On the Cover:
As downtown Waynesville continues to grow and develop attractions for tourists and locals alike, the Downtown Waynesville Commission, which taxes property owners and uses funds for marketing and events, is looking to spread some of that prosperity to Frog Level and Hazelwood. (Page 6)
News
New commissioners for Macon ......................................................................................4
Russ Avenue construction starting in Waynesville....................................................7
HCS mental health services report ..............................................................................8
WCU professor honors fallen WWI soldiers ............................................................9
Quiet western Primaries signal partisan battles, voter frustration......................10
Installment financing contract for Haywood jail approved....................................13
Opinion
One year later, Canton displays remarkable progress..........................................14
All of us can help fight drug addiction........................................................................14
A&E
Running wild again: Jesse Iaquinto of Fireside Collective....................................16
Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will ride again..............................................................20
Outdoors
Lawsuit challenges Forest Service timber targets..................................................22
Notes from a plant nerd: Invasive Plants....................................................................26
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The Macon County Commission will see one new member seated in December after Barry Breeden beat incumbent Paul Higdon to represent district three.
“Thank you all for the encouragement you have given me,” Breeden said during the campaign. “I appreciate the support as I pursue such an important position in our county. I am honored to be a part of this community.”
There were two seats up for election this cycle on the Macon County Commission to represent districts two and three. Because only Republican candidates filed to run, the race was decided during the Primary Election, but candidates won’t be seated until after the General Election.
Primary Election results will not be official until after
Canvass at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 15. There are 40 provisional ballots to consider on Canvass Day, which is not enough to change the results of either contest.
In District two, incumbent candidate Josh Young beat his opponent Chris Browning by a wide margin.
Young won 61.05 % of the vote, or 3,935 votes, to Browning’s 38.95% or 2,511 votes.
“I wanted to give a sincere ‘thank you’ to Macon County,” Young said in a post on Facebook. “I’m so excited to have the opportunity to keep working for our small community. All the love, support and trust shown over the past
The Waynesville recreation center has reopened its childcare rooms and has its drop-in childcare program back up and running.
This program is an added perk for members and will be free with their membership. The cost for non-members will be a $6 per day.
few weeks has been so humbling to see. Thank you again.”
Young was first elected to the county commission in 2020 when he won the seat previously held by Republican Karl Gillespie, who served one term on the Macon County Commission before going on to run for Kevin Corbin’s seat in the state House.
Young is a fifth-generation Maconian who worked as a utility lineman for eight years before starting his own business in Macon County — Young Tree Service. Browning had previously run for Sheriff of Macon County in 2022.
Breeden beat Higdon with 51.78 % of the vote, or 3,319 votes. Higdon logged 48.22% of the vote, or 3,091 votes.
Breeden is a 1999 graduate of Franklin High School and is married to Diedre Breeden, who was elected to the Macon County Board of Education in 2022. Breeden has worked as a branch manager for two finance companies and served as a deputy sheriff where he worked his way up to patrol sergeant. Currently he owns and operates several local businesses.
“I want to look to the future, finding ways to continue to drive economic growth, capitalize on the fact that Macon County is a desirable tourist destination and let that benefit our citizens and our future,” Breeden said during his campaign.
Higdon had served three terms on the Macon County Commission, first winning his seat in 2012. He is a small
Childcare hours will be Monday through Friday 7-11 a.m. Evening hours will be determined based on demand in the future.
For more information, please call 828.456.2030 or email hjones@waynesvillenc.gov.
The Swain County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) announced
business owner in wastewater construction, previously serving in the United States Army. He holds a degree in environmental health science and biology and worked for 10 years at the Macon County Health Department as an inspector and environmental health supervisor.
While on the board, Higdon worked to keep spending in check, often voting against tax increases and new spending.
“As a principled conservative, I believe elected leaders must avoid the tax and spend philosophy common at most levels of government,” said Higdon during his campaign.
Turnout in the primary election was down just slightly from the last primary election with commission candidates on the ballot. In 2022, 8,651 Macon County voters cast a ballot while 8,415 voted in this year’s primary.
While the winning candidates will be on the ballot in November, they will be unopposed in their districts.
However, candidates could be joined by a familiar referendum on the ballot. Commissioners recently floated the idea of putting the quarter-cent sales tax back on the ballot for a referendum this November.
When the option to increase the sales tax by one quarter of a cent appeared on the Macon County ballot in 2022, 55% of voters rejected the measure. At that time, revenues from the additional tax were going to be earmarked for the high school project.
The quarter-cent sales tax, which would apply to residents and out-of-towners alike, is projected to accrue about $2.4 million for the county annually.
the appointment of its new director, Sarah Conley.
Conley is a Hickory native with direct roots in Swain County. A graduate of UNCCharlotte, Conley began her career in NASCAR, but followed her heart into the world of travel and tourism.
“With her 14-year successful marketing career at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City and Old Edwards Inn Hospitality Group in Highlands, she has been able to combine her love for the area with her passion for creative marketing to showcase the timeless beauty of this
beloved part of Western North Carolina,” a press release stated.
“I consider my return to Swain County a homecoming,” said Conley. “I enjoyed such wonderful relationships within the community while working with the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, so I look at this role as an opportunity to reconnect and build upon an already solid foundation. I am looking forward to working with our greatest resource – our vibrant community. I hope to enhance the great work already being done by so many and amplify what’s to come.”
Summer camp provides children weeks of entertainment, camaraderie and opportunities to learn and grow. It also offers a welcome respite for parents and other caregivers from having to provide recreation for kids during summer vacation, especially if those kids will be attending a sleepaway camp.
Many children are emotionally ready to attend camp between the ages of eight and 10. Some need a little more time to mature. Parents may think they have plenty of time to investigate camps. Chances are if the weather has already warmed and summer vacation is on the horizon, then it’s already too late to get kids into most summer camps.
According to HealthyChildren.org, a division of the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is important to start researching summer camps as soon as possible. Many start booking as early as January of the current term year. Furthermore, popular programs fill up quite fast. Even though summer weather may be furthest from one’s mind in the middle of winter, this is the time when summer camp decisions must be made.
Start by asking for recommendations from others. The difficulty with this approach is that many people are very protective of their camp choices, especially if the programs are particularly popular. They may not be inclined to give up the secrets to their good thing, especially if that means kids will have to compete for limited spots. Parents also should conduct an internet search of camps in the area and look at online reviews and ratings.
Find out if the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association. This will not guarantee a risk-free environment, but ACA accreditation is a better bet for providing a camp that is safe and nurturing.
Price also may be a factor in the camp decision. Camps are not all priced the same, so it may require doing some math to figure out what is the best value. Location also can be a consideration. Having to drive a long distance away for camp can be a deterrent to some people.
Rest assured that families who are a little late to the game may be able to find summer camp accommodations. But they may have to make some concessions.
Waynesville’s North Main Street has been an important economic engine for the town and the county for decades, and the town’s municipal service district has played a significant role in that success. Now, Town Council is exploring expansion of the district or adding new districts in other areas, but challenges with revenue, governance and participation may leave the idea in limbo.
“One thing that I would say is that the conditions at that time were pretty dire, as far as the vacancy rate on the buildings in the MSD,” said Waynesville Town Council Member Jon Feichter of the establishment of the Main Street MSD in the mid-1980s. “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those folks that had foresight to recognize that the path that we were on was unsustainable.”
A municipal service district, enabled by state law, allows voluntary associations of property owners to self-impose an additional tax upon their properties, with the revenue supporting beautification efforts and events.
Over nearly 40 years of operation, Waynesville’s MSD has raised and spent millions on those activities.
The town used to contract with an independent nonprofit to manage the revenue derived from the tax, and to liaise with property owners, tenants and the public.
Poor management and organization of the old Downtown Waynesville Association, which was responsible for a number of streetscape improvements from the 1980s through the early 2010s, led to the town refusing to renew the DWA’s management contract in 2021.
Instead, the contract was awarded to a new organization, the Downtown Waynesville Commission, which is not an independent nonprofit but instead an organ of the town that can avail itself of administrative assistance and guidance with the communication, recordkeeping and transparency issues that put the old DWA at risk.
With the new DWC finally on its feet, there was some discussion in January 2023 about expanding both the
resources and the footprint of the Main Street MSD, which generates just over $106,000 in revenue annually from a 19cent MSD tax rate per $100 in assessed property value. The town also subsidized the DWC to the tune of nearly $100,000.
One thought was to propose a small increase in the MSD’s tax rate; however, it’s likely that the political fight wouldn’t be worth the relatively minuscule amount of revenue it would generate.
Another thought was to expand the MSD to include Frog Level — a rapidly redeveloping neighborhood that’s establishing its own identity as Waynesville’s eclectic entertainment and retail district.
Julia Bonomo, who owns or co-owns several buildings in Frog Level with her husband Frank, was the chair of the historic Frog Level Merchants Association at the time and said that while she wouldn’t mind perhaps being part of a bigger organization, it would all come down to what benefits Frog Level would realize from its participation in an MSD.
A Frog Level MSD could look any number of ways.
The core of what most people consider Frog Level is centered on Commerce Street and anchored by just two businesses on the north side of the street, Panacea and Frog Level Brewing.
Adjacent parcels from the dilapidated wooden warehouse on the western end to the former Frog Pond Estate Sales on the eastern corner represent development opportunities. If that strip became the extent of an MSD, taxable property assessed at $2,167,500 would generate $217 in MSD revenue per one-cent tax increase.
At the Waynesville MSD’s 19-cent level, annual Frog Level MSD revenue would come to $4,118 annually on top of the $10,234 in property taxes owners already pay — a 40.2% increase.
But Commerce Street isn’t quite the extent of what a Frog Level MSD could be. A short stretch of Depot Street, from the railroad tracks to Richland Creek, is home to a number of businesses and some similarly dilapidated structures. On its own, the Commerce Street stretch contains $2,266,800 in taxable property and would generate $227 per one-cent MSD tax, or $4,307 at the 19-cent rate.
With Commerce Street and Depot Street — but not Giles — included together in a Frog Level MSD, taxable property of $4,434,300 would generate $443 per one-cent tax, or $8,425 in annual MSD revenue.
Those figures do not include the Giles parcel, which wouldn’t likely derive much benefit from an MSD. However, if Premier Chemical — the owners of the parcel — wanted to chip in, the $987,000 parcel would end up contributing an additional $1,877 in revenue to a Frog Level MSD.
A Hazelwood MSD would likely be more compact and thus generate less revenue.
On the north side of Hazelwood Avenue, almost the entire strip from Blue Ridge Books west to the railroad tracks is owned by Burgin Rentals LLC, with the exception of the westernmost parcel home to Farm to Cake Bakery and J. Gabriel Home and Gifts, which is owned by CAC Property Enterprises out of Asheville. Total assessed value of those five parcels is $1,337,500.
On the south side of Hazelwood Avenue, Burgin owns the parcel where Beach Mountain Diner is located, but everything west of there belongs to the Viola Forga real estate trust — with the exception of Hazelwood Tactical at the westernmost end of the strip, owned by Cecil Brown. Total value of those four parcels, plus two more located in the parking lot and owned by the Forga trust, totals $1,381,300.
All told, that stretch of downtown Hazelwood is assessed at $2,718,800 and generated property tax revenue of $17,061 in 2023.
Over the ensuing year, little more was said publicly about the proposal and the topic wasn’t raised in the DWC’s Jan. 24 annual retreat, but Town Council brought up a potential Frog Level MSD during its March 1 budget meeting and added Hazelwood to the discussion.
“We are seeing both of these districts begin to ask for more and more municipal help with their events,” Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites said during the meeting. “One thing I’d like to point out is that following the example of Hendersonville, you can have more than one MSD. Hendersonville has three.”
It’s possible that one or two more MSDs could be added to the town’s roster so long as property owners agree, but the real challenges involve how the new MSDs would be able to demonstrate a return on the investment.
If every one of those parcels was joined together in an MSD, they would generate an additional $272 in revenue for MSD activities for each one-cent property tax increase.
If a Hazelwood MSD were to adopt the same tax 19-cent rate as the Waynesville MSD, it would generate $5,166 each year, which works out to a property tax increase for owners of around 34%.
Tax rates for MSDs are established by the town and can increase or even decrease, as Waynesville’s did in 2021. New MSDs could choose their own initial rates in conjunction with property owners.
“Hazelwood may say, ‘We’re just not there yet. We’d love to have the facade grants, but in terms of service, a tax rate of only five [cents]. Frog Level may say, ‘We need everything we can get, let’s do 13,’” said Hites.
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation has begun work on one of the busiest roads in Haywood County that the DOT hopes will improve Russ Avenue from U.S. 74 to Main Street.
Russ Avenue (U.S. 276) will be placed into a two-lane pattern from the intersection with Howell Mill and Dellwood City Road — across the bridge over Richland Creek and the bridge over a railroad — to Walnut Street starting Tuesday. The new pattern will place all traffic into one lane in each direction between these two points until bridge replacements are complete. Access to all businesses will remain open during construction.
The lane restrictions will allow crews from Buchanan & Sons and a subcontractor to remove one half of the bridge over Richland Creek before the end of March, then switch to removing one half of the bridge over the railroad. The remaining sections will carry one lane of traffic until the new halves are built which allows drivers to travel the entire length of Russ Avenue.
Waynesville’s existing Main Street MSD is governed by a town-appointed board that employs a full-time executive director charged with carrying out the core functions of the group and maintaining its accreditation with the N.C. Main Street and Rural Planning Center.
If two new MSDs were to be established, they’d likewise need governing boards — whether independent or under the auspices of the town — and someone to carry out the direction of those boards.
One of the requirements of the N.C. Main Street program is that participants must have professional full-time management whose pay is “consistent with those of other community development professionals within the city, state, or region in which the program operates.”
“There have been conversations about a streetscape plan to connect — it wouldn’t totally connect the two districts — Frog Level with Main Street, which seems like a good idea.”— Chuck Dickson, Town Council member
Given the hypothetical annual revenue of $5,166 in Hazelwood and $8,425 in Frog Level, professional full-time management isn’t feasible for either.
Folding the two new MSDs under Waynesville’s existing board and executive director is possible, but presents a number of logistical and geographic challenges.
Per statute, new territory incorporated into an existing MSD must be contiguous with existing territory.
Extending the Waynesville MSD in a contiguous strip from Main Street to Hazelwood Avenue is unlikely due to the residential character of the area, so any Hazelwood MSD would probably end up as its own entity separate from Waynesville’s MSD.
Incorporating Frog Level into Waynesville’s MSD is a bit more realistic, but still a task. Somehow, property owners would have to agree to form a bridge of sorts down to Frog Level, probably along a corridor on Depot Street or Miller Street.
“There have been conversations about a streetscape plan to connect — it wouldn’t totally connect the two districts — Frog Level with Main Street, which seems like a good idea,” said Town Council Member Chuck Dickson during the meeting.
Even if that were possible, the Waynesville MSD board would likely have to reconstitute its seats to ensure proportional
Crews will utilize the lane restrictions to accomplish additional tasks in preparation for operations outside of bridge construction.
“There will be fewer lanes, but nothing will be completely closed,” Resident Engineer Max Buchanan said. “Crews are getting right to work in order to work within guidelines established to help protect native animals and their habitat.”
The $42. 8 million project contains three significant segments:
• From North Main Street to Boundary Street: This section includes building two lanes with a posted speed limit of 20 mph and improving sidewalk safety and accessibility.
• From Boundary Street to Walnut Street: This section includes building three lanes — two southbound and one northbound — with a posted speed limit of 20 mph, plus sidewalks and shared bike lanes in both directions.
• From Walnut Street to Phillips Road: This section includes building four lanes divided by a 17.5-foot median
representation from Frog Level property owners. Revenues, too, would probably be spent in proportion to where they were generated.
Then, there’s the capacity issue; Beth Gilmore, executive director of the DWC, would probably be expected to split her time proportionally between the Main Street and Frog Level areas of a combined MSD in return for a portion of the Frog Level revenue contributing to her office budget. She earns $55,000 a year.
Without consolidating its efforts with those of Waynesville’s MSD, a Frog Level MSD could find itself in the same situation as
Looking to replicate the success of earlier economic development actions, members of the Waynesville Town Council directed staff on March 1 to study the possibility of creating redevelopment zones in Hazelwood and Frog Level similar to the one that exists around the historic Haywood Hospital.
As of 2019, an Atlanta-based developer had tried and failed on three separate occasions to qualify for tax credits from the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency — credits that would make redevelopment of the old hospital financially feasible.
The application process is competitive, and funds are scarce. Despite receiving a perfect score, the project, one of more than 200 applicants statewide, wasn’t included with the 30 that did receive credits.
with a posted speed limit of 35 mph, plus sidewalks and bike lanes. It also includes replacing the bridge over Southern Railroad and the bridge over Richland Creek, plus improving the ramps to and from U.S. 23/74.
a Hazelwood MSD — unable to support professional full-time management, or trying to gerrymander extensions to Waynesville’s MSD and then contributing a portion of their limited revenues to keep the whole thing running.
Key to any MSD expansion is the assent of property owners, but few wanted to speak out publicly about their opinions on the possibilities. At least one of them, however, is already out.
“Hazelwood’s always taken care of itself,” said Cecil Brown, owner of Hazelwood Tactical since 1989.
Council Member Anthony Sutton said he’d introduced the possibility of an expanded MSD network as part of a broader effort to bring Waynesville’s other two distinct urban neighborhoods up to the level of relative prosperity Main Street enjoys.
“I just wanted to see the feasibility of perhaps doing an MSD in those areas and start getting the public’s input,” Sutton said. “It wasn’t necessarily to say, ‘this is what we were or weren’t going to do,’ it was just to start a conversation.”
And if the idea ultimately doesn’t come to fruition, it’s not the only tool in the town’s economic development toolbox.
“I think we should look at what other options might work in those areas and get more input from those business owners on how we could assist,” he said. “We have had some success in the past using other methods for revitalization.”
Council subsequently created a redevelopment authority consisting of the mayor and all four council members. The redevelopment authority wields a number of powers, not the least of which is the ability to designate redevelopment areas.
The decaying county-owned hospital and the former DSS building across the street were included in the newly created redevelopment area. Projects in redevelopment areas essentially get two chances to qualify for the tax credits.
In August 2019, a $6.9 million tax credit was finally awarded. The county, which had been paying nearly $100,000 a year for upkeep on the building, sold it to Landmark Asset Services for $225,000. Today, the redeveloped hospital contains more than 50 affordable apartments, mainly for veterans.
The staff study will likely take several weeks and end up before the Town Council if results are favorable. Before any action could be taken, at least one public hearing would have to be held.
— Cory Vaillancourt, politics editor
Haywood County Schools has increased the number of people it employs to care for and monitor students’ mental health this year, largely due to increased funding from the county commission that allowed for additional school resource officers.
“I’m proud of the amount of services we have available,” said Putnam. “We’re always looking to improve and increase those.”
Each year, school administration is required to present information on the status of its mental health support personnel and services. Putnam gave this report to the Board of Education during its March 11 meeting.
Haywood County Schools will maintain six psychologist positions and 19 school counselors through the 2023-24 school year, the same number it had during the previous school year.
“Keep in mind we had budget cuts in between, so we maintained as much of this as we possibly could,” said Putnam.
The school system currently has eight school nurses, five social workers and three licensed clinical social workers.
Putnam applauded Brandi Stephenson who manages the licensed clinical social workers.
“That is a therapeutic position which most school systems do not have,” said Putnam. “And Miss Stephenson found a way to offset the cost of those licensed clinical social workers through our ability to bill Medicaid. She’s done a great job.”
Licensed clinical social workers employ the appropriate clinical interventions in situations that impact student’s access to education.
“This is a resource that we ordinarily would not have, and these people are key in threat assessments and risk assessments throughout our school district,” Putnam said. “So we’re very grateful to have these positions.”
The school system had 10 mental health behavioral assistance positions during the 2022-23 school year that were paid for with ESSER funding, federal funds given to public school systems to help offset costs incurred during the COVID pandemic. That funding runs out this year, and the school system has now dropped to 8.5 mental health behavioral assistance positions this school year.
“It would have dropped more significantly were it not for the efforts of Miss Barker and Dr. Crook, who wrote a grant to the Dogwood Health Trust and were awarded funds to continue to support at least that many positions so that we could keep those counseling assistants in place,” said Putnam.
During the 2022-23 school year Haywood County Schools had seven School Resource Officers. That number jumped to 15 this year thanks to funding from the Haywood County Commission, which provided for eight additional positions.
The positions cost the county an additional $1.48 million which required an additional 1.5 cents on the county’s property tax rate.
Whereas previously SROs had to rotate schools to cover the system, now there is an officer at each individual school.
“We are very grateful for our SROs,” said Putnam.
This brings the school system up to 64.5 positions relating to mental health compared to 58 positions during the previous school year.
licensed clinical social workers and teachers.
The school system has one behavior specialist who conducts functional behavior assessment and develops behavior intervention plans for students that have behavioral social emotional concerns.
“The behavior specialist also assists teachers in applying behavior support strategies in the classroom,” Putnam said.
The school system recently started utilizing a program called Linewize for monitoring student devices.
“This service allows us to detect students in crisis,” said Putnam. “Some of the kids use the email or chat function of their devices just like texting, so it’s become a valuable monitoring device. We have learned of kids in crisis through Linewize.”
“We’re doing all that we possibly can to stay abreast of the goings on of our students and especially those who might be in crisis. I’ll just give credit to our principals and assistant principals and counselors and others who monitor the feedback provided by these monitoring systems.”
In addition to personnel, the school system has invested in the Say Something App, an anonymous reporting tool that allows students to self-report, or report for someone they care about in regard to their mental health status.
“We encourage our students to use that,” Putnam said. “It truly is anonymous.”
Haywood County Schools also employs two steppingstones teachers who teach students that are unable to participate in the traditional school environment whether due to behavior issues, mental health or safety concerns.
“That’s another support we provide for kids that are in crisis and may be having some behavior troubles,” said Putnam.
Each school in the system has a risk assessment team that identifies, evaluates and addresses threats or potential threats to school safety. That team is usually comprised of the principal, school resource officer, mental health professionals,
— Trevor Putnam, Haywood County Schools
Superintendent
Linewize monitors the Chromebooks that students in the school system are assigned, scanning for certain trigger words or phrases.
“We’re doing all that we possibly can to stay abreast of the goings on of our students and especially those who might be in crisis,” said Putnam. “I’ll just give credit to our principals and assistant principals and counselors and others who monitor the feedback provided by these monitoring systems.”
According to Putnam, feedback and alerts on the Limewize system can come through at any hour of the day and night. He expressed his appreciation for the administration that monitor Linewize alerts.
“These alerts are coming in at all times of the night and [our administration, counselors and SROs] are having to wake themselves up, pull themselves away from family and make sure the appropriate authorities are notified and that these kids are checked on in the appropriate fashion,” Putnam said. “So it’s a lot of work. It’s valuable work. It’s very important work, but it’s hard work. We’re grateful for them.”
In the West Flanders region of Belgium, there are several thousand graves of British Commonwealth soldiers who never made it home from World War I.
Western Carolina University School of Music professor and amateur history buff, Brad Ulrich, will pay homage to the fallen soldiers by performing the poignant bugle call, “The Last Post” at every Commonwealth cemetery within the Ypres Salient, which was a major part of the Western Front during the Great War.
Ulrich plans to complete his two-year project in October by playing at 70 more Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries.
“During World War I, Commonwealth policy stipulated that soldiers would be buried where they fell instead of being returned home,” Ulrich said. “As a result of this policy, many families worldwide are unable to visit their relative’s graves from this period.”
The intent of this project, which Ulrich started in 2023, is to allow families of the fallen to hear and see the “Last Post” being performed at their relative’s cemeteries. Ulrich became interested in this subject while watching a 10-part series about the war.
“I was struck by the fact that I did not know anything about World War I, despite always being interested in history,” Ulrich said. “This has led me down a path to becoming a collector of the militaria, a frequent visitor to the battlefields in France and Belgium, and an obsessed reader on the subject.”
Ulrich’s first trip to the Western Front occurred in October 2018 with his English father-in-law.
“Bernard, who has lived and worked in the United States for the past 55 years, met me at the Brussels airport in Belgium,” Ulrich said. “Being interested in genealogy and WWI history, he joined me on the trip so that he could show me around the Ypres and Somme battlefields. While visiting four of Bernard’s relatives’ cemeteries, I observed the emotion Bernard displayed while standing with his hand on the gravestone or touching the etched names of his relatives on the memorial walls.”
When Ulrich returned home, he made a framed tribute for his father-in-law that included the photos of him at the cemeter-
ies, details about each of the soldiers and an authentic cap badge from each of their regiments.
Ulrich then learned of the British Commonwealth policy stating that no sol-
“I wanted to do something for the families and also to honor the incredible volunteerism of the people of Ypres.”
— Brad Ulrich
diers could be brought home and had to be buried where they perished.
“Some of the reasons for this policy included the nearly impossible task of sending bodies home with the unfathomable amount of war supplies going the opposite direction to the battlefields, concerns about the negative effect on morale with the vast amount of caskets returning home, and the enormous monetary cost that would be put on the Commonwealth,” Ulrich said. “While the government could have asked the public to pay for the cost of returning their relative’s body, many could not afford to do so, therefore, no family was allowed to bring their deceased relative home.”
The thought of families not knowing where their soldier was buried or being unable to make the trip over to visit the site bothered Ulrich over the years.
“I wanted to do something for the families and also to honor the incredible volunteerism of the people of Ypres who pledge that these soldiers would never be forgotten, so I created my Bugles Across Flanders project,” Ulrich said.
Through the website, relatives of the fallen soldiers can see and hear the “Last Post” and “Rouse” at their relative’s cemetery, performed by Ulrich on an authentic World War I bugle.
As a token of respect and appreciation for those who fought in the war, Ulrich is conducting this project without financial gain. If you would like to support this project, donations are being accepted for travel expenses.
Wcompared with his performance in other Super Tuesday states.
North Carolina’s Republican senators aren’t on the ballot this year. Thom Tillis is up again in 2026, Ted Budd in 2028.
Macon) in 2020. In 2022, an off year, 88,258 voted in the election that saw Edwards defeat then-Congressman Madison Cawthorn (R-Henderson).
hile the March 5 Primary Election was relatively quiet in the west — with few races and even fewer competitive races — results from state and national contests not only solidified partisan matchups for November’s General Election but also highlighted growing dissatisfaction with major party candidates.
Statewide, voter turnout was down substantially from the last Primary Election held in a presidential election year. In 2020, it was 31%, even amidst the chaos of COVID-19 shutdowns and social distancing guidelines. This year, it was 24%.
Former President Donald Trump, who is currently facing 91 indictments for his role in everything from election interference and falsifying business records to mishandling classified materials, won North Carolina’s Republican Presidential Primary with 74% of the vote.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was a distant second with 23% and suspended her campaign after winning only one of 15 Super Tuesday states.
Haley didn’t win a single county in North Carolina, but overall, her performance was about average, with statewide totals ranging from a low of 12% in Alaska to a high of 50% in Vermont, where she won.
President Joe Biden, facing questions about his age and cognitive ability, won North Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary with 87% of the vote; however, there were no other candidates on the ballot. Nearly 13% of voters chose “no preference” instead of Biden, which like Haley’s performance in North Carolina, is roughly average
Western North Carolina’s first-term incumbent Congressman Chuck Edwards (RHenderson) will go on to face Asheville Democratic Rep. Caleb Rudow in the November General Election after defeating fellow Republican and Hayesville businessman Christian Reagan in the March 5 Primary Election.
Reagan performed better than many expected and ended up with just over 31% of the vote but said he was very disappointed in Donald Trump not weighing in on the Primary.
“No other congressional candidate did more on his behalf,” Reagan told The Smoky Mountain News. “I desperately needed his endorsement and got nothing. People like Steve Bannon are always talking about supporting grassroots candidates. Nothing of any support given.”
Although Reagan said he wouldn’t endorse Edwards or campaign for him, he will vote for him in November.
Rudow was unopposed in the Democratic Primary, the first time that’s happened since incumbent Heath Shuler (DSwain) ran for reelection in 2008.
Based on performance, political mapping website Dave’s Redistricting puts NC-11 Democratic support in NC-11 at 44%, and interest among Republicans in the NC-11 race seems to be growing.
Just over 96,000 voted in this two-person Primary, while 90,696 voted in the 12-candidate race to succeed Mark Meadows (R-
North Carolina’s race for governor will be closely watched nationally after Democratic and Republican frontrunners, Attorney General Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, respectively, advanced.
Stein, who approved the $1.5 billion sale of Asheville’s Mission Hospital to HCA in 2019 but is currently suing them over quality of care issues, topped a field of five with 70% of the vote.
Robinson, who came away with 65% of the vote in a field of three that included State Treasurer Dale Folwell, has called LGBTQ people “filth” and promulgated anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
If elected, Stein would become the first Jewish governor of North Carolina, while Robinson would be the first Black governor of North Carolina. Neither Stein nor Robinson returned calls for comment from SMN.
Eleven Republicans ran to fill Robinson’s lieutenant governor post. Former Sen. Deanna Ballard, one of just 11 women running in non-judicial statewide races from either party, missed out on second place, running less than a percent behind Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill. O’Neill, who didn’t return a call for comment, trailed winner Hal Weatherman by nearly four points. Neither broke the 30% threshold for an outright win, so O’Neill will face Weatherman in the May 14 runoff.
Weatherman, who served as former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s chief of staff, has a long history in North Carolina politics. He previously served as chief of staff for pioneering Republican Congresswoman Sue Myrick and boasts a grassroots strategy.
“We did not run one TV ad,” Weatherman told SMN. “We did not run one radio ad. We did not do one direct mail piece. We fueled our travel around the state and we did do social media, but our social media was just chronicling our travels around the state, our journey. So I think it was a very strong victory, not just for me, that night.”
In early 2023, Weatherman told SMN he would use the lieutenant governor’s seat on the state Board of Education to focus on removing the stigma surrounding technical and vocational education, as well as beefing up the state’s existing apprenticeship program to bolster workforce development — an important component of tourism-driven economic development in the west.
The winner of the runoff will face Sen. Rachel Hunt (DMecklenburg), who came away with 70% of the vote in her three-candidate field. Hunt is the daughter of former Democratic Gov. Jim Hunt.
Every Council of State office was on the primary ballot, with the most high-profile race shaping up between Democratic Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-Mecklenburg) and Republican Rep. Dan Bishop (R-Mecklenburg) for attorney general. Although Jackson and Bishop both currently have the same job, congressman, Jackson says there are some pretty clear differences between them. The first is that Bishop’s never been a prosecutor.
“I think that should matter. I think there’s also a difference when it comes to how we would approach the job that you can see based on how we both approach our current job,” Jackson said. “I think Dan Bishop is Mr. Culture War. I think he sees this job more as a sword to use against some people than a shield to defend them. I think he sees this as a partisan instrument. And that really concerns me.”
Jackson’s top priority for the far west is to crack down on fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking. He also wants HCA to know that it’ll receive the same amount of scrutiny from him as from Stein, echoing comments he made to SMN in January vowing to hold Pactiv Evergreen accountable for its responsibilities as it exits the community in the wake of the Canton paper mill shutdown. His next specific priority for the far west — perhaps an allusion to pollution that may be lurking beneath Pactiv’s 185-acre site — is protecting the environment, which drives much of Western North Carolina’s economy.
Bishop did not return a call for comment.
The other relatively high-profile Council of State race is that for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Democrat Maurice “Mo” Green, former executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and one-time
superintendent of the state’s third-largest school district, in Guilford County, won his race handily, but intrigues on the Republican side should make for an interesting race.
Incumbent Republican Catherine Truitt lost her oneon-one Republican Primary race by more than four points to Michelle Morrow, a far-right candidate with no experience in public education. Morrow also lost a 2022 Wake County school board race.
On the state level, Western North Carolina’s incumbent legislators — Sen. Kevin Corbin (R-Macon), Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell), Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain), Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) and Rep. Mark Pless (R-Haywood) — all enjoyed a quiet night. None of them had Primary opponents. All of them, however, have General Election opposition from Democrats in November.
Statewide, voter turnout was down substantially from the last Primary Election held in a presidential election year. In 2020, it was 31%, even amidst the chaos of COVID19 shutdowns and social distancing guidelines. This year, it was 24%.
Cullowhee’s Adam Tebrugge will challenge Corbin in the 50th Senate District (35% Democrat by performance, according to Dave’s Redistricting). Frank Patton Hughes III, of Pineola, faces Hise in the 47th Senate District (36% Democrat).Brevard’s Mark Burrows hopes to defeat Clampitt in the 119th House District, which includes Swain, Jackson and Transylvania counties (43% Democrat). Nancy Curtis, of Andrews, takes on Gillespie, whose 120th House District spans Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Macon counties (26% Democrat). Marshall’s Evelyn Davidson opposes Pless in the 118th House District, comprised of Haywood and Madison counties (38% Democrat).
During the 2022 General Election, Gillespie and Hise had a free pass.
Hise’s came by defeating fellow Republican Sen. Ballard in the Primary Election after they were drawn into the same district. Gillespie’s came after no one filed against him in the Primary, making him completely uncontested that cycle.
A number of county offices in Western North Carolina were also on the ballot, but many weren’t.
Haywood County Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley and Vice Chairman Brandon Rogers are both up for reelection this year, however, no other Republicans filed to run against them. Democrats could have fielded two candidates, but could only come up with one, Tausha Forney, a youth mentor at the Pigeon Community Multicultural
Development Center in Waynesville. Voters can — but don’t have to — select up to two candidates to vote for in that contest.
In Swain County, three Republicans faced off for two open county commission seats. There was no Democratic Primary Election as no one from that party filed.
Leading the way was newcomer Tanner Lawson, a youth pastor, with 37% of the vote. Incumbent Kenneth Parton finished second with 34%, and Eric Watson received 28%.
While it’s possible Lawson and Parton may face no General Election opposition, multiple unaffiliated candidates attempted to get the 390 signatures required to appear on the November ballot. Canvassing for those petitions ends this week, and officials expect to know whether any of those unaffiliated candidates meet those requirements next week.
In Macon County, two open seats on the county commission were decided during the Primary Election due to the fact that only Republican candidates filed to run. Both incumbents on the commission ran for reelection, but only one of those beat his challenger (see MACON, p. 4).
Jackson County’s school board is unique in that their election contests are decided during the Primary Election.
This year there were two seats up for election. In district three, incumbent Wes Jamison bested Clint Irons with 56.91% of the vote to Irons’ 42.64%. This will be Jamison’s third term on the Jackson County Board of Education. Jamison is a Jackson County native and has worked for the North Carolina Department of Transportation for over 20 years.
In district one, incumbent Chair Elizabeth Cooper did not seek reelection. Former Jackson County Commissioner Gayle Woody beat out her opponent Rainy Brake by a wide margin, securing 61.5% of the vote to Brake’s 37.59%. Woody is a retired teacher who spent 25 years teaching in Jackson County Schools and served one term on the county commission beginning in 2019.
Bucking the statewide trend, turnout in the Jackson County primary was up about a percentage point from the last election in which school board members were chosen, with 7,801 ballots cast, or about 26% of registered voters participating.
There was also an important judicial race in the west settled the night of March 5.
A newly created District Court seat — which will serve Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties — was up for grabs. Running for the spot on the bench were Republicans Virginia Hornsby and Andy Buckner. Hornsby came away with the victory after securing 52.77% of the vote. Because no Democrats filed to run for the seat, Hornsby (no relation to District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch) will be sworn in at the beginning of next year.
News Editor Kyle Perrotti and Staff Writer Hannah McLeod contributed to this report.
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR
Haywood County commissioners have taken the final financial step in the long process toward approving a jail expansion, all but assuring the project will move forward after years of delay and doubt.
On Feb. 5, commissioners held a public hearing where minor opposition to the project was heard. At the next meeting on Feb. 19, commissioners approved a nonbinding set of initial findings for presentation to the Local Government Commission, which oversees local government borrowing.
Those findings included that the jail was in fact needed, and that it would be in the county’s best interest to finance the project.
Then came a special Feb. 26 workshop where commissioners poured over every detail of the project and its price tag.
During the board’s regular meeting on March 4, commissioners approved an installment contract with the Haywood County Financing Corporation, a component of county government, to finance an expansion of approximately 155 new jail beds and an integrated security system using the property as security.
In return, the corporation will execute and deliver limited obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $28.5 million.
On March 5, the LGC approved the county’s request to issue the bonds.
Chaired by State Treasurer Dale Folwell, the LGC said in a statement that the county’s population had grown from 59,000 to 63,000 over the past 13 years.
“The need for more jail space followed, with the facility having operated at capacity for years,” it reads.
On March 13, the county will solicit bids for the financing, based on a 20-year level principal payment. In calculating the cost, County Manager Bryant Morehead
said that he’d used an estimated 5% interest rate.
“I think based on the information I shared you last week, that we’re probably in good shape with our estimates based on our AA rating for these limited obligation bonds,” Morehead said. “If this was a GO [general obligation] debt, we would be AA+, which is fantastic news considering the loss of the mill. But our economy’s strong, and I think S&P [Standard & Poor, a global credit rating agency] looked favorably on that.”
According to a March 4 press release by the county, Michael Parker, an S&P credit analyst said that the rating “reflects our view of the county’s growing and diverse economy, wise management practices, long history of positive operating results, and manageable long-term liabilities that we expect will persist.”
The true interest rate won’t be known until March 13 or 14. Although the step taken on March 4 directing staff to move forward with the sale was “more formal” according to Morehead, there’s still a way to back out if the interest rate comes back as something excessive or outrageous.
If all goes well, the county will use fund balance to cover interest-only payments during the first year of the loan. The expense would be included in the upcoming fiscal year budget, which would run from July 1 through June 30, 2025.
Commissioner Terry Ramey asked Morehead about a small property tax increase to help pay for the new jail. Morehead told Ramey — who didn’t pay his own property taxes for nearly 15 years, made false statements about his taxes and still owes the county nearly $2,000 as of late February — that if an increase was to be made, it wouldn’t come until the next fiscal year’s budget, effective July 1, 2026.
Ramey was the only commissioner to vote against the public safety expenditure.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
— Robert Frost, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
Yeah, it’s cliché to say so, but it is truly amazing what a difference a year makes.
On March 6, 2023, Smoky Mountain News reporter Cory Vaillancourt, acting on a tip, shuffled along with Pactiv Evergreen employees into a hastily called workers-only meeting with then-company Vice President Byron Racki. At that meeting, the VP told employees the mill would close by summer.
Vaillancourt began posting the news on social media, and many first heard about the life-changing mill closure not from company officials but from family and friends who shared the news on their social media platforms. As news spread that the mill was closing after more than 100 years in operation, many feared Canton would lose its very soul and go belly up into some kind of cultural and economic tailspin.
But the opposite happened. Anyone who has been watching from up close or afar can see that the town, its people and
To the Editor:
With interest, I read the article “Combating the Opioid Crisis” with interest in the February 22 issue of The Sylva Herald. In the article it was stated that an opioid settlement supplemental agreement awarded Jackson County $3 million to combat opioid use on the local level.
When I was 18, I worked with Jackson County EMS before leaving to embark on an almost 35-year career in law enforcement. For the past three years, I have worked as needed in a local funeral home. I have seen my share of people addicted to drugs and alcohol. I have seen the effects on the person suffering addiction as well as the effects on the addict’s family and friends.
I have heard people say, if an adult chooses to use drugs, then they should face the consequences. While I agree with this, I also realize that people should have help to combat their addiction. What leads one to use drugs? Peer pressure, mental illness, unemployment, homelessness, abuse as a child or just bad judgement may have led a person to drug use. More likely a combination of these issues has led to addiction. Regardless of why one uses drugs, as a predominantly Christian society we must show compassion and be willing to make sacrifices of our time and possibly finances to combat this issue. As the Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we are to edify each other. In other words, we are to build up rather than tear down each other. Even an addict!
Drugs are rapidly entering our country, and yes this must be addressed and stopped.
its business community is surging forward, riding a wave of optimism, sound decision making and inspiring leadership. All of that has been the catalyst for much-needed help from local, state and federal coffers that has been crucial now and in mapping out the future.
Editor Scott McLeod
Downtown is booming with many new businesses. Canton’s town board, mayor and staff have been front and center, and a long list of others who were in leadership positions acted quickly.
Among those who jumped right into the fray was Haywood Community College President Shelly White. The college quickly developed a plan to provide scholarships for displaced workers who wanted to go back to school and introduced a host of new job-training initiatives that helped not only former Pactiv employees but will provide aid to future job seekers in Haywood County.
“I think that looking back over how fast we’ve moved over the past year as a community, it feels to me like we had the
Regardless of how the drugs got here, they are here. We are losing a generation to drug use. As long as there is an addict there will be someone provide them drugs. The drug problem is like “Toothpaste out of a tube,” you can’t get it back in. We must be willing to combat the complex problem. There are no simple solutions and certainly isn’t a “one size fits all” approach.
From reading the article, it appears the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department will begin a MAT (medically assisted treatment) program for inmates currently in the jail. This is very positive and something that has worked in other areas. From reading the article it appears Commission Chairman Mark Letson has a good grasp of the complexities of the issue. I believe our commissioners as well as the sheriff will eventually have the MAT program up and running, benefiting those in our county jail.
I will always support law enforcement and I have, not always in jest, encouraged many officers to work harder and make more arrests. However, I realize this isn’t a problem you can arrest your way out of. Simply put, the more arrests lead to more people in jail. More people in jail leads to staffing problems for the jail (officers, nurses, transportation, food services etc.) as well as a judicial system that is way overstressed (from the lack of judges, clerks, prosecutors and defenders). With that in mind, it is time to no longer sweep the problem under the carpet but to make a commitment to find alternatives to combat addiction. Truthfully the sheriff could use 20 more employees but, in this day and time-finding two is difficult. I am sure that can be said for the entire criminal justice system.
right people in the right places to problem solve,” White recently told The Smoky Mountain News.
And it is remarkable — as Vaillancourt’s story in last week’s edition showed — that so much has happened in one year when one considers how bureaucracies usually plod forward at a snail’s pace. There’s still much to do. Cleaning up the site and determining its future, solving what are sure to be some surprise environmental after-effects, and making sure Canton gets a wastewater treatment facility up and running are all huge challenges.
But I’m optimistic. Those who have worked so hard for the past year aren’t breaking their arms trying to pat themselves on the back. Quite the opposite, it’s still all handson deck as we move into year two of what will be a multi-year undertaking to transform Canton into the shining example what is possible for post-industrial mill towns.
And it will happen, it will just take some time. Looking back over the past 12 months, one can only think it will happen in a shorter time frame than most imagined. As Robert Frost reminded us in his famous poem, there’s still much to do before we rest.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
It is time to look at the drug issue as not just a criminal justice problem but a society problem. Drug abuse affects not only the healthcare system but even our elementary schools who deal with children whose parents suffer from addiction.
We have few treatment options. Many parents and grandparents have given most of their life savings to seek out-of-state treatment for their children or grandchildren. Many leave jail with the hope of quickly entering rehab, only for nothing to be available. This is a particularly vulnerable time as the addict often seeks that one last high before entering rehab. I encourage our commissioners to work with our state representatives to bring rehab facilities to the area. Our representatives must work to reinstate monies taken in the past from mental health treatment in our state. I would encourage our jail to implement some type of program that would involve inmates receiving peer support from those who have suffered addiction in the past but have been clean for several years.
our area will cause an influx of addicts and street people being bused into our area. First, there is no proof of this, only rumors and baseless conspiracy theories. Second, the two major roads to the western end of the state run through Jackson County, so people will come and occasionally stay; such is life in America, where we are free to travel where we want. Last, from personal experience I have seen numerous people die from drug overdoses in the past three years and except for a
handful at the casino, all were Jackson County residents.
We need more rehab facilities. We especially need facilities that aren’t profit-driven, but treatment driven.
Many get their news from Facebook and the rumor mill, believing a rehab facility in
We must help the addict. We need to help the families that have been literally torn apart by addiction. Parents shouldn’t lose their children, and young kids shouldn’t lose their parents. We have a problem and as a society we must do something! We can longer stand by as we lose a generation because of drugs.
W. Kent Davis
Celebrating a decade together with a special anniversary gig this week at the Salvage Station in Asheville, Fireside Collective has become a rapidly rising force in the Americana, bluegrass and jam realms in Southern Appalachia and beyond.
“At our core, we’re a grassroots band,” said Jesse Iaquinto, lead singer/mandolinist. “We thrive on meeting people across the country and learning different interpretations of folk music — it’s the traditions from where we come from and the new directions, we can go that keeps inspiring us to learn and create.”
Originally from the foothills of northern Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier region of New York, Iaquinto was a young kid when his mother brought him to a bluegrass festival. During that time, his father would also toy around with a banjo while at home.
“Through my formative years, bluegrass would lay dormant in my mind and not emerge again until my college years,” the 39-year-old said. “Once I got to college, I started listening to a lot of [the] Grateful Dead and bluegrass reemerged in my life.”
At the foundation of Iaquinto’s love for music was (and remains) the psychedelic rock, American roots and improvisation jam aspects of the Grateful Dead. That was dovetailed with his discovery of the “Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe, New Grass Revival and Old & In The Way — the latter featur-
ing the Dead’s Jerry Garcia on banjo.
“[Bluegrass] is such a beautiful thing — the harmonies, instrumental proficiency and live experience,” Iaquinto said.
“I’ve never really been in too much of hurry — I’d rather build something that lasts than have quick, but fleeting success.”
— Jesse Iaquinto
“Bill Monroe blended together so many elements from the music of his day and created something progressive and raw.”
Although he started playing piano at age five and dabbled with other instruments (guitar, percussion, saxophone), it wasn’t until Iaquinto was 22 when he experienced a musical epiphany once a mandolin found its way into his hands.
“[The mandolin] blended all of the qualities of the instruments I had played throughout my life,” Iaquinto said. “I love the percussive nature and the harmonic opportunities.
Listening to Sam Bush and Chris Thile, I was blown away by how expressive the instrument could be.”
As an artist, Iaquinto looks at Monroe as an ongoing inspiration to always be a musical sponge, to be in constant awe of the world, to soak in every sight, sound and spectacle one may
come across — only to wring it all out into something completely your own.
“I used to view life as one linear experience. Now that I’ve grown and traveled, I see it as an endless cycle,” Iaquinto said. “These cycles feed the artistic journey and keep everything fresh and moving forward — art is just a reflection of those cycles told through the eyes and hearts of the artists themselves.”
Following college, Iaquinto landed in Western North Carolina. Formed in 2014, Fireside Collective came to fruition in the vast Asheville music scene. The group had a deep desire to tap into not only the ancient tones of the “high, lonesome sound” that is bluegrass, but to also create a festive atmosphere onstage.
“In particular, Asheville is a microcosm of the creative side of the American story,” Iaquinto said. “There are writers, painters, chefs and musicians who come here to be inspired by the beautiful landscape and vibrant culture.”
Right out of the gate, Fireside Collective was a hardcore bluegrass entity, so much so it won the band competition at MerleFest in 2016. That nationwide notoriety eventually parlayed itself into a nomination from the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) for “Momentum Band of the Year.” In 2022, the band received an IBMA nod for “New Artist of the Year.”
“Since [we began], we went heavy into the bluegrass and are now returning back to the hybrid roots ensemble that was originally envisioned,” Iaquinto said.
That circling back to a hybrid roots model included the addition of drummer Michael Tillis, a move that sonically complements the finely tuned skillset and unrelenting drive of Iaquinto, Joe Cicero (acoustic guitar), Tommy Maher (dobro) and Carson White (electric bass).
“I’ve never really been in too much of hurry — I’d rather build something that lasts than have quick, but fleeting success,” Iaquinto said. “That’s why I’ve always loved blending many different influences into a unique, yet familiar sound.”
Together, this latest chapter of Fireside Collective is a quintet reinterpreting a slew of original melodies and covers — an intricate acoustic unit with a rhythm section of sound and fury.
“It’s exciting to think about bringing our bluegrass knowledge into the current incarnation of Fireside Collective,” Iaquinto said. “Knowing we have something unique, and everyone is enthusiastic about the new opportunities is definitely keeping the flame alive and burning brighter than ever before.”
With 10 years now behind them, Fireside Collective is quickly bubbling out of Southern Appalachia and into the national scene — a juncture of time and place that only could have been reached by persistence and passion from the depths of the creative self in constant motion.
“We’ve always been the type of band that let our roots run deep and didn’t force anything,” Iaquinto said. “At the same time, we’ve always strived to grow and evolve — never [staying] in the same place for too long.”
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Americana/bluegrass act Fireside Collective will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Salvage Station in Asheville.
Popular regional jam-band Dangermuffin will kick things off. Doors open at 7 p.m. The show is ages 18 and over. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day-of-show. Onsite parking is free.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to salvagestation.com. To learn about Fireside Collective, go to firesidecollectiveband.com.
‘Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself’
That quote underneath the title of this column is from the seminal 1958 novella “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” by Truman Capote. It was also the dramatic culmination in the 1961 film of the same name starring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly.
I was thinking about that quote when I was asked by my girlfriend early Saturday morning about why I’ve been so stressed lately. The observation was made before I had my first cup of coffee, but not long after I’d just awakened, soon noticing how cloudy of a day it was through the blinds of the bedroom window.
To preface, I’m not necessarily stressed out. That’s not really my natural state of being. I’m a carefree soul, at least at my core. More so, I’m extremely overwhelmed and exhausted, physically and mentally, with work, life and everything else under the sun.
And I would surmise you (yes, you) probably feel the same way, too. Don’t we all in the digital age? In all truth, I do feel like I’ve been hitting the wall in recent months. Years of running on all cylinders to meet deadlines and juggle daily life, this undulation of platespinning tasks and making sure everything is balanced and happy.
To which, I then thought of another Holly Golightly line: “The blues are because you’re getting fat and maybe it’s been raining too long, you’re just sad that’s all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you’re afraid and you don’t know what you’re afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?”
As I got out of bed and started to try and scratch the surface of just what lies beneath the unknown depths of my thoughts and emotions to my girlfriend, this random idea illuminated in my head. Why don’t I just write a list of what things are constantly in my mind that not only cause stress and distress, but feelings of anxiety and depression that, perhaps, lead to miscommunication between my partner, my friends, family and happenstance strangers.
So, I grabbed a journalist’s notepad from my work bag, a beloved writing utensil (Sharpie S-Gel) and sat down at my postmodern desk in our humble abode, all while weekend traffic roared by on a bustling Russ Avenue just outside the apartment window.
Within about five or 10 minutes, I’d already filled one entire page. Both columns of a single page were covered with numerous bullet points of things either always on my mind or currently putting pressure on my existence, work, relationships and how I try to conduct myself. I counted the bullet
points. There were 42. Nonstop deadlines for the newspaper and our travel magazines. Deadlines for Rolling Stone. Maintaining a balance between my loyalty and duties with The Smoky Mountain News and one foot in the door with my lifelong dream of writing for Rolling Stone.
Keeping my truck on the road for work and play. Being able to afford rent in a town (Waynesville) I’ve called home for 12 years. I don’t know how much longer I can do so based on unreal rent increases in our backyard. Not being able to afford a home of my own in Western North Carolina. Squeezed out of the market years ago, with agreeable rent my only life raft.
My aging parents and what that means moving forward with one turning 82 next week, the other now 75 as of this past January. Seeing them get older and there’s nothing I can do about it, but spend as much time with them as possible, happily and together. Thoughts of my aunt currently in the hospital with a grave outlook. Strained relationships with estranged family members elsewhere.
Someday I’ll own a motorcycle like this one. Garret K. Woodward photo
Chronic pain in my foot that will need surgery, but where will the money come from? Chronic pain in my nose that will need surgery, but where will the money come from? Personal sadness over both the foot and the nose. Being a former college athlete of speed, grace and ability now dissolving into a slowed runner of shuffling (when the foot hurts) with skewed breathing due to a broken nose years ago that never healed completely (or correctly).
Growing distance from old, dear friends and failed attempts to secure new, dear ones. The hardships of being an older male and finding kinship with peers of the same sex. Those bonds are eternal, albeit rare in occurrence. They’ve also grown up and moved on, where sometimes I feel left behind. I miss them and I wish we could see each other more.
Being able to afford health insurance
1
A production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 15-16, 22-23 and 2 p.m. March 17 and 24 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
2 Appalachian/indie singersongwriter Jackson Grimm will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
3 Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the Unplugged Pub in Bryson City..
4 The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Jacob Johnson (guitar/vocals) 7 p.m. March 15-16 for a special dinner performance.
5 “Grease: The Musical” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. March 1516, 22-23 and 2:30 p.m. March 17 and 24 at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City.
even with an enormously high deductible. Sacrificing sanity, logic and reason for lifelong dreams in the face of adversity. Finding stability, financially and creatively, in the written word, an industry in constant flux and chaos. Hate mail from readers (email, letters, texts). Hate from the general public in person and in real time.
Stress of saving money and trying to build a future together with my girlfriend. Stress of not taking a break from work (I can’t remember the last time I took a trip that wasn’t work- or family-related). Stress of getting older. Stress of past mistakes (when I could’ve been a better friend, boyfriend, person). Stress of being a good partner and there for her in her time of need.
Alas, all of the above and more (much more). The point of the rant in the previous paragraphs is not to garner sympathy and pity. Not at all. It’s more about solidarity in the old adage that “everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” It’s a sentiment I’ve always held close to the chest. It’s a pillar of how I conduct myself, personally and professionally.
That said, the funny thing was, once I wrote all of these things in my mind down, I felt an immediate pressure release from my body, mind and soul. It’s the same reason I became a writer in the first place — once it’s on the blank page, it’s a relief of self.
I handed the notebook page of bullet points to my girlfriend and she read through it over a cup o’joe. Finishing it, she put down the paper and walked over to my desk, leaning down and hugging me. We talked a good while thereafter and felt common ground was once again achieved between the two of us. If you’re in the same boat, I suggest you find a piece of paper and do the same. It’ll help.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Americana/folk singer-songwriter Woolybooger will perform at 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 17, at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City Dubbed “music to grow your hair out to,” the Murphy musician, whose real name is Gavin Graves, is wellregarded in this region for his mix of blues and roots music into a unique Southern Appalachian tone.
The show is free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host music bingo 7 p.m. Mondays, karaoke 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, trivia 7 p.m. Thursdays, open mic night 10 p.m., Rossdafareye March 16 and Stranger Rangers March 23. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Jacob Johnson (guitar/vocals) 7 p.m. March 15-16 for a special dinner performance ($49.99 per person). Limited seating. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or classicwineseller.com.
• Darnell Farms (Bryson City) will host a St. Patty’s Day Festival w/Jackson Grimm (Americana, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.), J Creek Cloggers (1-3 p.m.) and Mile High (classic rock, 3-5 p.m.) March 16. Admission is $10. facebook.com/darnellfarmsnc.
p.m. March 23. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Karaoke on the second/fourth Friday of the month, Blue Jazz March 16 and Canon Tyler (country/bluegrass) March 23. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Blue Jazz March 15 and Tim Akins (rock/piano) March 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Fireside at the Farm” sessions on select weekends. For more information, go to oldedwardshospitality.com.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Eireann’s Call (Celtic/rock) 7 p.m. March 14. Tickets are $22 per person. For a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.
Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, March 15, at the Unplugged Pub in Bryson City.
Formed in Haywood County seven years ago, Outlaw Whiskey has emerged as a popular band in Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia. A blend of original country and rock songwriting amid a bevy of cover tunes from the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and other marquee acts, the essence of the group is musicianship and fellowship.
In March, Outlaw Whiskey was recognized as “Band of the Year” (New Country: 50 & Over Category) by the North America Country Music Association, Int’l (NACMAI). The ensemble accepted its honor at the NACMAI award show at the Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Last year, Outlaw Whiskey guitarist/vocalist Gerald Scott took home the NACMAI award for “Songwriter of the Year.”
Admission is $5 at the door. 828.538.2488.
Appalachian/indie singer-songwriter Jackson Grimm will perform at 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 14, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
Grimm marries folk/pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. In a region with a strong music culture, it is no surprise that Grimm’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace: Asheville. His songs run the gambit from an homage to a traditional country waltz in “If Not For You,” an unrequited love song driven by a Beatles-esque melody in “I’d Hold You (But I Don’t Wanna Hold You),” to a drunken party-grass song à la
Old Crow Medicine Show in “Last Train Home.”
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.com.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” with We Three Swing at 5:30 p.m., Community Drum Circle March 14, Rich Manz Trio March 15, Adrianne Blanks Trio March 16, Len Graham & Paul Koptak 5:30 p.m. March 20, Kevin Dolan & Paul Koptak March 22 and Jackson Grimm Duo (Americana/folk) March 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays w/ Barry Roma (swing/country) March 16. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host 38 Special (classic rock) 9 p.m. March 15 and Ministry with Gary Numan (metal/rock) 7 p.m. March 22. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” on Thursday evenings, “Sunday Bluegrass Residency” from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the “Salon Series” w/S.G. Goodman (Americana/indie) 8:30 p.m. March 21. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an “Open Mic w/Frank Lee” Wednesdays, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) March 15, Liz Petty (singer- songwriter) March 16, Woolybooger (blues/folk) 5 p.m. March 17, The Dirty French Broads (Americana) March 22, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) March 23 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) March 24. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “Unforgettable: The Music & Life of Nat King Cole” (tribute/jazz) 7:30 p.m. March 22. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thepeacocknc.org or call 828.389.ARTS.
• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Jackson Grimm (Americana/folk) March 14, Smashing Mouths (rock/pop) March 15, Celtic Road Jam 4 p.m. March 16, Stonehen (Americana/Celtic) March 16, Celtic Road Jam 2 p.m. March 17, Carter Giegerich & Friends (Americana/old-time) 5 p.m. March 17, Rene Russell (singer-songwriter) March 21 and TrancEnd (rock/pop) 9 p.m. March 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Jeremy Camp with Caleb & John (Christian/secular) March 21. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Tickets start at $25 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 866.273.4615.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic w/Phil” Wednesdays, J.C. Tokes March 16 and Brett Winning March 23. All shows and events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and “Divas On Tap” 8:15
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana, free) March 14, Outlaw Whiskey March 15, Macon County Line March 16, Karaoke w/Lori March 21, Johnnie Blackwell March 22 and Mile High (classic rock) March 23. All shows are $5 at the door and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
The 56th annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibition will run through March 22 at the Fine Art Museum in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee.
The exhibition is one of the longest-running Catamount art traditions. For emerging artists, this exhibition is an extraordinary opportunity to share their artwork with a larger public and to enhance their skills in presenting artwork in a professional gallery setting.
Students’ work is reviewed by an outside art professional, one who has the challenge of making selections from the many talented students who submit an application. This year’s judge is Erika Diamond, a textile-focused artist, curator and educator based in Asheville.
WCU artists include Katie Barnett, Adam Bryant, Alexis Bumgardner, Jessie Butner, Matthew Cain, Zoila Carrasco, Nathalie Catalán, Isaiah Davis, Sally Drumheller, Rhiannon Eason, Anilia Hornsby, Gillian Kaminski, Kiara Leary, Madi Livingston, Joshua Masters, Gloria Melo-Estrada, Naomi Michelle, Michaela Morse, Berlyn Perdomo, Jessica Rial, Alexis Shafir, Samantha Taube, Daniel Velazquez Perez, Lydia Vereen and Gogaji Renn Yang.
An awards ceremony and reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the WCU Fine Art Museum The reception will include a talk from the artists, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Free parking is available.
For more information, go to wcu.edu/bardo-arts-center/blog/posts/56th-annualjuried.aspx.
• “Challenge Me, Art by Differently Abled Artists” exhibition will run through April 7 in the Handmade Gallery at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. This exhibition serves as a celebration of the remarkable abilities possessed by individuals with different abilities. It is a testament to the power of art to transcend barriers and foster understanding and appreciation. For more information, please go to haywoodarts.org.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host its “Maker Series” from 1011 a.m. March 16.
Coffee and conversation with local artisans and crafters. For more information, go to coweeschool.org/music.
• “Youth Art Month” will be held through March at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Artwork from local Macon County students K12 will be on display. A reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the gallery. For more information, call 828.349.4607 or go to franklinuptowngallery.com.
• “Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson” will run through June 28 in the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. This exhibition brings together a selection of baskets, pottery, carving, painting, photography and more. To learn more about the exhibition and reception, please go to arts.wcu.edu/spark. The Fine Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. For more information on CRE828, email
dawn@cre828.com or call 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes or call 828.586.2248.
In an effort to raise funds for Misfit Mountain, there will be a special art showcase and sale through March at Panacea Coffee Company in Waynesville.
Featuring artwork from Haywood County painter Robin Arramae, patrons can make a donation onsite at the coffee house and then choose a painting of their liking from the wall exhibit to take home with them.
All proceeds will go to Misfit Mountain, a 501(c)3 nonprofit animal rescue serving the WNC area. In the next two weeks, 15 dogs will be getting sterilized, vaccinated, chipped and heartworm tested before being adopted. There will be about $3,000 in expenses for just these pups.
For more information, contact Arramae, email wncpaintevents@gmail.com.
The Haywood Community College Foundation’s inaugural “Evening of Art” event to support the needs of HCC’s Professional Crafts program will be held from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, March 14, in the Sycamore building located on the main campus of HCC in Clyde.
With live jazz, dancing, appetizers, buffet dinner, studio tours and a silent auction, this elegant event will be an added special touch to the spring event calendar in Haywood County.
The Professional Crafts program at HCC offers degrees, diplomas and certificates in four mediums to provide students not only with the ability to perfect their craft, but to even run or start their own business. The wood, fiber, clay and jewelry focus areas are a draw for artists from across the country.
The funds raised from the “Evening of Art” will support field trips, specialty training opportunities and needed supplies to make their craft creations.
One of the highlights of the evening is the silent auction. This auction will feature
works of art from HCC instructors, students, and local artisans such as Margaret Roberts, Lexington Glassworks, Sarah Wells Rolland, Phillip D’Angelo and Teresa Pennington, amongst others.
This event will welcome the 18-piece Asheville Jazz Orchestra to campus and will also feature building and studio tours, as well as live demonstrations.
Funding for special needs for the HCC students could not be supported without the generous donations from community members like you.
To get a sneak peek at the silent auction items or to purchase your ticket, visit haywood.edu/foundation/foundation-event.
Tickets are $75 per person ($45 tax deductible) and include appetizers, buffet dinner, refreshments, dancing, live music and viewing of the studios and demonstrations.
For more information, email Foundation Director Hylah Birenbaum at hebirenbaum@haywood.edu or call 828.627.4544.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will present a production of “12 Angry Jurors” 7:30 p.m. March 15-16 and 2 p.m. March 17. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thepeacocknc.org or call 828.389.ARTS.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host legendary comedian Jeff Foxworthy at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• “Grease: The Musical” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. March 15-16, 22-23 and 2:30 p.m. March 17 and 24, at the Swain Arts Center in Bryson City. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to swainartscenter.com or call 828.488.7843.
A production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. March 1516, 22-23 and 2 p.m. March 17 and 24 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
This thrilling production transforms Rick Riordan’s bestselling novel into a mesmerizing fusion of music, humor and mythology.
Embark on an epic adventure with Percy Jackson, a young demigod, as he sets out on a quest to prevent an impending war among the gods. This electrifying production, filled with mythical creatures, gods and demigods,
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.
guarantees a rollercoaster ride through the enchanting world of Greek mythology that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
With its mix of humor, heart and heroism, “The Lightning Thief” is a perfect outing for families and fans of all ages. The narrative seamlessly intertwines these elements, encouraging audiences to embark on Jackson’s remarkable journey, fostering an enduring sense of adventure and camaraderie that extends beyond the confines of the stage.
To reserve your seats, call the box office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org.
The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will host its next bout against the Yellow Jackets Roller Derby from Georgia Tech University on Sunday, March 24, at the Swain County Recreation Center in Bryson City.
The team is an amateur women’s athletic roller derby league that aims to provide an outlet for fun, fitness and camaraderie among its members and develop athletic ability and teamwork. SMRG endeavors to give back to the community that supports them through community-building initiatives and charitable donations of time and activity.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. The junior scrimmage game will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the adult bout starting at 3 p.m.
Tickets are $5 presale or $8 at the door (cash or Venmo accepted). Kids ages 11 and under are free. Bring your own chair.
As well, are you interested in becoming a skater, referee or non-skating official? SMRG has open practices. No experience necessary.
For more information, go to facebook.com/smokymountainrollergirls.
• Cherokee Dance & Chants will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. Bill Dyer will teach Cherokee dance and chants, with the program geared towards youth ages 6-12. A lifelong student of Native American culture, Dyar was teacher/coach of the Tsali Lodge (Western North Carolina’s chapter of the Boy Scout’s Order of the Arrow) four-time national awardwinning Historic Group Dance Team. Free and open to the public. For more information, email arts4all@dnet.net or call 828.524.ARTS.
• “Alice in Wonderland: The Musical” will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, March 15, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Scotty Corbin directs Overlook Theatre Company in a tuneful twist to Lewis Carroll’s classic tale of Alice’s down-the-rabbit-hole adventure — a magical hour of fun songs and curiouser storytelling. Tickets are $14 advance, $17 at the door. For more information, go to smokymountainarts.com or call 828.524.1598.
“Caledonia” was the Latin name used by the Roman Empire to refer to the part of Great Britain that lies north of the River Forth, which includes most of the land area of Scotland. Today, it is used as a romantic or poetic name for all of Scotland, and is the title (“O, Caledonia,” London, 2014, 206 pages) of Scottish writer/journalist Elspeth Barker’s first and only published novel. It is also the title of a well-known poem written by Sir Walter Scott, which was then revised as a Scottish folk ballad in 1978 by Scottish folk artist Dougie MacLean on his first album.
Let me tell you that I love you
That I think about you all the time Caledonia, you’re calling me
Now I’m going home And if I shall become a stranger No it would make me more than sad Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had ....
Since then, this song has been covered by numerous popular singers and groups and called Scotland’s “unofficial national anthem.” I have seen Dougie MacLean in Asheville at Diana Wortham Theatre several times in the past, precovid, and heard him sing “O, Caledonia” when he would come to the U.S. on his world tours.
Sir Walter Scott writes: “O Caledonia!
behavior and mind in intimate detail. Or as Maggie O’Farrell, who typed Barker’s manuscript for the publisher and wrote the books Introduction says: “The world you are about to enter is one of prickly tweed coats, of grimly strict nannies, of irritatingly perfect younger sisters, of eccentric household pets, of enormous freezing castles. It is one where girls are considered to be merely ‘an inferior form of boy’ and Calvinist propriety is thrown into relief by the seductive wildness of the Highland landscape.”
So, we get an inside peek at Janet’s life, as well as getting many a beautifully poetic word-painting from Barker capturing several of Scotland’s most well-known destinations and landscapes. In fact, it is Barker’s descriptive passages of places in Scotland that stand
which she brings to life again for me in lyrical passages such as this:
“Janet forgot her earthly doom and rose before light to ride bareback up the grassy tracks through the woods to the moors. She watched the sun rise over the far hills, the mist float in steamy filaments off the glen and the silent golden day bring glory to the somber pines. She passed out of the hills, over the crossroads, toward the bare stone-walled pasturelands where the few trees hunched and bent inland, straining away from the bitter blast of the sea wind, their branches clawing vainly for the shelter of the glens. When they reached the glen she galloped the length of the meadows by the burn, wild with glee.”
Stern and wild/Meet nurse for a poetic child!” And this line from Scott pretty much describes the book’s main character, Janet, and the personal plot line as conceived by Barker in her book that was written at the age of 51 and is now considered a Scottish classic.
“O, Caledonia” is a coming-of-age story and we go from early youth to late teens over the course of this story and follow Janet and her independent and sometimes inexplicable
out in my memory after reading this book. Being of Scottish heritage and having traveled in Scotland on more than one occasion, I loved reading Barker’s descriptions of places I’ve seen for myself, as well as customs and cuisine I’ve learned and experienced on those journeys. My people are from the Scottish Highlands, a region prominently featured in Barker’s “O, Caledonia”and
Although “O, Caledonia” is rife with such passages as the above, it also portrays Janet as a voracious lover of literature. “She shut herself in her room and read Baudelaire,” writes Barker, and Janet’s list of favorite authors is noted throughout the book referencing others such as Charlotte Bronte, Edgar Allan Poe, Sir Walter Scott, Edward Gorey and Molly Keane. So, one could say that Janet is “a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,” as Bob Dylan so succinctly put it. Or, that she is belligerently wise. An island in the stream, to quote another pop song classic. Both Janet and Barker, I think, get their wisdom and their literary gifts from reading. From that virtual library in their minds that has given them a certain amount of clarity when it comes to language and to the ironies of love. In “O, Caledonia,” the language sings and the reader can see the Scottish Highlands and all the beauty and uniqueness it entails that mirror almost exactly what we, living in the Southern Appalachians, see and experience here in this place. That is one reason I loved spending time in Scotland, as it feels like home and in many ways is, if genetic memory has a real presence, a real place, in the life I am living now.
So, I guess you could simply say that “O, Caledonia” is an account of Janet’s life, from birth to early death, taking in sibling bonds and betrayals, parental intolerance, the horrors and discomforts of adolescence, and maybe above all, the saving grace of books.
(Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and author of the multiaward-winning non-fiction nature memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.”)
BY KYLE PERROTTI
N EWS E DITOR
Alawsuit filed last month in a Washington, D.C., federal court alleges the U.S. Forest Service’s practice of setting “timber targets” puts the climate at risk, undermines the Biden administration’s climate goals and violates federal law.
The suit was filed by The Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of two conservation groups, the Chattooga Conservancy (based in upstate South Carolina) and Asheville-based MountainTrue, as well as an individual in Missouri.
SELC argues that the Forest Service failed to study properly the climate impacts of its timber targets and the logging projects designed to fulfill them. Each year, the Forest Service and Department of Agriculture set timber targets, which the Forest Service is required to meet through logging on public lands. In recent years, the national target has been set as high as 4 billion board feet — or enough lumber to circle the globe more than 30 times. The already high target is expected to increase in the coming years. The suit claims that those targets create
backward incentives for the Forest Service, and since forests, including those on public lands, capture and store billions of tons of carbon, harvesting too much timber could have detrimental environmental impacts as that carbon is released all at once.
A joint press release sent out from the SELC, Chattooga Conservancy and MountainTrue argues that when carbon is released back into the atmosphere, it undermines the Biden administration’s efforts to protect old growth forests while fighting climate change. It specifically noted two of Biden’s executive orders it believes the timber targets work against. The first was announced in January 2021 and dealt with protecting public health and the environment and “restoring science” to tackle the climate crisis. It directed all executive departments and agencies to review and address policies put into place by the Trump administration that the Biden administration believed were exacerbating the climate crisis.
“Extreme weather events and other climate-related effects have harmed the health, safety, and security of the American people and have increased the urgency for combat-
ting climate change and accelerating the transition toward a clean energy economy,” that executive order reads. “The world must be put on a sustainable climate pathway to protect Americans and the domestic economy from harmful climate impacts, and to create well-paying union jobs as part of the climate solution.”
The second executive order was from April 2022 and dealt specifically with protecting woodlands by directing executive agencies and departments to focus on conservation of old-growth forests.
“Strengthening America’s forests, which are home to cherished expanses of mature and old-growth forests on Federal lands, is critical to the health, prosperity, and resilience of our communities — particularly in light of the threat of catastrophic wildfires,” that order reads. “Forests provide clean air and water, sustain the plant and animal life fundamental to combating the global climate and biodiversity crises, and hold special importance to Tribal Nations. We go to these special places to hike, camp, hunt, fish, and engage in recreation that revitalizes our souls and connects
us to history and nature. Many local economies thrive because of these outdoor and forest management activities, including in the sustainable forest product sector.”
Internal Forest Service documents show that achieving timber targets is the agency’s “#1 priority.” According to agency staff, the need to meet timber targets impacts the Forest Service’s ability to provide “basic customer service for health and safety,” “keep trails opened and maintained,” and “respond to needs resulting from catastrophic events … in a timely manner.” In some instances, agency staff have used money meant for wildlife habitat improvement to fund projects designed to achieve timber targets, even if those projects had “no benefit to wildlife.”
The suit claims that the current way timber targets are assessed directly contradicts that mission.
“Despite authorizing numerous timber projects each year to meet these targets, the Forest Service has never accounted for the aggregate carbon effects of actions taken to fulfill its timber targets,” it reads.
The suit claims that this is in F
violation of the National Environmental Policy Act, enacted in 1969 “to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man.” Because carbon emissions and decreases in carbon storage are reasonably foreseeable effects of individual timber projects, it argues, the Forest Service typically includes some discussion of carbon effects for timber projects it approves with Environmental Impact Statements or Environmental Assessments.
“However, those analyses invariably fail to consider and disclose the aggregate effects of other similar logging projects. Instead, the agency isolates each individual project’s carbon effects and weighs them against regional, national and global carbon emissions,” the suit reads. “It then dismisses the siloed effects of individual logging projects as ‘miniscule’ or ‘imperceptibly small’ drops in the bucket but never considers the effect of the full bucket of projects authorized to achieve timber targets. This too violates the National Environmental Policy Act.”
forests and log carbon-dense mature and old-growth forests. Logging these forests releases most of their carbon back to the atmosphere, worsening the climate crisis.
The press release notes that despite their significant and long-lasting impacts on our climate and forests, the Forest Service has never assessed or disclosed the climate consequences of its timber target decisions. In that release, leaders from the plaintiff organizations make that clear.
“Our national forests offer a simple, straightforward, and cost-effective climate solution,” Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney for SELC’s Asheville office, said. “But these incredible areas are routinely logged to achieve crude, destructive timber targets. The agency’s single-minded pursuit of these targets threatens almost every value that people cherish about our national forests, puts the climate at risk, and violates federal law.”
Chattooga Conservancy Executive Director Nicole Hayler noted that the pursuit of fulfilling timber targets results in carbon emissions equivalent to burning “billions of pounds of coal.”
“...these incredible areas are routinely logged to achieve crude, destructive timber targets. The agency’s singleminded pursuit of these targets threatens almost every value that people cherish about our national forests, puts the climate at risk, and violates federal law.”— Patrick Hunter, Managing Attorney for SELC’s Asheville office
The suit also states that 83.3% of all Forest Service projects, including non-timber projects, are authorized with a “categorical exclusion.”
“Yet the agency has never considered the aggregate effects of its numerous categorically excluded timber projects, nor considered the cumulative carbon effects of those projects combined with timber projects approved with Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact Statements,” it reads. “As a result, cumulatively significant carbon effects — effects that must be studied and disclosed to the public under the National Environmental Policy Act — are going unaccounted for every year.”
Another procedural loophole that the suit says prioritizes cost-cutting over carbon considerations is fast-tracked projects.
“The need to meet volumetric targets also pushes the Forest Service to design timber sales that get the biggest ‘bang for the buck,’ often by greenlighting projects involving clearcut-style logging of older, bigger trees,” it reads. “In other words, timber targets drive the very types of harvest that cause the greatest harm to Forest Advocates’ interests and result in high carbon emissions.”
Ultimately, it claims that the mandated targets create backwards incentives for the Forest Service. Forests on public lands provide a key climate solution by capturing and storing billions of tons of carbon. But rising timber targets push the agency to clearcut
“Federal agencies like the Forest Service should be leading the way in the fight against climate change, not releasing tens of millions of tons of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere while degrading some of our most immediate and effective climate solutions — our national forests.,” she said.
Josh Kelly, public lands biologist at MountainTrue, argued that the requirement to meet timber targets also has an adverse impact on water quality, recreation and wildlife, all while distracting officials from “more pressing tasks” like preventing wildfires, saving trees from invasive pests and controlling invasive plant species.
“If the agency is going to prioritize timber targets above the other benefits of National Forests, it needs to forthrightly disclose the consequences of that decision, particularly on our climate,” he said.
Ultimately, the suit seeks a declaration that three specific projects, including Nantahala National Forest’s Buck Project, violates the NEPA. Further, it asks that the court prevents the Forest Service from offering further timber sales to fulfill its fiscal year 2024 timber targets for certain regions, including the Nantahala National Forest, other than harvests necessary to mitigate wildfire risks. It also asks to stall the implementation of the remaining commercial timber-harvest portions of the White Pine Management, Buck, and Forest Health Initiative Projects until the agency complies with the National Environmental Policy Act.
The cleanup will take place on March 16. Donated photo
Join Haywood Waterways to clean up Richland Creek in Waynesville.
The cleanup will take place along the stream bank of Richland Creek between Zaxby’s and Go Grocery. Gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and vests will be provided. Volunteers should wear closed-toe shoes and long pants that can get dirty.
Cleanup will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. March 16. Meet in the parking lot in front of Waynesville’s Go Grocery. RSVP by March 14 to Christine O’Brien at christine@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.
Allens Creek Park in Waynesville is open once again after being closed due to necessary cleanup efforts following recent adverse weather conditions in the county.
The decision to close the park temporarily was made in the interest of public safety and to facilitate the essential maintenance required to address the aftermath of the recent inclement weather.
Join Mainspring Conservation Trust on March 18 for a presentation on conservation strategy in Western North Carolina by Mainspring Conservation Outreach Associate Skye Cahoon.
The talk will dissect the strategies that Mainspring uses to identify high-priority con-
servation areas, from bottomland agricultural fields with incredibly fertile soils to isolated mountaintops that form islands in the clouds. Learn about the extensive foundation of ecological data that informs the decision-making, including examples of rare species, important habitats and unique waterways.
The program will take place at Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center at 51 Cowee School Road in Franklin beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The WNC Sierra Club is hosting a few public events to explain how the Federal Inflation Reduction Act has incentives to make electric living more livable.
The presenter for the event, held at 7 p.m. April 3 at the Reuter Center at UNC Asheville in Buncombe County, is Sophie Mullinax of Electrify Asheville-Buncombe.
At home, some residents are buying solar panels and others electric cars. Now residents with less cash can contribute to the goals, while saving on the initial and operating costs, because of the Biden Administration’s IRA, Electrify Asheville and others.
The event is also on Zoom with advance registration on WNCSierraClub.org. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information, contact WNC Sierra Club Chair Judy Mattox at judymattox15@gmail.com, 828.683.2176.
Researchers are concerned that the Appalachian cottontail’s population may be impacted by a fast-spreading virus, RHDV2.
The Appalachian cottontail lives on steep topography in high elevations in Western North Carolina and is rarely seen.
Now, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission has launched a study to determine impacts to the species that may pose a threat to its survival.
Researchers will conduct scat surveys (animal waste) to learn where the species
Officials plan to burn approximately 96 acres in Cataloochee Valley at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week. Weather permitting, burn operations may begin as early as Tuesday, March 12.
exists in the North Carolina mountains and where it coexists with Eastern cottontails. Eastern cottontails may impact Appalachian cottontails through direct competition, hybridization, and disease transmission.
The project is enhanced through public support. “With much of North Carolina’s land in private ownership, we are encouraged by the engagement of several private landowners in the surveys as well as their concern for the species,” said NCWRC Wildlife Management Division Assistant Chief Sara Schweizer.
Those who visit N.C.’s high western elevations may want to keep a keen eye along the grassy roadsides and the edges of woodland openings for a chance to spot the rare Appalachian cottontail.
These prescribed burns will help maintain open fields at Cataloochee, safely reduce fuels, manage pollinator habitat and preserve the historic landscape.
Motorists along Cataloochee Entrance Road and Cataloochee Creek Road should reduce speed, turn on headlights and stay alert when smoke is visible. Be aware of park rangers, firefighters and equipment along the roadway. The roads may close temporarily during operations for firefighter and visitor safety.
Join the Mountains to Sea Trail community for an annual membership meeting — a meeting that will also offer opportunities to explore trails and nearby towns.
The event will run from May 3-5 at the Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. To become a member, visit https://mountainstoseatrail.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/mountainstoseatrail/donation.jsp. To register, visit https://blueridgeassembly.org/etn/2024-gathering-of-friends-of-the-mountains-to-sea-trail/.
The trail guide’s author will discuss the book Tuesday. Donated photo
Get an early start on this year’s garden by renting space at Waynesville’s Old Armory Recreation Center Greenhouse beginning March 25.
Trays may be rented at a cost of $5 apiece. The maximum allowed is five trays per person. The Old Armory will provide the dirt and water.
Space is limited; only 200 total trays will be sold. Reservations must be made in person at the facility.
For more information, please call Keith Shetley at the Old Armory Recreation
Join Brent Martin, director of the Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy, as he discusses the guidebook he wrote for William Bartram’s trail through North Georgia and Western North Carolina.
The discussion is part of The Macon County Public Library’s “Walking with Spring” series, in partnership with the Nantahala Hiking Club, Mainspring Conservation Trust, Blue Ridge Bartram Trail Conservancy and the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Council.
The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday March 19 at the Macon County Public Library meeting room.
Center at 828.456.9207 or email kshetley@waynesvillenc.gov.
The Nantahala Ranger District is seeking public input to implement trail rehabilitation and repairs along with other work within the Panthertown Valley. The project is designed to
improve trail conditions and protect resources at sites that experienced resource degradation during Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021.
Those interested can view project documents at fs.usda.gov/project?/project=65607. To provide comments, visit cara.fs2c.usda.gov/public//commentinput?project=6507.
I’ve been writing this column for over a year and a half and every plant that I have highlighted and celebrated evolved and co-evolved in the bioregion of Southern Appalachia. And believe me, I am far from done telling you stories of the native plants we share this ecosystem with as there are so many beautiful and wonderful plants around us to share with you.
Swallowtail (Papilio Troilus) whose caterpillars feed on the leaves of Spicebush (Lindera benzoin).
You’ve heard that the early bird gets the worm. More often it would be that the early bird gets the caterpillar, as caterpillars of all kinds make up the primary diet of songbirds, especially when they are raising their young. Some birds make upward of 1,500 trips a day to get food for their young, and Chickadees (Poecile spp.) require over 5,000 caterpillars to raise one clutch of chicks.
While exotic plants can help native insects by providing nectar and pollen from their flowers, as they do not participate in this important part of energy transfer into the ecosystem, they don’t take as active a role as native plants do. This is a problem in your yard, where it causes a lot of harm when these exotic plants get spread around into natural areas. This is when exotic plants become invasive.
Invasive plants aren’t just those that take over large areas like Kudzu (Pueraria montana) and Privet (Ligusticum spp.). They are but two of many different invasive plants that cause ecological harm in the forest. A complete list for North Carolina can be found at ncwildflower.org/invasiveexotic-species-list.
Puzzles can be found on page 30
These are only the answers.
Which is one of the reasons that it perplexes me why so many people prefer to landscape their yards and public areas using plants that evolved in other parts of the world. These exotic plants can be beautiful and have characteristics sought after for landscaping needs, but then with so many native plants to choose from, there is always a replacement that would serve the landscape purpose and be native to this area.
This matters because of the intricate and fragile relationships insects and plants developed as they evolved together. Plants that did not grow up around here are mostly not seen as food by native insects in the same way as native plants have been and therefore don’t provide a home for caterpillars of moths and butterflies who like to eat the leaves of certain plants.
Some caterpillars are generalists, meaning that they can eat a variety of different plant species. Some are so specific in what they feed on that the butterfly is named after the plant it eats, for example, Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) and Pipevine, aka Dutchman’s Pipe (Isotrema macrophyllum), or its close relative the Spicebush
One thing all of the plants that are considered invasive have in common is that they are all exotic and did not evolve in this bioregion. There are some native plants that did co-evolve with the other plants, insects, fungi, animals and other critters around us that are fast, aggressive growers that you might want to keep out of your veggie or flower beds. But, as they are native, by definition they can’t be considered invasive. All invasive plants are exotic plants.
And not all exotic plants are invasive. There are certainly some gentle players in the landscape and veggie garden that don’t cause harm. Or maybe just not yet. For this and many other reasons, I recommend planting and caring for native plants in your landscape while removing invasive plants, not as a matter of preference but for the birds and butterflies and other creatures who depend on them for life, and whom we share this life with.
(Adam Bigelow lives in Cullowhee. He leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Legals
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NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
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95 Depot Street Waynesville, NC 28786
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Auction
CLAYTOR LAKE VIRGIN-
IA REALESTATE AUCTION:
HOME IMPROVEMENT AUCTION
ESTATE AUCTION
1 Not suitable
6 "Sorry to intrude ..."
10 Capricious ideas
15 Cartoonist Addams, informally
19 Payments to the IRS
20 Oscar winner Robert De --
21 Capital of Vietnam
22 Sword handle
23 Fifth Avenue skyscraper
26 Other, in Acapulco
27 Identity hider
28 Altitudes: Abbr.
29 -- -C (PC copy command)
30 What a groom may toss
32 "Uh-huh"
34 Pioneer Boone, informally
35 Orthodox Jewish movement
37 Rapper -- Rida
40 Technique for viewing a slow process quickly
43 Cattle farm
45 Prefix with nourished
46 In a daze
47 First first lady of the U.S.
51 Gets close to
55 Sesame seed paste
56 Pucksters' org. with the Calder Cup
57 Newspaper think piece
60 Born as
61 Toon sheet
62 Hedy of "Ecstasy"
66 Rome's -- Fountain
67 Dollar bill
68 Advance inquiry into a
crime, e.g.
72 Israeli city close to Ben Gurion Airport
73 Big name in life insurance
74 Decrease
75 Doc for the neck up
76 D-H linkup
77 FDR or HST
78 Former "Idol" judge
79 Bob of play-by-play
82 Wolfed down
84 Launching of people into orbit
88 Insurance payment
92 "The Simpsons" shopkeeper
93 Was overlong
94 Dual-focus course about bodily structures
100 Some kitchen appliances, for short
101 From a northwest Italian port
102 Certain South African
103 Arena level
105 "Hallelujah Chorus" composer
106 Rough- -- wood 107 City vehicle
108 Gas brand
112 Water, in Acapulco
113 What love is, per a Four Aces #1 tune, with "a"
118 Crate piece
119 Capital of South Korea 120 Actress Best
121 Really mad
122 The "T" of 66-Down 123 Day divisions
124 Bargain
125 Restaurant notice that's applicable to this puzzle's seven longest
answers?
DOWN
1 Bit of news
2 Wine valley
3 Allies' rival
4 Sprightly
5 Mao -- -tung
6 Object of hate
7 Thwacks
8 Before
9 Woman's quaint headpiece
10 Jacuzzi, e.g.
11 Recital venue
12 Not Rep. or Dem.
13 Mimi's "me"
14 Celebrates with a tune
15 Animal with a backbone
16 Relative of a shout-out
17 Anew
18 Tempestuous
24 Spicy cuisine
25 -- Reader (magazine)
31 Carrier based in New Delhi
33 Hawke of film
34 Salvador of surreal art
35 Spicy
36 From -- Z
37 Sig Nu, e.g.
38 Video game tomb raider
39 Teetering
41 -- -di-dah
42 Attila follower
44 Refrigerate
48 More artful
49 -- a soul
50 "-- in Manila" (AliFrazier fight)
52 Consecrating
53 Nevada airport
54 In view
57 Mining finds
58 Sampras of the court
59 Show plainly
63 Poker cost
64 Supplies with personnel
65 Coach Parseghian
66 LG or RCA products
68 Petition
69 "Thumbs-up!"
70 Gas in signs
71 Gasless car
78 Tipoffs in hoops, e.g.
80 Christie's "A Pocket Full --"
81 Depots: Abbr.
83 Not old-fashioned
84 Cabinet dept. since 1965
85 Twosome
86 Abbr. on military mail
87 Societal
89 It might have mascara on it
90 Pas' mates
91 Opal ending
94 Horror-struck
95 All-Star pitcher Denny
96 Yearly
97 Gordie of hockey
98 Itched (for)
99 Seine feeder
104 Trendy again
106 Stimulate
107 -- fide
109 Phony
110 Creates a lap
111 Blood type, for short
114 Prefix with pagan
115 Part of TTYL
116 HST follower
ANSWERS ON PAGE 26
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
Answers on 26
