For months people who live near the Wake County landfill in HollySprings have been protesting about the proposed gun range, but the countyhas now changed the range from a large semi-enclosed facility to a smallerone which will be completely indoors. They hope these changes will calmresidents' fears.
Tommy Seagroves lives directly across the street from the site of thenew Wake County firing range. He says he's not happy about the vote.
Seagroves is not alone in his dissatisfaction. Hundreds of people wholive in subdivisions near the site have protested against the range. Theirbiggest concerns about locating the range at the Feltonsville landfill arenoise and safety. Wake County Commissioner Betty Ward says there are justtoo many people living in that area.
Despite all the protests, county commissioners voted 4 to 3 in favor ofthe proposal. Area resident Eric Loreck says he doesn't thinkcommissioners care about the people who live there.
Commissioners say this isn't true the final plan calls for a smallerenclosed range. They say this will cut down on noise and increase safety.The focus of the range will be law enforcement training. Sheriff JohnBaker says the range is badly needed.
Recreational shooters will also have some access to the range. Shootinghobbyist Al Cohen says he's glad the range will be built.
Construction on the range is set to begin in the Spring of 1998. Originally it was supposed to be finished in the fall, but because theplans are more complicated now, it could take longer.
Photographer:Lori Foushee
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