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April 16-22, 2014 Vol. 15 Iss. 46

Photographer recalls globetrotting career Page 24 Allies unite against the hemlock wooly adelgid Page 32

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As the primary approaches, local candidates are making their case.

Around the region, county commissioner seats are opening up and incumbents and challengers alike are looking for votes. While there is no commissioners primary in Jackson County, voters in Haywood, Macon and Swain will soon have some decisions to make. (Page 6)

News Macon elections board petitions to fire director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WCU takes on tourism with inaugural conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Governor to appoint district court judge soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 A pet store in Clyde turns out to be an alleged house of prostitution. . . . 13 KARE works to help Haywood County victims of child abuse . . . . . . . . . 16 HCC trustee clean up mission statement, refocus goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Opinion Emergency management plan helps when disaster hits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

A&E Action photographer recounts a memorable career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Outdoors An initiative aims to bring an end to the wooly adelgids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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April 16-22, 2014

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Macon board of elections petitions state to fire director County commissioners give $41,000 following embezzlement

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER t’s been three months since Macon County officials unearthed $50,000 worth of embezzlement, but a return to normalcy is just beginning to crack the horizon at the Macon County Board of Elections. Hours after sending a petition requesting that the state board remove the elections director suspected of stealing the money, the board got the OK from county commissioners for the funds it now needs to get through the rest of the fiscal year.

“We’ve never had anything like this situation before, so it’s kind of new territory,” said Luke Bateman, Board of Elections chairman.

Between June 2013 and January 2014, former elections director Kim Bishop signed check requests totaling $51,845.81, supposedly to pay for contract services from four different women, according to a search warrant.

The women, however, told investigators they had never received the checks, and the board of elections members whose names appeared on the check request signature lines said they never signed the forms.

“We’ve put in a lot of time trying to do the right thing given the hand we were dealt and move forward.”

— Luke Bateman

The board approved Bateman’s request for $41,458 from the fund balance, $32,796 of which will go toward primary election expenses. That’s compared to $51,000 in money gone from the suspected embezzlement. Bateman said the board was able to make up a good bit of the difference with revenue from election filing fees, which usually just goes back to the county’s general budget.

“We were able to take the filing fees for this upcoming election as well as some reimbursements for the town elections from last November and use those to offset,” Bateman said.

Commissioners unanimously approved the expenditure, but only after looking for any other way to keep the board afloat.

“We’re entrusted by the tax payer to safeguard their tax dollars, and we failed,” said Commissioner Paul Higdon. “Are there safeguards to prevent it in the future?”

Finance director Lori Hall answered that she has made changes in finance, and County Manager Derek Roland added that he’s waiting on reports from the state auditor to come back. Once he receives them, he will “see what we can do to ensure that this never happens again.”

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, restitution for the embezzled money could be required, but, County Attorney Chester Jones warned commissioners, “I wouldn’t count it till you had it in your hand.”

“That’s hard to stomach, but that’s just the way it is,” said Commissioner Ronnie Beale.

That’s more in the long view, though. For now, Bateman said, he’s happy to be on the way toward restored stability in the Macon County Board of Elections.

“We’ve put in a lot of time trying to do the right thing given the hand we were dealt and move forward,” Bateman said.

Experience Matters.

In or out of the Courtroom.

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

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When the investigation began, Bishop was placed on paid investigative leave at her full salary of $42,000, and an interim director was named. But the Macon County Board of Elections can’t outright fire her — that has to come from the state board.

Macon County had put off sending in a petition requesting her termination in hopes that the State Bureau of Investigation probe would wrap up quickly, strengthening the county board’s argument. But by the time April rolled around, the board decided it couldn’t wait any longer.

“That process has just drug out much longer than we anticipated and were led to believe was the case,” Bateman said, “So we just came to a point as a board that we just felt like this was the best thing.”

So, after a closed session at its regular April 8 meeting, the board approved a petition requesting Bishop’s removal as director.

That same evening, Bateman went to the Macon County commissioners meeting to request the funding the board needs to stay afloat through the end of the fiscal year, which includes the May primary election.

“We’ve made all the cuts that we can and trying to be as diligent as we could with what we have left and what we have remaining that’s required by law for us to do,” Bateman said. “We felt pretty good about this number that we were able to get it down to, considering the current circumstances.”

828.339.1010 | EarwoodandMoore.com | Sylva Sylva and Cullowhee 4

BY J EREMY MORRISON Conference-goers also heard from Witt N EWS E DITOR Tuttle, N.C. Department of Commerce’s he takeaway from Western Carolina assistant secretary, Division of Tourism, University’s inaugural Tourism Works Film and Sports Development. He laid out conference was pretty straightforward. the state’s tourism strategies and discussed “I don’t think tourism gets enough credthe evolving world of tourism marketing. it for what it does for county economies, “Twenty or 30 years ago, it was pretty and I think it’s about time it did,” summed easy — you did a print ad, you did a radio up Steve Morse. “In Western North ad, you were done,” he said, explaining that Carolina, tourism is economic developweb-based marketing may play much better ment.” these days. “We’ve gone 60 percent digital.

As director of the WCU College of We want to get’em while they plan.”

Business’s Hospitality and Tourism proTuttle also spoke about the amount of gram, Morse presided over the day-long funds dedicated to marketing North conference held April 11. The event drew Carolina. It’s less than that spent on such more than 130 people from around the efforts in Florida. It’s considerably less than region. In addition to representatives from is expended in Tennessee and South the area’s tourism industry, participants included elected officials and individuals interested in economic development.

“It was great, it was a wonderful first conference,” said Anna Smathers, communications manager for the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

“It was a lot about building relationships and working together.”

The focus of the conference was tourism’s impact on local economies. To that end, students in WCU’s Tourism and Hospitality program compiled relevant statistics for each of North Carolina’s western counties.

Attendants were presented with a conference workbook brimming with a collection of Steve Morse, director of WCU’s Tourism and Hospitality data for each county. The stats program presides over the conference. WCU photo were striking. In Swain County, annual tourism spending is pegged at about $293 million. Almost $17 Carolina, where more than $20 million is million in state and local taxes is generated put toward marketing. each year in Macon County by tourists.

“We’re at about $9.5 million, so that Jackson County sees about $11 million each scares me,” Tuttle said. “South Carolina has year in tourism-related income and payso much money they’re spending a million checks. More than 1,300 jobs in Haywood dollars on a barbecue trail. C’mon, barbeCounty are related to the tourism trade. cue? That’s us. You can’t steal that from us.”

“Tourism is a huge industry for us, and David Primm, of Primm Research out of here are the numbers showing the effect of Pennsylvania, spoke about the economic it,” Smathers said. importance of the designated Blue Ridge Morse encouraged people to share his National Heritage Area. He noted that of students’ data. He implored them to do so. the United State’s 49 national heritage “You need to tell that story often, you areas, 12 are in the Southeast, but only one need to tell it as much as possible,” the is in North Carolina. director said.

Primm’s calculations show that the desConference attendees were given suggesignation annually generates 30,000 jobs, tions about how best to illustrate the $176.5 million in state and local taxes and impact of tourism on local economies. One $2.39 billion for the economy. suggestion involved drawing up an overToward the end of the conference, WCU sized, photo-op check featuring the dollar Chancellor David Belcher stopped by. He amount that each household would need to commended the attendees for tackling a pony up to equal the amount of money “critical issue that’s incredibly important.” tourism generates in taxes each year.

“I know you’ve got a lot of great minds “That’s a great way to show it,” Morse here,” Belcher said. “I’m thrilled to see our said, holding up a large check displaying hospitality and tourism team taking the Haywood’s theoretical household amount: lead and hosting this today.” $325.

Another big takeaway from the recent

Visitors to the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Swain County enjoy a kayak trip. NOC photo news

WCU takes on tourism with inaugural conference

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conference was teamwork. Attendees were encouraged to work together. Tourists, they were told repeatedly, do not recognize county or state boundaries. When people visit the Smokies, they don’t care if they are in Western North Carolina or Tennessee.

“They want to experience something as a whole,” stressed John Whisenant, director of tourism for the Tennessee Hospitality and Tourism Association.

That was a point that stuck with Smathers and the rest of Haywood’s TDA team that attended the conference.

“Tourists, they don’t care where the border is between Haywood County and Buncombe County, or Jackson County,” Smathers said. “They’re here for the experience. Let’s break down these borders and let’s work together. “ The tourism trade is traditionally a competitive industry. But the attendees at WCU’s conference appear to be warming to a regional approach.

“You could tell there was a lot of love in the room,” Smathers said. “That sounds corny, but there really was.”

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Are Haywood commissioners big spenders, or doing the best they can?

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER roperty taxes have emerged as a top issue in the Democratic primary for Haywood County commissioner candidates.

The three sitting commissioners running for re-election say the property tax platform of their challengers is a predictable one. Pledging to lower taxes is a tried-and-true campaign formula and borrows familiar lines from the national rhetoric. But the shoe doesn’t fit, sitting commissioners say.

“We are a conservative board when it comes to spending taxpayers’ money,” said Commissioner Bill Upton, who is up for re-election. “It sounds good to cut government, but when you look at each department, are we going to send school teachers home? Are we going to send deputies home? Would you want less emergency vehicles on the highway if you had a wreck?”

Commissioner Mike Sorrells said the view is much different once you’re sitting in the commissioner’s chair, especially given the recession.

“The challenges are always needing more revenue and trying to improve our services without new revenue. We had to really look at it hard and justify what we did,” Sorrells said. “We did a pretty dagum good job of doing that.”

“We always worry about spending money,” Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick added.

Kyle Edwards, a conservative Democrat running as a challenger, wants to lower property taxes.

But he doesn’t necessarily want to cut the budget by cutting county jobs.

Instead, he wants to go after wasteful spending. When asked for examples, Edwards hesitated.

“I know some, but I don’t want to say until after the election,” Edwards said.

Commissioners claim there isn’t any wasteful spending, and if there is, to please come forward and point it out.

“If somebody can find some wasteful spending we need to know where it is, because that’s money we could use,” Upton said. “But we hadn’t found it yet.”

“They would have a heck of a time finding any,” added Sorrells. “We already looked for all of that.”

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

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BEEN THERE, DONE THAT The three commissioners cited budget cuts the county already made during the recession. The county budget is $68.7 6

S EE HAYWOOD, PAGE 9

Incumbents Mike Sorrells (far left) and Kirk Kirkpatrick (far right) are both seeking reelection to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. File photo

Navigating the political stripes of the Haywood commissioners’ race

BY B ECKY JOHNSON They haven’t joined forces officially. The Staff writer challengers aren’t running as a team, nor hree Haywood County commissioners coordinating their campaign platforms per running for re-election this year are se. standing on their track record of balBut they have met to discuss common anced leadership from the center of the polit- issues and to strategize about the election. ical spectrum.

They include Democrat Kyle Edwards, The three sitting commissioners on the Republicans Philip Wight and Denny King, ballot are Democrats, but they describe them- and Libertarian Wendy McKinney. (A fifth selves as moderate. challenger, Bob “We all have a McClure, has not very similar philosopublicly been in that phy. We are all in the mix.) center, that’s what it Going into the takes to continue to race, McKinney have good goverknew fiscal conservaThe Smoky Mountain News has profiled nance. We have a tives shared many of state and local races leading up to next model of it here in the limited governmonth’s primary. To catch up on the past Haywood County,” ment tenants of the election coverage, go to www.smokymounsaid Commissioner Libertarian plattainnews.com and click on “A voter’s guide Mike Sorrells, a form, but it’s been to the 2014 election.” Early voting starts Democrat running refreshing as a thirdApril 24 and runs through May 3. Election for re-election. party candidate to Day is on May 6.

They claim to be accepted into the hold the line on fold. county spending, but not at the expense of “I am surprised at just how embracing programs and projects they say are needed to they have been,” McKinney said. “We can move the county forward. work together.”

“We have been a leader in Western North They have a fan base: a group of conservaCarolina and I wonder iffen we didn’t get re- tive activists and self-appointed county elected, whether that would continue,” watchdogs who have railed against sitting Sorrells said of Haywood County. commissioners in recent years.

The opponents claim the contrary, howCommissioners have been taken to task ever. They portray the incumbents as liberal over property revaluations, a series of county spenders who put the government ahead of building projects, debt to finance their conthe people they represent. struction, a proposed tourism tax increase — The sitting Democrats face an unusual even seemingly innocuous issues like a counbank of challengers. Four contenders hailing ty emergency response plan have been from three different political parties — a decried as trampling on civil liberties.

Democrat, two Republicans and a Libertarian The issues touted by the county govern— are espousing similar criticisms of the ment critics have become the springboard for incumbents. campaign platforms of this year’s challengers,

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despite their diverse party affiliations on paper.

It’s hard to tell whether the message is resonating with average residents, however.

“The fact of the matter is you have the same select few that are doing all the speaking,” said Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick, a Democrat running for re-election. “There is not a whole lot of people out there complaining. I just see a few. The ones complaining are the ones who will complain no matter what you do.”

Election Day should offer a test.

Critics of a progressive direction for the county are hoping for traction at the polls.

But have voters tuned them out as background noise?

Wendy McKinney, the Libertarian candidate for commissioner, said it is too soon to tell.

“I don’t know that we have reached them yet, but that is what we are working on,” McKinney said. “That to me is a big, big question. We are targeting unaffiliated voters or people who don’t vote because they feel disenfranchised by the parties.”

McKinney attracted a crowd of 40 people to a Libertarian Party meeting last week.

Among the curious was Charles Mills. Asked what issues brought him out, he cited a YouTube video posted last year that portrayed a property value conspiracy by the county.

“I realize it is dodgy information,” Mills said, but it seemed well-researched and underscored how unfiltered social media can push messages to the masses.

John Scroggs, a stalwart Haywood Democrat, defended the sitting commissioners. The county has more professional management and leadership than it ever has, and commissioners’ sound decision-making is devoid of good old boy politics of decades past, he said.

“They are just good, solid leaders. I am very proud of Haywood County,” Scroggs said.

FILTERING THROUGH

THE LAYERS

Commissioner Bill Upton, a Democrat running for re-election, said voters have a clear choice at least.

“They have a different philosophy,” Upton said, when asked what he thought of his challengers’ platform. “The exact opposite really.

The lines are simple.”

But voters won’t be able to dissect those lines simply by the candidates’ political party.

Kyle Edwards, a Democratic challenger, claims he is a conservative Democrat — “I am a conservative with an open mind” — but touts talking points that sound fairly Republican on the surface: gun rights, lower taxes, less regulation, breaks for businesses, supporting veterans.

“I am not for big government,” Edwards said.

His creed is similar to Republican candidate Denny King. King also lists gun rights, lower taxes, less regulation and pro-business policies in his platform.

Campaigning on Republican

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Three of the five seats on the Haywood County board of commissioners are up for election this year.

A field of five Democratic candidates — the three incumbents and two challengers — will be narrowed down to three in the primary election.

There are two Republicans and one Libertarian running, but they automatically advance to the general election in November without a primary.

Kirk Kirkpatrick, 45

a gas station, community general store, auto repair and tire service and café in his home community of Jonathan Creek.

He served on the school board for six years and has been a county commissioner for four years.

Sorrells touts the county’s economic development record over the past four years. The county extended property tax breaks to two existing manufacturers — Sonoco Plastics and Conmet — as an incentive for expanding their operations and adding jobs.

The county landed a $2.1 million state grant and will put in $700,000 in county money to help Evergreen paper mill with a $50 million coal-to-natural gas conversion in order to meet air pollution standards.

The county played a supporting role for Haywood Regional Medical Center, amid its financial uncertainty. And the county re-envisioned its economic development arm as a joint venture with the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce.

PLATFORM: “I have common sense. You have to look at whether something is a good, wise decision and you move forward.”

talking points in a primary decided by Democratic voters could be tough, but Edwards said he hopes to appeal to unaffiliated voters. They can vote in the primary of whichever party they please.

He is pinning hopes on unaffiliated voters turning out in the primary and requesting the Democratic ballot, and then voting for him over the incumbents. The strategy isn’t that far-fetched if voter turnout among loyal Democrats is low in this off-year election.

The disparity among Democratic contenders is a sign of the muddy world of politics today. Political lines are blurred, with conservative Democrats acting like Republicans, and liberal Republicans acting like Democrats.

“I always tell people there is a left side and right side. I said I could be a moderate Republican as well as a conservative Democrat,” Sorrells said.

That’s particularly true on the fiscal side, Sorrells said. In fact, there’s little difference

between him and Commissioner Kevin Ensley, the lone Republican on the county board, when it comes to budget votes.

“Kevin Ensley and I get along great,” Sorrells said.

But conservative Republicans offer another explanation for why Ensley and Sorrells look so much alike. It’s not that Sorrells is such a conservative Democrat. Rather, Ensley is a liberal Republican.

The more conservative faction of the local Republican Party has suggested censuring Ensley for not acting like what they think a Republican should act like.

That dynamic isn’t isolated to the Haywood commissioner board.

“The liberal Republicans and the majority Democrats have walked along in lock step for a number of years,” said Matt Wise, a member of the Libertarian Party in Haywood County.

As a Libertarian, Wise has a more objective view of the internal push-and-pull

Crabtree McClure prides himself on being in Haywood County’s workforce for 50 years, mostly in manufacturing. He worked at Unagusta Furniture Factory, then Dayco for three decades, and the

within the two main parties. The political and ideological spectrum under either banner is huge.

But it’s particularly acute among Republicans these days, with the right-wing and progressive Republicans vying for the direction of the party. Will the progressive side ultimately get shouldered out and told to go join the Democrats, or will the far-right get shoved over into Libertarian domain?

“That remains to be seen. They have to hash that out. It’s the same thing going on all across the country,” Wise said.

There’s a key difference between those farright Republicans and Libertarians, however.

They’re both fiscal conservatives. But they diverge on the social issues like abortion or gay marriage. That’s what led Paul Heathman, Jr., to check out his first Libertarian meeting last week in Haywood County.

“Our generation is socially liberal but fiscally conservative,” said Heathman, a mort-

gage lender in Haywood who hails from the under-40 set.

As parties splinter around the edges, the incumbents in the Haywood commissioner race have staked out the safe zone as centrists.

“I think we probably are more together than we have ever been, all working for a common cause, which is making Haywood County better for our citizens,” Upton said.

The growing ranks of unaffiliated voters show just how broad the center is growing.

Unaffiliated voters have grown from 17.3 percent of registered voters in Haywood County in 2004 to 26.6 percent today.

Moderates are increasingly shunning either party, forming a voting bloc of their own that can bend left or right, depending on the candidates and issues in any given race.

“The center is who elects people. It is where these people in the middle go,” Sorrells said, tilting his hands back and forth like a clock’s pendulum.

7

Maggie Valley Edwards has been a contractor since 1970 and specializes in grading, excavation and heavy equipment jobs. He grew up dirt-poor but went on to become a self-made business man.

“I started with one backhoe,” he said, a far cry from the expansive machinery yard outside his living room window today.

He is the owner of the Stompin’ Ground, a clogging and entertainment venue in Maggie Valley, which he built to showcase the natural talents of his two children, who were both champion cloggers.

Edwards also runs a 100-site commercial campground in Maggie Valley, which he built in the early 2000s. He was a Maggie Valley alderman in the 1970s and 1980s.

PLATFORM: Lower taxes, smaller government, less regulation, private property rights, gun rights, business friendly, pro-veteran and pro-seniors.

Bob McClure, 67

Smoky Mountain News

Canton Upton spent 35 years in public education, as an assistant principal and principal of Pisgah High School, principal of Meadowbrook Elementary and eventually superintendent.

He’s been a county commissioner for eight years and is proud of the course the county is on.

Upton said he is a supporter of education

Bill Upton, 69

Kyle Edwards, 74

April 16-22, 2014

Waynesville Kirkpatrick has a solo law firm in Waynesville and does a mix of criminal and civil cases, as well as real estate law.

Kirkpatrick has been a county commissioner for 12 years and consistently wins re-election as the top vote getter.

Kirkpatrick defended a suite of county building projects over the past decade as necessary and a smart move for the future. They included a new courthouse, a new jail and sheriff’s office, a new office for the department of social services and health department, a senior resource center, a landfill expansion, a new community college building and an adult day care.

“Basically I feel like I have been a contractor for the past 10 years,” Kirkpatrick lamented.

“But it had to be done and somebody had to do it and hopefully we did it at the least expensive point in time.”

PLATFORM: “I really like my county. I like the people in the county. I enjoy doing what I do. I want to have good open government. I want to see our county prosper.”

short-lived Dana Corporation.

Twice, the factory he worked at closed and he was laid off. He soon found a new job with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, where he’s worked as a jailer and now a court bailiff.

“I had to keep going. I have never been a quitter. Even when those plants shut down I was out the next day looking for a job. I feel as a person you are just as strong as you want to be,” McClure said.

McClure said he would put his energy as a commissioner into recruiting industry and jobs, ideally small manufacturing.

“As part of the commissioner team we should be out trying to find jobs,” McClure said.

McClure said he doesn’t know how much the current board does on this front, nor how he would go about it himself or what the prospects of being successful are, but he would try.

“I just know as commissioner, if I am elected as commissioner, I would be more hands on trying to get jobs,” McClure said.

“Don’t set on their laurels and expect something to happen. Try to make something happen in the job force.”

PLATFORM: “I feel like what I am doing is for everybody in Haywood County because I feel like the decisions that is made by the commissioners affect all the people in Haywood County, and they deserve to know what is going on in Haywood County and have a voice in what is going on.”

But some opponents believe the sitting commissioners are agents of the government instead of a voice for the people.

“My main objective is to give people a voice of what they want to happen in Haywood County,” said Bob McClure, a challenger on the Democratic ticket. “We need to get more people involved in the meetings, when they go to the meetings, and get more feedback of what the majority of people want, not just a select few.”

Kirkpatrick said he tries to be cognizant of that.

“I have to take a good look at myself and not think that I have all the answers to things and to continue to listen to people. You have to tell yourself all the time to make sure to listen to people,” Kirkpatrick said.

and children. His career in the school system taught him how to work with people, be it parents, teachers or students.

“You can’t prejudge a kid’s actions, you have to listen to both sides and make a fair decision,” Upton said.

He said the current board has been forward-thinking and balanced.

PLATFORM: “I have managed a large budget with responsibility and integrity, and I haven’t been afraid to make tough decisions. I have worked to find the best solutions to our county’s needs while being open to the will and voice of our citizens.”

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Meet the candidates: Mike Sorrells, 57 Jonathan Creek pick three Sorrells is the owner of

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Macon commissioner race spending pits conservative and moderate Republicans

Macon commissioner candidates, including the two Highlands candidates on the primary ballot, at a recent forum in Franklin. Jeremy Morrison photo

Fiscal philosophy defines dueling Republicans in primary

BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS EDITOR here’s only one primary in the Macon County commissioners’ races, but it’s a good one to watch. It might well be a political bellwether.

“You have varying opinions on what’s best for the county,” said Macon County Commissioner Jim Tate, a Republican running for re-election.

Tate is going up against challenger John Shearl in the primary for the Highlands seat.

There are a lot of similarities between Tate and Shearl. For starters, they’re both Republicans. They both own landscaping companies. Tate was an EMT, Shearl a volunteer firefighter.

But there are also major differences. And the differences present a defining choice for Macon County voters, and Republicans in particular. Shearl hails from the right side of the Republican Party, while Tate is a more moderate, mainstream Republican — a delineation that’s clear from the candidates’ voting record, platform positions and their respective backers.

“I’m very conservative,” said Shearl.

Macon County is conservative territory, in general.

The current board is Republican-heavy: it has four Republicans and just one Democrat.

But the four Republicans have been consistantly divided on fiscal issues and spending.

Two more moderate Republicans — Tate and Chairman Kevin Corbin — have supported spending on myriad new initiatives over the past 18 months.

They include: a $3.8 million ballfield complex, $400,000 in new medical equipment for 8 emergency responders, $145,000 for land for

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April 16-22, 2014

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a new soccer field in Highlands, a $500,000 budget increase for schools, $290,000 for airport runway work and lighting and $750,000 annually in county employee raises.

The two more conservative Republicans on the board — Paul Higdon and Ron Haven — have voted against all of these spending measures. But the fiscally-conservative Republicans were in the minority.

Tate and Corbin currently hold the majority, forming a three-man voting bloc with the lone Democrat, Commissioner Ronnie Beale.

The county’s direction under this voting bloc is viewed by some as progressive and by others as irresponsible.

The dynamic on the board could flip should Shearl beat Tate, shifting the majority control to Higdon and Haven’s camp and a more conservative spending philosophy.

But Shearl doesn’t view the race or his

Meet the candidates, pick one Three seats are up for grabs on the Macon County Board of Commissioners this year, but only one has a primary contest: two Republicans vying for one seat in the Highlands district.

Any Republican or unaffiliated voter in the county can vote in this primary race, even though it’s the Highlands district. Candidates must hail from that district, but the election is open to voters countywide.

Two commissioner seats are also up for election in Franklin, but all the candidates in that race — two Republicans, a Democrat, and Libertarian — automatically advance to the general election in the fall. A Democrat will join the mix for the Highlands seat come fall as well.

Here are the two Republicans facing off the primary:

Jim Tate, 42 Owner, Tate Landscaping Services Tate graduated from the University of Georgia with a landscape architect degree.

He lives with his wife and children in

committed to schools and public safety.

“Those are your big guys, those are the places you look when you go to make cuts,” Tate said. “Those are areas that I’m not willing to make cuts in. Those areas are very important to me.”

The difference between these two candidates has not gone unnoticed. The Macon chapter of FreedomWorks, a political organization from The current board’s four Republicans the far-right end of the conservative spectrum, has have been consistantly divided on advised voters to go for Shearl. fiscal issues and spending.

FreedomWorks wants to reverse what it considers a campaign through the lens of the Republican “left-leaning threesome majority on the comdivide — “whether that changes the 3 to 2, I mission,” according to an appeal to primary have no idea” — but does categorize his voters posted on its website. A vote for opponent and the other offending commis- Shearl, the organization contends, would sioners as “excessive spenders.” “begin moving the county back in the ‘right’ “They are living way outside the budget,” direction!”

Shearl said.

Shearl quickly ticks off several recent board The incumbent Tate defends his deci- decisions that have irked him. It’s not just the sions. During the recent candidate forum in spending that’s troubling, but that in many Franklin, he assured attendees he could stand cases the county borrowed money for pay for behind his record. the initiatives, instead of tapping into the “I don’t know of a thing I’ve voted for county’s robust savings account. This is anoththat’s wasteful,” Tate told them. “I can hon- er key difference between Tate and Shearl. estly tell you, every decision I’ve made so far, In Tate’s world, Macon County has a I’ve been able to sleep well at night — I’m “healthy fund balance.” In Shearl’s opinion, it proud of that.” has a “slush fund” that would best be Later, Tate would elaborate. He pointed returned to taxpayers. Macon’s fund balance, out that a large chunk of Macon’s budget was as a percentage of it’s overall budget, is

Highlands. The candidate has served on the Highlands zoning and planning boards, as well as Macon County’s planning board.

Political philosophy: “I feel like everybody needs to be responsible. [Use] simple, common sense.”

On Macon’s fund balance: “[My opponent] doesn’t like the fact that we have a big piggy bank.”

John Shearl, 45 Owner, J&J Lawn and Landscaping Services and Shearl Produce Shearl is a retired firefighter. He lives with his wife and children in Highlands. The candidate currently serves on the Macon County Planning Board.

Political philosophy: “Limited growth in government, lower taxes and less regulation.”

On weathering economic uncertainty: “The government as a whole has to tighten their belts and stop this excessive spending. It’s going to take some tough decisions and very conservative-minded people to do this.”

On Macon’s fund balance: “In my opinion, that fund balance belongs to the taxpayers of Macon County.”

among the largest in the state.

Higdon and Haven last year led an unsuccessful push to tap the fund balance in order to lower the property tax rate.

The candidates for Macon’s Highlands seat do agree on some things. They both view the coming property revaluations as the biggest issue facing the county. Property values have plummeted by about 30 percent on average, compared to the real estate values currently on the county’s tax rolls.

The county is required to periodically adjust its property tax values and bring them in line with the actual real estate market.

Property values, in turn, dictate property taxes. So when the values come down, so does the amount the county collects.

The county has two choices: cut its budget to makeup the difference, or increase the tax rate to offset the drop in values.

“We’re obviously going to have a decrease in property valuation, which is going to mean an increase in our tax rate,” Tate said.

Shearl disagrees with that choice. He suggests that reining in “borrowing and spending” will help cushion the blow. Beyond that, he’d look at “some serious budget issues.”

“I’m not in favor of raising taxes,” Shearl said. “We’d have to seriously look at services and everything.”

Whoever wins in the May primary will face Democrat Michael Rogers in the general election. This candidate, coincidentally, also owns a landscaping business.

HAYWOOD, CONTINUED FROM 6

Discretionary spending funds programs such as Haywood Transit, the senior resource center and county libraries.

I know how important it is, the salaries that we make, we have to live on those salaries. If we make $1,000 we have to live on $1,000,” McClure said.

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But it isn’t that easy, Kirkpatrick said. As the longest-serving commissioner on the board — 12 years — he’s seen other newly elected commissioners show up on the scene with hopes of trimming the budget.

“When they actually get into this position and they have to look at the budget, they look at what the county is required to run, and they say ‘Wait a second. I thought I was going to come in here and find a bunch of fat to cut,’” Kirkpatrick said.

Wendy McKinney, the Libertarian candidate running for commissioner, said she would have no problem finding areas in the budget to cut.

“As a Libertarian I believe in smaller government. We believe in a lot less spending and a lot less taxation in general. There are a lot of things I think are excess,” McKinney said.

McClure disagrees with one area that’s been cut, however. County employees need better pay and better benefits, he said. He said county employees have had to pick up such a big share of health insurance costs for

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family members, he doesn’t know how an average county employee could afford it if they were the sole breadwinner in their house.

“You would have to decide whether your family goes on insurance or your family has groceries that go on the table,” McClure said.

“I know times have been hard, but we still need to take care of the employees.”

Regardless of what to cut, Edwards said, something has to give.

“There’s a lot of families that can’t pay the taxes,” Edwards said.

Edwards knows the plight of the working poor. He grew up dirt poor himself. His dad died when he was young, and his mom scraped together a living running a country store in Maggie Valley. He was sent to live with his grandparents at one point because his mother couldn’t afford to feed him and his two siblings.

“We picked up drink bottles, penny a piece, get 11 of them to go to the movies. We were just trying to survive. I appreciate things a lot more, having lived that way,” Edwards said.

One thing he doesn’t appreciate, however, is his property tax bill.

“I pay $900 a week in property taxes,” Edwards said.

Edwards pulled out copies of last year’s tax checks to prove it — $35,000 to Haywood County and $10,000 to the town of Maggie Valley.

But Edwards is likewise a big property owner. He owns a large commercial campground, several rental homes and a clogging entertainment venue, the Stompin’ Ground.

He also has several tracts of raw land, some of which he uses as borrow or fill sites for his grading and excavating business and others he’s bought on speculation as investments.

Edwards applied for a seat on the county’s board of equalization and review, which rules on appeals from property taxpayers who disagree with their property tax assessment.

But commissioners, who appoint the property tax appeal board, rejected him.

“I was certainly upset about them not giving me one vote. I wanted a voice over the taxes,” Edwards said.

Expect property taxes to take center stage in the general election for Haywood commissioners come fall. This is a top issue for Denny King, a Republican candidate, who has challenged the fairness of property values under the county’s appraisal system — values which in turn determine taxes.

“I believe there are issues with our property tax system in Haywood County,” King said in a written statement. “We must ensure all property owners have uniform property assessments.”

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million this year, compared to $70.2 million five years ago — despite an increase in the unavoidable cost of doing business, from health benefits for employees to gas to food for jail inmates.

“I really believe we are at bare bones,” Upton said. “We have continued to consolidate functions if possible. We have moved down from a wish list in the past to a needslist now.”

“We have streamlined government where we could streamline it,” Sorrells added. “We went through each department and looked for cost savings.”

Cuts were big and small. Even the annual Christmas breakfast for employees was killed out.

“That was a big deal to the employees, but we completely did away with it because of the expense,” Kirkpatrick said.

The county also wholesale cut its funding to nonprofits: from domestic violence and child abuse agencies to Folkmoot International Festival and the Haywood Arts Council.

It’s been hard to cut off support for worthwhile community endeavors, but the recession took its toll on the county, Kirkpatrick said. The commissioners have gotten good at saying no. The county was recently posed with a $25,000 grant request from Haywood Arts Regional Theater to help build a second stage.

“It is a very good cause and an economic boost to the community. But if we have said we aren’t funding nonprofits, that poses a problem,” Kirkpatrick said.

County Manager Ira Dove echoed the open invitation to ferret out wasteful spending.

“For years we have been looking at everything that was waste. Nobody wants wasteful spending,” Dove said.

Unfortunately, most of the county’s budget goes to things that aren’t optional: schools, jails and court, mandatory social service programs, emergency management.

There’s very little flexibility left in the budget to whittle down, he said. Dove listed a few final pillars of so-called discretionary spending: libraries, recreation, Meals on Wheels, Haywood Transit, the senior resource center, economic development.

Cutting these any further would reduce them to skeletons or render them obsolete, Dove said.

“That is where we are at as a county,” Dove said.

The decision is a philosophical one, Kirkpatrick said.

“You have to figure out in government what services you are going to provide,” Kirkpatrick said.

He cited recreation, one of those optional budget areas he is a fan of.

“Can you go out there and tell your kid to run up and down the street? Well, sure you can. But that’s more of a benefit to the community. It is a quality of life issue,” Kirkpatrick said of recreation.

Bob McClure, a challenger in the Democratic primary, wants to trim the budget, too, although it’s not his number one platform.

“I feel like as a county the spending should

be limited to what is coming in. Some of this stuff seems like we are overspending,” McClure said.

But he admits he doesn’t know where the budget could be cut, and said that’s the hard part about being a challenger.

“The ones in there have very much an advantage to the ones that are outside running,” McClure said. “Not setting in the meetings with them, I would be at a loss to say they are not doing this or not doing that.”

He said he would need to get in there to really see what could be cut.

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Swain commissioner candidates weigh in on the issues

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

he Swain County commissioners race has attracted a deep bench of Democratic candidates — nine contenders vying for the four commissioner seats and two more for commissioner chairman.

The big field is par for the course in Swain’s Democratic commissioner primary. In a county where Democrats far outnumber Republicans, the lineup emerging from the Democratic primary nearly always sweeps the general election in the fall, making the Democratic primary the pivotal race in determining the county’s next commissioners.

Only two Republican candidates are running, and they automatically advance without a primary.

This election is the last that all five seats will come available in the same election. The county commission will switch to staggered terms following the outcome of a 2012 ballot question. The top two vote getters in November’s election will serve a full four-year term, while the candidates coming in third and fourth will serve only two years before their seats come up for election again. After that, a four-year schedule will resume with staggered terms in place.

For now, though, the candidates are sounding off on the issues most important to the voters in hopes that they’ll be given a chance to move on to the general election.

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April 16-22, 2014

PUTTING SWAIN TO WORK Highest on the list of candidates’ priorities is bringing jobs to Swain County. Swain County’s unemployment rate sits at 11.4 percent, nearly double the statewide average of 6.6 percent.

Each candidate has a slightly different idea of how to address that reality.

Some point to tourism as the savior.

Others advocate for industry, and still others support a hybrid of the two.

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Bushyhead: “I think there are some manufacturers of goods out there that their needs would fit well within Swain County. Tourism has been good to Swain County, but we’ve got to look beyond tourism if we’re going to grow Swain County.”

Cody: “I would work with [industry] to get them to expand more into the county if possible. Tourism can help, but it cannot sustain this county. Tourism’s still needed. It’s integral, it’s something that you need, but we need to get away from totally focusing on tourism.

Dixon: “I’d say both [tourism and industry are important]. [It will take] a lot of hard work and investigation. A lot of phone calls.

There is a lot of companies up north that are moving south. They are good paying jobs.

The only thing we can do is try, and we will try hard.”

Moon: “I think tourism is part of the future. It’s really hard to attract industry in Swain County anymore. We do need to take care of what’s already here. We need to make sure that ConMet and Shaw are happy and want to stay here, because they are part of the economy of Swain County. We need to make further inroads working with the tribe.”

Monteith: “Yes, we want industry, but it’s 10

hard to compete with counties that have a larger workforce than we do. Tourism is our number one, so we really push and promote tourism to get as many jobs as we can in all fields.”

Simonds: “Either one, [industry or tourism]. Whichever one works out.”

White: “We have to rely on the tourist industry. We got some David Monteith pretty darn good manufacturing going on down here, so we have to hold on to what we’ve got and if possible put another small manufacturing place down here.

Gunter: “We’re going to have to look at all options and actually try to promote the area to small business, start-up groups, anyone who’s interested in the recreation prospects we have, and sell ourselves like that.”

MANAGING A BUDGET Historically, Swain County has struggled to make its income meet its budgetary needs. That’s partly due to the fact that 87 percent of Swain County land is federally owned, such as national park and forest land, and exempt from property taxes. The county has a miniscule property tax base as a result.

Last year, commissioners voted to raise the property tax three cents per $100 of property value, putting it to 36 cents. It was the first property tax rate increase in over two decades, one that sitting commissioners cite as a necessity to keep providing vital services in

Democratic county commissioner candidates: pick four • Ben Bushyhead, 66, retired United Methodist Church pastor • Vida Cody, former county finance director • Donnie Dixon, 69, machinist at ConMet, sitting commissioner • Steve Moon, 63, retired tire shop owner, sitting commissioner • David Monteith, 67, retired market manager at Ingles, sitting commissioner • Thomas Ray Simonds, 43, foreman at Owle Construction • Robert White, 74, retired superintendent of Swain County Schools, sitting commissioner • Correna Elders Barker * • Danny Burns, Pepsi-Cola technician*

County commission chairman candidates: pick one • Phil Carson, family plumbing business, sitting chairman* • Boyd Gunter, 63, retired medical technologist (*Barker, Burns and Carson did not return multiple messages seeking comments for this article.) the wake of state and federal cuts.

But as the race unfolds, voters want to know how candidates would handle any future budget crunches or new spending priorities: raise taxes, cut services and spending or find a third way?

Bushyhead: “If a tax increase is needed, the public needs to be informed as to what that amount is, what it will be used for, and if the people can afford that. I think an informed populace makes good decisions, and it should not be done in private or without a lot of public input.”

Cody: “I would definitely not increase the taxes because the folks don’t have enough money as it is. If anyBen Bushyhead thing, there’s a few salaries in Swain County that need to be cut. I’m not going to be specific about that. I think people can figure that out on their own. The last things at this very moment we should be doing are anything that’s a facelift-type project, anything that’s making something look good.”

Dixon: “Public and private partnership.

Taxes, absolutely not. I mean, that is a big ‘no.’ Because the people are taxed enough right now.”

Moon: “We are still tied for the fifth lowest tax rate in the entire state, and we are doing that on 13 percent of our land is taxable. 87 percent of this land is not taxable, and we are maintaining a wonderful standard of living on 13 percent of the tax base. Three cents on our value is a small price to pay. It was an unfortunate necessity, but it was a necessity.”

Monteith: “I think they’re totally high enough now. I did not want to support the 3 cents that we done last year. I was very reluctantly on it. Probably the only reason I did support it was because of the state and the federal cutbacks. We’d cut all we could cut.”

Simonds: “I don’t want no more higher taxes. Definitely not. There’s other solutions that you could probably go to to get that money rather than having the people of Swain County pay it out of their pockets.

[Restaurant taxes] would get you the tourist dollars coming in right there and paying for it.”

White: “You need to really look at the situation. It might be one of those things where you could do some things with personnel that are getting ready to retire. If it meant that we had to provide absolutely necessary services, then I’m not at all opposed to raising taxes if it be the case. We might take a harder look at making sure we’re collecting all of our money.

I don’t think we’re collecting 100 percent, so it behooves us to make sure we’re collecting our dues and everybody’s paying their fair share.”

Gunter: “We had the seven-year property revaluation plus a tax Boyd Gunter rate increase, which is a double increase last year. We are not spending money in a manner which would promote the county.”

WORKING WITH THE SCHOOLS Whether it’s teacher pay, test scores, building projects or school security, working with the school system is part of the job of a county commissioner. Each candidate has a different idea of what that relationship should be and what the issues are.

Swain currently ranks last in the state in its per pupil funding of schools.

Bushyhead: “It’s like anything else. Could you use more money? The answer is always yes, you can. We as county commissioners need to be able to work with the school system to make that happen. There’s got to be other funds out there

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Where’s the Jackson commissioner coverage?

None of the candidates running for commissioner in Jackson County have any competition in the primary. There are three seats up for election, but there aren’t enough candidates to require a primary. All the candidates — three Democrats, two Republicans and an Independent — will automatically advance to the general election, so stay tuned in the fall.

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WestCare LifePath Palliative Care & Hospice is seeking volunteers for the LifePath team to assist in supporting patients under palliative care or hospice treatment and is offering volunteer training sessions this month.

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somewhere. We’ll find them.”

Cody: “If [teacher raises] are something we’re going to have to do in the future, then that can be dealt with, but before we even consider anything like that, we have got to get the money issues in the county under control.”

Dixon: “I think they got all their ducks in a row. They’re doing good, and we get along great with the school system.”

Moon: “I think it would be wonderful if we can increase supplements to our teachers, but sometimes that is not possible, especially with the current condition in Raleigh.”

Monteith: “I think we have one of the finest school systems in the state of North Carolina, but we have to deal with that and do that on the money that we have to put into it.”

Simonds: “To me, I think that teachers deserve more money. I think the resource officers, the commissioners have agreed to help them and they backed out of that deal.”

White: “If we could give a small [teacher salary] supplement I’d be much in favor of that, provided the money is not needed for more pressing things. I think that we can improve our school performance. I think we do pretty darn good, but I’m not satisfied unless you’re up almost perfect.”

Gunter: “We need to make long-range plans before we start pumping money into buildings. We need to get the biggest bang for our buck using taxpayer money and not just run off willy-nilly trying to improve something that may not need to be improved at this time.”

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The bar vote is in, the appointment is nigh The legal community in the seven western counties has thrown its support behind Attorney Tessa Sellers, from Murphy, to fill a district court judge vacancy.

The final decision rests with the governor, but members of the N.C. Bar Association from the western counties get to weigh in by voting on their top picks and forwarding them to the governor to chose from.

“It is a bifurcated process,” said Sellers, 36, who has an all-around solo practice in Murphy.

Sellers had a wide margin over the other five attorneys vying for the open judge seat in the bar vote last week. The runner-up was Hunter Murphy from Waynesville, who made a respectable showing and had a wide margin of his own separating him from the attorneys who came in third, fourth and fifth.

Sellers, who is married and has two young children, has been an assistant prosecutor and done a wide variety of civil and criminal litigation.

There are six district court judges for the seven western counties, but five of those six were from Haywood. Attorneys practicing in the more western counties saw the vacancy as a chance to correct the geographic imbalance and made a strong showing at the bar vote last week.

“My opinion of that is the bar felt this is an important decision that affects their practice and their clients,” Sellers said.

Murphy said he is pleased with the support he got as well and believes he is still in the running for the governor’s appointment.

“I believe my support, inside and outside of the bar, will demonstrate that I am the best candidate to be our next district court judge,” said Murphy, 33, who also has two young children and owns a solo practice in Waynesville.

The final appointment will be made within 60 days, but could come much sooner.

— By Becky Johnson

Lighten Up 4 Life kickoff is April 24

The existing bridge on Green Valley Road was built in 1960 and is considered functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. Although the bridge is safe, it was built to design standards no longer in use and requires costly maintenance to remain functional.

The seventh kickoff for Lighten Up 4 Life for Macon County — sponsored by Angel Medical Center — will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the hospital dining room in Franklin. The LU4L program is a free weight loss challenge that is entirely web based.

The program is based on four-person teams who compete with others to lose the largest percentage of weight against the other teams. At the conclusion of the challenge, the top three teams who have lost the highest percentage of weight receive prizes. The firstplace team members all receive Kindle Fires.

Free door prizes and giveaways will be part of the 30-minute kickoff. 828.349.6639.

Cashiers Historical Society takes stock of the past year, looks forward

The Cashiers Historical Society will look back on a year of preserving Cashiers Valley and highlight what lies ahead at its general membership meeting at 5 p.m. Friday, April 25, in the old Cashiers Community Center.

Last year CHS published its Historic Sites Survey Phase I, implemented and distributed a historic sites map to guide visitors through town, took in record numbers at the 16th annual Cashiers Designer Showhouse, reinstituted Heritage Apple Day and began restoration of Crooked Corners, the newest addition to the Zachary-Tolbert campus.

Aside from highlighting the organization’s activities, Rick Stargel will lead a presentation on the newly formed Sapphire historical organization as well as the renovation of the Old Fairfield Inn “Wishing Well” and its possible historical provenance. Also, CHS will announce the winners of the 2014 Community Volunteer and Board Volunteer of the year.

Light refreshments will be served. The meeting is open to the public. 828.743.7710 or info@cashiershistoricalsociety.org or www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org.

Plott Creek bridge to be replaced The bridge over Plott Creek in Haywood County is being replaced. The N.C. Department of Transportation embarked this month on the $251,425 project.

The project includes grading, paving, drainage, installing signage and replacing the existing structure with a new bridge. The project coordinator is R.E. Burns and Sons Co., Inc. A detour will be in place throughout the duration of construction; the detour will run from Green Valley Road to Plott Creek Road, and then to U.S. 74, with motorists following Hyatt Creek Road back to Green Valley Road.

April 16-22, 2014

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BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR lyde’s new police chief has only been on the job a few weeks. But Terry Troutman already had his hands full before he even got sworn in.

“It’s mind-blowing that we had a prostitution house in Haywood County, much less in Clyde,” Troutman said.

In early April, Clyde police busted up an alleged prostitution operation. Beginning in early March, the agency worked in coordination with a multi-jurisdictional task force in Haywood County.

Located at 7937 Carolina Blvd., the prostitution house was not a big operation.

“No, but it was getting bigger by the day,” Troutman said. “Near the end they were open 24-7.”

The prostitution operation was apparently marketed via social media. It attracted clients from around the region. Among the clientele was apparently several registered sex offenders.

“We were getting them from Georgia, South Carolina, Knoxville,” the chief said.

Law enforcement conducted surveillance prior to obtaining a warrant and moving in.

The action resulted in two arrests.

“We caught one in the act at the time,” Troutman said.

James Ramsey, 29, who Troutman described as the “ringleader,” was arrested along with Vicky Cecero, 25. Ramsey has been charged with promoting prostitution, maintaining a place for prostitution, felony conspiracy, as well as a charge stemming from an out-of-state fugitive warrant from Georgia. Cecero has been charged with felony conspiracy to promote prostitution.

Authorities are also looking at further possible arrests and are currently trying to determine if more people were involved.

“It’s expanding to more than what we thought, more girls than we thought,” said Troutman.

The suspected prostitution operation was apparently being run out of the back of a business called Wild Things Plantation. The storefront consisted of animals for sale. It featured ducks, chickens and goats.

“Had a couple dogs, snakes, crabs,” said Troutman. “Sort of like a pet store.”

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Clyde house of prostitution was fronted by pet store

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Franklin manager resigns Cabe to return to emergency services job

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER The search for a new town manager is on in Franklin after Warren Cabe submitted his resignation at the town board’s April meeting. His old job as emergency services director for Macon County came open again, and Cabe applied. He’s already accepted the position and will leave his post as town manager on May 2.

April 16-22, 2014

Warren Cabe, at the March 31 aldermen meeting, will soon end his stint as Franklin’s town manager.

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“Once you become accustomed to emergency service and when you’re in that field, it’s hard to change,” Cabe said.

Cabe held the emergency services director position for 15 years, from 1996 to 2011, before leaving to become the Franklin fire chief. He held that job for two years and then moved on to become town manager. By the time his resignation takes effect, he will have been the manager for one year, one month and one day.

“The experience I have gained while serving the Town of Franklin will stay with me forever,” Cabe wrote in his resignation letter.

As Cabe begins the transition to his new — or old, depending how you look at it, old — job, Franklin’s will have to undergo a transition of its own.

“All of this has caught us by surprise,” said Bob Scott, Franklin’s mayor.

In all likelihood, the town board will have to appoint an interim town manager to hold down the fort while it finds the right candidate to fill the position.

“What I would like to do, with the board’s approval, is to call a special meeting and work with the North Carolina League of Municipalities to have a search for town manager,” Scott said.

The mayor plans to put the manager search on as an agenda item for the board’s next regular meeting on May 5.

“It will be up to the board of aldermen to go about naming or recruiting a manager,” Scott said.

“The board hires the manager. The manager reports to the board.”

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Harold Haskins, another nearby resident, also wrote the county. He approached the source of the explosions, another neighbor and distant relative to his girlfriend.

“His exact words were, ‘Look, this is my damn land and I’ll do anything on my land that I want to do,’” Haskins said.

The sheriff ’s office also visited this property, the residence of Robert Lowe. They were responding to Jackson’s call.

“Upon arrival I observed two of Lowe’s rifles lying on the ground next to him in his yard, along with several Tannerite exploding target packages,” the deputy relayed in the incident report. “Lowe advised that he had shot his rifles at the exploding targets a total of 4 times in the last hour or so.”

According to the incident report, Lowe mentioned he and Jackson had had prior property disputes. The deputy checked out a rifle range on the property — the proper backstops were in place — and advised Lowe of the county’s noise ordinance.

The fact that there doesn’t seem to be anything illegal about shooting exploding targets given the appropriate venue doesn’t ease Jackson’s concerns.

“You can probably hear the darn things to Canton,” he said. “It’s legal to own a shotgun, but you don’t stick it in someone’s face.”

While binary target indicators may be legal in North Carolina, that’s not the case in some other states. Maryland recently passed a law requiring an explosives license to use products such as Tannerite. This month, similar legislation is working its way through the Louisiana state house.

Standing inside his gun shop in Clyde, Hemingway calls up a YouTube video of people shooting exploding targets. They’ve placed them in old cars and appliances.

“Look at that damage that did, you see

Binary targets, such as the ones made by H2 Targets or Tannerite, explode upon impact from a high-caliber bullet.

IEDs that don’t do that much damage,” Hemingway said, following a video of an explosion twisting a car frame. “Now, here’s one, somebody shooting an old refrigerator.”

This is not how binary targets are intended to be used. They are meant to positively alert long-distance target shooters that they

have hit their mark.

“A lot of people use it incorrectly,” Hemingway said. “They’ll put Duck Tape around it and put it in a microwave or something and then blow that up. Then you have another problem — shrapnel.”

There’s nothing to indicate that the explosions in Clyde were the result of exploding targets being used improperly.

Lowe could not be reached for comment.

Chief Deputy Haynes said that the sheriff ’s office is still exploring how best to deal with exploding targets. And the county attorney is looking into the possibility that existing ordinances may apply in some fashion to the products. Whatever the findings, they will be presented to county commissioners at a future meeting.

Jackson plans on attending that meeting.

“I think everybody in this entire cove will be there,” he said.

April 16-22, 2014

BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR here have been reports of explosions in the Clyde area. People have written to Haywood County officials out of concern. The issue recently came up during a commissioners meeting.

“Basically, what they’re saying was it shook the earth, it rattled the windows, it scared them death,” relayed Haywood Commissioner Michael Sorrells.

County officials said they would look into the matter. They’re still in the exploratory phase.

“It’s kind of new ground,” said Chief Deputy Jeff Haynes of the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office.

The explosions apparently stem from target shooting indicators that explode when struck with a bullet.

“It’s legal,” Sorrells said. “You can buy’em legally.”

There are various brands of the product.

Tannerite is a popular one. In Clyde, John Hemingway sells the H2 Targets brand in his gun shop, WNC CARRY. “Basically, it’s a two-part binary chemical,” Hemingway explained: “When you shoot it with a high-impact rifle, a .223 or larger, a big boom is what you’re going to hear.”

Ron Jackson is one of the Clyde residents who wrote commissioners. He says the blasts are particularly pronounced near his property.

“The concussion of the blast just hit me in the back, just like ‘kaboom,’” Jackson said, standing in his yard.

Both Jackson and his wife compare the explosions to blasts of dynamite. They describe a physical experience.

“You can feel it in your body,” Jackson said.

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Big booms outside Clyde upsets neighbors

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BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR he nice, open room in the KARE house in Waynesville is a welcoming space.

There’s books and toys and a wash of bright colors. There’s a rug featuring dolphins, hearts and shooting stars.

The space is comfortable, though the business conducted there is anything but.

“When a child comes in here to tell their story, they’re about the bravest things I’ve ever seen,” said Julie Schroer, executive director of KARE, or the Kids Advocacy Resource Effort.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. It’s a time to recognize an issue that KARE is immersed in throughout the year.

“It’s kind of hard to put KARE in a box and define what we do,” Schroer said.

While its services are varied, KARE’s mission is straightforward: the organization works to help children that are victims of physical or sexual abuse. Partnering with local law enforcement, the non-profit assists families dealing with abuse issues.

Last year, KARE was involved with 194 cases. The organization helped conduct 83 forensic investigations.

“Basically, not putting any ideas in their head and giving them a platform to talk — to actually come forward and say it,” explained Paige Gilliland, a family and victim advocate with KARE.” Gilliland works particularly close with

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April 16-22, 2014

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KARE helps children who are victims of abuse phone getting mom settled down,” Gilliland said. “I went to court with a mom and just sat there and rubbed here back. It’s easy things, just sitting there beside her letting her know she’s not alone.”

KARE also provides a number of community classes. The group speaks with children in schools. It offers classes geared toward caregivers and coaches. It works with parents, it conducts in-home visits.

The nonprofit has been serving Haywood County since 1991.

Back then, local abuse During Child Abuse Prevention Month, KARE is hosting its second statistics were a bit annual 5K(ARE) benefit race in downtown Waynesville. The event bleaker. When it came will be held at 8 a.m., April 26. Races start at 8:30 a.m. More to reported incidents information may be obtained by visiting www.karehouse.org. of abuse and neglect, the county topped North Carolina’s list. families. As children and families go through “We’re not the first anymore, but we are an obviously painful experience, she fulfills still in the top five,” Schroer said. needs that the myriad of authority types — Schroer doesn’t think Haywood actually law enforcement, the judicial system — can- has substantial higher rates of child abuse not address. than other areas, but rather the community is “They can’t stop and spend an hour on the more likely to report it. She likes to think

A child who received help at the KARE House said thank you with this drawing.

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KARE’s presence encourages such reporting.

“I don’t think we have more abuse,” Schroer said. “I think we’ve created an environment where more people report it.”

Detective Scott Muse, with the Waynesville Police Department, has been working with KARE since the 1990s.

“KARE has been very instrumental in dealing with child abuse,” Muse said. “It’s just grown and grown, gotten better and better.”

The detective said he gets a certain satisfaction out of helping the helpless.

“It means a lot,” Muse explained.

“When you start talking about the elderly and the children, most people’s temper starts boiling.”

James Marsh, with the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Department, agrees. He also works with the non-profit, calling the organization’s efforts “life-changing for a lot of kids.”

The deputy quotes President Abraham Lincoln when summing up his feelings about working with the organization.

“Abraham Lincoln said a man never stands as tall as he does when he stoops to help a child,” Marsh said. “That’s the way I operate.”

And while the work is rewarding, it’s also taxing.

“It’s heartbreaking sometimes,” Marsh said. “I wouldn’t be ashamed to say, I carry a badge and a gun, but I’ve gone home and cried before.”

The work performed by KARE is dependent on funding. The nonprofit is funded through grants, donations and community fundraising efforts.

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Cherokee fly-fishing museum gets the green light

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One council member, however, didn’t agree with Skooter McCoy’s argument.

“It’s like a smack in your face,” said Teresa McCoy. “We just keep throwing our people’s resources away for ridiculous ideas.”

Teresa McCoy said she’d rather see a commercial business take over the building, an enterprise that would pay a competitive lease rate and become part of the business community.

“It would be more palatable to me for that building to be leased for the fair The old Tee Pee Restaurant building has been closed for a decade, but the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce is planning market appraised to remake it as a fly fishing museum. value and for a shorter time period to be sure it’s going to make it,” she said.

But as a nonprofit, Skooter McCoy said,

“The museum brings to Cherokee another element of our promotion of the region as a destination for families and would serve to educate our visitors about our long history of fishing.”

April 16-22, 2014

— Principal Chief Michell Hicks

the chamber has never paid a lease and has no room in its budget to do so. And while the building has been put out to bid for commercial use, it hasn’t had any takers.

It’s not in great condition — the chamber will have to come up with an estimated $180,000 to deal with mold, mildew and possible asbestos — and that’s been one deterrent.

“After two years of it being open for anyone to show interest, there was only one possible applicant, which withdrew very quickly,” Skooter McCoy said.

But if the chamber isn’t able to get the project off the ground, the building will go back to the tribe. The lease stipulates that the chamber must get the museum up and

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he path to a new fly fishing museum in Cherokee has been cleared of a final hurdle after the Cherokee Tribal Council last week upheld a contract to lease the old Tee Pee Restaurant building to the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce. The Cherokee Business Committee had signed the lease earlier this spring, agreeing to let the chamber of commerce use the building for $1 per year for 25 years.

“The original concept of this flyfishing museum was the chamber’s looking for a way to be self-sustainable,” the tribe’s destination market manager, Skooter McCoy, explained to council.

The chamber, a nonprofit entity whose goal is to drive tourism in Cherokee, operates on about $80,000 annually but takes in only $30,000 through membership fees. To make up the difference, it relies on grants and donations. The chamber had originally envisioned the museum as a kiosk-type setup that would give visitors, many of whom are fishermen, an overview of Cherokee fishing history. A donation box would accompany the display, hopefully creating some revenue.

But when the chamber presented the concept to the tribe’s planning and business committees, the scale expanded.

“I think the planning board and the business committee thought the concept was strong and wanted to expand,” McCoy said.

Now, the chamber is planning a fullfledged museum. The exhibits will tell the story of Cherokee fishing practices, tracing them from early history to modern day, with an emphasis on fly fishing opportunities; fly fishing brings millions of dollars into Cherokee every year. It’s a marriage of culture and recreation that Principal Chief Michell Hicks can get behind.

“I believe the proposed Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians will be a welcome addition to our community,” Hicks said. “The museum brings to Cherokee another element of our promotion of the region as a destination for families and would serve to educate our visitors about our long history of fishing.”

“People are coming to Cherokee to learn more about our native culture, but there is a very close relationship within that brand to our natural resources,” McCoy said.

McCoy sees the museum as a way to entice fishermen — a group already accustomed to multi-day trips — to stay in Cherokee longer. Meanwhile, the exhibits would stay true to the tribe’s goal of standing on culture above all else, because fishing is indubitably tied to Cherokee culture.

it’s asking for.”

That analysis led the council to uphold the contract, giving the chamber of commerce the go-ahead to get to work on the museum. For now, the plan is to house the chamber in the front of the 4,000-squarefoot building and the museum in the back, with a gift shop also included. In the future, though, Skooter McCoy sees the museum becoming a more multi-faceted affair, one day possibly including a restaurant and an aquarium of native fish.

“To be able to add a new attraction that would have the idea of representing culture, plus tie in modern-day fishing and fly fishing,” Skooter McCoy said, “We felt like it was a win-win situation.”

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Flying high

running within two years for the agreement to stay in effect.

“We have a lot of private investors that are willing to donate,” Todd Kent, chair of the chamber board, told tribal council.

“The money is there. We just have to get the building secured and start working on it.”

Teresa McCoy withdrew her motion after Hannah Smith, interim attorney general for the tribe, informed council that they technically aren’t able to null and void the contract, as the resolution proposed.

“It is now an enforceable contract. Any kind of action on that contract happens according to the terms of the contract in the courtroom,” Smith said. “Technically, this resolution has a technical problem in what

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HCC leaders talk vision Community outreach, educational needs discussed at retreat

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER aywood Community College is entering phase two of a process it started last spring when trustees decided it was time to clean up the college’s mission statement and come up with some focused goals for the future.

“Until last year, HCC had a strategic planning process where each department created their own strategic plan and didn’t necessarily communicate with other departments,” said Marlowe Mager, executive director of research and institutional effectiveness. “We had a lot of people duplicating efforts.”

At a board of trustees retreat in late March, college administrators and trustees talked about their progress on the new goals, sharing ideas for initiatives that focus on community involvement with the goal of bettering student experience down the road.

“The core goal is student success,” said Barbara Parker, college president. “All of the other goals should lead into student success.”

Committees made up of professors, trustees and college administrators are exploring all the individual routes to that goal. High school equivalency classes for parents of school-age children and apprenticeships with local businesses and industries for students both got some time as committee leaders talked about their ideas for the future.

Focus groups, surveys and just a general hashing-out of where to go and how to get there are still in progress as the college enters its second month of planning to meet the goals it finished outlining in February.

“We wanted this to be an intentional process,” Parker said. “The intentional process focused on students’ success, not just on the budget.”

But “success” is a hard word to define, as is “student.” Different people come to the college with different goals — some to earn the license or degree they need to enter the workforce, others to get transfer credit toward a

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

H

four-year degree, and still others to learn new skills to apply to the jobs they already have.

The college’s challenge, Parker said, is to offer the resources necessary to serve each kind of student.

“I think we have to continuously evaluate these services we provide and determine, are we meeting our goals? Are we meeting the needs of the students?” Parker said. “The bottom line is that the student is successful, no matter what their goal.”

Part of student success stems from them having the skills to use the college’s resources effectively in their quest for a fulfilling career.

That’s why the college is working with Haywood County Schools to figure out how the two entities can collaborate to give students that chance. Each year, about 300 high school seniors graduate and don’t enroll in any institution of higher learning. HCC’s goal is to find out what those students need and build a presence in the schools so that the community college will seem the natural next step.

“We want to make sure our relationships with those schools are so strong that we can reach in and get those 300 students who aren’t going anywhere,” said Laura Leatherwood, board trustee.

The college is also trying to reach those

An HCC Board of Trustees member helps Michael Youngwood, lead instructor in the nursing, health and human services program, with a demonstration as part of the trustees’ tour of certain flagship programs of the college. Donated photo

we replicate at the other elementary schools.”

HCC is also looking beyond the academic community into the business world to improve its value to Haywood County.

“Something that makes us unique is that we are collaborating with business and industry, and are directly responsive to business and industry,” Each year, about 300 high school Parker said.

So, one of the colseniors graduate and don’t enroll in lege’s biggest goals is to any institution of higher learning. forge partnerships with prominent businesses in HCC’s goal is to find out what those the region and align instruction to those students need and build a presence in industries’ needs so that the schools so that the community HCC students are easily marketable to area busicollege will seem the natural next step. nesses. In the future, the college would like to students before they get anywhere near high work toward that goal by offering its students school commencement. HCC is working with apprenticeship opportunities, but already North Canton Elementary School, the lowest- HCC makes a point to offer the continuing performing school in Haywood County, to education and certification programs busioffer high school equivalency classes to its nesses need, both for their existing workers and to prepare future employees. students’ parents.

Last year, the college hired a fulltime “It’s very exciting,” said Buddy Tignor, vice president of academics. “We had hoped to get industry coordinator, and since then it has 10; we got 16 signed up. It might be a model provided customized training programs for

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employees of local companies such as Evergreen Packaging, Sonoco Plastics and Giles Chemical, and it meets with industry leaders twice a year — soon to be monthly — to better understand their needs. Training classes and industry-focused degree programs such as mechanics and electronics also contribute to the partnership.

“We work to be a pipeline to business and industry,” Parker said.

The end goal for the college, though, will be to channel all these improvements into increased success for students, as measured by retention and curriculum completion. By 2018, HCC hopes to bring 71.3 percent of its first-year students back for a second year, compared to the current rate of 59.4 percent, and to improve the rate of students completing a program from 38 to 41.8 percent.

“Twice a year we’ll be reporting on progress,” Marlowe said. “At least quarterly, the leadership of each team will meet to make sure we’re on track.”

That kind of communication will be the key, Parker said, in turning a list of sometimesabstract goals into tangible achievement.

“We’ve got to know what each other are doing,” Parker said, “and as a campus we’ve got to unify so we’re working together.”

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Emergency management plan helps when disaster hits

BY MARK SWANGER G UEST COLUMNIST Regardless of their magnitude, all disasters — natural or man-made — are local events and require an immediate, coordinated response from local government to protect public health, safety and welfare.

This function is called Emergency Management, and, in the aftermath of national tragedies such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, not to mention incidents like our own two 500-year floods in September 2004, many local governments have adopted ordinances to allow for a better, quicker response to disasters. These Emergency Management ordinances, which are heavily regulated through state and federal laws, give local governments the authority to quickly mobilize the resources needed to protect our citizens when the unexpected occurs.

The North Carolina General Assembly has affirmed that county commissions are responsible for the provision of emergency management within the geographic boundaries of each county (NCGS 166A-1915(a)) in the state. The purpose of this state law, and local Emergency Management ordinances, is to save lives. I am aware that a few people have assailed the value and constitutionality of the Emergency Management policies and activities in our community and state. It is my opinion that these individuals are the most extreme among us, and are well known to promote conspiracy theories about a number of topics. It may behoove us to consider the political motives of those making such unsubstantiated claims.

The Haywood County Emergency Management ordinance was modeled after other county ordinances and evaluated by the N.C. Department of Public Safety before its approval in November 2009. Each town also adopted an Emergency Management ordinance shortly thereafter. Each ordinance is designed to address any disaster imaginable, from floods and blizzards to wildfires and terrorist attacks. Since the ordinance’s approval, the county has twice issued a proclamation of emergency, both due to snow events. The first occurred in December 2009, only one month after the ordinance was passed. The second occurred this past February, when North Carolina as a whole was under a state of emergency.

In each instance, the Emergency Management ordinance

Haywood GOP is out of control

To the Editor: Wow, I’ve seen a lot of small-town politics in this area but the Haywood County Republicans are out of control. A bully stands up and takes over an official meeting. What was he thinking? Who does he think he is? A bully for sure and maybe a wanna-be dictator?

These fanatics might think they are getting their way, but they’ll soon find out voters are a lot smarter than them. They are only hurting their cause. There’s a right and wrong way to get your point across, and that wasn’t it.

I’m just in shock that this kind of thing could happen in this modern world. Do they expect to run the government this way? Do they want laws made without the press or other parties involved? God help us all if they really think that’s the way it should be done.

gave the county the authority to mobiment and an ordinance are redundant. lize quickly, develop response plans, While these first-responder activiHaywood County Board Chairman Mark call for additional resources, open shelties are critical to disaster response Swanger’s guest column is a response to a letters and access all available state and and recovery, Emergency Management ter published in last week’s edition of The federal financial programs to assist with addresses much broader issues.

Smoky Mountain News. That letter is at disaster recovery. While Emergency Emergency Management involves a www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/12 Management ordinances are similar never-ending cycle of planning, pre730-county-oversteps-its-authority. around North Carolina and the nation, vention, mitigation, warning, shelter, there are several things worth noting emergency assistance and recovery. about Haywood County’s ordinance: This requires extensive management • The ordinance does not give the county blanket authoriand coordination as disasters unfold to ensure that all agenty to do everything referenced in the ordinance in the event of cies, departments, personnel, assets and resources work a disaster. The ordinance serves as the basis for crafting an together. Once the disaster has passed, it involves ongoing emergency declaration specific to the event at hand, and any efforts to evaluate our response, train and continually improve authority to be executed by the Haywood County manager or our resources and strategies so we are better able to address emergency management director in the event of a disaster will each unexpected event. be addressed in the emergency declaration.

I am proud to say that Haywood County is recognized in • Though an emergency declaration may be executed soleWestern North Carolina and throughout the state for the proly by the chairman of the board of commissioners in order to gressive way we have approached Emergency Management. mobilize quickly, Haywood County’s ordinance includes lanWe have one of the longest-running and well-attended local guage calling for an emergency meeting of the board of comemergency planning committees (LEPCs) in the region. This missioners when feasible, so that all commissioners may be group, made up of more than 30 local organizations involved involved in decision-making leading up to a declaration. in emergency response — including local governments, law • An emergency declaration by the county may or may not enforcement, fire and rescue, health department and the hosbe adopted by the towns. The mayor of each town is free to pital, school system and community college, and several execute an emergency declaration specific to how a disaster is human service agencies — meets quarterly to share informaaffecting the citizens of the town. In 2009, for example, all tion and coordinate disaster preparedness activities. town governments and the county declared a state of emerWe have an incident management team that has been traingency. In February 2014, however, only the county and some ing and working together for several years to assist with coortown governments elected to declare an emergency because the dination and support during a disaster. We have several teams impact of the snow was different in different places. of trained staff members withinthe Haywood Department of • The authority given to local governments through an Social Services prepared to open and staff emergency shelters emergency declaration does not go on indefinitely. Once the around the clock as needed. disaster has passed, the chief elected official for the county or These are just a few examples of how this community town must sign a proclamation terminating the declaration. organizes and works together to respond to disasters. The Emergency Management is sometimes confused with firstEmergency Management ordinance is exactly the tool we need responder functions — the normal, daily activities that law to hit the ground running when the unexpected occurs.

(Swanger is chairman of the Haywood County Board of enforcement, fire and rescue, 911 operations, and EMS Commissioners. He can be reached at markswanger@bell(Emergency MEDICAL Services) engage in to protect the public. That sometimes leads to the belief that emergency manage- south.net.)

The people of Haywood County need to stand up to this guy and his followers before the state or even federal Republican Party has to take control and embarrass the county even more.

Chuck Harrell Whittier

Don’t penalize prosperous industry To the Editor: As the economy sputters along, members of Congress and the Obama Administration are singling out one of the most productive economic sectors in America. By proposing increased taxes on the oil and natural gas industry, President Obama seeks to penalize the very companies that helped keep the economy afloat following the recession.

The domestic oil and gas industry already pay a much higher tax rate than the majority

of other businesses. Comparatively, other companies on the S&P pay an average of 26.5 percent, while oil and natural gas companies pay 41 percent.

This discrepancy was reinforced in a recent New York Times study, where results confirmed the oil and natural gas industry is not only taxed at a much higher rate than other industries but also does not receive equal tax breaks. Unfortunately, the government remains unsatisfied with the state of this already unfair situation.

Despite this, employment within the oil and natural gas industry has grown by 40 percent, while the rest of the economy saw a mere 1 percent growth in employment rates. What President Obama doesn’t seem to understand is this tax implementation will not only hurt the oil and natural gas industry, but also each citizen who depends on its resources as a necessary part of their everyday lives. This includes anyone who turns on a light switch, drives a car or simply enjoys the comforts of

modern living.

I hope our leaders in Washington take a stand against the president’s proposal. The oil and natural gas industry play a key role in our energy portfolio, and we cannot unfairly target them with the implementation of higher taxes.

Sen. Jim Davis (R) 50th Senate District Franklin

Jackson commissioners doing some good To the Editor: There are several people running in Jackson County for public office this year and many are claiming to do one thing — raise the pay for school teachers in Jackson County.

Who could be against that issue?

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 20

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

opinion

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

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First, let’s ask why Jackson County teachers would want to replace three of the county commissioners — Jack Debnam, Charles Elders and Doug Cody? In their first three and a half years in office they have approved the $11 million Performing Arts Center for the Smoky Mountain High School that should open in April. In Glenville, they approved a million dollar new locker and weight room facility at Blue Ridge School that was completed last year. They were able to give the Jackson County School Board enough money so that all of the teachers in Jackson County and their assistants kept their jobs last year.

Jack Debnam only won his election by 64 votes, and those 64 votes have helped turned our county around from the worst financial mess it was in many years.

In addition, these three men — with the help of Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin — got the alcohol initiative on the ballot in 2012. That passed by a 60 to 40 majority. This vote to make Jackson County a wet county has increased the sales tax revenue the county receives. This needed income source to the county will be permanent. The only people who pay this alcohol sales tax are the people who buy alcoholic beverages.

Gov. Pat McCrory, R, has promised to raise teachers in the coming year. How can he make that promise? Since January 2011 when the Republicans came into office, almost 200,000 jobs have been added in North Carolina. Some people have criticized the new tax laws, but that is why businesses have been moving back into our state and many businesses have expanded. Only people with jobs pay taxes, and North Carolina has been singled out nationally for the great job it is doing in helping people find jobs.

We currently have 4.3 million employees in North Carolina paying taxes. That is why Gov. McCrory can promise teachers their pay will increase.

Many other good things are happening in our county, like the new satellite facility of the East Carolina University Dental School, which will open shortly above the senior center off Webster Road. This dental facility will provide the school kids in Jackson County some much needed affordable dental service that has been lacking for years. That should be something our teachers can applaud.

Jim Mueller Glenville

GOP’s simple truths just aren’t true To the Editor: Bob Wilson’s most recent published letter (www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/12729-kids-can-endure-a-littlestress) typifies the callous oversimplification and blanket insults typical of today’s Republican Party fed by Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, etc.

To quote Mr. Wilson, “One must dismiss opinions that teachers come up with because they are, after all, union members

LETTERS and unions exist to protect teachers, not students.”

This is akin to claiming that “one must dismiss opinions that (all) Republicans come up with because they are, after all, more devoted to the almighty dollar than they are to the Godly principles they claim to hold.”

First, this is an oversimplification.

There are many conservatives who put moral principles ahead of profit, but those who are in control of the current politicaleconomic process clearly worship money and power above biblical principles.

Secondly, teachers do have a state teachers’ organization, but it is not a union. We cannot legally strike, nor would we want to. We care too much for our students and our communities. They are our children, however they come to us.

Teachers are public servants, serving the public (all of us) with a vital service: educating and preparing our children to be responsible adult citizens. That is a heavy burden, and we treat it as such.

Yes, teachers try to make a living by doing this, but we sure aren’t getting rich.

We, part of the working middle class, pay taxes like everyone else. And like most residents of Macon County, we live paycheck to paycheck, and spend it locally. We are regular folks, and some of us are quite conservative.

Finally, let’s talk about Republicans and public education. The complete Republican takeover of our state government has led to the laying off of thousands of teachers and teacher assistants across the state.

The Republican politicians have slashed the textbook budget while requiring that our children pass the tests based on the new standards that we don’t have books for.

And the Republicans are trying to give away $10 million of our public education tax dollars to private and often religious schools. Certainly the Fox/Rush crowd has been instilled with the idea that we should have an official government religion, in spite of our Constitution.

Further, the Republicans currently in charge of our state gave massive tax breaks to millionaires while underfunding public education and many other basic services, such as mental health care. Basically, they are stealing from our children and giving it to the wealthy.

Finally, the Republican ruse of a raise for teachers is just that. They plan on giving teachers a slight raise, but require the county governments to fund much of this.

This is an underfunded mandated, which our Republican Sen. Jim Davis from Franklin railed against when he was a county commissioner. How times have changed.

I strongly urge all critics of public education to spend a day volunteering in a class to find out what is really going on in public schools.

Dan Kowal Franklin

tasteTHEmountains

A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS 67 Branner Ave., Waynesville, 828.246.0885. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. Curtis Henry opened A Taste of New Orleans to cater to the locals and become the place that’s always open that you can rely on for different, flavorful dishes every day.

Serving Cajun, French and Creole Cuisine in a lovingly restored space, Curtis looks forward to serving you up a delicious dish soon.

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.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun fam-

ily atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered 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.

Friday a.m to 5 p.m. (takeout only 5 to 6 p.m.) Closed Saturday and Sunday. Deli and so much more. We roast our own ham, turkey and roast beef, just like you get on Thanksgiving. Come try our new burger menu with topping choices from around the world.

Enjoy our daily baked goods: cinnamon & sticky buns, cakes, pies and cookies.

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.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting), featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herbbaked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6 p.m., and dinner is served starting at 7 p.m. So join us for mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations.

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

Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, 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.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Monday Through

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 through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 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 trout 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, panini 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.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare,

April 16-22, 2014

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 • 7 PM JEREMIAH GREER

Located at Maggie Valley Inn

SUNDAY, APRIL 20

EASTER SUNDAY BRUNCH 9am to 3pm

Easter Sunday Buffet

70 Soco Road • Maggie Valley Reservations: 828.926.0201

11:00 – 3:00pm Adults $19.95, children 6-12 $6.00 Carved to order -

S PRING S TREET, D OWNTOWN S YLVA CREPES, PANINIS, SOUPS, SALADS, GOURMET PASTAS WINE & BEER

CityLightsCafe.com

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Roasted Turkey; Oven roasted Ham; Buffet Selections - shrimp and grits, smoked salmon a la carte menu also available

117 Main Street, Canton NC 828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com Serving Lunch & Dinner

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6147 Hwy 276 S. • Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station)

bbcafenc.com • 828.648.3838 Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Closed: Sat. & Sun.

Family Style Easter Dinner

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SERVING EASTER SUNDAY Three course Family Style Easter Fare Serving from 11-3

Smoky Mountain News

Deli & So Much More

828.926.0201

Reservations highly recommended

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Café

opinion

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

Enjoy our famous fried chicken, meats, vegetables and our salad bar.

$10.95 Reservations are recommended.

Reservations Required

$24 plus tax & gratuity Kids 10 & under half price 94 East Street, Waynesville • 828-452-7837

www.herrenhouse.com Serving Lunch Wed-Fri 11:30-2 & Sunday Brunch 11-2

Music by Steve Whiddon The Piano Man 72593

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tasteTHEmountains lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day.

Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

ALL NATURAL DELI MEATS & CHICKEN

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.

HORMONE & PRESERVATIVE FREE

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

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

Monday-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 11:30 a.m. to

2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. 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. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561.

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place.

100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian

April 16-22, 2014

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APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Happy Easter Sunday, April 20th 2014

Smoky Mountain News

Easter Brunch

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828-456-1997

11:30 AM — 3:00 PM Reservations: 828.456.3551 ext. 366 or OpenTable.com

blueroostersoutherngrill.com

— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am

We’ll feed your spirit, too.

Adults: $29.95* • Young at Heart Age 70+: $19.95* Ages 6-12: $14.95* • Under Age 5: Free *Taxes and Service Charge Additional

Cataloochee Ranch

176 COUNTRY CLUB DRIVE, WAYNESVILLE, NC 828.456.3551 • www.TheWaynesvilleInn.com 236-52

tasteTHEmountains 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. You're welcome to watch your pizza being created.

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ITALIAN

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MEDITERRANEAN

STEAKS • PIZZA CHICKEN • SEAFOOD SANDWICHES OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK 1863 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.454.5002 HWY. 19/23 EXIT 98 UPCOMING EVENTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 18:

Imposters

SATURDAY, APRIL 19:

My Highway

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83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554

100%% Committedeto 100 Organic Coffe

1110 SOCO RD, MAGGIE VALLEY

(828) 668-BEAN

8 AM – 6 PM

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ORGANICBEANSCOFFEE.COM

Restaurant Now Open

April 16-22, 2014

STARTING MID-SPRING THROUGH STARTING AT IN THE END OF APRIL THOUGH SUMMER WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND SUMMER WE WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC CRAWFISH BOIL IN THE PARKING LOT AND CRAWFISH BOIL IN THE PARKING LOT

Smoky Mountain News

Lunch is Back!

11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. DINNER NIGHTLY AT 4 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY Classic local American comfort foods, craft beers & small batch bourbons & whiskey.

Open Easter Sunday

Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Dinner Nightly at 4 p.m. • CLOSED ON SUNDAY 454 HAZELWOOD AVENUE • WAYNESVILLE Call 828-452-9191 for reservations 236-02

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Smoky Mountain News

THROUGH HIS EYES

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER ulling into his steep, gravel driveway, the first thing you notice about Gary Montanari are his numerous pets.

“I hope you like dogs,” he said, as several barks are heard from around the property.

The second thing you notice about Gary Montanari is that he has lived an extraordinary life.

“I got to do a lot of neat shit,” the 65-yearold modestly stated with a laugh.

At his log cabin, perched atop a ridge between Dillsboro and Franklin, Montanari sits Gary Montanari on a couch and relaxes into the cushions. It’s a comfortable moment for a man who has lived through his share of tense situations as a photojournalist roaming the globe in search of front-page images.

He captured a young Muhammad Ali warming up in a gym, six Super Bowls, the first NASA space shuttle launch (Columbia), Diana Nyad’s legendary long distance swim and Doug Flutie’s iconic Hail Mary-touchdown throw. He has also been on the frontlines of wars, drug trades, and seemingly everything in between. His work has appeared in publications like National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Montanari has been a witness to history, his camera always in-hand.

“I did it in the glory days, and I’m glad I did it,” he said. “We were so fortunate back then to be able to do what we did. There are very few holes left to fill now in photography — I know what a buggy whip salesman went through.”

START YOUR ENGINES

Born and raised in Brevard, Montanari and his family relocated to Miami in the early 1950s. He was just a kid then, and soon a love of racing grabbed hold of him. Motorsports were a rapidly growing spectator sport at that time, and Montanari was right in the center of the action, attending weekly races at Hialeah Speedway and Sebring Raceway.

Soon, Montanari got a job as a part of the safety crew at one of the tracks. When a part or piece of debris fell off one of the cars, these workers would sprint onto the track and grab the object before the cars rocketed around again. It was a dangerous job, but Montanari wanted to be as close to the action as possible.

On a chance encounter, a new worker came to apprentice with Montanari. The guy was fresh out of the military and wanted to

know everything there was to know about racing. Montanari found out he was a photographer and suggested he be taught how to take a photo in exchange for the track knowledge.

“That’s how I became a photographer,” Montanari said. “I was going to the track and not really making much money. That guy didn’t know anything about motor racing, but did know photography. We apprenticed each other, and it soon became a career for me.”

While studying English at LaGrange College in Western Georgia, Montanari spent every free moment out of the classroom heading from tracks near and far, always eager to capture “the shot.” He was freelancing then, taking pictures of competitions, racers and their cars, and selling them the shots for money to get by.

“I got my foot in the door. I got to go to the racetrack and I was getting paid, and I got to see all of the racecars,” he smiled.

After graduation, Montanari sold his car and headed for Europe to photograph Formula One races, which included the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. He remembers vividly, and fondly, interviewing and photographing Graham Hill. Dubbed the “King of Monaco,” Hill is the only driver to win the Triple Crown of Motorsport — the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Formula One World Championship.

“I was a young kid then, probably not even shaving,” Montanari chuckled. “And here I was, on this balcony in Spain, with Graham Hill.”

ONWARD TO MAGIC CITY Coming back to Miami, Montanari landed a photographer gig in Hialeah at a small news-

Photographer Gary Montanari spent his career capturing history, which included the memorable 1984 “Hail Flutie” touchdown when Boston College defeated the University of Miami, the Nicaraguan coup by the Sandinista National Liberation Front in 1979, and the first NASA space shuttle launch of Columbia in 1981 (an image by he and his team that appeared in Life magazine). Donated photos paper called The Home News. He covered local events and spot news, mainly the police beat. That position led to an opening at the Miami Daily News and stringer work at the United Press International. Though the work was chaotic and often gruesome, due to the violent cocaine trade in the city during the late 1970s and 1980s, Montanari was once again in the middle of the action of the era.

“Miami was getting pretty crazy then, and it was so out of control you wouldn’t understand it,” he said. “Crime, conventions, hurricanes — all of it. We had so many homicides that we’d only go cover them if there were multiple victims.”

In the heat of the cocaine trade, Montanari was sent to cover a drug dealer killing.

Escorted by the police, he stepped foot into an empty apartment. All the space contained was

A&E

a small folding card table and a dead man with his thumbs tied behind his back, a bullet in the back of his head. On the table was a pile of cocaine the size of a grapefruit and $80,000 in cash next to it.

“It was so crazy that there was so much product on the streets where the [assassins] didn’t need that pile or the cash, especially since the police could trace the money if it was deposited in the bank,” he said.

In 1979, Montanari was the support diver for Diana Nyad when she swam 28 miles from North Bimini in the Bahamas to Juno Beach, Fla. He was the only photographer onsite, with those images being used by Sports Illustrated.

“I was in that water for 29 hours,” he shook his head with a groan.

He was also in a water tank for 36 hours with a pregnant manatee at the Miami Seaquarium. Montanari was friends with Jesse White, a renowned veterinarian, who was the first person to successfully breed a manatee in captivity. Those photos ended up in National Geographic.

Then there were the other moments. Like being in the end zone during the “Hail Flutie” in 1984, where Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie threw up a 63-yard pass with time expiring for a touchdown to defeat the defending national champion University of Miami. It is regarded as one of the most memorable moments in sports history. Montanari was just mere feet away from BC’s catch.

“Right place at the right time,” he said.

“Nobody knew he was going to make that pass, but he did. And I got the shot of them going upward.”

S EE MONTANARI, PAGE 27

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

— Jeff Sipe, drummer

SMN: Why is it important that people support these jams?

JS: Whether the crowd comes out or not, the musicians will always be on it. They’ll never stop. But once it catches on for the crowd, it’s infectious. It’s a safe place for people to come and witness magic in the moment.

SMN: What do you like about playing

SMN: What’s your ultimate goal with music?

JS: My personal goal is to reach a level of proficiency where I can express without effort. Every year that goes by, I get a little closer. Music, like art, is bigger than any of us. None of us can claim to own it. We can swim in the river, we can get out, we can get back in, but the river is still the river — we don’t own it.

Editor’s Note: The Spontaneous CombustJam is held from 8 p.m. to midnight every Monday at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. All players are welcomed. Free. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.

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Smoky Mountain News

“People get together with this kind of intention and to play from the heart and be spontaneous ... It might be the only true democracy we have. Everything is legitimate.

Everything is on the table. You bring your ideas in and see what works and what doesn’t, and go back to the drawing board.”

SMN: Why are these jams important?

JS: This is the birthplace of creative music and creativity thought. People get together with this kind of intention and to play from the heart and be spontaneous. It’s really a demonstration of true democracy. It might be the only true democracy we have.

Everything is legitimate. Everything is on the table. You bring your ideas in and see what works and what doesn’t, and go back to the drawing board.

SMN: What has a lifetime of playing music taught you about being a human being?

JS: All the lessons for the proper ways to live as a human being, among human beings, are taught in music. It parallels all over the place. It’s like a language. You listen, you respond, and you don’t talk over them.

If you take those and apply them to real life, then you’ll be fine.

April 16-22, 2014

Monday is the new Saturday.

Drummer Jeff Sipe.

Heading down Frazier Street in Waynesville to BearWaters Brewing Company, one can barely find a place to park on a typical Monday evening. For the last couple of months, the location has played host to a weekly open mic event called the Spontaneous CombustJam. Bringing together local talents and acclaimed regional players, the sessions have gained a buzz around Western North Carolina in just a short time.

“We want to bring a thriving music scene here to the Waynesville community, something unlike we’ve ever had on a regular basis,” said Kevin Sandefur, brewer/owner of BearWaters. “Monday suits the top-shelf quality musicians the best. They’re booked later in the week, and this works with their schedule. It’s a great thing and opportunity for any musician.”

During the jam, musicians simply pick up their instruments and gradually slide into a groove.

Kevin Costner & Modern West will perform at The sound builds and gains 7:30 p.m. April 24 at the Smoky Mountain momentum until suddenly the Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. ambiance becomes a full-on concert, with rhythms and lyrics The Smoky Mountain Oyster & Seafood bouncing around the space.

Festival will be at 11 a.m. April 19 at the Other musicians rotate in, tradMaggie Valley Festival Grounds. ing off instruments. The scene is The Band Perry will perform at 9 p.m. April 25 collaboration and experimentaat Harrah’s Cherokee. tion at its finest.

“This is a way to get out your creativity without expectations The Homebrew Competition and Chili Cook-off or a practice routine — it’s very will be at 3 p.m. April 19 at Frog Level Brewing experimental,” said David in Waynesville.

Partin, a musician and emcee of The Corbitt Brothers Band will perform at 9 the jam. “The biggest thing I get p.m. April 25 at Mickey’s Pub in Bryson City. out of these jams was that I learned so much by watching others play. It starts all at home.

Our hometowns are where our with members of Phish, Widespread Panic roots are, so our local talent pools are and Leftover Salmon, as well as being a where our roots are.”

This particular Monday, legendary drum- founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit with Col. Bruce Hampton. Some might say mer Jeff Sipe took the stage. Based out of Sipe is the “John Bonham” of jazz-fusion.

Brevard, the percussive master has played

these smaller rooms?

JS: The smaller rooms are conducive to the most creative music. The bigger rooms you get, the bigger audiences you get, the less intricate you can be. You really feel the energy in smaller rooms, you’re not disconnected on a huge stage. You can see, you can smell, and they’re spilling drinks on you.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

Smoky Mountain News: What do you like about open jam sessions?

Jeff Sipe: If you’re playing an improvisation setting, you have to surrender to the next right note. And what is the next right note? That is the dilemma. If you allow music to take you to the next right note, it takes care of itself. Sometimes you’re working on stuff and you want to try stuff out, and that can get in the way of the moment.

So, there’s always a fine line between working on stuff and playing what’s called for in the moment. If you surrender, the music will take you there naturally.

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The Great Smoky Mountains Association is currently in search for the members of the White Oak String Band (pictured). Donated photo

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With a second album of historic mountain music on the horizon, the producers of the Grammy-nominated “Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music” are searching for anyone with knowledge of the following musicians: fiddler S.T. Swanger, rhythm and steel guitarist Don Brooks and a guitarist known only as “Joyce,” all of whom played with Carroll Best and an informal group of musicians that called themselves the White Oak String Band.

The goal, according to Ted Olson, professor of Appalachian Studies and an American folk music instructor at East Tennessee State University, is to gather band member stories, performance photos, and hopefully conduct interviews with friends or relatives of Swanger, Brooks and “Joyce.” Materials gathered could be incorporated in the liner notes of the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s new album of music recorded in Haywood County by linguist Joseph S. Hall in the 1950s.

“Old-Time Smoky Mountain Music,” nominated for a 2013 Grammy in the Best Historical Album category, came about after Olson uncovered Hall’s recordings in a local archive. He and GSMA decided to make available 34 of Hall’s earliest recordings from 1939. steve@gsmassoc.org or 865.436.7318 (x227) or olson@etsu.edu or 423.439.4379.

• Kevin Costner & Modern West will perform at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets are $40, $45 and $50. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• Dulci Ellenberger, Jesse Junior Quartet, Dan Keller and Joe Cruz will perform at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Ellenberger plays April 18, with the Jesse Junior Quartet April 19, Keller April 25 and Cruz April 26.

The quartet show will be performed along with a a four-course dinner, at $34.99 per person. All other performances begin at 7 p.m. and are $10 minimum purchase per person. 828.452.6000.

ALSO:

• Southern rockers The Corbitt Brothers Band will perform at 9 p.m. April 25 at Mickey’s Pub in Bryson City. $7. 828.488.9308.

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In search of White Oak String Band members

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• Chuck Spencer, Brushfire Stankgrass and Amy Lavere & Will Sexton will be performing at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Spencer plays April 17, Brushfire Stankgrass performs April 18 and Lavere & Sexton play on April 19

Saxophonist Ian Jeffress and pianist Lillian Pearson will present a recital as part of the Catamount Concert Series at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22, at Western Carolina University.

The recital will kick off a year of celebration of the bicentennial of the birth of Adolphe Sax, the Belgian instrument maker and inventor of the saxophone.

The program will feature a combination of new and historic works for saxophone, focusing on the instrument’s chameleonic character. The program will include Jerome Savari’s “Fantasy on Themes from Freischutz,” which borrows music from Carl Maria von Weber’s groundbreaking Romantic opera in one of the earliest examples of solo music for the saxophone, and Stephen Lias’s “Five Characters from David Copperfield,” which offers a modern, comical view of some of the most famous literary characters of the Victorian period. Other works to be performed are Fernande Decruck’s “Sonata in C#,” Giacinto Scelsi’s “Tre Pezzi” and Barry Cockcroft’s “Ku Ku.” Free.

828.227.7242.

The Band Perry comes to Harrah’s

Country mega-group The Band Perry will perform at 9 p.m. April 25, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

Since releasing their self-titled debut album in The Band 2010, the group has Perry ascended to the top tier of the country music industry. Fronted by Kimberly Perry and rounded out by her siblings Neil and Reid, the band has had a string of hit singles, including the quadruple-platinum “If I Die Young” (which climbed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country and AC charts), the platinum “You Lie” and the country No. 1 hit “All Your Life.”

Tickets are $40, $44.50 and $54.50.

800.745.3000 or www.harrahscherokee.com.

and 20. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Jeremiah Greer and Wyatt Espalin will perform at City Lights Café in Sylva. Greer plays April 18, with Espalin on April 25.

828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• The Imposters and My Highway will perform at O’Malley’s Pub & Grill in Sylva. The Imposters play April 11, with My Highway April 12. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

828.631.0554.

• Martin & Mack and Mile High will perform at the Rendezvous in the Maggie Valley Inn. Martin & Mack play April 18, with Mile High on April 19. Pianist Steve Whiddon also plays every Thursday evening and from noon to 3 p.m. on Sundays. 828.926.0201.

• Singer/songwriter Ryan Oyer will perform at 8 p.m. April 19, at Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City. Free. 828.488.2337 or www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• ‘Round The Fire, a comedy show and The Spontaneous Combustion Jam will be at

BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville.

‘Round The Fire will play April 18, with the comedy show April 19. The jam runs from 8 p.m. to midnight every Monday, with all players welcome. Free. 828.246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.

• The Brass Ensembles concert will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, in the Coulter Building at Western Carolina University. Featuring brass studio and small mixed brass ensembles. www.wcu.edu.

• Josh Wagers & Lee Kram, Johnny Rhea, Craig Summers & Lee Kram, Paul Cataldo and Spanky will perform at Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville. Wagers & Kram play April 17, with Rhea April 18, Summers & Kram April 24, Cataldo April 25 and Spanky April 26. Free. 828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Croon & Cadence, The Hermit Kings, Octopus Jones and Caleb Burress will hit the stage at the Water’n Hole Bar and Grill in Waynesville. Croon & Cadence plays April 18, with The Hermit Kings and Octopus Jones April 19 and Burress April 25. All performances begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.4750.

On the wall

Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw portray Fanny Brawne and John Keats.

April is National Poetry Month, and the occasion will be celebrated with a special film presentation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Jane Campion’s literary biopic tells the true story of Fanny Brawne (played by actress Abbie Cornish) a 23-year-old Londoner in

1818 whose independent streak manifests itself through an intense interest and love for fashion and dressmaking. Her neighbor, the struggling but gifted young poet John Keats (played by Ben Whishaw), underestimates her intelligence because he believes she’s frivolous; and she, having no interest in literature, seems thoroughly disinterested in him.

However, Fanny attempts to help the Keats family when John’s brother becomes gravely ill, and in order to express his gratitude John agrees to teach her poetry — leading Fanny and John to quickly fall deeply and profoundly in love with each other. Although they wish to wed, his lack of finances and his writing partner — who believes Campion is nothing more than an unwelcome distraction — keep the two from marrying.

Popcorn will be provided. Free.

828.488-3030.

• A Peeps Diorama Contest will be held through April 17 at the Mariana Public Library in Bryson City. Create a diorama using peeps that represents a book of your choice .The contest is open to ages 4 to 16. There will be winners chosen for ages 4-8, 9-12, and 13-16. Judging will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 17. All entries must be submitted by Wednesday, April 16. 828.488.3030.

ALSO:

• The films “The Lorax” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” will be screened at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. “The Lorax” will be shown April 18-19, with “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” on April 25-26. Screenings are at 7:45 p.m. on Fridays and 2 p.m. , 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. on Saturdays. Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

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But then there were the moments of terror, where his life was in jeopardy. In 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front overthrew Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza DeBayle. Montanari was in Nicaragua covering the murderous coup when suddenly he was held hostage in his hotel. It was in that moment he realized how dangerous his profession could really be.

“I thought I was going to die, brother,” he said through solemn eyes.

BACK TO THE SMOKIES

— Gary Montanari

camera. I was a newspaper photographer — I didn’t even take that many photos of my kids.”

When asked if he looked at his work as art, he scoffs at the thought.

“It’s not an art for me. I never considered myself an artist,” he said. “It’s a craft, a tool — I’m capturing history.”

Montanari’s dogs bounce on and off of him in a round-robin stream of fur and barking. Relaxing further into his couch cushions, Montanari reels off innumerable names like listings in a phone book. Each name was a friend, each name a story. Some have died.

Several are still photographing. But each was lucky enough to cross paths with Montanari, and vice versa. He remembers all of them, many-a-time with a slight pause and look upward before diving into another story.

“I think in my entire career I may have called in sick twice,” he said. “I hope people find jobs that they really like. You’ve got to care about people, and you’ve got to do your job — it was a great life.”

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Smoky Mountain News

Montanari retired in 2005. Following his photography career, he worked in television news for a period as an assignment editor. The world was beginning to change, news was beginning to change, and Montanari was seeing the writing on the wall. With a no-country-for-old-men sentiment floating through newsrooms around the world, journalism had shifted.

Photographers and writers alike were being cut left and right, with the soul of the industry disappearing with every newspaper closure and media consolidation.

“No, I couldn’t do it now. Journalism has changed, buddy. They’re firing all the reporters and giving all the photographers pencils,” he said. “And I’m not technically savvy. I don’t know how to use a digital

“It’s not an art for me. I never considered myself an artist. It’s a craft, a tool — I’m capturing history.”

April 16-22, 2014

11A M — 10 P M MONTANARI, CONTINUED FROM 24

arts & entertainment

Film to celebrate National Poetry Month

27

arts & entertainment

On the street Lake Junaluska offers Easter weekend activities, services The Easter weekend celebration at Lake Junaluska will be held April 1920.

On Saturday, April 19, activities begin with the Friends of the Lake 5K at 8:30 a.m., followed by the 5K Family Walk and Children’s Fun Run. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and is required for the races.

Indoor children’s activities — including an egg-decorating contest, face painting, yo-yo balloons and more — begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Harrell Center Auditorium. Prizes will be awarded for the egg-decorating contest. The Easter egg hunts will take

10:25 a.m. Lake Junaluska’s annual Easter lunch buffet will be held in the Terrace Hotel. Tickets are available at the Bethea Welcome Center or by making a reservation at 828.454.6662.

Easter events are sponsored in part

by Lake Junaluska, Ingles, Bilo, Mast General, Wal-Mart and more.

For a full event schedule visit www.lakejunaluska.com/easter.

Sylva church to celebrate Maundy Thursday, Good Friday

A special service observing Maundy Thursday and Good Friday will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, at the First United Methodist Church of Sylva.

Immediately following the Holy Eucharist, a Tenebrae service will commence.

For a complete list of Easter festivities, see our calendar Maundy section in the back of the paper, or view Easter events Thursday, also and more at www.smokymountainnews.com. called Holy Thursday, is a service to commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper. place near Stuart Auditorium beginThe word “Maundy” comes from the ning at 11 a.m. Children ages 1 to 12 Latin word for “commandment.” are welcome to participate.

Christians believe that on the day The Easter sunrise service will feabefore his crucifixion, Jesus celebrated ture guest preacher Rev. Amy Coles, Passover for the last time with his disciSmokey Mountain District Superintendent, and a brass ensemble ples; it was then that he issued a new commandment: “Love one another as I with special music. The service will have loved you.” take place at 7 a.m. on Sunday, April “Tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows” or 20, at the Lake Junaluska amphithe“darkness.” The Tenebrae is an ancient ater and cross. Rain location is Christian Good Friday service, which Memorial Chapel. Following the sunrise service, breakfast will be served in dates back to the eighth century and commemorates the passion and death the Lambuth Inn from 7:30 a.m. until of Jesus Christ. During the service, the 9 a.m. lights dim to darkness to symbolize the Long’s Chapel’s Easter service is death of Jesus. scheduled for Stuart Auditorium at

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

Easter events

• A German beer dinner will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 22, at Lulu’s on Main in Sylva. The dinner features a fivecourse German meal paired with craft beer from Heinzelmannchen Brewery. $40 per person. 828.586.8989 or www.lulusonmain.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Oyster & Seafood Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Peel n’ eat shrimp, oysters, steamed and raw clams. Oyster-eating contest and mountain shucking championships. Rain or shine. $8 for adults, kids ages 12 and under free. Live music by Mile High and Al Coffee & Da’ Grind. www.smokymtnoysterfest.com.

ALSO:

• A new dance program in which you can learn six dances in six weeks will be offered at the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. The classes will take place at 7 p.m., April 23 and 30, as well as May 7, 14, 21 and 28. Participants 28

Students place high at culinary competition Southwestern Community College culinary students C.J. Reum and Scott Dolbee recently placed fourth at the Wake Tech Culinary Arts Showcase at the Raleigh Convention Center.

Despite taking on a number of veteran teams loaded with second-year students, SCC’s firsttime competitors made the final round and ended up placing fourth out of 11 teams at the statewide competition. Longtime program coordinator Ceretta Davis said it was the first time SCC students had competed at a culinary contest of this type.

For their first dish, Reum and Dolbee — both Sylva residents — prepared an almond-crusted, hand-fried shrimp appetizer served on a bed of quinoa and key-lime kale topped with mango vinaigrette. Their entree of pork tenderloin and purple sweet potatoes was served with an asparagus/pear medley topped with toasted walnuts and a béarnaise sauce.

As one of five teams to make the final round,

Sylva welcomes Greening Up the Mountains festival The 17th annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Bridge Park in Sylva.

The event kicks off with a 5K race from Mark Watson Park at 9 a.m. The race is sponsored by the Jackson County Recreation and Parks Department. For more information on race registration and routes, visit www.imathelete.com or call the parks department at 828.293.3053.

The Signature Brew Stage in the Suntrust parking lot on Main Street and the Bridge Park Stage will host live local music throughout the day. In the Wells Fargo Bank Parking lot, the Triple Threat children’s stage will feature Jackson County’s youngest performers, kicking off at 10 a.m. with the annual Mountain Youth Talent Contest. Children’s

will be able to learn the Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Tango and Cha Cha. $60 per person. 828.316.1412 or 828.356.7060.

• The Haywood Community College Cosmetic Arts Department will hold a Cut-A-Thon for Relay for Life’s American Cancer Society from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23, at the HCC’s Cosmetic Arts Center. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society.

Shampoo and cut available for a suggested donation of $6 and style for $5. Services for Cut-A-Thon do not include chemical or nail services. Walk-ins are accepted but appointments are suggested. 828.627.4641 or 828.627.4268.

• The Empty Bowl Fundraiser will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. April 25, at The Community Table in Sylva. Patrons have a choice of handmade ceramic bowls and soup. Sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. $20 per person. www.mountainlovers.com.

• The Taste of Chocolate will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 19, at the Maggie Valley Club. Patrons will be able to taste an

SCC culinary students C.J. Reum (left) and Scott Dolbee recently placed fourth at a statewide cooking contest in Raleigh. they opted for a striped bass appetizer with fresh pesto and a Swiss chard salad. Their second entrée was a seared rack of lamb, basmati rice and sautéed parsnips with a citrus glaze.

activities in the Bridge Park will include face painting, an inflatable slide, volunteer project, and a time capsule to commemorate 125 years for the town of Sylva. www.greeningupthemountains.com or greeningupthemountains@gmail.com or 828.226.8652.

Dining Out for Life Day planned in WNC

The Western North Carolina AIDS Project’s 12th annual Dining Out for Life benefit will take place on April 24 in Asheville and the surrounding communities.

The acclaimed national fundraiser has raised over $30 million for AIDS service organizations since it began. Locally, over 110 restaurants will donate 20 percent of their gross sales that day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. www.wncap.org/dofl.

array of deserts. The funds raised will help recruit volunteers for 60 organizations as well as counsel people on Medicare through the N.C. Seniors Health Information Program with supplements, advantage plans and prescription plans. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door. 828.356.2833.

• The Homebrew Competition and Chili Cook-off with Todd Hoke will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Applications available at www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• The 10th anniversary celebration for Heinzelmannchen Brewery will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the establishment’s new and upcoming facility in Dillsboro.

Live music, food, craft beer. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• The Spring Cornhole Tournament will be held April 18-20 at the Cherokee Welcome Center & Fairgrounds. Blind draw determines teams. Registration at 11 a.m. Event begins at noon. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

On the stage

Presents

The Southern Fried Chicks Cage-Free Comedy Tour will hit is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The Cage-Free Comedy Tour features Etta May, Sonya White, Karen Mills and Style Network’s Trish Shure.

Since the debut of their one-hour comedy special on CMT, this top-grossing all-female comedy tour has played packed venues around the country — think Blue Collar Comedy Tour with better hair and bigger attitude.

Tickets are $15, $20 and $25.

866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

The Southern Fried Chicks Cage-Free Comedy Tour comes to Franklin April 26.

Donated photo

arts & entertainment

Southern Fried Chicks bring laughs to Franklin

May 3, 2014 7:30 Lake Junaluska Hourly Weigh-In Prize money by hourly round.

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‘The Fantasticks’ hits the stage at WCU

The radio show re-creation of “Echoes of the Cotton Club” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 24, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

The storyline is woven around the critical role that radio broadcasts originating in 1927 from the Cotton Club played in changing the musical landscape in America. The ‘echoes’ from the Cotton Club are all of the rich musical styles and genre that originated in Harlem and are still influencing our popular culture.

“Echoes” follows significant musical devel-

opments through the decades to the present day — swing, blues, soul and R&B, Motown, funk, disco, hip-hop and modern singer-songwriters. Featured songs include hits by artists Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald, and the contemporary entertainers they inspire, such as Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Bruno Mars.

Tickets to the show are $10 and proceeds will fund scholarships in participating academic departments. In the last five years, the group has raised nearly $25,000 for student scholarships.

828.227.3851 or dconnelly@wcu.edu www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

Smoky Mountain News

Radio re-creation hits stage at WCU

Holmes,” “Wild Wild West” and, most recently, “Hugo.”

The production, the final show in WCU’s 2013-14 Galaxy of Stars Series, is sponsored by Bear Lake Reserve and Holiday Inn Express.

Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for WCU faculty and staff and $5 for students and children.

828.227.2479 or www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

April 16-22, 2014

“The Fantasticks,” the world’s longest-running musical, will bring a steampunk-styled allegory about deceit, disillusionment and devotion to the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 27, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Narrated by bandit El Gallo, the romantic musical follows the lives of young Matt and Luisa as their fathers con the pair into becoming lovers. The fathers, Mr. Hucklebee and Mr. Bellomy, believe their fake feud will only bring their children closer together. Ultimately, the couple’s disillusionment causes them to discover a deeper, more matured love.

Steampunk is a literary genre that focuses on industrialization, steam-powered machinery and post-apocalyptic settings. Steampunk works often feature futuristic technologies based on Victorian culture and style. Famous steampunk works include “Sherlock

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

Bleak story has far-reaching implications ussell Banks knows how to hook the reader’s interest. In the opening pages of Lost Memory of Skin, the book’s protagonist (known only as “The Kid”) enters the public library in Calusa (Miami) and asks the woman at the desk if she would help him find some information.

She agrees and he asks if it is true that people who are called “sexual deviants” are on the Internet program along with their photo and their addresses. The librarian asks for the Writer address he wishes to check. She then asks for the apartment number and “The Kid” finds himself staring at his own face on the monitor. Yes, it is true! He is defined as a sexual deviant and a pedophile. The Kid apologizes, noting that he is probably breaking the law by being in a library, and runs.

So begins the story of a homeless 22-yearold man who lives under a bridge (causeway) in a kind of village of the damned. These are the outcasts of Miami, a growing colony of people deemed degenerate criminals and forbidden to live within 2,500 feet of a school or any area containing large numbers of children. Since the city is compact and filled with schools, parks and swimming pools, there is very little real estate available for these wretched souls with criminal records and electronic “tracking” GPS bracelets on their ankles that must to be charged every 48 hours (otherwise the law enforcement authorities come looking for them).

Even among this bizarre community, The Kid stands out because he has a six-foot pet iguana named Iggie. Ah, but not for long.

Iggie is killed in one of the occasional raids

Gary Carden

R

carried out by irate citizens who trash the plywood and plastic shelters and hospitalize a few “freaks.” The Kid wryly notes that every time there is an election, the raids start.

Within a week, most of the “social outcasts” return and begin rebuilding the shacks and lean-to shelters. Predictably, in a few months, a tropical storm blows the shelters away along with a few luckless inhabitants who are drowned in the ocean.

It is a daunting job to write a novel about a protagonist who is a pedophile, yet as The Kid gains our sympathy. Each time that he bounces back, he gives a running commentary about what he has learned from his experience and about God, damnation and sex. He is a plucky little guy and wryly confesses that his troubles are his own fault. The details about how he came to be convicted of attempting to have sex with a 14-year-old that he befriended on a “chat room” (plus being kicked out of the Army for distributing pornography) is both tragic and comical.

Despite the “worldly” implications of his criminal record, the Kid has never had a girlfriend and is still a virgin. It is easier to become a sexual degenerate that you might think!

Born to a “party girl” who is unable to identify tThe Kid’s father, the Kid lives an unsupervised existence. His only friend is the pet iguana that his mother gave him after one of her “week-long vacations” with her friends (she leaves her son to fend for himself ). Being essentially a shy boy and a poor student (he has never read a book), The Kid spends countless hours alone in his room watching porn channels. His mother feeds and clothes him, but she is too distracted by her obsession with club hopping and drinking (and her constant search for “cute guys”) to provide The Kid with any sort of guidance or affection.

At this point, a second character enters the

A tale of a haunted house

Kid’s life. He is known as “The Professor” — an immense, bearded sociology professor who becomes interested in The Kid’s background.

The Professor wants to know what factors have shaped The Kid’s fate. After offering to pay the suspicious young man for a series of interviews, the Professor and the Kid form an awkward alliance. The Kid remains skeptical and suspicious of the Professor’s motives, but he begins to talks freely about his past and it becomes increasingly evident that the interviews are giving him an insight into his own life. In effect, The Kid gradually develops a newfound self-confidence and even attempts to develop a structured community composed of “the bridge people.”

With advice from the Professor, The Kid develops committees that enforce rules regarding safety, sanitation and food collection (dumpster diving). Before long, social workers and city law enforcement people develop a cautious relationship with the “bridge people” that acknowledges their ability to government themselves.

However, all of these positive developments are temporary. It becomes evident that the Professor is not what he seems. There is something basically sinister about the great behemoth of a man who eats constantly in order to sustain his huge body. It is possible that he is manipulating The Kid and has “a hidden agenda.” We learn that he is married and has two children, but his domestic life is veiled in secrecy, and his wife (who turns out to be the librarian that The Kid consulted in the beginning of this novel) becomes increasingly unhappy with her husband’s secretive life. Where does he go? Why will he not talk about his past?

At times, the Professor hints at a dark past in which he worked for covert organizations with highly questionable motives. The Professor says that his life is now “at risk.” Is

Author Sonja Condit will present her debut novel Starter House at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 25, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

The book is a story of a woman who falls in love with a dustyrose colonial cottage. It’s the home she has been dreaming of for her and her family. Despite the history of the house, she and her husband eagerly move in. Soon though, she realizes there is something malevolent present — something only she can sense. www.citylightsnc.com or www.mountainlovers.com.

the American Academy of Arts and Literature, the North Carolina Award for Literature, and a Southern Book Critic Circle Award.

Her newest novel Guests on Earth is set in 1913 at the Highlands Mental Hospital in Asheville. Other books by Smith include Fair and Tender Ladies, On Agate Hill and The Last Girls.

A dessert buffet will be served by Kanini’s. Tickets for the evening are $10 and are available for sale at all the library branches, Blue Ridge Books and Gallery 86. Tickets must be purchased by Friday, May 2.

828.456.5311 or stanandlinda@charter.net.

Renowned author to present at Friends of the Library

JC Walkup presents her saga of Texas

Award-winning author Lee Smith will speak at the Friends of the Library annual meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.

Smith is the author of 13 novels and four collections of short stories. She is a recipient of the Academy Award in Literature from

Author JC Walkup will present her book Partners at 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

The book is a gritty tale of post Civil War Texas. Violence and hardship take center stage as a young man from Scotland, Ian McPhelen, struggles to find a place in the world. Walkup is a grad-

this true? The Kid comes to feel that The Professor is part of the worst aspects of pornography rackets that operate on the internet.

When the Professor tells The Kid that he (The Professor} will soon be murdered, but his death will be treated as a suicide, the Kid finds himself trapped into delivering a filmed interview to the Professor’s wife. What, then, is the truth? Using the money that The Professor gave him, The Kid makes a bid for freedom and escapes into an immense swamp that is part of Florida’s National Park.

Accompanied by an aging parrot that squawks “Yoo, hoo, hoo and a barrel of rum” and a brutalized dog named Annie, feeling a bit like Tom Sawyer (the Professor told him about Tom), The Kid rents a houseboat and ventures deep into the swamp. Within a few days he is bored, sick of eating fish and returns to the boat rental office to discover that agent already knows that he is a “pedophile” with an ankle monitor. What next? Should he go back to the camp under the bridge?

Despite the bleak nature of The Kid’s existence, I feel that this is a remarkable novel with some far-reaching implications.

Russel Banks is not content to merely explore The Kid’s tragic entrapment by forces that he cannot resist; the title, Lost Memory of Skin, is significant. This novel is about the consequences of substituting the “digital” for the “real.” In other words, it is about replacing human contact with an artificial substitute. A bit of additional research reveals that the “bridge people” are not a product of a writer’s imagination. They are actually live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway outside Miami.

(Gary Carden is writer and storyteller who lives in Sylva. He can be reached at cgarden498@aol.com.)

uate of the University of Texas. A native of Texas, she now lives in Haywood County and is one of the founders of the literary magazine, Fresh.

828.586.9499.

World Book Night comes to Sylva In celebration of William Shakespeare’s birthday and World Book Night there will be a special event April 23 at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

The bookstore is proud to be one of 2,300 bookstores and libraries across America supporting World Book Night 2014. 25,000 volunteers from Kodiak to Key West will give away half a million free books in more than 6,000 towns and cities across America.

World Book Night U.S. is an ambitious campaign to give thousands of free, specially-printed paperbacks to light or non-readers.

Volunteer book givers help promote reading by going into our communities and handing out free copies to those without means or access to a printed book. www.us.worldbooknight.org.

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The views presented are not necessarily those of Wilkes Community College or endorsed by the college.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER s stand after stand of towering hemlocks falls to the appetite of an insect smaller than a grain of rice, foresters and wildlife managers alike are scrambling for an answer to the hemlock wooly adelgid.

The invasive pest is still chomping steadily through Appalachian forests, threatening to forever alter the ecological landscape of the mountains.

Millions of dollars have been spent over the past decade to save the anchor tree species, but the new Hemlock Restoration Initiative hopes to bring the adelgids’ reign to an end by 2025.

The initiative is being spearhead by N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler through the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

A $100,000 grant to kick-start the initiative was awarded from the state’s multi-million dollar legal settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, an environmental funding pool stemming from a federal air pollution lawsuit.

Bring in the army

A

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

The initiative’s power is not necessarily in the money, though. It’s in the approach.

The idea is to encourage collaboration and synergy between scientists and land managers who have been exploring different routes of attack against the insect — releasing predator beetles, inoculating signature groves or breeding adelgid-resistant strains of hemlock.

“We’re all out here on our own with a limited budget. There’s a lot of wasted effort,” said Bill Yarborough, special assistant for NCDACS in Western North Carolina. “This is essentially bringing an army together to attack the enemy.”

By getting scientists working together, WNC Communities, a community development nonprofit managing the initiative, is hoping to connect the dots.

They don’t want to “reinvent the wheel,” said L.T. Ward, vice president of WNC Communities, “but to encourage those who are already in research work to address that need.”

Over the next two months, WNC Communities will be assembling researchers, explaining goals and otherwise laying the groundwork for the program before any money is actually granted.

If the program is successful — which its supporters unequivocally expect it to be — it will likely be given more money in the future.

“We don’t expect it to be a one-shot deal,” said Ward. “We expect the current project to lay the groundwork.”

As WNC Communities works locally to identify the projects most worthy of funding, Troxler will be leveraging some capital of his own. A past president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, he has plenty of contacts spread across the nation. Troxler plans to use those connections to unite research efforts from all states.

“We now have one of the top officials in North Carolina, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, recognizing the need and urgency of the hemlock challenge and providing additional funding to accelerate solutions. Hemlocks have never had such a strong ally before,” said George Ivey, who will serve as the hemlock project coordinator and is from Haywood County.

Initiative will link allies in fight against hemlock wooly adelgid

Once the adelgid descends on a hemlock tree, the tree’s days are numbered. NPS photos

NO TIME TO WASTE When it comes to the hemlock, Yarborough said, there’s no room for competition between agencies or scientists facing the same problem.

“The loss of this tree is the most significant loss since the American chestnut,” he said. “It will change Western North Carolina as well as the other parts of its habitat. You can ride around now and see all those gray ghosts all over Western North Carolina.”

The hemlock is a frequently-occurring tree in Western North Carolina — “I don’t know if you could go anywhere in Western North Carolina and get a quarter of a mile in any direction that you won’t find a dead or dying hemlock,” Yarborough said — and it fills some pretty vital ecological roles.

Plenty of animal species depend on the cool, dense forests hemlock creates, and the yearround shade the evergreen trees provide is important to aquatic species as well.

“What’s going to happen is trout streams are going to warm up, and that could impact our native trout as well as the bugs that live in the stream,” Yarborough said.

A 2013 USFS study indicated that losing the hemlock could permanently change the region’s water cycle, as well, because the large trees photosynthesize year-round, helping to regulate water flow.

“The things that we don’t even consider are certainly part of this whole loss,”

Yarborough said.

But Yarborough is hopeful that the initiative will make it possible for hemlock trees to resist the adelgid in the wild by the project’s target of 2025. That’s a mere 11 years away, but Yarborough isn’t the only one who believes the goal is within reach.

“I think it’s possible,” said Kristine Johnson, supervisory forester in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Part of Johnson’s job is managing research activities in the park, particularly those dealing with forest insects and disease. There’s nary a section of the park whose hemlocks are unaffected by the adelgid, but she’s seen science make great strides even over the last decade or so.

“What we know now, if we knew that ten years ago, we would have been able to

funded just for one particular project, often with a narrow focus, so by design they’re not seeing the whole view. That makes it important to have a group of people charged with looking at the top view.

“It’s important to have people who are unbiased and are really focused on the big picture,” Johnson said.

A FOREST OF UNKNOWNS But it’s not a problem that can be conquered with a formula or smothered with bureaucracy. Ecology doesn’t move in a straight line.

“There’s a lot that we don’t know about how this will progress,” Johnson said. “We do know that in a severe infestation, trees can die in two or three years, but if we

What is the hemlock wooly adelgid?

The hemlock wooly adelgid is a small, aphid-like insect that feeds on the fluids trees use for food. The nymphs settle at the bases of hemlock needles, where they spend the winter feeding on the tree’s starches until reaching maturity. Infestation can cause needles to drop and branches to die. Death of the tree may take as long as a decade, but it’s a virtual certainty.

The adelgid, a native to Asia, first came to the northwestern U.S. in 1924, and eventually reached WNC in the early 2000s.

save so many more trees, but the science and art of large-scale treatments for hemlock had never been done before,” she said.

It takes time to develop the know-how to combat a new threat, and the collaborative approach that the Hemlock Restoration Initiative will promote is a necessary tool to move that timeline forward, she said.

“We don’t have much time to save large amounts of hemlocks,” Johnson said. “It’s crucial that everyone has the best information they can and works together.”

Sometimes, though, that’s difficult.

Scientists and researchers are typically

have cold winters and moisture in the summer, the trees can be healthy. There can be genetic resistance within the population. We don’t know how it’s going to play out.”

Sometimes, that play is full of surprises. Nature tossed the hemlocks a bone this winter, when an extra-cold season gave the bugs a beating. In the four high-altitude sites that researchers monitored in the park, frigid temperatures left 80 to 90 percent of hemlock wooly adelgids dead.

Then, of course, there’s the supply-anddemand end of things. When the adelgids first descended on the

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hemlock-rich Appalachians in the late 1990s, sit and wait. In the case of the Fraser firs, the they encountered a feast. Their numbers number of trees growing now is nothing swelled accordingly, leaving the mountains compared to the share of the forest Frasers in the state they are now. But that’s not a held in the 1940s. permanent situAnd the trees that are ation. coming back, of course, are “Typically still small. It will be a long when you have time before they can be conan introduction sidered old growth. of a forest pest “An old-growth hemlock like that, there’s will be a great treasure in an outbreak 2025,” Johnson said. “I period, and would say there will still be then in time a few. I hope so.” things do natuThe Smokies has spent ralize,” Johnson hundreds of thousands, in said. “It can’t large part through grants, to stay in outchemically inoculate some break period of its most prized hemlock for centuries or stands. It’s a labor intensive even decades.” process, and must be Chemical controls For starters, repeated every several years, like this are the insects but it could buy time for key effective for saving eventually eat hemlock groves until a more individual trees, through their permanent solution is but they’re not food source. found. practical to treat Johnson By banding researchers whole forests. points to the together, drawing on the balsam wooly synergy that forms when adelgid, which great minds share a room began attacking Fraser fir trees in the 1950s. and doling out the resources they need to Within a couple of decades, forests lost 70 to produce answers, Yarborough hopes to see 80 percent of their Fraser firs, but eventually that number rise above “a few.” the insects hit a ceiling and began to decline.

“There’s not much of anything that can’t Now, the Fraser firs are growing again. be done if you have a concerted effort to do But that doesn’t mean that it’s OK to just it,” he said.

outdoors

One the Blue Ridge Parkway’s most popconstruction, the speed limit in the area will ular recreation areas will soon be closing for be reduced. Parking along the road shoulconstruction. The Graveyard Fields parking der will also be eliminated. area and trailhead, at milepost 418.8, will “Currently visitors to Graveyard Fields close for approximately 11 weeks beginning use the island of the existing lot, and several April 22. hundred feet of the narrow road shoulder in During the closure, the National Park both directions, for parking. This situation Service will complete phases of a compreis unsafe and has resulted in numerous incihensive construction project underway at this highly used recreation area. The project addresses important visitor services and safety issues, and includes construction of a new comfort station and doubling of the parking capacity. Complete closure of the parking area is necessary to protect the public during the project and expedite construction.

Work to be completed during the closure includes: expanding from 17 to 40 Graveyard Fields parking spaces; construction of a new three-unit ADA-compliant restroom; improvements to dents,” said Blue Ridge Parkway trails, including installing a boardwalk, conSuperintendent Mark Woods. “We’re structing check dams, improving drainage pleased this expansion will relieve some of and closing non-system trails. A new trail the congestion and improve safety for drivmap will also be installed at the trailhead, ers and pedestrians at Graveyard Fields.” and four interpretive signs will be placed on The Graveyard Fields upgrades are being the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail. funded in part by the Blue Ridge Parkway Also in conjunction with the closure and Foundation.

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outdoors

Native trees explained at Nature Center Arbor Day will get its due with a Living with Trees tour, guided by horticulturist Ezra Gardiner from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Highlands Nature Center, Gardiner will teach participants how to identify and care for some noteworthy tree species of the Highlands Plateau, as well as how to use these species in plantings.

Everyone who attends the tour will leave with a native tree to plant. RSVP to Gardiner at 828.526.0188 or egardiner@email.wcu.edu. www.highlandsbiological.org.

Take a bird walk in Standing Indian John and Cathy Sill will lead a bird walk in the Standing Indian area of Nantahala National Forest on Saturday, April 26, sponsored by the Franklin Bird Club. The group will meet at 8 a.m. in the Kmart parking lot, located in Westgate Plaza in Franklin, to carpool. They will return by noon. RSVP to 828.524.5234.

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

Beginning gardeners invited to join in on growing season A beginning gardening workshop at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Cullowhee Community Garden will cover a variety of topics, including soil, starting seeds, direct seeing versus transplanting, weed maintenance, fertilization and mulches. Questions are encouraged. The workshop is free and registration is not required. thecullowheecommunitygarden@gmail.com; 828.586.8994; facebook.com/cullowheecommunitygarden.

Growing season yields new farmers market The Franklin area will be getting a new farmer’s market this year, held on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 7 p.m. at the Macon County Heritage Center in Cowee, which was formerly the old Cowee School.

In addition to agricultural products, the market will feature entertainment, food tastings, kids’ activities, music, arts and crafts, classes and educational booths. “We want this to be a fun and interesting experience for our visitors, and for people to want to come back week after week,� said Susan Ervin, project coordinator with Friends of Rickman Store, a community-run general store next door to the heritage center. Friends of Rickman Store received a small start-up grant to help develop the new farmers market.

Organizers chose Tuesday for the market in hopes of giving growers who already sell at other markets a new venue on a different day of the week to expand their reach.

Interested vendors are invited to attend an organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m., April 22, at the old Cowee School.

Registration, space reservations and information will be available, and producers from adjoining counties are welcome.

Vendors can register for a full season at $50 or by the day for $5. “We want all to feel welcome — from our small growers, beginners and youth vendors to our local experts and commercial growers. Cowee is a market for everyone, “ said Pamela Jackson, one of the mar-

ket organizers.

The market will kick off Tuesday, May 13, and run through the end of October. info@coweefarmersmarket.com.

Haywood agritourism guide available From farmers markets to roadside stands to U Pick farms to plant nurseries to historic preservation sites, Haywood County’s agricultural heritage is showcased in Buy Haywood’s recently released 2014 Agritourism Guide.

Recipes, photographs, maps and a full calendar of farm and heritage-related events are all included. “The guide is an invitation to explore our vibrant community of agripreneurs — where heritage meets modern convenience,� says Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood project coordinator.

Buy Haywood is a project of the Haywood County Economic Development Commission and financially supported by the Haywood Advancement Foundation,

with support from other community partners, including the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. The guides are free and available at any Haywood County Visitor Center and at other venues around the county.

Go native for growing season Plant-lovers are invited to shop the Corneille Bryan Native Garden at Lake Junaluska in Haywood County during their annual plant sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 26. Native plants of all kinds will be on sale at the top of the garden where Country Road joins Ivey Lane.

828.778.5938.

Beginner’s fly fishing clinics given in Jackson A clinic through the Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department will give fly fishing wannabes the know-how they’ll need to get started. The clinic, offered 4 to 6 p.m. at the recreation center in Cullowhee May 31 and at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center on June 7, will cover the basics of fly-fishing, including equipment, casting techniques, knot-tying, and basic aquatic entomology.

Registration is open during business hours April 21 to May 16 at both recreation centers. The clinics are sponsored by Hooker’s Fly and Guide Service and Brookings’ Cashiers Village Anglers. $20 per person. 828.631.2020.

Public comment sought in forest plan

The U.S. Forest Service is moving into the next phase of revising the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan, and it’s looking for public comment as it gets ready to prepare an environmental impact statement.

Comments must be received by April 28. NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us.

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outdoors April 16-22, 2014

Smoky Mountain News

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outdoors

winners and the top three male and female age group winners.

Register at www.imathlete.com, rec.jacksonnc.org, www.mountainlovers.com or via registration forms available at the Jackson County Recreation Center.

Disc golfers to descend on Cullowhee Disc golfers will have a chance to show their stuff at the Inaugural Disc Golf Tournament at 5:30 p.m., Friday, April 25 at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. The doubles-format event is hosted by Jackson County Parks and Recreation and sponsored by Blackrock Outdoor Company. Early registration $20; Day-of registration $30. 828.293.3053 or 828.631.2020.

Fun run for a cause in downtown Waynesville

Green up the Mountains with Sylva race April 26

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NOC rings in the spring Nantahala Outdoor Center will host its Spring Fling event April 25-26 in the Nantahala Gorge.

Boat demos, the Boater Cross race, World Kayak’s Hometown Throwdown, gear vendors, live music and local brews will all be part of the festivities.

Special white water releases of the Cascades and Upper Nantahala will give paddlers looking for rugged and steep creek boating some fun as well. The releases will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day with 250 cubic feet per second filling the riverbed. www.noc.com/noccom/festivals-a-events/noc-spring-fling/

New boat ramps on Glenville Lake Boaters partial to Glenville Lake, also known as Thorpe Lake, will have two new access points this season. The lake, located in Jackson County, is a popular bass fishing spot.

• The Powerhouse Boating Access area at 1371 Pine Creek Rd. has a 15-foot boat ramp and 100foot floating boat dock.

• The Pine Creek Boating Access Area at 2799 Pine Creek Rd., located 1 mile west of Powerhouse access area, features two 15-foot boat ramps. Also, at the southern end of Pine Creek access area is a new 80-foot floating boat dock next to a new ramp, and the north end of the access area features a new 100-foot boat dock aligned to an existing ramp.

Duke Power will install vault toilets at both boating access areas this summer. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission paid for construction through funding from motorboat registration receipts and from Sport Fish Restoration Program funds.

History and watershed hike in the Smokies

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

The Greening up the Mountains Annual 5K Race will take place 9 a.m., Saturday, April 26, in Sylva, with day-of registration beginning 8 a.m. The route begins at Mark Watson Park and is held in conjunction with the annual Greening up the Mountains street festival.

Registration costs $15 through April 24 and is $20 on race day, with a limited number of T-shirts available for $10. Awards will be given to overall male and female

A 5K and fun run will step off at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in Waynesville to support Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, or KARE. The route will begin at the Badcock parking lot on Main Street and go toward the Waynesville Inn Resort and return to Badcock. The fun run starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m.

Winners of each age division will receive medals, as will every child who participates in the fun run. Registration is $20 for adults and $10 for children, and the cost includes a T-shirt — as long as supplies last — race bib and post-race refreshments.

KARE is a nonprofit that works to end child abuse and neglect through advocacy, education and support. Sponsored by Jack Bishop, Edward Jones, City Electric Supply and Strains of Music. Register online at www.karehouse.org/2014-5kare.html.

828.456.8995.

www.lakejunaluska.com/bookstore

A guided hike along Big Creek in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be held at noon April 26 by the Haywood Waterways Association.

The three-mile round-trip hike will follow Big Creek to Midnight Hole, a waterfall and swimming hole. The trail was a logging that is even accessible for jogging strollers.

Blair Bishop from the Haywood Community College forestry department will discuss forestry, forest management practices, and the history of logging in that section of the park. Eric Romaniszyn from Haywood Waterway Association will discuss watershed ecology and water quality issues and solutions in Haywood County. Snacks will

Midnight Hole. GSMNP photo

be provided afterwards.

Meet at the Big Creek parking lot at noon, located off exit 451 off I-40 just after crossing the Tennessee line.

828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

The donor stipulated that part of the dontion go toward the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

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DO YOU THINK YOU OR YOUR CHILD MAY HAVE HEAD LICE? Haywood Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine Group, PA is currently seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical research study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an investigational product for head lice.

If you think you or your child might have head lice, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study. Eligible participants will receive compensation for time and travel. For more information:

CALL: 828-452-2211

Smoky Mountain News

Western North Carolina can lay claim to two of 2013’s top three most visited places in the National Park System.

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park kept first place among the 59 primary national parks. With 9.4 million visitors, it remained head-and-shoulders above its closest competitor: the Grand Canyon, with 4.6 million visitors.

The Smokies came in third among all units in the National Park System as a whole.

Meanwhile, the Blue Ridge Parkway took second place in visitation among all national park units with 12.9 million visitors. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area was the winner with 14.3 million visitors.

It was the first year the Parkway was edged out by Golden Gate. Visitation to the Parkway fell by 2.5 million visits, due in large part to storm damage and generally cool, wet conditions. Overall, though, visitation to national park sites nationwide fell by 9.1 million in 2013.

“The shutdown reduced our visitation for the year by more than 5 million visitors who were turned away during those two weeks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

Fresh King Salmon & Halibut from Northwest

April 16-22, 2014

An anonymous donor gifted $2.2 million to Great Smoky Mountains Association last week, one of the largest cash donations ever given to support Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The donation will be made in five installments between through 2018.

In addition to anonymity, the donor stipulated that the money go toward paying off the existing construction loan for Oconaluftee Visitor Center, which was funded by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. The donation will also pay for new construction loan GSMA took out to help build the Collections Preservation Center.

The preservation center will be built in Townsend, Tenn., to house more than 144,000 artifacts, 220,000 archival records and 275 linear feet of library materials documenting the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and four other national park units in East Tennessee.

“I am overwhelmed by gratitude to this selfless donor whose generosity reflects a deep and abiding love for the Great Smokies,” said William Hart, chairman of GSMA’s board of directors.

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WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Indoor flea market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, the Old Armory, 44 Boundary St., Waynesville.

456.9207 or email oldarmory@townofwaynesville.org.

• Denim Day “No Excuses,” Wednesday, April 23, in Haywood County to raise awareness of sexual assault prevention. Display at noon, at Haywood Community College library. REACH of Haywood, 456.7898.

• Cashiers Historical Society (CHS) general membership meeting, 5 p.m. Friday, April 25, old Cashiers Community Center. 743.7710, info@cashiershistoricalsociety.org, or www.cashiershistoricalsociety.org.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• BizWeek 2014, a celebration of business, industry and entrepreneurship, April 21-24. Sponsored by The Macon County Economic Development Commission. www.maconedc.com.

• MBA information sessions for prospective students: 4 p.m. Monday, April 21, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort employee training facilities. Register at kumcintyre@wcu.edu. Individual appointments available. 654.6533 or visit mba.wcu.edu.

• Grocery Giveaway, 12:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27, Covenant Christian Church, 486 Fairview Road, Sylva.

Free, for anyone who could use a little extra food at the end of the month. 283.0018, www.covenantnc.org www.facebook.com/covenantsylva.

• Two free small business seminars, 9 a.m. to noon and 2 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus. Martin Brossman, a Raleighbased social media expert, will be the featured speaker.

Register with Tiffany Henry at t_henry@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4211.

• Pretty for Prom, accepting clean, gently used ball gowns, party dresses, accessories, shoes, etc. through April 30. Joy, 550.9511 or Starr T., 476.4231. Sponsored

by Angie Franklin, State Farm Insurance and W.O.W.

• Ford Motor Company’s “Drive 4UR School” Program, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Jackson County Early College, Southwestern Community College Balsam Center. 586.0900 or www.andyshawford.com.

• MedWest Haywood Community Meeting, 6 to 7 p.m.

Thursday, May 1, Town Hall, Maggie Valley. Register for a risk assessment, 452.8883.

• Haywood Community College is now registering students for summer and fall semesters 2014. Registration period by appointment only with adviser, through April 25. HCC closed on Friday, April 18 in observance of Good Friday. Summer semester begins May 27.

Complete schedule of classes at www.haywood.edu.

627.4500.

• Volunteer drivers needed for the following Haywood County route openings for Meals on Wheels: Mondays – Route #12 – Canton/Lakeview; Mondays – Route #23 – Waynesville/Shelton Street; Thursdays and/or Fridays – Route #9 – Beaverdam; Thursdays – Route #18 – Pigeon Valley; Fridays – Route #14 – Hyatt Creek/Plott Creek; Fridays – Route #24 – East Canton. Also need substitute drivers on all routes. Jeanne Naber, 356.2442.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Haywood County Tourism Development Authority Board of Directors annual budget forum, 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Bethea Welcome Center, Lake Junaluska.

• Computer Class: Basic Internet, 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday, April 16, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• BizWeek 2014 Industry Roundtable, 2 p.m. Monday, April 21, boardroom of the Cecil L. Groves Center at Southwestern Community College’s Macon campus.

Topic is the Affordable Healthcare Act, presented by Gary Simmons, senior vice president and the Health and markets leader for the Aon Hewitt’s Carolinas and Southern Virginia region. Register at edc@maconnc.org or 369.2306.

• Free 90-minute class on Microsoft Publisher I, 5:45 p.m. on Monday, April 21, Jackson County Public Library Computer Lab. Limited to 16. 586.2016.

• “NCReady4Work” learning summit April 29-30, Southwestern Community College. Hosted by the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS).

• Southwestern Community College cosmetology students are offering haircuts, manicures and nail tech services from 8 to 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, on Tuesdays through Thursdays at SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 339.4238, southwesterncc.edu or rmccall@southwesterncc.edu.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Haywood Community College’s Cosmetic Arts Cut-AThon for Relay for Life’s American Cancer Society, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 23, HCC Cosmetic Arts Center. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. Shampoo and cut available for a suggested donation of $6 and style for $5. Walk-ins accepted but appointments suggested at 627.4641, 627.4268.

• 2nd Annual Giving Them Hope Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

April 24, Southwestern Community College’s Burrell Center. Hosted by Barium Springs. Proceeds go to Hawthorn Heights, emergency teen shelter in Bryson City. 231.5413 or www.bariumsprings.org.

• Sylva Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast, 7:30 to 10 a.m.

Friday, April 25, First United Methodist Church, downtown Sylva. Portion of the proceeds will go to scholarships, feeding the hungry, and youth activities/services.

Tickets $5. Take out for businesses will be available. www.sylvarotaryclub.org. 339.4600.

HEALTH MATTERS • Kick-off for Lighten Up 4 Life, 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Angel Medical Center, hospital dining room. The LU4L program is a free weight loss challenge that is entirely web based. 349.6639.

• MedWest Haywood free joint pain seminar, 1 to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, April 23, MedWest Haywood Health & Fitness Center. 452.8755 to register.

• Public Health Month kick-off, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 26, Franklin Town Hall. Register for upcoming walks, free pedometers, and door prizes. www.maconnc.org or www.facebook.com/MaconPublicHealth.

• Breast Health Forums, 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, Canton branch library and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, Waynesville branch library. Sponsored by Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency, American Cancer Society, MedWest Haywood and Mountain Projects, in celebration of Public Health Month. mhauser@haywoodnc.net or 452.6675, ext. 2272.

Please join us for the presentation of

“The Cross”

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • Olive Hill Gospel Chapel singing, with Sylranus Turner (Zeck), 6 p.m. Sunday, April 20, Olive Hill Road, just past the airport in Franklin. Pastor Barry Bowman, 349.4555 or Associate Pastor Dale Clouse, 349.9677.

• Life in the Spirit Seminar, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, April 23-June 4, St. Margaret Catholic Church, Maggie Valley. Don or Janet Zander, 926.2654.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • “Arthritis and Its Podiatric Pathology” presented by Dr. Gretchen A. Lawrence of Smoky Mountain Foot and Ankle Clinic, 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Department on Aging Senior Center, Board Room 100 County Services Park, Sylva. Free. 586.4944 or stop by the Senior Center to RSVP. • Beginners Meditation Class for seniors, 3:45 p.m.

Thursdays, through May 8, Senior Resource Center, Waynesville. Class emphasizes daily mental and physical exercise, 452.2370.

RECREATION & FITNESS • Registration April 28-May 23 for Adult Basketball League at Cullowhee Recreation Center and Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. $425 per team. $100 deposit due at registration. Must be at least 14 years old and in high school. Play begins Monday, June 2. 293.3053.

• Registration April 21-May 2 for Co-Rec Volleyball League at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. $175. Play begins Tuesday, May 20. 293.3053.

• Register through April 17 for Church Softball League, at the Recreation Park in Cullowhee, $375 per team.

293.3053.

• Register through April 24 for Disc Golf Tournament, at Recreation Park in Cullowhee. $20 Fee: $20 pre-registered or $30 day of tournament. Tournament starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Recreation Park in Cullowhee.293.3053.

Lake Junaluska First Baptist Church

on Easter Sunday, April 20th at 11am

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings

Protect your world Auto ~ Home Life ~ Retirement

KIDS & FAMILIES • Seminar, “The Power of Positive Parenting – Being a parent can be hard” 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, Mission Children’s Reuter Center, 11 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Asheville.

• Register through May 2 for Sandlot Baseball for ages 5-6, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, at Cullowhee Recreation Park or Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center.

Cost is $20. Must be 5 by May 1 and cannot turn 7 before May 1. 293.3053.

• Peeps Diorama Contest, through April 17, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. Create a diorama using peeps that represents a book of your choice. Open to children ages 4 to 16. Entry deadline, Wednesday, April 16. 488.3030.

• Register for Spring Youth Tennis Lessons in Jackson

Call me today to discuss your options.

Some people think Allstate only protects your car. Truth is, Allstate can also protect your home or apartment, your boat, motorcycle - even your retirement and your life. And the more of your world you put in Good Hands®, the more you can save.

David Mesimer (828) 452-2815 283 North Haywood St. Waynesville david.mesimer@allstate.com

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Call 828.452.0131 or visit www.ljfbc.org

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76023

produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

• Summer Day Camp for elementary school children, ages 6 to 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 12 to Aug. 8, Cullowhee United Methodist Church. One-time registration fee of $75 (or $10 per week if less than 8 weeks). $650 for the summer, $95 per week, or $25 per day. Full payment for registered dates due before June 12. 293.9215, www.cullowheeumc.org/summercamp-2014/.

• Highlands Nature Center Day Camps now taking registrations for five different camps. “WOW! – a World of Wonder” (ages 4-6), “Amazing Animals” (ages 7-10), “NatureWorks” (ages 8-11), “Mountain Explorers” (ages 10-13), and “Junior Ecologists” (ages 11-14). Most camps offered more than once during the summer; sessions run from Tuesday to Friday each week. 526.2623 or, visit summer camps webpage at www.highlandsbiological.org.

• Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department Summer Camp for kids pre-K to 7th grade, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, June 23-Aug. 15.

Deadline to register is May 19. 456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org • Haywood County Arts Council Jam Camp, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, July 8 – Friday, July 11, Canton Middle School, 60 Penland St., Canton. Classes in mountain instruments, mountain dance (clogging, buckdance, flat-footing and square dance) and mountain songs and storytelling. $75. For students in grades 4th through 8th. Limited financial assistance and loaner instruments available on a first-come, first-served basis. Register at Haywood County Arts Council, 452.0593.

Literary (children) • Mary Ann’s Book Club, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Toddlers Rock! 10 a.m. Thursday, April 17, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Family Evening Story time: Paws 4 Reading, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Thursday, April 17, JCPL, 586.2016.

• Macon County Public Library closed for Good Friday, Friday, April 18.

• Jackson County Public Library closed for Good Friday, Friday, April 18.

• Children’s Story time: Easter Treats, 2 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, JCPL, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time: Rotary Readers, 11 a.m.

Monday, April 21, JCPL, 586.2016.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Monday, April 21, JCPL, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time: Stuck, 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, JCPL 586.2016.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, JCPL 586.2016.

Easter Sunday Buffet

• Family Story time: Cats, 10 a.m. Monday, April 21, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Family Story time: Cats, 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Adventure Club: Planting, 3:30 - 4:15 p.m., Tuesday, April 22, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

11:30 am - 2:30 pm

April 20, 2014 Tickets

• Mary Ann’s Book Club, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, Macon County Public Library, Franklin,

Adults - $21.95 Children 6-12 - $11.00

• Science 503 Club, 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

Children 5 & under Free

• Carol Grise presents “The Hole Truth about Groundhog’s Garden,” for ages 3 to 5, 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, Macon County Public Library.

• Games for Kids (all ages welcome), 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday, April 25, Macon County Public Library.

or visit shop.lakejunaluska.com

Bethea Welcome Center daily: 9 am – 5 pm View menu and Easter activities' schedule online at www.lakejunaluska.com/easter

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.

Reservations Required Call 828-454-6662

• 10 a.m. Thursday, April 17 - ECA Craft Club Workshop – Cornshuck Doll, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva. Call Extension Office to register.

facebook.com/smnews

• 1 p.m. Monday, April 21 – Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Dems • Haywood County Young Republicans meeting, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 16, Organic Bean Coffee, Maggie Valley. 989.1394.

• Democratic Women of Jackson County, noon Thursday, April 17, Democratic Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva. 293.0197, www.jacksondems.com.

• Jackson County Democratic Men’s Club Democratic Candidate Forum, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, Jackson County Library Community Room.

GOP • Haywood County Republican Party Meet and Greet, 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Haywood County Republican Headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St., Waynesville. RSVP, 648.733 or kingsplace@charter.net.

Others • Jackson County Patriots meeting, 6 p.m. dinner, 6:30 p.m. meeting, Thursday, April 17, Ryan’s, Walmart Plaza, Sylva. Guest speaker is Ashley Welch, candidate for district attorney for the 30th District.

Ginny Jahrmarkt, Box547@aol.com.

SUPPORT GROUPS Jackson • Bereavement support group, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Mondays from April 15-May 19, LifePath office 26 WestCare Drive, Suite 301, Sylva. (WestCare Medical Park Upper Level). Michelle Moore or Deanna Roberts, 631.1702.

• Volunteers wanted for the LifePath team to support patients under palliative care or hospice treatment.

Training sessions, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 21-23, LifePath office, 26 WestCare Drive, Suite 301, Sylva.

Sponsored by WestCare LifePath Palliative Care & Hospice. Michelle Moore, MSW, 631.1702.

Downtown Sylva Art & Craft Vendors, Demonstrators, Food, Kids' Activities, and two stages with live local music all day long!

Signature Brew Stage (Suntrust Lot) 10am: Marshall Ballew 11am: The Buchanan Boys 12pm: The Freight Hoppers 1pm: The Second Hand String Band 2pm: Bird In Hand 3pm: Noonday Sun 4pm: Carolina Dusk

Bridge Park Stage: 10am: Sugar Barnes & Dave Magill 11am: Darren & the Buttered Toast 12pm: Mangas Colorado 1pm: Fieldtrip 2pm: PMA 3pm: Porch 40 4pm: Total War

Smoky Mountain News

• Family Night: Eggcellent Fun! 6 p.m. Thursday, April 17, JCPL, 586.2016.

• Write On! Children’s Creative Writing Group, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, JCPL, 586.2016.

April 16-22, 2014

• The Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District Camp WILD (Wilderness, Investigating, Learning, Discovery) for rising 7th graders in public, private, charter or home schools. Hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and learning about the environment. 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. most days, July 28 through Aug. 1, Jackson County Recreation Center parking lot in Cullowhee. $25, register with Jane Fitzgerald, 586.5465 or email janefitzgerald@jacksonnc.org.

Terrace Hotel at Lake Junaluska

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, JCPL, 586.2016.

wnc calendar

Summer Camps

• Teen Time, 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, JCPL, 586.2016.

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County. Lessons run Tuesdays and Saturdays, April 29-May 24, at Mark Watson Park, Sylva. $40. Register at Jackson County Recreation Center. No phone registration.

For more info:

828 226 8652 www.greeningupthemountains.com 236-41

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wnc calendar

Swain • “Speaking of Forever”, a special free lunch and learn event centered around end-of-life decisions, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Board Room at Harris Regional Hospital. Hosted by WestCare LifePath Palliative Care and Hospice. Reservations, 631.1702.

A&E FESTIVALS, SPECIAL & SEASONAL EVENTS • 17th annual Greening Up the Mountains Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, Main and Mill streets, and in the Bridge Park in historic downtown Sylva. Food, vendors, music, crafts, growers, demonstrators, kids’ activities, and more. www.greeningupthemountains.com or 226.8652.

• Heritage-themed vendors wanted for the 4th annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration, Saturday, June 14, Main Street, downtown Waynesville. 456.3517 or www.downtownwaynesville.com. Applications accepted until April 18.

EASTER EVENTS • Tenebrae service, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, First United Methodist Church of Sylva, 77 Jackson St., downtown Sylva.

• Good Friday Cross Walk, 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, Main Street, downtown Waynesville. Lunch following at First Baptist Church, Waynesville.

April 16-22, 2014

• Good Friday Service, 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, First United Methodist Church of Waynesville, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville.

• Peanuts Easter Beagle Express Train will run at 11 a.m. April 18-19 at the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad train depot in Bryson City. Classic cartoon characters travel along with families on the ride from Bryson City to Dillsboro along the Tuckasegee River.

800.872.4681.

• Easter “Son-Rise” service, 7:30 a.m. Sunday, April 20, followed by a free breakfast at 8 a.m. Discussion of the Resurrection, 9 a.m., followed by “New Beginnings” Easter worship service at 10:30 a.m. , First Christian Church, 156 Belleview Park Road, Franklin. 524.6840 or www.firstchristianfranklin.com.

• Easter Family Festival, April 18-20, Fontana Village Resort. Live music, Easter feast and children’s activities. 498.2211.

• Easter Dinner, three course traditional family style, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 20, Herren House, 94 East St., Waynesville. $24. Reservation required.

452.7837.

• Dogwood Crafters annual Easter Tea, two seatings, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Historic Jarrett House, Dillsboro. $15, reservation only. 586.2248.

• Easter “Eggs-travaganza” Egg Hunt, 3 p.m.

Saturday April 19, First Christian Church, 156 Belleview Park Road, Franklin. Bounce-house, face painting, Easter Story and a free hot dog meal.

524.6840 or www.firstchristianfranklin.com.

• 3rd annual Easter Egg Extravaganza, 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, Snow Hill Inn, 531 Snow Hill Road, Franklin. Bring your Easter basket. “Best Dressed Easter Outfit” contest, photos with Easter Bunny, games, crafts and prizes. Age groups will hunt in different areas. Presented by Snow Hill Inn and Cowee Baptist Church. 349.9009.

• Easter Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. Sunday, April 20, Amphitheater at the Cross, Lake Junaluska, featuring Brass Quintet Ensemble led by Chris Urley. Rain location Memorial Chapel. 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Easter breakfast buffet at Lambuth Inn. Breakfast tickets at Lambuth Inn front desk. 10:25 a.m. Long’s Chapel UMC Easter Service, Stuart Auditorium. 11:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. Easter lunch buffet, Terrace Hotel Tickets available online and at the Terrace Hotel Front Desk. Reservations at 454.6662.

• Easter Service, 8:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and 11 a.m., Sunday, April 20, First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. 10 a.m. cross decorating outside the sanctuary.

JOIN US FOR ARTS EVENTS AT WCU APR. 24 | THU. 7:30PM | BARDO ARTS CENTER | $10

Music: Echoes of the Cotton Club RRadio adio Show THRU MAY 9TH | FINE ART MUSEUM

Exhibit: 2014 Juried Undergraduate Exhibition APR. 26 | SAT. SAT. 4-9PM | UC LAWN | FREE

Smoky Mountain News

Music: Jazz FFestival estival Concert

APR. 27 | SUN. 5PM | BARDO ARTS CENTER | $20

Theatre:: The Fantasticks Fantasticks

SAVE THE DATE: MAY MAY.. 2| FRI. 7PM | BARDO ARTS CENTER | $10

FILM: CONTROLLED CHAOS FILM FESTIVAL VISIT THE FINE ART MUSEUM FOR ONGOING EXHIBITS | FINEARTMUSEUM.WCU FINEARTMUSEUM.WCU.EDU .EDU

EVENTS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AT AT WCU. JOIN FRIENDS FRIENNDS OF THE ARTS TODAY! TODAAY! Y

FOR MORE INFO – 828.227.7028 | ARTS.WCU.EDU 40

• Easter Weekend in the Smokies, Fontana VillageResort, www.fontanavillage.com/events/ or 498.2211.

LITERARY (ADULTS) • National Library Week, through April 18. Visit Haywood County Public Library Facebook page for each new challenge. Win cash prizes. www.Facebook.com/HaywoodCountyPublicLibrary, 648.2924.

• Haywood County writer JC Walkup will present her book, Partners, a gritty tale of post-Civil War Texas, at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, City Lights Bookstore.

586.9499.

• World Book Night, April 23, City Lights Bookstore, local community base for book givers. www.us.worldbooknight.org.

• Canton poet and author Michael Beadle will present original, classical and contemporary poetry in a free performance celebrating National Poetry Month at 5 p.m. Monday, April 28, Canton Branch Library children’s room. 648.2924 or visit www.haywoodlibary.org.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Brass Ensembles concert, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, Coulter Building at Western Carolina University. Featuring brass studio and small mixed brass ensembles. www.wcu.edu.

• Actor/musician Kevin Costner & Modern West, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin. Tickets start at $40. www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• “Echoes of the Cotton Club,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University. Tickets are $10, proceeds for scholarships. For tickets, visit the Bardo Arts Center box office in person or online at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu, or call 227.2479.

• The Band Perry, 9 p.m. April 25, Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. Tickets, 800.745.3000.

NIGHT LIFE • Dulci Ellenberger, April 18; Jesse Junior Quartet, April 19; Dan Keller, April 25; and Joe Cruz, April 26, 7 p.m. The Classic Wineseller, Church Street, Waynesville. $10 minimum purchase per person.

452.6000.

• Southern rockers The Corbitt Brothers Band, 9 p.m.

Friday, April 25, Mickey’s Pub in Bryson City. $7.

488.9308.

• Chuck Spencer, April 17; Brushfire Stankgrass, April 18; and Amy Lavere & Will Sexton, April 19-20, 9 p.m., No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Jeremiah Greer, April 18, and Wyatt Espalin, April 25, City Lights Café in Sylva. 587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• Martin & Mack, April 18, and Mile High, April 19, Rendezvous, Maggie Valley Inn. Pianist Steve Whiddon, every Thursday evening and from noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. 926.0201.

• ‘Round The Fire, 8 p.m. April 18, Bear Waters comedy show, 8 p.m. April 19; and The Spontaneous Combustion Jam, 8 p.m. to midnight, every Monday,

all players welcome, Bear Waters Brewing Company, Waynesville. 246.0602 or www.bwbrewing.com.

• Josh Wagers & Lee Kram, April 17; Johnny Rhea, April 18; Craig Summers & Lee Kram, April 24; Paul Cataldo, April 25; and Spanky, April 26, Frog Level Brewing Company, Waynesville. Free. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

MUSIC JAMS • Back Porch Old-Time Music, 1 to 3 p.m. April 19, Porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

DANCE • Learn six dances in six weeks, April 23, 30. May 7, 14, 21 and 28, Waynesville Recreation Center. Taught

by Arthur Murray certified dance instructors Herb and Sally Roach. Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Rumba, Tango and Cha Cha. $60 per person. 316.1412 or 356.7060.

FOOD & DRINK • 15th annual Taste of Chocolate, 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, Maggie Valley Club. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Proceeds help organizations in Haywood County. John, 356.2833.

• Homebrew Competition and Chili Cook-off with Todd Hoke, 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Applications available at www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Smoky Mountain Oyster & Seafood Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Peel n’ eat shrimp, oysters, steamed and raw clams. Oyster eating contest and mountain shucking championships. Rain or shine. $8 for adults, kids ages 12 and under free. Live music by Mile High and Al Coffee & Da’ Grind. www.smokymtnoysterfest.com.

• Mountain Cooking Club with Chef Ricardo Fernandez, former co-owner and head chef of Lomo Grill, class 0405, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Fines Creek Community Kitchen, 192 Fines Creek Road, $50 per person (credit card payment required at booking), 627.6751 or chefricardos@gmail.com.

ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS • 4th annual Student Art Show reception, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 17, Swain Center. Hosted by Southwestern Community College’s Nantahala School for the Arts. 366.2000 or southwesterncc.edu/finearts.

• “Invitational Artists” exhibit, through April 26 at Gallery 86, downtown Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

• “Remote Sites of War,” exhibition, through May 30, Fine Art Museum, at Western Carolina University, featuring more than 110 works by North Carolina-based artists Todd Drake, Skip Rohde and Christopher Sims. fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • Wildflower Photography Clinic, 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, April 16, Old Armory Rec Center, 44 Boundary Ave., Waynesville. Register at 627.0245 or email bobgry@aol.com.

• Cornshuck Doll making workshop, 2 to 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 17, Community Services Center, room 234. Jackson County Extension Office, 586.4009. $10. Seating limited.

• Field Photography Program, 6-8 p.m. starting Tuesday, April 22, Old Armory Recreation Center, 44 Boundary St., Waynesville. Group leader Bob Grytten.

Register at 627.0245 or bobgry@aol.com.

• CamilleTuttrup will present a mixed media workshop

“The Collage Box” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Uptown Gallery, 30 W. Main St., Franklin.

349.4607 or stop in to register at 30 W Main Franklin.

• Call to artists for the Whole bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 10, Historic Frog Level, Waynesville. Scott Siewert, 550.6390 or Teri Siewert, 407.484.9576.

• Poster contest for professional and amateur artists in Jackson and Macon counties in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Deadline, Wednesday, April 23. Mail drawings to Friends of the Library, Attn: Graceann Smith, P.O. Box 2628, Cashiers, NC 28717, or take them to the library, 249 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. Digital entries to gws39@hotmail.com, 743.8871.

FILM & SCREEN • New movie, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, Meeting Room, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

Based on book, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller. Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexuality, drug and alcohol content, and some language; 1 hr. 48 min. 524.3600.

• Philomena, 7 p.m. Friday, April 18, Groovy Movie Club, Buffy Queen’s home in Dellwood. Potluck dinner will precede the screening at 6:15 p.m. 926.3508 or 454.5949 to make reservations and get directions or e-mailjohnbuckleyX@gmail.com.

• The Lorax, 7:45 p.m. April 18, and 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. April 19, The Strand, 38 Main, Waynesville. 283.0079. www.facebook.com/38main.

Outdoors OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS • Earth Day Volunteering Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 19, in the Highlands Botanical Garden. www.highlandsbiological.org/earth-week/.

• Climbing Mount Whitney with Jim Pader Presentation, 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, REI Asheville. Register, www.rei.com/event/56430/session/88423.

• Highlands Botanical Garden Earth Day of Service, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19. Kelder Monar, 526.0188 or keldermonar@gmail.com. www.highlandsbiological.org.

• Earth Day, Cashiers Community Cleanup, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 19, Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. Earth Day T-shirts provided to first 15 registered. 631.2020.

• Earth Day talk, 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, Highlands Nature Center, 930 Horse Cove Road, Highlands, featuring director Patrick Brannon who will talk about the impact of discarded bottles along mountain roads on the mortality of small mammals. www.highlandsbiological.org.

• Third Meeting, Swain Trash Force, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

April 22, Fellowship Hall, Bryson City United Methodists Church (near Bojangles).

• Living with Trees guided tour, 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, April 25, Highlands Botanical Garden, with horticulturist Ezra Gardiner. 526.0188 or egardiner@email.wcu.edu to R.S.V.P. or with any questions. www.highlandsbiological.org.

• WATR display booth, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 26, Greening up the Mountains, Sylva.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Spring Cornhole Tournament, noon, April 18-20, Cherokee Welcome Center & Fairgrounds. Blind draw determines teams. Registration at 11 a.m. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

• Du’ing it for Kyle” Duathlon, 8 a.m. Saturday, April 26, Tassee Greenway Shelter, 877 Ulco Road, Franklin.

Pam Forshee, s.bicycles@morrisbb.net or 369.2881.

Registration also at www.active.com/franklinnc/duathlon/races/du-ing-it-for-kyle-duathlon-2014.

• Waterfalls of Panthertown Valley, book reading by author Todd Ransom, 6 p.m. Friday, April 18, Headwaters Outfitters, 25 Parkway, Rosman.

877.3106.

• Greening Up the Mountains 5k Race, 8 a.m.

Saturday, April 26, Mark Watson Park. www.imathlete.com or stop by the Recreation Center to pick up a registration form.

• White water rafting trip, leave Waynesville Recreation Center at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 19, for Nantahala Outdoor Center. $50 members, $55 nonmembers. Registration deadline, Wednesday, April 16.

456.2030, recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

• Kids Advocacy Resource Effort 5KARE and Fun Run, 8 a.m. (register), Saturday, April 26, Badcock parking lot on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. $20 for adults and $10 for children. Register online at www.karehouse.org/2014-5kare.html. Julie Schroer, 456.8995.

• Wildflower walks, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday in April. Meet and register at Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. Sponsored by the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. 631.2020.

• Adopt-a-Trail training for Friends of Deep Creek, 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, Deep Creek. Training required for those wishing to volunteer for trail maintenance in Great Smokies National Park. Register by April 30 at: Dan Trehern, 2701 Stephenson Branch Road, Bryson City, NC 28713; 507.5992; or wdtrehern@yahoo.com.

Volunteer forms available at Coldwell Banker Real Estate on Everett Street, Bryson City.

FARM & GARDEN • How to start plants from seeds, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, Canton Branch library. Led by Master Gardener Jim Janke. 648.2924.

• Vendors meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, Cowee School, to participate in the new Cowee Farmers Market in Franklin. Full season, $50 or by the day for $5. Registration forms, by-laws, and information for growers, crafters, entertainers, organizations, and volunteers interested in participating in the market are available by writing info@coweefarmersmarket.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Franklin Bird Club walk, 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 16, Greenway. Meet at Macon County Public Library parking area. Led by Karen Lawrence. 524.5234.

April 16-22, 2014

• Special movie presentation in honor of National Poetry Month, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City, featuring Jane Campion’s literary biopic that tells the true story of Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish) a 23-year-old Londoner in 1818.

488.3030.

• Sons of the American Legion turkey shoot, 9 a.m.

Saturdays through April, 171 Legion Drive, Waynesville. Cost is $2. Refreshments provided. Bring your own gun; a few house guns are available.

wnc calendar

• Western North Carolina Carvers (WNCC) monthly meeting, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27, Harvest House, 205 Kenilworth Road, Asheville. Presentation on carving a basswood Pocket Gremlin. Bruce Dalzell, 665.8273.

• Beginner’s fly fishing clinics, 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 31, Cullowhee Recreation Center, and Saturday, June 7, Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center.

Registration April 21-May 16. $20 per person.

Sponsored by Hooker’s Fly and Guide Service and Brookings’ Cashiers Village Anglers. 631.2020.

41

PRIME REAL ESTATE

INSIDE

Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information:

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT Some of the Candidates Presently Seeking Your Vote in the Coming May 6 Primary? Join in a ‘Conversation w/ Candidates’ Mon. April 21, 6pm @ Republican Headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St. Downtown Waynesville. More info call Dodie, 828.226.3921 or 828.735.4790. Refreshments.

Paid for by Dodie Allen’s Campaign for N.C. House of Representatives #119

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.

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.

■ $50 — 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.

ARTS & CRAFTS 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

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

AUCTION HARPER’S AUCTION COMPANY Friday April 18th @ 6 p.m.

Enjoy a Fun Night Out! We Will Have Biwa Pearls, Jeff Gordon #24 NASCAR Jacket, Pottery Pitchers, Sterling, Neon Signs and Lots More...

Tues. April 22nd @ 6pm Box Lots 47 Macon Center Dr, Franklin, NC 828.369.6999, Debra Harper NCAL# 9659 NCFL# 9671

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Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS

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828-456-5387

236-70

BAKERY/RESTAURANT EQUIPMENT Auction- Monday, April 28 @ 10am. 931-D Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC. Complete Liquidation of the Bread Basket. Bakery & Restaurant Equipment. Hobart Mixers, Walkin, Ovens, Refrigeration.

704.791.8825. www.ClassicAuctions.com. NCAF5479.

ON-LINE PREMIER AUCTION! Wedgwood, Art, Sterling, Jewelry, Coins, MORE! Apr. 24th 6PM Preview Mon. Apr. 21st 3-7PM or call for appt. Shelley's Auction Gallery (NCAL6131) 429 N. Main St., Hendersonville NC. J. Humphrey, Auctioneer (NCAL6556) www.shelleysauction.com 828.698.8485

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding!

Call Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control.

FREE ESTIMATES! 800.698.9217 DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC 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.

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 office.

CARS DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 800.337.9038.

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

EMPLOYMENT ATTN: DRIVERS! Quality Home Time! Avg $1000 Weekly. $$$ Up to 50 cpm $$$ BCBS + 401k + Pet & Rider.

Orientation Sign-On Bonus. CDL-A Req. Call Now, 877.258.8782. www.ad-drivers.com HEAD START PRESCHOOL ASSISTANT TEACHER - Jackson County - Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is required for this position, must also have the ability to assume responsibilities of the classroom when the teacher is absent, work well with parents, community partners and co-workers, and have good judgment/problem solving skills. Basic computer skills are required. Two years classroom experience is preferred. This is a 10 month position with full time benefits that includes, health insurance, dental, vision, short term/long term disability, life insurance, and retirement.

HEAD START PRESCHOOL TEACHER - Jackson County A BS or Birth–K Degree in Early Childhood Education is mandatory for this position. Also required for this position are: computer skills, responsible for classroom paperwork, good judgment/problem solving skills and time management skills. Candidate must have the ability to work with a diverse population and community partners. Two years classroom experience is preferred. This is a 10 month position with full time benefits that includes health insurance, dental, vision, short term/long term disability, and life insurance.

Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC or 25 Schulman St, Sylva, NC or you may go to our website www.mountainprojects.org and fill out an application.

Pre-Employment drug testing is required. EOE/AA.

R

Early Head Start Teacher-Haywood County- An Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is required for this position, must also have the ability to work well with families and coworkers, 2 yrs. experience working with birth-3 years and have good judgment/problem solving skills. Prefer someone with Infant/Toddler CDA credentials and basic computer skills. This is an 11 month position with benefits.

Head Start Family Servicer Worker-Haywood County- Must have AA in Early Childhood Education or Health field, good record keeping, time management, good judgment and problem solving skills. Candidate must work well with diverse families, community partners, children and co-workers. This is a 10 month position with benefits.

ATTN: OWNER OPERATORS Join New Growth! Dedicated, Local/Regional Runs. Great Pay/ Benefits. Chemical Exp. Required.

Call: 704.399.1241. M-F, 8am 5pm. email resume: dmast@twtcharlotte.com

DRIVERS: DEDICATED. REGIONAL. Home Weekly/Bi-Weekly Guaranteed. Start up to $.44 cpm. Great Benefits + Bonuses. 90% No Touch Freight/70% Drop & Hook.

877.704.3773.

FLATBED PROFESSIONALS Run Regional only. West of Interstate #73/74. Top Pay Program. Great Benefits Plan. *Home Every Weekend* reqs clean CDL-A/MVR 1.800.543.9198 x 118 www.homeruninc.com HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34.

Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419 HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS HOSPITAL Positions now available: Phlebotomist, Receptionist, C.N.A.’s, C.N.A./ Unit Clerk, HouseKeeper, Communications Specialist and Medical Records Manager.

Benefits available the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment. PreEmployment screening required.

Call Human Resources.

828.526.1376, or apply online at: www.highlandscashiershospital. org

TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors!

Immediate Placement Available.

Best Opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today 800.277.0212 or: www.driveforprime.com TEMPORARY FT HELP NEEDED In Cullowhee, NC. Starting May 12, Lasting 4 - 5 Weeks, M - F, 7am 3:30 pm. Furniture Moving, Floor Cleaning & General Cleaning. $9.00 per Hour. For more info call 864.205.8568 or 864.590.7675.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT Operator Career! High Demand for Certified Bulldozer, Backhoe, and Trackhoe Operators. Hands On Training Provided. Fantastic Earning potential. Veterans with benefits encouraged to apply!

1.866.362.6497

POWER LINE Construction Company Hiring Linemen and Foremen for 34.5kv Overhead Distribution construction. Experience required!!

Phone: 252.495.4828 Email: rcc.lineman.jobs@gmail.com. www.rivercityinc.net

No more driving to Asheville...

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THE PATH TO YOUR Dream Job begins with a college degree. Education Quarters offers a free college matching service.

CALL 1.800.893.6014 HIRING One Ton and 3/4 Ton Pickup trucks to deliver RV's. $750 Sign-on Bonus, 4 Terminals & 8 Backhaul Locations. Call 866.764.1601 or www.foremosttransport.com MONEY FOR SCHOOL Potentially get full tuition & great career with U.S. Navy. Paid training, medical/dental, vacation. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419

Share your life story, family history, photos, music, hobbies, recipes, family folk

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. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

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tales, family secrets & more!

Be your own story teller & share your life story with a skilled consultant.

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NOW HIRING! Property Damage inspectors needed, no experience necessary. Will train. Full-time & part-time.

877.207.6716. www.aaronspa.biz/nowhiring

Cleaner, Clearer and Healthier water at every tap in your home

(828) 550-8801

Ann knows real estate!

Ann Eavenson CRS, GRI, E-PRO

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. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122 NEW PAY-FOR-EXPERIENCE Program pays up to $0.41/mile.

Class-A Professional Drivers Call 866.291.2631 for more details or visit: SuperServiceLLC.com

FTCCFayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Grounds Technician. Deadline: April 27. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com/ Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378. Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu CRC Preferred Employer. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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smokymountainnews.com

Applications for these positions will be taken at Mountain Projects, 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786 or 25 Schulman St, Sylva, NC 28779 or you may go to our website www.mountainprojects.org and fill out an application.

Pre-Employment drug testing is required. EOE/AA.

AVERITT EXPRESS New Pay Increase For Regional Drivers! 40 to 46 CPM + Fuel Bonus! Also, Post-Training Pay Increase for Students! (Depending on Domicile) Get Home EVERY Week + Excellent Benefits. CDL-A req. 888.362.8608 Apply @ AverittCareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer - Females, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

FOOD SERVICE MANAGER: A High School Diploma/GED is required. Must have knowledge of food service production including menu development, knowledge of equipment, ordering, 2 yrs. experience in supervision and customer service skills.

Must be flexible to cook and deliver food while managing kitchen operations, and must attend trainings. Computer skills are required. This is a 12 month position with benefits. Hours are non-traditional. Pre-Employment drug testing is required. Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, 2251 Old Balsam Rd., Waynesville, NC 28786 or 25 Schulman St., Sylva, NC 28779 or you may visit our website: www.mountainprojects.org and fill out an application.

EOE/AA

EMPLOYMENT

April 16-22, 2014

Head Start Pre-School Assistant Teacher-Haywood County- Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is required for this position, must also have the ability to assume responsibilities of the classroom when teacher is absent, work well with parents, community partners and coworkers, and have good judgment/problem solving skills. Basic computer skills are required.

Two years classroom experience is preferred. This a 10 month position with benefits.

AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get FAA Approved Maintenance Training Financial Aid For Qualified Students - Housing Available Job Placement Assistance. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

WNC MarketPlace

HEAD START/NC Pre-K Teacher- Haywood County Two Position- Must have a Birth-K or BS related field with course work, and teaching license. This position also requires computer skills, the ability to work with diverse population/ community partners, 2 yrs. experience in Pre-K classroom, good judgment/problem solving skills, lead role in classroom and time management skills. Candidate will be responsible for classroom/paperwork. These are 10 month positions with benefits.

EMPLOYMENT

236-05

EMPLOYMENT

mainstreetrealty.net

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

43

PETS

PETS

ENTERTAINMENT

WNC MarketPlace

HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

FLO A GOOD-NATURED GAL, VERY PRETTY WITH HER COLORFUL TORTOISESHELL COAT WITH WHITE ACCENTS. SHE'S YOUNG AND HEALTHY, READY FOR HER NEW HOME.

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!

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

LADY BUG A VERY PRETTY BEAGLE, ABOUT 3-4 YEARS OLD, READY TO SETTLE DOWN WITH A NICE FAMILY WHERE SHE CAN CURL UP BY THE FIREPLACE OR PLAY IN THE YARD WITH THE KIDS.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT SAWMILLS FROM ONLY $4897.00 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.

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.

DIRECTTV 2 Year Savings Event! Over 140 channels only $29.99 a month.

Only DirecTV gives you 2 YEARS of savings and a FREE Genie upgrade! Call 1.800.594.0473

FINANCIAL

FURNITURE

BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

INJURED? IN A LAWSUIT? Need Cash Now? We Can Help! No Monthly Payments to Make. No Credit Check. Fast Service and Low Rates. Call Now 1.866.386.3692. www.lawcapital.com (Not available in NC, CO & MD) SAPA

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

LAWN & GARDEN

DISH TV RETAILER - SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1.800.351.0850.

SAPA *REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL* Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE! Programming starting at $19.99/MO. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers. CALL NOW 1.800.795.1315 SAPA

236-60

Great Smokies Storage April 16-22, 2014

10’x20’

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Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

44

Puzzles can be found on page 46.

These are only the answers.

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT 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 hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

20 ACRES Only $119/month, $0 Down, Owner Financing, No Credit Checks! Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful Mountain Views! Money Back Guarantee.

1.866.882.5263 Extension 81. www.SunsetRanches.net SAPA 70.6+/-Acre ESTATE HOME With 5 Car Garage & Pool in Asheboro, NC, Live with a Live Simulcast. www.ironhorseauction.com.

NCAL3936

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BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

LOTS FOR SALE 2 TRACTS AVAILABLE IN CLYDE #1 - 2.819 Acres, Has Great Building Lot, City Water, Has 2 1/2 Story Building. Property Near HCC. $76,500. #2 - Available in the Fall. Has 3 Acres and House. For more info call 828.627.2342.

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Equal Housing Opportunity

236-10

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ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

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236-11

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April 16-22, 2014

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WNC MarketPlace

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE

MOBILE HOMES FOR SALE

Carolyn Lauter Broker/ABR 1986 SOCO ROAD, HWY 19 • MAGGIE VALLEY, NC 28751

828.734.4822 Cell • www.carolynlauter.com carolyn.lauter@realtyworldheritage.com

236-20

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Super

67 Light beer 68 Employment 69 Unflavorful sundae ACROSS topper?

1 Verboten 73 Flows back 6 Did lunch 76 One of three stooges 9 Uppercut target 77 Grand-scale 12 Warm and friendly 78 Head-hiding sweatshirt 19 Singer Bryan 79 Slender and graceful 20 __ Trench (very deep 81 Nevada city near Pacific point) Sparks 22 Where Polynesia is 23 Forming ties by show- 82 Folding poker player’s comment ing team spirit?

83 Raids made during hog 25 Molting animal, e.g.

26 Cave dwarf of folklore wars?

87 Lilted song syllable 27 Water, in Wassy 89 Minerals that look like 28 “How true!”

29 Overhead urban trains gold 91 Film director Lubitsch 30 “That’s all - wrote” 92 Quite mad 32 Like things you can 95 Thicken, as Jell-O categorize in your head?

97 Open up - of worms 37 Torment 98 City in Texas or 40 Crimson Tide school, Ukraine for short 99 Emergence of a 41 Raises swamp?

42 Singer John 43 Last Oldsmobile model 103 Negative particle, e.g.

104 “Annabel Lee” poet 44 Tibetan Buddhists’ 105 Bakery stock practice 106 British rocker Brian 46 Relative of .edu or 107 Actress Day .gov 110 Reduce to a fine 47 Ruling eel? spray 49 “Burnt” pigment 112 What a ranger’s 52 “Oh, woe -” niece calls him?

56 A sysadmin might 117 Akin maintain one 118 Erudite type 57 Simple piano chords 119 Indiana’s state flower 58 Athenian H’s 120 Disaster 59 Retired JFK jet 121 Unassertive 62 Big birds of the out122 Audit gp. back 123 Intuit 63 Stream, after a long downpour?

DOWN 65 Honda’s luxury line

Smoky Mountain News

April 16-22, 2014

AND OR

46

CROSSWORD 1 Highlander’s cap 2 Hullabaloo 3 One trading 4 Epps of the screen 5 Norway port 6 Go at a slow, easy pace 7 “The - of Steve” (2000 film) 8 Suffix with south 9 Game similar to handball 10 Render void 11 Jesting type 12 Carl Sagan’s fascination 13 Autumn color 14 Go back in 15 “Old man” 16 Owing money 17 “Ruby” star Danny 18 Pitcher Don 21 Guy in a think tank 24 Tall shade trees 28 Cleo’s killer 30 Pretense 31 Angelic circle 33 Cavs, Mavs and Knicks 34 Made gentle 35 More scrumptious 36 North African capital 38 Abu Dhabi native, e.g.

39 Tofu source 44 Hawaiian feast 45 Opinion poll 46 Estimator’s words 48 Iranian city of almost 1,000,000 50 Gin joint 51 N.Y. summer hrs.

53 Iron emission 54 Tropical fruit 55 Lauder of cosmetics 57 Jungle cat, in Spanish 59 Fencing sword

60 Mouthwash brand 61 City in Italy 63 One-in-a-million thing 64 Autumn color 66 Ravioli filling 67 Paved the way for 70 Karmann - (old VW) 71 Relative of .edu or .gov 72 “Yoo- -” 73 Figure skater Plushenko 74 Porgy’s love 75 Slo- - (kind of fuse) 79 Join, as a table 80 To be, to Fifi or Gigi 83 High-pitched flute 84 Be obstinate about 85 Gas brand north of the U.S. 86 Comic Laurel 88 Brief relief 90 Earthy and vulgar 92 Give, as knowledge 93 Cheering fan 94 Pupil ringer 95 Rapid 96 Triage sites, for short 98 - about (circa) 100 Evaluated, with “up” 101 “Wetherby” actress Judi 102 Stenches 108 Weightlifters count them 109 “It’s all clear” 111 GQ, for one 112 Abbr. on a navy vessel 113 Connecticut Ivy Leaguer 114 “So -, so good” 115 Low-ranking off.

116 Whiskey type

answers on page 44

FOR SALE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

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WEEKLY SUDOKU 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.

Answers on Page 44

Blood moon. NASA photo

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Blood moon grand slam

S

omewhere beyond the rain and clouds, in the wee hours yesterday morning (April 15), there was a striking blood moon accompanied by fiery mars during a total lunar eclipse. The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles streamed the event live so I imagine you can Google it and get a look.

This blood moon set in motion the beginning of a grand slam of blood moons, or a tetrad if you happen to be of an astronomical bent, or a signal of the “End Times” if you happen to be of a particular religious persuasion.

The term “blood moon” originally had little to do with the color of the moon. It was generally the first full moon after the harvest moon, which supposedly coincided with the opportunity for hunters to use the full moon to stockpile prey for the winter.

But add a lunar eclipse to a full moon and you will get a “blood” (reddish in color) moon every time. Lunar eclipses occur about twice a year, so these blood moons — a full moon at the time of a lunar eclipse — occurs, normally, about every six years.

A lunar eclipse is caused when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, caus-

ing the Earth’s shadow to fall on the moon.

The sunlight reaching the moon just prior to and just after the eclipse is refracted by the Earth’s atmosphere, causing the reddish tint — the same kind of scenario that creates those glorious red sunsets.

So we have these red moons occasionally, often around September and/or October when the harvest moon and/or the hunter’s moon tend to rise shortly after sunset and get the full benefit of the refracted sunlight or any time there is a lunar eclipse. But this year’s blood moon is the beginning of an astronomical event called a tetrad. A tetrad is when there are four total lunar eclipses in a row with no partial eclipses in between — a series of four “blood moons.” Each of these blood moons is separated from the other by six full moons.

Now if you’ve been around the block more than once you know that all this cool stuff happening in this precise order can give way to any/all kind(s) of predictions, foreshadowing and/or revelations. And you would be correct.

John Hagee, TVangelist and founder of the mega Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas. wrote a book last year entitled Four Blood Moons: Something is about

to change, suggesting that this tetrad might be fulfilling biblical prophecy and signaling the imminent “End of Times.” Of course there have been tetrads before and I fully expect my grandkids and their grandkids to see tetrads — of course, I also predicted no one would document the existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker, so what do I know?

But the fulfillment of this particular tetrad will continue on Oct. 8, 2014, April 8, 2015 and Sept. 28, 2015.

It looks like the heavens may cooperate a

little more for another astronomical event beginning today. The Lyrids meteor shower will be observable from April 16 through April 25, peaking between midnight and dawn on April 22/23. The Lyrids are considered to be the oldest of the known meteor showers. They are remnants of the comet Thatcher, and their point of origin is the constellation Lyra. Watch for the Lyrids in the eastern sky.

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

LET’S BUILD NOW Your Land, Your Style, Your Home

AmericasHomePlace.com

Smoky Mountain News

Franklin Building Center 335 NP & L Loop, Franklin, NC (828) 349-0990 Across from Franklin Ford on Hwy 441

April 16-22, 2014

America’s Home Place

47

April 16-22, 2014

A thoughtfully designed space with you in mind.

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Moving day is on the horizon!

We will be opening in our new location on April 21st

70 The Village Overlook, Sylva Directly across the highway from the hospital in Sylva 70 The Village Overlook Sylva, NC 28779

(828) 631-1960 48

Check out our website or stop in and say hello!

www.mysmoga.com

33 Edgewood Avenue Franklin, NC 28734

(828) 369-5754