‘All about power and leverage’ — feds shut down major roadway, block access to graveyard
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Folks who live in the Great Smoky Mountains have just about reached their breaking point with the federal government.
“It’s almost like they are pushing to see how far they can push before the American people say enough is enough,” said Ed Mitchell, the mayor of Blount County, Tenn. “We were founded on a declaration of independence. And they are about to push the people to the line again.”
Nearly a third of Blount County is inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So when the federal government shut down the park, it also shut down one of the area’s chief sources of revenue.
Swaim County on the NC side of the park is in the same straits.
Vandals blow torched the gates at Clingman’s Dome then torched and robbed a steel donation box.
http://www.blackmountainnews.com/article/20131010/NEWS/310100021/