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Let cleanup begin: How North Carolina’s junk ended up in Douglas Lake during Helene

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Let cleanup begin: How North Carolina’s junk ended up in Douglas Lake during Helene


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Debris torn from Western North Carolina and East Tennessee by flooding rivers largely dumped into one East Tennessee reservoir, and the cleanup of a hazardous debris field is taking the coordination of local, state and federal agencies.

Three rivers that swelled to deadly levels during Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27 – the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon – start in North Carolina and empty into Douglas Lake. They transformed the waters of the popular recreation and fishing destination to brown muck and left a one-square-mile island of wreckage after the historic floods.

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The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency warned residents to stay off the lake until further notice, as the debris could be dangerous or even deadly, though the agency did not provide a specific timeline for the cleanup. Two other state agencies issued a boating safety advisory and a water contact advisory in October.

Lined with vacation homes against a scenic mountain backdrop, Douglas Lake is mostly within Jefferson County, though it also touches Cocke, Hamblen and Sevier counties. In the days after the flooding, Douglas Dam released around 450,000 gallons of water a second and helped the Tennessee Valley Authority prevent $406 million in flood damage, though some downstream communities experienced flooding.

TEMA, which is leading the cleanup effort, hired TVA in early November to lead removal and disposal of the debris, TVA spokesperson Melissa Greene told Knox News. TVA owns and operates Douglas Dam, the hydroelectric facility that impounds the French Broad River to create the lake.

Multiple federal agencies help TEMA clean Douglas Lake

TVA installed a 4,000-foot floating boom across the lake upstream of Dandridge on Oct. 3 to catch debris and protect infrastructure downstream. The utility also added floating buoys and lights to warn boaters.

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Photos and videos showed a debris field largely composed of splintered wood, though it appeared to contain household items and parts of buildings as well.

Federal agencies involved in the cleanup include the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to TEMA.

TEMA did not specify the exact roles of the federal agencies supporting the effort.

“We are committed to restoring normal conditions and protecting the well-being of the community throughout this process,” TEMA Director Patrick Sheehan said.

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After setting up the agency relationships, the next step is removing the debris with equipment both on land and water, according to a TEMA webpage about the cleanup. The agencies will then set up temporary disposal sites, organize the debris and haul it away.

Daniel Dassow is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe. 



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North Carolina

Scary health incidents overshadow Duke's 10-point win over NC State

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Scary health incidents overshadow Duke's 10-point win over NC State


The Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball avoided an upset against North Carolina State on Monday night, 74-64, in one of the most chaotic games of the season.

The game featured a 23-point second-half performance from sensational freshman Cooper Flagg, along with two in-game stoppages over apparent health issues.

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Duke’s Khaman Maluach, #9, is helped by staff after falling ill during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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First, Duke center Khaman Maluach vomited on the baseball during a play in the second half. The video showed the 7-foot-2 big man standing in the key hunched over, letting it loose. He walked off the court slowly and later left the bench area.

“He wasn’t sick, it’s just he was cramping, chugged a lot of Gatorade quickly,” Blue Devils head coach Jon Scheyer said. “And that’s what happened when he threw up. But I just think it speaks to (his) character. He was doing whatever he could to get back in the game. Obviously, he drank too much there.”

Khaman Maluach celebrates

Duke’s Khaman Maluach, #9, reacts after a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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Then, a member of the Cameron Crazies student section needed help as she seemingly fainted during the game. Emergency personnel helped carry the woman out of the seating area and off of the court.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

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Duke spokesman Kyle Serba said the fan had gotten overheated and was treated at Cameron Indoor Stadium before walking out on her own.

Flagg finished the game with 28 points in the win. Fellow freshman Kon Knueppel added 19.

Cooper Flagg and Jon Scheyer

Duke’s Cooper Flagg, #2, high-fives head coach Jon Scheyer, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against North Carolina State in Durham, North Carolina, on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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Duke has won 14 straight games, improving to 18-2 overall and 10-0 against ACC opponents.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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North Carolina airport worker struck and killed in horrific tarmac accident

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North Carolina airport worker struck and killed in horrific tarmac accident


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An American Airlines worker was tragically killed after being struck by a vehicle on an airport tarmac in North Carolina.

On Monday morning around 9:30 am, the employee, whose identity has not been publicly released, was working on a runway ramp at Charlotte Douglas International Airport when the accident took place. 

Emergency and medical crews quickly arrived but were unable to save the victim, according to an airport statement shared with DailyMail.com. 

Police said the employee was pronounced dead at the scene, Fox Carolina reported.  

‘Our deepest condolences go out to the employee’s family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time,’ the airport’s statement reads.

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‘The Airport is working closely with airline and first responder partners in the ongoing investigation and is providing support as needed.’

American Airlines wrote to DailyMail.com: ‘We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time.’

An American Airlines worker was tragically killed after being struck by a ramp vehicle at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (stock image) 

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On Monday morning around 9:30 am, the employee, whose identity has not been publicly released, was working on a runway ramp on the tarmac when they were hit

On Monday morning around 9:30 am, the employee, whose identity has not been publicly released, was working on a runway ramp on the tarmac when they were hit 

Several flight delays followed the incident, Fox Carolina reported. Passengers onboard planes on the tarmac were able to see the accident and were asked to lower their window shades after it happened.    

Kirk Lundell: ‘We didn’t have any idea what was going on while we were still on the plane. 

‘You could tell the captain was being very intentionally non-descript about what was holding us up. All he kept saying was “apparently there’s something keeping us from getting to our gate right now.”‘

In 2023, another American Airlines worker died after a gut-wrenching tarmac crash at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas.  

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The employee was operating ‘ground service vehicle’ on the runway when he struck a jet bridge outside the terminal.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after reports of what Austin police initially described as a ‘crash incident’, however the unnamed individual was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was reportedly still alive when Austin Travis County EMS paramedics arrived on the airfield apron, however they succumbed to their injuries on the tarmac, and the cause of death was determined to be traumatic injuries. 

In a statement, Austin Bergstrom International Airport said at the time: ‘This afternoon AUS was notified that Austin-Travis County EMS responded to an injured airline employee.

Emergency and medical crews quickly arrived but were unable to save the victim

Emergency and medical crews quickly arrived but were unable to save the victim

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‘The incident occurred outside of the terminal where aircraft park at their gates. ATCEMS pronounced the employee deceased.

‘Our thoughts are with this employee and all those impacted by today’s tragic event.’ The airport added that the incident would not have any major impact on its operations.

The Austin Police Department’s Vehicular Homicide Unit is investigating the incident as an accidental death.

American Airlines confirmed the deceased was a member of their staff when contacted by DailyMail.com, saying in a statement: ‘We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS).

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time.’

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Nearly 200 cases dismissed after North Carolina trooper allegedly made ‘misleading’ statements

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Nearly 200 cases dismissed after North Carolina trooper allegedly made ‘misleading’ statements


RALEIGH, N.C. (WBTV) – Nearly 200 cases have been dismissed after a state trooper in North Carolina made statements that appeared to have been “false and misleading,” officials said.

CBS affiliate WNCN said the trooper initially called into question was Garrett Lee Macario. The station reported that Lorrin Freeman, the Wake County District Attorney, began reviewing Macario’s credibility after he investigated a fatal crash in October.

“We received information the last week in December that there had been an accident, a one-car fatality on Capital Boulevard in October, in which the interaction of the trooper on scene had come into question,” Freeman said via WNCN.

Freeman said she then requested bodycam footage from the day of the crash. During a review, she said “there were statements that were made by that trooper that appear to be false and misleading.” From there, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) launched an investigation.

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WNCN said the state chose not to pursue pending cases that involved Macario, which led to the dismissal of about 180 cases. Freeman said the majority of those cases were related to DWI charges.

Freeman said one reason the cases were dismissed was because DWI investigations are “pretty much one-witness cases.”

During the review of Macario’s conduct, WNCN reported that the credibility of his supervisor, Sgt. Matthew Morrison, was also questioned.

“Without getting into the details of this investigation, there was information in the body cam and dash cam video that I reviewed that also gave rise to concerns about his credibility,” Freeman said of Morrison.

About a dozen cases that involved Morrison — but are separate from Macario’s — were being reviewed.

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North Carolina State Highway Patrol confirmed to WNCN that both Macario and Morrison were placed on administrative duty, effective Jan. 10. Macario has been with the agency since February 2019, and Morrison since July 2012.

WNCN reported that neither trooper had been charged as of Jan. 24. In addition to the SBI investigation, the station said an administrative investigation by Highway Patrol was also likely.

Also Read: Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer arrested on Christmas Eve jailed again, records show



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