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October is Domestic Violence Awareness month in the United States. This week, the Smoky Mountain News has partnered with REACH of Haywood County to publish a series of stories outlining the ways domestic violence perpetrators can victimize those they should love and what resources are available for anyone in need. (Pages 4-15) Micah McClure design
News
WNC leaders plead for fixes to broken justice system ........................................16
Waynesville little league field opens up over a year after Helene ......................18 Clyde loses out on debris deal ....................................................................................20
Jackson County park system review shows strength, needs ..............................21
Camp Hope rebuild moves forward under new design proposal ....................22
Fundraising picks up in NC-11 congressional race ..............................................24
State releases 2020 economic tier rankings ..........................................................26
Jackson commissioner skips key board meetings ..................................................28
WCU Cherokee Center to hold 50th anniversary celebration Nov. 4 ............29
Opinion
Ten minutes with Rep. Edwards is very revealing ..................................................32 Letters to the Editor ........................................................................................................30
A&E
The musical bridge: A conversation with Appalachian Road Show ................32 Amythyst Kiah to play Cullowhee Oct. 30 ................................................................36
Outdoors
Wunderland Resort opens in Old Fort ......................................................................40 Smokies to stay open at least through October ....................................................42
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — a time to honor survivors, remember those lost to violence and recommit to building a community where everyone feels safe and valued. For nearly four decades, REACH of Haywood County has been doing exactly that: working quietly but persistently to make Haywood County a safer, stronger place to live.
Next year marks REACH’s 40th anniversary, a milestone that celebrates thousands of lives rebuilt and countless acts of courage, compassion and community care. Though REACH serves survivors of sexual assault, elder abuse and human trafficking, the vast majority of the clients who walk through its doors are experiencing or escaping domestic violence. Behind every statistic is a story of survival — and a community that refuses to look away.
PUBLIC AWARENESS THROUGH ACTION
Raising awareness has always been central to REACH’s mission. Over the years, the organization has hosted creative and moving events such as “You Don’t Own Me,” “Love Sings Out” and “Take a Walk in Her Shoes.” From symbolic dove releases to the “Happy Families” quilt created by secondgraders at Clyde Elementary, each event has given voice to hope and healing. Some have featured powerful testimonies — like that of Guy Maxwell, who shared his story of growing up with an abusive father, nearly killing his wife and ultimately choosing to change. REACH has also worked closely with local churches and faith leaders, offering workshops such as “What Women of Faith
Getting free
Terror,
violence
and … finally freedom
BY KIT GRUELLE
or close to four decades, I’ve been an advocate for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse. It has been quite a journey.
Along the way, I’ve met so many incredibly strong, wise, brave, and determined
Need to Know About Family Violence” and “Understanding Family Violence: What Our Churches Can Do.” One family-friendly event, “A Family Walk of Peace,” even invited participants to bring their dogs — because peace, love and healing should be accessible to all.
HELP IN THE DARKEST HOURS
For survivors of domestic violence, REACH is often the first phone call — and the last hope.
Jennifer Hannah, a preschool teacher and mother of two, remembers the night she finally reached out. After her husband strangled her into unconsciousness in front of their children, she called REACH.
“They picked me up in the middle of the night,” she said. “I realized the life I was living wasn’t the one God intended for me. I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life just surviving — I needed to teach my children how to thrive.”
Jennifer is one of thousands of survivors
As REACH approaches its 40th anniversary, the organization marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month by reaffirming its mission to help survivors rebuild their lives and create a safer, stronger Haywood County.
From now until Dec. 31, all monetary donations to REACH will be matched up to $60,000 from the Flora T. Webb Trust, stewarded by the Maple Grove United Methodist Church. If you were thinking about donating to a good cause, double your impact and donate today. To learn more or to support REACH’s mission, visit reachofhaywood.org or call 828.456.7898.
women who have faced terrible abuse from the person who, at the beginning of the relationship, claimed to love them. They have learned the hard way that love and abuse do not go together.
One woman’s case, in particular, sticks with me. She fell in love with a man who was deeply troubled, but who — she thought — would work his way out of it if she helped him. There was one problem: he wasn’t interested in changing his ways and used his troubled childhood as an excuse for abusing and terrorizing her. There is no excuse for abuse.
He did what all abusers do: he dropped
REACH has supported with emergency shelter, legal advocacy, counseling, and crisis intervention. For many, that first call marks the beginning of a new life.
ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
REACH’s services also extend to survivors of sexual assault. Victim advocates like Cody Stiles guide survivors through the complex maze of medical, legal and emotional needs that follow an assault.
“Sometimes a survivor doesn’t know the language of the legal or medical systems,” Stiles explained. “She might not even know what help is available. We do — and we help her find it. The goal is always to support her, no matter what that looks like.”
This individualized, trauma-informed advocacy helps survivors reclaim control and begin to heal on their own terms.
TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
REACH doesn’t just respond to crises — it works to prevent them.
For years, community educator Buffy Queen has brought REACH’s “Safe Dates” program to Haywood County middle and high schools. These sessions teach students about healthy communication, respect, boundaries, and consent.
After one class, a student left a handwritten note on Queen’s desk revealing that she had been sexually assaulted just the day before. The note led to an investigation and to the student receiving support.
“I don’t know if they were prosecuted,”
an invisible net. She wasn’t allowed to see her family and friends anymore. He started restricting her every move. She walked on eggshells 24/7, which is no way to live.
She wasn’t even “allowed” to paint her toenails with a bright color.
He said he told her many times that he would “chop me up into little pieces” and bury her in the back yard. He told her he would find her no matter where she went and reminded her that they were to stay together “’til death do we part.” She absolutely believed he was capable of killing her and feared he would hurt her parents.
Her horizons grew smaller and smaller
Queen said softly. “But I do know that the student may never have had the courage to speak up if that class hadn’t been held.”
These early interventions save lives and help stop the cycle of abuse before it begins.
A FORCE FOR PREVENTION AND HEALING
Diane Phillips, who has worked with REACH since 2013, believes the organization’s strength lies in its multi-layered approach.
“We’re not just a rescue squad,” she said. “We’re also prevention.”
REACH’s quiet power lies in that balance — responding to crises while creating longterm safety through education, advocacy and community partnerships. Whether helping a mother find safety, guiding a teen through trauma or supporting an older adult experiencing abuse, REACH continues to build a safer, stronger Haywood County for all.
A CALL TO COMMUNITY
REACH’s work may not always make headlines, but its impact ripples through generations. Every life reclaimed, every student educated, every story heard — these are the true measures of progress.
Next year, as REACH celebrates 40 years of service, the organization remains steadfast in its mission to create a community where everyone can live free from violence and fear.
Supporting REACH isn’t just charity — it’s an investment in the health, safety and unity of our community.
(Lisa Kirkpatrick is a volunteer at REACH of Haywood County)
until all she saw was him, which was one of his goals. Every time she wanted to see her kids or do something on her own, there was hell to pay.
She said he would drive fast to scare her, and put a knife or a gun on the hood of her car to intimidate her. One time, he shot a gun close to her head and threatened to shoot her dog.
She said, “You learn to live in fear; you don’t know anything else.”
This is how she finally got free. She said, “Everything took a bad turn when criminal charges were filed against him for strangling F
In our mountains, behind closed doors
BY SARAH KIHN
Every October, we see purple ribbons, social media posts and brief mentions on the news about Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For many, it comes and goes like any other month. But for survivors, advocates and loved ones, October carries the weight of remembrance, grief and determination.
HOW IT STARTED
Domestic Violence Awareness Month began in 1981, when the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence launched a “Day of Unity” to connect advocates across the country who were working to end violence in their communities. That single day grew into a full week of events and, by 1987, became an official month of national observance.
The color purple was chosen to symbolize courage and survival and to honor for those who have experienced abuse. Today, October serves as both a time to honor survivors and a call to action to end domestic violence once and for all.
Awareness alone is no longer enough. It must move us from sympathy to outrage and from outrage to action.
THE REALITY
BEHIND THE RIBBON
ROOTED IN INEQUALITY
Domestic violence doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s connected to larger systems of inequality. When society normalizes male entitlement, excuses aggression as “passion” or underfunds programs that protect survivors, we are complicit.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence reminds us that when reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections or affordable housing are stripped away, survivors lose vital pathways to safety. The Institute for Women’s Policy Research adds that a woman cannot safely leave abuse if she cannot afford rent, childcare or healthcare.
These are not just policy issues. For many survivors, they are matters of life and death.
Local resources
• REACH of Haywood County 24-Hour Crisis Line: (828) 456-7898 reachofhaywood.org
Text “START” to 88788 Free, confidential, and available in English and Spanish.
• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
24/7 Support: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) Chat: rainn.org Free, anonymous, and confidential.
Domestic violence is not a “private matter.” It’s not just a bad relationship or a couple’s fight. It’s a public health and human rights crisis that thrives in silence, and it happens here in our mountains.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in three women in the United States will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. One in three. That could be your neighbor, your coworker, your friend or even you.
Survivors are still too often blamed, doubted or silenced. In courtrooms, those with more money or power can use the system itself to continue the abuse, leaving survivors to fight for safety while trying to rebuild their lives .
(choking) me.”
He was supposed to go to court. He ordered her to take him and took his gun. They had to stop and get gas. One of the workers at the gas station saw her crying when she came in.
She texted her friend and said he had a gun. Her friend called 911. She was stalling for time in the bathroom, hoping the cops would get there. She was afraid he would shoot everyone.
She got back in the vehicle, shaking. She prayed for the cops to come. She acted like she was going to throw up. He grabbed her phone. She got it back and called her friend again. Her friend knew to stay on the phone
WHAT JUSTICE REALLY MEANS
Justice isn’t only about arresting abusers. It means believing survivors, providing safe housing and ensuring the Federal Violence Against Women Act is fully funded and enforced.
It also means understanding that violence takes many forms. Emotional manipulation, financial control, isolation and coercion can be just as devastating as physical harm. The bruises may fade, but the trauma can last a lifetime.
While women are most often victims, men and nonbinary people experience abuse as well. According to the CDC, one in four men in the United States has faced physical violence, sexual violence,or stalking by an intimate partner. For many men, the stigma of speaking out can be just as painful as the abuse itself.
And we can’t ignore how gender and race intersect. Women of color — especially Black and Indigenous women — face higher rates of homicide and greater barriers to safety, according to the Women of Color Network.
FAITH AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
In some communities, religious teachings have been twisted to justify control. Passages about submission have been used to keep survivors trapped, convincing them that leaving an abuser means abandoning their faith. But that is not what faith is meant to be. In Christianity, for example, the teachings of Jesus call to protect the vulner-
with her but also to get someone else to call 911.
As they came up behind Bogart’s in Waynesville, she screamed loudly enough that a man heard her. She wondered if she should just jump from the car. She knew, when he didn’t turn right toward the courthouse, that she was dead.
She asked him, “Why are we going toward Sylva?” hoping her friend would hear her. She feared he would kill the responding cops. If he went across Balsam Mountain, she believed he would kill her. He was holding her hostage.
She convinced him that she was going to be sick and told him to stop at a rest area. When he stopped, she bolted and ran to the
able and stand against harm. True faith doesn’t demand silence; it demands justice.
More faith communities are reclaiming that message, offering safety, support and compassion for survivors. That is what faith in action looks like.
TURNING AWARENESS INTO ACTION
This October, don’t let Domestic Violence Awareness Month be just another post or ribbon. Take a step. Support the organizations doing this work. Donate to local shelters like REACH of Haywood County. Volunteer your time. Listen when someone confides that something feels wrong in their relationship.
Talk to your children about respect, consent and healthy love. Share resources. Refuse to let abuse hide in plain sight. We deserve a world where no one has to choose between safety and survival, silence and disbelief, poverty and violence.
Awareness should lead us to empathy, to outrage and most importantly, to action.
Change is possible. Communities can become places of safety, not silence. When we believe survivors and stand with them, healing becomes the expectation, not the exception.
(Sarah Kihn is a Development Coordinator for REACH of Haywood County)
bathroom.
She had chosen a code word to use with her kids if she needed them to call law enforcement. That code word was strawberries. She called her daughter and said, “I need some strawberries.”
Her daughter told her to go into a stall and call 911. Soon, law enforcement arrived.
He took off and, following a brief standoff, was arrested and charged with multiple serious felonies.
When he went to trial, she predicted what he would do. She said he would testify. He did. She said he would make a weapon and try to hurt someone. He made a sharp instrument out of two golf pencils and tried to bring it into
the courtroom.
He was found guilty of all charges and sentenced to a long prison term. She was finally free.
That was a number of years ago. She says, “I’ve laid that stuff to rest now.”
As soon as the trial ended, she went home and painted her toenails a lovely shade of lavender. She was free.
This is the joy of advocacy. We get to see women and children (and occasionally men) manage to get free and start to see themselves how we see them: as strong and capable survivors.
(Kit Gruelle, IS Advocate at REACH of Haywood County.)
Sarah Kihn, REACH of Haywood County’s Development Coordinator, and her dog Luna Donated photo
The cycle of healing
Finding wholeness after violence
BY KATIE MILLER
The natural world moves in cycles, each step following another, just as the seasons change or a wound slowly mends. These rhythms shape the pace of our lives: the rise and fall of the sun, the ebb and flow of rivers, the breath in and out of our lungs.
Healing is one of these cycles. Whether from a scraped knee or a broken heart, from a surgery or a loss, all life exists in a constant rhythm of injury and repair. When that rhythm is interrupted, when something breaks the natural flow, suffering deepens for both individuals and the community that surrounds them.
Sexual violence is one such disruption. It is an injury, both visible and invisible, that profoundly alters the cycle of life and healing. It is also far more common than many realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in two women and nearly one in three men in the United States experience sexual violence in their lifetimes.
The road to healing from sexual assault or domestic violence is rarely straightforward. Unlike a broken bone, there is no X-ray that shows progress or a cast that guarantees stability. It is deeply personal work, layered, uneven and unique to every survivor.
Healing may look like participating in the justice system, or it may mean walking away from it entirely. It might involve counseling, joining a survivor support group or simply telling a trusted friend, “This happened to me.” It can also look like silence, solitude or small acts of reclaiming control, such as taking a walk, seeing a doctor or asking for help.
There is no single right way to heal. But ignoring the injury or denying yourself the time and space to recover can deepen the wound, not just for one person, but for generations.
WHEN CYCLES COLLIDE
abuse, as powerful predictors of lifelong health challenges such as addiction, depression and chronic disease. Children who enter the foster care system due to family violence or neglect also face significantly higher rates of sexual abuse than those raised in stable homes, according to the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect.
coercion or assault.
These forms of violence rarely exist in isolation. They often overlap with other cycles of harm, such as addiction, mental health struggles, poverty, and childhood trauma.
According to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (2020), people with a history of sexual violence are significantly more likely to struggle with
Sexual assault and domestic violence are deeply connected. Studies from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence show that up to 81% of women who experience intimate partner violence also experience sexual assault by the same partner. Among men who report being physically abused by a partner, more than half also experience sexual
Martha
A life silenced by domestic violence
Not all domestic violence victims escape. Some are too ashamed or fearful to leave. Some are bound by cultures or communities that do not fully respect women, where judgment and reputation outweigh survival. The age when victims simply endure is still with us. That was the
substance misuse later in life. Another study published by Cambridge University Press found that one in three men who perpetrated child sexual abuse had themselves been sexually abused as children.
The CDC has long identified adverse childhood experiences, including exposure to domestic violence and sexual
case of a woman named Martha who died a few years ago in Western North Carolina.
Martha was a country girl who married in her late teens. Early in her marriage, she was repeatedly degraded by her husband, who told her she was stupid and ugly. His emotional abuse was confined to their private lives. In public, they were considered an upstanding couple, active in their church, where he appeared loving and respectful to Martha. As time passed, this quiet, shy young woman became increasingly withdrawn and introverted.
Martha held a factory job for more than 35 years. During that time, she was never allowed to drive herself to work. Her hus-
These are not separate problems. They are connected cycles of pain. And just as harm ripples outward, healing can do the same.
THE CHOICE TO HEAL
The natural world does not stop moving, even after a disaster. Rivers find new paths. Forests regrow. Healing, too, is inevitable if we allow it.
As a nurse, I have seen healing begin in the smallest of ways: a survivor showing up for their exam, a patient taking their first full breath after telling their story aloud, a parent deciding that the violence ends with them. Healing does not mean forgetting or pretending it never happened. It means choosing to continue living, even when it hurts.
“Healing does not mean forgetting or pretending it never happened. It means choosing to keep living, even when it hurts.”
— Katie Miller, sexual assault nurse examiner
To the community, I say this: healing is collective work. When we believe survivors, when we listen without judgment, and when we make our homes and institutions safe for disclosure, we strengthen the entire fabric of our society.
To individuals walking this path, know this: you are not alone. Your story is yours to tell or keep. Your healing is yours to define. It takes courage to begin and even more to continue. There will be days of rest, days of anger, and days of peace. Each one is part of the cycle.
Healing does not happen overnight. But it does happen. With time, care, and support, the body, mind, and spirit can recover.
The most important step in any healing journey is the one that begins it. Have courage. Reach for support. Rest when you need to. And remember, you can be well again.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or domestic violence, confidential help is available 24/7 at REACH of Haywood County: 828.456.7898.
You are not what happened to you. You are what you choose to become after.
(Katie Miller, a sexual assault nurse examiner, is the director of Mountain Hope Nursing Alliance. For more information, visit mountainhopenursing.org)
band dropped her off early and picked her up after he finished his own shift at a different location, leaving her waiting outside in the weather. He constantly monitored her comings and goings, suspicious of imagined relationships with men at work. At times, he even stopped by her workplace to confront male coworkers he believed were flirting with her.
To visit her ailing mother or a friend, Martha had to sneak away under the guise of grocery shopping. Her time and money were not her own. She was not permitted to buy clothing or personal items without her husband’s approval, and often, purchases had to be returned.
Martha’s abuser owned a large collection of firearms and always carried a gun holstered under his jacket. He was known to brandish a handgun when agitated. His erratic behavior severed many relationships. Because of secrecy and isolation, it is unclear when the physical abuse began, but it escalated considerably after Martha retired. With age, her husband grew increasingly angry, paranoid and emotionally unstable. Living in an unwelcoming home, Martha had little contact with the outside world other than occasional visits from a family friend and Sunday church services. She was often seen with bruises on her arms and legs, for which F
Katie Miller teaching community advocates about forensic evaluations. Donated photo
Mistaken perceptions
BY LORI CASTNER
Domestic violence is widely misunderstood. Most individuals who have not had the unfortunate experience of living through it often hold misconceptions that minimize its severity. This ignorance can lead to responses that are inappropriate, callous and ultimately perpetuate the problem. Misconceptions frequently involve victim-blaming or a lack of understanding about what domestic violence truly entails. Common responses include statements such as, “If it’s that bad, he or she would just leave;” “Those situations only happen in poor communities;” “She must be asking for it” or “It’s all related to drug abuse.” Remarks like these degrade and dismiss the victim’s experience and are completely misinformed. They reinforce the shame and invalidation felt by victims while empowering abusers.
Domestic violence does not always involve physical abuse. It can also include sexual, emotional, financial and psychological coercion, all of which can be just as damaging as physical violence. Alcohol or drug use is not the cause of domestic violence — it goes much deeper. Abusers intentionally strive to maintain power and control over their victims. Coercion can take many forms, including anger, intimidation and even the appearance of kindness, generosity or concern. No matter the method, the goal is calculated control.
Domestic violence is widespread, affecting people of all ages, religions, sexual orientations and socioeconomic backgrounds. It happens every day in communities and societies around the world. Beyond its devastat-
she made excuses. When her injuries were visible, such as black eyes, she stayed home until they faded. Her abuser often struck her on the vertebrae at the base of her neck, where bruises could be concealed beneath her clothing.
Martha’s kitchen cook stove eventually fell into disrepair, but her husband refused to replace it. As a result, Martha couldn’t prepare meals, so a friend began providing meals, leaving food on the porch because visitors were not allowed inside. The friend would call from down the road to make sure Martha retrieved the food before animals got to it.
Her husband rationed water. Martha was only allowed to launder clothes every two weeks, and they rarely bathed. She was forbidden to mop the floors in order to save water. As they were too old to cut wood for the fireplace, the couple were cold much of the last winter in their home because Martha’s husband refused to use the oil furnace, claiming it was too costly.
ing personal impact, domestic violence creates a significant financial burden through the need for medical treatment, legal services, court costs, incarceration, and long-term physical and mental healthcare for victims and their children.
Approximately 73.5% of domestic abuse victims are women. While men can also experience abuse, women are overwhelmingly the primary targets. Throughout history, religion and society have often assigned women to subservient roles. This inequality has been the norm for thousands of years, and in many cultures it persists today. Even in the United States, where equality is the law, it is not always the reality. The struggle continues.
The United Nations defines gender-based violence:
“The definition of discrimination includes gender-based violence, that is, violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental, or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion, and other deprivations of liberty.”
Domestic violence is both a global and a local issue. Increasing awareness is crucial to the health of our communities and the safety of our citizens — both now and for generations to come.
Lori Castner is a volunteer with REACH of Haywood County.
Martha and her husband were married for more than 65 years. One day, when she was in her early eighties, the man flew into a rage and beat her in the head with a chunk of wood, fracturing her skull. Bleeding, Martha struggled to the phone and called for help. The police arrived, handcuffed her husband, and took him away. From that day forward, Martha suffered impaired cognitive function and daily seizures. She died two months later.
Martha was trapped. Whatever selfworth she once had was methodically stripped away, leaving her completely dominated by a +mentally ill man. This was the man she had loved and devoted her life to through marriage. She saw no other way. Domestic violence can be a secret known only to those intimately involved. Friends, family members and others may suspect abuse but remain uninvolved. Without intervention, tragedy can be inevitable. Ending domestic violence is a cultural and moral duty. There is no
Legal aid is a crucial lifeline
BY EVIE SANDLIN WHITE
“Why doesn’t she just leave?” It’s a question asked countless times when trying to rationalize why someone in an abusive relationship continues to remain in that relationship.
Besides blaming the victim, the question also makes some strong assumptions:
• She has the same financial means as the abuser.
• She assumes she will gain custody of their children.
• She believes she can leave the relationship safely.
• She can be successful advocating for herself in the court system when she may need a protective order, divorce, child support, custody, division of property, etc.
Let’s examine these assumptions.
First, financial abuse often accompanies domestic violence. Abusers control bank accounts, dictate whether their victims can work outside the home and sometimes even get partners
fired from their jobs out of jealousy and/or as a means to further isolate them. So how does someone who is being abused, with no money of her own, simply leave? Where would she go and how would she finance a move to a new home or town?
Second, abusers can use children as pawns in controlling relationships. As the person with the financial means and control, it’s easy to convince a victim that a judge would grant custody to the parent who can provide food, shelter and other basic needs to the children. Along with an eroded sense of self-confidence, victims believe abusers when they are told they have no chance of winning in court. At Pisgah Legal Services, clients tell us consistently they will not leave without their children, and they also fear harm coming to their children if they aren’t in the home to protect them.
The most dangerous time for someone in a violent relationship is when they try to leave or shortly after. Abuse is
often not about anger but control. And when someone who has been abused starts to exert control over their own lives, the abuser can feel powerless and rejected. This can escalate to lethal violence.
According to studies, approximately 75 percent of domestic violence-related homicides happen after the victim has left or attempted to leave. According to the Violence Policy Center, 65 percent of all murder-suicides involved an intimate partner. Of these, 95 percent were females killed by their intimate partners.
Finally, the court systems are not designed for the average person to navigate alone. In the words of Pearl, one of our recent clients, “I would not have been able to get the same outcome in civil court if I had to do it all by myself. I wouldn’t have known how to do it, and I don’t think I would have been able to deal with the emotional aspect of having direct contact with him.”
Pisgah Legal Services is a nonprofit organization that offers free legal aid to thousands of domestic violence survivors in Western North Carolina (WNC) each year. Since 1978, we’ve provided this essential service to countless families and individual survivors.
Pisgah Legal Services proudly works in conjunction and partnership with domestic violence nonprofits, police and other organizations across WNC. Our attorneys and advocates are powerful partners in escaping domestic violence. They understand the fear, the intimidation and the helplessness that come from being controlled physically, emotionally and financially.
With Pisgah Legal’s help, survivors can plan ahead, leave safely, then successfully work within the legal system to get the protection, assets, custody and other remedies they need to live free from abuse.
If you need help, visit pisgahlegal.org or call 828.253.0406. If you would like to support this important work, please visit pisgahlegal.org/give.
(Evie Sandlin White is the Communications Director for Pisgah Legal Services.)
From enforcement to empathy
How law enforcement has evolved through the years
BY DR. SARA VOGEL
When Jeff Haynes entered the law enforcement academy in 1990, empathy wasn’t a word heard often in the ranks. Officers were trained to enforce, not to understand. But as the decades unfolded, few people would witness — and shape — the transformation of policing toward compassion and victimcentered practice more closely than Haynes himself.
Now in his 35th year in public safety, Haynes serves as the director of public safety at Haywood Community College. His journey — from patrol officer at age 21 to chief deputy at the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office — mirrors the sweeping cultural shift within law enforcement: one that replaced “that’s how we’ve always done it” with “how can we do better?”
THE EARLY DAYS: BEFORE EMPATHY HAD A NAME
When Haynes began his career, the North Carolina legal system lacked the framework to address domestic violence effectively. “We only knew what we knew,” he recalls. “If there was violence but no corroborating witness or evidence, there was very little we could do.” Officers could separate the parties and offer a ride to a friend’s house, but they had no legal remedy to ensure a victim’s safety.
That changed in 1995 with the passage of North Carolina General Statute 50B — the Domestic Violence Protective Order. For the first time, officers had a mandate, literally written into law, to act. “The language changed everything,” Haynes said. “The law said an officer shall arrest. That word — ‘shall’ — took discretion out of the equation. It gave us the authority and the responsibility to intervene.”
The 50B statute also introduced a “cool-
ing down” period, allowing law enforcement to hold alleged offenders for up to 48 hours before release. “It was revolutionary,” Haynes said. “That window gave victims time to breathe, to think, to find safety — and it saved lives.”
VICTIM-CENTERED POLICING TAKES HOLD
Even with legal tools in place, cultural change came slowly. “Younger officers were more flexible,” Haynes recalls. “But for many, it was hard to let go of the old mindset. It wasn’t about ill intent, it was about unlearning decades of habit.”
The late 1990s brought new partnerships that would help drive this change. In 1998, Haywood County formed one of North Carolina’s first domestic violence task forces, uniting law enforcement with public health, emergency services, prosecutors and victim advocates. “We trained together,” Haynes said. “We learned from SANE nurses, from counselors, from advocates. We began to understand what victim-centered really meant.”
Through federally funded training programs from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women, Haynes became both student and teacher, helping train officers across the country on domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse. “It was about more than just following the law,” he explained. “It was about doing what’s ethically and morally right — taking care of those who need to be taken care of.”
BUILDING A CULTURE OF UNDERSTANDING
Today, empathy is not just an aspiration but a cornerstone of modern policing. “You
can’t serve justice without understanding humanity,” Haynes said. “We have to recognize that anyone, any one of us, could become a victim. When you understand that, your approach changes.”
At HCC, Haynes continues this work by training future officers and supporting stu-
dents and staff through ongoing education about domestic violence and protective orders.
“Empathy doesn’t mean letting your guard down,” Haynes said. “It means listening, learning and responding with humanity. We’re not just enforcing laws; we’re safeguarding lives.”
A legacy rooted in relationships
After decades of service, Haynes attributes his success to one thing: relationships. “We live and die by our communication skills and relationships,” he said. “I don’t know all the answers, but I know who to call. That’s the strength of a community.”
As he reflects on his career — from the early days before 50B to today’s trauma-informed, victimcentered approach — Haynes sees hope. “Law enforcement has come a long way,” he said. “We’ve learned that real justice isn’t just about arresting the offender. It’s about restoring the survivor.”
(Dr. Sara Vogel is Executive Director of REACH of Haywood County)
Tea that warms the heart
BY REBECCA BRADLEY
In today’s world, success in business is no longer measured by profit alone. More and more companies — large and small — are recognizing the power they have to create positive change in their own communities. Partnering with a local nonprofit organization is one of the most impactful ways to do this. Not only does it strengthen the community you serve, but it also builds a stronger, more engaged business in the process.
At Crown & Thistle Tea Room, we believe a warm cup of tea has the power to bring people together, spark conversation and create comfort. But beyond the cozy atmosphere and fragrant blends, we also see our space as an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in our community.
When we opened in December 2024, we knew we wanted a “no tipping” policy in place because the unpredictable nature of tipped income, combined with the pressure to maximize every interaction, can lead to significant job stress and anxiety for waitstaff. We wanted our staff to work together as a team, so we offer our employees a competitive hourly wage.
However, it became clear that many of our customers wished to continue tipping. This presented a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to the community by donating all tips to a local nonprofit organization. We chose to partner with REACH of Haywood to support survivors of domestic violence — a cause
Just a piece of paper?
The effectiveness of a domestic violence protective order
BY DANIEL WORRALL
ADomestic Violence Protective Order, sometimes called a restraining order, is one of the most important legal tools available to protect survivors of domestic violence. A DVPO is a court order that forbids an abuser from contacting their victim. If that order is violated, the abuser can face criminal charges.
That raises a common question: if the consequences come only after a violation, what good does a DVPO really do?
A DVPO can do a great deal to protect survivors. The more seriously the order is enforced and supported, the more effective it becomes.
WHY A DVPO MATTERS
A DVPO is not perfect. Survivors sometimes report that violations are ignored, arrests are not made, or charges are dismissed. Yet studies show that these orders make a measurable difference.
A 2002 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that having a DVPO reduced police involvement in domestic incidents by 80%. Another study in the American Journal of Public Health (2004) found that while violations occurred, the overall level of violence dropped significantly once a DVPO was in place. Even when violations happen, they tend to be less severe and less likely to be fatal. While no piece of paper can guarantee safety, a DVPO significantly reduces the risk of serious harm.
BARRIERS SURVIVORS FACE
For many survivors, obtaining a DVPO is not simple. Common barriers include the
following:
• Fear of retaliation: Survivors often fear that seeking an order will escalate the violence.
• Financial and transportation limits: Many survivors cannot afford to miss work, pay court fees or travel to the courthouse.
• Complex paperwork and legal confusion: The process involves filling out detailed forms, appearing before a judge and describing the abuse clearly and calmly in a public courtroom.
• Lack of legal representation: Survivors may feel intimidated without an attorney or advocate present.
• Emotional exhaustion and trauma: The stress of recounting abuse can be overwhelming, especially for someone still processing what happened.
Advocates and attorneys can help survivors overcome these barriers by walking them through the process, helping them prepare documents, and offering emotional support. We encourage the community to call resources such as REACH of Haywood County at 828.456.7898, or Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Western North Carolina branch at 828.586.8931.
WHAT TO BRING WHEN SEEKING A DVPO
To file for a DVPO in North Carolina, survivors must complete and file a complaint and motion for a protective order at the clerk of court’s office. The following information can strengthen the request:
• A detailed account of the abuse: Include dates, times and descriptions of incidents, especially any threats, injuries or use of weapons.
that’s close to our hearts and deeply needed in our community.
Domestic violence affects people in every neighborhood, often quietly and invisibly. Survivors need not only safety but also compassion, understanding, and a chance to rebuild their lives. By working with REACH of Haywood, we hope to help provide those essentials — one cup at a time.
Supporting a nonprofit isn’t just about writing a check; it’s about forming a genuine partnership rooted in shared values and mutual respect. Engaging your employees in charitable efforts also creates meaningful connections and boosts morale. Studies show that employees who feel their company supports social causes are more loyal and motivated — creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Giving back reminds us that business is about people. Every product sold, every service offered and every relationship built happens within a larger community. When you use your business to make that community stronger, you’re investing in a better future for everyone — including your company.
As we continue to serve our guests, we’re also committed to serving our community. Our hope is that every person who visits our tea room leaves feeling not only refreshed but also inspired to spread compassion in their own way. Because together, we can create a community where everyone feels safe, valued, and supported.
After all, tea warms the body — but giving back warms the heart.
(Rebecca Bradley is the owner of Crown & Thistle Tea Room.)
• Evidence, if available: Photographs of injuries or property damage, text messages, emails, voicemails, police reports or witness statements.
• Identification information: The abuser’s full name, address, workplace and description (to help with service of the order).
Once filed, a judge may grant an ex parte (temporary) order the same day, providing immediate protection until a full hearing is held, usually within 10 days. At that hearing, both sides can present evidence before the judge decides whether to issue a one-year DVPO.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A DVPO IS GRANTED
Once a DVPO is issued, law enforcement will serve it on the abuser. The order may include certain provisions:
• No contact of any kind, including phone calls, texts or social media messages.
• Removal of the abuser from the shared home.
• Temporary custody or visitation terms if children are involved.
• Surrender of firearms.
The survivor should keep a copy of the DVPO with them at all times and share copies with their workplace, child’s school and anyone else who may need to enforce it.
REPORTING VIOLATIONS
Any violation of a DVPO should be taken seriously and reported immediately to law enforcement. Survivors should do the following:
1 Document the violation in writing, including the date, time and what occurred.
2 Save any evidence such as text messages, phone logs or witness accounts.
3. Notify their advocate or attorney so a motion for contempt or criminal charges can
be filed if necessary.
Even small or seemingly minor violations matter. Consistent documentation helps build a record that demonstrates the abuser’s disregard for the court order.
HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP
A DVPO is only as strong as the system that supports it. Law enforcement officers, judges, attorneys, advocates and community members all play a role in enforcing these orders and supporting survivors.
During the period of protection, survivors benefit most from strong networks. Friends and family can help by offering transportation, childcare and emotional support while survivors rebuild independence and stability.
MORE THAN JUST A PIECE OF PAPER
A DVPO is more than a legal document. It is a statement that violence will not be tolerated and that survivors have the right to safety and peace. It cannot guarantee protection, but it reduces harm and gives survivors time to rebuild their lives.
When survivors, advocates and communities take these orders seriously, their power multiplies.
If you need help seeking a Domestic Violence Protective Order, we encourage you to reach out to your local domestic violence advocacy center:
• REACH of Haywood County: 828.456.7898.
• Center for Domestic Peace: 828.586.1237.
• WNC Alliance (formerly 30th Judicial District Alliance): 828.452.2122.
• Legal Aid of North Carolina: 828.586.8931.
(By Daniel Worrall is a managing attorney for Legal Aid of North Carolina)
Tea at Crown & Thistle Tea Room.
Breaking the cycle
Protecting survivors, strengthening families
BY SAVANNAH ANDERS
Behind closed doors, domestic violence and child abuse often unfold side by side, feeding off the same roots of fear and control.
During Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re reminded that protecting survivors means protecting families as a whole. When we support survivors of domestic violence, we safeguard the health and stability of entire households.
Violence in the home fractures more than just individual safety — it erodes the sense of security and trust that families need to thrive. By connecting survivors
with advocacy, shelter and traumainformed services, communities can help rebuild that foundation of safety and healing. Studies show that when survivor-centered programs are integrated into local systems, they not only reduce future violence but also strengthen family stability and community well-being.
Children who witness domestic violence often carry invisible wounds that can shape their emotional, behavioral and physical well-being. In the United States alone, an estimated 15 million children live in homes where intimate partner violence
occurs each year. Exposure to domestic violence is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, aggression and difficulties forming healthy relationships. Research also shows that 30–60% of families experiencing domestic violence also face child abuse, underscoring how deeply connected these forms of harm are.
Exposure to violence can normalize harmful patterns of control and aggression, perpetuating abuse across generations. Generational trauma shapes how children interpret love, safety and conflict — often influencing their own relation-
Remember When?
BY BUFFY QUEEN
Remember your young teen years, seventh and eighth grade — hopeful, scared, blooming, awkward, wondering. Sound familiar? How about shyly looking for a boyfriend or girlfriend, learning to flirt, first dates, falling in love? While we seldom had a boyfriend or girlfriend yet (and even more rarely, were dating), we were certainly thinking about it. Same with today’s young teens, only now add on the pressure of social media.
As hard as it is to believe, dating abuse can also begin in these early teenage years. That’s why REACH of Haywood, through the “Safe Dates” curriculum, shares this research-based, nationally recognized dating abuse prevention program in Haywood County middle schools. It meets the N.C. School Academic Standards and REACH has been sharing it in our seventh and eighth grades for 16 years during co-ed Health/PE classes.
“Safe Dates” teaches the basics of ALL healthy relationships, including friendships and does not push early dating or teach sex ed. Research determined that ages 12-14 were when this teaching is most beneficial, before most dating begins. This is the time when young teens are starting to “spread their wings,” to visit with friends in their homes, and to notice and compare how they see other adults treat each other and their families with how they are being raised.
ships as adults. Yet, this cycle can be broken. Early intervention, access to traumainformed care and community education are powerful tools for prevention. By raising awareness and working together to provide safe, nurturing environments, we can help families heal and grow stronger. Through awareness, prevention and collective action, we can replace fear with resilience and ensure that every family has the opportunity to thrive in safety and peace.
(Savannah Anders is the Executive Director of Kare House)
Some “Safe Dates” topics: what’s a healthy relationship, what’s an unhealthy relationship, how to communicate calmly, why some people are mean to their partners, how to help a friend in a complicated (abusive) relationship and how to prevent sexual assault. “Safe Dates” is interactive with read aloud scenarios, games, skits and quizzes. It keeps students interested and excited about each day’s topic. Our certified teacher also brings healthy snacks and other gifts to encourage participation and homework, thanks to grants from Haywood Health Foundation as well as private donations.
The most common parental (or grand-parental) reaction when they learn their teen will be in “Safe Dates?” “I wish I’d had ‘Safe Dates’ when I was your age.” Meaning, it might have helped many of us recognize those harmful relationship “red flags” early on, before long-term damage or violence happened. We are so lucky, as a county, that our children receive this important abuse prevention program because many larger counties, due to their size and the number of middle schools they have, can’t offer it. Yes, remember when. Here’s to happier memories — and future adult lives — for our teens, thanks to Safe Dates.
(REACH of Haywood is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit which serves survivors of intimate partner violence, elder abuse, trafficking and teen dating abuse. Contact them at 828.456.7898 or youmatter@reachofhaywood.org. Also visit or donate to Within Reach Resale Store in Hazelwood, 828.454.5998. Buffy Queen is a REACH of Haywood Community Educator)
Shining a Light
Honoring
the missing, protecting the living
BY KELSEY OWLE
Across the United States, Indigenous women face an epidemic of violence that is as urgent as it is often overlooked. For Cherokee families on the Qualla Boundary, these statistics are not abstract as they echo across homes, schools and community gatherings.
According to the National Institute of
Justice, four in five Native women experience violence in their lifetime and more than half experience sexual violence. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that Indigenous women are murdered at rates up to 10 times higher than the national average in some areas. For too many families, this crisis is compounded by high rates of cases that remain unsolved or unreported, leaving
Invitation to register for Reflections of Inspiration’s free annual conference on ending domestic violence and sexual assault
loved ones without answers or justice.
This reality has fueled the nationwide movement to end the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), a crisis that resonates deeply with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and neighboring tribal nations. Community leaders, advocates and survivors point to the lasting impacts of historical trauma, generational poverty and the rural barriers that make accessing help more difficult for Native women and families.
“Every relative affected by violence is a story of loss that affects generations of our people,” said Maggie Jackson, Qualla Boundary MMIW Co-Chair. “Abuse thrives in silence, and we cannot remain silent; our voice and our presence protect survivors.”
Domestic violence remains one of the most significant risk factors for Native women’s disappearance or death. The link between intimate partner violence and MMIW underscores the urgent need for culturally informed prevention, survivor-centered support and coordinated law enforcement response.
Cherokee culture offers powerful lessons for addressing these crises. Traditional teachings honor women as life-givers and emphasize the responsibility of the community to protect each member. Advocates say reclaiming these values can guide modern approaches to safety, justice and healing.
Reflections of Inspiration, a local nonprofit, has taken up this charge by integrating cultural strengths into its domestic-vio-
lence advocacy. Through trauma-informed workshops, culturally curated care packages for survivors and storytelling as a healing practice, ROI seeks to bridge traditional wisdom with practical resources for families in need.
As part of its efforts to bring attention to this crisis, ROI will host its third annual event on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Nov. 13–14, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. This free two-day gathering will bring together survivors, advocates and experts from across the Southeast to raise awareness of domestic violence, highlight the MMIW crisis and honor those working to create safer communities. This event is free and open to the public. To learn more or register for ROI’s November event, visit roinspiration.org.
Advocates stress that awareness is only the first step. Lasting changes will require investment in tribal-led services, improved data collection and collaboration among tribal, state and federal agencies. Above all, it requires listening to and believing survivors.
“Protecting our women means protecting our future,” said DeMakus Staton, ROI executive director, “When we come together as a community, we can end the violence that has touched far too many Cherokee families.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National DV Hotline at 800.799.7233 or text START to 88788.
(Kelsey Owle is Director of Community Engagement, Reflections of Inspiration.)
We strongly support the Center for Domestic Peace and REACH organizations for the work they do to assist victims of domestic abuse.
Women of vision
Celebrating resilience and community
More than 180 guests gathered at Chestnut Ridge Wedding Venue in Canton for REACH of Haywood County’s third annual Women of Vision Fashion Show on Sept. 25.
What began three years ago as a creative fundraiser to uplift women and raise awareness about domestic violence has now become one of the community’s most anticipated events — a day that celebrates resilience, connection and hope.
The event honored 10 Women of Vision, each representing the strength and spirit of Haywood County. These women are leaders, mothers, business owners, volunteers and neighbors and embody the power of compassion and the courage it takes to create change. As they walked the runway in fashions provided by local boutiques, the audience was reminded that empowerment isn’t just a theme; it’s a movement happening right here in the mountains.
The venue itself reflected that message. Chestnut Ridge glowed with twinkling lights and soft music, the tables adorned with mountain blooms and elegant linens. Guests described the atmosphere as “magical,” a world away from the noise and busyness of everyday life. For many, it also symbolized a deeper kind of escape, an escape from the vio-
“Every donation, every ticket, every volunteer hour brings us closer to a Haywood County free from violence.”
— Sara Vogel
lence and fear that too many in our community still endure.
At its heart, the Women of Vision Fashion Show is about more than style, it’s about survival and solidarity. “This event is a reminder that beauty and strength can coexist,” said Sara Vogel, executive director of REACH of Haywood County. “For families who live with the threat of violence every day, REACH provides refuge, hope, and healing. Women of Vision celebrates that resilience while raising the critical funds that allow us to continue this work.”
And raise funds it did. This year’s event was REACH’s most successful yet, bringing in over $60,000 to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and human trafficking.
Even more inspiring, that total was matched by the Flora T. Webb Trust, stewarded through the United Methodist Church, doubling the event’s impact. The funds will support vital services including safe shelter, advocacy, counseling and prevention education in Haywood County.
The success of Women of Vision underscores the power of community generosity. In a county still rebuilding from the challenges of recent years, the outpouring of support demonstrates that Haywood’s heart remains strong. “We’re humbled by the love this community continues to show,” Vogel said. “Every donation, every ticket, every volunteer hour brings us closer to a Haywood County free from violence.”
As the afternoon sun faded behind the mountains, guests left with full hearts and a renewed sense of purpose. The chandeliers dimmed, but the glow of the day lingered: proof that when a community comes together for a cause, transformation isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.
Allie Messer Photography photos
When love becomes a weapon
BY LYNN CARLSON
For many of us, pets are family. They greet us at the door, comfort us when we are sad and offer love without judgment.
As a mental health clinician specializing in animal-assisted therapy, I have witnessed the deep, healing bonds that can exist between humans and their animals. Companion animals are more than just pets. They often serve as family, as emotional support and at times as the only source of wholehearted love in a person's life.
Unfortunately, this strong connection is well understood by those who perpetrate acts of interpersonal violence. In cases of domestic violence, animals are too often used as tools for control, creating a heartbreaking and frequently overlooked barrier that hinders a survivor's ability to escape an unsafe situation. This issue is widespread and not adequately recognized. According to the Domestic Violence Services Network (2024), approximately 70% of individuals experiencing interpersonal violence report that their abuser has harmed or threatened their pets.
Abusers exploit the deep love victims have for their animals in terrifying and traumatic ways that impact everyone in the home, including children. Survivors may remain in dangerous situations longer than they wish to keep their pets safe. Some have reported returning to abuse because they couldn't bear the thought of their animal being harmed or neglected while they were in a safe shelter.
Abusers use pets to undermine a victim's emotional resilience. Here are some common tactics they employ:
• Threats of Harm: Abusers may threaten to hurt or kill the pet if the survivor does not comply with their demands, thereby further intimidating and controlling the victim.
• Using Pets as Leverage: They may refuse to allow the survivor to take the animal if they leave, or they may promise access to the pet to lure them back.
• Emotional Isolation: Abusers may attack the survivor's only source of comfort, their pet, isolating them emotionally.
• Neglect as Punishment: Intentionally withholding food, veterinary care or affection from the animal as a way to punish the survivor for not complying with demands.
• Manipulating Custody: They may refuse
to allow the survivor to take the animal during a separation, or promise access as a way to regain control.
• Forced Participation in Abuse: Abusers may force survivors to witness or participate in the abuse of the animal, deepening the trauma and reinforcing their control.
In many cases, pets become silent victims, suffering in the background of domestic abuse. One significant barrier for survivors wishing to leave abusive situations is their deep concern for their pets. Traditionally, domestic violence shelters have not been equipped to accommodate animals, but this is changing. Many shelters, including our local REACH of Haywood County shelter, now offer pet-friendly options or partner with foster programs to ensure the safety of pets. Nearly half of survivors have delayed leaving abusive homes because they could not take their pets, which creates a profoundly difficult decision. Choosing between personal safety and the safety of a beloved animal is a cruel position to be in.
Animals do not just suffer alongside survivors; they can also help them heal. In therapy, I have observed how reconnecting with a beloved pet or interacting with a gentle therapy animal helps survivors regain trust, reduce anxiety and rebuild their sense of worth. When we support both survivors and their animals, we send a powerful message: You both matter. You both deserve safety.
No one should have to choose between escaping abuse and protecting their pets. By making space for the whole family, including both humans and animals, we open the door to healing, hope and lasting change.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse and are worried about the safety of a pet, help is available. REACH of Haywood County provides safe shelter, advocacy and pet-friendly options for survivors and their animals. You can call REACH anytime at 828.456.7898.
For those needing temporary foster care or support for their pets, Misfit Mountain partners with local agencies and fosters to provide compassionate care and placement. You can contact them at 828.549.8633.
You don’t have to face this alone — help is here for you and your pets.
(Lynn Carlson, MS, LCMHCS, CAAP, is a licensed therapist.)
Picture by Lynn Carlson with therapy dog Julip.
Somebody, do something!
WNC leaders plead for fixes to broken justice system
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
It was supposed to be a routine public safety forum, and in a way, it was — the faces were familiar, the frustrations all the same.
Elected officials, troopers, prosecutors and politicians once again took turns describing a justice system straining under its own weight, a system where clogged courts, half-hearted drug treatment, mental health failures and chronic underfunding blur the thin blue line between order and chaos. Their words carried a sense of urgency, tinged with exhaustion.
Haywood County resident Ellen Pitt, a tireless crusader for stricter drink-drive laws and more diligent pretrial monitoring of defendants with alcohol-related offenses, organized the Oct. 12 forum in the Maggie Valley pavilion, where more than two dozen people — all involved in public safety, in some way, from Murphy to McDowell County — rehashed old grievances repeated over years. They’re still waiting for somebody to listen, for somebody to do something.
“Nobody gets along about anything these days, but we have a lot of public safety issues. Some of them are like horror stories,” Pitt said. “We want people to come together, but not at a $6,000 fundraiser. We want the people that are campaigning for office and those that are already in office to listen to the public safety community.”
THE COPS
teams from existing staff rather than waiting for new funding, proving that collaboration can stretch limited resources.
“We can’t operate in a vacuum,” Wilke said. “The most important thing that we can do is work collaboratively.”
Since his election in 2022, Wilke has taken a strong public stance against drug traffickers and said that hitting them “at the highest level” disrupts far-ranging supply chains. He added that the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association supports Pitt’s Sober Operator Act, which among other things would lower the threshold for DWI from .08% blood-alcohol content to .05%.
Data presented by Pitt from the National Transportation Safety Board shows that in Utah, where the .05% BAC limit was implemented in 2018, fatal crashes dropped 19.8% from 2016 to 2019 without an increase in DWI arrests and without a decrease in alcohol sales, alcohol consumption or tourism revenue. That corresponds with the 1 in 5 drinkers who changed their behaviors to include alternative transportation when indulging outside the home.
Jackson County Sheriff Doug Farmer pointed to systemic backlogs that delay justice for years. Officers leave before cases go to trial, he said, and repeat offenders bond out only to reoffend within a day.
“We’re sitting on a DWI three, four years at a time,” Farmer said. “Somebody’s got to say, ‘Hey, one continuance for each side, and let’s take it to trial.’”
Like Smith, Farmer praised the county’s MAT programs but said relief won’t come until courts clear their dockets and stop cycling offenders in and out.
Trooper Courtney Barker of the State Highway Patrol said no amount of classroom training substitutes for firsthand experience, while urging prosecutors — and officers — to participate in ride-alongs and spend time in court learning from veteran troopers.
“It took me getting embarrassed on the stand in superior court before it made me want to be better,” Barker said.
Brent Hipp, also with the SHP, warned that Western North Carolina is short more than 40 troopers. He said the state ranks second in the nation for miles of state-main-
THE COURTS
Prosecutors and court staff said DWI enforcement falters without proper training, coordination and mental health infrastructure. They described how weak testimony and scheduling chaos let repeat offenders slip through the cracks, while a lack of treatment options keeps mentally ill defendants trapped in endless jail cycles.
Assistant District Attorney Jessica Huskey said local sheriffs have made progress against drug trafficking but that the same focus must be applied to impaired driving. Echoing Barker’s remarks, officers, Huskey said, need stronger courtroom and field training so prosecutors can secure convictions against repeat offenders.
“The training that goes into these officers — I can’t stress that enough,” she said. “If you can’t put an officer up there [on the stand] to get me to a guilty verdict, what good is it?”
Huskey added that many prosecutors underestimate the complexity of DWI cases until they experience enforcement firsthand.
“I hated DWIs when I first started,” she said. “I hated them because they are so hard. But like [Barker] was talking about the ridealongs, I started riding with troopers and I learned so much. Every single ADA should be riding with troopers.”
Assistant District Attorney Shelley Buckner agreed that ride-alongs build essential understanding for prosecutors and deputies alike. She said earlier, deeper training would allow deputies to handle DWI cases on their own, reducing delays and scheduling conflicts that arise when multiple officers are tied to a single case.
Across Western North Carolina, law enforcement officials described a system strained by low pay, personnel shortages, a broken mental health system and an overwhelmed judiciary — a combination that leaves deputies burned out, jails overcrowded and serious offenders walking free. They called for stronger interagency collaboration, more treatment and diversion programs and higher pay to attract and retain officers.
Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke said his agency built specialized patrol and escort
Dustin Smith, sheriff of Cherokee County, said policing a two-state border is complicated by Georgia’s restrictions on interstate mutual aid, and that he’d spoken with a member of the Georgia House of Representatives about increased collaboration.
Smith also said his county’s programs give inmates a second chance through treatment and medication-assisted recovery but warned that law enforcement bears the burden for mental health failures.
“We’re taking care of people inside of our jails that should not be in our jails,” Smith said. “Those burdens are burning out your detention officers and your law enforcement officers.”
tained roads but forty-eighth in law-enforcement pay.
“We can make all the laws you want,” Hipp said, “but if we don’t have anybody out there enforcing them, you’re not going to get them enforced.”
Sergeant Chris Sherry of the SHP said the impact is already visible on the ground.
“The majority of the time in Haywood County and Jackson, we got one trooper working covering the entire place,” Sherry said. “You got one trooper covering two counties out there.”
He said the solution is simple, and pressing — “Get more money and get more troopers on the road to better protect the public.”
“We call them DWIs by committee,” Buckner said. “When newer deputies don’t have enough training, cases get complicated. The sooner they get educated, the smoother it goes for everyone. If Courtney [Barker] stopped somebody, I know she can see that case through from start to finish; however, some of our newer deputies don’t have the training sufficient to be able to effectuate a DWI arrest.”
Allyson Barnes, a longtime Swain County court clerk running for clerk of superior court in 2026 said new prosecutorial staff have helped reduce local backlogs and hold regular DWI trials instead of endless continuances, but she said the mental health crisis remains the court’s greatest burden.
“These people are serving life sentences 20 days at a time,” Barnes said. “They need mental health treatment, not jail.”
Ellen Pitt (front, left of the banner) brought more than two dozen local leaders together to discuss public safety reform. Cory Vaillancourt photo
THE CANDIDATES
From sheriff to Congress to courts, candidates running for office recognize that jails and treatment systems are breaking under the weight of mental health crises, understaffed agencies and inconsistent enforcement. They argued that real reform requires coordination among lawmakers, law enforcement and the courts — not just political slogans.
Congressional candidate Adam Smith, a Republican running against incumbent Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson) in the 2026 Primary Election, said courts are failing to uphold the law and that bail reform doesn’t address the deeper roots of crime. He said his Army experience training police across the country taught him that mental health breakdowns and veterans’ issues drive much of the recidivism now overwhelming local jails.
“We’re actively watching a failure of the courts to uphold law,” he said.
Smith added that lawmakers must start working with law enforcement on long-term treatment and rehabilitation.
“One of the biggest things that we’re good at is being problem finders, but we suck at being problem solvers, nine times out of 10,” he said.
Pitt said Edwards was invited to the forum, but he didn’t attend and didn’t send a representative.
Ken Brown, a Republican candidate for House District 118 who will meet incumbent Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) in the 2026 Primary, said his top priority is empowering courts to detain dangerous offenders and improving efficiency by splitting district court boundaries to align with superior court lines.
“We’ve got to make sure the court system is empowered to keep people off the streets that ought to be off the streets,” Brown said. He also called for better funding access for small-town departments that are too small to qualify for state grants.
David Norris, a longtime prosecutor and defense attorney now running for district attorney in Rutherford and McDowell counties, said court congestion has crippled DWI enforcement and left serious cases stalled for years.
“You can’t have thousands of cases backed up,” Norris said. “The court system needs to function more like a court system that’s efficient.”
He said prosecutors and officers should train together so neither side faces trial unprepared.
Speaking for Canton alderman candidate Adam Hatton, Jennifer Robertson said Hatton’s priorities are transparency, disaster readiness and tougher enforcement of the “Move Over” law to protect roadside workers. Hatton owns a towing service that employs a few dozen drivers and is thus well aware of roadside hazards for emergency services personnel — even tow truck drivers.
Mark Mease, a narcotics investigator with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and former Haywood County Sherriff’s Office detective now running for sheriff against Wilke in the Republican Primary Election said law enforcement must attack both traffickers and the neighborhood demand that
sustains them.
“You have to go to the customer — disrupt that business,” Mease said.
He also proposed a GPS-tracking requirement for violent or repeat offenders on pretrial release, stronger distracted-driving penalties and a revived multi-agency drug task force because “criminals don’t have boundaries.”
Leon Allen, running for sheriff in Graham County, described his county as “a land that time has forgot,” citing an eight-bed jail, a stalled justice-center project and little drug enforcement.
“They don’t want to progress,” Allen said. “Drugs are running rampant in Graham County.”
Allen said he has sought mentorship from other sheriffs to prepare for the job and pledged collaboration if elected.
Gary Parris, a candidate for Buncombe County sheriff, said he would create a service office to help victims navigate the justice system and that he would rebuild the county’s DWI Task Force, which has dwindled from six officers to two. Parris is one of few public figures in recent memory to acknowledge explicitly the effect Asheville’s criminal justice failures have on the region as a whole.
“You know that the motto of North Carolina is ‘to be rather than to seem,’ and that’s what our law enforcement folks do every day. They’re not out there on Instagram and Twitter trying to show how amazing they are,” he said. “They’re just keeping us safe every day out there, so we’ve got to reward that.”
Murphy Mayor Tim Radford described how border-town departments like his — Murphy sits on Sheriff Dustin Smith’s Cherokee County turf — compete for officers with higher-paying agencies in Tennessee and Georgia. He said pay disparities make retention difficult and questioned whether communities are investing enough in prevention and youth engagement.
oversight and full legislative funding for pilot programs that could modernize the state’s response.
Jeff Gilstrap, a 32-year traffic enforcement veteran who operates one of the state’s mobile breath-testing and field sobriety units funded by the N.C. Division of Public Health and the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, said marijuana impairment can’t be measured by a fixed number like alcohol and called for larger, multi-agency enforcement operations — a critical issue for communities that border the Qualla Boundary, where recreational cannabis is legal and sold at retail.
“It varies so widely,” Gilstrap said. “Somebody can smoke some THC and be fine, and the next person beside them is totally messed up.”
“We have to have a joint effort. Everything that happens in Buncombe County,” he said, pointing at attendees who represented communities from the far west to the foothills, “ripples into your county, and your county, and your county.”
THE COMMUNITY LEADERS
Elected officials and political organizers said Western North Carolina’s public-safety challenges require collaboration that crosses both jurisdictional and partisan boundaries, describing efforts to strengthen local partnerships, expand legislative support and connect communities to the real-world impact of impaired driving and criminal-justice reform.
Maggie Valley Alderman Jim Owens said his town will continue financially supporting pre-trial continuous alcohol monitoring — a partnership he called “visionary” for promoting accountability and recovery. On Oct. 8, Mayor Mike Eveland presented Pitt with a check for $2,000 to affirm the town’s commitment.
“I’m here to listen, learn and support — where Maggie’s always been, and we will continue to be,” Owens said at the Oct. 12 forum.
Rep. Eric Ager (D-Buncombe) said the forum offered lawmakers a clearer view of onthe-ground realities than they often get from lobbyists in Raleigh. A bipartisan alliance between Ager and Rep. Mike Clampitt (RSwain) has established both men as the primary proponents of the Sober Operator Act in the General Assembly, but for Ager, improving law enforcement pay remains a priority.
“All of our law enforcement folks need more pay,” Radford said. “But are we doing enough to stop this from happening in our next generation?”
Canton Alderwoman Kristina Proctor, running for reelection along with fellow incumbent Tim Shepard, said she’d attended to learn and listen. Proctor shared a personal story about a family member’s recovery through substance abuse monitoring and counseling programs and praised the region’s collaborative spirit.
“I’ve seen the system work for a family member of mine,” she said. “Within a year, they were back to being able to hold down a job and function in society. That holistic care was mind-blowing.”
Susan Cavanaugh, president of the High Country Republican Women, believes publicsafety and DWI policy should rise above party politics. She said her organization hopes to help educate citizens and lawmakers about how courts and enforcement systems actually work.
“This isn’t a blue, red, left, right issue,” Cavanaugh said. “We’ve got to get away from that.”
THE EXPERTS
Specialists in forensic testing, monitoring and training said impaired-driving enforcement depends on science, funding and cooperation as much as on manpower. They urged stronger use of technology, better magistrate
He said deploying the mobile DWI van raises awareness and deters repeat offenses.
Douglas Oliver, a former corrections officer who provides GPS and continuous alcohol monitoring services, said CAM bracelet technology works if judges and magistrates consistently order it. Along with town governments in Maggie Valley and Waynesville — and Pitt — Oliver has been a major proponent of the bracelets.
He said his data show near-total success in preventing relapse and repeat arrests for pretrial defendants accused of extreme or repeated DWI offenses.
“We need to educate court systems, DAs, attorneys, law enforcement, everybody,” Oliver said. I guarantee you, I will prove it to anybody in this room, I will get you sober. This thing is running 99 — listen to this now — 99.8% successful. How do you argue with that?”
Oliver urged counties to hold magistrates accountable for enforcing existing laws and offered free training to agencies interested in using the devices, which aren’t cheap — but are cheaper than allowing dangerous drivers to take to the roads while awaiting trial.
Pitt has proposed legislation allocating a small portion of revenue from local Alcoholic Beverage Commissions to pay for the devices, which would take the burden off alreadystretched municipal governments.
Anthony Burnett, a state forensic-alcohol instructor, said his branch trains officers in sobriety testing, breath analysis and screening, and that new oral fluid and law enforcement phlebotomy pilots are ready to launch if lawmakers fund them.
“We have a pilot program ready to go for oral fluid testing,” Burnett said. “If there’s a way of getting that budget change through, it would really help all of us.”
He said doubling the $25 DWI license restoration allocation for both sheriffs and the state branch would pay for the training and equipment those programs require. By the end of the two-hour forum, the faces remained familiar, the frustrations unchanged. Another forum, another call to action — and another plea that someday, somewhere, somebody might finally do something.
Maggie Valley presented Ellen Pitt with a check for $2,000 to go toward a CAM bracelet pilot program. Kyle Perrotti photo
Play ball
Waynesville little league field opens up over a year after Helene
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
Last September, when Hurricane Helene brought flooding to much of the region, the little league baseball field behind the Waynesville Elks Club was swamped by several inches of water, dugouts were destroyed and lights were carried downstream along with tons of other debris. But now, hundreds of thousands of dollars and hundreds of person-hours later, action has returned to that hallowed diamond.
After the storm hit, Mountaineer Little League President Richie Cunningham knew the considerable damage inflicted on the field would necessitate a full rebuild of the field.
“I hated to see it,” Cunningham said in a July Smoky Mountain News story. “I had seen pictures and how high the water level was. It washed the dugout completely away, and a set of bleachers were pushed over right into the middle of the field. It was pretty much wiped out. The storage shed was destroyed, which meant our equipment was destroyed. The light poles in the outfield, those were totally gone.” Cunningham set to work, enlisting the help of a community, including the Elks Lodge, which owns the property where the field has been for over 50 years. His right-hand man throughout the effort was Waynesville Elks Lodge head trustee Brent Yarski, who led fundraising efforts on that end.
Yarksi and Cunningham both grew up playing baseball on that field. Last season, there were about 350 kids enrolled in the Mountaineer Little League program between baseball, softball and tee ball. While a lot of kids now play on travel teams, which require a good deal of time and money, the Mountaineer Little League is for anyone at any skill level. It’s all about the players; that’s why Cunningham and others put so much of their own time into making sure there’s a place for everyone to play.
A brief ceremony was held last week to celebrate the reopening of the field for games. The event was emceed by
John Roten, a popular radio personality on 99.9 Kiss Country, who sported a black cowboy hat, black blazer and dark sunglasses. As Roten introduced each speaker, he thanked the volunteers and donors for all they’d done to bring the field back to life better than ever.
Following an invocation by Pastor Chris Westmorland of Long’s Chapel in Clyde, first up to speak was Danielle Bedasse, the vice president of community affairs for the Atlanta Braves Foundation. The Braves Foundation had provided support for the project, including construction of the outfield fence. She explained that the Braves Foundation has been helping out with similar projects all over the region in the wake of the storm as part of its “Parks Projects Initiative,” something she considers to be a privilege.
ride the waves of joy and sometimes heartbreak,” Bedasse said. “It’s where dreams are cultivated, character is built and friendships are formed forever.”
Next up was Aaron Slate with Truist, a corporate partner of the Atlanta Braves. He noted that the projects in the wake of Helene have marked the first occasions of the Parks Project Initiative supporting facilities in the state of North Carolina. He also spoke about the Truist Cares for Western NC initiative, which includes $25 million in philanthropic grants for local nonprofits on the ground in the region.
“Projects like this make such a huge difference for our youth and our kids, to be able to experience and play in a new park like this and the community being able to watch here,” he said.
“It’s where families and communities come together to
Next, Roten introduced Yarski, who named a F
Action has finally returned to the diamond at the little league field behind the Waynesville Elks Lodge. Kyle Perrotti photo
Early voting continues through Nov. 1
In-person early voting continues through Saturday, Nov. 1. Voters can vote in-person at their county board of elections and are able to register to vote the same day if necessary.
Hours of operation can vary among polling places. Voters can find their polling place and the operating hours by checking voter registration at vt.ncsbe.gov.
Photo identification is required. Voter ID information can be found at ncsbe.gov/voting.
The deadline for absentee ballot requests is 5 p.m. on Oct. 21. Ballots must be returned to your county board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
whole host of local companies that pitched in with materials, labor or finances to rebuild the field, including Mountain Credit Union and Champion Credit Union, both of which sponsored one of the dugouts.
Last was Cunningham.
“What a difference a year can make,” Cunningham mused, noting that the league operates five fields in the county, and three were damaged, including a softball field at Dutch Fisher Park that is still awaiting necessary repairs.
Cunningham said that while there wasn’t a regular fall season, there will be a spring season at the Elks Lodge field. Like Yarski, Cunningham wanted to offer some praise for a few individuals and organizations, including Transylvania County Little League, which he said gave the Mountaineer Little League “a lot of equipment.”
Finally, Cunningham thanked the players. Without them, of course, there would be no reason to build the field, which as evidenced by the large crowd that stretched up and down the baselines serves as a place of community, where generations of Haywood County youth have competed and grown and played.
“There’s a lot of dudes here tonight that can say, ‘Hey, we played on that field. That was our field,’” Cunningham said. “Now for the kids that’s going to come up playing on it, it’s your turn. It’s your turn to make memories, and we hope this field will help you do that.”
Within 15 minutes, the teams, one in orange one and one in blue, began warming up, and smiles, laughter and the distinctive clink of metal bats were enjoyed once again.
Mountaineer Little League President Richie Cunningham speaks passionately to the crowd about the importance of little league baseball. Kyle Perrotti photo
Waynesville Elks Club trustee Brent Yarski offers some words for the crowd. Kyle Perrotti photo
Clyde loses out on debris deal
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
It’s not a lot of money, but it’s the principle — the hurricane-ravaged Town of Clyde is out more than $3,400 due to a baffling disconnect between FEMA reimbursement guidelines and a state program meant to ease the burden of debris removal on private land.
“I don’t think we would have moved forward with rolling out this private property debris removal process had we known there wasn’t a full guarantee we wouldn’t get reimbursed for it,” said longtime Town Administrator Joy Garland. “Cleaning up as much debris as possible is one of the highest priorities for us.”
Early in 2025, Southern Disaster Recovery and DebrisTech notified the town of Clyde that a private property debris removal program was available through FEMA.
Due to the town’s layout, there were a number of private properties that had seen debris accumulation from the Pigeon River — sometimes large debris, like cars and trees.
Garland told The Smoky Mountain News Oct. 3 she felt at the time that the program would be a great benefit, so town staff began proactively contacting property owners to advise them of the PPDR program, even going door-to-door to ensure residents were aware they could apply for assistance.
Initially, the town collected and submitted eight applications. After town review, it was determined that one of the applications was invalid due to the property being outside the flood-damaged area. Ultimately, the town submitted seven applications for reimbursement and paid contractors a total of $3,484.67 to remove debris.
FEMA guidelines, however, require a project minimum of $3,900 to be eligible for reimbursement.
The town expected to collect and file several more applications that would have pushed the project cost well above the $3,900 threshold, but on July 7, the town enrolled in North Carolina’s State Mission
Assigned Recovery Task debris removal program, which allows for any future private property debris removal to be handled directly by the state.
The unforeseen consequences of entry into the SMART program meant that Clyde would not be able to gather more applications to push the project total above the $3,900 threshold.
Complicating matters, Garland said that the FEMA project manager the town had been dealing with was pulled from the project, which was then assigned to a new group called the debris task force.
“My biggest frustration is why, 10 months out, we are now dealing with somebody different for debris projects,” she said. “Why did they pull that [manager] out and put [the project] into a debris task force?”
Unlike in other local governments, Garland said the town has been fortunate with its reimbursements so far. In April, Clyde became the only Haywood County municipality to receive FEMA reimbursement of any kind — $46,000 toward $1.7 million in damage, coming one day before the six-month anniversary of Helene. Since then, several other projects have been completed.
Although $3,484 is a relatively small amount of money compared to the town’s usual $3.5 million budget — it’s closer to $4.1 million this year, due to an influx of Helene-related grants — any expenditure of taxpayer money by a municipal government that remains in recovery mode more than a year after the storm still stings.
“It’s enigmatic of a bigger problem,” said Clyde Alderman Frank Lay. “I certainly don’t mean to suggest that I understand the complexities of all the issues [FEMA] has to deal with, but obviously some things that might only be a little issue for a town of our size can obviously be a huge issue for someone much bigger.”
Garland said the town has been in conversations with Haywood County government to see if the town’s tab can be included with county submissions for possible reimbursement.
The Town of Clyde is out more than $3,400 in storm recovery reimbursement. Cory Vaillancourt photo
Jackson County park system review shows strength, needs
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT
Jackson County’s parks and recreation system is in solid condition overall but faces notable shortfalls in land, staffing and key recreational offerings, according to a recent report by McGill Associates.
Framing local park systems on a spectrum between “expense” and “investment,” the report shows that communities treating recreation as an investment tend to enjoy economic dividends through higher property values, visitor spending and improved quality of life.
“I will regularly refer to parks and recreation as an investment,” said Nate Halubka, a McGill project consultant focusing on land planning and recreation who presented the report to Jackson County commissioners Oct. 7.
The report places the county’s system slightly below national averages in both acreage per capita and per-person spending. National research cited in the report shows homes near parks command 8% to 20% higher values, while 87% of business leaders rank community amenities as a deciding factor when choosing new locations. Visitor spending is also closely tied to recreational offerings, Halubka said.
Despite Jackson County’s relatively healthy operations and maintenance record, its total park/green space area of 5.1 acres per 1,000 residents is well below the national median of 9.2 acres. Spending on recreation came in at just over $105 per person compared to the national median of $112.
Even so, most county facilities fall within or above national benchmarks for quality and condition. Only two of 15 county-owned facilities, Cashiers Community Park and the Ralph J. Andrews campground, were flagged as being “poor,” and Cashiers missed the mark only because a certain section of the park remains in need of updates.
“We get to see a lot of park systems. Your system is very well kept up. It’s in very good shape,” Halubka said. “It also speaks to how well you have interdepartmental collaboration within the county. You should be proud of the park system you have.”
Although planning is underway for improvements to the Cashiers park, Commissioner Keith Jennings posed a question about the disparity of services some property owners receive in proportion to the amount of taxes they pay. Jennings represents the Jackson County district that contains Cashiers.
“How many other counties do you see that the highest cost-of-living area of the county has the poorest marks on their community parks?” Jennings asked Halubka. Halubka said that usually, governments look at their park systems as a whole.
“Especially in areas when you have high income levels, high value of properties, the expectation is that they’re going to have a high quality of living, and certainly the parks, if they don’t reflect that — you’re going to hear about it,” Halubka said. “Most
local governments want to try and avoid having discrepancies to where there’s a certain part or a different part in the county that does not meet those standards.”
While general quality remains high, the study did note some problems with quantity. The county has five rectangular multipurpose fields, but for its population should
like Sylva, nor does it include the vast potential of the Nantahala National Forest, which offers world-class recreational opportunities far beyond the scope of county government. Public engagement was central to the plan’s development. Five community input sessions held across the county drew around 300 participants.
have at least 11. There’s no nature center, no pickleball courts, no stadium, no golf course and no teen center. There are nine playgrounds — including one accessible playground — but there should be at least 13, including two or three accessible playgrounds.
Halubka’s presentation did mention that it is “atypical” for a community to be in benchmark range for every type of facility, but at least some of those facility deficiencies are already being addressed: planning is underway for pickleball, tennis courts and more playgrounds.
The only amenity where the county ranked above the suggested metrics was in fitness equipment; however, the county does meet the mark with aquatic facilities, community centers and gardens, disc golf courses, dog parks, multi-use courts, rec centers, sand volleyball courts and splashpads.
Trail access remains a major issue. The county currently sits below the national lower quartile in trail mileage, underscoring the need for additional greenway development, for which planning is currently underway. Flat land availability has also emerged as a limiting factor for recreation expansion, particularly for athletic fields and event spaces.
Commissioner Todd Bryson asked for clarification of how McGill arrived at the benchmarks; like in many counties in Western North Carolina, mountainous terrain can be both an asset and a liability in terms of provisioning recreational services for residents. Halubka told Bryson that the benchmarks were based solely on population and did not incorporate terrain into the equation.
Halubka also noted that the report does not include the recreational offerings of incorporated municipalities in the county,
Four focus groups reinforced these findings, highlighting strong community pride in existing facilities but emphasizing challenges with staffing, land constraints and the availability of lifeguards for aquatic programs.
Survey data showed that many households feel their recreational needs are only partly met. The most significant unmet needs include paved walking trails, outdoor event spaces and fitness facilities.
Demand is also high for nature-based and water-based programs, especially swimming lessons and environmental education. Participation in organized recreation programs has been rising steadily since 2016, even as capacity constraints at certain fields and facilities have limited enrollment growth.
Overall, the findings suggest Jackson County’s park system is broadly appreciated but poised for strategic expansion.
Residents generally perceive current investment levels as “a little low” and express strong interest in steady, continued growth.
“This is great information to move forward [with],” said Chair Mark Letson.
The top requests from residents included an adventure playground, greenways, more restrooms and additional pickleball and dog parks. Visitors prioritized similar amenities, citing outdoor recreation and entertainment as primary draws.
Halubka explained that McGill would soon be moving into the recommendation phase, the cost estimating phase and the action steps phase over the next month or two, and that it’s likely a draft of those steps would be complete by the end of the year.
A McGill & Associates consultant commended Jackson County’s park system. File photo
Camp Hope rebuild moves forward under new design proposal
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT
EDITOR
After Brevard-based Domokur + Associates outlined a plan to complete design and construction management services for rebuilding and renovating several cabins at Camp Hope, which was heavily damaged during flooding from Tropical Storm Fred in 2021. The Town of Canton is poised to take another step toward restoring one of its most cherished public spaces.
“This has been a long, long road, but these are the first steps we have been able to take to repair and utilize Camp Hope,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers.
The work, which will focus on Cabins 1, 2 and 5 at the 312 Camp Hope Road property, must comply with Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements for disaster-related rebuilding. The project scope includes full architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing design.
“This has been a long, long road, but these are the first steps we have been able to take to repair and utilize Camp Hope.”
— Zeb Smathers
the bidding phase.
During construction, Domokur will oversee the process through regular progress meetings, review of shop drawings and pay applications, and respond to contractor questions or change orders.
Several exclusions apply, as is common in municipal design contracts. Domokur will not handle surveying, geotechnical work, asbestos abatement, furniture selection, life-cycle cost analysis or LEED documentation.
Testing and inspections required by code will remain the contractor’s or the town’s responsibility. Nor will the architects assume liability for contractor errors, design alternates or environmental analysis.
Under the plan, Domokur would serve as
the lead architect and project manager, supported by a small team of engineering con-
Re-ElectJulia Boyd Freeman
Council Member, Town of Waynesville
“Committed to community, dedicated to progress”
I will continue to support viable and sustainable growth while preserving our small town heritage and building a stronger town.
I will continue to make decisions in the best interest of the town, its citizens and the environment.
I will continue to work at finding positive solutions to issues facing Waynesville while promoting the best long-term interest of the town and its taxpayers.
sultants; Benesch for civil engineering, Paul Fama for structural engineering and Tilden White & Associates for mechanical, electrical and plumbing. Together, their fees total $45,500 — $25,000 for architectural work, $8,000 each for civil and structural, and $4,500 for MEP.
Canton CFO Natalie Walker said the money would come from FEMA reimbursement.
The proposal also details a 12-week timeline once the project receives formal approval. That schedule, however, depends on the responsiveness of the town and other stakeholders during the planning and permitting process.
Domokur’s letter lays out a clear sequence of phases — from initial programming meetings through field verification, design development, bidding and construction administration.
During programming, architects will meet with town officials to define operational and spatial needs, producing diagrams and area requirements that match FEMA’s recovery standards.
Pre-design work will include field verification of existing conditions and identification of codes and regulations that could shape the rebuild.
Once that groundwork is complete, the firm will produce schematic design development and construction drawings, each to be reviewed by the town. Domokur will also develop a finishes scheme and create a “mini charrette,” including renderings for the town board’s approval.
The proposal specifies that the architects will prepare bid documents, coordinate with the building department and assist through
Reimbursable expenses, such as mileage, plan-review fees and printing, are not included in the base fee. If the town directs changes after approving designdevelopment drawings, those revisions would be billed at standard hourly rates.
The proposal also spells out legal terms that limit the firm’s liability to the total fee amount and establishes payment conditions. Invoices are due upon receipt and subject to a 1% monthly service charge for balances unpaid after 30 days. Domokur maintains professional liability insurance and reserves copyright ownership of all drawings and instruments of service.
The firm said it can begin work immediately once the town signs off.
Camp Hope has long served as one of Canton’s central community amenities, offering a rustic retreat for events, camps and gatherings along the Pigeon River. After the storm, floodwaters swept through the property, leaving several buildings damaged beyond repair. Rebuilding the cabins represents a symbolic and practical step toward restoring normalcy for a town still rebuilding nearly a year after the disaster.
The proposal marks a return to progress after months of logistical and financial challenges. FEMA’s reimbursement process requires detailed engineering and architectural documentation before funds can be released, meaning design approval is a prerequisite for construction to begin.
Smathers said the completion of the work would open the town up to more opportunities, like grants, to rejuvenate the facilities.
If the 12-week schedule holds, final construction documents could be ready for bidding by late fall — potentially allowing physical reconstruction to begin before the end of the year, depending on contractor availability and weather conditions.
Camp Hope is one of the region’s most unique — and underutilized — facilities. Google Earth photo
Governor encourages eligible residents to apply for housing recovery assistance before deadline
Gov. Josh Stein is highlighting Renew NC’s work to repair and rebuild homes damaged by Hurricane Helene. Western North Carolinians who are seeking assistance in rebuilding Helene-damaged homes have until Dec. 31 to submit an application to the state’s Renew NC SingleFamily Housing Program (SFPH).
“The Renew NC Single Family Housing Program is a vital resource for families working to recover and rebuild their homes from the devastation Hurricane Helene brought to western North Carolina,” Stein said. “We encourage all eligible residents to apply now to take advantage of this opportunity.”
AREA’S BEST BURGER
The Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program prioritizes low- to moderateincome families in communities that experienced significant storm damage in the wake of the most destructive storm in state history. Case managers provide in-person assistance to the public at three Renew NC intake centers located in Asheville, Boone and Marion. Personnel help English- and Spanish-speaking people, and thanks to agreements with local partner organizations, an additional 11 pop-up intake centers are now open across multiple counties — including Ashe, Alleghany, Haywood, Henderson, Mitchell and Wilkes — to bring services directly to the people who need them most.
After eligibility review, a series of additional steps follow, including detailed damage assessments, environmental reviews and a review of any recovery benefits the applicants may have received from other programs.
Homeowners seeking more information about the Renew NC Single-Family Housing Program can visit renewnc.org, call 888.791.0207 or visit an in-person location. Program staff can help determine if the homeowner qualifies for assistance. The Renew NC app is also available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Case managers at the Renew NC intake center in Marion. Donated photo
Fundraising picks up in NC-11 congressional race
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
With third-quarter fundraising reports now filed, campaign finance records show sharp contrasts in both fundraising totals and donor bases among candidates in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District as they look to Primary Election contests in March.
Incumbent Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards reported raising $233,163 from January through September, with no personal contributions to his own campaign.
Edwards spent $136,414 and ended the quarter with $205,514 in cash on hand. Of his 87 total contributions, 18 were from within North Carolina and 69 from out-of-state donors. Nearly half of his support — 46 contributions — came from political action committees, including AIPAC, Anheuser-Busch, Baxter Healthcare, Boeing, CSX Railroad, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s and Walmart.
As
His Republican challenger, former Green Beret Adam Smith, reported $29,633 in contributions during a brief fundraising period between Sept. 22 and the end of the quarter on Sept. 30. Smith spent $4,162 and retained $25,470. Of his 17 contributions, three came from North Carolina and 14 from out of state. Smith reported no personal contributions but did receive $10,000 from GatorPAC of Mississippi, a group that aims to elect veterans and “America first” candidates.
“We have a two-fold strategy. Without getting into the details so we don’t give too much away to the incumbent, the first piece is on the ground — talking to people, shaking hands, building a team,” Smith told The Smoky Mountain News. “It gives people a chance to hear a message that is dif-
ferent, and that leads to more contributions.”
That first piece — retail politics on a neighborhood level — is important because the main complaint Smith has been hearing on the ground is about Edwards’ lack of engagement over the three years he’s been in office. Despite serving on the powerful House appropriations committee, Edwards has faced criticism for failing to deliver federal funds necessary for recovery from Hurricane Helene, which primarily affected his district.
The second piece, Smith said, is to continue to build strategic partnerships with individuals and organizations
who believe in his mission.
“The difference between the incumbent’s campaign and ours is that we want to be a voice for people of Western North Carolina, not a voice for corporate special interests,” Smith said.
On the Democratic side, Fairview farmer Jamie Ager leads the field with $340,511 raised between July 31 and Sept. 30. He reported no personal contributions, spent $112,789 and had $227,722 on hand at the close of the period. Ager’s 678 total contributions included 313 through Dem fundraising platform
ActBlue, 287 contributions from within North Carolina and 72 from outside the state. His PAC support came from Defeat Extremists PAC ($1,000), the Save Democracy PAC ($5,000) and the Voter Protection Project ($1,000).
For context, the last Democrat to post comparable early fundraising totals was Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, who raised $332,993 in the third quarter of 2021 en route to a whopping $2.3 million haul by the end of her campaign — which ended in a ninepoint defeat by Edwards in November 2022. Ager is the only candidate in the race to top Beach-Ferrara’s Q3 results, however her third quarter total helped her reach $930,000 cycle-todate at the time.
Keeping up that pace is critical, according to Ager.
“It’s a lot of work, phone calls, connecting with people,” Ager said. “Certainly, we’re not through all the lists we have to tap into, and a lot of folks we’ve talked to haven’t given the max yet. I believe in the product, and I’m not afraid to go out and sell that product to the people who believe in the future of our country.”
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing, harder and longer, and we’ll see what the next quarter reports say as we become more involved in this campaign,” he said.
Zelda Briarwood, of Canton, raised $26,913 between May 29 and Sept. 30, including a $700 personal contribution and a $12,570 loan to their campaign. Briarwood reported $2,931 in expenses and $23,982 in cash on hand. Briarwood received only three contributions outside of the personal loan — two from North Carolina and one from Massachusetts — and reported no PAC support.
Edwards spent $136,414 and ended the quarter with $205,514 in cash on hand. Of his 87 total contributions, 18 were from within North Carolina and 69 from outof-state donors.
Nearly half of his support — 46 contributions — came from political action committees, including AIPAC, Anheuser-Busch, Baxter Healthcare, Boeing, CSX Railroad, Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald’s and Walmart.
Ager also has the most out-of-state donors thus far, which can lead to criticism from opponents about conflicting loyalties. Ager’s not having any of that.
“Clearly, you need as much money as you can, and I have relationships all over country through the regenerative agriculture network, and customers too,” he said. “These are friends and they believe in my campaign.”
Henderson County physician Richard Hudspeth, who began fundraising nearly two months after Ager, reported raising $88,129 for the quarter, including $7,000 of his own money and 38 contributions from ActBlue. He spent $3,771 and had $84,357 remaining. Of his 126 individual contributions, 73 came from within North Carolina and 14 from outside the state, with no PAC contributions reported.
“We’ve matched [Ager’s] total week-forweek since we’ve been in the race, so I think it’s just about time and about people learning about my campaign,” Hudspeth said. “The other important thing is the vast majority of our contributions are from within North Carolina, and district support has been fantastic as well, so I think we’re wellplaced to get the necessary dollars that will create a successful campaign.”
Hudspeth said he was working hard to elevate his presence, which he expects to translate directly to support.
“The first portion of our campaign has been focusing primarily on traveling and talking with people. As we go into November and December, we are going to be ramping up,” Briarwood said. “At the end of the day, we have several paths to victory for every level of fundraising that we [end up with], and we’re constantly updating and constantly working with the numbers.”
The third quarter fundraising report from Jacob Lawrence, who made quite a splash with his viral AI-generated campaign launch ad and bills himself as “the young guy” — he’s only 26 — wasn’t available as of press time because he said he’d mailed it to the Federal Elections Commission.
According to an FEC release, paper reports will not be processed during the ongoing federal shutdown, but candidates won’t be penalized.
Lawrence, who grew up in North Carolina and has a degree in economics from Brigham Young University, currently works with the United Nations’ World Food Program, primarily supporting small farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. He told The Smoky Mountain News he’s raised around $12,000, with “probably 95%” of those donations coming from within North Carolina.
“We definitely understand at the end of the day it takes money to win, so we’re looking at call time strategy, we’re looking at getting digital going to a greater extent, we’ve just launched socials and things of that nature,” he said.
The final Dem candidate, Paul Maddox, has not yet registered with the FEC. No other information was available; however, Maddox told SMN he does plan an official campaign launch soon.
Candidate filing for the 2026 General Election begins Dec. 1. The Primary Election will be held March 3, 2026. The General Election will be held Nov. 3, 2026.
Step up, or step down
Whatley blames Democrats after calls to resign grow louder
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT
POLITICS EDITOR
Hurricane Helene recovery czar Michael Whatley is blaming Democrats for the growing chorus of criticism over his job performance — but in heavily Republican Western North Carolina, it’s not just Democratic voices calling for Whatley to be replaced or step down.
“It’s kind of funny to say ‘step down,’ because I never saw him step up,” said Margaret Ackiss, a member of the North Carolina Republican Party’s 11th Congressional District executive committee.
On Sept. 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene inflicted what is estimated to be roughly $60 billion in damage across Western North Carolina, including the destruction and partial loss of thousands of homes — more than 73,000 at last estimate — and over 1,300 roads and bridges. Six months after the storm, local governments in Western North Carolina reported receiving little or no federal reimbursement, with only 4% of needs met. More recently, near the one-year anniversary, Gov. Josh Stein said that figure had grown to 9%.
In an audio clip of a brief exchange recorded at a recent event provided to The Smoky Mountain News, Whatley, who President Donald Trump placed in charge of Helene recovery and “making sure everything goes well” back on Jan. 24, acknowledged the criticism.
“What they’re trying to say is that the president has not done a good job in terms of recovery, and therefore I’ve not done a good job,” Whatley said on the tape. “The fact is, $6.5 billion in relief [is what] we’ve brought into North Carolina since President Trump was sworn in.”
Local governments, homeowners and small businesses, however, are still waiting
destructive slides — a Henderson County hillside that dissolved into a torrent of mud, debris and shattered lumber that left one retired couple facing an $800,000 total loss and homeowners worried about declining property values. A year after the slide, Wrobel said neither his subdivision nor his town has seen a single dollar in federal reimbursement for the slide.
“If it were on a scale of 10, it’d be a zero,” he said of Whatley’s job performance, “because we’ve not had any interaction with him. The funding has not come down in any way. Municipalities are suffering, trying to get just some basic things done. They have to take loans to try and get funding for repairs and whatever design or engineering is required for remediation. I’d say he’s done an extremely poor job.
Wrobel, an unaffiliated voter, said he hadn’t seen the letter demanding Whatley step down but that if he had, he too would have been a signatory.
On Oct. 21, Whatley spoke with The Smoky Mountain News as he was on his way to a meeting with Department of Homeland Security officials about Helene recovery. He said he was aware of the letter calling for his ouster.
“This is a human issue. I have friends on both sides of the aisle, although I’m a Republican. When catastrophes happen, I don’t care what party you’re in — we help the people on the ground.”
— Margaret Ackiss
“I’m disappointed,” he said of the letter, “because what we’re trying to do is make sure that we are getting relief into Western North Carolina, and I’m surprised that people would not want somebody to help champion that cause.”
on the remaining $54 billion, nearly nine months after Whatley’s appointment as recovery czar.
Whatley’s recorded comments came after more than 80 people from 17 counties across the Helene-impacted region signed a letter demanding Whatley be removed from his position.
“Michael Whatley has failed us and forgotten about us,” the letter states. “We have spoken out for months, because we simply cannot stay silent and let his failure continue to hurt our communities. Both Democrats and Republicans have called out the sluggish response. It’s clear that Whatley just isn’t up to the task.”
Addressed to FEMA Review Council cochairs Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth, the letter accuses Whatley of “failing to deliver preapproved, promised federal relief funds” and “forgetting about” the communities he was appointed to help. It cites sluggish federal reimbursements, lingering infrastructure damage and a lack of public engagement from Whatley as reasons for their discontent.
In September, during his first known visit to the region since his appointment — a meeting of the FEMA Review Council that wasn’t open to the public or the press — Whatley told Sinclair-owned ABC affiliate WLOS he felt recovery was “going really well at this point.”
The FEMA Review Council, established
by Trump on the same day he appointed Whatley, is a collection of state and federal leaders charged with presenting a report to the president containing recommendations for FEMA reform. The report is due within 180 days of the council’s first meeting on May 4 — mid-November — but Whatley indicated that like recovery efforts in general, that report is also running behind.
“We’re going to wrap up the report to the president in December,” Whatley is heard to say on the recording. “Frankly, you know, the people that are calling on me [to step down] like you said, are the Democrats.”
Ackiss, a lifelong Republican who only recently saw the letter but would have signed it had she known about it, said that Helene recovery should be a non-partisan issue and that Whatley’s attempt to blame Democrats isn’t reflective of Appalachian values.
“This is a human issue. I have friends on both sides of the aisle, although I’m a Republican. When catastrophes happen, I don’t care what party you’re in — we help the people on the ground,” said Ackiss, who claims 10 generations of roots in the region.
“To me, it was completely disappointing to see Michael Whatley and many others who espouse themselves to be Republicans not step up and help the people involved in this.”
Conrad Wrobel and his Laurel Park neighbors are some of the people involved in digging out from one of the storm’s most
Whatley argued that the federal response has been stronger than critics acknowledge, citing the $6.5 billion in federal relief already delivered to North Carolina as the most ever provided to the state after any storm. He broke that figure down into specific streams — $440 million from the EPA for wastewater and water treatment systems, more than $1 billion in block grant funds from the Department of Transportation and housing assistance through HUD.
“The President was very clear when he came to North Carolina in January and in October and said that he is not going to forget Western North Carolina,” he said. “The response that we have seen from the federal government so far has been a very major response. We are seeing roads that have been rebuilt, bridges that have been rebuilt, the debris has been for the most part completely removed, streams and waterways have been cleared and we are seeing construction on wastewater and drinking water systems. There has been a very major effort, but it is going to take years for Western North Carolina to recover.”
Pressed on why that total still represents only a fraction of the state’s estimated damage, Whatley said
Michael Whatley. File photo
More than a year after the storm, recovery efforts are proceeding — slowly — in Western North Carolina. Jack Snyder photo
it’s unrealistic to expect full reimbursement from Washington.
“The federal government is not going to be fully reimbursing for 100% of damage caused by any type of major catastrophe,” he said. “The states and the local governments do have a major role there, as well as private insurance. I think that they’re trying to say that 100% of all estimated costs have to be borne by the federal government. That’s not how that has happened traditionally in storm recovery.”
“He also cited recent examples of bipartisan, localized, targeted relief, such as $10 million released to Asheville’s beleaguered water system — for a $23 million project with an $11.3 million FEMA ask, according to Whatley’s campaign — and additional money for reopening sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” Whatley added.
While conceding that “there are improvements that need to be made,” he said the Trump administration’s creation of the FEMA Review Council is intended to correct past inadequacies and streamline future responses. Even though they won’t likely help Helene victims, they could help victims of future disasters recovery more quickly, Whatley said.
“What we saw in the immediate aftermath of that storm from the Biden administration and FEMA as well as Gov. Cooper, was an inadequate response,” he said. “What the president wants to do, and what I want to do, is make sure we have a much better response going forward.”
The letter also draws more serious connections between Whatley’s past performance on recovery and his future aspirations in Washington, D.C.
In August, Whatley said he’d run for the seat being vacated by current Republican Sen. Thom Tillis after the president’s daughter-in-law and North Carolina native Lara Trump indicated she would not.
Whatley does have Primary Election competition in the form of former Navy JAG officer Don Brown, but with an endorsement from Trump and formal backing from the RNC — despite the contested race — Whatley is expected to come out on top
If he does, he’s likely to face former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is likewise expected to prevail over his Primary Election opponent, High Point pastor Orrick Quick.
“Today, Michael Whatley confirmed that the FEMA review council he leads won’t actually help Helene victims, that Western North Carolinians should not expect robust federal reimbursement and that he is unable to fulfill his duties as FEMA recovery czar,” a Cooper campaign spokesperson told SMN. “Instead of making excuses, Michael should focus on his job and deliver much-needed aid that thousands of families have waited over ten months for.”
Roy Cooper. File photo
Jackson commissioner skips key board meetings
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
Minutes from the Dec. 3, 2024, meeting of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners show that newly elected Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper “stated her willingness to serve on the Tourism Development Authority, Transit Board and the Mountain Projects board.”
Records from those three boards show she’s missed at least 13 of 16 meetings this year.
that ex officio members are exempt from any aspect of the bylaws. Further, the bylaws do not include any alternate definition of ex officio board members, nor do the bylaws carve out ex officio members from the attendance policy; the policy refers broadly to “any member.”
Jumper didn’t respond when asked to cite any authority or documents that back up his claims of Hooper’s “special” status on the board.
ent of public programs,” according to its website.
Bylaws enacted by Mountain Projects late in 2024 — not long before Hooper was elected commissioner and subsequently appointed to the Mountain Projects Board — show an attendance policy that states, “A member missing more than 50% of the meetings, whether excused or unexcused, per year may be asked to resign from the Board.” Hooper has thus far missed 60% of the board’s five meetings.
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Hooper attended the first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 15, per meeting minutes, but has not been back since — her absence is noted in every copy of meeting minutes from February through August. Minutes from the Sept. 17 Jackson TDA meeting have not yet been posted.
The TDA is the agency charged with collecting and spending proceeds from the county’s 6% room occupancy tax. For the current budget year, Jackson’s TDA expects to collect more than $3.5 million.
The TDA’s bylaws, adopted in 2012, contain an attendance policy, just like many other nonprofit and government boards. The policy states that “conscientious performance of the duties required of members of the Authority shall be a prerequisite of continuing membership on the Authority” and that any member who misses more than two consecutive meetings without an excused absence or for any good cause “may be replaced at the recommendation of the Authority.”
About two weeks ago, Cris Weatherford assumed leadership of the Mountain Projects board after the previous chair resigned.
Weatherford, who is also Jackson County’s director of social services, told SMN the board has no plans to remove Hooper at this time.
“We still have another meeting left this year [in December], and the way the policy reads, according to our executive director and myself, we look at attendance over the course of the year and make a determination then,” Weatherford said.
Minutes from the meetings do not indicate any of Hooper’s seven absences were excused.
Hooper missed her second consecutive meeting in March, meaning she could have been removed as early as April, yet the TDA’s board has taken no action.
The board’s longtime chair, Robert Jumper — who also serves as editor of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ tribalowned newspaper — was quick to defend Hooper.
“Commissioner Hooper’s participation as an ex officio member is appreciated,” Jumper told The Smoky Mountain News. “We understand she has many commitments at the county level.”
Jumper elaborated by claiming that attendance requirements in the bylaws apply only to voting members.
“As an ex officio representative of the county commission, Commissioner Hooper’s role is defined differently, and any changes to that appointment would come from the county,” he said.
There is no separate clause or language in the Jackson County TDA bylaws that states
Hooper was also appointed to Jackson County’s Transit Board last December. According to minutes from the board meetings provided by Jackson County, Hooper’s name was not listed as among those board members present at any of the three meetings held this year — March 19, June 18 and Sept 10.
The Transit Board governs the county’s robust transit system, which is an official enterprise of Jackson County government.
In May, Jackson commissioners passed a resolution outlining policies and procedures for appointments to county authorities, boards, commissions and committees.
The resolution doesn’t include a blanket attendance policy, but it does outline expectations and responsibilities for board members — prepare for board meetings, attend and actively participate in board meetings, meet with staff or board members to gain an understanding of the purpose of the board, lend expertise and leadership, disclose conflicts and “recognize accountability to the citizens of the county.”
Mountain Projects just held its fifth Board of Directors meeting of 2025 on Oct. 10. Hooper was not there, nor was she at the August or June meeting, after having attended in February and April.
As a Community Action Organization that serves both Haywood and Jackson Counties, Mountain Projects is a nonprofit with a federal mandate to “serve the poor and disadvantaged” and “to help low-income people become self-sufficient and independ-
Basically, that means Weatherford believes Hooper is not yet in violation of the policy because attendance is measured after a full year of meetings, not as a running total throughout the year. Under this interpretation, a board member could miss every single meeting during the course of a year but couldn’t be removed until after the final meeting of the year — thus, if Hooper makes it to the December meeting, she’ll be in full compliance with the policy. If she doesn’t, she won’t.
Weatherford did say that energetic, enthusiastic board members are a critical part of any board-governed organization.
“Having an engaged and thoughtful board is paramount,” he said. “You can’t run a nonprofit in Jackson County, or Haywood County for that matter, without an engaged and active board that’s always looking out for the organization and how to improve the organization.”
Hooper’s attendance, or lack thereof, may prompt Mountain Projects to reexamine its attendance policy at a later date.
“It’s unlike some of the other policies on other boards I serve on,” Weatherford said, mentioning the difficulty of recruiting and retaining unpaid board members in rural communities. “It’s kind of an outlier in that regard, so this may be a discussion we bring in a board meeting to see if this policy allows us to be nimble enough and keep a board membership that is engaging and works for the benefit of the org.”
Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
Jackson County Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper has missed 13 of 16 board meetings in 2025. Jackson County government photo
WCU Cherokee Center to hold 50th anniversary celebration
Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Center will celebrate five decades of outreach and partnership with the Cherokee community on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with an open house beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a reception and panel discussion at the Cherokee Youth Activity Center from 6 to 8 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. Principal Chief Michell Hicks and others will give remarks followed by a panel discussion.
“At Western Carolina University, we deeply value our longstanding and special relationship with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,” said WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown. “For 50 years, the Cherokee Center has stood as a testament to that bond — honoring Cherokee culture, preserving language, advancing health and serving as a bridge between our university and the Cherokee community. As a regional partner, WCU is committed to walking alongside the Eastern Band in mutual respect and collaboration. This milestone is not only a celebration of the past five decades, but a reaffirmation of our shared future.”
Shannon Swimmer, director of the WCU Cherokee Center, echoed Brown’s sentiments.
“The WCU Cherokee Center has been a community presence and an example of WCU’s continuing commitment to meaningful collaboration with the EBCI. It’s an honor to be part of these efforts as the director of the Cherokee Center,” Swimmer said. “We are excited to celebrate this milestone anniversary with our friends and partners at WCU and the EBCI. We look forward to 50 more years of providing valuable resources and support services to students, staff and community members.”
The center was founded in 1975 by Lawrence Arney as a hub for professors who would teach college-level courses across the street from the former Cherokee High School. As the years passed, those professors were no longer needed because the high school teachers could become certified to teach the courses themselves.
Since that time, the center has evolved to provide services to EBCI students and the community and the surrounding region, including assistance with applying to WCU, transcript requests, scholarships, internship placement, high school recruitment and more.
Former director of the Center and current EBCI Secretary of Community, Education and Recreation for the EBCI, Sky
The Cherokee Center, shown here in 1975, is an important link between the university and the tribe. File photo
Sampson, said this is a celebration of partnership between the Cherokee community and the campus community through the Center.
“I think Western now operates as a model for a lot of other universities and colleges when it comes to partnering with tribes. I think we have reached that point, which is great, and we’re super proud of that, because that was the goal when I was there,” she said.
“Having that physical presence of Cherokee students, staff, alumni, events, and culture at Western makes a huge impact on campus, and we just need to keep this great partnership growing and moving forward.”
The center sits on the Qualla Boundary and operates with
help from administrative support like EBCI member Elias Huskey, former intern Driver Blythe, former director Roseanna Belt and so many other Cherokee community members and WCU alumni who value the importance of the Center.
WCU Provost Richard Starnes reflected on the significance of the Center’s beginnings and its future for WCU.
“Together, we have made great strides to make the mountains we call home better,” said Starnes. “This legacy is an impressive foundation, and I think the best years of work for this important partnership are yet to come.”
The public is invited to attend both the open house and the reception. Please RSVP to wcuevents@wcu.edu or 828.227.3003 by Wednesday, Oct. 29.
Ten minutes with Rep. Edwards is very revealing
To the Editor:
Last week I met with the Rep. Chuck Edwards of the N.C. 11th District for a short conversation. I asked his opinion of the military incursion into Portland, Oregon, and he asked me if I lived in Portland. For a beat I was stunned, as if I shouldn’t care about what was happening in any American city. No, I responded, but I have a niece who lives there. I told him that Portland wasn’t burning to the ground, that the video the president was using as justification to send soldiers to Portland was from 2020. The congressman responded that he didn’t believe me.
In the 10 minutes allotted to me I asked our congressman where he got his news. He told me he didn’t read or watch news, but he got his news from people like me. People who called him or wrote to him or came to talk to him. Stunned again, I suggested there were numerous media outlets other than Fox News or CNN, those he referred to as the reason he doesn’t watch the news.
As a military brat who grew up living on Army bases, as
We’ll never have a king in U.S.
To the Editor:
Some protestors of the Trump administration created what they call “No Kings Day” on June 14, 2025. They claim that Trump’s policies resemble monarchical rule rather than democratic governance. While all presidents have power, it is limited.
Under the U.S. Constitution, the president, as the country’s chief law enforcement office, has broad authority to initiate executive orders; however, this authority is subject to our constitutional system of checks and balances. Executive orders are subject to judicial review and can be overturned by the Supreme Court if they find the orders unconstitutional and/or contrary to laws passed by Congress.
So why are these protestors referring to President Trump as being a “King” when it is actually the judicial branch that ultimately decides our fate? Much can be explained by media bias influence and misinformation rapidly spread by social media. Presidential actions face instant scrutiny from millions of citizens, Congress and courts. While today’s political situation may seem unique, it is actually a reflection of the same ongoing tension between government control and individual rights that have shaped American history.
The bottom line is that we the people have held all the power all along, as we are protected by the genius of our constitutional republican form of government. We never had or never will have a king in America.
Linda Carney Cullowhee
an Army nurse and an Army wife, I have always felt safe among military soldiers. In all the years my father served I never once saw a gun in our home, or in the hands of any soldier other than the military police in our community. I learned from my father that munitions were locked up in the barracks where they could be accessed in an emergency. There was never such an emergency. When I joined the Army and had to demonstrate my proficiency with a sidearm, I realized with surprise that my father must have similarly qualified throughout his career. The man who never carried a gun.
I explained my experience growing up in the military to our congressman and suggested calling on our military to carry guns in American cities and proposing they might use U.S. cities as a training ground must feel bizarrely uncomfortable to military soldiers. His response? None. A blank stare. The same familiar stare my teenage sons perfected when they were no longer listening. It turns out 10 minutes is a long time.
Our military is not called to create law and order in
LETTERS
convicted felon and has been charged with nearly 100 serious crimes for which he’s unlikely to be held accountable, it’s moreover beyond question that he ignited an angry armed mob to attack his own Capitol with the clear intent of overturning an election he knew he’d lost.
Specifically, Trump inspired a coup d’etat (a violent overthrow of government), a power grab via revolution. Trump’s supporters were armed, and Capitol defenders died or were seriously injured defending the Capitol and Congress.
Approximately 1,500 correctly labeled insurrectionists were arrested, convicted and imprisoned. Many pleaded guilty to crimes we watched them (in horror) commit on TV.
Despite possessing irrefutable knowledge of Trump’s direct involvement in this attempted coup, he was incomprehensibly re-elected president in 2024, giving him the golden opportunity, on day one, to pardon the 1,500 criminals who had (four years earlier) participated in the coup attempt, referring to these seditionists as “patriots.”
Presently, eight months into his term, Trump is aggressively de-professionalizing our government across a broad, unlimited sphere involving the military, law enforcement and agencies Americans depend on to hold our nation together.
Dictatorially firing people of high standing and consequence such as the heads of the military, NSA and the FBI and replacing them with inexperienced people whose primary (perhaps only) qualification is loyalty to Trump, not only degrades the core of the military and law enforcement but places our nation at extreme risk.
In addition, de-professionalizing the military, law enforcement and necessary organizations not only devalues and corrupts their core, it repurposes their mission to serve one
American cities. Its mission is to protect fellow citizens. Its purpose is to uphold the Constitution, not fulfil the president’s wishes. As I write this I wonder where the country will be by the time it is published. I wonder if we will become inured to the presence of soldiers on the streets of our cities, carrying automatic weapons. I wonder if our grandchildren will ever know the military as protectors but will always see them as governors or adversaries.
We have a right to peacefully protest government actions, and if you listen to the mayors, governors and photojournalists in cities where military incursions are in effect you would know that our fellow citizens are doing just that. This I believe to be true. While I know our power is in one person one vote, I can no longer rely on that vote having the power to effect change. And while many supporters of this president see him as a savior, I must believe in the power of the people to protect and save our democracy in this chaotic time.
man (Trump), turning these forces against the American people on our own soil.
It is an incontrovertible truth that President Trump purposefully tramples on the Constitution, subverts longstanding rules of law, ignores judges and casually violates his oath of office. It should concern all Americans that an egomaniacal felonious grifter, a cruel, impulsive, vindictive narcissist has access to our nuclear codes.
I’m concerned that by deploying armed military on the streets of America we’ll become accustomed to having troops among us. Trump admits he wants to forbid mail-in ballots and automatic tabulating machines, and Republicans are vigorously promoting redistricting schemes. Is the President preparing to halt the next election if it appears he might lose the House or Senate?
Having proven himself above the law, Trump might just be emboldened enough to deliver the final knockout punch triggering a “coup de grace,” a death blow ending our republic.
Despite the clear text of the Constitution, the courageous declaration of the framers, over two centuries of precedent and the undeclared but obvious understandings of every other American president (all of whom looked upon the office of the presidency with respect and honor), we are beset with a criminal seditionist as president, our legal system forever altered due to an inattentive, negligent Supreme Court. We are no longer a nation of laws but of corrupted and increasingly fallible men.
David L. Snell, Franklin
Oppose more gerrymandering
To the Editor:
After learning that N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger was considering further redis-
tricting in North Carolina, I sent the following petition to Rep. Mark Pless, Sen. Kevin Corbin, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd on October 10. I encourage all N.C. residents to educate themselves about this issue and communicate with their representatives:
Thank you for your service. I am writing to you as a constituent from Haywood County. I am very concerned about the integrity of our elections in N.C. and the nation.
The President’s call for Republican-led states to draw new maps ahead of schedule to ensure continued GOP control in the U.S. House of Representatives has triggered a nationwide race to rig election maps ahead of the midterm election. Senate Leader Berger has expressed a willingness to comply, even though N.C. is already one of the most gerrymandered states in the country.
I call attention to the Opinion Diagnostics poll of state voters cited by N.C. Newsline, which found that “84% of all voters, including strong majorities in both parties, say redrawing voting maps for partisan advantage is “never acceptable” and districts should be drawn neutrally.” Reference apple.news/APjutyFWcTh2_w7j13Xywfw.
I hope you understand how dangerous this is. When democracy is undermined in this way we all lose, regardless of party affiliation. Like most state residents, I support an independent redistricting commission. We need this requirement nationwide to prevent either party from rigging elections in this way. I expect all elected representatives to protect the integrity of our elections. I urge you to oppose this redistricting effort.
Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. I would be grateful for any updates you can provide and look forward to hearing about the steps you are taking on this issue.
Margaret Pickett Highlands
Doug Trantham Bethel
The musical bridge
A conversation with Appalachian Road Show
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
Last month, at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) award show in Chattanooga, Appalachian Road Show took the stage to perform “Della Jane’s Heart” in front of every big star currently within the “high, lonesome sound.”
ARS was up for the most coveted honor of the night, “Entertainer of the Year,” alongside pillars of the genre: Alison Krauss & Union Station, Del McCoury Band and Billy Strings. And though ARS didn’t come away with the trophy, the ensemble reinforced its status as one of the “must see” marquee acts in modern bluegrass.
“Being in that [‘Entertainer of the Year’] lineup? Those are names that have shaped the sound and spirit of bluegrass for decades,” said ARS fiddler Jim VanCleve. “They’re our friends and peers, and also heroes.”
Alongside the Grammy-winning VanCleve, ARS also includes Grammy-nominated banjoist Barry Abernathy, mandolinist Darrell Webb, guitarist Zeb Snyder and bassist Todd Phillips.
“I genuinely do think [the ‘Father of Bluegrass’] Bill Monroe spoke directly to what is so distinctive about the genre at its core,” VanCleve said. “He called it the ‘ancient tones.’ While
that’s hard to quantify, I also think people know exactly what it is when they hear it — in their very soul.”
The quintet will appear at the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Balsam Range, John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band and singer-songwriter Michael Reno Harrell are also on the bill.
“It’s a whole thing [with bluegrass music]. Hard to explain, but absolutely undeniable and inescapable in its effect,” VanCleve said. “We’ve been trying to tap into all of this, and I’ve spent my life trying to do it in as authentic a way as possible.”
Raised in Haywood County, VanCleve’s family lived on Balsam Mountain and Eagles Nest, with others in Bethel, Cruso and Canton. From early on, he was surrounded by music, listening to “old-time players one night, bluegrass the next, then [hearing] gospel on Sunday morning.” At age six, he was given a fiddle and “the sound of it always spoke to me.”
“Growing up in Haywood County, I was right in the middle of a rich musical tradition — all of that seeped in,” VanCleve said. “The fiddle became my way to tie it all together, a bridge between those styles and stories. It can whisper or it can cry. It can sound rough and raw or as smooth as a voice.”
And all the while, VanCleve was playing music, either learning from others on the front porch somewhere in Western
North Carolina or simply performing shows with his father across Southern Appalachia.
“[I was] learning and inheriting the soul of the music,” VanCleve said. “It’s in my DNA musically.”
Eventually, VanCleve graduated from Pisgah High School. In 1997, he joined legendary bluegrass act Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver. A year later, he would join Abernathy and form famed Americana group Mountain Heart, a position he held until leaving the band in 2014 to pursue other projects.
“Back in our Mountain Heart days, I had a concept for producing a ‘Road Show’ type of presentation,” VanCleve said. “[One] that sort of followed a narrative of all forms of American music, as seen through the lens of our versatile band.”
Coming into 2018, he and Abernathy once again came together to launch Appalachian Road Show. Leading up to that point, Abernathy approached VanCleve and asked “if I might be okay with him taking this [‘Road Show’] idea and making it a little more personal.”
“[He wanted to] use that same skeleton [of an idea], but focusing more on the roots and soul of Appalachia, its musical influences and heritage,” VanCleve said. “Honestly — and I
Appalachian Roadshow will play Maggie Valley Oct. 25. File photo
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘You know that if we are to stay alive, then see the peace in every eye’
Last week, I received an email one morning from a reader of this here column. He said he enjoyed the words spilling out over this one particular page every week, then asked if I had thought about putting out a book. It had been awhile since that notion floated through my mind. And, truth be told, it dusted off some aspirations I’ve been keeping in the closet of my mind for too long.
To preface, the whole reason I became a journalist/writer was to find a way to have adventures, travels, interact with strangers and share those stories with whoever was willing to flip open the page. In June 2005, I had my epiphany to become a writer, all while reading Jack Kerouac’s seminal 1957 novel “On the Road.” I was on a solo road trip from my native Upstate New York to East Tennessee. I was also entering my junior year of college in Connecticut.
Nothing was ever the same after that. I switched my college major from broadcast journalism to print, which became sort of a hybrid degree when all was said and done. No matter, straddling the line between broadcast and print ultimately gave me my voice, where I write more conversationally than other print folks — I write more for the ear than the eye (broadcast style).
the front door to watch the baseball playoffs at the neighborhood pub. And plans are still in the works, more so in limbo, to return back to the North Country in the coming days.
Once again, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it home for the holidays this year (it’s been a spell). But, I think I can slip my work collar for a week or two of running around the Champlain Valley and greater Adirondack Mountains. Even though it’ll be cold up yonder, maybe even some snowflakes, no matter, for that space I’ll happily inhabit. It’s home. And I miss it.
To that, maybe I’ll take some of that time in Upstate New York to sketch out an outline for a book. Several years ago, I wrote a bluegrass book to some acclaim. I’m not even sure there are any copies left on the shelves of the local bookstores. Probably have to reorder some. I’d did book readings all around
HOT PICKS
1
Acclaimed Western North Carolina author and writer Thomas Rain Crowe will present his latest work, “New Natives: Becoming Indigenous in a Time of Crisis and Transition,” with photographer Simone Lipscomb from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.
2
Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival will return from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
3
A special stage production of “Lizzie” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 30Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
4
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Trout Fishing in America (Americana/folk) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.
5
Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Kelly Morris (singer-songwriter) at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 and Oct. 29.
And it meant a lot to get some real deal syrup, where I was immediately transported back to my parents’ farmhouse up near the Canadian Border, the scene of me eating some homemade French toast doused in brown liquid gold, my mother asking if I wanted another slice or more coffee.
From there, it was hiding out in 24-hour diners on the outskirts of my New England campus, writing wildly in my Moleskin notebooks. Page after page of dribble. I couldn’t stop the flow of thoughts emerging from my subconscious. Still can’t, thankfully. For an ADHD-diagnosed kid growing up in the 1990s, one who used sports and live music to tire me out, writing became another outlet to balance the endlessly energy flowing through my body and mind.
Once the restless thoughts in my head were transferred onto the page, my mind would finally get cleared out, now freed to focus on other things in life, whether that be school or work or whatever the heck else I filled my time with back then, and even today. Writing remains the intrinsic platform by which I’m able to fully communicate with the greater universe (and you, too).
Which leads me to the “here and now” and what’s currently rolling through my thoughts. Gazing outside my apartment window in downtown Waynesville, the trees are bursting with color, the leaves falling as fast as the colors appeared. Fall will always be my favorite season, even if it comes and goes in the blink of an eye.
Those warm summer nights long gone in the rearview mirror of life are now replaced with cool evenings, more so this week, where I’m now grabbing my jacket when heading out
Southern Appalachia to a few dozen folks (Asheville) or simply nobody at all (Athens). It was a worthwhile project I remain proud of. But, what next, eh?
Truth is, it’s been such a whirlwind of writing, of wandering and pondering, of heartache and triumph, of nothing and everything, where I realized it’s been eight years since I’ve headed down the rabbit hole of a literary project. Ideally, I’d like to (maybe) do a collection of these columns. I’ve been writing it every week since June 2013. So, that amounts to, what? Like almost 650 weeks?
Anyhow, like the words scribbled down in haste in Connecticut diners some 20 years ago, most of this could be considered dribble. Personally, I prefer to take the sacred act of stream-of-consciousness writing and apply it to this local newspaper. Luckily, I have a publisher who continues to let me roam free on the page, on the open road from coast-to-coast — the road being my absolute Zen zone of self. Either way, the work remains plentiful, so does the gratitude.
It’s like the other day when I found myself at the Waffle House on Russ Avenue. The main reason I wanted to hit it up was to try out some of the fresh maple syrup that one of my Waynesville friends brought back for me from a recent trip to the Northeast Kingdom of rural Vermont.
While sitting at the Waffle House counter, I cracked open my dog-eared copy of Kerouac’s “The Dharma Bums,” a book of legend and lore that I’ve carried with me since college. It’s traveled to every corner of America, either in my backpack or in the center console of my pickup truck.
To that, I’ll open it to a random page of “The Dharma Bums” whenever I have a moment in transit or at a diner, and just go with the flow from there — the sentiment of the (seemingly) randomness often aligning with my current state of being, the words connecting like magnets.
The clock keeps ticking away in the newsroom, as does the tinkering in my soul in putting together another book. I thank you, dear reader, for sparking up that old flame, once thought to be dormant, but merely small and steady, eager for the moment to toss a couple more logs onto the fire of one’s intent. Well, it can’t hurt to see where this endeavor may take me. Stay tuned.
Who knows? Who cares, right? It’s all wonderful. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s all wonderful, and as it should be. You can only truly appreciate the light by going through the darkness. Head held high and with an undying determination to chase after whatever dreams lie just beyond your reach, at least for now. In due time, what you seek will find you. I know that to be true.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Waffle House, Waynesville.
Garret K. Woodward photo
BRIDGE, CONTINUED FROM 32
told him this — it made more sense to me on a personal level than the previous idea ever could have.”
Right out of the gate with its self-titled debut album, ARS garnered big attention by the bluegrass industry, with its fanbase growing steadily. That would soon parlay itself into the outfit taking home the honors for “New Artist of the Year” and “Instrumental Group of the Year” at the 2021 IBMA awards.
“And I’d have to say things have never slowed down,” VanCleve said. “Since [the 2021 IBMAs], it’s been an absolute wild ride creating and curating this brand, this show, and this music.”
To that point, VanCleve emphasizes the band’s motto and mission statement, something emblazoned across all of the ARS merchandise: “Authenticity Never Goes Out of Style.”
“When we stay as authentic as possible, stay true to what we meant and intended to be at the outset, great things seem to happen,” VanCleve said.
When reflecting on just exactly what ARS sets out to do — and ultimately accomplishes with a deep well of intricate talent and genuine sense of gratitude — VanCleve looks at his melodic craft as an “intersection between joy and purpose, between past and present.” It’s this sacred role of the artist to “interpret the world through your eyes and try to create something beautiful.”
“We’re trying to bring something unique in our authentic respect for the music, the heritage, the region, the roots, and the branches,” VanCleve said. “We get to share music that comes straight from the heart of Appalachia, and people keep connecting with it. The fact that folks are moved by what we do? That’s what keeps us showing up and giving everything we’ve got.”
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.
ALSO:
• 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.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host “Open Mic” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.
Want to go?
Hosted by the Haywood County Arts Council, the annual Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival will return from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.
Taking the stage will be Haywood County bluegrass legends Balsam Range, Appalachian Roadshow, John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band and singer-songwriter Michael Reno Harrell.
Since its inception in 2007, Balsam Range has become one of the most decorated and award-winning acts in the wide world of bluegrass music.
The band has taken home the following International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honors: “Entertainer of the Year” (2014, 2018), “Album of the Year” (2013, 2017), “Song of the Year” (2011, 2015) and “Vocal Group of the Year” (2014, 2015), with Melton named “Male Vocalist of the Year” (2014, 2018) and Tim Surrett “Bass Player of the Year” (2018).
The annual HCAC fundraiser, the festival brings all of the organization’s programs and artists together for a truly one-of-a-kind music-themed experience. The event will also include music-themed vendors, raffles, artist member demonstrations/artwork, a child and adult playground and local food/drinks.
• 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 Doug & Lisa Oct. 25. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / facebook.com/brbeerhub.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Karaoke Night” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, “Trivia” 7 p.m. Thursdays, “Open Jam” 10 p.m. Thursdays, “Trivia After Dark” (followed by DJ Dominion) 7 p.m. Oct. 24 and We Have Ignition Nov. 1. 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 month and semi-regular live music on the
Advance tickets are $69.55 per person (tax included). Children ages 12 and under are admitted free. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit haywoodarts.org/smoky-mountains-bluegrassfestival or call 828.452.0593.
weekends. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.
• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Kelly Morris (singer-songwriter) Oct. 22 and Oct. 29. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranchevent.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Ron Lee (rock) 7 p.m. Oct. 25. 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. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Team Trivia” Mondays 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 “Orchard Sessions” on select dates. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Admission is $50 per person, with discounts rates available for hotel guests and members. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchard-sessions.
• 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) and Blue Ridge Big Band (jazz/swing) 6 p.m. Nov. 1 (tickets start at $15). 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Laura Thurston (singer-songwriter) Oct. 23, Bridget Gossett Trio (Americana) Oct. 24, Local Chapter & Hidden Cabins Oct. 25, Paul Edelman (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Oct. 26, “Safe Passage Trivia” Oct. 30 and “Halloween Party” with Tricia Ann Band Oct. 31. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
Balsam Range. File photo
On the beat
• 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.
• Gathering Room (Waynesville) will host an “Open Acoustic Jam” from 6:30-8:30 p.m. the last Friday of every month. All welcome to play or listen. 828.558.1333 / thegatheringroom828.com.
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Corey Stevenson (singer-songwriter) Oct. 22, Doug Ramsay (singer-songwriter) Oct. 24, The Alamo Band Oct. 25, Charles Walker Band Oct. 31 and Corey Stevenson (singer-songwriter) Nov. 1. 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 Clint Black (country) 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25. For tickets, click on caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• High Country Wine & Provisions (Highlands) will host “Vino & Vibes” with Mick Mayer (singer-songwriter) 6 p.m. Oct. 24. Free and open to the public. 828.482.4502 / highcountrywineandprovisions.com.
• High Dive (Highlands) will host 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 Tyler Ramsey & T. Hardy Morris (Americana/indie) 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30 (tickets are $41.84 per person, tax included). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.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-
‘Echoes Across the Smokies’
Amythyst Kiah will play
A special presentation by Western Carolina University, “Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Strings, Stories & Songs” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the BAC Performance Hall on campus in Cullowhee.
This soulful celebration brings the Smokies to life through the spirited tunes of the Junior Appalachian Musicians and Sylva Old Time Jam Band, the captivating stories of Cherokee storyteller Kathi Littlejohn and the harmonies of the Cherokee Language Repertory Choir.
The evening crescendos with the powerful voice of Grammy-nominated artist and East Tennessee native Amythyst Kiah, whose music bridges tradition and modern roots.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for senior citizens age 65 and older. Students (including non-WCU) and children are $15. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit arts.wcu.edu/echoes-25.
regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.369.3663 / jrchophouse.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Cody Marlowe (Americana) Oct. 25 and Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Oct. 31. 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” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Cody Marlowe (Americana) Oct. 24 and The V8s (oldies/rock) Oct. 31. 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 an “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
• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 / orchardcoffeeroasters.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host “Music Nights” with James Thompson from 4-6 p.m. each first and third Friday of the month. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Johnny Folsom 4 (Johnny Cash tribute) Oct. 24. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• 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.
• 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, Fred Kopp (singersongwriter) Oct. 25, Carlos Wilson (singersongwriter) 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and “Space Karaoke” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. 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” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.
fontanalib.org/franklin.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host a “Community Jam” from 6-7:30 p.m. each first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / fontanalib.org/brysoncity.
• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host a “Bluegrass Jam” 5-7 p.m. Sundays, Chris Morel (singer-songwriter) Oct. 25 and Rich Manz Trio (oldies/acoustic) Oct. 30. 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, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Oct. 24, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) Oct. 25, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) 5 p.m. Oct. 26 and Jared Blue (singer-songwriter) Oct. 31. 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.
• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on Sundays. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.631.3075 / facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.
• Sauced (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 / saucedwnc.com.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic” first Wednesday of every month, Kid Billy (Americana/folk) Oct. 23, Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue (bluegrass) Oct. 24, Trippin’ Up The Stairs (Celtic) 2 p.m. Oct. 26, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Oct. 30 and “Take Me Back To The 90s Halloween Party” with DJ Kahn 9 p.m. Oct. 31. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• 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 Trout Fishing In America (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Oct. 25. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Smoky Mountain Dog Bar (Waynesville) will
Cullowhee Oct. 30. File photo
On the beat
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 free “Community Jam” 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. 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” with Remedy 58 (blues/soul) Oct. 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• 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 semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.743.3000 / theuglydogpub.com.
• Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6 p.m. each week and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host J.R. Williams (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. Oct. 26, Raphael Graves & Drayton Aldridge (Americana) Nov. 2 and Hot Piece Of Brass (funk/soul) 5:30 p.m. Nov. 3. 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, Brothers Rathbone Oct. 24 and “Halloween Costume Party” 7 p.m. Oct. 31. All shows and events
begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 / valley-tavern.com.
• Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post 5202 (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.9356 / vfw5202.org.
• Vineyard At High Holly (Scaly Mountain) will host Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) 3 pm. Oct. 24, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Oct. 26 and Monica Spears (singer-songwriter) Nov. 2. 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 9:30 p.m. 828.456.4750 / facebook.com/waternhole.bar.
• Wells Events & Reception Center (Waynesville) will host Tuxedo Junction (oldies/rock) 7 p.m. Oct. 24. 828.476.5070 / wellseventcenter.simpletix.com.
• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host live music 4-6 p.m. Saturdays, “Music Bingo” 6-8 p.m. Saturdays and Breeze Cable (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Oct. 24. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.com.
• 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.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts.
On the stage
HART presents ‘Lizzie’
A special stage production of “Lizzie” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 30Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and Nov. 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
“Lizzie” tells the darkly thrilling story of Lizzie Borden and the women around her through powerful storytelling and live rock music.
In the heat of late summer 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife are found murdered in their home. The main suspect? Andrew’s youngest daughter from a previous marriage: Lizzie Borden.
Experience the dark and electrifying retelling of Lizzie’s story from strained relationships with her family, her rebellion against societal norms and the backdrop of sensationalized media coverage and public fascination that followed the murders.
‘Lizzie’ will be at HART on select dates. File photo
With its edgy score and gripping narrative, “Lizzie” offers a powerful portrayal of one woman’s struggle against the constraints of her time and the creation of a new American myth.
ALSO:
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host a production of “Stage Fright: Scribes Onstage” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host
Tickets start at $29 per person. Seating upgrades and discounts available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.456.6322 or visit harttheatre.org.
“The Marvelous Magical Mayhem Show” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for students. Free for children ages five and under. There will also be a Haunted Theater” 6-10 p.m. Oct. 30 and 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31 ($5 at the door). 828.488.7843 / swainartscenter.com.
Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, on the front patio of the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of the Sawmill Creek Porch Band. The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — spring, summer, fall.
This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts. For more information, call 828.488.3030.
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 threemonth 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 Santa Fe Indian Market.
Today, she shares her knowledge with others. Designed to increase and uplift pottery making among members of the Eastern
Cherokee pottery exhibition
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 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.”
For more information, visit motcp.org.
• “North Carolina Glass 2025” showcase will run through Friday, Dec. 5, in the John W. Bardo Fine & Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Discover the glass medium through the work of today’s visionary glass artists. “North Carolina Glass 2025” brings together 30 established and emerging creators from across the state, showcasing a broad spectrum of contemporary glasswork. For more information, visit wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center.
• Haywood County Arts Council’s (Waynesville) “Layers” exhibit is now on display through Monday, Oct. 27, at the HCAC in downtown Waynesville. Art is all about layers — of ink in a relief print, layers of batting and fabric in a quilt and background layering in an oil painting. This showcase is all about celebrating the different layers of mediums that artists use to create their masterpieces. Free and open to the public. For more information, visit haywoodarts.org.
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (MayDecember) in downtown Waynesville. Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike. The event is free and open to the public. downtownwaynesville.com.
• 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.
• 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.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. The club welcomes photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. 828.452.0593 / haywoodarts.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.
• 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.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swaincenter.
• Dogwood Crafters (Dillsboro) will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. 828.586.2248 / dogwoodcrafters.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org.
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Wind Down Wine Flight” 6 p.m. Thursdays. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturday at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select gourmet charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• 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.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville.
• “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.
MotCP is located in Cherokee. Donated photo
Keep your fancy free — reading at whim
Fifty years ago this year, I dropped out of graduate school and my studies in medieval history, and set off in a different direction. I’ve never forgotten the thought that came rolling along right behind my escape from academia: “Now I can finally read whatever I want.”
Middle school, high school, college: all feature book lists in the liberal arts, a course of reading often required of the students. At their best, these lists equip students with a broad selection of the best of literature, history and philosophy.
Not everyone is happy with this enforced reading. Diploma in hand, these are the graduates who declare, “Now I never have to read a book again.” Feeling poisoned by print and paper, they prefer screens: television, movies, phones.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are those graduates determined to keep reading books of import, both new and old. Probably few of these men and women follow some rigid lifetime reading program, but they remain devotees of fiction, history, biography, philosophy and so on. Some are doubtless motivated by a true love of learning for learning’s sake, some for reasons of intellectual one upmanship, the superiority of having twice gotten through Joyce’s “Ulysses” while their neighbor immerses herself in romance novels.
In “The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction” (Oxford University Press, 2011, 172 pages), Alan Jacobs encourages those who shy away from books to take a stab at reading while urging those who already read to dive a bit more deeply into why and what they read. Jacobs’ tone and approach are wise and friendly as he discusses the pleasures and difficulties of reading, and an array of tangential subjects like libraries, the value of silence, and book clubs.
One point that hit home with me involved Jacobs’ thoughts on the written word and whim, the act of picking up a book in a library or a shop, browsing the cover and a few lines, and, upon finding pleasure there, taking it home.
In this circumstance, that young person who detested reading in high school may do a complete 180 as an adult. Jacobs cites the case of Cathleen Schine, who in an essay for The ‘New York Times’ described herself as a teenage illiterate. Several years later, in a bag left in her closet by an ex-boyfriend, she found a copy of Charles Dickens’ “Our Mutual Friend,” which she decided to read on a whim. She then writes, “A few days later I emerged from that exquisite book and cursed myself for wasting so much of my life doing things other than what God in all his
wisdom clearly meant for me to do for the rest of my life: read Dickens.”
Derived from whim-wham, a word of unknown origin, whim can be a lovely act of caprice, particularly when applied to books. Recently, for instance, I picked up on a whim Brad Thor’s 2008 thriller “The Last Patriot” (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 2021, 336 pages) from the freebie shelf at my public library. Though I’d sworn off Thor’s ongoing saga of
special agent Scott Harvath after reading a couple of the novels in this series, the blurb for “The Last Patriot” somehow rekindled my interest. Whim did its work, and soon I was deep into the story of Harvath and other federal agents trying to break up an Islamist terrorism ring in the U.S. Here I also learned a few bits of history from the back-and-forth discussions of Islam, and the passages on Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Wars.
As the pages flew by, however, I remembered what I disliked about Thor’s novels. For one, stories littered with corpses without apparent consequences soon become unrealistic and therefore, unbelievable. For another, Harvath and some of the other characters are clearly operating outside of federal law, with the CIA battling terrorists while on U.S. soil. Given the many transgressions of our
government against private citizens in the 21st century, this part of the story should sound warning bells rather than spark admiration for these vigilantes. Whim also grants readers the right to put a book down unfinished. About the time I picked up “The Last Patriot,” I stumbled across Maryanne Wolf’s 2019 “Reader, Come Home: The Reading Brain in a Digital World” (Harper Paperbacks, 2019, 288 pages). This side of our electronic culture fascinates me, affected as I am personally, like so many others, by the manner in which digitalized screens are changing how we think and focus. Acting on impulse, I checked the book out of the library and began reading. Midway through the second chapter, with its analysis of the “reading brain” and how it works, I stopped and returned the book. For one, I wasn’t really interested in Wolfe’s technical descriptions of the act of reading vis-àvis the brain, but even more, I lacked the intelligence to follow some of her arguments and descriptions. Closer study might have produced better results, but I gave up. A man in his mid70s should take seriously the expenditure of his time, and learning how the brain processes the printed word was absent from my bucket list.
So, caprice in reading, just as in life, is not always profitable. Nevertheless, I’ll continue to obey, and to encourage others to do likewise, the grand recommendation from writer Randall Jarrell which Jacobs includes in his book: “So I say to you, for a closing sentence, ‘Read at whim! Read at whim!’” (Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings;” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)
Writer Jeff Minick
Wunderland Resort opens in Old Fort
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD A&E EDITOR
On the outskirts of downtown Old Fort, along the quaint Curtis Creek Road, is the entrance to Wunderland Resort — a brand new “immersive nature retreat” for folks passionate about the outdoors and wellness.
“These days, [I’m] asking these kinds of things — how can we have a deeper appreciation for life, unplug from our ‘connected’ world, get and stay healthier and generally feel more alive?” said Wunderland owner Shawn Verbrugghe. “Mine is simple, to create amazing experiences and promote sustainability to make our world a cleaner, safer and more enjoyable place to be.”
The 35-acre property houses an array of lodging options, from themed glamping pods to villas, van/RV pads to primitive campsites. All of which is alongside several amenities: spring-fed swimming pond, cold plunge, sauna, community kitchen, fire circle, event space, private family-style bathrooms and much more. Group offerings also can include yoga classes, guided hikes and off-site excursions.
“My hope is that our guests literally feel a sense of wonder when they arrive. My goal is to invisibly guide them — through intentional art and spatial design — to more deeply connect, play and feel more alive while they’re with us,” Verbrugghe said. “I hope people walk away with a renewed sense of well-being, a deeper appreciation for staying in nature and maybe even a notion to live a simpler, more sustainable and unplugged life.”
With a “pick your own adventure book” kind of mentality, Wunderland provides a seemingly endless platform for disappearing into all aspects of Mother Nature here in our backyard of Western North Carolina — whether on the property itself or merely wandering around to nearby havens for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, trail running and more.
“We’re coining it ‘Nature’s playground for your soul,’” Verbrugghe said of the resort’s appeal. “My biggest takeaway right now is that people truly love it. Our story and the intentionality that’s gone into the design and build has literally brought people to tears right in front of me.”
For Verbrugghe, Wunderland is the culmination of “a lifetime of learning and trying to understand how the world works and really getting to know myself.” Over the last 15 years, he has worked professionally in areas aimed at reversing climate change. On the side of all that, he has continued to develop unique experiences for people, including The Conundrum, a former immersive escape room in Asheville, and also the Amazing Pubcycle tours in the city.
“When we moved to Asheville, I knew I would someday create a sustainable community. [But, I] just wasn’t sure how or when — it always seemed overly daunting to me,” Verbrugghe reflected. “Then it happened, a week before we knew what COVID was, the big corporation I worked with for six years canned half our team, including me. It was a blessing. I knew I wouldn’t go back into that world, but I had no clue what I was going to do.”
Thus, Verbrugghe began a deep dive down the rabbit hole of sustainability practices. Regenerative agriculture. Septic/waste composting. Syntropic food forestry. Conscientious land development. AI-based industrial energy solutions. Commercial heat recapture systems. Hydrogen battery solutions. On and on.
“While looking carefully for the right one to plug into that fit my lifestyle, experience and interest, I built energy efficient houses and learned a good bit about the short-term rental market here. All the while I con-
Backyard flock in Rutherford County tests positive for bird flu
A backyard flock in Rutherford County has tested positive for High Path Avian Influenza (HPAI). The positive sample was identified by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Raleigh.
This is the first confirmed positive in Rutherford County. In the last 30 days, there have been three backyard flocks with confirmed positives in North Carolina. Cases have also been confirmed in Guilford and Union counties.
This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people according to the U.S. Centers for
tinued learning, teaching and promoting the awareness of sustainability for businesses,” Verbrugghe said.
At that juncture, Wunderland started to come into focus, this avenue of possibility that would finally bridge Verbrugghe’s varied passions, skillsets and experiences. In 2025, the hopeful vision has become a tangible reality.
“This process has been completely transformational for me and quite humbling. I
Want to go?
An immersive nature retreat featuring upscale lodging, wellness amenities and sustainable adventure, the Wunderland Resort is located at 448 Curtis Creek Road in Old Fort. Wunderland offers luxury forest villas, element glamping pods, as well as tent and vehicle campsites. Onsite amenities include an
Disease Control, but is highly contagious to other birds, including commercial and backyard flocks of poultry. The virus is also not considered
a food safety threat, and infected birds do not enter the food supply.
More information on biosecurity and the signs of HPAI can be found at ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/avianinfluenza.
handful of “hobbit style” villas will be constructed.
“I spent two years researching the industry to find out what the gaps were and what people are seeking — privacy, unique stays and improved sustainability were the top three,” Verbrugghe noted. “The bolt-on to those was to have an outdoor event space that can accommodate overnight stays, like weddings, retreats and business meetings. [And] we’ve done our best to shine on
outdoor fireplace, fitness center, bathhouse, picnic area, bicycle rentals, high-speed Wi-Fi, sauna, locker rooms, minimarket/convenience store and much more. The property also has accessible parking and wheelchair access.
For more information and/or to book your stay, visit wunderlandresort.com, call 828.419.4632 or email concierge@wunderlandresort.com.
could think of no better way to melt my passions and drivers into something that gives back in a major way,” Verbrugghe said. “The fact that I get to utilize my love and understanding of sustainable building, experiential design, outdoor adventure, preserving nature and its resources is an honor. This project [is] something truly unique. I feel blessed for this opportunity.
With “Phase One” of Wunderland completed and booking now underway, there are two more phases soon to come to fruition. “Phase Two” will be a ridge-top overlander sit with mountain views “designed for off-road vehicles [incorporating] an optional bouldered access road for true 4x4 enthusiasts.” For “Phase Three,” a
all of these and will continue to make [it] more accommodating for larger groups.”
As a long-time tour operator, Verbrugghe is well-versed is “going above and beyond” when it comes to someone’s immersion in a unique, enriching experience. For him, it’s not only about the notion that “a place or experience heightens people senses and [creates] deeper emotion,” it’s also about having a genuine attitude of gratitude and a pure intent of self in doing so.
“Watching people interact with the space and each other on the property is utterly surreal,” Verbrugghe said. “It’s such a gift to see and honor to be part of. I’m truly grateful that our work here is translating into something people can actually feel.”
File photo
Smokies to stay open through October
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will remain fully open amid the government shutdown through at least Nov. 2 in a combined effort from Sevier County, the Cities of Gatlinburg, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, and Pittman Center, Blount County, Cocke County, the State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Friends of the Smokies and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
standard increment, multiple agreements will be signed over the next couple of weeks to maintain funding through Sunday, Nov. 2, if necessary. If the federal government shutdown continues into early November, the partners plan to meet during the week of Oct. 27–31 to discuss next steps.
Through this agreement, local and state partners will continue to ensure uninterrupted operations of the national park. While the Nov. 2 date extends beyond a
This commitment ensures that Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open and fully operational for residents and visitors, with all facilities, roadways, visitor centers, restrooms, campgrounds and trails continuing to operate as normal.
12 North Carolina bear cubs returned to the wild
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently released 12 rehabilitated black bear cubs back to the wild, four from the coastal region and eight from the mountains.
NCWRC has been overseeing the rehabilitation and release of orphaned black bear cubs since 1976 through the agency’s cub rehabilitation program, one of the first in the country. When the program first began, cubs were released to supplement population numbers with the goal to increase and restore the bear population. While black bear populations in North Carolina have been restored, the rehabilitation of orphaned bear cubs has continued to ensure these cubs have the best chance of success once they are returned to the wild.
NCWRC receives orphaned cubs beginning in late January, with most arriving April through June after female bears have emerged from their dens with their cubs. The cubs are placed with one of two licensed wildlife rehabilitators that have been experienced and trained in black bear cub rehabilitation at the North Carolina Zoo and Appalachian Wildlife Refuge.The rehabilitators provide expert care and specialized food, with limited to no human interaction, until the bear cubs are about seven to eight months old.
Some of the cubs are outfitted with tracking collars when they are released so NCWRC biologists can monitor their movements and learn more about their actions post-release. One example occurred following Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Five cubs with tracking collars had been released prior to the storm. All five survived, and NCWRC received no reports of the released cubs causing conflicts with people. All cubs settled down during the storm, became active again days later and went on to find suitable den sites for hibernation. The tracking collars are designed to stay on the cubs until the following April; at that time, a timer on the collar causes it to drop off the cub.
Bear cubs are released on state-managed lands at sites reasonably far from human development in the region they were originally found.
NC Arboretum receives $25,000 environmental impact grant for youth programming
Duke Energy Foundation has awarded The North Carolina Arboretum a $25,000 grant as part of its effort to support local conservation efforts and environmental impact programs across North Carolina.
The grant will support the Arboretum’s Freshwater Ecology Field Trip program, partnering with middle schools and their teachers to equip local youth with the knowledge and tools to protect and care for local waterways and teach science, technology, engineering, art and math skills.
The program annually engages 300 Buncombe County Title 1 students in the eighth grade in field trips to the Arboretum to learn about the importance of water quality, the role of environmental scientists and how to be strong watershed stewards in their communities. Activities include water testing, identifying macroinvertebrates and exploring freshwater ecosystems, and each student receives water testing kits to participate in one of the world’s largest community science programs and to foster continued care of waterways.
Adult, youth archery classes available in Jackson County
Jackson County Parks and Recreation has announced two introductory archery programs this November, perfect for learning the fundamentals of shooting a bow and arrow in a safe and structured environment.
Archery 101 for youth ages 10-14 will introduce participants to the sport. Through the program, kids will learn the core principles of archery, including range safety, an overview of recurve and compound bows and the 10
State provides $6 million to reduce flood risk
Gov. Josh Stein announced $6 million in grants from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint program to help reduce flood risks across the state. The announcement includes projects to restore the French Broad River Basin after western North Carolina experienced catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene last fall. Funding in this announcement will go toward 11 projects in the river basins of the Cape Fear, French Broad, Neuse, TarPamlico, and Lumber rivers.
“Last year’s flooding of the French Broad River after Helene is a somber reminder of how damaging flooding can be to an area,” Stein said. “We must stay prepared for future severe weather events, and this funding will help communities become more resilient and less vulnerable to flooding.”
The grant funding is provided by DEQ’s North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint, with projects chosen by the department’s Division of Water Resources. As directed by the North Carolina General Assembly, the Blueprint continues to allocate $76 million in funding to support flood mitigation projects such as water retention, floodplain restoration and nature-based flood mitigation efforts in the Cape Fear, French Broad, Lumber, Neuse, Tar Pamlico and White Oak river basins.
The following flood risk reduction and floodplain protection projects in the French Broad River Basin are supported through the partnership:
• Yancey County Soil and Water Conservation District will restore approximately 1,000 linear feet of stream channel and add 8-acre-feet of floodplain water storage in a Hurricane Helene-impacted residential area through an effort known as the “Cattail Creek Flood Resiliency” project. This project is being awarded $100,000.
• The Land of Sky Regional Council will restore approximately 80% of a mile of stream channel, plant 2.75 acres of streambank vegetation, and add 11-acre-feet of floodplain water storage along the French Broad River in a Hurricane Helene-impacted residential area of Madison County through the “Rollins and Fortner Hollow Riverbank Restoration.” This project is being awarded $789,000.
• The Southwestern Commission will restore approximately half a mile of linear feet of stream channel, plant 2.6 acres of streambank vegetation, and create 6-acre-feet of floodplain water storage along the Pigeon River in a Hurricane Helene-impacted urban residential area of Haywood County through the “Town of Clyde Flood Resiliency” project. This project is being awarded $110,000.
essential steps of shooting (stance, nock, set, pre-draw, draw, anchor, aim, release, followthrough, and reflect).
The program will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center. Cost is $20 per participant.
The adult class, which will teach a similar skill set, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Jackson County Archery Range in Cullowhee. Cost is $30 per participant. Equipment for both classes will be provided. Registration for each class must be completed no later than the day before the class.
Spaces are limited for both sessions. To learn more or to sign up, visit jcprd.recdesk.com or call 828.293.3053, ext. 4 then 5.
The grant will support the Arboretum’s Freshwater Ecology Field Trip program. Donated photo
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Market PLACE WNC
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!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• 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
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Ship spars 108 Postmarked pieces 109 Zapzyt target 110 Perlman of "Cheers" 111 Roman 651
112 "Moby-Dick" captain
113 Zingy flavor 114 Smartphone games, often 115 Cross paths 116 Soup flavor enhancer, for short ANSWERS ON PAGE
SUDOKU
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
