BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER he Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will seek to expand its trust lands by 3.088 acres following a unanimous vote from Tribal Council Dec. 9. The property in question is spread across three parcels in Swain County and connects Shepherds Creek Road, which is a state road, to Walker Cove Road, which is part of the Qualla Boundary. It abuts existing tribal land on the 3,200 Acre Tract. The tribe had encountered issues with the previous owners blocking ingress and egress to Walker Cove Road, Principal Chief Richard Sneed told Tribal Council. “The tribe subsequently purchased the land, and we want to take it into trust so we won’t have this issue in the future,” he said. The resolution, which Sneed submitted, empowers him to send the fee-to-trust application and supporting documents to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior and to execute all official documents, including the deed to transfer the property.
T
RESEARCH In an effort to strengthen its return on investment, research has been a big component of JCTDA’s work over the last year. “It’s something that we’re spending a lot on, but it drives every decision we make in terms of tourism marketing.” The group now partners with Visa so JCTDA can know, month by month how much visitors spend, what origin markets they come from, and how they spend their money. The top origin markets for 2021 were the Greenville-Spartanburg area, Asheville, Atlanta and Charlotte. Most people from those areas stayed in Jackson County overnight.
Book online at:
MassageWaynesville.com 828.456.3585 Haywood Square | 288 N. Haywood St. | Waynesville
Ingles Nutrition Notes written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath ALL ABOUT IRON What foods are the best sources of IRON? Animal, fish/seafood and poultry products are the best and offer the most bioavailable (easily absorbed) source of iron which is known as “heme” iron. Enriched grains, nuts, seeds, beans, and plants also contain iron, but it is “nonheme” iron which is not as easily absorbed without a source of vitamin C. How much iron do you need per day? Men: 8mg/day Women: 19-50 years old-18mg;over 50+years-8 mg (pregnant and lactating need higher quantity). Who might become deficient in iron? Most people who eat an omnivorous (varied) diet will get an adequate amount of iron but individuals in the groups below should pay special attention to their diet to make sure they are getting adequate iron. • individuals who follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet with no animal products. • during pregnancy • if experiencing heavy menstruation • individuals being treated for cancer • individuals with gastrointestinal diseases(e.g. celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) or who have had gastrointestinal surgery (e.g. bariatric surgery) • individuals with heart failure These individuals can more easily become anemic and may require iron supplements or supplements with iron and should make an effort to have meals that include foods high in iron.
Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN
Smoky Mountain News
Hammond Group, to promote Jackson County. Commissioner Gail Woody noted at the Dec. 14 work session that this firm was instrumental in getting an article about Dillsboro in Our State Magazine. “I had a Dillsboro merchant tell me that October was the best sales she’d ever had in all her years. And she thought that was a big part of being in the magazine,” said Woody. The firm has also worked to get the word out to influencers, travel writers and meeting planners about the unique scene Jackson County offers. Jame, a new Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Sylva, has become a popular spot for travel writers. Ilda, another new eatery in downtown won mountain restaurant of the year from Eaters Carolina. “During the pandemic, we focused on community first and foremost because we recognized that if we don’t focus on our small businesses and restaurants, when our visitors come back, there won’t be anything to come back to,” said Breedlove.
JustDoOils.com
January 5-11, 2022
future growth planning in the Cashiers area through the Urban Land Institute and $3,800 to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to produce videos of artisans in Dillsboro to generate awareness of Appalachian crafts. The organization has also worked toward greater environmental sustainability, funding the purchase of litter pickup tools, bear-proof recycling containers, “Leave No Trace” signs and electronic trail counters for Panthertown Valley. “As we see more visitors, as a lifelong resident here, I don’t want to grow tourism for growth’s sake. I want it to be sustainable, I want these mountains to be here for generations to come,” said Breedlove. To ensure smart, sustainable growth, the JCTDA is funding efforts that work to spread visitors throughout the year, bringing in tourism during less busy periods of the year. “We’re not trying to attract everyone here on a Saturday in October, because they’ll have less of a great experience, but it will also be crowded. So we’re trying to spread people during our need period which is January through March. It’s a time when the crowds clear out and the mountains are crisp, clean and cool,” said Breedlove. The JCTDA also purchased three billboards along the main corridors coming to Jackson County from Atlanta, Cherokee and Asheville. The new signs communicate that there are five breweries in Jackson County, farm-to-table dining and shopping. “We’ve heard from all of our merchants they’ve seen an increase in business since we put these out. So it’s a small investment to drive business into our small towns.” The tourism department also partnered with a new public relations firm, Lou
The land is heavily wooded, says the resolution, and contains one single-family home. The house is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will be made available for sale to a tribal member, Sneed said. The resolution’s passage is just one step in what has typically been a long, arduous fee-to-trust process. Last year, the Bureau of Indian Affairs gave the green light to two EBCI fee-to-trust requests, both of which had been filed in 2014. However, tribal leaders are hopeful that future decisions will happen more quickly, because the D.C. BIA office is now delegating decision-making on fee-to-trust applications to its regional offices. That change has sped up the process “significantly,” Sneed told Tribal Council in October. When a property is taken into trust, it is held by the federal government in trust for the tribe and essentially becomes part of the tribe’s sovereign lands. Tribal law, not state law, applies on trust lands, and trust lands are not subject to county ordinances and property taxes.
news
EBCI hopes to expand Qualla Boundary by 3 acres
Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian
@InglesDietitian Leah McGrath - Dietitian 800.334.4936 Ingles Markets… caring about your health
5
