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January 6-12, 2016 Vol. 17 Iss. 32

Francis Farm neighbors oppose indoor gun range Page 6 Franklin police add body cameras to their uniform Page 15

CONTENTS On the Cover: For the first time since elk were reintroduced to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 15 years ago, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has issued a proposal that will pave the way for creating an elkhunting season in the future. As elk herds continue to grow at a healthy pace, a majority of wildlife officials seem to agree that a hunting season wouldn’t have a negative impact on the overall population. The public is invited to offer feedback on the plan at an upcoming public hearing. (Page 32) Mark Haskett photo

News Old Haywood hospital to find new purpose ............................................................4 Francis Farm neighbors oppose gun range ............................................................6 Swain animal control ordinance takes shape ..........................................................8 Macon Health takes over animal control ..................................................................9 Jackson schools consider artificial turf field ..........................................................10 Junaluska to open emergency animal clinic ..........................................................13 Franklin cops to begin using body cameras ..........................................................15 Bryson City eyed for cattle loading facility ............................................................16

January 6-12, 2016

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Abandoned hospital to find new purpose

dow replacement, would soon be in the cards.

County leaders lauded Burris for his diligence to keep building up while they hunted for a taker.

“Folks who have come through and looked at the building have been thoroughly impressed at how Dale has kept it in shape. In other places, they see buildings that have just been abandon completely,” Francis said.

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January 6-12, 2016

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DIVINE

HARMONY

THE PARTNERS

Haywood County Special Project Director David Francis (left) hashes out the complex challenges of converting the old hospital into low-income apartments with partners in the project, Tim Alexander (right) with the N.C. Historic Preservation Foundation and John Stiltner with the Landmark Group. Becky Johnson photo “Most old hospitals of this nature are intrinsically important because they served the community for all those years. People were born there and died there,” said Tim Alexander with the N.C. Historic Preservation Foundation.

Putting it back into use is clearly a good thing for the county, he said.

“It will increase the tax base, as well as preserve a historic building, as well as provide housing,” Alexander said.

But the county couldn’t find anyone interested in it, even when offered up for free.

While it’s steel construction is solid as a rock structurally, there wasn’t any interest in a building that big, that old and in need of total gutting to turn it into something, Francis said.

As the years ticked by, the county has been saddled with upkeep to prevent the building from falling into total disrepair.

“We’ve been spending $119,000 a year to maintain the building and that is only going to deteriorate more as time goes on,” Commissioner Kevin Ensley said.

When Francis was named to the new position of special project director for the county

a year ago — a job that involves undesirable issues like dealing with contamination seeping from the old landfill — doing something about the old hospital was among the top priorities assigned to him.

The county has been spending $75,000 a year on utilities alone.

“We believe in appreciating your community and contributing to its revitalization.”

— John Stiltner, Landmark Group

“We have to keep it climatized so it doesn’t totally fall down around itself,” said Dale Burris, county facility and maintenance director. “If we didn’t maintain the integrity of the building, when and if someone came along looking to revitalize it, it wouldn’t be worth anything. I am glad it can be repurposed.”

The county already spent $200,000 on a new roof to stave off water damage. More repair costs, from asbestos removal to win-

BRING YOUR BODY BACK TO ITS NATURAL RESONANCE

The development firm carrying out the project, the Landmark Group, has a long history of building and managing affordable housing complexes throughout the state and Southeast. Its construction portfolio includes 85 housing projects totaling $425 million.

The vast majority involved shuttered historic buildings.

It has converted dozens of old closeddown hospitals, closed mills and schools with no other viable purpose into low-income apartment complexes.

“We believe in appreciating your communities and contributing to its revitalization,” said John Stiltner, director of construction management for the Winston-Salem-based firm.

Landmark stays on as the management company for the housing complex, with more than 3,500 units across all its properties today.

A critical partner in the project is the N.C. Historic Preservation Foundation.

It, too, has a long list of success stories, some cut from the same cloth as the old hospital project in Haywood. Landmark and the Preservation Foundation routinely partner to accomplish the dual goals of saving historic buildings while creating low-income housing stock.

One of their recent joint projects was converting an old hospital in Gastonia, which had fallen into a forlorn state of decay, into low-income senior apartments.

The Preservation Foundation will serve as a critical middle man to facilitate the property transfer from the county to Landmark — a transaction with several moving parts and fancy footwork.

First, the county will transfer the old hospital to the N.C. Historic Preservation Foundation. It will in

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER new plan is the works to convert the abandoned old hospital in Haywood County into an affordable housing apartment complex.

The county had been struggling to find a taker for the antiquated and functionallyobsolete building for three years, but to no avail. With both triumph and relief, county officials announced a plan this week to unload the hulking, five-story brick behemoth that most recently housed the Department of Social Services to a private firm that specializes in affordable housing developments.

The old hospital on the edge of Waynesville — dating to the 1920s and ‘50s — would be gutted and transformed into one- and two-bedroom apartments for lowincome seniors.

The county will actually pay the housing development firm $250,000 to rid itself of the old hospital.

While the county has to pay the firm to take the building off its hands, the proposal is a win-win on five fronts, according David Francis, the county’s special project director.

It would provide much-needed affordable housing for seniors, aid with community revitalization, generate property tax revenue for the county and preserve a historic community icon. Last but not least, the county would rid itself of a maintenance burden.

“The cost of upkeep for the building has become a significant expense to the county over the years,” Francis said.

The building housed the county DSS for more than three decades. Amid mounting maintenance costs, environmental issues and cramped quarters, county leaders were faced with a reckoning: spend millions on a massive renovation to modernize the building or move out.

The county moved out in 2012. Since then, what to do with the old building has been a conundrum.

“We have discussed numerous options, from giving it away to demolition of the entire site,” Francis said.

It would cost the county $700,000 to tear it down, and the community would lose a landmark of historic significance.

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School central offices on the rocks Haywood County Schools will have to find a new home for its central offices if the plan to covert the former hospital into an apartment complex succeeds.

Administrative offices for the school system are still housed in the front portion of the old hospital. Assistant Superintendent Bill Nolte said the school administration has been aware its days there are numbered.

“The commissioners have been very clear to us over the past several years that if they could dispose of that building they were going to,” Nolte said. “So we are not surprised.”

The administration has been methodically looking at options for a new home, but was waiting until eviction was imminent to narrow in on one.

“We have probably looked at a dozen or more sites over the past four years,” Nolte said.

turn attach stipulations to the deed ensuring the building’s preservation. The building will then be flipped to the Landmark Group with the protective covenants in place.

The county will initially get $200,000 for the sale of the property from Landmark.

But the county would then extend a $450,000 economic development grant to Landmark for carrying out the renovation project — resulting in a net payout by the

county of $250,000.

Francis said the county will come out ahead, not only for the economic development benefits to the community or addition of low-income senior housing stock, but also by divesting itself of the building upkeep and the property taxes it will realize.

“Affordable housing for family’s seniors and veterans is a need in our county,” Francis said. “It would be an exciting addition.”

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Smoky Mountain News

for the low-income housing credit, but only 35 were selected.

The old hospital project in Haywood has a good chance, with a perfect score in the initial scoring rubric. But that doesn’t mean it’s a shoe-in.

If anyone can win the affordable housing tax credits, it’s Landmark, Alexander said.

Landmark has an impressive track record of securing the tax credits for its projects.

“They know what they are doing and they will put together a great application for those tax credits,” Alexander said.

Both tax credits have to work in tandem to make the project financially viable.

It’s expensive to gut and renovate an old building — more expensive than it would be to build an apartment complex from the ground up, thus the critical role of historic preservation credits to make it worthwhile.

“You have to have those extra sources to close the gap on the extra cost to restore a building,” explained Tim Alexander with the N.C. Historic Preservation Foundation.

The formula for low-income housing is equally cost prohibitive without tax credits. The Landmark Group, the housing development firm taking on the old hospital, has pegged the total renovation at $7 million.

If the project doesn’t win low-income tax credits, it would be impossible for Landmark to recoup the capital investment while also keeping rent affordable.

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he plan to convert the old hospital in Haywood County into low-income apartments isn’t a done deal. It’s contingent on both historic preservation and lowincome housing tax credits to make it financially viable.

The two tax credits only recently aligned, however. Two months ago, neither were an option.

“The time is right to look at making the old hospital more productive. This is a very ripe deal for us,” said David Francis, Haywood County’s special project manager. “This is a ‘sweet spot’ for the project right now.”

State legislators had nixed the historic tax credit in 2014, but have now reinstated it following widespread protest.

Meanwhile, the project didn’t qualify for the low-income housing tax credit until recently either. Rigorous criteria for the lowincome housing credit included a stipulation that projects fall within walking distance to a grocery store and pharmacy. The old hospital in Waynesville was just shy of the required one-mile proximity — it is 1.1 miles to the closest grocery store and pharmacy.

“In a rural area that is an impossible standard to meet,” County Commissioner Mark Swanger said.

County officials entreated the state agency that awards the low-income housing credits to make an exception for rural areas.

A couple months ago, the agency agreed.

They changed the proximity-to-shopping criteria to a two-mile radius for projects in communities with a population of less than 10,000. Waynesville’s population is just under 10,000, putting the old hospital in the running for the tax credits, Francis explained.

“That’s what turned this thing back on,” said John Stiltner, construction manager for the Landmark Group, the firm undertaking the project.

The reprieve is only temporary, however.

“This is a one year thing and we need to take advantage of it while we can,” County Commissioner Mark Swanger said.

There’s only a limited number of lowincome housing tax credits awarded statewide each year, however. And it’s a competitive process.

Last year, more than 200 projects applied

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Turning Haywood’s shuttered hospital into apartments hinges on tax credits

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Haywood commissioners take a pass on shooting range controversy The idyllic pastoral setting of the Francis Farm community could soon become the location for an indoor shooting range and gun store to the chagrin of nearby residents.

Becky Johnson photo

Smoky Mountain News

January 6-12, 2016

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER aywood County commissioners aren’t likely to intervene in the controversy over a proposed indoor firing range and gun store coming to the Francis Farm community, despite pleas for help from the residents.

“I hope that the commissioners will have some way to help us out,” said Mark Palmer, an old-timer whose farm and homeplace neighbors the proposed shooting range.

Palmer was one of several residents who appealed to county commissioners this week.

“I ask you to drive down Francis Farm and picture a gun range in our neighborhood and ask yourself ‘Does this make sense?’” Susan Kirkman said to commissioners during a county meeting Monday.

While commissioners seemed sympathetic to the Francis Farm residents, they are unwilling to quash the plan, since doing so would be a sudden about-face that runs counter to the long-standing lack of land-use regulations.

“I think a knee-jerk reaction would be government overreach,” Commissioner Mark Swanger said. “You can’t pick winners and losers in the absence of an overall land-use plan.

You can’t have land-use planning by reaction.”

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick agreed.

“I feel for the residents but I also feel it is not fair to single out a landowner when they are utilizing their property within the bounds of our present laws and ordinances,” 6 Kirkpatrick said.

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Swanger noted this is the second time in two months community members have asked commissioners to swoop in and stop a project that seemed incompatible to the larger neighborhood.

“Perhaps this raises a larger issue. What we are all talking about is land-use regulations — what can take place where,” Swanger said. “People said ‘I understand the need for a firing range, but it shouldn’t take place here.’

It’s about finding balance of what can be where.”

However, a piecemeal approach that selectively targets individual projects as they crop up isn’t the way to go about it, Swanger and Kirkpatrick said.

Commissioner Mike Sorrells was even less open to protecting the character of the Francis Farm community, describing himself as a “private property rights kind of guy.”

“I am a little bit skeptical of jumping into the middle of that thing,” Sorrells said.

Swanger admitted that he wouldn’t like an indoor shooting range to open beside his house, however.

“I wouldn’t want it in my backyard and there are lots of other things I wouldn’t want in my backyard,” said Swanger, who lives in rural Fines Creek.

A Dollar General store would be just a detrimental to rural peace and tranquility as an indoor firing range, for example, Swanger said.

“If you want to preserve that, you have to engage in a dialogue about land-use plan-

“I think a knee-jerk reaction would be government overreach.

You can’t pick winners and losers in the absence of an overall land-use plan. You can’t have landuse planning by reaction.”

— Mark Swanger, Haywood commissioner chairman

ning,” Swanger said. “Maybe there needs to be regulations, but that is an issue for another day.”

Kirkpatrick said he, too, isn’t against the idea of a larger discussion about zoning if it included a cross-section of the general public and people were aware that it was on the agenda.

TICKING CLOCK The residents of Francis Farm don’t have the luxury of time, however. By the time a thoughtful dialogue on land-use planning played out, it would likely be too late to stop the indoor firing range.

Any day now, a building permit application for the shooting range could be filed.

And once the permit application is filed, it would be a done deal.

If a project complies with zoning rules on the books at the time a permit application is filed, the county would be legally obligated to issue the permit, explained Adam Lovelady, a zoning expert with the UNC School of Government at Chapel Hill.

Rules that come along later don’t apply — only those in place at the time the paperwork was submitted, Lovelady said. A state statute passed by the General Assembly last year prevents new zoning rules from being applied to a project mid-stream in the permitting process, Lovelady said.

Presently there aren’t any zoning rules that would preclude a shooting range from cropping up anywhere in the county someone wanted to put one.

However, Jule Morrow, the man behind the shooting range, hasn’t applied for a building permit yet. That could change any day, but as of now, there’s still time for the county to stop it if commissioners chose to.

Commissioners could use the tool of a moratorium to place a temporary hold on firing ranges for up to 60 days, buying the commissioners time to figure out what they wanted to do.

But it would have to be done quickly, because as soon as a building permit is applied for, it would be too late.

County officials initially weren’t sure exactly what options were at their disposal when the shooting range was discussed at the commissioners meeting Monday. Even if they wanted to intervene, could they? And if so, how?

“What lawful actions exist?” Swanger asked County Attorney Chip Killian after hearing from the Francis Farm residents at the meeting.

Killian said without zoning already in place, he wasn’t sure what moves the county might have at its disposal.

“So you aren’t aware of any statutory authority we would have in this case?”

Kirkpatrick asked Killian.

“We might … I would have to do some research. I was saying as far as ordinances we have now,” Killian answered.

Several residents who spoke at the county meeting hoped commissioners could simply veto the building permit. But commissioners explained that they don’t have authority to vote building permits up or down. “There is nothing we can say ‘yah’ or ‘nay’ on. Anything we would do is something that is a proactive effort,” Kirkpatrick said.

Their only recourse would be to write a general land-use policy governing shooting ranges, which could then be applied to this instance as well as any others.

“We are going to research it to see what can be done to regulate or prevent such a facility, if the board chooses to do that, what options are available,” Killian said after the meeting.

Neither county officials nor Francis Farm residents were fully aware, however, that any action they might want to take would have to be done rapidly, before a building permit gets filed.

That’s a moot point now anyway, since commissioners aren’t

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER embers of a tranquil farming community with deep roots in Haywood County fear their way of life will be ruined by a massive indoor shooting range and gun store proposed in their midst.

A group of two dozen people from the Francis Farm community outside Waynesville appeared at the Haywood County commissioners meeting Monday to voice their concerns over the shooting range and present a petition signed by more than 290 opponents.

The large indoor shooting range and gun store would shatter the peaceful, rural lifestyle the tightknit community has known and cherished for generations, according to those who spoke at the commissioners’ meeting.

“This is not fair to the people who live there. It is not fair to the people who have farmed the land for generations,” said Bruce Bowen, who lives near the tract. “You are talking about changing the nature of a community that goes back centuries. Please.

Please don’t let them build it there.”

Another speaker, Danny Higgins, said Francis Farm residents pride themselves on upholding the farming traditions of their ancestors.

“This idea of a shooting range being built in our midst is absurd. Our family has lived on this property for over 150 years,” Higgins said.

Residents picture throngs of gun enthusiasts loitering in the parking lot day and night, showing off and fondling each other’s weapons. That’s not the kind of environment Josie Rathbone hoped to raise her baby girl in when she bought a house in Francis Farm just a few months ago.

“We have poured my life savings into this property in hopes one day she will inherit this. We want our children to be able to grow up and play outside,”

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Neighbors worry about impact of indoor firing range

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Rathbone said. “Will she be safe outside?

Will she even be safe inside?”

Neighbors fear guns will be fired outside, not just inside, since there’s no law against firing guns on private property.

“Some guns enthusiasts will be too excited to show off the guns they have bought,” said Lisa Nelson, whose roots also run deep in Francis Farm.

Mark Palmer, who still farms the same land his forefathers did for generations before him, can’t imagine working in the fields alongside a shooting range and gun store.

“The people that comes to shoot will not all be honest people,” Palmer said.

But Joel Weaver, an attorney in Waynesville, said he’s looking forward to it for himself, his wife and children to shoot without having to drive to Asheville for an indoor firing range.

“I am strongly in favor of the indoor shooting range. I think there would be a great benefit,” Weaver said.

Jule Morrow, the man behind the gun range proposal, has said he believes there is great demand for an indoor shooting range, both for recreational use and law

enforcement training. The nearest indoor firing ranges currently are in Asheville and Brevard.

Morrow is himself a descendent of the Francis Farm community. His own home is

“This is just the wrong piece of property for this to happen on.”

— Lisa Nelson

surrounded by 66 acres of family land owned by his mother that’s been passed down through the generations.

But he’s not planning to put the shooting range on his own family land, however, nor near his own house. Instead, he’s placing it among his neighbors half a mile up the road, on property purchased by his mother a year ago.

Morrow said he came up with the idea for a shooting range after a back injury prompted him to rethink his construction career.

The residents of Francis Farm aren’t the only ones who are concerned by the pro-

posal. Numerous residents of Shadow Woods, a nearby mountainside development of 120 property owners, were among the petition signers.

“We are very concerned about the degradation of the farming community that we feel like we are a part of,” said Mary Guthrie, who spoke on behalf of the Shadow Woods Homeowners Association.

Residents are also troubled by the proximity of the firing range to a cemetery, where 600 people are buried.

“I can’t imagine people going to the cemetery to grieve. I think that is an incredible violation of their sanctity,” Guthrie said.

Nelson said there’s a place for shooting ranges, but not in the midst of a peaceful community.

“This is just the wrong piece of property for this to happen on,” Nelson said.

Wade Francis, a descendent of the original Francis Farm settlers, agreed.

“I would like to see y’all draw an ordinance up that would keep a firing range out on wasteland somewhere. There’s a lot of wasteland in Haywood County. Put it there where it wouldn’t bother anybody,” Francis said.

— Chip Killian, Haywood county attorney

failed attempt 20 years ago.

“We all know we have no zoning ordinance in Haywood County,” Killian said.

“The last time I remember it being a standing room only hearing in this county was the last time we talked about zoning. So we don’t have any zoning in this county.”

But Swanger pointed out that public sentiment may have changed.

“Again, that was almost 20 years ago. The county has changed I am sure in the past 20 years. Maybe it is time for that discussion again,” Swanger said.

Bruce Bowen, a resident of Francis Farm, said it isn’t the community’s fault that the county has failed to put land-use rules in place, and the commissioners shouldn’t use that as a cop-out.

Smoky Mountain News

“We all know we have no zoning ordinance in Haywood County. The last time I remember it being a standing room only hearing in this county was the last time we talked about zoning. So we don’t have any zoning in this county.”

January 6-12, 2016

in favor of using a moratorium to block the shooting range.

“In my opinion if we used this option of a moratorium we would be abusing our power,” Swanger said.

Kirkpatrick likewise said he was “not expeditiously moved” to pass a moratorium on the fly given the county’s precedent of no zoning. Kirkpatrick harkened back to the contentious debate over countywide land-use planning in the 1990s when zoning was shot down by the public.

The memory of the raucous land-use planning debates two decades ago have died hard.

At the very mention of zoning during the commissioner’s meeting Monday, County Attorney Chip Killian readily conjured up the

Several residents of the Francis Farm community came to the Haywood County commissioners meeting this week in hopes of stopping a proposed indoor firing range and gun store from opening in their neighborhood. Becky Johnson photo

“You are talking about dropping a commercial building into a beautiful residential farming community that people have spent their blood, sweat and tears maintaining for generations,” Bowen said. “The county is getting the reputation of ‘Oh you can do whatever you want.’ It is not a fair thing. We have to have guidelines for people to follow. It is important.

You are going to hurt a community.”

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Swain animal control ordinance takes shape

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS EDITOR fter conducting research and gathering public input for several months, an ad hoc committee finally has a working draft for what might be Swain County’s first animal control ordinance.

The 10-page draft document aims to protect public health and prevent the abuse, neglect or abandonment of companion animals. It also defines nuisance animals and outlines how the county should handle dog bites, dangerous dogs and vaccinations.

Most of it is common sense stuff, but this is the first time Swain County has gotten this close to putting an animal control ordinance in place.

Swain County is one of two counties in the state without any kind of animal control regulations, but Commissioner Ben Bushyhead took charge of the issue last spring. He said the lack of a facility was part of the problems that pushed this issue forward.

“The sheriff and the Bryson City chief of police came to us and said, ‘We need a facility for animals — we have to have it,’ so that was one thing that gave momentum to everything we are doing,” he said. “The second thing was not just feral cats and dogs but stray cats and dogs. People were dropping them off on the side of the road and they’ve begun colonizing and becoming destructive.”

It’s been a recurring issue for many years and the county has tried a number of shortterm fixes that haven’t panned out. While funding for infrastructure and staff have been a challenge, animal control in general can be a controversial issue if government tries to tell people how to care for their own property.

One of the obstacles for Swain County has been trying to address the issue without putting too many restrictions on hunting dogs and farm animals, but this proposed ordinance exempts hunting dogs, livestock and even certified service or therapy dogs.

“One basic thing we (the committee) kept in front of us was that we can look at ideas from other counties but we have to keep in mind this is Swain County,” Bushyhead said. “I think that stayed in front and was discussed at almost every meeting.”

Bushyhead and committee chairwoman Sybil Mann have made it clear from the beginning of the process that the ordinance wasn’t meant to be a leash law or to address barking dogs. Nuisance is defined in the ordinance as “any animal that disturbs the comfort or safety of any inhabitant in the neighborhood or interferes with any person in the reasonable and comfortable enjoyment of life or property.”

The definition says animals making noise, aiding in or protecting livestock or crop production may not be designated as nuisance animals.

Smoky Mountain News

January 6-12, 2016

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VACCINATIONS The regulations regarding rabies vaccinations are simply a reflection of state law, which requires all pets over 4 months old to be vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian.

Also mirroring state law, any animal that bites someone or shows symptoms of rabies shall be confined immediately and shall be reported to the Swain County Health Department. If the animal has been vaccinated, it will be quarantined at the animal shelter or veterinarian’s office for 10 days.

An animal found wandering stray or at large without a known owner, who has bitten a person or who shows symptoms of

rabies, will be seized and impounded at the animal shelter where it will be held for 72 hours then evaluated. Pet owners would be responsible for paying a $5 a day quarantine fee plus the cost of a rabies vaccine and veterinarian treatment.

DANGEROUS DOGS The proposed ordinance states that it will be unlawful for anyone to keep any dangerous or potentially dangerous dog in the county unless it is confined to a secure building or fully enclosed pen on the owner’s property. Wireless fencing doesn’t count as a full enclosure. A dog can be defined as dangerous if it has attacked people or other animals or has inflicted an injury to a person or another animal without being provoked. An animal services staff member can also deem a dog dangerous following an evaluation. Animal services may conduct an investigation and evaluation into a potentially dangerous dog following a written complaint from a resident.

INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS Weigh in The following public meetings will be held at 7 p.m. regarding Swain County’s proposed animal control ordinance.

■ Jan. 12 — Southwestern Community College Building, Almond ■ Jan. 19 — Alarka Community Building ■ Jan. 21 — Whittier Community Building ■ Jan. 26 — United Community Bank in Bryson City Pick up a copy of the proposed ordinance at the Swain County Administrative Building or call 828.488.9273 to request a copy.

NUISANCE ANIMALS Complaints of nuisance animals in the county must also be submitted in writing.

Animal control officers won’t investigate a nuisance animal based only on anonymous complaints. Once an investigation is completed in writing, it will be turned over to the Animal Services Director. If action is warranted, the director will contact the animal’s owner and give the owner 48 hours to take corrective measures.

FINES AND FEES A first-time violation of the ordinance would come with a warning, a second offense has a $25 penalty, a third offense has a $50 penalty and a fourth offense comes with a $100 penalty plus restraint measure or seizure of the animal. If an assessed civil penalty is not paid within the time period prescribed, a civil action may be taken to recover the penalty and costs associated with collection of the penalty.

Even if the proposed ordinance passes, Swain County still lacks the staff and facilities to provide animal control services. The county doesn’t have an animal shelter like many other counties. Instead, stray animals are taken to PAWS, a nonprofit that runs a no-kill shelter in Bryson City. Even with the PAWS partnership, the no-kill shelter is often full and can’t keep up with the increasing demand.

The proposed ordinance would create an Animal Service Center that will be staffed with animal control officers and supervised by an animal services director.

While these officers would not have the power to arrest or carry firearms, they would have the authority to issue violation notices and assess civil penalties for those violations.

Bushyhead said Swain County has to get moving on constructing an animal shelter as soon as possible, but he understands it will be a process trying to find the ideal location that won’t result in nuisance noise for other residents. Early in the animal control ordinance process, commissioners talked about possibly partnering with Jackson County to construct a new shelter that could be utilized by both counties, but Bushyhead said that might not be feasible at this point.

“In my opinion, it’s not feasible at this point because we need to get ours established now and if we can work out a partnership down the road that would be good,” he said. “And after talking with the county manager I believe we can absorb the cost of a facility and personnel right now.”

The ordinance would also create an Animal Services Advisory Committee that would be made up of five members appointed by the county commissioners.

NEXT STEPS Now that members of the public have something in writing to consider, Bushyhead said the ad hoc animal control committee will hold another round of public input meetings in different areas of the county in January. The ad hoc committee will meet on Feb. 4 to discuss any other last minute changes to the ordinance before the final draft is presented to commissioners for consideration at their Feb. 11 meeting. If commissioners choose to move forward with adopting a version of the ordinance, another official public hearing will have to be held before it is approved.

Macon Health will also set up a veterinarian of record for the shelter to be available for emergencies and consultation. To improve safety, Villiard said there would be limited access to the kennel area.

“Visitors will be escorted by animal services personnel when looking at and/or when handling animals,” he said. “This improves safety for the animals and protects the public from opening cages without knowing the temperament of the animal.”

Initially, the health department is not

Macon Public Health Animal Services The county animal shelter, located at 1377 Lakeside Drive, Franklin, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday and from 9 a.m. noon on Saturday.

To volunteer at the shelter or for more information about adoption, call 828.349.2106.

Adopt a cat or dog for $65.

See adoptable pets at www.petfinder.com.

For example … … Pay yourself first. Even if you aren’t living “paycheck to paycheck,” you probably don’t have much trouble spending your money – because there’s always something that you or a family member needs, always a repair required for your home or your car, always one more bill to pay. But if you are going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need to invest consistently. So before you pay everyone else, pay yourself first by having some money automatically moved from your checking or savings account each month into an investment. … Take advantage of your opportunities.

If you have a 401(k) or similar plan at work, take full advantage of it. Contribute as much as you can afford – or at least enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is offered – and choose the mix of investments that give you the potential to achieve the growth you need at a level of risk with which you are comfortable. … Focus on the long term. In the short term, you might be excused for not wanting to invest. The headlines are typically scary, the financial markets are frequently volatile and the future often looks murky. Yet, if you can look past the uncertainties of today and keep

your focus on tomorrow, you will find it easier to follow a disciplined investment strategy that gives you the opportunity to meet your longterm goals, such as a comfortable retirement. …. Don’t be driven by fear. When the market is down, investors tend to react with fear.

Specifically, they rush to sell their investments, afraid that if they don’t “cut their losses,” they might sustain even bigger ones.

If you can get past this feeling, you may find that a down market can offer you the chance to buy quality investments at good prices. … Forget about the “hot stocks.” You’ll hear friends, co-workers and talking heads on television tout today’s “hot stocks.” But by the time you might hear about them, they may have cooled off – and, in any case, they might not be appropriate for your needs. Forget about “getting rich quick in the market” – it probably won’t happen. True investment success requires patience and persistence. … Cut down on your debts. It’s easy to pile up debts, but a lot harder getting rid of them.

Yet, if you can reduce your debt load even moderately, you’ll free up money you could use to invest. So look for ways to conserve, cut back and consolidate – it will be worth the effort.

Making these resolutions – and sticking to them – can help you as you work toward achieving your financial goals.

This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Jack C Bishop Jr, CFP, AAMS® Financial Advisor

Jack Bishop III AAMS®

Financial Advisor 209 Walnut Street, Waynesville, NC 28786

828-452-4048

www.edwardjones.com

Smoky Mountain News

looking to change the hours of operations or the current call system for animal control. Fees at animal services will also remain the same. The adoption fee for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens is $65 and includes any current vaccinations that the animal needs, including rabies if the animal is old enough to receive it; spay or neuter; and heartworm testing for adult dogs. Macon Health is also hoping to start providing micro-chipping service in 2016.

The current animal services budget is $265,020. Villiard does not anticipate any major changes to the budget at this time.

Macon Health will be evaluating and gathering input from its partners — like Appalachian Animal Rescue Center and the Macon County Sheriff ’s Department — and will implement improvement suggestions in the near future.

“We will also look at what types of animal issues animal control officers are currently responding to. We hope to eliminate unnecessary call responses, such as wildlife and varmint or snake infestation calls, and be able to redirect residents to the appropriate agency for dealing with those issues,” Villiard said. “This will allow animal control officers to respond more effectively to situations involving domesticated animals, which is our primary focus.”

Contact animal control at 828.349.2106.

For questions regarding the transition of Macon County Animal Services, call Villiard at 828.349.2458.

The countdown to 2016 has just about begun. If you’re like many people, you might be mulling over some New Year’s resolutions, such as hitting the gym more, learning a new language or taking a cooking class. All are worthy goals, but why not add some financial resolutions as well?

January 6-12, 2016

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR As of Nov. 1, 2015, Macon County Public Health took on the additional responsibility of overseeing animal services in Macon County, including animal control services, the animal shelter and rabies control programs.

The recommendation to place animal services under the health department umbrella came from County Manager Derek Roland, who told commissioners back in October that the move would increase efficiency by eliminating the extra step of communications between animal services and the health department.

“Much of what Animal Control does is related specifically to the care and management of domestic animals and rabies control which are related not to just animal health, but also human health,” said Jimmy Villiard, animal services section administrator. “These functions are and have been for a very long time functions of the local public health department.”

The reorganization will include several key changes for animal control services.

First of all, the name changed from Macon County Animal Control to Macon County Public Health Animal Services. Villiard said the animal shelter would also be undergoing massive cleaning and repair projects — patching, painting and new lighting in the kennel areas.

One of the primary goals is to respond quickly and resolve animal issues and to prevent rabies exposure for residents of Macon County, which is why Macon Health will improve the intake area and flow process at the shelter and updating policies and procedures for handling of animal bite cases.

“We are looking forward to being able to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of animal services provided to the citizens of Macon County,” said Jim Bruckner, Macon County Health director.

Animal control currently has three officers and one shelter attendant on staff, and Villiard said there are no plans to hire any additional employees at this time. However, there is an immediate need for volunteers at the shelter.

“As we restructure our volunteer program, we need volunteers to help answer the phones, to interact with the animals and help socialize them and to greet the public when they come to the shelter,” he said.

Other changes will include implementing a morning huddle with animal control officers to discuss daily assignments, open bite cases and ongoing complaints received from the public.

Time for Some New Year’s (Financial) Resolutions

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Rethinking the grass football field Jackson schools consider artificial turf field

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER chool officials in Jackson County will be crossing their fingers over the next few weeks, hoping to get a low number back from a study looking at the cost of putting artificial turf on the football field of Smoky Mountain High School.

“If that project’s going to exceed the money I have in hand, I will immediately cancel this project,” pledged Superintendent Mike Murray.

County government foots the bill for school facilities, and money’s going to be tight in Jackson County over the next few years. But the school system recently landed a $200,000 grant from the NFL to go toward the artificial turf project, a competitive award given to only 17 schools in the country.

That’s why Murray’s eager to get a bead on what the entire project might cost and, if it turns out to be within his $715,000 budget — that amount includes the $200,000 grant — move ahead as soon as possible. Last

Smoky Mountain News

January 6-12, 2016

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month, county commissioners approved Murray’s request to get an engineering study done to come up with a price tag for the project. The school system now has a $58,000 contract with Waynesville-based Civil Design Concepts, set to finish up by the end of January.

But why, when the school system is also facing needs such as aging roofs and textbook shortages, should something like the artificial turf project get priority?

According to Murray, it has a lot to do with opportunity.

Cost-savings opportunity due to the grant, but also an opportunity to Mike Murray open the field up to more groups of kids.

Right now, the football field at Smoky Mountain High is the only full-size football field in the school system. There are a lot of people who want to use it, but scheduling field use is a dicey game when it comes to grass fields, which can get torn up from rain and overuse. That’s what happened this fall, when a playoff soccer game slated to be held

The Smoky Mountain High School Mustangs take the field. Mark Haskett photo in Jackson County following a period of rain had to be held in Transylvania instead. The field was in too bad of shape to accommodate the event.

“There are a lot of sports out there, and we have quite a few individuals that would like to be able to utilize a football field,” Murray said. “We feel we can increase from just one group using it on Friday night.”

Artificial fields can be used over and over again without fear of tearing up the ground. If the field were installed, said the district’s athletic director Cindi Simmons, use could include seven football teams, six cheerleading squads, four soccer teams, two marching bands, physical education classes and Special Olympics competitions.

Another plus, Murray said, would be the lack of upkeep. Expensive as it is, once the field went in, there wouldn’t be much maintenance cost involved for the ten-plus years of its life. Over the past two years, the school system has shelled out $37,000 for field service and repairs. The figure does not include the cost of painting lines, purchasing machinery or paying someone to mow the field.

The majority of commissioners seemed favorable to the idea when Murray approached them in December.

“That football field out there is used for football, peewee soccer, JV football, varsity football, marching band,” said Commissioner Boyce Dietz, a Jackson County native who’s both played and coached football for the school system. “It’s a difficult thing to use one field for all those things no matter what the weather is. With turf you can practice on it, you can play on it, you can do

all those things on it.”

“When we discussed this at a work session earlier this year, I said, ‘Whatever Boyce Dietz says,” Commissioner Vicki Greene said last

“We have quite a few individuals that would like to be able to utilize a football field. We feel we can increase from just one group using it on Friday night.”

— Mike Murray, Jackson County school superintendent

month before moving to approve Murray’s request.

Support for the artificial turf grass concept is not unanimous, however. Denny Wood, a longtime youth football coach and retired N.C. State Highway Patrol Officer in Sylva, has been one of its most vocal opponents.

“For the kids in the summer, it’s absolutely terrible,” said Wood, who’s taken his teams to play games on fields that have artificial turf. The plastic grass gets quite hot, he said, and the crumb rubber comes off in little black pellets that attach themselves all over the kids’ bodies.

“When we played them (Cherokee), we had three go down from injuries.

Cherokee had six sitting out from

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that game that were hurt by it,� Wood said of the artificial turf at Cherokee. “It’s a higher injury because when you’re playing on grass it’s going to give and let out. When you’re playing on turf, it’s an immediate stop.�

Wood’s main objection to artificial turf, however, has to do with its purported link to cancer, which some say stems from the

“It’s a higher injury because when you’re playing on grass it’s going to give and let out. When you’re playing on turf, it’s an immediate stop.� — Denny Wood, coach

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crumb rubber — basically, ground-up car tires — that form the base. Type “artificial turf � into Google, and the third option that pops up is “artificial turf and cancer.� In November, ESPN aired an investigative report exploring the link, turning up a plethora of anecdotal evidence supporting a correlation but not reaching a definitive conclusion. However, neither the Centers for Disease Control nor the Environmental Protection Agency has classified crumb rubber as a hazardous substance. “After reading all this stuff about kids getting lymphoma and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, I don’t think it’s worth the risk,�

Wood said. “I don’t.�

Murphy said he’s taken the objection seriously and read through the research but doesn’t believe the concern is warranted. However, he said, he will ask the engineer to look at how using cork, rather than crumb rubber, in the field would affect the price. “I personally think when you look at the research it does not signify a significant risk for our students,� Murphy said.

Letters of support the school system gathered to accompany its grant application included one from Carolina West Sports Medicine, something Murray doesn’t believe would have materialized if doctors there were concerned about the health risks of artificial turf. The school system has received much more positive feedback than it has negative, Murray said.

Besides, he said, it’s not like growing a grass field is an organic enterprise. “I’ve had different people look at it and say, ‘Do you realize how much chemicals they put on Bermuda grass to keep it green?’�

Murray told commissioners. “I think we can argue it either way.�

At the end of the day, said Commission Chairman Brian McMahan, the final decision will likely come down to price. Will the engineering study reveal the project to be within the school system’s budget, or not? “All that debate, while I think it’s got some relevance, the final decision will be made based on what the price tag is for the project,� he said.

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Election snapshot A primer on who’s running for state seats

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER oters in Western North Carolina have barely taken down the Christmas tree but will soon find themself in the throes of the primary election countdown.

The primary election has been moved up from its traditional calendar spot in May to Tuesday, March 15 — barely two months away.

While the presidential primary will likely be the major drawing card at the polls, the ballot will include everything from local county commissioner races to seats in the N.C. General Assembly.

With the candidate sign-up period now over, we put together a rundown of who’s running for state House and Senate seats in The Smoky Mountain News’s coverage area.

If you aren’t registered to vote, the last day to do so before the primary is Feb. 19.

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N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 118TH SEAT

January 6-12, 2016

This voting district includes Madison and Yancey counties and parts of Haywood, a horseshoe shape that takes in Maggie Valley, Jonathan Creek, Crabtree, Beaverdam, Canton, Clyde, Bethel and Cruso.

Republican ballot • N.C. Rep. Michele Presnell, RBurnsville, is running for re-election for a third term. A staunch conservative, she has been part and parcel to the new Republican policies carried out over the past four years.

She faces no competition in the primary.

Democratic ballot

Smoky Mountain News

• Rhonda Cole Schandevel from Canton is a dental hygienist and serves on the Haywood County School Board. She wants to reverse cuts made to public education, expand Medicaid and undo Republican policies that have benefited special interests. “I

am troubled by the decisions being made in Raleigh and feel that an authentic brand of leadership is needed to put our state back on the path of success.”

• Reese Steen is a dentist in Mars Hill. He was a Madison County commissioner for three terms. He is running on a classic Democratic platform of restoring education funding and undoing tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of the working middle class.

N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 119TH SEAT This voting district includes Jackson and Swain counties and part of Haywood including Waynesville and Lake Junaluska.

Democratic ballot • N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, DWaynesville, is running for re-election to a third term in the House, and has previously served three terms in the Senate.

Queen, an architect and businessman, has a populist Democratic platform. He’s proenvironment, pro-education, pro-middle class, and pro-health care for all.

Republican ballot • Mike Clampitt from Bryson City has run against Queen twice and lost, but is determined to try again. He has a classic conservative platform and has labeled Queen as a taxand-spend career politician.

“I want to see taxes lowered, state expenses cut, illegals and refugees prohibited, gun laws protected, business regulations reduced ... religious freedoms protected and private property rights respected,” he said.

Clampitt was a career fireman with the Charlotte Fire Department before returning to his hometown.

• Aaron Littlefield made an unsuccessful run against Clampitt in the Republican primary for this seat two years ago but maintains

his political savvy gives him a better chance of beating Queen come November than Clampitt. While conservative, Littlefield said he won’t blindly go along with the party, citing wasteful spending and corruption by the state highway department as one example.

“Raleigh insiders and career politicians on both sides of the aisle are out of touch with the desires and needs of this state. I will fight to ensure that the hardworking people of this state, especially the people of Western North Carolina, are not left footing the bill for Raleigh’s overpriced backdoor deals.”

Littlefield is a political science graduate from WCU and part-time high school teacher in Sylva.

N.C. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: 120TH HOUSE SEAT The district includes Macon, Clay, Graham and Cherokee counties. Long-serving N.C. Rep. Roger West, R-Murphy, is stepping down after this year, leaving the seat up for grabs.

Republican ballot • Kevin Corbin of Franklin is the owner Corbin Insurance Agency, a current Macon County commissioner and long-time former school board member.

Corbin said it is critical the far western corner of the state has a strong, proven leader to represent the region in Raleigh given the loss of West’s seniority and experience.

Corbin, who is chair of the county commissioner board and was chairman of the school board for 16 years, said he is that person.

“I can hit the ground running and have the experience to be effective. I have spent my entire adult life involved in things that have prepared me to effectively serve.

• Elliot Southworth is the owner of a marketing and advertising firm in Murphy.

Democratic ballot

• Randy Hogsed is a real estate agent in Andrews.

N.C. SENATE: 50TH SEAT

This district includes all seven western counties of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay and Cherokee.

There is no contested primary for this seat. The race in November will feature a rematch between N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, RFranklin, and Democratic challenger Jane Hipps of Waynesville.

Davis wants to continue the overhaul of state government and spending cuts the Republican leadership has been carrying out over the past few years.

“I am very proudly running on my record,” Davis said.

“We are getting our fiscal house in order.

We have accomplished a significant amount in doing that and our work is not complete.”

Hipps says Republican policies have been bad for the people of Western North Carolina by putting the wealthy ahead of the middle class.

“People across this district agree that times have never been tougher,” Hipps said. “They are worried about putting food on the table, paying for health care, trying to assist their children and grandchildren with homework without textbooks, and all the while working several jobs trying to make ends meet.”

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intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and felony conspiracy.

Christopher Lewis Hester, 30, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and felony conspiracy.

Meanwhile law enforcement is still searching for the third suspect — Stephanie Lauretta Bauer, a.k.a.

Stephanie Arwood, Stephanie Lapari, Stephanie Lapari Stephanie Trull. She is a white female, 34 years old, about 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes.

Bauer has been charged with felonious assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, and felony conspiracy.

The investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information regarding Bauer’s whereabouts should call 828.452.6600.

Two Haywood County men have been apprehended while one woman is still at large in connection with the stabbing of a 33-yearold Clyde man on Jan. 3.

Haywood County deputies were dispatched to Haywood Regional Medical Center shortly after 3 a.m. Jan. 3 in reference to a stabbing victim seeking help in the emergency room.

Officers arriving on the scene discovered a male victim who had sustained injury consistent with wounds from a bladed weapon.

Further investigation indicated the man was attacked by three people at an apartment at 75 Forest Drive near Clyde. The victim was transported to Mission Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

On Monday, Haywood County Sheriff ’s Office investigators took Christopher Ian Arwood, 31, into custody and charged him with felonious malicious assault in secret, felonious assault with a deadly weapon with

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would be by virtue of its focus on finding the right veterinarians to fill the new spots on staff. It was important to find someone who would be committed to the animal hospital’s philosophy of keeping costs low by avoiding unnecessary procedures and prioritizing the importance of showing compassion to animals and their owners, Cianciulli said.

“It was beautiful the way it happened because we had probably four or five resumes and the first three people we interviewed were just awesome,” Cianciulli said.

“It was a huge blessing for sure because it’s not just about hiring any veterinarian. Is about hiring the right veterinarian.”

Dr. Lilian Herron, an Oregon State University grad who lives in Hendersonville, will be spending three days per week at the emergency clinic, and a vet who graduated from Penn State and currently lives north of Charlotte will join the staff full-time.

Cianciulli asked that her name not be printed until she has given notice to her current employer. Junaluska is also in the process of finding two new veterinary technicians, one full-time and one part-time.

Back when REACH first opened, vets in the wider area — including Waynesville — had banded together to support the new emergency clinic as de facto shareholders, agreeing not to compete with the Asheville clinic. But that structure later dissolved, and while REACH asks area veterinarians to refer patients its way, Cianciulli said, no noncompete agreement is currently in place.

“I’m surprised nobody has opened an emergency clinic honestly just because it has been a while (since the noncompete agreement ended) and it’s something that is so needed,” Cianciulli said. “That’s why we’re really just super excited about being able to do this.”

January 6-12, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER et owners in the western counties will soon have a shorter drive to tackle when their furry charges are in need of emergency medical care. Junaluska Animal Hospital plans to open the first after-hours clinic west of Asheville in Waynesville on March 28.

“You don’t have to be a client at Junaluska Animal Hospital to use the clinic.

It’s for everybody and everyone, so we’re hoping we can help serve those communities and counties that are west of us because they have to go past us to get to Asheville,” said Suzanne Cianciulli, practice manager at the animal hospital. “In an emergency situation, time is of the essence.”

Initially, the clinic will be open 5:30 p.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8:30 a.m. to midnight on weekends. The plan is to eventually extend the clinic’s hours to provide 24hour, round-the-clock care.

While some veterinary practices in the mountains do have Saturday hours and some vets do give clients their personal contact information in case of emergency, right now the only 24-hour animal clinic in Western North Carolina is the Regional fEmergency Animal Care Hospital (REACH) in Asheville. If you live in Waynesville, that’s a half-hour drive. If you’re in Franklin, it’s more than one hour. If you’re in Murphy, it’s nearly two. Once the clinic in Waynesville is established, people in the western part of the state will be able to shave some time off the quest to get their pets help.

“We’re hoping we can save some lives for sure, just for saving time,” Cianciulli said.

When the animal hospital first announced its intention to open a clinic this summer, it wasn’t certain when opening day

Incumbent Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, will face a challenger in next year’s election to represent the 11th District of North Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Two Democratic candidates — Rick Bryson and Tom Hill — will face off in the March primary.

Meadows is currently serving his second consecutive twoRick Bryson year term in Congress since first being elected in 2012. Meadows ran unopposed in the 2014 primary before defeating Hill in the general election.

This time around Hill will have to go up against fellow Tom Hill Democrat Bryson in a March 15 primary election. This will be the third time Hill, D-Zirconia, has run for the seat. He has a Ph.D. in physics from UNCChapel Hill and worked in the aerospace field with the U.S. Department of Defense.

This is the first time Rick Bryson of Bryson City has sought a congressional seat. He is currently a first-term alderman in his hometown of Bryson City and had a long career as an

industrial public relations writer in Cleveland, Ohio, before returning to Bryson City.

Bryson has said he’s been instrumental in getting important projects done in Bryson City and feels like he can be just as effective in Washington, D.C. If elected, he said, he would push for a major new industrial complex in the district that would incubate clean industries in fields like biomedicine, solar energy, recreation and agribusinesses. He said sites could be spread all across the district and all manufacturing Mark Meadows would have to be done in the U.S. During the 2014 election, Hill said his top priorities would be to close offshore tax loopholes and introduce an immigration reform bill. He was also in favor of increasing minimum wage and higher taxes for corporations.

Meadows has drawn some good and bad publicity during his two terms. He came under fire during his first term for his role in advocating for the federal government shutdown. During his current term, he was ousted from his chairmanship on the Government Operations Subcommittee for voting against a party-line motion. Not one to play “political games,” Meadows said he would always vote in the best interest of his district over party lines — something his constituency seems to appreciate.

— Jessi Stone, news editor

news

Emergency animal clinic to open this spring in Waynesville

Three candidates run for U.S. Representative

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Smoky Mountain News January 6-12, 2016

news

Franklin cops to begin using body cameras A

Alderman Joe Collins said he worried about public perception if the agency refused to release a recording.

“Any time you don’t release something people want to know why,” he said. “It will always look like we’re hiding something.”

In a follow-up interview, Mayor Bob Scott said he had no problem with police officers having body cameras now that the technology is much better than it was years ago. He is also confident that the “Given today’s environment of state’s current public records statutes adequately govern the public’s use of public perception, having body the video if challenged. cams ensures officers are “We adopted a policy that has been in use by other agencies for sevdoing what they are supposed eral years and we have adapted it to Franklin. Like anything new, there to be doing. It protects all will be a learning curve,” Scott said. parties involved — the public, Adams said he has been looking to implement a body camera program officers and the town.” for more than a year because his officers don’t have dash cameras in their — Franklin Police Chief David Adams patrol cars. While dash cams can cost $3,000 a piece, the department was “Nine out of 10 times it’s either going to able to get 12 body cams for $300 each. The be part of an investigation, which means it’s cost was covered by a donation from the local not public record, or it’s going to fall under ABC Board.

“This is cheapest and most effective tool personnel — records of our employees are exempt,” Henning said. “It will be at the because we don’t have car cameras,” Adams said. chief ’s discretion whether to release it.”

Scott said he thinks the body cameras will Adams said he didn’t see why recordings wouldn’t be released upon request in most be more effective than dash cams anyway.

“Car video has been around for years, but instances after a case is closed. He told the board that the department would follow state all they see is what is directly in front of the guidelines when it comes to deciding whether patrol car,” he said. “Body cameras go with a recording would be public record. A record- the officer and I feel they will be more useful ing would not be released if it was evidence in in situations that may be challenged. They are an ongoing investigation or if it could be con- as much a protection to the officer as they are to the public.” sidered part of an officer’s personnel file. matter, that video could potentially be released if there weren’t any minors involved.

“There are a lot of variables, but we’ll have to try to sort it all out as we go and do the best we can,” Adams said.

Town Attorney John Henning Jr. agreed that the recordings could be considered public record under state law, but it depends on the situation.

Franklin approves plans for new subdivision

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Unified Development Ordinance. The 59 single-family lots will now be zoned PRD and the 32 townhomes will be special use secondary commercial. The property is currently vacant and consists of woodlands, pasture and small streams.

Town Planner Justin Setser said 32 people who live within 400 feet of the proposed subdivision attended a neighborhood compatibility meeting — a requirement of the special permit application. Overall, he said the response was positive. While neighbors had many questions about the project, Setser said no one was opposed to it.

“I live in that neighborhood and I think it will be done right and will be good for the town,” said Alderman Joe Collins.

Setser said the subdivision is estimated to need about 40,000 gallons of water a day from the town system and 36,000 gallons a day for sewer capacity. He added that the subdivision’s streets would be built to town

Neil Enloe presents the plans for Scenic Ridge, a new residential development coming to Franklin.

Jessi Stone photo

standards so that the town could easily take over ownership and maintenance of the streets when they are completed.

“We’ve really tried to comply with the town’s UDO in every way we possibly can,” said Neil Enloe, manager of Providence Builders.

The developers also want the town to take over all the new water and sewer lines in the subdivision once it’s completed. Setser said many of the residents who attended the neighborhood compatibility meeting were excited at the possibility of extending those

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR lans for a brand new residential subdivision in Franklin will move forward after the town board of aldermen approved a special-use permit for Scenic Ridge Properties.

DEL Construction and Providence Builders in Franklin plan to turn about 55 acres off of Highlands Road between Thomas Heights Road and Tennessee View Street into a subdivision with up to 59 lots and 32 townhomes.

“This looks like the kind of development we want for Franklin,” said Alderwoman Barbara McRae. “We need residential development.”

The board unanimously approved the special-use permit request to change the zoning on the eight parcels from residential and secondary commercial to a split use of secondary commercial and planned residential development as outlined in the town’s

January 6-12, 2016

eras activated while patrolling but would turn the camera on once a traffic stop is made.

While the camera wouldn’t catch the alleged traffic violation — like running a red light or speeding — it would record the interaction between the driver and officer.

The new policy also restricts officers from using the body cameras to record people in locations where they have “a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a restroom or a locker room.” Recordings can’t be taken of strip searches or taken in patient care areas of health care facilities unless it is for official purposes.

Officers are supposed to download the recorded data at the end of each shift and all the data is under the exclusive control of the Franklin Police Department. Any request to release the data must be submitted to the police chief in writing.

The increased use of body cameras has raised some questions about personal privacy versus the public’s right to view public police records. The town board also had questions about how available these recordings would be to the public. Would they be considered public record under state law similar to written reports?

The oversimplified answer is yes, but Adams said there are many factors that would determine whether a recording could be released to the public. If the video were part of an ongoing investigation, it wouldn’t have to be released. A video may also be considered a personnel matter if an officer’s conduct is in question. Under North Carolina law, personnel information is not considered a public record. But what if there is a recording of a domestic violence incident that is now a closed case? While it is still a very personal

news

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR s allegations of police brutality continue to dominate the news all across the country, many law enforcement agencies have turned to body cameras as a possible solution.

“Given today’s environment of public perception, having body cams ensures officers are doing what they are supposed to be doing,” said Franklin Police Chief David Adams. “It protects all parties involved — the public, officers and the town.”

Body cameras allow officers to record their interactions with the public simply by wearing a small mobile device on their uniforms. Adams said these mobile video recordings could aid in prosecuting traffic violations, investigating cases and evaluating officers’ performance. The use of recorded interactions with the public can also reduce the number of substantiated complaints against officers and improves community relations.

Now that the Franklin Board of Aldermen has approved a policy regarding the use of body cameras for law enforcement officers, Adams said he hopes to get the equipment up and running sometime in the next week.

According to the policy, officers are responsible for maintaining the equipment and shall inspect and test the body camera prior to each shift to verify it is working properly. Officers shall not edit, alter, erase, duplicate, copy, or distribute the recordings without approval from the chief of police.

Adams said officers are to activate the body cameras during any police-public interaction when responding to calls for service or taking enforcement actions. For example, he said officers would not have the body cam-

lines a little further to serve their homes.

According to Enloe’s application, the subdivision will have five different access points — one off Thomas Heights and another main entrance off Highlands Road to serve the 59 single-family lots and three other entrances off Tennessee View Street to serve the townhomes as well as the single-family lots.

The town planning board recommended approving the special-use permit after reviewing the application and finding it met all the standards.

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news

Cattle-loading facility, intended for Jackson County, could come to Swain

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ob Hawk’s been trying since spring to find a landing place for the grant he’d helped get for a cattle loading facility, but in his search through Jackson County, the Cooperative Extension director came up short.

Now, it’s looking like Jackson might get passed over in favor of a site Hawk’s now eyeing in Bryson City.

“Whittier was definitely more central,” Hawk said. “That’s where we wanted it, but seeing we can’t find a location here, we still wanted to keep it in the near vicinity. Swain County’s a good second alternative.”

When Lynn Sprague, executive director of the Southwestern N.C. Resource Conservation and Development Council, applied for the $22,500 Tennessee Valley Authority grant last year, he’d figured that the cattle facility would go in at the old Drexel factory property in Whittier. The county owns the site, and Sprague had been working for years on a plan to repurpose the vacant building as an agricultural center. A cattle-loading facility would be the

January 6-12, 2016

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perfect complement to the hoped-for ag center, Sprague reasoned.

But a combination of factors conspired to knock the ag center idea off course. The building’s location on a floodplain made things complicated, and renovating the building turned out to be a more expensive endeavor than county commissioners were willing to take on. That left the cattle loading facility, though paid for through the grant, without a home.

Despite months of searching, no alternative site showed itself in Jackson County, and Hawk’s hoping that the spot he’s zeroed in on in Bryson City ends up working out.

The property, owned by the TVA but leased by the town, is currently used by the Backcountry Horsemen of North Carolina.

“We’re getting good, positive feedback from the town, and even from the horse people,” Hawk said. “We’re trying to work it where we don’t infringe on the horsemen because they were there first.”

Josh Ward, town manager for Bryson City, echoed Hawk’s comments and said the town board will likely discuss the issue at its February meeting. From a visit to the site

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point helped with cattle pickup stations they’d set up in Andrews, Franklin and Swain County. The one in Andrews did great, the one in Franklin did OK, and the one in Swain did pretty terrible.

“I think the nine or 10 months we did it we had 80 or 90 head that we processed, and that wasn’t enough to continue doing it that way,” Dietz said.

Still, the facility will offer more than just cattle pickup. It will give cattlemen access to equipment and, eventually, probably offer education as well.

“I think it would be a good thing, but I don’t think that it’s something that’s going to be huge,” Dietz said.

The facility’s location isn’t yet a done deal either way, however. To find a home in Bryson City, the town board would have to give its approval, and the TVA, which owns the property — and also awarded the grant — would have to give the OK as well.

And there’s still some chance that the facility could wind up in Whittier, after all. A group of farmers from the area has been trying to work out a deal with commissioners to use the Drexel property as an agriculture co-op, housing A piece of property in Bryson City packaging equipment, currently being used by storage space for bulk purBackcountry Horsemen of North chases and commercialsize coolers to store proCarolina could be a viable site for duce awaiting sale. If that a cattle loading facility originally happens, Hawk said, he intended for Whittier. Donated photo could see a scenario in which the cattle facility colocates with the ag co-op.

Center in Canton is the furthest west facility But that discussion, too, is an evolving of its kind in the state. It’s a place where catprocess. Commissioners have made it clear tlemen can take their livestock to be picked they want to let the farmers use the properup for sale, getting better prices than if buyty, but working out all the legal and proceers had to make special trips out to the dural details surrounding such an agreeboonies to pick up a few head here and ment will probably take some time. there. The center also makes processes such “This is a little bit new territory for us in as vaccinating animals easier to do, providsome ways,” said Commission Chairman ing equipment to restrain cattle while Brian McMahan. they’re getting medical attention and preAnd commissioners may just flat-out venting them from hurting their caretakers. not want to tie Drexel up with a more per“Most small producers, they don’t have manent installation like a cattle-loading facilities to do that,” said Commissioner facility. Several of them have said that if a Boyce Dietz, who raises cattle. “I don’t and trustworthy buyer offering up-front cash I’ve fooled with them for 40 years. Some came around, they’d be happy to sell. way I always get it done, but it’s not the best So for now, Hawk is focused on the of both worlds.”

Bryson City site and hoping it winds up However, Dietz does question how much being a go. use a cattle-loading facility stationed out in “It’s movement in the right direction,” Bryson City might get. He’s worked with the he said.

Canton livestock center for years and at one with Hawk and a few others, it looks like the horsemen could continue to use the large riding rink that’s there if the second, smaller riding rink and old shed — which the horsemen don’t much use, he said — could come out to make way for the cattle loading facility.

“It would benefit the people here close that they wouldn’t have to transport the cattle to Canton to that facility there,” Ward said.

Currently, the WNC Regional Livestock

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“It would benefit the people here close that they wouldn’t have to transport the cattle to Canton to that facility there.”

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— Josh Ward, Bryson City town manager

Learn about impact of Connect N.C. bond

Free workshops for camp counselors

The 19th Annual Altrusa Soup & Cornbread Scholarship Fundraiser will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the First United Methodist Church at 566 South Haywood Street in Waynesville.

The lunch or dinner will include homemade soup (vegetable or potato), fresh cornbread, a beverage and your choice of homemade dessert.

Advance or at the door tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. The meals are available for take-out or eat-in.

Since 1991, more than $100,000 in scholarship funds have been raised by the Waynesville Altrusa organization, primarily through the club’s annual Soup and Cornbread Scholarship Fundraiser.

Individuals or businesses may pre-order to-go meals for a scheduled time by faxing in a pre-order form found at www.waynesvillealtrusa.org.

A Connect N.C. Bond information session and grassroots educational outreach training session will be held at noon, Monday, Jan. 11, at the Swain County Cooperative Extension Center, 60 Almond School Road, in Bryson City.

Join Jackson and Swain County Cooperative Extension, N.C. State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, local community colleges and other community stakeholders to hear about the potential impact the Connect N.C. bond investments could have on higher education, agriculture, public safety, municipal water and sewer projects and state parks.

Lunch will be provided. RSVP to Robert J. Hawk at robert_hawk@ncsu.edu, 586.4009 or 488.3848.

The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department will host two workshops that are free to potential summer camp counselors.

The Jan. 19 workshop is called “Community Building Through Innovative Game Time” and will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Waynesville Recreation Center. The Jan. 25 workshop is called “Team Building Facilitator Training.” It will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

These workshops can also be useful for anyone who works with youth or children in any type of setting. These classes are participatory classes. Everyone who attends will receive a letter of participation.

To register, call 828.456.2030 or email tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

As a result of the Nov. 3 municipal election in Maggie Valley, the town has to appoint someone to fill the unexpired board of aldermen seat recently held by Saralyn Price.

There are two years remaining on the unexpired term. Interested applicants should submit a completed application (resume optional) no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, to the Town Clerk Vickie Best. Applications are available for pick-up at Maggie Valley Town Hall, 3987 Soco Road, or at www.townofmaggivalley.com.

To be eligible for appointment, an applicant must be a registered voter living within the Town of Maggie Valley’s corporate limits.

828.926.0866.

Haywood Habitat for Humanity is seeking qualified homeowners for homes located in Haywood County.

All applicants must attend one mandatory information session prior to application.

Information sessions are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church; 2 p.m. Jan. 10 at Haywood County Public Library-Canton; and at 1 p.m.

Jan. 23 at Haywood County LibraryWaynesville.

All applicants must be residents of North Carolina for a minimum of 12 months and living in Haywood County at the time of application. www.haywoodhabitat.org or call 828.452.7960.

A three-class series related to caring for and communicating with individuals with dementia will cover a different topic each time.

The first class in the series — “When You Forget That You Forgot” — will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 8, at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way in Waynesville. The class will help participants understand features of dementia, different types and how dementia affects the brain.

No cost. Call to register, 828.356.2800.

Bryson City law office closes Local attorney Eric Stiles has closed his law practice in Bryson City.

Current and former clients will need to pick up their court files from his office. To

Safe Kids Coalition of Macon to hold meeting The Macon County Sheriff ’s Office has partnered with agencies throughout the county to establish the first Safe Kids Macon County Coalition.

“We are excited to be working with other law enforcement agencies and community organizations in Macon County to develop the first Safe Kids Macon County coalition,” said Sheriff Robert Holland.

The Safe Kids Macon County Coalition, which is comprised of law enforcement agencies, fire departments, child advocacy organizations and other community groups dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of children, will be the western-most Safe Kids coalition in the state. The Macon County Sheriff ’s Office will act as the host agency for Safe Kids Macon County.

Safe Kids works with an extensive network of more than 400 coalitions in the United States and partners with organizations in 25 countries around the world to reduce injuries from motor vehicles, sports, drownings, falls, burns, poisonings and more.

Safe Kids Macon County will hold its next meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Macon County Detention Center. Organizations interested in partnering with MCSO are invited to attend. For more information, contact Josh Stewart at jstewart@maconnc.org.

January 6-12, 2016

Maggie Valley seeks alderman applicants

Haywood Habitat accepting homeowner applications

Senior center offers dementia classes

pick up files, clients can contact attorney Sybil Mann, who is the court-appointed trustee of Stiles’ law practice. Her job is to identify pending files, as well as closed files, and return them to their owners. Clients of Stiles and attorneys who represent former clients of Stiles may arrange to obtain their client files by contacting Mann during regular weekday business hours. Her phone number is 828.508.4336 or she can be emailed at smannwnc@gmail.com.

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Altrusa to host annual fundraiser

Smoky Mountain News 17

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Education

Smoky Mountain News

SCC receives Appalachian Farm School grant The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina awarded $5,500 in grant funding to Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center for the second annual Appalachian Farm School, which starts Jan. 12.

The Appalachian Farm School is an opportunity for new and existing small-to-medium size farm owners to get the tools they need to create or revise their business plans for economically sustainable enterprises. Last year’s school drew 26 farmers.

The school is offered from 6-9 p.m. on eight consecutive Tuesdays (through March 1) at SCC’s Swain Center in partnership with NC Cooperative Extension and the NC Department of Agriculture. The fee is $75. Sessions include farm evaluation and goal setting, gaining insights on marketing products, easy ways to understand the important numbers, current issues facing agribusiness as well as funding options and other resources.

To register, contact Henry at t_henry@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4211.

WCU enrichment classes begin Jan. 12 Western Carolina University’s lifelong learning institute will begin its spring semester schedule with a series of weekly educational sessions for Western North Carolina residents 50 and older who are interested in enriching their lives through the pursuit of knowledge.

The institute offers sessions in both Cullowhee and Asheville that focus on a variety of topics including business, history, science, literature, politics and personal development.

Participants may register to attend 12 weeks of sessions at one of the two sites. Sessions will be offered on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 12 in Cullowhee and on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 13 in Asheville. Sessions at both locations will begin at 10 a.m. and continue until noon.

Cost of new membership for the spring semester is $75. Participants may attend all or as many sessions as they like.

828.227.7397.

Partnership provides interns for SCC students Thanks to a Project SEARCH partnership between Southwestern Community College, Webster Enterprises, Smoky Mountain LME/MCO, Vocational Rehabilitation and Harris Regional Hospital, young adults with disabilities will be able to make their career goals a reality.

Project SEARCH is a national nonprofit program that partners with businesses to create internships for young adults with disabilities.

Seven students in SCC’s program are currently attending classes and serving internships at Harris.

Webster Enterprises provides a job coach, a paraprofessional and volunteers to the program.

The job coach and paraprofessional work indi-

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• Dr. Cheryl Davids, dean of Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus, has been selected to participate in the N.C. Community College Leadership Program throughout this academic year. The seven-month leadership program is designed to develop the state’s future community college leaders. Participants work in teams to create an ideal community college.

Christine Bredenkamp (fourth from left), a N.C. State University horticulture extension agent, oversees farm training for SCC on Nov. 7 in Bryson City. Pictured with Bredenkamp are, from left: Margaret Masie, Graeme Potter, Chris Leeks, Jeff Darnell and Rob Hawk. SCC will hold its second Appalachian Farm School on Tuesdays from Jan. 12 through March 1.

vidually with students to assist in setting up internships at the hospital. As students enter their third internships, Webster job coaches will assist Project SEARCH staff members in finding jobs for the students. devonnej@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4486.

HCC program brings home 16 awards Haywood Community College’s Criminal Justice Program recently brought home 16 awards from the 2015 Region 5 American Criminal Justice Association/Lambda Alpha Epsilon Conference in Huntsville, Alabama.

HCC Criminal Justice student Jennifer Keener finished first place in Criminal Law, second place in Juvenile Justice, and third place in Corrections; HCC Criminal Justice student Mary Suttles finished second place in Corrections and third place in Juvenile Justice; HCC Criminal Justice student Kaitlin Sass finished first place in Police Supervision.

In the Upper Division, HCC Alum Brian Forest finished first place in LAE Knowledge, second place in Criminal Law, second place in Corrections, third place in Juvenile Justice, and third place in Police Supervision and Advisor Chris Wyatt finished first place in Corrections, second place in Crime Scene, second place in Juvenile Justice, second place in LAE Knowledge, and third place in Police Supervision.

Kolodski scholarships awarded to SCC students Isaac Galvez of Akron, Ohio, and James Owens of Crouse were awarded $500 Kolodski scholarships when they recently graduated from Southwestern Community College’s National Park Service program.

Though he was killed in the line of duty more

than 17 years ago, Joseph Kolodski’s legacy will continue to live on at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center in Macon County with the establishment of a scholarship named in his honor.

The scholarship is awarded bi-annually to students in SCC’s NPS program.

“He had a strong desire to make sure what he taught was what the students would need to hear in their heads when they were in the field,” recalled Florie Takaki, Kolodski’s widow. “He worked to provide the best information possible to that those lessons might save the lives of park visitors or themselves.”

For more information about NPS-SLET training and other programs at Southwestern’s Public Safety Training Center, call 828.306.7041 or visit www.southwesterncc.edu/pstc.

WCU joins national Pathways to Innovation program Western Carolina University is among 14 higher education institutions in the U.S. selected to participate in a National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation program designed to help schools fully incorporate innovation and entrepreneurship into undergraduate engineering education.

The initiative is funded by the National Science Foundation and is directed by Stanford University and VentureWell, a nonprofit higher education network.

WCU’s Pathways team includes Scott Pierce, assistant professor of engineering in the Kimmel School of Construction Management and Technology; Pat Gardner, director of the Kimmel School’s Center for Rapid Product Realization; and Ed Wright, director of WCU’s Corporation for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

For more information, contact WCU’s Kimmel School at 828.227.7368 or jeffray@wcu.edu.

• Western Carolina University has been named a “Best College Value” for 2016 in an annual review of colleges and universities released by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. WCU is 73rd among public higher education institutions across the nation in terms of value for in-state students, and is in 76th place for out-of-state students.

ALSO:

• Southwestern Community College’s health sciences division students collected 1,720 pounds of non-perishable items in an annual food drive for MANNA food bank.

Leading the way this year was SCC’s radiography program, which brought in 1,235 items.

SCC’s Nursing Club sponsors and organizes the drive each year.

• Results from the 2015 National Survey of Student Engagement indicate that Western Carolina University consistently outperforms similar higher education institutions in a variety of factors related to undergraduate student learning. More information about the NSSE is available at nsse.iub.edu.

• Jackson County Early College is accepting applications for admissions through Jan. 15 for the 2016-17 academic year. JCEC is a cooperative effort between SCC and Jackson County Public Schools that allows students to earn up to two years of college credit, tuition-free, while they work toward their high school diploma in a post-secondary atmosphere. 828.339.4499 or rensley@jcpsmail.org.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

And the 2015 award winners are ...

T

Wilderness for all, all ways, always

To the Editor: Two happenings in the past 12 months led me to some end-of-the-year musings.

The happenings were related, though one was personal and the other one plays out in the public arena. In the end my participation in both coalesced into a stronger belief in the great idea of wilderness because I had experienced wilderness up-close and personal in one and in the other I participated in the Forest Service Plan Revision for the Nantahala National Forest.

Beginning in early February on a cold morning, I joined three friends on a hike in the Ellicott Rock Wilderness. I had signed up for The Wilderness Society’s Dirty Dozen Hike Challenge which required hiking at least 10 miles in 12 different wilderness areas. I signed up as a lark, aware that I was an unlikely candidate to accomplish such an adventure given my age and physique, among other reasons. The opportunity of hiking so many new trails and the fun I knew we would share as the Wild Bunch was too enticing to pass up. So that day I crossed the Chattooga River in icy water halfway up my thighs, an utterly absurd and crazy thing for someone who hates the cold.

I was hooked. I completed my 12th hike at the end of September, some easy, some extremely difficult, each one memorable

appearances.

And we didn’t say what he did was wrong or even unusual. Ray’s public service is commendable and his devotion for Canton is obvious. As a football coach I eventually came to detest said on a regular basis, “it is what it is.”

What’s perhaps better than the award we gave Ray, though, is what happened to our newspapers in Canton. We deliver every Editor Wednesday, and by Thursday we were getting calls that every stop in Canton was out of papers. They were gone. People either loved the stories in last week’s edition or, Oz-like, someone went behind the scenes and made sure all the papers disappeared. We’re looking into it.

Very few people make our awards list year after year, but Rep. Michelle Presnell, R-Burnsville, is on a two-year run.

Anyone who follows Presnell’s shenanigans in Raleigh will certainly understand why we pick on her: she makes it easy.

This year, Presnell got the “Michelle Knows Best Award” for her continued efforts to block the merger of Lake Junaluska into Waynesville.

As an elected leader, Presnell certainly has a right to speak her mind in Raleigh. The problem is that she refuses

Scott McLeod

he idea to start handing out annual spoof awards instead of the traditional year-in-review that most newspapers do was the brainchild, as I recall, of staff writer Becky Johnson. Those who know Becky and have read our paper for a while know she’s been both an editor and reporter here at SMN, and has written many awardwinning pieces. She’s always looking for different and better ways to do things, and this idea has stuck.

The end-of-year awards (published last week, www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/16926-2015news-in-review) have become one of my favorite annual traditions here. It’s interesting and fun to sit down, dissect the past year’s news and try to figure out what kind of treatment will work best. We’re smart enough to know that we don’t succeed in all of the spoofs, but there a few every year that are pretty good. So, forgive for going into a little more detail on a few of my favorites from this year’s list.

The “Oz the Great and Powerful Award” went to Canton Mayor Mike Ray. Ray supported two challengers who were trying to win seats on the town board. What we pointed out was that he did so somewhat surreptitiously, giving the challengers money for their campaigns but never openly — at least not in front of the media — expressing support for them or opposition to the sitting aldermen they were challenging.

Like Oz from the movie, he operated from behind the curtain, pulling levers, twisting knobs, trying to keep up

to come right out and say why she is against the merger. All the leaders of these communities want is for their constituents to have the opportunity to vote this proposal up or down.

But no, Presnell keeps up her opposition, blocking a bill that would let the citizens have their say in the matter, proving that she is certainly worthy of the “Michelle Knows Best” moniker. I mean, letting the democratic process play out just isn’t a good idea, not when you have leader who knows better than anyone else what is best.

Maybe, maybe this will be the year Presnell is beat and gets the opportunity to spend more time with her family in Burnsville instead of having to travel to Raleigh to do the people’s business. We can only hope.

And, perhaps my favorite, is the award given to an attorney for Western Carolina University, the “Straight Shooter Award.”

When it comes to tailgating and college football, everyone knows that the libations play a big part. So when WCU wanted to expand the tailgating area to accommodate more before-game festivities, university attorney Mary Ann Lochner had this to say by way of explanation when the proposal came before the board of trustees: “We want to drink in more places than we currently do. What else? Are there more questions?” Go Catamounts.

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

LOOKING FOR OPINIONS The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786. and each one increasing my love for the wild places in our world. I share this personal experience not to win admiration, but to affirm that going into the wilderness is within reach of most of us if we have the desire to be part of untrammeled nature and are willing to prepare to do so.

The Mountains-to-Sea Trail, Section 2, reached a few yards from a Blue Ridge Parkway parking spot, best embodied for me the marvels and magnificence of wilderness. This trail would be rated as “easy” with some short “moderate” sections by most hiking guides.

I have followed closely the Forest Service Plan Revision process. At meetings and through the media, I have become keenly aware of the misconceptions about wilderness that are held by so many people and of the demands by various groups to open up wilderness areas for their particular interests (some harmless and already allowed, some highly destructive and benefiting just a few).

I have come to realize that so many of our trails and public lands would diminish little by little without the protection of wilderness designation. I also have been surprised at the contrast of those who advocate for less wilderness and those who support it. The opposition strongly and unabashedly expresses its opinions and gains widespread support. The wilderness supporters, in general, are reticent to

express their love for the wild lands because of our society’s misguided views of human progress.

Well, I am starting my New Year’s resolutions early. From hereon I will express my support for wilderness and share my newfound guiding principle: Wilderness for all, all ways, always!

Olga Pader Franklin

Those seasonal guests that just won’t leave

I

includes cleaning cabinets and drawers, moving the stove and re-organizing the closets and pantry item by item. I’ve found traces of their hijinks just about everywhere over the years, including in coat pockets and flower vases.

Like the tiresome guests, I try to make their little lives as uncomfortable as possible, then I make a deal with them: stay out of my house and I won’t try to kill you. I can almost imagine their reaction while scurrying around at night when they come across a pile of crumbs on the counter or that half bag of pasta left partially open in the pantry — “Hey guys! Look what I found, lets have a party!” It must be like hitting the small rodent Powerball to the tiny terrorists.

While scouring the the pantry for evidence or attractions, I found several rusted unidentifiable jars of homemade preserves (or something), including a jar of rather brown peaches with 9/03 handwritten on the lid. Thirteen years seemed like a long time to wait for some of Aunt Shelly’s peaches, so I decided it was time to let some of this stuff go to the compost pile.

Perhaps the mice are here to bring me a message, I reasoned. Maybe “Use it or lose it,” or perhaps “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can eat today?” I’m not sure about the message, but I can do without the messenger.

The war with the seasonal invaders will likely continue until one of us either gives up the battle or moves out permanently.

The smart money is probably on the mice.

(John Beckman is a farmer and builder who lives in Jackson County. He can be reached at beckmanmtn@frontier.com.)

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Let our pharmacist show you natural ways to strengthen your immune system.

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January 6-12, 2016

BY JOHN B ECKMAN G UEST C OLUMNIST look forward to the chilly days of early winter here in the hills — no bugs, no sunburn, no sticky clothes or sweaty brows, no grass to cut and more time to visit friendly folks. It’s great to see the old gang again for big meals and events, indeed the only time we get to see many of them all year.

There is one regular drop-in that comes in from the cold and stays and stays and stays. Now even the best of guests eventually have to leave so we can get back to our “normal” life, but this particular one comes and eats our food, makes a mess, rearranges our stuff and never cleans up after themselves. You’ve probably had guests like this in your house and you do your best to ignore them and hope they go away soon, but they don’t. They just don’t get the hint.

Mice are like that.

I can understand why they come and I try to see things from their perspective: it’s warm and dry, the food is good, the hazards are few and it beats living under a frozen log. They returned to our home again last month (though they probably never actually left) and began raising their regular havoc in the kitchen.

This year they chose to abscond with the 250 watermelon seeds I had been carefully drying on the table for next year’s crop. In a single night, 249 of them disappeared, stashed somewhere for their next little furry shindig I presumed.

That’s going too far. Pushed to my limit, I sprang into action and set out on my search and destroy mission for their access, accommodations and comfort. This

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Smoky Mountain News

Free ton of pellets delivered with purchase of new pellet stove and installation. some artists travel the world for inspiration others

don’t need to.

Fixed to this place like strings to a guitar, our music is as loyal as its fans. It stays near the people and the venues that helped bring it to life. Jazz, country, rock, folk, bluegrass, newgrass and more ~ all live here. They were born in artists who call this state home. And the same places that inspired greats like John Coltrane, Nina Simone, James Taylor and The Avett Brothers ~ may also inspire you.

828-333-5456 cleansweepfireplace.com 324-49

Chimney Inspections, Repairs & More

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tasteTHEmountains Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 APPLE ANDY'S RESTAURANT 3483 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in Market Square. 828.944.0626. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Thursday.

Serving the freshest homemade sandwiches, wraps, and entrees such as country fried steak and grilled flounder. Full salad bar and made from scratch sides like potato salad, pinto beans and macaroni and cheese. www.appleandys.com APPLE CREEK CAFE 32 Felmet St., Waynesville. 828.456.9888.

Traditional Lunch Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Family Style Lunch Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Family Style Dinner Wednesday-Saturday 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Home to an extensive build your own sandwich menu as well as specialty salads, soups burgers and more. With local ingredients and made-from-scratch recipes using a variety of good-for-you ingredients Apple Creek Cafe is sure to become your favorite spot.

BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313.

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Sunday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not preprepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make

January 6-12, 2016

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza

at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts. Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily. Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items.

Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day. Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. It’s winter, but we still serve three meals a day on Friday, Saturday and long holiday weekends. Join us for Breakfast from 8 to 9:30 a.m.; Lunch from 12 to 2 p.m.; and Dinner buffet from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with entrees that include pot roast, Virginia ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. And a roaring fire in the fireplace. So come enjoy mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view.

Reservations are required.

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mouthwatering all beef burgers and dogs, hand-dipped, hand-spun real ice cream shakes and floats, fresh handcut fries. Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials.

Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

828.587.2233. Open Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine. Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more.

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly.

Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

Winter Hours

Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon,

7am-12pm

4309 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley (828) 926-0212 Smoky Mountain News

Reservations Accepted | Winter Hours: Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon, 7am-12pm

We’ll feed your spirit, too.

828-246-0350 22

BoojumBrewing.com

Cataloochee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 | CataloocheeRanch.com | (828)926-1401

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tasteTHEmountains

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.

828.926.1820 Open Wednesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; closed Monday and Tuesday. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; Dinner 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. www.frogsleappublichouse.com.

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212. Winter hours: Friday-Monday 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Join us for what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Handtossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch.

Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows.

MAGGIE VALLEY CLUB 1819 Country Club Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

Open seasonally for lunch and dinner. Fine and casual fireside dining in welcoming atmosphere. Full bar. Reservations accepted.

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561.

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections. Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place.

100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor. Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes),

thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoors, outside on the patio or at the bar.

Reservations appreciated.

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Open Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m and Sunday 7:30 a.m to 9 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

ROB’S HOT DOG SHACK 42 Montgomery St., Waynesville 828.707.7033. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rob’s serves gourmet hot dogs and has homemade side items. Outdoor and indoor dining, café style restaurant. Locally owned and operated.

Family oriented business.

SOUTHERN BOOT, LOUISIANA CUISINE 67 Branner Avenue, Waynesville.

828.246.0053 Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Southern Boot serves delicious Louisianian food while providing a friendly music venue for musicians of all ages. Feel at home no matter where you’re from. Greeting all customers at the door with a smile.

TWIN MAPLES FARMHOUSE 63 North Hill Street, Waynesville.

828.452.7837. Open for Sunday brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located just two blocks from downtown Waynesville, Twin Maples is available for weddings, receptions, family reunions, birthday parties, showers, luncheons, corporate meetings and retreats.

VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!) Each Pizza is

MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 twitter.com/ChurchStDepot M C facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

Open for Breakfast MON.-SAT. 8 A.M. 3 E JACKSON ST. • SYLVA, NC

www.CityLightsCafe.com 326-51

MEDITERRANEAN

ITALIAN CUISINE

A LOCAL

FAVORITE

January 6-12, 2016

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Wednesday-Saturday dinner starting at 4:30 p.m.; Sunday Noon to 8 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

Take-out menu. Excellent service and hospitality. Reservations appreciated.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel.

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

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THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

FOR 15 YEARS AND COUNTING!

1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 LUNCH & DINNER TUES. - SUN.

www.pasqualesnc.com

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This This W Weekend’s eekend’s M Music usic Friday, Friday, Ja January nuary 8 @ 7 7pm pm

D Daniel aniel Sh Shearin earin g guitar, uitar, v vocals ocals Folk, Folk, pop, pop, world world music, music, originals originals

Smoky Mountain News

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Retail Retail

Saturday, Saturday, Ja January nuary 9 @ 7pm 7

J Joe oe C Cruz ruz p piano, iano, v vocals ocals Beatles, Beatles, Elton Elton John, John, James James T Taylor aylor & more more

Paid in part by Haywood County T o ourism www .visitncsmokies.com Tourism www.visitncsmokies.com 828-452-6000 828-452-6000 classicwineseller.com classicwineseller.com 20 20 Church Church Street, Street, Waynesville, Waynesville, NC NC

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com

— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am

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Smoky Mountain News

Keep On Getting Lost — Scott Low

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER It is quite the conundrum, ain’t it?

In an era where mainstream radio hits are shellacked in “sugar and spice and everything nice,” there is an underbelly of sorrow, redemption and flawed beauty (the only true kind of beauty) that is slowly emerging from the depths.

For every Taylor Swift bubblegum breakup song exploding out of posh Nashville studios there’s also a melody of broken whiskey bottles and hearts fading into darkness escaping the city limits, only to shoot across the midnight skies like a wayward star.

Real country isn’t dead, though one might think otherwise with the likes of Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert or Florida Georgia Line.

Real country stills resides where it was birthed from — honkytonks with sticky bar room floors, sunset porch pickin’ sessions and along the silent highways of this great rolling land that we stand atop of or look toward from afar.

Country music is about honest wordplay and guitar notes that ride the rhythms of your heart, for good or ill. And where that lonesome sound stills exists, and thrives, is within the Americana community currently overtaking East Nashville, Athens, Asheville and beyond.

It’s a group a musicians who got tired of waiting for a record executive to “get it” and just

average pop diva Donna Summers or Tom Jones. I’m not young, dumb or willing to play Luke Bryan slop. I live gig-to-gig, child support to rent, and I sit here proud of the thousands of shows and eight albums I’ve created.

I’m fine with it.

SMN: You recently got married, and also took a road trip of performances and such to celebrate. What has getting married, and also that trip itself, proved to you in terms of what it is you want out of your life, emotionally and professionally?

SL: I want to love. I want to sing my songs for you so you can see things differently. I want to play that same song for you a few months from now and play it differently so you feel something completely different. I want to be there for my comrades and begin to find issues that my music can help mend. I want every song to mean something different to everyone.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scott Low will be performing at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15 at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville and at 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16 at The Lost Hiker in Highlands. He will also hit the stage at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Though his latest release “The New Vintage” (10 Foot Woody Records) is slated for release this spring, you can stream several of his latest melodies at scottlow.bandcamp.com. brought their music and message to the people themselves — gig after shitty gig, mile after tiring mile, dollar after hard-earned dollar.

It’s now household names like Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. Up-andcoming names like Nikki Lane, Joe Fletcher, J.P. Harris, Aaron Lee Tasjan, John Moreland and Caleb Caudle to name a few. It’s also the likes of Scott Low. Based out of Clayton, Georgia by way of Athens, Low is steadily carving out his own path along the unforgiving road that is being an independent musician, one bearing the fruits of his labor as a guy simply pursuing the destiny of his heroes.

Smoky Mountain News: There’s a huge underground explosion of songwriters and great bands emerging from East Nashville,

Athens, etcetera. What do you see looking at that scene?

Scott Low: Most of East Nashville or Athens doesn’t want that pop mainstream success, and I don’t think society is intellectual enough or willing to broaden their boundaries. Look at most of the top tracks on Spotify or Billboard. The content is almost a negative number. I mean how is Stapleton not on the pop radio after sweeping the Country Music Awards? But, we’re the songwriters and performers that grind the road and the studios, and are the children of Bob Dylan and Tom Waits and Jerry Garcia. We’re pushing our boundaries and are fine with struggling to find a song or art. We all fight for real original music that we wrote, produced, performed, and bled.

SMN: What’s the place of the singer-songwriter in a modern world, one filled with instant gratification, distraction and a lot of bland offerings in terms of pop music and radio hits?

SL: I sit here in a warm, beautiful house with a stunning wife, but yet I know the world outside is a shit show of greed, cheating and killing. When we look back on decades past, the pop stars fade unless they are the cream of the crop. But, I think about the struggling songwriter like Townes Van Zant or Guy Clarke who stand more important than the

We’re pushing our boundaries and are fine with struggling to find a song or art. We all fight for real original music that we wrote, produced, performed, and bled.

— Scott Low

SMN: When you’re onstage, what goes through your head? What are you thinking?

SL: I’m thinking, “Drunk girl, please do not come up here and request ‘Wagon Wheel’ because you are cute and I don’t want to have to be offended that my songs aren’t good enough, and silently judge you.” Just kidding.

Well, kind of. I’m going to push the boundaries of my skill and luck with every set. I try to create a jazz sense of folk music where the cadence and melodies wander and find new homes nightly. Sometimes I fail, and that can lead to a slump for a song or two or just feed the fight, or conversely it will be a “nailed it” moment and will lead to euphoric free explorations or just a spotless rendition.

SMN: What has a life in and around music taught you about what it means to be a human being?

SL: I want to write songs that change your perspective for a second or a lifetime, to create something original, and make a small corner of the world better. Often we forget that we can be as happy and as in love as we want to be. Sad songs remind us or drag us down — it’s really a choice.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD Garret K. Woodward photo

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Smoky Mountain News

ence I figured one needed to become a “good writer.”

The first few steps of the jog flew by the Campus Corner Diner on Bridge Street. A greasy spoon haven of hung over students and blue-collar folks, it is where bacon and eggs are piled high atop a generous helping of hand-cut home fries and your coffee gets a “warm up” only after two sips. My kind of place, especially when you’re hungry and only have $10 in your pocket at the moment when you walk by.

Around the “Oval” and its dozens of townhouses. Once the center of the now defunct Plattsburgh Air Force Base, the enormous property was reclaimed by the city 20 years ago and turned into large parcels of mixed use residential and commercial spaces, all of which lie along the great Lake Champlain. When my parents sold my childhood home my senior year of college (2007), they moved into one of these townhouses. And I lived in one of the rooms for a few months after graduation before I headed out to Idaho to start my first reporting gig.

Down along U.S Avenue by the Dry Dock, the first stop on any Friday night in

January 6-12, 2016

hrowing my father’s old Dodge Dakota into park, I stepped out of the truck and felt the crunch of snow and ice beneath my feet.

Tucking the keys behind the gas tank flap on the side of the vehicle, I took a deep breath of the frigid North Country air and sighed quietly, peacefully. Back home for Christmas. Plattsburgh, New York. Land of the frozen winter and all that is familiar to me, physically and emotionally.

Leaving the truck in the city parking lot, I tightened up the laces on my running shoes and began my semi-annual jog around downtown. Though an usually warm holiday weather pattern greeted me exiting the airport a few days prior, Mother Nature finally got around to making us remember just what December should feel like within an earshot of the Canadian border.

A college town of around 20,000 residents, I spent many years running around its bars and restaurants. It was in an effort to pick up girls, perhaps a few new tricks of the trade, a few new skills from the billiard tables, or simply just being around for the chaos and madness to ensue from an unknown night — all that life experi-

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

ly in times of celebration and in times of sorrow. Knocking on doors of old friends (dusty in memory these days) when things either did or did not go in my favor that day.

Wondering what the hell was going to happen to my writing career if nothing ever stuck to wall that I typed up and threw at it.

I was 22 and nobody knew if this wild dream of written word and adventure would ever come to fruition.

A brisk pace blasting by Bobby’s Lounge.

For the three summers leading up to my departure to Western North Carolina in 2012, I played in the bar’s horseshoe league.

A highly competitive array of townies and backwoods good ole boys, I was the youngest member by far, maybe even by 20 years. And yet age is the key to being a successful ringer. The older one gets, the more patient and focused you become — the most important traits to getting that Ushaped piece of cold metal around a rusty pole in the distant sandbox.

Back to the old Dodge Dakota. Sweaty.

Platts Vegas. My best friend back in the day Breathing in that fresh, cold air. A deep sigh, was the cook there. Burn your mouth off quietly and peacefully. Flip open the gas flap. chicken wings and stiff drinks. Hard scrabGrab the keys. Hop into the truck. Thoughts ble locals. Characters as jovial as they were of the yellowed pages of my past, the actions mysterious. A few games of pool, onward and moments that led me to here and now into downtown.

— so close to home, yet so far away.

Side streets back towards the center of Approaching the nearest intersection, my the city. Scattered about, houses and apartments of girls I used to know — some unfor- blinker was ticking right. But, when the light turned green, I changed my mind and went gettable, others memorable, a few not so left. South Catherine Street. Bobby’s Lounge. much. Second floor bedroom windows I In my running clothes, I bellied up to the bar awoke next to with bluebird skies cascading and ordered a beer. The bartender slid it down the wooden counter. I took a sip and listened to the banter of the long-time mainstay customers. Weather. Politics. Sports.

The same ole, same ole. I smiled The Hooten Hallers (rock/blues) will perform and took another sip. at 9 p.m. Jan. 10 at No Name Sports Pub in “Hey, I know you,” an older Sylva. gentleman pointed to me from a few seats down. “Electric compaThe Jones Von Drehle Food & Wine Pairing ny, right?” event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 14 at The “No,” I shook my head. “I Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. used to work for the newspaper The Freeway Revival (rock) will perform at 9 up here. Used to come in here a p.m. Jan. 8 at the Water’n Hole Bar & Grill in lot then. Played in the horseshoe Waynesville. league.”

“Ah, that’s it. Yeah.

The Drink-N-Think open dialogue discussion Horseshoes. You were quite good, will be held at 7 p.m. Jan. 11 at The Sneak-Eas I remember. Whatcha doing Squirrel Brewery in Sylva. now?”

“Newspaper down in North Heidi Holton (blues/folk) will perform at 7 Carolina.” p.m. Jan. 16 at Lazy Hiker Brewing in “Well, good for you,” he salutFranklin. ed me with his bottle, turning his attention back to the football game on the television. into the humble abode. Nearby porch conI looked out the window onto South versations that tiptoed around the possibiliCatherine Street. Several snowflakes startty of dating or in deflection of the eventual ed drifting down from the heavens above. demise of the relationship. Two paths Finishing my beer, I said goodbye, jumped crossed with a trajectory of two different into the truck and headed home, with a directions come tomorrow. grin on my face from ear-to-ear — home Pushing down South Catherine Street and through neighborhoods walked endless- sweet home.

“A college town of around 20,000 residents, I spent many years running around its bars and restaurants. It was in an effort to pick up girls, perhaps a few new tricks of the trade, a few new skills from the billiard tables, or simply just being around for the chaos and madness to ensue from an unknown night”

25

On the beat arts & entertainment

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have Daniel Shearin (folk/rock) Jan. 8 and Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Jan. 9. The Bill Bares Trio with Justin Watt will also perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 16, with tickets $10 per person. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Chris Minick (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and 14, Bohemian Jean (singer/songwriter) 8 p.m. Jan. 9 and Jack Snyder 7 p.m. Jan. 12.

828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Jan. 6 and 13, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Jan. 7 and 14. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will host a community dance at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Circle and contra dances.

Bob Dalsemer will be the caller, with live music by Out of the Woodwork. All styles will be taught and walked through beforehand. No previous experience needed. A community dinner will follow at 5 p.m. ronandcathy71@frontier.com.

ALSO:

Waka Flocka Flame will be in Cullowhee on Jan. 14. Donated photo

Smoky Mountain News

January 6-12, 2016

Waka Flocka Flame to play WCU Acclaimed rapper Waka Flocka Flame will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center at Western Carolina University.

The 28-year-old Waka Flocka Flame released his debut album “Flockaveli” in October of 2009, which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Magazine’s Top 100. A protégé of Gucci Mane, the rapper had a quick rise in popularity, which saw him collaborate with top hip-hop artists like T.I., Drake and B.o.B. After signing with Atlantic Records, he released “Flockaveli II” last June. Performing with Waka Flocka Flame will be up-and-coming Atlantic Records rhythm and blues artist PJ, who was raised in both North Carolina and Atlanta.

Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for non-students and $15 at the door. They can be purchased at the Ramsey Center box office, by calling 828.227.7722 or online at ramsey.wcu.edu.

Sheila Gahagan, CPA Specializing in Audits, Reviews & Tax Preparation.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Hopes Sets Sail & Summer Wars Jan. 8, If Birds Could Fly (Americana) Jan. 9,

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch oldtime music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 16. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• O’Malley’s Sports Bar & Grill (Sylva) will have Colby Deitz (Americana/folk) at 9 p.m. Jan. 8.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Mile High (rock) on Wednesdays. All shows begin at 8 p.m.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will have Jimandi (folk/rock) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. and a rotating series of local performers on Fridays at 9 p.m. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will have Nitrograss (bluegrass) at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Red Honey (Americana) Jan. 8 and Lyric (funk/rock) Jan. 16. All shows are at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will have The Freeway Revival (rock) Jan. 8, The Hooten Hallers (rock/blues) Jan. 9 and Red Honey (Americana) Jan. 15. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

Diane E. Sherrill, Attorney

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• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Colby Dietz (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Jan. 9 and Heidi Holton (blues/folk) 7 p.m.

Jan. 16. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

The Hooten Hallers (rock/blues) Jan. 10, Call The Next Witness Jan. 15 and The Dirty Soul Revival (rock/blues) Jan. 16.

All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. www.nonamesportspub.com.

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326-32

On the wall

Photo club celebrates ‘Best of 2015’

828.226.3840 or 828.293.9820 or sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com.

The Sylva Photo Club will host its first meeting at the New Year from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Cullowhee Methodist Church on the Western Carolina University campus.

The meeting will start with a photo-sharing hour. The theme is the “Best of 2015” with the following categories: celebration, people, pets, landscapes, and critters. The second hour will be a follow up on the planning session from the December meeting. Photo club members who would like to share their “Best of 2015” images will need to turn them in at least a half-hour before the meeting.

Visitors are welcome with a donation of $5, which is applicable to the $20 membership donation to the club.

• The films “He Named Me Malala” (Jan. 8), “The Princess Bride” (Jan. 9) and “The Martian” (Jan. 14-16) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Showings are at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

ALSO:

arts & entertainment

The ‘Winter Textures’ fiber and textile exhibit will be held from Jan. 8-30 at the Gallery & Gifts within the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. The showcase will feature a wide array of works from Haywood County fiber artisans. www.haywoodarts.org.

Tuesday, January 19 6:00 Community Building through innovative game time · Help build self awareness · Help people break down barriers · Laugh with other people as you learn the games that bring people together

Monday, January 25 6:00

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

Team building Facilitator training

Classes will begin in the Base Camp room & Participants are encouraged to wear tennis shoes.

Register with Tim Petrea tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov

· Explore the world of team building in a small setting · Learn how to strengthen your group through initiatives · Experience Team building from our Unlimited adventure box.

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RECREATION CENTER

550 Vance St. • Waynesville • 828.456.2030 townofwaynesville.org

• The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild will have their next meeting at 9:30 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 11, in the Tartan Hall at the First Presbyterian Hall in Franklin. Vendors from local quilting stores will be doing demonstrations and showing samples.

326-04

January 6-12, 2016

On the street Genealogical program on southern migration

• The Jones Von Drehle Food & Wine Pairing event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Von Drehle is an award-winning fine wine producer based out of Thurmond. $19.99 per person. For reservation, 828.452.6000.

ALSO:

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 828.452.0120.

• A wine tasting will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.

Jan. 6 and 13 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 828.452.6000.

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Smoky Mountain News

Author, historian and teacher Scott Withrow will discuss “The Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, South” during the Jackson County Genealogical Society meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Jackson County Historic Courthouse in Sylva.

Withrow will describe the events and processes that urged early European settlers to migrate south through the Shenandoah Valley into what would become today’s southern United States. He will also discuss several early American captivity narratives.

Refreshments will be served and JCGS activities will be discussed at the beginning of the program followed by the discussion at 7 p.m. All JCGS events are free of charge and the public is welcome.

828.631.2646.

Sylva. Come and join an open dialogue on an array of modern day topics. drinknthink@gmail.com.

David Mesimer (828) 452-2815 283 North Haywood St. Waynesville david.mesimer@allstate.com

• Drink-N-Think will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at The Sneak-E-Squirrel Brewery in

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• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Jan. 12 and 19 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

27

arts & entertainment

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Smoky Mountain News

January 6-12, 2016

Haywood Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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H r w b i F

On the stage

he Women of Waynesville (WOW) are back at it again. This wild and incredible group will host their first fundraising event of 2016, with the inaugural Bachelors Ball for Belles taking place at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Laurel Ridge Country Club.

Ten local bachelors and 10 amazing datenight gift packages will be auctioned off to the highest bidder while guests also enjoy a hot Italian dinner, dancing, DJ and cash bar. A few of the sought after auction items including a weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s getaway to a condo in Florida, an all expenses paid three-night getaway to Harrahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cherokee Casino & Resort and a free nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stay at the Oak Hill on Love Lane Bed & Breakfast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The objective is to have something for everyone to bid on at this event, whether you are single, married or in a relationship, we have worked hard to create an evening of magic and memories that will help raise money for WOWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2016 missions,â&#x20AC;? said Nikki White, founder and president of the allwomenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nonprofit organization.

All of the bachelors, who vary in age from 21 to their late 60s, are individually unique and have a special flare to them that will easily set them apart from each other. The 2016 WOW bachelors consist of an attorney, a local business owner, a fireman, a journalist,

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learn how to get involved.

We couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have done any of this without you. Thank you. 2016 will be another transformative year for Folkmoot â&#x20AC;&#x201D; our resolution is to build desirable, viable and sustainable programs at the Folkmoot Friendship Center.

You can expect the following: â&#x20AC;˘ Grant awards that will allow Folkmoot to make significant, much-needed upgrades to the Friendship Center for comfortable year-around use and to participate in projects that enhance our neighborhood. â&#x20AC;˘ New instructional, creative programming that appeals to the community, school groups, youth and families. â&#x20AC;˘ Musical events in our refurbished auditorium! â&#x20AC;˘ Professional Artist Markets during

Folkmoot and at the Friendship Center throughout the year. â&#x20AC;˘ Eight to 12 performing groups at the festival in July and visiting cultural groups at other times. â&#x20AC;˘ Community partnerships that will make the Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial kitchen useful to local food producers; other partnerships that will generate unique and innovative opportunities at the Center.

Thanks for your generosity and Happy New Year to you and yours! I will look forward to seeing you in 2016.

Angeline Schwab Executive Director Folkmoot USA www.folkmoot.org

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Bookstore Sat., Jan. 9 â&#x20AC;˘ 3 p.m.

Polly Davis

Smoky Mountain News

Dear Friends, Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s New Years Eve and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you contribute to Folkmootâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission of building cultural understanding. Whether you are a volunteer, a seasonal worker, a financial contributor, a board member, a grantor or sponsor, staff person or ticket buyer, we share in the success of Folkmoot.

Here are a few highlights we can all celebrate: â&#x20AC;˘ We hosted a 10-day dance heritage festival in July 2015 (for our 32nd year!), hosting groups from Chile, Estonia, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Ecuador, Cherokee, Jamaica and French Canada and producing 36 performances across Western North Carolina. â&#x20AC;˘ Folkmoot developed a year-round programming schedule that includes arts and culture instructional workshops, a family-fun cultural series and seasonal events for the community. (Thanks to the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina for the additional staffing that made this possible!) â&#x20AC;˘ Our team has stabilized the Historic Hazelwood Elementary School structure by replacing the roof, plastering and painting walls, refinishing floors. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also replaced broken windows, plumbing and several heating units. Consider taking a tour of the Friendship Center to see our progress and

stronger than ever before,â&#x20AC;? said White. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our mission remains the same but has certainly expanded, and so therefore, as an organization, we must expand too, allowing our goals and dreams of making WOW more than a community known nonprofit.â&#x20AC;?

Tickets cost $50 per person which includes an evening of dinner, Dr. Allan Zacher music, dancing, cash bar, large ticket auction items and of course, the bachelors auction.

Groups of six or more will receive free champagne.

You can purchase your tickets to the Bachelors Ball for Belles online at the WOW Garret K. Woodward website or by calling Nikki White at 828.545.6879. WOW accepts checks, credit cards and cash.

For more information about the Women of Waynesville, click on www.womenofwaynesville.com.

January 6-12, 2016

Folkmoot reflects on 2015, celebrates the New Year

an emergency responder, a medical salesman and one that is in manufacturing.

Since the creation of WOW in January 2012, the organization has raised more than $34,000 for local nonprofits and women and children in need in the community. All the while, sustaining themselves on membership dues alone. The Women of Waynesville is a regisChase Wells tered nonprofit 501c3 that runs 100 percent on volunteers, from its founding members, to active board and volunteers. The money raised

by WOW since 2012 has spread amongst this entire community stretching its impact to Rex Grigg organizations such as REACH, KARE, Haywood Healthcare Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Big Brother Big Sisters, Heating Assistance, and many more. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With a moving bus of roughly 66 members, 2016 is our year to come out of the gates

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arts & entertainment

Bachelors Ball for Belles at Laurel Ridge

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30

Books

Smoky Mountain News

A man addicted to reading and writing y name is Joe Ecclesia. On a recent December Saturday, when I interviewed Jeff Minick about his new novel, Dust On Their Wings, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the sixties. We sat creek-side behind the Panacea Coffeehouse in Waynesville’s Frog Level district. Minick, whom I have known for many years, was wearing an aqua-blue shortsleeved shirt, khaki pants fraying at the ankles, and scuffed brown shoes. He was unshaven and bore that rumpled look I have long associated with him. When we met, he was smoking an American Spirit Light — he took up that filthy habit at age 60, God alone knows why — and was sipping from a large mug of coffee.

Despite our long association — we are, you might say, kindred spirits — Minick annoys me with his scribbling, his blogs, his articles, and his books. When I contemplate the countless hours he has given to punching the keys on typewriters and computer keyboards for the last 40 years, the wastage appalls me. Recently he told me that after all these years he couldn’t give up writing even if he tried. Several times I have tried to lure him away from this desert of words, offering him the temptations of travel, women, or some hobby like hiking or painting, but getting him to change his ways is like pulling a tick from the back of a Saint Bernard. The poor sap is both addicted to writing and as may be seen in the interview, addled as well.

M

Ecclesia: So you have done it again?

Minick: Done what?

Ecclesia : Written another novel?

Minick : Yes. Ecclesia : Why? Minick : For my own pleasure and possibly for the enjoyment of others. For my own edification as well.

Ecclesia : So, Shakespeare, tell us a little about your latest masterpiece.

Minick : Two angels — Maximilian Lamb and Mary Margaret Hart — are dispatched to

earth to help bring together a kindergarten teacher, Emily Hoffman, and a pharmacist, John Flyte. Emily and John are both confused

Minick (smiling): No, not at all. When I selfpublished Amanda Bell three years ago, I felt the pressure of my years — I’ll be on Medicare in 2016 — and I didn’t want to use my time searching for a publisher.

Besides, being published by a trade company is no longer all that rewarding. Read Steven Piersanti’s online article “10 Awful Truths About Book Publishing.” But with Amanda Bell I found I liked selfpublishing. The book belongs more to me this way. I select everything from the font to the cover.

And I bank on making back the money I spent on publishing through sales of the book. (Smiles again): I’m not the world’s best salesperson.

Ecclesia : The central characters of both books are in their late 20s or early 30s. Why is that? (Thought: Probably hoping for some 30-yearold chick, the dirty old letch.)

Minick : People that age fascinate me. By that time most of us have suffered some tragedy, been beaten about a little or a lot by life.

Some are still growing up as well, still trying to find our place in life.

Some are just starting families while others are searching for love.

Those are the readers I most want to reach. One young woman from Dust On Their Wings by Jeff Minick. CreateSpace Maryland wrote me after reading Independent Publishing, 2015. 246 pages.

Amanda Bell and told me how much help the book had given to her. Her comment alone made my efforts about love and relationships, but it turns out worthwhile and worthy. that for Max and Maggie the two humans are the least of their problems. These angels — Ecclesia : In both novels — and in Learning they refer to themselves as manifestations in As I Go — religion comes into play, specificalthe book — find themselves in a situation ly Catholicism. Why is that? never encountered by any of their kind: their desire for each other. The novel is about workMinick : Well, for one, I’m Catholic. And I ing out those feelings, about the tremendous also think a lot of people ponder their faith, power of human passion and human love. whatever it may be.

Ecclesia : Sounds interesting. (My thought at Ecclesia : And you’re a practicing Catholic? the time: Yeah, about as interesting as dirt).

So why self-publish? Were you afraid to send Minick : I go to mass on Sundays, I go to Dust On Their Wings out into the real world?

Melton book copes with grief Waynesville author Ann Melton will sign her latest book From Whence Cometh My Help, A Journey through Grief at 3 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

From Whence Cometh My Help addresses the challenges she faced when her husband Frank Melton passed away. The book also offers advice for those who want to help a friend or family member who is grieving.

828.586.9499.

Learn about eBooks, eMagazines and eAudiobooks There will be a workshop on e-books, e-magazines and e-audiobooks at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 11, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Public libraries throughout the country have added more and more electronic resources for the public to take advantage of. These days, most libraries offer ways for patrons to download e-books, e-

Confession every few months, I pray.

Ecclesia : I hear a “but” in there somewhere.

Minick : But I wouldn’t call myself a very good Catholic. Too many wicked thoughts, too much sin. I consider myself a Graham Greene Catholic.

Ecclesia : I’ve read some of Greene’s novels.

Lots of stumbling around in terms of faith.

Lots of doubts.

Minick : True. Look at the protagonist’s last words of Green’s novel The End of the Affair: “O God, You’ve done enough, You’ve robbed me of enough, I’m too tired and old to learn to love, leave me alone for ever.”

Ecclesia : Pretty bleak. Yet you memorized that prayer. Are you too tired and old to learn to love?

Minick : I think we spend most of our lifetimes learning to love, don’t you? I know a few people with large hearts who know the meaning of love, but most of us are slow learners. Hence, Dust On Their Wings. It’s about love and what it takes to love another human being.

Ecclesia : So what’s next?

Minick : Oh, a book about movies aimed at young men. That one’s pretty much completed.

Maybe put together a book of poetry. I’d love to write a nonfiction book about a year I spent in Boston during my mid-20s. And maybe a novel about a widower who loves books and one night finds life dumped into his lap.

Ecclesia : You’re never going to quit, are you?

Minick : Apparently not.

Ecclesia : I really don’t understand you.

Minick : Welcome to the club.

(Ah well, he always was a coy bastard).

(Jeff Minick, aka Joe Ecclesia, is a teacher and writer. His new novel, Dust On Their Wings, is available at Amazon.)

magazines and e-audio books to their computers or portable devices. However, sometimes registering for these services and downloading content can be complicated.

The workshop will cover new e-resources available, how to register for them and how to download books, magazines and audiobooks to your device. Attendees are encouraged to bring their up-todate library cards, and their own laptops, tablets, iPads, smartphones or other devices.

Free.

828.488.3030.

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January 6-12, 2016

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PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE

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Smoky Mountain News

Holiday Musings from Regional Writers Historic Postcards: Dispatches from the Smokies Santa Rappels Down Chimney Rock and Pigs Fly A Look at the Region’s Newest Inn Homes

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866.452.2251

31

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

32

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ifteen years ago, a herd of 52 elk set foot in their new home — the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — for the first time, the start of an experimental attempt to restore the long-absent species to its rightful place in the North Carolina mountains.

These days, the elk herd is quite a bit larger, with groups of the animals pinching off the original herd in the Cataloochee area and even taking up residence outside park boundaries.

In anticipation of the herd’s continued growth, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has come out with a proposal to pave the way for an elk season, putting up the legal framework to make hunting possible once it deems population levels high enough.

Often, proposals related to hunting and wildlife management are controversial, but this one appears to have support from a broad spectrum of people representing a range of wildlife and conservation interests.

“This is something that should be hailed and cheered,” said Tim Gestwicki, CEO of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. “The elk made it. The elk are prospering. The elk are expanding. The elk are in search of other habitats, and this (hunting proposal) provides us the opportunity to get more support and more conservation. It’s wonderful.”

“We always hoped it would be a very hunt-

F

able population in years to come,” said David Whitmire, program chairman for the N.C. Bowhunters Association and owner of Headwaters Outfitters in Rosman. “It would be awesome for your kids and grandkids to be able to hunt elk in the Pisgah National Forest.”

“It’s fair to assume that the conservation community as a whole supports the management of elk in the Southern Appalachians, and we recognize that hunting is an important part of that,” said Ben Prater, southeast program director for Defenders of Wildlife, which is based in Asheville. Prater has been paying attention to the issue but said Defenders doesn’t have a position on the proposal itself.

For a proposal that’s generated a substantial amount of press and discussion leading up to this month’s public hearings, where citizens will get the chance to sound off on the matter, the elk season commands very little ink in the Wildlife Commission’s 22-page document outlining potential changes to wildlife management rules for 2016-17. The five-line proposal lays out a new season lasting from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1, with hunters able to take elk using any legal firearm or bow. Hunting would be by permit only, with a very small but unspecified number of permits available to begin with. A separate section of the document proposes to remove elk from the state list of species of special concern, an action that would be necessary in order to allow a

hunting season. Hunting is not allowed inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

“This is an evolving process, and whether or not any permits are issued for elk would depend on whether or not we think that the elk population can stand it,” said Mike Carraway, regional supervisor for the Wildlife Commission. “Our first consideration is the vitality and sustainability of the elk population.”

Essentially, said Carraway, approving the proposal would let the Wildlife Commission keep an eye on the data and make permits available if and when it decided populations were healthy enough to withstand a hunt. The

“I really think given the setbacks we’ve had this year, (hunting is) at least another five years out, and that’s real, real, real optimistic.”

— Justin McVey, the Wildlife Commission

number of permits could be decided on a year-by-year basis and will probably stay at zero for a while.

“I really think given the setbacks we’ve had this year, (hunting is) at least another five years out, and that’s real, real, real optimistic,” said Justin McVey, the Commission’s district wildlife biologist who’s been working

Charting the future Wildlife Commission proposes hunting season on elk

A cow and her cubs graze the fields. If and when an elk season were instituted, it would apply to only a limited number of bulls at first, not cows. Mark Haskett photo

closely with elk. This year, 15 elk have died from vehicle crashes, disease or firearm after being caught damaging property.

The Wildlife Commission would have leeway to decide how the permits were awarded, once allowed. Possibilities range from a lottery, in which each person pays a small sum for a chance to win an elk tag, to an auction, where each tag sold could bring in thousands of dollars to support the commission’s wildlife management efforts.

Once issued, the number of permits would likely be quite small, probably somewhere between one and six. And they’d be valid for bull elk only, not for females. Because of the

way elk biology works, Carraway said, taking a few bull elk would have little to no effect on the overall population.

“Typically the biggest and baddest bulls are the ones that mate with the cows, so if you’re only talking about hunting bulls — and a small number of bulls — then it really doesn’t affect the

F

potential of the population for growth,” Carraway said. “Population growth is essentially determined by the number of cows.”

Carpenter Creek flows through the Sheepback Mountain property, which in the future will likely be a wildlife management area supporting elk populations. Donated photo

“I really do want my boys to see elk when they’re older, and I don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize that,” McVey said. “I feel like having a season right now is something that will jeopardize that.”

A BULL-ONLY HUNT

S EE E LK, PAGE 34

Smoky Mountain News

However, it’s not completely necessary to have hard population numbers to justify a limited, bulls-only season, Carraway said.

In elk culture, the most desirable bulls typically gather a harem of cows around them to mate with. The less dominant bulls wander off solo, not participating in the mating game until such time as they’re able to displace one of the big boys. In any one season, there are a lot of bulls that aren’t fathering any calves.

“There are places where we see a lot of excess bulls, so some of it (hunting permit decisions) would be based on data; some of it would be based on educated guesses about how many bulls are in a particular area,” Carraway said.

The general consensus seems to be that letting hunters try their luck at a few animals each year shouldn’t dampen overall population growth too much.

“With the small number of animals they’re

A years-long effort to found a homestead for elk populations expanding outside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park has recently seen some major progress, with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission hoping to have a 2.7-square-mile management area in its hands by the end of the year.

“The reason that elk have come out of the park is there’s not enough habitat for them in the park, so having some additional public lands will enable the Wildlife Commission to manage these properties for elk and other wildlife species,” said Bill Holman, North Carolina director for The Conservation Fund, the group spearheading the project.

The first chunk of the property, a 561-acre tract enveloping Sheepback Mountain and abutting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Maggie Valley, could be state property before winter is out. With a $100,000 grant from the Duke Energy Water Resources Fund to the Maggie Valley Sanitary District putting the final piece in the funding puzzle to purchase the property, all that remains is for the N.C. Council of State to approve conveying the property to the Wildlife Commission. That could happen as early as the council’s February meeting.

The Conservation Fund is still working on purchasing the larger piece of the acreage, tracts totaling 1,181 acres and owned by three different landowners.

The Clean Water Management Trust Fund awarded $1.2 million to acquire Robert Williams’ 783-acre tract, with $250,000 provided from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and $500,000 in private funding, though more money is needed to complete the purchase. The Trust Fund has also approved a provisional grant of $1.2 million for the 215-acre Sammy Carver and 183-acre Thornton Hawkins tracts, with $20,000 provided from the Pigeon River Fund. Holman hopes to have that land in the Wildlife Commission’s hands by the fall.

The boundaries of the future management area may not stop there.

“There appear to be a number of other conservation-minded property owners in the area, so we could potentially add to that,” Holman said.

The end goal would be to provide a large area of land that would be managed for the open spaces and young forest habitats that are rare in Western North Carolina and vital to the success of many species, including elk.

“It’s very difficult to manage private land for elk unless you have a willing landowner,” said Carraway. “If we have public land that we can manage for elk, we can do a much better job of habitat management.”

Elk would not be the only beneficiaries.

“When we make that good habitat, elk are going to use it, turkey are going to use it, golden-winged warblers are going to use it,” said Justin McVey, district biologist for the Wildlife Commission. “It’s a whole suite of species.”

Humans could be one of the species reaping side benefits from elk management. The welfare of wildlife would be the Wildlife Commission’s primary goal for the property, but it could also provide recreational opportunities such as hiking and mountain biking trails.

Humans will benefit in another way, too: water quality protection. The Sheepback Mountain area drains to Jonathan Creek, which supplies much of Maggie Valley’s water.

“The Sheepback Mountain Project represents a critical step towards preserving one of the last complete watersheds that has not been impacted in the Maggie Valley area,” said Neil Carpenter, sanitary district manager.

January 6-12, 2016

But how fast, exactly, is the population growing?

Turns out that can be a tricky question to answer. In the western U.S., elk populations are often estimated using aerial counts from helicopter flyovers. Wide-open spaces abound in the Rockies, and it’s not usually hard to find the herd.

The thick tree cover of the Appalachians, however, makes for a whole other ball game. Nobody knows exactly how many elk live in the Smokies. It’s likely somewhere between 150 and 200, McVey said, but that’s just a guess. In a feasibility study released last December to examine the potential of establishing huntable elk populations, researchers at RTI International based their calculations on a total population of 186.

Research is ongoing to find a more reliable way to take a headcount — currently, researchers from the park, the Wildlife Commission and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are working to develop a process for identifying individual elk based on the genetic markers they leave behind in their waste. Perfecting that technique would provide the basis not only for more solid population counts but also for analysis of the animals’ movements and social habits.

“It’s going to be down the road before we get a decent estimate, but this result will hopefully be better than anything people have tried to do,” said Caleb Hickman, supervisory fish and wildlife biologist for the EBCI. The Eastern Band, as a sovereign nation, is responsible for making its own hunting and fishing rules. Tribal Council makes the final decisions, but Hickman said he wouldn’t see himself recommending any kind of elk season until he has solid population numbers in hand. That could be a few years in the future.

“Personally, I would like to do this genetics study first and get a better idea of what the total population is, and also obtain data from the state and the park on birth rates, death rates, causes of death, mortality factors,” Hickman said.

McVey said he’d like to see the state wait on those results as well before the first permit is issued.

“Before we say, ‘let’s issue a bull permit,’ I think those are things we should have,” he said.

Understanding population is about more than just knowing the number of individual animals in a given area, Hickman said. It’s also about knowing the dynamics at play that influence how the head count changes over time. How many elk are being born in a given year, and how many are dying? What are they dying from?

In 2013, a population analysis put the growth rate since the 2001 reintroduction at 1.074 percent, a slow but steady upward trend. But with the elk expanding outside the national park, those metrics are likely changing. Once they leave the park, elk face all kinds of dangers not present inside its borders. Crossing the road could result in a deadly collision with a car whipping by.

Indulging in a tasty snack from a lush field can end badly when a farmer who’s not OK with a rogue elk destroying the crops that are his livelihood discovers the raid. State law allows landowners to shoot elk that cause property damage, an instance that’s occurred twice this year.

Elk management area poised for completion in Maggie Valley

outdoors

MEASURING GROWTH

The diets of park elk and those living outside its borders may also be different, possibly affecting longevity. And population trends may also reflect the process of adaptation to life in the Smokies. For instance, since 2001 elk have become steadily savvier as to how to avoid death by predation from bears.

The questions are many and the data difficult to acquire, but Hickman said, “These are the questions every biologist should be asking.”

And the situation right now is too fragile to jump right in on issuing permits, McVey added.

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January 6-12, 2016

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E LK, CONTINUED FROM 33 proposing, I personally don’t feel like it will have a significant impact on the overall elk population,” said Kim Delozier, a retired wildlife biologist with the park who was instrumental in the elk restoration project.

He’s also a longtime member of the North Carolina Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, currently serving as the chapter’s lands program manager.

McVey, however, doesn’t agree that even a limited take is a great idea for right now.

The population is at a fragile stage and needs more time to grow uninhibited, he said.

According to the RTI study, the elk population in Haywood County would still grow over the next 25 to 50 years if four to six elk were hunted each year. Haywood is where the elk were initially reintroduced and where populations are the highest.

However, in outlying portions of the elks’ current range — Jackson and Madison counties — elk would be gone within 15 years if any kind of hunting were allowed now, the study said.

McVey pointed out that the study has its flaws. For instance, the numbers are based on the assumption that conflicts with landowners result in two elk deaths per year.

He’d like to see factors such as vehicle collisions and disease considered as well.

But the Wildlife Commission’s goal isn’t to institute permissive hunting regulations to the detriment of the elk, Carraway emphasized.

“It is to manage the elk population just like we manage for deer and turkey and other species,” he said. “We’re not going to do anything that we feel like would hurt the population.”

THE EVOLVING ELK-HUMAN RELATIONSHIP

Smoky Mountain News

What constitutes “hurting” the population, however, will depend partially upon input from the public.

There are two metrics by which to measure how many elk is too many. There’s the number of animals the environment can sustain before resources become so scarce that the population can’t survive. Then there’s the number of animals that can live in an area before they become a nuisance to the people living around them. For example, maybe the pantry in your kitchen can sustain an army of mice before scarcity kicks in, but your tolerance for co-existence with mice is exceeded after just one encounter. That, in a nutshell, is the difference between biological and cultural carrying capacity.

“Cultural carrying capacity is different for different people,” said Carraway. “For some people, they don’t care how many elk there are — they’re happy having elk on the landscape. For other people, one elk standing in their yard and knocking down their fence is one too many.”

He’s hoping the input gathered at public hearings this month will help the Wildlife Commission gauge where elk fall on that scale. The goal is for elk populations to con34 tinue to grow, taking back as much of their

Visitors to Cataloochee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park line the roads to watch elk graze. SMN photo

Be heard The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will hold a public hearing on its proposed changes to state hunting, fishing and management rules at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the auditorium of Haywood Community College in Clyde. The proposed changes include: ■ Permitting a one-month elk season for a limited number of permit-holders and taking the animals off the state list of species of special concern.

■ Establishing a swimming area at the Pines Recreation Area Swim Beach on Lake Glenville where boats would not be allowed.

Duke Energy Carolinas, which established the recreation area, requested the change.

■ Changing the definition of “bear cub” from bears weighing less than 50 pounds to those weighing less than 75 pounds. The change would make the commission’s rules consistent with a 2015 state law.

■ Allowing the sale of untanned hides from deer that have been legally harvested or killed by a vehicle. People selling tanned hides must hold a trophy sale permit.

■ Allowing wildlife damage control agents to renew their status by completing continuing education courses, giving an alternative option to the current requirement to attend a commission training course.

Written comments can be sent through Jan. 25 to regulations@ncwildlife.org or 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699.

Proposed changes are online at https://ncpaws.org/PAWS/WRC/PublicComme nts/PublicEntry/PublicComments.aspx.

native range — which once included the entire state — as possible. But that will be a slow process — due to both biological constraints and the adjustment required from the state’s human inhabitants. Very few people were around in the 1790s, when the last elk disappeared from North Carolina.

Learning to live with elk again will be an adjustment for the North Carolinians of today.

“We would hope that over time people would become more accustomed to elk on the landscape and be willing to tolerate elk on the landscape more than they would initially,” Carraway said.

Hunting could be a tool to keep the rate of growth at a pace matching the ability of human communities to adjust.

It could also be a way to draw more attention to the elk’s majesty and to drum up appreciation of the animals’ place in the ecosystem, Gestwicki said.

“I’m not really sure how many people east of Charlotte know that we have an elk population in the state, this iconic species,” said Gestwicki, whose office is in Charlotte.

“I think adding a hunting season — again, limited — will bring even further attention and support to the elk.”

The elk are already a popular attraction for wildlife lovers. In the first three years after their reintroduction, visitation to the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the elk were initially released, grew by 327 percent.

That number has since fallen, but at the end of 2014 visitation there was still 155 percent greater than in the pre-elk years. A possible reason for lower numbers at Cataloochee could be the new herd that’s established

itself in the field beside the more easily accessible Oconaluftee Visitor Center, which has seen rising visitation over the last few years. It’s not unusual for park visitors to show up there as twilight falls, hoping to catch a glimpse of elk making their way into the field for an evening meal.

Adding a season would only encourage elk-related tourism, especially down the road as elk populations continue to grow, said Whitmire. For the present, he sees wildlife viewing staying strong as the far-and-away most popular type of elk-related visitation, but people will travel to hunt. Whitmire himself has trekked all the way to Colorado to bag an elk.

“Maybe in 30 years or something you might have 15 or 20 tags in an area over here. It might be a big boost (to tourism), but that would be several years down the road,” he said.

Really, the proposal on the table now is just the beginning of what looks to be a strong future for the Smokies elk. It’s been less than two decades since the animals were brought back from complete extirpation, so the fact that we can even talk about instituting an elk season — even a limited one a few years distant — is an achievement.

But the proof-bearing pudding will really come years from now, as the elk populations — hopefully — continue to strengthen and become capable of drawing ever-larger numbers of wildlife viewers and hunters alike.

“Our organization is applauding this and realizing, hey, this is a success,” Gestwicki said. “Let’s build upon this success and work on more habitat conservation so the elk population can expand even further.”

More solar coming to North Carolina

An inch?

Emissions from new vehicles decreasing, report says

There’s a Diabetes Prevention Program near you starting:

•Over the age of 45 •Overweight •Physically inactive •Relatives with diabetes •African American •American Indian •Latino

January 14, 2016.

Registration is required.

For more information contact Melissa McKnight at Jackson County Health Department: 828.587.8288

mountainwise.org

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Banking...

January 6-12, 2016 Smoky Mountain News

Vehicles are getting greener, according to a pair of reports recently released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In model year 2014, the reports said, manufacturers surpassed the more stringent 2014 standards for greenhouse gas emissions and kept steady the record high fuel economy of the previous year.

“For the third year in a row, manufacturers have exceeded the GHG emissions standards by a wide margin,” said EPA’s director of the Office of Air Quality and Transportation, Christopher Grundler. “It’s clear that our standards are working, spurring technology and innovation, and we are on track to achieve significant greenhouse gas reductions.”

According to the Greenhouse Gas Manufacturer Performance Report, manufacturers exceeded greenhouse gas requirements by 13 grams of CO2 per mile. A separate report looking at fuel economy trends from 1975 to 2015 found that the fleet-wide model year fuel economy stayed at 24.3 miles per gallon, while the truck fuel economy improved by 0.6 miles per gallon — the second largest increase in 30 years — to 20.4 miles per gallon. However, the improved truck fuel economy was offset by a 5 percent increase in truck market share.

Over the past 10 years, overall fuel economy has improved by 5 miles per gallon, or 26 percent. In 2012, the EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation implemented standards aiming to double fuel economy by 2025 and cut greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles in half. http://epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm.

the whole foot!

Are you at risk for diabetes?

Asheville Outlets adds car charging station A new electric car charging station with eight charging bays is now open at the Asheville Outlets.

Capable of replenishing 170 miles of range in 20 minutes, the chargers accommodate Tesla cars models S and X. Charging options for other models are available as well, with the outlets featuring four free Level 2 Chargepoint stations and several others available at nearby dealers.

If left untreated diabetes will take

outdoors

Duke Energy is continuing to expand its portfolio of solar energy with the upcoming construction of two major solar projects.

A 60-megawat facility will fill 400 acres in Union County, and a 15.4-megawatt facility will use about 110 acres of land in Davie County.

The projects are slated for completion by the end of 2016.

North Carolina is ranked fourth nationally for installed solar energy, a claim to fame spurred by a state law requiring power companies to derive at least 12.5 percent of their energy from renewables like solar and wind by 2021.

Find us on Facebook. Federally Insured by NCUA 35

outdoors January 6-12, 2016

Program to prepare preschoolers for sports leagues A sports development league aiming to teach preschoolers the skills they’ll need to succeed in the world of athletics is looking for takers to sign up by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19.

The Smart Start Sports Development program, held at the Waynesville Recreation Center and administered by the National Alliance for Youth Sports, is open to children aged 4 or 5 as of Feb. 1. The six-week program will involve weekly sessions held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday nights beginning Feb. 9, with a parent meeting held in the same time slot Feb. 2.

Children will learn skills such as dribbling, shooting, hitting, passing, catching and running using a kit containing a ball and bat set, glove, tension soccer ball, boingo ball and two koosh balls.

Equipment is included with the $65 registration fee. Space is limited. Sign up with Donald Hummel, 828.456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

Plateau land trust conserves record number of acres

Gary Wein, HCLT’s executive director, looks over Brushy Face, a newly conserved HCLT property, from the summit of Satulah. Donated photo With more than 400 acres of land conserved through purchase and conservation easements in 2015, the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust is celebrating a record year of

land protection.

The 400 newly conserved acres bring HCLT’s lifetime acres conserved to 3,000.

Properties conserved in 2015 include: 63

acres protecting old growth hemlock and Clear Creek headwaters at Brushy Face Preserve; 30 acres of intact forestland in the Eden area of Jackson County; 117 acres in the Central Cowee Mountains that are visible from Franklin and the Blue Ridge Parkway; 215 acres along the slopes above Wayehutta Creek near Cullowhee; and 10 acres protecting wetlands in the Horse Cove area east of Highlands.

With Congress recently passing legislation making a federal tax incentive on conservation easement donations permanent, HCLT expects more conservation successes ahead. The tax incentive gives land donors a 50 percent credit on their adjusted gross income over 16 years. www.hicashlt.org.

Farmers dealing with flooding may be eligible for assistance Farmers who have seen their operations damaged by heavy flooding and high winds in recent weeks may be eligible for federal assistance.

Tasks eligible for assistance include removing debris, grading or reshaping land and restoring permanent fences and conservation structures on farmland. Producers should contact their local Farm Service Agency office for more information.

NEW YEAR

NEW YOU

Become a member of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in January, and we will waive the initiation fee.

(Fee is $50 for individual, $75 for couple, $100 for family.

Offer valid January 1 - 31, 2016)

PERSONAL TRAINING Smoky Mountain News

Quick Start Package: 3 sessions for $75

36

HOURS Monday - Thursday Saturday 5:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.

7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Friday Sunday 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

1 – 6 p.m. *5% discount on membership when setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for membership dues.

CALL

828.452.8080 FOR MORE INFORMATION.

MyHaywoodRegional.com

January 6-12, 2016

… we’re there for you.

outdoors

Until you’re here …

We know that as much as you’d like to be here, perhaps you haven’t made Western North Carolina your home — yet.

However, you can still be a part of the community with the Smoky Mountain News, the region’s free weekly covering news, events and issues that affect life here in the mountains. And when the time comes to make Western North Carolina your permanent address, or maybe to just come back and visit, our blue boxes will be waiting.

Smoky Mountain News

For subscription information, call 866.452.4251 or visit online every week at www.smokymountainnews.com.

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866.452.4251 TOLL FREE

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outdoors

Newfound Gap. Sam Hobbs photo

Monthly hikes through the Smokies scheduled A new year means a new itinerary of monthly hikes exploring the most beautiful areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with Friends of the Smokies.

Each outing, led by hiking guide and author Danny Bernstein, involves trail interpretation, history and information about the park projects Friends donations support.

The 2016 schedule for the Classic Hikes of the Smokies series includes hikes to Little

Cataloochee, Porters Creek, Hyatt Ridge, Charlies Bunion, Mount Sterling, Mount Leconte, Mount Cammerer, Deep Creek, Double Springs Gap, Noland Creek and Grotto Falls.

The series will kick off with a March 8 hike to Little Cataloohee. Hikes are $20 for Friends members and $35 for nonmembers, a price that includes a one-year membership. www.Friendsofthesmokies.org.

January 6-12, 2016

New Mountains-to-Sea guide available A new trail guide covering the Balsams section of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail is out, meaning that the trail’s route through Western North Carolina is now completely covered by the guide series released by Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

The 61-mile Balsams section, which includes the area from Waterrock Knob to Pisgah Inn, is one of the most rugged and least accessible sections of the MST. The new guide contains a breakdown of landmarks along the trail and information for finding maps and amenities.

The MST is a still-evolving trail, so even with the map done it’s important to check for updates before setting out. The trail stretches 1,000 miles and will ultimately link Clingman’s Dome with Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the coast. About two-thirds of the route is currently complete. www.ncmst.org/the-trail/trailguide.

Smoky Mountain News

Icycle mountain bike race to return to Fontana

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A day (and night) of heart-pumping mountain bike races is set to take over Fontana Village Resort with the return of the Icycle Mountain Bike Event on Saturday, Jan. 30.

The festivities will start at 11 a.m. with cross-country races and continue into the night with after-dark downhill races kicking off at 7:30 p.m. The daytime course, at 7 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain, is some of the finest single-track around, featuring a varied terrain with rocks, roots, creeks and passing lanes. The Turkey Chute Trail, home of the downhill race, is a wide-open lane that drops 900 feet in 1.2 miles, with jumps, berms and minor rock gardens along the way.

Pre-registration is $30 for one event or $50 for two; day-of prices are $40 or $60, respectively. Categories available for riders of all skill levels. Presented by Pisgah Productions. www.pisgahproductions.com/events/icycle.

Skiing resumes at Cataloochee The warm, rainy weather of the past month has made ski season a stop-and-go undertaking across the region, but Cataloochee Ski Area is once more open after launching a furious round of snowmaking on New Year’s Day. On Jan. 2, the resort opened four of its 18 slopes on a base of 6 to 12 inches, with Tube World in nearby Maggie Valley following suit Jan. 3.

Cataloochee will offer expanded hours this week, with the ski slopes open from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 9, when the resort will close at 4:30 p.m. Tube World will be open through 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. www.Cataloochee.com.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Swain County Geological and Historical Society will have a program on “1819 Cherokee Citizen Farmsteads of Swain and Macon Counties: Who Owned Them and What Happened” at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 7, at the SCGHS Library, 200 Main Street, in Bryson City. Presenter is Dr. Brett H. Riggs, Ph.D., the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at Western Carolina University.

• The first monthly meeting of the Beaverdam Community Center in 2016 will be held at 7 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 11. The guest speaker is Carol Adams, the editor of Vicinitus Haywood. judysellars1067@att.net.

• The Relay for Life of Franklin’s Event Leadership Team will meet from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, in the Factory Depot Room in Franklin. Captains’ meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m.

• Western Carolina University will host a State of the Union watch party on Jan. 12.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1-3 p.m. on Jan. 16. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings designed for new and existing, small-to-medium size farm owners to get the school they need to create or revise their business plans. The school will meet Tuesday evenings from Jan. 12 through March 1 at SCC’s Swain Center. Fee: $75. t_henry@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4211.

• Applications are being accepted for 1 & 3% partnership funding through the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority, and workshops are scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, and Thursday, Jan. 14, at Lake Junaluska’s Bethea Welcome Center. http://haywoodcountytourismdevelopment.com/partnership-funding/

• A free community and team building workshop for potential summer camp counselors will be offered from 6-8 p.m. on Jan. 19 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Program is entitled: “Community Building Through Innovative Game Time.” 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A beginning Instagram computer class is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Free. 586.2016.

• Tickets are being sold for Burns Night, a celebration of Robert Burns – the national poet of Scotland – that will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Tartan Hall of First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. Tickets are available at the Scottish Tartans Museum and the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. 421.7771 or merrilee.bordeaux64@hotmail.com.

• The 19th annual Altrusa Soup and Cornbread Scholarship Fundraiser is scheduled for 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. Dine-in or take-out. Soups, cornbread, homemade desserts. $8 adults/$4 children.

Altrusa is a volunteer service organization of business and professional leaders dedicated to improving their communities.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • A special registration for spring classes is scheduled for 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Classes started Jan. 1.

College is closed through Jan. 3. 627.4500.

• An Alcoholic Beverage Seller/Server Training Seminar will be offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, in room 102D of the Burrell Building at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Free.

Offered exclusively for businesses that hold ABC permits. Part of an effort by law enforcement agencies, the ABC Commission, DMV License and Theft Bureau, local ABC Boards and Prevention Coalitions. 919.779.0700 or Jeff.Strickland@ABC.nc.gov.

• An Alcoholic Beverage Seller/Server Training Seminar will be offered at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Haywood Community College’s Regional High Technology Center in Waynesville. Free. Offered exclusively for businesses that hold ABC permits. Part of an effort by law enforcement agencies, the ABC Commission, DMV License and Theft Bureau, local ABC Boards and Prevention Coalitions. 919.779.0700 or Jeff.Strickland@ABC.nc.gov.

• An Alcoholic Beverage Seller/Server Training Seminar will be offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, in Room 217 of Brown Hall at UNC Asheville. Free.

Offered exclusively for businesses that hold ABC permits. Part of an effort by law enforcement agencies, the ABC Commission, DMV License and Theft Bureau, local ABC Boards and Prevention Coalitions. 919.779.0700 or Jeff.Strickland@ABC.nc.gov.

• Registration is underway for Southwestern Community College’s second Appalachian Farm School,

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS

VENDORS • Vendor applications are being accepted for WinterFest Smoky Style, which is Feb. 26-28 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Weekend rental fee is $75 if paid by Dec. 15; $100 after. seaycharlesl@yahoo.com.

Sponsored in part by Haywood County Tourism Development Authority.

• Greening Up the Mountains Festival is seeking artists, mountain crafters, environmental and food vendors to apply for booths in the upcoming 19th annual event, which is April 23 in Sylva. www.greeningupthemountains.com, 586.2719 or at Sylva’s Town Hall. Info: 631.4587.

HEALTH MATTERS • A three-class series related to caring for and communicating with individuals with dementia will open with “When You Forget That You Forgot” at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

Continuing education credits are available. Free.

356.2800.

• A two-day diabetes management class will be offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on consecutive Tuesdays, Jan. 12 and 19, by Angel Medical Center’s diabetes management services in Franklin. Fee is covered by most insurance companies. 369.4166.

• Angel Medical Center will hold the American Lung Associaton’s “Freedom From Smoking” program, a sixweek series starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 in the hospital’s dining room. Pre-registration required: $25. 369.4181.

Smoky Mountain News

• Registration is underway for a series of Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Classes that will be offered starting Jan. 14 at the Jackson County Health Department in Sylva. Classes are sponsored by MountainWise. Anyone interested in attending should contact Melissa McKnight at 587.8288.

• A new support group called WINGS (Widows in Need of Grief Support) will meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at The Meditation Center at 894 E. Main St. in Sylva. www.meditate-wnc.org or 356.1105.

• A free, weekly grief support group will meet from 12:30-2 p.m. on Thursdays at the SECU Hospice House in Franklin. 692.6178 or mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will host a community dance at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. Circle and contra dances. Bob Dalsemer will be the caller, with live music by Out of the Woodwork. All styles will be taught and walked through beforehand. No previous experience needed. A community dinner will follow at 5 p.m. ronandcathy71@frontier.com.

• A Ski Lake Junaluska youth event is scheduled for Jan. 15-18, Jan. 29-31, Feb. 5-7, Feb. 12-15 and Feb. 19-21 with skiing at Cataloochee Ski Area and Wolf Ridge Ski Area. Worship, ski and fellowship. One, two and three-night packages available. For info, contact Jennifer Martin at jmartin@lakejunaluska.com or 454.6716. www.lakejunaluska.com/ski.

• Stand-up paddleboard lessons will be offered from 7:30-8:45 p.m. every other Wednesday starting Jan. 20 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Cost is admission to the recreation center. 456.2030 or lkinsland@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Registration is underway for a winter coed volleyball league that will be offered through the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. An organizational meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the rec center. Fee will be based on number of teams at organizational meeting; payment is due by 9 p.m. on Jan. 27. 456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

39

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

Jan. 13 in Asheville. 12 sessions. Membership for the spring semester is $75. 227.7397 or www.wcu.edu/academics/edoutreach/LifeAtWesternCarolina.

• Registration is underway for the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department’s January Senior Trips, which include a Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour (Jan. 6), Dinner and a Movie (Jan. 13), Frozen Waterfall Ramble (Jan. 20), and Local Artisan Ramble (Jan. 27). For details or to register, contact Tim Petrea at 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

KIDS & FAMILIES • The Crazy 8 Math Adventure Club for grades K-2 meets from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

• “Imagine: Tell me a Story” for ages 8-12 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. 586.2016.

• The Culture Club for grades K-6 meets at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Focus is on Belgium.

• The Crazy 8 Math Adventure Club for grades K-2 meets from 3:30-4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

• The Appalachian Toymaker & Storyteller will be making wooden toys and telling tales on select dates and times at The Storytelling Center of the Southern Appalachian. www.psalmsofthesouth.com or 488.5705.

• Registration is underway for a Smart Start Sports Development program for 4-5 year olds at the Waynesville Recreation Center. $65 registration cost includes equipment, bag and participant manual.

Deadline to register is 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19; program starts Feb. 9. dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov or 456.2030.

ONGOING KIDS ACTIVITIES AUTHORS AND BOOKS • A workshop on new e-resources such as e-books, emagazines, and e-audio books is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. 488.3030.

• Waynesville author Ann Melton will sign her latest book “From Whence Cometh My Help: A Journey Through Grief” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• “Stories of Mountain Folk” will be made available online by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia starting in January at www.storiesofmountainfolk.com. Archived programs are available at www.wcu.edu/hunterlibrary/collections/digital-collections.asp.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • “New Year, New You” is the title of a program presented by Tim Plowman of the Waynesville Recreation Center at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, at the Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. Free. Discussion includes exercises that can be done at home during the winter. 356.2800.

• LIFE@WesternCarolina, Western Carolina University’s lifelong learning institute, will begin its spring semester schedule with a series of weekly educational sessions for WNC residents 50 and older. Sessions are offered from 10 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 12 in Cullowhee and at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays starting

AND CLUBS • Wednesdays in the Stacks, “WITS”, a new program for children in grades 3-6, on the third Wednesdays of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Macon County Library. WITS will include lots of fun games, prizes, and hands-on activities. This club replaces book club previous held on the third Thursdays of the month.

526.3600.

• Fun Friday, everything science, is held at 4 p.m. on Fridays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Family Fun Night is at 6 p.m. on Thursdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Just Write is at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Teen Coffeehouse is at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Youth Outright meets every Sunday from 4 p.m. -6 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville for ages 14-20. Youth Outright is a youth advocacy and leadership program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in 18 counties in Western North Carolina. www.youthoutright.org.

• Youth Outright meets the third Saturday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville for ages 11-13.

Youth Outright is a youth advocacy and leadership program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ques-

wnc calendar

tioning (LGBTQ) youth in 18 counties in Western North Carolina. www.youthoutright.org.

• Rock and Read is Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.• WNC Martial Arts will hold karate classes from 6-7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at the Old Armory in Waynesville. For more info, contact Margaret Williams at 301.0649 or mvwilliams39@gmail.com.

• Full STEAM Ahead (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. ages 5+. 586.2016. 524.3600.

• Children’s Yoga is at 10:30 a.m. (for ages 3-7) and noon (for ages 8-11) on the second Thursday of each month at Canton Public Library. Sign-up required: 648.2924.

• “Plug in and Read,” a digital story time designed to help preschoolers (ages 3-6) learn early literacy skills, is held at 10:30 a.m. on the second Friday or fourth Monday of each month at Haywood County Public Library. Visit www.haywoodlibrary.org or call 452.5169 or 648.2924.

• “Baby/Toddler Sensory Play Time” is set for 10:30 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Canton Library Meeting Room. For children ages three months to four years. Visit www.haywoodlibrary.org or call 452.5169 or 648.2924.

January 6-12, 2016

• Macon County 4-H Needlers club, a group of youth learning the art and expression of knitting and crochet crafts, meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

For information, call 349.2046.

• A Franklin Kids’ Creation Station is held from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at uptown Gallery in Franklin.

Snacks provided. $20 tuition. 743.0200.

• SafeKids USA Blue Dragon Tae Kwon Do School offers defense training with after-school classes Monday through Friday and Saturday mornings. 627.3949 or www.bluedragontkd.net.

• A Lego Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. at Waynesville Library.

452.5169.

• A Lego Club meets the second Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.

• A Lego Club meets the second Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.

• Book Buddies for ages 0-3 is from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Tuesday at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

• A Lego Club meet the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library.

743.0215.

• Story time and kids can make their own piece of art from 10 a.m.-noon every Saturday during the Family Art event sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council at the Jackson County Farmers Market located at the Community Table, downtown Sylva. On the first Saturday of each month, there is a scavenger hunt with prizes. 399.0290 or www.jacksoncountyfarmermarket.org.

• A Teen Advisory Group meets at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month to discuss YA books and teen program events. http://haywoodlibrary.libguides.com/teen or 648.2924.

• Tennis lessons for ages 5-8 (5:30-6:15 on Tuesdays) and 9-13 (9:30-10:15 a.m. on Saturdays) are offered through the Jackson County Recreation Center. $45.

293.3053.

• Michael’s Kids Club will be held for ages 3-and-up from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at Michael’s in Waynesville. $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative crafts. 452.7680.

• A Lowe’s Build and Grow session for ages 3-and-up is scheduled from 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays at the Sylva (586.1170) and Waynesville (456.9999) Lowe’s stores. Free.

Smoky Mountain News

• Science Club is held at 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month for grades K-6 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• Anime Night is held for teens on the second Monday of each month at the Canton Library. For anime titles that will be shown, call 648.2924.

• Page Pals for ages 3-5 is from 10:30-11:15 a.m. on Tuesday at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

• Art classes are available for kids 10 and older from 4:15-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. $15 per class. 787.2865 or www.thebascom.org.

• Art Adventure classes are taught for ages 5-10 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Bascom in Highlands. Theme: metal. Instructor: Bonnie Abbott. $20 per month. 787.2865.

• Free, weekly, after-school enrichment classes are offered by the Bascom and MCAA from 3-5 p.m. on Thursdays at Macon Middle School through a grant from the Jim McRae Endowment for the Visual Arts. To register, contact Bonnie Abbott at 743.0200.

•A Lego club will meet at 4 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up.

Free. 488.3030.

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group meets from 10:30 am.-noon on the first Saturday of each month in the main lobby of the Smoky Mountain OB/GYN Office in Sylva. Free; refreshments provided. For information, contact Brandi Nations (770.519.2903), Stephanie Faulkner (506.1185 or www.birthnaturalwnc), or Teresa Bryant (587-8223).

•A community breastfeeding information and support

• Explorer’s Club for kids will be held on the third of each month at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Intended for all ages, with a special emphasis on cultural learning for children. Each Explorer’s Club will feature special guests, snacks and crafts that all are pertinent to the theme for that month.

586.2016.

• Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders holds public viewing session from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month, 130 Frazier St. off Russ Avenue in Waynesville. The group runs Lionel-type 3 rail O gauge trains. smokymountainmodelrailroaders.wordpress.com.

• Teen time 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursdays at Waynesville Library. A program for teens and tweens held each week. Each week is different, snacks provided. 3562511 • Homework Help, 3 to 5 p.m. Mondays for students in grades 2 through 6, Canton Branch Library. Former schoolteacher turned Youth Services Librarian Katy Punch offers homework help on a first-come, firstserved basis. Katy, 648.2924.

•Teen Advisory Group, first Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. For ages 13-18. Teens can enjoy snacks while discussing popular young adult books, help plan events and displays for children and teens at the library, and participate in community service projects.

Canton Library, 648.2924.

• The American Girls Club meets at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The club meets one Saturday a month, call for details. Club is based on a book series about historical women. Club members read and do activities. Free. 586.9499.

• Teen Time, first, third, and fourth Tuesdays at 4 p.m. for ages 12 and up. Spend time with other teens talking about and sharing with each other. Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• A Teen Writing Group will meet at 6 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at Jackson County Library, ages 12 and up. 586.2016 • Games for kids on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at the Jackson County Public Library. Play a variety of games including AWE After School Edge Computers, board games and other fun activities. 586.2016.

• Projects and activities after school Fridays, 3:30 p.m. for school age kids at Jackson County Public Library.

Get your hands dirty with science experiments, discovering animals and making easy recipes. 586.2016.

• Adventure Club on Tuesdays 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. for grades K-2 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• Culture Club on the second Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m. for K-6 graders. Guest speakers, books, photos, crafts and food from different countries and cultures. Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• Crafty Kids on the second Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. Children from Pre-K to fifth grade will meet after school and hear stories, share about what they are reading, play games and get creative with a craft.

Canton Library. 648.2924.

• Children’s craft time, fourth Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215 • The Wee Naturalist program, which is for children ages 2-5 (with a parent or guardian), is held from 1011:30 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays at the North Carolina Arboretum. Age-appropriate activities such as nature walks, garden exploration, stories, crafts and visits from classroom animals $7 cost per child; $3 more for each additional child in a family. Register at: www.ncarboretumregistration.org/Wee-Naturalists-forPre-K-2014-15-C264.aspx

KIDS MOVIES • A screening of “The Princess Bride” will be shown at 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com • A family movie will be shown at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Free. Movie is about cute and cuddly puppies from Air Buddies who find themselves in the icy terrain of Alaska. For info, including movie title, call 488.3030.

• An encore presentation of “Skylight” will be presented by the Highlands Performing Arts Center at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9, in Highlands. Starring Bill Nighy (“Love Actually,” “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) and Carey Mulligan (“Island Llewyn Davis,” “The Great Gatsby”); directed by Stephen Daldry (“The Audience”).

Tickets: $22 for adults; $20 for PAC members. highlandspac.org or 526.9047.

• Tickets are on sale for a performance by rapper Waka Flocka Flame, who will be on stage Thursday, Jan. 14, at Western Carolina University’s Ramsey Center.

Advance tickets are $5 for students and $10 for nonstudents or $15 at the door. 227.7722 or ramsey.wcu.edu.

• The Bill Bares Trio (jazz) performs with Justin Watt at 7 p.m. on Jan. 16 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville.

Free. 452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Tickets are available for upcoming Balsam Range performances at the Colonial Theater in Canton.

Joining the award-winning bluegrass band will be Ricky Ickes and Trey Hensley (Feb. 6) and Studio Dream Team (April 2). Tickets available at the box office or by calling 235.2760. www.balsamrange.com.

• Country music star Pam Tillis will be a featured performer at a Galaxy of Stars Series performance at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

Tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for WCU faculty/staff, and $7 for students/children. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

• The Magnetic Theatre in Asheville is seeking one-act plays, actors and directors for “Brief Encounters 2016.” Deadline for submissions is Feb. 7. ldv@themagnetictheatre.org. Open-call audtions are in March. www.themagnetictheatre.org. Directors can write ss@themagnetictheatre.org.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • The Sylva Photo Club will have a meeting with the theme of “The Best of 2015” from 2-4 p.m. on Jan. 9 at Cullowhee Methodist Church. 226.3840 or 293.9820 or sylvaphotoclub@gmail.com.

A&E FOOD & DRINK • “Drink-N-Think, a positive, open discussion about anything and everything, will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, at its new location – the Sneak E Squirrel Brewery at 1315 W. Main St. in Sylva. drinknthink@gmail.com.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. on Jan. 12 and 19 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden in Waynesville.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Jan. 9 and 16 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesvillewine.com or 452.0120.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Daniel Shearin (guitar, vocals) performs at 7 p.m. on Jan. 8 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free.

452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com. www.ncparks.gov.

• Joe Cruz (piano/pop) will perform at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free.

452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• Southern rock legend Gregg Allman performs at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 9 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.

Tickets available at www.harrahscherokee.com.

• Polly Davis will present her military wife memoir “Stumbling Toward Enlightenment” at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

586.9499.

• The Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, in Tartan Hall of 1st Presbyterian Hall in Franklin. Vendors from local quilting store will be doing demos and showing samples.

• The Jackson County Genealogical Society will feature a program entitled “The Great Wagon Road from Philadelphia, South” at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14 in the Community Room of the historic Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva. Presenter will be author, historian and teacher Scott Withrow. Free; public is welcome.

631.2646.

• Tickets are on sale for “Art and Craft,” the Southern Circuit’s fourth feature, which will be shown at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, in the Western Carolina University Center theater in Cullowhee. The documentary details how one of the most prolific art forgers in U.S. history was finally exposed. www.artandcraftfilm. Tickets available at www.bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 227.2479.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • The “Winter Textures” fiber and textile exhibit will be held from Jan. 8-30 at the Gallery & Gifts within the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. The showcase will feature a wide array of works from Haywood County fiber artisans. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The 10th Annual Autumn Juried Group Exhibit of the Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association Asheville Region entitled “Southern Appalachian Splendor Through the Seasons,” will be hosted through the New Year by the Green Sage Cafe in Asheville. www.cnpaasheville.org.

â&#x20AC;˘ Art by Marilyn-Sue Walsh (oils, water colors, acrylics and drawings) will be on display throughout January in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. 524.3600.

â&#x20AC;˘ Haywood County Arts Council will host artists from the Haywood Art Studio Tour at the Gallery & Gifts Space in Waynesville. www.HaywoodArts.org. â&#x20AC;˘ The Mountain Heritage Center is hosting the exhibit â&#x20AC;&#x153;Collecting for the Community,â&#x20AC;? an exploration of the diversity and variety to be found in Western North Carolina. Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. â&#x20AC;˘ A contemporary exhibit is open at the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.

The exhibit is intended to challenge the way beliefs about the natural world are formed. Entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Connections: Diane Fox & Beauvais Lyons,â&#x20AC;? the exhibit pairs photographs by Fox with lithography by Lyons.

The exhibit remains at WCU through Friday, Jan. 15.

The museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursday. Admission and parking are free. 227.3591 or fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

FILM & SCREEN â&#x20AC;˘ A new movie starring Raffey Cassidy, Britt Robertson and George Clooney will be shown at 2 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Movie is about a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius.

PG; 2:10. 524.3600. â&#x20AC;˘ A screening of â&#x20AC;&#x153;He named me Malalaâ&#x20AC;? will be shown at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 8 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com

â&#x20AC;˘ A screening of â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Martianâ&#x20AC;? will be shown at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 and 15 and 2 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com â&#x20AC;˘ A new biographical movie about Rachel Carson will be shown at 2 and 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room. Carson is considered the mother of the environmental movement and author of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Silent Spring.â&#x20AC;? 55 minutes; unrated.

Sponsored by the Southern Appalachian Plant Society.

524.3600. http://sapsncga.blogspot.com.

â&#x20AC;˘ Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016.

Outdoors â&#x20AC;˘ A skywatching program is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute in Rosman. Reservations are required and accepted until 3 p.m. on the day of the event. $20 per adult; $15 for seniors/military. Children 10 and under

â&#x20AC;˘ The Franklin Appalachian Trail Communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council will meet at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, in Lazy Hiker Brewing Companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Event Room. Anyone interested is welcome. â&#x20AC;˘ A class for people interested in a long-distance hike on the Appalachian Trail will be offered from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy at Second Gear Outfitters in Asheville.

Course covers all aspects of planning the long-distance hike, including essential gear to the diversity of the trail experience. Free. www.appalachiantrail.org/events, 357.6542 or cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org. â&#x20AC;˘ A class for people interested in a long-distance hike on the Appalachian Trail will be offered from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Mast General Store in Asheville.

Course covers all aspects of planning the long-distance hike, including essential gear to the diversity of the trail experience. Free. www.appalachiantrail.org/events, 357.6542 or cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org. â&#x20AC;˘ Guided tours of WATR Discovery Trails at Monteith Farmstead Park in Dillsboro can be scheduled by calling 488.8418. For youth or adult/civic groups.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES â&#x20AC;˘ Cornhole for seniors will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. on the third and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center.

452.6789. â&#x20AC;˘ A fitness class designed specifically for seniors will meet from 11 a.m.-noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Jan. 4-March 25 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov. â&#x20AC;˘ A Book Trade/Exchange, 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Brain Gym, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 452.2370. â&#x20AC;˘ Basic knitting class, 10 a.m. to noon every Tuesday, Jackson County Senior Center, Sylva. Bring your own yarn and needles. Free. 586.4944. â&#x20AC;˘ Senior Nutrition Program, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Jackson County Senior Center, 100 County Services Park, Sylva. 586.4944. â&#x20AC;˘ Foster Grandparents needed in Head Start, nonprofit day care centers and public schools in seven county Western North Carolina region. Meet 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines and receive a small tax free stipend plus annual and sick leave plus mileage. Must be 55 or older. Torrie Murphy, Mountain Projects, 356.2834. â&#x20AC;˘ New Memory CafĂŠ, 10 a.m. to noon, second Thursday of each month, Mission and Fellowship Center, First Baptist Church of Sylva. For people who suffer with dementia, Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s disease, or other memory disorders, and their caregivers. â&#x20AC;˘ Free wood carving opportunity with Fred and Mike

â&#x20AC;˘ Senior Phone Assurance program at the Senior Resource Center is for seniors and people 18 years old and older with disabilities who would like to receive a daily phone call. Free. Callers are volunteers who are part of the Senior Resource Center. Phone Assurance works well for people who live alone. 452.2370. â&#x20AC;˘ Senior Resource Center Brain Gym, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. Open to the public for games, computer/iPad, Wii, X-Box and Brain Bikes. People 50 years of age and older and teens 18 and older with disabilities can participate in cardio workouts, rug hooking and much more. 452.2370. â&#x20AC;˘ Laughter Yoga Club, 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville.

Suzanne Hendrix, certified Laughter yoga leader. Wear comfortable clothing. 452.2370. â&#x20AC;˘ Clip and Save Coupon Club, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuesdays, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. â&#x20AC;˘ Happy Wanderers senior group holds several events coordinated through Haywood County Parks and Recreation. 452.6789. â&#x20AC;˘ For information on resources for older adults in Haywood County, call 2-1-1, or by cell phone 888.892.1162; www.nc211.org or www.haywoodconnections.org. 452.2370.

SUPPORT GROUPS Haywood â&#x20AC;˘ The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has started a club at Haywood Community College for students with mental illness. The student-led group meets twice a month. 627.4504.

FARM AND GARDEN â&#x20AC;˘ The Jackson County Farmers Market will hold its seed-ordering day from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Community Table in Sylva. www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

COMPETITIVE EDGE â&#x20AC;˘ Pre-registration is underway for the Icycle Mountain Bike Event, which is Saturday, Jan. 30, at Fontana Village Resort. $30 for one event or $50 for two. Day-of prices are $40 and $60. Categories available for riders of all skill levels. Presented by Pisgah Productions. www.pisgahproductions.com/events/icycle. â&#x20AC;˘ Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race & Walk will be held Saturday, March 26. www.lakejunaluska.com.

HIKING CLUBS â&#x20AC;˘ Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,800-foot ascent from Case Camp to Seniard Ridge Loop on Jan. 6. For more info, contact leader Mary Beth Gwynn at 545.6487 or mbgwynn@gmail.com. â&#x20AC;˘ Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,800-foot ascent on Jan. 10. For more info, contact leader Mary Beth Gwynn at 545.6487 or mbgcmc@gmail.com.

We want you t

bigg bite bi b Ouutt ofof L With Dental Implants, You o Ca Replace your denture or missing teeth today Cal l Dr. Highsmith -

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â&#x20AC;˘ Carolina Mountain Club will hold a five-mile hike with a 900-foot elevation gain on Jan. 10. For more info, contact leader Dick Zimmerer at 989.0480 or dd1zz@yahoo.com. â&#x20AC;˘ The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a 1.2-mile hike of Lakeside Drive Trail at the Macon County Health Department on Sunday, Jan. 10. For info, contact leader Kay Coriell at 369.6820. â&#x20AC;˘ The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a two-mile hike of Mud Creek Falls at Sky Valley on Saturday, Jan. 16.

349.3380.

Smoky Mountain News

â&#x20AC;˘ A classic, biographical, musical drama starring James Stewart and June Allyson will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin. Dramatization of the life of trombone player Glenn Miller. 1:55.524.3600.

â&#x20AC;˘ A program entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nuts and Bolts of Hiking the Appalachian Trailâ&#x20AC;? will be offered from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 11, at Asheville REI. Appalachian Trail through-hiker Gary Sizer will present on planning and preparing for a thru-hike. Register at www.rei.com/learn.html.

Ongoing

January 6-12, 2016

â&#x20AC;˘ A classic movie starring John Wayne and Maureen Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hara will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, in the Macon County Public Library Meeting Room in Franklin.

Movie is about an all-out battle of the sexes when a powerful cattle baronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife returns to town after a two-year absence. 2:07.

â&#x20AC;˘ The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct a public hearing on proposed changes to state hunting, wildlife management, game land and inland fishing regulations at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Haywood Community College auditorium in Clyde.

Morey, 10 a.m. every Monday, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. Tools and know-how available. 452.2370.

wnc calendar

â&#x20AC;˘ The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Wars: The FORCE of Popular Cultureâ&#x20AC;? exhibit is on display through Jan. 16 at the Western Office of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources in Asheville. Free. 296.7230 or jeff.futch@ncdcr.gov.

are free. Register and pay online at www.pari.edu or 862.5554. More info: schappell@pari.edu.

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wnc calendar

• The Compassionate Friends of Western North Carolina, for families who have had a child die, holds monthly meetings at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month in the Dugan Classroom of Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Clyde. John Chapman, chapter leader, 356.6877 or tcfofwnc@gmail.com. Park at the rear of the church and enter the building across the elevated cement sidewalk that leads to the second floor room #210, which is the first door on the right.

• Recovery educational support classes for those with substance abuse/co-occurring disorders, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesdays, 1210 South Main St., Waynesville. $50 fee for book and materials payable at the first class attended. Scholarships available. Jane, 400.5851.

• The Haywood County HIV/AIDS Task Force meets every third Thursday of the month from 4 to 5 p.m. The purpose of this group is to both educate the community and provide support for those living with HIV/AIDS. 452.6675.

• Support classes for friends and family of those with substance abuse/co-occurring disorders, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Mondays, 1210 S. Main St., Waynesville. $50 fee for book and materials payable at the first class attended.

Scholarships available. Jane, 400.5851.

• Grandchildren/Grandparents Rights of N.C., 7 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Canton Library.

648.5205.

• New chapter of Co-Dependent’s Anonymous, 6 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Dogwood Wellness, Dillsboro. Connie, 477.4380 or e-mail seascat@gmail.com.

• HOPEful Living: Women’s Cancer Support Group, third Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Haywood Regional Medical Center, Fitness Center, Health Educ.

Room, Waynesville. 627.9666 or riggs_sandi@msn.com or 627.0227.

• Harris Monthly Grief Support Group, 3 to 4 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month, Chaplain’s Conference Room, Harris Hospital, Sylva. 586.7979.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter, 7 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Asbury Sunday School Room, First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. 400.1041.

• Recovery from Food Addiction, a 12-step recovery program for individuals suffering from food addiction, 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Friendship House, Academy St. beside Waynesville’s First United Methodist Church, 400.7239.

• Single Parents Networking Group, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, free, dinner and child care provided in fun, informal setting. 456.8995 ext. 201.

• WNC Grief Support Group is for families who have lost a child. 7 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Clyde Town Hall. 565.0122 or e-mail hotstraitcountry@aol.com.

• Grief support group, at noon on the first Friday of every month, Long’s Chapel, Dugan Classroom.

Sponsored by Haywood Hospice. 452.5039.

Jackson

• Haywood County offers an HIV/AIDS Support Group, 4 p.m., first Tuesday of each month at the Health Department. Anonymity and confidentiality are strongly enforced. 476.0103 or haywoodhiv@yahoo.com.

• AA meetings, 7 p.m., Saturdays, Maggie Valley United Methodist Church, 4192 Soco Road. 926.8036.

January 6-12, 2016

room 164 of the Jackson County Department on Aging, 100 County Services Park, Sylva. wncpd@yahoo.com.

• Men’s Only Grief Support Group, 9 to 10:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month, First Presbyterian Church, 305 Main St., Waynesville. John Woods, facilitator. 551.2095 or jhwoods55@yahoo.com.

• Haywood County Aphasia Support Group, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., second Monday of each month in the Haywood Regional Medical Center Fitness Center classrooms.

227.3834.

• Al-Anon, a support group for families and friends of alcoholics, 8 p.m., Tuesdays, Grace Episcopal Church, 394 N. Haywood St. Use Miller St. entrance. 926.8721.

Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 4, Alliance Bible Church, 501 River Rd., Dillsboro. 770.519.2930.

• “A to Z” support group for all cancer patients (such as lung, colon, urologic, head and neck, skin) and patient caregivers, 5 to 6 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, Harris Medical Park Conference Room.

631.8100.

• WNC Breast Cancer Support Group, 6 to 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month, Harris Medical Park Conference Room, and for Swain County residents from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. second Tuesday of each month, Harris Medical Park private dining room, next to the cafeteria.

631.8100.

• Adult Neurogenic Communication Group, 1:20 to 2:30 p.m. the second Monday of each month, Haywood Health and Fitness Center. 227.3834 or KMOdom@email.wcu.edu.

• Prostate Survivors Alliance, a special support group for men with a current diagnosis of prostate cancer, as well as prostate cancer survivors, 7 to 8 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Harris Medical Park conference room, Sylva. 586.5724.

• Alzheimer’s Association, 4:30 p.m., fourth Tuesday of each month, First United Methodist Church, Waynesville and 2:30 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Silver Bluff Care Center in Canton. 254.7363.

• Grief Support Group, 1 to 2:30 p.m. Fridays First Baptist Church, 669 W. Main St., Sylva. Hosted by Four Seasons Compassion for Life. Michael Lee, bereavement counselor, mlee@fourseasonscfl.org.

• Celebrate Recovery, 6 p.m. every Thursday, Long’s Chapel UMC, Waynesville. A Christ-centered 12-step recovery ministry open to all adults with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Childcare available. 456.3993, ext. 32.

• Breastfeeding Mothers’ Support Group, 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 6, Alliance Bible Church, 501 River Rd., Dillsboro. 770.519.2930.

• Diabetes Support Group, second floor classroom,

Smoky Mountain News

Haywood Health & Fitness Center, 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. 452.8092

• Parkinson’s Support in the Mountains will hold its regular monthly meeting, 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11,

• Breastfeeding support group, 9:30 to 11 a.m., first Monday of each month at the First United Methodist Church (park in back and use rear entrance) Sylva. smokeymtnmamas@yahoo.com or 506.1186.

• Men’s discussion circle, 7 p.m. Mondays, The Center in Sylva. Join an open circle of men to discuss the challenges of life that are specific to men in a safe environment of confidentiality. $5. Chuck Willhide, 586.2892 or e-mail chuckwillhide@hotmail.com.

• Look Good…Feel Better is an ongoing program for cancer patients at Angel Medical Center, Cancer Infusion Center, Franklin. 349.6900.

• Angel Medical Center offers a monthly Diabetes Support Group the last Monday of each month. The group meets in the Angel Medical Center dining room beginning at 4 p.m. Pre-registration is required by calling 369.4181.

• Anxiety, nervousness and/or panic disorders support group meets at 7 p.m. on Fridays in the basement of Highlands United Methodist Church. 526.3433.

• Al-Anon meetings are held at noon every Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church at Fifth and Main in the community room in Highlands. All are welcome.

• Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Macon Co. Department on Aging. 369.5845.

• Al-Anon Meetings are held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays at Grace Community Church. The meetings bring hope for families and friends of alcoholics. 743.9814.

• Angel Medical Center’s Diabetes Support Group meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month in the Center’s dining room.

• Jackson County Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Mondays, Sylva First Presbyterian Church, Grindstaff Cove Road.

• Chronic Pain Support Group meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month in the dining room of Angle Medical Center. 369.6717 or 369.2607.

• Cashiers Cancer Care Group for cancer patients, survivors, spouses and caregivers offers support, encouragement, hope and understanding. 7 p.m., first Thursday of the month, Grace Community Church.

743.3158.

• Circle of Life support group meets 10 a.m. to noon Fridays at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. The group is for those who are dealing with any loss or grief.

526.1462.

• Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous, 7 p.m., Mondays, Harris Regional Hospital in the small dining room, Sylva. 226.8324.

• Look Good, Feel Better is for women dealing with the appearance related side effects that occur with cancer treatments. A trained volunteer cosmetologist shares expertise in dealing with hair loss and skin change. 10 a.m. to noon, bimonthly, the first Monday of every month, at Harris Regional Hospital. RSVP required, 631.8100.

• WestCare Hospice Bereavement Support Group meets at 3:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in the Chapel Conference Room at Harris Regional Hospital.

586.7410.

• Weight Watchers meets at 8:30 a.m. every Monday at Grace Christian Church in Cashiers. 226.1096.

Macon AA Meetings are held every Saturday at 10 a.m. Macon County Public Library, Franklin. 524.3600 or www.fontanalib.org.

• Angel Medical Center Hospice offers three bereavement support groups for people who have lost loved ones. Two Women’s support groups both meet on the third Wednesday of each month at the Sunset

• Healthy eating/weight control classes are held every Tuesday at noon at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Office, 193 Thomas Heights Rd. 349.2048.

• Highlands-Cashiers Cancer Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at First United Methodist Church of Highlands. Meetings are confidential.

• Miracles Happen group of Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday and 5 p.m. each Sunday in the downstairs chapel of First United Methodist Church. 349.1438.

• Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5 p.m. on Sundays at First United Methodist Church at 86 Harrison Ave in Franklin. 508.2586 • NAMI Appalachian South (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the local affiliate of NAMI NC, meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Community Facilities Building, Georgia Road Contact Ann Nandrea 369.7385.

• Suicide Survivors Support Group. Angel Hospice sponsors a monthly support group for those who have suffered a loss due to the suicide of a loved one. This meeting is open to everyone in our community and meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the back room. 369.4417.

326-13

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’ $

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42

• Al-Anon Family Group meets every Monday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sylva Methodist Church. A support group for family and friends whose lives are affected by someone else’s drinking.

Restaurant on Highway 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

A Men’s Support Group meets the first Monday of each month also at the same location at 11:30 a.m.

369.4417.

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

Puzzles can be found on page 46.

These are only the answers.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ARTS & CRAFTS

MarketPlace information:

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

AUCTION

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

RUN YOUR CLASSIFIED In 101 North Carolina newspapers for only $375 for a 25-word ad.

Call this newspaper or 919.516.8009 for details.

AUCTIONS Wagner's Auto Salvage, Durham Commercial Trucks, Generators, Vehicles; Lots Orange Co & Log Home Chapel Hill; 72 Acres Sanford Divided. 919.545.0412 www.RogersAuction.com.

NCFL7360.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

ONLINE REAL ESTATE AUCTION 721 Moody Bridge Rd., Cullowhee, NC. 3br/2bath home and 10 acres.

Bidding starts Dec. 1st, 2015. Full details on our web site, BrooksAuctionServices.com 864.379.1011.

NCRE#25534.

NCAUC#9822.

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

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Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS

MON-FRI 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

828-456-5387

326-23

YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The Affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure.

ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control.

FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 FIND THE RIGHT CARPET, Flooring & Window Treatments.

Ask about our 50% off specials & our Low Price Guarantee. Offer Expires Soon. Call now 888.546.0135 SAPA SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB. Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off. SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

CARS -

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation education, prevention, & support programs.

Fast Free Pickup - 24 Hr Response Tax Deduction 855.306.7348 SAPA

FINANCIAL BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA SELL YOUR STRUCTURED Settlement or annuity payments for CASH NOW. You don't have to wait for your future payments any longer! Call 1.800.316.0271.

SOCIAL SECURITY Disability Benefits. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1.800.670.4805 to start your application today! SAPA

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES $1000 WEEKLY!!

Mailing Brochures From Home.

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Genuine Opportunity. NO Experience Required. Start Immediately. www.MailingMembers.com SAPA CONTROVERSIAL HUD Insider reveals how to flip HUD houses for pennies on the dollar.

Free book exposes all. Limited offer. Watch the video now!

HUDCAROLINA.COM NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER Aviation Grads Work With American, Boeing, Southwest And Others - Get Hands On Maintenance Training. Financial Aid If Qualified.

Call Aim 1.866.724.5403 SAPA

EMPLOYMENT APPLE CREEK CAFE Will be holding open interviews on Wed. Dec. 30th and Wed. Jan. 6th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. both days.

We are hiring cooks, waitstaff and two experienced bartenders. Anyone with experience is encouraged to apply, especially those who worked at Nick & Nates until it closed. Interviews will be held at the restaurant on Main Street.

R

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

ATTN: DRIVERS $2K Sign-On Bonus. Love Your $55k Job! We Put Drivers First! Avg $1100 Weekly + Newer KWs. CDL-A Req. 877.258.8782. www.drive4melton.com

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM Is Hiring Servers & Cooks. 2 Years Exp. a Bonus. Located in Beautiful Downtown Sylva, come by Tues-Fri. Between 2 - 4p.m.

DRIVER TRAINEES Paid CDL Training! Stevens Transport will cover all costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week!

Local CDL Training!

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NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER Aviation Grads Work With American, Boeing, Southwest And Others - Get Hands On Maintenance Training. Financial Aid If Qualified.

Call Aim 1.866.724.5403 SAPA

www.smokymountainnews.com

January 6-12, 2016

FRANKY A HUGE TABBY BOY, NOT FAT, JUST REALLY LARGE! HE IS VERY FRIENDLY AND SOCIABLE, ROLLS OVER FOR BELLY RUBS, HEAD BUTTS AND PURRS LIKE CRAZY. HE IS ALSO EXTREMELY HANDSOME!

DOOLEY A TWO YEAR OLD MIN PIN/TERRIER MIX BOY WHO IS ALMOST TOTALLY BLIND. DON'T LET THIS DETER YOU, BECAUSE HE IS A SWEET, FRIENDLY, PLAYFUL BOY PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF LIVING A NORMAL DOGGY LIFE. HE JUST DOESN'T LIKE CATS, OTHERWISE, DOOLEY IS AN ALL-AROUND GREAT DOG!

TEACHER RECRUITMENT FAIR For 2016-17 vacancies in 21 Virginia school divisions. Sat, Jan 30 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. @ Salem Civic Center in Salem, VA. See: www.wvpec.org Sponsor: Western Virginia Public Education Consortium.

TEAMS/SINGLES Dedicated lanes, Tennessee, North/South Carolina to Northwest and Southwest. Refrigerator and dry vans. CDLA with six months minimum verifiable experience or driver training. Also accepting owner operators. Call 937.417.8380 or 828. 475.1356.

IN-HOME AIDE - HAYWOOD CO. Candidates must have a High School Diploma/GED, Valid NC Driver’s License, Transportation, Effective Oral Communication & Listening Skills, and Legible Hand Writing Skills. Flexible Hours M-F, up to 29 Hrs. per Week. Duties include assisting elderly in their home w/ light Housekeeping and errands. Some Benefits Apply. Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, Inc. 2251 Old Balsam Rd., Waynesville or 25 Schulman St., Sylva or You may go to our website: www.mountainprojects.org EOE/AA APPLE CREEK CAFE Will be holding open interviews on Wed. Dec. 30th and Wed. Jan. 6th from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. both days.

We are hiring cooks, waitstaff and two experienced bartenders. Anyone with experience is encouraged to apply, especially those who worked at Nick & Nates until it closed. Interviews will be held at the restaurant on Main Street.

CHEMICAL

JOB FAIR

January 14, 2016 10 am - 3 pm

Entry Level Packer/Stacker

Production Buyers

Material Handlers (Utility Operators)

Transportation/ Traffic Specialist

Shift Supervisors

Haywood County NCWorks Career Center 44

1170 N. Main St., | Waynesville | 828-456-6061

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

LAW OFFICE & LEGAL Assistant Training Law Firms & Government Offices need Legal Staff! No Experience Needed! Online Career training can get you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed! 888.926.6073 SAPA

NOW HIRING Class A CDL Drivers! - Free Healthcare! Regional & OTR positions open. Pay starting at 40cpm.

1yr. experience required. Call 864.649.2063 or visit Drive4JGR.com. EOE.

NEED MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES! Doctors & Hospitals need Medical Office Staff! NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed.

Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS NOW! Home Every Week. Excellent Pay w/Benefits, 100% No Touch Freight, 75% Drop & Hook. Class A CDL w/1 Yr. Exp. Req. Call Today Call 888.219.8039.

*NOW HIRING, Enrollment Specialist. Weekly Compensation By Direct Deposit, Training, Flexible Hours, Basic Computer Skills+. Must Leave Message for a Phone Interview. No Exceptions.

1.800.417.6360 Ext. 7201 CardNetworkSpecialist.INFO SAPA CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy Equipment Operator Career!

We Offer Training and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible!

1.866.362.6497 DRIVER TRAINEES Paid CDL Training! Stevens Transport will cover all costs! No Experience Needed! Earn $800 per week!

Local CDL Training!

1.888.748.4137 drive4stevens.com FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following position: Director of Management Information Services (MIS). For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com /. Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

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46

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the fact that our efforts had not turned up a single wild turkey. One of the reasons we went to Prentiss Bridge was because an adja-

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

CBC double-dipping hey say great minds think alike, and who am I to argue with “They?” The Franklin Bird Club and Carolina Field Birders (CFB) each schedule their annual CBC (Christmas Bird Count) for the last available weekend in Audubon’s count window. They do so for the same reason — both counts are relative newcomers to North Carolina’s organized CBCs and both groups have participants already committed to longer-running CBCs in the area.

I have the great pleasure of being a regular participant in the Franklin count and the honor of serving as compiler for CFB’s Balsam CBC — and here I must recognize a debt of gratitude I owe to the CFB for being flexible and supportive, allowing me to schedule in such a manner as to be able to participate in both counts.

That generally means back-to-back days of braving the elements, beating the briars, slogging through whatever terrain, squinting into the sun through binoculars, etc. from dawn till dusk to record 40 to 45 species of birds — a number you would likely surpass in about two hours on any morning during spring or fall migration. So, why

T

do it?

What can I say, I’m a glutton for fun.

Really, spending all day beating the bushes with a group of like-minded friends is a serious good time. Toss in a hermit thrush sauntering along the trail 20 feet in front of you, golden-crowned kinglets flashing their dazzling crowns, kestrels dancing on the drafts, a bald eagle fly-by during lunch break and various other avian encounters, and it makes a truly great day.

And believe it or not all this fun is really meaningful work. A lot of people shrug at the idea of citizen science, but Audubon notes on its CBC website, “To date over 200 peer-reviewed articles have resulted from analysis done with Christmas Bird Count data. Bird-related citizen science efforts are also critical to understanding how birds are responding to a changing climate. This documentation is what enabled Audubon scientists to discover that 314 species of North American birds are threatened by global warming ….” So helping out helps add to the fun.

A couple of snapshots from this weekend: it was about 4 p.m. on Saturday afternoon during the Franklin count and we were at Prentiss Bridge. We had been lamenting

Male yellow-bellied sapsucker a regular winter resident. Don Hendershot photo cent field had turned up our only wild turkey the year before. After discovering nothing new at the bridge we were huddled up trying to think of where we might go, in what little time was left, to find something new. Just then we began to hear the thunderous flapping of wings and looked up to see five wild turkeys flying (yep, flying) overhead.

On Sunday during the Balsam count we

stopped for a picnic lunch at the Waynesville Rec Center. We chose a table in the sun at the edge of the soccer fields. While eating lunch we looked up to see a large dark bird flapping and gliding hawk-like in the sky. A look through binoculars revealed an immature bald eagle.

I think both counts wound up with 65 total species. I have some feeder lists to go over for the Balsam count to be sure, but that’s what it looks like at this time. The Franklin count turned up a couple of orange-crowned warblers — good finds for a CBC in this area. At the Balsam Count we took advantage of an open Blue Ridge Parkway to run up and snag red-breasted nuthatches and black-capped chickadees.

As usual after our Balsam CBC, I would like to thank the Town of Waynesville for access to the watershed, Mr. Jim Francis, who has one of the best sparrow fields in Haywood County, and Balsam Mountain Preserve and Balsam Mountain Trust for access to their property.

All of these areas are vital parts of our CBC circle. I am also happy to announce three brand new counters for this year’s Balsam count: Jamie Harrelson, Tanya Poole and Jerry Fringeli. Hope we see you guys again next year.

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist.

He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

January 6-12, 2016 Smoky Mountain News 47

Season Opener

January 6-12, 2016

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