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February 17-23, 2016 Vol. 17 Iss. 38

Four elk killed on Jonathan Creek farm Page 5 Sylva sets sights on revitalized Scotts Creek Page 11

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February 17-23, 2016

Smoky Mountain News

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CONTENTS Don’t underestimate how important Social Security is to your retirement income strategies!

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On the Cover: Since taking hold in Western North Carolina in the 1980s, coyotes — native to North America’s plains and deserts — have made themselves at home in the mountains. Though widely acknowledged as amazing, adaptable animals, coyotes have earned themselves plenty of enemies due to a varied diet that includes everything from rabbits to livestock to deer fawns to roadkill. Though not native, they do have a role to play in the ecosystem, wildlife managers say, but on the flip side many hunters believe they’re doing a public service by killing as many of the canines as possible. NPS photo (Page 32)

News Four elk dead in Jonathan Creek ....................................................................................5 Swain candidates weigh in on issues .......................................................................... 6 Haywood commissioner hopefuls talk job creation ..................................................8 Haywood commissioners discuss jumpstarting economy...................................... 9 Sylva sets sights on revitalized Scotts Creek ..........................................................11 Former church leader investigated for sexual misconduct ..................................12 Swain, charter school partner on new gym ..............................................................13 Haywood OKs outdoor shooting range moratorium ..............................................14 Waynesville planning board says no to hotdog cart ..............................................15 No lifeline for Haywood School budget shortfall ....................................................16 Free meal program going well at WNC schools ....................................................19

Opinion No reason to believe N.C. will fix redistricting mess ..............................................20

A&E Balsam Mountain Inn ‘Songwriters in the Round’ ..................................................24

The Naturalist’s Corner

February 17-23, 2016

P.T. would be jealous ........................................................................................................47

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Wildlife Commission OKs elk hunting rules E

and submitted a card expressing their position on the various changes presented said they were in favor of setting up the framework for an elk hunt.

Among those who attended the District 9 hearing in Haywood County, the margin was much tighter. Overall, 120 of the people who attended the meeting submitted a card. Of those, 78 were for the elk-hunting framework and 42 were against it.

“We’re going to continue to monitor the situation and make sure we have good counts on the herd, and when the population reaches a sustainable level we’ll start issuing a limited number of permits.”

— Neal Hanks, Wildlife Commission representative

Some, like Haywood County resident Sarah Wendell, expressed caution based on the elk’s past extinction in North Carolina, largely due to overhunting.

“This seems to be history repeating itself if we do not allow these creatures to roam free without fear of being hunted,” Wendell said.

“Knowing that some hunters go for the big and the best, that is going to affect the health of the herd to have people go for the

Four elk dead in Jonathan Creek

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and biologists had witnessed the elk in the farmer’s crops.”

Of the three elk, one was a bull, one was a cow and one was a calf, Craft said, though Ross takes issue with the word “calf.”

“They was a bull elk and a yearling female elk and a larger elk,” Ross said. “They was no baby elk killed on the farm.”

The Wildlife Commission learned of the incident from the Ross family, receiving a call letting them know the elk had been shot. Under North Carolina law, landowners have the right to kill any wild animal causing property damage on their land, and there is no requirement that they contact authorities before or after shooting. Therefore, nobody will face criminal charges related to the shootings, Craft said.

Following the report, wildlife officials went out to investigate and also consult with the family on measures they could take to reduce conflict in the future, Craft said. That’s when the fourth elk, a bull, was discovered — on a property adjacent to the property where the three were shot but still within the Ross holdings.

“At this time all of those deaths appear to be lawfully taken by the landowner because they were in the act of depredation,” said Craft.

The law protects landowners who shoot wild animals committing property damage but does not spell out a particular threshold of damage at which it’s appropriate to shoot. There’s not a distinction spelled out between the damage caused when an elk leaves a muddy hoof print in

someone’s yard and when it knocks down hundreds of dollars’ worth of fencing.

In a herd with an estimated size of 150 to 200 animals, the loss of four elk is substantial, representing about 2 percent of the total population. Kim DeLozier, conservation program manager for the N.C. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a former park biologist who was instrumental in the elk’s 2001 reintroduction to North Carolina, said it’s disappointing to see death tolls this big.

“There’s a tremendous amount of frustration,” DeLozier said. “I think there’s a lot of people who support elk. There are a few people who do not.”

Elk bring a lot of value to the state, especially through tourism, he said, and while it’s understandable that a farmer who must add a continual struggle to save his crops from elk into his list of tasks might not love their presence, there has to be a way to strike a balance. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, he said, has been meeting with the farmers to look for solutions and possibly some money to carry them out but obviously wasn’t able to find a fix soon enough.

“If we can put people on the moon, sure to goodness we can come up with a plan to keep these elk off of some property owned by a farmer,” DeLozier said.

Ross, meanwhile, maintains that the elk were set loose on National Park Service land and that the Park Service should take responsibility to keep the animals from becoming everybody else’s problem.

“We wouldn’t be bothered with the elk anytime if they was to feed them on Catalooch,” he said. “That’s what they’re doing, coming after our good grass and wheat fields.”

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Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter three elk were shot on the Ross dairy farm in Jonathan Creek for eating winter wheat, a follow-up visit from wildlife officials revealed the remains of a fourth elk as well.

“I love the elk myself, but I don’t like them tearing my fence and getting in my hayfield and running my cattle, and they (wildlife managers) haven’t done anything about it and I had to do a little bit myself to defend my business,” said landowner Ralph Ross.

To be clear, Ross himself did not shoot the elk. He runs a dairy farm on land adjacent to farmland run by his two sons, and the elk shootings happened on that adjacent property.

However, the entire Ross family has been involved in various elk-related conflicts through the years — it’s not the first time an elk has met its end on Ross land after damaging property.

“I have elk on the property every day, 40 and 50 elk every day,” Ross said.

The three elk that initially drew wildlife managers to the scene were shot on Jan. 29 while eating a winter wheat crop on the Ross property, according to Lt. Sam Craft of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

“It was a substantial amount of damage,” said Craft, who has not visited the site but is tasked with speaking for the Wildlife Commission on the matter based on submitted reports. “There had been elk there before and our officers

healthy ones, so I am opposed to this elk hunt,” agreed Henderson County resident Grace Shun, expressing concern with a hunting season that would overlap with breeding.

But by and large, wildlife officials and wildlife supporters seem to be in favor of the Wildlife Commission’s decision.

“We support hunting, we support habitat work, we support making sure the habitat is there,” said Kim Delozier of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Delozier, a former biologist for the Smokies, was instrumental in the original elk reintroduction in 2001.

“I think the decision is sound,” said Ben Prater, regional director for Defenders of Wildlife. “Obviously folks voiced concerns, and I think those concerns were very legitimate. We have a relatively small herd. The decision before the commission this time was really to think about putting a new tool in the toolbox for elk management.”

The amount of time needed to get the herd from where it is now to a point where it could sustain a limited hunting season is unknown, with numbers from two to five to 10 years spit out depending on who you ask.

A host of variables could end up affecting the final count, as a variety of forces affect population levels. For instance, reproduction, habitat quality and deaths — whether by automobile, disease or angry farmers. A recent episode in Haywood County that left four elk dead (see related story) has that last one sticking in Hanks’ mind.

“If large numbers of those are killed in that fashion, it’s going to have an impact on the herd and whether a traditional hunt would ever be an appropriate thing to do,” he said.

February 17-23, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER lk hunting could be on the way to becoming legal in North Carolina following the N.C. Wildlife Resource’s Commission unanimous vote in favor of a rule change last week, though any actual season on elk is likely still a good ways in the future.

“There’s been a significant amount of requests from private landowners and sportsmen in Western North Carolina to work on instituting an elk hunt at some point in time, and the public comment at our public hearing was overwhelmingly in favor of an elk hunt,” said Neal Hanks, of Asheville, the Wildlife Commission’s representative from the western part of the state. “However, the commissioners didn’t feel like with the population at this point that it would be a sound decision to issue permits yet.”

So, along with the rule — which removes elk from the state’s list of species of special concern and allows for a permit-only hunt during the month of October — the Commission adopted a resolution pledging to delay issuing any elk hunting permits until all the wildlife managers involved agree that the population’s big enough to warrant it. It’s been just 16 years since a herd of 52 elk was reintroduced in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park following more than 200 years

of extinction from the area, with the herd now estimated at 150 to 200 animals.

“We’re going to continue to monitor the situation and make sure we have good counts on the herd, and when the population reaches a sustainable level we’ll start issuing a limited number of permits,” Hanks said.

An elk working group, consisting of representatives from the Wildlife Commission, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has been meeting regularly since the reintroduction to discuss management strategies and issues facing the elk. Each of the three entities has its own respective jurisdictions for land management, but because the same elk move between park, state and tribal land, collaboration is key.

Having the resolution in place alleviates the main reservation that Justin McVey, district biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, had about the hunting rule.

“It kind of ensures we will base this decision off of science and the actual numbers of elk,” he said.

Once the numbers got to a place where an elk season — likely, a very limited one with just a few permits available — seemed feasible, the Wildlife Commission could decide to allow permits to be granted.

“It will be done based on input from all the stakeholders,” Hanks said. “Our process is a very open one.”

While the elk hunting rule did garner wide support, that support was not universal. Statewide, 211 of the 284 people who attended the Wildlife Commission’s public hearings on its proposed 2016 rule changes

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Passes resolution to stave off issuance of actual permits

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Democrat candidates for commissioner weigh in on Swain issues

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ive Swain County Democrats are heading for the March 15 primary election in hopes of securing a seat on the board of commissioners.

Two seats currently occupied by Democratic incumbents Steve Moon and David Monteith are up for re-election. The incumbents will face off against three challengers in the primary to narrow the candidates down to two. The two Democrat candidates will then move on to the general election along with the two other Republican candidates for commissioner.

The 2014 election in Swain County established staggered terms for commissioners. As the lowest vote-getters, Monteith and Moon were elected for twoyear terms, but they hope to earn a fouryear term this go-around so they can see some of their work on the board completed.

On the other hand, challengers think they can do a better job at addressing Swain County’s most pressing issues.

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February 17-23, 2016

GETTING WHAT WE’RE OWED

Smoky Mountain News

Trying to get the federal government to pay Swain County what it owes for the North Shore Road settlement has been an ongoing issue for years, but commissioners haven’t given up hope that the money will come through. When the road leading out of Bryson City was flooded in the 1940s to construct Lake Fontana, the federal government promised to build back the road and never did. The county fought long and hard to have the road rebuilt but eventually agreed on a $52 million cash settlement. While a piece of that settlement — $12.8 million — was paid out to Swain County in 2010, the remainder continues to be held up in the National Park Service budget. In 2012, the NPS claimed it didn’t have authority to release the money to Swain and for the last several years, the payment hasn’t even made it into the federal budget.

Time is of the essence now though because if the money isn’t paid out in the next three years, the settlement agreement expires and Swain County is basically out of luck.

“The Park Service doesn’t want to turn it loose. If they don’t pay us the rest of it in the next three years we’ll lose every bit of it,” Monteith said. “I was for the road being rebuilt — not the settlement — but as a commissioner I will fight for that money.

They owe it and need to pay it.”

If the settlement agreement expires in three years and the money isn’t paid out, 6 Moon said, he would argue that the federal

government is once again on the hook for honoring its original promise to rebuild the road — a project that would cost way more than $52 million.

“We’ll just go back to square one and they’ll have to build a road,” he said. “If they don’t, we’ll have to sue the federal government — that’s the only option.”

Moon said he is hopeful President Obama will come through during his last year in office and the $39 million will be paid to Swain County, but if Boyd Gunter not, he will support suing the federal government.

If elected, Gunter said his goal is to see the North Shore Road settlement settled once and for all. He said he is tired of the federal government short-changing Swain County even David Monteith though it owns 87 percent of the land. Even if the settlement isn’t paid out, Gunter said he supported the National Park Service charging an entrance fee that would go to Swain County.

“I’m tired of hearing Steve Moon we can’t do this and we can’t do that,” he said.

“If the government was paying its fair share we’d be taking in $25 million in taxes each year.”

Democratic candidates for Swain Commissioner Steve Moon (incumbent) • Age: 65 • Hometown: Bryson City • Education: Swain County High School, Southwestern Community College • Profession: Retired, former owner of Steve Moon Tire Company • Describe yourself in three words: Honest, trustworthy and dependable • Why are you running for re-election? I’ve been on the board for 10 years and there’s a lot of things going on I’d like to see come to fruition.

David Monteith (incumbent) • • • • •

Age: 69 Experience: Commissioner for 18 years Hometown: Bryson City Education: Swain County High School Profession: Retired, former Ingles Market manager, currently drives a school bus for Swain County Schools • Describe yourself in three words: Christian, native (Swain County) and (civic) responsibility • Why are you running? I’ve served on the board of 18 years and there are still projfor the next budget process if elected. One way he would like to save the county and taxpayers money is by getting the fire insurance rating lowered for communities outside of Bryson City.

The fire insurance rating is based on several factors, including the number of fire department personnel available, firefighting equipment and a home’s distance from a fire station or a water source. While residents within the Bryson City fire district have a fire insurance rating of 5, those in outlying areas like Almond or Alarka have a rating of 9. The difference between a 5 and a 9 can mean several hundreds of dollars on a homeowner’s insurance premium. The highest rating is a 10.

Voter ID rules See pg. 19 for voter ID rules for the 2016 election.

TAXES AND BUDGETING Gunter said he wants to serve as commissioner because the next several years are going to be critical to the county’s future.

With a property revaluation coming up in the next two years, he wants to make sure changes in property value don’t result in another tax increase for residents.

“The last time we had a revaluation, the commissioners didn’t adjust the tax rates to go down with the property values so we had an automatic increase plus another 3 percent tax increase on top of that,” he said. “The commissioners don’t need to be financing the county on top of the property owners’ backs — we’re already paying too much.”

Gunter said he already has a copy of the county budget at home that he’d been going through line by line so he can be prepared

“I tried to get commissioners to address the problem in January of last year but got no response,” Gunter said. “Most of the departments have the equipment but don’t have the personnel needed because they are volunteer.”

Paying for career firefighters to man the stations would cost taxpayer money, but Gunter said it would cut down on response times and also save taxpayers money on their fire insurance.

The county gives the fire departments some funding each year, but Monteith said he was against the county dictating what those volunteer departments have to do — including steps needed to get the fire rating down. As far as the tax increase in 2013, Monteith said it was unfortunate but neces-

ects I would love to see finished for Swain County, and I just enjoy serving the people.

Name: Boyd Gunter • Age: 65 • Experience: Ran for commissioner chairman in 2006 and 2014 • Hometown: Alarka community • Education: Two degrees from Western Carolina University • Profession: Retired medical technologist at the VA Hospital in Asheville • Describe yourself in three words: Countyminded, fair, hard-headed.

• Why are you running? Three reasons – to decrease the fire insurance rating for communities outside Bryson City, get money for North Shore Road settlement, and make sure the next property revaluation doesn’t result in a tax increase for residents.

Democratic candidates Wayne Dover and David Anthony did not respond to multiple calls requesting an interview.

sary to cover a budget deficit. It was the first tax rate hike in more than two decades.

“As it stands, the budget is going to be tight this year, but I will not support a tax increase. The people of Swain cant afford it,” Monteith said. “We’ll have to tighten up the budget and look for grants and other funding opportunities.”

Monteith said he didn’t have anything particular in mind that could be cut but he said he would continue to do what he does every year — go over the budget line by line and discuss cost-saving opportunities with each department head.

Because 87 percent of Swain County is national park and national forest land, Moon said the county has a very small tax base, which makes the annual budget process a constant challenge. With so many expenses mandated by the state or federal government, Moon said the commissioners don’t have as much budget discretion as many would think.

“We have to provide services and we have to balance the budget, but I don’t foresee another tax increase for a long time,” he said. “Right now financially we’re in good shape.”

BUILDING A BETTER ECONOMY Moon and Monteith both agree tourism dollars are crucial to Swain County’s economy. They would love to see more industry in the county, but for right now tourism is the main source of revenue and what is keeping many small businesses afloat and keeping residents employed.

“Tourism dollars are very important for Bryson City and Swain County,” Moon said. “We did a study that showed without tourism dollars, each man, woman and child would have to spend $12,000 in

CALL THE SPECIALIST

WORKING HARD OR HARDLY WORKING? One criticism Swain County commissioners often get is that they aren’t pushing hard enough to improve the county.

Commissioner meetings are fairly mundane with little discussion about potential initiatives or projects.

Gunter said current commissioners are unresponsive when residents approach them with ideas for improvement and have been unwilling to discuss land-use planning.

Gunter has been at the forefront of grassroots efforts to create the county’s first ever land-use regulations.

His aim is to protect the county residents from development schemes and environmental disasters like landslides on steep slopes, but commissioners have been uninterested in opening that can of worms.

Monteith said local people didn’t want countywide zoning regulations — only the people moving to the area. He considers himself an environmentalist and wants to educate people on how to take care of their land and natural resources, but he is against more regulations.

“I’m totally opposed to zoning — we can’t afford it,” he said. “If we follow state and federal rules already in place we’ll have no problem.”

Moon said he is also against land use regulations in Swain County.

“We have a really beautiful place to live with wonderful people — we all get along for the most part,” Moon said. “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.”

Gunter said it’s that kind of thinking that keeps the county from moving forward and exactly why the board needs new blood.

“Not everyone is having a say-so in the government — they’re not being listened to,” Gunter said.

For anyone who thinks commissioners are simply keeping the status quo, Monteith challenged them to follow him around for a day. He is at the county administrative building working almost every day and serves on a number of community boards that help to move projects along and secure funding.

“Honesty is my promise. I’m not going to lie to get elected,” Monteith said. “Swain County is my number one priority and I’m going to lead as a Christian.”

Moon said he doesn’t hear too many complaints from constituents and the board has accomplished a lot by working together.

“Most people are pretty happy — this board works really well together. We know we have no power individually but we have power as a board,” he said. “I think everyone does a good job. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”

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Question: Does Ingles sell graviola/soursop?

I have heard about it on Dr. Oz with supplements and tea made from it as an immune system booster and possible cure for cancer.

Answer: Graviola or soursop is a tropical fruit that is native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America and various Caribbean Islands. Ingles does not normally sell this fruit but we are always open to providing what our customers are looking for.

In regards to graviola/soursop supplements or teas being an immune system booster or cancer cure… Experts caution that extracts or teas made from this fruit may act as a neurotoxin (kill brain cells) and may bring on Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms.

■ www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-1054graviola.aspx?activeingredientid=1054 ■ www.nutraingredients-usa.com/Suppliers2/Toxicology-expert-raises-alarm-overpotential-neurotoxins-in-graviola-soursop

No studies on its effectiveness in humans as a cancer cure have been done.

Smoky Mountain News

fishing pier on Island Street and a business/education center. Projects like the heritage museum, the steam engine turntable for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and new fishing piers definitely have an impact on tourism revenue.

“What we have is tourism — I wish we had big industry coming in and maybe it will be different in 10 years, but it’s all we have to go on right now,” he said.

Gunter understands the importance of tourism, but he doesn’t think the commissioners should be “in the business of picking winners and losers.” In particular, he doesn’t think the commissioners should have taken out a $700,000 loan to pay for the installation of a turntable for the railroad’s steam engine project. Since the railroad company is based in Colorado, Gunter said most of the revenue goes out of the county anyway.

“A lot of people here don’t like the railroad,” he said. “And if we have that kind of money why do we have to have a 3 percent

Got Back Pain?

February 17-23, 2016

The 2014 election in Swain County established staggered terms for commissioners. As the lowest vote-getters, Monteith and Moon were elected for two-year terms.

tax increase?”

To help the local tourism industry, Gunter said the county should make it easier for entrepreneurs to open their own tourism business, whether it’s a recreational business or an accommodation business like owning a cabin rental business or a campground.

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Swain County a year to offset the loss of tourism dollars.”

Moon and Monteith also know many tourism jobs are seasonal or minimum wage, which is not ideal for the county’s main economic engine. Moon said the commissioners are working closely with Southwestern Community College to plan for expanding programs at the Swain campus so the county has a trained workforce.

With the school system and SCC putting an emphasis on mechatronics, he hopes those programs expand so high school graduates can quickly enter the workforce if they decide not to go to a four-year college.

“I’d like to see everyone be able to get a good-paying job and I’d like to see more industry come to Swain County, but it’s a tough row to hoe,” Moon said. “We’ve got the casino and ConMet has brought in a lot of good jobs, but sometimes they don’t have people to qualify for those jobs so we need a better-educated population.”

Even though the unemployment is down from 11 percent to 7 percent since the 2014 election, Monteith knows it isn’t an accurate representation because so many people have given up looking. While the county tries to encourage and facilitate new industries moving in through economic development incentives, Monteith said county governments couldn’t do much more.

Monteith said he tries to focus on projects the commissioners can assist with — like completing the Swain County Heritage Museum, a new EMS/911 facility, a new

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Haywood candidates come up empty on fresh ideas for economic development

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER andidates for Haywood County commissioner all agreed economic development is one of the top issues facing the county during an election forum last week, but they offered few concrete ideas for how to go about it.

“We need to get jobs to come in here and help these people out,” said Terry Ramey, a commissioner candidate on the Democratic ticket. “We need to get some industry to come in here. Some way or another, we’ve got to have them.”

The white knight refrain has become an empty cliché in recent years, however. A series of plant closings dating back to the mid-‘90s and the resulting factory-job carnage left a gaping void in the economy that’s been plugged and patched and puttied but never truly filled.

Ramey’s call — “We got to get some jobs in here like we had before,” he said — isn’t exactly a new one. Everyone wants to see a big company come in offering good wages and benefits to workers with limited education and experience.

“We need to be working on high-paying, production-type jobs that bring more money in here,” said Charles Boyd, another candidate on the Democratic ticket.

But how to do it has proven elusive.

“If there were a genie in a bottle that we could rub and it would jump out and we would get jobs we would all be rubbing it,” said Dave Blevins, chairman of the Haywood County Economic Development Council.

At a forum sponsored by The Mountaineer newspaper last week, candidates were asked to name the top three issues facing the county. Every single candidate cited jobs and economic development.

“Number one is the economic situation we have in the county. We need to work on job creation and create a healthy business environment in the county,” said Brandon Rogers, a Republican candidate for commissioner.

Later in the forum, candidates were asked whether the county was spending enough or doing enough on economic development.

“This is the biggest issue we have as a county,” Rogers said, adding that he would “definitely” support more spending on economic development.

But fellow Republican candidate Greg Burrell countered that he didn’t think “throwing more money” at economic development was the answer.

“Spending more money — that would be fine if it weren’t for taxing people,” Burrell said.

Instead of spending money on economic development, Burrell thinks lowering property taxes would do more to attract companies that government spending on economic development would.

“Taxes on small businesses hurts,” Burrell 8 said.

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When Rogers’ turn came back around, even though a new question was on deck, he used part of his time to respond to Burrell. He clarified that he wasn’t for raising property taxes but that economic development should be a bigger priority in the budget, and should be viewed as an investment.

“I want to spend more money on creating jobs and bringing businesses in,” Rogers said.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley, running for re-election on the Republican ticket also, said there was a correlation between economic development spending and results. Buncombe has spent $29 million in Robin Black economic development incentives over five years, and that netted 6,000 jobs and $1 billion in private capital investment, Ensley said.

Steve Brown, a candidate on the Democratic ticket, said Haywood needed to do better selling itself.

Charles Boyd “We are going to have to advertise and have people out there working on a day-to-day basis,” Brown said.

Robin Black, a Democratic candidate, said the county should do more to enhance its outdoor recreation appeal.

Steve Brown “There is a whole vast wonderland out there,” Black said.

Black said outdoor recreation could be a vehicle for economic development “if we put a little money in it,” both as a destination and as a quality of life amenity that would attract peoTerry Ramey ple to move here.

Burrell and Ramey both criticized what they felt was an over-emphasis on tourism, however.

Several candidates cited economic development ideas that already exist.

Boyd suggested offering economic incentives for new companies willing to locate here. He wasn’t aware the county already has an economic incentive program.

“I don’t think they do. If they do have that, I don’t know anything about it,” Boyd said.

The county has given cash incentives in exchange for job creation twice in recent years — for Sonoco Plastics and ConMet — as well as debated doing so for a recycling plant last fall.

Black said she would like to create a small business incubator.

“Many small business can bring in the same number of jobs,” Black said.

There is already a small business incubator in the county and has been for 30 years, offering low rent and support services for start-up companies, though it’s almost always full.

Brown suggested creating another industrial park. But the county has a 10-acre graded site for the taking in the Beaverdam Industrial Park that it’s been willing to give away since 2009 to a company creating jobs.

Boyd also suggested Greg Burrell working with Haywood Community College to provide a workforce training for certain job types.

“Our college could be very significant is the way I see it. We could help bring in the necessary skills to help fill the jobs,” Boyd said.

But HCC already Brandon Rogers partners with new and existing industries to provide specialized training, ensuring a pipeline of employees in the fields local industries need.

Three candidates — Brown, Ensley and Black — said the shortKevin Ensley age of high-speed Internet outside the major population centers in the county was a handicap in economic development.

“We need to find the funds to complete the extra miles that are needed for high-speed Internet in Haywood County,” Brown said.

That’s already a top priority of the existing economic development council, with a dedicated task force trying to find solutions.

Candidates also suggested things that aren’t possible. Black wants to eliminate or reduce taxes on small businesses, namely the tax paid on itemized equipment.

“I don’t see why I have to put down how many cleaning supplies I have in my cupboard,” Black said. However, the business personal property tax is required by state statute and not something the county could legally do away with.

Who’s running?

Two of the five seats on the Haywood County Board of Commissioners are up for election. The primary on March 15 will narrow down the field of candidates to two Democrats and two Republicans.

Long-time commissioner Mark Swanger, a Democrat, is not running for re-election, guaranteeing at least one newcomer will win come November.

Republican candidates: • Brandon Rogers, owner of Rogers Express Lube and Tire, former production manager at Day International in Arden.

• Greg Burrell, general contractor.

• Kevin Ensley, owner of Ensley Land Surveying.

Democratic candidates: • Robin Black, certified public accountant who owns her own accounting firm.

• Charles Boyd, owns WNC Landscaping, serves on Haywood Community College board.

• Steve Brown, director of the nonprofit Arc of Haywood County, past director of Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation and Haywood County Schools Foundation.

• Terry Ramey, 61, retired from towing and mechanic business.

Candidates were asked to name the top three issues facing the county.

Every single candidate cited jobs and economic development.

Boyd suggested property tax exemptions for new companies, but counties legally can’t pardon anyone from paying property taxes. It can only offset them through incentive grants, which the county already offers in exchange for job creation.

One reason the candidates didn’t have a magic bullet is because there’s not one, said Blevins.

But Blevins said the economic development council is working every day to recruit prospective companies and to address underlying infrastructure needs — including raw land, high-speed Internet, and utilities like natural gas, water and sewer.

“Is there a formula? No, but there are plans. Are they guaranteed? No,” Blevins said.

Stay tuned In-depth coverage of the Haywood County commissioner candidates will appear over the next three weeks in the countdown to primary Election Day on Tuesday, March 15. Early voting starts Thursday, March 3.

Registered Democrats and Republicans can only vote the primary for their own party, but independent voters can pick one or the other to vote in during the primary.

Haywood commissioners question whether scattergun economic development approach is working

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER freewheeling discussion on how to create more jobs stumped Haywood County commissioners last week as they pondered what else the county could be doing that it’s not already.

“To either go get ‘em or to keep ‘em, we’ve done it,” Commissioner Michael Sorrells said. “We have a very willing and open board to be aggressive and pursue and try to bring in what we can. We just have to try to get them here is what we’ve got to do.”

But sometimes it seems like the county’s running in place.

Economic development was one of the more interesting topics discussed at an infor-

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ply not any takers for the flat land that’s out there.

“You can identify sites and have them ready to sell but you don’t have anybody to come in and potentially buy,” Sorrells said.

Clasby said the issue isn’t simply available land, but land with the right infrastructure.

“You have to have water and sewer, you have to have natural gas, proximity to I-40.

The proximity to that infrastructure is the biggest challenge,” Clasby said.

“Broadband is the other big infrastructure,” Commissioner Mark Swanger added.

“As far as a utility, it is now just as important as having water and sewer,” agreed David Francis, the county’s special projects

director.

The lack of high-speed Internet throughout the county has been the Achilles’ Heel of economic development lately, and one the county has been actively trying to do something about for a couple of years, including a dedicated high-speed Internet task force.

The county hopes to land a $10,000 grant from the Southwestern Commission for a comprehensive master plan for broadband access. Haywood Advancement Foundation, a nonprofit economic development arm, has already committed to matching funds if the grant is landed.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley said he sees the lack of water and sewer in some parts of the county as an ongoing barrier. The county has applied for a grant and committed $300,000 in matching funds if successful to

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mal commissioners planning session last week, which ran the gamut from IT challenges to a preventative maintenance schedule for county buildings.

Commissioners and county officials had no trouble identifying the barriers and challenges in the economic development arena — lack of flat land, lack of high-speed Internet, lack of money for incentives, lack of natural gas, and so forth. But solutions weren’t exactly forthcoming.

For years, the lack of flat land has been blamed as a top reason companies don’t come to Haywood to build, one that Economic Development Director Mark Clasby harped on again at last week’s meeting.

But Sorrells questioned whether that’s really the case. In his opinion, there’s sim-

It often seems the county’s bases are loaded, and it’s simply waiting for a home run.

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick expressed frustration over the waiting game, however. Despite the many avenues the county is pecking away at, Kirkpatrick wondered if there was something more concrete the county could focus on.

“Well, I’d like to know what are we going to do,” Kirkpatrick said at one point in the free-ranging discussion. “What are we going to do? We talk about ‘Well we know about this, we know about that,’ but what are we going to do?”

If broadband access is the problem, could the county focus harder on that, Kirkpatrick asked.

Unfortunately, the county can’t make high-speed Internet providers run the fiber where it’s needed, and the county is barred from stepping in to do so itself due to laws that prevent the government from competing with the private sector.

“There is not enough population to justify it for these big companies to come in and string lines but there are too many laws to say we can’t do it ourselves,” Swanger said. “If the state and federal government would allow us we could do our own broadband. But we aren’t allowed to do that.”

“The problem is we don’t have the rooftops,” Sorrells said.

“So if it’s not that then pick something else to do,” Kirkpatrick said.

Sorrells agreed there is a tendency to wait until the county gets a bite from a prospective company rather than seeking them out.

“When someone shows interest, we react to it,” Sorrells said.

Francis said the county could do more to proactively target and recruit specific sectors, like the health care industry.

When it comes to the flat land conun-

February 17-23, 2016

ConMet, a company in the Beaverdam Industrial Park near Canton.

WAITING GAME

drum, Sorrells questioned the wisdom of buying tracts and grading them in hopes a company will come along and show interest.

“You can go out and spend money prepping umpteen sites, but unless someone is willing to come in and buy it then you end up sitting there on it like we are out at Beaverdam,” he said.

The county spent $700,000 in 2008 grading a 10-acre site in the Beaverdam Industrial site that has yet to find a taker.

One of the only concrete actions the commissioners decided they could get to work on immediately is revamping their economic incentive program. Like most counties, Haywood will offer cash to companies in exchange for job creation and capital investment.

But the bar may be set too high. The county may need to lower its threshold — and its expectations — on the number of jobs a company has to create to qualify for an incentive deal.

“We will take a harder look at that,” Francis said.

The county also needs more flexibility in how it tailors incentives. While one company might need help buying land to build on, another might need help running highspeed fiber to a prospective site.

“I think our current economic development incentives are fairly rigid and haven’t applied to all the situations we have now, so I think more flexibility would be good,” Swanger said.

Commissioners also contemplated the creation of an economic development fund, setting aside money in the budget each year to aid with unforeseen prospects that might come along.

“If your budget is so tightly constructed there is no place to go to find money, if there is an identified fund, then it makes it easier,” Swanger said.

“So are you talking about a special projects fund you put a little bit into each year?”

Ensley asked.

Commissioners liked the idea and directed County Manager Ira Dove to try to build something like that into next year’s budget.

“Whatever it takes to try to get whatever we can in here. I am for whatever it takes to move it forward,” Sorrells said.

The commissioners agreed there was merit in identifying specific sectors with socalled “clustering” tendencies to actively go after. They pointed to Buncombe County’s success landing one brewery after another.

That’s the kind of chain reaction commissioners had been hoping to get when courting a recycling processing center last fall, which had the potential to beget feeders and spin-off companies that used the sorted recyclables coming out of the plant.

Commissioners couldn’t help but cite the irony of finally landing a company that would create jobs — albeit only 30 jobs initially paying $35,000 — being shot down due to public opposition over fears of becoming a trash county.

Commissioners also cited external forces that thwarted an attempt to build a softball tournament complex on 22 acres in

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The jobs enigma

extend sewer out N.C. 209 to the I-40 interchange at exit 24.

Commissioners also cited the role of Haywood Community College as a player in economic development when it comes to ensuring a ready workforce with tailor-made occupation training.

“Employers are looking for a trained workforce,” Sorrells said. “Training workers is the same as creating jobs for our county.”

S EE JOBS, PAGE 10 9

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Jonathan Creek to bring in traveling ball tournaments. The county hoped to use proceeds from the tourism room tax to build the complex and sought an increase in the room tax from 4 to 6 percent to ensure a funding stream.

But Republican legislator Michele Presnell shot down the room tax increase, and the 22 acres has sat vacant.

“There are some places that have beat us to the punch now,” Kirkpatrick said. Nearby Macon and Buncombe counties have since developed large softball complexes of their own aimed at hosting tournaments.

“Yeah, I don’t know that it makes sense now,” Swanger said.

The construction of Buncombe’s ball complex was partially funded with tourism room tax, which was hiked from 4 to 6 percent last year.

“Just like we were trying to do,” Sorrells said.

HIDDEN SUCCESS STORIES

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February 17-23, 2016

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The county isn’t without success stories over the past few years.

“Even though you think a lot’s not happening, it really has happened,” Sorrells said.

ConMet, a company in the Beaverdam Industrial Park near Canton, has carried out a major expansion and added 400 jobs in the past few years.

“Had we added a company with 400 good-paying jobs, it would have been huge news, but it was incremental,” Swanger said.

Other success stories go unnoticed because they don’t involve landing jobs, but rather stopping the loss of jobs. County leaders went to the mat for Evergreen paper mill in Canton to get the state law changed so it would qualify for assistance in paying for natural gas upgrades.

“We had to rattle the bushes with the legislature and everything else,” Swanger said.

The county had also offered financial assistance for Evergreen’s natural gas upgrades if needed, although Evergreen ultimately turned the funding offer down.

Swanger said Haywood’s economy also hinges on the success of the region as a whole. To that end, Haywood does what it can to piggyback off Buncombe.

“I think county lines are becoming less important than they once were, so a win for Buncombe is a quasi win for Haywood and vice versa,” Swanger said.

Smaller success stories include the four microbreweries now operating in Waynesville and a craft distillery soon opening in Maggie Valley. There’s the major expansion of Ingle’s grocery store in Waynesville, the growth of Oaks Unlimited lumber company, an uptick in commercial retail development, and significant increases in tourism over the past four years.

The unemployment rate in Haywood County is 4.8 percent, lower than the state average of 5.6 percent.

Sylva sets sights on revitalized Scotts Creek

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For those familiar with the recent history of Scotts Creek, the pitch may sound like a bit of déjà vous.

Back in the early 2000s, the creek was yielding astronomically high levels of fecal coliform, bacteria found in the digestive tracts of humans and other animals. Though not usually pathogenic themselves, high fecal coliform levels indicate the presence of

disease-causing organisms.

In 2005, the five fecal coliform samples taken by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality — then known as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — yielded an average nine times the level considered safe.

The results spurred a collaborative effort to find the sources of the pollution —leaky pipes and faulty septic systems — and get them fixed. With sources removed, the fecal coliform levels quickly came down. In 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, no samples exceeding the state limit of 200 colonies per 100 milliliters of water were taken.

“But then,” Clapp said, “it started to go up.”

In 2013, WATR took five samples, two of which were over the state limit — though the average of the five, 189 colonies per milliliter, came in just below the 200 colonies milliliter limit. But of the seven samples WATR took the next year, four were over the standard and the average was 318 colonies per milliliter. Only one sample was taken in 2015, but at 404 colonies per milliliter, it also was well over the standard.

What that means, Clapp said, is that there are some new contamination sources in town. It will take diligent sampling to track down the leaky pipes or faulty septic systems responsible.

“What you’re really trying to do is find out what stream reach or stream segment has the increase, and then you go running around and look for bad boys,” he said.

OTHER WATER QUALITY ISSUES Fecal coliform may be the scariest-sounding of Scotts Creek’s major contaminants,

but it’s not the only one. The creek also has a lot of mud.

“In most every case when there’s a large storm, the mud in Scotts Creek is muddier than the Tuckasegee River, so it’s a source of pollution,” Clapp said.

In every side-by-side sample Clapp has taken of Scott Creek and the Tuck, the muddiness — called “turbidity” — of Scott Creek has been significantly higher than that on the Tuck. To get the samples, Clapp takes a measurement of river water above its confluence with Scotts Creek and

USING THE FISHER CREEK FUND

The grant is just in the application phase, and there’s no guarantee Sylva will even get it. But, grant or no, cleaning up Scotts Creek will be a long-term project requiring multiple grants and partners to knock out.

Whether the Clean Water grant comes through or not, getting the creek cleaned up will be a priority for the town.

Part of the idea, Nestler said, is to get a project going that will allow Sylva to use its Fisher Creek Fund — the money it got from selling development rights to its old watershed on Fisher Creek — for water quality projects.

Originally totaling $3.5 million, the fund now has $3.2 million left and earns about $6,000 in interest each year at the current rate. With a plan in place — paid for by, hopefully, the Clean Water grant — the town would hope to put that interest toward cleaning up the waterway.

“The long-term goal for that fund is not to deplete it but to sustain it,” Nestler said.

But that doesn’t have to mean that the town spends only $6,000 per year on whatever projects the plan identifies. The money can “It is by far our most polluted be used as a bargaining chip to leverage grants, acting as match waterway, which is important to funding to unlock new dollars.

For the near future, however, note because it flows through the Scotts Creek cleanup crew is two downtowns. We feel this holding its breath in anticipation of the decision on the grant creek could be a tremendous award, to be announced in April.

“No matter what direction we economic asset.” take,” Nestler said, “the first step — David Nestler, Sylva Commissioner is going to be to have a plan.”

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HISTORY REPEATING

Roger Clapp, pictured here along Scotts Creek’s path through Monteith Park in Sylva, has been involved in monitoring efforts in the creek for years. Holly Kays photo

February 17-23, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER unning through the hearts of Dillsboro and Sylva on its tumble down from Balsam, Scotts Creek has star potential. It could be a centerpiece of both downtowns — a magnet for anglers, kayakers and kids looking for a place to splash around.

But it’s not, and Sylva Commissioner David Nestler wants to see that change.

“It is by far our most polluted waterway, which is important to note because it flows through two downtowns,” Nestler told the Jackson County Commissioners this month.

“We feel this creek could be a tremendous economic asset.”

It’s a mantra he’s been repeating since the campaign leading up to his November election to the town board. Once in office, Nestler set about rallying the troops to make something good happen for Scotts Creek. The town board hopes that the $85,000 N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund grant it applied for for with help from the Southwestern Commission will provide the money it needs to develop a solid cleanup plan.

The solution, Nestler stressed, will require as broad a coalition as it’s possible to enlist. The creek’s issues with fecal contamination, sedimentation, litter and habitat quality will take a concerted, across-theboard effort to address successfully. To that end, the town board is making the rounds to the various governments invested in Scotts Creek, looking for conceptual buy-in and, more concretely, pledges to help with the match money the town would need to put up if it landed the grant.

Jackson County Commissioners promised $7,000 of the $17,000 match dollars needed, with the town set to approach Dillsboro next.

“That helps financially, of course, but it’s also tremendously symbolic,” Nestler said. A show of solidarity should help the case for grant dollars.

“It’s a community problem that will only have a community solution,” agreed Roger Clapp, executive director of the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River, which has been heavily involved in water sampling on the creek.

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Cleaning up the creek

a measurement from Scotts Creek at the confluence.

High levels of mud disrupt the creek’s ecology. And because the mud has to come from somewhere, a muddy river means that erosion’s happening elsewhere in the watershed.

“We need to find out and handle sources of erosion,” Clapp said.

He’d also like to see some substantial restoration work on the streambank. Scotts Creek has a lot of length that’s not well vegetated, and that should be fixed, Clapp said. Creekside planting is more than just an aesthetic touch — riparian plants shade the water to keep it cool, fuel stream ecology by dropping their leaves to rot in the water and hold the soil in place, reducing turbidity. Getting the streambanks good and healthy doesn’t have a quick or easy fix, however.

Nor does getting them clean and free of litter. Litter’s been a hot topic of conversation in Sylva lately, with concerned citizens lamenting the presence of plastic bags and empty wrappers strewn along roadways. But the litter also makes its way to the creek, creating an unsightly vista for human users and hazards for wildlife.

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Former church leader investigated for sexual misconduct

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ev. Howard “Howdie” White, former rector of the Episcopal Grace Church in the Mountains in Waynesville, is being investigated in two states after being accused of sexual misconduct with minors.

Waynesville Police Department began an investigation Feb. 3 after an alleged victim came forward claiming White sexually abused her as a minor during his tenure at the church.

White served as the rector at Grace Episcopal Church from 1984 until he retired in 2006, but before coming to Waynesville he was employed at a private prep school in Rhode Island — St. George’s School.

The female in Waynesville likely came forward after seeing headlines out of Rhode Island reporting that White and several other St. George’s faculty had been accused of sexual misconduct by 26 former students. That alleged abuse took place in the 1970s and 1980s, according to an internal report made public by St. George’s in December 2015.

The Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina has been following the investigations and keeping their congregations apprised of the situation. Rev. Porter Taylor in Asheville issued a public letter to members in early January to inform them about the accusations against White in Rhode Island and issued another letter Feb. 6 when

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the female from Waynesville emailed him with more accusations. Taylor informed the Waynesville Police Department immediately.

“I received that with many emotions and with a renewed commitment for our Diocese to do all it can to aid in the investigation, to console any who are abused or hurt, to respect our ecclesiastical disciplinary process while pushing for a speedy resolution …” he wrote.

Waynesville Police Chief Bill Hollingsed said the department is still in the very early Rev. Howard White stages of the investigation and couldn’t provide any details at this time other than the department is only investigating the one alleged incident at the moment. No charges have been filed against White in either state as of yet.

“The Episcopal Church themselves have sent a letter encouraging church members to come forward,” he said. “If they have information about past incidents they can reach out to the church or law enforcement.”

As of Tuesday morning, Rev. Canon Jim Pritchett said the church hadn’t received any other calls or emails regarding accusations against White but would continue to work closely with law enforcement and their investigations.

“We’ve tried to be as open and honest as we can and of course we’re just as disturbed by these accusations as everyone else,” he said.

While the Diocese of Western North Carolina was quick to make the allegations public, alleged sexual abuse at St. George’s School in Rhode Island went unreported for many years.

An allegation reported to administration in 2012 finally led the school to hire an independent firm in 2015 to conduct an extensive investigation into widespread sexual abuse at the school. During the span of the investigation, more than 100 people came forward to provide information about alleged abuse — some of it firsthand and some of it hearsay.

“We’ve tried to be as open and honest as we can and of course we’re just as disturbed by these accusations as everyone else.”

— Rev. Canon Jim Pritchett

“Based on credible statements and documents provided by witnesses who were at the school in the 1970s and 1980s, the investigation has received 26 credible first-hand accounts (as well as other corroborating evidence) strongly suggesting that three former employees of the school engaged in sexual misconduct with regard to multiple students, and that there were 23 victims of sexual misconduct by these three employees,” the report stated.

More than 40 former students have now come forward to report sexual abuse since the school released its report in December 2015. Only four of the seven accused perpe-

trators are still alive, including White, who currently resides in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

According to the report, White was employed with St. George’s until he abruptly left in 1974 after a male student reported to the school administration that White had sexually abused at least three male students.

The investigation report stated White was quickly terminated after the misconduct was reported to Anthony Zane, the headmaster at the time, but the school did not report the abuse to authorities.

“Mr. Zane confronted this employee, who admitted to the misconduct.

Thereafter, Mr. Zane also tried to prevent this employee from getting another job that would involve contact with students,” the report stated. “In the course of this investigation, the School has made a report about his misconduct to the Rhode Island State Police.”

Since the allegations of abuse have surfaced, Bishop Audry Scanlan with the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania issued a letter to members saying White was retired but serves as a long-term supply priest at St. James Episcopal Church in Bedford.

“I have moved to immediately restrict Fr. White’s ministry and to provide for the pastoral care of the congregation that he currently serves,” she wrote. “I have no information that leads me to believe that there have been any incidents of abuse at St. James, Bedford, but it is imperative that we employ all the safeguards that are available to us while the investigation of the Rhode Island State Police continues and while the formal ecclesiastical discipline process involving Fr. White unfolds.”

To read Rev. Taylor’s letter, visit www.diocesewnc.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/ 3176910. If anyone has information regarding this case, contact Rev. Pritchett at 828.450.7500 or jimpritchett1@icloud.com or call Waynesville Police Department at 828.456.5363.

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ith the help of Swain County commissioners, Mountain Discovery Charter School is about to begin a capital campaign to build a new gymnasium at the school that can also be utilized by the community at large.

“There’s a real shortage of gym space in Swain County and Bryson City even though it’s really a sports-oriented town,” said James Busbin, chairman of the Mountain Discovery school board. “We’ll have a gym and it’s going to be a nice one with a million dollar view.”

As a public charter school, Mountain Discovery doesn’t receive any state funding for capital projects. The school has to raise the money needed for construction by seeking donations and grant funding, and the county has started a process that could allow the school to purchase a small piece of county property for the gym location.

Mountain Discovery, located at the top of Jenkins Branch Road in Bryson City, has been operating for 10 years. Situated near the Swain County Sheriff ’s Office, the school’s 9 acres are adjacent to county property. Busbin said the charter school got the

While the decision was promising for Mountain Discovery, it doesn’t mean the sale is a done deal. Selling county land is a bit more complicated — the county now has to publicly advertise that the land is available for purchase so that any interested parties would have a chance to submit a formal bid on the property. The commissioners will then review the bids and select the winning bid. Busbin hopes the charter school is the only one interested in the property.

The charter school is also applying for a USDA loan to pay for the project upfront while it continues to seek funding from private donors and charity foundations.

The county and community involvement also will help the charter school secure funding.

“Lots of people come to these foundations empty handed wanting money, but they like to see a project with a lot of community support,” Busbin said.

Though a majority of the families with children in the charter school live below the poverty line and can’t contribute much financially to the school, Busbin hopes he can show potential donors that it’s a communitywide project that will benefit the charter students as well as the “There’s a real shortage of gym space in rest of the community looking Swain County and Bryson City even though for additional it’s really a sports-oriented town.” indoor recreation space.

— James Busbin, Mountain Discovery School The Swain County county involved in the gym project after Recreation Park has athletic programs for surveyors found that the best place to situyouth and adults and several groups have ate the structure would be on property already shown interest in using the new belonging to the county. gym once it’s up and running. Just as the “The surveyors walked all over the propcharter school students have had to float erty wondering where could we put the around the community to find space for building. We got to the top of the hill and physical education class, school assemblies they said the ideal place would be right and student productions, the adult athletic here,” Busbin said. “They said if we could programs have also been scrambling to find acquire the property or get an easement to space for practices. position the building on the edge of the “They’ve been without a home too, just ridge it would be beneficial.” like the charter school,” Busbin said.

Building on the top of the ridge would “They’ve been trying to get a gym for years mean fewer trees to cut down, better so they wanted to work with us, which is drainage and less grading work. The propjust fine. We’re a public school and this will erty is also within walking distance of the be a public facility. We only have 180 kids current classrooms, which would make it so the space won’t be used by our students easy to build a natural walking path to the all the time.” gym. Since it is at the top of a ridge, Busbin The gym is just the first step to said Swain County couldn’t do much with Mountain Discovery’s long-term plan of the acre anyway. An appraisal showed the building permanent school structures on property to be worth about $1,000 because the property. Modular classrooms are being of the lack of accessibility. used now, but Busbin said they might only Although the item wasn’t on the agenda, have a few more years of use left in them. commissioners went into a closed session Due to budget and funding constraints, the for 45 minutes during a recent board meetschool will have to slowly build one building to discuss a “client/attorney privilege” ing at a time. matter. The board then returned to open “We need a permanent campus if we session and made a motion to accept offers want to see the school go to the next level,” on the 1.1-acre tract in question. he said.

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Swain County partnering with charter school for new gym

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Haywood OKs outdoor shooting range moratorium

Janie Higgins, a resident of the Francis Farm community, shares concerns with Haywood County commissioners about the impact an indoor shooting range would have on her quality of life . Becky Johnson photo

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER moratorium on commercial outdoor shooting ranges took effect in Haywood County this week, temporarily halting any new shooting ranges from cropping up while the county crafts regulations to govern their safety and location.

The county currently has no rules for where an outdoor shooting range can go.

Commissioners want to adopt rules for how close a shooting range can be to schools, churches and homes, as well as construction and design standards to ensure human and

February 17-23, 2016

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Some say time is right for land-use discussions

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he controversy over a proposed gun range in a rural farming community in Haywood County has raised questions about the adverse impacts of unwanted development in rural communities given the lack of land-use protections.

County commissioners have said they would be willing to entertain a larger dialogue on land-use planning if the public signals an interest. Public outcry has erupted three times in the past year over proposed development deemed unsavory or out-ofcharacter by a particular community — namely a trash and recycling sorting center, a charter school campus and a shooting range.

While residents swiftly and readily rallied to oppose projects in their own communities, they evaporated into the shadows when the particular threat in their own backyard passed.

A speaker at this week’s commissioner 14 meeting said communities would be well

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Smoky Mountain News

environmental safety.

The moratorium will last 60 days, giving the county breathing room to craft an ordinance without fear of a shooting range operator rushing in for a permit before the rules are in place.

Despite two public hearings on the proposed shooting range moratorium, there was almost no opposition. Only a couple people spoke against the moratorium.

“To my knowledge no such shooting range has been proposed, so what we have here is a solution in search of a problem,” said Paul Yeager.

But commissioners said that’s the whole point. Once one is proposed, it is instantly grandfathered and regulations crafted after the fact wouldn’t retroactively apply.

The outdoor shooting range rules now in the works are due to the tenacity of residents in the Francis Farm community, where an indoor shooting range and gun store have been proposed.

Residents repeatedly pleaded with county commissioners to intervene and protect their idyllic rural community from the intrusion.

While commissioners stopped short of doing anything to stop the indoor gun range, it dawned on commissioners that outdoor shooting ranges have inherent safety risks warranting regulations, and they decided to take up the issue.

“I don’t think it is appropriate for any property in the county to be subject to an outdoor gun range without being subject to some sort of ordinance that takes into consideration the surrounding property,” Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick said.

Residents of Francis Farm said they are glad for a partial victory, but still wish something was done to stop an indoor shooting range as well.

“I don’t think this is the right place for this to happen,” said Vicki Rogers, a Francis Farm resident.

Jule Morrow, the man who plans to build an indoor shooting range in Francis Farm, said he doesn’t plan to build an outdoor shooting range and never has, only an indoor one.

Rogers said she wishes Morrow would put it on other property he owns, namely a commercial-industrial site in Hazelwood.

“I would ask any of you who may be friends with him, if you have any influence on him whatsoever, that you encourage him to build it there,” said Janie Higgins, who lives across the road from the proposed site. “I ask you, please one more time to think about it. If it was in your front yard how would you feel about it?”

Public outcry has erupted three times in the past year over proposed development deemed unsavory or out-ofcharacter by a particular community — namely a trash and recycling sorting center, a charter school campus and a shooting range. served to take a more proactive approach and craft small-area land-use plans before the next threat comes along.

“Rather than reacting to each individual thing that happens, I think it is a good opportunity for communities in Haywood County to think about what do we want to see, what is the character we want to preserve,” said Susan Sachs, a Haywood resident.

Sachs recounted the work of a grassroots task force several years ago when a 4,000acre resort development threatened to alter the character of Jonathan Creek. It never came to pass, but the task force developed a

blueprint for how to approach land-use planning, and it could serve as a framework to jumpstart the dialogue now, Sachs said.

“It is a way to think about any large development that would change the character of this community that we all love,” said Sachs. “Communities that don’t want planning just don’t do it, but it sounds like there are some communities in Haywood County that are interested.”

Jackson County, for example, has smallarea land-use plans for three of its communities: Cashiers, Cullowhee and the U.S. 441 gateway to Cherokee.

Candidates asked to weigh in on land-use planning ith land-use planning on the radar in Haywood County, candidates for county commissioner were asked where they stood on the issue at a forum last week. Here’s what they said.

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“Mountain people are real independent. I am not a big land-use planning advocate. But there is a flipside to that.

There is also a property rights issue for the person who has something come in next to them. I prefer a piecemeal approach to the issue. I don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all.”

— Kevin Ensley, Republican candidate running for re-election

“I believe if you own property and pay taxes on it you should be able to do what you want to for the most part. On the flip side of that, there are things I wouldn’t want beside my house either. I would like to take this to the people and possibly let the people decide.”

— Brandon Rogers, Republican candidate

“It is a touchy situation. I don’t know what I’d do. Someone said anyone who believes that we shouldn’t have zoning should live beside a pig farm. But if you give the government a little bit of power … I don’t want to sound anti-government but I really am.”

— Greg Burrell, Republican candidate

“I am against zoning. I believe we can handle this with some special ordinances.

I don’t believe government should tell anybody what they can or can’t do with their property. If you don’t like living next to a pig farm, move.”

— Robin Black, Democratic candidate “As a property owner in Haywood County, I am a little nervous about landuse planning. I think the county commissioners will need to protect certain situations that would arise in the county.”

— Steve Brown, Democratic candidate

“I believe you should be able to do what you want on your own property, as long as they aren’t disturbing somebody else.”

— Terry Ramey, Democratic candidate

“I would not be in favor of that. I don’t believe in anybody telling you what to do with your land. I am not for any kind of zoning. But if it would be dangerous to a community or it is something that would have an effect upon their lives as well, then that should be considered.”

— Charles Boyd, Democratic candidate

Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden has a food truck stationed behind the building and is awaiting approval to operate permanently from the town of Waynesville. Donated photo

Hotdog cart operation in downtown shot down

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ate the food trailer more as a permanent business than as a mobile vendor.

“I just want to operate my food truck on my property that I pay a mortgage and taxes on,” he said. “Right now we lose 50 percent of our potential business because of food — people leave to go eat and don’t come back.”

Young said the cost of retrofitting the 100year-old farmhouse where his business is located to add a commercial kitchen would be astronomical, but a portable kitchen hooked up to the building should be an easy alternative.

“We have the food trailer and we’ve met all the requirements from the health department,” he said “We’re ready to go as soon as we get the OK from the town.”

Tom McGuire, the new town building inspector, said Mad Anthony’s proposal seemed more like a permanent structure that should be treated like any other new addition to a building and must meet all new building codes.

With several different scenarios to consider, the planning board gave Teague and her staff direction to look into possible public property that may be suitable for mobile vendors to set up shop and work with Mad Anthony’s to figure out which building codes their food truck must meet. Teague will also look into adding a fee to the temporary-use permit for food trucks to operate on private property. She will make recommendations at the next planning board meeting.

February 17-23, 2016

“What they do on private property — I don’t care — but no type of temporary business should benefit from what we’ve worked hard to get.”

— Richard Miller, downtown business owner

on that brief discussion and email feedback from members Phillips said many businesses within the downtown district were against having any mobile vending downtown. While food trucks and carts might be a good option for downtown areas trying to revamp and create some pedestrian traffic, she said Downtown Waynesville was already a bustling Main Street with plenty of food options.

“Maybe this is something more for Frog Level where they have empty stores and buildings,” she said.

The planning board members were in consensus that they were not interested in allowing any food carts to operate in the downtown Waynesville district, but allowing

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR he debate over when, where and how mobile vendors should be allowed to operate within the town limits has now made its way to Waynesville.

As the town begins to get more requests from people wanting to locate their food trucks and food carts in Waynesville, Town Planner Elizabeth Teague brought the issue before the planning board to get a sense of how it should be handled. Specifically, the town had an application from John and Lucy Catton to operate a hotdog stand across from the Haywood County Historic Courthouse in the mini-park area. Catton said he didn’t want to compete with brick and mortar restaurants in downtown Waynesville but wanted to expand options for residents and visitors.

“This would allow pedestrians to grab a quick bite to eat and so encouraging them to stay around longer to shop as well as take time to decide which restaurant they might like to sit down and eat at,” he said.

Catton wrote in his business plan that he would operate the cart 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday. He said he would offer a good quality product and provide great customer service.

Several members of the Downtown Waynesville Association attended the planning meeting Monday night to provide feedback on the proposed hotdog cart and other mobile vending options. As a property owner and business owner on Main Street, DWA President John Keith said the downtown district was not the place for food trucks or carts.

“I’ve seen these (carts) done in venues where it worked out fine but it’s different from downtown Waynesville where we do have people who have invested in the downtown district and are paying significant taxes to be there 365 days a year,” he said.

He added that allowing a hotdog cart to set up on public property, especially in a mini

park that was paid for by the taxes collected by businesses in the district, would not be appropriate or fair.

Richard Miller, owner of The Classic Wineseller and Church Street Depot in downtown, agreed that public property downtown was not the right place for a hotdog stand though he can understand the appeal of wanting to set up shop at the mini park.

“We’ve spent 20 years building up the town… I’m proud of what the town has done, but I don’t think they’ve paid the dues to be there,” Miller said. “What they do on private property — I don’t care — but no type of temporary business should benefit from what we’ve worked hard to get.”

DWA Executive Director Buffy Phillips said the DWA board discussed the issue of mobile food trucks and carts at a recent retreat. Based

food trucks on private and/or public property is an entirely different subject that needed to be considered.

Teague told the board a text amendment could be added to the current land-use regulations to address mobile food vendors. The town has allowed food trucks to operate at special events under a temporary-use permit, but it has been hard to monitor and enforce.

There is no cost for the permit and there are a few food trucks that are knowingly operating in town without getting the permit from the town. A taco food truck parks at Reo’s on South Main Street every Saturday night and multiple food trucks have been parked in front of Frog Level Brewing on Commerce Street on Friday and Saturday nights.

“That’s public parking spaces being taken up, but the food trucks are also supporting a local business so that’s a positive,” Teague said. “But if someone slipped and fell it would be the town’s liability at stake because it’s public property.”

David Young, co-owner of Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop and Beer Garden on Branner Avenue, is also requesting to operate a food truck at his business, but his situation is a bit different from the others. Mad Anthony’s is located on private property and Young has no intentions of moving the food trailer that its now set up just behind the main building. He does have the temporaryuse permit from the town, but wants to oper-

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Waynesville begins mobile vending discussions

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No lifeline for Haywood School budget shortfall

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER aywood County commissioners deflected calls from the public this week that they should step in and help the school system out of its budget dilemma.

“I think the county commissioners and school board have got to come together,” said John Wadsworth, a Waynesville resident who spoke during the public comment period of a county meeting Monday. “Get out of the box and figure out a way to solve this.”

The school system is facing a $2.4 million shortfall due in part to dwindling classroom education funding from the state, and in part to a declining student body. Budget cuts to close the gap include a controversial plan to shut down and consolidate Central Elementary School.

Wadsworth, who has grandchildren in the public school system, said there’s too much finger pointing and hand wringing and not enough problem solving.

“I think it is time to try to come up with a solution. I think this is a local issue you have got to take care of,” Wadsworth said. “I think it will take more money from the county.”

It’s not the first time commissioners have heard that refrain in recent weeks — whether in passing, in letters to the editor or in public forums. Mark Melrose, a Central Elementary parent, urged the school board to ask the county to pony up.

“The commissioners will give the money if you stand up and tell them you are not going to take anything less than the half a million it takes to keep this thing open,” Melrose said at a public hearing on whether to close Central three weeks ago.

At their county meeting this week, commissioners deviated briefly from their agenda to respond.

“We do a great job funding our schools,”

Smoky Mountain News

February 17-23, 2016

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Commissioner Mark Swanger said.

The county ranks in the top 25 percent statewide in its per student funding of the school system. Among mountain counties, only Buncombe, Transylvania and Watauga give more per student than Haywood, according to annual funding comparison reports, Swanger said.

To date, school officials haven’t asked for a bail out, not even when they met with county leaders last month to brief them on the school budget situation.

“They didn’t ask for additional funding.

They understood the county couldn’t make up the difference in the funding cuts,” Swanger said in an interview.

Follow the story The Haywood County School Board was expected to vote Tuesday night (Feb. 16) whether to close Central Elementary School in Waynesville.

The Smoky Mountain News went to press before the school board meeting concluded Tuesday night, but the outcome of the meeting can be found at www.smokymountainnews.com, with a full report in next week’s print edition.

But Wadsworth questioned why the county is spending $3 million on a new animal shelter or $1.5 million on a new emergency services headquarters.

“All these are great things but they aren’t things that have to be done. Right now is not the time to do these until we solve the problem in our schools,” said Wadsworth, former chief financial officer for Blue Ridge Paper.

“We are going to have to really figure out how to prioritize our spending.”

Haywood County commissioners addressed why they can’t bail the school system out of its shortfall during a county meeting Monday.

Becky Johnson photo

But even if Haywood anted up more money to plug the shortfall this year, what about next year, Swanger said.

“The expenses the schools have are recurring expenses you have every single year. That number, unless they address it, would be there every single year,” Swanger said. “That would take a huge appropriation every year.”

Since state funding is predicated on student head count, the decline in student body is a stark reality that must be dealt with, Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick said.

“They have been dealt a pretty difficult hand,” Kirkpatrick said.

Haywood County Schools has lost nearly 800 students in 10 years.

“To me that’s the issue,” said Wadsworth.

“They need to be looking at a good strategic plan.”

Commissioner Bill Upton, former superintendent of the school system, said demographics have played a large role.

“Not as many children are being born in Haywood County as there used to be.

Families aren’t as big as they used to be,” Upton said.

But the school system has likewise lost hundreds of students to charter schools and homeschooling over the past decade.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley agreed with Wadsworth, however. If the decline in student body reversed, it would bring more money back in.

“We do need to find solutions with the school board to get that (student) number up,” Ensley said. “Everything is based on that number. We just have to find creative solutions to get that number up.”

Commissioners made a point of noting that how the school system balances its budget — and whether closing Central is part of the solution — is up to the school board, commissioners said.

“It is not really our decision what they do,” Kirkpatrick said.

Swanger, former school board chairman, said there’s a business side to running a school system, and it’s simply not efficient to operate more school buildings than you need to serve the student body.

“You have to make good business decisions,” Swanger said.

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Candidates on schools ducation was a top topic among Haywood commissioner candidates at a forum last week hosted by The Mountaineer. Namely candidates were asked whether the county should increase its funding for the school system.Here’s some sound bites of what they said.

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“The county commissioners have made a strong commitment to public education. We have to leave no stone unturned and we have to provide whatever means necessary to help the school system.”

— Steve Brown, Democrat, who cited education as his top priority.

“I just don’t believe in throwing money at things. It comes back to the teachers. And to the parents. Some of these kids can run over the teachers. I think it is up to the teachers learning how to teach again, having some good teachers.”

— Greg Burrell, Republican “I’ve heard a whole lot about schools. I got a bunch of kids and I always thought we had good schools. We need to put everything we can into education to get the best schools.”

— Terry Ramey, Democratic candidate

“This problem was talked about in ’08, back when I was on the board. We knew if there was a perfect storm we may have to close one of the smaller schools.”

— Robin Black, former school board member, who cited education as one of the top three issues facing the county.

The March 15 primary will narrow the slate to two candidates from each party.

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“I think they need to find ways to raise their (student population) number. It’s the number all the school funding is based on but it’s gone down. Charter schools are legal in the state. It is another opportunity. Some parents want to choose that.”

— Kevin Ensley, Republican.

February 17-23, 2016

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“I want my kids to grow up in Haywood County and go to public schools. I am a big supporter of our local schools.”

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been going quite well. In the participating schools, average breakfast participation before the program began was 33 percent, and lunch was 60 percent. Now, both breakfast and lunch have 85 percent participation rates.

As a result, federal reimbursements have increased by about $56,000 over the amount at this point in the last school year, and by $93,000 over this point in 2014. By contrast, food supply costs have risen only $10,000 between 2015 and 2016 and $64,000 between 2014 and 2016. That’s an overall increase of $32,000 in two years.

“The net effect is an increase in net income,” Edwards said.

“Behavior has improved, test scores have improved, nurse visits have decreased.”

— Laura Cabe, Jackson County Schools child nutrition director

Jackson isn’t the only county evaluating the effects of a newly implemented CEP program.

Participation has increased drastically in Swain County, too, with the proportion of breakfast eaters at Swain West Elementary School shooting up from 30 to 50 percent and the percentage of lunch eaters increasing from 70 to 85 percent, nutrition director Jennifer Brown said.

Food costs have definitely risen, she said, especially because at breakfast the schools are now required to make the students take the entire meal being offered rather than just what they want to eat — that requirement

Share the munch Along with involvement in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal program making meals free for all students at participating schools, comes some new rules. One of those rules is a requirement that cafeteria workers give students a serving of everything on the breakfast menu, rather than just handing out what the students say they’ll eat. At lunch, children must take at least three of the items on the menu, but that’s a requirement true across the board, not just at schools involved in the free meal program.

The rule is aimed at encouraging kids to eat a more balanced diet, but it results in a good bit of food waste. Jackson County Schools is working to make lemonade out of lemons by creating “share tables” at all schools in the district. Behind the lunch line, a cooler and bin are set up for students to deposit any packaged foods they don’t want to eat.

“Any student can come up and eat extras,” said Laura Cabe, child nutrition director for Jackson schools.

At the end of the week, The Community Table comes by to pick up what’s left to distribute from its food pantry. Those little donations add up to a lot, with about $2,600 worth of food contributed between August and December 2015. “creates a little waste,” she said. But overall, it’s going well.

“We’re basically breaking even with it, which is all we can hope to do,” Brown said.

Macon County is also seeing a lot more students partaking of breakfast and lunch after instituting CEP at East Franklin Elementary School and Union High School.

While numbers at Union High have held fairly steady — they were already pretty high, and some students there take their meals at Franklin High School — breakfast participation at East Franklin has increased from 24 to 58 percent and lunch participation has gone from 78 to 89 percent.

Revenue from the two schools is about $10,000 more than it was at this point last year, said nutrition director Kim Terrell, but grappling with increased food costs has been a struggle. Over the past year, food costs have risen 20 percent. But even with that chal-

Prepare to show photo ID at the polls

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ers to be patient as the kinks are worked out. The provisional ballot process will now take longer and there are additional steps to ensure voter IDs match the person who shows up to vote.

“Does the photo ID bear reasonable resemblance to the person voting — that’s what we’ll be looking for,” he said.

In an effort to keep everything as streamlined as possible, Inman said voters should make sure they get everything updated by Friday, Feb. 19. If you have moved within the last 30 days, you may use your old address and precinct, but if you moved more than 30 days ago, Inman said it’s very important that you update your address on your voter registration and go to the correct precinct.

“We have 11 ballot styles in (Haywood) County this election and we just want to make sure everyone receives the valid style and that the ballot doesn’t contain contests you’re not eligible to vote for and vice versa,” he said.

Voters who are registered in North Carolina as “unaffiliated” have to choose between the Republican and the Democrat primary ballot. In the event that a second primary is held, the voter can only vote in the same primary as they voted in the first primary.

For more information about voter ID laws, visit www.voterid.nc.gov.

Dates to remember The 2016 Primary Election will be held March 15 and polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Early voting for the primary will be held March 3-12.

• Haywood County locations: Senior Resource Center in Waynesville, the Clyde Municipal Building and the Canton Public Library.

• Swain County locations: Swain County Board of Elections office and Birdtown Recreation Center.

Friday, Feb. 19 is the last day to register to vote, change party affiliation or update your address so that you vote in the right precinct.

Which photo IDs will be accepted in 2016?

• • • • • • • •

NC driver’s license, learner’s permit or provisional license Special ID card (N.C. DMV ID card).

U.S. passport.

U.S. military ID (retired, active, dependents and civilian).

U.S. Veterans ID issued by Veterans Affairs Tribal enrollment card issued by federally recognized tribe.

Tribal enrollment card issued by a N.C. recognized tribe.

Out-of-state driver’s license, only if the voter registers to vote in the county within 90 days of the election

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ew voter identification laws are in effect for the 2016 elections, meaning voters should be prepared to show a valid form of photo identification at the polls during the March 15 primary election.

Since this is the first year the new laws will be implemented, Haywood County Elections Supervisor Robert Inman encourages voters to be prepared before heading to the polls.

“We want to encourage people to be prepared now — don’t wait until you get there to the poll only find out something should have updated,” Inman said. “Have your ID out and ready when you get to the polls.”

Thanks to a recent modification in the voter ID laws passed in 2013, there is now a provision that allows voters without a photo ID to cast a ballot as long as they sign an affidavit stating that they have a reasonable excuse. Acceptable reasons for not having an ID include a lack of transportation, disability or illness, lost or stolen photo ID, or a lack of a birth certificate or other documents to obtain a photo ID. In order to meet all these new requirements under the law, Inman said more people have been trained to assist at the polls.

Since it’s the first election with the new regulations, he asks vot-

lenge, Macon’s CEP schools are currently breaking even compared to last year.

“Despite the financial difficulties, we feel CEP has been a positive move not only for our SN (School Nutrition) program but more importantly, for our students,” Terrell said.

“It has been a win-win for both.”

The district is actually considering expanding the program to more schools, she said, though no decision has yet been made.

The results coming in from the three school districts are likely no surprise to Haywood’s nutrition director Allison Francis. Haywood implemented the program in the 2014-15 school year, as soon as it was available, and saw its participation increase immediately, leading to glowing reviews from Francis.

“What we are most excited about is we are feeding more students, which is our goal,” Cabe said.

February 17-23, 2016

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER alf a year after launching a program that makes breakfast and lunch free for every child in school, the financials are looking good for Jackson County Schools’ child nutrition program.

“Because she’s been able to bring participation up, she’s been doing better than she has in years,” Finance Director Gwen Edwards said of Child Nutrition Director Laura Cabe.

“Behavior has improved, test scores have improved, nurse visits have decreased,” Cabe said at a January school board meeting.

The new way of doing things — implemented at Smokey Mountain Elementary School, Blue Ridge School, Blue Ridge Early College and the School of Alternatives — is part of the federal Community Eligibility Provision, a program that aims to increase kids’ access to healthy food in high-poverty areas. At schools using the program, breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of their family’s income.

Schools qualify to enroll if 40 percent or more of the student population directly qualifies for free or reduced lunch, a category that includes kids who are homeless, migrants, in foster care or from households enrolled in SNAP (formerly called foods stamps), among other situations.

Enrolling carries a risk, though. A formula based on the percentage of students who directly qualify for free and reduced lunch determines what percentage of meals are reimbursed at the free rate. The rest are reimbursed at the paid rate, which is a whole lot less. Success depends on boosting participation in school meals.

In Jackson County, that’s an effort that’s

opinion

Free meal program going well at WNC schools

19

Opinion No reason to believe N.C. will fix redistricting mess Smoky Mountain News

North Carolina will be a shining star of a state working to resolve petty partisanship, and maybe it won’t.

MAaybe three-judge federal panel ruled last week that two of the

state’s congressional districts were gerrymandered, that they were unconstitutional because they were redrawn by the GOPled legislature based on racial proportions. That, obviously, is illegal. The panel ruled that these particular districts — the 1st and 2nd — have to be redrawn, meaning other districts will also have to be change.

If new maps aren’t in place within a few days, the state’s primary election scheduled for March 15 could be held up and hundreds of absentee voters could have their ballots tossed out.

It is a time-honored tradition in the U.S. for the political party in power to draw up voting districts that give it the advantage. Both parties do it. But even that tradition can go too far, and GOP leaders in North Carolina went over the edge.

Apparently the court ruling supports that assessment.

According to the UNC Demography Center, North Carolina

Support Connect NC bond initiative To the Editor: One of the greatest resources our state has is the University of North Carolina System with its 17 public universities and the N.C. Community College System with its network of 58 community colleges. The money invested in our public universities and colleges pays off with massive economic dividends as students graduate with the skills necessary to be leaders in our communities and compete in today’s economy.

This March, the Connect NC Bond Initiative will be on the ballot and deserves our vote of approval. The bond Initiative will spend $980 million on improving the UNC system and $350 million on our community colleges in addition to many other great infrastructural needs.

These investments will allow our universities to remain among the best in the world and provide many opportunities for research and development that drive economic impact throughout our state. A great example in our mountain region is Western Carolina University’s Natural Sciences Building, standing in dire need of replacement. WCU cannot adequately accommodate workforce related majors in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an aging structure it has long since outgrown and which is in constant need of repairs that place further burdens upon the university’s budget. As chairman of WCU’s Board of Trustees, I have seen firsthand this critical need.

This bond will not require a tax increase and takes advantage of historically low interest rates to fund these projects that will benefit future generations in North Carolina. In addition, the bond enjoys wide support from members of both parties in our state legislature. I believe this is a result of the bond being

has about 1.7 million active registered Republican voters and 2.1 million active registered Democratic voters. Many independents vote with the GOP, giving that party election wins in many tight districts. In 2008, Democrat Barack Obama won North Carolina and in 2012 it was Republican Mitt Romney.

To say we are a narrowly divided state is a simple truth.

Despite this reality, the state’s gerrymandered districts have allowed the GOP to hold 10 of 13 congressional Editor seats and a substantial majority in the General Assembly.

Worse, perhaps, is how the gerrymandered districts disenfranchise millions of voters.

Again, according the UNC Demography Center, 2.4 million voters — 47 percent of active voters regardless of party— will have no choice in at least one of their upcoming legislative

Scott McLeod

20

a fiscally responsible investment in our future as a state. We must improve our universities and colleges in order to stay competitive in today’s economy, and this bond provides a way to do so while maintaining our historical commitment to orderly reducing our debt in the future.

I sincerely ask my fellow Western North Carolinians to vote for the Connect NC Bond Initiative on March 15.

F. Ed Broadwell Chairman/CEO Emeritus HomeTrust Bank Asheville

Bond initiative would waste taxpayer money To the Editor: Voters should vote AGAINST the $2 billion “Connect NC” bonds on the March 15 ballot.

Gov. Pat McCrory’s original “Connect NC” bond proposal was primarily for transportation. However, the legislature removed every transportation project. Now, WCU would get $110 million for a new building, but every state university would also share in a $1.065 billion honey pot for buildings.

Southwestern Community College would get $7.2 million for “new construction, repairs, renovations,” but every state community college would share in a $350 million honey pot for the same. Every state park would share $75 million for undefined projects, and the N.C. Zoo would get $25 million for a new building. Other state entities would share the remaining $485 million.

This is the first state bond in 15 years, since the legislature had been appropriating money for these types of projects through its budgets. Depending on the terms of the bonds sold over the next four years, adding in interest payments the $2 billion in projects could cost taxpayers as much as $3.5 billion.

races. No one will run against the incumbent. Put another way, the districts maps are so gerrymandered that candidates from the minority party just don’t run because it is a waste of time and money. No competition is just bad for the democratic process.

This week public hearings were held across the state to gauge the mood of the electorate. According to the Charlotte Observer, a majority of speakers favored redrawing the maps and getting them right. In some states, the legislature has appointed independent commissions to manage this process and ensure that the final product is an accurate reflection of the political and demographic makeup of the state, something much easier to do with today’s technology than in the past.

That seems to be the wisest answer, but what we see in politics today hardly ever resembles anything close to wise. My bet is that state leaders will fumble the process once again, keeping federal judges busy cleaning up North Carolina’s mess.

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

LETTERS These bonds will provide special interest vote-buying and resumé enhancers for the governor and every state legislator running for re-election in November. Why else place the bonds on the March ballot when only about half as many voters will vote on the issue versus in November? Bond opponents also have less opportunity to educate voters on the facts about these bonds with a March vote.

With this Christmas-in-March shotgun cash distribution, our legislators are abdicating their responsibilities to select the true “needs” versus the “wants” of those seeking taxpayer money.

Vic Drummond Franklin

We need more wilderness areas To the Editor: Here are three reasons why we should designate more federal land as wilderness to protect it from logging.

The first reason is obvious: there are animals and plants in this area that need undisturbed forest to thrive, wood thrushes and timber rattlers are two that still survive in these parts, red-cockaded woodpeckers and cougars are two that don’t. It’s not like the survivors have anywhere else to go, Western North Carolina is one of the last places with any chance of staying wild. It would be a shame if our great-great-grandchildren never see wild animals and wildflowers. Loggers have a long history of over-exploitation of woodlands, and there is no reason to think they will change their practices.

The second reason is libertarian. Federal land is owned by the citizens, not by businesses. It is not the responsibility of citizens to provide loggers, truckers, and businessmen

with incomes. There are plenty of trees on private land, and the owners of these trees do not need taxpayer-supported competition.

The third reason is that it is just bad business. The coming logging boom will be for wood pellets to export to Europe. This is a commodity, not a value-added product, (like furniture or musical instruments), which would produce wealth for this region. We already have a stable and growing tourist industry, people literally come here to see pretty trees, not to mention to fish, gamble, dine, camp, and otherwise vacation. Logging would not support this sector of the economy.

Private owners have a good conservation record. They do not support practices that damage topsoil simply because they own the topsoil and would rather it not wash into the watershed. They want to maximize their profits; which means they are selective about which areas and trees are cut. They are not about to allow healthy woodlots to be butchered for firewood, pallets or pulp.

Current tax laws, written with input from the logging industry, demand revenue for standing timber; forcing landowners to part with their wealth or open their lands to cutting. These laws are a violation of their liberty and are environmentally hurtful. The conservative thing to do would be to change these laws and let markets decide the price and availability of timber, not the government and big business.

Do you remember the building boom of the 1990s? The people running the show back then kept talking about all the jobs that were being created, but it seems that any wealth from that boom is long gone. The logging interests are using the same lingo, but imagine the situation in 40 years: scraggly forests, ruined trout streams, and wealth in the hands of out-of-state interests and a few local sharpies.

Chris Bogardus Cullowhee

so-called stripper boobs. In: a natural shape.”

“OI readut:woman’s that sentence a couple of months

Susanna Barbee

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Smoky Mountain News

ago in a Shape magazine article. It made me smile to myself because as someone who tries to be au natural, it makes me happy to know that the cosmetic breast implant trend is making a downward turn.

When I think of fake endowment, I picture Pamela Anderson running down the beach in her red bathing at Columnist the start of “Baywatch.” I was in middle and high school during that show’s prime, at the height of my adolescence when I wasn’t fat but wasn’t thin, and my confidence was on shaky ground. Watching her svelte body leap like a deer probably didn’t help the situation.

I also think about Jane Fonda and Victoria Beckham who have been very vocal about getting implants then having them removed because they were extremely heavy and uncomfortable and made their bodies look disproportionate. And apparently, Fonda’s husband did not enjoy the foreign entities on her body.

But the heart of the matter is not a joking one. Despite a steady decline in breast augmentation for cosmetic purposes, there are still millions of women getting them and if not breast implants, they are taking pills to lose weight, having plastic surgery on their faces and going to other extremes to be “beautiful.”

One person I always think of in terms of taking extreme measures is Heidi Montag.

Do you remember her? She was one of the original girls on the reality show “The Hills.”

I didn’t watch the show on a regular basis, but I would catch it here and there or see pictures on the front of People magazine when I was standing in line at the store.

I always thought Heidi was so cute. She had the all-American girl look. Big smile, blonde hair, doe eyes, perky personality.

Then all of a sudden as she got more and more famous, she began having surgery after surgery after surgery on every single part of her body until now she looks so weird. She barely looks anything like her original self.

But does she have huge boobs, big lips, wrinkle-free skin, a small waist, full lips, zero saddle bags and high eyebrows? You betcha!

She even wears blue contacts to cover her pretty brown eyes. I always wonder how her mom feels looking at a stranger instead of the adult manifestation of her little girl.

Anxiety over body is no joke and it often starts early in life.

When I was 9 years old, I was sort of thick. Not fat, just carrying around some

baby fat. My older sister was always the thin one. I’d never really thought anything of it until one of my baton teachers told me I needed to lose a little weight.

From that point on, something about the way I viewed my body was slightly skewed. I swear, it takes the littlest thing for a girl to get a complex.

As I grew older and went through school, my confidence grew in other areas so stressing about my body was never a huge issue with me. There were times in college when I tried certain diets to lose weight, but I never went overboard.

During young adulthood, I realized I enjoyed exercising and learning about nutrition so since that time, I’ve figured out how to maintain my weight with a combination of eliminating sugar, exercising in a specific way that works for my body, and eating healthy with an emphasis on low-carb and whole foods. This works for me, but everyone has to find her own way.

I never have been and never will be super thin, and I’m completely okay with that. I would much rather look athletic and strong.

Over the past couple of years, my workout tribe at the fitness center has been integral in my education about effective fitness.

Through running and interval training, I’ve learned how to stay lean and toned without spending hours upon hours at the gym.

Nevertheless, I have many friends and family members who stress constantly about their weight and the way their body looks. I wish they could find a method that works for their metabolism and physiology so they wouldn’t have to worry.

It’s easy to say, “Oh, hush! You are beautiful no matter your size.” And some women really do feel this way, but others do not and we shouldn’t force them to try.

As a mom to two boys, I don’t have daughters, but if I did, I would emphasize being healthy and unique over being thin and beautiful.

It’s fine and normal to be mindful of our body, skin and hair, but I wish more women would strive to be healthy as opposed to skinny.

Unless you’re trying to be a high-end fashion model, a waif-like figure isn’t very attractive.

But being real and confident is always in style.

If you embrace the “healthy is the new skinny” motto, good for you. But if you are still struggling with body image, try to ignore the voices in your head and don’t compare yourself to others.

Remember what Theodore Roosevelt said.

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s so true.

And also take comfort in the fact that stripper boobs are out and a woman’s natural shape is in. Hallelujah for that!

(Susanna Barbee lives in Haywood County and can be reached at susanna.barbee@gmail.com.)

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tasteTHEmountains

Smoky Mountain News

February 17-23, 2016

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

used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not pre-prepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items. Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

APPLE CREEK CAFE 111 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.456.9888. Tuesday through Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to midnight. Sunday 11 a.m. to 10 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.

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.

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; slowsimmered 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.

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville.

828.452.6210. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer.

Reservations honored.

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

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 hand-cut 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

We’ll feed your spirit, too.

Cataloochee Ranch 22

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

tasteTHEmountains 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.

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.

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.

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

Winter hours: Thursday through Dunday 12 to 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to closing for dinner. Daily luncheon special at $6.99.

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.

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.

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.

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. Hand-

tossed 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.

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.

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.

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available.

Located across from the Fire Station.

TAP ROOM BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.3551. Open seven days a week serving lunch and dinner. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, the Tap Room Bar & Grill has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Full bar and wine cellar. www.thewaynesvilleinn.com .

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!)

SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800.

332-34

February 17-23, 2016

LIVE MUSIC: Friday, Feb. 19 • 7 p.m.

Dogwood Winter Saturday, Feb. 20 • 7 p.m.

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www.CityLightsCafe.com

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

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

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LIVE MUSIC TUESDAY NIGHTS! Upcoming Bands: FEB. 23: Mile High Band MARCH 1: Ginny McAfee

Smoky Mountain News

332-32

332-28

SAGEBRUSH OF CANTON 1941 Champion Dr. Canton

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com

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

828-646-3750 Sun-Thur 11 AM - 10 PM Fri-Sat 11 AM - 11 PM

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Over the hills and far away

Nashville songwriters Sally Barris, Henry Hipken and Jim Photoglo performed at the most recent Songwriters in the Round showcase on Feb. 13. Garret K. Woodward photo

Balsam Mountain Inn ‘Songwriters in the Round’

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER ulling off the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway onto the Cabin Flats Road, within an earshot of Waynesville, a cold wind whipped against the pickup truck, signaling to any and all that winter is far from over here in Western North Carolina.

The quiet road soon turns from pavement to gravel to dirt. And just as quickly the Balsam Mountain Inn appears, looming high above Cabin Flats like a postcard of a forgotten era, Merrily Teasley perhaps lost in the mailroom of time, a point in history when style and class were synonymous.

Stepping onto the large porch, dusty memories echo out of the creaking wood of this 108year-old building. Innumerable rooms and hallways are lit up, with the structure glowing like some lighthouse on the high seas of an ocean, one of mountain ridges that ripple far and wide into the darkness of Southern Appalachia.

“It’s an interesting old building,” Merrily Teasley chuckled. “It has a lot of interesting stories in it.”

Teasley has made it her life’s mission to ensure the survival of the Balsam Mountain Inn. Through all of its ups and downs in recent decades, the longtime owner remains steadfast in her quest to preserve the history and continued legacy of this storied property.

“It just gives me lots of pleasure to see people enjoy the inn and what we’re trying to do

P

here,” Teasley modestly said. “It feels good to make people happy.”

And last Saturday evening (Feb. 13), there were a handful of new entries added to the ongoing book of tales at the Balsam Mountain Inn as the most recent installment of their Songwriters in the Round series took place.

Modeled after the legendary performances held at The Bluebird Café in Nashville, the series brings together three acclaimed singersongwriters each month at the inn. The musicians sit in a circle facing each other, plucking away in a “round robin” fashion, sharing their melodies and the stories behind each selection for the dozens upon dozens of curious faces surrounding them.

It’s an intimate setting. The musician is completely vulnerable, where the audience can witness the artist in their element. There are no distractions, just someone with something to say and guitar in hand.

“When a songwriter presents their work solely with their voice and instrument, the song comes through,” said singer-songwriter Jim Photoglo.

“There’s no arrangement, adornment or hype of any kind to trick the listener into thinking there’s more than there really is. Lyrics, melody, chord changes — that’s all there is, folks.”

As the performers at the recent gathering at the inn, songwriting colleagues Sally Barris and Henry Hipkens joined Photoglo. The trio are all well-known A-list wordsmiths in the Nashville music circles, with many hits garnered between them.

“Jim, Henry and I have all been writing songs behind the scenes for years,” Barris said.

“And at the Balsam Mountain Inn, we get the opportunity to share the stories behind the songs and connect with an appreciative and listening audience — that means a lot to us.”

Photoglo has penned numerous songs for the likes of Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, The Everly

Brothers and Dusty Springfield, to name a few. Balsam Mountain Inn on the eastern seaboard.

He also had a couple No. 1 hits on the Billboard I love to serve and it’s an absolute pleasure to country charts with “Fishin’ In The Dark” (The serve these people.”

Sitting down at the head table next to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) and “Hometown Honeymoon” (Alabama). With a long list of hit songwriter’s circle, one is immediately welsongs written for Martina McBride and Lee comed by faces from near and far.

To the left are David and Carol Harper, a Ann Womack, Barris’ melody “Let The Wind couple from southern Chase You” was recorded by Trisha Yearwood Georgia who drove over and Keith Urban and received a Grammy nomseven hours to attend ination in 2009. And Hipkens’ himself has had their 30th Songwriters in songs recorded or performed by Ricky Skaggs, the Round event.

Pam Tillis, Tim O’Brien and Claire Lynch.

“There’s just nothing “As far as songwriting is concerned, places like this,” David proudly like the Balsam Mountain Inn provide a venue stated. “This isn’t like in for songwriters to be heard outside of a bar where the singer is Nashville,” Hipkens said. “Such places also provide a way for songwriters to create a real conWalter Davis the background noise.

People come here to lisnection with listeners. Most songwriters are not well known and so it’s difficult to attract an ten, to hear the words and the music, the stories and the process behind how the songs audience based on name recognition alone.”

When asked just what makes performances came to be.”

“I love the atmosphere,” Carol added. like the ones at the Balsam Mountain Inn so special, Photoglo noted the importance of lis- “We’ve just met so many different people, and tening rooms, especially in terms of a singer- have made many friends, as it also really has expanded our musical tastes.” songwriter trying to get their message across.

To the right is Sam Morgan from down the “You’ll hear the writer sing their truth,” he said. “And though it may be a personal state- road in Waynesville. This is his sixth time at the ment, when the writer has done their job well, series, all of which he has come to with his wife.

“I’ve lived all over the world and there really there is a universality, and very often you find they’re singing your truth as well as their own.” is no place like the Balsam Mountain Inn,” he And yet, before even one guitar note is said. “Come up and see what this place is all played or lyric sung, the 118 folks in attendance about, otherwise you’ll be denying yourself the filled the large dining room, ready to indulge in beauty, history and music here.”

And across the table is another Waynesville not only music, but also culinary delights.

Before each show, the inn cooks up a feast of couple, Tom Sheppard and his wife. When asked mammoth proportions. Lining up at the buffet table, attendees pile their plates high with prime rib, chicken and trout offerings, which go hand-inhand with the decadent desserts endlessly flowing from the nearby kitchen.

“We see all of these people come in with a smile, grabbing for the food, sitting Held every month from February to December, the Songwriters in the down and talking to Round concert series is a popular event at the Balsam Mountain Inn. others about each dish, and that puts a Opened in 1908, the inn is celebrating its 20th anniversary of the series. smile on my face,” said Head Chef Clifford Reum. “The food comple- how many times they’ve been to the series, Tom ments the performers. We want to continue to reckoned the number hovers around 20.

“World-class music right here, just outside build the reputation of this place, to have it grow.

The more, the merrier. This place is magical, our small town of Waynesville,” he marveled.

“I don’t think there’s a whole lot of places anythere are really no other words to describe it.”

And as Reum is holding down the fort in more that you can see such incredible songthe kitchen, head server Walter Davis is zoom- writing talent — it’s an intimate feeling.”

Supervising the large dining area is Betty ing around the numerous tables, making sure every single detail is taken care of. It’s a scene Jones. With her house next door, the inn is a secthat one can’t help but notice is a lost art when ond home for her. Her late mother worked at the it comes to his professionalism in providing inn from 1962 until her passing in 2010. And throughout a lot of those years, Betty has stood you with the finest experience possible.

“I’m old school and was trained as a formal behind the front desk, helping out wherever she waiter. It’s all about attention to the individ- could, with her involvement in the ual,” he said. “There’s really nothing like the music series a main priority.

F

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Presidental candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders and Garret K. Woodward.

Garret’s photo caption: “Ran into this guy a few years back, at midnight, in the silent and empty D.C. airport. I was sitting by myself at the terminal bar, awaiting a cancelled flight to resume. Bernie was by himself, too. No entourage or bodyguards, just a guy trying to make his flight. I’ve known this

Comment to Garret’s post from a former West Virginia resident: “Really?? Y’all need help!! Hillary or Bernie as president? What kinda drugs are you people on?? Do the rest of America a favor and move to Canada.

to go under years go, Teasley purchased it and brought it back to life. Though she sold it in 2004, Teasley once again found herself at the helm of Balsam Mountain in recent years when it was in dire need of not only ownership, but also leadership.

Wandering the great hallways and large rooms of the inn, one can see for themselves just how important it is a place like Balsam Mountain stills exists for all to stroll and ponder, and not read about in history books about a place that “once was.”

After the plates are cleared off the tables, and wine glasses refilled, every chair gets turned toward the center of the dining room.

The overhead lights are dimmed, with the bulbs above the microphones bright, as if illuminating a bonfire of words and chords we’re all huddling around to keep our hearts and souls warm.

Barris, Hipkens and Photoglo trade off melodies, each as unique in tone and content

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

Want to go?

The Songwriters in the Round showcase is a monthly series at the Balsam Mountain Inn. For information on the March event or future showcases, visit www.balsammountaininn.com, call 800.224.9498 or 828.456.9498 or email info@balsammountaininn.net. Tickets are $49 per person, which includes a buffet dinner.

The inn will also be hosting national finger picking champion Richard Smith at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27. The master guitarist will be joined by his wife, cellist Julie Adams. Tickets are $47 per person, which includes a buffet dinner. as the voices and notes radiating from their acoustic guitars. Heads bob and foots tap along to the selections that run the gamut of

emotions. Love lost. Love found. Childhood nostalgia. Wonderment of what tomorrow will bring. And since it was Valentine’s Day weekend, one noticed how chairs seemed to scoot closer to significant others, with handholding in abundance while those lucky enough to have a date for the evening got cozy in the dark corners of the room.

And though you might get caught in the time warp nature of songs immortal, a couple hours have ticked away on the clock. The show must come to an end. The guitars packed up. Handshakes and hugs all around between friends, new and old. Joyous faces make plans to attend next month’s showcase.

With another night of memories — seen, felt and heard — the Balsam Mountain Inn winds down for the evening. Many head for their rooms upstairs, while others throw on thick winter coats and head out into the frozen night — all with a song in their heart and a kick in their step.

25

Smoky Mountain News

“When the inn sold in 2004, the folks that bought it didn’t really care about the series.

But, I told them if they wanted me to stay and work, then they’d have to keep the series going,” Jones said. “I couldn’t imagine the series not being here. It’s hard to explain to people what it’s like. You really have to see it for yourself.”

Jones noted the series would be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016. It came about when Teasley and longtime friend, the late Paul Craft, an iconic Nashville songwriter, started kicking around the idea of replicating the intimacy of The Bluebird Café at the inn.

“The number one thing about the series is that it’s a way to bring all these great songwriters here for the locals and visitors to see and hear,” Jones said. “They come here and become part of the inn. They love it, and then tell others about it who come and listen.”

Jones also points to Teasley as the catalyst for the inn’s success. When the inn was about

man as long as I have been alive. He’s been my ‘local’ politician since day one. North Country all the way, onward onto the national stage. Never changed. Never backed down.

I ain’t picking sides (as a good journalist should), but, hell, the guy hasn’t shifted his stance since the 1960s. No skeletons.

Nothing. Wild to see this guy who everyone said back in the day, ‘Could you imagine if he ever ran for president?’ and now he is, and is winning the vote, as seen tonight in New Hampshire. I’m just in awe of the momentum. Public excitement in politics, when it’s pure, is pretty incredible to witness.”

Garret’s response to the comment above: “Well, from a historical perspective, West Virginia was destroyed by the coal and energy industry, gutted for profit and left behind by the likes of corporations (i.e.: Koch Brothers). Twenty years ago, when the economy was thriving, was under the Bill Clinton administration. Thirty years ago, in the midst of great poverty, AIDS and such, the economy was definitely thriving, though it was an illusion as seen 30 years ago next year (1987) when Wall Street tanked after big business and greedy investors gutted the market. So, there’s that … And I will say, people still work hard Bluegrass/Americana act The Midnight for what they want. Most of us Plowboys will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. do. Truly. If anything, we’re also 21, at the Cataloochee Guest Ranch in in the most productive era of Maggie Valley. this country, in terms of output Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Colby per person. To which, West Dietz (Americana/folk) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Virginia is in the midst of a drug Feb. 20. abuse crisis, a direct result of hard-working blue collar folks The Coffee with the Poet series continues with breaking their backs for the Catherine Cater at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. energy industry, which resulted 18, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. in injuries and manipulation by Ruth’s Chris Steak House will host a dinner the pharmaceutical industry that consisting of a custom-created five-course market oxycontin and hydros to menu paired with wines and spirits at 6:30 p.m. these middle class and lower Thursday, Feb. 25, at Harrah’s Cherokee class folks, thus creating a generCasino Resort. ation of addicts, crime and civil unrest. In conclusion, your The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will neighbor isn’t out to get you, big host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 business is. That alone is where to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. ‘wake up’ should be applied.

Corporations don’t care about ence of what this country was like back then. you or me, they care about the bottom line.

Disagreement, especially politically, is one of Our youth with under-developed political the things this country was founded on. minds can’t begin to understand the posiWe’ve always had disagreement, but what’s tion you put our country in ... Ask yourself missing these days, a lost art perhaps, is the about all the criminal acts of this presidenidea of compromise. We all can find a comtial cabinet which includes Hillary Clinton. mon ground instead of standing on either How can you vote for her? Bengazi? Lying side of a large canyon and yelling at the top under oath about emails? Allowing this of our lungs to make sure the other side can crazy nuclear deal with Iran? Trade Taliban hear us. Much love, y’all.” for a traitor in the US? Created an extensive

February 17-23, 2016

Editor’s Note: On Feb. 9, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders won the Democratic primary in New Hampshire. Garret posted a photo of him and Sanders on his Facebook page with a few thoughts on Sanders, who is a longtime popular politician in Garret’s native Champlain Valley (Upstate New York/Vermont). To which, hundreds of people clicked “like” on the post, with many commenting on this image and the man himself. Below is the initial post, as well as an interaction between Garret and another person on the social media site.

race baiting war etc. Reading these posts make me sick!! Hard to believe you can call yourself an American!!!?”

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

What is Bernie’s stance? Right side of the issue? Y’all are messed up!! For the sake of our country and children ... Our grandchildren ... Wake up!! 20 to 30 years ago when I grew up things were diff. You had to work hard for what you wanted. It’s a part of life!

I've seen first hand what Democrats can do to a state ... a country ... WV was a predominant Democrat state. The state is suffering!!

Did you vote for Obama too? How about making the right choice this time and stop playing with our future!!! Others are gonna have to live here when we are gone. 18-27 years olds ... You guys don’t have the experi-

On the beat arts & entertainment

country and doing what they love best, entertaining folks with their with harmonies and instrumentation.

Tickets are $25. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 828.524.1598.

Gospel concert in Bryson City

Mountain Faith will hit the stage in Franklin on Feb. 26.

HARRAH’S WELCOMES BREAKING BENJAMIN Acclaimed rock act Breaking Benjamin will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at Harrah’s Cherokee. Over the past decade the band has achieved worldwide success through their chart-topping music, their electrifying live performances and in the process amassed a sizeable and diehard fan base. Hits include ‘The Diary of Jane,’ ‘So Cold’ and ‘I Will Not Bow.’ Their new album, 'Dark Before Dawn.’ is out now. www.harrahscherokee.com.

February 17-23, 2016

CATALOOCHEE TO HOST MIDNIGHT PLOWBOYS Bluegrass/Americana act The Midnight Plowboys will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at the Cataloochee Guest Ranch in Maggie Valley. Dinner will follow the performance. Tickets for the evening are $45 per person. www.cataloocheeranch.com or 828.926.1401.

Mountain Faith, Redhead Express to play Franklin Acclaimed Sylva-based bluegrass/gospel group Mountain Faith will perform with Redhead Express at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Since 2000, Mountain Faith has played its unique brand of bluegrass to audiences in civic centers, auditoriums, arenas, fair grounds, parks, and churches across the United States and Canada. Their fresh Appalachian take on gospel, bluegrass, folk, R&B, and pop music has earned them televised appearances on “Daystar” and, most recently, “America’s Got Talent.”

The Redhead Express are four sisters with a dream — a big dream that involves music, family, and most importantly, God, who’s makes all things possible. After leaving their home in Alaska seven years ago, the Redhead Express has spent all of their time touring the

Gospel group One Step Closer will be joined by Soul Vision during the Swain County Community Gospel Sing at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Swain County Senior Center in Bryson City.

One Step Closer began as an all-male Southern Gospel quartet in February 2010, and has grown into the mixed quartet that they are known as today. From singing at small church gatherings and homecomings, to being awarded second place at the Mountain State

One Step Closer will perform on Feb. 20 in Bryson City.

Fair Gospel Music Convention, to several appearances on the regional WGGS- TV’s “Niteline” program, they have kept their original vision of serving God and reaching souls through the ministry of song.

Free hot dog supper will be served immediately following the singing. Donations will be collected to continue funding future community gospel singings in Swain County. www.onestepclosergospel.com.

On the stage Smoky Mountain News

Open call for HART actors

26

The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for roles in the 2016 season on Feb. 21-22 at their location in Waynesville.

Directors for all of the theater’s productions will be in attendance to see actors interested in being considered for principal roles. Following these auditions directors will have the discretion of casting from those who auditioned or conducting follow-up auditions at a later date. All chorus and dance company casting will be done at a later time.

HART is primarily a volunteer based community theater but offers limited stipends to professional actors cast in leading roles. To qualify as a professional, actors must have a professional head shot and resume with credits at other professional theaters or be enrolled in actor training programs.

Auditions must include a prepared monologue and musical selections if auditioning for lead musical roles. These actors will be seen by all directors first beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Immediately following the professional auditions, at about 7:30 p.m., community theater actors will be considered based on cold readings from the scripts of each show they are interested in being considered for. An accompanist will be provided for those auditioning for roles in musicals.

Community Theater actors are considered for all roles including leads. www.harttheatre.org.

HART to present cabaret The stage production of “Miscast: A Cabaret with the Right Singer and the Wrong Song” will be held over at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-20 and 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

It will be an exciting night to reexamine the characters we think we know and to break the mold of how a performer “should” look or how a character “should” be played. Expect surprise solos, duets, quartets from the best classics, Sondheim showstoppers and everything in between.

Nothing is off the table.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for students. www.harttheater.org.

Bryson celebrates Black History Month The Jackson County NAACP will host its Black History Theater at 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Morning Star Baptist Church in Bryson City.

All Swain County people are invited to attend the program, immediately following the 10 a.m. February Membership Meeting. All attendees are invited to participate in the program, which traces the history of AfricanAmericans in this country from their arrival on slave ships, through the first and second Reconstruction periods, ending with examples of black people whose contributions have built a bridge to the future.

On the beat

• The Canton Armory will host “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” at 7 p.m. every first and third Friday of the month. The event includes mountain music, vintage country, clogging and dancing. www.cantonnc.com.

• The Canton Public Library will host Possum on a Whale (formerly the JAM Pickers Club) at 3 p.m. Feb. 21. Free. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have Sean Bendula Feb. 19, Joe Cruz (piano/pop) Feb. 20 and 27 and Daniel Shearin (singer-songwriter) Feb. 26. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host The 9th Street Stompers (gypsy jazz) at 9 p.m.

Feb. 20 and the “Sylva & Gold Dance Party” on Feb. 27 (if you wear gold, you get a prize).

828.631.4795.

ALSO:

• Heinzelmannchen Brewery (Sylva) will have Henry Wong (singer-songwriter) at 6 p.m. Feb. 25. www.yourgnometownbrewery.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an Open Mic night Feb. 17 and 24, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Feb. 18 and 25. There will also be performances by Bird In Hand (Americana) with Rye Baby (Americana) Feb. 20 and Colby Dietz (Americana/folk) Feb. 27. All events begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• The Macon County Community Building (Franklin) will host the High Mountain Squares “Rock n’ Roll 50s Dance” at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 19. Western style square dancing, main/stream and plus levels. All are welcome. Dance workshop at 6:15 p.m.

828.342.1560 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• The Madison County Arts Council (Marshall) will be hosting New Orleans act Tuba Skinny (jazz/funk) at 4 p.m. Feb. 28. $11 per person. 828.649.1301 or www.madisoncountyarts.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will host Scott Low & Johnny Monster Band Feb. 19, The Piss Poor Players Feb. 20, Natty Love Joys (roots/rock) Feb. 26 and Tail Light Rebellion Feb. 27. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. www.nonamesportspub.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 20. All are welcome to come play or simply sit and listen to sounds of Southern Appalachia.

• Sagebrush Steakhouse (Canton) will host Tonology (rock) Feb. 23. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 828.646.3750.

229 PENLAND STREET, CLYDE Phone (828) 627-1040 Fax (828) 627-2329

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

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic with Jimandi at 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays, “Funky Friday” with Bud Davis at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Isaish Breedlove (Americana) at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will a Disco Night with DJ Hurley Feb. 19 and Scott Low (Americana/folk) Feb. 26. All shows are free and at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.tippingpointtavern.com.

• Tuck’s Tap & Grille (Cullowhee) will have College Night with DJ X 10 p.m. Feb. 18 and Log Noggins 9 p.m. Feb. 20. 828.293.4688.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will have Nitrograss (bluegrass) at 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday, The Buchanan Boys (rock/country) Feb. 20 and High 5 Feb. 27. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.526.8364 or www.theuglydogpub.com.

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will have The Piss Poor Players Feb. 19, The French Broads (rock/jam) Feb. 20 and Andrew Rickman & Friends (rock/country) Feb. 27. All shows begin at 9 p.m.

• The Waynesville Public Library will host world-class jazz pianist Richard Shulman at 3 p.m. Feb. 20. Free. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a Symphony Band Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Bardo Arts Center.

Pianist Lillian Buss Pearson will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Coulter Building. www.wcu.edu.

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Smoky Mountain News

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Colby Dietz (Americana/folk) Feb. 20 and The Buchanan Boys (rock/country) Feb. 27.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

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

February 17-23, 2016

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Karaoke at Feb. 17 and 24, Bradley Carter Feb. 26 and Bobby G Feb. 27. All shows are free and at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed.

828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will hold community music jam from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18. Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. Free. 828.488.3030.

arts & entertainment

• BearWaters Brewing (Waynesville) will host Taylor Martin (singer-songwriter) at 8 p.m.

Feb. 19. www.bwbrewing.com.

nctrustlawyer.com

28 Maple St. • Sylva

27

On the street

February 17-23, 2016

arts & entertainment

WinterFest returns to Maggie Valley WinterFest Smoky Style will take place Feb. 26-28 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

The event will feature an array of activities to do in the mountains during the winter, and will highlight a sled dog exhibition, mountain art/craft vendors, timber sports, outdoor sporting exhibits, K-9 and first responders, food and entertainment.

The Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College is hosting the 10th Annual Wildgame Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds.

This event coincides with the WinterFest Smoky Style weekend celebration.

The dinner is a fundraiser for students.

Funds generated during the event will provide the financial assistance needed to attend the Annual Southeastern Wildlife Conclave, support a wildlife student scholarship, and provide additional opportunities for students to learn from and network with natural resource professionals at state, regional, and national meetings.

There will be door prize drawings, a silent auction, and a live auction. The grand prize drawing will be a lifetime hunting/fishing license. There will also be live entertain-

JOIN US FOR ARTS EVENTS AT WCU FEB. 17-20 | WED-SAT. 7:30PM | HOEY | $

Play: Macbeth is the New Black

FEB. 22 | MON. 7:30PM | BARDO ARTS CENTER | FREE

Concert: Symphony Band / Concert Band

OPEN THRU MARCH 25 | FINE ART MUSEUM | FREE

Smoky Mountain News

Exhibit: Solitude & Mystery: John Julius Wilnoty

MAR. 3 |THUR. 7:30PM | BARDO ARTS CENTER | $

Concert: Artist in Residence w/ Asheville Symphony SAVE THE DATE: MARCH 5 | SATURDAY | BARDO ARTS CENTER | $

PARENTS NIGHT OUT VISIT THE FINE ART MUSEUM FOR ONGOING EXHIBITS | FINEARTMUSEUM.WCU.EDU

EVENTS ARE BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE COLLEGE OF FINE AND PERFORMING ARTS AT WCU. JOIN FRIENDS OF THE ARTS TODAY!

828.227.7028 | ARTSCALENDAR.WCU.EDU

28

LEGO Club in Bryson City There will be a LEGO Club meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

The library will provide Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up, the only thing area children need to bring is their imagination. All area children are invited.

828.488.3030.

• Ruth’s Chris Steak House will host a dinner consisting of a custom-created five-course menu paired with wines and spirits at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. $95 per person. Reservations are required. www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ruthchris.com.

ALSO:

• The Waynesville Public Library is partnering with Haywood County 4-H and will be having yoga classes for kids. The class will meet

ment and a game and non-game calling competition. Bring your favorite wildgame dish, vegetables, and/or dessert. Bread and drinks will be provided. Admission is $10 ($5 if you bring a dish). Children under 12 eat free.

Please come join the fun and help support our students.

On Saturday, WinterFest Smoky Style kicks off at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds with gates opening at 10 a.m. and Opening Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. There will also be sled dog demonstrations, law enforcement K-9 demonstrations, live music, food, vendors, a bonfire, and more. The HCC Timbersports Team will demonstrate throughout the day from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

“The Great Alone” movie will be showing at the Strand at 38 Main at 7 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

On Sunday, WinterFest Smoky Style continues with a Cataloochee Ranch breakfast with the mushers beginning at 8 a.m.

This year’s event is sponsored in part by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. For more information about WinterFest Smoky Style, visit www.winterfestsmokystyle.com.

from 3 to 5 p.m. Feb. 18, Feb. 25 and March 10 in the auditorium. This class is based on curriculum created by the Arkansas 4-H and designed for ages 5 and up, although younger children are welcome. Children are invited to bring a favorite beach towel and water bottle. Free.

• A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m.

Feb. 20 and 27 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.586.6300.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27 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.

Feb. 17 and 24 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 828.452.6000.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 1 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden in Waynesville.

@Smoky MtnNews

On the wall

and collector Lambert Wilson. An exhibition reception is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. in the Star Atrium of the museum on Thursday, March 17. Wilson will be on hand to discuss his collection and the artistic, cultural and regional importance of Wilnoty’s works.

Admission and parking are free. The museum is closed on university holidays and breaks. www.wcu.edu.

EXPRESSIONIST PAINTINGS ON DISPLAY IN WAYNESVILLE

Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

828.524.ARTS or arts4all@dnet.net.

An ARTSaturday workshop for elementary school age children and their families will be held from 10 a.m. noon Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Macon County Public Library Children’s Area in Franklin.

The Black History Month-themed event will include stories and songs from the Underground Railroad and Civil Rights Movement, including “Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd,” “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” and “Oh, Freedom.” Keyboardist Lionel Caynon will provide live music.

Make-and-take projects include handprint unity wreaths and paper quilt patterns.

No pre-registration is required; children may attend any part of the workshop. All materials are provided by the Arts Council.

In case of bad weather, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 27.

ARTSaturday is produced by the Arts Council of Macon County, with funding from the North

Discounted Penland classes for WNC residents Penland School of Crafts has open spaces in a number workshops in its second summer session available at half tuition to residents of the following Western North Carolina counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey.

Regular room and board charges apply, but students are not required to stay on campus.

Complete information is available in the classes section of the Penland website: www.penland.org. To enroll, call the Penland registrar at 828.765.2359, ext 1106.

• The Happy Wanderers, a local senior social group, will be meeting for cornhole and table tennis at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the Old Hazelwood Gym next to the Folkmoot Center. 828.452.6789 or recreation@haywoodnc.net.

• The films “Mad Max: Fury Road” (Feb. 18), “Spectre-007” (Feb. 19) and “Inside Out” (Feb. 20) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Show times are 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Free. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• Oscar-nominated documentary shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 17-18, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

There will also be a free screening of “Beauty and the Beast” at noon and 2 p.m.

Feb. 20 and The Good Dinosaur at noon and 2 p.m. Feb. 27. www.38main.com.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Another “first” at the Ranch

The MIDNIGHT PLOWBOYS p with special guest Arvil Freeman p

Smoky Mountain News

Children’s workshop celebrates Black History

ALSO:

• A community art group meets at 10 a.m. every Wednesday at the Hudson Library in Highlands. 828.526.3031.

February 17-23, 2016

Contemporary painter R. Bruce Brennan will be on display through Feb. 28 at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville.

Expressionist landscapes and seascapes, capturing atmospheric dawning and setting suns mountains and seas. The award-winning artist resides in Weaverville. He received his BFA, from the San Francisco Art Institute. His work is in many private collections in the USA and internationally throughout Europe.

• There will be an art opening from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. Featured artist Kevin Adams will be showcasing his photographs and doing a meet-and-greet. Heavy d’oeuvres will be served. 828.926.7478.

• Interior designer Tami Faulkner will give a guest artist lecture at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

Photo by Virginia Hunter

An exhibition of works by renowned sculptor John Julius Wilnoty of Cherokee continues on display at Western Carolina University’s Fine Arts Museum through Friday, March 25.

A member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Wilnoty’s pieces are often complex and intricate, sometimes with smaller designs of birds and animals appearing within figures of larger ones. He works primarily in native woods, including cherry, and with bone and dark-hued pipestone, with carvings that reflect mythology, nature and wildlife. His work has been featured in many articles and exhibitions, including the Smithsonian Institution.

The exhibit, “In Solitude and Mystery: John Julius Wilnoty,” appears courtesy of the North Carolina Arts Council, Jackson County Arts Council, Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual

There will be two upcoming craft workshops to be held at the Wild Fern Studio in Bryson City.

• The basket-making workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20. $40 with all materials included.

• The all-natural lotion making workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 27. Learn to extract oils from plants and herbs to create your own salves and lotions. $20 with all materials included.

To register, call 828.736.1605.

• The Jackson County Cooperative Extension will be making aprons as part of a community service project for the Appalachian Women’s Museum. The monthly event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the extension office in Sylva. Bring your sewing machine and scissors. Lunch and snacks will be provided. 828.586.4009.

arts & entertainment

Basket-making, natural lotion workshops

WCU exhibit for Cherokee artist

Cataloochee Ranch •

29

Books Florence King: a biting wit that took no prisoners 30

Smoky Mountain News

n Withering Slights: The Bent Pin Collection (National Review Books, 2015, ISBN 978-0-9847650-3-4, 186 pages, $24.95), the recently deceased (she died in January) Florence King demonstrates once again why she was one of America’s most biting and genuinely funny social and political critics.

Like Deja Reviews: Florence King All Over Again and Stet, Damnit!: The Misanthrope’s Corner, Withering Slights offers us a collection of writings by King that first appeared in the conservative magazine, National Review. And like these two books and several other volumes, including Writer Reflections in a Jaundiced Eye and Lump It or Leave It, King brought that famous jaundiced eye to the contemporary scene.

Though she wrote for more than 25 years for what most politicos would regard as America’s quintessential magazine of the Right, King should appeal to readers across the political spectrum, provided they own a sense of humor. (And let’s face it: many of those immersed in politics these days, whether on the left or the right, are as humorless as dirt). Her sense of the ridiculous and the absurd have brought her readers from across the political spectrum. She was, for example, a frequent correspondent with Christopher Hitchens, the late speaker and columnist and a self-proclaimed Marxist.

Their friendship through correspondence began after King reviewed one of his books with the tag “If Christopher Hitchens is a Marxist, I want to be one too.” Derision of idiocies large and small made these two writers literary comrades.

Though she sometimes writes of politics, King was at her best as a cultural critic. Like H.L. Mencken, she fires off volleys at the American herd mentality, but she has plenty of ammunition left over to blast our elites as

Jeff Minick

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well. She rails against our infatuation with children, our ignorance of the past, our obsession with youth, our worship of celebrities.

to a physician: They asked me how much I drank and I said, “I don’t know. After I finish writing, I unwind with two or three or four, depending, then when I’m hungry I eat.” The ER doctor quoted only the numbers and added, in that tight-sphinctered medical prose: “Patient admits to doing this heavy drinking for many years.” If doctors worked on newspapers they would know what heavy drinking really is, but they don’t, so officially and for posterity, I am a designated drunk.

My doctor latched on to this, probably weighing addiction specialties. “What do you drink?”

“Vodka.” “’Straight?”

“No, I have Russian wetnurses.” She asked for a definition. “It’s a vodka and milk highball,” I explained.

“You drink that?”

“Don’t worry, it’s skim milk.”

Throughout her essay collections, King often holds up movies and television as mirrors for our buffoonery. Here in Withering Slights, she uses our entertainment industry both to compare and contrast curWithering Slights: The Bent Pin Collection by Florence King. rent events. In the essay National Review Books, 2015. 186 pages.

“Breakdown,” for example, where she sneers at Ellen DeGeneres for her public and hysterical weepShe lampoons men and women who weep in ing on a comedy show, King brings up the public, cars that have become “computers on 1940s Abbott & Costello radio performance wheels,” the current state of Hollywood when, a few hours before the show was schedmoviemaking, medical practices, big governuled to start live, Lou Costello learned that his ment, and lying politicians (but there — I son had drowned. The show wasn’t canceled; repeat myself ).

Here is King’s take on one of her rare visits the news of his son’s death was withheld until

‘Coffee with the Poet’ returns The Coffee with the Poet series continues with Catherine Cater at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Carter is the author of Growing Gills, Swamp Monster and the chapbook Marks of the Witch. She directs the English Education program at Western Carolina University. She also teaches education, writing, and literature courses, and publishes and researches in poetry, American literature, and English Education.

The Coffee with the Poet series is cosponsored by the NetWest program of the North Carolina Writer’s Network and gathers on the third Thursday of each month.

828.586.9499.

John C. Campbell Folk School welcomes poets The N.C. Writers Network West will sponsor The Literary Hour, a program of poetry and prose reading at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

The Literary Hour is held each month at the Folk School on the third Thursday of the month, unless otherwise indicated. Usually two members of the N.C. Writers’ Network West provide readings for this program. It is held in the library of the Keith House and attended by students at the Folk School, members of NetWest and the general public.

Free and open to the public.

the performance ended; and Costello went on the air with “the same ding-dong hot timing, the same consistent, exquisitely calibrated balance between the two very different personalities, straight man and fall guy, that had inspired a critic to call their “Who’s On First?” routine ‘a work of art.’” The next day, editorialists and commentators heaped praise on Costello for this act, labeling him a “trouper” and a “thoroughbred.” In such a situation today, critics would undoubtedly label him a man with ice in his heart.

In “Her Other Two Opponents,” King examines Hillary Clinton and the election of 2008 by contrasting her candidacy with Bear Grylls in the survivalist show “Man vs. Wild,” where the intrepid Bear enters the wilds of deserts, mountains, and jungles armed with nothing but his two hands “and … well, those other two things.”

During one of these performances, Bear decides to spend a cold evening in the desert in the company of a dead camel. He skins the camel to make a blanket, then cuts open the belly to find extra water. King writes: “Camels are huge and have lots of entrails— brown, green, purple, yellow, pink, in all shapes and sizes. Bear’s search might strike male viewers as the essence of strength and resourcefulness, but all I could think of were those times when women root through our chaotic handbags babbling, ‘I just know it’s in here someplace.’”

At the end of Withering Slights, Florence King inadvertently revealed that, like Lou Costello, she is a class act, a thoroughbred.

After stoically and briefly describing her current physical difficulties, she writes, “my most fervent prayer is ‘Please let me die in the saddle.’ A writer must write. Writing is oxygen; a real writer is driven to write as long as it is mentally and physically possible.”

So here’s to you, Florence King. In that politically incorrect parlance you so often celebrated, you were one tough old broad.

And damned funny too.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher.

Contact him at minick0301@gmail.com.)

Writer open mic in Sylva The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. The North Carolina Writers’ Network connects, promotes, and serves the writers of this state. They provide education in the craft and business of writing, opportunities for recognition and critique of literary work, resources for writers at all stages of development, support for and advocacy of the literary heritage of North Carolina, and a community for those who write. www.citylightsnc.com or 828.586.9499.

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32

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Here to stay

Native to prairie and desert environments, coyotes can make themselves at home everywhere from forests to urban jungles. Donated photo

Coyotes make themselves at home in WNC

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER t’s been 30 years since Raymond Bunn saw his first coyote, and that moment — Clay County, 1986 — is not one he’s likely to forget.

“I remember well seeing it,” said Bunn, manager at Shed’s Hunting Supply in Sylva.

“When I first seen it, I thought it was a German shepherd dog or something like that, but it was a coyote.”

These days, spotting one of the wild canines is no longer such a sentinel experience. They live in forests and backyards, mountainsides and commercial districts. They’re superbly adaptable, scraping out a living in big-city neighborhoods just as adeptly as in remote wilderness. They’re tough, and when it comes to dinnertime, they’re not picky.

“If opportunity arises, they’re going to eat anything that’s weaker than them,” Bunn said. “That’s what they do.”

That’s a reality that’s gotten coyotes in trouble with everyone from hunters to cattlemen to pet lovers since their eastward advance brought them to North Carolina for good in the 1980s. Hunters don’t like them because they kill game species like turkey and deer. Farmers don’t like them because they steal small livestock like calves and goats. And after the mysterious disappearance of a beloved cat or small dog, pet owners are apt to blame coyotes for their furry friend’s untimely demise.

“I’d say there’s a big difference of opinion on coyotes. Some people like them, some people hate them,” said Brandon Hyde, who works at Shed’s Maggie Valley location. “But most people hate them.”

Hyde, a turkey hunter, dislikes coyotes mainly because they’re “rough” on the turkey population. The 24-year-old Cherokee resident says he’s seen a dearth of the gobbling

I

birds compared to his earlier days of hunting, and he blames coyotes.

Coyotes are also a common scapegoat when it comes to deer populations. Fawns, among a wide diversity of other foods, are part of the coyote’s diet, and many hunters will say the canines have played a role in the continued scarcity of deer sightings in Western North Carolina.

“I’m hearing there’s no deer because of the elk,” said Haywood County resident Tom Ensley at a N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission hearing last month. “Well, I think it’s the coyotes. I know it’s the coyotes.”

“Coyotes is killing the deer population,” concurred Gary Burch, of Clyde, at the same meeting.

AN OVERBLOWN THREAT? Coyotes do eat game animals, but the truth of their impact on the population is a bit more subtle than that, said the Wildlife Commission’s district biologist Justin McVey. For the most part, coyotes subsist on rodents and small mammals, but they’ll eat everything from grasshoppers to blackberries to goats to scavenged carrion. McVey studied coyotes as part of his master’s thesis, and he can attest that it’s quite impossible, when dissecting coyote scat, to figure out whether those deer hairs came from a deer the coyote had killed or one it found already dead. They eat both.

If you want a scapegoat to blame for fewer deer and turkey sightings over the years, he said, coyotes probably aren’t the best one.

“With our deer population in Western

North Carolina, it’s more related to habitat than anything else,” he said. “We have so much national forest out here that is in a mature state, that doesn’t really bode well for deer. If we could get more early successional habitat in our state, our deer population would benefit greatly.”

Taking a look at metrics over the past five years such as number of hunters, number of animals harvested and the likelihood of harvesting an animal on any given day of hunting — as reported by the Wildlife Commission — there appears to be no real correlation between the coyote harvest and hunters’ luck with deer and turkey.

Besides, McVey said, coyotes are “kind of lazy.” They may eat an occasional house cat or calf, but they don’t target them. Most of the

“I’m hearing there’s no deer because of the elk.

Well, I think it’s the coyotes. I know it’s the coyotes.”

Unwelcome settlers Coyotes aren’t from around these parts, though to look at how easily they’ve carved out a niche in Western North Carolina, it might be easy to believe otherwise.

The first one arrived in North Carolina as a captive in 1933, sent to Mecklenberg County to be used in training for fox hunting dogs, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that the animals began to appear entrenched in North Carolina’s natural landscape.

“The majority of the immigration came from just natural movement following highways,” said Justin McVey, district biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “They’re really, really good at living around people, and as people cut roads, they followed those roads and followed human development.”

— Haywood County resident Tom Ensley

Native to the prairies and deserts of Mexico and central North America, coyotes now live throughout the United States, Mexico, in much of Canada — and in all 100 North Carolina counties.

For the most part, they’re not welcome.

In North Carolina, coyotes are given no protection, deemed nonnative invasives that can be shot with any weapon in any season at any time of day or night in all but five counties, clustered in the eastern part of the state. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians even has a bounty on them, paying tribal members $25 apiece to turn in a coyote carcass — the tribe allows shooting only, no trapping, but it’s still an open season.

The only place where coyotes get a little protection is in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where their spread is considered a “natural migration.”

time, there are easier meals, and because they don’t work in packs like wolves do, they’re out when it comes to large prey like adult deer and cows.

But where coyotes are concerned, anecdotes abound.

“A lot of people say they don’t kill grown deer, and I remember a few years ago Lake Logan was froze and they run a full-grown deer out on the ice and killed it,” said Mark Rogers, a member of the WNC Sportsman’s Club, which holds an annual coyote hunting contest. “They ripped its guts out, was eating it alive.”

CALF THIEVES In the world of agriculture, coyotes can have a substantial financial impact. A newborn calf is worth somewhere in the $200 to $300 range, said Jackson-Swain Extension Director Rob Hawk, while an older calf might go for $500 or $600. Lose a few of those, and the impact

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“They’re kind of in a gray area in that humans likely had a hand in spreading them all over the country, but because it’s considered natural spreading, we just manage them as a natural part of the ecosystem,” explained Joe Yarkovich, a park biologist.

The park doesn’t do any kind of active management with coyotes or track their population levels. The only time park officials get involved with coyotes is when one becomes a nuisance, looting campgrounds for food. Those coyotes usually have to put down, but it doesn’t happen often, maybe once every two or three years, Yarkovich said.

But just because you don’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there — in force. Smart, adaptive and prolific, coyotes thrive everywhere from big city alleys to remote forestland, with a diet made up of whatever is there to eat.

“They’re everywhere,” McVey said.

S EE COYOTES, PAGE 34

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ark Rogers sticks his hand through the cold air outside Bethel Grocery into the even more frigid interior of the standalone freezer settled beside the building along U.S. 276 in Haywood County. There’s a dead coyote inside, folded body hard and rigid through a combination of cold and rigor mortis. Rogers pulls it out into the sunlight, where bright rays bounce shine off its array of red, gray and white hairs.

“That one’s actually got a pretty coat on it,” says Cheyenne Keener, who owns Cheyenne’s Corner, a nook inside Bethel Grocery selling guns and other hunting supplies.

In all likelihood, the fur will someday

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matically winning prizes such as gift cards and tickets to the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet. To enter all a hunter needs to do is bring the coyote by Bethel Grocery or Shed’s Hunting Supply and, if desired, leave the carcass behind for use in a rabies study the U.S. Department of Agriculture is conducting.

With a contest deadline of Feb. 27, the tally so far is a good bit lower than last year’s total, 14 as of Feb. 12. There don’t seem to be as many coyotes about this year, but that’s likely not an indicator of the strength of the overall population, according to Justin McVey, district biologist for the Wildlife Commission.

“Populations wax and wane,” he said.

“They’re never steady.”

Roger’s lifetime tally for coyote is 30. It’s

Cheyenne Keener displays a coyote pelt along the counter of his store within Bethel Grocery.

Holly Kays photo

end up adorning a coat hood in China or Russia, said Rogers, a longtime coyote trapper and member of the Western North Carolina Sportsman’s Club. Each coyote he traps earns him $30 to $40 from its sale to the Wisconsin-based North American Fur Auction.

People like the fur. But, by and large, they don’t like the animal, which the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission considers an invasive and is blamed for the deaths of deer, dogs, cats and calves alike. They’re running rampant, and something needs to control them, many say. That’s why Rogers started up the WNC Sportsman’s Club Coyote Contest. They’ve done it three out of the past four years with a goal of exterminating as many coyotes as possible.

“We’ll never ever be rid of them, and I think really the only thing to do is to try and control the numbers,” Rogers said.

Last year, the contest brought in about 40 dead coyotes. Each coyote earns its hunter a ticket for a prize drawing, with the first-, second- and third-place hunters auto-

a number he’s worked hard for — trapping a coyote is no easy feat.

“Catching a coyote would be to me like a trophy buck because there’s that level of challenge,” Rogers said. “I have a lot of respect for them. I don’t hate them or anything like that.”

Thought goes into where the traps are set, how they’re set and measures the hunter takes to control the human scent on them. Then, the traps have to be checked daily to determine whether anything’s been snagged. Non-target animals can be turned loose without injury, but if a coyote’s caught in the trap then Rogers had about an hour’s worth of work ahead of him to kill and skin it.

Some people opt to bring them in with calls instead, purchasing a contraption that puts out a noise like a wounded rabbit to attract the coyotes. That can be a more challenging tack to take, Rogers said.

“I think a lot of them comes in here will come to the calls, but being thick and forested you can’t see them at a long dis-

Smoky Mountain News

When you ask around about coyotes, the tenor of the conversation is nearly always negative. But with the animals being a relatively new addition to North Carolina’s wildlife community, much is still unknown about how they interact and fit in among their wild neighbors.

For example, it pays to point out that having a large, canine predator is not a new thing for North Carolina. Wolves used to roam the Appalachians, hunting prey as big and bigger than what coyotes take down.

So, while coyotes certainly do plenty to make themselves unpopular, could it be argued that they’re simply filling a vacant ecological role?

“I do think they’re kind of taking that large carnivore, large predator role,” said

WNC hunters attempt to curb coyote populations with hunt

February 17-23, 2016

STILL A MYSTERY

Control from the top

tance,” he said, “so once they get close they smell your scent. They’re super sharp animals.”

The coyote’s intelligence and general grit are undisputed, and while most hunters are eager and willing to shoot one whenever possible, the animal’s tenacity has earned it grudging admiration as well.

Just like the Appalachian stalwarts who hunt it, the coyote is a survivor, a tough and cunning being that will make the most out of even the worst situation.

“Even though we do shoot them, I got a lot of respect for them,” said Raymond Bunn, manager at Shed’s Hunting Supply in Sylva, as he pulled down the tailgate on the truck parked outside the store. A pair of coyotes sat in the back, shot in the wee hours of the morning at his home near Dillsboro.

Bunn uses bait to attract his coyotes. He puts out old food scraps, anything likely to entice a coyote, and waits for the animals to come. He does it because he enjoys hunting, but like most people who go coyote hunting, there’s a public service mentality involved as well.

“I enjoy hunting and also feel like it’s trying to help somewhat to keep a population down,” Bunn said.

Coyotes eat just about everything, hunters explain, but what eats the coyotes?

Nothing. They need a predator.

“They’re not bad animals as long as you control the population, just like any other animal,” said 26-year-old Robert Minton, of Waynesville. Minton, stopping by Bethel Grocery, had just shot two coyote near his hunting cabin in Wilkes County. Not for the hunting contest — just because he wanted to protect the area’s deer population.

It sounds like a simple formula. The more coyotes you kill, the fewer there will be, resulting in less predation on game species. And with most animals, that’s just how it works — but not with coyotes.

“One of the really unique things about coyotes and one of the reasons they are so adaptable is that the more you kill them or persecute them, the more they reproduce,” explained Ben Prater, regional director for Defenders of Wildlife.

It’s called “compensatory reproduction” — when a coyote population experiences increased pressure from hunting, it responds by producing larger litters more often.

“It’s (hunting is) not going to have an impact on the population. In fact, it could have the unintended consequence of only increasing it because of that adaptation,” Prater said.

McVey disagreed with Prater’s conclusion but acknowledged the impact of the coyote’s adaptation.

“It (hunting) can definitely help, but it has to be a really intensive effort coupled with trapping,” he said, adding that actually eradicating the species is probably out of the question.

If there’s one point everyone can agree on, it’s that one.

“They’ll always be here,” Rogers said.

outdoors

adds up quick.

“There is a monetary loss, especially with a calf,” Hawk said, an effect amplified by the small herd size — usually 20 to 30 head of cattle — most area cattlemen keep.

That said, Hawk gets “almost no” calls about coyote issues. Landowners call him out for help with black bears, skunks, beavers — all kinds of wildlife — but not really coyotes. That doesn’t mean the animals don’t present a challenge for farmers, however. In the last three years, Whittier area cattleman Joe Ward has lost four calves to coyotes. Or, to what he assumes are coyotes. They’re sneaky and hard to spot.

But the sneakiness is a trademark in itself. Ward’s been taking care of cattle for a long time, and he knows what to look for.

“No,” he said when asked if he’s ever seen a coyote take his calves, “but I seen them around, and usually if a dog or another animal does it you’ll find traces of the carcass and stuff. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, if a coyote does it you won’t find nothing. You won’t find a hair, you won’t find nothing.”

Those calves were on track to grow into cattle that would sell for more than $1,000, so the coyote’s meal represents a significant loss. Ward’s tried a few different tactics to keep his cattle safe — donkeys, llamas, a guard dog — but it hasn’t seemed to work. Now, his attitude is simply “whatever happens, happens.”

Calves aren’t the only animals on a farm or piece of property that coyotes will snack on. Any smaller livestock is fair game, as well as small dogs and cats. Coyotes are pretty good at doing all the things guaranteed to make enemies fast.

“They are a good-looking animal, especially ones that’s healthy, but when they start eating people’s house cats and eating their dogs, after a while people don’t think they’s so cute anymore,” Bunn said.

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McVey. Joe Yarkovich, wildlife biologist for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, agrees with that assessment. Unlike the Wildlife Commission, which considers coyotes to be an invasive species and places no restrictions on when and how they may be hunted — except for five counties in eastern North Carolina where reintroduced red wolves are often mistaken for coyotes at nighttime — the park considers them to have arrived naturally and thus treats them just like any other protected animal in its boundaries. The park doesn’t do any outright coyote management but also doesn’t have any kind of population control program.

Coyotes certainly have a role to play in the balance of life in the forest, Yarkovich said. For instance, they help keep the wild hogs — an unwelcome invasive — in check by killing some of the piglets each year, a service that native animals like bears and bobcats perform as well. Of course, he added, they take out native species too, but that’s how nature works.

“I understand some of the impacts they have and I’m not saying they’re necessarily beneficial to have out there, but they’re pretty interesting animals,” Yarkovich said.

“They’re survivors.”

McVey, too, is fully aware of both sides of the coyote coin.

“I’m really kind of on the fence with the coyote thing, whether it’s a good, bad, or

A coyote hunting contest is aiming to take out as many of the opportunistic predators as possible. Holly Kays photo

indifferent thing,” McVey said. “I think it probably depends on the area and the prey base.”

For Ben Prater, regional director for Defenders of Wildlife, it’s a question that simply needs more information to develop

Smoky Mountain News 34

an answer. Western North Carolina is still only about three decades into playing host to coyotes, and there’s plenty more to learn about how the animals use their environment and interact with their neighbors — human and not.

“I think we need to understand more about the coyote’s ecology in this new situation, this new environment, this habitat, and then decide what the goal’s going to be,” Prater said.

As it stands now, nobody even knows how many coyotes there are in North Carolina. Nobody — not the Wildlife Commission, not the park, not the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians — conducts any kind of population estimate for coyote. Reports of how many there are, how healthy they appear and where the pockets of population are highest are purely anecdotal.

Though nobody’s much worried about the population’s fragility.

Coyotes are tough, opportunistic, fast-reproducing and adaptable.

According to pretty much anybody you ask, they’re not going anywhere.

“They’re survivors,” Bunn said, “and everybody might as well get to where they enjoy seeing them, because they’re here to stay.”

THE FAMILY CARE CENTER

February 17-23, 2016

outdoors

COYOTES, CONTINUED FROM 33

February is

Call 828-554-5565 to make an appointment.

American Heart Month Make sure that yours is happy and healthy!

77 Painttown Road (Hwy. 19) • Cherokee, North Carolina

Learn how to grow a prize berry patch

$199

outdoors

A crash course on starting up a patch of strawberries, raspberries or blackberries will be offered next week in Sylva and Bryson City.

The class, taught by the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, will cover site selection, soil conditions, pruning, fertility needs, thinning principals, weed control, distinctions between various varieties and basic cultural needs of the plants.

Controls for common disease and insect problems will also be discussed.

■ 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva.

■ 10-11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Swain Extension Center in Bryson City.

Free. Register with Christy Bredenkamp, christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu, or call 828.586.4009 or 828.488.3848.

LOSE UP TO 25 LBS IN 1 MONTH Physician-supervised weight loss program

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Invasive plants focus of upcoming workshop

Franklin-area forest road closed for logging

Smoky Mountain News

A 6-mile stretch of Rainbow Springs Road near Franklin will stay closed through mid-May for logging going on nearby.

The road, also known as Forest Service Road 437, is in the Nantahala District of the Nantahala National Forest and connects U.S. 64 and Wayah Road. The northern 6 miles will be closed, but the southern 6.4 miles will remain unaffected.

The timber harvest will take place immediately adjacent to the roadway with a stated purpose of forest restoration and improvement of wildlife habitat.

828.524.6441.

February 17-23, 2016

An all-day workshop to help landscape professionals get a handle on invasive plants will be held Friday, Feb. 26, in Highlands by the Coalition for Non-native Invasive Plant Management.

The morning will include an overview of the invasive plants in the region, eradication and control efforts, and native alternatives to invasive ornamentals. The afternoon will cover invasive species prevention and management, the process of biological invasions and strategies for predicting invasiveness.

Morning is free, afternoon is $50.

Taught by Randy and Becky Westbrooks, invasive plant specialists from Southeastern Community College, and Dan Pitillo, professor emeritus from Western Carolina University. www.highlandsbiological.org or 828.526.2602.

SPACE AVAILABLE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

828 | 452 | 4251

35

outdoors

Taste — and hear — the wild Get a taste of the wild with students in the Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College as they host the 10th annual Wildgame Dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds.

In addition to a one-of-a-kind potluck meal featuring a menu of wild game dish-

scholarship and student participation in state, regional and national meetings of natural resources professionals. $10 a person, or $5 if you bring a dish to share. Free for children under 12. Bread and drinks provided, with participants invited to bring game, vegetable and dessert dishes. Being billed as part of the WinterFest Smoky Style events happening the same weekend. 828.627.4560.

Help Franklin become more bikable and walkable

Smoky Mountain News

February 17-23, 2016

es — with visitors encouraged to bring their own creation to share — the evening will include an animal calling competition, for both game and non-game species.

There will be live entertainment and a silent and live auction as well.

Proceeds from the dinner will help students in HCC’s Wildlife Club attend the annual Southeastern Wildlife Conclave, as well as supporting a wildlife student

WinterFest Smoky Style will return for its second year Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, injecting the February doldrums with the excitement of sled dog racing, timber sports and music.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the grounds will be alive with demonstrations from sled dogs, law enforcement K-9 dogs, the Haywood Community College Timbersports Team, the International Weight Pull Association and live music from a rotating cast of homegrown acts.

Gates open at 10 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. by Cherokee Beloved Man Jerry Wolfe and ROTC groups from Pisgah and Tuscola high schools. The event will Kirk Wall with his conclude with a bonfire before it siberian huskies. ends at 6 p.m.

The Saturday festival will be the a.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Cataloochee Ranch most visible portion of the WinterFest celeoutside Maggie Valley. bration, but not the only one.

■ The long-standing Wild Game Dinner ■ The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville hosted by the student Wildlife Club at will have a special showing of “The Great Haywood Community College coincides Alone” — a documentary telling the inspirwith WinterFest weekend and is being tied ing comeback story of champion sled dog in as a related event as well. Held at 6 p.m. racer Lance Mack on the Alaska tundra — Friday, Feb. 26, at the Haywood County Fair at 7 p.m. Feb. 26 and 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. Grounds.

27.

Organized by the Haywood County ■ A hearty breakfast with the sled dog Tourism Development Authority. www.winmushers — and a chance to hang out with terfestsmokystyle.com. the dogs afterward — will be held 8 to 9:30

Special Olympics coaches needed People interested in coaching this year’s Haywood County Special Olympics team will gather at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Coaches are needed for aquatics, bowling, cheerleading, cycling, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball, volleyball and track and field.

828.456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

welcomes w elc

Waynesville W ay | 828.454.9816 Asheville | 828.274.4555 Ashe Arden Ar de | 828.209.0925 Hendersonville | 828.692.4356 Hend

pardeehospital.org 36

Share ideas for making Franklin more pedestrian and cyclist friendly during a public input meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 23, at First Presbyterian Church’s Tartan Hall.

The town is currently developing a bicycle and pedestrian plan to guide future investments in facilities, which could include everything from expanded sidewalks to bike lanes to signs. A grant from the N.C. Department of Transportation is supporting the initiative, with matching contributions from the town.

Input from people who live, work and play in Franklin will be important to coming up with a quality final product. If you can’t make the meeting there’s a survey at www.bikewalkfranklin.wordpress.com/ab out/survey. 828.524.2516.

Celebrate winter Smoky-style

WCU Half Marathon around the corner

on “Training Program” and then “Group Run” to access the form. valleyofthelilies@wcu.edu.

It’s time to start training for the Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5K, coming to Western Carolina University Saturday, April 2.

Early bird prices of $20 for the 5K and $40 for the half end March 5. Proceeds benefit Ascent Partnership, an initiative involving WCU and Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital.

New this year is a way to connect with other participants to find training and running partners.

Go to halfmarathon.wcu.edu and click

Fly fishing course offered in Cherokee An all-day crash course on fly fishing will be held Saturday, Feb. 27, at the Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians in Cherokee.

Learn everything you need to get started in this growing form of outdoor recreation.

Ages 12 or older. Free, but space is limited. fearnofishbob@att.net.

Get the scoop on Waynesville Rec summer camp Parents hoping to get their kids in spring break camp or summer day camps with Waynesville Parks and Recreation must attend an open house meeting before enrolling, with sessions planned for 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, 25 and 29 as well as March 2, 8 and 15.

“There will be a great deal of physical exercise involved in our camps,” said Tim Petrea, program supervisor for the rec department. “The open house is a good opportunity to explain our product.”

Upcoming camps programs include Spring Break Camp April 4-8, as well as multiple summer camp options.

828.456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

outdoors February 17-23, 2016

Smoky Mountain News

37

outdoors

Nearly 50 acres conserved along national forest boundary A purchase of 48 acres adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest and the Highlands of Roan by the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy saved the tract from development. “The tract was slated for development but SAHC was able to work with the developers to purchase the land for conservation,� said Land Protection Director Michelle Pugliese. “It’s a great example of conservation serving as a viable alternative to an unrealized development.�

The tract shares a half-mile boundary with the national forest and boast elevations exceeding 4,500 feet. It’s within two miles of the Appalachian Trail and in the state-designat-

Don’t Miss WinterFest Smoky Style!

February 26-28, 2016 FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS, TIMES AND LOCATIONS, GO TO WINTERFESTSMOKYSTYLE.COM Sled Dog Exhibitions Mountain Art/Craft Vendors Timber Sports Outdoor Sporting Exhibits K-9 and First Responders Food and Entertainment Winter in the Mountains is Fun and Magical!

WinterFestSmokyStyle.com info@WinterFestSmokyStyle.com B_^]b^aTS Qh 7Phf^^S C^daXb\ 0dcW^aXch “ fff EXbXc=2B\^ZXTb R^\

ed Roan Mountain Massif Natural Area — about 75 percent of the property falls with-

Hiking Roan Highlands.

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy photo

in the Roan Mountain Important Bird Area designated by the National Audubon Society.

Smoky Mountain News

February 17-23, 2016

332-46

Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired?

Cold & Flu Season is Here.We Can Help.

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

828.452.0911 kimsrx.com kimswellnessinfo.org

For Young Professionals of Haywood

Feb. 25 • 12-1 p.m.

39 Miller St. Waynesville (828) 456-5559

366 RUSS AVE. • WAYNESVILLE (BiLo Shopping Center)

38

LUNCH NETWORKING MEETING

RSVP to kwyatt@haywoodchamber.com or 456.3021 332-16

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Drum Circle and Raw-Maxing potluck dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, at UUFF in Franklin. Bring a dish, raw as you like, to share. All levels of drummers welcome. sanmardan@yahoo.com.

• Heisman Trophy-winner and first-round NFL draft pick Tim Tebow will share his journey to Christianity and his walk in faith at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

866.273.4615.

• Haywood County Special Olympics meeting for everyone interested in assisting with the Spring Games is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 22, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• Western Carolina University will hold an Open House for prospective students starting at 8:15 a.m. on Feb. 20, in Cullowhee. Preregister and get more info at openhouse.wcu.edu or call 227.7317 or 877.928.4968.

• Rockwood United Methodist Church will have its monthly community breakfast from 7-10 a.m. on Feb. 20, at the church at 288 Crabtree Mtn. Road in Canton.

Eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits.

• A community workshop for the bicycle and pedestrian plan will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, at Tartan Hall at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. bikewalkfranklin.wordpress.com.

• Help with income tax preparation for seniors over age 60 will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center through March by Bruce Johnson, registered tax return preparer, in exchange for donation to the Senior Resource Center. By appointment only 828.356.2800.

• Free tax preparation will be available through April 15 at the Jackson County Public Library and Jackson County Senior Center in Sylva. Library hours are 3-6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays or by appointment (586.2016). Senior Center hours are from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays on a first-come, first-serve basis. No charge.

• Heating assistance is available for those who qualify through the Jackson County Department of Social Services, which has almost $90,000 in LIEAP funding.

Applications will be taken daily between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 31 at Jackson County Department of Social Services in Sylva. 586.5546.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Southwestern Community College will host a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Day from 9 a.m.-noon on Feb. 20 at the Macon Campus. Families who would like help completing the FAFSA can register for the event at http://tinyurl.com/zaw5qag, and they’ll need to bring: 2015 completed tax returns (or W-2 forms and other income and asset documents if taxes have not yet been filed) as well as the student’s and one parent’s Federal Student Aid identification obtained in advance from fsaid.ed.gov. More info: southwesterncc.financialaidtv.com, t_cook@southwesterncc.edu or 339.4438.

• Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a free seminar entitled “How to Start a Business” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Feb. 25, in room 204 on the HCC Campus. Russ Seagle of Seagle Management Consulting will be the presenter. 627.4512 or sbc.haywood.edu.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. entitled “Small Business Marketing in the Age of Social Media” is scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb. 26, at Western Carolina’s location at Biltmore Park in Asheville. $89 per person or register for this one plus a March 18 session on “Building a Memorable Brand” for $79 each. learn@wcu.edu.

Smoky Mountain News

39

11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 24, at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. 631.8889.

• A Happy Hearts educational event will be held from noon-2 p.m. on Feb. 26, at Swain Community Hospital in Bryson City. 631.8889.

• Free childbirth and breastfeeding classes are available at Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva. The series “Understanding Birth” will be offered from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 12. “Understanding Breastfeeding” is offered from 6-9 p.m. on March 1. It’s the first-round of classes; future classes will be offered bimonthly on an ongoing basis. 586.7907.

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

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • The 10th annual Wildgame Dinner Fundraiser will be held by The Wildlife Club at Haywood Community College at 6 p.m. on Feb. 26, at the Haywood County Fairgrounds. Part of the WinterFest Smoky Style weekend celebration. Door prizes, silent auction, live auction.

Bring your favorite wildgame dish, vegetablesand or dessert. Bread and drinks provided. Admission is $10 ($5 if you bring a dish); children under 12 eat free. For info on WinterFest Smoky Style, visit winterfestsmokystyle.com. For info on the dinner, call 627.4560.

VOLUNTEERS • A Volunteer Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on March 2, at Southwestern Community College’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. Local non-profits and agencies and a few nationally known non-profits will attend the fair and present info. Event is open to the public. 339.4305 or a_allen@southwesterncc.edu.

• Phone Assurance Volunteers are needed to make daily or weekly wellness check-in calls for the Haywood County Senior Resource Center. 356.2816.

VENDORS • The Downtown Waynesville Association is seeking heritage themed vendors for the 6th annual Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration that will take place Saturday, June 11, on Main Street. 456.3517 to request an application or visit the event calendar at www.downtownwaynesville.com. Applications accepted until April 18.

• 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 • Haywood Regional Medical Center will hold a free tired-leg/varicose vein educational program from 4-5 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center in Clyde. Register: 452.8346.

• Jackson County Project Lazarus meets at 3 p.m. on Feb. 18, in the Jackson County Public Library’s Genealogy room.

• Dr. Kate T. Queen, M.D., will present a program on “Exercise is Medicine” as the February Live and Learn program at 2 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Bethea Welcome Center in Lake Junaluska.

• The Haywood Health Authority Board will meet at 6 p.m. on Feb. 23, in the second-floor classroom at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde.

• A Resume Workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon on Feb. 23, at the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Free, sign-up required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• A free chest pain educational session will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Feb. 22, at the Haywood Regional Health and Fitness Center in Clyde. www.myhaywoodregional.com.

• WCU will offer two small business workshops, one

• A Happy Hearts educational event will be held from

RECREATION AND FITNESS • The Haywood Dancers Ballroom Dance is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Feb. 19, at Angie’s Dance Academy in Clyde. 734.8063 or 734.8726.

• Registration is underway for a women’s volleyball league through the Jackson County Recreation Department. $175 per team. Deadline is Feb. 19; league starts in March. 293.3053.

• An organizational meeting for New Evolution Sports Association’s softball leagues is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 23, at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

Team representatives interested in entering a team should attend. Men’s and church with coed divisions.

456.2030, dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov or tardevils@msn.com.

• Line Dancing Classes are offered at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 and March 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Each class is one hour. No partners needed. Arrive 15 minutes early on your first night to register. 456.2030 or tplowman@waynesvillenc.gov.

• A Ski Lake Junaluska youth event is scheduled for 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. Jennifer Martin at jmartin@lakejunaluska.com or 454.6716. www.lakejunaluska.com/ski.

POLITICAL • A forum for primary candidates for N.C. House District 120 and Macon County of Commissioners at noon on Feb. 18, at Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. Questions will be accepted from the audience, time-permitting. Submit questions to susanervin0213@gmail.com.

• Haywood County Chamber of Commerce will host its annual elected officials reception from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Wells Events & Reception Center in Waynesville.

• Occupy WNC General Assembly meets at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23, at the Dogwood Wellness Center in Sylva.

• Maggie Valley is sponsoring a meet and greet for Haywood County candidates for commissioners at 11:45 a.m. on Feb. 27, at the pavilion.

• Jackson County’s Democratic precincts will hold their annual organizational meetings on Feb. 27. The following precincts will meet at 1 p.m. at the Family Resource Center in Webster (the Old Webster School): Barkers Creek, Caney Fork, Cullowhee, Greens Creek, Qualla, Savannah, Scotts Creek, Sylva North/Dillsboro, Sylva South, Webster. River Precinct will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the VFW. Canada Precinct will meet at 5 p.m. at the Canada Fire Department. Glenville and Cashiers precincts meeting time is TBD. 586.8782 or fcburrell@frontier.com.

• The Jackson County Republican Convention, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 4, is open to all Jackson County voters who registered as Republicans by Jan. 31.

The event is at the Jackson County Senior Center in Sylva. Registration is at 5 p.m. Buffet dinner will be served. 743.6491 or jacksonctygop@yahoo.com.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • The N.C. Writers Network West will sponsor The Literary Hour, a program of poetry and prose reading at 7 p.m. Feb. 18, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. The Literary Hour is held each month at the Folk School on the third Thursday of the month, unless otherwise indicated.

• The NetWest program of the North Carolina Writers Network will host an open mic night at 7 p.m. Feb. 19, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Folks are encouraged to bring their poetry or short pieces to share. www.citylightsnc.com or 586.9499.

• Robin Russell Gaiser, a certified music practitioner, performer, teacher and writer from Asheville, will be presenter for the Lake Junaluska Book Review at 10 a.m. on Feb. 17, in the Susan Todd Lounge in the Harrell Center. If the Haywood County Schools close due to inclement weather, this Book Review session will be canceled and, if possible, rescheduled. www.robingaiser.com.

• The Coffee with the Poet series continues with Catherine Cater at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 18, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

The Coffee with the Poet series is cosponsored by the NetWest program of the North Carolina Writer’s Network and gathers on the third Thursday of each month.

586.9499.

• Ann Miller Woodford will present her book “When All God’s Children Get Together” at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Book celebrates the lives and music of African Americans in far Western N.C. 586.9499.

• Richard Judy will present the novel “THRU: An Appalachian Trail Love Story,” at 7 p.m. on Feb. 23 at Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville.

• Canton resident Paul Willis, age 95, will present his new book of poetry entitled “Reflections of a World War II Veteran” at 3 p.m. on Feb. 27, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. 456.6000.

• The 2016 journal poetry and art contests open March 1 and close May 15. A separate contest is held for best cover art. Additional information at Main Street Rag Publishing Company’s website: www.mainstreetrag.com.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • The Happy Wanderers, a senior social group coordinated by the Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department, will play cornhole and table tennis at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville. 452.6789 or recreation@haywoodnc.net.

• The Happy Wanderers, a senior social group coordinated by the Haywood County Recreation and Parks

wnc calendar

COME CHECK OUT OUR

ALL NEW

• An ARTSaturday workshop for elementary school age children and their families will be held from 10 a.m. noon Feb. 20, at the Macon County Public Library Children’s Area in Franklin. In case of bad weather, the event will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 27. 524.ARTS or arts4all@dnet.net.

RECREATION CENTER

townofwaynesville.org February 17-23, 2016

• A “SciGirls” program called “Frog Call Physics” will be offered from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Transylvania County Extension Office in Brevard. For ages 9-14. Learn about frog species and their calls.

Participation fee is $10 per student. Register at www.pari.edu/programs/students/scigirls. Info: www.pari.edu or pbskids.org/scigirls.

• Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department’s Base Camp will host several required open house meetings for upcoming day camp programs on Feb. 23, 25, 29 and March 2, 8 and 15. Two sessions each day: 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Pre-screening process for each potential camp participant. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

550 Vance St. • Waynesville • 828.456.2030

Smoky Mountain News

• A Dr. Seuss birthday bash is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on March 2, at the Waynesville Library. Games, food, crafts. 356.2512 or lhartzell@haywoodnc.net.

KIDS & FAMILIES

WAYNESVILLE

40

• Brain Gym Tutorial will be offered at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, February 23rd 1:00 p.m. at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. No cost.

Learn to use our unique exercise bikes that work your body and mind. 356.2800.

• Yoga classes for kids will be offered through a partnership between Haywood County 4-H and the library on Feb. 18, 25 and March 10 in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. 356.2512 or lhartzell@haywoodnc.net.

330-33

• Mountain Youth Talent Contest at the Sun Trust Lot on Main Street on April 23 starting at 9:30. Music will be held throughout the day at both the Main Street stage and at the Bridge Park gazebo on Railroad Avenue. heather_gordon@ncsu.edu • A program called “Imagine”, an art program for children 8-12 meets at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Jackson County Public Library. Program contains art, writing, and drama. 586.2016.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • WinterFest Smoky Style, which is Feb. 26-28 at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds. Gates open at 10 a.m. with opening ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. The 4th Annual Polar Plunge, sponsored by Haywood Waterways, will take place at the Lake Junaluska Assembly Beach. Registration is at 10:30 a.m., event is at 11:30 a.m. For a a complete listing of the weekend activities go to www.winterfestsmokystyle.com.

FOOD & DRINK • Ruth’s Chris Steak House will host a dinner consisting of a custom-created five-course menu paired with

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• A LEGO club meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Feb. 25, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Legos and Duplos provided for ages three and up. 488.3030.

• Ipad 101 class will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 25 at Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

WEIGHT ROOM!!

An inch?

Department, will watch a free movie at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, at the Waynesville Library.

452.6789 or recreation@haywoodnc.net.

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

February 2016.

Registration is required.

For more information contact Sara Peterson at Swain County Health Department: 828.488.3198

x 2027

mountainwise.org

mobile technology to help you get a lot less mobile.

Log on. Plan a trip.

And start kicking back.

wines and spirits at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. $95 per person.

Reservations are required. www.harrahscherokee.com or www.ruthchris.com.

• A free wine tasting will be held from 1 to 5 p.m.

Feb. 20 and 27 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. Feb. 17 and 24 at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Free with dinner ($15 minimum). 828.452.6000.

• There will be a “Tasty Tuesday: Winter Seasonals” at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 1 at Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Beer Garden.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Haywood Arts Regional Theatre will hold auditions for roles in the 2016 season on Feb. 21-22 at their location in Waynesville. www.harttheatre.org.

• Tuck’s Tap & Grille (Cullowhee) will have College Night with DJ X 10 p.m. Feb. 18 and Log Noggins 9 p.m. Feb. 20. 293.4688.

• Western Carolina University (Cullowhee) will host a Symphony Band Concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Bardo Arts Center. Pianist Lillian Buss Pearson will also perform at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Coulter Building. www.wcu.edu.

• Sagebrush Steakhouse (Canton) will host Tonology (rock) Feb. 23. All shows begin at 7 p.m. 646.3750.

• The Waynesville Public Library will host world-class jazz pianist Richard Shulman at 3 p.m. Feb. 20. Free. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Western Carolina University’s School of Stage and

• The Honey Dewdrops (roots duet, harmony singing) perform at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19, at The Strand in Waynesville. Tickets: $15 in advance; $18 at the door. www.38main.com.

• The fourth Black History Theater is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 20, at Morning Star Baptist Church at Morning Star Drive in Bryson City. The NAACP’s February Membership Meeting is at 10 a.m.

• HART Theater will hold auditions for principal roles in its 2016 season at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21-22, at the Performing Arts Center at the Shelton House in Waynesville. www.harttheatre.org.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center Youth Theater will present its winter production “Ghosts and Grotesques” at 7:30 p.m. from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 19-21, in Highlands. Sunday matinee is at 2:30 p.m. A compilation of literature including “The Tell Tale Heart,” “Irish Folktales,” “The Highwayman” and “The Troll.” Tickets: $10 for adults; students and children get in free. 526.9047, highlandspac.org. Tickets also available at the door.

• Jazz pianist Richard Shulman will perform at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20, at the Waynesville Branch Library.

Richheartmusic.com.

• Gospel group One Step Closer will be joined by Soul Vision during the Swain County Community Gospel Sing at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at the Swain County Senior Center in Bryson City. Free hot dog supper will be served immediately following the singing.

Donations will be collected to continue funding future

community gospel singings in Swain County. www.onestepclosergospel.com.

• Possum on a Whale (newly renamed JAM Pickers Club) will perform traditional mountain music at 3 p.m. on Feb. 21 at the Canton Public Library.

• Traditional mountain string music will be performed by the Midnight Plowboys, joined by master fiddler Arvil Freeman, at 4 p.m. on Feb. 21, at Cataloochee Ranch. Tickets are $45 per person and include a pot roast dinner at 5:45 p.m., after the concert.

Reservations required 926.1401.

• Acclaimed rock act Breaking Benjamin will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at Harrah’s Cherokee. For ticket information, click on www.harrahscherokee.com.

• Acclaimed Sylva-based bluegrass/gospel group Mountain Faith will perform with Redhead Express at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets are $25. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 524.1598.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • High Country Quilt Guild meets at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, at First Methodist Church in Waynesville. Meeting presentation features making pillowcases by Lori Perusi. New and experienced quilters are welcome. www.HighCountryQuilts.wordpress.com.

• The Literary Hour is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the folk School.

• The High Mountain Squares host their annual “Rock n’ Roll 50s Dance” at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 19, at the Macon County Community Building. Workshop at 6:15 p.m. Jim Duncan of Otto will be the caller. 342.1560, 332.0001 or highmountainsquares.com.

• Registration is underway for a bladesmith symposium that’s scheduled for March 18-20 at the Haywood Community College campus in Clyde. Knife-

making demonstrations, hands-on blade forging, knife show, auction and more. Fee is $75 for the weekend.

400.7815.

• Penland School of Crafts has open spaces in a number workshops in its second summer session available at half tuition to residents of the following Western North Carolina counties: Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Graham, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey. Regular room and board charges apply, but students are not required to stay on campus. The session runs from March 13 through May 6 with spaces in books and paper, clay, glass, iron, metals, textiles, and wood. Complete information is available in the classes section of the Penland website: www.penland.org. 765.2359, ext 1106.

wnc calendar

• A wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. $5 per person. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.586.6300.

Screen opens its spring Mainstage theatre season Feb. 17, with the drama “Macbeth is the New Black.”

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 through Saturday, Feb. 20, at WCU’s Hoey Auditorium in Cullowhee. Tickets are $21 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and WCU faculty and staff and $10 on show day ($7 in advance) for students. 227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• The Jackson County Cooperative Extension will be making aprons as part of a community service project for the Appalachian Women’s Museum. The monthly craft club event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 18, at the extension office in Sylva.

Bring your sewing machine and fabric scissors. Lunch and snacks will be provided. 586.4009.

• Interior designer Tami Faulkner will give a guest artist lecture at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

• An indoor flea market is scheduled for 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on Feb. 20, at the Old Armory in Waynesville. $10 for a booth to sell items. 456.9207.

• The Basket-making Workshop will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20 at Wild Fern Studio in Bryson City.

Make the basket you want, choose the style, etc. $40 with all materials included. To register, call 736.1605.

• A free, 90-minute class on Google Photo and file storage will be offered at 5:45 p.m. on Feb. 24, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Register or get more info by calling 586.2016.

Polar Plunge Benefit-t-t-ting Kids in the Creek & Environmental Education.

Over 50 municipalities, businesses, community organizations and we raised over $25,000 for our youth education programs.

• Ace Construction • ARS Construction Services • Apple Creek Café • Asheville Elevator Company • Brooke Parrott, Broker, Beverly Hanks & Associates REALTORS • Clean Sweep The Fireplace Shop

• Haywood Builders Supply • Mountain Mitigation Services • Mountain ReMax Realty/ Ron Breese • Rufus Thomas, M.D.

Smoky Mountain News

• Consolidated Waste Services • Dr. Kristen Hammett/Animal Hospital of Waynesville

February 17-23, 2016

Haywood Waterways sincerely appreciates the tremendous community support for the 4th Annual

• The Short Stop Convenience Store (Waynesville) • WEBBCO • Wells Funeral Home & Cremation Services 41

ART SHOWINGS AND wnc calendar

GALLERIES • Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum will host an exhibition exploring the use and meaning of color in art starting Feb. 18 in Cullowhee. Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission and parking are free. Reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu or 227.3591.

• An artist reception featuring the photography of Kevin Adams, a naturalist, writer and teacher, is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. New artist and medium will be featured every 30 days.

926.7478.

• Interior designer Tami Faulkner will give a guest artist lecture at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University. www.wcu.edu.

• Contemporary painter R. Bruce Brennan will be on display through Feb. 28 at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville.

• An exhibition of photography and a sculpture installation are on display simultaneously with a clothing drive through March 18 at the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Admission and parking are free. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu or 227.3591.

The exhibit runs through May 20 at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. The display is in the Mountain Heritage Center’s second-floor gallery in Hunter Library.

The gallery is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 227.7129.

February 17-23, 2016

• The artwork of Cherokee sculptor John Julius Wilnoty is on display through March 25 at Western Carolina University’s Fine Art Museum in Cullowhee. Display is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays, with extended hours to 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Digitalcollections.wcu.edu or 227.7211. fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

• Artists Maureen Simon (photographer) and Bruce Brennan (painter) are exhibiting their work through March 31 at the Haywood County Public Library in Canton. Simon’s photography shows life on the streets of New Orleans (www.ofifoto.photography). Brennan’s work features expressionist land and seascapes (www.rbrucebrennanfineart.com). HaywoodArts.org.

• The Mountain Heritage Center is hosting the exhibit “Collecting for the Community,” 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.

FILM & SCREEN

Smoky Mountain News

• A presentation of Oscar-nominated Documentary shorts will be offered this week at the Strand in

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 Waynesville. Documentary Program A, rated R, will be shown at 7 p.m. on Feb. 18 Program B, Rated PG-13, shows at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17.

• The films “Spectre-007” (Feb. 19), “Mad Max: Fury Road” (Feb. 18) and “Inside Out” (Feb. 20) will be screened at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Show times are 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. with a special 2 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Free. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• Oscar-nominated documentary shorts will be shown at 7 p.m. Feb. 17-18, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 20 and 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.. There will also be a free screening of the Disney classic “Beauty and the Beast” at noon and 2 p.m. Feb. 20. www.38main.com.

• Adult movie time, 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Jackson County Public Library. Call for title of movie. 586.2016.

Outdoors • A program about the best day hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, at REI in Asheville. Registration required: www.rei.com/learn.

• A free program on “Advanced Fly-Tying: Tying Nymphs” will be offered from 9 a.m.-noon on Feb. 19 for participants 12 and older at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Transylvania County. Register at www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/EducationCenters/Pisgah/ EventRegistration.aspx. Info: 877.4423.

• The Highlands Plateau Greenway will hold its monthly work day from 9 a.m.-noon on Feb. 20. Meet at upper parking lot near the pool entrance in the Recreation Park. 482.1451 or highlandsgreenway@nctv.com.

• A workshop on non-native invasive plants will be offered from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on Feb. 26, at the Community Building in Highlands. No charge for morning session; $50 for morning and afternoon. highlandsbiological.org or call 526.2602.

• A presentation on the history of Gorges State Park

• A program entitled Creating S.M.A.R.T.E.R Trails will be presented by Woody Keen from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 29 at REI Asheville. Register online: www.rei.com/events/intro-to-sustainable-trails-withwoody-keen/asheville/136792.

FARM AND GARDEN • Jackson-Swain Master Gardener program classes are held every Wednesday afternoon for 10-11 weeks, tentatively starting Feb. 17. 488.3848, 586.4009 or www.ncstategardening.org/extension_master_gardener.

• Master Gardener Alan Wagner will speak on “Pruning Shrubs and Small Trees” as part of the Gardening in the Mountains Lecture Series from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Feb. 18, at the Buncombe County Extension Offices at 49 Mt. Carmel Road in Asheville. Free; pre-registration required: 255.5522. Info: buncombemastergardener.org.

• Registration is underway for the 13th annual Business of Farming Conference, presented by Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. The event is from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at UNC Asheville. $70 per person before Feb. 1; $90 after. asapconnections.org or 236.1282.

• The Macon County Master Gardener Program will begin Feb. 19. Apply at 349.2046 or macon.ces.ncsu.edu.

• Seminars on establishing and maintaining strawberry, raspberry and blackberry patches are scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Feb. 25, at the Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva and from 10-11:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 26, at the Swain Extension Center near Bryson City. Free. 586.4009, 488.3848 or christine_bredenkamp@ncsu.edu.

• Registration is underway for a workshop on “Growing Shiitake Mushrooms,” which is from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center. Pre-registration is required by Feb. 26 at the resource center. $10 materials fee. 349.2046.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Friends of the Lake 5K Road Race & Walk will be held March 26. www.lakejunaluska.com.

HIKING CLUBS • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous 6.5-mile hike, with an elevation change of 1,000 ft., on Feb. 20, to Trimont Ridge on the Bartram Trail from Wallace Branch. Gail Lehman, 524.5298.

Visitors welcome, no dogs please.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 10.8-mile hike from Laurel Fork Gap to Lake Jocassee on Feb. 21.

1,400-mile ascent. Daisy Karasek at 505.2036, 408.887.3666 or daisytk@yahoo.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a five-mile hike with a 1,200-foot ascent on Feb. 21 at Bent Creek Loop No. 13. For info, contact leader Stuart English at 384.1759 or stuengo@comporium.net.

• Carolina Mountain club will have a 10.8-mile hike with a 1,400-foot ascent on Feb. 24. Daisy Karasek at 505.2036, 408.887.3666 or daisytk@yahoo.com.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate 6mile hike, with an elevation change of 520 feet on Feb. 27, near Clayton, Ga. Call leader Mary Stone, 369.7352, for reservations. Visitors welcome, no dogs please.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 13.4-mile hike with a 2,300-foot elevation gain on Feb. 28. Jay Bretz at 658.1220 or williambretz1220@gmail.com.

OUTDOOR CLUBS • The Jackson County Poultry Club will hold its regular meeting on the third Thursday of each month at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office. The club is for adults and children and includes a monthly meeting with a program and a support network for those raising birds. For info, call 586.4009 or write heather_gordon@ncsu.edu.

• The North Carolina Catch program, a three-phase conservation education effort focusing on aquatic environments, will be offered through May 15. The program is offered by the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Free for members; daily admission for non-members. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• An RV camping club, the Vagabonds, camps one weekend per month from April through November. All ages welcome. No dues or structured activities. For details, write lilnau@aol.com or call 369.6669.

• The Tuckaseigee River Chapter No. 373 of Trout Unlimited meets at 6:30 p.m. on first Tuesday of the month at United Community Bank in Sylva. Dinner is $5.

• The Cataloochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets the second Tuesday of the month starting with a dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Rendezvous restaurant located on the corner of Jonathan Creek Road and Soco Road in Maggie Valley. 631.5543.

• Cold Mountain Photographic Society is a camera/photography club for amateurs and professionals who want to learn about and share their knowledge of photography with others. Must be 18 or older to join.

Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the conference room of MedWest Health and Fitness Center, 262 Leroy George Drive in Clyde. More information at www.cmpsnc.org or info@cmpsnc.org.

• The Cherokee Runners meets each month on the 1st and 15th of the month (if the first falls on Sunday, the group meets on the 2nd), at the Age Link Conference Room. Group runs are being held each Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. starting at the Flame. www.cherokeerunners.com.

332-41

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’ $

92

20’x20’ $

160

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828

42

and the surrounding areas of the Jocassee Valley will be given by a park ranger at 10 a.m. on Feb. 28, at the visitor center.

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.

AUCTION

Rates:

■ 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.

MINI-FARM & LAND AUCTION Yadkin County 7.5+/-Acres 4BR/2-Bath House; Surry County 4BR/2-Bath brick house; Iredell County 17.5+/-Acres & 3 Country Home-Sites, ONLINE BIDDING ENDS - FEBRUARY 23. www.HouseAuctionCompany.com. 252.729.1162.

NCAL#7889 TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Wednesday, February 27, 10am.

201 S. Central Ave. Locust, NC. Selling Seized Vehicles, Skid Steers, Hay Equipment, Welders & Shop Equipment. 2007 Mercedes SL550 28,000 miles, 2008 Mercedes GL550 CDI 67,000 miles, 2007 Chevy 1500 444 42,000 miles & Forklift for NC Department of Revenue for Unpaid Taxes.

704.791.8825. NCAF5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

R

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INC.

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

332-52

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GIGANTIC SAVINGS @ DODIE’S OF SYLVA 482 W. Main St., Downtown Sylva 828.586.3634 Featuring: Furniture, Home Decor, Vintage Clothing, Lots of Stuff to Start Your Own Business. A Complete Liquidation Opportunity Auction Sat. Feb. 20th @ 6p.m.

Col. Dodie A. Blaschik, Auctioneer NCAL#3410 www.dodieallen.com 828.586.3634 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! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 for more.

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 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.

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Installation Included. Call 800.807.7219 for $750 Off. SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

CARS -

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MOTORCYCLES CRAZY BOB’S BIKER STUFF Jackets, Chaps, Vests, Helmets, Rain Gear, Saddlebags, Sissy Bar Bags, Tool Bags, Stickers, Patches. We also got you covered with 50 Sizes of Tarps: Heavy Duty Silver, Brown & Green, Blue & Silver, Blue & Camo.

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R

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT 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.

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EMPLOYMENT 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.

ROSCOE - A SUPER CUTE BEAGLE AND JACK RUSSELL MIX BOY, ABOUT ONE YEAR OLD. HE IS FRIENDLY AND EASY GOING, AND LOVES TO PLAY WITH HIS BROTHER. TO SCHEDULE A MEET AND GREET, PLEASE SUBMIT THE APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: HTTP://WWW.SARGEANIMALS.ORG,/

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LINK - A HANDSOME FLAME-POINT SIAMESE MIX KITTY, WITH BEAUTIFUL BLUE EYES. HE IS A FRIENDLY, CONFIDENT BOY, SO WILL ADAPT WELL TO MOST ANY NEW FAMILY WHO ADOPTS HIM. SUBMIT THE APPLICATION TO ADOPT AVAILABLE ONLINE AT: HTTP://WWW.SARGEANIMALS.ORG./

44

EMPLOYMENT NUCLEAR POWER Paid Training, great salary, benefits, $ for school. Gain valued skills. No exp needed. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The North Carolina Press Association has a great opportunity for a new executive director to lead our 143-year-old organization into the next phase of its history. Our ideal candidate will be able to manage the day-to day, plan and develop strategy, sell the organization's benefits and services, work with the state legislature, and work closely with a talented staff. This is a hands-on job with giant rewards for the right person. For a list of job duties, or to send a resume for consideration, please email Pat Taylor, NCPA president, at: pat@thepilot.com.

CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy Equipment Operator Career!

We Offer Training and Certifications Running Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement. VA Benefits Eligible!

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We’re on a Roll.

New jobs posting every week.

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EMPLOYMENT ATTN: DRIVERS $2K Sign-On Bonus. $$ RECENT PAY INCREASE $$ Make over $60,000 your first year! Newer KW T660 and T680s. CDL-A Req. 877.258.8782. www.drive4melton.com AVIATION GRADS Work with JetBlue, Boeing, Delta and others- start here with hands on training for FAA certification.

Financial aid if qualified. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.441.6890.

FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Programmer/Analyst II. Accounting Technician-Accounts Payable.

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.

HELP WANTED! Make Up to $334 A Day! Data Entry Workers Needed Online Work From Home. Genuine Opportunity!

Register Online Today! www.DataIncome.com SAPA HIGH-TECH CAREER With U.S. Navy. Elite tech training w/great pay, benefits, vacation, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34.

Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419 INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS! Now leasing 3/4 or 1 ton truck owners with 2-years towing experience. CDL-A or Chauffeur license required. Deliver nationwide. Call 480.833.4000 x2.

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! 1.888.926.6073 SAPA

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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.

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SAPA 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

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

WE ARE LOCATED AT 777 CASINO DRIVE. APPLICANTS CAN PARK ON LEVEL 1 IN THE CASINO GARAGE.

If you have already submitted your application, it will be considered active for 6 months from the date of application. To qualify, applicants must be 21 years or older (18-21 years eligible for non-gaming positions), must successfully pass an RIAH hair/drug test and undergo an investigation by Tribal Gaming Commission. Preference for Tribal members. This property is owned by the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, managed by Caesars Entertainment. The Human Resources Department accepts applications Mon. - Thur. from 8am - 4:30pm. Call 828.497.8778, or send resume to Human Resources Department, 777 Casino Drive, Cherokee, NC 28719 or fax resume to 828.497.8540.

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All dwellings advertised on an equal opportunity basis.

REAL ESTATE WANTED TO BUY WANTED: OLD BARN, HOUSE, OR Other Building to Salvage, or Tear Down, for Lumber/Building Materials; Terms Negotiable.

Licensed & Insured. Call or Text John 828.380.1232 or email: john@ashevillepropertyservices. com

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

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Haywood County Real Estate Agents • Margie MacDonald - margie@4smokys.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates

SFR, ECO, GREEN

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828.506.7137

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beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy - MichelleMcElroy@beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig - MarilynnObrig@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - MikeStamey@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - EllenSither@beverly-hanks.com Brooke Parrott - BrookeParrott@beverly-hanks.com Randy Flanigan - RandyFlanigan@beverly-hanks.com Pamela Williams - PamelaWilliams@beverly-hanks.com Ann Eavenson - AnnEavenson@beverly-hanks.com

Emerson Group • George Escaravage — george@emersongroupus.com

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kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Sam Hopkins — samhopkins.kwrealty.com

Lakeshore Realty • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

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realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty

Committed to Exceeding Expectations

Marilynn Obrig

Residential Broker Associate

(828) 550-2810

mobrig@Beverly-Hanks.com

www.Beverly-Hanks.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

• • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland — brianknoland.com Mieko Thomson — ncsmokies.com The Morris Team — maggievalleyproperty.com The Real Team — the-real-team.com Ron Breese — ronbreese.com Dan Womack — womackdan@aol.com Catherine Proben — cp@catherineproben.com

smokymountainnews.com

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

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February 17-23, 2016

PETS

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WNC MarketPlace

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The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com • Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 45

www.smokymountainnews.com

February 17-23, 2016

WNC MarketPlace

Super

46

CROSSWORD

NATIONAL REPLACEMENTS

77 Really tough puzzle, in Manama?

ACROSS 81 Like Bach’s music 1 Flynn of old films 86 Paul’s “Exodus” role 6 Hardly subtle 87 RR building 13 Census datum 88 Less effectual 16 Actor Belushi 90 - lang syne 19 Primed 91 Hip-hop artist 20 Its capital is 94 Bona fide Bucharest 98 Radiate 21 Install, as tile 99 Jai 22 Prefix with polar 101 Hand over a duty, in 23 Old directory-assisThimphu? tance request, in 104 Beach Boys hit, in Belmopan?

Kigali?

26 Pan coverer 108 Will be now?

27 Vitamins, e.g.

109 Locality 28 “- -haw!”

110 Lav, in Bath 29 Ale barrels 111 Promise 30 Caesar of 1950s TV 117 Deli salmon 31 Add an inducement, in 118 Orwell novel, in PortStockholm? au-Prince?

36 Rock band staple, in 123 Sch. URL ender Doha?

124 Sporty truck, briefly 42 Galaxy unit 125 Norm 43 Steelmaking places 126 Ornamental ruffle 44 Divided-skirt garment 127 “You’re right” 46 Really anger 128 Actor Wass 50 - facto 129 Argue in too much 51 In the vicinity detail 53 Early TV comic Louis 130 Long suit 55 Contemptible 56 Alternative to GPS DOWN 58 Tart pie topping, in 1 Land o’ leprechauns Sanaa?

2 Bausch & Lomb brand 64 “Break -!” (“Do 3 Balsa floater well!”)

4 Sign of rot 66 Duo quadrupled 5 Greek harp players of 67 Gets close to old 68 Dependents expecting 6 Chastain of women’s meals, in Budapest? soccer 74 Mortise’s counterpart 7 Pol Trent 75 Full-speed, archaically 8 Gallic pals 76 Place to live 9 Lao-tzu’s universal

10 Journalist Curry 11 Pen tip 12 - kwon do 13 Vulcans, e.g.

14 Dictionary of geography 15 Needle hole 16 Kentucky Derby drink 17 - Montoya (“The Princess Bride” swordsman) 18 Center 24 Israeli leader Golda 25 Soap stuff 29 Deborah of “The King and I” 31 La - (Philadelphia university) 32 Intl. commerce group 33 Munch on 34 Richard Gere title role of 2000 35 Fictional Solo 36 Arabian ruler 37 Lead-in to suction 38 Snow queen in “Frozen” 39 Blockhead 40 300, to Livy 41 Pier 45 Tangle up 47 Pond flora 48 Melon, e.g.

49 Lea females 51 “Tra” follower 52 Producing an effect 54 So-far nonexistent 57 Carta lead-in 59 Everest, e.g.

60 Outer: Prefix 61 High degree 62 Conclude 63 Premaritally named 65 Duffel with workout

gear, maybe 68 “You could - pin drop” 69 Far from cool 70 “- any drop to drink” 71 Egyptian - (spotted cat breed) 72 Grafton’s “- for Outlaw” 73 Sharif of film 74 Ski lift type 78 Manna eater 79 Donovan of “Clueless” 80 Speak wildly 82 Waikiki site 83 Cease 84 Arm bone 85 Early utopia 89 “I’m not impressed” 92 The old man 93 Samara-dropping tree 95 Green gp.

96 Indian bread 97 Amer. money 98 County officer 100 Pressed 102 Less difficult 103 Very dry, as champagne 104 Bill - and His Comets 105 Whittle away 106 Infiniti rival 107 Adversity 111 Starbuck’s captain 112 Pudding starch 113 ‘60s hairdo 114 Dark genre 115 Unorthodox sect 116 - Stanley Gardner 118 Brazil 119 Bistro check 120 Cain raiser 121 Slithery fish 122 Pro-gun gp.

answers on page 42

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WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 42

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

P.T. would be jealous ne of the greatest shows on Earth is about to take center stage. Spring ephemerals will begin clawing through the gray-brown leaf litter within the month.

Some of the earliest wildflowers to open will include spring beauty, various violets, hairy buttercup, hepatica, trailing arbutus, bloodroot and trout lily.

The Southern Appalachians offer a rich tapestry of floral diversity. Once the northern hemisphere bows back towards the sun and the earth begins to warm, the parade of flowering plants will begin and last until next autumn’s killing frosts. The opening act of this seasonal progression is a tough one to follow.

The spring ephemerals are in a rush.

They will flower, fruit and begin to senesce all before the canopy of the eastern deciduous forests leaf-out. This means that there will be hundreds of species of wildflowers all seeking the warmth of the early spring sun.

The whites of bloodroot, white fringed phacelia, squirrel corn, Dutchman’s breeches, foam flower and others will mingle with the yellows of buttercup, bellwort, trout lily, and yellow trillium to name a few. Reds will be represented by columbine, the red form

O

of wake-robin, cross vine and the reddishbrown wood betony. Blues and purples include dwarf-crested iris, bluets, purple phacelia, various violets, dwarf larkspur, wild geranium and others.

One of the best front row seats for this spectacular spring show is the Annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage hosted by the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and partners like the University of Tennessee, City of Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains Association, Friends of the Smokies, Arrowmont School of Arts, Gatlinburg Garden Club, Southern Appalachian Botanical Society and more. This year will mark the 66th annual pilgrimage. The dates are April 19-23 and you can begin now registering for hikes and/or programs.

To register online, learn more about this year’s pilgrimage and/or download a brochure go to www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org/. There will be 144 programs and/or hikes offered during this year’s Pilgrimage. While the majority of these programs pays homage to the spectacular parkwide display of spring ephemerals, there will be many other hikes and programs as well, like Edible Mushroom Walk, Native People’s Use of Nature’s Garden, Nature Journaling,

Blackburnian warbler will be one of our target species at Collins Creek. creative commons photo Bird Sketching, Black Bear and Hog Walk, owl prowls, the Ecology and Evolution of North American Fireflies and many, many more.

I will be leading an all-day birding program on Wednesday, April 20, “Birding at Oconaluftee and Collins Creek,” where we will look for sparrows and other open-area birds like eastern bluebird, American goldfinch and others around the historic farm at Oconaluftee, then carpool up to Collins Creek Picnic Area where we hope to find wood warblers like hooded, blackburnian, black-throated green and other neotropical migrants.

I will also be co-leading a couple of trips with Fred Holtzclaw. Fred is a biology teacher at the Webb School in Knoxville and has been leading birding, wildflower and ecology hikes for the Pilgrimage since 1978.

Fred is a treat to hike with, I sometimes get so wrapped up in what Fred is sharing that I forget to look/listen for birds. On Thursday, April 21, we will be leading an all-day motorcade from Sugarlands Visitor Center to Cades Cove — I think this was my favorite program last year.

The Pilgrimage is a wonderful experience and like I said, a front row seat for one of the Greatest Shows on Earth.

February 17-23, 2016 Smoky Mountain News 47

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Smoky Mountain News February 17-23, 2016