New county ranger named

Bob Ray is Clay County’s new North Carolina Forest Service County Ranger. He brings more than 30 years of experience to the job.

Ray is originally from northeastern Ohio where he earned his forestry degree from Ohio State University. He spent nearly 20 years with the Florida Division of Forestry before moving to the North Carolina mountains in 2003, according to a news release. 

Ray has spent the past 13 years working with the state Forest Service in Cherokee County.