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August 7-13, 2013 Vol. 15 Iss. 10 Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information www.smokymountainnews.com

VFW reopens after criminal investigation Page 17 Kayak championships expected boon for WNC Page 6 & 32

Asphyxiating rural economies

WNC fears lack of voice in state economic future

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CONTENTS

STAFF

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Government and economic development leaders in Western North Carolina are anxiously to see if the region will have a voice in the state’s new economic development plan.

(Page 8)

News Bryson City businesses prep for kayak championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Churches kept out of retail space in downtown Sylva . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Old Dillsboro Dam site one step closer to river park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Deadly gas could be to blame for fatal incident near Franklin . . . . . . . . . . 12 Jackson Sheriff’s Office goes digital behind the wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Lake Junaluska nonprofit gives free clothes to needy schoolkids . . . . . . . . 14 Town board reopens Canton manager search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Should Jackson background check volunteers? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Waynesville VFW reopens after criminal investigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Travis Bumgardner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . travis@smokymountainnews.com Emily Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emily@smokymountainnews.com Whitney Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . whitney@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jc-ads@smokymountainnews.com Hylah Smalley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hylah@smliv.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Becky Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . news@smokymountainnews.com Caitlin Bowling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . caitlin@smokymountainnews.com Andrew Kasper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . andrew@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing)

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Cherokee theater tests new musical on limited audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

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NOC readies itself for paddling competition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

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Bryson City readies itself for kayaking worlds

“We’ve always had a pretty steady base for Labor Day, but the championships reinvigorates the week and brings in a whole new base of guests.”

August 7-13, 2013

— Monica Brown, innkeeper, Fryemont Inn

As the countdown continues until the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships at the Nantahala Outdoor, many Bryson City businesses like the Cork & Bean (pictured) are ready for the influx of visitors, which is expected to be upwards of 10,000 spectators each day.

Garret K. Woodward photos

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER atten down the hatches, the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships are coming.

“This event shows how this tiny town can come together and work together,” said Joe Rowland. “Everybody involved has invested a lot of time and energy into making a natural connection between Bryson City and the Nantahala Gorge.”

Co-owner of the Nantahala Brewing Company in downtown Bryson City, Rowland and other members of the community are welcoming the world as it comes to their doorstep. Running Sept. 2-8 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the gorge, the championships are a way to not only bring international exposure to the outdoor facility but also showcase Bryson City and Swain County as a whole.

“Everybody is going to benefit for this,” Rowland said. “We’re pretty excited about it all.”

Bringing together hundreds of professional paddlers from dozens of countries, the championships are expected to attract upwards of 10,000 people each day. Bryson City will play host to the attendees, who will 6 need everything from lodging to restaurants,

Smoky Mountain News

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“Everybody involved has invested a lot of time and energy into making a natural connection between Bryson City and the Nantahala Gorge.”

— Joe Roland, co-owner, Nantahala Brewing Company

shopping to outdoor gear. It’s a win-win for the small mountain town.

“The NOC has been doing a great job going around to local businesses and talking to everybody on how to prepare and be ready for the event,” said Scott Mastej, co-owner of the Bryson City Cork & Bean. “With the NOC in the middle of the gorge, they’ve been letting everybody know there’s a cool little town nearby and vice versa.”

With 25 people currently on his staff, Mastej plans on hiring another 10 full- and part-time employees for the championships.

He’ll also be getting help from friends and the other three business partners who manage the restaurant. Already the chefs are kicking around ideas for doing an internationally themed menu for the event. As well, the NOC will be partnering with the restaurant to host a meet and greet dinner for the athletes and their families and friends.

Coming into its third year, the establishment, which is also a café and specializes in crepes, added a dining room area this spring.

The popularity of the space added into the usual summer tourism frenzy has allowed the restaurant to iron out the kinks and know what it’s capable of at full capacity.

“We feel going through this rigorous summer has prepared us for the championships,” Mastej said. “We wanted to get the dining room opened early this year so we get geared up for summer and be able to figure everything out.”

Pouring its signature craft brews at the NOC beer garden for the championships, Nantahala Brewing is teaming up with Sierra Nevada, a major sponsor who’ll also have plenty of selections on tap. An enormous craft beer company, Sierra Nevada personally contacted Nantahala in an effort to show

industry solidarity and also make sure no toes were being stepped on with the California brewer coming into the gorge.

“They reached out to us and said they would only become an event sponsor if they could team up with us,” Rowland said. “We feel pretty lucky to be getting this kind of national exposure. This area just keeps getting better and better. We could be anywhere, but we wanted to be here.”

Perched high above downtown Bryson City on a mountainside, it’s business as usual for the Fryemont Inn. The historic lodge is headlong into the summer, with the championships in their crosshairs. The 45-member staff will all be present during the event.

Immediately following an always-busy Labor Day weekend, the championships are a much-needed economic boost in an otherwise lull that occurs after a holiday.

“We’ve always had a pretty steady base for Labor Day, but the championships reinvigorates the week and brings in a whole new base of guests,” said Monica Brown, innkeeper at the Fryemont. “With the nature of the spectators of this sport, we’re thinking there’ll be more rooms booked closer to the event, which has been the case with other bookings this summer due to the weather.”

Brown was the chairwoman of the Swain County Tourism Development Authority throughout the planning process for the championships. She was also part of the organization steering committee set up to provide local businesses and members of the community a direct outlet to the NOC for suggestions and information.

“We’ve got fantastic resources here, and the partnership and collaboration between everyone has really been incredible,” she said. “Yes, we’re going to see positive economic growth from it, but more importantly, it’s the lasting legacy of the event, which is a long-term investment in making this area for national and international events and visitors.”

“We feel going through this rigorous summer has prepared us for the championships.”

— Scott Mastej, co-owner, Cork & Bean

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER own board members said no to expanding Sylva’s zoning laws to be more inclusive for churches downtown, citing a desire to reserve the center of the city for commerce, nightlife and retail.

Doug Rowe, on a mission to move his alternative-style Christian church from its current location in Whittier to a vacant building on Main Street in downtown, asked town leaders to change current zoning laws. The space he wanted to rent was a

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plans to put a restaurant there. Yet Rowe continued on his quest to get Sylva to change its ordinance, motivated by the possibility of another ground-level space becoming available downtown but also because he wanted to see his cause to the end. “I decided to just go all the way with it, so here I am now,� he said, standing before the board at its meeting last week. “Churches I just don’t think should be looked upon as the bad guy in any situation.�

Rowe had plans for an open-door church

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that would also put on concerts and other events. The congregation is small now but he hoped to grow membership.

Since his request for the board to change the law, and his intention to relocate his church, became public, it attracted media attention from various print, radio and television outlets. It also attracted the disapproval of many of the local merchants.

The state statute that prohibits alcohol from being served 50 feet from a church became a concern for one of Rowe’s wouldbe-neighbors who has a cafÊ and would like to serve alcohol in the future. But many merchants opposed it on principle and for economic reasons.

Sheryl Rudd, co-owner of Heinzelmännchen Brewery in downtown Sylva, spoke against an ordinance change on behalf of the town’s downtown merchants association. She said the businesses opposing the request aren’t anti-church but believe the limited street-level space should be used appropriately and in harmony with the downtown character. “We like what this church will bring and we hope it finds a place,â€? Rudd said. “We just feel in this downtown district to put a church on the Main Street level is not an appropriate location.â€?

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former restaurant and theater and is on the ground level, a space where churches are prohibited by law in the downtown district.

The logic is that the prime retail space should be reserved for businesses. At their meeting last week, board members unanimously supported that train of thought and denied Rowe’s request. “We have a special area in our town,� said Board Member Lynda Sossamon. “And we’d like to keep it as it was set to be, mainly a walking district for specialized retail, businesses, offices, etcetera.�

The town board followed the recommendation of the town planning board and code enforcement officer John Jeleniewski, who defended the ordinance as written. Jeleniewski explained to the board that although churches are prohibited in certain spaces on ground level in the downtown district, known as the B1 district, nearly 90 percent of the downtown building space is still open to them. “The B1 district is the heart of Sylva’s commercial activity,� Jeleniewski said. “And currently there are adequate accommodations for use of churches.�

Before the vote even came before the town board, the space Rowe wanted for his church was leased to another renter who

August 7-13, 2013

Church ware still prohibited on the street level in downtown Sylva, following a vote by town officials. Andrew Kasper photo

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WNC leaders worry that region will be left behind economically Demise of Rural Center, reduced role of AdvantageWest blamed

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER estern North Carolina business and political leaders are wondering who will go to the mat for them to attract new and expanding businesses now that the N.C. General Assembly has severed ties with two important rural economic development entities.

“Who is going to be our advocate, and where are we going to find funds?” said Ron Leatherwood, a member of Haywood County’s Economic Development Commission.

“Someone has got to fill that void.”

The state legislature cut funding to the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center as well as another prominent economic development organization, AdvantageWest. Instead, the state will put the millions in funding toward a single, yet-to-be-created nonprofit that will address economic development statewide.

“The money will still be there, but what will be the vehicle by which it’s applied?”

Leatherwood said.

Few details of the state’s new approach to economic development are known. N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory has appointed 39 people from across the state to sit on a committee tasked with crafting a long-term economic development plan.

With little to go on, many in WNC fear that the decline of its economic development advocates, the Rural Center and AdvantageWest, will essentially mute the region’s voice and ability to attract and grow businesses. They wonder who will be there to pick up the slack.

“If you don’t have a spokesman, then you are not at the table,” said Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown, who is also on the Haywood Economic Development Commission.

If the Rural Center is one of WNC’s eco-

August 7-13, 2013

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Smoky Mountain News

a centralized entity in Raleigh. To help guide that process, McCrory created a 39-person economic development board that will draft a roadmap for job creation and establish a private, nonprofit to take over many of the Department of Commerce’s economic development duties.

Brown took issue with the fact that the new state economic development organization would be a private entity.

“What the Republicans are going to set up is (a program) that is not subject to public scrutiny,” Brown said.

Despite cuts to rural economic development groups, lawmakers in Raleigh have assured Western North Carolinians that they would have a say in that process.

Tony Almeida, the governor’s senior economic adviser, recently spoke at the annual meeting of the Southwestern N.C. Planning and Economic Development Commission, the council of governments for the seven westernmost counThe pictured map shows where members of the state’s new economic development board are from. Only one ties. He said that WNC would representative is west of Interstate 77. Google Maps not be forgotten.

N.C. Rep. Joe Sam Queen, nomic development arms, then nomic development efforts, then leaders in the D-Waynesville, remains skeptical.

AdvantageWest is the other. The Rural Center rural counties will need to make sure state offi“What we have is a promise — a pig in a awarded grants and loans to businesses to cials keep their word and don’t neglect WNC poke,” he said, adding that he will be the first to expand and create jobs, partially as an incen- when the state implements its new economic admit he was wrong if the new state approach tive to stay in a rural part of North Carolina development plan. is actually a positive for WNC. “I’ll be the first rather than move to a big city or different state.

“I think we are all just going to have to work one to say ‘By golly, you are on the mark.”

“These small businesses in the rural areas harder,” said Cece Hipps, the executive director However, only one person west of are what the Rural Center was all about,” said of the Haywood County Chamber of Statesville is on the new state economic develBrown, who also heads the council of govern- Commerce and a member of the Rural Center opment board — John Cecil, president of ments for the seven westernmost counties. The board of directors. “We will have to hold them Biltmore Farms in Asheville. While Cecil is a center was “set up so we didn’t have to compete to that promise.” knowledgeable businessman, Asheville is the with the Raleighs and the Durhams.”

Not everyone can cram his or her business big city compared to the small towns and rural The Rural Center recently came under into a big city nor would they want to, said landscape of the seven western counties. The scrutiny after a state auditor released a report Hipps. There will still be economic develop- problems in Asheville are not the same as those questioning how it invested and tracked state ment opportunities available for rural North of its neighbors to the west. grant money (see related story). Meanwhile, Carolina.

“Western North Carolina and southwestern AdvantageWest sniffed out leads and tracked “Not everyone can move to Charlotte and North Carolina are quite different from down businesses that might be interested in Raleigh. I don’t feel like we are going to dry up Asheville,” said Ryan Sherby, head of locating in WNC. and blow away,” Hipps said. “I am going to try Southwestern Commission. “Once you cross “I have gotten a lot of leads from them,” to be positive.” west over Balsam, we are distinctly different.” said Mark Clasby, Haywood County’s economBecause there is no one farther west than ic development director. “They have done so Asheville on the economic development board, PIG IN A POKE many public officials in the region feel that the many unique things for our area.”

If the Rural Center and AdvantageWest disCurrently, state officials are trying to bring state has already gone back on its word. solve or take on a lesser role in the region’s eco- all N.C.’s economic development efforts under “There’s no representation in WNC to

State decision could shutter Rural Center

Operations at the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center are effectively stalled after the Office of the State Auditor released a report in July showing a lack of oversight within the nonprofit organization.

The Rural Center has awarded millions of dollars in grants to organizations, towns and companies in the state’s 85 rural counties — including Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain — for the past 26 years.

However, the nonprofit, which receives about two-thirds — or $25 million — of its total annual budget from the state, came under fire earlier this year after it was found that it did 8 not always exercise proper oversight.

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The state audit looked at grants disbursed during fiscal year 2012, how the Rural Center monitored them and how it dealt with reported administrative expenses charged to state grant funds. The audit did not evaluate the effectiveness of the Rural Center’s grant programs nor did it verify whether a project met its required goals set up as a condition of the grants.

Theoretically, a grantee may have met a grant’s benchmarks; it just was not verified by the Rural Center. Then again, the grantee’s project may have failed completely.

A review of 38 grant files showed that the Rural Center did not independently confirm that five of the projects had met their goals, according to the audit. As an example, the document states that the center did not check to see if the city of Marion had created 100 jobs as promised, even though the grant period ended 18 months prior.

It also found that 28 out of 48 grantees did not turn in

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progress or final reports on time, yet they were not given notice of tardiness or forced to repay the grant monies. The audit states that the Rural Center did not sufficiently document how it identified what risks could inhibit a grantee from meeting the grant’s goals.

The Rural Center argued in the audit that it did not have enough personnel to sufficiently monitor each grant nor did it have the money to hire them.

The audit also scrutinized the salaries of the nonprofit’s executives, bluntly stating that the salaries of the Rural Center’s top officials were unreasonably high. In the end, the audit said the center did not properly address the report’s recommendations and offered up no plan for corrective action.

“The Rural Center comments suggest it will keep doing what is has been doing,” the audit stated.

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It gave money to the renovation of the Imperial Hotel in Canton, which leases space to a restaurant. The center supported the construction of Stonewall Packaging, a recycled cardboard packaging manufacturer in Sylva. Its funding helped make the longtime wish for an inpatient hospice service west of Asheville a reality.

A grant from the Rural Center paid for part of the Haywood Vocational Opportunities facility in Hazelwood, which provides jobs for the disabled. Its money allowed Maggie Valley to hire a consultant to draft a town business plan — and those are just the grants.

The Rural Center also has a loan program, which offers business owners in the region better than reasonable interest rates. Frog Level Brewery owner Clark Williams has firsthand knowledge of how a low interest rate loan from the Rural Center can lead to exponential business growth.

Williams received a $25,000 loan from the Rural Center’s Microenterprise Loan Program in March 2012 to purchase additional equip-

BY CAITLIN BOWLING recent turmoil.

STAFF WRITER “I think the Rural Center should have recent government audit of the North fixed themselves before the audit,” he said.

Carolina Rural Economic Development Center has divided much of the state.

OMINO EFFECT For many political and economic development leaders in rural N.C., the nonprofit The center’s financials are audited annualRural Center is an engine for economic ly by an outside firm and it sends quarterly growth, awarding millions of dollars in grants reports to the N.C. Department of Commerce. to towns and businesses for infrastructure However, a separate November 2012 audit and job creation. For others, however, the found that the Department of Commerce did center is dressed-up government pork, a not adequately watch over the state money slush fund for the good ole boys’ pet projects. given to the Rural Center. This summer was N.C. Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, said he the first time the state auditor’s office has was supportive of the Rural Center until the looked at the center’s operations. state auditor released her findings, which Although past audits identified problems, demonstrated a lack of oversight when it none have had this drastic of an outcome, came to how the state grant funding was said Cece Hipps, a member of the Rural spent and whether grantees met the bench- Center board and the executive director of marks necessary to receive the money. The the Haywood County Chamber of audit came out last month.

Commerce.

“Evidently, the Rural Center has not been as diliProjects include money for the gent as it should have,” Davis said. growth of Sonoco Plastics, the Although he applauded nonprofit Haywood Vocational the Rural Center’s contributions to Western Norty Opportunities, Haywood Carolina during its 26 years, Davis said the state could Community College, the renovation no longer afford to hand out of the Imperial Hotel in Canton, the millions in taxpayer money to the center. He supports expansion of sewer systems in Republican Gov. Pat McCrory’s plan to consoliCanton and Jackson County, and date all the state’s economic the renovations of the MedWest development efforts under the N.C. Department of Haywood psychiatric wing.

Commerce (see related story).

“That is the goal, to make (economic “Every year, something comes back – development) a lot more efficient and get something that we need to change or do difmore money into the community,” Davis ferently,” she said, adding that the center said. “We can’t keep doing the things we’ve then works to remedy any problems. been doing because we can’t afford it.”

Prior to the results of the recent state Although the state auditor and the News audit, The News & Observer in Raleigh wrote & Observer in Raleigh have scrutinized the a two-part series in mid-June critiquing the Rural Center’s operations, some WNC offi- lack of oversight on the part of the Rural cials are calling the movements toward clos- Center. The story cited examples of times the ing the Rural Center a political vendetta lead center claimed to create jobs but did not. by the governor.

Three days after part two of the newspa“This is nothing but petty politics on the per series was published, the Rural Center part of McCrory,” said N.C. Rep. Joe Sam announced it would conduct its own thorQueen, D-Waynesville. ough review of its grant oversight procedures.

Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown agreed Hipps was named to an eight-person committhat the dismantling of the Rural Center is tee that was tasked with reviewing and recmore about politics than the audit results. ommending changes to the center’s oversight “I didn’t see all that much wrong (with the procedures.

Rural Center),” he said.

About a month after the News & In Queen’s mind, the governor is trying to Observer articles, the state’s audit came out. collect power underneath his office by bring- The same day, the governor froze the Rural ing economic development efforts under the Center’s funds and began calling for the resigN.C. Department of Commerce. Queen nation of Rural Center’s only president, Billy added that the state could have fixed the Ray Hall, and Board Chairwoman Valeria problems with the Rural Center, but “they Lee. The eight-person committee charged had no intention of fixing anything.” with reviewing the Rural Center’s internal However, Davis said the nonprofit entity should have taken action prior to all the S EE R URAL, PAGE 10 9

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After passing a state budget that included no funding for the Rural Center, the N.C. General Assembly seemed to do everything but shut off the lights and lock the doors to the center. The Rural Center board will talk later this month about whether to forge ahead or dissolve.

If the Rural Center continues operating, it will have a tough row to hoe.

State funding to the tune of about $25 million a year made up around two-thirds of the Rural Center’s budgfet. The remainder came from grants, donations and fother sources.

“The state just cut off the Rural Center,” Clasby said. “That is really big.”

Clark Williams, owner of Frog Level Brewery in Waynesville, Clasby said he is currently in talks with three used a loan from the N.C. Rural Center to buy new brewing local companies that want equipment, which allowed him to sell his beers across the state. to expand. However, without money from the Rural “There is no way we could distribute fCenter, those plans may or may not move forward. if we didn’t have that brewhouse.

“All of them have a desire to expand and create That loan was everything.” jobs,” Clasby said. “It — Clark Williams, Frog Level Brewery owner would curtail, or certainly bring a to halt, those ment for his brewhouse and thereby produce expansion plans.”

Others in the region also decried the state’s more beer. Right around the same time, representatives from the Charlotte-based decision.

“My opinion is all Western North Carolina Millennium Beverage had “secret-shopped” the and Haywood County is a better place because brewery and wanted to distribute Frog Level of the Rural Center. It has funded things that brews across the state. Without the additional have to absolutely be addressed,” said Pat brewing equipment, Williams would not have Smathers, former Canton mayor and a recipi- the capacity to supply a statewide demand.

“Without that loan, we would still be a very ent of a Rural Center grant. “Water quality tiny dot,” Williams said. “There is no way we would be down. Property taxes would be up.”

During his time as mayor, Smathers could distribute if we didn’t have that brewsecured a Rural Center grant to help Canton house. That loan was everything.”

As a condition of the loan, Williams had to expand its water and sewer system, which the town hoped would entice new companies. The spend all the money in North Carolina.

“I had to show receipts where this money Rural Center has also helped MedWest Haywood renovate its psychiatric wing, funded was spent in N.C.,” Williams said. “My feet the expansion of Sonoco Plastics in were held to the fire.”

Waynesville, which added 35 new jobs, and S EE DEMISE, PAGE 10 supported projects at the Jackson County

Rural Center cut may negatively affect WNC

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speak of, and that’s a problem. I think it’s not good at all,” said Jackson County Manager Chuck Wooten. “Everyone is disappointed.”

At the annual Southwestern Commission meeting, it is customary to present the guest speaker with a present to thank them for their time. At the end of Almeida’s speech, though, Brown said he invited the state leader to return in four years and show the crowd of area government officials how economic development has improved in WNC. “It doesn’t speak well for WNC,” Wooten said. “But the jury is still out on that.”

With so many details up in the air as to how a new state system for economic development will work, Western North Carolinians will have to wait and see how everything will pan out.

“Then we will figure out if it’s going to be good or bad,” Hipps said.

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DEMISE, CONTINUED FROM 9 He would have qualified for a bank loan, Williams said, but it would not have come as quickly as he wanted or with such a low interest rate. His interest rate now is a 3.15 percent.

Plus, the Rural Center offers budgeting help.

“This loan also comes with support,” Williams said. “There is a wealth of knowledge there because they obviously want you to succeed.”

Since joining the loan program, Williams said he has told other small business owners to check it out for themselves. However, along with the grant funds, the loan program is currently frozen. While the state is still collecting money on current loans, it is not giving out new ones.

Ever since a state audit questioned the center’s internal operations, things have continued to decline from the Rural Center. The governor froze its funding; both the center’s president and board chairwoman resigned; and the state slashed the nonprofit from its budget.

August 7-13, 2013

R URAL, CONTINUED FROM 9 processes never met.

“Before we could even get to Raleigh to start looking at this, all this happened,” Hipps said.

Hall and Lee both eventually resigned.

Brown said he believes state legislators were trying to drum up a reason to close the Rural Center, so they attacked its president, Hall, and it’s work.

“They needed a scapegoat and found one,” Brown said.

The state audit questioned Hall’s six-figure salary of $221,070, saying it was more than twice what economic development CEOs and executive directors in the state typically earn.

Although the amount is high, Hipps said, she trusts the board did its due diligence when considering his compensation and compared his resume to those in similar positions.

“He basically started the organization from scratch. He has about 50 people in the office that report to him. It’s probably not that much out of line,” she said.

UP IN THE AIR

Smoky Mountain News

The governor’s decision to freeze the Rural Center’s accounts has prohibited the nonprofit from allocating any money for the time being.

It has also prevented the center from, at least temporarily, following through on delivering already promised funds.

Just last week, the Office of State Budget and Management announced that it would pay out about $740,000 to 14 different organizations to which the Rural Center had awarded money. It is still reviewing other grant awards to determine whether to follow through with the payments.

“Hopefully more grants will be realized,” Hipps said.

Entities in Haywood County may still see that money, but it is unclear when the state budget office will make that decision. LifeSpan Creative Campus, an organization that works with the disabled, was awarded a $43,000 matching grant, but the money is now stalled.

LifeSpan was counting on the grant to help 10

Hipps said the course of events is particularly heartbreaking given the positive impact the center’s grants have had in WNC. “It has been disturbing to be a part of this and watch the demise of the Rural Center, knowing all the good things it’s done,” said Hipps, a member of the Rural Center board.

SILVER LINING The outlook is somewhat brighter for AdvantageWest, which is not caught up in the same political turmoil as the Rural Center.

Although it also lost its state funding, the money did not comprise the majority of AdvantageWest’s budget. Slightly less than half the organization’s revenues came from the state, whereas the Rural Center’s budget was two-thirds state funding. Last fiscal year, AdvantageWest’s total budget was about $2.2 million; of that, $1.2 million came from grants, foundations, donations and other sources. The rest was allocated from the state budget.

Scott Hamilton, president and CEO of renovate a vacant building in Waynesville. The new office will allow the nonprofit to serves 60 people in Haywood County, rather than its current 45, and create 11 jobs. Although the money may never come, LifeSpan will go ahead with the project.

“We will continue on with our plans. It will certainly be a hardship for us, but we will continue with our plans,” said Lori Avery, senior director of development at LifeSpan.

It is unknown exactly how much money Haywood and other counties have received in the last decade. The Smoky Mountain News requested documents from the Rural Center regarding projects funded by the nonprofit in Haywood and Jackson counties, two weeks ago.

However, the Office of State Budget and Management is currently inspecting all the center’s records, and a spokesman for the Rural Center said he is unable to access any records until the state completes its review.

What is known, though, is that the benefit translates to more than $2 million during the last four years. Projects include money for the growth of Sonoco Plastics, the nonprofit entity Haywood Vocational Opportunities, Haywood Community College, the renovation of the Imperial Hotel in Canton, the expansion of sewer systems in Canton and Jackson County, and the renovations of the MedWest Haywood psychiatric wing, among others.

“I don’t think you can argue these are bad projects done by good ole boy slush funds,” Hipps said.

The audit, which looked at funds granted during fiscal year 2012, did not specifically address any projects in Haywood, Jackson, Macon or Swain counties. Although, that does not necessarily mean every project was properly overseen or met its grant guidelines.

Hipps defended the funds sent into Haywood County.

“The money we received was put to good use,” she said.

Those who support the Rural Center said some have repeatedly benefited from its largesse because they had quality projects and bothered to apply for the funding. If you don’t apply for funding, you cannot be upset when

AdvantageWest, said he thinks that AdvantageWest can stay open; it will simply have to adapt.

“I see it continuing,” Hamilton said. “Will we be different and look different? I think the answer to that is yes.”

The AdvantageWest board will hold meetings to determine its future and will try to find a place in the state’s new economic development framework — however it ends up working. In fact, all economic development entities, including the Southwestern Commission, which remains intact, will need to find their place.

“We are trying to figure out what role our organization needs to play as the new administration and legislature change the way the state deals with economic development,” Sherby said.

Another silver lining for AdvantageWest is that it will have a year to figure out how to adjust. While the organization will only receive $250,000 this year as opposed to its usual $1 million allocation, it is not completely cut off

right away. Starting next fiscal year, AdvantageWest lose all its state funding.

Queen noted the impact AdvantageWest has had on the region.

“It has helped us with heritage tourism. It has helped us with film,” Queen said. “It is very local specific.”

AdvantageWest enticed “The Hunger Games” executives to shoot the movie in WNC, created a small business incubator specifically for farmers and food entrepreneurs, spearheaded one of the first regional clean energy coalitions in the U.S., and assisted with bringing Sierra Nevada and New Belgium breweries to the area, among other achievements. The nonprofit is often first point of contact for companies that want to do business in WNC and an advocate for the region.

Queen said he hopes to see AdvantageWest continue in some capacity because of its microeconomic focus.

“We have never had any attention like that from Raleigh,” Queen said. “It is absolutely mythical to think it’s going to happen.”

you don’t receive it.

Hipps said she was appointed to the board four years ago to give Haywood County a voice at the Rural Center and up the county’s numbers.

“The intent was for more recognition for Haywood County,” Hipps said. “In the past, we were very low. We were not asking for grants.”

The Rural Center has a map with pins for different places it awards money to. When she started on the board, Hipps said that Haywood County was on the low end of receivers.

However, now, the county is now littered with pushpins.

“A lot of it was about education because grants are complicated,” Hipps said.

ter’s employees have consistently followed up with him.

“I think the oversight has been there,” said Pat Smathers, owner of the Imperial Hotel in Canton and a prominent Democratic politician. And if he forgot to file a progress report, “they reminded me.”

Just a few weeks ago, Rural Center representatives stopped by for an on-site inspection, he said.

“I thought the process was pretty good,” Smathers said.

Smathers received a $25,000 pre-development grant for architectural and engineering plans and another $90,000 for construction to renovate the old Imperial Hotel in downtown Canton. With the money, he refurbished the first floor, which contains a restaurant space that he leases out. In exchange for the Rural Center funding, Smathers pledged to create 15 full-time jobs and pay at least minimum wage.

Now some three years later — more than a year and a half after opening — Smathers said he is a month away from filing his final report, which will show the hotel’s performance for the first six months of this year. According to his calculations, the business employed roughly 12 people full-time during that period, Smathers said. However, he noted that the number of jobs the Rural Center now required of him had decreased to eight or nine.

“I don’t think 15 is the number now,” Smathers said.

In reality, Smathers only directly employs one person — a maintenance man. All the other jobs at the Imperial Hotel were created by Sid’s On Main, the restaurant that leases the first floor of the building.

In total, Smathers calculated that up to 30 people worked at the Imperial Hotel both fulltime and part-time. However, Smathers said he was unsure of how the Rural Center would tally his employment numbers. Still, he is confident that the requirements of his grant were fulfilled.

“According to how I look at the figures, we are over the limit of what is required,” Smathers said.

LOOKING FORWARD The Rural Center board will meet next on Aug. 28 to decide whether Hall will receive his severance package and whether the center will disintegrate completely.

“Does the Rural Center go on in another form or does the Rural Center dissolve?” Hipps said. “I think right now the board does not have enough information to know if we are going to dissolve.”

Whether it continues or not, the Rural Center will no longer receive its average $25 million annual allocation from the state. In the recently passed state biennial budget, funding for the nonprofit was cut completely — a move by the state seemingly aimed at forcing the Rural Center to close without physically shutting the doors itself.

“They have thrown the baby out with the bathwater,” said Waynesville Mayor Gavin Brown, questioning the state’s decision. “To just at the end of the day throw everything out, I just don’t know about that.”

While there is potentially other funding available, no one source can replace the amount lost in state funding. If it survives, the Rural Center will need to look for grants, donations and other forms of revenue to keep it going. It will likely operate on a considerably smaller scale.

One Rural Center beneficiary said the cen-

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Duke ready to officially turn Dillsboro Dam site over to local officials

“At this time we haven’t made any deciAlready the stretch of river is popular sions. We’ve been doing research,” Gates said. with fisherman and paddlers. Creating a Jackson County Commission Chairman park along the shore would even increase Jack Debnam said it was no secret that the its popularity and accessibility. Carpenter county wouldn’t mind having the land and said county residents are always looking developing it into some sort of recreation for safe places to walk that are free from area. The acreage already contains the C.J. vehicle traffic.

Harris River Access area that Duke Energy The county has also expressed an interest built, and a future river park would conceivin tying a future park in with its planned ably expand on what is already there.

Tuckasegee River greenway. And another “I’d want to see a park down there for river park could also play into the county’s sure,” said Debnam. “I’m all for anything we plan to market itself as a world class fly fishcan get on the river to keep it public and open to the “Since we are no longer operating a public.”

The county already has hydro facility, it would seem two sets of concept drawing appropriate to give that land back to for developing the site from before the dam’s demolithe community.” tion. One includes the more — Lisa Hoffmann, Duke Energy spokesperson than 300-foot-long dam and the other shows the area without the dam.

County leaders had fought for years ing destination. The original proposal to against the demolition of the dam in a costly remove the nearly century-old dam came legal battle, claiming it had recreational ben- from Duke in the name of environmental efits, historical meaning and green energy mitigation. potential for the community. They wanted to There were concerns that the removal include the dam in a riverfront park with process would harm fish and other aquatic walking paths and picnic areas. species at the site, including the endangered However, County Recreation and Parks Appalachian elktoe mussel. But monitoring Director Jeff Carpenter said developing the since the removal has shown that the site without the dam will still be a great benrestored habitat is flourishing — everything efit to the county. from bats to bugs to fish.

“It’s a pretty place,” Carpenter said. “I “You can’t even really tell there was a just think that’s a tremendous recreational hydro project there now,” Hoffmann said. opportunity for our community.”

“And we’re pretty proud of that.”

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give that land back to the community,” said spokesperson Lisa Hoffmann.

Already there are ideas being floated as to what the land, running along the scenic Tuckasegee River, will be used for once under control of the town or the county. A riverfront park, much like the county’s existing East Laporte River Access Park in Cullowhee, is one of the frontrunners.

But it will be up to Dillsboro town leaders to decide whether to let the county have it. While the property on the outskirts of Dillsboro will be handed over by Duke Energy at no cost, developing it into a river park would take an investment and resources.

Dillsboro’s town board has indicated it will pass the land along to the county, in one way or another, but the exact details of how that might happen are still to be worked out. Dillsboro Board Member David Gates said it was too soon for him to comment on how land ownership would play out and that there were still questions to be answered.

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Smoky Mountain News

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER decade-long saga in deciding the fate of Duke Energy’s former dam near Dillsboro is drawing to a close as the company prepares to hand the site and surrounding land over to local officials.

In July, the federal agency that regulates hydroelectric dams on public waterways gave its stamp of approval for the company to relinquish the old Dillsboro dam site and surrounding property. The dam was dismantled in 2010, but Duke had to meet several legal and environmental obligations, spelled out by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, before the company could surrender its license to the project and the land.

A spokesperson for Duke Energy said the 13-acre tract will be offered up to the town of Dillsboro this fall and, if the town passes, Jackson County will have the opportunity at it.

“Since we are no longer operating a hydro facility, it would seem appropriate to

Special Occasions and everyday fashions.

August 7-13, 2013

The site where the former Dillsboro Dam and powerhouse stood has been returned, for the most part, back to nature. Donated photo

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news

Fumes kill one, hospitalize a dozen in Macon

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER n incident at a farm facility in Macon County last week left one worker dead and caused the hospitalization of more than a dozen people.

First responders arrived at Norton Creek Farms, just south of Franklin, Friday evening when they received a call that two workers were unresponsive inside a refrigerated storage building.

One of the workers, identified by authorities as Bobby Ammons, was later pronounced dead at Angel Medical Center in Franklin. The other worker was airlifted to a Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina.

Shortly before 7 p.m., a woman had called 911 from Norton Creek Farms and said two men were unresponsive inside the facility, one on a running forklift and another on the ground. The men were loading a shipment of produce into a semitrailer that was docked at the building.

Two bystanders were the first to help by shutting off the forklift and pulling the men from the back of the semitrailer — where they were working — onto the floor of the cooler unit.

Law enforcement arrived on the scene minutes later and, assisted by a fireman from the local station, helped to pull the

Smoky Mountain News

August 7-13, 2013

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unresponsive men from the building.

Then, responders began performing CPR on the man who would later be identified as Ammons. The other man was still breathing at the time, though barely, according to County Emergency Services Director David Key. Key could not say if Ammons was already dead when help arrived.

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Personnel from eight law enforcement, medical and fire departments responded to the call.

Dozen responders were hospitalized after being exposed to an unknown noxious gas while trying to help. Bob Scott photos As a result of the rescue operation, though, three deputies, firemen, the good Samaritans who first arrived and other responders who worked to try and rescue the two victims were exposed to some sort of contaminant in the air and admitted to the local hospital. They exhibited various respiratory symptoms but were all released from the local hospital that evening, Key said.

Some suspect a type of noxious gas is to blame for the death and the hospitalizations and point to high carbon monoxide readings taken at the facility. The Macon County Sheriff ’s Office reports that the semitrailer was docked at the facility and left running for approximately two hours.

All the doors to the facility were closed while the men worked.

Matt Mason, assistant chief of the Clarks Chapel Fire and Rescue, was on the scene that day. He said carbon monoxide detectors registered more than 1,000 parts per million on site. He said readings as low as 35 parts per million is the threshold when the air becomes unsafe for humans.

“That’s when we determined we were having toxic readings,” Mason said.

It wasn’t until after exposure occurred that people remaining on the scene began using oxygen tanks and breathing apparatus.

Key said a gas like carbon monoxide, which is colorless and odorless, could have caught the two workers, and the safety personnel, unaware before they had time to react. There were also reports of hydrogen sulfide, a gas released by decaying vegeta-

tion that can deplete oxygen levels in a confined area, inside the building.

“Maybe it just overtook them before they knew it,” Key said, but added it was too soon to say for sure the cause of the event. “We still haven’t determined the source,” he said.

One bystander, Bob Scott, who arrived after hearing the commotion on the police radio, said he was surprised by the scope of the response and the number of responders.

In all, eight law enforcement, medical and fire departments assisted in the operation.

“I just went down there because I knew something big was going on,” Scott said.

“When I got there, it was pretty calm. The remaining people were replenishing the air packs, and everyone was already at the hospital.”

Norton Creek Farms grows, packages and distributes berries and is one of the largest agricultural endeavors in the county.

The cause of the incident is being investigation by Macon County law enforcement and officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the N.C. Department of Labor. State OSHA officials visited the facility on Saturday and again on Monday. Sheriff Robbie Holland said it could take months before OSHA issues a final report on the incident. He also commented on the hospitalizations in a press release.

“I am extremely proud and feel blessed of the actions of my officers, who along with the good Samaritans and rescue personnel, risked their lives to render aid to those in dire need,” he wrote.

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this year to help buy specialized equipment — such as hidden cameras and microphones for example — to be used in undercover drug and alcohol stings.

But Queen wouldn’t say exactly what the office was going to buy.

“I’m not going to tell exactly what it is we’re buying,” Queen said. “But it’s used for officer safety.”

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The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received grant money to purchase laptops for their police cruisers. Andrew Kasper photo

Opelny Dai

August 7-13, 2013

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER t’s not quite Robocop, but the Jackson County Sheriff ’s Office is getting a law enforcement boost thanks to technology.

Last week, a shipment of 29 laptops arrived at the office destined for installation in the cruisers of deputies. Before the purchase, only a half dozen or so county law enforcement agents were equipped with computers in their cars.

“Some people think it’s a luxury item, but a patrol car is a mobile office,” Major Shannon Queen said. “That’s the standard for law enforcement now.”

The new laptops will give sheriff ’s deputies the ability to connect to the Internet while on the road, to view pictures of suspects, check warrants while at the scene of a crime or a traffic stop, and send reports and citations without having to make the trip back to the office. Queen says the bottom line should be more efficient and more effective patrolling.

Without the laptops, a lot of information was conveyed via phone or radio while other tasks were put on hold until agents were back in front of a computer.

“Now, I can evaluate that myself in the car and reduce time on the radio and phone,” Queen said. “You have real-time access.”

The laptops were bought with a $60,000 grant through the N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission, along with a $20,000 contribution from county government. The equipment is built for the field and resistant to spills and other shocks.

The laptops will be used along with Internet aircards the sheriff ’s department purchases with a grant it receives annually

from the state. The cards are the second half of the equation and allow deputies access to the Internet much like a cell phone.

Queen said the sheriff ’s office got its first laptops in 2000 and at one point had more than a dozen patrol units with computers.

Over time however, they have become damaged or no longer useable. Lack of funds has kept the sheriff ’s office from replacing them.

“The expense has been prohibitive,” Queen said And if mobile Internet and laptops weren’t 21st century enough, the sheriff ’s office is slated to use a $10,000 federal grant

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Patrol car laptops should aid Jackson deputies

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Republican group hosts luncheon, purse sale The Mountain High Republican Women’s Club is host a “Power of the Purse” event beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, at the Highlands Civic Center.

Tables for bridge, mahjong and card games will be set up for players, and those attending will also enjoy lunch, a fashion show, a raffle and, of course, an opportunity to buy their newest favorite handbag.

The latest fashions from Acorns, Carlisle, Alyxandra’s Boutique and Vivace will be shown tearoom style. Raffle winners will leave with one of the handbags donated by the fashion show shops, and a stock of trend-setting handbags will be on sale throughout the event. Cost is $30.

Reservations requested.

828.743.1658 or mtnrepublicanwomen@yahoo.com.

League of Women Voters to host Macon sheriffs The Macon County League of Women Voters will host current Sheriff Robbie Holland and former sheriffs George Moses and Homer Holbrooks during its noon brown-bag event Thursday, Aug. 8, at Tartan Hall in Franklin.

The sheriffs will provide an interesting look at the history of law enforcement in the county, changes in Macon County, and current and previous issues. Moses served as Macon County Sheriff from 1970 to 1974 and 1982 to 1986. Holbrooks served from 1986 to 2002.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government.

‘Round Table’ talk focuses on Antietam campaign The Western North Carolina Civil War Round Table will hold its initial meeting of the year at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, in the Mountain Heritage Center Auditorium at Western Carolina University.

Phil Greenwalt, a member of the Emerging Civil War assembly of Civil War writers and scholars, will bring to “light” the Antietam campaign, primarily dealing with its military implications, but he will also explore the political ramifications to a lesser extent.

Greenwalt is currently an historian with the National Park Service at George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Thomas National Historic Site.

All attendees are also invited to join speaker at 5 p.m. for dinner at Bogart’s in Sylva.

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Donated clothes help kids fit in

Haywood County School System to identify children who qualify, including those who receive free and reduced lunches. Although somewhere around 4,000 Haywood County students are eligible for the school lunch program, Russell said she is not sure how many of them the school will refer to the store.

“We don’t know how many wardrobes we will give out in a given week,” Russell said.

“We know there are at least that many people to serve.”

Each child will be welcomed with a bag to place clothes in and will have the chance to pick out three tops, two pairs of pants, a dress or skirt for girls, one jacket, an accessory or two, new socks and underwear, and a pair of shoes if available.

All the items are donated and gently used or new. (Disclaimer: all the socks and under-

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER ylvia Russell remembers how crucial it was to wear the “right” clothes to school, how the “right” outfit could win the acceptance of peers.

“What I looked like was really important to fitting in,” said Russell, who is now in her 70s.

Clothing can affect how well a student performs in school, how well they focus, whether they are the target of bullying.

Russell said she was fortunate to have a mom who sewed her clothes, but not everyone’s mom can, nor can their parents afford the latest kicks or most popular brands of the moment.

Russell is one of four Lake Junaluskans who have pulled together to offer needy children in Haywood County schools the opportunity to expand their wardrobe through a nonprofit called Clothes To Kids.

“We are doing it to help them build confidence,” Russell said.

Clothes To Kids started in Clearwater, Fla., where fellow Junaluskan Payton Adams spends part of his year. Unlike nonprofits such as Salvation Army or Goodwill, Clothes To Kids gives clothing away to students from kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade.

“Everything is free,” Russell said.

Seeing the need for a similar organization in Haywood County, Adams mentioned the Florida store to Russell, her husband Ed, Haywood County schools will refer qualified students to and Lois Beery over coffee one the newly opened Clothes to Kids store in Lake Junaluska morning last year. where they can receive free clothing. Caitlin Bowling photo Adams recalled going to an event for the Clearwater-based Clothes To Kids and hearing a girl Clothing can affect how well a attest that she dropped out of high school partially because she was student performs in school, how embarrassed by her wardrobe, or well they focus, whether they are lack thereof. After connecting with Clothes To Kids, she returned to the target of bullying. school and is now in college. At the same event, a father talked about wear are new.) Clothes To Kids has also the positive impact of the nonprofit and the received some non-school appropriate clothhardships he experienced because he was ing such as bathing suits or church-quality unable to buy clothing for his kids. dresses that the parents will have a chance to “When I heard that one, I knew I had to pick over when visiting with their children. get involved,” Adams said.

The Clothes To Kids store on Weldon Not long after, they got to work asking Way (the first left after One Love Jamaican for donations, looking for a place to host Restaurant on Dellwood Road) will only be their small store, and learning about operatopen by appointment for now. ing a nonprofit from the existing Florida The nonprofit is looking for donations of Clothes To Kids. all kinds, but shoes and boys’ clothing are Now the walls are painted, the racks are particularly hard to come by. Clothes To full and the Haywood County Clothes To Kids is also looking for businesses sponsors.

Kids store is ready for its first family.

Those donating clothes can either leave “We are looking forward to meeting each them in a bag on the porch outside the shop child,” Russell said. or call 828.456.8990.

The organization is working with the

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BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER The Canton Board of Aldermen is still accepting applications for the open town manager position.

“We’ve interviewed some that we like. We’ve got some good applications, but we still wanted to con-tinue looking,” said Canton Alderman Ed Underwood. “It is still open right now.”

In total, the town received nearly 40 applications. dIt had initially stopped collecting resumes on April 1 but now has decided to have a rolling application process until the position is filled.

Those original applicants are still under consideration.

The board has reopened the search — though not for lack of quality candidates, according to town board members.

“Don’t read anything whatAl Matthews soever into that,” said Canton Alderman Jimmy Flynn. “We have good applications; we just don’t want to miss one. It is one of the biggest decisions affecting our town.”

Thus far, the full board has interviewed five people for the position. Any one of those could become Canton’s new town manager or it could be a new applicant, Flynn said.

“We may not find anybody in the next week or two, and we will be perfect happy with what we got,” he said.

At its Tuesday night meetings, the board members meet in closed session to discuss the candidates and get aldermen’s opinions on how they want to proceed.

“Do we need to interview more? Do we want to do a second interview?” Flynn said.

The public will not know who applied for the otown manager job, only who the board chooses for athe position. There is also no set timeline for when othe job will be filled.

“For me, I am looking to find the most qualified candidate. There are all kinds of things that you look at to see how that person may be,” Underwood said.

“I think that is everybody’s goal.”

There is one definite deadline however. The board wants to have someone in place before Jan. 1 when current Town Manager Al Matthews retires.

That deadline is still months away, though, and the aldermen are sure that they will have someone picked by then.

“I think we will. I am confident we will,” Flynn said. o Waynesville went through its own town manager search recently — a process that took about four months once an advertisement was posted. The town publicized the job opening in December 2011 and offered the job to current Waynesville town manager Marcy Onieal in late March.

Canton started its search back in January, and as applications rolled in each alderman took turns reviewing them. Listed qualifications include a bachelor’s degree with emphasis on public administration or another related field. A master’s degree and five years experience as a town manager or assistant manager are preferred. No salary is listed in the ad.

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Canton reopens application process in town manager search

Things we want you to know: A new 2-yr. agmt. (subject to a pro-rated $150 early termination fee for basic phones, modems and hotspot devices and a $350 early termination fee for Smartphones and tablets) required. Agmt. terms apply as long as you are a cstmr. $35 device act. fee and credit approval required. Regulatory Cost Recovery Fee applies (currently $1.57/line/month); this is not a tax or gvmt. required charge. Add. fees, taxes and terms apply and vary by svc. and eqmt. Offers valid at participating locations only. See store or uscellular.com for details. 4G LTE not available in all areas. See uscellular.com/4G for complete coverage details. 4G LTE service provided through King Street Wireless, a partner of U.S. Cellular. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. Promotional phone subject to change. Applicable Smartphone Data Plans start at $20/month. Application and data network usage charges may apply when accessing applications. Kansas Customers: In areas in which U.S. Cellular receives support from the Federal Universal Service Fund, all reasonable requests for service must be met. Unresolved questions concerning services availability can be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at 1-800-662-0027. Limited time offer. Trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners. ©2013 U.S. Cellular

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Jackson wants to do background checks on volunteers

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BY ANDREW KASPER B STAFF WRITER S o lend a helping hand in Jackson County, a willingness to volunteer may not be enough.

County Manager Chuck Wooten is ask- i ing that commissioners look at implement- a ing a more stringent application process W and some type of background check for residents who want to volunteer with the t county. m Such a policy could affect participation in N programs from Meals on Wheels to youth L basketball programs. Wooten said he is most e concerned about the quality of people that are put in direct contact with the county’s i elderly and youth. y “We know youth and seniors would be an c important area to look at,” Wooten said. w “We need to make sure we’re putting the ( appropriate people in the appropriate situa- a tions to help these folks.” b Background checks and a screening process are commonplace for volunteers at a many nonprofit organizations, church t organizations and Western Carolina University, Wooten said. And though he m doesn’t have any reason to believe there has w been any wrongdoing by the county’s volun- s teers, to have safeguards in place might avoid an unfortunate incident. w “I think it’s just a good business practice,” a Wooten said. “We just need to confirm it.” o Wooten said the county will look at such policies in the coming weeks to decide the e depth and the scope of such background checks or screening for volunteers. a b e s t e

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Smoky Mountain News

August 7-13, 2013

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WCU campus master planners to seek community input

Produced By:

Paid for in part by HCTDA www.VisitNCSmokies.com

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Representatives from the firms assisting Western Carolina University in drafting a comprehensive master plan that will guide campus development and improvements in the years ahead will return from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Aug. 13 at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The consultants are expected to complete a preliminary report and plan by early September, followed by a series of campus and community presentations for reaction in October and November. After revisions based on that feedback, the final master plan should be ready for consideration by the WCU Board of Trustees at its meeting in December. Refreshments will be served, and community members can arrive at any point during the event to offer feedback. www.masterplanning.wcu.edu.

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Celebration of teaching in Jackson County

drinks without the proper state permit.

From November 2012 to March 2013, an undercover ALE agent visited the Waynesville VFW multiple times and ordered Jack Daniels and Cokes from the different bartenders on duty. During his visits, he was also played tabs and punchboards, which are illegal.

Only nonprofits such as churches can legally offer raffles, but even they can only hold them twice a year. With the exception of the casino in Cherokee and the nonprofit raffles, the only form of legal gambling in North Carolina is the state-run lottery.

Toward the end of the investigation, the undercover ALE agent met a VFW patron who offered to sell him 12 quarts of apple-flavored moonshine. He also found out that one

There will be light refreshments and a slideshow featuring old photographs and comments by local educators.

Fund-raising dinner to benefit Lake J Museum The Friends of the Museum are hosting their annual dinner at Lambuth Inn at Lake Junaluska at 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9., which will feature Charles Brockwell, a well-respected Kentucky Conference minister and theologian.

Brockwell, who is the son-in-law of Alzheimer’s advocate and Methodist minister Wright Spears, will speak on the topic, “Getting It Straight about Aldersgate,” to mark the 275th anniversary of Wesley’s Aldersgate experience. John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church.

An open house at the World Methodist

With the exception of the casino in Cherokee and nonprofit raffles, the only form of legal gambling in North Carolina is the state-run lottery. of the bartenders sold moonshine as well.

The ALE investigation concluded last month when six people were arrested.

And after more than two months being closed, the VFW Post reopened last weekend with new staff. Officials with the state

Council Museum will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. prior to the dinner. Reservations required. The cost is $18 per person (including tax and tip).

828.452.5034.

Home school activities at Waynesville Rec Park A home school activity program will be offered from 2 to 3:15 p.m. every Thursday from Aug. 22 to Oct. 25 at the Waynesville Recreation Center.

For ages six to 15, the 10-week program will focus on activities that will engage each child and help build life skills for active learning.

Cost for members of the Waynesville Recreation Center is $27 for a family of four ($2 for each additional child). The nonmember cost is $45 for a family of four ($3 for each

VFW refused to talk about the investigation or its findings.

“At this time, we have no comment,” said Ernie Allis, state commander of the VFW department.

Allis would not comment on why the organization decided to close and then later reopen the post.

In the investigation report, VFW’s District 17 commander Skip Hall stated that the Waynesville post was taken over by the state VFW. Hall also noted that he did not condone the actions of the employees or management.

The state ABC Commission’s attorneys are currently reviewing the investigation report and deciding whether to take further action.

additional child).

828.456.2030 or recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org.

SCC hosts free seminar on starting a business

Smoky Mountain News

The Democratic Women of Jackson County are hosting a celebration of teaching at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The program will also include an overview of the history of schooling in the western part of our state, followed by a number of educators and community leaders recalling what difference a memorable teacher made in their lives.

Among the scheduled speakers are Jackson County Commission Chair Jack Debnam; Sue Nations, former county superintendent; Mike Murray, current county superintendent; Boyce Deitz, former coach and athletic director; Edith Callahan, former Regional Teacher of the Year; and Renee Coward, another former Regional Teacher of the Year.

The VFW Post 5202 reopened this past weekend after being closed for more than two months. Caitlin Bowling photo

Upon completion of an investigation by the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement division, six people were charged in connection with illegal activities at the Waynesville’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post.

VFW employees Kimberly White Greene, Stephanie Johnson Jenson, Theresa Wallick Kirkpatrick and Gary Marc Gibbs are all charged with: • Selling liquor without permits • Dealing in lotteries • Gambling • Allowing gambling in houses of public entertainment • Allowing punchboards on premise Greene and Gibbs are also charged with selling non-tax-paid liquor. Gibbs is the only employee accused of possessing non-taxpaid liquor.

VFW patrons Bobby Joe Rathbone and Timothy David Norris are both charged with selling non-tax-paid liquor and possessing non-tax-paid liquor. Rathbone is additionally accused of selling (liquor) without permits.

All the individuals charged, with the exception of Jenson, have prior criminal records.

August 7-13, 2013

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER ollowing a nine-month undercover investigation, six people were charged with conducting illegal activities, including selling moonshine and gambling, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Waynesville.

The VFW Post 5202 closed in late May this year without warning. However, a little more than a month later, officials with the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement division arrested four post employees and two patrons.

Come to find out, ALE agents had begun investigating at the post in November of last year for alcohol- and gambling-related crimes. Among the allegations was dealing with lotteries, selling non-tax-paid liquor (moonshine), selling liquor and mixed beverages without a permit, and allowing punchboards on the premise.

The ALE division received a complaint about the VFW Post, which spurred its investigation.

“Somebody gets mad. A member gets mad,” said Allen Page, special agent in charge with the Asheville ALE office. “Then, they start telling on everybody else.”

Page added that the department typically works off citizen complaints and that such activities are not atypical for lodges, VFW or other membership-only clubs.

“It’s a common occurrences in this type of establishments,” Page said.

The VFW Post in Waynesville only has an alcohol permit for the sale of wine and malt beverages. Patrons can also brown-bag up to eight liters of fortified wine or liquor for personal consumption. However, as a result of the investigation, ALE agents alleged that the establishment was selling liquor and mixed

Charges filed news

Waynesville VFW post reopens following alcohol, gambling charges

To help entrepreneurs prepare for and navigate potential obstacles, Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a free seminar on “How to Start a Business” from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at SCC’s Macon Campus in Franklin.

Topics covered will include discussing the different forms of legal structures for business enterprises, understanding the types of licensing or permits needed for business and evaluating the community’s opportunities and threats. www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75490 or 828.339.4211.

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news

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Smoky Mountain News

August 7-13, 2013

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NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM Landscaping & Gardening with Native Plants.

Sept. 13 &14

Field trips, wine reception, native plant auction, & lectures:

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Eagle Scout project leads to better future for forgotten cemeteries

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State budget includes funding for WCU engineering program The $20.6 billion biennial budget recently approved by the N.C. General Assembly includes more than $1.4 million for expansion of Western Carolina University’s undergraduate engineering program to Biltmore Park.

State appropriations include $698,962 for engineering program start-up costs and laboratory equipment at WCU’s Biltmore Park location, and $719,844 in recurring funds to cover faculty positions and ongoing operations.

The expanded engineering program is expected to begin at Biltmore Park in the fall of 2014.

Western Carolina began offering the Bachelor of Science degree in engineering last fall at its campus in Cullowhee as a new stand-alone program. The university partnered with UNC Charlotte to offer a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from 2004 until 2012. www.kimmel.wcu.edu or 828.227.7368.

FIFTH ANNUAL

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Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center Home of the Macon County Fair Grounds Fri. 11 am - 8 pm Sat. 10 am - 6 pm Admission: Adults - $5 or $8 for both Children 12 & Under - Free

FRANKLIN, NC Pro & Backyard Cooking Competition Crafters • Vendors • Entertainment

Kansas City BBQ Society Cookoff North Carolina State Championship

CHANCE TO WIN $500 HOLLAND GRILL WITH PA ID ADMISSION

Only 200 tickets sold to taste & judge cookers BBQ at our Tastin’ Tent on Saturday at 3pm. Tickets Limited and sold at entrance $5

Clint Black, Friday at 7:30 @ The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets available at GreatMountainMusic.com

Moonshiners cast appearances, Friday & Saturday Sponsored by Mulligans Bar and Grill.

Smoky Mountain News

likely be appointed this month. McRae is the former editor of the Franklin Press and a self-described Macon County history buff.

She said the first order of work would be identifying as many of these forgotten cemeteries as possible and keeping a record of them for the public. There already exists a reference book enumerating 150 historic cemeteries in Macon County, which will be a good starting point.

But many locations of abandoned cemeteries only exist in the memories of locals or distant descendants of those buried at former family plots.

“As far as the ones that are unknown, we will have to rely on the public to inform us,” McRae said. “People in little communities know that on top of this hill there used to be a graveyard.”

The cemetery board could act as the organizer of maintenance and restoration projects and the go-to resource for developers. Beside the historic value of documenting old graveyards, it could also be a useful resource for developers. As the rural areas of the county are encroached upon by development, the chance that excavators run into human remains increases.

Knowing what sites to avoid ahead of time is better for both parties — the living and the dead.

“Our role would be to say here’s a little family cemetery with five graves and we need to find some way of surveying and protecting it,” McRae said. “You can’t just say ‘oh well, we’ll cover them over’ — there’s a historical value and respect that is due to human remains.”

The Haywood Regional Medical Center Foundation’s two-day Charitable Classic Golf & Gala is Aug. 27-28. However, fundraising efforts have already begun.

The fund-raiser features five golf tournaments and an evening gala. The golfing kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 27 with the men’s tournament at Maggie Valley Club and at 12:30 p.m. with the ladies’ tournament at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa. The following day, a men’s tournament starts at 8 a.m. at Waynesville Inn, followed by two other men’s tournaments at noon at Laurel Ridge Country Club in Waynesville and at 1 p.m. in Waynesville.

The format for the tournaments is captain’s choice with two-person teams. Boxed lunches and beverages will be provided for all golfers and volunteers at each tournament.

The Gala celebration from 6 to 10 p.m.

Aug. 28 at Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa will feature an eloquent dinner buffet and live music by the band Orange Krush.

Individual tickets to the gala are $65.

Individual golf tournament slots are $150 and include one ticket to the gala. Discount tickets for men participating in two tournaments are $250 each and include two gala

August 7-13, 2013

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER bandoned, dilapidated and sometimes forgotten burial places are likely to get better care now that Macon County commissioners have decided to form a cemetery board.

“We wanted to make sure these old gravesites were taken care of,” said County Commissioner Ronnie Beale. “Once upon a time, that was somebody’s family.”

Until recently, Macon County hadn’t had an official cemetery board. But a project by an aspiring Eagle Scout to fix up an abandoned black cemetery brought the issue to the forefront.

High school student Andrew Baldwin found the historic New Hope Cemetery while exploring in the woods near his home in Franklin. He was able to turn the cemetery into a restoration project, drawing from plenty of volunteers and hours of sweat to reset gravestones, clear brush and a build a proper trail.

As part of his project, Baldwin was also able to identify one of the descendants of people who were buried there, an AfricanAmerican woman in her 90s, and bring her to see the cemetery.

But New Hope’s Cemetery’s revival story is not the norm. Many old burial sites are not recovered and restored.

“After it grows up so deep and the foliage falls on it for so many years, it might go unfound forever,” said Beale.

After establishing the cemetery board in July, commissioners chose Baldwin and Barbara McRae to serve as two of the five members. The remaining spots will most

tickets. The lead sponsors are Warren and Marilyn Bateman.

Purchase tickets. 828.452.8343 or mstiles@haymed.org.

news

A gravestone in New Hope Church cemetery in Macon County near Franklin. Andrew Kasper photo

Annual Charitable Classic Golf & Gala under way

Kids Fun Area with Inflatables (additional charge)

www.mountainhighbbqfestival.com INFO: 828.524.3161 • 888.368.2328 Sponsors: The Franklin Chamber of Commerce, Microtel, BI-LO, Premiere Marketing, the Holland Grill, Macon Appliance Mart, TDC, the Franklin Press, ABC 13, 96.7 FM, Pepsi, Macon Bank, Mulligans, Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, SiteDart.net

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Saving specialty license plates great for WNC

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It’s painful, but state is on the right path

To the Editor: On Monday this first week of August, a group of people showed up in Raleigh complaining about teachers’ pay and the budget for the coming school year. Does anyone believe that Gov. Pat McCrory has a “stash” of money hidden in Raleigh somewhere he can use to increase pay for teachers or any other state employee?

We all know that teachers deserve more money, but how do we solve the problem? We have 1.7 million people in North Carolina on food stamps, up from 1.6 million the year before. Nationally food stamp use has gone up from 17.7 million people in 2006 to 46.6 million now. These numbers came from the Asheville Citizens Sunday Paper.

Our teachers are ranked in the bottom of the barrel nationally as far as pay goes. Our state’s tax rates have been the big reason these numbers are so high. Gov. McCrory and the Republicans have just redone our state tax rates to make us a more business-friendly state. We are now listed as one of the more friendly states to expand an existing business or start a new business. Adding new businesses and helping the unemployed find work is the key to rebuilding our state’s economy.

Adding tens of thousands of new taxpayers to our employment rolls is the only way to build

In truth, the near-demise of this program was more likely due to hurt feelings over the fact that courts have said that “choose life” plates were illegal. State legislators supporting that license plate, after being told such a plate was unconstitutional, tried to pull the plug on all the full-color plates.

Petty? Of course, but that’s politics, especially in this age when too many elected leaders equate compromise with defeat.

Regardless of what almost killed the plates, Demuth and leaders of the Blue Editor Ridge Parkway Foundation helped save them. Those of us who take real pleasure in the grandeur of our mountain surroundings appreciate their work and encourage Western North Carolina residents to buy these great-looking plates and support these valuable organizations.

Scott McLeod

he General Assembly’s renewal of the specialty license plates for North Carolina drivers surprised many only because it seemed such a no-brainer that it was curious there was even a debate. Thank goodness lawmakers saw the light.

Let’s take a look at what was almost undone by our state legislators: a program that produces — without any extra public spending — millions of dollars for some of North Carolina’s most prominent nonprofits, providing them with money to invest in some of the of the state’s treasures. That list includes coastal estuaries and sea turtles along with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.

Among those who helped maneuver the bill through the legislature were the leaders of the Friends of the Smokies and the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Holly Demuth leads the North Carolina Friends of the Smokies, and she says it was a tough year to get anyone to worry about a bill such as this.

“Quite frankly, there were some huge issues going on in Raleigh. It made it extremely difficult. No one wanted to expend their political capital,” said Demuth.

For the Friends, the renewal means about $400,000 a year to help pay for special projects on our side of the park, programs that include keeping the park’s backcountry accessible, providing school children the opportunity to take field trips into the park, and building a new visitor center.

The argument that kept coming up during debate over the full-color plates is that they were not legible for law enforcement. Then both the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles and the state Highway Patrol said nonsense, the plates were fine.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF TEACHERS Most school teachers I know — and I’m married to one — are the type who will sacrifice personal benefit for the greater good, whether that’s their students or their school.

Unfortunately, elected leaders sometimes take advantage of that mindset.

Perhaps school officials in Macon County have not done a great job of making incremental cuts over the past few years to deal with declining budgets, and perhaps the Macon commissioners should come up with some more money to cover budg-

up our state’s income. When our state’s income goes up then teacher pay will follow.

Like Detroit, Gov. Beverly Perdue kept borrowing money from the U.S. Treasury to balance the budget. The Republicans are now forced to pay that money back along with the interest. Perhaps the people who went to Raleigh think the Republicans should keep borrowing money like Gov. Perdue did. That would be a grave mistake.

Gov. McCrory has put North Carolina on the path to economic recovery. It is always painful to do the right thing. We should be grateful our governor and his legislators have the guts to do the right thing for our state.

Jim Mueller Glenville

Some things Macon citizens may not know To the Editor: I’ve had several citiznes ask me why I voted against this or that. It’s time to clear the air and let you folks know all the other stuff that goes on.

First off, I do try to get along with my fellow commissioners so long as I feel it’s good for the taxpayers! I have tried three years in a row to lower our property tax rate. Two years in a row I voted for the budgets. Our budgets are loaded with numbers and details which are sometimes tricky to get a handle on.

et shortfalls. But the proposla to yank teachers’ meager 2 percent supplement to make up for the shortfall is just miserly.

Macon Schools are short of money this year. Over the last few years, the system spent down its fund balance instead of making incremental cuts as other systems have during the recession. Now, faced with a shortfall, one poposal is to take away the $400,000 in supplements teachers have been getting at Christmas.

Superintendent Chris Baldwin says many teachers he’s spoken with are OK with taking the supplement if it keeps other teachers in the classroom. Another teacher we interviewed said the same thing.

Surprise, surprise. Of course that’s the answer most teachers would give because that’s mostly the kind of people who go into teaching and stay in the classroom. On the other hand, when Macon County is handing out large pay raises and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on capital projects, perhaps county and school leaders are asking the wrong question. How about something like this: is a salary freeze (instead of a pay cut) for one more year OK, even if it means delaying construction of new ballfields or pool renovations?

The way I see it, teachers get taken advantage of too often, but it’s usually by politicians or right-wing ideologues who refuse to adequately fund education but want to blame schools for a lot of the country’s social woes. It surely must hurt a lot worse to be taken advantage of by leaders at the local level who have other options.

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

LOOKING FOR OPINIONS The Smoky Mountain News encourages readers to express their opinions through letters to the editor or guest columns. All viewpoints are welcome. Send to Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com., fax to 828.452.3585, or mail to PO Box 629, Waynesville, NC, 28786.

However, in this year’s budget here’s just a few of the items I had problems with.

1) I saw in our budget one department getting more than a $200,000 raise for their budget over and above what we already gave them throughout the year. That same department then got thousands of dollars in pay raises while most county employees only got a 2 percent raise.

2) The Southwestern Commission is a group who supports land-use regulations. I don’t. They get thousands of your tax dollars in this budget. I simply could not support that.

3) Same goes for a lobbying group in Raleigh that just recently found out where Macon County was. They get thousands of dollars of your tax money in the budget. What does Macon County get out of that?

4) There was $150,000 in the budget to buy the land (1.5 acres) in Highlands for a

soccer field. I asked how much it was going to cost total to complete project but never got an answer. I also asked what will it cost to take care of that underground spring? Again, I was ignored and never got the answers so I didn’t vote for it.

5) I was led to believe the Parker Meadows Ballpark would cost the county around $1 million to complete. I was in favor of that and voted for it. On the day we were scheduled for a due diligence vote, all of a sudden the figure ballooned to upwards of a potential $4.9 million. I could not see spending that much taxpayer money in this economy. Not to mention I think we overpaid for the land.

6) Although this school budget problem wasn’t caused by the commissioners, we were the ones thrown under the bus for their past management. It resulted in Macon County taxpayers paying over a million dollars more in the budget. Don’t get me wrong, I have always stood for education and teachers in our county.

7) That budget also had way over $100,000 to fund the old Cowee School.

A couple weeks ago I read another uninformed person’s letter to the editor saying we needed to keep the county pay scale up to minimum pay like other nearby counties.

Actually, I would support targeted pay raises that would accomplish just that; but, sorry friend, that was not the problem.

That pay study was not compared to our nearby counties. It was compared to three

To the Editor: When I was told I had cancer, I wondered what caused it. I had always been very healthy, so the diagnosis was a complete surprise. Now I am urging my friends, family, and neighbors to help with a study to learn more about the causes of cancer.

Folks in Haywood County have a chance to join the American Cancer Society in a nationwide study to investigate the causes of cancer. Cancer Prevention Study 3 is coming to Haywood County on Sept. 17-18 at the Haywood Health and Fitness Center through a collaboration with Medwest-Haywood.

Residents of our area have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to participate.

I encourage all eligible men and women in our community to consider taking part in this important study. Individuals between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer and who are willing to make a long-term commitment to the study are able to schedule an appointment.

It only takes 30 minutes of your time to enroll. And the follow-up surveys, every two to five years, take about half an hour.

I also call on my fellow cancer survivors to spread the word by asking friends and family to enroll in your honor.

Enrollment is simple. Visit the website to make your appointment at www.cps3haywoodnc.org or call toll free 1.888.604.5888.

This study has the potential to help prevent cancer for our children and grandchildren.

Angie Ford Clyde

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Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor: Referencing the article of two weeks ago about the Jake brakes in Waynesville and in reply to last week’s letter from Gino Deneef of Franklin, I would first like to say that this article was about a local law in Waynesville, not Franklin. Not intentionally being rude, but Mr. Deneef, please mind your own town’s laws. There are several in Franklin that need to be addressed.

More importantly, we know what the Jake brakes are used for. Coming from a family of truckers, one having recently totaled an 18-wheeler in the Pigeon River Gorge, I understand the need for them in these

Haywood residents can take part in research

GET THE

August 7-13, 2013

Waynesville Jake break laws good for in town

mountains. However, it is the places specifically pointed out in Waynesville that need attention to the ongoing, awful noise from these trucks: Allens Creek and Russ Avenue.

Allens Creek is a flat road from beginning to end and these brakes should not even have to be used. The speed of the dump trucks is what needs to be regulated on this road.

As for Russ Avenue, the new law is speaking specifically to the lower end after passing K-Mart towards Lake Junaluska. I live in an apartment directly bordering Russ Avenue and the noise at all hours of the day and night is ridiculous. I know they are carrying a heavy load, but slow the trucks down a bit before topping that wee hill. Besides, there are two signal lights at the foot of the small incline and these truckers know this; they are the same companies and rigs all day, all week long.

I support the change in the law. Once the signs are placed it will be better. The word is already out about the change and it has been pleasing to the ear as of late.

Brian Harkins Waynesville

opinion

counties near the coast. One case in point; Watauga County up near Virginia, which has 239 employees and 69,000 citizens, compared to Macon County that has about 418 employees and 35,000 citizens more or less. Do the math. Watauga has twice the population and half the employees.

This is no comparison. Another was Transylvania County near Asheville.

Asheville is urban, which again, is not a good comparison. None of these comparisons even included the fringe benefits Macon County pays, which were higher than all the others. I also asked for a comparison to Cherokee, Swain, Jackson, Clay, Rabun and Graham counties but never got it probably because that wouldn’t fit the plan either.

We are going to be confronted with a $300,000 or more proposal to widen the Macon County Airport runway. I voted last year for $230,000 as part of a grant to repave it. I was told about all the money this airport makes annually. If it makes all this money, why are we asked every year to fund $200,000 or more?

These are only a few of the reasons I vote the way I do. I am not running down my fellow commissioners for how they vote.

However, I didn’t pledge to the citizens to follow a big spending plan. I said I would be conservative and that is how I have voted.

I know some don’t worry about the taxpayer. They just want us commissioners to spend. Sorry, I am not going back on my word. It’s hard sometimes to be a true conservative who looks out for the taxpayers’ money with an economy in the ditch and when everyone else seems to be looking for ways to spend it. I wish more folks would attend meetings and get the facts before speaking. If you can’t make the meetings then at least watch them on video at www.thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/. That way you can at least see and hear most of what happens. I hope this helps you all see just a few of the things that go on that you don’t always read about in the newspapers.

Commissioner Ron Haven Macon County

MOUNTAINwise.org Made possible with funding from the North Carolina Community Transformation Grant Project and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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tasteTHEmountains

at the

Beer Dinner

Bed & Breakfast and Restaurant

Enjoy the last days of Summer with a 5 course dinner paired to match each beer.

SATURDAY, AUG. 17 • 6 P.M.

$35 Per Person

PLUS TAX & GRATUITY ~ CALL FOR RESERVATIONS

Beer selected and provided by Bearwaters Brewing Co.

94 East St. • Waynesville 828-452-7837

68585

For details & menus see www.herrenhouse.com SUNDAY BRUNCH 11-2 • Private Parties by Reservation

ARTISAN BREADS & PASTRIES

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18 North Main Street Waynesville • 452.3881 www.citybakery.net MON-FRI: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

SAT: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. SUN: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Smoky Mountain News

ASHEVILLE: 60 Biltmore Ave. 252.4426 & 88 Charlotte St. 254.4289 200-02

Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251 AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville.

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

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

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

BLUE RIDGE BBQ COMPANY 180 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.7524. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Blue Ridge BBQ is a family owned and operated restaurant.

The BBQ is slow hardwood smoked, marinated in its own juices, and seasoned with mountain recipes. All menu items made from scratch daily. Featuring homemade cornbread salad, fresh collard greens, or cornbread and milk at your request. Old-fashioned homemade banana pudding and fruit cobbler of the season. Catering, take-out, eat-in. blueridgebbq@gmail.com.

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Now open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m.

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

HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837.

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

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

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997.

Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Family-style breakfast seven days a week, from 8 to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-can-eat. Lunch every day from 11:30 till 2. Evening cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting), featuring steaks, ribs, chicken, and pork chops, to name a few. Bountiful family-style dinners on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herbbaked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer. The evening social hour starts at 6pm, and dinner is served starting at 7pm. So join us for mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations.

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

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

Call for catering quotes. Private room avail-

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

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

Nutrition Facts

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

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

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

FRYDAY’S & SUNDAES 24 & 26 Fry St., Bryson City (Next To The Train Depot). 828.488.5379. Fridays is open 6 days a week and closed Wednesdays.

Sundaes is open 7 days a week. Fryday’s is known for its Traditional English Beer Battered Fish & Chips, but also has burgers, deep fried dogs, gyro, shrimp, bangers, Chip Butty, chicken, sandwiches & a great kids menu. Price friendly, $3-$10, Everything available to go or call ahead takeout.

Sundaes has 24 rotating flavors of Hershey's Ice Cream making them into floats, splits, sundaes, shakes. Private seating inside & out for both locations right across from the train station & pet friendly.

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

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

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

Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola

A MAN CALLED BRUCE

Am ount per Serving

SUNDAY BRUNCH

Calories 0 % Daily Value * Tot al Fat 0g

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Private room available for meetings.

SATURDAY, AUG. 10 7 P.M.

serving size : ab out 50 p ag es

Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics

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9 A.M.-4 P.M.

-Local beers now on draftTH

FRIDAY AUGUST 9

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Buchanan Boys

Join us on the patio for live music Tues-Fri. Call to see whose playing.

Entert ainm ent

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SATURDAY AUGUST 10TH

Classified s

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Mile High Band 83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554

117 Main Street, Canton NC

200-21

* Percent Weekly values b ased on Hayw ood, Jackson, M acon, Sw ain and Buncom b e d iet s.

22

able for large parties. Accepts MC/Visa, Discover and American Express.

828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com Serving Lunch & Dinner

MON.-THURS. 11 A .M. TO 9 P.M. • FRI. & SAT. 11 A .M. TO 10 P.M. SUNDAY BRUNCH 11 A .M. TO 2:30 P.M. 200-55

S PRING S TREET, D OWNTOWN S YLVA CREPES, PANINIS, SOUPS, SALADS, GOURMET PASTAS WINE & BEER

CityLightsCafe.com

200-17

tasteTHEmountains cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome.

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

and herb crusted lamb rack. Carefully selected fine wines and beers plus full bar available. Open year round. Call for reservations.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel. 828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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

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

Reservations appreciated.

MAD BATTER BAKERY & CAFÉ Located on the WCU Campus in Cullowhee.

828.293.3096. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Earth-friendly foods at people-friendly prices. Daily specials, wraps, salads, pastries, breads, soups and more. Unique fare, friendly service, casual atmosphere and wireless Internet. Organic ingredients, local produce, gourmet fair trade and organic coffees.

200-23

200-06

ITALIAN

MEDITERRANEAN

STEAKS • PIZZA CHICKEN • SEAFOOD SANDWICHES

THURSDAY • 8/8

Adam Bigelow & Friends

SATURDAY • 8/10

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK

Screaming J’s

EVERY TUESDAY

Drink & Think hosted by Kurt Collins

628 E. Main Street • Sylva 828.586.1717 • soulinfusion.com

JOIN US FOR SUMMER ON THE PATIO 1863 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.454.5002 HWY. 19/23 EXIT 98

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

828.488.9555. Open for lunch and dinner everyday 11:30 a.m.-late. A taste of Italy in beautiful Bryson City. Exceptional pasta, pizza, homemade soups, salads. Fine wine, mixed drinks and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, reservations appreciated.

200-64

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

SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO 628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS). 828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until.

Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal.

Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine. Home-Grown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends. Pet friendly and kid ready.

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

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

Located across from the Fire Station.

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

828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily.

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

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

OLD STONE INN 109 Dolan Road, off Love Lane.

828.456.3333. Classic fireside dining in an historic mountain lodge with cozy, intimate bar. Dinner served nightly except Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Signature dinner choices include our 8oz. filet of beef in a brandied peppercorn sauce and a garlic

THE WINE BAR 20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day.

Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

Sunday Brunch Every Sunday from 11a.m.-2 p.m.

Reservations Appreciated VIEW OUR COMPLETE MENU ONLINE AT

www.oldstoneinn.com/dining 109 Dolan Rd. (off Love Lane) • Waynesville (828) 456-3333 • Dinner: Mon-Sat 5:30-8

200-01

AUGUST LIVE MUSIC: 8/1 8/2 8/3 8/4 8/8 8/9 8/10

Dylan Riddle Live Music TBA Live Music TBA Chuck Spencer Ricky Paul River Rats Moonshine Jam

8/11 8/15 8/16 8/17 8/18 8/22

Croon & Cadence Jeff Sipe Trio Live Music TBA Strung Like a Horse Sparkly Nipples Chuck Spencer & Dylan Riddle

8/23 8/24 8/25 8/30 8/31

LOCAL Rory Kelly Brett Wilson Circus Mutt Point of View

THE DECK 4-8 P.M. MUSIC 9 P.M.-2 A.M. | SUNDAY MUSIC ON

DIRECTIONS:

NoNameSportsPub.com

• Hors d'oeuvre Hour Nightly • 4-Course Dinner Nightly • Wednesday Gourmet Picnic Lunch • Thursday Night Cookout • Sunday Brunch • Backpack Lunches for Hiking

Smoky Mountain News

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

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections.

Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

ANNOUNCING

August 7-13, 2013

MILL & MAIN 462 W. Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6799.

Serving lunch and dinner. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Noon to 4 p.m.

Sunday. Pizza, pasta, outstanding homemade desserts, plus full lunch and dinner menus. All ABC permits.

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

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Cooking up mouth-watering, woodfired Angus steaks, prime rib and scrumptious fresh seafood dishes. The wood-fired grill gives amazing flavor to every meal that comes off of it. Enjoy creative dishes made using moonshine. Stop by and simmer for a while and soak up the atmosphere. The best kept secret in Maggie Valley. themoonshinegrill.com

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

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

200-20

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

Award-winning country inn at 5,000 feet Reservations required

2300 SWAG ROAD WAYNESVILLE

828.926.0430 • TheSwag.com

Bring your own wine and spirits.

LOCATED OFF JONATHAN CREEK RD/HWY 276 & HEMPHILL RD 200-67

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

Cherokee musical focuses on life of Will Holland Thomas

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER bout 30 people sat scattered around the 2,800-seat Mountainside Theater in Cherokee, watching the makings of something that has never graced the stage there before.

After debuting its first new play in more than 60 years last year, the Cherokee Historical Association will take another giant leap by premiering the theater’s first historical musical, “Chief Little Will,” in 2014.

“We are going to give it a stab,” said awardwinning playwright Rob Lauer, prefacing the first staged reading of his musical. “We want you to use your imagination because actors will be playing multiple roles.”

The actors showcased in the early rehearsal of the musical are also in the ongoing summer’s production of “Unto These Hills,” which tells the story the Trail of Tears. “Unto These Hills” was the only play performed at the Mountainside Theater until last year’s production of “Emissaries of Peace,” marking the 250th anniversary of the journeys of English envoy Henry Timberlake and Cherokee interpreter Ostenaco.

For the past three weeks, in between sixday-a-week performances, the actors rehearsed “Chief Little Will.”

The musical, already two years in the making, won’t show to a full audience until next summer though.

“The goal is to work out the kinks this year,” said John Tissue, executive director of the Cherokee Historical Association, which oversees Oconaluftee Indian Village as well as the theater.

Following a short spoken introduction, performers, all adhering to a dress code of black shirts and jeans, proceed onto the stage with binders in hand to belt out the first song, a praise to Carolina mornings, and introduce the audience to a young Will Holland Thomas, who would later grow up to become the first and only white Cherokee chief. He was nick-

A

Actors in this summer’s “Unto These Hills” play performed a staged reading of an in-theworks musical titled “Chief Little Will.” The Cherokee Historical Association plans to debut the production next season.

Caitlin Bowling photo

About the playwright Rob Lauer is an award-winning playwright and director from Virginia. He has written several plays including the 1982 Mayhew award-winning “Digger,” the Paul T. Nolan award-winning “The Church Street Fantasy,” and “Tom and Penny’s Yard Party,” which won the Best Play of the Year award at the Deep South Writers conference.

Lauer also founded the Olde Theatre Company in Virginia in 1986. His most recent works are the musical “My Jo,” based on works of Louisa May Alcott, and the comedy “Geeks & Gangsters,” about the people who created Superman.

named Will-usdi, or Little Will.

As a young boy, Thomas worked at trading post in near Soco and learned the Cherokee language and about its culture. Chief Yonaguska, famous for his calls for temperance, later adopted him and appointed him his successor upon his death. Will Cooper, the

main character in Charles Frazier’s 2006 novel 13 Moons, is based in part on Thomas.

The musical is littered with motifs of finding one’s identity and accepting other cultures.

It also shows that from humble beginnings can come great things. Thomas went from being a poor young man to chief of an entire tribe.

About William Holland Thomas Thomas was born on Feb. 5, 1805, near Raccoon Creek just outside of what is now Waynesville and died on May 10, 1893.

He was a state senator from 1848-1860. As a youth, he worked at a Soco trading post, learned the Cherokee language and befriended some of the people. He was adopted into the tribe by the chief Yonaguska, learned much of the Cherokee ways, and was named by the chief as his successor. Thomas represented the tribe in negotiations with the federal government related to Indian Removal, preserving the right of Yonaguska and other Cherokee to

Throughout the performance, Thomas questions his identity. He is white by most standards but also feels Cherokee. While the Cherokee people accept him, there are also times where they identify him with white men, some of whom were trying to kill the Cherokee or take their land away.

For the musical, Lauer occasionally draws on other famous works. When Yonaguska adopts Thomas, he tells him the creation story of the Cherokee people, which will include dancing and people dressed as the first animals, reminiscent of “The Lion King” scenes when Simba is born and when his father explains his place in the animal kingdom.

Later when the Cherokee are pushing back against the white settlers’ attempts to remove them from their land, Thomas cries, “Let my people stay” over and over. The call is in the same vein as Moses’ plea in the Bible to let his people out of Eygpt.

Tying together the key events in Thomas’ life is his own retelling of it to a man from the Smithsonian Institution after Thomas was put in a mental hospital in Eastern North Carolina.

Thomas went crazy later in life and was institutionalized. It isn’t clear why, but one theory is that he contracted syphilis. Sections of his conversation with the Smithsonian representative bookend the musical and are also smattered throughout it.

At times, he did not know who he was, or rather had been, which reinforced the motif of trying to find one’s identity and place.

“We had that double identity. That intrigued me,” Lauer said.

Following the preview, attendees and some of the stand-in actors offered complements and criticisms to Lauer.

Comments ranged from adding more of a “wow” factor in the beginning to building up toward the climax of the musical more to giving a second thought to artistic choices that could be misconstrued, such as only using derogatory terms such as injun and redskin sparingly to show people’s biased and make a point.

“We don’t want to offend anyone,” Lauer said.

Lauer will head back his home in Virginia to work on rewrites of the musical, now that he has seen it played out and received feedback from others. He will do some major rewrites and perfect the musical before its debut next summer.

stay in North Carolina after the 1830s. With his own and Cherokee funds, he bought land in North Carolina to be used by the Cherokee, much of which is now the Qualla Boundary, the territory of the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee.

Thomas served as a colonel in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War, when he led Thomas Legion of Cherokee Indians and Highlanders. Will Cooper, the main character in Charles Frazier’s 2006 novel Thirteen Moons, is based in part on William Holland Thomas. In the Author’s Note, Frazier states that Will Cooper is not William Holland Thomas, “although they do share some DNA.”

This must be the place

Presents…

August 10, 2013 Doors open at 6pm Opening Act: The Buchanan Boys Special Guests: Ole Smoky Moonshine Girls Matt Stillwell 9pm

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VIP signing after the show at Lucky Jakes, 2723 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley, NC 28751

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August 7-13, 2013

Sponsors: Lucky Jakes, Ole Smoky Moonshine, 99.9 KISS Country

828-926-0866

www.maggievalleyfestivalgrounds.org for more details

Smoky Mountain News

HOT PICKS 1 2 3 4 5

Maggie Valley Festival Grounds

arts & entertainment

the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, the Englishstyle beverage was deep garnet red in color. I could smell the fruits used, taste the roasted malt flavors. I was in heaven. Coors Light immediately took a backseat to my new hobby – craft beer.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD Entering college in Connecticut, I explored further into the great beers of New England. From Magic Hat #9 to Otter Creek Garret K. Woodward photo Stovepipe Porter, Geary’s Pale Ale to Red Hook ESB. If a town had a brewery, I wanted to belly up and taste the goods.

After graduation, I found myself wandering America, reporting on music festivals and feature events around the country. Forty-nine states as of last count. When I visited a new place, I didn’t want a souvenir T-shirt or bumper sticker. No “Garret” coffee mug from Seattle, no sir. Craft beer and local, independent breweries were my souvenirs, each filled with the true essence of a community through its patrons, ambiance and attitude.

While covering the Rothbury Festival in Michigan, I found my love affair. Strolling the streets of Ann Arbor during a free afternoon, my photographer and I stepped into the Arbor Brewing Company. Poured from a cask, the Sacred Cow IPA stopped me in my tracks. Every sip was a burst of flavor, a brew heavy and succulent, like eating a steak (and I love steak). To this day, it remains my favorite, and a great excuse to head north again for a road trip.

Thus, when I was deciding to move to Western North Carolina, the idea of living in a craft beer Mecca played a large role. Dozens of breweries at my doorstep, all ready to tease and surprise me with rotating taps and seasonal flavors. Over the last year, I’ve interviewed numerous brewmasters, photographed facilities and written articles about these special places tucked away I was afraid of getting caught. in the hills of Southern As a teenager, I found myself sneaking Appalachia or around the corner into the back door of my grandfather’s in bustling downtown Asheville. garage. Amid the darkness, I stepped over Within my immediate coverfirewood, fishing gear and forgotten storage age area, there are five breweries, boxes layered in dust. Sliding past his coucheach bringing something differThe Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam will be Aug. on-wheels Ford Crown Victoria, I located the ent to the table. Personally, I like 9-10, featuring Balsam Range, The Crowe refrigerator and reached for the handle. to dive into the Noon Day IPA Brothers, and Whitewater Bluegrass Company, Opening the door, the bright light illuminat(Nantahala), Edelweiss (Tipping among others. ed the interior of the garage. Squinting my Point), Folkmalt (BearWaters), eyes, I found what I was in search of – a cold Salamander Slam (Frog Level) The Mountain High BBQ Festival and Car can of Coors Light. and Middleworld Brown Show will be Aug. 9-10 in Franklin.

Holding “The Silver Bullet,” I felt a sense (Heinzelmannchen). of empowerment, almost like the moment All of these locations are Indiana Jones picks up the prized golden idol pushing forward and thriving, River Rats perform at No Name Sports Pub in in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Sure, it wasn’t evolving each year. It’s a formuSylva on Aug. 9. the best beer out there, but I didn’t know any la for success that includes better, and, frankly, I didn’t care. I had a innovation, patience, communinear-frozen can of suds and all was right in ty support and outreach.

Marci Spencer presents her book Clingman’s the world.

Hosted by BearWaters, the Dome: Highest Mountain in the Great My love for beer goes back as far as I can inaugural Waynesville Craft Smokies on Aug. 10 at City Lights Bookstore remember. There’s something uniquely speBeer Fest (www.waynesvillein Sylva. cial about hoisting a cold one high and beerfest.com) will take place on proudly saluting another fine day in this Aug. 31 at the American Town Mountain hits the stage at the Stecoah chaotic thing we call life. Yes, I’m aware Legion. The festival will include Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville on about the responsibility of enjoying a brewsmore than 20 local and regional Aug. 10. ki, but as well, sometimes you just have to let brewers alongside live music loose and carpe diem. and an array of vendors.

And for a time, squirreling away those Heineken at special events or the random It’s been quite the journey since the days Coors Light cans worked. Soon, I became Red Dog from someone who definitely of sneaking into garages. Luckily, there’s no curious about other products and brands. I viewed life as about quantity and not quality. shortage of new and interesting craft beers, worked my way up, snatching a Budweiser That outlook and circumstance changed at least here in Western North Carolina. from a lonely cooler at a summer picnic, a the day I came across Ubu Ale. Brewed by Cheers, y’all.

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arts & entertainment

On the beat • Ricky Paul, River Rats, Moonshine Jam, and Croon & Cadence will be performing at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. Paul will play on Aug. 8, with River Rats Aug. 9, Moonshine Jam Aug. 10 and Croon & Cadence Aug. 11. All shows are free.

828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Audio Alliance and Secred B Sides will play Big Wesser BBQ + Brew at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Nantahala Gorge. Audio Alliance will perform on Aug. 9. Secred B Sides will play Aug. 10. Both performances are from 8 to 11 p.m. Free. www.noc.com.

• Bluegrass group Unspoken Tradition plays the Groovin’ on the Green concert series at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at the Village Commons in Cashiers. The series is sponsored by the Greater Cashiers Area Merchants Association. Free. www.cashiersvalley.com.

ALSO:

• Singer/songwriter Nikki Talley performs from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City. Free. www.nantahalabrewing.com or 828.488.2337.

• A mountain music jam, Man Named Bruce and The Geezers tap into Frog Level Brewing Company in Waynesville. The jam is on Aug. 8, Americana Man Named Bruce on Aug. 9, and classic rock group The Geezers on Aug. 10. Free.

828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Lonesome Sound will play the Concerts on the Creek concert series at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 2, at Bridge Park in Sylva. The series is sponsored by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Sylva and Jackson County Parks and Recreation. Free. 800.962.1911 or www.mountainlovers.com.

• The Johnny Webb Band will perform as part of the Friday Night Live concert series from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Highlands Town Square. Free. www.highlandschamber.org or 828.524.5841.

August 7-13, 2013

• The Music in the Mountains concert series continues with Larry Barnett & Friends at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug.10, at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City. The group’s repertoire includes everything from southern rock to contemporary country. www.greatsmokies.com.

• The Sweet Sounds of the 70s Disco Dance will be 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at The Bascom in Highlands. Get down, boogie and shake off those dog days of summer. $15 per person or $10 for members. 828.526.4949 or www.thebascom.org.

• Bohemian Jean featuring Jessi Stone and Matt Welborn, and Jacob Johnson perform at The Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Bohemian Jean will play Aug. 9, with Johnson Aug. 10. Both performances are at 7 p.m. Each evening has a $10 minimum purchase.

On Aug. 15, there will also be “Virtual Wine Dinner” at 7 p.m. with a live Skype featuring Willamette Valley Vineyards. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• High 5 will play the Saturdays on Pine concert series at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Pine Street Park in Highlands. Free. www.highlandschamber.org.

Smoky Mountain News

• Dancing Bear Productions presents Michael Reno Harrell at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the lower level town hall in Franklin. At 6:30 p.m. the stage is opened for anyone wanting to play a few songs. Free. 828.524.2516 or www.franklinnc.com/pickin.html.

• Asheville’s rock/funk quintet East Coast Dirt continues their Hair of the Dog NC Brewery Tour at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. The band plays a danceable blend of musical styles aptly named “sneaker boogaloo.” Free. www.eastcoastdirt.net.

• The Pisgah Promenaders “Back to School” square dance will be from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug 10, at the Old Armory Recreation Center in Waynesville. There will be plus and mainstream dancing, with Vance McDaniel as the caller. Donations of school supplies is suggested, but not required. 828.586.8416 or 828.452.5917.

• Music with Mary Kay & Harry, and Country Memories will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Macon County Public Library. The Thursdays at the Library series is sponsored by the Friends of the Macon County Library. Free. www.fontanalib.org.

• Acoustic duo Liz & AJ Nance will perform as part of the Summer Music Series at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Mariana Black Library in Bryson City. Free.

828.488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

26

Black brings country hits to Franklin Country singer Clint Black will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

Black has long been heralded as one of country music’s brightest stars. Black’s many talents have enabled him to transcend genres to become one of the most successful artists in all the music industry. To date, Black has written, recorded and released more than 100 songs, a benchmark in any Clint Black artist’s career. His 1989 critical and fan favorite debut, “Killin’ Time,” was awarded triple platinum and named one of the greatest 100 albums by Country Music Television. With more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, Black’s continued success can be attributed in part to his deep sense of country music traditions and his humble gratitude for being an important part of music history.

Tickets are $35, $45 and $55. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

Trace Adkins hits the stage at Harrah’s Country singer Trace Adkins performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at Harrah’s Cherokee.

In the 15 years since his platinum debut, Adkins has released 10 studio albums, three greatest hits packages and 30 chart singles. He has racked up four Grammy nominations along with five ACM and CMT awards. With these accolades, along with record sales in the millions, Adkins has earned the respect of both country music fans and Trace Adkins the industry. In recent years, he has made his mark as a TV and film actor, a voiceover artist, an author, a social commentator and a participant on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. He’s even the inspiration for a series of comic books. His hits include “Just Fishin,” “This Ain’t No Love Song,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” and “Hillbilly Bone” (with Blake Shelton), among others. www.ticketmaster.com or www.harrahscherokee.com or www.traceadkins.com.

Matt Stillwell plays Maggie Valley Western Carolina University star athlete-turnedmusician Matt Stillwell performs at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds.

Stillwell chose music over athletics in college, moving to Nashville to pursue his career.

Opening act is The Buchanan Boys, who hit the stage at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10 per person. www.mattstillwell.eventbrite.com.

Town Mountain brings bluegrass to Stecoah Town Mountain will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in Robbinsville.

The bluegrass group has collaborated and/ or performed along with Doc Watson, Jim Lauderdale, Steep Canyon Rangers, Acoustic Syndicate, Keller Williams, Larry Keel, David Grisman, and The Infamous Stringdusters. They made their first overseas jaunt to Finland in 2012 and have taught at workshops in Canada, St. Louis, and other cities. The prestigious IBMA has twice selected band member Phil Barker for its songwriting showcase (2010 and 2011), and the band was part of the official showcase in 2011.

A pre-concert smothered country steak dinner will be available in the Schoolhouse Café, with a dinner option to eat with Town Mountain.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students grades K-12.

828.479.3364 or www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.

Bluegrass jam takes over Fines Creek

The Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam will be Aug. 910, at the old Fines Creek School.

The Fines Creek Community Association sponsors this family-friendly event each year as the primary fundraiser for students in the Fines Creek, Panther Creek and White Oak communities who plan to continue their education after high school. Friday’s lineup begins at 5 p.m. with The Crowe Brothers, Eddie Rose & Highway 40, Whitewater Bluegrass Company and the Fines Creek Flatfooters. Saturday’s festivities begin at 3 p.m. with Balsam Range, followed by The Dismembered Tennesseans, The Darren Nicholson Band, Timbre Fox and the Southern Appalachian Cloggers. Concertgoers are asked to bring their own lawn chairs or blankets.

Admission is $20 for adults for one night or $35 for both nights. Children under 16 will be admitted free with a paying adult. Parking is free.

828.627.3080 or 828.734.3080 or finescreekgirl@yahoo.com or www.finescreek.org.

On the streets

Donated photo

Porsche club to raise money for Sarge’s

The Sylva Art Stroll continues from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in downtown Sylva.

Galleries will feature art exhibits, some hosting artist receptions. The event is a perfect night for dining and shopping local, enjoying art, exploring our historic downtown Main Street and even taking in a concert at Bridge Park. Participants include Jackson County Library Complex Rotunda, Nichols House Antiques and Collectibles on Landis Street, Guadalupe Café, Signature Brew Coffeehouse, It’s By Nature, and Gallery 1 at 604 Main Street.

The Sylva Art Stroll is a monthly event, occurring every second Friday of the month. Free.

828.337.3468.

The Carolinas Region, Mountain Area of the Porsche Club of America (PCA) is hosting the 5th annual People’s Choice Concours, In Den Bergen, Aug. 9-11, at The Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa. More than 70 Porsches are expected at this fun-filled, low-key event. The primary sponsor is Harmony Motors, the local Porsche Audi VW dealership in Asheville.

Associate sponsor is Stuttgart Motorwerks, an independent Porsche specialist in Hendersonville and Jan Davis Tire Store, a locally owned and family operated full service tire and underbody store in Asheville.

The People’s Choice Concours will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, with Porsches displayed on the number one fairway of the Carolina course in Waynesville.

The event is open to the public but for nonregistered participants PCA requests a donation to Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation.

There will be a raffle of numerous items following the PCA dinner on Saturday night that will also benefit Sarge’s. Sarge’s volunteers will bring some of their foster dogs available for adoption to the Inn. colron@charter.net or www.sargeandfriends.org or 828.246.9050.

Cast and crew needed for Matt Papa video A music video narrative with artist Matt Papa will take place in Western North Carolina this month. Primary shooting day is scheduled for Aug. 21 with Aug. 22 as a backup.

The location is in Cullowhee on property that offers a housing interior, wooded paths, and rolling pasture landscape. Casting needs include age 25 to 40-year-old white male, teenage girl, age 25 to 35-year-old female, two children ages four to seven, age 25 to 40-yearold white female, handsome man, attractive young woman and extras of all ages, races, etc. Crew needs include local makeup artist who has experience doing things like fake cuts and scratches, scars, dirt on face, etc. caleb.goodnight@goodnight-creative.com.

• A Mountain Street Dance will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in downtown Waynesville, featuring mountain music and clogging.

Refreshments available. Presented by the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority. Free. www.downtownwaynesville.com.

ALSO:

August 7-13, 2013

The 5th annual Mountain High BBQ Festival and Car Show will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 10, at the Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center in Frankin.

This two-day event is a Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) sanctioned festival. Barbecue teams from all over the country will cook throughout the weekend, hoping to be named Grand Champion.

Alongside crafters, vendors and children’s activities, there will also be appearances by Jeff & Mark from the hit television series “Moonshiners,” from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday. The “Cruise-In” will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday. The “Antique/Classic Car Show” will be held all day Saturday. Registration forms are available at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce.

Country music star Clint Black will perform Friday night at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.Tickets are available at www.greatmountainmusic.com. Present your concert ticket at the BBQ Festival gate and receive free entrance.

Admission is $5 for adults, children 12 and under free. Your festival admission will enter you into the drawing for a Holland Grill valued at $500 sponsored by Holland Grills and Macon Appliance. www.mountainhighbbqfestival.com or 828.524.3161.

Downtown Sylva comes alive with art

arts & entertainment

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27

arts & entertainment

On the wall HCC to offer first stained glass course since floods

Woodcarver Tom Wolfe (pictured) will be one of the featured artists at Wood Day, Aug. 10 at the Folk Art Center.

9 th annual

Donated photo

Celebrate wood crafts at the Folk Art Center Celebrating Women and Plantss October 11-13, 2013 13 Black Mountain, NC Bl

www.sewisewomen.com 877-SEWOMEN

August 7-13, 2013

Tickets on sale for WCU performances Joel R. Weaver P.A.

Smoky Mountain News

• Creative Endeavors, which features local artisans with arts and crafts, will hold a sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9-10 in the Harrell Center at Lake Junaluska.

Vendors will have displays in the auditorium. www.lakejunaluska.com.

ALSO:

• The Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild fashion show charity fundraiser will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the HART Theatre in Waynesville. There will be a raffle, dessert buffet, wine cash bar and music by the Trantham Family. $25. All proceeds benefit The Good Samaritan Clinic of Haywood County. 828.246.4651.

On the stage

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“Wood Day,” an annual celebration of wood crafts, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, in the Folk Art Center at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway east of Asheville.

Demonstrations include carving, coopering, woodturning, furniture design, dovetail construction and Shaker-inspired designs.

Hands-on activities will be provided for children. The 13th annual Carve-Off Competition will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Carvers must sign up by 12:30 p.m. to participate.

While at the Folk Art Center, there is also “The Wow Factor! SHCG New Member Exhibition” in the Main Gallery. The show features the work of newly juried members from 2010 to the present. The exhibition will be on display through Sept. 8.

Admission to Wood Day and the Folk Art Center is free.

828.298.7928 or www.craftguild.org.

Haywood Community College will offer its first stained glass course since the floods of 2004, which wiped out the college’s continuing education arts facilities in Clyde.

Students may choose from two eight-week offerings. The first will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays Aug. 7 through Sept. 25. The second session is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays Sept. 9 through Oct. 28.

The Introduction to Stained Glass course will introduce the basics of creating stained-glass art. Students will select glass materials, cut, grind, and assemble stained glass windows. The course focuses on beginning students and participants will complete the copper foil stained glass process.

Instructor for the course is George Kenney, owner of Cedar House Stained Glass in Waynesville. He has created stained-glass works of art from more than 20 years, first as a hobby and then professionally.

Fee for the class is $148 and students are responsible for purchasing their own glass. All other supplies are included.

828.627.4500 or 828.565.4240.

58 Montgomery St. Waynesville joel@weaverpalaw.com

The Nai Ni Chen Dance Company will present “Song of the Phoenix” at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 2. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for all others.

The Alash Tuvan Throat Singing Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 16. Free for students and $5 for all others.

Recording artist Lee Lessack, mezzosoprano Joanne O’Brien and musical direc-

Tickets for the Western Carolina University Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series will go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The series opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center with “Sacred Music Sacred Dance,” featuring the multiThe Carolina phonic singers of Drepung Chocolate Drops.

Loseling Monastery of Tibet.

Donated photo Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for all others. tor John Boswell will perform “An Other upcoming ACE events include: Enchanted Broadway Holiday Show” at The Mystical Arts of Tibet’s Sand Mandala, created through the process of painting with 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $5.

Imago Theatre will stage “FROGZ,” a colored sands, which will be on display from family-friendly show with a cast that Monday, Sept. 9 to Friday, Sept. 13. Free. ranges from comedic amphibians to acroSublime Frequencies will screen batic larvae, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11.

“Vodoun Gods on the Slave Coast” and Tickets are $5.

“The Divine River: Ceremonial Pageantry Acclaimed America act The Carolina in the Sahel” Sept. 24-25.

Chocolate Drops will perform at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, March 3. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for all others.

Award-winning novelist Colum McCann will speak at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, April 2. Free. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or 828.227.2479.

• Land of the Sky Barbershop Chorus will perform at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

Adding to the melodic fun are the Supersonic Quartet and the Rama-LamaDingdong Doo Wop Group, with special appearances by the Marx Brothers, a musical magician, and others. Complimentary ice cream sundaes will be served. $5 donation is suggested. 828.524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

ALSO:

• The fourth annual Favorite Poem Readings will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. Area residents recite their most beloved poetry. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. A reception will follow in the library’s Friendship Garden. 828.743.2558

BY B ECKY JOHNSON

L

a huge array of locally raised meat, cheese, sauces, on and on and on. If I play my cards right, farmers market finds will make appearances in the menu all week, right down to blackberry cobbler for dessert.

I begin dreaming of farmers market meals as soon as the weather gets warm, but it’s not until about this time of year that they really hit full stride — a rare silver lining to the otherwise gloomy reality that summer is almost over.

It’s a race to see which farmer can bring corn to market first. The first ears of the season are a novelty at best, more of a suggestion of corn, the cob no bigger than a popsicle. But they’ll go fast alright, because despite the tiny kernels they’re still sweet and succulent, and will all be snatched up within the first hour the market opens.

Farmers market regulars know to be there early if they want those coveted items.

With my heart set on pesto pasta salad last weekend, but arriving far too late to ensure success, I made a frantic beeline through the market in a now infamous mad basil dash, stopping at stall after stall. “Got basil? Got basil?” I asked until I finally procured the last two bunches of the day — one bunch each from two different farmers who were down to the bottom of their basil buckets.

When we travel, I love to search out the local farmers markets. In some cities, these are enormous affairs, comprising an entire block. I like the intimate feel of small town farmers markets in the mountains. They are festive, happy places. Check out the farmers market section in the calendar at the back of the paper for every farmers market in our coverage area.

The Jackson County Farmers Market in Sylva is particularly great for kids. It often has “Family Art at the Market” and sometimes even a story time.

The Haywood Historic Farmers Market often has live music. The Waynesville Tailgate Market has a Kid’s Corner the first Saturday of the month with activities to engage kids with healthy, local food.

STREET DANCE

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facebook.com/smnews AMANDA BELL, the first novel by Smoky Mountain News book reviewer JEFF MINICK, is now available.

Smoky Mountain News

In this modern fairy tale, a woman devastated by crushed hopes and vicious assaults sets out on a strange new path, searching for release from selfimprisonment. On her journey Amanda encounters characters usually associated with the Brothers Grimm: A wicked witch disguised as a homemaker, a friend witty and sharp as an elf, a priest with a bag of wizard’s tricks, an architect in the armor of a knight-errant, a ghost offering solace, and four motherless children

August 7-13, 2013

iving within walking distance of the farmers market has lots of perks. For starters, it’s a great excuse when asked, with a tinge of poorly disguised incredulity, “You don’t even grow a few vegetables, not even a couple of tomato plants?”

Instead of admitting I can’t even find time to water my hanging baskets twice a week, which by this point in the summer are hanging baskets of dried-up brown stems, I go with something more like: “Well, we live REALLY close to the farmers market, and my kids love going down there and buying stuff from all the farmers. It’s kind of a Saturday morning family thing.”

Indeed, the farmers market has helped my kids appreciate fresh veggies. In their eyes, the rows of farmer stalls are one great big, giant buffet. They eat tomatoes like most people eat apples — just taking a big ole bite out of them, juice squirting out sideways and running down their elbows. They’ll chomp on raw green beans like they’re carrot sticks.

Let your kids help pick out your buys. It’s a far more interactive food experience to dig through a basket of zucchini still smudged with dirt and hand over money to the farmer who actually grew it.

Ironically, living within walking distance to the farmers market doesn’t mean we actually walk — at least not at this time of year. I simply buy too much stuff to get it back home on foot.

I’ve tried ousting my kids from their strollers to make way for my market bounty.

But then we just end up carrying the kids and pushing the bags, so it’s a wash.

We tried biking, reasoning the produce could share the roomy pull-behind bike trailer. But once my toddler was nestled in with a dozen ears of corn, a frozen beef roast, a couple pounds of sausage, five pounds of tomatoes, fingerling potatoes, and green beans, it was unpleasantly heavy to haul.

I actually spend more money at the farmers market than the grocery store this time of year. Why not? You can buy all your veggies, of course, plus homemade bread, eggs,

MOUNTAIN

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Mountain momma

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arts & entertainment

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31

Prickly but also extremely insightful n June 24, 1993, David Gelernter, then an associate professor of computer science at Yale University, opened a package in his office that exploded, tearing off most of his right hand and damaging his hearing and eyesight. Gelernter, who had written extensively about computer usage and was a frequent critic of our use of them, was ironically one more victim of the Unabomber, who detested technology.

In Drawing Life, published in 1997 and reviewed here in The Smoky Mountain News some 10 years ago, Gelernter recounted not only the effects this explosion had on his personal life but also blended into the details of the bombing and his long recovery a mediation on American moraliWriter ty. He critiqued, sometimes savagely to the dismay of many reviewers, the positive response of what many today call the elite, or the new class — the university intellectuals, the media, the politicians and all their attendants — to creatures like the Unabomber. He drew strong contrasts between current American responses to such people and events to those of America before the Second World War, an era with which he was well acquainted, having written his acclaimed 1939: The Lost World of the Fair. Near the end of Drawing Life, he wrote, paraphrasing a passage from E.B. White:

Jeff Minick

O

“The chances of our repairing American culture might be zero. But I find it inspiring anyway that I can address the direct descendent of the anything-goes fellow, the intellectual who commands modern culture, White’s voice. I am against him. I have seen the work of his disciples, and I say the hell with him. To me no cause is lost.”

In America-Lite: How Imperial Academia

Dismantled Our Culture (and Ushered in the Obamacrats (ISBN 978-159403606-4, 2012, $23.99), Gelernter returns to this theme of the role of the academy on culture and morality.

His central thesis is that we have handed over control of our institutions, our culture, and even our way of thinking to a class of intellectuals who prefer theory to fact and reality, who want to make over what used to be called

the “ivory tower” of academe into the living quarters for the rest of us as well.

In America-Lite, which is the author’s tab for where we Americans are now, living in a country where more and more the past and the future are blank slates and only the present matters, Gelernter assigns the title of PORGIs to this new class. PORGIs, or postreligious, globalist intellectuals, Gelernter associates particularly with the Ivy League schools of the Northeast.

The graduates of these schools are the men and women who tend to direct national affairs, who dominate the media arts, and who are the shapers and movers behind our culture. (If one considers the educational background of our 20th century presidents, we find that a large proportion of them attended these schools at some point in their lives.

Bush I, Clinton, Bush II, and Obama are all graduates of these universities).

Liberals will probably dislike Gelernter’s book, as they take a bashing here, but they should read it. Despite its title, America-Lite is not a screed against President Obama. It is instead a blunt criticism of an entire governing apparatus, Democrats and Republicans alike, who regard the electorate as cattle or fools, or both.

“Obviously,” Gelernter writes, “America needs a America-Lite: How Imperial Academia Dismantled Our Culture left and a right. Any spec(and Ushered in the Obamacrats) by David Gelernter. Encounter trum has two ends, and Books, 2012. 155 pages anyway there will always

Spencer to discuss Clingman’s Dome Marci Spencer will present her book Clingman’s Dome: Highest Mountain in the Great Smokies at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Clingman’s Dome towers over the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains as the highest point in both the national park and the state of Tennessee. Featuring an introduction by poet and naturalist, George Ellison, Spencer’s book is wonderfully illustrated and details the history, legend and natural beauty of the mountain.

828.586.9499.

Coffee with the Poet The Coffee with the Poet series continues with Michael Beadle at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Beadle will read from his new collection of poetry, Invitation. His poems have appeared in various journals such as The New Southerner, Sow’s Ear and Pinesong. Since 1999, he has taught creative writing and performed poetry professionally for schools, festivals and community events across North Carolina. He is also the author or co-author of four historical books on Western North Carolina, including Haywood County: Portrait of a Mountain Community.

828.586.9499.

be people whose political instincts are dominated by outrage and others whose ideas are dominated by duty and devotion.” He is not out to bombard progressives, but he does deliver a blistering attack on “the intellectual’s odd starting point — replace facts with theories …. “The “Airheads,” as he labels them, those who have been “inoculated with theories against facts,” are taking over America.

Near the end of his book, Gelernter, who still teaches at Yale and is himself an academic, but one who recognizes all the flaws of that sub-culture, does offer a solution to the lockstep thinking of so many PORGIs. This is a treatise on the failures of education, or rather, on the path higher education in certain universities has taken, and it is to education Gelernter returns as the solution. He encourages parents to take more control of their children’s education, to provide them with alternatives if the school seems more interested in brainwashing than teaching individuals to think. He also advocates using the computer and the Internet as a tool in this teaching.

The special gift that Gelernter brings to America-Lite, and what sets it apart from similar books on the culture wars, is Gelernter himself. He is a Yale academic who nonetheless delivers a blistering attack on the Ivy League. He is a Jew who is strong in his faith but who is unafraid to state his admiration for the now-dead WASP culture of earlier years.

He is a computer scientist who frequently warns against an over-dependence on technology.

America-Lite is a prickle-bush of a book, short — 155 pages in length — concise in its arguments and evidence, and compelling in its style. Most importantly, it gives us insight into those who would manage our lives and our national interests and why they concoct fine plans that seem to implode on contact with the human realities.

Highly recommended.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher who can be reached at minick0301@gmail.com. His justreleased first novel, Amanda Bell, is available through local bookstores and at Amazon.)

George the Reading Dog returns to Jackson County George the Reading Dog and City Lights Bookstore will hold a special children’s story time at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, at the Glorious Jackson County Farmers’ Market.

George loves books and having kids read to him is one of his favorite pastimes. Weather permitting, City Lights story time will be held at the Jackson County Farmer’s Market every Saturday at 11 a.m. During winter or bad weather, story time meets at the bookstore.

828.586.9499.

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

32

NOC nears finish line in preparing for kayaking worlds

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER itting at a picnic table alongside the Nantahala River, Charles Conner watches the fast moving water. It’s may be a peaceful sunny morning at the Nantahala Outdoor Center, but it’s the calm before the storm.

“Right now, we’re really excited but anxious because there’s so much left to do,” he said.

Conner, marketing director for the NOC, is finalizing the preparations for the upcoming 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships that will be held Sept. 28 at the center in the Nantahala Gorge.

“We’re going to have people from all over the world here and watching it live online,” he said. “Everybody from the organizing and event committees to local businesses and Swain County residents have come together and are working very hard to accommodate everyone. It’s a great example of a public/private partnership.”

The entire process has been almost three full years in the making, with still more details to be ironed out before the expected 10,000 spectators a day arrive at the facility.

Starting with their bid application in 2011, the NOC has done several modifications to the property, all with the hope of making sure the world-class event isn’t the last to take place in this pristine outdoor location.

“Our goal really is to try and minimize our permanent impact on the landscape,” Conner said. “A lot of what we’ve done for the championships is temporary, with the key features remaining for future use.”

At the heart of those key features is “The Wave,” a

S

Workers at the Nantahala Outdoor Center hang a welcome sign as part of the numerous additions and projects they’ve put together for the 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships.

$300,000 concrete wave-making apparatus in the river. It creates a perfect wave every time, which allows the paddlers to continually hit it to perform the tricks and techniques used in the championships.

“With The Wave, we’re able to modify the water to make it harder or easier, something that’s challenging for seasoned athletes and also user friendly for families and beginners,” said Zuzana Vanha, events coordinator at the NOC. Surrounding The Wave, the NOC leveled out their river walkways, which provide the grounds with a firm, even surface to place bleachers and other spectator seating. Besides the bleachers, there will also be premium and VIP areas in and around Big Wesser BBQ + Brew, whose outdoor patio area was recently built for the championships. Amid a bustling “mini village” will be a beer garden, music stage, craft vendors and artisans from around the area that are being set up through the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center in nearby Robbinsville.

An opening ceremony will be held in downtown Bryson City on Sept. 2. The athlete parade will be at 6 p.m., with live music and activities to be held around the town. The NOC is currently in the process

of building a ramp into the Tuckasegee River, which will launch the athletes and their kayaks into the water for all to see from the Everett Street bridge.

“As a community, we’re trying to embrace all of this and show our international guests the best of Bryson City and Swain County,” Vanha said. “We’re trying to set this to be our model for river festivals. We want to have these big events every year, where we’re not only bringing in people from Asheville and Chattanooga, but also Atlanta and Florida.”

Tapping the shoulders of Bryson Citybased Smoky Mountain Jetboats, the NOC had the company weld together a large portable judge’s platform that can be placed in the river and adjusted to the needs of each event. The NOC will also be using a revolutionary scoreboard. The 16-foot jumbotron will be installed on the river as part of a brand new digital scoring system. In the past, judges scored with a notepad, pencil and calculator, with final results taking hours to compute. Now, with the digital touchscreen system, results are immediately calculated and placed on the board.

“It’s like starting a fire with flint to then having a fireplace with a switch to start the

Want to go?

The 2013 ICF Canoe Freestyle World Championships will be held Sept. 2-8 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Nantahala Gorge. Live music, crafters, vendors and activities will be offered throughout the week alongside the events. The opening ceremony and athlete parade will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 2 in downtown Bryson City. An Appalachian Heritage Day will be held in Bryson City on Sept. 5. www.freestylekayaking.com or www.noc.com. flames,” Vanha laughed. “With the new system, athletes now know instantly what tricks are happening, what the scores are and what they need to do to win.”

“The best part is the announcers will also have this immediate information at their use, which makes the event unfold live,” Conner added.

So, what about parking? With the infamous narrow roads and cramped roadway through the gorge, the NOC has everything figured out in getting spectators to and from the venue. There will be a 24-hour shuttle to and from Bryson City, as well as numerous parking lots spread throughout the gorge, where another fleet of shuttles will run.

“We want to get people as close to the event as possible,” Conner said. “We want this event to be as spectator friendly as possible.”

Conner estimates the entire cost of the renovations and additions to be around $500,000. The funds are a mix of private sponsors and public grants, with $200,000 coming from the Golden Leaf Foundation, a North Carolina nonprofit organization that aids in rural economic development.

Plans are in the works for a TV production crew to film the entire event, which will result in an hour-long documentary that can be a promotional tool for the area. With just a few weeks until the competition, it’s all hands on deck for the championships. And with that comes an enormous sense of pride for Western North Carolina in showcasing its outdoor beauty to the world.

“We’ve already got a great reputation for outdoor sports, but we want to push that message out further,” Conner said.

“The legacy for this event will be the unity between everyone in this area in showing that Swain County is one of the best outdoor places in the world.”

NOC Events Coordinator Zuzana Vanha shows the portable judge’s platform that will be used for the event. The platform was constructed by Smoky Mountain Jetboats in Bryson City.

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

No this ain’t Dallas

Red crossbill. NPS photo

Forest-goers get new recreation map

Smoky Mountain News

At the Devils Courthouse parking lot, we were treated to a red crossbill flyover. We found another common yellowthroat and got great views of a red-breasted nuthatch.

We briefly saw, and then heard, a common raven.

Next, we beat it down to a couple of large seepage areas around Wolf Mountain overlook. It was too early for the grass of Parnassus, but we found more Hypericum, more saxifrage, dwarf dandelion (Krigia montana) and sun dew. We saw a couple of salamanders, pretty sure one was an ocoee; the other could have been also as they are quite variable, but it could have been some other dusky.

Time was running out so we made a quick run to Richland Balsam to try for black-capped chickadee. We heard one but got no looks. We had to head back to where Mary Ann’s friends were waiting for her, but we put a few quick stops in to look at Fraser’s magnolia, witch hazel, northern red oak, American chestnut and chestnut oak.

I can only hope Mary Ann had as good a morning as I did. It is always so uplifting to be able to share these beautiful mountains with people who are genuinely interested.

and the first confirmed armadillo sighting in North Carolina occurred in 2008.

The public may report observations of armadillos by contacting Extension Wildlife Biologist Ann May. 919.707.0068 or ann.may@ncwildlife.org.

August 7-13, 2013

Now don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Dallas. And I’m sure that if you like big, hot, crowded cities, the big “D” has lots to offer. But when I met my guest — from Dallas — on the Blue Ridge Parkway last Friday morning, with the temperature in the 60s, she wasn’t missing Dallas much. She told me she had talked to friends the day before, and it was 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gotta love these summer mountain mornings, especially when you get up top.

And I really love trips with enthusiastic, knowledgeable guests. Mary Ann owns a landscape company in Dallas, is an avid biker and outdoorswoman and burgeoning birder and wanted to see as much as we could in the short time we had.

We struck out for Black Balsam in the Pisgah National Forest just off the Parkway around milepost 420, hoping the elevation would help us catch a few birds but keeping our eyes open along the way. We stopped to get a look at mountain ash (rowan-tree) and found blueberries just turning ripe. We also got looks at rhododendron minus and, of course, Turk’s Cap and Carolina lilies.

We pulled onto the shoulder of Black Balsam Road and were immediately greeted by a noisy cedar waxwing fledgling begging and being fed by a parent. We also got brief looks at alder flycatchers and could hear several singing.

A short walk out and back along the Art Loeb Trail provided a quick glimpse of a Canada Warbler. We heard hermit thrushes in the distance and veerys nearby. We also spent a good deal of time comparing spruce and fir leaves — it was something Mary Ann wanted to get down, and I think she mastered it pretty well.

And it wouldn’t be a walk in the woods if we couldn’t play “stump the naturalist.”

We found a small plant in a couple of wet areas along the trail that I think was in the genus Platanthera, but I’m not 100 percent sure. We also found Michaux’s saxifrage and some Hypericum sp. And Mary Ann spotted Indian pipe on our way back. And we got great looks at a common yellowthroat.

We took a little side trip into the large spruce stands near the campground/parking lot to try and find golden-crowned

kinglets. Our first foray into the stand east of the parking lot produced no kinglets — just a cool, still, dark, quiet portal to that place where your soul connects with nature for a fleeting moment. After our respite, we crossed to the stand on the other side of the road, and I could hear kinglets when we entered the stand. I played the goldencrowned song on my ibird app, and we were immediately covered up with kinglets — must have been a couple of dozen.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is asking the public to help document observations of nine-banded armadillos, as the bony-plated mammals expand their range in this state.

The ninebanded armadillo is about the size of a house cat or opossum with jointed armor bands on its midsection. It feeds primarily on insects, snails, earthworms and other types of food.

Armadillos Jay Butfiloski photo can be hunted year-round with no bag limit and trapped during the regulated trapping season. The commission recommends wearing gloves when handling armadillos because of the very low, yet real, risk of leprosy.

Armadillos’ natural predators are feral pigs, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, dogs,

foxes and raccoons.

Depending on temperatures, the armadillo can be nocturnal or active during the day.

Native to Central and South America, armadillos were first recorded in Texas in 1849 and have since expanded their range north and east, crossing the Mississippi River sometime in the early 1940s. They appeared in western Tennessee in 1980

outdoors

The Naturalist’s Corner

Wildlife commissioner seeks public reports of armadillos

An updated recreation map of the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests is now available online.

The U.S. Forest Service map identifies recreation sites in the two national forests suitable for activities such as target practice, camping, hiking, horseback riding and more. The map also details amenities available at each site.

The recreation map can be printed or downloaded on a mobile device for easy reference. The recently updated recreation map and any other maps and publications for the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests are available online. www.fs.usda.gov/main/nfsnc/maps-pubs.

33

outdoors

Recycling gems in Macon County The gem industry is carrying the torch for the recycling movement in Macon County.

Macon Pride, an environmental organization in the county, has recognized two gem-related operations for their efforts in recycling: the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, with its affiliated club, and the Rose Creek Gem Mine.

With help from several club members, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum have gone “green,” eliminating 90 percent of their trash by recycling paper, cans, bottles and by using reusable refreshment supplies. The club President Lon Peden and museum Manager Al Pribble received a “Proud to Recycle Here” sticker from Macon Pride for their efforts; it is now visible on the museum’s front door.

Tom and Linda Sterrett, owners of Rose Creek Mine, have recycled for the past eight years they have operated the mine. They have separate marked bins so customers can easily sort their recyclables and trash.

Macon Pride’s goal is to recognize all local businesses, clubs, classrooms and churches that have recycling programs and help others who are looking to set up a recycling system.

828.349.5201 or 828.524.9991.

Hike promises stunning views and history A panoramic view of the Smokies will be the reward for a challenging guided hike Tuesday, Aug. 20, to the top of a fire tower in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

The 5.4-mile hike will follow the strenuous and steep Mount Sterling Trail, 2,000 feet up to the fire tower. Participants will gather at 8:30 a.m. in Asheville or 9 a.m. in Waynesville for the all-day excursion. The hike is sponsored by Friends of the Smokies, and will be led by hiking expert and guidebook author Danny Bernstein.

Mount Sterling sits at around 5,800 feet and provides excellent views below. The area, also rich in history, is near a

mountain pass used by missionaries and the site of Civil War conflict.

In support of trail work in the park, Friends of the Smokies asks for a $10 donation from current members, and $35 from non-members to do the hike. Non-members receive a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies. Members who bring

a friend hike for free. outreach.nc@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828.452.0720.

Blue Ridge Parkway evening hike Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a hike called “Housing, Theirs and Ours,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Asheville. The hike’s focus is on development and its effect on mountain fauna. Rangers will use the hike to show how human encroachment affects animals that make their homes in underground burrows, rock crevices and tree cavities.

Participants will meet at the Folk Art Center parking lot, near Milepost 382. Long pants are advised because of poison ivy along the trail. Call for more information.

828.298.533 x 304

Lake Logan Multisport Festival Hundreds of athletes participated in this past weekend’s Lake Logan Multisport Festival at the Lake Logan Episcopal Center in rural Haywood County. The festival included both types of triathlons — international and sprint — along with a aquabike (swim-bike) and an aquathlon (swimrun). The sprint triathlon crowned the USA Triathlon Mid-Atlantic Regional Champion and the aquathlon was the USA Triathlon National Championship.

Smoky Mountain News

August 7-13, 2013

Allison Moore/Glory Hound photos

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Chemical engineer Lenny Bernstein will give a lecture titled “Why We Should All be Concerned About Climate Change� at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15, at the Highlands Nature Center Bernstein spent his career working on environmental issues for the petroleum industry, the last 10 of which he was a manager in Mobil Corporation’s Environmental, Health, and Safety Department.

In 1999, Bernstein formed an environmental consulting company that advised industrial clients on developments in climate change and other environmental issues.

Bernstein attended UN negotiating sessions on climate change and, as an expert, contributed to work by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that won half of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize; Al Gore won the other half.

This lecture is sponsored by the Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust and is part of the summer Zahner Conservation Lecture Series.

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Bookstore MARCI SPENCER will present,

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August 7-13, 2013

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Smoky Mountain News

The potential effects of climate change on the animals — salamanders in particular — of the Appalachian Mountains will be the topic of discussion at a lecture in Highlands Eric Riddell, a recipient of a Highlands Biological Foundation research grant, will give his talk titled “High and Dry: A Physiological Approach to Understanding Landscape Ecology and the Effects of Climate Change,� at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug.13, at the Coker Laboratory in Highlands.

Riddell is a first year Ph.D. student from Clemson University. His talk will examine the dynamic relationship between organisms, the landscape, and climatic conditions.

He will also discuss the influence of different spatial and temporal scales in climatology and the difficulties associated with predicting future climates. www.highlandsbiological.org or call 828.526.2221.

outdoors

Petroleum energy expert addresses climate change

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35

outdoors

Swain Soccer teams looking for players

Forest Service warns of deadly high waters The U.S. Forest Service is urging visitors to the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests to avoid swimming in the creeks, rivers and streams until water levels recede. Visitors should also avoid climbing near waterfalls.

Water levels are more than a foot above normal in some waterways, and the combination of high water levels and strong currents pose a safety risk to visitors. Three swimming-related fatalities occurred in the Pisgah National Forest in July, and others have occurred in the region because of high water.

With a wetter-than normal year, and already high streams and rivers, visitors should also be aware of the potential for flash flooding. Forest officials are asking visitors to check the National Weather Service forecast before they leave home, and to be alert for changing weather conditions while in the forest.

Devices like a weather radio, a terrestrial radio, a smart-phone app or a cell phone mobile alert can help visitors stay tuned-in before and during their outdoor activities.

Follow us on Facebook facebook.com/smnews

Fall soccer season is approaching and Swain Youth Soccer Association is offering soccer for all skill types.

The organization has a recreation soccer league in Swain County from Sept. 12 through Oct. 29. Registration is open until Aug. 30; the league is open for players ages four to 12. This league is the less competitive option for kids.

For a more competitive league, the soccer club is signing up players for the travel team. Players ages 6 to 14 are welcome to sign up. The registration deadline is Aug. 16. The season runs through early November. Saturday games will be played in Asheville starting in September.

Players can register from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15, 22, 27 and 29, at the Swain County Recreation Park building, or by mail. Financial aid is available to help with costs.

Call 828.488.7667 for information about the recreation league or 828.506.0977 for information about the travel team. Information is also available online or by email. swainsoccerkids@gmail.com or www.swainsoccer.com.

Haywood adult soccer league ramping up Registration is now open for Haywood County’s adult fall soccer league.

Games will be played on Sunday evenings at Allens Creek Park from Sep. 8 through Oct. 20. The registration fee is $365 per team, which includes a jersey and prizes to be awarded at the end-of-the season tournament Oct. 27.

Games will be seven versus seven with each half lasting 25 minutes. Teams can have as many as 13 people and can be co-ed. Registration deadline is Aug. 23, but Swain Youth Soccer Association offers travel and there is only room for the first 10 teams. competitive teams for youth 828.452.6789 or drtaylor@haywoodnc.net or www.haywoodnc.net.

Registration is open for Haywood County kickball co-ed league Haywood County is kicking off its first-ever adult kickball league.

The co-ed league games will be played at 2 and 3 p.m. Saturdays, from Sep. 21 until Oct. 19, at the International Paper Sports Complex in Canton. The county’s recreation and parks department is accepting registrants for the league through Aug. 29.

Each team can consist of 15 people maximum with nine people on the field at one time. Two female players must be on the field at all times.

Registration is $200 per team.

828.452.6789 or drtaylor@haywoodnc.net or www.haywoodnc.net.

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Smoky Mountain News

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outdoors

Neighbors caring for neighbors CarePartners’ Home Health professionals provide nursing, therapy, telemonitoring and personal care for patients in the comfort of their own homes.

With an office in Haywood County and a staff of professionals that live in your community, CarePartners is here for you when you need us.

Catamounts gather for Volunteer Day Western Carolina University students, as part of a July 20 volunteer day, hauled loads of trash from the banks of Scotts Creek near the railroad tracks in Sylva. The project was in cooperation with the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee and was one of many service-oriented projects WCU students helped out with during the annual service day event. In all, more than 170 stu-

To learn more about our Home Health Services in Haywood and Jackson Counties, call (828) 452-3600

dents, faculty and staff completed more than 900 hours of service for a range of nonprofit organizations in Jackson County, including Appalachian Homestead Farm and Preserve, the Sylva Rotary and the Sylva Community Garden. Students also assisted Pathways Thrift Store with a roadside cleanup along N.C. 107 and Old Cullowhee Road.

‘Stones and Bones’ digs into the past with fossils

carepartners.org

Winner of the Governor’s Award of Performance Excellence in Healthcare

Author Jim Casada, to share stories from the great outdoors

A million miles away is just down the road.

Outdoor enthusiast and author Jim Casada will give a talk at the Jackson Public Library.

Sporting Classics.

This event is free and is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. 828.586.2016.

Smoky Mountain News

Local author Jim Casada will present an outdoor storytelling program at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 13, in the Community Room of the Jackson County Public Library Complex.

Casada grew up in Bryson City and has fished, hunted, hiked and camped in the great outdoors all of his life. After 25 years as a university professor, Casada took early retirement to write full time on outdoorsrelated subjects such as the history of sport, game and fish cookery, and most notably fly fishing.

Over the course of his career, Casada has written, edited, or contributed to nearly 100 books, written more than 3,000 magazine articles and 2,500 newspaper columns. He serves on the staff of a number of national magazines and is the editor-at-large for

August 7-13, 2013

Jonathan Fain of the North Carolina Fossil Club will present an interactive program about the prehistory of North Carolina at 11 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Waynesville Library and again at 2 p.m. at the Canton Branch Library.

His program, “Stones and Bones,” is designed to have something for everyone — from elementary students through adults. With humor and his extensive collection of fossils, he weaves together history from the distant past with the present to make a show how North Carolina started and how it came to be what it is today.

Visitors can touch a whale ear bone, a trilobite and even a tooth from a Magalodon shark, an animal the size of a school bus.

Participants can also make their own fossil digs in search of coral, shells, sharks teeth and more.

visitnc.com

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38

WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Issues & Eggs - Let the Good Times Roll, 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7, Anthony Wayne’s Restaurant, The Gateway Club, 37 Church St., Waynesville. 456.3021.

• Women in Business Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Anthony Wayne’s Restaurant, The Gateway Club, 37 Church St., Waynesville. Guest speaker, Susan Belcher. $25 for Haywood Chamber members, $30 for non-members. 456.3021 • iPad Users Group, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Genealogy Room, second floor, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Free 90-minute computer class, Basic PowerPoint, 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, Jackson County Public Library. Register at 586.2016.

• How to Start a Business, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, Southwestern Community College’s Macon Campus. Register at www.ncsbc.net/center.aspx?center=75490 or contact Tiffany Henry, 339.4211 or t_henry@southwesterncc.edu.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Franklin Open Forum, “What are the essential elements of a good life?” 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, the Rathskeller Coffee Haus and Pub in Franklin. FOF is a moderated discussion group, meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. Dialog not debate. 349.0598.

• Jackson County Genealogical Society, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Community Room, Jackson County Courthouse, Sylva. Speaker, Joe Rhinehart. 631.2646.

• Memorial Butterfly Release ceremony, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, Angel Medical Center, Franklin.

Bonnie Peggs, 349.6639.

• 77th annual Burress reunion, noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 11, Camp Hope, Cruso. Bring a covered dish to share. Tina Kahle, 400.4515 or Sherry Burress 400.0355.

• Community input meeting on WCU campus master plan, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, atrium of Jackson County Public Library. masterplanning.wcu.edu.

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

Monday, Aug. 12, Mountain Heritage Center Auditorium, Western Carolina University. Dinner at 5 p.m. at Bogart’s in Sylva.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • 5th annual People’s Choice Concours, In Den Bergen, featuring more than 70 Porsches, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10, Waynesville Inn Golf Resort and Spa, Waynesville. Benefit for Sarge’s Animal Rescue. www.sargeandfriends.org, 246.9050 or visit Sarge’s Facebook page.

• Community-wide flea market and yard sale, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Rockwood United Methodist Church, 288 Crabtree Mountain Road, Thickety Community, Canton. Hot dog lunch, $3, and bake sale.

• Keller Williams Realty Waynesville/Maggie Valley clothes swap for Haywood County children, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2562 Dellwood Road, Waynesville. 926.5155 or email frontdesk@kellerwilliamswaynesville.com.

• Unitarian Universalist Church Yard Sale, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 10, UU Fellowship Church, 85 Sierra Drive, Franklin. Rain or shine, indoors and outdoors. To benefit building/outreach programs. 342.0546 for directions.

• Relay for Life Benefit Singing, 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Ole Mater Farm, Sylva. Mountain Faith,

www.haywoodnc.net.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

Carolina Crossmen and Children of Zion will perform. $10. Benefits the Jackson County Relay for Life. Becky Harwood, 399.0035.

• Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild annual Charity Fundraiser and Fashion Show, 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, HART Theatre, 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville. To benefit the Good Samaritan Clinic. Trantham Family, silent auction items and more. $25. Purchase at Blue Ridge Bookstore, 152 S. Main St., Waynesville, The Good Samaritan Clinic, or by calling 246.4651.

• High Tea with Champagne, Thursday, Aug. 15, Bloemsma Barn, Patton Road, Franklin. $15. Purchase at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, the front desk of Angel Medical Center or at the Angel Home Health & Hospice office, 170 Church St., Franklin. Proceeds to help patients and families not covered by Medicaid, Medicare or insurance. 369.4206.

• Spaghetti Benefit Dinner, 4:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, Faith Community Church, 259 Industrial Park Dr., Waynesville. Sponsored by recording artists Gail Childers & the Ward Family Singers to benefit Christian recording artist, Jaydeen Georgeff, of Haywood County, who has cancer. Love offerings and donations taken at the door. Gail Childers, 356.4146, Lgailc67@yahoo.com.

VOLUNTEERING • The Haywood County Meals on Wheels program needs drivers in the following areas: Tuesdays – Route #21 – Saunook, and Fridays – Route #11 – Jonathan Creek.

Also need substitute drivers on several routes throughout the county. Jeanne Naber, program coordinator, 356.2442, jnaber@haywoodnc.net.

BLOOD DRIVES Haywood

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • 2013 Global Leadership Summit, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aug. 8-9, broadcast live from Willow Creek Community Church to host site Lake Junaluska’s Stuart Auditorium.

Gen. Colin Powell one of 13 speakers. www.willowcreek.com/summit, 800.570.9812.

• Friends of the Museum Dinner, 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Lambuth Inn, Lake Junaluska. Museum open house, 4 to 5:30 p.m. before the dinner. $18, includes tax and tip.

Reservations at 456.9432 or the World Methodist Council office. Don Rankin, 452.5034.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

• Stones and Bones, an interactive program about the prehistory of North Carolina with Jonathan Fain of the North Carolina Fossil Club, 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at the Waynesville Library and again at 2 p.m., at the Canton Branch Library.

• Tai Chi for Health, 3 p.m. Tuesdays, through Sept. 24. $10 for participants and $15 for non-participants. Sign up in the Lobby of the Jackson County Senior Center or call 586.4944.

• Lego Club for all ages, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. 524.3600.

• Memory Café, social gathering, 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, Senior Resource Center of Haywood County, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 452.2370.

• Laughter Yoga Club required introductory seminar, 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, Room 134, Jackson County Senior Center, Sylva. 586.4944.

• Johanna Dewees RN, Nurse Navigator with MedWest Haywood, 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, Senior Resource Center of Haywood County, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. 452.2370.

• Balance Class, 12- week exercise program to improve balance, 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, Aug.14 – Nov.1, Jackson County Senior Center. $25. payable after screening on Aug. 13. 631.8033 today.

• Community Potluck, noon Wednesday, Aug. 14, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. Bring a dish. 452.2370.

• Best Buy of Waynesville Blood Drive, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, 45 Plaza Place, Waynesville.

800.733.2767.

• Happy Wanderers Senior Program trip to the NC Apple Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, Hendersonville. Registration closes Aug. 15. $10.

Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department, 452.6789.

Macon • Mountain Valley Fire Department Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 188 Echo Valley Road, Franklin. Joyce Carpenter, 421.3454.

HEALTH MATTERS • Free diabetes drive through clinic, 8 to 10 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 13, Outpatient Medicine parking area, Angel Medical Center, Franklin. Fasting is required for accurate testing. Bonnie Peggs, 349.6639.

RECREATION & FITNESS • Wooden bat softball league organizational meeting, 7:30 pm. Monday, Aug. 12, Waynesville Recreation Center. $100 non-refundable cash deposit to secure a team entry. 456.2030, recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.

• Register now through Aug. 29 for Haywood County Recreation & Parks’ first ever Fall Adult Co-Ed Kickball League. 452.6789 or email drtaylor@haywoodnc.net.

sions, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at PARI. Reservations required. $20 per adult, $15 for seniors and military and $10 for children under age 14. www.pari.edu or 862.5554 or cwhitworth@pari.edu.

• Photography class for senior citizens, 1 to 2 p.m.

Thursdays in August, Jackson County Senior Center, Sylva. Optional lab sessions, 2 to 3 p.m. Dates are Aug. 8, 15, 22 and 29. Class is free for senior participants and $10 for all classes for non-participants. 586.4944, 226.3840.

• Heather Reid Memorial Blood Drive, 1 to 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville. 734.6616. .

• Waynesville Masonic Lodge Blood Drive, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, East Marshall St., Waynesville. Jennifer Stump, 231.6511.

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings

• Happy Wanderers Senior Program trip for Storytelling, with Donald Davis, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, Jonesborough, Tenn. $25. Registration closes Aug. 20. Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department, 452.6789.

• Happy Wanderers Senior Program trip to the Smoky Mountain Center in Franklin to see Mark O’Connor & Friends for An Appalachian Christmas, 4 to 10:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 6. Registration Aug. 16. Haywood County Recreation and Parks Department, 452.6789.

Literary (children) • Children’s Story time, Favorites, 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time with Miss Sally, 3:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 9, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• George the Reading Dog, 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Jackson County Farmers’ Market, Sylva. 586.9499.

• Children’s Story time, Rotary Readers, 11 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 12, Jackson County Public Library, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time, Favorites, 11 a.m. Tuesday Aug. 13, Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Lego Club, 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Jim Casada Outdoors Storytelling Program, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 13, Jackson County Public Library.

586.2016.

• Friday, Aug. 16, Macon County Public Library closed for staff training.

ECA EVENTS • Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009.

Noon, Thursday, Aug. 8 - ECA Craft Club Workshop: Huck Towel Embroidery, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva (call Extension Office to sign up).

Noon, Thursday, Aug. 8 – Lunch and Learn ECA will be attending the ECA Craft Club Workshop, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19 – VA Projects, Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Swain Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) sign up going on now for travel and recreation soccer. Various August deadlines depending on league. http://www.swainsoccer.com/ or contact John McCray, 488.7667 (recreation), Carolyn Porter, 506.0977 (travel) or swainsoccerkids@gmail.com.

Science & Nature • Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute program about the role of the astronomical site in the Pisgah National Forest during the historic Apollo space mis-

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT GOP • Mountain High Republican Women’s Club’s “Power of the Purse,” 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 15, Highlands Civic Center. Lunch, fashion show, raffle and handbag sale.

Tickets, $30. Full table or individual reservations available, 526.9195, 526.4146 or by email to mtnrepublicanwomen@yahoo.com.

Others

SUPPORT GROUPS Jackson • Man to Man Support Group for prostate cancer patients and survivors, 7 to 8 p.m., Monday, Aug. 12, Harris Medical Park conference room at 98 Doctors Drive, Sylva. Hugh Moon and Joe Hurt, MD are cochairmen of the American Cancer Society support group. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100.

Macon • Macon County Cancer Support Group, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, cafeteria of Angel Medical Center, Franklin. Dentist Nathan Brenner will speak about oral cancer. A $50 gift certificate will be given away.

Light refreshments. 369.9221.

• Mary Kay & Harry, and Country Memories, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15, Macon County Public Library. Free. www.fontanalib.org.

• Annie, through Aug. 17, Highlands Playhouse, 362 Oak St., Highlands. Tickets, $30 adults; $12 children 12 and under. Box Office, 526.2695.

• Almost, Maine, Thursday, Aug. 22-25, and Thursday, Aug. 29-Sept. 1, Highlands Performing Arts Center, Highlands. Box office opens Aug. 15-16 for season subscribers, and Aug. 17 for others. highlandscashiersplayers.org, 526.8084.

wnc calendar

• Bring Your Own Lunch With The League, noon, Thursday, Aug. 8, Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church, Franklin. Sponsored by The League of Women Voters.

• Family friendly Concerts on the Creek, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, Lonesome Sound, and Friday, Aug. 16, Steve Weams & the Caribbean Cowboys, Sylva Bridge Park Pavilion near Scott Creek, Sylva.

800.962.1911, www.mountainlovers.com.

NIGHT LIFE • Asheville’s rock/funk quintet East Coast Dirt, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 10, BearWaters Brewing Co., Waynesville. www.eastcoastdirt.net.

Swain • MedWest-Swain WNC Breast Cancer Support Group, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13, private dining room next to the cafeteria at MedWest-Swain in Bryson City. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100.

A&E FESTIVALS, SPECIAL & SEASONAL EVENTS • Mountain Street Dance, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Main Street, downtown Waynesville.

• 5th annual Mountain High Barbecue Festival and Car Show, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Wayne Proffitt Agricultural Center, Highway 441 South, Franklin.

Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned festival. $5 adults; children 12 and under free. www.MountainHighBBQFestival.com, 524.3161.

• Maggie Valley Summer Rally, Aug.16-18, www.maggievalleyrallys.com.

LITERARY (ADULTS)

• Author Marci Spencer, Clingman’s Dome: Highest Mountain in the Great Smokies, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva. 586.9499.

• The Coffee with the Poet series featuring WNC poet Michael Beadle, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at City Lights Bookstore. He will read from his new collection of poetry, Invitation. 586.9499.

• Unspoken Tradition, 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, Groovin’ on the Green, Village Commons, Cashiers.

• Matt Stillwell concert, 6 p.m. to midnight, Friday, Aug. 10, Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, 3374 Soco Road, Maggie Valley. Opening act, Buchanan Boys.

Matt Stillwell, 9 p.m. Tickets, $10, http://mattstillwell.eventbrite.com.

• Les Freres Michot, 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 16, Groovin’ on the Green, Village Commons, Cashiers.

• Steve Weams & the Caribbean Cowboys, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 16, Concerts on the Creek, downtown Sylva at Bridge Park. 800.962.1911.

• Haywood Community Band free concert, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 18, Maggie Valley Pavilion next to the Maggie Valley Town Hall on Soco Road. www.haywoodcommunityband.org, Rhonda Wilson Kram, 456.4880.

JAMS • Mountain Street Dance, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Main Street, downtown Waynesville.

• 16th annual Fines Creek Bluegrass Jam, 5 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 9, and 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Fines Creek Community Center, 190 Fines Creek Road, just off I-40 at exit 15. Adults $20, one night, $35, both nights. Students under 16 free with paying adult. Free parking, food vendor, dancing. Bring a lawn chair. www.FinesCreek.org.

• Music Jam, 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. 488.2382.

• Back Porch Old-Time Music Jam, 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Great Smoky Mountains.

DANCE

• Acoustic duo Liz & AJ Nance, 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Mariana Black Library, Bryson City. 488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

• Pisgah Promenaders “Back to School” square dance, 6:45-8:45, Saturday, Aug. 10, Old Armory Recreation Center, 44 Boundary St., Waynesville.

Workshop, 6:15. 586.8416, Jackson County, 452.5917, Haywood County. Square dance lessons, 926.0695.

• Land of the Sky Barbershop Chorus, 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church, downtown Franklin. $5 suggested admission donation.

524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

• Second Sunday Community Dance, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 11, Community Room, Jackson County Library Complex, Sylva. Ron Arps, ronandcathy71@frontier.com or www.dancewnc.com.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

Smoky Mountain News

• Let’s Talk About It series, Shiloh and Other Stories,

by Bobbie Ann Mason. Discussion from 4 to 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, auditorium of the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Library. Led by WCU’s Russell Binkley. 456.5311 or stanandlinda@charter.net .

• Lonesome Sound, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Concerts on the Creek, downtown Sylva, Bridge Park.

800.962.1911.

August 7-13, 2013

• Junaluska Woman’s Club’s Creative Endeavors Arts and Crafts Show, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 9-10, Harrell Center, Lake Junaluska.

OUTDOOR MUSIC CALENDAR • Mountain Street Dance, 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, Main Street, downtown Waynesville. Square dancing, bluegrass and Appalachian music and clogging.

39

wnc calendar

FOOD & DRINK • Virtual Wine Dinner, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, The Classic Wineseller, 20 Church St., Waynesville. Skype with virtual guests Willamette Valley Vineyards Winemaker Don Crank III, and Willamette Valley Vineyards Ambassador, Karen Gardner. $50 per person. 452.6000, atinfo@classicwineseller.com .

ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS • Sylva Art Stroll, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, in downtown Sylva. 337.3468.

• Dining for The Bascom, 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7, Lakeside Restaurant, Highlands.

526.9419. www.TheBascom.org, 526.4949.

• Stained glass course, 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday’s Aug. 7-Sept. 25, or 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 9-oct.

28, Haywood Community College, Clyde. Taught by George Kenney. $148, students responsible for purchasing their own glass. 627.4500, 565.4240.

• Vendors wanted for Southwestern Community College Mountain Shapes & Colors, Nov. 9. Application at NSA Facebook page, the college Web site or at the SCC Swain Center. Deadline is 5 p.m., Aug. 12.

366.2000 or email j_marley@southwesterncc.edu.

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • Evolution of the Hula-hoop, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Macon County Library in Franklin. Learn arm or hand hooping, or just watch others. Kelly Jewel Timco, instructor. 488.3030.

Smoky Mountain News

August 7-13, 2013

• Exhibit featuring works by WNC painter Elizabeth Ellison and fabric crafter Ann Smith, through Sept. 2, North Carolina Arboretum, Asheville. www.ncarboretum.org, 665.2492.

• Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, Blue Ridge School, Glenville.

• Wood Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, the Folk Art Center, Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in east Asheville. 298.7928 or visit www.craftguild.org.

• Smoky Mountain Quilters Guild, 9:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, First Presbyterian’s Tartan Hall, Franklin.

FILM & SCREEN • New movie directed by Ben Affleck about the rescue of six American hostages in Iran in 1979, 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, Macon County Public Library. Rated R. 524.3600.

• Family movie, 1 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. 524.3600.

• Family movie, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 13, Marianna Black Library, Bryson City. Tim Burton’s take on Lewis Caroll’s story about Alice and a rabbit hole. 488.3030.

• New movie starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 14, Meeting Room, Macon County Library, Franklin. Rated PG-13. 524.3600.

Outdoors OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS • Franklin bird club weekly bird walk, 8 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7, along the Greenway. Led by Karen Lawrence. Meet at the Big Bear shelter parking area.

524.5234.

• Historian and author Brent Martin will give a lecture titled “Dividing Spring: History and Mythology of the Little Tennessee and Chattooga Headwaters” at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Highlands Nature Center.

Zahner Conservation Lecture Series. www.highlandsbiological.org, 526.2221.

• Family rafting trip, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, Nantahala River. Offered by the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. Must be at least 7 years of age and weigh at least 60 pounds.$45 per person for members of the Waynesville Recreation Center or $50 per person for nonmembers. Price does not include lunch. Register in advance. 456.2030 or email recprogramspecialist@townofwaynesville.org .

• Highlands Plateau Audubon Society annual summer picnic, 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, Highlands Civic Center picnic shelter. Fried chicken and soft drinks provided. Bring side dish or dessert to share. $5.

Public invited. Reservations, Dee Andry, 787.1586.

• Franklin Bird Club weekly bird walk, 8 a.m. Wed., Aug. 14, along the Greenway. Meet at Salali Lane.

524-5234.

• Hike Bradleytown to Smokemont Baptist Church (near Smokemont Campground entrance), 9 a.m.

Saturday, Aug. 17. Join park volunteer Dick Sellers.

497.1904, www.nps.gov.

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS • Parham Park Dedication, noon Friday, Aug. 9, Maggie Valley.

• El Camino Primitivo – The Primitive Way, The Way of Saint James, featuring Olga Pader, 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, The Heart Center, 504 Mountain View School Road, Robbinsville. $10 love offering. Liz Velazquez, 498.2999 or 813.997.0032, www.theheartcenter9.com.

• Local storyteller and Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Nancy Reeder, 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, Feed & Seed, 3715 Hendersonville Road, Fletcher. For ages 10 and up.

• Franklin Bird Club meeting, 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. Field Sketching 101 by John Sill. 524.5234.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK • Mingus Mill Demonstration, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Aug. 17, one-half mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on US 441, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Junior Ranger: Slimy Salamanders, noon Tuesdays through Aug. 17, Mingus Mill, Newfound Gap Road.

497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• A Stitch in Time, 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 17, porch of Davis Queen cabin at the Mountain Farm Museum. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• This “Tree-mendous” Place, 10 a.m. Mondays through Aug. 17, Oconaluftee River Trail adjacent to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Once upon a time…, 7 p.m. Mondays, through Aug. 17, Smokemont Campground between C-Loop and DLoop. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Hike: Where the Waters Sing, 11:30 a.m. Sundays through Aug. 17. Meet in Smokemont Campground D Loop. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Junior Ranger: Night Hike, 8:45 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 17, Bradley Fork Trailhead, D-Loop Smokemont. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

FARM & GARDEN • Tomato Canning, food preservation class for beginners or refresher course for those with some food preservation knowledge, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, Haywood County Cooperative Extension Office, Waynesville. $14.

456.3575 to register.

FARMER’S & TAILGATE MARKETS Waynesville • Haywood’s Historic Farmers Market Live music, 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 250 Pigeon St, Waynesville. 627.1058. www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com.

• The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market 8 a.m. to noon, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 171 Legion Dr., Waynesville. 648.6323. www.buyhaywood.com.

Canton • Canton Tailgate Market will be open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays and Thursdays at Municipal parking area, 58 Park Street in Canton. 235.2760. www.buyhaywood.com.

• Mountain Farm Museum, dawn to dusk, daily through Aug. 17, adjacent to Oconaluftee Visitor Center,194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

Sylva

• Back Porch Old-Time Music, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, Oconaluftee Visitor Center porch, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• EBT/SMAP Match Incentive, through Aug. 10, Jackson County Farmers Market, Sylva. The first 15 SNAP recipients who spend as little as $1 at the farmers market will receive a $5 coupon to be spent at the market. Tina Masciarelli, Buy Haywood Program Coordinator, 734.9574 or visit www.buyhaywood.com.

• Smokemont Night Hike, 8:45 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 9, Bradley Fork Trailhead, D-Loop Smokemont Campground. Reservations, 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Junior Ranger: Batteries Not Included, 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Fridays through Aug. 17, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee.

497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Junior Ranger: Be a Blacksmith, 10 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., Fridays through Aug. 17, Blacksmith Shop at the Mountain Farm Museum, adjacent to Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Junior Ranger: Can you guess? 11 a.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 17, Oconaluftee Visitor Center Porch, 194 Newfound Gap Road, Cherokee. 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

40

• Old Time Mountain Religion, 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 17, Smokemont Baptist Church (near Smokemont Campground entrance). 497.1904, www.nps.gov.

• Jackson County Farmers Market Jenny McPherson, 631.3033. www.mountainlovers.com

Cullowhee • Whee Farmer’s Market, 5 p.m. until dusk, every Wednesday, Cullowhee United Methodist Church grass lot, behind BB&T and Subway on WCU campus, Cullowhee. www.facebook.com/cullowheefarmersmarket. avantgardenorganicfarm@gmail.com.

Cashiers • Cashiers Tailgate Market Cashiers Community Center. 226.9988. www.blueridgefarmersco-op.com.

Franklin • Franklin Tailgate Market 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays, 226 E. Palmer St., Franklin, across the street from Drake Software. 349.2046. www.facebook.com/franklinncfarmersmarket.

PRIME REAL ESTATE

INSIDE

Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information:

LIVING ESTATE SALE Aug. 8, 9 & 10 from 9am to 4pm & Saturday 9am to 12:30pm.

Furniture, Housewares, Jewelry Pictures, Old Metal Glider...

Everything Under the Sun! Frog Pond Downsizing, 255 Depot St., Waynesville, NC.

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Rates:

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.

■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

■ $12 — If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad.

■ $35 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

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Up-front pricing, emergency service. 828.734.1179. NC License #24685-U.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

AUCTION REAL ESTATE AUCTION Bent Mountain Area. Franklin County, VA. 906+/- Acres, offered in 30 Tracts ranging in size from 6 acres up to 100 acres; 3 Homes; Barns & Sheds; 2 Beautiful Ponds; Hunting and Recreational Tracts.

27 Tracts - Totaling 873± Acres Sold ABSOLUTE to the Highest Bidder. Auction held August 8, 5 PM at Holiday Inn - Tanglewood. For more details visit woltz.com or contact Woltz & Associates, Inc. (VA#321) Brokers & Auctioneers, Roanoke, VA. 800.551.3588.

ABSOLUTE REAL ESTATE Auction, Prime Commercial Land off Major Interchange in Chatham Co., Pittsboro, NC, August 12, 2013 at 11am, Auction at Dan Pollitt Center in Pittsboro. Iron Horse Auction Company, Inc. 800.997.2248, NCAL3936, www.ironhorseauction.com

LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS NOTICE OF MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON RESOLUTION DECLARING INTENT TO LEASE, SELL OR CONVEY HAYWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

INC.

R

DI

SC OV ER E

ATR

PE

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

Haywood Regional Medical Center is part of the MedWest Health System which is soliciting proposals for potential affiliations involving the hospitals in its system. As a public hospital authority, Haywood Regional Medical Center must comply with certain statutory procedures set forth in Chapter 131E of the North Carolina General Statutes in order to participate. As the first step in that process, the Board of Commissioners of Haywood Regional Medical Center adopted a resolution on July 30, 2013, declaring its intent to sell, lease or convey the real and personal property, operating rights and any other related intangible assets utilized in connection with the ownership and operation of Haywood Regional Medical Center (the “Resolution”).

Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS STEVE WOODS, MANAGER

MON-FRI 7:30-5:30 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

456-5387

200-43

Pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. §131E-13(d)(3), notice is hereby given to all interested persons, that as part of its regular meeting agenda, the Board of Commissioners of Haywood Regional Medical Center will hold a public hearing on the Resolution. The meeting and public hearing will be held on the second floor of the Fitness Center located at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, N.C. at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday August 22, 2013. All interested parties will be given an opportunity to be heard.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE RESOLUTION DOES NOT MEAN THAT ANY DECISION HAS BEEN MADE OR WILL BE MADE TO LEASE, SELL OR CONVEY HAYWOOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OR ANY RIGHTS OR INTEREST THEREIN. Board of Commissioners of Haywood Regional Medical Center By: Bennie R. Sharpton, M.D., Secretary

AUCTION ABSOLUTE AUCTION: Seabrook Island (Charleston, SC) 2 Properties: 3 BR Home and LakeFront Lot. NO MINIMUM! AUG 10.

Mike Harper (SCAL3728). www.HarperAuctionAndRealty.com PROMOTE YOUR AUCTION With a classified ad published in 100 North Carolina newspapers with over 1.3 million circulation. A 25-word ad is only $330. For more information, call NCPS at 919.789.2083 or visit www.ncpsads.com.

BUILDING MATERIALS HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

WHITE PINE, HEMLOCK, POPLAR Lumber and Timbers, Any Size!

Rough Sawn or S4S, Custom Sawing. Smoky Mountain Timber, 3517 Jonathan Creek Rd., Waynesville, NC. 828.926.4300.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Log Homes or Siding! Call Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727.

R

WNC MarketPlace

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 office.

CAMPERS 2004 36’ COACHMAN CATALINA Camper: Living Room Slide-Out & BR Slide-Out, King Bedroom, Queen Sleeper-Sofa, Fully Eqpd.

Kitchen, Large Bathroom w/ Corner Shower, Solar Panels, Lots of Extras! $18,000. Call for more info 828.734.4624 or 828.734.3480

CARS - DOMESTIC DONATE YOUR CAR Fast Free Towing 24 hr. Response Tax Deduction United Breast Cancer Foundation Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info 888.759.9782. SAPA DONATE YOUR CAR Fast Free Towing. 24 hr. Response.

Tax Deduction. United Breast Cancer Foundation, Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info 855.733.5472

CARS - DOMESTIC TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 800.337.9038.

SAVE $$$ ON Auto Insurance from the major names you know and trust. No forms. No hassle. No obligation.

Call Ready For My Quote now!

CALL 1.855.834.5740.

EMPLOYMENT DIRECTOR OF THE CHILDREN’S Center - This position responsible for the administration, supervision and delivery of the early childhood program. The director will train and evaluate staff to ensure all procedures are being followed.

Requirements: BS in Child Development or equivalent and EDU 261 & 262. Send resume to: churchadmin@longschapel.com

EMPLOYMENT CDL-A DRIVERS: Hiring experienced company drivers and Owner Operators. Solo and teams. Competitive pay package.

Sign-on incentives. Call 888.705.3217 or apply online at www.drivenctrans.com CHOOSE CARGO TRANSPORTERS! Looking for Over the Road & Team Drivers to join our growing 500+ fleet. Great Pay Package. Excellent Home Time. CDL-A. 1 yr. recent OTR exp. & stable work history. If you are looking for a home and job security, contact us now!

828.459.3285. www.cargotransporters.com AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands on Aviation Career.

FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494.

ARE YOU TOUGH ENOUGH To wear Wylie? $1000 Flatbed Sign-On. Home Weekly. Regional Dedicated Routes. 2500 miles Weekly. $50 tarp pay.

888.336.6820. www.drive4ewwylie.com

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get FAA Approved Maintenance Training Financial Aid For Qualified Students - Housing Available Job Placement Assistance. Call Now Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 Call now, or visit WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

NC LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST Needed for established & growing spa in Sylva. Pay based upon experience. Please email for more details: sandra@fusionsspa.com NEED MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES! Train to become a Medical Office Assistant at CTI! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training at CTI gets you job ready! HS Diploma/ GED & Computer needed.

Careertechnical.edu/northcarolina.

1.888.512.7122

HIGHLANDS-CASHIERS HOSPITAL Positions now available: Chief Nursing Officer/Director of Patient Care Services, Director of Human Resources and Volunteer Services, Med/Surg Registered Nurses, and Dietary Aide.

Benefits available the first of the month following 60 days of full-time employment. PreEmployment screening required.

Call Human Resources.

828.526.1376, or apply online at: www.highlandscashiershospital. org

NEW TRUCKS ARRIVING! Exp Pays - up to 50 cpm. Full Benefits + Quality Hometime.

CDL-A Req. 877.258.8782. www.ad-drivers.com PART-TIME JOB WITH Full-Time Benefits. You can receive cash bonus, monthly pay check, job training, money for technical training or college, travel, health benefits, retirement, and much more! Visit NationalGuard.com or call 1.800.GO-Guard to learn more on how the National Guard can benefit you.

DRIVERS: Start up to $.40/mi. Home Weekly.

CDL-A 6 mos. OTR exp. Req. Equipment you’ll be proud to drive!

877.705.9261.

TEACHER ASSISTANT - HAYWOOD County - An Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education is mandatory for this position, must also have the ability to assume the responsibilities of the teacher when absent, work well with parents and co-workers, good judgment/problem solving skills. Candidate must be able to work well with diverse families. Basic computer skills and 2 yrs. experience in Pre-K classroom child care preferred.

This is a 9 month position with full time benefits. Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, Inc., 2251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786 or 25 Schulman St, Sylva, NC 28779. Pre-employment drug testing required. EOE/AA. TANKER & FLATBED COMPANY. Drivers/Independent Contractors!

Immediate Placement Available.

Best opportunities in the Trucking Business. Call Today.

800.277.0212 or www.primeinc.com

200-30

Puzzles can be found on page 45.

August 7-13, 2013

These are only the answers.

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828

www.smokymountainnews.com

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

42

EMPLOYMENT

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Training Program! Become a Certified Microsoft Office Professional!

NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & PC/Internet needed. careertechnical.edu/nc 1.888.926.6057.

EXPERIENCED DRIVERS Excellent Regional Runs! Great Home Time & Benefits! Competitive Weekly Pay & Late Model Equipment. Arnold Transportation. www.drivearnold.com 888.742.8056 ATTENTION REGIONAL & Dedicated Drivers! Averitt offers Excellent Benefits and Hometime.

CDL-A req. 888.362.8608, Recent Grads w/a CDL-A 1-5/wks Paid Training. Apply online at: AverittCareers.com.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

$1,000 WEEKLY OR MORE Guaranteed salary mailing our financial company letters from home. NO Experience Required.

FT/PT. Genuine opportunity. Rapid Advancement. FREE Information (24/7): 1.888.557.5539.

SAPA

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com

FINANCIAL

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12 Noon - 5pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

$$$ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!!

Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hours? Low rates. Apply Now By Phone! 1.800.568.8321. www.lawcapital.com Not valid in CO or NC SAPA BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA

FURNITURE COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

BARRETTA - AN INCREDIBLY HANDSOME 1 YEAR OLD PLOTT HOUND. HE HAS A SOFT, SLEEK, DARK BRINDLE COAT. BARRETTA IS SMART, ATTENTIVE AND EAGER TO PLEASE. HE LOVES PEOPLE AND GETS ALONG VERY WELL WITH OTHER DOGS. RUE - HAS A BEAUTIFUL GRAY AND WHITE COAT AND A FRIENDLY, LOVING PERSONALITY. SHE'D LOVE TO MOVE IN WITH YOU AND BE YOUR FRIEND FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

WESTERN NC HOMESITES, Gated Lake Norman Community.

Developer will Finance! No Credit Check! No Income verified! Limited time offer 20% down, 7 1/2 fixed 5/10/15 years. 1.888.272.5253

HOMES FOR SALE

CAVENDER CREEK CABINS Dahlonega, GA GAS TOO HIGH? Spend your vacation week in the North Georgia Mountains! Ask about our weekly FREE NIGHT SPECIAL! Virtual Tour: www.CavenderCreek.com Cozy Hot Tub Cabins!

1.866.373.6307 SAPA

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

MEDICAL ATTENTION SLEEP APNEA Sufferers with Medicare. Get CPAP Replacement Supplies at little or NO COST, plus FREE home delivery!

Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 1.877.763.9842.

CANADA DRUG CENTER Is your choice for safe and affordable medications. Our licensed Canadian mail order pharmacy will provide you with savings of up to 90 percent on all your medication needs. Call Today 1.800.265.0768 for $25.00 off your first prescription and free shipping.

SAPA VIAGRA 100mg & CIALIS 20mg!

40 Pills + 4 FREE for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Save $500! Buy The Blue Pill! Now 1.800.491.8751 SAPA

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

THE TOWER

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

828.452.3727

www.The-Real-Team.com

MOUNTAIN REALTY 1904 S. Main St. • Waynesville

200-39

MOUNTAIN REALTY

Mieko Thomson

Thomson ROKER/R /REALTOR EALTOR®® BBROKER

Cell (828) 226-2298 Cell

mthomson@remax-waynesvillenc.com mthomson@remax-waynesvillenc.com www.ncsmokies.com www.ncsmokies.com

2177 Russ Avenue Waynesville NC 28786

200-07

WAYNESVILLE HOUSING AUTHORITY

Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

Real Experience.

Real Service. Real Results.

VACATION RENTALS

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400

JOLENE HOCOTT • LYN DONLEY MARLYN DICKINSON

65 Church Street Waynesville, NC 28786 Phone: 828.452.1223 Fax: 828.452.1207 The Waynesville Tower Is Seeking Elderly Only Applications for 1 & 2 Bedroom Units If You Are Interested in Being Placed on Our Waiting List Contact Our Office

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962

Office Hours Are Mon. - Fri. From 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

ROB ROLAND 828-564-1106

RROLAND33@GMAIL.COM

Find the home you are looking for at www.robrolandrealty.com

Ann knows real estate!

Ann Eavenson CRS, GRI, E-PRO

ann@mainstreetrealty.net

506-0542 CELL 200-35

smokymountainnews.com

BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

The Real Team

2.819 ACRE TRACT Building Lot in great location.

Build your 2nd home log cabin here. Large 2-story building near HCC, was a Hobby Shop. $71,000. Call 828.627.2342 or Nancy at 828.506.0876.

August 7-13, 2013

250 +/- ACRE LOBLOLLY PINE Tree plantation, Mebane, N.C. (Southern Caswell County) investment grade real estate, 13 ponds, commission split. Info: Bill Albright, 336.524.4505, billlbrght@yahoo.com

200-36

LOTS FOR SALE

WNC MarketPlace

TRUCK DRIVERS WANTED Best Pay and Home Time! Apply Online Today over 750 Companies!

One Application, Hundreds of Offers! www.HammerLaneJobs.com SAPA

EMPLOYMENT

101 South Main St. Waynesville

MainStreet Realty

(828) 452-2227 mainstreetrealty.net 43

WNC MarketPlace

Bruce McGovernn

MEDICAL

Cell: 828-283-2112 McGovern Property Management 284 Haywood St, Suite B Way Waynesville NC

Licensed Real Estate Broker

Search for Property Online!

Search the MLS at shamrock13.com.

Save your search criteria and receive automatic updates when new listings come on the market.

Michelle McElroy RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE E-PRO, CNHS, RCC, SFR

828.400.9463 Cell michelle@beverly-hanks.com

74 North Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.5809

200-38

WANTED TO BUY

MEDICAL ALERT FOR SENIORS 24/7 monitoring. FREE Equipment.

FREE Shipping. Nationwide Service. $29.95/Month CALL Medical Guardian Today by dailing 855.899.5309.

FOR SALE

CASH FOR UNEXPIRED Diabetic Test Strips! Free Shipping, Friendly Service, BEST prices and 24 hour payment! Call Mandy at 1.855.578.7477, or visit www.TestStripSearch.com Espanol 1.888.440.4001 SAPA

PERSONAL

CHAMPION SUPPLY Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, 828.225.1075.

ENJOY 100% GUARANTEED, Delivered–to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 67% PLUS 4 FREE BURGERS - The Favorite Feast ONLY $49.99. ORDER Today 1.855.300.2911 Use Code 48643XMJ or go to: www.OmahaSteaks.com/mbff74 SAPA

A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, Let Us Help! Personalized adoption plans. Financial assistance, housing, relocation and more. Giving the gift of life? You deserve the best. Call us first! 888.637.8200.

24 hour HOTLINE. SAPA PREGNANT? Considering Adoption? Call Us First! Living expenses, Housing, Medical and continued support afterwards. Choose Adoptive Family of Your Choice. Call 24/7. Adopt Connect 1.866.743.9212. SAPA UNPLANNED PREGNANCY? Thinking Of Adoption? Open or closed adoption. YOU choose the family. Living Expenses Paid.

Abby’s One True Gift Adoptions.

Call 24/7 1.866.413.6295 SAPA

200-40

Mike Stamey mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

August 7-13, 2013

828-508-9607

PERSONAL WHITE MALE, NON-DRINKER, Looking for a live-in girlfriend for companionship & light housework. Any age, kids okay. 2/BR in a nice neighborhood. For more info call Donnie at 706.335.6496 or write to PO Box 411, ILA, GA 30647.

YOUR AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $330 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtartans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.

DISH TV RETAILER - SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1.800.351.0850.

SAPA

74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

www.beverly-hanks.com

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION EARN YOUR H.S. DIPLOMA At home in a few short weeks.

Work at your own pace. First Coast Academy. Nationally accredited.

Call for free brochure.

1.800.658.1180, extension 82. www.fcahighschool.org SAPA AIRLINE CAREERS BEGIN HERE Get FAA Approved Maintenance Training Financial Aid For Qualified Students - Housing Available Job Placement Assistance. Call Now Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.866.724.5403 Call now, or visit WWW.FIXJETS.COM. SAPA NEED MEDICAL OFFICE TRAINEES! Train to become a Medical Office Assistant at CTI! NO EXPERIENCED NEEDED! Online Training at CTI gets you job ready! HS Diploma/ GED & Computer needed.

Careertechnical.edu/northcarolina.

1.888.512.7122 AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands on Aviation Career.

FAA approved program. Financial aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance.

877.300.9494.

SERVICES * REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4-Room All Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting at $19.99/mo.

FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1.800.725.1835.

SAPA

200-08

199-44

Talk to your neighbors, then talk to me. ®

See why State Farm insures more drivers than GEICO and Progressive combined. Great ser vice, plus discounts of up to 40 percent.* Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

CALL CALL FOR FOR QUOTE QUOTE 24/7.

24/7.

www.smokymountainnews.com

®

Full Service Property Management 828-456-6111 www.selecthomeswnc.com Residential and Commercial Long-Term Rentals

Chad McMahon, A gent 3 4 5 Wa l n u t S t r e e t Waynesville, NC 28786 Bus: 828 - 452- 0567 chad.mcmahon.r v37@s t atef arm.com

1001174.1

Your Local Big Green Egg Dealer

200-42

147 WALNUT ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

828.456.7376 • 800.627.1210 TOLL FREE

*Discounts var y by states.

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company State Farm Indemnit y Company, Blooming ton, IL

BEST PRICE EVERYDAY

10-5 M-SAT. 12-4 SUN.

111 CENTRAL AVE. • ASHEVILLE, NC

828.258.1284 • 800.490.0877 TOLL FREE

www.sunburstrealty.com 44

200-69

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

SERVICES

DISH TV RETAILER Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1.800.405.5081 DISH TV RETAILER - SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1.800.351.0850. SAPA DISH TV RETAILER. Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 mos.) & High Speed Internet starting at $14.95/month (where available.) SAVE! Ask About SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1.800.291.0612 SAPA FROG POND DOWNSIZING Helping Hands In Hard Times.

Downsizing - Estate Sales - Clean Out Services. Company Transfer Divorce - We are known for Honesty & Integrity! Jack & Yvonne Wadham, Insured & Bonded.

18 Commerce Street, Waynvesville, NC. 828.734.3874

YOUR LIFESTYLE ASSISTANT Concierge & Home Care Services.

Housekeeping, airport/hospital transportation, grocery shopping, non-medical senior care, pet sitting. Complimentary In-home Consultation.

828.550.2171 HIGHSPEED INTERNET Everywhere By Satellite! Speeds up to 12mbps! (200x faster than dialup.) Starting at $49.95/mo. CALL NOW & GO FAST! 1.855.872.9207.

SAPA LOCAL PHONE SERVICE With long distance starting @ $19.99/mo. Taxes not included. No contract or credit check. Service states may vary. Call today: 1.888.216.1037 SAPA MOTO-FAB METAL WORKS Let us fabricate a unique, high quality piece of metal art for your home, business, farm or ranch.

Choose from thousands of stock images or work with us to create an original piece. All artwork and signage is cut on a new state-ofthe-art CNC plasma machine.

Waynesville 828.627.2666.

YARD SALES ESTATE SALE Friday & Saturday, Aug. 9 & 10.

Antiques, furniture, linens, pots & pans, lots of household items. Rain or shine. 19 Newfound Lane in Franklin. Take Sanderstown Rd., off Hwy 441, then right on Thompson Rd. then left on Newfound Ln.

YARD SALES LIVING ESTATE SALE Aug. 8, 9 & 10 from 9am to 4pm & Saturday 9am to 12:30pm.

Furniture, Housewares, Jewelry Pictures, Old Metal Glider...

Everything Under the Sun! Frog Pond Downsizing, 255 Depot St., Waynesville, NC.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll-free at 1.800.669.9777.

WEEKLY SUDOKU

Super

CROSSWORD

76 Lacto- - -vegetarian 79 Senate, e.g.

83 Supported on a stand, ACROSS 1 “- right with the world” as a painting 86 Hooded snake 5 One doing a banishing 87 Obsolete act 88 In - (routine-bound) 13 Port in Argentina 91 Actress Graff or Kristen 20 Drop heavily 92 Tip holders 21 Ramp up 94 Vanilla ice cream vari22 Partial floor carpet ety 23 Many white-coated 96 Letters after chis helpers 98 - Helens (Wash. vol25 Dhaka natives’ lancano) guage 101 Irritates 26 Article in Amiens 102 Taken by surprise 27 LAX abbr.

106 Because 28 Military units 110 Port in Scotland 30 Quit allowing 111 Swimming pool addi31 Fly a plane alone, say 33 Instruction at the loca- tive 112 Wisconsin’s Fond du tion itself 113 Jai-alai cry 36 Actress Piper 114 Pooch-pulled vehicle 38 Actors Romero and 116 “Canadiana Suite” Beatty jazz pianist 39 In the past 120 One slowly collecting 40 Beeline 44 Minnesota ex-governor 121 Cut to - (stop hedging) Carlson 122 Work without - (risk 46 In plain sight injury) 47 Suvari of the screen 123 Waters between Korea 48 “Ouch!” and Japan 51 Outrage 124 Components of blood 54 Spicy sauce pressure readings 56 Sums of money paid 125 They’re hidden in this before being earned puzzle’s nine longest 60 USCG rank answers 61 School dance 64 Precious DOWN 65 Hesitate 1 Put in - for (endorse) 66 It became a state in 2 Texas plain 1959 3 Earring sites 71 1/4 gallon 4 R&R site 74 Julia of films 5 Skew 75 Part of PTA: Abbr.

SECRET SWIMMERS

6 Camelot lady 7 Lenovo or Dell products 8 Plate scrap 9 Gathers in from the field 10 Sunbathing evidence 11 Manor 12 Relaxed 13 Tiring work 14 Bullring, e.g.

15 Retiree’s payment 16 Not keep up 17 Language of Qatar 18 University in New Orleans 19 Getting older 24 Decides on 29 Nail-biting NFL periods 32 Verdi’s forte 33 Certain reed instrument 34 Proper 35 Lisbon-to-London dir.

37 Knight suits 40 Fawn over, with “on” 41 Poet Bunin 42 One side in the Civil War 43 Tic- - -toe board 44 Give help to 45 Ramp (up) 48 Flemish river 49 Southern belle Scarlett 50 “- hell”: General Sherman 51 Post-ER site 52 Scale notes 53 Nationality suffix 55 Tax doc. pro 57 “Rolling in the Deep” singer 58 30-day spring mo.

59 Voter’s “no” 62 Gumbo pods 63 Partners of sirs

66 “Odds - ...”

67 P.O. arrival 68 Conduit 69 Fly of Africa 70 - tear 71 In the role of 72 FedEx alternative 73 iPad buy 76 Roll topper 77 - diagram (logic image) 78 Took too many meds 80 ER technique 81 Includes 82 Unpolished 84 Total quiet 85 “Nightmare” film loc.

89 Mellow 90 Purposes 92 Happy dance 93 Trash barrels 94 Viewpoints 95 Flies a plane 96 Bribe money for a deejay 97 Wells forth 98 L-P bridge 99 Diviners’ cards 100 Having a rustling sound 102 Bum 103 Two and one 104 Part of UHF 105 Wince, say 107 Egypt’s Mubarak 108 Therapeutic plants 109 Penny, to a dime 112 - majesty (high treason) 115 Feline pet 117 It’s between pi and sigma 118 Buddy 119 U.K. flying corps

answers on page 42

Answers on Page 42

smokymountainnews.com

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Smoky Mountain News August 7-13, 2013

The ultimate revenge: yellow jacket soup

T

George Ellison

he yellow jackets are back. They inundated my home office this morning. First they gnawed through the ceiling from a nest site that allows access under the eaves.

We sprayed them. The spray made them drunk with anger.

Real honest-to-goodness anger. In retaliation they invaded my private space via cracks under and in the window screens.

I tried to hold my ground, as it were.

Writing a column Columnist under the best of conditions can be challenging. Writing one with the constant buzzing hum of yellow jackets droning over and around your head is a test I failed. One stung me on my right calf. I jumped up and swatted him dead. The victory was shortlived. When I sat back down, another one let me have it in my right buttock. I have retreated to a screened-in side porch, where I’m trying to finish this column.

They haven’t found me … yet. But I can hear them buzzing up and down the front deck, waiting for me to make my next move.

I’m not sure that I have a next move. The bee eradication folks are booked up. They won’t get to us until tomorrow. The column

BACK THEN is due today … within a few hours.

I remember the last time the yellow jackets moved in. That was in 2005 or so. I walked down the steps at the far end of our deck to find something I’d left in the yard.

As I reached the bottom step, I felt a sharp, hot tingle that turned to a stinging, almost electric pain in my left hand. Then the same sensations occurred in quick succession on the back of my neck, my right elbow, my right calf (I had on shorts), and my right ankle.

My vertical leaping ability never was significant and these days it’s virtually nil. I did manage, however, to spring several feet out into the yard and swat away at the sources of my discomfort, which I had realized by this time were yellow jackets.

They’d built a nest in the ground under the bottom step. I could see them swarming angrily in and out of the entrance hole.

At that moment I saw that Zeke, my German shorthaired pointer (now deceased and buried across the creek), was following me. As he reached the top of the stairs, I yelled for him to go back. But he kept on coming and received the full fury of aroused

hive. Somehow or other they knew that his nose and the tender, bare spot under the base of his tail were his most vulnerable areas. Zeke squalled, but he did, nevertheless, know from previous incidents what to do. He jumped in the creek.

It’s awfully quiet all of a sudden. I know they’re out there somewhere in the yard or garden or nearby woods plotting their revenge. If all else fails and there’s a home invasion, that’s what I’ll do this time

around. I’ll jump in the creek. At least I have a plan.

And if they sock it to me on my way to water, I won’t forget. In the dead of winter when they’re dormant, I’ll locate their nest, extract it and make a pot of yellow-jacket soup following the old-time Cherokee recipe:

Yellow Jacket Soup Ingredients: Ground-dwelling yellow jackets Directions: Although the mention of “yellow jacket soup” immediately raises an eyebrow on those unaccustomed to such a food, it is actually a delicacy and should not be criticized until tried. Only the bravest should dare to try this dish!!

Secure an entire nest of ground dwelling yellow jackets when it is full of grubs.

Loosen all the uncovered grubs by heating and removing them. Heat the nest with the remaining grubs over a fire until the thin, paper-like covering parches. Pick out the yellow jackets and brown them over the fire. Cook the browned yellow jackets in boiling water to make soup and season to taste.

We’ll see who has the last laugh.

George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees.

In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at info@georgeellison.com.

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