Submitted 08/26/09 20:21:17 by earl bowles from hwy 105,banner elk,nc.

Q Why would your editor john bordsen run a photo of a 15 year old girl jumping off Elk River Falls, where several people have been killed or paralized from hitting rocks, tangle in fishing line or hitting a junk car at the bottom of falls? Sort of recommends to other teen agers to jump. Your Sunday Edition Travel Section July 19,2009. Photo by chuck liddy of the news observer.Look forward to your reply

Answered 09/04/09 20:11:50 by Rick Thames

A: The photo you ask about was part of a package about waterfalls produced by our sister paper, the News & Observer of Raleigh. I spoke to Chuck Liddy, who took the photo of the young woman jumping from a rock near the base of the falls. This is obviously a favorite pasttime for many. Chuck says there were well over 50 people swimming there that day, a weekday. He says he also saw no sign posted that discouraged people from swimming at the base of the falls, where he took the photo. So, he had no reason to think that this swimming hole was any more hazardous than dozens of others that one can find in the N.C. mountains. I then decided to follow up on your email for more information about this particular spot. The Avery County Sheriff's Office did not return a call. But Shelly Smith of the Avery Journal told my assistant that people do swim at the falls at their own risk. Smith recalled one drowning there about two years ago in which the victim became tangled in fishing line. You may know of others. Smith said there was debris in the water but she knew nothing about junked cars. If you feel strongly that the falls are too hazardous for swimming, you could contact authorities in the area and suggest that signs be posted.