Smoky Mountain News | March 3, 2022

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Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information

March 2-8, 2022 Vol. 23 Iss. 40

As maps solidify, Cawthorn decides where to run Page 6 Questions emerge on Southern Rock Wood Stock Page 22

CONTENTS On the Cover: Carmaleta Littlejohn Monteith, 86, has lived a rich life — one that prioritized learning, hard work and experiences. Now, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council has named her a Beloved Woman, a tremendous honor reserved for few. See what she has to say as she looks back on a life well lived. (Pages 8-9) Monteith is pictured during her time at Lovett School, 1960-1985. Lovett School photo

News After 20 years, Petty walks away from MDCS............................................................4 Maps set, candidates file, Cawthorn returns................................................................6 Jackson begins budget talks with education capital needs ................................11 ULI advisory panel offers recommendations for growth in Cashiers ................13 Downtown Waynesville Advisory Committee holds first meeting ......................15

Opinion Learning to live with the mess........................................................................................21 Letters to the editor ..........................................................................................................21

A&E Flirtin’ with disaster ............................................................................................................22 ‘Just Maria’ a good read for all ages ............................................................................29

Outdoors

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March 2-8, 2022

Bear hunting approved for three sanctuary areas ..................................................30

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A labor of love After 20 years, Petty walks away from MDCS

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ountain Discovery Charter School in Swain County is celebrating its 20th year serving students in Western North Carolina. The school has largely been a labor of love, a massive effort of parents and staff to provide the most well-rounded education possible to students throughout their elementary and middle school years.

One of those parents has been there all 20 years, outlasting the education of his own sons — the passion project that got him involved in the first place. After 20 years, Carter Petty is stepping away from the school he helped build. And though he is stepping down from his current position as Interim Director, he has served the school in several capacities throughout the years.

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etty grew up in Atlanta. As a first-grader, he attended a public school that was about a five-minute walk from his house.

However, as second grade rolled around, Atlanta Public Schools had begun the process of integrating. Instead of allowing their child to ride the bus for an hour and a half to get to school each day, Petty’s parents decided paying for private school was a better option.

“So, I spent second grade through high school in private schools and really had no idea how privileged I was until I got out and attended the University of Georgia,” said Petty.

“It’s still a college environment, but you do begin to get a feel for what you’ve been given and how lucky you were just to have been born into the circumstance you were born into.”

Petty studied English at Georgia, earning a BA in the subject. It was during work for his master’s degree in technical theater and design that he met the woman who would

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

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become his wife. After traveling throughout their twenties, the couple eventually settled down in the mountains of Western North Carolina and started a family.

As the couple’s oldest son approached school age, they began looking at options for his first year. Like all first-time kindergarten parents, the Pettys were anxious about sending their child anywhere that didn’t seem like the perfect fit. After touring a number of local elementary schools, the couple was at a loss. That is, until a friend of a friend suggested an alternative.

“A friend of ours that my wife met had kids the same age, and they were of a similar mindset,” said Petty. “This friend knew somebody whose child was struggling at West Elementary. An only child, kind of a misfit at West, was getting beat up on the bus and just a bad situation for him. She was looking for alternatives and they discovered charter schools and started pitching it to friends.”

Through this connection, Petty was invited to an informative session about charter schools. Out of that meeting coalesced a group of 12 parents, the steering committee, which began the process of developing a charter with the goal of opening the first charter school in Swain County. he concept of creating public charter schools as alternatives to traditional public schools became popular in the late 1980s due to the work of a small group of policymakers and educators. The idea gained traction throughout the following decade and in 1991 Minnesota became the first state to pass a charter school law.

North Carolina passed its own charter school law in 1996. Originally, the law capped the number of charter schools in North Carolina at 100. This cap was lifted in 2011, and now there are 204 charter schools in the state, serving approximately 8% of its school children. Charter schools receive a percentage of the per-pupil funds from state and local school districts depending on the number of students they enroll.

Charter schools in North Carolina are public schools operated independently of the public school system. Although they are largely publicly funded, charter schools are exempt from many of the requirements imposed by state and local boards of education regarding hiring and curriculum. Because they are technically public schools, charter schools cannot

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“We’ve had so many kids who struggled in a larger, more traditional environment that came here and just blossomed.

It’s really cool to see.”

— Carter Petty

charge tuition or impose special entrance requirements. Students are usually admitted through a lottery process if demand exceeds available space.

These days, even after a prospective school gets its charter authorized by the State Board of Education, there is a full year of required planning. However, when Mountain Discovery got its charter approved in February 2002, the planning year was optional. MDCS decided to forgo the planning year and began school just six months later.

“That planning year was an option, but you didn’t have to do it,” said Petty. “And there was so much urgency, especially from the woman whose child was getting bullied on the bus every day. But we didn’t take that, so our first year was crazy. Just absolutely crazy.”

Mountain Discovery opened its doors in the fall of 2002, welcoming 65 students in grades K-6. Those first couple of years, school

took place in the old Dollar General store by Ingles, down the hill from where Mountain Discovery sits today.

“We weren’t on the first wave,” said Petty.

“Which was really nice because we did have people we could call and say, so how did this go for you? And what’d you do about that?

Those kinds of things.”

During this first wave of charter schools in North Carolina, there was some federal funding available for start-up costs. MDCS began during that sweet spot when charter schools had been operating in the state for a few years, so there were models to follow and learn from, but funding was still available to offset start-up costs.

Petty had helped the school through its creation phase as a member of the founding board for Mountain Discovery. However, in 2003, just one year after opening, the school needed a new director.

“It was one of those times when I had a little bit of a lull in my business, and I didn’t want to see this thing fall,” said Petty. “I had the business background, because it really takes the entrepreneurial spirit and skillset, and then the instructional leadership skillset to do this. And I don’t have the instructional leadership skill.”

In 2003, Petty took on the position of codirector alongside someone who did have that instructional leadership skillset, a teacher and member of the school’s board who had taken time off to stay at home with her chil-

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he current Mountain Discovery campus was constructed two years after the school began operating. It was a labor of

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here are two core principles that draw parents and students to Mountain Discovery Charter School. One is the community.

“I absolutely love our close-knit, special school,” said Brook Stillman, teacher and parent at MDCS. “There are hundreds of moments every day that are so unique and special. Kids sharing a hand, a snack, a smile.

Kids encouraging others to try hard and never give up. Kids coming out of their shell, becoming comfortable in their own skin and confident in who they are as people. A place where ‘weird’ is normal and accepted. Kids who had few friends and were bullied elsewhere are ‘popular’ because as my kid said, ‘everyone is popular!’”

“It’s a very accepting environment, and we’ve had so many kids who struggled in a larger, more traditional environment that came here and just blossomed. It’s really cool to see,” said Petty.

Another principle at the core of Mountain Discovery is experiential learning.

“Experiential learning was something that really meant a lot to me,” said Petty. “I was a horrible student until grad school; until I decided that it was time to stop having fun and actually graduate college.”

What does experiential learning look like in a classroom setting? The concept is almost synonymous with project-based learning. It’s all about real-world application for ideas and lessons.

In math, this can look like a focus on engineering. Eighth-graders at MDCS just finished a math unit in which, as part of a lesson on formulas, students were instructed to build bridges out of dry pasta with the goal of holding as much weight as possible. One of those bridges ended up holding over 100 pounds.

Science and history are often taught through outdoor excursions like camping, hiking and canoeing trips. Through exploring the mountains of Western North Carolina, students learn about the history, culture and environment of the place they live. The goal is to get students to experience as much of the curriculum as possible.

“I brought my kids to MDCS because of the outdoor learning, field trips and experiential learning,” said Amy Jo Harvey, teacher and parent at MDCS. “They are outside every day and spend half of their classes engaged with projects and outdoor experiences. I feel like MDCS encouraged them to love learning and value intelligence.”

“The kids love it,” said Petty. “I mean, they don’t complain when they come back in August. They complain when they’re home on a break for too long.”

love with countless community members volunteering time to make it happen.

Today, the small buildings housing classrooms are situated in a circle, connected by a covered wooden porch that spans all the buildings. The porch is lined with flower boxes that the students plant and maintain in warmer months. In the center of the circle is a large outdoor space where recess and physical education take place. Even on a cold February morning, students are bundled up in jackets and hats, playing with peers. The occasional shriek of joy pierces above the hum of jovial voices.

There are 172 students currently enrolled at MDCS, though total capacity is 188. Like all learning institutions, the pandemic created acute challenges for teaching and learning.

“I think everyone in the nation realized that, well maybe we overreacted just a little bit. And we were part of that,” said Petty. “We completely shut down in the spring of 2020.”

Because of the individual attention students receive at Mountain Discovery, Petty and the rest of the staff knew which kids were likely to be the most negatively affected by the pandemic, shutdown and remote instruction. Almost immediately after school switched to remote learning, MDCS was able to bring a few students back in, with intense social distancing, to provide extra help.

“In the fall of 2020, we built on that and started doing a hybrid where we had a crazy amount of schedules,” said Petty. “Our thirdgrade class is going to have the highest number of kids that don’t satisfy the read-to-achieve requirement that we’ve ever had. And I’m sure that’s going to be the case across the state.”

To mitigate the impact of the pandemic, staff have laid out a two-year plan to get back on track.

“With my background being what it was when I started doing this, I started reading everything I could about education,” said Petty. “One thing that really lodged with me, I can’t tell you where I got it, was ‘one bad year for a child takes at least two years to make up, and two consecutive bad years might not ever be made up.’”

But the pandemic brought around some positive changes as well. The quick shift in learning style means that now the school has an electronic device for every student.

Petty served as co-director of the school from 2003 through 2009, and sole director from 2009 through 2018. At that point he stepped down from the directorship and filled the role of CFO. However, soon after that change the school was in need of another director and Petty stepped in on an interim basis. After 20 years in a leadership position, this will be his last school year with Mountain Discovery.

Through it all, serving with a dedicated, passionate and self-sacrificing team that is willing to do everything it can to provide the best education possible for their students has been the highlight for Petty.

“My hope for the future is that it flourishes in whatever way the community wants it to flourish,” said Petty. “Part of the charter school movement was, ‘let’s give these people some government funding and let them experiment a little bit and try different things.’ And you know, what we’ve implemented works, especially on a small scale.”

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dren while they were young. The pair led Mountain Discovery for five years, before Petty continued in the position as sole director for the school.

“I always wanted to teach, that was my notion behind getting the masters in technical theater and design,” said Petty. “I love to teach.

So that’s kind of what kept me here, and I just wanted to see it through for my kids.”

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news

Maps set, candidates file, Cawthorn returns

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR fter months of back-and-forth between the General Assembly, the Wake County Superior Court and the North Carolina Supreme Court, state legislative maps and congressional districts are finally set for the May 17 Primary Election.

The new maps present some significant changes with national implications all across the state, but from a partisan perspective the numbers in Western North Carolina show that voters are likely in for more of the same, despite grumblings from both Democrats and Republicans over some specifics.

“Everyone’s mad,” said Dr. Chris Cooper, the Madison Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs and Director of the Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University, “so it must be perfect. That’s the way I look at it.”

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IN THE HOUSE

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

There are 120 seats in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and voters west of Asheville are split between three of them.

The farthest west, District 120, didn’t change at all and still contains Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties. Currently, it’s represented by Republican Karl Gillespie, of Macon County, who is in his first term and won the 2020 General Election over Democrat Susan Landis by 48 percentage points.

“So, 120 is as deep-red as they come. It’s remained pretty stable thanks to the Stevenson clustering rule, which says that certain counties have to hang together,” Cooper said. “Clearly Gillespie is going to be the favorite moving into any kind of General Election. I think the question there is, do we get a Democratic challenger?”

According to a statistical report issued by the General Assembly, Gillespie outperformed then-President Donald Trump by just over a point in 2020, with 74.2% of the vote.

As of press time, Gillespie wasn’t yet listed as a candidate for reelection on the state’s master list of candidates, but when reached by phone on Feb. 28 Gillespie said he planned to file before the March 4 deadline. No other candidates have filed.

There are, however, bigger changes afoot in Western North Carolina’s other two House districts.

District 119 is currently represented by Swain County Republican Mike Clampitt.

Clampitt had traded the seat back and forth with Haywood County Democrat Joe Sam Queen over the past five elections — with Clampitt losing in 2012, 2014 and 2018 but winning in 2016 and 2020.

Changes to Clampitt’s district mean that North Carolina’s longest running political feud is over.

Previously, the district included Swain and Jackson counties, as well as a tiny sliver running through the center of Haywood County. Clampitt beat Queen with 54% of the vote there in the last election.

Now, the district includes Swain, Jackson 6

NORTH CAROLINA HOUSE DISTRICTS

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and Transylvania counties. While the previous district was fairly competitive, state statistical reports show that Clampitt’s new district is a little more comfortable for Republicans. In 2020, Trump earned 55.5% of the vote in the new district.

“It’s the 10th-least Republican district of all the districts that lean towards the Republican party,” said Cooper. “In other

words, it’s more towards the middle than some of the other districts, so it’s going to favor Clampitt by about 12 percentage points. Compared to the rest of the state, it is relatively competitive, but that’s because so few are competitive.”

Clampitt is thus far the only candidate to file for the seat, although his portion of Haywood County was moved into the 118th

District, making Haywood County whole again – at least on the House side.

Former Haywood County Commissioner Mark Pless won the 118th District seat vacated by fellow Republican Rep. Michele Presnell in 2020 with 63.6% of the vote, but at that time the district was comprised of Madison and Yancey counties, as well as rural areas in the northern and southern portions of Haywood.

The new maps removed Yancey from Pless’ district, leaving him with all of Haywood County and all of Madison County.

State stats say 62% of this new district voted for Trump in 2020, leaving Pless, like Clampitt, in a slightly more comfortable position than before.

“Pless is in great shape,” Cooper said. “It would be extremely difficult for a Democrat to win that district. I think for all of these districts that lean so heavily, the question’s going to be, ‘Does the opposing party even field a candidate?’”

IN THE SENATE The North Carolina Senate has 50 seats, the westernmost of which is represented by former District 120 representative Kevin Corbin, a Franklin Republican serving his first term as senator in District 50.

Corbin’s district remained

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NORTH CAROLINA’S 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

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IN CONGRESS

every day, knocking doors, connecting directly with voters about the issues that matter most in people’s lives.”

Eric Gash, a Henderson County educator who with Beach-Ferrara is considered a frontrunner in the crowded Democratic Primary Election field, seemed similarly focused on his own campaign and not on Cawthorn’s moves.

“I got in this race because we need leadership in this district. We need someone who’s going to put the needs of their constituents above their own, focusing on that and making this a better place to live. That’s still my focus, regardless of who’s running on the other side,” Gash said.

Jasmine “I’m gonna push as hard Beach-Ferrara as I can, listen to the needs of the people and be a representative not just for Democrats, not just for Republicans or for independents, but for everyone.”

Both Gash and Beach-Ferrara said they had no plans to change the way they’ll camEric Gash paign. One of the frontrunners on the Republican side, Henderson County Sen. Chuck Edwards, basically said the same thing.

“All campaigns are based on a candidate getting out and getting to know the voters,” Edwards said. “I’m going to remain on that path and continue to talk about the conservative principles and the proven track record that I’ve established in Raleigh that I believe needs to be taken to Washington, D.C. We’ve got enough talkers in Washington. We need people that have actually accomplished things and that’s exactly what I intend to do.”

Although Edwards entered the race after Cawthorn announced his plans to run in a different district, Cawthorn’s return to the 11th sets up a matchup many have been call-

ing for for more than a year now. Edwards was vocal with criticism of Cawthorn in the wake of Cawthorn’s speech at a “Stop the Steal” rally immediately preceding the Jan. 6 insurrection.

In January, 2021, Cawthorn responded to the possibility of a Primary Election challenge

by Edwards, calling it “asinine.”

With the Edwards-Cawthorn matchup now solidified, that leaves another frontrunner, Michele V. Woodhouse, as the odd woman out.

Woodhouse was closely tied to Cawthorn during his first year in office, and had received campaign contributions from him during her time as NCGOP chair of the 11th Congressional Chuck Edwards District.

When Cawthorn announced his intention to run in the 13th District, Woodhouse resigned her district position and declared her candidacy for the 11th. A Cawthorn endorsement appeared likely, and a Feb. 17 Michele V. story in the Charlotte Woodhouse News & Observer reported that Cawthorn had told supporters in the 11th to vote for Woodhouse.

Now, a rift has appeared. When reached for comment on Feb. 28, the day Cawthorn announced his intention to run in the 11th Congressional District, Woodhouse spokesman Eddie Woodhouse replied with only one word: undeterred.

The next day, in a text, Eddie Woodhouse elaborated, with digs apparently directed at Edwards and Cawthorn, respectively.

“Michele V. Woodhouse, the America First 11th District candidate, now has the old country club establishment politician on one side, and Washington’s Instagram broken promises politician on the other!”

The Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, May 17.

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Smoky Mountain News

The most recent decennial census showed enough population growth in North Carolina to warrant an expansion in the state’s congressional delegation, from 13 seats to 14.

When new maps were drawn — before they were thrown out by the state Supreme Court — the 11th Congressional District was renamed as the 14th and stretched all the way up to Appalachian State University in Watauga County.

A “new” 13th Congressional District was created with House Speaker Tim Moore in mind, but 11th District Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Henderson) shocked the political establishment on Nov. 11 by announcing he’d run in the newly drawn 13th District, which stretched from Polk County all the way out to the suburbs of Charlotte.

Moore backed down, but Cawthorn’s move may have been premature — when courts rejected a revised map presented by the General Assembly and then drew their own (returning to the original name of the district, the 11th), Cawthorn announced he would run in the 11th.

“I am excited to run for reelection in North Carolina’s newly solidified 11th Congressional District and represent nearly all of my current constituents in the 118th Congress,” he said via a press release issued on Feb. 28.

“It’s the least bad option for Madison Cawthorn,” Cooper said. “The options before him were to run in the district that he Madison Cawthorn had said he would, which became District 10, which would’ve put him up against Patrick McHenry.”

McHenry’s widely considered the most powerful Republican member of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and his district is among the most Republican in the state.

“He [Cawthorn] would’ve won the General Election if he’d won the Primary Election, but there was almost no way he was gonna win the primary,” Cooper said. “He could have run in the [new] 14th Congressional District and tried to pick up the Charlotte media market, but then he would’ve been running in a heavily Democratic district against [former U.S. Senate candidate, Democrat] Jeff Jackson, so Cawthorn might have won the primary, but he was almost certainly gonna lose the general.”

With Cawthorn’s decision to run in the 11th came reactions from candidates on both sides of the aisle, ranging from indifference to outrage.

“What’s been very clear is that Cawthorn’s priority is building his political brand and spreading a very dangerous form of extremism rather than focusing on the people that he was elected to represent,” said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, a Buncombe County commissioner who was the first Democrat to join the race, back in March, 2021. “We’re out there

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March 2-8, 2022

largely the same after redistricting as it was before, but for the inclusion of Transylvania County. Statistical reports from the state say the new NC-50 is almost 64% Republican based on the 2020 presidential contest.

However, Corbin’s very likely to outperform that this go-round. So far, he’s the only candidate to file in District 50.

There is, however, a statistically insignificant but culturally important caveat to that – part of Corbin’s district, in northeastern Haywood County and including the town of Canton, was carved out and added to the 47th District.

That means Haywood is once again a split county, not in the House, but in the Senate.

Although there was some grumbling when the split was initially proposed late last year, it looks like the change is here to stay.

“I think part of that is just geography. I don’t think they were aiming that at Haywood County,” Cooper said. “The way that cluster ran, it included all of [Senate District] 50 and all of what became [Senate District] 47. They had to draw a line somewhere to make that cluster, and it kind of makes some sense that it would be right about there in Haywood County. The reason is because we’ve grown in population in the west, so to equalize population, that was a fairly logical place to draw that line.”

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Rooted in home Cherokee’s newest Beloved Woman reflects on life of service, learning and tribal identity

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER armaleta Littlejohn Monteith has taken countless flights to innumerable destinations during her 86 years on Earth, so she no longer recalls exactly what year it was when she found herself on a flight to Los Angeles making what would later prove to be memorable small talk with the man who settled into the seat beside her.

“I said, ‘Where’s home?’ You just ask,’” Monteith recalled, sipping a hot drink at Qualla Java during an interview skillfully sandwiched into her packed calendar of commitments and connections.

“He said, ‘I don’t know.’ It was such a strange thing.”

The man was part of a military family, which explained his answer. But to Monteith, who was born in Cherokee’s first hospital and raised in a tightknit community united by ancestry and tradition, it sounded like a foreign and unsettling way to go through life.

She’d done plenty of traveling through the years, but she always knew where she was from, where she belonged.

“I had such a drive to move back, all of my life,” she said. “You can’t recapture your youth, and I wasn’t trying to recapture my youth, but I wanted to have some of the same experiences. We had our church and we had community. We had the school, and those were the things that heavily influenced our lives.”

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March 2-8, 2022

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Tribal Council Chairman Richard French presents Carmaleta Monteith with a blanket during her Beloved Woman induction ceremony at the Yellowhill Activity Center Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Scott McKie B.P./One Feather photo

••• In May 2021, a unanimous vote from Cherokee Tribal Council made Monteith one of three living people to be named a Beloved Woman of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, alongside Ella Bird and Myrtle Driver Johnson.

The highest honor a tribal member can receive, the title of Beloved Man or Beloved Woman was traditionally reserved for valiant warriors who had grown too old to fight.

They would return home to an honored place in their tribe, serving their community in new ways once they left behind the field of battle. In modern times, the title has come to recognize people whose lives are an outstanding demonstration of Cherokee core values and cherished characteristics.

During the May meeting, person after person came to the podium to tell their stories about Carmaleta Monteith, and to express their absolute certainty that nobody deserved the honor more than her.

•••

Monteith is humble about her life of accomplishment, seeing herself as a reflection of the loving support system that’s surrounded her all these years.

“I’ve always had three or four things going 8 on at one time, and much of it is because of, I

“She has obtained this selfless leadership level that little girls and young women should all strive to be in the community.”

— Sky Sampson, director of WCU Cherokee Center

think, my mother’s work ethic and just being the oldest,” she said. “You’re just expected to be ‘little mom.’”

Monteith’s mother, Ruth Sneed Littlejohn, was as industrious as they come, constantly working to care for her five children while her husband Isaac was away, which was the case more often than not. During Monteith’s childhood there were few opportunities for yearround employment in the mountains, and Isaac would go to cities in midwestern states like Ohio and Illinois, working as he was able and coming home when he could. But travel was expensive, especially when Monteith, the oldest of the family, was young. He wasn’t home very often.

Meanwhile, Ruth worked as a phone operator at the Bureau of Indian Affairs and was a skilled craftswoman who owned her own gift

shop. She did intricate beadwork and taught her children to do the same, and they sold the finished pieces at the store. Customers would visit Ruth’s shop specifically because of her high-quality work, said Monteith, who still completes complex beadwork today, often as gifts for family members.

“She was canning or growing food the rest of the time,” she said. “She would get up, five o’clock in the morning and go out. If some apples had fallen or tomatoes were ready to be picked, she would can two or three things each day.”

Monteith followed her mother’s lead.

Throughout high school, she maintained three full-time jobs each summer — making beadwork, serving in her aunt’s restaurant, working a gift shop owned by another aunt — until she got recruited as a dancer when the

Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama started in 1950. The job paid $35 a week, far more than she could have pulled in beading necklaces.

Monteith also followed her mother’s example in her thirst for knowledge.

“She always bought books,” Monteith recalled. “We couldn’t afford a set of encyclopedias, but we had them.”

Like all the other kids in Cherokee, Monteith went to the Cherokee Boarding School — but unlike most of them, she didn’t live there. The family home was three-quarters of a mile down the road, so every day she walked to school, did her lessons and came back home.

“I think one of the better things that happened to me while I was there was I was detailed to a lady named Gertrude Flanagan,” Monteith said.

Like nearly all the teachers at the school then, Flanagan wasn’t Cherokee. But she had a respect for the culture, and especially for the traditional crafts associated with it. She would bring in “remarkable artifacts or creations of our people,” Monteith recalls, leading the young girl to become “addicted” to baskets. She and Flannigan developed a close

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As high school graduation loomed, Monteith faced a gargantuan life change that would take her farther from her hometown than she’d ever been before. She got a full ride to Brigham Young University in Utah, and the young girl who had never been farther away than Asheville hitched a ride with a cousin to Provo, Utah, and set out to become a college student.

It was harder than she’d expected.

Desperately homesick, Monteith completed only one term before returning to Cherokee and getting a job at the dime store in Bryson City.

But she stayed out for only a quarter before resuming her college career, this time closer to home at Western Carolina University, and launching a fierce attack on the course catalogue. Discovering that the school didn’t charge more per semester for large course loads, Monteith saddled herself up with 30 credits per term, graduating in

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•••

But she knew what she wanted. Monteith completed her master’s degree in 1961 and would later go on to obtain a Ph.D. in American Studies, also from Emory, in 1985.

When Monteith graduated from WCU, only 5.8% of women were earning college degrees and only 2,000 Native Americans of any gender were enrolled at all, according to the resolution that named her a Beloved Woman.

Even today, only 0.003% of Ph.Ds are held by Native Americans.

Monteith’s achievements defied the odds, many times over. But she credits her support system — and especially her husband — with making that possible.

“I had so much support from people around me — ‘Go for it,’” she said. “My husband’s my number one. He never asked me, ‘When is dinner? Do I have a clean shirt?’

None of that.”

Even as she reached for more within the academic realm, Monteith flourished professionally.

After two years teaching at a public elementary school, she got a job at a private preparatory institution, The Lovett School, and continued as a classroom teacher through 1975. After that, she started working in administration, first as science department head and later as dean of math and science.

She stayed at Lovett for 25 years. Both her sons went to school there, and she watched entire families grow up, with former students sending their own children to enroll at Lovett.

Then, one day Monteith quit. In a meeting, the headmaster was listing off everything he wanted staff to do for the year ahead, and Monteith speaks with a student Monteith heard herself say she at Marist School in Atlanta, wouldn’t be back next year. where she was a dean from The statement shocked her as 1985 to 1998. Marist School photo much as it did her boss.

“I didn’t know things like that two advanced degrees, pursued a career in happen to people,” she said, “But it did, and education, and was an active member of vari- he (the headmaster) said, ‘What are you ous boards related to education and Native going to do?’ And so, he followed me around and he brought me a ripped-off legal pad American issues.

Immediately after moving to Atlanta, thing with a bigger salary and I said, ‘You didMonteith enrolled in Emory University’s n’t hear a word I said. It’s not about the Master of Education program, her tuition money. I just need new experiences, new paid through the National Science things.’”

Monteith figured that would be her exit Foundation.

But then she started volunteering at the from education, but shortly thereafter the reading center — and realized she wanted a devout Southern Baptist was recruited to shift in discipline. Monteith had been an Marist School, a Catholic prep school in avid reader since childhood, consuming Atlanta. She stayed for 13 years, serving as books by flashlight or candlelight before the dean of studies, dean of faculty and interim home had electricity. The importance of head of school.

Then, just as had happened at Lovett, cerreading and writing connected with her both personally and culturally as she reflected on tainty settled that it was time for a change.

“One day it just hit me — time to move Sequoyah, the Cherokee man who became the only person in history to develop a writ- back to Cherokee,” she said. “And because my husband was from Bryson City, it was home ten language solo.

She realized she wanted to enter the to him, too.” school’s Institute of Liberal Arts to study his••• tory and literature.

Monteith had been away for 45 years, but “My professors at Emory kept saying, ‘You’ve lost your mind. You’re switching Cherokee never stopped being home, and her fields? What are you doing?’” Monteith recalls.

S EE MONTEITH, PAGE 10

1956 with a bachelor’s degree in science education.

“The only thing I regret is in the syllabus there’s always extra reading, all these indepth things you could do,” she said. “Well, I didn’t have the time, so the depth of study is what I sacrificed.”

But Monteith was far from finished with her education. She and Max lived apart while he spent two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Atlanta. He left with an immediate offer to work for AT&T, also in Atlanta, and after graduation Monteith went to join him.

They lived in Atlanta for 45 years. During that time, Monteith had two sons, earned

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relationship — the teacher would “just kind of ask for me all the time,” said Monteith.

Once a month the school would play a movie for kids who had perfect attendance, and Monteith would clean out the popcorn machine the following Monday. She’d dust the displays of baskets and pottery Flanagan maintained, run errands, and help her with whatever else she needed.

In return, Flanagan helped to build Monteith’s self-confidence and encourage her to pursue the things she wanted out of life.

Monteith was always reading, and when she played school with her cousins, she was always the teacher. By the time she was 10, she knew that she wanted to go into education when she was older, and Flanagan encouraged her to transfer to public school, where the curriculum would better prepare her for college.

Monteith had tried public school before. Once, in elementary school, she transferred to Whittier Elementary, but after just a couple days she’d had enough. She came back to Cherokee.

“But high school, I had decided I was going to stick it out,” she said.

Monteith was one of four Cherokee kids who got bussed over from Cherokee to Swain High School. It was a hard transition.

They encountered resentment from the school community at Swain, and some of her classmates dropped out.

“But I was determined I was going to finish there, and I did, and became very active in the life of the school,” she said. “In fact, I met my husband. We were high school sweethearts.”

Max Wayland Monteith was not Cherokee, but he was the love of her life. They married while still in high school, and he died in January 2017 after 63 years of marriage. Five years have passed since then, but Carmaleta still tears up when she talks about him.

“You never get over it,” she said.

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news Monteith (third from right) stands with board members of the Yogi Crowe Scholarship Fund, which supports Cherokee graduate students. Donated photo MONTEITH, CONTINUED FROM 9

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March 2-8, 2022

identity as a Cherokee woman never stopped being central to who she was.

Monteith has been a member of the North American Indian Woman’s Association since 1970 and served on the National Park Service Trail of Tears Advisory Committee from 1992-1998. She was also one of the founding officers of the Georgia Commission on Indian Affairs. Her academic publications also focused on native issues — a 1998 article titled “Doctors, Lawyers, Indian Chiefs: Indian Identity in the South” in a book published by University of Georgia Press, a 1984 piece in the Journal of Cherokee studies titled “Literacy Among the Cherokee in Early Nineteenth Century,” an unpublished dissertation in 1985 titled “The Role of the Scribe in Eastern Cherokee Society, 18211985.”

But her most significant continued connection to Cherokee was personal. The Monteiths often made the four-hour drive through the mountains to attend various family events, and Monteith remained involved with the Yogi Crowe Scholarship Fund that her mother founded. They never missed the fair, and Monteith instilled a sense of identity in her sons as well. Her younger son Tracy is a software engineer at Microsoft and drove the Cherokee syllabary’s inclusion in Microsoft Office — the first tribal language with that distinction.

“There were just so many connections,” she said. “I always knew we would be here, my husband and I did.”

When she left Marist in 1998, Monteith was in her mid-60s, and any reasonable person might have interpreted her move back to Cherokee in 2001 as a statement that retirement had begun. But at 86, Monteith still juggles a schedule that would rival that of a person still in the throes of a career.

“When I came home, I didn’t want a job and I still don’t want a job, but I look forward to Fridays just as if I did have a job,” she said, 10 laughing.

People close to Carmaleta describe her as someone who is always in the background of anything important happening on the Qualla Boundary. She chairs the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority and has been on the board since it began in 2002. She’s a member of the Yogi Crowe Scholarship Fund Advisory Board, and she’s been on the Cherokee Youth Center Advisory Committee since 2003 and the Yellowhill Community Club since 2004.

Among myriad other local organizations she’s served are the EBCI Internal Audit Board, Oconaluftee Institute for Cultural Arts, EBCI Economic Development and Downtown Revitalization Committee, Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly and Southwestern Community College Board of Advisors.

That list is far from inclusive and doesn’t touch on her extensive work with Cherokee Central Schools, which began when, shortly after she returned from Atlanta, the school board called and asked her to help them find a consultant to develop curriculum for the young school system. She couldn’t find anybody, so she agreed to do it herself.

But Monteith didn’t stop there.

“I went out and got millions of grant dollars,” she recalled, “because my sons said, ‘Mother, you’re going to make these recommendations to the school board; they’ve got a limited budget, and they’ll say we can’t implement this.’”

Current Principal Chief Richard Sneed was a high school teacher when Monteith went on her grant-landing blitz. During the May 2021 meeting when Tribal Council voted to grant her the Beloved Woman title, he took the podium to recall how he was doing a hydroponic unit with his students when Monteith took it upon herself to write a grant that allowed the school to buy 120 “really amazing” hydroponic grow sites.

“When she sees a need, she immediately does the work to fulfill the need,” he said.

Sky Sampson, who nominated Monteith for the Beloved Woman title, said that it’s pretty common to reach out to some program

Monteith (right) presents a photo lap quilt to North American Indian Women’s Association founder Marcella LeBeau, at LeBeau’s 100th birthday party in Eagle Butte, Montana. Donated photo

Monteith sits on the porch of their home in Atlanta with her husband Max and sons, Wayland and Tracy. Donated photo or another on the Qualla Boundary only to find out it’s Monteith, behind the scenes, orchestrating all the moving parts. It’s a statement that echoes an observation Vice Chief Alan “B” Ensley made during the May 2021 Tribal Council meeting.

“She’s the lady behind the scenes that makes everything happen for all of us,” he said.

As director of WCU’s Cherokee Center, Sampson’s job is to reach out to and involve the Cherokee community in what’s happening at WCU. In many ways, her vocation reverberates the values that she credits Monteith with instilling in her, when Monteith was assigned to be Sampson’s mentor as part of the Jones Bowman Leadership Award Program.

“She’s definitely full of wisdom and knowledge, but she’s also a thriving, successful human being in both worlds — both the tribal world and the typical European society world,” said Sampson. “She’s successful in both. And that’s kind of what I wanted to be.”

At the same time, said Sampson, Monteith is a humble person with a selfless nature — the epitome of what Sampson thinks of when she thinks of a Beloved Woman.

“She has obtained this selfless leadership level that little girls and young women should all strive to be in the community,” she said.

“Obviously you want them to be full of integrity and be able to represent and be humble, and just constantly giving to others over themselves each and every day.”

When she looks at her life, Monteith sees what others have given to her before she sees what she has given to them.

“The accomplishments that I’m getting credit for, they aren’t just what I did,” she said. “You have to have a team and others to get anything done.”

Monteith credits her team — her husband, her sons, her extended family, her tribe — with spurring her past each consecutive milestone and inspiring her to be the best version of herself possible. In retirement as well as throughout her professional life, she’s worked to spur others on too, past what is easy, convenient or comfortable and on to what seems impossible but, in reality, is not.

“We have such bright, talented young people, but levels of expectation to me are not high enough,” she said of present-day Cherokee. “We’re allowed to slide by.”

For Monteith, sliding by was never an option. She fought her circumstances and her natural shyness to build an exemplary life rooted in relationship, community and Cherokee identity. Now she works to help others do the same.

“We’re not islands unto ourselves,” she told her community in May 2021. “It takes a family. It takes everybody in the community to achieve things.”

Jackson County’s budget could fund outstanding projects from SCC’s 2016 master plan.

Jackson begins budget talks with education capital needs

WCU lifts mask mandate

their discretion. All members of the campus community are reminded to be patient and show respect for the personal decision each person makes with respect to face coverings.”

Policy will continue to follow changing metrics, so mitigation measures could be reinstated later if needed.

The announcement follows a slate of similar mask mandate repeals as case numbers and hospitalizations have plummeted following the Omicron wave’s peak. According to the state dashboard, 71 cases have been reported in Jackson County over the last seven days. At the height of the surge, the county frequently surpassed that number in a single day.

The university dashboard reports a weekly test positivity rate of only 4.1%, down from a peak of 23.8% on Jan. 21, with 11 students and five employees testing positive in the last week.

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In a campuswide email sent Friday, Feb. 25, Western Carolina University announced that its mask mandate would expire on Saturday, Feb. 26, due to declining COVID-19 metrics on campus and in the surrounding community.

While masks are still required in University Health Services areas in Bird Building and Madison Hall, as well as on the Cat Tran, they are no longer required anywhere else. However, people who are not fully vaccinated should continue wearing a mask when close to other people.

“Each person should decide at their own pace what is best for their health and personal risk,” the email says. “Those who feel more comfortable or safe while wearing a face covering are encouraged to continue doing so at

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“We want to make sure we have funds ourselves in the school district to be able to solicit the architectural planning moving forward for some of these projects,” said Buchanan.

The school system is asking for a match request from the county for needs-based public school capital fund grants.

According to Buchanan, these funds are being awarded through the same process as prior years, but the funds are now available to more counties.

“We have not traditionally been eligible for these because they were needs-based, and they tended to only be eligible for districts that were far poorer than Jackson County,” said Buchanan. “They opened it up for eligibility to be much wider and it is a matching grant. So, we’re able to apply for these funds as long as county commissioners pledge a 5% match if we’re awarded these grants.”

Buchanan is writing grants for three of the projects that are most needed in Jackson County Schools. The total estimated cost for the Fairview cafeteria and classroom project is over $8 million. The matching amount required from the county would be just over $400,000. The estimated

March 2-8, 2022

HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ackson County Commissioners began the process of hammering out a budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year during a work session held Tuesday, Feb. 22. A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to the needs of educational stakeholders in the county.

Jackson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dana Ayers and Deputy Superintendent Jake Buchanan presented capital improvement project needs to the board. These include an ADA-compliant ramp, visitor side bathroom and concession stand at Smoky Mountain High School’s football stadium; a new cafeteria and classrooms at Fairview Elementary; Scotts Creek Elementary slope stabilization; a new bus garage at the existing site; and a gym with performance space at Blue Ridge School.

School administration requested a $100,000 increase to the general capital fund amount allocated to the school system to total $335,000 for 2022-23. This fund is used for day-to-day capital needs. Buchanan said the amount given to the general capital fund for the school system has not increased in over a decade.

The superintendent would also like to see playgrounds adapted for special-needs students at Cullowhee Valley, Fairview and Smoky Mountain High School. Ayers has already written and submitted the request for a $260,000 grant from Dogwood Health Trust and requested a match from commissioners through the general capital fund in this fiscal year or the next.

Budget requests from Southwestern Community College involved outstanding projects from the 2016 master plan. Cost estimates for the projects are from 2016 and will likely be much higher in today’s dollars.

The library addition is the most expensive project on the list coming in at almost $5 million. The project would include additions to the current library, as well as office area and stacks renovations for classrooms and the small business center.

Other projects include Balsam Center renovation, Oaks Hall renovation and faculty office expansion. The total estimated cost for all these projects is over $8 million. State SCIF funding is available in the amount of $5 million.

“I think it’s a great plan,” said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan. “I like what’s been presented, and I’m fully comfortable with trying to match the public schools grant request. And I would personally like to write a letter to Dr. Thomas and the Board of Trustees and say ‘we want to finish out this master plan; we’re willing to commit the funds if the SCC Board of Trustees is willing to focus their efforts on the main campus in Jackson County.’”

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File photo

cost for the ADA upgrades to Smoky Mountain High School Stadium is more than $7 million and would require $350,000 from the county commission.

Estimated cost for the Blue Ridge School gym, performance space and classrooms is over $14 million and would require a over $700,000 from the county.

Project costs were estimated according to the structure recommended by the Department of Public Instruction; $309 per square foot for classroom space, $500 per square foot for larger area spaces, and 5% inflation per year for project timeline.

The total matching request for the county on these three capital projects is $1,494,121 and could result in almost $30 million of grant funding for Jackson County Schools. Approval for designating the 5% match for these grants is slated for the March 1 commissioner meeting.

Ayers presented a list of additional priorities for Jackson County Schools that may not be fully funded this year or next, but that the administration wanted to make the county commission aware of. The first of these priorities is the expansion of the preschool program. Jackson County is in the process of doubling its preschool capacity thanks to grant funding from the Dogwood Health Trust and Blue Ridge School Foundation.

Ayers’ long-term goal is to have a preschool building and work with community partners to have universal, free preschool in Jackson County.

“Preschool is vastly important to the academic success of students,” said Ayers.

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The panel called its plan “Rural by Design.” McMahon prefaced the recommendations by noting that in today’s world, change is everywhere. He said Cashiers simply must decide whether it wants planned or unplanned change.

“Nothing is going to stay special by accident,” he said. “Do you want to shape and direct that change? Or do you want it just to happen?”

The panel’s first recommendation was to create a long-range conservation plan to protect key natural areas, slopes and scenic vistas. This would include amending zoning

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ordinances to ensure better protection for steeper slopes and prioritizing flat or gently sloped land for development. It would also identify environmental features to protect — and around which to organize growth — including streams, wetlands, steep slopes, forests and ridge lines. The recommendation is to preserve areas of contiguous forest and ensure appropriate storm water management.

The panel also recommended building a robust network of pathways, trails and sidewalks in the village core to increase walkability.

“Local trail systems can augment a healthy lifestyle and nurture strong community culture,” said panel member Meredith Byer.

Because Cashiers is accessed by winding, two lane roads with little right of way, the panel recommended expanding bicycle and pedestrian transportation accessibility within the village. It suggested building sidewalks along U.S. 64 and Route 107 and constructing 4 miles of trails accessible to all ages and abilities to connect elements of the village. Developing properties should incorporate connectivity elements into their projects.

The panel recommended Cashiers work aggressively with state and county governments to accelerate construction of critical infrastructure including broadband, sewer and water infrastructure and a roundabout at the crossroads to reduce congestion and increase mobility. As the population of Cahiers grows, infrastructure needs will only increase.

Cashiers has needed affordable and workforce housing for years now. The panel took this issue head on, recommending the village create an organization focused on bringing in a greater diversity of housing to address critical workforce and affordable housing needs. They called this new organization the Cashiers Community Development Corporation and suggested a 10-15-member board working alongside two paid staff with experience in the field.

“People with different housing needs can live in the same community in a variety of housing types at a range of price points, including ownership and rental,” said panel member Tom Murphy. “We believe that your future depends on creating affordable, for-sale property to anchor young professionals here.”

Lastly, the panel recommended working closely with major landowners to ensure that new development proposals respect nature and community character. This could look like a certain aesthetic choice that creates a sense of continuity throughout the village between new and existing development. The panel suggested broadening inclusion on the planning council and instituting term limits, as well as rotating the chairmanship annually.

March 2-8, 2022

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER fter a week of research and interviews with over 100 stakeholders in Cashiers, the Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel offered its recommendations for growth and future development in the village.

“Our charge here was really to provide candid, unbiased advice and offer some ideas about what might help Cashiers moving forward,” said panel Chair Ed McMahon.

The Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce raised the $135,000 needed to sponsor the ULI panel through its nonprofit, Cashiers Area Legacy Fund. The Jackson County TDA allocated $35,000 for the project, and the county commission approved a grant of $5,000 to assist in paying for the panel.

The panel’s assignment was to consider a set of interrelated issues that are pertinent to Cashiers in order to make actionable recommendations to address its growth management challenges and help the community achieve sustainable economic success.

The panel began in Cashiers Monday, Feb. 21 with an introduction and input session hosted by McMahon and ended with a panel presentation of recommendations Friday, Feb. 25. A more detailed, written report of information, recommendations and findings will be released within 60 days. Throughout the week, panel members interviewed 130 people in Cashiers, from government workers to high school students; both full time and part time residents.

“The interview process is the heart of what we do,” said McMahon. “We try to get a full picture of what the issues facing you are.”

According to panel findings, there are approximately five years of growth lined up in Cashiers, with 800-1,000 lots in the pipeline. With several societal pressures converging to make the village a hotbed of growth and development, the panel’s goal is to establish a path to leverage that growth to protect long-term value.

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Advisory panel offers direction for growth in Cashiers

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Susan did an incredible job! We were a challenging customer given we were a group of four buyers located across the country, but Susan was always responsive, helpful, positive, and helped us every step of the way to work through the property search, find our favorite, tour virtually, meet with all the inspectors, and finally help close out the deal. I honestly cannot think of anything more she could have done to make this sale successful, and I believe her knowledge of the area and purchasing trends helped us seal the deal.

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Man dead, second injured in Cherokee shooting One man died and another was critically injured during a shooting that occurred at 11:22 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in Cherokee.

The Cherokee Indian Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at the

McDonald’s located at 748 Casino Trail and upon arrival found two males with gunshot wounds. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the second was airlifted to Mission Hospital.

A suspect is in custody, and the CIPD and FBI are investigating the incident. As of press time, no charges had been filed in federal court and a spokesperson for the CIPD declined to give any additional details or to name the suspect and victims.

Susan Hooper is a GREAT agent. Very helpful, kind, knowledgeable, and a great communicator! As first time home buyers, she really helped us understand the process, lead us in the right direction, and it was an easy and enjoyable experience.

We will definitely call Susan for any of our future real estate needs!

Smoky Mountain News

tion.

Joyce Massie, Ashley Rice, Jessica Garrick and Alex McKay were appointed, and McKay will serve as chair. The events committee will meet at 8:30 a.m. on March 3 at 9 South Main Street to discuss the calendar.

McKay, along with Massie and Feichter, still serve on the board of the old DWA, which still exists, albeit without its biggest client — the Town of Waynesville. The DWA’s contract to manage the town’s municipal service district was given to the DWAC after the DWA’s request to renew its contract was denied by aldermen last fall.

The DWA, however, still has some cash on hand after transferring all tax revenue back to the town. The cash was generated as proceeds from events held by the DWA last year.

There has been some discussion over whether or not the DWA will attempt to hold the popular Church Street Art and Craft Show on its own this year, but there were also comments from Spiro wondering if there may be a way for the two organizations to work together despite recent mass resignations from the DWA. There was also a discussion on how the DWAC could differentiate itself from the DWA. Due to a location snafu that affected public notice requirements, all business conducted during the Feb. 23 meeting will be reaffirmed at the next meeting, scheduled for March 15.

— Cory Vaillancourt, Politics Editor

Logo courtesy of SCC Graphic Design Students.

All proceeds benefit Jackson County Rescue Squad.

March 2-8, 2022

With festival season rapidly approaching and a long list of items needing attention, members of the new Downtown Waynesville Advisory Committee convened for the first time in an organizational meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

All DWAC members appointed by aldermen on Feb. 8 were in attendance, with Courtney Tetrault, David Williams and county appointee David Francis in attendance via Zoom.

Members physically present were sworn in, with Zoom attendees to be sworn in person at a future date. Voting members established the schedule for regular meetings, which will be held on the third Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m. in the town’s administration building at 16 South Main Street.

Aldermen also charged members of DWAC to nominate a chair and bring that recommendation before the Board of Aldermen to be ratified at a future meeting.

Francis nominated attorney and real estate broker Jay Shapiro, with Alderman Jon Feichter, who also sits on DWAC as the town’s representative, seconding the nomination. Spiro said he wouldn’t mind serving as chair, so long as no one else was “passionate” about it.

Spiro’s nomination passed unanimously.

A number of events previously produced by the old Downtown Waynesville Association will still be conducted this year, so DWAC members established an events committee to oversee planning and execu-

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said Gov. Roy Cooper.

Two types of grants were available to businesses that suffered an economic loss of at least 20 percent during the pandemic: • Hospitality Grant for an eligible arts, entertainment, or recreation business, as well as an eligible accommodation or food service business such as a hotel, restaurant, or bar (NAICS Code 71 and 72).

• Reimbursement Grant for an eligible business not classified in NAICS Code 71 and 72 and that did not receive funding from other relief programs including Paycheck Protection Program, COVID-19 Job Retention Grant, and EIDL Advance.

The grant amount is a percentage of the economic loss demonstrated by the eligible business or $500,000, whichever is less.

Applicants that were not approved will be notified.

The N.C. Department of Revenue today began mailing one-time Business Recovery Grant payments to approved North Carolina businesses that applied to the program prior to the Jan. 31 deadline. Businesses approved for a grant of $50,000 or less can expect to receive payment in the coming days.

The BRG program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) State Fiscal Recovery Fund.

“A number of small businesses were hit hard by the pandemic and these funds can help them recover and thrive. I appreciate the work to get checks out as quickly as possible while we work with legislative leaders to expand eligibility to more businesses,”

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“With social media being a primary source of travel inspiration, we’re looking forward to elevating our content and reaching the right visitor with the right message.”

“I’m thrilled by the opportunity to join the Jackson County TDA,” Moore said.

“Many of my childhood memories were made right here in Jackson County.

From fly fishing and kayaking the Tuckasegee to hiking trails, this county has held a special place in my heart for as long as I can rememJon Moore ber. Now, as a working creative, I am excited to bring my skillset to the team to help promote Jackson County as the truly remarkable tourism destination that it is.” His first day with the JCTDA was February 21.

The Jackson County TDA is the county’s marketing, promotion, and destination management organization. Founded in 2013, the Jackson County TDA’s primary goal is to inspire visitation to the area, promote local offerings, and in turn, support the growth of the local economy.

March 2-8, 2022

The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has hired Jon Moore as its new social media and digital content specialist.

As the third member of the JCTDA staff, Moore’s primary role will be social media content, including securing photography, videography, and working with local businesses to tell the story of Jackson County.

Moore will also explore new social media platforms such as Instagram Reels, Guides, and Stories.

“We are proud to be growing our team to deliver economic impact to our community,” JCTDA Director Nick Breedlove said.

“With all the work we do, our community and impact of visitation on our small businesses, accommodations, and restaurants are at the forefront as we continue to recover from the pandemic.”

Moore is an experienced photographer and videographer specializing in content and digital marketing. He has been a longtime visitor to the region and has lived in Western North Carolina for the past two years. Moore holds a Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) focused in Health Policy from The George Washington University.

Additionally, he is a recipient of a Digital Media Marketing Certificate from Duke University.

“We’re very excited to be welcoming a new member to our team,” Sales and Marketing Manager Caleb Sullivan said.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Learning to live with the mess M

Don’t generalize about race issues To the Editor: It’s appalling that you only include a singular view by Michael Boatwright about the current reality involving race and police brutality. The current reality is that black people discriminate against non-Blacks as was proven by the FBI statistics on racial violence against Asians, where the vast majority of perpetrators were Black people. Does that make all Blacks racist, No, just like individual cases of police brutality doesn’t make all police officers biased against Black people! Michael Boatwright might be a professor of education but he needs some education himself about generalization.

Gino De Neef Franklin

Lent offers chance to abstain from meat To the Editor: In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, six and a half weeks before Easter, and provides for a 40-day fast in imitation of Jesus Christ’s fasting in the wilderness before he began his public ministry. Many Christians abstain from animal foods during Lent.

However, a meat-free Lent is more than a

“One of the dogs is missing.”

Eventually, we prevail, and for one glorious afternoon, some things are put away, the bed is not covered with halfeaten bags of Doritos, various kinds of remote controls, textbooks and notebooks, dirty dishes, and laundry, some clean and some not. The floor is mostly visible and mostly clean, give or take a ketchup stain. The drawers and closet doors are reasonably close to being closed. Of course, we don’t inspect under the bed. We’re not crazy. But for one day — or part of a day — this room is nearly bearable, nearly recognizable as a room.

There was a time when we took all of this very personally, feeling that we had failed our children in some fundaColumnist mental way, that other parents were raising children who kept their rooms in pristine condition at all times, without so much as a sweater neatly draped over a chair or a lonely tangerine waiting on a night table to be eaten later.

I pictured the rooms of our friends’ children as being just like the rooms of the Von Trapp family children in “The Sound of Music,” bright, cheerful, and perfect. For all I knew, maybe these families were having regular family sing-a-longs for guests in the parlor. Maybe their fathers called them to dinner with a police whistle. Maybe they wore matching outfits to the park.

Over time, we discovered that most of our friends had their

Chris Cox

aybe it was one more box of Cheez-Its left open on the table, the box surrounded by crumbs, that pushed a father to post the following on his Facebook page: “Is there an age when kids stop leaving a room looking like raccoons got in?”

I am not that man, but not so many years ago I was, those days when I wondered whether we might ever again see the floor in either of our children’s rooms. Days when we pondered whether there existed any enticement delicious enough or punishment severe enough to motivate them to bring their plates to the kitchen and scrape or saw off the remains of the unimaginably moldy food that had, over time, become indistinguishable from the plate itself.

Days when we had to buy cheap silverware sets every couple of months because forks and spoons vanished with alarming regularity in the deep, disturbing layers of “stuff ” in their rooms. If an archeological dig were performed in our son’s room, I am convinced they would recover no fewer than 200 pieces of silverware, the remnants of a primitive, but more or less thriving, civilization.

I am not sure when we gave up, or even if we gave up.

Maybe we haven’t, not entirely, even though our “children” are now 20 and 17. Our daughter doesn’t live at home anymore, but when our son’s room reaches a certain density of sheer chaos, we will gather our will, conceive a strategy, and armor ourselves for the battle that is sure to ensue.

“It’s not THAT bad!”

“It’s a health hazard.”

“I feel fine!”

LETTERS symbol of devotion to Christ. A meat-free Lent reduces the risk of chronic disease, environmental degradation, and animal abuse.

Volumes have been written linking consumption of meat with increased risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and more. In a 2007 United Nations report they noted meat production as the planet’s largest source of pollution and greenhouse gases. And undercover investigations document farm animals being beaten, crowded, deprived, mutilated, and shocked.

Lent offers an opportunity to honor Christ’s powerful message of compassion and love by extending a meat-free diet beyond Lent; it’s the diet mandated in Genesis I:29 and observed in the Garden of Eden.

Today, there’s a rich array of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, as well as readily available vegetables, fruits, and grains. Decide to make this change for Lent, but commit to keeping meat off your plate all year.

Wade Moore Waynesville

Put social districts to a referendum To the Editor: On Thursday night, February 10, the Sylva Board of Commissioners, on a split vote of

own disaster stories every bit as harrowing as ours. It turns out that they were just as mystified as we were over the borderline criminal negligence of their own children in all matters pertaining to bedroom maintenance and basic hygiene.

“Why does my son insist on wearing the same shirt 11 days in a row? He has a whole closet filled with shirts, nice ones, shirts I bought him at Target, damn it! But no, he won’t take it off. He won’t even let me wash it!”

“Mine will only brush his teeth at gunpoint.”

“Mine won’t wear his retainer, even though we could have gone to Europe for what we paid for his braces.”

“I’m going to Europe if he doesn’t wear a different shirt tomorrow. Is it wrong to steal your son’s clothes when he’s asleep?”

My friend gets a string of responses to his question of whether there is an age when children start keeping a tidy room. The first woman — who should be hauled in for questioning — claims that her child stopped being messy at the age of 10. Another woman says, “Thirty-seven,” which sounds about right.

Of course, we have no answer. Our daughter has shown encouraging signs of improvement, but there have been times when her apartment is about as hopeless as her room used to be. Several months ago, we loaned her some tools that will most likely never be seen again.

It would be fun to find out what becomes of that hammer.

Maybe it will wind up in Europe.

(Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Haywood County. jchriscox@live.com.)

three to two, established a social district for the majority of downtown Sylva. The district runs from Innovation Brewing in the east to Nantahala Brewing in the west, encompassing most of both Mill and Main Streets. It also includes the Bridge Park.

The purpose of this district as reported in The Smoky Mountain News is to cut down on crowding indoors of businesses that sell alcohol and to open up more space so more sales can happen. The establishment of this social

district means that as long as the alcoholic drink is purchased within this district, the purchaser is allowed to walk on the public streets and visit the public park while consuming that beverage.

According to the Sylva Herald, the idea for the establishment of this district was researched by board Commissioner Greg McPherson and Main Street Sylva Director Bernadette Peters.

Indeed, Ms. Peters is quoted in The Smoky

Missing: Transparency and listening skills

Mountain News as saying, “We did quite a bit of research on this … and I actually went to Kannapolis, North Carolina, which is the only North Carolina city that has it fully implemented, to study how they have done things.” This is a very poor standard of research. Sylva is not Kannapolis.

Kannapolis has a population of 54,054 compared to the population of Sylva which is 2,804. This makes Kannapolis a bit over 19 times the size of Sylva. The West Avenue Social District of Kannapolis does not encompass the major portion of the downtown business district as it does in Sylva nor does it include the two major thoroughfares traversing the town.

Additionally, the Kannapolis district is adjacent to a minor league ballpark (Kannapolis Canon Ballers) where alcohol is already being sold and served. The only park involved in Sylva is the Bridge Park, which is open to the general public for use — including families with children — and is only a short bridge crossing over Scott’s Creek from the main children’s playground for the town. Kannapolis implemented its

social district in the middle of October 2021, only four months ago. How can you research the successes and/or failures of a system that has not had time to prove itself one way or the other? This is shoddy research. It is the comparison of apples to oranges.

At the February 10 council meeting, 33 citizens showed up to question the adoption of this matter. Fifteen spoke against the proposal, some of them owners of downtown businesses. No one spoke in favor of it except for council members David Nestler, Greg McPherson, and Natalie Newman. Obviously, they were not listening to the constituents at the meeting.

I call on the Sylva town council to rescind this vote and to put the establishment of a social district on the ballot as a referendum during the next regular election.

To not do so shows that the Sylva Town Council is more interested in the concerns of a few private businesses than in the interests of the residents of Sylva as a whole.

Luther Jones Sylva

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Smoky Mountain News

who had a seat in the room, understood what was happening and did stay.

Ultimately the board chose a rush to vote (3 to 2 in favor) on a poorly publicized proposal that received no favorable comment.

They did so without the discomfort of the public eye. I appreciate that Commissioners Mary Gelbauch and Ben Guiney chose to listen to the public.

Commissioners, David Nestler, Greg McPherson, and Natalie Newman chose to completely disregard the multitude of concerns stated by a diverse cross-section of citizens, including residents and downtown merchants, bar and restaurant owners. Not one comment spoke in favor of the proposal and only two could be described as neutral.

Many concerns were expressed and many unanswered questions asked regarding public safety, inclusion of a public park into the district, trash, restroom access, policing, and how the additional costs were to be paid. There were no answers.

The board could have chosen to postpone this vote until questions were answered. But on February 10, three Commissioners opposed the majority of citizens represented, including the very constituents they claimed the proposed district would benefit (downtown bars, restaurants, and merchants).

This board needs to act with greater transparency. Three commissioners, (Nestler, Newman, and McPherson) need to be reminded they are there to serve the greater good and they need to learn to listen.

Glenda Hensley Sylva

March 2-8, 2022

To the Editor: The February 10 Sylva Town Board meeting invited public comment regarding a new zoning drdinance and a proposed social district in downtown. The first casualty of the meeting was the lack of space and thus, access. Waiting their turn to speak, citizens who could not fit into the boardroom, packed the hallway. Standing in the hall for the majority of a three-hour meeting, the lack of comfort did not deter the citizens’ desire to be present and to participate in the democratic process. I question the board’s decision to have two public comment agenda items crammed into one meeting.

The second casualty was a lack of transparency. As the meeting opened, Mayor Linda Sossamon indicated they had rearranged the agenda. This meant little to those in the hall who did not have a copy of the agenda and could not hear her as the meeting first started. Moving “old Business” to the end appeared to have little consequence. As public comments concluded, most attendees thought both issues tabled until the board voted on February 24, as had been repeated multiple times during public comment about the Zoning Ordinance. This resulted in a premature exit by most attendees, who did not realize there was indeed to be a vote on the second issue (the proposed Social District).

The board resumed to discuss Old Business and then reintroduced the social district proposal as New Business and proceeded to vote. They did so in the absence of most who cared deeply enough to have stood in a hallway for three hours to voice their concerns. A small number of citizens

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Smoky Mountain News

FLIRTIN’ WITH DISASTER Upcoming Haywood rock festival sparks controversy

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD & CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITERS o clarify, classic rock act Molly Hatchet will not be playing the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” on the grounds of the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville on July 30.

“Molly Hatchet will not be at the [Smoky Mountain Event Center],” said Bobby Ingram.

“That event advertised is misleading in regards to Molly Hatchet. We have nothing to do with event. I own the trademark to the name ‘Molly Hatchet’ and didn’t give any consent to use the band name to any event except my own.”

With its 1980 megahit “Flirtin’ with Disaster,” Molly Hatchet is a well-known rock entity. Lead guitarist of the multi-platinum group since 1987, Ingram and his bandmates have been touring the world nonstop for decades.

Speaking to The Smoky Mountain News over the phone last week, Ingram — in a confused and perturbed tone — seemed blindsided by the advertising for the upcoming “Southern Rock Wood Stock,” which states, “Featuring original artists and superstars for 27 years from: Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, Blackfoot and Molly Hatchet.”

“Featuring original and founding members of the band? Well, all of our original members and founding members have passed away,” Ingram noted. “We played for this [‘Southern Rock Wood Stock’] promoter several years ago.

But, that was the one and only time.”

So, what about the part on one of the posters that advertises an appearance by Erik Lundgren “from The Johnny Van Zant Band, Van Zant & Molly Hatchet?” Lundgren — for a brief period — played lead/rhythm guitar for Molly Hatchet (1993-1994).

And to that point, the finalized lineup of who will actually be onstage at the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” in Waynesville has yet to be revealed, with only Lundgren specifically appearing in the advertising. “[Erik Lundgren] has been a friend of mine for many years. However, he has never been a member [of Molly Hatchet]. He was only a hired sideman for the road and never was on any recordings,” Ingram said. “The wording on the poster is very ambiguous and misleading to many — I did not authorize the use of the name ‘Molly Hatchet.’”

T

Adding insult to injury, the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” is now sold out. Though specific numbers weren’t available on ticket sales, the promoter of the event told the Smoky Mountain Event Center (formerly the Haywood County Fairgrounds) that he would be selling some 2,000 tickets (plus RV and primitive camping spots).

And although the poster itself states tickets are $35 per person, the website link to purchase said tickets says $45 per person for general admission.

Just hearing those numbers irks Ingram, seeing as Molly Hatchet itself will be hitting the stage at The Grey Eagle in Asheville on April 10.

With a capacity of 550, The Grey Eagle still has plenty of tickets available to the gig, with less than 100 tickets for the event already purchased.

“This is my livelihood. I have an obligation to all of the Molly Hatchet fans and to our entire organization to keep the band rolling year after year,” Ingram said. “Molly Hatchet has been on the road for 43 years. I’ve been in the band 35. We haven’t stopped touring for a single day. This use of our name is affecting existing contracts for shows in these markets we have already booked to play — it’s causing confusion in the marketplace.”

That confusion was also felt by Jeff Whitworth, owner of Worthwhile Sounds, a well-respected regional promotional company who books musical acts of all sizes for The Grey Eagle, amongst several other venues and festivals around Western North Carolina.

“I actually stumbled onto the Facebook advertising post for [the ‘Southern Rock Wood Stock’],” Whitworth said. “The wording is misleading where, with an initial glance, it seemed like Molly Hatchet would be there. So, I sent the ad to the band’s manager to make sure we didn’t have any conflicts with The Grey Eagle show.”

As a longtime music industry veteran, Whitworth immediately knew the advertising appeared misleading. But, that doesn’t mean consumers can see or tell the difference in what’s being presented on a poster and what will — in reality — be presented onstage.

“I realize the actual band isn’t playing that event, but it still doesn’t help our show and efforts to sell tickets,” Whitworth said. “The whole thing is confusing — it’s all predicated on confusion.”

In terms of other copyright issues that may

To be held at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville on July 30, the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” is now sold out. But, concert-goers are now accusing the promoter of misleading advertising, with many now demanding a refund. arise, “Southern Rock Wood Stock” could also conjure an immediate association with the iconic 1969 Woodstock Music & Art Fair.

In 2015, the popular “Hillbilly Woodstock” gathering in Maggie Valley was sent a cease and desist letter from New York City law firm Kenyon & Kenyon, who were the trademark attorneys for Woodstock Ventures. The festival has since been renamed “Hillbilly Jam,” with a handful of well-attended events held throughout the year at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds and Valley Tavern.

Besides the Asheville live music market, the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” meanders up and down the East Coast each summer with a series of gatherings, and has for 27 years, according to its website.

Other locations for the 2022 series include Woodstock, Virginia, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

and Cecil County, Maryland. As of press time, the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” stated tickets were “selling fast” and “50% sold out” for the other three events.

Aside from the confusion as to the bands listed on the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” poster, there’s the issue of the Kid Rock tribute act, Rebel Soul, also on the advertising.

Although the lead singer of Rebel Soul appears on the poster, the likeness is strikingly similar to Kid Rock himself.

The Kid Rock confusion is something once again emphasized by the wording and font color changes, even though at the very bottom of the poster — in very tiny font — it states, “Rebel Soul is a tribute to Kid Rock. The owners of the names: Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special,

S EE FLIRTIN’, PAGE 24

HOT PICKS

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Country megastar Gary Allan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

1 2

A presentation by Keith Flynn of his recent collaboration, “Prosperity Gospel: Portraits of the Great Recession,” will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City.

3 4

A stage production of “The New Classics Cabaret” will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 4-5, 11-12 and at 2 p.m. March 6 and 13 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville.

The view from Room 813 in the Cambria. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)

Sipping an old fashioned like a divorcee in Vegas, I’m too young to be feeling this way

I

myself some 1,100 from home back in Plattsburgh, New York.

I’d never been to Asheville before that warm June day some 13 years ago. Who knew three years later I’d get offered my dream writing job and move to Western

Smoky Mountain News

swung around the corner to Otis Street en route to French Broad Avenue over to Montford Avenue. Trot over the bustling Interstate 240 and into the quiet, serene Montford neighborhood. Slightly gaze up, over and across at the grandiose Victorian-era homes and newly built eco-friendly abodes.

Suddenly, a slew of memories started to wander into my thoughts, as per usual when one is in the midst of the ancient, sacred act of running, of being alone in motion and soaking in the energies and ambiance of whatever environment you’re immersed in.

Visions of many-a-night at my friend’s home on Montford Avenue. Holiday gatherings and afternoon happy hours before some event we all were gearing up for that evening. Numerous dinner plans at the now-defunct fine Italian restaurant across the street. Bottles of wine popped open over fits of sheer laughter in the presence of good company and hearty conversation.

Push along the sidewalks and down side streets. Barking dogs and other morning joggers. Down Chestnut Street and by the Five Points diner. Hazy early mornings stumbling into the beloved establishment after a raucous night, always in search of a greasy spoon breakfast and endless cups of coffee.

And those other mornings of sharing a booth with a once-adored femme fatale, now long gone from my daily existence, but never straying too far from my thoughts.

A slight uphill through Lexington Avenue, by that building once known as The Emerald Lounge, the first show I ever saw in Asheville. June 9, 2009. Unable to acquire tickets for the sold-out Phish show at the Civic Center, my friend and I caught the post-show gig at the lounge, but not before some cold beers with new friends in the parking garage next door to the arena,

March 2-8, 2022

forgot to pull down the window shade and awoke to the early morning light on Saturday. There was a slight drizzle overtaking downtown Asheville. I emerged from the king size bed and reached for the bottle of water on the nightstand.

Room 813 at the Cambria boutique hotel across the street from the Grove Arcade.

Two nights of jam-band juggernaut Umphrey’s McGee at the Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center (aka: Asheville Civic Center).

Too wild of a weekend to tempt the idea of driving home to Waynesville way past midnight amid inebriated shenanigans. And the mere fact of FOMO (fear of missing out) creeping up on you when everyone is planning to go to the late night after-parties.

My buddy was still asleep in the master bedroom. Leaving the guest room, I slowly made my way to the living room. Half-full k lukewarm left behind beer bottles on the nearby dining room table. Empty leftover pizza boxes on the floor in the corner.

Hastily ripped off wristbands from that final stop for live music at 1 a.m. last night.

It was 9:30 a.m. and the two of us had promised we’d help a dear friend of ours move from her apartment in Woodfin to new digs in Weaverville. A week ago, that promise seemed like a no brainer. But, amid a hangover and another evening of debauchery ahead of us, I started to wonder just what I had signed up for.

We didn’t have to be in Woodfin until 11:30 a.m., so I decided to throw on my running clothes and lace up my shoes and go for a chilly, rainy morning jog around downtown Asheville. Though I’m wandering the city endlessly throughout the week for work and play, I rarely get the opportunity to jog around the “Land of the Sky” city in all its aesthetic and cultural glory.

Popping out of the Cambria elevator, I

5

The Maggie Valley Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Nantahala Brewing in Sylva.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

North Carolina, and still be here (happily) in 2022? Now entering a decade in the mountains in Southern Appalachia, it feels like 10 days, truth be told, in how fast everything has moved (and continues to accelerate) when it comes to time and space, nothing and everything (and all of it in-between).

Steady myself on the steep uphill that snakes around the north side of the Civic Center, all of those dozens and dozens of massive stage productions and concerts that I’ve been lucky enough to witness in that building. Not to mention Christmas Jam 2018, where my number one dream in life came true — being tapped by Rolling Stone magazine to go on assignment for the publication and cover the 30th anniversary of the event.

Circling back to the lobby of the Cambria, I slowed down and stopped at the entrance. It was still chilly and rainy, but my body was warm, my mind content. Another joyous run under the belt. Another chance to sweat it all out, physically and emotionally.

Hit the elevator button and make my way back to Room 813.

Open the door of the suite and grab for the bottle of water. Unlock the door to the patio overlooking downtown Asheville. Sip the water with gusto, and with gratitude. Scan the landscape and all which surrounds you.

Look westward towards the high peaks that cradle and nurture all of us. Think about my minimalist apartment and my deep roots planted in Waynesville and Haywood County. Again, sincere gratitude — for this moment, and any before or thereafter.

Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

23

FLIRTIN’, CONTINUED FROM 22

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

arts & entertainment

Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet and Kid Rock are not associated with this show.”

“Unfortunately, there’s always been a place for this [kind of trickery] in the music industry,” Whitworth said. “I mean, look at all of the tribute bands out there that are riding on the coattails of the actual bands. My biggest beef with that specific promotion — as someone like myself who has been making concert posters for years — is that you can tell what they were trying to do.”

So, just who is behind the “Southern Rock Wood Stock?” The name is Clark Chambers, a musician in his own right, who has been putting on the events for the better part of the last three decades, with all proceeds going to the Homeless Warriors Charity, Inc., with both companies based in Maryland. Chambers is also the front man of the Southern Mules, another band listed in the event advertising.

Numerous attempts were made by The Smoky Mountain News to contact Chambers.

Phone calls and email correspondences were not returned. There were also attempts made to contact other bands and musicians listed on the posters, none of which were returned.

Since questions about the concerts arose in public forums online and in social media comment sections last week, concert-goers who have purchased tickets for the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” have contacted The Smoky Mountain News, complaining about the advertising and asking who to turn to for a refund. The event website, however, states there are no refunds allowed.

The event posters also mention that “all proceeds go to Homeless Warriors Charity.”

According to the State of Maryland’s charity database, Homeless Warriors Charity Inc. is run by Richard Chambers of Rising Sun, Maryland. The phone number listed for the charity matches the phone number that Clark Chambers provided by the Smoky Mountain Events Center. The Smoky Mountain News was unable to find documentation indicating that Richard Chambers and Clark Chambers are actually the same person.

Further information from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service confirms that the charity’s paperwork is in order and that it is indeed a valid tax exempt organization. In 2020, the last year for which financial data were available, Homeless Warriors Charity Inc. raised $43,562 and directed $26,014 towards program costs associated with the charity’s stated purpose of helping homeless veterans.

Charity rating agencies like Guidestar, Charity Navigator and Charity Watch assess charity efficiency through rating systems.

The rating systems use, among other things, the percentage of every dollar donated that actually goes towards toward program costs, as opposed to overhead like salaries.

The most efficient charities, like the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and the Animal Welfare Institute, dedicate upwards of 90% of donations towards program cost and earn an “A+” rating.

In the category of veteran and military charities, the Fisher House Foundation and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund also have an “A+” rating, with many others, like the Gary 24 Sinise Foundation, earning an “A.”

By comparison, the innocently named Purple Heart Foundation earned an “F” because only seven cents of every dollar donated to the organization actually went towards program costs.

By spending 59.7% of its donations on program costs, Homeless Warriors Charity Inc. would earn a solid “C” rating from Charity Watch.

The venue where “Southern Rock Wood Stock” is to be held, the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, doesn’t conduct much oversight of the tenants that end up renting the space, but research by The Smoky Mountain News suggests a lack of transparency in how the 27-acre taxpayer-owned facility is run.

Currently, it’s run by Gene Blankenship.

Blankenship became interim manager last fall after previous work with Harrah’s Cherokee Center in Asheville, The Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove and Ringling Brothers.

Blankenship serves as the manager of a 501(c)3 nonprofit that’s governed by a board.

Because the board is a private nonprofit and not a public body, it’s not subject to public records laws despite managing a multimillion-dollar taxpayer asset.

Renting the facility is easy; prospective tenants fill out a form online, and choose one or more of seven different venues located on the premises that contain around 100,000 square feet of indoor space and almost five acres of outdoor space.

In addition to payment for the space, tenants must provide four separate documents to Blankenship in order to get the event on the schedule — the rental application, proof of liability insurance, an acknowledgement of the facility’s rules and regulation, and a permit from the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage commission when alcohol is to be served.

Given the controversy surrounding the concert, The Smoky Mountain News asked Blankenship for the documents on Feb. 24 in order to determine who was behind the event and to contact them.

Blankenship correctly stated that he had no obligation to provide them, however he did release contact information for event promoter Clark Chambers and said that Chambers had provided all necessary documents to rent the facility.

All questions about the event, Blankenship said, should be directed to Chambers.

However, Blankenship did say that the

event had sold out — at least 2,000 tickets and all eight RV hookups — and that Chambers had rented the entire facility.

During an in-person interview with Blankenship on Feb. 25, he said he’d since contacted Chambers, advising Chambers that “the newspaper is asking for the records.”

That message from Blankenship to Chambers resulted in letters being sent to both to the Smoky Mountain Event Center board and to The Smoky Mountain News from a Maryland attorney, Justin B. Hill, who said he represents Homeless Warriors Charity, Inc. The letter to the Smoky Mountain Event Center board requests that the documents not be released.

The letter to The Smoky Mountain News references “concern about social media posts made by Smoky Mountain News,” although no social media posts about the event have appeared anywhere on social media sites managed by The Smoky Mountain News.

“Comments such as these can result in damages and cause greater conflict than need be,” Hill wrote. “We hope that this letter will suffice before any further conflict can arise.”

Blankenship was again asked for the documents, and again refused to provide them.

When the second request was made for the documents, Blankenship said he wouldn’t release them because of the letter from Hill.

Initially, Blankenship told The Smoky Mountain News via email that the reason he wouldn’t release the documents is because he didn’t have to release them.

When asked about the confusing marketing on the event’s posters, Blankenship said that he doesn’t review an event’s marketing for content prior to accepting rental applications or posting the materials on the event center’s website.

“We just take the poster, like anyone else that comes here, they give us a poster that is for their event and we put that up on our front page,” Blankenship said.

However, as of press time on Tuesday, March 1, the poster had been removed from the Smoky Mountain Event Center website.

Likewise, Blankenship said he’s not regularly called before the Haywood County Board of Commissioners to give updates on the state of the county’s asset, and that he doesn’t always bring specific events to the attention of the Smoky Mountain Event Center board because most are fairly routine and non-controversial.

Blankenship said he mentioned the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” event to the Smoky Mountain Event Center board in the context of a routine “manager’s report” that details the last 30 days of activity at the facility, as well as the upcoming 30 days.

The report typically includes details about events that have recently taken place, events that will take place and new rental applications.

The Smoky Mountain Event Center board holds monthly meetings, but does not publish minutes from those meetings. The minutes are not public record.

When asked for the minutes of the meeting where he supposedly presented the event to the board, Blankenship said he didn’t have them because they’re prepared by the board’s secretary.

F

On the stage

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arts & entertainment

‘The New Classics Cabaret’

BEE PACKAGES

828-349-9034 • mike.macke@tellicotrout.com Haywood Arts Regional Theater.

During the normal course of any board’s operation, minutes from the previous meeting are presented for approval; in accepting the previous meeting minutes by board vote, the board affirms that the minutes are a true and accurate depiction of what happened in the previous meeting.

When The Smoky Mountain News inspected meeting minutes obtained from another source, no mention of “Southern Rock Wood Stock” could be found.

There is also an issue with the “Southern Rock Wood Stock” advertising that states, “Sponsored by Budweiser.”

“The promoter tried to tie in some brand names and product names in order to promote this event, which is very misleading — we have nothing to do with the [Southern Rock Wood Stock],” said Chad Wood, sale manager for Budweiser of Asheville.

Wood oversees a 12-county jurisdiction in Western North Carolina. An independently and locally-owned family business, some of the biggest products contracted and distributed by the company are from AnheuserBusch, including Budweiser.

To note, if any event in the 12-county jurisdiction is selling Budweiser products or is “Sponsored by Budweiser,” it would have to go through Wood and his chain of command of sales reps and distribution channels. And with that, there are also very strict North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement rules in effect about not having alcohol brand logos on the same poster as an event.

“My boss and I are the only ones that

make decision regarding sponsorships,” Wood said. “And if I saw that advertisement [at first], I wouldn’t have even let that promoter through our front door.”

The advertisement in question was an initial poster promoting the “Southern Rock Wood Stock.” Pictured on the poster is a woman wrapping herself in the Confederate flag, with “Sponsored by Budweiser” positioned next to the female.

“Early on the morning of January 29, I received an email with the promotional poster and my blood pressure immediately began to rise,” Wood said. “We do not want to be associated with any kind of divisive symbols [as seen on the poster] and we were not contacted once by the promoter in regards to sponsorship.”

Wood soon contacted Chambers and said to immediately remove the “Sponsored by Budweiser” from all advertising and websites or legal action would be pursued. And yet, the toothpaste was already out of the tube. Yes, the Budweiser logo and “Sponsored by Budweiser” were removed by Chambers from his website, but the initial posters continue to float around social media platforms to this day.

“The internet is forever and, sadly, the posters and advertisements are going to be online forever,” Wood said. “And I’m still fielding all of these phone calls from people asking about our involvement with this event. In all the years that I’ve been involved in the beverage industry and in sponsorship, this is the first time I can recall something like this ever happening.”

Smoky Mountain News

HART’s Artistic Director Candice Dickinson directs and stars alongside the intricate musical stylings of Morgan Miller, Clara Ray Burrus, Heather Bronson, Ben Mackle, Adam Kampouris, Dillon Giles, Mark Jones, Alex Baker and David Bruce.

Music direction from Yvette Keele and sound mixing by Nichole Sumpter.

Proof of vaccination is required for these performances and masks are optional.

Limited table seating is available. You can get your tickets now by visiting harttheatre.org or calling and leaving a message at the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322.

This show is rated PG-13 for strong language.

March 2-8, 2022

With a collection of new musicals all written after 2000, a stage production of “The New Classics Cabaret” will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 4-5, 11-12 and at 2 p.m. March 6 and 13 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville.

Featuring an incredible group of singers, and live piano, guitar, mandolin, and drums, this is a night that guarantees musical inspiration.

Musical theater has always been influenced by the popular music of its day and reflected the new ideas that were pushing their way to the surface of society. Now is your chance to see what 21st century musical theater is all about.

25

arts & entertainment

On the beat

Harrah’s welcomes Gary Allan

The Maggie Valley Band.

Americana, indie at Nantahala The Maggie Valley Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Nantahala Brewing in Sylva.

A blend of old-time mountain, Americana and psychedelic folk music, the Haywood County group is fronted by siblings Whitney and Caroline Miller. The duo

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

Wyatt Espalin.

has gone through several changes since they first set out on their melodic adventure several years ago.

But what remains is the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, something that’s become a stronghold — and strong suit — in what it will take to break into the next level of their promising careers.

The show is free and open to the public.

For more information, click on themaggievalleyband.com.

Espalin to play Mountain Layers Singer-songwriter Wyatt Espalin will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City.

Born and raised in Hiawassee, Georgia, Espalin has been entertaining audiences since he was eight years old. A blend of Americana, bluegrass and indie-roots music, he’s a beloved fixture on the Southern Appalachian live music circuit.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.538.0115 or click on mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com. To learn more about Espalin, go to wyattespalinmusic.com.

Gary Allan.

Country megastar Gary Allan will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Allan has won over fans, peers and critics with his signature blend of smoldering vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances. As well, he has five “No. 1” hits on country radio, 14 “Top 10” hits to his credit, and amassed over 2.8 billion total streams.

Tickets start at $62.50 per person. For tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee and click on the “Events” tab.

Interested in learning the dulcimer?

The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players will be resuming in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva.

The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns, and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.

Pic’ & Play has been playing together since 1995. The more experienced members welcome new players, help them navigate their instruments, and guide them through some of the basics of tuning, strumming, and playing.

The mountain dulcimer, also known as a fretted dulcimer or a lap dulcimer, is a uniquely American instrument. It evolved from the German scheitholz sometime in the early 1800s in Appalachia and was largely known only in this region until popularized more broadly in the 1950s.

For more information, call Kathy Jaqua at 828.349.3930 or Don Selzer at 828.293.0074.

Please Complete This NC Broadband Survey: Internet Services Providers have submitted data to the state that overstates their service in many areas of Western North Carolina.

This has caused these areas to be ineligible for grants currently available to pay for improving internet access. However, if residents complete the survey by March 31 and indicate their service is not adequate or reliable, then that location and others near it can become eligible for a grant to provide high speed internet. If you don't have internet or it is less than 25/3 (25mbs download speed and 3mbs upload speed) it is critical for you to complete this survey.

If you've done the survey before, please do it again so the data will be current.

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Check our website for more info

ONLINE SURVEY LINK:

https://www.ncbroadband.gov/north-carolina-broadband-survey 26

Phone Number to Call If You Have No Internet: 919-750-0553

743 HAYWOOD ROAD | WEST ASHEVILLE | ISISASHEVILLE.COM | 828.575.2737

On the beat

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Free and open to the public. For more information, click on blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and Brother Fat March 5. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Limited seating. Reservations are highly recommended. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” March 3 and Rachel Bellavance March 5. All events begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.

828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Gary Allan (country) at 7:30 p.m. March 5. For tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Arnold Hill (rock/jam) March 11 and Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) March 18. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) March 4, Aly Jordan (singer-songwriter) March 5, Twelfth Fret (Americana) March 11 and Somebody’s Child (Americana) March 12.

All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

ALSO:

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Midnight Whistlers March 4, The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) March 5, Tanner Burch March 11 and Marshall Ballew & Johnny Favorite March 12. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. rathskellerfranklin.com.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.492.8009 or southern-porch.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semiregular live music on the weekends.

828.743.3000 or theuglydogpub.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Open Mic March 3, Blended Hemp March 4 and Mile High Band March 5. All shows begin at 8 p.m.

Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. Both events begin at 6 p.m. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Paul Edelman 7 p.m. March 11. All events are free and open to the public. innovationbrewing.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.456.4750 or facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.

smokymountainnews.com

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood Street in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. mountainmakersmarket.com.

ALSO:

Downtown Sylva.

Open call for vendors Artisans, crafters and food vendors are invited to submit their application for the Greening Up the Mountains Festival, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 23, in Sylva.

Greening Up the Mountains Festival is the premiere spring festival for Western North Carolina, attracting thousands of visitors and locals alike. Sponsored by the Town of Sylva, the festivities will once again take place in historical downtown Sylva.

This year’s festival seeks artisans and crafters selling their own handmade products. Arts, crafts and food vendors from the expanded Southern Appalachian area are encouraged to apply.

Visit greeningupthemountains.com to

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva.

828.631.3075.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first-class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. 800.872.4681 or gsmr.com.

SNOW REPORT 16 Trails Open 3 Aerial Lifts 2 Surface Lift 43-63 Inch Base Weekdays: 9:00am – 10:00pm Weekends: 8:30am – 10:00pm

Smoky Mountain News

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host a “Mardi Gras Party” with Jazz & Tonic March 4 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) March 9. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

review the 2022 Vendor Policies and download your application. Applications will be accepted through March 15.

For more information, please email the event coordinator at greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

March 2-8, 2022

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host an Open Mic Night 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com.

noted. Free and open to the public.

828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

arts & entertainment

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday.

Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.

On the street

FACE COVERINGS REQUIRED

Snow conditions can change quickly visit: cataloochee.com for the most up to date conditions

27

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

arts & entertainment

On the wall

28

‘Shadowed Reality’ art showcase The Jackson County Arts Council (JCAC) will host the “Lois PetrovichMwaniki: Shadowed Reality” showcase through March in the Rotunda Gallery at Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The gallery reception features the work of artist Lois Petrovich-Mwaniki in a show titled “Shadowed Reality.” The showcase consists of oil portraits.

“In exploring the medium of oil, I began to appreciate the mixture of colors on the canvas and the control I had to either flatten or abstract the shadowed figure, or to emphasize the curvature of certain body parts using shadows,” Petrovich-Mwaniki said. “In some of the paintings, I attempted to reflect another reality, like the cut-outs of Matisse or the reflected light from Venetian blinds, superimposed on the seated or resting figure. As I continue painting, I am exploring how this new reality can juxtapose what the viewer perceives and recognizes in the surrounding world.”

The Jackson County Public Library requires masks to be worn indoors. Cookie grab bags will be available in lieu of refreshments.

The showcase is free and open to the public.

‘Creating Community Workshop’ The next installment of the “Creating Community Workshop” will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 5, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Participants will learn the skills involved to make a pair of Hammered Copper Dangle Earrings with instructor Allyson Gernandt.

Attendees will make their own ear wires from Sterling Silver. They will use hammers, metal snips, hole punch, files and jewelry pliers to cut metal, hammer the design and create the ear wires.

This program is free of charge. All supplies

will be provided. The workshop is limited to 10 participants. Please call the library to register.

For more information, please call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

Masks are required inside all Jackson County buildings. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) is currently seeking one or more gallery interns with a passion for the arts and interest in learning about the administration of a small nonprofit. Send cover letters and resumes to HCAC Executive Director Morgan Beryl at director@haywoodarts.org.

• “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. For more information, call The Uptown Gallery at 828.349.4607 or contact Pat Mennenger at pm14034@yahoo.com. See more about Macon County Art Association at franklinuptowngallery.com and like, follow and share the Uptown Gallery on Facebook.

ALSO:

• A “Foreign Film Series” will be held at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Each month, on the second and fourth Friday, two movies from around the globe will be shown. This program is in the Community Room and is free of charge.

Masks are required in all Jackson County buildings. To find out what movie will be shown and/or for more information, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library. To learn more, click on fontanalib.org.

African American art showcase at WCU Artwork by “Cat Take Ye artist and author Breath” by Ann Miller Woodford are cur- Ann Miller Woodford. rently on display in “Ann Miller Woodford: The Artist as Storyteller” at the Mountain Heritage Center’s exhibit gallery in Hunter Library on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

This first-ever retrospective exhibition of Woodford’s work spans 60 years, tracing an artistic development from childhood to the present day. The exhibit is on display through March 4.

The Mountain Heritage Center is free and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and open Sundays in February from 2 to 5 p.m. Masks are required for entry.

Woodford uses her artistic talents to turn family stories, southern heritage and social justice concerns into conceptual works of art. Each illustration invites viewers to follow Woodford on her journey through life, connecting with her through the stories they tell. Viewers can expect to be inspired, challenged and motivated by the themes presented in her works.

Woodford’s most recent collection of paintings, “Black in Black on Black,” highlights the tremendous bond within the African American community with a focus on the empowerment that comes from being connected. Her works are supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

For more information, visit her website at annstree.com. For more information, click on mhc.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7129.

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On the shelf

Jeff Minick

tance of Shakespeare’s old line, “To thine own self be true.”

Finally, we also come to know a great deal about blindness. We learn from Hardwig’s bio on the back of the book that he’s a certified teacher in this field who has worked for more than 20 years with blind and visually impaired children. His knowl-

And then one of two things happen.

If I’m right, and it’s safe to cross, Mr. Torres does nothing. He lets me cross the street and find the other side.

But if I’m wrong, I feel his hand on my shoulder, stopping me from stepping into the oncoming traffic.

Today I tried to cross the street twenty times. Sixteen times I did it right. The other four times he stopped me.

Pretty good, right?

In the front of “Just Maria” is a motherdaughter testimonial recommending this book. The 10-year-old daughter is a twotime National Braille Challenge Finalist, a contest I’d never known existed. Her mother writes, “Blindness is not a tragedy and does not limit one’s ability. Jay Hardwig brilliantly gives us a character that proves such …. I highly recommend this book to all readers … tweens, teens, adults, blind or sighted.”

And so do I. ••• It’s been a rough old winter for us and for our country.

Spring may be just around the corner, but these tough times aren’t going to disappear anytime soon.

In “On Consolation: Finding Solace in Dark Times” (Metropolitan Books, 2021, 285 pages), Michael Ignatieff gives us thinkers, writers, and artists from the last two millennia who suffered different trials and ordeals, and the ways in which they sought comfort and relief from their afflictions and losses.

In his Introduction, Ignatieff writes that “Consolation is an act of solidarity in space — keeping company with the bereaved, helping a friend through a difficult moment, but it is also an act of solidarity in time — reaching back to the dead and drawing meaning from the words they left behind.”

“On Consolation” is packed with wisdom and examples from these dead, among them St. Paul, Dante, Montaigne, and Camus. “These works,” Ignatieff tells us, “help us find words for what is wordless, for experiences of isolation that imprison us in silence.”

“On Consolation” is not your typical self-help book, and not all readers will find the formality of Ignatieff ’s prose their cup of tea, but for me this book was thoughtfilled, often moving, and helpful in my own life.

(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)

• “Books & Brews” with author Kerry Garvin will be held at 7 p.m. March 2 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva. These events will be a casual hour of meeting the author, hearing snippets read from their recent works, and getting a chance to purchase a copy (to also be signed). Free and open to the public.

Nic Stone, a Georgia native and the author of the New York Times best-selling young adult novel “Dear Martin,” will take part in a discussion about the book at 6 p.m. on March 24 at the Fangmeyer Theater at HART in Waynesville.

“Dear Martin” was recently banned from being used as part of the curriculum in a class at Tuscola High School. The book relates the story of a bright Black student named Justyce who experiences racial profiling and struggles to respond according to the example of Martin Luther King Jr. “Beyond the Ban,” will be moderated by Southwestern Community College instructor and writer Chris Cox. The public is invited but seating is limited. Tickets are available free with the purchase of one of Stone’s books at Blue Ridge Books in Nic Stone.

Hazelwood or for $10 at the door. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of Stone’s books to distribute to nonprofits who request them.

“Beyond the Ban” is being hosted by Blue Ridge Books and sponsored by Mud Dabbers Pottery, the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, The Smoky Mountain News and Blue Ridge Books.

For more information about the program, drop by or call Blue Ridge Books at 828.456.6000.

‘Spring Literary Festival’ returns After two years being held as an online celebration, Western Carolina University’s “Spring Literary Festival” returns to the Cullowhee campus March 14-17 for a series of live events.

The 20th annual gathering of poets and authors is free and open to the public, with all events taking place in the Hinds University Center theater.

Directed by Jeremy Jones, an associate professor of English, the festival has a long tradition of bringing established and emerging literary talent to the community.

“So many organizations and people have a hand in making this big festival in little Cullowhee robust and exciting each year,” Jones said. “This year we received support from South Arts, the North Carolina and Jackson County Arts Councils, the North Carolina Humanities Council, WCU’s campus theme committee, the Office of the Provost, and the College of Arts and Sciences. We feel the love from the university and the region.”

For more information, visit litfestival.org or contact WCU’s English department at 828.227.7264.

Smoky Mountain News

ALSO:

edge and experience shine through on every page of this book, and throughout the story Maria pauses in her narrative to tell us about her cane, learning to cross city streets, how she can determine where the front of a grocery store is, and other such experiences of blindness.

Here, for example, the instructor who trains her once a week to navigate traffic, Mr. Torres, is teaching Maria how to listen and wait before crossing the street:

Wrong.

That was four times I might’ve gotten killed, four Maria Pancakes on the streets of Marble City.

March 2-8, 2022

What’s up with me?

In my old age, am I regressing backwards to my teenage days? Or is Jay Hardwig’s novel “Just Maria” (Fitzroy Books, 2021, 133 pages) aimed at an adult audience as well as adolescents?

I’m going with Door #2.

Several times, Hardwig’s story made me burst out laughing.

Fortunately, I was alone, and none of my children or grandchildren could give me one of those raised eyebrows that asks, “Is Pop cracking up?”

Here is that rare Writer novel that can be shared by everyone from middle-schoolers to grandfathers with pleasure and enlightenment.

Maria Romero is a blind 12-year-old. As a newborn, she had tumors in her eyes, which required amputation and treatment.

With her glass eyes and her white cane, she is in middle school when we meet her.

Maria wants to be accepted by an “ingroup” of female classmates, but she also becomes involved with JJ Munson, the class weirdo. He’s overweight, smells like mustard, and wants Maria to join him as in his Twinnoggin Detective Agency, in which the two of them, JJ with his intelligence and Maria with her intuition, would solve various mysteries at school. JJ proposes a series of challenges to determine whether they might honorably wear the title of detective.

As a result of those dares, both JJ and Maria find themselves in hot water with the school, the principal, and their parents. At the same time, they discover new talents and the freedom that comes from ignoring what other students may think of them.

Though Maria first finds JJ a pest — at one point she asks him to leave her alone, which he accepts as one of the challenges — eventually they become the best of friends.

“Just Maria” is worth picking up for several reasons. First, there is Maria herself, a vivacious narrator with a quick wit, courage, and a sense of humor and of the absurd that, as I mentioned, brought me chuckles and outright laughter. Heaven knows most of us could use some laughter these days.

Maria also learns some lessons as she rises to JJ’s challenges, struggles with a snobbish clique of girls in her school, and tracks down JJ’s younger autistic sister when she leaves the house on her own.

Along with Maria we learn the value of real friendship and courage, and of the impor-

‘Dear Martin’ book talk

arts & entertainment

‘Just Maria’ a good read for all ages

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Smoky Mountain News

Bear hunting approved for sanctuary areas The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission estimates the mountain region holds 7,000 bears, with that population growing 6% annually.

Warren Bielenberg photo

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER n a unanimous vote Feb. 24, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission approved a controversial rule change that will rename the state’s 22 designated bear sanctuaries to “designated bear management units” and allow bear hunting in three of them.

“We know right now that the mountain bear populations is 7,000-plus bears, and it’s growing at 6% a year,” said Wildlife Biologist Brad Howard during a board discussion Feb. 23. “Our target 10 years ago was to stabilize the growth rate of the mountain population, and we just haven’t done it. It’s still growing.

We’ll be at 9,000 bears in the very foreseeable future if we don’t get more harvest pressure on these bear populations.”

The areas under discussion — the Panthertown-Bonas Defeat, Standing Indian and Pisgah bear sanctuaries — have been offlimits to bear hunters since 1971, when the bear sanctuary system was created to protect breeding females and bolster the state’s struggling bear population. In the decades since, that population has rebounded and the Wildlife Commission has shifted its focus from growing it to holding it steady. While the Commission has successfully reduced the population growth rate to 0% in North Carolina’s coastal region, the mountain population continues to increase.

The agency hopes that applying hunting pressure to these high-density areas will help

I

stabilize the population at current levels. It wouldn’t be the first time a sanctuary was opened to permit hunting — the Wildlife Commission has allowed bear hunts at the Mt. Mitchell Bear Sanctuary since 2006 and the Daniel Boone Bear Sanctuary since 2009.

While initial plans are for a “pretty conservative” hunt, said Howard, “We may be coming back to you in a couple years with more ideas about how to increase pressure.”

A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL Despite the measure’s easy passage before the Commission, it proved incredibly controversial during the public comment portion of the rule-making process. A total of 2,744 people weighed in — a level of participation that dwarfed the 379 people who commented on the second most-discussed proposal — and 86% of them opposed it.

“The sanctuaries are actually the animals’ home, and I consider us, the humans, as their guest,” said Deedee Dillingham, one of the 32 people who spoke against the proposal during a virtual hearing Jan. 20. Only six spoke in favor.

The rule’s opponents said that human actions, not bear populations, were at the root of the increasing human-bear conflicts that spurred consideration of the rule. Education, not hunting, is the solution, they said — sanctuaries should remain safe places for bears to live their lives and for humans who hike to

Next stop, Rules Review Commission The public comment phase of the process is over, but members of the public who want the N.C. General Assembly to review any rule recently approved by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission can submit a written objection to the Rules Review Commission.

If the Rules Review Commission receives written and signed objections from 10 or more people clearly requesting legislative review, the regulation will go before the legislature prior to taking effect. Objections can be submitted until 5 p.m. on the day after the Rules Review Commission approves the rule. The body’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 17.

Letters can be submitted to oah.rules@oah.nc.gov or mailed to Office of Administrative Hearings, 1711 New Hope Church Rd., Raleigh, N.C. 27609. For more information, including a letter template and meeting access, visit oah.nc.gov/rules-division/rules-review-commission.

avoid bear dogs during hunting season.

Bill Lea, a retired U.S. Forest Service assistant ranger and prolific photographer of wild bears, offered his vehement opposition to the proposal in a January interview with The

Smoky Mountain News, adding that if the Wildlife Commission was going to violate the spirit of the “sanctuary” designation, then maybe places like Panthertown shouldn’t be termed bear sanctuaries at all.

“Maybe they should be called something like ‘Special Bear Hunting Units’ versus ‘Bear Sanctuaries,’” he said. “Then the public would have a much better idea of what is taking place on these lands. It must confuse the hell out of the bears trying to exist there.”

Comments like Lea’s spurred the Wildlife Commission to amend the originally proposed rule change to include renaming the state’s bear sanctuaries to “designated bear management units. The new name will “more appropriately match the definition that’s been in the bear plan since 2012,” Howard said.

In a statement provided to SMN following the Commission vote, Lea made it clear that’s not the outcome he was looking for.

“The decision to open bear hunting on three bear sanctuaries shows how the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission only listens to the hunters they represent and ignores the wishes of the vast majority of the public,” Lea wrote. “The non-hunters and the wildlife of the State of N.C. are in desperate need of an agency that represents their interests. This decision to kill bears in these three bear sanctuaries is a great victory for bear hunters who are represented so well by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. However, it is a very sad day for the bears and the rest of the citizens of the State of North Carolina.”

Lea’s comments echoed the outrage many members of the public expressed following SMN’s initial reporting on the vote approving a measure overwhelmingly opposed by the public. However, said Commission spokesperson Mindy Wharton, Commissioners did indeed consider each comment prior to voting.

“They also participated in discussion with staff at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Feb. 23 about dissent from the public,” she said. “After careful consideration, the rule was approved as to meet the goals outlined in the N.C. Black Bear Management Plan.”

BEAR SEASON PLANNING UNDERWAY The approved rule states that hunting bear in the three sanctuaries will be legal when the Commission issues an authorized permit to do so, but it doesn’t stipulate how many permits may be issued in each area or what limits might be placed on them.

Those details will be decided through an ongoing process with commissioners and agency staff leading up to the 2022-23 bear season. On Feb. 23, Howard presented an initial glimpse at what the system might look like, but those concepts

would be for still hunting and two for hound hunting. There would be only one hunt per week, and no hunts on Sunday.

The mountain bear season is split into two segments — five weeks midOctober through mid-November and two more weeks mid-December through early January. Current thought for Panthertown is to restrict the first four weeks of the season to still hunting only,

The proposal to open additional sanctuary areas to bear hunting received stiff opposition from the public. Melissa McGaw photo

Visitors armed only with a free app and love of nature have documented more than 4,000 species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 2011, according to the nonprofit Discovering Life in America, including 77 not previously documented in the park by anyone else.

DLiA, which manages the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project that aims to catalogue all species residing in the extremely biodiverse park, recently analyzed more than 71,000 records from the app, iNaturalist, to discover the impact these casual observations have made on the project.

The batch of 77 new discoveries consisted mostly of insects and other arthropods, including 33 wasps, 15 kinds of flies and 10 beetle species. One new record was for a fungus called green beetle hanger, an external parasite of exotic Asian ladybird beetles. Forty different iNaturalist users made the observations, including six DLiA employees, three scientific researchers and a park employee. The remaining 30 people were members of the iNaturalist community who range from casual observers making their first trip to the Smokies to avid naturalists cataloguing their organisms of interest. DLiA expects to find additional new records as it continues its analysis. iNaturalist is a free app that does not require any scientific expertise to use. Its artificial intelligence helps users identify organisms from photos, as do other users on the platform, making it a fantastic tool for learning to distinguish the Smokies’ famous variety of wildflowers, trees and other life forms. Learn more at dlia.org.

Federal funding fuels rehab of two popular trails

Funding from the Great American Outdoors Act has allowed the U.S. Forest Service to wrap up a decade of deferred maintenance on two of North Carolina’s most heavily trafficked hiking trails.

The American Conservation Experience, with support from the N.C. High Peaks Association and USFS, completed more than 1,110 hours of deferred maintenance on Mount Mitchell and Higgins Bald Trails. The crew spent six weeks on the lower 3 miles of Mount Mitchell Trail and 1.2 miles of Higgins Bald Trail. They improved 2 miles of trails, which included brushing, constructing three rock steps and hardening trail sections. They improved more than 1 mile of tread, constructing 18 drainage features, installing 31 grade dips and improving or maintaining 28 existing drainage structures.

Basic maintenance of the trails has been a focus of the High Peaks Trail Association for more than a decade, but some maintenance projects like cleaning water bars and re-establishing tread were put off due to the cost of materials and labor. Due to $20,000 from the GAOA, the partners were able to organize and complete the deferred maintenance.

The GAOA-funded project on the lower section of the trails converged with a High Peaks Trail Association project covering the half-mile middle section and upper 2.5 miles of the Mount Mitchell Trail. The Recreational Trails Program provided a $65,000 grant for rerouting and maintenance, the project’s fourth RTP grant to date.

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Smoky Mountain News

the first two of which would take place on Monday or Tuesday, with a maximum of 10 people per hunt. Still hunting for other game species is already allowed in Panthertown and other bear sanctuary areas. Permits could be issued for one group hound hunt of up to 15 hunters in the latter part of the first segment of bear season and one for the second segment, with a bag limit of two bears per group.

“We feel like this is an attempt to be conservative on the sanctuary, acknowledge some of the concerns relative to potential conflicts and put those hunting groups in there at times that would be conducive to allowing other people to use the area much as they had been using it,” said Howard.

Permit offerings in the Standing Indian and Pisgah areas will likely be more liberal.

For Standing Indian, a 22,910-acre area in Macon County on the Georgia

Smokies document 77 new-to-park species

March 2-8, 2022

the public land while chasing game and that hunting might disperse bears to areas where they’ll cause problems that aren’t an issue currently.

“It used to be that there was a bumper season in Panthertown for recreational usage. You’d see spring through fall people coming to Panthertown, and there was less activity in the winter,” Friends of Panthertown Executive Director Jason Kimenker told SMN in January. “We are seeing year-round activity in Panthertown that is unprecedented in terms of people coming in October and November, December, January, to use the trail system in Panthertown Valley and recreate.”

The Commission took those concerns into account when drafting the hunt structure, Howard said. He told the board the agency was considering issuing permits for a total of eight two-day hunts in Panthertown, of which six

line, Howard presented a plan to allow 16 total two-day hunts — again, none on Sundays — open to both still and hound hunters. There would be a limit of 25 permits per hunt and a maximum group size of 20, with a limit of five bears per hunt, regardless of the group size.

Pisgah, which at 60,500 acres is by far the largest of the three areas, would be divided into two zones, which between them would have a maximum of 16 twoday hunts, none on Sundays, with a minimum one-day rest between hunts.

Zone 1, consisting of about 14,500 acres north of the Blue Ridge Parkway, comprises the most accessible areas of the Pisgah Bear Sanctuary and would be reserved for still hunters, with a maximum of 20 permits issued per day for two-day hunts — maximum two hunts per week — with the group size capped at five. Staff will define safety zones near areas like the N.C. Arboretum that butt up against the zone.

“We have some high densities of bears right there, and we need some harvest pressure desperately,” said Howard.

In the much larger, more remote Zone 2 — comprising 46,000 acres south of the Parkway — permits would be issued for group hunts only, with a maximum of 30 permits per hunt and group sizes ranging from 10 to 20. There would be a bag limit of five bears per hunt.

“We feel like this is a pretty conservative approach to stepping into hunting these sanctuaries for the first time,” said Howard.

Commissioners had some questions following Howard’s presentation. One member asked that staff consider moving Panthertown dog hunting until after Thanksgiving to reduce conflict with recreational users, and another said permitees should be required to agree not to release their dogs within a minimum distance of private property.

“Because of the nature of permit hunts, we’ll be able to call permitholders and have a discussion with them on how to be good neighbors,” Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist Colleen Olfenbuttel assured the Commission.

Another member asked Howard how many bears he hoped to harvest as a result of the new permits. Howard replied that the agency didn’t have a specific, numerical target but expected the proposed plan to work well, “especially for the first couple of years.”

“Our target right now is to get bear harvest in these areas to start getting some pressure on the bear populations in these areas,” he said.

The next day, when it was time to vote on the proposed regulations, every member of the board voted to approve them.

The rule is now slated to go into effect Aug. 1, pending review from the Rules Review Commission. Proposed rules that receive 10 or more letters requesting legislative review will be delayed from taking effect until that review is complete.

outdoors

aren’t set in stone. However, the rules will be different for each of the three areas.

At 9,180 acres, Panthertown is the smallest of the three bear sanctuaries under discussion, but also the most controversial. It’s an extremely popular recreation area, and residential areas ring its borders. Homeowners expressed concern that bear dogs wouldn’t stick to

A kayaker died while paddling the Oconaluftee River near Smokemont Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

At about 2:18 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24, friends of Megan Thompson, 34, of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, notified rangers that she had disappeared underwater and did not resurface. According to witnesses, Thompson floated over swift rapids before being pinned between a fallen tree and the riverbank.

Park rangers and Tribal EMS Cherokee Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. At 2:57 p.m., responders freed Thompson’s body and removed her from the river, where she was pronounced dead by a medical examiner.

While rare, drowning is the third leading cause of death for the Smokies, after motor vehicle accidents and plane accidents.

Thompson’s death marks the first fatality in the park for 2022 and the 61st drowning on record. For information on water safety in the Smokies, visit nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/watersafety.htm.

Paving starts on Foothills Parkway Funding from the Great American Outdoors Act will cover the $31 million cost to repave the 17-mile Foothills Parkway West in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, prompting a series of fulllane closures starting March 14. A separate project on Foothills Parkway East will cause single-lane closures starting March 7.

The Foothills Parkway West project will stretch from Chilhowee Lake to Walland, Tennessee, and will include repaving the roadway, restoring guardrails, repairing bridges and drainage and replacing asphalt walkways with ADA-compliant concrete sidewalks. The Smokies estimates the project will reduce more than $25 million in deferred maintenance associated with the Parkway, support 400 jobs and contribute $85.5 million to the nation’s economy. The Foothills Parkway West provides access to 16 overlooks and attracts more than 700,000 visitors annually.

To complete the project safely and efficiently, the park is planning two phases of full closure periods. From March 14 to May 21, the road will be fully closed from the Look Rock Observation Tower parking area west to the U.S. 129 intersection near Chilhowee Lake. From June 1 to Aug. 31, the road will be completely closed from the Look Rock Observation Tower east to the U.S. 321 intersection near Walland. Closures will make the road segments off-limits to all pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Foothills Parkway West provides access to 16 overlooks, including this view at Look Rock. NPS photo Remaining construction work will be accomplished with single-lane closures Aug. 31 through May 5, 2023. Motorists should expect delays during this time period.

Meanwhile, a separate pavement project will require weekday, single-lane closures on Foothills Parkway East between Cosby, Tennessee, and Interstate 40 from Monday, March 7, through Wednesday, Aug. 24. This pavement preservation project will include patching deteriorated roadbed sections, sealing pavement cracks and applying a chip-seal treatment and asphalt overlay to the existing surface. Lane closures will be permitted from 7 a.m. Mondays through

noon Fridays, excepting federal holidays and the weeks of Easter and July 4. Flagging operations and a pilot car will lead traffic through work zones.

The Great American Outdoor Act National Parks and Public Lands Legacy Restoration Fund is supported by revenue from energy development and provides up to $1.9 billion annually for five years for enhancements to public lands. GAOA, the recently passed Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other construction funding sources are part of a concerted effort to address the extensive maintenance backlog in national parks.

Smoky Mountain News

March 2-8, 2022

outdoors

Kayaker dies on Oconaluftee

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BEAT THE RUSH

We Can: Tune Up Carburetors Sharpen Blades Change Filters Service Hydros Change Oils and more…

Volunteers blow leaves during a previous work day. NPS photo

Spruce up the Smokies Upcoming work events are planned in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to complete much-needed grounds work prior to spring campground openings.

Volunteer days are currently planned for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Smokemont Campground and Saturday, March 5 at Cades Cove Campground. Park staff will lead these opportunities ideal for people who enjoy hands-on work and want

to learn more about the park.

Tasks will include blowing and raking leaves, removing debris and maintaining tent pads. Park staff will provide tools and safety gear, but participants must have sturdy footwear and clothing for cold, wet and changeable weather conditions, and be at least 16 years old. Registration required with Adam Monroe, 828.497.1949 or adam_monroe@nps.gov.

Head to Lake Chatuge on Saturday, March 12, for the inaugural Fishing for Conservation Tournament.

Hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust, this bass fishing competition will raise money for the nonprofit while also paying cash prizes to first through third place winners. Fishing will start as soon as it’s light out with weigh-in at 3 p.m.

The entry fee is $100 per boat, with a first-place prize of $1,000. Second place wins $700 and third place $300. Register through noon March 11 at mainspringconserves.com/events. Contact Alex Jump with questions at 828.524.2711, ext. 310.

Parent requirements for Base Camp registration Parents hoping to sign their kids up for Base Camp programs in Waynesville this summer must attend one of several upcoming parent meetings to register.

Meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, March 3; 10 a.m. Saturday, March 5; and 6 p.m.

Thursday, March 10, all at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Summer camp registration will then take place 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 12, with limited spots available.

For more information, contact MaShon Gaddis at 828.456.2030 or mgaddis@waynesvillenc.gov.

March 2-8, 2022

Bass fishing tourney coming to Chatuge

New leadership is now in place at two of the Blue Ridge Parkway’s official nonprofit partners.

■ Wanda Maloney, who has worked with scenic byways since 1996, has been named executive director of the Blue Ridge Parkway Association, the Parkway’s official marketing partner.

A resident of Winston-Salem, Maloney has served on the National Wanda Maloney.

Scenic Byway Foundation board for six years and remains actively involved as a volunteer and training partner for webinars and virtual workshops. Her expertise is in the byway visitor experience, and she believes

that understanding the needs and preferences of visitors is key to delivering rewarding travel experiences that visitors want to repeat and share.

The BRPA works to market the scenic corridor of Shenandoah National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by providing travel information to visitors in the region. blueridgeparkway.org.

■ The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, which is the Parkway’s nonprofit fundraising partner, recently appointed new Board of Trustees officers and added new members to its Council of Advisors.

Former vice chair John Mitchell, who is the Henderson County manager, was elected chair.

Blowing Rock resident Bob Stout was named vice chair, retired N.C. General Assembly staff member Jim Newlin treasurer and WinstonSalem resident Julie H. Moore secretary.

Dahlonega, Georgia resident Sam R. Johnson, who wrote “Fly Fishing the Blue Ridge Parkway” — North Carolina Section — and Fincastle, Virginia, resident Ken McFadyen joined the Council of Advisors. brpfoundation.org.

outdoors

Blue Ridge Parkway nonprofits welcome new leadership

Cable Cove Campground will not reopen in 2022 reflects higher demand to ensure that we are making the best use of our limited budget. We do want the campground to reopen in the future, but we don’t yet know what that’s going to look like.”

The Forest Service has tried to secure funding for campground projects under the Great American Outdoors Act but has thus far been unsuccessful. However, the agency will continue pursuing additional funding sources as opportunities become available.

Four other Forest Service campgrounds are located within 30 miles of Cable Cove, and Graham County contains 85 free, dispersed campsites on national forest land.

There are also numerous private campgrounds in the area offering similar or better facilities.

Smoky Mountain News

Cable Cove Campground in the Nantahala National Forest near Robbinsville will not reopen this year due to extensive deferred maintenance needs and low occupancy rates, the U.S. Forest Service announced. However, the Cable Cove Boat Launch will remain open year-round.

The aging facility has more than $184,300 in deferred maintenance needs, and due to low occupancy rates, campground fees don’t meet annual operating expenses, much less fund deferred maintenance projects.

“This has been a difficult decision because we know many families and friends have fond memories of camping there,” said District Ranger Andrew Gaston. “But the reality is that we need to focus our efforts on areas and activities where the public use

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outdoors

Walk among the wildflowers

March 2-8, 2022

Spring is on the way, and several upcoming events offer opportunity to catch the first wave of mountain blooms.

■ Explore the garden of a plant enthusiast 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12, in Clayton, Georgia, with Alarka Expeditions. Jack Johnston’s garden includes an impressive collection of woody plants, including a concentration of magnolias that will hopefully be in peak bloom the day of the program. $35.

Sign up at alarkaexpeditions.com.

■ Check out the Town of Canton’s former watershed during a strenuous 5.5mile guided hike starting at 10 a.m.

Saturday, March 12, with Haywood Waterways Association. An outstanding ecological site, Rough Creek Watershed contains a diverse plant and animal community similar to that found in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A $5 donation is suggested for hikers who are not HWA members. Space limited. Sign up with Christine O’Brien, christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.

■ Check out blooming mountain flora during a hike series offered through Haywood County Recreation and Parks, starting off with a Wednesday, March 9, excursion on the Little East Fork Trail, a 5.5-mile strenuous/moderate hike including 1,600 feet of elevation gain and led by Vickey Watson and Phyllis Woollen.

Additional hikes are planned for March 16, March 19 and March 30. Cost is $10 per person. Register by calling Haywood Recreation at 828.452.6789.

NATIONAL A SS

Learn how to landscape with native plants during a two-hour Zoom seminar starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 15.

Haywood Cooperative Extension Horticulture Agent Sam Marshall will teach the course, covering the definition of a native plant, backyard ecology and wildlife that native plants support.

Cost is $10, with a March 10 signup deadline. Register at bit.ly/3IolMaz.

ION OF STA IAT TE OC

TERS RES FO

Smoky Mountain News

Donated photo

Landscape with native plants

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Jack Johnston.

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Puzzles can be found on page 38 These are only the answers.

Plan your backyard orchard Get ready to grow an orchard with a free online seminar offered 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 7, via Zoom from the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service.

The presentation will cover basic cultural needs for apple, pear, peach and other fruit trees, including site selection; differences

between dwarf, semi-dwarf and seedling trees; proper soil conditions, pollination requirements, differences in cultivars, chilling requirements, fertility needs, tree spacing and pruning principles. Common disease and insect problems and possible control options will also be discussed.

Register at macon.ces.ncsu.edu/events.

Contact Christy Bredenkamp with questions at 828.349.2049 or clbreden@ncsu.edu.

Learn how to stabilize your streambank A three-hour workshop offering practical information on backyard streambank enhancement and stabilization will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, March 10, at Vance Street Park in Waynesville.

Greg Jennings, a Ph.D. and professional engineer with Jennings Environmental PLCC, will lead the class, which will cover streambank enhancement techniques and permitting requirements for stream work. He’ll also offer field demonstrations of streambank stabilization and native live stake planting at Shelton Branch.

The workshop is organized by Haywood Waterways Association. Space is limited. Cost is $10 per person. Sign up with Caitlin Worsham at caitlinw.hwa@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 12.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Fresh, locally grown seasonal vegetables, locally produced meat, eggs, fresh bread and pastries, coffee, foraged mushrooms, flowers, starter plants for the garden, honey, jams and jellies, local artisans and more. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main Street in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists. “Jackson Grimm” will play at the market Saturday, March 5.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Western Carolina University’s Educational Leadership Programs will host the Equity in Education Summit from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25 at the Crest Center in Asheville. The registration fee for the summit is $100 and includes a light breakfast and lunch. For more information about the summit contact Jess Weiler at jrweiler@email.wcu.edu. For more information about registration, visit learn.wcu.edu/equity-summit or call 227.7397.

• Haywood Community College will host “Business Planning Power Hour: Structure and Resources” from 12 to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 3. For more information visit tinyurl.com/39k3wu3b • The monthly Creating Community Workshop “Making Hammered Copper Earrings with Allyson Gernandt,” will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, in the Atrium of the Jackson County Public Library. This program is free of charge. Masks are required inside all Jackson County buildings. For more information, please call the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva at 5862016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

• The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service will hold a free seminar on How to Start and Foster Your Fruit Tree Home Orchard. The event will be held from 6-8 p.m.

Monday, March 7, via zoom. To register look for the event at macon.ces.ncsu.edu/events. For more information contact the Macon County Extension Center at 828.349.2049 or e-mail Christy Bredenkamp at clbreden@ncsu.edu • Haywood Community College will host “Results Driven Small Business Marketing Series: Session 2-Building Your Business Ground Game” from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8. For more information visit tinyurl.com/39k3wu3b.

• Haywood Community College will host “Business Planning Power Hour: Market Plan” from 12-1 p.m.

Thursday, March 10. For more information visit tinyurl.com/39k3wu3b.

• Haywood Community College will host “Spring EMFS Agribusiness Series: Making Value Added Food Products at Home,” from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, March 10. For more information visit tinyurl.com/39k3wu3b.

• The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service will hold a free seminar on how to create and care for your Caneberry patch. This event will be held from 6-7 p.m.

Monday, March 14, via zoom. For more information, contact the Macon County Extension Center at 828.349.2049 or e-mail Christy Bredenkamp at clbreden@ncsu.edu • Western Carolina University’s Spring Literary Festival returns to campus March 14-17 for a series of live events. For more information, visit litfestival.org or contact WCU’s English department at 828.227.7264.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Registration is open for the Catamount Climb Half Marathon and 5K at Western Carolina University. The races will take place Saturday, April 9. Hosted by the College of Health and Human Sciences and Campus Recreation and Wellness, the Catamount Climb raises money for student development and scholarships.

Register or learn more at halfmarathon.wcu.edu/ .

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • REACH of Haywood County is seeking new volunteers and will hold a Volunteer Training Day from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. For further information and to register, contact Buffy Queen, REACH Community Educator, 828.456.7898, or BQreach@aol.com by March 9, as notebooks and certificates will be prepared for all participants.

• Artisans, Crafters, and Food Vendors are invited to submit their application for the Greening Up the Mountains Festival to be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, April 23. Visit the festival’s website, www.greeningupthemountains.com to review the 2022 Vendor Policies and download an application.

Applications will be accepted through March 15. For more information, please email the event coordinator at greeningupthemountains@gmail.com.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS • Swain County Caring Corner Free Clinic is open Thursday’s 4 p.m.-9 p.m. at Restoration House (Bryson City United Methodist Church). Office hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-noon. Call 828.341.1998 to see if you qualify to receive free medical care from volunteer providers.

SUPPORT GROUPS • Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care is sponsoring a Community Grief Gathering at 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month at the Canton Library in the meeting room. Each month will feature a different grief topic. The Haywood County Public Library and Haywood Hospice require that masks be worn inside the building.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Dan Pyles at 452.5039 or email Daniel.pyles@lhcgroup.com • Dementia Caregivers Support Group, for those providing care for folks who are dealing with dementia, meets from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Haywood Senior Resource Center (81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville). For additional information call 476.7985.

• Narcotics Anonymous meetings are back “live” inperson after a year of being on Zoom only. Local meetings are 12 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at Sylva First United Methodist Church in downtown Sylva.

Entrance at back of building.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • “Books & Brews” with author Kerry Garvin will be held at 7 p.m. March 2 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva. The event will be a casual hour of meeting the author, hearing snippets read from their recent works, and getting a chance to purchase a copy (to also be signed). Free and open to the public.

Smoky Mountain News

A&E

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood Street in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods.

Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Brother Fat March 5. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” March 3 and Rachel Bellavance March 5. All events begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public..

828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host a “Mardi Gras Party” w/Jazz & Tonic March 4 and Shane Meade (indie/soul) March 9. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Paul Edelman 7 p.m. March 11. All events are free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Arnold Hill (rock/jam) March 11 and Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) March 18. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) March 4, Aly Jordan (singersongwriter) March 5, Twelfth Fret (Americana) March 11 and Somebody’s Child (Americana) March 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Midnight Whistlers March 4, The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) March 5, Tanner Burch March 11 and Marshall Ballew & Johnny Favorite March 12. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Open Mic March 3, Blended Hemp March 4 and Mile High Band March 5. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

FOOD AND DRINK • Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture will host Community Supported Agriculture Fairs from 4 to 7 p.m. on March 11 at the YWCA of Asheville. Full Share, a free guide listing 60 CSA farms in the Appalachian Grown region, is available digitally at asapconnections.org/find-local-food/csa.

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12 (and other select dates), at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.

35

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n n n n

Complete listings of local music scene Regional festivals Art gallery events and openings Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Asheville Chamber Music Series (ACMS) will present the Calefax Reed Quintet, in concert at 8 p.m.

Friday, March 11, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville at 1 Edwin Place in Asheville.

Tickets are $40 general admission. Youth are free. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.AshevilleChamberMusic.org, call 575.7427 or email support@AshevilleChamberMusic.org

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m.3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin.

Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• The Sylva Chapter of Trout Unlimited and friends will clean up River Road between Dillsboro and Webster from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday, March 3. Rain date March 10. All supplies will be provided. Meet at C.J. Harris boat launch 2:30-3 p.m. and return by 5 p.m. Please sign up by including your name in an email tu.lenehan@gmail.com.

• Tuckasegee Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s cleanup of River Road between Dillsboro and Webster will take place 3-5 p.m. Thursday, March 3, with all supplies provided. The group will meet at the C.J. Harris boat launch. Email tu.lenehan@gmail.com to sign up.

• The Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s annual research symposium is coming up 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, March 3, via Zoom. All events are free, with more information and registration at dlia.org.

• The Division of Water Infrastructure will hold the first of two listening sessions from 1-3 p.m. Friday, March 4 to hear initial stakeholder input on the potential uses for $82 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Stormwater Funding. The session will be held via WebEx and members of the public are invited to participate online or by phone. www.deq.nc.gov • Learn how to navigate the backcountry with a course offered 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, March 5, at Allens Creek Park in Waynesville. Steve Kuni, a retired Army officer and member of both the Haywood County Search and Rescue team and Carolina Mountain Club, will teach this class offered by Haywood County Recreation and Parks. Cost is $10, with a maximum of 10 participants. To register, call 828.452.6789.

• The Assault on BlackRock trail race is set for 9 a.m.

Saturday, March 19, with proceeds benefiting the Jackson County Rescue Squad. Registration is $25 in advance or $30 on race day. Sign up at www.ultrasignup.com.

Market WNC PLACE

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County.

Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!

Rates: • • • •

• •

• • • • • •

$15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.

Free — Lost or found pet ads. $6 — Residential yard sale ads.* $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m.

Monday for your ad to run again FREE Legal Notices — 25¢ per word $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less) Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4 Boost in Print Add Photo $6 Bold ad $2 Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4 Border $4

Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com

p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com 36

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Announcements

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR, Running or Not, Fast Free Pickup. Maximum tax deduction. Support United Breast Cancer Fdn. Programs. Your car donation could save a life. 888-641-9690

Business Opportunities

BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! Publications sold at all major secular & specialty Christian bookstores. CALL Christian Faith Publishing for your FREE author submission kit. 1-855-658-2057

Auction ONLINE ONLY AUCTION, Surplus Construction Equipment, Carthage, NC in Moore County, Begins Closing 3/3 at 10am, Pan/Scraper, Loader, Bulldozer, Crane, Trucks & Much More, ironhorseauction. com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936

Employment IN-HOME AIDE – FT Haywood County. A full time position is available assisting elderly clients in their homes w/ light housekeeping, shopping and errands. Paid holidays, earned annual and VLFN OHDYH RWKHU EHQH¿WV will apply. Candidates

must have a high school diploma/GED, valid NC driver’s license, available transportation, effective oral communication & listening skills, and have legible handwriting skills.

Works hours M-F. You may submit an online application on the Mountain Projects website www. mountainprojects.org AOE/EE

Interested person my contact 828-778-0260 for more information.

GROUP HOME STAFF NEEDED: Full time BenH¿WHG SRVLWLRQ DYDLODEOH in Waynesville. Paraprofessional will participate in the care of residents by providing guidance, supervision, medication and prompting as needed. High School diploma, driver’s license, documentation required.

CENTER SUPERVISOR KNEEDLER CHILD DEVELOPMENT- WCUJackson. Must have a BS Degree in Early Childhood Education or a UHODWHG ¿HOG DQG $GPLQistrative Level III Credentials, basic computer knowledge, 2 years’ experience in NC Day Care regulations, 1-2 years

MOUNTAIN PROJECTS, HEAD START Is currently hiring in Haywood & Jackson Counties.

Competitive Salaries DQG ([FHOOHQW %HQH¿WV Please visit: www.mountainprojects.org for more information.

WE’RE HIRING!

Operations Manager for Folkmoot USA Folkmoot USA, a registered 501c3 and North Carolina’s official International Folk Festival, (www.folkmoot.org) is seeking an experienced and multi-talented individual as its Operations Manager.

Working with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director, a small staff and many volunteers, the Operations Manager organizes and implements all operating procedures, record-keeping, and financial management associated with Folkmoot’s year round cultural events, performances, and planning for the annual Folkmoot Festival held every July. The Operations Manager also manages the day-to-day needs of the Folkmoot Friendship Center, once the historic Hazelwood Elementary school and which is now re-purposed as a multi-purpose cultural and educational center. Along with the Executive Director, this position manages rental contracts, tenant communication, and usage of the Queen Auditorium performance space and classrooms, along with maintenance requests and scheduling. Qualified candidates will have significant experience in the use of Quickbooks and various online portals associated with budgeting, bookkeeping, cash flow and grant writing necessary to properly maintain accurate and robust financial reports as required by the Board of Directors and all legal entities. This is an immediate full-time position based in Waynesville, North Carolina with annual compensation beginning at $50,000 per year commensurate with experience. For more information about the position or to submit a cover letter and resume, email mike@folkmoot.org

March 2-8, 2022

NOW HIRING HOUSEKEEPERS $15.00/Hour plus benefits Full Time/Permanent Also, Part time and Temp Available Please visit:

https://jobs.wcu.edu or Call 828-227-7218 An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer.

WNC MarketPlace

supervisory experience and good judgment skills. )XOO WLPH ZLWK EHQH¿WV Applications will be taken at www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA.

PREVENTION SPECIALIST MANGER- FT Haywood County- Mountain Projects Inc. is currently seeking a Prevention Specialist Manager. You will provide oversight for the Prevention Services department. Provide supervision regarding program development, oversight of budgetary issues, evaluation process and sustainability planning. &HUWL¿FDWLRQ DV D 1RUWK Carolina Prevention Consultant with at least 5 years’ experience in the ¿HOG RI 6XEVWDQFH 0LVXVH Prevention required.

A Master’s Degree is preferred. Must have knowledge of budgets DQG ¿QDQFLDO PDQDJHment. To be considered please apply by visiting www.mountainprojects. org. AOE/EE THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruiting for a Processing Assistant III. Duties will include reception, copying, ¿OLQJ VFDQQLQJ UHFHLYLQJ and providing information to the public, data entry, and other related

clerical tasks. Applicants should have excellent customer service skills, good computer skills, the ability to communicate effectively in person and by telephone, a generDO NQRZOHGJH RI RI¿FH procedures, and the ability to learn and apply a variety of guidelines.

The starting salary is $25,847.02. Applicants must have completed high school and have at least one year of clerical experience or an equivalent combination of training and experience. The application for employment is available online at www.jcdss.org or may be obtained at the Jackson County Human 5HVRXUFHV 2I¿FH RU WKH Sylva branch of the NC Works Career Center.

Applications will be taken until March 11, 2022.

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruiting for an Income Maintenance Supervisor II for Adult Medicaid Services. This position supervises staff who provide Medicaid services to adults. This position requires considerable knowledge of all income maintenance programs, forms, and documents used in determining eligibility. Applicants

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage • Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

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See Virtual Tours of listed homes at

MaggieValleyHomeSales.com Market Square, 3457 Soco Rd. • Maggie Valley, NC • 828-926-0400

• • • •

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Ron Breese Broker/Owner

• Jeanne Forrest - ashevillerealeat8@gmail.com Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@kw.com • Darrin Graves - dgraves@kw.com

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McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

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SOL

D

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Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - esither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

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I Am Proud of Our Mountains and Would Love to Show You Around!

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March 2-8, 2022

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE

828.452.4251

ads@smokymountainnews.com WNC MarketPlace

37

SUPER

CROSSWORD

PROGRAM FINALES ACROSS 1 Sci-fi zapper 10 “Flashdance” star Jennifer 15 1,152, to Caesar 20 Stateside 21 U-shaped bend in a river 22 Protest shout 23 Gave spirit to 24 Chicago airport 25 See 42-Across 26 Bad grade 27 Causes wonder in 28 Subcompact car of the 1980s 30 Naughty kid 31 Saroyan’s “My Name Is —” 32 Mex. miss 33 Abate 34 HarperCollins or Simon & Schuster 40 — Antonio 41 Suffix with Brooklyn 42 With 25-Across, Czech tennis great 43 Crude dude 44 Gallery stuff 46 Film director Preminger 47 Holiday song 49 Optimistic attitude 55 Give and take 57 False appearances 58 Flaky dessert 59 Restricted entry 62 USMC rank 63 Frat dude 66 Soon-to-be adolescents 67 Inquire into 69 One of 100 in D.C. 70 Monk’s title

71 Stuff applied to the wall of a room 76 School org.

77 Certain Ukrainian 78 Fine riverbed sand 79 Athlete’s advantage 84 1836 Texas siege site 87 Abbr. on a phone dial 88 Sgt., e.g.

89 Must-have 91 In a bit, to bards 92 “— a snap!”

93 Took a chair 95 Features of many limos 100 Sue Grafton’s “— for Noose” 101 Movie-rating org.

103 Defendant’s opponent 104 Part of LAPD 105 “Necktie,” “bathrobe” or “jumpsuit” 108 College bigwig 110 Furry foot 113 Taken together 114 Great values 115 Subsequent stage 117 Coup — 118 Omit, as a syllable 119 Balsam or turpentine 120 Blissful spots 121 Doles (out) 122 Maker of the eight programs that are the theme of this puzzle DOWN 1 Told a fib 2 Hathaway of “Ocean’s 8” 3 Store lure 4 Bygone U.K. record label 5 Make over 6 Bar with beermaking

facilities 7 Berlin article 8 Masters 9 Ticked off 10 “Awright!”

11 Dig out from the ground 12 Impose — on (outlaw) 13 Some nobles 14 Affirms solemnly 15 Suburb of D.C. in Virginia 16 Wheat — (cereal) 17 Judge of the O.J. Simpson trial 18 Owing 19 “Don’t worry, things are going to work out” 28 60-min. periods 29 “Give — whirl” 30 “You’re preaching to the choir” 31 Lung cell 34 Pen maker 35 Egg cells 36 Boat-rowing guys 37 Style of jazz 38 Bathtub sponges 39 Great reviews 45 Scale notes after dos 46 Bullring cheer 48 Library penalty 50 Old railroad watchdog agcy.

51 — Bo (exercise system) 52 Age-verifying cards 53 Top dentures 54 Food fish from Africa 56 Eye squintingly 59 A DJ might spin them 60 Furiousness 61 Gene stuff 62 Co. big shot 63 Gold-winning figure

skater Brian 64 Hotfoot it 65 Slugger Mel 67 Burned a bit 68 Sentimental pop songs 71 Dostoyevsky novel, with “The” 72 Ida. neighbor 73 China’s Lao- — 74 Suffix with Brooklyn 75 Comedian Gilda 76 “Ask Me Another” airer 77 Available without an Rx 79 Occur at the same time 80 Acquired the film rights to 81 Army meal companion 82 As a team 83 “So yucky!”

85 Do some lawn work 86 Add- — (peripherals) 90 Pupil-widening drug, e.g.

93 Young salmon and sea trout 94 Clerk on “The Simpsons” 96 Tristan’s love 97 Surgery assistants 98 TV magnate Turner 99 Olympic athlete, e.g.

102 She sang “Hello” 106 Strategize 107 Stand by 108 Sub shop 109 Part of 62-Down: Abbr.

110 El —, Texas 111 Almost like 112 Departed 115 — de plume 116 “— So Shy”

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

must be knowledgeable of the use of the income maintenance manuals and knowledgeable of needs, problems, and attitudes of disadvantaged persons, have general knowledge of all agency programs and services.

This person must have the ability to learn basic supervisory/management skills, have the ability to communicate effectively with workers, supervisors, applicants, and community agencies to obtain pertinent data and to interpret rules and regulations. Minimum requirements are three years of experience as a caseworker or investigator in an income maintenance program, preferably with one year of supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Starting salary is $38,187.82, depending on experience. The application for employment is available online at www.jcdss. org. Applications may be dropped off or mailed to the Jackson County Department of Social 6HUYLFHV DW *ULI¿Q Street, Sylva or the NC

Works Career Center.

Applications will be taken until March 14, 2022.

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CDL required. Part time and/or full-time availability. $17-$25/ hour. Pay is negotiable based on knowledge and experience. For more information, please call 828.586.8303. Apply online or in person. www.bhglandscapes. com/employment-application.

LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION FOREMAN B. H. Graning Landscapes is hiring a Landscape Construction Foreman. This position is full time

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, Answers on 34 the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

38

www.smokymountainnews.com

March 2-8, 2022

WNC MarketPlace

employment with group EHQH¿WV RIIHUHG DIWHU 90 days. $15-$25/hour.

Pay is negotiable based on knowledge and experience. For more information, please call 828.586.8303. Apply online or in person. www.bhglandscapes. com/employment-application.

LICENSED P&C INSURANCE AGENT Local insurance agency is looking for an individual who is motivated, energetic, and has a bright personality. Must be goal oriented with a knack for customer service, as well as a team player! Complete training in insurance will be provided. CompetLWLYH SD\ DQG EHQH¿WV offered. Full or part time. License preferred.

(828) 452-2815 OlgaGeorgi2@allstate.com LANDSCAPING CREW B. H. Graning Landscapes is looking to hire Landscape Crew in both Maintenance and Construction in Canton, NC and Sylva, NC. $12-$22/hour. Part time and/or full-time availability. Flexible late start schedules are available. Pay is negotiable based on knowledge and experience. For more information, please call 828.586.8303. Apply online or in person. www.bhglandscapes. com/employment-application.

ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER: HAYWOOD COUNTY Mountain Projects Inc. is seeking a full time Assistant )LQDQFH 2I¿FHU WKDW ZLOO be responsible for asVLVWLQJ ¿QDQFLDO PDWWHUV This position performs complex professional and managerial administrative work in planning, organizing, and executing WKH ¿QDQFLDO GXWLHV RI WKH organization. Two year degree in Business Administration or Accounting preferred. Experience with multi-funded QRQSUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQV state and federal grant requirements is preferred.

3UR¿FLHQW RUDO DQG ZULWWHQ communication skills

ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of general accounting and budget procedures. To be considered please apply at www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA

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877-553-0252 [SteppachHU /DZ 2I¿FHV //& 3ULQFLSDO 2I¿FH $GDPV Ave Scranton PA 18503]

Real Estate Announcements PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination’. Familial status includes children under 18 living with parents or legal guardians and pregnant women.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate in violation of this law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.

reach a phone! FREE Brochure. CALL 844-9022362

Home Improvement BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 833-987-0207 UPDATE YOUR HOME With Beautiful New Blinds & Shades. FREE in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home.

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Top quality - Made in the USA. Call for free con-

SARGE’S ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION Lady Bird is a Blue Tick Hound, about six yr old, weighing about 70 lbs. She is a sweet, friendly dog who actually prefers living outdoors. In her previous home, she had access to a yard through a doggy door, and that’s where she chose to stay most of the time.

If you’d like to meet her, please complete the application online at www.sarges.org and we’ll contact you to set up a meeting.

(828) 246-9050 info@ sarges.org

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WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set an appt. today! Call 833664-1530 (AAN CAN)

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Call 866-405-1893

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Health/Beauty Pets

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STROKE & CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Are leading causes of death, according to the American Heart Ass. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Contact Life Line Screening to schedule your screening. Special offer- 5 screenings for $149 call 866-563-3640 ATTENTION: Oxygen Users. Gain freedom with a portable oxygen concentrator. No more heavy WDQNV RU UH¿OOV *XDUDQteed lowest prices. Oxygen Concentrator Store 844-866-4793 LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t

March 2-8, 2022

Great Smokies

STORAGE LLC Call 828.506.4112 greatsmokiesstorage.com 434 Champion Drive, Canton, NC 28716 21 Hollon Cove Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786

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March 2-8, 2022 Smoky Mountain News

UPCOMING SHOWS:

MAY 6

MAY 13

MAY 22

M MAY 27

1028 Georgia i Rd • Frankklin, lli NC • Local 828.524.

828 524 1598 • To ollll Free 86 66 273 4615 66.273.4615 40

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