Smoky Mountain News | July 26, 2023

Municipal election races set in Western NC

‘Dangerous vigilante fantasies must end’ Page 18

On the Cover:

A false social media post claiming a transgender person changed into a bikini in the women’s locker room at the Waynesville Rec Center caused a huge uproar, prompting threats and dehumanizing language. However, it didn’t take long for the town to prove that the alleged incident never happened. (Page 10)

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Notes

written by Ingles Dietitian Leah

h McGrath

QUESTION: I have been having a lot of stomach and digestive issue and a friend suggested I stop gluten. I’m not sure what that means or how to do a gluten-free diet.

ANSWER: Before you eliminate gluten from your diet, I would strongly suggest that you:

1.Make an appointment with your primary care provider/MD or a specialist (gastroenterologist) and let them know you ar these issues to make sure these aren’t a symptom of a serious medical problem.

2.Keep a food diary/log for several days and try and note when your symptoms are better/worse. This information will also be helpful to your medical provider.

T 3. Taalk to your PCP/MD about getting a blood test for c disease to rule that out.

For more information about the gluten-free diet and testing Celiac Disease T disease: Teesting and Diagnosis | Beyond

McGrath, RDN, LDN Ingles Market Corporate Dietitian

Leah McGrath - Dietitian

Charter schools budget for growth

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

There are several outstanding variables that will affect budgets for local charter schools in the coming school year — average daily membership, the state budget and state legislation, to name a few. But charter schools in the area have outlined the likely financial future for the coming school year and some of those schools are continuing to see growth in student population.

In North Carolina, charter schools are public schools authorized by the State Board of Education, operated by independent nonprofit boards of directors. State and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools, though they do receive some federal funding. The schools operate without any of the oversight and regulations that govern local school districts but are supposed to be held accountable through the state assessment and accountability system and the Office of Charter Schools at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

A set of bills making their way through the North Carolina General Assembly could change the options charter schools have for obtaining capital funds. As it stands now, charter schools must fund capital projects with their own revenues. If House Bill 219 passes as currently written, charter schools would be able to go to local county governments for funding for capital projects.

Macon County Schools recently signed a resolution opposing H 219, which creates several other avenues for charter schools to obtain a larger portion of funds set aside for public K-12 education.

SHINING ROCK

The largest charter school in the Smoky Mountain News’ four-county coverage area, Shining Rock Classical Academy will see significant growth in its student population when school starts in August. This accounts for some of the growth in the school’s budget, but not all.

Last year the school’s budget was based on a 600 average daily membership; the actual number came in at 601. This year the administration is projecting 695 students.

“Enrollment again has been very, very strong,” Head of School Joshua Morgan told the Shining Rock Board of Directors during his budget presentation June 29. “There are a couple of grades where we have some lengthier wait lists established. We still have some openings in the high school grades, and a few of the selected elementary grades.”

Meanwhile, Haywood County Schools is experiencing a drop in population of about 600 students over the past several years, which recently prompted Superintendent Trevor Putnam to request that the state freeze per-pupil state funding at current levels through June of 2026.

In order to keep up with the growth it is experiencing, SRCA is projecting a 10% increase in revenues for the 2023-24 budget.

While some of that increase in revenue is a direct result of the estimated increase in average daily membership, it is also a result of increased local funding, which is up by 9% for the coming school year.

“That increase in local partially is a reflection of increased enrollment,” said Morgan. “But it is also a reflection of increased funding from the county commissioners. So, it is not just an enrollment change that has done that. It is actually our support from county commissioners for all public schools.”

Local funding at the end of fiscal year 2022-23 came in at about $1.6 million. The projected FY 2023-24 budget includes almost $1.75 million in local funding. State funding will increase by about half a million dollars, from $4.29 million to a projected $4.7 million. However, state revenues will not be finalized until North Carolina passes its budget. Federal funding will increase marginally.

The total projected budget for the 202324 school year is about $6.9 million.

The school is adding several new positions in the coming year to increase programming. These will include seven new teaching positions — one in the high school grades, one in exceptional children, two in

school-based social worker is a position, much like our school nurse, we will be the only school in the county that will have a full-time, school-based social worker on staff.”

Left out of the upcoming school year budget is money for phase two construction of SRCA. Due to rising interest rates, the board recently decided to put off phase two construction for at least another year. The board plans to hold a work session on the topic this fall to consider its options and work toward a solution.

MOUNTAIN DISCOVERY CHARTER SCHOOL

In Swain County, Mountain Discovery Charter school saw an increase in student population after the COVID-19 Pandemic began. While population hovered between 180 and 181 from 2018 to 2020, during the 2021-22 school year ADM rose to 194 where it remained until the population fell to 175 during the most recent school year.

“I theorize that the jump to 194 happened because of our very reasonable response to the pandemic,” said CFO and previous School Director Carter Petty. “We don’t have a theory about the drop to 175

last year to $389,922 this school year. Federal funding is also projected to decrease. Both state and school activity revenues are projected to increase. All of this is subject to change depending on the actual ADM logged.

SUMMIT CHARTER SCHOOL

In Jackson County, Summit Charter School is experiencing growth more akin to SRCA than that of Mountain Discovery. Since 2019, Summit has experienced a 33% increase in student enrollment.

“Some of this growth is attributed to our expanding from a K-8 to a K-12 school beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, adding one high school grade per year through the 2021-22 school year when we graduated our first senior class,” said Head of School Kurt Pusch.

While the expansion into high school grades was completed in 2022, the school has continued to grow, increasing enrollment by 24% since that year.

Average daily membership for the 202223 school year came in at 290 and is projected at 309 for the upcoming school year.

the specials department, an elementary position and two in the middle school; two additional teacher assistants, an instructional coach, a speech language pathologist and a school-based social worker.

“We have found that this is going to be a position to really help address some needs that we’re seeing with some of our kids and families,” Morgan said of the social worker position. “The long COVID effects on schools, attendance is becoming a thing that’s quite prevalent and being able to deal with those issues and just some of the social dynamics are becoming a real thing. The

last year. We’re projecting a jump back up to about 194, but we won’t know for sure until school starts.”

The projected 2023-24 budget increases only slightly from last year’s budget, for a total of about $2.3 million.

“The 2023-24 budget is largely conjecture at this point,” said Petty. “We really don’t begin to have firm numbers until the 20th day of school when our ADM is set and then we wait until November for the state to tell us what our ADM funding amount is.”

Total local revenue is projected to decrease in the coming year from $432,341

The total school budget is projected to increase slightly, from just over $4 million to $4.1 million. Local revenues are expected to decrease from $1.8 million to $1.7 million. Federal funding is also expected to decrease, while state revenues are projected to increase from $2.17 million to $2.34 million.

This is still a preliminary budget for the school.

“The budget will be finalized in September once our enrollment is confirmed,” said Pusch.

The vast majority of revenues will go toward salaries, wages and benefits. The next largest expenses for the school are contracted student services and facilities.

Charter school budgets won’t be set in stone until ADM is determined for the coming school year.

Charges dropped against Shining Rock parent

BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER

Acriminal charge against the Shining Rock Classical Academy parent accused of cyberstalking has been dismissed.

In March, SRCA pressed criminal charges against a school parent who had previously accused the school of abusive disciplinary tactics.

According to a Waynesville Police Department arrest report, Rebecca Fitzgibbon was charged with one count of cyberstalking, a misdemeanor. She was given a criminal summons and an arrest report on the morning of March 29, after dropping her child off at Shining Rock Classical Academy.

The arrest and incident reports listed the school as the location of the alleged crime. The documents also list one person as the victim of the alleged crime, a white male whose name and age were both redacted.

According to the summons, “the defendant unlawfully and willingly did electronically mail to Principal Joshua Morgan and other staff of Shining Rock Classical Academy repeatedly for the purpose of harassing Principal Joshua Morgan and other staff of Shining Rock Classical Academy.”

The original court date was set for April 24. In court, Fitzgibbon made a motion for the Assistant District Attorney to dismiss the charges against her. A trial date was set for July 19, at which time the case was dismissed.

In March, Head of School Joshua Morgan restricted Fitzgibbon’s access to SRCA’s campus.

On March 22, Morgan sent an email asking Fitzgibbon to “demonstrate self-control and refrain from digitally harassing the staff of SRCA.” The email went on to say, “additionally, disruptive conduct on school grounds or events will result in a restriction of your access to SRCA campus and events, prohibiting presence on campus, charges of trespass, or all of the above.”

Two days later Morgan notified Fitzgibbon that her access to campus was

officially restricted.

“Your actions since this email was [sic] delivered by continually weaponizing our email platform to harass the staff of SRCA demonstrate a complete disregard to these expectations,” he wrote. “As such, your access to the campus is now restricted. You may drop and pick-up your child on campus, with the understanding that you will remain in your car.”

“Any action, including but not limited to entering an SRCA building, loitering on campus, or attending an SRCA sponsored academic/ athletic event will result in charges of trespass,” it went on to say. “You are now being told to not email any SRCA accounts as legal relief is already being sought for present conduct.”

Morgan concluded by telling Fitzgibbon that any correspondence that she needed to make with staff of SRCA could be made in writing with delivery conducted by her child to the front desk.

“There are no reasons that I should have been threatened and intimidated by Morgan, banned from the campus and followed out by a police officer. He abuses his power and has done so many times in the past to other people as well,” said Fitzgibbon.

Just a few days after being restricted from campus, Fitzgibbon was given the criminal summons and arrest report. Fitzgibbon has claimed that she was emailing the school to obtain academic information and records regarding her son and to request a parent/ teacher conference.

“I don’t believe the complaint is true,” Fitzgibbon told the Smoky Mountain News in April. “I did email Mr. Morgan and staff a handful of times to ask for records that I have been denied for almost a year now.”

Ultimately, Fitzgibbon decided to remove her child from the school.

“The SRCA board and Morgan have painted a false narrative about us. We have been pushed out of what was our school community, and it has been incredibly stressful and sad for my entire family,” said Fitzgibbon.

An SRCA parent accused of cyberstalking has had the charge dismissed. Hannah McLeod photo

A voter guide for Snowbird/Cherokee County Tribal Council

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

Only three candidates are running for the two Tribal Council seats representing the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ farthest-flung township, which includes tribal members living in Cherokee County and the Snowbird area of Graham County. Voters will voice their opinion on this race for the first time during the Sept. 7 General Election, as the field wasn’t large enough to warrant a primary contest.

Seventh-term Rep. Adam Wachacha and third-term Rep. Bucky Brown are seeking reelection, while challenger Janell Rattler hopes to unseat one of the incumbents.

The Smoky Mountain News reached out to all three candidates with a series of questions about their qualifications for office, priorities if elected and stance on the issues. Brown and Wachacha both submitted responses. Information about Rattler comes

Hear the candidates

The Cherokee One Feather will host a debate between Wolfetown Tribal Council candidates followed by Yellowhill candidates Wednesday, July 26, at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Vice chief and principal chief candidates will be Thursday, July 27. All debates will start at 5:30 p.m. with the second scheduled debate starting immediately after the first.

Debates were held for Big Cove, Birdtown, Cherokee County/Snowbird and Painttown candidates earlier this week, and that video is now available online.

Due to limited space, in-person seating is reserved for enrolled members. To reserve a seat, bring an enrollment card to The Cherokee One Feather office, 828.359.6261. Anyone wishing to attend without a ticket may come at 5:15 p.m. the night of the debate, and entrance will be allowed until seats are filled. Debates are being livestreamed and archived on the EBCI Communications Livestream page at https://bit.ly/EBCIdebates23.

from past reporting from The Smoky Mountain News and The Cherokee One Feather.

ADAM WACHACHA

The EBCI is different from most governments in that it acts as both a corporation and a lawmaking government. To stabilize its current financial situation, the tribe “must not continue to act as the bank for all of its entities,” Wachacha said. “To ensure financial stability, our tribe must expect a return on its investments and to create higher expectations at a faster pace to replace any potential losses in gaming threats that have our tribe pushing more for diversity,” he said.

Ideas to improve economic development and quality of life in Cherokee: While many good community development ideas have come through the planning board over the past 14 years, when it came to funding many seemed to lose momentum, Wachacha said.

“I want to see more things for all of the Qualla Boundary including Snowbird and Cherokee County, because there is a lot of potential even away from the main boundary that can provide good jobs and benefits to our enrolled members,” he said.

Accountability to the tribe for current ventures is key, Brown said.

Wachacha, 46, is currently serving his seventh term on Tribal Council. An Army veteran, he holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and served as chairman for four of his 14 years on Council.

Top priorities if elected: Provide more affordable housing options, sustain current services for enrolled members while ensuring financially responsible growth for the tribe, and continue to fund projects that strengthen language, culture and community.

Opinion on the proposed constitution: Wachacha said he didn’t support the most recent proposed format for the constitution but looks forward to seeing what comes of collaboration between parties representing a variety of ages and experiences as they continue to refine the document.

“This way I feel it’ll represent a larger majority of our public and their ideas for a new governing document,” he said.

Path to stabilize and grow tribal finances:

Part of the issue had been a lack of separate pools of funding for community projects and business development projects, causing such projects to compete against each other. Now, the tribe’s LLCs have taken on vetting business proposals, reducing that competition.

BUCKY BROWN

Brown, 58, is currently serving his third term on Tribal Council. After graduating from Robbinsville High School and Tri-County Community College, he spent 28 years working in the Snowbird community, including jobs with Cherokee Recreation and Graham County Schools. He spent four years as vice chairman of the Snowbird Community Club.

Top priorities if elected: Diversifying the tribe’s income, and working on housing and language goals.

Opinion on the proposed constitution: Brown supports a constitution that the people can be involved with and one that doesn’t contradict current tribal law.

Path to stabilize and grow tribal finances:

Ideas to improve economic development and quality of life in Cherokee: “The cannabis, the land purchases like 407 will all have an economic impact locally,” Brown said. “Since I have been in Council, the tribe has funded over $200 million in community projects.”

JANELL RATTLER

Rattler is the coordinator for the EBCI Senior Games. She has run for Tribal Council during every election in the past decade, but if elected this would be her first time holding the seat.

During a 2015 election event hosted by the Junaluska Leadership Council and reported on by The Cherokee One Feather, Rattler said that her top priorities at that time were more services for seniors, youth and middleaged people; more housing for young families; and a dental program that extends services.

During that same event, she said she supported creation of a constitution “because it protects our freedoms and guarantees our rights as enrolled members. It puts the power back in the hands of our people.”

EBCI Council tightens transparency rules for tribal LLCs

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

In response to what he says are ongoing issues with transparency on the part of the tribe’s cannabis business Qualla Enterprises LLC, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Principal Chief Richard Sneed introduced an ordinance during the July 13 Tribal Council session clarifying certain aspects of the relationship between tribal government and its LLCs.

After about 20 minutes of discussion, Tribal Council offered unanimous approval. The ordinance awaits Sneed’s signature to become effective.

“This is directly related to my repeated requests of Qualla Enterprises for financial documents, for a budget, for a fiscal management policy, for invoices, for information on payroll, etc., none of which have been fulfilled at this point,” Sneed told Tribal Council. “I’ve asked for three months now for documents. I was informed by the board that they’re not required to provide those.”

The ordinance governing tribal LLCs states that Tribal Council can inspect and copy LLC records but does not make the same provision for the principal chief and vice chief. Sneed’s ordinance adds these

executive offices to the list of those who can request records. The initial version said LLCs would have five days to produce the records, but after Council approved an amendment proposed by Yellowhill Rep. T.W. Saunooke, the final version states that LLCs have five days to either produce the records, or to provide a reason why more time is needed, along with a date by which they would be provided.

The ordinance also includes new provisions regarding tribal government oversight of its LLCs and distributions of LLC profits.

Under the new ordinance, LLCs in which the tribe or a tribal entity are the sole initial

members may not add or change members without a resolution from Tribal Council that has either been signed by the principal chief or allowed to pass into law without a signature.

Additionally, the ordinance states, any such LLC will be considered a “component unit” of the tribe and must comply with its audit requirements. During a May Tribal Council session, Qualla Enterprises Chair Carolyn West and EBCI Finance Director Brandi Claxton had argued over whether the LLC was considered a component unit and therefore required to submit an annual audit to the tribe. West F

Adam Wachacha.

Bucky Brown.

Expanded sports betting could add to EBCI per cap

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF W RITER

Tribal members could see their per capita checks grow after the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians expands its gaming business in accordance with a new state law authorizing sports wagering in North Carolina.

During the Tribal Council session

Thursday, July 13, Principal Chief Richard Sneed introduced a resolution directing the tribe’s Attorney General Office to work with the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise and EBCI Holdings LLC to draft an ordinance

had maintained that Qualla Enterprises was not subject to that requirement.

Finally, the ordinance requires that LLCs state in their “operating agreement or other writing when, how and in what amount or percentage distributions of cash or other assets of the LLC shall be made to members.” Such a statement must be approved by Tribal Council and ratified by the chief or allowed to pass into law without a signature. The current law does not require that the allocation be expressed in writing or that the tribe’s elected leaders concur with the plan. Should the operating agreement be silent on the matter, it states, distributions will be made based on the value of contributions made by each member.

Forrest Parker, general manager for Qualla Enterprises, said that he had “no problem” with the proposed ordinance change but took issue with what he termed “misinformation” regarding transparency at the LLC. Parker said the law is “very clear” on who can and cannot receive information, and that Qualla Enterprises has merely been following that law.

“If the body wants to change the law, no problem, but we can’t be hating on the board and Qualla for just adhering to [Cherokee Code] 55B as it stands now,” Parker said. “The only thing I do want to say here, chief, and the one thing that’s factually

and any company agreements necessary to distribute 75% of the proceeds from commercial sports wagering as per capita payments.

Currently, half of the profits from the tribe’s casinos in Murphy and Cherokee are distributed as per capita payments. Sneed proposed distributing a larger share of commercial sports betting revenue in light of the fact that state regulators in Indiana prevented any profits from Caesars Southern Indiana Casino, whose operations the tribe owns, from being directly distributed to tribal members.

untrue is that there’s no information. You guys know. You’ve seen it. There’s binders and binders.”

“If all of that has been provided, it has not been provided to my office,” Sneed responded. “I can’t speak for the vice chief’s office. But if I’m being asked to ratify resolutions for appropriations in the tens of millions of dollars, then I need that information to inform my decision-making.”

Vice Chairman Albert Rose said that it’s not Qualla’s fault that the current law does not name the chief as a person with whom it is required to share records. However, that information was shared and discussed during a recent meeting, Rose said, but Sneed wasn’t there to hear it.

“I can’t help it if you don’t show up,” Rose said.

“I was not invited,” Sneed said. “I can’t help it if I’m not invited.”

“I invited you by text message,” Rose replied.

“I already have a schedule,” said Sneed. “So you call me on the day that it’s going on.”

Meanwhile, David Forester, a certified public accountant representing Tribal Council, said that his goal in this has been to “make sure there’s full transparency and full communication to the best of my ability.” To that end, he said, he provided a zip

“Rather than go with the traditional 5050 split, I went with 75-25 because it is a smaller pot of money, but it will make a larger impact on the overall per capita distribution,” Sneed said.

Commercial gaming is distinct from tribal gaming in that it falls under regulation from the state rather than from the National Indian Gaming Commission. North Carolina’s new sports betting law, which guarantees the tribe a license to offer mobile sports betting statewide, is expected to allow the EBCI to bring in an additional $2-$4 million each year — a lot of money for an individual pocket, but a drop in the bucket for a tribe whose current casino enterprise brings in over half a billion each year. If 75% of the anticipated $2-$4 million profit were divided among the tribe’s approximately 16,000 members, each person would receive between $90 and $190 each year.

“Sports betting is not a huge moneymaker here on property,” Sneed said. “So the inperson sportsbook is more an experience. It’s a different kind of player. It’s just another amenity. The hold for the house is like 10%. It’s not a huge win for the house.”

Under the new law, patrons will be able to place bets online without actually visiting casino property — but with a dozen licenses available, there will be more competition for those revenues.

While Tribal Council was amenable to Sneed’s concept, members were hesitant about taking decisive action without first taking a closer look at tribal finances. Yellowhill Rep. T.W. Saunooke moved to amend Sneed’s resolution so that it no longer specified the intent to distribute 75% of the proceeds. An exact number could be discussed after considering the matter more closely with the tribe’s gaming entities, he

drive containing 14 files of documents Qualla Enterprises shared ahead of its meeting with Tribal Council to elected officials, including the executive branch, and also provided Sneed’s office with hard copies.

said.

Earlier in the discussion, Wolfetown Rep. Mike Parker said he “love(d) the intent” of the resolution but requested that it be tabled.

“The reason for my request is just thinking through our current financial situation and everything,” he said. “I think we still have not had an opportunity to sit down and discuss prioritizing tribal projects, outside projects. We all sitting around the table know we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to fund some of these things.”

He suggested holding a work session on the bigger picture of tribal finances before passing the resolution.

“I think if we try to do this too quickly, it could cause some controversy down the road,” concurred Painttown Rep. Michael Stamper.

Sneed agreed the matter needed careful consideration and pointed out that passing the resolution would not change tribal law. Rather, it would direct the TCGE and EBCI Holdings to work with the tribe to draft proposed legislation, which Tribal Council could then either pass or kill.

“All this does is authorize the Attorney General to work with EBCI Holdings to work on an ordinance to create the revenue allocation,” he said. “I appreciate what you’re bringing to the conversation, Rep. Parker. The bigger issue if we’re going to talk about projects and funding projects is there’s a need for a process on this [Tribal Council] side. Because currently there is no process.”

However, Sneed did not object to Saunooke’s move to remove the 75% figure from the document. Tribal Council unanimously approved both that amendment and the resolution itself, which awaits Sneed’s signature.

Though Sneed’s issues with Qualla Enterprises were the impetus for his drafting the legislation, the ordinance does not mention Qualla Enterprises specifically and applies to all tribal LLCs.

Principal Chief Richard Sneed addresses Tribal Council July 13.

Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker speaks during the Tribal Council discussion July 13. EBCI Livestream photo

Health care coverage crisis for mill workers continues

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

Employees at Pactiv Evergreen’s Canton paper mill knew a health care coverage crisis was coming, and many of them did exactly what the company told them to do to ward off a coverage gap, but some are only just now getting the coverage they’re entitled to — and paid for — and they’re pointing the finger at Pactiv for the expensive and potentially life-threatening delays.

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN

Pactiv continued its group coverage of employees through June 30, about three weeks after most employees worked

their last shift. For the month of July, the company extended employer-subsidized COBRA coverage to employees, who’ll be on their own come Aug. 1. The July 1 switch didn’t go smoothly for many workers whose medical conditions forced them to spend money and time fighting a bureaucracy they weren’t at all prepared to deal with them — skipping muchneeded medications and canceling doctor’s appointments along the way.

Dean Trull worked at the mill for more than 20 years until an old high school football injury that had already necessitated several surgeries began dogging him again. Although still technically employed by Pactiv Evergreen when the mill shut down on June 8, Trull’s last day at work was Nov. 19, 2021.

At the time, his employee-subsidized insurance cost him and his wife $328 a month.

Trull’s first notice about the July 1 switch to the employer-sponsored COBRA coverage came in the mail.

Dated June 20 but not delivered until June 26, the letter said he was past due, in the amount of 79 cents.

Then, Trull received a confusing series of bills with conflicting balance information, including one that said he owed $1.50. He contacted Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department by phone, and after several hours on the phone was told that Pactiv actually owed him a refund.

Despite the confusion and the phone calls, Trull still didn’t have health care coverage.

Employer-subsidized COBRA coverage was slated to begin on July 1. Trull received his second COBRA notice in the mail on July 3.

The letter contained a website and a code for him to enter, but Trull chooses to be without a computer, so he called Pactiv Evergreen’s human resources department to find out how — and how much — he would pay for his employersponsored COBRA coverage. No one answered the phone.

Trull again called Pactiv’s billing services department on July 5 and was told he could pay over the phone, albeit with a $20 fee for the “convenience.”

He told them, more or less, that he wouldn’t do that.

That same day, Trull sent the $177 check for employersubsidized COBRA via priority mail. The check cleared on July 10, but on July 11 Trull was told by his doctor that he couldn’t be seen because he had no insurance.

On July 13, he again called billing services, and was told he had a zero balance but still didn’t have insurance.

“She proceeded to tell me it takes seven to 10 days,” Trull said. “I told her seven to 10 days ain’t gonna work.”

Trull has a chronic condition related to his surgeries that requires periodic doses of medication. By this time, he’d taken half of what he had on hand and was beginning to run low, so he requested they expedite his coverage.

He was told it would take 24 to 48 hours to update his status, so Trull waited 48 hours, went to pick up a prescription and was told he still had no insurance. He paid $42.26 out-ofpocket for his medicine, which should have cost him $10.

On July 17, Trull ended up on a three-way call with Pactiv’s billing services and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. He was told it would take another 7 to 10 days to update the provider’s database.

The next morning, Trull canceled another doctor’s appointment. Opening his mailbox later that

Mike Holland (left) and Dean Trull are just two of many former mill workers who had trouble with their health care coverage. Cory Vaillancourt photo

day, he found two pieces of mail.

One said he was past due by one cent.

The other said he owed $70.23.

He still had no insurance.

On July 19, Trull was finally able to confirm that he did indeed have the month of employer-subsidized COBRA health care coverage, with only 12 days left in the month.

“They’re just sitting up there doing nothing, wanting us to give up,” he said of his weekslong fight to acquire the coverage that he’d paid for weeks before.

He also got a check mailed from Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department on July 13 in the amount of $108.55.

“All they had to do if they really intended for this to be seamless was to have somebody available from COBRA, if need be, or from Pactiv’s HR team,” he said. “They had three months.”

With the month of employer-subsidized COBRA coverage ending on Aug. 1, Trull has already mailed a certified check for his continuing COBRA coverage so he doesn’t get cancelled.

What used to cost him $328 a month will now cost him $878.

Mike Holland worked at the mill for 41 years — many of them, side-by-side with Trull.

Holland had shoulder surgery November 2021, and like Trull, was off work until the mill shut down in early June. But Holland has a significant health condition that requires much more attention than Trull’s — lymphocytic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bones.

His health care coverage had been costing him $151 every month. He mailed his payment for the employer-subsidized COBRA coverage on June 29, but as of July 19 still didn’t have coverage.

“I just tried to use it an hour ago at my oncologist’s office,” he told The Smoky Mountain News that day.

Since then, he’s also received contradictory letters from Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department. One said they’d received his COBRA application but no payment. Another said they’d received his COBRA payment but not his application.

“This is Pactiv Evergreen’s fault. They knew when they had their meetings that they were going to shut the mill down. That was day one. They should have been coordinating then, through Pactiv Evergreen benefits service. They shouldn’t have been worrying about other things,” he said. “If they were going to take care of us, they should have had personnel in place.”

Holland experienced a similar runaround in trying to verify his coverage so he could continue to remain under doctor’s care for his life-threatening condition, but he remained upbeat about the situation, expressing more concern for his co-workers than for himself.

“I’m a single man of retirement age,” he said. “When you leave a family of four or five people hanging without insurance … Pactiv just dropped the ball.”

He wasn’t talking about Jeff and Angie Franklin, but he could have been.

Jeff worked at the mill for 12 years. His wife Angie never did, but she and their

grown daughter were both on his policy. Maintaining coverage for Angie was paramount, due to her own medical conditions.

“I’m a diabetic,” she said. “I also have psoriatic arthritis.”

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition that results in joint stiffness and swelling that can become debilitating, especially in the hands, hips, feet and knees. Angie works in a machine shop as a bookkeeper, and was also a substitute teacher, and says the injections help with mobility.

With health care coverage, Angie’s weekly injections to manage her arthritis were relatively affordable and reliably delivered by an online pharmacy.

Without health care coverage, the injections will cost her $8,400 a month, or more than $100,000 a year.

“The first sign of trouble was the lax approach on everything,” Jeff said. “They just kept putting stuff off. They postponed promised meetings to negotiate with the union, and then postponed that, and then that took a week, and then they said, ‘Okay, no meetings. We’ll send you a packet.’”

As with Trull, the Franklins received their first employer-subsidized COBRA letter on June 26. Angie went online and created an account but had to wait for the second letter with the code on it to learn how, and how much, they’d have to pay.

“I was afraid to wait any longer on that second letter,” Jeff said.

They never got that second letter.

“Pactiv could have had this in place when they made the announcement,” said Jeff. “That’s three months they had to prepare.”

When the Franklins contacted Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department, the agent told them to just pay the whole amount — more than $2,500, plus $20 for the convenience of it all — to ensure continuation of coverage and that any overpayments could be settled later.

They were also told that it would be a 10to 14-day wait for coverage to be reflected in provider databases.

The Franklins immediately paid the

money, which was acknowledged on July 11. They were told by Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department that expedited paperwork for Angie would be filed on July 12 or 13. It was actually filed on July 14, and as of July 18, Blue Cross/Blue Shield told Angie they still hadn’t seen it.

“I can’t get any of my medications until this goes into effect,” Angie said.

Angie’s last shipment of Enbrel arrived on her door in early June — just enough for

Her most recent shipment was due to arrive on July 6, but the day before, the pharmacy called to tell her that they’d tried to run her insurance and that she had none, so they canceled the shipment.

As of July 18, Angie had already missed two injections, a fact to which her knobby, swollen knuckles could easily testify.

Despite her struggles, Angie — like Mike Holland — expressed more concern for others with her condition than for her own suffering.

“I could possibly get free samples, but you hate to take those away from people who don’t have insurance when you know you have insurance and you’re supposed to have insurance,” she said.

The Franklins were notified that their coverage was finally activated on July 19. Angie’s medicine is now on its way to her door.

“If Evergreen would have given COBRA the information that COBRA needed prior to July 1,” Angie said, “instead of them sending the information June 26 — if things had been done earlier — we would not be sitting here right now.”

Holland said that when he finally went to his oncologist’s office on July 21, prepared to pay cash, he learned he’d been automatically enrolled in Medicare Part B. He immediately stopped payment on two uncashed COBRA checks he’d mailed weeks ago — totaling $1,034 — and no longer has to deal with Pactiv Evergreen’s billing services department.

“And I’m just as pleased as can be about that,” he said.

GOLF

Gala

6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. Dinner Buffet · Music provided by Songbug DJ Services

To register for golf or gala tickets contact: Marge Stiles, HH Foundation 828.452.8343 marge.stiles@haymed.org or visit our website HaywoodHealthcareFoundation.org

The last day on the job for many mill workers was June 8. Cory Vaillancourt photo

A rush to judgement

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

Social media posts alleging multiple instances of improper activity by a transgender person at the Waynesville Recreation Center last week prompted outrage, violent threats and dehumanizing rhetoric from a number of people — including political candidates — who accepted the unsourced post as unimpeachable fact, but after an investigation including video evidence, it was clear that all they did was enjoy the pool and the sauna.

THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

Jess Scott, of Clyde, is a service tech at Dodson Pest Control and also serves Fines Creek Memorial Baptist Church as a youth leader, song leader and teen Sunday school teacher, according to his Facebook profile.

A Facebook post made by Scott on the evening of July 12 says that his teenage daughter and young niece went to the Waynesville Recreation Center that day, with their grandmother, to swim.

“Afterwards my daughter tells us that after swimming, while they were in the women’s locker room changing, a FULL GROWN MAN walked in and started changing into a bikini,” he wrote.

Scott said he was “upset and angry that this was allowed to happen” and that his daughter “was very upset and uncomfortable and said other women and girls were also creeped out and left.”

He concludes the post by saying he won’t return to the

Waynesville Recreation Center and also urges others to “stay far away.”

Scott’s wife, Stephanie, commented on the post, saying she “whole heartily [sic]” agrees and that they’ll not be back.

As the post spread across social media, reactions initially ranged from disbelief to dismay but soon evolved into graphic threats.

“To bad the dad’s weren’t there to put him in the e.r.,” said Michael Monteagudo, commenting from his “Mike’s Property Detailing” Facebook account.

“Need to go back and bust his head it’s time for good men to do some bad things and try to right this country,” said Chad Lanning, owner of Chad A. Lanning construction.

“They can identify as a woman I’ll identifies as the tooth fairy and I want teeth,” said Sam Wood, an Asheville resident who works at Arby’s.

Others wasted no time in politicizing the matter in advance of Waynesville’s November municipal election, implying that Waynesville’s elected officials tolerated such behavior.

Pam Arrington, a frequent commenter on The Smoky Mountain News Facebook page, said that “this is what our current leaders accept.”

Sharon Walls, who’s spread false information about crime and drugs at government meetings in the past, encouraged people to attend the town’s next board meeting and called for the support of “a few people that are running for office” in the November municipal election.

One of those people is Stephanie Sutton, owner of Mountaineer Oxygen Services. Sutton filed to run for

Waynesville Town Council on July 18 and just one day later spoke out about the supposed incident with a Facebook post of her own — sort of.

“To say this event is disturbing would be a gross understatement,” Sutton’s post read before she deleted it. “A grown man entering the women’s dressing room at the Waynesville Rec and changing into a bikini with women and young girls present. Can we just think for a minute of how traumatic that was for every female exposed or witness?”

In prefacing her post, Sutton credited her friend Melanie Williams for the words. Williams is a well-known local conspiracy theorist who has promoted debunked anti-vax propaganda since even before the Coronavirus Pandemic began.

Joey Reece, a retired DEA agent running for Waynesville mayor, said on Facebook that he visited the Waynesville Recreation Center and observed a trans person, whom he referred to as “it” multiple times.

Even the misinformation-laden Haywood Happenings website, where users don’t have to identify themselves when they post, got in on the act in July 18 by saying that the Waynesville Recreation Center was “allowing Trans Men to disrobe in front of children in the Women’s Locker Room.”

The person who made the Haywood Happenings post calls the situation “appalling and sick,” and asks county commissioners “to put an end to indecency in front of our children” by passing some sort of ordinance.

Haywood Happenings’ half-baked hyperbole completely misses the mark.

In the aftermath of North Carolina’s HB 2 debacle, the Republican-dominated General

F

The mere existence of trans people is not a crime

The law guarantees access to public facilities for transgender people. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Assembly enacted a “reset” of the so-called bathroom bill. Known as HB 142, the compromise bill prevents local governments from regulating multiple occupancy restrooms, showers or changing facilities.

What that essentially means is, local governments cannot enact ordinances explicitly requiring visitors to use the facility that aligns with their birth gender, nor can local governments enact ordinances that explicitly allow visitors to use the facility that aligns with their gender identity. Essentially, it’s still status quo, as it’s always been.

Additionally, a consent decree issued in the 2019 Carcaño v. Cooper challenge to HB 142 explicitly states that state and local government units cannot “prevent transgender people from lawfully using public facilities in accordance with their gender identity.”

The ruling is interpreted as meaning that in the absence of some form of overt unlawful activity, a transgender person cannot be charged with a crime for simply existing.

MATTHEW 7:1

Jess Scott’s July 12 Facebook post was shared dozens of times and garnered dozens of comments — all without any actual proof that anything resembling his allegations occurred.

The first sign that Scott’s story might be false came on the morning of July 18, when The Smoky Mountain News asked the Waynesville Police Department for the incident report filed in conjunction with the alleged incident.

Records clerks, and later Chief David Adams, confirmed that no such report had been filed, either by Scott, or by any member of his family or by any other witnesses — despite Scott’s daughter’s allegations that “other women and girls were also creeped out and left.”

Later that day, SMN received a tip that a report had been filed regarding a July 17 incident at the Waynesville Recreation Center and possibly involving the same transgender person. When SMN obtained a copy of the report, almost everything was redacted — standard procedure — except for the Waynesville Recreation Center’s address.

The complainant was listed as a white female, age 35, with the suspect listed as a white male.

At the time, SMN could not confirm what the incident report alleged, but around three hours after it was filed on July 18, the Waynesville Police Department announced that earlier that morning it had “received a report regarding inappropriate behavior that has recently occurred at the Waynesville Rec. Center” and that a detective had been assigned to investigate.

Around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 23, a memo from Waynesville Town Attorney Martha Bradley was posted to the Waynesville Police Department’s Facebook page.

lence against transgender persons attempting to use public facilities located within the Waynesville Recreation Center in the future.”

It also says that Scott’s post and “one other complaint concerning a transgender

The memo specifically cites the allegations in Jess Scott’s July 12 post, and also mentions that “Several of these comments and/or shares either allude to or expressly endorse carrying out acts of physical vio-

person using the WRC” — the redacted July 18 report about a July 17 “incident” during which a transgender man used the unisex sauna — prompted an investigation by town staff and the Waynesville Police Department.

As far as the July 12 allegations, Bradley found that the transgender person who used the facility was observed on video and that their behavior was appropriate and consistent with the Waynesville Recreation Center’s current rules and policies, that no children were in or near the pool and that there is “no indication from security footage that this person entered or exited the locker room.”

The memo goes on to describe July 17 “incident,” saying that an adult female filed a complaint with WPD that a transgender person came into the unisex sauna “wearing a women’s two-piece bathing suit which allowed the complainant to observe the outline of the transgender person’s genitalia.”

Although it’s not noted in the report, a Facebook post made on July 17 by a user named Amy Elizabeth Bumgarner says, “I witnessed that first hand this morning as that VERY person walked into the sauna with me. It’s absolutely RIDICULOUS.”

The unredacted police report says that on both July 17 and 18, the complainant notes that a transgender person was in the unisex sauna on both days. Nothing inappropriate in word or deed was noted in the report, but the complainant admitted that although the transgender person was appropriately clothed the entire time, they made the complainant feel “uncomfortable.”

The memo references another court ruling, Grimm v. Gloucester Cty. Sch. Bd., that allows transgender persons access to public restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, and also mentions the 2017 HB2 repeal compromise that takes the authority to regulate bathroom access away from local governments, vesting that right only with the North Carolina General Assembly.

In short, Jess Scott’s allegations about a “full grown man” in the women’s locker room are completely false. Additionally, the sauna report contains no evidence a crime was committed, because feeling “uncomfortable” is not a cause of action.

A THOUSAND WORDS

As Bradley’s memo references security footage from the Waynesville Recreation Center’s public areas, The Smoky Mountain News made a public records request to view the video. That public records request also asked for the name of the transgender person at the center of the false allegations by Jess Scott and his daughter.

While such information would ordinarily be a public record, the Town of Waynesville denied the request, citing security concerns and the violent threats mentioned in Bradley’s memo.

The Smoky Mountain News will not contest the town’s decision and will henceforth refer to the transgender person in question as Jane Doe, (she/her) unless they wish to come forward and identify themselves or their proper pronouns.

On July 24, SMN was able to view hours of video evidence gathered in conjunction with the investigation. The evidence begins with the allegations of July 12.

On that day, wearing gym shoes, shorts and a tee shirt, Jane Doe walked into the Waynesville Recreation Center at 9:09 a.m., approached the counter and purchased a pass.

A clerk behind the counter can be seen talking to Doe and pointing to the location of the locker room facilities and the entrance to the pool. Proceeding directly to the pool deck without entering any changing facility, Doe removes her gym shoes, tee shirt and shorts, revealing a two-piece bikini already present under her clothes, and places her clothes near some bleachers on the side of the pool.

Doe then climbs into the pool and begin swimming around 9:15 a.m., under the watchful eye of the aquatics supervisor and another lifeguard. Approximately 20 minutes later, Doe exits the pool and walks into

S EE J UDGEMENT, PAGE 12

General Dentistry

The Town of Waynesville’s Recreation Center has been lauded as an expansive, high-quality facility. File photo

the unisex sauna, accessible only from the pool deck.

Five minutes later, Doe exits the unisex sauna, proceeds to enter the gender-neutral family locker room while still wearing the bikini.

Had Doe entered the female locker room instead, it would have been clearly visible on video.

Behind the hallway door, the genderneutral family locker room consists of three small, separate changing stalls that each contain several lockers. The stalls have floor-to-ceiling walls on three sides. The doors for the changing areas have a small 12-inch gap at the bottom, but none at the top.

Inside the gender-neutral family locker room is a larger changing area with a toilet, a sink and a one-person shower. Like the small changing stalls, this larger changing area has floor-to-ceiling walls on three sides and a door that has a small 12-inch gap at the bottom, but no gap at the top.

Doe exits the gender-neutral family locker room after just two minutes, returns to the pool deck still wearing the bikini and heads straight for the unisex sauna.

She spends about two minutes in the sauna, reenters the pool for four minutes, returns to the sauna for three minutes and proceeds to exit the sauna for the third time.

Doe then returns to the bleachers, puts on her gym shoes, her shorts and her tee shirt, proceeds to the front counter, has another interaction with the clerk and turns to leave.

When Doe turns to leave, she realizes she’s trying to exit through the entrance, so she goes around the belt stanchions and exits through the proper exit doors at 9:58 a.m.

All told, Doe’s visit lasted less than 50 minutes. No children are visible anywhere in the video, including entering or leaving the genderneutral family locker room, nor is the exodus mentioned by Jess Scott — the other women and girls who were “creeped out and left.”

On July 17, Doe again visits the Waynesville Recreation Center, this time at 10:08 a.m.

Wearing gym shoes, shorts and a tee shirt, she proceeds directly to the genderneutral family locker room, spends about two minutes there, and then enters the pool deck still wearing her gym shoes, her shorts and her tee shirt. She pauses to hold the door for a person using a walker.

As with her July 12 visit, Doe proceeds to the bleacher area and disrobes, revealing a two-piece bikini already present under

her clothes, and then enters the pool.

She spends some time swimming and some time chatting with a lifeguard.

At 10:24 a.m., while Doe remains in the pool, Amy Elizabeth Bumgarner is seen to enter the pool deck and walk into the unisex sauna. Two minutes later, Doe enters the unisex sauna as well. No other persons are seen to enter or exit the unisex sauna.

After nine minutes in the unisex sauna, Doe exits at 10:35 a.m., enters the gender-neutral family locker room and spends about two minutes there.

She returns to the pool deck and enters the pool at 10:37, climbing out of the water at 10:42 a.m.

As Doe puts on her gym shoes, her shorts and her tee shirt near the bleachers, Bumgarner exits the unisex sauna at 10:44 a.m., nearly 10 minutes after Doe exited.

Doe leaves the Waynesville Recreation Center two minutes later at 10:46 a.m., followed by Bumgarner at 10:47 a.m.

This visit by Doe lasts just under 40 minutes.

The next day, just after 9:45 a.m. on July 18, Doe again visits the Waynesville Recreation Center, wearing gym shoes, shorts and a tee shirt.

She walks right up to the counter, briefly interacts with the clerk and then proceeds to enter the gender-neutral family locker room. Doe spends less than one minute there and, as before, heads to the bleachers alongside the pool where she disrobes — revealing the same two-piece bikini already present under her clothes.

Doe then climbs into the pool and swims for several minutes until entering the unisex sauna around 9:57 a.m., spending less than two minutes there before returning to the gender-neutral family locker room.

She spends less than two minutes in the gender-neutral family locker room, returns to the pool deck and heads straight for the unisex sauna at 10:02 a.m.

After less than three minutes in the sauna, Doe returns to the pool for only a minute or so, and then enters the unisex sauna at 10:06 a.m.

She leaves the unisex sauna for the third time that day around 10:10 a.m., reenters the pool and engages in some calisthenics with others already present in the pool.

Meanwhile, Bumgarner can again be seen entering the pool deck at 10:15 a.m. and enters the unisex sauna as Doe remains in the pool. At 10:21 a.m., Doe enters the unisex sauna. Five minutes later, Doe leaves the unisex sauna, returns to the lobby, uses a drinking fountain and returns to the gender-neutral family locker room, spending less than two minutes there.

At this time, Bumgarner exits the unisex sauna — about two minutes after Doe left — and proceeds to the front counter where she interacts with a clerk briefly before leaving the facility at 10:29 a.m. without incident.

MY BROTHER’S KEEPER

Since Bradley’s memo dropped, calls for accountability for Jess Scott and Amy Elizabeth Bumgarner have flooded those same social media posts where just days earlier others had, in a rush to judgement, accepted all his allegations as fact.

Stephanie Sutton deleted her post, as has Bumgarner. Scott’s remains.

Bradley told SMN that Scott’s comments — as well as the violent threats made by people like Monteagudo, Lanning and Wood — aren’t actionable, as they are protected by the First Amendment.

For Bumgarner, Bradley said they wouldn’t pursue action against her either, because ignorance of the law is not in and of itself a crime.

“Her personal offense at this exchange is not a violation of the criminal code. She truthfully reported, maybe with some inaccuracies, something that is not a criminal violation,” Bradley said. “The police department receives those a lot. We do not have any interest in prosecuting people for filing false reports simply because they misunderstand what is a criminal violation.”

There’s an old saying that the difference between a crocodile and an allegation is that crocodiles are real, but Bradley did say that citizens should continue to bring allegations to the proper law enforcement authorities and let the professionals sort it all out — especially when minors may legitimately be in danger.

“If anyone has evidence of risk to minors other than the mere existence of transgendered persons in the public at large,” she said, “please let us know so that the police department can follow up on those specific concerns.”

“If anyone has evidence of risk to minors other than the mere existence of transgendered persons in the public at large, please let us know so that the police department can follow up on those specific concerns.”

— Martha Bradley, Waynesville Town Attorney

The gender-neutral family bathroom at the Waynesville Recreation Center features several areas with complete privacy. Cory Vaillancourt photo

Municipal election races set in Western North Carolina

BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT P OLITICS E DITOR

The slates are now set for November’s municipal elections in Western North Carolina, and although a number of surprise candidates ended up filing — making some races very competitive — participation is lacking in several others, indicating a general lack of interest.

In Waynesville, Republican Joey Reece will present a formidable challenge to incumbent Democratic Mayor Gary Caldwell.

Another Republican, Stephen Speed, and an unaffiliated candidate, John Barrett, have also filed for mayor.

Waynesville’s entire Town Council is up for re-election, and all incumbents have filed. Chuck Dickson, Jon Feichter, Julia

Freeman and Anthony Sutton seek to retain their seats, but this year’s contest will be unusual in that the top two finishers will be awarded four-year terms, with the next two finishers earning two-year terms.

The unusual format will set up a new staggered-term regimen, so that Waynesville’s entire board is never up for election all at the same time again. In 2025, the two-year terms will be up and will at that time revert to four-year terms.

But the incumbents in Waynesville aren’t exactly getting a free pass.

Five other candidates all hope to take one of the four available seats on council. Ronnie Call, William “Tre” Franklin, Kenneth Hollifield and Stephanie Sutton have all filed, as has Peggy Hannah, who was appointed to the town’s planning board

New health initiative provides relief for costs

A program to assist those who have lost health insurance due to the closure of Pactiv Evergreen is underway thanks to a joint effort between Mountain Projects, United Way of Haywood County and Haywood County government.

Through funding support from Dogwood Health Trust, former mill workers, or those downsized in other businesses because of the Pactiv Evergreen closure, can receive assistance from Mountain Projects’ certified application counselors to help find healthcare coverage. Workers may also receive up to $500 per family member per month as reimbursement for health insurance premiums.

Jan Plummer from Mountain Projects has been leading the effort to let mill employees know of health insurance options.

“We are seeing more and more folks coming through now that the reality of the mill closure is setting in,” she said. “We are here to listen,

answer questions, provide information and walk everyone through health insurance options that are available to them. Having funding to assist with costly premiums is a huge relief to many who are facing the sticker shock of coverage costs.”

Certified Application Counselors at Mountain Projects are experienced in wading through the complexities of insurance options. United Way of Haywood County will disburse funds to assist with premium cost reimbursement. The reimbursements are non-taxable and are available to displaced workers for coverage costs that occur July 2023 through December 2023.

Appointments can be scheduled online at calendly.com/mpinc between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, or workers can call Mountain Projects at 828.452.1447 to schedule an appointment by phone. Online applications are available at mountainprojects.org.

almost a year ago.

In Canton, Adam Hatton has filed to run against incumbent Alderman Dr. Ralph Hamlett and Mayor Pro Tem Gail Mull. The top two finishers will earn seats.

Clyde’s Mayor Jim Trantham is running unopposed and will serve another term. Incumbent Alderman John Hemingway told The Smoky Mountain News he probably wouldn’t seek another term, and didn’t end up filing. Dann Jesse, another incumbent alderman, filed on July 18, joining Kathy Cogburn Johnson, Cory Nuckolls, Melinda Parker and Amy Russell in competition for two seats.

Maggie Valley Mayor Mike Eveland will face two challengers, former planning board chairman Jeff Lee and former Mayor Pro Tem Janet Banks. Banks lost to Eveland in 2019.

Aldermen Phillip and Tammy Wight are up for re-election, but Tammy followed through with plans to sit this one out. Phillip did file, along with Eve Barrett, Tim Wise and former zoning board of adjustments member Allen Alsbrooks. Alsbrooks finished third to the Wights in 2019.

In Jackson County, incumbent Council Member Marcia Almond filed for mayor of Forest Hills after incumbent Mayor Jim Wallace said he wouldn’t. Two council seats, Almond’s and Nilofer Couture’s, are up. Couture has filed, but no one ultimately stepped up to run for Almond’s seat.

Two seats on the Town of Webster Board of Commissioners are up, currently held by Brandon Core and Allen Davis. Both filed and will run unopposed.

In Sylva, Incumbent David Nestler told SMN earlier this month he hadn’t decided on his plans. Nestler didn’t end up filing, but Guy Phillips and current council member Natalie Newman did.

Commission seats held by Ben Guiney, Greg McPherson and Brad Waldrop are also up. All three filed, along with Blitz Estridge, Luther Jones and Mark Jones.

Three seats on the Town of Highlands Board of Commissioners are up this cycle, but one incumbent, Marc Hehn, said he wouldn’t run. Fellow incumbents John Dotson and Brian Stiehler have filed for reelection and will be challenged by Tucker Chambers, Kay Craig, Rachel Wilson and Jeff Weller.

In Franklin, Mayor Jack Horton is assured of another term because he drew no challengers.

Incumbent Council members Joe Collins, Adam Kimsey and Mike Lewis are all up for reelection this year, but only Collins and Lewis have filed. Robert Tompa also filed for Council, meaning all three will advance without opposition.

Things will likewise be quiet in Swain County. Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton is seeking reelection unopposed. Aldermen Tim Hines, Chad Smith and Heidi RamseyWoodard all filed without opposition.

Voters must register by Oct. 13 to participate in the November General Election. Check your registration status by visiting vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup. View the full list of candidates who have filed for municipal offices across the state by visiting ncsbe.gov.

Come out to Franklin Area Folk Festival

The 17th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival, “A Celebration of Appalachian Heritage,” will be held on Saturday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. Free parking will be designated offsite with a shuttle.

This free event will celebrate all things Appalachian, from live heritage demonstrations, Appalachian crafts, jam sessions that feature old-time mountain music, kids’ activities, Heritage Village, food, textiles and more.

Some additional highlights include special quilts on display (like the famous Cabarras Quilt, The Celebrate America Autograph Quilt, etc.), woodworking and woodcarving, Border Collie demonstrations and more.

New this year, the Heritage Village will come alive with a “campsite” on the field where the Southeastern Civilian Living Historians will share their stories and skills. Returning is the 25th North Carolina Infantry Civil War Camp to help educate people about the life of a soldier and will include firing demonstrations and campfire cooking.

Raffle tickets will be available to purchase a chance to win a reproduction Spiller and Burr black powder revolver made by Pieta.

Kids of all ages are encouraged to play old-fashioned lawn games such as egg races, sack races and tug-o-war. At designated times under the tent, kids can try their hand at various heritage skills like milking the “cow,” corn shellin’ and making heritage crafts. Plus, additional kid-focused activities will be scattered around the grounds with lots of opportunities for hands-on interaction. For more information call 828.369.4080.

Mountain Projects receives award from Mission Health

Mountain Projects, one of 52 regional human service organizations working on North Carolina’s groundbreaking Healthy Opportunities Pilot program (HOP), under the auspices of Impact Health, has been recognized by Mission Health Partners with its 2022 Community Partner Award.

HOP is a federally funded program that serves Managed Medicaid recipients who are struggling with housing stability, food security, transportation, personal safety and toxic stress. Clients are referred to Mountain Projects by healthcare providers, like Mission Health, who determine nonclinical interventions that will improve health outcomes of the patient and their household.

“We are seeing extraordinary results for participants,” said Patsy Davis, executive director of Mountain Projects. “The clear lesson of the HOP

pilot is that when we invest in a community member’s wellbeing, ensuring they have their basic needs met — they become physically and mentally healthier, along with the rest of their household and the larger community of individuals around them.”

Primary and specialty care providers for Mission Health gather each year to highlight the successes of their network, and Mountain Projects is the first agency outside of Buncombe County to be honored with the Community Partner Award.

The award recognition centered around a complex clinical case with a family of six with multiple critical health issues. Through HOP, Mountain Projects was able to connect the family with healthy housing, basic household supplies and regular food boxes that helped to improve the chronic asthma of two children and diabetes of the mother. Assisting with their basic needs helped the parents’ ability to maintain their employment and their children’s ability to attend school.

Anyone on Managed Medicaid who believes

Sarge’s announces 18th annual dog walk

they may qualify for the HOP program can call 828.452.1447 or email agentry@mountainprojects.org to learn more.

Hear about Tarheels in the Pacific Northwest

Rob Ferguson will present a talk titled “Tarheels in the Pacific Northwest” at the Aug. 3 meeting of the Swain County Genealogical and Historical Society.

In the early and mid-twentieth century, Western North Carolinians migrated to Washington State in such significant numbers that they came to numerically dominate some of the communities along the Sauk and Skagit river valleys in the shadow of the North Cascade mountains.

Following logging work and familial connections, Tarheels sometimes moved out for a few seasons, but most eventually stayed. In the process, these southern mountain migrants brought with them the cultural practices of the

Sarge’s 18th annual dog walk will be held this year on Sept. 23 to give folks and their four-legged friends a chance to enjoy some cooler weather.

Appalachian Mountains such as music and foodways. This presentation tracks that movement from Western North Carolina to the snow-capped mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

Ferguson is an Associate Professor of History at Western Carolina University. He received his M.A. from Western Carolina University and his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His book, “Race and the Remaking of the Rural South: Interracialism, Christian Socialism, and Cooperative Farming in Jim Crow Mississippi” was published with the University of Georgia Press in January 2018.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Swain County Regional Business Education and Training Center in Bryson City. This is free and open to the public.

Community Table wine tasting event

The Community Table in Sylva announced a brand-new event to be held next month. The wine tasting event will feature “wine guru” Wendy Dunn, who has worked with the organization, along with the Papermill Lounge, to make it happen.

The event will take place Aug. 19 from 6-9 p.m. at 533 West Main St. in Sylva. The cost will be $25 at the door, and people will be able to order and purchase wines should they taste something they like and want to take home.

Franklin welcomes new retirement community

The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting celebration for the Gemstone Village located at 150 N. Gemstone Ave. Gemstone Village is a new 55-and-over retirement community just a few miles south of Franklin.

Gemstone Village and Gemstone Village South have something for everyone, two-bedroom twobath and three-bedroom, two-bath manufactured homes, as well as one-level two-bedroom, twobath townhomes offering beautiful mountain views.

Amenities offered include town water and sewer, high-speed internet service, and straightline moving as part of monthly services.

The sales office is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Associates are available on Sunday by appointment only. Call 828.200.4168 for more information or stop by the sales office for a tour.

As before, 99.9 KISS Country’s Eddie and Amanda Foxx will be grand marshals and contest judges. Local favorite MC Jeanne Naber will host the event. Contests will include Best Trick, Best Tail Wag and Best Costume.

Pre-registration for walkers and their dogs will take place Sept. 21 and 22 at Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Waynesville. On-site registration will take place at the courthouse immediately before the parade kickoff at 9 a.m. Sept. 23. The walk starts promptly at 10 a.m. Registration is $25 for adults, and $15 for children. Each adult registrant may also register one dog. The price of registration includes a Sarge’s Dog Walk T-shirt. Additional shirts can be purchased for $20. Registration and t-shirts sales go directly to Sarge’s.

Anyone who would like to participate in the Downtown Dog Walk can fill out a registration form at sarges.org/2023-dog-walk-registration-form/.

Anyone interested in sponsoring the Dog Walk or becoming a vendor can fill out this registration form: sarges.org/2023-dog-walk-vendor-and-sponsorship-form/.

The Franklin Area Folk Festival will celebrate all things Appalachian. Donated photo

Pless continues to support some ‘bad stuff’

Rep. Mark Pless, to put it bluntly, is a piece of work. He identifies as Republican yet supports measures that fly in the face of a long-held conservative philosophy that a less centralized government is better, one that puts more control in the hands of local leaders.

He also carries grudges — a fact he readily admits.

A recent legislative “victory” for Pless stripped Maggie Valley town officials of authority to regulate zoning in their extra-territorial jurisdiction. The bill that he introduced and shepherded through the legislature was, in Pless’ own words, “retribution” for an earlier RV moratorium the town had enacted.

Politics in the town of Maggie Valley have long been acrimonious and sometimes sensational. Votes at town board meetings are often split as the town navigates its unique status as a haven for small tourism-related businesses while also yearning for its former glory days when Ghost Town in the Sky attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.

To this end, the town spent years developing a comprehensive Unified Development Ordinance. For a while during its development — from January 2022 to June 2022 — RV parks were banned. However, during most of the time this plan was being developed, you could indeed build almost any kind of RV park.

In North Carolina, extra-territorial jurisdiction refers to parcels of land adjacent to or otherwise outside of municipal boundaries where cities and towns nonetheless exercise cer-

Thanks for supporting Folkmoot event

To the Editor:

Folkmoot’s first-ever Summer Soirée on July 20 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center attracted nearly 200 guests and featured food from over a half dozen local eateries, live entertainment and a silent auction.

This fundraising event showcased Waynesville’s vibrant culinary scene by taking guests on a “cultural journey” in which they visited various rooms inside the Friendship Center where they savored food from The Scotsman, Guayabitos, Bocelli’s Italian Eatery, Watami Sushi and Noodles, The Cheesecake Mousse, and Haywood Smokehouse. All the eateries donated food for the event. A silent auction was held online with all contributions going to help with renovating the Folkmoot Auditorium, which is in need of new seats, lighting and sound upgrades, and most notably, a new air conditioner. The event raised more than $20,000.

The organizing committee thanks all the attendees, sponsors, local restaurants, silent auction donors, performers and volunteers who helped with the Summer Soirée. International Festival Day will take place on

LOOKING FOR OPINIONS:

tain powers, like zoning. Residents of ETJs don’t pay city taxes, but they also don’t get to vote in city elections.

Pless, with the support of two of the five Maggie Valley aldermen, seems very proud of his bill that strips the town of the ability to control zoning in its own ETJ. He calls it a property rights issue, but it’s just Pless throwing his weight around.

“Why should they be able to enforce their zoning, which is mixed up and has no accountability?” said Pless at a recent press conference.

Well, for one, the “they” he is referring to were aldermen elected by the voters of Maggie Valley two years ago when all these issues were being discussed, so they are duly elected to make decisions about the town.

Second, it’s simply ludicrous for one legislator to be this heavy handed toward local government’s rights. But it’s no surprise considering this is Mark Pless we’re talking about. He also tried to get a bill passed that would make all town and school board elections in Haywood County partisan even though just about every town alderperson and members of the school board were against the measure. No matter, he tried to get it passed.

Julia Freeman, a Republican on the Waynesville Town

LETTERS

Saturday, July 29, on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. For more information visit www.folkmootusa.org.

Jessica May Folkmoot Board of Directors

How can we describe Trump?

To the Editor:

By reading the final report of January 6 Committee, I noticed this bit of information: As many as 80,000 people responded to Donald Trump’s call for a protest that would be “wild.” Think about that number — 80,000. That seems like a horde of people. But, is it really?

When you look at 80,000 as a percentage of 340 million Americans you get a different feel. Could Trump do no better than 80,000? Get your calculator! Figure the percentage. Only 80,000 people were following Trump’s orders. The other 339.9 million refused, weren’t invited or were otherwise indifferent. Now hundreds of those who rioted are serving time for various crimes. Many of them believe they were lied to by Trump.

Remember: Over 81 million people voted

Board, had this to say about Pless’ partisan elections bill: “Honestly, he’s an individual that’s not actively listening to his constituents or listening to elected officials in the community. I have not been contacted, and whoever these constituents are, I’d like to speak to them because they have not reached out to me. I don’t know who he’s representing, except maybe his own self interests.”

Pless just can’t stop himself. He’s also seeking $20 million to rebuild Central Haywood High School in Clyde, which was destroyed in the flood cause by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred in August 2021. But the school system doesn’t need the school and has told him so. The system’s enrollment is declining, and school officials already have a school — Central Elementary — that was available.

“With the mill closure and declining [average daily membership], we didn’t feel like an expansion at this time was prudent,” said Haywood Schools Superintendent Trevor Putnam in a recent news story.

Here’s Pless on his reasoning for introducing the Maggie Valley ETJ bill: “I do some really bad stuff and I do some good stuff; it just depends on which side of the bed I crawl out of as to which you get sometimes.”

This is one of the few times I agree with our legislator. Constituents be damned, he does indeed do some “really bad stuff.”

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

for Joe Biden. Yet, Trump (who garnered only 70 million votes) tried to use 80,000 people to overthrow the election.

Currently, Trump is facing indictment for his misdeeds. If prosecuted, he will be provided a fair trial. Remember: Trump wanted to deny Hilary Clinton a fair investigation/trial. He promoted the chant “Lock her up.”

Thankfully, Americans aren’t calling for him to be locked up without a trial. America has a written Constitution to follow. The question remains, though: Is Trump a victim? Or is there another word that describes him?

Dave Waldrop Webster

Editor Scott McLeod

Dangerous vigilante fantasies must end

What does Jason Aldean have to do with the recent uproar over a transgender person using the swimming pool at the Waynesville Rec Center?

Everything.

As The Smoky Mountain News reported this week, someone started a rumor on Facebook that a transgender person, whom the person making the post called a fullgrown man, changed into a bikini in the women’s locker room in front of women and young girls. Without any kind of proof, dozens of people took the bait without any hesitation. Some of the comments have been heinous.

“Somebody would get got for sure.”

“To (sic) bad the dad’s (sic) weren’t there to put him in the e.r.”

“better not happen on my watch I’m going to jail.”

And so on.

This made me think of several other times I’ve seen unfounded fear grip parts of this community — fear that spreads like wildfire thanks to social media. For the sake of brevity, I’ll mention three that stick out.

In July 2020, I covered a Black Lives Matter march through Maggie Valley that became heated when 200 counter-protesters showed up, many saying they were ready to defend their community from riotous outsiders. However, the couple dozen folks marching were from Haywood and

Buncombe counties and were not only peaceful, they were terrified, as counter-protesters hurled threats and blatantly racist language at them.

“Get your ass off the property, you piece of shit,” one man, who thought I was marching with the group, yelled at me.

“You’re in the wrong neighborhood, boy,” another man said.

“How much are you getting paid? Who’s paying you?” one woman asked the marchers.

“You’re bad when these cops are here,” one man said. “Son, I’ll hurt you bad.”

With one small spark, violence could have erupted.

Another rumor circulated as the homeless crisis in Buncombe County began spiraling out of control when a popular blogger posted a photo of a bus he alleged was transporting homeless people from big cities to this area. A simple reverse image search revealed that the bus depicted in the photo was not transporting anyone; it was listed for sale in Georgia.

There have been several times I’ve had to dispel social media rumors that human traffickers were targeting women and children

at Waynesville’s Walmart. The first time I heard about it, a quick call to the Waynesville Police Department put that blatant lie to rest.

“We’ve had no reported incidents of human trafficking or attempted human trafficking on the Walmart, nor have we received any reports of such incidents through state briefings,” then-chief Bill Hollingsed said.

Not long after that, the save the children movement, which was fueled by QAnon and grossly distorted this country’s actual human trafficking problem, picked up steam, and I saw the conspiracy theories spread locally. When I interviewed District Attorney Ashley Welch, she pointed out that those who traffic or abuse children around Western North Carolina aren’t connected to some high-level ring that includes celebrities and politicians — and they certainly weren’t dragging children away from their parents in public places.

“Mostly our office deals with cases that involve victims and defendants that know one another — in other words very rarely are we dealing with stranger cases,” she said. “The public seems to think human trafficking is only cases that involve strangers, and usually what we see involves people that know one another such as family members, friends and et cetera.”

This last example ties in with the outrage

surrounding the unsubstantiated post about the trans person in the women’s locker room. The people who bought that lie felt as though they didn’t need to verify whether the allegation was true because that’s how they’ve been told trans people act. Some people don’t look for facts; they’d rather confirm their fears and biases.

These fears and biases are easy to exploit, and those looking to sow division thrive on that.

This brings me to Jason Aldean. His song, “Try that in a small town,” has caused quite a stir, especially after CMT pulled the video because the song contained lyrics that the network said glorified gun violence and conveyed traditionally racist ideas. I can’t say I was personally offended or triggered by the song, although I understand why others may feel that way. I just feel concerned about the glorification of vigilante justice that hearkens back to lynching.

“Cuss out a cop, spit in his face/Stomp on the flag and light it up/Yeah, ya think you’re tough/Well, try that in a small town/ See how far ya make it down the road/Around here, we take care of our own/ You cross that line, it won’t take long/For you to find out, I recommend you don’t.”

I read that not as a message of the unity that people in small towns cherish; I didn’t even read it as a warning to would-be outside agitators. It’s written for those who harbor fantasies of vigilantism.

Those who defend the song’s message may want to say “If you ain’t causing any trouble, you ain’t got any

Columnist Kyle Perrotti

When in Edisto, it’s jungle rules

Edisto Beach, SC – Not more than 15 minutes after we finished lugging all of our stuff up two flights of stairs to our vacation rental overlooking a lagoon in the Wyndham Resort, Tammy spotted two turtles, an alligator, and a rat snake as big as my arm winding around the house, and then weaving its way up the latticework to the deck where we were all standing, watching in disbelief.

Alex was furiously consulting her iPhone to confirm that this was indeed a rat snake, gentle and essentially harmless as long as you’re not a rat, and not some type of snake that might murder the entire family well before our week here is up, which would be a total rip-off.

The snake poked his head a good six or eight inches through the deck posts, moving up and down and side to side like a boxer or disco dancer, tongue testing the humid July air for any funky smells. We all stood there checking each other out for a few minutes, then he coiled back and entered the house where the HVAC hoses go. Home sweet home, most likely.

“Fantastic,” Tammy said, as the last few inches of a five-foot snake vanished into the house before our eyes. “We’re going to spend a week living with a snake.”

“Good,” I said. “No rats here. Just keep an eye on the dog.”

As we unpacked the cooler, filling the refrigerator with raspberry jelly, a carton of eggs, ice cream sandwiches, lunch meat, and some sad, saggy past-their-prime plums that somebody might eat, we saw a big sign that said, “Please don’t feed the alligators.”

We have been coming to Edisto Beach every summer for 16 years now, and every year seems to have its own particular theme, like a Shakespeare play or a high school prom. This year, the theme is evidently “Jungle Book.”

I will confess to you that I am not exactly “to the manner born” when it comes to the beach. Scorching hot weather makes me sluggish and irritable, like some sort of enormous bee, and I prefer to breathe the air rather than to wear it.

Even so, I “married in” to a lifetime of

beach vacations because my life partner believes and behaves as if she is only fully alive if she is drifting aimlessly on a pool float in the Atlantic like a handful of shark bait, while I sit under our teal canopy reading a novel and looking out every so often to make sure she hasn’t fallen asleep and taken a turn toward Portugal.

My dad’s favorite parts of a beach vacation were air conditioning, fried flounder, and checkout. I love all of those things, too, and believe that it is insane that people crowd the beaches in the hottest months of the year instead of opting for early spring or late autumn, when the temperatures are more reasonable, but I will admit that I have learned to love a lot of things about being here.

I love having not only the time to read something other than freshman essays, which are lurking for me around the corner even now like a street gang, but being in a context where there isn’t much to do except read, especially on the beach, where there are very few distractions other than when the pelicans are feeding, which I’ve never been able to resist watching and making war movie sounds when they dive into the water for fish. Tammy loves that.

For whatever reason, our annual trip to Edisto is the only time my son and I ever play tennis, although we have cutthroat tournaments when we are here, usually in front of an audience comprised only of confused deer watching from a nearby backyard.

It’s also the only time we ride bicycles. We rent them and then explore the island on the bike trails, putting the theory that you never forget how to ride one to a severe test. For years, we thought we’d start riding some back at home, but we never really have.

We’re the people who buy the elliptical machine, and then end up using it only to hang a stray jacket or an old sheet until we finally admit who we are and put it up for sale on Craigslist or in the corner of the basement, that sad museum of failed projects and abandoned dreams.

But not this week. This week we’re all athletes. Bike riders. Tennis stars. Jet skiers. Putt putt champions. We are living with the rat snakes under our feet and the gators at our doorstep. Who’s wilder than we are?

(Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Haywood County. jchriscox@live.com.)

reason to be concerned.” But there’s a problem. The person wishing to simply enjoy the rec center wasn’t causing any trouble, but if social media is any indication, they have

ample reason to be concerned.

(Kyle Perrotti is the news editor of The Smoky Mountain News. kyle.p@smokymountainnews.com.)

Columnist Chris Cox

Believe in me for who I am Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer to play AVLfest

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & E NTERTAINMENT E DITOR

On Oct. 20, 1977, a plane carrying southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed into the woods near Gillsburg, Mississippi. At the time, the group was one of the hottest rock acts on the planet. As a result of the crash, lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines and his sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines, were all killed, in addition to three others.

With the rest of the surviving members of the band seriously injured in the wreck, Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, in a state of shock and with broken ribs, trudged through the thick brush and ran for help. Nothing was ever the same for Skynyrd, for Pyle and the survivors after that fateful day, even if the band itself still tours regularly with a rotating cast of musicians.

The road to the present for Skynyrd has been a haphazard trek of the good, the bad and the ugly. For Pyle, he went out on his own long ago, come hell or high water. A man of grit and grace, of integrity and purity of the Skynyrd music he holds close to his heart, Pyle has traveled the world over with beloved project, The Artimus Pyle Band, as well as his family band, PYLEtribe.

“[The music] keeps me alive,” Pyle said. “Blood-sucking weasel attorneys, managers and all those people that make music bad, they have not been able to take away from me my ability to play drums. I still kick ass. I’m still going to play drums when I’m 100, then I’m going to switch to stand-up comedy.”

Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his work with Skynyrd in 2006, Pyle is also the only living full-time member left of the famed ensemble. Holding court behind his iconic drum kit, Pyle is a force of nature onstage, this thunderous roar of cymbals and kick drums. Offstage, Pyle is a genuine presence of calmness and peace when face-to-face in conversation.

“This isn’t Lynyrd Skynyrd, this is a tribute band to Ronnie Van Zant, his band and his music — and we do it better than anybody in the world,” Pyle said.

Rolling through a slew of Skynyrd classics and juggernaut hits, The Artimus Pyle Band is as authentic as it is a bridge to the sound, size and scope of one of America’s greatest rock bands. With PYLEtribe, there’s a thick thread of Skynyrd running through the ensemble atop a keen focus on original melodies and deep dives into the world of percussion.

“We’re serious with what we do, the guys play the music with respect and accuracy. My vocalists are second to none, so there’s no problem,” Pyle said. “These huge crowds we play for they respond. They hear the music, they feel it, and they’re responding to the lush sound of the music.”

So, just what is it about the melodies of Skynyrd that continue to captivate the hearts and souls of music lovers across the globe?

“Well, people bury their friends to ‘Free Bird.’ ‘Simple Man’? Ronnie wrote [it] about his mother,” Pyle said. “So, it’s all about the American family — it’s about real, good stuff.”

When asked about Skynyrd’s storied number “The Ballad of Curtis Lowe” and what that says about the South, Pyle will be the first to tell you that the foundation of Skynyrd is one of openness and acceptance of others — that notion of “we’re all in this together, so be good to one another.”

“[With ‘The Ballad of Curtis Lowe’] Ronnie was talking about showing that if a person is a good person, it doesn’t matter what color, what gender, what race — if they’re good, they’re good, if they’re bad, they’re bad,” Pyle said. “‘Sweet Home Alabama’ is saying don’t blame every Southern man. Ronnie was saying don’t blame all of us for the racism of the few because Ronnie wasn’t like that — he loved people for the way they were.”

To be blunt, what Pyle does isn’t a nostalgia act — far from. It’s rock-n-roll in its purest form, which is rebellious and eternal. He is the real deal, through and through. He’s a straight shooter in a world full of smoke and mirrors. To watch a legend

of his caliber perform live is a moment that will forever be talked about by those who witness rock royalty in real time. At age 74, Pyle shows no signs of slowing down. If anything, the touring is a vehicle by which he can continue to spread the message of love and fellowship at the melodic core of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“[Age] is just a number. You know, when I’m playing I’m in the moment. It’s ageless, timeless, effortless. It just comes perfect when I’m playing,” Pyle said. “I’ve had three airplane crashes, eight motorcycle wrecks and 12 car crashes, so I feel my age sometimes because of the injuries to my body. But, in my mind, I’m Peter Pan. The music of Lynyrd Skynyrd has kept me going — I feel like I’ll never grow old because of the music.”

Want to go?

Presented by Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, the inaugural AVLfest will be held Aug. 3-6 at a variety of music venues, bars and restaurants around Asheville.

Featuring over 200 bands and artists, national headliners will be Watchhouse, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Cedric Burnside, Nikki Lane, Scott McMicken (of Dr. Dog), River Whyless and Sarah Shook & The Disarmers.

Artimus Pyle, iconic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, will also perform with his family band, PYLEtribe.

Local/regional acts taking the stage will include Toubab Krewe, Tyler Ramsey, Amanda Platt & The Honeycutters, The Get Right Band, Empire Strikes Bass, Brothers Gillespie, The Fritz, Pink Beds, Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, Abby Bryant & The Echoes, Lyric and many more.

For more information, tickets and/or a full schedule of events, go to avlfest.com.

Artimus Pyle is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

File photo

This must be the place

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

HOT PICKS

again. And I hope he’s doing well in his current endeavors, wherever he may be roaming nowadays.

Hello from Room 209 at the Super 8 on the outskirts of Rawlins, Wyoming. Late morning and taking my time to get my bags packed and tossed into the back of the rental car. En route to Denver, Colorado, onward via flight to Asheville (aka: “Home”).

Rawlins. Population: 8,298. Elevation: 6,834. A small outpost city in the heart of the high desert of south-central Wyoming. Desolate prairie. Hot days. Cold nights. Checking in late last night, the only lights beyond the city limits were headlights and taillights of a constant stream of tractor-trailers passing by on Interstate 80 buffering the southern stretch of the community.

Pitch black for endless miles standing at the edge of the parking lot of the Super 8 looking west. All of that immense desert prairie. All of those countless silent, ancient mountains now hidden in the darkness, silhouettes soon to appear in the wee hours of tomorrow. For now, heavy eyelids and latenight TV to pass the time.

Open up the window curtains in the morning to a vast landscape resembling the surface of the moon. The only difference aesthetically being a couple dozen RVs parked across the street at the Western Hill Campground. Folks walking their dogs in the early dry heat of the day, lunch plans already made within the RV realms by 10:30 a.m. whereas we journalists are still trying to track down a cup of coffee and what’s left in the waffle maker in the Super 8 lobby.

Sipping the coffee and staring out the window at the RV park and the surrounding moon surface landscape, it dawned on me that the last time I stayed in Rawlins (the only other time, actually) was Jan. 2, 2008. I was 22 years old and just accepted my first reporting gig post-college. The Teton Valley News in Driggs, Idaho. Pack up the old GMC Sonoma pick-up truck and leave one’s native Upstate New York.

That road trip with an old friend, Ricky, took us from New York through Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kentucky, St. Louis, Kansas, Colorado, Rawlins, Driggs. I haven’t spoken to him in several years. The last I heard, he was somewhere in the North Country once

And I remember us being this ragtag duo crossing the country. Seeing new faces and places. Collecting moments and memories, for good or ill. Just, well, simply living our lives in real time. Young kids testing out the world and its lessons via trial and error, via dots on a map crammed between the truck seats.

From my 2008 road journals:

Jan. 2. Left Rawlins, Wyoming, bright and early. The sun was blinding when it hit the desolate, windswept ground bordering Route 287. The barren landscape unfolding before us was at times, oddly enough, claustrophobic. I had never felt so alone, so small at any previous point in my existence.

Hearty winds howled and aggressively pursued the old GMC pickup. One false move and we’d be stuck in the deep ditch for possibly hours until help arrived. I noticed we were starting to run low on fuel. I knew we should have filled up before we left town this morning.

“We got about 40 or so miles left in the tank,” I cautioned Ricky.

“Shit, well, if we run out, we run out. Worry about it when the time comes. Just drive the speed limit and I’ll keep my fingers

crossed,” he replied.

Pulling into Muddy Gap, it seemed an outpost amid the frontier. Dusty mobile homes and abandoned buildings encompassed the community, which took only a few moments to pass through. A gas station finally appeared.

“Sorry, we’re all outta regular. The delivery guy should be here within the hour,” the elderly attendant said.

The inner walls of the structure were covered with signatures and quotes from hundreds of strangers entering the station for supplies, only to head back into the madness of mankind. Ricky grabbed a marker and scribbled in one of the few remaining spaces.

I wrote my name and a saying that has stayed with me since I first read it in college — “Some may never live, but the crazy never

The Folkmoot International Day gathering of culture and artistic expression will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, on Main Street in Waynesville.

1

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to join a concert by the Tray Wellington Band (Americana/bluegrass) at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at 11 a.m. at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. 3

2

A special production of the musical “Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella” will grace the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 2729 and 2 p.m. July 30 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. 4

The “An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by Nu-Blu at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.

5

The 14th annual season of the “Concerts on the Creek” music series will continue with Americana/roots act Lua Flora will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the gazebo in Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

die.” Eventually the big rig eased into the parking lot and replenished the parched establishment.

It was a steady run through Lander and the Arapahoe & Shoshone Tribe reservation. Native children played in quiet front yards, holding their ragged jackets against the crisp winds rolling along the valley floor. Deep canyons and steep buttes exposed the natural history of the land. The ancient rock, colored in bright red, pink, and brown, resembled juicy steaks piled high and far into the distance.

The truck huffed and puffed through the mountains. Ascending the Togwotee Pass and sliding towards Moran, the immense peaks of the Teton Range came into view.

Rays of sunshine seemed to collide with the range, sprinkling down upon the ruffled blanket of dirt that surrounded Jackson, Wyoming, like a welcoming doormat to the gates of heaven. They were as breathtaking as I remembered. Ricky was speechless. I pulled over.

“Man, would you look at that,” he said. “You were right, you were right. It is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what to say.”

“Say ‘cheers’,” I replied, handing him the bottle of bourbon from the back of the truck.

We sat on the tailgate and saluted the Tetons, the unknown strangers in the valley below who will soon make our acquaintance, someday become friends, perhaps even soulmates. The world was our oyster and we were eager to crack it wide open.

Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

‘I’m wondering where you are tonight and I’m wondering if you are all right’

Wyoming is the least-populated state in America. Garret K. Woodward photo

Smoky Mountain Made

Bill Douglas: Passing down a bit of history

BY MADI ROSE S PECIAL TO SMN

Heritage crafter Bill Douglas is continually gathering knowledge about the processes he uses to produce his work and takes great pride in creating historically rich brooms and canework that have traditions dating back hundreds of years.

Douglas is also involved in the operation of the well-known Dogwood Crafters co-op in Dillsboro, an organization he credits with helping to keep long-standing artistic media alive.

Living in New Orleans early in life, Douglas worked a nine-to-five job where he had little interest in craft. His interest was piqued, however, when his wife acquired a dining set from her grandmother that needed refinishing.

“I stripped it down and redid that. We were living in an apartment, and I remember working on that in the hallway in front of the apartment. Luckily, we were at the end of the hallway and no one was coming past,” he said.

From there, he became interested in woodworking. The artist discovered a class on decorative duck carving, which he attended for two years. The pieces he made in and out of the workshops earned him blue ribbon prizes at various state fairs.

After moving to North Carolina, his wife decided to take a crafting class through their church. Driving her back and forth to the lessons, a member of the church approached Douglas about enrolling in a chair caning class at Dogwood Crafters, an organization he was familiar with from his mother-in-law.

“I went to that [chair caning class] and from there we were hooked,” he said. Douglas continues to repurpose chair backs or stool legs he finds at estate sales. He purchases rattan, a type of palm grown in Indonesia, and intricately weaves the material around the seat furniture. Choosing from an array of weaving patterns, he is confident in his ability to select one that meets the needs of aesthetics and utilization.

After several years of devoting himself to

chair caning, Douglas wanted to expand his knowledge to other artistic media. He saw an ad in the newspaper for a broom making class offered at the Jackson County Public Library taught by local crafter Mickey Sizemore. After taking the class, Douglas was fascinated by the process and began acquiring as much knowledge about the medium from as many different people as he could.

An important resource for Douglas is the workshops on broom making at Olive’s Porch in Murphy, an off-site learning center run by the John C. Campbell Folk School. Here he learned several different ways to create brooms that range from small handhelds to be hung on a wall to full-scale floor brooms to sweep off front porches.

Douglas utilizes the turkey tail design; he takes several fistfuls of broomcorn or

sorghum and starts by wrapping the first bundle with a long strand of twine until taut. Using the same length of string, the artist adds the next bundle, bending the broomcorn slightly to create the pattern he desires. At the end he ties off the collective bundles to a chosen handle and trims the ends for an even finish.

Becoming deeply involved in the realm of heritage crafts, Douglas wanted to take his talents back to where he began his journey as an artisan. About six or seven years ago, Douglas and his wife Debbie, a basket weaver, submitted their work to the standards committee at Dogwood Crafters and were admitted.

“Not anybody can get anything in there,” he said. “It’s all juried.”

Dogwood Crafters serves as a hub for local makers to display their works for sale and share a sense of community with their fellow makers. An important outreach program is Dogwood’s heritage art classes and demonstrations. The classes include book making, barn quilt painting and hand-built pottery, among others. Douglas now leads several sessions throughout the year. The artist places responsibility on other individuals as well, saying Dogwood is doing its part to encourage heritage artworks. If someone even has the slightest interest, he encourages them to enroll in one of the classes.

Douglas knows the impact traditional arts have made on his life and he knows the impact it could have on others. He is also aware of the impact individuals can have on historic ways of making and sharing with whomever they can. Douglas says passing down heritage crafts connects people to their cultural roots and to others who pursue the interest.

(Contact Bill Douglas at: williamtdouglas2@gmail.com.)

Smoky Mountain Made is a series of articles that focuses attention on the region’s talented visual artists. A project of The Smoky Mountain News, the series was curated by Anna Fariello with sponsorship from the Jackson County Arts Council. Smoky Mountain News is seeking sponsors to continue this series beyond Jackson County. Contact Anna Fariello at anna.fariello@icloud.com or Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com

A member of Dogwood Crafters, Bill Douglas specializes in woodworking and weaving.

Bluegrass star to play Oconaluftee

Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials invite the public to join a concert by the Tray Wellington Band at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 29 at 11 a.m. at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center.

The concert is a celebration of the “African American Experiences in the Smokies” project.

“African American music is important because it has been part of southern Appalachia culture since the beginning of enslavement. Some of the African American contributions to Southern Appalachia music are the techniques, instruments, and music that we enjoy today,” said Science Communicator Antoine Fletcher.

‘An Appalachian Evening’

The “An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by Nu-Blu at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.

The annual summer concert series offers an ever-changing schedule of bluegrass, folk and old-time mountain music by award-winning artists — quality entertainment for the entire family.

Rich in cultural heritage, the series continues to be a favorite with locals and visitors alike. The concert will be held in the airconditioned Lynn L. Shields Auditorium.

After releasing four Top 10 Billboard albums, North Carolina-based Nu-Blu has quickly established themselves as one of the top acoustic acts in the music industry, delivering a set of songs that range from the melancholy to the exuberant.

Dulcimer group ‘Pic’ & Play’

The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players will be resuming in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva. The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.

Pic’ & Play has been playing together since 1995. The more experienced members welcome new players, help them navigate their instruments, and guide them through some of the basics of tuning, strumming and playing.

Over the years, they’ve garnered major headlines with their George Jones inspired tribute single “Jesus and Jones” featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame singer “Soul Man” Sam Moore (of the iconic duo Sam and Dave).

The award-winning band has also made appearances on Fox News in the past, while also having their music featured on CBS “Sunday Morning.” Recently they’ve moved into the role of helping bring bluegrass to the masses, serving as the permanent host of the nationally-syndicated TV show “Bluegrass Ridge,” which airs in 120 million homes worldwide.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students grade K-12. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.

Western North Carolina native and renowned banjoist Tray Wellington and his band will perform music from his latest album “Black Banjo.” Wellington has performed at festivals throughout the country including MerleFest and the International Bluegrass Music Associations (IBMA) Wide Open Bluegrass. He has also been featured on CNN’s “United Shades of America.”

Following the concert, a variety of cultural demonstrations will be presented at the Mountain Farm Museum from 1-3 p.m. Visitors can also join park staff at the historic Mingus Mill and the

Enloe Slave Cemetery at 2:30 p.m. for a walking tour focused on African American history.

Visitors should bring blankets and chairs to enjoy the concert. Limited accessible parking and sitting will be available at the event. While the concert is free, a vehicle parking tag is required for all vehicles parking for longer than 15 minutes.

The “African American Experiences in the Smokies” project is supported by the Friends of the Smokies, which helps fund research of the historic presence and influence of African Americans in the southern Appalachian Mountains from the 1540s through today.

For more information, go to nps.gov/grsm.

The mountain dulcimer, also known as a fretted dulcimer or a lap dulcimer, is a uniquely American instrument. It evolved from the German scheitholz sometime in the early 1800s in Appalachia and was largely known only in this region until popularized more broadly in the 1950s.

For more information, call Kathy Jaqua at 828.349.3930 or Don Selzer at 828.293.0074.

‘Concerts on the Creek’

The Town of Sylva, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce are proud to present the 14th annual season of the “Concerts on the Creek” music series.

Americana/roots act Lua Flora will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the gazebo in Bridge Park in downtown Sylva. Asheville-based Lua Flora’s sun-kissed melodies are rooted in the harmonies of

Appalachia, rhythms of the West Indies and lyricism of American folk. Releasing a collection of singles, Lua Flora has collaborated with Sons of Paradise, Richard Vagner, Victor Rice and Karl Vincent Roth (of Satsang).

These events are free with donations encouraged. Everyone is welcome. Dogs must be on a leash. No smoking, vaping, coolers or tents allowed. Bring a chair or blanket. There will be food trucks onsite for this event.

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,

please contact the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce at 828.586.2155 or visit the Concerts on the Creek Facebook page. A full schedule of dates and performers can be found at mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.

Nu-Blu will play Stecoah July 29. File photo

Tray Wellington is an up-andcoming bluegrass act.

File photo

Lua Flora will play Sylva July 28. File photo

• 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.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, go to blueridgebeerhub.com.

On the beat ALSO:

• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host music bingo 7 p.m. Mondays, karaoke at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, trivia at 7 p.m., The Mug Band July 29, DJ Kountry Aug. 4 and Parler Organ Trio Aug. 5. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.

• Cashiers Live (Cashiers) will host Greggy & The Jets (Elton John tribute) 7 p.m. July 29. Tickets are $40 for adults, $12 for kids under age 12. VIP options available. Doors at 6 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to cashierslive.com.

• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Lua Flora (folk/reggae) July 28 and Tuxedo Junction (classic hits) Aug. 4 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/concerts-on-the-creek.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 7 p.m. Thursdays and The Mad Hatter (Tom Petty tribute) 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.

• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” featuring Highbeams (Americana) Aug. 3. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25 per person. For tickets, go to oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.

• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host We Three Swing (jazz/swing) July 28 and The Well Drinkers Aug. 4 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 its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m., Aboveground July 28, Life Like Water (Americana/indie) July 29, Syrrup July 30, Tricia Ann Band (rock/country) Aug. 4, Andrew Thelston Band (rock/soul) Aug. 5, Two Armadillos 4 p.m. Aug. 6 and Kind Clean Gentlemen 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.

• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host Commodore Fox Aug. 11. Shows begin at 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.

• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Doug

Ramsey (singer-songwriter) July 27, Darren Nicholson (Americana/bluegrass) July 28, Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter) Aug. 3, Blue Jazz Band (swing/jazz) Aug. 4 and Joe Owens (singer-songwriter) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public.

• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host a Sunday Bluegrass Residency noon to 2:30 p.m. and the “Salon Series” w/Caleb Caudle (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. July 27. Tickets are $25 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandermountainhouse.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night with Kirk” from 7-9 p.m. every Monday, Open Mic Night every Wednesday and semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. Tuesdays, trivia 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Open Mic 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Inspirational Hummingbird

7:30 p.m. July 27. 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

6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) “Summer Music Series” will continue with Lee Knight (Americana/folk) July 27, Granny’s Mason Jar (Americana) Aug. 10 and Heidi Holton (blues/folk) Aug. 24. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information, call the library at 828.488.3030 or go to fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host Trivia Thursdays 6:30 p.m., Woolybooger (blues/ folk) July 28, A. Lee Edwards (Americana/ folk) July 29, Martin Vee (Americana/folk) Aug. 4 and Pigeon River Messengers (Americana/ indie) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an “Open Mic w/Frank Lee” Wednesdays, Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) July 28, Ron Neill (singer-songwriter) July 29 and Heidi Holton (blues/folk) 5 p.m. July 30. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host Blue July 28, Somebody’s Child (Americana) July 29, Trial By Fire Aug. 4 and Andy Johnson Aug. 5. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. noc.com/events.

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host Tray Wellington Band (Americana/bluegrass) 11 a.m. July 29. Free and open to the public. nps.gov/grsm.

• Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Hill Country July 28 and Rewind Aug. 4. Local clogging groups will also be onsite to perform. Shows are 6-9 p.m. at the Canton Rec Park located at 77 Penland Street. Free and open to the public. Cantonnc.com.

• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Ourway Band (rock/variety) Aug. 12. 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.

• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.

• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday, Rene Russell (singer-songwriter) July 28 and Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) July 29. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.

• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host Shane Meade & The Sound (indie/soul) July 29 and Soulution (soul) Aug. 5 at KelseyHutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.

• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host a “Celtic Jam” 2-5 p.m. Sundays, Neal Morgan (classic rock) July 27, Smashing Mouths (90s covers) 8:30 p.m. July 28, Celtic Road Jam 4 p.m. July 29, Keil Nathan Smith (singersongwriter/country) Aug. 3 and Susie Copeland (singer-songwriter/Americana) Aug. 4. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.

• SlopeSide Tavern (Sapphire) will host Seth &

Sara 6 p.m. Aug. 3. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.8655 or slopesidetavern.com.

• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host The Annie Moses Band (Americana) July 29 and Chi-Town Transit Authority (Chicago tribute) Aug. 4. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to smokymountainarts.com or 828.524.1598.

• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) “An Appalachian Evening” live music series will feature Nu-Blue (Americana/roots) July 29 and Terry Baucom’s Dukes Of Drive (bluegrass) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6:30 p.m. each week. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.

• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Karaoke with Lori McDonald July 26, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) July 27, Carolina Freightshakers (classic rock) July 28 and Waynes Buckner & The Shooting Creek Band July 29. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.

• Wells Events Center (Waynesville) will host “Christmas In July — The Spirit Of Giving: An Evening With Darren Nicholson” (Americana/bluegrass) 7:30 p.m. July 29. The event will be a fundraiser for Children’s Grief Programs w/Haywood Hospice. Light snacks and cash bar. Photos with Smoky Mountain Santa. Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the silent auction. Ticket donations starting at $60.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Shane Meade & The Sound (indie/soul) July 28, Zorki (singer-songwriter) July 29, Seth & Sara Aug. 4 and Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) Aug. 5. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.743.6000 or whitesidebrewing.com.

• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Vaden Landers (Americana/folk) 4 p.m. July 30. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to eatrealfoodinc.com.

Meadowlark welcomes Edwards

Americana/folk singer-songwriter A. Lee Edwards will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. Edwards has been a singer-songwriter for over 30 years. His music holds an honesty and an authenticity, not built on outward style, but inner substance. He is joined by a backing band of some of the top players in the region, all with vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers and Buck Owens & Don Rich.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.

A. Lee Edwards (center). File photo

Folkmoot International Day

The Folkmoot International Day gathering of culture and artistic expression will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, on Main Street in Waynesville.

In celebration of Folkmoot’s 40th anniversary, the event will feature an array of arts/crafts vendors, food trucks, craft beer, live music and dance.

An Old English term meaning “meeting of the people,” Folkmoot came to fruition through the vision and imagination of the late Dr. Clinton Border. A Waynesville surgeon, Border tagged along with a local square dance group to a festival in England in 1973. He was inspired by the sense of community and culture he saw at the festival, with the seed quickly planted to some-

how do something similar back home in Haywood County.

Along the course of its existence, Folkmoot has remained a bastion of world culture, this beacon of hope in dark times. Regardless of where you stand politically, the more one exposes themselves to things, perhaps, outside of their daily bubble that is their life, the more you begin to see and interact with the bigger picture — a chance to step outside of yourself in an honest quest to find your true self.

Performers appearing will include the following:

• Celtic Road Band: Waynesville area musicians who play a mix of Irish and Scottish traditional acoustic folk songs.

Come on in Look Around... &

Take a Piece of the Mountains Home With You

• Dance Academy of Mexico: Traditional Mexican dance company established to preserve and promote Mexican dances and traditions to include those of the Aztec Indians.

• Mountain Tradition Cloggers. The group’s desire is to pass down their love of Southern Appalachian Freestyle Clogging to the next generation.

• Ashgrove Garland Dancers & Asheville Morris Dancers: Performing dances which began in Northern England mill towns in the 19th century to welcome seasonal changes and other festive events.

• Waynesville Bellydance: One of North Carolina’s oldest belly dance troupes who take you on a tour of dance styles, from sunny Luxor, Egypt, along the verdant banks of the Nile to the modern nightclubs of San Francisco.

• Native American Hoop Dance: Storytelling dance performed by many different North American Native Nations from ancient times to today.

• Blue Ridge Big Band: A premier 19-

ALSO:

On the wall

piece “big” band home-based in Western North Carolina.

• Mirai Kanai Okinawan Taiko: The group performs Japanese Okinawan Eisa Taiko Traditional Court Dancing and Okinawan Sanshin and Drum Music.

• LEAF Global Arts School + Streets: Connecting world cultures and creating community through music and arts education and experiences to cultivate curiosity in the young and old to preserve cultures and promote global understanding.

• Haywood Ramblers Band: Old-Time Mountain String Band from Western North Carolina.

• Kathak Traditional Repertoire: One of the eight major forms of South Asia Indian classical dance with its origins in Northern India.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations accepted. For more information and full schedule of events, go to folkmoot.org/festivals, call 828.452.2997 or email info@folkmoot.org.

Cherokee film, concert celebration

The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will be hosting the film “Dadiwonisis/We Will Speak” followed by a Q&A with members of the film's production team after the screening at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center located at the Cherokee Central Schools.

As well, there will be a Cherokee Language concert from artists that contributed to the making of the “Anvdvnelisgi” album, with performers offering a wide-range of music from various genres, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, in the Cultural Arts Center.

“Dadiwonisis/We Will Speak” is a documentary that discusses the language preservation of the Cherokee Language, the activist and teachers who are working to preserve it and who teach Tsalagi to both older and younger generations.

The preservation of Native languages is critical, as time goes on fewer and fewer tribal members can speak their language and with the forced attendance of Indian Boarding Schools, the last of which were closed in the late 1970s in the United States.

Many elders within those tribes were forced to speak English and were punished, often severely beaten and abused when they were caught speaking their languages. Nevertheless, through struggle and forced assimilation, many elders were able to hold onto those verbal traditions, keeping their

languages close to them, and allowing them to pass them down to younger members.

With these efforts, there have been many tribes that have opened and developed adult language schools, and many tribal K-12 schools have immersive language programs for their students.

The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians have created their school, The Kituwah Academy, where the varying generations can come together and make sure that the Cherokee language thrives and grows.

“Through oral traditions, our Cherokee culture has been able to survive for millions of years,” said Shennelle Feather (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Diné, Lakota), education program manager at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. “This event is honoring our language through film and music — two modern ways of sharing stories — and proves that we are still using oral history to teach the world and remind ourselves that we are still here. That our language is not dead, it is living, it is and can evolve just like the people who speak it and have spoken it since time immemorial.”

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required via Eventbrite (search: The Way We Speak with the World: Cherokee Language Film & Concert). For more information, you can visit the museum’s website at mci.org.

Folkmoot is a beloved WNC cultural tradition.

File photo

• “Peach Jam” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at Darnell Farms in Bryson City. Food trucks, live music, vendors, bounce houses, kids’ activities, pie eating contests and more. For more information, email hotheadevents@gmail.com.

On the stage

‘Cinderella’ hits the HART stage throughout July. File photo

HART presents ‘Cinderella’

A special production of the musical “Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” will grace the stage at 7:30 p.m. July 20-22, 27-29 and 2 p.m. July 16, 23 and 30 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.

“Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella” is derived from the fairytale as we know it, particularly the French version. The story concerns a young Ella forced into a life of servitude by her cruel stepmother. She dreams of a better life, finds her fairy godmother, attends a ball, meets a prince. In this version, however, she opens the Prince’s eyes to the injustice in his kingdom.

For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to harttheatre.org or call the Box Office at 828.456.6322.

‘Unto These Hills’ outdoor drama

The “Unto These Hills” stage production will be held at 8 p.m. nightly throughout the summer at the Cherokee Mountainside Theatre.

This decades-old acclaimed outdoor drama traces the Cherokee people through the eons, through the zenith of their power, through the heartbreak of the Trail of Tears, finally ending, appropriately, in the present day, where the Cherokee people, much like their newly re-scripted drama, continue to rewrite their place in the world — a place based on traditional Cherokee values and modern sensibilities.

Pre-show entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 7 p.m. For more information on show dates and/or to purchase tickets, go to visitcherokeenc.com and go to the “Events” tab.

On the table

• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.

• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more infor-

mation, call 828.538.0420.

• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.

‘Unto These Hills’ is a longtime Cherokee show. File photo

On the wall ALSO:

Ready for the Gemboree?

The 56th annual Macon County Gemboree will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 28-29 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 30 at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more.

Daily admission is $3. Free for ages 12 and under. Sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Macon County Gem & Mineral Society. For more information, call 828.524.3161 or go to franklin-chamber.com.

• “G&LW Wholesale Gem Show” will be held July 27-30 at the Watauga Festival Center on 6295 Sylva Road in Franklin. The trade shows are produced in many major trade centers across the United States for the convenience of wholesale buyers. For over 40 years, G&LW’s multiple show venues have been, and continue to be, a top gem and mineral buyer destination. franklin-chamber.com.

• Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC) latest exhibit “Water” will run through July 31 at the HCAC showroom and gallery in downtown Waynesville. With work created by over 42 local artists, the show demonstrates remarkable talent in diverse media, including photography, painting, fiber arts, glass and. The gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, go to haywoodarts.org.

• “Summer Artisan Market” will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on the second Saturday of every month through September at the Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) in Nantahala Gorge. Free and open to the public. noc.com/events.

• Call for artists and musicians for the “Youth Arts Festival” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Artists needed to demonstrate, as well as musicians to perform. If interested, email chelseamiller@jacksonnc.org or call 828.631.0271.

• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or

follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.

• Summer Artisans Market will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month through September at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Artisan vendors and more. For more information, go to noc.com.

• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island St. in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts and more. Food truck, picnic tables and live music. Leashed pets are welcome. Outdoor event. 828.488.7857.

• The Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.

• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.

• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.

• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes or call 828.586.2248.

Waynesville art walk, live music

A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will take place from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, in downtown Waynesville.

Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike.

For more information, go to downtownwaynesville.com.

T. Pennington is a featured artisan at ‘Art After Dark.’ File photo

The Gemboree will run July 28-30 in Franklin.

File photo

An indigenous road map for all mankind

Sometimes a great book just falls into my lap, which is what happened recently with Sherri Mitchell’s “Sacred Instructions” (North Atlantic Books, 2018, 227 pages). From the first page, I knew that I was holding a classic in my hands, and soon thereafter one that was truly important for our times.

Drawing from her Penobscott First Nation indigenous ancestry in Maine along the Canadian border and the knowledge gained from those ancient connections, coupled with her experience as an attorney and activist and someone with a huge resume of organized activism, Mitchell addresses some of the most crucial issues of our day, such as environmental protection and human rights. For those seeking change, this book offers a volume of cultural values that inform us as to how to preserve our collective survival for future generations. In this sense, Sherri Mitchell is one of the indigenous wisdomkeepers who has been selected by elders of the Native American community, here in the U.S., to share that ancient wisdom and to speak out about pressing issues and how those issues might be resolved. In that sense, “Sacred Instructions” is a textbook for all of us “students” wishing and working for a better and more sustainable future.

Compared to such Native American classics as “Touch the Earth, Black Elk Speaks” and the photos of Edward Curtis, and as a manual for both American indigenous history and spiritual beliefs and practice, the book’s contents include subject headings such as “Building the Foundation,”

“Understanding the Wayward Path (Conflict Transformation, Rights and Responsibilities, Decolonizing, Ending Our Childlike Dependence),” Imagining the “Path Forward (Conscious Co-Creation, Teachers and Teachings),” “Reaching Back and Moving Forward (Core Cultural Values, The Indigenous Way of Life, Living in the Time of Prophecy).”

For those pressed for time, one would only need to read the acknowledgements, introduction and first section of the book to get the general message. Right from the getgo, we get a taste of all of these subjects and themes; as Mitchell says, “We all come into this world with a set of instructions. These instructions guide us toward our highest purpose. They lead us to the essential truths that live deep within us. This truth is encoded in our DNA. It is embedded in our genetic memory.” She continues: “As we move through these challenging times, it is important to remember that none of us are here by accident. We entered this world with the

express purpose of facilitating the changes that are manifesting during this time, and we brought with us the gifts needed to accomplish that task.”

From here we get down into the details of her profound and prophetic message; mainly regarding our actions and the knowledge that “when we merge our internal rhythms with the rhythms of creation, we develop grace in our movement, and without thought or effort we are able to slide into the

way of being. My people have been dreaming of the time when our way of life would be embraced, rather than attacked, when our wisdom would be sought, rather than shunned; when we could stand united once again with all our relatives within creation.”

These are just some hints at what you, as a reader, have in store for you as you dive deeper into this book. Michell writes about food, water and the air we breathe; language; economy and ecology; ritual and ceremony; the problem of homogeneity; balancing the masculine and the feminine; communal versus individual; the role of women; cooperation versus competition and sharing versus saving. After delving into all of these things, she spends the remaining pages of the book writing about “the Indigenous way of life” as she generously introduces to us her own cultural heritage, which often includes her own language and previously withheld sacred prophecies. Then, she ends the book with the words of none other than Crazy Horse of the Oglala Lakota Sioux, which were passed down from 1877, and which were meant, now, for all of us to hear. Read them and weep — for joy:

perfectly choreographed dance of life.” For those who don’t know or choose not to acknowledge it, Mitchell writes about her own indigenous history and how it dovetails with the history of the United States:

“We are on the precipice of an evolutionary leap, one that requires us to transcend our differences and integrate into a more harmonized way of being. All of our prophecies speak of this time: the time when the people of the world would begin waking up and unifying for the protection of life. As Indigenous people, we have been guided to carry the sacred teachings that allowed us to maintain our connected way of life, for when this time came, and we would be able to help guide humanity back to the more balanced

“Upon suffering beyond suffering, the Red Nation shall rise again and it shall be a blessing for a sick world. A world filled with broken promises, selfishness, and separations, a world longing for light again. I see a time of seven generations when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred Tree of Life and the whole Earth will become one circle again. In that day, there will be those among the Lakota who will carry knowledge and understanding of unity among all living things, and the young white ones will come to those of my people and ask for this wisdom. I salute the light within your eyes where the whole universe dwells. For when you are at that center within you and I am at that place within me, we shall be as one.”

(Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to The Smoky Mountain News and author of the multi-award-winning non-fiction nature memoir “Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.”)

Writer Thomas Crowe

Four months of fees

Smokies reports high revenues, compliance following parking fee implementation

BY HOLLY KAYS OUTDOORS E DITOR

When new fees went into effect in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park March 1, park managers were expecting limited revenues and limited compliance during their inaugural year enforcing the Smokies’ first-ever parking fee. But four months in, both metrics are coming in higher than anticipated.

“We were basing our revenue projections on around a 30% rate of compliance … we haven’t done a systematic study on that, but anecdotally, particularly in some of our most heavily visited sites, we’re seeing a higher compliance rate,” said Kendra Straub, management and program analyst for the park. “And we are exceeding our revenue projections.”

Between June 30 and the beginning of the fiscal year, Oct. 1, 2022, the park collected $6.2 million in recreation revenue from parking and camping fees. Despite the new parking fee and higher camping fees being in effect for less than half that time, the year-to-date figure is double the $3.1 million collected during the entire previous fiscal year.

By the end of June, the park had sold more than 150,000 single-day parking tags, 63,000 weekly tags and 34,000 annual tags. As of press time, the park could not say how much revenue these sales had produced.

Prior to the program’s March 1 launch, Superintendent Cassius Cash said he expected the parking tags to bring in $5 million for the current fiscal year ending Sept. 30 and $8-10 million annually thereafter. Including fee increases approved along with the Park it Forward parking fee program — backcountry camping rates doubled, and campground fees rose across the board — he said he expected to see total revenue of $12-$14 million each year.

The parking tag program was controversial within the communities surrounding the park, where many of the descendants of the 1,200 families evicted during the park’s creation still reside. The governments of all six surrounding counties and the N.C. House of Representatives issued formal statements in opposition to the policy. However, among park visitors, reception has been mostly positive, said Smokies spokesperson Emily Davis.

“They understand why we’re doing this,” she said. “Many visitors are used to paying some sort of fee at other parks that they go to, whether those are state parks or national parks.”

EDUCATIONAL ENFORCEMENT

The park has not yet decided how to spend all of its new revenue, but its first investment related to the Park it Forward program was hiring seven recreation fee technicians to monitor the park’s busiest areas. Wearing the traditional NPS uniform and flat hat, these park rangers are responsible for checking the 16 fee machines currently installed at six park locations and for informing visitors who arrive without a parking tag why the fee program exists and how to com-

ply.

“A big push is the education component behind this, so they’re doing a bunch of outreach with our visitors,” Davis said.

Fee technicians can’t write tickets — only law enforcement rangers can do that. Rangers have issued “well over” 1,000 warning stickers since the start of the program but have been more focused on enforcing parking safety than on the parking tags themselves, Straub said. Warning stickers can be issued for both types of violations.

“We are really working hard to ensure that vehicles that are parked in the lane of travel, in a very unsafe manner, inappropriately, that we are seeking those visitors,” she said. “Perhaps we’re providing a written or verbal warning, and in fact we have towed some vehicles recently because we really want to maintain visitor safety.”

No cars have been towed for not having a parking tag, she said; towing has occurred only in case of extremely unsafe parking.

MULTI-PURPOSE RANGERS

Meanwhile, the new fee technicians serve a variety of purposes unrelated to the new parking fee program.

“Critically, they’re also a ranger in a flat

hat accessible for questions, and so our visitors are really hungry for that,” Straub said. “Fee rangers are very knowledgeable, and they’re out and about in busiest places of the park.”

During a recent ride-along, Straub said, she saw fee rangers answer questions about trail difficulty, waterfall locations and tree identification.

“They’re providing a lot of visibility, preventative search and rescue information, making sure people are prepared for the trail they’re about to hike,” Straub said. “They’re really a general ranger.”

Increasing resources for preventative search and rescue — ensuring visitors are prepared before leaving the trailhead to reduce the need for emergency rescue later — has long been a priority for the park. In 2020, the Smokies hired its first emergency manager, who was tasked with reducing searches by 20% within five years.

Park it Forward will help the Smokies meet that goal. The park is in the process of hiring seven preventative search and rescue rangers using that revenue.

“That’s really exciting to be able to have those first responders out there that will be out patrolling trails, and will be able to help out in emergencies,” F

Automated fee machines can accept payments and dispense daily or weekly parking tags. Cory Vaillancourt photo

By hiring more preventative search and rescue rangers, the park hopes to reduce the need for backcountry rescues. NPS photo

Davis said.

The Smokies is not done deciding where to direct its new revenue stream. There is specific policy dictating how recreation fee revenues can be spent, and because the fee is new, the park didn’t know how much revenue would result until after implementation. All this means that deciding how to spend the money will take time and oversight.

“A lot remains to be planned for those funds, because we really started out conservative without the knowledge of what revenue we would actually see from the program,” Straub said.

More hiring is coming, but the fee will fund more than staffing. A variety of projects are already in the planning phases, including improvements to walkways, sidewalks and accessibility at certain sites, as well as expanded facilities such as parking lots.

BUSIEST JUNE EVER

Despite the new parking fee and a crackdown on illegal parking, the park has logged its busiest June ever, with an estimated 1.56 million visitors last month — up 4.7% from June 2022. As of the end of June, year-todate visitation was 2% higher than the same point in 2022, though 6.2% lower than in 2021, the park’s busiest-ever year.

An additional 70,000 people using Foothills Parkway West was a major contributor to June’s high numbers. While Big Creek and Greenbriar both saw significant dips in visitation — 37.9% and 12.7% less than June 2022, respectively — several other smaller entrances saw big increases. Visitation at Cataloochee was 20.4% higher than in June 2022, and Abrams Creek saw a whopping 339% increase.

“We aren’t shocked that there is additional traffic to that area, really thinking about the reopening of Look Rock Campground, and that area becoming in some ways more of a standalone destination,” Straub said. “And I think that’s what we’re seeing with the increase in Abrams Creek.”

New traffic counters were recently installed in that location, and due to issues with the old counters, Straub thinks it likely that visitation was underestimated during parts of 2022.

Locations like Cataloochee and Abrams Creek saw substantial increases in visitation despite the difficulty of complying with the new parking tag program in those areas without advance planning. Remote entrances like Big Creek, Cosby, Cataloochee, Twentymile and Abrams Creek do not have automated fee machines or nearby visitor centers where tags can be purchased.

The park hopes to fix that shortcoming in the future, Davis said. Automated fee machines were first installed in locations with amenities like power and cell signal, but an offline machine installed at Metcalf Bottoms seems to be operating well. The

Learn about ancient Cherokee astronomy

Gain insight into the cultural heritage of the Cherokee and their historical, sacred landscapes during a lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Highlands Nature Center.

Jane Eastman and Brett Riggs, both professors at Western Carolina University, will present “Archeoastronomy in Southwestern North Carolina.” In ancient Cherokee perspective, the matters of this world, the Above World and the Beneath World intertwine. The Cherokee constructed ritual landscapes to engage the beings and forces of these realms.

Recent investigations in the Little Tennessee River Valley have revealed one such landscape that marks astronomical phenomena and sophisticated systems for measuring calendrical time and the cycles central to Cherokee life. These patterns indicate complex observational sciences that guided functions of indigenous societies long before European contact.

Eastman is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, and director of WCU’s Tali Tsisgwayahi Archeological Collections Facility. Riggs, the Sequoyah Distinguished Professor of Cherokee Studies at WCU, is an esteemed archeologist and expert in Cherokee and Catawba ethnohistory.

park is developing plans to place about 14 new machines across six different locations in the park. Additionally, it’s working to partner with small businesses nearby to sell tags there.

“We’re still solidifying the locations but we’re looking at places like Cosby, like Big Creek, like, potentially Cataloochee,” Straub said. “So we’re still narrowing in on those, but we’re looking at areas like that, where

The lecture is offered as part of the Zahner Conservation Lecture Series, held at 6 p.m. Thursdays through Aug. 10. View the full schedule at highlandsbiological.org. The Aug. 3 lecture is sponsored by Suzanne and Don Duggan, Julie Farrow, Florence and Tom Holmes, Ruthie and Franko Oliver, Adele and Nick Scielzo, and Margaret Waters. A small reception will follow.

right now there’s not an easy in-person location necessarily, if that’s your primary and first and maybe only destination in the park.”

An annual parking tag is displayed in the windshield of a car. NPS photo

Visitors crowd for a view of Laurel Falls. NPS photo

Riggs and Eastman work at an archeology site. Donated photo

Forest thinning proposed near Tellico Gap

The U.S. Forest Service has proposed a plan to cut trees on 195 acres in the Nantahala National Forest. The goal is to boost nut production from trees like oak and hickory and improve habitat for the goldenwinged warbler.

The acres are scattered across 14 stands on slopes containing the headwaters of Queens Creek and Partridge Creek, in Macon County north of Tellico Gap, and they include spots along the Appalachian Trail. The area around the stands to be harvested includes hundreds of acres of mature forest stands adjacent to 72 acres of young forest that grew following a 2008-2011 clearcut and 123 acres of 31-year-old trees resulting from a 1991 clearcut. The Old Growth Network approved in the new Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Management Plan surrounds the A.T. in this area, but none of the stands to be harvested fall within the network.

The project proposal follows a 2016 wildfire that burned through the recently harvested area with mixed severity, resetting forest succession in a mosaic pattern. In 2017, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission found golden-winged warbler nesting sites in the area.

“An opportunity exists to apply variable density thinning that will simultaneously improve hard mast producing species composition and forest composition for the golden-winged warbler,” the scoping letter states.

The project would involve cutting small openings of about a quarter-acre to temporarily enhance existing openings where cuttings occur along natural or recently burned openings. Additionally, individual oak and hickory trees would be selected 25 feet apart, with adjacent trees competing with them for sunlight thinned out using chainsaws. About 12% of the proposed thinning would occur in the forest’s Appalachian

Adaptive Adventures’ coming to the Smokies

A trio of programs aimed at allowing people with disabilities to explore the outdoors will be held in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park this summer, starting with an event Saturday, July 22, at Deep Creek Trail near Bryson City. The others are scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 27, at Forge Creek Road in Caves Cove and Saturday, Sept. 9, at Little River Trail.

Rangers and volunteers will lead hiking programs July 22 and Sept. 9 using off-road wheelchairs and a biking program Aug. 27 with adaptive mountain bikes. Time slots for the July 22 program are offered 9-11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. After the scheduled hiking and biking programs, two GRIT Freedom Chairs, a type of off-road wheelchair, will be available for visitors to check out and use on park trails evaluated for the equipment.

The programs are a partnership between the park, Knox County, Catalyst Sports and Friends of the Smokies. Volunteers are needed to make it work, and a volunteer training session is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 15, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Training Room near Cherokee. Each piece of adaptive equipment requires assistance from two volunteers.

To register as a volunteer, contact Katherine Corrigan at katherine_corrigan@nps.gov. To participate in one of the programs, registration is required with Catalyst Sports at catalystsports.org/special-events/smokey-mountains-hiking-days.

Get started with mountain biking

Take a ride with experienced rider Alex Kirby 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 5 at Chestnut Mountain Bike Park in Canton .

Youth and adults who are new to mountain biking will be able to pick up skills and confidence on the trails during this free program. Loaner bikes and helmets will be available. Registration required with Haywood County Recreation and Parks at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

Trail Management Area, while 12% would occur in the Matrix Management Area.

To learn more, visit fs.usda.gov/project/nfsnc/?project=64473. Submit comments by the close of business Aug. 11 to

Brandon Stephens at brandon.l.stephens@usda.gov or Brandon L. Stephens, District Silviculturist, Nantahala Ranger District, 90 Sloan Rd., Franklin, NC 28734.

GSMA plans Members Weekend

Registration is open through July 31 to take part in the guided hikes, science classes, birding and live music that will mark the Great Smoky Mountains Association’s annual Members Weekend in Gatlinburg Sept. 15-16.

Additionally, GSMA is partnering with Discover Life in America to host a BioBlitz in celebration of DLiA’s 25th anniversary, during which GSMA members will help document as many species as possible in the Cosby area of the park.

Full-weekend and single-day passes are available. The event is open to GSMA members only, with memberships available starting at $35. Learn more at smokiesinformation.org/members-weekend.

Go snorkeling

Break in the new snorkeling site at Queen Branch in Macon County during an event 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2.

The site is one of 10 stops spread across Western North Carolina’s new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. During the event, Mainspring Conservation Trust will unveil new educational signage on the land it has previously conserved and then get attendees in the river

exploring their underwater backyard. Creatures like tangerine darters and spotfin chubs are common at the site, as are many types of fish, salamanders, mussels, crayfish and more.

Free, with loaner snorkels available. Registration is required at mainspringconserves.org/events. The event is weatherdependent. In case of heavy rain leading up to Aug. 2, the water will be cloudy and the event will be rescheduled.

Kids fishing extravaganza returning to Cherokee

The 22nd annual Talking Trees Trout Derby will invite children from across the area to fish in Cherokee Aug. 4-5.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, fishing, face painting, balloons and more will be available for participants at the Oconaluftee Islands Park. The fun will continue 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. More than $20,000 in prizes will be awarded over the course of the weekend.

Open to ages 3 to 11. Entry is free, with pre-registration available at cherokeetroutderby.com. Contact Lisa Frady with questions at 828.359.6471 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

Run for hours

Dip your toe in the world of ultra running with the Not A Sprint Weekend Sunday, Sept. 3, in Forest City.

Organized by the cancer support organization Throwing Bones and Glory Hound Events, the event features three-hour, six-hour and 12-hour racing options, as well as a golf tournament. The running will take place on the Thermal Belt Trail from Forest City to Spindale. Much of the trail is shaded, and all of it is paved.

Register at ultrasignup.com.

Bikers explore Forge Creek Road in Cades Cove. NPS photo

New species found in the Smokies

Three new species of spiders have been discovered in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, bringing the total number of new-to-science species found in the park through Discover Life in America’s All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory project to 1,079 since the project launched in 1998.

The new species are all in the genus Nesticus and are types of cave cobweb spiders, with species names binfordae, cherokeensis and dykemanae.

Additionally, two species have recently been added to the list of those observed within park boundaries. DLiA Science and Research Director Will Kuhn found the ironweed plume moth, a “surprisingly common” caterpillar species, near the DLiA office at Twin Creeks in September 2022. In April 2022, iNaturalist user Jared Gorrell, who describes himself as “an Upland-South-based botanist, birder and herper, though I dabble in basically everything,” uploaded an observation of a soldier beetle, the first time that species had been found in the park.

Currently, 21,669 species have been found in the park, of which 10,894 had not been recorded there before. Learn more at dlia.org or download the iNaturalist app to start observing.

Wildlife Commission launches new system for license purchases

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has launched a new, custom licensing system and mobile app that both residents and nonresidents can use to buy licenses, register vessels, apply for permits and shop for merchandise.

Through the app, customers can upgrade their digital license(s) to a durable, hard card license with four design options to choose

from that feature North Carolina game and fish. The app also offers a range of resources such as virtual maps, regulations, sunrise/sunset times and harvest report forms.

The Florida-based company Brandt developed the app. Through the partnership, Brandt also created a mobile app that allows wildlife law enforcement officers to scan license documents and hard card QR codes to confirm registration status in the field, with or without cell phone reception.

Learn more at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com or download the “Go Outdoors North Carolina” app.

Crump re-elected as Wildlife Commission chairman

Richmond County resident Monty R. Crump has been elected for another term as chairman of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Board after leading the body for the past two years. Greensboro resident Mark Craig will replace Thomas L. Fonville as vice chairman.

Gov. Roy Cooper appointed Crump to a six-year term as District 6 commissioner in 2017 and reappointed him to a new term in April. Craig is an at-large appointee of Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and has been on the Commission since 2015.

The 19-member commission is responsible for establishing polices and regulations governing hunting, fishing, trapping, boating and lands management in North Carolina. Monty

An ironwood plume moth was recorded in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park for the first time last year. Will Kuhn photo

R. Crump.

Documentary grapples with forest management

A free screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “The River Runs On” will display the mesmerizing beauty and profound significance of the Southern Appalachian region at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Highlands Nature Center.

“The River Runs On,” directed by award-winning Asheville-based filmmaker Garrett Martin, follows conservationists throughout the region as they struggle to manage two of the nation’s most important national forest — the Pisgah and the Nantahala. The film revolves around the creation of the Pisgah-Nantahala Forest Management Plan, which the U.S. Forest Service will use to chart the course of these cherished national forests over the next two decades.

A Q&A session with Martin will follow the screening. Learn more about the film at theriverrunson.com.

Red spruce planted at Mount Mitchell

In May, 327 two-year-old red spruce trees grown by the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway traveled to the Black Mountains for planting in Mount Mitchell State Park.

The trees were grown through the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative, a partnership between the reserve and various state, federal, nonprofit and university organizations. They were picked up by Sue Cameron, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who is an expert in the endangered species that depend on red spruce for survival, along with her team. The trees will provide new habitat for the endangered Carolina northern flying squirrel, the spruce-fir moss spider — which is the world’s smallest tarantula — and many others.

There is currently a shortage of spruce-fir forest in the Southern Appalachians, the result of heavy logging in the late 1800s and early 1900s accompanied by construction of railroads through the rugged terrain, as well as hot-burning wildfires, torrential rain, mid-century air pollution and damage from the balsam wooly adelgid.

Mark Endries (right) helps a volunteer plant a young red spruce tree in the Camp Alice area of Mount Mitchell State Park. USFWS photo

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.

• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.

• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 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

• The Green Energy Park is seeking artists to demonstrate/ provide kid-friendly activities, as well as musicians to perform, for the Youth Art’s Festival slated to take place 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park. If interested, contact Chelsea Seaman at chelseamiller@jacksonnc.org or call the office at 828.631.0271.

H EALTH AND WELLNESS

• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville, NC. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.

AUTHORS AND B OOKS

• Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25-29. Applications to participate in the event may be submitted online now through April 30 at writers.gsmit.org.

K IDS AND FAMILIES

• The Jackson County Public Library in Sylva will host a kids’ program about moon exploration on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. Randi Neff will lead these activities focused on NASA’s Artemis program, with aims to one day establish a base on the Moon. Co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. For more information call 828.586.2016.

• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.

• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the

n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com

Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.

• Next Chapter Book Club Haywood is a fun, energetic and highly interactive book club, ideal for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.

• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.

A&E

• Givens Great Laurels Craft Show and Sale will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 28, in the Community Room at Givens Great Laurels. Featuring pieces from five residents including jewelry, wreaths and photography. Cash only, limited parking, an attendant will be on site to assist.

• The 56th Annual Macon County Gemboree will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 28-29, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Robert C Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. For more information visit visitfranklinnc.com or call 828.524.3161.

• The Summer Concerts at the Brasstown Community Center continue with a new band — The Gladson Family — at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 29. Admission is $10, doors open at 6 p.m., children under 12 are free. For more information call 828.361.3040 or go to www.brasstowncommunitycenter.org.

• Christmas in July, a fundraising concert for Children’s Grief Programs with Haywood Hospice will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Wells Event Center. The concert will feature Darren Nicholson, as well as Gary Mehalick, Stephen Feron and Lizzy Ibarra. Ticket donations start at $60.

• The Harry Potter Birthday celebration will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, in downtown Sylva. There will be a costume contest at 11 a.m. at Hogwarts (the paper mill) followed by a costume sidewalk parade around noon. Kids activities at Platform 9 3/4 (Fusion Spa) will take place from 2-4 p.m.

• Folkmoot International Day will celebrate dance, music, crafts and food of many world cultures and

Appalachian mountains 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 29, in downtown Waynesville. For more information visit folkmoot.org.

• The 17th Annual Franklin Area Folk Festival will take place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center. The event is free. For more information call 828.369.4080.

• Trivia Night is hosted 6:30-8:30 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley. For more information visit meadowlarkmotel.com.

• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.

• 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 Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. mountainmakersmarket.com.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

• A four-week Feldenkrais class series begins at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Conference Room A1. Feldenkrais uses gentle movement and directed attention to promote reduction of pain, increase range of movement, improve flexibility and coordination. Cost $60 for the series, $20 per class for walk-ins. To register email Annallys at eetm2023@proton.me or call 505.438.9109.

• A glassblowing class, “Pumpkin or Paperweight” will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park. Ten spots are available, cost is $60, due at registration. To register for a class, contact the GEP at 828.631.0271.

• “Armor Construction: Gothic Gauntlet,” a class that teaches various techniques involved in constructing armor, will be offered 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, August 5-6, at the Green Energy Park in Jackson County. Cost is $550, space is limited, pre-registration required. For more information or to register, contact the GEP at 828.631.0271.

• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons. Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Call 828.349.4607 for more information.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

• “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. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.

Outdoors

• Haywood County Recreation and Parks will lead a hike on Wednesday, July 26, from Lonesome Pine Overlook to Noland Divide in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Vickey and. Phyllis will lead the hike which has an elevation gain of 2.300 feet. Hike registration is $10. Sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.

n Complete listings of local music scene

n Regional festivals

n Art gallery events and openings

n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers

n Civic and social club gatherings

• Actress Anne VanCuren will transform into “Grandma Gatewood,” the first woman to complete the Appalachian Trail during a dramatic re-enactment at 5 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at The Village Green in Cashiers. The event is organized as a fundraiser for Friends of Panthertown. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and $5 for kids under 12. Reserve a spot at panthertown.org/tickets.

• Hike through old growth forests, streams and past the historic Palmer house during a trip along the Boogerman Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Saturday, July 29. Free for HWA members with a $5 donation suggested for nonmembers. No pets. Space is limited. RSVP to Christine O’Brien at christine@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.

• Break in the new snorkeling site at Queen Branch in Macon County during an event 1-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2. The site is one of 10 stops spread across Western North Carolina’s new Blue Ridge Snorkel Trail. Free, with loaner snorkels available. Registration is required at mainspringconserves.org/events. The event is weather-dependent. In case of heavy rain leading up to Aug. 2, the water will be cloudy, and the event will be rescheduled.

• Jane Eastman and Brett Riggs, professors at Western Carolina University, will present “Archaeoastronomy in Southwestern North Carolina,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Highlands Nature Center. For more information visit highlandsbiological.org.

• A free screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “The River Runs On” will display the mesmerizing beauty and profound significance of the Southern Appalachian region at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, at the Highlands Nature Center. A Q&A session with filmmaker Garrett Martin will follow the screening. Learn more about the film at theriverrunson.com.

• The 22nd annual Talking Trees Trout Derby will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, in Cherokee at the Oconaluftee Islands Park. More than $20,000 in prizes will be awarded over the course of the weekend. Open to ages 3 to 11, entry is free with pre-registration available at cherokeetroutderby.com. For more information contact Lisa Frady with questions at 828.359.6471 or travel@nc-cherokee.com.

• Take a ride at Chestnut Mountain Bike Park in Canton 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 5, with experienced rider Alex Kirby. Youth and adults who are new to mountain biking will be able to pick up skills and confidence on the trails during this free program. Loaner bikes and helmets will be available. Registration required with Haywood County Recreation and Parks at bit.ly/haywoodrec.

• The annual Lake Logan Multisport Festival is just a month away, with three tri-sport events coming up in Haywood County Aug. 5-6. Learn more or sign up at www.gloryhoundevents.com/event/lake-logan-multisport-festival.

• ArborEvenings at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville take place 5:30-8 p.m. every Thursday and Friday evening through Sept. 22. Stroll through the gardens, purchase food and beverages, and listen to live music. Free with standard $20 parking fee, and free for Arboretum Society members. For information visit www.ncarboretum.org.

Market

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!

Rates:

• $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

• $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

PLACE WNC

Legals

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION

Case No.2023 E 000399 Stacy Corzine, having

John Ray Hardin County, North Carolina, Oct 05 2023, or Administrator 137 Reynolds Dr Canton NC 28716

NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION Case No. 000376

Jack Austen Ammons Jr

County, North Carolina, Oct 26 2023, or Administrator 70 Gateway Street Waynesville, NC 28785

NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION

HAYWOOD COUNTY, NC COURT IN THE MATTER OF C. W. Bolick, minor child FILE NO. 19 JT 91

TAKE NOTICE that a

RAY BOLICK

Danya Vanhook

Attorney for Petitioner’s Lindsey and Devin

Holtsclaw 854 N. Main St. Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 452-5522

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