Woman drowns on Nolichucky River while on church rafting trip
A woman on a church rafting trip drowned on the Nolichucky River in Mitchell County, N.C. when her boat capsized. The woman was rafting with a group from Odom’s Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Bakersville, N.C. Officials have identified the woman as 64-year-old Louvella Yelton Arrowood of Bakersville. Her obituary says she served as a nurse for many years.
Witnesses say Arrowood was wearing a life vest and a helmet when she went underwater. She remained submerged for 5 to 8 minutes before being pulled out. CPR was performed at the scene but was unsuccessful. “The area where the victim went in is called the ‘Quarter-mile Rapids’ because for a quarter mile stretch there is nothing but rapids,” Officer William Boone said. “The river was high at the time of the raft flipping over.”
Man found dead in Smokies is identified
A man who was found dead at a backcountry campsite in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on September 11 has been identified as Patrick Madura, 43, of Elgin, Illinois. Madura’s remains were found near campsite 82 in the Hazel Creek backcountry area, the National Park Service said. A bear was found nearby scavenging on his remains.
A park spokesperson said that nothing is yet known about the cause of death. The bear that scavenged on Madura’s remains was euthanized by law enforcement rangers. Madura’s death is at least the ninth fatality in the park this year.
Kentucky’s Green River stocked with 2,400 endangered mussels
The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources has stocked approximately 2,400 endangered freshwater mussels into the Green River, according to E&E News. Half of the mussels were placed into the river within Mammoth Cave National Park and the other half were placed farther upriver. The initiative seeks to restore the rayed bean mussel, which disappeared from Kentucky more than 40 years ago.
“The reintroduction of the federally endangered rayed bean into Mammoth Cave National Park is an important step in reestablishing this species in its historic Kentucky range,” said Mammoth Cave Science and Resource Management Chief Tim Pinion.
Photo: Nolichucky River, Greeneville, Greene County, Tennessee. Courtesy of Getty Images by epantha
