New film project pitched in Haywood County Page 16
On the Cover:
In the months following the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, help has come in from all over the nation, including from musicians and artists. Now, the owner of a Savannah, Georgia, record company is pitching in by releasing 201 original songs from 201 different artists with all proceeds being donated to storm relief efforts in Western North Carolina. (Page 8) Jack Snyder photo
News
Man sues EBCI for wrongful prosecution following ransomware attack............4 Macon School board to consider additional coaching supplements..................5 The essence of power is a towel....................................................................................6 Stein moves quickly on Hurricane Helene relief..........................................................9 Helene assistance deadline extended ........................................................................10 Commissioners delay TDA appointment, again........................................................11 Education briefs..................................................................................................................13
Opinion
This January 6, it’s back to the routine........................................................................14 Relief bill was a GOP power grab..............................................................................14
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Outdoors
Planning board opposes flood plain ordinance change........................................24 Up Moses Creek: ‘Blow wind like you’re never gonna
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NUTRITION AND FOOD NEWS
This time of year, we often see dramatic and often negative stories about food and nutrition. A few things to remember:
• Read beyond the headlines — Headlines are meant to attract your attention and get “clicks”. Before you react or make snap judgements, be sure to read the actual article.
• Check the research — Was the research mentioned in the article on the food or ingredient done on humans or on rats/mice (rodents) or on cells in a test tube (in vitro)? We’re not rodents!
• Source — Are the researchers and the science mentioned from respected and well-known universities, medical centers and academic journals or have they been done by companies trying to sell something? Are the people quoted in the article educated, credentialed and trained on this topic?
• What is the body of evidence on this subject? Does this article or research agree with other research, or could it be seen as controversial? What do sources like the FDA, CDC and NIH say on this topic?
What are they trying to sell? Is the person or business trying to sell you a diet book? a supplement? Trying to convince you to buy expensive
Aman initially convicted in a Cherokee Tribal Court for playing a role in a debilitating December 2019 ransomware attack is suing the tribe.
Cody Long, the tribe’s former lead systems administrator for its Office of Information and Technology, was held in jail for 454 days and was in solitary confinement for the better part of a year following his initial arrest for tampering with public records and obstructing government functions. However, in 2023, the Eastern Band’s Supreme Court ultimately determined that there was not enough evidence to prove that Long had any connection to the attack and overturned that conviction.
The ransomware attack crippled tribal operations across the board. In an interview with Digital Peace Now from November 2022, former Principal Chief Richie Sneed recalled the moment he realized the attack was no joke.
was presented to Sneed. That narrative suggested that Long was responsible for the ransomware attack.
The suit highlights Sneed’s quote from the Digital Peace Now interview.
“The e mails were in broken English … The voice on the phone was clearly not anyone local or from within the Tribe and was of foreign accent,” the suit reads. “Sneed was aware during the call that Long was not the person making the call.”
However, Sneed was told by Chase and Travitz that the attack had been created by Long or at least with Long’s help, and then once those claims were made, McConnell and White allegedly failed to investigate those claims before a warrant was issued for Long’s arrest.
The suit alleges that false statements in court made by Chase contributed to Long’s conviction and also claims that Travitz, following his investigation of the incident, made a similar claim with no proof. Over the next month as the tribe interacted with ransomware hackers to regain access to its own internal systems, ultimately paying out $487,000 by wire to an account outside the United States, the suit claims that the defendants knew the hackers had operated independent of Long.
“The ransomware hackers sent emails confirming that Long was not a part,” the suit reads.
According to the suit, the hackers purchased access to the Tribe’s internet and operations through a Russian language hacker forum to take advantage of a “poorly secured admin access portal where the password had not been modified or changed for the preceding 10 years.”
However, in spite of “clear evidence” that Long had nothing to do with the hackers, the defendants continued to oppose dismissal of the charges against Long — and even bond —until 10 months after his arrest and, according to the suit, nine months after the defendants had knowledge that he wasn’t responsible for the attack.
convict for the misuse of Tribal property,” the opinion reads. “Because the Tribe failed to provide evidence of appropriation of Tribal property for Defendant’s own use or use of another, as required by the Cherokee Code, we vacate Defendant’s conviction.”
The opinion notes that as lead systems administrator, Long had access to multiple high-level accounts. A review of records tracking logins to Microsoft Windows accounts on the tribal network showed that one login had occurred to Long’s Domain Administrator Account after he was placed on administrative leave but before his account was disabled around 8:30 a.m. that day.
The opinion notes that to convict Long, the prosecution had to prove several elements, including that he appropriated tribal property for his own use or that of another. The Supreme Court disagreed with the tribe’s argument that simply logging into the network without permission amounted to an “appropriation” of tribal property and ruled that because the statute laying out the appropriation crime defines it as appropriation of tribal property “to his own use or that of another,” proving guilt must include proving to what use the property in question was put.
“Taken in the light most favorable to the Tribe, the evidence shows that Defendant logged into his administrator-enabled account after he was placed on leave and was instructed not to access network resources,” the opinion reads. “The Tribe provided no evidence that Defendant obtained information, downloaded data, changed settings, or installed or ran software: the evidence showed no conduct beyond simply logging into the account without permission. Further, there was no evidence of the use to which Defendant put Tribal property.”
Long, represented by Robert Saunooke, is suing for over $100,000 for libel and malicious prosecution, among other things. Along with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the suit also names several other defendants — Sneed; former Director of EBCI Information Technology Bill Travitz; EBCI Attorney General Mike McConnell; Douglas Chase, an information security administrator; and former tribal prosecutor Cody White.
Saunooke begins the suit by laying out what he alleges are the facts of the case. At the time of the attack, Long had been suspended from his job with the tribe, meaning his account access and credentials had been terminated and he couldn’t log into any internal tribal systems. However, the suit claims that with “little to no investigation,” Chase and Travitz “created a narrative” that
“On the morning of the attack, I was going through my inbox. I noticed an email written in broken English that said my data was held hostage,” Sneed said in the interview. “I figured it was just spam, you know? I thought it was one of those early 2000s Nigerian prince scams. So, I thought it was best to delete it and not risk clicking any links. Then, another email came. I deleted it again. Later, I got a phone call. The hacker told me that this was not a joke, and this was not a drill — it was real.”
The initial charges against Long for the ransomware attack were dismissed on Feb. 17, 2022, due to a lack of evidence. However, the defendants still pursued a “course of action that would justify the false narrative” they had previously developed to allegedly protect their own positions within the tribe.
Long was charged with seven more crimes relating to the trespassing on the tribe’s IT network, despite the fact he was locked out of the system.
“… while Long was being held in solitary confinement there had been numerous attempts to access the EBCI IT using Long’s access information,” the suit reads. “Although it was obvious that Long was not able to gain access while in solitary confinement, none the less the additional charges were brought.”
White dismissed six of those seven charges but proceeded on one count of trespassing. Long was initially convicted; however, he appealed, and on Dec. 14, 2023, the EBCI Supreme Court vacated the conviction and acquitted him.
“After careful review, we hold that under the Cherokee Code, evidence of an unauthorized login, without more, is insufficient to
“Had the Tribe provided evidence of Defendant’s intent while accessing the network or that he had installed software, accessed files, or otherwise actually made use of his access, that evidence may have been sufficient to show that Defendant’s appropriation of Tribal property was ‘to his own use or use of another,’” the opinion later reads. “In this case, the Tribe simply failed to carry its burden on that element.”
Long’s suit against the tribe ultimately alleges that from the date of the ransomware attack, through newspaper articles, television interviews, social media and “other public forums,” the defendants continued to identify Long as the man responsible for the attack, which harmed his reputation.
“Travitz and Chase knew that they had failed to properly maintain the password and admin access within the Tribe’s internet technology, including failing to change system admin passwords during the preceding ten year period,” the suit reads. “This led to a system wide failure for which Chase and Travitz had responsibility.”
“To avoid this responsibility and the ultimate loss of their own employment, they created the false narrative, without probable cause or support, that Long was responsible for the sole purpose of shifting blame away from themselves,” it continues, adding that the defendants have never taken any steps to retract or explain the prior false statements regarding Long’s alleged role in the attack.
Long is seeking in excess of $100,000.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is being sued for alleged libel and malicious prosecution, among other things. File photo
School board to consider additional coaching supplements
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
After a request for an assistant JV volleyball coach prompted a review of coaching supplements in the school system, the Macon County Board of Education is considering funding several additional assistant coaching positions.
In his review of athletic teams in Macon County Schools, Athletic Director Todd Gibbs found that along with the JV volleyball team that had requested an assistant coach, several other athletic teams did not have allotted funding for more than one coach.
Gibbs found that girls’ wrestling, which became sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association as of the 2023-2024 school year, does not have an assistant coach, along with both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams.
“We had a push a couple years ago to make sure every team had an assistant coach,” Gibbs said. “So we’re asking that you guys consider listing assistant coaches and supplements for each of those positions.”
somewhere else to practice diving, we don’t do it and we can’t do it in town.”
The team uses facilities in Sylva and Asheville.
In total, the additional coaches would cost the school system $6,176 annually. That would pay for three additional assistant coaches at $698 each per season. The assistant coach for girls wrestling is recommended to earn a supplement of $1,077.
The high school swimming head coach and assistant coach for Highlands School are recommended at the same level of those at Franklin High School — $2,261 and $744 respectively.
Chairman Jim Breedlove asked Gibbs whether all the teams listed in the supplement ask had put in requests for assistant coaches. Gibbs said that while the only team that had requested a supplement for an assistant coach was JV volleyball, other teams, like tennis, had assistant coaches who were volunteering and not receiving any supplement. Similarly, while the school system does not allocate funds for either a head or assistant swim coach at Highlands
In his review, Gibbs also found that the school system has no supplement listed for a swim coach at Highlands School, even though the school does have a swim team. The supplement for the head swim coach at Franklin High School is $2,261 and $744 for the assistant swim coach.
“We just suggest that the board do the same for Highlands School swimming, head coach and assistant coach,” said Gibbs.
Board Member Hillary Wilkes, who represents the Highlands district, questioned whether the board should fund separate swimming and diving coaches since the sports are so different and don’t practice, or even always compete, together.
“We have two different individuals [coaching at Highlands School], one is doing swimming, one is doing diving,” said Wilkes. “The trick with the diving for the Highlands team is we have to physically go
School, coaches have been volunteering without receiving any supplement.
“They’re a pretty active swim team run by volunteers,” said Wilkes of the Highlands swim team. “I do know our swim coach does work very hard and does middle school and high school … it’s a lot of work.”
The board did not decide about additional coaching supplements during its December meeting when the item was first brought up but said it would discuss the issue at its upcoming meeting.
“I’m not quite ready to make a decision on this tonight,” said Breedlove. “I’d like to see the number of athletes on these teams which shows the need for assistant coaches before we make a decision.”
The next meeting of the Macon County Board of Education will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at East Franklin Elementary.
File photo
The essence of power is a towel
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
Editor’s note: This story originally ran in The Smoky Mountain News in November 2018 following Politics Editor Cory Vaillancourt’s trip to Georgia to meet President Jimmy Carter.
The former president died Dec. 29, 2024.
There, in Sumter County, Georgia, not far from the Alabama line lies the tiny town of Plains (pop. 784), a most unremarkable place home to a most remarkable man. Home for President Jimmy Carter has always been the clay roads and cotton fields of Plains, except when he was at Annapolis, in the Navy, or serving as state senator or governor or president.
Once that was all over with, Carter returned to a rather Rockwellian existence in peanut-crazy Plains, but for decades of nonprofit work and occasional outings in North Korea, Sudan and Syria — efforts in furtherance of world peace that would earn him a Nobel Peace prize in 2002.
At 94, he’s been called the only man to use the presidency as a steppingstone to greatness, but Carter’s nearhalf century influence on global affairs might not be the most substantial way he’s achieved that reputation.
For more than 35 years, he’s taught Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, where he and his wife of 72 years Rosalynn still live. Free and open to the public, first-come first-served, non-denominational and non-political, Carter’s classes are a unique, intimate and interactive 45-minute peek beneath the surface of the spiritual soil from which sprouted one of recent history’s most powerful proponents of unity.
Maranatha’s website says people begin lining up for the 10 a.m. class before 5:30, and with a capacity of only 475, people have been turned away, so a stay in nearby Americus made the 3:45 wake up call slightly more tolerable.
After my 15-minute drive through fog thick as a fever dream, a man with a flashlight guided me into a spot in the lot at Maranatha. I was car number 21 and person number 36 at 4:26 a.m.
By 5:15, 40 cars and 80 people were there. The first had
did us the do’s and don’ts before Secret Service screening. We were then seated by George in the sanctuary in order, but for the guy with the Bible, who was escorted to the front row by Miss Jan, a former teacher with a no-nonsense proficiency in shepherding hundreds of people a month into and out of what she called “the most secure church in the country.”
Maranatha, started in 1981 because Carter’s previous church had voted not to allow black worshippers, has about 42 members, 16 of whom had shown up last week when Carter wasn’t teaching. There was also one guest.
Southwest of Macon the Saturday after Thanksgiving, as sun dogs spotted warm hazy skies, I drove right by Andersonville, where more than 13,000 Union troops still lie skeletonized in a camp constructed by Confederates who couldn’t even feed themselves, much less their prisoners of war. It is perhaps the most profound American symbol of the politics of division and just 25 miles north of Plains.
arrived a bit after midnight. The furthest had come from the Netherlands. Number 23, two after me, had come walking up out of the mist in a black suit and tie with only his Bible in his hand. He sat in George’s truck — the man with the flashlight — while parked next to him I curled up on the front seat of mine with a seatbelt buckle in my side and rest elusive.
At 7:45 a.m. Miss Jan, the man with the flashlight’s wife,
This week, the 350-seat sanctuary was nearly full.
Further instructions were given, during which Miss Jan asked if anyone was driving through Atlanta after the service. I got up from my pew and walked to the front row where she asked me to take the guy with the Bible, Caleb McSwain, back to Atlanta. I said I would, gave him my card, and sat back down just before Carter came in and began to speak on the Book of Ruth.
In it is described Boaz, a prosperous Bethlehem landowner who took notice of the dire plight of his steadfast familial relation Naomi’s widowed daughterin-law, after whom the book is named.
From his own largesse, Boaz sustains and protects Ruth and even ends up marrying her. The story is looked upon as one of compassion, kindness and service as much as one about loyalty, obligation and responsibility.
“It shows that when you have a duty to perform like Boaz had, and if you have an opportunity to form a better relationship or take care of someone, you should do it,” said Carter.
Boaz is an exemplar of humankind’s since-distorted paradigm of what power is and what power does, and as such can be viewed as a minor analogue to Christ.
The boyhood farm of President Carter is now a National Historic Site. Lilly Knoepp photo
President Jimmy Carter (right) and wife Rosalynn sit in the sanctuary at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. Cory Vaillancourt photo
“How did Jesus demonstrate power?” Carter asked. “What are two of the symbols that you think about when you think about Jesus?”
The consensus of the crowd was the cross — just like the one cast against the deep red curtains on the wall behind Carter that the avid woodworker made with his own hands.
“Is the cross a symbol of power? It’s a symbol of commitment and sacrifice for others,” he said. “What’s another even more simple symbol that Jesus used to demonstrate what the essence of power should be?”
Again the crowd responded but this time with less agreement; of all the symbolism associated with Christ, our modern notions of power in the form of gregarious greed and derisive discrimination are nonexistent.
“I’d say a towel,” Carter explained.
“Sometimes the very simple things like washing somebody else’s feet can be a good demonstration of what is power or influence, which comes under the heading of service.”
More than perhaps any president since George Washington, Jimmy Carter embodies the public service ethos of American selfrule — do your job as best you can in the public sphere, and then go home and do as best you can as a private citizen.
But the two had starkly different approaches.
Washington had, after two terms as the United States’ first president, declined to run for a third. Long leery of establishing an American aristocracy like the British one he’d first rejected and then helped overthrow, he retired to his sprawling Mount Vernon plantation in 1797 with the thought that his private successes would be to the public benefit.
Calls to return to power, like that from Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., who was the second Speaker of the House of Representatives and briefly a senator from Connecticut, were rebuffed by Washington. At the time of Trumbull’s June 22, 1799, letter to Washington, Trumbull was just beginning his two-decade stint as the state’s governor.
“You may perhaps recollect, my dear sir, that in some conversation of mine with you on the event of your resignation of the presidency, or in some letter written to you on that subject, I expressed to you my wish that no untoward events might take place which should once more draw you from your
beloved solitude and retirement, and force you again to assume the cares of government,” Trumbull wrote, in asking Washington to run for president again in 1801. “… [but] unless some eminently prominent character shall be brought up to view on the occasion, the next election of president I fear will have a very ill-fated issue.”
Washington told Trumbull via letter a month later that he was presently less inclined to do so than he was in 1797.
“At that time, the line between parties was not so clearly drawn and the views of the opposition [weren’t] so clearly developed as they are at present; of course, allowing your observation (as it respects myself) to be founded, personal influence would be of no avail,” he said of political divisions so deeply and quickly rooted in a young nation that the party was now more important than the candidate. “Let that party set up a broomstick, and call it a true son of liberty, a Democrat, or give it any other epithet that will suit their purpose and it will command their votes in toto!”
person,” he told the crowd, still rapt with attention. “Would you argue with that?”
No, we told him.
“So every one of you who thought a few minutes ago about Naomi’s relationship, just suppose that you really concentrate on having one person who is in the forefront of your thought when you leave here today. When you go back home, pick out one person — who may be with you today — and just try to concentrate the best you can to be a good friend with that person,” he replied. “Is that difficult?”
No, we told him.
“If everybody in America did that, would we not have a better country?”
We would, we told him.
“Do you have any objection to you starting it off?”
Leaving Plains with McSwain, I learned he was an auto parts inspector from Lincolnton, North Carolina, and Saturday night had taken an Uber 40 miles to Charlotte for $42 from whence he took a bus
to Atlanta for $32 before another Uber took him at 1:30 a.m. Sunday through150 miles of very low visibility to Plains for $142.
“About 30 minutes outside Atlanta, we passed more deer than cars, and I knew I was going to be in trouble,” he said of his tenuous plan to Uber back to the bus station
there from Plains after Carter’s lesson.
As we put the miles behind us, McSwain revealed himself to be an avid history buff, which he admitted was part of the reason he’d traveled so far and at such expense to visit Maranatha. The other reason was his Bible, clad in a grey shopping bag during his trip so it wouldn’t get wet.
“I think it was really cool to see [Carter] in a church atmosphere, a Sunday school atmosphere,” said McSwain, a member of the Church of God. “There’s not really any other former presidents doing anything like that — teaching Sunday school — so that was another big draw for me, to see what he has to say from a religious standpoint, to see if I would learn anything.”
During our three-hour drive three days after Thanksgiving we dissected Carter’s lesson on power six ways to Sunday, but one point still seemed to linger like the bumperto-bumper traffic up Interstate 75 just south of Macon.
“Another thing that God gave every one of us is a chance to answer the question, maybe 100 times a day when we make decisions, is ‘What kind of person do I want to be?’” Carter told us hours earlier. “Do I want to be generous or stingy? Do I want to tell lies or do I always want to tell the truth? Do I want to hold grudges against other people or do I want to be forgiving? Do I want to be filled with love, or hatred? Nobody — your husband or wife, nor your children nor your parents — can answer that question for you. Just you can answer it.”
As McSwain and I parted ways at the MARTA station outside Decatur, he’d offered me $50. I told him to give five bucks to the first 10 people who asked him and that being as we were at a MARTA station outside Decatur, it wouldn’t take him long.
“I think it’s important to be unified and treat everybody with respect whether or not you agree with their political opinion,” said the 21 year-old registered Republican who voted for Donald Trump. “Treat them as your brother, or yourself — better than yourself, really.”
Although Carter didn’t willingly cede power as Washington did — Carter lost the 1980 presidential election to Ronald Reagan by an electoral tally of 489 to 49 — he’s yet to throw in the towel.
Since 1982, the Atlanta-based Carter Center has been a powerful advocate for democracy and human rights both at home and abroad with well-funded programming aimed at eradicating disease, mediating conflict, promoting agriculture and developing public health initiatives. It employs almost 200 in more than a dozen countries, but has worked in at least 75.
Around that same time, Carter began a highly visible association with Habitat for Humanity, and was known to swing a hammer on the job site from time to time. His hands-on approach to service means it’s no surprise that this was Carter’s 807th Sunday school lesson at Maranatha since he began teaching there in 1981.
“Suppose I tell you we can make our country be a better country by helping one
June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash meet President Carter at the White House in 1977. Cash remembered the meeting as one of his career highlights. National Archives photo
Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter fishing, summer of 1978. National Archives photo
Jimmy Carter in 2013. Commonwealth Club photo
From low to high
Georgia musicians promote hurricane relief in WNC
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR
Sunny sea-level Savannah, Georgia, is known for a lot of things — historic colonial beauty, low country cuisine and a wide-open bar culture that benefits from/endures one of the nation’s few open container laws — but it also has a rich musical legacy that locals are now using to help victims of Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
“As someone who has been involved in its local music community for decades, I felt the ‘hidden history’ of Savannah’s music scene was long overdue for some sort of reappraisal that might result in wider recognition,” Jim Reed, owner of FakeFangs Records. “This massive compilation album to raise much-needed funds for hurricane relief efforts in Western North Carolina seemed the perfect way to accomplish two worthwhile goals at once, which both held great personal relevance to me.”
efit album that also inadvertently serves as a unique encyclopedia of Savannah’s diverse, sometimes quirky music scene over the past 30 years.
“Despite its relatively small size, Savannah is home to a handful of institutions of higher learning, including a large branch of Georgia Southern University, as well as Savannah State University, which is an HBCU. So there’s a decent amount of diversity there as far as
“This massive compilation album to raise muchneeded funds for hurricane relief efforts in Western North Carolina seemed the perfect way to accomplish two worthwhile goals at once, which both held great personal relevance to me.”
— Jim Reed
and Drive-by Truckers.
Other performers on the expansive collection are no longer with us. In February 2023 Savannah lost one of the most inimitable rock frontmen anywhere, Keith Kozel of legendary ensembles Superhorse and GAM.
“Keith was a force of nature. He was his own zip code,” said Rob Oldham, a longtime Savannah resident, writer, musician and local music connoisseur. Oldham, who records under the name Alpinista, contributed a track of his own to the album, the psychedelic Britpop influenced “Eye see,” recorded in 2006.
Oldham also shared a close professional and personal relationship with Todd Terrell Lynch, a versatile, prolific, well-traveled songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who called Savannah home for the last 20 years of his life. Known simply as “TTL,” Lynch was reclusive and his performances were rare, but he completed more than a dozen albums before he passed away in 2022. An unreleased version of his “Durango Motel” graces the collection.
ing band The Accomplices.
Originally from the Cleveland area, Eckstine has been a working musician in the low country for 20 years, but made a number of appearances in places like Brevard, Hot Springs and Marshall — including opening for Jim Lauderdale — as a member of regional touring band The Accomplices. The compilation includes an Accomplices song called “Mountain Buzz,” written in and about Black Mountain in 2014.
“It was a great place to come to meet musicians and play and tap into that whole Appalachian thing,” Ekstine said. “At the time, it was just an honor to be playing there, bringing it from somewhere else. I made a lot of great relationships with people up there, and seeing them posting about everything they lost [during the hurricane], it was nice to be able to do something to hopefully help, with music.”
In addition to Reed’s efforts, the compilation would not have been possible without the generous support of several of the town’s
For some time now, Reed’s been known around Savannah as “the guy” when it comes to local music. He’s not only produced highprofile concerts in the region and performed with many of the city’s legendary musicians, he’s also written extensively about them in the formerly well-regarded alt weekly Connect Savannah as well as Savannah’s daily, the Savannah Morning News.
While the Great Smoky Mountains are hundreds of miles away from Savannah’s silty, salty marshes — and nearly a mile above them — Reed is an important North Carolina connection. He and his wife own a cabin in tiny Creston, where she was just before Helene hit. Reed left Savannah to join her and arrived the night before the storm, just as things started to go sideways.
According to an interview in the Savannahian, the Reeds weathered several tornadoes perilously close to their Ashe County cabin, tearing down power lines and hundred-foot pines. A small creek on the property soon became a raging river, washing out bridges, entering their cabin and forcing them to retreat into the attic, uncertain if they’d be swept away as others across the region were.
Trapped there for two weeks without power, Reed’s thoughts soon turned to how he could help others. That’s when he came up with the idea for a sprawling digital-only ben-
young people go,” Reed told The Smoky Mountain News Jan. 3. “But then you have the Savannah College of Art & Design, which is the largest private art school in the country. It draws ambitious, creative students from all over the country and the world. They bring with them their own popular culture, and collectively, the result is a much more eclectic hotbed of music than you’d be likely to find in any other city of its size on the east coast — and especially in the Deep South.”
Reed set to work acquiring the rights to tracks performed by Savannah artists, some from as long ago as 1966 and many of which have remained unreleased until now. Those that had been released were often sold in limited runs on now-archaic formats and remain incredibly rare collectibles.
While he’d initially hoped to gather around 40 tracks, positive response from local artists pushed that to 60, then 120, then 180, finally ending with 201 songs from 201 different artists in just eight weeks. And, Reed says he’s not done.
Among the tracks included are an eclectic smorgasbord of offerings from the likes of renowned blues guitarslinger Eric Culberson, sludge metal band Black Tusk, Americana/ rock outfit The Trainwrecks, Reed’s own late 1980s art-rock troupe City of Lindas, femalefronted hard rockers Cusses, poppy Wormsloew and dozens of others that showcase the incredible variety of musicians who have called Savannah home over the years.
A few of the performers on the compilation went on to play with well-known groups as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Widespread Panic, Television, the Richie Havens Duo, Bloodkin, Perpetual Groove, John Hiatt Band
“He never really got the notoriety he deserved, and I would hope that with every listen and with every opportunity his music has to creep out into the world, it’s another opportunity for people to find out more about him and hopefully encourage more of his music to come out,” Oldham said. “TTL just adored Jim Reed — they’re both Ph.D.level Bob Dylan fans — so I’m sure he would’ve been honored by any ask from Jim. TTL had a big heart and he would have given this project a huge thumbs up.”
Reed isn’t the only connection between the Hostess City and the Land of Sky. Several performers also have enduring connections to Western North Carolina, including Matt Eckstine, formerly a member of regional tour-
cultural institutions — The Original Pinkie Masters Bar, Sentient Bean Coffeehouse, Savannah Rocks!, Lone Wolf Lounge, The Savannahian, Michelle Riley PR and Kevin F. Rose of Elevated Basement Studio.
All proceeds from the collection will be donated to BeLoved Asheville, Ashe County Recovery & Restoration, the Creston VFD, Sunny Morning WNC Relief Fund, Friends of Ashe County Animal Shelter, Lansing Recovery and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.
“Marshes to mountains: Savannah, GA Helps Rebuild Western NC Through Song” is available exclusively on Bandcamp. Check out some free preview tracks and then order yours today by visiting savhelpswnc.com.
Jim Reed. Donated photo
Fake Fangs Records photo
Stein moves quickly on Hurricane Helene relief
Newly elected Gov. Josh Stein wasted no time addressing some of the state’s biggest challenges after being sworn in on Jan. 1, traveling to Buncombe County on Jan. 2 to announce immediate action on Hurricane Helene recovery.
“Martin Luther King, Jr, who we will all be celebrating later this month, said that if you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl,” Stein said. “But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
Stein, no stranger to Western North Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene while he was still serving as attorney general, took the reins from his predecessor Roy Cooper on recovery efforts by signing five executive orders.
Those orders are intended to increase the supply of temporary housing, accelerate private bridge and road repair, create the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW NC) including a Division of Community Revitalization within the Department of Commerce, formally establish the committee that will advise GROW NC and allow state employees more leeway to help with volunteer efforts.
According to Stein, more than 12,000 people remain displaced from their homes due to the Sept. 17 storm, with many — but not all — staying temporarily in FEMAfunded hotels or with friends and family. Some are in donated campers or tiny homes.
“As we’re in the coldest months of the year, it is urgent that people have warm and safe places to live,” he said.
The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has been authorized to purchase up to 1,000 temporary housing units. Stein’s first order provides a limited waiver on state procurement regulations that will help speed up the acquisition process.
The much-maligned North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency will continue its work rebuilding in eastern parts of the state and will not be part of the process in the west. As a result of an executive order by President Joe Biden, FEMA will reimburse 100% of costs within the first six months, so getting as many people into temporary housing now is critical.
Stein’s second order addresses the need to repair or rebuild the estimated 8,000 private roads and bridges damaged in the storm.
“That’s why I’m directing the director of Division of Emergency Management Will Ray to quickly procure the services of bridge and road builders to get to work repairing these private bridges and roads,” said Stein.
The order fills in a critical gap that was cut from the relief bill passed by Congress just before Christmas. It also establishes emergency assistance funding for Ray’s agency to administer and contract with vendors, and as with his first order grants limited waivers within the procurement process.
The third order creates GROW NC, a dedicated office within Stein’s administration focusing on cross-agency cooperation, accelerating revitalization efforts and remaining transparent with it all. Additionally, the North Carolina Department of Commerce will establish the Division of Community Revitalization to coordinate with Stein’s office, nonprofits and federal and local governments.
Stein’s fourth order simply formalizes the 35-member ad-hoc advisory committee already established with business, civic and government officials from across the region.
Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer and westernmost Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon), who introduced Stein at the press conference, are co-chairs of the group.
“I’ve been proud to share information on the ground about the ways people in Asheville are both coming together after the devastation of this storm and continuing to struggle, highlighting the importance of continuous focus on our recovery,” Manheimer said.
The fifth of Stein’s five orders allows for state employees to utilize additional community service leave to volunteer with dedicated storm relief organizations.
During the press conference, Stein was flanked by a bevy of local officials including Corbin and Manheimer, Sen. Ralph Hise (RMitchell), who represents part of Canton as well as a string of hard-hit counties along the spine of Appalachia, Buncombe County leaders Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) and Reps. Lindsey Prather (D-Buncombe), Eric Ager (D-Buncombe) and Rep. Jake
who represents all or parts of Polk,
McDowell and Rutherford counties.
“It doesn’t matter who you are; I think what you do on day one speaks volumes about your priorities. To see Gov. Stein in WNC — not just with talk but also with
action — matters,” said Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers, who was also in attendance. “We know the challenges regarding temporary housing. What Gov. Stein’s leadership does is cut red tape, and to think that by this time next week someone could be in temporary housing on their own property, especially as temperatures plummet, is a tremendous step forward in our recovery.”
Smathers expressed gratitude for actions taken by the General Assembly and Congress to date, but said there’s still more to be done in regard to private road and bridge repair, direct economic relief — grants, not loans — for small businesses, and cutting more red tape and regulations making it easier for people to open their homes, their businesses and access federal money coming through Raleigh.
Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek, also sworn in on Jan. 1 like Stein, issued a press release shortly after Stein’s press conference saying he intends to hold Stein’s office accountable “for every dollar that is spent in fulfillment of these orders, and to report on the effectiveness and efficiency of these orders.”
Johnson (R-Polk),
Henderson,
Gov. Josh Stein. File photo
Helene assistance deadline extended
At the request of Gov. Josh Stein, FEMA has granted North Carolina an extension for local governments and certain types of non-profits to apply for public assistance until Feb. 6, 2025.
Public Assistance provides supplemental grants to units of government, as well as certain types of private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, so that communities can recover from Tropical Storm Helene.
Government agencies, eligible private non-profits and houses of worship may apply for Public Assistance grants at grantee.fema.gov. After the request is submitted, FEMA and North Carolina Emergency Management officials will review the documentation and contact the organization.
For Tropical Storm Helene, 39 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are eligible for debris removal and emergency protective measures. This work is funded at 100% by FEMA through March 27, 2025, 180 days after the Sept. 28, 2024, disaster declaration.
To learn if your county has been designated for FEMA Public Assistance grants, visit fema.gov/disaster/4827/designatedareas-public-assistance.
All counties are eligible for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. See application forms here: Hazard Mitigation.
Additionally, 28 counties and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are eligible for permanent work that can repair or place roads and bridges; water and waste treatment facilities; public buildings like fire stations and city buildings; as well as utilities, parks and other community facili-
ties. These projects must be completed within 18 months after the emergency declaration. Learn more about the PA program at fema.gov/assistance/public/library.
In addition, Haywood County, Town of Clyde and Town of Canton citizens who received a Substantial Damage letter
should take note of several important deadlines.
First, residents now have a total of 270 days from the date of the original letter to appeal the determination of substantial damage to a structure. This is a 90-day extension from the initial timeframe. This extension has been granted to accommodate delays in insurance claims and property appraisals caused by the widespread
damage from Hurricane Helene. To appeal, the first step is to obtain an estimate from a North Carolina licensed contractor for the cost of repairs. The estimate must include labor and materials needed to restore the structure to its pre-flood condition. Insurance company estimates are not acceptable for permitting or appeal. To appeal the value of the home or structure, residents must provide an appraisal from a North Carolina licensed appraiser.
For questions or further assistance regarding the extension or the appeal process, contact Haywood County’s Development Services Office.
The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance has now been set for Feb. 6. Cory Vaillancourt photo
Commissioners delay TDA appointment, again
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
For the second meeting in a row, Jackson County Commissioners chose to table a routine appointment to the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Board, leaving a board that has had difficulty filling seats in the past one member down with an applicant willing, ready and waiting in the wings.
“This appointment will fill a key board vacancy and ensure strong leadership for our organization,” TDA Executive Director Nick Breedlove said in his recommendation for the position.
At its Dec. 3 regular meeting, the commission was set to vote on filling a vacancy on the TDA board that would fulfill the role of representing North Jackson Hospitality and Tourism. The TDA board is made up of nine members serving staggered one-, twoand three-year terms.
Sylva’s Economic Development Director Bernadette Peters had been recommended to fill the North Jackson slot on the board and received a letter of support from Breedlove.
“We greatly appreciate your consideration of Bernadette Peters for this appointment to our Board of Directors. Her extensive experience and dedication to economic development make her an outstanding candidate to support our mission,” Breedlove said.
The letter of recommendation noted that Peters has more than 35 years of experience in marketing, business development and entrepreneurship. As economic development director for the Town of Sylva, she has worked closely with new businesses, property owners and developers to support growth and revitalization efforts.
ment came before the board, commissioners tabled the item.
“I’d like to make a motion to table that,” said Commissioner John Smith. “The only applicant we have is the TDA person of the town and I think that’s a conflict of interest.”
While the Town of Sylva does not have its own TDA, Peters does work as the economic development director for the town and leads the Main Street Sylva Association.
In October, the County Commission approved a request from the TDA to expand career categories permitted to make up the JCTDA board.
broader representation and those key people in the industry that understand hospitality and tourism,” Breedlove told commissioners when requesting the change.
Peters was recommended for the TDA board in this new category to represent North Jackson in hospitality and tourism.
When the tabled appointment came back before the county commission at its Dec. 17 meeting, Chairman Mark Letson recommended Peters’ appointment and quelled any fears of a conflict of interest.
“I spoke with Mr. Breedlove after our last meeting regarding how they came to Peters being on the Tourism Development Authority and she’s gone through an extensive amount of vetting, background checks, and conflict of interest,” said Letson. “Peters serves more as an economic developer, not necessarily tourism development. So, if there are no objections, I do recommend
Bernadette Peters, who manages the Main Street Sylva Association, is seeking appointment to Jackson County’s TDA board. File photo
Because several hotels in the county have consolidated under the same ownership, there has been difficulty getting enough members to fill the board of directors.
Previously, board members had to be hoteliers of establishments with 10 or more
The letter of recommendation [from Nick Breedlove] noted that Peters has more than 35 years of experience in marketing, business development and entrepreneurship. As economic development director for the Town of Sylva, she has worked closely with new businesses, property owners and developers to support growth and revitalization efforts.
“Bernadette also manages the nationally accredited Main Street Sylva Association program, helping property owners in historic downtown Sylva rehabilitate buildings and activate unused spaces,” the letter read. “Her leadership has contributed over $600,000 in private investment and $230,000 in public investment in the past year. Through the program, volunteers logged 676 hours to organize town events, promotions, and improvements.”
However, when the question of appoint-
rooms, with some representing the northern and some representing the southern portions of the county.
However, with the change approved by commissioners, board membership is now open to hospitality and tourism workers more generally.
“This would create what’s called a hospitality and tourism category and our first preference would be on hoteliers, but if we can’t get a hotelier in that role, our second preference would be moving down for
Peters to be on the TDA.”
But Smith once again voiced opposition to her appointment.
“As I’ve said before, and I’ve talked to several people in my district, they still think the optics of it looks bad, as a conflict,” Smith said.
Smith did not elaborate further and there was no more discussion on the issue.
New commissioners Michael Jennings and Jenny Lynn Hooper backed Smith’s denouncement of Peters.
“Is there any way we can table this again?” Jennings asked.
“That’s what I’d like to do is table it,” said Hooper.
Letson consented to tabling the vote, however, the TDA board appointment was not on the agenda for either the commission’s work session or regular meeting both scheduled for Jan. 7.
Part of the JCTDA board’s job includes overseeing the Tourism Capital Project Fund, which provides money for capital projects in the county. Since the JCTDA began the grant process, it has awarded funding to the Town of Sylva in the amount of $367,757 for Bridge Park improvements, which were completed this spring, as well as $745,000 to Jackson County to extend the Tuckasegee River Greenway in Cullowhee.
Graduates of SCC’s first Practical Nursing class are pictured: Front row, from
Practical Nursing class celebrates pinning ceremony
On Dec. 10, the Burrell conference room on Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus was packed full of friends and family as the college’s founding class of Practical Nursing students celebrated their accomplishments during a pinning ceremony.
All 13 of the students completed 400 hours of clinical training and graduated in SCC’s commencement ceremony on Dec. 18.
“I am so proud of each of these students,” said Practical Nursing Coordinator Carly Messer. “Teaching and watching them grow over the last year has been an honor. I cannot wait to see how they continue to succeed in the future.”
The graduates may either continue their educational journeys or get started pursuing their careers in the field.
For more information about the program, contact Messer at cf_messer@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4050.
Illinois girl donates books to Haywood
After seeing Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers share the story of Helene’s impact on Haywood County on the news, 12-year-old Kaylee Leibach and her mother, Amy, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, felt inspired to help. They decided to organize a community donation of new children’s books in their hometown, and now their generous efforts will bring smiles and comfort to children affected by the storm in Haywood County. The donation includes a wide variety of books for children from infancy to elementary school, providing a much-needed escape and fostering a sense of hope and resilience. Kaylee and Amy’s act of kindness exemplifies the power of community and the difference we can make when we come together to help those in need.
The free books will be available for families at all four branches of the Haywood County Public Library during normal business hours starting on Wednesday, Jan. 8th:
• Waynesville and Canton branches:
CFSS Executive Director Karen W. Fairley will continue to lead this new division of the SBI. The (CFSS) promotes a safer learning environment for all North Carolina K-12 schools and charter schools. The Center is a hub of information and provides technical assistance on school safety to school personnel, law enforcement, youth-serving community agencies, juvenile justice officials, policymakers, parents/guardians and students.
CFSS staff focus on school climate, emergency preparedness and response, threat assessment and intervention, anonymous reporting, data reporting, policy and compliance concerns for North Carolina’s K-12 schools. Staff are available to provide training, guidance, and technical assistance upon request for school personnel and those working with children and adolescents.
Womble, Allman join SCC Board of Trustees
During the fall semester, Swain County residents Cynthia Womble and Toby Allman were appointed to Southwestern Community College’s Board of Trustees. Appointed by the Swain County Board of Commissioners, Womble joined SCC’s board on Sept. 6. Her term runs through June 30, 2026.
A native of Wilson, Womble earned a master’s degree in operations research from the Navy Postgraduate School, a master’s
degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College and is a graduate of the Joint Forces Staff College. She also holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from N.C. State.
She retired as a Captain from the U.S. Navy in 2017 following a 28-year career — the final 15 in Human Resources. Among her assignments were Deputy Director of Human Resources for the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Commanding Officer of the Navy Manpower Analysis Center, on the Joint Staff, Navy staff and Navy Personnel Command.
Since moving to Bryson City after her military service, Womble has been an active volunteer and leader in community nonprofits. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Fontana Regional Library system and Vice Chair on the Advisory Board for Marianna Black Library. She and her husband, Thomas Womble, have one son.
Allman was sworn in on Nov. 19. He holds three degrees from SCC: Accounting, Business Administration and Associate in Arts.
He’s currently the owner of Smoky Mountain Accounting & Tax Service in Bryson City, and he’s been an accountant for 30 years. Over the years, he’s served on boards for various community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Bryson City. He served on the Rotary District 7670 Finance Committee and also as treasurer.
Allman’s term on SCC’s board will run through June 30, 2028.
Monday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Maggie Valley branch: Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Fines Creek branch: Monday and Wednesday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“This thoughtful donation is a beautiful reminder that even in times of hardship, kindness and generosity shine through,” said Dillon Huffman, Haywood County Public Information Officer. “We are incredibly grateful to Kaylee, Amy, and the Buffalo Grove community for their heartfelt support.”
NCSBI formers ‘safer schools’ partnership
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the North Carolina Center for Safer Schools (CFSS) announce the beginning of a relationship to make ALL North Carolina schools the safest in the nation. This new collaboration comes as a result of the passage of Senate Bill 382 on
left: Jasmine Santana, Seth Campbell, Madison Johnson, Daisy Garcia, Sydney Harris, Rachel Mayol, Hannah Clark and Maggie Jones; Back row, from left: Keilah Sainz, Donna Geiger, Stephanie Mathis, Luke Millsaps and Kelcye Crisp. SCC photo
This January 6, it’s back to the routine
It’s Jan. 6, 2025, and my mind was on established routines and rituals. The warm frenzy of the holidays is now behind us. Time now for my wife, Lori, and me to reestablish some of that routine.
It’s a cold 27 degrees with a gusting wind. It was only 4:30 p.m. or thereabouts when l left the office and home is an easy 10- to 12-minute drive. Lori intercepted me by surprise on Ratcliff Cove Road, and I smiled as she gassed her car in behind me. She was coming from Lake Junaluska via Francis Farm Road, myself from downtown Waynesville using Sunnyside and Racoon roads. Her habanero orange Volkswagen bug is easy to spot, as I believe it’s the only one of its kind that calls Haywood County home.
She was behind me as we climbed the mountain and rolled up the driveway. We both zipped coats and donned hats — Lori her prized wool beanie she bought when we visited Scotland’s Orkney Islands a few years ago — as we climbed out of vehicles on this winter afternoon. She went around to her trunk and grabbed a couple of bags of groceries, declining my offer of help.
A big pot of cauliflower soup was on Lori’s mind, and she went to work in the warmth of the kitchen as she had just returned from a walk at Lake Junaluska that she told me had left her feeling the chill from the wind over the lake. My plan was to get a fire going on this cloudy day that had already spit a few flurries earlier in the afternoon. That would provide the chance to spend at least some time outside after a day at my desk.
We had hired tree guys to do some thinning back in late summer. I had them cut what they felled into logs that I could manage with my chainsaw and axe. Their work had left me a huge pile of locust, black cherry and beech (I think). Another massive black cherry tree had fallen on the power line rightof-way that is one border of our property and I had chainsawed several huge logs from that beast back in the fall and hauled them to the woodshed. My brother-in-law had taken down an old and dying dogwood on my father-in-law’s prop-
Bill was a power grab
To the Editor:
I’m not certain, Senator Kevin Corbin, RFranklin, that your constituency thoroughly understands your characterization of Senate Bill 382 as an “historic legislative response.”
Given what we do know to be true, that: institutional environments of modern society (such as yours) consistently induce standard patterns of response in terms of perceptions, attitudes, and values despite the countervailing randomizing effect of persistent traditional models of culture.
In other words, Senate Bill 382 is simply just one more irrefutable and enormously shameless power grab perpetrated by the Republican Party. Is it not, Senator Corbin???
David L. Snell Franklin
erty in Raleigh last spring, and so I also have a bunch of that wood. Though the logs are small, they are heavy, gnarled and burn very hot.
I had used up almost all my already-split wood over the holidays when my adult children were in town, the ambiance of a fire mainly a mood-setter. We don’t rely on wood for heat; it is an auxiliary, an add-on with our combination woodstove/fireplace.
Splitting wood is a nostalgic practice for me. In high school, we had no fireplace, but my good friend Kerry’s folks did. Kerry was comfortable with a chainsaw — his father a contractor and builder — and so I learned my way around a chainsaw and we would cut and split for his parents. The time in the woods left an imprint on me. Now, after 30 years with a fireplace, I still look forward to working with trees that end up in our fireplace: cutting trees and logs, hauling them to a place flat enough for splitting, stacking and carrying the wood, building fires. Routines, traditions, things that don’t change, things you can count on (words from a Guy Clark song, I believe).
A winter storm had engulfed the East Coast as I split and carried wood to my porch Monday, and politicians at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., had routinely certified the election results from November 2024 earlier in the day. Unlike four years ago when one of this country’s most enduring and
LETTERS
Godspeed, President Carter
To the Editor:
Not being particularly tearful yesterday (Dec. 29) was a terrible moment for me. It was the day that marked the passing of President Carter, a man of unsurpassed moral integrity. In a day when moral integrity is indeed passing away, the absence of which finds us alarmingly adrift, I can recall having spoken to him on the phone for a few minutes several years after he left office, which I will always remember. Godspeed President Carter!
Richard Gould Waynesville
important traditions was disrupted by rioters and hooligans fired up by lies about election fraud, losing candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris on this day presided over her congressional duty that will lead to Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Individuals, families, institutions and even governments depend on and cling to routines, tradition, good people doing the right thing. Carrying on those traditions and doing things the right way prepares us for the day when things don’t go right, when there’s a disruption, when our routines goes awry. We survived that Jan. 6 four years ago, hopefully the last of its kind.
On this Jan. 6, 2025, the fire was cozy and the cauliflower soup delicious. It began to snow before we went to sleep and I banked up the fire, swung the door shut and adjusted the heater fan to keep the downstairs warm.
Holiday traditions have given way to the routines of daily living. As my friend and fellow SMN columnist Garret K. Woodward reminds us every week in his column, “life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.”
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
Editor Scott McLeod
WNC’s storytelling spirit finds a home in new film project
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF W RITER
Alocal hero comes home to Western North Carolina for the first time in 20 years, potentially reigniting a longtime feud with an old nemesis and proving that some things always stay the same. An A-list celebrity’s opulent new golf and country club has changed the town forever, proving that some things don’t. High school sweethearts reunite, a search and rescue team has its hands full saving new residents unfamiliar with the unforgiving terrain and a young girl escapes an abusive home, encouraged by the healing power of horses — that’s the gist of a new locally-shot series aiming to put the North Carolina mountains back on Hollywood’s map.
“There’s nowhere else like it,” Melanie Star Scot said of Western North Carolina. “I always come back home. When I wrote this, I wanted to showcase what I call ‘my mountains.’”
Scot, a screenwriter, director and producer with deep roots in the region, has spent years crafting a series that showcases the region’s natural beauty, culture and resilience. Her project, “Journey to Eden Falls,” also aims to revitalize the local film industry and reverse the exodus of qualified workers to states competing for filmmakers with economic incentives.
A VISION ROOTED IN PLACE
Scot’s passion for her home is palpable. She envisions “Eden Falls” as a series filmed entirely in Western North Carolina, with exteriors set in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon and Transylvania counties. The project’s blend of local landscapes, businesses and cultural landmarks create a sense of connection for local viewers and a sense of awe for everyone else.
“I want people to see their mountains
and places they’ve frequented as kids,” Scot said. “It’s about giving the audience little Easter eggs that make them proud.”
While many screenwriters face pressure to relinquish creative control to studios, Scot has fought tirelessly to retain her vision, crediting her collaboration with high-powered film execs for keeping her dream alive.
Beyond storytelling, she sees “Eden Falls” not only as an opportunity to engage in some serious storytelling, but also to revive the region’s struggling film industry. The early 2000s saw a mass exodus of filmmakers and crews from across the southeast to Georgia, where generous incentives transformed Atlanta into a burgeoning production hub. North Carolina, once a thriving film destination, has been playing catch-up ever since.
North Carolina offers a 25% rebate on qualifying expenses up to $15 million per season for television and streaming services with a minimum spend of $500,000 per
episode, and $7 million for feature films with a $1.5 million minimum spend, along with a number of other incentives. The program, administered by the North Carolina Film Office, is funded to the tune of $31 million each fiscal year, with unused funds rolling over into the next fiscal year.
“That’s a very legitimate figure for a quality production,” she explained. “It’s exactly what would pay our North Carolinians.” Georgia, however, offers a 20% transferrable tax credit along with other conditional incentives that can make filming there more lucrative.
“There’s been progress [in North Carolina],” Scot noted. “A new studio just opened in Wilmington, and more productions are coming back. I want to be part of that rebuild.”
Accordingly, she plans to hire local talent and craftspeople, from carpenters and electricians to set designers and production assistants. The economic impact, she emphasized, extends beyond the direct hires and is part of the reason states offer incentives.
“When we come into a town, we’re eating at restaurants, shopping at stores, and staying at local hotels and Airbnbs,” she said. “The economic ripple effect is significant, and it’s a fun, uplifting industry that brings communities together.”
Hopefully, Scot said, interior sets will be built in refurbished, hurricane-damaged warehouses, further contributing to the region’s recovery from Hurricane Helene.
“After all we’ve been through these last three months, we need something uplifting,” she said. “This project can provide jobs and rebuild morale.”
FROM DEVELOPMENT TO PRODUCTION
“Eden Falls” is currently in the development and pitching phase; a Jan. 11 screening in Waynesville is an invite-only event for cast, crew and potential investors designed to secure the funding necessary to move into pre-production.
“This screening is to get it made,” Scot said. “Once we’re there, I’ll absolutely hold screenings for the general public, but for now we need to stay focused.”
Scot’s confidence in the project stems from the overwhelmingly positive feedback she’s received from Hollywood professionals and local supporters alike. With the guidance of her industry connections and the enthusiasm of her team, she’s optimistic about “Eden falls” reaching global audiences while staying true to its Appalachian roots.
For those interested in supporting or investing in “Eden Falls,” Scot is encouraging contact through her email, toppscotproductions@gmail.com.
“This is more than just a show,” she said. “It’s a chance to rebuild, to inspire, and to show the world the beauty and resilience of western North Carolina.”
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift’
Dec. 31, 2024, marked the ninth anniversary of my “running streak.”
Since Dec. 31, 2015, I’ve run every single day. The standard is to complete at least a mile to qualify as a run, with most of my jogs hovering around three miles.
To preface, I’ve been a runner since I was 12 years old (39 now). I ran competitively from middle school all through college as a Division-1 athlete.
During all those early years, I would average about five or six days a week running, either for practice or for competitions week-in and week-out.
And I vividly remember those days growing up in the North Country of Upstate New York. Rural America. Small towns. The stuff John Mellencamp songs are about. Trail running in the Champlain Valley and Adirondack Mountains. Carefree treks down old dirt farm roads or along Lake Street in my hometown of Rouses Point. Below zero temperatures in the winter and sweaty, humid summers, those fall months of foliage and frolicking, springtime in vast open fields.
running. “Pre” has remained a lifelong inspiration to me, especially with his notable quote, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” It’s a sentiment and an ethos eternally chiseled on the walls of my mind.
I first heard that quote in middle school. As a seventh-grader, I tried out for the crosscountry team at Northeastern Clinton Central School, surrounded by cornfields and only a couple miles from the Canadian Border. The person who told me that quote was my late running coach and English teacher, Mr. Brian Power. He was a lifelong
friend to my parents and myself until his passing in 2021.
HOT PICKS
1
Country and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
2
Jackson County Americana/rock ensemble Fuzzy Peppers will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at the Junction Pub in Sylva.
3
Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host “Warm Up With Cabin Fever” featuring Zack Couron & Matt Walden w/Josh Grove (acoustic/folk) 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11.
Brian Lee Knopp will share his new book, “Dreams I’m Never Gonna See: The Takeover of WDIZ Rock 100/FM and Other Essays,” at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jan 18, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
To note, my father is a lifelong runner, now at age 82, having finished around 85 marathons and thousands of road races across America. He was one of those oldschool runners in the 1960s and 1970s when it was kind of weird to simply go for a jog. He would tell me stories of folks back in the day pulling over asking if he needed a ride somewhere. And he still is at it, slowly jogging each day.
Thus, my love of running comes from him. For me, it’s always been my escape from the world, the way I assess and process life, and the means by which I conduct myself as a human being amid the unknown universe. It is the one part of my day I am truly alone, with no smart phone or distractions, just listening to the earth whirling around me, the sounds of my breathing and my shoes traversing the ground. It’s euphoric and intrinsic, with my gratitude to be able to go on a run always at the forefront of each jaunt.
And it was in the exact era of the late 1960s through the mid-1970s when the late, great Steve Prefontaine entered the legendary pantheon of American long-distance
At first, I viewed the Prefontaine quote as motivation to become a better runner and teammate, a more refined athlete who sets goals and aims to execute objectives. Don’t waste the talent. Simple enough. As I’ve gotten older, the quote is motivation to not only be better writer and journalist, but also a better friend, family member, lover and curious old soul. In truth, the “gift” is not just running talents, it’s relationships and dreams, interactions and connections.
In all reality, the running streak came to be totally by accident, as I soon said to myself, “Well, let’s see just how far I can take this.” It was the last week of December 2015. Up until that point, I would rotate each day between running and cross-training (mountain biking, weightlifting, hiking, etc.). But, at that time, I was visiting my old college cronies in Brooklyn, New York, for a handful of days.
With no mountains to climb or bikes readily available to traverse the city, I decided to run every day I was in the Big Apple, which was fine by me, seeing as when I travel, going for a run in whatever place I find myself is my souvenir from that trip. In all honesty, I don’t think you can ever really know a place unless you go for a run through it, simply absorbing and listening to whatever you pass by.
After a week or two of running every
day, I started to keep track of where I was running, how far I went, how I felt and what I was up, something I still do to this very day. Once I hit a hundred days in-a-row, I decided to aim for 500 days, then 1,000. If I feel good, why not, right? Even if I have to drag myself out the door on some days, I’ve never once regretted a run by the time I finish. It’s always felt good for my body, mind and soul.
New Year’s Eve 2024 marked 3,289 days in a row I’ve put on my running clothes, laced up my shoes and headed out the door for a jog. Late nights and early mornings. Sunrises and sunsets. Dozens and dozens of states across America throughout these last nine years — Montana to Maine, California to Florida and seemingly everywhere inbetween — alongside trots in Canada and Mexico.
Nowadays, the streak (much like running has always been for me) is a Zen zone, a meditative state where I tap into the depths of my heart and soul. Right around the half-mile mark of a run, my body starts to relax and I find my ideal rhythm of pace, breathing and trajectory of my journey. Although I may have a framework of where I want to run on a given day, the beauty of the jog resides in the serendipitous movement of left, right or straight ahead.
Today (Jan. 1, 2025), as I kicked off the beginning of my 10th year of the streak, it very much felt like that as I completed a four-mile loop at the Tsali Recreation Area in rural Western North Carolina. Lots on the mind. And yet, my heart and soul remain optimistic, where I aim to radiate compassion and curiosity.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Saturday, January 11
Thursday, January 23
Sunset in the Balsam Range. Garret K. Woodward photo
• American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 3 p.m. every Tuesday. Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean (Americana/country) 5 p.m. Jan. 18. For tickets and reservations, go to cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/live-music.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Jon Shain & Piedmont Blues 2 p.m. Jan. 26 ($15 for adults, $7.50 for ages 6-16). 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Team Trivia” Mondays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at The Farm” sessions on select weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Shane Meade (indie/soul) Jan. 8, JR Williams (singersongwriter) Jan. 10, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) Jan. 11, Paul Edelman (singersongwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 12, Brock Stephen (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17, Pat Sheridan & Friends Jan. 18 and Justin Moyar (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Jan. 19. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays w/George James (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main Street. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” 6-9 p.m. every Thursday ($5 cover), “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday (free) and the “Salon Series” on select dates. 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host “Warm Up With Cabin Fever” featuring Zack Couron & Matt Walden w/Josh Grove (acoustic/folk) 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 (admission is $15) and Naturally 7 (R&B/soul) 7 p.m. Jan. 18 (admission is $90). 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday
Junction Pub welcomes Fuzzy Peppers
Fuzzy Peppers will play Sylva Jan. 10. File photo
Jackson County Americana/rock ensemble Fuzzy Peppers will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10, at the Junction Pub in Sylva.
Fuzzy Peppers is a band formed by friends and friends-of-friends who worked together at downtown Sylva’s own Guadalupe Cafe. With dashes of influences ranging from the bayous of Louisiana, the high hills of Appalachia to the strip-malls of suburbia, this band offers up a truly eclectic sound onstage.
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.370.2090 or visit facebook.com/jctpub.
Ricky Skaggs returns to Franklin
Country and bluegrass star Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
A 15-time Grammy winner, Skaggs’ career is easily among the most significant in recent country music history, with legendary guitarist Chet Atkins once crediting Skaggs with “single-handedly saving country music.”
Skaggs’ path in life has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact.
In the past decade, Skaggs has been honored with inductions into the Gospel Music Association’s Gospel Music Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame. In 2018, a landmark year, Skaggs was also awarded membership into the National Fiddler Hall of Fame, the IBMA Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and country music’s greatest honor, the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Most recently, Skaggs was awarded the prestigious National Medal of Arts in
Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic w/Phil” on Wednesdays, Karaoke 8 p.m. Jan. 10 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 “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.com.
• Junction Pub (Sylva) will host “Open Jam” on Sundays, “Marg Monday Karaoke” on Mondays, “Trivia” on Tuesdays, “Open Mic” on Thursdays, Fuzzy Peppers (rock/jam) Jan. 10, The New Variants Jan. 11, Phil Thomas (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17 and JCT House Band Jan. 18. All events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.370.2090 / facebook.com/jctpub.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Gavin Byrd (singer-songwriter) Jan. 11 and Tim Atkins (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18. 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, Gavin Byrd (singersongwriter) Jan. 10 and Ray Ferrara (singersongwriter) Jan. 17. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
Ricky Skaggs will play Franklin Jan. 17. File photo
2020 for his contributions to the American music industry. Tickets for the performance start at $22 per person with seating upgrades available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or call 828.524.1598.
• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host an “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, 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.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Chuck Brodsky (singer-songwriter) 2:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” w/Frank Lee every Thursday, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) Jan. 11, Zip Robertson (singer-songwriter) Jan. 17 and Katen Thomas (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18. 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 James Thompson (Americana) 4 p.m. Jan. 17. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
On the beat
• 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 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trivia Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Open Mic w/Dirty Dave 6:30 p.m. Jan. 10, Bo Bullman (singer-songwriter) Jan. 11 and Steve Vaclavik (singer-songwriter) Jan. 18. 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 w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Alma Russ (singer-songwriter) Jan. 9, The Borrowed Band (Americana) Jan. 11 and Tim Atkins (singer-songwriter) Jan. 16. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Ricky Skaggs &
Kentucky Thunder (bluegrass/Americana) 7 p.m. Jan. 17 (tickets start at $17 per person with upgrades available). 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
ALSO:
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” w/Brooke Campbell (singersongwriter) Jan. 9 and Melissa McKinney (Americana) Jan. 16. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Karaoke Night w/Lori Jan. 9 (free), Topper Jan. 10, Whiskey Mountain Jan. 11, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Jan. 16 (free), Lori & The Freightshakers (classic rock/country gold) Jan. 17 and Rock Holler Jan. 18. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
Americana, folk at Mountain Layers
Jackson County Americana/folk duo Bird in Hand will perform at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City.
The road less traveled has always been the way for husband-and-wife duo Bird in Hand. Bryan & Megan Thurman call the Great Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina home, and the region is directly reflected in their music. Bird in Hand is upbeat and new while still rooted in the traditions of American folk.
The two have played all over the Appalachian region, as well as across the country, and share an onstage chemistry that demands attention. They need to be seen live to understand the meaning of “Appalachian Thunder Folk.”
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, go to mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
As we celebrate this special season, we’re reminded of the blessings in our lives and the importance of faith, gratitude, and community. Your trust, loyalty, and friendship mean the world to us, and it’s an honor to work with you in achieving your real estate goals. With gratitude and faith, THE PAMELA P ENNY WILLIAMS R EAL E STATE G ROUP Pamela Penny Williams, Sarah Corn, Linda Reynolds, Travis Bouck, Michael Weaver, Juli Rogers, Travis Rogers and Hayden Whitley.
Bird in Hand will play Bryson City Jan. 11. File photo
Haywood Arts to offer Helene support grants
The Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) in Waynesville has announced the launch of the HCAC Helene Support Grant.
Designed to provide financial assistance to HCAC artist members who have been significantly impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the application process is currently underway.
Funding will range from $300 to $1,500.
The Helene Support Grant is intended for individual artists, providing critical relief as they recover from the storm’s impact on their lives and livelihoods.
Eligible artists must be active members of the HCAC as of September 2024 and must be working in one of the following artistic fields: craft, literary, media, performing, visual or interdisciplinary arts.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Applicants must be an HCAC artist member as of September 2024 and be 18 years of age.
• Available to artists and creatives who have experienced loss due to Hurricane Helene, including loss of a studio, home, supplies or income.
• Applicants must have been affected by Hurricane Helene.
Old-time community dance
An evening of traditional contra, round and other folk dances will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Professional dance caller Harrison Keely will open the event at 6:30 p.m. with 30 minutes of basic instruction for beginners. Music will be performed by Paddy’s Return, a popular Brasstown-based energetic band strong on lively Celtic tunes of Ireland and Scotland. All dances are taught, with no experience or partner required.
• This grant is intended for individual artists; nonprofits are not eligible for this opportunity.
• WNC Paint Events will host painting sessions Jan. 13 at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City and Jan. 15 at the Moose Lodge in Waynesville. For more information and/or to sign up, go to 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. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is 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. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. dawn@cre828.com / 828.283.0523.
The HCAC is committed to supporting local artists who contribute so much to the cultural fabric of our mountain community. With these funds, artists can begin to recover and rebuild after the storm’s devastation.
For more details about the Helene Support Grant and to submit an application, visit haywoodarts.org/grants-funding or contact the HCAC at director@haywoodarts.org.
Admission is by donation, $10 is suggested. Children and first-time attendees are admitted free. The library is located at 149 Siler Farm Road with a hardwood dance floor, ample lighted parking and wheelchair access. The main entrance is temporarily closed for repairs, so enter through the Meeting Room door.
The event is produced by the Arts Council of Macon County. For more information, call 828.524.ARTS, email arts4all@dnet.net or visit artscouncilofmacon.org.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. galleryzella.com / 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes / 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. coweeschool.org/events.
The aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Cory Vaillancourt photo
On the stage
Interested in theatre? ALSO:
Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (HART) in Waynesville has announced the launch of its “Spring Semester Theatre Classes,” which will run Jan. 27 through April 4.
The workshops offered provide a diverse lineup of classes for students of all ages and skill levels. Hosted by the Academy at HART, these engaging courses are designed to inspire creativity, build confidence, and equip participants with essential performance skills.
From young children discovering the magic of theatre to adults honing their craft, there’s something for everyone. To note, scholarships and pay-bymonth options are also available through HART.
HART is a cornerstone of the local arts community, offering exceptional educational opportunities, community engagement and high-caliber productions. Through its education program, HART remains committed to fostering artistic growth, making the arts accessible and inspiring individuals of all ages.
For more information and/or to register, visit harttheatre.org or call 828.456.6322.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular comedians on the weekends. For tickets, visit caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (Waynesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. harttheatre.org / 828.456.6322.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
On the table ALSO:
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host the “Burns Night Supper” from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22. Five-course dinner, whiskey, craft ales, poetry and bagpipes.
Tickets are $70 per person. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.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. waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your 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.
HART recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. File photo
Robert Burns. Dumfries and Galloway Museums Service photo
On the shelf
Encouraging the gift of a snail mail note
Upcoming readings at City Lights
There’s no fool like an old fool. Allow me to serve as a prototype of that adage. I’m old, three years past the Good Book’s allotted age of three score and ten, and now I have once more donned my jester’s motley and bells by making resolutions for the New Year. Given my past record of failed resolutions, even a casual observer would be forced to conclude that I am a slow learner, and yet here I go again. For 2025, I have pledged to send a letter every week to two of my grandchildren, a platoon-sized crew ranging in age from one to 20. This project requires keeping a chart so that all of them get the same number of letters by year’s end. Fortunately, just after making this pledge I was in my local library when I bumbled across the perfect book to accompany me on this adventure.
In “My Heart Is Broken: Expressing Sympathy,” Cottrell speaks to those occasions when a disaster, usually death, has taken place. She asks, “What do you say when you feel so helpless in the face of someone else’s loss? What good can a simple note do?” She answers these questions by again including valuable reflections and examples from friends and readers.
In “Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire” (Koehler Books, 2022, 218 pages), Elizabeth H. Cottrell offers not only techniques and samples for writing letters for all occasions, but she is a passionate advocate for composing and sending such notes. In her “Preface,” she writes that the handwritten note “is still one of the most powerful tools we have for connecting meaningfully with others. A well-written note can give voice to the stirrings of your most heartfelt sentiments and can be read, saved, and treasured forever.”
Those words set the tone for the rest of her book, making Cottrell exactly the sort of cheerleader I need to persevere in the letter writing game.
Any self-help book is worth its cost if it yields even one tip that can improve our lives, and “Heartspoken” is a treasure trove of such helps. In her chapter “Hang in There: Words of Encouragement,” Cottrell writes “how much a simple handwritten note will mean to someone of any age,” then specifically speaks about the importance of such notes for young people needing a boost. She mentions the delight of receiving letters when she was young, at summer camp or in college, and she also cites examples from readers of her blog, heartspoken.com, who have shared their own memories of heartening letters they’d received.
Here, for instance, is part of a comment Cottrell shares from a woman named Esther, who writes of her mother’s correspondence: “My mother wrote to me a little bit every day. On Monday she would mail the letter and start a new one. Every Tuesday I had a chronicle of the past week at home. Mother died before I finished college. Her letters, in her beautiful, award-winning handwriting, bring her back to me as nothing else can.”
rushed” and “We think writing notes takes a long time.” (It doesn’t.) But perhaps the biggest obstacle standing in the way is this one: “We lack confidence we’ll say the right thing.”
Cottrell also reminds us that when a person we know has experienced some awful tragedy, our presence often counts as much, or more, than our words. The notes we mail allow us to be unobtrusively present for someone who is suffering such a loss. Cognizant of the difficulty in composing such condolences, Cottrell even provides us with some lines to help us with this task, like “Words fail me, but I had to send a hug by mail during this awful time” or “Every fiber of my being wants to swoop in and make things better for you, but for now, just know I hold you in my heart.”
In “Why Does It Seem So Hard?” her chapter on the stumbling blocks that prevent us from writing notes, Cottrell covers the usual reasons, like “We’re busy and
Certainly it’s true that we can say something open to misinterpretation in a note — people who text or email know well these possibilities for misunderstanding — but as Cottrell points out, what the people who receive our letters most remember is that we took the time and made the effort to write to them, not whether we said everything perfectly. As she several times reminds us, when we write our letters to encourage and inspire, the very act of sending such a note can fulfill those aims. My supply of paper, envelopes, stamps, decorative stickers for the little ones, and pens are ready to go. I’ve mapped out a chart with each grandchild’s name and spaces to record the dates I mail them a note. One certainty will help spur me on in this effort: snail mail notes are for most of us a rarity these days, and kids in particular take the arrival of an envelope with their name on it as an event to be celebrated. Forty-five minutes or so writing notes every Sunday evening, and with Elizabeth Cottrell’s “Heartspoken” cheering me on, maybe I can climb Mount Resolution. (Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)
The following literary events will take place at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. • Lester Laminack will present his new children’s book, “A Cat Like That,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18.
The book is an entertaining tale about a day in the life of an island cat. Follow this big, round cat as she saunters through her island village, stopping to interact with folks at the bakery, the bookstore, the pier. Where is she headed next? What will she find at her last stop of the day?
This sociable cat knows everyone in town and the townspeople know to expect her as she follows her customary route. Young readers can fire up their imaginations with the turn of each page.
When cat-loving illustrator Nicole Wong read this story, she instantly knew just how to depict a day in the life of such a charming feline. The simple text leaves room for children to create their own stories as they engage with the art, and the predictable rhythm of repeated lines will encourage them to read along.
Laminack is Professor Emeritus from the department of Birth-Kindergarten, Elementary & Middle Grades Education at Western Carolina University, where he received two awards for excellence in teaching, including the Botner Superior Teaching Award and the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.
• Brian Lee Knopp will share his new book, “Dreams I’m Never Gonna See: The Takeover of WDIZ Rock 100/FM and Other Essays,” at 3 p.m. Saturday. Jan 18.
The title piece relates the takeover of central Florida’s hottest rock radio station by the Ida Lupino Liberation Organization, of which he was a member.
“Dreams I’m Never Gonna See” features 10 essays ranging widely and wildly, in both subject matter and life experiences: confronting a 1920’s Flapper ghost, shearing a sheep face-to-face with a live wolf, praising his personal hero Philippe Petit and exploring underground Disney World circa 1979.
Knopp is the author of the acclaimed 2009 memoir “Mayhem in Mayberry: Misadventures of a P.I. in Southern Appalachia,” which was a SIBA Award finalist featured on C-SPAN and the top seller in 2010 at Malaprop’s Bookstore — the first time ever that an indie published, locally produced title bested all mass-market and mainstream titles.
He also created and contributed to the popular 2012 collaborative comedic novel “Naked Came the Leaf Peeper.” He has taught nonfiction writing for the Great Smokies Writing Program. His work has also appeared in Hippocampus Magazine, Stoneboat Journal, WNC Magazine, Now & Then: The Appalachian Magazine, The Great Smokies Review and in several regional magazines/anthologies. Both readings are free and open to the public. For more information, click on citylightsnc.com or call 828.586.9499.
In a turn of events for the volunteers and members of the public that have been showing up in an effort to preserve Macon County’s floodplain ordinances, the planning board has opposed the third and final recommended change up for consideration. The move comes after months of outspoken opposition to the measure and a two-month delay in addressing the proposed ordinance revision due to canceled meetings.
“We feel that available information and data unequivocally indicate that downgrading the existing protections will introduce unacceptable risks and undermine long-term goals espoused by the Macon County Board of Commissioners,” the Water Quality Advisory Committee said of the proposed changes to the Flood Damage Prevention ordinance in a report on the issue.
At its Jan. 2 meeting, the planning board was set to discuss the third of three possible ordinance revisions pertaining to Macon’s floodplain that have been up for consideration over the course of the last year.
at its January meeting. The change to the ordinance under consideration would have allowed placement of fill on up to 25% of the flood fringe area of any property, where previously the ordinance prevented placement of any fill on properties in the floodplain.
Numerous residents, along with the Water Quality Advisory Committee (WQAC) have voiced their staunch opposition to the change saying that, among other issues, fill in the floodplain would lead to worse, more dangerous outcomes during flood events.
“We feel that available information and data unequivocally indicate that downgrading the existing protections will introduce unacceptable risks and undermine long-term goals espoused by the Macon County Board of Commissioners.”
— Macon Water Quality Advisory Committee statement
The planning board was originally set to consider the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance at its November meeting, but because the board failed to produce a quorum, it could not vote on a recommendation. The board’s December meeting was later canceled.
After two months of delay, the board took up the proposed revision to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance
The WQAC is charged by the county commission with providing technical information and making recommendations related to proposed changes to Macon County’s Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance, Water Supply Watershed Protection Ordinance and the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. It is made up of nine volunteer experts.
“We firmly oppose this change, and instead advocate for a variance process to allow for exceptions to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, while keeping floodplain protections intact,” the WQAC wrote in its report on potential impacts of the ordinance revision.
During the meeting, Planning Board Member Michael Mathis made a motion that the board oppose the proposed change to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance. The vote passed with only two board members dissenting.
“The motion I made aligns with a statement prepared by the Water Quality Advisory Committee, which consists of
environmental experts whose opinions I value,” Mathis said of his reasoning for opposing the ordinance change.
“Moreover, I spoke with a representative from the Floodplain Mapping Office of the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management, who informed me that the state’s Model Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance is currently being updated. I don’t believe it’s wise for the county to amend its floodplain ordinance before the state completes its updates to the model ordinance.”
According to the WQAC’s report on possible ramifications of the proposed change to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance, the 100-year flood zone has flooded multiple times in this century alone.
“The Macon County Floodplain Damage Prevention Ordinance (FDPO) was motivated by extensive losses associated with tropical storms Frances and Ivan in 2004,” the WQAC wrote in its report. “In Western North Carolina, those storms caused 11 deaths and more than $200 million in total damages. Each of the two storms — which occurred ten days apart — met criteria for 500-year flood events at the time.”
The WQAC also found that the proposed change would encourage the loss of farmland, which runs counter to the county’s stated purpose in the Farmland Protection Plan it adopted earlier this year.
“The most productive farmland that we have is the bottomlands of this county; we don’t have a great deal of it, and in North Carolina, we are losing farmland faster than any state in the nation,” Ken McCaskill of Macon County Farm Bureau told commissioners at their June meeting. McCaskill, also a member of the WQAC, has been a vehement opponent of the proposed ordinance revisions.
In its report, the WQAC also outlined potential risks to water quality and ecosystem function, economic viability and costs to taxpayers.
Downtown Franklin, North Carolina. Harrison Keely photo
Following the vote, the planning board’s official recommendation to the county commission was not to revise the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance.
The planning board’s vote is the first victory for the WQAC and the members of public who have been opposed to revising the ordinances. However, this vote is just the first step.
It is the responsibility of the planning board to make recommendations to the county commission, but ultimately, final decisions about county ordinances lie with that board. And while the commission generally takes the recommendations of the planning board to heart, it is under no obligation to ultimately heed that guidance.
One of the three ordinance revisions has already been passed by the board of commissioners. In August the board voted to change the required land disturbance from half an acre to an acre before any plans are required for soil erosion control on a project in the Soil Erosion Sedimentation Control Ordinance. But commissioners held off on final decisions on the Water Supply Watershed Protection and Flood Damage Prevention ordinances until January.
Thanks to the outpouring of public opposition to revision of the ordinances, then Chairman Gary Shields decided to slow the process of changing the ordinances late this summer when the second two came before the commission and instead of holding a vote, sent the ordinances back to the planning board for review saying the commission would take them back up in January.
of December when he succeeded Shields, serves as liaison to the planning board, and originally proposed changes to the ordinances. As chairman, it is now Young’s responsibility to formulate the commission’s meeting agenda each month, run meetings and call for votes when necessary.
While Young’s ownership of property in the area affected by the ordinance revisions raised questions from members of the public about his motives for the proposal, he said he has deed restricted his land so that he will not benefit from the proposal.
Many members of the public, as well as the WQAC, have noted that decreased regulations in the floodplain could lead to worse conditions during natural disasters and more dangerous work for emergency service workers. This became especially poignant after Hurricane Helene ravaged much of Western North Carolina with severe flooding and wind damage in September.
“All of this is very, very important stuff, and I really just have one question. Why are we doing this right now?” said one speaker at the Oct. 3 planning board meeting. “Our region has suffered one of the worst catastrophes that I can think of… this can wait. Our people are suffering.”
While Macon County fared better than other WNC counties to the east, it was not spared the worst effects of natural disaster.
On Friday, Sept. 27, Sheriff Deputy Jim Lau’s truck was seen submerged in floodwaters. His body was recovered the next day. Lau was the only confirmed death in Macon related to Hurricane Helene.
But now, with two official recommendations in hand from the planning board — the latest opposing changes to the Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance and one recommendation in support of a change to the Water Supply Watershed Protection Ordinance — it appears the commission may not consider the second and third proposed ordinance revisions at all.
According to County Manager Warren Cabe, in preliminary conversations regarding the agenda for the January meeting, Chairman Josh Young indicated he was not planning on putting the discussion of the floodplain ordinances on the agenda, and that he was not planning on putting them on any agenda in the foreseeable future.
“Obviously that could change if anything arises that would need the Board of Commissioner’s consideration,” Cabe said.
The agenda for the Jan. 14 regular meeting of the Macon County Commission will not be finalized until later this week.
Young, chairman of the commission as
WNC no longer abnormally dry
The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council continues to classify much of Eastern North Carolina as being in a moderate drought, but the
Most of Western North Carolina has returned to normal. ncdrought.org photo
entire western part of the state has returned to normal. In The Smoky Mountain News coverage area, only a small sliver in northern Haywood and Swain counties is considered abnormally dry. This comes on the heels of several inches of precipitation across the mountains over the last couple of weeks.
Haywood hosts Master Gardener advice session
“Our mountains protect us, but they also funnel all that water into places that people don’t think of as being dangerous,” said Sarah Johnson during the October planning board meeting. “If you have any possibility of preventing it now, now is when you do that. Because I guarantee you that Asheville, Canton, Clyde, the rest of them, if they could go back a little bit and rethink some of the things, they would.”
Hurricane Helene caused over 100 deaths in Western North Carolina and an estimated $58 billion in damages.
“While other counties just to the east of us that were impacted by this storm are looking at ways to make their communities more resilient to these type of extreme flooding events, we have heard nothing from the Macon County Planning Board or the County Commission on ways to strengthen our community against extreme flooding,” the WQAC said in its letter. “Instead, the board is considering efforts to weaken existing protections.”
NC State Extension Master Gardener volunteers are available to answer questions about lawns, vegetables, flowers, trees and ornamental plants; disease, insect, weed or wildlife problems; soils (including soil test results) and fertilizers; freeze and frost damage; and cultural and chemical solutions to pest problems. Email haywoodemgv@gmail.com with a detailed description of the problem, plant or insect. Send clear digital photos if possible. People can also call 828.456.3575 and describe their home gardening issue to the receptionist.
Macon County residents observe flooding resulting from Hurricane Helene. Bob Scott photo
tournaments are scheduled for May and October 2025. Donated photo
Lake Junaluska pickleball courts completed
The pickleball courts renovations at Lake Junaluska are complete.
This project, which highlights the growing popularity of pickleball in the area, will also include upgrades to the adjacent public bathrooms.
This will not impact Lake Junaluska’s four tennis courts, which will remain fully available for use.
In addition to local play, the enhanced courts are already generating buzz, with tournaments scheduled for May and October 2025.
“This partnership underscores Haywood County’s commitment to improving recreational opportunities for residents and visitors,” said County Manager Bryant Morehead. “These projects are investments in our community’s health, well-being, and economic vitality.”
The upgraded courts will also host senior games and pickleball camps, including “how-to” clinics for beginners. When not in use for tournaments or classes, the courts will be open for community use, providing year-round opportunities for recreation and social connection.
Haywood County and the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center invite residents and visitors to stay tuned for updates on the project and future events. lakejunaluska.com
Dozens of flood reduction projects to launch in 2025
With about 280 projects approved across the state, the new year will bring visible on-theground progress in the effort to reduce flooding in North Carolina communities. The projects remove stream debris and sediment, restore eroding stream banks and repair dams and other flood-control structures through the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP), which is overseen by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.The N.C. General Assembly allocated nearly
$19.5 million to the NCDA&CS Division of Soil and Water Conservation to oversee the program. An additional $4.7 million in funding has come from the Department of Environmental Quality’s Flood Resiliency Blueprint.Of the 111 grants awarded to local governments, one was given to each Haywood and Macon counties. This is the second round of funding for StRAP –with the initial allocation in the budget appropriations bill for the 20212022 fiscal year – and projects completed from the first round have already proven beneficial. From Hurricane Helene in the west to Tropical Storm Debby in the east, local leaders reported improved drainage and less flooding in areas where StRAP projects were completed.
Hike Panthertown with Jackson County Rec
The Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department announced a Jan. 17 hike on the Panthertown Loop trail.
Trail is about 4.5 miles, features a 1,000foot elevation gain and is appropriate for beginners and moderate hikers alike.
Cost is $7 per hiker. Kids 10 years and older are allowed but must be accompanied by a parent.
Pickleball
Cory Vaillancourt photo
Up Moses Creek
BY B URT KORNEGAY
‘Blow wind like you’re
never gonna blow again’
On Saturday morning, Dec. 14, Becky reminded me that she was going to hear Darren Nicholson and his band play at the Tuckasegee Trading Company’s annual holiday open house, and she hoped I’d go too. Nicholson grew up in Tuckasegee, and although he’s now an award-winning bluegrass musician who performs all over the place, including the Grand Ole Opry, he comes home each year for a Christmas hoedown of bluegrass, country, gospels and carols at the store. The music started at 11 a.m., and Becky went. But hunched over my books as usual in the mornings, I didn’t get there until the final set.
The band was at one end of the Trading Company’s storeroom, with mandolin, fiddle, guitar and bass behind a single microphone stand and drums to one side. The fiddler, Aynsley Porchak, was new to the band, and when she played lead, she’d take one long swooping step up to the mic. Porchak could make her fiddle sound like it was from a holler in Little Canada, a community in the headwaters of the Tuckasegee River. But, smartly dressed in a long coat and stylish hat, she looked like she’d stepped out of another land — which she had, having been born and raised in Canada.
The audience sat in chairs and on feed sacks across from the band, and between the two was room for dancing. It’s good to hear Darren’s band, better to hear and sing along with it, best to hear and sing and dance. Becky and I danced a made-up polka-swing to a couple of songs, and several of us clogged to another. I was back among the feed sacks wiping my brow when Porchak started the kind of lonesome, yearning, lingering air that only a fiddle can play. The band then joined with power. The song was a little slow for clogging, but it sounded too driving to suit lighthearted polka. It didn’t seem to call for couple dancing or square or circle or line or any other dancing that’s
shaped — but for movement rhythmic and free. I found myself swaying to it.
The song ended with the fiddle again, and I asked storeowner Wanda Herren what it was called. “Seminole Wind,” she said. I learned later that the song had been a hit in 1992. My son tells me he listened to it in his treehouse when he was a kid. Goes to show how up I am on music. But the pump was primed.
when the music went into overdrive, I felt my legs pulling the rest of me out onto the floor. As for the “bone on bone” diagnosis a doctor had given my left knee and right hip just the day before? — “Seminole Wind” blew life back into those lame bones. “You danced like you were possessed,” Becky said. It might have been possession. Seminole means “wild, runaway,” and, looking back, I wonder if the song’s proud, ghostly Seminole warrior Osceola, called back from the dead, had run away with me as he pranced around an Okeechobee fire. Or maybe the musicians had strings attached to my arms and legs, and as they picked and strummed and drummed and drew the bow, they played me like a pup-
in me. The musicians didn’t gyrate theatrically like some rock and roll bands do. They sent all their inspiration into the marvelous instruments instead, harmonic wires, every note electric with expectation. And heaven and nature sang.
All too soon the band wound down to the yearning fiddle. Then, with a little smile to the audience, Darren declared me “the gold-medal dancer!” It’s not a difficult medal to win when you’re the only one on the floor.
Back home again, I was all exclamation point for hours — unable to curl back up into a question mark around a book. It’s good to seize the day, but better to be seized by it. Tuckasegee Trading Company is only two miles from Moses Creek as the
A few songs later, and about to wrap up, Darren took requests, and I called out — “A repeat, ‘Seminole Wind!’” He made it the finale. This time I didn’t wait. No, that’s the wrong way to put it. This time,
pet. I danced in a way we’ve all probably done at one time or another — when home alone.
Or maybe “Seminole Wind” was a kind of Christmas carol, its spirit of joy working
crow flies — just over a ridge known locally as the Gunstock — but you’d think it was a world away.
(Burt and Becky Kornegay live in Jackson County.)
Darren Nicholson played at the Tuckasegee Trading Company, with band members Richard Foulk and Aynsley Porchak to his left, Kevin Sluder and Avery Welter to his right. Becky Kornegay photo
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
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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
Johnny Ray Ledford Mar 25 2025 Administrator 95 Depot Street Waynesville, NC 28786
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001553-430
James Michael Caldwell Mar 25 2025 Administrator 415 Orion Davis Rd Waynesville, NC 28786
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PUPPIES!! Asheville Humane Society has puppies available for adoption; all 2-6 months old and cute as can be! Fee includes vaccinations and spay/neuter. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
“WORKING CATS” Asheville Humane Society has young cats available who are best suited to life in a barn/farm, warehouse, etc. Vaccinated and spayed/neutered. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ashevillehumane.org
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