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Knox County Board Okays Hunting Lodge
The Knox County Board is allowing a new use for the former Hope International dormitory area in rural Knox County.

The Board Wednesday voted 13 to one, with the lone no vote coming from Paul Stewart, to okay a conditional use permit for Darrell Smith and his family to use the dorm area as a hunting lodge -- a place where hunters can sleep when they're not hunting elsewhere, and will be provided lunch and home-cooked meals, sort of what Smith was doing in his own home before purchasing the Hope International land.

Nearby residents were concerned that the property would be used for gunfire, but Smith, of nearby Oak Run, says that's just not the case.

"There's going to be no shooting on the property," Smith said. "We have other places that we rent for recreation purposes -- for deer hunting, for turkey hunting, and shooting. Basically, my wife and my kids, we're just trying to build our business."

No hunting can be done on the property as part of the conditional use permit, while bow-and-arrow-only target practice can be done, with the proviso that no arrows leave the property.

What's more, Smith says there shouldn't be much of a concern, because the lodge would likely be used only one month out of the year.

Board members also voted to approve the installation of video gambling machines in unincorporated areas of the county.
08 30 12 by Newsroom
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