Smoky Mountain News | April 28, 2021

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April 28-May 4, 2021 Vol. 22 Iss. 48

Waynesville Inn sold, will see extensive rehab Page 10 Bill addresses judicial efficiency in western counties Page 17

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: Western Carolina University is taking serious strides toward improving diversity in education with a new program called Call Me MISTER. The goal of the program is to increase the pool of Black male teachers in the state to keep pace with the increasing number of minority students in public schools.

(Page 6) In an undated photograph, students learn their lessons in the Central Consolidated School building in Sylva, where African American students in Jackson County attended from 1924 to 1961. Hunter Library/Western Carolina University photo

News Jackson commissioners weigh fire funding ................................................................4 Discovery process dragging in Cantwell case ..........................................................5 Waynesville Inn sold, will see extensive rehab ........................................................10 Growing pains at Haywood Community College ..................................................11 WCU professor researching child abuse injuries ..................................................12 Vaccine appointments readily available in WNC ....................................................15 Canton budget goes all-in on recreation, infrastructure ......................................16 Bill addresses judicial efficiency in western counties ............................................17 Business news ..................................................................................................................21

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Opinion I’ll take growth over stagnation any day ....................................................................22

INFO & BILLING | P.O. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786

Travis Book Happy Hour comes to Asheville ..........................................................24

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Jackson commissioners weigh fire funding

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ackson County leaders are considering adding a penny to the county’s tax rate to fund the Cullowhee Volunteer Fire Department’s request for eight full-time employees.

Chief Tim Green first made his case to commissioners during a March 11 work session, saying that his department receives an average of 2.5 calls a day but has a longerthan-optimal response time due to its reliance on volunteers, who might be a significant distance away from the scene when those calls come in. Adding to the issue is the department’s ongoing struggle to recruit enough newer, younger volunteers to protect the community.

Last month, Green asked commissioners to consider levying a fire tax on the Cullowhee district to fund the department’s $1.25 million budget request, which would allow it to employ a paid firefighting force. However, due to the lower property values in Cullowhee and the fact that Western Carolina University is exempt from property taxes, an exceptionally high fire tax rate would be required to cover that cost. Meanwhile, a single penny per $100 of value countywide would meet the request.

During an April 13 work session, commissioners said it made sense to fund the department based on countywide tax receipts because the Cullowhee department is critical to countywide fire protection.

Jackson County’s fire departments are small, and they rely on help from each other to adequately respond to calls. Cullowhee’s central location makes it especially important within that network.

“They provide mutual aid to every department, so having Cullowhee is essential for all the other departments to be able to have their (fire) ratings lower,” said Chairman Brian McMahan, who is also a volunteer firefighter.

Currently, fire taxes specific to Cashiers and Highlands fund operations in those departments. The county reserves $1 million in its budget to split between the remaining six departments, $400,000 of which goes to Cullowhee.

If commissioners decide to reserve a penny on the tax rate for Cullowhee’s exclusive

Fire trucks parked in the Cullowhee Volunteer Fire Department’s new station await the call. Donated photo use, the next question is what they should do with the $400,000 freed up in the budget for the remaining departments. Commissioners could return that money to the general fund and fund the five smaller departments with the remaining $600,000, or they could keep the budget at $1 million and increase allocations to the other departments.

County Manager Don Adams presented commissioners with three options for distributing the $400,000, should they choose to use the money for fire funding. He suggested they distribute them using a formula that weights the departments according to the number of substations they have, according to their fiveyear call average, or a mixture of the two.

However, Adams stressed that the April 13 conversation was preliminary and that he’d planned a meeting with the five fire chiefs to talk about how the money might be best used. Commissioners will likely discuss the issue further at their May 11 work session.

Commissioners also discussed various other budget requests April 13. County

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departments have requested a total increase of $970,000 for personnel. Most of that money would go toward reclassifications or increased hours at existing positions, but the list also includes four new positions: a general utility worker in the grounds department; an investigator/detective and a processing agent in the sheriff ’s office; a detention officer in the jail; and a part-time garage employee.

Additionally, commissioners received $2.6 million in capital outlay requests from county departments. These include computers, vehicle replacements and recreation equipment, with a $239,000 ambulance purchase request by far the highest-dollar item on the five-page list.

During their April 20 meeting, the board approved a request presented April 13 in conjunction with the budget discussion — medical and dental insurance rates for the coming year. The newly adopted rates represent a 3 percent increase in the county’s contribution, but employees will not see any change to premiums or coverage.

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Also at issue are the results of the 2021 property revaluation, which delivered a 12.1 percent increase in countywide value compared to the current fiscal year, the last to use 2016 valuations. During a March 11 work session, which took place before the present discussion about funding for the Cullowhee Fire Department, Finance Director Darlene Fox recommended that commissioners consider lowering the tax rate from 38 to 34.47 cents per $100 in the upcoming budget. This number would allow for a revenue-neutral levy plus an additional 1.7 percent to account for average cost increases.

Commissioners are scheduled to discuss funding for capital projects and receive updates on new budget requests during their work session at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, and to hear Adams’ recommended budget at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 18. Special-called budget work sessions and presentations may be called May 24-26, and the 2021-22 budget is scheduled for formal adoption at 1 p.m.

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ALE conducts statewide enforcement operation

related crimes and proactively reduce crime around establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold,” said Israel Morrow, Assistant Director for Operations of Alcohol Law Enforcement. “By partnering with sheriffs and police chiefs around the State, we’re able to maximize our efforts, connect with our communities and make these locations safer for North Carolinians.”

Throughout the state, 28 ABC permitted businesses were discovered to be in violation of state laws and regulations. ALE special agents will submit violation reports to the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission documenting the criminal and regulatory violations which could result in fines, suspensions, or revocations of ABC permits.

The statewide enforcement operation was focused in Brunswick, Caswell, Craven, Dare, Davidson, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Jackson, Johnston, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, Pender, Pitt, Rockingham, Union, Vance, and Wake Counties.

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In recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, ALE special agents concluded a statewide enforcement operation on Friday resulting in over 200 persons charged and seizures of alcoholic beverages, drugs, firearms and cash.

Across the eight districts, ALE special agents worked collectively to reduce alcohol related crimes and addressed problematic, high-crime areas around ABC-licensed and unlicensed illegal businesses. These concentrated efforts resulted in the service of two search warrants and the seizure of two firearms, a vehicle, various illegal controlled substances, and U.S. Currency. The offenses included 176 alcoholic beverage related charges, 136 drug related charges, as well as 64 felony charges.

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Smoky Mountain News

The influx of Jan. 6 cases is also complicating defendants’ ability to comply with the terms of their release. At the beginning of the April 20 hearing, Sullivan admonished Cantwell for violating his terms, and after setting the June 22 date he asked whether Cantwell had any questions about those terms.

Cantwell replied that the violation consisted of failure to check in with the pretrial office, as he is required to do on a weekly basis. But he told Sullivan that he had tried his best to meet that requirement.

“I went to call on a Friday, and the line was backed up for Lewis Easton Cantwell hours,” he said. “I called every hour.

I have phone records of it too, where I called and called and I just couldn’t get through.”

Pretrial Officer Christine Schuck, who works out of the office Cantwell is required to call into but is not his case manager, told Sullivan that the large volume of Jan. 6 cases combined with the pandemic protocols have presented a challenge. The sole person now working in the office sometimes answers 100 calls per day.

“If we were back in the office, multiple people can answer it, but right now given the pandemic one person is able to answer that one line,” she said. “Pre-pandemic times it was much different.”

Cantwell is being charged with six counts related to his alleged conduct Jan. 6 that carry a combined maximum sentence of 28 years. In a February interview with The Smoky Mountain News, Cantwell maintained that he was innocent of criminal wrongdoing.

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he large number of cases associated with the Capitol Riot Jan. 6 is causing some hiccups in the case of Lewis Easton Cantwell, a 35-year-old Sylva resident facing federal charges for his alleged actions that day.

“I have to actually get in line to have that (discovery) produced to defense council,” Frederick Walton Yette of the U.S. Attorney’s Office told U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan during an April 20 hearing. “So while I produced what I think are probably the most important documents for Mr. Cantwell’s case and that I relied upon to actually bring charges, there is additional discovery to produce, and I just can’t say exactly when that would happen given the process.”

Due to the number of defendants, the magnitude of videos and images, and the overlap in evidence for cases stemming from the events of Jan. 6, it will take time to fully complete the discovery process. Yette told Sullivan that his office has developed a formalized discovery process for the Jan. 6 cases.

More than 400 people have been arrested in relation to the riot. Cantwell’s case is being heard by the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., but due to the ongoing pandemic the April 20 hearing was held via Zoom, with a call-in line available to the public.

“I guess we just have to wait, unfortunately, given the circumstances with the case and the investigation the government is carrying on,” said A. Eduardo Balarezo, who is representing Cantwell.

The parties agreed to waive provisions of federal law aimed at recognizing defendants’ rights to a speedy trial in order to allow enough time to wrap up discovery.

Sullivan scheduled Cantwell’s next hearing for noon Tuesday, June 22 via Zoom.

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North Carolina ‘driving’ toward more diverse corps of educators

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR orth Carolina’s population is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse every day, but according to a report issued by Gov. Roy Cooper’s DRIVE Task Force, its educators don’t nearly reflect that diversity.

The DRIVE report, which stands for “Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education,” was issued this past Jan. 1 after Cooper called for a task force that was eventually convened in May 2020.

The report shows that for the 2018-19 school year, more than 50 percent of students in NC schools were of a racially or ethnically distinct background, while only about 20 percent of educators were.

Although that’s not a surprise given the legacy of segregated education in the United States — particularly in the South — Dr. Anthony Graham, provost at Winston-Salem State University and chair of the task force, says it’s still a problem for students of all ethnicities.

“Research shows that all students, but particularly students of color, experience benefits when taught by teachers of color,”

April 28-May 4, 2021

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Committed to movement WCU professors push for diversity in education

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR rofessors at Western Carolina University are tired of just talking about the importance of diversity within the teaching industry and are committed to turning all the talk into meaningful movement forward.

A group of female professors, directors and deans have come together at WCU to implement the Call Me MISTER (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program, a national program that aims to increase the number of Black male educators within a region. The program originated at Clemson University and now it’s incorporated into every public institution in South Carolina. Since 2013, it has resulted in a 40 percent increase in the number of Black male teachers in South Carolina public elementary schools. Nine other states utilize the program, and WCU faculty is proud to be the 6 first university in North Carolina to do so.

Smoky Mountain News

Graham writes in a preface to the report.

“Students experience not only significant academic outcomes but positive impacts relative to college aspirations and self-confidence.”

The DRIVE report goes on to list a number of goals that would provide a workforce of educators that’s more reflective of the students they teach, including increasing the number educators of color in the pipeline by at least 15 percent each year.

“Data illustrate that people of color become educators at lower rates than their white peers,” Graham writes.

Recommendations from the task force to address the supply of educators of color include offering affordable postsecondary access through scholarships, bolstering student loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement programs and making diversity goals part of the key performance metrics for schools and school districts.

Another goal outlined in the report stresses the importance of retaining at least 95 percent of the state’s educators of color each year, because Graham says that educators of color also leave the profession at higher rates than their peers.

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Kim Winter, dean of the College of Education and Allied Professions, said there is a nationwide effort to increase workplace diversity and also a statewide effort solidified in 2019 when Gov. Roy Cooper signed an executive order establishing a task force to develop a representative and inclusive vision for public education.

“I think there’s this sort of a honed-in specific focus on what we want to do here at Western Carolina and the impact that we want to make on the field of education, but also on our region in Western North Carolina,” Winter said. “But also, I think there’s a really great connection to big picture stuff that’s going on all around the country, specifically in our state.”

The task force released a report in January that outlines 10 specific recommendations and calls on legislators, K-12 school systems, educator preparation program directors, etc., to make some changes toward improving diversity.

“All of this stems from this idea that right now there are only two to three educators of color for every 10 students in the state. Those are disparate numbers — that’s easy to see — and we really want to make a difference in that,” Winter said. “We want there to be

A report issued by the DRIVE task force says N.C.’s educators don’t sufficiently reflect classroom diversity. File photo That retention level could be achieved by strengthening support networks for educators of color and providing professional development opportunities that can sustain pathways for advancement in the field.

Even as some Western North Carolina locals can look back on desegregation in

their own schools, others in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area — like a group of educators at Western Carolina University — are now looking toward the future, attempting to take meaningful action that will “drive” the state toward higher academic achievement for all students.

more teachers of color. We want students to be able to interact with people who may come from the same background as them, who may have the same race or ethnicity. We also want all of our children and our students here at the university to be able to become educated and live and learn in an environment that’s much more diverse than it is in some areas of the state.”

Charmion Rush, assistant professor of Inclusive and Special Education at WCU, said she realized more diversity programs were needed when she was the only person of color within her department and that there weren’t any people of color in the program that was supposed to be inclusive. As a member of WCU’s accreditation committee, Rush said she understands the importance of student and teacher diversity to the university.

“I was very interested about what programs we could implement because I know Western in general is big on inclusive excellence,” she said. “I know that the idea is there, but until now I hadn’t seen action behind it. I dug a little deeper to find out that we have a lot of projects that were already in the mix, but simply again, it hadn’t come to fruition.”

particularly isolated.

“Not many men of color consider this (education) a profession worth coming into for many reasons,” she said.

When asked why focus on a program specifically for Black males and not all people of color, Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford, an associate professor in the College of Education and Allied Professions Human Services, said Black men are not doing well compared to their peers across the education spectrum.

“If that is suspensions and expulsions, if it is achievement, if it is placement in special education, Black men tend to get the short end of the stick,” she said.

When you start to unpack some of those issues, she said, research shows that part of why this happens is because teachers with different cultural backgrounds can perceive the behaviors of young Black men as aberrant or abnormal.

“But if you have more Black men in those spaces who can look at and interpret those behaviors and see giftedness in a little chatty boy instead of problematic behavior, you would have different outcomes,” HinnantCrawford said.

While it is expected that a majority of students will be “minoritized” by 2024, Hinnant-Crawford said it is also expected 80

CALL ME MISTER Rush said she was particularly interested in the Call Me MISTER program that targets Black males, because it’s one group that is

S EE COMMITTED, PAGE 9

Integration and the disappearance of Black teachers

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER For Lin Forney, the end of fourth grade was the end of an era.

The year was 1963, and the world was changing. Nine years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision struck down the “separate-but-equal” precedent that allowed racial segregation in schools, and the Civil Rights movement was spurring change — or at least talk of it — in communities across the South. Now, that change was coming home to Haywood County. The schools were desegregating.

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to be less academically able, just by looking at her.

“I think I felt less than, just simply because I had no mentors right there to look at, to say, ‘We got this. You can do this,’” said Forney. “Encouragement wasn’t often given, and I think it’s just a fact that I didn’t feel that investment in my education by the white teachers.”

WHAT ABOUT THE TEACHERS? When political leaders in the Civil Rights Era talked about integration, they were mostly talking about putting Black students into classrooms within formerly all-white schools — not about welcoming white students into Black schools, or about melding the staffs of the then-separate educational systems. In most cases, the Black schools were shuttered or turned into support buildings.

According to a 2009 journal article in Ethnic and Racial Studies titled “The Impact of Desegregation on Black Teachers in the Metropolis, 1970-2000,” after the Brown vs.

Board of Education decision 38,000 Black teachers and administrators in 21 Southern and bordering states lost their jobs.

“With integration, all they wanted to do was integrate the kids,” said Carrie Rogers, an associate professor in Western Carolina University’s School of Teaching and Learning. “They didn’t think about the teachers.”

It’s still a bit of a mystery how that played out locally. How many Black teachers were there in Western North Carolina prior to integration, and how many were offered jobs with the integrated school system? How many accepted those jobs, and how many kept them?

“No one knows,” said Rogers. “We know where the kids went. The teachers are harder to track down.”

The answers are hidden in paper Board

EDUCATOR DIVERSITY

Collection for research and educational purposes

their schools closed down, she said.

“They were not just dumped,” she said. “I can guarantee you that. A lot of them stayed.”

How long they stayed, though, is a different question. This all happened a long time ago, but Forney is rather certain that many Black teachers left the school system soon after integration.

Regardless, they certainly faced obstacles.

In a 2017 interview recorded for WCU’s Oral History Collection, Scotland native Norma Kimzey spoke of her friendship with Elsie Osborne, who taught the combined first/second grade class at Pigeon School and transferred to Hazelwood Elementary School after integration. In 1968, Kimzey taught first grade and Osborne taught second. Their grades took recess at the same time, and the two would chat while their students played. When the students lined up to go inside, Kimzey noticed that Osborne had fewer kids in her class, despite the fact that every other teacher was “loaded up.”

“One day we were all out on the playground, and these first graders that I had — they say everything and anything to you — and this little boy came up to me and he said, ‘My daddy said I’m not going in that lady’s class next year.’ And I thought, that’s why she doesn’t have a full load of kids,” Kimzey said.

Over the next three years Kimzey worked there, things changed. She began to notice more and more kids in Osborne’s classes.

But she did not notice an increase in Black teachers. She recalls meeting only one other

Black teacher while in Haywood County, a former Reynolds High School teacher named Wilbur Eggleston who taught at Pisgah High School.

STRUGGLES WITH ACCESS If Black teachers lost their jobs or stopped teaching, it likely wasn’t because they weren’t up to snuff with expectations at the formerly white schools. In fact, WCU History Professor Elizabeth McRae said that at the time of integration, Black teachers in North Carolina had a higher average level of educational attainment than their white counterparts. It’s hard to say exactly why this was the case, but McRae has some thoughts.

“In part, North Carolina had a pretty strong higher education system for African Americans as opposed to some other states,” she said. “And I think that teaching was a really good job, particularly in a segregated world where a lot of professional economic opportunities were closed off to Black women and men. In the Jim Crow era, education was a path to real economic security, and there was a deep value for education.”

It’s unknown how many of the teachers in Western North Carolina’s segregated schools came to the area originally. Rogers believes that many of them likely came from somewhere else, for the simple reason that in the local area there were woefully few opportunities for Black students to receive even a high school education, and none for college.

Smoky Mountain News

of Education archives and library microfiche, and Rogers recently launched a research project aiming to uncover Jackson County’s local story.

Libba Feichter, now 81 years old, was in her early 20s when she began working as a traveling music teacher for Haywood County Schools, giving weekly lessons at many of the smaller elementary schools across the county. Pigeon School was one of them.

“James Bryant, who was the principal at the Pigeon School, was so good to work with and such a remarkable leader,” she recalls.

Though she was the only one in the room who wasn’t Black, she always felt welcome.

Feichter visited Pigeon School for only a year before integration and continued to teach in the school system afterward. Black teachers were offered jobs in the county after

The Reynolds High School Class of 1962 poses for a photo. In the front row serving as “mascots” are Nicky Davis and an unnamed female student. In the front row are (from left) Stanley Gibbs, Betty Ruth Sheppard and Raymond J. Sheppard. In the back row are (from left) Henry Dorsey, Charles Vincent Thompson and Charles Simpson. Photo courtesy Haywood County Public Library History

April 28-May 4, 2021

Before integration, Forney attended the all-Black Pigeon Street School, which now houses the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, of which Forney is executive director. Her teachers and classmates were also her neighbors in the closeknit community that was her world. She loved it.

“It was just one big community whether you were in school or at church or at home,” she said. “Your path crossed with all the people in the community. If you were in trouble, your parents heard it faster than you could get home to try to dispute anything.”

The school was small and underfunded, with only three teachers for the couple dozen kids enrolled in grades one through six. Each year, students had to sign their names on the inside cover of their “new” textbooks. Forney remembers how the covers were always full of the names of kids they’d never met, white kids whose books had made their way to the Black school after years of use.

But Forney still loved the school — the community she felt with her classmates; the way the teachers invested in her, believed in her. In her memory, they were always willing to do whatever it took to make sure that the kids understood their lessons, even if it meant staying after school.

In fifth grade, everything changed.

Forney went to the formerly all-white Central Elementary School, but even though the rest of her Pigeon School classmates were there too, she rarely saw them. They were all in different classes.

Except for one substitute teacher in high school, Forney never had a Black teacher again.

“I know that people thought that integration was better for everybody as a whole, but to be quite honest, I don’t think it was the best for Blacks,” she said. “I feel like we lost a lot in that changeover.”

Losing the role models she’d had in the Pigeon School’s teachers left a hole. It always seemed like the white teachers expected her

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Local story remains largely untold

S EE I NTEGRATION, PAGE 8 7

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WNC behind state average in educator diversity

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER orth Carolina has about 1.5 million public school students, and according to a report from the Department of Public Instruction, 52.3 percent are minority students, while only 20.5 percent of teachers are minorities.

It’s a disparity Gov. Roy Cooper hopes to improve with the creation of the DRIVE (Develop a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education) Task Force, which he created in 2019 to work toward increasing diversity in education.

According to the task force’s report issued in January 2021, studies have shown that teachers of color improve the test scores of all students. There is also evidence to suggest that students of color are less likely to drop out if they have a teacher of color.

Using data on North Carolina public school students, a 2017 study found that having a Black teacher in elementary school leads to a 31% decrease in the high school dropout rate for Black high school students and a 39% decrease for the most disadvantaged Black male students. In addition, the study found that exposure to a Black teacher in elementary school raised college aspirations for these students and their probability

April 28-May 4, 2021

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Smoky Mountain News

West of Asheville, Reynolds High School in Canton was the only standalone high school for Black students. While the Central Consolidated School in Sylva began offering high school classes in the 1940s, correspondence between Principal William Wade and state administrators indicate that situation was tenuous at best.

In a letter dated Feb. 2, 1938, Wade wrote N.C. Division of Negro Education Director Dr. N.C. Newbold to ask that the school be allowed to keep the five teachers currently on staff. At the time, the school enrolled only 106 students but served grades one through 10. Wade hoped to add eleventh grade classes the following year. It seems he was allowed to keep the teachers and add a grade, because in a letter dated April 3, 1949, Wade asked N.C. State Board of Education Chairman Hiden Ramsey for a sixth teacher so that students could receive a four-year high school education.

“There is an urgent need that we have six teachers so as to offer four years of high school to the students in these two counties,” he wrote.

“Failing to do so causes 95 percent of them to 8 stop school after fishing the tenth grade.”

of taking a college entrance exam.

Much of the research on what makes this difference comes down to expectations.

Researchers have found that minority teachers are more likely to have high expectations for minority students. Minority students are usually more sensitive to teacher expectations than their white counterparts.

Research also shows that minority students are more likely to be punished than their peers for the same misconduct, due to teacher interpretations of student behavior, informed by racial biases, conscious or unconscious. However, minority students are less likely to be punished at a higher rate than their white peers by minority teachers.

Researchers believe this is due to less racial bias and higher expectations for academic performance and behavior for minority students from minority teachers.

Research shows that disciplinary incidents can have long-term consequences for student achievement.

At the local level, diversity rates among educators in Western North Carolina are far lower than the state average. According to the Department of Public Instruction, Jackson County Schools employed 241 classroom teachers across nine schools in the 2019-2020 school year. Of those, nine teachers are races other than white, or about 3.7 percent.

Dr. Kevin Bailey, executive director of human resources, said that in an effort to recruit more minority teachers, Jackson County Schools advertises in more diverse areas such as Asheville, but that the school system struggles to find qualified applicants.

However, even in Buncombe county, as of 2019 just 6.25 percent of teachers were minorities, and less than 2 percent were Black.

In Haywood County, the Department of Public Instruction reported 494 classroom teachers across 15 schools for the 2019-2020

school year. Of those, 14 are races other than white, or about 2.8 percent.

“As far as recruiting minority employees, HCS uses two national and state-wide job posting websites. HCS attends six to eight regional job fairs each year,” said Human Resources Director Jason Heinz. “HCS also posts a recruiting advertisement on a minority recruiting site each year. HCS is an equal opportunity employer.”

The DRIVE Task Force’s report came with 10 major recommendations to improve the diversity of educators in the public schools of North Carolina. This report came after the Program Evaluation Division of the General

EDUCATOR DIVERSITY Assembly found a “lack of state-level effort challenges North Carolina’s capacity to increase teacher diversity.”

The evaluation was undertaken because of evidence that people of color become teachers at lower rates than their white peers and leave the profession at higher rates due to a variety of factors. The evaluation found that although there is no dedicated statelevel effort to promote the recruitment and retention of teachers of color, many local education agencies, charter schools, and educator preparation programs within the state have developed and implemented initiatives to promote diversity in their teacher workforce.

The recommendations from the task force include offering postsecondary access through scholarships, loan forgiveness and tuition reimbursement programs; expanding entry points into the educator pipeline; creating diversity goals for districts; providing

SLOW TO INTEGRATE Even after the Brown decision made segregation illegal, African Americans in North Carolina continued to contend with inferior educational access and facilities.

A Jan. 26, 1950 article in The Sylva Herald includes “indoor toilets” in the list of planned upgrades for the Black school at the time, and a series of letters between Jackson County Public Schools Superintendent Vernon Cope and Division of Negro Education Director G.H. Ferguson exchanged after the 1954 Brown decision indicate that four years later the upgrades still had not been made. In the exchange, Cope and Ferguson discuss whether the county should move forward with plans to build a new Black school or wait for integration. Cope and Ferguson concluded that due to the “tragic condition” of the present school, the county should build as soon as it was able.

The new building — the site of the current Jackson County Board of Education — opened in 1961 and served students for just a few years before integration finally came to Jackson County in 1964. Something similar happened in Haywood County. The original

In an undated photograph developed from film brought to George Dexter Sherrill’s Waynesville studio for developing in the early 1900s, an African American man leans on a school bus. Hunter Library, Western Carolina University photo Pigeon School was on the opposite side of Oakdale Road from the present building, which opened in 1957.

In a 2015 WCU Oral History Collection interview, Mary Sue Casey — a Jackson County native and one of the few Black women to have taught in the school system — said that she doesn’t believe integration ever would have happened if it weren’t for the friendship that existed across racial lines between local football players.

sustainable investments in educator preparation programs at North Carolina’s Historically Minority Serving Institutions; adopting evidence-based elements of successful national residency models across the state’s educator preparation programs; revising the North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards to directly incorporate anti-racist, anti-bias, culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogy; investing in stateand district-level initiatives that increase the sustainability of the profession by strengthening support networks for educators of color; developing and sustaining pathways for advancement that are tailored to the needs of educators of color; releasing an annual statewide Educator Diversity Report that tracks state progress in developing and sustaining a representative educator workforce; and establishing an independent body to monitor progress implementing the task force’s recommendations.

The report cited the Teaching Fellows Program, a program that gives affordable loans and training to become science and math teachers to students attending five public or private colleges or universities.

Students who receive the loans can repay them or commit to four years of teaching in North Carolina Public Schools.

None of the five schools in the program are Historically Minority Serving Institutions. Last year the North Carolina Legislature passed a law increasing the number of colleges and universities in the program up to eight schools total, but the law does not specify which schools have to be added. The DRIVE report suggests passing legislation that requires at least one of the institutions added be a HMSI. The report from the Program Evaluation Division also recommended mandating at least one HMSI in the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program.

“They would get together and play during the summer,” Casey said. “The way I understand it, one said to the other, ‘You should play with us instead of Webster.’ And they said, ‘OK, when does practice start?’

And they just showed up. The Black guys just showed up for practice, and the coach said, ‘You can only play here if you go to school here.’ And they said, ‘OK, where do we go to register?’ Not knowing what a big deal it was. When they were confronted with that, they had to deal with it in some way.”

Nearly 60 years have passed since then, and to most people alive today, segregated schools were only ever a reality in history books. But racial tensions still simmer, and the dearth of African American teachers is still evident in school systems across America. Despite the decades in the rearview, Forney still finds herself thinking less-than-fond thoughts about her experience on the front lines of integration.

“It was very traumatic for me, having that move and that change when it happened in my life,” she said. “I was a little bit upset and I am today, if I’m being honest, that I didn’t get to go to Reynolds High School. I looked forward to going to Reynolds.”

COMMITTED, CONTINUED FROM 6

The Call Me MISTER program will begin this fall with a three- to five-member cohort

FUNDING THE PROGRAM Supporting the new program will take additional funding, but it’s something WCU will make a priority through budgeting, sponsorships and fundraising.

“What folks have heard me say over and over again is that our commitment means we have to put our money where our mouth is — and that literally of course means that we need to devote resources, time, effort, money, but it also means that we need to take action,”

Working toward diversity in Western North Carolina can be even more challenging because a vast majority of the population is white. However, there are still ways to incorporate more diversity at every level in the education system, Hinnant-Crawford said.

“There may be some steps you can take even in a region that is predominantly white to get folks of color in the schools. For instance, I live in Waynesville and here in Haywood County, there is not a huge Black population, but there is one that’s here and

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CHALLENGES TO DIVERSITY

you could tap into that population,” she said. “Even if they’re not necessarily teachers, you could start by tapping into that population to get volunteers within the classroom.”

Rush added that geography is definitely a challenge in Western North Carolina, and though it would be great to keep these Black teachers in the region, she’s more focused on the bigger picture.

“It would be ideal to keep them here in the region, but it’s not my intent to keep them in this area because this is not just a local problem. This is a national problem. And so I want to contribute to try to fix this problem in general,” she said.

Participants will be committed to teaching for a limited amount of time, but Winter said part of this program will also include working on retention strategies, because it will be important to make sure teachers of color feel welcomed and comfortable teaching in WNC. “(Participants) will have intensive clinical experiences in all of the schools around Western North Carolina. And so even if someone says, well, I really want to go back to Charlotte or wherever, maybe they’ll have these experiences along the way that enriches them as human beings and as developing teachers and enriches all of our community and our schools in the process,” she said.

If participants want to stay in the region to teach, Rush said she doesn’t think they’ll have a problem finding a position. In talking to the school systems in the region, she said, they are all eager to have more teachers of color on staff. They’ve also partnered with Asheville City Schools to create a memorandum of understanding to offer MISTER participants jobs when they graduate.

“We have a partnership advisory council that includes representatives from many of the school systems in our region, and we were talking about these initiatives. There was incredible interest in hiring people who are diverse to teach, and there is a collective challenge in finding people of color, so I think if we have people who want jobs, they will snatch them up really quickly,” said Patricia Bricker, professor and associate dean for Academic Affairs.

For more information about the Call Me MISTER program, visit https://tinyurl.com/x6cecs2k or contact Rush at cbrush@wcu.edu.

April 28-May 4, 2021

COHORT COMMITMENTS

Participants in the program will receive financial support for tuition and fees, a technology package, academic support system, a mentor program for leadership development and personal growth, career support and summer internships.

In return, participants are required to major in elementary, inclusive or middle grade education and satisfy all requirements for admission to the education program.

They will reside in the living-learning community cohort for the duration of their undergrad program and will commit to teaching one year at an elementary or middle school for each year they receive program funding.

Winter said. “And so that’s really what we’ve been trying to do.”

WCU will use some funding that’s already allocated toward recruiting teachers and will prioritize other allocations already in existence toward this effort. It will also take making proposals for new funding and aligning the university’s goals with the program’s strategic plan.

“If you look at those, we have very specific goals and initiatives tied to inclusive excellence and so that helps us justify use of the money and requesting new money,” Winter said.

She added that Chancellor Kelli Brown was a major proponent of the Call Me MISTER program, which was successful at the university in Georgia where she served before coming to WCU. She said she’s talked to Brown and other leaders about the importance of reviewing processes and policies at WCU that have created barriers to making headway in the past with diversification efforts.

Implementing the program will also draw interest from employers, civic groups and other institutions that have a vested interest in developing a more diverse workforce in the region.

“We’re also talking to corporate partners and others who have a vested interest in having males of color become leaders in our communities,” Winter said.

That effort will include working on raising scholarship funds for the MISTER cohorts, with the goal of being able to award each participant with $3,000 to $5,000 to assist with their education costs. Winter said she feels confident they’ll be able to do that once the fundraising campaign gets going.

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percent of teachers will still be white women.

The effort to increase teachers of color — particularly Black men — can help change the culture of schooling to reflect the changing demographic of students.

So why are there so few teachers of color these days? Hinnant-Crawford said integration had a lot to do with the number of Black teachers in the South. She said teaching was once a profession held in high esteem, especially in the African-American communities.

Before Brown v. Board of Education, Black principals were all called professors regardless of whether they had a Ph.D. “But with integration came the wholesale dismissal of Black teachers and leaders and so those numbers that you had in the field of education never rebounded. Now what we’re trying to do is counteract what happened in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” she said. “To some degree that’s more difficult because growing up when you don’t see teachers who look like you, you don’t say, ‘Oh, well, that’s what I’m going to be.’”

She referred to the theory of self-efficacy coined by psychologist Albert Bandura in 1977, which posits that “Seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observers’ beliefs that they too possess the capabilities to master comparable activities to succeed.”

“There’s a meme going around on Facebook that asks people ‘When did you have your first Black male teacher?’ and people’s answers were either ‘It was in college, or I still haven’t.’ And so that is the reality for the children, not only in this region but throughout the state,” she said. “And so that’s why we have to be intentional with recruiting and showing folks that this is a viable pathway and a viable career choice.”

Winter said it’s equally important for white students to have teachers of color, and the younger they are when they are exposed to diversity in education the better the outcomes when they are older. Seeing people of color in positions of authority when students are young creates what is called a “legacy of competency.”

of students. Eventually, Winter said they’d love to have 20 MISTER fellows at one time, but in the meantime it’s more important to ensure a small cohort that can receive personalized attention and guidance through the program.

“There are many reasons to keep that a little bit smaller in terms of the cohort. Part of that is the experiences we want them to have, the other people that we want to bring in to work with those MISTERS and to mentor them, but also one of the major goals of Call Me MISTER is for them to graduate with as little debt as possible,” she said.

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Waynesville Inn sold, will see extensive rehab

Haywood County's

LARGEST SELECTION

COME BY TO SEE OUR

EXPANDED EXPANDED

INVENTORY INVENTORY THE CLASSIC

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828.452 .6000 20 Church Street WA Y N E S V I L L E

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR n iconic Waynesville landmark sold for nearly $9 million last week, but the new owner’s plans to renovate the 165acre property, the 111-room hotel and the 27hole golf course will also become one of the area’s most significant economic development investments — more than $25 million — once it’s completed.

“We are fully restoring the historic Inn, we’re restoring the golf course,” said Grey Raines, managing partner of Raines. “We are doing all those things to make sure that it stays a major part of the Waynesville story. We just want to be good stewards in our time. It’s got a hundred years of history and we want to put it on the path for a hundred more.”

Raines’ group will own, develop and operate the Waynesville Inn, which will expand the company’s footprint in Western North Carolina. Currently, their portfolio includes a number of hotels in the upstate area of South Carolina, bearing the flags of Best Western, Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott.

In 2020, Raines was selected to manage the Foundry Hotel, an 87-room boutique property in downtown Asheville. That, along with the Hotel Florence in Florence, South Carolina, constitute Raines’ “Woven” brand, which the Waynesville property will now join.

Commercially, it’ll be branded as part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, “an independently minded collection of uppermidscale and above properties,” according to a Raines press release. Ultimately, the

A

Cuisine at the rehabbed Waynesville Inn will be handled through a collaboration that’s already proven popular and successful.

Seven-time James Beard Award nominee John Fleer, of Asheville’s Rhubarb and Benne on Eagle, will take the helm. Benne is located adjacent to the Foundry Hotel.

Another collaboration that will hopefully yield good results is that of Raines with Bobby Weed Golf Design.

Weed is a former PGA Tour in-house architect and disciple of the late Pete Dye, who’s designed or renovated dozens of golf courses throughout the Southeast. Plus, his wife’s from Waynesville.

Weed will have his work cut out for him; perhaps the biggest changes to the Waynesville Inn will be visible out on the links.

The 27-hole course contains an original nine — the “Carolina” course — designed by the legendary Donald Developers are teeing Ross in 1926.

Ross, who died in up major improvements 1948, began his career at the 95-year-old at St. Andrews in his Waynesville Inn. native Scotland around Google Earth photo 1899 and designed Pinehurst No. 2, as well facility’s name will change, but Raines as Asheville’s Municipal Golf Course. through a spokesperson declined to provide The Ross nine will see some renovations, specifics at this time. and another nine holes will see a complete “We’re really excited about what we’re redesign by Weed. The remaining nine will going to be able to deliver — a top-notch be removed and rebuilt as a practice space golfing and hospitality experience in with extensive short-game areas, a lighted Waynesville,” Raines said. “Both will see a putting green and a range. complete renovation.”

“Instead of taking the property and squeezing in 27 holes, we feel like we can bring a top-notch 18-hole experience, along “We just want to be good with practice facilities, unlike anything seen in Western North Carolina,” Raines said. stewards in our time. It’s If all works out as planned with the golf got a hundred years of and hospitality improvements, Raines projects that employment levels at the history and we want to Waynesville Inn will need to increase.

“Absolutely,” he said. “Even pre-COVID put it on the path for a numbers, we’ll move well past those. Service hundred more.” is a big part of who we are as a company.

Being a company that specializes in people, — Grey Raines, managing partner we realize that we’ve got to have the right of Raines people to present the guest experience we’re wanting to drive at Waynesville.”

Those renovations will begin this sumThe level of investment by Raines, coumer and last 16 to 24 months, but the facilipled with any ancillary job growth, would ty is expected to be open during that time. position the company for significant ecoOn the hospitality side, the Inn’s room nomic development incentives. capacity will have to decrease initially, but “We are working with the county and the not permanently. city and to learn more about those,” Raines “One of the exterior buildings is a little said. “We do foresee those being a part of outdated and kind of beyond repair. We’ll the equation, and everybody we’ve dealt with lose those initially and then we’re going to so far has been absolutely fantastic and excitbuild rooms back,” Raines said. “We foresee ed about the project. We would hope that we more rooms than currently offered, but you would qualify for any type of incentives know, that’ll kind of just depend on the sucoffered by the local governments.” cess and how people respond to the property Follow project updates by visiting over time.” www.rainesco.com.

Growing pains at Haywood Community College I

“In looking at the increased demands on our current maintenance staff, this request would assist [that], as well as the additional specialty laboratories that require unique maintenance skill sets, such as our burn tower for firefighter training,” White said.

Another $25,000 is needed for a mandated five-year inspection of the burn building at HCC’s public safety training facility.

According to White’s presentation, the inspection comes at the recommendation of the National Fire Protection Association, and will review burn props, equipment and building structure.

The final portion of White’s request would address the increasing need for additional sanitation and PPE supplies, on the order of about $20,000.

“As we are planning a more in-person fall schedule, we anticipate the need for increased cleaning supplies and other supplies to support that return,” she said.

The capital outlay portion of the budget, however, asks for more substantial funding for several projects. After spending just $30,000 last year, the proposed budget asks for $350,000 this year.

Of that, $75,000 is earmarked for advanced planning for an entrance project at Armory Drive, which receives up to 40 percent of all HCC traffic. A retaining wall and infill project would flatten out the grade at

that location, making it easier for larger vehicles to enter and exit campus. The project would begin once additional funding becomes available.

“With increased usage, we would like to improve that entrance/exit to campus,” White said. “The usage it has seen over the years, it has begun to deteriorate even more.”

Including the new Health Sciences Education building that’s soon to be built, HCC has added more than 100,000 square feet of space in the past six years and now totals around 400,000 square feet.

The Regional High Tech Center also needs upgrades to building components, reconfiguration of some of the spaces and a roof recovering, to the tune of $225,000.

“This building was first built in 1986 and is 27,000 square feet. It has had in the past couple of years a skylight replaced, which

had some issues, but also needs a full roof replacement,” said White. “We’ve seen over the years some reupholstery happen, but other than that very few improvements have been made within that facility, so we would love to bring that facility back to be a hightech showplace.”

Outdated cameras at the Regional Center for the Advancement of Children also need to be replaced, at a cost of $50,000.

The RCAC provides childcare and early learning services and remained open during the pandemic despite enrollment dropping from about 130 children to just 30.

“We were committed to remain open [during the pandemic],” White said. “We had a lot of parents who were in health care fields and front-line workers and they needed that consistent childcare.”

The state provided support that helped offset some of the revenue declines, but RCAC enrollment figures have now returned to normal. Enrollment at HCC was down just 8 percent for the last available reporting period, the fall term of 2020, but wasn’t down as much for continuing education.

If commissioners approve only the operating budget requests made by White, HCC’s budget would increase from $3.02 million to just over $3.1 million. If the capital requests are also granted, that figure would become $3.46 million.

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BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR n preparing for Haywood Community College’s first post-pandemic budget, President Dr. Shelley White presented a stable operating budget but asked for substantial capital spending in line with the school’s growth.

“Although this has been a year of challenges for all of us through the pandemic, it has also been a year of opportunity for Haywood Community College,” White told commissioners on April 19.

White’s budget presentation requests a meager increase — just 3 percent or about $90,000 above last year’s operating budget of $3.02 million.

The operating budgShelley White et increase is needed at least in part due to the substantial expansion in floor space at the school. Including the new Health Sciences Education building that’s soon to be built, HCC has added more than 100,000 square feet of space in the past six years and now totals around 400,000 square feet. Part of the budget increase requested by White, totaling $45,000, would pay for an additional maintenance position.

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April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month Professor researching child abuse injuries

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS EDITOR r. Diana Messer, a forensic anthropology professor at Western Carolina University, is working on groundbreaking research that could drastically improve the methods used to estimate the timeframe of a child’s injury, which is essential evidence needed to identify and prosecute child abuse cases.

Messer is new to the faculty at WCU, but her research on fractures in children is something she’s been interested in since doing her master’s degree work in biological and forensic anthropology at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania.

“My mentor Steve Sims consulted on child abuse cases and one case he was working on where he allowed us to look over the case file, there was a 19-month-old child who had been severely physically abused for months and died of a traumatic head injury,” she recalled. “The child had more than 45 fractures in different stages of healing. Seeing that little thorax and seeing all those injuries on this little body — that stuck with me.”

Then Sims told his students that there was really no reliable way to determine when those fractures occurred, which makes it hard to prove the child suffered from child abuse. In cases of infants and toddlers, they are either too young to speak up for themselves or, in this case, the child is no longer alive to speak against their abuser.

According to ChildHelp.org, more than 70 percent of the children who died as a result of child abuse or neglect were 2 years of age or younger. More than 80 percent were not yet old enough for kindergarten.

“It’s estimated that about 500 or more children die in the U.S. every year of physical abuse. Kids under a year old are typically the age we see this abuse and they can’t speak for themselves — they can’t tell us the story of what’s happened to them,” Messer said. “Understanding the age of fractures provides opportunity to identify that physical abuse is happening and to characterize that abuse.”

Because around 80 percent of child maltreatment fatalities involve at least one parent as the perpetrator, estimating the timeframe for the injuries is crucial information for medical providers to have.

“Because of the circumstances of the injuries, they often are not reported and go untreated for a long amount of time,” she said. “Then the child might come into the hospital for a different acute injury and depending on the situation, the doctor will take X-rays and find healing fractures that are inconsistent with the current issue.”

Messer continued to make this issue a research priority and wanted to figure out a

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April 28-May 4, 2021

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better method to estimate the age of fractures in children. However, what she found was that there was still a lot of foundational information missing. It’s been an assumption in the industry that children’s bones heal faster than adults, but Messer couldn’t really find enough solid research to back it up.

“No one had quantified that before, so I couldn’t make a method unless we know more about wound fracture healing process-

Dr. Diana Messer

experience, but people were still citing it. It doesn’t mean it’s inaccurate, but there was no scientific foundation behind it.”

Most of Messer’s research relies on examining retrospective data. She spent a lot of time at a nationwide children’s hospital in Ohio looking at X-rays of children under 6 years old who were evaluated for a fracture and then comparing those to follow-up imaging done on the same fractures.

“I look at those and record what features I’m seeing — new bone growth, calluses, how thick it is, are the margins of fracture sharp or rounded, and I record it into a database,” she said. “Most of my research looks at accidental fractures, but I do have a small subset of abuse-related fractures. Those are hard to get because it’s important to know the exact time of the injury and usually that is unknown.”

Now she’s hoping to publish her research with the goal of using it to apply for a grant that would allow her to eventually establish a new method for identifying the age of fractures and creating an open-source website for people to use.

“The open-source website would take into account these variables and provide an age estimate with associated probability, which is really important in a legal context, based on healing features,” she said, adding that the website would also provide a high percentage rate of accuracy. “My hope is this type of site would be useful for forensic

“It’s estimated that about 500 or more children die in the U.S. every year of physical abuse. Kids under a year old are typically the age we see this abuse and they can’t speak for themselves — they can’t tell us the story of what’s happened to them.”

— Diana Messer

es and the variables that affect it,” Messer said.

As expected, she was able to show that fractures found in children do heal faster than ones in adults, but that the time it takes to heal depends on location of fracture, with upper body fractures healing faster than lower body fractures. Something that was surprising was that her data showed evidence that fractures caused from abuse healed faster than fractures caused by accidents.

“There are lots of things that could contribute to that finding, but it might be why providers are providing inaccurate estimates, so we need to look into that more,” Messer said. “It’s a complex issue but one that is really important. One thing that really surprised me when looking through the literature (about estimating fractures) and speaking with experts, is people kept citing this one article from the ‘90s that says clearly the information is based on the author’s

u s

a t :

anthropologists and child abuse physicians, pathologists and even important for social workers interested in questions about when (a child) received an injury so they are making the best choice for those children.”

Messer will begin this summer engaging students in the research and working on preparing the information for the grant proposal, which could include funding for a student researcher as well.

Messer also plans to put out a survey to people in different disciplines to find out what methods they are currently using so she has more scientific data about that piece of the puzzle. The more she publishes articles about her ongoing research, the more people are questioning the current methods.

The more interdisciplinary the study becomes, the more likely it will get picked up and be utilized.

“My hope is that I’ll be able to collaborate with local hospitals and institutions dealing with pediatric trauma and have stu-

Staggering statistics about child abuse • Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children).

• The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations, losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect.

• The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention links adverse childhood experiences (which include other household dysfunctions along with abuse and neglect) with a range of long-term health impacts.

• Individuals who reported six or more adverse childhood experiences had an average life expectancy two decades shorter than those who reported none.

• Ischemic heart disease (IHD), Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver disease and other health-related quality of life issues are tied to child abuse.

• More than 70% of the children who died as a result of child abuse or neglect were 2 years of age or younger. More than 80% were not yet old enough for kindergarten.

• Around 80% of child maltreatment fatalities involve at least one parent as perpetrator.

• Fourteen percent of all men in prison and 36% of women in prison in the U.S. were abused as children, which is about twice the frequency seen in the general population.

• Children who experience child abuse and neglect are about 9 times more likely to become involved in criminal activity.

SOURCE: ChildHelp.org dents come with me to collect data,” she said.

It can still be frustrating as a researcher, but you then have to put your work out there and hope it has a meaningful impact though you aren’t the one who can actually make the changes to the system. However, establishing this website would be as close as Messer could get to making it as accessible as possible. In the meantime, she’s doing her part to be an advocate in her community by training to become a Guardian ad Litem advocate for children in the justice system.

It’s one thing to research child abuse, but it’s a whole other thing to see it play out in real life in the courtroom.

“It’s made me think a lot about my research from another perspective,” she said.

For more information about Messer’s research, visit www.dianamesser.com.

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The annual synchronous firefly viewing event will return to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this year, but with a more limited lottery than usual so that attendees can park their personal vehicles nearby rather than taking the shuttle bus.

Every year in late May and early June, thousands of people gather near the popular Elkmont Campground to observe the naturally occurring phenomenon of Photinus carolinus, the synchronously flashing firefly species. Since 2006, park managers have limited access to the area during the eight days of predicted peak activity in order to reduce traffic, improve visitor safety and minimize disturbance to the fireflies.

The viewing opportunity at Elkmont will run Tuesday, June 1, through Tuesday, June 8, during the predicted peak activity period for the unique firefly species. During those dates, only passenger vehicles with a parking pass, registered campers staying at Elkmont Campground or backcountry campers with a valid permit will be allowed in the area after 4 p.m. There will be no overnight parking at the Little River Trailhead, Jakes Creek Trailhead or Appalachian Clubhouse without a valid backcountry permit for campsites accessed from those trailheads.

The lottery for vehicle pass applications opens at 10 a.m. Friday, April 30, and closes at 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 3. Only one person per household may enter per season.

A total of 800 vehicle passes — 100 per night — will be issued through a randomized computer drawing, with results announced Friday, May 7. Each pass provides admission for one passenger vehicle with up to seven occupants to park directly at the viewing location. There is a $1 fee to enter the lottery, and successful applicants will be charged a $24 reservation fee to cover the cost of awarding the passes as well as onsite portable bathrooms, supplies and personnel costs for the event. Passes are non-refundable, non-transferable and good only for the date issued.

To enter the lottery, visit www.recreation.gov and search for “Great Smoky Mountains Firefly Viewing Lottery. Those without internet access can also call 1.877.444.6777 to enter. Learn more about synchronous fireflies at www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm.

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said that updates to the www.myspot.nc.gov website have made it easier for students to schedule a second dose near their summer residence. The clinic will resume administering J&J doses on Saturday, May 1.

Overall, health departments say that the vaccines appear to be effective.

Spokespeople for Harris Regional Hospital, Jackson County Department of Public Health and the Swain County Health Department said they were not aware of any instances of COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated people.

Emily Ritter of the Macon County Health Department said that some individuals have contracted the virus after vaccination, but the department does not track that number.

Allison Richmond of Haywood County reported two known cases of post-vaccination illness in Haywood County, possibly a

While last week’s pause on distribution of the J&J vaccine may have contributed to the slowdown, most providers in Western North Carolina had been distributing Moderna doses, with Pfizer and J&J a rarer find locally.

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third. Richmond added that nationwide, there are 5,800 confirmed cases out of 75 million fully vaccinated people, equivalent to 0.008 percent.

Meanwhile, Gov. Roy Cooper last week laid out a timeline for lifting what few pandemic-related restrictions still remain. So long as trends remain stable and vaccinations continue to proceed, Cooper expects to lift mandatory social distancing, capacity and mass gathering limits — but not the mask mandate — by June 1.

“Each shot in an arm is a step closer to putting this pandemic in the rearview mirror,” Cooper said. “North Carolinians have shown up for each other throughout this entire pandemic, and we need to keep up that commitment by getting our vaccines.”

Everyone over the age of 16 in North Carolina is now eligible to receive a vaccine.

Politics Editor Cory Vaillancourt contributed to this report.

$

April 28-May 4, 2021

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER accination rates slowed substantially across the four-county area over the past week, and the pace will likely continue to slacken as health departments across the area report a dearth of demand.

Haywood County, Jackson County, and the clinic at Western Carolina University all said that they did not order any new vaccine doses for the current week, as they still have ample supply on hand from previous weeks. WCU has more than 1,100 Pfizer doses and 2,000 Johnson & Johnson doses in storage, and Haywood County still has nearly 600 doses on hand. Demand has backed off enough in Jackson County that the health department will discontinue the drive-thru model that’s been in place since January and transition to offering on-site vaccinations at its headquarters on Scotts Creek Road.

While Swain County will receive 100 Moderna doses this week, the health department still has 30 doses on hand from a previous distribution. Macon County will receive 600 Moderna doses but has a current inventory of 980 first doses.

Between April 12 and April 19, the percentage of people within the four-county area —including Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties, as well as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — that had received at least one dose of vaccine jumped nearly 5 percent, from 32 to 36.9 percent. However, over the most recent week from April 19 to April 26, that rate inched up less than 1 percent to 37.7 percent. Statewide data shows a similar, though less exaggerated, pattern.

In North Carolina, 38.1 percent of the population has received at least one dose of vaccine, representing 48.2 percent of the state’s adult population and 77.3 percent of its residents age 65 and older. Case numbers remain low, with 1,334 new cases reported on Monday, April 26. In the seven days prior to that date, Haywood County confirmed 56 new cases, Jackson 22, Macon 63 and Swain only three.

While last week’s pause on distribution of the J&J vaccine may have contributed to the slowdown, most providers in Western North Carolina had been distributing Moderna doses, with Pfizer and J&J a rarer find locally.

The pause on J&J doses was particularly challenging for WCU, which had planned to use the single-shot vaccine with students in order to avoid scheduling complications with the two-shot options over summer break.

However, Clinic Director Cortnee Lingerfelt

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Canton budget goes all-in on recreation, infrastructure

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR he Town of Canton’s property tax rate hasn’t changed in almost two decades.

This year, it looks to be headed down, but residents will still see slightly higher bills as a result of a countywide property revaluation that’s on average 24 percent higher.

“This area is growing. People are moving here, and commercial opportunities are increasing,” said Nick Scheuer, Canton’s assistant town manager.

Property tax is calculated by multiplying the rate, currently 58 cents per $100 in assessed value, by the assessed valuation. If the assessed value goes up but the rate stays the same — or even declines, as in this case — bills will increase as well.

“It’s representative of growth and the services that the town will need to provide for that growth,” Scheuer said.

On April 27, Scheuer presented a recommended budget to Mayor Zeb Smathers and the Canton Board of Aldermen/women that proposes a rate of 54 cents and largely reflects priorities set out in a January work session.

Those priorities place a good deal of importance on two high-profile recreation projects — improvements to the town’s Sorrells Street Park, and the new Chestnut Mountain project, a mountain biking facility currently under construction near the edge of town.

But Canton’s concerns also center on water, both as it comes into customers’ homes and as it leaves them; the town’s filter plant needs about $2 million in improvements, and a secondary water source that would insulate the town against drought are both on the horizon.

To that end, Canton’s all-funds budget could see an increase of more than 7 percent, based largely on a water and sewer fund increase of more than 14 percent.

Water and sewer bills are both slated for slight increases, even though rates did not

Smoky Mountain News

April 28-May 4, 2021

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HCC offers immunization, CPR training Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department’s Pharmacy Technician Training Program is partnering with UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy to offer The Pharmacy Technicians and Vaccinations: An Advanced Training Program.

Under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) PREP Act, qualified pharmacy technicians may now administer COVID-19 vaccinations to aid in the vaccination effort. In addition, these technicians can administer some childhood vaccinations to persons 3 years of age and older.

increase during the Coronavirus Pandemic last year. Inside customers will see base rates increase from $15 to $17 per month, and rates for more than 3,000 gallons increasing from $3.88 to $4.20.

Inside sewer customers will see base bills move from $7.50 to $8.50, with rates for more than 3,000 gallons climbing from $1.94 to $2.10. Outside customers will see similar increases on both ends, but Canton remains one of the cheapest municipal providers of water and sewer services in the county.

Those increases will provide $280,000 in additional revenue, every cent of which will be needed for the $300,000 in filter plant improvements on the way.

Although the town expects to receive an initial $630,000 in funds from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, much of that will go to a badly-needed new fire truck.

One sign that the town — and society as a whole — are moving toward a post-pandemic mindset is that aldermen unanimously approved moving forward with this year’s Labor Day Festival. For more than 110 years, the town’s Labor Day fest has been a can’tmiss event not just in the county, but in the region as a whole.

Town Clerk Lisa Stinnett can take a lot of credit for the past successes of the event, but this year offered a word of caution because of the tender state of some businesses just now emerging from the pandemic economy.

“I do have concerns with sponsorships,” Stinnett told the board, advising them that a scaled-down festival was an option. “I think your sponsorships are going to be hurt because of COVID-19.”

Ultimately, the board decided to roll the dice and move forward with planning the fest. Last year’s acts, Diamond Rio and Doyle Lawson, are both slated to return after the town cancelled last year’s performances.

“We’ve worked really hard to get it to the level it’s at and you don’t want to fall back,” she said.

There are three components to the certificate training program, including a 1.5hour self-study program, three-hour live seminar, and hands-on assessment of intramuscular and subcutaneous injection technique.

HCC will also offer optional American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification included in the price of the immunization program to ensure proper training of technicians in case of an emergency.

The cost for the program will be $77.

Registration will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13. For more information, call 828.627.4669, email vldevore@haywood.edu or visit https://www.haywood.edu/instruction/ workforce-continuing-education/ pharmacy-technician.

Bill addresses judicial efficiency in western counties

A

become law, the five Haywood judges would remain in 30B, while the other, a resident of Clay County, would remain in 30A and be joined by two new judges who live somewhere in 30A. “The theory is to cut on down the travel time for the judges, to cut down on, inconvenience for everyone,” Clampitt said. “It’s a benefit to the citizens as far as turnaround time in court cases, and continuances, and also a benefit to law enforcement, to cut down on the time and travel.”

Those two new judges would be appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper, with terms expiring in 2022, and their successors elected in the November 2022 General Election.

Two additional assistant district attorneys for Prosecutorial District 43 would also be needed, bringing the total from 13 to 15.

Pless said the move would help the court system address cases in a more expedient manner and devote more attention to offenders.

“We need to go in some different directions. As far as the core systems are concerned, I had a meeting with Judge Brad Letts, I guess it was in December, shortly after the election. We talked about a couple of different issues and one of them is we really need something to be able to track offenders to where we can kind of keep them on a consistent path,” Pless said. “I

SHOP VOLUNTEER

Will we wind up splitting the district? I don’t know.

Will we get some additional judge positions and assistant DA positions, which is what I’ve been pushing for all long? I think the answer is yes to that.”

— Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin

guess ‘police’ is the only word I can think of, kind of like if they appear before a bunch of different judges, you don’t have consistency.”

Pless also thinks the bill would be an important first step to establishing veterans courts, drug courts, and family courts.

Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Franklin, said he was supportive of the idea as a whole, but he’s still trying to sort out some conflicting viewpoints.

“I’m definitely in support of adding judges to our area. There’s some honest disagreement amongst some good people, but I’m talking to now both sides of that issue, some thinking it would be good to have the district split, some thinking we need to keep the districts the same and just add some positions,” Corbin said. “As with any issue, and I’ve learned this after dealing with folks through the years, you have to find common ground. What are the things that we all agree on, and are those the things that we can get done? Will we wind up splitting the district? I don’t know. Will we get some additional judge positions and assistant DA positions, which is what I’ve been pushing for all long? I think the answer is yes to that.”

The bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee on March 29, but faces several other committee hearings before it could make it to the floor.

April 28-May 4, 2021

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BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR House bill proposed by Western North Carolina reps. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Mark Pless, R-Haywood, includes significant changes to a judicial district that is larger than the states of Delaware and Rhode Island combined.

“Population for this area is growing exponentially, the number of cases are growing exponentially. Dockets get to be so long and there’s so many court cases,” said Clampitt of H405, which was filed in the House with Clampitt and Pless as primary sponsors on March 24.

The bill would amend NCGS 7A-41 and move Swain County from Superior Court District 30A, which also includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties, to district 30B, which is currently comprised of Haywood and Jackson counties. Each district is assigned one resident Superior Court judge.

The bill would also amend NCGS 7A-133 to divide the six-judge 30th District Court District into two separate districts, 30A and 30B. District 30A would consist of Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties with three District Court judges. District 30B would consist of Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties and have five District Court judges.

Right now, five of the six judges in the district live in Haywood County. Were the bill to

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Ramp Festival returns The 91st Ramp Convention will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 2, at American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville.

Bob Caldwell will be the masters of ceremonies and Sons of Ralph will be the featured bluegrass band. Tickets cost $10 and include a meal or just $5 for the event. There will also be a ramp eating contest, cloggers, karaoke content, 50/50 raffles and vendors.

For more information, call Sheila at 828.506.3400.

Mr. Milltown Scholarship Showcase The Pisgah Sports and Entertainment Marketing and Pisgah DECA will host a reboot of the Mr. Milltown Scholarship Showcase that was originally planned for March last year but was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The Mr. Milltown Scholarship Showcase will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 22, in the Pisgah High School auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and admission is $5. Tickets previously purchased for the 2020 event will be honored at the door. Concessions will also be available for purchase.

The Mr. Milltown Scholarship Showcase is similar to the Miss Labor Day Pageant but will feature six young men from the PHS

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class of 2021. Thanks to sponsors in the community, the class will present three of these contestants with a total of $1,750 in scholarship funds.

COVID-19 cluster found at Haywood jail Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency has identified a COVID-19 cluster at the Haywood County Detention Center. Over the last week five incarcerated persons, all in the same pod, have tested positive for COVID-19.

The entire population of the affected pod was tested after the initial case showed mild symptoms, and four of the tests came back positive on April 14. All incarcerated persons in the pod have been in isolation since the first onset of symptoms and everyone is being tested every three days throughout the quarantine period per COVID-19 protocols.

On April 17, the fifth person tested positive. Everyone connected with the pod where the cluster occurred will continue to isolate and quarantine until the 14-day period has passed.

One of the COVID-positive persons has since bonded out but has been instructed to and has agreed to quarantine at home.

On several occasions, Haywood County Emergency Services has provided vaccinations to all incarcerated persons who wished to be vaccinated and will continue to do so as needed.

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Dirty Dancing SATURDAY, AUGUST 28

Jaws ("Float-in" on the lake) SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Back to the Future

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30

Kids Halloween Movie TBD + trunk or treat & haunted trail

Movies subject to change.

For latest info and tickets visit lakelogan.org/drive-in-movies

facebook.com/smnews April 28-May 4, 2021

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City Lights Café celebrates 10 years On Tuesday, April 6, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce staff and ambassador team held a very special celebration to honor the 10year anniversary of City Lights Cafe being in business.

City Lights Cafe is located at 3 East Jackson Street in downtown Sylva and offers dine-in, take-out, and online orders and indoor seating and patio seating.

City Lights specializes in tasty, healthy food, including crepes, paninis, taquerias, soups, salads and baked goods. They serve locally roasted, organic cofIsabel Couture/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce photo fee, plus local beer and wine. They provide free Wi-Fi and an outdoor, covered pet-friendly patio and a place to gather with your friends.

Call 828.587.2233 or visit www.citylightscafe.com.

Wicked Weed comes to Harrah’s Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has partnered with Wicked Weed Brewing of Asheville to open a new brewpub this spring.

The spacious, 12,000 square-foot-brewpub will be located on the second floor of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort near the Event Center. Included in the area will be a 36-seat main bar, a walk-up tasting bar for seasonal and special offerings, as well as a small stage for entertainment.

Brooks Robinson, Regional Senior Vice President & General Manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casinos, is focused on enhancing the property experience by having more options on tap for guests to enjoy.

“We continually look for opportunities to diversify our guests’ experience, which is why we are excited to be working with a local, innovative business like Wicked Weed,” said Robinson. “Wicked Weed has really set themselves apart with their unique food and beverage offerings. The brewpub is an exceptional addition to our current roster of offerings and is primed to be a destination that guests will love.”

WNC real estate still hyperactive Neal Hanks, President of Beverly-Hanks, Realtors, recently delivered the company’s first quarter 2021 Real Estate Market Report.

According to the Beverly-Hanks Q1 2021 Real Estate Market Report, the Western North Carolina housing market remains in hyperactive mode.

Homes are selling quickly thanks to very competitive conditions, and home values are rising rapidly as a result.

“The incredibly tight supply of homes for sale

is the lowest in recent memory,” said Hanks. “And until demand eases, we expect price gains to continue.”

Intense competition among buyers is forcing offers up, sending home prices soaring and appraisers scurrying to justify market values based on recent sales. The median sales price of a home in WNC has risen 17% from last year to $327,450. In some counties, like Transylvania and Yancey/Mitchell, values are up 26%.

At the same time, the inventory of homes for sale has declined by 60% when compared to 2020—a year with already strikingly low supply.

“Supply will remain tight in 2021, compounded by the fact that first-time home buyers, many of whom are Millennials, are entering the market in droves,” said Hanks.

Sullivan makes ‘Future Leaders’ list Caleb Sullivan, the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority’s social media marketing and group sales specialist, has received the great honor of being named one of Destinations International’s 2021 30 Under 30 recipients.

Sullivan has been with the JCTDA for two years and during his time there has authored the Crisis Communication Plan for the TDA, created an accessible guide to Jackson County, and has grown and manages the destination’s social media accounts, among numerous other projects.

“Caleb is truly indispensable when it comes to the work he does on behalf of our residents and visitors. Through his role, he generates significant economic impact to Jackson County and its businesses and employees. We are very fortunate to have his expertise at the JCTDA and this designation recognizes his talent and dedication to the tourism industry,” Jackson County TDA’s Executive Director Nick Breedlove said.

Waynesville Wellness at new location Waynesville Wellness, a co-operative of health and wellness professionals started by Logan and Nate Novgrod, has moved to 540 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville.

The following practitioners are currently offering services at the office: Nate Novgrod is a licensed acupuncturist with 12 years of experience offering Acupuncture/Dry Needling, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Cupping Therapy, and Tui Na Massage. He also teaches continuing education courses for both massage therapists and acupuncturists.

Logan Novgrod is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist with over 22 years of experience. Offering multiple massage modalities. She is also a certified Doula (Birth Assistant) and specializes in pregnancy massage.

Staysee Teague is a licensed massage and bodywork therapist. He is a Reiki Master/Teacher practicing since 1999 Lynda Schoenbeck is a licensed clinical social worker has nearly 30 years of experience providing counseling and support services to children, teens and adults of all ages. She accepts most insurance and has a sliding fee scale for those without insurance. www.waynesvillewellness.com.

Primitive Outback opens in Franklin The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Primitive Outback Kayaking and Gem Mining with a ribbon cutting celebration.

Primitive Outback is located off U.S. 441 North in Otto at 155 Robin Lynn Lane. The new owners Ivan and Jen Glick are excited to offer fun for the entire family.

“Gem Mine rain or shine at our Covered Outdoor Gem Flume along the Little Tennessee River. We have many different sizes of Gem Buckets and a Gem and Fossil Bucket just waiting for you to find your hidden treasure. You will fine topaz, rubies, amethyst, emeralds and many other types of gemstones. We welcome all rock hounds and treasure seekers. We will help you to identify your gems and fossils during your adventure,” said Jen Glick.

Primitive Outback also offers leisurely selfguided kayak trips down the Little Tennessee River.

Call 828.349.1717 or visit www.primitiveoutback.com

Appalachian Overland Rentals opens The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony with Appalachian Overland Rentals.

Appalachian Overland Rentals is a new locally owned and operated business renting recreational vehicles. Owners Lucas and Cynthia Freimuth, both locals, are currently taking reservations for

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the 2021 season in Franklin.

“We have created a unique fleet of rental vehicles fully equipped to give our guests a jump start on their next adventure. The rentals available include an expedition pull-behind trailer, a pullbehind teardrop camper with sleeping quarters, a Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Tacoma with overland builds and a fully self-contained camper van.

Rentals range from $85 to $250 per night and all rentals come equipped with camping essentials,” said Lucas Freimuth.

For more information, visit appalachianoverlandrentals.com or call 828.332.0116.

New culinary team at Maggie Valley Club Maggie Valley Club & Resort in Maggie Valley recently welcomed a new culinary team, naming Ashley Westbrook Director of Food & Beverage and Jon Cropf as Executive Chef.

Westbrook and Cropf will lead the culinary operations at the property’s Pin High Bar & Grille and share a passion for food and beverage as well as a creativeness for new menu items and specials.

At Maggie Valley, Westbrook will oversee daily restaurant operations, club events and handle all private event inquiries. Her mission is to provide members and their guests with a friendly and memorable dining experience.

Cropf has more than 22 years of experience in culinary arts and holds a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte. Prior to his arrival at Maggie Valley, Cropf served as executive chef at Trummer’s on Main in Clifton, Virginia. In his four years there, the restaurant achieved top five placements on Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top 50 restaurants list for four consecutive years.

Visit www.maggievalleyclub.com or call 800.438.3861.

Rootless Kitchen open in Waynesville Rootless Kitchen has opened inside the 828 Market on Main in Waynesville. The menu is inspired by travels that the owner, Marc, has taken over the years. The menu offers sandwiches and wraps with many options for vegetarians.

Marc has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years, from restaurants to hotels to hospitals. In 2014, Marc and his wife Mary decided to break away from the corporate world and partner with like-minded entrepreneurs in Southwest Colorado where they managed two restaurants, cabins and ATV rentals. Marc quickly became known as the “Pizza Guy” in Creede.

Marc has partnered with 828 Market on Main to share his travel-inspired dishes.

The market is locally owned and managed by Carrie & Richie Griffin. For more up to date information on 828 Market, visit facebook.com/828marketonmain or Instagram @828marketonmain.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

I’ll take growth over stagnation any day W

Be intentional in protecting earth To the Editor: Many of us in Jackson County volunteered to pick up litter recently as part of Jackson County’s Litter Sweep. I know I did in my neighborhood of Forest Hills in Cullowhee.

These actions tied in well with the theme of Earth Day 2021 on April 22, which was “Restore Our Earth.”

As climate reality leaders, we understand

founded the Center on the Economics and Demography of Aging at the University of California, told The New York Times. “If it stays lower like this, it means the end of American exceptionalism in this regard.”

By that, he’s referring to the fact that for decades the U.S. had one of the highest birthrates among industrialized countries. Now, the U.S. rate of growth is akin to those in Europe and far eastern industrialized countries like Japan and South Korea.

That means fewer young workers and an increasing aging population.

Here’s part of the problem: according to research, it’s not just modern contraception and increased education Editor among women that’s driving lower birthrates. It’s also happening because young couples say they can’t afford children. Data shows that worries about the cost of childcare, uncertainty about future economic conditions, college debt and not having the money to raise them are forcing young couples to put off having a family or simply choose not to. In the richest country in the world, economic insecurity is rampant among the young.

If population begins declining, which it has in several countries, then there are fewer people to make things and less consumption. That sounds great, especially from an environmental perspective, but there are consequences — rising

Scott McLeod

hile not a surprise to anyone in Western North Carolina walking around with their eyes open, new Census data released this week confirms that North Carolina and this region are gaining population. Net migration — how many people are moving in versus how many are moving out — was the primary engine of growth for the state, allowing it to pick up a 14th congressional seat. The U.S. population now stands at 331.5 million, and in North Carolina we have grown by 9.5 percent since 2010 to 10.45 million residents today.

Here in WNC we can see it all around us. While the natural growth in many of our counties — births versus deaths — is negative, the migration of new residents from other states is fueling population growth, an economic surge and an overall housing shortage while exacerbating an affordable housing crisis.

Despite what’s happening in this region, many are pointing to America’s slowing growth rate as a national problem of unrealized proportions. According to Census figures, from 2010 to 2020 the U.S. population grew by just 7.4 percent, the second slowest rate since counting began. It’s just barely faster than the 7.3 percent rate in the 1930s that was attributed to the Great Depression.

The Census Bureau credited lower birthrates — especially following the Great Recession of 2008 — and the slowing of legal immigration to the U.S. as the primary factors.

“This is a big deal,” Ronald Lee, a demographer who

LETTERS that the science is settled and that carbon pollution from fossil fuels is warming our planet and causing natural systems to be out of kilter. This imbalance contributes to hotter summers, stronger storms, rising seas, summer drought, wildfires, extreme rainfall events, intense hurricane seasons and so on.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in the United States, March 2021 was the third warmest of the 127 years on record. In fact,

unemployment, lower GDP, more burdensome taxes to take care of an aging population. Science Daily says immigration policies to attract workers from Southeast Asia and Africa — where birthrates are much higher — could be among the major policy debates for the remainder of the 21st century. It predicts the earth’s population will County % growth 2010-20 peak in 2064 at 9.7 billion Buncombe 9.6 and then decline to 8.8 Haywood 5.6 billion by 2100.

Henderson 10 While we sit in our Jackson 9.1 bubble in this mountain Macon 5.7 region dealing with Madison 4.7 growth and housing and Swain 2.1 living wage issues, other Transylvania 3.9 counties in North Carolina and many states are losing population.

With growth, we have the resources to cope with many of the problems it causes. Once populations start declining and you have negative growth, new problems occur but the resources to deal with them dry up.

I’ll take the growth and a vibrant economy any day. Let’s just hope our citizenry stays engaged and our leaders make the right decisions on the challenging issues facing this region.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

Growth in WNC

this was the eighth warmest March for the globe since records began in 1880.

Climate denial is not an option anymore.

We are running out of time to act. Doing nothing threatens the health of the planet, our families and the world we pass on to generations to come.

We finally have an administration that believes in climate science and on April 22, Earth Day, the President hosted a global climate summit with 40 world leaders that was live-streamed from the White House for public viewing.

As individuals, there are many “green” actions we can take, such as eating more plant-based meals. According to earthday.org, producing a single pound of beef requires 1,800 gallons of water and generates “staggering levels of green house gas emissions.” So we can start to fight climate change with diet change.

Other “green” changes individuals can make, include using reusable eating utensils.

Plastic utensils are an unnecessary and major source of plastic pollution. Carrying a spare set of washable utensils is a small act that will keep hundreds of plastic forks, spoons and knives out of landfills.

Lastly, if you’re still using single use plastic grocery bags, take a recyclable grocery bag the next time you go grocery shopping. The average plastic bag is used for only 10 to 20 minutes but can live for as long as a 1,000 years in a landfill. What’s more only 1 percent of grocery bags are returned to the store for recycling.

Earth Day has passed, but everyone should

still be encouraged to take one simple green act, because as Al Gore, founder and chair of The Climate Reality Project says, “The reality we now face, implores us to act”.

Nilofer Couture Cullowhee

Lemon’s book is well worth a read To the Editor: Whether or not you are a fan of TV anchor and journalist Don Lemon, his latest book This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends about Racism is recommended to everyone trying to better understand the racism in our country and what we can do about it. Lemon grew up as a Black and gay man in Louisiana in the 1960s and 1970s. As an adult, Lemon has lived in the South and North and has experienced racism and homophobia much of his 55 years.

Inspired by James Baldwin’s book The Fire Next Time (1963) and George Floyd’s murder in 2020, Lemon shares his personal stories.

He challenges us as to what we all need to do to combat racism. Quoting Baldwin, “If we do not now dare everything, the fulfillment of that prophecy, recreated from the Bible in song by a slave, is upon us. ‘God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water, the fire next time.’” Lemon writes: “This is the fire. We’re in it. JFK and Obama led us to the rainbow; Trump forced us into the fire. And then he poured gasoline on it.”

Because of the outrage in our country and all over the world after

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Gun rights are absolute

with people who think, act and are different than we are. Develop relationships with people of different races, religions, sexual orientations, political views, etc. It isn’t easy to talk about our differences but it must be done over a period of time. In the book’s appendix, Lemon lists a number of books to read including John Lewis’ Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America.

I found Lemon’s book easy to read, thought-provoking and challenging as to what I can do to help combat racism and work toward a more perfect union. In my opinion this is a “must-read” that was No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in March.

Mary Herr Cherokee

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Smoky Mountain News

the murder of George Floyd and the growing Black Lives Matter movement, Lemon believes we could be witnessing the death throes of white supremacy in the United States. In the last chapter, “How Change Happens,” Lemon lists four things to bring about change — anger, solidarity, compassion and vision. Lemon writes: “In order to move forward, we must form unshakable coalitions of marginalized people.”

Lemon writes: “We can get there — we can — if we’re willing to do the work.

History is always now for somebody. Why not us? If every one of us is willing to be ‘one of the ones,’ we have it in us to meet this moment together, feel its mighty sway, and emerge from the chaos to craft a more just and loving world.”

Lemon encourages us to start talking

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, INC.

April 28-May 4, 2021

To the Editor: A quote that will live in infamy! On April 8, 2021, Comrade Joe Biden laid bare the Socialist/Communist agenda that his party is working to implement in order to destroy the foundational freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights to all Americans.

Standing in front of the cameras, he stated “No amendment to the Constitution is absolute.”

It is readily apparent he was intentionally lying and committing the criminal act of perjury when on January 20th he put his hand on a Bible and took a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution.

Now let’s see if there are any members of the House of Representatives who took the same oath willing to step up and file articles of impeachment against this man who is, by his own admission, an existential threat to all of the American way of life. It is probably a waste of time to hope a federal prosecutor will file criminal perjury charges against Comrade Joe. Among all of the other abhorrent and anti-American acts Comrade Beijing Biden and his cabal are perpetrating is endeavoring to take all firearms away from law-abiding Americans. Let us carefully explore the words “shall not be infringed” the framers placed in the Second Amendment as defined by Webster’s Dictionary.

• “Shall” — “used to express what is inevitable or seems likely to happen in the future, express determination, an imperative command, used in laws, regulations, or directives to express what is mandatory.”

• “Not” — “used as a function word to make negative a group of words or a word, used as a function word to stand for the negative of a preceding group of words.”

• “Be” — “equal in meaning; have the same connotation as; to have identity with ; to constitute the same idea or object as; to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position.”

• “Infringed” — “to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another.”

It is abundantly clear that the context and importance in which the framers placed this mandate are absolute. The prior

so-called decisions by various courts run by the black robed imposters have been used to incrementally denigrate this right notwithstanding, the unequivocal language of the framers still carries the day.

Does anyone with half a brain think that a determined criminal gives a moment’s thought to so called gun control laws or fears what some police officer, judge or jury thinks when he is coming after you?

When I went into post basic training schooling to be a member of the elite 2nd Combat Defense Squadron of the Strategic Air Command, our firearms instructor — who had fought in WWII and the Korean Conflict — started every day telling us “Repeat after me — gun control is first round on target.”

The next time some armed criminal kicks in the front door of your house, tries to hijack your car, walks into your business to rob you of your hard-earned money, kidnap your child, rape your daughter, or burn down your city, call Comrade Beijing Joe Biden and implore him to come protect you or send his armed guards to do it. How do you think will that work for you?

So, all of you who voted to put this Socialist/Communist regime into office you might want to reflect on how do you feel about being a partner and fellow traveler in the pernicious Socialist/Communist Party’s long-term effort to try to create a process to force all Americans to bend their knee to the CCP and march in lockstep to the Marxist agenda Comrade Beijing Joe Biden and his minions are working to implement? Are you going to volunteer to be the ones to volunteer to be first to give up your guns to the whacko who Comrade Beijing Joe Biden just appointed to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)?

If you think this unprecedented move against our rights is OK, just take the front door off of your house and toss it away.

That will save you the trouble of finding the right key and unlocking the door. Obviously you don’t need it. Hey, if you have a problem knowing how to do that, call me and I will gladly help you do it!

Peter K. Stern USAF Retired Franklin

23

24

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

A hard life makes a good song Travis Book of The Infamous Stringdusters

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR efore the shutdown of the entire music industry in March 2020 due to the pandemic, The Infamous Stringdusters were widely-regarded as one of the hardest touring, most talented and innovative acts in the bluegrass and jam scenes.

And since last year, the ‘Dusters went their separate ways until they could circle back and crank the tunes again. Though most of the band calls Colorado home, bassist Travis Book resides in Brevard — mountain biking in nearby DuPont State Forest and working on his antique Ford pickup when not on the road or in the studio.

But, instead of sitting idly by awaiting the green light to tour again, Book took matters into his own hands, ultimately creating the “Travis Book Happy Hour” variety show — a live stream of music and conversation, which has now molded itself into intimate performances in front of a limited-capacity audience.

The semi-weekly event rotates between The Grey Eagle (Asheville) and 185 King Street (Brevard), featuring special guests (and old friends) of Book, including the likes of folksongbird Lindsay Lou, dobro wizard Anders Beck (Greensky Bluegrass), acoustic guitar maestro Jon Stickley, and many more.

B

Smoky Mountain News: The “Happy Hour” consists of yourself and two other musicians — a power trio. You can create a lot of noise with three people, but also a lot of space for vulnerability and movement.

Travis Book: Absolutely. And I think “the space” is such a great thing to point towards, and something that’s missing. I was on a [studio] session [recently] and someone said, “Is that solo too busy?” [My friend] goes, “Well, bluegrass is a really busy music.”

In general, if you’ve got five people [playing], there’s a lot going on. And there’s not a lot of space. [The Infamous Stringdusters are] 15 years of playing as a full-tilt boogie jam-grass band.

There’s a lot of space in the trio [format], to be able to play in an ensemble, where sometimes there’s just a voice going. The power of three — it’s been really enjoyable.

SMN: The ‘Dusters are a high-energy stage act. For those first episodes of the “Happy Hour” without a live audience, what was it like for just you to perform into the camera, to not have a reaction when a song ends?

TB: Yeah, that’s been an interesting thing to navigate. And it’s been a really good opportunity to experience that in different

Want to go?

The “Travis Book Happy Hour” variety show will take place on select Wednesdays onstage at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.

Upcoming sessions include: Jeremy Garrett (of The Infamous Stringdusters) April 28, Sierra Hull & Justin Moses May 5, and Steve McMurry (Acoustic Syndicate), Mike Ashworth & Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers) May 19.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.thegreyeagle.com.

There will also be performances held at 185 King Street in Brevard, including Sierra Hull & Justin Moses May 4, Benny Galloway w/Tommy Maher May 11, and Mike Ashworth & Mike Guggino (Steep Canyon Rangers) May 18.

All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on www.185kingst.com.

Tickets for both venues are $20 per person. Limited capacity seating. Shows are all ages. Live streams are free to view.

Donations via a virtual tip jar are accepted.

ways. A few years ago, I sort of realized, even as a member of the Stringdusters, that if any part of my [performance] was dependent on getting something from the audience, [then] that was handing the keys to the car to somebody else.

So, it began a process of me becoming less attached to the audience response, [yet] still wanting to get “deep into that” and “engage with that” — being OK with evolving naturally out of the space and less of, “I need this audience to be right there with me or this isn’t going to happen,” you know?

When COVID started, I was just sitting in front of my phone on Instagram, playing music for people. Very quickly, I got used to the idea [the audience was] out there, that people were listening.

I was just going to do what I do without any response. It’s this real-world way or Eastern perspective to act out. You have a trajectory, but then you let go of the outcome. You work towards a goal, but the goal isn’t the thing — the process is the thing.

It’s the same thing when you’re doing a live stream. You’re having to trust the process, trust the music, and do it entirely without that feedback loop. It’s been a completely different space [for me as a performer].

SMN: The process of stripping it down to such basic levels, working to build it up from

there. It’s probably reinvigorated your reasons as to why you love doing what you do — loving the music first and foremost, with everything else around that a bonus.

TB: Totally. It really does. It has stripped away a lot of stuff that gets constructed around your life, around how you do things, and why you do things.

This [shutdown] took everything back to ground zero. And I think for a lot of bands in the music industry, we’re entering into a space where the question is not, “When is it going to be back to normal?” The question is, “What’s coming next?”

These [musical] spaces are always changing. It’s shifted to where there’s nothing but opportunity out there. I don’t want to set up a duality, but you can [either] sit back and wait and see, and a lot of musicians are doing that — waiting for things to stabilize, waiting to be comfortable to get out there and play.

And then there’s a whole host of other musicians that are just continuing to do whatever it is they do in whatever context they can — reimagining opportunities whenever and wherever they can.

It’s happening right now. There’s never been any other time than it is right now. And what happened before [the shutdown]? It’s almost irrelevant because your value and potential before is not the same as it may be now — everything has changed.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Hayford Road. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)

oming to a stop at the end of the offramp of Exit 40 along Interstate 87 last Saturday evening, I turned right and headed down the Spellman Road. Entering the small hamlet of Beekmantown, New York, it’s a few miles from the off-ramp to my parents’ farmhouse.

The road is lonely and desolate, more so

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at night when you’re the only vehicle rolling through the endless cornfields of rural Clinton County. With 104.7 FM on the dial, a faint signal from the Vermont station was picked up by the pickup truck. Lana Del Rey’s “Mariners Apartment Complex” echoed out the speakers, my foot steady on the gas. I wasn’t in a hurry to be anywhere.

Who is anymore, eh?

The melody ricocheted around the truck and out the open windows. The cool night air swirling around me, just like the restless thoughts in my mind, whether it be about the matters of the day, or any day for that matter.

April 28-May 4, 2021

Don’t look too far, right where you are, that’s where I am

room, on the school bus, onstage at our graduation. I even ran into my 10th grade girlfriend, still as vivacious and sarcastic as ever.

Soon, several old teachers of mine sauntered in and grabbed a seat in a socially-distanced pew. There was Mr. McManus, 12th grade social studies. Mr. Howard, 10th grade technology. Mr. Landry, 11th grade math. Mr. Stone, 10th grade English. And so on.

More white hair on their heads these days, but the faces, expressions and mannerisms were the exact same. Funny enough, I even referred to them still as “Mr.” when I pulled my mask down for a hot second so they could identify the friendly voice saying hello.

The mass culminated. Time for the reception. Over to the American Legion a few streets away for a small buffet and drinks held high, foggy stories rehashed and forgotten friendships rekindled — in search of some semblance of familiarity in a modern world often confusing and at arm’s length in one’s daily interactions and reactions.

Leaving the reception, I stopped by little sister’s humble abode in town to see her, my nieces and brother-in-law. Sunset beers and catching up, all while figuring out plans to hang out together when I will hopefully return in a couple months for the Fourth of July.

Before it got too dark out, I jumped into the truck and took the long way back to my parents’ farmhouse. Down the backroads of the North Country, eventually turning onto Hayford Road.

The old dirt farm road is not far from my childhood home. I used to jog down Hayford when I was training for cross-country and track in middle/high school and college. I also used to wander down it with my old cronies, all in the name of irresponsible enlightenment and midnight shenanigans.

Meandering down Hayford, a flood of memories dancing across the dashboard.

Windows rolled down. The cool night air.

Stereo humming with some Zeppelin melody. Mind full of restless thoughts. Once blurry moments seemingly vivid when physically standing in the scene where it all transpired. A heavy heart.

A small town I’m once again leaving, a place only felt and relived nowadays in the dreams of deep Carolina slumbers. Foot steady on the gas pedal. I wasn’t in a hurry to be anywhere. Who is anymore, eh?

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

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

Pulling into the farmhouse driveway, the song wasn’t over. The truck sat idle, radio blasting. My eyes aimed forward, beyond the dashboard and into the unknown abyss of time and place.

Turning the truck off, I reached for the six-pack of Labatt Blue from the passenger’s seat. It was purchased at the gas station in my hometown several hours after the funeral, not long after the reception at the local American Legion post, a few minutes after I left the home of my little sister.

Entering the farmhouse, my father was sitting in his recliner and reading next to the roaring fireplace (gets chilly at night in April in the North Country). My mother in the living room, sipping a glass of wine and watching reruns.

I felt too tired to put the six-pack of Canadian pilsner in the refrigerator, so I placed it on the stairwell and headed upstairs to my old bedroom, throwing myself onto the bed, shoes still on.

A few hours later, I awoke. It was now early Sunday morning. My folks were fast asleep on the other side of the farmhouse. The fire tamed down and quickly fading in the iron stove. On my way downstairs, I grabbed the six-pack and threw it in the fridge.

Pouring myself a glass of milk, I sipped the soothing beverage and looked at my reflection in the kitchen window. In need of a haircut, but still in pretty good shape for age 36, considering.

Earlier on Saturday, I returned to my hometown of Rouses Point, New York, a tiny community on the Canadian Border, along the shores of Lake Champlain. I found myself there in my role as a pallbearer at a funeral for someone who was many important things in my life: high school English teacher, running coach, lifelong friend, cherished mentor.

Walking into St. Patrick’s Church on Lake Street, I started thinking about all those Sunday masses when I was a kid within those walls, those weddings and funerals that I’d attended there, too. The last one being my grandfather’s in 2007, right before I left Upstate New York and headed west to Idaho to start my first reporting gig after college.

One by one, all these familiar faces entered the church. Former classmates and teammates, some of which also asked to be pallbearers. Faces that I used to compete with, used to sit with at lunch, in the class-

Smoky Mountain News 25

28 Walnut St. Waynesville arts & entertainment

828.456.3021

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Smoky Mountain News

April 28-May 4, 2021

PLAQUE PROVIDED BY

26

Plastics, Plastics Everywhere. Should We Be Worried? into a pitcher and take that chemical taste out.

You’ll save a lot of money. Will it make a difference for our world?

Canada and many European countries are already heading in that direction.

Can we do it here? Of course. It’s a matter of dropping a very bad habit.

Nature never did betray the heart that loved her. —William Wordsworth, 1798

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baby whale washed up on a beach in the Pacific. Dead. Eighty-eight pounds of plastics were found in its stomach, strangling its digestive system.

Two hundred fifty-nine brands of bottled water were tested. Only seventeen were found to be free of microscopic plastic particles. Is this a problem?

The ‘Plastic Blob’ floating in the Pacific Ocean is 1½ times the size of Texas.

What exactly are ‘plastics?’ Why should folks in Western North Carolina care about this at all?

They are part of our every moment — at home, shopping, school, driving a car… and an enormous part of our economy. All plastics are created from crude oil in the giant ‘cracking towers’ of refineries. They are processed into millions of items in factories all over the world.

If current trends continue, plastics production will consume 20-30% of all the oil and gas the world produces. Their increasing production will release hundreds of millions of tons of heattrapping gases into the atmosphere, worsening extreme weather events here in North Carolina.

In the USA, we use about 400 MILLION plastic shopping bags A DAY! The average American family uses about 1500 bags a year. In Denmark the average family uses FOUR bags a year. These bags break down in a few years into micro-plas-

SOURCES

tic particles.

We in the US use about 300 million plastic bottles ? A DAY. They too break down into microplastic particles.

Less than 10 % of all this plastic is recycled.

The rest goes into the giant waste bin called Earth.

SO WHAT CAN WE DO HERE IN WNC? Instead of going home from the grocery store with 12 plastic bags that will be used once for 12 minutes (the actual average), try using 4-5 cloth

grocery sacks. Ask your grocery managers if in the long run it would be cheaper, and better for our community, if they gave everyone washable, reusable cloth grocery sacks instead of buying thousands of bags that end up in the landfill or floating into trees and streams.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars a year on plastic water bottles that harm the environment and your health, use BPA-free bottles and tap water. If your water has a chemical taste, get a filter and keep a pitcher or two in the fridge.

You can also squeeze a few drops of lemon juice

• Biological Diversity, “Plastic Bag Facts” Harvard University School of Public Health, “Exposure to phthalates may raise risk of pregnancy loss, gestational diabetes” • Harvard University School of Public Health, “Plastics: Danger where we least expect it” (“BPA potential health dangers from exposure in the uterus before birth . . . . abnormal development of the brain, breast, and prostate.

Many animal studies link the chemical to reproductive disorders, including infertility, feminizing of male organs in fetuses, and early puberty in females.”

• The Mountaineer, “Say no to plastic bags” • Ocean Conservancy, “Trash-free Seas” • PBS Television, “The Plastic Problem” • Science Daily, “Significant ongoing decline in sperm counts of Western men” • www.wncclimateaction.com Steve Wall, WNC CAC co-founding member, is a retired pediatrician who has lived in WNC over three decades.

On the stage

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

Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.

Karen Covington-Yow.

CDC protocols in place, audiences can enjoy this incredible one-woman musical from the comfort of their party’s own seating pod.

This award winning show had a successful run in Asheville, in 2019 and met

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) May 1 and Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute set) May 15. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Anna Victoria (singer-songwriter) April 30, Prophets of Time May 7 and Andrew Thelston Band (Led Zeppelin tribute set) May 14. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. www.elevatedmountain.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Alma Russ (Appalachian folk/indie) 6 p.m. April 30. Free and open to the public.

828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Elysium Park Band April 30. 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will host a Mother’s Day concert with members of the Tuscola High School band from 1 to 2 p.m. May 8 in the Gallery & Gifts showroom. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host The UpBeats May 1 and Outlaw Whiskey May 8.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semi-

with rave reviews. “Love, Linda” recounts the life story of Linda Lee Thomas, the southern belle who was the driving force behind the career of her legendary composer husband, Cole Porter.

Beautiful compositions weave the music of Cole Porter into a compelling, glamorous, and complex story of this unconventional relationship. Karen Covington-Yow’s gorgeous voice sores over audiences as she portrays Linda Porter in this unforgettable tale.

All seats are $20 general admission. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance.

To make your reservation, call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 at any time and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you would like held and the performance date on the recording.

A HART staff member will return your call to confirm your reservation.

Reservations can now be made by calling the box office or by going online to www.harttheatre.org.

regular live music on the weekends.

828.926.7440 or www.valley-tavern.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.4750 or www.facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island Street in Bryson City.

Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician. Leashed pets welcome. Outdoor event. Current Covid19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. 828.488.7857.

ALSO:

• Open call for artists to sell their work in the Carriage House Gift Shop at the historic Shelton House in Waynesville. For details, call 757.894.2293.

• “Pig Roast & Wine Tasting” charity event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pork sandwiches, raffle items, local art, and more. All dona-

The highly-sought after sandwich trophy.

Sylva Sandwich Competition Presented by the Sylva Art & Design Committee (SADC), the inaugural “Sylva Sandwich Competition” will take place during the month of May at participating restaurants around the community.

Establishments include Big Nick’s BBQ, Cosmic Carryout, Front Street Takeout, Guadalupe Cafe, K+M Seafood, Lucy In The Rye, Lulu’s, Mad Batter, South of Philly, White Moon, and Paper Mill Lounge.

Scan the QR code at participating restaurants and vote for your favorite “SADC” sandwich. All entry fees and donations from the competition will help fund a new mural at a downtown Sylva business.

tions to benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot. Stay for dinner and take advantage of late-hour shopping. www.mountainlovers.com.

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

828.631.3075.

• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) April 29. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m.

Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

After an opening weekend with sold out audiences, the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville continues to bring live theatre back to Western North Carolina with “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter.”

Performance dates will be 7:30 p.m.

April 29-30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. May 2. With socially distanced seating and

April 28-May 4, 2021

Starring Pasquale LaCorte as George Burns, “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will be held over for more performances following a high demand for tickets. The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

The production is being staged in the Fangmeyer Theater, with CDC protocols in place. The flat floor of the theater makes it possible for patrons to be in pods spaced six feet apart.

“Say Goodnight, Gracie” is an evening with one of the entertainment industry’s most celebrated figures. George Burns lived to be one hundred years old and was a major star until he died. He performed in Vaudeville in the 1920s and in the 1930s he teamed up with Gracie Allen, whom he would eventually marry. The two became stars of film and radio, and eventually had a successful television show in the 1950s.

The show offers an unforgettable tour through a century of entertainment.

Audiences will be transported with treasured video clips, audio and pictures from the life of these comic icons.

All seats are $20 general admission. Door opens 30 minutes prior to the performance.

To make reservations call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 at any time and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you would like held and the performance date on the recording.

‘Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter’

arts & entertainment

‘Say Goodnight, Gracie’ held over

On the table

• Friends of the Greenway (FROG) will host the Frog Fair arts and crafts gathering from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the FROG Quarters, located at 573 East Main Street in Franklin (at the Town Bridge). Over 25 vendors will be onsite. Area musicians will perform throughout the day, with a sitting area also provided. For vendor information, email frog28734@gmail.com.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall Want to paint, sip craft beer?

The “WNC Paint Night” will return to local breweries in Haywood, Jackson and Swain counties.

With step-by-step instructions, you will paint yourself a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

This is pure fun to do while you sip on something tasty at the brewery.

Events will be held at the following locations: BearWaters Brewing (Canton) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. April 29; Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) from 6 to 8 p.m. May 13, June 24, July 22, Aug. 19, Sept. 16, Oct. 14, Nov. 11 and Dec. 9; and Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) from 6 to 8 p.m. May 26, June 23, July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 29, Oct. 27, Nov. 17 and Dec. 22.

Space is limited. Reserve your seat by texting Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560. To learn more, visit the Facebook page @paintwnc or Instagram @wnc_paint_events.

Smoky Mountain News

April 28-May 4, 2021

MFA thesis showcase at WCU

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The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition is currently on display at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

Showcasing work in a variety of media and surveys a range of conceptual themes and creative approaches within contemporary art practice, the exhibition features four MFA candidates from the WCU School of Art and Design: Perry Houlditch, Mo Kessler, lydia see, and Lex Turnbull.

Shelton House reopens The Shelton House will launch its 2021 season on Saturday, May 1, promising to bring more “History, Heritage and Crafts” to the residents and visitors of Western North Carolina.

With hopes of a better season, warmer weather and COVID-19 vaccines, The Shelton House is committed to bringing safe, family friendly events, and museum tours to its beautiful campus.

The Shelton Campus is comprised of The Shelton House “Museum of NC Handicrafts,” the Shelton Carriage House Gift Shop filled with arts and crafts from local artisans, the early 19th century Barn and Event Center (re-opening year round with a new HVAC system and renovations in June, 2021 for rental options in Haywood County), Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market, and the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART).

The Shelton House will open for its 41st season from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday for tours and/or visits to

The MFA program from the WCU School of Art & Design is an inter-disciplinary studio art program and creative research environment where ideas are given form.

Through close association with faculty, visiting artists, scholars, and their peers, students develop a contextual and historical awareness of their practice focusing on exploration, creative research, and art making.

In this year’s MFA thesis exhibition, the four exhibiting artists offer a range of conceptual approaches and mediums.

Learn more about each of the exhibiting artists, explore the interactive 360° tour once available, and make a reservation to visit the WCU Fine Art Museum in person, all at arts.wcu.edu/mfathesis2021.

In addition, stay tuned on the WCU Fine Art Museum Facebook page for a series of interviews with each of the artists. This exhibition will be on display through May 7.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (and Thursday until 7 p.m.)

Haywood Arts celebrates Smokies flora The exhibit: “Celebrating the Flora of the Smoky Mountains” will run May 7-31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom on Main Street in Waynesville.

The exhibit will showcase our beautiful native wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and trees, all from local and regional artisans.

Free and open to the public, for more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.

the Gift Shop. House Tours are held on the hour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Gift Shop open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Special events and tours are offered throughout the season. Group tours can be arranged year-round by calling 828.452.1551 or contacting them at info@sheltonhouse.org.

• May 1: Museum, Barn, and Gift Shop open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday (tours on the hour, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

• Aug. 21-22: Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend. Open call for community organizations, artisans, crafters and sponsors. If interested, call 828.452.1551 or email info@sheltonhouse.org.

• Oct. 29-31: A Haunting on the Hill. A “Spooktacular” event for young and old on the grounds of the Shelton House.

• December: Candlelight Christmas tours of The Shelton House decorated for the holidays.

• Dec. 5: Appalachian Christmas and opening of the Tinsel Trail.

• Dec. 5 to Jan. 1: Tinsel Trail open.

Decorate your business, organization, church or family Christmas Tree on the grounds of The Shelton House.

A clay work by Elizabeth Smith.

HCC craft students spring sale Students in the Professional Craft Program at Haywood Community College in Clyde will host a “Spring Craft Sale” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 30.

The sale will feature student work in four mediums, including fiber, metals, ceramics, and wood. Held outside in the second-floor courtyard of the Creative Arts Sycamore Building, the sale is open to the public.

Students come from around the country for Haywood Community College’s unique combination of practical business skills and craft techniques. This student-led sale is a valuable opportunity for students to practice the marketing and sales skills they learn in the Professional Craft Program, as well as a fun way to engage with community members about craft.

Registration is now open for fall semester 2021 for all professional crafts programs of study. Visit www.haywood.edu, email hcc-advising@haywood.edu or call 828.627.2821.

The Shelton House is always looking for volunteers to help with events, tours, the gift shop, archiving, computer work, and much more. If you’re interested in helping out, call 828.452.1551, email info@sheltonhouse.org or stop by during open hours. www.sheltonhouse.org.

Haywood Arts seeks new director The Haywood County Arts Council Board of Directors are open to receive applicants for the position of Executive Director.

Located in Waynesville, the HCAC seeks a knowledgeable and articulate individual with a passion for the arts to apply for the position of executive director of the arts council.

This is an opportunity to lead a multifaceted, vibrant, arts organization and take it to the next level. The candidate of choice will report to and work in collaboration with the Board of Directors (BOD), embracing a philosophy of continuous improvement.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree, minimum. Experience: Any combination of

training, experience and education which provides the required knowledge and skills to perform the duties of this position: • Working with or leading a nonprofit organization.

• The supervision of staff and volunteers.

• The ability to create compelling marketing materials using both traditional and web-based platforms.

• Ability to utilize a variety of social media tools.

• Management of a budget.

• Arts education.

• Event planning.

• Art gallery management.

• Fundraising and development.

• Public speaking.

• A philosophy that embraces continuous improvement.

Part-time to start, transitioning to full time in two to three years. Salary is $24,000.

Applications accepted until May 7.

Submit a letter of interest, resume, and current recommendations to: Laura Linger: Board President, Haywood County Arts Council, P.O. Box 306, Waynesville, NC, 28786. For more information, email: lauralinger@charter.net.

1DAY2EVENTS

Throwing punches and having some fun

10AM

Jeff Minick

self some new duds, throws the old clothes away, and carries on.

Jack Reacher has appeared in 25 novels now — number 26 is due in October of this

• A book signing with Darryl Bollinger, author of The Healing Tree, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Justin Reeve, a scientist working for a small research lab, stumbles across a unique tree while hiking in the Smokies. His Cherokee friends identify it as a sacred healing tree, thought to be extinct and the source of a powerful, ancient remedy capable of curing fatal illness. This will be a masked event and social distancing observed. 828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

ALSO:

DISCUSSION with Neal Hutcheson, author of The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton (hosted by SMN’s Cory) for more info please call

828-456-6000

1PM

MEET & GREET with author

Darryl Bollinger signing his newest book,

The Healing Tree

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year — and two motion pictures starring Tom Cruise have celebrated this good-hearted, hard-fisted vigilante. Though I have read seven or eight, possibly more, of these stories, I couldn’t tell you the plot line of any of them. Die-hard Reacher fans could probably rattle off details from novel after novel, but for me the plots are too similar to differentiate one from the other. Jack Reacher arrives as a stranger in some town or city, gets involved in some criminal situation, whips up on the bad guys, spends a few nights with a woman he’s met, most often at the end of the book, and then strikes out again for yet another place.

Books like The Sentinel are what I call popcorn entertainments. By that, I mean I read them as mindlessly as I eat popcorn.

They have little real substance, and I won’t remember chowing down on them two or three days later.

Now, this description sounds insulting,

but I don’t mean it that way at all. Popcorn books bring me wonderful momentary pleasure. They snatch me out of my life, provide me with bowlfuls of entertainment, and keep my attention while reading them.

Sometimes the plots don’t make a lot of sense — I’m still not certain why the neoNazis were in this story, except as a front for a Russian spy, but wouldn’t being associated with these storm troopers attract someone’s attention? — but I just close my eyes to these implausible situations and grab another handful of popcorn.

One last note on The Sentinel: Lee Child has now invited his brother, Andrew Child, to coauthor these books, which means Lee Child is stepping away from writing them. He apparently considered killing off Jack Reacher to conclude the series, but instead asked his brother to take a hand in the production. In the “Comments Section” on Amazon, some fans express dismay and disgust at this arrangement, claiming this new Jack Reacher is a far cry from the old one.

They may be right. Even for this amateur, it did seem to me the style of writing and Reacher’s character had changed, but I lack the expertise to make those charges. I did smile at this arrangement, however, as I thought how someday Andrew’s or Lee’s children or grandchildren may take over this enterprise and keep Reacher in the land of the living until he’s beating some poor bad guy with a pair of crutches.

Do I recommend The Sentinel to readers? Sure, if you want some escapism, lots of fights, and fast-paced action. Given the state of affairs in our country right now, I’d say we’re all entitled to have a little fun. You’ll find that with the indomitable Jack Reacher.

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

April 28-May 4, 2021

Jack Reacher must own the toughest set of knuckles on planet Earth.

About halfway through the latest Reacher saga, The Sentinel (Random House, 2020, 353 pages), I lost track of the number of times Reacher threw a punch into some bad guy’s face. Long ago, when boxing was done without gloves, some of the fighters soaked their hands in salt water to make them tougher. Though Reacher is never shown practicing that technique, we must assume he spent his youth and his years as a military policeman for hours a day with his fingers in a bowl of water that would put the salt content of the Dead Sea to shame.

The Sentinel Writer opens when Reacher prevents the kidnapping of a fired city tech employee, Rusty Rutherford, in the ironically named town of Pleasantville, Tennessee. Reacher had already warmed up for his assault on the would-be kidnappers earlier in a Nashville bar, when he pounded the hoot out of the bar’s owner and his bodyguard for failure to pay their musicians. Reacher takes a liking to Rutherford, and as the novel progresses, we learn that a group of Russians are out to subvert US elections. We meet neo-Nazis — Reacher takes care of them, of course — and he also becomes involved with federal agents, local police officers, some of whom are corrupt, and of course a pack of Russian agents. They have infiltrated some of our agencies on the local and the federal levels, and are utterly merciless in their efforts to put their plans into action.

Jack Reacher has become an iconic and eccentric hero of today’s suspense literature.

As a West Point graduate and former military policeman, he is a highly skilled professional in investigative work. He’s also a big man, 6-feet, 5-inches tall and 220 pounds of twisted steel and sex appeal.

And like Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe, James Lee Burke’s Dave Robicheaux, or even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, Reacher has certain quirks. He owns no home and stays in no one place. In crisscrossing the country, he has no car but instead takes a bus or hitchhikes. He worships coffee, lives in gritty motels, and eats in greasy diners. He has no credit card, but instead pays for everything in cash. And when he tires of the clothes he’s wearing, he visits a secondhand store like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, buys him-

M AY 1ST

arts & entertainment

On the shelf

828.452.4251 susanna@mtnsouthmedia.com

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Houghton tends his summer garden, plastic lowered for the season.

Donated photo

berry bushes — includes a deck area large enough to pull some chairs around a small lunch table. Finally, a third greenhouse hugs the back wall of the house, enjoying some passive heat as it traps warmth escaping from the building.

A couple low tunnels, a native plants garden and a hill full of daffodils claim much of the remaining land on the two-third-acre plot.

“We don’t like to mow,” Janaye said.

LIVING WITH A TRANSFORMER

Transforming gardening Book details Webster man’s design for a better, cheaper greenhouse

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER On cold January days, Bob and Janaye Houghton prefer to eat outside.

“If it’s 20 degrees in the sunshine, it’s Miami,” Bob said.

The Houghtons aren’t abnormally adapted to cold weather. But their greenhouse is.

Or rather, greenhouses, plural.

THE ORIGIN STORY Bob built the first one 20 years ago after Janaye asked him to build her a raised bed so she could grow some flowers at their home in Webster. He obliged, they planted some flowers, and they bloomed. Fall drew nearer, and Bob began to wonder if he could keep the growing season going a bit longer if he stretched hoops and plastic over some of the plants. He tried it, and then began to think bigger. Bob wanted a greenhouse. But when he researched prices, the unfortunate conclusion came quickly.

“No way I was going to pay $15, $20,000 for a greenhouse,” he said.

That wasn’t the end of it. Until his retirement in 2014, Bob was a professor in Western Carolina University’s education department.

He was used to chewing on — and solving — difficult problems. After some thinking and some tinkering, he developed the Transformer

Greenhouse, an innovative design that allows four-season gardening for pennies on the dollar compared to traditional metal-and-glass greenhouses. At today’s prices, materials for a 12-by-18-foot Transformer Greenhouse total about $800.

“I really wanted to be able to have a greenhouse where when it’s raining, I can have access to the rain. And when the wind’s blowing and I want to be inside and working in the greenhouse, I can close the thing out,” Bob said. “I realized a couple of door hinges was really all I needed.”

The Transformer Greenhouse — so named because it converts in seconds from a fully covered greenhouse to open garden beds — uses solar plastic stretched over plastic ribs and attached to a wooden frame, which con-

nects to the main structure with door hinges.

A rope easily raises or lowers the plastic, allowing the beds below to act as greenhouse rows in the winter or open-grown beds in the summer.

In March, Bob published a book detailing exactly how to build one, titled Transformer Greenhouses: Multi-season Food for All. Today, the Houghton home boasts three greenhouses, all with slightly different designs but all based on the same concept. In the front yard, a greenhouse with a walkway between the two sets of beds makes it clear to any passerby that this is a home occupied by plant lovers. A second greenhouse located to the side of the property on a site the Houghtons dubbed Blueberry Hill — it’s aptly named, as the hill is indeed planted with blue-

This diagram shows a Transformer Garden in the process of transitioning from open to closed. Donated image

In a traditional greenhouse, the grower starts young plants in the spring and then moves them to an outdoor garden as the weather warms. On the Houghton property, the greenhouse is the garden, and winter is considered prime growing season.

“Once you get planted in the fall, everything slows down,” Bob said. “You don’t have that summer rush of, ‘I’ve got to weed.’ What other people think of as the offseason to us is the best season.”

When it’s cold or wet, he can pull up the roof and stay dry and warm while he tends the garden. Bugs stay away over the winter, and even when it’s frigid outside, he and Janaye can sit on the Blueberry Hill deck and enjoy that Miami-like climate when the outside temperature is somewhere south of freezing.

And all year round, they eat. By late April, Western North Carolina gardens are at best just beginning to yield some cold-weather crops. Some gamblers might have set out their peppers and tomatoes already, but most will play it safe and wait for the frost-free date in early May. The Houghtons’ harvest never stopped.

They’ve been eating broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, lettuce and all manner of cold-tolerant veggies throughout the winter.

Their greenhouses aren’t heated, so like the rest of the region, frost-sensitive crops still have to wait. But before long they’ll be pulling an abundance of zucchini, eggplant and tomatoes from the beds as well.

When Janaye cooks, she doesn’t make a shopping list of ingredients to satisfy a preselected recipe. Instead, she asks Bob what’s in the garden and makes a meal that uses those ingredients. She likes to think it’s a system akin to the one earlier inhabitants of this land depended on.

HELPING THE COMMUNITY The greenhouse has changed the Houghtons’ life for the better, and Bob thinks it could change the community, too.

“My vision would be multiple greenhouses on multiple properties where everybody is contributing some percentage of what they grow to The Community Table,” he said.

He’s already doing that with his operation.

Throughout the year, his greenhouses produce far more food than he and Janaye can eat alone, so he packs up the harvest and takes it to Sylva’s soup kitchen. His eyes light up when he talks about the

Get the book Learn all the ins and outs of the transformer greenhouse with Bob Houghton’s new book Transformer Greenhouses: Multi-season Food for All. In addition to a detailed overview of the greenhouse’s features and uses, the book includes complete construction directions and a shopping list for the materials needed.

It retails for $20 and is available at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. It can be ordered upon request to any independent bookstore.

Closure of the Greenbrier area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been extended again, this time expected to last through May 15.

A partial closure of the area was originally announced in January to last through March 26, but the closure was later extended to include the entire area beyond the Greenbrier Ranger Station and last through April 23.

This new delay is due to difficulty acquiring materials — especially lumber and steel — for the Ramsey Prong bridge replacement and Porters Creek culvert replacement, which necessitate the closure. The projects are part of a larger Federal Highway Administration project to replace seven bridges and repair seven others across the park.

This full closure applies to all motorists and pedestrians.

Ramsey Cascades Trail, Porters Creek

Trail, Grapeyard Ridge Trail, Backcountry Campsite 31, Backcountry Campsite 32, and all manways along the Greenbrier Road will also be closed to visitor use for the duration of the construction closure. Old Settlers and Brushy Mountain Trails will continue to be open, but hikers cannot access these trails from the Greenbrier area during the closure and should plan their routes carefully.

For more information about temporary road closures, visit www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/temproadclose.htm.

Motorcyclist dies after Smokies crash A Guatemalan man died following a motorcycle crash in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, April 18.

Maynoy Alexander Ardon, 20, was traveling down Clingmans Dome Road when he lost control of his motorcycle near Collins Gap, veering off the roadway and landing 100 feet below the embankment at 4:08 p.m. Bystanders performed life-saving efforts until emergency responders arrived, but Ardon succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at 4:33 p.m.

Cherokee EMS and Fire responded and assisted National Park Service personnel with recovery operations. Ardon was transported by Appalachian Funeral Home of Sylva. No other vehicles or visitors were involved in the accident.

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April 28-May 4, 2021

low-cost design’s larger potential to grow healthy food for people who need it.

“I could see community groups of volunteers putting these in for people who were needy and wanted to grow some of their own food,” he said, “or I can see combinations of things.”

Perhaps somebody who has the land for a greenhouse but no time to manage it

could partner with somebody who has the time but not the land. Perhaps community outreach centers could install them, bringing neighbors together to aid the effort.

Forever an educator at heart, Bob can’t help but think about how schools might use the greenhouse to aid learning. During his career, he often advocated for gardens as teaching tools.

“A lot of schools wanted to do things with gardening, teach science and teach math and other kinds of things, but their concept of the gardening season was that it’s in the summer,” he said. “But school isn’t in session in the summertime.”

The Transformer Greenhouse allows the growing season to last all year long.

Which, for Bob, brings it back to his main conclusion after 20 years of using a Transformer Greenhouse.

“There’s a huge opportunity to go in multiple directions with a greenhouse like this,” he said. “And I think you ought to build one.”

Closure extended for Greenbrier area outdoors

The greenhouse keeps the soil warm enough that even in the dead of winter, cold-tolerant plants can thrive. Donated photo

The Houghtons regularly pull more food from the garden than they can eat, so they give it away.

Donated photo

Smoky Mountain News

Affairs of the Heart

————————————————————————————— 120 N. Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.0526 • affairsoftheheartnc.com

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outdoors

Make your own terrarium Build a terrarium during a workshop offered 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at 828 Market on Main in Waynesville.

The class is accessible to beginning and experienced crafters alike, covering air plants,

care tips, design principles and more.

Everything needed to create a terrarium will be provided, including containers, plants, shells, driftwood, gemstones and more, along with a gift box and care instructions.

Participants are welcome to bring their own figurines or design additions as well. $30, with tickets available at www.vividevent.com.

A variety of plants will be available for purchase May 1. Lake Junaluska photo

Land donation protects key Roan Highlands landscape A record-setting land donation will conserve 7,500 acres in the Roan Highlands, a success that Southern Appalachian Highland Conservancy Stewardship Director Marquette Crockett describes as a “conservationist’s dream come true.”

“Pristine roadless land that has not been

Get ready to garden at Lake Junaluska

Smoky Mountain News

April 28-May 4, 2021

More than 2,500 plants will be up for sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1, during the Lake Junaluska Annual Plant Sale to be held at the Nanci Weldon Open-Air Gym. Offerings include annuals, perennials, vegetables, herbs and houseplants, with proceeds supporting landscaping at Lake Junaluska’s publicly available private grounds.

Visitors can buy plants propagated from Lake Junaluska’s Biblical Garden, colorful Coleus cross-bred on the grounds, assorted hanging baskets and more. Prices range from $3 to $25, to be paid with cash or check. Visitors should bring a mask and observe social distancing.

Contact Melissa Tinsley at mtinsley@lakejunaluska.com or visit www.lakejunaluska.com/plants for more information.

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timbered over is almost impossible to find in the Southern Appalachians in 2021, but this assemblage contains so much that we value, from old growth forests to high-elevation open areas in an undisturbed condition,” she said. “My phone will ring off the hook from biologists who want to visit and study this unparalleled preserve. We look forward to welcoming them to the mountain.”

SAHC announced April 22 that it had signed a letter of intent to accept the donation from an unnamed conservation philanthropist. Executive Director Carl Silverstein said that the gift was the largest in SAHC’s history, and as far as he’s aware the largest single land donation to a land trust anywhere.

Calling all kids for the Jackson Bike Rodeo The annual Jackson County Bike Rodeo will return for 2021, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 1, at the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Center in Cullowhee.

Children are invited to participate in a variety of stations, including bike safety checks, helmet inspections, learning to ride, bike skills courses and group rides. A raffle just before 11:30 a.m. will give away five

“As we watch so much of our region get carved into subdivisions, strategic acquisition of large parcels of land is increasingly important — and increasingly hard to accomplish,” he said. “In twenty years this gift might be one of the few sites in Western North Carolina that still looks like it looked one hundred years ago, or one thousand years ago.”

The tract lies in the southern end of the planning boundary of the Yellow Mountain State Natural Area, a special conservation area designated by the N.C. Mountain-ash ripens over the General high-elevation landscape. Assembly Tim Sweeny photo in 2008 to protect the exceptional natural features found there.

The land rises to 5,300 feet in elevation and straddles the border of Avery and Mitchell counties, supporting numerous threatened and endangered plant and animal species and including the largest American chestnut restoration project in the country. As well as scenic views, it boasts extensive boulder fields, rich coves, old growth forest, six waterfalls and a system of rare heath balds.

SAHC expects to complete the land transfer within the next year. Afterward, the land trust will retain ownership and manage it as a nature preserve, also hosting guided hikes on the property and collaborating with the donor to use it for ongoing scientific study.

free bicycles in size-appropriate categories — participants must be present to win.

The event is possible due to the contributions of 18 partners and donors.

COVID-19 guidance will be followed, including mandatory masking, physical distancing, hand sanitizing stations and disinfection of shared equipment between users.

Free. In case of rain or poor weather, the event will be postponed. Molly Neary, 828.293.3053, or Jackie Moore, 828.587.8226.

Naturalist Nicole Cook takes a closer look at a bluebird. outdoors

Donated photo

Go birding Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a hike offered 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

Saturday, May 8, at Balsam Mountain Trust.

Guest naturalist Blair Ogburn will lead this excursion at Balsam Mountain Preserve, teaching participants how to iden-

tify native bird species by sight and sound.

Free. Limited to 10 people. Best suited for adults with some birding experience.

Masks and social distancing required. Sign up with Nichole Cook at naturalist@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1063.

A.T. shelters reopen April 28-May 4, 2021

Appalachian Trail shelters located on U.S. Forest Service land in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia are now open for use after closure since the pandemic began.

Hikers are still encouraged to bring a personal tent and face coverings, and to recreate responsibly by maintaining a safe social distance and following health guidelines from local authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Hike with Haywood

Haywood County.

Hikes are $10 paid at registration. A schedule is available at www.haywoodcountync.gov/719/Hiking. For more information, contact Ian Smith at 828.452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

Artists pay tribute to William Bartram Take a last look at a unique display featuring art inspired by William Bartram’s writing during a closing reception for “Bartram Reimagined,” 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

The exhibit features 16 regional and local artists who have rendered William Bartram’s 18th century artwork into a modern context. Hosted by the Georgia-North Carolina Bartram Trail Society, it has been open since November 2020 and celebrates the naturalist’s 1775 exploration of north Georgia and Western North Carolina.

Most works are for sale, with proceeds going to the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy. Mask wearing and social distancing will be observed.

Kristina Moe, 828.524.3600.

Real Experience. Real Service. Real Results.

828.452.3727

www.TheRealTeamNC.com

RE/MAX

EXECUTIVE

Smoky Mountain News

A series of hikes exploring Haywood County’s many trails is in full swing, with the next one offered Monday, May 5, and traversing 4.8 miles in the Max Patch area.

The hike, to be led by Kathy Odvody and Phyllis Wollen, is rated as moderate and will include 1,131 feet of elevation gain.

Throughout the rest of the month, hikes will be offered on most Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a variety of locations and difficulty levels. Over the year as a whole, Haywood County Recreation and Parks will offer four to five hikes each month on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. All hikes are led by local, experienced guides who have extensive knowledge of trails in

71 North Main Street Waynesville 33

newsdesk crafts

outdoors

A young naturalist records an observation for the City Nature Challenge. Donated photo

1.

2.

3.

4. #3 - free flier

Enter the City Nature Challenge

April 28-May 4, 2021

North Carolina residents can join citizen scientists around the world — and challenge other budding naturalists across the state — during the 2021 City Nature Challenge from Friday, April 30 through Monday, May 3.

The annual four-day event has become an opportunity for people of all ages to celebrate the outdoors while engaging in and advancing scientific research. Participants take photos of plants and animals they find in their backyards and neighborhoods, and upload them to the iNaturalist app.

Scientists use that information alongside images of wildlife from around the world for research purposes.

Every county in North Carolina is represented as one of five participating regions,

each with a lead institution — one of which is the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. These regions will be engaged in a friendly competition to see which one can upload the most observations and most species.

To participate, people 13 and older can download the free iNaturalist app and then join their region’s City Nature Challenge Project. After that, it’s as easy as going outside and taking pictures of nature.

Children 12 years or younger can submit their photographs through the ecoEXPLORE website, a free K-8 youth education program developed by The North Carolina Arboretum, and their photos which will then be added to their region’s iNaturalist project. www.nccitynaturechallenge.com.

Sign up for soccer

Smoky Mountain News

Registration for four-on-four soccer leagues in Cullowhee and Cashiers will be open throughout the month of May. The league is open to ages 14 and up, with a limit of eight teams per league. Games will start the week of June 14 and will be played Tuesday nights in Cashiers and Thursday nights in Cullowhee.

Per-team fee is $200. Register at www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

34

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

Summer camp canceled at Waynesville Rec For the second year in a row, the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will cancel its popular summer camp series due to COVID-19.

“We’re very disappointed that we will not be able to offer the camp,” said Colt Miller, Program Supervisor for the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. “We understand that parents need to make a decision for their child for the summer.”

Two issues contributed to the decision.

First of all, Gov. Roy Cooper has not released summer camp guidelines, as his office is still waiting for the Centers for

Disease Control to release the federal version. Secondly, at this point the department foresees an issue with hiring the number of counselors it would need to pull the camp off.

Usually, recruitment and training begins in late winter, with camper signups occurring in March. This year, the department decided to delay those activities — and its final decision — in order to allow more time for new information to come in.

Should restrictions lift later this spring, the department hopes to plan day trips for youth and seniors.

828.456.2030.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Shelton House Museum, Barn and Gift Shop will hold Opening Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. The Shelton house will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday, withe tours offered on the hour.

• The 91st annual Ramp Convention will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at the American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville. Featuring bluegrass music, ramp eating contest, cloggers, and more. Tickets cost $10, which includes a meal, or $5 for the event.

• The Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resource classes at Central Haywood High School will be having a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 1, until Saturday, May 8 (except Sunday). Location is the school greenhouse located at 60 Hyder Mountain Road in Clyde.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Western Carolina University will host Western Wednesday at 6 p.m. April 28, for a presentation about the impact of COVID-19 on North Carolina’s economy and its projected road to recovery. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions at the end of the program. Visit https://wcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tzuudecvrjoueta4oed33se8x9fxqotxgzih to RSVP.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS • The Jackson County Board of Health will hold a mixed virtual regular meeting on Monday, May 3, in the Conference Room at the Jackson County Department of Public Health (538 Scotts Creek Road). Dinner for board members will be served at 6 p.m. and the meeting will commence at 6:30 p.m. Call 828.587.8255 and request to be added to the virtual meeting before 4 p.m.

Monday, May 3.

• The Haywood County affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness will be hosting a virtual Family-toFamily class, beginning Thursday, May 8. For more information about the class, contact Paulette Heck at pheck812@gmail.com or 828.335.4631.

CLUBS • The May meeting of the Western North Carolina Woodturners Club Inc. will take place at 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 8, at the Bascom in Highlands (323 Franklin Rd). There will be directions on how to get to the wood turning studio.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • A book signing with Darryl Bollinger, author of The Healing Tree, will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. This will be a masked event and social distancing observed. 828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

A&E

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) April 29. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Elysium Park Band April 30. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) May 1.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Anna Victoria (singer-songwriter) April 30.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Alma Russ (Appalachian folk/indie) 6 p.m. April 30. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or www.mtnlayersbeer.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host The UpBeats May 1 and Outlaw Whiskey May 8. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will host a Mother’s Day concert with members of the Tuscola High School band from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 8, in the Gallery & Gifts showroom. Free and open to the public. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Friends of the Greenway (FROG) will host the Frog Fair arts and crafts gathering from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 8, at the FROG Quarters, located at 573 East Main Street in Franklin (at the Town Bridge). Over 25 vendors will be onsite. Area musicians will perform throughout the day, with a sitting area also provided.

• The Western North Carolina Button Club will host the Appalachian Button Jamboree from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 22, at the Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa (176 County Club Drive) in Waynesville. The free event is open to the public and will feature buttons for collectors, military enthusiasts, quilters, fiber artists, jewelers and crafters as well as feature a variety of other vintage sewing related items.

FOOD AND DRINK • Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island Street in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts, and more. Food truck, picnic tables and a strolling musician.

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

• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first-class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com.

• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot.

• “Pig Roast & Wine Tasting” charity event from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Bryson City Wine Market.

Pork sandwiches, raffle items, local art, and more. All donations to benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Western North Carolina funk/rock act Hustle Souls will celebrate the release of its new album “Daydream

Smoky Mountain News

Motel” with a socially-distanced, seated concert at 8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.

Admission is $15 per person. Visit www.thegreyeagle.com.

• The Western Carolina Civic Orchestra will present a special concert at 7:30 on Saturday, May 1, in the School of Music Recital (Coulter building) on the campus of WCU. The concert will also be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/WCUSoM. • Starring Pasquale LaCorte as George Burns, “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will be held over for more performances following a high demand for tickets. The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. To make reservations, call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322.

• “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter” performance dates will be 7:30 p.m. April 29-30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. May 2. To make your reservation, call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • High Mountain Squares will host a series of 12 classes of instruction in Social Square Dancing beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 10, at the Environmental Resource Building. Vaccines are required to participate.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition is currently on display at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee through May 7.

• The exhibit: “Celebrating the Flora of the Smoky Mountains” will run May 7-31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom on Main Street in Waynesville.

•The “2021 Juried Artist Exhibit,” hosted by Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will run through May 1. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information, click on www.haywoodarts.org.

• Students in the Professional Craft Program at Haywood Community College in Clyde will host a “Spring Craft Sale” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 30. For more information, contact Emily Reason at 828.627.4671 or eareason@haywood.edu.

Outdoors

• Haywood Community College will hold a Spring Plant Sale on campus at the Nix Greenhouse Complex from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, and Thursday, April 29. Face masks are required, and social distancing measures will be in place.

• Take a last look at a unique display featuring art inspired by William Bartram’s writing during a closing reception for “Bartram Reimagined,” 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, April 29, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Mask wearing and social distancing will be observed.

• A new mountain biking club for kids in eighth through twelfth grades will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Friday, April 30, at Allens Creek Park in Waynesville.

One-time club fee of $10 is due at registration. Register with Ian Smith at 828.452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

• Registration for a series of flag football clinics in Cullowhee is open through April 30. Clinics are open to boys and girls going into first through sixth grades and

35

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

Complete listings of local music scene Regional festivals Art gallery events and openings Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings will be held at the Cullowhee Recreation Park. All sessions will last for one hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. each day. A clinic for first and second graders will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the week of May 3. A clinic for third and fourth graders will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the week of May 24. A clinic for fifth and sixth graders will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the week of May 31. Cost is $30 per participant. Register at rec.jacksonnc.org.

• A presentation featuring live birds of prey will come to the Jackson County Public Library at 11 a.m.

Saturday, May 1, as part of a weeklong celebration of migratory birds. Offered by Balsam Mountain Trust.

Space limited, with masks and social distancing required. Register with Nicole Cook at naturalist@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1063.

• The annual Jackson County Bike Rodeo will return for 2021, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 1, at the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Center in Cullowhee. Free.

In case of rain or poor weather, the event will be postponed.

• Buy plants, flowers and crafts during the A Mother’s Love Market, slated for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Sunset Inn in Lake Junaluska. COVID-19 protocols will be observed.

• More than 2,500 plants will be up for sale 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1, during the Lake Junaluska Annual Plant Sale to be held at the Nanci Weldon Open-Air Gym. • Learn how to grow small trees and fruits during a two-hour workshop starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, via Zoom. The class will be taught by Haywood County Extension Horticulture Agent Sam Marshall, cost is $10, with a signup deadline of May 2. Register at bit.ly/3ahvzk1.

• A series of hikes exploring Haywood County’s many trails is in full swing, with the next one offered Monday, May 5, and traversing 4.8 miles in the Max Patch area.

Hikes are $10 paid at registration. A schedule is available at www.haywoodcountync.gov/719/Hiking.

• Build a terrarium during a workshop offered 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, at 828 Market on Main in Waynesville, $30, with tickets available at www.vividevent.com.

• Franklin’s Friends of the Greenway will hold FROG Fair, a spring arts and crafts fair, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, May 8, at the town bridge.

• Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day with a hike offered 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 8, at Balsam Mountain Trust. Free. Limited to 10 people. Sign up with Nichole Cook at naturalist@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1063.

• Registration for four-on-four soccer leagues in Cullowhee and Cashiers will be open throughout the month of May. The league is open to ages 14 and up, with a limit of eight teams per week. Games will start the week of June 14 and will be played Tuesday nights in Cashiers and Thursday nights in Cullowhee. Per-team fee is $200. Register at www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

Market WNC PLACE

MarketPlace information:

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

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37

SUPER

CROSSWORD

WELL-PRESERVED ACROSS 1 Tribal emblems 7 Sobbing 14 Hunt for food 20 Of a big blood vessel 21 Church part near the altar 22 Mistreating type 23 Start of a riddle 25 Starts a PC session 26 Copies a cat 27 Pop singer Grande, to fans 28 Doctrine in copyright law 29 Buy that can be deleted 31 With 110-Down, decisive trial 34 Hawk's nest 37 Goldman's partner 38 Riddle, part 2 43 Fig and fir 44 Foster 45 Miner's strike 46 Unruffled 48 Plotting group 51 Pastry variety 57 Riddle, part 3 62 Pieces of gig gear 65 Bridle part 66 Of a central point 67 Perform wonderfully 68 Buck mate 69 Apple's apple, e.g.

70 Miss.-to-Minn. dir.

71 Foyer floor protectors 73 Linking word in Leipzig 74 Befogged 76 1960s radical Hoffman 78 Huge hauler

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Debonair End of the riddle Helmsley with hotels Beau -Rebuke to Brutus "Hel-l-lp!"

Divided into segments Cry of cheer Part of OTB Provoke Riddle's answer Fishing nets Vacillated Comic Boosler Most eccentric Cabbie's query More packed

DOWN 1 Shooting marble 2 Cry of delight 3 Stomped on 4 Kin of -ess 5 Japanese soup variety 6 Investment bigwig Charles 7 Hosp. section 8 Bruins' org.

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game) Foxy FDR's dog Wind section player Little kid "That being the case ..."

Hostess in a kimono Borgnine of "Marty" Grouchy Muppet Familial fight Deeds Prune 34th prez Priest's assistant Threw the dice Altar avowal Conducts In re "Darn it!"

Relinquish The younger Saarinen Grammy winner Tony State frankly Grows older Shoot down Rack up Old-style office scribe Clings (to) "Just Shoot Me!" actor George Mourner of myth Personal identifiers Pin it on Wise truism Roadhouse Basil-based sauce Overdue Boy, in Bolivia DVR pioneer Sci-fi power

77 78 79 81 82 83 87 88 89 91 92 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 110 112 114 115 117 118 119 120 121 122

Family on "Married ...

With Children" Jacket part Finish Court king Arthur Cookbook writer Rombauer Snow queen in "Frozen" Openers of many locks Chevy debut of 2004 Some watch displays, for short Leg up Pop's Carly -- Jepsen Like a prof. emeritus Flashy Chevy, for short Texas city Got close to Doughnut-shaped figure Harmonious Hoists Took pains Physician, often Lay in concealment See 31-Across Roll call reply Proficient -- -Grape (Ocean Spray flavor) URL part "Take that!"

Sweaty, say Old Tokyo Prop- or hex- ender The, in Vienna

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

sitions available. Start as soon as today. As simple as checking your email.

Complete online training provided. Visit for details: https://bit.ly/2yewvor HOUSEKEEPING Full Time & Part Time Available: Maggie Valley cabin resort seeks an energetic and experienced housekeeper. Weekends & Holidays a Must! Valid Drivers License required.

Call 828-926-1388

CAREERS WITH HAYWOOD COUNTY Haywood County Government has a career waiting for you! Our career listings are on our website at www.haywoodcountync. gov. Making a decision to work for Haywood County Government comes with a variety of ways to care for you and your family by providing the following EHQH¿WV 3DLG FRPSUHhensive medical and dental insurance-Employee only. (Additional for

spouse and/or children).

3DLG WHUP OLIH LQVXUance-Employee only. (Additional for spouse and/or FKLOGUHQ 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ 5HWLUHPHQW V\VWHP 7D[ Deferred investment Programs (401(k) and 457 plans available).

0HGLFDO DQG 'HSHQGHQW Care Flexible Spending $FFRXQWV 6XSSOHPHQWDO Voluntary Insurance Policies (vision, cancer, short term/long term disability, hospital indemnity, term/ whole life insurance).

3DLG $QQXDO 3HUVRQDO DQG 6LFN /HDYH /RQJHYLW\ 3D\ 0HULW ,QFUHDVHV 3DLG +ROLGD\V )UHH (PSOR\HH &OLQLF 'LVcounted Gym MemberVKLS UDWHV (PSOR\HH Discounts with Verizon :LUHOHVV &UHGLW 8QLRQ PHPEHUVKLS (PSOR\HH Assistance Program HAYWOOD COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL DIRECTOR Part-time, salaried position, $24,000 for 3 days a week (minimum 20 hours). Requires occasional evening and weekend hours. Duties of this position: leading

D QRQ SUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ supervising staff/volunteers; creating marketing materials; budget management; arts education; event planning; art gallery management; fundraising/development; public speaking; competency ZLWK PRGHUQ RI¿FH VRIWware and social media systems. Preferred: colOHJH GHJUHH DQG RU ¿YH years experience in arts, museum management, public relations, business/ QRQSUR¿W PDQDJHPHQW RU UHODWHG ¿HOGV $SSOLFDtions accepted until May 7, 2021. For more information or to submit cover letter, resume, and three current recommendations in pdf format, contact: Laura Linger, board president, lauralinger@ charter.net; P.O. Box 306, Waynesville, NC 28786 lauralinger@charter.net

OWNER OPERATORS AND DRIVERS NEEDED Dedicated, roundtrip OTR lanes with regular home time. Call CWS at 800832-7036 x 1626

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

38

www.smokymountainnews.com

April 28-May 4, 2021

WNC MarketPlace

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Free info kit 888-9123728

496-8601 for details. www.dental50plus.com/ ncpress 6118-0219

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

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

GET YOUR COPY Don’t Wait! The best book of herbal remedies probably ever written. For more details email James at: james.floyd@floydjackson.com

DENTAL INSURANCE From Physicians Mutual Insurance Company.

NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844-

SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your MORTGAGE? Denied a /RDQ 0RGL¿FDWLRQ" ,V WKH bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner’s Relief Line now!

FREE CONSULTATION 844-359-4330

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Home Improvement

• Dangerous Tree Removal • Pruning • Creating Views

Legal, Financial and Tax

828-342-3024

For Sale MILITARY SURPLUS W/C Pants/Shirts, Jackets. Military Boots ON SALE. Cold Weather Clothing, Field Gear, Sleep Bags, Packs, Bags. 828-349-3140.

Wanted to Buy 1960’S AND 1970’S LAND ROVERS Whole or Parts - Especially interested in series Rovers sold from Harrell’s Motor Sales in Waynesville Wanted to restore to keep local. 828-506-5733

TAX PROBLEMS- Behind 10k or More on Your Taxes? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, un¿OHG WD[ UHWXUQV SD\UROO issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 855-828-0617

WHATTRYING TO HIDE ?

ARE THEY

Public notices inform citizens of the changes that affect them and their community. Some state and local officials want to move these notices from newspapers to government-run websites, where they may not be easily accessed.

KEEP PUBLIC NOTICES IN NEWSPAPERS NORTH CAROLINA PRESS ASSOCIATION

www.wncmarketplace.com

Jerry Powell Cell: 828.508.2002

jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

74 N. Main St., Waynesville

828.452.5809

Rob Roland BROKER

———————————————

(828) 400-1923

robroland@beverly-hanks.com

CASTILLO Tree Service, Etc, Inc.

saulcastillo7212@gmail.com

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Find your public notices at:

WWW.NCNOTICES.COM April 28-May 4, 2021

BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

Brian Noland RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROFESSIONAL

bknoland@beverly-hanks.com

828.734.5201

74 North Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786

828.452.5809

A Top Listing Agent & A Top Producer

Ready to Serve You

Call for FREE HOME VALUE EVALUATION

Pamela P Williams

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE

CELL: (803) 528-5039 OFFICE: (828) 452-5809 EMAIL: PAMELAWILLIAMS@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM

WNC MarketPlace

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Smoky Mountain News April 28-May 4, 2021