The federal government shutdown began Oct. 1, but come Nov. 1, the harsh reality will set in for millions of Americans — including tens of thousands in Western North Carolina — as SNAP benefits will cease. The Smoky Mountain News takes a look at how counties in its coverage area will be affected, as well as how MANNA Foodbank is stepping up to help out as it can. (Page 8)
News
For advocates, domestic violence and MMIW/P are intertwined........................4
Cancer researcher Paul Maddox targets NC-11’s ills..............................................6
Violent threats lead Henderson Democratic chair to resign....................................7
Clyde EMS base moves forward with bid approval................................................10
Haywood clerk of court announces resignation......................................................11
Local farmworkers face lowered protections, wages............................................12
Haywood volunteer fire department celebrates a win............................................14
Community briefs..............................................................................................................19
Opinion
Ancient wisdom prevails over modern bravado........................................................20 A call to action in
A&E
Down in the holler: Fireside Collective releases latest album..............................22 All aboard ‘The Polar
Outdoors
Headwaters plan sets conservation roadmap for Jackson County....................30 In the public lands of the Blue Ridge, an unusual federal shutdown................31
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For Qualla Boundary advocates, domestic violence and MMIW/P are intertwined
BY LILY LEVIN STAFF W RITER
Maggie Jackson doesn’t plan to stop spreading awareness about domestic violence in her community come November. Instead, the Qualla Boundary Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s group co-chair knows it to be a timeless issue.
Jackson also views — hence her title — the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and the crisis of domestic violence as inherently intertwined.
“Many who fall victim to the MMIP crisis were first silenced by violence in their own homes,” Jackson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, told the audience at an Oct. 22 EBCI event to support domestic violence survivors.
The MMIW/P crisis is defined by the National Council of Urban Indian Health as “the disproportionate amount of violence and abuse that occurs to Indigenous people in the United States.”
For example, the Assembly of First Nations states that Indigenous women are four times more likely to experience violence than their non-Indigenous counterparts.
The MMIW/P crisis is especially relevant in the Qualla Boundary given a few recent cases: the alleged sex crimes of ex-Swain County Sheriff Curtis Cochran and the murders of tribal members Tina Walkingstick Frizsell, Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, Lively Crüe Colindres and Carly Johnson.
Jackson and fellow advocates are continuing to sound the alarm about a problem poorly represented, underpublicized and misunderstood.
EBCI citizens Sheyahshe Littledave and Ahli-sha “Osh” Stephens are co-hosts of the true crime “We are Resilient” podcast about MMIW/P cases nationwide, but despite connotations of the “true crime” label, Littledave and Stephens are careful not to let someone’s death or disappearance overshadow their personhood.
“We really try to fill the rest of [the podcast] in with what we can find out about [the missing/murdered person’s] hopes, their dreams, hobbies, things that they’re into, so we can really humanize who we’re talking about,” Littledave noted.
Stephens said it’s necessary to keep in mind that “when we lose someone’s indigenous relative, we lose everything that they’ve learned … our language, our culture, our medicines, our songs and our dances.”
WAR’s episode on EBCI member Tina Walkingstick Frizsell shares the circumstances surrounding her death in May 2022 — a man named Christopher Shields shot Frizsell dead just shy of her 43rd birthday, then enlisted accomplices to move and burn her body — while also highlighting testimonials from friends and loved ones. Walkingstick Frizsell was a mother of two. She loved nature. Everyone remembered her beautiful smile.
ten about it,” Jackson said. She noted that art also plays a large role in spreading awareness about the movement.
Last month, Corbin Lee Nunez, 25, was sentenced to over 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder and felony child abuse of his eight-month-old daughter, Lively Crüe Colindres.
Co-chair Atsei Cooper, a graphic artist, commemorated Colindres in the most recent QB MMIW logo, which Jackson said was “updated to be more inclusive of all Indigenous people, instead of just women.”
The new logo is “burgundy and has a woman, a man and a child. And actually, the child in this image is our youngest enrolled member who is on the MMIP list, who was murdered by her father,” Jackson said.
AFFECTING
Sept. 23, 2025, is the date of EBCI’s most recent MMIW/P victim. Just last month, enrolled member Carly Elizabeth Johnson was assaulted and murdered by her partner Kenneth Lontrell Christian in Christian’s car.
Johnson, 50, was a mother and grandmother. Her obituary states that she was a “talented cook” with “quick wit” and “a warm sense of humor.”
Because of the ongoing nature of this violence, it’s natural for advocates to fear for their loved ones — and themselves.
In fact, the problem hits closer to home than one might expect.
“All of [the QB MMIW cochairs] have members of our, either distant members of our family or loved ones on who have been directly affected by MMIP,” Jackson said.
Jackson herself is a survivor of domestic violence. So is EBCI Public Health and Human Services domestic violence program manager Billy Jo Rich and tribal council member Shannon Swimmer. Both Rich and Swimmer believe that, as with raising awareness about MMIW/P, their experiences have been deeply influenced by storytelling.
Rich was silent for 20 years before she could talk about what had happened. She said she thought she was okay because she wasn’t ruminating about her trauma.
“And then when an opportunity came unexpectedly to talk about my experiences, it was like a volcano coming out. And I realized that I was not okay,” she recounted.
Jackson said the latter sentiment underlies every Cochran court date protest.
The former Swain County sheriff is facing charges of rape and sexual assault from Swain County and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which has jurisdiction over sex crimes due to a 2022 VAWA amendment.
“The protests that we are facilitating and showing up for is not just against one man. It’s really just a show of solidarity that we will not tolerate any sort of violence in our community, against our people, and that no one is above accountability,” Jackson told SMN.
SYSTEMS OF VIOLENCE
While studies have found that the majority of those who victimize Indigenous people are non-Native, the sheer prevalence of domestic violence in Indigenous communities begs the question: why?
According to Jackson, it’s got to do with colonialism — and how its legacy is still visible today. She highlighted the longstanding impacts of issues like assimilation, boarding schools and government neglect.
“I mean, Indigenous women were forcibly sterilized,” she explained. The practice continued until the 1970s.
“If people do not see Indigenous people as worthy of importance or value, then it’s easier to commit acts of violence,” Jackson added.
But while WAR was intentional in how Walkingstick Frizsell’s case was covered, Jackson told The Smoky Mountain News — which reporter on the murder after it happened — that few are covering it at all, even as it continues to move through the courts system.
“Her case is horrific, and her case is complex, and her case should be making national headlines because of what’s happening, but it’s not, and most people have already forgot-
At first, every time Rich told her story, she felt like she was reliving it.
“I learned, quite by accident, that the more I told my story through the years, it started to get a little bit easier,” she said.
“And so I realized, I think, about two years ago that when I told my story, I could tell it just like we’re talking right now. And I realized that the emotions weren’t attached, and that’s
When violence does occur, like in other communities, it often goes unreported to law enforcement. But Jackson said that among Indigenous people, there’s an added dimension: deep-rooted distrust.
“We are pretty fortunate that our local Cherokee Indian Police Department is very supportive and very honoring of the work that we do. But the law enforcement officers in many Indigenous communities are often shielded from any sort of accountability, especially when the justice system is just not built for people of color,” the QB MMIW co-chair said.
Shannon Swimmer shares her story. Lily Levin photo
The disconnect between tribal members and law enforcement in other communities manifests in how deaths are classified — and the lengths to which relatives will go to ensure a foolproof investigation.
what we can and can’t prosecute when people come here that are not enrolled and commit crimes against enrolled members,” said tribal council member Shannon Swimmer.
“It’s not something to be ashamed of, I didn’t do anything wrong. And I think that’s what a lot of people have never been told, ‘It’s not your fault. You didn’t deserve this.’”
— Shannon Swimmer
“In a lot of cases out west … if the death was undetermined, [families] will actually try to hire an independent medical examiner to perform a second autopsy. So that’s part of what a lot of families have to resort to do to get justice for their loved ones,” she explained.
However, for EBCI members in particular, a major deterrent to justice isn’t law enforcement. The problem lies in the courts system.
Marie Walkingstick Pheasant was killed at her home by her estranged husband. He then moved her body into a car and set the vehicle ablaze. Pheasant was a mother of two whom her aunt described as “quiet, sweet, and loving.”
“Marie’s case … highlights exactly what’s wrong with the justice system and how Indigenous cases are handled. Even though there was evidence that her significant other harmed her and was the one that committed this crime against her, the district attorney’s office would not prosecute this crime until there was a confession,” Jackson said.
The murder occurred in 2013. Perpetrator Ernest Pheasant was not sen-
WHAT SAFETY LOOKS LIKE
Shenelle Feather ran for tribal council to improve quality of life for Yellow Hill residents. Now elected, Feather said she plans to implement measures to make the district safer, like lights or speed bumps.
“It could be making it a better place to feel like we can do recreational things, like run, just basic things that would help families and just anyone that lives here, to uplift their lives and help them to feel safe in their community,” she said.
It might also look like “resurrecting a shelter” or advocating for VAWA, added Feather.
To Jackson, increased community safety might come in the form of awareness.
“We have to stand together to raise awareness and to show that we won’t tolerate [acts of violence],” she said.
Domestic violence program manager Rich said once folks in the community are already aware, it’s time to take the advocacy one step further.
but the 1978 Supreme Court decision in Oliphant vs. Squamish Indian Tribe stripped tribes of prosecutorial authority in all other instances lacking congressional authorization.
“I am glad that [the Cochran case is] before the court properly, that we have that jurisdiction. I still believe that we need to have strengthened jurisdiction, or restored jurisdiction, because it is really carved out of
“Hope needs to turn into action. We need to be able to provide services and resources and support,” she said, adding that the program offers emergency shelter and is working to create a long-term housing program catered to those who cannot afford to leave their abuser.
PHHS domestic violence program support also includes victim advocacy, legal assistance, court accompaniment, transportation assistance, relocation services, crisis counseling, prevention education and outreach activities.
What’s more, Swimmer described the importance of confronting trauma and shame at the interpersonal level.
“We’re all in recovery from something. Everybody’s experienced some type of trauma, and we really need to share that and talk about that and how important it is to address our mental health,” she said. “And it’s a daily thing. I still have my affirmations.”
AREA’S BEST BURGER
Maggie Jackson speaks during the Oct. 22 event. Lily Levin photo
Cancer researcher Paul Maddox targets NC-11’s
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR
Paul Maddox has spent decades studying sickness. A cancer researcher, tenured professor and lifelong learner, he’s spent much of his career exploring how to heal the body. Now, Maddox says, he’s ready to heal something else.
“The government is not healthy right now. A healthy U.S. government operates with a balance of power so one branch of government cannot abuse power. That’s broken in our government. It’s a sickness,” he said. “I’ve been serving in the fight against cancer for a long time, and now I’m ready to serve Western North Carolina in Congress.”
Raised in the Bent Creek area just outside Asheville, Maddox graduated from Enka High School before heading to UNC-Chapel Hill, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. After completing his PhD in 2003, he moved to San Diego with his wife — also a scientist — for postdoctoral training at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research. They returned to Chapel Hill in 2013 as professors in the Department of Biology, each still teaching and conducting research. Maddox is registered to vote in Orange County.
Maddox’s campaign launch didn’t come as a surprise, and is merely a formality; he’s been campaigning for some time now and gave a rousing speech at the Dems’ 11th District gala in Asheville in August during which he described himself mathematically as “within the margin of error for the center of a bell curve” that puts most Americans somewhere near the middle.
money left for cleanup,” he said. “They’re expecting more money from FEMA; it’s not coming, and cleanup along the South Toe River has been delayed. That’s just one spot. Why isn’t Chuck Edwards in Congress right now beating the drum to get that money properly allocated? Either he doesn’t want to fix the problem or he doesn’t have the skills to fix the problem.”
That’s led Maddox to believe the problem with Edwards’ overall performance is his efficacy.
on a number of fronts.
“I don’t think government should have any say about whether you’re gay or straight or what have you,” Maddox said. “It’s not a good use of the government’s time or energy. You be you, I’ll be me, and we’ll all get along.”
On guns, Maddox said he’s a lawful owner who supports the Second Amendment but not unrestricted access to assaultstyle rifles.
He now joins a growing field of Democrats hoping to unseat two-term Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District. Democrats, hoping for a midterm surge, are increasingly eyeing Western North Carolina as a chance for a flip. On Oct. 23, Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the conservative John Locke Foundation, rated the district at R+4. Like his rivals, Maddox frames his candidacy as a response to dysfunction in Washington, but unlike them, he speaks about politics with the language of science — identifying symptoms, diagnosing problems and prescribing treatments. That centrist approach defines his policy priorities, especially on health care, which he calls both a moral and practical issue.
“There’s a small health center that my mother uses,” he said. “My mother’s 84 and still in good health, but she requires health care more often than a 54-year-old or a 34year-old. That center is just a few miles from where she lives. If that place were to shut down because of lack of business or the cost of health care going up, she’d have to drive maybe 90 minutes to get care. For an 84-year-old person, that’s not practical. That’s not access to health care.”
He said supporting rural clinics should be a congressional priority, especially as Edwards voted for cuts to Medicare. “My major concern would be to support these places and make sure that for every X number of people there’s a health center within a 15- or 20-minute drive,” he said. “You do that through legislation and not cutting programs like Medicare, and fully funding FEMA, so people can rebuild after storms.”
That last point touches on the government’s response to disasters like Hurricane Helene. Maddox said that federal failure to deliver aid promptly illustrates Washington’s dysfunction and Edwards’ lack of advocacy — something he’s been called out on repeatedly, even by his Republican Primary Election challenger Adam Smith.
“In Yancey County, the newspaper reported that the county commission has spent what they can, and there’s no
“I think his biggest failure is his lack of doing anything,” Maddox said. “Not standing up for the people of Western North Carolina, not evaluating problems and solving them — that inaction does a disservice to his constituents.”
Asked about social programs caught in the crossfire of gridlock in Republican-led Congress, like forthcoming disruptions to supplemental nutrition assistance programs, Maddox said lawmakers had lost sight of their purpose.
“No one says, ‘I don’t want to get Social Security.’ Maybe Chuck Edwards doesn’t need it, but most people do. Maybe we tax billionaires another 0.1% and fix this.
I’m a scientist, not a politician, but these are solvable problems.”
— Paul Maddox
“These are politicians fighting for political angles,” he said. “They still get a paycheck, but this isn’t about somebody’s ego in Congress. It should be about getting health care to people.”
Reproductive rights, Maddox said, come down to a personal choice and personal freedom. The federal or state government “shouldn’t be telling people what to do with their bodies,” he said. Decisions should be made in consultation with a spiritual guide and/or a physician.
He offered a similar answer on cannabis policy, defending the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians after enrolled members in the sovereign enclave voted overwhelmingly to legalize medical and recreational cannabis. Edwards threatened to withhold federal highway funding from the tribe over the issue.
That same “personal freedom-first” philosophy applies to the LGBTQ community, which is facing unprecedented threats
“I own guns,” he said. “Mostly rifles. I don’t own an assaultstyle rifle. I don’t know why a civilian would need an AR-15. That’s a weapon designed to kill other people, and that thought frightens me. When I was growing up, we had nuclear fallout drills. Now kids have active-shooter drills.”
For Maddox, safeguarding lives extends beyond classrooms and city streets. He sees the health of communities and the land around them as inseparable parts of the same duty — to protect what sustains Western North Carolina’s future. Environmental protection and economic diversification, he said, are inseparable in a region dependent on tourism and natural resources.
“It’s a national treasure,” Maddox said of the abundant public lands across the region. “I would support and author legislation to strengthen protection of the National Park Service and National Forests. We need to ensure that our children and our children’s children can enjoy the wonders of Western North Carolina.”
Edwards has failed to advocate for National Park funding, which has led the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to implement a parking fee on visitors. Maddox said families shouldn’t have to pay for Congress’ failure to fund park operations.
“This goes part-and-parcel with tax breaks to billionaires. Even a very modest tax on the top 0.1% would probably more than fund the National Park Service,” he said. “These are fixable problems if Congress would just do its job.” That same logic drives his vision for economic growth. Maddox left the region to pursue a career in research, and thinks there’s no reason it couldn’t one day become a research and innovation hub.
“People want to live here, but high-tech jobs aren’t available, so you have to go where the money is,” he said. “I’d love to see startups doing drug discovery in Western North Carolina. There’s a good population of smart, educated, hardworking people. It would warm my heart to combine the things I love — Western North Carolina and cutting-edge science. That would be the achievement of my life.”
Maddox also criticized Edwards on Social Security. Edwards has repeatedly refused to stand up to protect benefits earned by people who’ve worked their whole lives with the promise of receiving them.
“No one says, ‘I don’t want to get Social Security,’” Maddox said. “Maybe Chuck Edwards doesn’t need it, but most people do. Maybe we tax billionaires another 0.1% and fix this. I’m a scientist, not a politician, but these are solvable problems.”
Other problems, however, are more difficult to solve. Maddox said conflicts abroad have little bearing on everyday life in Western North Carolina and that continuing strife in Gaza won’t help bring down grocery prices in the United States. He also condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but said America’s focus should remain somewhat more domestic.
“I believe one country shouldn’t march into another and take over land,” he said. “But the world economy being what it is, that’s not helping people in Western North Carolina. We should turn focus inward, protect freedom where we can and support good behavior.”
Maddox’s first task is to convince Democrats
The federal government is sick, says Paul Maddox, and he thinks he’s got the cure. Maddox campaign photo
Violent threats lead Henderson Democratic chair to resign
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
As chair of the Henderson County Democratic Party, Leslie Carey has spent years helping to build the county’s progressive infrastructure and lead one of the most successful local party operations in the state. After her family received death threats, she says she can no longer continue in the role.
The threats came after her husband, disabled Army veteran and activist Jay Carey, drew national attention for his veterans advocacy and political protests, including confronting Rep. Chuck Edwards during a town hall earlier this year and burning an American flag in Lafayette Park near the White House. Both incidents, Jay says, were acts of conscience, but to some, they were seen as provocation — and they led to a wave of hostility that would upend the family’s life.
the death threats were,” she said. “For my own well-being, I needed to protect myself that way.”
The threats, she said, were not entirely new. During Jay’s 2022 run for Congress against then-Rep. Madison Cawthorn (RHenderson), he had also received threatening messages online. But this time, Leslie said, the situation escalated beyond what she could manage while serving as chair.
Leslie announced her resignation in an Oct. 23 newsletter, naming First Vice Chair Linda Ford as her successor.
She praised Ford’s experience and credibility, saying, “No one has asked, ‘Why Linda?’ Everyone knows why Linda — because she’s really good.”
“I didn’t want anyone to feel like if I was going to be there, there might be an elevated risk.”
— Leslie Carey
Jay said he began receiving threatening text messages, voicemails and social media posts after the Washington, D.C. protest. Some of the messages went further, warning that the sender knew where his family lived. He didn’t report the threats to police because he didn’t think it would help.
“They were more specifically, ‘We know where you live. We know who your family is. We know how to get to them,’” he said. “It was, ‘We’re going to burn your house down with your family in it, find you and kill you,’ kind of stuff.”
He said even his publicist was targeted because her phone number appeared on the website of his nonprofit, resistpersist.org. The family responded by implementing security measures at their home. Leslie, however, didn’t want to hear the messages.
“I told Jay I did not want to know what
The Careys’ political activism and community involvement have long been intertwined. Both have spent years organizing volunteers, supporting local candidates and speaking out on issues ranging from veterans’ rights to environmental justice. But their advocacy has come at a personal cost, made worse by tragedy.
Last year, the Careys lost nearly everything when Hurricane Helene swept through their Henderson County neighborhood. Their home filled with eight feet of water. Their family business — a bounce house rental company — was destroyed.
“We lost everything in the house, everything in storage, personal storage and business storage,” Jay said. “We lost the trailer and the truck, everything for the business.”
The couple received just $4,500 from FEMA.
“They stepped up really quick, and then they just fell off and left us to fend for ourselves,” Jay said.
Despite the financial and emotional strain, Leslie continued leading the county party through the critical 2024 General
— and unaffiliated voters who choose to vote in the Democratic Primary Election — that he can win in a field with other candidates who are already established in political, social and fundraising circles. Jamie Ager, who announced in June, has raised more than $340,000 this cycle, with Hendersonville physician Richard Hudspeth trailing with a still-respectable $90,000. Zelda Briarwood and Jacob Lawrence raised about $27,000 and $12,000 respectively, but say they’re ramping up efforts before the March 3 Primary.
Edwards had more than $200,000 on hand at the end of the third quarter but can and likely will call down much more. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, the 2022 Dem nominee, raised well over $2 million in her unsuccessful attempt to deny Edwards a second term. Maddox is certainly aware of the fundraising challenges that lie ahead.
“In talking to my friends and neighbors, what I have to say seems to resonate,” Maddox said. “Common sense and logic
Election. In the aftermath of the hurricane, she organized food and supply distributions from the Democratic headquarters and even hosted a community cookout to feed residents who’d lost power or housing.
“Leslie has given up a lot of herself to the party and to this county,” Jay said. “Even with all the losses, we were still successful statewide. Henderson County performed
risk,” she said. “Not that anyone ever said that, but I didn’t want anyone thinking it could be more dangerous if I was around.”
Even so, the family has found moments of grace. After the flood, friends and neighbors — many from the local Democratic community — helped replace holiday decorations and gifts so the Careys’ children could celebrate.
“We had a great Christmas,” Leslie said. “People donated gifts, ornaments, Hanukkah decorations. It just left us feeling grateful again for where we live.”
She insists she’s not leaving politics altogether.
“I’m not jumping ship,” she said. “I’m just going to grab an oar.”
very well for the Democrats.”
Under Leslie’s leadership, Democrats saw historic gains. In the 2024 election, Henderson County moved further left than nearly any other in North Carolina — one of only a handful of counties nationwide to do so. Josh Stein, then running for governor, became the first Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win the county since Jim Hunt in 1980.
But the price of that progress, she said, has been high.
“Part of being a leader is acknowledging that I don’t have the stability we need in Henderson County to be as effective as I should be,” she said.
Between the threats, the storm and the stress of raising children while rebuilding their lives, she felt compelled to step back.
“I didn’t want anyone to feel like if I was going to be there, there might be an elevated
connect with people. I’m confident we’ll have the resources we need to get the message out.”
Maddox said his campaign’s distinction lies in his analytical mindset.
“I’m not going to try to make political wins; I’m going to apply logic and analytical thinking to the problem,” he said. “That skill set is unique and will benefit the people of Western North Carolina.”
If he’s successful in the Primary, Maddox said his message will remain consistent whether he’s talking to Democrats or Republicans in the General Election — including that he’s running not out of a sense of ambition, but out of a sense of obligation.
“I’m a tenured professor. I have a secure life,” he said. “But I feel the calling to serve in a new way. I believe I can have the biggest impact on people I care about by doing exactly what I’m doing right now, and that’s running for representative from North Carolina’s District 11.”
Her husband, meanwhile, has no plans to quiet down. Jay is still facing two federal charges — igniting a fire in an undesignated area and lighting a fire causing damage to property or park resources, according to The Hill — both misdemeanors. Carey was protesting as part of a group of veterans opposed to President Donald Trump’s use of the National Guard in American cities. His next court date is scheduled for early December.
“I pleaded not guilty,” he said. “Our lawyers are filing for dismissal, but if that doesn’t happen, we go to court [likely in February].”
Asked whether the threats might make him less visible, Jay didn’t hesitate.
“I’m going to continue to resist and persist,” he said. “We’ve lost this country to the far right, to a tyrant, and we’ve got to continue the fight. It’s far from over, and we need
Early voting ends this Saturday, election Tuesday
In-person early voting ends Saturday, Nov. 1, but voters will have one last opportunity to cast their ballots on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 4.
Same-day registration is only available during the early voting period. Voters cannot register to vote on Election Day. Photo identification is required to vote in North Carolina. Valid forms of photo ID can be found at ncsbe.gov/voting. Voters are encouraged to check their designated polling locations and hours of operation prior to venturing out to vote. Locations and hours can be found at vt.ncsbe.gov. The deadline to return absentee ballots is 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
The Henderson County Democratic Party is in the midst of a leadership change. Henderson County Democrats photo
Federal shutdown threatens food aid in WNC
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR
Waynesville resident Sam Wilds is blind, cannot work, uses her entire Social Security disability check for household bills, has approximately $50 left on her SNAP card for the month of October, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.
On Oct. 16, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter to county directors of social services warning that while prorated October benefits are still assured, “currently available funds are not sufficient to ensure full issuance of November 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for households nationwide, including approximately 1.4 million North Carolinians who receive Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits.”
News. “I haven’t really thought about it just yet, but I will have to be making other plans. It’s just going to be a struggle, it really is, to not starve.”
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, comes entirely from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and serves more than 42 million Americans annually. Rules come from the federal government, while day-to-day management including processing applications, determining eligibility, issuing benefits and enforcing work requirements, is done by state agencies, usually through county departments of social services.
In North Carolina, where 80% of SNAP households include someone who is working, the program is run by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Social Services, which delegates administra-
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 5year American Community Survey estimate, the percentage of people living below the poverty level in Haywood County in 2023 was 11.3%. Perhaps not coincidentally, 11.9% of Haywood County residents utilize SNAP benefits.
On the ground, that translates to more than 7,500 people, said Ira Dove, director of Haywood County’s Department of Social Services. In September, the total amount of federal SNAP benefits distributed to recipients in the county — who in turn inject those funds into the local economy — was more than $1.2 million.
The special SNAP program for women, infants and children, often called WIC, provides food assistance, nutrition education and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant or postpartum women, infants and children under five. Funded federally and run by states, WIC helps ensure healthy pregnancies, proper childhood development and improved family nutrition outcomes.
Enrollment numbers for WIC lag by about three months, but in July, more than 1,250 individuals in Haywood County were
In North Carolina, 80% of SNAP households have at least one member working.
Adam Bigelow
Now, as fall sets in and the ongoing federal government shutdown drags on — the Trump administration announced that no food aid will be distributed after Oct. 31 — food insecurity in North Carolina could mean a bleak Thanksgiving for some of the most vulnerable individuals and families across the state and the region. Wilds survives on about $192 a month in SNAP benefits.
“It makes me feel a little nervous, a little bit,” Wilds told The Smoky Mountain
tion to each county’s social services office.
Many of those 1.4 million North Carolinians who receive SNAP benefits are children, seniors, or like Wilds, people with disabilities who live on fixed incomes. More than 46,000 are veterans.
County departments of social services continue to accept new applications and process recertifications, but for now, the state is advising recipients to plan ahead, use October benefits carefully and check balances regularly.
served, according to Dove, for a total of roughly $83,000 monthly.
Additionally, 107 people in Haywood County also qualify for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a federal program providing short-term financial help to low-income families with children. Administered in North Carolina as Work First Family Assistance, it promotes employment, limits benefits to five years and supports self-sufficiency through job training, childcare and work par- F
File photo
ticipation requirements. Nearly $16,500 in federal benefits were issued in Haywood County in September.
In Jackson County, the percentage of people living below the poverty level in 2023 was 19.3%. As of September, 7.5% of the county, or about 3,400 people, utilized SNAP benefits that on average total roughly $817,000 a month.
Jackson County WIC serves an average caseload of 845 people per month and provides benefits averaging about $68,000 a month.
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That increase, said Chief Development Officer Joe Beckler, reflects a mix of lingering recovery from Hurricane Helene, higher food prices and rising housing costs.
“Our neighbors are having to choose,” Beckler said. “Are they going to pay for their car insurance, their housing payment, their childcare or their food?”
For more information about SNAP benefits and updates related to the federal shutdown, visit ncdhhs.gov/fns. Beneficiaries can also check their benefit balance using the ebtEDGE app or by calling the number on the back of the EBT card.
For information on where to find a food bank near you, visit MANNA FoodBank’s interactive food finder map at mannafoodbank.org/where-to-get-help.
The county’s Work First program supported 53 individuals in September and provides about $125,000 in benefits each month.
Between Haywood and Jackson counties alone, the suspension of USDA funding will impact at least 13,000 people and also remove more than $2.3 million from the local economy — affecting farmers, grocers, retailers and local government sales tax collections each month until funding resumes.
“This decision is being made by the federal government, and not your local DSS agency,” said Cris Weatherford, director of the Jackson County Department of Social Services.
Macon County DSS Director Patrick Betancourt noted that in Macon, about 3,800 individuals from 1,950 households, including about 1,275 children, receive SNAP benefits. That comes out to roughly 10% of the population in a county with a 14.4% poverty rate.
“This is a critical age range, as these are young individuals who depend on these benefits for proper nutrition to support their growth and development,” Betancourt said in an email.
In Swain County, 1,751 individuals utilized some form of food assistance during the month of September, according to NCDHHS. At 21.1%, Swain’s poverty rate is far higher than in Haywood, Jackson and Macon counties, although food assistance utilization hovers around 12.6%.
During the last prolonged shutdown, states with remaining funds were allowed to issue early SNAP payments to prevent gaps in aid, but states are legally prohibited from funding SNAP programs on their own.
On Oct. 24, the USDA said its $5 billion contingency fund is “not legally available” to cover regular benefits during the shutdown, leaving the state with few options beyond warning residents.
If the shutdown does indeed stretch deeper into November, local food banks and pantries could see surging demand as families look for alternative sources of food.
MANNA FoodBank, the region’s largest hunger relief network, has already begun preparing for the worst. Serving 16 counties and the Qualla Boundary, MANNA now reports providing food to nearly 195,000 people each month, up from recent months.
So long as SNAP funding is unavailable, MANNA expects to see immediate pressure on its partner pantries.
For every meal MANNA provides, Beckler said, the federal SNAP program provides nine, meaning no food bank can scale up to replace that level of loss.
MANNA is expanding donor outreach and organizing a virtual food drive in November to help boost inventory, but Beckler said the math doesn’t favor nonprofits trying to fill a federal gap — a hard lesson again demonstrated during the aftermath of Helene.
MANNA’s downstream partners, like Haywood Christian Ministries, are already bracing for a surge. The Waynesville-based pantry serves about 800 households, or between 1,000 and 2,000 people each month.
Executive Director Blake Hart said his team is keeping an eye on operations and may have to approach the situation on disaster footing, much as it did during the Coronavirus Pandemic and Helene, by expanding hours and distributing food to smaller local agencies.
“A lot of the food that we get and distribute is MANNA,” Hart said. “We are just ensuring that we have enough food on hand, as much as we can get. We’re open three days a week, basically for three or four hours each of those days, and it’s non-stop busyness.”
In Washington, D.C., legislators largely insulated from the effects of what is now the second-longest federal shutdown in history remain locked in an enduring stalemate.
Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, could end the shutdown by negotiating a continuing resolution or full budget that can secure enough bipartisan support to clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
Democrats could end the shutdown by accepting Republican proposals to reduce federal health care spending — cuts that would double or triple health care coverage costs for people who receive federal subsidies on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
“I don’t agree with what they’re doing,” Wilds said. “None of them have to suffer like us because they have money in order to be able to pay for their groceries. They really don’t think about people like they’re supposed to. I think sometimes they don’t really have a heart to think about others at all.”
(SMN News Editor Kyle Perrotti contributed to this report.)
Clyde EMS base moves forward with bid approval
RYSE submitted the lowest responsible bid during the formal bidding process conducted Sept. 23. Competing bids from Harper General Contractors and Cherokee Enterprises came in higher, at $2,135,000 and $2,222,752 respectively.
McGill Associates, the county’s consulting engineer, recommended awarding the base contract to RYSE along with select alternates to fulfill Haywood County’s cost-sharing agreement with Haywood Community College to resurface the existing roadway across the site. Those additional unit-price items total $66,580, bringing the potential construction value to $2,136,535.
County Manager Bryant Morehead will be authorized to engage RYSE for alternate items up to the grant’s funding limit, pending final CDBG approval.
“The project will consist of several components,” said Tim Sisk, Haywood County’s facilities and maintenance director. “The main building that we’re going to be adding will be for ambulance storage to offset the needs that we have for our EMS base. Inside the armory facility itself, a lot of components for shelter. Anybody that was there during Helene knows sound deadening panels in the drill hall are necessary. A lot of renovation to the bathrooms, to bring them up to ADA standards. The shower facility on the lower level, we will be adding some partitions in there so more folks can benefit from those.”
Sisk added that improvements would be made to existing plumbing fixtures and that most areas could use a new coat of paint. New HVAC equipment will be installed along with additional cameras for safety. The project also includes the purchase of a battery-powered forklift, so palletized materials can be moved around while people are sleeping.
“We tried to look at it in the broad spectrum of shelter and EMS,” said Sisk, who credited Haywood County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO David Francis with getting the grant process started.
Built as a National Guard armory in 1977, the facility in Clyde housed the 211th Guard unit for roughly four decades before its departure in 2018. Afterward, Haywood County took ownership and launched major renovations to repurpose it as an emergency shelter, EMS base and community resource.
NCDMV expands firefighter class B driver license testing
The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles is partnering with local fire departments to provide on-site driver’s license testing for firefighters and first responders who operate heavy emergency vehicles. Through NCDMV’s Outreach Scheduling Assistance Program, the Division is bringing testing directly to public-safety agencies to reduce travel and improve access for emergency personnel who need a Class B commercial driver license or Class A non-CDL credential.
“This initiative ensures firefighters and other emergency responders can be quickly licensed to operate lifesaving equipment while continuing to serve their communities,” said Mike Newsome, NCDMV Director of Driver Services.
These sessions will allow local fire departments to schedule group testing on weekends using department vehicles, while DMV examiners handle both written and road tests onsite.
Haywood clerk of court announces resignation
BY KYLE P ERROTTI
N EWS E DITOR
Haywood County’s elected clerk of superior court Hunter Plemmons has announced that he is resigning from his position effective Nov. 17.
In a letter addressed to Chief Resident Superior Court Judge Roy Wijewickrama dated Oct. 22, Plemmons stated that he is proud of the selfless, dedicated service of the deputy and assistant clerks he worked with who ran the office, dealing with customers day to day, many of whom are encountering an unfamiliar, confusing legal system during a difficult time in their life.
The letter specifically cited services provided during the precarious COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the eCourts system, which required a tremendous amount of work from state’s clerk’s office employees.
by then-Chief Resident Superior Court Judge Brad Letts in 2017 when former Clerk of Superior Court June Ray retired after 15 years of service. He ran unopposed for the office in both 2018 and 2022.
“It is an understatement to say that it has been an honor to serve the people of Haywood County in this capacity over the last eight years,” Plemmons wrote.
Wijewickrama will appoint Plemmons’ successor, who will then be up for election to a full four-year term in 2026.
“I have no doubt that my successor will build on the strong foundation that has been laid in this office over the centuries and will provide fresh ideas to take this office to new heights,” Plemmons wrote.
Local farmworkers face lowered protections, wages
BY LILY LEVIN STAFF W RITER
For the past 11 years, Ricardo has spent nine months each year at Barber Orchards in Waynesville — and the other three with his wife and adult children in northern Mexico.
“I wish [I could stay] only for six months, but now we are coming for some time — for nine months — because the orchards are being renewed. The big trees are being cut to put in smaller ones,” Ricardo said, adding that the duration of stay at his location is either nine or four-and-a-half months.
Ricardo is one of nine men working and living at the orchard. All nine are part of the H-2A program, a growing United States visa initiative in which domestic growers employ mainly Mexican farmworkers. In fiscal year 2024, H2A workers numbered nearly 385,000 — over 27,000 of whom resided in North Carolina, the fifth most populated state for the program.
The farm labor shortage has been a pressing issue for years due to issues such as upward mobility, unpredictable climates, an aging farming population and the grueling nature of the work. Furthermore, 70% to 90% of most major food sectors is concentrated among global mega-companies, turning these select few into the architects of marginal commodity value and high costs for farmers — while mandating food options and expenditures for consumers.
For farmers, the H-2A visa provides foreign labor amid the progressively shrinking domestic workforce. However, despite its benefits, many growers are concerned with what they call the bureaucratic red tape and burdensome regulation inherent to the program.
For workers, the H-2A visa is a means of providing a living for themselves and their families — with quite a few tradeoffs. Visa holders are dependent on their employer for every aspect of their livelihood, which can create fertile ground for labor violations, wage theft, trafficking and abuse.
Though H-2A employers must adhere to certain federal and state standards — a set hourly wage, sufficient housing, provision of meals and/or cooking, absence of recruitment fees, non-discrimination, payment guarantees — an Economic Policy Institute report in 2022 found that less than 1% had been inspected by the government. And when the Department of Labor did investigate, according to the EPI, it noted wage and hour violations from 70% of employers.
Part of the reason farmworker conditions are largely unnoticed is because, as determined by 2015 Wake Forest
University study, just under 40% of North Carolina migrant camps are “hidden” — inaccessible through a main road and embedded within structures or a rural landscape.
The migrant camp at Barber Orchards fits into the “hidden” category. The gray barracks is situated at the end of a winding gravel road along the side of a steep hill, shielded by magnificent, towering trees. It’s nestled within the mountainous landscape.
It’s also one of 23 migrant camp locations — seven in Macon, six in Jackson, 10 in Haywood — within SMN’s coverage area. And for the majority of the year, it’s Ricardo’s home.
At around 8 o’clock, the place smells of the fried eggs and beans simmering on the stove: dinner, the final daily task. Two hours later, all will have retired to their beds, alarms set for 6 a.m.
Ricardo told The Smoky Mountain News that in addition to breakfast, early mornings involve preparing his lunch. Sustaining the daily 11-hour shift — 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. — requires something to eat.
Farmworkers at the orchard get a 10minute break at 10 a.m., an hour at noon for lunch, and a second short break at 4 p.m. for a snack. Upon returning to their housing, some form a line to use the shower, while others clean and wash up.
instances, codified employer anti-retaliation policies and mandated worker protections such as seatbelts.
Generally, farm bureaus and farmers’ groups opposed the legislation, filing numerous lawsuits asserting federal overreach. The 2024 farmworker rule, they argued, added more paperwork to an already document-heavy program. In the end, the policy was successfully blocked in 17 Republican-led states. In North Carolina, however, it prevailed until June 2025, when the Trump administration’s DOL proposed a nationwide recission, removing all 2024 worker protections.
The DOL stated in its June press release: “The decision provides much-needed clarity for American farmers navigating the H-2A program, while also aligning with President Trump’s ongoing commitment to strictly enforcing U.S. immigration laws.”
According to Farmworker Justice Legal Director Lori Johnson, the rule’s nullification creates “less transparency in foreign worker recruitment, which may cause workers to be more vulnerable to fraud in foreign labor contracting as well as human trafficking.”
The proposal’s 85 federal register comments are a mixed bag. Unsurprisingly, migrant and farmworker advocacy groups were opposed to the recission, while supporting comments came from growers and farmers associations.
Other participants include National Nurses United. The union submitted a long document outlining its dedicated opposition. So did 18 state Attorneys General.
Then, USCIS had one word: “Yes.”
The DOL did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling’s implications.
THE WAGE DEBATE
Santiago, another of the orchard’s H2A visa holders, has opted to stay for just over four months. He has four children in northern Mexico between six and 15 years old. Santiago described why farmworkers return year after year, regardless of what they’re forced to leave behind.
“Give it your all here, because this is where we earn a little extra so that our family in Mexico can have a better life,” he said.
Barber Orchards owner Benny Arrington must pay out set wages communicated by the North Carolina Growers Association, the organization through which he hires his workers.
“[The Growers Association] normally notify us about the first of December what the wages are going to be for the following season. I am hoping that there’s not an increase this year. There’s been an increase every year for the last 10 years,” said.
POLICY AND RECISSION
The acute vulnerability of H-2A workers was addressed last year by a Biden administration rule entitled “Improving Protections for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States.” It granted the Department of Labor last-minute access to farms and migrant housing, allowed farmworker unions in certain
The Barber Orchards owner isn’t alone in his opinion of farmworker wages. In addition to concerns about bureaucratic red tape, grower complaints almost always highlight the costliness of the program. Fortunately for Arrington and other growers, wages won’t be rising anytime soon. But they won’t be stagnant, either.
Until early October, migrant farmworkers were mandated an hourly wage varying by state known as an Adverse Effect Wage Rate. The AEWR in North Carolina was most recently $16.16. Now, the Department of Labor lists the AEWR as $12.78 in its interim final rul- F
The barracks are situated at the end of a winding gravel road . Lily Levin photo
Housing is hidden by towering trees and a forested landscape. Lily Levin photo
Sylva lands another major park grant
Sylva’s Pinnacle Park will undergo substantial upgrades after the town formally accepted a $340,000 grant from the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund during its Oct. 23 meeting, setting in motion a series of improvements that will reshape one of Western North Carolina’s most popular hiking destinations.
Each year, local governments across the state apply for limited funds through a rigorous scoring process managed by the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation. Applications are judged on factors like public access, recreation need, natural resource protection, community involvement and project readiness. Typically, the state will receive between 40 and 50 applications, and will fund between 20 and 30 projects per cycle. That level of demand, and the detailed review criteria, make PARTF one of the most competitive recreation and conservation grant programs in North Carolina.
The contract approved by council authorizes the town to move forward with an ambitious three-year project that includes trail construction, accessibility upgrades and new public amenities. The grant requires a one-to-one match, which town officials plan to meet through a combination of outside funding — an ask to the Jackson Tourism Development Authority — and the town’s Fisher Creek Fund.
Sylva’s Fisher Creek Fund is a special
ing, with $1.69 subtracted as housing compensation. In reality, the statewide AEWR is $11.09.
“H-2A workers have previously received free housing as part of the contract, which makes sense since they still have their housing costs back home, where their family lives,” Johnson wrote to SMN in a statement.
In its IFR, the DOL also acknowledged that Trump administration immigration raids had resulted in the deportation of countless undocumented workers, previously accounting for over 40% of the farming labor force. Because of both the desire for cheap hands and the ongoing labor shortage, many farmers employed undocumented workers — and got away with paying them far less.
The rule posited that because growers have lost a significant portion of their underpaid workforce, they’ll be forced to hire more H-2A visa holders, all of whom would be owed the Adverse Effect Wage Rate.
“The near total cessation of the inflow of illegal aliens combined with the lack of an available legal workforce, results in significant disruptions to production costs and threatening the stability of domestic food production and prices for U.S consumers,” the IFR said.
The Department of Labor’s solution significantly decreases the AEWR of H-2A workers with the goal of making farming —
revenue account dedicated to projects in the town’s watershed and Pinnacle Park area and provides local matching dollars for recreation and conservation projects.
Town Manager Paige Dowling told commissioners that the town has already
all, more than a mile of hiking trails will be added or upgraded by Oct. 31, 2028.
Sylva will administer the grant on a reimbursement basis, submitting invoices as portions of the project are finished.
applied to the TDA for a grant to help with the match and that a decision on that funding is expected in January. Whatever portion isn’t covered by the TDA will have to come from Fisher Creek.
The project will include an outdoor classroom, campsite improvements, a viewing platform, a handicapped-accessible platform and trail, site furnishings, a vault toilet, a trailhead kiosk, an entrance sign, benches and interpretive signage. In
and food prices — more affordable. But its reasoning is contradicted by calculations from a 2019 UC Davis report: raising farmworker wages by 40% would result in merely an extra $25 annual average household grocery cost.
Furthermore, the Census of Agriculture in 2022 determined that worker pay accounted for 12% of all farming expenditures. Meanwhile, farmers receive an average of 15 cents for every retail dollar.
Farmworker advocates say not only is the IFR a non-solution — it also creates other problems.
According to Johnson, “the H-2A Program will be used to bring in workers to do construction, mechanical work, trucking and other non-field work without these workers getting a higher wage than field labor so long as they are doing that work no more than 49% of the time.”
Amal Bouhabib, senior staff attorney at FarmSTAND, described the organization’s view of the IFR in a nutshell, “Anti-immigrant terror creates an artificial agricultural labor shortage, which the administration seeks to use as a pretext not for directing more ag work to U.S. workers, but for making H-2A labor as cheap, plentiful and exploitable as possible.”
Due to the federal lapse in appropriations, Southern state DOL representatives could not respond to a request for comment.
Construction crews will be busy in Sylva’s Pinnacle Park for at least the next three years. File photo
for Pinnacle Park,” he said. “It’s going to help us implement a lot of the master plan that’s been adopted.”
Mayor Johnny Phillips called the $340,000 town match from the Fisher Creek Fund “the smartest thing for us to do” — because it unlocks the PARTF match — but cautioned against depleting the fund.
“How do we stand with trying to keep that $3 million in place and live off the interest on it?” Phillips asked. “Are we still sort of in the ballpark of where we need to be?”
Dowling gave an honest assessment.
“This definitely will spend more than the interest, but you have the fund to maintain the park in perpetuity,” she said. “After we get through these grants though, the board needs to get back to spending the interest on maintenance each year. That’s why we’re going after other grant funding.”
The town’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget projects $92,000 in interest income through June 30, 2026.
Park’s master plan. In recent months, Sylva has secured three separate grant awards for the property totaling $458,323, bringing the total amount of Pinnacle Park work over the next three years to $822,643.
“This is pretty incredible and exciting
Once complete, the new facilities will improve access for all visitors and expand opportunities for outdoor education, overnight camping and environmental interpretation. With the PARTF grant and a recent grant from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
Recreational Trails Program moving forward at the same time, Sylva expects construction activity at Pinnacle Park to remain steady through at least 2028.
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.
Feeling the heat
s the sun set behind the Saunook fire station in west Haywood County, members of the community gathered in the bay that would normally house the fire trucks and anxiously took their seats. They were told the news was good, they just didn’t know how good.
In front of the department’s impressive ladder truck, Terry Young, a ratings inspector who covers the North Carolina’s western counties for the Office of State Fire Marshal, came before the crowd, made up of firefighters and community members alike. He had in his hands the report that would reveal Saunook’s new classification rating, a number that both dictates property insurance bills and reflects the overall ability of the department to respond to emergencies.
The ratings, documented by the OSFM and used by the Insurance Services Office, range from 1-10, with 1 being the best and 9S being the worst rating a department can have and remain operational. During its last rating five years ago, Saunook was a 9S. Young informed the crowd it is now a 4.
“I’ll tell you this,” he said, “that’s very remarkable for an all-volunteer fire department.”
The joyous noise echoed off the high walls of the firehouse, making the crowd of about 60 sound twice the size.
But with increasing frequency, it doesn’t always go that way for rural fire departments. After months of scrutiny from commissioners and desperate pleas for mercy
Iotla Fire Department in Macon County had its contract canceled by a unanimous vote, leaving the Cowee Fire Department to absorb its jurisdiction and assets.
Such consolidation is becoming more common and is indicative of the problems that have plagued rural departments increasingly over the last few decades, problems that have changed the way emergency responders do their jobs.
“The days of us responding with one or two departments is unheard of now,” said North Carolina State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor. “We may have four or five departments working on a structure fire because of the low manpower.”
SAUNOOK
The night of Oct. 7, the Saunook Community Organization — which has backed the fire department’s efforts every step of the way — set up the celebration that followed Young’s announcement, including decorations, dozens of chairs, finger foods and all the fixin’s for an ice cream social. The planning, the turnout and the enthusiasm, in a sense, can explain the department’s success.
Following a prayer, former chief and Board President Benny Arrington took attendance, each firefighter confirming their presence with gusto. Next, Chief Chris Chandler came up to speak. He said that five years ago, after the department received the 9S rating, a serious conversation ensued about how to boost that score.
following the retirement of longtime chief Arrington.
“Five years ago, we started a very serious conversation about trying to improve that rate,” Chandler said.
The department set into motion several plans that were brought to fruition, including infrastructural improvements like bringing fire hydrant coverage to more of its jurisdiction and the procurement of a new fire engine, something that Chandler noted was only possible because of financial support from the community. Additionally, the department prioritized recruitment, retention and training.
“When I say that, I mean thousands of hours of training,” Chandler said.
Young broke down the new rating, which included scoring communications (which are run through the county), the fire department itself, the water supply, community risk and mutual aid response, which is provided by the likes of the Waynesville Fire Department and the Balsam Fire Department just over the mountain in Jackson County.
Young said there are already plans in the works for department leadership to sit down with ratings inspectors to determine what can be done to further improve. Finally, he had some quick words for members of the community. He became slightly emotional as he reflected on the fire department’s commitment.
“Love on these people,” he said. “They’ve worked hard, and they’re going to continue to work hard.”
The volunteers of the Saunook Fire Department pose proudly in front of their ladder truck after receiving their new ISO rating. Kyle Perrotti photo
BURNINGTOWN
In July 2024, the Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department failed a state inspection. The department was subsequently placed on probation by Macon County commissioners.
On Aug. 26 of this year, the OSFM conducted an unannounced inspection. The department passed with a 9S rating, but it wasn’t enough. At the Sept. 9 meeting of Macon County Commissioners, it was noted that a few days after the state inspection, commissioners Barry Breeden and Danny Antoine observed firefighters execute the procedure to haul water, often required in the rural fire district as hydrants can be few and far between. The standard is that firefighters should be able to establish a flow rate of 250 gallons per minute within five minutes of arriving on-scene, and they must provide continuous flow for two hours.
As the test began, there was a traffic collision call that necessitated a response, so former Chief Kenneth McCaskill headed out as the others stayed back to complete the procedure. While Breeden said he thought the effort was honest, he also thought there was a lack of leadership once the chief was gone, and the task was completed inefficiently. He considered that the anomaly was the perfect opportunity to see how the crew could respond during a quick change of circumstances.
“What we saw was a good effort. They’re good people, great women and men out there trying to do the best they can, but there was a serious lack of leadership, which I think was the perfect scenario,” Breeden said. “If the chief isn’t there, who’s in charge?”
Breeden and Antoine felt the department was not upholding the minimum standard, admitting that while they as commissioners may not have expertise in fighting fires, they consulted with people who do to try to develop informed opinions.
The vote to terminate the contract was unanimous, despite continued pleas from McCaskill to keep the department operational. Over the course of several monthly commission meetings he argued that there have been improvements and more work was being done.
Two days after that September county board meeting, Cowee Fire Chief Dustin Pendergrass issued a release confirming that it had entered into an agreement with the county to “ensure uninterrupted emergency coverage.” That statement indicated that BIFR isn’t fully cooperating and hadn’t yet granted CVFR access to its facilities; however, before long, the leadership of BIFR began working with Cowee, a department with over 60 members, to ensure a smooth transition.
Pendergrass, 41, has been Cowee’s fire chief since 2013. He is also a shift supervisor with Macon County EMS. Unlike some interviewed for this story, Pendergrass doesn’t come from a family of firefighters. It’s just something that interested him from a young age and quickly blossomed into a passion.
Earlier this year, BIFR leadership reached out to Pendergrass, he said, after they saw a decline in membership, so Pendergrass and a couple of Cowee board members gave a pres-
145 River Rd., Franklin
Located in the Old C 349-1600 (828) • ullasaja School off Highlands Rd.
entation at a BIFR board meeting about merging of the departments.
“We said we’re not trying to get rid of any membership or anything like that,” Pendergrass told The Smoky Mountain News. “If anything, we’d want to grow it.”
Pendergrass said the presentation was well-received, but BIFR ultimately balked at the idea of consolidation.
The moment commissioners voted to cancel BIFR’s contract, Cowee assumed responsibility for the Burningtown-Iotla jurisdiction. Pendergrass and County Manager Warren Cabe both said they felt like the transition has been smooth. Cabe added in a brief Oct. 27 interview that the process is “98% complete.”
“It’s been a relatively smooth transition and has went well,” Cabe said. “Both agencies came to the table and went through a mediation process and worked out an arrangement that was suitable and continues to provide the necessary services.”
HELP NEEDED
Arrington, Saunook’s former chief, was a founding member of the department 50 years ago. He recalled that when the community decided to establish a fire department, a member of the fire brigade at Dayco in Waynesville volunteered to serve as the chief and began assembling volunteers. At 22 years old in 1975, Arrington was recruited.
“They said, ‘Hey, look at Benny over there. He never goes anywhere,’” Arrington said. “So I was a captain at the fire department at 22.”
Arrington said proudly, pointing at the ladder truck that served as a backdrop for the rating announcement, deep red and shining like a polished apple.
Arrington’s decades of experience make him well-equipped to talk about changes to firefighting over the last five decades. One of the most noticeable trends has been a steady decrease in volunteer membership at rural departments across the nation.
A lack of consistent volunteers was one of the problems that plagued the Burningtown-Iotla Fire Department. When it failed its state inspection, part of the reason was that it had below the 19 minimum
firefighters seeking a department where they will answer a higher volume of calls, more chances to gain experience in high-intensity situations.
THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’
Taylor, who along with being the state fire marshal is the Vice President of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, said North Carolina is the only state that does its own Insurance Services Office inspection ratings for all fire departments that serve a population of fewer than 100,000 people. The OSFM now inspects 1,200 fire departments
The department began with a sprayer truck used on the trees at Arrington’s Barber Orchards and a repurposed oil delivery truck outfitted with a small Briggs & Stratton pump that had to be manually wound before pull starting.
“We were down here on the bypass one day,” Arrington recalled, “and a car was on fire. We rolled up, and we're trying to get [the pump] started. They were cranking and cranking, and nothing was happening. Come to find out, the kill switch was in off. You knew it wasn’t going until you’d hear that putt, putt, putt.”
Arrington and crew set to work raising funds in the community any way they could — pancake breakfasts, spaghetti suppers and every other manner of cookout. They approached Haywood County commissioners about getting a fire tax; however, the elected officials were leery of asking residents to pay more since they’d just built a new hospital.
Department leadership found out that they could put it to a referendum if they got enough signatures from residents of the fire district. They did, and the measure passed overwhelmingly, with Arrington saying only two people voted against it. Saunook Fire Department ordered its first legitimate pump truck in 1977 and gained a 9 rating. In 1982, it got a tanker, and every five years or so it upgraded its equipment, all the way to where it is now.
“You’re looking at a million-dollar truck,”
he’s seen an increase in departments combining when one struggles to operate.
Echoing sentiments expressed by many in leadership positions at fire departments, Taylor said finding volunteers used to be easier when people from the community — farmers, store owners, tradespeople — could get away from work when a call came in. Pendergrass recalled that when he was a volunteer at age 18 and working at The Sunset restaurant in Franklin, if there was a call, he was able to put down whatever he was doing and go to the scene. Most employers now don’t abide such a sudden absence.
“That’s different in today’s world,” Taylor said.
Taylor said a solution the state is pushing to aid in recruitment is promoting and growing youth programs. High school students in some areas are able to take firefighting courses as part of their curriculum, so they have minimal training between graduation day and when they can become certified.
Because state law dictates that counties don’t necessarily have to maintain control of fire departments, many jurisdictions have different approaches to funding and operating these vital organizations.
Some counties, including Macon, have separate fire districts, each with their own tax rate. Jackson County not only has a relatively high number of paid firefighters, but it also is shifting to a model where the whole county pays one flat tax rate for that coverage. Where some rural departments like Saunook are all-volunteer or may have just a couple of paid personnel, Jackson County has 40 firemen between its seven stations on payroll and shells out a total of about $6.5 million per year.
“The biggest thing is we want to decrease insurance rates; our goal is to get that as low as possible,” Jackson County Manager Kevin King said.
But where some have turned to paying firefighters and others have opted for consolidation of departments, some, like Saunook, still manage to survive the old-school way.
Some blame the overall lack of volunteerism at fire departments on a lack of community engagement that seems to have existed in prior generations. The people interviewed for this story all agree that, along with changes in employer demands, the decline in community cohesion, which leads to investment and engagement, is the major issue.
For a department like Saunook, the strength of the community is reflected in the spirit of volunteers, which was on full display at the fire station the night the new rating was announced.
Taylor was also a career firefighter before
Among the proud firefighters who gathered was Eric Rutherford. A few years ago, Rutherford was so taken aback by the commitment he saw on display by the firefighters in his new community and decided that after 59 years and not a minute of firefighting experience, he would join the department. In a prior life, he’d had a career as an air traffic controller in the Atlanta area, but when he moved to Haywood County, he was happy to find something worth dedicating himself to. And he doesn’t regret it.
“This is the most awesome group of guys I’ve ever worked with,” he said.
Ratings Inspector Terry Young presents Saunook Fire Chief Chris Chandler with the department’s new ISO rating. Kyle Perrotti photo
Volunteers set up for the event at the Saunook Fire Department. Kyle Perrotti photo
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Community Almanac
NCDOT emphasizes Halloween safety
Halloween is almost here, and NCDOT is reminding everyone to stay alert and take extra precautions to help keep this Halloween season safe for everyone.
Parents and children celebrating Halloween should follow these safety tips:
• Carry a flashlight or glow stick to stay visible.
• Cross streets at crosswalks or intersections when possible.
• Walk in well-lit areas.
• Use sidewalks whenever they’re available, and, if there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and stay as far from traffic as possible.
• Drivers should also be extra cautious. Remember to slow down in neighborhoods, watch for pedestrians and avoid distractions, especially during evening hours when trick-or-treaters are most active and visibility is low.
Wreaths Across America returns to Greenhill Cemetery
Greenhill Cemetery will once again take part in the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony, a national observance that began in 1992 and has grown each year as more cemeteries across the country join in the effort to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of American veterans.
This year’s wreath laying at Greenhill Cemetery will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. The public is invited to attend and help honor local veterans. Wreath sponsorships are $17 and may be made online at wreathsacrossamerica.org or by calling 877.385.9504. Donors should use group fundraising code NC0081 when ordering. The deadline for sponsorships is Nov. 21. The previous option of sponsoring two wreaths with a third provided at no cost is no longer available. For more information, email p31s8@aol.com.
EBCCF awards more than $5,500 in grants
Franklin Christmas parade set for Nov. 30
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce announced that plans are underway for the Annual Christmas Parade, which will officially ring in the holiday season. The celebration will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30.
The parade lineup will form along Church Street behind the Courthouse, with the route starting at the top of Town Hill beside Town Hall. From there, the parade will proceed down Main Street, turn left at Lazy Hiker Brewing Company onto Porter Street, then left onto Palmer Street and will conclude at the intersection of Highlands Road and Main Street.
Parade participants are once again welcome to have walkers alongside their floats to hand out candy. However, candy may not be thrown from moving vehicles for safety reasons. Additionally, all horses must wear manure bags (horse diapers) during the event.
The route for the parade will begin near town hall. Donated photo
Registration is required for all entries. Entry forms are available at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, located at 98 Hyatt Road. Completed forms must be submitted by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26.
For more information, please contact the Franklin Chamber of Commerce at 828.524.3161.
The Eastern Band of Cherokees Community Foundation, a North Carolina Community Foundation affiliate, has awarded $5,850 in grants to five organizations supporting the local community. The board of advisors granted: $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina for Igniting Potential in Eastern Band Youth, $1,000 to HIGHTS for healthy food for Restorative Justice Programs, $850 to Museum of the Cherokee People for HVAC Intervention Support, $2,000 to Rolling Start NC, Inc., for vehicles for people in need, $1,000 to Swain/Qualla SAFE, Inc., for general operating support.
Funds for 2025 grants came from EBCCF’s community grantmaking fund. Each year, EBCCF’s advisory board uses dollars from its endowment fund to make grants to eligible local organizations, including nonprofits, local governments, schools and churches.
The grants are a portion of community support provided by EBCCF this year. Earlier this year, EBCCF granted $180,000 through the NCCF Disaster Relief Fund. The grants were awarded to local organizations to support long-term recovery, resiliency and unmet needs related to Hurricane Helene.
‘Murder In the Name of Love’
Mountain history has its share of shocking stories of crimes of passion.
Two such events, one in 1925 and the other in 1931, rocked Swain County to its core. In 1925, Southern Railway engineer Troy Muse of Asheville was believed to be involved in an extramarital relationship with the wife of Al Dorsey when he was gunned down by Dorsey in the town square. Dorsey was convicted of the murder just weeks after the crime, but in later years, he became beloved as a town “character.”
Five years later in the community of Dorsey, Judd Pilkington found himself involving the law in an effort to keep his teenage daughter apart from neighbor Ben Posey. In revenge, Posey ambushed and killed Pilkington and subsequently fled from the law,
making it all the way to Washington State before he was apprehended. In a karmic twist, Posey met his own violent end in 1939. Wendy Meyers grew up in Swain County in a home overlooking the Fontana Lake portion of what was once the town of Judson. Her interest in the history of Judson and other “lost communities” in Swain County was sparked in childhood. After a number of years away for college and career, she returned home to Swain County in 2008. Since 2013, she has authored a blog and Facebook page entitled “Reflections of Olde Swain” that shares stories and pictures of the earlier days of the county.
The discussion will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center, 45 East Ridge Drive in Bryson City. Conversation and refreshments will follow the presentation. Free and open to the public.
Sewing classes at Swain Center
Southwestern Community College is offering seven sewing classes for students this fall at the Swain Center.
Following the establishment of a new, dedicated sewing classroom at SCC’s Swain Center, the Heritage Arts program has added sewing to its extensive list of classes offered and continues to develop new workshops and courses.
“We are building the classes from the ground up,” said Chelsea Sperger, SCC Heritage Arts instructor. “We have had a lot of interest from students, and are excited to offer different workshops and classes.”
Students without previous sewing experience will start at Intro to Machine Sewing and will work their way through Machine Sewing I and II. Students with previous experience can start further in the program with instructor permission.
Six-week classes start in November and cost $70, and one-day workshops will be held throughout the semester at a cost of $59.
Among the classes being offered are a Zipper Workshop, Holiday Gift Workshop and Intro to Machine Sewing.
For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/2vm6782a or contact Sperger at 828.366.2000.
Ancient wisdom prevails over modern bravado
If you’ve never been exposed to Daoism (commonly known as Taoism), now may be the time to intentionally engage with this ancient philosophy. The way that Lao Tzu’s teachings serve as an antidote to today’s political landscape feels not only prophetic but encouraging. To realize that the same dark woes and authoritarian shenanigans were happening thousands of years ago offers a unique type of comfort.
To begin with, diving into Daoism is not anti-Christian so don’t resist Lao Tzu’s beautiful and enlightened commentary because you feel it’s counter to your religious affiliation. In fact, Daoism was never meant to be a “religion” but a collection of philosophical and spiritual teachings. Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, Lao Tzu dictated 81 verses in ancient China, which many regard as the ultimate guide to a harmonious existence.
The central text attributed to Lao Tzu is called the “Tao Te Ching” or “The Great Way.” I’ve recently taken on the challenge of reading the “Tao Te Ching” alongside the Bible, and am finding the comparison quite fascinating. The late Wayne Dyer, a spiritual teacher, writer and speaker, translated the 81 verses of the “Tao Te Ching” in a book titled “Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.” I’ve been absorbing a verse per day for the past couple of months. It’s already been life-changing, and I’m only on verse 42.
All of that being said, the purpose of today’s column is not to teach you about the history of Daosim or the “Tao Te
Remember your oath
To the Editor:
The MAGAs control the executive branch, the legislative branch, the judicial branch and the U.S. Supreme Court, but the minority party who are in Washington is causing the shutdown because they will not meet with maga legislators who are not in Washington. Every member of congress swore an oath to support and defend the constitution, they were not required or should swear a loyalty oath to a president or any man against the constitution.
THE OATH
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
LeRoy Roberson Waynesville
Make sure to get out and vote
To the Editor:
We are halfway through the 2025 municipal elections for Waynesville, Canton and Clyde, which will significantly influence the
Ching,” but to highlight how an ancient text can offer hope in modern times. Every verse helps me approach life with a calmer, more open mind, but with the prevalence of global warfare, mass shootings in America and lack of gun control, the 31st verse struck a chord. Below is a section of this verse. When he uses the word “arms” during this time in history, it primarily refers to bows and arrows, spears, hatchets, and the like, so one can only imagine how the commonplace, nonsensical use of guns defies The Way.
Arms serve evil.
They are tools of those who oppose wise rule.
Use them only as a last resort. For peace and quiet are dearest to the decent man’s heart, And to him even a victory is no cause for rejoicing.
He who thinks triumph is beautiful Is one with a will to kill, And one with a will to kill, Shall never prevail upon the world.
It is a good sign when a man’s higher nature comes forward. A bad sign when his lower nature comes forward.
LETTERS
leadership of these towns. Unfortunately, low voter turnout continues to threaten these municipal elections. For years, leadership in all three cities has leaned Democrat, leading to policies that, in my opinion, are disconnected from the community's needs. It’s time for Republicans to rise above apathy and take action. The future of our communities and children hinges on it.
Granted, local elections don’t generate the same excitement as presidential races, but they are just as, if not more, important. Municipal leaders make decisions that impact everything from local taxes to public amenities and community programs. In Waynesville, Canton and Clyde, the current Democrat leadership has implemented policies that are financially burdensome and ideological.
This should be a wake-up call for all Republican voters who have historically been disinterested and disengaged from local politics. This apathy leads to damaging consequences. Every Republican voter who stays home enables current leadership to continue, resulting in the same continuous harmful policies.
Every vote truly matters. In local elections, just a small number of votes can determine the outcome. When Republican voters do not participate, they silence their own voices. This impacts not only the current generation but also influences the legacy we leave for future generations. Voting is more than a right; it is a civic duty. By voting, we can significantly shape the direction of our communities to
With the slaughter of multitudes, We have grief and sorrow. Every victory is a funeral; When you win a war
You celebrate mourning.
The reason I point out this verse among the others relates to the topic of my last column. Force, anger, killing, rage, conceit are weak traits that do not prevail indefinitely. They sometimes get what they want in the short-term, but they will never supersede elevated emotions such as wisdom, love, gratitude and altruism. When Lao Tzu says, “It is a good sign when a man’s higher nature comes forward. A bad sign when his lower nature comes forward,” it’s almost as if he’s speaking directly to our current administration. It is a bad, bad sign when someone's worst nature comes forward, and now we’re living the consequences.
Have faith, my friends, and ensure that your higher nature always comes forward. Additionally, don’t allow a temporary leader to cause permanent damage to your psyche. Veer away from the lip service of social media and mainstream media and lean into spiritual readings and practices that uplift and inspire. The more of us that can rise above the nonsense, the more rapidly it will dissipate.
(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist who lives in Haywood County. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)
reflect our values.
At this halfway point, Republican voters need to shake off their apathy and take action to ensure their voices are heard. The future of our cities is at stake. Let us not allow the costly, misguided policies of the current leadership to go unchallenged. Together, we can unite as a community, engage in the electoral process, and make sure our collective voice is heard.
Remember, every vote counts. Take the time to cast your ballot and encourage others
to do the same. Voting early increases your impact. Together, we can build a brighter future for Waynesville, Canton and Clyde. L.E. Cossette Waynesville
What country is this?
To the Editor:
President Trump ordered armed combat troops into Portland, Oregon, because he said the city is under
Susanna Shetley
A call to action in WNC
October marks Domestic Violence
Awareness Month (DVAM), a time to raise our collective consciousness about family violence in our community and to highlight the critical support systems available for survivors locally.
In Western North Carolina, this issue is particularly pressing given that our region sees a disproportionately high number of domestic violence cases compared to the rest of the state. We have unique challenges. Rural isolation, both physically and socially, amplify the difficulty for victims seeking help. A tight-knit community where everyone knows each other may be incredibly supportive, but it can also make it harder for victims to get help for fear of gossip, shame or being ostracized. That’s why it’s crucial to be united as a region to confront these issues head-on. Not only do we need local infrastructure, offering both immediate intervention and long-term solutions to survivors, but also neighbors that foster belief and support rather than judgement.
has made a long-term impact that cannot be overstated.
These local advocacy centers are further supported by non-profits like WNC Alliance, HIGHTS, and Reflection of Inspiration that offer services, professional trainings and foster coordinated community responses across our wider region.
Despite this collective effort of dedicated individuals, none of this would be possible without the support from you, our community. We are in a challenging climate for grant-funded organizations, but local support and individual commitment can go a long way. Center for Domestic Peace will soon complete an 18-bed shelter, paid for entirely by Jackson County and Dogwood Health Trust. This will ensure that those families needing to escape a violent household can remain in their community as they rebuild their lives. We are thankful that our county commissioners continue to support CDP’s mission in sustaining this vital resource in the decades to come.
This October, as we appreciate the changing colors of the leaves, let us reflect on the change we can make as individuals. As each autumn leaf contributes to the spectacular effect of fall in the Smoky Mountains, so can each community member add to the collective effort of building a safe place to live.
In Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, and on The Qualla Boundary, we are blessed with so many organizations whose sole mission is ending domestic violence. The people who work for Center for Domestic Peace, REACH, Ernestine Walkingstick DV Shelter and SAFE work tirelessly to keep crisis hotlines open, find emergency shelter, provide legal accompaniment, and just about anything they can do to advocate for survivors. Moreover, their investment in early youth education promoting consent, respect and conflict resolution
attack and burning to the ground. This is not true. The city of Portland is just fine according to its own police chief and the mayor. An area just one city block long at the federal building has been the site of small demonstrations. The city is not burning to the ground.
President Trump at the United Nations boasted about all the wars he has ended and bragged that he stopped the war between Cambodia and Armenia. There's never been a war between Armenia and Cambodia. They’re thousands of miles apart.
In Chicago, ICE personnel rappelled down from Black Hawk helicopters in the middle of the night onto an apartment building roof. They smashed down doors and pulled families, including young children, from their beds. Children were zip-tied together and torn screaming from their parents. American citizens were zip-tied and forced to the ground face down.
Trump declared that “American cities should be training grounds for our military.” Is this the United States or Russia under Putin and Stalin, or Germany under Hitler?
If you’d like to learn more about how you can donate or volunteer, contact cdp@cdpjaxcountync.org. Follow us on Instagram (@centerfordomestic) and Facebook to find out about our fun community events and learn about the impact we’re making. If you’d like to know more about our services, please call our free & confidential hotline at 828.586.1237 or check out our website at www.cdpjaxcountync.org.
(Billy Streibe is the assistant director of prevention and outreach at theCenter for Domestic Peace in Jackson County.)
All this is aimed to frighten and confuse us and keep the American people from taking action to stop the Trump, Musk, Zuckerberg, Ellison billionaire club gaining compete control over our society. They are defunding Medicare and Medicaid, destroying food assistance programs and creating hugely profitable and unregulated housing and real estate empires. They are building enormous media monopolies to control us through fear and falsehoods — like that the USA is being invaded and crime is out of control in Washington, D.C., where the actual crime rate is the lowest in 30 years.
Will we accept as truth Trump’s imaginary invasion of immigrant “criminals” and his imaginary “communist terrorists” supposedly threatening our country? Will we just let the super-rich and powerful control the future of our children and our great nation. I don’t think most Americans want this.
No, we want a democracy!
Congressman Chuck Edwards, Senators Budd and Tillis, please speak up now. Steve Wall Waynesville
Ingles Nutrition N
written by Ingles Dietitian Leah M
McGrath
“STRUGGLE MEALS”
One thing I’ve been noticing lately on social media is a refer “struggle meals”. These are easy, economical meals to make when money (and time) is tight. Often these meals start out with staple foods with protein like beans, cheese, canned tuna, peanut butter then add in or have with starches and vegetables.
Here are some ideas of typical “struggle meals:”
Y Yoou can mash beans onto a tortilla, add rice a and salsa, roll it up and turn it into a burrito. Make chili with gr ound chicken, turkey meat ( can be gr y, , pork or soy crumbl sweetpotatoes.
Cheese quesadillas or grilled cheese sandwiches.
Scrambled eggs with cheese. Make an omelet or frittata with leftover cooked vegetables and cheese. Cook ramen noodles, add in stir fry vegetables and top with a scrambled or poached egg
T Tuuna sandwiches . Add a can of tuna to cooked or boxed macaroni and cheese and mix in fresh or frozen
ference to ake when h staple foods ter and eggs and and cheese, th ground es) and add in iches. or frittata with odles, add in stir d hot noodles, vegetables.
Peanut butter and honey or jelly sandwiches with a glass of milk or soy milk.
Do you have a favorite “struggle meal”?
dwiches with a
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
Leah McGrath - Dietitian
Guest Columnist
Billy Striebe
Down in the holler
Fireside Collective releases latest album
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR
Since its inception in 2014, Asheville-based Fireside Collective has evolved from a ragtag bluegrass act into one of the rising stars in the jam-grass and greater psychedelic music scene in Southern Appalachia and beyond. Case in point; the band’s latest album, “The Seven,” leans harder toward the roots-rock realm, all while keeping its core tone anchored in the acoustic majesty of Americana music — the melodic bridge between the two being the group’s improvisational skillset and keen attention to sonic exploration.
Founded by Jesse Iaquinto (mandolin), Joe Cicero (acoustic guitar), Tommy Maher (dobro) and Carson White (electric bass), Fireside Collective won the band competition at MerleFest in 2016. That led to a nomination from the International Bluegrass Music Association for “Momentum Band of the Year.” In 2022, the group received another IBMA nod for “New Artist of the Year.” The following year, Michael Tillis (drums) was added.
And with this new, unknown chapter emerging in real time for Fireside Collective, so, too, is the musical platform by which the quintet is launching itself into the national landscape amid the likes of Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass, Molly Tuttle and Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country.
Catching up with The Smoky Mountain News while on tour, Iaquinto spoke at-length about the road to the “here and now” for Fireside Collective, what he sees moving forward as the ensemble grows leaps and bounds, and why the live stage will always be the sacred space of possibility and purpose.
Smoky Mountain News: Fireside Collective celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. Looking back, what really sticks out about those early years?
Jesse Iaquinto: Moments like standing on the mainstage at Telluride Bluegrass [Festival] competing in the band competition finals, sharing the stage with Jerry Douglas at the first Earl Scruggs Fest and recording at Echo Mountain in Asheville.
[And] we’ve had the opportunity to travel to so many beautiful and unique places.
The vibe at the start was very idealistic and full of wild dreams. There was an almost constant state of awe and a feeling of adventure in the early years. It felt like we were on a constant field trip, taking in new experiences and turning those experiences into inspiration and art.
The ethos in the beginning was to bring joy to the world and create memorable musical experiences for listeners and audience members alike. We’ve always wanted to help inspire positive change, and we truly feel that art is one of the best ways to accomplish this.
If anything, we feel that these initial values are more valuable than ever, and we hope to keep bringing smiles to people’s faces, [all while] creating a space where people can dance, congregate and be a part of something bigger than any individual.
SMN: Pushing into this next decade together, what’s the current
landscape, either physically or sonically, look like to you? What do you see? What you do hear?
JI: Moving forward, we’re extremely excited about the sonic space that has opened up for us with the addition of drums. We’re already planning to do shows with a horn section, add more visual elements such as lights and build the show into a transcendent experience overall. Our music, while firmly rooted in bluegrass and roots, has taken on elements of rock, EDM and even world music.
We’re excited to let it evolve naturally and involve more collaborations with various artists. We’ve always been a collective with a desire to nurture community and work together with other artists in the broader music scene. We feel extremely honored to have had the experiences we did within the bluegrass world and look forward to taking that soul into new genres and musical territory.
At the core, we want to bring people together and celebrate this sacred experience we call life. So far, our fans and [the] greater Fireside family have reciprocated all of the love that we have put into this project. The thing that keeps us going is the feeling that this project can truly make people’s lives better and bring more joy and positivity into the world.
SMN: The jam-grass scene has exploded in recent years due to the “Billy Strings Effect.” We’re in this wild, surreal time, with the level by which the bands are playing, in venue size and the widening net that’s attracting these large audiences. What is it about jam-grass that’s connecting with so many folks in this exact juncture of time and place?
JI: I personally feel that jam-grass is very similar to the original philosophy and mission of bluegrass in its earliest days. From the start, bluegrass blended many different genres into a new hybrid and truly American art form.
The high level of improvisation and individual musical proficiency had a profound impact on Jerry Garcia and is heavily embedded into the music of the Grateful Dead. Since the Dead gave birth to the jam scene, in many ways bluegrass is the grandfather of the jam world.
I’ve felt for a longtime that bluegrass and jam music are perfectly intertwined, and I feel like Billy Strings tied those worlds together perfectly. It’s been exciting to see it grow and be embraced in such a big way in recent years. When I first discovered Yonder Mountain String Band in college, I had a similar experience. I was hooked right away, and it’s been awesome to watch it evolve and grow in recent years.
For Fireside Collective, this progressive approach and willingness to blend many genres together is one main reason we felt comfortable bringing in drums to our string band. Everything is built on the progress that came before. We truly stand on the shoulders of giants, and bluegrass to us is the perfect blend of roots music and tradition with progress and innovation.
Want to go?
Renowned Asheville jam-grass act Fireside Collective will host its album release party for its newest record, “The Seven,” with a special two-night performance on Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, at The Orange Peel in Asheville.
The ensemble will be opening for jam-grass group Kitchen Dwellers. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m. Ages 18 and over.
Tickets are $34.10 per evening or $57.11 for a two-day pass. There’s also a Kitchen Dwellers Unplugged VIP experience available for $119.02. Tax is included in all admission prices.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit theorangepeel.net.
Fireside Collective will play Asheville Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. File photo
‘Red pepper notes and yellow cigarettes, she shared and never asked for more’
Wthrough the tree canopy above the road leading into the Tsali Recreation Area on the Graham/Swain County line, the sounds of “One Alone Together” by F.J. McMahon echoed out of the truck speakers, windows rolled down with a cool fall breeze swirling around me.
“Watching the rain become silhouette pictures as you go, the gray mist burned off by the dawn, now to think of what’s become of our time alone together,” McMahon howls into the ether, the melody first released in 1969 to little or no acclaim, only to become a cult classic decades later — the album just as culturally relevant and beautifully haunting as ever.
It’s Monday. All of my assignments for this week’s newspaper have been written and submitted. Edit and kick the paper out the door to the printer tomorrow. More assignments and deadlines will emerge come Wednesday morning. Do it all over again. And again. Some 18 years as a professional journalist (age 40 now). And yet, the work remains bountiful. The work remains deeply fulfilling. The work remains. As do I, eh?
For now? Onward to do my favorite disappearing act, which is a gloriously sweaty trail run in the depths of Mother Nature. Somewhere, anywhere, so long as there’s solitude and silence, dirt trails meandering up and down mountain ridges, and this honest sense of self and of place, which is only (truly) found under these exact situations and particular circumstances.
The worries of the day now in the rearview mirror, both physically and emotionally. The rusty, musty, trusty pickup truck motors along in a steadfast hum of well-earned miles on the odometer. Dashboard still covered with dust from that trip in July through the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Glovebox filled with maps and booklets for here, there, everywhere.
Pull into the Tsali parking lot. Just a couple other vehicles present, a far cry from the zoo of humanity here on the weekends. Pop down the tailgate and get my running shoes on. Close it up, take a deep breath and start trotting towards the trailhead, the sunshine falling quickly behind the Blue Ridge Mountains cradling my current position.
Road trail, I started thinking (as per usual) about the upcoming week. Restless thoughts. What to do. Where to go. Who to talk to. The miles that will be traveled. The hands that will be shook. The interviews and interactions with friends and strangers alike, all to fill these endless pages each week for you, dear reader.
This coming Thursday, I’m supposed to head to the University of North Carolina at Asheville and be interviewed by a professor about music journalism, which will be in front of a slew of high school kids for this media summit at the school. Now, I’ve done several academic panels before, mostly with college kids looking to get into this industry. But, I remain curious to see what the younger kids will think of this.
And, just like a restless mind does so damn well, my ADHD thoughts jumped to when I was in high school and college. It then immediately dawned on me that the amount of years since I graduated college (18) is the same amount of years I was when I entered freshman year at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut.
Just as I had this notion, my right knee attached to my 40-year-old body buckled on a rock covered in leaves on the trail. Slight ping of pain up and down my leg, only to soon dissipate. I regained my balance, sweat dripping down my forehead. As a lifelong athlete, I’m grateful for mobility and agility, even if my body and legs ain’t as fast as my college self. No matter, enjoy the pace. I stopped for a moment to simply take inventory of the solitude. Catch myself. Catch my breath. Pause for a moment. Hear the sounds of the wind pushing through the last of the foliage leaves, knocking them back down to the earth. Hear the black crows hovering overhead on the branches, my beloved spirit animal of all time and space. Look up and nod in appreciation. Hear the sounds of absolutely nothing, too, which comes at a premium these days in a modern world of white noise, of daily chaos and confusion. Circling back to my truck, my running clothes were happily soaked in another jaunt of the body’s abilities versus the landscape by which I traverse. The parking lot is now empty. Tuesday morning comes quickly, so do the endless responsibilities of the work week. Thankfully, as a vagabond journalist, my schedule remains haphazard, where I’m able to
HOT PICKS
1
“Echoes Across the Smokies: A Night of Strings, Stories & Songs” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
2
A special stage production of “Lizzie” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30-Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
3
Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Alma Russ (Americana/ folk) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
4
Scotsman (Waynesville) will host the “Take Me Back To The 90s Halloween Party” with DJ Kahn at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31.
5
Valley Cigar & Wine Company (Waynesville) will host Raphael Graves & Drayton Aldridge (Americana) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
make my full-time hours fit into the ways and means by which I conduct my daily existence. Write when I’m inspired. Wander when I need to refuel my creative juices. Repeat.
Hop back into the truck and put it into drive. Back down along the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. The ancient ridges of the national park in the distance. The last of the day’s sunshine crashing into the peaks and slowly sliding down the contours of the mountains and into the valleys below. My foot remains steady atop the accelerator. No need to press down. No need to be in a hurry. Put on some tunes and let your mind drift, freely and openly.
While in transit returning to Waynesville, I received a text message from an old buddy who has recently relocated back to Sylva. He wanted to know if I was around, and if I was available for a friendly beverage at Innovation Brewing in downtown Sylva. A pint of fresh pilsner and a colossal “Blast-Off Burger” from the Cosmic Carryout food truck onsite at the brewery sounds about right, especially after a hearty jog into the wilderness. Sold.
Pull into Innovation. It’s trivia night. The place is packed and extremely jovial in nature. Small town vibrancy and intimacy found in the presence of some of the finest craft ales anywhere in Southern Appalachia. Two seats open at the counter. A big bear hug to my longtime chum. Catch up about nothing and everything and whatever lies in-between. Tall tales and hard truths. Both of us have had a rough last few years. And yet, our heads remain held high.
Arriving back at my humble abode later on, I kicked my boots up onto the ottoman. Lean back into the cozy mid-century modern couch. Gaze out the front window onto nearby Walnut Street. Downtown Waynesville is quiet, at least for now, at least until early tomorrow morning. A cool fall breeze can be heard pushing through the branches of the old maple trees in the yard. Shake my head in awe of everything in the rearview mirror, the beauty of what lies ahead tomorrow and everyday thereafter. The gratitude remains.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Graham County, North Carolina.
Garret K. Woodward photo
Pottery is a longtime
All aboard ‘The Polar Express’
“The Polar Express” train ride will roll down the tracks on select dates from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. Climb aboard one of the powerful locomotives and historic train cars as it departs the Bryson City Depot for the North Pole to pick up Santa Claus himself. Upon arriving at our depot, you’ll be immersed in the story as GSMR chefs serve you hot chocolate and sweet treats while singing and dancing all the way to the North Pole.
On the return trip to Bryson City, Santa will visit each coach and hand out the first gift of Christmas to each child. To note, there are a handful of seating and pricing options available.
For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or visit gsmr.com.
On the stage
HART presents ‘Lizzie’
A special stage production of “Lizzie” will be held at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30-Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. 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.
The 19th annual WNC Pottery Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, in Bridge Park in Sylva.
WNC Pottery Festival ALSO:
Showcasing the work of more than 40 master potters from an array of states. A variety of clay art styles will be presented with over 40 master potters. The event is juried, and the lineup of potters are some of the finest in their craft.
The event has been named one of the “Top 20” events in the Southeast for November. Admission is $5. Children under 12 are free.
For more information, visit wncpotteryfestival.com.
‘The Polar Express’ is a popular WNC ride. File photo
• Encouraging Word Baptist Church (Waynesville) will host "Trunk or Treat" from 57 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Dress up in your costume and participate in our popular “Trunk or Treat.” 828.454.5933 / ewbchurch.com
• Crestview Baptist Church (Canton) will host “Light the Night for Jesus” 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. An indoor trick or treat event. 828.648.1110 / crestviewcanton.com.
• “Trick or Treat” will be held from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in downtown Bryson City. Downtown streets are closed for trick or treating. greatsmokies.com.
On the beat
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. 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.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host a special production of “Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella” at 7 p.m. Nov. 7-8, 14-15 and 21-22. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center
(Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 828.488.7843 / swainartscenter.com.
The Scotsman gets the blues
Popular Asheville act Spiro Nicolopoulos Blues Apocalypse will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.
A collaboration of some of the finest musicians in the region, the blues/rock ensemble is fronted by Nicolopoulos, a highly skilled guitarist/vocalist known for his work in The Paper Crowns and other local acts.
The show is free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
On the table
• 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.
• 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. 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from gourmet charcuteries to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
Spiro Nicolopoulos will play Waynesville Nov. 7. Tom Farr Photography
‘Lizzie’ will be at HART on select dates. File photo
WNC tradition. File photo
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.
• 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.
ALSO:
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host “Open Mic” 8-10 p.m. Thursdays. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host “Picking on the Porch” (open community jam) 6 p.m. Tuesdays, “Trivia Night” 7 p.m. Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Blue Mountaineers (Americana/bluegrass) 57 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 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 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.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Kelly Morris (singer-songwriter) Oct. 29. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For tickets and reservations, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-event.
• 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
Lazy Hiker welcomes The V8s
Classic rock/R&B act The V8s will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva.
Most of The V8s have been playing in various bands (often together) since 1975. The outcome is one good-time party band. Classic, danceable tunes delivered from old-school musicians with feel.
On any given night, the band will deliver their smokin’ hot versions of songs by artists such as Otis Redding, Wilson Picket, Sam & Dave, Johnny Rivers, Van Morrison and many more. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
Ridge Big Band (jazz/swing) 7 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, “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.
• 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 Charles Walker Band Oct. 31, Corey Stevenson (singer-songwriter) Nov. 1, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Nov. 7 and Rock Holler Nov. 8. 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 Tracy Lawrence (country gold) 9 p.m. Nov. 14. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• 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” on select dates. 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-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.369.3663 / jrchophouse.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host 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 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 Blue Mountaineers (Americana/bluegrass) 5-7 p.m. Mondays, “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.
• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the
public. 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org/franklin.
• 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, Rich Manz Trio (oldies/acoustic) Oct. 30, Tricia Ann Band (rock/country) Nov. 1, Woolybooger (blues/folk) Nov. 6 and Stomper Kitty (Americana) Nov. 8. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.1717 / meadowlarkmotel.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” with Frank Lee every Thursday and 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.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host “Music Nights” with James Thompson from 4-6 p.m. first and third Friday of the month. Free and open to the public. go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Interstellar Echoes (Pink Floyd tribute) Nov. 8. 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 and “Pick Your Poison Halloween 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.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic” first Wednesday of every month, Alma Russ (Americana/folk) Oct. 30, “Take Me Back To The 90s Halloween Party” with DJ Kahn 9 p.m. Oct. 31, “Open Mic” Nov. 5, Bobby G.
The V8s will play Sylva Oct. 31. File photo
Blue Ridge Big Band at Folkmoot
Popular jazz/swing act Blue Ridge Big Band will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
The Blue Ridge Big Band is a high-energy Haywood County ensemble performing classic and modern swing tunes. As well, there will be a free dance class at 6 p.m. Tickets for the performance start at $15 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit folkmoot.org or 828.452.2997.
‘Echoes Across the Smokies’
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 (JAM) 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 (even non-WCU) and children are $15. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, visit arts.wcu.edu/echoes-25.
(rock) Nov. 6, Spiro Nicolopoulos Blues Apocalypse (rock/blues) Nov. 7 and Mike Yow Band (rock/jam) Nov. 8. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Smoky Mountain Dog Bar (Waynesville) will host “Open Mic Night” 5-7 p.m. Fridays. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0726 / smokymountaindogbakery.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with David Cheatham (Americana/folk) Nov. 6. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• 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 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 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 Monica Spears (singer-songwriter) Nov. 2 and Tim Austin (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Nov. 9. All shows begin at 2 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.482.5573 / thevineyardathighholly.com.
• Western Carolina Brew & Wine (Highlands) will host live music 4-6 p.m. Saturdays, “Music Bingo” 6-8 p.m. Saturdays, David Lloyd (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Nov. 7 and Christian Jones (singer-songwriter) 1 p.m. Nov. 9. Free and open to the public. 828.342.6707 / wcbrewandwine.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
Blue Ridge Big Band will play Waynesville Nov. 1. File photo
Waynesville art walk, live music
A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will continue its 2025 season from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in downtown Waynesville.
Each first Friday of the month (May-December), 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. For more information, visit downtownwaynesville.com.
WCU glass exhibition
The “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.
From handblown vessels and flameworked geometries to textured pâte de verre surfaces and neon sculptures, this landmark exhibition highlights the innovation and diversity of glass as a contemporary art form.
Continuing Western Carolina University’s decades-long tradition of glass-focused exhibitions, “North Carolina Glass 2025” celebrates
the state’s vibrant Studio Glass Movement and offers visitors an inspiring look at the cutting edge of this remarkable medium. For more information, visit wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center.
‘Fall of the Monarch’ by Hayden Wilson. Donated photo
• “Holiday Market” will run Nov. 4 through Dec. 27 at The Bascom in Highlands. Discover unique, handcrafted gifts by local and regional artists, including members of The Bascom Clay Studio. Celebrate the season with holiday-themed workshops for children and adults. For more information, call 828.526.4949 or visit thebascom.org.
• “Didanisisgi Gadagwatli: A Showcase of Pottery from the Mud Dauber Community Workshop” is now on display at the Museum of the Cherokee People in Cherokee. On view through May 2026, the exhibition features works by students of Tara McCoy (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) handcrafted during an intensive three-month workshop. For more information, visit motcp.org.
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (May-December) 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.
• 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.
• 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. 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. 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.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. 828.339.4000 / southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in 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.
A work by Suzanne Barrett Justis. File photo
Spooky reading for the spooky season
One of the best things about the East Coast is the fall. Last November, I made a trip to California and was surprised to find mild weather and a nameless time. There’s a reason it’s called the place where seasons never change, and I realized then and there, I was an East Coast girl through and through.
It’s difficult to imagine a life without the annual fall experience. The rainbow range of autumn leaves. Hot, steaming drinks enjoyed on brisk, cold mornings.
The wood-burning smell of evening stoves and bonfires. Perhaps it’s the liveliness, the colors, the change that brings Halloween to life. It’s not just a day; it’s a whole month. The trees get loud, crinkly and strange. The dark becomes a realer presence. And I look forward each year to embracing the mystery with all its pumpkins, twinkly lights and early sunsets.
also convince your niece that toes will be found in your garden.
Another set of short stories perfect for October is “Edgar Allan Poe” (Doubleday, 1966, 832 pages). This collection includes his well-known poem, “The Raven,” which I love, but also plenty of prose to choose from as well. A couple of my favorite tales from here are “The Cat” and “The Masque of the
Part of enjoying the season can come with the right book, and I try to do that with my literature choices. Whether it’s an eerie novel or some short scary stories, there are options for everyone to welcome the fall with their paperbacks.
For those of you who can relate to the season coming and going too fast, here are a few suggestions of scary stories to squeeze in before Thanksgiving comes.
An all-time favorite of mine is “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” (Scholastic Inc, 1900, 111 pages). My first encounter with this compilation of spooky folk tales was my childhood. This book was in my father’s collection, tucked away in his special book hutch. Once, my cousin and I snuck under the stair crawlspace in the basement and read it aloud to each other by candlelight. Needless to say, it took me quite some time after that to muster the courage to go downstairs by myself. These stories are old folk tales, passed along and becoming strange legends with a life of their own, outside of the pages and into the schoolground, whispered during recess to friends.
All of these are child friendly and can be enjoyed again by adults through the eyes of the children in their lives. It was a joy to revisit them with my nieces and nephews over a campfire. But fair warning, they will spook more sensitive children. They may
1993, 341 pages) was one of the first I read and would highly recommend. It throws in mystery, murder and split-personality disorder all together, and you won’t want to put it down.
Red Death.” Poe has a way of writing that’s mystical, eerie and classical. I’m not a fan of horror and I find these to skirt outside that genre while still succeeding in a scare.
For those of you who have no problem reading books and gobble them up like candy in a kid’s Halloween basket, I’d suggest Mary Higgins Clark. I first learned of her in high school and became addicted. She has books anywhere from suspense to thriller to mystery. Even though it strays from the usual supernatural element of Halloween, her works have an intensity and captivation that keep you hooked all the same. “All Around the Town” (Pocket Books,
Love letter to an unexpected place
T.
Another book of hers, “A Cry in the Night,” (Pocket Books, 1993, 352 pages) is perhaps more on the eerie side. This book was so gripping I read it in one sitting. I opened it up one evening, thinking I’d read a few chapters before bed, but found myself still reading it when my dad was getting ready for work at 5 a.m. We were both confused as to what time it was that morning. This book tells the story of a young woman who suddenly is thrown into a beautiful, unexpected romance. But the unexpected turns sinister when she finds her new husband may not be the man who she thought he was. There’s something about scary stories and mysteries that make me feel like a child again. Curling up on a cool porch with a hot drink, or staying up later than I should to read just one more chapter that becomes five. They reignite wonder, open your eyes to the peculiarity of reality, and pull you headlong into a world of their own.
I love reading all sorts of things. Classics, long histories, nonfiction and even dry essays. It’s good to push yourself and read to learn. But every now and then, I need to pick up a book that’s going to pick me up in return and take a hold of my attention. Spooky stories do exactly that. During a time of year that everything is changing, dying and about to fade away, I feel like the same little girl I once was, up too late and wrapped up in a world far from her own.
(Anna Barren is a teacher and lifelong lover of books. annab4376@gmail.com.)
In this collection of essays written in two distinct voices, the couple recounts their move to a mountain farm and the
heritage livestock, protecting their land, and living closely with nature. “The Keep” is both a love letter to
resilience and the beauty found in wild and domestic life. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.586.9499 or visit citylightsnc.com.
Henry
and Priscilla M. Ireys will share their new book, “The Keep: Living
at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
J ackson County commissioners have approved a sweeping new conservation framework designed to balance growth with preservation across some of the most ecologically significant lands in Western North Carolina, located in the southern part of the county.
The Headwaters District Conservation Plan focuses on southern Jackson County’s steep slopes, fertile bottomlands and the headwaters of four major river systems — the Tuckasegee, Chattooga, Whitewater and Horsepasture — which feed both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. The plan, more than a year in the making, aims to provide a roadmap for how the county can grow without erasing what makes it unique.
Burt Kornegay, a longtime Caney Fork resident and award-winning outdoors columnist for The Smoky Mountain News, sent along an endorsement of the plan, read aloud by Bill Horton during public comment.
Kornegay wrote that he’d lived in the area
more than 40 years, raised a family and operated a local business — Slickrock Expeditions — before retiring. Calling Jackson County “home,” Kornegay urged commissioners to approve the plan because it would protect the land and water that define the region while still allowing responsible growth.
Owen Carson, plant ecologist for the ecological services group at Equinox Environmental, told commissioners the purpose was to develop a conservation plan that assesses the priorities of the community and generates recommendations to ensure that rural, scenic and natural character are con-
“In a nutshell, that idea can be boiled down into the phrase — plan diligently for the future, protect what is most important to you as a community and prosper because of it.”
— Owen Carson, Equinox plant ecologist
The plan’s findings make clear why that protection matters. Nearly 85% of the Headwaters District remains forested, containing rare species’ habitat and some of the cleanest coldwater streams in the region. More than 35,000 acres of farmland soils of state or local importance support livestock, orchards and Fraser fir cultivation.
At the same time, the pressures are growing. Carson told commissioners that rapid growth, driven largely by second-home development and tourism, is fragmenting farmland and threatening water quality. By 2040, thousands of acres of farmland in Jackson County could be lost to development. North Carolina continues to be one of the most at-risk states for farmland loss.
“The conservation plan you’re asked to consider gives guidelines for protecting the Tuckasegee headwaters while at the same time it provides for development,” Kornegay wrote.
“It both sustains county growth and conserves the land and water that make our home special.”
served in the face of increasing development pressure.
“In a nutshell, that idea can be boiled down into the phrase — plan diligently for the future, protect what is most important to you as a community and prosper because of it,” Carson said.
“We also found increasing development pressure, rapid growth driven by second home development, strain on resources, potentially losing as much as 2,000 acres of farmland by 2040 and developing steep slopes, which presents risks to safety, property, water quality and life,” Carson said.
Schoolhouse Falls. Will Thomas photo
The plan is not regulatory. It is a datadriven, community-supported framework meant to guide local decision-making. Over the course of the planning process, a steering committee and nearly 40 key stakeholders met regularly to identify conservation priorities and weigh competing interests. Residents, farmers and developers all had input through public meetings and surveys, which showed overwhelming support for conservation initiatives.
More than 90% of respondents endorsed programs to protect land, water and habitats. Participants emphasized farmland preservation, trout stream protection and maintaining rural character as top priorities.
commission. It would include representatives from local government, land trusts, farmers, developers and land managers from state and federal agencies.
Commissioners were also urged to strengthen land use ordinances to protect steep slopes and ridgelines, adopt formal riparian buffer standards and expand conservation subdivision requirements to encourage clustered growth.
Other recommendations include expanding trail networks, improving access to outdoor recreation areas, and partnering with regional groups to create long-distance hiking and biking routes. Those investments, the plan says, would position outdoor recre-
Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina announced the completion and opening of an accessible walking trail through the meadow of Oak Hill Community Park & Forest, marking the latest milestone in the park’s Sensory Trail Experience Program.
“We also did find that there is broad support within the community and aligning values there. We have consensus that the public here really appreciates and supports conservation of natural resources,” Carson said.
The plan identifies five core conservation priorities — “safeguarding water resources, directing growth away from sensitive lands, preserving farmland and working forests to preserve the way of life here, connecting landscapes and communities, expanding trail systems, greenways and habitat corridors and promoting stewardship and the outdoor economy,” according to Carson.
To advance those priorities, it offers specific best practices for county leaders, developers and landowners. County officials are encouraged to enhance public education, update ordinances and adopt stronger water resource protections. Builders are urged to cluster development to preserve open space and maintain buffers along streams. Private landowners are advised to voluntarily enroll in agricultural and forestry programs or consider conservation easements that maintain family ownership while protecting land.
One of the most significant recommendations is the creation of a Headwaters Stewardship Council, a permanent body that would coordinate conservation strategies across the district and advise the county
ation as a cornerstone of Jackson County’s economy while protecting scenic resources.
Carson said the plan recognizes that conservation is not an obstacle to growth, but a prerequisite for long-term prosperity, safety and quality of life. Wholesale adoption of the plan isn’t strictly necessary for it to be effective.
“Implementing even select recommendations in this plan will have a significant positive impact and position you as a leader in balancing conservation and development in Western North Carolina,” said Carson.
Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper asked Carson about how to protect farmland.
“There are several ways that we recommend doing it, one of which I spoke about last time, which has already begun,” Carson said, mentioning a study on the value of agricultural land and the cost-benefit of preserving it by bolstering soil and water conservation staff, promoting conservation easements and utilizing other such programs.
“Some of that’s ongoing now as we’re working through this,” Chairman Mark Letson said.
The board voted unanimously to adopt the plan, although commissioners Michael Jennings and Todd Bryson were absent from the meeting.
Carolina. Current conditions include aggressive weeds such as vetch, pokeweed and nutsedge, which crowd out native species. FCNC will develop interpretive and wayfinding signage for phased installation around the trail and alongside the sensory
Between now and the sensory station installations, FCNC’s stewardship team is working with EcoForesters of Asheville to focus on invasive species removal. The effort is part of the 8.5-acre restoration of fallow field surrounding and within the walking trail to convert it to a native Piedmont prairie meadow, one of the rarest habitats in North
stations, which may include nature-play elements, a bird blind, plant-scent waypoints and wind art. The sensory stations, combined with the walking trail through the Piedmont prairie and orchard, will create an inclusive, interactive space that promotes creativity, mental health and well-being and environmental education.
Donated photo
The Headwaters District Conservation plan attempts to balance growth with sound environmental stewardship. Mary Anne Baker photo
NCDEQ announces funding to support recycling and waste reduction in WNC
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Environmental Assistance and Customer Service is now accepting applications for the Helene Recovery Recycling Infrastructure Grant Program, which supports western North Carolina communities in rebuilding and strengthening waste reduction and recycling systems following Hurricane Helene.
Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the American Relief Act of 2025, the HRRI program provides up to $25 million in grants over multiple phases. Local governments may apply for up to $5 million per project, with no local match required.
Applications for the total $25 million in funding are due Jan. 30, 2026. Project period is three years and there is not a match requirement.
Eligible applicants include local governments — counties, municipalities, councils of governments and solid waste authorities — within FEMA-declared disaster counties impacted by Hurricane Helene (DR-4827).
Eligible projects may include but are not limited to:
Funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis and cannot be used for salaries, administrative costs or contracted collection services. Submit one electronic copy of your proposal to Matt James at matt.james@deq.nc.gov. Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis through Jan. 30, 2026, with early awards possible.
• Construction or improvement of recycling or composting facilities
• Development of regional collection (huband-spoke) systems
• Upgrades to convenience centers or household hazardous waste programs
• Purchase of recycling trucks, containers or carts
• Related feasibility studies or education and outreach
Large animal health enhancement grants awarded to Macon County veterinarians
Ten North Carolina Veterinary practices were recently awarded grants to help support their large animal practices. This $130,000 recurring fund was created by the N.C. General Assembly in 2023 and is annually administered by the N.C. Ag Finance Authority.
Applicants intend to use funding this round for student debt repayments, facili-
Applicants are encouraged to contact DEACS staff before applying to discuss project eligibility at either 919.707.8142 or 919.707.8147.
For more information and to apply, visit deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/environmentalassistance-and-customer-service/recyclingand-materials-management/programsoffered/grants-local-governments/helene-recovery-recycling-infrastructure-grants.
ty construction, equipment loans, a variety of large animal chutes and implementing new technology and software. The veterinarians selected during this funding cycle cover 47 of the 100 counties across North Carolina.
In the Smoky Mountain News coverage area, grantees were Cowee Cowgirl Mobile Large Animal Veterinary Services and Farm and Field Mobile Large Animal Veterinary Services in Macon County. This funding opportunity is available to veterinarians who practice in one of the 70 North Carolina counties with a population of 100,000 or fewer and who spend 30% or more of their patient care involved in large animal veterinary care.
‘Keeping the lights on’
In the
public
lands of the Blue Ridge, a complicated and unusual federal shutdown
BY KATIE MYERS
B LUE R IDGE P UBLIC RADIO
This coverage is made possible through a partnership bet ween BPR and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.
Nearly one month into the federal government shutdown, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park remains open to the public, and the National Forest Service’s logging and disaster response capabilities remain active.
According to the contingency plans for the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service, non-emergency operations are supposed to remain closed during a federal shutdown. But this year, national parks and forests in the region are keeping their doors a little more open than usual.
To keep the Great Smoky Mountains National Park open to the public for now, local governments in Tennessee and North Carolina and recreation-advocacy groups have combined funds to pay many employees. Meanwhile, most non-emergency Forest Service employees have been furloughed, but what that means is a little different than before.
FEDERAL ‘TIMBER EMERGENCY’ ALLOWS LOGGING TO CONTINUE IN NATIONAL FORESTS
“It seems that there is an effort to keep the lights on, in a way that we haven’t seen in past shutdowns,” said Sam Evans, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, who is concerned that timber sales are ongoing.
Most non-emergency Forest Service employees have been furloughed due to the government shutdown. Advocates like Evans are concerned that this may make logging operations less transparent.
The Forest Service Timber Sales page, meanwhile, shows one active timber sale in the Tusquitee Ranger District out for bid.
“We’ve got forests in our region putting
ward,” Joseph said, alongside other emergency functions like controlled burns and disaster preparedness. “The complicating piece of this is that under a government shutdown, of course, that the government is not allocating money.”
Smokies, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Blount County government in Tenn., and the Tennessee cities of Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. That agreement was previously extended to Oct. 19 and has now been extended again
of
timber sales out for bid, entering into contracts with loggers, like the logging work is still happening,” Evans said. “What’s not apparently happening is a lot of public engagement, right? Like, I am not able right now to get meetings with the Forest Service.”
Travis Joseph, the president of the American Forest Resource Council, a national forestry trade association, told BPR that the federal declaration of a “national timber emergency” allows Forest Service timber sales to continue.
“Planning of timber sales, execution of timber sales, payment of timber sales, monitoring of the contracts are all moving for-
weeks. Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, it’s illegal for an agency to allocate money that hasn’t been appropriated by Congress.
“If there isn’t a change in Congress, I think that the Forest Service is going to face some really serious decisions about what to do,” Joseph said. “Not just with, you know, timber projects and logging, but also recreation and keeping public lands open.”
This comes after the Forest Service announced in September that, a year after Hurricane Helene, 93% of trails and 97% of roads closed due to the storm had been reopened.
The Forest Service did not respond directly due to the shutdown but told BPR that recreation sites will remain open to the public and disaster response capabilities remain active.
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CONTINUE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR NATIONAL PARKS
According to Jim Matheny of Friends of the Smokies, that time crunch is going to hit the National Park before long. Currently, a coalition of local governments and nonprofits is are paying the Department of the Interior $60,000 per day to ward off furloughs of 275 park employees.
Those contributing are: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Friends of the
“What has to happen after that is Congress is going to have to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to pay you back.’ That’s not a guarantee, but it is certainly our hope that everyone is going to be reimbursed for basically footing the bill for the federal government,” Matheny said.
“It seems that there is an effort to keep the lights on in a way that we haven’t seen in past shutdowns.”
This is not the first time the park has done this, and other parks are in a similar position, seeing the tourist dollars during peak fall color season as too essential to pass up. Just after the shutdown was announced, the state of West Virginia donated $100,000 to the National Park Service to keep the New River Gorge National Park open for two weeks.
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park also did not return a request for comment.
The federal shutdown has created a lot
questions surrounding public lands. Donated photo
Sam Evans, Southern Environmental Law Center
Homecoming weekend at WCU set for Nov. 7-8
A packed slate of weekend events is on tap as Western Carolina University rolls out the welcome mat for alumni and friends to return to campus Nov. 7-8 for Homecoming 2025, including a parade and party in the university’s adopted hometown of Sylva.
Activities will kick off Friday, Nov. 7, as WCU’s annual Homecoming Parade will march through downtown Sylva starting at 5:30 p.m., with an associated parade watch party and after-party continuing until 9 p.m.
The Friday parade party will begin at 5 p.m. The registration fee is $5, with social district cups for the first 500 registered attendees to arrive at the check-in site at the location formerly known as Martha’s Place. Sylva’s social district allows adults over the age of 21 to carry beer or wine in specially marked cups withn a designated area of downtown. New this year, the Catamount 10 accolade replaces the former Young Alumnus/Alumna Award. It recognizes 10 distinguished alumni who graduated within the last decade and who have already made major contributions to their professions, their communities and their alma mater.
After the awards brunch, the Catamount Alumni Tailgate will begin at 11 a.m. in the Fieldhouse Lot adjacent to E.J. Whitmire Stadium, where the WCU Catamounts will take on Southern Conference rival the Mercer Bears in a football game with a kickoff at 2:30 p.m.
In other pregame activities, 1978 graduate Frank Wilson and the WCU Football Club will host Frank’s Famous Fish Fry from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in the Fieldhouse Lot.
After the game, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority will celebrate the chapter’s 50th anniversary with an evening of dinner, dancing and drinks from 8-11 p.m. in the Grandroom of A.K. Hinds University Center.
For more information about Homecoming activities for alumni including registration, visit alumni.wcu.edu/homecoming, email alumni@wcu.edu or call 828.227.7335.
WCU photo
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
Mary Lynn Johnson County, North Carolina, Jan 29 2026, or Administrator
705 W Main Street Sylva, NC 28779
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000611430
Judith Blazer Putnam
Jan 22 2026, or this
Announcements
Executor 730 Palmetto St Spartanburg, SC 29302
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000507-430
James Morris Cochran
North Carolina, this is to
Jan 22 2026, or this
Executor
WE BUY VINTAGE GUITARS!
JOSE Terrier dog, black & white. 8 yr-old, 20-lb male. Friendly, slightly shy. Loves going for walks and to outdoor restaurants. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
Real Estate Announcements
WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH Recreational Vehicles
YOU MAY QUALIFY -
tion that prevents you
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET -
Pets
DOJA Brown Tabby Cat. Petite 8-yr old female. Sassy, affectionate; loves petting. Prefers to be only cat in household. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
SUDOKU
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