Smoky Mountain News | December 13, 2023

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Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information

December 13-19, 2023 Vol. 25 Iss. 29

Judge rules on motion to dismiss in police shooting Page 10 SMN previews Christmas in Appalachia Page 20

CONTENTS On the Cover: If there’s one thing dogs love, it’s exercise, and getting out and moving is especially important for dogs living at animal rescues, many of whom spend much of their day in a cage. That’s why Sarge’s Animal Rescue has begun taking some of their dogs on Monday hikes as part of their Adventure Trails program. Seen here is volunteer Anne with Gary, the pup she was walking.

(Page 28) Sarge’s Animal Rescue photo

News Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring........................................................4 Just days remain in 2024 candidate filing period ......................................................5 Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn ........................................................6 Public hearing set for Franklin social district................................................................8 Program encourages shoppers to patronize local businesses ............................9 Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit ........................10 Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan ..........................................................12 Mountain Projects calls for participation in housing surveys................................13 The next chapter: New owner at Blue Moon Books ..............................................14 Gift will create endowment for WCU’s interior design program ........................15

Opinion Adjusting to life in a meat locker ..................................................................................18 It only takes one person to change a life....................................................................19

A&E Christmas in Appalachia ..................................................................................................20

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

December 13-19, 2023

Misfit Mountain seeks to help animals and owners alike ......................................29 Up Moses Creek: The Red Maple................................................................................34

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Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Jessica Murray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jessica.m@smokymountainnews.com Jack Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jack.s@smokymountainnews.com Stefanee Sherman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . stefanee@mtnsouthmedia.com Susanna Shetley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . amanda.b@smokymountainnews.com Sophia Burleigh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . sophia.b@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Kyle Perrotti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com Holly Kays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . holly@smokymountainnews.com Hannah McLeod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hannah@smokymountainnews.com Cory Vaillancourt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cory@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Jamie Cogdill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Thomas Crowe (writing)

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Lumpy Lambert, executive director of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino, shares progress from the construction site Dec. 11. Holly Kays photo

Murphy gaming expansion set to open in spring

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel in Murphy is abuzz these days as 200 on-site construction workers hustle to finish a $275 million expansion project expected to open in 2024.

“It’s a great story for us,” said General Manager Lumpy Lambert. “We’re excited about the end product.”

That end product, the casino’s first major expansion since it opened in 2015, will add 25,000 square feet to the gaming floor, including 400 new slot machines, 12 table games, a 10table World Series of Poker room and a 22-seat casino bar.

The project also includes a 1,700-stall parking garage that will connect via sky bridge to the hotel complex, which will get a new 296-room tower, indoor pool, fitness center and 12,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant.

When ground broke on the project Sept. 29, 2022, it was expected to be done in early 2024 within the $275 million budget. The casino expansion remains on track to meet those benchmarks. General contractor Robins & Morton has not had to tap into any of the contingencies built into the budget, Lambert said, and the casino expansion is expected to open in late April or early May. The hotel is scheduled for completion in late fall or early winter next year.

“Everything is going extremely well, knock on wood,” Lambert said.

“We don’t need to knock on wood. We’re not like those other jobs you read about that gave everybody up on this COVID inflation and everything,” added Jimmy Peady, senior director of design and construction for Caesar’s Entertainment. “We’re able to manipulate the design and our use of trade contractors across the region and land this thing within the budget in the schedule we’re working toward.”

Through the plywood doors that now mark the entrance to the new casino space spreads an enormous, high-ceilinged room that will be the new gaming floor. Once the project is done, a plywood wall at the back of the room will come down, joining the new space to the existing gaming floor. To the right of the entrance extends a long hallway leading to an elevator shaft, which will serve a yet-to-be-built parking deck.

Connected to the right side of the gaming floor are spaces that will serve as the bar and poker room.

“They’ve done a really excellent job thus far getting it dried in,” Lambert said. “We got heat inside the facility, so that’s making it much more manageable for their team.”

Right now, the space is still very much a construction zone. Drywall remains unpainted as crews work to finish mudding and sanding. Floors are concrete, ceilings a grid of 4 metal. The beeps, clatters and smacks of construction work

December 13-19, 2023

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Smoky Mountain News

About 200 construction workers are currently on the project. Holly Kays photo

service. Our employees provide great service to our guests, punctuate every conversation. But Lambert and Peady think and our guests choose to come back because of that service the final product will be something to admire. that they receive from our employees.”

“We’ve got a new carpet coming in, which means we get Lambert also pointed out that, apart from the new amenito replace the existing [gaming floor] carpet after the first of ties, the Valley River experience will improve once construcnext year,” Peady said. “It’s got bits of mountain scenes and tion ends because guests will have an easier time finding parksome other tips of the hat I’d say towards the area and the tribe. We’ve got wood slats coming for the ceiling. I wouldn’t ing once they arrive. The areas where the new gaming floor, parking deck and hotel tower are being built were previously say we’re copying the existing gaming floor. We’re compleparking areas, creating a temporary parking shortage. menting it and improving it.”

“Right now, our guests are choosing not to come to us Once complete, Lambert expects the expansion to add and not fight the disruption of construction, and that’s been about 100 jobs to the casino’s existing 1,000 positions, while kind of a given,” Lambert said. “And we just know that we’ve about 900 people have worked on the construction site over got our work cut out for us to get that Knoxville customer to the past year. The casino had struggled to fill vacancies in the come back to us, keep the Atlanta customer coming to us, wake of the pandemic, recording 140 unfilled positions in July Chattanooga, and certainly our 100-mile radius, two-hour 2021, but vacancies have since fallen below pre-pandemic levdrive, we cater to anyhow.” els. There are currently about 50 open positions, Lambert said, and that number includes the roughly 30 people that typically enroll in the casino’s table games training class.

The expansion project is unfolding amid a pivotal moment for the tribe’s gaming enterprise, which is seeing its two-decade monopoly on the region’s gambling market come to an end. Temporary casino facilities are now open in Bristol, Virginia, and Kings Mountain near Charlotte. In 2023, total per capita distriAs seen from the air, progress continues on the butions — payments tribal $275 million expansion project. Robins & Morton photo members receive in December and June each year as shareholders in the casino enterprise — fell compared to the 2022 total.

Lambert expects that the expansion will help the casino reassert its place in the competitive landscape.

“We recognize competition’s here,” he said. “We’re embracing it, and we’re going to continue to do our part and do the best we can to make sure that the guest expeA rendering shows what the 22-seat bar on the new rience is as best as it can be, gaming floor will look like once complete. Donated image and what will drive that is our

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Henderson County resident Michele Woodhouse has been reelected as chair of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District after stepping down from the post late in 2021. Woodhouse, a Detroit native with roots in Jackson and Macon counties, won the district election held at Tuscola High Scholl in Waynesville on Dec. 9 by a wide margin and will serve a two-year term. She was first elected in April 2021, but left to run for Western North Carolina’s congressional seat when then-congressman Madison Cawthorn (RHenderson) announced he would run for Congress in 2022 in a newly-drawn district.

In Macon County, Republican Barry Breeden filed for the County Commission District 3 seat currently held by fellow Republican Paul Higdon, who also filed.

Josh Young, also a Republican, has filed in District 2. That seat is currently held by first-term incumbent Republican Danny Antoine.

Swain County Republican Eric Watson has filed for a seat on the Swain County Commission, as has Tanner Lawson, another Republican.

Candidate filing continues through noon on Dec. 15. The 2024 Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, March 5.

The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 Primary Election is Friday, Feb. 9.

For more information, visit ncsbe.gov.

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Courts, however, struck down that map, leaving Cawthorn little choice but to run in the district that originally elected him. Cawthorn, along with Woodhouse and several others, lost in the 2022 Republican Primary Election to then-Sen. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson), who went on to earn his first term in the House by defeating Buncombe County Democrat Jasmine Beach-Ferrara in November 2022. Woodhouse secured the nomination with endorsements from chairs of the district’s largest counties — Buncombe, Haywood and Henderson. Elected alongside Woodhouse were Reagan Bunch (vice chair) of Clay County, Patrick Ward (second vice chair) of Madison County, Wally Booth (treasurer) of Transylvania County and Hunter Clark (secretary) of McDowell County.

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Woodhouse returns as NC-11 GOP chair

remain unopposed.

Another pair of Republicans, Jenny Lynn Hooper and Michael Jennings, have filed for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners. Jennings is competing for the seat held by Democrat Mark Jones, while Hooper will face Republican Tom Stribling in the Primary Election — if Stribling files.

Clint Irons, a Republican, and Wes Jamison, an independent, have both filed for seats on the Jackson County Board of Education in District 3. Rainy Brake, also a Republican, has filed in District 1.

December 13-19, 2023

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR orth Carolina’s candidate filing period for the 2024 General Election ends at noon, Friday, Dec. 15, and if the previous two weeks are any indication, there won’t likely be a lot of contested races in Western North Carolina.

First-term Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) has filed for reelection, as has Hayesville Republican Christian Reagan. A Buncombe County legislator, Democrat Caleb Rudow, announced his intent to run two weeks ago, but hasn’t yet filed.

Incumbent District 43 judges Justin Greene (DSwain), Monica Hayes Leslie (D-Haywood) and Kaleb Wingate (RHaywood) have filed to retain their seats and are currently unopposed.

Virginia Hornsby (RMacon) has also filed and will face Jackson County Republican Andy Buckner in the Primary Election.

Sen. Kevin Corbin (RMacon) and Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) both filed for their seats, but right now only Hise has an opponent, Avery County Democrat Frank Hughes III. Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) is in for House District 118 and will face Democrat Evelyn Davidson of Madison County.

In District 119, Rep. Mike Clampitt (RSwain) remains completely unopposed.

House Majority Whip Karl Gillespie (RMacon) has filed for his District 120 House seat, as has Andrews Democrat Nancy Curtis.

The only candidates to file for the two available seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners are incumbent Republicans — Chair Kevin Ensley and Vice Chair Brandon Rogers. Both filed shortly after the filing period opened and

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Cherokee Editorial Board ordinance withdrawn Council, chiefs will retain appointments

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER n ordinance seeking to change the makeup of the Cherokee One Feather’s editorial board made it back in front of Tribal Council on Thursday, Dec. 7, following a lengthy work session held Nov. 21. But One Feather Editor Robert Jumper, who had submitted the legislation, immediately asked that it be withdrawn.

“With the level of disagreement with the direction that the Editorial Board was going, we decided to withdraw rather than have it killed or modified into something that might not provide the benefit that we were seeking,” Jumper told The Smoky Mountain News via email.

The Editorial Board, which is enshrined in tribal law, is charged with developing written guidelines and policies for materials published in the tribally owned Cherokee One Feather. Under current law, the board is made up of One Feather staff members, one member appointed jointly by the chief and vice chief, one member appointed by Tribal Council and a staff member from the Office of the Attorney General. Board members serve indefinitely but can be removed for cause by a majority vote of the remaining member.

The ordinance, first introduced to Tribal Council in November, sought to eliminate the two chief and Tribal Council appointees and replace them with four community members, two appointed by the sitting board and two by the Cherokee Community Club Council.

“The goal of our request is to have more community involvement,” Jumper told Tribal Council Nov. 21. “It’s not uncommon in newspapers and media outlets to have the staff be the board that does that [editorial] direction. But in our case, we’re owned by the tribe, so we want our community involved in those decisions.”

The Editorial Board ordinance was last revised in 2018. That revision took the tribe’s director of marketing and public relations off the roster and gave the executive and legislative branches one appointment each. Additionally, at that time, language was removed from the ordinance requiring that “all news articles, editorials or other matters dealing with controversial subjects shall be submitted to the editorial board for consideration and approval prior to publication.”

“We had good intentions, but it wasn’t a good plan,” Jumper said of the 2018 revision. “I think you guys [on Tribal Council] are so good and studious in your deliberation of the code, and what we did was basically infuse politics into the board. It wasn’t a good fit for The One Feather because [Cherokee Code Chapter] 75 says we shouldn’t be politically influenced.”

Painttown Rep. Dike Sneed asked Jumper 6

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December 13-19, 2023

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whether any Council member had ever attempted to coerce him to do anything he believed to be wrong following the 2018 revision. Jumper said no such thing has happened, but that that’s not the point.

“It’s not that direct influence that we’re really concerned about because it would be a very public influence,” he said. “It’s more the subtle things of maybe appointing someone that might be able to be fed direction, for example. Perceptions are as bad as fact in the media, so people can be not doing anything bad at all, but the perception of it will

Community Club Council to select people they felt might best represent tribal members — that might mean they have a master’s degree in journalism, but it also might mean they’re simply wise, connected members of the community.

“That was why we asked to set aside two seats for the editorial board to select,” he said. “We can determine two seats that they know journalism, they know policies, they know procedures, but what we’re looking for from the Community Club Council is who they think would best represent the commu-

build the editorial board,” he said. “It’s not always been functional, and it’s been a chore to get it functional. I would ask that, if we can, to do a more controlled process as we start transitioning that power.”

Joining the Editorial Board is a learning curve, Jumper said, and with so many members, all of whom would be unpaid, it could prove difficult to achieve a quorum as often as required. He suggested adding only two community appointees to start with and considering more next year.

However, that offering did not gain trac-

Cherokee One Feather Editor Robert Jumper discusses proposed changes to the Editorial Board ordinance with Tribal Council during a Nov. 21 work session. EBCI image kill them. So what we want to do is avoid any perception of political influence.”

Big Cove Rep. Richard French was the first Council member to offer feedback. He said he wasn’t against the substance of the proposal but that he couldn’t vote in favor until the ordinance included language outlining the process the Community Club Council would use to make its appointments.

“I would have to agree with Richard on that,” said Birdtown Rep. Boyd Owle. “Any time you have a position out there or a board or something like that, you got all kind of people that apply for it from the community there. Some are certainly qualified for it, and

nity.”

Owle then suggested a significant change to the ordinance that would give the Community Club Council six appointments rather than two, one for each township.

Several other Council members voiced support for that idea, and Principal Chief Michell Hicks said it would be “healthy” to give each community a voice on the board.

“I attended the Community Club Council for three hours last night,” he said. “There was a lot of feedback around open communication and continued transparency. I think we have to find avenues to where our people have a voice and their comments and questions are heard. I think those are elements

“We decided to withdraw rather than have it killed or modified into something that might not provide the benefit that we were seeking.”

— Robert Jumper

some are not … of course you want the best person for the position, and you got to have qualifications for it.”

Jumper explained that he hadn’t written any such stipulations into the ordinance because The One Feather wanted the

that are important for this process.”

But Jumper balked at the idea of making such a large change so quickly. Owle’s suggestion would bring the board from eight positions to 14.

“We’ve been very, very careful how we

tion on Council.

“I do think it’s a little bit forward to assume you would have an issue with attendance or a quorum without ever seeing this possibility roll out,” said Painttown Rep. Michael Stamper. “If there was a situation where we put this into place and you had zero to six show up, then yeah, concerns would be validated. But just to state that you have those concerns up front before ever hearing anybody, I think that’s a little presumptuous on your part.”

“I appreciate that, Councilman,” Jumper replied. “I have a little over 10 years’ experience trying to build the board, so it’s not coming from my personal opinion, it’s coming from experience. It is a challenge when you have appointees — unpaid appointees — to establish a quorum.”

Rather than risk the ordinance accruing unwanted floor amendments, the Editorial Board chose to request that it be withdrawn from consideration.

“There may be a point in time when expanding to a larger complement on the Board will be appropriate, but it needs to be a reasoned, staggered implementation,” Jumper told SMN. “We will discuss the board makeup further internally and try to come up with a version that will satisfy the Council and meet our goals.”

news December 13-19, 2023

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Public hearing set for Franklin social district

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER he Town of Franklin will move forward with a public hearing for its proposed social district, despite inaction from the county on the town’s request to include three parcels of county property.

At its Dec. 4 meeting the Franklin Town Council heard public comments from multiple people in support of the Main Street social district, including several downtown businesses.

The proposed district would run from Town Hall down both sides of Main Street to the intersection of Porter Street to include Lazy Hiker. It would also include Stewart Street and the connection alleyway, Phillips Street where it connects Stewart to Main, Iotla Street to the alleyway at Crabtree General Store.

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the hours of the social district to seven days per week.

“We’ve checked statistics for this time frame compared to last year’s same time frame and there’s no increase in police calls,” Sylva Police Chief Chris Hatton told the Sylva Town Board at the time. “We checked everything, including traffic accidents in the district.”

“We’ve checked statistics for this time frame compared to last year’s same time frame and there’s no increase in police calls.

We checked everything, including traffic accidents in the district.”

Smoky Mountain News

December 13-19, 2023

— Chris Hatton, Sylva Police Chief

When Graham Norris of Lazy Hiker spoke in support of the Franklin social district at Franklin’s December meeting, he cited the success of the social district in Sylva, where Lazy Hiker also has a location.

Sylva approved the ordinance for a social district in February 2022. The town started with a test period during which the social district was limited to Friday through Sunday. During this time the town studied both economic impact of the social district as well as its effects on policing and incident reports in the downtown area.

After six months of this limited social district, Sylva officials found no increase in police calls, and expanded

This map shows where the social district would exist in Franklin. Donated photo Per legislation enacted in 2021, a social district allows for consumption of on-street and outdoor consumption of alcohol under controlled parameters. Those include a specific and delineated geographic area where the alcohol may be consumed and the requirement that it was sold by a participating ABC-permitted establishment. The social district must have signage indicating where people are allowed to drink alcohol, which businesses are participating and during what times the social district is active. The district must also have branded cups that are permitted outdoors. There are currently 38 municipalities that have social districts in the state with Sylva being the closest one to Franklin.

Cory McCall of Outdoor 76 also voiced his support for the social district. Like Norris, McCall has experience running a business within a social district. In Clayton, Georgia, where Outdoor 76 also has a location, there was a temporary social

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district held the during Thanksgiving weekend.

“We had nothing but a great experience, and I would expect the same thing in Franklin as well,” McCall said.

Joe Griffith, of 80s Flashback Weekend, said he thought a social district would benefit both the fundraising event and businesses on Main Street.

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Because county commissioners did not take action on the town’s request to include the brick area adjacent to the courthouse and both Gazebo and Clock Tower squares in social district, the map for the proposed social district now excludes those areas. These areas are all county property. Among other businesses, this would likely exclude Las Margaritas from being included in the social district.

“This is a big hurdle, obstacle, step, whichever you wish to refer to it as, because if you can’t have alcohol in the two main squares, then the only place anybody would be able to sit would be on the sidewalk,” Owens said during the discussion with commissioners at their November meeting about including county property.

The public hearing will take place during the Jan. 2 Town Council meeting.

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Here’s what the disloyalty cards look like in downtown Waynesville’s Twigs & Leaves Gallery. Donated photo

Courting disloyalty New program encourages shoppers to patronize Waynesville businesses

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and come together to embrace the program.

“It’s been really nice kind of breaking down some of the maybe silos or barriers that are maybe invisible to most but it’s kind of connecting a lot of corridors together,” he said.

Any customers with questions about the disloyalty card can inquire at a participating business, and any business interested in participating in the program can visit thedisloyaltycard.com/inquiry to get started.

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BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR The disloyalty card is here and it’s, in a sense, exactly what it sounds like.

Plenty of businesses use punch cards or reward systems that offer freebies for frequent customers, but the Disloyalty Card program has re-envisioned that concept on a grander scale. People shopping can get a card from any participating business. For every purchase at one of 19 participating businesses — a number that is poised to grow — the card is stamped. Once the card accumulates 14 stamps, the costumer can redeem it for a discount or free item at one of the participating shops. Many merchants offer a 10% discount on any purchase, which can actually lead to some huge savings, considering some businesses like art galleries allow them to be used on high-priced items.

Essentially, it encourages people to be loyal not to any one business, but rather to patronize a wide variety of Waynesville businesses — hence the cheeky name “disloyalty card.”

The program was dreamed up by Blake Yoder, who moved here a couple of years ago from South Carolina. He said it’s exciting because it gives the people the opportunity to shop and redeem rewards from one of several businesses instead of just one, which should stimulate the local economy on a broader scale.

“You may have the [Blue Ridge] Beer Hub give away a free pint, you may get a keychain from Axe & Awl,” he said. “The idea that it’s

fungible and changeable. It was something that we wanted to provide as a tool for the businesses rather than being too prescriptive on how the program runs.”

Yoder recalled seeing a similar program for several coffee shops in a Washington, D.C. neighborhood a few years ago, and the idea stuck with him.

“When I started thinking about small quick ways to kind of unite the community around small business, that just came top of mind and I was like, ‘oh, what if we kind of like tried to expand on this idea beyond a specific sector,’” he said.

Yoder took the idea to Spencer Tetrault, who owns Axe & Awl Leatherworks, which opened just over two years ago. The two frequently share ideas, Tetrault said, and they range from absurdly ambitious to relatively humble. He noted that they both identified the disloyalty program as a winner right away. The men, along with some other key partners, started hammering out the details in late October, and now the idea has come to fruition.

Another Waynesville business that helped get the Disloyalty card program off the ground was the Print Haus, which offered to print the first batch of materials for free.

However, now that Tetrault and company are paying for future print runs, there is a onetime $20 fee for a business to join the program. For that, a business will get a decal, 75 cards, 10 brochures and an ink pad and a stamp. Then they’re ready to get started.

Tetrault noted that while there are currently 19 businesses actively participating in the program, there are a few more that are in the process of joining in.

“It’s just in its infancy now, but we think this can go far,” Tetrault said.

“The sheer excitement we’ve seen from people participating already has been pretty awesome,” he added. “We’ve had folks pop in with four or five stamps already, so it’s working.”

Yoder said it’s been fun to see different merchants who provide all kinds of different goods and services jump on the bandwagon

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Here are the businesses currently participating in the Disloyalty Card program:

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Judge rules on motion to dismiss claims in police shooting suit

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he court has made its decision in the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office’s request to dismiss many of the complaints in a lawsuit stemming from the 2022 shooting of Jason Harley Kloepfer at his home near Murphy.

“The court denied a few things I thought it might grant and granted a few things I thought it might deny, but overall it’s right where we expected the outcome to be,” said Ellis Boyle, attorney for Kloepfer and his wife Alison Mahler, also a party in the lawsuit.

Kloepfer was seriously injured in the Dec. 13, 2022, shooting that occurred after a neighbor called 911 claiming she was concerned that he had hurt Mahler. Citing a potential hostage situation, the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office requested assistance from the Cherokee Indian Police Department’s SWAT team, which arrived in the early morning hours. Despite the CCSO’s initial statement to the contrary, home security video shows Kloepfer coming to the door with his hands up, in compliance with police orders. However, as he stood there three CIPD officers fired their weapons at

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December 13-19, 2023

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him, severely injuring him and narrowly missing Mahler.

In June, Kloepfer and Mahler filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina seeking millions in damages, and a special prosecutor is currently considering findings from the State

have many of the roughly 400 claims against them dismissed. The Dec. 4 ruling issued by U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. dismissed about 60% of these claims, but because many of the dismissed claims were redundant, their absence won’t have much impact the final outcome.

The lawsuit is filed in the U.S. District Court in Asheville. File photo Bureau of Investigation to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

The lawsuit named 31 defendants, including 17 associated with the CCSO. The CCSO defendants had sought to

Kloepfer had sued each of the parties in both their official and individual capacities, but in its motion to dismiss filed in August, the CCSO defendants had asked to dismiss claims against the CCSO itself and official

capacity claims against all CCSO employees except Sheriff Dustin Smith, for all counts except for the intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. Kloepfer and Mahler had not argued that point. Because the employees all worked for the same responsible organization, the Cherokee County Sheriff ’s Office, it wasn’t necessary to bring official capacity claims against all of them.

“Having the claim against the sheriff is all you need,” Boyle said. “It covers all of them.”

However, the parties had disagreed on other aspects of the motion. The CCSO had asked to dismiss claims against Detective Nolan Queen and Deputies Jessica Stiles, J.T. Gray, Jason Hall, Don Latulipe and Paul Fry on the grounds that Kloepfer has not alleged these officers were present when the shooting occurred. However, Cogburn agreed to allow these claims to go forward to the discovery phase of the lawsuit. If discovery shows these defendants weren’t involved in the “alleged conduct” underlying the claims, the plaintiffs must voluntarily dismiss them, Cogburn wrote.

Cogburn also allowed Kloepfer and Mahler’s claims of unlawful detention to move forward, denying a CCSO motion to dismiss that stated “there are no factual allegations to support an unlawful detention claim.” Mahler has alleged that, after EBCI officers shot Kloepfer, CCSO deputies handcuffed her and took her to the sheriff ’s office, where she was kept “locked in a small room for hours under guard.”

Cogburn ruled that the lawsuit

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Jason Harley Kloepfer and his wife Alison Mahler smile in a photo taken in 2019.

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my counsel, Ann-Patton Hornthal, for her gave defendants fair notice of the claim and extraordinary work on my behalf,” Brown facts supporting it. said in response to a request for comment.

However, Cogburn agreed with the Cogburn’s decision still allows many sigCCSO’s argument that public official immunificant claims to move forward, Boyle said. nity protected the defendants from being “The civil rights claims based on the consued in their individual capacity for certain stitutional violations remain completely claims — negligence, negligent infliction of intact against both the sheriff ’s defendants emotional distress and negligent hiring and and the tribal defendants, so those are pretsupervision/retention. But despite the ty serious,” he said. Also “serious,” are the CCSO’s request to the contrary, he allowed the punitive damages claims brought against unlawful detention and gross negligence claims. Meanwhile, the court’s decision to defendants in their individual capacities to retain the punitive damages claim, which move forward. could result in a substantial monetary award Finally, Cogburn ruled that Smith has should a jury see things Kloepfer’s way, was not waived governmental immunity to the also an important win, Boyle said. official capacity claims against him by purchasing liability insurance.

“The civil rights claims based on the However, immunity is waived up to the constitutional violations remain completely amount of the surety bond covering intact against both the sheriff’s defenSmith, meaning dants and the tribal defendants, so those that the claims can move forward. are pretty serious.”

Cogburn’s ruling also removed — Ellis Boyle, attorney for Kloepfer and Mahler one defendant from the lawsuit — Now that Cogburn has decided which County Attorney Darryl Brown, who at the claims can proceed, the CCSO defendants time was also serving on contract as attorwill have to provide an answer to the civil ney for the CCSO. Kloepfer and Mahler complaint Kloepfer filed in June. The alleged that Brown’s role in preparing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians defenpress release sent hours after the shooting, which was later shown to give a false version dants, who did not move to dismiss, filed their answer in August. After that, Boyle of the night’s events, amounted to defamasaid, the court is likely to issue a scheduling tion of character. Brown, in a filing separate order that will trigger processes like deposifrom the rest of the CCSO defendants, moved to dismiss the claims. Cogburn grant- tions and written discovery to take place. As of press time, no further deadlines or heared that motion, finding that Kloepfer did ings have been set in this case. The attorney not “sufficiently allege actual malice by representing all CCSO defendants other Brown” and that various legal immunities than Brown did not return a request for and privileges protect Brown from suit. comment.

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Macon schools to consider policy on Narcan Macon School Board.

File photo

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER acon County Schools will follow the example of several other school districts and consider a policy on administration of Narcan.

“We’ve developed that policy for a couple of different clients,” Board Attorney John Henning told school board members during their Dec. 11 meeting.

Over the years, several parties have inquired with Henning about whether the school system should have a policy for administering Narcan, a brand of the medication naloxone which acts as an antagonist to opioids in the body. When someone is experiencing an overdose of opioids and their systems are failing, Narcan can be administered, interfering with the opioid’s

December 13-19, 2023

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ability to bind to neurons and quickly stopping the overdose process.

“There are two things that, from a legal standpoint, favor erring on the side of administering Narcan if you find somebody who you think is in need of it,” said Henning. “One, there’s a good Samaritan law and if you’re in good faith trying to help somebody, you’re not really subject to civil process, you’re not going to be subject to the criminal process and all that. Two is that [Narcan] does not affect people that don’t have opioids in their system.”

The policy would outline that the people administering Narcan have been trained in how to do so.

“We want our nursing staff and healthcare to be the ones that administer it first, if it’s needed, rather than school employees

any staff or students who might accidentally that are not trained health care providers,” pick up something contaminated with fensaid Henning. tanyl or be exposed in some other way.

First responders have Narcan on hand Jackson County Schools adopted a similar and all school resource officers in Macon County also carry Narcan. However, this pol- policy earlier this year after the Jackson County Department of Public Health icy would make it even more readily availreceived a grant to prevent opioid misuse able if or when it is needed. and overdose. The grant allowed for the purHenning noted that there can be a social stigma around Narcan but made clear that by chase of naloxone and training for staff. adopting a policy around its administration, school dis“It’s about saving lives when they tricts are in no way encouraging or even excusing drug use. become endangered by those things “You’re not encouraging that we certainly are against and have anybody to use drugs,” Henning said. “That’s not always been against and will continue what this is about. It’s about to educate against.” saving lives when they become endangered by those — John Henning, Macon School Board Attorney things that we certainly are against and have always been against and will continue to educate against.” According to its policy each school principal was responsible for designating one or more “Better to have [a policy] than not,” said school personnel to receive training annually school board member Diedre Breeden. from a school nurse, or other qualified repreSchool Board Chairman Jim Breedlove sentative of the health department, on storagreed that while social stigmas may exist, the important thing is that the school system age and emergency use.

The board unanimously agreed to direct could save a life that is at risk.

“It may be the difference between life and Henning to work on creating a policy for Narcan use in the Macon County School sysdeath for a possible student,” Breedlove said. tem. Any such policy will come back before Another administrator noted that while Narcan is important for saving someone who the board for discussion and multiple reads prior to adoption. is overdosing, it is also vital for the health of

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Three surveys from Mountain Projects that aim to help the nonprofit develop a housing plan, identify housing projects that will meet the community’s needs and provide information to pursue funding through state, federal and private sources is now open.

The surveys are confidential and anonymous. There are three separate surveys — one for workers in the real estate industry, one to assess community housing needs and one for employers.

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Statewide holiday ‘Booze It & Lose It’ enforcement campaign underway

Office will reopen under new contractor The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles’ license plate agency in Jackson County will close at 5 p.m. Dec. 15.

The agency, located at 454 E. Main St. in Sylva has been operated by Barry and Debra Woods since 2021.

An application for a new contractor is

open, and there are plans to open another office in that same location. In the meantime, there are three nearby license plate agencies offering service Monday through Friday.

• Bryson City: 101 Mitchell St.; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Waynesville: 80 Waynesville Plaza; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Franklin: 353 Westgate Plaza; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LPAs offer vehicle registration services and title transactions, as well as vehicle license plate renewals, replacement tags and duplicate registrations. Currently 124 LPA offices operate in the state.

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This holiday season, the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program joins local and state law enforcement to urge drivers against impaired driving.

The statewide “Booze It & Lose It” campaign, which begins today and ends on Jan. 1, aims to raise awareness and deter people from driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs and all impairing substances.

“Festivities this time of year often involve alcohol consumption, which unfortunately leads to an increased risk of impaired driving,” said Mark Ezzell, director of GHSP. “More than 25% of all N.C. crash fatalities in 2022 involved drivers who were under the influence of alcohol.”

According to the N.C. Department of Transportation, 471 alcohol related crash fatalities occurred in 2022. The “Booze It & Lose It” campaign is a sobering reminder that there are severe consequences for reckless behavior.

Now until Jan 1., law enforcement agencies throughout the state will increase the number of sobriety checkpoints and patrols in heavily trafficked areas. These checkpoints reinforce the message that there is a zero-tolerance approach toward driving under the influence.

“The most important thing is to have a transportation plan before consumption of alcohol or drugs,” said Jennifer Lichtneger, executive director of NC Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “It is essential to plan a safe ride before heading out. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking, you will already be too impaired to make the right decisions.”

Plenty of options are available to help drivers arrive safely at their destination, like designating a sober driver or calling a taxi or rideshare service. Visit ncdot.gov to search for all available public transportation in any North Carolina city or county.

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The next chapter New owner at Blue Moon Books

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER ne of Haywood County’s used bookstores is entering its next chapter with a change of ownership and a continuation of tradition.

“After starting Blue Moon from the bare floors and sharing our love of books with the community for the past year and a half, we are passing the torch to our dear friend, and former employee, Rachel Sease,” said Bonnie and Greg Owens, owners of Wall Street Books. “We are looking forward to this new chapter.”

When Bonnie and Greg Owens bought Wall Street Books in Waynesville nine years ago, they were inheriting the store from Richard Roup and Joyce Elam, who opened the store in 1994, long-time devotees to the used book world. They were also taking charge of a tight-knit community that expands well beyond the bounds of Haywood County. Since that time, the family has only grown the strong tradition of local business in the county, opening Blue Moon Books in Canton.

Now, the tradition has been passed on again with Sease, long-time employee at both Wall Street and Blue Moon Books, purchasing the downtown Canton store.

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December 13-19, 2023

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enchanting to me because they make more obvious the ways in which we’re all connected,” Sease said. “When I pick up a book at Blue Moon, I know it’s been held by at least one other set of hands.”

Some of the books in the vintage section of ease first crossed paths with the Owens Blue Moon were published as early as the family while teaching fourth grade at 1800s.

Bethel Elementary. The same year “Imagine how many hands have held them Sease had the Owens’s youngest son in her and whose shelves class, the family bought they’ve lived on,” said Wall Street Books.

Sease. “All of these Five years down the line, books somehow found Sease had left teaching for a their way to Blue job at First United Methodist Moon and stay for just Church when she ran into a little while before Bonnie and Greg at the grocontinuing to weave cery store. They asked her to these invisible threads come and work for them and, from person to person. at first, Sease wasn’t sure she For me, it’s a constant could make it happen in reminder of our comaddition to her job at the mon humanity.” church. However, as Sease Her eagerness and puts it, “when excitement at excitement for the the thought of working in a trade only grew with bookstore kept me up all Rachel Sease, a longtime employee time, and soon after night, I decided to try and of Blue Moon, purchased the down- beginning her work in make it work.” town Canton bookstore. Donated photo. the bookstore, Sease She began working one to knew she wanted her three days a week at the bookstore, alternating involvement to be permanent. She made it between Wall Street Books and Blue Moon clear to Bonnie and Greg that she was invested Books when it opened in 2022. in the business and implored them to consider “I love books and I love reading, mostly her at whatever point they decided to sell. because I love learning,” said Sease. “I really “When they opened Blue Moon, I loved it love books that cause me to change my perjust as much as Wall Street,” said Sease. “It spective on something.” means a lot that they trusted me with it.”

For Sease, her love of books doesn’t end Sease’s time in education allowed her to with their face value. experience the unifying power of stories and “Used bookstores in particular are so

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their ability to foster empathy. Now, she can continue this work at the helm of the bookstore.

“Through books, I experience the awe and wonder that I loved seeing in the students,” Sease said. “I hope that is the case for other adults too. Community, empathy, awe and wonder are world-changing qualities. My work at Blue Moon makes me feel like I’m bringing more of all that good stuff into the world.”

Those qualities have been on broad display in Canton over the course of the past year since news broke that the paper mill, in operation for 115 years, would close. Over 1,000 employees, many of them Canton residents, were suddenly out of work and the town government, still recovering from the devastation of the flood following Tropical Storm Fred in 2021, now had countless and unprecedented new hurdles to face.

But, like so many of Canton’s residents, Sease is optimistic about the town’s future.

“Canton is enduring the mill closure with such grace and resilience,” said Sease. “The people of this community are genuinely invested in one another’s wellbeing and determined to honor the town’s rich history even as it changes and grows. With that kind of spirit, there can only be great things to come for Canton. I’m excited to be part of it.”

For now, Sease is not planning any sweeping changes to the Canton mainstay. Though she is looking forward to implementing book clubs, hosting small gatherings and special events.

“I’m honored to continue what Greg and Bonnie lovingly created,” she said.

Alumna gift will create endowment for interior design program

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impossible, and she has been a source of encouragement to this day.”

In addition to owning and operating her full-service interior design firm in Waynesville, Greeley has served as an adjunct faculty member in WCU’s interior design program, teaching classes in “The History of Furniture” and “Professional

“As travel abroad has fueled my design passion and greatly informed my design aesthetic, it is my hope that our students will be influenced by their exposure to the wealth of history and design from around the world.”

— Kathy Greeley

Practice for Interior Design.” Her firm has provided internship opportunities for numerous students from WCU, including several who were hired by the company at the end of their internships and have gone on to work collectively for more than 20

years at Kathryn Greeley Designs.

She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers and is NCIDQ-qualified and registered to practice interior design by the N.C. Board of Architecture and Registered Interior Designers. She is a past president of the North and South Carolina Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers and is the author of two books, “The Collected Tabletop” and “The Collected Cottage.” Her design work and books have been featured in publications including Southern Home, Victoria, Traditional Home, Country Home, Carolina Home + Garden, Southern Living and At Home in Arkansas.

Erin Adams, program coordinator and professor of interior design, said the program’s faculty, staff, students and graduates are proud of the accomplishments of Greeley as an alumna and appreciative of her ongoing contributions to the program.

“We are sincerely grateful for Kathy Greeley’s continued support of the interior design program,” Adams said. “Her gift is a generous investment in a brighter future for our students, and it will assist in supporting the sustained growth and evolution of the interior design program.”

For more information about the “Fill the Western Sky” campaign or to make a contribution, visit westernsky.wcu.edu, call 828.227.7124 or email advancement@wcu.edu.

news December 13-19, 2023 Smoky Mountain News

design profession and in recognition of the tudents in Western Carolina importance of the arts in society.

University’s interior design program “Western Carolina has been very impactsoon will have access to new experienful in both my professional and personal life. tial learning opportunities thanks to a I often say that ‘WCU changes lives,’ and it $75,000 gift from a woman whose 40-year career in the profession got its start at WCU. has certainly changed my life. My hope is that our gift will inspire others to establish Kathryn Crisp Greeley, owner of the endowments in areas of their personal pasWaynesville-based firm Kathryn Greeley sions. I am so grateful for what WCU has Designs, recently created an endowment to done for my career in interior design,” she support the interior design program in perpetuity. Currently chair of the WCU Board of said.

“It is our hope that this gift will be used Trustees, Greeley is a two-time graduate of solely to provide students with opportunities WCU, where she earned her bachelor’s to study abroad, attend programs, conferdegree in 1973 and master’s degree in 1983. ences and seminars, and do research in the The creation of an endowment for the interior design program represents Greeley’s field of interior design,” Greeley said. “I hope that, as a result of these opportunities, stuleadership gift to WCU’s “Fill the Western dents will be able to fulfill their passions, folSky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, low their dreams and enjoy a successful and an effort to raise a minimum of $75 million joyous design career. for the university’s As travel abroad has academic, student fueled my design pasengagement and athsion and greatly letics programs. The informed my design new endowment is the aesthetic, it is my hope latest example of her that our students will long history of supbe influenced by their port for WCU, said exposure to the wealth Chancellor Kelli R. of history and design Brown. from around the “Kathy Greeley has world.” been extremely generGreeley said she ous to Western believes that particiCarolina University pating in those kinds over the years with of extracurricular gifts of her time, talactivities and experient and treasure,” ential learning opporBrown said. “Her lattunities, which are a est financial contribupriority of the tions to a program fundraising campaign, that is near and dear will help develop stuto her heart will prodents’ confidence and vide a legacy of supKathy Greeley. File photo leadership skills. port to our interior Creating an design program for endowment for the interior design program is generations to come. I look forward to conalso a way to pay homage to the WCU faculty tinuing to work with her in her role as the members who helped Greeley along her educhair of the WCU Board of Trustees to further the mission of the university and to ‘Fill cational and professional paths, she said.

“I can’t begin to stress how much several the Western Sky’ with hope, promise and WCU faculty members have had a positive prosperity.” impact on my career and how they have Greeley has been involved in supporting shaped my life, both personally and profesWCU’s Friends of the Arts organization and sionally. As an undergraduate student in crithe Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. sis due to the unexpected death of my father She previously established a scholarship only weeks before classes started, Jane Hyatt, fund in memory of her parents, French who was on the interior design faculty, took Orion and Margaret Colville Crisp. The me under her wing and mentored me for my $50,000 fund provides scholarships to students from Western North Carolina counties four years as I completed my bachelor’s degree,” Greeley said. with special consideration for active-duty While working on her master’s degree at military and veterans, as Greeley’s father WCU, she studied under interior design faculwas a decorated World War II veteran. ty members Michele Lee and his wife, Cherie.

She resides in Waynesville with her hus“Both of these individuals pushed me band, J. Wells Greeley, the past owner and beyond my comfort level and made me keenpresident of Wells Funeral Homes and ly aware of the importance of interior design Events Center who now enjoys the title of qualification through the National Council “funeral director emeritus.” for Interior Design Qualification exam, as Greeley said she selected the interior well as the importance of participation in prodesign program in the Belcher College of fessional organizations,” she said. “While Fine and Performing Arts for her “Fill the working on my master’s thesis, Dr. Judy Western Sky” campaign gift because it set Dowell guided me to successfully write my her on the road to a rewarding career spanthesis when I thought that was completely ning more than 40 years in the interior

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Ribbon cutting for the house cat museum On Thursday, Nov. 30, the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Team held a grand opening/ribbon cutting ceremony for the American Museum of the House Cat. Located at 5063 U.S. Hwy 441 South in Sylva, the American Museum of the House Cat is the second cat museum in America. The museum honors the house cat and educates and entertains cat lovers in America.

Admission is $7.50 for adults, $2 for kids under 12, and those under 6 are admitted for free. Cats on a leash are welcome. Small dogs are OK, too. The museum fee funds the Catman2 no-kill shelter.

Hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Closed Mondays.

For more information, call 828.476.9376 or visit wnccatmuseum.org or the museum’s Facebook page.

From left are Chamber Ambassadors Chad Gerrety, Matt Saenger, Marne Harris, Patricia Bryson-Wink, American Museum of the House Cat Director Harold Sims, Marketing Director Kimberly Crow, Museum Manager Julie Kimbrell (holding official museum cat Mimi), and ambassadors Patricia Stanberry, Karson Walston, Natalie Newman and Chris Stuckey. Jackson County Chamber of Commerce photo

Jackson TDA director named ‘top-25 extraordinary mind’ The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has selected Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) Executive Director Nick Breedlove as one of its “Top 25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization, and Distribution“ for 2023. This is the 21st year HSMAI has compiled the list, which annually recognizes exemplary achievement and leadership in the hospitality sales, marketing, revenue optimization and distribution.

Breedlove will join an exclusive list when he is honored by HSMAI at a reception in New York on Feb. 13, 2024.

The 2023 “Top 25” honorees were judged by a panel of senior industry executives for their recent work based on the following criteria: creativity and innovation, cutting edge sales or marketing campaigns, triumph in challenging situations, and/or efforts that resulted in dramatic gains.

A highly regarded leader and expert in the tourism industry, Breedlove is known for his innovative approach and strategic vision. As the former youngest elected mayor in North Carolina, he was appointed executive director of the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority in 2015, transforming the destination into an economic powerhouse, generating almost half a billion dollars in annual visitor spending from a $2 million budget.

“I am deeply honored to accept HSMAI's 'Top

25 Extraordinary Minds in Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization and Distribution' recognition,” Breedlove said. “This honor reflects not only personal achievement but is also a testament to the collective efforts and the dynamic work culture we have nurtured at the Jackson County TDA. The success we have achieved as a team has been instrumental in earning this honor, and I look forward to celebrating with my industry peers and fellow honorees this February.”

In addition to the “Top 25” reception, Breedlove will be featured in an HSMAI special report, receive a personalized award and henceforward be recognized as a “Top 25 Extraordinary Mind in Hospitality Sales, Marketing, Revenue Optimization and Distribution.”

HCC receives grant for the childcare facility The Dogwood Health Trust recently awarded a $500,000 grant to support the Regional Center for the Advancement of Children located on the Haywood Community College campus. Open to the community, this center provides five-star childcare to the youngest students on campus.

This grant will support operations of the facility including hiring four additional full-time staff members, purchasing supplies needed for the center, improving collaboration between the RCAC and the college’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, and increasing the number of staff receiving ECE teaching credentials.

The center is the region's only state-of-the-art early childcare laboratory, with classrooms and

observation rooms for early childcare students and faculty to teach and learn. Funding from the Dogwood grant will be used to purchase equipment and supplies for faculty in our Early Childhood Education program.

With the additional staffing, this grant funding will help the center reach full capacity by the end of the grant cycle. The Regional Center for the Advancement of Children is positioned to provide ongoing childcare for the families in our community through our on-site facility while also helping the rest of the region fill workforce needs and early childhood professional gaps through comprehensive training.

Job applications are now being accepted for teachers at the Regional Center for the Advancement of Children and can be found at schooljobs.com/careers/haywoodedu.

Pilot grant program supporting WNC communities announced The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina and Dogwood Health Trust are partnering to launch the WNC Community Enhancement Program that will award grants to charitable organizations and eligible public agencies to fund projects in downtowns or commercial corridors that enhance appearance, infrastructure or the pedestrian experience.

CFWNC will administer the program and will award grants up to $10,000 for projects not exceeding a total cost of $50,000. Dogwood Health

17

Trust provided the funding for the one-year pilot.

Grants will be reviewed and announced quarterly.

To apply, organizations must be tax-exempt and located in the Qualla Boundary or one of the following counties in Western North Carolina: Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania or Yancey. Priority will be given to projects located in rural or other under-resourced areas.

“WNC Community Enhancement grants can help build, rebuild or refresh community spaces that foster connections and economic development,” said CFWNC Scholarship and Program Officer Lezette Parks who will manage the program. “In general, funded projects will be standalone, rather than part of a larger project, and we anticipate that most will address beautification or infrastructure improvements.”

Those interested in applying can learn more at cfwnc.org.

CFWNC awards educational grants to Jackson Schools The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina recently awarded grants totaling $7,329 to Jackson County schools from the Learning Links grant program. The grants provide local teachers with funding for activities designed to make required coursework engaging and relevant for their students.

Five Learning Links grants will support projects at Jackson Community School, Smokey Mountain Elementary School and The Catamount School. The grants will fund hands-on field trips, materials for a garden project, art materials for an art exhibition, an immersive Titanic learning experience using Lego Robotics and VR technology, and a variety of items needed to run a full-length play in May 2024. Additionally, two grants to Mountain Discovery Charter School totaling $2,000 will provide funds for materials for a Reading-Writing Workshop and funds to purchase hand tools so students can create functional objects.

“The Learning Links grant program continues to thrive,” said Lezette Parks, Scholarship and Program Officer. “Teachers are constantly finding ways to engage their students. Based on the applications, the theme for this year is experiences - inside and outside the classroom.

Teachers are planning creative projects and field trips that demonstrate to students that learning is exciting and impacts their lives. Students are encouraged to stay in school when they can apply what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.”

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina inspires philanthropy and mobilizes resources to enrich lives and communities in eighteen counties in Western North Carolina. Last year, the Foundation facilitated $34 million in charitable giving.

For more information, contact The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina at 828.254.4960 or visit cfwnc.org.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

It only takes one person to change a life M

Knife fights over deck chairs To the Editor: The world as we know it is changing dramatically. We have entered the era of the polycrisis in which a cluster of related global and local risks with compounding effects are having unprecedented effect — greater than the sum of the individual risks.

We are barreling toward both climate and democracy collapse. We are imbedded in wars and wars over wars and it is unclear which nations, terrorist groups, financiers or parties are pulling the strings. For all the good artificial intelligence can offer humanity, we are witnessing its use to drive agendas with falsehoods and biases on repeat.

Dictatorships globally are on the rise.

Billionaires can decide if a country gets wi-fi or how the Supreme Court will take a decision. At home, 16% of American children are living in poverty, 44 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, workers cannot make ends meet on low wages, there is a housing crisis, and our young people are falling behind in education while suffering depression, anxiety

is currently needed as we move into the holiday and winter seasons.

As Nicole spoke with me, several guests came in and out, respectfully gathering what they needed and saying hello.

“Watching people come to us and experience a total 180 is a true gift,” she said. “Whatever barriers one may have, everything gets better and people get healthier when they have food, clothing, shelter and a place to charge their phone.”

Data collected in January 2023 reported 46 unhoused individuals living in Haywood County, but since July 1, Helping Hands and partner agencies have found permanent housing Columnist for 60 people. This is an example of data not accurately portraying the extent of homelessness in Haywood County, but with 60 folks now in permanent housing, follow-up numbers should be significantly less.

Something that was missing in Haywood County was a central location where the unhoused could shower, get food, gather clothing and seek resources. In 2019, Matthew Blackburn and Carrie Brown, along with a supportive team from First United Methodist Church, started The Friendship House as an outreach program for the church. Matthew is the youth minister and leader for outreach programs at the church and Carrie Brown is a member and avid volunteer for the The Friendship House ministries, which is open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7-11 a.m. on Saturdays, where a hot breakfast is served and 45 or more people attend every week.

“The Friendship House is the old parsonage for the church and was just sitting empty,” said Blackburn. “When we realized there was a need for a central location, we decided to open its doors. My favorite time of the week is Saturday

Susanna Shetley

any years ago when I was an educator, my school was tasked with reading a book titled “The Cycle of Poverty” by Ruby Payne. The goal was to help teachers gain a better understanding of where many of our students were coming from and how poverty significantly impacts their performance and behavior in school. It’s a fascinating read and highlights an array of topics in depth.

Essentially, there are three overarching socio-economic classes (poverty, middle-class and wealth). It’s challenging to break out of any class without an outside influence. This is similar to Newton’s law — a body in motion stays in motion until acted upon by an external force. Poverty keeps rolling through generations until something significant comes along to stop it.

Poverty’s most simplistic definition is the state of not having enough possessions or assets to fulfill a person’s basic needs, so therefore poverty and homelessness are inextricably linked.

When individuals in poverty who finally break the cycle are interviewed, most of them cite another person as being the reason they were able to move up the class ladder. This person may have been a teacher, family friend, coach, youth leader, service provider or someone else, but no matter, most people cannot escape poverty on sheer will alone. They need compassionate human beings to be that external force.

In Haywood County, there are a number of individuals and organizations trying to be that external force. Nicole Kott, director of Helping Hands of Haywood and the Friendship House, is one such person. Helping Hands is a non-profit that works to increase the well-being of Haywood County and surrounding areas by working with people who are disenfranchised, experiencing homelessness or living in insecure shelter. They also offer street outreach where they find the unhoused and work to get them the help they need.

I recently stopped by The Friendship House to catch up with Nicole and learn what services they offer and what help

LETTERS and fear. We have lost the plot.

And in North Carolina? Our leaders are busy plotting ways to never lose an election again, getting permission to decide what goes on record and what does not, and formulating a shadow police to do their bidding. Our leaders are distracting us with fear mongering over the non-starter issues such as taking away gas stoves or legalizing marijuana while they are in fact taking away our reproductive and voting rights and making it legal to hate or hurt anyone who does not agree, believe, orient or look like them.

And, we are paying them handsomely to do this, our taxes pay their salaries and insurance that the rest of us can’t afford or access while they are bolstering their wallets with big money from lobbyists. They ignore what the population at large needs and the views they express. They are not representing North Carolinians. They are representing themselves.

Our state leaders are in no way prepared for the polycrisis we are confronted by. They have moved beyond rearranging the deck chairs and have resorted to knife fights over

morning breakfast. It’s another way to do church, instead of in pews on Sundays, it’s around tables on Saturdays.”

Nicole came on board with The Friendship House in May 2023. “Meeting people where they’re at and getting to see miracles happen every day is incredible,” she said. “Things happen for people here that wouldn’t happen anywhere else.”

When I was there, a couple who recently found permanent housing stopped to chat with us. The relief and gratitude on their faces was clear to me. In fact, I’d often seen these two individuals walking around town and it made my heart happy to know they’d be in their own home for the holidays.

Some community members feel as though the homeless brought their situation upon themselves or that they can simply “get a job” and live like “a normal, tax paying citizen,” but what I learned from Payne’s research-based text is that poverty is much more complicated than that. Poverty is a systemic issue for most people, deeply ingrained in their family’s culture. To escape from it is a monumental feat. Instead of wasting energy offering judgements and opinions, the best thing we can do is be an external force that helps propel them out of their unfortunate situation. Contrary to the belief of some, many homeless people are ashamed of the “hand outs” and would give anything to have a home and financial autonomy.

Sitting and talking with Nicole, I could see in her eyes how passionate she is about this community. Later in the day, she texted me her “mantra,” which is a quote by Vincent Van Gogh. I want to conclude by sharing it because to me, it says a lot: “To save a life is a real and beautiful thing. To make a home for the homeless, yes, it is a thing that must be good; whatever the world may say, it cannot be wrong.”

(Volunteers and certain donated items are always needed at The Friendship House. You can visit The Friendship House page on Facebook to learn more and find a full list of items.)

(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)

the deck chairs on the Titanic. The ship is sinking, and worse still they are exacerbating the situation or pretending it is not happening. We need leaders who are critical thinkers, who will rise up and see further, change the discourse, have foresight and the political will to make a difference.

We need people who will be creative in solution finding, work for the values our country was founded upon, and build bridges among and be inspired by the diversity of our population, not seeking to pull us apart, and will work towards our success in our livelihoods, education, experience and well-being.

North Carolinians, we have to do our

part. We must find and support those leaders who will put the knives away, stop trampling

on our fellow passengers and/or become leaders ourselves and get busy with distributing the life vests.

Constance Neely Macon County

Adjusting to life in a meat locker

Chris Cox

I

Smoky Mountain News

you are faced with the following options: confront the issue directly; pretend there is no issue; make it a fun little game of hotter/colder until somebody gives up; or embark on a strategy of passive aggressive sly remarks in passing.

“Whew, it’s a little nippy in there, dontcha think?”

“Hmmm, I was just thinking how weird it is that some people need it to be so hot inside all the time.”

For a good long while, we tried every option but the first one. By a good long while, I mean several years. We might have been able to go on like that the rest of our days, but two things happened that made this impossible.

One thing was that each year, the temperature was set one degree lower. It’s like the frog that doesn’t know it’s being cooked except in reverse. I was being frozen all the way through, one solitary degree at a time.

She’d turn it down, then I’d kick it back up to a civilized number and all would be well until she kicked it back down again.

Then one night, our day of reckoning arrived while we were working on a puzzle, the perfect metaphor for our marriage in that particular moment.

“Honey, it’s freezing in here,” I said, in my Columbia fleece jacket, thick pajama pants, and fake rabbit fur slippers. “Could we turn it up to 67 at least?”

She looked across the table at me for a full 10 seconds, our eyes locked.

“Why do you hate me?” she said.

I didn’t hate her. I just didn’t want to get frostbite in the morning when I am making coffee.

“You see, you can put more things on,” she said. “But I can only take so much off.”

“Well…” I began.

“You just stop it right there before I get the meat cleaver.”

The temperature is now set and fixed at 64 degrees. The ambiance is somewhere between a meat locker and a morgue. Very inviting.

I got myself a nifty little space heater that creates a nice bubble of warmth for my workspace or the bathroom or the living room. I drink a lot of hot coffee or hot tea or hot chocolate or whisky. I put little sweaters on the dogs. It’s not their fault.

I think of the money we’re saving on propane. I think about baseball season, right around the corner. And for a moment or two, I am content. Shivering, but content.

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

December 13-19, 2023

’m trying my best to get this column out to you, but it’s not as easy as it seems. My teeth are chattering like dice in a coffee cup, and my fingers are as stiff as frozen French fries. You try typing like that with your fingers frozen. It feels like trying to thread a needle while wearing boxing gloves.

We do fine in the summer, my wife and me. We keep the temperature in the house set to around 69-70 degrees, the better to keep the withering summer heat where it belongs — outside. It’s a comfortable, agreeable climate. Any Columnist conflict in the house, you can’t blame the thermostat.

Winter, well that’s a different story altogether. The great American writer John Steinbeck once wrote a novel called “The Winter of Our Discontent,” the story of a married couple fighting over the thermostat from December to mid-March, one of them shivering under a pile of blankets, the other burning up in a thin tee shirt and cut-off shorts. Mutual epithets are muttered, but not launched across the room. They travel a couple of feet, fizzle and die. The winter of our discontent indeed.

Okay, Steinbeck’s novel is not really about that, but it could be. In our house, it would be.

I am not sure exactly what happened, or when. A few years go — six or eight, maybe 10 — my spouse and I suddenly found that we could not quite agree on an ideal temperature in the house during the winter months.

For many years, it was about the same temperature that we found — and still find, I hasten to add — agreeable in the summer.

Something in the 69-70 range.

Then, one day, I felt a touch chilly and was surprised to find the thermostat turned down to 68 degrees, certainly not a hanging offense and probably just an accident. I’d just politely bumped it back up to 69 or 70 and went about my business, carried along in the warm flow of the air issuing from the vents when the furnace kicked on in that reassuring way of furnaces, that comforting clicking noise.

A day or two later, same thing. And then again the next day. Back and forth we went.

Anyone who has been married longer than a week knows that at times like these,

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

CHRISTMAS APPALACHIA IN

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR s the temperatures drop in Western North Carolina, the fun only heats up.

The holiday season here is filled with events and activities aimed to celebrate the best way we know how — with friends, family and visitors alike.

Families can partake in wagon rides, iceless skating, craft sales and art demonstrations, all the while enjoying authentic mountain music, clogging and parades through several downtowns. These are just some of the innumerable activities to be had.

Within every date, time and place found amid this section, the communities around

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the region once again open their arms to share in the winter festivities.

It’s a winter wonderland out there. It’s yours for the taking — so reach out and enjoy all Southern Appalachia has to offer.

HART presents ‘My Favorite Christmas’ A special holiday production of “My Favorite Christmas” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

This holiday season, HART invites you to unwrap the magic of “My Favorite Christmas,” an exquisite production featuring some of the region’s most exceptional talent.

Artistic Director Candice Dickinson has curated a spellbinding evening of stories, beloved holiday tunes and enchanting dance to captivate audiences of all ages.

“It’s been such a pleasure to collaborate with this cast,” Dickinson said. “I think when you get a cast full of people who love Christmas and encourage them to recreate their favorite past memories, you are bound to get a magical experience.”

The magic extends beyond the stage with HART’s annual “Holiday Market” in the

‘My Favorite Christmas’ will be at HART on select dates. Donated photo

Eireann’s Call will play Waynesville Dec. 15. File photo

lobby providing you with deals on vintage clothing, costumes, accessories, and so much more. As you step into the theatre, you’ll be transported to a world of enchantment with a magical miniature Christmas village, creating a festive atmosphere that will linger in your memories.

At intermission, you’re invited to an upclose look as you step right onto the stage to purchase a photo with Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Elves, along with hot chocolate and other holiday treats.

Tickets start at $17.50 per person with different options available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call the box office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org.

Ready for ‘A Kilted Christmas’?

“A Kilted Christmas” with Celtic/Americana act Eireann’s Call will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

A popular Celtic band based in Waynesville, Eireann’s Call is a charming and narrated journey through Celtic and Nordic lands, where we find eccentric and fun characters celebrating the holiday season in a variety of ways — honoring traditions both old and new.

Formed by David (bagpipes/accordion/ vocals) and Catherine Doersch (drums/ vocals), the group also brings together Rich McGuire on guitar/vocals, Chris Dawson (fiddle) and Steve Smith (bass).

Doors open at 6 p.m. The Wolf Street Bistro food truck will be onsite. There will also be beverages available. Tickets are $20 per person.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.

S EE CHRISTMAS, PAGE 22

HOT PICKS

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

‘And when the world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control’

state in her hometown of Goldsboro.

I found my thoughts swirling back to my hometown up on the Canadian Border, more so that evening with the cold air licking the windows of the restaurant, the glass fogging up in a battle against Mother Nature’s fury and modern-day HVAC systems. Add a little more wine to each other’s glasses when the main courses arrived.

Memories started flooding my mind of Christmas back in the North Country. The old 1820 limestone farmhouse surrounded by endless cornfields that I called home until I graduated from high school and took off for the unknown horizon of the written word and adventures all in the name of irresponsible enlightenment.

In truth, I had a hard time trying to remember the last actual big Christmas gathering that my family had. Maybe 10 years ago? Perhaps longer? Those days of a house full of relatives and holiday cheer disappeared mostly with the passing of my grandparents in the early 2000s. Once those anchor points of familiarity and tradition went six-feetunder, so did our raucous gatherings.

These days, though most of my remaining family members live in the North Country of Upstate New York, everyone has become pretty scattered in their own respective endeavors.

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1

Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Eireann’s Call (Celtic/Americana) 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 15.

2 3

Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

Southern Appalachian singersongwriter A. Lee Edwards will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, in the Speakeasy Bar at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley.

4

A special holiday production of “My Favorite Christmas” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14-16 and 2 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

5

EVENTS

Celtic Sunday ys W/The Carter Giegerich Trio - 2-55 pm Incredible Celtic Folk - Every Sunday Relaxation along with your Guinness! n

TRIVIA TUESDA AY YS Every Tuesday 7:30pm-9:30ppm

FREE TO PLAY Gift Certificate prizes for 1st & 2nd place teams

Thursday, December r 14th Bobby G 8pm-10pm • Blues

Friday y December 15 1 th Smashing Mouths 8pm - 10:30pm • 90’s Alternative Covers

Saturday December r 16th ‘YYA ACHTY OR NICE’ • 5pm - Midnight Summer Breezes in December! An holidaayy evening of Yacht Rock, Tiki Cocktails and Hawaiian Food Specials Ya Captain Kipper • Spinning 7pm - 10pm

ScotsmanPublic.ccom • 37 CHURCH STREET • DOWNTOWN WAYNESVILLEE @th @thescotsmanwaynesville t ille M-Th:4PM-12AM Fri-Sat:12PM-12AM Sun:11 1 AM-12AM

Wine i Port Beer Cigars Champagne Gifts Areas Best Wine Selection

RETAIL WIINE NE TA ASTINGS STINGS & WIINE NE DIINNERS NNERS

Smoky Mountain News

Some football game on in the living room, most likely the New York Giants or New England Patriots. Labatt Blue beer cans sitting on the cold side porch ready to be consumed. A massive feast for a couple dozen folks overtaking the kitchen and dining room. Adults at the main table. The rest of us at the kids table or back in the living room where we could sneak in a few more football plays to watch before dessert and opening Secret Santa presents.

That space we all once inhabited seems like this somewhat forgotten dream nowadays, more so this memory of a life that, well, feels like a lifetime ago. I recognize that person I was, or was becoming as a teenager. But, so much has happened since, hopefully so much more to come, too.

I miss those faces and that farmhouse. I miss the icy driveway and the way the sky would erupt into bright yellows, oranges and pinks amid a North Country sunset in the depths of winter.

The roaring fire in the living room. My uncles and cousins all huddled around the TV during the NFL broadcast. My old dogs, Maggie and Abbey, each looking for attention and food scraps from generous owners.

And yet, with anything along the winding road that is the journey of life, one must, all at once, hold tightly to those faded memories of past holidays and make sure to create new ones, like this otherwise quiet Monday evening at Vinnie’s — two vibrant souls alone at the bar counter, half-off bottle of pinot noir, garlic knots, chicken dishes and nowhere to be but with each other.

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

December 13-19, 2023

very-so-often, my girlfriend, Sarah, and I will find ourselves with an open Monday evening. A wild, rollickin’ weekend in the rearview mirror. The first day of the work week now completed. How ‘bout we motor over to Asheville for some fine Italian food at Vinnie’s on Merrimon Avenue, eh? Sold.

It’s become this routine of sorts, as of late.

With Sarah going through a lot of family stuff these days and myself just looking to decompress for a hot minute, what better than a bottle of pinot noir, fresh garlic knots and tantalizing chicken dishes all within a cozy ambiance of dim lighting, dark wood and the finest hits of the 1950s/1960s over the sound system?

To note, Mondays are half-off wine bottles at Vinnie’s. So, a dinner for two can be pretty friendly on the wallet, especially that of a wayward journalist in need of a good meal after another slew of rollercoaster assignments and interviews, deadlines and putting the newspaper to bed each Tuesday afternoon.

Emerging from the vehicle in the Vinnie’s parking lot, a bitter cold greeted us before entering the warmth of the beloved culinary establishment. Nearing 9 p.m., Sarah and I were some of the last customers wandering in the from the chilly depths for a meal. With the bar counter empty, we took refuge at the far end.

Order the half-off bottle of pinot noir. Toss in some garlic knots. Two chicken dishes: marsala and paillard.

With a slight tap of our wine A winter sunset in the North glasses together, cheers to the Country of Upstate New York. ensuing holiday season of Garret K. Woodward photo people, places and things. Sip the vino with gusto. Take a Immediate family obligations. Day-in and daydeep breath of the moment at-hand with the out work things on one’s plate. Kids growing beautiful lady in the dress. up and venturing out on their own. And, With the rest of the Vinnie’s staff running sadly, a few cherished figures once holding around and cleaning everything up before court at the holiday dinner table are no longer locking the doors, Sarah and I found ourwith us, including Nate, who was more like selves in this enjoyable space of silence and the older brother I never had than my first conversation. Just the two of us without any cousin until his untimely passing in 2021. distractions, white noise or organized chaos Taking a pull from the wine glass, I think of work and life itself — a rare slice of interacof those Christmas gatherings at the farmtion between vibrant souls. house, which was sold during my senior year Even though we live together and spend a of college. The icy horseshoe shaped driveway lot our daily life within reach of each other, the dinner was spent catching up about noth- that my father and I would have to throw salt on before elderly relatives arrived. My duties ing and everything. Sarah spoke of her new being to greet them and help them from their gig working in retail, hopes for the holidays, hopes for the near/long-term future, thoughts cars and into the house, my little sister having to take their coats and throw them on my paron current family situations that remain ents’ bed upstairs. stressful with outcomes uncertain across the

A special performance by rock band Futurebirds (trio formation) will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Highlander Mountain House in Highlands.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

DOWNTOWN WAYNE Y SVILLE 21

The ‘Polar Express’ train ride is a popular WNC holiday tradition. File photo

December 13-19, 2023

CHRISTMAS, CONTINUED FROM 20

Bryson City

Franklin

• “Polar Express” train ride will resume rides on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

• “Holiday Market” with local and regional artisans will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 15-16 on the river at the Aquarium & Fly Fishing Museum Park. 828.488.7857.

• “Merry Market” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Nantahala Gorge. For more information, go to noc.com.

• “Christmas On Ice” will be performed at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 14, Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets start at $20 per person with priority seating available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 866.273.4615.

• “Holiday Market” will be held from noon to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. For more information, call 828.634.1163.

• “A Christmas Celebration” will hit the stage at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 19, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Join the Overlook Theatre Company and other local artists as they celebrate with stories, songs and holiday memories in this annual gathering of Christmas cheer. Sing along with traditional favorites and enjoy new, modern renditions of classic Christmas tunes. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com.

Canton • “Santa Clause 2” will be screened outdoors at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at Sorrells Street Park in Canton.

The event is free and open to the public. Bring chairs, blankets and movie snacks. cantonnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

Waynesville

Cherokee • Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will host Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland 9:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, 22 caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• “Jingle Bell Jam” will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. They’ll be taking polaroid family photos that you can then use to decorate a Christmas family ornament with. There will also be a cookie decorating station, grinch punch and a station for the kids to write a letter to Santa and put it in the mailbox to the North Pole. Cost is $15 per family, $7 per individual.

For more information, call 828.456.2030 or email hjones@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A holiday open studio will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Hazelwood Pottery in Waynesville. Joe Frank Mckeee will be demonstrating horsehair and alcohol raku firing with his portable kiln. Neal Howard will bring her hand dyed and woven silks. There will also be a wheelthrowing demonstration. The afternoon will end with a “Community Christmas Carol” sing-along. Free and open to the public.

On the beat

Americana, indie at Meadowlark A. Lee Edwards will play Maggie Valley Dec. 15. File photo

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host music bingo 7 p.m. Mondays, karaoke at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Thursdays and Canon Tyler (singer-songwriter) Dec. 16.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at the Farm” sessions on select weekends.

For more information, go to oldedwardshospitality.com.

ALSO:

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Eireann’s Call (Celtic/Americana) 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15.

Tickets are $20 per person. For a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Blue Jazz Band Dec. 15 and The Remnants Dec. 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. happsplace.com or 828.742.5700.

Southern Appalachian singer-songwriter A. Lee Edwards will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, in the Speakeasy Bar at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley.

Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity, not built on outward style, but inner substance. He is joined by a backing band of some of the top players in the region, all of which with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Buck Owens & Don Rich.

For more information, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.

Appalachian Smoke rolls into Stecoah Americana/bluegrass act Appalachian Smoke will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.

Appalachian Smoke is a contemporary bluegrass band grounded in the corners of North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.

Its independent release, “Colder Side of Love,” received three reviews in Bluegrass Today, acknowledging their talented songwriting, melodic arrangements and

smooth vocal harmonies.

According to Bluegrass Today, Appalachian Smoke brings an “edgy, modern sound” to bluegrass music and “if they stick to this formula, we will be hearing about Appalachian Smoke for a long time.”

Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students/children. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.

it’s fun and you have no preconceived notion of what’s going to happen or what it should be. And then, you get a taste of this possibly being your life,” King said. “Maybe you get too serious about it or too wrapped up in how you should be perceived. But, it’s all just a perception game. It’s about having fun and aligning yourself with the right people — life is what you make it, right?”

Admission is $50. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host a Sunday Bluegrass Residency noon to 2:30 p.m. and Futurebirds (rock/indie) 8:30 p.m. Dec. 16 (admission $50). For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.

Appalachian Smoke will play Stecoah Dec. 16. File photo

Smoky Mountain News

Members of Futurebirds will play Highlands Dec. 16. File photo

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland 9:30 p.m. Dec. 15. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night w/Kirk” from 7-9 p.m. every Monday and Calico Bear Dec. 22.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless other-

One of the rising rock acts on the national scene, a special performance by the Futurebirds (trio formation) will be held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Highlander Mountain House in Highlands.

Reflecting on the last 15 years together, Futurebirds guitarist/singer Carter King can only shake his head in awe of what has transpired over that period for the Athens, Georgia-based band, personally and professionally.

From playing empty dive bars to selling out theaters coast to coast, from college kids to now husbands and fathers — the sacred flame of music, creativity and performance continually cradling and nurturing deeply-held dreams.

“You start out doing this because

December 13-19, 2023

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m. and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public.

828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

Futurebirds trio to rock Highlands

arts & entertainment

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, go to blueridgebeerhub.com.

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arts & entertainment

On the beat wise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. Tuesdays, trivia 6:30 p.m.

Wednesdays, Open Mic 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

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• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host trivia 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, an Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

December 13-19, 2023

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host A. Lee Edwards (indie/folk) Dec. 15, Martin Vee (singer-songwriter) Dec. 16, Andrew Wakefield (singer-songwriter) Dec. 22 and Jeff Gaff Dec. 23. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an “Open Mic w/Frank Lee” Wednesdays, Alma Russ (Americana/indie) Dec. 15, Shane Meade (Americana/indie) Dec. 16, Woolybooger (folk/blues) 5 p.m. Dec. 17, Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) Dec. 22 and Frank Lee (Americana/old-time) Dec. 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115

or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.

• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host “What The Cat Dragged In” (drag show) Dec. 17 and Syrrup (Americana) Dec. 23. All shows begin at 3 p.m.

Free and open to the public. 828.631.3075 or facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host a “Celtic Jam” 2-5 p.m., Bobby G Dec. 14, Smashing Mouths (rock/alternative) Dec. 15, “Yachty Or Nice” DJ Dance Party 7 p.m. Dec. 16, Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) Dec. 21 and We Three Swing (jazz) Dec. 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host Appalachian Smoke (Americana/bluegrass) Dec. 16. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Karaoke w/Lori Dec. 14, Mile High Band (classic rock) Dec. 15, Blackwater Station Dec. 16, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Dec. 21, Rock Holler Dec. 22 and Outlaw Whiskey (classic rock) Dec. 23, Rock. All shows are $5 at the door and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.538.2488.

Mountain Layers welcomes Russ Rising singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.

Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Alma Russ will play Bryson City Dec. 15.

Appalachian styles pieced togethFile photo er), Russ enjoys playing guitar, banjo and fiddle.

Russ was also a contestant on “American Idol” Season 16. Her most recent album, “Fool’s Gold,” was recorded in an abandoned church in the West Texas desert while Russ was on a national tour.

Free and open to the public.

To learn more, call 828.538.0115 or go to mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

For more information on Russ, go to almarussofficial.com.

On the table • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your

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wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

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arts & entertainment

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‘Small Works’ will be showcased at HCAC through Dec. 31. File photo

HCAC ‘Small Works’ exhibit A reception for the exhibit will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Gallery & Gifts.

• Friday, Dec. 8: A creation class called “Cardinal in the Snow.” Joan Doyle will be leading a two-hour watercolor painting class from 5-7 p.m. at the HCAC gallery.

Doyle, known for her vibrant and expressive watercolor paintings, will guide students through the process of creating their own masterpiece. All materials will be provided.

This class is open to all skill levels, from beginners to experienced painters.

Registration for the class is now open and can be done through HCAC’s website.

• Saturday, Dec. 9: “Smoky Mountain Christmas Evening” from 5-8 p.m. The HCAC gallery will have a kids Creation Station and puppet demonstration by Richard Tichich. Enjoy live music and refreshments. Spend $25 or more at Haywood Handmade and get a free gift.

For more information, go to haywoodarts.org.

• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.

and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.

ALSO:

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events

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• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.

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• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes or call 828.586.2248.

Classes Start 8/12/24

Smoky Mountain News

• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.

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December 13-19, 2023

The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) “Small Works” exhibit will run through Dec. 31 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts showroom in downtown Waynesville.

The annual exhibit that expands the types of work for sale in the downtown Waynesville gallery, as well as who can display their work. Other than specially curated exhibits, which occur a couple times annually, this exhibit is the only one that allows any artist within the western mountain region to participate for a small fee.

With dozens of artists participating, the exhibit promises to be eclectic. Although the only requirement is that the pieces be 12 inches in any dimension or smaller, HCAC challenged participants who are making holiday themed works to consider artistic expressions that are multicultural in nature and celebrate the many different holidays, ways of celebrating, and ways of experiencing holidays.

HCAC also encouraged participants to create works that celebrate Appalachian heritage and craft.

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arts & entertainment

On the wall

Artist support grants awarded

A.C. Bell is a Haywood County potter. File photo

Smoky Mountain News

December 13-19, 2023

The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) along with regional partners, including Arts AVL, Transylvania Community Arts Council, Tryon Fine Arts Center and Arts Council of Henderson County, announce the 2023-2024 Artist Support Grant awardees.

Grants were provided to 21 artists in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Rutherford and Transylvania counties, also called Region 17. The Artist Support Grant was created in 2020 to support individual artists during the pandemic and has quickly become a staple for local artists.

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According to the North Carolina Arts Council website, the Artist Support Grants are intended to support “the professional and artistic development of emerging, midcareer, and established artists” as they strive to enhance their artistic and business skills and expand their audiences.

Region 17 received applications from 79 artists requesting funding just under $200,000 with $44,000 available to award. Applicants could request as much as $3,000 to support completion and presentation of new work, career promotion, training, and travel. New this year, artists were also

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able to include a budget item to pay for their time to create.

“As an artist myself, I understand how impactful these funds can be to an artist and am grateful to the North Carolina Arts Council for providing the funds” said Tonya Harwood, HCAC executive director and the lead organization managing the grant.

The 21 artist awardees represent the disciplines of visual, performing, literature and interdisciplinary arts. Haywood County has two awardees, with a total grant amount of $5,003 awarded: • Amanda Janes is a potter and multimedia artist, whose work centers around Appalachian food culture and local plant life. With a BFA from Western Carolina University, she explores the connections between nostalgia and how we create community in the modern world.

“I’m delighted and deeply thankful to everyone involved in making grants like these possible,” Janes said. “A research kiln will make a massive impact on my small business, and I’m honored by the opportunity to contribute to our vibrant arts community here in the mountains.”

• A.C. Bell is also a potter, originally from Chicago, Illinois. She began taking classes and working as a studio monitor, moving into teaching kids’ classes and introductory classes for adults. In 2021, after going as far as she could taking classes at art centers and craft schools, she moved to North Carolina for the Professional Craft Program at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

“I’m so excited to be receiving the Artist Support Grant, which will help me purchase a kiln for my home studio,” Bell said. “Having a kiln at home in Canton will save me a lot of time and stress transporting delicate work into Asheville, where I’m currently firing work, and will give me more freedom to make and experiment in my art practice.”

For more information, go to haywoodarts.org.

‘Spark of the Eagle Dancer’ extended WNC community to learn from exhibiting artists about their artwork, process, and the relationships they formed with Lambert Wilson. Dates will be announced shortly regarding this programming.

The exhibit features over 140 works of contemporary Native American art from the collection of one of Western North Carolina’s most notable art enthusiasts, the late Lambert Wilson.

He devoted his life to supporting and encouraging Native artists, amassed an extensive collection of over 6,000 objects during his lifetime, focusing primarily on artists of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation and sovereign nations of the Southwest.

This exhibition brings together a selection of baskets, pottery, carving, painting, photography, and more that tell the story of the relationships Lambert Wilson was a notable collector of Native art. Wilson built and the impact that he File photo made by dedicating himself to this remarkable collection.

“Spark of the Eagle Dancer” gives visitors exhibition remaining open, it will give peoa glimpse into this vast collection built over ple in and around Western North Carolina 47 years and features work by 83 artists of and beyond the opportunity to experience various tribal affiliations. one of the Fine Art Museum’s most visited To learn more about the exhibition and exhibitions and allow people to be inspired reception, please go to arts.wcu.edu/spark.

by Wilson’s collection.

In conjunction with the exhibition exten- The Fine Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 sion, the museum will also host a new program series titled Spark Talks that invites the a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

Western Carolina University is delighted to announce its recent exhibition “Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson” will now be extended through June 28 in the Fine Art Museum at WCU in Cullowhee.

It is the museum’s hope that with the

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arts & entertainment

Short Christmas stories for a busy season

Anna Barren

I

around the world. In particular, two small shards lodge themselves into the heart and eye of a little boy named Kay. Prior to this, Kay was best friends with a little girl, Gerda.

They spent most of their happy time together playing or listening to tales of the Snow Queen from Gerda’s grandmother. However, with the glass in his heart, Kay becomes cruel and mean, despising everything he once loved and no longer seeing good in anything except for snowflakes. Because of this, he encounters the Snow Queen and is swept away with her in her carriage.

Gerda embarks on a quest to find him and along the way, she encounters unusual obstacles and friends: a prince and princess, a talking crow and a little robber girl, to name a few. While the whole story is filled with beautiful, intricate details — very much like a snowflake itself — the finding of Kay and breaking of his spell is particularly rich.

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I don’t think it would do the tale justice to simplify it with a synopsis, so I will leave those for you to read on your own. However, what I will share is that it’s Gerda’s innocent love that carries her, harbors her and ultimately prevails against evil. And to me, I think a story about selfless love is a perfect

one to read around Christmas time.

Last but not least, I’m including Charles Dickens’ classic, “A Christmas Carol,” in the lineup.

Really more of a novella than a short story, it will take closer to two hours to finish but it’s worth setting aside the time to read it. This story has become a monumental foundation to the holiday season, its skeleton recycled in most Hallmark movies and reproduced with new settings.

However, I’m a firm believer that you can’t beat the original and reading it again confirmed that.

The story follows Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable mean old man who has grown to despise joy, love and simplicity. Being that Christmas is a season of celebrating just such things, he especially hates that time of year.

But one fateful Christmas Eve, the ghost of his deceased business partner, Marley, appears and warns him to change his ways. He foretells that he will be visited that night by three spirits: the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future. They lead Scrooge to reflect on his past, to look around him, and to think about what lies ahead.

“A Christmas Carol” is more than just an endorsement of the holiday season. It’s a reminder to pause and truly consider our lives: what we have been blessed with and maybe failed to live up to in the past; the people around us that our selfishness blinds us from seeing. And the scariest of all, where are we heading? Like Scrooge is shown, death will come sooner or later but as he learns, it does not need to be feared if life is lived with love.

Each of these stories paints a picture of love, albeit in very different ways. But what they all show is that love is self-sacrifice, and to me, that’s what Christmas is all about. This year, I’m grateful to have my mindset recentered on the season as well as small snippets of relaxation with these stories.

(Anna Barren teaches fifth grade and is a lifelong lover of books. annab4376@gmail.com.)

December 13-19, 2023

f you’re anything like me, reading inevitably takes a backseat to Christmas shopping and dinner planning during the holiday season. This year I found it much more doable to squeeze in a few well-loved short stories rather than delving into a new novel. Here are the oldies I especially loved.

In order of length, from shortest to longest, we’ll start with “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry. So succinct and sweet, it’s a 15-minute read which I don’t want to spoil for those who have not yet read it.

Set in early 20th century New York City, it opens up with a distraught Della, whose meager savings of $1.87 preWriter vents her from getting a worthy gift for her beloved husband, Jim. To increase her present fund, she sacrifices a great treasure: her beautiful, long tresses. Every time I read this story, I’m amazed at O. Henry’s ability to depict selflessness in such a short story, and you will be too when you get to the end. But more than just well-written, I found “The Gift of the Magi” to be a heartwarming reminder of how and why we give gifts.

That it is not simply another to-do to mark off your checklist, but an expression of love towards the people around us.

While my next suggestion is not a Christmas story, “The Snow Queen”

by Hans Christian Andersen still shares the spirit of the holidays. This wintery fairy tale will take you about 45 minutes to read and is as beautifully written as its message. It begins with a magic mirror, made by the devil, wherein nothing good is reflected and all the evil and bad traits of a thing are magnified.

His imps carry it around to distort everything but when they bring it up to heaven it shatters and the pieces fall down, landing

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Outdoors

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Nose for adventure

Support Adventure Tails There are two ways to help more Sarge’s dogs benefit from time on the trail — volunteering time and donating money.

• Prospective volunteers ages 18 and up can apply at sarges.org/get-involved/volunteer. Currently, Adventure Tails hikes are held on Monday mornings.

• The Adventure Tails program is raising money to pay for equipment such as harnesses, portable water bowls and an emergency dog sling. Sarge’s board member Nancy East is auctioning off a 65-liter backpack donated by Gossamer Gear to help the cause, available for bid at charityauctionstoday.com/bid/sarges.

Donations can also be made directly to Sarge’s at sarges.org/donate.

Sarge’s is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday each week and located at 356B Industrial Park Drive in Waynesville. Contact the shelter at 828.246.9050 or info@sarges.org.

The dogs meander the shoreline of Lake Junaluska. Lyndsey Tate photo

New program gets Sarge’s shelter dogs hiking The Sarge’s pack explores the Dahlia Ridge Trail System at Haywood Community College. Lyndsey Tate photo

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR onday mornings have a bad reputation, but for dogs at Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Waynesville, they’ve become the best part of the week. Since the Adventure Tails program launched Nov. 1, these mornings have been set aside for hiking — and the dogs are all about it.

“The dogs that get to go on hikes, I think that in their brains they know that they are special,” said Lyndsey Tate, volunteer coordinator at Sarge’s.

The program hasn’t even been around for two months yet,

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but already, these hiking adventures have boosted the dogs’ confidence and improved behavior issues.

“They’re just cooped up so much, and it leads to these behavioral issues,” said Nancy East, a retired veterinarian and Sarge’s board member who planted the seed that grew into Adventure Tails. “And then people don’t want to adopt a certain dog because it does have some challenges, potentially, that have stemmed from being in this captive environment — even though they’re loved and cared for just amazingly well.”

Tate said she first heard the idea for the hiking program from Sarge’s Behavior Coordinator Kevin Mueller, whose pre-

vious animal rescue experience was in Asheville, where hiking programs are “ubiquitous.” Around the same time, East was also approaching Sarge’s about the concept, figuring it could be a great way to get outside more while also helping dogs in search of a forever home. Tate also had conversations with volunteers who fantasized about being able to take the dogs exploring off property.

East said her original vision was on the “pie in the sky” end of things, inspired by the Instagram account @trailsandbears.

The account features personality-laden photos of adoptable dogs on outdoor adventures, paired with narrative introductions for each pup.

“To me, what really was compelling about her account is that it kind of fast forwarded to, this is what real life could look like for you and this dog,” East said.

She envisioned a setup at Sarge’s that would allow high school kids to hike the dogs as a form of community service or families to include a Sarge’s dog on their day hike — and maybe even in their home, should they fall in love by the time they return to the trailhead. But those concepts proved too complicated for an initial phase, especially from a liability perspective.

“That felt kind of like climbing Everest when we needed to start with Cold Mountain,” East said.

“That would be something we would love to do in the future and love to look into, but we’re still in the nascent period of the program,” Tate agreed. “One day, that would be ideal.”

She thought it would be best to start small,

F

BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR he holiday season is among the toughest times in the animal rescue world. Adopting pets isn’t always front of mind for people, and harsh weather can create a sense of urgency when rehoming furry friends.

For Amy and Tera McIntosh, founders of Misfit Mountain in the Thickety community northwest of Canton, running an animal rescue has never been easy. But with passion and help from equally eager volunteers, they’ve grown their nonprofit into a thriving operation. Both Amy and Tera bring something to the table. Tera handles the books and runs the operational side of things, while Amy deals with the animals, a job that can both be wonderfully rewarding and painfully difficult.

Amy McIntosh told The Smoky Mountain News that Misfit Mountain, which is coming up on its second anniversary on Dec. 18, has been a blessing for her.

be thought of as misfits. They figured why not embrace that?

Misfit Mountain has a slightly different mission than most other rescues. They haven’t euthanized an animal, although McIntosh said one time, they were close to making that decision. In addition, the rescue not only tries to rehome and foster out animals; it also tries to get animals whose owners are going through a tough time — like those who may be experiencing homelessness or a mental health crisis — back into their previous homes after their stay. Sometimes people just need a chance to get back on their feet before they can go back to caring for their fur baby, McIntosh said.

“We want to be proactive and remind people that just because they’re going through something, that doesn’t necessarily make them bad,” she said. “So if they want to reclaim their animal, we’ll help them.”

One program created with aim in mind is Misfit Mountain’s Summer Camp, which offers temporary foster care for the pets of those “experiencing addiction, mental health, physical health treatment or temporary homelessness.”

“Often times animal owners have limited finances or family support to help out so that’s where we step in because we know that just because you ‘are going through something’ doesn’t make you a bad pup owner,” a page on the rescue’s website reads. “We have all been there. When you foster a pup in summer camp you help keep one more animal out of an already overcrowded shelter.”

Misfit Mountain will also take in animals from crowded rural shelters. Just recently, they took in a few dogs from Duplin and Vance counties, rural areas Misfit Mountain is located in the Thickety community. Donated photo with fewer resources to rehome rescue “When I was a kid, I always wanted to start my own anianimals. mal rescue, Amy said. “I told my mom I’d build the rescue in “We get multiple inquiries every week from shelters asking the backyard and connect it to our house with a tube.” if we can help them pull animals, and we get calls and texts When she was younger, Amy volunteered and worked at from families looking to surrender their animals,” Amy said. vet practices doing whatever she could to help out, including Amy said things have been busy for her and her wife, who walking dogs and cleaning. About four years ago, the couple both also have jobs of their own. moved to Haywood County, and Tera surprised her wife with “We haven’t hit a slow period yet,” she said. a large parcel of land, about 12 acres, on which they could Part of the problem is that people are busy enough with build the rescue. their own lives that volunteering and fostering hasn’t been a “When we got it, it was just a big overgrown field and priority, leaving the McIntoshes to shoulder an outsized burnothing else,” Amy said. den. The nature of the work requires them to be on-call 24/7.

They got to work, and before long, they had the bones of “Last night at like 8 o’clock, we assisted a family who made what one day would become Misfit Mountain, a name that an appointment and went into an emergency vet to request a calls attention to the fact that rescue animals can sometimes behavior euthanasia for a dachshund who is food aggressive

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Misfit Mountain seeks to help animals and owners alike

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two hours and covering roughly 4 miles. The dogs stay spaced at least 10 feet apart on the trail, and there’s always one person on the hike with leash-free hands. That person is usually Tate. She goes because she wants to, not because she has to.

“This is a volunteer-led program,” she said. “So staff doesn’t necessarily have to go on any of the hikes, because our volunteers are so well-trained.”

Already, Tate has seen some real changes in multiple challenging shelter dogs as a result of the program. One of her favorites, a Catahoula leopard dog mix named Gabby, usually comes across as scary and aggressive to strangers and generally dislikes other dogs. But on the trail, she’s all joy and prancy feet.

Smoky Mountain News

possible are eligible to hike, even those with behavioral issues. Every Monday, volunteers gather at Sarge’s for a short pre-briefing and then unpack the harnesses. Each dog has its own, specially fitted harness, labeled with its name. Sarge’s uses a 2 Hounds Design harness called The Freedom Harness, designed to give handlers easier control of the dogs, which makes the experience safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

“They know those harnesses, and when you pull them out, you can see them go, ‘Ah! I get to go hiking today!’” Tate said.

One by one, volunteers — usually six or seven each week — leash up their dog and load it into their car, keeping the dogs separated to avoid any unpleasant parking lot interactions between canines with behavior issues. Then, everyone caravans to the trailhead, with hikes usually lasting about

with its owner,” Amy said, adding that they took in the dog during what proved to be an emotionally charged situation.

“The dad was in tears and gave me a big, long hug.”

But those kinds of experiences, tough as they may be, are why Amy said she keeps doing the work.

“That’s my driving force is to see these animals who don’t have a voice like humans, they can’t go out and ask for help, money, food, that’s my driving force is to be a voice for them,” she said.

But at this point, Amy said that although they love their work, more hands would go a long way.

“The biggest thing is time — time with animals time at rescue, time doing laundry and cleaning up dog poop, things that help make the big picture easier,” she said. “The biggest factor is we are so overrun by animals, there are strays, there are neglected animals, there are animals who don’t have homes. Every little bit helps, but it’s difficult to make a dent in such a large issue.”

In addition to volunteers and people willing to foster animals, Amy said that donations are a major need now to keep things operating into the new year. The rescue is hosting a fundraiser this Saturday, Dec. 15, called “A Festivus for the Rest of Us,” a nod to the classic Seinfeld episode. At that fundraiser, Santa Claus will be on hand, and there will be a food drive. In addition, there will be an ugly sweater contest with a twist — instead of humans, the entrants will be animals, meaning anyone who turns out should find the ugliest Christmas sweater that fits their pet.

Anyone interested in adopting, fostering, volunteering or donating can visit misfitmountainnc.org.

December 13-19, 2023

relying on Sarge’s existing volunteer base to launch the program.

“The second that we proposed this,” she said, “we had seven or eight people jump in and say, ‘Can we do it next week?’ and I was like, ‘Maybe not that, but as soon as humanely possible.’”

Sarge’s staff developed and piloted a training program to ensure that volunteers would be able to safely handle the dogs on the trail and shortly thereafter held the first hike, on a property in the Harmon Den area owned by one of the volunteers.

Since then, the dogs have explored a variety of other trails too, including the new Dahlia Ridge Trail System at Haywood Community College and the greenway at Lake Junaluska.

Sarge’s has a process set up to ensure as many dogs as

Amy McIntosh snuggles one of Misfit Mountain’s furry residents. Donated photo

S EE SARGE’S, PAGE 31 29

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Smoky Mountain News December 13-19, 2023

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SARGES, CONTINUED FROM 29 “It is a really good way for her to be more comfortable just being around dogs, and we’ve gotten her so far as to, every now and then, she can come into a single-dog playgroup,” Tate said. “She doesn’t have a good time. She doesn’t play with the dogs.

But we can actually get her in the play yard with another dog now, and she’s comfortable.”

Tate also likes to talk about Loki, a boxer mix who’s loud and intimidating when separated from the world by a kennel wall. But when he’s out on the trail, he’s “soft and wiggly and loving,” said Tate.

“It has given my volunteers and it’s given

Hiking helps moderate behavior issues and keep dogs healthy. Lyndsey Tate photo outdoors

Volunteer Ken and his walking partner Star pause for a photo. Lyndsey Tate photo

Loki the opportunity to really show himself as he is, outside of the kennel,” she said.

Initially, Tate wasn’t sure that Rompers, a high-energy pit bull mix, would even be able to go on the hikes. When he gets excited, he gets jumpy and sometimes a bit mouthy. But as it turns out, Rompers is at his best when he’s leading the way on leash.

“His volunteer that usually walks him, his name is Greg, and Greg refers to him as ‘a prince among dogs’ when on hikes,” she said, “because he’s just so comfortable and confident when he is at the front of the pack.”

Even though more than half of Sarge’s dogs have some type of behavior issue, very few of them have to stay behind when the pack goes hiking. Those who do aren’t sitting it out for the reasons most people might assume. Tate gave the “enormous hound” Marky Mark as an example.

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Smoky Mountain News

According to a study published last month in the scientific journal Animal Conservation, wild red wolves in eastern North Carolina had a significant ecological impact prior to their dramatic decline in recent years.

The study tracked wildlife detection rates from 2015 to 2021 using dozens of motion-activated camera traps in the Alligator River and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuges, the core of the red wolf recovery area.

Results showed that after the red wolf population crashed from poaching, populations of game species like white-tailed deer and wild turkey stayed about the same, but populations of predators like raccoons, opossums, bobcats and bears increased significantly. For example, the raccoon detection rate doubled from 2018 to 2021 as wolf numbers Currently, there are 11 collared declined. red wolves in the wild. Donated photo “This study is important for two big reasons: First, we’ve been able to dispel the rumors that red wolves cause a significant collapse in deer populations,” said Dr. Ron Sutherland, Wildlands Network’s Chief Scientist who initiated the research back in 2015. “There were still plenty of deer at all of our camera sites, even with the wolves, bears, bobcats, alligators and human hunters. Second, by showing that red wolves do seem to have valuable ecological impacts on other wildlife species, our research makes it all the more urgent that we protect the existing wolf population in North Carolina and return red wolves to more of the wild areas across the southeast.”

The red wolf was once common across the southeastern United States but had reached the brink of extinction by the 1960s. A captive breeding program started in the 1970s saved the species, and in 1987 the federal government launched the reintroduction effort in eastern North Carolina. Numbers grew to more than 120 animals by 2012, but a surge in poaching between 2014 and 2018 caused the wild population to decline to about 15 wolves in 2020. As of October, 21-23 wild wolves were estimated to live in the area.

Fieldwork for the study was led by researchers from Wildlands Network, with collaborators at N.C. State University and the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences analyzing the data.

Sarge’s dog Mandy takes a joyful roll during an outing. Lyndsey Tate photo December 13-19, 2023

Study reveals the red wolf’s ecological impact

Spooked by cars, trees, other people and even the gate to his own kennel, Marky Mark doesn’t go on hikes simply because it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience for him.

Other dogs that stay behind tend to have similar environmental sensitivity issues.

“There are dogs in the shelter that are shy, or they have stranger danger and they’re not really comfortable with new people approaching the kennels that can still thrive on hikes,” Tate said.

Such adventures are one of the best gifts a shelter dog can get — outside of a family of its own, of course. As it does for humans, time outside helps moderate behavior issues and prevent health conditions like obesity and diabetes, boosting the dog’s chances of living a happy, healthy life.

“Generally speaking,” East said, “most dogs love nothing more than to go outside and explore the world with their nose.”

Years

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December 13-19, 2023

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After a slight improvement at the end of November, the latest drought map published Dec. 7 shows conditions right back where they were before Thanksgiving.

The map, based on data gathered through 8 a.m. Dec. 5, shows 13 counties in extreme drought, 29 in severe drought, 25 in moderate drought and 18 abnormally dry. The 15 counties not touched by one of these designations are all in the far eastern part of the state, while the counties worst affected are all in the west.

Counties in extreme drought include Jackson, Macon, Swain, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Henderson, Transylvania, Burke, Cleveland, McDowell, Polk and Rutherford. Haywood and Buncombe counties are in severe drought and Madison County is in moderate drought.

This fall’s drought conditions are the worst the state has seen since March 2017.

These designations do not reflect the past weekend’s heavy rains.

Drought maps are released weekly on Thursdays. U.S. Drought Monitor of North Carolina map

Franklin County deer tests positive for CWD A 2.5-year-old female white-tailed deer harvested during firearm season in Franklin County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, an always-fatal illness affecting cervids like deer and elk. This marks the county’s first case of CWD. The disease was first detected in North Carolina in 2022. Now it has been found in Cumberland, Johnston, Wilkes, Surry, Yadkin, Stokes and Franklin counties.

“I want to point out that this detection in Franklin County, along with the last two unexpected CWD-positive cases we detected in Johnston and Cumberland counties, doesn’t necessarily mean that CWD is spreading rapidly across the state,” said Brad Howard, wildlife

File photo

management division chief for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “More likely it means that all the sample submissions we are getting from hunters is really helping to find the places where CWD has already gotten a foothold in the state. It’s likely that it’s been in these places for a few years and had not been detected. I’d rather

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CWD not be here at all, but if it is here, I’m glad we are finding out about it as soon as possible.

CWD is transmissible to other deer and spreads through infected saliva, urine and feces of live deer and the movement of infected deer carcasses and carcass parts. During early stages of infection, deer may appear healthy.

Therefore, hunters should take precautions when transporting or disposing of deer carcasses, as this may lead to moving CWD to new locations.

NCWRC is collecting data related to the distribution of the disease, due primarily to the cooperation of hunters who have submitted samples for testing of the disease. The new detection illustrates the fruits of these efforts, Howard said.

“My hat’s off to all the cooperating hunters, cervid health cooperators and the hard work of all our employees in the field,” he said.

Learn more at ncwildlife.org/cwd.

Western Carolina Shuttle is the newest member of the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council’s roster of A.T. Supporters. Pictured (from left) are FATCC Council Member Tim Lindler, Town of Franklin Council Member Adam Kimsey, FATCC Council Member Natasha Sebring, Western Carolina Shuttle CEO Bryan “The Dude” and FATCC Council Member Kristina Moe. FATCC Council photo

Friends of the Cherokee National Forest, a new nonprofit based in Knoxville, aims to become a driving force in preserving one of the region’s most cherished landscapes.

The organization aims to leverage philanthropy, volunteerism, leadership and strategic partnerships to improve wildlife and fisheries habitat conservation, recreational experiences and environmental stewardship.

The Cherokee National Forest covers more than 650,000 acres in Tennessee and abuts the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests in North Carolina. Visit the website at focnf.org to learn more.

Money available for farmers who experienced lending discrimination

Ski after school or after work

Race Cataloochee

“Limit your exposure to news and social media. Cho oose just a few trusted sou urces of news, includ ding a local source to t learn what is happ pening in your com mmunity, and turn to those media at set times t — not all day.

Use social media to connect wiith people you don’t get to see in person,, but don’t sp pend too much time on these p p platforms g getting g news and up pdates p about the disease. d Otherwise, it’s easy to be consu umed every moment of the day about a the coronaviru us as well as opinions and misinforma ation, all of which can n be overwhelming.”

Thank k you. We Agree.

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Smoky Mountain News

The racing season is back at Cataloochee Ski Area, starting in January for ages 8 through adult.

• Middle school racing will be Tuesday nights at 6 p.m., with categories for ages 811 and 12-14. Races will be held weekly Jan. 9 through Feb. 27. High school racing will be at 6 p.m. Wednesdays Jan. 10 through Feb. 28. Finals will be held 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 3. All races will be a modified giant slalom using Nastar software for timing.

Participants must register and sign a waiver at Nastar.com. Cost is $140 to race for the season, or $283 including lift tickets. The price for racing, lift and rentals all season is $369. Coaches at each area school are the best point of contact. Email racing@cat-

aloochee.com if you are unsure whether your school has a race program.

• Open to racers 18 and older, the Thursday Nigh Adult Race League will be held at 7 p.m. Thursdays Jan. 11 through Feb. 22.

All racers have two runs or until 8:30 p.m., whichever comes first, with awards given to the top male and female racers as well as to the top overall team. Teams may have up to four members, one of which must be female, and three members of the team must attend each race. Courses will be set as a modified giant slalom course, with participants racing for the better of two runs. Helmets and goggles are required, and helmets are available for rental. Cost is $17 to race or $54 for racing and a night lift ticket, good for 6-10 p.m.

For more information, visit cataloochee.com or call 828.926.0285.

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network is ssued a list of “Tips and Practices a for Self Care” to help “your ph p ysical, emotional, mental ad spiritual health” during the long-running pandemic. d i Am Among the th actions ti lilisted t d unde der “Tak ake a Br B eak” k” was this thi pr p actical ti l advice: d i

December 13-19, 2023

Cataloochee Ski Area offers discounted rates for youth and adults to explore the slopes and hone their skills with several program offerings this winter.

• The After School Program is a sevensession progressive lesson program that offers a chance to hone skills in ski or snowboard for beginner to upper intermediate riders. Students can attend Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday nights Jan. 3 through March 7.

Weekday program offer a bonus night reserved as a makeup session should Cataloochee be File photo closed on any of the listed nights. Cost is $132 for the program, $279 for the program and pass, and $359 for program, pass and rental.

• The Terrain Park Program is a sevensession progressive lesson program that offers a chance to hone tricks and skills in ski or snowboard for intermediate or advanced riders. Students will be divided into subgroups based on skill level within the terrain park, and sessions will be held 5:30-7 p.m. Fridays, Jan. 12 through March 1. A makeup session will be scheduled should Cataloochee be closed on any of the listed nights. Cost is $132 for the program, $279 for the program and pass, and $359 for pro-

gram, pass and rental.

• The After Work Program is a seven-session progressive lesson program that offers a chance for people who are new to winter sports to learn to ski or snowboard.

Participants can choose to enroll for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday or 3:30-5:30 p.m. Sunday, with sessions held the second week in January through the first week in March. The Tuesday program offers a bonus date reserved for a makeup session should Cataloochee be closed on any of the listed nights. Cost is $132 for the program, $300 for the program and pass, and $420 for program, pass and rental.

• Women on Wednesdays is a sixsession program for women, by women, offered 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 10 through Feb. 14. It is appropriate for all skill levels and hosted by Cataloochee’s most advanced female instructors. Slope access will extend through 4:30 p.m., offering additional time to hone skills. Cost is $132 for the program, $303 for the program and pass, and $369 for program, pass and rental.

After school programs are for youth ages seven and up, with discounts available (lift pass $35 or pass and rental for $55) for adults who accompany them. All programs have limited space available, with an online registration deadline of Saturday, Dec. 23.

Sign up at bit.ly/41aRsdI.

Be Well: e REA AD A LOC O AL A NEW WSPAP APER

outdoors

Through Jan. 13, farmers, forest landowners and ranchers who have experienced discrimination in farm lending from the U.S. Department of Agriculture can apply for financial assistance.

Funding comes from the $2.2 billion federal Discrimination Financial Assistance Program, created through the Inflation Reduction Act signed in August 2022. To be eligible, applicants must have experienced discrimination by USDA farm loan programs prior to Jan. 1, 2021, or currently hold or have inherited USDA farm loan debt that was subject to USDA discriminatory lending.

The application is free and does not require a lawyer to file. Free, confidential technical assistance is available from the USDA. For more information, an application and a map of county offices in North Carolina, visit fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/north-carolina/index.

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December 13-19, 2023 Smoky Mountain News

BY B URT KORNEGAY

The Red Maple

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Up Moses Creek

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

he air was still and frosty when I started up the trail that November morning to watch Black Mountain light up in the

sun.

Black Mountain forms the long dark ridgeline on the western side of our valley, opposite the side we live on. The mountain rises in four prominent knobs. From south to north they are Hooper, Middle, Parker and Black, each one rising higher than the one before. With each knob the mountain takes a step up to join the highest summits of the Great Balsam Range.

I was walking fast, full of expectation. Clouds, fog and drizzle had blocked the view for days, but overnight a dry cold wind had cleared the sky and thinned the forest leaves, making it the perfect morning for me to stand on the ridge behind our house and, looking west across the valley, watch the order in which Black Mountain’s knobs begin to glow. The sunlight falls on them differently over the course of the winter. It was early November, and based on what I’d seen in past years, Middle Knob would light up first.

But it’s not the order they light up in that I most wanted to see — it was the light itself. Suddenly, almost imperceptibly, as if coming to life, the top of one of the dark knobs will show a rosy blush that, slowly concentrating and growing stronger, spreads out and down over the mountain in a warmth that’s more than autumn gold.

To be accurate, I don’t see the sunlight “fall” on the mountain. As the great globe of Earth spins east on its axis, so astronomers tell us, Black Mountain rises into the sun’s constant rays.

As I neared the fork in the trail that led up to my lookout spot, a young maple — a slender understory tree about 30 feet tall — released a leaf. Sheltered from the wind by the taller trees, its crown had not been stripped. I watched the leaf slowly descend in circles and settle gently on the trail.

Then the tree released another. This leaf circled too, but in a tight spiral, stem-first to the ground.

It was a red maple, acer rubrum, but the leaves weren’t red. Red maple leaves tend to redden when the tree is open-grown. But this shaded tree had lemon-yellow leaves with rusty tints. Old leaves on a still-young tree.

Other leaves took flight. One, like a kid’s paper plane, sailed on a long, straight line to the ground. Another rocked from side to side like a cradle. “Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,” Walt Whitman says of the whispering sea. But that leaf had mere seconds to

rock. Other leaves rolled or somersaulted or did cartwheels. Some darted here and there as if the tree had released swallows.

The leaves had just the right wing shape in their pointed lobes, the right length of stem and weight to set them into infinite paths of flight. There was the canoe pitching end to end in waves, the ballerina’s pirouette, the airplane’s barrel roll, the parachute, the ticking pendulum. Spiral-flutter-plummet-glide — some leaves tried to do it all.

Still others twitched and flipped so crazily I could not see a pattern, except that like the others they too were going down.

The leaves of a red maple tree in the fall can vary from lingering green to yellow, gold, orange and red. Fred Coyle photo.

Each falling leaf, I realized, must be responsive to the faintest change in barometric pressure or temperature or humidity. The way a leaf ’s edge has been eaten away by a summer caterpillar or has a hole chewed in it or moth eggs laid on it — all these would affect its flight.

A leaf stopped mid-fall and slowly twirled at eye height. Caught on a spider’s strand?

I saw a falling leaf clip a branch and ricochet off in the opposite direction. I saw one leaf land on another and set it falling too, both twinning down together. I couldn’t tell what was going to happen until a leaf ’s fall was past.

One leaf went round in an upward spiral, as if about to soar, until it crashed into a yellow poplar tree trunk with an audible hit and dropped.

I was shaking the tree to make more leaves fall when, glancing around — there stood Black Mountain, head and shoulders in the sun! Turn to watch one thing of beauty and another happens at your back.

I resolved to hold a steady course tomorrow for the main event, if the day dawned clear.

(Burt and Becky Kornegay live in Jackson County.)

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.

• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin.

The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.

• Matt’s Ministry is hosting a Community Food Pantry 12-2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Brasstown Community Center, 255 Settawig Road. No sign-up or income requirement, just drive up to the Brasstown Community Center outdoor pavilion, volunteers will hand you some bags or boxes of food.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com the finer points of the game. Contact kei3ph@bellsouth.net for more information.

• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2567.

• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have a live nativity event 6-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, in Weaverville, at 91 Monticello Rd. The event is free. For more information contact Dee Bolin at 828.206.0421.

• Sylva Writers Group meets Wednesday mornings at City Lights Books. If interested contact sylvawriters@gmail.com.

• Waynesville Parks and Recreation will host “Jingle Bell Jam” Friday, Dec. 15, at the Waynesville Rec Center. Attendees can take polaroid family photos to decorate a Christmas family ornament, there will also be cookie decorating, grinch punch, and a station for kids to write letters to Santa. For more information call 828.456.2030 or email hjones@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A Novel Escape Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Every other month one book is selected for discussion. On alternate months the meeting is round-table discussion in which participants share what they’ve read lately. For more information call the bookstore at 828.369.9059 or visit anovelescapefranklin.wordpress.com.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

KIDS AND FAMILIES

• An Awareness Through Movement class is offered at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Ave, in Waynesville. This class focuses on movement through the arms, hands, legs and feet. Bring a mat and wear comfortable layered clothing. Walk-ins welcome. Cost is $60 for 4 sessions, $20 per session for walk-ins. To register or for more information email Annallys at eetm2023@proton.me or call 505.438.9109.

• The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Walks 5-6:15 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.

• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville, NC. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.

CLUBS AND MEETINGS • The Western Carolina Cribbage Club meets every Monday at 6 p.m. An eclectic group of young and old, male and female. The group supplies boards, cards, pegs and are always willing to help those still learning

• The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host a kids’ program about moon exploration on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Randi Neff will lead these activities focused on NASA’s Artemis program, with aims to one day establish a base on the Moon. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information call 828.586.2016.

• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old.

For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.

• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Next Chapter Book Club Haywood is a fun, energetic and highly interactive book club, ideal for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jen-

Smoky Mountain News

nifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

A&E

• The holiday show “Eireann’s Call - A Kilted Christmas” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. This is Folkmoot’s last live show of the season. Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7:30. For tickets or more information visit folkmoot.org.

• Appalachian Smoke will play a Christmas concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center. Tickets are $15 and are available at stecoahvalleycenter.com or by calling 828.479.3364.

• Trivia Night is hosted 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. For more information visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m.

To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events.

Registration is required, $45.

• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.

• Smoky Mountain Event Center presents Bingo Night with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and games starting at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month.

For information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.

FOOD AND DRINK • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.

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

• Take a trip around the world with four different wines every Friday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 11a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420 • Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.

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Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n Complete listings of local music scene n Regional festivals n Art gallery events and openings n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.

• Wired Wednesday, one-on-one technology help is available at 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information or to register, call 828.648.2924.

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons.

Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome.

Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The first annual holiday open studio will take place Saturday, Dec. 16, at Hazelwood Pottery in Waynesville.

Joe Frank Mckeee will be demonstrating horsehair and alcohol raku firing with his portable kiln, Neal Howard will bring her hand dyed and woven silks and Laure Faye Dean will be demoing wheel throwing. The afternoon will end with a Community Christmas Carol singalong. For information contact Dean at 828.226.4170.

Outdoors

• A turkey shoot will be held 9 a.m. Saturdays at the American Legion in Waynesville, continuing weekly through mid-April 2024. Breakfast food will be available for sale, with cash prizes offered. The event is weather-dependent. The American Legion is located on 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville.

• Mainspring Conservation Trust will hold a volunteer workday 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, Dec. 14. Learn more or sign up at mainspringconserves.org/events.

• The Merry Market with Santa will take place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, giving guests a chance to shop for treasures made by local artisans. Santa will make an appearance at both events. Learn more or register for breakfast at noc.com/events.

• Hike the Deep Creek Loop at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, with the Haywood County Recreation and Parks. The group will meet at Best Buy in Waynesville for the 4.9mile trail. Hike registration is $10, sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.

• Mainspring Conservation Trust will host an opportunity to connect with other environmentally minded people 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, at Innovation Station in Hillsboro. This Green Drinks in Sylva event is held every other month, a relaxed mixer with no formal schedule.

Learn more or sign up at mainspringconserves.org/events.

Market WNC PLACE Legals

MarketPlace information:

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

Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!

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NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK 23 SP 194 IN THE MATTER OF THE FORECLOSURE OF A DEED OF TRUST from Duane D Seeley to Meritha Browning, Trustee, dated October 4, 2002, recorded in Book 533, Page 2048, Haywood County Registry Pursuant to an order entered October 26, 2023, in the Superior Court for Haywood County, and the power of sale contained in the captioned Deed of Trust (the “Deed of Trust”), the Substitute

Trustee will offer for sale at auction (the “Sale”), to the highest bidder for cash on: DECEMBER 21, 2023, AT 11:00 A.M. HAYWOOD COUNTY COURTHOUSE 285 N MAIN STREET, WAYNESVILLE NORTH CAROLINA 28786 the real estate and the improvements thereon secured by the Deed of Trust, less and except any of such property released from the lien of the Deed of Trust prior to the date of said sale, lying and being in Haywood County, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows (the “Property”): All that certain lot or parcel of land situate in Canton, Beaverdam Township, Haywood County, North Carolina, and more particularly described as follows: Being all Lots 86 through 95, together with a small triangular shaped and

Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com

p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com

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Daunne D Seeley (aka Duane D Seeley). PIN: 8656-78-8675 In the Trustee’s sole discretion, the sale may be delayed for up to one (1) hour as provided in Section 45-21.23 of the North Carolina General Statutes. $ ¿YH SHUFHQW FDVK deposit, or a cash deposit of $750.00, whichever is greater, will be required of the last and highest bidder. The balance of the bid purchase price shall be due in full in cash or FHUWL¿HG IXQGV DW D FORVLQJ to take place within thirty (30) days of the date of sale. The Substitute Trustee shall convey title to the property by non warranty deed.

This sale will be made subject to all prior liens of record, if any, and to all unpaid (ad valorem) taxes and special assessments, if any, which became a lien subsequent to the recordation of the Deed of Trust. This sale will be further subject to the right, if any, of the United States of America to redeem the above-desc ribed property for a period of 120 days following the GDWH ZKHQ WKH ¿QDO XSVHW bid period has run.

The purchaser of the property described above shall pay the Clerk’s Commissions in the amount of $.45 per $100.00 of the purchase price (up to a maximum amount of $500.00), required by Section 7A-308(a)(1) of the North Carolina General Statutes. If the purchaser of the above-described property is someone RWKHU WKDQ WKH %HQH¿FLDU\

Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.

36

unnumbered tract of land located on the Southeast side of Lot 86 and extending to the intersection of two streets of the Ellis Burnett Highland Park addition to Canton, North Carolina, as shown on the Plat Book duly recorded in Plat Book B, Page B-8, LQ WKH RI¿FH RI WKH UHJLVWHU of deeds of Haywood County.

Less and except from the above described property that tract of land described in Deed dated February 15, 1960, from Fannie Conley widow to P.H. Rogers, recorded in Deed Book 181, Page 670, Haywood County Registry.

By fee simple deed from Tracey J. Seeley, as set forth in Deed Book 489, Page 2423, dated 04/10/2001 and recorded 04/10/2001, Haywood County Records, state of North Carolina.

The record owner(s) of the Property not more than ten (10) days prior to the date hereof is

December 13-19, 2023

WNC MarketPlace

under the Deed of Trust, the purchaser shall also pay, to the extent applicable, the land transfer tax in the amount of one percent (1%) of the purchase price.

To the extent this sale involves residential propHUW\ ZLWK OHVV WKDQ ¿IWHHQ (15) rental units, you are KHUHE\ QRWL¿HG RI WKH following: (a) An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to Section 45-21.29 of the North Carolina General Statutes in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold; and (b) Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

The 26th day of October 2023.

Jeff Williams-Tracy, Attorney for John W. Fletcher III, Substitute Trustee North Carolina State Bar Number 15503 100 Queens Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204 MÀHWFKHU# ÀHWFKHUW\GLQJV FRP NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA MACON COUNTY IN THE DISTRICT COURT 23-CVD-480 CIRILA GARCIA RUIZ, Plaintiff, Vs RICARDO CONTRERAS, Defendant.

To: RICARDO CONTRERAS: Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against \RX KDV EHHQ ¿OHG LQ WKH above titled action. The nature of the relief being

sought is as follows: -Complaint for Domestic Violence Protective Order You are required to make defense to such pleading not later than 40 days IURP WKH ¿UVW GDWH RI publication of this Notice, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This is the 27th day of November, 2023.

Denise Lockett Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc.-The Smoky 0RXQWDLQ 2I¿FHV Attorney for Plaintiff 1286 West Main Street Sylva, NC 28779 Tel: 828-586-8931 NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.2023E 000631 Joey Robison, having TXDOL¿HG DV WKH $GPLQistrator of the Estate of William Roy Robison of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Mar 06 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Administrator 95 Nevada Avenue Asheville, NC 28806 NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.23-E-731 Clayton Aaron Scruggs, KDYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Administrator of the Estate of Jill Suzanne Scruggs of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Feb 29 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Administrator 918 Willis Cove Road Canton, NC 28716 NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.2023 E 000724 Kaleb Rice, having TXDOL¿HG DV WKH ([HFXWRU of the Estate of Donald Zade Rice of Haywood County, North Carolina,

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Hayw y ood Co. Real Estate Agents

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Brian B NOLAND 828 734 5201 828.734.5201

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IN THE NEX XT T ISSUE

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37

TRIMMING UP ACROSS 1 Sports events played by visiting teams 10 Obeys reluctantly 16 Boho-chic Aussie boots 20 Arched shoe part 21 Part of U.K. 22 She talks on iPhones 23 Parasites plaguing the Cheshire cat?

25 A party to 26 Everlasting, poetically 27 Above ground 28 Bedazzled 29 Worked to get a different reward?

35 Pizza base 38 Tic-tac-toe win 39 Geometry assignments 40 "Dr." who raps 41 Above, poetically 42 Yard separators 45 Prefix with cyclist 46 Combat vet's affliction, for short 47 One giving technical advice to wizards?

52 Bull in a ring 54 Structure near a tonsil 55 "Othello" adversary 56 Relatives of alpacas 59 Adversary 60 City area where lots of radiators are produced?

63 Sword variety 66 Medic 67 Hiking aid 68 Disgusting 69 Untwisting threads overseas?

75 "I think --!"

77 Mobile's state 78 Smell horrible 79 Big ape 83 Hoofbeat 84 Math student doing sums correctly?

87 Moetley -89 -- hub (tech device) 91 Widely known 92 "Nope" 93 Narrow estuary 94 Guinea pig's cousin 97 Ring legend Muhammad 98 Speechify 100 Clock setting at the rear of a ship?

105 Makes grimy 106 Eye color, e.g.

107 Non-Spanish spelling of an Arizona tribe's name 111 Pack neatly 112 Trim request ... or what this puzzle takes, based on what its missing letters spell?

117 Sicilian peak 118 Use a hammer to fix, perhaps 119 Angry cry to a captor 120 Promising 121 Lacey's partner on TV 122 Hugh Jackman film about robot boxing DOWN 1 Vex 2 Doing the job 3 Suffix with clear or vigil 4 Certain plows and tractors 5 Give a smile

6 Ed of "Gus" 7 Trim grass 8 "Do Ya" rock gp.

9 Wash. bigwig 10 Good, in Spain 11 Freeway access point 12 More shrewd 13 Begin 14 "X" number 15 Eccentric 16 Consuming 17 Popular highball 18 Gardeners, farmers, etc.

19 Well-muscled 24 Affront, in rap 28 GEICO's bus.

30 Incessantly 31 Geologic spans 32 Lead-in to drama 33 Sweetie pie 34 Should that be the case 35 Super-deep sleep 36 Skim, say 37 Spur (on) 42 Pate de -- gras 43 Hollywood's Kazan 44 Eye color, e.g.

46 Itchy, medically 48 Make weak 49 Pigeon sound 50 Geologic span 51 Shearer of "A Free Soul" 53 Sept. follower 56 Bigwig 57 Comic strip cry of dismay 58 Sloppy farm area 60 Animal in a 58-Down 61 Greeting with a GIF, maybe 62 June honoree

63 Geologic span 64 Chum 65 Pre-hurricane orders 66 Stuff in the gene pool 70 Thai language 71 Oppose as false 72 Snoozing site 73 Atoll feature 74 Sticky pod in Cajun cuisine 75 Entre -- (between us) 76 Tolkien beast 79 Astronaut's wear 80 "Girls" creator Dunham 81 Legal exam, for short 82 Former court king Arthur 84 Lying adjacent to 85 Epps of "Scream 2" 86 Give up a poker hand 87 More boorish 88 Trattoria rice dish 90 Distress call 94 -- Antiqua 95 Plaid design 96 Even-scored 98 Nebraskan Native Americans 99 Reinstate in an office 101 1999 Super Bowl MVP John 102 Humdinger 103 Wolfed down 104 Spying info 108 To -- (perfectly) 109 Living space 110 German car company 112 Circle part 113 Rural stretch 114 Rink legend Bobby 115 Stipend or toll 116 St. Pete loc.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Feb 29 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.

Executor 115 Spotted Horse Trail Canton, NC 28716

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December 13-19, 2023

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