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CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Haywood Chamber of Commerce celebrates, promotes local food and chefs at “Melange of the Mountains.” Garret K. Woodward photo

News Local author retells history of forgotten Cherokee war . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Sylva looking to raise taxes, cut services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Merchants must break news of courthouse trees disappearance . . . . . . . . . 8 Haywood residents’ reaction to cutting down of courthouse trees mixed . . 8 Jackson TDA supports train’s return to Dillsboro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 State bills address the controversial subject of religion in schools . . . . . . . 10 State resolution claims immunity to separation of church, state . . . . . . . . . 10 Judaculla Rock enters National Register of Historic Places. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Construction kicks off in Nantahala riverfront development . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Governor’s budget bill makes drastic cuts to parks/recreation funding . . . 16 Fabled Haywood storyteller returns home for performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Maggie lodging owners throw wrench in county’s tourism tax plans . . . . . 20

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A forgotten chapter Author ventures into Dragging Canoe’s rebel war against the whites

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER n a journey that brought her back hundreds of years through manuscripts, old letters and archives, a local author has uncovered a hero, written a book and shed light on one of the lesser understood times in American, Appalachian and Cherokee history.

Nadia Dean has previously worked as a foreign journalist, private detective, photographer and genealogist. But it was a devastating story about a little-known and bloody frontier war in Nadia Dean the famous American year of 1776 that caused her to drop everything and become the author of A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776.

It was a time when a burgeoning democracy clashed with colonial power, embroiling the Cherokee people in a deadly tug of war for lands. “It was sort of a mystical connection,� said Dean, who lives in Haywood County and heard about the tale from her cousin, an amateur historian. “I sensed that there was something very important in the story and was amazed that no one had reported it.�

The Cherokee War of 1776 pitted rebel Cherokee warriors against white settlers who were encroaching on tribal lands. The conflict drew sharp response from the American militia and guerilla warfare broke out.

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Though the Cherokee wars have been written about in numerous academic articles and carried through history on the tongues of tribal storytellers, Dean felt that moment in history lacked comprehensive research. But that type of research is no walk in the park.

Her work on the book began nearly a decade ago. The years since have been spent tracking down information from the National Archives in London, the Draper Manuscript Collection in Wisconsin and countless other sources spread about the United States and the globe.

And even with extensive information gathering, the scattered patchwork of that era’s historical record could prove incomplete. “Whatever survived is what we get to work with,� Dean said. “We get a pile of scraps of paper and have to look at them and say ‘this fits here.’�

To make matters more difficult, the financing she had been promised to work on her book fell through, forcing her to sell a piece of property in Haywood County and spend an inheritance to keep afloat during her years of research. She remembers logging 10, 12 and 14 hour days scouring over documents.

About five years into the process, Dean wrote the first few chapters of the book. Then she threw them out. She started again, wrote half the book, and threw it out. Two years ago, she began working on the copy that would become the final one. But even the third time, proved daunting as she attempted to paste the jumbled snapshots of the war into a coherent story. “A lot of times my editor would say ‘what happened next?’� Dean said. “And I’d reply ‘if I had known I would have put it in there.’�

AN UNTOLD HERO But the final product opened her eyes to a largely untold story in Appalachian history

“Some people might look at him and say he was a terrorist ... I might say he was defending his home from illegal immigrants.�

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Author Nadia Dean will visit City Lights Bookstore at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, to talk her book, A Demand of Blood: The Cherokee War of 1776.

Drawing on unpublished 18th century documents, and illustrated with original maps and drawings, the book details the little-known war fought between the Cherokee and revolutionary soldiers in the backcountry of Appalachia. The book is available on amazon.com and valleyriverpress.com

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w After watching land deal after land deal, and settlement after settlement chip away at the Cherokee’s native lands, Dragging Canoe united a band of warriors and swept through the southern colonies attacking the whites who were living on lands the English had promised to the Cherokee.

His attack was in defiance of the elders at the time, who sought to avoid war and continue to trade away their lands for pittances. But Dean said Dragging Canoe saw the writing on the wall and felt that the

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only chance, albeit a slim one, for his people was to fight. “He had the courage to stand up to the elders and say ‘you have traded away our future,’�

Dean said. “He’s mythic.�

After word spread of Dragging Canoe’s attacks on white settlements, the Cherokee War of 1776 began. Scores of soldiers were dispatched to capture the elusive Dragging Canoe and his men, but to no avail. He continued to wage guerrilla warfare and lead the resistance movement until his death.

A sketch of Dragging Canoe, a Cherokee hero featured in Nadia Dean’s recently released book.

— Nadia Dean

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and changed her idea of what it meant to be a patriot, especially for the Cherokee people.

The Cherokee War of 1776 tells a story of broken treaties, burned villages and a persecuted people better left forgotten as an inconvenient footnote in the annals of American history. It’s far more convenient to remember the American Independence proclamation as the historical marquee of that year. “I grew up think about my white ancestors as so noble,� Dean said. “But in the name of liberty there were many that were depriving others of their liberty.�

However, Dean said the Cherokee people should not be remembered entirely as victims of the war they waged with the Anglo settlers.

In fact, it was a young warrior, Dragging Canoe who launched the pivotal advance that sparked the war on the Cherokee.

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The tall, pock-marked Indian plays one of the main roles in Dean’s book, and even became a source of inspiration for her personally. So much so that Dean went on to purchase the rights to the other authoritative historical publication written about Dragging Canoe. She hopes to revise it in hopes to tell his entire life story, not just his role as a warrior.

She also hopes that Dragging Canoe will live on as a hero in Cherokee culture, and perhaps be recognized as one in American culture.

She likened him to other larger-than-life characters like Daniel Boone, but the persona of Dragging Canoe may be a little more difficult

for Americans to interpret and understand. “Some people might look at him and say he was a terrorist; he goes around killing and scalping white people,� Dean said. “I might say he was defending his home from illegal immigrants.�

Dean said she has given copies of her newly released book to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Council as well as the Principle Chief Michel Hicks. Her husband is also a tribal member. She said hopes the book is read and accepted by the Cherokee, but also understands that it’s not a work of light reading for them. “I imagine for the Cherokees it’s painful,�

Dean said. “This is the story of the attempt at their annihilation.�

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Smoky Mountain News

CHAPTER, CONTINUED FROM 6

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April 10-16, 2013

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER ylva town officials are staring down three unsightly options to balance the upcoming year’s budget: tax increases, budget cuts or both.

None of the choices have much appeal to board members, but it’s understood that something must be done to alleviate the town’s budget woes. Sylva’s government is carrying a $193,000 budget deficit going into the next fiscal year.

Town Manager Paige As an example of what more could Roberson is recommending a combination of cuts to serviccome, the receptionist position with es, delayed spending and a the Sylva Police Department has tax increase of 5 cents to offset the difference in town revalready been left unfilled, leaving enue and town expenditures.

A tax increase of that magnithe chief to cover some shifts at tude is expected to earn an the front desk. extra $205,000 for the town in annual revenue. “I’ve recommended some severe cuts that us to sacrifice a little bit first.� will be painful,� Roberson said. “And looking Hensley also pointed out that if taxes are at how short we are, we are not going to balincreased this upcoming year, it will most ance this budget without a tax increase.� likely be only a prelude to another increase As an example of what more could come, in coming years as Sylva tackles its townthe receptionist position with the Sylva wide property revaluations. To avoid another Police Department has already been left major revenue loss, the town may have to unfilled, leaving the chief to cover some raise tax rates again as property values are shifts at the front desk. adjusted to post-recession levels.

To balance the current year’s $3.1 million “Then we’ll have to say ‘Sorry, folks,’� budget, Sylva officials had to draw more Hensley said. “But we’ll have to hit you again than $100,000 from the town’s savings because they’ve re-evaluated the property.� account. A portion of that went toward necBut Mayor Maurice Moody said drastiessary equipment purchases. Roberson said cally cutting services to residents might not that type of fiscal policy is unwise and shortbe the best solution either. As new budget sighted and other action needs to be taken. year approaches in July, Moody said the Most towns comparable in size to Sylva board will have to consider all options on carry 68 percent of their annual budget in a the table. fund balance. Roberson said Sylva’s has “The board has the responsibility to the dipped down to 59 percent as it has been town to perform services, and it also has an used to shore up shortfalls in revenue. obligation to the taxpayers,� Moody said.

But some of the revenue losses the town “It’s kind of a balancing act.�

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Sylva faces tough budget choices

faced this year came as a surprise and caught officials off-guard, said Roberson. An estimated $25,000 was lost for video sweepstakes licensing fees; $50,000 from a joint liquor store venture with Bryson City that provided Harrah’s casino with alcohol; $10,000 from the town’s ABC store revenue; and another $20,000 or so in revenue losses from town fines and other fees.

Meanwhile, $13,000 in expenditure increases from utilities and employee and retiree health insurance exacerbated the situation.

But in light of the town’s budgetary outlook, at least one board member was not ready to take Roberson’s recommendations and make taxpayers stomach a rate increase.

Board member Harold Hensley asked if the town shouldn’t take a more thorough look at cutting its own budget before raising taxes. “We’ve got people out there struggling to pay taxes,� said Hensley. “They might want

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news

Merchants field queries over missing courthouse trees

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER ain Street merchants are used to answering tourists’ questions: how do you get to the parkway, what’s the best place for dinner, and where are the public restrooms? But lately, Waynesville’s downtown store keepers have also become purveyors of news.

At Affairs of the Heart gift shop, people rankled by the cutting of stately sugar maples around the historic courthouse have wandered in wanting to know why the trees were felled. Roseann Lowe could only sympathize.

“It’s sad. It’s terrible,” Lowe said of the county’s decision to axe the aged and diseased trees.

The now-barren lawn of the historic courthouse flanking Main Street is a shock to second-home owners and repeat tourists steadily trickling back to town with the arrival of spring. By default, Main Street merchants have become the first source perplexed and irked visitors go to for answers.

Travis Spencer, a 35-year-old employee at Mast General Store, said he has heard several complaints from shoppers.

“Nobody has come by here and said anything positive,” Spencer said.

A group of teenagers had come to town specifically to see the trees and were shocked when they arrived, Spencer said.

“They were pretty disappointed that the trees were gone,” Spencer said, adding that he, too, was sad to see the trees go. “They were beautiful.”

After an arborist reported that the 11 sugar maple trees on the courthouse lawn were diseased and posed a liability if not cut down, the Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted to do just that. The sugar maples were promptly chopped down during the course of the last several weeks.

While the risk of falling limbs was proffered as the big reason for cutting the trees, county commissioners also thought it would simply look better without the trees. The trees blocked views of the grand, historic courthouse and kept grass from growing, commissioners noted consistently when discussing the issue during public meetings.

Humans and animals alike used the trees for shade during festivals and street dances when the weather was particularly hot.

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation set up shop under the trees during events to show off animals available for adoption. Parents and children would picnic in the shade of the trees.

“It’s our green space on Main Street,” said Buffy Phillips, head of the Downtown Waynesville Association.

Although the street is lined with smaller trees, the large canopy spanning the courthouse lawn beckoned as an inviting gather-

Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

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S EE M ERCHANTS, PAGE 9

Workers last week cut down the last vestiges of the sugar maples that once graced the yard of historic courthouse in Waynesville. Photo by SMN intern Dylan Brown

HOW THE AXE FELL

BY B ECKY JOHNSON & CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITERS alk of cutting the historic courthouse maples in Waynesville has come and gone during the years.

Reasons varied. It was hard to get grass to grow underneath. The trees masked the grandness of the historic courthouse. Heavy equipment parked under the trees during courthouse renovations damaged the root systems.

The talk always subsided, however, until suddenly resurfacing during a county commissioner meeting in early February.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley complained that the trees kept grass from growing and blocked views of the courthouse.

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick agreed, “Something should be done to improve the courthouse lawn and its appearance.”

At their next meeting, two weeks later, commissioners unanimously voted to cut down the trees.

The vote seemed sudden. The prospect of actually cutting the trees was discussed and promptly voted on all at the same meeting, allowing for little to no public input.

Haywood County commissioners have a formal policy not to vote on controversial issues the first time they appear on a meeting agenda.

“Usually if it is something controversial, we don’t bring it up that day and vote on it,” Ensley said.

Specifically, county policy states that:

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“Agenda items considered particularly complicated, controversial, and/or of unusual importance should be tabled until at least the next regularly scheduled meeting to allow for public input and member reflection and study.”

Commissioners say they didn’t violate their policy, however. For starters, they didn’t see cutting all the courthouse maples as controversial — the litmus test for whether the policy applies.

“If there was going to be any controversy about the trees, they would have been at the meeting,” said Chairman Mark Swanger, citing the absence of any public comment that day.

However, it’s unclear how those with an opinion would have known to come to the meeting in the first place. The line “disposition of courthouse trees” appeared on commissioners’ meeting agenda ahead of time, but only those who make a habit of checking the agenda would have noticed it.

Therein lies the reason for the county’s policy: to allow awareness of an issue to circulate through the community before an official decision is made.

Ensley pointed out that the courthouse trees had been mentioned at their meeting two weeks prior.

“We had been talking about it,” Ensley said.

However, there was no indication at the first meeting in February that an arborist would be hired to assess the trees — let

alone that they could be cut down. The appearance of the trees was merely mentioned in passing, and hardly put the public on alert that cutting them was an option.

Still, the policy stipulating a “waiting period” for controversial issues is inherently subjective. Were cutting the trees controversial? Swanger said not in his opinion.

“I have had enough experience that you know if there is controversy,” Swanger said.

The controversy may have just taken some time to manifest, however.

Waynesville Town Manager Marcy Onieal found herself on the receiving calls from the public, even though the town had no role in the decision.

“I just wanted to let you know that we continue to field a lot of questions, concerns and complaints about the trees coming down at the courthouse. I thought that the furor had died down, but for some reason, we’ve gotten a lot of calls this morning,” Onieal wrote in an April 3 email to the County Manager Marty Stamey.

One particularly “irate” woman even talked about organizing a protest, she said.

Ultimately, commissioners said the liability issues of falling limbs predicated swift action. In the intervening two weeks — between the first passing mention of the trees and the decision to cut them down — an arborist was hired to assess the trees.

Once the county had been presented with a professional opinion warning of the risk, it had to act,

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BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER he Jackson County Tourism Development Authority is the latest voice to enter the fray as the county ponders a $700,000 grant to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in exchange for the promise of more tourists.

Tourism board members last week passed a resolution supporting the return of the scenic tourist railroad to Dillsboro — particularly as a departure point rather than a brief layover destination for trips originating in Bryson City.

Ultimately, the resolution is brief and vague — and falls short of actually weighing in on whether the county should help the railroad monetarily. Instead, the resolution merely states support for rail trips out of Dillsboro.

But three of the eleven board members

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were against the board venturing into the political, and somewhat controversial, arena of the discussions unfolding over the county’s proposed deal with the railroad. They thought it best to avoid the discussion altogether, whatever their individual thoughts on the importance of the train might be, especially since the tourism But Tourism Board Member Mickey Luker, owner of Caney Fork General Store in Cullowhee, said because it is the role of the authority to support tourism in the county, throwing its weight behind the issue was a no-brainer — even if the vote was largely symbolic.

“I don’t think we can make an argument that this is not part of travel and tourism,” Luker said. “I have, personally, seen firsthand what (the train) does, and I feel very strongly about it.”

The county commissioners are embroiled

“Once we are told it is a liability and danger to people and property, you can’t mess around. You have to eliminate the threat. You are on notice.”

— Mark Swanger, Haywood County Commission chairman

If it’s any consolation for those still mourning the maples, they might take solace knowing that cutting down the trees even had the support of Mib Medford, a long-time tree champion and arbor-activist in Waynesville.

Medford died last year but had twice gone to county commissioners and said start over.

“The angels celebrated in heaven with mother,” said Philan Medford, Mib’s daughter who inherited her mother’s appreciation for trees and is a self-taught urban landscaping expert.

their direct line of sight when looking up at the building. With tall trees, if properly limbed up, your line of sight would be below the branches and unobstructed.

“It’s geometry,” Medford said.

The county plans to replant new trees sometime this spring or early summer — however, county leaders have not decided what type of tree yet. Or how many. Or where.

The county currently isn’t planning on hiring a professional landscape architect or designer to help. Instead, county employees have asked for input from with the Town of Waynesville, the Downtown Waynesville Association, the State Extension Office, Haywood Community College’s Horticulture Program and state forest rangers as they craft a new landscape plan for the historic courthouse.

There’s one plus: the grass might grow better now, said Downtown Waynesville Association Director Buffy Phillips. The lawn has several bare patches that the county plans to reseed.

Phillips hopes the new landscaping is installed before the summer street dances and festivals ramp up, but the events would go on regardless, she said.

The fact that the courthouse lawn will not remain naked is a relief to those who enjoyed the courthouse’s foliage, even though they would take years to grow back, or may only be a smaller specimen of tree.

“If they are replacing them with healthier trees, that’s OK,” said 24-year-old Hannah Redman, who works in Mast’s shoe department. “That is where a lot of people like to sit.”

Redman described the current look of the historic courthouse lawn as lonely.

Just last week, the commissioners voted to fell the single evergreen tree that sat on the corner of the courthouse lawn as well because it looked out of place — lonely perhaps — without the sugar maples, they decided.

They are currently looking for a company to grind up the tree stumps.

9

Smoky Mountain News

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

Medford withheld judgment on whether the trees were actually diseased — the justification used by county leaders for cutting the trees. But she could attest the sugar maples were dealt a fatal blow years ago — at least aesthetically — that sealed their fate.

“You top a tree, that’s a sin. You top the central leader, it doesn’t grow a new central leader. The new branches grow out to the side. It’s like you cut off someone’s head, and they keep growing arms,” Medford said. “If they had limbed them up instead, then; by now, you could see the courthouse from the sidewalk.”

Had the center trunk grown, and the side branches been limbed up, the sugar maples would have created a high, open canopy with dappled light below and clear views of the courthouse for pedestrians walking below the branches.

As for what to plant back, it’s a no-brainer, Medford said.

“Sugar maples, sugar maples, sugar maples,” Medford said. “Part of it is honoring heritage. Those were the original street trees on Main Street.”

The county plans to replace the trees, but is considering a shorter tree species that would provide some shade without concealing so much of the historic courthouse facade.

But Medford said shorter trees would actually block views of the courthouse more than taller ones would. From a pedestrian’s vantage point, smaller trees would obstruct

ing spot. The trees also added a splash of color to the gray stone facades of the historic courthouse and justice center.

“They were gorgeous, especially in the fall,” said Carol Linkers, an employee at Chocolate Bear. Now, “It’s not pretty.”

Linkers said she has not heard anyone speak favorably of the new look.

The owner of Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery, Walt Cook, was sad to see the trees go.

“I have kind of mixed emotions because they were beautiful, and they were there so long,” Cook said. But on the positive side, “It made the courthouse look more outstanding, more awesome.”

Some sympathized with the county’s

rationale for cutting the trees.

“You don’t want somebody getting hurt or killed,” said Linda Fuqua, owner of Cheddar Box Country Store.

But Ron Muse, a builder who was sad to the see trees go, has examined the stumps left behind and there’s no sign of the trunks themselves being rotten or diseased, begging the question whether at least some of the trees couldn’t have been saved.

“They really handled that badly,” Muse said. “I haven’t seen one soul that wanted them down except the commissioners.”

If the county wanted to take down the trees, it at least needed a landscape plan in place first, Muse said.

“The bus has already left the station with no clue where it’s going,” he said.

April 10-16, 2013

Swanger said.

“Once we are told it is a liability and danger to people and property, you can’t mess around. You have to eliminate the threat. You are on notice,” Swanger said.

Dale Burris, the county maintenance director, battled the falling limbs littering the courthouse lawn regularly.

“Almost every day multiple limbs fall from the trees, which has made me very uncomfortable with citizens entering and leaving the Historic Courthouse,” Burris wrote in an email enlisting the services of a certified arborist, dated Feb. 12. “There is also some type of black bug with an orange marking on its back infesting the trees.”

The email asked arborist Bill Leatherwood to evaluate the state of the trees.

The very next afternoon, he conducted an assessment.

M ERCHANTS, CONTINUED FROM 8

news

Jackson tourism board offers tepid yet symbolic support of scenic railroad venture

between the county government and the private company. Critics question whether the return would be worth the investment of county tax dollars. Supporters say it would be positive economic development.

But its passage still drew sharp opposition from some tourism board members with disin a debate over whether to provide a senting votes. Included in that group was $700,000 grant to the railroad to help it refur- board chairman Clifford Meads, general bish an old steam engine, build a track turn manager of Cashiers’ High Hampton Inn. Being that both table and improve the tourism its maintenance “I don’t think we can make authority — newly yard. In return, formed this year the railroad an argument that this is not — and the train would commit to part of travel and tourism.” deal are in their originate train infancies, Mead trips from the — Mickey Luker, tourism board member argued that it Dillsboro station might be better to — a practice it largely abandoned a few years ago to the sit back and watch the issue unravel before taking sides. detriment of the town’s economy.

“If the decision goes south, we will be on Swain County has already agreed to collaborate with the railroad in a similar record as supporting something that is a waste of money,” Mead said. agreement.

As a caveat, the resolution contains the While most Jackson County residents seem to be in favor of seeing the train return to disclaimer that the tourism authority has no Dillsboro, a formidable contingent is skeptical intention of coming up with any part of the about the details of the proposed agreement $700,000.

news

Bills would reinforce optional student prayer

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER eligion and public schools have never been a black and white matter anywhere in the U.S., but the shades of grey can be even more complicated in the Bible belt.

While Christianity well outnumbers other beliefs, public schools still have to navigate a fine line to maintain religious neutrality in the public sphere.

Two bills introduced by N.C. Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Denton, sets into law the idea that prayer or religious study in public schools is OK as long as no one is forced to participate.

Both bills are currently sitting in committee, waiting to be voted on. They may pass through the legislature with flying colors or die before ever going up for a vote.

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STUDENT-LED PRAYER

April 10-16, 2013

Several years ago, Haywood County School District leaders found themselves between a rock and a hard place. One morning in September, a group of students gathered at the flagpole to pray before school began.

Nothing was inherently wrong, but school leaders did have to ask themselves whether it was permissible on school property. Leaders did not want to impede the students’ right to pray, but they also didn’t want it to appear they were favoring one religion.

“We just have to be very sensitive and make sure we follow the law,” said Haywood County

Superintendent Anne Garrett. “We would never inhibit anybody from praying.”

In the end, the school administrators decided the action was fine as long as it was student organized and led. And now every September, students host “See you at the pole,” part of a nationwide movement to kick off the early part of the academic year with prayer.

“It’s just a good way to start off your school year,” Garrett said.

Students can be seen praying over their food before eating lunch — though depending on the quality of the meal, it could be for various reasons — and attending a Bible study club after school. The scene is similar at schools in Macon, Jackson and Swain counties as well.

Jackson County Superintendent Michael Murray expressed a similar sentiment to Garrett’s.

“Public school boards and administrators and teachers must be very cautious when dealing with any concepts about religion,” Murray said.

Murray added that schools opted for a moment of silence, as opposed to a nondenominational prayer, to remember victims in the Newton, Conn., school shooting.

“That gives children totally the choice of whether to participate or not,” Murray said.

A Senate bill introduced in mid-March reinforces what is already the standard practice for most schools — that student-led prayer is allowed as long as it isn’t school sanctioned. The bill lists N.C. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Spruce Pine,

and N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin among a list of co-sponsors.

The bill is aimed at guaranteeing “student rights to pray in school.” Under the bill, no school can “prevent or deny participation in constitutionally protected prayer in public schools.”

The bill states that students may pray silently at any time or audibly during non-instructional time or during extracurricular activities, such as athletic events.

“I wouldn’t have any problem with that bill,” said Jim Duncan, interim superintendent of Macon County Schools. “That is permissible now.”

Although Davis agrees with the idea of the bill and even signed on as a sponsor, it would not affect the current status quo.

“There doesn’t seem to be a problem,” Davis said. “What problem is this supposed to fix?

And if there is not a problem, then the bill is redundant or unnecessary.”

However, some may argue that the bill offers welcome clarification on a somewhat murky matter.

It is not uncommon to see sports teams circle up or take a knee before a game to pray.

“Our team prays as a group before each game and after practice,” Josh Brooks, the football coach at Franklin High School and an advisor for Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school. “Thankfully, we live in a place where it is still acceptable.”

Technically, prayer among sports teams is supposed to be student-initiated and student-

led. Some coaches walk away entirely so it doesn’t seem like they’re endorsing the prayer, while others remain at their players’ side.

The proposed bill would clarify that coaches are allowed to adopt a “respective posture” during a student-led prayer. In other words, it would be OK for them to bow their head without crossing the line, under the proposed bill.

Many coaches, however, take a far more active role in the prayers. In Franklin, a member of the high school football coaching team will typically recite a prayer after each game, Brooks said.

A pastor and former athlete holds a weekly Friday devotion, about 10 minutes or so, with the Franklin football team before eating their pre-game meal.

But the school administrators’ concern is not so much the prayer itself as much as making sure that no one feels obligated to participate.

“It is not forced on anybody, and if someone chose not to take part, we would understand those feelings,” Brooks said. “If any team is saying the Lord’s Prayer, then they don’t have to say it.”

The only way to know if someone feels uncomfortable, however, is if they actually tell someone, which can be complicated when students are of the minority opinion but want to fit in.

N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, agreed that student-led prayer in schools is fine as long as it doesn’t cross a line.

“As long as there is no pressure put on people of any sort,” Queen said. “If it becomes a peer pressure thing or some sort of official thing, it is very hard to include everybody.”

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A resolution introduced in the N.C. General Assembly last week has landed in the national media spotlight for claiming the state is immune to the “separation of church and state.”

N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Charlotte, has effectively called the bill “dead on arrival.”

It purports that the state is exempt from any federal court rulings regulating religion as well as the First Amendment’s establishment clause.

The establishment clause states “Congress shall make no law respecting an Establishment of Religion.”

In other words, the separation of church and state wouldn’t apply in North Carolina if the bill sponsors got their way.

N.C. Rep. Queen, D-Waynesville, said he thought the resolution was a joke when he first read it.

“I got it on April Fool’s Day, and I thought it was some spoof on the dumb things we are doing in the legislature,” Queen said.

State leaders have more pressing matters, he said, than mulling legislation that “flies in the face of the Constitution.”

“We need to be restoring our economy to full health and creating jobs and employing people,” Queen said.

Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, simply stated that the joint resolution would not go anywhere and that the General Assembly is in the middle

BIBLE STUDY ELECTIVES

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER Repairs to U.S. 441 are nearing completion.

A football-field-sized portion of U.S. 441, which runs through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, was completely washed away in January after days of heavy rain resulted in a landslide. The missing chunk of roadway forced the National Park Service to close the road that serves as a main tourism artery to the Cherokee reservation and its many businesses.

Federal Highways Administration hired Phillip and Jordan, a construction company from Robbinsville, in early March to rebuild the road and shore up the area in an effort to prevent future slides. The contract is valued at nearly $4 million and the deadline for completion was May 15.

Now just about a month and a half later, there are only a few jobs left to complete on the checklist before the road can reopen.

Although a Phillips and Jordan representative said they hope to complete the work soon, neither he nor the National Park Service spokeswoman were willing to name a definitive date.

“It’s progressing very nicely, and we do feel we will finish ahead of schedule,” said Dudley Orr, vice president of operations at Phillip and Jordan. “We are paving as we

speak.”

Besides paving, Orr said the company needed to build a shoulder for cars, paint lines on the road and place a finish down.

Orr added that the company has had people working around the clock, through all types of weather.

“We have encountered rain, sleet, snow,” Orr said. “We have not really missed a single day.”

When weather prevented them from performing one task, they moved onto another. About 50 employees have worked the project altogether, he said.

Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, said he was pleased with the work Phillip and Jordan has been doing and how quickly they were able to get going.

“I appreciate the contractor coming in as timely as they did,” Hicks said. “It ran smooth, and it was organized.”

Phillip and Jordan motivated by an extra incentive to work as hard as they can. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the National Park Service has offered the company $18,000 for every day repairs are completed before the deadline, up to $500,000. That means as long as workers are done by the end of next week, Phillip and Jordan will receive the full half-million.

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Smoky Mountain News

weight. It would ensure Bible electives remain on the list of allowed electives and don’t get removed down the road.

No matter whether it passes, schools will not likely be rushing to add it to their course schedule. Haywood County school administrators have been approached before about adding some sort of religion-related elective, but the student interest just wasn’t there.

“We have tried several times. We have just not been able to pursue it,” said Garrett, superintendent in Haywood County. “We just haven’t had the demand for it as of yet.”

Duncan said students are limited to only a couple of electives because of all the mandatory classes they must pass. And most students want to play in the band or take a sport or learn a foreign language, he said.

Plus, with schools running on fewer funds, it would be difficult to find the money to pay a teacher. So instead of a class, a number of schools have voluntary, religious-based clubs that meet before or after the school day.

Franklin High School’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes meets every Tuesday morning before class to sing, worship, play games, listen to guest speakers and talk about Biblical teachings.

The group is a national organization, and despite its name, anyone can join, not just athletes.

Student leaders within the group plan the music or activities and schedule speakers.

“The kids do all the work,” Brooks said. “We are just there for support only.”

The club gives students, particularly new freshmen, “a network of people we can lean on when we need it,” Brooks added.

U.S. 441 work nears completion

April 10-16, 2013

Another school-related bill that could come up for consideration would permit high schools in the state to offer Bible study as an elective.

Queen called the idea “odd” and said it puts schools in an awkward position because it only focuses on Christianity.

“Public schools are for everybody so it is very hard to promote any religious issues at school,” Queen said. “All of their faiths need to be respected in school.”

He added that U.S. schools are already struggling to keep up with other countries in terms of math and science.

“Leave children’s faith journey to them. We have so many things to get right like reading and arithmetic,” Queen said.

Davis said that he saw no problem with offering Bible study as an elective.

“So long as it’s not coerced or mandatory,” Davis said.

The Bible study elective — as with the student-led prayer during athletic games — would be voluntary, according to the bill.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville. “If the student chooses to go, then that’s fine.”

However, this bill may be unnecessary since the state education curriculum already includes an elective teaching the New Testament and another focusing on the Old Testament.

“That is already allowable,” said Duncan, interim superintendent in Macon. “It is not part of the courses offered at Macon County, but it is not prohibited.”

Of course, a state bill would carry more

of weeding out the good legislation from the bad.

The resolution sprouted out of a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union against the Rowan County Board of Commissioners. The suit aims to stop the board from opening its meetings with a Christian prayer.

Nondenominational prayer is kosher, and can even reference God, but elected officials cannot evoke the name of Jesus Christ specifically.

N.C. Rep. Michell Presnell, R-Burnsville, signed on as a sponsor of the joint resolution, saying it simply gives the Rowan County commissioners the right to continue denominational prayers. Presnell added that by filing a lawsuit, the ACLU is forcing the county to spend “taxpayer money on a very ludicrous thing.”

Rowan County commissioners could have avoided the lawsuit or get it dropped if they switched to nondenominational prayers, but they chose to fight the suit and keep offering specific Christian prayers.

“I will support (Rowan County) 100 percent, and I wish every single county was included” in the resolution, Presnell said. “Individual counties pray in Jesus’ name everyday.”

While the bill references Rowan County’s plight, it also states that the separation of church and state can’t be mandated by the federal government but instead is a matter of state’s rights whether to follow it.

Presnell also claimed that media reports saying the resolution would open the way for the creation of a state religion are untrue.

“That is just liberal media stuff that they do,” she said.

news

Separation of church and state? State can take it or leave it

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Want to go?

From Sylva, drive about 10 miles south on N.C. 107 and take a left onto Caney Fork Road. Go about 3 miles then turn left onto a gravel road and drive just under half-amile. The rock is on the right, and parking is on the left. Signs are also posted along the route.

There are no restrooms, water fountains or other such amenities, only the soapstone boulder and a wooden viewing platform.

There are also walking trails across the property. Visitors are asked not to sit or walk on the rock.

Although Judaculla Rock has relatively deep carvings in comparison with many other petroglyphs from that time, each decade begets less detail in the overlapping and clustered drawings. Last January, researchers conducted a laser scan of the rock that may reveal miniscule topography of the rock that the human eye may overlook.

The images, now being analyzed by archeologists, could be especially useful around the perimeter of the rock where the etchings are faint. However, often attributing meaning to the figures on the surface, not identifying them, is the most difficult part.

“The rock is kind of in the eye of the beholder — every time you go out there, you see something different,” Ashcraft said. “But who knows what were missing in terms of minuscule depth.”

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Smoky Mountain News

burned or dismantled over time. Judaculla Rock, however, has largely maintained its form. Yet, it does face threats from the elements, and due to its off-the-beaten-path location, vandalism as well. In 2002, the rock was tagged extensively with blue spray paint.

Townsend hopes the new designation will bring more visitors and thus less delinquents, and perhaps even prompt its caretakers to invest in security measures to protect it.

Moreover, officials with the register have expressed interest in featuring the rock on the National Register of Historic Places website.

“I hope what it means is that the site becomes more visited, better understood and more respected,” Townsend said. “Not a hidden kind of backwater nook where people go to hang out.”

The Caney Fork property on which Judaculla Rock is located once belonged to private landowners, but its management was taken over by Jackson County in the late 1950s.

During the past couple of years, the Judaculla Rock Preservation Project was launched to improve the viewing experience of the rock and to protect it from degradation — both from the natural elements and from man. The site was generally tidied up, a viewing platform and walkways were built and silt

that had filled in around the base of the rock was excavated. This summer, interpretive signs will be placed on the property telling the story and the legend of the rock.

As improvements at the site advance, so does understanding of the rock. At one time, the origin of the carvings were unknown, and left to much speculation. But Scott Ashcraft, an archeologist and co-director of the N.C. Rock Art Project, said they have been determined to have been made between 500 A.D. and 1700 by the Cherokee.

Ashcraft believes the rock, and others like it across the region, were markers of important areas of the Cherokee landscape. Many of the other rocks were since destroyed by development, but at one time, they all worked in unison to tell the story of Judaculla — a slanteyed Cherokee giant who protected the natural world.

“When it came to the Cherokee mythology, it was the most, or one of the most, important areas described,” Ashcraft said.

“After you past that rock, you are entering Judaculla’s landscape.”

April 10-16, 2013

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER udaculla Rock, a prehistoric gem of the Cherokee and the most heavily inscribed petroglyph in the East, is putting Jackson County on the map.

Jackson County and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians learned late last month that the rock has been accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places for its unique surface etchings and ancient inscriptions. The soapstone boulder is believed to be part of a mythical Cherokee landscape and one of several such markers across the Nantahala Mountain range.

There’s 80,000 sites on the National Register of Historic Places, from the Mount Vernon Estate to sections of Route 66.

However, Judaculla Rock is much older and far more mysterious than most on the list — and in many ways, its designation carries more importance.

“It’s a victory for tribal peoples and it’s a victory for America,” Russ Townsend, tribal historic preservation officer, said about the rock’s recent designation.

Despite 12,000 years of history, only 5 percent or so of the listings on the National Register of Historic Places are of Cherokee origin across the eight-state territory that once comprised the Cherokee Nation.

Judaculla Rock is now possibly the only Native American site on the national register heralding from Jackson County, and one of a short list of Native American sites in the state that are on the National Register. In total, North Carolina has about 2,800 sites on the register and Jackson County just under 20, according to the N.C. Historic Preservation Office.

“There are many in Western North Carolina that have made it on to the national register, but there are few that have to do with Native American history,” Townsend said. “Every time we get a Native American site on the national registry it addresses that imbalance.”

Many Cherokee sites have been plowed,

Firelight illuminates the petroglyphs on the surface of Judaculla rock in Jackson County.

The rock holds a legendary place in the history of the Cherokee. Donated photo

news

Storied Judaculla Rock gets overdue recognition

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news

River-lust spurs building rebound on Nantahala Tiny riverside lots pose sewage conundrum

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER om Anderson barely batted an eyelash when he plunked down $300,000 in cash for a tiny lot along the Nantahala eight years ago in the Mystic River development.

Sure it was pricey, but on par with any other prominent second-home market, he reasoned.

“It is about as expensive as buying a lot on the ocean at Myrtle Beach,” said Anderson, 47, a dentist in Winston-Salem.

Anderson — who prefers whitewater over saltwater, however — relished the idea of his own private slice of the Nantahala Gorge, a famous outpost for river recreation.

“I could grab my fly fishing rod and kayak and just go,” Anderson said.

But his dreams took a hiatus when the recession hit. Like so many would-be secondhome owners in the mountains, Anderson has been sitting on his lot wondering year after year whether the climate was finally right to build his weekend getaway.

It was an about-face compared to how quickly Anderson and the other property owners in Mystic River snatched up lots when they first went up for sale. All 40 lots were claimed in a matter of two days during a wellorchestrated sales blitz, going for $280,000 to $350,000 for third-of-an-acre lots.

But the hype came to a halt with the recession. Mystic River was beset by an “unexpected glacial pace of construction of homes,” said Robert Burgin, a consulting engineer for Mystic River.

Despite the brisk lot sales, only one home was built in eight years.

“Building plans by property owners were indefinitely shelved,” Burgin said.

Several factors kept lot owners from building, said Larry Harwood, another lot owner who had been quick to jump on the choice riverfront lots. One was trouble getting construction loans. Banks were skittish about lending money to build in a development with no other homes in the ground yet, said Harwood, a computer hardware dealer from Chattanooga.

At last, however, development in Mystic River has been kick-started — offering a harbinger of hope for the second-home construction industry.

Nearly a dozen lot owners have pulled the trigger and started building and designing homes in Mystic River during the past year, Anderson and Harwood among them.

Thanks to the building slump, they got a great deal from their builders.

“People needed the construction work so the prices had come down on labor and materials,” Harwood said.

While Mystic River could be a sign of a construction rebound in the mountains, it could just be defying the odds. There simply 14 aren’t any other spots to build a house along

Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

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not room for traditional septic systems. They need a large footprint for a drain field, allowing wastewater to filter through the soil.

Trying to shoehorn both a house and a septic system on the lots — plus keep construction a mandatory distance from the river’s edge — proved challenging.

“Conventional systems were out the window,” said Charles Reagan, who handles septic permits for Swain County. “It would leave these people tiny footprints to build on what were billed as pretty upscale lots.

That density would be fine if you had city sewer, but of course, they didn’t have that.”

There were other complications, too, like being in the flood plain.

The development has twice devised plans for handling future homeowners sewage, only to later scrap them in favor of a new plan.

The development recently applied for a third round of permits for yet another type of system.

“I actually call them plan A, plan B, and plan C,” Harwood said.

The latest plan under consideration is a “Bioreactor Membrane system.”

Wastewater cycles through three tanks before emerging clean on the other side and simply dripping out onto the ground. The heavy lifting is done by a membrane with super fine pores. Water is pushed through the membrane, but After years of stalled building, several homes are under construction in the Mystic Lands development along the pores are so fine that the Nantahala River. Photo donated by Larry Harwood organisms and contaminants can’t pass through. As a safeguard, the already cleaned water is treatas well. The development saw only two fore“I hated to see them sell the land,” ed with ultraviolet light in another tank. closures in the wake of the real estate crash — Harwood said. But if it was going to be devel“One of the beauties of this system is that far below average compared to other secondoped, he wanted in. home developments, where buyers simply “We hike and mountain bike and paddle,” you can clean and polish the effluent to drinking water quality,” said Randall Nelson, walked away as the realization set in that their Harwood said. “It is a great place to go do it owner of Reuse Innovation based in Franklin. lot was only worth a fraction of what they’d all from one central location.”

Nelson is one of a handful of distributors bought it for.

Lot owners have faced challenges building nationally that sells small-scale versions of the But Mystic River was spared the plight of on lots so close to the river’s edge, however. slumping real estate values. Two additional Being in the floodway, homes must be elevated membrane systems.

“It is not here to replace the conventional lots put up for sale in the development during eight to nine feet in the air on concrete piers. septic if you have good deep soil. If you don’t the past year went for $320,000 and $415,000.

“We had to put a fortune in concrete,” have that, or when you have environmental Prices in that range are rarely seen these Harwood said. concerns, this as an alternative,” Nelson said. days. Diehl fielded several calls from puzzled On the plus side, it gives them plenty of The water coming out of the tanks is so appraisers wondering whether the posted basement level storage for all the boats and property transactions were legitimate. bikes they’ll have in tow when escaping to the clean it simply spills into a shallow pit lined with sandy soil and soaks into the ground.

“They haven’t lost value because nobody Nantahala.

The permit is still pending with the N.C. else has any lots on the river,” Anderson said.

Division of Water Quality but seems to stand “In the mountains, there is tons of property IVERSIDE LOCALE a good chance of approval. available, but not on the river.”

“It is a pretty advanced system,” said Cory It proves the point real estate watchers POSES SEWAGE CHALLENGES Larson, an environmental engineer with the have been driving home: while run-of-the-mill N.C. Division of Water Quality in Raleigh. mountain subdivisions may still be flush with One issue lot owners in Mystic River are “The membrane is a very fine filter that proinventory, those that standout from the still grappling with is how to handle their crowd stand to fare better as the economy sewage. Given the small lot sizes ranging from duces a high-quality effluent. Overall, it’s quite a bit of technology.” comes back. one-quarter to one-third of an acre, there’s the whitewater Mecca of the Nantahala.

“It is a unique development and a unique location,” said Greg Diehl, the director of the Mystic Lands Property Owners Association.

“These are the only lots on a whitewater rafting river in the Southeast. Not only did we avoid the crash we maintained our value here.”

The river is surrounded by national forest, making Mystic River a rare island of privately owned land in the gorge.

Mystic River is not only seeing an uptick in construction ahead of the rest of the region, but has also shrugged off other trends

Mystic River had its share of detractors when it launched eight years ago. River rats feared the development would change of the nature of the Nantahala by lining a stretch of the bank with houses.

“There were even some hecklers at one of the sales,” Anderson recalled.

Before it was sold to a developer, Mystic River was a campground. Harwood made yearly sojourns to the campground with buddies from Chattanooga. One year, he called to make a reservation for an upcoming trip only to learn it was no longer a campground.

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BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER tatewide parks and recreation funding is clashing with fiscal austerity in the current state budget process, in a showdown that has environmentalists and local governments bracing for the worst.

Gov. Pat McCroy has recommended a nearly 45 percent cut to the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund compared to historical funding levels. It’s one of many proposed cuts unveiled last month in the new governor’s budget.

The Parks and Recreation Trust Fund would get $15.5 million instead of the $27 million it has historically gotten. That would mean less money for parks, greenways and sports fields in Western North Carolina, where a portion of the fund has been a lifeline for little governments with big projects.

Each year, the trust fund is divided into two main pots: 30 percent goes to recreation-related grants to counties, towns and cities and 65 percent to state park projects.

Since 1995, Jackson County has been awarded more than $1 million from the fund and used it to help pay for everything recreation, from horseshoe courts to a gymnasium.

“It’s made a lot of difference in our little area of the woods,” said Jeff Carpenter, Jackson County Recreation and Parks director. “It’s been great for us in Jackson County.”

Without the state assistance, Carpenter said business in the Parks and Recreation Department would slow to “a creep and a halt.”

Instead of a three- to four-year timeframe for major projects, double that can be expected.

And the county hopes to be awarded another $435,000 this summer to help it construct the first section of the county’s future greenway equipped with a footbridge crossing the Tuckasegee. The county would put up the

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April 10-16, 2013

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remaining $625,000 for the project.

Alex Bell, a fly fishing guide in Jackson County, said the greenway as it is envisioned would provided unprecedented access along the riverbank for activities like jogging, bicycling, boating and fishing. Bell also serves on the county’s greenway committee and knows without the matching funds from the state, the project will have a different outlook.

“I would not pretend to tell the state legislature how to spend the money, but our outdoor resources are valuable and critical, and we need to pass them on to generations to come,” Bell said. “If you can’t get to the water, you can’t fish.”

If the cuts to the fund were enacted, they would not take effect until the upcoming fiscal year, which starts in July. However, the slew of local grant applications submitted in January will draw from both next year’s and this year’s funds.

Several localities have already thrown their name in the hat for state park and recreation grants this go-around. Jackson County wants a greenway. Macon County wants $500,000 for a baseball complex. Waynesville wants $75,000 to refurbishing its tennis courts, just to name a few of the applications coming out of WNC. And geographic distribution is one of the factors considered in the awards process.

“It’s a competitive process,” said Bayard Alcorn, head of the grant administration program for N.C. State Parks. “The more grants that come from a given region, it would be tougher for the other applications.”

Statewide, 74 small government projects applied in January, requesting a total of $20 million from the fund. And, if the governor’s proposal is adopted, Alcorn expects there to be about $4 million to $5 million to go around in coming years.

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much-needed grading, irrigation and landscaping work, and later possibly install new nets, bleachers and bathrooms.

He questioned where the project would be doable if it didn’t have the support of the state funds.

“We’d probably be in a situation where all we could do is put grass seed out there,” Cline said. “The matching money is allowing us to get it going in the right direction.”

However, the governor’s proposal is only a recommendation. Legislators in the General Assembly will be unveiling their own versions of the budget in coming weeks. N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, D-Waynesville, said he is already determined to make sure the governor’s recommendation remains just that, a recommendation.

“I know the history of these trust funds and what good they do,” Queen said. “They serve every part of the state.”

Queen also said that the issue doesn’t have to be a partisan one. He urged N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, to push for the funds protection on the senate front.

Davis said he has fond memories of the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund from serving as a Macon County commissioner. He said the money helped expand a county recreation complex. But the fiscal reality means the state can’t fund everything it wishes it could — a mantra for Davis during the past two years. It will come down how much revenue the state has to divvy up among its priorities, the top two being education and public safety.

“I’d like to preserve (the fund) as much as I could,” Davis said. “But the bottom line is I’d like us to live within our means.”

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Budget cuts have become a way of life for the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund since the recent recession.

Last fiscal year, more than $14 million was poached from the parks and recreation fund and diverted to other budget areas, including plugging a budget hole in state park operating costs. So far this year, $6 million was diverted from the fund to state park operations and more could be drawn out before year’s end.

The real meat of the governor’s recommended changes may not be the cuts themselves, however. The governor has proposed a new funding formula for the parks and recreation trust fund all together.

Currently, the trust fund gets an earmarked share of the real estate transfer tax, a fee tacked on to all property transactions. Under the proposal, it would lose this earmarked revenue and rely on a line item allocations each year with no guarantees.

That scenario could spell doom for the future of the fund, even when the economic outlook has improved. The governor’s proposal could shift the burden of funding parks and recreation projects even more so onto the backs of towns and counties. The outlook has brought the issue of local parks and recreation initiatives at the forefront of discussion.

Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown paused briefly to think about how getting funding for a town skate park would have gone without access to the extra resources.

director, Seth Adams, had already cast his verbal vote long ago in regards to the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

The N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund has been a “I certainly hope that they boon for mountain communities, offering matching grants do no cut it, it is vital to us,” for public town parks, swimming pool repairs, recreation Adams said. “I would think centers, greenways, soccer fields, softball fields, gyms and that’d be vastly unpopular.” even a skateboard park.

Several projects in Macon Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain have gotten $3.4 County have received funding million in all since the fund’s inception. Some examples of from the state during the years. projects are: Namely, Franklin’s 5-mile • Macon County: $467,000 to the Little Tennessee River greenway project along the Greenway; $250,000 for the Highlands recreation complex; and Little Tennessee River received $70,000 for recreation park land acquisition in Highlands. nearly half-a-million dollars in • Jackson County: $250,000 for the recreation center in the state funds.

Cullowhee; $250,000 toward the Monteith community park; A member of the Franklin and $181,000 toward the Canada community park.

Bird Club also took a moment to • Haywood County: $250,000 for the Maggie Valley consider what her guided bird Festival Grounds; $250,000 toward the Canton baseball walks would be like if she didn’t complex; $170,000 for Allens Creek soccer fields, $250,000 have access to the greenway. toward the Waynesville Recreation Center.

“I don’t know a lot of the ins • Swain County: $187,000 for the improvements at the and outs of what funded the county recreation park; $150,000 for the county courthouse greenway to begin with,” Paula riverfront park; and $156,000 to the county’s recreation center.

Gorgoglione said. “But I think it’s one of the best things that “Could we have done the skate park with- ever happened to Franklin.” out the Parks and Recreation Trust Fund?”

Parks and Recreation Trust Fund projects Brown said. “I guess so, but it made the stretch across the region have left similar, lasting a whole lot easier.” marks on the landscape, while others are just Already, local governments around the getting underway. state are passing resolutions urging the state Scott Cline, president of the Swain Youth not to gut the fund. Jackson County commis- Soccer Association, said the state parks and sioners passed one at its meeting in early April. recreation funds awarded $30,000 towards Macon County commission took a stance on renovation of the county soccer field. The the issue at their meeting Tuesday. organization has already raised $12,000 from But Macon County’s Parks and Recreation donors to match the state money and begin

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Stand and deliver Donald Davis weaned on mountain storytelling

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER t’s been said that people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of death, but for Donald Davis, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Growing up in Waynesville, Davis has fond memories of spending time with his relatives and running around the hills of Western North Carolina. It was a rich fabric of oral tradition, one which soaked into his soul. That tradition of storytelling ultimately led to his calling as a minister, a platform where his speaking talents emerged and flourished.

After he retired, the 68-year-old kept being asked by friends, family and strangers alike to share his tales. Eventually, he started to tour the country, standing up onstage night after night with a whirlwind of words, expressions and lore, all in an effort to make a connection with those in the audience.

Davis will be returning to Haywood County when he takes the microphone on April 18 at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska as part of Lake Junaluska’s 100th anniversary celebration. The Smoky Mountain News recently caught up with Davis at his home in the Outer Banks. He

Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

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spoke of his childhood, the importance of storytelling in the modern world, and how he ended up with a collection of 400 bow ties.

SMN: One of those things with exploring is coming across experiences and stories. What were some of your first experiences with that?

DD: You’re not aware of things like that, you don’t even know it’s happening until later on. We’d go to my grandmother’s house in Fines Creek and there would be a whole gang of relatives talking and I was just listening to them.

Storyteller Donald Davis. Photo donated

SMN: Were you into storytelling before you made it a profession?

DD: Yeah, without even knowing it. When I was little, I would go back to school and tell everyone what I had heard. I couldn’t understand anyone not doing it. It’s just the way you talk.

SMN: Did you always enjoy public speaking?

DD: Never even thought about it, it’s just something you do, like walking or eating.

You know people talk about being scared speaking in public, I just never understood that. What is there to be scared of? You’re just doing something, and it was always comfortable to me.

SMN: What are the similarities to being a minister and a storyteller?

DD: What I was doing as a minister was preaching, and gradually I realized that storytelling was what really worked there, so I kept putting it into effect more often. And I just wanted to listen to people’s stories.

Everybody has a story and people love to tell their stories without realizing it.

SMN: What do think about face-to-face communication being called a lost art these days?

DD: Well, it’s really not. It’s funny to hear people talk about that. Storytelling is becoming more and more part of a school curriculum and of society than it has ever been before. I think technology is more of an addition than a replacement.

SMN: Where did the idea to become a professional

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The Smoky Mountain News: What was it like when you were a kid in Waynesville?

Donald Davis: It was beautiful. When I was little I loved the mountains, I loved being able to walk, hike and troop around all over the place. I had lots of relatives spread out all over the county, so we visited them a lot.

Wherever we went, we have relatives. Our family had been there a good 250 years before I was born.

Renowned storyteller and Waynesville native Donald Davis will regale audiences with tales at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in Stuart Auditorium at the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. The show kicks off Lake Junaluska’s 100th anniversary celebration, which will continue with special events throughout the summer.

Davis is uniquely qualified to capture the essence of life at Lake Junaluska — his dad was at the opening ceremony for the Methodist retreat back in 1913 and Davis is a retired Methodist minister himself. The event is free and open to the public. www.lakejunaluska.com/100. storyteller come around?

DD: I would tell stories for local programs, and I kept getting asked to do more and more storytelling. Having been a minister telling stories, one thing had grown to be almost as big as the other and eventually I let go of the first part.

SMN: What types of stories do you tell?

DD: All of the stories are original and about growing up. They’re about trouble because those are the events in which we learn from.

It’s all about learning and things that move us forward. They’re all funny, even if they

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Stories by the Lakeshore

may be sad. They’re all set in the mountains of North Carolina. Some of the stories I tell have come through my family, but it can be a double story because I’ll tell you about that person and then the story.

SMN: What do you want the audience to walk away with?

DD: I want them to think of their own stories they would have never thought of if they hadn’t heard my stories.

SMN: What’s the key to telling a good story?

DD: It’s all description. You can have way too much plot, but you can never have enough description, because when we listen to a story, we’re really watching it like a movie, not analyzing it. And they’ll sit there and say they know somebody like who I’m talking about.

SMN: Why is it important to cherish these stories?

DD: A family that builds a strong story tradition copes with trouble a lot better than a family that doesn’t.

SMN: What’s with the bow tie? Where did that come from?

DD: I don’t know. Every picture of me dressed up, from the time I was two years old, I’m wearing a bow tie. I don’t know what started it. It’s kind of always been there. I was born with it, I guess.

SMN: So, how many do you own?

DD: Oh, around 400 or so.

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Parsing out a majority in Haywood room tax debate proves murky

BY CAITLIN BOWLING & BECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITERS ithout support from the Maggie Valley Lodging Association, a bill to increase the room tax in Haywood County could die in the N.C. General Assembly.

“It doesn’t go anywhere until there is a consensus,” said N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, RFranklin.

An increase in the overnight lodging tax from 4 cents to 6 cents would net $450,000 a year. It would be dedicated solely to building and enhancing tourist attractions in the county.

A contingent of Maggie Valley lodging owners is refusing to sign on, however, and until they do, Davis has the bill parked in neutral. Exactly how many Maggie lodging owners are for or against the bill is unclear, with little more to go on than anecdotal claims and stacks of letters from both sides alleging that they represent the majority opinion.

Aside from the yet-to-be-determined number of Maggie lodging owners against the bill, all the other stakeholders in the county have given the bill their seal of

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approval — namely the towns of Waynesville, Canton and Clyde, the county commissioners, the county Tourism Development Authority, the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce and the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

All that’s left is the Maggie Lodging Association, Davis said.

“They have to get them on board,” Davis said.

But that could be an impossible standard to meet given that different factions in the Maggie tourism industry have been feuding for decades.

“I don’t think you can get 100 percent consensus from lodging owners on anything because everyone’s markets are so different,” said Lyndon Lowe, owner of Twinbrook Resort in Maggie Valley and a recent member of the tourism development authority.

There are 123 hotels, motels, inns, B&Bs, resorts, villas and cottages in Haywood County and several hundred vacation home rentals. The Maggie Lodging Association only has 42 members, and of those, some are actually in favor of the tax increase.

Based on the numbers, the ranks of those in the Maggie Lodging Association who

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oppose the plan are a minority of the county’s overnight accommodations, so why should they be afforded so much clout, Lowe questioned.

Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. A bill must pass in either the N.C. House or N.C. Senate by May 16 to stay afloat. It then advances to the other chamber for approval, but has to make it through one of the two bodies by the so-called “crossover” deadline.

If Davis doesn’t move the bill forward, the tourism tax bill will simply die. Then the county will have to wait at least two years before again trying to increase the tax.

At the moment, the official position of Maggie Valley’s town board is 3 to 1 in favor of the bill, but that is likely to change this week. Maggie Alderman Mike Matthews, who has flip-flopped between support and opposition, planned to call for a new vote at a town board meeting Tuesday night and switch his vote of record. That would make Maggie’s official position on the issue tied 2 to 2.

Matthews said he is not against raising the idea in theory.

“I am not necessarily against it,” Matthews said. “It could do a lot of good.”

But Matthews is among those who want assurances that Maggie will get a substantial voice in how the money is spent since Maggie is home to more overnight accommodations than anywhere else in the county.

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Critics of the proposed tax bill turned out in force to meet with Davis last Thursday, April 4, at the Haywood County Republican Headquarters in Waynesville to share their displeasure.

“They are just expressing their concerns, and I think that is terrific,” Davis said.

Davis caught some grief for introducing the bill in the first place. Davis replied that he is merely a public servant working on behalf of county stakeholders and has no agenda.

“I am sorry you have complaints, but I don’t have control over that. You have control over that,” Davis said. “The only thing I care about in this bill is it reflects what you want to do.”

One man interrupted Davis, asking him to help them beat local government and gestured toward Maggie Mayor Ron DeSimone and Haywood County Commissioner Kevin Ensley, who were both in attendance and both support the bill.

“It’s not my job to destroy local government. I refuse to do it,” Davis replied. “I told you that that bill stays in [committee] until all the interested parties in Haywood County vote on this issue.”

No formal or official vote has been taken within the Maggie lodging industry, howev-

er. Even among those who came to see Davis last Thursday, there was no hard and fast headcount of lodging owners who were against it.

About three dozen or so people were there. At least four in the crowd are on record supporting the lodging tax. Roughly half in attendance weren’t affiliated with the tourism industry, but instead oppose the measure on principle.

“Please don’t ram this legislation through as written,” said Karen Hession, president of the Maggie Valley Lodging Association. “How do we know if it is in our best interest?”

Hession said that the bill includes no criteria for how the additional 2 cents will be distributed and no way to track whether the money actually increases tourism in the county.

“What new attraction could be built that would draw people?” Hession said.

One possible use of the new revenue proffered by tourism leaders and county commissioners is a tournament-caliber ball field complex in Jonathan Creek. While the sports complex is a ready-to-go project frequently cited as an example, there’s a wide gamut of options, from improving civic center and festival venues to grants for private tourist attractions.

However, the vagueness of what else the money could pay for has some lodging owners worried.

“The only way I would be for it is if there

“It would benefit the majority of us.”

— Jeff Smith, Jonathan Creek Inn

was a plan that was presented to me by people who have enough sense to understand the tourism industry,” said Dale Walksler, owner of Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie.

Walksler has often lambasted the county tourism authority over the years for what he considers a misguided tourism marketing strategy.

Like many in Maggie, Walksler would support the increase if and only if the money was under the sole control of Maggie Valley tourism interests and not the at-large countywide tourism authority.

That seems to be a hurdle in winning over critics.

“I don’t think they trust the TDA,” said Roger McElroy, owner of Laurel Park Inn and former Maggie Valley mayor. “They don’t trust that it will be distributed fairly.”

McElroy, incidentally, supports the bill.

Critics also complained that the higher room cost would deter tourists from coming and say the bill was rushed to introduction without input.

WHO’S IN THEIR COURT? While leaders of the Maggie Valley Lodging Association claim the majority of accommodations owners are against the tax, a formal vote among lodging owners has not been taken, so it is hard to say who is right.

The lodging association represents about

who opposed the bill by proxy.

“They read off all sorts of names of people who didn’t come but saying they were against it,” Lowe said.

Over the past two weeks, the Maggie Valley Lodging Association has been collecting letters from lodging owners opposed to the tax increase that could eventually offer some hard numbers.

Meanwhile, Maggie Mayor Ron DeSimone has been collecting letters from lodging owners in favor of it.

Complicating matters further, however, there’s a second lodging group based in Maggie Valley, the Haywood County Hotel and Motel Association. That entity conducted an email poll of its members in February when the tax increase first came up. The result: eight in favor and seven against. But of those in favor, four offered conditional support if guarantees were built in for how the money could be spent — namely guarantees Maggie would get the biggest voice in funding decisions.

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To get more lodging owners onboard in Maggie, the rest of the county would have to promise Maggie the biggest seat at the table when it comes to picking what projects get funded.

Decisions would be up to special committee, spelled out in the state bill. Currently, the bill calls for a 15-member board with a composition looks like this: ■ Five seats: One for each of the five zip code locales in the county: Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Canton and Clyde ■ Six seats: To be divvied up among locales according to how much room tax each collects — proportionally allocated based on room tax generated in each locale. Based on current room tax collections, Maggie would get four of these seats and Waynesville would get two.

■ Four seats: To be reserved for county representatives.

The break down would give Maggie more seats on the board than other entity — 5 of the 15 seats in all — but some Maggie lodging owners fear their voice in what projects get funded would be too watered down.

Canton Town Manager Al Matthews, however, said his town would oppose a structure that gave the majority voice to any one community.

Waynesville has largely risen above the fray.

“We think it is a very good concept,” said Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown. “We weren’t going to sit in there and pick at some little issue. Other people can argue about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.”

Other stipulations in the bill are: ■ No single project can get more than onethird of the money in any given year. This keeps one big project from consuming all the money and ensures it is spread around.

■ Bigger ticket projects could be funded upfront by taking out a loan and paying it off with the room tax proceeds in coming years, but would still be subject to the onethird cap.

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40 establishments of varying sizes — everything from a single vacation cabin to bed and breakfasts with a handful of rooms to larger motels.

Those at the helm of the lodging association are against the increase and have staked out the group’s official position as such. But several members within the Maggie Lodging Association actually support the increase, including Lyndon Lowe of Twinbrook Resorts and Robert Edwards of A Holiday Motel.

Lowe and Edwards have similar stories.

They moved here from Florida in search of a better life. They bought motels with the hope of making a living and raising their young children in Maggie.

Edwards said Maggie seemed like a promising tourist town when he bought his motel six years ago.

“But in the past few years we have seen Maggie Valley deteriorate further and further and that’s not good,” Lowe said.

Declining tourism in Maggie Valley is particularly concerning to them. They are in it for the long haul, not as a hobby or source of side income in retirement like some lodging owners, Lowe said.

They aren’t the only members of the Maggie Lodging Association who in fact support the measure. Another supporter is Beth Reece of the Maggie Valley Inn and Convention Center, who sent a message to Sen. Davis voicing her support for the tourism bill. So did Jeff Smith, owner of Jonathan Creek Inn. “It would benefit the majority of us,” said Smith, whose 44-room accommodation could easily cater to sports teams if the Jonathan Creek sports complex is built.

Smith said the size of the lodging establishment seems to sway people’s opinions on the matter.

“I think most of the larger hotels probably see more benefit than the smaller ones do,” he said.

Similarly large accommodations, such as the Comfort Inn, Best Western, Meadowlark Motel and Smoky Falls Lodge, have also come out in support of the bill.

McElroy said waning tourism in Maggie can’t be fixed without attractions, and that’s what this bill would do.

“The reason they don’t come is we don’t have anything for them to do,” McElroy said.

“I would hope that the county would complete the complex in Jonathan Creek.”

From where he stands, McElroy said the naysayers are the minority.

“I don’t think it’s a majority,” McElroy said.

Karen Hession, president of the lodging association, claims the lodging association held a vote during its February meeting and that everyone there was against it. But only about 14 or 15 were in attendance, and three were actually for it. Furthermore, the vote wasn’t a clear vote. Hession said she only asked “who here is against this?”

“I don’t remember them calling for a vote of who was for it,” said Lowe, who was at the Maggie Lodging Association meeting that day.

In addition to those in attendance, however, Hession had a list of lodging owners

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Opinion Prescription drug industry needs to be reined in 22

Smoky Mountain News

Editor’s note: After The Smoky Mountain News cover story last week on prescription drug overdose deaths, Dr. Allan Zacher of Lake Junaluska submitted this guest column. Zacher operates Interventional Pain Services of WNC and lectures frequently on this topic. He is board certified in the field of “pain medicine” by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Last week’s SMN cover story can be found at http://smokymountainnews.com/news/item/10047.

hat’s deadlier than a crazed maniac in a kindergarten class with a loaded assault weapon?

In the most horrifying massacre in the history of the United States, a few days before Christmas, 20-year-old Adam Lanza walked into a classroom of 5- and 6year-old children, opened fire and killed them all plus six teachers and staff including the highly respected principal and then himself.

What could be more horrifying that that? Fifty to 70 deaths per day from doctor prescribed medications. While the whole country focuses on the Sandy Hook tragedy for weeks, months Guest Columnist and possibly years, reviewing questions of how to prevent this from happening again, twice that many people are dying per day from societally accepted, doctor-prescribed medications and nobody’s doing anything about it!

The Centers for Disease Control, the National Institute of Health and the National Institute of Mental Health are calling deaths from drug overdoses the “modern epidemic,” and indeed it is. If anything else caused this much death and destruction of otherwise healthy lives — a plane crash, a school massacre — the whole country would be up in arms within 24 hours to stop it.

Dr. Allan Zacher

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HOW DID WE GET HERE?

Under the guise of trying to help patients with chronic, non-cancer pain (“benign pain” or pain from a condition that won’t kill the patient), Drs. Russell K. Portenoy and Katherine M. Foley published an article in 1986 purporting to support the use of opioid (narcotic) pain medication. Drs. Foley and Portenoy were at Sloan Kettering cancer center in New York City and had managed countless patients with terminal illnesses but had acquired a number of patients referred by doctors for chronic management because of their skills with opioid medication management.

They published an observational report describing 38 patients followed over various periods of time but about four to seven years on various opioid medications. In this report, they state that of 38 patients, 14 had inadequate pain relief and “few substantial gains in employment or social function could be attributed to the institution of opioid therapy.”

I should point out that rejected from inclusion in this study were patients on workman’s compensation and patients with back pain.

I should also point out that in the intervening quarter cen-

tury there has not been a shred of objective, scientific longterm evidence that opioids actually help people with chronic pain. There have been plenty of short-term studies funded by drug companies, but they are on the order of four to 12 weeks.

These studies compare a potent opioid such as slow release morphine, slow release oxycodone, hydromorphone to a placebo! Accepting this kind of data as a scientific study to actually help patients seems a joke to me in view of the decades-long (possibly centuries) history of knowing these drugs are dangerous, addictive and cause personality changes.

The ravages of addiction to opioids were well known by the time Freud was trying to treat morphine addiction with cocaine and failed (the patient wound up addicted to both) in the late 1890s. There were plenty of published reports and certainly it was well known before then that these medications are powerful, dangerous and lethal.

Indeed the very few long-term studies (Eriksen, et. al. Pain, 2006) show that long-term treatment of patients with opioid actually makes them worse as far as a) pain symptom reporting, b) return to work, c) functionality and d) personal life.

PHARMACEUTICAL PROFITS What has happened? Again, how did we get to the point that most primary care and other doctors in the United States believe that the treatment for patients who complain of pain is to put the patient on opioid medications, sometimes even as a first line treatment?

Drug company profits and drive for aggrandization, that’s how.

The Wall Street Journal, in the very same issue (Dec. 15, 2012) that reports on the front page about the Sandy Hook massacre, also had on its front page an article about Dr. Portenoy. In it he says, “I gave innumerable lectures in the late 1980s and 90s about addiction that weren’t true,” that this had contributed to the soaring rates of addiction and overdose deaths.

Because of drug company funding of talks, lectures, symposia, medical school grants and generous funds from pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Portenoy and his like-minded colleagues have had lucrative and illustrious careers. Dr. Portenoy is chairman of the Beth Israel Hospital (a Harvard institution) Pain Medicine department. Numerous other doctors have had similar careers and support directly and indirectly from the companies that make narcotic pain medications.

How have the drug companies fared with this investment?

In exchange for investing millions over the decades in “medical education groups,” sponsoring lecturers like Dr. Portenoy, generously donating money to medical schools to “research and teach” about “pain medicine” they have generated many tens of billions of dollars in profits. For instance, my understanding is that Perdue Pharma went from making a profit of $2 billion a year to $8 billion a year when it was able to get FDA approval to approve OxyContin for treatment of chronic pain instead of just terminal cancer pain.

In my opinion, the drug companies are well-meaning but misguided, and eventually the rewarded doctors have become the modern day drug pushers, the goal seeming to be to devel-

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op a large population of addicted patients in the United States who will “require” their expensive medications for the rest of their lives.

The cost? How about up to 24,000 drug overdose deaths per year, and again with no evidence that long-term treatment really helps people.

THE LAZARUS PROJECT

What are “we” doing to help with this? The Lazarus Project seeks (so far with increasing success) to get reversal agents such as Narcan into the hands of doctors, patients and significant others to reduce the death rate from these medications.

Congress has initiated a study of the connection between forprofit drug companies and “support” for research and other academic activities.

What else are we doing? Is anybody telling doctors that maybe trying to treat chronic pain with opioids is a bad idea?

No. Why? Because there’s no money in it, and because the drug companies have run such effective campaigns to get entire medical communities to believe that pain equals give prescription for opioids that a doctor is sometimes considered a bit “off ” if he or she still thinks “pain medication is addicting.”

However, think for a minute: if Adam Lanza, who murdered 26 innocent people were apprehended instead of killing himself, what would have happened to him? Would he have J received the death penalty?

Now think of people who have contributed to the deaths of perhaps 250,000 or more patients over the decades by deliberately pushing opioid treatment with knowledge of how dangerous these drugs are to make money or for status? What should we think of them? Should they be chairpeople of the best academic departments in the country? Should they be CEOs of pharmaceutical companies that personally make salaries of millions of dollars?

Think for yourself. Think on behalf of your patients — are you doing them a favor, are you treating their disease if you have a patient with chronic pain for whom you initiate opioid therapy?

I believe that doctors need to come to the realization that chronic pain is like any medical disease: sometimes you can cure it with treatment, sometimes you can palliate it, reduce it, increase the patient’s functionality but sometimes it eludes treatment. There are many examples of patients who experienced chronic pain from trauma or other issues who were started on opioid medication, and over a period of time, years perhaps, developed the usual problems. These patients, when they stopped taking the medication either through self withdrawal or perhaps through a program, reported feeling better and being more functional even though they continued to experience chronic pain.

There is no substitute for hard science, for blinded, controlled studies comparing a dangerous medication like opioid to the otherwise best available treatment, not a sugar pill. And these studies should be funded by truly independent grant entities such as the NIH, not drug companies! If this happens, possibly there may be a role for long-term opioid medication; however, these studies may also show that ultimately the patients actually are not better.

Recent charm offensive will influence Obama legacy

e have been hearing a lot lately about W President Barack Obama’s charm offensive. He has been traveling a short distance

April 10-16, 2013 Smoky Mountain News

Don Livingston

from the White House to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, including Republicans. He now seems more interested in developing relationships and a rapport with members on both sides of the aisle whose votes he can use in the days ahead.

In short, he’s doing some schmoozing and wooing. It’s about time! One can only wonder why it has taken Obama and his political advisers inside the Oval Office so long to realize that Guest Columnist relationships matter in Washington.

Perhaps Obama is not as quick a study as we have been led to believe. Obama is a bright man. He can deliver a speech. He possesses strong analytical skills. He is a genuine person. His heart is in the right place.

He has the best of intentions. However, Jodi Kantor, in her book The Obamas, describes the president as an elusive and introverted individual who often demonstrates an unrealistic assessment of what he can accomplish. The truth of the matter is that Obama spent far too much time during his first term performing a one-man show and far too little time recruiting a cast of characters for a blockbuster production.

Obama has exhibited little interest in building relationships with people that matter in Washington during his time in the White House. He has a mistrust of politics, does not like engaging in small talk and finds backslapping repugnant. He much prefers spending time with a small number of close friends that he accumulated prior to arriving in Washington to serve in the Senate. In his mind, he has a job to do and therefore bigger fish to fry. What he seems not to understand is that he must hook and catch the fish before he can fry them.

Chris Matthews, a prominent political observer and television personality, has noted that Obama is more interested in cutting deals with political players in Washington than he is in forging bonds with them.

Obama has a tendency to use people and then move on.

Part of his problem is that, even though he served briefly in the Senate before taking up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he

did not make it his business to get a feel for the Washington political culture and adapt to how the legislative process works. In fact, Obama was a frustrated and unhappy senator. John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, in their book Game Change, report that the Senate drove Obama nuts. According to Heilemann and Halperin, Sen. Obama was especially irked by the slow pace by which the Senate moves and the geriatric cast of characters doddering around the place. He spent more time pondering his options than he did cultivating colleagues.

Will President Obama’s charm offensive work? We will have to wait and see, but Bob Woodward, in his recent book The Price of Politics, reminds us that it’s too late to make friends at that point in time when you need them.

One might add that it’s too late to make friends when you need them the most, especially in the political arena. This characterizes the situation in which Obama finds himself at the moment. His legacy is at stake, and he must deal with a Republican-controlled House.

Obama should have spent time early in his first term learning more about how Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan operated in the White House.

Johnson, a liberal, was a product of the Congress. He loved the Congress and had a firsthand understanding of how to get things done in terms of the legislative process.

Reagan, a conservative, was a Washington outsider from California who entered the Oval Office leading a revolution to dismantle big government and return power to the states. He had held only one elected office at the state level prior to arriving in our nation’s capital, and thus had no firsthand experience dealing with Congress. But Reagan, a former governor, learned that relationships mattered in Sacramento.

Both Johnson and Reagan made themselves accessible to members of Congress and devoted considerable time to doing the little things, like photo ops, that members of Congress appreciated. They realized that, in order to have friends to whom they could appeal when the chips were down, they had to be friends with those with the votes. Their legacies were secured in large part by their willingness to employ the “charm offensive” earlier in their presidencies.

(Don Livingston is a professor of political science and public affairs at Western Carolina University. His field of expertise is the American presidency.)

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BLUE RIDGE BBQ COMPANY 180 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.7524. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. FridaySaturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Blue Ridge BBQ is a family owned and operated restaurant. The BBQ is slow hardwood smoked, marinated in its own juices, and seasoned with mountain recipes. All menu items made from scratch daily. Featuring homemade cornbread salad, fresh collard greens, or cornbread and milk at your request. Old-fashioned homemade banana pudding and fruit cobbler of the season.

Catering, take-out, eat-in. blueridgebbq@gmail.com.

April 10-16, 2013

Call for more info

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER:

“Murder Mom” Saturday, April 20 $40/person + TAX & GRATUITY Call for reservations

94 East St. • Waynesville Available for private parties — 828-452-7837 For details & menus see www.herrenhouse.com Serving Lunch Wed-Fri 11:30-2 & Sunday Brunch 11-2

Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics -Local beers now on draft-

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180 N. Main Street | Waynesville NC Catering | Take out | Dine-in

828-452-7524

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AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville.

828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years.

Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

ANTHONY WAYNE’S 37 Church St, Waynesville. 828.456.6789.

Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exceptional, new-American cuisine, offering several gluten free items.

Bed & Breakfast and Restaurant

Saturday, April 13th 5 COURSES, 5 WINES

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251

blueridgebbq@gmail.com Mon - Thursday 11:00-8:00 | Fri- Saturday 11:00- 9:00 | Sunday 11:00- 4:00

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997.

Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

BOGART’S 35 East Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6532.

Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Serving classic American food and drink in a casual environment. Daily lunch and dinner specials. Children’s menu available. Call for catering quotes. Private room available for large parties. Accepts MC/Visa, Discover and American Express.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m.

Closed on Sunday. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an

extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837.

Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy fresh local products, created daily.

Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Join us for cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting) and family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Our bountiful family-style meals include prime rib, baked ham, and herb-baked chicken; cookouts feature steaks, ribs, chicken and pork chops, to name a few. Every dinner is complemented with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts, and we offer a fine selection of wine and beer.

Breakfast is also served daily from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch from 12 to 2 p.m.

Please call for reservations.

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville.

828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer.

Reservations honored.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials.

Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked salmon bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait.

We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panni sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine.

Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events.

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

CORK AND BEAN 16 Everett St., Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy

tasteTHEmountains organic, fair-trade, gourmet espresso and coffees, a select, eclectic list of wines, and locally prepared treats to go with every thing.

Come by early and enjoy a breakfast crepe with a latte, grab a grilled chicken pesto crepe for lunch, or wind down with a nice glass of red wine. Visit us on Facebook!

CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.7179. Reservations recommended.

4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com.

FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley.

828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes.

Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. Come for the restaurant’s 4 @ 4 when you can choose a center and three sides at special prices.

Offered Wed- Fri. from 4 to 6. frogsleappublichouse.org.

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

LOS AMIGOS 366 Russ Ave. in the Bi-Lo Plaza.

828.456.7870. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the lunch prices Monday through Sunday, also enjoy our outdoor patio.

MAD BATTER BAKERY & CAFÉ Located on the WCU Campus in Cullowhee.

828.293.3096. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Earth-friendly foods at people-friendly prices.

Daily specials, wraps, salads, pastries, breads, soups and more. Unique fare, friendly service, casual atmosphere and wireless Internet. Organic ingredients, local produce, gourmet fair trade and organic coffees.

MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

Open daily for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.

MILL & MAIN 462 W. Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6799.

Serving lunch and dinner. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Pizza, pasta, outstanding homemade desserts, plus full lunch and dinner menus.

All ABC permits. Take-out menus available.

MOONSHINE GRILL 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley loacted in the Smoky Falls Lodge. 828.926.7440. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9 p.m.

Cooking up mouth-watering, wood-fired Angus steaks, prime rib and scrumptious fresh seafood dishes. The wood-fired grill gives amazing flavor to every meal that comes off of it. Enjoy creative dishes made using moonshine. Stop by and simmer for a while and soak up the atmosphere. The best kept secret in Maggie Valley. themoonshinegrill.com OLD STONE INN 109 Dolan Road, off Love Lane.

828.456.3333. Classic fireside dining in an historic mountain lodge with cozy, intimate bar. Dinner served nightly except Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Signature dinner choices include our 8oz. filet of beef in a brandied peppercorn sauce and a garlic and herb crusted lamb rack. Carefully selected fine wines and beers plus full bar available. Open year round. Call for reservations.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO 628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS).

828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until. Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal. Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine.

Home-Grown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends. Pet friendly and kid ready.

SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800.

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available.

Located across from the Fire Station.

Traditional English Fish & Chips, Burgers, Dogs, Gyro, Shrimp & Loads More.

24 FLAVORS OF HERSHEY’S ICE CREAM

EVERYTHING AVAILABLE TO GO

24 & 26 Fry St. • Bryson City 488-5379 • NEXT TO THE DEPOT

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MEDITERRANEAN

STEAKS • PIZZA CHICKEN • SEAFOOD SANDWICHES ————————————

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK

JOIN US FOR SPRING ON THE PATIO 1863 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.454.5002 HWY. 19/23 EXIT 98 182-39

TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

THE WINE BAR 20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day. Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

VILLAGE GREEN CAFE 389 Walnut Street, Walnut Village Plaza, Waynesville. 828.550.9489. Open Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A fun, casual lunch spot offering fresh made salads, sandwiches, panini, and soups. All meats are allnatural and we support local growers when produce is available. Free delivery in the Waynesville area and call-in orders welcome. villagegreencafe.com. Like on Facebook to view daily specials and promos.

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!) Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC.

ARTISAN BREADS & PASTRIES

SPRING IS FINALLY HERE! Join Us on the Back Deck for Lunch.

BREAKFAST • LUNCH TAKE-OUT • EAT-IN • CATERING

Scratch-Made Fresh Daily Breads • Biscuits Bagels • Cakes • Pies Pastries • Soups • Salads Sandwiches

Smoky Mountain News

GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877.

Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel.

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer.

Outdoor and indoor dining.

April 10-16, 2013

FRYDAY’S & SUNDAES 24 & 26 Fry St., Bryson City (Next To The Train Depot). 828.488.5379. Winter hours: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thur & Sun. 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fri & Sat. Fryday’s is known for its Traditional English Beer Battered Fish & Chips, but also has burgers, deep fried dogs, gyro, shrimp, bangers, Chip Butty, chicken, sandwiches & a great kids menu.

Price friendly, $3-$10, Everything available to go or call ahead takeout. Sundaes has 24 rotating flavors of Hershey's Ice Cream making them into floats, splits, sundaes, shakes. Private seating inside & out for both locations right across from the train station & pet friendly.

Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

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Fair Trade Coffee & Espresso

18 North Main Street Waynesville • 452.3881 MON-FRI: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

SAT: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. SUN: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Serving up a taste of Appalachia

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER

When Doug Weaver looks around Haywood County, he sees potential.

“We’re on the fence, right in the middle of where it’s almost a scene,” he said.

Head chef and co-owner at The Sweet Onion in Waynesville, Weaver is at the forefront of a pioneering movement within the county and greater Western North Carolina to make his backyard a culinary destination.

“The things is, Haywood County is becoming a place that when people are in the area they may go to Waynesville or wherever because there is this restaurant they have to try,” he said.

“There are a lot of people planning their trips around what places there are to eat at here.”

Over the past decade, there has been a food revolution in the county. Whether it is local mainstay establishments incorporating different dishes into their menus or culinary artisans relocating to the area to start a new and unique restaurant of their own, the vision is clear.

“I think a lot of people can be afraid of growth, and they think if another restaurant comes to town they’ll put them out of business,” Weaver said. “But, it’s not like that. If we can encourage growth, healthy growth, then that’ll lead to us having a scene.”

And residents of Haywood are starting to take note. Go to any restaurant on a weekend evening or during the summer tourist season and you’ll find tables and bellies full from a made-from-scratch or farm-to-table meal. The key is to begin to make those busy nights properly transition into the workweek and winter off-season.

“Local restaurants need the support of the community in the winter months and the tourist in the summer months in order to survive,” said CeCe Hips, president of the Haywood Chamber of Commerce. “We have many excellent restaurants that can go head to head with any restaurant across the country, and we want to make sure that we continue to have the variety we have.”

FROM THE GROUND UP Haywood County wasn’t always so enthusiastic about eclectic food and ambiance. Weaver remembers first stepping foot into the region years back, when all it seemed you could find was a burger and fries. Though those items are still immensely popular today, tastes are slowly shifting.

“In January, we’re selling cheeseburgers and Bud Light, in July we’re selling cherry pork belly and bottles of wine,” he chuckled. “But, the tide is turning. We’re trying to draw tourists in to make it a culinary scene year-round. We’re not there yet, but things like Mélange are here to cater to the idea that

Haywood is a culinary destination.”

Originally from England, Michelle Briggs is a French trained chef who came to Western North Carolina a few years ago to open the Herren House, a bed and breakfast in downtown Waynesville. For her, the town is one that supports each other, which in turn fosters a proud and friendly relationship between all the dif“The restaurant ferent restaurant styles and themes. scene is so different “We have such an today. It’s entertainarray of restaurants that whoever comes to town ment. You used to will be pleased,” she said. “I can send my go out to eat to get guests to a farm-to-table food, but now you place, a brewery with good food, a Thai go out to eat instead restaurant or a great of going to a show.” pizzeria. When people come here, they leave — Kaighn Raymond, Frogs saying how much fun Leap head chef/co-owner they had and how great the food was.”

Only in their second year of existence, Frogs Leap Public House knew from the start that though breaking into the Haywood food business would provide some challenges, the initial intent and purpose of the restaurant would ultimately win out. With a philosophy of offering fresh, local farm ingredients, Frogs Leap makes sure to always serve what’s in season or what’s on the market that can fit perfectly with their farm-to-table cuisines.

“My whole goal is to feature Waynesville and Western North Carolina through art, food, music and culture,” said Kaighn Raymond, head chef at Frogs Leap. “Everything we do here at the restaurant is about trying to showcase the qualities and great life we live here in Western North Carolina. I love it all, which is why I moved here.”

Raymond believes the restaurant scene in Haywood and beyond will continue to grow, with more and more talented chefs and business owners coming into the area, tapping into the vast and rich culture of Southern Appalachia.

“I do see a lot of potential in the next decade, and I want to

S EE MÉLANGE, PAGE 28

Melange of the Mountains, the annual culinary gala held by the Haywood Chamber of Commerce, will be at Laurel Ridge Country Club on April 11. This year’s festivities will run the entire weekend, with specialized events at a handful of local establishments. Corey Green, executive chef of The Waynesville Inn at Melange of the Mountains 2012 (left). Donated photo

Want to go?

Once again gracing Western North Carolina with an array of culinary delights from chefs around Haywood County, Mélange of the Mountains will take place April 11-13.

The weekend of events around Waynesville will kick off with a culinary gala from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at Laurel Ridge Country Club. Tickets are $40 per person, with a

VIP option at $60 per person. Tickets are available at the event but may be purchased in advance at the Haywood Chamber of Commerce in Waynesville.

• A “Farm to Fork Dinner” will take place on Friday, April 12, at Frogs Leap Public House. The prefixed menu is $50 per person. 828.456.1930.

• “Hands-on Biscuit Making Demonstration” will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at City Bakery. Pastry Chef Brooke will

be in the kitchen for the demonstration. Cost is $10 per person. 828.452.3881.

• “Champagne & Caviar Tasting” will run from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 13 at Sunburst Market on Montgomery. There will be caviar appetizers prepared in three ways, paired with champagne.

828.452.3848.

• “Beer & Cheese Tasting” will run from 3 to 5 p.m. on April 13 at The Classic Wine Seller.

Gourmet cheeses paired with craft beer from

Bearwaters Brewing Company. 828.246.0602.

• A “Farm to Fork Dinner” will take place on April 13, at Frogs Leap Public House. The prefixed menu is $50 per person. 828.456.1930.

• “Five-Course Wine Dinner” will take place on April 13 at the Herren House Bed & Breakfast.

Evening five-course wine dinner with selections from The Classic Wine Seller. 828.452.7837. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywoodnc.com or 828.456.3021.

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arts & entertainment

Community meals in Cashiers feature pickin’ on the side

The Gathering Table is providing fresh, nutritious dinners from 5 to 7 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Cashiers Community Center to all members of the community regardless of one’s ability to pay.

Started by a group of likeminded citizens a year ago, The Gathering Table has been operating for just more than a year and has served approximately 4,500 dinners since opening. In addition to sit-down dinners, take-out meals are available for shut-ins and families.

Thursday nights at the Gatherin’ Table in Cashiers are Whenever possible, The livened up by a pickin’ session.

Gathering Table serves fresh, and community spirit at every dinner. locally grown organic food, much of it proVolunteers are always needed to help at vided by the Blue Ridge Farmers Co-op. It serves the Cashiers, Glenville, Highlands and the dinner, and donations are gratefully accepted.

Sapphire areas and welcomes residents to 828.743.9880. come for dinner and enjoy the camaraderie

The finer points of candlewicking unveiled

Diane Herring will be teaching a candlewicking course on April 18 in Sylva.

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April 10-16, 2013

A candlewicking workshop will be offered from 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 18, at the Jackson County Extension Office in Sylva.

Candlewicking is an old form of embroidery technique that used the soft-spun thread that was also used for making wicks for candles. Traditional embroidery stitches including French knots are usually done on cotton unbleached muslin. Extension and Community Association member Diane Herring will be teaching this pillow-sized craft technique.

Cost is $5. 828.586.4009.

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WCU student art makes debut in juried show

Multimedia artist and teacher Mark Menendez will demonstrate oil techniques from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays starting April 10 at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin.

Menendez will demonstrate his unique method of portrait painting, from pencil drawing to pattern to finished portrait of a child. Attendees will learn many valuable techniques regardless of level of expertise.

For more than 30 years, Menendez has instructed thousands of students at all levels of expertise or education and currently offers classes in Andrews and Waynesville. He is a member of the Blue Ridge Watermedia Society, the Blue Ridge Mountain Arts Association, The Color Pencil Society of America, and the Macon County Art Association.

Dates include April 17, May 1 and 15, June 12 and 26, Aug. 7 and 21, Sept. 4 and 18, and Oct. 2 and 16. www.menendezartstudio.com.

The top art work by Western Carolina University students this year is on display in the WCU Fine Arts Museum through May 3 for the 45th annual Juried Student Exhibition A reception for the exhibit will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the atrium of the Fine Arts Museum.

The independently juried exhibition features the best of new and innovative creative expression in a variety of media by undergraduate students at WCU. More than two dozen students who submitted works appear in the juried show. This year’s juror was Sallie Taylor, curator at The Bascom – A Center for the Visual Arts.

It is supported in part by the WCU Office of the Chancellor Arts & Cultural Events at WCU, WCU College of Fine & Performing Arts WCU School of Art & Design.

828.227.3591.

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arts & entertainment

MÉLANGE, CONTINUED FROM 26

Taste of Chocolate fundraiser returns to Maggie Club Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate will be delight partakers in the 14th annual Taste of Chocolate from 6 to 9 p.m. April 20 at the Maggie Valley Club.

Bakers from professional, bed and breakfast and amateur categories will be serving up samples of 20 chocolate culinary delights. Along with chocolate and more chocolate, there will be a silent auction, milk fountain, coffee and wine bar. Entertainment is by Ray Lyon on the piano.

Proceeds from the Taste of Chocolate go to the Haywood Jackson Volunteer Center. The event sponsor is First Citizens Bank.

Tickets are available at Quilters Quarters, Blue Ridge Books, Chocolate Bear, Maggie Valley Club and Dillsboro Chocolate. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

WNC breweries to release collaboration beer ‘Ryeway 74’ All five Western North Carolina microbreweries west of Asheville collaborated on a craft beer that will be simultaneously released at 6 p.m. Friday, April 12, at each establishment.

Bear Waters Brewing (Waynesville), Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville), Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva), Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) and Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) have created “Ryeway 74.” The beer is a smooth red ale with spicy flavors balanced with hoppy and unique malty notes. It was developed with heirloom barley and rye malt from Riverbend Malting in Asheville.

Participating breweries will have the ale available by the sample, pint or growler.

be part of it. It’s time for a real turnover around here,” he said. “The restaurant scene is so different today. It’s entertainment. You used to go out to eat to get food, but now you go out to eat instead of going to a show. It’s an experience, and a specific one here in Western North Carolina.”

Doug Weaver, head chef/coowner of The Sweet Onion.

Garret K. Woodward photo

COMING TOGETHER In an effort to harness the creative energy of local chefs and nurture a sense of camaraderie, the chamber is once again holding its Mélange of the Mountains event on Thursday, April 11, at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville. The culinary gala, filled with food competitions and entertainment, has become a lauded evening for the county to not only celebrate its food culture but also further set the platform for more growth within a Haywood industry quickly finding its identity.

“Mélange is the ideal venue for locals and visitors alike to sample the local culinary talent during the gala and further become acquainted with their favorite restaurants,” said Katy McLean Gould, marketing and communications manager for the chamber.

Though in years past Mélange was a oneday affair, it has now expanded into a weekend-long event filled with specialized dinners, drinks and demonstrations around Haywood.

With the gala kicking things off, the weekend itself is shaping up to be one of culinary passion and curiosity.

“Personally, it’s a chance for me to take what I do best and put it out there,” said Art O’Neil, head chef/co-owner at The Gateway Club. “But more importantly, it’s for Haywood County to see what we have to offer. Locals supporting local.”

Started eight years ago between O’Neil and the chamber, the annual fundraiser has become a much-anticipated gathering. Add in the craft beer component, with three breweries now in Waynesville alone, and patrons truly get to be exposed to the essence of their surroundings.

“It’s not about being exclusive and not wanting to play with each other, it’s about camaraderie between the local restaurants,” he said. “This was created with the idea that you don’t have to go to Buncombe County to find something good to eat.”

“Making Mélange into a weekend to showcase what I can do here excites me so much.”

— Michelle Briggs, head chef/owner, Herren House

That camaraderie is important for the health of the county’s entire food industry. For many chefs, Mélange may be the only time during the year they can get out of a hectic kitchen and rub shoulders with their peers. It’s about putting a face to the name of the business and realizing you’re all in it together.

“I’ve got friends that are my Mélange friends, where I don’t see them the entire year

and that one night at the gala we’re all next to each other having a good time,” Weaver said. “It’s important for us to do this with the community. We’ve been able to see this really grow, and there’s an eclectic mix if you look at it.”

Categories at the gala are meat (red, pork), poultry, seafood, soup, salad and dessert. While some of the head chefs specifically focus on a certain category that expresses their forte, many look forward to letting their assistants loose and allowing the creative juices to flow.

“Everyone gets to experiment and do something you might not do on a regular basis,” Weaver said. “You have these restaurants that come to Mélange to do these crazy extravagant plates that are completely different and it blows people’s minds.”

Participants this year include Sunburst on Montgomery, The Gateway Club, The Sweet Onion, Herren House, Frogs Leap Public House, Waynesville Inn, Laurel Ridge County Club, Harrah’s Cherokee, City Bakery, Lake Junaluska, Bocelli’s, Frog Level Brewing, Bear Waters Brewing and Tipping Point Brewing.

“Making Mélange into a weekend to showcase what I can do here excites me so much,” Briggs said. “I get to shine doing what I do best. It gives everybody in the community that little extra edge to express themselves during this weekend.”

But, above all, the weekend is about getting the word out that the local culinary scene is emerging, and the only way it can go is up.

“The main thing with this weekend of events is that it’s a great way to show what’s going on in this area just as the tourist season is starting,” Raymond said. “It gives people in the county a chance to see and taste things they might not realize are here.”

“We’re trying to keep one foot in the past and one in the future,” Weaver added. “We’re definitely focused on the future and what needs to change, for the better. But, at the same time, we’re championing our past and the heritage of this area.”

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WNC's Premier Children's Consignment Event Join over 400 consignors

April 25th-29th Open Daily 10 -8; Closed Sunday

331 Walnut St.,Waynesville (in the former Dalton's Christian Bookstore/Sports Zone)

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Thursday, April 18th at 10:30 a.m.

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828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

‘101 Years of Broadway’ lights up the stage at WCU

Folk, then jazz, at the Classic Wineseller

The popular Songwriters in the Round series will return to the Balsam Mountain Inn at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 13, with nationally acclaimed songwriters Casey Kelly, Leslie Ellis and Angela Kaset.

Kelly, Ellis and Kaset have captured numerous honors for their lyrics and music, including Grammys and a national Songwriter of the Year accolade. The trio will share insights into their work while playing songs written for famous musicians, along with a few originals.

Kelly has played with many big-name acts, including Arlo Guthrie, B.B. King, Fleetwood Mac, Jimi Hendrix, and Linda Ronstadt. Ellis is an accomplished singer/songwriter who won a Grammy for her vocals on Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Kaset is an accomplished performer with a soulful delivery and unique piano stylings that have captivated listeners worldwide.

The historic inn is in Balsam between Waynesville and Sylva near the Blue Ridge Parkway entrance. Tickets are $45 per person and include dinner.

855.456.9498 or www.balsammountaininn.net.

The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville will showcase live music from singer-songwriter Ben Wilson at 7 p.m. Friday, April 19, and a jazz dinner featuring Eve Haslam & Satin Steel Jazz at 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 20.

Wilson has an impressive repertoire including origiBen Wilson nals, Americana and acoustic classics. His style has been compared to John Prine, Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, and Todd Snider.

The Satin Steel Jazz Ensemble on Saturday, April 20, includes piano, bass, percussion and a special guest on flute and sax.

The group’s leader, Eve Haslam, is New York born and bred, and from early childhood was the vocalist for her dad, Herb Haslam, a composer and Juilliard graduate. The evening includes dinner for a price is $34.99 per person. Reservations are encouraged.

828.452.6000 or info@classicwineseller.com or www.classicwineseller.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

Songwriters series returns to Balsam

“Poetic Voices of North Carolina,” a program by actress and playwright Connie Clark, will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

In “Poetic Voices,” Clark shares 100 years of Tar Heel thoughts and feelings, from profound social issues to the quietest personal moments, as she performs poems with rich emotions expressed by many gifted North Carolina poets.

The all-female vocal sensation Celtic Woman will bring their latest show, Believe, to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino as part of a 60-city tour on Friday, April 26.

The show features vocalists Susan McFadden, Chloe Agnew and Lisa Lambe alongside Celtic violinist Mairead Nesbitt performing a mix of classic Irish tunes, pop anthems and inspirational songs including “The Parting Glass,” “A Woman’s Heart,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Teir Abhaile Riu” — presented in the uniquely radiant and transcendental style of Celtic Woman.

Tickets start at $35. 800.745.3000.

April 10-16, 2013

Relive some of the biggest moments from the finest Broadway shows of the century with Neil Berg’s “101 Years of Broadway” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19, at the Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Part of WCU’s Galaxy of Stars Series, the production will include numbers from “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Misérables,”

“Evita,” “Cats,” “Wonderful Town,” “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Presented by the WCU College of Fine and Performing Arts and with support from the WCU Friends of the Arts organization, the Galaxy of Stars Series debuted in 2005 and is the only professional entertainment series in Jackson County. The performance is sponsored by Holiday Inn Express in Dillsboro and Fun Things to Do in the Mountains.

Tickets are $20 for adults and seniors, $15 for faculty and staff, $10 for groups of 20 or more, and $5 for children and students.

828.227.2479 or www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Voices of Tar Heel poets to be presented

Celtic Woman to sing infectious Irish music

TIC ID ON KE T AY S A S , A LE PR IL 12

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s Annual Pet Photo Contest award ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at Bocelli’s Italian Eatery in Waynesville. The Best In Show winner was Jo D’eramo with the photo “I Can Drive This Thing I Know I Can” (pictured). Dozens of photos were submitted in various categories, and some of the winners will be on display downstairs in the Waynesville library starting next week. www.sargeandfriends.org.

“Annie Get Your Gun,” a sharp-shootin’ musical comedy will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 18 through 20 and 2:30 p.m. April 21 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin by The Overlook Theatre Company.

A fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley, a sharpshooter who starred in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, the musical has been a Broadway hit in both New York and London and has spurred many revivals. Show tunes such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “Anything You Can Do” are recognized worldwide. With hilarious comedy and rousing dance numbers, the performance will entertain all ages.

Adult tickets are $15 and student tickets are $10. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Clark, a North Carolina Humanities Council Road Scholar, holds a Masters in Theater and degree in English literature from Purdue University. She has written and performed plays on Emily Dickinson and Sarah Bernhardt, and has taught at Purdue and Furman universities.

This event is co-sponsored by the Arts Council and the Macon County Public Library and is made possible by a grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council and the North Carolina Arts Council.

The free program commemorates National Poetry Month, focusing on the works of many of our state’s 20th Century poets.

828.524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

arts & entertainment

ANNUAL PET PHOTO COMPETITION

‘Annie Get Your Gun’ hits the stage April 21

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arts & entertainment

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Smoky Mountain News

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

31

Movies, book explore travails of Memphis Three hey were known as the West Memphis Three: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., three teenagers who were accused of murdering three 8-yearold boys in Arkansas in 1993. Their trial was marked by tampered evidence, false testimony and public hysteria. It is small wonder that it became an event so bizarre, it attracted the national media. Of course, anyone who witnessed the “feeding frenzy” that attended the O.J. Simpson trial (not to mention Casey Anthony and the current daily spectacles attending the Jodi Arias testimony) is familiar with television’s ability to conWriter vert crime into entertainment ... a process that sometimes bestows celebrity status on the accused.

There is a significance difference in the issues at stake in the West Memphis Three trials (there were three of them) and the other “true crime” spectacles that acquire a devoted audience. Whereas the Casey Anthony trial explored the petty, self-centered world of a young woman with an unwanted child; and the kinky world of Jodi Arias, who has clocked up more on-camera time than most soap opera queens; the West Memphis Three is about something larger and more disturbing.

It has a lot to say about both the flaws in our justice system, but also the darkness in the human heart.

The nature of the crime was terrible and disturbing. The bodies of three 8-year-old boys — Christopher Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers — were found naked, bound, mutilated and submerged in a shallow gully which ran through a four-acre patch of forest in a working-class subdivision in West Memphis. The victims were playmates and were often seen riding their bikes through the neighborhood.

During the autopsies of the victims. a

Gary Carden

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medical officer concluded that the binding and mutilation of the bodies could be described as “ritualistic” and suggested that the police should investigate the possible existence of a “satanic cult” in West Memphis. No

Life After Death by Damien Echols. Blue Rider Press. 2013. 392 pages. action was taken immediately until an outraged community demanded an investigation.

The subsequent inquiries led the police to Jessie Misskellkey, Charles Baldwin and Damian Echols, three teenagers who had a penchant for wearing black clothing and listening to the heavy metal band Metallica. As the word spread through West Memphis, a kind of hysteria grew as people gave evidence regarding the suspicious behavior of the three teenagers. A juvenile officer who turned out to be a local guru and self-styled authority on satanic rites gained an audience, and by the

time Baldwin, Misskellkey and Echols were arrested, the local citizenry, including the arresting officers, were convinced that they were heartless fiends and in the words of one bereaved father, Todd Moore, “should be burned at the stake.”

The ensuing debacle is memorable, and thanks to HBO, much of shame and humiliation suffered by West Memphis is captured for national viewing. Many of the witnesses — most having direct ties with the murdered children — proved unreliable, local buffoons, and embarrassing. John Mark Byers became a sort of clown who raved, conducted mock burial ceremonies for the three accused teenagers, and spoke directly to the camera in a grandiose voice. Then, there was the presiding Judge David Burnett, who proved to be arrogant, ignorant and unrepentant, proudly proclaims his belief that justice had been done when he sentenced Echols to death by lethal injection. Baldwin and Misslellkey received life sentences.

With the release of the HBO film.

“Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills” in 1996, there was immediate outrage. The film had left many viewers sickened and disillusioned. Nathaniel Rich, writing for the New York Review of Books, said: “The viewer is left with the unshakable sense that the suspects have not received a fair trial, and most likely, are innocent. You also come away thinking that West Memphis, Arkansas, is one of the most backward, bigoted cities in America.”

HBO quickly realized that they had a story that went far beyond Satanic rituals and gore.

The producers knew that the West Memphis Three were innocent, but they had been found guilty. Four years later, they released “Paradise Lost 2: Revelations.” Indeed, there was additional information, and there was little doubt that Jessie Misskelley’s “confession” had been forced from a frightened young man who has an IQ that puts him in the last 4 percent of his age group. DNA tests had proved that none of the accused were present at the site where the bodies were found. Forensic evidence now

indicates that mutilation was not “satanic” but was caused by animals. Some crucial evidence had “vanished.” When a second trial was scheduled the HBO found a stubborn and unrepentant judge and a prosecutor who adamantly announced that nothing had changed. The West Memphis Three was guilty.

By this time, a groundswell of support was building, and some remarkable people stepped forward to say that they, too, had been called “outsiders” and “weird” when they were children. They, too, had worm black clothes and listened to “strange music.” The names include the actor, Johnny Depp, Henry Rollins of Black Flag, Marilyn Manson, Eddie Vedder, and Sir Peter Jackson, the Director of Lord of the Rings, who has donated more than $10 million to Damien Echols’ defense fund. With that kind of money, you get another trial.

By the time we get to “Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory,” 20 years have passed. If you have stayed the course, you have seen the cast of this incredible drama age, become contrite or cynical or resigned. Two of the outspoken members of the victims’ families are now prime suspects in this unsolved crime. The judge has finally retired, but he readily confirms that justice was done the first time. But, finally, in 2011 the Memphis Three was offered a deal. Plead guilty and we will let you go. No kidding. That was the agreement.

“There is no way that this is justice,” says Echols, whose greatest crime when he was arrested was being a school dropout who wore black, suffered from depression and was something of a loner.

Echols has a biography titled Life After Death, and it has just been released. Damien, who is a practicing Catholic, tells us in the first chapter that his favorite saints are St. Raymond Nonnatus, patron saint of those who have been falsely accused; St. Dismas, patron saint of prisoners; and St. Jude, saint of desperate situations. There is a new film on the way, too. “West of Memphis” is slated for release on DVD in August.

Women: awaken your inner poet A poetry workshop will share tools to express yourself and find your creative side from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 20, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

“Transforming Your Emotions Through Poetry: What You Wish You Had Always Known” is designed especially for women and mothers. Whether you love writing, music or visual art, this talk will build your creativity as you explore great poets, discover how to express and write down your own emotions, and share your newfound voice with others.

The workshop will be led by Mary Ellen Phillips. She spent two years teaching poetry workshops for mothers as a way to work through emotional experiences and traumas. There is a $10 suggested donation.

828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

Scope out the book club scene with Blue Ridge ‘Book Club Bash’ There will be a “Book Club Bash” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

The evening is designed to let members of different book clubs in the area network and compare notes. For those thinking of joining a book club, it’s a chance to scope out the book club scene. There will be refreshments and time to mingle and shop beginning at 6 p.m. From 6:30 until 7:30 p.m., the program will include complete lots of book reviews, suggestions, publisher resources and giveaways. The event is free and open to the public.

828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

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BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER o you consider yourself an environmentalist or an environmental activist? Do you feel frustrated with the way issues dear to you are being handled by local and state decision makers? Instead of sitting on the sidelines and attempting to influence the political process from the outside, you might want to try becoming part of it.

A new campaign by the Western North Carolina Alliance, a regional environmental organization, is asking local conservationists, tree huggers and eco-activists to consider taking the plunge into the political realm.

“We want to take a look and see if this is a transition anybody can take — from outside advocate to part of government,” said Julie Mayfield, co-director of the alliance.

Mayfield said the idea came from last November’s elections, the results of which did not bode well for her organization’s environmental agenda on the state level. So instead of furthering the standard lobbying strategy, she thought maybe it would work better if the organization could motivate some local residents to infiltrate the ranks with an environmental agenda.

“If the current leadership is not representing us well on these issues maybe we have to look at developing new leadership,” she said.

The crossover could be as ambitious as running for state office, or as simple as volunteering for a county or town committee. County and town planning boards, transportation task forces, greenway advisory councils and land conservation commissions — they can often have a meaningful impact on environmental issues. And many local governments have difficulty filling the slots with warm bodies.

D

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Help wanted Engaged citizens with environmental ethos Next week: Meet the new co-executive director of WNC Alliance in next week’s issue of The Smoky Mountain News. Bob Wagner will bring his experience in community-based land-use planning to the forefront of WNC Alliance’s platform and will help steer the region toward sustainable and environmentally friendly development patterns and practices.

Mayfield said her own experience as chairwoman of the Asheville Transit Commission opened her eyes to the importance of having a seat at the table.

“I’ve spent my whole life outside of government knocking on the door trying to get in,” Mayfield said. “(Now) they have to listen to me.”

The alliance hosted a forum on the subject in Sylva last weekend. Three speakers talked about their journey from average Joe to a representative with a seat at the table.

The lineup included a Macon County Planning Board member, a former Jackson County commissioner and a former state senator. For each one, environmentalism played as strong role in their civic involvement.

SUSAN ERVIN, MACON COUNTY PLANNING BOARD Ervin has been on the planning board for 14 years, serving as a steadfast voice for sustainable and responsible development voices, “despite certain efforts to get me off,” Ervin quipped.

Ervin is an example of perseverance and how a seemingly innocuous advisory role on a county advisory board can do big things for the environmental cause — even if it doesn’t always seem that way. As one of the more liberal board members she has watched many of the measures she has supported fall by the wayside — among those, the failed attempt at passing steep slope development regulations.

However, just being there as an advocate for environmental issues helps steer the ship in the right direction, Ervin said.

“There’s a real satisfaction in feeling like you are helping to move things forward, however incrementally,” Ervin said. “I know I will be beaten on the majority of issues I favor — but I always go ahead and say it.”

And as a board member in the minority, Ervin said she has learned that listening to opposing view points, knowing when to be quiet and finding common ground are necessary in accomplishing anything.

Over the years, non-environmentalists have been her strongest allies on the board.

“They may not see things exactly like you do,” Ervin said. “But you build a personal relationship with them.”

WILLIAM SHELTON, FORMER JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSION

Former Jackson County commissioner William Shelton (from left), Macon County Planning Board member Susan Ervin and former state representative and state senator Tommy Jenkins talk to a crowd in Sylva about taking the plunge from activist to government insider.

Shelton ran for county commissioner in 2006 on a platform of land stewardship and environmentalism, and served for four years.

After returning from college to work on his family’s farm, Shelton became swept up in the local political scene as a response to some of the agricultural erosion issues taking place in the 1980s. He first served on the Soil and Water Conservation District board and then the county planning board before running for commissioner.

He said his step to becoming an elected official seemed a natural one after years as an environmental and agricultural advocate.

“It got to the point where, look, I’ve been complaining about this stuff for more than 20 years. You’ve got to step up to the plate,” Shelton said. “I don’t feel like a I really chose to run for commissioner as much as it chose

me.”

While serving as a commissioner Shelton said it was difficult balancing the management of a farm and raising four kids against county business. But, he urged potential office-seekers not to be deterred by the time commitment because if there is an issue you are passionate about, you will motivate yourself to research it and lobby for it at every turn.

“You can devote as much or little time as you chose — it’s open ended,” Shelton said.

“But when it comes to issues you’re passionate about, you do more preparation.”

TOMMY JENKINS, FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR FROM MACON COUNTY Jenkins ran for state legislature in 1993 on a platform of three “E’s” — environment, economy and education. He was defeated in his reelection bid two year’s later. In 1997, he was appointed to the state Senate where he served one term.

Jenkins first became involved in politics rising through the Democratic Party’s ranks on the county level. But his switch to elected office was more about timing and luck. He’d been mulling over a political run when one Sunday afternoon he was out mowing the lawn when he got a phone call letting him know that the incumbent had a “faux pas” in Raleigh and his time had come.

He decided to run that day, and began driving around to meet influential members of the surrounding communities starting the next.

“An important part of running for office comes down to timing and luck,” Jenkins said.

Also important: money and a plan. The skills, such as the public speaking and political savvy, will come with practice. But money and support are necessary to get you there in the first place. And for an environmental candidate that can be a problem.

“You have to raise money to get elected,” Jenkins said. “You can be an activist all you want to but when your opponent is on TV 60 times a day and you’re walking around handing out fliers… that’s just how politics work.”

However, once in office, Jenkins said never discount the opposite party, whatever that may be, when it comes to pushing an environmental cause and don’t get impatient.

“Don’t take the attitude that’s it’s got to be accomplished overnight,” he said.

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Love was in the air Love may be a little anthropogenic for toads, but the eons old “urge to merge” was quite prevalent last Sunday (4/7) when we were at Oconee State Park. Oconee State Park in Mountain Rest, S.C., is along U.S. Hwy 11 around 14 miles south of Cashiers and about an hour and a half drive from Waynesville.

The 1,165-acre park is an easily accessible, low key, family-friendly destination

American toad male calling. Denise Hendershot photo

Spring butterflies, like this Comma and Question Mark Butterfly, have started to come out of hibernation in Smokies.

Donated photo

of the Smokies’ support for the work of Discovering Life in America, a non-profit organization undertaking a massive scientific project to discover and document every living species in the park. It will be led by local hiking enthusiast and author of two regional hiking guides, Danny Bernstein.

The hike is moderate in difficulty and will

Your Emergency Preparedness Store

BULK AND FREEZE DRIED FOOD CANNING SUPPLIES • CAMPING SUPPLIES BERKEY WATER PURIFIERS HERITAGE LIFE SKILLS II • May 17 - 19, 2013 Haywood County Fairgrounds Waynesville, NC Come and join us for a weekend of hands-on learning.

Admission $50 person-per day ($110 - 3 days) Children 7-13 - $25/day 13–18 - If you want your child to attend adult classes with you - $35 per day/child.

Gasification Ram pumps Dehydrating

Food Storage

Horsemanship for Survivors Cheese Making Sun Oven Cooking Sutures Candle Making* Organizing a group Soap Making* Solar Energy

Smoky Mountain News

Butchering Fire Starting* Canning

Blacksmith/Knife making

When science meets the mountains you get: The Mountain Science Expo. The expo will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville and feature guided nature walks, live animal programs, a range of other demonstrations and displays from local environmental organizations. Also making an appearance will be the Sol Food Mobile Farm, a retro-fitted school bus that runs on waste vegetable oil.

The event is held in conjunction with the N.C. Science Festival.

828.665.2492 or www.ncarboretum.org.

A week of guided hikes, outings, lectures and fireplace gatherings are scheduled for Sunday, April 14, through Thursday, April 18, at the Fontana Village Resort.

Spring Hike Week has nature and history hikes for all levels and abilities that will venture into Joyce Kilmer’s old-growth forests, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and wilderness areas around Fontana Village.

This years lecture series includes a reptile program by Michael Skinner of the Balsam Mountain Preserve, a history of Fontana Dam

by Jonathan Peoples, “A Place of Refuge The Horace Kephart Story” by George Ellison, and a class on back country camping and survival techniques by Dick Evans. www.FontanaVillage.com or 828.498.2211.

CAROLINA READINESS

Reloading

Arboretum to host Mountain Science Expo

Fontana plans week of nature-related events

April 10-16, 2013

built by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 19303. Nineteen cabins built by the CCC are available for rent plus there are another 140 standard campsites with water and electrical service plus 15 tent sites.

There are two lakes on the property that offer canoe, kayak, paddleboat and johnboat rentals. There is supervised (lifeguards) swimming during the summer.

There is an “Old Barn” near the park office where square dancing is offered every Friday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day. For all its genteel amenities, the park is still a gateway for some of the best wilderness hiking in the upstate. It serves as the western entrance to the Foothills Trail — 76 miles of escarpment trekking that ends at Table Rock State Park.

We were there just for a little end of spring break R&R and to let kids stretch their legs and imagination one last time

before the routine starts again. It was double fun because the Wamplers — Steve, Stephanie and their two boys, Andrew and Adam — joined us.

We commandeered a picnic table near one of the lakes where we unloaded bags of food, camp chairs and bicycles. Next we rented a johnboat and a canoe and we were set for the afternoon.

Even from our spot at the opposite end of the lake we could hear, in the distance, the mating trill of American toads. This long, musical trill is high-pitched and can run on for half a minute or so. It’s pretty loud too.

After we got in the boats we kind of migrated toward the trill. We wound up in a really shallow area at the end of the lake.

There was a wood duck box there but it was empty. However, a pair of Canada geese had a nest in a marshy area just beyond where the lake ended for boat traffic. As we got closer to the marshy end of the lake, the trills from the toads got louder and louder.

It was evident that they were breeding in the reeds and grass in the shallows. Finally, as our eyes acclimated, we were able to pick them out. We could see dark silhouettes next to the green reeds. As we quietly and slowly drifted in, we could pick out calling males with their vocal sacs expanded. The males call by inflating part of their mouth lining under their throat with air from a hole in the bottom of their mouths, closing off their mouth and nostrils and pumping this air over their vocal chords. This is what produces the vocal sac.

The female toads, who also feel the urge, approach the males. The males latch onto the backs of the females. The males have (during breeding season) large nuptial pads on the dorsal surface of their “thumbs” that help them cling to the female. Their forearms are also bigger and stronger than females and when they latch on with their nuptial pads during breeding it is known as amplexus. As the female lays her eggs in large strands, the male fertilizes them. We were privy to the whole show — the males calling, the females approaching, amplexus, and the eggs being deposited on the reeds.

Nature is such a wonderful teacher if we simply may attention.

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

A 9.5 guided mile hike along the Hyatt Ridge Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held on Tuesday, April 16, as part of the Classic Hikes of the Smokies Series by Friends of the Smokies.

This hike is meant to celebrate the Friends

have an elevation gain of 2,000 feet as it passes through mature hardwood forests, early spring flowers and views not yet obstructed by sprouting leaves.

Meet in Maggie Valley at 9 a.m. or Cherokee at 9:30 a.m. A donation of $10 for current members and $35 for non-members is requested. Non-members receive a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies.

Members who bring a friend hike for free.

Registration for the hike is requested. outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828.452.0720 or friendsofthesmokies.org.

outdoors

The Naturalist’s Corner

Spring hike to celebrate discovery of life in the Smokies

Land Navigation Bread Making* Knot Tying Secret Garden of Survival Survival Basics for Women Wind Power Quilting*

Some classes will be limited. Sign up for classes early. Classes subject to change.

Bring pad & pens, and Folding chairs. If you make music- bring your instruments! * Minimal materials charge.

Vendors Welcome! Call for registration form. www.carolinareadiness.com 828-456-5310

183-39

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outdoors

Gotta love that A.T. A program on the importance of the Appalachian Trail and ways to promote

Women Voters of Macon County and will focus on Franklin as an Appalachian Trail Community, an official designation the town has carried since 2010. The program corresponds with the Macon County Public Library’s Walking with Spring series and follows Franklin’s April Fools’ Days Trail Festival.

AT education program for teachers A view of the Wayah Bald section of the Appalachian Trail running through Macon County.

April 10-16, 2013

and conserve it will be held at noon on Thursday, April 11, at Tartan Hall in Franklin.

Local trail activists from the Nantahala Hiking Club and Appalachian Trail Conservancy will discuss a variety of topics such as the trail’s history and management, the mutually beneficial relationship between the trail and the town of Franklin, and ways to enhance use of the trail.

Also, Mary Bennett, local A.T. Community Ambassador, will highlight the opportunities the A.T. provides for environmental education and to Macon County schools, and other local activities around the trail.

The program is hosted by the League of

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is currently accepting applications from educators to participate in the Trail To Every Classroom program, connecting students and trailside communities along the Appalachian Trail’s 14-state route.

The program, in partnership with the National Park Service, trains K-12 teachers to use the Appalachian Trail as an educational resource. Divided into a series of three workshops, the program teaches the fundamentals of hiking, environmental stewardship and ethics, GPS technology, grant writing, and provides an opportunity for backpacking, networking and curriculum writing specific.

An optional three graduate credits are offered for $637 through Mary Baldwin College. To date this program has trained over 275 teachers from Georgia to Maine. www.appalachiantrail.org/ttec or ttec@appalachiantrail.org.

W E S T S W A I N F I R E D E PA R T M E N T

Bass Tournament & BBQ Dinner 20TH Annual

Smoky Mountain News

May 4 • 7 a.m.-4 p.m.

Guaranteed Prize Money

Possible in Promotional Prizes For more information call Mitch — 828.736.0469 or Billy — 828.269.2927 m.cooper850b@gmail.com

www.westswainfire.info 34

Sponsored in part by the Swain County Tourism Development Authority

Big-time lumberjacks saw off in Haywood Professional and collegiate lumberjacks West Virginia will round out the professionfrom around the East will soon converge on al arena, while a hometown lumberjack Haywood County to compete in a top-notch from HCC tries to out-cut collegiate compewoodsman competition. tition from the region. In total, eight colThe Stihl Timbersports Series Midleges and universities will be attending.

Atlantic Qualifier will begin at 11 a.m.

In the collegiate series, the participating Sunday, April 14, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds as competitors vie for a chance to advance to the national championship. The lumberjack series is a fastpaced challenge based on historic logging techniques.

The upcoming event is being hosted by Haywood Community College and its high-calHarry Burnsworth competes in last year’s Mid-Atlantic Qualifier. iber lumberjack team.

Collegiate competition will be aired on ESPNU, Outdoor Channel at The action will also be 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5; 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 1; and 2 a.m. Friday, aired on national television, with TV time devot- May 3. Professional competition will air at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 12; ed to showcasing the host 8 a.m. Wednesday, May 8; and 2 a.m. Friday, May 10. school.

“Being able to showcase our forestry universities select their best lumberjacks or program on a national level really means a jills to chop and saw in four disciplines lot to our school and our community,” said including the single buck, standing block Blair Bishop, program coordinator for chop, stock saw and underhand chop, using Forest Management Technology at HCC. professional-sized wood and rules. After The event will feature both a professioncompeting in each of the disciplines, the al and collegiate competition, trading off on competitor with the most cumulative points the spotlight throughout the day. Eight lumwill earn a $1,000 scholarship and advance berjack’s from New York, Pennsylvania and to the championship in June.

Get the scoop on Panthertown Valley Jason Kimenker, director of Friends of Panthertown, will give a presentation on hiking and camping in Panthertown Valley from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the REI in Asheville. Panthertown Valley is a popular backcountry recreation area in the Nantahala National Forest in Jackson County and one of the most spectacular areas in the southeast with waterfalls, trout streams, panoramic views, granite cliffs and the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River.

Thirty miles of backcountry trails in Panthertown Valley are open to hikers. Kimenker will cover topics such as the history of Panthertown Valley, suggested day hikes and swimming spots in Panthertown, popular waterfalls and overlooks, backcountry camping, and an overview of Friends of Panthertown organization. www.rei.com/event/50356/session/69808

Film festival on tour hits Cullowhee The Wild & Scenic Film Festival, featuring short environmental films, live music, food, drinks and a raffle will be on tour at Western Carolina University from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 25, in the Illusions Cafe at A.K Hinds University Center.

The festival features a selection of short films that put the work of local environmental activists into the context of a global movement for a more wild and scenic world.

The series has been on tour for nearly a decade and is being brought to Cullowhee by the Western North Carolina Alliance.

The price for admission is $6 for students and $10 for the general public and tickets will be available at the door or purchased in advance. Trailers for some of the films can also be previewed online. www.wnca.org and www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org

Sylva climate change protest is lead up to Raleigh lobbying push In the buildup to a large environmental demonstration in Raleigh, a climate change rally will be held at 11 a.m. April 15 in Sylva at the old courthouse fountain downtown.

The Climate Convergence event in Raleigh will be on Earth Day weekend.

Thousands of groups and individuals from throughout the state are expected to arrive in Raleigh to raise awareness about climate change and to push the state government to take action to address it.

The rally is also in support of a proposed house and senate bill that seeks to implement a progressive utility rate structure that promotes energy conservation and investment in energy efficiency by utility customers. www.climateconvergencenc.org

outdoors April 10-16, 2013

Smoky Mountain News

35

outdoors April 10-16, 2013

A.T. license plate money awarded to local trail workers The Carolina Mountain Club has been awarded $2,200 through the North Carolina Appalachian Trail License Plate Grant Program to help buy safety equipment, rebar and tools for the club’s trail maintenance work along the Appalachian Trail.

The club’s volunteers maintain 93 miles of the Appalachian Trail in the Appalachian District of Pisgah National Forest. Each week, volunteers go out to check on a section of trail Carolina Mountain Club and perform a volunteers perform work variety of on the Appalachian Trail. tasks from fallen tree removal with chainsaws and branch trimming to brush clearing in the summertime.

The volunteers also undertake larger projects such as building trail steps and installing hanging cables to keep campers’ food stores out of the reach of bears. www.carolinamountainclub.org.

Scotts Creek in need of TLC In an effort to clean up Scotts Creek in Jackson County, a coordinated workday will be launched by volunteers from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20. Local waterway group, Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, and the Rotary Club of Sylva will be working together to cleanup Scotts Creek in preparation for its new designation as a Mountain Heritage Trout Waters.

The designation is expected to bring more tourists and fisherman to the creek to fish.

Volunteers will meet at Monteith Farmstead Park in Dillsboro and divide into small teams, each with a set of trash bags and a designated clean up spot. Participants are asked to register in advance and will receive a t-shirt. saesmyrl@hotmail.com or www.WATRnc.org or 828.488.8418.

Cullasaja Gorge clean up needs hands For a bit of environmental dirty work, a cook out and a free t-shirt, volunteers can join this year’s Cullasaja Gorge Clean up on Saturday, April 13, in Macon County.

The Cullasaja Gorge is the steep and scenic route between Franklin and Highlands, a primary tourist corridor. The clean-up is sponsored by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce, the town’s Main Street

Committee, the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Venture Local Franklin, and Stay And Play In The Smokies.

Participants will meet at Pine Grove Baptist Church at 9 a.m. and then carpool different assigned sections of the Gorge for clean up work.

Volunteers raft down the river in search of trash during the annual Following the Tuckasegee River Cleanup. This year’s event is set for April 20. clean up, the group will meet at the Cliffside University’s A.K. Hinds University Center.

Lake shelter area for a cookout.

Volunteers will be issued life jackets and pad828.526.2112 or 828.421.0535. dles, then will be transported to the river, where they will be set off down the river in rafts with trash bags.

The event, sponsored by WCU’s Base Camp Cullowhee, will last several hours. It will be followed by a free cookout event at 5 p.m. with live entertainment and door prizes.

All participants who ride rafts during Volunteers are needed to help remove the cleanup must weigh at least 40 pounds trash from Jackson County’s primary waterand wear shoes that will not come off in the way during the 29th annual Tuckasegee water. An alternative walker’s route is availRiver Cleanup on April 20. able for those who prefer to not raft on the Anyone willing to help clean up the river river. can register between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 864.906.7444.

20 on the lawn of Western Carolina

Rafters and walkers needed for large-scale Tuckasegee clean up

One thought, one decision, one action... that’s all it takes to make a change.

Smoky Mountain News

Make it! Enroll at HCC today.

Summer and Fall Registration in progress now.

April 1 continuing thru April 26 Call today!

828-627-4500 Visit us on the web at

www.haywood.edu

Summer Semester: -10 week session begins May 10 - 8 week session begins June 4 Fall Semester begins August 15

Education Changes Everything.

36

WNC Calendar BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Free 90-minute class on Intermediate PowerPoint 2010, 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. Space limited. Register at 586.2016.

• Learn how to prevent child sexual abuse in your community, 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Haywood Community College Auditorium. Presented by KARE. Register at www.karehouse.org.

Western Carolina University’s master’s degree program in business administration is offering information sessions in Cherokee for prospective students who are interested in attending classes at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

• Information sessions on WCU’s MBA program in spring 2014 for part-time students will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in the Ash Room at Harrah’s Cherokee Hotel. Individual appointments also are available, as well as on-site information sessions at other area businesses. Register by emailing kumcintyre@wcu.edu or call Kelly McIntyre at 654.6533.

• Remembering Home from Afar: Tarheels at Work and Play in the Pacific Northwest, by Rob Ferguson, visiting professor, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center museum auditorium.

227.7129 or visit www.wcu.edu/mhc.

• DigiX, a digital media and arts event, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, A.K. Hinds University Center, Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. digix.wcu.edu/2013 or contact Melvin at jmelvin@wcu.edu.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Free seminar on business lending through the NC Rural Center Microenterprise program, 6 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, April 18, first floor, Student Center, Haywood Community College. Small Business Center, 627. 4512.

• Early bird tickets on sale for the Swain County Chamber of Commerce Annual Membership Banquet, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 18, Fryemont Inn, Bryson City.

Karen Wilmot, 488.3681, chamber@greatsmokies.com.

• Discovery Forum, an event designed to encourage young people to share innovative ideas for making their communities better places to live, 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 22, conference center of Blue Ridge Hall on the WCU campus. Hosted by the Office of the Provost and the Honors College. WCU Honors College, 227.7383.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Jackson County Genealogical Society’s April meeting, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 11, community room, Historic Jackson County Genealogical Society, Sylva. Speaker will be award-winning author and historian, Jane Nardy.

631.2646.

• Alan Jabbour, author, musician and folklorist, Decoration Day in the Mountains, 3 p.m. Friday, April 12, Mountain Heritage Center. 631.2646.

• Free 90-minute computer Class: Introduction to Excel, 5:45 p.m. Monday, April 15, Jackson County Public Library. Space limited. Register at 586.2016.

• Foster Pet Adoption 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation’s Adoption Center, 256 Industrial Park Drive, Waynesville. www.sargeandfriends.org, www.petfinder.com, 246.9050.

• WCU’s master planning consultants seek campus, community input, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, April 15, second floor of A.K. Hinds University Center. masterplanning.wcu.edu.

• Foster Pet Adoption 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, PetSmart, 321 Town Center Loop, Waynesville. www.sargeandfriends.org, www.petfinder.com, 246.9050.

• Wage and Hour Seminar 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 16, Macon Bank Corporate Office. Sponsored by NC Department of Commerce - Division of Workforce Solutions Macon County JobLink Center. RSVP required by calling 524.3161 or 369.9534.

• Pet Photo Contest Awards Ceremony, 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, April 13, Bocelli’s Italian Eatery, 319 N. Haywood St., Waynesville.

• Free 90-minute computer class, Excel for Beginners, 5:45 p.m. Monday, April 15, Jackson County Public Library. Register at 586.2016.

• SBA Business Planning and Financing Programs for Your Small Business, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, April 16, Southwestern Community College Jackson Campus— Bradford Conference Center, 447 College Dr. Sylva. Free, but registration requested at 339.4426.

• Doing Business with the Government, 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 17, Southwestern Community College Jackson Campus—Bradford Conference Center, 447 College Dr. Sylva. Free, but registration requested at 339.4426.

• Free 90-minute computer class: Intermediate Excel, 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, Jackson County Public Library. Space limited. Register at 586.2016.

• Western Carolina University’s College of Business will host a panel of business, education and economic development officials from Western North Carolina for a discussion of the region’s business and economic opportunities, 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, conference center of Blue Ridge Hall at Western Carolina University.

Seating limited. RSVP by Friday, April 12 to 227.7412.

• Business networking lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday April 17, Anthony Wayne’s Restaurant in the Gateway Club, 37 Church St. Waynesville. No membership or meeting fees.

• Pine Grove Baptist Church Youth Mission Trip and Playground Fundraiser, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Macon County Fairgrounds. Car Show, corn hole tournament, cake contest/auction, dunking booth, football throw, barbecue dinner, $6, 4 to 5:30 p.m.

• Statewide Climate Convergence kickoff, 11 a.m.

Monday, April 15, old courthouse fountain, Main Street, Sylva.

• Ford Drive 4UR School, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18, Southwestern Community College parking lot, Sylva. Drive a new Ford vehicle and $20 will be donated to the Jackson County Early College. 586.0900 or visit www.andyshawford.com for information.

• April 18, 2013 Stories by the Lakeshore, renowned storyteller Donald Davis will perform in the Stuart Auditorium. Davis is a graduate of Duke Divinity School, a retired Methodist Minister, and a former Chairperson of the Board of Directors for the National Storytellers Association. He has been a featured teller at the Smithsonian Institution, the World’s Fair, and at festivals and concerts throughout the United States and the World. He is also a prolific author and producer of books and tapes.

• Jewelry for Life, fundraiser for Relay for Life, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, Macon County Community Building, Franklin. 371.2545.

• 14th annual Taste of Chocolate, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 20, Maggie Valley Club. Proceeds to benefit Haywood Jackson Volunteer Center and Senior Health

Smoky Mountain News

Insurance Information Program. Tickets at Quilters Quarters, Blue Ridge Books, Chocolate Bear, Maggie Valley Club and Dillsboro Chocolate. $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

• A Day of Beauty, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday April 24, Haywood Professional Park, exit 105, adjacent to Coffee Cup Café, Clyde.

BLOOD DRIVES Jackson • Wednesday, April 17 Western Carolina University Blood Drive, noon to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday April 17.

800.RedCross or logon to www.redcrossblood.org Keyword: CATS to schedule an appointment.

• Western Carolina University Blood Drive, noon to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18. 800.RedCross or logon to www.redcrossblood.org - Keyword: CATS to schedule an appointment.

Haywood • Tye Blanton Foundation Blood Drive, noon to 5 p.m.

Sunday, April 14, Central United Methodist Church, 34 Church St., Canton. 550.6893.

• Great Smokies Insurance Agency Blood Drive, 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, 215 Crabtree Road, Waynesville. Sallie Goins, 456.9098.

• Clyde Elementary Blood Drive, 2 to 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 19, 4182 Old Clyde Road, Clyde. Call the school office at 627.9883 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Swain • Cherokee Indian Hospital Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, 268 Hospital Road, Cherokee.

Doris Bonilla, 497.9163 ext. 6498.

• Swain County Hospital Blood Drive, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday, April 15, 48 Plateau Street, Bryson City.

Tracey Anthony, 488.2155 or logon to www.redcrossblood.org. Keyword: SWAIN for further information or to schedule an appointment.

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KARE holds Kids Bingo KARE (Kids Advocacy Resource Effort) will host for Kids Bingo from 4-7 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the Canton Armory. The cost is $10 for nine games, and participants have the chance to win $250. Light refreshments available. Proceeds to support KARE and its mission to “end child abuse through advocacy, education and support.” KARE serves about 200 children per year through its Victim Advocacy program, 40 families through Parents as Teachers and 50 families with Positive Parenting Program.

828.456.8995 or vwwwkarehouse.org.

293.9215 or visit http://www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp-2013/.

• Preschool Summer Day Camp Cullowhee United Methodist Church, ages 3 - not yet attended kindergarten, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 3 through August 2, with no camp July 4-5. Full-day program $650 for the whole summer, $90 per week, or $25 per day. Half day program $450 for entire summer, $60 per week, or $15 per day. Space limited, call 293.9215 or visit http://www.cullowheeumc.org/summer-camp2013/.

Science & Nature • Yuri’s Night, a special evening at PARI program, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 12, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI). Yuri’s Night is an annual world space party on the birthday of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

Reservations required and will be accepted until 3 p.m. the day of the event. $20 per adult, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for children under 14. Register and pay online at www.pari.edu or call 862.5554. PARI Education Director Christi Whitworth, cwhitworth@pari.edu.

• Mountain Science Expo: Citizen Science, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13, North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville. Hands-on activities, science talks, lab tours, nature experiences, exhibits, performances and other events. 665.2492 or visit www.ncarboretum.org.

Literary (children)

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • End-of-life decision making session, 1 p.m. Friday, April 11, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 452.5039, or 452.2370.

• Mary Joyce, author of An Ancient Race of Little People, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Jackson County Senior Center. 631.0607.

KIDS & FAMILIES • LEGO Summit, 9:15 a.m.to noon, Saturday, April 13, Stillwell Science Building, Western Carolina University.

LEGO Robotics, building bricks and lots more.

Registration limited. Register online at http://legosummit2013.eventbrite.com or call Larissa Miller at tobiasandlarissa@gmail.com or Pam Myers at pamcmyers@gmail.com.

• Jackson County Special Olympics, 9:45 a.m.

Wednesday, April 17, Smoky Mountain High School.

Abigail Clayton, 506.1035.

Day Camps • Elementary School Summer Day Camp, ages 6 to 12, Cullowhee United Methodist, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 3 to August 2, with no camp July 45. One-time registration fee $75 (or $10 per week if less than 8 weeks) per family to reserve your spot and will help cover the cost of supplies and some activities.

Cost is $650 for the whole summer, $90 per week, or $25 per day. Space is limited and filling up fast. Call

• Children’s Story time - Children Make Terrible Pets, 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Family Night- Tail-Waggin Good Time with Courteous Canines of Jackson County, 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time- Hot Dog! 11 a.m. Friday, April 12, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016 • Children’s Story time with Miss Sally- How is a Book Made? 3:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• American Girls Club at City Lights, noon Saturday, April 13. City Lights Bookstore, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Anime Club, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. 488.3030.

ECA EVENTS • Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009. New members welcome any time.

• Noon Thursday, April 11 – Service Project, Lunch and Learn ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

• 1 p.m. Monday, April 15 – Cancer Drain Bags, Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

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MAGGIE VALLEY FESTIVAL GROUNDS SATURDAY, APRIL 20 1-7 P.M. $5 Advance/$8 Gate • Kids 12 & Under FREE Includes event admission and live music

Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

OYSTERS Every Way Raw, Steamed & Fried, as well as Peel ‘n Eat Steamed Shrimp. If you are not a seafoodie — Food Trucks on site with Housemade Hot Dogs, Brats, Hamburgers, BBQ, Grits Bar, Funnel Cakes & more!

The Pearl of the Smoky Mountains!

182-01

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www.smokymtnoysterfest.com

Tickets available at the event or at the Haywood Chamber of Commerce, Waynesville. www.haywoodnc.com or info@haywood-nc.com or 456.3021.

• Sewing 101 Workshops: How to Read a Pattern, 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 10, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva, and Basic Sewing Skills, 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva. Call Extension office, 586.4009 to sign up.

• Farm to Fork Dinner, Friday, April 12, at Frogs Leap Public House. The prefixed menu is $50 per person.

456.1930. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywoodnc.com or 456.3021.

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Dems • Swain County Democratic County Convention, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 13, The Seniors Center, 129 Brendle St, Bryson City.

GOP • North and South Jackson County Republicans meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, Ryan’s in Sylva.

Ralph Slaughter, chair, 743.6391, jacksonctygop@yahoo.com or www.jacksoncountygop.com.

Others • Franklin as an Appalachian Trail Community, featuring Julie Judkins of the A.T. Conservancy and David Lippy, president of the Nantahala Hiking Club, noon Thursday, April 11, Tartan Hall, Franklin. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Macon County. Bring a bag lunch.

• Jackson County Patriots, 6 p.m. dinner, 6:30 meeting Friday, April 12, Ryan’s Steakhouse, Sylva. Guest speaker State Sen. Jim Davis.

• Jackson County Patriots, 6 p.m. dinner, 6:30 meeting Saturday, April 18, Ryan’s Steakhouse, Sylva.

Patriots general meeting and planning session.

• OccupyWNC - Working Groups. 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 23, Jackson Justice Center, Room 246, Lucy or Bill Christopher, 743.9747

Jackson • Harris Monthly Grief Support Group, 3 to 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 16, Chaplain’s Conference Room, MedWest-Harris, Sylva. 586.7979.

• MedWest-Harris WNC Breast Cancer Support Group, 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, Harris Medical Park conference room, 98 Doctors Drive, Sylva. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100.

• Great Decisions 2013 Edition Discussion Group, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 23, auditorium Haywood County Public Library, Waynesville. $20, cost of Great Decisions, 2013 Edition. Leader, David E. McCracken, National Associate with the FPA. 550.5980 or dem32415@aol.com or www.fpa.org.

A&E FOOD & DRINK • Melange of the Mountains, April 11-13, Haywood County. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywoodnc.com or 456.3021.

• Culinary gala, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Laurel Ridge Country Club, Waynesville. Tickets, $40 per person, with a VIP option at $60 per person.

• Beer & Cheese Tasting Event, 3 to 5 p.m. April 13, Classic Wine Seller, Church St., downtown Waynesville.

246.0602. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywoodnc.com or 456.3021.

• Five Course Wine Dinner, Saturday, April 13, Herren House Bed & Breakfast, Waynesville. 452.7837. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywood-nc.com or 456.3021.

• Friday Night Live, singer-songwriter, Ben Wilson, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 19, Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. Small plate fare from 5:30 to 9 p.m. $10 min. food, drink, or retail purchase. 452.6000.

• CD release concert by Eve Haslam & Satin Steel Jazz, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20, the Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. $34.95, plus tax and gratuity, dinner and music. Reservations at 452.6000 or email requests to info@classicwineseller.com. Seating is limited.

• 6th annual Asheville Gluten Free Expo and Information Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 27, UNC-Asheville’s Kimmel Arena. www.inglesmarkets.com/ask_leah or 800-334-4936

FESTIVALS, SPECIAL & SEASONAL EVENTS • Greening Up the Mountains 5K, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 27, Mark Watson Park, Sylva. Register at the Recreation Center in Cullowhee or at www.imathlete.com.

• The Haywood Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for artists and crafters – as well as craft demonstrators – for the 25th annual Haywood County Apple Harvest Festival, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct.19 on Historic Main Street downtown Waynesville. Deadline for applications is August 30. Booth space assignments for the festival will be announced after October 4. Applications available at HaywoodAppleFest.com or by calling 456.3021.

LITERARY (ADULTS) • WCU Literary Festival: 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, authors Stephanie Powell Watts and Bob Watts, University Center theater; 6 p.m. reception Wednesday, April 10, Sylva Public Library atrium, followed by writer Robert Morgan, 7 p.m. library’s community room; 4 p.m. Thursday, April 11, local writers Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle and Dawn Gilchrist-Young, University Center theater; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, National Book Award-winning poet Nikky Finney, Coulter Building auditorium at WCU, visit.wcu.edu, 227.7264, info@litfestival.org, or www.litfestival.org.

• William Everett will read from his new collection of poetry, Turnings: Poems of Transformation, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 13, Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. 456.6000, www.WilliamEverett.com, www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

• Book Club Bash, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. The evening is designed to help book club members and folks who might like to join a book club. 456.6000, www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Troop 309 Car Show and Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, Haywood Community College.

Cars, crafts, Scouting demonstrations, drawings and much more. Free. Proceeds will benefit Boy Scout Troop 309. Email clydetroop309@gmail.com for entry information.

• Champagne & Caviar Tasting, 3 to 5 p.m. April 13, Sunburst Market on Montgomery St., downtown Waynesville (backside of MAST). 452.3848. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywood-nc.com or 456.3021.

April 10-16, 2013

SUPPORT GROUPS

• Hands-on Biscuit Making Demonstration, 10 a.m.

Saturday, April 13, City Bakery. $10 per person.

452.3881. www.haywood-nc.com or info@haywoodnc.com or 456.3021.

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• 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 – Decoupage Fabric Plate, Cane Creek ECA. For location information, call the Extension Office, 586.4009.

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• Coffee with the Poet, Janice Hornburg, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, April 18, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva.

wnc calendar

586.9499.

• Poetic Voices of North Carolina, 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

Actress and playwright Connie Clark commemorates National Poetry Month. 524.7683 or artscouncilofmacon.org.

• Poetry Workshop, Transforming Your Emotions Through Poetry: What You Wish You Had Always Known, 10 a.m. Saturday, April 20, Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville. Led by Mary Ellen Phillips. Register at 456.6000. $10 suggested donation.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Drowsy Chaperone, a playful take on classic musicals of Broadway, 7:30 p.m. April 11-13, and 3 p.m. April 14, John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University. $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and WCU faculty and staff; and $7 (in advance) and $10 (day of show) for students. Tickets, 227.2479 or order online at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• Nationally acclaimed songwriters Casey Kelly, Leslie Ellis and Angela Kaset will appear at Balsam Mountain Inn’s Songwriters in the Round session, 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, Balsam Mountain Inn, between Sylva and Waynesville. $45 per person and includes a gourmet dinner buffet. 855.456.9498 or go online to: www.balsammountaininn.net.

• Percussion Ensemble of Western Carolina University concert, 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 15, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building. WCU music faculty members P. Bradley Ulrich and Will Peebles, 7:30 p.m. in the Coulter Building recital hall, Western Carolina University. 227.3274.

• Annie Get Your Gun, 7:30 p.m. April 18-20, and 2:30 p.m. April 21, Smoky Mountain Center for the

Performing Arts, Franklin. Presented by the Overlook Theatre Company. Adult tickets, $15; student tickets, $10. GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• Grace Noon Concert Series, noon, third Thursdays of the month, April 18 – June 20, Grace Church in the Mountains, 394 Haywood St., downtown Waynesville.

Featuring The Signature Winds. 456.6029.

ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS • Blue Ridge Watermedia Society exhibition, April 1027, Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Western North Carolina Woodturners Club meeting, 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, Blue Ridge School, Glenville.

Drive to the back of the school to the woodworking shop.

• When All Else Fails, opening reception, 4 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 11, WCU Fine Arts Museum. MFA exhibit by Brad Wines. Runs through April 19. museum@wcu.ed, 227.3591.

• Artist’s reception, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Reception for Blue Ridge Watermedia Society members 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville. Exhibition runs from Wednesday, April 10 through Saturday, April 27. www.haywoodarts.org.

• 45th annual Juried Student Exhibition reception and awards, 5 to 7 p.m. noon Thursday, April 18, WCU Fine Arts Museum. museum@wcu.edu, 227.3591.

• Candlewicking workshop, 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, April 18, room 234, Jackson County Community Service Center, Sylva. Taught by ECA member Diane Herring. $5. Jackson County Extension Office, 586.4009.

April 10-16, 2013

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• Empty Bowl 2013 Fundraiser, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 26, Community Table, Sylva. Your choice of a beautiful bowl made by local potters. Raffle items, soups from local restaurants and live music. Tickets, $20. 586.6782 or www.communitytable.org.

• Fifth annual Spring Cashiers Arts & Crafts Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 25-26, Cashiers Village Green.

Spring juried event. Artisans interested in participating in this show email artsandcrafts@cashiersrotary.org.

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • Mark Menendez art classes, 10 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays, starting April 10. Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St., Franklin. www.menendezartstudio.com • Pottery fundraiser for KARE, Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 11-12, Claymates Pottery, Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville.

• Tuesday Quilters, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16, 23 and 30, Shepard of the Hills Lutheran Church on highway 107. Bring the quilt you are working on and your machine and join us. 349.0883 or www.smokymountainquilters.org.

• Raku Bead Making, 6 to 9 p.m. April 18-19, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20, Riverwood Pottery, Dillsboro. $120, includes all material and firing. 586.3601 visit eww.riverwoodpottery.com.

• Western North Carolina Carvers monthly meeting, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 28, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road, Asheville. Presentation on chip carving by Bill Johnson. Bring tools and something to carve. Bruce Dalzell, 665.8273.

FILM & SCREEN • Free movie from Hollywood’s golden age featuring Humphrey Bogart, 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. Free popcorn. 488.3030.

• Free family movie, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. Free popcorn.488.3030.

DANCE • Second Sunday Community Dance, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 14, community room, Jackson County Library Complex, Sylva. Circle, square and contra dances. No experience necessary. Potluck will follow at 5 p.m. Bring a covered dish, plate, cup and cutlery and a water bottle.ronandcathy71@frontier.com or www.dancewnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Outdoors

40

OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS • Franklin Bird Club bird walk along the Greenway, Wednesday, April 10, led by Paula Gorgoglione. Meet at 8 a.m. at Salali Lane. Parking is off Fox Ridge Road, just south of Franklin Flea Market on Highlands Rd. 524.5234.

• Lake Junaluska third annual Beautification Day, 7:30 a.m. Thursday, April 11, Kern Auditorium (complimentary breakfast). Volunteers needed to help Lake Junaluska staff and residents clear brush, power wash signs and buildings, and many more beautification projects. Lunch also provided. Volunteer forms available at www.lakejunaluska.com/beautification.

Tammy McDowell, tmcdowell@lakejunaluska.com or 454.6702.

• Lunch With The League, noon Thursday, April 11, Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church, Franklin.

Speaker is David Lippy, president of the Nantahala Hiking Club. Bring your own lunch.

• 39th annual Spring Hike Week, Sunday, April 14 through Thursday, April 18, Fontana Village. www.FontanaVillage.com or call the resort direct at 828.498.2211.

• Franklin Bird Club meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, April 15, Macon County Public Library. Putting Your Land to Work for Birds: Partnering for Bird Conservation, by Curtis Smalling, director of Land Bird Conservation, Audubon North Carolina. 524.5234.

• Nantahala Hiking Club easy-to-moderate 3-mile hike, Saturday, April 13, from Whitewater Falls down to Bad Creek. Bring camera, water and lunch. Meet at 10 a.m. at Cashiers Wells Fargo Bank in Cashiers.

Call leader Carl Blozan, 743.1765, for reservations.

Visitors welcome; no pets.

• Friends of the Smokies hike, Tuesday, April 16, Hyatt Ridge Trail, near Cherokee, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Moderately strenuous 9.5-mile hike, led

by Danny Bernstein. Register at outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or call 452.0720.

• Spring Wildflower Walk, Saturday, April 20, Chimney Rock State Park, $18 for adults, $3 for annual passholders; $9 for child (ages5-15), $2 for Grady’s Kids Club Members (includes park admission). One to twomile walk with frequent stops to study in detail some of the park’s 700+ species of known plants. Led by wildflower photographer Steven Faucette.

800.277.9611 or visit@chimneyrockpark.com.

• The Gorges State Park is looking for volunteers to assist in maintaining existing trails and campgrounds in the park on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Bring gloves, water and tools supplied.

Participants need to be at least 16 years old and in good health. Registration not required. Meet at 17762 Rosman Highway (US-64) in Sapphire. 966.9099.

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS • Bike Maintenance: Derailleur and Shifting Systems, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, REI Asheville. $20 REI members/$40 non-members. Register/Info: http://www.rei.com/event/50402/session/69915.

• Franklin as an Appalachian Trail Community, featuring Julie Judkins of the A.T. Conservancy and David Lippy, president of the Nantahala Hiking Club, noon Thursday, April 11, Tartan Hall, Franklin. Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Macon County. Bring a • Old Time Plowing and Folkways, Saturday, April 13, Cradle of Forestry, Pisgah National Forest, NC highway 276. Living history volunteers bring the past to life along the Biltmore Campus Trail. 877.3130, www.cradleofforestry.org, $5 for adults; under age 16 free. Federal Recreation passes honored.

• Map and Compass Navigation Basics, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14, REI Asheville. $30 REI members/$50 non-members. Register/Info: http://www.rei.com/event/43656/session/69914.

• Volunteers needed from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, Monteith Farmstead Park, Dillsboro, to clean up Scotts Creek. Register with Sae Smyrl, WATR Cleanup coordinator, at saesmyrl@hotmail.com or www.WATRnc.org, or leave a message at the WATR office, 488.8418.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Banking on a Cure 5k and 1-mile walk Fundraiser for Relay for Life Saturday, April 13, Tassee Shelter on the Greenway. Register at www.Active.com (Banking on a Cure). Sherry, 524.7000, ext. 2449.

• Benefit for Sarge’s One Mile Fun Run & Dog Walk, 9 a.m. Saturday, April 13, Bethea Welcome Center-Lake Junaluska. $5 registration fee for Sarge’s fundraiser.

Leashed dogs welcome. Bake sale, photo booth. See event on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/14vPNuB. 734.1307 or 508.2997.

PRIME REAL ESTATE

INSIDE

Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ARTS & CRAFTS

MarketPlace information:

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

AUCTION ABSOLUTE AUCTION Trustee Foreclosure - Danville, Virginia, Cyber Park. April 24, 2013 at 12:00 noon on site. 500 Stinson Drive, Danville, Virginia. 15,663 sf warehouse/offices. Tax Assessed Value: $1,081,700. Walker Commercial Services, Inc. VAAF#549.

540.344.6160. Or go to: www.walker-inc.com

Rates: ■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.

■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

■ $12 — If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad.

■ $35 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

HUGE AUCTION Friday April 12th @ 4:30 PM, located at Boatwright Auction building in Franklin NC. Selling over 800 lots including: contents of woodworking shop (tools, wood, hardware, etc.), cast iron pan collection (Griswold, Wagner), large selection of primitives, quality furniture, glassware, rugs, quilts, antiques, collectables, household & MORE! View pictures and more details: www.boatwrightauction.com.

Something for Everyone!

Boatwright Auction, 34 Tarheel Trail, Franklin NC, 828.524.2499.

NCAL Firm 9231

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

R

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SC OV ER E

ATR

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INC.

Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS STEVE WOODS, MANAGER

MON-FRI 7:30-5:30 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

456-5387

183-06

TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Thursday, April 18 at 10am. 196 Crawford Road, Statesville, NC. Selling Modern Medical Equipment from OB/GYN and Print Shop. Exam Tables, Ultrasounds, Fetal Monitors, more. Printing Equipment, Copiers, Computers.

704.791.8825. ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Wednesday, April 17 at 10am.

Selling Seized Restaurant & Bar Equipment for Unpaid Taxes. 196 Crawford Road, Statesville, NC. Pizza Ovens, Fryers, Ovens, Refrigeration, Seating, Sandwich/Pizza Preps, Convections, more.

704.791.8825. ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

WHITE PINE, HEMLOCK, POPLAR Lumber and Timbers, Any Size!

Rough Sawn or S4S, Custom Sawing. Smoky Mountain Timber, 3517 Jonathan Creek Rd., Waynesville, NC. 828.926.4300.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Call Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727. Ask about our Senior Citizens Discount

ELECTRICAL BOOTH ELECTRIC Residential & Commercial service.

Up-front pricing, emergency service. 828.734.1179. NC License #24685-U.

CARS - DOMESTIC DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 877.752.0496.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 office.

EMPLOYMENT ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT Trainees Needed! Become a Certified Microsoft Office Professional!

NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready ASAP! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed. 1.888.926.6057.

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial Aid if Qualified Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance.

1.866.724.5403. SAPA AVERITT Offers CDL-A Drivers a Strong, Stable, Profitable Career. Experienced Drivers and Recent Grads. Excellent Benefits, Weekly Hometime.

Paid training. 888.362.8608.

AverittCareers.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

COMPANY DRIVERS: $2500 Sign-On Bonus! Super Service is hiring solo and team drivers.

Excellent hometime options. CDL-A required. Call 888.441.9358 or apply online with us at: www.superservicellc.com AVIATION CAREERS Train in advance structures and become certified to work on aircraft. Financial aid for those who qualify. Call aviation institute of maintenance 1.877.205.1779.

WWW.FIXJETS.COM SAPA COMPANY DRIVER: Solo Regional & OTR Lanes.

Competitive Pay. Great hometime.

CDL-A with 1 year OTR and Hazmat End. Sign-On Bonus. $2000 Solo & $5000 Teams. 888.705.3217 or apply online at: www.drivenctrans.com DRIVER Two raises in first year. Qualify for any portion of $0.03/mile quarterly bonus: $0.01 Safety, $0.01 Production, $0.01 MPG. 3 months OTR experience. 800.414.9569. www.driveknight.com

R

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT DRIVER $2,500 Sign-On Bonus! Hiring Solo and Team Drivers. Great Benefits Package. Excellent Home Time.

CDL-A Required. 888.441.9358, www.superservicellc.com DRIVERS- REGIONAL Class A CDL - Company Drivers & Owner Operators Out 5 to 7 Days 1.800.444.0585 Press 2 for Recruiting or Online applications www.howellsmotor.com DRIVERS...FREIGHT UP = MORE $.

Class A CDL Required. Call or go to 877.258.8782 www.ad-drivers.com GYPSUM EXPRESS Regional Hauls for Flatbed Company Driver Terminal in Roxboro. Ask about Performance Bonus coming April 1st & more. Melissa, 866.317.6556 x6 or www.gypsumexpress.com DRIVER Daily or Weekly Pay. Hometime Choices. One Cent Raise after 6 and 12 months. $0.03 Enhanced Quarterly Bonus. CDL-A, 3 months OTR exp. 800.414.9569. www.driveknight.com

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

IN YOUR EAR MUSIC EMPORIUM Local independent music store is hiring ENTHUSIASTIC self-motivated individuals to complete a unique team. Must be able to multi-task and work under pressure. Must be proficient on a computer. Retail experience and guitar knowledge beneficial.

Please apply in person!

Located on Main St. Sylva, NC. MEDICAL CAREERS BEGIN HERE – Train ONLINE for Allied Health and Medical Management. Job placement assistance. Computer and Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV authorized. Call 877.206.7665 www.CenturaOnline.com SAPA NOW HIRING! National Companies need workers immediately to assemble products at home. Electronics, CD stands, hair barrettes & many more. Easy work, no selling, any hours. $500/week potential. Info 1.985.646.1700 DEPT NC - 4152 (Not valid in Louisiana) SAPA

NCPS SALES EXECUTIVESales, sales and more sales. Print, digital, mobile, social - That's what we want from our sales exec!

North Carolina Press Services seeks a hard-driving, proven sales executive to find advertisers who want results. The NCPS sales executive oversees our overall sales strategy - from cold call to on-site call, from fresh ideas to excellent execution of traditional sales practices. We don't ask for much - just great work, great hustle and a great attitude! The sales exec works with our outstanding NCPS staff, which places the ads, tracks and bills, and proves to the client that newspapers DO work! Sales experience of all sorts and a proven track record are a must; strong background in digital sales and social media marketing is a definite plus. We offer great pay, excellent benefits, and a fun, creative working environment. To apply, send an online cover letter, resume and any samples to NCPA Executive Director Beth Grace at beth@ncpress.com

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

NEED MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES. Become a Medical Office Assistant at CTI! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready!

HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. For program disclosures, go to Careertechnical.edu/northcarolina. 1.888.512.7122 THE MAD BATTER In Cullowhee is hiring part-time counter help. Must be available nights & weekends. Call or come by between 2-4pm. 828.293.3096.

FINANCIAL

TRANSPORT SERVICE CO. Food Grade Division is hiring Class A CDL DRIVERS out of Asheville, NC for our Long Haul (5-7 days out) positions! We offer competitive pay, medical benefits for you and your family, paid training on product handling, paid uniforms, paid vacations, 401K & MORE! 1 year tractor-trailer experience, Tank Endorsement (or ability to obtain) & safe driving record required.

APPLY NOW at: TheKAG.com or call 800.871.4581

BALSAM MOUNTAIN INN Now accepting applications for waitstaff, dishwasher, cooks and house keepers. Apply in person.

828.456.94978 TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors!

Immediate Placement Available.

Best opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today.

800.277.0212 or go to: www.primeinc.com

TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED Best Pay and Home Time! Apply Online Today over 750 Companies!

One Application, Hundreds of Offers! www.HammerLaneJobs.com.

SAPA

*GET PAID DAILY* Working From Home Must Own PC Or Laptop! Watch 15 Min Video Before Calling! worksfromhm.com 1.646.372.8420 SAPA

DRIVERS...FREIGHT UP = MORE $.

Class A CDL Required. Call or go to 877.258.8782 www.ad-drivers.com

$$$ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!!

Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hours? Low rates. Apply Now By Phone! 1.800.568.8321. wwwlawcapital.com Not Valid in CO or NC. SAPA BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA PROTECT YOUR IRA & 401(k) From inflation by owning physical gold or silver! Tax-free, hassle-free rollovers. FREE "Gold Guide."

AMERICAN BULLION, 800.527.5679.

FURNITURE REMAINING FURNITURE LUMBER Walnut, Butternut, Cherry. Need to clear building, $3,250 Call for more info 828.627.2342 COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

183-15

Puzzles can be found on page 45.

April 10-16, 2013

These are only the answers.

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828

www.smokymountainnews.com

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

42

MARSHALL - A 9 week old Terrier mix. He is tri-color, weighs about 9 lbs., and is really cute. Call foster home at 828.293.5629.

TILLY - A 9 week old Terrier mix.

She is tan and white, weighs about 7 lbs., and is very friendly. Call foster home at 828.293.5629.

SKY AND BLACKIE - Are 3 month old Lab/Cocker/Chow mixes. They are about 18 lbs. each and have varying amounts of black and white coloring. Call foster home at 828.550.3458.

RASCAL - A cute Terrier/Corgi mix who is just 3 years old. He is housebroken, current on all shots, not a lapdog, but is a good porch dog to alert when visitors arrive. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC.

7RZQKRXVH

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

SASSY - A 60 lb., purebred Redtick. She is 1-2 years old.

Very gentle, she will make a wonderful pet. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC. BEN - A 5 lb. purebred Chihuahua. He is white and brown. He is a bit shy. No small children. Special pricing applies.

Call 877.ARF.JCNC. GIBBS - A two-year-old, purebred, male Beagle. He is tricolored, weighs 35 lbs., and is very friendly. He gets along well with other dogs, is affectionate with people, and obeys house rules. Call ARF at 877.ARF.JCNC ARF’S Next low-cost spay/neuter trip will be May 6h. Register and pre-pay at ARF’s adoption site on Saturdays from 1-3. Spaces are limited.

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

PETS CONTROL FLEAS/TICKS/MITES & Mosquitoes before heavy infestation with Happy JackÂŽ DuraSpotÂŽ. Patented technology.

Contains NO Fipronil! At Southern States. www.happyjackinc.com

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WNC MarketPlace

Pet Adoption

FURNITURE HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

ROB ROLAND

828-564-1106

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12 Noon - 5pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

RROLAND33@GMAIL.COM

Find the home you are looking for at www.robrolandrealty.com

“LIKE�

MY PAGE

192-29

ARF (HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON COUNTY) Holds rescued pet adoptions Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 (weather permitting) at 50 Railroad Avenue in Sylva. Animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.

Most cats $60, most dogs $70.

Preview available pets at www.a-r-f.org, or call foster home.

Chaco - A striking deep orange boy who likes to patrol his surroundings. He has been declawed so must be an indoor cat. Wants to come on as a tough guy but will warm up to you when given the chance!

EVE - Labrador Retriever Mix dog – black. I am about 2 years old and was found living in the woods with my sister. I can be shy with people at first, but a happy girl once I know I can trust you. I love toys, other dogs, and belly rubs. I’m still in a learning phase with some things like not jumping up and getting used to new places and people, but am making steady progress. I am housetrained and also learning sit and down commands. $125 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org.

NEED A NEW HOME

ANIMAL COMPASSION NETWORK Pet Adoption Events - Every Saturday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at Pet Harmony, Animal Compassion Network's new pet store for rescued pets. Dozens of ACN dogs, puppies, kittens and cats will be ready to find their permanent homes. The store also offers quality pet supplies where all proceeds save more homeless animals. Come see us at 803 Fairview St. (behind Province 620 off Hendersonville Rd), visit www.animalcompassionnetwork.org, or call 828.274.DOGS.

www.selecthomeswnc.com Residential and Commercial Long-Term Rentals

Talk to your neighbors, then talk to me.

Ann knows real estate!

ÂŽ

See why State Farm insures more drivers than GEICO and Progressive combined. Great ser vice, plus discounts of up to 40 percent.* Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

CALL CALL FOR FOR QUOTE QUOTE 24/7.

24/7. ÂŽ

Chad McMahon, A gent 3 4 5 Wa l n u t S t r e e t Waynesville, NC 28786 Bus: 828 - 452- 0567 chad.mcmahon.r v37@s t atef arm.com

Ann Eavenson

*Discounts var y by states.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnit y Company, Blooming ton, IL

1001174.1

CRS, GRI, E-PRO

ann@mainstreetrealty.net

506-0542 CELL

Your Local Big Green Egg Dealer

TUPELO’S

183-13

101 South Main St. Waynesville

MainStreet Realty

BEST PRICE EVERYDAY

INDOOR & OUTDOOR

smokymountainnews.com

For your pet? Animal Comp Net provides a re-homing service! that includes neutering, microchipping, and food – all FREE to you! You'll bring your pet to our adoption events and we'll find them a loving new home! For details, call us at 828.258.4820

Skye - She looks mostly like a Plott hound mix but has light blue eyes!! Skye is initially a bit shy but then quickly warms up as you rub her ears. A very sweet girl who will be devoted to you.

Full Service Property Management 828-456-6111

April 10-16, 2013

OAKEY - Domestic Shorthair cat – black. I was born in February 2012, so I still have a great mix of kitten-y playfulness and energy, but also some maturity to balance it out. I’m a very cute and loving fellow. $100 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org.

JACK - Beagle Mix dog – brown & white. I am 4 years old, and I’m a very well behaved boy who is perfectly housetrained and never destroys anything. I’m very friendly with every person and dog I meet, and my ideal forever home would have a canine companion. I love stuffed animals and am good at entertaining myself with them when alone. I’ve been known to bark at cats from afar, but have never actually met one close up. $125 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 828.274.3647 or animalcompassionnetwork.org.

183-30

10-5 M-SAT. 12-4 SUN.

FURNITURE

(828) 452-2227 mainstreetrealty.net 182-48

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

43

WNC MarketPlace

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

Haywood County Real Estate Agents Beverly Hanks & Associates — beverly-hanks.com • • • • • • •

Michelle McElroy — beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig — beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey — beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither — esither@beverly-hanks.com Jerry Smith — beverly-hanks.com Billie Green — bgreen@beverly-hanks.com Pam Braun — pambraun@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Rob Roland — robrolandrealty.com • Chris Forga — forgarentalproperties.com

Mountain Home Properties — mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell — smokiesproperty.com

April 10-16, 2013

Main Street Realty — mainstreetrealty.net McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern — shamrock13.com

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 the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are here by informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1.800.669.9777. .

Prudential Lifestyle Realty — vistasofwestfield.com

EVER CONSIDER A Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective!

Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888.418.0117.

SAPA

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

HOMES FOR RENT UNFURNISHED 3/BR 1/BA HOME FOR RENT Walking Distance from Downtown Waynesville. Very nice fenced in yard, complete with swing set, perfect for children and pets. Unfinished basement for storage or a work shop.

Wooden floors and a deck to enjoy the great views. Central Heat and Air, 1 car garage, all appliances included. $825/mo. Call Select Homes at 828.456.6111.

VACATION RENTALS NORTH CAROLINA MOUNTAINS Head to the mountains! Book your vacation today; even the family pet is welcome! Nightly, Weekly & Monthly Rentals. Foscoe Rentals 1.800.723.7341 or go to: www.foscoerentals.com SAPA

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

• • • • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland — brianknoland.com Connie Dennis — remax-maggievalleync.com Mark Stevens — remax-waynesvillenc.com Mieko Thomson — ncsmokies.com The Morris Team — maggievalleyproperty.com The Real Team — the-real-team.com Ron Breese — ronbreese.com Dan Womack — womackdan@aol.com Bonnie Probst — bonniep@remax-waynesvillenc.com

RENTING YOUR VACATION HOME This season? Reach over 1.3 million readers with a classified ad in 100 North Carolina newspapers! A 25-word ad is only $330. For more information, call NCPS at 919.789.2083 or visit www.ncpsads.com.

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT HEAVY EQUIPMENT Operator Career! 3 Week Hands On Training School. Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. National Certifications. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. VA Benefits Eligible.

1.866.362.6497 SAWMILLS FROM ONLY $3997.00 Make & Save Money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship.

FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com. 1.800.578.1363, Ext. 300N.

MEDICAL ATTENTION DIABETICS With Medicare. Get a FREE Talking Meter and diabetic testing supplies at NO COST, plus FREE home delivery! Best of all, this meter eliminates painful finger pricking!

Call 877.517.4633. SAPA ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA Sufferers with Medicare. Get CPAP Replacement Supplies at little or NO COST, plus FREE home delivery!

Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 1.888.470.8261. SAPA

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty www.smokymountainnews.com

VACATION RENTALS

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS

Realty World Heritage Realty — realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter — realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/1701

DO YOU KNOW YOUR Testosterone Levels? Call 888.414.0692 and ask about our test kits and get a FREE Trial of Progene All-Natural Testosterone Supplement. SAPA

Phone # 1-828-586-3346 TDD # 1-800-725-2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

MEDICAL FEELING OLDER? Men lose the ability to produce testosterone as they age. Call 888.414.0692 for a FREE trial of Progene- All Natural Testosterone Supplement. SAPA VIAGRA 100MG & CIALIS 20MG! 40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99. #1Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Save $500! Buy The Blue Pill! Now 1.800.491.8751.

SAPA CANADA DRUG CENTER Is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 877.644.3199 for $25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping. SAPA

FOR SALE DEALER DOWN-SIZING! English Campaign Desk. Honduran Mahogany, 2-pieces, Mint Cond., Brass Handles, $8,000.

Limoges French Tureen Set 4-pieces. Studio Pottery available, $50 each. For more info call 828.627.2342 EARLY BLACKHAWK CORN SHELLER Good Shape $75. Leather Horse Bridle set $50. For more info call 828.627.2342.

WANTED TO BUY CASH FOR Unexpired Diabetic Test Strips!

Free Shipping, Friendly Service, BEST prices and 24 hour payment!

Call Mandy at 1.855.578.7477, or visit www.TestStripSearch.com Espanol 1.888.440.4001 SAPA

ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtartans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.

DISH NETWORK. Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1.888.709.1546. SAPA

183-12

Mountain Realty

Ron Breese

The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com • Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net

Broker/Owner 182-46

CALL NOW TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 44

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

828.452.4251 OR ads@smokymountainnews.com

2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com Each office independently owned & operated.

183-69

PERSONAL

A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, Let Us Help! Personalized adoption plans. Financial assistance, housing, relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. CALL US FIRST! 1.888.637.8200. 24 hour HOTLINE. SAPA ARE YOU PREGNANT? A childless married couple (in our 30’s) seeks to adopt. Will be hands-on mom/devoted dad.

Financial security. Expenses paid. Nicole & Frank.

1.888.969.6134 MEET SINGLES RIGHT NOW! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now 1.888.909.9978. SAPA

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION

AVIATION CAREERS Train in Advance Structures and become certified to work on aircraft. Financial aid for those who qualify. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 877.205.1779. www.fixjets.com SAPA

SERVICES * REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4-Room All Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $19.99/mo.

FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1.800.935.9195. SAPA MY COMPUTER WORKS: Computer problems? Viruses, spyware, email, printer issues, bad internet connections - FIX IT NOW! Professional, U.S.-based technicians. $25 off service. Call for immediate help. 1.888.582.8147 SAPA DISH NETWORK. Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1.888.827.8038

DIRECTV OFFICIAL TV DEAL America's top satellite provider!

DIRECTV Plans starting at $29.99/mo for 12 months after instant rebate. Get the best in entertainment. 800.318.5608 HIGHSPEED INTERNET Everywhere By Satellite! Speeds up to 12mbps! (200x faster than dialup.) Starting at $49.95/mo. CALL NOW & GO FAST! 1.888.714.6155

STEEL BUILDINGS STEEL BUILDINGS For Homes & Garages. Save THOUSANDS, LOW Monthly Payments on Clearance Orders. 40x60, 30x36, 25x30, 20x22. Call Now! 1.800.991.9251 Ashley.

YARD SALES INDOOR GARAGE SALE Quality household items, indoor & outdoor furniture, collectibles, women’s apparel, antiques. Saturday April 13, 9am-3pm, 96 Studio Lane, Otto (Between Franklin & Clayton). Hwy 441 to Coweeta Lab Road. Take Coweeta for 2 miles.

Studio Lane is on the Left.

SATURDAY’S CHILD 470 Haywood Rd., Dillsboro, NC. The Big White Bldng. w/ Blue Awnings! Nice Furniture, Household, Clothing, Miscellaneous, Everything Under The Sun! Saturdays 10am - 3pm. Call for directions or more information 828.226.7993

WEEKLY SUDOKU

Super

CROSSWORD

SUPER CROSSWORD ONE TO CROW ON ACROSS 1 Ding-dong producer 5 Olympics chant for the Dream Team 11 Super Bowl six-pointers 14 “Thou - not ...”

19 No more than 20 Hoi - (common folk) 21 Like sashimi 22 More robust 23 Indelicate person using scissors?

25 Manning of the gridiron 26 Unanimously 27 Dwellings 28 Drive- - window 29 Output of an artisan using animal pelts?

31 Clothed for the radio broadcast?

34 Run-down urban areas 35 Pre-CIA org.

36 U.S. broadcaster overseas: Abbr.

37 From the beginning 40 Symbol on a musical staff 42 What a loudmouthed person leads?

49 Writing of recollections 52 Like a desert 53 Unlike a desert 54 Shoot for 55 Brie ready to be shipped?

59 Ponch player on “CHiPs” 61 What a DJ speaks into 62 Abject fear 63 King - tomb

66 Mend 67 Not fatty 69 Furrow between the upper and lower arm?

72 Scatters seeds 75 “The Wiz” star Diana 77 Bloke’s “Well, well!”

78 - Gay (bomber) 80 Poseidon’s purview 81 Do away with 84 Long to be sick?

87 Related to the kidneys 88 Gold, to Juan 91 80-Across, to Cousteau 92 Last quarter 93 What one has while watching an Eastwood film?

97 Republican Romney 98 Private plane producer 99 “- for Outlaw” (Sue Grafton mystery) 100 “Spring forward” abbr.

103 It opens many locks 108 Course of medication for an inflamed throat?

113 Rabbit paw print, for Mr. Fudd?

116 Gaga over 117 “Where’s Poppa?” costar George 118 Bufferin rival 119 “... - daily bread” 120 Elegant gaze?

122 Capital of Oregon 123 Superhero name ender 124 Military raid 125 Part of AMA: Abbr.

126 - nous 127 Cab alternative 128 Closest to the center 129 Roves, with “about”

57 Stripper Lili DOWN 58 U.K.’s home 1 “L.A. Law” co-creator 60 Oyster, e.g.

Steven 64 Idiot box 2 Signs up 65 Less crazy 3 Alpacas’ kin 68 Pitcher Ryan 4 Dissolved, as cells 70 WWII female 5 Scannable product ID 71 “... or - thought!”

6 Lower than, on a map 73 Part of NNW 7 Tennis great Gibson 74 Waistband 8 Extreme sort 76 Riverbed buildup 9 French for “sister” 79 Gazillions 10 Tune 81 Curved bit 11 Long slog 82 - canto 12 Big name in surrealism 83 It’s bee-built 13 Election decider, per85 Irving of film haps 86 Litchi, e.g.

14 Divvy up 89 ACLU focus: Abbr.

15 Lays into 90 Sounds of surprise 16 Into the air 94 Bumps off 17 Slowly, to a maestro 95 Suffix with refer or 18 Hank of hair exist 24 Retired flier 96 Unit of corn 29 Arise (from) 97 Basic cell division 30 - En-lai 99 Decides one will 32 Don too many duds 100 Explorer Vasco 33 See 39-Down 101 Dealt leniently with 38 At present 102 First family of the 39 With 33-Down, frozen 1840s potato brand 103 “- porridge hot ...”

40 Simple bed 104 Singer Sherman 41 Told a big fib 105 Fuse, as ore 42 Doctrines 106 Lop off 43 Caustic stuff 107 Krispy 44 Fill totally 109 Pour - troubled waters 45 Turkish cash 110 Divest of weapons 46 1964 Beatles song 111 Snaky letter 47 Vogue 112 Label anew 48 Airport info 114 Kauai feast 49 Cato’s 1,950 115 Large vases 50 Euclid’s lake 120 CBS hit 51 Edible tubes 121 To this point 52 Abu 56 Toon unit

answers on page 42

Answers on Page 42

smokymountainnews.com

Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

April 10-16, 2013

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE From home. Medical, Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality. Job placement assistance. Computer and Financial aid if qualified.

SCHEV authorized. Call Now 888.899.6918 or go to: www.CenturaOnline.com

AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands on Aviation Career.

FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494.

SERVICES

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A MARRIED COUPLE Seeks To Adopt. Full-time mom & Devoted dad. Financial security.

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bi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regional writers and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.

In this issue: On the trail of Cherokee’s marker trees The last scream of the Virginia Creeper Winding along the Blue Ridge Parkway Postcards’ role in attracting early tourists PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE

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Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

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Serviceberry is recurring harbinger of spring

I

George Ellison

have two options when driving back and forth from home to town. One is along a river and the other isn’t. The choice is easy. I always follow the route along the north side of the Tuckaseigee west of Bryson City. If asked to name that section of road I’d name it for a tree.

I’d call it Sarvis Road because every year that’s where I note for the first time — as I did this past Monday — that serviceberry is in bloom. The showy white flowers with Columnist their ribbon-like petals are frequently so numerous on a given tree’s bare limbs they seem to be inundated with snow. They seem even whiter this year.

The tree known as serviceberry, Juneberry, shadbush (or shadblow), and sugarplum in other parts of the country is referred to throughout the southern mountains as sarviceberry, sarvisberry, sarvissberry, sarviss tree, sarviss, or sarvis. This colloquial pronunciation of “service” is thought to have originated in the Appalachians. But, as we shall see, the origin of the name is perhaps more complicated than that.

Serviceberry is a member of the rose family, along with chokeberry, hawthorn,

BACK THEN apple, plum, pear, mountain ash, rose, and others. There are five species of serviceberry in the Blue Ridge Province from southern Pennsylvania into north Georgia. Only two of these are common in WNC. Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier aborea) is found mostly below 3,000 feet. Its leaves, which are usually heart-shaped at the base, are covered underneath (or at least along veins and leafstalk) with white hairs during the flowering period. The fruits are reddish purple, being dry and not tasty to humans, although birds seem to like them just fine. Smooth serviceberry (A. laevis) is found from the lowest elevations to 6,000 or so feet. Its leaves, which are usually not heart-shaped at the base, are hairless. The fruits, which appear from June into August, are dark purple, juicy, and tasty to humans and birds alike. Beating the birds to them is just about impossible.

Now we return to the common names.

Juneberry and sugarplum are self-evident.

Why it’s known in coastal areas as either shadbush or shadblow is also clear enough; that is, the spring migration of shad from the ocean into upland freshwater streams occurs in early spring when the species found in those regions are in bloom. The word blow can have the meaning of “in a state of blossoming.”

Tracking the common name sarvis is tricky. Retired Western Carolina University botanist Jim Horton notes in The Summer Times (1979): “Several explanations are advanced for the common name serviceberry … The most interesting, though not necessarily the most accurate, holds that the tree blooms during ‘service’ time; the time when old-timey itinerant preachers were first penetrating the mountains after the spring thaw and performing services: baptizing babies born during the winter, performing marriages (probably legitimizing the babies baptized) and the like.”

In A Natural History of Trees of Eastern and Central North America (1950), naturalist Donald Culross Peattie, who lived for awhile during the 1930s near Tryon, notes: “It is from the fruits that the Sarvissberry takes its name, for the word is a transformation of the ‘sorbus’ given by the Romans to a related kind of fruit.” WCU biologist Jim Costa, director of the Highlands Biological Station and author of Highlands Botanical Garden: A Naturalist’s Guide (2012), identifies the European species as Sorbus domestica and notes that the “the service of serviceberry was likely transferred from that species.”

There are variant forms of Sorbus domestica. One has pale fruits shaped like apples. The other has vibrant red fruits shaped like pears.

April 10-16, 2013

With $10,000 on the line, you'll need more than just a good fish story.

The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (1971) cites “sarves” as a variant form of “service.” I suspect the North American tree came to be known as serviceberry along the eastern seaboard because its fruits were similar to the European service (or sorbus) tree; then, here in the southern mountains, several species of this tree just happened to bloom in profusion when their flowers were handy for spring ceremonials (including funerals) came to be known as “sarvis.” Curiously enough, however, that Appalachian colloquialism for “service” apparently wasn’t newly-minted here, as is often inferred.

Instead, it represented the revival of an older European colloquialism: “sarves.” Yet another instance of how resilient language can be through time, across great distances, and even from language to language.

George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees.

In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at info@georgeellison.com.

It's Cherokee's Summer Kickoff Trout Fishing Tournament, April 26 –28.

Smoky Mountain News

The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce is getting your summer fishing season started with a big one on the line. Claim your share of the $10,000 purse in this tagged tourney by purchasing your ticket and permit at any of our 28 fishing license locations in Cherokee, or online at FishCherokee.com/license.html. Participants need an event permit and Tribal fishing permit. Enrolled members can use their enrollment card as their permit. The entry fee is $11, and prizes will be redeemed at Artist Row on Aquoni Rd. in Cherokee, NC. 47

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Smoky Mountain News

April 10-16, 2013

Winchester Arms Townhouse 2BR, 1.5BA, $129,000 #534966

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Smoky Mountain Sanctuary 3BR, 3.5BA, $899,500 #523656

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