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August 8-14, 2018 Vol. 20 Iss. 11

Macon deputy cleared in Knibbs shooting Page 17 University conducts largest-ever black bear study Page 42

CONTENTS On the Cover: Following the release of his third novel, author David Joy, of Webster, reflects on his future in the publishing world as he continues to stay focused on giving a voice to the everyday people of Southern Appalachia. (Page 26)

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News Tribe buys $3.6 million property for parking ................................................................3 Tribal member sues over alleged workplace hostility ..............................................4 Not all jails are created equal ..........................................................................................5 Community turns out to oppose N.C. 107 plans ....................................................10 Haywood talks incentives for new hotel ....................................................................12 Funding the fight: campaign finance reports ............................................................14 Macon deputy cleared in Knibbs shooting ..............................................................17 Business responses needed for workforce study ..................................................19 Health News ......................................................................................................................21

Opinion In this case, the choice is obvious ..............................................................................22 No hazy nostalgia with my first car ..............................................................................23

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University conducts largest-ever black bear study ................................................42

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Back Then Cherokee thought buzzards possessed powers......................................................55

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Regulations on use of cultural terms discussed in Cherokee

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you think is terrible, they have a product you think is terrible, the best we can do is complain about it.”

Sometimes social pressure is enough to get a company to change its behavior, but sometimes it isn’t. Even on the Qualla Boundary, McConnell said, the tribal government can’t just tell a tribal member to cut it out if it doesn’t like what that person has chosen to call his or her business. However, it could withhold some type of license or other benefit until the offensive name is eliminated.

McConnell again warned that it could prove difficult to write an ordinance that gives guidelines for what constitutes an offensive name. It might be easier, and clearer, to write one that includes a specific list of handsoff names, he said.

“If there are a dozen word names that you think are hands-off unless approved by the tribe, I think that’s a more secure approach,” he said. “It’s a more predictable approach and I think would withstand scrutiny better.”

McConnell’s work on the ordinance stems from a resolution that Tribal Council passed April 5 directing the attorney general’s office to “draft an ordinance that would regulate the use of cultural or traditional business names that appear derogatory in nature,” and to deliver an ordinance for consideration within four months.

Tribal members Leah Wolfe and Jatanna Feather had submitted the resolution as the result of anger over the naming of 7 Clans Brewing and the Mothertown Blonde. The seven clans denote the way Cherokee people have defined their place in society going back millennia, while Mothertown is known as the

Jatanna Feather speaks to Tribal Council about 7 Clans Brewing and its use of Cherokee names and culture to promote its beer. File photo birthplace of the Cherokee people and considered a sacred site — though the company is owned by a pair of tribal members, those opposed to the naming choices found the commercialization of those terms, especially for a controversial substance like alcohol, to be highly offensive.

“The words that they’re using are very specific,” Feather said during a March interview. “And we use these words to describe our way of life, our history, our culture and heritage and their significance and their parallels to how our spirituality works. As natives we’re not taught to misuse those.”

Brewery co-owners Collette Coggins and Morgan Crisp saw it differently.

“We are Cherokee, so it’s natural that our artwork and branding reflect a love for our culture and engage our customer with a type of storytelling,” Crisp said in a press release.

“While this is a contemporary approach to

Tribe to expand casino parking

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The vacant motel building will be demolished and the property redeveloped. Holly Kays photo The appraised price reflects land value only, Principal Chief Richard Sneed told Council in January, as the buildings have depreciated to the point that they have no value and must be removed.

“This is land in Painttown, and it goes for high dollar, which it should,” Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown, said in January.

Richard Sneed said that the tribe would

eventually like to buy up more property across from the casino, much of which currently houses run-down or vacant lodging establishments. Hardin and Maunder were the first landowners in that area willing to sell for the appraised value, he said.

“It’s just the first step in trying to acquire that property on that side so we can develop it,” he said.

The resolution the TCGE Board submitted

Aug. 2 to have the property transferred to TCGE ownership stated that transfer of usage would take place as soon as the owners of the tract had vacated the premises and all buildings had been removed from it. However, Council took issue with that second stipulation.

“I would like that removed, that second part, because that’s saying the tribe should be responsible for removing all those buildings, and I don’t think we should,” said Councilmember Tom Wahnetah, of Yellowhill.

“Well, we’re responsible for the operation of the casino, that’s what our responsibility is,” replied Rich Sneed.

“I just don’t think the tribe should be responsible for the improvements on the property,” Wahnetah maintained.

Vice Chairman David Wolfe, also of Yellowhill, agreed and seconded Wahnetah’s move to strike the sentence, with the remaining councilmembers voting to support that move and subsequently voting to pass the amended resolution.

Editor’s note: This story was reported using online meeting videos, as Tribal Council’s April decision to ban non-Cherokee media from its chambers prevents The Smoky Mountain News from attending in person. 3

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ew parking is coming to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino following the Cherokee Tribal Council’s unanimous vote Aug. 2 to transfer a 4.7-acre tract to the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise.

The land, currently home to the vacant Soco Valley Motel, is located across the road from existing casino parking. With upcoming construction and improvements coming to the complex, additional parking will be sorely needed, said TCGE Chairman Rich Sneed.

“We’re already parking people off the property and employees, it’s tough on an employee to have to be there 30 minutes early to catch a bus to get back to work,” Sneed said.

The tribe purchased the land from owners Norma Rae Hardin and Ursula Anne Hardin Maunder earlier this year, paying the appraised price of $3.575 million, according to a resolution passed in Budget Council Jan. 30.

sharing culture, we endeavor to respectfully and authentically pique the curiosity of our consumers so that they will ultimately seek out their own personal experience with our vibrant Cherokee people and culture.”

The controversy erupted in a three-hour back-and-forth during the April 5 Tribal Council session, which resulted in passage of the resolution directing McConnell to draft an ordinance and included Coggins saying that, while 7 Clans is a private business that has the right to name its products whatever it wants, the brewery would not produce any more Mothertown Blonde after the initial batch sold out. However, she said, the name 7 Clans would remain.

Editor’s note: This story was reported using online meeting videos, as Tribal Council’s April decision to ban non-Cherokee media from its chambers prevents The Smoky Mountain News from attending in person.

August 8-14, 2018

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER brief conversation in Tribal Council Wednesday, Aug. 1, was the first public discussion on how the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians might eventually regulate the commercial use of culturally sensitive names since the issue was raised following the launch of 7 Clans Brewing.

“I wanted to bring this for discussion instead of writing an ordinance and putting it on the agenda, because I wanted to get some direction from you,” Attorney General Mike McConnell told Council Aug. 1.

McConnell said he’d started work on the ordinance with multiple tribal members including Jatanna Feather, who had led opposition to the name 7 Clans and the company’s decision to call its inaugural beer “Mothertown Blonde Ale.” However, he said, regulating what businesses can call themselves and their products in a way that meets Council’s goals could prove tricky.

“When you give an entity — say, the business committee — authority to say what is offensive and what is not, that is kind of squishy,” he said. “It’s kind of a moveable target, and the law doesn’t like moving targets.

It likes to express things directly.”

Aside from deciding what is and is not offensive, there’s the problem of deciding how the government can respond when something is deemed offensive.

“The only way the tribal government can stop that is to say, ‘We will not take an action of the tribal government that supports this,’” McConnell said. “If someone has a business in Haywood County, they name it something

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Tribal member sues over alleged workplace hostility, harassment Suit names nine defendants and seeks more than $150,000 in damages

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER Cherokee woman who successfully fought off disorderly conduct charges earlier this year has filed suit against nine parties in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians government, claiming that she’d been subjected to years of hostile working conditions and sexual harassment leading up to the criminal charge, which she said was based on a fabricated version of events.

Lori Taylor was hired by the EBCI Department of Justice at the age of 25 to be a victim and witness coordinator, keeping that position for 19 years and six months before she was fired on Aug. 1, 2017. According to the complaint, Taylor enjoyed a “rewarding, meaningful and fulfilling career” until Jason Smith was promoted to the tribal prosecutor’s position in 2011. Smith treated Taylor with hostility, the complaint said, and when Smith hired Justin Eason as a prosecutor, Eason took Smith’s lead.

“Hostility consisting of demeaning, belittling, disgusting and asocial forms of verbal abuse from Jason Smith and Justin Eason were the most prominent source of hostility in her work environment,” the complaint said. “Lori (Taylor) reported multiple sexual

August 8-14, 2018

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harassment incidents involving Defendant Justin Eason to EBCI, and upon information and belief an external investigator was hired by the EBCI and the EBCI’s own internal investigation found the claims to be credible and well-substantiated.”

AN UNCOMFORTABLE WORK ENVIRONMENT The complaint details several alleged incidents of sexually inappropriate behavior.

One such incident concerns a photograph of male genitalia that was part of a case the prosecutor’s office was arguing. Taylor alleges that Smith came into her office carrying the photograph, and when she asked what he was doing with it he said he took it to keep someone in the clerk’s office from showing it to everybody. However, he then proceeded to tape it to the back of Eason’s office door while Eason was away. When Eason returned the following morning, the complaint said, he called Taylor into his office and accused her of having taped it there. When she said she hadn’t done it, Eason asked Smith, who denied it.

“Eason declared that it would stay on his door until whoever did it took it down,” the complaint said. “Approximately two weeks later, then-Attorney General Annette Tarnowski learned of the photograph’s placement on Eason’s office door, had it removed, and two weeks after that the Human Resources Department of the EBCI interviewed everybody in the office about it.”

then-Attorney General Danny Davis, Davis did not discipline anyone for these “credible and wellsubstantiated incidents of sexual harassment.”

“Instead, Lori (Taylor) was victimized further by the Defendants in a wellcoordinated scheme to tarnish her reputation; falsely, maliciously accuse her of crimes and misconduct; and to opportunistically capitalize on the events surrounding the impeachment of Chief Patrick Lambert to contrive pretext to terminate her employment, mere months before she reached 20 years of employment with the EBCI and would have qualified for retirement benefit,” the complaint said.

Among other allegations, the complaint says that Eason failed to perform employee evaluations with Taylor to keep her from getting raises, Lori Taylor worked for the Office of the Tribal Prosecutor for 19.5 and when she comyears before being fired as the culmination of a campaign of hos- plained to her supervitility and harassment, she said in a recently filed lawsuit. File photo sors about it he handed her a review to read and sign while refusing to discuss it with her. In In another instance detailed in the comthe review, the complaint states, Eason plaint, Eason, who had been promoted to alleged that multiple officials had comlead prosecutor after Smith left for other employment, allegedly introduced a new hire plained about Taylor’s work performance.

However, Taylor contends in the complaint, to staff and “cautioned the predominantly none of the people Eason listed had actually female audience to watch out, because the made any complaints relating to Taylor. new hire liked to smell women’s hair. Eason approached members of the staff he referred to as ‘the pretty ones’ and attempted to smell AYLOR S TERMINATION their hair,” the complaint said.

However, the complaint said, when According to the complaint, Taylor, a supTaylor referred this and other incidents to porter of Lambert, was subpoenaed to attend

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August 8-14, 2018

Taylor named nine parties in her lawsuit filed July 31 — the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; the Cherokee Indian Police Department; Luke Hyde, individually and in his capacity as a police officer; Neil Ferguson, individually and in his capacity as a police officer; Doug Pheasant, individually and in his capacity as police chief; Danny Davis, individually; Jason Smith, individually; Justin Eason, individually and in his capacity as lead tribal prosecutor; and Mike McConnell, in his capacity as interim attorney general for the EBCI. Taylor is suing all defendants for intentional affliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy, claiming damages in excess of $25,000 for each count.

According to the complaint, the defendants’ “extreme and outrageous behavior” was “intended to cause and did cause emotional distress for Lori (Taylor).” In addition, it alleges, the defendants “entered into an agreement” to pursue the disorderly conduct charges to terminate Taylor from her job “as a means for Davis to protect the reputation and employment of Eason and the reputation of Smith, and potential liability for Lori (Taylor) for the defendants’ past misconduct.”

On the part of the EBCI and McConnell, Taylor also claims due process violations pursuant to the Indian Civil Rights Act, and tortuous breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Taylor’s due process was violated, she said, because she was not provided with adequate notice of her termination hearing, the EBCI did not supply her with the records her termination was allegedly based on and she was provided “a variety of shifting bases, all of which were poorly founded at best and sometimes outright fabrications” as the basis for her termination. The EBCI and McConnell “invoked patently dishonest allegations they knew to be false or unsubstantiated” to secure her termination, the complaint said.

The complaint also claims abuse of process against the EBCI, McConnell and Davis. Davis argued for the disorderly conduct allegations in bad faith, the complaint said, when he stated that the allegations showed she was “incapable of conducting herself with the necessary social graces for her position, despite the fact that she had held the position and performed her obligations effectively for approximately 19 years.”

Finally, the complaint alleges malicious prosecution on the part of Hyde, Ferguson, Pheasant, Eason and Davis, as shown by the “total lack of probable cause to believe Lori (Taylor) had done anything more than exercise her first amendment rights and her civil rights protected by the Indian Civil Rights Act.” For each of the six causes of action, Taylor is seeking damages in excess of $25,000, with the amount to be determined through a jury trial.

McConnell and Eason declined to comment for this story. Requests for comment sent to the remaining defendants did not receive responses.

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the May 2017 impeachment hearings. After Tribal Council took its vote to remove Lambert from office and attempted to have Vice Chief Richard Sneed sworn in as principal chief — due to pushback from the audience the swearing-in had to be relocated — Taylor left to go fill in her timesheet at the Cherokee Tribal Court, not knowing that was where the swearing-in had been moved to.

Seeing Chief Justice Kirk Saunooke there, she attempted to follow him into a courtroom to discuss the day’s events with him.

However, Neil Ferguson, an on-duty officer with the Cherokee Indian Police Department, told Taylor that the swearing-in was happening there and that she could not enter, the complaint said. When Taylor responded that she wanted to observe the swearing-in, Ferguson instructed Officer Luke Hyde to escort Taylor away, the complaint said.

In a criminal complaint the officers filed on May 25, 2017, charging Taylor with disorderly conduct, the scene is described quite differently. In that version of events, Taylor “purposely caused public inconvenience, annoyance and risk by continually making offensively coarse utterances as well as addressing offensive language to Cherokee Indian Police Department officers and public in the hallway when refused entrance by Sgt. Neil Ferguson into the main courtroom where Richard Sneed was being sworn in.”

When Hyde escorted her out of the building, the complaint said, Taylor continued to “curse and scream.”

As a result of the charges, Davis began his own investigation and suspended Taylor from employment, telling her that no permanent decision about her job would be made until the criminal charges were resolved, the complaint said. However, he then obtained a report from Police Chief Doug Pheasant alleging that security camera footage showed Taylor’s timesheet entries weren’t accurate. Davis and Pheasant did not keep a copy of the footage the report was based on, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, Davis then informed Taylor he’d decided to terminate her employment based on her still-pending criminal charges and Pheasant’s allegations concerning the timesheets. Taylor then appealed the decision and was told she would receive a hearing. Her counsel subpoenaed copies of her past timesheets, but the EBCI said it would not respond to the subpoena, Taylor alleged.

“Lori (Taylor) brought 12 witnesses to the hearing of her appeal and was informed at the hearing that they were not going to hear from any witnesses and that she would be given five minutes to speak on her behalf, and for the first time she was supplied a new basis for termination of her employment concerning alleged timesheet misrepresentations that allegedly occurred two years prior,” the complaint reads.

On Aug. 1, 2017, Taylor received a letter from Davis — who has since left tribal employment — terminating her employment with the EBCI, the complaint said. But in April 2018, when the disorderly conduct case went to trial, a six-member jury took less than 30 minutes to return a verdict of not guilty.

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Snapshots of WNC jails Not all jails are created equal Jackson County Detention Center was constructed in 2003 and is attached to the county administration building that houses the sheriff’s office and the court system. Jessi Stone photo

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR n a criminal justice system that is often operated under rigid regulations and protocols, people may be surprised to find the disparities within the walls of local jails.

All the jails have the same basics — sally port, booking area, magistrate office, holding cells, inmate pods and control rooms with security cameras — but each facility is set up a little differently.

Sheriffs and jail administrators have a lot of leeway when it comes to managing their facilities whether it’s staffing or making services and programs available to people incarcerated.

“I haven’t seen one jail that’s the same and it’s done that way for a reason,” said Haywood County Detention Capt. Glen Matayabas. “We all have general guidelines we follow, but each sheriff has the ability to determine how they want their jails to be run.

There’s no requirement you have to have so many programs — some choose to do more than others.”

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

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HAYWOOD COUNTY DETENTION CENTER

Haywood County Detention Center, under the leadership of Matayabas and Sheriff Greg Christopher, is a 148-bed facility constructed in 2005 for $12 million.

When making your way through the jail, it becomes obvious it was designed to accommodate more rehabilitation services than some of the older jails in the region.

It has a larger medical examination room, 6 a multi-purpose room for programs that also

serves as a library, audio-visual visitation rooms and an industrial size kitchen.

Sheriff Christopher said he’s been extremely open to allowing different religious organizations to come in and minister to inmates willing to participate.

Various religious services are available to inmates daily as well as groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. A drug class is offered through Meridian Behavioral Health for two hours on Mondays, an hour-long yoga class on Mondays, LifeWorks career classes on Wednesdays, and Angels of Mercy on Thursday.

“You have to have hope for these people and know this is not what was meant for them,” Matayabas said. “And they’re only going to have the ability to do it if they have faith in God and themselves.”

Christopher is also excited about a grant that Haywood Pathways Center received to place two peer specialists in the jail full time to help people create and execute a plan of action when they are released.

“If we’re able to use two people to work here five days a week to really focus on these inmates’ needs, I think that will have a positive impact for us. It will take a little while but I’m very excited about that,” he said.

As for medical services, the Haywood jail contracts with a jail nurse that is on site 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and a physician’s assistant comes on Mondays for more significant medical issues that may come up for inmates. The nurse also schedules any doctor appointments for inmate medical conditions.

The jail also has industrial washers and dryers and an industrial kitchen so all laundry can be done and all meals can be cooked

in house. Sometimes inmates with certain charges who have been at the jail for so many days can assist with tasks like laundry or cooking and can get good behavior points and time taken off their sentence.

Within the housing unit, one 31-bed dormitory is specifically for females. Showers and 7-by-10-foot cells with toilets and bunk beds line one wall while the other wall has several computers where inmates can respond to emails and a few telephones where they can call out. The pod also has a couple of big screen TVs on the wall for the inmates to watch.

Then there is B pod, which can hold up to 24 male inmates — mostly those with behavior issues — and two other male pods. Sex offenders are kept in a separate smaller dormitory for their own protection. The jail also has an annex that can house up to 40 inmates.

Matayabas said it keeps cost down by not operating the annex, but when it has to be used it typically houses low-level offenders like people who are being held for not paying child support. Because state inspectors classify the annex’s security grade lower than the main jail, the facility has to be manned by two officers at all times no matter if it has 10 inmates or 40.

Inmates have free time hours, which means they’re not under lockdown in their cells, between 9-11 a.m., 2-4 p.m. and 8-10 p.m.

Matayabas has served as the jail administrator in Haywood for just over a year now, but came to Haywood after overseeing the Buncombe County Detention Center for a number of years.

“My goal is to run a safe, secure, quiet and clean facility and I’m always looking at how we can make things better,” he said.

JACKSON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER Jackson County Detention Capt. John Buchanan was a sheriff ’s deputy, investigator and a Sylva Police office before being appointed jail administrator in 2015.

“One of the first moves I made when elected was to get a new full-time jail administrator, and he’s done a great job,” said Sheriff Chip Hall.

Buchanan took over following two inmate deaths in the jail. On March 13, 2015, a detention officer discovered Steven Allen Ross Jr., 38, hanging in his cell around 5:15 p.m. as he did his rounds to check on inmates. State regulations require officers to check on inmates twice an hour, but a jail log showed the officer on duty hadn’t checked on inmates between 3:51 and 5:18 p.m.

Just a few months before that incident, Charles “Chuckie” Moose, 36, was also found hanging under the watch of the same officer.

Hall had just been elected sheriff but wouldn’t be sworn in for another 10 days. The jail was still under the control of former Sheriff Jimmy Ashe. Hall told commissioners in January he needed to hire a jail captain immediately, but the new administrator didn’t come on board until the first week of April 2015.

Buchanan said he knew it was going to be a challenge and a change of pace from his past law enforcement experience.

“I was used to patrolling, arresting and bringing someone in — that was my job,” Buchanan said. “But it’s a whole other mindset on this side of it. Someone once told me that if you act in the best interest of the inmates you’ll never go wrong and so that’s what I live by.”

It’s a good attitude to have and it seems like it’s paying off. Sheriff Hall said he changed the jail’s bedding and bunk beds following the jail Capt. John deaths to reduce the risk of inmate suicides.

Buchanan Still, the Jackson County’s 72-bed facility was built in 2003 and wasn’t designed with services in mind. There’s the standard booking area, medical examination office and housing unit, but space is somewhat limited for anything else. Hall said he would like any future expansion to include a common area.

“I’d like to have an assembly room to offer more programming — there’s a number of needs for that kind of help to our inmates,” Hall said. “We’re limited on the number of participants we can have for a program because of how they have to set up in the pods.”

Despite space constraints, Buchanan said the jail does allow for a number of programs, including AA and NA, various ministries and a drug rehabilitation class for those willing to participate.

Jackson contracts with Southeastern Correctional Medical Group for medical services. A nurse is on site to see patients every morning and to perform a physical and men-

S EE JAILS, PAGE 9

To build or not to build

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tative and rehabilitation services for people suffering from mental illness and addiction.

“They built this jail so they could add another 75-bed pod onto it, but what we’re doing now is gathering information,” he said. “We don’t know where this crisis is going, which is why we’re trying to keep stats and have discussions about the needs, but we’re not to the point of building a new jail — it’s going to take some time.”

Jackson County’s jail, which is attached to the Jackson County Administrative Building, is a 72-bed facility with only eight beds available for females. While Jackson’s average daily population has increased over the last five years, it’s not often over capacity. The only prevailing capacity issue is with female inmates — the jail has eight beds for females and has to transport any overflow to be held in other county jails. Just two weeks ago Jackson County had 20 females in custody.

THE COST OF CONFINEMENT

Source: Vera Institute of Justice

Jail Standards • The Jails and Detention Unit of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for conducting semi-annual inspections of local jails to monitor compliance of state laws.

• State law does have basic guidelines for transportation, supervision, health services, food, exercise, visitation and grievances.

• Jails must have a written classification procedure for the placement and housing of inmates. Within the limitations of design and capacity, the procedure shall assign inmates to confinement units that best meet their individual needs and that reasonably protect the inmate, other inmates, the jail staff, and the public.

• Male and female inmates shall not be placed in the same confinement unit. Female inmates shall be housed out of sight of male inmates.

• Officers shall make supervision rounds and directly observe each inmate in person at least twice per hour on an irregular basis. The supervision rounds shall be documented.

• Inmates shall have access to showers a minimum of three times per week.

• Each jail shall make commissary or canteen items, including snacks and personal care products, available for purchase by inmates.

• Each jail shall provide at least three meals for inmates, two of which must be hot, at regular times during each 24-hour period. Caloric intake must be 2,100-2,500 a day.

• After the 14th consecutive day of confinement, each inmate shall be provided opportunities for physical exercise at least three days weekly for a period of one hour each of the days. Physical exercise shall take place either in the confinement unit if it provides adequate space or in a separate area of the jail.

For a full list of North Carolina Jail Standards, visit www2.ncdhhs.gov/dhsr/jail/index.html

Smoky Mountain News

Housing and transportation costs can add up when those inmates kept in other counties have to be transported back and forth to court.

Jackson incurred more housing and transport costs last week when the eight females in the Jackson jail all had to be transported and temporarily held at the Transylvania County Detention Center while the leaky roof over their dormitory was being repaired. Because of the limited size of the jail and a regulation mandating men and women be separated “sight and sound” from each other, there was nowhere else to keep them.

Sheriff Chip Hall said the 15-year-old jail was also designed to add on in the future and he has considered the possible need.

“The long-range plans are to expand our female inmate capacity so we don’t have the added expense to transport them,” he said.

The jail has four inmate pods to the right of the housing unit with a control room to the left. The left-side wall was designed to be knocked out so that another 72 beds could be added and the control room would be properly placed in the center to monitor all the pods.

Hall said he hasn’t gotten any recent quotes on cost, but according to an architect’s estimate about five years ago it would be about $7 million to add another 42 beds to the jail. The project could sit on the backburner for some time as county commissioners have several other pricy capital projects on the list of top priorities.

Haywood and Swain detention centers are fairly new with higher capacities — opening in 2005 and 2010, respectively — and have no future plans for expansion.

Haywood’s jail has 148 beds and Swain’s has 109 beds. Swain will be paying off its $10 million facility for another 30 years.

August 8-14, 2018

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR hen county jails are constantly at or over capacity, the easiest answer seems to be to build a bigger one.

G. Larry Mays, an author who has studied jails for 35 years, says communities need to start examining the bigger picture if they want to reduce the number of people sitting in jail.

“You can’t build yourself out of a crowding crisis — the shoe tells the foot how big it will grow,” he said.

The more jails built, the more it will cost taxpayers to operate and maintain those facilities. At an average cost of $80,000 per jail bed, a new 150-bed facility could cost a county $12 million or more as construction costs are on the rise. For a facility that only has an estimated 30-year life expectancy, constructing a new jail is not a decision that should be entered into lightly.

Dr. Allen Beck, who has been a criminal justice consultant since 1983 and a principal of Justice Concepts Incorporated, says local jurisdictions can take one of two approaches to addressing criminal justice system operations — passive or active.

“A passive role is the most costly. This role accepts arguments that the system does not need improvement and that the number of inmates housed in jail cannot be altered,” Beck wrote in a JCI report. “In contrast, the active role recognizes that improvement is possible in all aspects of government, which in this instance happens to be the criminal justice system. There is always the possibility that significant improvement might be made in controlling growth of the inmate population.”

As Macon County faces a growing inmate population and jail overcrowding, Sheriff Robert Holland said he’s focused on gathering as much data as he can about his jail operations and the actual needs of the county.

When the Macon County Law Enforcement Center was completed in 1999, the 75-bed facility was designed with the ability to add on to it the future if needed.

That time could be soon. The jail capacity is 75 — including only 12 beds for females — yet it’s average daily inmate population was 98 in 2016-17.

By design, Macon County has the ability and space to add another 75 beds to the jail, but the jail would more than likely need more than just additional beds. Macon’s facility doesn’t have an industrial kitchen to allow meals to be made in house like other jails in the region. It also needs more common space that allows for more programming and rehabilitation services for inmates. While those amenities weren’t needed 20 years ago when the jail was built, it’s a need now.

Holland said the direction the county needs to go hinges on addressing the opioid epidemic as well as providing more preven-

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Sheriffs assess need for future jail expansion

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news Detention Officer Ledford shows how automated technology helps ensure staff is adhering to protocol that requires them to check on inmates twice an hour. Jessi Stone photo

High pressure, low pay Detention officers pay price for crowded jails

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR axpayers aren’t the only ones paying the price for the growing number of incarcerations and overcrowded jails.

The 730,000 people being kept in nearly 3,000 jails across the country will only be well cared for if the estimated 430,000 correctional officers tasked with supervising them are paid and trained well.

However, detention officers work long shifts, are typically paid less than any other law enforcement position and work under some of the most stressful conditions imaginable.

The incarceration rates continue to grow at a rapid rate in rural counties throughout the nation. Based on studies by Vera Institute of Justice, rural jail incarceration rates are surpassing the rates in urban and mid-size cities for the first time in history.

The number of people being held in jails pretrial has quadrupled since the 1970s and the cost of jails nationwide has grown four-fold between 1983 and 2011 from $5.7 billion to $22.2 billion.

Personnel costs can eat up a majority of a

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

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They have to be able to recognize certain red flags within the inmate population and follow strict protocols to ensure inmate and officer safety. A limited number of officers and an overcrowded jail can be a deadly combination. Calhoun County Jail, which reached an all-time high of 643 inmates this year, has dealt with a number of inmate assaults, deaths and attempted escapes in recent years due to overcrowding and high turnover. Whether it’s inside the jail or out on patrol, Amerson said his deputies didn’t take these tragedies lightly.

“We’ve lost multiple deputies involved in these incidents — they carry a lot of pain the rests of their lives,” he said.

Rising inmate populations have led to rising costs because more inmates means more jail employees. On average, there is one jail employee for every 3.3 inmates — a proportion that has barely changed since 1983.

Amerson also said law enforcement officers often need the most help but are the least likely to speak up and ask for it. A 2011 survey conducted by Desert Waters Correctional Outreach found that 14 percent of military veterans reported symptoms of PTSD while 34 percent of correctional officers said they experienced symptoms. These symptoms often go undiagnosed because officers consider it a sign of weakness, which can lead to officers self-medicating with drugs and alcohol.

“I’ve had deputies commit suicide and I missed the signs. I have to live with that. I think we have to change the laws to change how we do business,” Amerson said.

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jail’s budget, which is why the number of officers on duty has not kept pace with the number of inmates those officers have to supervise.

Overworked and underpaid employees can lead to high turnover and low morale because of the tremendous amount of pressure placed on staff. WNC jails are no exception.

Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran said turnover was his biggest challenge in managing the jail. Swain County pays on the lower end of the scale when it comes to its detention officers — the starting salary is $25,600 a year.

“Our biggest challenge is trying to keep people in the jail simply because of the pay,” he said. “We train them and then they leave for a better paying job and I can’t blame them.

We’re just a training facility is all we are.”

The county has increased the pay some over the last couple of years, but Cochran said he has another proposal in to the commissioners for another increase for detention officers to get them more in line with pay for patrol deputies.

“They have a harder job than anyone in law enforcement. On patrol you might deal with one or a few people at a time, but in here they deal with 75 inmates with three officers on a shift — that’s a 25 to 1 ratio,” Cochran added.

Capt. John Buchanan said the Jackson County Detention Center also deals with understaffing issues. While the jail’s average daily population continues to grow, the jail is still operating with 20 detention officers — the same number of officers it had when the jail opened in 2003.

“We maintain about 65 inmates and we hold an average of five detention officers per shift — that’s not a good ratio,” he said.

Buchanan said the jail hasn’t experienced a lot of turnover since he took over as jail administrator in 2015, though some officers do leave for higher paying jobs or to advance their careers. The starting pay for a detention officer in Jackson County is about $29,000.

Haywood County Detention officers start out at $13.79 an hour — which is less than $27,000 a year before taxes. Haywood’s jail has 148 beds and 42 employees. Any given shift has six officers on duty.

Macon County Detention Center, a 75bed facility, has a total of 18 detention officers on staff and three per shift with an average daily inmate population of 98. They also start detention officers out at about $29,000 a year plus benefits.

Sheriff Robert Holland said it’s not a lot of money considering the amount of responsibility these officers have in dealing with the multitude of inmate issues.

“With opioid addiction and the lack of services and the bad choices by individuals — it causes problems with the amount of people (in jail) and staffing,” he said. “It’s hard on morale. I’ve got officers working night and day and officers not making a lot of money.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the national average salary for a detention officer in 2011 was $43,550. Officers in the lowest 10 percent of the profession earn up to $27,000 while those in the top 10 make about $69,000 a year. Unfortunately, the average annual wage for officers in North Carolina is $29,680.

Larry Amerson, retired sheriff of Calhoun County, Alabama, recently spoke about the challenges detention officers face at the Rural Jail Crisis Conference at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

While officers have always been tasked with enforcing the laws, Amerson said officers now have an expanded job scope that includes being able to recognize the signs of addiction and mental illness.

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THE COST OF CONFINEMENT

Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran checks in with detention officers at the booking desk at the jail. Jessi Stone photo JAILS, CONTINUED FROM 6

Swain County Detention Center is the only jail in the area that participates in the U.S. Marshall’s program to house federal inmates, which is why the jail was built to hold 109 inmates despite the county’s small population.

Holding inmates for the federal government does bring in additional revenue to help offset the county’s jail budget. Sheriff Curtis Cochran said on average the jail has 15 to 20 federal inmates a day that generate about

MACON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER Macon County’s 75-bed jail was buzzing with activity during a recent visit.

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August 8-14, 2018

tal health screening for people being booked into the jail to ensure their specific medical conditions are being managed whether they have diabetes, high blood pressure or suffering from substance withdrawals.

“We can put people on a detox program, which can vary based on the addiction,” said nurse Jennifer Adams. While the jail doesn’t start people on a long-term treatment for opiates, they will continue that kind of treatment for certain inmates, especially if it’s a female inmate who is pregnant.

“If she’s pregnant and on suboxone it’s too much of a risk to her and the baby to take her off of it,” Adams said.

The jail’s housing unit is fairly similar to the others — a pod for females and separate male pods for different levels of offenses.

They are dormitory style with two levels — bunks up top and tables and showers on the lower levels. Inmates do have access to TV and telephones when they aren’t on lockdown, but they don’t have as much free time as the Haywood jail allows.

Buchanan said inmates are out of their cells in the mornings as the nurse tries to see as many patients as she can and then they are placed on lockdown at 1 p.m. after lunch and then let out once again in the evening for dinner.

$300,000 a year in revenue.

Like the other jails in the region, Swain also participates in the state’s misdemeanant confinement program to house state inmates charged with certain misdemeanors, including DWI. It’s another source of revenue to offset expenses, but some jails limit the number of state inmates it will take in at one time to avoid overcrowding.

Swain also has its own industrial size kitchen to prepare meals and washers and dryers to do all the laundry. The county contracts with Summit Food Service for its meals, a service also used by Macon and Clay counties.

For medical services, Swain contracts with Smoky Mountain Urgent Care that provides a nurse five days a week for four hours a day. If someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, Cochran said they call Appalachian Community Services to come do an evaluation. Inmates needing more serious medical care have to be transported to the hospital and supervised by an officer. Unless they are indigent, Cochran said inmates are responsible for paying a $20 co-pay when making a doctor or hospital visit.

Just like the other jails, there are booking cells for temporary holding until someone is placed in one of the dormitories. Swain has four identical pods that house 16 males in each and one is specifically for sex offenders.

Females also have a separate pod. Cochran said the pods have TVs and even an audiovisual visitation phone inmates can use for visitation.

Cochran said he does allow ministries to come into the jail for several hours a day, but has had a hard time finding volunteers that want to come hold an AA or NA class, though it’s something inmates have shown an interest in having.

ment. In the meantime, the sheriff ’s brother Tim Holland, a detective with the department and former jail administrator, has taken over jail duties temporarily.

Built in 1999, Macon’s law enforcement center, which contains the jail, does not have an industrial kitchen to prepare meals. The county contracts with Summit Food Service to bring in three meals a day — breakfast is provided in the morning and then lunch and dinner arrive delivered at lunch time. Holland said warmers were purchased to keep the dinner warm until later in the evening.

While other jails have a nurse on staff, Macon has a medical officer Scott Marion to manage the medical needs for the inmates.

He evaluates each person booked into the jail to see what they’re medical needs are moving

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forward.

“If they’re using recreational drugs and not taking care of themselves, it comes through here,” Marion said. “And there’s usually underlying issues that come to light as well.”

Macon also contracts with a doctor to provide medical services when needed and to continue inmates on any treatments they are already undergoing, including any detox.

“We will continue suboxone but we won’t stat anyone on it here,” Marion said.

As far as programming and service for inmates, Holland has a mental health counselor visit the jail twice a week to hold classes and provide individual support.

He also allows ministries and mental health classes to be held inside the jail on a regular basis. The jail does have a multi-purpose room used for church services, Bible studies, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) support groups, NA and AA. The jail also started a “Prime for Life” treatment program in collaboration with Appalachian Community Services to help inmates overcome addiction and have a plan of action for when they are released. To be eligible to participate in the program, Holland said participants have to be in jail for more than 90 days on certain drug-related charges.

ACS conducts the program, but it is funded through the sheriff ’s own budget. To date, more than 80 people have graduated from the program.

“Most of them have said if not for this program not being offered in jail, they wouldn’t have taken the program,” Holland said.

“Most say they’ll go to rehab on their own but

movement as inmates are being booked, being transported or participating in a class or church service.

“People are constantly in and out — it’s a never-ending process,” said Sheriff Robert Holland.

There are 21 employees working in the jail, but only three detention officers per shift to manage a full house. On top of everything else, Holland said his jail administrator of seven years Steve Stewart left abruptly several weeks ago due to personal issues and he’s in the process of finding a permanent replace-

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Sylva community turns out in force to oppose N.C. 107 plans Residents call for better communication, less business loss

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ylva Town Hall was filled beyond capacity as Mayor Lynda Sossamon called a public forum on the redevelopment of N.C. 107 into session Monday, Aug. 6.

Every chair was occupied, and every piece of wall housed a leaning back. People sat crosslegged on the bit of empty floor space at the front of the room, which held about 100 people, and still more spilled out into the adjoining hallway, kitchen and conference room.

They were there in response to preliminary plans from the N.C. Department of Transportation for an upcoming makeover of N.C. 107 through Sylva. If unchanged, those plans would force up to 54 businesses, one nonprofit and five residences to relocate, roughly one-sixth of Sylva’s business community. It’s quite possible that displaced businesses would not reopen in town, as the DOT’s own report notes that “suitable business sites in and around Sylva are very limited.” Relocation funds allocated to displaced businesses can be used to re-establish anywhere within a 50-mile radius.

In response to the plans, the Jackson County Smart Roads Alliance — which originally formed in 2002 to oppose plans to build a bypass from Cullowhee to U.S. 74 — reorganized with the goal of helping to create a better N.C. 107 redesign. About 50 people attended an organizational meeting June 26, featuring presentations by Sylva attorney Jay Coward and MountainTrue co-director Julie Mayfield, who offered her organization’s design services to arrive at a better road plan than the one currently proposed.

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

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LAYING DOWN THE BACKGROUND

The Aug. 6 meeting began with informational presentations from representatives of the Southwestern Commission, DOT, MountainTrue and the Smart Roads Alliance.

Southwestern Commission Director Sarah Thompson said that N.C. 107 from Sylva to Cullowhee was originally built as a higherspeed connector road, with the businesses — and their many driveways — appearing later.

As traffic and accident volume increased, it became apparent that something had to be done. After years of discussion and study, the 10 town arrived at a vision for a 107 that would

feature slower speeds for safer driving, more aesthetic appeal and facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Rose Baugess, senior planner with the Southwestern Commission, added that previous studies showed that the Cullowhee connector idea wouldn’t save as much time or traffic as originally thought, with the “best possible scenario” taking 7,000 to 9,000 cars off the road and 40,000 cars per day projected

257 crashes there. By redesigning the road to restrict the number of places drivers can enter and exit it, T-bone crashes will be reduced, leaving mostly lower-injury rear-end crashes to deal with.

Coward, meanwhile, said that the current plans are “very bad” and pointed out specific places on the schematics that he sees as unnecessarily harmful or missed opportunities.

“This community has got to step up and participate in saying, ‘This is what we want,’ because if you don’t step up and participate then the Department of Transportation is lawfully charged with producing what it thinks is the best road,” Coward said.

CALL FOR COMMUNICATION The people in attendance followed Coward’s directive to ‘step up and participate’ quite well that evening. Of 135 people who signed in as having attended the meeting, 29

improvements, he said, the cost to the community must be considered. He urged town commissioners to proactively visit businesses along the road, warning that for those businesses facing relocation, it will be a “life-altering” event.

“I know it don’t mean much to the state, but it does to me,” agreed Rick Bryson, who owns Rick’s Car Wash next to Wendy’s. The business means employment for him and his family members, and with all the uncertainty surrounding the road project, he’s unable to even sell it to avoid what’s coming.

It wasn’t just the business owners who were appalled by the potential impact to those establishments.

“These are mom and pop businesses that will go out of business and not come back in business in Jackson County, period,” said Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City. “So I’m against the project completely. I’m going on record with that. By the way, I’m on the appropriations committee. I’m not saying

DOT engineer Brian Burch discusses the N.C. 107 project to a more-than-full room at Sylva Town Hall. Holly Kays photo to use that stretch of 107 without the corridor. In terms of driving time, she said, it would save a few minutes but nowhere near a more significant 10 to 15 minutes.

DOT Division Engineer Brian Burch stressed that the plans are only 25 percent complete, and that much will depend on the utility plans providers submit this winter, and in particular whether those plans include moving facilities underground.

“If we can do that, that will help us with impacts,” Burch said. “If we can’t do that, the impacts that you see on these plans will likely increase. Until we get that information any decision that we make is somewhat premature.”

However, he said, the plan in its current form will go a long way toward making 107 faster. In the last five years, there have been

signed up to speak, and 23 actually delivered comments — none of them were supportive of the project as proposed, though several spoke on the need for something to be done.

Multiple speakers were concerned about what they said was a failure to communicate with those likely to be affected by the project.

“We have yet to be contacted by anyone from the town or DOT to talk about our piece of property,” said Robert Kelly, whose family owns Kel-Save Pharmacy and Kountry Kupboard Health Foods. Those businesses are not on the relocation list, but the current plans would reduce their parking and make them more difficult to access.

The Kelly family has run the pharmacy for 50 years, filling 10 million prescriptions, Kelly said. While 107 definitely needs

pull strings but the bottom line is currently with that.”

“I’m for as much preservation of businesses as possible,” added resident Betty Dishman. “I know nothing’s perfect, but these people have been here a long time and they provide a good service to our community, so I’m going to advocate for them.”

TERRIBLE TRAFFIC Make no mistake, other commenters said — the traffic problem on 107 is real, and it’s bad.

“I’m one of the 257 people who have been involved in an accident in the last five years,” said Adam Bigelow, recounting the story of getting “creamed and

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sent into oncoming traffic” when struck by a turning car as he drove the speed limit in the left-hand lane near Little Caesar’s.

Bigelow spoke in support of roundabouts, bicycle lanes and leaving the West Main Street portion of the project area — which would likely force the relocation of Speedy’s Pizza — out of the plans.

“Traffic safety is a very serious issue on 107, but not downtown,” he said. “I’m with Charlie (Schmidt, general manager at Speedy’s) and the others thinking we need to address these separate parts separately.”

Others said that the DOT should revisit the Cullowhee connector idea.

“What we’re proposing to do here I don’t think will ever solve the traffic congestion,” said Carroll Smith. “It will take some work on 107, plus that bypass.”

“I think that we need to definitely look at ways that we can decrease needless volume,” agreed Cullowhee resident Aaron Littlefield.

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Some speakers called for the DOT to scrap its current plans completely and start from scratch.

“Warren Buffett said when you find yourself in a leaky boat with holes, you’re better off buying a new boat rather than trying to plug the holes,” said Jackson County resident Scott Wollins. “This plan is full of holes. I’ve got an idea. Let’s scrap it. We don’t need the state to build this community.”

Kelly Robinson pointed out that there are a bunch of smaller roads behind Subway that are one piece of property away from connecting to U.S. 23 — why not widen those smaller roads to divert traffic off of 107? Better road patrols could also make a difference, he said, referencing the years he spent living in Clyde.

“If you go through Clyde over the speed limit, you’re going to get a ticket,” he said.

“Everybody in Haywood County knows that, and I would like to see Sylva get that reputation.”

Even on 107 itself, said Schmidt, the space could be used much more efficiently. For example, what if the sidewalk and bike lane were placed in the middle of a grassy median rather than to either side of the road?

“I don’t want any businesses to go away,” said Kent Cranford, who owns Motion Makers Bicycle Shop. “I don’t want any road to be so wide that it has to have that happen, but I do want to see Sylva as a community improve.”

Despite some anger and accusations from speakers that the town hasn’t done enough to reach out, board members assured the roomful of citizens that their concerns had been heard.

“I can speak for myself and several board members,” said Commissioner Mary Gelbaugh. “We all work in the community, we’re full-time employees too. We have families, we have children. We’re part of your community. We want to hear from you.”

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No mystery behind hotel incentives

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s first reported in The Smoky Mountain News more than four months ago, Waynesville’s getting a new hotel, and that new hotel is getting lots of tax breaks.

The reasons why are no mystery either, according to Haywood County Program Administrator David Francis.

“One of the things that we’re talking about is that it’s hard to go out there and find that 500 [person employer] and bring them in, so our objective is working with the folks in Buncombe County but also making sure that our business retention and recruitment takes place in Haywood County,” Francis said.

“When these folks want to invest in Haywood County, we want to invest in them.”

Back on April 4, the Town of Waynesville approved unanimously an incentives package that granted an unnamed developer an 80 percent property tax rebate over six years, with an estimated lifetime value of $212,000 or about $35,000 a year.

In North Carolina property taxes can’t be forgiven. However, municipal incentive pack-

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August 8-14, 2018

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ages can rebate a percentage of those taxes once they’ve been paid. The total incentive amount is based on the total investment or the number of jobs created and is subject to audit by the municipality.

Parties making requests like this one can be shielded from the public eye by law so as to maintain a developer’s competitive advantage — especially when land acquisition or franchise agreements are a factor.

A serendipitous confluence of circumstances, however, narrowed the possible locations down to just one; Waynesville officials noted that the hospitality-related development was on a vacant parcel already zoned for the intended use, but wasn’t linked to a town-maintained road.

That’s a 2.59-acre parcel on Shiloh Trail, off Hyatt Creek Road, just west of the existing Best Western hotel. On Aug. 6, Haywood commissioners heard Francis present the request of South Carolina-registered Seva Investments LLC, which plans to invest $7.8 to $9.1 million in the construction of a 65room hotel they call a “flagship brand.”

Per the county’s incentive policy, passed last year, the developer qualifies for a 55 percent property tax rebate, based upon the amount of investment and the estimated 15 new jobs it will create, which will average $20 to $29 an hour.

Construction of the hotel would generate an estimated $45,630 in new county property taxes, of which Seva will see $25,096 returned for five years, resulting in a net gain in county property tax revenues of about $20,000 each year for the first five years.

Haywood County and the Town of Waynesville are incentivizing a “flagship brand” hotel just west of the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway and north of Hyatt Creek Road. Haywood GIS photo Once those five years are up, they’ll pay the full $45,000, based on current appraisal value as well as the county’s current tax rate — both of which could change.

During that period, the development will also generate an estimated $65,000 annually in sales tax and occupancy tax revenues,

according to Francis. These taxes are not subject to rebate.

Commissioners called the required public hearing for Aug. 20, after which they’ll vote on the proposal.

Once Seva locks in Haywood County’s incentives, they’ll likely

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Back on April 4, the Town of Waynesville approved unanimously an incentives package that granted an unnamed developer an 80 percent property tax rebate over six years, with an estimated lifetime value of $212,000 or about $35,000 a year.

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August 8-14, 2018

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go back to their franchisor with the whole package and sign the franchise agreement; getting this particular brand added about another million to the price tag, Francis said, because of aesthetic demands of the brand.

Francis said he was especially pleased with the development for two reasons; first, Haywood County prevailed in competition for the project with another county in North Carolina as well as a site in South Carolina.

Second, since the owners are already hoteliers in Haywood County, the project not only counts as business recruitment, but also business retention.

Last fall, Haywood County entered into a partnership agreement with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce whereby Asheville would market Haywood’s available sites alongside its own; this project predates that agreement, but the agreement did prompt some Haywood local governments — including Waynesville and the county — to formalize their incentive package guidelines so developers would know exactly what might be available, right up front.

“Knowing that this kind of incentive might not have been available in the other areas, and knowing that this type of brand they’re bringing to Haywood County is desperately needed, I think that made it more attractive as a whole,” he said. “I think with all those factors weighing in, it made Waynesville much more attractive.”

Construction will probably take 18 months once the permitting process is completed; in the meantime, Francis said there were a couple of other similar projects in the works, where local employers may expand by five to ten jobs.

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Funding the fight

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ith a net pickup of four seats in the House or six in the Senate, North Carolina Democrats could break the Republican Party’s veto-proof legislative lock on Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper this November.

Currently, Republicans hold a 75 to 45 advantage in the House, and a 35 to 15 advantage in the Senate. Fundraising totals are often — but not always — strong indicators of any campaign’s viability and are documented meticulously by law.

Presented herein are those totals for three local House races, five regional House races and 16 other House races scattered about the state but deemed some of the “most flippable” by Durham-based Democratic advocacy group FlipNC. Also represented are 12 local, regional and vulnerable Senate seats from across the state, again as defined by FlipNC. First and second quarter fundraising totals for 2018 are shown for all candidates, as is total fundraising for this election cycle, which began on Jan. 1, 2017, and runs through Dec. 31, 2018.

Cash on hand totals show the figure as of June 30, 2016 and June 30, 2018; where the current candidate was not the candidate in 2016, the 2016 candidate’s fundraising report was used for comparison and is denoted by an asterisk.

When no candidate from that party ran in 2016, “n/a” is used. All data compiled

by The Smoky Mountain News from North Carolina Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement reports, retrieved online Aug. 1, 2018.

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

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14

HOUSE DEMS BREAKING THE BANK

STRONG START As Canton Democrat Rhonda Cole Schandevel again faces off against Rep.

STASHING CASH For Democrats, the Senate seems a harder battleground on which to contest Republican legislative domination, and judging by fundraising reports, more Democratic efforts — and dollars — have gone into House races.

But in the 12 Senate races profiled here, Democrats are fighting to remain financially competitive in almost half of them, outraising Republicans for the cycle in 5 of 12. Dems also have more cash on hand in five races, and have outraised the 2016 Dem in four.

For the cycle, Franklin Democrat Bobby Kuppers has outraised Sen. Jim Davis, RFranklin, by a measure of $43,000 to $37,000 and with $29,000 on hand has $10,000 more than Davis does.

With $218,000 for the cycle, Sen. Terry Van Duyn, D-Asheville, has raised almost 20 times the amount of her Republican opponent Mark Crawford, but only edges him narrowly in cash on hand — she has $13,000, he has $11,000.

KUPPERS OUTPACES DAVIS Four-term senator and Franklin Republican Jim Davis enjoys some of the highest levels of voter support of any elected official in North Carolina.

That hasn’t stopped Franklin Democrat Bob Kuppers from challenging him, nor has it stopped Kuppers from aggressively fundraising.

Kuppers’ efforts appear to be paying off — through the first half of this year, he outraised Davis in both the first and second quarter, and has more cash on hand.

He’s also outraised Davis during the entirety of this election cycle, which began on Jan. 1, 2017.

Jim Davis According to N.C. State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement records filed for activity through June 30, Kuppers had raised $42,664 since the first day of the cycle, to Davis’ $36,795. Kuppers still has about $30,000 Bobby Kuppers of that, to Davis’ $20,000.

Still, Kuppers will need every nickel — from 2010 through 2016, Davis has earned 50, 57, 54 and 62 percent of the General Election vote, respectively. In some of the far western counties of his 50th District, his support hovers near 75 percent.

At this same time in 2016, Davis’ previous opponent — Waynesville Democrat Jane Hipps — had raised $189,000 during the cycle and still had $144,000 on hand. Davis, by contrast, had $7,535 on hand from a cycle total of $27,663, en route to a 62-38 drubbing of Hipps.

Davis did, however, end up raising a total of $330,000 by the end of the cycle.

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Smoky Mountain News

SCHANDEVEL SHOWS

SENATE STALWARTS

Of the 10 most vulnerable Senate races, Dems hold significant financial advantages in three of them. Similar to Van Duyn, 15th District Dem Jay Chadhuri has raised $202,000 to Alan David Mitchell’s $750.

In the 17th District, incumbent Republican Sen. Tamara Barringer has raised an impressive $74,000 for the cycle, but it still pales in comparison to her Democratic opponent Sam Searcy.

Searcy’s raised $648,000 for the cycle, which includes a $500,000 loan. But while some candidates may take out loans to boost fundraising numbers with no intention of ever actually spending the proceeds, Searcy’s apparently not doing that — he has $374,000 still on hand, to Barringer’s $49,000.

Incumbent Republican Sen. John Alexander was redistricted out of his current 15th District seat, but is running for an open seat in his new district, the 18th. With $266,000 for the cycle, he’s still being outraised by Democrat Mack Paul, who’s collected $363,000. Alexander has just $36,000 on hand, to Paul’s $305,000.

August 8-14, 2018

On July 12, the North Carolina Democratic Party announced that it had set a record for fundraising both in the second quarter of 2018 and at this point in a midterm cycle, with a $5.8 million haul to date. In 2014, that number was $800,000.

That sprit of generosity among donors seems to have filtered down to many Democratic House candidates who are also posting solid totals of their own in critical races across the state.

Of the 24 House races profiled, Democratic House candidates have outraised Republicans for the cycle in 17 and have more cash on hand in 15 of them.

In 17 of the 24, 2018’s Democratic candidate has more cash on hand than the Democratic candidate did in 2016.

Democrat Aaron Martin is one of them; he’s running against Rep. Kevin Corbin, RFranklin, and has 10 times the amount of cash on hand than Corbin’s previous opponent had.

Numbers can be deceptive, however; Randy Hogsed only raised $125 by this point in 2016 while Martin has raised more than a thousand. Further, Martin trails Corbin for the cycle by $34,000.

Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, is being badly outraised by Waynesville Democrat Joe Sam Queen, but that’s nothing new. This will be the fourth time the two have competed, and second quarter reports dating back to 2012 show Queen outraising Clampitt in 2012, 2016, and 2018.

Queen has raised $84,000 this cycle to

Clampitt’s $22,000 — similar to 2016 when Queen posted $74,000 to Clampitt’s $12,000.

That 2016 election, however, was the only one won by Clampitt.

In another rematch, Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, will again face off against Canton Democrat Rhonda Cole Schandevel, who also holds an early fundraising lead. Schandevel has collected $57,000 this cycle to Presnell’s $14,000, although Presnell does have slightly more cash on hand. In 2016, second quarter reports show Presnell with a larger balance of cash on hand at $42,000, to Schandevel’s $33,000. Presnell won the race easily.

Of all the House races profiled, Buncombe County Democrat Brian Turner is the Democrat with the most cash on hand at $167,278, topping his 2016 haul of $134,994.

But it’s Republican Nelson Dollar with the most of all, with $200,000 on hand, about 7 percent less than in 2016.

Of the 16 most vulnerable races on the list, Democrats hold significant financial advantages in 10 of them. In some of the most important, 1st District Democrat Ronald Wesson is outraising Ed Goodwin and has more than twice as much cash on hand. In the 8th District, Republican Brenda Smith has raised less than $1,000 to Kandie Smith’s $27,000, and in the 19th District, Dem Marcia Morgan is outraising incumbent Ted Davis by about 30 percent.

Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, this November, she’ll see many of the same challenges she saw in 2016, including raising enough money to win.

Observers gave Schandevel a strong chance last time around, especially based on her impressive fundraising totals — she ended up raising $450,185 for the cycle — but it wasn’t enough. Presnell, who raised a comparatively paltry $296,885 for the cycle, beat Schandevel handily, proving once again that money is important, but it isn’t everything.

Of course, there was plenty of outside money being spent both for and against Schandevel and Presnell, but in terms of candidate fundraising, Schandevel Rhonda Schandevel is in a much better position than she was even in 2016.

At this point in the 2016 cycle, Schandevel had $33,000 cash on hand to Presnell’s $42,000. As of June 30, 2018, Presnell had about $1,000 more on Michele Presnell hand than Schandevel’s $21,000; however Schandevel has outraised Presnell for this cycle by a factor of three.

Schandevel’s 2018 first quarter reports show receipts of $21,596, to just $2,625 for Presnell.

For the second quarter, Shandevel ended with just about $22,000, with Presnell pulling in just $2,400.

Totals for this cycle, which runs from Jan. 1, 2017, through Dec. 31, 2018, show that Shandevel’s pulled in more than $57,000, to Presnell’s $14,625. At this point in 2016, Schandevel had raised just over $100,000.

Presnell’s 2016 report wasn’t completely filled out and showed no cycle total.

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Candidates for the N.C. General Assembly are busy fundraising in advance of November’s General Election. File photo

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Macon deputy cleared in Knibbs shooting

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had several uncomfortable contacts with Knibbs since he lived there. Knibbs allegedly told the residents to shut their dogs up from barking or he would shut them up, showed up intoxicated at Freeman’s home and also made an obscene gesture to the person mowing the yard for Freeman.

After speaking to Freeman, Momphard walked back toward the Knibbs’ residence while Freeman was going to remove the boards from the road. When approaching the front door, Momphard again announced himself, which was corroborated by both Freeman and Knibbs’ wife during interviews with SBI agents.

As Momphard approached the door, he heard someone “rack” a round in a shotgun and he immediately shouted for the person to put the weapon down. He shouted this instruction at least three times, according to Newman’s report, and was also heard by the neighbors and Knibbs’ wife. The deputy stepped to the side of the door and shined his flashlight into a window next to the door. He saw a man pointing a shotgun at his upper torso or head.

The deputy backed away and began shooting through the window.

He then entered the Knibbs’ home and saw Scott Knibbs face down on the floor. Knibbs’ wife and daughter came into the room screaming. He told the two women to stand back and to keep their hands where

he could see them. He called for backup and EMS and then allowed Ms. Knibbs to approach and to check on her husband.

Holland and other deputies arrived and medical personnel attended to Knibbs, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Momphard fired six shots from his service revolver. The shotgun possessed by Knibbs was loaded and taken by law enforcement as evidence. The medical examiner conducted an autopsy of Knibbs’ body at the Harris Regional Hospital and confirmed the cause of death to be two gunshot wounds. One wound was in the right chest and one through the upper right arm. “… Deputy Momphard’s actions were justifiable in every aspect. His only option was to defend himself given that Mr. Knibbs racked his shotgun and pointed it at the deputy after repeated commands to drop the weapon,” Newman said. “This entire incident is a tragedy and the deputy certainly did not anticipate these events. In his interview with the SBI, the deputy said that he expected this call would be simple to address. He had responded to right of way disputes before and thought this occasion would be routine. These deputies are called into service in the middle of the night, usually alone, and are at great risk for their safety. Deputy Momphard has a wife and two children and he deserves to finish his shift and return home to his family.”

August 8-14, 2018

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BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR acon County Sheriff ’s Deputy Anthony Wade Momphard Jr. will not face any criminal charges after he shot and killed Scott Knibbs inside his home just after midnight April 30.

District Attorney Ashley Welch recused herself of the case last month to avoid any potential conflict of interest and asked 29th Judicial District Attorney Greg Newman in Hendersonville to review the SBI report and make the final call.

“I studied the evidence provided by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, consulted with the SBI agents involved, as well as senior members of my investigation staff and lawyers, and have concluded that Deputy Momphard was justified in his use of force that resulted in the death of Mr. Knibbs,” Newman wrote in a press release sent out Aug 1. “North Carolina law permits all law enforcement officers in our state to use their firearms to defend themselves and this deputy had the barrel of a shotgun pointed at his head at close range. He reacted in the only way that he could given the circumstances.”

Waynesville attorney Mark Melrose, who was retained shortly after the shooting to represent the Knibbs family, said all he could say at this time is that the family is disappointed in Newman’s decision not to prosecute. He is unsure whether the family will want to pursue a civil case against the deputy or the sheriff ’s office.

“We will be meeting with the family to decide the appropriate course of action in light of this development,” Melrose said.

Sheriff Robert Holland said he would now begin an internal investigation into the deadly shooting since the SBI and the DA have concluded their reports. The investigation will look at whether department protocol and procedure was followed during the incident.

“As the Macon County Sheriff ’s Office had no part in the SBI investigation, I am just now beginning the process of being able to review the case file and all findings.

Therefore, I will not comment further as to the facts and evidence until a later date,” Holland wrote in a prepared statement.

Holland and the DA’s office have endured quite a bit of push back and accusations from the public as well as Knibbs’ defense team since the incident. However, the pending investigation has prevented him from talking specifics about the case. At the end of the day, he says it’s a tragedy with no winners.

“The shooting of Michael Scott Knibbs

by Macon County Deputy Anthony Momphard, which occurred on April 30, 2018, has been a very difficult situation for

everyone involved. We have seen our community divided by this incident and we have heard a lot of speculation as to the facts of the case,” Holland said. “From the onset of this incident, we have intentionally released very little information to the public due to the fact that a full and unbiased investigation needed to be completed first. Now that details of the occurrences on the night of April 29 and the early morning hours of April 30 have been released, there are clear answers as to exactly what prompted the use of force by Deputy Momphard.”

Momphard was sent by the sheriff ’s office to Pheasant Drive in Franklin just minutes before midnight April 29 on a report of a dispute between neighbors. According to Newman’s report, the deputy had to stop his marked cruiser due to an obstruction in the road that he described as two boards stacked on top of one another. He then saw several boards in the road that appeared to be Scott Knibbs carefully measured between each other.

Momphard approached the front of the Knibbs’ residence and announced his presence as “Macon County Sheriff ’s Office.” When he received no response, he walked to the back of the home and knocked loudly on the back door and again announced that he was with the sheriff ’s office. Again, there was no response, and the deputy walked up the hill to the neighbor’s home.

One of the residents, Shelton Freeman, met the deputy and explained that he had called because one of his friends could not drive on the roadway due to the boards placed in the road by Scott Knibbs. Freeman said he and his two roommates, T.J. Brown and Tiffany Austin, had only lived at the residence for less than a month.

According to Freeman, they were planning to have a cookout that evening and most of his friends had arrived earlier in the evening, but one of his friends came at around 11 p.m. and mistakenly drove into Knibbs’ driveway. The friend reported that Scott Knibbs came out of a shed and asked him if he was there to buy pills. When he said he was looking for his friend’s house, Knibbs allegedly became aggressive and told him to get off his property before kicking his car as he drove away. According to the interview with Knibbs’ wife, Scott told her that he shoved the young man back into his car.

One of the visitors at the cookout left to go home around 11:30 p.m. but couldn’t get out due to boards with nails placed in the road in front of Knibbs’ home. Freeman and at least two of his friends walked down the road to inspect the situation and observed at least four rows of double-stacked boards placed in the road as speed bumps. There were nails visible in the boards, but they were not sticking straight up like a stop strip. That’s when they called the sheriff ’s office.

Freeman later told investigators that he

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Sheriff to conduct internal investigation following SBI report

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Input sought for South Main improvements

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There’s been a flurry of N.C. Department of Transportation activity in Haywood County recently, with major upgrades coming to the Russ Avenue commercial corridor, minor adjustments to the town’s Walnut Street gateway and a possible multi-use path just outside downtown Canton.

All generated strong public input, but to that list can now be added another project that will likely do the same — Waynesville’s South Main Street.

On Thursday, Aug. 9, DOT will hold a public meeting regarding proposed improvements to South Main Street from Pigeon Street to Hyatt Creek Road.

The improvements are likely to include substantial widening of the roadway, which could affect a number of properties along the road.

As usual, DOT representatives will be on hand at the meeting, which will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the lobby of the Student Union Building on the campus of Haywood Community College, at 185 Freedlander Drive in Clyde.

No formal presentation is scheduled, so attendees can drop in any time to view plans, leave comments or ask questions of DOT personnel. Those who can’t make it to the meeting can still comment via email, phone or mail through Aug. 30.

For more information, visit www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings and look for project no. U-4712.

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School supply lists now online Parents from local schools have a new tool in their back-to-school bag of tricks this year as all of their school’s supply lists are now posted on TeacherLists.com.

With just one or two clicks, parents can find their child’s exact supply list and then click right over to pre-filled shopping carts on Target, Walmart, Office Depot, Amazon and more to purchase their list and have it shipped right to their home. Target, Walmart and Office Depot also offer in store pick-up.

The site already includes lists for Bethel Elementary, Canton Middle School, Hazelwood Elementary, Junaluska Elementary, Waynesville and North Canton Elementary School.

Complete details and all the lists are available at www.teacherlists.com/parents.

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WNC employers — news

Haywood Chamber wants to hear from you

A

The Town of Waynesville will hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center to cover several topics of interest.

Historic resources consultant Sybil Argintar will present research on the Pigeon Street community and other data collected on African American history in Waynesville.

Town staff will provide an update on neighborhood park planning and ask for input on how to integrate an historical marker into the park design. There will also be a report on the Town’s Comprehensive Plan and an opportunity for citizens to help establish future community goals.

Talk with a Doc Series

Take the survey In order to identify and address workforce needs both now and in the future, the Haywood Chamber of Commerce invites Western North Carolina employers to complete an anonymous survey, through Sept. 30. http://sgiz.mobi/s3/HCCCEDC Results are expected in late fall or early winter. “Hopefully we’ll see some trends in our area. This initiative, on a statewide level this will impact what the state does as far as workforce development programs,� she said. “And then at a regional level we’re going to take this as 10 counties together, because we are so engrained.�

Locally, trends may become apparent that warrant a quick fix. However, much of what comes from the survey won’t be “instant gratification,� according to Czaja.

The survey takes about 20 minutes to fill out; information remains confidential, although respondents are entered into a weekly drawing and can win prizes from local brands like Sierra Nevada, Cataloochee Ski Area and the Biltmore.

The Town of Waynesville’s Historic Preservation Commission, a Certified Local Government, initiated the research project to document the architectural and cultural significance of the Pigeon Street neighborhood and its structures, while also pulling together written and oral histories of the community’s AfricanAmerican residents.

The town has also been working to establish a neighborhood park, which could potentially hold an historic marker as well as provide for a picnic shelter, basketball court and playground. Historic preservation and recreational opportunities are key areas for long-range community planning that the town is working on as part of its Comprehensive Land Use Plan update.

This meeting is a great opportunity for citizens to learn more and to provide input.

For more information, call 828.456.8647.

Talk with a

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Pigeon Street community input needed

which positions will be the hardest to fill.

The survey also asks for an opinion on the effectiveness of the local job applicant pool in supplying well-qualified workers, and which qualities — like flexibility, professionalism and punctuality — are the most difficult to find.

As of press time, Czaja said they’d received about 400 completed surveys since it went live on July 16, of which about 50 were from Haywood County; the 10-county goal, she said, was 700.

August 8-14, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s Haywood County’s economic development efforts ensue, one oft-overlooked aspect of the area’s offerings — like land development opportunities and development incentives — is the quality of the workforce.

Employers need to know before committing millions to site development that an ample supply of well trained workers live within commuting distance, and thanks to a new survey, 10 Western North Carolina counties are eager to show them. “This was originally an initiative that was in a tri-cities area,� said Kim Czaja, who works in member and business relations at the Haywood Chamber of Commerce. “The results were surprising to them, and so they determined it would be a good idea to go ahead and do the western part of the state.�

The survey includes 10 counties in the region — Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Madison, McDowell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania and Yancey. “The idea behind the survey is to find out from employers what their needs are,� said Czaja, adding that just a few short years ago, jobs were relatively hard to come by in Western North Carolina but now, employees are. “It’s kind of trying to figure out where the shortfall is there,� she said. “What are we missing? Are people not qualified? Do they not want to do the work? What are the employers seeing when they’re interviewing folks?�

In addition to gathering data on the size, type and location of the business, the survey also asks employers how many employees they plan to hire over the next three years, what sort of positions they’ll be hiring for, what credentials applicants will need, and

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NCDOT TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS TO SOUTH MAIN STREET (U.S. 23 BUSINESS) FROM HYATT CREEK ROAD (S.R. 1164) TO PIGEON STREET (U.S. 276) HAYWOOD COUNTY TIP PROJECT NO. U-4712 The N.C. Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting regarding the proposed improvements to South Main Street (U.S. 23 Business) from Hyatt Creek Road (S.R. 1164) to Pigeon Street (U.S. 276) in Waynesville. The meeting will take place on Thursday, August 9 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Haywood Community College in the lobby of the Student Union Building located at 185 Freedlander Drive in Clyde.

August 8-14, 2018

The purpose of the proposed project is to improve U.S. 23 Business to better accommodate projected traffic volumes and improve access in southwest Waynesville.

The public may drop-in at any time during the meeting hours. NCDOT representatives will be available to answer questions and listen to comments regarding the project. The opportunity to submit comments will also be provided at the meeting or via phone, email, or mail until August 30, 2018. Comments received will be taken into consideration as the project develops. No formal presentation will be made.

Project information and materials can be viewed as they become available online at www.ncdot.gov/news/public-meetings.

Smoky Mountain News

For additional information, contact J. Scott Miller, III, NCDOT Division 14 Project Manager, at 253 Webster Road, Sylva, NC 28779, (828) 586-2141, or jsmiller3@ncdot.gov.

NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services under the Americans with Disabilities Act for disabled persons who wish to participate in this workshop. Anyone requiring special services should contact Tony Gallagher, Environmental Analysis Unit, at 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598, by phone (919) 707-6069 or by e-mail at magallagher@ncdot.gov as early as possible so that arrangements can be made.

Persons who speak Spanish and have a limited ability to read, speak or understand English, may receive interpretive services upon request prior to the meeting by calling 1-800-481-6494.

Aquellas personas que hablan español o tienen limitaciones para leer, hablar o entender inglés, podrían recibir servicios de interpretación si los solicitan antes de la reunión llamando al 1-800-481-6494.

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Health

Smoky Mountain News

New Harris birthing center complete The final phase of construction on the New Generations Family Birthing Center at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva is complete after a $5.5 million renovation made possible through the Duke LifePoint Healthcare partnership.

The New Generations Family Birthing Center is located on the hospital’s third floor where babies have been delivered to families from across the region for decades. The initial renovation began in 2013 with $600,000 in funding provided by the hospital’s legacy foundation with donations from the community, sponsors, and proceeds from fundraisers.

Renovations have included a new Labor and Delivery area, updated patient rooms and nursing stations, and the addition of an operating room for caesarean-section deliveries.

Physicians and staff delivered the first baby in the new Csection suite on May 31, 2018 and Jennifer and James Peed of Sylva welcomed Orin Zachary Peed to their family.

Physicians and staff at the New Generations Family Birthing Center have access to the most up-to-date technology for delivering and caring for babies, and taking care of mothers. Nurses have attained national certifications in motherbaby care and continue to pursue additional education through Duke University Health System and the Association of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

Child-birthing classes, breastfeeding education and unit tours are offered in addition to certified lactation consultants in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. For information, visit myharrisregional.com/our-services/new-generations-family-birthing-center or call 828.586.7907.

The International Essential Tremor Foundation support group will be meeting at 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 15 at the Jackson County Senior Center Room #135.

Learn coping skills and available products to help. Learn the difference between Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor. The group serves individuals in Jackson, Macon, Swain and Haywood counties.

All interested in ET (essential tremor) are welcome; patients, friends, family and health care professionals. Individuals interested in attending should contact Ted Kubit at 828.736.3165 or teddyk1942@gmail.com.

The grants totaling $75,866 will be used to continue ACS’s efforts to diminish transportation barriers and ensure the highest standard of service for community members.

A $20,000 grant will be used to provide transport home from inpatient individuals; $39,366 will be used to provide critical aid to people who lack alternative insurance coverage and $16,500 will enable ACS staff to provide jail-based services in Cherokee, Clay, Macon and Graham counties.

“Through this funding, multiple barriers to serving our most vulnerable populations are removed. We remain very thankful to the Evergreen Foundation for this continued support and dedication to the lives of those in our community,” said Tabatha Brafford, director of consumer services for ACS.

Cancer survivors recognized

Vaccinate to protect your kids

In honor of National Cancer Survivors Day, the physicians and staff of the Haywood Cancer Center honored survivors who are living with and beyond cancer on June 24 at the Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville.

Survivors, family and caregivers joined over 700 communities throughout the United States, Canada and other participating countries to celebrate this special occasion. Almost 100 people from Western North Carolina enjoyed wonderful food, music by Bobby and Blue Ridge Tradition, survivor crafts and a special butterfly release.

The NCSD Foundation defines a cancer survivor as anyone living with a history of cancer — from the moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life. Millions of Americans are now living with and beyond a diagnosis of cancer.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the North Carolina Pediatric Society and the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians for a month-long awareness campaign to help ensure that schoolage children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

As children move into adolescence, they become more susceptible to certain diseases, making it more important to stay current with immunizations. For preteens, ages 11-12, the following four vaccines are recommended: Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) to protect against some of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease, including meningitis; Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough); human papillomavirus vaccine to help protect from HPV infection and cancers caused by HPV and Influenza vaccine to protect against the flu.

The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) and Tdap (whooping cough) are required for school entry in North Carolina. www.immunize.nc.gov.

Tremor support to meet in Sylva

Blood donations needed WCU to lead safety, mental health talk “School Safety and Mental Health: Culture, Prevention and Intervention” will be the theme as members of the Carolina Network for School Mental Health meet Monday, Aug. 13, and Tuesday, Aug. 14, at Western Carolina University’s instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville.

The group will gather from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 13 and from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Aug. 14 with an agenda that includes updates on North Carolina school safety and mental health, and collaborative planning time for the development of school threat assessment teams. Also, Ann Marie McBride, a social worker for Buncombe County Schools, will speak about “recovery teams.”

The Carolina Network is an organization of North Carolina and South Carolina schools, universities and mental health providers that are promoting and implementing best practices in school mental health. The meeting is hosted by WCU’s Counseling Program and Buncombe County Schools. Attendance is free, but participants are asked to register. For information about registra-

tion and to receive an agenda, contact Robertson at probertson@wcu.edu.

Doc to talk about colon cancer Dr. Filiberto Colón, gastroenterologist with Haywood Regional Medical Center, will be presenting the Talk with a Doc dinner seminar “Colon Cancer: Prevention and Screening” at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 16, at Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center.

Colón will speak while patrons enjoy a healthy meal. Afterward, he will circulate to visit with guests and answer questions.

“A colonoscopy is a vital screening method with potentially lifesaving benefits,” says Colón.

“Colonoscopies can improve our ability to detect colorectal cancer quickly and early, which makes this disease much more easily treatable.”

To attend this complimentary dinner seminar, call 800.424.DOCS (3627). No children in attendance. Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center is located at 75 Leroy George Drive, Clyde (adjacent to hospital).

21

An emergency blood shortage is prompting the American Red Cross to issue an urgent call for eligible donors of all blood types — especially type O — to give now and help save lives.

The Red Cross escalated its call for blood and platelet donors after a difficult Independence Day week for donations. More than 550 fewer blood drives were organized by businesses and other community groups last week than during a typical week as individuals across the country celebrated the holiday and enjoyed summer activities. This could equate to as many as 15,000 fewer donations than needed, causing donations to now be distributed to hospitals faster than they come in.

A blood drive will be held from 4 to 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 16, at the American Legion, 171 Legion Dr., Waynesville.

Call 800.RED.CROSS to set an appointment.

Walk-ins are welcome.

ACS receives funding Appalachian Community Services recently received three grants from The Evergreen Foundation in support of their Appalachian Access program.

Jackson Health celebrates breastfeeding week The first week in August every year celebrates World Breastfeeding Week, a global initiative to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding worldwide.

In Western North Carolina, a collaborative celebration takes place annually during this time to represent a global event called The Big Latch On. This event brings families in the community together and submits a synchronized count of breastfeeding mothers’ “latches” to the global total.

The Big Latch On, the sixth annual in our area, was held Aug. 4 at Bridge Park in Sylva and was hosted by a collaborative regional partnership of breastfeeding supporters from Jackson, Haywood, Macon and Swain Counties.

22

Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

In this case, the choice is obvious Richard’s property and finally got a ruling from the Department of Transportation that they were illegal. Curtis, according to The Mountaineer, has lived here five years and has made eliminating visual pollution his personal calling.

Scott McLeod

“Take the high road.”

It’s a simple code for life, but one too few take to heart and even fewer have the courage and fortitude to embrace. It’s much easier to go low, to lash out against critics or take unethical measures in order to come out on top.

Those who know Richard Reeves aren’t surprised he made just this point as controversy swirled around the cluster of small signs he has erected on the remaining half acre of family land he owns — and pays taxes on — at the corner of Old Asheville Highway and Liner Cover Road near Lowes in Waynesville.

People expected that kind of reaction because Richard has spent the better part of his life doing the kind of Editor work that flies under the radar but makes Haywood County a better place to live. His professional career was as a teacher and principal.

One sign on the lot in question reads “Have you hugged your kids today?” That one went up in 1985 when Richard was a young father and a young teacher.

“I just wanted people to remember to hug their kids and teachers to hug their kids if that’s what it took. I was just trying to remind them,” he said of the first sign to grace the lot.

Others signs followed, one for his charitable work chopping wood to keep the needy warm in winter. A few were paid business signs, but one of those was put up and the payments sent straight to the Alzheimer’s Association while the little cash he got from others was a college fund for his grandkids.

Another, at the request of the sheriff, reminded people of the opioid scourge that is ravaging the region.

John Curtis started complaining about the signs on

Apartment complex pleas ignored To the Editor: On 30 July, the Waynesville Planning Board met once again concerning the proposed apartment complex on Plott Creek Road. Again, we see where the majority of the board members ignored the wishes of the local population in what appears as a desperate attempt to side with the developers. I was one of those who attended that marathon meeting, although I did not stay to the very end.

During my stay, there were issues brought up by both sides but none more contentious than the building heights and the number of stories allowed. As presented, the ordinances in place today allowed for three-story structures but the developer proposed four-story buildings. They seemed to get around the three-story limitation by defining the lowest story as a basement and presumed exempt.

I certainly was not there when the ordinances were written but I am comfortable in assuming that the ‘intent’ of the restriction was to limit building height to three stories — period — for aesthetic reasons. For lawyers and engineers to get away with playing word games and call any story by another name to circum-

To make a donation to Richard Reeves’ firewood for the needy ministry or for Alzheimer’s research, send checks to PO Box 611, Waynesville, NC, 28786.

I’m not here to argue about the aesthetics of the signs on Richard’s property or whether they are a distraction that some might deem unsafe. I am here to say that Curtis kicked a hornet’s nest — or maybe it’s better to say he stumbled into one — when his attempt to get Richard’s signs removed hit the media (print, television and social).

Supporters of Reeves and haters of Curtis rose up like the

LETTERS vent the restriction sets a dangerous precedent and flies in the face of the local residents concerned about the scope of the project.

Also given the contentious nature of this proposal, the local residents would have tolerated a proposal that was strictly held to the intent of the ordinances. But again, that didn’t happen Monday night. The majority of the board chose to waive the restrictions so, again, the residents’ pleas go unheard. I highly recommend this decision be appealed and the original height limitation be enforced before it’s too late!!

Steven Winchester Plott Creek Road Waynesville

Some agency should have saved turkeys To the Editor: I would like to know why the animal rescue agencies in the Waynesville area, which there are many including Haywood Animal Welfare and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, did nothing to save the lives of the three wild turkeys that had for some reason made the circle at the intersection of Old Asheville

image of the parting of the Red Sea, each on a side, Curtis in the middle with a mountain of ill will crashing down upon him. That’s supporters of Richard and his indomitable charitable spirit on one side and on the other haters of transplants recently arrived who try to tell locals what’s best for them.

That vitriol directed at Curtis from the haters, though, didn’t sit well with Richard. He told me Tuesday morning that people need to remember the “do unto others” creed we’ve all been taught at some point in our lives. He said people from other states — yes, including Florida — have been some of the largest contributors to his firewood ministry and to the Alzheimer’s golf tournament he helps coordinate each year. Four of the five volunteers who show up at the woodpile each day split, load and deliver firewood are from places other than Haywood County.

Reeves calls me back and cautions against anyone trying to outfit him with angel wings.

“I don’t want to come off like that, like some goody two shoes. I’ve made plenty, plenty of mistakes in my own life. But I’ve tried to learn from’em,” Richard said.

Curtis, as Richard points out, isn’t the issue here. In his own way, he’s trying to do the right thing, trying to improve the appearance of the community he’s chosen to call home, trying to improve its façade. Richard, meanwhile, is just a genuinely great guy, someone who admits to his faults and diligently works without fanfare on several charitable fronts to help individuals, work that is part of the foundation of the Haywood County community.

That, really, is this story in a nutshell, and it’s one people already know. What’s more important, the foundation or the facade, the book or its cover, what’s on the inside or what’s on the outside? Enough said.

Carry on, Richard.

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

Highway and Ratcliff Cove Road their home.

They can not say they did not know they were there for newspapers and television had produced stories about them.

Unfortunately at that time there were already only two of the three left alive. Now, there is only one left alive.

What was their excuse for not relocating these creatures to a safe location? They certainly can not claim that the middle of a busy intersection is the “natural habitat” of these animals. In my opinion there is no excuse other than simple laziness on their part. It would have taken all of one hour or so to capture and relocate them. The members of these agencies should be ashamed of their lack of action.

Bill Patterson Waynesville

Trump should reveal tax information To the Editor: Donald Trump can bellow out from the tallest building in New York that he is an innocent man who is being maliciously badgered by a spiteful media. He can tweet hourly that he has no business ties to Russia. But, he will only be making more noise than the noise

is making. The noise is S.A.Y.I.T., which has been repeated thousands of times since his campaign and questionable election as president. S.A.Y.I.T. is, of course, an acronym for Show America Your Income Taxes.

By revealing that information Trump might dispel the notion that he is being manipulated by Vladimir Putin. On the other hand, it might simply prove that Trump is, indeed, beholden to Putin because of money.

Have you ever wondered why Trump has refused to reveal that relevant tax information as his presidential predecessors have?

Come clean, Mr. Trump. S.A.Y.I.T.!!!!

Dave Waldrop Webster

Trump is full of bad ideas To the Editor: It is always amusing to hear supporters of President Trump claim that others are uninformed and vicious. Talk about vicious!

I have never before seen a president attack disabled people, a senator suffering from terminal cancer, a gold star family who lost their only son in combat, or the type of vicious name call-

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 20

Chris Cox

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

Experience a casual, relaxing atmosphere perfect for all walks of life, from families to golf groups to ladies who lunch. We pride ourselves on using fresh ingredients from our gardens and supporting local farmers. The details are priority.

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Smoky Mountain News

“I’ll call Bob in the morning. You can just drop it off after school.”

It seemed to me that grown-ups never had car problems. And for the most part, they didn’t. What they had was car payments, a concept I would not come to understand for at least another decade, when I bought my first new car with my dad as chief negotiator.

There is no feeling quite like driving a brand new car off the lot, no smell quite like a new car smell, and no sense of security quite like that sense that your Columnist car is not going to break down on you before you get it home, not going to emit any noxious fumes, not going to blow a tire, not going to shudder like a dying cow when you stop for a red light, not going to light up the dashboard like a pinball machine, with the ‘check engine’ glowing bright as a neon sign. You get home, go to sleep, wake up, and there your new car sits gleaming in the driveway, a symbol of something you can’t quite put your finger on. It feels like everything may work out after all in this weary world of ours.

And then the payment book arrives in the mailbox one day. You take it out and thumb through five or six years of monthly payments, the dates all orderly and sequentially numbered. The payoff seems impossibly far away. What will you even look like in five or six years? Where will you even be?

Suddenly, your new car, still gleaming (I guess, through the light coating of salt and mud) in the driveway but now with a small ding on the driver-side door and a ketchup stain on one of the floor mats, seems more like a prison sentence than a symbol of anything good or hopeful.

Welcome to the delightful calculus of car ownership. Just last year, we celebrated the payoffs of two cars, that wonderful feeling of liberation from being out from under those years of car payments. Since then, we have been living like teenagers, with our cars now well into their golden years, exhibiting the same unpredictable symptoms of decline that we remember from our Buick Electras, Dodge Darts, and Ford Granadas of yesteryear.

“Dad, the car is making that sound again, that sawing sound when I turn the wheel. The check engine light is on again, too.”

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

August 8-14, 2018

ome people’s memories of their first car are glazed with sugar, like candy apples at the county fair. It is just one species of nostalgia, I guess. A few of my classmates actually did drive cool cars, including some twins who shared a black Trans Am that was the envy of every teenage boy who had seen Burt Reynolds driving one in “Smoky and the Bandit,” which played for about 80 consecutive weekends at the Twin Oaks drive-in theater.

Most of us, of course, did not drive cars that anyone but our teenage selves would celebrate. There have been great songs written about Little Deuce Coupes, Little Red Corvettes, and Pink Cadillacs, but do you remember any great songs about a 1972 Buick Electra? This was my first car.

It’s not just that the car was as unsexy as a head of lettuce. Not even Bruce Springsteen could find words that rhyme with “Buick” or “Electra.” Not that he should. The 1972 Buick Electra was definitively not born to run. It was, instead, born to run out of gas. On a good day, the car got about eight miles per gallon, which meant I could barely make it to a neighboring town before the gauge plummeted below a quarter tank. When I pushed the gas pedal to the floor, I could literally see the needle move ever closer toward ‘E.’ I ran out of gas a few times, a problem compounded by the battleship dimensions of the car. When the Electra ran out of gas, I needed the football team to help me push it out of the road. My friend’s Toyota Tercel looked like something my car would have for a snack between meals. No wonder he never parked next to me.

There were even worse problems than the gas mileage. Every few days, symptoms of darker, deeper, more mysterious problems would suddenly materialize.

Suspicious smells — sometimes a whiff of a gas or oil, sometimes the scent of something very hot and maybe sweet, like someone burning maple syrup on a griddle — would waft through the vents.

The car often produced an extraordinary array of sounds that was not unlike an elementary school jazz concert. The percussive knocking from the engine, the squalling horn section in the steering column or worn brake pads, and a peculiar bass thumping from tires that could not maintain regulation air pressure. This was the music that competed with Van Halen playing on my Pioneer eight-track tape deck.

Truly, the car was a feast for the senses.

My conversations with my dad during this period usually began with an inventory of what the car was “doing” or “not doing.”

I would tick off the list, and he would sigh.

ing during and after the campaign.

The first two paragraphs of the letter on August 1 had no fewer than six erroneous assertions along with a few questionable ones. Kim Jon Un is not dismantling his nuclear arsenal — he has all of his nuclear weapons. According to recent evidence, they are continuing building missiles and expanding their nuclear arsenal. North Korea got international recognition and persuaded Trump to cancel joint military exercises. All Trump got was a small box that supposedly had remains of servicemen, but in the past such boxes also had bones of pigs in addition to some human remains.

The writer asserts that trade deficits are being corrected, but to date no such thing has happened. Some of our deficits continue to grow while some of our companies are moving production to other countries as a result of Trump tariffs or his unpredictability and others are reconsidering building here. Prices to consumers will rise because they — not countries — actually pay the tariffs like taxes. There is no sign of any significant “manufacturing coming back to us” as the writer claims.

Just because they might say that on Fox News does not make it a fact. Talk about fake news.

Another assertion is that there is “greater respect for America around the globe.” There is no evidence for this! As one who is in contact with people in other

countries, I can assure you that there is no improvement in respect — quite the contrary. People used to say that they like Americans even though they didn’t necessarily like the policies of the president at the time. But now people are starting to say they don’t like Americans because of what they see as our values exemplified by the president.

The writer says taxes are down. Yes, taxes are down if you are rich or making a lot of money, but the rest of us see very little, if any, benefit from the Trump Tax Cut. Unemployment is down, but that does not mean people have a livable income. Wages are so low that many, including teachers, have to take second jobs to make ends meet. The corporations that got huge tax breaks are paying executives and shareholders, but not passing much, if anything, to workers.

Finally, the writer complains that Democrats block everything because it is a Trump idea. May I remind her that ObamaCare was originally a Republican concept? As soon as Obama accepted the plan, every Republican — including Trump — was against it. By the way, ACA premiums are going up in part because Trump is sabotaging ObamaCare. A few cities are suing Trump about this. Most people who object to Trump’s proposals, like the wall and trade wars, do so because the ideas are bad, unrealistic, or ill advised — not because they come from Trump.

Norman Hoffman Waynesville

opinion

No hazy nostalgia with my first car S

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM 22

1819 Country Club Drive Maggie Valley, NC

M AG G I E VA LLEY C LU B . CO M 23

tasteTHEmountains

Sunday: 12pm-6pm Tue-Thurs 3pm-8pm Fri-Sat: 12pm-9pm Monday: Closed AT BEARWATERS BREWING

101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422

PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

Retail Restaurant LIVE Music

Events begin at 7:15pm unless otherwise noted.

Dinner and Music reservations at 828-452-6000.

Friday, August 10 LIVE RECORDING of album Real Life featuring Sheila Gordon (piano, vocals), Plus Quartet. Original songs written by Ms. Gordon about NC. Two seatings: 6:00pm and 8:15pm. $29.99 per person for music and dinner. Reservations required.

August 8-14, 2018

Saturday, August 11 Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

Friday, August 17 The Moon & You cello, guitar, vocals.

Folk-Americana, Pop, Originals.

Saturday, August 18 Joe Cruz piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

Friday, August 24 James Hammel guitar, vocals.

Jazz, Pop, Originals.

Saturday, August 25 Speakeasy Night with 9th Street Stompers.

Swing, gypsy jazz, rockabilly, tango. Dinner & music $50 bucks, plus drinks & gratuity.

PW required. Dress dapper. No coppers.

Smoky Mountain News

828-452-6000 • classicwineseller.com 20 Church Street, Waynesville, NC

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY 50 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0350. Taproom Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Gem Bar Open Tuesday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks at Boojum’s Downtown Waynesville restaurant & bar. Choose from 16 taps of our fresh, delicious & ever rotating Boojum Beer plus cider, wine & craft cocktails. The taproom features seasonal pub faire including tasty burgers, sandwiches, shareables and daily specials that pair perfectly with our beer. Cozy up inside or take in the mountain air on our back deck.”

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner nightly at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Wine Down Wednesday’s: ½ off wine by the bottle. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks from local farms, incredible burgers, and other classic american comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. – with eggs,

bacon, sausage, oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch menu every day from 12 noon to 2 p.m. includes homemade soup du jour and fresh-made salads. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night will feature an evening cookout on the terrace. On all other nights of the week, dinner is served family style and includes locally sourced vegetables, homemade breads, jellies, desserts, and a wide selection of wine and craft beer. The evening social hour starts at 6 p.m., dinner is served starting at 7 p.m., and cozy rooms and cabins are available if you love us so much that you want to stay for breakfast, too. Please call for reservations. And see our dinner menu online at www.cataloocheeranch.com/dining.

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210.

From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mouthwatering all beef burgers and dogs, hand-dipped, hand-spun real ice cream shakes and floats, fresh handcut fries. Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and

WEDNESDAY 5-9 P.M.

THURSDAY 5-9 P.M.

SUNDAY 11 A.M-3 P.M.

Rib buffet, fried chicken, vegetables, and a twenty-three item salad bar!

Piano Man & Angie

Buffet Brunch

$11.95

Country Buffet

$11.95

featuring turkey and dressing

$12.95

MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 24

twitter.com/ChurchStDepot

facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

828.926.0201 At the Maggie Valley Inn • 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley

Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.

828.926.1820 Winter hours: Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet.

Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

DELLWOOD FARMHOUSE RESTAURANT 651 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville.

828.944.0010. Warm, inviting restaurant serving delicious, freshly-made Southern comfort foods. Cozy atmosphere; spacious to accommodate large parties. Big Farmhouse Breakfast and other morning menu items served 8 a.m. to noon. Lunch/dinner menu offered 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Come see us.

You’ll be glad you did! Closed Wednesdays.

FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.

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

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

Monday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com HARMON’S DEN BISTRO 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828.456.6322. Harmon’s Den is located in the Fangmeyer Theater at HART. Open 5:309 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Bistro closes at 7:30 p.m. on nights when there is a show in the Fangmeyer Theater) with Sunday brunch at 11 a.m. that includes breakfast and lunch items. Harmon’s Den offers a complete menu with cocktails, wine list, and area beers on tap. Enjoy casual dining with the guarantee of making it to the performance in time, then rub shoulders with

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

Featured Dishes: Fresh Fried Chicken, Rainbow Trout, Country Ham, Pork-chops & more

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

New Hours: Thurs.-Mon. Open at 7 a.m.

Breakfast served all day!

2804 SOCO RD. • MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.0425 • Facebook.com/carversmvr Instagram- @carvers_mvr

tasteTHEmountains the cast afterward with post-show food and beverage service. Reservations recommended. www.harmonsden.harttheatre.org J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Open for dinner at 4:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

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

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

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner.

The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

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

828.456.7870. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Enjoy the lunch prices Monday through Sunday, also enjoy our outdoor patio.

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Hand-tossed pizza, house-ground burgers, steak sandwiches & fresh salmon all from scratch. Casual family friendly atmosphere.

Craft beer and interesting wine. Free movies Thursday through Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.com for this week’s shows & events.

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT 2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Daily specials including soups, sandwiches and southern dishes along with featured dishes such as fresh fried chicken, rainbow trout, country ham, pork chops and more.

Breakfast all day including omelets, pancakes, biscuits & gravy. facebook.com/carversmvr; instagram @carvers_mvr.

NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP).

828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily.

Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week.

Family style dining for adults and children.

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

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

Real New Yorkers.

Real Italians. Real Pizza.

Dine-In ~ Take Out ~ Delivery

An Authentic Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge.

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WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0927. Open Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.

3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

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243 Paragon Parkway | Clyde

828-476-5058 499 Champion Drive | Canton

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Mon/Wed/Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

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Sandwiches • Burgers • Wraps 32 Felmet Street (828) 246-0927

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TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.3551. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com.

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

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

Annies’s Breads for Paninis and Soups!

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com Monday-Friday Open at 11am

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food Smoky Mountain News

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

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections.

Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska. Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano. Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95. Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com

New Menu Items including Vegan Cheese, Crepecakes and Almond Joy Creamcrepes!

New and improved hormone-free, antibiotic-free chicken, turkey and ham!

August 8-14, 2018

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

PIGEON RIVER GRILLE 101 Park St., Canton.

828.492.1422. Open Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Southern-inspired restaurant serving simply prepared, fresh food sourced from top purveyors. Located riverside at Bearwaters Brewing, enjoy daily specials, sandwiches, wings, fish and chips, flatbreads, soups, salads, and more. Be sure to save room for a slice of the delicious house made cake.

Relaxing inside/outside dining and spacious gathering areas for large groups.

Open Daily 7 a.m. to noon Closed Thursdays

Any day is a great day when it starts with Joey’s Pancakes!

4309 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley (828) 926-0212

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Smoky Mountain News

C a t c h H i m

David Joy releases highly-anticipated third novel

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER If you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t even notice him.

Sitting by himself at the counter of the Innovation Station in Dillsboro one recent sunny afternoon, David Joy sips on a heady craft brew, the blonde ale to be specific (his favorite). The sparkling new second location for Innovation Brewing (based out of nearby Sylva), Joy is fiercely loyal to the indepentlyowned/operated company, a loyalty akin to the hardscrabble characters of his wildy fascinating and acclaimed novels.

With his glass almost empty, the bartender behind the counter notices before Joy can even raise a finger. “Another David?” she smiles. He nods his head quietly and reciprocates the smile.

I f Yo u C a n

David Joy sitting at Innovation Brewing’s new location in Dillsboro. Garret K. Woodward photo

Joy is adorned in his trademark camouflage hunting baseball cap, musty old T-shirt, dirty jeans and work boots so big and heavy looking, one wonders if Joy bought them simply just to stay grounded in Jackson County, purposely unable to run over the ridge and far away, even if he tried.

Joy moseys from the counter to a table on the station’s patio. Just as he’s about to speak, a piercing train whistle reverberates through the small downtown. It’s the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, making another trek from Bryson City to Dillsboro. A never-ending stream of tourists from above/below the Mason-Dixon Line and points west flow out of the train cars toward the Appalachian craft shops, barbecue restaurant and the Innovation Station, only to hop back on the train an hour later and make it back to Bryson City just in time for dinner.

“Is this where the beer tasting is?” a confused tourist slowly creeping onto the patio asks Joy, the only patron within earshot. “Yes sir,” Joy replies, pointing toward the taproom.

The tourist had come in search of Appalachian culture, art and culinary delights, something the rest of the country is

“The only thing I can control is the work. Every book I get a few more readers. And really that’s it. I just write the stories. The rest of it is out of my control.”

— David Joy

seemingly more in demand of nowadays, only to not even realize he was just talking to the man that’s rapidly becoming the face of Southern Appalachia, at least as far as literary circles are concerned.

At 34, Joy is author of the newly-minted The Line That Held Us, another dark, rollicking journey down the rabbit hole of what happens when your back is against the wall and your only option is to fight to stay alive. The highly-anticipated third offering by Joy follows suit in his ongoing Appalachian noir works (released by G.P. Putnam’s Sons), which also includes Where All Light Tends to Go (2015) and The Weight of This World (2017).

The stories are as twisted as a third-generation thicket lining the dirt roads of rural Western North Carolina, characters resem-

bling folks you might cross paths with at the local watering hole, coffee shop or in the midst of a drug deal gone bad, a wide-open spectrum of personalities and conflicts that would be too-crazy-to-be-true if it weren’t — sadly — a daily reality for many not only in Southern Appalachia, but also America, in general.

And with recent touted essays in the New York Times Magazine (“At The Crossroads”), Time itself (“Hunting Camp”) and The Bitter Southerner (“Digging In The Trash”), the spotlight is becoming increasingly hot and pointed at Joy, someone that if you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t even notice him.

That anonymity is something Joy holds close to his heart, and yet more and more folks want a piece of that beating muscle in

Smoky Mountain News: Where are you right now in your career? I know this is the third book, but in terms of what you want to accomplish with this as a life, where are you?

David Joy: Well, me and a friend were talking about it last night. She was thinking about publishing as like a mountain.

And she said a lot of people catch a helicopter and they’re able to fly right to the top, real fast. She said for her she felt more like a tank just kind of trudging up this side of the mountain. I told her, for me, it’s not the same metaphor. I look at it like a mesa. I got somewhere and I’m hoping it’s flat until I die. I’ve reached a very sustainable place in publishing, I think. The third book is coming out. I’ve got two books under contract. And I imagine when I finished those books, I’ll sell them two more.

SMN: What’s your discipline? Are you waiting for things to happen or are you mining everyday?

DJ: A lot of times, for me, there’s a whole lot of time spent waiting. I don’t write everyday. Never have, never will. It just doesn’t happen like that for me. But,

SMN: You’ve always been a private person, something you take to heart. How is that changing or is it changing? Because there are more people that want more things from you...

DJ: It’s still that same balance. I’m an incredibly introverted person. And so that aversion to people isn’t so much that I dislike people or that I don’t like the company of people, it’s that it literally drains me. So, that silent time is where I get my energy.

Last week, for instance, Time magazine asked me to write something. I had three days to write an essay. And I already had an essay on my plate, already had two interviews that I was trying to answer, and I was trying to write a novel.

“Largely, for me, with everything I do, it’s trying to provide a voice when I feel there’s silence.”

— David Joy

SMN: There’s an irony to that. Everyone wants to ask you about your writing, but they’re taking up all your time to write.

DJ: Yeah. I think that’s true for most writers. Most writers are introverts, most writers would much rather be at home than sitting on a stage talking to people.

SMN: What’s going on with Netflix?

DJ: Well, I was talking to a production company, and nothing came of it. And that’s the thing, those types of conversations happen every single day. And you get news every single day.

SMN: If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t...

DJ: Exactly. And there’s nothing you can do about that. And that’s the different mountain. So, once you’re at a level, that’s largely out of your control. Whether or not a book gets turned into a movie, you can’t control that. The first book, you know, we were moments away. Sign the dotted line. I had the contract there, and the money [was] pulled. It was big name people.

SMN: I get the vibe from you that no matter what happens, if all of it stopped tomorrow, you’d still go fishing, still write and still come to Innovation and get a beer...

S EE JOY, PAGE 28

THE LINE THAT HELD US (2018) When Darl Moody went hunting after a monster buck he’s chased for years, he never expected he’d accidentally shoot a man digging ginseng. Worse yet, he’s killed a Brewer, a family notorious for vengeance and violence. With nowhere to turn, Darl calls on the help of the only man he knows will answer, his best friend, Calvin Hooper. But when Dwayne Brewer comes looking for his missing brother and stumbles onto a blood trail leading straight back to Darl and Calvin, a nightmare of revenge rips apart their world. The Line That Held Us is a tale balanced between destruction and redemption where the only hope is to hold on tight. What will you do for the people who mean the most, and what will you grasp to when all that you have is gone?

The only certainty in a place so shredded is that no one will get away unscathed.

THE WEIGHT OF THIS WORLD (2017) A combat veteran returned from war, Thad Broom can’t leave the hardened world of Afghanistan behind, nor can he forgive himself for what he saw there. His mother, April, is haunted by her own demons, a secret trauma she has carried for years.

Between them is Aiden McCall, loyal to both but unable to hold them together.

Connected by bonds of circumstance and duty, friendship and love, these three lives are blown apart when Aiden and Thad witness the accidental death of their drug dealer and a riot of dope and cash drops in their laps. On a meth-fueled journey to nowhere, they will either find the grit to overcome the darkness or be consumed by it.

WHERE ALL LIGHT TENDS TO GO (2015) The area surrounding Cashiers is home to people of all kinds, but the world that Jacob McNeely lives in is crueler than most.

His father runs a methodically organized meth ring, with local authorities on the dime to turn a blind eye to his dealings. Having dropped out of high school and cut himself off from his peers, Jacob has been working for this father for years, all on the promise that his payday will come eventually. The only joy he finds comes from reuniting with Maggie, his first love, and a girl clearly bound for bigger and better things.

Jacob has always been resigned to play the cards that were dealt him, but when he botches a murder and sets off a trail of escalating violence, he’s faced with a choice: stay and appease his kingpin father, or leave the mountains with the girl he loves. In a place where hope takes a back seat to fate, Jacob wonders if he can muster the strength to rise above the only life he’s ever known. www.david-joy.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

SMN: Three books in four years. Do you look at that [pace] as normal or is there a sense of urgency that the iron is hot?

DJ: I think my normal, natural output wouldn’t be much slower than that. I think naturally I’d write a book every two years, where now I’m writing one about every year and a half. In publishing, if you can maintain a book a year, it’s a lot easier to stay relevant. Ace Atkins is a perfect example. His books are great. Right about the time one starts to fade you’ve got something else. It’s a lot easier to remain relevant versus if you have one big book and wait around six years.

SMN: You’re mulling it over, like when you’re fishing...

DJ: Yeah, exactly, or walk around the farm or driving or in the shower. If I sit down at a computer and try to force something, it’s never going to come. If I hop in the truck and drive, I’ll pull over to the side of the road and write shit down.

The works of David Joy

August 8-14, 2018

SMN: With the creative side of things, whether you’re a musician or a writer, there tends to be, subconsciously, a point when you compare yourself to other people, maybe your heroes. Do you do that at all?

DJ: I think the people I admire most weren’t hugely successful as far as sales.

Donald Ray Pollock is tremendously underread in this country. Larry Brown, tremendously underread. He was never a New York Times bestseller. William Gay. All those people I looked up to for so long, never had commercial success. For me, each book I’m trying to do something bigger. This book I’m working on feels a lot bigger than the others. I think it’s growth.

With the writers I really admire, the scope expands. I think that’s the sign of an artist, in any genre, is that the scope tends to get bigger.

when I’m sitting there, I’m not doing nothing. I’m reading. I’m thinking. A lot of those stories develop over that time.

arts & entertainment

his chest, if only to examine that piece under a microscope to see just what makes it tick, a rhythm of physical and emotional turmoil which could provide the answers to questions we all currently have running through our heads in Southern Appalachia — about our past, present, and uncertain future.

arts & entertainment

Saturday, August 11th 4-8pm Holly Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall 366 Holly Springs Church Rd., Franklin, NC

ENTERTAINMENT TBA • SILENT AUCTION • Adults- $25 • Kids under 11- $10 • Kids under 5 FREE Credit Cards Accepted

Shrimp Eating Contest!

Tickets available at the Habitat Office, Franklin & Sylva ReStores, the Franklin & Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and any Board or Staff Member.

For information: 828-369-3716

David Joy holding court in front of a classroom at Central Haywood High School, where he aimed to inspire the students to achieve their dreams. Cory Vaillancourt photo

newsdesk crafts

August 8-14, 2018

Want to go?

Promoting his new novel The Line That Held Us, author David Joy will be appearing at the following locations in our area: • 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 14. Sponsored by City Lights Bookstore, the event will be

1.

2.

3.

4. #3 - free flier

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

Smoky Mountain News

Is a Will Enough?

FREE LUNCHEON SEMINAR

August 15: 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M. September 19: 11:30 A.M.-1 P.M. Best Western in Dillsboro Reservations Suggested

828.586.4051

nctrustlawyer.com

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28 Maple St. • Sylva

JOY, CONTINUED FROM 27 DJ: Yeah, and I might even be serving the beer. If it all dried up, I can call [Nicole] Dexter (co-owner of Innovation Brewing) up and Dexter would put me to work. And I don’t care. That’s the other thing. I’ll continue to write the books. I don’t foresee a moment where I can’t sell the books, though, to be honest with you. I really don’t.

There’s two under contract now, and when those two are signed off on, I’ll pretty much bet I can sell the next two on spec.

SMN: What has surprised you the most about all of this?

DJ: I think how hit or miss the [publishing] industry is. And how largely it’s completely out of your control. That last book, truthfully, didn’t do that well, especially compared to the first. Big books come out every Tuesday. I mean, dozens and dozens of big books. And, for the most part, they’re all very good books. The ones that take off and the ones that don’t is a fluke. The one thing I recognize, is that the only thing I can control is the work. Every book I get a few more readers. And really that’s it. I just write the stories. The rest of it is out of my control.

SMN: You look at your characters as a way to educate the rest of America about people either forgotten or dismissed. [In

held in the Community Room at the Jackson County Public Library, which is located at 310 Keener Street in Sylva.

• 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Books, the event will be held at Smoky Mountain Roasters, which is located at 444 Hazelwood Avenue in Waynesville.

your work], you’re bringing life to a segment of the population or a regional population that gets dehumanized.

DJ: Yeah, and I think I do that same thing with the essays. I don’t write a whole lot of essays, but when I do, it’s because I feel like I can provide a voice for the voiceless. With the “Digging In The Trash” piece for The Bitter Southerner, it was the fact that working class, rural, poverty stricken people are shit on time and time again, and dismissed as trailer trash. They don’t have a voice.

Well, I can say something about that. Or with that gun essay in the New York Times, it was the fact that sensible gun owners were not being heard from, the only people you were hearing from was the extreme right and the extreme left. Largely, for me, with everything I do, it’s trying to provide a voice when I feel there’s silence. I want a reader to fall in love with the person they thought they hate.

SMN: Well, isn’t the point of art to create dialogue?

DJ: Yeah. I think it’s to provide some sort of insight during a moment of dissonance.

It’s to be a voice of reason when common sense and sensibility is being shattered in every direction. And that’s always been the role of the artist, and that will never change.

I have a hard time, you know, imagining any true artist who is able to remain silent during times like this.

@SmokyMtnNews

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Phish’s “IT Festival.” Garret K. Woodward photo

Pebbles and marbles like things on my mind

The Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Franklin.

W

FRIDAY, AUG. 10 7 P.M. 3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

Cold Mountain Summer Music Series Saturday, August 11 Music: Josh Carter & Creekside Crawfish Food: Vieux Carre Featured Brew: Noble Cider & Highlands Brewing

Saturday, August 25 Music: Erik & Norma Hendrix, & Noah Proudfoot Food: Out of the Blue Featured Brew: Brewery TBA

Saturday, September 8 Music: Devils in Dust Food: TBA Featured Brew: Ecusta Brewing

Saturday, September 22 (Gates open at 10 am/Music at noon) Music: Kenny George Band & EZ Shakes Food: Hit the Bit BBQ Featured Brew: Frog Level

Smoky Mountain News

ell, 15 years ago this The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will past weekend, I sponhost Viva AsheVegas Burlesque at 9:30 p.m. taneously bolted from Saturday, Aug. 11.

Upstate New York straight to northern Maine to attend “An Appalachian Evening” will continue with Phish’s “IT Festival.” bluegrass act Volume Five at 7:30 p.m.

A lifelong fan of the Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Stecoah Valley Center beloved jam-rock act, who was in Robbinsville. raised in the Champlain Valley Actress Barbara Bates Smith and musician Jeff of New York and Vermont Sebens will present "Go, Granny D!” at 7:30 (home base of the band), it p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at The Colonial Theater was my first time seeing them in Canton. in all their melodic glory. I was 18 years old that summer of The Swon Brothers will hit the stage at 7:30 2003. Just graduated high p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Smoky Mountain school, spending the summer Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. working front desk and maintenance at my aunt and uncle’s New York, right on the Canadian border, motel in downtown Lake Placid, New York. to hang with whoever of my friends were And my best friend and I had planned still in town that didn’t go to the show. All all summer to go to the show. Everyone we knew was going. It was the event of the sea- that was left was my best friend and another friend. son. The week leading up to the show, it The three of us got a case a beer and looked bleak on myself being in attendance. headed for a deserted parking area way out My aunt and uncle were heading out of in the backwoods. Drank some beers. Had a town and I was in charge of the motel all bonfire. Blasted our stereo. Around 1 a.m. weekend, the same weekend of the festival.

My best friend called and abruptly hung up Sunday morning I turned to my best friend and said, “You know, if we left right now, on me when I said I couldn’t go. we could make the Sunday show.” He I ended up working all day that turned to me immediately and said, “I’m Saturday, “Day One” of the festival, concalling your bullshit.” I shrugged and startstantly thinking about how bummed I was ed up the car. “Get in,” I said. to be missing out. But, miraculously, my Sneaking back into my parent’s house aunt and uncle came back early Saturday around 2 a.m. I grabbed three things: my afternoon and said I could have the rest of ATM card, my hiking boots and my Phish the weekend off. flag that hung proudly in my childhood Thus, I went down the mountain and bedroom. I already had a full tank of gas, so back to my hometown of Rouses Point,

Open Mic Night

August 8-14, 2018

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

Bookstore

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

we just simply took off. The drive was about 12 hours, give or take.

Crossed the Vermont state line quickly, New Hampshire a few hours after that. By the time my best friend and I hit Bangor, Maine, it was morning. He awoke as I was rolling through a McDonald’s drive-thru.

“Where the hell are we?” he said (he had passed out somewhere in Vermont). “We’re in Bangor, Maine,” I responded. “What the hell are we doing in Maine?” “We’re heading to the Phish show.” "Oh, yes. Oh, god, yes," he shouted.

From Bangor to Presque Isle (where the festival was), the northern woods of Maine opened up. Complete desolation. It’s surreal how remote that area is. We eventually picked up a hitchhiker who looked old enough to buy us beer. He was, and he did.

Pulling up to the festival grounds, which was a decommissioned Air Force base, we parked outside the enormous venue. Did I mention that we didn’t have tickets? We just left New York without a care in the world. Said goodbye to the hitchhiker and then prepared to figure out how we’d get into the festival. It was just then my best friend lit a joint as a bread truck passed by.

The bread truck stopped right in front of us. A head popped out. The head goes, “Hey man, you got anymore weed on yah? I just ran out. Need some nug.” I knew my friend has some extra nugs in his stash. I looked the bread truck dude right in the face and go, “Tell yah what. We don’t have tickets. If you sneak us in, in this bread truck, we’ll give you some nug.” He said OK. Opening the back of the truck, it was filled with thousands of hot dog buns. My best friend and I slid underneath a few crates and remained quiet as we rolled through security. Success. We were in.

We shook hands goodbye with the bread truck dude and strolled into the festival camping area. Ran into all our high school buddies, swapping stories about all our wild adventures in getting to the festival, the promise land for us Phish Phreaks.

That show, that festival and weekend, that band and those friends around me, nothing was the same after that experience. That was the line in the sand of my adolescence and impending adulthood.

In two weeks following that show, I was to leave my hometown of 18 years, leave my native New York, and head for college 300 miles away, from all that was familiar and safe to me, in Connecticut. I remember standing there in the mud at the festival, watching Phish illuminate the hearts, minds and souls of thousands in attendance.

I remember the insane glow stick war during the song “Pebbles and Marbles,” absolute musical chaos and euphoria, and thinking about all I was leaving behind at home in pursuit of whatever the heck it was I was supposed to the do with my life.

I think of that weekend in August 2003 often. I still listen to that band and adore the music. I miss all those people, too, who were, and in many respects remain, the foundation of my existence.

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

Live Music • Family Friendly • Waterfront Open • Food Trucks • Local Beer • At the gate: $15/carload - $50/15 - passenger van - $5/bike Camping and cabins available.

Call 828.646.0095 for reservations.

Gates open at 3 pm - Music starts at 5 pm

lakelogan.org/events

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arts & entertainment

On the beat Pickin’ on the Square The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature Golden Harvest (bluegrass) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin.

The concert series is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chair. Food vendors will also be available. Other performers will be The Ram Cats (blues) Aug. 18, Hurricane Creek (variety) Sept. 1 and Charlie Horse (Texas swing) Sept. 8. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

Groovin’ On the Green

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

The Groovin’ On the Green concert series will host Sundown at 6:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 10, at The Village Green Commons stage and lawn.

Other performers this summer include: The Krickets (Aug. 17), The Buchanan Boys (Aug. 24) and The Boomers (Sept. 1).

Groovin’ On the Green is rain or shine.

Concerts are free, but donations are always appreciated. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash and under the control of their owners at all times. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

Follow The Village Green on social media @cashiersgreen.

Bryson City community jam A community jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of Grampa’s Music in Bryson City.

The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs.

The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — year-round. This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts.

828.488.3030.

Concerts on the Creek The Concerts on the Creek summer series will welcome The Get Right Band 30 (soul/rock) at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at

Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

The lineup for this year’s series will also include: The Colby Deitz Band (rock/Americana) Aug. 17, Geoff McBride (rock/Americana) Aug. 24 and Dashboard Blue (classic hits) Aug. 31.

The concerts are free and open to the public. There will also be food trucks onsite.

828.586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

‘An Appalachian Evening’ The summer concert series “An Appalachian Evening” will continue with bluegrass act Volume Five at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.

The Swon Brothers.

Franklin welcomes Swon Brothers Volume Five.

The annual bluegrass/mountain music series will also feature Unspoken Tradition (Aug. 18) and The Kruger Brothers (Aug. 25).

Tickets cost $20, grades K-12 $10.

Tickets are a pre-show dinner are also available for purchase. The Lynn L. Shields Auditorium is air-conditioned. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

Country act The Swon Brothers will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

By playing contemporary country music with a traditional rock advantage (and a dash of sibling harmonies), the Oklahoma duo known as The Swon Brothers have proceeded to go from playing in a small family band to a growing stardom in country music circles.

In 2013, the Swon Brothers rose to national prominence after appearing on Blake Shelton’s team in the reality singing competition “The Voice.” While finishing in third place, the duo was able to introduce themselves to a wider audience and most recently have toured the country appearing at festivals, theaters and as an opening act to fellow Oklahoma native, Carrie Underwood.

Tickets start at $20 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Town Mountain.

Cold Mountain Music Series The inaugural “Summer Music Series” will take place at the Lake Logan Conference Center, just south of Canton.

• Saturday, Aug. 11: Music by Josh Carter & Creekside Crawfish, food from Vieux Carre and beverages from Noble Cider.

• Saturday, Aug. 25: Music by Erik & Norma Hendrix, food from Out of the Blue with the beverage provider to be determined.

• Saturday, Sept. 8: Music by Devils in Dust, food to be determined and craft beer from Ecusta Brewing.

• Saturday, Sept. 22: Music by The Kenny George Band, food from Hit the Pit and craft beer from Frog Level Brewing.

The gate opens at 3 p.m. with music starting at 5 p.m. The event is family-friendly. Waterfront will be open. Admission is $15 per carload, $50 for a 15-passenger van, $5 for bikes. Camping and cabins available.

To make reservations, call 828.646.0095. www.lakelogan.com/events.

Town Mountain to play Cataloochee Ranch Asheville-based bluegrass sensation Town Mountain will make its debut appearance at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

Since the 2007 release of its debut album, “Original Bluegrass and Roots Country,” Town Mountain has made a name for itself in bluegrass and roots circuits, touring with a who’s who of like-minded artists including Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys, The Del McCoury Band, Greensky Bluegrass, Yonder Mountain String Band, and others.

Their fifth studio album, “Southern Crescent,” debuted at No. 4 on Billboard’s Bluegrass Chart in 2016 and remained on the Americana Music Association’s Radio Chart Top 40 for 10 weeks. In 2016, they also made their Grand Ole Opry debut, performing both at the Opry House and at the famed Ryman Auditorium. The band’s sixth studio album, “New Freedom Blues,” is scheduled for release on Oct. 5 and exemplifies how its music has evolved over the past decade.

Tickets are $35 per person. Cookout dinners, priced separately, will be available before the show. For reservations, which are required, call Cataloochee Ranch at 828.926.1401.

On the beat

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) has opened registration for the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) program for the 2018-19 school years. Classes will take place from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday afternoons from Sept. 11 through May 14 at the Shining Rock Classical Academy in Waynesville.

Now in its 18th year in Haywood County, JAM is offered to students in fourth grade and older who want to learn Appalachian music from talented local musicians.

About the program, Leigh Forrester, executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council, said, “Not only does JAM expose students to the music of our region, and show them how to learn together, but we have former students that have decided to make this kind of music their life’s work.”

JAM students will learn banjo, fiddle, or guitar in the traditional way mountain music has been taught for generations. A string band class and fiddle II will be offered to advanced students by instructor referral.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Aug. 10, Open Road Aug. 17 and Daniel Perkins Aug. 31. All shows begin at 9 p.m. www.facebook.com/balsamfallsbrewing.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 9 and 16. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Bryson City Outdoors Craft Beer Department will host Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Aug. 8. Free and open to the public. www.brysoncityoutdoors.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Twelfth Fret (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Aug. 11 and Max Gross Weight Aug. 18. All shows are free. www.curraheebrew.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host ‘Round the Fire (rock/jam) 8 p.m. Aug. 10,

• Harmon’s Den Bistro at HART (Waynesville) will host karaoke and an open mic at 8 p.m. on Saturdays. All are welcome. www.harttheatre.org.

• Highlands Town Square “Friday Night Live” series will host Southern Highlands (bluegrass) Aug. 10 and Tallulah River Band Aug. 17. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Aug. 8 and 15, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Aug. 9 and 16, Rossdafareye, Scott Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) Aug. 11 and Todd Hoke (Americana/folk) Aug. 18. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

ALSO:

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host Takenobu 7 p.m. Aug. 8, Kevin Daniel & The Don’ts w/Sherman Ewing & Logan Magness 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8, Hiroya Tsukamoto 7 p.m.

Aug. 9, West King String Band 7 p.m. Aug. 10, Todd Nance & Friends 7 p.m. Aug. 10-11, Guitar Workshop 1 p.m. Aug. 12, Jesse Barry & Peggy Ratusz 5:30 pm. Aug. 12, Peppino D’Agostino & Carlos Reyes 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and Victor Provost 7 p.m. Aug. 15. For more information about the performances and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.isisasheville.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an

open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, George Reeves Aug. 10, Andalyn Aug. 11 and The Melody Trucks Band (rock) w/The Corbitt Clampitt Duo & Gingerbread Man Aug. 17.

All shows begin at 8 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• The Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (old-time/pop) at 2 p.m. Aug. 13. Free to attend.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an open mic night every Thursday. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host Hardworker Aug. 10, West King String Band Aug. 11, Zulu Welsh Band Aug. 17 and Betaplane Aug. 18. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 18. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host an open mic night from 8 to 11 p.m. on Wednesday. Free and open to the public. www.pub319socialhouse.com.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Mile High (classic rock) 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a Trivia w/Kelsey Jo 8 p.m. Thursdays.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will

host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host The Swon Brothers at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Tickets start at $20. Jeanne Robertson will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17. Tickets start at $23.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host Arnold Hill (Americana) 7 p.m. Aug. 18, Positive Mental Attitude (reggae/jam) 10th anniversary party 3 p.m. Aug. 25 and Wintervals 7 p.m. Aug. 31. 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• Southern Porch (Canton) will host The Stringbreakers Aug. 9, Stone Crazy (rock/pop) Aug. 10, Kevin Fuller (Americana/folk) Aug. 16, Grand Theft Audio Aug. 17 and Acoustic Envy Aug. 18. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.southern-porch.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host Lyric (soul/rock) Aug. 11 and Charles Walker Band Aug. 25. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Joe Cruz (piano/vocals) Aug. 11 and 18, and The Moon & You (Americana/folk) Aug. 17. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m.

There will also be a special dinner with Sheila Gordon at 6 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Aug. 10 with cost at $29.99 per person. To RSVP, call 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

Hoot & Holler (bluegrass/newgrass) 7 p.m.

Aug. 11 and Elysium Park 7 p.m. Aug. 18. All shows are free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

Junior Appalachian Musicians jam at Haywood Arts Council.

August 8-14, 2018

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” with Somebody’s Child (Americana) Aug. 10, Blue Revue Aug. 11, Moriah Domby Aug. 18, Troy Underwood (singers-songwriter) Aug. 24 and George Ausman Aug. 31. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

JAM instructors for the 2018-19 program include Cary Fridley, Robby Robertson, Travis Stuart, Bob Willoughby and Maddy Mullany.

The HCAC will be offering a fun and informational meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Canton Library.

Instrument demonstrations and the applications will be available that night.

Students in Haywood County are eligible for the Junior Appalachian Musicians program. Students in adjoining counties may participate if space is available. Lessons are $150 per student for the school year (about $5 per class) with siblings charged just $50.

828.452.0593 or email director@haywoodarts.org. For more information about JAM, as well as other sponsored programs or events, visit www.haywoodarts.org.

The JAM Program is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

arts & entertainment

Registration open for Junior Appalachian Musicians

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host DJ Kountry Aug. 10, Viva AsheVegas Burlesque Aug. 11, Tonology (rock) Aug. 17 and Dogtracks Aug. 18. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750.

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Smoky Mountain News August 8-14, 2018

arts & entertainment

Say it...

with a

! r e k c i t S

affairsoftheheartnc.com

On the street arts & entertainment

Franklin Area Folk Festival

To celebrate 11 years of the purchase and preservation of the historic Rickman General Store, the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to a full calendar of celebrations starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, in the Cowee-West’s Mill Historic District in Franklin.

On August 2007 Mainspring Conservation Trust, then the Land Trust of

Civil War reenactors at the Franklin Area Folk Festival. by the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County and the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center with support from Cowee Community Development Organization, Rickman’s Store, The Scottish Tartan Museum, Macon County Historical Museum, Franklin Area Chamber of Commerce, Blue Ridge Heritage Music Trail/SEBA and others. The festival is made

possible by a grant from the Franklin/Nantahala Tourism Development Committee, the Tourism Development Authority of the Town of Franklin and the Macon County Arts Council, along with funding from local businesses and individuals.

For more information, visit www.franklinfolkfestival.com or call 800.932.5294.

the Little Tennessee (LTLT), helped to make true a community dream by acquiring the building that hosted T.M. Rickman General Store and the home of Thomas Rickman and Fanny Holbrook, one of the 20 structures registered in the National Register of Historic Buildings as the Cowee-West’s Mill Historic District.

The celebration will include a performance by the Big Yard Sale Band at 11 a.m. followed by an ice cream social and traditional music jam. For more information, visit Friends of the Rickman Store on Facebook or call 828.369.5595.

Waynesville. Classes for beginners, intermediate and all levels. $10 per class. For more information, visit www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• The “Friday Night Street Dance” will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 in front of the historic courthouse in downtown Waynesville.

Live mountain music and clogging.

Participation encouraged. Free to attend. www.downtownwaynesvilleassociation.com.

• There will be several ballroom and Latin dance classes offered on Sundays and Mondays at Frog Level Brewing in

THURSDAY, AUG. 23, 7-10 PM 3732 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley, NC

ElevatedMountain.com Plan your trip today at

• Line Dance Lessons will be held on Tuesdays in Waynesville. Times are 7 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday. Cost is $10 per class and will feature modern/traditional line dancing.

828.734.0873 or kimcampbellross@gmail.com.

• “Laughing Balsam Sangha,” a meeting for Mindfullness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, meets will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Mondays at 318 Skyland Drive in Sylva. Included are sitting and walking meditation, and Dharma discussion. Free admission.

For more information, call 828.335.8210, and “Like” them on Facebook.

ALSO:

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Dance with The Beatles” event from 6:15 to 8:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin.

Western style square dancing, main/stream and plus levels. All are welcome.

828.787.2324 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Rickman Store celebrates anniversary

A portion of Ryan Perry's "Yeah That's Us" official music video will be shot at Elevated Mountain Distilling Company. Come dressed for a live concert scene. All ages are welcome and we hope to see you there!

August 8-14, 2018

The 14th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival, “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage,” will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 18, at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center.

This family-friendly festival features live heritage demonstrations, Appalachian crafts, old-time mountain music & SEBA (SouthEastern Bluegrass Association) jammin’ sessions, Civil War reenactors camped on the grounds with infantry drilling and firing demonstrations, kids’ activities, food, textiles, tours, an antique car show, and more.

Artisans inside Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center will exhibit Macon County’s rich heritage by teaching us about pottery, textiles, painting, and local history. By linking our future to our past, the Franklin Area Folk Festival sponsors hands-on activities to allow visitors to experience what mountain life was like way back when. These folks learned at their parents’ knee woodcarving, moonshinin’, weaving and spinning, and all the many other heritage skills they’ll be demonstrating.

Festival-goers are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in. Inside on the gym stage, children ages 18 and under are encouraged to compete in the Mountain Youth Talent Contest (performances in traditional Appalachian music, storytelling and dance) sponsored by Jackson County 4-H with support from Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (sign-up on the FAFF website).

This free event is co-sponsored annually

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arts & entertainment

On the table Franklin barbecue festival The 10th annual Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 10 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Franklin.

KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Cookoff for Backyard and Professional teams.

Barbecue vendors will be on the premises to sell great tasting barbecue. Food vendors, crafters, cooking demonstrations and a car show will round out the exciting features of the festival.

Live music will be provided by Summer Brooke & Mountain Faith Band on Friday evening, with Willie & Waylon Tribute Band from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Admission is free from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, $5 after 2 p.m. Friday and all-day Saturday, with children ages 12 and under free.

For more information and full schedule of events, visit www.mountainhighbbqfestival.com or call 828.524.3161.

Smoky Mountain News

August 8-14, 2018

All aboard the BBQ, craft beer train There will be a barbecue and craft beer tasting from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, departing from Bryson City.

Board the GSMR and enjoy a steam train ride along with beer tastings, and your own basket of Southern-style barbecue goodness with hand-pulled pork slider, a couple pork ribs, and chicken drumstick accompanied by baked beans, house-made coleslaw, and apple cobbler.

Tickets start at $71 and include a souvenir tasting glass for three samples of finely crafted beer selections. Adults-only and family friendly seating.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 800.872.4681 or visit www.gsmr.com.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 18 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

ALSO:

• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 18 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.631.3075.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted 34 online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.

Nantahala Brewing to open Asheville outpost

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER ollowing the announcement of its upcoming Sylva outpost, aimed at a fall opening, Bryson City-based Nantahala Brewing will launch an Asheville location by the end of this month.

Located at 747 Haywood Road in West Asheville, the two-story outpost was formerly The Anchor Bar (and Buffalo Nickel before that). It will feature a downstairs restaurant that will offer a farm-to-table “cosmopolitan country” style menu. The upstairs taproom will also be poised to become a music venue, primarily focusing on bluegrass and Americana acts. On opening day, there will be 20 Nantahala brews on tap.

The Smoky Mountain News recently caught up with Nantahala Brewing owner Joe Rowland, who’s also currently the vice president of the Asheville Brewers Alliance.

F

Smoky Mountain News: Why Asheville?

Why now? What triggered this move?

Joe Rowland: When we opened back in 2009, Asheville was mainly known as the sister city to Charleston, South Carolina, and home of the Biltmore Estate. Sort of the mountain version of the town we still call our second home. Not long after, other like minded folks started opening breweries along side Asheville Brewing, Green Man and, of course, Highland Brewing. If we didn’t have such a strong connection to Bryson City, we would have been among them. We considered opening our taproom in Asheville before we opened our main taproom and music venue in Bryson City, but at the time we decided to

focus all of our efforts in our small town before expanding beyond Bryson.

After we began self distributing in 2010, Asheville became the place we sold the majority of our beer in the five-month off-season, now a three-month off-season in large part due to the Polar Express Train excursion.

Over the next few years, as our brewery grew we slowly changed the craft landscape in our neck of the woods and the majority of our beer was consumed within 45 miles of Bryson City, but we continued to see support from retailers in Asheville.

Over the last three years, we grew to become a small production brewery with distribution in North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, but the majority of our business is still focused on the retail sales at our two locations in Bryson. Today, we’ve refocused on our local roots and the places that have supported our brewery since we opened. It’s a trend that started out west long before Asheville became “Beer City” and is a direct result of the growth of our industry in Western North Carolina.

Our recent retail expansion to Sylva and this expansion into Asheville are a direct result of refocusing on what got us to where we are today. Also, with the proliferation of craft breweries over the last five years, retail space has been greatly reduced which has made It difficult for all craft brewers to find space for seasonal and speciality brands, a space that we’ve been in since we opened.

Those changes have limited our most popular brands to in-house only brands. We see our outposts as a way to share the more than 75 different brews we produce with a larger

audience who already supports our limited distributed offerings.

SMN: A handful of prominent breweries in our area are now launching second locations. Why is this trend emerging? And what does that say about where we’re at in the evolution of the craft beer industry?

JR: It’s natural to focus on retail when the distribution market condenses, but it’s also an important path to increased distribution sales.

The more craft drinkers who can connect directly with your brand, the greater connection they will have with your brand across all distribution points. For us, we’re lucky to live and brew independent craft beer in one of the last untouched wilderness areas in the eastern United States. Our small town of 1,500 residents (Bryson City) is a true small Appalachian mountain town and sees our share of the over 10 million annual visitors who visit the national park each year and that’s driven our growth.

However, it’s a very seasonal market and that’s a huge challenge when running a manufacturing business. Our distribution expansion has helped address part of that challenge, but making direct connections to our customers in a retail environment we own is the smart choice for the long haul.

SMN: With Asheville opening and the Sylva outpost opening soon, where to from here?

JR: Beyond our direct North Carolina local market, we’ve seen huge distribution success in East Tennessee and North Georgia.

After we get our N.C. Outposts flowing along, we’ll look to those areas to put down roots and continue to bring all of our brews to those areas and support our distribution partners in those markets.

Editor’s Note: There will be a full feature on the recent changes in the Western North Carolina craft beer industry in an upcoming issue of The Smoky Mountain News.

LIVE MUSIC

arts & entertainment

CASUAL FINE DINING WITH COVERED PATIO LATE NIGHT MENU

KITCHEN 743 TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY FROM 5PM UNTIL...

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH FROM 10AM TO 2PM 743 HAYWOOD RD • WEST ASHEVILLE

ISISASHEVILLE.COM 828.575.2737

August 8-14, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

August 10, 11, 16,* 17, 18 at 7:30 pm August 12, 19 at 2:00 pm Adults $24 Seniors $22 Students $11 *Special $16 tickets for all Adults on Thursday, August 16.

Special $8 Tickets for all Students on Thursdays & Sundays.

The Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville, NC

For More Information and Tickets:

828-456-6322 | www.harttheatre.org This project was supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall

August 8-14, 2018

Portrait lighting explained The Sylva Photo Club is excited to bring back one of its premier members, John MacLean, to speak about portrait lighting at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, in the Cullowhee United Methodist Church on the campus of Western Carolina University.

MacLean will start by briefly talking about lighting theory he demonstrated last year. Then he’ll show lighting setups for different subjects using various lighting modifiers that result in simple, effective and professional photographs. MacLean will cover one, two and three light setups.

The club will then go outside (weather permitting) for a demonstration of High Speed

Workshops for artists, arts businesses

The Haywood County Arts Council has partnered with the Haywood Community College Small Business Center to provide three workshops for area artists and artsbased businesses.

The workshop series, titled “Arts In Business,” will take place on the last Tuesday of August, September and October at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville.

The courses will focus on refining an arts business, including valuable information about achieving success in new digital spaces.

• “Better Photography for Your Small Business” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28.

Speaker will be Phillip Turner. Quality images have the opportunity to set your business apart from the competition and are an essential element to your marketing strategy. During this seminar small business owners will learn key tools, tips and tricks to incorporate quality photography into your 36 small business marketing strategy.

Smoky Mountain News

Exhibit to showcase Cherokee artist

John MacLean.

Sync (HSS) with one light. Wireless remote flash triggers will be available for use on your camera’s hot shot, so bring your camera.

The club will also have generous gifts from Profoto USA of T-shirts, travel mugs and multi-tools for the first 20 attendees, and they’ll have a door prize drawing for a Sandisk Extreme 16 GB SD card.

The suggested donation for visitors is $5. This amount is applied to the $20 yearly membership ($10 for students), which becomes active from the date paid in full.

Sylva Photo Club encourages meeting likeminded people to promote photography knowledge, friendship and photographic opportunities.

Visit sylvaphotoclub.wordpress.com, follow on Facebook at Sylva Photo Club or email sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com.

• “Telling Your Small Business Story” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Speaker will be tenBiz. What makes your products stand out? What is it about you that connects with consumers? When you do a good job of telling your small business brand story, you become more accessible and make a better connection with your audience. No matter where you sell, communicating your story is critical for success in the marketplace and for tapping into your consumer demand for authenticity. Learn more about key components to include in your story and work to begin crafting or further hone your story.

• “Social Media Strategies for Small Business” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Speaker will be Chisa Pennix-Brown. This seminar is designed to help you, the small business owner put the pieces together. If you have a disjointed strategy or no strategy at all, this seminar will help to navigate your current marketing plan and enhance it with proven social media strategies.

The courses are free, but registration is required. Call 828.452.0593 or email info@haywoodarts.org to register for the classes.

The new exhibit “Joshua Adams: Facing Culture” will run through Aug. 24 in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. A reception for the artist and exhibit will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the museum.

The exhibition brings together a selection of masks and carvings of the human face by Eastern Band Cherokee artist Joshua Adams, who expresses a deep reverence for his culture through his artwork.

A teacher of woodcarving at Cherokee High School, Adams’ work reflects on the importance of preserving his culture and how outside influences have, and still do, impact Cherokee life and belief. Intended for display rather than ceremony, these representations of the human face range from traditional Cherokee forms to contemporary twists on tradition.

Made from a variety of woods with details fashioned from rabbit fur, feathers, porcupine quills, and traditional arrows, Adams’ works A wood carving demonstrate the

by Joshua Adams. technical complexity of mask making and the array of materials that enliven this artform. Sculptors, wood carvers, historians, craft enthusiasts, and those interested in Cherokee art and culture will not want to miss this exhibition.

Adams studied wood carving under renowned artist Dr. James Bud Smith. He is influenced by the legendary sculptor and teacher Amanda Crowe, who taught wood carving for nearly 40 years at Cherokee High School. He also learned aspects of his craft from his family, which includes woodcarvers

James and Irma Bradley.

In 2010, Adams took over teaching the woodcarving program at Cherokee High School and now instructs a younger generation of students in this revered Cherokee art

form. Inspired by traditional masks, which are one of the earliest forms of carving practiced by the Cherokee people, Adams aims to celebrate and preserve his heritage. He combines this pride in his culture with an aesthetic inspired by graphic novels and graffiti art that brings his work a 21st-century edge.

The WCU Fine Art Museum is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Free parking is available on site.

On the wall Summer Brooke & Mountain Faith

True Outlaws

Appalachian Women’s Museum.

arts & entertainment

‘Art in Monteith Park’

Presentedby: by:Lakes Lakes End End Grille thethe Franklin Chamber of Commerce Presented Grilleand andMarina Marinaand and Franklin Chamber of Commerce

Saturday All New Kid’s Day! Fri. 11am-9pm

A “Meet the Artists” reception will feature Wanda Davis-Browne and Judy McManus from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Gallery 1 Sylva. The exhibition will continue through Oct. 6 at the gallery.

Nature’s Colors photographer Wanda Davis-Browne’s photos are inspired by the diverse natural patterns and colors of nature, primarily flora. Davis-Browne’s images create unique works of art as she shares her passion for the beauty of nature.

Glass artist Judy McManus was invited to join working artists at Jackson County’s Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in 2010.

McManus draws her inspiration from nature while exploring color and techniques to create her beautiful blown glass pieces. She also teaches classes and gives demonstrations at the facility and exhibits art in the GEP gallery.

Gallery 1 Sylva exhibits the art of 25 members in mediums of oil, pastel, watercolor and ink painting, fused, stained and blown glass, fiber, pottery, sculpture, mixed media and fine art photography. www.facebook.com/artinthemountains.

WAYNE PROFFITT AGRICULTURAL CENTER 1436 Georgia Rd. • Home of Macon County Fair Grounds FRI. & SAT. GRILLING DEMOS FRI. EVE & SAT. CAR SHOW

Adult Admission $5 • Children Under 12 Free Great Tasting BBQ • Vendors • Crafters • Entertainment

828-524-3161 • MountainHighBBQFestival.com Friday Schedule 11 am - 2 pm 2 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 6-8 pm 7-9 pm

Free Entrance Admission fees begin Cooking Demo on Stage Rib Demo on Stage Cooking Demo on Stage Car Cruise In Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band in Concert

Saturday Schedule 10 am 10:15 am 11:00 am 11:00 am 11:30 am-1:30 pm 11:30 am-1:30 pm 1:30 pm 1:30 pm 2:15 pm 2:30 pm 3:00 pm 3:00 pm 3:00 pm 5:00 pm

Presenting Sponsor

Gates, Car Show, and Kids Day Opens Professor Whizzpop on Stage Jef the Mime Juggling Workshop Cooking Demo at Traeger Tent True Outlaws in Concert Rock Painting for Kids Professor Whizzpop on Stage Cooking Demo at Traeger Tent Jef the Mime on Stage Cooking Demo at Traeger Tent Tasting Tent in Judges Area Car Show Awards Interactive Musik Fun KCBS Award Ceremony

Smoky Mountain News

Sylva art exhibition, reception

fired pizza, The Chili Chomper authentic Mexican and Frozen Monkey shaved ices.

Entertainment will include The Maggie Valley Band playing a blend of old-time mountain, Americana and folk music, and the J. Creek Cloggers.

On the outskirts of Dillsboro is the mountain treasure, The Monteith Farmstead. The farmhouse was built in 1908 on 16 acres alongside Scotts Creek. It has been newly refurbished as the home to the Appalachian Women’s Museum. This will be the first museum dedicated only to Southern Appalachian women. The museum has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Appalachian Women’s Museum will be open to welcome visitors who want to get an idea what life was like back in the day. In addition, there are a series of easily-accessible, interpretive nature trails along the shoreline of adjacent Scotts Creek. Also, you will find a children’s playground. Plan to bring chairs and spend the day.

Free admission to festival and museum.

Parking is $3. For more information, email Connie Hogan, owner of Tunnel Mountain Crafts at artinmonteithpark@gmail.com or call her at 828.586.3511.

The Appalachian Women’s Museum thanks the following sponsors: Southwestern Community College’s Nantahala School for the Arts, Susan’s Accounting, East Main Auto Sales, Sylva Chiropratic Center, Allman Insurance and Wilson Family Chiropractic.

Sat. 10am-5pm

August 8-14, 2018

There will be a celebration for the Appalachian Women’s Museum with “Art in Monteith Park,” a day long arts and crafts festival, that will be held on Saturday, Aug. 18, in Dillsboro.

Among the more than 50 booths of handmade, local arts and crafts, you will find jewelry, pastels and oil paintings, candle making, needle crafts, soap making, glass art, chair canning, wood crafts and much more.

This year, one of the featured artists is Gary Cunningham from Sylva. Cunningham crafts handmade knives and leather sheaths.

His knives include folding knives, precision made with a smooth action and pocket clip.

Another fine artisan, Lisa Kolk, represents Sylvan Heart Creations from Leicester. Kolk creates eco-printed silk scarves and clothing inspired by nature. She also creates jewelry from silver clay painted onto organic objects such as leaves, feathers, seed pods, and more.

This festival has a special draw for children with “Spark the Fairy” and friends.

Spark is a fire and nature fairy who travels through the country bringing joy and sparkles, love and wonder to those who cross her path. She brings with her fairy best friends Dew Drop — a Joyful Pixie and Sinbad the Fairy Protector. Together they restore the belief in magic, beauty fairies and fae folk for the young and young at heart.

There will also be face painting, balloon entertainment and games to play.

Festival food provided by NGN 52 wood

August 10 & 11, 2018

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arts & entertainment

On the wall • Dogwood Crafters will offer the heritage craft workshop of Rug Braiding in a twoday workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 22 and 29 at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge.

Regionally acclaimed artist Dianne Ellis will be the instructor. Participants will learn the technique of using wool in a braided project. Cost for the class is $7. Register to attend by Aug. 15. 828.586.2248.

• There will be an upcoming artist workshop to be held by the Haywood County Arts Council at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville. Betina Morgan will host a drawing class from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and 28. Cost is $20 per class session. Call HCAC for a supply list. For more information or to reserve a spot in any of these workshops, call HCAC at 828.452.0593.

ALSO:

• The “Movies on Everett” outdoor series will run through Aug. 17 at the corner of Mitchell and Everett streets in downtown Bryson City. Screenings begin at 9 p.m.

Family-friendly. Free to attend. For a full schedule of the films to be screened, visit www.greatsmokies.com.

August 8-14, 2018

• Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will host a free movie night at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

• Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at 828.349.4607.

William A. Barnhill exhibit at WCU Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center is hosting an exhibit on William A. Barnhill, a photographer who documented early 20th-century regional craftsmanship, in the museum’s second-floor gallery at Hunter Library.

“Appalachia a Century Ago; Craft Through the Lens of William A. Barnhill” features a photo collection that highlights mountain handiwork with pottery, weaving, carving and basketry. The traveling exhibit was created by the Southern Appalachian

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A photo by William A. Barnhill (circa 1914-1917). Library of Congress photo

• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. For information, call 828.349.4607.

Y O U R T I C K E T T O A G R E AT N I G H T

RODNEY CARRINGTON

Smoky Mountain News

• The Waynesville Fiber Friends will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of the month at the Panacea Coffee House in Waynesville. All crafters and beginners interested in learning are invited. You can keep up with them through their Facebook group or by calling 828.276.6226 for more information.

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The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is inviting local artists to its “Artist Coffee & Chat” at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, at the HCAC gallery in downtown Waynesville.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet your fellow artisans for a morning of camaraderie.

RSVP by calling 828.452.0593. www.haywoodarts.org.

Abstract art showcase at WCU The exhibit “Mary Althea Parker: Abstract Impulse” will run through Aug. 24 in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University.

This exhibition is a small selection of Parker’s works held by the WCU Fine Art Museum, focusing primarily on Parker’s paintings made after 1950.

Parker was a passionate painter and educator who dedicated her career to exploring abstraction. In 1948, Parker saw an exhibition of Hans Hofmann’s work at the Addison Gallery of American Art that had a significant impact on her paintings. Hofmann’s “brand”

Archives and the Liston B. Ramsey Center for Regional Studies at Mars Hill University, with support from Bill Alexander of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Barnhill, a Philadelphia native who lived from November 1889 to December 1987, was inspired to visit Western North Carolina in 1914 after reading Our Southern Highlanders, a book about residents of the Great Smoky Mountains, first published in 1913 by outdoors writer Horace Kephart.

Today, numerous Kephart materials and artifacts are held by WCU’s Hunter Library Special and Digital Collections.

The exhibit will be on display through Friday, Sept. 14. For more information, call the museum at 828.227.7129.

of abstraction, with its vibrant color and dynamic energy, resonated with Parker, and motivated her to take classes with Hofmann in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

While many of her titles continued to reference the real world, her approach to painting shifted to being non-representational and followed Hofmann’s credo that “There are bigger things to be seen in nature than the object.”

Felting soap workshop There will be a felting soap workshop held from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension office in Sylva.

Participants will learn the basics of wet felting wool and create unique felt covered bars of soap that are soap and an exfoliating washcloth all-in-one. Each participant will also make felt flowers to embellish your finished soap.

The cost is $6 and includes all supplies for making two bars of soap (included) and two felt flowers. Bring your own soap if you prefer and handcrafted soaps from Herbal Ridge Botanicals will also be available for purchase.

Call the Extension Office at 828.586.4009 to register.

On the stage

The “Unto These Hills” stage production will be held at 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday through Aug. 18 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee.

This decades-old acclaimed outdoor drama traces the Cherokee people through the eons, through the zenith of their power, through the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present day, where the Cherokee people, much like their newly re-scripted drama, continue to rewrite their place in the world — a place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.cherokeehistorical.org.

The production of “The Field” by John B. Keane will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m.

Aug. 10-11, 16-18 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 12 and Aug. 19 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

HART Executive Director Steve Lloyd gets a chance to step back on stage in this production. Lloyd plays a wonderfully complex character, Bull McCabe, a man

Town Mo ountain

S U N DAY Y, A AU G U ST 19

• The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for “The Bad Seed” at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12-13 at the theatre in Waynesville. The production will run from mid-October through early November. For more information about the roles available, visit www.harttheatre.org or call 828.456.6322.

• There is free comedy improv class from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday at Moo Mountain Bakery in Maggie Valley. No experience necessary, just come to watch or join in the fun. Improv teacher Wayne Porter studied at Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida, and performed improvisation with several groups. Join Improv WNC on Facebook or just come on down to the bakery 2511 Soco Road.

ALSO:

Hard-driving bluegrrass meets the 21st century. And it’s love at first sound. Tiickets for the 8pm show arre $35, with a cookout dinner (prriced separately) available before the performance. Forr reservations, call (828) 926-1401.

And prepare to o fall in love with a band ag gain.

Smoky Mountain News

‘Unto These Hills’ outdoor drama

A man without a moral compass

August 8-14, 2018

Currently touring nationwide, actress Barbara Bates Smith Barbara Bates Smith and and Jeff Sebens. musician Jeff Sebens will present “Go, Granny D!” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at The Colonial Theater in Canton.

A fundraiser for the Haywood County Democratic Party’s voter outreach initiative, the show will also honor the memory of the late C. Russell Smith, Barbara’s husband, a devoted campaigner for the party. To purchase tickets, visit haywooddemocrats.wordpress.com.

Touting “You’re never too old to raise a little hell,” the 90-year-old Doris “Granny D” Haddock in 2000 blazed a 3,200-mile trail across America for campaign finance reform, precipitating the passage of the McCain-Feingold Act. She continued her bipartisan reform efforts in North Carolina, even as an arrestee, in the spircountrywide voter registration drives, issuing it of Granny D’s efforts to reclaim our democraher final challenge in 2010 at age 100: cy. For 15 years, Jeff Sebens has accompanied “Democracy is a running game. You huddle her shows with a variety of hammered dulcimer, lap dulcimer, guitar, and banjo music. and you go back in. You keep going.”

Tickets are priced at $20 each and can be Barbara Bates Smith, noted for her OffBroadway adaptation and performance of “Ivy purchased at Haywood County Democrat Rowe” from Lee Smith’s “Fair and Tender Headquarters, located at 734 North Main Ladies,” has toured for 29 years with the works Street in Waynesville. Call 828.452.9607 or of Lee Smith. She has been active in the email haywooddemocrats@gmail.com. www.barbarabatessmith.com.

NAACP’s Moral Monday reform movement in

with his own moral compass — a compass that has nothing to do with the laws of man or God. The story is a study of the love a man can have for the land and the ruthless lengths he will go to in order to obtain it.

The play is set in an Irish pub in the mid-1960s and the director, David Yeates, has turned the Harmon’s Den Bistro into that pub.

Yeates, a native of Dublin, grew up knowing the play well and the character of Bull is well known in Ireland. As is the case with many Irish plays, it is at once comic and very dark. The play explores the relationship between those with power and those who find power in the shadows.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $11 for students. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.harttheatre.org or call 828.456.6322.

arts & entertainment

Never too old to raise a little hell

Steve Lloyd as Bull McCabe.

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

41

An endearing coming of age teaching story hen we are in school, we consider ourselves fortunate when we find ourselves in the company of inspiring teachers. We value them at the time, and if they are very good, then they stay with us for the rest of our lives.

We may not remember much of what they taught us, but their example can serve to inspire us, to guide us in our lives.

We connect with them in the classroom, and that conWriter nection, brought about by some magic we can never quite figure out, remains long after we have left behind the world of textbooks and exams.

In The Fall They Come Back (Bloomsbury, 2017, 399 pages) novelist Robert Bausch offers us the story of Ben Jameson and the two years he teaches at Green Acres Preparatory School, a small private school in Virginia. Ben, who thinks he may eventually go to law school, takes the job of teaching English to high school students right out of college while he debates his future plans. He lives with his girlfriend Annie, whom he intends to wed, and joins a staff of eccentric teachers.

The oldest member of the staff, the oddly named Professor Bible, takes Ben under his wing and throughout the story offers him sage bits of wisdom on teaching and on life.

Ben also befriends Doreen, a teacher his own age with whom he shares confidences and an occasional cigarette. (The novel is set in the mid-eighties, and a number of characters, including some of the students, smoke.)

During his two years of teaching, Ben finds himself tangled up in the lives of three students: Suzanne Rule, a girl who never speaks or looks anyone in the eye; the wild and rebellious Leslie Warren, daughter of a

Jeff Minick

W

wealthy oil company executive; and George Meeker, who has suffered physical abuse from

his father. As Ben tries to help these students face adversity and manage their problems, his girlfriend Annie constantly advises him to back off a bit, telling him it is his “Christ-complex” at work, that some of the difficulties he is trying to solve lie outside the scope of his role as teacher.

Finding your way back to Christ The Catherine Brewer Smith Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Carolina University, Dr. Billy T. Ogletree will sign his new book Mean Christianity: Finding Our Way Back to Christ’s Likeness at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

The book explores the Christian faith as an intentional, daily commitment to others, a cathartic and uncomfortable journey that leads travelers to Christ’s likeness. It considers how and why individual Christians and the corporate body of Christ have come to be perceived negatively by so many. The book also describes the primacy of Christ as the central tenet of Christianity and offers seven “Jesus” life themes for every Christian. These themes, based on a qualitative study of the canonical gospels, assist readers with the development of a framework for a Christlike life. Finally, Ogletree presents forgiveness, grace, and mercy as tools for reconciliation

And this conflict, less between Annie and Ben than between Ben and his conscience, is at the heart of In The Fall They Come Back. How far are we supposed to go when we see others in pain? What happens when we offer help but fail to anticipate all the consequences? What if that old axiom “No good deed goes unpunished” is true?

Ben begins his narrative by telling us “This is not a story about teaching.” In truth, it is very much a story about teaching. Via Ben, Robert Bausch gives readers some great methods of teaching young people how to write and how to take in the details of the world around them. Like all good teachers of English composition, Ben spends much of his time outside the classroom correcting essays and papers. Even more, the novel raises the question: What qualities make for a good teacher? How far should a teacher go in his interactions with his students? And where are the lines drawn in the relationship between student and teacher?

In The Fall They Come Back is also a fine comingof-age novel. Ben is scarcely older than his students, and as we follow him through the joys and vicissitudes of his life in and out of the classroom, we witness growth in him and in his students.

Now, two quibbles: First, the school requires the students to keep journals, folding down any page they’d

needed by all Christians struggling with meanness.

For more information, visit www.blueridgebooksnc.com or call 828.456.6000.

New installment in Aluria Adventures Franklin native and author Tyler Cook will release his fifth book Disciple at a special release party at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10, in the bookstore at Southwestern Community College in Sylva.

Over 500 years ago, in a distant kingdom, Queen Sibilla feared her kingdom would become the next casualty of the One Hundred Years War. In a desperate act to protect those she led, she makes a deal with the Devil, becoming his disciple in exchange for unlimited power. But, everything has a price, and Sibilla must pay for her newfound powers, putting everything she cares about on the brink

wish to keep private. Mrs. Creighton, the head of the school, orders Ben to read these folded pages, and he generally complies. As a former teacher, I had several of my classes keep journals, but always told them that if they didn’t want me reading something, they shouldn’t write it in the journal. The folded page journals of Ben’s students offer various moments of revelation, but the practice of the folded page strikes me as bogus. Students would never believe the promise of ignoring a folded page.

Second, in the middle of the novel, while Ben talks with Professor Bible, who has retired from teaching because of health issues, Ben gives us some of his philosophy. Unlike Professor Bible, who has a romantic side and believes vaguely in a god and an afterlife, Ben follows a cold creed of atheism and a morality grown from the mechanisms of biology, chemistry and physics. At one point, he says of Professor Bible: “I always wanted it to have meaning. And he was always trying to convince me, but he never did, and I soon tired of his oddly provincial ideas about God and Man and the universe. He was too educated for those beliefs, frankly.”

Such a view as Ben’s — “I think of the world as this temporary patch of blue and green in a frozen, empty, almost lightless universe” — left me confused. If that is the case, then why is he bending over backwards time and again trying to manage the affairs of his students? Moreover, he reveals his own “provincial” opinions by his critique of Professor Bible’s ideas, implicitly lumping him with believers like Einstein, Newton, Descartes, Darwin, and director of The Human Genome Project, Francis Collins.

But these are minor quarrels with an otherwise fine novel. In The Fall They Come Back kept my interest and earned my affection from the first to the last page.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. minick0301@gmail.com)

of destruction.

In the present day, it has been six months with no sign of Aluria. Peace has been preserved throughout the city of Canton, thanks to his friends, but with a new threat emerging, Jason Conner wonders how long he can keep going without putting the mask back on, and if he’s worthy enough to be the hero the city needs again. Can he make amends with the spirit that has inhabited his body for so long, and if so, will they be strong enough to keep the Devil’s disciple from completing her mission?

Aluria was released in 2016, followed by Vigilante in 2018.

Both have been named the No. 1 bestselling superhero novel on Amazon.com, as well as reaching their overall bestseller list.

Half of all proceeds will go toward The Eva McCall Memorial Scholarship, a project Cook started after the passing of his greataunt and fellow author.

For more information, contact Cook at moonshinepressnc@gmail.com or visit www.tylermcook.com.

42

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Counting the bears UTK conducts largest-ever black bear survey

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER arbed wire and hundreds of pounds of donuts are the key ingredients in a University of Tennessee Knoxville effort to complete the largest-scale black bear population study ever attempted.

The 16 million-acre study area covers portions of Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina, but by far the biggest chunk — about 8 million acres — includes portions of 24 WNC counties. Researchers collected data from the other three states last year but are spending the second and last year of the study focused solely on counting bears in North Carolina.

“North Carolina has so much habitat that that one state requires as much effort as the other three states put together,” said Joe Clark, Ph.D., the project’s lead researcher and a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as an adjunct professor at UT. The goal of the study, which is funded by wildlife management agencies in each of the four states, is to come up with the first-ever, region-wide estimate of black bear populations, something that Clark has been working

B

toward for years.

“The bear population in the whole Southern Appalachian Highlands all the way from Virginia, West Virginia, south through North Georgia has been recovering since a low level from 1900 to about 1930,” Clark explained. “The Great Smoky Mountains (National Park) was established in the ‘30s, and as a result of that and the creation of the (U.S.) Forest Service the habitat base became more stable, and the population has been recovering since that time to now and the point that it is fully recovered and overabundant maybe in some places.”

DONUTS AND DNA Knowing how many bears are where is important information for wildlife and land managers, who need to establish sustainable hunting rules and set regulations to reduce human-bear conflict on public lands. But until very recently, getting a solid estimate — especially across such a large area — has been difficult to impossible to achieve.

“There’s never been a really reliable population estimate for the region, and the reasons

are many,” Clark said. “First of all bears are difficult to count. They’re a secretive species.

They’re fairly uncommon. They’re smart.

They try to avoid humans.”

The advent of DNA testing, however, has helped to solve that problem.

In Clark’s study, counting the bears doesn’t actually require laying eyes on one.

Instead, the researchers set up “traps” — two lines of barbed wire, one at shin height and one at thigh height, wrapped in a circle around three to five trees. A bag of donuts is suspended in the center of the ring, as well as a longer-range scent attractant designed to reach any bears close enough that the trap would fall within their home range.

The idea is that the bear scrambles through the barbed wire, enjoys a donut snack, and leaves behind tufts of its hair, which can then be sent off for testing to determine the bear’s sex and individual identity.

“Their hides are so very thick that it really doesn’t do them any damage,” project lead Jake Humm said of the barbed wire. “I’ve had cubs do pull-ups on barbed wire. I’ve had bears scratch themselves on it, on purpose.”

There’s a longstanding technique in wildlife science known as mark-recapture. In this study design, researchers capture a certain number of individual animals, mark them in some way — with an ear tag or leg band, for example — and then release them back into the wild. The researcher then returns, captures the same number of individuals from the area and notes how many of those are part of the marked population. The

Study field manager Sam Millman talks to a group of students at a trap site. Kristy Keel-Blackman photo

proportion of marked individuals in that second group of captured animals can be used to estimate the size of the entire local population.

The combination of barbed wire traps and DNA testing is allowing the researchers to do basically the same thing, except without having to actually capture and tranquilize any live animals. DNA testing will reveal whether a sample is from a new bear or a bear that’s already visited a trap, allowing the team to estimate population sizes.

Advances in mapping software are also responsible for making the study possible.

Researchers can record not only when each animal was “captured” but also exactly where it was captured, allowing them to estimate population density in local areas rather than just in the 16 million-acre study area as a whole.

“We can use these data to create a capture history for each individual, how often they’ve been captured at each snare, the location of each capture, in order to get an estimate of capture probability and to create an estimate of each animal’s activity center, or where they’re likely to be on the landscape in any given time,” Humm said.

GRAND-SCALE SCIENCE Even with all the technology in the world, data collection is a labor-intensive process.

This field season, the team has 350 snares set up across 24 counties. Snares are placed in a grid system of clusters, composed of nine 2kilometer-by-2-kilometer squares. Five of those squares have snares in them — that gives the team leeway in case one square is in the middle of a city, for instance, or somewhere so inaccessible it couldn’t be checked according to schedule — and then there’s a 16-kilometer gap until the next cluster begins.

The pattern repeats throughout the 16 million-acre study area.

Each snare has to be built, installed, checked weekly for six weeks, and torn down.

Researchers also have to get permission from individual landowners when the study design calls for traps to be placed on private land.

That’s been an especially important task during the North Carolina portion of the study, which had about 60 percent of its snares on private land and 40 percent on public land.

Last year, those proportions were reversed, said the study’s field manager Sam Millman.

“Just this field season I believe we had somewhere in the range of 200 different private landowners for which we had to gain permission,” Humm added. “Without the contributions of both public and private entities, we wouldn’t be able to conduct research on such a grand scale.”

With its four-state coverage area, the study’s certainly a big one, but Clark said it made sense to cover all that ground. The area in question is basically one big, connected tract of bear habitat, with animals moving across state lines with regularity.

Doing the whole area together

Play at Parker Meadows

Catch the Perseids

A trail camera captures a bear reaching for a donut at a snare site. Donated photo

A

observation conditions from 11 p.m. to dawn.

A few meteors can be spotted in the days before and after the peak. The low-waxing crescent moon will make for darker skies and optimal viewing.

See the solar system’s birth A planetarium presentation showcasing the birth of the solar system will come to the Macon County Public Library in Franklin at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16.

The program gives a unique look at the formation of the solar system by tracing the role that collisions played throughout history, starting with the condensation of that initial cloud of gas and cosmic dust.

Free, but space is limited. Pick up a ticket at the library reference desk starting one hour before showtime. The program lasts 22 minutes. 828.524.3600.

August 8-14, 2018

JOIN OUR TEAM!

We are now hiring front desk receptionists.

For more information, give us a call or stop by the Rec Center.

WAYNESVILLE

Smoky Mountain News

of bears in the region.

The latest estimate, using 2012 data, is that 4,850 bears live in the 25 western counties. However, this number is far from perfect, as the estimation method has some serious drawbacks. It can be influenced by trends in hunter success and hunting popularity, and by the likelihood of hunters to send in samples from older bears versus younger ones.

“Anecdotal evidence indicates the sampled harvest is biased towards older bears, GROWING POPULATION because hunters are less interested in receiving age results from younger bears,” reads a Even though the study is coming into 2015 report from the N.C. Wildlife the end of its final year, researchers don’t Resources Commission. have any actual data yet. They’ll ship hair The Wildlife Commission estimate also samples from both years of data all togethdoesn’t include bear populations in locaer, when the second field season ends this tions where hunting isn’t allowed. Perhaps month. Test results are expected to come the largest such area is the Great Smoky back in the middle of 2019.

Mountains National Park, which includes more than DNA testing will reveal whether a 400 square miles in North sample is from a new bear or a bear Carolina. In the early 1970s, the park had estithat’s already visited a trap, allowing mated about 600 bears living within its boundthe team to estimate population sizes. aries, but populations grew substantially during the early-to-late 1990s, with the estimate While Clark doesn’t have any specific growing to 1,600 bears in recent years. guesses for what the population results By this time next year, wildlife managers might be, he thinks the density results will in all four states will know a lot more about be higher than what’s been found in earlier, how many bears are where within their though smaller-scale, studies. jurisdictions. And that boost in understand“In the Smokies, for example, I expect ing will pave the way for a whole host of the bear densities to be the highest, and decisions aimed at allowing people and that’s probably going to be around a bear bears to live together more peacefully. per square kilometer, which is really high,” As Millman can attest, that’s important, Clark said. “But as you get out away from for both species. Two years trekking the Smokies I expect the densities will go through bear country have been plenty to down to some extent. To what extent I don’t show the Delaware native the complexity, know.” strength and beauty of this creature that North Carolina’s current best guess at shares the mountains with us. black bear populations comes from data “In the beginning I wasn’t interested in submitted by bear hunters. After taking a them. It was just a job, but at the end of this bear, hunters are asked to send in a tooth I’m completely amazed,” Millman said. from the animal they harvested, which the “There’s so much to them. They’re not just Wildlife Commission can use to determine the big frumpy bear we see digging in the the animal’s age and sex. That data is used trash can.” to extrapolate the number and age structure

gives a more complete picture of the entire bear population, and while it’s still not cheap — North Carolina paid about $430,000 to fund its portion of the study — per state it works out to be a lot less expensive than if researchers had gone state-bystate instead. The cost is especially low compared to what it would have been within the recent developments in mapping and DNA testing.

The Perseids meteor shower will return to the night skies this week, peaking overnight Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 12-13, with two local opportunities to watch the show in the company of astronomers. n The Learning Center at PARI will host an overnight event Saturday, Aug. 11, with packages including a choice of tent camping or cabin lodging, as well as dinner, brunch and educational programming. Make a reservation at www.pari.edu or call 828.862.5554. n The Western Carolina University Department of Chemistry and Physics will hold a viewing party from 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 12, through sunrise Monday, Aug. 13, at Waterrock Knob on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Astronomy faculty will also have telescopes set up to view Jupiter, Saturn and a relatively close Mars as well as various summertime star clusters and nebulae. Free, but participants should dress warmly for the high elevation and consider bringing a lawn chair to sit in. Enrique Gomez, 828.227.2718.

The Perseids are predicted to reach a peak of 60 to 70 meteors per hour around 9 p.m. the nights of Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, with best

outdoors

A day of fun at the Parker Meadows Complex in Franklin will be offered 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, meeting at the creek.

The event is part of the Macon County 4H Summer Relief program, which offers a full and diverse schedule of summer activities for kids. All participants must have a current 4H enrollment form and medical form on file.

Free. To register, visit macon.ces.ncsu.edu or call 828.349.2046.

PARKS AND RECREATION

828.456.2030

or email rlangston@waynesvillenc.gov

550 VANCE STREET • WAYNESVILLE

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outdoors

Get certified in hunter safety A hunter safety course resulting in a certification that’s valid in every North American state and province will be offered 6-9 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14 at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

In addition to firearm safety, instruction includes ethics and responsibility, conservation and wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival, first aid, specialty hunting and tree stand safety.

Free through a partnership of HCC’s Department of Arts, Sciences and Natural Resources and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. No minimum age, but classes are taught at the sixthgrade level and participants must take a written test without assistance.

Attendance to both sessions required.

Additional courses will be offered Sept. 17-18, Oct. 8-9 and Nov. 5-6. Pre-registration required at www.ncwildlife.org.

Learn the basics of trapping

August 8-14, 2018

A land trapping course will be offered 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard.

The class will focus on techniques for species such as coyote, fox, bobcat and raccoon, including classroom activities and hands-on, practical instruction outdoors. Participants will learn the laws and regulations surrounding trapping, the various types of traps, necessary equipment, how to prepare for the upcoming season and more.

Free and instructed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Participants should bring lunch, a notebook, gloves and clothes for the outdoors. Registration required at ncwildlife.org/Learning/Education-Centers/Pisgah/Event-Registration.

Champions crowned in Haywood The 2018 Haywood County Recreation and Parks Summer Soccer Tournament concluded Monday, July 30, with a victory for the team Queretaro.

In the most entertaining game of the season, Queretaro started off a five-goal thriller with a shot from close range, scoring on opponent Real Madrid. Real Madrid soon tied the game, taking a 1-2 lead halfway through the second period.

Queretaro used its numbers advantage, earning a penalty and tying the game at 2-2.

With less than five minutes remaining,

Queretaro scored, with Real Madrid mounting a late charge but finding itself unable to score in time.

Queretaro team members included Juan Enrique Andrade, Manuel Mendoza, Angel Mendoza, Miguel Garcia, Enrique Avila, Francisco Avila, Jorge Mendoza, Pedro Rivera, Leonardo Diaz and Quinto Mendoza.

Registration for the fall rec soccer season is open through Aug. 24. Contact Ian Smith at ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov or 828.452.6789.

Trout derby rescheduled

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICAT TIONS FOR FALL 2018

Continued rains prompted the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to reschedule its Aug. 3-4 Talking Trees Children’s Trout Fishing Derby to the following weekend, Aug. 10-11.

The tribe’s leadership decided that water levels and forecasts leading up to the planned date would have made it impossible to ensure the safety participants Aug. 4.

The new schedule will feature entertainment, attractions and free fishing gear for kids ages 3 to 11 at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10. On Saturday, Aug. 11, hours of fishing fun with prizes, face painting, balloon animals and more will be offered at the Oconaluftee Islands Park 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, contact Lisa Frady at 828.359.6471 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Boating access improvements coming to the Chattooga Restoration and recreation work has begun on the Chattooga River in the PisgahNantahala National Forest thanks to funding from the National Forest Foundation and REI granted in 2017.

TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY Y,, GO TO

CAT TA AMOUNTSCHOOL .WCU.EDU

Classes arre Classes e almost full. full Apply today fo for August enrollment.

44

The members of team Queretaro pose following their victory. Donated photo

The project includes constructing three kayak launch sites, building trails to access those launch sites, installing trailhead information kiosks and making trailhead parking improvements.

The Chattooga runs south for 57 miles from the mountains into the Tallulah River and ultimately Tugalo Lake. The river was designated as a Wild and Scenic River in 1974 and contains one of the best stretches of technical whitewater in the country.

facebook.com/smnews

Travel through 100 years of bird conservation

Don’t drown in zucchini Get inspired for ways to use up all the zucchini flooding your garden during a workshop 2 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Haywood County Public Library in Waynesville.

Participants will learn some new skills and interesting ways of preparing the prolific vegetable, with plenty of chances to taste test. Free, with registration required and space limited. 828.356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

Woodland crafts to be showcased A celebration of how forest resources have been used in the past and present will take over the Cradle of Forestry in America 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, near Brevard.

Local artisans will demonstrate Appalachian cultural and modern uses of various forest products, with crafts available for purchase. In addition, a guided tour of the 1.3-mile Forest Festival Trail with Cradle naturalists will be offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with a presentation from the Hemlock Restoration Initiative at 2 p.m. Children’s crafts and activities will also be offered.

Free with regular admission. Presented by the Appalachian Woodlands Alliance. The Cradle of Forestry is located along U.S. 276 in the Pisgah National Forest, about 35 miles south of Waynesville.

60 /bring your own

$

gun+ammo

70 /gun + ammo

$

provided

*class also includes lunch

Women's

Wednesdays Half OFF lane rental and rental guns.

FULLY STOCKED GUN STORE/SALE GOING ON NOW TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY IT, WE HAVE A LARGE SELECTION OF RENTAL GUNS 14 INDOOR LANES/6 RIFLE AND 8 PISTOL

n The Southwestern N.C. Resource Conservation and Development Council will use a $128,500 award for a perpetual conservation easement on a 20-acre farm in Haywood County. n Mainspring Conservation Trust received $636,000 to purchase a perpetual conservation easement on 192 acres of cropland in Cherokee County and $114,000 to preserve a 31-acre farm, also in Cherokee County.

mountainrangewnc.com AUGUST SCHEDULE MONDAY •9-10 AM: Slow Flow Yoga w/ Sara • 10:30-11:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara • 10:45-11:30: Yoga Nidra w/ Jay • 5:45-6:45: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Candra • 6-7: Yoga Basics w/ Sara • 7- 8: Buti Yoga w/ Jay TUESDAY •9-10 AM: Gentle Yoga w/ Jay • 10:30-11:30: Flow + Myofascial Release w/ Jay • 5:30-6:30: Yin Yoga w/ Hanna • 5:30-6:15: Barre Above* w/ Jay • 6:30- 7:30: Fluid Unwind w/ Hanna • 6:30- 7:30: Mixed Level Flow @ Lake Junaluska w/ Kendall WEDNESDAY •9-10 AM: Flow + Deep Stretch w/ Sara • 10:30-11:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara •5:45-6:45: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Leigh- Ann • 6- 7: Hot Stone Restorative w/ Amber • 7-8: Slow Flow + Yin w/ Katie THURSDAY •6- 7 AM: Sunrise Yoga @ Lake Junaluska w/ Michael • 910: Gentle (Chair) Yoga w/ Jay •10:30-11:30: Flow + Yin w/ Abbie • 10:30-11:30: Gentle Yoga @ Lake Junaluska w/ Amber • 5:30-6:15: Barre Above* w/ Jay • 5:30-6:30 PM: Yin Yoga w/ Amber • 6:30-7:30 PM: Candlelight Flow w/ Kendall FRIDAY •9-10 AM: Hot Stone Restorative w/ Amber • 10:30 – 11:30: Gentle Yin Yoga w/ Sara • 12- 1: Barre + Flow w/ Jay SATURDAY •9-10 AM: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Michael or Candra •10:30-11:30: Beginner Flow Yoga w/ Rotating Staff • 12- 1: Tai Chi w/ Bill SUNDAY •11:30-12:30: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Kendall • 4- 5: Beginner Flow w/ Rotating Staff

Smoky Mountain News

Farmland in several Western North Carolina counties will now be protected thanks to funding from the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund, which recently awarded more than $4.6 million statewide to obtain ease-

CONCEALED CARRY CLASS

August 8-14, 2018

Organic growers in North Carolina can apply for partial reimbursement for the cost of organic certification through a program of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

The program is open to growers who were certified or recertified between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018, with funding available for up to 75 percent of the cost to a maximum of $750.

Download the application at www.ncdaorganic.org or at a local Farm Service Agency office. Funds available on a first-come, first-served basis and must be postmarked by Nov. 30. Heather Barnes, 919.707.3127.

ments on 2,590 acres. n The Haywood Soil and Water Conservation District landed $270,000 for an easement on a 34-acre farm and $202,000 to preserve 49 acres of a beef cattle farm. n A $27,500 award to the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will cover transaction costs on a 15-acre perpetual conservation easement that was donated in Jackson County.

MARK

828-452-7870

Organic certification reimbursement available

Grants awarded for farmland preservation

HIT THE

outdoors

This year marks the 100th birthday of the A researcher holds an adult male Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and biology procrimson finch. Olya Milenkaya photo fessor Olya Milenkaya, Ph.D., will discuss its legacy during a lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Highlands Nature Center.

Milenkaya will cover the historical context in which the law passed and offer a scientific perspective on its effectiveness at conserving migratory and sedentary bird species. Next, she’ll speak on its broader, unanticipated impacts on the development of the burgeoning scientific discipline of ecology and the legislative agenda of the 1970s environmental movement. Finally, she’ll consider the precarious position of the act today — is it an irrelevant relic or a flexible tool that can remain useful in a time of novel threats to avian biodiversity?

Milenkaya is an assistant professor of biology at Young Harris College in Georgia, supervising undergraduate research with cavity nesting birds and teaching courses in animal behavior, conservation biology and ornithology.

The presentation is part of the Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, offering free weekly lectures on conservation-related topics every Thursday through Sept. 13. For a full schedule, visit www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221

CALL OR REGISTER ONLINE AT WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com

274 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE

828.246.6570

45

outdoors

Renowned adventurer to speak in Sapphire

Appalachian Trail three times over. In 2011, she set what was then the record for the fastest A.T. thru-hike, hiking 47 miles per day for 46 days straight.

Pharr Davis will share photos and stoAthlete, author and speaker Jennifer ries from her adventures, answer quesPharr Davis will share her adventures and tions and present her new book, selling excerpts from her new book The Pursuit and signing books of Endurance during an event 5:30 to Jennifer Pharr Davis. when the program is over.

7 p.m. Saturday, $10, with space Aug. 18, at the limited. Presented by Country Club of Friends of Sapphire Valley.

Panthertown.

Pharr Davis has Purchase tickets at the logged more than Cashiers Area 14,000 miles of hikChamber of ing on six contiCommerce and nents, including Visitor Center, or conthru-hikes of the tact Friends of Pacific Crest Trail, Panthertown at 828.269.4453 or the Colorado Trail, Vermont’s Long Trail, friends@panthertown.org. numerous European trails, and the

Adventure overnight

August 8-14, 2018

A pair of overnight excursions will offer the opportunity to experience the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a new way this fall. n A two-night, three-day backcountry vacation starting from Fontana Marina will be offered Sept.

8-10. The itinerary includes daily mileages between 3.2 and 7.8 miles, exploring the Hazel Creek, Proctor and Eagle Creek areas. The outing is led by Wildland Trekking, with meals and snacks provided. n An overnight hammock camping adventure will head out to Mount Cammerer Oct. 3-4, led by Liz Domingue of Just Get Outdoors. Recruits will be issued a Great Smoky Mountains Association hammock, tree-safe straps and a rainfly. The experience is designed for those who are new to hiking.

The excursions are organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Association, with proceeds benefiting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Find out more at www.smokiesinformation.org.

JOIN THE

TEAM!

Smoky Mountain News

Project MARS/AmeriCorps is recruiting for full-time positions in Haywood, Swain, Transylvania, Cherokee, Graham and Buncombe counties.

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MEMBERS WILL: • Serve children directly within the schools

Bradley Fork. Donated photo

Hike Bradley Fork A guided hike along Bradley Fork in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will take in 9.8 miles of trail Tuesday, Aug. 14.

The route will follow an old roadbed from Smokemont Campground to Backcountry Campsite No. 49, with 800 feet of ascent and plenty of old-growth trees.

Western North Carolina native Billie Green

Explore Yellowstone Prong A 2.5-mile hike will take in the ripples and pools of Yellowstone Prong on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 10.

Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will guide participants to explore the Parkway’s aquatic resources and watch a fly fishing demonstration in search of a native trout, with the hike starting from the Looking Glass Rock Overlook at milepost 417.

Ranger-led hikes are offered at 10 a.m. every Friday through the end of October at various locations along the Parkway in Western North Carolina. Bring water, good walking shoes and clothing for changeable weather. 828.298.5330, ext. 304.

MST now complete in the mountains The longest continuous section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is now complete in Western North Carolina thanks to Carolina Mountain Club volunteers and N.C. State Parks staff.

“This was a perfect example of multiple agencies and volunteers coming together to

• Provide mentoring, academic assistance and resources for success • Collaborate with teachers, staff and administration to identify students with needs Living allowance, health insurance stipend, education awardand loan forbearance available.

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree.

Please contact Kate Snow, program director for additional information: katies@bbbswnc.org or at 336.354.3325

will lead this Friends of the Smokies hike. $20 for Friends of the Smokies members; $35 for nonmembers includes a oneyear membership. Proceeds benefit the Trails Forever program, which funds a fulltime crew to reconstruct and rehabilitate some of the park’s most impacted trails.

Sign up at hike.friendsofthesmokies.org.

accomplish something through teamwork and collaboration,” N.C. Trails Program Manager Scott Crocker wrote in a letter to

CMC volunteers. “A special thanks to Tom Weaver and Les Love and others with the CMC that helped organize the trail work days.”

The new trail bypasses the Rattlesnake and Sherrill Cove tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, meaning that the MST is now complete from Clingmans Dome on the North Carolina-Tennessee border to Stone Mountain State Park, which straddles Alleghany and Wilkes counties near Elkin.

For the first time, N.C. State Parks used a hybrid approach to build the trail, using a machine to rough in the route and volunteers with hand tools to conduct the finishing work.

“I feel like it was extremely successful, efficient and educational for both CMC and N.C. State Parks staff,” Crocker wrote.

Work is now underway to blaze the final route through the mountains, allowing it to be open to the public in the near future.

For more information about the MST, including an interactive map and downloadable section guides, visit www.mountainstoseatrail.org.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Sign-ups are underway for Jackson County’s “Citizens Academy” – an eight-week course focused on services provided by the county – starting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Info and applications: 631.2295 or jcfitzgerald@jacksonnc.org.

• Nominations are being sought for the Mountain Heritage Awards that will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 29, on Western Carolina University’s campus in Cullowhee. Awards go to individual and organization for contributions to or playing a prominent role in research, preservation and curation of Southern Appalachian history, culture and folklore. Nominations can be sent to pameister@wcu.edu, Mountain Heritage Center, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee N.C. 28723, or drop off in person at Room 240 of WCU’s Hunter Library.

• Registration is underway for participants in the Southwestern Community College Automotive Club’s annual car show, which will take place Aug. 10-11 at the Wayne Proffitt Agriculture Center in Franklin. Entry fees range from $10-25. d_myers@southwesterncc.edu.

• Mountain Discovery Charter School will celebrate the opening of its new gymnasium with a ribbon cutting from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the new gym in Bryson City. Performance by past and present students of the Junior Appalachian Musician program.

• A community meeting is scheduled for 5:30-7 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Pigeon Community Center in Waynesville.

Learn about and provide input on current initiatives: African-American Historic Resources Study and Neighborhood Park Planning. Comprehensive Land Use Plan Update. 456.8647.

• The Macon County Public Library’s Planetarium will present “Birth of a Solar System” – a 22-minute program – at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, in Franklin. For accommodations: 524.3600. Reference desk issues tickets for the show at 1 p.m.

• Inman Chapel’s annual homecoming is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, adjacent to the Lake Logan Fire Department in Haywood County. Family history program, dinner and a fundraising raffle. inmanchris@bellsouth.net or weaverhaney@gmail.com.

• The Cherokee Bonfire & Storytelling will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 27 at the Oconaluftee Islands Park.

Sit by a bonfire, alongside a river, and listen to some of Cherokee’s best storytellers. The bonfire is free and open to the public. There will be no bonfire events in September. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

• Oconaluftee Indian Village will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday through Nov. 10. As you step into the Oconaluftee Indian Village, you’re transported back to witness the challenges of Cherokee life at a time of rapid cultural change. Tour guides help you explore the historic events and figures of the 1760’s. www.cherokeehistorical.org.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Registration is underway for a workshop on hiring effective nonprofit leaders, which will be offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 30, at WCU’s instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville. For info or to register: pdp.wcu.edu.

• To celebrate 11 years of the purchase and preservation of the historic Rickman General Store, the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to a full calendar of celebrations starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, in the Cowee-

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

West’s Mill Historic District in Franklin. The celebration will include a performance by the Big Yard Sale Band at 11 a.m. followed by an ice cream social and traditional music jam. Friends of the Rickman Store on Facebook or 369.5595.

• Haywood Community College will offer hunter safety courses from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 13-14, Sept. 17-18, Oct. 8-9 and Nov. 5-6 in Clyde. Preregistration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• The Downtown Waynesville Association will hold a Red Carpet Roll Out at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, for “Our Summerhouse Pottery” at 225 Wall Street.

• A “Basic Knifemaking” class will be offered from 3-6 p.m. on Mondays, Aug. 20-Sept. 24, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. Forge, grind, heat treat and handle a basic, fixed-blade knife. $225. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• An “Upholstery” class will be offered from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. or 5-9 p.m. on Mondays, Aug. 20-Oct. 29, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. Hands-on experience in tool use, various equipment and techniques. $175. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• A “Forging Axes” class will be offered from 6-9 p.m. on Mondays, Aug. 20-Sept. 24, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. Forge a Kentucky style belt axe. $225. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• An “OBD II Emissions” class will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 21 and 23, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. $75. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• A “Quilting” class will be offered from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug. 22-Oct. 26, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. A separate evening class will be offered from 5-9 p.m. on Aug. 23-Oct. 25. $155. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• An “Intro to Blacksmithing” class will be offered from 3-6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Aug. 22-Sept. 26, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. $225. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• A “Forging Jewelry” class will be offered from 9 a.m.noon on Fridays, Aug. 24-Sept. 28, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. $225. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• A “Forging Tools for Woodworkers” class will be offered from 1-4 p.m. on Fridays, Aug. 24-Sept. 28, through Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department in Clyde. Forge a marking knife. $75. For info or to register: 627.4669 or rgmassie@haywood.edu.

• Evening classes for anyone wanting to obtain a high school equivalency diploma are offered from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays at Haywood Community College in Clyde. 627.4648.

• The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table meets at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the HF Robinson Auditorium at the Western Carolina University Campus in Cullowhee.

Smoky Mountain News

• Concealed carry handgun is offered every other Saturday 8:30am-5pm starting at Mountain Range indoor shooting range. Lunch provided. Class $60.

452.7870 or mountainrangenc@yahoo.com.

• Small business owners can find materials and services to support business growth at Fontana Regional Library’s locations in Macon, Jackson and Swain Counties. Computer classes and one-on-one assistance also available. 586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

• A meeting of current and former employees of the Waynesville plant of Champion/Blue Ridge/Evergreen is held at 8 a.m. on the first Monday of each month at Bojangles near Lake Junaluska’s entrance.

• One-on-one computer lessons are offered weekly at the Waynesville and Canton branches of the Haywood County Public Library. Lesson slots are available from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays in Canton and from 3-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Waynesville Library. Sign up at the front desk of either library or call 356.2507 for the Waynesville Library or 648.2924 for the Canton Library.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • All of the State Employees Credit Union branches will serve as collection sites for Governor Roy Cooper’s second-annual School Supply Drive, which runs through Aug. 17.

• Downtown Waynesville merchants are invited to participate in a fundraiser for Mountain Projects on Thursday, Aug. 9, and on Sunday, Aug. 12.

Participating merchants will donate 10 percent of sales from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday and through closing on Sunday to Mountain Projects. For info or to participate: dana@tiadana.com or 101mercantile@gmail.com.

47

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings

HEALTH MATTERS • A monthly health series on “Mind and Body: Health, Nutrition & You” continues with a presentation on “End of Life Care and Planning” at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 14 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016.

• The International Essential Tremor Foundation support group meets at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at the Jackson County Senior Center, Room No. 135. Learn coping skills and available products to help. 736.3165 or teddyk@gmail.com.

• Registration is underway for an eating disorder workshop with Linda Bacon, Ph.D. the workshop is scheduled for 12:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Folk Art Center Auditorium in Asheville. Title is: “Nurturing Body Respect: The Facts, Fictions and Clinical Path” – an evidence based alternative to weight-focused care.

Advance tickets only; no on-site tickets. 298.7928. info@crcfored.com or 337.4685.

RECREATION AND FITNESS

• Tickets and sponsorships are available for “Bluegrass, Blue Jeans & Bling,” the fifth annual fundraising gala for the Southwestern Community College Foundation. Event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Performances by Frogtown (Bluegrass) and Steve Johannessen (Classics). $150 per person; sponsorships start at $1,500. 339.4241 or www.southwesterncc.edu/foundation/2018-gala-eventdetails.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Dance With The Beatles Dance” from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. Western-style square dancing, mainstream and levels. 787.2324, 706.746.5426 or 332.0001.

• The Community Table has a Blue Plate Special fundraiser from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month from January through October in Sylva. $7 minimum donation; dine-in or carry-out. 586.6782.

• Practicing Presence on the Mat: A Four-Week Series will be offered from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sundays from Aug. 12-Sept. 2 at Waynesville Yoga Center. $85 in advance or $105 at the door. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • A Guardian ad Litem training class will be held from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. every Friday through Aug. 10 at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. The N.C. Guardian ad Litem program recruits, trains and supervises volunteer advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused, neglected and dependent children in the state court system. Info: 454.6395 or www.volunteerforgal.org.

• REACH of Macon County will hold a two-day volunteer training from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Aug. 13-14.

Location will be mailed to you upon registration.

Register: reach@reachofmaconcounty.org, 369.5544 or 586.8969.

• The Town of Canton is accepting submissions for its 112th Labor Day Festival – “A Celebration of All Things Made in Western North Carolina.” Deadline for all arts and crafts is 4 p.m. on Aug. 21. Before applying: call 648.2363, email photos to lstinnett@cantonnc.com or mail to: Town of Canton, Attn: Canton Labor Day; 58 Park Street; Canton, NC 28716. Event runs Sept. 2-3 in downtown Canton. Cantonlaborday.com.

• Yoga for Thyroid Balance will be offered from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Waynesville Yoga Center. $35 in advance or $40 at the door. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• Yoga + Essential Oils for Stress Reduction will be offered from 2-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Waynesville Yoga Center. $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• Pangu Yoga: Cultivating Calmness will be offered from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 25, at Waynesville Yoga Center. $35 in advance or $40 at the door.

Register: 246.6570 or WaynesvilleYogaCenter.com.

• There will be several ballroom and Latin dance classes offered on Sundays and Mondays at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Classes for beginners, intermediate and all levels. $10 per class. For more information, click on www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Line Dance Lessons will be held on Tuesdays in Waynesville. Times are 7 to 8 p.m. every other Tuesday.

Cost is $10 per class and will feature modern/traditional line dancing. 734.0873 or kimcampbellross@gmail.com for more information.

SPIRITUAL • Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith, Retired Executive Pastor of Stewardship and Generosity at the United Methodist

wnc calendar

Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City, will be featured as part of the Summer Speaker Series at 8:20, 9:40 and 11:05 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, at Long’s Chapel in Waynesville. Info: longchapel.com.

• Registration is open for the Festival of Wisdom and Grace, a conference for adults seeking purpose and renewal in the second half of life scheduled for Aug. 13-16 at Lake Junaluska. Speakers include Rev. Heidi B. Neumark and Dr. Clayton Smith. Entertainment includes “Acts of Renewal” – a husband and wife theatrical duo. 800.222.4930 or www.lakejunaluska.com/wisdom-and-grace.

• Registration is underway for Personal Spiritual Retreats that will be offered at Lake Junaluska in the coming months. Experienced spiritual directors and clergy guide you through a group centering session, evening prayer service and an individual spiritual direction session, while leaving you ample time for personal reflection and renewal. $297 for two nights lodging in Lambuth Inn, program and retreat booklet. Dates are Aug. 27-29, Sept. 3-6, Oct. 1-3 and Nov. 5-7. www.lakejunaluska.com/retreats.

POLITICAL • Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) will have his fifth-annual NC-11 Veterans’ Solution Seminar from 8:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Haywood Senior Center.

Opportunity to learn about available assistance with issues surrounding VA benefits, healthcare and disability.

August 8-14, 2018

• Phillip Price, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives for District 11, will have a meet and greet from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 15 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

• “Go, Granny D!” – a fundraiser for the Haywood County Democratic Party – is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Colonial Theater in Canton. Featuring actress Barbara Bates Smith and musician Jeff Sebens. https://haywooddemocrats.wordpress.com. Tickets: $15 before Aug. 7; $20 after Aug. 7. 452.9607 or haywooddemocrats@gmail.com. Info: www.barbarabatessmith.com.

• Meet & Greet breakfast with sheriff candidate Rocky Sampson at Bryson City Senior Center on Saturday, Aug. 18 from 8 till noon.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Franklin native and author Tyler Cook will sign copies of his fifth book “Disciple” at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Southwestern Community College Bookstore on the college’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. moonshinepressnc@gmail.com or www.tylermcook.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Catherine Brewer Smith Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Western Carolina University, Dr. Billy T. Ogletree will sign his new book Mean Christianity: Finding Our Way Back to Christ’s Likeness at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Blue

Ridge Books in Waynesville. www.blueridgebooksnc.com or 456.6000.

at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• Athlete, author and speaker Jennifer Pharr Davis will share her adventures and excerpts from her new book The Pursuit of Endurance during an event from 5:30-7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Country Club of Sapphire Valley. She’s logged more than 14,000 miles of hiking on six continents. $10. Purchase tickets at Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, 269.4453 or friends@panthertown.org.

• A Parkinson’s Support Group is held at 2 p.m. on the last Wednesdays of each month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department has set a time for senior citizens (55-older) to play tennis from 9 a.m.-noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through Oct. 28 at the Donnie Pankiw Tennis Center in Waynesville. For players intermediate or higher skill level. $1 per day. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• The Waynesville Recreation Center will offer additional courts for pickleball for seniors from 7 a.m.-noon on Mondays through Fridays. For ages 60-up. Free for members; $3 for nonmembers. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• “Smoky Mountain Elk”– a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, Aug. 11-18 and Sept. 8 & 22 at the Palmer House in Cataloochee Valley.

• Registration is underway for fall acting classes through Kids at HART program. Classes run from Sept.

10-Nov. 26. $120 for acting classes or $110 for voice classes. www.harttheatre.org.

• The Mexican Train Dominoes Group seeks new players to join games at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

356.2800.

• A Silver Sneakers Cardio Fit class will meet from 1011 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Haywood County Senior Recreation Center. For ages 60 and above. Cost is regular admission fee to the rec center or free for members at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• Preregistration is underway for a “Zoo Snooze” offered on Aug. 9-10 through the Macon County 4-H. $45 for youth or adult. Leave from Macon Cooperative Extension Office in Franklin. For ages 5-18. Preregister: 349.2046 or macon.cec.nscu.edu.

• Book Club is held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 • Senior croquet for ages 55 and older is offered from 9-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vance Street Park in front of Waynesville Recreation Center.

Free. For info, contact Donald Hummel at 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

• “Adz, Froe and a Fine Tree” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays through Aug. 9 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center Porch near Cullowhee.

• “Blacksmithing” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 10 a.m. on Fridays through Aug. 10 at the Mountain Farm Museum.

• A Hand & Foot card game is held at 1 p.m. on Thursdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• “Smokemont Evening Campfire Program” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturday through Aug. 11 at the Smokemont Campground between C & D loops.

• Senior Sale Day is on the third Friday of every month at the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. Patrons 60 and older get 20 percent off all purchases.

Proceeds benefit the Sylva Library.

• “Batteries Not Included” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 10 a.m. on Fridays through Aug. 10 at the Davis Queen House, Mountain Farm Museum.

• Pinochle game is played at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

• “Smokemont Evening Campfire Program” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 7 p.m. on Fridays through Aug. 10 at the Smokemont Campground between C & D loops.

• Mah Jongg is played at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

356.2800.

• A Canasta card game is set for 1 p.m. on Mondays

• “Flat Creek Ramble” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 2 p.m. on Saturdays through Aug. 11 at the Flat Creek Trailhead at the Balsam Mountain Picnic Area.

KIDS FILMS • The “Movies on Everett” outdoor series will run through Aug. 17 at the corner of Mitchell and Everett streets in downtown Bryson City. Screenings begin at 9 p.m. Family-friendly. Free to attend. For a full schedule of the films to be screened, click on www.greatsmokies.com.

• Summer Film Fest 2018 will be presented by Suminski Family Books at 7 p.m. on Aug. 9 & 16 at Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Featured movies will be “Peter Rabbit” (Aug. 9) and “Wonder” (Aug. 16). Tickets $5 and available at Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Tartans Museums or members of benefitting non-profits: Grandpa’s Woodshop, Women’s History Trail (FHAMC), Read2Me and Friends of the Greenway. Info: 369.5417 or Claire@dometrics.com.

• “Christopher Robin” is showing at 7 p.m. on Aug. 17-23, and 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Aug. 18-19 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

• “Avengers Infinity War” will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 17 & 7 p.m. on Aug. 18 and Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The “Art After Dark” in downtown Waynesville is hosted on the first Friday of the month (MayDecember), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors. www.waynesvillegalleryassociation.com.

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• “Stream Splashers” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 10 a.m. on Saturdays through Aug. 11 at the Deep Creek Picnic Area.

• “How Do I Get There from Here?” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 1 p.m. on Saturdays through Aug. 11 at the Oconaluftee Multipurpose Room adjacent to the Visitor Center near Cherokee.

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• Talking Trees Children’s Trout Fishing Derby is scheduled for Aug. 10-11 at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds and Oconaluftee Islands Park. Info: 359.6471 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

• “Return of the Elk” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through Aug. 28 (not including Aug. 14) at the Rough Fork Trailhead at Cataloochee Valley.

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KIDS & FAMILIES • Annual Summer Learning Program is being offered through the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Features prizes, story times, movies, STEAM programming, arts and crafts and more. 586.2016.

• “A Great Rangering Skill” - a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Ranger program – is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays through Aug. 11 at the Maple Tree at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee.

(Located (Located in in the the NAPA NAPA Auto Auto Parts Parts Center) Center)

• Parker Meadow Fun Day is from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15, at Parker Meadows Creek.

349.2046 or macon.cec.ncsu.edu.

• The Franklin Area Folk Festival – a celebration of Appalachian Heritage – is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center in Franklin. Demonstrations, exhibits, music, Civil War re-enactors and more. Antique Car Show. 524.6564 or FranklinFolkFestival.com.

• Art in Monteith Park, a daylong arts and crafts festival, will celebrate the Appalachian Women’s Museum starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, in Dillsboro.

More than 40 booths of handmade local arts and crafts; performances by The Maggie Valley Band and J.Creek Cloggers. Parking: $3. Info: artinmonteithpark@gmail.com or 586.3511.

• Registration is underway for the 48th Smoky Mountain Folk Festival, featuring traditional music and dance of the Southern Appalachian Region. The festival is Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Lake Junaluska. https://tinyurl.com/y9a6jpug, 800.222.4930 or communications@lakejunaluska.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

• The production of “The Field” by John B. Keane will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 10-11, 16-18 and at 2 p.m. Aug. 12, 19 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for seniors and $11 for students. www.harttheatre.org or 456.6322.

• Country act The Swon Brothers will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $20 per person. www.greatmountainmusic.com.

• A musical theatre performance by the Triple Arts Company will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

• The Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (old-time/pop) at 2 p.m. Aug. 13. Free to attend.

• “One Leg Up” – part of the Haywood County Public Library’s Friends of the Library Concert Series – is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18, in the auditorium of the Waynesville Library. Mixture of Gypsy Jazz, Latin, Swing and original Jazz. 452.0593, info@haywoodarts.org or HaywoodArts.org.

• Town Mountain (bluegrass) will perform at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, at Cataloochee Ranch. $35 per person. Cookout dinners (not included in price) will be available before the show. Reservations required: 926.1401.

SUMMER MUSIC • The Concerts on the Creek will have The Get Right Band (soul/rock) at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva. Free and open to the public. There will also be food trucks onsite. 586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

• The “Groovin’ on the Green” concert series at The Village Green in Cashiers will be hosting Sundown at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 10. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• Highlands Town Square “Friday Night Live” series will host Southern Highlands (bluegrass) Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

• The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature Golden Harvest (bluegrass) at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin. Food vendors will also be available. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

• Cold Mountain Music Series will host Josh Carter & Creekside Crawfish at 5 p.m. on Aug. 11. Gates open at 3 p.m. Admission is $15 for a car, $50 for 15-passenger van and $5 for bikes. Food will be offered by Vieux Carre and beverage by Noble Cider. Reservations by calling 646.0095 and more information at www.lakelogan.com/events.

• “An Appalachian Evening” will host Volume Five at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Stecoah Valley Center. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Highlands Town Square “Friday Night Live” series will host Tallulah River Band Aug. 17 at 6 p.m. www.highlandschamber.org.

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• The Concerts on the Creek will have The Colby Deitz Band (rock/Americana) at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva. Free and open to the public.

There will also be food trucks onsite. 586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

• The “Groovin’ on the Green” concert series at The Village Green in Cashiers will be hosting The Krickets at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 17. www.villagegreencashiersnc.com.

• The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature The Ram Cats (blues) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin. Food vendors will also be available. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

• “An Appalachian Evening” will host Unspoken at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at the Stecoah Valley Center. www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• HART will hold auditions for its October production of “The Bad Seed” at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and Monday, Aug. 12-13, in Waynesville. Director is Wanda Taylor.

• The “Unto These Hills” stage production will be held at 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday through Aug. 18 at the Mountainside Theater in Cherokee. www.cherokeehistorical.org.

August 8-14, 2018

• The Roots of American Folk Music will be presented at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9, by Marshall Ballew.

Concert is a musical and historical journey through the years and forms of American Folk Music. www.reverbnation.com/marshallballew.

• Subscriptions are on sale now for the Bardo Arts Center’s Sunday Cinema Series, which presents encore live performances from the National Theatre in London starting Aug. 26 in Cullowhee. The first is “Yerma” at 3 p.m. on Aug. 26. A subscription for all seven screenings is $90 or $60 for WCU faculty/staff and seniors or $25 for WCU students. Individual tickets will go on sale Aug. 15 at the rate of $15 for adults; $10 for WCU faculty/staff and seniors and $5 for students.

Arts.wcu.cinema or 828.227.ARTS.

new

• The 22nd annual Smoky Mountain Shrimp Boil is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Holly Springs Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Franklin. Cost is $25 or $10 for ages 11-under. Under 5 eat free. 369.3716.

• The Haywood Community Band presents its August concert “In Honor of Tom Cifani” at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 19, at the Maggie Valley Pavilion.

wnc calendar

• The 10th annual Mountain High BBQ Festival & Car Show is scheduled for Aug. 10-11 at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Franklin. Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned competition. $5 admission for Friday and Saturday; 12-under free. Summer Brooke & The Mountain Faith Band perform at 7 p.m. on Friday; Cruise-in from 6-8 p.m. on Friday; Kids Day on Saturday featuring Professor Whizzpop; True Outlaws Concert from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Saturday. www.MountainHighBBQFestival.com or 524.3161.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • A comedy improvisation class will be offered from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays at Moo Mountains Bakery in Maggie Valley. Led by improv teacher Wayne Porter, who studied at Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando and performed improv with several groups.

• Bingo will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 9 and Aug. 23 at the Pavilion next to Maggie Valley Town.

49

wnc calendar

Sponsored by the Maggie Valley Civic Association. Cash prizes; snacks available.

• Dogwood Crafters will offer a “Fall Fabric Pumpkin” class from 10 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Aug. 9, at the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $7. Register by Aug. 2: 586.2248.

• The 14th annual Yard Sale is scheduled for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. 510.544.9077.

• John MacLean will speak about portrait lighting during the Sylva Photo Club meeting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Cullowhee United Methodist Church. $5 suggested donation for visitors; applied toward $20 annual membership ($10 for students).

Sylvaphotoclub.wordpress.com, Sylva Photo Club on Facebook or sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com.

• Chef Jackie Blevins will offer new ideas for preparing eggplant from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Waynesville Library. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• The Western North Carolina Woodturners Club will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Bascom in Highlands.

• The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild holds its regular day meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, at Tartan Hall in the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin. www.smokymountainquilters.org.

• Learn the art of Felting Soap from 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension in Sylva. $6 cost includes all supplies for making two bars of soap and two felt flowers. Register: 586.4009.

• A rummage sale will be held from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 17-18, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Proceeds will go toward the church’s mission work and building fund. 586.2358.

August 8-14, 2018

• The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild holds its regular evening meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 20, at Tartan Hall in the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Franklin. www.smokymountainquilters.org.

• Registration is underway for “Bladesmithing: Seax Knife Class” – a class with Brock Martin that is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 18-19, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Cost: $380. Preregistration required: 631.0271. Info: www.JCGEP.org.

• Registration is underway for a “Rug Braiding” class that will be offered by Dogwood Crafters from 10 a.m.1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Aug. 22-29, at Dillsboro Masonic Lodge. $7. Register by Aug. 15: 586.2248.

• The Highlands Village Square Art & Craft Show is scheduled for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Aug. 25-26 at KelseyHutchinson “Founders” Park on Pine Street in downtown Highlands. Fine art, folk art and regionally made crafts. 787.2021.

Smoky Mountain News

• Quilters are invited to participate in “A Heavenly Quilt Walk,” which will be held Sept. 21-22 at downtown churches in Franklin. www.smokymtnquilters.org.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) is inviting local artists to its “Artist Coffee & Chat” at 10 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 9, at the HCAC gallery in downtown Waynesville. Please RSVP by calling 452.0593.

• Woodland crafts will be showcased from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Cradle of Forestry in America near Brevard. Local artisans demonstrate Appalachian cultural and modern uses of various forest products.

• The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) will host Betina Morgan, who will be teach a drawing class from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 14 and Aug. 28, at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville. Cost is $20 per class session. Call 50 for supply list. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The new exhibit “Joshua Adams: Facing Culture” will run through Aug. 24 in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. A reception for the artist and exhibit will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the museum. The WCU Fine Art Museum is free and open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Free parking is available on site.

• The exhibit “Mary Althea Parker: Abstract Impulse” will run through Aug. 24 in the Fine Arts Museum at Western Carolina University. This exhibition is a small selection of Parker’s works held by the WCU Fine Art Museum, focusing primarily on Parker’s paintings made after 1950.

• A new exhibit exploring the artistry, history and science behind the fragrance industry is open through Sept. 3 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville Lecture by Dr. Richard Stamelman on the mysterious allure behind fragrances and the plants.

• An exhibit on photographer William A. Barnhill is on display through Sept. 14 at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center in Cullowhee.

Barnhill documented 20th century regional craftsmanship. 227.7129.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at the Bardo Arts Center is pleased to announce the opening of its newest exhibition “Glass Catalyst: Littleton’s Legacy in Contemporary Sculpture,” which will run through Dec. 7. Littleton’s work and other glass artist will be on display. A key work in the exhibition will be a new acquisition to the Museum’s collection: a glass sculpture by Harvey Littleton entitled “Terracotta Arc.” Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday and Thursdays until 7 p.m. For information, call 828.227.ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• The Haywood County Arts Council ArtShare exhibit, runs from through Aug. 25. Opportunity for collectors to be able to pass on art for someone else to enjoy.

HaywoodArts.org.

• The Haywood County Arts Council is accepting applications for the “It’s a Small, Small Work” exhibit scheduled for November and December. Applications: director@haywoodarts.org or www.haywoodarts.org.

FILM & SCREEN • “Book Club” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 10 and 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva.

Free. 586.3555

Rock State Park. $23 adults; $8 for annual passholder; $13 youth (ages 5-15) and $6 per Rockin’ Discovery Passholder. Visit an area typically not open to the public. Advance registration required: chimneyrockpark.com.

• A birding outing for beginners and beyond will be offered starting at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Founders Park in Highlands. hpasnews@gmail.com.

• Actress Anne Van Curen will transform into Emma “Grandma” Gatewood to tell the story of the first woman to solo hike the Appalachian Trail during a presentation at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Laughing Heart Lodge in Hot Springs. $20 for current members of the Great Smoky Mountains Association; $35 for new members. https://conta.cc/2K1QEyE. • The Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Aug. 15. Meet at the Big Bear Shelter parking area.

• Registration is underway for The Great Smoky Mountains Association’s 2018 Members Appreciation Weekend, which is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 13-16, at Fontana Village. Learn about Eagle and Hazel Creek communities, guided tours and more. $109. Register: https://conta.cc/2lHoLSI. • “100 Years of Bird Conservation” - part of the Zahner Lecture Series – will be presented at 6 p.m. on Aug. 16 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• “Foraging for Food and Farmacy” will be offered on Aug. 18, on part of the original route from Gatlinburg, Tenn., to Cherokee. Led by wildcrafter Ila Hatter. Cost: $69. Register: smfs.utk.edu • A Land Trapping course will be offered from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education. www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah/Event-Registration.

• The Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Aug. 22. Meet at Salali Lane.

• “Big Ideas and Lessons for Conservation Ecology” part of the Zahner Lecture Series – will be presented at 6 p.m. on Aug. 23 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• Boating Safety courses will be offered from 6-9 p.m. on Aug. 28-29 and Sept. 10-11 at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Must attend both meetings. Pre-registration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• “Deadpool 2” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555 • “Mamma Mia” is showing at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8-16 and 1pm. & 4 p.m. on Aug. 11-12 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

• “Book Club” will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555

Outdoors

• Volunteers are being sought to help re-pot native azaleas from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays through Thursdays at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway. For info, and to schedule a shift: anorton@southernhighlandsreserve.org.

• “The Plight of the Hemlock” - part of the Zahner Lecture Series – will be presented at 6 p.m. on Aug. 9 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• “Top of the Mountain Trek” – a moderate-to-strenuous Chimney Rock Naturalist Niche Hike – is scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, at Chimney

COMPETITIVE EDGE • The Great Balsam Bike Relay, a combination of road and mountain biking, on Saturday, Aug. 11, in Jackson County. Segments vary from 10-30 miles. Check-in is from 4-8 p.m. on Aug. 10 at Motion Makers Bicycles.

Registration ranges from $125-$360, depending on team size and number of legs desired. darkridgeracingllc@gmail.com.

• Registration is underway for the 12th annual Power of Pink 5K run/Walk/Dog Walk that will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29, in Waynesville. Proceeds support prevention of breast cancer. Advance registration: $25 (by Aug. 31). Regular registration: $30 (after Aug. 31).

Dog registration is $10 per pet. Register at www.gloryhoundevents.com/event/power-of-pink. Info: 452.8343.

FARM AND GARDEN • Haywood Gleaners will have a large potato glean at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 9. Meet at the Kmart Parking Lot in Waynesville. 225.603.2092 or lsutrigger@gmail.com.

• “Drowning in a Sea of Zucchini: New Ways to Prepare and Preserve” will be presented from 2-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 16, at the Waynesville Library.

Registration is required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

FARMERS MARKETS • “Locally Grown on the Green,” the Cashiers farm stand market for local growers, will be held from 3-6 p.m. every Wednesday at the Village Green Commons in Cashiers. info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or 743.3434.

• The Swain County Farmer’s Market is held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Friday through October on Island Street in downtown Bryson City. 488.3681 or chamber@greatsmokies.com.

• Jackson County Farmers Market runs from 9 to noon on Saturdays at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

• Waynesville Historic Farmers Market runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon at the HART Theater parking lot. waynesvillefarmersmarket.com • Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through the end of October, on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software. 349.2049 or www.facebook.com/franklinncfarmersmarket.

• The ‘Whee Farmers Market, Cullowhee runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through the end of October, at the University Inn on 563 North Country Club Drive in Cullowhee. 476.0334 or www.facebook.com/CullowheeFarmersMarket.

• The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of October at 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville.

456.1830 or vrogers12@att.net.

HIKING CLUBS • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a five-mile moderate hike with an elevation change of 600 feet on Saturday, Aug. 11, on the Deep Creek-Indian Creek Loop in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park near Bryson City. Reservations: 369.1983.

• A hike revealing the geological history of Panthertown Valley will be offered Saturday, Aug. 11, near Cashiers.

Led by Bill Jacobs. friends@panthertown.org.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a six-mile hike with a 1,000-foot ascent on Aug. 11 from Buckeye Gap to Bearpen Gap. Info and reservations: 505.0471, 860.798.9905 or mwbromberg@yahoo.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an 11.4-mile hike with a 3,000-foot elevation gain on Aug. 12, Mt. Cammerer from Davenport Gap. Info and reservations: 628.6712, 279.3531 or knies06@att.net.

• A guided hike of Smokemont is scheduled for Aug. 14 by the Friends of the Smokies. Length is 9.8 miles with an 800-foot ascent. $20 for current members; $35 for new members. Hike.FriendsOfTheSmokies.org.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,000-foot ascent on Sunday, Aug. 19, at Horsepasture River. To sign up or get more info: 230.4883 or kathannigan@gmail.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,900-foot ascent on Aug. 22 at Clingman’s Dome. Sign up and get info: 405.596.2632 or shepherdgeorge@att.net.

OUTDOOR CLUBS • The Jackson County Poultry Club will hold its regular meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office. The club is for adults and children and includes a monthly meeting with a program and a support network for those raising birds. For info, call 586.4009 or write heather_gordon@ncsu.edu.

• The North Carolina Catch program, a three-phase conservation education effort focusing on aquatic environments, will be offered through May 15. The program is offered by the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Free for members; daily admission for non-members. 456.2030 or

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

AUCTION

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

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493 Liberty Hill Church Rd. Mount Gilead, NC. John Deere 750 & JD 2640 Tractors, Honda 4-Wheeler, Guns, Large Shop Full of Tools, Indian Artifacts, Household. See Website www.ClassicAuctions.com NCAF5479 704.791.8825 WATERFRONT Waterview Properties Auction, Cottage in Morehead City in Promise Land, Waterfront Home-Site in Sea Level, 3 Boat Slips Radio Island.

On-Line Bidding AUG. 2-thru-14. www.HouseAuctionCompany.com 252.729.1162 NCAL#7889 COMMERCIAL LOTS & Acreage Tracts in Kernersville, NC, Online Auction w/ Live Bidding Center at Hampton Inn in Kernersville, August 21st at 2pm, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936 YOUR AUCTION AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! For info visit the N.C. Press at: ncpress.com

AUCTION

MOUNTAIN HOME On 2.5 Acres. 9.5 Acre Tract. 10 Home Sites. Alleghany County, NC. Saturday August 18th @ 10:30am.

Boyer Realty & Auction. Col.Jimmy Boyer NCAL 1792 - 336.572.2323 BoyerRealty@skybest.com

LEGAL NOTICES PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised in this newspaper are on an equal opportunity basis.

FROG POND ESTATE SALES HELPING IN HARD TIMES

DOWNSIZING ESTATE SALES CLEAN OUT SERVICE • COMPANY TRANSFER • DIVORCE • LOST LOVED ONE

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828-734-3874 18 COMMERCE STREET WAYNESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28786 WWW.FROGLEVELDOWNSIZING.COM

LEGAL NOTICES SKANSKA USA BUILDING INC. Invites you to bid on Western Carolina University’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (“STEM”) Building in Cullowhee, NC. The project consists of initial building demolition, construction of a five-story, 181,000 square foot building followed by additional demolition of a further existing building. The project will be procured in a phased bidding fashion and this invitation is for the second phase of bidding.

The above scope will be procured via the following bid packages: * BP 14.0 – Elevators Only pre-qualified firms are allowed to bid. A list of prequalified first tier bidders can be made available on request to all interested second and third tier bidders. To request that list, please e-mail Christian Edwards at: christian.edwards@skanska.com A non-mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on August 10, 2018 at the Project Site, 380 Buzzard’s Roost Road, Cullowhee, NC 28723. Requests for Information (“RFI’s”) should be submitted to Christian Edwards on or before August 11, 2018.

Please be prepared to deliver your sealed bid on or before 2:00 p.m. ET on August 21, 2018.

Bid drop off locations will be confirmed via addenda.

Documents can be made available via an iSqFt invitation link.

Addenda will be posted and you will continue to be notified of changes utilizing this on-line service.

For further information and questions please contact: Christian Edwards at: christian.edwards@skanska.com (919) 422-8916 or Sandy Gray at sandy.gray@skanska.com (919) 406-4451.

INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS Western Carolina University STEM Facility, Cullowhee, NC.

www.smokymountainnews.com

August 8-14, 2018

WNC MarketPlace

LEGAL NOTICES

CARS -

SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE'S NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY THIS ACTION BROUGHT PURSUANT TO THE POWER AND AUTHORITY Contained within that certain Deed of Trust executed and delivered by Rick Eilerts and Marilyn Eilerts dated January 14, 2009 and recorded on January 20, 2009 in Book 752 at Page 271 in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Haywood County, North Carolina. As a result of a default in the obligations contained within the Promissory Note and Deed of Trust and the failure to carry out and perform the stipulations and agreements contained therein, the holder of the indebtedness secured by said Deed of Trust made demand to have the default cured, which was not met. Therefore, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will place for sale that parcel of land, including improvements thereon, situated, lying and being in the City of Waynesville, County of Haywood, State of North Carolina, and being more particularly described in the heretofore referenced Deed of Trust.

Said sale will be a public auction, to the highest bidder for cash, at the usual place of sale at the Haywood County Courthouse, Waynesville, North Carolina, on August 13, 2018 at 12:00 PM. Address of property: 194 Ramp Patch Lane, Waynesville, NC 28786 Tax Parcel ID: 7695045865 Present Record Owners: Rick Eilerts and Marilyn Eilerts The terms of the sale are that the real property hereinbefore described will be sold for cash to the highest bidder. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the amount of the bid or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. The successful bidder will be required to pay revenue stamps on the Trustee's Deed, any Land Transfer Tax, and costs for recording the Trustee's Deed. The real property hereinabove described is being offered for sale "AS IS, WHERE IS" and will be sold subject to all superior liens, unpaid taxes, special assessments, and other encumbrances. Other conditions will be announced at the sale. The sale will be held open for ten (10) days for upset bids, as by law required. The sale will not confirm until there have been ten (10) consecutive days with no upset bids having been filed. If for any reason the Trustee is unable to convey title to this property, or if the sale is set aside, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the bid deposit. Furthermore, if the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the Trustee, in its sole discretion, if it believes the challenge to have merit, may declare the sale to be void and return the bid deposit. In either event, the purchaser will have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, the Mortgagee's attorney, or the Trustee. Additional Notice Required for Residential Real Property with Less Than Fifteen (15) Rental Units: An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days, but no more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in the notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. Albertelli Law Partners North Carolina, P.A., Substitute Trustee By: David W. Neill Albertelli Law Partners North Carolina, P.A. 205 Regency Executive Park Drive Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28217 T: 704-970-0391 A-4664539 08/01/2018, 08/08/2018

CARS AUTO INSURANCE Starting At $49/ Month! Call for your fee rate comparison to see how much you can save! Call: 855.970.1224

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1926 FORD MODEL T TUDER SEDAN ‘Ready for a Parade’ New Carpet, Exhaust & Gas Tank, Very Good Conditiion, New Car Cover & Stored in Downtown Franklin; $12,000. For Pictures or More Info Call or Email: 828.335.2411, REMIE2334@hotmail.com A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs.

Fast Free Pickup -24 Hr ResponseTax Deduction 855.701.6346 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

Top Dollar Offer! Free Towing From Home, Office or Body Shop. All Makes/Models 2000-2016. Same Day Pick-Up Available! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396

ARTS & CRAFTS ART CLASSES Beginning Water Color Drawing & Acrylics. Six Week Classes Starting August 22nd. Located 248 S. River Rd., Sylva. Website: WWW.CSCSARTS.COM (Under ‘Classes’) or contact Carol Schilling for more info 828.549.8099

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING BASEMENT SYSTEMS INC. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control. FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.855.404.6455 CALL EMPIRE TODAY To schedule a Free in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring.

Call Today! 1.855.929.7756 SAPA REPLACEMMENT WINDOWS $189 Installed. Economy White Thermal Window & Labor. Double Pane No Gimmicks Just $189!!! Free estimate Lifetime Warranty 804.266.0694 Fairways Windows

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.855.808.9573 for FREE DVD and brochure.

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. Easy, One Day Updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers.

Call for a free in-home consultation: 877.661.6587 SAPA DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 GOT MOLDOr think you might have it? Mold can be hazardous to you and your family’s health! Get rid of it now!

Call our experts and get a quote today! 844.766.3858 SAPA SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included. Call for more information 800.807.7219 and for $750 Off.

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding!

Call or Text Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HAVE AN IDEA For an invention/new product?

We help everyday inventors try to patent and submit their ideas to companies! Call InventHelp®, FREE INFO! 866.783.0557 SAPA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

EMPLOYMENT HOME CARE PARTNERS Needs CNAs in Jackson & Swain Counties. We have Competitive Wages, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance. For more info, please call 828.586.1570 or Apply in Person at 525 Mineral Springs Drive, Sylva, NC 28779.

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you selfpublish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer!

Why wait? Call now: 844.660.6943 DISCOVER INTERNET INCOME Earn 5 Figures (+) Monthly Eliminate Traditional 9 to 5 Work Stress Opt-in To Learn More: get.webinnsite.com/wealth SAPA

EMPLOYMENT AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification.

Approved for military benefits.

Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.724.5403 SAPA DEADHEAD TRUCK & TRAILER Is Looking for Experienced Diesel Mechanic. Seeking Motivated and Dedicated Individual. We offer very Competitive Wages.

Looking to fill the position Immediately. Call 828.369.6200 or stop by Shop at 65 Roller Mill Rd. EARN BIG MONEY Part-Time From Home! Mailing Our Full-Color Sales Postcards.

800.313.0961. www.abminfo.com Referred By #8626. Steven K. SAPA UNABLE TO WORK Due to injury or illness? Call Bill Gordon & Assoc., Social Security Disability Attorneys! FREE Evaluation. Local Attorneys Nationwide 1.800.371.1734 [Mail: 2420 N St NW, Washington DC. Office: Broward Co. FL (TX/NM Bar.)] OWNER OPERATORS, DRIVERS, Fleet Owners for DEDICATED Regional routes. Weekly Settlements.

Minimum 12 months 48-53’ tractor trailer experience. 800.832.7036 ext.1626, cwsapps@ilgi.com. www.cwsdedicated.com WORK FROM ANYWHERE You have an Internet connection.

13 positions available. Start as soon as today. As simple as checking your email. Complete online training provided. Visit this website for details: https://bit.ly/2yewvor SAPA

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Services. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer HELP WANTED Vacancies 2018-2019-Special Education (K-12); Elementary Education (K-4); Reading Intervention Teacher (K-4); English (5th grade); Middle Education Science; Middle Education Mathematics; Business and Information Technology (9-12); History and Social Sciences (9-12); School Counselor (9-12); Mathematics (9-12). APPLICATION PROCEDURE: To apply, please visit our website at www.pecps.k12.va.us and complete the online application. Prince Edward County Public Schools, Farmville, Virginia 434.315.2100 EOE EASY $2,000 WEEK SALES JOB: Selling Direct TV, Home Alarm Systems and AT&T Phones. Send your name, phone and e-mail to davidsmith7777@hotmail.com Dave 330.559.8638.

FINANCIAL NATIONAL DEBT RELIEF Is rated A-Plus with the BBB. You could be debt free in 24-48 months. Call 1.844.240.0122 now for a free debt evaluation.

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

Climate Control

Denise’s Cleaning Service

Storage

Specializing in Vacation Rentals & Offices Weekly or Daily Cleaning

Security: Management on site Interier & Exterior Cameras

Sizes from 5’x5’ to 10’x20’

Climate Controlled

1106 Soco Road (Hwy 19), Maggie Valley, NC 28751

Call:

828-476-8999

MaggieValleySelfStorage.com torry@torry1.com

52

Torry Pinter, Sr. 828-734-6500

Find Us One mile past State Rd. 276 and Hwy-19 on the right side, across from Frankie’s Italian Restaurant

nan.gib90@aol.com

828-400-1483

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a FREE info packet & Quote. 1.866.309.1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.com SAPA SAVE YOUR HOME! Are you behind paying your Mortgage? Denied a Loan Modification? Is the bank threatening foreclosure? CALL 844.359.4330

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

MOUNTAIN HOME On 2.5 Acres. 9.5 Acre Tract. 10 Home Sites. Alleghany County, NC. Saturday August 18th @ 10:30am.

Boyer Realty & Auction. Col.Jimmy Boyer NCAL 1792 - 336.572.2323 BoyerRealty@skybest.com

NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT Architecturally Designed Home.

One-Story, 3BR, 2Full Baths with tile, New Stainless Appliances, Granite Counter tops, Stamped Stacked Driveway/Patio/Porch.

1.34 acres near JAARS in Wildwood Subdivision: 7304 Davis Road, Waxhaw, NC. Call: 704.207.6023 or 704.444.0155.

A MAGNIFICENT SANCTUARY Panoramic Views of Mountain Majesty. www.wncpristinehideaway.com 3BR/2BA 1.76 acres. Unrestricted Usable Land. An Unlisted Property • By Appointment Only •

828.550.7050

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR RENT On Russ Ave., Formally Used as a Real Estate Office. 1,852 sq. ft. $2,000/Mo., Private Parking Lot, High Traffic Count, City Water, Convenient To Maggie Valley & Waynesville. For more details please call Ron at 828.400.9029

CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS Offering 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $420.00 Section 8 Accepted - Rental Assistance When Available Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday & Thursday 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville, NC 28786

Phone# 1.828.456.6776 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS We Are Offering 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting From $465.00 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm 168E Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.735.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

bparrott@beverly-hanks.com Visit beverly-hanks.com/agents/bparrott

to see what others are saying!

Berkshire Hathaway - www.4Smokys.com Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

$641,00

4BD/5BA 4BD 4B BD/ D/5 /5B 5BA BA - 3494 349 34 494 94 Sq Ft 4BD 4B 4BD/4BA BD/ D/4 /4B 4BA BA on on Main Mai Ma ain in Level Lev Le eve vel el 2 Bonus Boonu nus us Rooms/1BA Roo Ro oooms ms/ s/1 /1B 1BA BA Lower Low owe wer er Level Lev eve vel ell Gorg rggeou eous F Fiirreeepppllac lace in Gr Gre rreea eat Roo oom Fiirreeepplac F lace & JJaac acuzz uzzzzi in M Maaste aster BD BD Exxcel xceell xc elle leent ent en Vac acat caati atio ioon Re Rent Ren enta ntaal Dec De Deck eck ck w/Hot w/H w/ /Ho Hoot Tub Tuub Facing Fa Fac accing inng V Viiew ieews ws Innnco com come Coomp Complete mpl ple leete Privacy Pri Pr riv iva vac acy cy on on 8.62 8.62 Acr Acrreess

BrLLocally Bruce uoca ce Own M McG cGOpe oper vatetedeedrn rn occaally Ow Owned wne ned ed & Op Operated pera rat m c g overn o v err npp ropertymgt@gmail opp err ty t y m g tt@ @ g m a i l . coo m

828-452-1519 8282 1519

Vii s ual V al T Too urr at at s h a mrr o cck13 sha kk11 3 .cco com com MLS LS## 340062 400626

Carolyn Lauter REALTOR/BROKER CELL

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

828.734.4822

Carolyn@BHGHeritage.com

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com • Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com • George Escaravage - gescar@beverly-hanks.com • Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com • Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com • Marilynn Obrig - mobrig@beverly-hanks.com • Steve Mauldin - smauldin@beverly-hanks.com • Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com • Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com • Brooke Parrott - bparrott@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com • Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com • Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com • Steve Mauldin- smauldin@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mstamey@beverly-hanks.com ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com • Pam James - pjames@sunburstrealty.com

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty

1986 SOCO ROAD HIGHWAY 19 MAGGIE VALLEY, NC

828.558.0607 CarolynLauter.com

Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Creek Realty

Jerry Powell Cell: 828.508.2002

jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

74 N. Main St.,Waynesville

828.452.5809

ROB ROLAND 828-400-1923

33robroland@gmail.com

Find the home you are looking for at www.robrolandrealty.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

• Ron Rosendahl - ron@mountaincreekrealestate.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com • Shirley Cole - shirleycole13@gmail.com Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com • Cindy Dubose - cdubose@mountaindream.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com • Holly Fletcher - hollyfletcher1975@gmail.com • The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com • Ron Breese - ronbreese.com • Landen Stevenson- Landen@landenstevenson.com • Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com • Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net • Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net • David Rogers - davidr@remax-waynesvillenc.com • Marsha Block- marshablockestates@gmail.com Rob Roland Realty - robrolandrealty.com

• Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com Rock Realty- rockrealtyonline.com Jeff Ferguson-jeff.rockrealty@gmail.com

smokymountainnews.com

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS

828.734.2146

August 8-14, 2018

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

BROOKE PARROTT BROKER ASSOCIATE WNC MarketPlace

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Cherokee thought buzzards possessed powers This column first appeared in an August 2003 edition of The Smoky Mountain News.

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Smoky Mountain News

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of “suli.” They felt that it played a role in shaping the earth at the time of creation, being responsible for the numerous mountains present in their homeland. This was because the great ancestral buzzard had agreed to fly over the earth and dry the mud with its flapping wings. But when he finally got into the Smokies region he was so tired that his flailing wings touched down, creating valleys. And as he wearily uplifted his

wings, he created the mountains. So much for plate tectonics.

The Cherokees knew that the buzzard was formerly a handsome bird with a topknot that ate only freshly killed meat. In one of their stories, the other animals punished the buzzard for its overbearing pride by tricking it into losing the feathers on its head so that it was shamed into eating carrion. In other stories, the bird lost its head feathers in a futile attempt to obtain the first fire.

Because of its habit of eating carrion and its supposed immunity from diseases, the Cherokees thought that buzzards possessed power over contagious diseases and regarded it as the doctor among birds. Buzzard feathers were placed over doorways in many homes as charms.

During epidemics entire carcasses were hung up as preventive measures, and, at times, its blood was drunk as preventive measure.

(George Ellison is a naturalist and writer.

He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.)

August 8-14, 2018

he recent heavy rains here in the Smokies region have been a blessing, especially to those of us who like to observe vultures up close and personal.

That's because the big birds have to remain in their roost trees well into late morning in order to dry out before they can take flight.

In my opinion, there's no prettier sight in the world than a bare tree full of buzzards.

There's just such a tree alongside the road on the north side of the Tuckaseigee River where it empties into Lake Fontana just west of Bryson City. The other morning I pulled over my truck, focused my binoculars, and watched 20 or so black vultures perched in the bare limbs of a dead sycamore. Their wings were outstretched so as to dry them more readily. In the swirling mist rising from the river, it looked like one of the Armageddon scenes out of a “Road Warrior” movie.

Then the birds began one after another to flap their wings and arose slowly into the air above the river. From there, they glided to a ridge and picked up an updraft that swirled them upward. At one point before they disappeared, all 20 or so birds were spiraling in unison. Ornithologists call flocks of circling buzzards “kettles,” and the act of flying in this manner is known as "kettling."

One evening about 15 years ago, Elizabeth and I were treated to a sight that we don't ever expect to see again. I was in the yard outside our home and happened to look up toward the ridge on the western side of our property that borders the Great

Smoky Mountains National Park. I saw perhaps 75 vultures kettling above the ridge.

Once they reached the desired elevation, they sailed away on a beeline into the park.

As this was the largest “kettle” of vultures I'd ever seen, I called for Elizabeth to come out and see them as well. I'm glad she was there as a witness to what happened next, since I don't think I’d have trusted my eyes alone. Wave after Columnist wave of vultures — soaring on wings spanning six feet — appeared over our cove in a steady stream for the next five minutes or so, gliding at elevations of from 200 to 400 yards. In loose groups, they appeared on the ridge bounding the eastern side of the cove, passed over our heads, and caught the updraft on the western rim at precisely the same spot as the first group I'd noticed.

I don’t know how many vultures had passed over the cove before I became aware of their presence, and I have no clear notion of how many vultures Elizabeth and I observed. But after the parade was over, I turned to her and said, “There must have been a thousand vultures in that flock.” She didn't disagree.

Almost all of the birds Elizabeth and I observed were turkey vultures, but there were at least 10 black vultures as well.

Turkey vultures are by far the most common species here in Western North Carolina.

They're easy to tell apart since the turkey vulture has a longish tail, a silver lining that extends from the tip of its wing along the rear of the wing to its body, and a head with reddish skin. The black vulture has a shorter tail, silver splotches near the tips of its wings, and a head with grayish skin. Both species locate the dead animals or carrion they feed upon by both sight and smell.

The Cherokees were the first ornithologists here in the Smokies region. They paid close attention to all of the birds and worked

them into their dances and stories. There's no way to know for sure that they made a distinction between the two species, but I'd bet that they did.

They gave the big birds the general name

George Ellison

“With them flying is a luxury, a fine art; not merely a quicker and safer means of transit from one point to another, but a gift so free and spontaneous that work becomes leisure and movement rest. They are not so much going somewhere, from this perch to that, as they are abandoning themselves to the mere pleasure of riding upon the air …. It is beneath such grace and high-bred leisure that Nature hides in her creatures the occupation of scavenger and carrion-eater!”

— John Burroughs, Winter Sunlight (1885)

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Smoky Mountain News August 8-14, 2018