Smoky Mountain News | January 7, 2026

January 7-13, 2026 Vol. 27 Iss. 32 Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts and Outdoor Information www.smokymountainnews.com

Nikwasi Mound to return to the Eastern Band Page 8 SCC addresses digital divide issues Page 13

BRIDGING THE GAP

HAYWOOD EFFORT LEAVES FEW HOMES WITHOUT BROADBAND SERVICE

CONTENTS On the Cover:

STAFF

It’s taken a good deal of time, money and effort, but according to Haywood County commissioners, the number of households without broadband internet access has dwindled over the last few years. The Smoky Mountain News explores what has narrowed the digital divide and what areas are still without.

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EDITOR/PUBLISHER: ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: ART DIRECTOR: DESIGN & PRODUCTION: DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST ADVERTISING SALES:

News

CLASSIFIEDS: NEWS EDITOR: WRITING:

Terminated community school funds affect WNC counties....................................4 Construction begins to accommodate Haywood Innovative ..................................5 License snafu reveals experience gap in register of deeds election ....................6 Completing the circle: Nikwasi Mound to return to the Eastern Band ................8 Franklin withdraws offer to buy Angel Medical Center property............................9 Haywood schools land purchase advances ............................................................12 SCC makes strides addressing digital divide issues ............................................13

Opinion Something about those black bears ............................................................................14 Vote out those not doing their job ................................................................................14

ACCOUNTING & OFFICE MANAGER: CONTRIBUTING:

Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Jack Snyder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jack.s@smokymountainnews.com Tyler Auffhammer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tyler.a@mtnsouthmedia.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . amanda.b@smokymountainnews.com Maddie Woodard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . maddie.w@smokymountainnews.com Jamie Cogdill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Kyle Perrotti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com Lily Levin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lily.l@smokymountainnews.com Cory Vaillancourt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cory@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Jamie Cogdill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Susanna Shetley (writing), Adam Bigelow (writing), Thomas Crowe (writing)

CONTACT WAYNESVILLE | 144 Montgomery, Waynesville, NC 28786 SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585

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

A&E Some kind of wonderful: Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad ..........................16 Larry the Cable Guy to perform in Cherokee............................................................19

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

January 7-13, 2026

Curious kids keep the Smokies’ volunteer letter writers busy ............................24 The Joyful Botanist: Soil Life ..........................................................................................26

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January 7-13, 2026

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Terminated community school funds affect WNC counties

BY LILY LEVIN STAFF WRITER or nearly 20 years, the United States Department of Education has helped fund Full-Service Community School programs in “high-poverty” and “high-poverty rural” schools across the nation, while coalitions and existing community partners ensure on-the-ground, local implementation.

A Learning Policy Institute study in December 2017 found that $1 devoted to the program could return up to $15 “in social value and economic benefits” — and it’s reasonable to assume that, in 2025, returns are even greater.

In North Carolina, the FSCS model designed and proposed by NC Community Schools Coalition invites external partners and implements afterschool activities, a community school plan, a school advisory board and a family resource center. Each is facilitated by a full-time community school coordinator and informed by an assessment of the needs and assets within that population.

The 2023 allocation of nearly $50 million in FSCS funding over a five-year period marked the start of North Carolina’s current grant cycle.

NCCSC proposed staggered rollouts beginning July 2024, July 2025, January 2026 and fall 2026, and it split target schools into two groups based on implementation: “Year 1” or “Years 2-5.” It also classified funding by population — rural or non-rural — and region — west, east and central.

All was according to plan until midDecember 2025, when ED notified North Carolina of its decision to terminate the grant, effective at the end of the month.

Consequently, Attorney General Jeff Jackson joined legal representatives of Maryland and the District of Columbia to file a Dec. 30 lawsuit against Secretary Linda McMahon and ED for what Jackson claimed in a Dec. 31 press release was an unprecedented and unlawful move to cut off funding “with virtually no notice.”

The release alleged that if the Trump administration’s termination came to pass, it would “force schools to shut down programs and potentially lay off staff in the middle of the school year.”

That could be the case for nine “Year 1” grade-level schools in Western North Carolina, all of which are part of the Buncombe County or Asheville City system. Only Title I Eligible Non-Rural Schools were slated to receive 2024 funding in the “west” region, a decision the NCCSC seemed to explain in its initial grant application.

“Although most of [Western North Carolina’s] 23 counties are rural and largely White (an effect of decades of segre-

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months into the program “helped organize donations from across the state, and connected families to vital resources like food, clothing, household goods, cash and temporary housing” said Dan Leroy, UWABC’s chief executive officer.

The termination of FSCS grants would end standing community and educational support systems already implemented by early funding recipients.

But Graham and Swain counties — two of only four NC school systems with 100% of institutions included in the 2023 proposal and which combined account for nearly 75% of total four-county estimated FSCS student enrollment — might be losing the program before it gets started.

The two districts expected to benefit from FSCS expansion in fall 2026 and join a list of 18 total counties that haven’t yet received any ED money.

There’s an abundance of data showing why Swain and Graham were included in the NCCS proposal.

According to the 2024-2025 NC Department of Public Instruction performance assessment, four of Swain County’s public schools were split 50/50 between C and D ratSwain County Schools would ings, and Swain Academy, still in its greatly benefit from FSCS funding. infancy, was marked as lacking “suffiFile photo cient data.” While many neighboring counties didn’t fare a lot better, all, apart from Graham, offered at least one B-level school.

Swain County’s myFutureNC 2025 attainment profile reports a 2019-2023 trend of decreasing educational attainment, with 35.7% of residents aged 2544 having a “degree or credential” in 2019, compared to only 34.8% four years later.

Then, in 2024, 41.2% of Swain County students were chronically absent from school, nearly 16% above state average.

While Graham County had lower rates of absence and upward-trending 2019-2023 percentages of educational attainment, only 17% of students grades 3-8 had math exam scores labelled “college-and-career-ready,” 13% below the rural, non-metro county average.

Plus, the NCCSC application noted that students enrolled in Swain and Graham schools, like any other “Year 2-5” designated popuAt each of the nine WNC schools, United Way of lation, “reside in designated health professional shortage Asheville and Buncombe County — credited in the NCCSC areas for primary, dental, and mental health care” — which grant proposal for its century-long history of community may negatively influence their academic performance. engagement and support — employs a community school “Consistent access to physical and mental health care coordinator to promote partnerships, access and connecservices are linked to higher test scores and graduation tion. rates,” the proposal said.

UWABC additionally supports school “Community In these counties, the future work of FSCS, if allowed to Nights,” campus after-hours events offering free hot meals, continue, could look like offering physical and mental health material resources and tutoring sessions. resources to improve community outcomes.

And when Hurricane Helene hit, CSC coordinators only gating practices in housing and employment), non-rural counties have significantly higher representations of people of color,” which can mean receiving less funding despite equivalent taxes, noted the proposal.

However, the non-rural areas of Appalachia are majority white; white student enrollment proportions at Asheville City Schools (63%) and Buncombe County Schools (64.7%) roughly match multiple rural WNC district counterparts.

But the two non-rural school systems face an additional problem — the racial achievement gap.

Data from the 2023-2024 academic year shows that white students in Buncombe County Schools were 3.7 times more likely — and white students in grades 3-8 at Asheville City Schools were 8.6 times more likely — to score “career and college ready” on exams than their Black peers.

So, FSCS implementation at the nine city and county schools has aimed to improve not only student achievement but also racial educational equity.

Waynesville church to host program on Ukraine featuring former POW

race Church in the Mountains in Waynesville will host a daylong series of worship services, presentations and artistic offerings focused on peace, education and action in response to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

“A Day of Prayer for Ukraine and Beyond” takes place on Jan. 17, beginning with morn4 ing prayer at 9 a.m., followed at 9:30 a.m. by

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a presentation from Alex Drueke, a U.S. Army veteran from Alabama who volunteered to fight alongside Ukrainian forces during the Russian invasion, was captured and held as a prisoner of war by Russian forces and since his release has shared his experiences and continued support for Ukraine’s defense.

At 10:30 a.m., the church will screen the

film “A Faith Under Siege,” a 2025 documentary directed by Yaroslav Lodygin that chronicles how Ukrainian Christians endure persecution under Russian occupation and maintain their faith amid war — highlighting seized churches, tortured pastors and abducted children.

A noon Eucharist will open the afternoon session, followed from 2-3:30 p.m. by

“Dances of Universal Peace,” an interfaith participatory body prayer experience.

Evening prayer is scheduled for 5 p.m., with dinner at 5:30 p.m. and a 6:30 p.m. presentation by John and Donna Culp titled “Mission to Ukraine: Update.” Dessert will be provided by Svitlana’s Kitchen. Reservations are required for dinner. To make reservations, email programs@gracewaynesville.com.

BY LILY LEVIN than that, it shouldn’t be a big change,” STAFF WRITER Lanning said. ohn Burgin Construction, LLC workers White said she’s excited for future midarrived at Haywood Community dle schoolers to experience the college’s preCollege’s Poplar Building Jan. 5, marking professional environment. the start of an estimated 120-day renovation Haywood Innovative’s location at HCC process driven by the addition of middle will grant these students the “opportunity to school called ‘Haywood Innovative’ and have more class visits and experiential expomanaged by the county school system. sure to some of those career options and Haywood County Schools is renting the pathways and sectors that may be of interbuilding to do “a tenant upfit … They’ve est,” she told SMN. hired an architect, and they’re overseeing “The purpose of [Haywood Innovative] is that,” said Brek Lanning, the college’s vice two-fold,” said Fox. “One, academic accelerapresident of infrastructure, campus develop- tion for all students. So, they’ll be gaining ment and technology. five or more high school credits for their This upfit is necessary to accommodate middle school, which will create openings in Haywood Innovative but has much more to high school for them to take advantage of do with its sister institution, Haywood Early accelerated opportunities.”

College.

Starting fall 2026, HEC will be housed in the Poplar building, freeing up the Dogwood building in fall 2026 for Haywood Innovative’s three grade levels and between 80 and 100 total students.

The shift to the Poplar building allows the early college to begin “expanding” its student body, said HEC and Haywood Innovative Principal Lori Fox, adding that it’s “almost double the square Renovations of the Poplar Building are currently underway. footage” of Dogwood.

Lily Levin photo The school board will make a final evaluation of Haywood Innovative She described the second tenet as providbefore opening applications to prospective ing “enrichment opportunities” by “aligning students. university campus and career exploration HCS Superintendent Trevor Putnam told trips.”

The Smoky Mountain News that Haywood We do those on the early college side, and County Schools identified JBC through a we’ll also be doing those with middle schoolbidding process to turn the Poplar building ers,” Fox said.

— “the old nursing building” — into a high Those outings may look like a visit to a school.

Makerspace lab that facilitates a student’s While the school system is primarily realization that they’d like to pursue a career responsible for coordinating the construcin science. tion, President Shelley White said that the Last year, early college students toured 10 college will be “working in tandem with southern campuses, ranging from the nearby them on the facility’s needs and being able Western Carolina University in Cullowhee to to locate the school on our campus.”

NC State in Raleigh to the University of She added that as 2026 unfolds, “we’ll be Virginia in Charlottesville. Some of these able to do more planning around what that schools might also be explored by Haywood calendar looks like and what [HCS’] needs Innovative students. might be with the early college.”

The middle school will even share someThe project will mainly involve cosmetic thing less tangible with HEC — a “good culupgrades to “modernize” the Poplar buildture,” defined by Fox as students capable of ing, though HCS is also adding walls to “communicating with teachers and instrucchange the spatial layout of a few classtors and advocating for their needs.” rooms, said Graham Haynes, HCS associate HEC alumni, she said, “feel like they have superintendent. a leg up on other students at their university As for the latter building, Haynes said it’s because they can advocate for themselves.” “in pretty good shape,” though the contract Still, Fox stressed that academics and calls for a few minor renovations. social life at Haywood Innovative will resemNone of these changes should significant- ble a middle school experience. ly impact parking and traffic flow on HCC “We’ll be exploring the community colcampus. lege campus and all the opportunities here, “The bus pickup is going to happen at and we’ll be partnering with the early college the same location that currently does. teachers, but [our students] will be contained There’ll be a few more people here, but other within that middle school.”

Black Beear Paving & Construction, Inc. 6456 Sylvva Hwy, Franklin, NC 2873 7 4 (828) 3 49 9-3390 • NC Contractors #75898

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Construction begins to accommodate Haywood Innovative

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TOWN OF WAYNESVILLE FAIR HOUSING COMPLAINT PROCEDURE Town of Waynesville has Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects currently in progress. The CDBG program requires that a Fair Housing plan and complaint procedure be adopted by the Town.

Housing discrimination is prohibited by Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and by the North Carolina State Fair Housing Act. In an effort to promote fair housing and to ensure that the rights of housing discrimina- tion victims are protected, Town of Waynesville has adopted the following procedures for receiving and resolving housing discrimination complaints:

1. $Q\ SHUVRQ RU SHUVRQV ZLVKLQJ WR ¿OH D FRPSODLQW RI KRXVLQJ GLV crimination in Town of Waynesville may do so by informing, Rob Hites, Town Manager, of the facts and circumstances of the alleged discriminatory act or practice.

Town Manager shall inform the North Carolina Human Relations Commission (Commission) about the com- plaint. The Waynesville Town 0DQDJHU VKDOO WKHQ DVVLVW WKH &RPPLVVLRQ DQG WKH FRPSODLQDQW LQ ¿OLQJ DQ RI¿FLDO ZULWWHQ KRXVLQJ FRPSODLQW ZLWK WKH &RPPLVVLRQ SXUVXDQW WR the State Fair Housing Act and Title VIII.

3. The Town of Waynesville Town Manager shall offer assistance to the Commission in the investigation and conciliation of all housing discrimination complaints, which are based upon events occurring in Town 0f Waynesville.

January 7-13, 2026

2. Upon receiving a housing discrimination complaint, the Waynesville

4. The Town of Waynesville shall publicize that the Town of WaynesYLOOH 0DQDJHU LV WKH ORFDO RI¿FLDO WR FRQWDFW ZLWK KRXVLQJ GLVFULPLQDWLRQ complaints based upon events occurring in Town of Waynesville by posting this complaint procedure in the Town of Waynesville Town Hall and publishing it in the local newspaper.

5. All complaints shall be acknowledged within ten (10) days of receipt.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Rob Hites, Town Manager at 828-452-2491 or at 16 South Main Street, Waynes- ville, NC 28786 for accommodations for this request.

Smoky Mountain News

If you have any questions about the complaint procedure or would like to register a complaint, please contact Rob Hites, Town Manager, by mail at the Town of Waynesville 16 South Main Street, Waynesville, NC 28786 or by phone at 828-452-2491 or for TDD assistance call 7-1-1.

Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, pón- gase en contacto con Rob Hites, Town Manager al 828-4522491 o en 16 South Main Street, Waynes- ville, NC 28786 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

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Marriage license snafu reveals experience gap in Haywood register of deeds election

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR he motive behind one Republican candidate’s bid for the open Haywood County Register of Deeds seat is proof she’s not qualified for the job, says her Republican Primary Election opponent.

“I feel like someone that does not know the law should not be running for a job just trying to get back at us as a vendetta because we would not issue a marriage license,” said Stacy Cutshaw Moore, one of two candidates running to replace the longtime incumbent Democratic incumbent, Sherri Rogers, who is retiring.

As no Democrats filed for the race, the winner of the March 3 Republican Primary Election between Moore and Canton resident Kristina Watson will assume leadership of one of county government’s most important — and overlooked — elected offices.

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he dispute stems from Kristina’s claims that she and her husband Tracy John Watson were improperly denied a marriage license by the Haywood County Register of Deeds, an experience she says motivated her to run for the position now being vacated by Rogers after more than three decades working in the office and 16 years leading it.

“Their attitude towards us when we talked to them was very high and mighty, very, ‘We can do whatever we want because we’re a publicly elected office,’” Tracy said.

“We don’t believe anybody should be treated that way.”

Kristina told The Smoky Mountain News Jan. 1, that she was born and raised in Hawaii and had never lived anywhere else before moving to Haywood County three years ago; however, voter registration records show the only votes she has ever cast in North Carolina were in Buncombe County in the 2022 and 2024 General Elections.

Public records show Tracy voted in Buncombe County General Elections in 2018 and 2020 and has an unpaid property tax bill from 2022 that lists an Asheville address. Tracy subsequently purchased a house in Canton in May 2021 and voted in Haywood County in 2022 and 2024.

A Facebook profile for a “TJ Watson” of Canton says he’s been married to “Kryssi” Watson since Sept. 2, 2024 — prior to the 2024 General Election, which raises serious questions about Kristina’s residency and her Buncombe County votes in 2022 and 2024.

Kristina said that she has an associate’s degree in psychology from the University of Oregon online. Her work experience includes plenty of clerical roles, but now she works as a recordkeeper for public safety communications in Buncombe County.

“I’m involved with the filing, safekeeping and releasing of records, and I handle the court side of records and documentation 6 that are released to the courts,” she said.

Smoky Mountain News

January 7-13, 2026

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that marriage has been documented.

That distinction is laid out in detail in a comprehensive analysis of North Carolina marriage law authored by Janet Mason, a faculty member at the UNC School of Government who specializes in juvenile law, social services law and marriage law. In her article, Mason explains that while marriage County Register of Deeds since 2009 and When the Watsons came to the register licenses are commonly viewed as essential to worked in the office in various capacities of deeds in Haywood County seeking a marmarriage, North Carolina courts have consisriage license, the office declined to issue one. dating back to the mid-1980s, has rejected tently held that the absence or presence of a any suggestion that personal beliefs play a “Essentially what happened in that office license is “of minimal consequence” in deterrole in the office’s work. The office, she has is we were denied a marriage certificate mining whether a valid marriage exists. said, is bound strictly by statute, and marbecause the office very much was just Mason notes that registers of deeds have riage licensing is governed by state law opposed to it for reasons we still don’t no authority to retroactively issue marriage rather than personal discretion. understand,” Tracy said. licenses once a ceremony has taken place. In fact, she writes, if applicants disclose that they have already participated in a marriage ceremony, a register of deeds must refuse to issue a license. Doing otherwise, the article explains, would contradict statutory requirements and create false public records.

In that context, Moore said, the Watsons were treated no differently than any other couThe retirement of longtime Haywood County Register of Deeds Sherri Rogers leaves an important — but ple.

“When we overlooked — office looking for new leadership. Haywood County government photo hear that you’ve already had a ceremony, you’re already married,” she said.

Moore, who has worked in the office for Asked if they’d said or done anything “We can’t issue a license. That is the law.”

12 years under Rogers and previously spent that would lead the register’s office to Rogers, who was first appointed to the 17 years before that on the other side of the believe they were ineligible for a marriage Register of Deeds position in 2009 and then counter, pulling deeds as part of her work certificate, Tracy responded that his best repeatedly elected without opposition, said for a land surveyor, said she walked in on guess was that they had offended someone the marriage law confusion illustrated by the tail end of the dispute and that Watson’s in the office.

Watson’s claim is not unusual. Over the account reflects a fundamental misunderThe Watsons said they left the office feelyears, she said, her office has routinely ing singled out and dismissed, an interaction standing of how marriage law works in encountered couples who misunderstand North Carolina. that they later characterized as unfair treatthe relationship between ceremonies and “When you go to run for an office, you ment by Rogers’ staff. The Watsons subselicenses. need to know about the office. You need to quently obtained a marriage license in The office’s role, Rogers reiterated, is not know what that office does, what it entails,” Buncombe County with no issues, Kristina to interpret or bend the law, but to follow it Moore said. said, framing her experience in Haywood precisely.

Under North Carolina law, marriage is County as an example of how personal Buncombe County Register of Deeds created by consent and solemnization, not beliefs can influence access to government Drew Reisinger, who’s been in office for 15 by the issuance of a license. A license is a services — a concern Tracy says would not years, told The Smoky Mountain News Jan. mechanism for documenting the marriage, exist if the office were run differently.

4 that he agrees with how Haywood County not a prerequisite for its existence. Once a “It’s the culture of the office, and that’s handled the situation, and that the Watsons’ couple has participated in a valid ceremony, one of the reasons why we want to run is failure to disclose their previous ceremony the marriage has already occurred under because we want to shift the culture of the to his office likely violated the law. state law. office,” said Tracy, who also serves as “When you’re filling out a marriage Moore said that during the Watsons’ visit Kristina’s campaign manager. license application you say under oath that to the office, they mentioned solemnizing During Kristina’s interview, Tracy spoke the info you provided is true and correct to the marriage in a ceremony at some time in frequently on Kristina’s behalf, often using the best of your knowledge and belief,” the past and that they were thus ineligible the word “we” when describing plans and Reisinger said. “The info they provided to views for the office. When reminded that his for a marriage certificate without taking my office would not have been true. But additional legal steps first. name was not on the ballot, Tracy said he marriage law is murky in North Carolina, so Registers of deeds are prohibited from did not plan to be employed in the register’s issuing a marriage license to individuals who it’s not something I’d pursue with office if his wife were to be elected. law enforcement.” are already married, regardless of whether Rogers, who has served as Haywood

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Registers of deeds now able to certify adoptive birth certificates

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Previously, adoptees were required to obtain their adoptive birth certificates exclusively through the State of North Carolina office in Raleigh — a process that was often timeconsuming and placed additional barriers on adoptees that did not exist for other residents. With this new law, adoptees may now access their adoptive birth certificates through their local register of deeds office in the county where they were born.

Rogers began working in the office in 1985 as an intern through a paralegal program at Southwestern Community College.

She became a deputy register of deeds in 1986 and later served as assistant register before leaving the office for several years.

She returned to the office in 2009, when she was appointed by the county Democratic Party to fill a vacancy.

The Haywood register’s office has an annual budget of roughly $1.5 million, Rogers said, though the exact figure fluctuates year to year. In addition to providing essential public services, the office pays for itself and generates a modest amount of revenue for the county’s general fund.

The office operates with a staff of four full-time employees in addition to the register. Rogers said it takes years to fully train a Kristina Watson. File photo new employee, given the complexity of real estate law, indexing standards and statutory he register of deeds office is responsible for maintaining Haywood County’s offi- requirements.

Staff members regularly attend district cial public records including birth and workshops and School of Government traindeath certificates, marriage licenses and miling sessions to stay current on changes in itary discharge records. Military discharge the law — the most recent of which allows records, known as DD-214s, are the only county registers of deeds to issue certified documents in the office that are not public adoptive birth certificates. Under the new record, remaining sealed for 80 years. law, adopted individuals and certain family Unbeknownst to many, the office plays a members can obtain certified copies of their critical role in the county’s economy by peradoptive birth certificates in the county forming various official functions related to where they were born. Previously, adoptees real estate transfers. Rogers mentioned a could request these records only through the substantial transaction that came into the North Carolina Office of Vital Records in office late on a recent Wednesday.

“It was very important to those people to Raleigh.

Over nearly four get through the sale decades, Rogers said, of those properties,” “Essentially what happened the office has underRogers said. “I mean, gone a dramatic in that office is we were there’s a lot of a lot transformation, parof money that goes denied a marriage ticularly in its use of through this office as technology. far as excise tax — a certificate because the Haywood County fee that’s charged on was among the first office very much was just the transaction in North Carolina to amount paid, $1 per opposed to it for reasons digitize its grantor $500.” and grantee indexes, She also menwe still don’t understand.” a process that began tioned that if the in the mid-1980s.

— Tracy John Watson office doesn’t perToday, nearly all docform its duties effiuments are recorded ciently, real-world consequences follow — electronically, and Rogers estimates that for even the smallest of transactions.

“Some individuals come here in a U-Haul roughly 90% of filings come into the office through electronic filing systems. with all their possessions, and it’s a Friday Kristina, however, argued that the office afternoon, and if something happens and I could do more to expand online services and don’t get their deed recorded, they don’t get reduce the need for in-person visits. the keys to their new home,” said Rogers. “I Rogers rejected that claim, saying virtualmean, there’s so many little things that you ly every function that can legally be handled don’t think about that we have to do here. online already is.

We have to make sure everything — every“There is nothing that a register’s office thing — flows in this office.” can do that we don’t have in this office,”

“This legislation is a big win for adoptees,” said Haywood County Register of Deeds Sherri Rogers. “We are grateful for a law that allows adoptees to obtain their vital records more efficiently and locally.”

It is important to note that original birth certificates issued prior to adoption, as well as all associated adoption records, will remain sealed and are not subject to inspection or release under this law.

Rogers said. “We do everything and anything that is possible electronically.”

Rogers said attorneys and realtors from other counties frequently comment on the efficiency of the Haywood County office and sometimes travel specifically to Haywood to do business because of how quickly and smoothly transactions are processed.

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egisters of deeds across North Carolina are now authorized to issue certified copies of adoptive birth certificates for individuals who were born after 1971 and forward. This change marks a significant step forward in providing adoptees equal access to their vital records.

At this time, counties are authorized to issue adoptee birth certificates only for individuals who were born within that county.

victim.

Moore said that kind of vigilance is part of the job, one that extends beyond the workday.

“Most people, when they go home or if they have a day off, they don’t think about work,” Moore said. “If I take a day off, I’m like, ‘Are they busy?’”

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Kristina has never worked in a register of deeds office but emphasized her background in customer service and administrative work, saying those skills would translate to managing the office and interacting with the public.

Moore said the register’s job is not one that can be approached casually or treated as a symbolic position.

“I would like to know, does [Kristina] know the difference between the documents? Does she realize that every document that we record has to be indexed?

Does she realize that there’s indexing standards that we have to follow? I mean, it’s not just walking in here and sitting back and issuing marriage licenses and maybe birth certificates for people,” Moore said.

“There’s a lot more that people don’t realize that we do in here.”

Were Kristina Watson to win the election, Moore said she would leave the office.

“I love my job. I love working here,” Moore said. “I’m very interested in everything we do in here, from the birth certificates to the deeds. And it’s not just a job 7 for me. It’s my life. It’s what I enjoy.”

Smoky Mountain News

Moore believes her education, her local roots and her experience working with Rogers have prepared her to step into the role without a learning curve. A Haywood County native, Moore graduated from Tuscola High School and earned two associate’s degrees from Haywood Community College — one in general education, one in office administration.

All told, Moore said her decades of work with and in the office prepare her to recognize problems that might not be obvious to someone unfamiliar with the system, including a fraudulent deed she helped stop from being recorded after she noticed irregularities, including a falsified notary seal. The grantor named on the deed, she said, was deceased.

Had the document been recorded, it could have resulted in an illegal property transfer, exposing the office and possibly the individual working the counter to legal liability. In such circumstances, the victim would have to report the fraud to law enforcement, hire a real estate attorney, file a civil action to quiet title and then prove the deed is fraudulent. The process can take months or years, and initial costs fall on the

January 7-13, 2026

Stacy Cutshaw Moore. File photo

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Completing the circle Nikwasi Mound to return to the Eastern Band

BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR he Nikwasi Mound in Franklin is one step closer to being transferred back to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, a process almost a century in the making.

At a Franklin Town Council meeting Jan. 5, the board voted unanimously to transfer the deed for the property, which is just south of downtown near the Little Tennessee River, from the Noquisi Initiative, a nonprofit formed for this very purpose about a decade ago, to EBCI. The nonprofit itself is made up of representatives from the Eastern Band and community members from around Macon County.

Mounds such as Nikwasi are culturally important to the Eastern Band, as they once served as sacred meeting places. Many of the mounds in the region have either been destroyed or are in more secluded areas, making the highly visible, easily accessible Nikwasi Mound of particular interest to both the town of Franklin and the Eastern Band.

In 2019, Franklin Town Council transferred the deed from the town to the Noquisi Initiative, and now, it will be in Cherokee

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hands.

Prior to the vote, board members and staff from the Noquisi Initiative spoke, including Angelina Jumper, an EBCI enrolled member and, who beamed as she discussed how much this property transfer would mean to the Eastern Band.

“When we get land back, it means so much to us, but especiallty this site with Nikwasi Mound,” Jumper told councilmembers.

January 7-13, 2026 Smoky Mountain News

transfer, the town voted in favor of a resolution recognizing those efforts — efforts that proved to be the first step in the process to bring the land back to the original owners. That resolution noted that in 1946, the mound could have easily been demolished and redeveloped, “depriving all who appreciate its significance of the opportunity to visit and learn of its important place in local and regional history.”

“Now therefore, be it resolved by the town council for the Town of Franklin, that the town council hereby honors and celebrates the important contributions of all those whose efforts made it possible the preservation of the mound for future generations,” councilmem-

The Nikwasi Mound is likely over 1,000 years old. Bob Scott photo

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

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“You can see that mound is still high and full of all the history and medicine and love that’s been put into it,” she added.

Mayor Stacy Guffey couldn’t help but smile as he spoke about the privilege of being on the board at the time his monumental step was taken.

“The fundamental reason for this is that this is the right thing to do,” Guffey said.

Once the unanimous vote was recorded, the audience, which included several enrolled members of the Eastern Band and Noquisi Initiative board members, broke out into joyous applause.

A common theme in discussions prior to

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ber Travis Higdon read aloud. “Be it further the vote and immediately after was a celebraresolved that the town council hereby commits tion of the collaborative effort required to transfer the property back to the Eastern Band. itself to the inclusion of commemoration and interpretation of the role of the town of To make the agreement satisfactory for all parFranklin and its citizens in the mound’s ongoties and air-tight legally, the EBCI Attorney ing preservation.”

General’s Office, lawyers for Noquisi Initiative and Town Attorney John Henning had to The effort to return the property to the Eastern Band of Cherokee work together to tweak Indians was a collaborative effort between enrolled members and the details. Specifically, non-indigenous people. Kyle Perrotti photo all parties wanted to ensure that upon the transfer of the deed, that the Eastern Band wasn’t encumbered by too many prior restrictions on the property.

This process required good-faith negotiations from all sides.

We are all mountain people, and we should act that way, councilmembers and stakeholders said.

Once the property is officially trans“It’s an honor to be part of this collaboraferred, there will be an opportunity to turn tive process,” Noquisi Initiative Executive it into an attraction that can enhance herDirector Elaine Eisenbraun told The Smoky itage tourism, which would bring in visitors Mountain News the morning after the vote. and educate them about the tumultuous In 1946, the owner of the property the past for the Cherokee and the folks who mound is on was looking to sell the land for eventually settled this land in the 18th cendevelopment, but a group came together to tury, as well as how groups came together to raise the money needed to buy and preserve preserve the mound. the mound. This group included schoolchildEisenbaum said that with that in mind, ren who, one penny at a time, procured the there are already plans in the works to host a funds needed to put the effort over the top. community celebration of the mound later Following the vote to approve the deed this year.

BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR ollowing a presentation discussing the results of a feasibility study, the Franklin Town Council has withdrawn its offer to buy the property where the Angel Medical Center used to sit for $910,000.

The medical center came under the control of Hospital Corporation of America when HCA purchased the Mission Health System in 2019. In September 2022, officials cut the ribbon on a new Angel Medical Center building in Franklin, rendering the old building near downtown obsolete.

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Franklin withdraws offer to buy Angel Medical Center property In her presentation, VanLear noted that while there is strong demand for new residential and commercial construction in Franklin, the eventual sales prices or lease rates required for a developer to profit would be significantly higher than common market rates in the area.

“For a feasibility study, it’s not sounding very feasible to me,” Vice Mayor Mike Lewis said.

While the town board voted in August of last year to offer to buy the property from HCA for $910,000, the vote to withdraw the offer was unanimous.

The old Angel Medical Center building was demolished in 2024. Bob Scott photo

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“This is why we do feasibility studies,” Mayor Stacy Guffey said.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality had planned to do a study that could have brought in grant money to finish the site cleanup, including an environmental remediations, but HCA never signed the agreement that would have allowed for DEQ contractors to access the site to complete the study. While it is unknown how much cleanup would be needed, it may be a significant task that would come with a significant price tag.

Now that the town has withdrawn its offer, it is up to HCA to determine what to do with the property. That may mean it sits vacant for some time, HCA may develop it or it could sell the land to a private developer.

Toward the end of the discussion, Guffey lamented how HCA operated throughout the process of determining feasibility and trying to nail down a purchase price.

“This is extremely disappointing after Idon’t-know-how-many hours of staff time and my time negotiating in good faith with HCA,” he said.

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The old Angel Medical Center building was subsequently torn down, leaving just some retaining walls, basement walls, roadways and rubble where the rural hospital once stood. Following the demolition, the town began exploring the option to buy the property for future development.

In January, the town board voted to spend about $60,000 on a feasibility study to determine potential uses for the property. At the meeting earlier this week, Sara VanLear, a project manager with the UNC School of Government’s Development Finance Initiative, presented the results of that study.

The results were not encouraging.

The 13-acre property features tricky topography that would likely lead most developers to balk at the prospect of spending money on grading and other site preparation work. Only about five acres — the footprint of the building itself — would have been immediately developable, and even that likely would have not been worth the time and effort, since there are still those retaining walls and basement structures present that would be difficult to repurpose.

January 7-13, 2026

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Haywood outlines broadband buildout progress

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR aywood County Community and Economic Development Manager Hannah White used a Jan. 5 presentation to give commissioners a detailed accounting of where broadband access stands today, how far the county has come since the depths of the digital divide were exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic and what work remains before reliable highspeed internet reaches every single household tucked into the county’s ridges, hollers and remote valleys.

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ment make traditional broadband expansion expensive and technically challenging.

To address those gaps, White walked commissioners through a layered patchwork of federal and state programs that together form Haywood’s broadband strategy.

Rather than relying on a single funding source, the county has stacked multiple grant programs, each targeting different categories of unserved or underserved locations and each with its own timelines, providers and technical standards.

One of the earliest and largest efforts discussed was the Rural Digital Opportunity

A later GREAT 2022 award targeted an additional 182 locations, again with Spectrum as the provider and is now scheduled for completion in March 2026.

Hurricane Helene and permitting problems delayed the project, White said, which should have been completed already.

Another tranche, known as GREAT to CAB, allowed counties to roll unfunded GREAT applications into the Completing Access to Broadband program, adding 301 locations that have now been completed.

The CAB program itself represents a significant component of Haywood’s current

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A milieu of state and federal programs has drastically reduced the number of Haywood County locations without access to reliable, affordable broadband service. Haywood County government photo

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White’s update traced broadband conditions back to August 2020, when availability was largely measured at the census-tract level, a method that often overstated coverage in rural terrain. Under that system, large swaths of Haywood appeared to be served if even a small portion of a tract had access, masking pockets where residents had no functional connection at all.

Maps shown to commissioners illustrated how that approach failed to capture the actual experience of households scattered along winding mountain roads or perched far from existing infrastructure.

Recent data, presented as current through 2024, paints a clearer and more granular picture. Hundreds of individual locations remain unserved, identified not by broad census tracts but by address-level analysis. These locations are dispersed across the county, with heavier concentrations in mountainous areas where steep slopes, long driveways and sparse develop-

Fund, a Federal Communications Commission initiative designed to extend broadband into rural areas lacking service at minimum speeds of 25 megabits per second downstream and 3 megabits per second upstream.

In Haywood County, that program will eventually cover 5,479 locations with Spectrum as the provider. Spectrum has until 2029 to complete work but is expected to be finished by December 2026.

“It’s kind of focused towards the north and south part of the county — a lot of public land out there — but [RDOF] still was able to serve 5,000 locations,” White explained. “As of December [2025] there are about 3,500 served of that 5,000, essentially.”

Complementing that effort are several rounds of the state’s Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology program. A supplemental GREAT award funded service to 304 locations through Skyrunner and has already been completed.

broadband buildout. Through a partnership with the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, CAB 1.0 will extend service to 915 locations, with Skyrunner as the provider and an anticipated completion in October.

“They’ve already made some significant progress with this grant,” said White.

CAB 2.0 adds another 359 locations, also served by Skyrunner, with work expected to conclude by December 2026.

Together, these programs account for the vast majority of previously unserved addresses in the county. A summary chart presented to commissioners showed that roughly 99.6% of identified locations either already had broadband access or have been awarded funding through one of these initiatives.

Of approximately 8,200 total locations analyzed, about three-quarters fall into the category of having had prior access to these programs, while

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January 7-13, 2026 Smoky Mountain News

nearly one-quarter are being addressed through grants. Currently, White said, only 121 locations still have not been served, not counting any new buildings that may have been built recently in hard-to-reach areas.

“I don’t know that people understand how monumental of an accomplishment that is,” said Commissioner Jennifer Best.

“There were more places that didn’t have it than places that did have it. It’s been good to see these providers do what they said they were going to do. It’s so vital to how we do everything these days.”

White emphasized that even with those gains, the final fraction of locations represents the most difficult and costly phase of broadband expansion. These high-cost, secluded addresses often sit far from existing fiber lines or require extensive construction through rugged terrain. To reach them, the county is looking to stop-gap solutions funded through President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act, aimed at filling the holes left after GREAT and CAB investments are fully built out.

Beyond infrastructure, officials also highlighted the role of the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, funded through Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In Haywood County, BEAD is expected to serve 660 locations through a mix of providers and technologies, including fiber deployments by AT&T and Spectrum and satellite service from Amazon.

Unlike earlier programs, BEAD extends further into the future, with an expected completion date of December 2030, reflecting both its broader scope and its emphasis on long-term planning and adoption.

Maps shown during the presentation underscored the complexity of coordinating these overlapping efforts. Different colors and symbols marked areas covered by RDOF, GREAT, CAB and BEAD reveal a mosaic of service areas that must align without duplication or gaps. White stressed the importance of ongoing data validation to ensure that locations counted as served actually receive functional service at promised speeds.

Residents were also encouraged to make use of the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map, an address-based tool that allows users to see which providers claim to offer service at their location. If a provider is listed but does not actually serve the address, residents can file an availability challenge, a process that can influence future funding decisions and corrections to official coverage maps.

White closed by framing broadband not as a single project with a clear end date, but rather as a continuing public infrastructure effort, similar to roads or water systems.

While the county is nearing a point where almost every address will have at least one funded path to service, timelines, construction challenges and provider performance will continue to require close monitoring by county staff and state partners.

“So we’ve gone from thousands not being served to a little over a hundred,” Chair Kevin Ensley said. “I feel like this is the 1920s and 1930s where we’re getting telephone and electricity.”

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Haywood schools land purchase advances

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR aywood County commissioners have approved a proposed land purchase intended to expand the physical footprint around Tuscola High School in Clyde, giving the school district some flexibility to meet future needs if and when they become apparent.

The action authorizes a $1.176 million budget amendment within the Haywood County Schools debt service fund to appropriate fund balance for the purchase of two adjoining parcels totaling 13.07 acres on Hospital Drive. The land sits directly behind existing Tuscola High School facilities and is currently owned by beleaguered Mission Hospital LLC, part of HCA Healthcare.

Haywood County Schools Assistant Superintendent Graham Haynes told commissioners the building and grounds committee along with the school board had unanimously approved the purchase after the opportunity was presented by the property owner. Haynes emphasized that the district has no immediate construction plans for the property, framing the purchase instead as a long-term strategic move.

“The [school] board feels as though anytime we can kind of expand footing around one of our schools for future development, if we need it and the price is right, we should do so,” he said. “We’d pay for it out of capital funds, which are local sales taxes allotted from the state.”

As discussion turned to the financing of the purchase, Chair Kevin Ensley reiterated — “So this is out of your fund balance?”

“Yes,” Haynes said.

“The money that’s buying this property, that’s not monies coming out of the operation of the school?” Commissioner Terry Ramey asked.

Haynes corrected that misunderstanding, stressing that the

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January 7-13, 2026

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Haynes added that while the land could eventually play a money was restricted capital funding that cannot be used for role in expansion, building a new school would require a much classroom operations, salaries or other day-to-day expenses. larger financing effort, likely involving voter-approved borrow“It comes from our capital fund balance, which is generated ing. from local sales tax revenue,” said Haynes, who went on to “I think we would have to probably do some sort of [general explain to Ramey, a commissioner for three years now, that the obligation] bond to purchase the school,” he said. capital fund is derived from two specific statutory funding Haynes noted that the district’s existstreams, commonly referred to by ing general obligation bond for Bethel their article numbers, which limit how Elementary School is scheduled to roll off the money may be spent. in the 2026–27 fiscal year, with its annual Commissioners play a large — but not debt service currently paid using the exclusive — role in public school same capital funds now being used for funding. the land purchase.

“We get 30% of Article 40 and 60% “So once that’s freed up, we’ll have of Article 42, and so that generates some more money there,” Haynes said, monthly [from local sales tax revcautioning that rising construction costs enue],” Haynes said.

A basic tenet of public school Presented with an unusual opportunity, mean any future school project would financing in North Carolina is that Haywood County Schools will take carry a substantial price tag, regardless of sales tax monies can only be used by advantage of it. File photo land availability.

Commissioners briefly veered into a schools for capital expenses — purrelated discussion about Canton Middle School, which Haynes chasing land, upgrading buildings and the like. described as one of the oldest school buildings in the county Article 40 funding comes from a portion of local sales tax and a frequent subject of community concern. Haynes said the distributed by the state to counties for school capital needs, district continues to pursue state grant funding that could offset while Article 42 funding represents an additional sales tax allocation that can only be used for school construction, land acqui- part of the cost of replacing or rebuilding the school.

“If I’m not mistaken, it’s $42 million for an elementary, $52 sition and debt service. Together, the two streams form the backbone of Haywood County Schools’ capital funding, separate for a middle and $62 for a high school,” Haynes said. “So if we were to get the grant for a middle school, that would be $52 milfrom both county appropriations and state instructional fundlion towards that cost.” ing.

Preliminary estimates, he said, place the total cost of a new The $1.176 million budget amendment increases capital outCanton middle school in the $80 million to $90 million range, lay within the debt service fund but is fully offset by appropriatdepending on design features not fully covered by state funding ed fund balance, meaning it does not require new borrowing or formulas. affect the county’s general fund.

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ver the first eight months of leading the Snider, offered extensive experience in broadband access and has been an advocate for Elevate Digital Collaborative, organizational partnerships.

Southwestern Community College has Snider’s responsibilities as facilitator made significant progress while working with its partners to reduce the digital divide within include project branding and promotion, meeting organization, driving project Jackson, Macon and Swain counties and the momentum, developing the final strategic Qualla Boundary. plan and assisting in its implementation.

It’s one of nine regional collaborative Snider is also working closely with Dogwood groups funded by Dogwood Health Trust Health Trust to provide supplemental supthrough its Digital Opportunities Initiative. port to other collaboratives in these operaDogwood Health Trust gave each group tional areas. $250,000 to develop and implement broadband accessibility projects, as well as $20,000 directly to each member organization to support participation in a year-long, learning-and-planning cohort.

SCC’s partners include the Southwestern Commission, RezHOPE Recovery and Consulting Services, the International Members of Elevate Digital Collaborative recently met at Lake Friendship Center and Jackson County Economic Junaluska for a Dogwood Digital Opportunities Initiative Retreat.

Development.

From left: Katelynn Ledford-McCoy of RezHope, Evan Hatch of The Digital Southwestern Community College, TJ Smith of International Opportunities Initiative Friendship Center, Tiffany Henry of Jackson County Economic began in fall 2024 and was divided into two phases — Development, Becca Scott of Southwestern Commission, Tonya Snider planning and implementa- of TenBiz, Tobin Starrs of Jackson County Economic Development and Sarah Thompson of Dogwood Health Trust. Donated photo tion. With Dogwood Health Trust’s recent infusion of $125,000, SCC and During the planning phase, Elevate its partners begin the program’s second phase Digital Collaborative hosted four public — working with regional healthcare engagement sessions across the service area providers and advocates to streamline their to grasp the firsthand challenges faced by respatient’s digital experiences. Solutions idents and community service providers. include establishing digital navigator or techThese community meetings made clear nology support programs, facilitating access to and training for telehealth, providing work- that telehealth is a priority because telehealth is a universal challenge and affects individuforce digital literacy training, developing als across lines of age, class, gender and race. intergenerational mentorship models and This groundwork also positions the region exploring potential public-private broadband well to secure subsequent federal and state partnerships. grants.

“The primary aim of the collaboratives is Lack of sufficient broadband access can to equip residents with the necessary skills, be viewed as a national healthcare problem. devices and resources to fully leverage broadElevate Digital Collaborative will continue its band for positive economic, health and edubroadband health initiative through fall 2026 cational outcomes. This multi-collaborative and will continue working with healthcare approach recognizes that different communiproviders, community health advocates and ties within our region possess unique key partners to leverage the region’s growing strengths and needs,” said Sarah Thompson, broadband access to address health care chalDogwood Health Trust’s Vice President for lenges that challenge the entire country.

Strategic Initiatives and Economic “I’m pleased with the progress we’ve Opportunity.

“Simultaneously, the initiative fosters con- already made with the assistance of our partnections and facilitates collective learning and ners,” said Don Tomas, SCC president. “The Elevate Digital Collaborative is a wonderful impact among the collaboratives, highlightexample of what can be done when we work ing the necessity for a coordinated, regional with community organizations to address approach to expanding broadband adoption one of our region’s most-pressing needs.” and enhancing digital opportunities in For more information about Western North Carolina,” Thompson added.

Southwestern Community College, visit Early in the collaborative process, Elevate Digital agreed to hire a consultant and project southwesterncc.edu, call 828.339.4394 or drop by your nearest SCC location. manager. After an initial search, the group For more information about the hired local consultant TenBiz for its reputaDogwood Health Trust’s Elevate Digital tion, local connections and previous work in Collaborative, visit tinyurl.com/6wz6eydp. this focus area. TenBiz’s founder, Tonya

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SCC makes strides addressing digital divide issues

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Something about those black bears W

Another bloody war for oil?

To the Editor: In 2016, while running for President, Donald Trump called the Iraq War “stupid.”

He was right. Saddam Hussein was a vicious dictator, but the U.S. had no plan for what would happen after he was eliminated. This war was actually fought for control of Iraq’s massive oil deposits. The power vacuum in Iraq was quickly filled by Shia militias friendly to Iran — and even worse by ISIS fanatics who saw an opportunity to carve out their own territory of slavery and murder.

So the Iraq War was stupid. And horrible.

How many Americans were killed, wounded

Washington, D.C. at that time.

I won’t go down the entire list of our most clicked-on stories, but a couple of others do deserve a little context. One is the viral video story of an encounter at the privately owned Canton dump where truck drivers were dumping debris from Hurricane Helene. A video of the encounter between a truck driver and some of the dump employees went viral, and subsequently a lawsuit was filed by the truck driver. Those interested can read the story and some follow-ups if interested, but the fact that this story made the list speaks to the power of the Editor internet and video clips (whether verifiable or not).

Finally, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ opening of a recreational use cannabis dispensary made the list, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. Polling consistently shows that more than 60% of Americans support legal THC products, and Cherokee’s dispensary makes it the only legal place to buy cannabis in the region. None of the states surrounding the Qualla Boundary — North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Tennessee — have legalized weed, so right now the EBCI have a regional monopoly that is doing

Scott McLeod

e love our bears here in the Smokies. It’s estimated there are around 15,000 in the four-state area surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and they’ve become an iconic symbol of the region.

So, it’s no wonder that of the hundreds of stories we published on The Smoky Mountain News website in 2025, it was one about relocating bears that was the most popular. The story was written by Holly Kays, a former SMN staff writer who is now the lead writer for Smokies Life, a nonprofit that raises money to help the GSMNP. Next up for the most popular stories of 2025 were a couple written in March just as Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its somewhat controversial leader, Elon Musk, were just getting up and going. The Social Security office in Franklin appeared on a DOGE list of offices that might close. That story obviously hit close to home, and so people in the region were interested. For the record, that office is still open, as the initial DOGE wave of closures petered out, and Musk left the administration after having a falling out with Trump.

Right behind that story in popularity was a press conference held by Rep. Chuck Edwards where he was asked about Medicare cuts and that same Franklin Social Security office that was slated for closing. Edwards dodged the questions, but again, there was a lot of interest in what was happening in

LETTERS

by IEDs, or came back with PTSD? And now we have an illegal, undeclared war against Venezuela.

The Venezuelan people may someday throw off a dictatorship — as we did in 1776.

That is their right. Maduro was a dictator involved with drug smuggling. But he was mainly involved in cocaine smuggling which almost all went to Europe, and not with the fentanyl that is killing tens of thousands of Americans every year. Less than 5% of drugs entering the United States come from Venezuela.

If Trump really cared about drug cartels, why did he recently pardon Hernandez, the former president of Honduras, who was con-

Most clicked stories of 2025 • “For bears, relocation is no happily ever after” • “DOGE website says Franklin Social Security office to close” • “Edwards dodges questions on Medicare, Franklin Social Security office” • “NCDMV announces moratorium on driver license expirations” • “Man who shot viral video at local dump sues Haywood sheriff, dump owner” • “Amazon to close Franklin warehouse, open new site in Hayesville” • “Cherokee celebrate first day of adult recreation cannabis use” • “Order seals Cherokee County sheriff’s evidence” • “VA secretary greeted by demonstrators during visit to Asheville” quite well, and apparently a lot of people wanted to read about it.

Here’s to 2025, and thanks for reading and supporting local, independent, family-owned journalism in the mountain region. We appreciate you.

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

victed by an American court of trafficking over 500 tons of cocaine into the United States from 2014 to 2022? Why did Trump pardon a billionaire drug smuggling criminal? Was there something in it for Trump and billionaire investors Marc Andreessen and Peter Thiel?

But why Venezuela? Because Trump’s oil industry buddies are eager to control Venezuela’s 300 billion barrel oil reserves — the largest in the world! Money talks!

Another Iraq disaster in the making?

Trump says the U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela.

Great. The chaos created by Maduro’s kidnapping may be filled by armed gangs or militias allied with Columbian drug cartels, or even by ISIS. If the situation deteriorates, does Trump send our soldiers? Only Congress can declare war, but that’s just the Constitution, which the Trump administration is ignoring — again.

Congressman Edwards and other rubber stamps in Washington — where are you?

Steve Wall Waynesville

Vote out those not doing their job To the Editor: The “Pisgah Legal’s bind” article in the December 17 issue of your paper was very informative. Once again we can thank the Republicans in office for harming their constituents. Our representatives in Raleigh (and Washington) seem to be ignorant and insensitive.

However, I want to point out what I think is a slight error in the article. Repeatedly the

writer points out that the loss of funds won’t take effect until 2026. “Although the direct effects of the funding freeze won’t hurt Pisgah Legal until next year….” Allow me to point out that at the time the article was published, “next year” was two weeks away. The harm is at-hand, not down some far away lane. I know multiple women who accessed legal services during a crisis in their lives.

It must be nice to sit in Raleigh and do nothing to actually help people (still no state budget), or, should I say, not be in Raleigh doing their job. Vote them out!

Sara Lee Hinnant Sylva

WCU should step up to help students vote To the Editor: Partisan actions to create electoral advantages have likely always been rampant for both factions in the U.S. The fact that social media permits virtually instant communication to huge populations has added to the perception that such manipulations are much worse now than in the past.

The best response to the early voting closure would be for WCU to arrange easily accessible and plentiful transportation for all students who want to cast their votes in the upcoming election. While I’m not privy to all the difficulties associated with such a transportation effort, doing so would be a rational and effective choice for granting relatively easy access to the available polling site.

Mike Walker Black Mountain

January 7-13, 2026

Smoky Mountain News

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Smoky Mountain News

A&E

Some kind of wonderful Don Brewer of Grand Funk Railroad

Grand Funk Railroad will play Cherokee Jan. 10. File photo

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD DB: Oh, sure. I mean, it’s amazing I’ve been able to do realARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR ly what I’ve loved doing. I got bit by the rock-n-roll bug when I n the 1970s, Grand Funk Railroad was one of the bestwas just a little kid. I saw Elvis Presley on “The Ed Sullivan selling American rock bands on the planet. To that, in Show,” and I got bit by the rock-n-roll bug right then. So, it 1971, the Flint, Michigan, trio broke the Beatles ticket sales was all about getting a band together and all that stuff. That’s record at New York’s Shea Stadium, a feat coinciding with GFR all I wanted to do, and I’ve been able to do it my whole life. having six platinum albums and seven gold within the original SMN: How has the music of Grand Funk held up, sonically lineup’s short tenure (1969-1976). Oh, and another thing — and lyrically? the songs still rock, too.

DB: A lot of the stuff we did, the first four or five albums, Beyond the massive radio success of hits like “We’re an was [about] social consciousness. There was a lot of Vietnam American Band,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “Shinin’ On” War stuff going on. There were drugs, there was “this,” there and numerous others, there’s just the sheer sonic awe and was “that,” and we were kind of always an anti-drug band. We majesty of “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home),” with the weren’t really into the whole drug moment. We actually did a album version clocking in at 10:09. In truth, one of the great couple of charity concerts for a place called the Phoenix joys in life is cruising down some backcountry road, windows House in New York, which was a drug addiction rehab. rolled down, the stereo cranked with “I’m Your Captain” echo[Back then], we had FM underground radio, [where] we ing out of the speakers. Try it somewere able to create seven-minute songs, time. eight-minute songs. It didn’t really matNow, some 57 years since its formater, you know? FM then changed in tion, Grand Funk Railroad remains a 1972 to being a “hit format.” And we vibrant touring act, these days led by had to start producing hit records, Classic rock icons Grand Funk Railroad two of its founding members, drummaking everything three minutes or will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. mer Don Brewer and bassist Mel three minutes and 30 seconds long.

10, at Harrah’s Cherokee Resort Event Center.

Schacher. In a previously unpublished That’s when we started putting Originating from Flint, Michigan, in 1969, interview conducted several years ago, things out like “We’re an American this top-selling American rock group of the The Smoky Mountain News caught up Band,” “Some Kind of Wonderful,” 1970s is “comin’ to your town to help you with Brewer on the legend and legacy “The Loco-Motion,” those kinds of party it down,” with hits like “We’re an of one of classic rock’s marquee acts. things. The whole thing kind of American Band,” “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Smoky Mountain News: What do changed according to radio, and we did Home),” “The Loco-motion” and “Some Kind you think about Grand Funk Railroad care about being on the radio. of Wonderful.” crossing the 50-year mark?

SMN: What is it about the “power Tickets start at $44.20 per person. For Don Brewer: You know, when we rock trio” that sets it apart from other tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee. first started out, I never had any idea formations in rock bands? that I would still be doing this. I didn’t DB: Well, we put it together based look much past my 40s. When you’re on Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and Blue in your 20s, you think that everybody in their 40s is about Cheer. And they were blues bands that just cranked it up and dead. put it on steroids. We were [Terry Knight &] The Pack before SMN: Especially when you guys first started, it was the Grand Funk. We were kind of a Detroit R&B band. And so, we whole, “Don’t trust people over 30” thing. took our R&B stuff and cranked it up on steroids. And the

I

Want to go?

reason [the power rock trio] is cool [is] because you’ve only got three guys and people aren’t stepping all over each other’s toes. And if you’re in that jam kind of format, everybody’s filling up space — you can’t hide behind anything, it’s all right out there, you’re totally exposed.

SMN: I recently did an interview with Wayne Kramer of the MC5, and they just got nominated once again for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They should have been in there years ago, same thing with Grand Funk. Why is Grand Funk Railroad not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? (Editor’s note: Since this interview, the MC5 were finally inducted into the hall of fame.)

DB: It’s a political deal. Rolling Stone magazine controls the hall of fame. All of the groups and all of the artists that were always Rolling Stone darlings are in there. And they’re kind of running out of people to go to anymore, so maybe [Grand Funk Railroad] eventually. [Laughs].

But, we were never one of the Rolling Stone darlings. They hated us. They hated our manager, Terry Knight. He would flip’em off and he would ban them from our interviews. He just totally had no respect for Rolling Stone whatsoever. His philosophy was, “Bad publicity is good publicity.”

And so, we’ve been on the low rung of the totem pole when comes to that kind of stuff. And I presume it may be the same for many more years. But, [the hall of fame has] started to ease up — they finally let Kiss in.

SMN: What has a life performing — creating music, traveling the world, and meeting all kinds of people — taught you about what it means to be a human being?

DB: I’m truly blessed. I’ve been able to do this my entire life, and I’m still doing it. I get out onstage on start singing these songs — “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)” — and you see grandparents and parents and kids and grandkids that all know the words to your songs. And that’s like, “Wow, that’s truly amazing.”

When I was kid in my basement in Swartz Creek, Michigan, putting my first band together, that’s what I dreamed of, you know? But, I never really dreamed it would happen. And so, yes, it’s pretty amazing.

HOT PICKS

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Ode to lacing up the running shoes, ode to ‘The Streak’

1 2

Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host the “Salon Series” with Thomas Johnson (of the Futurebirds) at 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 15.

Folkmoot LIVE! will present “Chikomo Marimba: An Evening of High-Energy Zimbabwean Marimba” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

3

Singer-songwriter Alma Russ (Americana/folk) will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

4

Indie/soul singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 8, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

5

Thursday, January y8 Phil Thomas 8pm-10pm • Classic Rock • Looper

Saturday, January y 10 Shane Meade Trio 8pm-11pm Shane Meade & Rob Masten on Sax and Special Guest, percussionist Yamil Conga Soulful Rock

Sunday, January y 11 An Tir Nua Celtic- Folk • 3pm-6pm

Wednesday, d da Januar ry 28 Burns Supper 5 course meal, Professional Piperr,r, Poetry

by Robert Burns and some originaal poetryy,, Scotch and Ale. Tickets available for purchase at The Scotsman. $75+tax & grattuity

ScotsmanPublic..com 37 CHURCH ST • DOWNTTOOWN WAAYYNESVILLE @thescotsmanwaynesvillee

Mon-Thurs: 4PM-12AM Fri & Sat 12pm-1am • Sun: 11AM-1AM

Now N w offering ff i couples l masssage, infrared sauna, and foot sooaks with a relaxing chair masssage

Call or bookk online

Smoky Mountain News

move. Jogging across the monumental expanse, I had the whole place to myself.

Nobody around. Soon, the fog lifted and I could see all of San Francisco Bay in its glory.

• Wilson Lake (Kansas): It was nearing sunset on a solo cross-country trip. I needed to get a run in before it got dark, so I pulled off a lonely, desolate part of Interstate 70 and tracked down Wilson Lake. Winding single-track dirt trails around the lake.

Again, nobody around. A warm, swirling breeze across the Great Plains as the sun fell behind the horizon. Gratitude in abundance.

• Badlands National Park (South Dakota): After an extremely hot July day cruising across the “Mount Rushmore State,” I rolled into the Badlands just as a late afternoon thunderstorm overtook the landscape. With a cold drizzle and the temperature dropping, I put on my waterproof jacket and started trotting down the Old Northeast Road, a joyous run in the sacred solitude of the park.

• Virginia Creeper Trail (Abingdon): Anytime I find myself on Interstate 81, either heading home to the North Country or returning to my humble abode in Western North Carolina, I hit up the Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon. This section of the trail starts in the colonial downtown and transitions into rolling farmland, your soul quickly relaxing into the bucolic landscape.

• Point Au Roche State Park (New York): Just five minutes from my parents’ farmhouse, Point Au Roche is my favorite place to run, and has been since I first wandered these trails as a middle school athlete.

There’s just something so majestic and captivating about this maze of trails along the shores of the mighty Lake Champlain. I’m never officially “home” until I return here.

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

EVENTS

January 7-13, 2026

tains in Montana and Tennessee. Coastal runs in Maine, Florida, California and Texas.

The memories and miles are endless thus far.

To that, it’s wild to think I was 30 when “The Streak” kicked off, and here I am, now It finally happened. Exactly 10 years in 40, on New Year’s Eve 2025. I think of all of the making, my daily running streak official- the people who have come into and out of ly celebrated one decade of continuation on my life in that span, faces I adore who are Dec. 31, 2025. End-to-end, that span of time now either six feet under or thousands of is 3,654 straight days. The mile I’ve run? miles away. I think of the love I’ve been lucky Countless. I can’t even fathom the total disenough to have been given by another, to tance jogged throughout that time period, embrace and hold, if but for a moment, although I have kept those femme fatales a running log since who continue on A glorious New Year’s Eve jog. their own respective “The Streak” started.

Garret K. Woodward photo Someday I’ll calculate journey. it.

And I think of And as I jogged how much nothing is around Waynesville, the same, everything North Carolina is the same, that old (where I live) nearing adage that just seems sunset, it felt so to ring with more incredible to just simtruth as the years go ply let my mind and along. I think of my thoughts drift, internal workings, reflecting on this day and how I remain a and how much beauloyal and jovial soul, tiful chaos and utter one who desires genconfusion, dogged uine friendship and persistence and pure honest love, all passion that “The angles and avenues of Streak” has conjured which are filled to the within my heart and soul. brim with patience, persistence, passion, Originally, this journey started as a way and purpose. to spite my father, also a lifelong runner.

For me, running has always been about a He’s currently 83 and runs most days still. sense of peace and serenity. I look at the act He was a very accomplished runner back in of jogging as a way to reconnect not only the day, truly. And he inspired me to pick up with myself, but also the world around me. the sport and the lifestyle that is running No smart phone on me. No headphones, when I was 12. either. Just clarity of the sounds of the uniAnyhow, long story short, I was an verse, my breathing and my shoes traversing extremely competitive runner all through the earth beneath me. No distractions. Just middle and high school in the North sincere observation and immersion.

Country. School records and blue ribbons. I Running is also my souvenir when I traveven ran D-1 track and cross-country in colel. As a minimalist, I’ve never been a fan of lege. Post-graduation, I put aside the com“stuff,” especially when it comes to soupetitive nature of the sport and made it a venirs. Now, don’t get me wrong, a cool little meditative part of my existence, which it trinket from some backcountry antique remains. store is the bee’s knees. But, a crummy tCue Dec. 31, 2015. I was visiting one of shirt or hat from some generic tourist destimy best friends in Brooklyn. Without any nation? Nah. No need to waste money on daily cross-training that I had back in things you’ll throw out someday.

Western North Carolina, I ended up running Those running souvenirs are really the several days in a row. When I told my father cherry on top of the entirety of “The Streak.” over the phone that I had run seven days in They’re these singular moments in time a row, he bragged about how he had a 300where my mind is at ease and I’m completeday running streak and “you’ll never beat ly focused on the task at hand, to explore that, boy.” So, I set out to break his streak, another spot on this gigantic rock hurtling albeit in the name of friendly competition. through space. Below are a handful of those Skip ahead to the here and now. Ten moments: years. Thousands and thousands of miles.

• Golden Gate Bridge (California): Jogs all over North America. Over the Normally, the bridge is packed to the gills Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. with tourists, which makes it hard to run Under the CN Tower in Toronto and the across. But, one morning, the fog was still white sand beaches of Cancun. Atop mounhovering over the bridge, so I made my

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Grand Funk Railroad (classic rock) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

blueridgemassage-wncc.com

828.246.91155 97 7 N Main St • Waynessville

17

arts & entertainment

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HIISTORIC OR HHAAYWOOD Y COUNTY OOUNTY COURTHOUSEE

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Smoky Mountain News

January 7-13, 2026

OPEN TO PUBLI PUBLIC LIC ICC AND WILL BE LIVEESTREAMED ON THE SMOOOKY KY MOUNTAIN A NNEWS FACEBOOK PAGE

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On the stage

Ready for ‘Larry the Cable Guy’?

Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort event center. File photo

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host “Larry the Cable Guy” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.526.9047 / mountaintheatre.com.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage

ALSO:

productions on the weekends.

828.389.ARTS / thepea-

cocknc.org.

• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.488.7843 / swainartscenter.com.

On the wall

Cherokee pottery exhibition the community,” says MotCP Director of Education Dakota Brown (EBCI). “Tara’s dedication to gadugi (community working together for the common good) and intensive approach to teaching has been hugely successful and is a powerful example of reconnections and resurgence. Connection and practice to our material culture is a continuation of our shared Cherokee identity and perpetuates Cherokee pride.”

MotCP is located in Cherokee. Donated photo

‘Larry the Cable Guy’ will be in Cherokee Jan. 17. File photo

Comedy legend “Larry the Cable Guy” will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

“Larry the Cable Guy” is a multi-platinum recording artist, Grammy nominee, Billboard award-winner and one of the top comedians in the country. He continues to sell out theatres and arenas across the United States.

Larry also created “The Git-R-Done Foundation.” Named after his signature catchphrase, the organization has donated more than seven million dollars to various charities.

Admission starts at $67.40 per person. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahscherokee.

• WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions throughout the region on select dates. For more information and/or to sign up, visit wncpaint.events.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Ages 16 and up. Space limited to 10 participants.

Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.

ALSO:

The artists exhibited include Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle (EBCI), Barbara Jones (EBCI), Paula Wojtkowski (EBCI), Marisa “Sis” Cabe (EBCI), Lisa Howell (EBCI, Pawnee Nation) Malia Crowe Skulski (EBCI), Samantha ColeDaniels (EBCI), Elvia Walkingstick (EBCI), Maggie Jackson (EBCI), Michelle Lynn Long (EBCI, Mvskoke Creek Nation) and Tara McCoy (EBCI).

For more information, visit motcp.org.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. 828.631.0271 / jcgep.org.

Haywood County Arts Council.

File photo

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids.

828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.

• 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.

517.881.0959 / galleryzella.com.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. 828.586.2248 / dogwoodcrafters.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org.

Smoky Mountain News

• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road.

Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. 828.283.0523 / cre828.com.

open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

828.452.0593 / haywoodarts.org.

January 7-13, 2026

A special showcase, “Didanisisgi Gadagwatli: A Showcase of Pottery from the Mud Dauber Community Workshop,” is now on display at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee.

On view through May 2026, the exhibition features works by students of Tara McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) handcrafted during an intensive three-month workshop.

Renowned for her pottery, McCoy began making crafts at 12 years old. She honed her skills while taking arts and crafts classes with Alyne Stamper (EBCI) and has won numerous awards at the Cherokee Fall Festival and at Southwestern Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA) Santa Fe Indian Market.

Today, she shares her knowledge with others.

Designed to increase and uplift pottery making among members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, McCoy’s workshop uses a hands-on approach, empowering first-time potters to bring their own personal style to ancestral techniques and methods.

“The Didanisisgi Gadagwatli pottery workshop is an example of how museums can support and uplift great work already happening in

arts & entertainment

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends.

866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

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for hotel guests and members.

866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

arts & entertainment

On the beat • 4118 Kitchen & Bar (Highlands) will host live music 6-8 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public 828.526.5002 or 4118kitchenbar.toast.site.

• Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library (Cashiers) will host “Community Jam Sessions” from 2-4 p.m. the second and fourth Sunday of each month. Informal jamming. All skill levels are welcome. Free and open to the public. 828.743.0215 / fontanalib.org/cashiers.

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Karaoke Night” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia” 7 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Jam” 10 p.m.

Thursdays, Brown Mountain Lightning Bugs (Americana/folk) Jan. 10 and Falspring (Americana/soul) Jan. 17. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.

• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every other Thursday of the

Meade returns to Frog Level Popular Florida-based indie/soul singer-songwriter Shane Meade will perform at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

Hailing from Elkins, West Virginia, Meade is a selftaught late bloomer who borrowed an old guitar from his father. He began playing and writing songs in the summer of 2000 before relocating to Florida, eventually leaving the corporate world and pursuing music fulltime in 2005.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.454.5664 or visit froglevelbrewing.com.

January 7-13, 2026

Shane Meade will play Waynesville Jan. 8. File photo • American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 3 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends.

Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691.

• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public.

828.497.1015 / facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.

• Assembly On Main (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 7-9 p.m. Mondays (signup at 6:30 p.m.). Food and drink specials.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.0839 / assemblyonmain.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host “Open Mic” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Picking on the Porch” (open community jam) 6 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 7 p.m.

Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host The Blue Mountaineers (Americana/bluegrass) on Thursdays and Peter Morris & Jim Beaver Jan. 10. All music starts at 5 p.m.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / 20 facebook.com/brbeerhub.

month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.

• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music throughout the week. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

Reservations highly recommended. The kitchen and wine bar open at 4 p.m.

828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.

• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic” at 6 p.m. every second Friday of the month and semiregular live music on the weekends.

828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.

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

All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $40 per person, with discounts rates available

• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host “World Drum Classes” every Friday at 2:30 p.m. (adults, free) and 4 p.m. (family friendly, all ages, free), “Waynesville Acoustic Guitar Group” 2-4 p.m. every second and fourth Saturday of the month (free), Blue Ridge Big Band 7 p.m. Dec. 31 (tickets start at $25 per person, with upgrades available) and Chikoko Marimba 5 p.m. Jan. 10. (pay what you can). 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Shane Meade (indie/soul) 5:30 p.m. Jan. 8, Marley’s Chain (Americana/oldies) Jan. 9, Ashley Chambliss (singersongwriter) Jan. 10, Ernest Bonilla (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 11, The Young Ones Jan. 16, Paul Edelman (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17 and Jim Cook (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 18. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.

• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Free and open to the public. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public.

828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.

• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Grand Funk Railroad (classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10. For tickets, click on caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.

• High Country Wine & Provisions (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public.

828.482.4502 / highcountrywineandprovisions.com.

• High Dive (Highlands) will host “Trivia” 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.2200 / highlandsdive.com.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” with Scott Low 6-9 p.m. Thursdays ($5 cover), Zorki (singersongwriter) 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sundays (free) and the “Salon Series” with Thomas Johnson (of the Futurebirds) 8:30 p.m. Jan. 15.

828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.

• Highlands Smokehouse (Highlands) will host live music from 1-3 p.m. Sundays.

828.526.3554 / highlandsmokehouse.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic with Phil” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.586.9678 / innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.com.

• John C. Campbell Folk School (Brasstown) will host a “Community Jam” 7 p.m.

Thursdays at the nearby Crown Restaurant and semi-regular live music on the weekends. folkschool.org.

• J.R. Chophouse (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.369.3663 / jrchophouse.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m.

Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Mondays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, “Old Time Jam” 6:30 p.m.

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

828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host Blue Mountaineers (Americana/bluegrass) 5-7 p.m. Mondays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.

• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the public.

828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org/franklin.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host Sugah & Thuh Cubes (funk/blues) Jan. 8 and Paddle Faster (Americana/bluegrass) Jan. 10.

All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.926.1717 / meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday and semi-reg-

F

Rising singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Alma Russ will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.

Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Appalachian styles pieced together), 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.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information on Russ, visit facebook.com/almarussmusic.

828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

Alma Russ will play Waynesville Jan. 15. File photo ular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Old Edwards Inn (Highlands) will host live music in the Hummingbird Lounge at 5:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday. Free and open to the public. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com.

• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host “Music Nights” with James Thompson from 4-6 p.m. first and third Friday of the month. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com.

• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.

• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host “Karaoke” 7 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia Night” 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Mic” 6:30 p.m. Fridays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Russell” on Mondays and Rene Russell (singer-songwriter) Jan. 10 and 26. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.

• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on t0he weekends. Tickets now available, with seating upgrades offered.

866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.

• Smoky Mountain Dog Bar (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0726 / smokymountaindogbakery.com.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (free) and semiregular live music on the weekends.

828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Mondays” with local/regional singersongwriters. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public. 828.200.0813 / the-stubborn-bull.com.

• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” on semi-regular dates on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.

S EE ON THE BEAT, PAGE 22

Smoky Mountain News

• 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 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic” first Wednesday of every month, Phil Thomas (acoustic/indie) Jan. 8, Shane Meade & Robert Matsen (soul/indie) Jan. 10, An Tir Nua (Celtic/world) 3 p.m. Jan. 11, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Jan. 15, Gavin Byrd (country/rock) Jan. 17 and Jenny & The Weazels (Celtic/folk) 3 p.m. Jan. 18. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.

January 7-13, 2026

• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 6 p.m. on the first Friday of every month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com.

arts & entertainment

Americana, folk at Scotsman

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arts & entertainment

On the table

On the beat

• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular culinary events and workshops throughout the week. For a full schedule of upcoming activities, tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.

• “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 wines.

Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.

• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flight” 6 p.m. Thursdays.

828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.

Blue Ridge Beer Hub. File photo

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular tap-takeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends.

Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.

January 7-13, 2026

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville.

828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Twisted Spoke Food & Tap (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public.

828.926.1730 / facebook.com/twistedspokerestaurant.

• Ugly Dog Pub (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends.

828.743.3000 / theuglydogpub.com.

• Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Music” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, “Karaoke” 9:30 p.m. Fridays, “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Sundays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.

• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays and semi-regular wine tastings on the weekends. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.

• “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.

800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.

ALSO:

• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.

• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke with Jason” Tuesdays, “Tom’s Trivia Night” Wednesdays, Awake In The Dream Jan. 9 and Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) Jan. 16. All shows and events begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valleytavern.com.

• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 8 p.m. Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. 828.456.4750 / facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Wells Events & Reception Center (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.476.5070 / wellseventcenter.simpletix.com.

ALSO:

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public.

828.743.6000 / whitesidebrewing.com.

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host “Country Thursdays” (Americana/country) 6 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Family/dog friendly.

828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.

Chikomo Marimba will play Waynesville Jan. 10. File photo

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• Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 5202 (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.9356 / vfw5202.org.

MEDICARE PROVIDERS & MOST OTHER INSURANCES ACCEPTED

Folkmoot LIVE! will present “Chikomo Marimba: An Evening of High-Energy Zimbabwean Marimba” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.

Chikomo Marimba is a high-energy, Zimbabwean-style marimba ensemble based in Asheville.

Founded over a decade ago, the group is known for its joyful, danceable music that blends traditional Shona melodies with modern African-inspired rhythms.

The ensemble features a range of marimbas — soprano, tenor, baritone, bass — crafted from local hardwoods by the group’s director, Steve Kemble. These instruments are complemented by additional percussion, including drum kits and claves, to create rich, layered rhythms.

Doors at 6 p.m. General admission is $25 per person, with “pay what you can” options also available.

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

On the shelf

“The unsullied memory of unpremeditated gestures of kindness. These are the bread of angels.”

— Patti Smith

Thomas Crowe

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oped a love of nature and the natural world.

“I wanted to know about everything — about other worlds and invisible forces,” she writes. As she grew into her later teenaged years, she was fascinated by the work of aritsts like Dali and Picasso. She was also fascinated by the story of the Dalai Lama in Tibet; finally arriving to the point where she writes, “I had chosen my own path, gave my evolving self to art, and decided to prepare myself for the life of an artist, pledging to be steadfast no matter the consequences.”

It was also at this time that she came to believe that “music was our salvation, expressing the inexpressible. We are a part of its evolution.” And so, at 17, it was a seamless transition from Rimbaud to Bob Dylan. In the years to come she would become friends with Dylan and become —

as we both did at the time — part of the Greenwich Village scene around the intersection of Bleeker and MacDougal streets in New York City and all that place had to offer during the 1960s and 1970s and where and when her music career took off, which led to the formation of her band and eventually to the creation of her first album Horses, and the rest, as they say, is ‘history.’

After several years of making music and touring with her band, she married and settled down with Fred “Sonic” Smith (no relation), who was a member of the hard rock band from Detroit the MC5, a band that I saw back in the late 1960s at the Fillmore East in New York City. Together they had two children and lived a fairly bohemian family life in the Midwest. But Fred died early at age 46, and so Patti had to go back to making music and going on the road to make a living and support her children.

During this time she was also making royalties by writing books such as “A Book of Days,” “M Train” and “Just Kids,” becoming a bestselling author of books of poetry and prose with major New York publishers as well as being a popular and bestselling recording artist with major record labels. Inspired by her recordings and those of John Trudell, I went on with my band, The Boatrockers, to make cassettes and CDs and to publish my poetry with middle-range and small press publishers. I saw her perform several times over the years and we actually met one night on the streets of Asheville and talked about doing a major festival-type event with other music and literary icons in the near future.

We continued a correspondence in this vein, with the actual festival event unfortunately never coming to fruition.

And so we come to the end of this review.

“Bread of Angels,” the book, goes on, with its pages full of Smith’s evocative photos and with an almost biblical ending in deep contemplation mode. She continues to perform, to write, and to inspire in real life, something that, even at this late stage in life, we are both trying to do.

(Thomas Rain Crowe is the author of more than 30 books, including the memoir “Starting in San Francisco,” and is a longtime resident of Jackson County. newnativepress@hotmail.com.)

January 7-13, 2026

his is going to be fun. I enjoyed reading American singer, songwriter, poet, painter, author and photographer Patti Smith’s new memoir “Bread of Angels: A Memoir” (Random House, 2025, 267 pages).

Smith, who has fused rock music and poetry in her 12 recordings over the years and who is the author of 11 books, now at age 78, is still rockin’ and rollin’ and scribbling some mighty fine biographical prose.

As I made my way through the book, I kept finding similarities and synchronicities in our parallel lives. I’ve been listening to her albums and reading her Writer books for my entire adult life, but it wasn’t until I started reading “Bread of Angels” that I learned the behind-the-scenes details of her life. And what a life it’s been!

Both of us were born in Chicago. Both of us had similar childhoods, moving many times to entirely new and different places in the eastern U.S. Neither of us were particularly fond of religion or our formal educations. Both of us were independent types and from the get-go were interested in literature and the arts. Both of us took to writing at an early age and were lovers of the same children’s books and eventually authors like Rimbaud, Whitman, William Blake and Baudelaire. Both of us were politically active and of the 1960s’’ Hip Generation and second-generation Beat poets and hung around our Beat mentors and idols such as Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Corso, Burroughs — she in New York, me in San Francisco. Both of us traveled globally and spent long periods of time in Paris and Europe. Both of us created major literary festivals and eventually formed poetry and music bands, making albums and CDs and going on the road, traveling in the U.S. and abroad. And both of us, now in our late 70s, are still getting “the word” out there as part of our hopefully helpful message to the world during a time of crisis and transition.

“Bread of Angels” hits the high points of her life — from her earliest memories up until the present day. Early on in the book, she talks about the effects of a book of Irish fairy tales and the idea of wisdom and the importance of poetry; the joy of roller skates as a means of urban transportation; the discovery of the books by Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens and L. Frank Baum and the photography in high-fashion

magazines. The fictional character of Peter Pan — who was an inspiration and an aspiration for us both — and about whom she says, “I never wanted to grow up. I wished I could just whisk my siblings away to my own version of Neverland, away from all ties to the grown-up world.”

As time passed, Patti Smith saw herself as different than most other people and didn’t relate to linear time. Through her reading she developed an interest in seeing the world — Japan, France, the pyramids, the Taj Mahal are places she mentions. She devel-

arts & entertainment

Parallel lives: a memoir that created memories

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Many letter writers have questions about one of the park’s most charismatic residents — the American black bear. Michael Higgins photo

Word from the Smokies

BY HOLLY KAYS FOR S MOKIES LIFE

Curious kids keep the letter writers busy hat do rangers eat for lunch? How did the Great Smoky Mountains get their name? Do rangers have to feed the bears? Are there alligators in the park? What about moose? Dolphins?

“The kids really want to know,” said Scott Young, a volunteer at Great Smoky Mountains National Park who, together with his wife Jayne, has answered every letter kids from across the country send to the national park since they first took on the task in 2021. That first year, the Youngs responded to 101 letters.

In 2022, the volume more than tripled to 315 letters, and it has increased every year since. In 2025, the Youngs replied to 1,092 letters.

Though some come from adults, they estimate about 95% are from children, most of whom are working on a school project. Kids ask questions about the park and often request materials like maps and brochures to complete their assignments.

The Youngs estimate they’ve spent more than 150 hours apiece over the last year answering these queries, but that’s far from being the only role they fill as park volunteers.

Since becoming Volunteers-In-Park in 2017, they’ve each logged more than 13,000 hours in a variety of positions — working the visitor desk at Sugarlands, mingling with visitors as Elkmont rovers, and serving as volunteer program assistants, among others. But answering letters is their favorite project.

“We thoroughly, thoroughly enjoy receiving kids’ letters,” said Jayne. “We have gotten

W

a lot of entertainment out of seeing our park through the eyes of these little kids.”

Some kids have never even seen a mountain before and have a hard time imagining what they’re like — for instance, one sevenyear-old sent a drawing of himself standing with one foot on one mountain and the other foot on a different mountain. Many letter writers are surprised to learn that the park has only one kind of bear — the American black bear — and lacks other large animals of interest like alligators, moose and dolphins.

Some ask if the Smokies have any volcanoes.

“One boy asked have we ever ridden a motorcycle standing up while going up the

mountain to chase after a bear,” said Scott.

“So I just sent that to [now-retired wildlife biologist] Bill Stiver. He said, ‘No, not yet.’

They make your day when you see some of the questions and their naivete.”

“And their kindness,” Jayne added. “Every child that we’ve ever gotten a letter from has thanked us for what we do in the park. They say, ‘We hope you stay safe. We hope you are okay. We appreciate you working in the park to protect the animals and the water.’ It’s those letters that really touch your heart.”

The kids have no trouble coming up with questions — Milo, a student in Wisconsin, managed to cram four into a single paragraph when he wrote the park in September — though sometimes their exact meaning is a bit difficult to decipher.

“What animals do you see most often in Great Smoky Mountain?” Milo wrote. “And how big is Great Smoky Mountain have smoke in it? Also is it a grassy or a snowy

place? Have you guys ever been there because if you did do the animals like the place? Thank you, for reading my letter.”

The letters come from all over the country — California, Illinois, New Jersey, even Alaska. For many of their writers, the Great Smokies are a distant land that, for now, they can only dream of visiting.

“Dear National Park Ranger, my student is a second grader at a lower socioeconomic, title one elementary school in Bloomington, Indiana,” reads a letter the Youngs received in September. “They are 7 or 8 years old.

Most of our students won’t ever have the opportunity to visit a national park because the closest one to our school is about 4 hours away and traveling is expensive … We understand that you get a lot of letters and requests for artifacts [such as maps and brochures]. Our students will be thrilled to have any type of response. Thanks for all you do!”

The Youngs take their job seriously. If they receive a letter that’s missing the child’s name or find the handwriting indecipherable, they’ll call the school to track down more informa-

A letter from an Illinois fourth grader named Gabby asks about the Smokies. NPS photo

Scott and Jayne Young hold up a drawing a child had sent to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where they volunteer their time replying to kids’ letters. In 2025, the couple answered 1,092 letters. Scott and Jayne Young photo

tion. If it asks a question they don’t know the answer to, they’ll do some research. In addition to a personalized letter responding to the child’s query, each reply includes a standard letter from the park superintendent, some basic information about the park, bear facts, an explainer on Leave No Trace principles, and a few coloring sheets.

“We’re instilling another generation of love for nature, the wilderness and wanting to protect it and keep it that way,” Jayne said.

“Plus they’re learning about our geology, our weather, not just the standard ‘What is there to see,’ but what makes up the park.”

Many times, the Youngs get letters back from the kids they’ve written to, and sometimes they even get to meet them in person at Sugarlands Visitor Center, where, for one of their other volunteer

outdoors

Kristine Johnson, who retired in 2021 after more than 30 years in the Smokies, examines a plant. Her career leading the vegetation management crew is just one example of the many career paths available in the National Park Service.

Joye Ardyn Durham photo

The entire SMN coverage area is in a moderate drought. ncdrought.org image

State sees widespread moderate drought Much of North Carolina continues to experience moderate drought, according to the latest advisory from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council.

The DMAC classified all or parts of 65 counties, including all of The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, as experiencing moderate drought, or D1 conditions.

DMAC is a collaboration of drought experts from various government agencies in North Carolina, Virginia and South

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January 7-13, 2026

more about Great Smoky Mountains positions, they work the visitor desk Sunday National Park. Become a Junior Ranger, join through Wednesday each week. one of the many free ranger programs “That’s the best part,” said Scott. “Some offered in the park, explore the park website of them will even bring the letter in to show or read some of the many kid-friendly us. And then we always make sure we get a books Smokies Life has published about the picture with them.”

Once the Youngs answered a letter from Alaska, and the little girl they wrote to responded with a package of her own, full of information about the place where she lives.

Other times kids write thank-you-notes or send photos of themselves with their completed projects.

The letters they’ve reviewed tend to pile up fast, so the Youngs typically hold on to them for about six months before shredding them — but they were sure to save a thank-you-note they received in June 2024 from the mother of a fourth grader named Addison.

“Shortly after she wrote to you, she was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer,” the girl’s mom wrote. “After seeing your reply, she was overjoyed at the thought of Kealan Henry, an eight-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia, visiting your beautiful park shows off the diorama he made for his third-grade class using once she’s well enough. I want you to know how information park volunteers Scott and Jayne Young sent in grateful I am for the work answer to his letter. Henry family photo you do, and for your thoughtfulness.” park. For adults, volunteering is a great way Letters like that remind the Youngs that to learn while also helping the park better every letter writer is a real person dealing accommodate the 12 million-plus visits it with real life, and a thoughtful response receives each year. Learn more about volunfrom the Smokies might end up meaning a teer opportunities in the Smokies at lot more than expected. nps.gov/grsm/getinvolved/volunteer.htm.

“We think this is one of the most (Holly Kays is the lead writer for the 29,000rewarding things we’ve done in the park,” member Smokies Life, a nonprofit dedicated to said Jayne. “When you get to see through supporting the scientific, historical and interthe children’s eyes how they envision us, pretive activities of Great Smoky Mountains when they’re trying to put it together all in National Park by providing educational prodtheir head, it’s very emotional sometimes, ucts and services such as this column. Learn because what if this wasn’t getting more at SmokiesLife.org or reach the author at answered?” hollyk@smokieslife.org.)

There are many ways for kids to learn

Carolina, and organized by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources. Members of DMAC meet weekly and submit their drought condition recommendations to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Drought Mitigation Center for updates to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a map of the nation’s drought conditions.

DMAC’s drought map is updated weekly on Thursdays and is based on conditions through the previous Tuesday. To view North Carolina’s drought map, visit ncdrought.org. To view the U.S. drought map, visit droughtmonitor.unl.edu.

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outdoors

The Joyful Botanist

BY ADAM B IGELOW

Soil Life inter has come to Southern Appalachia; the forests are mostly dormant, sleeping and saving energy for springtime and the return of growth and vitality. While it may appear that everything is slowed and in decline, just below the surface, life still flourishes. This quote from the mystic Iranian Sufi poet Rumi captures the flourish: “And don't think the garden loses its ecstasy in winter. It's quiet, but the roots are down there riotous.”

The first lesson I got in horticulture school long ago was that dirt is what’s under your fingernails, on your jeans, or behind your ears if you don’t wash well. Plants grow in soil, which is much more than a supportive matrix to hold them frequently enlist up. Soil is a the assistance of living, breathing microbial organism organisms to help made up of their growth and many differlife. Adam Bigelow graphic ent components, including broken-down rocks, decomposed organic matter like rotting leaves or animal carcasses and many thousands of different species of microbial life like bacteria, fungi, nematodes and amoebas.

Through all of this grow, plant roots work with different soil components to benefit themselves, other plant roots and the very organisms that plants depend on for water, nutrients and their general wellbeing. Plants frequently enlist the assistance of microbial organisms to help their growth and life.

Most plants have a relationship with fungi in the soil that attach themselves around and into plant roots, effectively extending the roots and enhancing the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients. Bacteria that live around the roots in an area collectively called the rhizosphere can extract minerals the plant needs from the soil and make them into a soluble form that they can take up. They do this at the request of the plants, who pass coded messages through the gift of excess sugar and carbohydrates that contain information about the required types of minerals, their combinations and amounts.

This is how the forest grows and thrives, even though nobody is fertilizing the forest.

These inter-species communications were developed over the half-billion years that

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January 7-13, 2026

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Leah McGrath, RDN N, LDN Ingles Market Corporate e Dietitian

Leah McGrath h - Dietitian

Smoky Mountain News

Ingles Markets… caring about your heallth

26

Puzzles can be found on page 30 These are only the answers.

plants have been living on the land. They go way back, plants and soil life. For reference, humans have been on this planet for only about a half-million years at most.

In that time of human evolution, around 2.5 million years when including our Hominid ancestors, we have developed many co-evolved relationships with the soil and the life that teems within it. You know that good smell of soil, like finished compost or the forest just after a rainstorm?

Some of that smell comes from microbial soil life in the form of a bacterium called Mycobacterium vaccae that gets volatilized and blown into the air when soil is disturbed. This species of bacteria goes into our noses when we smell soil, where it encounters receptors that match the shape of the microbe. This then starts a chain reaction within our bodies that increases levels of serotonin and domapone, the feel-good chemicals our brain produces to help us feel mentally well and happy.

Soil makes me happy. Theres a lot to that. It’s one of the reasons I enjoy gardening and turning compost. And it is part of the reason I enjoy standing barefoot on sunwarmed soil. Did you know that the Latin word for the sun is sol? And here in the Southern United States, we pronounce the word soil like “soul” which is that undying spirit within all living things. Even the bottom of our feet is called the sole. When I am standing barefoot on the ground, my soles are touching the soil, warmed by the sol and all of that fills my soul up with love and joy.

There are many things I believe should remain in the soil, including include rocks, roots, gems, arrowheads, bones, roots, rare earth minerals and oil. Keep them in the ground, earthed if you will, as opposed to something being unearthed. There are also many lessons that we in our modern and increasingly disconnected world could learn from soil. Mostly it’s about community, connectivity and sharing the excess with those in need. Soil life keeps all life on earth flourishing. Even yours.

(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)

NC AG opposes rollback of PFAS protections

Master Gardeners are available to answer any questions. Donated graphic

Virtual plant clinic in Haywood Gardeners perhaps haven’t started planning yet, but N.C. State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical

solutions to pest problems.

Email haywoodemgv@gmail.com with a detailed description of the problem, plant, or insect. Send clear digital photos. Or call 828.356.2481 and leave a message. An Extension Master Gardener volunteer from Haywood County will get back to you within a few days with information.

Attorney General Jeff Jackson is opposing a rollback of data collection and reporting about PFAS forever chemicals. Just months away from receiving data from PFAS manufacturers about the type and amount of PFAS chemicals in their products, EPA is now trying to hide the use of PFAS from the public, Jackson claims.

“North Carolinians should be able to get straightforward information about how much and what kinds of PFAS are in the products we buy,” Jackson said. “The EPA shouldn’t be helping companies hide what kinds of toxic chemicals they’re using. We know what PFAS damage looks like in North Carolina, and we need these companies to be more responsible.”

PFAS are a group of thousands of manmade chemicals that have been used in numerous consumer products since the 1940s, including clothing, non-stick cookware, food packaging, and car seats and strollers.

State and federal regulators are still uncovering the chemicals in our everyday household items. PFAS are known to cause harms including increased risk of kidney, breast, pancreas, prostate and testicular cancers, liver damage, decreased birth weight and birth defects, decreased vaccine response, high cholesterol and infertility.

In 2019, under the Trump administration, Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act and mandated

reporting about PFAS. To follow the law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency put together a rule that asked manufacturers and importers of PFAS to report whatever information they already knew about the PFAS in their products. This includes information about the types and amounts of PFAS chemicals manufactured, any known effects on human health or the environment, and how many workers are exposed to these chemicals.

Now, according to Jackson, the EPA is carving out exceptions for the businesses that have to report PFAS levels so that nearly 98% of businesses wouldn’t need to report. In their comment letter, the attorneys general oppose this move and urge EPA to preserve the integrity of the rule and to begin collecting PFAS data without further delay.

Jackson’s office has filed lawsuits against DuPont and Chemours for PFAS contamination to natural resources and drinking water in the Cape Fear River Basin and its communities, as well as six additional lawsuits against 14 companies that manufacture AFFF, a fire suppressant used by first responders that contains PFAS. Joining Attorney General Jackson in opposing the changes are the attorneys general of California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.

January 7-13, 2026

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Smoky Mountain News

S ALE

FINANCING G AVAIL A ABLE

C ALL T ODAY

PA LMER TIREAND DA UT O . CO OM • 828..203.2654 2466 D Dellw ll ood o dR Road d • Waynesviille ll

27

Market WNC PLACE Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com

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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Free — Lost or found pet ads. $6 — Residential yard sale ads.* $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m.

Monday for your ad to run again FREE $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less) Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4 Boost in Print Add Photo $6 Bold ad $2 Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4 Border $4

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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

NOTICE OF SERVICE

BY PUBLICATION 25CV001731-430

To: Gary Dewayne Messer, Derek Michael Messer, Robert Samuel Messer, Tanner Logan Messer You and each of you are hereby GIVEN NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above.

The nature of the relief being sought is: mandatory injunction prohibiting continued occupancy of the site without proper permits and requiring immediate cleanup of your site at Little East Fork Road, Canton NC 28716; order of abatement upon failure of defendants to comply with cleanup of the site and charging the costs of abatement to the defendants.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC By: Frank G. Queen

28

www.smokymountainnews.com

NOTICE OF SERVICE

BY PUBLICATION 25CV001732-430

County of Haywood v.

Gary Dewayne Messer, Derek Michael Messer, Robert Samuel Messer, Tanner Logan Messer

Haywood County v.

Linda Darlene Bradshaw Stokely, Robert Stokely, and William Stokely To: Linda Darlene Bradshaw Stokely, Robert Stokely, and William Stokely You and each of you shall TAKE NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above. The nature of the relief being sought is: mandatory injunction requiring immediate abatement of the unsanitary conditions at your property at 268 Log Cabin Road, Waynesville NC; preliminary and permanent injunction prohibiting the deposit of solid waste on the site; upon failure of the defendants to abate the conditions authorizing the plaintiff to abate the conditions and charging the defendants and the property with the costs thereof; attorney fees and costs.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court

January 7-13, 2026

for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC By: Frank G. Queen Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com NOTICE OF SERVICE

BY PUBLICATION 25CV001722-430 Haywood County Superior Court

Haywood County vs.

Deborah Donaldson, Billy Davis, Alisha Messer, Michelle Worley, Rita Jean Surrett, Shane Donaldson, Peter Wyatt, Tom Wyatt To: Deborah Donaldson, Billy Davis, Alisha Messer, Michelle Worley, Rita Jean Surrett, Shane Donaldson, Peter Wyatt, Tom Wyatt You and each of you are hereby GIVEN NOTICE that a civil action has been commenced against you as referenced above.

The nature of the relief being sought is: mandatory injunctions ordering you to immediately abate all solid waste violations, electrical and water-supply and disposal hazards on your property at 1446 Thompson Cove Road, Clyde NC; preliminary injunction for the immediate remediation of the public health hazards on the property; prohibitory injunctions against future occupancy of the property

without compliance with law; attorney fees and costs.

You and each of you are required to make defense to such pleading not later than January 27, 2026, which is at least 40 days after the initial publication of this notice on December 17, 2025. Upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.

This the 17 th day of December, 2025.

Frank G. Queen, PLLC By: Frank G. Queen Attorney for the Plaintiff 154 N. Main Street, Ste 2 Waynesville NC 28786 (828) 452-3336 frank@queenmountainlaw.com NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000681-430 Cynthia A. Jackson, KDYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Executor of the Estate of Jimmie Lewis Jackson, Jr. 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 24 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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

Executor c/o: Jen Woy, Esq. 4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 300 Raleigh, NC 27607 NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000685-430 Ann Elizabeth Ensley,

WNC MarketPlace

KDYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Executor of the Estate of Rufus Neal Ensley 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 17 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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

Executor 721 N Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000707-430 Nathan Arnold Bryson, KDYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Executor of the Estate of Joyce Hazel Riggs 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 31 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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

Executor C/O Candler Law Group PO Box 145 Candler, NC 28715

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000191-490 Ginger Lovelace, havLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Executor of the Estate of Steven W. Sunderland of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Apr 07 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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

Ginger Lovelace, Executor c/o Stone & Christy, P.A. 110 N Dougherty Street Black Mountain, NC 28711

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No.25E000615-430 J. Alexander S. Barrett and Robert M. Barrett, KDYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Co-Executor of the Estate of Mason Moore Barrett 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 17 2026, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

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

Co-Executor C/O Robert D. Douglas, III 300 North Greene Street, Suite 200 Greensboro, NC 27401 CREDITOR’S NOTICE +DYLQJ TXDOL¿HG DV WKH Administrator of the Estate of Myrtice Longwith, deceased, late of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate of said deceased to exhibit them to the undersigned at 721 North Main St., Waynesville, NC 28786 on or before the 17th day of March 2026, or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment.

This the 11th day of December.

Deborah Simpson Administrator of the Estate of Myrtice Longwith C/O Brian P. Schaefer, Esq. GRIFFIN & SCHAEFER, P.A. 721 N. Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786 Please publish on the following dates: Wed. Dec. 17 th , 2025 Wed. Dec. 24 th , 2025 Wed. Dec. 31 st , 2025 Wed. January 7 th , 2026

Announcements

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IN THE NEX XT T ISSUE

828.452.4 4251 ads@smokyymounttainneew ws.com January 7-13, 2026

WNC MarketPlace

29

CORNER TO CORNER ACROSS 1 Fishhook end 5 Neophyte 9 Negate 15 "Kapow!"

19 "-- Ben Adhem" (Leigh Hunt poem) 20 Whole bunch 21 Opposed (to) 22 Nevada city on I-80 23 Mild-flavored lettuce 24 Dawn's direction 25 Common corsage flower 27 2019 buddy-cop action-comedy film 29 Leaning Tower city 31 Co-avenger with Electra 32 Wooden shoe 34 Bestow 38 Feedbag grain 39 Jaguar, e.g.

41 "It's not -- deal" 43 Guy who helps people get out of jail 48 Attila the -49 "I pass," in cards 51 Bic -- Stic 52 Add up to 53 March 15, e.g.

55 Emperor before Caligula 58 In the direction of 62 Unsafe 64 Convent VIP 65 Quilt, e.g.

66 Small bouquets 68 Monkey in "Aladdin" 69 Die-hard devotees 70 What this puzzle's solver does when filling in the upper-left to lower-right diagonal?

74 8-11 p.m., TV-wise 78 Exec's deg.

79 Tattle 84 Old Russian revolutionary 85 German for the verb "love" 88 Sheer fabric 89 States of oneness 90 Filename display area 92 Not far at all 93 GQ or Us 94 Send forth 96 Some pinschers, for short 98 Completed 99 Male sibling by birth 105 Asian fusion restaurant chain 106 Taxing org.

107 French body of water 108 Like an ode 110 Marjanovic of the Rockets 112 Memory loss 116 Like eyesores 118 Citigroup alternative 121 Item for surfing on one's stomach 125 Work for 127 Impose -- on (forbid) 128 Arm bone 129 Princess Beatrice's mom 130 Ran away 131 1967 Peter Sellers film, with "The" 132 Casual tops 133 Brines, e.g.

134 Lays (down) 135 Spin -- (do like SpiderMan) DOWN 1 Streisand, to friends 2 Slightly 3 Vigorous quality

4 -- Gump Shrimp Company 5 Mechanical-looking dance 6 Pro vote 7 Rub roughly 8 Sight-related 9 Beach hut 10 "Selma" director DuVernay 11 Lincoln loc.

12 Boohoo 13 Canadian gas choice 14 NBA star James 15 Twists to pull free 16 Sun output 17 Poker cost 18 Hardness scale inventor 26 Take in a novel, e.g.

28 Abba of Israel 30 Boohoo 33 Leg bone 35 Popular office plant 36 Building wings 37 Hitting stat 39 Bird sound 40 Video's counterpart 42 Last name of the Bee Gees 44 Eight-armed creatures 45 The second Mrs. Trump 46 Actress Eve 47 Bird homes 50 Cheapen 54 Enjoy a slope 56 McEntire of country 57 Lead-in to a proposal 59 Bake-off needs 60 "As if that -- enough ..."

61 Pooch sound 63 Aden citizen 65 -- -de-sac 67 Composer Erik

69 Ocean floor 71 Mouth or face, slangily 72 Rescue squad VIP 73 Upscale Swiss watch brand 74 -- tuckered out 75 Of kidneys 76 "The Princess Bride" character Montoya 77 The Engineers' sch.

80 It's charged 81 Knotted like shoelaces 82 Huxtable mom on TV 83 Goat groups 85 Limber 86 Black, in verse 87 Honcho 90 Mambo king Puente 91 Ricochets 95 Janitorial tool 97 Deli heroes 100 Last Greek letters 101 Actor Arnaz 102 Court filings 103 Pianists' exercises 104 Road semi 109 Staff symbols 111 Addis --, Ethiopia 112 Be up against 113 Yard pest 114 Not any 115 Aid in crime 117 New Haven university 119 Local theater, informally 120 Door handle 122 Iron -123 Iron -124 Tear 126 No longer in the mil., e.g.

ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

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January 7-13, 2026

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Smoky Mountain News January 7-13, 2026