my pleasure to travel beyond our county in a political party role. I am seeing a lot of North Carolina and hearing a lot of praise for Lake Lure. Trust me, this is absolutely true.

Surrounding towns praise the beauty of our beach, the cleanliness of our town, the courteous police officers both on land and lake, the wisdom of councils and boards filled with volunteers making policy to recommend to Council, studying zoning, ecology, writing letters and appearing in Raleigh, on and on ad infinitum. There is never a gathering that when hearing Lake Lure mentioned folks don't say "my, how that place gets better every year". Folks like to come and just look.

There are few townships who have equal record on obtaining grants. Lake Lure is unique, with unique beauty. This calls for conscientious time dealing with maintenance of all kinds, staying ahead. Look at the Municipal Golf Course...100% improvement.

Take a look elsewhere and COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

Fairfield Mountains Fire Department will hold their annual rummage sale on Saturday, October 14, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. and auction at 10:00 a.m.

The Kiwanis Club of Hickory Nut Gorge presents "Octoberfest 2000" at the Lake Lure Arcade grounds featuring toe-tapping live music, regional arts and crafts, and a variety of tasty foods. Octoberfest will be held Saturday, October 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Artists and crafters from throughout the region will offer a wide variety of handmade wares, including quilts, sketches, pottery, watercolors, oil paintings, photography, needlecraft, leather craft, woodcraft, kitchen craft, jewelry, and decorative crafts. Food booths will provide barbecue, hot dogs, popcorn, cold drinks, and other refreshments. Proceeds from the event, together with charitable collections from Kiwanis members and the community at large, will be used to support a variety of Hickory Nut Gorge service and charitable efforts, such as Helping Neighbors, Inc., Hickory Nut Gorge Recreation Association, Lake Lure Police Department's Children's Fund, Friends of the Library (Mountains Branch), the Hospice organizations of Rutherford and Henderson Counties, the Bat Biz (a free publication), several local beautification projects, and the Kiwanis of Hickory Nut Gorge Educational Grant.

The Lake Lure Lions Club will once again be sponsoring the Fall Health Clinic to be held on Saturday, October 14, 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Lake Lure Community Center. Rutherford Internal Medicine Associates, the North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind, Hospice of Rutherford County, and Rutherford County Health Department are supporting the Clinic by volunteering their services. The Clinic is open to everyone and will offer flu and tetanus shots, blood pressure checks, glaucoma screening, diabetes screening, melanoma screening and colorectal cancer screening kits. Medicare recipients should bring their Medicare part B card. Flu shots are free to those presenting their Medicare part B cards. A small fee will be charged to all others. We are being told by the Health Department that flu shots may not be available until mid November. For additional information, call Martha Ledford at 828-625-9496.

Friends of the Mountains Branch Library will celebrate their fifth birthday of the Library with a special event on November 5th from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.! The noted author Jerry Bledsoe will speak. Bledsoe probably is best known for his gripping chronicles of true crimes. His first true-crime book, Bitter Blood, evolved from a case that he covered as a reporter. It spent six months on The New York Times best seller list, half of that as #1. The kicks off "Library Week in Lake" as proclaimed by the mayor and council of Lake Lure. The community is invited and refreshments will be served. If you have not visited the library recently, this would be a great time to come out and see all the new media resources which are now available. We have many new videos, an ever changing collection of "books on tape", learning CD Roms, and internet access! Continuing with this celebration will be a Special Story Hour on November 8th at 10:30 a.m. The weekly story hour event has become a very popular gathering of our young readers. Please mark your calendars and bring your friends to both events.

“Cruise along as a Christmas song”. ATTENTION BOAT OWNERS --- It is time to get ready for our 6th annual boat parade to be held December 2. This year we are pleased to announce that you can enter your boat in one of three categories, commercial, group and homeowner. Three prizes in each category will be awarded. In addition, there will be a prize for "small boats" (less than 17 feet in length). There is again, a $20.00 fee to enter which will defray the costs associated with putting on the parade. Join the “after parade party” at the Lake Lure Inn. Applications to boat owners will be mailed this month. If you have questions call Beth Rose at 828-625-4493 (jackr@blueridge.net) or Betty Ross at 828-625-5161. Join Lake Lure's festival of lights boat parade.

Healing Touch Chiropractic Center is now open in the Fairfield/Bill's Creek community at 411-B Buffalo Creek Road. The HTCC offers network chiropractic care, licensed physical therapy, and professional massage therapy. Office hours are Monday through Thursday at 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Please call 828-625-0890 to schedule an appointment.

The LessPainBetterGolf store is located behind the Lake Lure Inn and features a full line of nutritional supplements, as well as, a variety of self care products including exercise equipment. All of their products can help to reduce pain, enhance tissue healing, and improve fitness level. Everything is discounted so you can always get more for less. If you are a golfer, don't miss the chance to have your swing analyzed by a 6-camera video system. For more information call 828-625-5530.

Also, there is a new fitness center located in the heart of downtown Lake Lure behind the Lake Lure Inn. The Gorge Fitness Center is an unsupervised exercise facility with 24 hour access. This fitness center contains cardiovascular machines, circuit training equipment, and free weights. Personal training is also available. For a tour of the Gorge Fitness, stop in weekdays between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. or weekends from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 828-625-5530 for more information.

The Chimney Rock Baptist Church will hold worship services on Sundays (May 7 through October 8, 2000), 9:00 a.m., at the Lake Lure Chapel located across from the Lake-View Exxon Store. Come worship with us!

Lake Lure Newcomers invite those who are new residents in Lake Lure (24 months or less) to join them in various activities which include: potluck, gourmet, out'n about, theater, bridge/poker, book club, and hiking. Anyone interested in becoming a member, call Fred Noble or Jeanine Noble at 828-625-8706.

Send mail to  Webmaster@ci.lake-lure.nc.us  with questions or comments about this web site.

The Official Government Site of the Town of Lake Lure.

This Site is dedicated to the memory of former Mayor Jack Powell.

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