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September 19-25, 2018 Vol. 20 Iss. 17

Macon sheriff candidate gets Giglio order Page 6 Allegations of fraud, failure haunt Ghost Town Page 8

CONTENTS On the Cover: Despite Beloved Woman Myrtle Driver Johnson’s harsh upbringing on the Qualla Boundary, she returned to her hometown years later and has made it her mission to preserve and carry on the Cherokee language. (Page 3) Myrtle Driver Johnson, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Beloved Woman. Renissa McCaughlin photo

News Macon sheriff candidate gets Giglio order ..................................................................6 Allegations of fraud, failure haunt Ghost Town developer ......................................8 Housing shuffle planned at WCU ..............................................................................10 WCU chancellor search resumes ................................................................................10 GOP defends elected Haywood tax collector ........................................................12 Florence’s gas gouging passes WNC ......................................................................14 Suicide prevention takes center stage at Folkmoot ..............................................15 Education News ................................................................................................................17

Opinion Acknowledging differences and embracing brotherhood ....................................18

A&E A conversation with Gavin Rossdale ..........................................................................22

Outdoors State squabble stalls Jackson conservation project ..............................................34

Back Then

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

Mis-identifying mushrooms is a risky mistake............................................................47

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Cherokee from the heart Beloved Woman reflects on a wandering life rooted in Cherokee language

I

ITCHY FEET

Myrtle Driver Johnson sits outside the Cherokee immersion school New Kituwah Academy, where she has volunteered as a translator since its inception.

Holly Kays photo

“I feel like when I speak English it’s almost like pretending to be me. But in speaking Cherokee and doing as a Cherokee, then that’s me.”

— Myrtle Driver Johnson

of Natural History in Chicago, spending two years gathering knowledge to bring back to Cherokee, which at the time was working to launch the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, built in 1976.

From there, she went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to work as an administrative assistant to the school psychologist at the Albuquerque Indian School. Johnson was enjoying her time out west, but when the school closed in 1983 — the building had been condemned years prior, and eventually the government decided to shut the school down completely — she came home for the summer, intending to return to Albuquerque afterward to look for work elsewhere.

“I always had the itchy feet,” she said.

But Johnson never left. She stayed in Cherokee, a decision she made to reconnect with her daughters, who hadn’t been with her in New Mexico. The older one had been living with Johnson’s stepfather while the younger one was in school in Kentucky. It was time for them all to come home.

LANGUAGE OF HOME Ask most people in Western North Carolina why they’ve decided to make — or keep — their home in the mountains, and they’ll likely say something about the beauty of the landscape or the friendliness of the people or family ties going back too many

generations to leave behind.

For Johnson, home is in the language.

The Cherokee language.

“When I speak English it’s from here,” she said, pointing at her lips. “When I speak Cherokee, it’s from here.”

With that, Johnson pointed at her heart.

Despite the hardships of her growing-up, Johnson never associated the language of her childhood with its trials. For her, it’s always been the real language, the truest way to speak and to be. In Big Cove in the 1940s and ‘50s, everybody spoke Cherokee — English was for school only, especially in her grandparents’ house, where no English was allowed. For the few neighbors who didn’t speak the native language, meaningful communication required a bit of creativity.

Johnson specifically recalls a friend of hers named Pat, a neighbor girl who was her schoolmate and went to the same church, but didn’t speak much Cherokee.

“But we communicated as we were play-

ing and remembering back, it was like half English, half Cherokee, because I couldn’t really speak English and she couldn’t fluently speak Cherokee,” Johnson recalled. “So we had our own language.”

Johnson kept her language all the way through boarding school, despite the fact that the official rules at Haskell forbade students from speaking in their native tongue.

Authorities at the school said that it was rude to speak in a language that only some of the people in any given room could understand, as the students came from a variety of different American Indian tribes. English was the common language.

“We’d heard that speaking your language was discouraged, and that just made us speak it that much more,” Johnson said. “I remember a girl from Big Cove. Her name was Sarah Jane Long. We were in the living room of the dorm speaking Cherokee and

Smoky Mountain News

Decades later, the strength is apparent.

Now 74, Johnson is a pillar of the Cherokee community, one of only three living people to hold the title of Cherokee Beloved Woman and a tireless advocate for preservation of the Cherokee language. It’s the place she’s found herself, but it’s certainly not the place she started from.

With more than 60 years in the rearview mirror, Johnson now says that boarding school was “the best thing that ever happened to me,” doubting that the transient nature of her life at home would have allowed her to finish school otherwise. But she did finish, and when her stepfather got her officially enrolled as a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians she was able to attend high school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, riding a bus with other Cherokee kids from North Carolina out to Oklahoma and from there to the final destination in Kansas.

Haskell began in 1884 as an agricultural education school for American Indian chil-

dren in grades one through five, evolving over the years into a high school, then a combination high school and vocational/technical institution and then finally to what it is today — Haskell Indian Nations University, enrolling more than 1,000 students each semester from federally recognized tribes across the country in its junior college programs.

“That was a good school, a really good school, especially in business or secretarial, business administration,” Johnson said.

“Anybody that went to school at Haskell at that time, you were almost guaranteed a job.”

Johnson met her husband at Haskell, and after graduating they moved to Long Beach, California, where he attended college and she did secretarial work through a temp agency. Then in 1974, she received a grant to study museum sciences at the Field Museum

September 19-25, 2018

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER f anyone ever had an excuse to leave her hometown and never return, it would be Myrtle Driver Johnson.

Born May 21, 1944, to a mother who didn’t want her, Johnson had a hard upbringing in the Big Cove community of the Qualla Boundary. While her younger siblings — one brother and four sisters — lived with her mother and their father, Johnson, who never knew which of two men her father was, was sent to live with her grandparents.

While Johnson was still a child, her grandmother grew too sick to care for her.

Johnson was sent away to a boarding school east of Asheville — an all-white boarding school, since her mother had never gotten her enrolled as a tribal member eligible to attend schools for Indian children — and when she was 12, her grandmother died. Her grandfather remarried, abandoning the house and also Johnson, who still needed somewhere to stay during school breaks and holidays.

The girl found herself adrift, dependent on the compassion of friends and neighbors who offered to take her in. She remembers living in about four or five different homes, total.

“There were times that I had no home,” she said. “I had nowhere to go. It was oftentimes I slept in the house my grandparents owned. Of course it was abandoned at the time.”

It wasn’t a happy childhood, and the hardships took their toll.

“It made me meaner than hell,” Johnson said of those early years. “It was a lot, but it made me strong.”

S EE B ELOVED, PAGE 4 3

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Beloved Woman Shirley Oswalt, who passed away in 2017, reads the Cherokee syllabary version of Charlotte’s Web that Johnson translated and gifted to her. Holly Kays photo

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

B ELOVED, CONTINUED FROM 3

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the house mother stopped and said, ‘You know, it’s kind of rude to be speaking where others can’t understand.’ So we stopped talking Cherokee and started talking English to each other. As soon as her back was turned we went right back to speaking Cherokee.”

These days, Johnson is a prominent Cherokee speaker in the community, spending her efforts to teach and translate the language. But her first experience teaching Cherokee was in Chicago, of all places. Due to a governmental relocation program, the city had a large American Indian population, composed of many different tribes, and as part of the grant she was in town for Johnson was asked to teach Cherokee to kindergarten and special education students at a little school in the city.

“There weren’t many Cherokees in Chicago at the time, but I was the only one available to teach the language and Cherokee was all I knew,” Johnson said.

For Johnson, the question of English versus Cherokee isn’t just about what you’re most comfortable with, which language rolls off your tongue the most easily. Cherokee is just more real. It’s more grounded in the relationships between words and the things they describe, and the ancient mountains and valleys where those words grew up.

Insincere gibberish is harder to produce, somehow. There are more layers to the meanings.

You can even see that realness reflected in the children learning Cherokee at the tribe’s immersion school New Kituwah Academy, Johnson said. If they say, “I love you” in Cherokee, they’re expressing true feeling, but if they say the same in English, said Johnson, “they’re probably smartasses.”

RESCUING THE LANGUAGE Life in Cherokee as an adult in the 1980s was much different than Johnson’s experience there as an underprivileged child in the 1940s and ‘50s. Times had changed, and Johnson herself was different. She was an educated woman with a career, a family.

And, perhaps more importantly, she was no longer an unwanted daughter living a constant quest to earn her mother’s love.

Her mother had passed away nine years earlier, in 1974, from kidney failure. Johnson had come home from Chicago for the summer to visit her mother, who ultimately passed away just two weeks after Johnson left. Johnson didn’t know it would be the last time they’d see each other — nobody had told her just how sick her mother was.

“I came home one more time to try to get her to love me like she did my siblings,”

about 4 years old, was reading Cherokee Johnson said. “I came home for the summer words on the board as he tapped them with and she in her strange way tried to tell me a pointer. she cared.”

“I had to walk out in the hallway and It wasn’t a fairy tale ending. But it was a cry,” said Johnson. resolution. After that visit and her mother’s By then it had been years since she’d death, Johnson saw that “meaner than hell” heard little Hunter Welch speaking Cherokee streak she’d developed early on subside, and at the hospital. She knew there were far too her relationships with her siblings strengthen. They’re very close to each other now, but few childish voices breathing life into the language that was so dear to her heart. that didn’t happen until after 1974.

“It was common knowledge that we were By the time she moved to Cherokee in 1983, Johnson had come to terms with much losing our language, and here I am a Cherokee speaker,” she said of her thoughts of her past. But returning to the Qualla at the time. “I’m going to have to do someBoundary was still an adjustment. thing. I have to do something to save our “In California you could sit on the hood language. So when I retired I went full-force, of your car stark raving naked and people doing something to save our language.” would go by saying, ‘Look at the naked At 74, Johnson’s days are most definitely woman sitting on the car,’ and one block full of “doing something.” down the road it was forgotten,” said For the past 12 years, she’s worked on Johnson. “But here you did something weird, translations for New Kituwah Academy, crethey were going to talk about it for the next ating Cherokee-language versions of books 44 years. I think it’s only been recently that and classroom materials for teachers to use things like that or everybody knowing your in their lessons. She serves as the Cherokee business didn’t bother me.” translator for Tribal Council, offering Nevertheless, the years passed by and Cherokee versions of any resolutions, ordiJohnson remained in Cherokee, among her nances or other materials requested, and people and amid her language.

What she didn’t realize for a long time was that the language “It was common knowledge that was slowly fading from the fabric of public life. we were losing our language, Johnson remembers quite clearand here I am a Cherokee ly an exchange that occurred one day as she was working the desk at speaker. I’m going to have to do the Cherokee Indian Hospital. The Welch family arrived with their something. I have to do young son Hunter, who approached something to save our language.” the sign-in window where Johnson was stationed and asked his par— Myrtle Driver Johnson ents, in Cherokee, whether she was the doctor he was going to see. occasionally opening the body’s sessions “I really didn’t think nothing of it until with a Cherokee-language prayer. She’s been people started talking about the Cherokee part of the Cherokee Language Speakers language is dying, and I kept thinking, ‘No, Consortium, which meets quarterly to add it’s not. That little boy was talking Cherokee at the hospital,’” said Johnson. “And then the new words to the Cherokee dictionary — words that are needed for the language to be next time I heard a small child speaking relevant today but weren’t necessary years Cherokee was in Oklahoma. By then it had ago when it was much more widely spoken. become common knowledge that we were Johnson has also produced Cherokee-lanlosing our language.” guage versions of Charlotte’s Web by E.B. Johnson was in Oklahoma to take a tour White and Thirteen Moons by Asheville of the Cherokee language immersion school novelist Charles Frazier. She’s currently putthey had established there, before the ting together a book on salamanders for use Eastern Band had launched its immersion in New Kituwah’s science classes. school New Kituwah in 2009. Johnson In an effort to help Cherokee walked into a classroom where a little boy,

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Kombucha is a fermented tea (black or green tea) beverage that does have a very slight alcohol amount (it must have less than 0.5% https://ttb.gov/kombucha/index.shtml) In most stores you can find these kombucha beverages in bottles in the produce section near refrigerated juices as well as in the refrigerated dairy section near grab and go beverages. As far as health benefits... there may not be much to the claims you have heard through marketing. Kombucha is definitely an alternative to drinking a sweetened soda as they are usually (but not always) lower in calories. There has been much made of the probiotic benefit for gut health but not much research to support that. It would depend on the specific brand of kombucha you are drinking, what probiotics it has, whether your gut needs them and if those probiotics could survive your digestion and pasteurization.

Cost of kombucha can vary quite a bit, but again, if this is something that appeals to you as an alternative to sodas, we definitely have a wide variety at Ingles.

Note: A proven way of getting probiotics is eating yogurt with live cultures. Otherwise eating fruits and vegetables is one big way we can improve our overall health, gut health and digestion.

Smoky Mountain News

Language is important. Johnson’s whole life underscores that point.

But when asked what’s at the heart of what it means to be Cherokee, language isn’t what she talks about.

“It’s so special,” said Johnson poses in traditional dress. Johnson. “Because — well, I’m just going to Renissa McLaughlin photo use my family for example. I think my family is a true Cherokee family.

Because they act Cherokee. They act like true Cherokees, my family does.”

What she means by that is the way the group bands together, casts aside gripes and squabbles to face hardship as a unit. Nothing displayed that more clearly than the illness of Johnson’s oldest, Myrna Climbingbear, who passed away in June.

“When we learned that my oldest daughter had cancer they came, all of them came together to do for her, and if there was any animosity between family members — well, when we learned she had cancer that animosity went away,” said Johnson. “It was gone.”

Many other families, of all ethnicities, might do the same, but Johnson said the difference lies in the fact that it’s not even a question as to whether those old hurts will be forgiven.

“There’s no such thing as will you, can you forgive me when there is an issue, a crisis,” she said. “You don’t have to say it. You just make that eye contact.”

Johnson grieves her daughter. But seeing that true Cherokeeness shine through the generations was a blessing.

“We were having that benefit for my daughter, and I looked around and even the little kids were trying to help,” she said. “The young teenagers were helping. All the sisters were there. Nieces, nephews, grandchildren — they were all there helping in some way.

They were helping. And I thought, ‘I’m a member of a true Cherokee family.’”

The road to get there wasn’t easy, but Johnson is grateful for the place where she’s found herself.

“I think back on my life and it’s been interesting,” said Johnson. “It’s been very interesting. And I should sit down and write it all down.”

September 19-25, 2018

and place in their tribe are seen as especially immense. Johnson is one of only three living people to hold the title of Beloved Woman — the others are Ella Bird, who received the honor in 2013, and Amanda Swimmer, given the title earlier this year. The EBCI has one living Beloved Man, Robert Youngdeer.

What Johnson hopes to see is a flip in the paradigm that was set up so many years ago when Cherokee children began receiving an English-only education, often with punishment or strong discouragement for speaking their native tongue. Even where the rules were more lax, there was incentive to speak English, Johnson said. “(My stepfather) said when he was in boarding school, the Cherokee kids that spoke English were treated better. So that encouraged the students to learn to speak English so they would be treated better as well. And that makes sense to me,” she said.

“Now it’s the other way around. Kids that are learning to speak Cherokee are treated better — those that really try are praised.”

Johnson sees learning Cherokee as something much more than just learning an interesting cultural skill. It’s about being

able to see inside the culture you come from, and all the ways it continually makes you who you are.

“I feel like when I speak English it’s almost like pretending to be me,” she said.

“But in speaking Cherokee and doing as a Cherokee, then that’s me.”

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adults learn their language, she’s also worked with her daughters Myrna Climbingbear and Renissa McLaughlin — who serves as youth and adult education director for the tribe — to offer Cherokee language classes out in the communities.

That’s been on hold for now, though, as the family has been grieving Climbingbear’s recent death from cancer.

Johnson’s been doing all this against the backdrop of the biggest honor her tribe has to give. In 2007, she was named a Cherokee Beloved Woman, a seldom-bestowed title given only to those whose contributions to

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Macon sheriff candidate gets Giglio order Giles placed on paid leave during investigation

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ccusations of dishonesty and inappropriate behavior lodged against Macon County sheriff candidate Eric Giles have led the district attorney’s office to label the law enforcement officer as an unreliable witness.

Giles, who has been a deputy in Cherokee County since 2017, was issued a Giglio order from the DA’s office on Aug. 28 and was then placed on paid leave while Cherokee Sheriff Derrick Palmer conducts an internal investigation.

Simply put, the Giglio order means Giles has lost credibility to the point the DA’s office will no longer use his testimony in court.

“It prevents me from testifying in cases, which means I can’t make arrests — it kind of puts me in limbo,” Giles said. “It pretty much ruins my career because it will follow me everywhere I go. Even if I leave the state to find a job, a defense lawyer could still find this order and use it against me in court.”

The Giglio order letter, which was signed

by Assistant District Attorney John Hindsman, states that the DA’s office has a constitutional obligation to disclose any information that could be used to impeach the testimony of a prosecution witness, including instances of untruthfulness and potential bias.

“In compliance with our procedures, prosecutors in our office recently reviewed materials and information in our possession regarding substantial violations,” the letter stated. “Unfortunately, in a review of these materials and information, the findings of the committee revealed that on more than one occasion you misrepresented your duties as a law enforcement officer in your employment with both the Clay and Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office in public forums.”

Giles said he was caught off-guard by the letter and doesn’t know the reasons behind such a rare and serious order. He said he’s only known of one other deputy who has received a Giglio order and it was because he or she lied on the stand and lied on a search warrant.

“I was surprised and I don’t really understand it,” Giles said.

The letter to Giles is vague, only stating that the DA office committee — which consists of DA Ashley Welch and at least one other ADA — decided that his “ethical and moral breaches” led to the decision not to use him as a witness because the state’s burden of having to disclose his violations every time he testified would be too heavy.

To call Giles as a witness would mean defense lawyers would use the evidence of his misconduct against him and the prosecutor

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

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Eric Giles, Democratic candidate for Macon County Sheriff, speaks at a candidate forum April 26 at the Franklin Library.

What’s a Giglio order?

“Giglio” refers to the 1972 case Giglio v. United States in which the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion stating that prosecutors should have the duty of disclosing evidence regarding the credibility of government witnesses — mostly law enforcement officers — upon request from defense attorneys. This type of Giglio evidence is material that can impeach the character or testimony of a prosecution witness in a criminal proceeding. Once a Giglio order is issued to a law enforcement officer, their testimony cannot be used by the DA’s office to prosecute. would have to spend valuable time trying to convince a judge and jury that his testimony is truthful and unbiased.

COMMENTS AT PUBLIC FORUM Giles said he’s spoken only at two public forums during this election season, and he assumes the order has to do with something he said during a candidate forum hosted by The Smoky Mountain News and Macon County News in late April at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. In the few minutes Giles was given to speak, he told the crowded room that he had been the witness victim coordinator and domestic violence advocate for Clay County Sheriff ’s Office.

“Domestic violence is one of the pet peeves I have. I work very hard to stop that every day. I am also on the narcotics task force for Cherokee County [Sheriff ’s Department] now. That is one of the big things we work toward everyday is stopping

narcotics coming into our counties,” Giles said on April 26.

It wasn’t until Macon County News published a story about the forum and shared it on social media that Giles said he realized he misspoke during the forum. Commenters on Facebook started accusing him of lying about his experience.

“I said Clay County when I meant to say Graham County — in Graham as a group we did the largest multiple arrest in that sheriff ’s administration and that’s what I was talking about,” Giles said. “It was my own mistake — I made it and I owned up to it and tried to correct it.”

Giles’ experience listed on his campaign website also doesn’t align with his explanation. According to his website, he was a victim witness coordinator and domestic violence advocate when he worked for Clay County Sheriff between 2015-17. The site says nothing about him being part of the narcotics task force while employed with Graham

County from 2012-15.

When asked for verification, Graham County Sheriff ’s Administrator Yvette Hooper stated Giles did not hold those positions during his employment there.

“While he worked closely with both our DSS and Domestic Violence Personnel, our office did not have a designated victim’s service coordinator at this office,” she stated.

Though his employment with different agencies has been shorter stints — a year with Macon County, a couple years with Graham and Clay and now he’s been with Cherokee County for a year — Giles said there’s been nothing nefarious behind his reasons for leaving.

“I left Macon on good terms — gave my two-week notice and worked it. I went to Graham for a patrol position and then I resigned from Graham and went to Clay because it paid better,” he said. “I decided in December I was probably going to run for sheriff again and thought I might retire, but I have a child about to go to college so I took the position in Cherokee.”

WRONG PLACE, WRONG TIME? While Giles said he left Graham County on his own accord, information from the Graham County human resources department says otherwise.

SMN reached out to the county Sept. 17 to verify Giles’ employment history.

“I’m not sure how anyone from the DA’s office could have ill will toward me when I’ve always been willing to work with anyone who calls me and they’ve been the same way with me.”

— Eric Giles

POLITICALLY MOTIVATED?

DA RESPONSE Welch denies that her office’s decision to issue a Giglio order had anything to do with politics. She also denies that Lofthouse had anything to do with the order being issued.

“She and I have never had a conversation about it — I rarely even see her,” Welch said, adding that she oversees more than 30 employees spread out in Ashley Welch the seven-county district. While Welch spends a majority of her time either at her office in Franklin or Waynesville, Lofthouse primarily works out of the Swain County office.

Had Giles not made the order public himself, Welch said no one else would know about it.

“Giglio orders are not public record. We would have never shared that information.

We hand-delivered it to him and his sheriff,” she said. “Any argument that I did this to hurt his campaign isn’t true — I would have never put this out there.”

The specific reason or reasons why the order was issued is also not public record.

“The letter gives some reasons but not all of them,” Welch said. “We gave him a chance to reach out to us — to come speak to an assistant DA about it — but he hasn’t.”

Welch said her office doesn’t take Giglio orders lightly. Her office researches and verifies the information they’re given and does a cost-benefit analysis to see if there’s any way to restore the person’s credibility. She said trying to uphold Giles’ credibility in court would be insurmountable.

“We decide if it’s something we can overcome or not,” she said. “These are not kneejerk reactions and they’re not easily made decisions. We have to feel very strongly about

it before a notice is given.”

Giles isn’t the first law enforcement officer to receive a Giglio order under Welch’s tenure as DA. She said she’s issued five since being elected to her first term four years ago — the last one being in Haywood County.

After being elected and before she took office in early 2015, Welch said she attended a training conference for DAs in Raleigh where she learned about Giglio orders and the importance of DA offices having a written policy regarding how they are issued.

“Giglio orders are not public record. We would have never shared that information. We handdelivered it to him and his sheriff. Any argument that I did this to hurt his campaign isn’t true — I would have never put this out there.”

— District Attorney Ashley Welch

“So I put a policy in writing about Giglio orders and met with all the sheriffs and police chiefs in Waynesville in early 2015 to hand it out,” she said.

The order does prevent Giles from testifying in court but Welch says it does not prevent the DA office from prosecuting any of his cases. Not every case would have to rely on Giles’ testimony, she said.

“We’ll still evaluate all his cases and if we can prove it without the officer we will proceed,” she said. “For example, if there’s a felony assault case, you have a victim to testify so you don’t need the officer to prove it.”

Welch said the order wouldn’t prevent Giles from serving as sheriff either if he is elected in November. She said it’s rare she needs a sheriff to testify in court.

FUTURE RECOURSE The Giglio order letter sent to Giles directs him to call the DA office if he’d like to discuss any aspect of the situation, but Giles said he hadn’t called yet. He said he is currently in discussions with a lawyer to see what possible recourse he may have to resolve the matter.

If he isn’t elected in November, Giles said he would like to return to his position at the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office. He’s not sure how Sheriff Palmer plans to proceed with the internal investigation or how long it may take, but he’s thankful the sheriff is working with him instead of immediately firing him.

“He didn’t just fire me and he could have — he’s worked with me a little bit and I appreciate that,” Giles said. “At the end of the day, I always put my faith in God and this will work out in his plan no matter what happens. I prayed about it and I’m doing the best I can.” 7

Smoky Mountain News

Giles and his supporters can’t help but wonder if the DA’s decision to issue him a Giglio order wasn’t a political move since Republican DA Ashley Welch has been a longtime supporter of Giles’ opponent — incumbent Republican Sheriff Robert Holland.

According to North Carolina campaign finance reports, Welch made a $1,000 donation to Holland’s campaign in April 2018.

Welch and Giles both acknowledged the DA is within her legal right to donate to any campaign she wants to as long as it is reported to the state. Giles said he just couldn’t wrap his head around why the DA would issue such a serious order against him.

“I’m not sure how anyone from the DA’s office could have ill will toward me when I’ve always been willing to work with anyone who calls me and they’ve been the same way with me,” he said. “My biggest question is why wasn’t I called if this was going to happen? At least give me an opportunity to try to explain myself before they Giglioed me.”

In an article published on regional crime blog Trappalachia, reporter Davin Aldridge called into question the motives of a former Macon County News reporter Brittney Lofthouse. She wrote the story about the candidate forum in which Giles allegedly misspoke about his job experience and posted it on the newspaper’s Facebook page.

Trappalachia reported that Lofthouse removed the post just after Giles responded to commenters criticizing him and tried to straighten out the misunderstanding.

Lofthouse is married to a Macon sheriff ’s deputy who has made a donation to Holland’s campaign and she also recently took a position as a victim’s service coordinator with the DA’s office.

However, Lofthouse denies that she somehow had a hand in Giles’ Giglio order. She said she simply reported what Giles said at the forum and then verified that information with each sheriff administration he worked under. She also denies removing the post from Facebook in an attempt to keep Giles from defending himself.

“The Macon County News Facebook Page was deleted in its entirety at the request of the publisher because I was leaving my position,

which included managing the Facebook page.

I didn’t delete anything in an attempt to hide anything. No one post was deleted, the entire thing was closed,” Lofthouse said.

Trappalachia also accused Lofthouse of having a long history of showing favoritism to Sheriff Robert Holland, suggesting she had a conflict of interest in reporting on the sheriff ’s race and that her husband’s job depended on him eliciting campaign donations.

“In addition to being married to a deputy, I also serve as the chairman of Safe Kids Macon County, which is under the umbrella of the sheriff ’s office, but unless volunteering my time to making sure children in our community are as safe as possible is considered a personal benefit, then I think that doesn’t meet that definition,” she said. “My husband left a six-figure job to serve as a deputy in Macon County. My husband serves as a deputy because it’s a value and calling he holds dear to his heart and something he does with dedication and pride.”

Lofthouse said all these accusations and insinuations about her career and family could have been cleared up if the Trappalachia reporter would have reached out to her for an interview.

September 19-25, 2018

According to the school’s principal at the time, David Matheson, Giles used his countyissued key to enter the high school weight room at 3:20 a.m. along with the female, and they departed the building at 4:10 a.m. The school administration wouldn’t have been aware of the early-morning entry if they hadn’t been reviewing video footage to find out who might have been responsible for a mess that was made in the bathroom and weight room. The school immediately alerted the sheriff ’s office.

“Sheriff Mickey Anderson stated that he (Giles) would not be eligible to sign up (for benefits) due to he was on duty at the time that he entered the weight room with a civilian,” Crisp stated in the memo. “Sheriff Anderson stated that his conduct was not acceptable to his standards and was negligent in his duties.”

Giles said he couldn’t remember the specific day this alleged incident at the high school occurred, but he said it wasn’t unusual for him to work out at the school gym during his shift. He added that the sheriff allowed deputies to work out while on duty.

“Several people are in and out of that gym — half the county had the code. I went to workout during a shift for about an hour.

This girl left the same time I did — we didn’t get in the car together and I didn’t touch her,” Giles said. “I’m not sure if I know her or not, but I know most people in Robbinsville. It’s a close-knit community.”

The then 18-year-old student involved reached out to SMN to shed light on what happened that night, though she didn’t want her name to be published out of fear the rumor mill would start running once again.

“I was 18 — I was a young troubled child growing up. Eric kind of was a therapist for me. He talked to me and helped me cope with things I didn’t know how to cope with,” she said. “That night I had some issues and needed a friend to talk to — I felt like I could go to him with my problems so we went and worked out. He helped me avert some of my anger toward the weights. Nothing sexual happened. He wasn’t weird with me in any way. He was a good man who helped me in a time of need.”

She said the school never questioned her about the incident, which is why she was surprised when Giles lost his job because of it.

“It was definitely something people were talking about it at the time — small town, bigger lies. Sad when something so simple and a kind gesture is turned into accusations of us having sex at a public facility,” she said.

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Commission board clerk Kim Crisp said in an email Giles’ employment began April 6, 2013, and his separation date was Aug. 8, 2014.

Crisp also provided a document from Sept. 14, 2014, that gives a clearer picture of why he was fired from Graham County — and perhaps another reason for the Giglio order.

The 2014 memo from Crisp stated that Graham County would be appealing the county commissioners’ decision to allow benefits for claimant Eric Giles. If he had in fact resigned, he wouldn’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.

The reason the county was appealing its decision, according to the memo, was because of Giles’ inappropriate behavior involving an 18-year-old female Graham High School student.

news

Allegations of fraud, failure haunt Ghost Town developer

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER or months, Valerie Oberle has been the public face of the three-person partnership supposedly taking shape at the long-shuttered Ghost Town amusement park in Maggie Valley. Along with husband Spencer, Oberle’s had a frustrating summer marked by unmet promises and modest progress.

She’s also repeatedly declined media interview requests and two weeks ago engaged in a rant at a Maggie Valley Civic Association event that resulted in her demanding the cessation of a live webcast.

Recent revelations surrounding Oberle’s lowprofile third partner, a man named Lamar Berry, may shed some light on why.

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fter receiving not one but two anonymous letters in the mail last week, The Smoky Mountain News commenced an investigation into Berry’s professional background utilizing freely available public records.

A current bio on the website of his company, International Marketing Systems, says he has “nearly four decades of senior management experience in marketing, advertising and the development of corporate cultures,” including service as the chief marketing officer for the popular Popeye’s fast food chain in the 1970s and 80s.

But it wasn’t all about fried chicken and biscuits for Berry, who in 2005 was called upon to help start a new chain. Utilizing the likeness of the titular “Blondie” comic strip character’s hen-pecked husband — known for his disdain of work, love of naps and ravenous appetite for enormous sandwiches — Dagwood’s Sandwich Shoppe was created in conjunction with Dean Young, the son of strip creator Chic Young.

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

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Dagwood’s quickly began selling franchise territories to “market partners” and by late 2007 had grand plans for more than 1,300 units at up to $340,000 each.

A lawsuit filed in March 2008 alleged Berry and several others engaged in “repeated, naked and intentional fraud.” Per a May 2008 story in Franchise Times, “Dagwood’s Sandwich Shoppe founders are accused of going through the motions of franchising before filing for bankruptcy protection in April [2008].”

Berry said that suit was tossed, and that Dagwood’s was instead a casualty of the Great Recession.

“We had built the company up to where we had a number of territory developers, and we were really geared and ready to roll and had the infrastructure built, and lo and behold the global economy torpedoed,” he said. “Ultimately, I left the company and then about a year later the folks that were trying to sustain the company, they finally went out of business.”

Another suit was filed in Indiana in 2010. That suit, No Baloney Marketing, LLC vs. Ryan et al, names Berry as one of six defendants and alleges among other things that Dagwood’s was a sham from the very beginning.

“At the initial Clearwater, Florida, meeting, Plaintiffs raised specific questions about the financial condition of [Dagwood’s]. In response, Hartford, Brown and Berry repeatedly assured Plaintiffs that the enterprise was financially sound,” reads the suit. “According to the Complaint, at the time of these representations [Dagwood’s] was insolvent.

Plaintiffs allege that, had they been informed fully about the problems associated with the Bloomington Dagwood’s and DSS’s financing, they never would have proceeded toward entering into an agreement with Defendants.”

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An undated photo of Lamar Berry appears on the website of his company, International Marketing Systems.

“Lake Charles was a concept we were thinking of pursuing. Dagwood’s was on its way to being a success and it got hit fullbore by global recession.

I’m confident that [Ghost Town] is different because of the nature of all of the pieces that are coming together.”

— Lamar Berry

Peter J. Tamulonis is both a named plaintiff in that case and the son of the lead plaintiff, Peter G. Tamulonis, who passed away last year. The younger Tamulonis said by phone Sept. 14 that although his father was an attorney, the family’s dream was to get out of the corporate world.

“This was gonna be the family businesses,” said Tamulonis, who with other family members negotiated the rights to a substantial territory focusing on Central Indiana.

“We bought the rights to 33 stores,” he said. “Fortunately, Dagwood’s fell apart financially very quickly before we were able to secure a small business loan.”

That saved Tamulonis’ family from suffering complete financial ruin; he said his suit against Berry and the others was settled in arbitration, but that he couldn’t disclose the terms.

“When you think about the legal position for what we were saying, we were able to prove we were lied to and misled,” he said.

Berry disputes that and believes Tamulonis may be referring to a bankruptcy suit that came later.

“No, that’s not what’s occurred on the record. We only had two lawsuits,” said Berry.

“There was one lawsuit that accused fraud, but that one was in Tampa and the judge summarily dismissed that. He said it was a frivolous lawsuit and threw it out. And then the other lawsuit was related to the bankruptcy, and that was settled out of court.”

Tamulonis said in regard to his suit that many were culpable, “but at the end of the day Dean Young picked [Berry’s] company to launch the franchise. He was the guy in charge.”

Peter’s brother Nathan Tamulonis, also a plaintiff in the suit, said he didn’t have much involvement with the specifics of the situation, but remembers being disappointed with the outcome.

“I was fairly young at the time, maybe 19,” he said, adding that he decided to forego an education at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, to stay home and help run a family business that ultimately never materialized. round the same time that lawsuit was working its way through the courts, Berry became involved in another project meant to revive a formerly vibrant economic engine that, like Ghost Town, had since fallen on hard times.

Hurricane Rita devastated parts of the Gulf Coast in 2005, including the southwestern Louisiana city of Lake Charles; photos from CBS News taken shortly after the storm show Harrah’s Lake Charles Hotel and Casino inundated with 6 to 8 feet of water.

Once the casino closed, another company called Pinnacle Entertainment bought the gaming licenses and then donated the 50some acres of land to the city.

The Dagwood’s lawsuits again popped up when Berry, part of a group called Lake Charles Mardi Gras Boardwalk LLC, proposed in 2010 a $30 mil-

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lion mixed retail/entertainment waterfront redevelopment modeled on successful examples in Baltimore, Chicago and Savannah.

A 22-page document found on the internet but not available on Berry’s website shows LCMGB called the proposed Lake Charles Mardi Gras Boardwalk “the ultimate entertainment experience for the I-10 corridor.”

The document speculates on the types of tenants desired for the development, including well-known national franchise brands like Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, Auntie Annie’s Pretzels and Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse. It also boasts of “the Disney success formula,” and includes a photo of Valerie Oberle.

Public records show that in October 2010, the Lake Charles City Council authorized the mayor to negotiate an option to lease a portion of the Pinnacle property to LCMGB, contingent on city council’s approval of suitability, as well as the qualifications of the developer and design team, the construction and operational timeline and the site layout.

That ordinance also called upon Lake Charles’ mayor, in consultation with the Downtown Development Authority, to review those submissions and present a report to the Lake Charles City Council.

In February 2011, the DDA issued its report. According to the information provided by the City of Lake Charles, the DDA found that “The Lake Charles Mardi Gras Boardwalk proposal is not sufficiently developed to warrant the City’s entering in to a long term lease agreement as requested.”

Discussions continued between the two groups; a special tax district was proposed and an acoustical study was authorized by the city, but after what the Valerie Oberle appears at a meeting of the city called “a lengthy Maggie Valley Civic Association Sept. 4. process of back and Facebook live video forth development discussions and many deadline extensions spanning several years,” the Lake Charles City Council in 2014 ultimately decided to open the property back up to proposals from other developers.

That land remains vacant today, a testament to the volatile nature of development schemes and, to some extent, the ability of Berry’s group to pull together the resources to make it happen.

“We pursued trying to do an entertainment development and we had looked at a number of areas around the country to try to do one,” Berry said. “Ultimately, we just decided not to pursue it in Lake Charles.”

An October 2016 report by KPLC-TV says the boardwalk project never bore fruit “because those behind it say they never could get the financing to pull it all together.”

Berry and the Oberles first announced their intention to purchase Ghost Town from current park owner Alaska Presley earlier this summer. At a July 3 Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce breakfast event, Oberle said they expected to close on the property at any moment, once a final investor’s involvement had been secured.

To date, no land transaction has been recorded, no rides have been certified to operate and the fall opening she’d promised won’t happen either.

When informed of Berry’s involvement in a group of investors trying to revive Maggie Valley’s Ghost Town amusement park, plaintiff in the Indiana lawsuit Peter J. Tamulonis remained circumspect, nearly eight years later.

“I would do everything possible to let people know to investigate this guy and be very leery,” he said. “I would say I had a horrible experience and you should investigate this guy. I would be very concerned about letting him touch my money or any of my loved ones’ money.”

Berry, however, insists this time will be different.

“Lake Charles was a concept we were thinking of pursuing.

Dagwood’s was on its way to being a success and it got hit full-bore by global recession,” he said. “I’m confident that this is different because of the nature of all of the pieces that are coming together.”

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news

Housing shuffle planned at WCU Plan aims to ultimately expand student housing capacity

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER tudent housing at Western Carolina University will see a massive shuffle over the coming years as university leadership looks to update old buildings while preparing for the school’s continued growth.

During a Sept. 7 Board of Trustees meeting, the board set the plan in motion with a unanimous vote to recommend the demolition of Scott and Walker Residence Halls, old-style high-rise dorms constructed about 50 years ago.

“We plan to construct replacement buildings for Scott and Walker beginning in 2020, so because of the bureaucratic processes required to get approval for buildings to be designed and built and for buildings to be razed, we wanted to start the process,” WCU Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Mike Byers told trustees during a Sept. 6 committee meeting. “This will end up before the governor before it’s over.”

The destruction of Scott and Walker is an emotional subject for the generations of WCU alumni who have made memories of all kinds in the old-style dorm rooms, each crammed with a pair of desks and twin beds.

Byers said he was reminded of that fact quite sharply during a recent presentation to the alumni board, during which he found himself “plowing through” the demolition plan.

“I told them I was glad (Interim Chancellor) Alison (Morrison-Shetlar) had left the room while I did that because I think she would have sent me to sensitivity training,” Byers joked to trustees.

However, he said, the time has come. The buildings are approaching 50 years old — if the university was planning to keep them, it should have done some serious renovations

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

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brick and rock as well as wood features on at least a decade ago, Byers said. the apex and balconies.

Razing the buildings will present a prob“On that side of (N.C.) 107 Western lem, as they sleep a combined 1,150 stuCarolina only has the one building that you dents. The current plan is to begin demolican’t see from there, and that’s the Health tion in May of 2020 and then go straight and Human Sciences Building,” Byers told into construction of the collection of lower trustees Sept. 6. “What we’ve asked them to campus residence halls planned to replace do is recognize it’s a campus building but Scott and Walker, with those new dorms opening in fall 2022. That means the univer- make it so it doesn’t stick out with existing surroundings.” sity will be without those replacement beds for four semesters and three sumThe design concept for student apartments on the mers.

WCU Millennial Campus features a combination of But WCU hopes wood, brick and rock on the building exteriors. to have a pair of Donated rendering other housing projects complete by the time Scott and Walker are gone. A new 600-bed upper campus residence hall is now under construction, about 35 percent complete according to WCU Facilities Director Joe Walker. That facility is expected to open in fall 2019.

A public-private partnership on the university’s Millennial Campus The complex will be constructed on off of Blackhawk Road is also expected to property owned by the WCU Endowment add to the housing inventory. During their Fund but operated by Zimmer through a Sept. 7 meeting trustees approved the conlong-term ground lease, 40 years with an cept of a ground lease with Wilmingtonoption to renew for another 10. The exact based Zimmer Development Company as lease amount will be based on the results of well as the general design for the planned 500-bed student housing complex. The proj- an appraisal not yet completed by the trustees’ meeting this month. The agreeect is expected to be complete by fall 2020, ment includes an escalation clause, with the in time for the first semester after demoliamount to rise by 5 percent each year. When tion of Scott and Walker begins that May. the lease ends, the buildings will become The plan is to build apartment-style housing comprised of eight residential build- property of the Endowment Fund — and therefore of WCU — or the university can ings and one clubhouse. Design plans call require the developer to demolish the buildfor a mix of exterior materials, including

WCU chancellor search resumes

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER While the University of North Carolina’s Board of Governors has yet to release a revised search process for Western Carolina University’s next chancellor, the WCU Chancellor Search Committee plans to launch the search’s second round during a meeting at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in the A.K. Hinds University Center.

The search committee was originally formed in December 2017 following former Chancellor David O. Belcher’s announcement that he would step down at the end of the year due to an ongoing battle with brain cancer.

Belcher passed away June 17.

After months of community forums, meetings and interviews with candidates, the search committee selected its top three candidates and sent the names on to UNC President 10 Margaret Spellings, who sent her pick to the Board of

Governors for approval at its July meeting.

While the board went into a two-hour closed session meeting to discuss Spellings’ nomination, it never voted on the name, and the candidate ultimately withdrew from consideration. Board of Governors Chairman Harry Smith then announced that the board would “complete an expedited review of the chancellor search process in an effort to refine and improve it.”

That process was initially expected to be released in September. However, the board’s September meeting was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.

The Board of Governors is expected to unveil a draft of the new search process later this fall, Pat Kaemmerling, who chairs the WCU Board of Trustees and co-chairs the search committee, told trustees Sept. 7. Once released, the proposed process will be open for review for about 30 days, with the Board of Governors to adopt a final version

ings if it wishes.

While the 600 beds from the Upper Residence Hall and 500 beds on the Millennial Campus will nearly match the 1,150 beds currently supplied by Scott and Walker, the inventory will fall short, and with the university continuing to grow things will likely be pretty tight in the housing department until replacement buildings are complete on the lower campus.

Undergraduate enrollment at WCU grew by 605 students from fall 2017 to fall 2018 and is projected to continue rising.

However, university leaders believe the plan will ultimately benefit housing capacity

at WCU while keeping things as painless as possible in the transition. And where the Millennial Campus is concerned, the housing project will pave the way for the university to make further use of the undeveloped land in the future, as building the apartments will require Zimmer to install vital infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer.

“Once they’ve done that, that benefits future development within the Millennial Campus, and that’s not an accident,” Byers told trustees. “That’s part of the plan for putting it here.”

afterward.

“Although the new process won’t be in place, we have been advised that we can resume our search,” Kaemmerling said. “We will be proceeding with the same search committee that we already have in place, as this is simply an extension of the search process that began last year.”

Once the UNC System’s final search process is in place, the WCU search committee will make any adjustments needed as it moves forward with its work, Kaemmerling said. As in the first go-around, the executive search firm Buffkin Baker will assist the committee.

In the meantime, a transition team led by Trustee Robert C. Roberts will help with on-boarding a new chancellor and supporting Interim Chancellor Alison MorrisonShetlar in the months ahead. Morrison-Shetlar, WCU’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, has been serving as interim chancellor since Belcher went on medical leave at the end of 2017. Carol Burton, WCU associate provost for undergraduate studies, is serving as acting provost.

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Political or not, Haywood tax collector issue won’t go away

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ore than a year after a contentious public comment session during which the Haywood County Board of Commissioners weighed the pros and cons of having the state’s only elected tax collector, there’s no sign any change is coming despite the dispute still smoldering.

That hearing, on Feb. 20, 2017, ultimately saw commissioners unanimously pass a resolution asking Haywood County’s legislative delegation to make a change in the legislature.

At the time, Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, said that after a conversation with Haywood’s two elected representatives, Mike Clampitt, R-Bryson City, and Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, they agreed that if commissioners asked for a change, Davis would sponsor legislation in the Senate that would put the issue to voters on a ballot referendum.

No such referendum materialized in 2017, nor will it be on ballots this coming November, but Davis hasn’t changed his mind in the wake of improper waiver activity in the tax collector’s office.

“My position remains the same,” he said via email last week. “I would be willing to introduce legislation to have the Haywood County tax collector position be appointed rather than elected so long as the other local

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delegation is in favor. I do not recall that being the case.”

Clampitt, reached last week, remembers it differently.

“I was never asked to pursue having it on the ballot,” he said. “I support letting the voters decide, and would support an official request to have it on the ballot in 2020.”

Assuming the resolution commissioners passed 19 months ago still carries weight, it would seem that only Presnell’s assent would be needed.

When asked for comment last weekend, Presnell said she did not have enough information on the tax collector situation to give an answer.

However, a Feb. 10, 2017 email sent by The Smoky Mountain News in advance of the commission’s then-proposed resolution asked Presnell if she had a position on the elected vs. appointed nature of the position.

On Feb. 11, 2017, she replied, “Haywood County is receiving more property tax money from the elected [actually, elected] Tax Collector, Mike Matthews — about 17 percent more than when the appointed tax collector was in that chair. I would think the County Commissioners would be very pleased.”

They’re not. Recent revelations of improper practices in the tax collector’s office led commissioners last week to issue their strongest rebukes of the Republican Matthews since his term began in early 2015.

Haywood County Commissioners Kevin Ensley (left to right), Kirk Kirkpatrick, Bill Upton and Brandon Rogers chat before a meeting on Feb. 20, 2017. Cory Vaillancourt photo But that was before the board’s Sept. 17 meeting, during which the matter took center stage, even though it wasn’t on the agenda. At the start of the meeting’s customary public comment session, Haywood County Republican Party Chair Ken Henson teed off on commissioners.

“I’m not here to defend Mike Matthews,” he said. “It’s not about Mike Matthews.

Mike Matthews was elected in 2014 by the

people. That election was not about Mike Matthews. It was a referendum on the past tax collector because Mike was virtually unknown across the county.”

Henson went on to cite harassment on the part of the Democrat-led commission — former and current — against Matthews, including hiring his defeated Democratic opponent to serve above him.

“Y’all got to know,” he said,

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The Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office has requested the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to conduct a criminal investigation into a former HCSO detective’s activities as well as an outside consultant to oversee a complete inventory and audit of the Office’s evidence room.

Kevin Smathers was terminated from the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office on Aug. 30, 2018. Smathers began his employment with the office in 2007 and began working as a detective in 2015. As a detective, he primarily worked property crimes cases and was never assigned to the drug task force during his tenure. Smathers allegedly accessed the evidence room with-

out authority on a number of occasions taking various items.

“This situation is devastating for so many people — for the employees of this office who work incredibly hard every day to meet high performance standards this line of work requires, and for our citizens who place their trust in law enforcement to help them when they are in need,” said Haywood County Sheriff Greg Christopher.

“We ask the citizens of our county who have placed their trust in our Office to remember this deeply concerning situation does not align in any way with the ethics and integrity of this office. We will continue to work diligently in our communities to cultivate trust and partnerships that enhance the quality of life for our citizens.”

The District Attorney’s Office is also working closely with the Sheriff ’s Office and the SBI in this matter.

September 19-25, 2018

Haywood detective fired for theft

ciate your withdrawal from that action, those activities. We’ve heard enough about it in the newspaper. Thank you.”

Matthews is up for re-election this year, and is opposed by Democrat Greg West, currently the county’s assistant tax assessor.

Republican Commissioner Brandon Rogers was the first to respond to the comments of Henson and Bennett.

“I don’t care if they have got a ‘D,’ an ‘L’ or an ‘R’ or whatever they got after their name,” he said. “If we don’t have somebody that’s doing the job, then that puts all of us in a bad position.”

Commission Chairman and Democrat Kirk Kirkpatrick directly rebutted Bennett’s explicit claims of manipulating the media, as well as her implicit claims that commissioners are playing politics.

“When we’re asked questions, we try to answer the questions. For me, I try to avoid responding to some of those questions, because personally, I like Mike fine,” Kirkpatrick said. “The fact that the statements have been made here, in public, by different commissioners of different parties should tell you this has nothing to do with politics, absolutely nothing to do with politics.”

Republican Commissioner Kevin Ensley, probably Matthews’ harshest critic, took particular umbrage with Bennett’s Biblical reference.

“If there’s a Bible here, I’ll swear on it. I always tell the truth. If you think I’ve told a lie, let me know what it is,” said Ensley. “The tax collector position needs to be appointed.”

In addition to the Matthews/West contest in the tax collector’s office, Sen. Davis, Rep. Clampitt and Rep. Presnell are all opposed by Democrats in November as well.

Democratic Haywood Commissioner Bill Upton is retiring and will thus leave an open seat, while Republicans Mark Pless, Tommy Long and Phillip Wight are all seeking that seat or one of the seats defended by incumbent Democrats Kirkpatrick and Mike Sorrells.

Given the right circumstances, Republicans could gain control of the fivemember county commission, as Republican commissioners Ensley and Rogers are not up for re-election this year.

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“that since the day he was elected y’all have crucified him.”

Henson went well over the customary three-minute time limit for public comment, but commissioners let him continue.

“In the Bible, the tax collector was the most hated person. The commissioners of that time, the Caesars or the kings of that time, appointed the tax collector. He showed no mercy or empathy for the people,” said Henson.

Haywood GOP Secretary Lynda Bennett followed Henson to the podium and accused commissioners of “using the newspapers” against Matthews, and said she felt particularly disturbed by media coverage of the situation; a series of recent Smoky Mountain News stories that first documented improper waiver activity in the tax office was quickly joined by coverage in The Mountaineer newspaper and then by Asheville’s WLOS-TV. “You’re going to newspapers, you’re making statements that cannot be proven one way or the other. You do not have to swear on the Bible that you’re telling the truth. The newspaper certainly has no obligation to tell the truth. I feel like commissioners have been inserted into the public dialogue during our election season and you are being quoted as though you’re an authority on the issue, and you know things that other people may not know,” said Bennett. “But you’re not being sworn in, to tell the truth, you’re just reporting to a newspaper.”

Commissioners could be lying, or not, she said, but Bennett — apparently ignorant of long-established laws against defamation, libel and slander — said “the newspaper” could say whatever it wanted and was trying the case of Matthews in the media.

“I’d like commissioners to refrain from getting involved in the newspapers, making statements which we believe people in the public, the voters, believe might be true, but there’s no way to substantiate what’s being said,” she said. “So please, during the election season, if you would refrain from making comments about other people that are up for election during the election season that cannot be documented — they’re not even trying to document it — I would appre-

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news

Florence’s gas gouging passes WNC

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

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company is exploiting people during a declaration, then our job is to protect them.”

Stein said he’s seen claims of gas going for more than $5 a gallon. State law defines gouging as “an unreasonably excessive price on a necessity,” so there’s no set mathematical formula for determining what is, and what is not, unreasonable.

“What we do is we look at the price of a commodity two months before, and then we look at the price today,” he said. “Then we ask if there is any justification for it. And sometimes there is.”

As an example, Stein said a hardware store might order a rush shipment of genera-

tors before a storm, paying a premium to have them delivered in time. In that case, the higher price may be justified.

“If we conduct our investigation and conclude they broke the law, we try to do a few things — first, get the consumer their money back,” he said, adding that at $5,000 per violation, price gougers run the risk of paying dearly for taking advantage of customers.

A Smoky Mountain News survey of gas prices from just before the storm reached the area on Sept. 13 through its impact on Sept. 16 until its departure on Sept. 17 showed

F

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER hile Hurricane Florence spared much of The Smoky Mountain News coverage area when it rolled through the region last week, the same can’t be said for a vast portion of the North Carolina coast, which saw rainfall totals of more than 33 inches in places.

But along with that natural disaster down east came a more human-precipitated one that likewise had little to no effect on Western North Carolina — or at least on Haywood County.

“We’ve received over 500 complaints of price gouging,” said N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein Sept. 17, as parts of the state were still under water.

Classical economists may say that gouging is simply a reflection of the most efficient allocation of resources during times of limited supply — say, discouraging purchases of chainsaws by those who need them least — but price gouging is a crime in North Carolina, and can often appear in alongside

earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and other such calamities.

Although it can occur on most any commodity from bread to bars of soap, gouging is most often associated with lodging and gasoline sales and is certainly most visible on the marquees out in front of the gas pumps.

Stein is charged with investigating and enforcing the law.

“About half of those complaints concern gasoline,” Stein said. “Combined with water, that makes up about 80 percent of complaints, with the number three issue being hotels.”

As the storm drew near still packing a fair degree of uncertainty, Haywood County found itself precariously situated as a place people might flee to, or from — ripe conditions for gouging.

North Carolina’s anti-gouging law takes effect upon the declaration of a state of emergency, which Gov. Roy Cooper declared across the state Sept. 7. Several Haywood County governments did the same on Sept. 14.

“What we do in the AG’s office is protect people and make sure consumers are treated fairly when they do business,” he said. “If a

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Suicide prevention takes center stage at Folkmoot

stations made no changes whatsoever to regular gas prices, and three stations — both area Ingles locations, as well as the Sunoco on Dellwood Road — actually decreased prices.

Of the 16 stations, only 12 also offered diesel fuel, which for whatever reason saw a greater average price decline than gasoline, going from an average price of $3.0617 on Sept. 13 to $3.0467 on Sept. 17. Eight stations made no changes, and four stations — again, both Ingles locations and the Sunoco on Dellwood, plus the Exxon at South Main and Pigeon Streets in Waynesville — decreased prices, as much as 6 cents a gallon.

“The vast majority of businesses want to do right by their customers,” said Stein.

“They’re our neighbors, just like any other neighbor, and many of them go above and beyond. Just opening the door in some cases can be a Herculean effort.”

According to AAA, the average gas price in the continental United States as of Sept. 17 was $2.851 per gallon; it’s highest from the Rockies to the West Coast, but lowest in the Gulf states of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. North Carolina remains well below the national average at $2.689 a gallon, almost a full buck below California’s nationleading $3.635.

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Smoky Mountain News

that not only was there no gouging to speak of, the average price of both diesel and regular gasoline — paid for in cash, without any rebates or “gas club” rewards — actually declined slightly.

Most of the state complaints, according to Stein, originate from the Triangle and east.

“We’ve had them from Durham, Raleigh, Jacksonville, areas that have been impacted by the storm,” he said. “We have had them from all across the state, but not nearly as many from the west.”

The Haywood County survey included 16 gas stations from Maggie Valley to Hazelwood; data was collected around noon each day. Over those five days, the average price of a gallon of regular gas — not including that pesky nine-tenths of a cent — dropped ever so slightly, from $2.7381 to $2.7350.

In fact, only three of the 16 stations surveyed raised regular gasoline prices at all; the Sunoco on Soco Road went from $2.69 Sept.

13 to $2.71 the next day, the Shell on Russ Avenue went from $2.72 to $2.75 over that same period and the Shell on South Main Street and Pigeon Street in Waynesville went from $2.79 on Sept. 16 to $2.80 on Sept. 17, as fairer weather returned to the region.

Over the course of the survey, 10 of 16

SEPTEMBER 25TH & 26TH

September 19-25, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER Imagine this — you’re atop a hundredstory building, and it’s on fire. As the flames and smoke close in, you really don’t want to jump, but there simply doesn’t seem to be any other way.

That’s how many people contemplating suicide see the situation, according to Bob Cummings, a peer suicide prevention trainer with Red Oak Recovery.

Cummings spoke to a crowd of almost 30 at Folkmoot Sept. 10, training the group on a method of peer-oriented suicide prevention called QPR. Globally, 800,000 people choose to end their lives each year, more than 90 every hour of every day. In the time it takes you to read this story, another 10 will have completed the act. In the United States alone that breaks down to about 45,000 preventable deaths each year, mostly among men aged 35 to 65.

Suicidal people, Cummings explained, begin offering hints as much as a week in advance. Those hints could be direct, or not; they could be statements, or actions; they could be situationally triggered, or manifestations of chronic issues. QPR teaches nonclinicians how to recognize the red flags and respond.

The ‘Q’ in QPR stands for question.

What that means is, when the frequency or severity of red flags reaches an alarming

level, ask the question in a direct manner — are you thinking of suicide?

This can often be the hardest step — the stigma that envelops mental illness and substance abuse extends to self-harm, with even highly-trained professionals sometimes struggling even to utter the word.

According to Cummings, a recovering addict who lost his brother to drug-related suicide, President Gerald Ford’s wife Betty played a huge role in de-stigmatizing addiction in the late 1970s when it was revealed she was an alcoholic addicted to opiates.

That stigma still surrounds the cultural taboo of suicide, but watering it down doesn’t help, either.

“If you say something like, ‘Are you thinking of hurting yourself?’ in my experience that answer is, ‘Nope, won’t hurt a bit when I swallow these pills, or when I shoot myself,’” said Cummings.

The ‘P’ stands for persuade — demonstrating a willingness to listen often helps, but the idea is to ensure that a permanent solution to a temporary problem does not occur.

Whether or not there’s self-harm imminent, the ‘R’ in QPR stands for refer, as in to a higher level of care, be it emergency personnel, a friend, a family member or a spiritual leader.

The point of it all, said Cummings, is that suicide is preventable when people are prepared to intervene, and are able to push past politeness and stigma to ask the hard questions.

“People need to know,” he said, “that it’s OK to not be OK.”

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Smoky Mountain News September 19-25, 2018

news

Education

Smoky Mountain News

SCC grad receives prestigious award Although Yesenia Navarro grew up with few material possessions, she always believed one catalyst for change was within her grasp — education.

“Growing up in poverty only gives you one choice; we have the choice to thrive through the use of education,” said Navarro, a recent honors graduate of Southwestern Community College and a recipient of the 2018 Western Carolina University Chancellor’s Achievement Award for the Outstanding Southwestern Community College Student.

In addition to this award, Navarro also received the National Society of Leadership and Success Award, the SCC Student of Distinction Award, and a scholarship from Student Support Services. She graduated from SCC in May with an associate in arts degree.

To be selected for this award, students must meet difficult requirements including maintaining at least a 3.75 GPA while at SCC. The scholarship is for $5,000 per year for two years, which will fund tuition and fees at WCU. Navarro is attending WCU in the fall to receive her bachelor’s degree. She aspires to be a hospital administrator.

Jackson schools update security In an effort to increase safety measures, Jackson County Public Schools will require all visitors and volunteers to scan their North Carolina driver’s license or photo ID beginning Oct. 22.

This requirement will allow school officials the ability to instantly check the National Sex Offender Registry for all visitors. Officials have also launched a new volunteer recruitment and tracking initiative that allows interested individuals the opportunity to apply on the volunteer webpage www.jcpsnc.org/about/volunteers.

Individuals applying to volunteer will be subject to a criminal background check prior to approval.

Haywood Regional awards scholarships Haywood Regional Medical Center awarded $4,000 in scholarships to the top band and football students at each area high school who held the highest GPA among their peers.

The Haywood Regional 2018 Band Scholarship for Tuscola High School was presented to David Curley, who has been a member of the marching band for four years and plays alto saxophone. The Band Scholarship for Pisgah High School was presented to Hunter Geneau, who has been in marching band for five years and plays the trumpet.

The 2018 Football Scholarship for Tuscola High School was presented to Zane Edwards, who has played football for eight years, including all four years at Tuscola. He is the starting outside linebacker and also plays tight end.

The Football Scholarship for Pisgah High School

was presented to James “Jackson” Holcomb, who has played football all four years at Pisgah, and previously played for two years at Canton Middle School. He is the team’s defensive cornerback and also a member of special teams.

Library offers Excel classes The Jackson County Public Library will offer a free Excel for Beginners class at 5:55 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24, in the library’s computer lab.

The Intermediate Excel class will be held at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26. Both 90-minute classes will be taught by retired WCU professor Roger Bacon, assisted by his wife Lisa Bacon and by library staffer Laura Chapman.

The class is limited to the first 16 participants to pre-register. For more information or to register, call 828.586.2016.

WCU to host leadership event Kevin A. Trapani, co-founder and CEO of The Redwoods Group and chair of NCWorks, will serve as keynote speaker for the High Impact Leadership program offered by Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment.

The program will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Sept. 24-27, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at WCU’s Biltmore Park location in Asheville.

Registration cost is $795 and $595 for nonprofits.

Lunch is included each day. On Friday, there will be a networking breakfast prior to the keynote presentation

by Trapani.

For more information and to register, visit pdp.wcu.edu or call 828.227.7397.

Cullowhee Valley fall festival The Cullowhee Valley School Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) is hosting its annual Fall Festival from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at Cullowhee Valley School.

The event aims to raise money for the school to be used for school projects and equipment purchases throughout the year. On Friday, the Cullowhee Valley School front yard turns into a fairground with a candy cotton booth, face painting, inflatable games and more activities. Visitors will be able to participate in the one-mile Fun Run/Walk and can try their luck at the cakewalk for sweet prizes. If it rains the event will be held inside the school.

Transfer program expands to SCC The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program and Southwestern Community College in Sylva are partnering to increase the number of students transferring to and graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill.

SCC will be the 11th community college to partner with C-STEP and Carolina. Through C-STEP, low- and moderate-income high school and community college students who enroll in one of the program’s partner colleges are guaranteed admission to UNC-Chapel Hill if they are first admitted to and successfully complete the community college portion of the program with at least a 3.2 GPA. For more information about the C-STEP program, visit admissions.unc.edu/cstep.

Scholarship created for international students Through cash gifts, pledges and an estate gift totaling $50,000, Acting Provost Carol Burton has established a scholarship fund designed to help international students, especially those from Jamaica, earn graduate degrees at Western Carolina University.

Burton, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from WCU, said she wanted to honor her parents through the creation of an endowed scholarship because they always encouraged her and her siblings to pursue education.

“Education is such a key to success in the Jamaican culture, but access to it is more challenging than in the United States,” she said. “There are community and junior colleges as well as teacher colleges, but only six four-year degree-granting universities on an island of almost 3 million people.”

Named the Dr. Carol Burton Endowed Scholarship for Graduate Students in Honor of Reuben and Yvonne Burton, the fund will provide aid to students pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in any program offered through WCU’s Graduate School.

For more information or to make a gift to WCU, visit leadtheway.wcu.edu.

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• Haywood County Schools Foundation’s Fall Bingo fundraiser has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 29, at Canton Armory. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. and games start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $20 for 20 games, and the event is open to all ages.

• For the 2018-19 school year, Macon County Schools named Michelle Bell at Iotla Valley Elementary School as Principal of the Year; Cindy Dryman, a fourth-grade teacher at South Macon Elementary School, as Teacher of the Year; and Franklin High receptionist Lillian Gerber as Support Person of the Year.

ALSO:

• The 2017-18 Highlands Volleyball Team was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award. This award recognized Highlands for achieving a Top-25 Team GPA in Girls High School Volleyball.

This award is given to teams who match their dedication to the sport of volleyball with excellence in the classroom.

• The University of North Carolina Board of Governors has appointed Casey Cooper, chief executive officer of Cherokee Indian Hospital, to fill an unexpired term on the Board of Trustees at Western Carolina University.

• Mark Jones of Cashiers and Vance Davidson of Yellow Mountain were recently sworn in for new terms as members of Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Jones has been on SCC’s board since 2014, and Davidson joined the board in 2010. Their new terms run through June 30, 2022.

• A 1995 alumnus of Western Carolina University who has directed doctoral programs in psychology at several higher education institutions in the Southeast has returned to WCU to oversee the university’s new Doctor of Psychology in Health Services Psychology Program.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Acknowledging differences and embracing brotherhood

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The vote to approve Brett Kavanaugh for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States, scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed until the Senate judiciary Committee can hear testimony by Kavanaugh and the woman who has accused him of sexual assault.

This is important. It does not matter, and should not matter, that the alleged assault occurred when Kavanaugh was in high school.

At no age is it acceptable to restrain someone, cover their mouth to keep them from screaming out while trying to remove their clothes.

That is serious sexual assault.

However, people do make mistakes in youth — even in life — that I do not believe should define us long term. People can change, people can learn, people can grow. It is not necessarily the act of sexual assault by a drunk teenage boy many years ago that makes Brett Kavanaugh unfit to serve on the Supreme Court. It is the way he has handled the accusation now, as a grown man who has a family, young daughters, and is a nominee to serve on

the highest court in this country.

What if he admitted to an egregious act, showed remorse, asked for forgiveness? These are sentiments all people could identify with: recognizing mistakes we have made, demonstrating understanding of wrongdoings, and acknowledging the growth and change that comes from that process.

People keep asking if Blasey’s account is credible. Deniers should also turn this question on its head and ask if Kavanaugh’s Guest Columnist denial is credible.

Blasey’s account has some backing, owing to the notes from her therapist in 2012, reports that she had already told her husband the man’s name, and the letter she wrote to Diane Feinstein before Kavanaugh even made the short list of Supreme Court nominees. She had originally wished to remain anonymous, as many women who have been assaulted do, because of the public pushback and harassment that was sure to come.

Kavanaugh, on the other hand, has lied or

Hannah McLeod

It is too late for Kavanaugh

especially in the Old Testament and some of Paul’s letters.

For several years, we attended this church and I felt mostly like an imposter, an insurgent, still in limbo, still unable to turn toward or away from God. Then, Tammy and I were talked into trying a Disciple class, 32 weeks of intensive study of the Bible. We would meet every Wednesday night from 6 pm until nearly 9 pm, discussing the chapters we had read for that week.

That is where I first met Mark Hopkins. There were about a dozen of us in the group initially, and it became apparent fairly quickly that the majority of people in the group were what you might call liberal, or “progresColumnist sive,” with views that eventually, inevitably became apparent in our interpretation of various portions of the scripture. After the first couple of meetings, we lost three members of the group, who very politely indicated that the general “direction” of the group wasn’t to their taste. I was just relieved to be among people who did not think me a heretic for some of my views, which I let trickle out only in very small doses.

There were two things I found out about Mark fairly quickly. One, he was a huge baseball fan, specifically a fan of the Atlanta Braves. He almost always showed up on Wednesday nights wearing his well-worn Braves baseball cap.

Two, he was most certainly not a liberal, not politically, and not in his interpretation of the Bible. There were many occasions when I could sense him squirming, trying valiantly to keep his composure when one of his deeply held beliefs was being challenged unwittingly by one of our group members.

Sometimes he would speak his mind, pushing back just a bit, but always with respect and humility. Other times, he would

Chris Cox

or many years, I thought of myself as one of Flannery O’Connor’s “Christ-haunted” characters, living my life in a kind of perpetual spiritual limbo, unable to turn my back on religion altogether, equally unable to fully embrace it.

I sometimes felt that Christ was chasing me back to church, and Christians were chasing me right back out of it.

When I met my wife, she informed me that it was important to her that we find a church, because she wanted our children to know Jesus as something other than a mysterious bedtime deity who would take their souls if they died in their sleep.

Before she came along, my idea of church” was listening to John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme” — or maybe Aretha Franklin or Doc Watson singing hymns — on Sunday morning, while reading a chapter or two out of the Gospels of Matthew or Luke, or a couple of the Psalms. Many weeks, I would just skip the scripture and read the Washington Post with my coffee and my Coltrane. God would surely understand, wouldn’t He? I agreed to participate in our quest to find the right church in good faith, so to speak, but I would abide no “cult of personality” churches in which the congregation seemed to worship the pastor as much or more than God, nor any church that felt more angry, fearful, or hateful, than loving and inclusive. Let me tell you, I was pretty self-righteous about it all, unaware that I had been using this criteria for years as an excuse to remain in limbo, to avoid a reckoning.

We tried — and ultimately rejected — at least half a dozen churches all over Haywood and Buncombe counties over the course of a year and a half before finding one that was almost literally in our backyard, right in the center of town. There, we found not only an exceptional children’s program — a must for our two young children — but also a church that was truly inclusive. I still could not even call myself a Christian, and I had serious problems with various parts of the Bible,

keep his words in his mouth and just chew on them, shaking his head at the craziness being espoused around the table.

Some nights, after a particularly intense session, we would just talk baseball, a respite for us both. Would the Braves’ pitching ever get back to the glory days of the 1990s? Would the Dodgers — my team — ever trade for a right-handed bat for the middle of their lineup? Mark and I could have talked baseball for days.

At the end of our 32 weeks together, whatever differences any of us in the group might have had at one time had given way to a bond that could not be explained and did not have to be. We had become a family. One Wednesday, after I had written a column in the newspaper attacking the theory of trickledown economics, Mark sent me a message on Facebook that read: “We may not agree on politics, but we will always be brothers in Christ.”

Not very long after our adventure in that Disciple group came to an end, Mark entered a period of serious decline in his health. Eventually, it became difficult for him to walk, or even to talk above a whisper. I would see him line for communion, hunched over, painfully inching along on his walker.

It was heartbreaking. We still took every chance we could get to talk baseball, or to share the blessings in our lives.

When Mark passed away on Sunday, I thought back to those days when Tammy and I would sit and talk about the kind of church we wanted to find, an authentic community, a place where love prevails. Mark and I didn’t agree about much — we didn’t even like the same baseball team — but like he said, we were brothers in Christ. We were family.

If the Braves make the World Series this fall, I hope Mark has a seat behind the dugout down the third-base line. Rest easy, brother, and God bless.

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

backtracked on his words multiple times already during the nomination hearings. In just his opening statements he said that Donald Trump had spent more time than any other president vetting Supreme Court nominees. There is no way to substantiate this statement and, when considering Trump’s general lack of interest in bureaucratic matters he cannot tweet or make brash generalizations about, this seems highly unlikely.

Additionally, there is Mark Judge and his book about being drunk and blacked out for large portions of his youth, with supporting character Brett Kavanaugh. Blasey has identified Judge as the other person in the room that night, egging Kavanaugh on.

This controversy is sure to put the #MeToo movement to the test. Will this hearing with Blasey and Kavanaugh go better that that of Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas? I hope that Blasey is treated with more respect, that she is taken more seriously than Hill was in 1991.

If you believe Blasey, as I do, then Kavanaugh has already demeaned himself too much to be placed on the Supreme Court. Lies and denial in the place of acceptance and growth.

(Hannah McLeod is a recent graduate of Appalachian State. mcleodh828@gmail.com)

Tax cut has not trickled down To the Editor: Today the American economy is strong. The percentage of American unemployed is down, the Dow Jones industrial average is north of 25,000 and millions of jobs, most of which require some degree of higher education, are going unfilled. So what kinds of jobs are available to people without much education? Jobs that do not pay enough to live on.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines a “working poor” person as someone below the poverty line who spent at least half the year either working or looking for employment. In 2016, there were roughly 7.6 million Americans who fell into this category.

Most working poor people are over 35, while fewer than five in 100 are between the ages of 16 and 19.

Over the last 40 years, corporate profits have risen, but real wages have remained flat for workers without a college education. Since 1973, American produc-

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We need to know more about HCA’s plans

tivity has increased by 77 percent, while hourly pay has grown by only 12 percent. If the federal minimum wage tracked productivity, it would be more than $20 an hour, not today’s poverty wage of $7.25.

One of the most effective antipoverty solutions is a decent-paying job, scarce as they are. Today, 41.7 million laborers — nearly a third of the American work force — earn less than $12 an hour, and almost none of their employers offer health insurance.

The most recent tax cut package was supposed to raise wages and spur hiring, but instead a record amount of stock buybacks and dividend payouts took place after the tax cut, benefiting investors and company executives over workers.

How much did corporation benefit from this tax cut? The Commerce Department said that after-tax profits across the U.S. rose 16.1 percent in the quarter ended June 30 from a year earlier, the largest year-overyear gain in six years. Because of the lower corporate tax rate signed into law last year,

taxes paid by U.S. companies in that quarter were down 33 percent from a year earlier, according to the government data, or more than $100 billion at an annual rate.

“More than 70 percent of this [tax cut] will be returned to workers,” said White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a January press conference.

However, companies have instead used the extra cash to spend billions of dollars buying back their own stock, boosting the value of shares held by investors. Buybacks reduce the number of shares on the market, immediately increasing the value of the shares that investors already hold. Over the past year, S&P 500 companies have given their shareholders a record $1 trillion in the form of buybacks and dividends.

Clearly, there is enough corporate profit to share with employees, but large corporations act as if there is no incentive to share profitability with their workers who drive corporate success but live below the poverty level.

In July, the White House Council of Economic Advisers issued a report endorsing work requirements for the nation’s largest welfare programs. The council favored “negative incentives,” which means recipients must work to receive aid, and the council dismissed “positive incentives,” like tax benefits for low-income workers, because the former is cheaper. The council also claimed that America’s welfare policies have brought about a “decline in self-sufficiency,” a claim that has no factual basis and which maligns every member of the working poor who need assistance to feed, clothe, and shelter their families.

One of the claims made buy ardent supporters of a “pure free market capitalism” is that a rising economy necessarily lifts up the financial fortunes of all members of society, including the poor. Unfortunately, the need for public assistance is a direct result of the failure of capitalism to deliver on that promise.

John Barry Franklin

T

Bob Scott

there plans we know nothing about to repurpose them or to turn it over to another entity of some kind? What happens to all the equipment?

I have an obligation to the public to ask questions about this deal. Our town will suffer tremendously if we lose our hospital or more of the services we have now. Losing labor and delivery has been hard on our child-bearing residents. What could we lose next? Mission is telling us they will be more involved in telemedicine where specialists can be seen via television. Somehow, I just feel that is not the same as having medical folks lay hands on you. A television screen on a fevered brow just does not cut it with me. But it would be more profitable.

As mayor, I brought a resolution to the September 4 Town Council Meeting, but it was tabled with objections to the wording.

Let’s not let it end there. As an area directly affected by this transfer of Angel to a forprofit, multi-billion-dollar corporation, we as citizens — and especially as elected officials — need to make our voices heard.

I dispute being told, in a recent meeting with Mission by a prominent member of the Angel Medical Center Board, that as an elected person I have no reason to be questioning this sale, which is a business decision, or something to that effect. Let me say that questioning things is why we elect people, to look out for the public’s interest.

Finally, let me assure our residents that I have nothing but the highest regard for the men and women of Angel Medical Center. If I get sick, I do not want to be sent away for care. Keep me here where I know the people who will be taking care of me in my community, unless I need critical/specialized care which can only be provided elsewhere.

Mission fills that critical care over in Asheville. And does a darn good job at it!

This is the opinion of Mayor Bob Scott and may or may not reflect the views of all the members of the Franklin Town Council.

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10%

OFF ENTIRE MEAL September 19-25, 2018

on whether or not this deal goes through as written. Contact him by way of his Special Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Harrod at jharrod@njdoj.gov. Here are my questions/concerns: n As it is now established, there is no clear distinction between Mission Health and the Dogwood Health Trust board.

I worry that the Dogwood HealthTrust board will not be independent of Mission and would have a Guest Columnist conflict of interest in opposing decisions regarding Mission/HCA facilities. n I’m concerned that if HCA is not living up to its agreement, the Dogwood Health Trust will not be able to stand up to Mission. In addition, under the sales agreement as currently written, any such disputes are mandated to go to arbitration or mediation in Delaware, never a jury trial. n Why has Dogwood Health Trust, with the majority of members being from Buncombe County, not chosen any residents from Franklin or Highlands, since both have hospitals affected by this sale? n The Dogwood Health Trust has promised $15 million each to six foundations connected to Mission-owned hospitals, but Angel Medical Center no longer has a foundation. Who will set it up, serve on its board, and decide how the foundation’s funds will be invested? n I am concerned about the possibility that some of Angel’s employees might lose their jobs when a for-profit corporation takes over, answering to shareholders rather than the community. n What will happen to the present hospital if the proposed “replacement” hospital is built? Will we have empty buildings or are

opinion

he proposed Mission/HCA sale could be the most significant event — negative or positive — to affect Franklin and the region for decades. As Franklin’s mayor, I have a duty and obligation to see that our residents and visitors are not shortchanged in this $1.5 billion sale of Mission to HCA. My hope since 1971 — when our community rallied behind Operation Heartbeat to buy the hospital from the Angel Family — was to see our hospital become a regional medical facility. Now that does not look as if it will happen.

But we can work to make sure we maintain what we have now and improve on it.

Even that possibility is threatened if our non-profit hospital moves under the control of the huge, for-profit corporation Hospital Corporation of America, with a net income of $2.89 billion in 2016. The hospitals HCA currently owns are largely in metropolitan areas, and HCA has shown little interest in rural health care. They would be acquiring four rural hospitals in the deal, raising their total to 6 rural hospitals out of the 183 that they own or manage.

I am an old cynic, and when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

And, that is exactly what many of us in the WNC counties served by Mission are thinking. We are looking at all angles and sources concerning this deal. If we do not speak up, the North Carolina Attorney General will assume that we are OK with this sale as it stands. I worry that Mission has led the public to believe there is no downside to this sale. I do not buy that.

Mission needs to be straightforward with the citizens of Western North Carolina and tell us about any negatives to the sale.

But since they are not doing that, I will list my concerns. You may have others, and if you do or you want to write about these, I suggest you send an email to Attorney General Josh Stein. He is the final authority

Hall of Fame 2018 Restaurant, Cuisine & Service by Open Table Diners 5.20.18

•••

Voted

#1

INNOVATIVE SOUTHERN CUISINE WITH A LOCAL BACKBONE & HOMEGROWN LIBATIONS Smoky Mountain News

Proud to be part of Downtown Waynesville Since 2011 frogsleappublichouse.com

44 CHURCH STREET WAYNESVILLE 828-456-1930 Seasonal Hours, Call for Details

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tasteTHEmountains 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

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 hand-cut, 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.

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.

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-youcan-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.

September 19-25, 2018

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.

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

We’ll e fee ed your sp pirit, too.

Evening E vening feasts feasts. Casual lunches and breakfa br eakfa asts. And A nd the mile high peaks of the Great mile-high Great Smokies all around you. Call (828)926-1401 for reservations.

And get a little taste of heaven, Catalooc chee style. style

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 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.

Smoky Mountain News

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 the cast afterward with post-show food and beverage service. Reservations recommended.

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

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

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Simple, delicious food.

Craft Beer on Tap & Full Bar LIVE MUSIC EVERY SATURDAY FROM 7-10 P.M.

207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde MUSIC FE ATURIN G: DO

G TRAC KS

M-S: 11:30-9 · Sun: 10-9 · Sun. Brunch: 10-2

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FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St., Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving dinner 5 to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. Reservations accepted. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

WEDNESDAY 5-9 P.M.

Catalo t oche ee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC Catalooche eeRanch.com

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.

828.454.5400 | 128 N. Main | Downtown Waynesville | FireflyTapsAndGrill.com

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

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

tasteTHEmountains KANINI’S 1196 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.5187. Lunch Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., eat in or carry out. Closed Sunday. A made-from-scratch kitchen using fresh ingredients and supporting the local food and local farm-totable program. Offering a variety of meals to go from frozen meals to be stored and cooked later to “Dinners to Go” that are made fresh and ready to enjoyed that day.

We also specialize in catering any event from from corporate lunches to weddings.

Menus created to fit your special event. kaninis.com 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 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

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

Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

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

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

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

101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422

PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

Retail Restaurant LIVE Music

SAGEBRUSH STEAKHOUSE 1941 Champion Drive, Canton 828.646.3750 895 Russ Ave., Waynesville 828.452.5822. Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Carry out available.

Sagebrush features hand carved steaks, chicken and award winning BBQ ribs. We have fresh salads, seasonal vegetables and scrumptious deserts. Extensive selection of local craft beers and a full bar. Catering special events is one of our specialties.

Events begin at 7:15pm unless otherwise noted.

Dinner and Music reservations at 828-452-6000.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

DATE NIGHT: French Wine Pairing Dinner with music by pianist Richard Shulman. Music begins at 6:30pm.

Four courses, wine and music, $55 per person. Taxes and gratuity extra.

Reserve at 828-452-6000.

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.

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.

AT BEARWATERS BREWING

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

James Hammel guitar, vocals.

Jazz, Pop, Originals.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Joe Cruz - piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Cynthia McDermott - mandolin, vocals.

Jazz and Bossa Standards, originals.

Order Online for Takeout Pay online and pick up with no waiting!

Menu at CityLightsCafe.com 3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Joe Cruz - piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5

James Hammel guitar, vocals.

Jazz, Pop, Originals.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

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

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

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

Closed Tuesday

Sunday 12-9 p.m.

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

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

Smoky Mountain News

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

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

September 19-25, 2018

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.

a slice of the delicious house made cake.

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

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT

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

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 twitter.com/ChurchStDepot

facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

A love so full it could send us all ways A conversation with Gavin Rossdale

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER n the mid-1990s, just as the raucous nature of the grunge scene in the United States was hitting its peak, a wave of new rock acts from across the pond began to explode across the radio dial.

British groups like Radiohead, Blur, Oasis and The Verve were finally breaking into the mainstream, many after years of chipping away in the underground. And right at the forefront of this “seize and conquer” quest by these now legendary acts was, and remains, Bush.

Led by singer/guitarist Gavin Rossdale, the group burst onto the scene in 1994 with its seminal album “Sixteen Stone,” a multi-million selling release that spawned several hit singles (“Everything Zen,” “Comedown,” “Machinehead,” “Glycerine”), melodies — more so personal anthems of Generation X and early Millennials — that continue to be radio staples of the era.

But, unlike a lot of rock acts from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean in the 1990s, Bush has managed to stay in the public eye, whether it be the subsequent albums following “Sixteen Stone” that kept the train of creativity and quality rolling along through the digital age or the group’s highly successful nationwide tour this past summer with Stone Temple Pilots and The Cult — two fellow bands who also possess a constant urge to create, an unrelenting zest for live performance.

And yet, at the center of it all, is Rossdale. A music, fashion and pop culture icon in his own right, he’s still just as focused as ever, where the simple notion that “it could all go away tomorrow” puts fuel on his fire to get up every day and do what he does best — make music.

Formed in London, England, in 1992, Bush continues to be led by singer/guitarist Gavin Rossdale (far right). Neil Krug

I

Smoky Mountain News: You’ve had the success and the legacy no matter what. What is it for you now that is the focus for why you get onstage and why you create?

Gavin Rossdale: Oh, because, first, I know nothing else to do at this level. Secondly, I love it. I’m one of those people that feels that everything is unfinished business. It’s a vocation, like I have no choice. I’m in it, and it just works. These last couple days, I was writing a song and had to do some surgery on it. And I couldn’t think about it, sitting around trying to get this song figured, thinking, “Why can’t I get it good?” Then, boom, last night it comes to me.

SMN: “Sixteen Stone” turns 25 next year.

How does that album stand up these days?

GR: People would sometimes talk about the lyrics being too fragmented. And the

catching you on video and then sharing it with everyone. So, people’s frailties and humanity are definitely brazenly displayed — that’s the time, the age we live in. You know, I look throughout history, and the time it was greatest, was when stars had private lives, were anonymous, and could be any person behind the façade of so many people. I like that, I like mystery. The singers and actors that I love, I don’t need to know too much about them, too much context. It was enough with what they made.

weird thing is, I never liked to be specific in a certain way. And one of the reasons was that I’ve always liked the lifetime of a song. And to not have it nailed down to a time and place gives it the ability to have its own journey. I can sing any single one of them, and I often do sing them at night, and the lyrics are completely present day. I don’t sort of sit and reflect, “When it was” and “What it was” and “Why it was.” There’s enough venom in me to focus on where I’m at now and what things could be, either satisfying now or inspiring and endearing, things I’m excited about. It’s been a weird journey — they live with me all the time.

SMN: Well, and they probably have new meaning as time goes along…

GR: Of course. Every day it’s a different meaning. Every single song that has been made in history, you can tell me “it’s about a tree,” but, as soon as it’s out in the public, and someone else decides it’s about something else, it’s no longer about a tree, the tree becomes completely subjective. So, that’s the most powerful thing about music, it’s just transferable for every single person listening. Therefore, it’s the same if you sing it with a 20-year gap — clearly you can’t be thinking about the same thing. It’s very natural.

SMN: You’re someone who has been in the public spotlight before and after the advent of

Want to go?

Renowned rock act Bush will take the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Tickets start at $29. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit www.harrahscherokee.com and click on the “Events” tab. social media and the inundation of the internet. What do you see as the differences between then and now?

GR: Obviously people today probably are far more accountable and more exposed. You can’t trip and fall, literally, without someone

SMN: How has your definition of the word “love” changed or remained the same as you’ve gotten older?

GR: It has just gotten more tolerant as I’ve gotten older. Within that whole scope, you feel that strength, that power of love your whole life. Whether you get it or don’t get it, you’re aware of it — the confidence when it’s given, the lack of confidence when it’s taken away.

The thing that changes for me is tolerance, you know? Empathy, seeing stuff from other people’s perspective. It’s the adage of “the youth is wasted on the young.” That’s just it. With tolerance becomes such quicker resolution to everything. Tolerance is such an easier life — it’s amazing.

Editor’s Note: To listen to the complete audio stream of this conversation, go to YouTube and search “Gavin Rossdale Garret K. Woodward.”

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Looking Glass Falls.

Garret K. Woodward photo

Writer/poet Thomas Rain Crowe will present his With the massive rainfall book Starting From San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. from Tropical Storm Florence Friday. Sept. 21, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. on Sunday, my truck carefully navigated its way through deep Iconic bluegrass act The Seldom Scene will puddles and down slick backperform on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Cataloochee roads, the windshield wipers Ranch in Maggie Valley. barely able to keep up.

Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will The church was just off the Grayson Jenkins & The Resolutions (Americana/ Great Smoky Mountains alt-country) at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21.

Expressway, tucked above Barber Orchards in Balsam. It’s A county fair style festival, the Swain County had been awhile since I stepped Agricultural Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 foot in a church. Raised in a p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Swain County Catholic family, I’d go to Event Park in Bryson City. church sometimes twice a week (Thursday for school, Sunday Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Formula for family). Though a deeply 5 (jam/rock) 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21. spiritual person, I hadn’t crossed the threshold of a house of worship in some time. the first people I met. We’ve been thick as But, there I was, scanning the large conthieves ever since, people I’ve turned to and gregation room and seeing so many beloved said on occasion, “You know, we’re supposed faces in my existence. We were all there to to be friends.” And I mean that. pay respects to our dear friend’s late mother, Joey and Meghan’s friendship led to Debbi, a face which held a smile, a body meeting his mother, Debbi, and her huswhich held a soul, that will never be band, Terry, folks who have always made me replaced. feel welcomed and loved since day one. And When I moved to the mountains of I think of all these Southern Appalachian Western North Carolina in 2012, I came here families who have taken in this Yankee stray alone, where my closest family members or dog over the years, I’m talking The Fortners, things familiar to me were over 1,100 miles The Waldrops, The McLeods, The Wagners, away. My brother-from-another, Joey Fortner, The Rowlands, The Allens, and so on. and his incredible wife, Meghan, were two of These people aren’t blood related, but I’ll

Saturday September 22 (Gates open at 10 am/Music at noon)

Music: Kenny George Band and EZ Shakes Food: Hit the Pit BBQ Featured Brew: Frog Level Live Music Arts & Crafts Vendors

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 10 am Music starts at noon

lakelogan.org/events

CASUAL FINE DINING WITH LIVE MUSIC COVERED PATIO LATE NIGHT MENU

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

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH FROM 10AM TO 2PM

Smoky Mountain News

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

FINALE & MAKERS MARKET

September 19-25, 2018

In my life, I’ve loved them all

Cold Mountain Summer Music Series

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

be damned if they weren’t, you know? The love and kindness showed by these people is something I’ll never be able to repay, but I’ll forever spend my days reciprocating the sincere feeling and emotion of those gestures, whether physical or emotional.

Sitting in the memorial service, I was able to keep it together through the incredibly poignant eulogy, and through the tributes.

But, right at the end, Debbi had requested that the immortal song “In My Life” by The Beatles (her favorite band and melodic philosophical directional marker) be played over the speakers. I could feel goosebumps on my arms, the hair raising on the back of my neck, and a few teardrops filling my field-of-vision.

I’m an incredibly sentimental person, something that’s been part of my DNA and character since I was a kid. Maybe it’s because I’m “my mother’s son,” and how sentimental she is about family, friends, perhaps stranger soon-to-become fast friends over a jovial conversation. Maybe I’m just an old soul, a vessel by which I’ll always have room to carry the hopes, dreams and fears of others around me I care about. Who knows?

I just will always wear my heart on my sleeve, no matter the outcome.

Though “In My Life” is only two minutes and 26 seconds long, it felt like it went on for much longer than that. As the song echoed throughout the church, a flood of images filled my thoughts. It was the faces of my deceased grandparents, memories of my childhood spent on a lake I used to call home, former lovers who I think of once-ina-while and wonder how they’re doing, and if things turned out the way they had hoped: “There are places I’ll remember / All my life, though some have changed / Some forever, not for better / Some have gone and some remain / All these places have their moments / With lovers and friends I still can recall / Some are dead and some are living / In my life, I’ve loved them all…”

This past summer has been one of reflection and contemplation for me. I’ve been dealing with “what was,” “what is,” and “what will be,” sentiments and realities that can sometimes be hard to accept, especially with a mind that never ceases to stop pondering and wondering in thought.

And when “In My Life” concluded, there was a momentary silence — a hauntingly, beautiful quiet — right before folks got up and walked out the door, back into the pouring rain, back into their daily lives.

Following the memorial service, a group of us who attended, fully dressed in our Sunday’s best, slid into a booth at a nearby sports bar, for some wings, beer and football — something light, comfortable and familiar to offset the heaviness of the day. And we sat there, laughing, smiling, making a cheers to Debbi, and also saluting each other, faces I’m so damn proud of, more so proud to call friends, more so to call family, if you really want to get down to it.

No matter what happens in your life, the true measurement of a life well-lived is by the company you keep, and by the legacy you leave behind. And Debbi had a life welllived. I looked around that booth with one thought in mind: “Damn, I’m a lucky man.”

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

743 HAYWOOD RD • WEST ASHEVILLE

ISISASHEVILLE.COM 828.575.2737

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On the beat arts & entertainment

Bluegrass legends at Cataloochee

Squirrel Nut Zippers.

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

Squirrel Nut Zippers swing into Franklin

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Widely-acclaimed swing/rock act The Squirrel Nut Zippers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The band began their musical journey in Chapel Hill in the mid 1990s as a musician’s escape from the cookie cutter world of modern rock radio at the time.

Between 1995-2000 the Squirrel Nut Zippers sold over three million albums.

Their watershed album “Hot” (1996) was

recorded in the heat of New Orleans, fueled by a youthful hunger to unlock the secrets of old world jazz. This passion mixed with klezmer, blues and random bits of contemporary musical leanings became the band’s signature style.

At the time, there were few other bands inhabiting this space. The album would eventually break free of any “jazz” stereotypes and land on commercial radio, taking the band to remarkable heights for what was essentially an anti-establishment sound.

Tickets start at $25 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.524.1598 or visit www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Iconic bluegrass act The Seldom Scene will perform on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

Although the Baltimore-based band was formed in 1971, its public face has generally lived up to its name — heard by bluegrass fans all over the world, famed for its influence on the progressive bluegrass movement, but with a purposely light touring schedule aimed at keeping the band members primarily close to home.

Though many longtime fans think first of the 1970s editions of The Seldom Scene, many of its current members have actually been with the band even longer than its original members. Lou Reid, on mandolin and guitar, made his first appearance in 1986. Guitarist Dudley Connell, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and dobro player Fred Travers have all been on board since the mid-1990s. And newest member Ron Stewart, on banjo and fiddle, is hardly new to the bluegrass scene. He was playing fiddle onstage with Lester Flatt in the 1970s, at the tender age of nine.

The Cataloochee Ranch performance will

showcase The Seldom Scene’s signature mix of bluegrass-styled country, rock, and even pop. Expect to hear new material as well as songs from the 2014 album “Long Time…

Seldom Scene,” the band’s first release with Smithsonian Folkways. The collection fea-

The Seldom Scene. tured fresh interpretations of 16 oftenrequested tunes and was The Seldom Scene’s first studio album since the Grammy-nominated “Scenechronized” in 2007.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, which will be held in the covered outdoor Pavilion, are $35 per person. Prime rib dinners, priced separately, will be available before the show.

For reservations, which are required, call Cataloochee Ranch at 828.926.1401.

Formula 5.

Eddie Rose & Highway 40.

Formula 5 to rock Lazy Hiker Popular Upstate New York rock/jam band Formula 5 will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin.

Formula 5 is your source for unique jams, infectious energy, and impressive musical prowess. The group will perform a tribute to Widespread Panic and the Grateful Dead.

This unique tribute experience will feature a mix of songs from two of the most prominent jam bands in history.

“Their music celebrates all corners of the music landscape and a true strength of Formula 5 is a clean cohesiveness to their jams that never quits,” Jambase wrote.

The show is free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Lake Hills welcomes Eddie Rose Legendary bluegrass act Eddie Rose & Highway 40 will perform during the “Bluegrass BBQ Bash” from 4 to 7 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 23, at Lake Hills Church located at 205 West Brook Drive in Waynesville.

Rose began honing his singing skills with his family, The Rose Family Quartet, at the age of 9. This singer’s singer brings over 40 years of musical knowledge and ability to this

new configuration, appearing alongside folks such as Paul Williams, Bobby Hicks, Raymond Fairchild, and more recently with Balsam Range. Rose’s roots come from the Gospel realm in addition to 25 years of experience with his former band, Hazel Creek.

The free event will also include a barbecue, inflatables, children’s activities, and much more. Radio station Kiss Country 99.9 FM will be broadcasting live from the festivities.

828.674.6886 or email cpressley@lakehillslife.com.

On the beat

The inaugural “Summer Music Series” will conclude with its final event of the season at the Lake Logan Conference Center, just south of Canton.

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

arts & entertainment

Cold Mountain Music Series

Bookstore

Book Signings This Week:

Thomas Rain Crowe Friday, Sept. 21st at 6:30 p.m.

Terry Roberts

Saturday, Sept. 22nd at 3 p.m.

3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

Ve V ein Education Series

Do you exxp perience

The Kenny George Band.

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.org/events.

The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature Rick Morris (classic hits) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 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 Curtis Blackwell & The Dixie Bluegrass Boys Sept. 29 and Blueridge (southern gospel) Oct. 6.

For more information, visit www.townoffranklinnc.com.

The Haywood County Arts Council and the Friends of the Haywood County Public Library are proud to announce the “Friends of the Library Concert Series” concert, which will feature Richard Shulman at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, in the auditorium of the Waynesville branch library.

Shulman is a solo jazz pianist whose skill on the keys thrills every listener with a flair for the melodious. His internationally renowned performances have kept even the most discerning ear returning for more.

This FOLCS concert is approximately one hour long and is free to the public. No registration is required and all are welcome.

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Smoky Mountain News

Jazz pianist at Waynesville library

Even a short walk up the e sttairs or doing some shopping can be painful for many people.

September 19-25, 2018

Pickin’ on the Square

LEG PA PAIN? A

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arts & entertainment

On the beat • Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” with Blue Revue Sept. 21, Dana Rogers 7 p.m. Sept. 22, Troy Underwood (singer-songwriter) Sept. 27 and Twelfth Fret (Americana/folk) Sept. 28. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host Logan Watts Sept. 21 and Cat & Crow Sept.

28. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.facebook.com/balsamfallsbrewing.

• Bogart’s Restaurant & Tavern (Waynesville) will host Eddie Rose & Highway 40 (bluegrass/Americana) at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Free and open to the public. www.highwayforty.com.

ALSO:

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will Grayson Jenkins & The Resolutions (Americana/alt-country) Sept. 21. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. www.boojumbrewing.com.

September 19-25, 2018

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (guitar/vocals) Sept. 21, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Sept. 22 and 29, and Cynthia McDermott (mandolin/vocals) Sept.

28. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m.

828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Limited Distance 7 p.m. Sept. 22 Corbitt Brothers (rock/acoustic) 8 p.m. Sept. 28 and Woolly Adelgrid 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29. All shows are free. www.curraheebrew.com.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host Andrea & Mud 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and The Fuzzy Peppers 9 p.m. Sept. 22. 828.631.4795.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Heidi Holton (blues/folk) Sept. 21, Cord Johnson Sept. 22, Elysium Park Sept. 28 and Whiskey River Band Sept. 29. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• The High Dive (Highlands) will host DJ Jimmy Shur Sept. 21 and Stig (progressive jazz/funk) Sept. 28.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Sept. 19 and 26, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Sept. 20 and 27, Banjo Mitch (folk/bluegrass) Sept.

22 and Rossdafareye Sept. 29. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovationbrewing.com.

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host Claude Bourbon (blues/classical) 7 p.m.

Sept. 19, Danielle Nicole Band 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 19, Ever More Nest w/Hannah Aldridge

NOW HIRING Project MARS/AmeriCorps is recruiting for full-time positions in Haywood, Swain, Transylvania, Cherokee, Graham and Buncombe counties.

(Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Sept. 20, “Down Under” celebration with Kristy Cox (bluegrass/Americana) 8:30 p.m. Sept. 20, Joey English 7 p.m. Sept. 21, The Hall Sisters 8:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Wham Bam Bowie Band (rock/funk) 9 p.m. Sept. 22, Amerika Runz 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23, Russ Wilson & His Famous Orchestra 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, Tuesday Bluegrass Sessions 7:30 p.m. Sept.

25 and Danny Burns 7 p.m. Sept. 26. www.isisasheville.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Formula 5 (jam/rock) 9 p.m. Sept. 21, Frogtown Bluegrass Sept. 22, Troy Underwood (singer-songwriter) Sept. 28 and Natti Love Joys Sept. 29. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an open mic night every Thursday, Ivor Sparks Sept. 21, Twelfth Fret (Americana/folk) Sept. 22 and Aces Down Sept. 28. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host The Paper Crowns Sept. 21 and The Freeway Revival (rock/jam) Sept. 28. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• 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.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host Trippin Hardie 4 p.m. Sept. 29 (free).

828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host High 5 (rock/blues) Sept. 21 and Andrew Thelston Band (rock) Sept. 28. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host The Pirate Party 9 p.m. Sept. 19, Whiskey River Band Sept. 21, Partin' Ways Sept. 22, Cannonball Jars Sept. 28 and Aunt Bee's Jam Band Sept. 29. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.456.4750.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS WOMEN IN BUSINESS LUNCHEON

Jackie Grant Thursday, September 20th 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EST

Wells Event & Reception Center 248 N. Main Street, Waynesville Jackie Grant, President of NC Bar Association, will be speaking at our Fall Women In Business. She is a partner and litigator at Roberts & Stevens, who successfully represents individuals, businesses and organizations in a

Smoky Mountain News

broad range of areas including civil litigation, complex

26

MEMBERS WILL:

• Serve children directly within the schools • 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

personal injury, employment litigation and professional liability litigation.

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On the street

On the table

Mountain Heritage Day returns

Ready for the ‘Rebel Cruise-in’?

• There will be an Oktoberfest celebration

ALSO:

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 22 and 29 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. Eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

cle cars are welcome with a registration fee of $20 per vehicle. The annual fundraiser for the Jackson County Genealogical Society will include T-shirt and poster sales, a food truck, and a 50/50 raffle. For more information, call 828.226.3798 or 828.506.9241.

Smoky Mountain News

The annual fundraiser for the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s Annual Fundraiser, the “Rebel Cruise-In” will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Mark Watson Park in Sylva.

The event will have cruisers from Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Clay Counties, as well as folks from northern Georgia, that have participated in previous events. The “Rebel Cruise-in” commemorates The Rebel Restaurant, a fixture of Sylva in the 1960s and 1970s.

The event will conclude with a policeescorted cruise from Mark Watson Park through Sylva on Main Street to the Sylva Plaza where the Rebel once stood. The cruisers will “circle the Rebel” and then travel from there down Mill Street in Sylva to Dillsboro and return to Mark Watson Park.

Classic cars and trucks, rat rods, and mus-

• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal and more. Call 800.872.4681 or visit www.gsmr.com.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host “Wine & Cheese for the Soul” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. The wine and cheese pairing will be guided by Caroline Martin. Cost is $10 for five wines and cheese. 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

September 19-25, 2018

Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day, a free family oriented festival that celebrates Southern Appalachian culture through concerts, living-history demonstrations, competitions and awards programs, will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, on the WCU campus in Cullowhee.

Named one of the top 20 festivals in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society, this year’s event will include additional musical acts, vendors and an expectation of more visitors, organizers said.

The festival started as Founders’ Day on Oct. 26, 1974, at the inauguration ceremony of WCU Chancellor H.F. “Cotton” Robinson and became known as Mountain Heritage Day the following year.

Mountain Heritage Day has become renowned as a showcase of mountain music, family activities and the region’s finest arts and crafts, and vendors offering ethnic, heritage and festival food. Rain or shine, the festival brings history to life and fun to thousands. Shuttles will operate throughout the day, with stops at designated free parking and attraction locations.

A 5K race begins at 8 a.m. and winds its way through the campus. A nationally recognized chainsaw and timber sports event draws numerous competitors. A vintage, classic and antique car and truck show is a viewers’ choice contest, with attendees able to walk among the vehicles and cast votes, with plaques presented to the winning picks.

Mountain Heritage Day is part of the Blue Ridge Music Trails of North Carolina, with www.blueridgemusicnc.com an easy and convenient way to find festivals, concerts, jam sessions and plenty of singing and dancing to the traditional music of Western North Carolina.

To learn more about WCU’s premier festival and to view a full schedule of events, visit www.mountainheritageday.com or call 828.227.3039.

Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host an array of wine tastings and small plates from Chef Stacy's gourmet cuisine, available at The Secret Wine Bar within the shop. Dog friendly patio and front garden open, weather permitting.

• Sept. 20/27: Five for $5 Wine Tasting from 5 to 9 p.m. Come taste five magnificent wines and dine on Chef Stacy's gourmet cuisine.

• Sept. 21/28: Secret Wine Bar Night from 5 to 9 p.m.. Gourmet food, and a great wine & beer menu.

Call 828.452.0120 or visit www.waynesvillewine.com.

all day on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City. Traditional German dishes and fun family games. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

arts & entertainment

Bosu’s tastings, small plates

Swain County Agricultural Fair A county fair style festival, the Swain County Agricultural Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Swain County Event Park in Bryson City.

The event is complete with judging of farm products, youth talent showcase and open mic, educational booths, youth livestock shows (poultry, rabbits, lambs, heifers), 4-H, arts/crafts vendors, food vendors and live music.

Free admission. For more information, call 828.488.3681.

smokymountainnews.com

27

arts & entertainment

On the wall

Open call for art, literature review

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

Calling all artists, writers, poets and local creatives: This is your chance to show off your craft. Submissions are now being accepted for the 2019 edition of Milestone, the biennial art and literature review published by Southwestern Community College.

Milestone is a publication that showcases the creative expressions of local writers and visual artists. The periodical is representative of the abundance of talent in the region and seeks to foster this creative potential by providing artists an opportunity to gain public awareness.

All residents of Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties and the Qualla Boundary, as well as SCC students and alumni, are eligible. Only unpublished work may be submitted. Prose should not exceed 2,000 words,

28

and poems should be limited to two pages in length. Writers may submit more than one work. All writing must be double-spaced and submitted in paper format or via email.

Each page must be numbered, and the author’s name, address, telephone number and email address should be included on the last page of each submission.

Visual artists and photographers may submit only black and white copies of original artwork and also must include name, address, telephone number, email address, title of work and photo caption (if applicable) on the back of each submission. Artists and photographers also may submit more than one work.

First- and second-place cash prizes will be awarded in three categories: poetry, prose (short story or nonfiction works) and visual arts, including photography. In addition, one cash prize will be awarded for cover art.

Literary submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 3 and sent to SCC Milestone; Attn. Toni Knott; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779 or via email to milestone@southwesterncc.edu.

Submissions in visual art must be postmarked by the same date and sent to the same address, Attn. Bob Keeling, or via email to milestone@southwesterncc.edu.

For more information, contact Milestone Managing Editor Toni Knott at 828.339.4325.

New Jackson Arts Council exhibit

Jane McClure.

The August/September Rotunda Gallery Exhibit, sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council, will feature Jackson County resident and artist Jane McClure. An “Artist Reception” will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Rotunda Gallery.

McClure specializes in local (Jackson County) old historic barns, cabins and nearby waterfalls and streams. “Being a native of Jackson County and growing up here, I am inspired to paint the old rustic scenes that lie in this area,” said McClure.

The monthly Rotunda Gallery exhibits are open to the public and are free of charge. You may visit the exhibits during regular library hours.

If you would like to be considered for an art exhibit in the Rotunda Gallery, contact the Jackson County Arts Council at info@jacksoncountyarts.org or by calling 828.507.9820.

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arts & entertainment

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Workshops for artists, arts businesses The Haywood County Arts Council has partnered with the Haywood Community College Small Business Center to provide workshops for area artists and arts-based businesses. The workshop series, titled “Arts In Business,” will take place 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.

• “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. Please call the Haywood County Arts Council at 828.452.0593 or email info@haywoodarts.org to register for the classes.

Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild show

‘Paint & Sip Workshop’ The “Paint & Sip Workshop” will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Gallery Zella in Bryson City.

Enjoy learning to paint with a buddy, daughter, son or even your sweetheart. Take home an incredible memory of your trip to the mountains — your own original painting on canvas. Enjoy a glass of wine (or soft beverage) and a light snack.

Painting instructor Carol Conti has taught painting for over 20 years. Students will be presented with a Smoky Mountain landscape, then Owen will guide you in creating your own master work of art.

Cost is $50, which includes all materials.

For more information, call 828.488.3638 or visit www.galleryzella.com.

September 19-25, 2018

arts & entertainment

On the wall

The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild show “A Heavenly Quilt Walk” will open with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 21, and continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

22, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

The show will include more than 100 quilts for judging by those attending the show, demonstrations, and several shopping opportunities including area vendors, a silent auction of quilted items, a boutique of gift and quilting items, and chances on more than 50 baskets filled with sewing and personal items. Door prizes will also be awarded hourly, including a grand prize drawing at 3:30 p.m. Saturday for a handmade quilt.

Admission is $5 for a two-day pass. For more information about Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild and “A Heavenly Quilt Walk,” visit www.smokymtnquilters.org.

• The “Landscape Takes Many Forms” painting workshop with instructor Diane McPhail will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 2627 at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Fee is $125 for non-members, $100 for members.

All materials included. To register, you can click on call 828.349.4607 or email franklinuptowngallery@gmail.com.

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” painting class will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays (Sept. 27) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. RSVP by contacting Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560 or paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

Smoky Mountain News

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• The “Meet the Artists” reception with Brian Hannum (pianist), Drew Campbell (photographer) and Jon Houglum (painter) will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Gallery Zella in Bryson City. Enjoy North Carolina wine, food and music. Free to attend.

828.488.3638 or www.galleryzella.com.

• An exhibition for artisans Wanda DavisBrowne and Judy McManus will continue through Oct. 6 at Gallery 1 in Sylva. DavisBrowne’s photos are inspired by the diverse natural patterns and colors of nature, primarily flora. A glass artist, McManus was invited to join working artists at Jackson County’s Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in 2010. www.facebook.com/artinthemountains.

• Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will host a free movie night at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at 828.349.4607.

On the stage

One of rock-n-roll’s legendary events is being recreated as the musical “One Night in Memphis” will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, in the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

On Dec. 4, 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, four of the century’s immortals — Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis — engaged in an impromptu jam session. Record producer Sam Phillips recorded the event, which was never to be repeated.

This tribute to that memorable night in Memphis features nationally acclaimed cast members who have an uncanny sound, look and feel of the original legends; the production also features an authentic and energetic rockabilly backup band. You will feel as though you are witness to a rockn-roll royalty jam session with the legendary performers whose music has stood the test of time.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.526.9047 or visit www.highlandspac.org.

The Overlook Theatre Company will present “The Foreigner,” an enjoyable and downright hilarious two-act comedy, at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

“The Foreigner” was written by American playwright Larry Shue and has won multiple awards including Best Off-Broadway Production. It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy full of crazy characters, absurd misunderstandings, and southern charm. It tells the story of the visit of Englishmen Charlie Baker and Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueue to a resortstyle fishing lodge in rural Georgia.

“The Foreigner” provides a delightful lesson in the art of listening and the magic of

kindness. Baker is carried away by his own whimsical imagination that leads to a hilarious climax and heart-warming ending.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students. To purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

• 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.

Smoky Mountain News

Fish out of water comedy

September 19-25, 2018

(From left) Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

arts & entertainment

‘One Night in Memphis’

ALSO:

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arts & entertainment September 19-25, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

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God’s broadcasting station — the great outdoors hen I taught homeschool seminars in Latin, history, and literature in Asheville, I would wait for a cold spell in February and then email my students to come to class dressed for the weather. On their arrival I would lead them outside and hold class for half an hour beneath gray skies and temperatures well below freezing. With any luck we might even find some bits of falling snow. The students would stand shivering in the cold — some of the boys apparently considered t-shirts and Writer shorts appropriate winter clothing — and then we’d tromp back into the classroom.

“Now,” I’d tell them when they had settled at their desks, “I have just given you a wonderful gift: lifetime bragging rights.

Someday when your own children whine that they can’t do their schoolwork because the house is a little chilly, you can say, ‘Are you kidding me? Why, when I was your age, I was outside in the snow chanting Latin declensions and reciting Shakespeare.’”

I thought of those days when reading Linda Akeson McGurk’s There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom’s Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (Touchstone, 2017, 285 pages). Written after she married an American and moved from Sweden to Indiana, McGurk urges American parents and schools to allow children more outdoor time and more opportunities for free play and risky recreational activities. In her native Sweden, for example, nearly everyone practices friluftsliv, which translates roughly as “open air life.” Moms often allow their babies to sleep outside the house in their prams in 30-degree weather, and Scandinavian schools give students much more time outdoors than American public schools.

As McGurk points out, many of our schools, public and private, restrict such time either by cutting down on recess or by assigning their students burdensome homework. Such practices, combined with the hours young people spend in front of a televi-

Jeff Minick

W

sion or computer screen, have contributed to obesity, rising diabetes, and ADHD in American children, who are also three times more likely to be medicated with stimulants and anti-depressants than their European counterparts.

McGurk contends that simply spending more time outside the house can alleviate some of these problems.

Being out-ofdoors builds stronger children.

Walking in the fresh air, hiking, bike riding, games ranging from badminton to hideand-seek, gardening, nature walks, reading poetry or stories aloud on the patio: such activities relieve stress, help keep off the pounds, strengthen our bodies, refresh our minds, and lead to a deeper appreciation of the physical world.

Getting outside, especially in the winter, can prevent infections and colds. According to some researchers, mucking about in the dirt also helps children develop stronger immune systems.

In addition, unsupervised time outdoors arouses the imagination of children. My daughter’s children, for example, are outside nearly every day, building forts, playing at Rembrandt with their sidewalk chalks, inventing games, and riding bikes.

Risk-taking, McGurk tells us, is another benefit of outdoor play. Many commentators believe we have gone too far in trying to eliminate risks in childhood. In my public library, for example, a sign on the entry declares the library a “peanut free” space. In several locations library patrons can squirt a viscous liquid from a plastic box to sanitize their hands. In the parking lot, a mom helps some children from a van whose safety seats make the car’s interior look like an Apollo

spacecraft. The basketball courts of the park beside the library are generally filled with teens and young adults shooting hoops, but the playground is about as exciting for children over four as a lesson in calculus.

In There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather, McGurk points out that Scandinavian parents and teachers are much more willing than Americans to allow children to take risks. At school recesses, which are long and frequent, students skate, ride toboggans and sleds, and play in the snow. Many elementary school students walk or ride their bikes to school.

In his best-selling Twelve Rules For Life, previously reviewed in The Smoky Mountain News, Jordan Peterson also advocates for unsupervised playtime and risk-taking. In his chapter titled “Do Not Bother Children When They Are Skateboarding,” Peterson applauds parents who permit their kids to ride skateboards, climb trees, and play rough games. “Kids need playgrounds dangerous enough to remain challenging,” Peterson writes, in large part because by testing themselves these children are learning a lesson for adulthood: overcoming obstacles.

Of course, to enjoy these benefits, parents or guardians must allot the time for outdoor play and exploration. Too often the children’s activities — dance, sports, music — can eat up the days. True enough, but as Linda McGurk enthusiastically reminds us, there’s nothing like friluftsliv.

A great American, George Washington Carver, whom I revere for his refinement of peanut butter, once said, “I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only will tune in.”

Put aside some time every day and listen to that broadcasting station.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. minick0301@gmail.com)

Salvation sought through moonshine Terry Roberts will present his new novel The Holy Ghost and Speakeasy and Revival at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Jedidiah Robbins is a man on a crusade. From town to town, his Gospel train rides the rails of 1920s Appalachia, spreading the Good News with his daughter and a loyal group of roustabouts in tow. But, Jedidiah’s traveling revival company has a secret: in addition to offering the gifts of the Holy Spirit, it also delivers spirits of another kind.

Prohibition is in full swing, but The Sword of the Lord train keeps the speakeasies in the towns it visits in business by providing the best that mountain stills have to offer. While beyond the gaze of federal agents, the operation eventually runs afoul of an overzealous small-town sheriff and a corrupt judge, setting in motion a series of events that could land them all in chains.

Roberts is also the author of A Short Time to Stay Here and That Bright Land. Born and raised near Weaverville, Roberts is the director of the National Paideia Center and lives in Asheville. To reserve copies of his books, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

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Evolution of the ‘Baby Beat’ movement Writer/poet Thomas Rain Crowe will present his book Starting From San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Sept. 21, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

In his book, Crowe explores the dimensions of a flourishing literary excitement that deserves to be better known: The Baby Beat’s movement. This movement was led by a whole generation of young poets who were nourished by their Beat predecessors. Starting From San Francisco provides many illuminating surprises for those who thought they already knew everything about what Beat was.

Excerpt from the book, “From the early 1970s through the early 1980s, for about a decade, San Francisco was often compared to Paris and the urban centers in Russia at the turn of the 20th century. ‘A renaissance’ some of us say, now, looking back. And even then, that word used to slip from our lips in moments of projected epiphany or outlandish optimism.

Centered around City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, a fleur-de-lis had sprouted and bloomed, whose petals would eventually spread into the ethnic neighborhoods in San Francisco and out over the whole Bay Area, with leafy creative vines reaching other literary and artistic circles, further afield, in Berkeley, Bolinas, the Russian River and up along the coast and north — all the way to Mendocino and the North San Juan Ridge community in the Sierra foothills and as far south as Santa Cruz. Young poets, artists and musicians coming from all over the country, and in fact the world, were arriving almost daily to add their voices to the chorus of a growing community of Beat-inspired bohemian brethren creating what would become a fullblown Renaissance.”

To reserve copies of Starting From San Francisco, call City Lights Bookstore at 828.586.9499.

Role of railroads in Western NC The Friends of the Library will be presenting a special edition of “How the West Was Won...Western North Carolina that is...” with Ray Rapp at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium.

Rapp served five terms in the state legislature, where he served on committees that were charged with improving and expanding rail service in North Carolina. But, perhaps more importantly for this presentation, he lectures extensively on regional rail history and has a deep and abiding love for the role trains had in making Western North Carolina what it is today.

His knowledge of the subject is more than matched by his love of the topic. No dry lecture, this will be a railroad lovers joy ride. No registration is required and all are welcome.

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

34

A mile-high view State-level squabble stalls Jackson County conservation project

Jordan Smith, of Mainspring Conservation Trust, looks out from the 5,462-foot view atop a Jackson County property slated for conservation. Holly Kays photo

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER o call the view stretching out below the 5,462-foot bald “spectacular,” “impressive” or even “jaw-dropping” would be an understatement.

It was as clear a day as had been spotted in the mountains this rainy year, skies blue and cloudless ahead of the slowly moving remains of Hurricane Florence. The sun shone on Cherokee to the west, Bryson City visible just a couple folds of land beyond it and the Nantahala Mountains rimming the horizon south and west of the small towns.

In front of me, but so, so far below, Skyland Drive undulated on its way into Sylva, where smoke from Jackson Paper puffed gently into the air and the mountains bordering Catamount Peak barely hid Cullowhee and Western Carolina University.

Sylva’s Pinnacle Park covered mountainsides immediately to the east, Waterrock Knob rising up just beyond that and the Blue Ridge Parkway hugging the Plott Balsams between Cherokee and Maggie Valley, which was invisible behind the mile-high mountain range.

“It is spectacular,” said Jordan Smith, land conservation manager for Mainspring Conservation Trust. “You feel like you’re cheating when you get to the top of it.”

Most of the time, having a dramatic view like that all to yourself — especially on a picture-perfect, sunny-and-70-day — would require a multi-mile hike from the edge of nowhere into its very middle. But Smith and I had reached it without hiking at all.

The peak is part of an undeveloped 912acre property that’s owned by developer America’s Home Place but could soon make its way into permanent conservation. Back before the recession, when the company was still planning to build high-end homes on the rugged mountain land, it had a 3.1-mile road built connecting the gravel street that branch-

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es off of Wolfetown Road in Cherokee to the top of the mountain. Now, that road offers a partial tour of the otherwise mostly unblemished acreage that a group of governmental and nonprofit groups are working to place in public ownership.

TOUR TO THE TOP The route begins as a solid and not-toosteep gravel road sporting a strip of green growing between the tire ruts and brush encroaching on either side. However, the grade quickly increases, evidence of recent rains appearing in the form of ruts through the tread, causing the Jeep to bounce from side to side as overhanging stems of bushes and brambles reach in through the open windows.

While the lower portion follows routes

first created by old logging roads built before America’s Home Place came on the scene, higher up road cuts blasted in the mountainside reveal the expense involved in building even a road on land this rugged. The value of the access is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 million, Smith said.

Near the place where the blasting began, a small waterfall flows down into a creek just beside the road — or at least it seems small at first. We stop, look up, and see that the cascade begins far uphill of the road, maybe 100 feet high or so, spilling down, down, down until it creates the final rivulets visible by casual observation from behind the steering wheel.

From there, the road hugs the rocky mountainside before the landscape opens up once again to host a flurry of goldenrod and asters, butterflies and bees flying around to

claim the nectar before the meadow gives way to brushy fields of blackberry brambles and just-past angelica shaded by birch, maples and buckeyes.

Then, the view. Conserving the property will protect the two highest remaining privately owned properties in the Plott Balsams, said The Conservation Fund’s North Carolina director Bill Holman.

“It’s not just some obscure view,” Smith added. “This is going to be a big part of the viewshed from the (Blue Ridge) Parkway.”

The Parkway is plenty visible from the top, the road winding around to Waterrock Knob and then disappearing for a time before reappearing along the mountainside to the north.

Conserving the land will keep the view wild for the millions of Parkway visitors who drive the route each year. Adjoining Pinnacle Park, a 5,000-plus-acre block of conserved land slated for addition to the Parkway, and land owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the property would fit right into the larger landscape of conservation.

It’s not just about aesthetics. The high-elevation property plays host to a variety of animals and habitat types that are rare in this part of the world, and in some cases rare in any part of it at all — pygmy salamanders, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, brown creepers, northern hardwood forests, rich montane seeps, spray cliffs, red spruce-fir forest.

It also contains the headwaters of some important water sources for the region, Blackrock Creek and Shut-in Creek. Blackrock and Shut-in creeks both flow into Soco Creek, which feeds the Oconaluftee River, which in turn supplies Cherokee with water.

“Then just the sheer size of the tract,” said Smith. “There’s not that many 900-plus-acre tracts left in our part of the world that are private land.”

HOLD-UP IN RALEIGH I originally scheduled this tour of the property to fall in the same week as the Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board meeting to select grant award recipients for 2018.

The meeting was slated to occur Sept. 11-12 in Raleigh, with conservation of the America’s Home Place land largely dependent on whether the board would grant a pair of funding requests totaling $1.5 million.

The Conservation Fund is working to conserve 441.5 acres of it, which includes Blackrock Creek and the view at the top of the road, while Mainspring Conservation Trust is taking the lead on the remaining 471 acres, which includes the headwaters of Shut-In Creek. The Conservation Fund is seeking $1 million in Clean Water funding, and Mainspring is looking for $500,000.

However, a legal tug-of-war between the state’s legislative and executive branches prompted the Clean Water Management Trust Fund to cancel its September meeting, postponing grant award decisions indefinitely.

That could spell trouble for the America’s Home Place conserva-

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Smoky Mountain News

Mainspring Conservation Trust is working with a slightly longer timeline, aiming for a 2020 closing on the 471 acres it’s working to conserve on the Shut-in Creek portion. Mainspring is planning to pay $2 million for the property, with half a million in private donations from Fred and Alice Stanback, half a million in grant funding from Clean Water — hopefully — and the remaining $1 million from a local conservation partner. Mainspring is in talks with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians about the potential of the tribe helping to find the conservation project, as the tract adjoins tribal land and could potentially be transferred into tribal ownership once conservation is complete.

“The tribe has had a good working relationship with Mainspring Conservation Trust on a variety of projects through the years,” said the tribe in an official statement. “Tribal leadership is aware of the Shut-In Creek property opportunity and is supportive of further exploration.”

If the Clean Water grant is awarded, The Conservation Fund will pay $2.2 million for the 441.5-acre Blackrock Creek portion, including $1 million from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, $250,000 apiece from Jackson County and Sylva and private donations. The property would eventually be transferred into Town of Sylva ownership as an extension of the existing 1,088acre Pinnacle Park.

This isn’t the first time that project has faced a tight deadline. Before applying for the Clean Water grant, The Conservation Fund needed funding commitments from Sylva and Jackson County to strengthen the likelihood its request would be funded, with a June 1 deadline to send in its grant application. Jackson County Commissioners initially waivered on whether to commit the funding but ultimately voted to support the project during a special-called meeting and public hearing May 31 — just in time for the June 1 deadline.

From Franklin to Raleigh, the conservation project’s many partners are hoping for a swift resolution to the state-level squabble and the successful completion of a project that’s been years in the making — and, if achieved, will continue its impact for centuries to come.

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decisions, and more importantly when funds would actually be available for closing,” Holman said of the Blackrock Creek property. “And landowners, a lot of them, they made their financial plans, they entered into agreements with land trusts and local governments, and uncertainty is bad.”

The delay stems from a legal scuffle between the N.C. General Assembly and the administration of Gov. Roy Cooper, who argued that the way appointments are made to certain state boards — including Clean Water — is unconstitutional. The executive branch is supposed to be over day-to-day administration of state programs, but the nine-member Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board contains six legislative appointments and only three governor’s appointments.

In an Aug. 31 ruling, a three-judge panel

on the N.C. Superior Court agreed with Cooper.

“The separation of powers clause plainly and clearly does not allow the General Assembly to take this much control over the execution of the laws from the Governor and lodge it within itself,” the ruling reads.

This presented a problem for the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, which was at that point less than two weeks away from its scheduled meeting to determine grant awards. With a total pot of about $20 million, the board had received $50 million in requests. The constitutionality of their appointment in question, though, members didn’t deem it wise to meet and vote on grant awards only to have those decisions challenged later.

Thus far, however, nobody knows when exactly the board will be able to make those decisions. Walter Clark, executive director of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund, said that the board hopes to meet before November but can’t say for sure if that will be possible.

“When there’s a holdup in funding, it can be problematic to some of our clients in the land trust community,” acknowledged Clark, who himself comes from a land trust background. “So everybody is aware of that and wants to find a way to move forward as soon as we can.”

Finding a permanent solution to the issue will require the legislature and the governor to work together to amend the statute forming the Clean Water Management Trust Fund Board, which could prove a lengthy process. However, Clark hopes the government will find some sort of intermediate solution that would allow the board to act on this fall’s grant applications while a permanent structure is determined.

“What no one wants to see is a prolonged waiting period for funding allocations, so the best I can say is that there’s conversations ongoing between all the parties to make that happen, to have that meeting as soon as we can,” Clark said.

Even if the grant awards had been announced last week, as planned, Holman wasn’t expecting the funds to be available until early 2019 — thus the planned January 2019 closing with America’s Home Place.

outdoors

HIT THE

A Cajun celebration will raise money for the Highlands Biological Foundation 4 p.m. to dark Sunday, Oct. 7, in the meadow behind the Highlands Nature Center.

The “Highlands on the Half-Shell” annual event supports the Foundation and its three facets — the nature center, botanical garden and biological laboratory. Thanks to the generosity of supporters, admission to the nature center and botanical garden is free.

The feast will include oysters, gumbo and other Louisiana delicacies under the canopy of Highland’s autumn flame-colored leaves. Attendees should dress in their favorite “Cajun casual” attire. $75 for members and $100 for nonmembers. Buy tickets at www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221.

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outdoors

The 2018 Asheville Cyclocross Series will also include a race Sunday, Sept. 30, at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain, and Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch in Hendersonville.

Races include multiple categories, with registration free for kids 10 to 15, $10 for women in the beginner’s category and $20 for all other categories. Sign up at www.pre-reg.com.

Race the WCU campus Try out cyclocross A series of cyclocross competitions will be coming to Asheville, Black Mountain and Hendersonvill this fall, with the first one offered Sunday, Sept. 23, at Bent Creek Community Park in Asheville.

Cyclocross is a form of bicycle racing that consists of many laps of a short course featuring a variety of terrain, such as trails, grass, steep hills, pavement and obstacles that require the rider to dismount and carry the bike around the obstruction.

The annual Mountain Heritage Day 5K will step off for the 10th year running at 8 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 29, to ring in the Mountain Heritage Day Festival at Western Carolina University.

This family-friendly, chip-timed race is accessible to runners and walkers alike, with an undulating course featuring a combination of pavement and gravel paths. Participants will dash through WCU’s rolling campus and past iconic landmarks such as the “Catafount” water fountain and Alumni Tower. $15 for WCU students and $20 for the general public. Free admission to festival afterward.

Sign up at www.mountainheritageday.com.

Free, with a full schedule of events online at www.noc.com/events/guest-

Vendors set up to offer gear deals at the Guest Appreciation Festival. NOC photo

appreciation-festival-gaf. NOC is located along U.S. 19 in the Nantahala Gorge, about 12 miles from Bryson City.

Spend Pisgah nights stargazing

A free event featuring hands-on, interactive outdoor skills exhibits will be held 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard in honor of National Hunting and Fishing Day. Demonstrations and exhibits will include fishing, outdoor cooking, fly-casting, fly-tying, wild game taste sampling and more. The center itself features five aquatic habitat exhibits with live fish, frogs, salamanders and snakes.

Lee Sherrill, lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.org or 828.877.4423.

On Friday, Sept. 21, the Learning Center at PARI will present its first quarterly special event in the new series Pisgah Nights, with a nocturnal animals program from WNC Nature Center’s Tori Duval.

Duval will give an informative, hands-on presentation that allows guests to interact with live, nocturnal creatures during the discussion.

Each Pisgah Nights event will begin with dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. followed by a special presentation at 7 p.m. When the program ends, guests will take a trip to the Learning Center’s exhibit galleries and, weather permitting, will conclude at the Sky Deck to view the night sky through telescopes. $40 for adults; $35 for seniors and active military; $30 for students 11 to 18 and $30 for children 6 to 10. Reservations required and accepted until 3 p.m. the day of the event. All events are rain or shine. Chelena Blythe, cblythe@pari.edu or 828.862.5554.

September 19-25, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

A weekend of riverside games, whitewater rafting, adventure films and gear deals will liven up the fall Sept. 28 and 29 at Nantahala Outdoor Center.

NOC’s Guest Appreciation Festival will kick off with a vendor used gear sale at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, continuing with live music, a raffle and the Mountainfilm on Tour Outdoor Film Festival. The next day will bring continued gear sales, reptile and magic shows, live music, face painting and a slalom race.

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A 9-mile hike along the Noland Creek Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City will explore the area’s deep history, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22.

Award-winning author Steve Kemp and former park botanist Janet Rock will interpret the area’s natural and cultural history along the way. During the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, this pastoral valley was one of the most heavily populated areas along the North Shore, home to thriving farms as well as schools, stores and mills.

The hike will explore a variety of old homesites and their relics, and also discuss mountain lifestyles in the pre-dam, pre-park area.

The hike is moderate to strenuous in difficulty. Hikers should bring plenty of water,

food, a first aid kit and sturdy trail shoes.

Organized by the Great Smoky Mountains Association. $20 for members and $35 for nonmembers. Sign up at https://conta.cc/2ngobvy.

Hike the Parkway A hike to the Mills River Overlook will give an overview of how non-migratory animals prepare for the onset of winter on the Blue Ridge Parkway, 10 a.m. Friday, Sept.

21, near the Pisgah Inn. The 2.2-mile roundtrip hike is moderate in difficulty and will be led by Parkway rangers. Hikers should meet at the Big Ridge Overlook at milepost 403.6 and bring water, good walking shoes and clothing for changeable weather.

828.298.5330, ext. 304.

DuPont launches forest festival DuPont State Recreational Forest will celebrate National Public Lands Day Saturday, Sept. 22, with the first-ever DuPont Forest Festival, offering more than 30 activities at locations throughout the park.

Events will include mountain bike and hiking tours, lectures, yoga, stand up paddleboard demonstrations and more, all celebrating the adventure, wildness and beauty of DuPont. The festival’s number one goal is to teach people to love the forest and to be good stewards of it and other public lands.

Hosted by Friends of DuPont Forest. A full schedule of events is online at www.dupontforest.com/forest-festival-2018/dupont-forest-festival-schedule-of-events.

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September 19-25, 2018

A man and a bear are dead following an ill-fated ginseng hunt in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Park officials were notified Sunday, Sept. 9, that William Lee Hill Jr., 30, of Louisville, Tennessee, was missing after entering the woods with companion Joshua Morgan that Friday to look for ginseng. The two separated during the day, and Hill had not been heard from since.

Rangers began searching immediately, working until after dark Sunday night and continuing the search throughout Monday and into Tuesday, when Hill’s body was found around 1 p.m. off-trail about 2 miles north of Cades Cove, half a mile from Rich Mountain Road and less than a mile from a residential area outside the park. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Hill during such a difficult time,� said park Superintendent Cassius Cash.

Rangers saw evidence of wildlife scavenging of the remains over the past several days, with an adult male bear remaining in the area and showing aggressive behaviors for many hours, even as rangers worked throughout the evening to recover Hill’s body. Wildlife biologists then trapped the bear and recovered human DNA from it. Public safety concerns led park officials to decide that the bear must be euthanized. “This is always one of the hardest decisions a wildlife manager has to make, and is one that we did not take lightly,� Cash said. “Over 2 million visitors come to the Cades Cove area annually and there are several residential areas very close to where we found Mr. Hill’s body. We could not take the risk of allowing this bear to approach or show aggression towards other people.�

While park officials decided to euthanize the bear on Wednesday, Sept. 12, the task was not completed until 9:45 a.m.

Sunday, Sept. 16, when the bear was fatally shot. The bear was initially trapped Sept. 11, and released with a GPS tracking collar so park officials could easily find it once they’d had a chance to review the evidence and come to a decision. However, the bear evaded wildlife managers for some time, staying far enough away that they couldn’t get a clean shot to humanely end its life. Rich Mountain Road and the surrounding area remained closed while the efforts progressed.

The investigation into Hill’s death is still continuing, with cause of death not yet known. Harvesting ginseng in the park is illegal.

w e el l comes $QQH .DUQHU,&10 Harris s Regional Re Hospital

outdoors

Man found dead in Smokies after two-day search

CANTON • 1 Acaademy St St. • Canton Canton, NC 28716 • 828 828-648-1515 648 1515 WA AY YNESVILLE • 311 Walnut St. • Waynesville, NC 28786 • 828 828-456-6268 456 6268 Find us on Facebook. Feederally Insured by NCUA

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Lisa Wagner takes photos at Trillium Lake. outdoors

Donated photo

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.

Open to the Public, 7 Days A Week!

Call 828-926-4848 for reservations.

1819 Country Club Drive Maggie Valley, NC

Create a woodland garden A lecture at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin will teach attendees how to create a native woodland garden.

Lisa Wagner, director of education at the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University for the past two decades, will speak on the process of creating a woodland garden, including how to choose appropriate species and some char-

acteristics and growth habits of particular plants.

Free. The event is the final installment of the “In the Garden” lecture series sponsored by the Franklin Garden Club, Macon County Master Gardeners Association and Otto Garden Club. Wagner’s blog www.naturalgardening.blogspot.com reflects her observations about gardening and the natural world.

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

Smoky Mountain News

September 19-25, 2018

Can the harvest

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Learn how to can food properly during a workshop 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Sept. 21, at the Haywood County Extension office on Raccoon Road.

Canning can save money, reduce food waste, limit sugar and salt intake, perpetuate family traditions and provide a sense of satisfaction and better-tasting food. The class will be beneficial for beginning and experienced canners alike. All attendees will produce a jar of salsa that can be picked up after Monday, Sept. 24.

A collaboration of the Haywood County Public Library and Haywood County Cooperative Extension. Sponsored by Friends of the Library. Taught by Extension Agent Julie Sawyer. Free, with materials provided.

Youth Deer Hunting Day is Sept. 22 Saturday, Sept. 22, is Youth Deer Hunting Day in North Carolina, offering youth 17 and under a day when they can use any legal weapon to hunt deer of either sex, with no requirement to be accompanied by an adult if they have completed a hunter education course.

Hunters 18 and older with a valid hunting license may use only the weapon that is legal for the particular season in their county to hunt Sept. 22, and all hunters must wear blaze orange even if using archery equipment. Provisions apply to public and private lands alike.

Youth Deer Hunting Day coincides with National Hunting and Fishing Day and was established in 2015 to increase interest in deer hunting among youth, potentially increase hunting success and highlight the need to engage youth in hunting. www.ncwildlife.org/hunting.

Weigh in on Haywood’s water People who live in Haywood County are invited to take a survey about the county’s rivers, lakes and streams that will help the Haywood Waterways Association better focus its technical and financial resources.

The survey is open until Thursday, Sept. 20, is anonymous and should take 10-15 minutes to complete. Access it at www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWApublicsurvey or get a hard copy from Eric Romaniszyn,

828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

Drink beer for clean water An Oktoberfest celebration 7 to 10 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville will benefit the Haywood Waterways Association.

The event will offer food, games and lots of fun. $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Contact info@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667 for a ticket.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Southwestern Community College is accepting submissions from artists, writers, poets and local creatives for its biennial art and literature review entitled “Milestone.” Open to all residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary – as well as SCC students and alumni. Only unpublished work is eligible. Must be postmarked by Dec. 3 and sent to SCC Milestone; Attn. Toni Knott; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779, or milestone@southwesterncc.edu.

• The annual Macon County Agricultural Fair will take place through Sept. 15 at the • A Community Sing in observance of World Peace Day is set for 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. 524.3691 (voice) or 360.1912 (text).

• A county fair style festival, the Swain County Agricultural Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Swain County Event Park in Bryson City. The event is complete with judging of farm products, youth talent showcase and open mic, educational booths, youth livestock shows (poultry, rabbits, lambs, heifers), 4-H, arts/crafts vendors, food vendors and live music. 488.3681.

• Public comment is being sought regarding transportation projects that have been prioritized by the NDOT’s 2020-2029 State Transportation Improvement Program. Written comments due by Sept. 24: rose@regiona.org. Info on projects: https://regiona.org/public-input-requested-on-transportation-priorities/ • The Village Green will offer an opportunity for public participation in “Growing a Vision for Cashiers” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25. VillageGreenCashiersNC.com, info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or 743.3434.

• Smoky Mountains Veteran Stand Down is scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Haircuts, dental, optometry, veteran’s benefits, education, legal, counseling and more. Breakfast and lunch included.

Bring VA ID card or DD-214 if possible. 349.2151, ltabor@maconnc.org or cblack@maconnc.org.

• Registration is underway for Marriage Enrichment Retreats that will be offered four times over the next year at Lake Junaluska. Led by Ned Martin, an expert in marriage counseling. Price is $699 per couple.

Dates are Sept. 30-Oct 2; March 10-12, Aug. 18-20 of 2019 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in 2019. Registration and info: www.lakejunaluska.com/marriage or 800.222.4930.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department is offering a wide variety of courses in September. For a complete listing and registration invo, visit https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Jackie Grant, President of the N.C. Bar Association, will speak at the Haywood Chamber of Commerce Fall Women in Business luncheon, which is from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Wells Events & Reception Center in Waynesville. $25 for members; $30 for nonmembers. Register: https://tinyurl.com/y9tuo924.

• The Friends of the Library will be presenting a special edition of “How the West Was Won...Western North Carolina that is...” with Ray Rapp at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium.

• A ribbon cutting for “A Heavenly Quilt Walk” show is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. Show runs until 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Western Carolina University’s accountancy program will hold its fall banquet at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept.

21, at the Waynesville Inn. $40.

• Registration is underway for a “Better Communication Through Creative Play” workshop that will be offered through Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at WCU’s Biltmore Park location in Asheville. Led by Neela Munoz. $125 Pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will offer a Contract Negotiations, Liability and Risk Factors in Business workshop from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at WCU’s Instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville.

Ken Sanney, an assistant professor of business law at WCU, will serve as workshop instructor. Cost: $119 (includes lunch). Register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• An Excel for Beginners class will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Led by retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon. Register: 586.2016.

• Registration is underway for Western Carolina University’s High Impact Leadership program, which is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, Sept.

24-27, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at WCU’s Biltmore Park Location in Asheville. Designed for individuals who want to take their careers to the next level and become high-impact leaders. Keynote presentation

by Kevin A. Trapani, co-founder and CEO of the Redwoods Group and chair of NC Works. Registration: $795 or $595 for nonprofits. Info and register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a Succession Planning for Business Class from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sept. 25. Register: 306.4426 or https://tinyurl.com/ybd5zgeu.

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Telling Your Creative Small Business Story” through Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center.

The seminar is from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Haywood County Arts Council. Register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• An Intermediate Excel class will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Led by retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon. Register: 586.2016.

• Todd May, professor of philosophy at Clemson University, will present “Our Stories and Our Values” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, in Room 223 of the Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. 227.3852 or amckenzie@wcu.edu.

• The Rooted in the Mountains symposium, designed to integrate indigenous and local knowledge with health and environmental issues, is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27-28, at Western Carolina University’s Blue Ridge Conference Room in Cullowhee.

For schedule or to register: go.wcu.edu/RootedintheMountains or 227.2164.

• Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a seminar entitled “Choosing Your Small Business Legal Structure” from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the College’s Regional High Tech Center, Room 3021, in Waynesville. For info or to register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Registration is underway for Western Carolina University’s Digital Marketing and Public Relations

Smoky Mountain News

Certificate program, which starts Oct. 5 at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Six individual workshops ($119 each or $640 to attend all). Classes meet from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on six consecutive Fridays. Full schedule, info and register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for the Inaugural Outdoor Economy Conference that’s coming to Western Carolina University on Oct. 5. Topics include product development, workforce development, marketing, financing and stewardship of natural resources. Early registration: $159. Outdoor.wcu.edu, 227.2587 or salido@wcu.edu.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • A fundraiser for United Christian Ministries of Jackson County is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22. For every test drive taken, Andy Shaw Ford in Sylva will donate $20 (up to a total of $6,000). www.ucmhelp.com or 586.8228.

• A Yard Sale/fundraiser to raise money for Robin Trantham Nelson is scheduled for 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Dellwood Baptist Church. Nelson was recently diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer; proceeds assist her with travel expenses, medical costs and other needs. Info: 342.0323.

• An Oktoberfest celebration is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville. Proceeds benefit the Haywood Waterways Association. $15 in advance or $20 at the door. info@haywoodwaterways.org or 476.4667.

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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 • 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.

HEALTH MATTERS • The Haywood County Senior Resource Center holds a dementia caregivers support group from 4:30-6 p.m. on Tuesdays in Waynesville. 452.6761 or www.haywoodseniors.org.

• A panel discussion with local leaders and experts in the opioid crisis is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Jackson County Library in Sylva.

• Restorative Yoga Series is set for 4-5 p.m. on Sept. 20 and 27, at Maggie Valley Wellness Center. $55.

944.0288 or maggievalleywellness.com.

• Haywood County Schools Foundation’s Fall Bingo Fundraiser will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Canton Armory. $20 for 20 games. Chance to win $500. Info: jwood@haywood.k12.nc.us or 456.2400.

• RENEW Bryson City will hold an educational program and celebration for recovery at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept.

25, at the Methodist Church in Bryson City.

• Cashiers Annual Animal Blessing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Village Green Commons. Info: goodshepherdofcashiers.com or 743.2359.

• Macon County Public Health will have an influenza vaccination clinic from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Highlands Community Building, 869 N. 4th Street, in Highlands. Regular flu vaccine: $32; preservative-free flu vaccine: $35. High-does vaccine, available for ages 65-up: $60.

• The Women of Waynesville invites the public to come celebrate the release of its 2019 charity calendar from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. WOW has produced a semi-nude calendar featuring its own members for seven years and all proceeds go toward the nonprofit’s mission of helping women and children in Haywood County. Since forming in 2012, WOW has raised over $175,000. www.womenofwaynesville.org.

• The annual fundraiser for the Jackson County Genealogical Society’s Annual Fundraiser, the “Rebel Cruise-In” will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at Mark Watson Park in Sylva. Classic cars and trucks, rat rods, and muscle cars are welcome with a registration fee of $20 per vehicle. The annual fundraiser for the Jackson County Genealogical Society will include t-shirt and poster sales, a food truck, and a 50/50 raffle. 226.3798 or 506.9241.

• The 54th annual Waynesville Kiwanis Club Barbecue, benefitting the children of Haywood County, is scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the First United Methodist Church Dining Hall in Waynesville. $10 per plate.

• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention “Out of the Darkness Walk” is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, at Carrier Park on Amboy Road in Asheville. 561.302.1119 or ootdwalk.nc.asheville@gmail.com.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness will offer two 12week family-to-family courses for families/friends of individuals living with a serious mental illness starting Oct. 4 in Franklin and Oct. 10 in Cherokee. Registration required: 306.853.5028 (Cherokee) or 421.2972 (Franklin).

• An emotions essential oils class is being offered at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 10 at Mad Batter Food & Film in beautiful downtown Sylva. Come learn how to use essential oils for balancing your emotions. Each participants gets to make one free rollerbottle blend to take home. RSVP to Wende Goode at 246.2256 or goodeoils@gmail.com. Space is limited.

• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation will hold its 10th annual Furry Friends Benefit Bash at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, at the Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville.

Tickets: $80 per person. Table sponsorships: $675. www.sargeanimals.org/event/10thffbb or 246.9050.

• 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, . https://tinyurl.com/ya9qtvhh or 337.4685.

• The Highlands Biological Foundation will host “Highlands on the Half Shell: Oyster Roast to Benefit the Highlands Biological Foundation” from 4 p.m. until dark on Sunday, Oct. 7, at the meadow behind Valentine House at 888 Horse Cove Road in Highlands. Tickets: $75 for members; $100 for nonmembers. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• The High Mountain Squares will host their “Harvest Dance” from 6:15-8:45 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Western-style square dancing, mainstream

RECREATION AND FITNESS

wnc calendar

and levels. 787.2324, 332.0007, 706.746.5426 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• Registration is underway for a doubles pickleball tournament that will be held Oct. 9-10 at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville. Registration deadline is Sept. 21. Entry fee: $20. Info: 452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

• ZUMBA! Class with Monica Green, are offered from 6-7 p.m. on Monday & Wednesday, at the Canton Armory. $5 per class. 648.2363 or parks@cantonnc.com.

• Down Home North Carolina will present a state candidate forum at 6 p.m. on Sept. 21 at the Folkmoot Auditorium at 127 Virginia Ave. in Waynesville. chelsea@downhomenc.org.

• Down Home is launching its Jackson County community meeting to gather poor and working folks to work on issues that matter most to them starting at 3 p.m. on Sept. 22 at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Sylva. chelsea@downhomenc.org.

• Down Home Haywood holds its monthly community meetings at 2:30 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Canton Presbyterian Church. Tackling issues like healthcare, wages, housing and more. chelsea@downhomenc.org.

SPIRITUAL • A six-week study program titled: “Christians Confronting Gun Violence: ‘What Shall We Teach?’” will meet at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesdays starting Sept. 26 at First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. Register: 456.9475. Dinner, catered by Kanini’s, costs $10 for adults and is served at 5:20 p.m.

• Registration is underway for a Self-Directed Retreats that will be offered at Lake Junaluska in the coming months. Spend time walking the trails, meditating in gardens, in private devotions, journaling, reflecting and more. Lake Junaluska will also provide a booklet with optional agendas, resources and ideas for structuring your retreat. $97 per person, per night, including lodging in Lambuth Inn, breakfast and retreat booklet.

Other dates are available, pricing varies. Dates are Oct. 17-18, Oct. 29-Nov. 1 and Nov. 19-21. www.lakejunaluska.com/retreats.

POLITICAL

September 19-25, 2018

• Haywood County Democratic Women will sponsor a fundraiser and meet-and-greet for NC House 118 candidate Rhonda Cole Shandevel from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Milltown Place, 51 Main St. in Canton. 743.0393 or djrussell2003@att.net.

• Jackson County Republican Party will present Banjos & Borders from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Innovations Station in Dillsboro. Fundraiser for sheriff candidate Doug Farmer and other candidates.

• The Macon County Democratic Women will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Democratic Headquarters on Palmer Street Circle.

• District Court Judge Kristina Earwood will present her new project to expand and reform juvenile justice at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center auditorium on Virginia Ave. in Hazelwood.

• A debate for Jackson County commissioners candidates is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Sept. 27 in the Burrell Building Conference Center at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva.

Candidates include Boyce Deitz, Doug Cody, Charles Elders, Ron Mau, Brian McMahan and Gayle Woody. All questions will be asked by students in Dr. Bucky Dann’s Social Problems class. www.southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4000.

• Macon County sheriff candidates’ debate is scheduled for 6:30-8 p.m. on Oct. 2 in Courtroom “A” of Macon County Courthouse in Franklin. Featuring Sheriff

Robert Holland and challengers Eric Giles and Bryan Carpenter as well as district court judge candidates: Jude Kristina Earwood and challenger Leo Phillips.

• The Haywood County Libertarian Party is now meeting at Blue Ridge Books on Main Street from 4:30-6 p.m. every second Monday of the month. These meetings will be for discussion on current events, and are open to the public.

• A lunch-and-discussion group will be held by the League of Women Voters at noon on the second Thursday of each month at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. RSVP for lunch: lwvmacon@wild-dog-mountain.info or 524.8369.

• 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.

• The Mexican Train Dominoes Group seeks new players to join games at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Terry Roberts will present his new novel The Holy Ghost and Speakeasy and Revival at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. To reserve copies of his books, please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499.

• Writer/poet Thomas Rain Crowe will present his book Starting From San Francisco at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Sept.

21, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. To reserve copies please call City Lights Bookstore at 586.9499.

• The North Carolina Writers’ Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated at the Keith House on the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. This reading is free of charge and open to the public.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • Registration is underway for “Mind the Music! Piano Lessons” that will be offered to ages 55-up starting the week of Sept. 24 and running through the week of Oct. 22. $60 plus a materials fee of less than $20. Led

by Susan Huckaby. director@haywoodarts.org, 452.0593 or HaywoodArts.org.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • Legendary bluegrass act Eddie Rose & Highway 40 will perform during the “Bluegrass BBQ Bash” from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at Lake Hills Church located at 205 West Brook Drive in Waynesville. The free event will also include a barbecue, inflatables, children’s activities, and much more. Radio station Kiss Country 99.9 FM will be broadcasting live from the festivities. 674.6886 or cpressley@lakehillslife.com.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center’s Guest Appreciation Festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 2829, in Nantahala. Riverside games, whitewater rafting, adventure films, gear deals and more activities. Full schedule: www.noc.com/events/guest-appreciation-festival-gaf.

Puzzles can be found on page 46

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FOOD & DRINK • Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host five for $5 Wine Tasting from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 20/27. Come taste five magnificent wines and dine on Chef Stacy’s gourmet cuisine. 452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host Secret Wine Bar Night from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 21/28. Gourmet food, and a great wine & beer menu.

452.0120 or www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Cold Mountain Music Series will host The Kenny George Band at 5 p.m. on Sept. 22. Gates open at 3 p.m. Admission is $15 for a car, $50 for 15-passenger van and $5 for bikes. Food from Hit the Pit and craft beer offered by Frog Level Brewing. 646.0095 and www.lakelogan.com/events.

• The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal and more. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.

• There will be an Oktoberfest celebration all day on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City. Traditional German dishes and fun family games. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Songwriters in the Round will feature five female songwriters (Angela Faye Martin, Diane Chermer, Melinda Pennington, Linda Metz and Rachel Stewart) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, in the Macon County Public Library Living Room in Franklin.

• The Overlook Theatre Company will present “The Foreigner,” an enjoyable and down-right hilarious twoact comedy, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• A Friends of the Library Concert Series will feature Richard Shulman (solo jazz pianist) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, in the auditorium of the Waynesville Library.

• One of rock-n-roll’s legendary events is being recreated as the musical “One Night in Memphis” will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, in the Highlands Performing Arts Center. 526.9047 or www.highlandspac.org.

• Iconic bluegrass act The Seldom Scene will perform on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, which will be held in the covered outdoor Pavilion, are $35 per person.

Prime rib dinners, priced separately, will be available before the show. For reservations, which are required, call Cataloochee Ranch at 926.1401.

• The classic musical “Cabaret” will be staged Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 27-30, by students

• Tickets are on sale now for “Choir Music Weekend,” which is Oct. 19-21 at Lake Junaluska. Learn and perform eight anthems, attend workshops and celebrate autumn colors. 800.222.4930, communications@lakejunaluska.com or www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/choirmusic.

• Tickets are on sale now for “Follies,” which will be screened as part of the Bardo Arts Center’s Sunday Cinema Series at 3 p.m. on Oct. 21 in Cullowhee. $15 for adults; $10 for WCU faculty/staff and seniors and $5 for students. Arts.wcu.cinema or 828.227.ARTS.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Local crafter Nancy Shane will teach a workshop on how to make a unique magazine or candy wrapper purse from noon-3 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office in Sylva. $10. Reservation required: 586.4009.

• 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.

• “Paint & Sip” class with acclaimed Southern Appalachian painter Jo Ridge Kelley from 1 to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. Class fee is $45. All supplies, step-bystep instruction and light snacks are included. Cash wine bar and other beverages. No painting experience necessary. Limited seating. To register, 452.0120.

• Penland School of Crafts is offering a half-price tuition to Western North Carolina residents for an eight-week session of workshops that start Sept. 23.

Openings in glass, iron, letterpress, paintings, textiles and wood. Open to all skill levels. www.penland.org or 765.2359, ext. 1307.

we are opening a

taproom in West Asheville

747 Haywood Road

• The “Landscape Takes Many Forms” painting workshop with instructor Diane McPhail will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26-27 at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Fee is $125 for non-members, $100 for members. All materials included. To register, 349.4607 or email franklinuptowngallery@gmail.com.

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” painting class will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. RSVP by contacting Robin Arramae at 400.9560 or paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• The “Paint & Sip Workshop” will be held from noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Gallery Zella in Bryson City. Cost is $50, which includes all materials.

488.3638 or www.galleryzella.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature Rick Morris (classic hits) at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 22, at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

• Tickets are on sale for the Highlands Cashiers Players’ presentation of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple” that will be presented on Thursdays through Sundays from Oct. 18-28 at the Highlands Performing Arts Center in Highlands. Evening shows are at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: Highlandscashiersplayers.org or 526.8084.

September 19-25, 2018

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host “Wine & Cheese for the Soul” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. The wine and cheese pairing will be guided

by Caroline Martin. Cost is $10 for five wines and cheese. 586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• Widely-acclaimed swing/rock act The Squirrel Nut Zippers will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $25 per person. 524.1598 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

new

• Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Day, a free family oriented festival that celebrates Southern Appalachian culture from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 29, on the WCU campus in Cullowhee. www.mountainheritageday.com or 227.3039.

and faculty of Western Carolina University’s School of Stage and Screen at Hoey Auditorium in Cullowhee.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets: $20 for adults; $15 for WCU faculty and staff and seniors; and $10 for students. Arts.wcu.edu/cabaret or 227.2479.

wnc calendar

• Grammy Award-winner Mike Farris will perform at the “Come Together Recovery Festival,” which is scheduled for 5:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at the Franklin town gazebo. Multiple information booths focused on recovery. 524.4910.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The Haywood County Arts Council will hold a new showcase featuring local artist Bee Sieberg & Students exhibiting their work through Sept. 29 at the gallery in downtown Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

41

wnc calendar

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center will have a yearlong exhibition on “Defining America” through May 3 in Cullowhee.

Opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept.

20. Info: 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• A Meet & Greet with Sylva artist Jane McClure (oil paintings) is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Rotunda Gallery of the Jackson County Library in Sylva. info@jacksoncountyarts.org or 507.9820.

• The Haywood County Arts Council will present the ARTQUEST Studio Tour from Oct. 5-27 at 86 N. Main Street in Waynesville. Featuring work from 12 Haywood County artists. Art After Dark and artist reception is from 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 5. www.haywoodarts.org or www.ArtQuestHaywood.com.

• An exhibition for artisans Wanda Davis-Browne and Judy McManus will continue through Oct. 6 at Gallery 1 in Sylva. Davis-Browne’s photos are inspired by the diverse natural patterns and colors of nature, primarily flora. A glass artist, McManus was invited to join working artists at Jackson County’s Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in 2010. She also teaches classes and gives demonstrations at the facility and exhibits art in the GEP gallery. www.facebook.com/artinthemountains.

• The newest exhibit in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University, “Grids & Gradients: The Visual Systems of Vernon Pratt” will run through Nov. 9 at the Fine Art Museum Gallery C on campus in Cullowhee. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

September 19-25, 2018

• 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. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Thursdays until 7 p.m. 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• A statewide litter sweep is scheduled through Sept.

29. Organized by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/ycwc7f4p.

• The Cradle of Forestry in America will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 22 in Pisgah Forest. Projects for volunteers include erosion control, mulching and invasive species removal. 877.3130 or cradle@cfaia.org. Info: 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.com.

• A survey of Haywood County’s rivers, lakes and streams is open until Thursday, Sept. 20, through the Haywood Waterways Association. Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/HWApublicsurvey. Info: 476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

• Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education will observe National Hunting and Fishing Day with hands-on, interactive outdoor skills exhibits from 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, near Brevard. Lee.sherrill@ncwildlife.org or 877.4423.

• “Casting for Beginners: Level I:” will be offered for ages 12-up from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• The N.C. Arboretum will host two events celebrating monarch butterflies on Saturday, Sept. 22 in Asheville: A mini-symposium from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

(Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/y8qjrlt9) and a “Flight of the Butterflies” screening and Q&A from 6-8:30 p.m. (Register at https://tinyurl.com/y8ek5e77). $14 parking fee.

• Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a 2.2-mile moderate hike at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, to Mills River Overlook. Overview of how non-migratory animals prepare for the onset of winter. Meet at overlook at milepost 403.6. 298.5330.

• The Learning Center at PARI will present a program on nocturnal animals at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, in Rosman. Led by Tori Duval of the WNC Nature Center.

Dinner at 5:30 p.m. $40 for adults; $35 for seniors and active military; $30 for ages 6-18. Reservations required by 3 p.m. on Sept. 21. cblythe@pari.edu or 862.5554.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a volunteer trail maintenance workday from 10 a.m.3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, along the Oconaluftee River Trail in Cherokee. To participate, or for more info: 497.1949 or adam_monroe@nps.gov.

• A National Hunting and Fishing Day event will be offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 22 for ages 12-

Y O U R T I C K E T T O A G R E AT N I G H T

BUSH

3 DOORS DOWN & COLLECTIVE SOUL PRESENTED BY THE BETTER LIFE FOUNDATION OCTOBER 27

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Show(s) subject to change or cancellation. Must be 21 years of age or older to enter casino floor and to gamble.

Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. An Enterprise of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. ©2018, Caesars License Company, LLC.

• An opportunity to fly in one off World War II’s most vital Aircraft, EAA’s B-17G “Aluminum Overcast,” will be offered from Nov. 2-4 at the Macon County Airport in Franklin. Flights from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $435 for EAA members; $475 for nonmembers. Ground tours available from 2-5 p.m. Cost: $10 for 8-under; $20 for all others except veterans and active military, which get ground tours for free. B17.org or 800.359.6217.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • A series of cyclocross competitions will kick off with an event on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Bent Creek Community Park in Asheville. Future races include Sept. 30 at Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain and Oct. 7 at the Oskar Blues REEB Ranch in Hendersonville. Races in multiple categories.

Registration: free for ages 10-15; $10 for women in the beginner’s category and $20 for all other categories. Sign up: www.pre-reg.com.

• The 12th annual Power of Pink 5K run, walk and dog walk is scheduled for Sept. 29 in the historic Frog Level area of Waynesville. Fundraiser for Haywood Healthcare Foundation to support those who need mammograms and testing for cancer screening.

Register: GloryHoundEvents.com. Info: 452.8343.

• Dupont State Recreational Forest will celebrate National Public Lands Day with a festival on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Cedar Mountain. Full schedule of events: https://tinyurl.com/y9ym376r.

• The Mountain Heritage Day 5K is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. $15 for WCU students; $20 for general public. Proceeds benefit the Cory David Spaugh Sport Management Association Scholarship Fund. www.mountainheritageday.com.

• A Salamander Citizen Scientist day is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 22 starting at Purchase Knob. Short moderate to strenuous hike to the research plot.

Collect salamander population monitoring data for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. $5 for nonmembers of Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by Sept. 20: Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 476.4667, ext. 11.

• A workshop on making and canning salsa is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon on Friday, Sept. 21, at the Haywood County Extension Office in Waynesville.

Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• A Vintage Camper Show is scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Stonebridge Campground in Maggie Valley. Tickets: $5. Kids under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit Haywood Waterways Association’s youth education programs.

• Haywood County Beekeepers Chapter will present a talk from Phyllis Stiles of Bee City USA at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at the Haywood County Extension Office on Raccoon Road in Waynesville. Importance of pollinators and how to help save them.

FARM AND GARDEN

HIKING CLUBS

• A “Women’s Introduction to Fly-Fishing” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous six-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,200 feet on Saturday, Sept. 22, on the Big East Fork Trail in the Shining Rock area. Info and reservations: 456.8895.

• “Trapping 101” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy, 2.5mile family hike with an elevation change of 300 feet on Saturday, Sept. 22, to Jones Creek. Info and reservations: 349.3380.

• Learn how to create a native woodland garden during a lecture at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Led by Lisa Wagner, director of education at the South Carolina Botanical Garden at Clemson University. Wagner’s blog: www.naturalgardening.blogspot.com.

• A nine-mile hike scheduled for 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, will follow the Noland Creek Trail and explore the area’s deep history in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Bryson City. Led by author Steve Kemp and former park botanist Janet Rock. Organized by Great Smoky Mountains Association. $20 for members; $35 for nonmembers.

Sign up: https://conta.cc/2Ngobvy.

• “Identifying Birds of Prey” will be offered to ages 10-up from 9 a.m.-noon on Sept. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Volunteers are being sought for work day on the Reasonover Creek Trail from 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 13 in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. llbmwb@gmail.com.

@HarrahsCherokee Visit ticketmaster.com or call 1-800-745-3000 to purchase tickets.

42

• Registration is underway for a “Cherokee Heritage Adventure,” which will be offered by Smoky Mountain Field School on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Haywood County.

Explore the culture of the Cherokee people; students hear Cherokee legends at the story circle, play traditional games and take a nature walk. Cost: $69.

Register: smfs.utk.edu.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Sept. 26. Meet at Big Bear Shelter parking area. Franklinbirdclub.com.

SEPTEMBER 28

Smoky Mountain News

Outdoors

up at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Registration is underway for “Nature at Night” – an easy-to-moderate hike scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 20, at Chimney 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.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,900-foot ascent on Sept. 23 on the Trombatore and Bearwallow Trails. Info and reservations: 703.395.5879, heyk127@hotmail.com, 239.9340, 805.660.0019 or et10n@sbcglobal.net.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 4.5-mile hike with a 1,500-foot ascent on Sept. 23 to Duckett Fire Tower. Info and reservations: 622.3704 or jckdalton9@gmail.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 13.5-mile hike of Hemphill Bald and Rough Fork Loop on Sept. 26.

Info and reservations: 404.731.3119 or Djones715@aol.com.

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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WNC MarketPlace

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September 19-25, 2018

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Steve Mauldin

828.734.4864

www.smokymountainnews.com

smauldin@beverly-hanks.com

THE JACKSON CO. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES Is recruiting for a Social Worker in Child Protective Services. This position investigates reports of child abuse and neglect and provides services to families where needs have been identified. Requires limited availability after hours and on weekends on a rotating basis. The starting salary is $41,276.54, depending on education and experience.

Minimum qualifications include a four-year degree in a Human Service field. Preference will be given to applicants with a Master's or Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and/or experience providing Social Work services.

Applicants should complete a NC State application form (PD-107) and submit it to the Jackson County Department of Social Services, Attn: Dianne Cauley, 15 Griffin Street, Sylva, NC 28779, or the Sylva branch of the NC Career Works Center by October 12th.

ALEX SMITH GARDEN DESIGN Is seeking Full-Time Gardener/ Landscaper for Scaly Mountain, NC Location. Experience desirable, but not required. Must be a Team Player and have a Positive Attitude. Must be able to Work Outside in All Kinds of Weather and be able to Lift at least 40lbs. Competitive Pay & Benefits. Driver’s License and Clean Driving Record Desired. Please Call Mark Smolarsky 828.200.0407 or Email Kristen Landfield: Kristen@AlexSmith GardenDesign.com

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FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: A/C, Heating & Refrigeration Technology Instructor. 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

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Compliance Officer - PT Information Specialist: Athletics . For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer

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828.593.8321 HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 Email hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

LYRICA AN ADORABLE LITTLE MIXED BREED DOG WITH A WIRY COAT AND SLENDER FRAME, WEIGHING ABOUT 12 LBS. SHE'S ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD, AND STILL VERY MUCH A PLAYFUL PUPPY. SHE MAY TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO WARM UP TO NEW PEOPLE BUT ONCE SHE DOES, SHE A SWEET, LOVING DOLL BABY. LULU A PETITE FEMALE CALICO KITTY ABOUT ONE YEAR OLD. SHE'S A SWEET GIRL, FRIENDLY AND AFFECTIONATE, AND SEEMS TO ADAPT EASILY TO NEW SURROUNDINGS. SHE JUST NEEDS A NEW FAMILY TO LOVE.

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44

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REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

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STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

Jeff Ferguson BROKER Experienced Local Expert

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243.1126

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Mountain Creek Realty

The Real Team

OFFICE HOURS:

DICKINSON | DONLEY HOCOTT | SCHICK

Tuesday & Thursday 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville, NC 28786

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September 19-25, 2018

MOUNTAIN REALTY

71 N. Main St. • Waynesville, NC

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Mis-identifying mushrooms is a risky mistake

T

he cool and humid forests and valleys of the Smokies region are said to be home to a greater variety of mushrooms and related fungi species than any other place on earth. To some, mushrooms seem spectral and fantastic — like something out of a dream world, best avoided. To others, they represent adventure — objects to be sought out, identified, and understood for their own intrinsic beauty and place in the ecological cycle. And then there are those who pursue them as delicacies — gourmet items that wind up on the kitchen table.

Back in the 1980s my wife, Elizabeth, and I took a Smoky Mountain Field School course conducted by Ron Peterson, then the mycologist at the University of Tennessee.

This gave us the confidence and rudimentary skills required to make accurate identifications. There are about 20 species that we now harvest for the table, mainly in late summer and fall, which is the time of mushroom abundance in this region. These would include: morels (a spring species), sparassis, sulphur shelf, hedgehog mushroom, chanterelles, horn of plenty, painted suillus, blue lactarius, milkies, velvet foot, honey mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms.

We never fool with any species that’s in a

BACK THEN genus where poisonous species are found.

Misidentifying a bird or a wildflower isn’t a big deal, but misidentifying a mushroom that you’re going to eat can be a really big deal — like death.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the cultural aspects of mushroom harvesting and ingestion.

When I was growing up in piedmont Virginia, my folks never made referColumnist ence to “mushrooms:” instead, they invariably called them “toadstools” — a negative label that implied they were suspect and not to be fooled with any more than true toads were to be handled because they supposedly gave you warts.

But all of the earliest European settlers in North America (including my ancestors) had come to this continent with a longstanding tradition of harvesting and ingesting mushrooms. And they immediately began harvesting and ingesting North American species that resembled the ones they had been fond of in the Old World.

Trouble was that not a few of these proved to be deadly “look-a-likes.”

That situation pretty much cured most of our early ancestors from fooling with “toadstools.” On the West Coast, this “looka-like” scenario continues to be replayed into the 21st century as modern immigrants from Asia make deadly mistakes when they harvest and ingest species that closely resemble ones that had been choice edibles

Morel mushroom.

George Ellison

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in September 2004.

in their homelands. Some of the eastern European immigrants, however, have continued to harvest and ingest North American species to this day with success based on close observation and care.

Interestingly from a cultural viewpoint is the fact that the Native American peoples of both North and South America brought with them to the New World a great tradition of harvesting and ingesting mushrooms

which has been continued to this day. One supposes that they have done so by trial and error. That is, the Native Americans no doubt made deadly identification errors, as did the Europeans, but they apparently recorded those errors in their oral traditions and tended not to repeat them.

If you took a basketful of recently harvested mushrooms into a barbershop in Cherokee, a lively discussion as to their identification and where they were found would commence. The Cherokees would have their own names for each species and they would know exactly the type of habitat in which each was harvested.

“Armillariella mella” is known to the Cherokees as “slicks” and to whites as the “honey” mushroom. According to Cherokee native Amy Walker, an avid mushroom collector I spoke with some years ago, her people call them “slicks” because they “just slide right down your throat.” This is true. Once the cap of a “slick” is heated a little, it becomes viscous, like an oyster, and slides right down, one after the other.

Walker noted that the Cherokees have also traditionally collected “milkys” (a species in the “Lactarius” genus, all of which give off a milky latex), “wishys” (apparently the species known to whites as “hen of the woods”), and several others.

(George Ellison is a naturalist and writer.

He can be reached at info@georgeellison.com.)

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Smoky Mountain News September 19-25, 2018