spectr17
03-07-2003, 09:54 PM
No fish tale: Lake closed for terrorism
3/5/03
By: Diana Rugg, News 14 Carolina
Concord officials closed Lake Fisher to protect the county's water supply.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Fishermen in one part of our area will have to find another fishing hole, after Concord's Lake Fisher was closed for a reason that may seem unusual -- homeland security.
At Smith's Spur station, fish is in the air. The bait and tackle store next door is not yet open for the season, but that's OK, neither is Lake Fisher.
"I think it's a little ridiculous," said store owner Houston Smith.
Smith has spent a lot of time on Concord's lakes, and has more than a few fish stories to tell, “that's my biggest fish … 51 pounds."
But he cannot believe the latest one he is hearing: Lake Fisher is closed because of possible terrorism.
"If they've got a guy up there, they might as well let the old guys fish because most of them that go, they already know,” Smith said. “If you've got somebody strange going that you don't know, then don't let him go, check him out."
The idea may seem “all wet" to some, but Concord City Manager Brian Hiatt says it is not as fishy as it may sound.
"Our water sources are one of the main areas that we're most concerned about, if we would have a terrorist attack," Hiatt said.
Lake Fisher is part of Concord's water supply, a resource that is already running short. And the town cannot risk losing any more.
"The federal government has told us that they're concerned about a couple things, and one is somebody emptying chemical or contaminates into the reservoir and having a problem with the water supply that way,” Hiatt said. “Or even the potential for someone to blow up a dam and impacting not only the water supply, but also people downstream."
Still, customers like Toby Weast, who trades fish tales at Smith's shop, say they have captured many fond memories on these waters. But from now on, or at least for now, Lake Fisher will be the one that got away.
"It's sort of sad, but there are a lot of other lakes nearby that we can go to," Weast said.
Even Concord's city manager admits it is highly unlikely any terrorist group would target the city's water supply for a terrorist attack, but no one thought someone would smuggle cigarettes from the BP station up on the corner in Concord and send the profits to the terrorist group Hezbollah. But that is exactly what happened, and someone was convicted of it last summer.
The city manager says he will re-evaluate the situation soon.
3/5/03
By: Diana Rugg, News 14 Carolina
Concord officials closed Lake Fisher to protect the county's water supply.
CONCORD, N.C. -- Fishermen in one part of our area will have to find another fishing hole, after Concord's Lake Fisher was closed for a reason that may seem unusual -- homeland security.
At Smith's Spur station, fish is in the air. The bait and tackle store next door is not yet open for the season, but that's OK, neither is Lake Fisher.
"I think it's a little ridiculous," said store owner Houston Smith.
Smith has spent a lot of time on Concord's lakes, and has more than a few fish stories to tell, “that's my biggest fish … 51 pounds."
But he cannot believe the latest one he is hearing: Lake Fisher is closed because of possible terrorism.
"If they've got a guy up there, they might as well let the old guys fish because most of them that go, they already know,” Smith said. “If you've got somebody strange going that you don't know, then don't let him go, check him out."
The idea may seem “all wet" to some, but Concord City Manager Brian Hiatt says it is not as fishy as it may sound.
"Our water sources are one of the main areas that we're most concerned about, if we would have a terrorist attack," Hiatt said.
Lake Fisher is part of Concord's water supply, a resource that is already running short. And the town cannot risk losing any more.
"The federal government has told us that they're concerned about a couple things, and one is somebody emptying chemical or contaminates into the reservoir and having a problem with the water supply that way,” Hiatt said. “Or even the potential for someone to blow up a dam and impacting not only the water supply, but also people downstream."
Still, customers like Toby Weast, who trades fish tales at Smith's shop, say they have captured many fond memories on these waters. But from now on, or at least for now, Lake Fisher will be the one that got away.
"It's sort of sad, but there are a lot of other lakes nearby that we can go to," Weast said.
Even Concord's city manager admits it is highly unlikely any terrorist group would target the city's water supply for a terrorist attack, but no one thought someone would smuggle cigarettes from the BP station up on the corner in Concord and send the profits to the terrorist group Hezbollah. But that is exactly what happened, and someone was convicted of it last summer.
The city manager says he will re-evaluate the situation soon.