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March 5-11, 2014 Vol. 15 Iss. 40 Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information www.smokymountainnews.com

Schools deny blocking start of secular club Page 4 Drug case dropped due to search warrant woes

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On the Cover Farmers and researchers in Western North Carolina are experimenting with growing hops, trying to take advantage of the burgeoning craft beer industry to develop another cash crop for the region.

(Page 28) Margaret Hester photo

News Haywood School says criticism over secular club unfounded . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Lawsuit stops state from moving on private school vouchers. . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Full-on election coverage for the four-county region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8 Haywood hopes greener grass roots out arboreal anger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Search warrant problems sink drug case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Macon’s traditional slap on the wrist for tax evaders gets some sting . . . 11 Haywood EDC a step closer to joining chamber of commerce . . . . . . . . . 13 Jackson commissioners take heat over planning board appointments . . . 15

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Schools rebut charge of impeding efforts to start secular club

March 5-11, 2014

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School system attorney Pat Smathers concluded the accusations were “without merit and baseless.” He took the investigation a step further, however, than merely assessing the validity of the complaint. Smathers accused the student’s family of ulterior motives and perpetrating a publicity stunt.

“In my opinion, the allegations arise from a manufactured controversy caused by (the father’s) influence on his children and a desire for publicity and potential financial gain,” Smathers wrote in conclusion of his investigation.

The student, who was championed for standing up for the rights of non-religious students, ended up receiving online donations and a scholarship to attend a summer camp.

Smathers also accused the national groups that rallied to the student’s side as being complicit in the publicity stunt due to their own quest for notoriety.

“Publicly disseminating erroneous information, locally and nationally, has done a great disservice to Pisgah High School, its staff and the entire community,” Smathers wrote in a letter to the Freedom From

A matter of perspective Haywood County Schools and a student wishing to form a secular club for non-religious students have different versions of the events that transpired.

Smoky Mountain News

Student’s version: A student at Pisgah High School asked an administrator there about forming a secular club for atheist students in October.

School’s version: The same.

Student’s version: He was also told the club could only form if he could recruit a faculty advisor, per school policy.

But the student was unable to find a faculty advisor on his own, and the administrator didn’t offer to help him find one, effectively stymieing the club’s formation.

School’s version: The administrator shared the regulations and criteria for forming a club, which include crafting a mission statement and finding a faculty sponsor. The student did not provide a mission statement nor come up with a faculty sponsor.

Student’s version: He was told the club “wouldn’t fit in” and was pointed to other already existing clubs as an alternative.

School’s version: The administrator suggested he join one of two existing clubs, namely the Diversity Club or Alliance for Equality Club. She also expressed concern over whether a secular club would be successful due to the school’s make-up and the fact the student was relatively new to the school.

Student’s version: The student felt his attempt to form a 4 club was being intentionally scuttled and complained to the

There are roughly 30 student clubs at Pisgah, including a Diversity club and Alliance for Equality club.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

A student at Pisgah High School, Ben Wilson, approached a school administrator last fall about forming a club for atheist students. Wilson claims he was discouraged from starting the club. The school system claims that isn’t the case, and that the administrator would have worked with the student but the student broke off contact after their initial meetings.

“What is frustrating is there has The Pisgah principal then got a letter from the national Student been no attempt by the people Secular Alliance in November. The who spread the false and principal did not respond to the letter, and Ben later left the school. inaccurate information to say, Ben’s sister then decided she ‘You know, they really didn’t wanted to form the club herself.

However, she never contacted discriminate against anyone.’”

Pisgah administrators or the school system to tell them about her desire.

— Bill Nolte, assistant superintendent Instead, Kalei enlisted the backing of national organizations to lodge a “resorted to tactics that serve to dissuade stu- complaint against the school system for violatdent free expression,” according to a ing federal law by denying the formation of a response from the ACLU. secular club.

But Nolte said the school system was School leaders were blindsided by a threatmerely replying to the initial accusations and ening legal letter from the national groups in had a right to clear itself in the public eye.

February and said they had no idea a Pisgah “We don’t want people thinking we dis- student was seeking to form such a club. criminate against students. Never ever do we School administrators immediately set want people to think that,” Nolte said. the wheels in motion to get such a club off the “When you work really, really hard to have ground. Within a few days, a faculty advisor lots of opportunities for lots of children and was named and the club’s first people do this, it is really unfortunate.” meeting date was set.

national Student Secular Alliance.

School’s version: The administrator would have continued working the student to find a resolution, but the student broke off contact and was not heard from after the initial meetings.

Student’s version: The Student Secular Alliance sent a letter to the principal in November 2013 complaining that a student’s attempt to start a club was being stymied and asked for a response, but never got a reply.

School’s version: The principal was not aware of the issue and did not respond to the letter, believing it was irrelevant.

Student’s version: The student who initially inquired about a secular club left Pisgah, but his sister still wanted to form the club. She admits that she never contacted school administrators herself, nor made her desire to form a club known.

She assumed the school’s failure to reply to the first letter was a signal that such a club was unwelcome.

School’s version: The school was never contacted by the sister. The school system was unaware there was a current student still wanting to form a secular club.

Student’s version: A letter accusing the school of violating federal law was sent to the school system in February by the national Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union. The complaint was also issued to media outlets.

School’s version: School system officials were blindsided by the public accusation. The student should have reached out to the school and to the school system leaders to make her desire to form a secular club known. Had she done so, they would have facilitated the formation of the club, but they were never given that chance. The false accusations unfairly

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BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER aywood County Schools’ attorney has countered accusations that Pisgah High School administrators allegedly hampered a student’s attempt to form a club for atheists and non-religious students.

“No one ever told any student they couldn’t have a club,” said Dr. Bill Nolte, assistant superintendent.

Nolte said it was disheartening for the school system to be Bill Nolte falsely accused of discriminating against a student for their religious persuasion.

To wit, the school system embarked on its own fact-finding mission to get to the bottom of the accusation.

“We were trying to figure out where did this landslide of accusations come from when we were not aware a currently enrolled student had even requested a club,” Nolte said.

Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union, which had intervened in the issue on the student’s behalf.

What was intended as a defense of the school system, however, has garnered even more negative media attention, including an article in the Washington Post.

Smathers’ response was criticized as a “retaliatory action against the family under the guise of an investigation,” according to a statement the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

By probing the family’s private life, including personal attacks, the school

harmed the school system’s reputation.

Student’s version: The principal immediately found a faculty advisor and the first meeting of the club was scheduled.

School’s version: The same.

Student’s version: As news of the event circulated online, supporters cheered the student for standing up for the rights of non-Christians in a Christian-dominated world. Supporters asked about ways to donate to the club. A website to facilitate donations was created in response, but funds weren’t actively sought. Funds were ultimately returned.

School’s version: The desire to raise money and garner publicity was an ulterior motive all along.

Student’s version: The student felt bullied by peers and threatened by a retaliatory investigation launched by the school system’s attorney that violated her family’s privacy, and so she canceled her participation in the club before the first meeting was held.

School’s version: The school system takes any allegations of violating a student’s rights seriously. The investigation by the school’s attorney was merely a fact-finding mission to determine whether the allegations were founded or baseless. The principal noticed a post on Facebook that the student was backing out of the club. The principal has not been able to verify any threats, harassment or bullying perpetrated against the student at school by other students.

The version of events here is based on past interviews with the student and her father, interviews with the school system, complaint letters from the national groups, and an investigation of the allegations by the school system’s attorney.

Voucher legislation hits roadblock

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER fter a morning of arguments from both sides of the school voucher debate, N.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Hobgood ordered the state to refrain from accepting voucher applications, selecting recipients, awarding money or implementing any other part of its program to provide private school scholarships to low-income students until the full case has been heard.

The N.C. Association of Educators and the N.C. School Boards Association have filed similar but separate suits against the voucher program. The order, called a preliminary injunction, seeks to prevent the legislation from causing “irreparable harm” while the case is in process.

“By providing public funds to private primary and secondary schools, the OSP [Opportunity Scholarship Program] Legislation is likely to violate the mandate of Article IX, Section 6 [of the North Carolina Constitution] that states those funds ‘shall be faithfully appropriated and used exclusively for establishing and maintaining a uniform system of free public schools,’” the court decision reads.

It will take anywhere from a couple of months to a couple of years for the case to be fully resolved, depending on whether the state appeals Judge Robert Hobgood’s decision.

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The order seeks to prevent the legislation from causing “irreparable harm” while the case is in process. demic oversight required of eligible private schools is not stringent enough to ensure that those students receive a quality education.

The NCSBA suit also contends that the law’s implementation could lead to discrimination if private schools accepting voucher students screen applicants based on attributes such as religious beliefs.

The two cases have not formally merged, but they are being handled jointly. Macon and Jackson county school boards voted to join the suit filed by the N.C. School Boards Association.

“Publicly disseminating erroneous information, locally and nationally, has done a great disservice to Pisgah High School, its staff and the entire community.”

March 5-11, 2014

— Pat Smathers, in a letter to the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the American Civil Liberties Union

The Freedom from Religion Foundation said in a statement that it was standing by its original assessment, however.

“It is unfortunate that Haywood County School officials and Attorney Smathers seem to have retaliated against students for bringing forth valid complaints about their ability to form a secular club at their school,” according to a written statement from the organization.

“We are troubled by the report, which contains many factual errors and focuses on matters that are irrelevant to forming a student club.”

It suggested Smathers’ investigation may have been defamatory against individuals and organizations.

Meanwhile, the student that was initially seeking the secular club at Pisgah has dropped her involvement in it.

Smoky Mountain News

The national groups that had intervened claimed victory, and it seemed the kerfuffle was over.

But meanwhile, the school system had asked its attorney to look into the accusation and, if it wasn’t true, to ferret out the potential motives behind it.

“The accusations included threatening legal language,” Nolte said. “Anytime we are accused of doing something we immediately investigate that accusaPat Smathers tion.”

Nolte said it is disappointing that disparaging online comments are still circulating in cyberspace.

“It is still very frustrating for us that these comments are still out there,” Nolte said.

“What we are trying to do is correct the false and misleading information that some people continue to issue, either in spite of the correct information being provided or perhaps in ignorance of it.”

Nolte questioned why the national organizations that were so quick to publicize their complaint haven’t taken steps to reel it back in.

“What is frustrating is there has been no attempt by the people who spread the false h and inaccurate information to say, ‘You know, nthey really didn’t discriminate against anyone,’” Nolte said.

The lawsuits stem from a law the N.C. General Assembly passed last year that would have allocated $10 million in scholarships to low-income students, allowing them to attend a private school of their choice.

Proponents of the legislation say it simply gives families the financial power to make the best choice about their child’s education, while its detractors say that the law is unconstitutional. Specifically, the NCEA and the NCSBA say the law illegally provides public funds to private institutions and that the aca-

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Superior Court judge orders halt to implementation

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A voter’s guide to the 2014 WNC election The 2014 election season is officially rolling.

The candidate filing period concluded last week, giving voters a clear picture of what their ballots will look like.

Some contests — such as the one-man field that is the Haywood County Sheriff ’s race — are no contest at all. Others, such as the Swain County Board of Commissioners race, are crowded with a bench full of 13 hopeful candidates.

This week, The Smoky Mountain News shares a snapshot of the regional, state and local races in the mountains. Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of candidates facing off in the May primary in coming weeks.

U.S. CONGRESS ABOUT THE RACE: This used to be a toss-up district, but clever redrawing of voting boundaries by the Republican-led legislature in Raleigh two years ago tipped the scales to the right. The liberal stronghold of Asheville was carved PRIMARY: out and shunted it into a different Congressional seat.

From 2006-2012, PRIMARY: the seat was held by Heath Shuler, a selfdescribed conservative Democratic and former football star. But Shuler threw his party for a loop at the 11th hour by deciding not to run in 2012. Shuler’s own chief of staff was the only dog the Democrats could muster for a last-minute run. But it was to no avail, however. The seat went Republican, and has attracted little Democratic interest this time.

March 5-11, 2014

YES NO

Smoky Mountain News

GOP: • U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows, R-Cashiers, has been serving in Congress for two years.

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DEMOCRATS • Keith Ruehl, D-Barnardsville, is a 47year-old entrepreneur. He decided to run for Congress because of “dissatisfaction with our current leadership.”

• Tom Hill, D-Zirconia, is making another run for this congressional seat. The candidate has a Ph.D. in physics from UNCChapel Hill and worked in the aerospace field with the U.S. Department of Defense.

During the 2012 race, Hill listed the costs of “unwinnable wars” and collecting taxes from “deadbeat corporations” as some of his key concerns.

N.C. GENERAL ASSEMBLY 118TH HOUSE SEAT IS THIS MY STATE REP? Yes, if you live in Madison and Yancey counties and part of Haywood — namely Canton, Clyde, Bethel, Cruso, Maggie Valley, Jonathan Creek and Crabtree areas.

ABOUT THE RACE: This is a slightly Democratic-leaning district and was held by the popular and effecPRIMARY: tive leader Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, for more than a decade. But Rapp lost in 2012. It PRIMARY: surprised politicos on both sides of the aisle.

Rapp’s loss was chalked up to collateral damage in the Republican landslide in North Carolina that year. Despite the Democratic Party begging Rapp to run for his old seat, he didn’t want to reenter politics.

NO NO

GOP: • N.C. Rep. Michele Presnell, R-Burnsville, is running for reelection after her first term.

She is a small business owner. Presnell previously ran on a platform that included lowering taxes, requiring voter I.D., expanding gun rights, restricting abortion, and reducing regulations — and she delivered.

“I am proud to be able to say that I made promises during my 2012 campaign, and I kept those promises,” Presnell said. www.presnellforhouse.com DEMOCRATS • Dean Hicks, D-Burnsville is challenging Presnell. Hicks, a Yancey native and a retired teacher and coach, served three terms as a Yancey County commissioner.

The candidate lists education reform as his top priority.

“I feel like we’ve lost 50-plus years of

progress in the last year,” Hicks said. “That is my main goal, is to try to get education back on the right track.”

119TH HOUSE SEAT

A primer on how primaries work

IS THIS MY STATE REP? Yes, if you live in Jackson and Swain counties and part of Haywood — namely Waynesville and Lake Junaluska.

ABOUT THE RACE: The seat in this leftleaning House district has long belonged to a Democrat. In 2012, the PRIMARY: seat came up for grabs with the retirement of long-time legislator Phil Haire of Sylva after PRIMARY: 14 years. A fellow Democratic statesman picked up the torch — one of the only Democrats elected to the legislature in the mountains two years ago.

What is a primary for?

Each party narrows down their slate of candidates to compete in the final November election.

DEMOCRATS • N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, DWaynesville, is running for reelection.

Queen, an architect and businessman, is serving his first term in the N.C. House. But Queen has previously served three terms in the N.C. Senate over the past decade. Queen, who is married to a doctor and has two grown children, is a long-time civic leader in Haywood County and has served on many community organizations, including heritage and cultural organizations, as well as being involved in environmental and business initiatives. www.joesamqueen.com

If I’m a Democrat, can I vote in the Republican primary? Or vice-versa?

No. You can only vote in your own party’s primary.

NO

YES

GOP: • Dodie Allen, an auctioneer for the past 30 years, runs Dodie’s Auction in Sylva. The 79-year-old is seeking the House seat because she believes “that we are pulling further and further away from our constitution.”

• Mike Clampitt, a Republican from Bryson City, ran against Queen for the House seat two years ago but lost by a rather wide margin. Clampitt served 28 years as fire captain with the Charlotte Fire Department and returned to his hometown of Bryson City 10 years ago. www.mikeclampitt.com • Aaron Littlefield, 22, is a political science student at WCU and server at Bear Lake Reserve, who is graduating this May. He wants to be “a voice for the struggling business of WNC, support higher standards in education, and fight back against corruption in our government.”

120TH HOUSE SEAT IS THIS MY STATE REP? Yes, if you live in Macon, Clay, PRIMARY: Graham and Cherokee counties ABOUT THE RACE: The indefatigueable PRIMARY: and apparently untouchable N.C. Rep. Roger West, R-Murphy, will once again run for this seat unopposed.

NO NO

How many candidates make it past the primary?

However many seats are up for election in each race, that’s how many candidates advance per party.

Does every race have a primary?

No. In some races, the party doesn’t need to narrow down its slate. There may only be one candidate from a party running for that particular seat, so they automatically advance.

What if I’m independent? Can I still vote in the primary?

Yes. When you show up at the polls on Election Day, you can pick which primary ballot you want — the Republican one or Democratic one — but you can’t vote in both.

50TH SENATE SEAT IS THIS MY STATE SENATOR? Yes, if you live in anywhere in the seven western counties of Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay and Cherokee.

ABOUT THE RACE: The district is fairly evenly split, with neiPRIMARY: ther the Republicans or Democrats able to claim a real leg up. The seat has flip-flopped PRIMARY: between Republicans and Democrats twice in the past decade.

The race for this state Senate seat from the far western mountains usually is a local affair, but it garnered national media attention in 2010 and 2012 as a poster child for the flood of outside money from right-wing groups to influence regional races — allegedly part of a larger, far-reaching strategy to bankroll local campaigns as a way to amass state conservative majorities.

N.C. Senator Jim Davis, R- Franklin, won the seat narrowly in 2010 by unseating the Democratic incumbent John Snow. Snow ran to get his seat back in 2012, but didn’t come close.

Nearly $1 million was spent by Davis’ campaign and by outside groups on Davis’ behalf in the 2012 election.

YES NO

GOP: • N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, is an orthodontist and two-term legislator.

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HAYWOOD COUNTY HAYWOOD COMMISSIONERS WHAT’S UP FOR ELECTION? Three out of five seats on the county board.

ABOUT THE RACE: The current Haywood commisPRIMARY: sioners have enjoyed a stable tenure, consistently winning their seats when they come PRIMARY: up for reelection. They have largely avoided controversy and kept a steady hand at the helm. All three incumbents, with long histories of elected office.

YES NO

REPUBLICANS: • Denny King, a conservative voice in

• Voter registration deadline: Friday, April 11 • Early voting: Thursday, April 24, through Saturday, May 3.

• Primary Election Day: Tuesday, May 6.

(Polls open 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.)

• Final Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 4

DEMOCRATS • Jane Hipps of Waynesville is a retired public educator with six degrees, including three master’s degrees. Her expertise was in science and math curriculum development and training. She has promised to make education one of her main areas of concern if elected. She is the widow of a former state

HAYWOOD SHERIFF ABOUT THE RACE: And the winner is…

Sheriff Greg Christopher. Christopher has proven immensely popular and effective in just a short time, after being named sheriff barely a year ago after the sitting sheriff at the time stepped down. Christopher has made several innovations at the department. He has improved moral, public outreach, cooperation with other law enforcement agencies and drug enforcement. He has also made a point of being more visible and accessible in the community.

Word on the street was no challengers would have had a chance.

JACKSON COUNTY JACKSON SHERIFF ABOUT THE RACE: This promises to be one of the most hotly contested elections in the region this year. Current Sheriff Jimmy Ashe will step down and that has thrown the

senator and long-time district attorney in the region.

• Ron Robinson of Cullowhee is a management consultant who says the current GOP leadership in Raleigh does not represent the working people of the district and has called their policies extremist. www.robinsonncsenate.com.

JUDICIAL SEATS DISTRICT ATTORNEY DO I VOTE IN THIS RACE? Yes, if you live anywhere in the seven western counties.

ABOUT THE RACE: District Attorney Mike Bonfoey, who has been the top prosecutor for the 30th judicial district for 10

YES

DEMOCRATS: • Steven Lillard, assistant police chief at Western Carolina University • Chip Hall, chief deputy in the sheriff ’s department • Glen Biller, a Haywood sheriff ’s deputy • Robin Gunnells, who has a custom truck cover business and has worked in a variety of law enforcement positions • Doug Farmer, a Sylva police officer • Michael Gosnell, private security guard in Highlands, with a variety of law enforcement positions over his career REPUBLICANS: • Curtis Lambert, a Sylva police office • Jimmy Hodgins, a retired logger • Mary Alice Rock, a bail bondsman

JACKSON COMMISSIONER WHAT’S UP FOR ELECTION? Three of the five seats on the board.

ABOUT THE PRIMARY: RACE: There was a major power shift in county politics four years, after an upset PRIMARY: election ushered in a slate of conservativeleaning candidates.

Three sitting commissioners, all Democrats, were ousted by three

NO NO

COMMISSIONER CHAIRMAN • Jack Debnam, the current commissioner chairman and a Realtor. As an unaffiliated candidate that belongs to neither party, Debnam must gather 1,200 signatures of registered voters to get on the ballot.

He has until June.

• Brian McMahan, a Democrat, previously served as commissioner chairman but lost to Debnam in 2010. The 39-year-old chief of security at Balsam Mountain Preserve is now seeking a rematch.

JACKSON COMMISSIONER: DISTRICT THAT SPANS FROM DILLSBORO TO QUALLA • Charles Elders, a Republican and sitting commissioner, is the owner/operator of Elder’s Superette.

• Joe Ward, a Democrat and farmer, is retired from CSX Transportation.

JACKSON COMMISSIONER: DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES SYLVA AND SCOTTS CREEK • Doug Cody, a Republican and sitting commissioner, has worked in the insurance

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years, is not running for reelection. That left the seat open for the taking. Two of the assistant district attorPRIMARY: neys — colleagues who have worked together as prosecutors under Bonfoey for PRIMARY: many years — are running. A toss-up in terms of party advantage, at least in terms of voter registration stats.

DEMOCRATS • Jim Moore, 52, an assistant district attorney from Haywood County. Moore has spent a total of 15 years as an assistant district attorney and 12 years in various private legal practices in Waynesville. His wife is an attorney and he has three grown children.

He is originally from Arkansas but has been in WNC for almost 30 years.

GOP: • Ashley Welch, 36, an assistanct districy attorney from Macon County. Welch, who attended law school at UNC-Chapel Hill, is from Hendersonville. Her legal career has been spent solely as a prosecutor.

She is married to the attorney for the

Three District Court judges up for election in the seven western counties — Kris Earwood, Roy Wijiwickrama and Donna Forga — will walk back onto the bench. No candidates signed up to run against them.

NO NO

Macon Sheriff ’s office and does not have children.

Smoky Mountain News

Election countdown

LIBERTARIAN • Dr. Windy McKinney, is a historian and writer with a doctorate in Medieval Studies from the University of York, in the United Kingdom. She is the Libertarian Party of Haywood County’s first candidate for county commissioner and feels the area is ready for a candidate who will “change politics as usual.”

YES

March 5-11, 2014

DEMOCRATS: ONLY THREE ADVANCE • Kirk Kirkpatrick, a lawyer, has been on the board since 2002 and has been a supporter of recreation.

• Michael Sorrells has been a commissioner for four years and previously served six years on the school board. He is a service station, convenience store and café owner in Jonathan Creek.

• Bill Upton, the retired superintendent of Haywood County Schools, a principal and teacher, has been on the board eight years.

• Bob McClure has been a bailiff for 14 years for the Haywood County Sheriff ’s Department. Prior to that, he worked at the now-closed Dayco manufacturing plant in Hazelwood for 33 years.

• Kyle Edwards owns the Stompin’ Ground in Maggie Valley, a campground, and is a general contractor. He considered bringing jobs to the area to be a priority.

“We need to keep jobs for our younger generation here in Haywood,” Edwards said. “Our jobs and our people are leaving the county.”

county politics and frequent critic of sitting commissioner’s decisions, previously ran for a commission seat in 2012. He came within 300 votes.

• Phil Wight, owner of a motel in Maggie Valley and Maggie town alderman. Wight has long been involved in Maggie’s controversial breed of politics and a player in the tourism industry.

challengers.

It’s hard to say whether the election four years ago was an indictment of the progressive policies of the commisioners at the time, or whether it was trickle-down effect from a national Republican tide that election year.

This year, Democrats are trying to take back the seats they loss, and voters will have a chance to endorse or oust the new leadership that took over four years ago.

DO I VOTE IN ALL THE DISTRICTS, OR JUST MINE? Every voter in Jackson County gets to vote for every commissioner seat, no matter where you live in the county.

While the county is parceled up into four territories for the commissioners race, the geographic districts only apply to the candidates. Candidates must live in the district of the seat they are running for, but are elected by voters countywide.

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Upcoming races by county

floodgates wide open for contenders — nine in all.

Candidates were going public months before the official canPRIMARY: didate sign-up period in February. And several had turned in their election finance paperPRIMARY: work far in advance so they could start their campaign wheels turning.

Ashe would have been a vulnerable candidate had he decided to run, due to lack of public visibility in recent years and a series of public relations stumbles and controversies.

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

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COUNTIES, CONTINUED FROM 7 industry for 29 years. “I feel that we’ve done a good job and there’s still more to be done, and I want to be part of that.”

• Boyce Deitz, a Democrat, is a retired teacher and football coach. He coached former U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler as a high school quarterback, and later went to work for the congressman.

“I have a passion about where I live, our culture and the mountains. People back in the coves and hollers don’t have a voice and I feel that they need one.”

MACON COUNTY MACON COMMISSIONERS WHAT’S UP FOR ELECTION: One seat in the Highlands district and two seats in the Franklin district.

ABOUT THE RACE: PRIMARY: There are three commissioner seats up for election in Macon County: one seat for the PRIMARY: district representing the Highlands area and two seats for the district the HIGHLANDS SEAT ONLY representing Franklin area. All three incumbents are running.

DO I VOTE IN ALL THE DISTRICTS, OR JUST MINE? Every voter in Macon County gets to vote for every commissioner seat, no matter where you live in the county. While the county is parceled up into three territories for the commissioners race, the geographic districts only apply to the candidates.

Candidates must live in the district of the seat they are running for, but that’s the only import of the districts.

NO

Smoky Mountain News

March 5-11, 2014

YES

8

MACON COMMISSIONER: HIGHLANDS DISTRICT, ONE SEAT REPUBLICAN • Jim Tate is seeking reelection because he wants to “ensure that Macon County will continue to be a great place to live and call home through low taxes, great schools, safe communities and efficient services.” He is president of Tate Landscaping Services, and has served on numerous Highlands town boards.

• John Shearl is a business owner — J&J Lawn and Landscaping Services and Shearl Produce — and former Highlands volunteer firefighter. Currently serving on the Macon County Planning Board, the candidate is seeking a the Highlands commissioner seat with an eye on “lower taxes, limited government and less regulation.”

DEMOCRAT • Michael David Rogers owns a landscaping business. If elected, he plans to focus on attracting business to the area, as well as environmental issues. “I love the mountains and the water and I just don’t like seeing it be trashed out and destroyed.”

MACON COMMISSIONER: FRANKLIN DISTRICT, TWO SEATS REPUBLICAN • Ron Haven, a motel and inn owner and sitting commissioner, said he intends to “keep taxes low” and work to improve the community for future generations. “I’ve got an interest in watching my children grow up and have opportunities in life.”

• Gary Shields, a retired educator and Vietnam veteran, said he feels a sense of “civic responsibility” to his home. “I care, I care about Macon County. If you’ve got the time, the energy and the want-to, you need to be involved.”

Swain commissioner. And in this Democratic leaning county, where it’s rare for a Republican to win local elections, the Democratic primary is always the most packed. The winners in the Democratic primary nearly always prevail come the general election. All five sitting commissioners are Democrats and are running for reelection.

MACON SHERIFF ABOUT THE RACE: Since there are only two candidates — both PRIMARY: Republicans — whoever wins the primary will be the ultimate winner, since there would be no PRIMARY: Democratic challengers to face come fall.

NO

YES

• Robbie Holland, 47, has served as Macon’s sheriff for the past 12 years. He intends to continue the stint.

“I want to continue serving my community and making a difference,” Holland said.

• Bryan Carpenter, Republican, 30, is a local business owner. He is running for office in an effort to “bring the hometown feeling back home.”

SWAIN COUNTY SWAIN COMMISSIONERS WHAT’S UP FOR ELECTION? All five seats on the county board are up for election, including four PRIMARY: commissioner seats and commissioner chairman. Both Republican commissioner candidates here automatically advance.

ABOUT THE RACE: As usual, there’s a deep bench of candidates running for PRIMARY:

YES NO

DEMOCRATS • Phil Carson, on the board for eight years and chairman for the past four, works with his family-owned plumbing business.

• Boyd Gunter, 63, recently retired medical technologist at the VA Hospital in Asheville.

Gunter ran for commissioner four years ago but lost. He lives in the Alarka area. He believes the county’s outlying communities are not currently represented on the board.

SWAIN SHERIFF

DEMOCRAT • Ronnie Beale is a two-term commissioner who previously served as chairman, and is a leader in the NC Association of County Commissioners. He is president of a construction company and previously served on the planning board.

LIBERTARIAN • John Martin is a “semi-retired entrepreneur” who has worked in the insurance and real estate fields. He wants to “facilitate a better tomorrow” through “long-term sustainable growth.” He intends to work to “keep taxes low” and ensure Macon County is “business friendly.”

“Good jobs in Macon County are getting tougher for people to find today and citizens deserve better.”

SWAIN COMM. CHAIRMAN

ABOUT THE RACE: Sheriff Curtis Cochran has served two terms as sheriff. And like his reelection campaign in 2010, he will once again face a suit of PRIMARY: challengers, although not nearly as many this go around. When Cochran first won in PRIMARY: 2006, the victory was narrow but impressive, as one of the few Republicans to ever serve as sheriff in this predominantly Democratic county — and given his odds as a novice lawman against the sitting sheriff at the time, who was a career law enforcement.

Cochran’s first term was a bit rocky, with controversies including inmate escapes, a moneylosing jail, and political feud with county commissioners. But his second term has been calm. Can Cochran hang on to the seat again?

YES

This is the last year that all the commissioner seats will come up for election at the same time. Going forward, the terms will be staggered — instead of all the seats being on the ballot every four years, half the seats will be up for election at a time, with alternating seats up on the ballot every two years. This year’s commissioner election will set the stage for staggered terms. The top two vote getters will serve a full four years. But the third and fourth highest vote getters will only serve two years before their seats are up for election again. They will resume a four-year election schedule after that, with alternating election cycles established.

Swain voters approved the switch to staggered terms in a ballot question in 2012. It passed with 2,912 voters in favor of staggered terms compared to 1,930 against.

SWAIN COMMISSIONER DEMOCRAT • David Monteith is the longest serving county commissioner with 16 years on the board. Retired Ingle’s market manager and a school bus driver.

• Donnie Dixon, a machinist at Conmet manufacturing plant, has been on the board for four years, plus a previous term in the 1990s.

• Steve Moon, owner of a tire shop, has served for 8 years.

• Robert White, retired school superintendant, has served for eight years.

• Correna Elders Barker • Ben Bushyhead, a retired department director in Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians government. He narrowly lost in the 2006 election for the county board.

• Thomas Ray Simonds, foreman at Owle Construction • Vida Cody, former county finance director who sued the county for wrongful firing • Danny Burns, a Pepsi Cola technician REPUBLICAN • Carolyn Bair, retired grocery store cashier and fast-food worker.

• Lance Grant II

NO

REPUBLICAN • Sheriff Curtis Cochran

DEMOCRAT • Chuck McMahan retired in 2010 from the North Carolina Highway Patrol after 27 years of service. The candidate said he would like the opportunity to work to keep Swain residents safe. “I think there’s a need and I think I can make a difference.”

• George Powell has taught martial arts for the past three decades, currently overseeing the Shotokan School of Martial Arts and two regional non-profit Christian martial arts organizations. The retired police officer and detention officer previously ran for sheriff eight years ago. If elected, Powell said he would “hold officers accountable for their actions” and “get back to the basics of community policing.”

• Larry Roland currently works at the Microtel Inn in Bryson City and previously worked for the state prison system. The candidate believes the current powers-that-be are “abusing their powers.” “It’s just time for a change. That’s what everybody says, it’s time for a change.”

• Rocky Sampson

UNAFFILIATED • Odell Chastain is a retired law enforcement officer who has worked at both the city and county level. Chastain said he is seeking office “because I’m a patriotic American and I see that our rights and our liberties are being taken away from us.”

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER early a year after cutting down the historic maple trees in front of the Haywood County Courthouse, the lawn still isn’t as grassy or green as county commissioners would like.

“If it is not green this summer we will be fussed at,” Commissioner Bill Upton said during a recent discussion of the issue.

Commissioners asked the county maintenance director to figure out what it will take to get the lawn in tip-top shape.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley said his neighbor’s lawn looks like a golf course.

“If he can keep his yard looking luscious and great, I think we can. Everybody that comes to Waynesville, one of the focal points is the courthouse, and I want to keep that looking nice,” Ensley said.

County Maintenance Director Dale Burris said it is not for a lack of trying on the part of his staff.

“That is their pride and joy,” Burris said.

“We are feeding the birds well with grass seed.”

Commissioner Mark Swanger said the grass is definitely growing better now than when it was heavily shaded by the trees. But it still isn’t where it needs to be.

“One of the reasons we cut the trees down was the grass wouldn’t grow. It was described as a dog lot before the trees were cut, and it has been upgraded to a cow pasture now,”

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Haywood commissioners on a quest for a better courthouse lawn Swanger joked.

Burris was instructed to come up with a grass rejuvenation plan and bring back his needs to commissioners, whether it is a sprinkler system or a more aggressive fertilizing regimen.

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick said the solution is likely just another year of patience to let the grass get better established.

“One of the focal points [of Waynesville] is the courthouse, and I want to keep that looking nice.”

— Kevin Ensley, commissioner

The commissioners took heat for cutting down the large trees from the courthouse lawn last year. Improper pruning in decades past had compromised the trees and made them vulnerable to disease and limb fall, according to an arborist.

But commissioners said they have heard from lots of fans that the courthouse façade looks better without the giant trees obscuring it.

“Really if you stand out there and look, and I have spent a lot of time looking at the whole scheme of things, it really looks good,” said Commissioner Mike Sorrells.

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The cause of a fire that caused substantial damage to the Pageant Inn in Cherokee last week is being investigated.

The motel was closed for the winter off-season and was empty at the time. With the cause of fire still undetermined, arson has not been ruled out.

Cherokee Public Safety received a call around 8 p.m. Feb. 27 from neighbors who saw smoke coming from the back of the motel. When Cherokee Fire & Rescue arrived, the motel office and upstairs living quarters were fully engulfed, according to Chief Fireman Curtis Arneach. The Bryson City Fire Department, Qualla Fire Department and Cullowhee Fire Department provided backup.

Although the fire was contained and several rooms were saved from the flames, all 42 rooms suffered some form of smoke damage, according to Battalion Chief Steve Smith.

The fire spread to a nearby wooded area, forcing the evacuation of a home as a precaution, but it was quickly put out by the Bureau of Indian Affairs forestry crew and the house was not harmed.

www.mountaincu.org

March 5-11, 2014

Fire at Cherokee motel under investigation

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Officers push boundaries in quest for probable cause Case tossed out in Cherokee drug bust

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER big one got away in Cherokee earlier this year when the case against a drug dealer was thrown out by a federal judge who found Cherokee police officers had lied in a search warrant.

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger tossed out a drug trafficking case against two Florida women after finding two Cherokee police officers fudged on probable cause to help obtain a search warrant.

Officers found thousands of oxycodone, alprazolam and dilaudid tablets in the apartment where they were staying. Tips and a K9 signal for drugs during a traffic stop of the women gave them probable cause for the search, officers said, but the defense told a much different story.

In their tale, featuring tipsters of questionable reliability and fabricated evidence, the defense cited a search warrant with “more layers of hearsay than one would see in most wedding cakes” and a “nonexistent and pretextual” basis for probable cause.

And so the case was dismissed, with a strong admonishment from Reidinger.

“Such an ends-justifying-the-means approach does not manifest good faith adherence to constitutional principles,” Reidinger’s opinion said of the officers’ conduct.

March 5-11, 2014

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THE ORIGINAL TIP

Smoky Mountain News

According to Cherokee police, one of their detectives got an anonymous tip that a female was selling oxycodone. Officers began looking into it and through an interview with an informant found out the woman’s name was Eudine Wilson, that she was from Florida and that she was staying at an apartment in Cherokee.

At least, that’s what officers wrote in their search warrant.

But defense attorneys for the women challenged the source of that information.

“His affidavit is based almost entirely upon the information provided by an anonymous source and confidential informant unknown to [the officers],” the defense argued in their motion to suppress the evidence.

The affidavit never said how the officers knew the confidential informant who gave them information about the females supposedly transporting oxycodone, how the informant knew the information or whether that person ever saw any drugs, or whether officers made any attempt to verify the tip’s validity.

There were also issues with how the officers portrayed their interview with their informant in the search warrant. The warrant states that it was through an informant that 10 they learned the actually identity of the tip-

ster’s female, but, Reidinger determined, that’s not what happened. According to the judge’s written opinion, the informant had only identified the suspect only as “Baby D.” Through Internet searches, officers were able to deduce that Wilson and Baby D were the same person.

But on the search warrant, officers claimed the informant used the woman’s real name instead of nickname.

“While the reviewing magistrate may well have made the vital inference that Baby D and Defendant Eudine Wilson are the same person, it was incumbent upon law enforcement to provide the magistrate with accurate information it actually possessed at the time,” Reidinger’s opinion reads. “The affiant cannot preempt the magistrate’s judgment by presenting false information just because he assumes the magistrate will make such findings.”

THE TRAFFIC STOPS The search warrant also included a basis for probable cause gleaned from a traffic stop.

Officers figured out what car Wilson drove, and on Sept. 19, 2012, they pulled it over.

Officers claimed the driver wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Wilson later denied that.

But the stop allowed officers to see Wilson’s driver’s license, linking face to name.

Then, over the next month, officers spoke with a confidential source who further linked Wilson and another unnamed woman to oxycodone trafficking, according to the officer’s search warrant.

So, they started watching Wilson’s apartment. On Oct. 11, they followed Wilson out of the parking lot and pulled her over for crossing over the double yellow lines three times, the search warrant said. Wilson was driving and another woman, later identified as Marie Raymond, was in the passenger seat.

A drug dog from Graham County, named Beck, was on scene with his handler. The drug dog gave his signal alerting to the presence of drugs, the search warrant said, eventually leading to the women’s arrest and a search warrant to enter the apartment to recover thousands of tablets of prescription drugs.

In the lead-up to that second traffic stop, Cherokee Detective Jeff Smith assembled a team of local law enforcement officers to help out. Altogether, he contacted six other officers from Cherokee, Swain County and Graham County, according to court documents.

William Reed, one of the Swain County officers, set up surveillance outside the apartment and followed Wilson and Raymond when they pulled out. Smith and Cherokee Officer David Velez followed in their respective cars.

After about two miles, Reed stopped the women — supposedly for the minor traffic infraction of crossing the double yellow lines.

SETUP “Until Velez heard Smith tell Wilson the reason why he pulled her over, Velez did not know the basis for the stop,” Reidinger’s opinion reads.

As the women were providing the three officers with their licenses and rental information, Graham County Officer Matthew Cox and his K9 Beck arrived. Cox commanded Beck to sniff around the Mazda.

Cox told Smith that his dog had alerted to the presence of drugs, and officers searched the car, according to court documents.

The problem, though, is that the K9 did not actually alert. In fact, he wouldn’t have been able to identify pharmaceutical drugs even if the car had held a ton of them, because K9 Beck was only trained to recognize marijuana, cocaine and heroin, according to court documents.

Further, video footage of the traffic stop captured by a camera on one of the cop cars showed the dog never actually gave the alert signal for drugs.

“It is undisputed that Beck never gave his trained indication,” Reidinger wrote in his decision.

However, the stop escalated when Smith asked the two women to get out of the car, after Wilson broke her phone in frustration.

Video footage of the traffic stop captured by a camera on one of the cop cars showed the dog never actually gave the alert signal for drugs.

“Prior to this point Wilson had not acted angry,” Reidinger’s opinion reads. “Likewise, Wilson was not doing anything that raised any safety concern for [the officers]. She was not acting nervously, she kept her hands where Smith could see them, she was not sweating heavily, she was not using the phone in a threatening manner, and she was not acting suspicious.”

The two women were separated on opposite ends of one of the cop cars.

At about this time, dispatch told Velez that Wilson had a valid license neither women had any outstanding warrants.

At this point, the defense contended, the women should have been released.

“One may not be arrested for committing the infraction of driving left of center,” they wrote in their motion to suppress.

It should have been no more than a traffic ticket, and the women allowed to go on their way.

However, Smith began to search their vehicle, according to court documents.

No narcotics were found in their car, however.

But then, one officer observed Raymond, who was pregnant, moving her dress around and saw something protruding from underneath it.

The officers called in a female officer who

was on standby and asked her to come frisk the two women. Wilson refused to comply, but the female officer detected a bulge in Raymond’s groin area.

Raymond eventually pulled out a bag holding fifty 30-milligram oxycodone tablets and fourteen or fifteen 2-milligram alprazolam tablets, according to court documents.

That’s when the women were taken to Swain County Jail, where they were stripsearched, revealing another bag of pills on Wilson. Meanwhile, Cherokee Detective Patrick McCoy was called in to help write the search warrant for the women’s apartment, mainly based on information relayed to him by other officers, Reidinger’s opinion said.

Superior Court Judge Bradley Letts signed the search warrant application, and officers executed it soon thereafter, seizing thousands of pills, some notebooks, a computer and drug paraphernalia.

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THE OUTCOME

So, though drugs were in fact found on the women’s body and place of residence, both were released and the case dismissed.

Without the dog’s false alert, police would not have had reason to search the car, and no drugs would have been found on either of them. If no drugs had been found during the traffic stop, no search warrant would have been issued, and if no search warrant had been issued, none of the drugs in the apartment would have been found.

ENFORCEMENT VS. ETHICS

The story is a classic clash between the desire to catch the bad guys and the duty to protect the rights of citizens, said Al Kopak, criminal justice professor at Western Carolina University.

“Part of it’s political,” he said. “They make a big drug bust in the community, and the community says, ‘Yeah, go for it.’”

But police officers occupy a delicate place in society, he said. They have to be tough, but they also have to play by the rules.

“You don’t want the police officers to be viewed as corrupt, because then when you have cases like this, the fallout is huge,” he said.

The temptation can be great, though, especially when it comes to drug-related crimes. Not only does the public tend to cheer on the capture of drug dealers, but law enforcement agencies can benefit financially from those busts when they seize and resell vehicles and property related to the crimes.

“The larger issues here is the incentive to go after drug cases,” Kopak said. “They’re gonna spend their enforcement on drugrelated cases more than anything else.”

At the end of the day, though, the officer’s job is to protect the innocent — which, until proof is found, include the guilty.

“Cops have hard jobs,” Kopak said, “but some make it harder than it needs to be, I think, when they don’t do what they’re supposed to.”

The Cherokee Indian Police Department did not return a message requesting comment.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

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— Richard Lightner, Macon County tax administrator

closures, has sent 68 letters to taxpayers with homes at Waterdance and Bear Pen at River Rock — part of the controversial mega-development known as Legasus.

Jackson’s property tax collection rate has climbed 1.5 percent since it started using foreclosures, but overall, Macon, Swain, Jackson and Haywood counties have seen a drop in property tax collections since 2007.

“I think it happens more, probably, in Western North Carolina, when so many people are tied to the real estate development market and the economies aren’t productionbased,” Lightner said.

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“We have to move forward on [foreclosures].

We don’t have the revenues coming in that we can afford to be Mr. Nice Guy.”

March 5-11, 2014

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ith the bottomed-out real estate market still stagnant, some property owners are having trouble seeing the point of paying property taxes.

The value of property has plummeted so much — especially on lots billed for vacation and retirement homes — buyers lured by mountain property during the real estate boom have discovered their investment is now worth pennies on the dollar compared to what they paid, with no hope of a rebound anytime soon.

Why not cut losses and walk away, instead of pouring more money into it year after year in the form of property taxes? That’s a reality that’s causing Macon County to take a second look at its policies for collecting on delinquent property taxes.

Threatening letters just aren’t working like they used to, because these days, some people simply have no intention of paying.

Mounting unpaid property taxes are draining county coffers.

“We have to move forward on that. We don’t have the revenues coming in that we can afford to be Mr. Nice Guy,” Richard Lightner, Macon County’s tax administrator, told commissioners.

If somebody doesn’t pay after a couple of warning letters, he has a few routes to try. He has the power to garnish wages or even tap the person’s bank account.

But those measures don’t always work.

They have various limitations. They can’t be used for out-of-state property owners, for example, or if you can’t figure out someone’s bank account number, or if their wages are too low.

“You have to use all the tools,” Lightner said.

Until now, that toolbox hasn’t included foreclosure, at least not in Lightner’s 29 years at the county’s tax office. Foreclosure is the final step: the county can auction off property to the highest bidder to cover the back taxes on it.

In 2004, Macon County commissioners

passed a resolution directing the tax office to ramp up tactics for collecting unpaid property taxes. But not much had changed until this year.

“Realistically, there’s no forced collection,” Lightner said of year’s passed.

The turnover of three county attorneys in those years and the time involved in processing a foreclosure kept that from happening, Lightner said. At the beginning of January, the county was missing $4.75 million in delinquent property taxes.

So last month, the county hired Ridenhour & Goss to start collecting that money through property foreclosures.

Attorneys fees, to the tune of $200 an hour, are tacked on to the back taxes owed.

The county’s new policy, though, doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be mass foreclosures throughout Macon County.

In Jackson County, which just began using foreclosures against delinquent taxpayers in 2011, the threat alone was usually enough to make people pay up.

“Ever since June of 2011, we’ve collected over $2.5 million,” said Beverly Buchanan, Jackson County tax collector. Often, receiving a demand letter from an attorney is enough to spur the owner into paying what’s required.

But not every time. Of the more than 300 accounts the county has submitted for foreclosure proceedings since 2011, 23 have been sold. When that happens, the county prices the starting bid to equal the amount owed plus attorney fees and administrative costs. If the property auctions for anything more than that, the money goes back to the property’s former owner — or to the bank if there’s an outstanding mortgage, or to pay any other liens on the property.

“The county’s not interested in making money,” Buchanan said. “It’s just interested in getting the taxes and attorney fees.”

In this economic climate, foreclosure is often the only way to do so.

“We have a lot of properties that were purchased by people four or five years ago from out of state, and we can’t attach [to their bank accounts] or garnish their wages,” Buchanan said.

Often, these out-of-state buyers simply

• Swain took the biggest hit in its property tax collection rate, falling from 94.7 percent in 2007 to 91.6 percent in 2011.

• Macon’s collection rate fell from 97.4 percent in 2007 to 96.4 in 2011-12.

• Jackson’s collection rate plummeted from 96.3 percent in 2007 to 94.6 in 2009, but after hiring a law firm to process foreclosures, the rate has risen back up to 96 percent.

• Haywood’s collection rate went from 97 percent in 2007, then dropped to 95.7, but is now back up to 96.2 percent.

“It’s like anything,” Lightner said. “If people know the parameters and know that enforcement is going to take place, they’ll maybe pay a little more attention to make sure their obligations are taken care of.”

Haywood County has never been shy about using foreclosures to collect unpaid taxes.

“With a third of our tax bills going out of state, that is usually the only remedy we have,” said David Francis, Haywood County Tax Administrator.

Unpaid taxes dating back more than 10 years must be written off, so the goal is to get it done before that collection window closes.

Haywood County faced an unusual conundrum last year when auctioning off one property in a tax foreclosure.

“Nobody showed up to bid on them,” Francis said.

Foreclosure auctions are conducted on the courthouse steps. Since today’s modern justice centers don’t necessarily have “steps,” the auctioneer stands on the entrance sidewalk at a pre-appointed time.

Real estate investors follow foreclosures, looking to snatch up good deals and cheap property they can flip. Sometimes, neighboring property owners will show up to bid. But sometimes, no one wants the property, as Haywood witnessed last year. The county ended up assuming title to a couple of properties with hopes of selling them down the road to recoup those back taxes.

Other times, the county fetches less than what’s actually owed in taxes and interest and attorney fees.

But Haywood doesn’t have to foreclose as often as some neighboring counties with upscale retirement homes. Haywood only took seven properties to foreclosure last year.

“In some other counties, you saw whole subdivisions were going down,” Francis said.

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Macon begins foreclosure on delinquent properties

chose to stiff the county on their tax bill and wash their hands of an investment gone wrong, even if it means losing the property they’d bought.

“We have a big development like that right now that we’re working on that people haven’t paid in four of five years,” Buchanan said.

“They bought it as a second home or investment. We have people say, ‘We don’t want to pay the taxes until we can sell this property.’”

So far, Jackson County, which uses the same legal firm as Macon to process its fore-

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SCC’s 20th-annual Job Fair is March 20

20,000 reasons spring fishing

Over the years, Patty Kirkley has helped find jobs for many Southwestern Community College students, graduates and community members.

The career counselor annually oversees activities like mock interviews and softskills training, all of which are designed to equip job applicants with the skills they need to land the employment opportunities they desire.

No single event, though, is as significant in helping job candidates connect with prospective employers as the one that’ll take place March 20 at SCC’s Jackson Campus: the 20th-annual Job Fair. Employers can register in advance by going to this link on SCC’s website: www.southwesterncc.edu /job-fair-registration-form.

Employers can begin setting up at 8 a.m., and the event runs from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, a snow date of March 27 has been set.

“The most rewarding part is when I walk into local businesses and see our graduates thriving in a job that our team at SCC helped prepare them for years ago,” said

Kirkley, who’s been at SCC for more than six years. “For so many of them, it started with an event like our Job Fair. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet employers in a particular field, and it’s a great chance for the employers to see the excellent talent pool we have here at Southwestern.”

More than 50 employers from throughout and beyond SCC’s service area of Jackson, J Patty Kirkley Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary annually attend the Job J Fair. Last year, more than 270 students, alumni and members of the community turned out for the event.

The event is open to all SCC students, alumni and everyone in the community. Job seekers do not need to register to attend.

For more information, contact Kirkley at 828.339.4212 or p_kirkley@southwesterncc.edu.

REACH volunteer training day is March 8

March 5-11, 2014

REACH of Haywood will offer a day of training from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 8 for those interested in assisting with the agency Helpline.

REACH is Haywood County’s domestic violence/sexual assault/elder abuse prevention and intervention agency.

The training will take place at REACH’s new office location at 627 N. Main Street in Waynesville. Lunch will be provided. 828.456.7898 to pre-register and ask to speak with Buffy.

Non-GOP conservatives invited to convention The Haywood County Republican Party will hold its annual convention and precinct meetings on March 15 at the Canton Armory.

Local candidates, state candidates, and U.S. Senate candidates have been invited to speak during the 9:45-10:45 a.m. time slot.

Smoky Mountain News

Cast Into Spring

12

Beachcombers find parts of lost research balloon equipment The seventh Western Carolina University physics research balloon to be launched to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere – Cat 7 – left Cullowhee on Saturday, Feb. 1, and traveled unexpectedly to Tennessee, across Virginia and on to the Atlantic Ocean, where it appeared to be lost at sea.

“The flight was amazing and epic, but we lost our equipment – everything,” said Michele Coker, a senior majoring in geology with a minor in physics.

The hydrogen-filled balloons carry about $1,500 worth of equipment – cameras, tracking devices, sensors and a radiation detector.

The data collected during the flights helps stu-

Rep. Mark Meadows of the 11th District will be the keynote speaker.

Many voters who are not registered Republicans have asked to hear the conservative candidates speak. To satisfy this request, this year all conservative voters are invited to attend the speeches preceding the Convention.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. www.haywoodncgop.org and 828.506.0939. dents learn more about radiation levels and radiation sources in the atmosphere and about weather phenomena, such as dark lightning, said Enrique Gomez, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at WCU. Dark lightning is an invisible burst of highenergy radiation immediately preceding a flash of lightning.

About a week after the Cat 7 flight, Coker received news that a portion of the equipment had been found. Two teachers walking on the beach in the town of Nags Head found the balloon’s science box. A few days later, a Southern Shores resident walking his dog located part of the radio box. Both parties shipped the recovered items to campus. Although the bulk of the equipment will have to be replaced, Coker believes she can retrieve some of the data and photos.

For more information about the research, contact Gomez at 227.2718 or egomez@wcu.edu.

Jackson’s optimistic cheerleader

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Jackson County Economic Development Director Rich Price addresses local officials March 3. Jeremy Morrison photo chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners. “He thinks he can do anything and that’s what we want.”

Price discussed some current initiatives, such as the newly formed Business and

Haywood chamber to drive economic development

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CeCe Hipps. Becky Johnson photo

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ty, and with so much county money being entrusted to the chamber, county commissioners will require certain checks and balances to ensure its interests in economic development are being attended to.

The county will get audited financial statements of how its $223,000 is spent by the chamber. The county will stipulate its performance expectations in an extensive “scope of work” outlined in the contract with the chamber — such as aiding start-ups, attending trade shows and developing a marketing campaign. The county can opt out if it doesn’t like the arrangement.

A separate board of directors will oversee and direct economic development initiatives, with a mix of chamber and county appointments. It will operate with some level of autonomy, despite being an offshoot of the chamber. The county manager and county commissioner chairman will automatically serve on the board.

The new model will engage a larger crosssection of the business community in the goal of furthering economic development and job growth, said Ira Dove, interim Haywood County manager.

“The hope is to generate more energy and more success in economic development,” Dove said. “And to make sure all the different sectors that are important in Haywood County are at the table as stakeholders.”

Mark Clasby, the current Haywood County Economic Development Director, will continue in that title, but will become an employee of the chamber.

As part of the merger, the economic development office will move in with the chamber, which has extra space in its building. Being under the same roof will make collaboration easier.

“The big thing it will bring is new excitement and new energy and new thinking on the important issue of creating and retaining jobs in the community,” said Greg Boothroyd, chairman of the Haywood Chamber Board of Directors.

A task force led by the chamber explored the idea of a merger for the past year, including an analysis of other economic development models around the state. Partnerships between chambers of commerce and county government are common.

Commissioner Chairman Mark Swanger said adopting the new arrangement in Haywood will hopefully bring greater resources to the table locally to make up for the reduction in regional economic development efforts seen at the state level.

“This will open up the opportunity to go to members of the business community to sponsor special initiatives and projects,” said Boothroyd.

Hipps said she hopes for a smooth transition and looks forward to seeing the new economic development board named. As for the first step under the new merged structure?

“I would hope to develop a clear and united vision and focus for economic development,” Hipps said.

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March 5-11, 2014

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he daunting challenge of courting industry, cultivating entrepreneurs, helping businesses expand — and ultimately adding new jobs to the economy — will soon become an all-hands-on-deck affair in Haywood County.

The business prowess of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce is being marshaled by the county to lead its economic development program.

Economic development has historically been a role of county government. But the county will move its economic development arm under the auspice of the chamber this summer.

“The chamber will be responsible for economic development functions,” said CeCe Hipps, president of the Haywood Chamber.

“Economic development will be a division of the chamber of commerce.”

It’s not exactly a new role for the chamber.

Creating a business-friendly climate and helping businesses succeed is what the chamber is all about. But for the first time, the chamber will be the officially anointed entity driving the economic development train for the county.

The county will pay the chamber a contract rate of $223,000 annually to carry out economic development functions. That’s roughly what the county spends annually on economic development activities.

The chamber is technically a private enti-

Industry Advisory Committee, repurposing the Drexel industrial site as a recreation or agricultural enterprise — “We feel like that’s got a lot of legs” — and working with the Tuckasegee Water and Sewer Authority to identify shortand long-range expansion and upgrade projects. He also told officials that Jackson County would be well served to work in tandem with other communities in the region to better their economic development chances.

“Collectively, as a region, we become much more attractive,” he said.

Price also suggested that all available commercial properties be combined into a central database so that prospective businesses eyeing the area can more easily survey the possibilities.

“When we get inquiries, and we will get them, no one has to go to a dead end,” the director said.

Jackson’s new economic development director’s presentation generated scant comment from the county’s collection of officials.

“Aw, c’mon,” Price joked, “Don’t make it this easy on me. I’ve been preparing for darts all day long.”

news

BY J EREMY MORRISON N EWS E DITOR fter a few months on the job, Jackson County’s economic development director laid out the landscape for community leaders. He painted a portrait of cautious optimism.

“My view has to be one of optimism,” Rich Price said during a March 3 joint meeting of officials from throughout the county. “I have to be the biggest advocate and cheerleader.”

Price — who hails from a marketing background — was hired last year to focus on Jackson’s economic development efforts. He stressed the importance of educating the outside world about the opportunities within Jackson County.

“We’ve got to get our name out there,” Price said. “We’ve got to fish.”

So far, he has been meeting with members of the local political, business and education communities in an effort to nail down the area’s needs, concerns and opportunities.

“The good thing about Rich is that he didn’t bring any preconceived notions about the things he can’t do,” noted Jack Debnam,

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Association for the Tuckaseigee River and a past president of Trout Unlimited.

Kane was also the one who ferreted out the little known fact that members of the planning board have been serving longer than they are supposed to.

“Given the conflict of interests and the Board not properly constituted, there have been voices at the table that should not have been there. The inappropriate voices participated in discussions, decisions, and voting,” Kane said at the hearing. “Any recommendations that such an illegitimate process brings forward should be declared null and void.”

In the end, however, the planning board doesn’t enact policy. Any proposals from the planning board are simply that: proposals.

“Anything they propose are moved up to the commissioners and the commissioners must make the decision to approve it or not to approve it,” Wooten said when commissioners took up the issue at their meeting this week. “Ultimately these boards are advisory boards. These people have been acting in good faith and acting in an advisory capacity so I don’t think there has been any harm done other than allowing ourselves to operate outside our own policies.”

“I am not pointing fingers. If anything, I am blaming myself,” Wooten said, saying he had never noticed the discrepancy between the planning board bylaws and code of ordinances.

The goal now is to get the books cleaned up, Wooten said. Commissioners will make six appointments to the planning board at their meeting later this month

Historically, commissioners have tapped their own pool of friends and acquaintances to fill the board.

Some commissioners have also suggested a better system is needed for deciding who to appoint. Historically, commissioners have tapped their own pool of friends and acquaintances to fill the board.

There is no application process. There is no mechanism for commissioners to weigh the merits of whom they are appointing. A commissioner will simply proffer the name of someone they know when there’s an appoint-

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Smoky Mountain News

Historically, planning board members served for three-year terms, with no limit on the number of terms. At least that’s how the by-laws for the planning board read.

But that changed in 2009, apparently unbeknownst to county leaders. In 2009, the county created a master code book that brought all its policies into one large volume. Somehow, the term lengths for planning board members were changed from three years to two years, and a limit of two terms was imposed.

But the change, buried in the county’s new master code book, wasn’t on anyone’s radar. The county continued to go by the old bylaws for planning board appointments.

Planning board members have continued to be appointed for three-year terms instead of two, and the cap on term limits wasn’t being heeded.

“We were using old practices that were modified and updated in this code of ordinances,” Wooten said.

Commissioner Doug Cody said the current commissioners aren’t at fault, as they were simply going by the process used by the commissioners before them.

“I don’t feel like we ought to be taking the blame for it,” Cody said. “Somebody didn’t make us aware of it who should have made us aware of it.”

“I think the important thing is to get it right from here on out,” Commissioner Vicki Green said.

“I just don’t think our board should take the hit for it,” Cody replied.

March 5-11, 2014

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER he informal process for picking people to serve on the planning board in Jackson County has come under scrutiny, prompting county commissioners to doubledown on the how, when and who of their appointments.

“We need to tighten up some of our particular processes,” Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten told commissioners at a county meeting this week. “I think it may be time to move this from an informal to a formal process.”

The terms of several Jackson County planning board members have recently expired, but commissioners Chuck Wooten haven’t gotten around to making new appointments. So the members with expired terms have continued to sit on the board in the meantime. And two planning board members have served more terms than are technically allowed under the term limits for the board.

Usually, the appointments to county advisory boards and committees are not the stuff of big headlines. And certainly not grounds for public outcry.

But that’s exactly what happened at a recent public hearing over the county’s steep slope building rules. A packed house turned out for the hearing last month to express disapproval with a proposal by the planning board to weaken the steep slope regulations.

Speaker after speaker called on the county not to adopt the steep slope revisions but to leave them as they are. No one spoke in favor of loosening them.

Some speakers turned the microscope on the planning board that has spent the past 14 months coming up with the revisions. The planning board has a predominance of members in the building or real estate industry — five out of the 10, in fact.

Several speakers pointed out the influence of those in the building and real estate industry on the planning board. Fewer development restrictions could be advantageous to surveyors and builders. Voting to weaken the regulations could be perceived as a conflict of interest in that case.

“No member shall vote or participate in discussion on any matter in which he/she may have a financial interest,” said Bill Kane, a speaker at the hearing last month, quoting from the planning board’s own bylaws.

Commissioner Jack Debnam pointed out that just because someone is a builder or Realtor, doesn’t mean they have a certain philosophy. Debnam pointed to planning board member Dickie Woodard, who is a Realtor but is also on the board of the Watershed

news

Appointment process for advisory boards comes under fire

ment to be made, and the rest of the commissioners approve it on the good word of whichever commissioner brought the name forward.

Cody said it’s not a problem because commissioners generally know the people being nominated for the boards. And if not, they can take the word of the other commissioners who do know that person, Elders said.

But that wasn’t quite good enough for Commissioner Vicki Green this week.

“I would like to look through the applications we have from folks,” Green said.

Elders and Cody wanted to go ahead and make a couple of the appointments at their meeting this week, namely by re-appointing a couple of members who currently serve on the board, instead of waiting for a fuller vetting.

But they were outnumbered and the board will instead make its picks at its next meeting, allowing more time to weigh the nominees.

The county does have a basic application for members of the public wishing to serve on a board. But nominees brought to the floor by a particular commissioner — which is the case for nearly all appointments — never end up filling out one of the applications.

Wooten said that one idea is to ask the nominees, even if named by commissioners, to fill out the application, simply so the county has a record.

In Haywood County, by contrast, all applicants for county boards must turn in a resume and application stating why they wish to serve, and then go through an interview process before commissioners make their selection.

The Mountaineer Quarterly Sponsor Clothing & makeup provided by

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Tools to help cope with an uncertain future uality journalism is a powerful force. I’ve been fortunate to be able to witness that truth often during my career in the newspaper business. I’ve seen stories that helped the afflicted, honored the deserving, and brought down the powerful. I’ve been involved in stories that brought tears of joy to a mother’s eyes and tears of regret from an arrogant leader. I’ve held my notebook in hand and listened to someone who asks us for their trust tell such bald-faced lies it shocked even a jaded reporter.

Don’t get me wrong. Although journalism is very meaningful work, there is drudgery in the job. Editing news briefs about Kiwanis Club events or political party meetings is not very exciting work, but in truth I know that those events are just as important to our overall mission as the stories that get reporters salivating.

Journalism is about telling today’s history before it hits the books. In doing that, we shape how the people now in power and the events now occurring will be viewed by those who come after us. Reporters are the allimportant middlemen in this transaction, using their curiosity, powers of observation and storytelling skills to mold our knowledge about the world we live in.

The media gets a bad rap these days, and from my perspective much of that criticism is just off base (but that’s another story). Many write off all media because a small few often make some very big mistakes, or because today many news consumers can’t separate opinion from fact. Disagreeing with the

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Ridgetop houses are too common

To the Editor: Regarding Clark Lipkin's guest opinion column in the Feb. 26 opinion, I find it incredulous that he states [ridgetop houses] "tend to be hard to find". All he needs to do is take a short drive through north Georgia in order to see the effects of ridgetop development gone amok. If he still has trouble seeing houses on ridgetops, then all we need to do is pass out the same kind of rose-colored glasses he is looking through.

Bruce Buchanan Sylva

Local tourism leaders aren’t qualified

To the Editor: In response to Mr. Robert Jumper's letter

“news” as espoused by Bill O’Reilly or Rachel Maddow — and therefore blaming the media — is to not know what really is news.

I digress, but here’s the real point: if you happen to live in Western North Carolina right now and read our newspaper and others in this region, you’re getting a healthy dose of some of that good journalism that means so much to me. I’ve told people that for years, but you don’t have to take my word for it.

The North Carolina Press Association Editor recently held its contest for reporters, designers, photographers, and newspaper Internet sites. Illinois Press Association members judged the contest.

And you guessed it: I’m going to toot my horn about The Smoky Mountain News. Look at all those awards (see infobox), and I’ll be the first to say I’m damn proud of our staff.

But look at the rest of the list. According to those newspaper folks form Illinois, the best three large community newspapers in the state are from our region: In the General Excellence category, The Mountaineer took first, the Franklin Press second, and we came in third. And look at all the other awards won by the papers that we compete against. It’s an impressive tally. The Highlands and Cashiers papers also took home several awards. The Asheville Citizen-Times and the Mountain Xpress did the same. Those awards can be viewed at the N.C. Press Association website.

Scott McLeod

“The less you know, the more you believe.”

– Bono

in the Feb. 19 edition and the Jackson County TDA, I’m wondering how many of those who serve on that board even have a clue as to the big picture of national tourism. How many belong to national tourism organizations where the exchange of ideas (marketing and development) are discussed at numerous meetings throughout a year? Some of the best groundwork for a local TDA can be had without spending thousands of dollars when knowledge of the bigger picture and common sense can be more important.

Until someone can show me the qualifications of those currently serving on the TDA board, I will continue to think they don't have a realistic knowledge of the tourism industry and therefore must spend thousands of dollars to be told how, who, what, where, and when tourism marketing should be best spent.

One comment about the Haywood County TDA and the letter in the same issue of the SMN: citizens must be educated about the fact the accommodation owners are not paying the tax. They are collectors of the tax paid by those who stay in the accommodations and

2013 NC PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARDS The Smoky Mountain News First Place

The Mountaineer First Place

• Community Service • News Enterprise Reporting

• General Excellence • News Coverage • Special Section

Second Place • News Enterprise Reporting • News Feature Writing • Profile Feature • Special Section

Third Place

Second Place • Editorials

The Franklin Press First Place

• General Excellence • Education Reporting • General News Reporting • Investigative Reporting • General Excellence for Web Sites • Best Niche Publication

• Editorial Page

Special Award

• Editorial • Lighter Columns • Serious Columns

• Media and the Law Award

Second Place • General Excellence • Headline Writing • News Coverage

Third Place

Here’s one of my favorite findings from looking through the award list. The two columnists who won for the Franklin Press — Bob Scott and Barbara McRae — are both former journalists and now on the Franklin Town Board. Covering that group is going to be a reporter’s dream.

Make no mistake, we are in fierce competition with the other newspapers in this region for news and advertising dollars.

That’s just a fact. At the same time, however,

we are a better newspaper because our competitors are also pretty good at what they do.

Western North Carolina’s citizens are better off because they have access to quality newspapers. In the end, this entire region benefits because citizens have a better chance to be well-informed and are able to make smart decisions as we wade into an uncertain future.

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

in turn pass it on to the TDA via the county.

The local taxpayer contributes nothing for tourism development, yet they reap benefits.

David Redman Sylva

intersection until you reach the State Employee’s Credit Union, then it is 45 mph going past Ingles, Burger King and CVS (unless it is school zone hours). The lanes are all very tight, and the “suicide” middle lane is just that. If you are elderly, or maybe just not on your game, it is not if, it is when, are you going run into some situation.

This is my suggestion, and it is by no means rocket science. If you look at N.C. 107 from Bogart's to CVS, look at how many entrances and exits are permitted to exist.

Radio Shack and Kel-Save Pharmacy have at least three choices for pulling in and out. And if you wanted to go to Ted's Laundry from Radio Shack, guess what? You are pulling out on the road, into flowing traffic, gumming up the “flow,” just to pull in the next road. And this pattern continues all the way down the road! If eminent domain is gonna be enforced at “taking land for the good of public use,” why not connect all the businesses, so business can be done with out being in the flow of traffic. channel the traffic to the lights.

To me, this seems like a very practical thing

N.C. 107 is a plain disaster To the Editor: Jackson County's main business corridor, Highway 107 South, is a disaster.

By allowing all the main businesses and an (expanding) high school and elementary school, and now a Verizon Store/Cook Out restaurant, in a place where there was only ever a one-lane driveway, the planning is now showing very poor forethought.

The Comfort Inn on the hill beside Sonic is now open. A Dunkin’ Donuts business was allowed to open in one of the most dangerous traffic patterns on the road. Dollar Tree is now on the road (not beside Walmart anymore).

The speed limit is 35 mph from the Bogart’s

to do. Rework some business lanes and that might just allow those doing business to connect with a few in just one stop. Every business having its own entrance is just a cluster of poor planning.

Also “time of the day” is a big factor on N.C. 107. If traffic was managed better at the peak times of the school, this could also help.

Again, why you would try to grow everything on the same road is poor planning in the first place.

Put in a bypass if you want a fast road to the door of SCC or WCU. I am not fighting that with this letter. But everything trafficwise will still be the same on N.C. 107 because that is where nearly all the business in the county is conducted, and I highly doubt the new road will be any less congested from that decision.

I won't go into my thoughts on public transportation and the idea of investing in the plan of a passenger train from Sylva to Asheville in order to help stimulate the economic growth … maybe next time.

Kelly Timco Sylva

Do not encroach on our freedoms

Harlem Ambassadors vs

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March 5-11, 2014

Ron Robinson supports education for all To the Editor: Ron Robinson, a Democrat and Sylva businessman, has launched his campaign to become the next senator from District 50, attempting to replace incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Davis of Franklin. Ron recognizes that the ill-advised attack on the funding of public schools by the current N.C. Legislature must be reversed. The voucher system would, if ever implemented, siphon off public funds designated for public schools.

Ron knows that public education in North Carolina has provided the means for people to improve their own lives as well the lives of all North Carolinians — people of all incomes and people of all races and nationalities. He will work to ensure that public education money continues to flow to public schools as our state laws have intended for nearly two centuries.

Dave Waldrop Webster

Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor: Our basic freedoms in the Bill of Rights are encroached on almost daily by some branch of government, political organization or social group.

The latest is the attempt by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to monitor media news rooms by interviewing reporters, anchors and news managers to determine their “news philosophy,” how they select stories and gather the news. One reason given was to be sure the public was getting “crucial information.”

You can be sure that would be crucial information as determined by the government. If the FCC wants to know about what and who is reporting the news, they should look at and listen to the news just as we all do. Monitoring and on-site researching is intimidation.

One of the FCC commissioners, Ajit Pai, stated “the government has no place pressuring media organizations into covering certain stories. News organizations might feel compelled to cooperate with a government study, given that the FCC holds the power to renew radio and TV licenses. The agency could potentially reject a station’s license renewal if it failed to meet a ‘critical information’ needs test.”

Think about that! Another government agency wielding a penalty on organizations that do not meet government standards, i.e., the ideologies set by any current administration.

An immediate and powerful backlash caused the FCC chairman to withdraw the study while saying the effort would be amended. Rest assured this disgraceful breach of our Constitution will be back in a different form in another attempt to control our media. The ultimate result could be a state-run media — a tactic well-known in third world and dictator-ruled countries.

This attempt to damage our freedom of the press is reason for Americans of every political persuasion to take notice of the incredible hubris and arrogance of a government agency to disregard our Constitution to satisfy some government quest for power and control.

The Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, guarantee basic freedoms. In the First Amendment we are guaranteed freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and the right to petition government for redress of grievances without fear of punishment or reprisals.

The IRS delayed or denied the 501C applications of conservative organizations, mostly TEA Party groups — a threat to freedom of speech or maybe even assembly.

Obamacare requires contraceptive coverage be provided by religious groups whose doctrine forbids it — freedom of religion ignored. The Second Amendment, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, is under attack from multiple anti-gun groups, executive orders and government agencies that would leave guns in the hands of criminals but not of lawabiding citizens. The National Security Agency collects telephone records and Internet activity of innocent Americans in the name of protection from terrorism. The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and sets out requirements for search warrants based on probable cause The Fourth Amendment was breached in 2013 when Justice Department secretly obtained two months’ worth of telephone records of journalists working for the Associated Press.

One definition of encroachment is “to intrude gradually or stealthily often taking away somebody’s authority, rights or property.” Consider this and how we tolerate encroachment on our basic guaranteed rights.

Carol Adams Glenville

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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828.926.0734. Open 7 days a week 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Celebrating over 25 years.

Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert.

The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

ANTHONY WAYNE’S 37 Church St, Waynesville. 828.456.6789.

Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; open for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exceptional, new-American cuisine, offering several gluten free items.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

Brown bagging is permitted. Private parties, catering, and take-out available. Call-ahead seating available.

BOGART’S 35 East Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6532.

Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Serving classic American food and drink in a casual environment. Daily lunch and dinner specials. Children’s menu available.

Call for catering quotes. Private room available for large parties. Accepts MC/Visa, Discover and American Express.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m.

Closed on Sunday. We specialize in handcut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Monday Through Friday a.m to 5 p.m. (takeout only 5 to 6 p.m.) Closed Saturday and Sunday. Deli and so much more. We roast our own ham, turkey and roast beef, just like you get on Thanksgiving. Come try our new burger menu with topping choices from around the world.

Enjoy our daily baked goods: cinnamon & sticky buns, cakes, pies and cookies.

BRYSON CITY BAKERY AND PASTRY SHOPPE 191 Everett St., Bryson City. 828.488.5390 Offering a full line of fresh baked goods like Grandma used to make. Large variety to choose from including cakes, pies, donuts, breads, cinn-buns and much more. Also serving Hershey Ice Cream. Open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Join us for plentiful buffet-style dinners on Fridays and Saturdays, and long winter holiday weekends.

Dinner is served from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in winter and includes pot roast, Virginia ham or herb-baked chicken, complemented with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. Lunch is served on the same days from 12 to 2 p.m.

CHEF’S TABLE 30 Church St., Waynesville. 828.452.6210.

From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday dinner starting at 5 p.m. “Best of” Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Winter hours: Sunday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday & Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Private room available for meetings.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events. Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

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

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to 3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day.

Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.7179. Reservations recommended.

4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com.

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

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

FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley.

828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com FRYDAY’S & SUNDAES 24 & 26 Fry St., Bryson City (Next To The Train Depot). 828.488.5379. Frydays is open; but closed on Wednesdays. Sundaes is open 7 days a week. Fryday’s is known for its Traditional English Beer Battered Fish & Chips, but also has burgers, deep fried dogs, gyro, shrimp, bangers, Chip Butty, chicken, sandwiches & a great kids menu. Price friendly, $3-$10, Everything available to go or call ahead takeout. Sundaes has 24 rotating flavors of Hershey's Ice Cream making them into floats, splits, sundaes, shakes. Private seating inside & out for both locations right across from the train station & pet friendly.

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

GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877.

Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837.

Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy fresh local products, created daily. Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.

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

Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

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

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

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

LOS AMIGOS 366 Russ Ave. in the Bi-Lo Plaza.

828.456.7870. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the lunch prices Monday through Sunday, also enjoy our outdoor patio.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

MOONSHINE GRILL 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley loacted in the Smoky Falls Lodge. 828.926.7440.

Open Thursday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Cooking up mouth-watering, wood-fired Angus steaks, prime rib and scrumptious fresh seafood dishes. The wood-fired grill gives amazing flavor to every meal that

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

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

NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP).

828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily.

Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open Monday through Thursday 7a.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place.

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

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection.

Casual atmosphere, dine indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar. Reservations appreciated.

PASQUALINO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 25 Everett Street, Bryson City.

828.488.9555. Open for lunch and dinner everyday 11:30 a.m.-late. A taste of Italy in beautiful Bryson City. Exceptional pasta,

pizza, homemade soups, salads. Fine wine, mixed drinks and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, reservations appreciated.

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

Outdoor and indoor dining.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

Maggie Valley’s

Hippest Hangout

1110 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751

(828) 668-BEAN organicbeanscoffee.com 8 am – 6 pm

MARCH 4: MUSIC 7PM

PUB THEOLOGY

SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO 628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS).

828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until. Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal. Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine.

Home-Grown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends. Pet friendly and kid ready.

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

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

Located across from the Fire Station.

TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

THE WINE BAR 20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day. Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

MARCH 7: MUSIC 7PM

PHOENIX

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Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics -Local beers now on draft-

March 5-11, 2014

LUCIO'S RESTAURANT 313 Highlands Road, Franklin.

828.369.6670. Serving Macon County since 1984. Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

Lunch Wednesday-Friday 11:30 a.m. until.Dinner Wednesday-Saturday 5 p.m. until. Owned and operated by Tanya and Dorothy Gamboni. Serving authentic Italian and continental cuisine including appetizers, pastas, poultry, veal, seafood, steaks and homemade deserts. Selection of wine and beer. Lunch and Dinner menus. Wednesday and Thursday nights only. 1 appetizer and 2 selected entrées with unlimited salad and Lucio’s famous garlic rolls for $24.95.

Winter Special: half-off house wines, Friday and Saturday only. luciosnc.com

comes off of it. Enjoy creative dishes made using moonshine. Stop by and simmer for a while and soak up the atmosphere. The best kept secret in Maggie Valley. themoonshinegrill.com

Live Music on the Patio Tues.-Fri. Call to see who’s playing.

117 Main Street, Canton NC 828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com Serving Lunch & Dinner

MON.-THURS. 11 A.M.-9 P.M. • FRI. & SAT. 11 A.M.-10 P.M. SUNDAY BRUNCH 11 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. 230-12

Café

Deli & So Much More 6147 Hwy 276 S. • Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station)

bbcafenc.com • 828.648.3838 Mon.-Fri. 8-5 • Closed: Sat. & Sun.

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For palatable results!

Smoky Mountain News

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Smoky Mountain News 828.452.4251 www.smokymountainnews.com 19

20

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Sewing traditions together

to test out her dream of becoming a weaver.

“It was a life-changing experience. I was just so immersed in it the whole time,” she said. “I went to bed at midnight, got up at 6 a.m. and went straight to the studio. I fell in love with it right away. I probably was the least experienced in the class, so it was interesting to see where everyone was coming from, what their different techniques and methods were. Going in fresh, I was just soaking everything in.”

HEADING WEST

Weaver attracted by all facets of ancient art

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER Sitting at her loom, weaver Amy Tromiczak feels right at home.

“It’s an amazing thing. You’re making cloth, and I love it,” the 25-year-old said. “It’s all about the whole process of choosing your fibers, deciding what kind of cloth to make, seeing it laid out on the loom.”

At her studio in Waynesville, Tromiczak is all smiles on a recent afternoon. Not only because she’s in the midst of another project, but also in light of her recent achievement — winning an award for her creations. In January, she won first place for textile design at the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Conference in Nashville. After weeks of not hearing anything from the competition, she opened her email one day to a big surprise.

“When I got the message that I won, I scared my boyfriend in the other room because I screamed so loud,” she laughed.

And with that recognition comes vindication for Tromcizak and her continuing quest to master a craft that has seen a rebirth of interest in recent years.

“The whole process has really appealed to me for years,” she said. “I just like knowing everything, from the animal fibers to the final product. Something I find interesting is the idea of being able to wear something you’ve made, or you know who made it, where the animals came from, what plants were used like cotton or hemp — it’s about knowing where things come from.”

MIDWEST DREAMS

Growing up in Minneapolis, Tromcizak was surrounded by creativity. Her mother dabbled in weaving, her father is a potter and her brother is currently pursuing a degree in painting and drawing in New York City. From that foundation, Tromcizak had the encouragement and support to grasp for her dreams.

After attending an artistic high school for writing, Tromcizak enrolled in the Minneapolis College of Art and

At her studio in Waynesville, weaver Amy Tromiczak (below) is studying the trade at Haywood Community College and recently won first place for textile design at the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Conference in Nashville. Garret K. Woodward photos

Design. It was there she got an internship on a sustainable farm in Wisconsin. That internship was a turning point. She worked with her hands every day, whether it was cultivating produce or learning how to spin, weave and dye fibers from the alpacas, llamas and sheep on the farm. “[The farm] had a whole network of people who traded eggs for milk or fiber or their different skills,” Tromcizak said.

“The world is so big and I think just because of how the textile industry has changed, people do forget where those things come from. You don’t know where your meat comes from, or maybe don’t know what a cotton plant looks like.”

From Wisconsin, Tromcizak worked on a farm in Ireland where she learned more about the history and tradition of weaving. Though the culture of weaving has long since faded from the mainstream of industrial Ireland, the spark inside Tromcizak was getting brighter. She was beginning to see her place in the world as she dug deeper into the trade.

Once back in Minneapolis, Tromcizak looked into an eightweek intensive weaving course at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina in 2012. It seemed just enough of an experience

With the Penland course complete, Tromcizak’s life took another turn when her boyfriend decided to relocate to Arizona for school. The couple headed west together. While staying with friends in Prescott, Tromcizak purchased her first loom before she even found a permanent address. Once settled in, she started weaving her visions, as well as “It’s amazing how joining the local Weaver’s Guild. easily things can “I was in this inbe lost, where a between place of figuring out what I wanted to family technique make,” she said. “At can die out in a Penland we covered a lot of ground, and in generation.

Arizona I now was surrounded by all of these There’s something weavers, me being 20 incredible about years younger than everyone else. They definitely working with your wanted some new blood in the guild and they hands, and that were so supportive.” everything you put Looking to take the next step in her training, into a piece really Tromcizak wanted to go does matter.” back to school to learn more methods and tech— Amy Tromiczak niques to mold her weaving interest into a lifelong career. The local college in Prescott had recently eliminated their weaving program, but a friend at the guild informed Tromcizak of the renowned craft school at Haywood Community College in Clyde. Following her boyfriend’s graduation in the spring of 2013, the couple headed back east, with Tromcizak starting a two-year weaving program at HCC. “I do a combination of maybe having a little bit of an idea and seeing where things go, and keep going with it if I like what’s being made,” she said.

While in school, Tromcizak is currently selling her handmade wares at Earthworks Gallery in Waynesville and other crafting events. Her forte these days is cowls, also known as “infinity scarves,” which are made with wool fibers. In addition to her weaving, Tromcizak also has a mission to promote quality products in a fair trade marketplace.

“There is so much waste in the world, where the cheaper the textile, the faster it possibly will end up in a landfill,” she said. “I want to make sure the person making garments made a fair wage, was able to provide for their family, and are working in humane conditions.”

And as her education continues, Tromcizak looks at her love of weaving as a passion that’s also preserving and perpetuating an ancient trade, one with a rich history in Southern Appalachia.

“It’s amazing how easily things can be lost, where a family technique can die out in a generation,” she said. “There’s something incredible about working with your hands, and that everything you put into a piece really does matter.”

This must be the place

Garret K. Woodward photo

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

P

SMN: What about the culture of craft beer?

CO: It’s a very community feel. Everyone is your friend. If we have a problem with something and want to bounce an idea off of someone, we call another brewery and ask what they think. People are openly sharing information and that’s a great feeling.

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

Haywood County Republican Party Meets Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

TAX REFUND? Put your money where your mouth is!

CANTON ARMORY - 71 PENLAND STREET, CANTON, NC

You must be a registered Republican by Jan. 31, 2014 to vote or be elected as a Delegate/Alternate to District or State Conventions. If you would like to be a Delegate or Alternate to District and State Conventions, please visit www.haywoodncgop.org.

All conservative voters are invited to hear the speeches preceding the Convention.

230-03

haywoodncgop.org • 828.648.0075 • 828.506.0939

229-38

The Denture

Shop

8:30-9:15 am: Registration, Refreshments 9:15-9:45 am: Annual Precinct Meetings 9:45-10:45 am: Speeches 10:45 am-1:00 pm: Annual Convention

PAID FOR BY THE HAYWOOD COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

SMN: What do you love about this industry?

ND: It’s kind of a unique industry. While it is competitive, it really has a family feel.

Everyone works together, everyone supports each other — it’s just this really great community in itself.

SMN: What’s it like for you to stand in the brewery on a busy night?

ND: One thing I really like that I notice a lot are the friendships forming here, with people that may not have normal interacted with each other. We see these unique relationships forming and it’s pretty cool. We’re excited for summer, for when Sylva comes alive, which we can’t believe would be anymore crazier than it already has been. It’s even better than we could have imagined.

A Complete service denture laboratory providing helpful ways to get your smile back

Smoky Mountain News

ANNUAL PRECINCT MEETINGS & CONVENTION

at the North Country Brewing Company there for four years, then at Asheville Brewing for four years. I’ve just always been interested in the industry. I bought a homebrew kit with my tax return and started brewing.

SMN: What is your mission?

ND: For now, just to be the neighborhood pub, the local watering hole in Sylva we felt was needed. We’re about craft beers, and using local ingredients whenever possible. We don’t do any production, we’re a craft brew pub. We make small batches and are able to experiment. So, when we do get to the point of being a production brewery, we’ll have things dialed in and know what our best sellers are.

Dentures Starting at $380 (full upper & lower set) Denture (upper or lower) Partial Denture Denture Reline Denture Repair

March 5-11, 2014

ouring its first pints in October 2013, Innovation Brewing in Sylva was created by Nicole Dexter and Chip Owen. The couple has a deep love The Trail Magic No. 7 Release Party will be for the craft beer, one that develMarch 14-15 at Nantahala Brewing in oped over the years through variBryson City. ous jobs in the industry.

My Highway will perform at 9 p.m. March 8 at Eventually, their dream of runO’Malley’s in Sylva. ning their own operation molded itself into a special place within Jackson County where locals and The Highlands Annual Chili Cook-off will be visitors alike congregate. from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, “Sylva is really this hidden at the Highlands Community Building. gem. It has wonderful people and Cutthroat Shamrock will perform at 9 p.m. a really strong community feel, March 7 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. and you have that in bigger cities, but it’s more centralized here,” Dexter said. “Here, everybody Summer McMahan and Darren Nicholson just really pulls together and supBand will be performing at 6 p.m. ports each other — it’s incrediSaturday, March 8, at Jackson County ble. Everybody feels really genCourthouse in Sylva. uine and are themselves.”

Each day, locals and visitors “Being here hasn’t sunk it yet, and it kind of alike mill about the space. Some line the doesn’t feel like it’s our place sometimes. We counter while countless others soak in the created it, but also the community created it, Appalachian sunshine on the outdoor too. We’re happy it’s a place people want to patio. Smiles, handshakes and laughter are hangout in.” commonplace, while live music permeates the atmosphere from a nearby corner. And Smoky Mountain News: How did you get as their business grows and flourishes, involved in the craft beer industry?

Dexter and Owen always bring their phiChip Owen: I grew up in Michigan and losophy back to the foundation of was a home brewer for about nine years. I Innovation — making quality brews for started off making Belgium ales because beer lovers. they’re really expensive to buy in the store.

“We’re trying to make the best beer we Nicole Dexter: I’m originally from can, trying to always improve our processes Western Pennsylvania and started working and play with our ingredients,” Owen said.

arts & entertainment

CO: I love everything involved with making a beer, but also the mechanic side. I have a mechanical engineering background. All of our equipment I welded myself, pieced it together and designed it.

Nicole Dexter and Chip Owen, co-owners of Innovation Brewing.

$ $ $ $

220+ 210+ 80+ 50+ 223-22

828-554-5990 toll free 855-554-5990 1225 Tsalagi Rd, Cherokee, NC 28719

21

arts & entertainment

On the beat Community dance in Sylva Out of the Woodwork will provide the music for the community dance at 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 9, in the Jackson County Library Complex in Sylva.

Dancing will include circle and square dances as well as contra dances. No previous experience is necessary and no partner is required. Out of the Woodwork is a band made up of local musicians. Other musicians are invited to sit in with the band, to jam and learn how to play music for dancing.

There will also be a potluck dinner following the dance at 5 p.m. Bring a covered dish, plate, cup and cutlery and a water bottle.

Suggested donation of $5. ronandcathy71@frontier.com or www.dancewnc.com.

Summer McMahan will perform with The Darren Nicholson Band on March 8 in Sylva. Donated photo

McMahan, Nicholson solo shows

Smoky Mountain News

March 5-11, 2014

Jazz combo to play Franklin

A Celtic concert featuring Bean Sidhe will be March 13 in Bryson City.

Too Human will perform as part of a celebration of Women’s History Month at 3 p.m.

Sunday, March 9, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

The Massachusetts-based three-piece jazz combo will play standards from the 1920s40s, paying tribute to the largely overlooked women musicians of the Big Band Era. It’s an upbeat, entertaining, and informative performance for audiences of all ages. In addition, Too Human core members Ellen and Roger Bruno have written songs for Cher, Pat Benatar, Anne Murray, Nancy Wilson, Teddy Pendergrass, and many others.

Admission is by donation.

828.524.3600 or 828.524.7683.

Celtic concert in Bryson City The sixth annual Celtic concert featuring Bean Sidhe will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday March 13, at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre in Bryson City.

Bean Sidhe (pronounced Banshee) plays traditional Celtic tunes and ballads using acoustic instruments covering a broad range of folk music from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. They were organized in 1998 and are the only Celtic band in Western North Carolina that has continued to play together for that long. Bean Sidhe formed out of a desire to study and explore the uplifting traditional music that came to America with their Celtic ancestors. The band’s purpose is to keep alive the musical heritage that influenced much of contemporary music, especially bluegrass and country. The band’s members are Amanda Burts (accordion/recorder), Karin Lyle (harp/violin), David Russell (guitar/bouzouki/tenor banjo/mandolin) and Ralph Wright-Murphy (vocals/bohdran/guitar).

Tickets are $6 per person.

828.488.8227 or 828.488.8103.

Local decisions make lending...

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Mountain Faith fiddler Summer McMahan will perform at a release party for her new solo album, “The Story of My Life,” at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva.

McMahan’s record includes guest appearances by Buddy Melton (Balsam Range), Corey Hensley (formerly of the Doyle Lawson band) and Katie Fortner.

The performance will be followed by another show by the Darren Nicholson Band at 7 p.m. Mandolinist for Balsam Range, Nicholson will also promote his recent solo album, “Things Left Undone,” at the event.

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce office in Sylva.

The event is sponsored by Champion Credit Union and The Sylva Herald.

828.586.2155 or www.mountainlovers.com.

www.ChampionCU.com

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On the beat

• Jesse Stephens and Jacob Jones & Friends will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva. The evening will feature an array of bluegrass, gospel and traditional mountain music selections. Free.

828.631.2646.

ALSO:

• Ashli Rose and Ginni McAfee will perform at the Maggie Valley Rendezvous. Rose will play on March 7, with McAfee, March 8. All shows are free. 828.926.0201 or www.maggievalleyhotel.com.

• Lacy Green, James Hammel, Joe Cruz and Pavel Wlosok will perform at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Green will play March 6, with Hammel, March 7; Cruz, March 8; and Wlosok, March 14. $10 minimum purchase on food, drink or merchandise. 828.452.6000.

• Lightning Bugs and Michael Pilgrim will perform as part of the Haywood County Public Libraries “Sunday Concert Series.”

Piano-pop group Lightning Bugs will play at the Canton Public Library, with Pilgrim at the Waynesville Public Library. Both shows start at 3 p.m. Free. www.haywoodarts.org.

March 8, with Humps & The Blackouts, March 15 and DJ SideThree, March 17.

828.456.4750.

• The “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory” will be at 7 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Canton Armory. The event includes mountain music, vintage country, clogging and dancing.

Featured performers will be Green Valley Cloggers and Appalachian Mountaineers, with live music from the Rick Morris Band.

The “pickin’” is every first and third Friday of the month. www.cantonnc.com.

• Phoenix, Joe Cruz and Brad Austin will play City Lights Café in Sylva. Phoenix will perform March 7, with Cruz, Mach 14, and Austin, March 15. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.587.2233 or www.citylightscafe.com.

• Dave Desmelik will perform at 7 p.m.

March 7 at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville. Free. 828.246.9230.

• Eddie Rose & Highway 40 will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at Smoky Mountain Roasters in Waynesville.

The show will be the official kickoff to the 2014 Plottfest season, with other events being announced at the event. The show is free, with donations being accepted at the door to benefit Head Start of Haywood and Jackson counties.

• ‘Round the Fire will be performing at 7 p.m. March 8 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. Free.

828.246.0602.

• Becky Hobbs, Benita Hill and Kacey Jones will perform as part of the Songwriters in the Round series at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Balsam Mountain Inn. $47 per person, which includes a buffet dinner. www.balsammountaininn.net.

• “Metal Night” with Amnesis, Humps & The Blackouts and DJ SideThree will hit the stage at the Water’n Hole Bar and Grill in Waynesville. “Metal Night” will be

• Eddie Rose & Highway 40 will be performing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at Bogart’s Restaurant and Tavern in Waynesville. 828.452.1313.

CALL NOW!

Authorized Agents Floyd & Susan Rogers

828-452-2243 susanr@haywoodins.com

Smoky Mountain News

• Paradise 56, My Highway, Dylan Riddle, Arnold Hill, and Buchanan Boys will be performing at O’Malley’s Pub and Grill in Sylva.

Paradise 56 will play March 7, with My Highway March 8, Riddle March 14, Hill March 15, and Buchanan Boys March 17.

828.631.0554.

230-45

A community music jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated

by Larry Barnett of Grampa’s Music in Bryson City. Larry starts by calling out a tune and its key signature and the group plays it together. Then, everyone in the circle gets a chance to choose a song for the group to play together.

The music jams will take place the first and third Thursdays from April to December. Free.

828.488.3030.

March 5-11, 2014

• Travers Brothers, Cutthroat Shamrock, American Gonzos, Dylan Riddle, Humps & The Blackouts, and Dustin Martin & The Ramblers will perform at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. The Travers Brothers will play March 6, with Cutthroat Shamrock, March 7; American Gonzos, March 8; Riddle, March 13; Humps & The Blackouts, March 14; and Martin, March 15. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

Bryson City community jam

arts & entertainment

• Legendary 1960s group Gary Puckett & The Union Gap will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 8, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The band garnered six consecutive gold records and Top Ten Billboard hits including “Young Girl,” “Woman Woman,” Lady Willpower” and “Over You.” Tickets are $18, $23 and $28. 866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

23

arts & entertainment

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On the street

GE T O F F T HE R A IL A ND TA K E A S E AT

arts & entertainment

‘Trail Magic’ party at Nantahala Brewing

YOU DON’ T HAVE TO WAI T FOR T HE TOUR NAMEN T...

PL AY POKER NOW The Trail Magic No. 7 Release Party at Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City will be March 14-15. The event includes performances by the Liz Nance Trio and Soldier’s Heart (pictured). Garret K. Woodward photo The Trail Magic No. 7 Release Party will be March 14-15 at Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.

On March 14, the release will be tapped at 6 p.m. followed by a bottle swap/beer geek party at 8 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring home brew, rare bottled beers and their favorite local craft brews to share with peers. The Liz Nance Trio will perform that evening at 8 p.m. On March 15, the brewery will reach back into

the recipe vault for a limited release of its 7th Trail Magic Ale, a Russian Imperial Stout aged in Jack Daniels barrels. The release will available for $15 a bottle at noon. Soldier’s Heart will hit the stage at 8 p.m. to continue the festivities.

A portion of proceeds of the bottle sales will be donated to the Appalachian Trail Ridgerunner Program via the Friends of the Smokies organization. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

®

WSOP CIRCUIT EVENT APRIL 3 – 14 ARE YOU I N ?

Chili cook-off in Highlands

• The films “Gravity,” “Cataloochee” (documentary) and “Dallas Buyers Club” will be screened at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. “Gravity” will be shown March 7-8, “Cataloochee,” March 9, and “Dallas Buyers Club,” March 14-15. Screenings are at 7:45 p.m. Friday and 5 and 7:45 p.m.

Saturday. “Cataloochee” will be shown at 5 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

ALSO:

• The Harlem Ambassadors will hit the basketball court at 7 p.m. March 11 in the Franklin High School gymnasium. The Ambassadors are a Harlem Globetrotter-style team. Tickets available at the door or at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce. 828.524.3161.

WSOP.com For more information visit HarrahsCherokee.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

The Highlands Annual Chili Cook-off will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Highlands Community Building.

There will be live music, dancing and, of course, great chili, salsa and cornbread to sample. Prizes will be $100 or more in value and will go to Best All Round Table Decorations, Most Unique Chili, Most Traditional, and Hottest. There will also be prizes for Best Salsa and Cornbread.

Tickets are $20 at the door.

828.526.2112 or visitor@highlandschamber.org.

March 5-11, 2014

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arts & entertainment

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March 5-11, 2014

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Smoky Mountain News

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

27

Distilling the life of blues legend Robert Johnson have always been fascinated by the folklore attending the too-short life of Robert Johnson, “King of the Delta Blues Singers.”

For me, he was another doomed genius like James Dean, John Keats and Hank Williams — men who flashed across the night sky like the momentary radiance of a shooting star and then they were gone forever.

Robert Johnson was 27 when he was either poisoned, shot or stabbed to death near Greenwood, Miss.

Documents are scant and accounts of his life are mostly oral, gleaned from the memory of aging friends (mostly musicians) with colorful names like Son House, Muddy Waters Writer and Johnny Shines.

Of course, everyone repeats the legend about Robert’s midnight meeting with the devil at the crossroads (highways 61 and 9) just outside Greenwood in a community called Three Forks. I found a half dozen variations of his meeting with Satan on YouTube.

I especially like the scene in “Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou” in which George Clooney and his cohorts pick up a black man with a guitar at a lonely Mississippi crossroads (circa 1930). Robert introduces himself as “Tommy Johnson” (something he did frequently, for he admired his famous relative.) Robert tells Clooney that he has just completed his bargain with Satan. When asked if the devil was red, scaled and had a tail, Robert says, “Oh, no, sir.

He is just as white as you folks.” He adds, that in exchange for his soul, the devil told him that he would teach Robert to play the guitar “real good.” The devil accomplished this feat by simply taking Robert’s guitar, tuning it and handing it back to him.

In this compact little book, Peter Guralnick takes the material in a dozen biographies, blues histories, and oral interviews and distills this information into what could be called the essence of what we know about Johnson.

Gary Carden

I

Born illegitimate to Julia Majors Dobbs, Johnson.

Robert was her eleventh child. Reared in Noted blues singers all commented on poverty, Robert lived with his mother and Robert’s ability to charm women. As his lyrics stepfather in an atmosphere of constant tendemonstrate, his songs were often bold, sexual sion. When Robert displayed an early interest invitations to the women. “You better come on in music and began to show up at dances and in my kitchen,” he sang, “It’s going to be rainballs where he played the jews harp and harin’ outdoors.” Son House and Muddy Waters monica, his stepfather objected, telling the remember that Johnson sang this song in a youth that he was “playing the devil’s music.” kind of “sexual growl.” Even in this age of Eventually, Robert left home and began a license, some of Robert’s song lyrics border on “rambling life” in which he lived with a multithe offensive. “You can squeeze my lemon, til tude of relatives. Friends from this part of his the juice runs down my leg,” he sings in life invariably “Traveling Riverside Blues.” commented on To me, these lyrics add considhis character: erable credence to the story about genial, generan irate husband who decided to ous, a bit poison this smooth, nattily“reserved” or dressed blues man. According to shy, and deterthe story, the stricken Johnson mined to be a died in agony, “crawling on the musician. Most floor and howling like a dog.” of Robert’s Despite a reputation that friends comspread throughout the Mississippi ment on his Delta, we would probably know rapid success, nothing about Johnson today if it describing how had not been for a folklorist Robert went named Mack McCormick who from a passable began doing research some 30 guitar player to years after Johnson’s death. In an astonishingly some instances, he tracked major adept musician sources like Son House and in a very short Muddy Waters to Chicago and St. time.

Louis, and located an impressive They also number of women who rememSearching for Robert Johnson by Peter recall that by Guralnick. Penguin Group, 1998. 85 pages. bered Johnson as a man who was the time Robert not at ease around white people was 17, he had and was given to abrupt deparbeen married, widowed (his first wife died in tures. Time and time again, friends rememchildbirth) and married again. In the company bered that he would be with his friends, laughof older, accomplished musicians, he began ing and talking, and he would suddenly rise traveling as far afield as Ohio and Missouri. He and walk out the door. Gone. No farewells. It also developed an amazing number of “lady might be months or years before he returned. friends” who provided him with food and A second event that saved Robert Johnson board. It wasn’t long before he made some from obscurity was a recording engineer who enemies because of his “way with the ladies.” managed to get Robert into a studio. H.C. As late as 1970, when Johnson had been dead Speir was a white man who ran a music store for almost 40 years, friends recalled the in Jackson, Miss. Johnson heard about Speir reports of men who carried grudges because and knew that he had made a number of their wives and girlfriends took up with Mississippi musicians famous. When Speir

Bartlett releases debut historical novel Author Marie Bartlett will read from her historical novel, Pearl, MD, at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville.

Set in Asheville during the 1880s, the book tells the story of a strong-willed woman doctor who tries to set up a practice in a small mountain town despite a less than friendly reception. Bartlett has focused on creative non-fiction as a freelance writer for 25 years. Pearl, MD is her first novel.

Free. 828.456.6000 or www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

B.J. Jones coming to City Lights Folklorist and storyteller B.J. Jones will give a presentation at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Jones will offer up the tall tales and sweeping historical and spiritual perspectives told within the pages of his two novels, Do Angels Have Big Ears? and The Glory Door. Jones spent many years in advertising and was a senior vice president and executive creative director of J. Walter Thompson in Chicago. He is most remembered for the Oscar Mayer commercial featuring a boy singing, “My bologna has a first name and it’s O-S-C-A-R,” which went on to become the most watched commercial in the history of television.

Free. 828.586.9499.

head Robert play he immediately sent him to a talent scout named Ernie Oertle. In turn, Oertle took Robert to San Antonio to be recorded.

It was a memorable trip with Johnson playing in juke joints and dance clubs all the way.

In San Antonio, he was an astonishing hit, but it was also noted that he had some “eccentricities.” He refused to play with a group of Mexican musicians and developed a habit of turning his back to other performers so they could not see how he chorded his guitar. The recording engineers said he recorded all of his famous songs (29) in this week-long session, although folklorist McCormick says there is at least one original song that has not been accounted for.

For a brief period, Robert had everything he had ever wanted. He loved expensive clothes and they are in evidence in the few photographs that exist. He was sought after and was even contracted to appear in Carnegie Hall in a concert which was advertised to take place on Dec. 23, 1938.

Robert didn’t live to make that show. What is left is not so much a mystery as a void. Mack McCormick has been writing the definitive biography for 40 years, called The Biography of a Phantom. He recently announced that it would never be published and there is considerable speculation as to why. McCormick has always been forthright in interviews. A popular explanation is that McCormick has some valuable material that is worth a great deal of money. Should he publish this material, he would be immediately sued by a host of folks who have become wealthy by acquiring the rights to any and all Robert Johnson material.

I am convinced that we will never know one singular piece of information.

All of the musicians who knew him invariably commented on the fact that Robert and his music had a “haunted” quality and that Robert was “driven.” By what? Why is the subject matter of so much of his music concern demons and hell-hounds? Maybe you don’t need to strike a bargain at a midnight crossroads.

Maybe you can make that bargain in your own heart. I think Robert Johnson did that.

ABC yoga comes to Jackson bookstore Enjoy a morning of ABC yoga on Saturday, March 8, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Following story time, youngsters are invited to a fun children’s yoga session from 11:30 to 11:50 a.m.

Parents are welcome to participate. Adult Gentle Yoga follows from noon to 1 p.m. BYOM (Bring Your Own Mat or Blanket). Hot tea will be provided following the yoga session.

Free, but donations welcome. All donations will go to the local Reading Rover program, a mobile lending library for area youth.

828.586.9499.

28

FROM THE GROUND UP

Hops growing on the minds of Appalachian agriculture

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER eidi Dunkelberg is determined to make hops synonymous with Western North Carolina.

“I’ve got to figure it out,” she said. “There’s just got to be some way, there’s just got to be.”

Dunkelberg owns the Coffee Cup Café in Clyde, but she also runs H&K Hops Farm in Beaverdam. Coming into her sixth year of growing hops — a key ingredient in craft beer — she’s pushing the boundaries and expectations of someone being able to actually produce hops in this mountainous region.

“We’ve just got to keep moving forward,” she said. “We need to keep getting more people involved, keep working with local brewers, doing the right thing, which is quality over quantity.”

Dunkelberg isn’t alone in her quest. Amid the recent craft beer explosion in Western North Carolina, where dozens of breweries have seemingly emerged on every Asheville street and in all the region’s small towns, the area is now an epicenter for the industry. That sudden influx of business and interest has also shifted the need into overdrive for hops,

H

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

grains, malts and other materials used in the brewing process.

“I think what plays in our favor here for hops is the fact of our market. We’ve got a large number of breweries here,” said Dr. Jeanine M. Davis, associate professor and extension specialist for the Department of Horticultural Science at N.C. State University, which currently runs the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center in Mills River.

Aside from Asheville being named “Beer City USA,” a growing need for local ingredients and producers has also popped up. Everything from local honey and apples are being used in seasonal and specialty craft beer batches. And with that, comes a need for local hops as an ingredient for these unique projects. Brewers want to be able to produce and sell a craft beer as unique and around-the-corner-fresh as the WNC farmers themselves.

“I’ve spent years doing research, trying to find out more about commercializing my hops,” Dunkelberg said. “People are looking towards me for the information. I will show them how I’ve been growing hops and how they too can do it themselves.”

A homebrewer for the better part of the last decade, Dunkelberg has been experimenting with growing hops for about half that time. On her eight-acre farm, she takes large cattle fence panels (50 inches wide by 16 feet long) and leans them against a 12-foot post vertically. Each of her 20 panels has 10 rungs, with each rung overtaken by one hop bine (they’re named that because they climb but don’t have the tendrils that vines do).

“They grow clockwise towards the sun,” Dunkelberg said. “They come right up and roll up the panels, sometimes growing a foot a day.”

Hops need approximately 15 or more hours of daylight and can grow between 35 and 55 degrees latitude, with Western North Carolina hovering right above the 35 degree mark. That slim latitude difference equates to a smaller yield of hops compared to the massive operations farther up in the Pacific Northwest.

The hop bines are each buried within large dirt mounds placed in front of each panel.

The mound allows water to soak in but not drown the plant as it trickles down to the ground. Hop plants are perennials, which allows them to survive and remain dormant throughout the winter until spring arrives.

With the growing season beginning in March, Dunkelberg lets the plants grow wild until the end of April, when she cuts them down so that they can restart their growth period that will correlate ideally with the harvesting period from mid- to late-August. The hops grow vertically until around the summer solstice (June 21), only to then spend the following months sprouting their cone-shaped buds.

“Cutting them down pushes the harvest season ahead because you don’t want to be picking hops in July when you haven’t maximized your growing season,” she said.

Once the hops are collected, they must be dried in a space with constant heat ranging from 100 to 120 degrees for upwards of 24 hours and then packaged correctly thereafter.

It is a tight timeline, with the simplest of mistakes or temperature drops able to destroy an

Want to know more?

A seminar “Hops for Business, A Local Approach to a Nationwide Phenomenon,” will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, in the Student Center Auditorium at Haywood Community College in Clyde.

The seminar will provide an overview of the hops growing business and provide an excellent networking opportunity for local hops growers and potential growers. Attendees will explore the seasonal processes of hop cultivation and marketing strategies for the developing hops industry. Hops growers will discuss tools and information to optimize efforts and harvest.

Heidi Dunkelberg of H&K Hops Farm will be the presenter. Dunkelberg has been growing hops in the Beaverdam community of Canton for five years. www.haywood.edu.

entire harvest.

“Hop farming is hard as hell,” Dunkelberg said. “When the hops are ready, they’re ready.

They don’t care if you worked a full day beforehand. But, it keeps me moving, keeps me in the dirt, keeps me close to nature, keeps me in the real stuff.”

DRINK IT UP At Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville, owner/brewer Clark Williams is all for hops grown locally.

“I would use local hops every chance I got — in a heartbeat,” he said. “I’d buy them all and use them. I hope others will grow them, because the industry will gobble them up.”

In recent years, Frog Level created a brew using materials from Winding River Hops in Clyde. According to Williams, that farm didn’t appear to have planted any new crops. Last month, Frog Level released a pale ale, “Frog P,” which included hops from H&K. Williams worked closely with Dunkelberg in using her Cascade variety of hops — the most popular and adaptable strain in the craft beer industry. For the 150 gallons of “Frog P” brewed, Williams estimated he used

F

“I’ve spent years doing research, trying to find out more about commercializing my hops.

People are looking towards me for the information. I will show them how I’ve been growing hops and how they too can do it themselves.”

— Heidi Dunkelberg

“It’s Haywood County hops grown in Haywood County soil. It’s a total woodsy flavor, with a real earthy taste to it. I couldn’t have planned on anything better coming out of that beer — it was a great beer.”

outdoors

— Clark Williams, Frog Level Brewing

switch crops.”

Up at Tipping Point Brewing in downtown Waynesville, co-owner Jon Bowman said although the business isn’t currently using local hops, plans are in the works to make that notion a reality.

“Yes, we will at some point definitely do a project with local hops, we just haven’t had the right beer or specialty brew come up,” he said. “If we could use local hops and grain for all of our beer, we would. It’s just not out there yet.”

HOMEGROWN IN HAYWOOD

FINDING A NICHE So, beyond all of the optimism, research and booming craft beer industry, is growing hops in Haywood County and beyond a viable option for the region?

“Hundreds of people are attempting to grow hops throughout the state at varying levels of success,” said Kelly Gaskill, a technician at the extension center. “[It’s] still a very young industry, and we have a long way to go before understanding whether or not growing this crop will be successful or profitable.”

The extension center is entering its fourth year of growing a research hop yard

variety trial in Mills River. The facility is used for agriculture research, as well as an outlet to local farmers and growers looking for new and innovative ways to yield the best produce possible.

“This research has shown clear differences in the 12 [hops] varieties [we tested], and we’ve identified the major pests associated with growing hops in Western North Carolina, including the control of downy mildew, two-spotted spider mites, and Japanese beetles,” Gaskill said.

Dr. Jeanine M. Davis of the extension center also noted that growing hops isn’t an easy business. Rather, it’s one that is laborintensive with small profit margins, if any, at least for the first few years of operation.

“Most people trying hops are people who haven’t been farmers before or specialize in high-intensity horticultural crops,” she said. “It’s a long-term commitment and may take years to actually make money doing it. But, we’re always looking for new ways to farm around here and find ways to help people make a living farming.”

The local interest is there, however, and spreading. Dunkelberg held a hops workshop (“The Business of Growing Hops”) at HCC last year to a room of over 70 people, all eager to learn more about the crop and how they could apply it to their own land and practices. Another workshop (“Hops for Business, A Local Approach to a Nationwide Phenomenon”) will be held by Dunkelberg on March 18 at the school.

Courses on hops are also being held at Asheville-Buncombe Tech.

“There’s so much interest in hop growing right now,” Gaskill noted. “My advice to interested growers is to start small and visit as many established hops yards as possible, to see what is working or not working, and go from there. Hops are fun to work with, they’re unique and appealing, but this crop is also very challenging and labor-intensive.”

Regardless of whether or not hops will become a mainstay in Western North Carolina agriculture, Dunkelberg remains on the front lines, ready and willing to share her passion as she continues her education and pursuit of quality hops from her own backyard. After sending away a sample of her crop last year to Appalachian State University’s fermentation site, the laboratory sent her back the results — “very good, quality hops,” with her alpha, beta and moisture content at the same quality levels as commercial grade hops.

“Is there a market for locally grown hops? I think so,” Dunkelberg said. “I’ll never be able to grow enough hops to supply a large company like Sierra Nevada, but you have all of these smaller breweries here that we can supply now — quality hops make quality beer.”

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Smoky Mountain News

Growing hops is not necessarily a new thing for Haywood County. Beyond the horticulture enthusiasts and homebrewers who may plant a couple lines of hops each year, there are other operations like H&K that have popped up. One of the initial farms was Winding River. Run by Scott Grahl and Stephanie Willis, the farm came to fruition in 2009 through a grant from the Tobacco Trust Fund — an organization aimed at converting former tobacco farms into other avenues of alternative crops and sustainable agriculture.

“Tobacco has been an industry here for years, but this is another way to use the land because the hops industry is definitely paying more than what is paid for tobacco or tomatoes,” said Clark Williams, owner/brewer at Frog Level. “It’s a demand that’s definitely not going away.”

Currently, the price per pound of hops hovers around $15, with each plant yielding about two to four pounds of wet hops. The Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center in Mills River estimates 1,000 plants can be grown per acre, with a potential gross return nearing $30,000.

“It’s difficult to compare established tobacco production with the new hops production in terms of income, because everyone is still getting established with hops, have not received economically viable levels yet, haven’t mechanized, etcetera,” said Dr. Jeanine M. Davis of the extension center.

“But, there are lots of ifs and buts included [in these figures]. And, those are gross returns. There is a lot of labor involved in growing hops, so net returns will be much

less. As you can see, the potential is there.”

Those figures combined with an evergrowing regional interest in hops, has only fueled the pursuits of Nick McCracken, coowner of Mountain Hop Farm in Iron Duff.

“I’ve always been fond of growing things. I was raised growing tobacco,” he said. “[Even though] I started late, I felt there was a niche for locally grown hops that brewers could use.”

McCracken got in contact with Dunkelberg through the Small Business Center at Haywood Community College.

From there, the duo collaborated and traded notes of the best methods and techniques to produce the finest hops Western North Carolina soil could yield.

“This past year’s rainfall was a blessing and a curse,” he said. “We had bines well over 20 feet tall, but we also saw a lot of downy mildew appear. Another factor is our temperature. Being in the mountains, it helps.”

And though most commercial hops are grown in the Pacific Northwest, McCracken feels Southern Appalachia can find its rightful place in the market.

“When compared to the Pacific Northwest, we receive more daylight than they do,” he said. “Plants in the northwest will have a longer growing season than we will. [But], steps such as early pruning can help offset this disadvantage. We have to learn how to maximize our yields in order to be competitive.”

While the local hop farms and curious gardeners alike tweak their methods, the interest will grow from not only horticulturists, but also brewers and craft beer enthusiasts, too.

“We believe the future of hops in Haywood County is bright,” McCracken said. “It’s by no means a slam dunk. We have to continue to work hard to provide breweries with the highest-quality ingredients they can find — that’s what will set their craft beers apart from the rest and keep them coming back to our farms.”

March 5-11, 2014

upwards of eight pounds of Dunkelberg’s hops.

“It’s Haywood County hops grown in Haywood County soil,” he said. “It’s a total woodsy flavor, with a real earthy taste to it.

I couldn’t have planned on anything better coming out of that beer — it was a great beer.”

Whether it is a brewery or restaurant, Williams noted that any time a local business uses local ingredients, everybody wins.

“We’re all in this together, where together we succeed and individually we will fail,” he said.

Across town at BearWaters Brewing, owner/brewer Kevin Sandefur has used Haywood County hops twice. In 2012, he became the first Haywood brewery to incorporate local hops into a batch. The hops from H&K were used in their centennial harvest ale. Sandefur also used his own hops (grown in the garden at the brewery) for another seasonal brew last fall. As well, the brewery currently has plans to do a local hop batch for 2014.

“For the most part, hops do really well here, but they just don’t have the ‘oomph’ that West Coast hops have,” he said. “It’s something the growers will have to work towards, with soil pH and mineral contents getting better, and the main issue of getting a processor to come in to do the drying and processing of the hops.”

Sandefur is optimistic that with such a robust craft beer infrastructure in Western North Carolina, it’s only a matter of time before regional growers and brewers will reach the needed levels of quality local hops to meet certain production demands.

“A majority of materials needed are made and grown here,” he said. “In the brewing industry, we’re getting closer everyday to where we’ll have a true local product with that total connection to the local organic movement.”

When questioned about a possible hops shortage with the recent national craft beer explosion and the idea of supply not meeting demand, Sandefur definitely is aware of the growing need for hops on a consistent basis.

“We’re approaching pre-Prohibition numbers of breweries operating, but the number of hop growers in this country has never been lower, so that’s a bad ratio to have these days,” he said. “Suppliers are really struggling to keep up. Many times I’ve called them and they’ve ran out of things I needed. If you’re not under contract, you’re not guaranteed anything — there’s a lot of scrambling in the marketplace to grab any hops available.”

Sandefur also pointed to the recent legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado, two of the largest hop growing states in America. Add in the fact that marijuana and hops are in the same plant family, and you have the possibility of hop farmers switching over to the more profitable marijuana crop.

“The plants are in the same family, so conditions will be perfect for growing marijuana,” he said. “You have to consider then that growers out there might start scratching their heads, wondering if they should

outdoors

UNC Asheville hosts Organic Growers School

Smoky Mountain News

March 5-11, 2014

Park seeks volunteer citizen scientists

30

Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers need volunteers to help track nature’s calendar.

Park rangers are recruiting volunteers willing to adopt a tree-monitoring plot on the North Carolina side of the park. A tree phenology monitoring training will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 8, at the old Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee.

After training, volunteers will be assigned to a phenology plot to collect data throughout the growing season. Plots are located near parking areas in Deep Creek, Fontana, Oconaluftee, Purchase Knob, Cataloochee, Clingmans Dome, Newfound Gap and Davenport Gap. Information collected by volunteers will go into a national database that helps answer questions such as “Was spring early this year?” or “When will the fall colors peak?” For more information, contact Autumn Amici at 828.497.1945 or autumn_amici@partner.nps.gov.

The 21st annual Organic Growers School for Gardeners and Farmers will be held, March 8-9 at the University of North Carolina, Asheville.

This weekend of workshops, trade show, seed exchange, silent auction and children’s program is for beginning gardeners to advanced commercial growers. The event is open to the public and provides practical, region-appropriate organic growing and permaculture workshops. This year’s school offers 70 sessions each day with topics ranging from beginning gardening to commercial farming to urban homesteading.

The cost for the all-day conference is $60 on Saturday and $55 on Sunday.

Registration for the Children’s Program is $30. Registration for the half-day hands-on workshops and cooking classes is an additional $5 per workshop and requires preregistration.

Register online at www.organicgrowersschool.org or by phone at 828.342.1849.

Learn to graft trees The Macon County Center of the N.C. Cooperative Extension will hold a grafting workshop at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Macon County Environmental Resource Center in Franklin.

This hands-on class will teach grafting principles and techniques, and participants will graft apple rootstocks with available varieties. Each participant will leave with three grafted apples and the ability to graft apples and other plants. The number of participants is limited.

Pre-registration is required. A materials fee of $10 is due at registration. Register at the Macon County Cooperative Extension Center or call 828.349.2046.

Clean water, clean energy documentary “Gasland,” a documentary about fracking and the gas industry, will be shown at 4 and 7 p.m. March 12 in the meeting room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Made by Josh Fox, “Gasland” is a documentary that declares the gas industry’s portrayal of natural gas as a clean and safe alternative to oil is a myth. The film makes the case that fractured wells inevitably leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families and endangering the earth’s climate with the potent greenhouse gas methane.

The movie showing is co-sponsored by the Eco Forums of Franklin and Clean Water for North Carolina. A representative from Clean Water for North Carolina will give a brief presentation before each movie

showing. For more information about CWFNC visit www.cwfnc.org or e-mail sally@cwfnc.org. www.gaslandthemovie.com.

Master gardener to open Giving Garden programs in Haywood The first program to benefit a community garden whose food will be donated to a local food pantry will be held at 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11, in the meeting room of the Canton library.

The Giving Garden is a raised-bed vegetable garden behind the Haywood County Public Library in Canton that will be used to teach various aspects of gardening. All produce harvested will be donated to The Community Kitchen.

Guest speaker at the March 11 program is Haywood County Cooperative Extension Agent and Master Gardener Tim Mathews, who will talk about the Giving Garden and crop selection. Other programs offered throughout the summer will be seed starting, square-foot gardening, vertical gardening, and composting.

For more information on the Giving Garden or to volunteer, contact Canton library Manager Mannie Crone at mcrone@haywoodnc.net or 828.648.2924. www.haywoodlibrary.org.

Vote on horse referendum set for March 11 at county extension offices North Carolina horse owners will vote Tuesday, March 11, on whether to extend for three years the $2 per ton assessment being paid by manufacturers of horse feed sold in the state to promote the horse industry.

Horse owners may visit or phone the County Extension Center and request a ballot and absentee registration form. These must be turned in to the extension office by March 11. Rob Hawk, Jackson County extension director, said Jackson County horse owners can vote from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jackson County Extension Center.

For additional information, send an email to suegray@nchorsecouncil.com or call 919.854.1990 or 800.529.9206.

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Saddle Up Saturday’s

SYLVA, NC 3/22/14 9 am • Pinnacle Park • Sylva 7 mile trail race 2700’+ elevation gain All proceeds benefit The Community Table of Sylva Visit us on facebook or email barwatt@hotmail.com for info Logo courtesy of SCC Graphic Design Students

All participants who finish in 101 minutes or less will receive this belt buckle

A beginner group lesson for kids 7-14. Instruction on safety, grooming and tacking up and a 30 minute riding lesson.

Students will learn basic position, walking, turning and stopping.

Lessons offered on select Saturdays | Call for dates | $25

Mountain Dell Equestrian (828)452-9330 Learn More & Register at: www.MountainDellEquestrian.com

Classic hikes of the Smokies kicks off outdoors

Friends of the Smokies’ Little Cataloochee Baptist first Classic Hike of the year Church. Sam Hobbs photo will be to Little Cataloochee on Tuesday, March 11.

Join renowned outdoor author and hiking expert Danny Bernstein on this easy, 6.1-mile hike on Little Cataloochee Trail in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Each 2014 Classic Hike will highlight a park program that Friends of the Smokies has supported.

Hikers will visit Hannah Cabin, Cook Cabin and Little donations benefit the Smokies Trails Cataloochee Baptist Church along the trail.

Forever program.

The Classic Hike is $10 for current Meeting locations for the hike will be in Friends of the Smokies members and $35 Asheville and Waynesville. To register for for non-members, who will receive a comthis Classic Hike of the Smokies, contact plimentary membership. Members who outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or bring a friend hike for free. All registration call 828.452.0720.

Left loop of Tsali Trail system reopened The left loop of the Tsali Trail system has been reopened.

Last month, the U.S. Forest Service closed the trail because of a slide along the trail. Located near Fontana Lake, Tsali Recreation Area is nationally known for its 42-mile trail system. The fourloop network is open to hikers and horses, but the system is best known as a challenging mountain bike course.

The Nantahala Racing Club Glacier Breaker is set for March 8-9 at the Nantahala Bridge Gates at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC).

The Glacier Breaker is the season-opener for both wildwater and slalom competition in the United States. Late registration for Saturday’s slalom and wildwater competition will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. at NOC’s River’s End Restaurant, followed by a competitors meeting at 10:30 a.m. Slalom races start at 11:30 a.m. at the Nantahala Bridge Gates and the Wildwater Sprint at 11:30 a.m. at Donnie Dutton Park.

Registration for Sunday’s wildwater competition will be from 9 to 10 a.m.

Sunday, March 9, at River’s End Restaurant, followed by a competitor’s meeting at 10:30 a.m. Registration for Sunday’s Wildwater Classic Start will be at 11:30 a.m. at Ledge’s Rapid. Awards ceremonies will be held each day following the competition.

Registration for the 2014 Glacier Breaker is $20 for NRC members and $30 for nonmembers for both slalom and wildwater. A complete schedule of events and downloadable registration forms are at www.noc.com/nrcevents. The Glacier Breaker is hosted by the Nantahala Racing Club, a local nonprofit organization sponsored by the NOC and dedicated to the development of competitive whitewater athletes in both slalom and wildwater disciplines.

The U.S. Forest Service plans to conduct a series of prescribed burns over the next three to six weeks on about 3,500 acres of the Nantahala Ranger District in the Nantahala National Forest.

The prescribed burn will take place in the following areas: ■ Slip Off area, 190 acres, Swain County.

■ Rattlesnake Knob area, 248 acres, Macon County.

■ Alarka Laurel area, 697 acres, Swain County.

■ Dirty John area, 830 acres, Macon County.

■ Steeltrap Knob area, 872 acres, Macon County.

■ Pine Mtn. area, 704 acres, Macon County.

The dates for each burn will be announced as they are decided and weather permits.

The prescribed burns will reduce the amount of fuel on the forest floor, preventing catastrophic wildfire and reducing risks to nearby communities, said forestry officials. www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/home

Smoky Mountain News

Burns prescribed for Nantahala National Forest

March 5-11, 2014

Whitewater season opens with NOC’s Glacier Breaker

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WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Franklin Open Forum, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, Rathskeller Coffee Hays & Pub, 58 Stewart St., Franklin.

Topic to be announced. Dialog not debate. Franklin Open Forum is a moderated discussion group, meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. 371.1020.

• An Evening with Gloria Steinem, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6, Western Carolina University, John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center. $15 for non-WCU students, $5 for a limited number of student tickets.

227.2479 or go online to bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• Trimont Christian Academy annual Consignment Show, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Trimont Christian Academy, 98 Promise Lane, Franklin. To rent a booth, call 369.6756 or Facebook Trimont Christian Academy 2014 Consignment Sale.

• REACH of Haywood, training on domestic violence/sexual assault/elder abuse prevention, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8, 627 N. Main St., Waynesville. Lunch provided. 456.7898 to pre-register.

Ask for Buffy.

• Macon County Horse Association annual Coggins Clinic, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Macon County Fairgrounds. Membership not required. 479.3685.

• Girl Scout cookies and ice cream, 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Jack the Dipper Ice Cream Parlor, 170 East Sylva Shopping Center Sylva. Jack the Dipper will donate 10 percent of the day’s proceeds to local Girl Scouts. 508.6615, or georgiastrother@yahoo.com.

• Drugs In Our Midst, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, New Beginning Baptist Church, 7979 Carolina Boulevard, Clyde.

• The HCTDA Marketing Committee, 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, Native American Room of the Bethea Welcome Center, Lake Junaluska.

• The 28751 (Maggie Valley) 1% Subcommittee, 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, Maggie Valley Club, to review the 1% TDA grant applications for 2014/2015.

• The 28745 (Lake Junaluska) 1% Subcommittee, 9 a.m. Friday, March 7, Bethea Welcome Center, Lake Junaluska, to review and make recommendations on the 1% TDA grant applications for 2014/2015.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Southwestern Community College Job Fair, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, SCC Jackson Campus, Burrell Building, 447 College Drive, Sylva. Snow date, March 27. More than 50 employers from throughout the region. Patty Kirkley, 339.4212; www.southwesterncc.edu • Southwestern Community College cosmetology students are offering haircuts, manicures and nail tech services from 8 to 11 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis, on Tuesdays through Thursdays at SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva. 339.4238, southwesterncc.edu or rmccall@southwesterncc.edu.

• Free tax preparation assistance available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Friday and Monday, at the Jackson County Senior Center, Sylva and from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. by appointment every Tuesday at the Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. 586.2016 or 293.0074.

• Jackson County needs volunteers to provide free basic tax forms preparation and counseling for individuals.

No previous tax preparation experience is required.

Training provided. Donald Selzer, 293.0074.

• Ribbon cutting, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, fourth floor, MedWest Haywood, to celebrate the newly remodeled Women’s Unit and Progressive Care Unit.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Frybread Lunch, Friday, March 7, Swain County Rescue Squad Building on Bryson Walk. Proceeds from the Lunch will go to the 20th annual Swain County Heritage Festival. 11 a.m. Free delivery. 488.9536 or 226.2512.

BLOOD DRIVES Jackson • MedWest Harris Sylva Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, March 13, 68 Hospital Drive, Sylva. www.redcrossblood.org, keyword: Harris or call 800.RedCross.

Haywood

• The 28716 (Canton) 1% Subcommittee, 10 a.m.

Monday, March 10, Papertown Grill to make recommendations on the 1% Haywood tourism development authority grant applications.

• Junaluska Fire Department Blood Drive, 2 to 6:30 p.m.

Monday, March 10, 90 Old Clyde Road, Lake Junaluska.

Larry, 456.9934 or the American Red Cross at 800.733.2767.

• Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table , 7 p.m.

Monday, March 10, Room #220, Jury Room, Jackson County Justice Center. Dinner with the speaker, Randy Buchman, 5 p.m. at Bogart’s in Sylva. Topic is “Second Manasses - The Iron Brigade.” 586.6078.

• Crabtree United Methodist Church Blood Drive, 7:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 8, 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde. David Woody, 627.3666.

• The 28751 (Maggie Valley) 1% Subcommittee, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11, Maggie Valley Club to make recommendations on the 1% TDA grant applications for 2014/2015.

• Dillsboro 125 Years, 4:30 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, Dillsboro Town Hall. Refreshments served. RSVP by March 5, 586.1439 or dillsboro@jackson.main.nec.us.

• The 28785/28786 (Waynesville) 1% Subcommittee, 4 p.m. Thursday, March 13, Oak Hill on Love Lane to review the 1% TDA grant applications for 2014/2015.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION

• Senior Resource Center Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 800.733.2767.

Macon • Angel Medical Center Blood Drive, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday, March 7, 120 Riverview St., Franklin. Barbara Hall, 369.4166 or www.redcrossblood.org, keyword: Angel

RECREATION & FITNESS • Adult Coed Indoor Soccer pickup games, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesdays, through March 26, Old Hazelwood Gym, 112 Virginia Ave., Waynesville. 452.6789 or email drtaylor@haywoodnc.net.

• iPad Users Group, 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, JCPL. • Wedding Expo and Fashion Show, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Sawyer Family Farmstead, Glenville, www.TheBlueRidgeBride.com.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Register now for Spring Youth Tennis Lessons in Jackson County. Lessons run Tuesdays and Saturdays,

April 29-May 24, at Mark Watson Park, Sylva. $40.

Register at Jackson County Recreation Center. No phone registration.

• Registration underway for high performance volleyball clinics, March 20-May 15, Recreation Center in Cullowhee. For girls in 5th - 8th grades. Limited to 20 in each class. $50.

• Spring Break Camp, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 2125, Waynesville Recreation. For children in kindergarten through sixth grade. 30 spots available. Registration deadline, 5 p.m. Monday, April 7. $90 per person. Save $10 by paying on or before March 30. 456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

Literary (children) • Mary Ann’s Book Club, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Homework Help, 3 p.m. Thursday, March 6, JCPL. • Family Night: Celebrating Seuss, 6 p.m. Thursday, March 6, JCPL. • Children’s Story time: The Cat in the Hat, 11 a.m.

Friday, March 7, JCPL. • Children’s Story time: The Thinks You Can Think, 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 7, JCPL. • Children’s Story time: Seussisms, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 8, JCPL.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings Saturday, March 15, Community Building on Hwy 441 in Franklin. Registration at 1 p.m. www.macongop.com.

• Haywood County Republican Party annual Convention and Precinct Meetings, 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, Canton Armory, 71 Penland St., Canton. www.haywoodncgop.org, 506.0939.

Others • OccupyWNC, General Assembly, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 11, Room 246, Jackson County Justice Center, Sylva. 743.9747, www.occupywnc.org/ • Libertarian Party meeting, 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, Organic Beans, 3676 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

• Family story time: Farms, 10 a.m. Monday, March 10, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Family story time: Farms, 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Adventure Club: Homemade Drums, 3:30 to 4:15 p.m.

Tuesday, March 11, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Culture Club: Africa – Kenya and the Sudan, 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Mary Ann’s Book Club, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Lego Club (all ages), 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

• Children’s Story time: Rotary Readers, 11 a.m.

Monday, March 10, JCPL. • Homework Help, 3 p.m. Monday, March 10, JCPL. • Children’s Story time: Wild Animals, 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, JCPL. • Homework Help, 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, JCPL.

ECA EVENTS • Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009. This month’s meetings include: • 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 6 – Spring Planting and Plant Exchange, Potpourri ECA, Community Service Center Conference Room, Sylva.

• noon Thursday, March 13 – Yo-Yo’s, Lunch and Learn ECA, noon, Community Service Center Conference Room, Sylva.

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOP • Macon County Republican Party executive board meeting, 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, Community Building on Hwy 441 in Franklin.

• Macon County Republican Party 2014 Convention

A&E ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS • Pottery from the private collection of Joan Byrd and George Rector will be on display through Friday, May 9, at the Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University.

An artist’s talk and reception is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, March 20. 227.3591.

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • Haywood County quilter, Joyce Brunsvold, will give a quilting demonstration from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 8 ,at Gallery 86, 86 N. Main St., Waynesville, as part of the Local Flavors exhibition.

• Poster contest for professional and amateur artists in Jackson and Macon counties in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Deadline to enter is Wednesday, April 23. Mail drawings to Friends of the Library, Attn: Graceann Smith, P.O. Box 2628, Cashiers, NC 28717, or take them to the library, 249 Frank Allen Road in Cashiers. Digital entries should be sent to gws39@hotmail.com.

743.8871.

DANCE • Second Sunday Community Dance, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Jackson County Library Complex in Sylva. Ron Arps will call; music by Out of the Woodwork. Potluck follows at 5 p.m. Bring a covered dish, plate, cup and cutlery and a water bottle. ronandcathy71@frontier.com.

FILM & SCREEN • New movie, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p. m. Wednesday, March 5, Meeting Room, Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

Stars Steve Carell, Toni Collette, and Allison Janney.

Thursday, March 13, Community Room, Jackson County Justice Center, featuring bluegrass, gospel and traditional mountain music by Jessie Stephens, Jacob Jones & Friends.

631.2646. Free.

• Classic 1944 movie, 2 p.m. Friday, March 7, Meeting Room, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. Stars Tallulah Bankhead and John Hodiak.

• Songwriters in the Round, Becky Hobbs, Benita Hill and Kacey Jones, 6 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 15, Balsam Mountain Inn. 68 7 Springs Drive, Balsam. $47 per person, includes a buffet dinner. 456.9498. www.balsammountaininn.net .

• Live action family movie, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City.

Movie based on a Dr. Seuss book. 488.3030.

• “Cataloochee,” documentary, March 9; Dallas Buyers Club, 7:45 p.m. Friday, March 14 and 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 15, The Strand, 38 Main St. Waynesville.www.38main.com.

• Auditions for the 2014 season of Unto These Hills, the long-running, outdoor drama in Cherokee, 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 22, 564 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee. Marina Hunley-Graham, 497.3652 or Linda Squirrel, 497.1125.

NIGHT LIFE FOOD & DRINK • 2014 Chili Challenge, 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Maggie Valley Inn & Conference Center. Tickets, $5, at the door. 926.1686 or email to teresa@maggievalley.org.

• Highlands Chili-Cookoff, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, Highlands Community Building.

Tickets, $20 at the door. Jennifer Cunningham, 526.2112 or visitor@highlandschamber.org.

LITERARY (ADULTS) • First Chapter Reading, 12:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Macon County Library. Authors will read the first chapter of their current book.

Light refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the Macon County Area Author Co-op.

• Marie Bartlett, author of Pearl, MD, will read from her historical novel set in Asheville, during the 1880s, at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, Blue Ridge Books, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville.

456.6000, www.blueridgebooksnc.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • First Thursday Old-Time and Bluegrass Jam Series, 7 p.m. concert, 8 p.m. jam session, Thursday, March 6, Mountain Heritage Center, Western Carolina University. 227.7129.

• Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks, heldover March 7-9, Hart Theatre, 250 Pigeon St. Waynesville. 456.6322 or www.harttheatrecom.

• Darren Nicholson (Balsam Range) and Summer McMahan (Mountain Faith) concert, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, Community Room, Jackson County Library Complex, Sylva. $10, at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds to benefit the 2014 Concerts on the Creek summer music series.

• “Birdell,” by Gary Carden, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 8, The Community Table, 23 Central St., Sylva. A fundraiser for The Community Table. Tickets, $10. Amy Sims, ctofJackson@gmail.com or 586.6782.

• Jackson County Genealogical Society, 7 p.m.

• Ashli Rose and Ginni McAfee, Maggie Valley Rendezvous. Rose will play on March 7, with McAfee, March 8. 926.0201 or www.maggievalleyhotel.com.

• Lacy Green, James Hammel, Joe Cruz and Pavel Wlosok, The Classic Wineseller, Waynesville. Green will play March 6, with Hammel, March 7; Cruz, March 8; and Wlosok, March 14. $10 minimum purchase on food, drink or merchandise. 452.6000.

•Travers Brothers, Cutthroat Shamrock, American Gonzos, Dylan Riddle, Humps & The Blackouts, and Dustin Martin & The Ramblers, No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. The Travers Brothers will play March 6, with Cutthroat Shamrock, March 7; American Gonzos, March 8; Riddle, March 13; Humps & The Blackouts, March 14; and Martin, March 15. All shows 9 p.m., free. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Lightning Bugs and Michael Pilgrim, Haywood County Public Libraries “Sunday Concert Series.” Piano-pop group Lightning Bugs will play at the Canton Public Library, with Pilgrim at the Waynesville Public Library.

Both shows, 3 p.m. Free. www.haywoodarts.org.

• The “Winter Pickin’ in the Armory,” 7 p.m.

Friday, March 7, Canton Armory. www.cantonnc.com.

• My Highway, 9 p.m. March 8 at O’Malley’s in Sylva. Free.

• Dave Desmelik, 7 p.m. March 7, Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville. Free. 246.9230.

MUSIC JAMS • Community music jam, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 6, Marianna Black Library, downtown Bryson City. 488.3030.

Outdoors OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS • Left loop of the Tsali Trail system has been reopened. Located near Fontana Lake, Tsali

• Bike clinics, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, Waynesville Annex II, second floor, backside, 1233 N. Main, Waynesville; 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22 and 29, Colonial Theater, Canton; 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 12, Clyde Elementary School, Clyde. For ages 15 and up. Teenagers must be accompanied by an adult. Must pre-register, 452.6789.

• Star Gazing Night Hike with the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, March 8. Location to be announced upon RSVP. Moderate five- to six mile-hike. Free for SAHC members and $10 for non-members. Contact Anna@Appalachian.org or call 253.0095 ext. 205

Mountain Realty

Ron Breese Broker/Owner 2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com Each office independently owned & operated.

230-52

Mike Stamey

mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

828-508-9607

• Map and Compass Navigation Basics, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9, REI Asheville. $30 REI members, $50 non-members. Register at http://www.rei.com/event/43656/session/8681

74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

• First Classic Hike of 2014, Tuesday, March 11, Little Cataloochee. Easy, 6.1-mile round trip hike with hiking expert and author Danny Bernstein register at 452.0720 or emailing outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org, www.friendsofthesmokies.org/events.html.

www.beverly-hanks.com

Michelle McElroy

• Backpacking Basics, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 13, REI Asheville. Free.

Registration required, www.rei.com/event/43586/session/86818.

RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE E-PRO, CNHS, RCC, SFR

828.400.9463 Cell

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS

michelle@beverly-hanks.com

• 17th anniversary of the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) Conference, March 20-22, Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tenn. Keynote speaker will be world renowned bat specialist Merlin D. Tuttle, founder and president emeritus of Bat Conservation International. 865.430.4757 or visit www.dlia.org.

74 North Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.5809

230-51

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers needs volunteers to adopt a tree monitoring plot on the North Carolina side of the park. A tree phenology monitoring training will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday March 8, at the old Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee. Autumn Amici at 497.1945 or autumn_amici@partner.nps.gov.

• Gasland, a documentary about fracking and the gas industry, will be shown at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. www.cwfnc.org or e-mail sally@cwfnc.org. www.gaslandthemovie.com.

• Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials want public input on Environmental Assessment of construction of new concession facilities at Smokemont Riding Stables.

Deadline, March 14. See EA at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grsm and click on “Smokemont Riding Stables EA” link. Or submit comments to NPS Planning website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/grsm. 865.436.1207.

• Great Smoky Mountain National Park needs volunteers to staff the Information Center at Clingmans Dome, from April 1 through November 30. Training Thursday, March 13, at the Oconaluftee Administration Building north of Cherokee. Florie Takaki at 497.1906 or Florie_Takaki@nps.gov.

Your Local Big Green Egg Dealer

BEST PRICE EVERYDAY

230-41

Smoky Mountain News

• Too Human, a Massachusetts-based threepiece jazz combo, 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9, Macon County Public Library, 149 Siler Farm Road in Franklin. Admission is a donation.

524.3600.

• Jesse Stephens and Jacob Jones & Friends, 7 p.m. Thursday, March 13, Community Room of the Jackson County Courthouse in Sylva. Free.

631.2646.

• Wildflower walks, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Friday in March and April. Meet and register at Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center.

631.2020.

March 5-11, 2014

• Retired national park wildlife biologist Kim DeLozier, author of “Bear in the Back Seat, Saturday, March 15, Sugarlands Visitor Center, Gatlinburg. $10 for Great Smoky Mountain Association members and $35 for non-members, which includes a complimentary personal or gift membership opportunity. 888.898.9102, Ext. 222 or 254.

• Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 8, Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets are $18, $23 and $28. 866.273.4615 or www.greatmountainmusic.com.

230-56

Recreation Area is nationally known for its 42mile trail system.

wnc calendar

• Gravity, 7:45 p.m. Friday, March 7 and 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Saturday, March 8, The Strand, 38 Main, downtown Waynesville. www.38main.com. Now serving ice cream from The Hop.

10-5 M-SAT. 12-4 SUN.

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

33

INSIDE

Now Hiring jobs.bayada.com

828.452.0010 ARTS & CRAFTS

MarketPlace information:

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

AUCTION 1,130+/- ACRES (17 TRACTS).

5 Riverfront Tracts. Forest, VA (Bedford County). Houses, Operating Farms. ABSOLUTE AUCTION: Sat, April 5. Terms, photos online: www.countsauction.com.

800.780.2991. VAAF93

Rates: ■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.

■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

■ $12 — If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

48+/- ACRES (3 TRACTS) On US-460. Forest, VA (Bedford County). Home Sites, Public Utilities. ABSOLUTE AUCTION: Sat, Mar. 22. Terms, photos online: www.countsauction.com.

800.780.2991. VAAF93

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

OFFICE SUPPLY/TAX SEIZURE Auction - Thursday. March 6 at 10am. 201 S. Central Ave., Locust, NC. (East of Charlotte) Selling 2 Tractor Trailer Loads of Office Supplies. Also for NC Department of Revenue for Unpaid Taxes, a Merle Norman Cosmetics Store, Audio/Video/Electronics Store & a Mattress Store. 704.507.1449 ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

harpersauctioncompany.com For Online Bidding 47 Macon Center Dr, Franklin, NC 828.369.6999, Debra Harper NCAL# 9659 NCFL# 9671 ABSOLUTE AUCTION Saturday, March 15 @ 10am. 102 Hidden Pastures Dr. Cramerton, NC. Complete Liquidation of the former Cramerton Country Club Clubhouse. Antiques, Catering, Restaurant & Bar Equipment.

Call for more info 704.791.8825 ncaf5479. www.ClassicAuctions.com REAL ESTATE AUCTION Dates: 3/8, 3/11, 3/15, 3/18, 3/20.

36 properties- duplexes, houses, building/lot, 30-unit apartment complex. Archdale & High Point, NC. www.hughesauction.com Richie Hughes Auction & Real Estate.

336.847.7472.

NCAL6206/NCRBN202693.

AUCTION & CELEBRATION

R

DI

SC OV ER E

ATR

HARPER’S AUCTION COMPANY March 7th @ 6:00 p.m.

Join Us for a Fun and Entertaining Auction. (Broyhill) Dinning Table/Chairs, Bedroom Suite, China Hutch, Desk Unit, Silver Plate, Lots of Smalls and Much, Much More...

“YOU” ARE INVITED TO AN

INC.

PE

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

AUCTION

Saturday, March 8, 4:00 p.m.

At Dodie’s on Main Street - Downtown Sylva

Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS

MON-FRI 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

828-456-5387

CELEBRATING • 30 Years as an Auctioneer • 54 Years as a Political Junque • 79 Years of Living

SELLING LOTS OF GOOD “OLE STUFF” 230-58

Auctioneer: Dodie Allen Blaschik, NCAL# 3410 Telephone: 828.226.3921 / 828.735.4790 Shoppe Will Be Open From 11:00 a.m.

The Sale with the Woman’s Touch! www.dodiesales.com

AUCTION WAREHOUSE FACILITY AUCTION, 180,000 Sq. Ft. on 12.5 Acres located in Rocky Mount, NC near I-95. Online Auction Ends MARCH 13th, roof overhauled, www.HouseAuctionCompany.com.

252.729.1162. NCAL#7889

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs! Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control.

FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 office.

CARS 1984 MUSTANG GT Complete Restomode! Too Much to List. Sacrifice at $13,000.

For more info call 828.226.7461 DONATE YOUR CAR Fast Free Towing 24 Hr. Response Tax Deduction United Breast Cancer Foundation Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info888.759.9782. SAPA

R

EMPLOYMENT

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

MOTORCYCLES ‘02 YAMAHA V-STAR 650

Vance & Hines Pipes, Windsheild, New Tires, 13K Miles, Mechanic Owned & Fully Serviced. $3,200.

For more information call 828.246.0480

EMPLOYMENT

ATTN: DRIVERS 60 Years of Stability. Up to 50 cpm + Quality Hometime. $1000 wkly.

CDL-A Req. 877.258.8782. www.ad-drivers.com

CAN YOU DIG IT? Bulldozers, Backhoes and Excavators. 3 Week Hands On Training Provided. Become Nationally Certified. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance. GI Benefits Eligible.

1.866.362.6497 DRIVERS: OTR & Regional, Home Weekly/Bi Weekly Guaranteed! Paid Weekly + Monthly Bonuses, 90% No Touch/ 70% Drop & Hook, Paid Loaded & Empy/Rider Program BC/BS, Rx, Dental, Vision, 401K etc...

877.704.3773.

HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING Technician Jobs Available! Fast Track, Hands On, Certification Training Provided. GI Bill Eligible.

1.877.994.9904 REGIONAL CDL-A DRIVERS Great Career w/weekly hometime!

888.362.8608. For paid training, apply online at AverittCareers.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Females, minorities, protected veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

OPEN DECK High Mileage Expedited Fleet.

Clean, predictable freight. Heavy Haul and Specialized also available. Company Trailers AT NO COST. Details at www.dailyrecruiting.com or 1.800.669.6414 MAPLE TREE VETERINARY Hospital is looking for an experienced Technician. Please email resume and references to: kbirthright@mapletreevet.com MAST GENERAL STORE Waynesville - Part-time positions available in outdoor/shoe dept.

Positive attitude, passion for exceptional customer service a must! Partial benefits; requires working most weekends.

E-mail application to: melanee@mastgeneralstore.com or apply in person at the store.

No phone calls please!

MONEY FOR SCHOOLPotentially get full tuition & great career with U.S. Navy. Paid training, medical/dental, vacation. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419 OWNER OPERATORS Average $3k/week! Be out up to 14 days, enjoy GUARANTEED home time! Weekly settlements. Pay loaded/unloaded. Class-A CDL & 1yr driving experience. Fleet Owners Welcome. Operate under your own authority or ours! Call Matt 877.398.0657.

DriveforCardinal.com OWNER OPERATORS CDL-A Up to $200,000 a year. Out 2 weeks. Home as many days as needed. Lease Purchase Available.

Sign on Bonus. 855.803.2846 PROFESSIONAL WAIT STAFF Wanted for year round position.

For more information call 828.452.6000.

HARLEY WEIGHS IN AT ABOUT 100 LBS. AND IS AN EXTREMELY HANDSOME AMERICAN BULLDOG. HE IS ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD AND HIS ADOPTION FEE IS $200.

NEED MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES! Become a Medical Office Assistant at CTI! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training gets you job ready!

HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122.

NEW PAY-FOR-EXPERIENCE Program pays up to $0.41/mile.

Class-A Professional Drivers Call 866.291.2631 for more details or visit SuperServiceLLC.com

FURNITURE: Oak Bedroom Set; Oak Dining Table/1 Leaf/ 4 Armchairs; Sofa; Oak Wine Cabinet; Armoire, Hope Chest; File Cabinet ect.; Mountain/Lodge Decor. For more info 828.631.2675 HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

Ann Eavenson CRS, GRI, E-PRO

ann@mainstreetrealty.net

506-0542 CELL 230-48

101 South Main St. Waynesville

MainStreet Realty

(828) 452-2227 mainstreetrealty.net

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com LANDSCAPING TREES & SHRUBS For Sale. Including: Maple, Norway & White Spruce, Kousa Dogwood, Boxwood & Arborvitae. Farm Grown Near Franklin. Good Supply & Reasonable Prices. Call Doyle Chambers for more info 828.884.4584.

230-39

Cleaner, Clearer and Healthier water at every tap in your home

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

An EcoWater Water System can remove Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

Lease to Own

Bad Taste & Odors Iron/Rust Sediment/ Silt Bacterias Harmful Chlorine Balance pH

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 12 Noon - 6 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

HEAVY EQUIPMENT SAWMILLS From only $4897.00 - MAKE & SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com.

1.800.578.1363, Ext. 300N.

smokymountainnews.com

JASON IS JUST SO SWEET AND FRIENDLY YOU'LL FALL IN LOVE WITH HIS PRETTY FACE AND WONDERFUL PERSONALITY! HE'S UNDER 3 MONTHS OLD, JUST NEUTERED AND AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION.

TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors!

Immediate Placement Available.

Best Opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today 800.277.0212 or www.driveforprime.com

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

Ann knows real estate!

March 5-11, 2014

AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get FAA Approved Maintenance Training Financial Aid For Qualified Students - Housing Available Job Placement Assistance. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA

ATTN: DRIVERS...

24/7 Driver Support! $$$ Yp to 50 cpm $$$ Full Benefit + Pet & Rider CDL-A Req 1.866.287.5153 www.ad-drivers.com SAPA

NURSING CAREERS Begin here- Get trained in months, not years. Small classes, no waiting list. Financial aid for qualified students. Apply now! Centura College Norfolk 888.893.3477

FINANCIAL BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending money to any loan company. SAPA SIGNATURE FINANCIAL Pays Cash for Owner Financed (private) Mortgage Notes on Residential and Commercial Properties.

Convert Your Monthly Payment in to CASH NOW! Call Today!

1.727.232.2442 - Florida All Others 1.855.844.8771 SAPA

WNC MarketPlace

DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 800.337.9038.

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS HOSPITAL Positions now available: C.N.A.’s, Inpatient Coder, and Rehabilitation Services Manager.

Benefits available the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment. PreEmployment screening required.

Call Human Resources.

828.526.1376, or apply online at: www.highlandscashiershospital. org

EMPLOYMENT

230-26

CARS DONATE YOUR CAR Fast Free Towing. 24 hr. Response.

Tax Deduction. United Breast Cancer Foundation, Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info 855.733.5472

828.452.3995 | www.americanwatercareinc.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

35

WNC MarketPlace

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT NC MOUNTAINS BY OWNER Gated Log Home Community, pool, 3 buildable 1.2 - 2.3 acre lots, year round views, $33 - $35K. 1.828.652.3973, Log Home 2 BR/2BA; loft, basement, 1.2 acres, $189K, extra lot available, 1.772.285.7387.

SAPA

20 ACRES Only $119/month, $0 Down, Owner Financing, No Credit Checks! Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful Mountain Views! Money Back Guarantee.

1.866.882.5263 Extension 81. www.SunsetRanches.net SAPA

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT REAL ESTATE AUCTION Dates: 3/8, 3/11, 3/15, 3/18, 3/20.

36 properties- duplexes, houses, building/lot, 30-unit apartment complex. Archdale & High Point, NC. www.hughesauction.com Richie Hughes Auction & Real Estate.

336.847.7472.

NCAL6206 NCRBN202693.

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

APT. FOR RENT FURNISHED FULLY FURNISHED 1 OR 2 BR Efficiency Aprtmt. Large Covered Porch w/ Great View of Smoky Mtns Includes Electric, Water, Cable & Internet. $850/mo. Non Smokers Only! For more information 828.776.6273.

COMM. PROP. FOR RENT

LOTS FOR SALE

COLONIAL SQUARE Premium Office Building, 2-Story, 1320 sq. ft. per Floor, Wired for Internet, Plenty of Parking. Reasonable Rates per Building or per Floor. For more info call Camp Wynn at 864.370.0737 or send email: campwynn@colonialgroup.com

COMM. PROP. FOR SALE IN FRANKLIN, NORTH CAROLINA Convenient Location. Two Buildings, Approx. 5,000 sq. ft. of Storage and Offices. 17 Roll-up Doors. A Four Room Office with Bathroom; A Two Room Office with Bathroom Plus Shower; One Large Office with Bathroom.

Ideal for Small Businesses (Plumbing, Electrical, AC/ Heat, Salesroom, Etc.) Owners Motivated.

828.342.3170.

2.819 ACRE TRACT Building Lot in great location.

Build your 2nd home log cabin here. Large 2-story building near HCC, was a Work Shop.

Reduced - Reduced $64,750 Call 828.627.2342.

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

VACATION RENTALS OCEAN ISLE BEACH, North Carolina's #1 Family Vacation Spot! Minutes from Myrtle Beach. Reserve your Vacation Today! www.CookeRealty.com or call 1.800.NCBEACH.

230-46

Great Smokies Storage March 5-11, 2014

10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828

www.smokymountainnews.com

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

36

Puzzles can be found on page 38.

These are only the answers.

VACATION RENTALS

FOR SALE

CAVENDER CREEK CABINS Dahlonega, North Georgia Mountains. **WINTER SPECIAL: Buy 2 nights, 3rd FREE!** 1,2 & 3 bedroom Cabins with HOT TUBS! Virtual Tour: www.CavenderCreek.com CALL NOW Toll Free 1.866.373.6307 SAPA

FOR SALE John Deere X300 Riding Mower.

Recommended up to 3.5 acres, 17 Horsepower, Fuel SystemGasoline 3.5 Gallon, Hydrostatic Transmission, 42â&#x20AC;? Mowing Deck.

Price $1,500. For more info call 828.452.2811

FLORIDA DISNEY Area Hotels, Suites & Condoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s As Low As $39.00 per night! Call 1.855.303.5528 Promo Code: SAPA

WANTED TO BUY BUYING Vintage Collectibles, Guitars, Watches, Toys, Coins, Gold, Pre1964 Comics, Pre-1964 Sports Memorabilia. TOP DOLLAR PAID GUARANTEE! famousfinds.com 336.875.4019 Call today for an Appointment!

MEDICAL CANADA DRUG CENTER Is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 1.800.265.0768 for $25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.

SAPA MEDICAL GUARDIAN Top-rated medical alarm and 24/7 medical alert monitoring. For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button for free and more - only $29.95 per month. 800.983.4906 SAPA VIAGRA 100mg & CIALIS 20mg!

40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Save $500! Buy The Blue Pill! Now 1.800.491.8751 SAPA RUNNING WATERS THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE & BODYWORK Relieve stress, Increase Circulation, Remove Headaches and Back & Neck pain, Increase Energy and Feeling of Well Being. Intro offer $45. Migun Bed, Deep Tissue. Call for appointment 828.226.0413.

2590B U.S. Hwy 19 S. Bryson City, North Carolina.

PERSONAL

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ENTERTAINMENT REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! Get a whole-home Satellite system installed at NO COST and programming starting at $19.99/mo. FREE HD/DVR Upgrade to new callers, SO CALL NOW 1.866.983.7935 SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtartans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.

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Super

79 Prefix with con 10 Everyone, in Essen 80 Get a goal 11 Czech, Pole, or Serb 81 “Max -” (2008 noir 12 Concocted ACROSS 13 Jule of songwriting action film) 1 Pronoun in many letter 14 Tennis great Ashe 82 1967 hit for the Lovin’ greetings 15 Port of Italy Spoonful 5 Psi preceder 16 Hero-worship 86 Drank sherry, e.g.

8 Involuntary twitches 17 Defectors 89 Football throw 14 Differently - (having 18 Have a minority view 90 “C’mon, this way” other skills) 20 Eider, e.g.

19 Of Earth’s largest land- 93 Very cushy course 24 Observant individual 95 U.S. island territory mass 98 Pay attention suddenly 28 Indent key 21 Berate loudly 100 Gifts for calligraphers 29 “Ouch!” kin 22 “Spider-Man 3” direc30 - fog (lost) 105 Nine-item group tor Sam 31 The, to René 108 1965 hit for the 23 1978 hit for the 33 U.S. lang.

Beatles Commodores 37 “Give that - cigar!”

111 Henpeck 25 Un, deux, 38 Some hosp. scans 112 FBI’s govt. division 26 Ambush 39 “How dry -” 27 2008 hit for Miley Cyrus 114 Perfect rating 40 Mop & 115 Eli - (drug giant) 29 Added lubricant to 41 Horse’s foot 116 1986 hit for Stacey Q 32 Golfer’s peg 42 Up - good 122 Alias 34 Water, in Toulouse 44 Sporty Italian auto, 125 “CSI: Miami” actress 35 Angriness briefly Eva 36 1961 hit for the 47 Have faith in 126 1946 hit for Frank Diamonds 50 Bit of errata Sinatra 43 Audacious 51 Foreteller 131 Clear away 45 Indy vehicle 132 French for “brothers” 53 Port of Algeria 46 Clumsy sort 54 Admit (to) 133 Person giving ear 48 “- there be any doubt 55 Lasting blemishes 134 Siestas, say ...”

56 Capital of Vietnam 135 Sequence 49 Makes a sweater, e.g.

57 Back-of-the-book list 136 Jet to JFK, once 52 Sliding-glass auto 58 Chick’s mother 137 Tiger sound option 60 He-cats 55 - Tzu 62 Tripoli locale DOWN 59 Thus far 63 Some bank holdings 61 1957 hit for Jim Reeves 1 Showery 64 Is a father to 2 “What?”

65 Certain chairmaker 66 Infomercial gadget 3 Hockey player Bobby 67 Lowly laborers 4 “Diamond Lil” playwright brand 70 - José 68 Bronx loc.

5 Large village 71 VI halved 69 With 84-Down, icy car6 “- Caesar!”

72 Statement before nival treat singing each hit featured in 7 Lifer, e.g.

73 Not sick 8 Part of DOS: Abbr. this puzzle?

74 Dummies 78 - v. Wade 9 Podded vegetables

Smoky Mountain News

March 5-11, 2014

HIT COUNT

38

CROSSWORD 75 County east of Sandusky 76 TV warrior princess 77 Atlas part 83 “For the life - ...”

84 See 69-Down 85 “The Bridge on the River -” (war film) 87 Get a glimpse of 88 Coloring agents 91 Stat of gas consumption 92 King James Bible suffix 94 Careful examiner 95 Less severe 96 Oblivious 97 Silky-haired rabbits 99 Baseball legend Mel 101 Pool party?

102 Potentially shocking fish 103 - Aviv 104 Plane’s place 106 Product-pitching costs 107 Homer Simpson’s utterance 109 College list maintainer 110 Rescinds 113 Gordon and Bridges 117 Unseat 118 Million or billion ender 119 Vacationer in a camper, informally 120 Garr of the screen 121 “Peter Pan” character 123 Soulful Redding 124 Bird’s berth 127 Particular mag. edition 128 Yoko from Tokyo 129 Stephen of film 130 Flub up

answers on page 36

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Answers on Page 36

The naturalistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Somebody got some splainen to do

P

eople say the corporate world has no soul. Corporations donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t give a ratâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s behind about their employees, especially after theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re gone. And the flip side is employees are just there to get a paycheck. They do what it takes, and if theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky, they have a job that pays the bills while they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get the heck outta there. Well, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here to tell you it ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always so. I mean, we have a great example right here in North Carolina.

There was a dedicated worker by the name of McCrory. He worked hard for the same company for 28 years. After toiling faithfully for 28 years, this ambitious employee got a yearning for politics.

Exhibiting the same kind of work ethic and perseverance he had exhibited for his former employer, McCrory made it to the top of the political heap in North Carolina, running unsuccessfully for governor in 2008 but undaunted, capturing the post in 2012. And you know what? McCroryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former employer was one of his biggest fans.

Remember, we thought corporations

were heartless. And itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been kind of a given that the larger the corporation was, the more disconnected they were from their employees. But this relationship scoffs at those perceptions.

North Carolina governor Pat McCroryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former employer is none other than Duke Energy, the largest utility company in the country. And did Duke turn its back on its former employee? No sirree, Bob. According to a recent AP news report, Duke Energy, its political action committee, its executives and their immediate families showed their support for the former employee by donating more than $1 million to his campaigns and its affiliated groups. Now, does that sound like some kind of heartless, soulless entity just after its employeesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sweat and blood?

But wait â&#x20AC;&#x201D; this saga just keeps getting better. Just as McCrory was settling in as governor of the Old North State, Duke suffered some unfortunate incidents. You know, it had been busy engulfing Progress Energy and still trying to keep tabs on its nearly $3 billion in earnings when apparently some notso-clean coal ash was found to be seeping into waterways like the French Broad River.

Nasty environmental groups interceded and

filed lawsuits under the Clean Water Act. The humble former employee, of course, would not take personal credit, but the state of North Carolina did intervene and take over the suits. Now thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to say the utility giant got off scot-free. No way. The state levied a $99,000 dollar fine on Duke; oh, and by the way, North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) filed enforcement actions for all of Dukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coal ash sites (31) in the state, obviously alleviating environmental groups of the burden of having to marshal their resources to file lawsuits.

the Dan River. This spill regrettably brought pesky federal investigators into the picture.

Duke Energy and North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s DENR have received subpoenas. NC DENR has confirmed that nearly 20 employees will be called to testify before a grand jury this month.

One has to feel confident that science will have a prominent seat at this roundtable.

After all, we are talking about our environment, clean water, biological integrity and human safety, and this all falls under the umbrella of North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Department of Energy and Natural Resources, headed by McCrory appointee John Skvarla, who holds a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in economics from Manhattan College and a J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Skvarla recently solidified his scientific stature regarding fossil fuels when he told WRAL-TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Laura Leslie, â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;ŚThe Russians, for instance, have always drilled oil as if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a renewable resource. So far, they havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been proven wrong. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of different scientific opinion Fish & Wildlife surveying after coal ash spill in the on that.â&#x20AC;?

Not that Duke Energy or the govDan River. USF&W photo ernor of North Carolina or the secretary of NC DENR would throw anyAll was about to return to normal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the one under the bus, but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking I see tire employer and employee were ready to get on tracks all over Tom Reeder, director of North with their daily routines when, dang nab it, Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Division of Water Quality. another Duke coal ash pit started puking (Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He thousands of tons of polluted coal ash into can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

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MAR RC CH 21 AT 7:30 PM

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