Bye-bye Shewbird
Clay County mountain to be chopped off and turned into gravel
By Frank Bradley Sentinel writer

Sentinel photo/Frank Bradley Three year old Emily Long waves "bye-bye" to Shewbird Mountain, which rises in the background.

Mountains that mother nature takes millions of years to sculpt can be laid low by man in a very short time. The mountain skyline of western North Carolina and north Georgia is about to change. The top of famous Shewbird Mountain, visible from many points in Clay and Towns counties, is about to have its head chopped off.

Recently, landowners adjacent to the Hayesville Quarry off McDonald Road received notice by certified mail that an application has been filed for modification of the existing surface mining permit to add land to the permitted area.

The increased area will allow the company to excavate Shewbird Mountain to the 2,800 foot topographical line of the mountain. The 2,900 foot knob of the mountain lies within this area and will eventually be removed- lowering the mountain a hundred feet.

Harrison Construction Division of APAC Atlantic, Inc. has made application to the Land Quality Section, Division of Land Resources, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

While the rock quarry has been in existence for several years mining the granite into small gravel used for road building, this seems to be the first time that efforts are underway to actually turn Shewbird Mountain into a molehill.

North Carolina General Statute 74-50 provides that a public hearing may be held regarding this matter if there is significant public interest. Several adjacent landowners have requested such a hearing; however the window of opportunity will soon pass, and it is not known if there are enough county residents who are concerned enough to warrant such a hearing. If not, the natural skyline is apt to be permanently altered (without a fuss) in much the same way that Towns County's skyline was altered several decades ago when Bell Knob was gutted for mineral deposits.

Citizens interested in asking for a hearing may call Christine Hicklin, Land Quality Section, Raleigh, at 919-733- 4574 or County Manager Paul Leek at 389-0089.

Reader Comments

No comments have been posted. Be the first!

Other Stories With Comments:
Article	Comments
Land transfer tax-- let the voters decide	1