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May 18-24, 2022 Vol. 23 Iss. 51
Waynesville group protests for reproductive rights Page 4 Cherokee cuts ribbon on new disc golf course Page 30
CONTENTS
STAFF
On the Cover: The judicial system in Western North Carolina has been dealt several blows over the last few years, including the court shutdown that came in the wake of the pandemic. But now, as the system approaches what many say could be a crisis, can the solutions come soon enough? (Pages 6-11)
News Waynesville rally for Roe is a sign of things to come ..............................................4 UNC building renamed for Cherokee trailblazer ........................................................5 How WNC is headed toward a judicial crisis ............................................................6 Location for Sylva’s public bathrooms still up in the air ........................................12 Again, Cooper’s budget proposal includes Medicaid expansion ......................15 Food Trucks welcome in Maggie Valley ....................................................................16 Crisis pregnancy center opens in Waynesville ........................................................19
Are courthouse politics gumming up the system? ................................................20 If Roe v. Wade goes, then what is next ......................................................................21
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Mountain Layers Brewing celebrates five years ......................................................22 Medicine for the soul: reading Roger Scruton..........................................................29
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Disc golf course opens in Cherokee ..........................................................................30 Grant project aims to boost Parkway’s economic impact ....................................33
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Waynesville rally for Roe is a sign of things to come BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR s it often does, the Historic Haywood Courthouse played host to a rally on May 14 that drew about 50 people, an equal number of signs and a small contingent of counterdemonstrators. Unlike in recent years, it wasn’t a rally supporting Black Lives Matter, or law enforcement officers, or local issues like the proposed jail expansion. Until this month, public demonstrations over the issue of abortion have been relatively rare, as the issue has been settled law for nearly half a century. However, a leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court suggesting that the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling is about to be overturned has ushered in a new era of demonstrations by reproductive rights advocates concerned about what overturning Roe would mean, and what other constitutional rights may be on SCOTUS’ chopping block.
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tefani Potter, along with her 25-yearold daughter Leanna Beale, travelled from just past Sylva to attend the rally on a sunny Saturday morning in Waynesville. “I started marching with my aunt in 1968 and I’ve been marching ever since,” Potter said. Potter came out of concern that the 49year-old ruling could be overturned by a Court packed with conservative justices. “I think in the end, it would be an absolute disaster,” she said. “It is against what the Constitution is about. This country was founded on the fact that we could come here, be good people and run our lives our way and not have religion or anyone else tell us what to do. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, we are going backwards in rights and it’s not just women’s rights — it’s rights, at this point.” The 1973 case ensured a woman’s constitutional right to choose to terminate a pregnancy, based on a right to privacy in the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Beale, who’s grown up and lived her entire life with Roe’s protections largely con-
Demonstrators gather in support of reproductive rights, almost 50 years after Roe v. Wade was decided by a 7-2 vote of the U.S. Supreme Court. Cory Vaillancourt photos
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May 18-24, 2022
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motes left-leaning causes. Nationwide, thousands gathered at similar “Bans off our Bodies” rallies that took place on the same day. “Where does it end?” Packer asked. “If we can repeal those rights, overturn the decision of Roe v. Wade, then who’s to say that gay marriage is secure? That we can’t move forward with transgender rights? I mean, it’s a very slippery slope.” From across the street, about 100 yards from the rally, Thomas Sutton and about 10 members of a group called the Haywood Militia watched quietly. “I stand on the other side,” Sutton said.
An unidentified man, with two dogs, disrupted a reproductive rights rally on May 14 in Waynesville.
sidered settled law, was aghast at the possibility of a future without them. “I’m not sure how to put it into words,” she said. “I think if men were told to regulate their bodies, it wouldn’t go over well.” Heather Hyatt Packer organized the rally with We Are WNC, a loosely organized group in Haywood County that usually pro-
“I’m pro-life. I feel that abortion is murder. You’re taking the life of an innocent child. God says he knew me before I was formed in the womb, which means that I am a life from conception.” Sutton, a Haywood County native, said his group believes in family, faith and freedom and that he doesn’t agree with Packer’s “slippery slope” theory that overturning Roe could jeopardize other rights, like LGBT marriage equality or even interracial marriage. “No, I do not,” he said. “One has nothing to do with the other. This is legalized murder. Gay rights or gay marriage has nothing to do with the right to live. There is a difference, and a baby has the right to live.” The issue of abortion has always been a divisive one — morally, politically, spiritually and legally — so it would have been surprising if there wasn’t at least one disruption during the rally. Near the conclusion of the event, a man appeared with two large dogs and walked through the center of the crowd, saying he’d come to “look at all the idiots in my town.” Reproductive rights activists quickly summoned two officers from the Waynesville Police Department, who were stationed near the entrance to the justice center. As the officers made their way towards the scene, members of the crowd jeered the man as his dogs barked occasionally. Officers ushered him away, without incident, as the crowd broke into song with the 1800s spiritual, We Shall Not Be Moved. Although the confrontation was brief and inconsequential, Roe v. Wade hasn’t yet been overturned; there will likely be more and larger rallies both in support of and opposition to the ruling, if and when that happens. The opinion from the Supreme Court is expected in about two months.
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BY HOLLY KAYS passed in the 1960s. STAFF WRITER Owl’s daughter, Gladys Cardiff, who enry Owl was the first person of color, lives in Seattle, attended the dedication cerand the first Native American, to emony, where she received a bound copy of attend the University of North his thesis. In public remarks, she said her Carolina Chapel Hill. Now, 94 years after he father’s family respected education and first enrolled, a building has been named in expressed gratitude for the “high and conhis honor — on May 13, UNC’s student spicuous honor” of naming the building for affairs building was officially christened the him. Henry Owl Building. “The significance of today goes far “At times, there’s been a fog around beyond any one name,” Cardiff said. incredible, inspirational and underrepre“History is all about who speaks, who gets sented voices in our university’s history,” said Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “And our goal today is to shine a light through that fog and illuminate more of the people who have made our university the place it is today.” Born in 1896, Owl was a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of Lenoir College, where he was elected “Most Popular Boy” Gladys Cardiff (left), daughter of Henry Owl, receives a gift from and competed as a Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Chief of Staff Ashleigh Stephens star athlete in footwhile sharing the stage with Tribal Council Rep. Boyd Owle at the ball and baseball. In 1928, he enrolled at dedication ceremony May 13. Jon Gardiner/UNC-Chapel Hill photo UNC Chapel Hill as a graduate student in history. Owl authored a to speak and who does not.” study of Cherokee history that, told from The building, completed in June 1900, his perspective as a Cherokee person, chalwas known as the Carr Building until 2020, lenged racist myths that prevailed at the when trustees voted to remove the name time. Later, he served as an educator in honoring Julian Shakespeare Carr. Bureau of Indian Affairs schools out west A profile of Carr and his connection to and relocated his family to Seattle, UNC developed by UNC history students Washington, working as a counselor to bears the title, “The most generous white Native American veterans of World War II supremacist.” Carr is the only person to and then as an inspector at Boeing Aircraft have served on the Board of Trustees at Company. both UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, Owl also fought for the civil rights too and he gave large contributions to both often denied Native Americans of that era. schools. He is also known for his stridently In 1930, after earning his master’s degree, racist views, especially as expressed during Owl appeared at the Ravensford election the fiery speech he gave at the dedication of precinct in Swain County, where he asked the now-infamous Silent Sam statue. In that to be registered to vote. In his hand, he held speech, he described the “pleasing duty” he a copy of his master’s thesis, titled, “The once had of horse-whipping a Black woman Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Before in front of 100 Federal soldiers, “one hunand After the Removal” to serve as proof, dred yards from where we stand.” should it be required, that he was quite litReplacing Carr’s name with Owl’s will erate. “affirm the principles of democracy, justice Despite a 1924 federal law granting and equality that defined his life and Native Americans the right to vote, Owl was career,” reads a statement from the turned away. Precinct officials told him that Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on he was a ward of the federal government, Naming University Facilities and Units. not a U.S. citizen, and therefore not eligible. Owl is not the first EBCI member to Owl submitted a sworn account of the inciserve as a UNC building’s namesake. Last dent to the U.S. Senate’s Committee on year, UNC Asheville renamed Ashe Hall for Indian Affairs, which sped congressional Ella Bird, one of three living Beloved approval of legislation affirming Cherokee Women in the tribe. On the same day that suffrage, so long as they met state residency Owl’s name was honored, UNC Chapel Hill and literacy requirements. However, tribal renamed another building, the former members continued to face rejection at the Aycock Residence Hall, for the university’s polls until the federal Voting Rights Act first Black professor, Hortense McClinton.
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WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS
Smoky Mountain News
May 18-24, 2022
How a pandemic, a surging population and a striking lack of resources is steering WNC toward a judicial crisis
BY KYLE PERROTTI N EWS E DITOR ome catastrophes happen in the blink of an eye, while others develop so slowly they’re imperceptible, like a crack in a levee propagating below the waterline. As the judicial system in Western North Carolina approaches what many are calling a crisis, it seems less and less likely anything substantial will be done in time to avoid depriving those exposed to the court system their constitutionally guaranteed right to due process. Courts in Western North Carolina were already becoming overburdened prior to COVID-19, due to an overall influx of people, a new drug crisis and a lack of resources. As legislators fail to act and attorneys continue to struggle, especially when representing indigent defendants, the trajectory doesn’t look good. While some have pointed to Haywood County’s pretrial release program — which has become a point of frustration among citizens and law enforcement officers who encounter the same offenders with increasing frequency — none of the 40 defense attorneys, judges or clerks interviewed for this story, nor the District Attorney, said that was the cause of the slowdown in the judicial system. It’s simply a lack of action, a lack of shared interest.
S
ON THE PRECIPICE 6
Rady Large was born and raised in Sylva and has spent most of his career practicing
law in Western North Carolina. While he spent some time working as a prosecutor under District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch, he’s now a defense attorney. When asked about the state of the judicial system in the region, he didn’t mince words. “I think we are on the precipice of a constitutional crisis,” he said. Large considers the biggest issue to be the lack of lawyers on the court-appointed list, which is made up of attorneys who will work for meager state-mandated pay to represent defendants without enough resources to hire their own counsel. He said the nature of the potential constitutional crisis involves the risk of people sitting in jail who shouldn’t be just because they don’t have representation. For example, Large argued, if one of the few attorneys on the court-appointed list is assigned seven cases in one day, which isn’t uncommon, it’s impossible to get to all of them and give each case its due. This is made even more difficult by the limited number of visitation rooms in some local jails. “Eventually, you’re going to see that attorney burn out,” Large said. “They’re gonna be like, ‘wow, I’m working out of my briefcase and my car. I’m trying to make rent. I’m trying to pay off student loans.’” As the crisis of attrition took hold over the last few years, the domino effect began, and those remaining on the court appointed list became more overburdened, leaving periods in recent months where some court appointed lists had zero attorneys. Throughout the reporting of this story, lists typically fluctuated between zero and four people while attor-
neys said in previous years they’d often be in double digits. “There’s going to eventually be a void, and people will sit in jail without seeing their attorney,” Large said “And there’s no cavalry coming.” Large’s concerns were echoed by Roy Wijewickrama, who was elected to the bench as a District Court judge in 2010 and was appointed as the 30th Judicial District Chief District Court Judge in early 2021. “I think there’s a shortage of lawyers here,” Wijewickrama said. Many in the system have also clamored for an increase in the number of judges to allow for more court sessions. Right now, some emergency judges are serving, such as recently retired Chief District Court Judge Richard Walker, but that’s not a viable longterm solution. Some have called for the 30th Judicial District — made up of Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Graham, Clay and Cherokee counties — to be split to minimize judges’ travel times while also ensuring more judges in the western counties come from those western counties. Currently, all but one who currently hold a seat on the bench are from Haywood County. Large said he understands that it’s easy for people to be unsympathetic toward criminal defendants but thinks it’s paramount that they respect the Constitution. “You want to have a criminal defense attorney over there making sure that the state does their job right and follows the law,” he said. But that very right to defense counsel may be in jeopardy.
“When everyone is overworked, everyone is burnt out,” Large said. “That’s when bad things happen.”
A ‘PERFECT STORM’ In March of 2020, as COVID-19 took hold, North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley issued an order halting almost all court system operations in the state. Over a year later, after defeating Beasley, newly elected Chief Justice Paul Newby issued his own order opening courts back up with certain precautions. When the courts were shut down, a large backlog of criminal cases developed, and as people with pending charges were released from jail to avoid overcrowding, some accumulated a serious number of drug-related charges. The court shutdown came at a particularly tough time for the 30th Judicial District as the region experienced a large influx of new residents and visitors, a trend that’s only expected to continue. Complicating things further was the explosion in the use of fentanyl, a powerful and addictive opioid that has overburdened medical and legal systems everywhere. On April 26 of this year, a PowerPoint presentation produced by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) compared trends in Western North Carolina with those seen statewide. While the number of pending felony and district court criminal cases rose 16% and 1%, respectively, some WNC counties saw a shocking boom, including Cherokee County, which saw a 55% and
— Attorney Rich Cassady
office whose sole job would be to provide representation to indigent defendants. In that letter, Letts references the February meeting, writing that a consensus was reached calling for a public defender office. “Our local bar has made numerous efforts and, without exception, valiantly done all which could be reasonably asked of them to assist … Haywood and Jackson Counties continue to lack sufficient attorneys on the court-appointed lists and in turn regularly encounter barriers in maintaining a timely and efficient system for providing sufficient and effective legal representation and related services to indigent defendants,” the letter reads. “When considering the past issues which have arisen, the present need for courtappointed counsel, and the overwhelmingly positive support expressed by those in District 30B for a public defender office, I believe the request is well-reasoned and warranted by the reality which now exists in the courtrooms of Haywood and Jackson Counties,” the letter continues. In a written statement to The Smoky Mountain News, Letts reiterated that feeling. “At the current time we simply lack enough attorneys to accept court appointed cases,” Letts’ statement reads. “Due solely to this lack of attorneys able to accept appointment in criminal cases I believe a public defender office is needed in District 30B for Haywood and Jackson Counties.” Attorney Leo Phillips, who has an office in Cherokee County but practices across the district, talked about his frustrations with the workload he takes on from the court appointed list. “You can’t effectively handle this many cases, especially with the prosecutors not giving reasonable plea offers,” he said. Rich Cassady out of Macon County said he got off the list because he “could only be in one place at a time.”
A look inside Graham County’s filing room, which is woefully small considering the increasing number of court cases. Kyle Perrotti photo “At what point am I letting the quality of the product slip because I’m stretching myself too thin?” he said. Another attorney who’s strongly advocated for a public defender office is Jay Pavey, who practices on the court-appointed lists for all felonies out of Jackson County. “I’m getting inundated with a huge number of cases,” he said last month. “Of the 67 people incarcerated in Jackson County, 22 were mine.” Pavey agreed with some of the urgent statements others made to SMN. “I think it’s accurate that it’s the worst it’s been,” he said. He talked about a client of his who had been sitting in jail for 10 months without an indictment. “If they drop the charges on this guy, he’s wasted 10 months of his life in jail,” Pavey said. Pavey said a public defender office is needed, especially given the growth of Haywood and Jackson counties, and added that an email chain he’d seen between several attorneys made it clear that most were in favor of it.
“Having a group of dedicated professionals working together, quality of defense would rise,” he said. Some judges expressed their support for a public defender office, including Wijewickrama, who said it would alleviate many of the burdens facing the district. “You have a committed staff on salary that are permanently working in the court system and are focused solely on indigent representation,” he said. Earwood herself was on the court-appointed list as a defense attorney before becoming a judge. She said that when a situation arises where there’s no one on the court-appointed list to step up, she has to “beg, borrow and plead” to get someone representation. Judge Leslie agreed. “Without a doubt, a public defender office would help,” she said. “We are desperate at this point. There’s only one attorney on the A-E [the highest-level felonies] list, so every trafficking case, he’ll get appointed one defendant, and we’ll have to beg people to represent the codefendants.”
Smoky Mountain News
As more people living below the poverty line are exposed to the justice system, ensuring everyone has representation has become a growing concern, especially as attorneys show less willingness to do court-appointed work. The state’s going rate for courtappointed work stagnated until recently receiving a slight bump up to $65-85 per hour for most cases, still about half of what federal court-appointed attorneys make. Considering the high cost of running a practice, including rent, utilities, staff, materials, and student loans, that simply isn’t enough for many lawyers. Superior Court Judge Brad Letts, the Senior Resident Superior Court Judge for Haywood and Jackson counties (District 30B), has appealed to attorneys regularly over the last few years to take on courtappointed work. He has also written to Indigent Defense Services, the state agency tasked with ensuring everyone receives representation. In a December 2021 letter from the
“At what point am I letting the quality of the product slip because I’m stretching myself too thin?”
May 18-24, 2022
NEGLECTING THE INDIGENT
Committee on Indigent Appointments for the Superior Court Judicial District 30B — made up of Letts, Wijewickrama and other stakeholders — to IDS Executive Director Mary Pollard, the group noted that things are only getting worse. At the time that letter was written, there were no attorneys on the courtappointed list for high-level felonies in Haywood. A meeting of the bar representing the attorneys of Haywood and Jackson counties was held Feb. 4 of this year in the Haywood County Justice Center jury assembly room. Thirteen attorneys were present, and the topic of discussion was how to handle the problems with the court-appointed lists. Following that meeting, on March 7, Letts wrote a letter to IDS Executive Director Mary Pollard formally requesting a public defender
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20% rise in those same numbers. Clay County saw a 57% rise in pending felony cases and a 30% rise in DWI cases. Some counties, such as Haywood and Jackson, saw numbers that appear better than the statewide figures, but those far-western counties have fallen behind more than their counterparts. District Court Judge Kristina Earwood called COVID, the drug crisis and the region’s demographic shifts a “perfect storm,” discussing not only court slowdowns but also how the pandemic exacerbated mental health issues, leading to more drug-related criminal cases, as well as more family law cases. “There’s been an explosion of DSS and custody cases,” Earwood said. “For two years, nobody saw these kids. There were no doctors, coaches or teachers to make the reports.” “We probably have more kids in foster care than we’ve ever had,” she added. Large noted that COVID restrictions also made it tougher to visit clients in jail, even though jail staffs did “everything they could.” “Also, court-appointed defense attorneys weren’t exactly listed as essential workers,” he said. “But we were required to do that. Just because there’s a pandemic doesn’t mean that our clients don’t have the constitutional rights.” Danya Van Hook, who served as a District Court judge from 2009-2011 and then bar president for Haywood and Jackson counties from 2016-2020, acknowledged that the wheels of justice turn slowly by nature, but she still has her concerns. “There were enormous delays due to COVID because we could only hear 25 to 100 cases per day,” she said. “Regular dockets are 400 criminal cases per day.” District Court Judge Monica Leslie agreed that things are backed up, noting that domestic cases are running 12 to 18 months before they’re heard. “We’re not happy with it, but there’s only so many of us to do it,” she said. “We’ve been working our tails off to alleviate the backlog, but there’s not enough time and personnel to alleviate it as quickly as we’d like.”
S EE J UDICIAL, PAGE 8 7
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looking into a public defender office, and Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, said there might be a realistic possibility that could happen. “I do think we can get a public defender office in 2023,” Corbin said.
SPLITTING THE DISTRICT Most attorneys and judges in WNC seem to agree that splitting the 30th Judicial District and adding judges would alleviate the burden on the system. In early 2021, a meeting attended by judges, legislators and District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch was held. While neither the judges nor Welch would discuss what was talked about, the legislators provided some details. “[The judges] expressed to us the fact that they’re overworked,” Corbin said. “I got the impression that judges all wanted the district split,” Rep. Karl Gillespie, RMacon, said. Following the meeting, Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Swain, proposed House Bill 405, which would have put Cherokee, Graham, Clay and Macon Counties into their own dis-
Graham County Clerk of Superior Court Tammy Holloway points out where the grand jury has been assembling to deliberate in a construction area. Kyle Perrotti photo J UDICIAL, CONTINUED FROM 7
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In April, Pollard gave a two-hour presentation during a “continuing legal education” session held at Wells Events Center in Waynesville, where she spoke to a “full room.” She believes people were genuinely enthused by the possibility of a public defender office. “I think the message was well-received,” she said. Pollard was frank about where she stands on the need for help in Haywood and Jackson counties. She believes a public defender office for 30B would be beneficial, considering the “shortage of counsel.” In 2008, a public defender office was established in District 29B, which includes Transylvania, Henderson and Polk counties. Beth Stang, who has worked in that office since it opened, was appointed Chief Public Defender in 2020. She said one advantage of working as a state employee at a public defender office is the benefits, such as retirement and paid vacation, and the fact that overhead and staffing headaches are entirely avoided. “We can focus on our work,” Stang said. A concern among some on court-appointed lists around Western North Carolina is that a public defender office would pick up cases they’d otherwise take. Stang pointed out that there are still limitations on their workload, and in many cases, such as drug trafficking conspiracies, there are enough codefendants that not all can be represented by the office due to conflicts of interest. Stang takes pride in her office’s capabilities. She said a key to success for a public 8 defender office is hiring the proper attorneys
and developing chemistry. “It’s important that we have the right group of people committed to the work … If you’re coming into work every day, and you’re happy to work around the people you do, it can go a long way,” she said. Pollard also discussed the process to appoint a public defender. First, the bar convenes and nominates two or three individuals. Next, AOC comes up with a nomination. Finally, the Senior Resident Superior Court, Judge Letts in this case, appoints someone. At best, the legislature could approve a public defender office for 30B in 2023. Some attorneys believe it would still be up to a couple of years after that before the office is operational, but Pollard said it could be as early as the beginning of 2024. “Some relief will come relatively quickly,” she said. “The heaviest lift is just getting the General Assembly interested.” Pollard said there are a couple of ways for the legislature to consider a public defender office. One is for a representative to propose it; the other is a formal process by which IDS submits a budget expansion request. “I’m inclined to propose it,” Pollard said. Public defenders have a dedicated staff that can roughly mirror the district attorney’s, although the appointed chief public defender gets control over staffing and the office’s budget. Pollard said sometimes, for any number of reasons, the staff could be bigger or smaller than that of a District Attorney’s office. According to an email chain between members of the bar, the committee intended to send a letter to regional legislators advocating for a public defender office to be approved in June of next year. An email from Van Hook in that chain notes that the timeline is “aspirational.” All legislators who represent Western North Carolina said they’d be interested in
“The information that came out of that meeting helped me decide that it would be in the best interest of all the citizens of my area to split the district.” — Rep. Mike Clampitt, R-Swain
trict court district, and Haywood, Jackson and Swain into another, while also adding two more judges in the new western district, and another Assistant District Attorney. The Superior Court district was split in a similar manner decades ago. Clampitt said the numbers at the time of the meeting indicated that counties couldn’t hold enough court to keep up with the caseloads. Considering most courthouses have extra courtrooms, more judges would mean more court sessions. “Western North Carolina is just so large and diverse, and we were having a backlog of cases,” Clampitt said. “The information that came out of that meeting helped me decide that it would be in the best interest of all the citizens of my area to split the district.” If it had been signed into law, House Bill 405 would have cost the state $554,000 while also authorizing $759,000 in recurring funds for the following year. Clampitt said he thought there was enough regional support for the bill. The judges who spoke with SMN seemed to generally favor splitting the district, and an April 2021 article in The Mountaineer quoted Welch as hinting toward that same fact. “We believe comment about such a split is best left to the judges themselves, since they have initiated the action and sought passage
of a corresponding bill in the General Assembly,” Welch said in that article. Large noted that splitting the district makes sense to him, and he felt he wasn’t alone. “All I know is that the overwhelming members of the bar that I talked to thought that it was a good idea,” he said. A key benefit to splitting the district many pointed out was that it’d ensure there are judges who come from those western counties. Perhaps no one understands the difference between Haywood and Jackson counties and the western counties better than Judge Tessa Sellers, of Clay County, the only district court judge who isn’t from Haywood. She pointed out that there are plenty of other duties judges must fulfill besides just holding court, some of which include being available on nights and weekends. Because she’s the only judge in the west, she is the de facto person to handle such situations. “I don’t mind doing that. It comes with the territory, but it’s a bigger workload when I’m the only judge,” Sellers said. House Bill 405 would have put Swain County in District 30B to ensure the inclusion of the entire Qualla Boundary, a change that also would have been made to the corresponding Superior Court districts. This was important because most alleged crimes committed on tribal land involving non-tribal members must be handled in state court. A resolution submitted by Principal Chief Richard Sneed to Wijewickrama and AOC Director Andrew Heath noted the tribe’s support for House Bill 405 and alleged that residents “do not have meaningful access to justice because of how the District Court districts, the Superior Court districts and the prosecutorial districts are divided and how the judges in those districts are assigned to hear cases.” “The way in which the districts are currently divided is outdated, inefficient and deprives residents of the western counties meaningful access to justice,” it reads. One issue at hand when considering a district split was the long travel times judges regularly have to endure, given its large area and rugged terrain. Judges traveling from Haywood to western counties drive up to two hours. AOC uses a workload formula developed by the National Center for State Courts to determine how many judges are needed in each district. While the formula calls for 266.5 judges in the state, 282 are authorized. The 30th district needs 6.4 judges and six are authorized. While similar numbers are seen in other districts, it’s worth noting the formula is based on a 30-minute commute. In the 1st Judicial District, which is about as large as 30 and spans the marshy northern areas of the Outer Banks, the number of judges needed is 3.7, yet five are authorized.
THE SAGA OF HOUSE BILL 405 While many believe House Bill 405 had strong support among regional legislators
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and attorneys, it died in a judiciary committee without even being heard. Since then, there have been rumors that Welch — who has her main office in Macon County — didn’t the want the district split since it could lead to a split of the prosecutorial district down the road. Clampitt alluded to that fact and even mentioned a potential compromise during his interview. “I reviewed with [Welch] the plan that I had with the bill information and assured her there was no jeopardy to her prosecutorial district,” he said. If that was a concern, it perhaps wouldn’t have been unfounded. Large, who served as an assistant district attorney under Welch, said he thinks splitting the judicial district would naturally lead to splitting the prosecutorial district. He didn’t seem to think that was necessarily a bad idea. “That’s a big chunk of land,” he said. “There was one day when I was an ADA that I had to start my day in Haywood; then I had to go to the courthouse in Sylva, then Bryson City, then Robbinsville, then Cherokee, then Clay, and then I finished in Macon. I couldn’t do that in one day. The geography just makes it so difficult.” Former Chief District Court Judge Danny Davis said he’d heard secondhand that Welch had expressed concern over the bill, although he never heard anything directly from her. The same goes for Cassady, who said there would be more political pressure on Welch if the district was split, noting that she is less popular in the western counties. “If it were a four-county district, she would routinely have an opponent [in the Republican primary],” he said. Phillips said he would run against Welch without hesitation if the prosecutorial district was split. After admitting he almost ran this go-round, he reconsidered and said he plans on running in 2026 either way. “If I’m still alive and kicking, I would probably run,” he said. Phillips said he gets most of his work as a paid employee of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) serving as an advocate for children in family safety custody, a job he has come to love. “If they offered me a full-time job, I’d say that’s what I’m doing,” he said. Unlike others interviewed by SMN who discussed only rumors, Phillips said he had a conversation with Welch herself in which she said she wouldn’t support splitting the district. “She told me flat out she couldn’t support it,” he said, adding that reasons she gave him were purely political. Phillips said it was tough to witness what he believes has been Welch’s poor performance as an administrator, especially considering her renowned abilities as a prosecutor, as well as a strong friendship they’ve maintained throughout the years. “I helped her raise money … and I’m really disappointed,” he said. Cherokee County attorney Zeyland McKinney, who has practiced law since 1983, said he considered running for DA this year 10 but ultimately chose not to. Like Phillips,
McKinney hasn’t been happy with the DA’s office, claiming Welch micromanages prosecutors and ties their hands. “It doesn’t make for a good system,” he said. McKinney believes the district should now be split. “Splitting the district might enable Ms. Welch to do a better job as DA than she’s doing now,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything she’s doing well.” That sentiment was explained by Sybil Mann, who now works for the EBCI Attorney General’s office but worked six years under Welch’s predecessor, Mike Bonfoey. “What I hear from attorneys in the 30th is that there’s a lack of discretion given to ADAs,” she said. Mann noted that the discretion she had as a prosecutor to negotiate plea arrangements in cases she prosecuted is what made the system work for everyone. “If you don’t trust your people to do that, it slows down District Court quite a bit,” she added. Mann said if political motivations were keeping Welch from splitting the district, it wouldn’t be the first time something like that has happened. She noted that when former District Attorney Charlie Hipps was running for his second term, there was a challenger from Cherokee County who could have possibly won based on his strength in the western counties. Mann said Hipps advocated for splitting the district at that time since it
“There has been this perception since that meeting, that I had that kind of power, and I don’t. If I do, I’m not aware of it.” — District Attorney Ashley Welch
would ensure he could maintain his electoral strongholds in Haywood and Jackson counties without having to worry about the western counties. Phillips admitted that COVID created problems but also pointed a finger at Welch’s office, saying he believes not enough plea arrangements are made and that some defendants languish in jail far too long before their cases are resolved. “They’re good people, and I like them,” he said of the staff who work under Welch. “But you can’t even get the prosecutor to sit down with you for a plea arrangement.” Welch takes extreme exception to allegations coming from some attorneys regarding her perceived role in House Bill 405’s demise, as well as their claims that her office has been tough to work with. She noted that when she’d heard certain attorneys were “grumbling” about plea offers getting held up, she met with them. “I said, ‘OK, tell me what’s going on, because if I’m not told, then I may not necessarily know,’” Welch recalled, adding that she thinks those negative perceptions about her have been “worked out” in Haywood and
It wasn’t clear where District Attorney Ashley Welch stands on splitting the district, but she said she firmly supports adding more judges and opening a public defender office for Haywood and Jackson. Quintin Ellison photo Jackson county. Nonetheless, Welch has been bothered by many of the claims she’s heard. “Everybody loves a good story, and everybody likes drama,” she said. “I have been a little disappointed.” Some attorneys spoke of potential consequences the DA’s office could inflict if they spoke out — consequences that could hamper their abilities to defend their clients. “If I were to find out that I had prosecutors that were doing things like withholding discovery or being harder on their plea offers and treating some lawyers differently than others, they’d be fired,” Welch said. Welch wouldn’t say what was discussed at the meeting with the judges and legislators. “Part of my role is to keep the public’s trust of the judicial system and keep it above board,” she said. “I think if I were to discuss that meeting that was intended to be more informational than public that it may have this negative impact that I don’t particularly want to bring.” However, she firmly denied exerting any undue influence over the process. “There has been this perception since that meeting, that I had that kind of power, and I don’t,” she said. “If I do, I’m not aware of it.” “I didn’t talk to anybody in Raleigh about [House Bill 405],” she added. Legislators backed that claim. “Ashley did not lobby me one way or the other,” Corbin said. “I have heard that story, and I don’t know why that got started, because she has not lobbied me for or against it,” Gillespie said. Van Hook said that while she’s in favor of splitting the district, she also believes that in the legal community everyone has an agenda and rumors gain traction quick. She acknowledged that she’d heard the rumor regarding Welch’s lobbying against the bill but also made it clear she didn’t believe it. “Nobody has proof that she actually did
that,” she said. “It’s just an assumption.” Welch wouldn’t go on the record with her opinion about splitting the judicial district but did admit that she wouldn’t want the prosecutorial district split, saying that because funding for DA’s offices is set by statute and based on population, splitting her district would hurt the less populated western counties. The only people who really know what happened to the bill are legislators, many of whom pointed at Republican leadership — namely House Speaker Tim Moore — as being the person who wanted the bill to die in committee. Corbin said he was told by Gillespie that Moore told him firsthand they weren’t going to allocate resources toward splitting any judicial districts, no matter the need. Moore did not respond to multiple inquiries by SMN over multiple weeks. “There was not enough support from leadership,” Corbin said. Rep. Sarah Stevens, R-Surry, who is an attorney herself, chairs House Judiciary Committee 2, where the bill died. She agreed that Moore came down and said no districts were getting split, adding that even sponsoring the bill was basically frivolous. “Several of Mike’s bills involving criminal and civil penalties were not ready for primetime,” she said. Stevens added that even if the bill had made it out of the Judiciary Committee, it would still not likely go too far, considering it’d have to be heard by the House Appropriations Committee. “It truly came down to dollars and cents,” she said. Corbin is hopeful that at least new judges will be added next year. Gillespie agreed, adding that he also still isn’t opposed to splitting the district. “What I am opposed to is not doing anything,” he said.
ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS
“At the end of the day, we’ve carried the burden. But can we satisfy and meet the ends of the public the way we should? No, because we don’t have the staff.” — Roger Gibson, Cherokee County Clerk of Court
Science Professor Chris Cooper agreed with Stevens’ characterization that the judicial system takes a lower priority. “This is not a new complaint,” he said. “The funding issue is just not a salient issue for voters. It does make for a better government, but it doesn’t make for better bumper stickers.” Cooper also discussed how the courts have been politicized but noted that’s nothing entirely new. “There’s too much power to be exercised for political will to not be involved,” he said. “If politics is about moving levers of power to gain influence, then what better place than judiciary? Sometimes it’s naked and transparent like partisan judicial elections, and sometimes it rears its head behind the scenes.” Most attorneys weren’t certain exactly what a “worst-case scenario” may look like should the system reach the point of crisis. While IDS could contract with attorneys outside of the district who may not normally practice here to handle court-appointed cases, it seems that reaching the inflection point would most likely lead to overcrowding of jails and even dismissed charges — justice averted for victims and justice delayed for defendants. For that reason, Large said action is needed now before the levee breaks and the only thing left is damage control and triage. “We’re in an adversarial system, and it’s like that for a reason,” he said. “But we need to address this stuff. The constitutional crisis is looming. It’s on our doorstep.”
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sions for security and due process. It also states that the building isn’t entirely secure since it has multiple entrances that aren’t always monitored. “The courthouse is not secure in relation to the modern-day threats of violence,” the order reads. Another issue is that jurors are required to be separated from everyone else who may be in the courtroom throughout the trial. But in Graham County, they have nowhere to go during breaks, except for hallways shared with witnesses, victims and even defendants. The order also calls the jury deliberation room “inadequate,” noting it can barely fit 12 people. “The jury room is not sound-proof,” the order reads. “While in the jury deliberation room, the jurors can be heard talking by those present in the courtroom, the jurors can hear what’s going on in the courtroom when they are sequestered from the courtroom during trial.” Holloway said that’s accurate. “We’ve even heard them shouting at each other and arguing,” she said. To make matters worse, the Graham County Jail conditions are abhorrent. SMN was allowed to walk through the small facility, which was built to hold eight inmates but frequently ends up with up to 30. On the day SMN visited, the female inmates were laying on thin mattresses strewn about the hallway of the “drunk tank.” Throughout, inmates were crowded in a facility that was clearly unsanitary and unsafe.
lack of resources at the state level, a fact that may have been the only thing people interviewed by SMN for this story agree on. “I think Western North Carolina has been neglected to a certain point with a lot of benefits that other towns and other cities in the state get,” Clampitt said. Welch said she believes there is a lack of overall resources in the judicial district, from her staff to the number of judges. Concerns about inadequate resources have also arisen when discussing the potential district split. “Splitting a district, whether it be district or a prosecutorial district, it’s very expensive,” she said. But Welch doesn’t think that’s necessarily rare for areas outside of North Carolina’s metropolises. “When I go to DAs’ conferences and I talk to elected DAs from rural areas, we all sort of feel the same in terms of needing more resources and the strain on the court system,” she said. Even Rep. Stevens has concerns regarding a lack of overall judicial resources. “I have expressed that concern a couple times,” she said. “Judiciary took a few hits in 2008-09 and it doesn’t seem to have recovered. We have all this noise about financing schools … that’s 60% of the budget, but you end up having less to spend on the judiciary.” Stevens said that lack of resources factors heavily into conversations about adding judges and splitting districts. “We’re not looking at a lot of expansion in the budget,” she said. Western Carolina University Political
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Even if more judges are added and a public defender office is established in 30B, there are other concerns that need to be addressed, including a shortage of clerks across the district. Haywood County Clerk of Superior Court Hunter Plemmons said that while he has enough staff to support several courts each day, according to an AOC formula like the one used to determine the appropriate number of judges, he should still have two more clerks. “We’re able to keep up with it, but it’s a struggle, especially if someone is out or sick,” Plemmons said. In addition, by the end of the year it’s likely that Haywood County will get its drug court running. While it’ll have its own administrator and docket, the program won’t come with any more judges or clerks. In fact, the court sessions will ultimately take away from sessions that would be held in western counties. “We’re going to lose courts,” Sellers said. Things are even worse for clerks in those western counties. Take for example Cherokee County, where Roger Gibson is the Clerk of Superior Court. While Gibson said COVID created a terrible backlog, AOC allowed his office to have some part-time help to get through the heavy workload. But that doesn’t exactly mean things are going as well as they could. “We’ve had three courts going at times because we have three courtrooms,” he said. “But we are still stretched thin in our office.” Gibson has eight employees total. Considering two clerks are needed in any criminal court, that means any unforeseen absences can hamstring everything. “At the end of the day, we’ve carried the burden,” Gibson said. “But can we satisfy and meet the ends of the public the way we should? No, because we don’t have the staff.” In Graham County, Clerk of Superior Court Tammy Holloway said her employees also wear a lot of hats. And while she could certainly use another clerk, there’d be other problems to deal with if she got one. “I’d have nowhere to put them,” she said. As the justice system grows, so too must the facilities, and Graham County is working toward building a new courthouse. Holloway said the commissioners have taken steps toward breaking ground, and Corbin secured $5 million from the state for that project, but there doesn’t seem to be any solid timeline. While several people interviewed mentioned a new courthouse and jail may be on the way for Graham County, County Manager Jason Marino was unable to be reached for comment. Either way, for now, Graham County is stuck with what it’s got — an old building with poor ventilation that has one courtroom and a filing room that’s far too small for the increasing number of records. The facility is so small and outdated that grand juries have to assemble in a building across the street that is currently undergoing renovations. The people determining whether members of their community should be charged in Superior Court are deliberating in a construction zone. The very spot they sat and dis-
cussed whether probable cause existed for a litany of felonies was dusty and dilapidated, the site of a future coffee shop that still appeared to be a long way off. In 2017, 30A Senior Resident Superior Court Judge William Coward issued an order mandating that trials can be moved to Cherokee County if necessary. That includes providing transportation for jurors, including one deputy on each bus for security. All expenses, including meals for jurors and the defendant, are to be paid by Graham County. The order clearly calls out the issues with the Graham County Courthouse. It notes that the courthouse may not be adequate to provide for a “modern trial” with expected provi-
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Location for public bathrooms still up in the air
Renderings show what the new public restrooms would look like if located at the old railroad depot (left) or at the Spring Street location, as viewed from Main Street. Donated rendering HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER everal Sylva residents came out Thursday night to express their opposition to the closure of Spring Street to construct public bathrooms. The town recently received $250,000 through the State Capital Infrastructure Fund, direct appropriations in the state budget, in order to build public restrooms downtown. “This money was given to us by the state legislature to construct a bathroom downtown because of festivals that we have,” said Mayor Linda Sossamon. Earlier in the year, Sylva commissioners came up with three potential locations for the project — Spring Street, the old railroad depot off of Mill Street, and the old Ritz parking lot. Over the past several months, the board has discussed the merits of these three locations, and following a March 24 meeting, most commissioners seemed to be in favor of building the restrooms on Spring Street, which would result in its closure between Mill and Main streets. (According to Public Works Director Jake Scott, sewer connection at the old Ritz parking lot is cost prohibitive.) At a May 5 meeting, commissioners approved a plan to temporarily close Spring Street to conduct a traffic study in order to determine how permanently closing Spring Street for a public restroom might affect traffic flow in the downtown area. However, after a public hearing on the issue Thursday night, with relatively strong public opposition to that site, further discussion will have to be held to determine the final location for public bathrooms in Sylva.
Smoky Mountain News
May 18-24, 2022
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PUBLIC OPINION
Six people spoke in opposition to a Spring Street bathroom during the public hearing, and commissioners read emails from two more members of the public that were also opposed to the Spring Street plan. The first person to speak, Marian Garrett, 12 said that while bathrooms were absolutely
needed downtown, Spring Street wouldn’t be a good location for the project because they would be a focal point of downtown. She was also concerned that closing Spring Street for the bathroom would cause traffic jams, and that the current traffic study would not be a good indicator for future problems because May is a relatively low traffic flow time for Sylva. Another speaker agreed with this sentiment saying that while bathrooms are needed downtown, they shouldn’t be constructed at the expense of Spring Street. Jeffrey Hersh, a Sylva resident that lives on the corner of Shulman and Jackson Streets, said that he had noticed a strong increase in traffic since the closing of Spring Street for the study. “This is an insane idea,” said Nicole Owen, a Sylva business owner. “There are other viable options that aren’t going to cause traffic accidents and aren’t going to look as bad.” Finally, residents were concerned that closing Spring Street could present challenges for emergency services accessing different parts of town.
BOARD DISCUSSION Following the public hearing, Mahaley Odell Thompson, the Sylva architect charged with creating preliminary plans for the project, spoke to the board about proposed plans for each location. According to Thompson, a bathroom at the Spring Street location is estimated to cost as much as $400,000, around $100,000 more than at the railroad depot location. That price estimate for Spring Street does not include redoing the pavers where Spring Street meets Main and Mill, something commissioners have discussed. The basic layout of the restroom would be similar if constructed on Spring Street or at the old railroad depot location, totaling around 400 square feet, though Thompson did mention that there was more space for construction at the old railroad depot. One of the difficulties of building on
Spring Street is that officials do not know what is underneath the road as far as sewer, water and storm drains are concerned. One issue with building at the old railroad depot is reaching an agreement to lease the land from the railroad. “That isn’t insurmountable, but it is something to consider,” said Scott. One member of the public, speaking during the portion of the meeting for board discussion, mentioned that it made more sense to have the bathroom closer to Bridge Park where so many events are held.
“We’ve seen the traffic study; it’s been a week and it’s already causing a lot of disruption. I understand wanting to have it close to Main Street, but if you weigh it against the drawbacks of tearing up the road, I don’t feel so sure.” — Sylva Commissioner Ben Guiney
“This isn’t necessarily an event bathroom,” said Commissioner David Nestler. “Events down there [Bridge Park] have a bathroom. What we’re looking for is a good location for the everyday shopper, tourist and locals downtown that need a restroom. I think we’re covered on events. It definitely serves events better at the depot, but this isn’t necessarily an events bathroom, it’s a downtown bathroom.” A major concern for commissioners is accessibility. Regardless of where the restroom is constructed, it must be ADA compliant. Commissioners think that a bathroom on Spring Street would provide easier access
for people shopping on Main Street. Mayor Sossamon noted that walking down Spring Street all the way to the old railroad depot could be difficult for elderly people. “I think one of the cases for Spring Street was the accessibility from Main Street where your customers are that might suddenly need a restroom,” said Sossamon. “We wanted something that people who are at the festivals like greening up could come to and that’s why Spring Street was a first thought since one lane of it is already closed and sitting there doing nothing.” Commissioner Ben Guiney said that he had walked the distance from Main Street to the old railroad depot and that it was not that far; he estimated it at 120 feet. “I’ve walked it, it’s Sylva, it’s small, it’s not that far,” said Guiney. “When you weigh that [distance] against the disruption of digging up Spring Street, the unknown costs — this sounds like a nightmare to start digging into Spring Street. We’ve seen the traffic study; it’s been a week and it’s already causing a lot of disruption. I understand wanting to have it close to Main Street, but if you weigh it against the drawbacks of tearing up the road, I don’t feel so sure.” “My concern for locals or visitors is pedestrian accessibility and vehicle accessibility,” said Commissioner Natalie Newman. “When we say we don’t want to close Spring Street, I think we’re saying we want to make it accessible to cars, but I think Spring Street is a better location to make things accessible for pedestrians. You can drive down another street in a car, but someone may not be able to walk back up Spring Street to get to Main Street.” Mayor Sossamon said, “I think at some point there may be money where we can also construct another bathroom in the Bridge Park area.” The board will continue to discuss the best location for public bathrooms in downtown Sylva. “Stay tuned for further development, is all I can say, when we will have further discussion,” said Sossamon.
T
This budget cycle, Sylva had requested funding from the Jackson County Commission for paid personnel at the Sylva Fire Department. It is currently a volunteer department with two full-time fire coordinators paid for by the county. If the county were to fund the request, Sylva would move to a combination department with paid staff and volunteers. Increasing call volume and fewer volunteers initiated the request for paid personnel. Sylva contracted Brigade Consulting,
OF
HAYWOOD
“B
eing a member of your local chamber is a huge asset to a small business owner. I’m fortunate enough to also sit on the board for the Maggie Valley Chamber. I try to tell everyone I know that own a business how important it is to become a member of their local chamber. The networking alone drives business with the locals. Advertising drives business with tourists. Business begets business. We have so many great businesses in our county and our community is so great to support us."
— Travis & Maggie Bramlett The Hot Tub Store & More Valley Cigar & Wine Co.
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SYLVA FIRE REQUEST
FACES
May 18-24, 2022
HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER he Sylva Board of Commissioners is one step closer to accepting its budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. However, the town is still awaiting a decision by the county regarding the Sylva Fire Department and its request for paid personnel. “Unlike in prior budgets, many long-term needs and priorities of the Board are now possible with the infusion of federal funds and state grants,” Town Manager Paige Dowling’s budget message reads. “The Board is currently prioritizing projects to utilize funding from the American Rescue Plan. The Town of Sylva received state and federal funds to help with the Allen Street slope failures, capital improvements and playground equipment for Bryson Park, and constructing a public restroom downtown. These grant projects are underway and therefore are not included in the proposed budget.” The budget is proposed without a tax increase; the tax rate will remain $0.44 cents per $100 of property valuation. One penny on the tax rate currently generates $49,200 in Sylva. The general fund budget totals $5,847,875, which is an increase of a little less than $1.5 million or 29% from the original FY 2021-22 budget. When grants and other proceeds are not included, the general fund budget is $4,151,036, which is an increase of almost $400,000 or 10% from last year’s budget. The budget does not appropriate from the capital reserve fund. Over the last two fiscal years, the town has budgeted for Allen Street repairs instead of adding to capital reserves. Because the town has used capital reserve funds and not added to it,
funding us now, that helps them with mutual aid and insurance rates throughout the county.” Commissioner David Nestler asked Beck why he would want to rush ahead with eight paid staff members when the report from Brigade Consulting made it clear that Sylva Fire Department already needs 11 paid staff members. “Because I feel like we should accept what they’ll give us right now so we can get started,” said Beck. “In the future if call volume keeps going up, they will start funding Cullowhee more, us more and some of the outlying parts, increasing staff. But you have to start somewhere and that’s what I’m looking at here. We’re pretty far into it now to back out.” “I think we shouldn’t take less than 11,” said Nestler. The county already funds two full-time fire coordinators, as well as payments for the Sylva Fire Department building. If the county were to fund eight paid personnel, an additional $643,212 would be needed for the total funding amount of $1,074,290. If the county were to fund 11 paid staff an additional $760,536 would be needed for the total funding amount of $1,191,613. This would cost the county $0.0055 or $0.0065 cents respectively of the tax rate. The final direction the board gave to town staff was to accept the funding for any amount of personnel eight or above. At its last meeting the county commission committed to deciding on funding during the week of June 6-10.
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Sylva nears final budget
the fund is now at $218,345. “That is low when looking at upcoming capital needs,” said Dowling. “The public works department needs to replace large equipment in the near future, and we need to plan for this in the capital reserve fund. The town needs to rebuild the capital reserve fund when possible.” The proposed budget includes an additional employee and vehicle in public works and two patrol cars that keep Sylva on its police car replacement schedule. It also implements a salary study, a Municode recodification and allows the town to continue operating at its current level. The most recent line item added to the budget is the $10,000 for a temporary skate ramp. The town receives $75,000 annually in Powell Bill funds for paving its roads. According to Dowling, an estimated $39,000 is needed each year above the current funding level to maintain town streets. There is over $2 million in the Allen Street Slide Capital Project fund, and construction is likely to begin this summer. The town has $3 million in the Bryson Park Improvements SCIF Grant Project fund and $290,000 in the Public Restrooms SCIF Grant Project fund. A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held May 26 at 5:30 p.m. and the budget will likely be adopted June 9 at 5:30 p.m.
LLC to recommend a staffing model for the its fire department. The report gave multiple options for the department but ultimately recommended a 24/72 shift with 11 full-time employees. County commissioners are considering funding eight or 11 paid personnel. However, at the latest budget work session on May 12, the Sylva Board of Commissioners considered withdrawing its request, noting two main concerns — that the request would not fund enough firefighters to support a healthy staff and that a future county commission may decide to no longer fund Sylva’s fire department leaving the town to foot the bill. Commissioners were concerned that it is too close to the budget deadline to work these details out. “That’s where we’re coming from, we want to hold the county to this and have some real guarantees that moving forward, in the future, for whoever knows how long, that the Sylva Fire Department is going to be funded,” said Commissioner Ben Guiney. This would be a major change to the budget because the plan was for Sylva to spend the money to fund the fire department and then be reimbursed by the county. Sylva Fire Chief Mike Beck had the chance to speak with the board before it gave its final direction to the town manager, and he pleaded that the board not rescind its request but accept funding for 11 or eight paid personnel, whichever the county is willing to fund. “I feel like if we get started, then in future times if things pick up, they’re going to pick up all through the county,” Beck said. “By
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“I believe if it came to a vote, there would be enough votes in the Senate to support it. The holdup has been the House.” — Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon
only nine states had more uninsured residents than North Carolina. The U.S. Census Bureau puts the 2019 figure of uninsured North Carolinians at 11%, largely because of income levels associated with qualification. Right now, a family of four can qualify for Medicaid if total household income is less than $11,655 per year. Cooper’s proposal would raise that limit to $38,295. Expansion wouldn’t require state funding. In fact, North Carolinians are and have been paying for it through federal taxes that get sent to Washington, never to return. The
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body cams in designated Tier 1 and Tier 2 communities. The state measures economic distress by using a number of factors and divides all 100 counties into three separate tiers each year, with tier 3 counties being the most prosperous. In Western North Carolina, only Buncombe, Henderson and Transylvania counties were designated as Tier 3 for 2022, meaning most counties west of Asheville could qualify for the grants. North Carolina’s environment, from the mountains to the sea, is not only a precious natural resource, it’s also a major driver of the tourism economy — especially in the west. Cooper’s budget advocates for energy efficiency and clean energy in several ways, including the establishment of a $10 million nonrecurring grant program for K-12 schools to establish clean energy practices. It also prioritizes clean water, with a $20 million recurring allocation for degraded streams and stormwater treatment as well as $18 million for buyouts of swine farms located in floodplains. In 2016, Hurricane Floyd breached more than a dozen hog waste lagoons, spilling excrement and dead pigs into waterways. Of particular interest to taxpayers in Buncombe and Haywood counties is the $50 million allocation to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to help with lingering housing needs related to Hurricane Florence or Tropical Storm Fred, the latter of which ravaged Canton. There’s also $5 million for the repair of private roads and bridges associated with the storms, and another $5 million for debris removal. Both remain major issues in Cruso for homeowners ineligible for assistance from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. The state’s parks aren’t neglected in Cooper’s proposed budget; more than $3.5 million in recurring funding has been added to the state’s Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), along with a one-time $20 million infusion. For the past 25 years, PARTF has provided matching funds to local governments for projects ranging from state parks to neighborhood parks. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, PARTF distributed more than $17 million. In 2016, Canton’s Champion Aquatic Center received $350,000 from PARTF for vital repairs. The governor’s $526 million education budget includes $90 million to enhance early childhood education, including $42 million for pre-K expansion. As part of a larger compensa-
May 18-24, 2022
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS E DITOR aying that it invests in North Carolina’s “families, businesses and communities,” Gov. Roy Cooper presented his proposed 2022-23 budget, full of significant appropriations meant to deal with some of the state’s biggest problems — out-of-control housing costs, an increasingly competitive economic development landscape, a lack of law enforcement resources, threats to the natural environment, an underfunded educational system and affordable access to health care coverage. “North Carolina is emerging from the pandemic stronger than before, and we will sustain that only if we Gov. Roy Cooper invest in a strong foundation for our people: A quality education, good jobs and infrastructure, and access to affordable healthcare,” Cooper said in a May 11 press release. “Let’s use this historic opportunity to give families, businesses and communities the tools they need to thrive.” First-time homebuyers could qualify for some of the $50 million that would be available for down payment assistance, not including additional help for firefighters, EMS or law enforcement personnel and public school teachers. Almost $28 million would be added to the state’s Housing Trust Fund, alongside an additional $12.3 million to help people with mental illness transition to communal living and $4.3 million in rental assistance for lowincome or disabled people. On the economic development front, Cooper proposes more than $160 million to support existing businesses, as well as attract new ones. That includes a one-time $131 million allocation for courting major employers, like the state recently has with Apple and Toyota. The money would be used to hire a site selection firm ($1 million) to identify up to 10 major sites across the state and then provide grants to local governments ($50 million) to acquire the sites and build out public infrastructure ($50 million) to them. There’s also a $10 million infrastructure grant pool for distressed communities looking to develop their own sites. The proposed budget also creates a onetime $10 million grant pool to pay for police
federal government would cover 90% of the cost of the expanded population, with health insurance providers and hospitals paying the rest. If North Carolina follows the other 39 states that have expanded Medicaid, it would likely see savings in the general fund similar to those seen in expansion states. North Carolina’s projection is $71 million. Cooper had proposed Medicaid expansion back in 2019, which the Republicandominated General Assembly wouldn’t agree to, forcing a two-year budget stalemate during which spending levels didn’t really change much. State budgeting is a three-way street. The governor, the House and the Senate all propose their own budgets and then attempt to reach consensus with a conference budget that must be adopted by July 1. Western North Carolina’s Republican Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, an advocate of expansion, isn’t exactly sure Medicaid expansion will make it to the finish line. “I think there’s a pretty good chance the Senate will be for it,” Corbin said. “I believe in our caucus there is support for it. I can’t speak for the caucus, but I believe if it came to a vote, there would be enough votes in the Senate to support it. The holdup has been the House.” Expansion faces a difficult path in the other chamber, but it’s possible the conference budget could include it. “My thinking is, the House is not willing to do it, but if it winds up being a negotiating point, everything’s on the table,” Corbin said. Read Cooper’s proposed budget in its entirety at osbm.nc.gov/media/2569/open.
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Again, Cooper’s budget proposal includes Medicaid expansion
tion package meant to restore state employee purchasing power, Cooper proposes at least a 7.5% raise over the next two years, and the restoration of master’s pay ($9 million). By far the most controversial — and cheapest — item in Cooper’s budget is, once again, Medicaid expansion. If adopted, the expansion could provide affordable health care access to more than 600,000 residents of North Carolina. In 2019,
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Food trucks welcome in Maggie Valley
Haywood County Medical Director Dr. Mark Jaben is sounding the alarm that COVID-19 case counts are increasing again, and people should take precautions to avoid contracting or spreading the virus as summer begins. In March, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services pivoted from daily COVID updates to weekly updates, so as of press time the most recently available day-by-day data was from May 7. However, case counts have been inching up since early April, with the state daily total breaking 1,000 on April 11 for the first time since Feb. 28. On May 2, the tally passed 2,000 for the first time since Feb. 21. “For me, three to four weeks of cases going up is a pretty clear trend, and because of underreporting we can have a pretty clear idea of where that trend is now,” Jaben said. Jaben believes that the rate of underreported COVID cases is far higher than it was with Delta. More people are taking athome tests, and there is no mechanism to report those results to the state database. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention map that monitors community transmission ranks transmission as high in Haywood and Swain counties, substantial in Macon and moderate in Jackson. However, a different CDC map that considers both case numbers and hospital capacity has the entire state rated “low,” save for Wake and Hyde counties. In Haywood County, there has not been an increase in hospitalizations to accompany the growth in cases, said Jaben, though that’s a cautious assessment — there is typically a multi-week lag between an increase in cases and increased death and hospitalization numbers. However, at this point most people have either been vaccinated or infected, both of which offer protection against serious illness from future infection. However, even without a spike in COVID cases, hospitals are currently at capacity. “Summer is always a time at which our health care systems are at capacity, at the best of times,” said Jaben. — By Holly Kays, staff writer
HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER fter months of contentious back and forth over the subject of food trucks, an ordinance allowing the mobile vendors in Maggie Valley not only passed — it passed unanimously. “I’ve got folks who are waiting for a call tomorrow morning,” said Town Planner Kaitland Finkle. “They’re very excited about this opportunity and operating here in Maggie valley, both on the truck side and on the local business side as well.” The approved ordinance permits food trucks in any nonresidential zoning district within the jurisdiction of the Town, including the extraterritorial jurisdiction, or as a special event approved by the Town Board of Aldermen. The town is on the verge of passing its Unified Development Ordinance, after which zoning districts in the town will undergo substantial restructuring. The choice to permit food trucks in all non-residential districts will allow the ordinance to flow nicely into the new UDO, instead of restricting them to zones that will become antiquated within the new UDO. Permitted hours of operation for food trucks mirror the hours of Maggie’s sound ordinance meaning they can operate every day of the week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Permits will be approved by town staff and vendors will not have to come before the board of aldermen for regular food truck operation permits. Food trucks are allowed only on developed property occupied by an active nonresidential user. Vendors may not sell food to the general public within the town unless a business, nonprofit or similar organization with a physical location has given signed written approval as a part of an application submitted to the town. With such approval, only one food truck is allowed per individual lot, except when a special event has been approved by the town. Mobile food vendors are still permitted at town sanctioned events, including those hosted on the festival grounds. They are also allowed on commonly owned property within a residential development in order to serve residents and guests at a neighborhood activity or function.
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Following the November elections, Jim Owens and John Hinton joined the board. At first, it seemed that Hinton and Owens would join Mayor Mike Eveland in standing against food trucks in the valley. Both first voted against the approval of a special event permit to allow the food truck Harvest Moon Crepes to operate outside of Tony’s Tube World for the remainder of its season, before walking that vote back to approve the permit. Both were also opposed to granting Angel his special event permit request before the scaleddown version was suggested. However, on Tuesday night, Eveland, Hinton and Owens joined the Wights in vocally and enthusiastically supporting the food truck ordinance. “I appreciate the guidance you gave Tammy and I to sit down and work this through,” Owens said to Finkle The approved ordinance permits during board discussion. “And I food trucks in any nonresidential appreciate Tammy’s cooperation where we could sit down and work zoning district within the together and do something that was best thing for the town.” jurisdiction of the Town, including the Tammy Wight echoed his sentiment. the extraterritorial jurisdiction, or Following the meeting, Mayor as a special event approved by Eveland told The Smoky Mountain News that, over the past year, he’s the Town Board of Aldermen. seen the overwhelming support for food trucks in Maggie Valley, which get a food truck in Maggie Valley. The board is why he voted for the ordinance. “When the new board came in, it was denied Angel his request on the grounds that he was not holding a special event (differing obvious to me that they were in favor of some from his normal business operation) but later kind of food truck trial or trying something granted him a scaled-down version of his to see how they could work in the valley,” request and committed to ironing out the said Eveland. “Tammy and Jim did an excellent job of bringing it all together. I have to food truck ordeal in the meantime. “I think it’s a step forward,” said grow along with the town and move forward Alderman Phillip Wight. “I’d like to compli- with the valley. It’s part of growth and being ment the board and the town and especially open minded and doing what you think is Tammy and Jim for not letting this issue go right.” According to Finkle, the approval process away and presenting us with something that’s for mobile food vendors is being proposed in workable. Board members Tammy and Phillip the budget process as an update to the fee Wight have been supportive of allowing food schedule. This will be discussed during the trucks in the valley since the discussion came budget presentation Wednesday, May 18, at up last summer. In September, the then 9:30 a.m. and will be voted on Tuesday, June board approved a food truck trial program to 14, at 6:30 p.m. The current proposal is to determine community support for and feasi- mirror the ABC permitting process which is a yearly fee of $100. bility of food trucks in Maggie Valley. “There still are avenues for individuals to operate outside of this ordinance,” said Finkle. “So if you’re looking to have a true special event with more than one truck, or if you’re looking to have private events, catered events, things that your neighborhood may want to hold, those are all outlined in this ordinance as well.” In March, the board appointed Aldermen Tammy Wight and Jim Owens to a special committee that would work with the town attorney and town planner on a mobile restaurant ordinance for the town. The decision to create a committee came after Elevated Mountain Distillery owner Dave Angel came before the board to request a special event permit. Prior to this food truck ordinance, that was the only way to be able to
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HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER fter the Maggie Valley Town Board of Aldermen removed a zoning board member with little discussion, two residents spoke during public comment at the May 10 board of aldermen meeting accusing the board of mishandling these types of situations. During this meeting, the board also accepted changes to the bylaws of the planning board that could address some of these issues. “This board decided to throw me off, and that’s at your pleasure, we serve at your pleasure, that I do not have a problem with it,” said Allen Alsbrooks. “But what I do have a problem with is making misstatements about my service to the Town of Maggie Valley and to this board.” Alsbrooks had been removed from the zoning board during the regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, April 6. Alderman John Hinton made a motion to replace Alsbrooks on the zoning board, and after less than five minutes of discussion, the motion passed, 3-2, with Jim Owens and Mayor Mike Eveland joining Hinton in the majority and Tammy and Phillip Wight voting against the removal. “I’m a little disappointed in the partiality of a fellow board member on the board of adjustments,” said Hinton during the April meeting. “For some of the postings that I’ve seen on social media and some of the comments made here, I’d like to make a motion that we replace Allen Alsbrooks on the board of adjustments.” Hinton brought the issue to the table at the end of the meeting during “other business,” a time when board members and town staff can bring up any business that was not on the agenda or discussed during the meeting that they feel is relevant. “It’s very disingenuous and dishonest to bring it up under other business,” said Phillip Wight during that April meeting. Board members had not discussed the issue previously at the March 31 agenda setting meeting or any other public meeting. Jim Owens echoed Hinton’s statements about partiality as his reason for voting to remove Alsbrooks. “He’s shown the partiality,” said Owens. “He was asked to recuse himself before. I think his comments about the direction the board’s going, the fact that we are not doing the right thing, period, certainly doesn’t look to me like he’s got the growth of Maggie Valley in his mind correctly.” Speaking during the May 10 meeting, Alsbrooks pushed back against those accusations saying that impartiality is required of him as a member of the zoning board. “The zoning board of adjustment has to be impartial,” he said. “That’s how we operate. Our guidelines are different from yours. We have high standards because if we do not follow those standards and if we’re not impar-
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Maggie board accused of favoritism
tial, and if we don’t deliberate the cases appropriately, the next step citizens can take if they don’t like our decision, or if we misjudge their case is the circuit or district court. It does not come to you for adjudication. It goes to the actual court system. I take that service very seriously.” Alsbrooks also rejected Owens’ assertion that he had been asked to recuse himself. “I have only had two cases in my service to Maggie Valley where I’ve needed to be recused,” he said. “In both of those cases I felt that I should ask our chairman that I should be recused. We discussed it as a board and then the motion was made that I be recused.” Dave Angel also spoke to the board during public comment about its decision to remove Alsbrooks from the zoning board and what he views as a lack of consistency when it comes to these types of decisions. Angel brought up a case from earlier in the year when he came before the board to complain about the behavior of a planning board member who “should have recused himself ” due to a conflict of interest regarding a property that was being discussed, but refused to do so. Angel said that he brought this instance to the attention of the board of aldermen and nothing was done about it. “My concern is about favoritism and decision making that this board makes,” said Angel. “I’ve expressed that concern before, and I’m just expressing that concern again. I don’t think Allen was handled properly. I think the questions about his performance are questionable. I think he’s done an outstanding job and I think he should be put back on that board.” During the May 10 meeting, aldermen voted to approve changes to the by-laws of the planning board. “It’s taken us a long time to get here for these planning board bylaws,” said Town Planner Kaitland Finkle. “This was precipitated due to conflicts of interest and things like that.” The new bylaws specifically address how individuals can be elected to and removed from the planning board. According to the new rules, if a member misses three consecutive meetings, or four meetings in one calendar year, they would be removed from their post. Under the new bylaws, planning board members will serve an initial one-year term, after which they can be reappointed for threeyear terms. This will serve as a shorter, trial period before a member is reappointed for a three-year term. It will also serve as a mechanism for staggering terms. The new rules also lay out a system through which planning board members are supposed to flesh out any conflicts of interest. Prior to acceptance of the agenda at every meeting, the chair will read a statement that asks if any members have a conflict of interest with items on the agenda that they need to announce, or if any members feel that others on the board have conflicts of interest with items on the agenda. “I’d say that’s a pretty substantial change,” said Finkle. The board approved the bylaw change unanimously. Eveland told Finkle that he thought it would be a good idea to review the rules and procedures for the zoning board of adjustments at some point in the future.
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Smoky Mountain News May 18-24, 2022
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Crisis pregnancy center opens in Waynesville news
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Kristi Brown, executive director of the Mountain Area Pregnancy Center since July 2018, sits in the nonprofit’s new office in Waynesville. Holly Kays photo
Contact the center The Mountain Area Pregnancy Services office in Waynesville is now open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 177 North Main Street. Staff are available via 828.558.4550 or help@mtnpregnancy.com.
who participate in the program leave with more than $350 worth of free baby supplies. MAPS also provides grief services. Oneon-one grief counseling is available for those who have lost a baby. Compassion scans, for women who have lost a child and then get pregnant again, record the new baby’s heartbeat and put it in a stuffed animal for her to take home, a talisman to ease the anxiety of the new pregnancy. MAPS’ “very unique” prenatal diagnosis program walks with women and families who have been told the child they’re carrying is not likely to survive, Brown said, helping them plan celebration of life and funeral services, make memories with the baby and understand what’s happening to the mother’s body as the pregnancy continues. The nonprofit also offers abortion recovery classes. Brown is firm on her stance that abortion is an inherently harmful procedure.
You often find that these families, even if they’re in a very difficult circumstance, they just need someone to listen. They need someone to care.” — Kristi Brown
Smoky Mountain News
vide all of our services,” Brown said of the impending Supreme Court decision. “Even if the law gets changed, there will still be unplanned pregnancies and there will still be women in crisis pregnancy situations that need assistance and support.” MAPS’ services fall into two categories — pregnancy resources and grief counseling. For clients facing an unplanned pregnancy, the nonprofit provides medical-grade pregnancy tests and a limited OB ultrasound to ensure that the baby is in the right place in the uterus and has a heartbeat. Clients can then receive counseling to discuss their options — adoption, abortion or parenthood. “They make up their mind what they want to do — that’s their choice,” said Brown. For those who choose to become parents, MAPS offers free parenting classes. People
“If you really understand the impact of abortion and what it does in a woman’s life, you would never in a million years say it’s quick and easy and painless,” Brown said. “The consequences are so far-reaching, and those consequences carry through someone’s entire life. I have never met a woman who went through an abortion that cannot relay every detail of that horrible day in her life. She remembers it like it was yesterday, even if it was 20 years ago.” Brown cited a study published January 2017 in Cambridge University Press that, after analyzing research published 19952009, found a “moderate to highly increased risk of mental health problems after abortion.” According to the study findings, women who experienced an abortion had an 81% risk of mental health problems, with 10% of the incidence attributable to abortion. “The strongest subgroup estimates of increased risk occurred when abortion was compared with term pregnancy and when the outcomes pertained to substance use and suicidal behavior,” the study found. While the study is widely cited, it’s also contested. A Planned Parenthood publication on the topic of mental health following abortion points to an Academy of Royal Medical Colleges review of studies about the emotional effects of abortion published in English from 1990-2011. It concluded that rates of mental health problems for women with an unwanted pregnancy were the same whether they had an abortion or gave birth. Brown also said that abortion, especially chemical abortion, is not without risks. She pointed to a 2006 study published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy that analyzed 607 adverse event reports submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over a fouryear span involving the chemical abortifacient mifepristone. Of the 607 cases, 513 required surgical intervention and the most frequent complications were hemorrhages and infections. Of 237 hemorrhages, one was fatal and 42 were life-threatening, while three of the 66 infections were fatal and four were life-threatening. An FDA Q&A on the drug states that there were 26 reports of deaths associated with mifepristone between June 30, 2021, and the product’s approval in September 2000. However, the article states, the deaths “cannot with certainty be causally attributed to mifepristone because of concurrent use of other drugs, other medical or surgical treatments, co-existing medical conditions, and information gaps about patient health status and clinical management of the patient.” While MAPS will not refer for abortions, Brown said it’s committed to supporting parents-to-be through what is often one of the most difficult seasons of their lives. “Our mothers who choose life and our fathers who choose life, they always tell us when the baby comes, ‘I love my child, I can’t imagine life without my child, my life is so much richer because of my child,’” Brown said. “We never hear the opposite.” 19
May 18-24, 2022
BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ust three days after protesters gathered on the courthouse lawn in Waynesville to demonstrate their support for legal abortion (see story on Page 4), a nonprofit with a different perspective on the issue that has roiled the nation since May 2 — when a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court decision showed that the landmark Roe v. Wade precedent is in danger — opened on the other side of Depot Street in downtown Waynesville. “We see lives transformed. We see lives healed,” said Kristi Brown, executive director of Mountain Area Pregnancy Services. “We see lives turned around all the time in this ministry, and that is our why for why we get up every day and we do what we do, and we do it with love and compassion. You often find that these families, even if they’re in a very difficult circumstance, they just need someone to listen. They need someone to care.” A self-described “life-affirming pregnancy center,” MAPS does not perform or refer for abortions. Instead, it works with women and couples facing an unplanned pregnancy or miscarriage, offering a variety of pregnancy and grief-related services. The center operates from a Christian worldview, though staff only discuss faith with clients who express a willingness to talk about it, Brown said — the 310 clients served last year included self-proclaimed Christians, Wiccans, Buddhists, atheists and agnostics. The organization has been around since 1981, but until this week it operated out of a single location in Asheville. While MAPS does provide medical services at pregnancy centers in Burnsville and Mars Hill, the new office that opened May 17 in Waynesville is its first true satellite campus. “We know that there is a need because we serve women from the county in Asheville,” Brown said. “We had been engaged in the past in a few attempts to form a pregnancy center here and for various reasons, those never came to fruition.” Last year, Brown said, “our hearts began being stirred” once more to establish a pregnancy center in Haywood County, and MAPS formed a work group with friends of the ministry to pray about and discuss the issue. Within about six months, the group had a “clear direction” to move ahead, and MAPS signed the lease in December. Brown said they’d expected to open months earlier, but equipment backorders delayed the date. Now, MAPS is opening its doors amid nationwide turmoil over the future of legalized abortion in the United States. If Roe v Wade is overturned, the legislature of each state will determine the procedure’s legality. Unlike many other Southern states, North Carolina does not currently have any laws on the books that would immediately restrict abortion access in the event of Roe v. Wade’s reversal. “At the end of the day it doesn’t impact us in the sense that we will continue to pro-
Opinion Are courthouse politics gumming up the system? W Smoky Mountain News
hen I came back to The Smoky Mountain News after six months away from journalism, one of my first trips was to the Haywood County Courthouse. During my time working for The Mountaineer, a Haywood County community newspaper, crime and courts became my favorite beat. I made many friends in the courthouse, including attorneys, clerks, judges, bailiffs and even a few frequent defendants. When I returned after being absent several months, one of the first things I heard — on separate occasions from separate people — was the sad state the judicial system is in. While the story I wrote in this week’s edition does plenty to explain the nature of that problem and some of the solutions, what it may not exactly capture is just how badly the system is hamstrung due to internal politics. Many spoke of issues between judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys that have hurt the system just as much as anything. However, when it
Time to end single-use plastics To the Editor: The Western North Carolina Climate Action Coalition and the Outdoor Mission Community wish to express our sincere thanks to the residents of Haywood County for their support of our reusable bag giveaway called Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) Haywood that took place in honor of Earth Day on April 22. Months before the event, more than 40 local volunteers worked diligently on sewing bags from donated cloth plus feed and seed bags. The mayors and town boards of both Canton and Waynesville signed proclamations in support of BYOBag Haywood and called for a reduction in the use of all single-use plastic in honor of Earth Day. Over 1,400 reusable bags were distributed to residents at 12 locations in Waynesville, Canton, and Clyde in order to draw attention to the growing number of single-use plastic bags used in our county and how they affect our health and environment. Single-use plastic bags like the ones supplied at grocery stores are used for an average of 12 minutes, and a typical family goes through about 1,500 bags every year. As the average grocery store in Haywood County serves about 2,000 families, that adds up to 12 million bags per store per year. These bags break down into small particles called microplastics that are in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breathe. Recent studies show that microplastics are in human tissue and blood, increasing the risk of cancers, infertility problems, and inflammation. We wish to extend thanks to the participating businesses and organizations in Canton and Clyde: both Food Lion stores, Tractor Supply Co, Pigeon River Mercantile, and the town of Canton’s Chestnut Park grand opening, and in Waynesville: GO Grocery,
came to on-the-record statements about the root of those problems, most hedged or declined to comment altogether. In a sense, to call out the toxic politics within the system would possibly require implicating their own participation in that system. But after speaking with 45 people — including judges, attorneys, prosecutors, clerks, law enforcement officers and academics — it was clear that the key question of how politics is hurting the system wouldn’t be News Editor answered in any way that could be included in this week’s story. So, we went with what we had — a story that from the outside probably looks close to complete. But those inside will know.
Kyle Perrotti
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LETTERS Haywood Community College, Haywood Historic Farmer’s Market, Hometown Hardware, Mast General Store, PetSmart and Staples. Additional reusable bags were generously provided by Food Lion Canton, Ingles Markets, and Staples. Thanks also to supporting businesses and organizations: Ace Hardware (Waynesville); Big Brothers, Big Sisters; Creation Care Alliance of WNC; First United Methodist Church (Waynesville); Grace Church in the Mountains (Waynesville); Haywood Waterways Association; Haywood Parks and Recreation, Haywood County Arts Council, HIGHTS, and Junaluska Feed Store. The BYOBag Haywood Earth Day event also included a Community Partner Showcase at Haywood Community College and a cleanup of Allen’s Creek in partnership with Haywood Waterways Association that yielded 34 large bags of plastic, styrofoam and other trash in an hour and a half. BYOBag Haywood was also one of three featured Western North Carolina projects which focused on the problem of single-use plastic bags presented at the Creation Care Alliance of Western NC Vigil on April 24 at First Baptist Church in Asheville. We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated, supported and volunteered in the BYOBag Haywood event. It was so encouraging to talk to people who were also concerned about the problem of single-use plastics in Haywood County and welcomed the idea of taking a reusable bag with them every time they shopped. The work continues, but with your help, we can preserve the health and beauty of this place we call home. Kathy Odvody Outdoor Mission Community Board Chair & BYOBag Haywood Project Director Betsy Wall Western North Carolina Climate Action Coalition Steering Committee Chair
Readers can be certain this won’t be the last story they’ll see on this topic, as it is evolving, and solutions may be a few years off. We might even find that simply by publishing this week’s cover story, it’ll shake things up enough that more people we’d never considered reaching out to would talk to us. We can hope that as more reporting comes out, more people will be willing to illuminate the dark corners of this issue. In the meantime, reporting this week’s cover story has been an eye opener. Many readers fancy themselves as being folks who’ll never have to go through the justice system. But no one knows when, by matter of happenstance, they’ll find themselves in a courtroom as a defendant or a victim. We hope anyone in that position will find the system upholds their constitutional rights and that justice is served. After all is said and done, that’s what’s most important. (Kyle Perrotti can be reached at kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com)
Madison Cawthorn has got to go To the Editor: A recently released video shows Maddy and friends having fun and filming some foolish, immature pranks. I have no problem with that; he was young, foolish and immature. Who among us did not do foolish things when we were young? The big problem is, though not quite as young, he is still just as foolish and immature. These are not qualities I want in my congressional representative. What are his assets? A pretty face and the ability to attract media attention. Again, not qualities I look for in my congressional representative. He can wrap himself in the U. S. flag as much as he likes, but he still stinks. Baddy Maddy’s got to go! Joanne Strop Waynesville
Park fee proposal deserves support To the Editor: In response to the Swain County commissioners’ opposition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park parking fee proposal, I have several points. Most importantly, let’s agree that the national park provides a precious asset, both locally and nationally, and is well worth supporting. But the commissioners, our elected officials, responded within 24 hours of its announcement to oppose the parking fee proposal without any input from their constituents. It appears a knee-jerk response based on past wrongs. What percentage of Swain County residents are descended from folks who sold their land to make the Park? According to the Park Service presentation, only about 15 percent of the land came from about 1,200 individual
landowners, some here and some in Tennessee. Swain County now has over 14,000 residents (2020 census). The other 85 percent came from lumber companies. Whoever the previous owners, it’s in the past, nearly 100 years ago. The best way to positively affect the current situation is to let go of the past, let go of the grudges, let go of feeling victimized, and work on what is now and how to move forward. All the Swain County land that lies within the Park brings in many visitors and tourists dollars, paying local taxes and providing jobs, and Swain County is not being asked to provide any money in return to take care of the Park. Like the substantial number of local residents who aren’t from here, I speak as a person who moved here about eight years ago. By far most of the people I meet who live here aren’t from here but moved here as I did, in part for the lifestyle — including the national park. I have talked to hikers and other folks who moved here from elsewhere and have gotten positive responses to the parking fee proposal. The amount seems minimal; the proposed annual fee is less than taking the family out to a local restaurant. Like me, many others also support the Park as members of Friends of the Smokies and Great Smoky Mountain Association. I hike in the park regularly and have hiked all the trails (900-miler). I’m in the park a lot. It’s beautiful! I also notice the overcrowded parking lots, the occasional non-working or dirty restrooms, the lines at the visitor center counter to ask the rangers questions, the trash along U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road, the occasional trail that needs maintenance or has bridges out, the “deferred maintenance,” the bear or elk traffic jams with no Ranger to guide the vehicles, the littered picnic area in Deep Creek. I agree that more money is needed to maintain the Park. Parking or other user fees all stay in the Park to preserve it. How many have listened to the Park’s justification for the fees? This link lays out the park visitation and the financial details — The People’s Park Great Smoky Mountains National Park (U.S.
If Roe v. Wade goes, then what is next
National Park Service) (nps.gov). It’s obvious the Park isn’t doing this to “screw” the descendants of the original landowners, but to make a well-thought-out proposal that benefits all of us. Let’s take some responsibility locally to preserve this treasure for
local residents and visitors. Are we willing to pay the price to preserve our most prized asset? A resounding “yes.” Kathy Petersen Bryson City
Norman Hoffman
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Celebrating Appalachian Music and Traditions for 26 Years
MUSIC • ART • CRAFTS • FOOD • GAMES • FUN Friday, May 27: 5:30PM - 9PM Southern Gospel Music Featuring THE BARNES FAMILY, Tribe Called Praise, TURNING HOME, Dyer Family Gospels, SOUTHERN BOUND, The Howell Family
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10AM Opening Ceremony with Veterans and Sons of the Confederacy, firing of cannon and 3-round volley. MUSIC FEATURING: APPALACHIAN SMOKE, presenting their DEBUT ALBUM! Welcoming back Somebody’s Child, Steve Jordan Band, Granny’s Mason Jar, Bean Sidle (Banshees) - Celtic Music!
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The right to use contraception services and products would also be subject to the whim of five justices. The Constitution does not address these “rights” any more than it addresses Roe vs. Wade. Let your imagination run free to think of all the “rights” you think you have that are not explicitly covered by the Constitution or its amendments. Public education, libraries, and healthcare are among the things not mentioned in the Constitution and would be fair game for revocation or elimination. The other part of the argument against abortion rights is that until 1973 there was no support for a constitutional right for access to an abortion. That logic might mean that women will again need to get a man’s permission to get a credit card, which was the case before 1973. Not allowed until after 1973 was the protection for a woman not to get fired if she got pregnant or to sue for sexual harassment in the workplace. All rights that women and men have won since the founding of the country would be subject to cancelation. Apparently, Alito thinks that anything after the 1600s does not qualify as being “deeply rooted in the nation’s history and traditions” as he quotes a British jurist who executed witches and advocated for executing children as young as 14. That same jurist considered women to be the property of either their father or husband. Women who were independent of a man (e.g., widows) were considered with suspicion and occasionally accused and prosecuted for practicing witchcraft. The Roe vs. Wade decision is based, in part, on the fact that in the first trimester the fetus is essentially an extension of the woman’s body and upon which it is dependent for its existence. The Alito position makes the woman subservient to the fetus based on a religious position, not facts based on biology. If this religious position dictates judicial decisions, other religious positions could be imposed on all citizens. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority seems intent on exercising its activist agenda to take the country back to a darker place. (Dr. Norm Hoffman is a semi-retired clinical psychologist living in Waynesville. wncfacts@gmail.com.)
May 27 & 28 • Riverfront Park in Bryson City
May 18-24, 2022
sing Samuel Alito’s logic in proposing to strike down the “right” to an abortion, other rights that you take for granted could also be eliminated. The argument is that if something is not mentioned in the Constitution, that “right” is based only on the majority opinion of the Supreme Court. Thus, if the Roe vs. Wade decision was wrong, the current court could reverse that decision. This opens to door to removing other presumed rights. For example, the Constitution does not give you the right to own an AR15. The Second Amendment only gives you the right to “keep and bear arms” and says nothing about private ownership. The Guest Columnist Swiss government used to require all men of a certain age to keep their military weapon at home while not on deployment or in training. The Constitution’s language does not say it allows for private ownership — just to keep and bear arms for a “well regulated militia.” The only thing that allows you to own firearms is the interpretation by the Supreme Court, which we now see can change. How about your right to privacy? The Fourth Amendment only protects you from “unreasonable searches and seizures” but says nothing about privacy. A state could sue to make all medical, educational, and employment records public. If the Supreme Court agrees that the Constitution does not address these, it could rule that all records can be made public. How about the right to travel between states? There is nothing in the Constitution that gives you that right. Thus, if a state wants to restrict entry or charge you $100 to enter the state, the Supreme Court could use the logic applied to Roe vs. Wade to allow a state to do that. More likely the so-called conservatives who brought the lawsuit on Roe vs. Wade will go after your right to enter a mixed-race marriage or marriage for same sex couples.
26th Annual Swain County Heritage Festival
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CRAFT BEER CATALYST
ple, which is something I love about our brewery team — taking pride in your craft and always aiming to get better with each batch of beer,” Mark said. The initial seed for Mountain Layers was planted when the Pettits were contemplating what to do and where to go once Mark was ready to retire. They’d already been roaming around the Great Smoky Mountains for over 15 years at that point and bought a cabin not long after their first visit. But, what next? “Back then, Southwestern Community College in Sylva had a craft beer program, where you could learn how to brew beer, sell beer, and work in the industry,” Mark said. “So, I took a chance and jumped on the course. I loved what I was doing and started interning with breweries around the region.” By early 2017, Mountain Layers was putting the finishing touches on its brewery, opening on March 31. From there, it’s been a continuous and ongoing process of updating equipment, tweaking recipes and expanding upon the ultimate vision of the company. And, like any good brewery worth its weight in salt (or in this case, hops), the Pettits make great strides in being a place of positive change and growth in a community where they’ve put down deep roots. One of those initiatives at Mountain Layers is its popular “Community Giving Program.” For each “Beer of the Month” selected, Mountain Layers gives the customer a “coin”
Mountain Layers Brewing celebrates five years
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR t’s early Thursday afternoon, and though the Memorial Day Weekend summer kickoff is still a couple weeks away, the twostory taproom of Mountain Layers Brewing in downtown Bryson City is buzzing with locals and visitors alike. “We feel very blessed to be here and live in this part of the country,” said Mark Pettit. “What we love about this brewery is seeing our regulars every day, and also the people from all over who visit Bryson City once or twice a year, where they always make it a priority to stop in.” Co-owner of Mountain Layers alongside his wife, Kim, the Pettits have become a staple of the craft beer and tourism culture in the small mountain town since the Minnesota couple permanently relocated to Western North Carolina and opened the establishment five years ago. “We could’ve happened to find ourselves living in any community when we were looking
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worth 50 cents to one of six local nonprofits. There’s six Plexiglas containers in the brewery where customers drop the coins in for the nonprofit of their choice, to which the brewery then counts up the coins at the end of the month and makes a separate donation to each of the organizations. “We’re grateful and glad the community has embraced the brewery, where we now have 11 employees, and not only us, but our customers also care about our employees and their well-being,” Mark said. “It can be hard for a small business to try to give as much as you can. But, we believe that if you take care of the community, then the community will take care of you.” With its fifth anniversary now in the rearview mirror, the Pettits can’t believe it’s already been half a decade. And yet, the movement of time is apparent and heartfelt, especially when your walk up the stairwell to the patio, which is now covered in police and fire department patches giving by visitors from across the country and around the world — this large structural wall that was merely blank and empty on day one of this operation. “It’s a very special thing to have this place where people feel comfortable, a place to come and relax,” said Mark Pettit. “Folks walk in and come to enjoy each other’s company. You hear the sounds of the people, of the conversation, of live music in the background — it’s exactly what we had hoped for.”
Cynthia Womble
to move after my retirement from public service. But, we were lucky to have found this place,” Mark said. “It’s definitely a community that looks out for one another, where you really get to know your neighbor, the local officials, mayor and county commissioners, and everyone who comes here on vacation.” Situated on Everett Street next to the Tuckasegee River in the heart of Bryson City, the seven-barrel system brewery itself is cradled by two taprooms and a large rooftop patio. On any given sunny day, the property is a beehive of friendly faces and hearty banter, all swirling around pint after pint of craft beer being slid across the bar counter. But, ambiance is one thing, being able to craft great artisan ales is another, with Mountain Layers taking home two golds (Honey Just 2 More, Tale of the Dunkel), a silver (Goodday Everyday Light Lager) and a bronze (Hazel Creek Blonde Ale) at the Carolinas Championship of Beer in April. “Both of our brewers are very humble peo-
Mountain Layers Brewing is a popular spot for craft ales and conversation in the heart of downtown Bryson City. (photo: Sean Paul)
“It can be hard for a small business to try to give as much as you can. But, we believe that if you take care of the community, then the community will take care of you.” — Mark Pettit, Mountain Layers Brewing co-owner
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
Garret, Jesse, Lucy and Katie.
It’s a wonderful world if you can put aside the sadness, and hang on to every ounce of beauty upon you
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Appalachian acoustic act Unspoken Tradition and The Carter Giegerich Trio will perform at the "Bluegrass Boogie" from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Queen Auditorium in the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
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Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. Saturday, May 21.
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The Andrew Thelston Band (rock/jam) will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the Valley Tavern in Maggie Valley.
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The annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 21-22 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.
Katie, were around and heading to a friend’s house to jump in their pool. “I’ll text you the address if you want to swing by,” Jesse messaged. Forty-five minutes later, the ole Tacoma rolled up to a small apartment complex on a ridge tucked into the woods due north of Chattanooga. It was opening day for the pool as its residents were spraying off the patio, scrubbing down the grill and pulling cold beers out from the cooler near the blue
Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band's name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group's creation. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the boundaries of acoustic music, the band has gained legions of loyal fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship and just as notably, their incendiary live performances.
Saturday, May 21 • 5PM • Chili Chomper Food Truck Outside on the Green Bring your chairs, blankets, etc., and spread out!
Adults $20 / Children 6-16 $10 / Under 6 Free
Smoky Mountain News
A production of “All Shook Up” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 20-21, 27-28, June 2-4 and at 2 p.m. May 22, 29 and June 5 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville.
MOUNTAIN HEART
May 18-24, 2022
lthough I had a press pass waiting for me at the box office of the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Asheville for rock legends Chicago on Sunday evening, I found myself stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Interstate 24 East just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was late afternoon and I still had an hour to jump ahead when I crossed back over into Eastern Standard Time not far out of Chattanooga. It would be after 5 p.m. by the time I actually entered the city limits, with another three hours or so to reach Asheville, meaning I’d already miss half of the Chicago show, even if I hurried back. Reaching for my smart phone, I scrolled through recent text messages. Two of my near and dear old friends live in Chattanooga. And I hadn’t seen them in years. I had sent a message a few days prior mentioning that I’d be in the area come Sunday, and if they’re around we should meet for a quick drink. By the time I was crawling along in traffic, I’d yet to hear back from them, which was odd. I went back to the message, which now indicated the text had failed to be sent. Damn. So, seeing as I was a half-hour from Chattanooga, I sent another message, saying my initial inquiry didn’t go through and “would y’all like to meet for a beer?” Not even a minute or two later, to my surprise, the phone dinged with a response. It was my old buddy Jesse. He and his wife,
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and Katie pulled up stakes and moved to Chattanooga to be closer to family and pursue careers in education. With not much luck in New York, I found myself often cruising down to visit them. And it was during those road trips when I fell in love with Southern Appalachia. At first, I tried to find a reporting job in Chattanooga. When that didn’t pan out, I zoomed out on the range of my search, ultimately coming across an opening for an arts and entertainment editor at The Smoky Mountain News in this town called Waynesville, North Carolina. It was somewhat close to Chattanooga and was also in the mountains (where I wanted to be, ultimately). I took the job and it’ll be 10 years at the helm here come this August. Almost a decade below the Mason-Dixon Line and there we all were, the old Teton crew, sitting around some pool in Chattanooga rehashing stories from the good ole days. Gutbusting laughter and sincere smiles. I missed Jesse and Katie, these beloved souls who know me probably better than I know myself, the kind of people you just “know you’re supposed to know” in life, you know? Saying goodbye to them, it was time to make my way back to Haywood County. Plans were already made to rendezvous at a bluegrass concert later this summer. Putting the Tacoma into drive, I waved goodbye to my friends and honked twice in solidarity. In the rearview mirror, I looked at the face in the reflection and shook my head in awe and in gratitude. Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
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This must be the place
waters where everyone was lounging about. And there they were, Jesse and Katie, with their three-year-old daughter, Lucy, who I’d never met until that very moment. The couple hadn’t changed a bit, as is such with lifelong pals. It was a wild scene to behold. Seeing my old friends after many moons apart, and then being introduced to this wondrous little face. Right then and there, a sea of memories flashed across my mind. I’d first met Jesse back in January 2008 in the depths of winter in rural Eastern Idaho. I was 22 years old and just started my first reporting gig at the tiny Teton Valley News, an outpost publication in the shadow of the Grand Teton Mountains. Jesse was a year older than me. He was childhood friends and the roommate of my new co-worker at the paper, both of them relocating to the West from the Ozarks in Missouri. We were young kids back then, with the unknowns of our respective futures unfolding in real time in the vast landscape of the Rocky Mountains. We were thick as thieves right out of the gate, and remained so for that year I lived out there. When the economy tanked in September 2008, I packed up my things and headed back to my native Upstate New York in hopes of new and better opportunities in the realm of the written word. Around that time, Jesse had become smitten with a girl we’d both been friends with in the Tetons, Katie, who was (and remains) a real deal firecracker of a human being, who also headed West after college from North Georgia. Not long after I took off back East, Jesse
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‘Bluegrass Boogie’ welcomes Unspoken Tradition
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Featuring acclaimed Appalachian acoustic act Unspoken Tradition & The Carter Giegerich Trio, the next installment of the beloved “Bluegrass Boogie” concert series will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 21, in the Queen Auditorium in the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Mountain Home Recording Artist Unspoken Tradition is about new, original Bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional and newgrass music, this North Carolina based quintet brings a sound that is both impassioned and nostalgic, hard-driving and sincere. The group’s 2020-21 singles have all charted in the Bluegrass Today Top 20, including “California” (#1), “Irons in the Fire” (#2) and “Carolina and Tennessee” (#4). Its 2019 release from Mountain Home
Music Company, “Myths We Tell Our Young,” debuted at #5 on the Billboard Bluegrass charts and has seen five top-charting radio singles, including a #1 spot on the Bluegrass Today chart for “Dark Side of the Mountain.” A talented multi-instrumentalist, Carter Giegerich is well-known as the dobro player in popular Western North Carolina “party grass” ensemble Ol’ Dirty Bathtub. Giegerich is also a member of several renowned Americana, roots and folk groups around the mountains of Southern Appalachia. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 day of show. This event is presented by Adamas Entertainment & Folkmoot LIVE! For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on folkmoot.org. You can also go to eventbrite.com and search “Bluegrass Boogie.”
Thelston to play Valley Tavern
For more information, call 828.926.7440 or visit valley-tavern.com.
Popular Western North Carolina rock act The Andrew Thelston Band will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the Valley Tavern in Maggie Valley. Throughout his exploration of these mountains and its inhabitants, Thelston has remained a sponge of sorts, always soaking in the knowledge and wisdom of astute musicians, the sacred act of performance, and the ancient craft of creation — either in collaboration, in passing, through a recording or in the presence of live music. The culmination of these vast, ongoing experiences and interactions remains the fire of intent within Thelston to hold steady and navigate his own course, which currently is The Andrew Thelston Band — a rock/soul ensemble of power and swagger. The event is free and open to the public.
Concerts On The Creek The 13th season of Concerts on the Creek will kick off with Terri Lynn & Tim Queen with Scott Baker (classic rock) from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Bridge Park in Sylva. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. Dogs must be on a leash. No alcohol, smoking or coolers are allowed in the park. These concerts are organized and produced by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Sylva and the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, call the chamber at 828.586.2155, visit mountainlovers.com or Concerts On The Creek’s Facebook page.
On the beat Mountain Heart.
Acclaimed bluegrass/jam act Mountain Heart will perform 5-7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, on the lawn stage at the Historic Cowee School in Franklin. The band has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played, its name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group’s creation. Mountain Heart, or its individual members, have been nominated for Grammys, ACM, and CMA awards. The band has also been nominated for, and won, multiple IBMAs.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Free and open to the public. blueridgebeerhub.com. • Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. May 21. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org/music. • Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host an Open Mic Night 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open
• Fontana Village Resort Wildwood Grill will host The Local Boys 5 p.m. May 27 and 6 p.m. May 29 and Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. May 28. Free and open to the public. 800.849.2258 or fontanavillage.com. • Friday Night Live (Highlands) host Jay Drummonds (country) May 20 and Sycamore Flats (bluegrass/old-time) May 27 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Krave Amiko May 20, Syrrup May 21 and Balsam Hot Club 4 p.m. May 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
ALSO:
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Tanya Tucker (country) 7:30 p.m. June 4. Tickets start at $22.50 per person. caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee. • Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host Old Sap (Americana/folk) May 19 and Open Mic Night May 26. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com. • Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” w/Hibiscus Sunshine at 7
A top-three finalist for season eight of “American Idol,” singer Danny Gokey will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 22, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Arts in Franklin. On “American Idol,” Gokey quickly became a favorite of millions. Following the show, Gokey dropped his first album, “My Best Days,” which debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 album chart. Since that time, Gokey has celebrated a series of #1s, including his follow up album releases “Hope In Front of Me,” “Rise” and “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” and holiday albums “Christmas Is Here” and “The Greatest Gift.” Spawning singles like “Hope In Front of Me,” “Rise,” “The Comeback,” “Love God Love People,” and RIAA Certified Gold singles “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” and “Haven’t Seen It Yet,” Gokey has also been honored with three Grammy nominations, three wins as KLOVE “Male Vocalist of the Year,” two Dove Awards, and numerous Dove Award nominations. Tickets start at $28. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 866.273.4615 or click on smokymountainarts.com.
A special musical concert featuring beloved Jackson County Americana/bluegrass act Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. “We’ve always had energy when playing on someone’s porch, but on several occasions lately we have been able to replicate it live,” said ODB guitarist Jerad Davis. “And that’s what makes this fun — people dancing, rooms getting hot, creating an atmosphere that is as fun for those listening as it is for us onstage. That’s why we do it. And that fuels the passion, the creativity. It’s a double positive feedback loop.” The band’s debut album “Pack Mule” is now available for purchase. To learn more about the band, click on facebook.com/oldirtybathtub. This program is free and open to the public. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information, please call the library at 828.586.2016. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).
p.m. every Wednesday, Creekside Live Band Karaoke 7 p.m. May 20 and Divas On Tap “Night of Neon” 8:30 p.m. May 21. All events are free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.
• Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) 6:30 p.m. May 24. Free and open to the public. 828.586.2016.
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Caribbean Cowboys (variety/oldies) May 21 and Continental Divide (beach/variety) May 28 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Open Mic Night 6:30 p.m. May 19 and Roscoe’s Road Show May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Colby Deitz (singer-songwriter) May 20 and Brother (rock/jam) May 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Open Mic Night w/Ivor Sparks every Wednesday, Steve Heffker (singer-songwriter) May 20 and 28, Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana/bluegrass) May 21, Kate Thomas (singer-songwriter) May 22, Aly Jordan (singer-songwriter) May 27 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. May 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host live music on the first Friday of every month. All shows begin at 9 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com. • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Danny Gokey (pop/soul) 7 p.m. May 22 and HighRoad (bluegrass/gospel) 7:30 p.m. May 27. For tickets, click on smokymountainarts.com. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack Country May 19, Brian Ashley Jones May 20 and Outlaw Whiskey May 21. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
Smoky Mountain News
• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Terri Lynn & Tim Queen with Scott Baker (classic rock) May 27 and Robertson Boys (bluegrass) June 3 at Bridge Park in Sylva. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 or mountainlovers.com.
to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com.
Sylva gets in the tub
May 18-24, 2022
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.
They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 130 times and have shared the stage with acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Brad Paisley to Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, The Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Punch Brothers, Levon Helm, John Fogerty, and many more. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-16. Under age 6 free. Rain or shine. Tickets available at coweeschool.org/music.
‘American Idol’ star in Franklin
arts & entertainment
Mountain Heart returns to Cowee School
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host Two Armadillos 6 p.m. May 19, Andrew Thelston Band 3 p.m. May 22, Randy Flack 6 p.m. May 26, Funk-N-Around 6 p.m. May 28 and The Lads 3 p.m. May 29. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.
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arts & entertainment
On the street
Do you like strawberries?
Weekly festive gatherings are underway at the Rickman Store in Macon County. Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Friends of the Rickman Store (FORS) invite the community and visitors to the region to visit every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 828.369.5595 or visit “Friends of the Rickman Store” on Facebook. • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on waynesvillewine.com.
ALSO:
Smoky Mountain News
May 18-24, 2022
The annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 21-22 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy local music (starting at 11 a.m. each day), local food, fresh fruits and vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping, and much more. Admission is free. Donations accepted for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. For a full schedule of bands and activities, click on darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
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• A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2 to 5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075. • “Take A Flight” with four new wines every
Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420. • “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first-class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.
On the wall
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (MayDecember) in downtown Waynesville. Main Street transforms into an evening of art, music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors. Dates include June 3, July 1, Aug. 5, Sept. 2, Oct. 7, Nov. 4 and Dec. 2. For more information, click on facebook.com/galleriesofhaywoodcounty.
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arts & entertainment
• “Spring Fling Art & Craft Walk” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 28, in downtown Dillsboro. Live music and craft demonstrations. Free. 828.586.1439 or visitdillsboro.org.
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• WNC Paint Events brings you “Paint & Sip.” This is a two-hour event, and you leave with your painting. Anyone 21 and up are welcome. Events will be held at the following locations once a month: 828 Market on Main (Waynesville), Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva), BearWaters Brewing (Canton), Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) and the Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin). For more information, click on wncpaint.events.
ALSO:
• “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. For more information, call The Uptown Gallery at 828.349.4607 or contact Pat Mennenger at pm14034@yahoo.com. See more about Macon County Art Association at franklinuptowngallery.com and like, follow and share the Uptown Gallery on Facebook.
Smoky Mountain News
• A “Foreign Film Series” will be held at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Each month, on the second and fourth Friday, two movies from around the globe will be shown. This program is in the Community Room and is free of charge. Masks are required in all Jackson County buildings. To find out what movie will be shown and/or for more information, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library. To learn more, click on fontanalib.org.
May 18-24, 2022
• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon to 4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. Mountainmakersmarket.com.
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arts & entertainment
S moky News n i a t n u o M
On the stage
HART gets ‘All Shook Up’
3 2 irthday
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BASH!
Smoky Mountain News
May 18-24, 2022
FRIDAY
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JUNE 3
5-7:30 p.m. Fuego Food Truck & Boojum Beer
Smoky Mountain News Parking Lot
The cast of ‘All Shook Up.’ From the Elvis Presley songbook, a production of “All Shook Up” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. May 20-21, 27-28, June 2-4 and at 2 p.m. May 22, 29 and June 5 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville. “All Shook Up” is an American jukebox musical that premiered on Broadway in 2005. It was written by Joe DiPietro, who gave you recent HART hits like “The Last Romance,” “Over the River and through the Woods” and the Tony Award winning musical “Memphis.” It’s 1955 and Chad, a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout, is being released from prison somewhere out in the Midwest. In a nearby dreary little town, Natalie, a young
• A stage production of the beloved tale “Alice in Wonderland” will be held on select dates throughout this spring at the Mountainside Theatre in Cherokee. The production is an original work by Havoc Movement Company that will be joining the Cherokee Historical Association for the spring season. To purchase tickets, click on cherokeehistorical.org/alice-in-wonderland.
ALSO:
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host “Improv Night” by the Smoky Mountain Community Theater at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 24. Ages 21 and up. There will be a $5 cover,
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
mechanic, dreams of love and adventure, all while she yearns for true love to take her away, not realizing that her best friend Dennis has a secret crush on her. As she and the town sing the blues in the local honky-tonk bar, they’re interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle: it’s Chad. He needs a mechanic and Natalie, instantly smitten, promises to fix his broken-down bike. Tangled webs are woven as Chad incites rebelliousness in a town with a “Decency Act” outlawing loud music, public necking and tight pants. Tickets start at $14 per person. To make reservations, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org to make reservations online.
which will go directly to the theater. The pub will also donate 25% of the night’s drink receipts to the theater to assist in the restoration efforts. As well, the theater is always happy to accept additional donations. 828.538.2488. • The Haywood Arts Regional Theater in Waynesville is currently offering a wide variety of classes in the theater arts for all ages, young and old. Whether you are just starting out or want to hone your skills, HART has opportunities for you. For more information, contact HART Artistic Director Candice Dickinson at 646.647.4546 or email candice@harttheatre.org.
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On the shelf
Jeff Minick
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Many of the subjects addressed in “Culture Counts” — music, modern architecture, education, communism, particularly in Eastern Europe, and more — appear here as well, but in shorter and more easilydigestible chapters. By the time I finished reading “Against the Tide,” I had dogeared several pages, marked a dozen others with bits of paper, and bracketed certain passages in pencil. There are too many of these passages and pages to reference here, but I can offer a sampler of two pieces: “… there is more to life than politics, and even those who lack the deep restfulness that comes from true religion may still find themselves surprised by joy. For consider what has not been destroyed: music, poetry and art; the sacred texts and the secular knowledge that derives from them; the impulse to love and to learn ….” A good number of Americans, I suspect, have forgotten that politics, politicians, and ideology are not only false gods, but are not, like love and beauty, the most vital things in life. Here is a second item most of us, including me, forget to our detriment: “The public square is full of moralizing language about hunting, smoking, drinking, and other forms of enjoyment. But when asked for whose sake this or that is demanded, the answer is always: yourself.” To closely paraphrase Scruton’s conclusion to that observation: we seem unable to imagine what it would be to do something for any other sake than our own. So, did reading “Against the Tide” help me in any way? I would say so. Much like the fentanyl patch prescribed by the ER doctor for my busted ribs, Scruton’s voice on the page relieved some of my pain. The source of that pain — the craziness of the world, the looming possibility of war — remained, but Scruton at least reminded me of what it sounds like to be civilized. Roger Scruton, who died this year, was a conservative and an old-fashioned liberal, depending on how you read him. He was also one of the last of a breed, a gentleman of the old school. He will be missed. (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)
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KRYSTAL PAIGO
SATURDAY, MAY 21 • 11-2PM
Cystic Fibrosis survivor who received a double lung transplant Jan of 2019 will be signing her new children's book Karly & Me Growing Together with 65 Roses. Educating and informative, Paigo is helping the families who are fighting this disease everyday; by donating a portion of book proceeds to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to help further research in finding a cure.
Smoky Mountain News
discussion between Scruton and Douglas Murray. Though I’d previously heard Scruton online — I highly recommend his documentary “Why Beauty Matters” — I wanted to hear his voice again once I’d finished his book. Afterwards, I returned to “Culture Counts” and read bits and pieces from both the “Preface” and the last chapter, “Rays of Hope.” Embedded in the print was that wonderful voice: calm, rational, thoughtful, and always searching for clarity and explanations. In this book, Scruton defines culture as “a relationship of belonging,” a source of “emotional knowledge, knowing what to do and what to feel.” He offers telling comments on our key institutions, reminding us, for example, that “the goal of education is to preserve our communal store of knowledge” and that “we pass on culture, therefore, as we pass on science and skill: not to benefit the individual, but to benefit our kind, by conserving a form of knowledge that would otherwise vanish from the world.” In “Rays of Hope,” Scruton concludes by writing that these rays “suggest a growing movement of revulsion against the prevailing nihilism — both the nihilism of the university, and the nihilism of the marketplace.” He admits that “this movement may not succeed in placing culture once again where it belongs,” but then adds that “it succeeds in showing us why culture matters, and why the battle to conserve it should be properly fought.” Unfortunately, much has changed, and not for the better, in the 15 years since “Culture Counts” saw the light of day. With that thought in mind, and wanting to revisit that voice of calm inquiry, I rummaged through my books and found Scruton’s “Against the Tide: The Best of Roger Scruton’s Columns, Commentaries and Criticisms” (Bloomsbury Continuum, 2022, 256 pages). Because “Against the Tide” consists mainly of columns in various publications, the book is more approachable than some of Scruton’s other works, like “Culture Counts.” The tone remains thoughtful, but is more conversational, as we might expect from a piece in a magazine or newspaper.
May 18-24, 2022
o why take a look here at two books by a philosopher and polymath, neither of which may appeal to a broad audience? Three reasons. First, I took a tumble, wrestled with a chair, and fractured three ribs. Confinement to quarters restricted me to the resources of my own library. Next, I needed a break from the online rage, hysteria, and madness I encounter daily on the sites I visit. More and more, the America I love appears to have become a looney bin but without the requisite counselors or psychiatrists. Writer Rational thinking has flown the coop, and the inmates truly are in charge of the asylum. Finally, some major political actors on the world stage — and they’re not all Russians — casually bandy about the idea of nuclear war. When you have enough grandchildren to fill both the offensive and defensive units of a football team, as do I, and you hear that some leaders are considering dropping the big one, you start looking anywhere you can for a voice of sanity and reason. And as readers know, we can often tell a great deal about a person simply from the tone of their voice. Listen to a speech by Adolph Hitler on YouTube, and we hear belligerence, aggression, and rage, even when we have no idea what he is saying. Listen to Winston Churchill, and we find a voice rock-solid with the strength and assurance necessary to rally his beleaguered people. Which brings me to Roger Scruton. Several months ago, after reading Scruton’s “Culture Counts: Faith & Feeling in a World Besieged” (Encounter Books, 2007, 2021, 218 pages), I opened my laptop and listened for about 15 minutes to a YouTube
arts & entertainment
Medicine for the soul: reading Roger Scruton
New monthly book club The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva is starting a new monthly program. Each month, a library staff member will be discussing some of the new book titles that the library has received. Particular attention will be paid to “under the radar” titles and authors, new releases, and other books that the staff is excited about. All are welcome and no registration is required. For more information on when the club will meet, please call the library at 828.586.2016. This club is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. The JCPL is a member of Fontana Regional Library (fontanalib.org).
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Outdoors
Smoky Mountain News
member of the team from Disc Golf Design Group that planned the course. That’s usually enough time for leaves to fall and decompose on newly cut paths and for vegetation to be more carefully trimmed to the course’s contours. “Then it will be perfect,” Menickelli said.
Ryan Pickens, one of the course’s designers, tees off while giving a tour of the property. Holly Kays photos
CONNECTED TO CULTURE
TIME TO FLY Disc golf course opens in Cherokee BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS EDITOR andwiched between the flowing waters of Raven Fork and the final southern stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a new championship-caliber disc golf course in Cherokee beckons to locals and tourists alike. “Look around. This is paradise here,” Jeremy Hyatt, secretary of operations for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, told the small crowd gathered for a ribbon-cutting cel-
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ebration Tuesday, May 10. “You have this beautiful river, you have these wonderful woods. This is what it means to me to be Cherokee.” The 31-acre Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary sits between Cherokee Central School and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a lofty canopy shading it from summer heat and a mountain creek offering respite for swimmers, anglers and waders. A gravel walking path stretches the length of the property, and a network of trails offer woodland paths between baskets. Disc golf courses typically need about two years to mature, said Justin Menickelli, a
Stay informed For information and updates about Fire Mountain Disc Golf Sanctuary, as well as Fire Mountain Trails for hikers and bikers, visit facebook.com/fmtrails.
being an EBCI member is the author of Even as We Breathe, a debut novel that won the 66th annual Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award. She worked with several Cherokee speakers to ensure the translations and pronunciations on the signs were correct. “Our goal was to connect all of the holes with a story that told the broader story of our area,” she said. “So it is kind of an introduction to visitors who aren’t familiar with it, but also a nice overview for even locals like myself
The swath of land beside Raven Fork is a tranquil setting suitable for a broad spectrum of ages and ability levels. But make no mistake — the course is labeled “championship-caliber” for a reason. “When I say championship-level, it kind of is the same thing ‘as hard as hell,’” said Hyatt. “This is a very difficult course, but it is one of a kind and it is truly a gem.” The first hole, advertised as a par 3, extends 348 feet, and while that particular hole is a straightaway, such is not the case as the Wolfetown Rep. Bo Crowe course continues. Many throws a disc following the holes contain tricky ribbon-cutting May 10. turns over long distances, with the longest clocking in at 681 feet Natural beauty abounds on Hole 7, a par 4. “I think it’ll end up on the 31-acre property. being one of the hardest courses in the Southeast, for sure,” said Ryan Pickens, another of the course’s designers. Tribal leaders hope to see the course become an attraction for disc golfers from across the country, and even an economic development asset as professional disc golfing competitions draw overnight visitors. While there, they’ll also get a lesson in Cherokee history, thanks to the signs posted at each tee pad. Every hole is named for who enjoy hearing how the stories are actually an animal, historical figure or legendary enticonnected, and a longer version of Cherokee ty of the Great Smokies region or Cherokee traditional value systems.” culture. Those names are accompanied by a For example, the sign for the first hole, description of the namesake’s role in named “Raven,” tells how according to the Cherokee folklore, as well as Cherokee-lanCherokee origin story, the raven was the first guage renderings of the name in both sylto seek fire — but the heat scorched his feathlabary and Latin characters. ers before he could succeed. The descriptions were written by Annette “Additionally, the Cherokee’s Saunooke Clapsaddle, who in addition to
Body recovered from Little River release to the Sevier County Medical Examiner’s Office. No witnesses have been identified to the events leading up to Queen’s death, and there were no obvious signs of foul play. An autopsy will be performed to determine the time and cause of death. A vehicle registered to Queen was found in a pull-out about 600 feet upriver, along a steep embankment.
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Boat through Bryson A 2-mile paddle down the Tuckasegee River through Bryson City will launch at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 25, wrapping up at 2 p.m. Guided by Endless Rivers and hosted by nonprofits Need More Outdoors and Mainspring Conservation Trust, this easy float trip includes transportation and lunch. Cost is $25 for those who bring their own boat, $45 for a one-person ducky and lunch, or $60 for two people. Register at mainspringconserves.org/events.
Fish for cash Compete for $10,000 in tagged fish during the Memorial Day Trout Tournament in Cherokee, May 28-29. Specially stocked and tagged rainbow, brook, golden and brown trout will be swimming through the Qualla Boundary’s freestone streams. Tags can be redeemed for cash prizes at the Natural Resources Enforcement Office at 517 Sequoyah Trail, 2-4 p.m. each tournament day. The contest is open to all ages and legal fishing methods, with a $15 entry fee and $17 twoday fishing permit. Register anywhere fishing permits are sold in and around Cherokee, or online at fishcherokee.com by Friday, May 27.
May 18-24, 2022 Smoky Mountain News
Last year, membership grew at an even faster rate — increasing 55% to 109,862 members. Of those members, 80% live in the U.S. The course in Cherokee aims to welcome disc golfers of all ability levels — not just professional Principal Chief Richard players. While each Sneed speaks during of the 18 holes is the ribbon-cutting outfitted with one ceremony May 10. of the yellow baskets denoting a hefty challenge for disc throwers, nine of the holes have a second basket as well. These red baskets offer a more approachable goal for novice players. For instance, while the first hole requires a 348-foot throw to reach the yellow net, the red net is a more manageable 290-foot distance. holes include Screech Owl, Lucky Hunter, Keredith Owens, who spoke at the ribDrowning Bear and Flying Squirrel. bon-cutting on behalf of the Yellowhill Community Council and is also manager of GROWING SPORT the Family Safety Program, said that giving people opportunities to be in nature is Daniel Reed, 48, wasn’t at the disc golf important when it comes to helping them course on May 10 to attend the ribbon cutget sober and clean — the new disc golf ting. Rather, he was there for a ritual that’s course will be a good place to do that. been part of his life since the course’s unof“This golf course, anybody can play it,” ficial opening in March. Reed works nearby Principal Chief Richard Sneed said during and gets 45 minutes for lunch each day. his turn at the microphone. “My wife and I Two or three times per week, he uses that started playing about a year ago. We were break to throw some discs. both terrible at it. But we get to spend time “I’ll play about one or two holes, you with our grandkids, and they had a good know — just trying to get some practice in, time. But more importantly, it’s time to get just throwing and stuff right now,” he said. out into nature into the environment.” “I’m a beginner.” Sneed related a recent conversation he Reed had never played disc golf until a had with a tribal elder, in which she asked couple of months ago, when the course him how much time he spends in the opened just down the road from work. It woods. He was forced to say that these days, seemed like a great opportunity to get outit’s not much time at all. side while also building a hobby he could “She said, ‘I want to tell you someshare with his son. thing,’” Sneed said. “’You really need to Reed isn’t alone in his newfound love of spend time in the woods. You need to spend disc golf, which is a rapidly growing sport. time hiking, and you need to spend time up The number of courses recognized by the in these mountains taking it all in, because Professional Disc Golf Association has it’ll change you as a person. It will change increased tenfold since 2000, from 1,145 to you as a human being.’” 10,508 in 2021. Of those courses, 7,737 are For Cherokee people especially, he said, in the United States. In 1975, only one it is vital to spend time outdoors, reconnectcourse existed. ing with the land that has nourished their Since the pandemic, interest in disc golfancestors for countless generations. ing has only accelerated. The number of “Let us never take for granted what we PDGA members shot up 33% from 2019 to have in these mountains,” he said. 2020, bringing total membership to 71,016. most feared shapeshifting entity is the Raven Mocker — the one who robs the dying man of life,” the sign concludes. “Needless to say, we recommend staying on trail…” Other names featured in the list of 18
Launch into water sports with Jackson County Parks and Recreation, which has a variety of kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and canoeing events planned for the next month. ■ Kayaking sessions will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 21; Monday, June 6; and Thursday, June 16, on the Tuckasegee River, and Wednesday, June 8, at Lake Glenville. The May 21 and June 16 events will meet at Shook Cove River access, and the June 6 group will meet at Locust Creek River Access. Cost is $35 per adult and $20 per youth. ■ Women’s stand-up paddleboard sessions are offered beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 25 and Saturday, June 25, at Wolf Lake. The group will meet at Cullowhee Recreation Center. Cost is $30 per person. ■ Whitewater raft the Tuckasegee Gorge at 10 a.m. Friday, June 3; or Friday, June 17. Participants must be at least 4 years old and 40 pounds with a maximum chest size of 58 inches. Cost is $37 for adults and $27 for youth. ■ Go canoeing Friday, May 27, or Thursday,
June 2. The May 27 event will meet at the Bear Lake Access at 3 p.m. and involve both hiking and canoeing, with a cost of $35 for adults and $20 for youth. The June 2 event will meet at the Cullowhee Recreation Center at 10 a.m. and travel to Wolf Lake, with a cost of $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Registration is required either in-person at the recreation center in Cullowhee or Cashiers, or online at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
outdoors
The body of a 72-year-old man was recovered from Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after somebody reported seeing it approximately a mile west of Metcalf Bottoms, at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 9. Rangers, along with Gatlinburg EMS/Fire, discovered the body of Bybee, Tennessee resident Charles Queen, and a technical swiftwater team recovered it for
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Haywood septic repair project earns award A project aiming to keep drinking water clean by helping people repair failing septic systems has earned Haywood County organizations statewide recognition from the N.C. Source Water Collaborative.
Town of Black Mountain was also recognized with the Groundwater Implementation and Education Award for their Wellhead Protection Plan project. The septic system project has funds to
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Smoky Mountain News
May 18-24, 2022
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Septic system Q&A planned Homeowners can get all their questions about septic systems answered during a free workshop offered noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at the Haywood County Agricultural Service Center in Waynesville. Staff from Haywood Waterways Association will be on hand to discuss everything there is to know about septic systems — how they work, common problems, solutions and financial help to implement them. Preventing and addressing septic system failure is key to maintaining water quality throughout the watershed. RSVP to Christine O’Brien at 828.476.4667, ext. 11, or christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com.
Haywood Waterways Association and the Haywood County Environmental Health Department won the Surface Water Implementation Award for their Haywood County Septic System Repair project. The
cover 75-100% of total repair costs for failing septic systems, with eligibility determined by failure severity, proximity to a waterway and financial need. Haywood Waterways partnered with Haywood County
Environmental Health to help homeowners determine if they qualify and go through the process of finding contractors and ensuring the repair is done correctly. Septic systems are efficient, but if not maintained properly they can fail, which when the failing system is near a river, stream or lake allows untreated wastewater to enter the waterway. The average septic system repair costs $5,400, more than many families can afford up-front. Through the program, the average homeowner would be responsible for $1,350 of that cost with the remaining $4,000 covered by grant dollars. So far the program has helped 143 homeowners and prevented as much as 51,480 gallons per day of untreated human waste from entering Haywood County streams. Funding is available throughout Haywood County, but the partners are focusing on the Richland Creek watershed — including Raccoon and Ratcliff Cove creeks — due to high bacterial counts in these waters. Foul odors, slow drainage, soggy soil, liquid waste on the drain field and excessive grass growth can signal septic system failure. The program is funded by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Section 319 Grant Program and the Pigeon River Fund of the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina. For more information, contact 828.476.4667, ext. 11 or info@haywoodwaterways.org. The N.C. Source Water Collaborative is a partnership of volunteers from nonprofits, universities, professional associations and all levels of government that develops and supports strategies to preserve drinking water sources and the land that protects and recharges them.
Improvements proposed for Gatlinburg Spur An environmental assessment of proposed improvements to the Spur between Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is out for public comment through Sunday, June 5. In August and September 2021, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park solicited feedback on the issues and preliminary alternatives for improving the road. After reviewing comments, they completed the EA. Under the preferred alternative, the National Park Service would implement corridor-wide improvements as well as specific improvements at three subareas along the Spur. Corridor-wide improvements would include installing curb and gutter treatments, shoulder hardening, rockfall mitigation, intelligent transportation systems and pull-off areas. Intersection improvements would take place at Gum Stand Road/King Branch Road/Gnatty Branch Road, Huskey Grove Road/Flat Branch Road and Wiley Oakley Drive. To submit comments or review the document, visit parkplanning.nps.gov/spurimprovements. Comments can also be submitted via postal mail to Gatlinburg Spur Improvements EA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
Deer harvest remains high as pandemic recedes Deer harvest in North Carolina remains robust, with numbers from the 2021-22 hunting season remaining nearly level with those recorded with the pandemic’s arrival in 2020. In the 2020-21 season, the 169,973 deer harvested represented a 9.1% increase compared to the three-year average at the time, and a 23.7% increase in the western zone. In
2021-22, hunters reported harvesting 168,427 deer — a 6.3% overall increase on the three-year average and a 9% increase in the western zone. During the 2019-2020 season, which occurred prior to the pandemic’s arrival in the United States, 161,940 deer were harvested. The southeastern zone saw the largest jump on its three-year average, with a 12% increase, while the central zone had a 7.4% increase, the northeastern zone 3.4% and the northwestern zone 0.8%. “It was unclear whether the 2020 increase in hunting participation and harvest was temporary, but the 2021 deer har-
vest shows a maintained deer harvest indicative of a strong deer population and hunting tradition,” said Moriah Boggess, deer biologist for the Wildlife Commission. “This is encouraging from a deer herd and hunter retention standpoint.” Of the deer harvested, 53% were antlered bucks, 4.4% were button bucks and 42.6% were does. Most deer were harvested with a gun (76.4 %), followed by blackpowder (9.7%), bow (7.8%) and crossbow (6.1%). For more information, including annual deer harvest summaries, visit bit.ly/3l2jX9t.
A pair of grants totaling $911,000 aim to support economic development planning in the Blue Ridge Parkway corridor, including both Virginia and North Carolina. Awarded to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation from the U.S. Economic
Celebrating
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Pitch in with Panthertown Friends of Panthertown is hosting a series of trail workdays this spring, and all are invited to come pitch in. Scheduled workdays are Friday, May 20; Saturday, May 21; Friday, May 27; Saturday, May 28; Friday, June 3; Saturday, June 4; Friday, June 10; and Saturday, June 18. No previous trail work experience is necessary. Workdays typically run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with about 5 miles of hiking on moderate trails while doing trail corridor clearing, pruning and some tread and drain work. Sign up at panthertown.org/contact. Learn more at panthertown.org/volunteer.
After being closed since February, the Holly Springs Trail in the Upper Creek area of the Grandfather Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest has reopened to hikers and mountain bikers. The trail, known locally as the Sinkhole Trail, is a popular mountain bike route that descends a ridge, passing a 30-foot-deep, 6foot-wide abandoned mineshaft, dubbed “the sinkhole.” Over the past decade there have been multiple minor incidents with people and animals falling into the vertical hole.
The trail was closed to address those concerns. Under the direction of the Grandfather District, and with support from volunteers of the Northwest N.C. Mountain Bike Alliance, professional trail builders with Black Diamond Trail Designs secured the sinkhole and maintained 1 mile of trail north of the sinkhole to Little Chestnut Road. The sinkhole is now covered with an aluminum grate that is safe to walk or ride over. Bike-optimized trail maintenance focused on hardening the trail with rockwork, installing drainage in steep sections, and generally minimizing impacts to the rooted, backcountry character that distinguished the Holly Springs experience for mountain bikers and hikers.
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Smoky Mountain News
Holly Springs Trail reopens
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May 18-24, 2022
Development Administration through the American Rescue Plan Act and EDA programs, the complementary grants include $518,000 for work in 17 North Carolina counties and $393,000 for work in 12 Virginia counties. The Foundation will work alongside local leaders in a collaborative process to develop targeted strategies to
enhance tourism, outdoor recreation and related economic activities. “One of the key reasons to build the Parkway was to support economic recovery and prosperity in the rural communities along its route,” said Carolyn Ward, the Foundation’s CEO. “We want to foster new ideas to enhance these longterm relationships and mutual benefits between the Parkway and gateway communities.” According to a National Park Service study, the Blue Ridge Parkway had a $1.3 billion economic impact on local communities in 2020. Ward sees ample potential to increase that figure. “Our initial discussions with leaders in each Parkway community have confirmed widespread interest in working across boundaries to benefit everyone involved,” she said. “These grants will ensure a thorough, inclusive and effective process.” With offices in Asheville and WinstonSalem as well as Roanoke and Galax in Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the Parkway’s nonprofit fundraising partner, supporting initiatives along the 469-mile route.
Life is too short for a boring doormat outdoors
Grant project aims to boost Parkway’s economic impact
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outdoors
1. 2. 3. 4.
The tract holds three N.C. Natural Areas and borders Bobs Creek State Natural Area. Foothills Conservancy photo
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WE ARE BACK!
Large Pinnacle Mountains tract protected A 960-acre conservation purchase in McDowell County protects an ecologically important area along the Pinnacle Mountains. Private conservationist Tim Sweeney sold the land to the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina at a bargain price. The Conservancy plans to construct a section of the N.C. State Parks System’s Wilderness Gateway State Trail on the property and to
steward it for environmental quality. Over the long term, the Conservancy hopes to acquire additional Pinnacle Mountains lands for conservation. Grants from the N.C. Land and Water Fund and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation combined with Sweeney’s donation to purchase the property. The Foothills Conservancy has now protected more than 15,000 acres in McDowell County.
May 18-24, 2022
New manager hired for WNC Ag Center th
After a multi-year absence, the 8 edition of the
Waynesville Main Street Mile will take place on
Saturday, June 11
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Puzzles can be found on page 38 These are only the answers.
Sean McKeon has been hired as the new WNC Agricultural Center and WNC Mountain State Fair manager, replacing long-time manager Matt Buchanan, who retired earlier this year. McKeon most recently served as state executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agency in Dover, Delaware, where he managed a staff of 16 overseeing farm, loan, disaster and conservation programs. Before that, he was director of communications and community relations for Mountaire Farms Inc. in Delaware and North Carolina, focusing on government and community relations, business development and marketing. From 2005 to 2013, he was association president of the N.C. Fisheries Association. He and his wife Sheri have four children. The WNC Agricultural Center, operated by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, hosts horse and community events and trade shows throughout the year. The facility hosts the annual WNC Mountain State Fair, this year slated for Sept. 9-18.
Buy plants and admire roses at the Arboretum Between an exhibition of award-winning roses and a three-day plant sale and tailgate market, the coming week will be a colorful one at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. The annual plant sale will be held May 26-28, kicking off with priority access for those with Rhododendron-level or higher arboretum membership, 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 26. The sale will open to the general public 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 27-28, with an assortment of plants grown in the arboretum’s production greenhouse available for sale — including many of the plants featured in its seasonal landscapes. The arboretum will also partner with more than 20 local growers and businesses for a tailgate-style market offering an even
greater selection of annuals, perennials, natives, houseplants, art, planters and natural products, along with live music. The event will take place outdoors in the second bay of the main parking lot. The standard $16 parking fee applies to all nonmembers. The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society’s annual Rose Show will return May 28-29, featuring award-winning roses of every color and size. The exhibit will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 28 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 29. Experts from the Asheville-Blue Ridge Rose Society will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the selection, care, and history of roses. The display will feature Western North Carolina’s top rosarians, along with collections from local gardens including the Biltmore Estate, the Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Rose Garden, and the Red Cross Rose Garden.
WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram. • Cowee School Farmer’s Market will be held from Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.
VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • Highlands Volunteer Fair will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. May 19, at the Highlands Civic Center. The free event will bring together those willing to volunteer with the nonprofit organizations that them. For more information about the Volunteer Fair and other Highlands events, visit highlands chamber.org.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS • Swain County Caring Corner Free Clinic is open Thursday’s 4-9 p.m. at Restoration House (Bryson City United Methodist Church). Office hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9 a.m.-noon. Call 828.341.1998 to see if you qualify to receive free medical care from volunteer providers.
GROUPS AND MEETINGS • Indivisible Swain County NC will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 23, via zoom. Email maryherr2017@gmail.com for a link or call 828.497.9498.
AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Friends of the Haywood County Public Library will host an evening with local author Renea Winchester from 6-8 p.m. May 19 at the York Dining Commons on Lake Junaluska. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information contact folhaywoodcounty@gmail.com. • Amy Camp, author of “Deciding on Trails: 7 Practices of Healthy Trail Towns,” will log in for a virtual book club meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. Hosted by Mainspring Conservation Trust. Register by contacting Rachel Newcomb at rnewcomb@mainspringconserves.org or 828.524.2711, ext. 305. • Maggie Wallem Rowe will be reading from her new hardcover gift book “Life is Sweet Y’all,” from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Blue Ridge Books and News. 828.456.6000 or blueridgebooksnc.com
A&E
• “Spring Fling Art & Craft Walk” will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, May 28, in downtown Dillsboro. Live music and craft demonstrations. Free. 828.586.1439 or visitdillsboro.org.
• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon-4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.
n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com • The Annual Swain County Heritage Festival will kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Riverfront Park on Mitchell Street in Bryson City. Festivities will continue 10 a.m. Saturday, May 28. No admission fee and everyone is encouraged to join. Call 828.371.8247 for more information or email swaincountyheritagefest@gmail.com. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host “Improv Night” by the Smoky Mountain Community Theater at 7 p.m. May 24. Ages 21 and up. There will be a $5 cover, which will go directly to the theater. The pub will also donate 25% of the night’s drink receipts to the theater to assist in the restoration efforts. As well, the theater is always happy to accept additional donations. 828.538.2488. • Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com. • Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Terri Lynn & Tim Queen with Scott Baker (classic rock) May 27 and Robertson Boys (bluegrass) June 3 at Bridge Park in Sylva. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 or mountainlovers.com. • Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Mountain Heart (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. May 21. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for children. 828.369.4080 or coweeschool.org/music. • Elevated Mountain Distilling Company (Maggie Valley) will host an Open Mic Night 7-9 p.m. on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.734.1084 or elevatedmountain.com. • Fontana Village Resort Wildwood Grill will host The Local Boys 5 p.m. May 27 and 6 p.m. May 29 and Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. May 28. Free and open to the public. 800.849.2258 or fontanavillage.com. • Friday Night Live (Highlands) host Jay Drummonds (country) May 20 and Sycamore Flats (bluegrass/oldtime) May 27 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org. • Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Krave Amiko May 20, Syrrup May 21 and Balsam Hot Club 4 p.m. May 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com. • Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” w/Hibiscus Sunshine at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, Creekside Live Band Karaoke 7 p.m. May 20 and Divas On Tap “Night of Neon” 8:30 p.m. May 21. All events are free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com. • Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) 6:30 p.m. May 24. Free and open to the public. 828.586.2016. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Open Mic Night 6:30 p.m. May 19 and Roscoe’s Road Show May 21. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host Trivia Night at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Colby Deitz (singer-songwriter) May 20
Smoky Mountain News
and Brother (rock/jam) May 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Open Mic Night w/Ivor Sparks every Wednesday, Steve Heffker (singer-songwriter) May 20 and 28, Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana/bluegrass) May 21, Kate Thomas (singersongwriter) May 22, Aly Jordan (singer-songwriter) May 27 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. May 29. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com. • Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host The Johnny Webb Band (country) May 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html. • Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Caribbean Cowboys (variety/oldies) May 21 and Continental Divide (beach/variety) May 28 at KelseyHutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org. • Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Danny Gokey (pop/soul) 7 p.m. May 22 and HighRoad (bluegrass/gospel) 7:30 p.m. May 27. For tickets, click on smokymountainarts.com. • Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blackjack Country May 19, Brian Ashley Jones May 20 and Outlaw Whiskey May 21. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488. • Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host Two Armadillos 6 p.m. May 19, Andrew Thelston Band 3 p.m. May 22, Randy Flack 6 p.m. May 26, Funk-N-Around 6 p.m. May 28 and The Lads 3 p.m. May 29. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.
FOOD AND DRINK • “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com. • A free wine tasting will be held from 6-8 p.m. every Thursday and 2-5 p.m. every Saturday at The Wine Bar & Cellar in Sylva. 828.631.3075. • Take a trip around the world with 4 different wines every Friday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday 11a.m.-6 p.m. at the Bryson City Wine Market. Pick from artisan Charcuterie Foods to enjoy with wines. 828.538.0420. • Cooking classes take place at the McKinley Edwards Inn from 6-8:30 p.m. on Thursday nights. To reserve your spot call 828.488.9626.
ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m.3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.
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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 • Learn the ABCs of fly fishing or brush up on your skills with two-day courses offered through the Haywood County Recreation Department. Courses will be held at the park below Lake Junaluska Dam, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. Beginner courses offered May 13 and 20, again on July 15 and 22, intermediate courses offered June 10 and 17, again on Aug. 12 and 19. Cost is $10 to enroll, with no fishing license required and loaner rods available. Call 828.456.6789 to sign up. • The inaugural Strawberry Jam Half Marathon/5K will step off Saturday, May 21, in Bryson City, 7:30 a.m. for the half marathon and 7:45 a.m. for the 5K. Registration is $70 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K. Sign up at gloryhoundevents.com. • The annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held May 21-22 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. For a full schedule of bands and activities, click on darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376. • Women’s stand-up paddleboard sessions are offered beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 25 and Saturday, June 25, at Wolf Lake, as well as 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 14, at Lake Glenville. The group will meet at Cullowhee Recreation Center. Cost is $30 per person. Registration is required either in-person at the recreation center in Cullowhee or Cashiers, or online at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. • Go canoeing Friday, May 27, or Thursday, June 2. The May 27 event will meet at the Bear Lake Access at 3 p.m. and involve both hiking and canoeing, with a cost of $35 for adults and $20 for youth. The June 2 event will meet at the Cullowhee Recreation Center at 10 a.m. and travel to Wolf Lake, with a cost of $30 for adults and $20 for youth. Registration is required either inperson at the recreation center in Cullowhee or Cashiers, or online at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. • Plant Sale and Vendor Market will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 27 and 28, at the North Carolina Arboretum. For more information call 828.665.2492 or visit ncarboretum.org. • Nature and Nurture: The Voorhees Family Artistic Legacy will open May 28 at the Baker Visitors Center and will remain open through Sept. 5. For more information call 828.665.2492 or visit ncarboretum.org. • Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society Rose Exhibit will take place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 28, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 29, at the North Carolina Arboretum. For more information call 828.665.2492 or visit ncarboretum.org.
FARM AND GARDEN
Outdoors
• Hike Panthertown with Jackson County Parks and Recreation at 3 p.m. Wednesday, May 18. The group will meet at Cullowhee Re Center. Fee is $5, register in person or at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program
• Sylva Garden Club Yard Sale will take place from 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 21, at the Bridge Park Pavilion. Proceeds go towards Sylva beautification. The Sylva Garden Club works to maintain the planters along Main Street and the cradles on the bridges. • The Asheville Blue Ridge Rose Society’s annual Rose Show will return 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 28 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. May 29.
Market WNC PLACE
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
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$15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after. Free — Lost or found pet ads. $6 — Residential yard sale ads.* $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE Legal Notices — 25¢ per word $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less) Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4 Boost in Print Add Photo $6 Bold ad $2 Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4 Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen. Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com 36
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Auction
HUGE AUCTION! Guns/ Ammo/Reloading Supplies/Rolls of Silver Dollars & Eagles Saturday May.21st @ 12NOON LEINBACH AUCTION GALLERY 9497 Hwy 150 Clemmons, NC 27012 (336)416-9614 NCAL#5871 AUCTIONZIP.COM ID#5969 66.39+/-ACRES Located on Nicholson Rd., Rockingham, NC, Online Only Auction, Divided into 6 lots, Begins Closing 5/19 at 2pm, See Our Website for More, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936
Business Opportunities BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR. We want to Read Your Book! Dorrance Publishing- Trusted by Authors Since 1920 Book manuscript submissions currently being reviewed. Comprehensive Services: Consultation, Production, Promotion and Distribution Call for Your Free Author`s Guide 1-888-425-1126 or visit dorranceinfo.com/nc
The Mission, Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical.edu/consumer-information. JUNIOR APPALACHIAN MUSICIANS is looking for a Director. Flexible hours. Salary negotiable. Good administrative and communication skills and DQG DQ DI¿QLW\ IRU PXVLF and children’s education necessary. 828.526.4044 jam.blueridge@gmail. com GROUP HOME STAFF NEEDED: Full time benH¿WHG SRVLWLRQ DYDLODEOH in Waynesville. Paraprofessional will participate in the care of residents by providing guidance, supervision, medication and prompting as needed. High School diploma, driver’s license, documentation required. Interested person may contact 828-778-0260 for more information. CHILDREN’S MINISTRY DIRECTOR First Presbyterian Church of Sylva seeks experienced employee to lead ministry program for children ages 0-12 and
Employment COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain SURJUDPV IRU TXDOL¿HG applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616
May 18-24, 2022
their families. Position starts at 10 hrs/wk and $20/hr. Applications are available at www. sylvapres.org/jobs. Submit application to FKXUFK RI¿FH 3 2 %R[ 2152, Sylva, NC 28779) or email to kakieg9@ gmail.com.
CHEROKEE ENTERPRISES Construction Jobs Available - Cherokee Enterprises, Inc., an Equal Opportunity Employer, is accepting applications for heavy construction employees including laborers, heavy equipment operators and CDL truck drivers. General Laborer: $18.00/hr; CDL Dump Truck Drivers: $22.50/hr; Equipment Operators: up to $30.00/ hr dependent upon skill set; Project Superintendent: Negotiable. Cherokee Enterprises, Inc also provides the following EHQH¿WV SDLG KROLGD\V year; Paid vacation time after 1yr employment; Employer paid individual health insurance; Employer matched Simple IRA plan. Please contact RXU RI¿FH DW 5617 with questions or for additional information. You may also pick up
an application at 1371 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC. from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday. Pre-employment drug testing, background check and reliable transportation required.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR MOUNTAINWEST PARTNERSHIP The Southwestern Commission is seeking a dynamic and driven person to serve as the Director for the Mountain West Partnership (MWP). The Director will coordinate, supervise, and execute economic development efforts in the 7 Western Counties in North Carolina. The ideal candidate for this position will have extensive public- or private-sector experience with a strong commitment to and background knowledge of the region, direct entrepreneurial experience, understanding of capital markets, and marketing and/or communications experience. This is a full-time position with a comprehensive employHH EHQH¿WV SDFNDJH Interested candidates can send a resume along with an expression of
Liberty Wood Products in Franklin is
NOW HIRING CABINET INSTALLERS
ASSEMBLERS
WOODWORKERS TO APPLY CALL 828.524.7958 or visit
LibertyWoodProducts.com/contact-us
WNC MarketPlace
interest to Mountain West Partnership – Selection Committee, 125 Bonnie Ln, Sylva, NC 28779 or email to russ@regiona. org. The position is open until June 15, 2022, or XQWLO ¿OOHG 7R ¿QG D IXOO job description visit http:// gownc.org/director/ The Mountain West Partnership Strategic Plan can be found at http://gownc. org/strategic-plan/ (828) 586-1962 REGISTERED NURSE If you are a Registered Nurse licensed in the State of North Carolina and want less stress than the typical medical, hospital structure requires we need your nursing skills to supervise the daily operations of home care services provided through Home Care Partners. This position supervises the aides, scheduling, training and day to day activities to assure our clients can remain independent in their home environment. No medical services administered. MonFri 40 hours per week. %HQH¿WV LQFOXGH vacation, sick, holidays and dental, life, health insurance. Please call Julie Van Hook at 828507-6065 for more information. You can apply at Disability Partners, 525 Mineral Springs Drive, Sylva, 1& 586-1570 jvanhook@ disabilitypartners.org COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain SURJUDPV IRU TXDOL¿HG applicants. Call CTI for details! 1-855-554-4616 The Mission, Program Information and Tuition is located at CareerTechnical.edu/consumer-information. MEDICAL BILLING Train Online! Become D 0HGLFDO 2I¿FH 3URfessional online at CTI! *HW 7UDLQHG &HUWL¿HG
ready to work in months! Call 866-243-5931. (M-F 8am-6pm ET) IN-HOME AIDE AND CNA’S We can work around your schedule starting at $12.00 per hour to provide in home aide services based on the consumer needs through the Home and Community Block Grant. You can make a difference in someone’s life age 60 and older in JackVRQ &RXQW\ %HQH¿WV for full time PTO, dental, life and health insurance. Part time positions available. Please apply at 525 Mineral Springs Drive, Sylva NC or call Home Care Partners at 828586-1570 for more LQIRUPDWLRQ 586-1570 jvanhook@ disabilitypartners.org $35 PER HOUR HOUSE CLEANING Cleaning Help Wanted House Cleaning Once or Twice per week Apx 9 to 2 $35 Per Hour Vacation Rental Tuckasegee / Little Canda Call Ted 828 3423
Ellen Sither
Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents
esither@beverly-hanks.com (828) 734-8305
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage • Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com
Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com
I Am Proud of Our Mountains and Would Love to Show You Around!
Randall Rogers BROKER ASSOCIATE —————————————
(828) 734-8862
RROGERS@BEVERLY-HANKS.COM
• Rob Roland - robroland@beverly-hanks.com
Brian Noland RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROFESSIONAL
bknoland@beverly-hanks.com
828.734.5201 74 North Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786
Legal Notices
www.wncmarketplace.com
Billie Green - bgreen@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 - esither@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
Emerson Group - emersongroupus.com
828.452.5809
NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF HAYWOOD IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE # 22 E 277 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF ALASKA H. PRESLEY, Decedent. Jill Holland McClure has TXDOL¿HG DV ([HFXWUL[ RI the Estate of Alaska H. Presley, deceased, late of Haywood County, North Carolina. This is to QRWLI\ DOO SHUVRQV ¿UPV and corporations having claims against the estate to present such claims to Jill Holland McClure at 34 Nathaniel Drive, Waynesville, NC 28786 on or before the 2nd day of August, 2022; or this Notice will be pled in
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• George Escaravage - george@emersongroupus.com • Chuck Brown - chuck@emersongroupus.com
ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • • • •
Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com Steve Mauldin - smauldin@sunburstrealty.com Randy Flanigan - 706-207-9436 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
Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com
The Original Home Town Real Estate Agency Since 1970
• Lyndia Massey- buyfromlyndia@yahoo.com
Mountain Creek Real Estate • Ron Rosendahl - 828-593-8700
McGovern Real Estate & Property Management
147 Walnut St. • Waynesville 828-456-7376 • 1-800-627-1210
www.sunburstrealty.com
• 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 • David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com • Sara Sherman - sarashermanncrealtor@gmail.com • David Rogers- davidr@remax-waynesville.com • Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net
Smoky Mountain Retreat Realty • Tom Johnson - tomsj7@gmail.com • Sherell Johnson - Sherellwj@aol.com
TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE
828.452.4251 ads@smokymountainnews.com May 18-24, 2022
WNC MarketPlace
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SUPER
CROSSWORD
HOLLYWOOD GIRL GROUP ACROSS 1 Shrine images 6 Kept from falling, as pants 13 Abashed 20 Showed on TV again 21 Not varying at all 22 In a weepy way 23 Start of a riddle 25 Language spoken in Dhaka 26 Is in a chair 27 College, to a Brit 28 Long to undo 30 Augur's sign 31 Riddle, part 2 39 Home for mil. jets 40 Roman love god 41 Singer James or Jones 42 Bad guys 46 Explosive compounds 48 Hercule creator Christie 53 From time immemorial 54 Riddle, part 3 56 Talk big 57 Mr. Capote, to friends 58 Partner of neither 59 Liquid asset 60 Riddle, part 4 66 Reciprocal 69 Army chaplain 70 The Great Lakes' -Canals 71 Libreville's country 72 Everglades mammal 75 Riddle, part 5 80 Big name in PCs 81 Letter two before tau 83 "-- Kapital"
84 Roof part 85 Riddle, part 6 91 Become rigid 93 Key in again 94 Thin and watery 95 Back fish fins 96 "QED" center 98 Formerly, old-style 99 Mendes of "2 Fast 2 Furious" 100 End of the riddle 109 Kazan of Hollywood 110 Singer Ritter 111 Feel fluish, perhaps 112 French pals 114 Excessive bureaucracy 117 Riddle's answer 123 Offspring-producing animal 124 Part of ROTC 125 Rule from the throne 126 Cheech and Chong personas 127 Electrical current units 128 Archipelago parts DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Eye opener? Shocking EMT treatment Give a speech Expire Lead-in to Cone or Cat Rubs elbows Flying Mattel doll Expire "The Simpsons" shout Old stage star Hagen Martinez of baseball Ideally
14 Realize 15 Sci-fi's Solo 16 Class jargon 17 Where the Marlins play 18 Burstyn or Barkin of film 19 Running out of steam 24 Blew with short blasts 29 World Heritage Site gp. 32 Manicurist's target 33 Brave in the face of adversity 34 Give off 35 "The lady -- protest ..." 36 Canadian tribe 37 -- -TASS (news agency) 38 Very wise 42 Seizes 43 Site of the Taj Mahal 44 Scorch 45 Frat shindig 47 Rajah's wife 49 Mountain climbers, e.g. 50 Alexis or Peter, e.g. 51 Big name in oil and gas 52 Court great Arthur 54 Novelist Sarah -- Jewett 55 Basic musical chords 57 Bullfighter 61 D.C. baseballer 62 Ike's inits. 63 USSR's Cold War foe 64 Alluringly shy 65 "Moo" maker 67 76ers' org. 68 Rocket scientist Wernher - Braun 71 Neutral color 72 Bryn --, Pennsylvania 73 Feel fluish, perhaps 74 Not cluttered
75 76 77 78 stunts 79 82 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 95 97 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 113 115 116 118 119 120 121 122
Bagel center "-- Fideles" Father, to a tot Knievel of motorcycle Cravings Hurry it up Tech detail Wife of Zeus -- Scott case Civil wrong "Quiet!" Dumpy dwellings -- Sea (Asian lake) Thirsts for Rearranges Basil and bay leaf Heads-up YouTube clip All gone, as food Add-on Purple color Decorative flower holders Cybermissive Scorch 1040 IDs: Abbr. Fruity quaff According to Fence (in) Psychic "gift" Added charge Bruin great Bobby Alleged psychic Geller
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to the Estate will please make immediate payment. This 4th day of May, 2022. Jill Holland McClure, Executrix
Lost & Found REWARD OFFERED for return of tacklebox left at Wolf Creek Lake on Hwy 281 at the boat dock. Call or text. 828.371.4783
Medical DENTAL INSURANCE From Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage for 350 plus procedures. Real dental insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do not wait! Call now! Get your FREE Dental Information Kit with all the details! 1-844-4968601 www.dental50plus. com/ncpress #6258 DENIED SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY? ApSHDO ,I \RX¶UH ¿OHG SSD and denied, our attorneys can help! Win or Pay Nothing! Strong, re-
cent work history needed. 877-553-0252 [SteppachHU /DZ 2I¿FHV //& 3ULQFLSDO 2I¿FH $GDPV Ave Scranton PA 18503]
Pets GADGET FROM SARGE’S ANIMAL RESCUE Gadget is a Hound mix female about 3 years old. She’s a lively, playful and very friendly JLUO DQG VKH¶G ORYH WR ¿QG an active family with time and space to let her play, exercise, and show off her tricks and commands. Gadget is 100% a lover and proved to be too eager and rambunctious for younger kiddos in her previous home. She would very much prefer WR ¿QG D KRPH ZKHUH VKH can be with her people more as much as possible. Gadget’s adoption fee is $50. The application to adopt is available online at www.sarges.org (828) 246-9050 info@ sarges.org
is a 5 year old tabby male who weighs about 15 pounds. Meadow is calm and cuddly and seems to get along with just about everyone. His adoption fee is $50. If you’d like to meet him, please submit a cat adoption application at www.sarges.org (828) 246-9050 info@sarges. org B&W TUXEDO CAT, GINGER 10 yearsyoung lady with permanent, adorable “milk moustache”. Loving, gentle; gets along with cats and dogs. Asheville HuPDQH 6RFLHW\ 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org PITBULL TERRIER MIX, BROWN&WHITE, ED 2 year old, handsome boy who is happy, active, and friendly and loves to play. Asheville +XPDQH 6RFLHW\ 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
MEADOW FROM SARGE’S ANIMAL RESCUE Handsome Meadow
SUDOKU Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, Answers on 34 the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
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www.smokymountainnews.com
May 18-24, 2022
WNC MarketPlace
Real Estate Announcements WHITE-GLOVE SERVICE From America’s Top Movers. Fully insured and bonded. Let us take the stress out of your out of state move. FREE QUOTES! 855-821-2782
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Health/Beauty LOOKING FOR ASSISTED LIVING, Memory care, or independent living? A Place for Mom VLPSOL¿HV WKH SURFHVV RI ¿QGLQJ VHQLRU OLYLQJ DW QR cost to your family. Call 1-833-658-8691 today! ATTENTION: Oxygen Users. Gain freedom with
a portable oxygen concentrator. No more heavy WDQNV RU UH¿OOV *XDUDQteed lowest prices. Oxygen Concentrator Store 844-866-4793
an appt. today! Call 833664-1530 (AAN CAN)
Home Improvement
STOP WORRYING! SilverBills eliminates the stress and hassle of bill payments. All household bills guaranteed to be paid on time, as long as appropriate funds are available. Computer not necessary. Call for a FREE trial or a custom quote today. SilverBills 1-866-530-1374
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES In as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 833-987-0207 UPDATE YOUR HOME With Beautiful New Blinds & Shades. FREE in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA. Call for free consultation: 844-250-7899. Ask about our specials! WATER DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME? Call for a quote for professional cleanup & maintain the value of your home! Set
www.wncmarketplace.com
Legal, Financial and Tax
DO YOU OWE OVER $10,000 To the IRS or State in back taxes? Our ¿UP ZRUNV WR UHGXFH WKH tax bill or zero it out completely FAST. Let us help! Call 877-414-2089.
Brian K. Noland & Catherine Proben BROKER ASSOCIATES
Brian: (828) 734-5201 Catherine: (828) 734-9157 See all of our listings at: beverly-hanks.com/agents/nolan nd-proben
Noland-Proben T Teeam | The #1 Beverly-Hanks T Teeam 2018 • 2 2019 • 2020 • 2021
FEATURED LISTIN NGS
Wanted to Buy CASH FOR CARS! We buy all cars! Junk, highend, totaled – it doesn’t matter! Get free towing and same day cash! NEWER MODELS too! Call 866-535-9689
May 18-24, 2022
MLS# 3855079 | $949,900 | 7 BR | 7.5 BA
Creekfront Victorian style home located in the beautiful mountain ns of Maggie gg Valley. y Currently operating as Brooksong Bed and Breakfast, each room is tastefully decorated ȴ DQG DOO LQFOXGH WKHLU SULYDWH MHW WXE VHSDUDWH VKRZHU DQG ȴUHSODFH
MLS# 3777103 | $849,900 | 4 BR | 4.5 BA
MLS# 3845336 |$825,000 | 3 BR |3 BA
This home provides exceptional privacy and long range mountain views. This property has endless opportunities as a private estate, equestrian property, family retreat, or farm.
Spectacular custom llog home sited on 22+ unrestricted acre es with year round mountain views. The cabin is well-designed for full time or v vacation living.
MLS# 3856023 |$695,000 | 3 BR |3 BA
MLS# 3783254 | $474 4,400 | 4 BR| 2.5 BA
Beautiful well-maintained ranch style j y outdoor living g on y home. Enjoy your front covered porch, lower, or rear patio which are all perfect for gatherings.
Unique home with 2,35 55 SF of livability with single g level entry. y Built in n the 1920’s, this home RH HUV ORWV RI KLVWRULF FKDUDFW FWHU ȴWW WWHG ZLWK WKH modern conveniiences of 2022.
WNC MarketPlace
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Smoky Mountain News May 18-24, 2022
