The Murphy City Council has agreed to spend $5,500 to help fire and police personnel cope with emergency situations such as an active shooter. Members approved the addition to the Fire Department budget at their regular meeting Tuesday, Feb. 7. An outside vendor was to prepare table-top exercises covering a variety of scenarios.

Council also waived the 12-month waiting period for reconsideration of Dr. Lorraine Chalkley’s request to rezone nine acres formerly occupied by her veterinary practice on the northwest corner of Betsy Lane and North Murphy Road. Her proposal for a housing development died for lack of a motion at council’s Jan. 3 meeting and she asked for permission to reapply. Chalkley must now resubmit to the Planning & Zoning Commission that had rejected her request three times.

Read the Feb. 16 issue of The Murphy Monitor for the full story.

By Bob Wieland/Murphy Monitor