Chadbourn battling fly problem

CHADBOURN — Some residents in one local town have been invaded by some nasty neighbors — ones who have wings. The town is Chadbourn and the problem is flies.

At Tuesday night’s Chadbourn Town Council meeting they will be discussing possible solutions to get rid of a pesky situation.

In the last three months, thousands of little flies have become an issue in the town. So much so, the town has received a rash of complaints. The bugs usually fly into town seasonally, around late spring and early summer, but with this year’s warmer winter the bugs are apparently just plain confused.

The town received a state funded grant to target the problem before it gets worse.

Environmental health specialist Amadou Jallow said, “From what we’ve seen in terms of weather, and the fact that there are also ample sources for breeding in the general area, it makes it a little bit more difficult to control the problem.”

The town asks local citizens to report fly problems so they can treat the area free of charge.

One environmental specialist said the best way the public can help is containing their trash properly, clearing brush around water drains and practicing good housekeeping.