Smoky Mountain News | April 21, 2021 by Smoky Mountain News

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April 21-27, 2021 Vol. 22 Iss. 47

New language proposed for Sylva statue Page 10 Public hearing spurs opinions on paper mill permit Page 30

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: The Smoky Mountain News recently sat down with Neal Hutcheson, a Chapel Hill native and Appalachian documentarian, to talk about his latest project — a full-length biography about the infamous moonshiner from Maggie Valley, Popcorn Sutton. (Page 6) Neal Hutcheson photo

News Future of Downtown Waynesville to be debated ......................................................4 Waynesville residents shocked by big electric bills ..................................................5 Candidates announced for tribal elections ..................................................................9 New language proposed for Sylva statue ................................................................10 Federal court rules for Catawba casino ....................................................................12 Franklin manager to leave her post ............................................................................15 Maggie property owners oppose waterfall project ................................................16 Education news ................................................................................................................21

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Opinion My own 1971 history project ........................................................................................22 The benefits of Community Response Teams ..........................................................23

A&E

Balsam Range gets back on stage ............................................................................24 Unhappy reading vs. happy reading ............................................................................29

Outdoors Public hearing spurs opinions about paper mill permit ........................................30

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Future of Downtown Waynesville Association to be debated BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR t’s been almost five years since the Downtown Waynesville Association landed a multi-year contract to manage the town’s municipal service district, but with the expiration of that contract imminent, an April 27 public hearing will gather input from residents on whether the group has met expectations or if another organization should be given the chance. The DWA was founded in 1985 to be the administrator of the Town of Waynesville’s municipal service district (MSD) and is governed by a board of directors. Its mission was to undertake revitalization activities. Jon Feichter, a Waynesville alderman, left Waynesville in the mid-1980s for school just as his father, Rex, and mother, Libba, were beginning to champion the cause of the DWA. “I don’t remember firsthand how bad downtown had gotten, but talking to mom and dad apparently Main Street was struggling significantly, so my dad and many, many others got together and said, ‘We need to do something,’” said Feichter, who later served on the DWA board himself. “If you look back at the history of where we were and where we are, it’s a night and day transition. I don’t think there’s any question that the foundation those leaders put in place has led us to where we are today.” The district includes parcels along both north and south Main Street. Property owners pay an extra tax on their properties — currently 20 cents per $100 in assessed value — which is collected by the town and disbursed to the DWA and used to promote revitalization activities within the district. Total yearly expenditures by the DWA are in the neighborhood of $200,000, including the operational overhead, the salary of Executive Director Buffy Phillips and an assistant. The DWA also raises money from events it holds, including the annual Church Street Arts and Craft Show in October. The DWA has not only been charged with

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

marketing Waynesville’s downtown as a tourism destination but has also been largely responsible for the aesthetic revitalization of Waynesville’s commercial nexus, including burying power lines along Main Street and installing planter boxes on the sidewalks and raising money for the decorative streetlamps. The group even won an award for its efforts in 2016 from the American Planning Association. Since then, there have been several DWA board resignations and many merchants have called into question its effectiveness under Phillips’ leadership. In 2019, a group of prominent downtown property owners met to discuss the DWA’s future and the potential ouster of Phillips, citing poor performance. When that effort ultimately went nowhere due to narrow DWA board support for Phillips, the same group discussed submitting an application to compete for the contract to manage the MSD. “I certainly have been aware that some people were dissatisfied with Buffy’s leadership,” Feichter said. “There were some people while I was on the executive board [prior to his first term as alderman]. Now, unquestionably, Buffy is one of the people who is most responsible for the state of downtown today.” Problems with the DWA’s transparency have also recently cropped up; as a public body, the DWA is subject to all of the same open records and meeting notice laws that apply to municipal governments and similar boards, but requests for information made by The Smoky Mountain News regarding the organization’s leadership and financial doings have now gone unheeded for nearly a month. During a March 23 meeting of the DWA’s executive board, Philips may or may not have given notice of her intent to resign, but key DWA leadership refuses to acknowledge what happened or produce minutes from the meeting that would help clarify Phillips’ future and the future of the organization itself. Multiple phone calls placed to Phillips and DWA board Chair Carolyn Brunk on March 24, March 25 and March 26 — both

Be heard Per statute, the Town of Waynesville will hold a public hearing to solicit “input from residents and property owners as to the needs of the downtown Municipal Service District.” This meeting is designed to give aldermen guidance on the performance of the entity that currently manages it, the Downtown Waynesville Association, before the contract comes up for bid again. • Time: 6 p.m. • Date: Tuesday, April 27 • Location: Town Hall, 16 South Main Street, Waynesville on her cell phone and at her place of business — were never returned. A phone call made to the DWA office on March 25 went straight to voicemail, as did another call on March 26. When SMN visited the DWA office on the morning of March 26, it was closed without explanation.

The very next day, a story in The Mountaineer reported that Phillips would step down from her post later this year — an assertion directly at odds with what one DWA board member told SMN on March 25. Leigh Forrester, who was at the March 23 meeting, said she wasn’t aware of any discussion about Phillips’ departure. “She didn’t resign,” Forrester said. “I think she was hoping to drum up support from merchants and the board to put on the Bear Festival. She discussed how frustrating it is to try and drum up enthusiasm about street events.” DWA Secretary Olivia Carver — who has since resigned her seat — was also at the March 23 meeting. When interviewed, she acknowledged that the matter was discussed. “She gave a verbal [description] of a timeline, but again, it was verbal and it’s not official, so that’s the only thing I think I can give you,” Carver said. Now, nearly a month after the March 23 meeting, The Smoky Mountain News still hasn’t received any word from Phillips or Brunk, still hasn’t received any meeting minutes from that meeting, and still hasn’t received any word whatsoever on Phillips’ intentions. On March 26 a formal public records request was issued by SMN to the DWA, asking for financial statements, meeting notices, meeting minutes and reports that could help shed light on the organization’s performance, if not Phillips’ status. Nearly a month later, Brunk and her board have failed to produce anything, and have given SMN no timeline as to when those records might become available. There are just four regular Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen meetings between the April 27 public hearing and the expiration of the DWA’s contract on June 30. Using the input garnered at the April 27 public hearing, the town will then issue an RFP, evaluate bidders, narrow down the candidate organizations, conduct contract negotiations, hold another public hearing on the contract, and award the contract — all by June 30. “It’s a process that will benefit downtown Waynesville and the MSD and I’m confident we will find the best possible entity to administer the MSD,” Feichter said. “I’m looking forward to the process.”

ing meters. “We had to reboot them, and they were down for a week.” Further complicating the situation, a 25year-old printer that produces the physical electric bills failed, adding another week’s delay in issuing the bills. “For a lot of people who expect their bills to be 30 days on the day, it really kind of confused them on top of the normal increase in power usage as a result of the cold weather,” Hites said. “We can build in redundant systems,” said Feichter, who has an IT background. “The printer issue is one that we will have to deal with. We’ve kind of tried to band-aid it and kick the can down the road. As equipment ages, at some point you reach the stage where you can’t fix them anymore and that means you have to replace the equipment.” Hites said that town staff was investigating every single complaint lodged by electric customers.

Data collected at Asheville International Airport show that in comparing 2020 to 2021 there were 18.6 percent more heating degree days in January 2021, 15.3 percent more in February 2021 and 19.8 percent in March 2021.

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Ingles Nutrition Notes written by Ingles Dietitian Leah McGrath Q: Are there herbal teas that I could drink that will help with weight gain during pre-menopause or menopause? A: Hormonal changes can definitely have an effect on our bodies but if you see claims on teas that say they can help you lose weight it is best to be skeptical. These types of claims on teas and supplements are not regulated like pharmaceutical (prescription) medications which means there is most likely no research or studies to support them. https://www.vice.com/en/article/4xp853/herbal-tea-is-not-medicine Experiencing various symptoms like bloating, weight gain, tiredness etc. in pre-menopause or menopause is not uncommon. Your gynecologist may be able to advise you on some ways to help with this transition. Some other strategies may help: • Watch your sodium and salt intake which can result in fluid retention and bloating. • Drink water and fluids regularly • Stay active and get exercise daily - at least 30 minutes per day. • Follow a balanced diet (see https://www.myplate.gov/) and be sure and include fruits and vegetables into your meals every day.

Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian

Smoky Mountain News

“If they’ve called and said their power bill is excessively high, they’ve raised a challenge and they have a right to have us check it out. If we find that a person has a 37-day bill, we look at what their daily rate is and then we compare it with the same billing period last year. In most cases, the daily rate may be $3 to $4 per day more, but we’ve got an extra seven days and so if you have 37 days and $4 a day more than it was last year, it comes up to about what you have.” Hites added that the town isn’t disconnecting anyone over the abnormally large bills, and indeed hasn’t disconnected anyone since a moratorium on disconnections was enacted more than a year ago, due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. And although it may come as small consolation to some, customers who’ve seen their 30-day bills swell to 37 or 38 days will see a corresponding reduction in days over the next billing cycle, which should result in lower-than-average bills. “What I will say is that once we get to the bottom of the question of are the billed amounts accurate or were some customers overcharged, if we find that yes there were overcharges and we have to make those people whole again, then my attention would pivot to how do we ensure this kind of thing never happens again,” Feichter said.

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BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR omplaints from Town of Waynesville power customers about higher-thanexpected electric bills prompted town officials to look into the matter, which they now say is the result of a confluence of several factors — a rate increase not being one of them. “At best this has been a huge headache for a lot of people,” said Alderman Jon Feichter. “At worst this has caused real financial hardship for people.” The town did increase rates by 5 percent effective July 1, 2020, however the scale of that increase doesn’t fully account for bills some customers say have increased several hundred percent above what they usually see. “Because we bill in arrears, it is normal to have an unusual number of complaints in the billing cycle after the coldest months of the year, as well as in September and maybe October as a result of using air conditioning,” said Town Manager Rob Hites. “So there are two periods of the year where we expect bills to go higher.” The last three months — January, February and March — have been much colder than the same three months in 2020 and have also been somewhat colder than historical averages, according to data published by www.degreedays.net. One of the ways daily temperature can be compared over long periods of time is through the concept of a degree day. Assuming a baseline temperature of 65 degrees — typical for residential, commercial and industrial buildings — if the outside air temperature on day one is 60 degrees, it would require 5 degrees to heat a building to that baseline temp, resulting in five heating degree days. If the temperature drops to 40 degrees the next day, it would require 25 degrees to reach the baseline temperature. Adding the two days together results in 30 heating degree days, an important metric for utility customers who want to know what their power bill might be in a given month, in a given location, almost anywhere on the globe. The degree days concept also works in reverse. If the outside temperature is 70 degrees, that would require cooling of 5 degrees to reach baseline temperature, resulting in five cooling degree days. Data collected at Asheville International Airport show that in comparing 2020 to 2021 there were 18.6 percent more heating degree days in January 2021, 15.3 percent more in February 2021 and 19.8 percent in March 2021. Although temperature is one obvious culprit, a COVID-related office closure late last year and a series of equipment problems within the town’s electric billing process also contributed to the bigger bills. “We’ve had a couple of mechanical failures that have caused us to string out some of our reading dates from 30 days to as much as 37,” Hites said, citing a software failure on the handheld units used for read-

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Waynesville residents shocked by big electric bills

@InglesDietitian Leah McGrath - Dietitian 800.334.4936 Ingles Markets… caring about your health

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As long as water runs downhill THE STORY OF POPCORN SUTTON BY CORY VAILLANCOURT • STAFF WRITER

eople have been making moonshine almost since the day water started running downhill, and it seems like people have been talking about enigmatic Appalachian moonshiner Popcorn Sutton for just as long. But now, for the very first time, a full-length biography attempts to explore the conflicted life and legacy of Appalachia’s most (in)famous moonshiner.

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

“I studied film and found my footing making documentary films,” said Neal Hutcheson, a Chapel Hill native and author of The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton (Reliable Archetype, Raleigh, 2021). “I really found my footing in Appalachia making documentary films there and found my own voice, so I’ve specialized in cultural topics, particularly in communities that are — well, every community is experiencing change, but I I’ve focused on cultural change, I guess you would say.” An Emmy award-winning documentarian, Hutcheson comes from the perspective of an explorer, not only of culture but also of the elements that make up culture: the geography, the language, the music, the people. “I used to backpack all the time when I was growing up and I loved Western North Carolina, but I didn’t know anything about the people or culture. I just knew the landscape,” he said. “I can remember passing through little towns and how they looked different from where I grew up and thinking, who lives here? What are their lives like? It was just kind of a passing thought so it’s kind of funny that I went so deep in that direction later in life.” One of his early films dealing with the culture of Southern Appalachia resulted in Hutcheson establishing a long friendship with one of Western North Carolina’s most unique personalities. “I found myself in Maggie Valley. I was working on a documentary called “Mountain Talk” and a couple of people I talked to said, ‘Oh, you need to meet Popcorn.’ I didn’t know what that meant,” Hutcheson said. “It sounded like trouble.” Born in Maggie Valley in 1946, Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton earned his nickname during a bar fight with a faulty popcorn machine, and it stuck to him like a burr on overalls. “Eventually I found him, he was running a little junk shop at the curve of the road heading out of Maggie Valley towards Cherokee. The first time I went, he wasn’t there, but there were people minding the shop and I was with a couple of grad students and the people at the shop there sold us a jar of moon6 shine. That was such a surprise. I didn’t really

know people were still making it. In fact, I didn’t even trust that it was real. I thought maybe they’re buying something from the liquor store and putting it in a jar,” said Hutcheson. “I know much better now.” Eventually, Hutcheson met up with Sutton, who was raised in a region where moonshining was an ancient craft practiced by learned masters. It became, to an extent, Sutton’s entire identity. “I’ve made all kinds of liquor in my time,” Sutton told Hutcheson in his 2002 film, “This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make.” “I’ve made the fightin’ kind, the lovin’ kind, the cryin’ kind. This I’m gonna make today got four damn fights to a pint.” But that identity is heavily mythologized and riddled with contradiction — particularly in how some Appalachians are simultaneously revolted by the popular stereotypes embodied in Sutton but respect the iconic ideal of the isolated, independent mountaineers of old. Hutcheson deftly navigates the cultural concerns surrounding Sutton in his 240-page work, which seems to be a cross between a beautifully designed coffee table book and a biography backdropped by scads of context and local color that ensure the stories about Popcorn Sutton will continue — just as long as water runs downhill. The Smoky Mountain News: The last time I interviewed [Western North Carolina novelist] David Joy, who wrote the foreword to your book, he said, “If you look at what’s happening to mountain culture … it’s being erased at an unfathomable rate. If you look at what’s happening in Cherokee, it’s matter of cultural reclamation at an unprecedented scale.” The crux of your work deals with heritage in transition. How does a documentarian or a writer go about depicting this heritage and its transition accurately? Neal Hutcheson: That’s a very important question that anybody in my position needs to ask themselves constantly. I’ve done so many documentaries in Appalachia, and the book gave me an opportunity to reflect on that and be mindful of issues of representa-

A page from Popcorn’s notebook provides insight into his roots. Neal Hutcheson photo

“A couple of people I talked to said, ‘Oh, you need to meet Popcorn.’ I didn’t know what that meant. It sounded like trouble.” — Neal Hutcheson

tion and stereotypes all along. I’ve foregrounded those issues, but even so I recognized that I was bringing something to the table that recreated errors of the past. I’m not necessarily saying I made errors exactly, but I selected one part of the mountain population that I focused on, and that was it. It’s the part that ethnographers and historians and documentary photographers have always focused on, even though that part of the population is dwindling. So that’s who I was looking for to represent Appalachia, but hopefully I complimented that by foregrounding the issue of representation and performance in those programs, and especially in the book. SMN: One of the interesting things about the book is that it’s very much written in Popcorn’s unique vernacular. How did you pull

that off without making it appear condescending or patronizing? NH: It was important to me that I was able to keep a lot of the book in his voice and take it out of my own voice, which is that of an outsider and an observer. It’s one of the things that I’m really proud of about the book — that I gave so much of it over to him. I was able to do that because I had interviewed him numerous times and I have a lot to pull from. He tells his own story in his own voice. I discovered it’s very tricky to transcribe dialect and there’s a lot of unusual choices. There’s a lot of unusual decisions that you have to make, but I added some ancillary material talking about this because it was so unexpected that it was a challenge to transcribe the dialect. SMN: A large segment of this culture reviles being stereotyped as the crude, overall-wearing backwoods moonshiner, but then we have another segment of the population that reveres these same people as outlaws and folk heroes. Popcorn was both of those things, wasn’t he? NH: That’s right on target. In the early 20th century, those stereotypes were already entrenched in the American imagination. On the one hand you had this kind of degenerate backwards hillbilly stereotype who was alternately comical or dangerous, and then on the other hand you had this “noble mountaineer,” like our pioneer ancestors. Believe it

news Popcorn Sutton (left) is pictured with his longtime still hand JB Rader. Neal Hutcheson photo

NH: In Southern Appalachia, particularly in the areas that have been in constant contact with tourists before the mid-20th century, I feel like a culture of performance was nourished by the interaction of the mountain people with outsiders. The outsiders were bringing money that mountain people wanted. It can buy a better life.

SMN: Whether he knew it or not, Popcorn was a somewhat of a contemporary of other cultural emissaries like James Dickey, who wrote the book that eventually became the movie “Deliverance,” and even Horace Kephart. Both of those ended up featuring negative portrayals of Appalachians. Do you feel that Popcorn was aware of the negative aspects of what he was doing?

I don’t see anything shameful in it. I think there was a kind of an entrepreneurial spirit to supply that. That underlies Popcorn’s talent for working with people and using his own image. There’s a parallel situation that was a little easier to see over in Cherokee where they too were subject to tourists who wanted to see where the “real Indians” were, the ones you’d seen in the movies with the big feathered bon-

Ruby Hutcheson illustration

nets and everything like that, the southwestern Indians. So they learned to do that over in Cherokee. It wasn’t their own traditions and customs, but they were desperately poor. You can’t really blame them for that. I’ll go out on a limb here and defend Kephart because I know that he has a bad name and he routinely gets trashed by every generation of students from Appalachia coming up who go away to school. They discover him as being a huge promoter of Appalachian stereotypes, but if you actually read Kephart, like if you read Our Southern Highlanders, it’s not that bad. His error is the same that I’ve made. If you look at my documentary about Popcorn and you think all mountain people are like this — and I hopefully did not give that impression — Kephart made sweeping, broad statements about one portion of the population. SMN: What sort of sense did you get from Popcorn about valuing his history, his ancestors, the community in which he was born and raised? NH: I think that value was intrinsic to him in the sense that he refused to change and adapt. Like making moonshine. That was really out of keeping with the times. It was dated. You could look at him as a living anachronism, but he really was just living the

S EE POPCORN, PAGE 8

Smoky Mountain News

SMN: Do you think having to live with those two stereotypes in the same body — the fiercely independent, “noble mountaineer” and the cartoon character that everybody wanted to see driving his Model A Ford — affected Popcorn? NH: The first thing I would like to say is that in talking about stereotypes and how he invoked them, Popcorn was a talented performer but it wasn’t a put-on, either. Everything that he was pulling from and putting into play was from his legitimate cultural background in his community. He just knew when to lean in and exaggerate a little bit. How did it affect him? He’s the only per-

son who would have said that we’d still be talking about him now, 12 years after his death. He always kind of banked on the fact that people couldn’t get enough of him but I think he was probably very surprised at the intensity with which people kind of grabbed onto him. He didn’t like to be called a hero, because he was an outlaw and that was his identity. When he was having legal troubles at the end of his life and people kept calling him up saying, “I’m pulling for you, you’re my hero” or whatever, he said, “The next time somebody says that I’m going to say ‘F—you!’ and slam the phone down.” I saw him kind of become a little more extreme towards the end of his life, a little bit more over the top, because I think he needed to take control of the narrative and it was bigger than him and it was kind of running away with him. And now that he’s gone, I mean, it did run away with him. That’s one of the reasons why I made the book was to address his legacy and how people think of him today.

April 21-27, 2021

or not, those stereotypes are still in play, they’ve just kind of settled down a little bit because we’ve gotten so familiar with some of the extreme examples in film and television and cartoons. A point that I make in the book — and this is tricky territory, contentious territory — is that not all mountain people reject the stereotypes at this point. In fact, they’ve found them to be a convenient emblem of their heritage, even though they recognize on some level that it’s not how they themselves look or their neighbors look or their parents look, and I think that that underlies a lot of Popcorn’s popularity. He embodies a lot in the heritage that is being lost or has been lost that they’re proud of.

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Some might say this photo captures the essence of moonshiner Popcorn Sutton.

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

Neal Hutcheson photo

POPCORN, CONTINUED FROM 7 way he grew up. I’d see this with country people sometimes too — half of my family come from farm people — but he really prized old things. I loved visiting his place outside of Parrottsville [in Tennessee] where he made moonshine. He built his own house and you see pictures of that in the book. It was all made of these rough-cut pieces of lumber that he got from a sawmill. So he made a house and then he had a shed that was an outbuilding. That was his still-house. And then he had another work building. When I did more research to make sure I knew what I was talking about in the book, I learned that this replicated the settlement patterns of the Europeans who came to Appalachia. They lived typically in a circle in the woods and they had this sort of encampment of little houses and things like that, so whether on purpose or by instinct he really replicated the world that he grew up in.

SMN: Another aspect of Appalachian culture seems to be the realization that the veil between this world and the next is very thin here. Popcorn had his own coffin in his house. NH: He was very interested in death, specifically his own death, the whole entire time I knew him. It was probably common in older 8

Free virtual book reading and Q&A with Neal Hutcheson Join Neal Hutcheson, author of The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, for an online book reading and interactive question-andanswer session. Sponsored by Blue Ridge Books and hosted by SMN’s Cory Vaillancourt, the event is free and open to the public and will be held via Zoom, but registration is required. Copies of Hutcheson’s book — adorned with dozens of stunning full-color photos that capture Sutton’s life — are available for purchase at Blue Ridge Books, 428 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville. • Time: 10 a.m. • Date: Saturday, May 1 • Location: bit.ly/MoonshinerPopcorn Appalachian culture that he came from that people were more comfortable with death and with their own death. I’ve interviewed other people who talked about how if they found a good stone or something like that, they they’d come back and cart it home somehow and save it for their own headstone.

What Popcorn did in preparing for his own death years in advance was purchasing his own coffin and his own foot stone, quite famously [it reads, “Popcorn said F—- you”]. It also kind of speaks to a moment where Popcorn had made money, and what do you spend money on? What did he value? I think he bought a chainsaw and some new boots and he bought a coffin because that’s something that everybody needs eventually. SMN: The end of Popcorn’s life was an interesting period for an interesting man. When’s the last time you talked to him and what did he say? NH: I spoke to him a few days before he died. I don’t remember what we talked about, but we talked periodically. I had been up there recently in January for his sentencing, but it was just kind of a normal conversation, which with him was always kind of funny and just shooting the bull and talking about this and that. But he did make a point of thanking me and expressing gratitude for the documentaries that we had done together and the work we’d done together and the adventures that we’d had. When the news came a few days later that he had taken his life, after the shock it was sort of like, “Oh, right. He was calling all his friends and saying goodbye.” SMN: But then he was resurrected – there

was the rumor that in typical outlaw fashion his death was faked and everybody was in on it and he died with his boots off, warm and cozy and free several years later. There’s no evidence that this is even remotely true, but how did that rumor cement the myth of this very mortal man? NH. I have a lot of sympathy for that story. I’ve had dreams several times, periodically I do, where I see him and I talk to him and he’s fine and that exact story is true. He just kind of wanted to escape the public eye and the jail sentence and things like that. With many of us, there’s a wish that he was still around to talk to, but I think what plays into the myth and the legend of Popcorn Sutton more is the fact that he did die and the fact that he didn’t live to go through a prison sentence and come out of that in diminishing health, his life winding down slowly. I think that if you look at all folk heroes, they die. They get killed. He fits that template. I think that’s why people sometimes say that he was killed by the government that pursued him and prosecuted him. They like to say that the government killed him. I think the fact that he died cemented his legend more than anything, but the fact that stories sprung up about him — I find that a wonderful example of how folk stories originate. Most of the folk stories we know are rooted in the past, but this one, we got to see it happen in real time.

All 12 Tribal Council seats — two for each township — are up for election, as well as school board seats representing Wolfetown, Birdtown and Big Cove. There will be one open seat on each board. On Tribal Council, Big Cove Representative Perry Shell will not run for re-election, and on the school board, Representative Gloria Griffin is not seeking re-election.

Townships with more than four candidates running for Tribal Council or more than two candidates running for school board will have a Primary Election for those seats in June, and each voter will select two candidates at the ballot box. In the General Election, voters will select two of four candidates to represent their community on Tribal Council and one of two candidates for school board. This year, there will not be Primary Elections for Tribal Council seats representing Big Cove, Painttown or Cherokee County/Snowbird. The General Election will be held Thursday, Sept. 2, with Tribal Council certifying the results and swearing in new members on Monday, Oct. 4. School board members serve staggered four-year terms and Tribal Council members serve non-staggered two-year terms.

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The Town of Waynesville Board of Aldermen will be holding a public hearing on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. or as closely thereafter as possible. The purpose of the Public Hearing is to seek input from residents and property owners as to the needs of the Downtown Municipal Service District in accordance with NC GS 160A-536 (d1)(3). The Town will use that input to draft a “Request for Proposals” to instruct prospective bidders for a contract to administer the Service District for a period of up to five years.

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ith less than two months to go before the Primary Election Thursday, June 4, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Board of Elections has released its list of candidates certified to run in the 2021 elections for Tribal Council and School Board. The filing period for tribal elections ended on March 5, but the EBCI did not release the candidate list until Thursday, April 15, which under ordinance changes approved last year is the deadline enshrined in tribal law for that list’s official publication in The Cherokee One Feather. During the last tribal election in 2019, the elections office provided a pre-certification list of prospective candidates immediately after the filing period closed. During the certification process that followed, the election board told three of those candidates they were not eligible to run under tribal law and denied them certification. After a protracted series of court cases and protest hearings that extended well into the campaign season, all three were eventually allowed to run. However, this year the elections office did not return repeated requests for the preliminary candidate list after the March 5 filing deadline. When the list of certified candidates was eventually published on April 15, The Smoky Mountain News sent a series of questions to the elections office requesting information about any person who filed to run for election but did not receive certification. No response was received as of press time, so it is unknown whether anybody was denied certification or if so, what the basis was for that decision.

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Commissioners discuss changes to Sylva statue BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ight months after voting to revamp the pedestal of the county’s controversial Civil War monument, Jackson County commissioners got their first look at what the new version might look like. On Aug. 4, 2020, commissioners voted 41 to deny a request from the Town of Sylva to move the statue elsewhere but to remove the Confederate flag and the inscription “Our Heroes of the Confederacy” from the statue’s base. The only opposing vote came from Commissioner Ron Mau, who is no longer on the board. Chairman Brian McMahan and Commissioner Gayle Woody have been collaborating on a proposal for what the new inscription should say and presented their ideas to the full board during an April 13 work session. Under their proposal, the Confederate flag on the front side of the statue would be covered with a large plaque reading, “Jackson County N.C. Civil War Memorial. This monument was erected by citizens of Jackson County in memory of those who died during the American Civil War. Originally dedicated on September 18, 1915. Rededicated on May 11, 1996 to honor Jackson County veterans of all wars.” The words “Our heroes of ” currently located below the flag, would be removed, and a plaque spelling out the nation’s unofficial motto, “E Pluribus Unum” — which means “out of many, one” — would cover the words “The Confederacy.” There are no plans to permanently cover or remove an original plaque on the back of the pedestal that reads, “To our valiant fathers: champions of reconciliation with justice, of union with manhood, of peace with honor; they fought with faithfulness, labored with cheerfulness, and suffered in silence. To our heroic mothers: Spartan in devotion, Teuton in sacrifice, in patience superior to either and in modesty and grace matchless among womankind.” For much of the past year a chain-link fence has encircled the statue, and a plywood frame has covered the pedestal. McMahan and Woody also suggested installing some interpretive signs around the

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

statue to more completely tell the story of the Civil War’s impact on Jackson County and its citizens’ involvement. “We didn’t want to do anything more than we had to do to this monument, minimize the amount of changes, and it had been suggested by several members of the community that maybe we should put the names of the soldiers from Jackson County who served on here,” said McMahan. “But that’s a hard thing to do because you’re trying to find all these names and to make sure you’re not leaving somebody out.” The list of names — mostly Confederate but including some local Union soldiers too — would fit better on the proposed storyboards, and should future research reveal names left off the original version, it would be easier to add those names to external signs than to the statue itself. Commissioners Mark Jones and Boyce Deitz complimented McMahan and Woody on their work. “I know that when you read that it’s somewhat simple,” said Deitz. “And I know y’all had to put a lot of time in that. So I appreciate you doing that, and I think we have a desire to some way try to bring people together in this whole country and the state and our county, and I think that’s part of what I see that y’all did there.” Commissioner Tom Stribling, meanwhile, asked why the board was suggesting any changes at all. McMahan then briefed him on the August 2020 vote, which occurred prior to Stribling’s election to the board but well after he’d filed to run for election. “Boy, that’s a shame,” said Stribling. “That’s a shame. That’s history right there. I don’t understand it, but I guess you all voted on it, and I don’t really have a say-so.” Regardless of the words ultimately chosen, the decision is likely to meet opposition from multiple corners of the community, including those most distant from Stribling, the board’s sole Republican. Frank Huguelet, a leader in the effort to keep the statue where it is, said that he’s not in favor of the statue being altered at all but can live with that decision, and with the language as proposed.

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“I think the problem that we have run into with any debate is you have two sides and no matter how it turns out somebody’s going to feel ripped off. Somebody’s going to lose,” he said. “And in a cultural issue like this I just looked at it as I don’t like anything being done and I don’t like any alterations, but if the best way to ensure the monument

A preliminary mockup presented at county commissioners’ April 13 work session shows where proposed new language might go on the Civil War monument in Sylva. Donated image

remains is by altering some of the language on it, then so be it.” Reconcile Sylva, the racial justice group that initiated calls to remove the statue, has made it clear that its members do not consider commissioners’ decision to leave it up with alterations to be a compromise, pledging to continue protesting the statue as long as it remains in its prominent downtown location. “This is just putting lipstick on a pig,” reads an April 15 post on the group’s Facebook page linking to The Smoky

Mountain News’ initial reporting on the proposed language. “So, this is a long game, but that’s ok. On to the next phase of getting this ugly racist thing removed. It’s so embarrassing that the rest of the country is working to dismantle racism while Jackson County wallows in it. Shameful.” However, there seems to be little appetite among board members to relocate the statue, and even if there were the board’s legal authority to do so is in question. A 2015 state law provides that “an object of remembrance located on public property may not be permanently removed and may only be relocated … An object of remembrance that is permanently relocated shall be relocated to a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, availability and access that are within the boundaries of the jurisdiction from which it was relocated.” The county has few other sites of similar prominence, honor, visibility and availability to the steps ascending Sylva’s courthouse hill, where the statue currently resides, and because its prominence is the main issue for opponents, relocating it to a similarly visible site would not likely solve the problem. While all board members save Stribling expressed support for the proposal from McMahan and Woody, the board has not made any final decisions on the new language to appear on the pedestal. County Manager Don Adams is now working to get estimated pricing for the project, and he will take that information back to the board for a final decision.

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Virus trends down as vaccination continues news April 21-27, 2021

Despite a continued pause on distribution of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and flagging demand for appointments, the past week saw continued progress on local vaccination rates and a reversal of the upward trend in confirmed cases. In the four-county area (Haywood, Jackson, Swain and Macon counties) 57,334 people had received at least one vaccine shot as of April 19, equivalent to 36.9 percent of the total population, while 29.2 percent are now fully vaccinated. By comparison, April 12 data show 32.4 percent of the population at least partially vaccinated, a total of 49,657 people. Current figures put the region right on par with the state, which as of April 19 was reporting that 37 percent of its residents had received at least one shot and 27.6 percent were fully vaccinated. Of the state’s adult population, 46.9 percent have received at least one dose. It is unclear how many people must be protected from COVID-19 through either vaccination or recovery from infection in order to achieve herd immunity, though health experts estimate that figure lies between 70 and 90 percent. This time last week, cases were climbing. In the week of April 6-13, Haywood County reported 70 new cases, Jackson County 24, Swain County five and Macon County 99. By comparison, Haywood was down to just 28 new cases for the week of March 15-22. Cases appear to be trending downward again, with the state dashboard showing 57 new cases in Haywood County for the week of April 13-20, 13 in Jackson County and four in Swain County. The seven-day rolling average trend line for statewide data is once more curving downward. However, Macon County’s numbers are rising, with the county logging 117 new cases in the past week, an 18 percent increase from the previous sevenday period. North Carolina is currently vaccinating all residents 16 and older. To find a vaccine provider near you, visit www.myspot.nc.gov. — By Holly Kays, staff writer

Vaccine event for teens Smoky Mountain News

With the help of regional partners, Macon County Public Health will be hosting a special vaccine event April 23 to provide Pfizer vaccines to those who are 16 and 17 years old. Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine approved for use for individuals as young as 16 years of age. A legal guardian of the student must be present for those under the age of 18 to receive the vaccination. Those who wish to schedule an appointment for April 23 must call Macon County’s Call Center at 828.524.1500 no later than 5 p.m. April 21 to ensure enough vaccine is on hand. All other individuals 18 years old and older who wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can call Macon County’s Vaccine Call Center at 828.524.1500 to register and schedule an appointment at another time. Appointments are readily available with no waitlist.

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Catawba leaders break ground on the Kings Mountain site during a July 2020 event. Brittany Randolph/Shelby Star photo

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Federal court rules for Catawba casino Cherokee leaders: ‘considering all of our options’ BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER n a 55-page opinion filed Friday, April 16, U.S. District Court Judge James A. Boasberg gave a green light in the Catawba Indian Nation’s quest to build a casino in Cleveland County and struck a heavy blow to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ yearslong effort to keep the facility from existing. “Plaintiffs (EBCI) raise several close and complex questions of statutory and regulatory construction, and the Court certainly cannot fault them for rolling the dice here,” Boasberg wrote in the gambling metaphor-riddled opinion. “In the end, though, they come up with snake eyes, as on each claim they either lack standing or lose on the merits.” The ruling came more than a year after the EBCI first filed its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Interior on March 17, 2020. They filed the suit five days after Interior approved the Catawba’s application to take 16.5 acres in Kings Mountain into trust as tribal land. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma joined the EBCI in its suit as an intervenor on the plaintiff side, while the Catawba joined as an intervenor on the defendant’s side. Having the land taken into trust was perhaps the highest hurdle the Catawba had to clear to make their planned casino a reality. However, the EBCI denounced the decision as “rushed,” “flawed,” and in violation of “the plain language of federal law.” Allowing the decision to stand, they said, would set unintended and dangerous precedent. Specifically, the EBCI argued that the land-to-trust decision should be reversed based on six different claims. The first three assert that DOI’s decision violated the

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April 21-27, 2021

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Administrative Procedure Act. According to the EBCI, the 1993 Settlement Act — a congressionally approved agreement between South Carolina and the Catawba setting the framework for the Catawba’s status as a federally recognized tribe — bars the Catawba from operating a casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act; the Settlement Act prevents the Catawba from having land taken into trust under the Indian Reorganization Act; and the Kings Mountain site is not eligible for gaming under IGRA regulations. Additionally, the EBCI claimed that the DOI arbitrarily ignored the allegedly suspect background of the Catawba’s business partner Wallace Cheves, and that the DOI violated both the National Environmental Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act.

INTERPRETING THE SETTLEMENT ACT The first three claims all hinged on a legal interpretation of the 1993 Settlement Act. Section 14 of that act states that IGRA “shall not apply to the (Catawba) Tribe” and that “except as set forth in the Settlement Agreement and the (South Carolina) Act,” South Carolina law “shall govern the regulation of gambling devices and the conduct of gambling or wagering by the Tribe on and off the Reservation.” The EBCI contends that this section plainly states that the Catawba may game only in South Carolina as allowed by South Carolina’s government. Similarly, the EBCI argued that because the Settlement Act spells out an alternative process for land acquisition to the one outlined in the IRA, the Catawba must follow this alternative process and are not eligible to take land into trust under the IRA, as Interior said it could do in last year’s decision. To both arguments, Boasberg responded that context makes it clear that Settlement

Act provisions were intended to displace federal law only within the boundaries of South Carolina. Outside of South Carolina, federal law should apply. “At a minimum,” he wrote, the language is ambiguous, and where ambiguity exists precedent says the court must rule in favor of the tribe — the Catawba. “The intent of the Settlement Agreement seems to have been to establish a specific regime for Catawba gambling in South Carolina that would supersede IGRA’s more Tribe-friendly framework — hence the need to clarify that an otherwise preemptive federal law, IGRA, would not apply,” Boasberg wrote. “Put differently, the Settlement Agreement made clear that IGRA would not apply to the Tribe because tribal gambling would instead be covered by specific rules set out in the Settlement Agreement and/or state law. Under that reading, the Agreement has nothing to say about whether the Tribe would be permitted to game under IGRA outside of South Carolina. That is unsurprising, as the Agreement is exclusively between South Carolina and the Tribe.” In response to the EBCI’s argument that the Kings Mountain site is not eligible for IGRA gaming — even if IGRA applies to the Catawba and Interior may use the IRA to take land into trust for them — Boasberg wrote that, “although Plaintiffs play their hand well, Defendants hold the high card.” IGRA states that tribes may not conduct gaming on lands taken into trust after Oct. 17, 1988 — unless those lands meet one of several exceptions. Interior concluded that the Kings Mountain site fits the “restored lands” exception, which applies when a tribe’s lands are restored to federal recognition. Boasberg summarized the EBCI’s interpretation of that exception to mean that only land identified under a restoration act could be taken into trust as restored land and said that he did not believe Interior would have adopted that “crabbed view” of the restored lands exception, especially because numerous courts rebuffed that “narrow approach” following lawsuits regarding past Interior decisions. Boasberg characterized the EBCI’s claim regarding Cheves’ background as “something of a wild card,” noting that Cheves has never been convicted of a crime and that his involvement is not reflected in any agency records.

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In a press release issued the same day as Boasberg’s decision, the Catawba applauded the ruling. “This decision reaffirms the clear historical record of the Catawba’s ancestral lands and cultural ties in North Carolina and the rigorous process of review undertaken by the U.S. Department of the Interior in taking the land into trust,” said Catawba Chief Bill Harris. “The Interior Department righted a historical wrong, allowing the Catawba to achieve the promise of self-determination through economic development.” The finished project is envisioned as a $273 million casino resort expected to create 2,600 permanent jobs and generate $308 million per year in direct economic activity. The tribe broke ground on the site last July, initially intending to have the first phase up and running this summer. However, as the lawsuit dragged on the Catawba elected instead to open a temporary facility this summer, a 500-slot affair to be made of prefabricated modular buildings that will be torn down when the permanent, 1,300-slot first phase opens next summer. Meanwhile, the EBCI anticipates that the new casino could eat away up to $100 million per year in revenues currently enjoyed by its facilities in Cherokee and Murphy. For years now, the tribe has been trying to diversify its revenue streams to offset future losses from gaming competition. Among other projects, the EBCI expects to close on a $280 million purchase of the commercial gaming operations at Caesars Southern Indiana this summer and is currently developing a 200-acre roadside attraction along Interstate 40 in Sevier County, Tennessee, planning to open the first phase next year. Meanwhile, it remains to be seen whether the Cherokee will play another hand in court. The tribe could choose to appeal Boasberg’s ruling but has not yet stated publicly whether it will do so. “There were several matters of law that the court cited as very complex and narrowly decided,” said Principal Chief Richard Sneed. “Our team is currently considering all of our options to see justice done in this case.”

April 21-27, 2021

The EBCI’s final two arguments hinged on the allegation that the DOI violated NEPA and NHPA when arriving at its decision. The EBCI contends that the Kings Mountain site is located in Cherokee ancestral lands and that the casino project would likely destroy Cherokee artifacts buried there. Interior engaged with the EBCI before arriving at its ruling but did not consult with the Cherokee Nation — the tribes allege those interactions were not sufficient under NHPA. However, Boasberg ruled that risk to Cherokee remains and artifacts “falls on the speculative side of the line.” The proposed site is highly disturbed and has been previously prospected for tin, used as a soil borrow pit and graded back to a level surface, making it unlikely that any intact artifacts remain. Further, the Catawba have agreed to a specific set of measures to prevent damage to any artifacts that are turned up during construction. “That takes an already small risk of injury down to a true long shot — in legal terms, below the ‘substantial probability’ threshold necessary to establish future injury,” Boasberg wrote. Boasberg similarly struck down the EBCI’s “final chip” — its claim that Interior’s failure to complete an Environmental Impact Statement and adequately consider project alternatives violates NEPA. An EIS is necessary if a project will “significantly” affect the “quality of the human environment,” and the EBCI contended that such was the case here. The tribe argued that Interior wrongly found: that the project would not significantly impact Cherokee cultural resources, to which Boasberg reiterated his previous finding that such damage was unlikely; that the agency “failed to consider the local effects of the looming jurisdictional quagmire the Decision threatens,” to which Boasberg replied that while the tribe should get “points for creative phrasing,” the argument was a “nonstarter,” as it was based on a reading of the 1993 Settlement Act that he had already found to be “absurd”; that the agency neglected to consider local impacts such as pollution, harm to recreation at nearby state parks and increased crime, to which Boasberg responded that the EBCI forfeited its right to raise these objections because it did not do so during the 30-day comment following publication of the draft Environmental Assessment; and that Interior did not properly analyze the cumulative impacts of its decision because it did not assess the effects of further development around the casino, to which Boasberg said that a NEPA review includes only the record available at the time of the decision, and that no major new projects were in the works at that time. Finally, the EBCI argued that Interior should have considered “reasonable alternatives” under the NEPA — namely, taking land into trust somewhere outside of Cherokee aboriginal territory. In the EA, Interior stated that evaluating other parcels was “outside the scope and control” of the

current action. Boasberg sided with that argument, also stating that because much of the Southeastern United States is historical Cherokee territory, “building a facility outside those vast lands, especially for a tribe located in the Carolinas, was not ‘objectively reasonable’ or ‘feasible.’” “To the undoubted relief of the reader who has made it thus far, the Court is out of gambling metaphors,” Boasberg’s opinion concluded. “It will, therefore, simply restate its conclusions once more: Interior did not violate the Settlement Act or IGRA by taking the Kings Mountain parcel into trust for the Catawba; the agency properly applied its IGRA regulations; it did not act arbitrarily by failing to consider the background of Wallace Cheves; Plaintiffs lack standing to press their NHPA claims and those NEPA claims that overlap; and their remaining NEPA claims fail. The Court will accordingly enter summary judgment on all counts for the Defendants.”

news April 21-27, 2021 Smoky Mountain News 14

Triple-win Climate Solutions: Earth Day and Earth Week 2021

s always for the past half-century, Earth Day 2021 will be observed worldwide on April 22. This year’s theme is “Restore the Earth.” In western North Carolina, restoration has been the foundation of our economy and quality of life for several decades. Improved pollution controls on industries, cleanup of contaminated soil, and ongoing conservation of waterways and forests have made it possible for the “Heart of the Smokies” to attract record millions of visitors annually. These and related efforts have improved human health, supported family farms and forests, and helped to bring balance to nature. More is being done already and will continue over the next year and beyond, thanks to new federal and state programs, notably Governor Cooper’s Climate Change Interagency Council and White House-led initiatives to be presented to Congress. These conservation programs will help WNC thrive despite increased precipitation, landslides and mudslides; and rising seasonal temperatures. For updates statewide and locally, see the NC Department of Environmental Quality page “NC Climate Change Interagency Council.” https://deq.nc.gov/energy-climate/climatechange/nc-climate-change-interagency-council Individuals and businesses can help to ensure that children today inherit a mountain lifestyle at least as good as their parents’. Local Earth Day 2021 programs give everyone a chance to

contribute. Below are several events for kids and families as well as individuals. • Earth Day Extravaganza hosted by Haywood County Public Library and Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District. Designed for children and teens, but adults can learn, too.

• Pop-Up Story Walk, same hosts, downtown Canton: Each business displays one page of Maureen Wright’s children’s book “Earth Day Birthday” in its window. • Earth Day Egg Hunt: Look for wooden Earth Day Eggs in the town parks of Clyde, Canton, Maggie Valley, and Waynesville. Each egg tells the ﬁnder a simple action to take, such as recycling clean paper. Everyone who completes a challenge can photograph themselves with

the result and email the photo to the Haywood County Soil and Water Conservation District. A weekly drawing is held to award prizes. Details and directions at www.themountaineer.com/life/earth-day-extravaganza/article_326cb0e2-919a-11ebb482-e3098f43db76.html • The Bucket Brigade hosted by Haywood Waterways Association: Individuals and families help clean up a local stream of their choice. Start at the Waynesville or Canton Public Library to check out a bucket of supplies and directions. • Richland Creek Cleanup: This Haywood Waterways group clean-up is Saturday, April 24. To learn more, see www.haywoodwaterways.org • Online programs by local organizations: Monday through Friday April 19-23, see how-to, informative videos for all ages. Accessed on the Haywood County Public Library “virtual programming” page. Monday Smoky Mountain News columnist and author Susanna Shetley reads her children’s book “The Jolt Felt Around the World.” • Tuesday the 20th is “Talkin' Trash in Haywood County.” • Wednesday “Super Soils!”

• Thursday “Compost Crash Course.” • Friday “Awesome Opossums: Secret Backyard Helpers.”

MORE To read about the climate crisis and possible solutions, see the Jackson County Public Library’s list and descriptions of recommended books: jcls.bibliocommons.com/list/share/1293000887 /1626094945 On April 22, Thursday, world-wide online programs show new “green technologies” at work, including ecosystem restoration. Other programs relevant to rural North Carolina are reforestation, regenerative agriculture, equity and environmental justice, and citizen science. Workshops, celebrity speakers, and musical performances, all free, at www.earthday.org/earthday-2021/ The ﬁrst Earth Day was held in 1970. On December 2, 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) came into being when Congress voted to approve it. The EPA was organized by an expert panel convened by President M. Nixon (Republican) to tackle the U.S.’s worsening drinking water and streams, air, and soil. For details about the EPA, see www.epa.gov/history/origins-epa By Mary Jane Curry, WNC Climate Action Coalition volunteer, Climate Reality Leader WNCClimateAction.com

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS EDITOR ranklin Town Manager Summer Woodard recently submitted her resignation letter after accepting a position as the town manager of Reidsville. Woodard has served as Franklin’s town manager since 2014. Overseeing some 61 employees, Woodard has received glowing reviews each year from the Franklin Town Council for her leadership abilities. She has overseen the hiring of key management-level personnel, used a public-private partnership to secure property for a fire department sub-station and implemented a Comprehensive Improvements Plan and rate study for water and sewer projects. She’s also been successful at increasing the town’s General Fund balance (savings) from 32% to 82% of the annual budget. Before taking the helm, she served as the assistant to the town manager and human resource officer in Franklin from 2010-2014. A Franklin native, Woodard holds bachelor degrees in political science and history from Western Carolina University, where she also secured a master’s in public administration. She also has completed the Municipal Administration Certification offered by the UNC-School of Government. Woodard worked as an intern in the Town of Franklin while working toward her Master of Public Administration degree and has worked in all town departments. “I have thought for some time that Summer would be sought after by another town,” said Franklin Mayor Bob Scott. “She has the reputation of being an outstanding town manager so it was only a matter of time. I cannot begin to tell you how much I will miss her. She is not only a wonderful person to work with, and, over the years, she has become a great friend. I know the town employees feel the same way. So, it is sadness on my part and pride that she will be a great asset to Reidsville.” Woodard has been active in the community by serving on multiple boards, including the Tourism Development Commission and Tourism Development Authority Boards, the Macon County Transit Board and Rotary Club. Woodard worked with the REACH of Macon board, Macon County CareNet Board — a local food bank — where she has been a member of the board for six years.

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Franklin manager to leave her post

Reidsville is a town of 14,520 in Rockingham County near Greensboro, compared to Franklin with a population of about 4,000. Woodard said she was excited to join the Reidville community, but she will also miss the team she’s helped build in Franklin. “I am forever grateful and humbled by the opportunities the Town of Franklin has given me over the past decade,” Woodard wrote in her resignation letter. “The Town of

Summer Woodward

— Summer Woodward

Smoky Mountain News

Franklin has accomplished many projects and built a sustainable vessel due to the guidance of Mayor Scott, Town Council and most importantly the Town employees. The Town of Franklin employees are the greatest asset to this organization. The Town of Franklin employees give their all every day to ensure residents and visitors are provided exemplary services. The town of Franklin is a better place because of the employees that work here.” Woodard’s last day in Franklin will be Monday, June 7. Woodard has already presented the 2021-22 proposed budget, which is one of the most important roles of a town manager. Scott said plans are in place to begin a search for a new town manager. Woodard’s starting salary was $85,000 in 2014 and her current salary is just over $90,000 a year.

April 21-27, 2021

“I am forever grateful and humbled by the opportunities the Town of Franklin has given me over the past decade.”

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Maggie property owners oppose waterfall project BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER aggie Valley Country Club Estates Property Owners Association has communicated intense opposition to the proposed Waterfall Park on 8 acres of town property off of Old Still Road. The town has owned the property for over 17 years but until recently had not begun the process of developing the land. Last year, the town hired Mosaic Civic Design Studio and Mattern and Craig Engineers to develop feasible design concepts for the property. In March, Mosaic presented three broad concepts to the board, with estimated costs up to $781,000 if bathrooms are included in the development plan. Because the land is located within a residential area, surrounded by houses, public feedback to the idea of developing the property has been mixed. C.B. Turner is a full-time resident of the MVCCE, retired businessman, past president of MVCCE Property Owners Association and chairman of the taskforce to prevent the waterfall park project from happening. At an April 6 Maggie Valley Board of Aldermen meeting, Turner made a presentation to the board about why it should not proceed with the Waterfall Park. The primary concern communicated to the board was that a waterfall park on the Old Still Road property would disturb the

presented by Mosaic included road construction and parking spaces. Turner noted that with increased traffic in the community, there will be increased noise disturbances from the vehicles as well

as increased need for road repairs. He also worries that visitors will not know how to drive on mountain roads and that no matter how many parking spaces are created for the waterfall park, it will

April 21-27, 2021

“PPQ’’ of the MVCCE — peace, privacy and quiet. He made it clear that this was a residential community, not a tourist destination. “We are very upset and angry because you will be messing with our PPQ,” said Turner. According to Turner, MVCCE has over 300 homes and about 700 residents, more than 63 percent of whom are part-time residents and most of whom are retired. When Mosaic presented its design concepts to the board, staff cited studies that showed ecodevelopment, like the trail system proposed for the Old Still Road property, increased property value. Turner vehemently disagreed with that projection, arguing that developing the waterfall property would cause a decrease in home and property values. According to Turner, not everyone moving to Maggie Valley can afford to buy in MVCCE, and not everyone moving to MVCCE wants to live next to hiking trails. These two factors would create a lower demand, driving prices in MVCCE down. Another major concern for MVCCE is maintaining roads within the community. Property owners pay the cost of maintaining the 13 miles of roads within the community. The road that currently leads to the waterfall is a single lane road without room to turn around and no parking. Each design concept

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Join friends your friends and neighbors in helping to make Waynesville a cleaner place by volunteering for the first #WaynesvilleCleanSweep, a communitywide litter pickup. Volunteer crews will be assigned to some of the more problematic areas of town by April 21 and head out on April 24 at 10 a.m. Heavy-duty bags and gloves will be provided. Those who can’t join a crew can still pitch in by tidying up closer to home – bags and gloves can be picked up until 4 p.m. on April 23 at the Waynesville Municipal Building, 16. S. Main St., at Fire Station #1, 1022 N. Main St., at the Waynesville Public Services Building, 129 Legion Dr., at the Waynesville Rec Center, 550 Vance St., or at the Waynesville Finance Office, 280 Georgia Ave. For more information, contact Alderman Jon Feichter at jfeichter@waynesvillenc.gov or call 828.246.3001. To sign up, visit www.signup.com/go/xWWTwHg.

County will take place beginning April 22. Line up your sponsors, then hike, bike or run, raising money for every mile you cover. This is a safe and socially distanced event following all CDC guidelines and local ordinances – hike any trail, anywhere, with friends and family. Just sign up, record your miles, get sponsors, and win prizes! Registration fees are $10 for juniors, $20 for adults and $40 for families of any size. Helping Hands of Haywood works to provide temporary shelter, transportation, meals, medical resources, supplies and advocates for some of our most vulnerable populations in Haywood County and Western North Carolina. See you on the trails, happy hiking! For more information or to register, visit www.haywoodhelpinghands.org/hiking-with-helping-hands.

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A job fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building, 1288 Georgia Rd., Franklin. There will be 17 employers onsite, including Drake Enterprises, Old Edwards Inn and Spa, Beasley Flooring, Blue Ridge Irrigation, Companion Health and more. Bring your resume and dress for success. If you don’t have a resume, call the career office for assistance at 828.369.9534.

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crime. The POA has a petition with over 200 signatories opposed to development of a waterfall park on the property. Other concerns include trash and runoff flowing toward Jonathan Creek as well as disturbing wildlife in the area. “I have had a vacation home in Maggie Valley for 30 years and am now selling because of this. I pray for the other homeowners to be saved from this ridiculous attempt to make “No matter how much parking you beautiful Maggie Valley into another Gatlinburgesque provide, visitors will park on the tourist trap,” said Linda Gettle, a resident of edge of the road. Visitors will park MVCCE. on the edge of homeowners’ yards Otis Sizemore, another resident of MVCCE said, and in their driveways.” “We object to non-residents being encouraged by the — C.B. Turner town to bring increased traffic to our neighborhoods, trespass on private property, scatter trash plan, it would cause an “invasion” by the for us to remove, park on our narrow streets homeless population. and yards, disturbing the peace and quiet of “As everyone is aware, vacant homes are our neighborhood, and creating other probmore susceptible to incidents,” said Turner. lems for our residents with their behavior.” “Also, if restrooms were put into place that Turner suggested that instead of develwould be a welcoming card to a homeless oping the property, the town should sell the invasion, especially when the homeless find property, zoned for residential use only. out there are vacant homes in the area.” At the budget retreat for the Town Some MVCCE properties lie within board on March 8, Mayor Mike Eveland Maggie Valley Town limits, and some are said it was a priority for the town to decide, outside the town limits. Turner thinks this this year, what to do with the property off of would create increased costs, and work, not Old Still Road. The town will either develop only for Maggie Valley police officers, but or sell the property. also for county deputies due to increased not be enough. “No matter how much parking you provide, visitors will park on the edge of the road. Visitors will park on the edge of homeowners’ yards and in their driveways,” said Turner. Turner also postulated that increased traffic in the area would increase crime in the community. He worries that if restrooms are included in the construction

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State superintendent visits WNC schools 9:30AM-4PM

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER orth Carolina State Superintendent of Public Schools Catherine Truitt ended a tour of Western North Carolina Schools on April 16 with a visit to the Haywood County School System. Truitt was elected to the position of State Superintendent during the November 2020 general election, beating her opponent Jen Mangrum by less than 3 percentage points. This was her first official school tour since taking office. The tour included visits to schools in Macon, Swain, Jackson and Haywood counties. Truitt spoke at the ceremony for the Beginning Teacher of Catherine Truitt the Year Award in Jackson County and had the opportunity to meet all the finalists for the award. In Jackson County, Truitt also visited Smokey Mountain Elementary School. Along with district leaders, she went to several classrooms where she observed and spoke with teachers and staff about the unique environment in Jackson County Schools. JCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Tony Tipton said Truitt seemed genuinely interested in the school and especially enjoyed getting to know the students. “I was very pleased to share the great things the staff and administration are doing at Smokey Mountain Elementary,” Tipton said. “She is welcome back anytime her schedule permits.” In Haywood County, Truitt and her entourage toured Clyde Elementary, Waynesville Middle School and ended her day at the Education Center in Clyde for a brief meeting with HCS administration. “One thing that was fascinating was that in all of the schools that we went to, 80 percent of the kids were back in school. That’s more than what we’re seeing in other parts of the state,” said Truitt. During the tour, Truitt said she saw a lot of student-centered learning, teachers striving to meet the needs of individual children

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Pisgah Legal offers tax help Local nonprofit Pisgah Legal Services will be offering a “Last Chance EITC Tax Preparation Clinic” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in the parking lot of its Asheville office at 62 Charlotte Street. IRS Certified volunteers will be available on-site to prepare taxes for free on a first-

they had a significant number of children who were still at home, but we didn’t see that today.” During the pandemic, local school boards and administration have had the ability to choose the learning plan that best fits their district, within the bounds set by Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive orders regarding public education. “The west is a really good example of what we mean when we say one size doesn’t fit all. There were lots of counties out west that had low infection rates but had the ability to pivot very quickly if there was a case or a cluster. They may be in the same

region, but each county is different from another,” said Truitt. During the election, the North Carolina Association of Educators backed Truitt’s opponent, Jen Mangrum. After Truitt was elected, NCAE president Tamika Walker Kelly said, “Nothing Catherine Truitt could say shows me that she’s dedicated to putting students and educators first.” In response, Truitt said, “I have said all along that I will meet with them, certainly if they would like to meet, but their president’s [Walker Kelly’s] tweet the morning after the election lead me to believe they don’t want to meet with me,” Truitt said. “She tweeted a very negative statement, the only group to tweet those types of comments came from the NCAE.” During her visit, The Smoky Mountain News asked Truitt how she was going to work to build a constructive relationship with NCAE. Truitt said that she is interested in building relationships with all teachers. “I have created a position that is called, special advisor to the superintendent on educator engagement,” said Truitt. “She is charged with creating what I call ‘feedback loop’ because teachers so often feel like things are done to them and they are the last to know about things that start in Raleigh and then trickle all the way out here. So she is doing things like weekly communications with teachers across the state. She’s been on a lot more visits than I have. She goes and holds teacher round tables, and all teachers are invited. She is very much involved in lifting up teacher voices wherever she goes. That was one of the reasons we wanted to be with the beginning teachers of the year last night from across the state.” Truitt said that NCAE makes up a very small percentage of teachers in the state, and she wants to make sure she is not about choosing certain organizations over others. “We want to be a resource and lift up all teacher voices,” said Truitt. Julie Pittman, who Truitt appointed to the position of special advisor to the superintendent on educator engagement, was part of the entourage traveling with Truitt. Pittman said she met with two of the three major organizations representing North Carolina teachers this week and plans to work with all teachers and engage all stakeholders. Pittman also has a counterpart who is a special advisor on principal engagement to listen to principals’ concerns.

come first-served basis. Tax filers also have the option of having their documents scanned and prepared off-site to be picked up and signed at a later date. An interpreter is available for Spanish speakers. Taxpayers must have a household gross income of $57,000 or less to qualify for the free tax preparation assistance. Bring your tax documents, photo IDs and Social Security cards (not copies) for all tax household members. If you are married

and filing jointly, both spouses need to arrive at the Last Chance EITC Tax Preparation Clinic. Other restrictions may apply, and taxpayers will be screened for eligibility upon arrival. Staff and volunteers will also be available to screen consumers for the Affordable Care Act health insurance and to make appointments to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. For more information, call 828.210.3785.

in their class and accommodations made to meet the needs of all learners. “I saw good relationships between superintendents and local boards, which is not something you always see,” said Truitt. “I saw a lot of new leaders, new young leaders alongside veteran administrators, everybody working together.” Truitt said she felt like schools in Haywood County were very well-adjusted to the teaching and learning in person. “The teachers looked like they’ve been in the building the whole school year. It looks like they didn’t miss a step,” said Truitt. “I was in another county earlier this week that had teachers in classrooms that were only doing virtual learning because

“There were lots of counties out west that had low infection rates but had the ability to pivot very quickly if there was a case or a cluster. They may be in the same region, but each County is different from another.” — Catherine Truitt, North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Schools

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Smoky Mountain News April 21-27, 2021

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Education First C-STEP students transfer to UNC In 2018, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Southwestern Community College partnered to increase the number of students transferring to and graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill. The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) is designed to guarantee admission to the university from community colleges around the state. Two SCC students, Puja Patel and Trevor Cole, are scheduled to graduate with associate degrees this fall, becoming SCC’s first cohort to transfer. Cole was a high school senior who applied before he graduated, while Patel joined C-STEP the fall she entered SCC. Principal Chief Richard Sneed from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians was instrumental in securing SCC’s partnership, making SCC the 11th community college to do so. In 2019, C-STEP received a $1.1 million grant from GlaxoSmithKlein to enhance STEM mentorship for their students. For more information about C-STEP, visit SCC’s website or email deanne@southwesterncc.edu.

Jackson schools receive blue ribbon The North Carolina School Public Relations Association recently honored Jackson County Public Schools at their annual Blue Ribbon Awards ceremony for excellence in communications. The district earned nine Gold awards and one Silver award for outstanding and effective communication in three categories including digital media engagement, electronic media, and photography. JCPS Chief Communications Officer David Proffitt has worked for his hometown school district for nearly 32 years and said he is honored to play a role in telling the story of Jackson County Public Schools. “Amazing things happen in our schools every day,” Proffitt said. “Having the opportunity to build a new communications program and share those amazing stories with the community has been the best part of my career.”

Schools compete in the Challenge with schools of similar size and type, with winners earning a $500 grant in each of the following categories: • Highest percentage of completed FAFSAs • Highest percent increase in FAFSA completion rate • Best FAFSA completion strategy The Challenge will conclude on June 30, 2021 with winners announced by July 31.

Starting kindergarten in Macon Macon County Schools will be holding kindergarten orientation days by appointment in the next month. Contact the school for more details. • Cartoogecheye Elementary — Friday, April 23 and Friday, April 30 • East Franklin Elementary — Friday, May 7 • Iotla Valley Elementary — Friday, April 23, and Friday, April 30 • Nantahala Schools — Friday, April 23

Haywood takes FAFSA Challenge

Haywood County Schools has officially accepted North Carolina’s First in FAFSA Challenge to help send more local high school seniors to college. Tuscola High School is competing against hundreds of other high schools across the state to increase their FAFSA completion rates. MyFutureNC, along with Carolina Demography, College Foundation of North Carolina, College Advising Corps, the Hunt Institute, and the John M. Belk Endowment are sponsoring the NC First in FAFSA School Challenge to motivate students to take full advantage of free federal aid to help them pay for college.

Kindergarten registration for the 2021-22 school year is now open in Jackson County Public Schools. Children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2021, are eligible to enroll. The registration form is available online at www.jcpsnc.org/enroll. A photo or scan of the child’s birth certificate, proof of residency, and a medical report will be requested during the enrollment process. Families that do not have internet access can request a paper form by contacting Kelli Bumgarner at 828.586.2311, extension 1939. Registration should be completed no later than May 12 so screenings and school visits can be scheduled.

Smoky Mountain News

SCC neighbors endow scholarship For nearly five decades, Hart and Sara Goodson have lived next door to Southwestern Community College. Their children grew up exploring and playing on SCC’s campus. The Goodsons have seen Southwestern grow from two buildings to nine and they’ve personally known all but one of the college’s presidents. The Hart and Sara Goodson Endowed Scholarship will be awarded annually to Jackson County residents who maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher. Dr. Don Tomas, SCC’s president, said new endowments like the Hart and Sara Goodson Endowed Scholarship Fund are a huge reason the SCC Foundation set all-time records by awarding support of more than $200,000 to 142 students in the current academic year.

Higdon named ‘Beginning Teacher of the Year’ Emilee Higdon, a high school English teacher at Union Academy in Macon County Schools, was named the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching 2021 Prudential NC Beginning Teacher of the Year in a special ceremony. The award was presented for the second time with finalists from across the state in attendance. Higdon was described as a beacon of positivity. Her principal noted: “her unrelenting courage to embrace opportunities to help her students grow makes her an ideal example of a leader.” A student said her style of communication makes the learning process feel more collaborative. The classroom works together as a group and she hears what each of student has to say. The NCCAT Beginning Teacher of the Year prizes include s $5,000 cash prize, participation in a GoGlobal NC trip, and Instructional supply funds for the teacher’s school.

WCU offers online change management certificate Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will be offering a live two-day online Effective Organizational Change Management Certificate, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 26. Todd Creasy, director of Accounting, Finance, Information Systems and Business Law, in WCU’s College of Business and Betty Farmer, professor of communication at WCU and communications consultant, will serve as workshops instructors. This two-day workshop will include a big picture view of change management on the first day with proven pathways, ideas and tips to make your change effort successful. Registration fee for the program is $549. For more information and to register, visit

pdp.wcu.edu and click on “Certificate Programs” or call 828.227.7397.

SCC program earns reaccreditation The Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) program at Southwestern Community College recently received confirmation of its reaccreditation by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science. The NAACLS provides external peer review and grants public recognition to education programs that meet established education standards in clinical laboratory science disciplines, such as SCC’s MLT program. “The MLT program reaccreditation virtual site visit went flawlessly,” said Mitch Fischer, SCC’s Dean of Health Sciences. “The site visitors commented on the professionalism of our students and the high level of satisfaction students had for the education they received in that program.” For more information, contact Andrea Kennedy at andrea@southwesterncc.edu.

WCU offers Cherokee language course Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will be offering a four-week online Introduction to Conversational Cherokee language course May 17 through June 11 with live Zoom meetings on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. Fluent Cherokee language speaker Louise Brown will serve as co-instructor. Topics that will be covered include introductory vocabulary, weather terminology, and conversations about family and emotions. Registration fee is $225. EBCI members may register for $200. For more information and to register, visit http://learn.wcu.edu/language or call 828.227.7397.

Family endows scholarship at SCC Over the past 14 years, Duane Earle Young regularly mentored and guided aspiring physical therapist assistants through his role as clinical manager for Pardee Memorial Hospital’s Rehab and Wellness Center. After he passed away in September of last year, his wife Sherri and daughters Cassie and Courtney wanted to find some way for Duane’s legacy to continue touching lives of those entering the profession. That’s why they decided to create the Duane Young, MSPT, Endowed Memorial Academic Excellence Scholarship Fund at Southwestern Community College. The new endowment is among more than a halfdozen to be created this academic year through the SCC Foundation, which last year awarded a record number of scholarships to students who might otherwise not have been able to attend college.

Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

My own 1971 history project M

Doing your part on Earth Day 2021 To the Editor: Since last Earth Day the Atlantic hurricane season saw a record number of storms and the rapid intensification of storms. Dry conditions and record temperatures in the West produced one of the worst fire seasons ever. Sea level rises and entire villages have to relocate. So, what can we do as individuals? First, become informed about the reality of climate change and actions to combat it. Second, get involved personally. The websites of these nonprofits fighting to save our planet provide information and means for involvement: Citizens Climate Lobby, League of Conservation Voters, 350.org, Sierra Club, National Resources Defense Council, Nature Conservancy, and others. Citizens Climate Lobby is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization that seeks to build political support for climate action through the work of 594 chapters worldwide. We have a chapter here in Sylva (check it out on Facebook at wncccl.weebly.com) and consider joining. Our goal is passage of HR 2307: “To create a Carbon Dividend Trust Fund for the American people in order to encourage market-driven innovation of clean energy technology and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier, more stable, and more prosperous nation for future genera-

painted the exterior brick white with black trim and kept the mid-century modern look when it came to furniture and decor. Now, not only do I adore the house but am excited to continue renovations. Yes, the bathrooms and closets are small but that’s OK. We 21st century folk may be too spoiled when it comes to those spaces anyway. Our house was built half a century ago. Ironically, the most recent issue of Bon Appétit highlighted the year 1971 with the subtitle, “How 1971 Changed Food Forever.” Wonka & the Chocolate Factory released and was Columnist the first and perhaps only movie produced by a food corporation, Quaker Oats. The first frozen margaritas appeared in Dallas when a restaurant owner fashioned a margarita machine out of a soft-serve ice cream machine. General Mills offered the world two “vitamin-charged” cereals in Count Chocula and Franken Berry. Meanwhile, competitors over at Post introduced Cocoa and Fruity Pebbles. Hamburger Helper hit grocery store shelves, which was helpful due to post-Vietnam food prices. This same year, Chicago restaurant owner, R.J. Grunts, popularized the salad bar and Chez Panisse welcomed its first diners, igniting a national interest in local food. The year 1971 brought several other monumental events that changed American culture forever. McDonalds introduced the Quarter Pounder and a little shop called Starbucks

Susanna Shetley

y boyfriend and I recently bought a vintage house. It was built in 1971. When the realtor gave us a tour, I furrowed my brow trying to imagine our blended family of seven settling into such an abode. Prior to finding this house, we’d been looking at modern homes with open floor plans, bright and airy kitchens, two-car garages and large closets. About a week after viewing the house and dismissing it, my boyfriend looked at me seriously, prepping me for a sincere conversation. He knows when I make up my mind it’s hard to change it, but he asked that I hear him out. He said the house had potential, was located in a great part of town, and most importantly, had room for such a large brood. Truth be told, there were some things I loved such as the classic step-down living room signature of 1970s homes, the spacious outdoor entertaining spaces, the large rec room downstairs and it being in an older, established neighborhood where the landscaping was robust and beautiful. We walked through the house a second time. I opened my eyes and tried to envision the place after some changes and updates. My biggest annoyances were the wall-to-wall carpeting in every room, the dated kitchen, rooms that were cut off from one another and the lack of an HVAC system. The exterior brick was an ugly, boring municipal-looking color. Nonetheless, these were components that could be altered. We decided to purchase. After seven months of ownership, we ripped out carpet and put in hardwoods, installed an HVAC on the top floor, knocked down a wall between the living and dining rooms,

LETTERS tions.” The tax on carbon emissions is returned to citizens as a dividend. This bill has 35 co-sponsors in the House but no Republican! The survival of our planet shouldn’t be a political issue! In addition to joining a climate advocacy organization there are other specific things we can do as concerned citizens. Plant trees on your land. Do you know that trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and release oxygen into the air? Another reason we must protect our forests. Do you know that methane gas traps 28 times more heat than carbon dioxide and that the 1.4 billion cattle and other grazers produce methane. Consider using an alternative to dairy milk like Silk — almond, oat, soy or coconut milk. These products use 80 percent less water to make than dairy milk and are healthy. Do you know that 18 billion pounds of plastic ends up in the oceans each year, that some of the marine life we eat ingests it, and we do by eating them? More than 40 percent of the plastic items we use are used just once and less than 10 percent is recycled.We all can practice the 3 Rs — Reuse, Refuse, Recycle. Take your own tote to the grocery store! Ingles plans to eliminate plastic bags. Refuse plastic straws! Recycle all the plastic that you must use! This Earth Day pledge to make every day an earth day by doing something to protect the only home we’ve got: learn, sign petitions, recycle, call/write/email Sens. Burr and Tillis

opened in Seattle. FedEx launched, making cross-country shipments easy and fast. Intel released the world’s first microprocessor, which some say was the start of the digital age. National Public Radio (NPR) broadcasts for the first time, the voting age is lowered to 18 and Walt Disney Resort opens in Florida. Charles Manson and three followers are sentenced to the death penalty. Apollo 14 returns to Earth after the third manned moon landing. Black Panther party member Ericka Huggins left prison May 25, 1971. She was hungry and had been during her entire sentence. Upon her release, she joined the Panthers’ Free Breakfast Program, which fed schoolchildren at no cost and laid the groundwork for modern activism. Buying an old house makes a person step into the past. Sometimes I like to think of the people who walked the same floors, who sat on the same deck or pulled into the same carport. I wonder who planted that butterfly bush out back or the Bradford pear that blooms on the front knoll. I like feeling connected to and curious about those who came before me. The year 1971 was a mere blip in the grand scheme of American history, 365 days that held a lot of action and innovation. We’re now living in another time that’s seeing dramatic changes, technological advances, social injustice and political unrest. In 50 more years, I’ll be 91-years old, and I’m sure there will be a 41-year old woman who buys a house or picks up a magazine from 2021 and is intrigued about all that happened during that momentous year. I like to think of her. She gives me courage to stay positive and do all I can to make this world a better place while I’m here. (Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist with the Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living, and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)

and Rep. Cawthorn asking them to support HR 2307, join an organization that fights climate change, elect candidates that are proenvironment, plant trees, etc. Together we can win the climate war. Gene Tunnell, Ph.D Sylva

Why I volunteer To the Editor: Why do we do it? Why do stand out in the rain, wind, snow, and hot sun for eight hours (sometimes more)? Who are we? We are the volunteers you see at the Haywood County’s MASSVAX clinics at the fairgrounds. In the time I have been volunteering with the clinics I have talked to other volunteers and feel I can tell you why we do it. We do it because we believe in the need for vaccination to help rid us of COVID-19. We do it because the citizens of Haywood County need us. Without the volunteers there could be no MASSVAX clinics. We do it to help educate the community. What do we get out of being out there in all types of weather and on our feet for hours on end? We get the “thank yous” from the people receiving the vaccine. It is amazing what a simple and sincere “thank you” does for you. You find yourself with the biggest smile (behind your mask). We get to make a difference in people’s lives. I get a chance to talk to some of the folks while they are waiting in line. We get to laugh with the folks —

they may tell a joke or just share an amusing story. Many touch your soul. You cannot put a price tag on what we receive from helping with this effort. We are blessed with citizens who have thanked us with cookies, breakfast biscuits, fruit, donuts and even chocolate milk! We are blessed with organizations that have provided lunch for all of us. We are blessed to be working with an amazing group of people. So, as long as the MASSVAX clinics continue you will see us in all types of weather and feeling blessed that we are able to be part of this effort. Mary Ford Waynesville

Past time to hike minimum wage To the Editor: While lawmakers at the federal level stall on a $15 per hour minimum wage, let’s remember that we don’t have to wait. We can do what 29 other states have done and raise our state minimum wage. We just need the political will to do it. The minimum wage hasn’t gone up in almost 12 years. North Carolina’s economy can’t wait anymore. Continually asking workers to get up early with their families, go to one job for eight hours, get off, go to their second job until the early hours, and then turn around to start all over again —

The benefits of Community Response Teams

this is inhumane. No one should have to work two jobs to support a family. The minimum wage sits, stagnant, at $7.25 an hour while rent and the cost of basic everyday goods go up. The living wage (how much it actually costs to live)

in Western North Carolina is between $18to-$22 per hour, 2 to 4 times the minimum. It is time for lawmakers to stand up and make a change. Abby Shuler Waynesville

Hannah Minick

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fighter/first responder who can provide medical care, a behavioral health clinician who provides crisis stabilization and care planning, and a law enforcement official who provides safety and handles law enforcement issues. The entire team responds to 911 and emergency calls together, bringing their individual expertise to provide comprehensive crisis response. Although many communities have threeperson teams with a firefighter, behavioral health clinician and law enforcement officials, some communities have larger teams that include peer support, community paramedics and program managers. Communities that have implemented CRT’s track data, and evidence shows increases in public safety as well as greater numbers of people connected to appropriate levels of care. They have also witnessed fewer overdoses, significant drops in the use of the emergency department, a reduction in inappropriate use of community resources, decreases in arrests and lower rates of suicide. The Colorado Springs Fire Department, for example, was experiencing 1,400 calls per year and 98 percent of those calls resulted in people going to the emergency room. In 2014, they implemented a CRT that functioned two days a week for 10-hour days and over the next year they saw a reduction in the number of suicides and the number of calls that resulted in people going to the emergency department dropped from 98 percent to 6 percent. The success was so great that they implemented a second CRT to fill in the gaps. Another community reported that 97 percent of emergency calls did not result in someone being arrested or going to jail. The comprehensive, judgement-free community-based responses have been effective in working with people and have resulted in increasing access to community services. Haywood County’s history has proven that as a county we are innovative, growthoriented and willing to implement pilot programs and use evidence-based practices to inform community interventions. It is clear that community interventions to support law enforcement and people entering the county jail are needed, and a CRT is an option to seriously consider that could improve the overall health, wellness, and quality of life for our entire community. (Hannah Minick was born and raised in Haywood County. She is currently finishing a master’s degree in social work from WCU and will continue to work and live in WNC postgraduation. hgminick1@catamount.wcu.edu)

April 21-27, 2021

o say that we are currently living in unprecedented times is an understatement, and it is absolutely true. If there is one thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me, it is that we are all connected and what affects one of us affects all of us. As we have learned, the time period we are in requires innovative and collaborative community solutions as we move forward together, through the multitude of issues and challenges we collectively face. I believe it is imperative for Guest Columnist our community, Haywood County, to continue to proactively implement evidence-based community interventions. In 2016 a research project authored by Norman G. Hoffman, Albert M. Kopak, and Alyssa L. Raggio — all associated with Western Carolina University — that was conducted in the Haywood County jail revealed that 85 percent of people who were incarcerated met criteria for a substance use disorder. The study found that 48 percent of people who were incarcerated met indicators for post-traumatic stress disorder and 34.6 percent met diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. People with mental health and/or substance use disorders are largely over-represented in the county jail. The over-representation of people with mental health and/or substance use disorders in jail is not specific to Haywood County. In the United States, over 12 million people are booked into county jails each year, and over half of those people meet criteria for mental health and/or substance use disorder. Additionally, the number of people with mental health and substance use issues is exponentially rising as a further result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this letter is to make a plea to our county commissioners and public officials to implement a Community Response Team (CRT). Community Response Teams are evidence-based community interventions that are proven to improve health outcomes for communities and for people who need mental health and/or substance use interventions through multidisciplinary crisis response teams. Communities across the nation have started to use CRTs to respond to 911 and emergency calls. While each CRT is unique to fit the needs of individual communities, common elements of the team include a fire

ASHEV VILLE, NC

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Rivers, rains and runaway trains

Balsam Range is Darren Nicholson, (from left) Tim Surrett, Marc Pruett, Caleb Smith and Buddy Melton. (photo: David Simchock)

Tim Surrett of Balsam Range BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR n its 14 years together, Haywood County’s own Balsam Range has risen into the upper echelon as one of the marquee acts in the national and international bluegrass scene — this once in a generation blend of songbird harmonies and lightning fast finger pickin’. Dozens of No. 1 hit songs on the radio, with three more added to the list since the shutdown of the music industry last year (“Richest Man,” “Grit and Grace,” “Rivers, Rains and Runaway Trains”). Some 13 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) awards in seemingly every category, including “Entertainer of the Year” (2014, 2018), “Album of the Year” (2013, 2017), “Song of the Year” (2011, 2015) and “Vocal Group of the Year” (2014, 2015). And yet, the most impressive feat by the quintet remains the band itself. The same five members (a rarity in the music business), still the best of friends and bandmates. Each just as passionately and creatively driven today as that first impromptu kitchen jam session in Canton that caught melodic fire just about a decade and a half ago.

Smoky Mountain News: After a year of the shutdown of the entire music industry, y’all recently played your first shows of 2021. Was it

kind of like learning to ride a bike again? Surreal? Tim Surrett (bassist, Balsam Range): Yeah, especially the first one, down in Walhalla, South Carolina. When we walked out, we were nervous and excited. But, the crowd was just so happy to be out and going to a show. When we walked onstage, they just blew our heads off. And it was just like that the whole night. It took [away] the fear, because all of us [backstage] were like, “Gosh, I hope I can remember the words [to the songs].” [Laughs]. It was a great load [that was] lifted — it’s just been really good. SMN: Is there kind of a justification when you’re in that moment of why all the blood, sweat and tears are worth it, and why you love performing? TS: There is for me. That hour and a half or two hours [onstage]? The little trip you take with that crowd, that bond? If you don’t love that, then I’m not sure what the payoff is? [On the way to Walhalla], I told the guys, “This will be one of two things. We’ll either say, ‘Lord have mercy, we’ve missed this’ or ‘Good Lord, why did we start this in the first place?’” [Laughs]. You know, it’s not easy [touring and performing]. Lack of sleep. Long travel. But, it’s all worth it. If you don’t have that love of those two hours [onstage], then I’m not sure what you’re doing. SMN: Exactly. And, at the same token, the shutdown has proven to people that music is

Want to go? Balsam Range will once again hit the stage at 5 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at the Hazel Robinson Amphitheatre in the Montford Historic District of Asheville. Doors open at 4 p.m. All Covid-19 safety protocols will be followed and enforced. Tickets start at $25 per person for single seating pods. There are also VIP pods available, which includes special entry to the band’s sound check, among other amenities. For more information, click on www.hazelrobinsonamphitheatre.com. For tickets, go to www.etix.com/ticket/p/5999305/ balsam-range-asheville-hazel-robinsonamphitheatre. not just entertainment, it’s a healing force. TS: Oh, absolutely. There was an old fellow I used to travel with [when I was in] The Kingsman Quartet. He said, “Boys, in our job, we don’t have the authority or the power to change the world, but our job is to make them forget their car payments that’s due Monday.” It’s definitely a much-needed diversion, something to take your mind off what’s going on [in your life and] in the world. SMN: Balsam Range has won pretty much every big award in bluegrass, played every big stage and festival, collaborated with countless

legends. After 14 years, what is it that still keeps the band motivated and coming back to the creative waters? TS: We still have the desire to make as good a body of music as we can. And the process is fun. Getting together at [lead singer/fiddler] Buddy [Melton’s] house and jamming out. The process of putting songs together, recording them — we enjoy that. The same thing that put us together in the first place is still there.

SMN: What does it mean to you that, after all these years, it’s still the same five guys up there onstage and in the studio? TS: We may be the longest running [bluegrass] band with the same personnel, [at least] that I can think of anyway. And that’s amazing because it’s flirted with disaster numerous times for whatever reason. Every one of us has thought about doing something else or quitting — it’s not an easy existence. But, especially in the last two or three years, it’s settled into a really good, long-lasting marriage or something like that. We’re very comfortable. Everybody knows what everybody else’s reactions are going to be to whatever happens. [These days], the travel is so much more fun. We pick the shows we want to play and the places we want to go. There’s a lot of laughing and carrying on. We’ve been together so long, we think of something that everybody remembers, like “that show we played on a flatbed trailer in somebody’s pasture,” you know? It’s a lot of fun still, and that’s a big deal to us.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Brian Power, aka: ‘Mr. P.’ (photo: Garret K. Woodward)

Ode to Mr. P, ode to never sacrificing the gift

HAYWOOD

appreciative of our partnership with the Haywood “Iam County Chamber of Commerce. They have been extremely supportive in promoting and assisting with our community events in the past, such as our annual Back to School Backpack School Supply Drive. In addition, the many networking and educational events throughout the year help us stay connected and informed of opportunities here in the county. The Haywood County Chamber of Commerce plays an instrumental role in making this county a great place to both work and live!”

Chad McMahon, AGENT 97 Lee Street, Waynesville www.chadlmcmahon.com (828)452-0567 Chad McMahon, Kelly McFalls, Kim King, Hope Surrett

Smoky Mountain News

t is with an extremely heavy heart that I share the news of the passing last Friday morning of Brian Power (aka: “Mr. P”) after a long, debilitating illness. In my life, Mr. P has always been there, this force of nature and humor that never ceased to make me smile and feel loved, and with eternal friendship. He and his wife, Myrna, have been best friends of my parents for decades. My mom even played matchmaker and introduced them to each other. And when I was little kid, Mr. P and Myrna got married on the side lawn of my childhood home, an old 1820 limestone farmhouse on the Canadian Border of Upstate New York. Both he and my mother taught English in my high school, Northeastern Clinton Central School (Champlain, New York), their classrooms next to each other for most of their storied careers in education. Mr. P was my ninth-grade English teacher, one who sparked a lifelong love of literature and writing within me. I vividly remember when he would read from the classic novels and plays, dramatically jumping into the protagonist

character in this riveting back and forth manner with the students reading along in sheer awe of his performance. He was also my cross-country and track coach from seventh to twelfth grade, sparking my lifelong love of running — all while learning the meaning of goals and hard work, which can lead to successes beyond your wildest dreams, just so long as you never take your eye off the prize. One of Mr. P heroes was the late American distance runner Steve Prefontaine, whose words echoed continuously throughout my extensive middle/high school running career (and now adulthood): “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.” Mr. P would constantly mention that quote, deeply-felt sentiments now etched onto the walls of my body, mind and soul. In essence, I wouldn’t be who I am today without Mr. P in my life. I spent countless Christmas dinners at his farmhouse, summer barbecues and boat rides at the cabin on Chateaugay Lake (in the heart of the endless natural splendor of the Adirondack Mountains), spring break trips to visit my folks, he and Myrna on Tybee Island, Georgia, and so on. And all of those races, hundreds and hundreds of cross-country and track races in

April 21-27, 2021

FACES

pily a million times), his eyes often misty with pride and passion whenever he’d speak of the value of teamwork, of persistence, and of what it means to find out what you’re truly made of — on and off the track. Last summer, when I was home in Plattsburgh, New York, I got to visit him one last time. We spent the afternoon together at the cabin on Chateaugay Lake, rehashing old running stories and hard-fought victories (one of his favorites being when I took down the conference’s top mile runner my senior year in the midst of a freezing rainstorm: he crossed the line at 4:47:9, myself by a nose at 4:47:8), retelling those terribly corny old jokes and just simply shooting the shit, as per usual. I knew he was very sick at that time, his body and mind slowly failing him, a walker holding up a man who once had a Zeus-like stride in the midst of fierce competition. But, he never let on that things were bothering him. He was just happy to sit and talk about the good ole days with me. Before I said goodbye and hugged him farewell, it meant the world to tell him how much he influenced my life. That said, I’ll be heading back to my native North Country in this week to attend the services and be a pallbearer. It is one of the true honors of my life to be asked to do so by Myrna. Much love and light to his family and all who knew him, for we now will carry on the torch of pride and passion that resided within the legacy of Mr. P. I miss my friend, very much. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

seemingly every corner of New York State. I think of stepping up to the starting line at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, on a beach in Long Island, mountaintops in the Adirondacks, frozen cornfields in the Champlain Valley. Getting up at 3 a.m. on a Saturday morning to catch the team bus heading to a weekend invitational gathering in Albany, Saratoga, Malone, Saranac Lake, Burnt Hills, Guilderland, Lake Placid, etc. At every race, Mr. P was right there, giving me last-minute advice and strategies before the starting gun went off, yelling for me from somewhere along the course to run harder, to chase the unknowns of the horizon in front of me, to sweat out the pain and reach the top of the hill for the eventual finish line. Mr. P was one hell of a coach and mentor, one whose encouragement will forever ring true in any of my career pursuits and life endeavors. I also think of the thousands of students and athletes he cherished and motivated. Anyone who had him as a teacher or coach knows damn well he was one of those rare human beings you’ll never forget, who always believed in you and your abilities. Mr. P was always in your corner, come hell or high water. He has been as much of a fixture in my existence as anyone. And for that, I’m grateful for his love, support and friendship. The image of him in this column, I took when I was in high school, as we were on the cross-country bus leaving some faraway invitational. That smile and wave were signature to his demeanor, his sincerity and kindness. His jokes were as dry as sawdust (retold hap-

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MAGAZINE

On the beat arts & entertainment

Franklin welcomes Booth Brothers

Anna Victoria. Leigh Forrester

Victoria to play Lazy Hiker

Haywood Arts director retires

Singer-songwriter Anna Victoria will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva. The performance is free and open to the public. To learn more about Anna Victoria, go to www.facebook.com/annavictoriamusic. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

Hustle Souls album release party

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) April 29. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com. • Elevated Mountain Distilling Company will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. www.elevatedmountain.com. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Shane Meade w/Rob Masten & Shelly Garvin April 23, A. Lee Edwards (acoustic/blues) April 24, Mike Oregano 5:30 p.m. April 27 and

Renowned Southern Gospel act The Booth Brothers will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at the Smoky Mountain Center of the Performing Arts in Franklin. Ronnie, Michael, and Paul, collectively known as The Booth Brothers, have been acknowledged as one of the finest in the business, receiving many awards over the years, including “Song of the Year,” “Album of the Year,” “Trio of the Year,” “Male Group of the Year,” “Best Live Performers,” “Artist of the Year,” and others. Admission is $25 per person. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact the theatre box office at 828.524.1598. The box office is also open for walk-up ticket purchases from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Seating is limited and is general admission. All ticket holders will be expected to follow social distancing guidelines. Masks will be required at all times until seated. For more information about special safety precautions, go to www.greatmountainmusic.com.

Elysium Park Band April 30. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Carey Deal April 24 and Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) May 1. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

April 24 and The UpBeats May 1. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. • Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.926.7440 or www.valley-tavern.com.

ALSO:

• Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.456.4750 or www.facebook.com/waternhole.bar.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Kid Billy (Billy Litz from Hustle Souls) April 23 and Anna Victoria (singer-songwriter) April 30. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m Wednesday, April 28, in downtown Dillsboro. Start with a visit to the Jackson County Farmers Market located in the Innovation Station parking lot. Stay for dinner and take advantage of late-hour shopping. www.mountainlovers.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Sylva) will host Marshall Ballew April 23 and Pony Express April 24. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.nantahalabrewing.com. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack Country April 22, Mile High Band

• A special wine pairing dinner featuring Opolo Vineyards will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Cost is $65 all-inclusive. To RSVP, call 828.452.6000. www.classicwineseller.com.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075. • The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com. • “Paint-N-Pour” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at Balsam Falls Brewing in Sylva. Cost is $20 per person. All materials provided. RSVP at Balsam Falls Brewing’s Facebook page. For more information, click on www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

Smoky Mountain News

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Smooth Goose at 9 p.m. April 24 in the downstairs taproom (aka: “The Gem”). Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or www.boojumbrewing.com.

The Booth Brothers.

April 21-27, 2021

Popular Western North Carolina funk/rock act Hustle Souls will celebrate the release of its new album “Daydream Motel” with a socially-distanced, seated concert at 8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. “Daydream Motel” is a genre-jumping mashup of new school second line funk and old school vintage soul, with nods to the jamband and roots worlds. Admission is $15 per person. You can purchase tickets by going to www.thegreyeagle.com and clicking on the “Calendar” tab. For more information on Hustle Souls, visit www.hustlesouls.com.

Leigh Forrester, who served as executive director of the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) for four years has announced her retirement, effective May 31. About the transition, Forrester explained, “I am honored to have served as the Executive Director of the Haywood County Arts Council and with retirement I hope to have more time with family and friends and the time to travel.” During her tenure, Forrester helped establish new events, including the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival, as well as resurrecting January Jazz, the Haywood County Studio Tour, and creating stronger partnerships with other area arts organizations, nonprofits and educational institutions. “I look forward to seeing the HCAC continue to thrive under new leadership, and I know that it will continue to be a strong supporter of the arts in our county,” Forrester said.

• Open call for artists to sell their work in the Carriage House Gift Shop at the historic Shelton House in Waynesville. For details, call 757.894.2293. 27

On the stage

On the wall

arts & entertainment

unconventional relationship. Karen Covington-Yow’s gorgeous voice sores over audiences as she portrays Linda Porter in this unforgettable tale. All seats are $20 general admission. Doors open 30 minutes prior to the performance. To make your reservation, call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 at any time and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you would like held and the performance date on the recording. A HART staff member will return your call to confirm your reservation. Reservations can now be made by calling the box office or by going online to www.harttheatre.org.

‘Say Goodnight, Gracie’ held over Karen Covington-Yow.

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

‘Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter’

After an opening weekend with sold out audiences, the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville continues to bring live theater back to Western North Carolina with “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter.” Performance dates will be 7:30 p.m. April 22-24, 29-30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. April 25 and May 2. With socially distanced seating and CDC protocols in place, audiences can enjoy this incredible onewoman musical from the comfort of their party’s own seating pod. This award winning show had a successful run in Asheville, in 2019 and met with rave reviews. “Love, Linda” recounts the life story of Linda Lee Thomas, the southern belle who was the driving force behind the career of her legendary composer husband, Cole Porter. Beautiful compositions weave the music of Cole Porter into a compelling, glamorous, and complex story of this

Starring Pasquale LaCorte as George Burns, “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will be held over for more performances following a high demand for tickets. The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. The production is being staged in the Fangmeyer Theater, with CDC protocols in place. The flat floor of the theater makes it possible for patrons to be in pods spaced six feet apart. Patrons will be asked to wear masks unless they are eating or drinking items from the concession area, and distancing will be practiced throughout the facility. HART has created a special Covid Safety Video to give patrons a sample of what attending the show will be like. To view it, simply go to www.harttheatre.com. All seats are $20 general admission. Door opens 30 minutes prior to the performance. To make reservations call the HART Box office at 828.456.6322 at any time and simply leave your name, phone number, the number of tickets you would like held and the performance date on the recording.

lydia see, ‘Whitewashing.’

MFA thesis showcase at WCU The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition is currently on display at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee. Showcasing work in a variety of media and surveys a range of conceptual themes and creative approaches within contemporary art practice, the exhibition features four MFA candidates from the WCU School of Art and Design: Perry Houlditch, Mo Kessler, lydia see, and Lex Turnbull. The MFA program from the WCU School of Art & Design is an inter-disciplinary studio art program and creative research environment where ideas are given form. Through close association with faculty, visiting artists, scholars, and their peers, students develop a contextual and historical awareness of their

practice focusing on exploration, creative research, and art making. In this year’s MFA thesis exhibition, the four exhibiting artists offer a range of conceptual approaches and mediums. Learn more about each of the exhibiting artists, explore the interactive 360° tour once available, and make a reservation to visit the WCU Fine Art Museum in person, all at arts.wcu.edu/mfathesis2021. In addition, stay tuned on the WCU Fine Art Museum Facebook page for a series of interviews with each of the artists. This exhibition will be on display through May 7. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (and Thursday until 7 p.m.)

On the street Mountain Heritage Day returns Mountain Heritage Day, the festival of cultural traditions presented by Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, is again being planned as a live, in-person event on Saturday, Sept. 25. The annual community celebration on campus regularly draws thousands to enjoy music, dance, food, and arts and crafts, but was cancelled in 2020 because of the

COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, a performance by Summer Brooke and the Mountain Faith Band and a series of digital programs were viewed via university livestreams. With an announcement March 11 that WCU would resume “close to” normal operations for the fall semester, Mountain Heritage Day was included in campus events and activities being reset. The festival will adhere to its Catamounts Care protocols and the governor’s guidelines that are in place at the time of the event, organizers said. While still in the early stages

of planning, there is an expectation of bluegrass, old-time and traditional music performances throughout the day, a morning 5K race (organized by students in WCU’s sport management program), chainsaw competitions, the classic car show and popular tractor rides, along with storytelling and sing-alongs. The Mountain Heritage Awards, presented by WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center, also are on tap to honor an individual and an organization for contributions to or playing a prominent role in research, preservation and curation of Southern

Appalachian history, culture and folklore. The festival started as Founders’ Day on Oct. 26, 1974, at the inauguration ceremony of WCU Chancellor H.F. Robinson and became known as Mountain Heritage Day the following year. The event has been named one of the “Top 20 Festivals” in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society and is known for family activities, with free admission and free parking. For more information, updates and links for vendors, go to www.mountainheritageday.com.

On the shelf

Jeff Minick

same problem in reading Orthodoxy, his book about Christianity and faith. Long ago I read some of his Father Brown short stories, and Chesterton is in my opinion one of the greatest aphorists who ever lived, but I find his non-fiction equivalent to walking up a steep hill against the wind. I believe I’ll lay this one aside for a while, come back to it, and try again.

1DAY2EVENTS M AY 1ST

10AM

DISCUSSION with Neal Hutcheson, author of The Moonshiner Popcorn Sutton (hosted by SMN’s Cory) for more info please call

828-456-6000

1PM

MEET & GREET with author

Darryl Bollinger signing his newest book,

The Healing Tree

Smoky Mountain News

Jordan Peterson’s Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life sits on the table beside the La-Z-Boy recliner in the living room, a book mark in place on page 28. The first chapter, “Do Not Carelessly Denigrate Social Institutions or Creative Achievement” again taxed my powers of concentration, but I have scouted out the rest of the book and have determined it will be a pleasure to read. More on this one in another column. Meanwhile, on the floor in front of the book shelf beside my desk are stacked 16 books, some of them from the library, some my own, and all demanding some sort of look-see. A quote attributed to singer-songwriter Frank Zappa, “So many books, so little time,” nicely sums up my situation.

••• In the midst of this storm of books and reading, I saw online that on March 25 Larry McMurtry had died. A prolific writer and a lifelong lover of the printed word — he once owned an antiquarian bookstore with over 400,000 titles — McMurtry was most famous for his novel of a Western cattle drive, Lonesome Dove, which was later made into a wonderful miniseries starring Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. Over the years, I’ve read several of McMurtry’s books, both his novels and his essays. His Lonesome Dove, my favorite, I consider an American classic. Another novel, Moving On, I read many years ago and took that one to heart as well. I have just picked up my copy of Moving On, and read a bit, and the writing is as fresh and fine as I remember it when I first opened this book 40 years ago. On the same day Larry McMurtry died, Beverly Cleary, beloved children’s author, passed away. She was 104 years old and published her first book in 1950, Henry Huggins, and then wrote dozens of other books aimed at children. Ninety-one million copies of these have found young readers, making Clearly one of the best-selling authors in our nation’s history. Thank you, Beverly Cleary and Larry McMurtry, for the wisdom and joy you brought to readers everywhere. (Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, Amanda Bell and Dust On Their Wings, and two works of nonfiction, Learning As I Go and Movies Make the Man. minick0301@gmail.com)

April 21-27, 2021

Books, books, books, and more books. After a long hiatus, in the last month books have again become my daily companions. I set aside at least an hour every day, put on my glasses, and take up a book. A couple of weeks ago, I finished the Constance Garnett translation of Dostoevsky’s Devils, his novel about Russian revolutionaries 150 years ago. Their radical ideas of social justice, a perfect state, and communism read like today’s headlines. At times, the parallels between then and now became almost humorous: the discussions of the death Writer of God, the utopian decrees, the declarations of independence from duty and obligation. Devils is almost a thousand pages long and was at first a slog, in part because of the Russian names, but after about page 200, when the conspirators begin to reveal themselves and their ambitions, the story took off, and I had some fun. So now Devils joins Ivanhoe on my list of old books read. To that same list I have added Eleanor Porter’s American classic, Pollyanna, which I read for another writing assignment. After trudging through Dostoevsky, I polished off Pollyanna in just a couple of days. And after the gloominess of the Russian novel, Pollyanna with her Glad Game — she encourages those around her to look on the sunny side of life — was a breath of fresh air. Like Devils, this book to caused me to reflect on the current mess in our country. Maybe if we all started to look for the good in our lives, even the small things that make us happy, we might improve the dreary state of our nation. Then there was Tom Papa’s You’re Dong Great!: And Other Reasons You Should Stay Alive. This comedian’s reflections on our current stress and dissatisfaction when “we live in an amazing time filled with airplanes, scooters, and peanut butter cups” brought some much-needed humor. Lance Morrow — an essayist I have admired for 30 years — wrote God and Mammon: Chronicles of American Money, through which I am slowly working my way. Morrow’s prose is to be savored rather than gulped down. He reflects on current events — the pandemic, the death of George Floyd — but at the same time draws again and again from figures and stories of the past to make his points. G.K. Chesterton’s What’s Wrong With the World is proving a tough journey. I’ll read a page, and sometimes two, and realize I have already lost the thread of Chesterton’s argument. Is it age? Or just that I simply don’t enjoy the book? I’ve encountered this

arts & entertainment

Unhappy reading vs. happy reading

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Weighing the Pigeon’s future Public hearing spurs robust turnout for and against paper mill permit BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER tate of residence was the most visible dividing line in an April 14 hearing on the proposed terms for a renewed wastewater discharge permit at the Evergreen Packaging mill in Canton. During the three-hour hearing, held online via Cisco Webex, 30 people gave the Department of Environmental Quality their thoughts on the matter, 16 against the permit and 14 in favor. All 14 supporters work or reside in Haywood County, and most of them were either mill employees or public officials. Of the 16 opponents, about half were Tennessee residents living downstream from the mill, and most of those were whitewater rafting guides or paddling enthusiasts who have frequent contact with the water. Other opponents represented various environmental organizations, and one was a Haywood County resident who lives near the Tennessee state line at Waterville Lake. Since its establishment in 1908, Canton’s paper mill has been central to both Haywood County’s identity and its economy, currently employing 1,100 people at some of the highest wages available in the area. However, the mill’s initial success came at a high environmental price. Those who were around in the 1980s and 1990s remember a jet-black river ferrying large blocks of foam and all but devoid of indigenous aquatic life. The river looks a lot better these days. Since 1990, Evergreen Packaging has spent more $500 million in environmental improvements, reducing its total discharge by one-

third and color discharge by more than 90 percent. Fish consumption advisories, which had previously been the rule rather than the exception, were lifted one by one in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, and now not a single fish consumption advisory is in effect on the Pigeon River. However, critics of the mill contend that although the progress is laudable, the work isn’t done. The permit hearing was a once-in-adecade chance to make their concerns known. The mill’s last permit renewal process concluded in 2010, with additional terms added in 2012 after a successful lawsuit from a group represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center — it included several environmental organizations and the government of Cocke County, Tennessee. The 2010 permit expired in 2015, but even though the mill submitted its renewal paperwork on time, the state is just now, six years after that expiration, reaching the point of approving a new permit. Division of Water Resources Spokesperson Anna Gurney said the delay was due to recent changes to variance regulations requiring the department to learn a new process, extensive negotiations between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the mill, and the pandemic.

‘ONE OF THE NASTIEST RIVERS’ Opponents of the proposal say that 10 years is too long to wait for a new permit that does nothing to move the needle forward on environmental standards and in some areas opens the door to backsliding — especially for downstream residents who receive all of the mill’s pollution but none of its economic benefits. “A lot of people from the Canton area look at it purely from their own financial viewpoint,” said Donna Norris, a lifetime Cocke

County resident who owns a wedding chapel along the river. “Downstream, the water quality affects us as well. We deserve to benefit from the river that runs right through us.” Right now, multiple speakers said, that’s not happening to the extent that it should. The DEQ heard from residents who were afraid to let their dogs swim in the river and river guides who said the pollution gave them rashes and left a terrible taste in their mouths that could last for hours after a kayak roll. “It is one of the nastiest rivers I’ve paddled in the entire country, and I’ve paddled at least 100 rivers,” said whitewater guide Amelia Taylor. Speakers from Cocke County expressed particular concern about a proposal concerning the color variance. Since the 1980s, the mill has received a variance on color loading, which basically means that because they weren’t able to meet the same standard the state imposes on everybody else using currently available technology, they received special permission to abide by a looser standard that permits more color loading than would typically be allowed. Since 1990, the mill has reduced its color discharge by more than 90 percent. It’s now able to meet the normal state standard and so does not need a variance. That’s good news, but opponents of the proposal said they want to see permit conditions that would push the mill toward continued reductions in color loading. The mill is already meeting the state standard, so removing the variance would not require it to improve its performance. “The proposed in-stream standard is actually weaker than the standard the EPA proposed over 30 years ago in the 80s,” said Hope Taylor, recently retired executive director for Clean Water of North Carolina. “It must be lower, not higher, as proposed by the conditions in this draft permit.”

U.S. 23 crosses the Pigeon River just upstream from the discharge site at Evergreen Packaging in Canton. Evergreen Packaging photo

Be heard Written comments on the proposed wastewater permit for Blue Ridge Paper in Canton will be accepted through Friday, April 30. The permit, expected to be issued in May, would be in effect through at least May 2026. Due to delays with the regulatory agencies, the mill has been operating on an extension of its current permit, issued in 2010, since 2015. For more information, including links for commenting and for reading the proposed permit, visit bit.ly/cantonpermit. Watch the April 14 public hearing at bit.ly/3duDhcs.

Color was far from the only permit term at issue during the hearing. “The current draft permit either does not do enough to protect the Pigeon or invites backsliding on key terms,” said Spencer Scheidt, associate attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Both Scheidt and Callie Moore of MountainTrue called for water temperature limits based on daily monitoring rather than monthly averages. The manufacturing process releases substantial amounts of heat into the river water it uses, and if the water is too hot when it’s discharged back into the river, the aquatic ecosystem suffers. In summer 2007, an extremely hot water discharge from the mill killed more than 8,500 fish, but because the permit regulated temperature based on monthly averages, the episode didn’t constitute a permit violation. No big fish kills have occurred since then, but permit opponents say that there’s nothing stopping a repeat performance — especially since the proposed permit would move back to monthly temperature calculations after using weekly numbers since the terms of the 2012 settlement were enacted. Further, they say, the downstream aquatic community is already suffering due to higher-than-natural water temperatures. “I see the studies that talk about, ‘there’s an indigenous fish community,’ but smallmouth bass and some of the other species that are mentioned are more cool-water, not coldwater species,” said Moore. “The water coming to the plant is a coldwater river, so we should strive to match that as much as possible.” Scheidt also criticized the fact that neither the permit nor the mill’s application address levels of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” contending that the paper industry is a known consumer of those materials. Both he and Moore slammed a provision in the proposed permit that would require the mill to test fish for dioxin levels just once over the permit’s life. Currently, the mill must perform this testing three times in the five-year permit period. The mill contends that more frequent testing is not necessary, because no dioxin has been detected in its discharge since 1989. However, environmental

between his earliest memories of the river as a child in the 1980s and the view today. “I remember how it looked. I remember how it smelled,” said Smathers. “I remember the foam. I remember how people treated that mill below the river. That has changed. It is amazing to me not just the amount of money that has been put into making the river quality and water quality better, but just the intentional push by mill leaders and your everyday workers to do better. This is not a company that is doing something because they have to. They want to. They want to be good community partners.” Smathers went on emphasize the mill’s importance to the town of Canton, saying that the mill is Canton’s “lifeblood” and that “you cannot separate the DNA of Canton, North Carolina, from Evergreen Packaging.” He pointed to the fact that the mill processes the town’s wastewater as an

out of national forests and wilderness areas. I just think the placement of this mill should be taken into consideration when you’re talking about allowing more pollution of something like chloroform into the river.”

LIFEBLOOD OF CANTON

The public hearing is past, but it’s not too late to weigh in on the permit terms. The DWR is accepting written comments through April 30. After that, staff will sift through the feedback and come to a final decision, expected in May. The resulting permit will be good through 2026. As they evaluate study results and technical considerations, staff may hear a soundtrack play in the back of their minds, composed of the pleas of those for whom the river is an essential part of life — Haywood County residents begging the state to recognize their mill’s good work and to forestall any decision that could spell its financial doom, and Cocke County residents imploring North Carolina’s government to give the health and wellbeing of Tennessee’s people the same weigh they do their own taxpayers. Then, a third voice — that of the environmental groups that have taken it upon themselves for decades to seek judicial and federal remedies to what they see as high pollution levels state regulators allowed to persist. “The work to restore the Pigeon River to health is still far from over,” Taylor said.

Bryson City teen joins Olympic team with history-making performance Western North Carolina teenager Evy Leibfarth will represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo this year after placing first in two Olympic Team Trials competitions last week. “Making the Olympic Team is a dream I’ve had since I was really young, and it’s so exciting that it’s becoming a reality,” said Leibfarth. “I’m so grateful and proud to be a part of Team USA and an amazing community of athletes who inspire me to be a better athlete and person!” At just 17 years old, Leibfarth took the top spot in both women’s kayak slalom and women’s canoe slalom during the trials, held April 12-14 at the U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, making history when she earned a place on the team for both events. Leibfarth will be the first U.S. woman to race in two Olympic whitewater slalom events, and the first U.S. woman to ever compete in an Olympic canoe race — Tokyo will be the first Olympic Games featuring a women’s canoe event. In 2019, she became the first woman to win two individual classes at the U.S. Team Trials, so when she did it again last week, she tied up her own record. Leibfarth was born in Sylva and resides in Bryson City, and she cut her teeth on the cool mountain waters of the Nantahala River. She learned to paddle as a 4-year-old and entered her first slalom race at the tender age of 7. Leibfarth comes by her passion honestly — her father is a former U.S. national team coach; her mother is a former raft guide and kayak instructor. As she grew, her performance surpassed all expectations. In 2019, Leibfarth won two medals — a silver and a bronze — during two World Cup events held in Europe, also ranking in the top 10 in three additional events. Those accomplishments made her the first U.S. woman to medal at any world paddling event since Rebecca Giddens won a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics, the youngest athlete of any gender or nationality to win a Canoe Slalom World Cup medal and the first female paddler of any nationality to medal in a World Cup event at age 15, ever. “It’s completely mind blowing, I think for the entire world right now, what she’s done at her first two world cups,” William Irving, president of Nantahala Outdoor Center, said in an interview at the time. In Tokyo, Leibfarth will have an even larger audience waiting for its mind to be blown. Follow Leibfarth’s journey at www.goevy.com or donate to support her Olympic journey at www.gofundme.com/f/evy-road-to-tokyo-2020olympics. — By Holly Kays, outdoors editor 31

Smoky Mountain News

The mill’s proponents did not spend much time addressing the particular provisions of the proposed permit. Instead, they focused on highlighting Evergreen’s importance to the community and its impressive cleanup efforts over the past couple decades, couching the proposed color variance removal as a mark of victory following a long and expensive struggle to restore the river. “We feel we should have recognition of this accomplishment and have the color variance removed from the permit since our efforts have made it unnecessary,” said Evergreen Operations Manager Jay Clary. “The employees have earned the right to have this color variance removed.” Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers told the DEQ about the marked difference

example of the “linked” relationship between Canton’s mill and its government. Haywood Chamber of Commerce President CeCe Hipps spoke about the respect she gained for the mill as a result of her father-in-law’s 44-year career there and applauded Evergreen’s “transparent” environmental efforts. “While the past may have been shaky at times, the current leadership and their engagement and investment in the future of the community looks very promising,” she said. “It’s just critical to our economy,” said County Manager Bryant Morehead, noting the fact that Evergreen employs 1,100 people in Haywood County with an annual payroll of $95 million. Evergreen’s Director of Sustainability Derric Brown cited the mill’s past successes in environmental cleanup, saying that surveys now show balanced indigenous fish communities where before there were none and record-breaking numbers of rafters in the river. On top of that, he said, the Canton mill has one of the cleanest water discharges of any mill in the

THE ROAD AHEAD

Evy Leibfarth took first place in the canoe and kayak slalom events during last week’s Olympic Team Trials in Charlotte. Jean Folger photo

April 21-27, 2021

A kayak-view photo looks upstream from the paper mill site in Canton. Anna Alsobrook/MountainTrue photo

world. “If you take two glass jugs of water to compare, one of them filled upstream of the mill and one of them filled at the Tennessee state line, the human eye can’t tell the difference between the two,” added Steve Hutchins, a member of the mill’s leadership team. Two Haywood County commissioners drew attention to the mill’s role in reducing pollution worldwide, with Commissioner Tommy Long pointing to the continued deluge of plastic water bottles into landfills and waterways as an “environmental disaster.” “I think lost in this discussion is what product the Canton packaging mill produces,” he said. “It’s basically a biodegradable liquid container. That’s the bulk of their business. We seldom ever pick up a biodegradable container. It’s basically plastic water bottles and aluminum cans.” Commission Chairman Kevin Ensley expressed similar sentiments, adding that manufacturing in Canton is much cleaner than manufacturing in other parts of the world. “I’d a lot rather paper be made in America than an overseas country like China where the environment is not even though of,” he said. Ensley noted that he has owned property on Douglas Lake in East Tennessee for 17 years and has not observed any water quality issues that interfere with swimming, fishing and boating. The lake is fed by the Nolichucky, Pigeon and French Broad rivers.

outdoors

advocates point out that the chemical still persists in the environment. Frequent testing should continue until fish tissue tests free of the chemical, Moore said, adding that because the current five-year permit is now in its 11th year of use, the effective frequency of testing could be far less than once every five years. Moore also told the DEQ that she was concerned about the increase in allowable chloroform discharge under the new proposed permit. The increased limit is due to revised guidance from the EPA. However, the mill was already meeting a stricter standard and so is clearly able to continue doing so, she said. “If the mill is able to meet the existing permit limits, which are more strict, then why should we allow more?” she said. “Many of the mills across the EPA region and the United States are not being fed by pristine, high-quality and outstanding resource waters flowing

outdoors

Buy flowers, feed the hungry

Luna the Barn Owl is one of Balsam Mountain Trust’s many animal residents. Tyler Murray photo

Buy plants, flowers and crafts during the A Mother’s Love Market, slated for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 1, at Sunset Inn in Lake Junaluska. Sunset Inn is sponsoring the event and will donate proceeds to Haywood Outdoor Pantries and Feeding the Multitudes, two organizations that provide a steady stream of food to Haywood’s hungry. Although largely hidden, hunger among Haywood County residents has never been greater and will continue to increase until the overall economy can rebound from the pandemic. COVID-19 protocols will be observed. For more information, visit @mountainprojectshaywoodpantryproject on Facebook.

Start an orchard Learn how to grow small trees and fruits during a two-hour workshop starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 5, via Zoom. Taught by Haywood County Extension Horticulture Agent Sam Marshall, the class will cover site selection, soil preparation, plant selection, bare root versus potted trees, pollination requirements, planting, trellising, mulching, weed control, fertilizing and pruning. Cost is $10, with a signup deadline of May 2. Register at bit.ly/3ahvzk1.

Get rid of old pesticides

Smoky Mountain News

April 21-27, 2021

Dispose of old pesticides safely during Haywood County Pesticide Collection Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in Waynesville. Nearly all pesticide products will be accepted at this amnesty collection event, including banned and outdated pesticides. For pesticides with unreadable or missing labels, contact Haywood County Cooperative Extension for instructions. Save any portion of the label remaining to help identify the material for disposal. Contact the office before col-

lection day for special instructions and information regarding pressurized pesticide gas cylinders or containers larger than 5 gallons. Unknown materials cannot be accepted. The event will take place at the Haywood Extension Center on Raccoon Road and is offered in cooperation with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program. The program cooperates with 40 to 50 county Extension centers each year to collect old pesticides, meaning that collections occur only about once every other year in each county. Bill Skelton, Haywood County Extension Director, 828.456.3575.

Meet American raptors A presentation featuring live birds of prey will come to the Jackson County Public Library at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 1, as part of a weeklong celebration of migratory birds. The one-hour program will give attendees a chance to get an up-close and in-per-

son look at two North American raptor species, as well as two mystery animal guests. Offered by Balsam Mountain Trust. Space limited, with masks and social distancing required. Register with Nicole Cook at naturalist@bmtrust.org or 828.631.1063.

Explore Grandfather Mountain this year The Grandfather Mountain nature park in Linville is planning a robust calendar of events this year, the first of which is an advanced birding course offered 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 1. The course will explore seasonal plumage, mold, nesting growth, seasonal occurrence, habitat requirements and similarities between related and sometimes completely unrelated species. Enrollment is limited to 10 participants and cost is $60, or $25 for Bridge Club members. Additional offerings are planned through October and include chances to explore blooming rhododendrons, night skies, wildlife education curricula and more. Learn more or register at www.grandfather.com.

Season begins for Cradle of Forestry The Cradle of Forestry in America is open for the season as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 21. The birthplace of science-based forest management, the Cradle is nestled in Pink Beds Valley within the Pisgah National Forest. It offers 3 miles of paved interpretive trails as well as a gift shop and restrooms. Admission is $6 and free for youth ages 4 to 12. The site also accepts America the Beautiful and Every Kid in a Park passes. The Cradle is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. 828.877.3130.

Plant sale returning to CHHS

Central Haywood High School will host its annual plant sale 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 1, and daily Monday, May 3, through Saturday, May 8, in Clyde. The sale will take place at the school greenhouse across from the Pigeon River on 60 Hyder Mountain Road. Annuals, perennials, trees, flowers, herbs and vegetables will be available for prices ranging from $1 to $10. Proceeds benefit the school’s agriculture program. 828.627.9944

New Parkway superintendent named

Association event at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 22. Sign up with Christine O’Brien, Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.co m or 828.476.4667, ext. 11. n Help Haywood Waterways Association clean up Richland Creek, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, beginning at the Vance Street Park pavilion. Sign up with Christine O’Brien, Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11. n Watershed Association of the Tuckaseigee River, or WATR, will host the Tuckaseigee Watershed Eco-Fest 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24, at Monteith Farm Park Pavilion in Dillsboro. The event will include an opportunity to get close-up, hands-on experience with stream insects, and to learn more about WATR’s work. www.watrnc.org. n Andrews will hold its annual Street Fair & Nature Expo 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 24, offering a chance for all to learn about gardening, butterflies, water conservation, history and more. www.visitandrewsnc.com/spring-fling. n During an online event at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 24, the Blue Ridge Electric Vehicle Club will present, “What

Local celebrations will abound in observance of the 51st annual Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. n Celebrate the annual migration of the sicklefin redhorse, a crucial fish species in the Hiwassee River Valley with an educational viewing Thursday, April 22, at Welch Farm in Marble, hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Attend at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. to watch aquatic biologists tag the many fish that will be caught in fyke nets in the Valley River. For directions, visit www.mainspringconserves.org/bea-mainspring/properties/welch-farm. n The Haywood County Public Library will hold a series of virtual programs this week in anticipation of Earth Day, including a crash course on compost and a session about the opossum’s place as a secret backyard helper. www.haywoodcountync.gov/696/virtualprogramming. n Clean up litter at Chestnut Mountain Park in Canton and help remove invasive plants during a Haywood Waterways

does it mean to run an EV on Solar Energy?” The interactive session will include ample time to address participant questions. Register at driveelectricearthday.org/event. n Creation Care Alliance will hold a virtual Earth Day vigil 6 to 7:15 p.m. Sunday, April 25, via Zoom. www.mountaintrue.org/event/earth-day-vigil-3. n Root out invasive plants with Haywood Waterways at 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Vance Street Park near the Waynesville Recreation Center. RSVPs aren’t necessary, but are helpful. Contact Eric Romaniszyn at 828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org. n MountainTrue is hosting an Earth Day Cleanup Challenge through April 30, with participants asked to collect litter for disposal and post photos to social media with the hashtag #MTEarthDayChallenge. Photos with the most trash collected will receive a prize. www.mountaintrue.org/event/earth-dayclean-up-challenge-2021. Earth Day has been observed each year since it began in 1970. Learn more at www.earthday.org.

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage • Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com

Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com

• Rob Roland - robroland@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com • Steve Mauldin - smauldin@sunburstrealty.com

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty • Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net • Pam James - pam@pamjames.com

Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@kw.com • Darrin Graves - dgraves@kw.com

Lakeshore Realty • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Log & Frame Homes - 828-734-9323

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com Mountain Creek Real Estate • Ron Rosendahl - 828-593-8700

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com

RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com • • • • • • • •

remax-maggievalleync.com The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com Ron Breese - ronbreese.com Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net Juli Rogers - julimeaserogers@gmail.com Amy Boyd Sugg - amyboydsugg@gmail.com David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com

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Smoky Mountain News

Celebrate Earth Day

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

April 21-27, 2021

University of South Carolina as well as a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Waterloo in Canada. She has completed postgraduate work in envi-

outdoors

east region’s Superintendent of the Year in 2012. Her early NPS career also includes seven years on the NPS Business Management Group in Washington, D.C., during which she recruited, hired and mentored teams to develop business plans for more than 75 parks, including the Parkway. Before joining the Park Service, she worked for the National Parks Conservation Association. “Throughout my life, the Blue Ridge Parkway has played a prominent role, with some of my most treasured memories being shaped along that winding road and in the national parks and communities beyond,” she said. “The area’s landscape, arts, music and culture are deeply meaningful for me.” Swartout said she Tracy Swartout. NPS photo looks forward to building relationships with the Parkway’s many community and nonprofit partners ronmental management and coastal as she takes on the superintendent’s geology at Duke University and comrole. Outside of work, Swartout pleted the U.S. Department of enjoys spending time outdoors with Agriculture’s executive leadership family and friends, quilting, pottery program. and live music. She and her husband Prior to her move out west, she will move to the Asheville area this served as superintendent of June, along with their children and Congaree National Park in South two dogs. Carolina and was named the south-

Tracy Swartout will take over as superintendent for the Blue Ridge Parkway on May 23 following the departure of former Superintendent J.D. Lee last summer. Alexa Viets, the Parkway’s chief of resource management and interpretation, has served as acting superintendent since then. “We are excited to select Tracy to lead one of the country’s most visited parks in the National Park System,” said National Park Service South Atlantic-Gulf Regional Director Stan Austin. “Tracy is an exceptional leader with a solid record of performance, managing multi-faceted park operations and collaborating to achieve important agency and community objectives. Her experience, commitment to operational excellence and passion for inclusive public participation make her well-suited for this role.” Swartout comes to the job with 21 years of NPS experience under her belt. Since 2012, she has served as deputy superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park in Washington, where she was responsible for operations and leadership at the 250,000-acre national park, which includes designated wilderness, six affiliated Native American tribes and a complex National Historic Landmark District. She served as acting superintendent at various times during that tenure. A native of Columbia, South Carolina, Swartout holds a bachelor’s degree in geography from the

• Melanie Hoffman - mhoffmanrealestate@gmail.com • Thomas Hoffman - thoffman1@me.com

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outdoors

Haywood launches youth mountain bike club

April 21-27, 2021

A new mountain biking club for kids in eighth through 12th grades will hold its first meeting at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Allens Creek Park in Waynesville. Offered by Haywood County Recreation, the Haywood Bike Club is an introductory mountain biking club perfect for riders with little to no experience. Local mountain biker Todd Murdock will help riders practice bike handling skills and bike safety. The group will meet three times per month, and

one of those meetings will be at Bent Creek Bike Park in Asheville. Mountain bikes are available for participants who don’t have their own, but there are a limited number and they are size-specific. Prospective participants should check availability during registration. Limited to the first 30 signups. Onetime club fee of $10 is due at registration. Register with Ian Smith at 828.452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

Temporary closure at Vance Street Park The parking lot at Vance Street Park in Waynesville is closed through noon Saturday, April 24. The parking lot, used to access the Waynesville Greenway, pavilion and softball fields, is temporarily unavailable due to U.S. Army fitness testing. 828.456.2030.

Smoky Mountain News

Puzzles can be found on page 38 These are only the answers.

Registration is open through April 30 for a volleyball league starting in Cullowhee this May. Teams are available for girls and boys in the 8-10 and 11-14 age groups. Games and practices will be held at the Cullowhee Recreation Center, with practices starting the week of May 10 and games played on Saturdays. Registration is $50 and available online at rec.jacksonnc.org. Masks must be worn at all times, and kneepads are required.

Andrew Sherling, 828.293.3053, ext. 6 or andrewsherling@jacksonnc.org.

Sign up for flag football Registration for a series of flag football clinics in Cullowhee is open through April 30. Clinics are open to boys and girls going into first through sixth grades and will be held at the Cullowhee Recreation Park. All sessions will last for one hour from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. each day. A clinic for first and second graders will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the week of May 3. A clinic for third and fourth graders will be held Monday, Tuesday and Thursday the week of May 24. A clinic for fifth and sixth graders will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the week of May 31. Cost is $30 per participant. Register at rec.jacksonnc.org.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Shelton House Museum, Barn and Gift Shop will hold Opening Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 1. The Shelton house will be open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, with tours offered on the hour. • Safe Kids Macon County is gearing up for the annual Safety Town Event scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building. Additional details will be announced on the Safe Kids Macon County Facebook page. • The Agriculture, Horticulture, and Natural Resource classes at Central Haywood High School will be having a plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 1 through May 8 at the school greenhouse located at 60 Hyder Mountain Rd., Clyde.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Macon County NC Works Career Center will host a job fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Bring a resume and dress for success. For more information, call the career center at 828.369.9534. • The Small Business Center at Haywood Community College is offering a free "Empowering Mountain Food Systems - Agribusiness" webinar series. Upcoming classes include Agritourism to be held 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, April 28. Visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information or to register. • Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will partner with the WNC Regional Small Business Center Network to offer a free Virtual Craft Business Summit from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 26. Visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information or to register. • Western Carolina University will host Western Wednesday at 6 p.m. April 28, for a presentation about the impact of COVID-19 on North Carolina’s economy and its projected road to recovery. Visit https://wcu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUudeCvrjouEta4 OED33SE8X9FXQotxGZIH to RSVP. • The Small Business Center at Haywood Community College will offer a free two-part Boots to Business: Starting or Growing a Veteran-Owned Business virtual learning series. Held 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 22. Visit SBC.Haywood.edu or call 828.627.4512 for additional information or to register.

A&E

• “Paint-N-Pour” will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, April 21, at Balsam Falls Brewing in Sylva. Cost is $20 per person. All materials provided. RSVP at Balsam Falls Brewing’s Facebook page.

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host James Hammel (singer-songwriter) April 29. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations required. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Shane Meade w/Rob Masten & Shelly Garvin April 23, A. Lee Edwards (acoustic/blues) April 24, Mike Oregano 5:30 p.m. April 27 and Elysium Park Band April 30. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

Smoky Mountain News

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Carey Deal April 24 and Natti Love Joys (roots/reggae) May 1. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Celebrate the annual migration of the sicklefin redhorse, a crucial fish species in the Hiwassee River Valley with an educational viewing Thursday, April 22, at Welch Farm in Marble, hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Attend at 8 a.m. or 6 p.m. to watch aquatic biologists tag the many fish that will be caught in fyke nets in the Valley River. For directions, visit www.mainspringconserves.org/be-a-mainspring/properties/welch-farm.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Kid Billy (Billy Litz from Hustle Souls) April 23 and Anna Victoria (singersongwriter) April 30. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• The Haywood County Public Library will hold a series of virtual programs this week in anticipation of Earth Day, including a crash course on compost and a session about the opossum’s place as a secret backyard helper. www.haywoodcountync.gov/696/Virtual-Programming.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8 to 10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. www.balsamfallsbrewing.com.

• Clean up litter at Chestnut Mountain Park in Canton and help remove invasive plants during a Haywood Waterways Association event at 9 a.m. Thursday, April 22. Sign up with Christine O’Brien, Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.

FOOD AND DRINK • A special wine pairing dinner featuring Opolo Vineyards will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Cost is $65 all-inclusive. To RSVP, call 828.452.6000. For more information and to see the menu for the evening, click on www.classicwineseller.com. • There will be a free wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075. • The “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first-class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. • “Dillsboro After Five” will take place from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in downtown Dillsboro.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • Western North Carolina funk/rock act Hustle Souls will celebrate the release of its new album “Daydream Motel” with a socially-distanced, seated concert at 8 p.m. Friday, April 30, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville. Admission is $15 per person. You can purchase tickets by going to www.thegreyeagle.com and clicking on the “Calendar” tab. • Southern Gospel act The Booth Brothers will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at the Smoky Mountain Center of the Performing Arts in Franklin. Admission is $25 per person. To purchase tickets or for more information, please contact the theatre box office at 828.524.1598. • Starring Pasquale LaCorte as George Burns, “Say Goodnight, Gracie” will be held over for more performances following a high demand for tickets. The production will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 7-8 and 14-15, and 2 p.m. May 9 and 16 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Call 828.456.6322 for tickets. • “Love, Linda: The Life of Mrs. Cole Porter” performance dates will be 7:30 p.m. April 22-24, 29-30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. April 25 and May 2. All seats are $20 general admission. Call 828.456.6322 for tickets.

• Help Haywood Waterways Association clean up Richland Creek, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 24, beginning at the Vance Street Park pavilion. Sign up with Christine O’Brien, Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11. • Watershed Association of the Tuckaseigee River, or WATR, will host the Tuckaseigee Watershed Eco-Fest 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 24, at Monteith Farm Park Pavilion in Dillsboro. The event will include an opportunity to get close-up, hands-on experience with stream insects, and to learn more about WATR’s work. www.watrnc.org. • Andrews will hold its annual Street Fair & Nature Expo 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 24, offering a chance for all to learn about gardening, butterflies, water conservation, local history and more. www.visitandrewsnc.com/spring-fling. • During an online event at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 24, the Blue Ridge Electric Vehicle Club will present, “What does it mean to run an EV on Solar Energy?” The interactive session will include ample time to address participant questions. Register at driveelectricearthday.org/event. • Creation Care Alliance will hold a virtual Earth Day vigil 6 to 7:15 p.m. Sunday, April 25, via Zoom. www.mountaintrue.org/event/earth-day-vigil-3. • Root out invasive plants with Haywood Waterways at 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 27, at Vance Street Park near the Waynesville Recreation Center. RSVPs aren’t necessary but are helpful. Contact Eric Romaniszyn at 828.476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org. • MountainTrue is hosting an Earth Day Cleanup Challenge through April 30, with participants asked to collect litter for disposal and post photos to social media with the hashtag #MTEarthDayChallenge. Photos with the most trash collected will receive a prize. www.mountaintrue.org/event/earth-day-clean-up-challenge-2021.

Outdoors

• The Cradle of Forestry in America is open for the season as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 21. Admission is $6 and free for youth ages 4 to 12. The Cradle is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. 828.877.3130.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n n n n

Complete listings of local music scene Regional festivals Art gallery events and openings Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings • Register for the Fun 4 Kids Day Camp offered by Jackson County Parks and Recreation beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 17. The Cullowhee camp is open to children who have completed kindergarten through sixth grade. Cost is $625, or $600 for the second child enrolled, and dates are June 14 through Aug. 6. The Cashiers camp is open to ages 5 through 12, though campers must have completed kindergarten. Cost is $700 and dates are June 1 through July 30. Contact Dora Caldwell with questions at 828.293.3053, ext. 5, or doracaldwell@jacksonnc.org. www.rec.jacksonnc.org. • A punt, pass and kick clinic will be held at noon Saturday, April 24, at the Cashiers/Glenville Recreation Center in Jackson County. The event is free to everyone, with groups for ages 6-8, 9-11 and 12-14. www.rec.jacksonnc.org. • The inaugural Tot Trot 5K will step off Saturday, April 24, from the Waynesville Recreation Park to raise money for two local nonprofits — KARE and Hope for Horses. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with waved start times from 9 a.m. Awards will be distributed at Mad Anthony’s starting at 12:30 p.m., and the first 25 runners will receive a free beer glass upon presenting their race bib. All runners will be eligible for additional prize drawings. Register for $40 through April 19 at www.raceroster.com. • Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River will celebrate earth month with its member meeting from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Saturday, April 24, at Monteith Farm Park Pavilion. The event will allow participants the opportunity to catch and observe the fascinating critters that live in our local streams and rivers. • The inaugural Running of the Goats 5K and Nature Walk will take place at the WNC Nature Center in Asheville on Sunday, April 25. Registration is limited, and rolling starts with waves between 7:30 and 9 a.m. will allow for distancing. Proceeds will benefit Friends of the WNC Nature Center and support programs throughout the park. Register at www.wildwnc.org/runwild • The Nantahala Outdoor Center will throw its annual Spring Fling event this year, running from 8 a.m. Saturday, April 24, to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 25. An Upper Cascades release will provide fun for boaters, and kayak demos from a variety of vendors will be available 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday. From 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, live music from the Log Noggins Band will be provided. • Dispose of old pesticides safely during Haywood County Pesticide Collection Day 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in Waynesville. Contact the office before collection day for special instructions and information regarding pressurized pesticide gas cylinders or containers larger than 5 gallons. Unknown materials cannot be accepted. The event will take place at the Haywood Extension Center on Raccoon Road and is offered in cooperation with the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Pesticide Disposal Assistance Program. The program cooperates with 40 to 50 county Extension centers each year to collect old pesticides, meaning that collections occur only about once every other year in each county. Contact Bill Skelton, Haywood County Extension Director, for more information, 828.456.3575.

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Business Opportunities ARE YOU LOOKING For a job or business opportunity? Roof Coatings manufacture looking for Sales team members and Installers, in North & South Carolina. Call LaVern Zook 740-656-0177.

Employment HAYWOOD COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL DIRECTOR Part-time, salaried position, $24,000 for 3 days a week (minimum 20 hours). Requires occasional evening and weekend hours. Duties of this position: leading D QRQ SUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ supervising staff/volun-

WHHUV FUHDWLQJ PDUNHWLQJ PDWHULDOV EXGJHW PDQDJHPHQW DUWV HGXFDWLRQ HYHQW SODQQLQJ DUW JDOOHU\ PDQDJHPHQW IXQGUDLVLQJ GHYHORSPHQW SXEOLF VSHDNLQJ FRPSHWHQF\ ZLWK PRGHUQ RI¿FH software and social media systems. Preferred: college degree and/or ¿YH \HDUV H[SHULHQFH LQ arts, museum management, public relations, EXVLQHVV QRQSUR¿W management, or related ¿HOGV $SSOLFDWLRQV DFcepted until May 7, 2021. For more information or to submit cover letter, resume, and three current recommendations in pdf format, contact: Laura Linger, board president, ODXUDOLQJHU#FKDUWHU QHW P.O. Box 306, Waynesville, NC 28786 lauralinger@charter.net HOUSEKEEPER Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a part time housekeeper. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug screening. Weekend availability is a must! Please apply in person. FRONT DESK Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a front desk clerk. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug and background screening. Weekend availability is required! Computer knowledge is a must. Hours will vary. Please apply in person for more information.

to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain SURJUDPV IRU TXDOL¿HG DSplicants. Call CTI for details! Call 833-990-0354. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

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DISHWASHER NEEDED $12/HOUR The Swag is currently hiring both AM and PM dishwashers/prep cooks. If you have experience in any of these positions please e-mail us. We have full and part time positions available. The Swag will be providing the right people a great work environment, above average pay UDWHV DPD]LQJ OHDUQLQJ opportunities with the best mountain views around. Thank you in advance for your interest in employment at the Swag. Clean dishes, food preparation equipment and utensils. Wash dishes, glassZDUH ÀDWZDUH SRWV and pans, using dishwashers or by hand. Maintain kitchen work areas, equipment and utensils in clean and orderly condition. Place clean dishes, utensils and cooking equipment in storage areas. The Prep dishwasher/prep cook will assist in the preparation of meals by chopping vegetables, making salads, and putting together lunches, breakfast and other food stuffs. Although this role generally does not include line cook duties, it provides the ideal opportunity to develop and use many of the skills essential to becoming a cook. Such VNLOOV LQFOXGH SUR¿ciently being able to XWLOL]H D ZLGH UDQJH RI kitchen tools including proper knife handling. (828) 926-0430 stay@ theswag.com

(828) 734-6222 CAREERS WITH HAYWOOD COUNTY Haywood County Government has a career waiting for you! Our career listings are on our website at www.haywoodcountync. gov. Making a decision to work for Haywood County Government comes with a variety of ways to care for you and your family by providing the following EHQH¿WV 3DLG FRPSUHhensive medical and dental insurance-Employee only. (Additional for spouse and/or children). 3DLG WHUP OLIH LQVXUance-Employee only. (Additional for spouse and/or FKLOGUHQ 3DUWLFLSDWLRQ LQ the North Carolina Local Government Employees’ 5HWLUHPHQW V\VWHP 7D[ Deferred investment Programs (401(k) and 457 plans available). 0HGLFDO DQG 'HSHQGHQW Care Flexible Spending $FFRXQWV 6XSSOHPHQWDO Voluntary Insurance Policies (vision, cancer, short term/long term disability, hospital indemnity, term/ whole life insurance). 3DLG $QQXDO 3HUVRQDO DQG 6LFN /HDYH /RQJHYLW\ 3D\ 0HULW ,QFUHDVHV 3DLG +ROLGD\V )UHH (PSOR\HH &OLQLF 'LVcounted Gym MemberVKLS UDWHV (PSOR\HH 'LVFRXQWV ZLWK 9HUL]RQ :LUHOHVV &UHGLW 8QLRQ PHPEHUVKLS (PSOR\HH Assistance Program MEDICAL BILLING & CODING TRAINING. New Students Only. Call & Press 1. 100% online courses. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. 833-990-0354

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SUPER

CROSSWORD

HIT SINGLES ACROSS 1 Insurance giant 6 Italian side dish 13 Govt. media watchdog 16 Once lived 19 Cheek makeup 20 Put out of memory 21 "Impressive!" 22 Skiing peak 23 "Glamorous" singer who's a member of the nobility? 25 Dodgy 27 Not disproven 28 "This Old House" airer 30 Hot and heavy 31 Size above med. 32 Kind of camera, for short 33 "Raise Your Glass" singer being scandalous? 36 Cheese variety 38 With 82-Across, Tour de France, e.g. 39 Resident doctor 40 "Kiss From a Rose" singer after lots of coaching? 44 Inits. on an ambulance 45 -- Romeo 48 "Marat/Sade" playwright Peter 49 With 35-Down, short, easy putts 50 Cup edge 51 Lowly 53 Hostelries 54 Tilted text: Abbr. 56 "Material Girl" singer of high birth? 58 "-- chance!" 59 Neither's partner 60 Bit of dust

61 62 63 68 71 72 73 74 78

81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 92 95 96 97 100 101 104 105 106 109 111

114 115 116 117 118 119

Galena, e.g. Ending for peer "Every Breath You Take" singer working as a spy? -- -TURN (traffic sign) Suffix with mountain Writer Haley Clutch sitter Moby Dick's pursuer "Have You Ever?" singer doing commercials for Mac computers? Brazilian soccer great See 38-Across Make an exit Negatives In the style of Readily bent -- -deucy Needle hole "Yeah!" singer as a deacon? Cheese variety Co. leaders Cry of pain "Hot in Herre" singer on edge? Vehicle navig. aid Bar bill UFO pilots Outer: Prefix Decided by ballot Deviate "You Were Meant for Me" singer whom everyone treasures? "Sort of" suffix Sharp bark Most ethereal Popular font No longer active: Abbr. Ocean

120 121

Frightful flies Shabby

DOWN 1 Paula of pop 2 Tossed 3 "Filthy" gain 4 Court champ Arthur 5 Emeril, e.g. 6 Stole stock 7 Deduce 8 Olympic racer 9 Atop, in odes 10 "It" game 11 Easel, often 12 Last non-A.D. year 13 Rival 14 London's -- Garden 15 Cavalry cry 16 Be part of a queue 17 Ailey of dance 18 Bit of dust 24 "Wake Up Little --" 26 Hitter of high notes 29 Revealing, as a bikini 33 Dial or Coast 34 Actor Linden 35 See 49-Across 36 Africa's Guinea- -37 ER workers 38 Not fake 40 Bed size 41 Nevada city 42 "-- I a stinker?" 43 Ringo who was knighted 44 Downy duck 46 Air blowers 47 "Ah, me!" 50 Kind of paint 51 Nautical 52 Shangri-la 54 Seeing red?

55 56 57 60 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 75 76 77 79 80 81 85 86 88 89 90 91 93 94 95 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 106 107 108 110 112 113

"-- is human ..." -- -dovey Super 8, say Sculpts At no time, to bards Lake craft Crop off Too gaudy Not a thing Big oil gp. Northeast, on a map Doth own It's a pain Lager, e.g. Time between flights "Do I have a volunteer?" In addition "Hey, sailor!" Filmmaker Jean- -Godard Nav. rank Cartoon pic Cowardly evasions Shucks Fiscal sums Oz resident Leachman of "Phyllis" Lowest point "Beloved" actress Kimberly Yank in Europe, say Skein bird "Namely ..." Really got to Tummy Connections Open a bit Lynn or Miles Hot tub site Afore Op. -- (kin of "ibid.")

ANSWERS ON PAGE 34

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Smoky Mountain News April 21-27, 2021

Smoky Mountain News | April 21, 2021

Articles inside

Unhappy reading vs. happy reading

Balsam Range gets back on stage

Franklin manager to leave her post

Education news

The benefits of Community Response Teams

Federal court rules for Catawba casino

New language proposed for Sylva statue

Opinion

News