Taylor pleads guilty, judge commends him on alcohol recovery

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Bill Taylor, a former chairman and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Council, pleaded guilty Monday, Jan. 9, in a case stemming from an Oct. 6 domestic dispute at his home in Cherokee.

The Jan. 9 court date had been intended for a trial that Taylor’s attorney Leo Phillips initially expected to take all day and spill into Jan. 10. However, after Judge Barbara “Sunshine” Parker opened the session Tribal Prosecutor Cody White announced that the parties had reached a resolution, and there would be no trial.

Taylor had faced four charges in connection with the incident: impaired driving, assault on a female domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and reckless endangerment. In accepting the guilty plea, Parker dismissed the two assault charges and found Taylor guilty of reckless endangerment and reckless driving, which is a less serious offence than the original impaired driving charge.

White said the impaired driving charge had to be reduced due to issues with evidence collection. The alcohol blood test wasn’t performed until the morning after the incident, and while there was “no question” about probable cause for the offense, “potential chain of custody may have been an issue” and the prosecution’s ability to walk through that at trial was “questionable,” White said.

Parker sentenced Taylor to a suspended sentence of 90 days in prison and 12 months of supervised probation, also ordering him to complete a batterer assessment and wear a continuous alcohol monitoring device until he completes the Batterers Treatment Program. Taylor must pay $190 in court fees. He’ll avoid prison if he completes these requirements successfully.

Initial court documents alleged that Taylor, 51, had been harassing his wife by constantly texting her while drunk, culminating in a domestic dispute Oct. 6. When she attempted to flee in her vehicle, Taylor allegedly got in his truck and struck her vehicle with such force that it was disabled, including damage to the rear passenger bumper and tire. Taylor’s truck was damaged as well. The collision allegedly jarred his wife’s body enough to cause physical harm. Afterward, court documents say, Taylor fled the scene. He resigned his Tribal Council seat later that month.

In court, Phillips said that the incident was a wake-up call for Taylor, who has sought help above and beyond court orders and lost about 70 pounds since he stopped drinking in October. Taylor has been to both individual and group therapy, attending and speaking at Alcoholics Anonymous groups around the area, attending 20 sessions of batterers treatment and participating in 13 substance abuse classes.

“Part of that is due to him and his wife working together,” Phillips said.

Phillips said that Taylor is “very sorry” for his actions and that his family has rallied around him, supporting his recovery and helping him get to various meetings and appointments. Despite what they’ve been through, Taylor and his wife are a “loving and bonded to one another” couple, Phillips said.

“He has a story that he wants to tell and will tell as he goes forward with his life,” Phillips said.

“I commend you on entering into treatment and getting the help that you need,” Parker told Taylor, adding that she hopes this is the last time she sees him in her courtroom.

Bill Taylor

Scammers claiming to be with DOT sending emails with payment link

The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles routinely receives complaints from customers who have been targeted by scammers claiming to be representatives of either the DMV or the N.C. Department of Transportation.

Recently, several law enforcement agencies have reported that many unsuspecting DMV customers are receiving scam emails from a group claiming to be from the “Department of Transportation” and encouraging targeted individuals to click on a link to pay a fine for an alleged driving violation.

Customers are encouraged to be aware of any emails from an individual or individuals using the address “notice@penalty-govus” claiming to be from the Traffic Division of the Department of Transportation. The email includes a link to make a payment for a fine.

“DMV customers must remain vigilant as criminals try newer ways to defraud customers and steal their identities,” said DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. “If you receive any unexpected email alleging you owe the DMV or the State money, then be very wary and contact the agency to verify the truth of the communication from an official telephone number or email address, but do not use the contact info one appearing in the email.”

To limit confusion when searching for bona fide DMV services and information, consumers should seek out the following: ■ Some websites exist that contain DMV information and forms, but they are not officially approved websites. Web searches may return results with other websites, but only the official state DMV website ends in “.gov.” ■ Beware of third-party websites offering forms or other information that could be out-of-date or erroneous. ■ While not illegal, many of the sites are for profit and ask users to pay for forms. ■ Many sites exist to obtain your information for future marketing, or worse, for using your personal information in fraudulent activities. ■ If you provide payment information on a third-party website, beware that your payment card information may be stolen. ■ Check the “Terms and Conditions” page of the website, where the site states that it is not affiliated with any state government agency. ■ Always remember to look for a website that contains “.gov” in its address to assure you are receiving accurate governmental information.

Appointments are available for ACA health insurance

Enrollment for 2023 health insurance through the ACA Marketplace ends Jan. 15. Folks who sign up now can have quality, affordable health insurance starting Feb. 1.

Depending on household size and projected household income for 2023, individuals may qualify for premium tax credits that lower the out-of-pocket premium costs. Many people can find plans with outof-pocket premiums that range from $50 to as low as $0 per month.

Need help sorting through all the options? Local, free, unbiased in-person assistance is available to explain options and help with applying. Appointments are available in person or over the phone by calling Mountain Projects at 828.452.1447 or Pisgah Legal Services at 828.210.3404.

This project is supported by the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust and the Dogwood Health Foundation.

Highlands Middle School renovations incoming

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER

Whether it is routine maintenance, renovation, expansion or new construction, Macon County Schools has a long list of needed capital improvements. One of those projects is a step closer to completion after county commissioners approved a contract for architectural services earlier this month.

“The school board has identified this as their second priority only to the Franklin High School,” said County Manager Derek Rolland. “So, this is a top priority for the Macon County School Board.”

Highlands Middle School renovations have been identified and submitted in an application to the Department of Public Instruction where the project was approved and has a projected budget of $634,000. The scope of work will include a roof, HVAC system, window and flooring replacements.

Funding for the project will come from the North Carolina Repair and Renovation Fund, with no local money needed. The Public School Building Repair and Renovation Fund is part of the North Carolina Education Lottery from which all 115 school districts in North Carolina receive allocations each year.

“This is much needed,” said school board member Hillary Wilkes regarding the Highlands Middle School project.

A tentative schedule for the project aims to have bids received by April 30, contracts awarded by June, and construction completed by the end of July 2024.

This contract and design for Highlands Middle School repair and renovation is separate from the Highlands preschool renovation project. That project involves renovating high school classrooms to function as pre-K classrooms, renovating and expanding the media center and building additional high school classrooms to make up for those renovated into pre-K rooms. That project is estimated at around $4.8 million.

Highlands school currently has no preschool classrooms. The county serves about 90 preschool students annually, though it has 300 students in kindergarten each year. According to school board member Hillary Wilkes, private early childhood care and education centers in Highlands have yearslong waiting lists.

A separate project, though also at Highlands School, is the Highlands School soccer field. The field was installed about 14 years ago and faces major drainage issues that inhibit students’ ability to use the field for the majority of months in the school year. Because of excess water, the field is often frozen during the winter and early spring months and can be too muddy to play on safely during spring and fall.

Other necessary capital improvements in the school system include Nantahala School sewer treatment plant, Franklin High School, Macon Middle School sewer vent pipes, Cartoogechaye six-classroom addition and Macon Middle School track.