Cataloochee Valley descendants hold reunion Page 10
On the Cover:
Bryson City native Evy Leibfarth has paddled her way to the very top of the competitive canoeing world. Earlier this month in Paris, she reached a new level as she captured the bronze medal at the Olympics in the canoe slalom, which earned her not only fresh international recognition, but also a full homecoming from folks in Western North Carolina. Now the question for the 20-year-old phenom is, what’s next? (page 30) Romain Bruneau
News
Catamount School makes its move................................................................................4
Haywood TDA revokes grant after vetting mistake....................................................5
Trump, light on policy but heavy on Harris attacks, visits Asheville......................6 Ahead of Trump’s Asheville visit, Democrats fight to maintain momentum........7 Macon passes soil erosion & sedimentation control ordinance revisions..........9
Reunion brings Cataloochee descendants home to the valley..........................10
Pheasant pleads guilty to 2013 cold case murder................................................13
Financing approved for Franklin’s new high school................................................14 Commission funds free lunches for all Macon students ......................................16
Community briefs..............................................................................................................19
Opinion
MDMA will, eventually, help many with PTSD..........................................................20 Public radio called, and I tuned in................................................................................22
A&E
Spread it heavy: WNC rockers Porch 40 return......................................................22 Thunder in the Smokies returns to Haywood County............................................25
Outdoors
HCC hosts Second-Annual Dahlia Ridge Trail Run................................................33 The Joyful Botanist: Weeds are flowers too..............................................................34
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“History repeats itself” and “Everything comes full circle,” are just two examples of a myriad of sayings that could describe the Catamount School starting the 2024-2025 school year on Western Carolina University’s campus.
The Catamount School is now located in the Cordelia Camp Building, which was built in 1964 and housed the Camp Laboratory School until its closing in 1994. Several WCU divisions and departments have used the building in the 30 years since.
“We are thrilled to be on Western’s campus for the beginning of our 8th year of the Catamount School,” said Kim Winter, dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions and superintendent of the Catamount School. “We truly have had arms wrapped around us as we have moved to WCU’s campus, from Facilities Maintenance, to IT, to our colleagues who have moved offices to accommodate us. I cannot underscore just how helpful and amazing all of these different groups on campus have been in welcoming us.”
In 2016, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that required the University of North Carolina Board of Governors to establish eight lab schools aimed at improving student performance in low-performing schools. The UNC System selected universities to utilize their colleges of education to establish and operate these lab schools.
The Catamount School, operated as a lab school by WCU in partnership with Jackson County Public Schools for grades six, seven and eight, opened its doors in 2017 on the campus of Smoky Mountain High School.
The Catamount School moved to WCU’s campus following a decision by the Jackson County Board of Education earlier this year that the high school would no longer house the school.
The school had to be in a new location by Aug. 1 which gave little time to secure a new location. JCPS offered a space at Jackson Community School, but the Catamount School chose to return to WCU.
WCU faculty and staff stepped in to quickly welcome the school to its new home on WCU’s campus and get it ready for the
student’s first day on Aug. 14. JCPS is still responsible for student transportation and food nutrition services.
The Catamount School has capacity for 75 students, 25 for each grade. This year, there are 64 students between the three grades with all spots filled in seventh grade.
Designed to explore teaching approaches and applied learning opportunities, the Catamount School’s purpose is to help every student discover their full academic potential. This is done through a specially designed environment geared toward meeting the unique needs of young adolescents.
cipal and Sarah Tatham serves as our multitiered system of support coordinator in addition to her EC duties. We have what we call ‘Cat Time’ which is our intervention
she said. “Having been a WCU student myself, it is very special being here on campus.”
Angela Lunsford, alumnus of WCU and principal of the Catamount School echoed Kassel’s sentiment.
“Every time I drive through Catamount Gap, I feel like I am coming home,” she said.
The Catamount School moved into his new home on the campus of WCU in the Cordelia Camp Building Wednesday, Aug. 14. The school began in 2017 at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva. Donated photo
The teaching staff includes four content teachers and two exceptional children teachers.
In addition to the administration and teaching staff, the Catamount School has a full-time school resource officer, a curriculum and instruction liaison and an enrichment coordinator who works with departments across campus to plan activities for the students.
WCU students also work with the Catamount School, serving as teaching interns, counseling graduate assistants as well as nursing students who assist the two school nurses who are also WCU faculty.
“We have two full-time, fully certified EC teachers who work with any students who need that extra push, intervention or help in class,” Winter said. “One of our EC teachers, Lindsay Button, also serves as assistant prin-
time and every single day during school our students either receive help individually, in pairs or in small groups or time to do advanced work. Part of the reason why school has not been a thriving experience is because the student has not been pushed to the next level.”
To help meet that need, students are given opportunities to work on advanced content or other projects. Students can also attend after-school intervention programs.
Kaleigh Kassel, a double alumna from WCU, has taught language arts for the past nine years, four of those at the Catamount School. She also served as an adjunct professor in the School of Teaching and Learning.
“We have felt extra-supported moving to WCU’s campus and typically when you move somewhere new or start something new, you have to get used to your new environment, but from day one, it has felt like home here,”
Catamount School principal Angela Lunsford (left) and Kim Winter, Catamount School superintendent and dean of WCU’s College of Education and Allied Professions, welcome students to the school’s new home on the campus of WCU. Donated photo
Haywood TDA revokes grant after vetting mistake
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
The Haywood County Tourism Development Authority voted unanimously to rescind a $10,000 grant it had previously approved, citing its own failure to properly vet the grant application.
“We take full responsibility for missing this,” said Jim Owens, chair of the TDA board. “I personally feel I should have done my homework a little better, but I think we all felt that. But we are where we are right now, but we will make every effort to make sure going forward that we don’t make this kind of error again [and that] we work diligently to clean that up.”
In June, the TDA approved a grant application by an animal rescue nonprofit, Misfit Mountain, in conjunction with an unincorporated entity called IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Alliance) of Haywood for a community passport program that would promote inclusive businesses and generate visits to, as well as overnight stays in, Haywood County.
The idea was to solicit applications from businesses who would then sign a pledge, receive a window sticker proclaiming “the mountains are for everyone” and appear in a physical “passport.” Each business listed in the passport would offer perks and incentives with a purchase, as well as a “stamp.” Customers who collected 25 or more stamps would receive some sort of prize, to incentivize the kind of visitation that powers Haywood’s tourism economy.
“Those passports are uber-common in the travel and tourism industry,” said Corrina Ruffieux, the TDA’s executive director. “We’ve all worked on them before in other destinations, run into them on our recent travels and more. However, it recently came to our attention that the IDEA of Haywood organization engages in activities that are against our responsibilities as a tourism development authority.”
Ruffieux explained that at the time of the grant, the TDA was not aware of what it called “lobbying and political initiatives” undertaken by IDEA. IDEA has been a vocal proponent of LGBTQ+ rights in Western North Carolina. Ruffieux also said that the group had “previously advocated for boycotting certain local businesses, which is directly at odds with our commitment to fostering an environment for all businesses in Haywood County.”
After speaking with stakeholders, board members and residents who reached out about the grant, Ruffieux said she’d consulted with Destinations International, an industry trade group, for guidance.
Owens said that given the recent revelations, the TDA’s executive committee recommended unanimously to withdraw the grant. He also mentioned that the TDA would look at its vetting process.
“This puts us in a difficult situation,” he told the assembled board.
Chuck Dickson, a Waynesville Town Council member who serves on the TDA board, asked Ruffieux if the grant guidelines clearly state that organizations that engage in political or lobbying efforts are not qualified to seek grants.
Ruffieux offered a technical correction, noting that the guidelines say the TDA does not “fund” such applications.
“This puts us in a difficult situation.”
— Jim Owens
“That is made clear to everyone who applies for grants,” Dickson continued. “I mean, we have a grant funding workshop. We have printed guidelines that talk about that. So we never should have made this grant in the first place.”
Dickson, the only board member to speak directly on the grant during the brief meeting, said he believes that everyone thought the grant was a good idea, but the involvement of IDEA complicated matters.
“It’s Misfit Mountain that applied for the grant, which is a 501(c)(3) that does not engage in lobbying activities, but they’re affiliated with an unincorporated association called IDEA that does engage in these activities,” he said. “The grant was made as a combination of these two entities.”
Ruffieux confirmed that both IDEA and Misfit Mountain appeared on the signature line of the grant application, referring to the initial application dated May 9. No organization was listed on the revised application dated May 31.
After the vote, TDA board member Mike Huber, general manager and chief operating officer of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, reiterated that the vote wasn’t a reflection on the idea of the passport program.
“To your point earlier, and to Chuck’s question, Corrina has already discussed the way in which we will approach both the vetting but also in discussing with this person, these people that requested this grant, how Destinations [International] has been helpful in helping us craft how we will talk with that grantee so that we can share how sorry we are that this one got through on us, but that we are supportive of the notion of mountains being good for all y’all,” Huber said, playing on a proposed design for the program’s window sticker.
When reached by phone shortly after the meeting, Tera McIntosh, co-owner of Misfit Mountain and member of the IDEA group, said she wasn’t notified of the meeting and was considering next steps for the diversity passport program.
Trump, light on policy but heavy on Harris attacks, visits Asheville
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
At his Aug. 14 rally in Asheville — billed as an opportunity to deliver remarks on the economy — former President Donald Trump didn’t have much in the way of specifics, but he may have finally found his voice on the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris.
For weeks, Trump has struggled to message effectively against Harris, who became the Democratic nominee for President on Aug. 5, when duly elected Dem delegates selected her after five days of online balloting.
Although Trump did start in on President Joe Biden, the presumed Dem nominee until a disastrous debate performance prompted his departure from the ticket, his focus quickly shifted to Harris, whom he called “not very smart.” Trump mentioned Biden directly or indirectly 34 times but mentioned Harris at least 80 times.
“Everything Kamala Harris touches turns bad. It all turns bad. San Francisco was a great city. Now it’s unlivable,” Trump said. “California was a great state, now it’s unlivable. She breaks everything, just like she broke the border, broke our economy, but soon we are going to fix every single problem Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have created, and we are going to save our country.”
Harris may take some of the blame for San Francisco as the city’s district attorney from 2004 to 2011 and some of the blame for California as the state’s attorney general from 2011 to 2017, but Trump has complained about a broken border during and even before his lone term as president and has repeatedly mischaracterized Harris’ role as so-called “border czar.”
On the economy, the Dow’s initial 2.6% drop on Aug. 5, something he’d called the “Kamala crash,” had been largely erased by the time Trump took the stage in Asheville. Two days later,
every month of 2022.
“A lot of people are very devastated by what’s happened with inflation and all of the other things, so we’re doing this as a intellectual speech. You’re all intellectuals today,” Trump said, drawing laughs from the capacity crowd of nearly 2,050. “Today we’re doing it, and we’re doing it right now, and it’s very important.”
Trump railed on car insurance prices, which he said were up as much as 80%. That’s not quite accurate, but the 48% increase since 2021 as reported by Fox Business affects people with lower incomes more than it does the wealthy.
“We will target everything from car affordability to housing affordability to insurance costs to supply chain issues — we have the worst supply chain we’ve ever had in the history of the country — to the price of prescription drugs,” Trump continued. “I will instruct my cabinet that I expect results within the first 100 days, or much sooner than that. I would say the first seven days is fine.”
But he never said how; throughout Trump’s hour-long speech, there were more aspirational statements of desired outcomes — like lowering prescription drug prices — than there were solid policy points on how to achieve those outcomes.
Barron’s reported that the S&P, Dow and NASDAQ were all “wrapping up what looks like [their] best week of the year.”
The stock market, however, is not the full measure of the economy.
For July, the 12-month consumer price index — a key indicator of inflationary pressures on the economy — showed a 2.9% increase, the lowest such increase since March 2021. But for working families, that doesn’t erase the sting of year-over-year CPI increases above 7% during nearly
About the only topic on which Trump did offer specifics was energy costs, albeit with another misleading premise.
“We were energy independent four years ago,” he said. “Think of it.”
In the late 1950s, the United States briefly produced more energy than it consumed and exported more than it imported, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The trend continued through the 1980s, when the gap began to widen substantially, peaking during the two terms of George W. Bush. The Obama F
Former President Donald Trump speaks at an event in Asheville on Aug. 14, 2024. Cory Vaillancourt photo
years saw the gap close some, but the country still produced less energy than it consumed and imported more than it exported until 2019, when exports first topped imports in a meaningful way — a trend that has continued through all four years of the Biden administration.
Trump summed up his plan to end the “Biden-Harris war on a thing called American Energy” and slash energy prices by as much as 70% within 12 to 18 months by using a throwback shout-out to thenAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s “drill baby drill!” slogan from the 2008 campaign, during which she debated Biden on the subject.
“My administration will issue rapid approvals for new energy infrastructure, unlock new lands for drilling and achieve energy independence and energy dominance,” Trump said, noting that he would re-open drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic National Wildlife refuge in Alaska, something Biden ended in 2023.
“We’ll get it approved again very quick. And your prices are going to come tumbling down,” he said. “Your gasoline is going to come tumbling down in. Your heating bills and cooling bills are going to be coming down.”
Other goals of a second Trump term need little in the way of specifics because they’re relatively self-evident, even if their ultimate consequences aren’t.
Following first-term themes, Trump reiterated his desire to attack what he called a “regulatory onslaught,” called for the renewal of tax cuts skewed towards the wealthy and announced “the largest deportation operation in American history, starting at noon on Inauguration Day 2025.” Two large banners positioned on either side of Trump trumpeted new initiatives to eliminate taxes on tips and on social security.
Trump’s appearance was his second in the deep blue bastion of Asheville since 2016, following visits by Palin in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012 and Harris in October 2020.
The crowd was noticeably smaller compared to the 7,000-seat venue he nearly filled in 2016 when he won the state by 3.66%.
Although he filled the room, by the end of the event many empty chairs were visible — likely attributable to many of the attendees standing for hours in the hot sun in a line that stretched from the Harrah’s Cherokee Center entrance down Haywood Street to Battery Park Avenue to the federal courthouse.
Trump again won North Carolina in 2020 by 1.34% in what became a losing effort to retain the presidency. The state is expected to be in play this year.
Ahead of Trump’s Asheville visit, Democrats fight to maintain momentum
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
Seeing surging poll numbers and sensing strong momentum, Western North Carolina Democrats spoke out during a press conference in advance of former President Donald Trump’s appearance in Asheville last week, touting nominee Kamala Harris’ working families agenda and suggesting the state — as well as the 11th Congressional District — will be competitive this year.
“Trump is a con man, convicted felon and a fraudster who is doubling down on his extreme agenda to rig the economy for the wealthy at the expense of families in North Carolina,” said Anderson Clayton, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. “Vice President Harris is a brighter future for our state, one where families have the chance to not just get by, but to get ahead. And unlike Donald Trump, she’s going to put working families first.”
Clayton spoke to a small group of supporters at the Buncombe County Democratic Party headquarters just hours before Trump was slated to appear at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center (see TRUMP, p. 6) and was joined by Buncombe County Democratic representatives Eric Ager and Caleb Rudow, along with retired educator Pat Deck.
Deck, speaking 89 years to the day after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law, warned of the possibility of detrimental changes to the entitlement program she says Trump wants to make — particularly those outlined in the
controversial Project 2025.
Trump has repeatedly disavowed Project 2025, a massive 900-page policy document produced by conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation, but he’s mentioned in the document hundreds of times, and Democrats aren’t buying his attempts to distance himself from it. At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Michigan State Sen. Mallory McMorrow spoke about the plan from the podium on Monday, and was expected to be the first among many to do so.
“Social Security is my earned benefit that I paid into throughout my years. No one should have a right to privatize my earned benefits,” Deck said. “There is so much at stake in this election, especially for North Carolina seniors, because Trump and his running mate JD Vance have made clear, crystal clear, they won’t protect Social Security and Medicare — programs that more than 2 million North Carolinians rely on — while their Project 2025 agenda will cut Social Security and Medicare.”
Ager, a Buncombe County farmer and former Navy pilot, brought his perspective to the discussion, saying that Trumps’ tariffs put the livelihoods of farmers at risk.
“Leading economists, including Moody’s, are warning against Trump’s Project 2025 agenda, and saying that inflation will skyrocket if he is elected and goes through with his anti-working families plans,” he said, lauding Harris’ middle-class upbringing and Walz’ childhood on a farm not much different than his own. “He knows what it’s like for farmers struggling under tariffs, like what Trump
implemented. He knows that farmers don’t just feed ourselves — we feed America and when farmers struggle, we all struggle.”
Ager also said that a Trump tax plan would raise taxes on working families by $2,600 per year, while giving people making more than $5 million a year a $325,000 tax cut.
Rudow, the 11th Congressional District nominee running against incumbent Congressman Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson), continued the criticism of Project 2025 — reiterating claims that it will raise taxes on working families while providing cuts for the wealthy just as Trump’s proposed tariffs would raise prices on everyday items and spark a recession.
Although Rudow faces an uphill battle in a gerrymandered district — nonpartisan redistricting website devesredistricting.org puts composite Democratic performance from 2016 through 2022 at 43.9% — he feels that his race will be competitive, in part because of the momentum Harris’ candidacy has brought to the General Election.
“I think this is going to be the year where a lot of races are going to be in play that people didn’t think before. And we’ve always said we’ve got to run a great campaign in N.C.’s 11th District, which I really believe we’re doing, but we also have to get some headwinds from the top of the ticket,” Rudow said. “The headwinds are looking really good right now. We’re gonna keep those up. I think [Trump] came here because he likes bullying people, he’s petty and because he sees that this race in North Carolina is in play.”
Democratic Rep. Eric Ager (left) and state party Chair Anderson Clayton (right) look on as Rep. Caleb Rudow speaks during an Aug. 14 press conference. Cory Vaillancourt photo
Macon passes soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance revisions
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Macon County approved revisions to its soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance despite an outpouring of opposition from the public — so much so that not everyone who had signed up to speak on the issue at the Aug. 13 meeting was able to do so.
“Sedimentation is just like crime or disease — it can be managed, but not eliminated,” said aquatic biologist Bill McLarney speaking in opposition to the changes. “We need to minimize it. In this context, it is my strong belief that any action which potentially doubles the amount of bare soil exposed to erosion during the process of land development is a step in the wrong direction.”
Previously, the Macon County soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance required plans for soil and erosion control on any project that disturbs a half-acre of land or more. Now, Macon County has reverted to the state minimum and will only require such plans and restrictions for land disturbances of one acre or more.
Revisions to this ordinance and two others that concern the floodplain in Macon County have been the topic of much discussion since they were first suggested by Commissioner Josh Young back in March. At the behest of commissioners, the planning board came up with some recommended changes to the ordinances and put the decision back to commissioners to approve the changes or keep them as they are.
At least 15 other people were signed up to speak during public comment, the majority of whom were speaking in opposition to the proposed changes to the ordinance, but commissioners cut the public comment period off at 45 minutes.
Shields said that those remaining 15 people would be first on the list to speak at the next meeting, but a member of the public pointed out that at the next meeting, the board would have already made a decision on the soil erosion ordinance and be moving on to the water supply watershed protection ordinance.
“We’ve had the public hearings on all three of these last month,” said Board Attorney Eric Ridenhour. “So, the public hearings have been held, this is just public comment on any topic.”
More than two hours after the public comment period had ended, the commission took up the revisions to the soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance.
However, because there has been so much input from the public throughout the whole process, at the commission’s July meeting Chairman Gary Shields presented a plan in which the board would take up one of three ordinances at each meeting throughout August, September and October.
When the board took up the first of these ordinances at its August meeting, six members of the public spoke during the public comment period in opposition to the revisions to the soil erosion and sedimentation control ordinance, including McLarney and Kevin McCaskill, of the Macon County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.
“I don’t believe that this needs to be changed,” said McCaskill. “We are not the coastal plain, we’re not the piedmont, we’re the mountains. Our soils are fragile, our ground is steep and there were a lot of good minds that worked many years ago on developing these ordinances to protect not only our soils, but also our neighbors that are downstream. Let’s use a little common sense and realize we can leave this ordinance alone.”
“There’s no malicious intent here, I don’t like sediment in our creeks either, I don’t want sediment in our creeks,” said Young. Young insinuated that people getting permits to develop land will often say they are disturbing less than half an acre when really, they are disturbing more, just so they do not have to provide a soil erosion and sedimentation control plan.
“We’re enticing our contractors to go to the permit office and no matter what happens you say less than a half an acre,” Young said.
He also said that gardening and farming can create more erosion than construction sites.
“The state of North Carolina has a set of codes that, more or less, we abide by. There’s a third of the state in the mountain region and we’re the only county that I’m aware of that has these guidelines,” said Young. “I hope we can just respectfully agree to disagree.”
All commissioners, save Commissioner Danny Antoine, voted in favor of the revisions for a 4-1 vote.
“I really and truly don’t think that going from half an acre to an acre is going to create any more erosion as long as there is enforcement for these violators,” said Commissioner John Shearl.
Antoine had previously voiced his support for the public’s leaning.
“My personal thoughts on this are pretty simple,” said Antoine at the commission’s July meeting. “After hearing you all and learning so much from you all, and I do believe I’ve learned a lot… I’m currently for keeping these ordinances as they are with no changes.”
Word from the Smokies Reunion brings Cataloochee descendants home to the valley
Palmer Chapel was built in 1898 on land deeded by Mary Ann Palmer. It had no resident minister and relied on circuit riders, who typically came on the third Sunday of each month. The local congregation coordinated Sunday School on the remaining Sundays.
The tables are still full of food as reunion attendees spread out on the lawn to eat and enjoy each other’s company.
BY HOLLY KAYS SPECIAL TO SMN
Shadows and seasons are the main markers of time in Cataloochee Valley, a remote corner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park located more than 20 miles from the closest town and reachable only by a windy, narrow gravel road.
But today, the belltower at the historic Palmer Chapel Methodist Church aids the valley’s natural timekeepers with a resounding ring, calling worshippers to 11 o’clock service. It’s the second Sunday in August, a date that, since 1937, has marked the annual reunion of families who trace their ancestry back to Cataloochee. The air is alive with glad greetings between long-missed friends and family, the sounds of children playing along the nearby creek, and enticing aromas curling through the corners of covered dishes filling long tables on the lawn.
“There’s a real connection to the valley, with all the families,” said Steve Woody, who has organized the reunion every year since 1975. “And now you’re talking about children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren — but they still come back.”
While the Cherokee people had long hunted and fished Cataloochee Valley, archeological evidence suggests that the first permanent settlement was established in the 1840s by the reunion-goers’ ancestors. They had cleared the land, developed fields, built homes and relied on the distant outside world as little as possible — though some families entertained paying customers who came to Cataloochee to fish, ride horses or hike. By 1910, Cataloochee Valley and the even more isolated Little Cataloochee were home to a combined 1,251 people.
The community held a picnic at the Woody house as the exodus unfolded, and there they decided that such a reunion should become an annual tradition. Woody’s father Jonathan Woody was elected president and gave the opening address at the inaugural reunion in 1937 — stressing, as reported by The Waynesville Mountaineer, “the fact that this reunion should be held every year in honor of those that have passed on, the older ones who take such pride in the occasion, and that the younger people might know the feeling of friendship that has always existed in this locality among kinsman [sic] and neighbors.”
Against all odds, the tradition persisted. That first reunion drew between 600 and 700 people from nine states, the paper reported, and by 1995 attendance was still at 550. In the decades since, the generations that were born in Cataloochee have largely passed away, but the place still exerts a powerful pull on the hearts of their descendants. This year, 328 people attended the reunion, some coming from as far away as California or Texas.
“It’s like going home,” Woody said.
Everyone has a favorite story, myth or memory to share about life in the valley. For John Palmer, it’s the tale of his great-grandfather William Palmer and the “big, expensive horse” named Big Mac he bought during his 1910 campaign for Haywood County sheriff. His opponent had more money, but riding Big Mac, William Palmer could “beat him up every cove, where he could go kiss all the babies,” securing his win.
When the park was created, they were forced to sell. By 1938, all but a few families had left the valley.
Woody’s favorite story sits on the other side of the law. In 1900, Cataloochee needed a new school, so Woody’s grandfather, also named Steve Woody, traveled to Waynesville with a couple of cousins to ask for funding. When the county commission turned them down, the men F
Holly Kays photo
Holly Kays photo
Cars fill the lawn at Palmer Chapel Methodist Church during the 1947 reunion of families in Cataloochee Valley.
Steve Woody photo
decided to take matters into their own hands. Under cover of darkness, they dragged the school’s furniture and supplies into a field, put a match to the empty building, and never told anybody what they’d done until decades after the resulting new school was built.
Other stories reside in more recent memory. For Ronnie Trantham, whose grandfather Mark Hannah was born in Cataloochee and later worked as a park ranger there, the second Sunday in August takes him back to his childhood, when he spent summers bookended by Decoration Day and the August reunion hiking, biking and fishing the valley. Joy
printed in the old paperback hymnbooks — “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” “There’s Power in the Blood,” and “Shall we Gather at the River.” Woody recognizes those with the closest familial connection to the valley, then asks attendees to stand for the clan they represent. Before taking up an offering and turning the pulpit over to Rev. Keith Turman of First United Methodist Church in Waynesville, he invites Friends of the Smokies President and CEO Dana Soehn and Smokies Acting Deputy Superintendent and Chief Ranger Boone Vandzura to speak.
and gray. Outside, park rangers help direct traffic and answer questions. When the service ends, they’re invited to enjoy plates of fried chicken, creamy casseroles, summer salads and myriad desserts along with everyone else — a testament to how much healing has taken place since the wounds of the 1930s.
song-leading going forward. “I felt like it was time for someone else to do it,” he said. Time marches on. But Cataloochee’s descendants refuse to forget. On the second Sunday in August, they come together to worship, to eat and to remember where they are from.
“And that not only gives us the inspiration,” said Turman, “but it gives us the courage to go forward.”
Messer Townsend, who now lives in Mississippi, remembers summers and Christmases in the old Caldwell house, which her grandparents rented from the park through the mid-1960s. Townsend, who was about 10 years old when they moved out, recalls the backyard garden, the delicious
“Family is important,” Vandzura says, “so it’s wonderful for all the folks that are gathering together and remember the folks that can’t be here with us, or the new ones that were born since the last reunion. It’s so special to have everyone together. I’m glad to be able to enjoy this with you all.”
Vandzura isn’t the only attendee in green
smell of a freshly opened ham from the smokehouse and lamplight illuminating the house on Christmas morning. Each year, the reunion brings it all back.
“It reminds me of when I was a young child and would come and spend the night in the Caldwell house, listening to the creek,” she said. “It would keep me awake some nights, and then some nights it would just lull me to sleep.”’
As the church bell rings, worshippers ranging from aged to infant ascend the old stone staircase and fill the wooden pews before spilling out the doorway or scattering about the lawn. Woody rises to the pulpit to offer an invocation.
“Father, as we gather again as family and friends in our beloved Cataloochee Valley, we thank you for this day and the abundance of this land,” he prays. “We thank you for our forefathers who, often through great struggle, have given us a heritage of courage, wisdom, hope, and love.”
Canton native Richard Hurley performs his song “Cataloochee,” inspired by his first reunion experience in 2018, and then leads the congregation in a collection of songs
To the untrained eye, Cataloochee may seem a timeless place, where the present can’t outrun the past. But the hundreds who gather on its lawn each August know that’s not true. This year, only one person — Harley Caldwell — rose when Woody called to recognize those who had been born in the valley. And in a startling announcement, Trantham, who has led hymns at the service for close to 20 years, told the group that Hurley would be taking over
(Holly Kays is the lead writer for the 29,000-member Smokies Life, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the scientific, historical, and interpretive activities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by providing educational products and services such as this column. Learn more at SmokiesLife.org or reach the author at hollyk@smokieslife.org.)
Harley Caldwell rises to be recognized as the only person born in Cataloochee Valley in attendance that day. Holly Kays photo
Attendees of the 1947 reunion of families in Cataloochee Valley load their plates during a communal meal on the lawn. Steve Woody photo
Pheasant pleads guilty to 2013 cold case murder
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
Over a decade after Marie Walkingstick Pheasant’s body was found in a burnedout vehicle in Cherokee, the community has finally received a modicum of closure as her husband, Ernest Dwayne Pheasant, has pleaded guilty to committing the murder. Investigators determined that the vehicle her body was found in had been intentionally set on fire. An autopsy revealed that Marie died from stab wounds to the neck and abdomen. DNA retrieved from a baseball cap found near the vehicle was linked to Ernest.
According to a press release sent out by the office of Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, on April 7, 2022, following a review of unsolved homicides in the region, the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered Unit (MMU) opened a full interagency investigation into the case. During the investigation, law enforcement determined that Ernest had killed Marie at their home, then transferred her body to the car, drove it to Big Cove Road and set it on fire.
Prior reporting from The Smoky Mountain News noted that Pheasant also made efforts to cover up his wrongdoing. In a conversation at the Pizza Inn in Cherokee on Dec. 30, 2013, about two days after the murder, he allegedly approached another person to establish an alibi to account for the timeframe during which Marie was murdered.
Ernest was arrested in November of last year and charged with numerous felonies tied to Marie’s killing, including first-degree murder, tampering with witnesses, domestic violence and tampering with evidence, all felonies. He was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.
He pleaded guilty to the murder last week in federal court, but it wasn’t his first time. In a federal case dating back to 1998, Pheasant pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in June of the following year to nine years in prison followed by five years of supervised release, which began on Feb. 23, 2007. Less than three months later, he was again sent to prison for a probation violation, for which he was released in May 2008.
Marie was a mother of two, and a “quiet, sweet, loving girl” whose death devastated the family, her aunt Diane Wolfe told SMN in a 2022 interview.
“Ten years ago, our community was shaken by her tragic death, with her family and friends left with questions unanswered,”
Principal Chief Michell Hicks said in a
Facebook post the day of Ernest’s arrest. “It is our sincerest hope that this development will help give her family closure and bring justice for Marie.”
Pheasant.
Her death shook friends, family and neighbors and echoed a larger issue that continues to plague Native American communities. According to a 2016 National Institute of Justice Research Report, more than four in five Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, over half have experienced sexual violence and the majority have been victims of physical violence at the hands of intimate partners. Native women are 1.7 times more likely than white women to have experienced violence in the past year. In some counties, they face murder rates more than 10 times the national average.
“We must continue to amplify the stories of Indigenous women and girls who are impacted by violence and honor their memory and legacy, and we must continue to stand in solidarity and take action to end the violence against Indigenous women and girls,” Hicks said in his post.
With his guilty plea, Pheasant admitted to murdering Marie willfully, deliberately, maliciously and with premeditation.
“[The] guilty plea is the result of the joint investigation conducted by the MMU, the FBI in North Carolina, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the Cherokee Indian Police Department and the EBCI Office of the Tribal Prosecutor,” the U.S. Attorney’s office’s release reads.
“The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of cases involving Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) and bringing justice to victims and their families,” the release continues.
“Pheasant remains in federal custody. At sentencing, Pheasant faces a statutorily required sentence of life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.”
For more information about the Justice Department’s efforts to address the MMIP crisis, please visit the MMIP section of the Tribal Safety and Justice website at justice.gov/tribal/mmip.
Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser in Bethel
The Bethel Rural Community Organization will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Jukebox Junction from 5-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 in support of its benevolence fund, student scholarships, rural and historic preservation initiatives, educational programs and community pantry. Dinner includes spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, beverage and one scoop of ice cream for $12, plus tax.
Take-outs available. The Bethel Rural Community Organization is one of the region’s premiere community organizations, coordinating local and regional resources to implement programs and projects that enhance the quality of rural life in Haywood County’s unique Bethel Community. For more information, call 828.476.0048. To learn more about BRCO programs and services, visit the BRCO website at bethelrural.org.
Ernest
File photo
Financing approved for Franklin’s new high school
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Macon County is one step closer in the long march toward a new high school after commissioners approved financing for the more than $135 millionproject last week.
Financial Advisor Mitch Brigulio has been working with the county on potential financing options for the project including direct bank loan financing as well as municipal bonds in the public marketplace.
“The public sale of limited obligation bonds was producing better interest rates for you all in the current market, than the bank loan financing, so we have pursued that path and gotten a lot in place to fund the project in that way,” said Brigulio.
The county will use a limited obligation bond, secured by the high school itself acting as collateral for the bonds, to fund the new high school project. The application has been submitted to the Local Government Commission and will be considered for approval at their meeting Sept. 10, just ahead of the scheduled bond sale on Sept. 11. At that point the county will know the final interest rates on the bonds. Closing is scheduled to take place Sept. 26, at which point the county will be able to begin funding expenditures from the bond proceeds.
The resolution that commissioners approved proposed borrowing $76.3 million and at an interest rate not to exceed 5.5%.
“The current market is well below that. We’re well within those parameters right now,” Brigulio said.
Total cost of the high school is estimated at just under $135 million. The county previously received a $62 million grant for the new high school from the Needs-Based Public
School Capital Fund, awarded through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction with revenue from the North Carolina Education Lottery.
“So, we are looking to fund project costs around $72.8 million, plus the cost of the financing,” Brigulio said. “In the current market, to fund that $72.8 million, the estimated borrowing amount is currently $66.8 million to fund the $72.8 million.”
Over a 20-year period, the county will pay back a total of $100 million to borrow the $66.8 million principal.
Commissioners John Shearl and Paul Higdon both voted against financing for the high school.
The commission also approved a set of financial policy guidelines at it August meeting.
“We’ve talked, over the last several years as part of the development of the capital funding plan and particularly this high school project, about putting in place a series of financial policy guidelines,” said Brigulio. “Certainly, specific to debt and the debt issuance that you’re moving forward with the high school, but also more generally financial policies for the county as a whole to provide some guidelines to continue to maintain a strong financial position.”
The guidelines largely memorialize what Macon County already practices in its financial planning. For example, the capital improvement budget policy solidifies the process the county has been going through on an annual basis to identify 10-year capital improvement plan needs with a focus on, and developed funding plan for, the first five years.
The guidelines establish debt related policies for the county for things like the limited obligation bonds for the high school. The guidelines include stipulations that net debt as a percentage of Macon’s tax base assessed value
Compounded Injectable Tirzepatide
should not exceed 2%; debt service to expenditures, annual interest plus principal payment, should not exceed 15%; and the 10-year payout ratio, the amount of principal the county is repaying over the first 10 years, should be at least 50%. The guidelines allow the board to make exceptions for extreme needs.
There are also policies laid out for reserve and budget development. These align with the budget process Macon County has been going through under County Manager Derek Roland’s tenure and the reserve policies align with what have been informal policies over the years. It establishes a minimum unassigned fund balance of 25% with a target of 30%.
The fund balance policy lays out what the fund balance can be used for when it is over 30%. Part of the excess would be transferred to the capital reserve fund.
“When it comes to Macon County’s financial position, we’re about to be able to perform $140 million worth of capital projects and we’re still going to have 36% remaining in fund balance,” Roland said. “That did not happen by accident. And that is a testament to the financial stewardship of this board and this organization and the boards that have preceded you.”
The board approved the policies unanimously.
“I think another thing that this does is, these boards change, faces change. No matter who’s here, when these policies are adopted on this board, these board members can go back to these policies and say, ‘This is the playbook. Does it fit within our financial policies?’” Roland said. “As long as we have these to guide us, we can remain the financially solid organization that’s allowing us to do what we’re doing today and going to continue to allow us to do what we’re going to do in the future.”
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Commissions funds free lunches for all Macon students
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
The Macon County Commission decided last week in a split vote to fund a $200,000 request from the school system that will ensure all students in Macon County receive free lunch for the coming school year. The money will cover lunch costs for Highlands School and Franklin High School, the only schools in the county where lunch isn’t free for everyone.
“We have a huge need to provide nutritious meals, to provide equal access to meals at all schools, and I feel like we’re missing out by not being able to provide FHS and Highlands students access to free meals when so many people fall through the cracks,” said Macon County Schools Nutrition Director David Lightner.
The Macon County Nutrition Department and Board of Education came before the county commission during its Aug. 13 meeting to make the funding request, which comes on the heels of rising food and supplies costs that have caused an increase in the cost of school lunch.
School nutrition departments operate financially independent of school systems and are funded completely through food sales, government reimbursements and grants. Other than capital outlay requests, they do not require any local funding.
“This is mostly driven by increases in labor costs and food costs,” said Lightner at the time.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reimburses school nutrition programs for each meal provided to students — both paid and free. For the 2024-25 school year, the reimbursement rate for free students is $4.54, and $0.53 for full paid students. The USDA’s intent is for school nutrition programs to serve meals to paying students at a rate as close to the free reimbursement rate as possible.
areas. Those two schools alone comprise about 30% of the MCS student population.
The CEP program allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications for free and reduced lunch. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) or Medicaid benefits, as well as children who are certified for free meals without an application because they are homeless, migrant, enrolled in Head Start or in foster care.
This summer, the nutrition department announced it would increase the cost of school lunch to $4 for all paid students in grades K-12 for the coming school year, up from the previous price of $3.75 for K-4 students and $3.85 for students in grade five through 12, which had been approved by the board in June of 2022.
The $200,000 allotment will allow the school system to provide free lunches at both Franklin High School and Highlands School, the only two schools in the system that do not yet qualify for the Community Eligibility Provision, a non-pricing meal service option for schools in low-income
Any district, group of schools in a district or individual school with 25% or more students participating in these programs qualifies for CEP.
Once a certain school qualifies for the CEP program, thereby allowing all students at the school to access free breakfast and lunch, that school remains in the program and can continue offering no cost meals for a five-year period, after which the school is reassessed.
With percentages of students that qualify for free and reduced meals at 50% at Franklin High School and 40% at Highlands School, “there’s still a lot of families that are borderline that just fall outside the range to be provided this,” said Lightner. “There’s a lot of families that pay for multiple students, and it is burdensome.”
Earlier this summer, the school board asked Lightner to come up with an estimate of how much it would cost to cover lunches for the school year for students at FHS and
Highlands School that do not already qualify for free and reduced lunch. After grant funding for the need did not pan out, Board Member Hilary Wilkes asked the school board to make this request to the county commission.
During its most recent budget cycle, the Jackson County Commission approved a similar — though much more expensive — request from Jackson County Public Schools to cover the cost of free breakfast and lunch for the five schools in Jackson County that do not currently qualify for the CEP program. Commissioners committed to half a million dollars for the upcoming school year in order to ensure all students in Jackson County receive free breakfast and lunch.
and a funding protocol that you’ve got to follow,” Higdon said. “We’re running a business, y’all are running a business, based on that I can’t support a $200,000 out of budget appropriation.”
As of May of this year, Macon County had a fund balance of $48.7 million, which earned the county about $3.1 million in interest over the last year. According to County Manager Derek Roland’s budget presentation this year, even with the new high school project, the county’s fund balance will not fall below $25 million.
Commissioner John Shearl was vocal in his opposition to the request.
“We toss the word free around like it’s nothing, but nothing is free; it is costing someone somewhere,” Shearl said. “How
“I work with a lot of families in this community where kids are going home hungry. At this point, it doesn’t really matter to me what we have to do to try to get these kids fed… if there’s a way that we can do that, I want to be in support of that.”
— Danny Antoine Macon County Commissioner
At the Macon County Commission’s Aug. 13 meeting, both Chairman Gary Shields and Commissioner Danny Antoine immediately expressed their support to fund the request, though Antoine did say that he thought this needed to be discussed during the budget process.
“I work with a lot of families in this community where kids are going home hungry,” Antoine said. “At this point, it doesn’t really matter to me what we have to do to try to get these kids fed… if there’s a way that we can do that, I want to be in support of that.”
Lightner, Wilkes, Board of Education Chairman Jim Breedlove and Board Member Diedre Breeden all expressed their appreciation for the commission considering the funding request out of budget season and explained that during the budget process, they were still trying to get all eleven schools in the county on the CEP program. Administration and staff did not find out until after budget season that FHS and Highlands School did not make the cut.
“We know this is a big ask,” said Breedlove. “We’re sorry it wasn’t in the budget ask; we simply didn’t have the figures at the time.”
Board members also explained that they were requesting the money from the commission because, while the school system’s fund balance sits at just under $2 million, one month of operation for the school system costs around $800,000. Therefore, the school board did not feel comfortable taking the $200,000 out of an already tight fund balance.
Commissioner Paul Higdon expressed his staunch opposition to the request because it came outside the budget process.
“Worthy program, I’m sure. Free food, free whatever, but there’s a budget process
are you decreasing the burden on a family when they don’t have kids and they can’t afford to buy groceries and medicine? Isn’t that passing the burden on to that family?”
“This is an emotional ask in my mind, because everybody in this room loves children, and they don’t want to see them go hungry,” said Shearl. “But I cannot vote based on emotions and I believe that the Macon County School system budget is much greater than Macon County as a whole. Surely to God, y’all can find $200,000 floating around to provide Franklin High School and Highlands School students if you want to provide them all free lunches.”
Both Breedlove and Lightner made clear to the commission that this was a one-time request and that the school system would continue to work to increase school lunch participation and get all eleven schools on the CEP program.
Commissioner Josh Young expressed his displeasure at the funding request coming outside of the budget season, but ultimately voted in favor, leading to a 3-2 decision with Higdon and Shearl voting against.
“We feed the jails, we feed the seniors,” Young said. “My recommendation would be to please try and pursue filling out more [free and reduced lunch] applications throughout the year.”
Breedlove told the commission that it could finance the request on a monthly basis, with the school system reporting a monthly cost to the county finance department and the county reimbursing the school nutrition department accordingly.
“We are going to do everything in our power to make our system sustainable,” said Breedlove. “I understand this is an emotional thing, but our goal is, we have to focus on the children. If it’s emotional, it’s emotional. We feel strongly about it.”
Through
Mountain Heritage Awards recognize Darnell Farms
Western Carolina University will present the 2024 Mountain Heritage Awards during the Mountain Heritage Day festival Saturday, Sept. 28, on the Ingles Blue Ridge Stage around midday.
The Mountain Heritage Awards are presented each year to an individual and an organization in recognition of exceptional contributions to Southern Appalachian history, culture and folklore.
Recipients are selected by a committee of university and community representatives.
Darnell Farms is the recipient of the 2024 organizational Mountain Heritage Day Award for its commitment to and promotion of Appalachian agriculture. The active, multigenerational farm located in Bryson City produces 100 acres of strawberries, pole beans, sweet corn, pumpkins, squash, a variety of tomatoes and much more.
Nate Darnell, affectionately known as “Nate the Farmer,” along with his sister Afton Roberts, own and operate the family-friendly farm and offer several festivals throughout the year as well as special events and activities for various organizations in the area. The Darnell family offers educational field trips to the farm, sharing information about farm life, methods used to raise their crops and how be good stewards of the land.
The Darnell family has been involved in Mountain Heritage Day for many years, with Nate Darnell bringing an antique tractor and trailer to give rides to excited festival goers throughout the day of the festival. The Darnell family also donate hundreds of pumpkins each year for fall-themed photo props.
Primary care practice opens in Macon County
Davis Medical PLLC is proud to announce the opening of its new Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, revolutionizing healthcare delivery in Macon County. Located at 55 Medical Park Drive Suite 118, opening Nov. 18, 2024, the new practice has started accepting patients, offering a membership-based model that provides extensive services at a significantly reduced cost compared to traditional practices.
Members of Davis Medical PLLC can expect same-day or next-day appointments, management of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, urgent care, sports medicine and more. The practice also offers specialized services including emergency preparedness medications, travel medications, testosterone replacement therapy and peptide therapies for weight loss.
An open house event will be held on Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., where community members can tour the facility, meet Dr. Davis, and learn more about the benefits of Direct Primary Care.
For more information or to become a member, visit davismedicalpllc.com or call 828.371.6317.
Great Smokies Health Foundation announces new director
The Board of Directors of the Great Smoky Mountain Health Foundation announced the selection of Shelley Carraway as the new Executive Director of the Foundation. Carraway began her new role on Aug. 1.
Before assuming this new role as Executive Director of the Foundation, Carraway served in various public health and healthcare administration positions in county and state government over a span of nearly 30 years. Most recently, she served as Health Director at the Jackson County Department of Public Health until her retirement in September 2023.
Carraway has broad and specific knowledge of public service and healthcare service delivery issues. She has experience in grant management with both private and federal programs. She has spent her career in public management, priding herself as a collaborative team player in the efforts to address the continuing, dynamic challenges facing our community’s health.
Cultural resources grants awarded
The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina (CFWNC) approved $40,000 in Cultural Resources focus area grants in July for general operations to eight craft organizations across WNC. CFWNC awards discretionary funding in Education, Cultural Resources, Human Services, and Natural Resources.
Cultural Resources grants are made through competitive and proactive awards. Competitive general operating grants are distributed according to a rotating schedule and through an expedited application. Proactive applications may be invited for unique projects or programs that address the Cultural Resources focus area goals.
Unrestricted gifts of $5,000 were awarded to:
• Asheville Glass Art School dba North Carolina Glass Center, serving Buncombe, Madison, Henderson, Jackson, Haywood, Yancey, McDowell and Mitchell Counties
• Center for Craft, serving the WNC region
• Clay County Historical & Arts Council, serving Clay County
• Local Cloth, serving the WNC region
• Open Hearts Art Center, serving Buncombe County
• Rutherford County Visual Artists Guild, serving Rutherford County
• The Bascom, serving Jackson and Macon counties
• Tryon Arts and Crafts, serving Polk County
Franklin welcomes tech service company
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Wired to the Franklin Chamber
Membership with a ribbon cutting celebration. Wired is located at 121 Highlands Road and is owned and operated by Nathan LiBasci.
“At Wired, we specialize in providing top-notch tech services across three main areas, ensuring that technology works seamlessly for you, not against you,” LiBasci said. Those areas are business IT services, home tech services and in-shop computer services.
Learn more about Wired’s services at wiredinc.com or call at 828.349.0101.
Community hospitals celebrate awards
Harris Regional Hospital and Swain Community Hospital were pleased to hold another celebratory luncheon last week in honor of staff members who recently reached significant milestones in their tenure as employees of the hospitals.
Service awards for staff and providers are typically given on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, depending upon the timeframe for staff anniversaries. Individuals are honored for their service in five-year increments.
Those honored at this month’s celebration included:
• 5 Years of Service: Aleisha Evans, Imaging; Sheila Haigler, Harris Pulmonary & Sleep Associates; Steve Zimmerman, Harris Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
• 10 Years of Service: Mariana Da Costa, Nursing; Stephanie McCall, Harris Regional Cancer Center; Kezia Waldroup, Ambulatory Infusion
• 15 Years of Service: Kristyn Holland, Laboratory
• 20 Years of Service: Kevin Ray, Respiratory Therapy
• 25 Years of Service: Matthew Cammisa, Surgical Services; Stephanie Conner, Intensive Care Unit
• 30 Years of Service: Ronnie Kelly, Clinical Informatics; Tina Fisher, Laboratory; Tony Belcher, Harris EMS
Leaders from the recognized individuals’ departments took time to share remarks highlighting their team members’ dedication to their role and the organization, after which CEO Ashley Hindman presented each honoree with a plaque signifying their years of service.
“Many exceptional professionals have committed their careers to delivering compassionate, high-quality care at our hospitals,” said Hindman. “It's a privilege to recognize and thank them for their dedication at every milestone.”
of the organizational Mountain Heritage Day award. Donated photo
MDMA will, eventually, help many with PTSD
As the executive director of the nonprofit Pearl Institute here in Waynesville, I wanted to express my gratitude to The Smoky Mountain News for the feature story written by Cory Vaillancourt about the recent decision by the FDA to request more research into using the drug MDMA in combination with therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was well-researched, accurate and thoughtful and it gave the reader an excellent overview of this recent disappointing decision by the FDA to not yet approve this potentially revolutionary treatment.
However, I was disheartened and disappointed by the choice of wording on the cover which in large, bold words simply said, ‘Not Medicine’ and then below that, “FDA Rejects MDMA for PTSD.” The first statement is incorrect (based on the research) and misleading because no one at the FDA has said that MDMA, when used under clinical supervision, is “not medicine.” The FDA is acknowledging that the research is promising but they want more data before they make the final decision so they are actually delaying the decision rather than rejecting MDMA as a medicine for PTSD.
The FDA allowed formal research with MDMA to begin in the late 1990s and Phase 1 research demonstrated that MDMA was medically safe when given under supervision to healthy volunteers. The Phase 2 research that followed intended to investigate whether MDMA when used with therapy under clinical supervision could effectively treat some of the toughest cases of PTSD. A total of 107 participants with PTSD were treated and they had suffered from PTSD for an average of 18 years and had unsuccessfully tried conventional psychiatric medications and therapy. The participants were largely composed of veterans and first responders and after 3 MDMA-assisted sessions and 12 talk therapy sessions, 67% of them no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. In 2017, MDMA-assisted therapy was given “Breakthrough Therapy” designation by the FDA. The resulting Phase 3 studies targeted almost 200 chronic PTSD sufferers and after the same 3 MDMA-assisted sessions and 12 talk therapy sessions, between 68% and 71% of them no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis. People need to stop for a minute and think about what those numbers really mean.
It means that MDMA used under clinical supervision, is, indeed, medicine. It also means that after only 3 treatments embedded within talk therapy sessions over about 18 weeks, over 2/3 of those who had been suffering for years with moderate to severe PTSD were free. They were free of the intrusive thoughts and memories, the nightmares, the flashbacks, the rages, the hopelessness and the anxiety and fear they had been
Biden and Trump have major flaws
To the Editor:
Glenn Duerr certainly painted an ugly picture of Donald Trump while making Joe Biden look like an angel with wings. People tend to do that when they hate someone. They also ignore the faults of those they love and who agree with them. Let's be honest — Biden has major flaws.
He has opened the border to millions of illegal immigrants and has ignored the needs of American people in doing so. Major cities
living with for years with some for most of their lives. At this point, worldwide, MDMA has been tested on over 1,700 people and there has only been one serious adverse event. Not only does the research indicate that MDMA is a medicine, it also can be used safely and effectively under clinical supervision.
I have been a licensed clinical psychologist in Western North Carolina for almost 23 years. I have worked in many different settings but I spent much of my time supervising and providing mental health services to the students and families of the Haywood, Jackson and Macon public schools from 2004 until 2018. I have seen firsthand the ravages of domestic violence, childhood physical and sexual abuse, assault, substance abuse and other forms of trauma. Although current PTSD treatments can help with controlling symptoms and helping people function, they are often not effective for the deep healing that is needed. Although the Veterans Administration does what they can to help veterans coping with PTSD, there are 22 veterans in the United States every single day committing suicide, mainly due to their inability to cope with their PTSD. And the FDA has not approved a new medicine for PTSD in over 20 years.
About 15 years ago, I realized that if I were to trace back to the beginning of the mental health struggles of 90% of the cases I have supervised and treated over the last 35 years, regardless of diagnoses, their struggles were rooted in poorly integrated traumatic experiences. People had to then compensate for the resulting biological, emotional and psychological damage of trauma and it is these compensations that are actually given diagnoses. Therefore, I reasoned, if we were able to develop a treatment that could truly heal the underlying damage of trauma, then we would make a 100-year leap in our ability to treat a wide variety of mental illnesses.
Based on the data from the last almost 30 years of FDAapproved research, MDMA-assisted therapy (when administered under clinical supervision) is both safe and more effective than any currently accepted treatment for PTSD. The FDA was intimately involved in the research design and conduct of the Phase 3 studies so it is odd and disheartening that they would now order that another Phase 3 research is required. This will cost tens of millions of dollars and take years. Meanwhile, people with PTSD will continue to suffer and die. To me, based on what we know about MDMA and
LETTERS
have almost gone bankrupt caring for them. To date over one hundred people who are on the terrorist watch list have entered this country. We were told the borders were safe and things were under control. That was a lie.
The liberal news media rarely reported on Biden's senility. They made excuses or turned a blind eye to all his gaffes. They protected him and lied. He stumbled, made major gaffes repeatedly and often looked like he was in a fog. One would have to be blind not to see it, and Jill Biden lied to us repeatedly as she took him by the hand to lead him. All the
MDMA-assisted therapy, it should be given conditional approval so research can proceed to Phase 4 studies where PTSD patients could be treated with MDMA-assisted therapy and we could continue to track safety and efficacy data and learn more about how to safely use this treatment responsibly and intelligently.
The Pearl Institute was one of only two sites in the United States that had permission to legally treat PTSD patients in the FDA’s Expanded Access program and I directly witnessed the healing power of MDMA-assisted therapy. We treated three patients from WNC and one from the Triangle area (including a veteran and a law enforcement officer) and all four had suffered from moderate to severe PTSD for a minimum of 35 years and had unsuccessfully tried previous psychiatric medicines and therapy. One of our patients had suffered from PTSD for 62 years and all four had pretty much given up hope of ever being free of PTSD. At the end of 3 MDMA-assisted sessions and 12 talk therapy sessions, none of them qualified for a PTSD diagnosis anymore. None of them.
There is ample evidence that MDMA-assisted therapy IS medicine. The Pearl Institute is dedicated to continuing the efforts to make this and other cutting edge mental health treatments available to people suffering in our region. It is also important to remember that PTSD does not just affect the sufferer but family members, loved ones and co-workers are also affected. Our mountain culture has been significantly affected by the effects of trauma being passed down from generation to generation and the research that has been done on MDMA-assisted therapy indicates that it has the capacity to interrupt and heal the effects of trauma and PTSD. We have a significant veteran population in our region that would benefit from safe and legal access to this treatment. Please read beyond the headlines when it comes to MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Despite this delay by FDA and some of the criticisms, most researchers agree that it will likely be approved by the FDA in the next 2-4 years and the Pearl will be well-positioned to be able to help bring this to our family members, friends and neighbors who are currently struggling to live day to day with PTSD. In the meantime, visit us at www.pearlpsychedelicinsitute.org or on social media or on our newly launched YouTube channel. Our mission is to continue to help shepherd this and other cuttingedge treatment into mainstream acceptance through education, treatment and research.
(Raymond Turpin lives in Haywood County. He can be reached at rturpin@pearlpsychedelicinstitute.org.)
time she told us how bright Biden was. Didn't anyone see a red flag when Biden didn't take a cognitive test? After the debate she told us how strong Biden was and could run again. She told him what a good job he had done. Hogwash.
He stepped down due to pressure from Democrats who had guts enough to finally stand up. Biden did not drop out of the race out of the goodness of his heart. Do you really believe that? As far as morals, good grief. Biden defends a son who is or was a crackhead, had an affair with his sister-in-law, had a child with a stripper and gave us those pornographic pictures on his laptop and
receipts that paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for hookers. I wonder how an average citizen who went into politics became so rich. What happened with the dealings with China and Ukraine?
Since Biden came into office our borders have become a disaster, there is high inflation, our energy policy is a joke, and the average American, unless they are on welfare, is not better off. Neither candidate is lily white. Look at both candidates and judge them not by their personality but by their platforms because each candidate has major flaws. Dayna Austin Waynesville
Guest Columnist Raymond Turpin
Public radio called, and I tuned in
During a recent morning drive to Asheville, I felt a yearning to listen to National Public Radio (NPR).
Typically my phone automatically connects to Bluetooth and a random song from Spotify plays from the speakers. Rarely do I take the time to change the output, but something about this particular day made me think of years ago when streaming music wasn’t a thing and all of my morning drives were spent in the pleasant company of those at NPR.
In fact, back in the early 2000s when I was in graduate school at App State and then after, living in Asheville, I was a faithful contributor to WNCW, an NPR affiliate and membersupported radio station operating from Isothermal Community College in Spindale, just down the mountain in Rutherford County. At the time I also had friends who were supporters of Blue Ridge Public Radio. Most of my inner circle were NPR listeners, with special affinities for shows like “Car Talk” and “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”
Although being an NPR affiliate was an added bonus, the main reason I loved WNCW is because it was the only way I could hear a variety of musicians in the genres I like such as Americana, folk and indie. At the beginning of each donation cycle, contributors would receive a compilation multi-CD set called “Crowd Around the Mic” where all tracks were live recordings from WNCW’s Studio B. These CDs are how I learned about many artists I still love today such as The Wood Brothers, Donna the Buffalo, The Subdudes, Martin Sexton and others. I honestly think listening to those CDs is what fine-tuned my musical preferences and expectations.
I guess once it became easy to listen to these musicians and bands via a music streaming service, I veered from the radio and halted my devotion to the station. Shame on me for that. Not only did it move me away from supporting a local radio station but it also interrupted my routine of listening to NPR.
Back to my morning drive to Asheville and the tug to listen to NPR. It was a Saturday, and when I tuned in around 7:40 a.m., they were playing the end of an episode from “Hidden Brain” Podcast, leading up to Weekend Edition at 8 a.m. Prior to this, I’d never heard of “Hidden Brain” podcast, which is a longtime partnership between NPR and Shankar Vedantam and has apparently been around since 2015.
I was immediately drawn into the topic of psychological reactivity, which describes
how the human brain is naturally contrary and therefore doesn’t respond well to forceful commands. When offered a choice, even if the selection bank is very narrow, humans respond much more amicably and willingly. They then talked about how understanding this concept can greatly benefit all personal and professional relationships. It was a fascinating conversation and if you’re interested, I encourage you to listen to the full episode. It’s called “You’re Not the Boss of Me!”
After the podcast, they moved into NPR’s ever-popular Weekend Edition. At this point, I didn’t have much distance left in my drive, but in the short time that I listened, I heard an interview with DNC Committee Chair Minyon Moore on what to expect in Chicago this week at the convention (Smoky Mountain News Political Editor Cory Vaillancourt is in Chicago covering the convention for our readers) as well as a news brief on the artist Banksy who delighted the folks of London with fun and surprising animal graffiti throughout the city. I’ve been a fan of the elusive Banksy for quite some time so this was a fun tidbit of information to learn.
It’s not just the content I enjoy from public radio or member-supported stations, it’s also the production which is soothing to the ears and psyche. Without the annoyance of commercials, the listener is able to enjoy uninterrupted music and news. Sadly, public radio seems to be on the decline. In a May 2024 article by former New York Times journalist Stephen Regenold, several reasons are offered for this trend. Digital media, video content and independent podcasts are pulling listeners in other directions. Additionally, more people than ever are working from home so with less people commuting, there are less people listening to radio in general. In the comments section of the article, some folks said public radio isn’t balanced.
Despite this, I still see a place for public radio and member-supported stations. My recent experience reminded me how unique it is to listen to these stations, as opposed to a podcast or simply music. I learned several things during that morning drive with NPR. While habit can feel easy and comforting, it very rarely brings any kind of growth or neural firing. All systems of the body perk up a little when we offer them something different, especially when that something is beneficial and sparks interest. I also learned why our inner voice is so wise. I could’ve ignored that internal nudge to switch the output from bluetooth to radio, but I didn’t. I honored it, which made a world of difference, not only that one morning but to my way of thinking going forward.
(Susanna Shetley is writer, editor and digital media specialist. Susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)
Columnist
Susanna Shetley
Spread it heavy
WNC rockers Porch 40 return
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
It was a special time and place when rock-nfunk act Porch 40 emerged onto the vast, vibrant Western North Carolina live music scene. In a landscape of mostly bluegrass, Americana and country acts, to see something of local origin with loud electric guitars and amps cranked to 11 was, well, refreshing.
“The way we connected musically felt and sounded different than anything any of us were used to hearing,” said bassist Carter McDevitt. “We intended to combine the genres of music we all liked in a way that we hadn’t heard, which wound up making us organically stand out from the crowd a little bit.”
The timeline begins in March 2012. Alongside McDevitt, the original lineup included lead singer/guitarist Drew Duncan, violinist Mitchell Metz, saxophonist Scott Burr and drummer Spencer Bradley. In 2016, drummer Brett Wilson entered the fold.
Bubbling up as a handful of students looking to simply get together and jam — perhaps even form a band and see where things go — on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, the group took shape in “a now condemned farmhouse” near campus, cradled by the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“Although the place was dilapidated, there was magic there, too, [where] it seemed like the cultural epicenter of WCU,” Duncan recalled. “Our first show was at Papou’s Wine
Shop [in Sylva], where Innovation Brewing is now. The response was positive from the getgo, even though we weren’t really good.”
From humble beginnings in Jackson County, Porch 40 would soon flourish with raucous, “you had to be there” gigs at house parties down backcountry roads or onstage at long gone establishments like Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro or No Name Sports Pub in Sylva and Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.
“When we were coming up, we’d play with everyone,” McDevitt said. “And, as a result, we built a wider network and absorbed a wider range of influences — this place built us.”
And, like any young band hungry and filled with piss and vinegar, you grow and evolve — sonically, artistically and geographically. When I wrote about the band’s album, “Radio Edit,” in 2019 for this newspaper, I felt “when you place the Jackson County ensem-
Want to go?
After an extended hiatus, one of the Western North Carolina’s most popular rock acts, Porch 40, will host a special performance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Lazy Hiker Brewing outpost in downtown Sylva. Admission is $10 at the door. Special guest Positive Mental Attitude (rock/reggae) will open the show. For more information, call 828.349.2337 or go to lazyhikerbrewing.com.
ble’s melodies against the likes of Elvis Costello, Dave Matthews Band and Maroon 5, you can precisely see and hear the similar sonic blueprints Porch 40 is working with.”
“We’ve always strived to be a mixed bag stylistically and we’ve been getting more comfortable pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone,” McDevitt told The Smoky Mountain News at the time. “We’ve never been afraid to try new genres, new sounds and new song structures. We love what we do and we’re not tired of experimenting with it.”
By 2017, Porch 40 was riding high, playing bigger and better shows around our backyard and greater Southern Appalachia, including opening slots for the likes of The Doobie Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band and REO Speedwagon. Eventually, the outfit opened for legendary funk/rock act Galactic in August 2017 at the now-defunct New Mountain AVL in Asheville, ultimately stepping onstage to a massive outdoor crowd of thousands.
“Moments like that change you,” McDevitt noted. “However, I’d put a packed hometown show up with all of it. Nothing beats hometown fans shouting lyrics at you and jumping around during your set.”
And it was there at New Mountain, performing before the eyes and ears of Galactic, where the quintet caught the attention of Galactic bassist Robert Mercurio, who invited them to his studio in New Orleans, Louisiana, to capture what would become “Radio Edit.”
“The one thread that stands out through-
out all of Porch 40’s career is simply hard work,” McDevitt said. “We played every single week and we were on the road playing shows every weekend. No excuses. We worked, practiced and wrote songs constantly, the result was we became surprisingly tight as a band — all through years of effort.”
But, like everything else that shifted and/or disappeared during the 2020 pandemic, the rising trajectory of potential and promise within Porch 40 came to a screeching halt with the complete shutdown of the live music industry until further notice. The band put its music and its future on ice, where it has remained since.
“When Covid came and the lockdowns started happening, our schedule was erased,” Duncan said. “We had also been on the grind for eight long years and we were tired of hitting the road every weekend.”
Skip ahead four years to the here and now. With a deep yearning to tie a bow on its unfinished business with its die-hard local and regional fans, Porch 40 has decided to host a one-off hometown performance on Saturday, Aug. 24, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva.
“We never really got closure with our fans and it always bothered us. This [Aug. 24] show is all about closure. Sorry it took four years,” Duncan said. “We decided to play one more show for us, for the fans, for one last good memory with Porch 40. I don’t know what lies ahead for us, but maybe this won’t be the last of it.”
Porch 40 will play Lazy Hiker Brewing in Sylva Aug. 24. File photo
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
HOT PICKS
1
Rosebud’s
‘It was the work of the quiet mountains, this torrent of purity at my feet’
The “An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by Samantha Snyder at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, in Lynn L. Shields Auditorium at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.
2
The Haywood Community Band (HCB) will host its “All Summer Long” concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska.
3
Hello from Room 204 at The Pendry hotel in the Canyons Village of the Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. After a weekend of mostly sunny skies and lush high desert mountains surrounding this bucolic property, it’s currently 65 degrees with a vicious thunderstorm on this otherwise lazy Sunday evening.
Sitting on the couch in the hotel room, dime-sized raindrops lick the windows. Darkened clouds of a late summer western storm swirl above the resort. Preseason NFL football on the widescreen TV. My girlfriend, Sarah, taking a nap before we figure out dinner.
I’m out here in the Rocky Mountains on another Rolling Stone assignment. This time covering the Park City Sound Summit, a gathering with its main focus on mental/physical health awareness and wellness in every aspect and corner of the music industry.
Informational panels by day, with topics ranging from the rigors of unrelenting touring for musicians to discussing the unknowns of artificial intelligence (AI) when it comes to creating music. Marquee stage acts by night from My Morning Jacket to Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats to Larkin Poe.
In essence, the PCSS is connecting kind souls from all avenues of the music industry looking to shift the perception of a professional landscape that’s looking to leave the attitude of “sex, drugs and rock-n-roll” in the rearview mirror — in favor of more emphasis on taking proper care of those artists we cherish and adore so much.
Fly out from Charlotte to Salt Lake City on Thursday. Four-hour Delta flight filled with endless typing on my laptop atop the tray-table that moves each time the dude in the seat in front of me, who’s built like an NFL linebacker, decides to turn his body to get more comfortable. No matter, deadlines for this fine publication that is The Smoky Mountain News linger and must be completed.
Beyond the organized chaos of cultivating quotes on-the-fly from musicians and just wandering around the PCSS to absorb the
ethos and energy of the event, I also find myself being in pure awe of those beautiful Wasatch Mountains hovering over the resort itself. Numerous ski lifts and chairs high up in the air silent at the moment, soon to be in motion when the snow flies come fall.
Just like when I attended the PCSS last year, I found myself disappearing into the depths of Mother Nature, those winding dirt trails starting just beyond the main ski lift. Just beyond the loud music and the people milling about. Just beyond where the nearby golf course ends and the vastness of the intriguing west begins.
Saturday afternoon. Toss on the running clothes and lace up the trail shoes. Stroll over to the main ski lift. Start jogging along the dirt service road that pushes up the mountain ridge towards the depths of the canyons — the countless dormant ski slopes now filled with wildflowers, songbirds and critters alike.
The planned route was to leave the service road, hop onto Rosebud’s Heaven trail, meander along the contours of the ridge, cross back across the service road way up said ridge and onto Holly’s Trail, then circle back on the horseshoe trek to the main ski lift. In total, around three to four gloriously sweaty miles.
And although I’ve had blue skies the last few times I’d done this exact route, this goround was little different. Passing by the main ski lift, I noticed darkened clouds on the ridge, quickly overtaking the sunshine felt when leaving the hotel in my running gear. Again, no matter. This is what trail running is all about — the experience itself, come hell or high water.
By the time I left the service road for Rosebud’s Heaven, I began to feel slight raindrops and a stiff, cool breeze rolling in. Chugging along the ridgeline, my body hit the ideal rhythm of a run conjured in your own time and pace. Completely alone and in the sacred realm of solitude and tranquility. Completely immersed as a single soul journeying over ancient rock and old tree roots and underneath the shade canopy of pine and quaking aspen trees.
As quickly as I felt that personal jubilation
A special production of “Inherit the Wind” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
4
The 15th season of the annual “Concerts on the Creek” music series will present Ashevillebased classic hits ensemble Dashboard Blue at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.
5
The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) latest exhibit, “Textures,” will run through Sept. 1 at the HCAC gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville.
of self, I was shaken out of my trance by a thunderclap and lightning strike across the ridge. The raindrops were heavy. In seconds, I was soaked to the bone. Who cares? It’s just water. You’re covered in sweat, anyhow. Embrace the moment at hand. Gaze upward in gratitude. Raindrops happily hitting your face. Joyous laughter at where you currently stand in this all too mesmerizing universe of ours.
By the second and third lightning strike within vicinity of me, I took cover underneath a large pine tree. The dirt trail now a sea of mud splashing up on my legs with each stride. With a clear view of the canyon, I watched the rainclouds engulf the ski resort below. Clouds and raindrops so thick you could barely make out the next ridge, let alone anything standing between Point A and B.
I felt truly present in what I was witnessing. Just myself and the greater wonders of nature surrounding my position under the that lone pine tree. I thought of numerous other times I got caught in a rainstorm while running since I first laced up my shoes at age 13 (39 currently). Whether it was in my native North Country and the Adirondack Mountains, the coast of Maine, Florida or California and seemingly everywhere else I’ve been lucky enough to wander to.
Drenched and splattered with mud, I trotted the last mile back down to the ski resort. The sunshine had reappeared right as I left the trail. Faces once again returning outside from the resort, only to immediately observe this crazed guy returning back to civilization after being at the mercy of Mother Nature, gratitude in tow.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Heaven trail in Park City, Utah. Garret K. Woodward photo
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On the stage
HART to present ‘Inherit the Wind’
‘Inherit the Wind’ will play on select dates in July at HART. Donated photo
A special production of “Inherit the Wind” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22-24 and 2 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
“Inherit the Wind” is a gripping courtroom drama that delves into the historic 1925 Scopes trial with a battle of wits, exploring the clash between tradition and progress in a small-town that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Tickets start at $18 and up, with group discounts available. To purchase tickets, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org. HART Box Office hours are Tuesday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. HART is located at 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host a stage production of “On A Dream & A Wish: A Royal Celebration” 7 p.m. Aug. 23-24. Come dressed as your favorite hero or princess and join in the opening parade, festivities and a dance party finale. This event will take place outdoors. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concessions will be available. In the event of rain, this event will be moved indoors. Presented by The Overlook Theatre Company. Admission is $12. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 866.273.4615 or go to smokymountainarts.com.
On the street
‘Thunder in the Smokies’
The annual “Thunder in the Smokies” rally will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds.
The oldest and largest motorcycle rally in the Great Smoky Mountains, the weekend celebration will feature live music, dozens of vendors, motorcycle shows/games, prizes and much more.
For more information, a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to thunderinthesmokies.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thepeacocknc.org or call 828.389.ARTS.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. For more information, a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Grumpy Bear Campground & RV Park (Bryson City) will host a “Native American Show” 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. 828.788.2095 or grumpybearcampground.com.
Pilates Mat Classes
Please visit our website maggievalleyclub.com/pilates for more information and to complete required forms. Please note that you will not be permitted to join a class until you have completed and returned/updated the New Participant form.
Samanatha Snyder will play Robbinsville Aug. 24. File photo
‘An Appalachian Evening’
“An Appalachian Evening” series will continue with a performance by Samantha Snyder at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, in Lynn L. Shields Auditorium at the Stecoah Valley Center in Robbinsville.
Snyder is a singer-songwriter and author from Lexington, North Carolina. Ever since she was three years old, music has been an integral part of her life.
From ages seven to almost 20, she was part of the Snyder Family Band, which recorded six albums, signed with two record labels and toured across the United States, including seven performances on The Grand Old Stage of Stecoah Valley Center.
During that time, Snyder discovered and developed her passion for songwriting, which she has pursued ever since. She also fell in love with traveling, seeing different parts of the world and meeting interesting people, all of which fed her lifelong habit and calling to be a storyteller.
She also teaches fiddle through her Samantha Snyder School of Fiddling and recently published a fantasy novel. Snyder hopes to preserve family history and heritage through farming and storytelling.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for students grade K-12. Dinner will also be available for purchase in the Schoolhouse Cafe starting at 6 p.m.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, call 828.479.3364 or go to stecoahvalleycenter.com.
Rock rolls into Boojum
Asheville rock group The Andrew Thelston Band will hit the stage at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.
In terms of musical ambassadors within the melodic melting pot of a scene that is Western North Carolina, you’d be hardpressed to find an artist as dedicated and inclusive as that of Andrew Thelston.
Throughout his exploration of these mountains and its inhabitants, Thelston has remained a sponge of sorts, always soaking in the knowledge and wisdom of astute musicians, the sacred act of performance and the ancient craft of creation — either in collaboration, in passing, through a recording or in the presence of live music.
• American Legion Post 47 (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” 3 p.m. every Tuesday. Free and open to the public. 828.456.8691.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 / balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host an “Open Jam” 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Wood Newton & Mike Loudermilk (Americana/country) 7 p.m. Sept. 20. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host We Three Swing at 8 p.m. every first Saturday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.
ALSO:
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Paul Koptak Sept. 7. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Blue Stage (Andrews) will host “Open Mic Night” 5 p.m. every Friday, Julia Cole (singersongwriter) 8 p.m. Aug. 24 ($30 admission) and “Andrews Idol: Season 3” 5 p.m. Aug. 31. 828.361.2534 / thebluestage.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Andrew Thelston Band (rock/soul) Aug. 23, Quickchester Aug. 24 and The Loudes Aug. 31. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.
• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month and Asheville Mountain Boys (Americana/old-time) 10 p.m. Aug. 30. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.
regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 / curraheebrew.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” w/Martin & Kelly (Americana/country) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Black Sea Beat Society (world) 6 p.m. Sept. 5. 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host Southern Highland Band Aug. 23 and Spare Parts Bluegrass Band (Americana/bluegrass) Aug. 30 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Tuesdays Jazz Series w/We Three Swing at 5:30 p.m. each week, Color Machine Aug. 22, 81 Drifters Aug. 23, Tricia Ann Band Aug. 24 and Syrrup 3 p.m. Aug. 25. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host live music from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays w/ Barry Roma (oldies) Aug. 24 and Jim Austin’s Classic Country Band (Americana/country) Aug. 31. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. 828.369.8488 / littletennessee.org.
• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host Pretty Little Goat (Americana/bluegrass) Aug. 30 and Back Porch Orchestra Sept. 6. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.
• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host The Freeway Jubilee (rock/jam) 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Marc & Anita Pruett (Americana/bluegrass) 4 p.m. Sept. 29. For tickets and reservations, go to cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/livemusic.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
The culmination of these vast, ongoing experiences and interactions remains the fire of intent within Thelston to hold steady and navigate his own course, which currently is The Andrew Thelston Band — a rock/soul ensemble of power and swagger. Free and open to the public. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com. For more on Thelston, go to andrewthelston.com.
• Concerts On The Creek (Sylva) will host Dashboard Blue Aug. 23 and The Maggie Valley Band (Americana/indie) Aug. 30. All shows begin at 7 p.m. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. 828.586.2155 / mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host “Open Mic Night” 6 p.m. Sept. 13. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semi-
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Kayla McKinney Aug. 22, Alamo Band Aug. 23, Rock Holler Aug. 24, Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter/karaoke) Aug. 26, Doug Ramsey (singersongwriter) Aug. 29, Charles Walker (singersongwriter) Aug. 30, Doug Ramsey (singersongwriter) Aug. 31 and Doug Ramsey (singersongwriter/karaoke) Sept. 2. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host “One Night With The King: A Tribute To Elvis” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” on Thursday evenings, “Sunday Bluegrass Residency” from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Caleb Caudle & The Sweet Critters (Americana/folk) 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29 ($25 per person). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Monday Night Trivia” every week, “Open Mic w/Phil” Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows and events begin at 7
Andrew Thelston. File photo
On the beat
p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.586.9678/ innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.com.
• Lake Junaluska Conference & Retreat Center (Lake Junaluska) will host the Haywood Community Band “All Summer Long” showcase 4 p.m. Aug. 25. All shows are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit haywoodcommunityband.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Karaoke w/Spoon Aug. 23, Lewandahl Duo (Motown/R&B) Aug. 24 and Nicole Boggs & The Reel (rock/blues) Aug. 31. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Lewandahl Duo (Motown/R&B) Aug. 23, “Lazy Hiker Sylva Outpost Fifth Anniversary Party” w/Porch 40 (rock/funk) & Positive Mental Attitude (rock/reggae) Aug. 24 ($10 cover) and Nicole Boggs & The Reel (rock/blues) Aug. 30. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host an “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” w/Frank Lee every Wednesday, The Dirty French Broads (Americana) Aug. 24, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) 5 p.m. Aug. 25, Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) Aug. 30, Ron Neill (singersongwriter) Aug. 31, Frank Lee (Americana/old-time) Sept. 1 and Aces Down Sept. 2. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host The Get Right Band (rock/soul) 5 p.m. Aug. 23, The Lefties 1 p.m. Aug. 24, Whitewater Bluegrass Co. (Americana/bluegrass) 5 p.m. Aug. 24, Wyatt Espalin (singersongwriter) 5 p.m. Aug. 30, Whitney Monge (indie/soul) 1 p.m. Aug. 31, Dub Cartel (reggae/soul) 5 p.m. Sept. 1 and Log Noggins (rock/country) 5 p.m. Sept. 2. Free and open to the public. 828.785.5082 / noc.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 6 p.m. Sept. 6. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “The Prince of Cool: The Vocal & Trumpet of Chet Baker” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31. Tickets range from $12.50-$31.50. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Misty Mountain (band) & Green Valley (cloggers) Aug. 23 and Running Wolfe (band) & Balsam Mountain (dancers) Aug. 30. Shows are 6-9 p.m. at the Canton Rec Park located at 77 Penland St. Free and open to the public. cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Macon County Line (country/southern rock) Aug. 24. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.
• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host Susie Copeland (singer-songwriter) Aug. 22, Blended Hemp Aug. 26 and Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) Aug. 29. 828.456.3040 / pub319socialhouse.com.
• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Karaoke 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trivia Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Gavin Byrd (singersongwriter) Aug. 24 and Bo Bullman (singersongwriter) Aug. 31. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.
• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host Full Circle Aug. 31 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Andrew Wakefield (singer-songwriter) Aug. 22, Old Sap (Americana/folk) Aug. 23, Celtic Road (Irish/Scottish) 4 p.m. Aug. 24, Andy Ferrell (singer-songwriter) Aug. 29 and 5000LB Tractor (southern rock) Aug. 30. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host JB & Roscoe Aug. 6 p.m. Aug. 23, Generations 5 p.m. Aug. 25 and Jennifer Alvarado 5 p.m. Aug. 30 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Departure (Journey tribute/classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
‘Concerts on the Creek’
The Town of Sylva, Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce are proud to present the 15th season of the annual “Concerts on the Creek” music series.
Asheville-based classic hits ensemble Dashboard Blue will hit the stage at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.
“Concerts on the Creek” are held every Friday night from Memorial Day through
Labor Day. Everyone is encouraged to bring a chair or blanket. These events are free, but donations are encouraged. Dogs must be on a leash. No smoking, vaping, coolers or tents are allowed. There will be food trucks on site for this event. For more information, call the chamber at 828.586.2155, visit mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-thecreek or go to the “Concerts on the Creek” Facebook page.
‘All Summer Long’ at Lake J
The Haywood Community Band (HCB) will host its “All Summer Long” concert at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25, at Stuart Auditorium in Lake Junaluska.
Other show dates will include “Scares & Legends” at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, at Calvary Road Baptist Church in Maggie Valley and “Frightacular” at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at the First United Methodist Church in Waynesville.
All shows are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit haywoodcommunityband.com.
Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of the Sawmill Creek Porch Band. The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — spring, summer, fall.
This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts. For more information, call 828.488.3030.
Haywood Community Band will play Lake Junaluska Aug. 25. File photo
Dashboard Blue will play Sylva Aug. 23. File photo
On the beat
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, Samantha Snyder (Americana/folk) Aug. 24 ($18 adults, $10 students) and Balsam Range (Americana/bluegrass) Aug. 31 ($40 adults, $10 students). All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Mondays” w/L.C. Branch (singer-songwriter) Sept. 2. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. the-stubborn-bull.com.
• Twisted Spoke Food & Tap (Maggie Valley) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.1730 / facebook.com/twistedspokerestaurant.
On the wall
• Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6:30 p.m. each week. 828.526.8364 / theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Aug. 22 (free), Macon County Line Aug. 23, Lori & The Freighshakers (classic rock/country gold) Aug. 24, Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) Aug. 29 (free), Kayla McKinney Aug. 30 and Blackwater Station Aug. 31. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Amos Jackson (Motown) 5:30 p.m. Aug. 23 and Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 2 p.m. Sept. 1. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Karen Clardy (singer-songwriter) Aug. 23, Shane Meade (singer-songwriter) Aug. 24, Arnold Hill (rock/jam) Aug. 30 and Spare Parts Bluegrass Band (Americana/bluegrass) Aug. 31. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.6000 / whitesidebrewing.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Amanda Neill & Liliana Hudgens (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Aug. 31. Family friendly, dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
• “Rivers & Brews” small town craft brewers festival will be held Aug. 23-24 at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in the Nantahala Gorge. Live music, food and craft beer. For more information, a full schedule of events and ticket pricing, go to noc.com/events/ rivers-and-brews.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a craft beer tasting with Edmund’s Oast Brewing from 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, and French Broad River Brewing 5-7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
Experience ‘Textures’ at Haywood Arts
• “August Makers Market” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, in The Lineside at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Local arts/crafts vendors and more. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month, with the next workshop being Aug. 8. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Free and open to the public. To register, please call the library at 828.488.3030 or email vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host a “Summer Artisan Market” from noon to 5 p.m. the second Saturday of the month (May-September). Free and open to the public. noc.com.
• “Art & Artisan Walk” will be held from 5-8 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (MayDecember) in Bryson City. Stroll the streets in the evening and discover handcrafted items, artwork, jewelry, pottery, antiques and more. Look for the yellow and blue balloons identifying participating businesses hosting artists. greatsmokies.com.
The Haywood County Arts Council’s (HCAC) latest exhibit, “Textures,” will run through Sept. 1 at the HCAC gallery on Main Street in downtown Waynesville. Showcasing a rich tapestry of artistic mediums including ceramics, woodwork, felt, mosaic, fabric, macrame, collage and more, this diversified exhibition promises to have something for every art enthusiast. For more information, go to haywoodarts.org.
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (May-December) in downtown Waynesville. Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to downtownwaynesville.com.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. To register, call 828.488.3030 or email vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. For more information on CRE828, email dawn@cre828.com or call 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and show-
cases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For more information, go to galleryzella.com or call 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide-range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information and a full schedule, go to haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. For more information and a full schedule, go to jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to signup, go to southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information and a full schedule of activities, call 828.586.2248 or go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. For more information, go to coweeschool.org/events.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host “Drop By Wine & Cheese Tastings” from 3-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31 ($10 per person, no reservation required). There will also be a California wine dinner hosted by Wendy Dunn of Orsini Wines at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 ($75 per person, four wines, four courses, reservation required). To RSVP, call 828.452.6000.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, go to waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. For more information, call 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service alladult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or go to gsmr.com.
Works by Lindsay Keeling will be displayed at HCAC. Donated photo
A scary, page-turner of a story
Sometimes life seems too short to read every novel and author on your list.
Oftentimes, I tend towards classics and literature. After all, you only live once so why would I not go straight to the greats? But life has been hectic and lately (try as I might) I can’t seem to get hooked on anything dense with themes and meaning. What I really want is to simply sit and enjoy a good story.
I recalled my childhood and the irresistible latch mysteries and scary stories always seemed to have and that narrowed down my search. Soon after, a newly made friend told me how captivating she found Stephen King to be; and having had him on my to-read list for a long time, the recommendation became an obvious yes for me.
So I asked my dad if he had anything by Stephen King and he lent me his old copy of the Bachman Books, a collection of four of King’s early novels under his pen name, Richard Bachman. More dystopian than supernatural horror, these stories are wellwritten and intriguing and make sense that they are lumped together in a set, even though they are unrelated in plot. The second novel in here I found particularly compelling and can also be bought on its own for those who want to dip their toes before committing to the plunge of four novels: “The Long Walk” (Scribner, Reissue Edition, 2016, 320 pages). Originally published in 1979, this story is set in a future America ruled by a totalitarian regime. This dystopia is never fully explained but what is known is that there is an annual competition called the Long Walk which has become the nation’s infamous pastime entertainment. Teenage boys from all over the nation apply but only 100 are selected to participate. Without stopping, they must walk along U.S. Route 1 as long as possible. They cannot drop under four miles per hour, but if
‘The End of Tennessee’
Writer Rachel Hanson will share her new memoir
“The End of Tennessee” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
She will be in conversation with Diamond Forde, who is a poet and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.
“Not a year before I ran away from home at seventeen, I stepped out of the house at dusk, still able to see shrub oaks thinned out for winter, fame flower, too, and dun clay so wet the smell of it seemed settled in my skin.”
So begins Hanson’s debut memoir about growing up impoverished, uneducated and surrounded by violence. In lyrical, fragmented prose, she lays bare the impossible choice between self-preservation and her love for five younger siblings for whom she had
they do so for more than 30 seconds, they receive a warning. A warning can be lost if the walker walks for an hour without any further warning. However, three warnings mean a ticket, and that ticket means getting shot by soldiers who ride in machines alongside the route. The last surviving walker wins the competition, earning a large sum of money and a prize.
The story follows the point of view of Ray Garraty, a 16-year-old from Maine. Unlike
many of the other contestants, he is not an accomplished athlete, but is still a fit, strong young man. Despite a general wariness to make friends in this cutthroat game, Ray finds a close companion in Pete McVries, a tough, sarcastic 16-year-old from New Jersey. Eventually the Southern boy Baker, the mysterious Stebbins, bold and belligerent Olson, and the simple, kind Scramm join the comradery along with some others. As the boys walk, the stories of their lives unfold and soon, Ray is not the only one you are rooting for to win. Each boy recounts different memories and experiences, some of which explains
become a second mother.
As the years pass, Hanson struggles with guilt for leaving her siblings as she slowly realizes she could not save them. “The End of Tennessee” is a testament to a sister’s love, resilience and determination, a book for anyone who has left one life to create another. Hanson’s nonfiction has won Best of the Net and earned Notable Mention in Best American Essays. Her nonfiction and fiction can be found in Creative Nonfiction, The Iowa Review, North American Review, Joyland, American Literary Review, Ninth Letter and elsewhere.
Her poetry was selected for Best New Poets and has been published in The Minnesota Review, Juked and Meridian, among other journals. A recipient of the Olive B. O’Connor Fellowship in Nonfiction at Colgate University, Hanson is an assistant professor of English at UNC Asheville and directs the Asheville
why they applied to such a “game,” while others still leave you perplexed.
Aside from the baffling voluntariness of such a competition, the seemingly unpreventable outcomes capture the aura of the dystopian genre, begging the questions of why and how. The inevitability of the competition gives this novel an inescapable sadness that drives you as the reader to keep going, hoping for a twist or break in this disturbing, depraved game that will allow more than one survivor. Moreover, the constant motion forward of the characters aids in keeping you reading.
But what begins as a feat of physical prowess quickly morphs into an internal battle of the mind, each walker trying to find it within himself to overcome the mental anguish the competition inflicts upon them the longer they are there. Besides his intensity, I also applaud King’s creativity for managing to write within the confines of one setting – the walk on Route 1 – while maintaining a riveting storyline that you won’t want to put down.
For those who are hesitant to delve into what is technically considered the horror genre, I get it. Part of the reason it’s taken me so long to pick up a Stephen King novel, is that I was under the impression that his novels were horrors filled with the supernatural or stories more akin to a slasher film. While I can by no means comment on the rest of his abundant works, the ones I have read so far seem more of a thriller or intense suspense.
I have heard great things about King’s writing for a long time now. I remember seeing his spooky covers in the basements of my grandfather and my uncle. Now, I know for myself just how gripping his works can be and why so many households seem to feature at least a few of his stories. If you are looking to get wrapped up in a book you can’t put down this summer, this is the one for you. And the best part of it all is that if you really enjoy his writing, King has more than plenty to choose from.
(Anna Barren teaches fifth grade and is a lifelong lover of books. annab4376@gmail.com.)
based literary nonprofit Punch Bucket Lit. Forde’s debut collection, “Mother Body,” won the 2019 Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize. Her newest poetry collection, “The Book of Alice,” is forthcoming from Scribner Books (2026). Her awards and prizes include the Pink Poetry Prize, the Furious Flower Poetry Prize and the College Language Association’s Margaret Walker Memorial Prize.
Forde is a 2022 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellow, a Callaloo fellow and a Tin House fellow. Her work has appeared in The Massachusetts Review, Ninth Letter, NELLE, the Tupelo Quarterly and others. She serves as the interviews editor for Honey Literary and holds a PhD from the University of Florida. She is an assistant professor at UNC Asheville.
The event is free and open to the public. 828.586.9499.
Jenkins to present ‘Women of Courage’
Anne Jenkins will give a reading of her book, “Women of Courage,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
Jenkins is a British/South African award-winning artist and writer. She has spent her life traveling and working in various countries. Her careers have ranged from delivering sailboats from the U.K. to the Mediterranean, a personnel officer for a major U.S. Bank covering the Middle East and Africa Division based in Greece, a newspaper reporter and also driving 18-wheelers across the U.S.
Some careers were more hilarious and eventful than others, but Jenkins finally settled into her true calling as an artist and writer. She started as a full-time artist in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2003, but was relocated after Hurricane Katrina to Western North Carolina where she spent five months before opening a gallery in Georgia.
“Women of Courage” details Jenkins’ three major art projects. The book tells her story of working with African women trying to help AIDS orphans, her series on women in difficult situations and her installation piece, “The Underground Railroad,” inspired by the life of Harriet Tubman. Her book is available at City Lights and Amazon. She can be found on Instagram at @annejenkinsart.
‘Books & Bites’ at Macon library
The next “Books & Bites” gathering will host author Ronnie Evans at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Evans will be talking about his most recent book “Brinkley: Goat Glands, Radio and Country Music.” This book is about Brinkley’s humble beginnings in the mountains of Western North Carolina and his quest to become a doctor in Chicago, on the plains of Kansas, down at the southern border in Del Rio, Texas, where he eventually established the world’s most powerful radio broadcast station in Mexico.
He became a multi-millionaire, all the while jousting in the courtrooms with his American Medical Association nemesis, Dr. Morris Fishbein.
Evans will have his books available for purchase by cash or check after the program. Free and open to the public.
For more information, 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org.
Writer Anna Barren
Hometown Pride
Bryson City welcomes home Olympic medalist
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Evy Leibfarth may as well have been born on the river. Her parents met while working as raft guides on the Nantahala and had her on the water with them before she could even hold a paddle. It wasn’t long, though, before Leibfarth had a kayak and paddle of her own — pink and sparkly, respectively — and since that moment it has always been the family bond, and greater sense of community, that has kept her invested in the sport.
“It was the community, really, that hooked me,” Leibfarth told The Smoky Mountain News. “Paddling is a small sport for now, but the community of people is so supportive and everyone just wants to better the sport.”
In her second Olympic appearance at Paris 2024, the Swain County native took home a bronze medal in the women’s canoe slalom event. She finished with a time of 109.95 seconds behind Australia’s Jessica Fox who won gold with a time of 101.06 and Germany’s Elena Lilik who took silver with a time of 103.54.
In addition to the bronze medal she earned in Paris, Leibfarth is the first U.S. Olympian to compete in all three events — canoe slalom, kayak slalom and kayak cross. She is also the first U.S. female athlete to win a slalom medal in 20
years. These achievements come on the heels of years of hard work and dedication. Even at the tender age of 20, Leibfarth has learned a great deal during her career in the sport.
“I was in a much better headspace this time around. My first Olympics was only my second season ever competing as a senior, so I didn’t have that much experience and didn’t have a ton of strategies to deal with stress. I had no idea what it would feel like to be at the Olympics. I prepared as well as I could, but I didn’t have that experience under my belt. I was 17, so it was kind of a lot,” Leibfarth said. “I was able to spend the last couple years getting faster and stronger, but also working a lot with a sports psychologist, figuring out how to manage emotions during competing and getting to a really positive outlook of confidence and trusting in where my training got me.”
After a one-year delay, the Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021, permitted almost no spectators. But for Paris 2024, Olympic fever was back — live and in full force.
“It was incredible having a crowd there,” said Leibfarth. “We were competing in front of, I think, 15,000 people, which is absolutely crazy. The stands were packed. I’ve never competed in front of that many people. There was no one in the stands at Tokyo, no one in the opening ceremony. The energy of the people, having my mom there, my best friends, it was really special.”
True to her original draw to the sport, even after winning a bronze medal, Leibfarth says the best part of her Paris 2024 Olympic experience was getting to do it with the people she loves.
“I loved that I got to be there with my best friends,” said Leibfarth. “Kayaking is a small sport, so there are a lot of people that I’ve been racing with since I was 11 years old, people that I spend so much time with.”
Whether at training camps or international competitions, Leibfarth spends most of her time with her peers, other highlevel competitors in the sport.
“There’s something really special about getting to take on the start line with a bunch of people who inspire you and who you’re really friends with,” Leibfarth said. “Watching my friends crush it out there.”
While Leibfarth may have missed the kayak finals, she described her elation at getting to run alongside one of her friends as they competed on the way to a bronze medal finish in that event.
“It was so special and she did the same thing for me,” said Leibfarth. “My best friends are the people that I compete against.”
Having that support system was key for a competition that holds significantly more weight and stress than a normal competition.
“Just qualifying for the games is such a mission, such a journey,” said Leibfarth. “It takes three years through and through to get that qualification. So, by the time you are there, you’re a little exhausted. And then you only have this one chance.”
On Aug. 14, Bryson City residents welcomed their hero home with a parade and ceremony downtown. It was only appropriate that she should ride into town atop a big blue Nantahala Outdoor Center bus, replete with rafts, Leibfarth herself bearing the Olympic flag.
Founded in 1972 by Payson and Aurelia F
Bryson City welcomes home Swain County Olympic paddler Evy Leibfarth. Hannah McLeod photo
Kennedy and Horace Holden Sr., the NOC has long been more than just a rafting outpost, fostering a “whole river community,” as Leibfarth puts it. In 1989, the Nantahala Racing Club was organized under NOC sponsorship with a mission to engage youth and families in whitewater activities. Leibfarth, and several others would get their start with the Nantahala Racing Club.
“NOC has a long legacy of Olympians,” said Kristen Kastelic, marketing director for the NOC. “Evy will be the 23rd for us.”
In the 1992 Olympics, NOC paddlers Joe Jacobi and Scott Strausbaugh won gold in C2 — open canoe with two paddlers. At the 1996 Olympics, the paddling events for which were held on the Ocoee River, four NRC members made Team USA.
Inspired by those who came before her, Leibfarth is the first female to join the ranks of Olympic Nantahala paddlers.
“I think the first time I had the [Olympic] dream was when I was eight years old,” Leibfarth said. “NOC had an Olympic Day Celebration where they had a big TV and played all of the kayaking Olympians that were competing in London. I remember watching it and saying to my dad, I want to be there some day.”
At the ceremony following the parade on Aug. 14, Leibfarth shared the stage, not only with local dignitaries and elected officials, but also with some of her fellow Nantahala Olympians — including Angus Morrison, Lecky Haller, Scott Strausbaugh, Horace Holden and Wayne Dickert — all of whom celebrated both Leibfarth’s achievements and the legacy of paddlers on the Nantahala River.
“I think the biggest group I want to thank is just this community. Bryson City, Swain County, we’re pretty small, not that many people, but we’re loud and we’re inspiring,” said Leibfarth. “Growing up here was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
“Getting to come back to this, to y’all, it’s the most amazing thing ever,” she continued.
In recognition of Leibfarth’s success, both Swain County Commission Chairman Kevin Seagle and Bryson City Mayor Tom Sutton declared Aug. 14 “Evy Leibfarth Day.” Also in attendance, North Carolina Sen. Kevin Corbin presented Leibfarth with a United States flag that had been flown over the United States Capitol in her honor.
“Congratulations on winning the bronze medal in the canoe slalom at the
2024 Olympic Games in Paris,” said Corbin. “You have succeeded in attaining what many have dreamed of, yet few have accomplished. I’m proud of you that you represented the state of North Carolina and the United States of America.”
Despite all the firsts Leibfarth accomplished with her 2024 Olympic showing, she has her gaze firmly set on the future.
“I’m definitely going to go for another Olympics, or two or three. I’ve always said
that I’m going to keep competing in slalom as long as I feel that drive. And I think I feel that drive more than ever right now,” said Leibfarth. “I have a lot of goals that I still want to accomplish.”
In the short term, Leibfarth is looking forward to paddling the Zambezi River this winter, which flows eastward through the Central African Plateau before emptying into the Indian Ocean. Along its course is Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
“I’m excited to use the platform that I’ve gained through the Olympics to spread some other messages for kayaking and for rivers,” Leibfarth said. “A lot of projects on rivers and what they mean to us as kayakers, to communities and to the world.”
But when Leibfarth thinks about the future of the sport, she is most excited about the young kids out there who are forming dreams of their own and setting out to chase them.
“It makes me excited to think of the kids that are watching on the big screen, watching the Olympics, saying to themselves that they hope they can get there one day,” said Leibfarth. “Because I know that that was 1,000% me. That moment kind of gave me all this inspiration. I hope that kids are seeing it, getting excited.”
Tsali Ultra to host NC
USATF Championships
The Tsali Ultra Trail Race, in its 15th year of operation, will host the NC USATF 50-Kilometer Trail Championships on Jan. 18, 2025, in Almond. The event will feature a total of three races —
an 8-kilometer, 30-kilometer and the premiere Tsali Ultra 50-Kilometer Race — all held entirely on National Forest Trails. The NC USATF 50-Kilometer Open and Masters Championships have total prize purse of nearly $2,000. The top three finishers in the Open Men, Open Women, Masters Men and Masters Women divisions will receive championship medals and
prize money in the amount of $200, $150 and $100 for first through third places. The Masters divisions will be age graded in order to foster a fair and even playing field. Championship prize funds are made possible through a grant from NC USATF.
Anyone regardless of residency or USATF membership status is eligible to participate and com-
pete for awards in all three races. However, only USATF members who are residents of North Carolina are eligible for NC USATF 50 km Trail Championship status and NC USATF awards. It is the goal of USATF to increase both individual and club membership in the organization. For USATF membership information please visit usatf.org/membership.
Evy Leibfarth is the first female Olympian from the Nantahala. Donated photo
NOC hosted a welcome home ceremony for Evy Leibfarth Aug. 14. Hannah McLeod photo
Jackson to install new baseball field lights
Jackson County Public Schools announced it is officially going out for construction bids to install lighting systems on its baseball and softball fields. This significant project aims to enhance the athletic experience for student-athletes, improve safety, and support the broader community.
The project will involve the installation of high-quality lights, which are expected to improve visibility and play time.
“We are delighted to take this important step toward enhancing our athletic facilities,” said Superintendent Dana Ayers. “The new lighting will not only benefit our student-athletes by providing better visibility during games and practices but will also allow our school community to enjoy more evening events and activities.”
The bid process is now open to qualified contractors who can demonstrate experience with similar projects and a commitment to high safety and quality standards. Interested contractors are encouraged to review the bid documents and participate in the bidding process to help bring this important project to fruition. The selection will be based on experience, cost, and the ability to meet the project requirements.
The lighting system is expected to be operational by Jan. 31, 2025, in time for the spring baseball and softball season.
Burning trash violates state law
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality is reminding North Carolinians: If it doesn’t grow, don’t burn it. Open burning is only allowed in limited circumstances and only for vegetative materials like leaves, limbs and yard debris.
The state’s oldest air quality regulation, the open burning rule limits what can be burned outdoors and when. Other requirements of the open burning rule:
• Residential yard waste and commercial land clearing burning can only occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. No new vegetation can be added to a burn pile after 6 p.m.
• Burning is only allowed when the air quality forecast is Code Green or Code Yellow. Burning on Code Orange, Red or Purple days is prohibited. Check your county’s air quality forecast at the online Air Quality Portal.
• Yard waste must originate at a private residence and be burned on that site. In other words, residents can only burn vegetation from their own yard — not yard waste from other homes or locations.
• Burning of yard waste is only allowed if permitted under local ordinances and only if public pickup of yard debris is not available.
• Campfires, outdoor cooking fires and bonfires are permissible, unless prohibited by local ordinances or temporary burn bans,
provided that only vegetation such as firewood is burned. Fires must be controlled and never left unattended.
Commercial land clearing operations are also limited by the open burning rule. Land clearing is the uprooting or clearing of vegetation in connection with construction, land development or mining, or the initial clearing of vegetation to enhance property value. The burning of this debris must comply with all open burning rules, including the following key restrictions:
transported and burned at another site up to four times a year only if specific conditions in the open burning rules are met).
• Kerosene or diesel fuel may be used to start a land-clearing fire, but no other man-made materials can be burned.
• As a general rule, the vegetation should originate on the site where the burn is taking place. (Land clearing waste can be
• Land clearing burn piles must be at least 500 feet from occupied structures and at least 250 feet from any public road when the prevailing winds are blowing toward the road. Information on wind direction is available from the National Weather Service.
To submit an open burning complaint, contact the nearest DEQ Regional Office. Anonymous complaints can be submitted via the online tool on the DEQ website.
Careless debris burning is the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina. The N.C Forest Service may require an open burning permit before certain fires are lit, including fires in protected areas. Burn permits are available through the N.C. Forest Service’s online application at ncforestservice.gov/burnpermit or by contacting a local N.C. Forest Service county office or local permitting agent.
The trail run will raise funds for tools and technology funding for students. Donated photo
HCC hosts second-annual Dahlia Ridge Trail Run
Haywood Community College will hold the second annual Dahlia Ridge Trail Run on Saturday, Sept. 14. This 5K is a timed, family-friendly walk/run event open to all levels of runners, walkers and hikers. Participants will receive a t-shirt and enjoy a post-race party with live music and food available for purchase. All proceeds will benefit Tools & Technology funding for students.
Online registration is open through Sept. 12, and participants need to register by Aug. 30 to be guaranteed a race shirt.
Haywood Community College continues to enhance the on-campus trail system and
use it to support community events. The team keeps it maintained for walkers, runners and hikers throughout the year. The trail system was officially completed in May 2023, and with the trails reaching over three miles on campus, coordinating a race for the community is a great use of this trail system. For more information about the trail race or to register, search for Dahlia Ridge Trail Run on eventbrite.com. For more information about how to give to HCC’s Foundation, please visit haywood.edu, email hebirenbaum@haywood.edu or call 828.627.4544.
Join Franklin Bird Club for Macon County walks
The Franklin Bird Club leads walks along the Greenway on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. through September. Walks start at alternating locations: Macon County Public Library, Big Bear Park and Salali Lane.
The public is welcome. All walks are weather dependent. Additional information, including directions to each location and a bird club check list can be found at littletennessee.org/franklinbird-club.
Schedule for upcoming walks:
• Aug. 28, meet at Big Bear near the playground
• Sept. 4, meet at Salali Lane
• Sept. 11, meet at the Macon County Public Library parking lot
• Sept. 18, meet at Big Bear near the playground
WNC Sierra club to host talk on lithium mining, electric vehicles
Learn about the challenges and success of mining resources related to our transition to clean energy at the WNC Sierra Club.
Randy Francisco of the United Steelworkers Union will discuss ways that “environmentalists and labor can work together to ensure that workers and their communities are protected from harm from this mining. And that those communities are left with a better place even after the closure of their mine.” Specifically, he will talk about changes taking place in North Carolina, including the mining of lithium
near Kings Mountain/Charlotte.
The free and open-to-the-public meeting will be in the Mannheimer Auditorium at UNCA’s Reuter Center on Campus Drive and on Zoom. Zoom links are available at wncsierraclub.org.
Randy Francisco is a Project Field Organizer with the United Steelworkers Union now, but previously he spent nearly 20 years working for the Sierra Club, primarily on their Beyond Coal Campaign. He was also one of the National Sierra Club Organizers tasked with launching the Blue Green Alliance in 2006. Initially an alliance between the Sierra Club and the United Steelworkers Union, the Alliance has since expanded to include many more national environmental organizations and unions.
The event will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 4.
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM BIGELOW
Weeds are flowers too
Writing these columns for the last couple of years has brought me so much joy that I have decided to celebrate by changing the name of my writings to The Joyful Botanist. And nothing says launching a new name than launching a revolution while you’re at it. So, let’s start a revolution!
Let’s face it, native plants have bad marketing. They tend to be thought of as common, overlooked and all too often the plants will have the word “weed” in their name. Beautiful wildflowers like Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp.), jewelweed (Impatiens spp.) and the milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) who are vital to the survival of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), these beautiful wildflowers are all saddled with the word “weed” in their names.
Why would anyone want to let a bunch of weeds grow around their home. Why would anyone want to buy weeds at a nursery? Why would you pay to work with a landscape designer who fills your flower beds with weeds?
In our culture, “weed” is a bad word. It has negative connotations. Weeds are bad. We’ve tried for a long time to reframe or redefine how people think about the word “weed” without success, even with the many quotes used in memes like Emmerson’s virtuous attempt at reframing the definition of a weeds as, “A plant whose virtues have never been discovered.” Or, the one from Winniethe-pooh’s creator A.A. Milne that titles this essay, “Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them.”
Not to be an Eeyore, but that sentiment is not working. It’s not. As much as we try, when most people hear the word “weed” they respond negatively. So, instead of trying to change people’s minds about the word “weed” let’s substitute the word “weed” with the word “flower” for some of our favorite native plants.
Suddenly, Joe Pye weed becomes Joe Pye flower. Doesn’t that sound good? Jewelweed shines as jewelflower. And the so-called milkweeds — common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), purple milkweed (A. purpurea), and butterfly milkweed (A. tuberosa) all become common milkflower, purple milkflower, and butterfly milkflower instead.
And who wouldn’t want to grow a milkflower? Or a Joe Pye flower? Or a New York Ironflower (Vernonia novaborascensis) for that matter? Hawkflower sounds much better than hawkweed for species of Hieracium. There are so many other great examples. Do any come to mind for you?
Maybe people who are thinking about using native plants in their landscape to help save the world from ecological collapse and biodiversity loss might be more easily
encouraged if the plants they were buying weren’t called weeds. Wouldn’t you rather buy a flower than a weed?
While we’re at it, while we are joyfully reframing how we speak about native plants, let’s attach the word weed, with all of its negative connotations, onto the names of the invasive plants whose presence and spread outside of their evolutionary homes harm the forests around us. And as appropriate, “weed” can replace the country of origin that tends to make discussions of invasive plants sound xenophobic and racist.
Suddenly we get multiflora rose weed (Rosa multiflora), stiltgrass weed (Microstegium vivimeum), privet weed
(Euonymus alatus), bittersweet weed (Celastrus orbiculatus), and butterfly bush weed (Buddleia spp.) and these exotic invasive plants that cause harm in the ecosystem around us sound much easier to avoid planting and to remove from the landscape. Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) has already led this movement, as has the invasive knapweed (Centaurea spp.).
Like many ideas, there are some names that even the pretty flower addition won’t help. Plants like ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), pigweed (amaranthus spp.) and sneezeweeds (Helenium spp.) probably wouldn’t be helped by calling them ragflower, pigflower or sneezeflower. Might take more than a rebranding to reimagine those names as positives.
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
Some of the most beautiful and useful plants are referred to as weeds. Adam Bigelow photo
WNC events and happenings
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Cruso Farmer’s Market takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Cruso Community Center.
• Cowee School Farmer's Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.
• Mill Town Farmers Market takes place from 4-7 p.m. Thursdays at Sorrell’s Street Park in downtown Canton.
H EALTH AND WELLNESS
• The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.
• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• A Novel Escape Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Every other month one book is selected for discussion. On alternate months the meeting is round-table discussion in which participants share what they’ve read lately. For more information call the bookstore at 828.369.9059 or visit anovelescapefranklin.wordpress.com.
• Silent Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Bring your own book and whatever makes you feel cozy and enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted hour of reading amongst friends.
K IDS AND FAMILIES
• ASD Teen/ Adult Art Group takes place 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. every other Friday at the Full Spectrum Farms pavilion. Each group event has a different theme. For more information fullspectrumfarms.org.
• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS
• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Nature Walks 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.
• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville, NC. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information, please call 828.558.4550.
CLUBS AND M EETINGS
• The Western Carolina Cribbage Club meets every Monday at 6 p.m. An eclectic group of young and old, male and female. The group supplies boards, cards, pegs and are always willing to help those still learning the finer points of the game. For more information contact kei3ph@bellsouth.net.
• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or 828.356.2567.
• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.
• On Mondays, the Macon County Library will host Lady Violet, a King Charles Spaniel service dog, for children to practice their reading skills. Children who feel nervous reading aloud to an adult tend to feel more comfortable with a pet or a service animal. Sign up for a time to read with Lady Violet or to one of the library’s reading friends at the children’s desk or call 828.524.3600.
• On Tuesdays, Kelly Curtis will offer reading services to families from 3:30 -5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Families may sign up for a 30-minute time spot at the children’s desk or by calling 828.524.3600.
• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Move and Groove Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Thursday, at the Canton branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Exciting, interactive music and movement story time ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Ashlyn at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or at 828.356.2567.
• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• “Return of the Elk: Ranger Talk” takes place 1-2 p.m. every Sunday at the Caldwell House in Cataloochee Valley. Walk the valley and learn about how elk — which were nearly extinct due to overhunting and loss of habitat across the continent — managed to return to the Smokies.
A&E
• Waynesville Art After Dark takes place 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month through December.
• Groovin on the Green takes place 6-8:30 p.m. every Friday in The Village Green all summer. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, picnics and coolers welcome. For more information visit discoverjackson.com.
• “Time of War” at Oconaluftee Indian Village takes place at noon and 3 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A short battle reenactment performed by actors from “Unto These Hill” and reenactors from Oconaluftee Indian Village come together to depict what happens when a British militia invades a Cherokee town. Tickets can be purchased at cherokeehistorical.org or by calling 828.497.2111.
• Pickin’ in the Park takes place takes place 6-9 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Recreation Park. The events are free and open to the public. For more information visit cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
Case No.24E001496430 Judith Jane Fowler, of Eric Francis Fowler of Haywood County, Nov 21 2024
Ben Burns) of Haywood County, North Carolina, Nov 14 2024, or
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