Highlands, North Carolina
A haven in the hills

A haven in the hills

More than 4,000 have defaulted on student loans since 2009
As Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith fought for his life at Erlanger hospital, the floor stayed busy with military officials and politicians who came to pay respects.
By the time the ambulances were barreling down Amnicola Highway, flanked by police cars with flashing blue lights, the news already had started to ripple across Erlanger hospital.
At first, just a few flags jutted out of the grass outside of the military recruitment office on Lee Highway.
Twenty-two Marines were working at the U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway last Thursday morning, making sure their gear was clean and in working shape.
They were sons. Brothers. Boy Scouts and football players.
The remains of the Marines who were killed in the Chattanooga attacks will be treated with the same ceremonial honors as Marines killed in military action, a Marine Corps spokesman told the Times Free Press Friday.
The U.S. Marine Corps officials has now formally released the names of the four Marines killed in the attack on the combined Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway Thursday.

For the second time in two weeks, homicide charges against a Hamilton County slaying suspect have been dropped after the district attorney said there was not enough evidence to prosecute the case.