Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have announced new completion dates for several construction projects that are underway to improve Park roads and facilities.

The TOP Office is now offering the monthly Tribal Council packets (agendas) for Budget Council and the regular Tribal Council meeting in electronic format that can be downloaded to a computer.

The Operation Medicine Drop prescription drug take-back event held on Saturday, May 22 collected and disposed of over 20,000 dosages of unused and expired prescription and over-the-counter drugs from the public.

James Ernest Lespier, 31, of Cherokee, has been arrested and charged with murder in the May 18 shooting death of 22-year-old Erien Amanda Smith according to a Criminal Complaint filed in U.S. District Court on Thursday, May 20.

Cherokee was awarded Certified Entrepreneurial Community (CEC) status by AdvantageWest on Tuesday, May 11.

Erien Amanda Smith, 22, of J. Crowe Road in the Rough Branch Housing area of the Wolfetown Community, was shot and killed early in the morning of Tuesday, May 18.