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September 12-18, 2018 Vol. 20 Iss. 16

Haywood schools drop slightly in state rankings Page 17 Nine years of work yields new state forest Page 34

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 25TH & 26TH

On the Cover: Macon County Arts Association has been a fixture in the community and an outlet for local artists for 50 years, but has recently struggled to attract new members and fund Uptown Gallery in downtown Franklin. (Page 22) Garret K. Woodward photo

News WCU breaks enrollment records — again ....................................................................3 Franklin board holds off on hospital purchase input ................................................4 Hurricane prep begins in Western North Carolina ..................................................5 Peer specialists go inside jail to assist inmates ........................................................6 Jail diversion program aims to address opioid crisis ................................................7 Cherokee strengthens free press law ..........................................................................8 McCoy alleges marriage fraud case politically motivated ....................................10 Ghost Town sale still not final ......................................................................................12 SCC health building gets $2 million grant ..............................................................13 Haywood County tax office fiasco continues ..........................................................14 Slight slip for Haywood Schools rank ........................................................................17

Opinion As the buckeyes fall, I await my old friend ................................................................18

Outdoors Nine years of work yields new state forest ..............................................................34

CLARIFICATION

September 12-18, 2018

A quote from Haywood County Attorney Chip Killian in a Sept. 5 story regarding the Haywood tax office was used out of context. Killian’s statement, “It’s been that way forever,” was referring to the state law prohibiting such waivers. SMN regrets the confusion.

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WCU breaks enrollment records — again Freshman class grows by 10.5 percent as N.C. Promise begins

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER estern Carolina University’s enrollment hit an all-time high this fall for the seventh out of the past eight years, with the population of student Catamounts increasing 5.48 percent over fall 2017 — roughly twice the enrollment increase Western was aiming for.

“We were shooting for a lower number,” Sam Miller, WCU’s vice chancellor for student affairs, told trustees during a Sept. 6 committee meeting. “It came in a little hotter than we expected or actually intended.”

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BIG NUMBERS FOR 2018

WCU students flood the center of campus after returning from summer break. WCU photo

MORE THAN N.C. PROMISE While the coming of N.C. Promise has certainly spurred interest in WCU over the past few years, enrollment has been on the upswing for the past decade. Since 2008, WCU’s enrollment has increased by 2,589 students, or nearly 29 percent. This year marked the first time in university history that the number of first-time, full-time freshmen surpassed the 2,000 mark with a freshman class of 2,189 — 10.5 percent larger than last year’s freshman class of 1,980.

“Western Carolina University has long been known as an incredible higher education value, offering high-quality academic programs at an affordable cost,” said Interim Chancellor Alison Morrison-Shetlar. “With the onset of the N.C. Promise tuition plan, a Western Carolina University education becomes an even better value for our students and their parents.”

In 2017, the school’s marketing department decided to conduct a freshman survey to better understand what drives students’ decision to attend WCU. While the survey was entirely voluntarily and not designed to be a statistically valid study, it gives a snapshot of what influenced the decisions of 672 of fall 2017’s 1,980 freshmen.

Survey results showed academic program availability, academic quality, affordability and location as being the biggest drivers. For each factor listed, students could respond “small role,” “no role,” “no opinion,” “large role” or “deciding factor” on the question of how it played into their decision to attend.

For the top four categories, the combined percentage for those who said each was a deciding factor or played a large role was 78 percent for academic program availability,

79 percent for academic quality, 66 percent for affordability and 63 percent for location.

By contrast, only 12.3 percent said not being able to afford their first choice was a deciding factor or played a large role; 18.5 percent said the same about wanting to go to college near home, 15.8 percent about being influenced by friends who were attending and 11.9 percent about parents or family wanting them to attend WCU. The survey also showed student activities to be a significant driver of decisions to attend.

While activities didn’t make the top tier when looking at the combined percentage of “deciding factor” and “large role,” they came in fourth when looking at “deciding factor” only.

Of the 672 survey respondents, 12 percent said student activities were the deciding factor, with the marching band “first and foremost” among specifically mentioned programs, WCU Chief Marketing Officer Robin Oliver told trustees Sept. 6. Typically, 10 to 12 percent of WCU’s freshman class joins the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, a startling number compared to the national average of 0.8 percent of freshmen joining the band.

“I think the biggest takeaway for us in marketing after this survey is that programs are really important to students, particularly undergraduate students,” Oliver said.

Thus far WCU hasn’t focused its marketing efforts around activities, but the survey results could spur a shift.

“What we took away from this is we don’t need to ignore programs,” she said.

A growing list of academic offerings could also be a factor, with new programs in subject areas including engineering, forensic anthropology, doctor of nursing practice, and doctorate-level psychology.

Smoky Mountain News

percent from 706 to 786. The number of people responding that their race and ethnicity is unknown or that they’re two or more races increased 9.3 percent, rising from 535 in fall 2017 to 585 this academic year.

The number of white students increased 5.7 percent —0.22 percent more than the overall enrollment increase — rising from 8,673 to 9,164.

“One of the things we did very intentionally this past admission cycle is to try to stay true to our roots as a regionally engaged university,” Miller said. “We did make efforts to recruit here in the western part of the county.”

That — and in particular the Cherokeefocused efforts WCU has implemented over the past couple years — could have spurred the increase in Native American students, Miller said, with Trustee Joyce Dugan, a former principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, adding that WCU Cherokee Center Director Sky Sampson has likely contributed to the outcome since coming on board in 2016.

However, diversity metrics are down in other categories. The number of students from foreign countries studying at WCU dropped from 223 to 186, a 22.2 percent decrease. The number of African American students dropped slightly from 687 to 683, but the increase in students identifying as two or more races could account for that discrepancy, Miller said.

“We are pleased with what we’re seeing,” said Miller. “We got a lot more students from some of the eastern high schools than we usually do, but they’re such small high schools we need to also be efficient down east in some of the population centers.”

September 12-18, 2018

Fall 2018 marked the first semester of the N.C. Promise Tuition Plan, which brought in-state tuition for undergraduate students down to $500 per semester at three UNC System schools, including Western.

WCU staff members were prepared for a surge of interest in attending Western, shortening deadlines and adjusting marketing strategies in hopes of drawing fewer applications.

It worked. According to unofficial census statistics, the university received 19,341 applications for admission to the freshman class, down 0.7 percent from 2017, when 19,477 people applied.

However, those applications were of a higher quality than previous years, and more were admitted — WCU extended offers of admission to 7,667 applicants, up 1.5 percent from the 7,554 offers it extended last year. Of those receiving offers of admission, 28.8 percent accepted, up from 26.4 percent fall 2017, which was up from 25.9 percent fall 2016.

The university also saw a marked enrollment increase from transfer students, of which there were 1,105 in fall 2018 compared to 786 in fall 2017 — a 40.59 percent increase, according to unofficial numbers.

While the number of first-time, full-time freshmen is steadily rising, so is the average GPA and SAT score. The average fall 2018 freshman came in with a 3.92 weighted high school GPA and an SAT score of 1149. That’s up from a 3.83 weighted GPA in fall 2017 and a 3.78 GPA in fall 2016. Similarly, the average SAT score was 1115 in fall 2017 and 1085 in fall 2016.

“It was an amazing census. We had amazing outcomes this year,” Miller told trustees.

This year’s student body showed some shifts in racial makeup over last year. The number of people identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native increased 33.78 percent, from 74 students to 99, and the percentage of Hispanic students increased 11.3

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Franklin board holds off on hospital purchase input

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR ranklin Town Council members decided to hold off on providing input to the attorney general regarding HCA Healthcare’s impending $1.5 billion purchase of Mission Health until the board can agree on what it wants to say.

Mayor Bob Scott presented the board with a drafted resolution at its Sept. 4 meeting to send to Attorney General Josh Stein that laid out conditions under which the town would support the purchase, but not all council members agreed on the wording.

The resolution stated that the sales agreement must be made available for public review in sufficient time to ensure public input during the attorney general’s regulatory review process.

Secondly, the sales agreement must specify that if HCA or a successor owner decides to stop operating Angel Medical Center in Franklin as an acute care hospital after the protected time period ends, the hospital must be returned to the community at no cost.

Lastly, Dogwood Health Trust board — which will receive the proceeds from the sell — must be independent from Mission and HCA and broadly represent the region and the people it will serve. The resolution states that Mission should hire an independent firm to select members of the foundation board.

Council members Brandon McMahan and David Culpepper made a motion and a second to approve the resolution for the sake of opening it up for discussion.

“I know we’re charged with making decisions for residents, but I don’t know how the town or how I feel about this,” said Councilmember Joe Collins, a former board member of AMC. He added that he wasn’t sure about the idea of asking that the hospital be given back to the community in the event HCA ever wanted to close or sell the facility. Now that the purchase agreement will go to Stein for review and approval, Collins said anyone from Franklin could provide feedback to the attorney general’s office regarding the sale.

“I don’t think it’s up to us to speak for the town on this issue — residents have the right

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September 12-18, 2018

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to comment on it. I’m not comfortable with it (the resolution).”

Town Attorney John Henning Jr. said a resolution was not binding but that he didn’t have any legal concerns about the board providing input on the issue.

“It would shock me if they turned over the hospital to us, but I don’t know if there’s any harm in the town taking a position if you feel motivated to do it,” he said.

Scott said he had spoken to Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor and many local residents who were concerned about the purchase of their Mission-affiliated hospitals by a for-profit corporation.

“We’re just asking the attorney general to look at it and stand up for the public,” Scott said. “We just have a lot of questions — what happens to the current hospital building? How can we possibly attract people to Franklin if we don’t have an acute care facility?”

HCA has agreed to continue with plans for the new hospital building, which will be constructed along U.S. 441 and is committed to maintaining the acute care facility for a minimum of 10 years.

Mission announced last year that it would build a new Angel Medical Center to replace the aging facility in Franklin. HCA has agreed to continue with plans for the new building, which will be constructed along U.S. 441 and is committed to maintaining the acute care facility for a minimum of 10 years. However, nothing has been said about what will happen to the current facility in the heart of town. Mission also announced last year the closure of labor and delivery at Angel, which spurred public outcry in Macon County and distrust in Mission.

“We have no voice in this whatsoever — we’re asking the attorney general to do his job and be our voice. We don’t have labor and

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Franklin residents protest last spring after Mission Health announced it would be closing labor and delivery at Angel Medical Center. Residents are now worried about the impact HCA’s purchase of Mission will have on their community hospital. File photo delivery. That has long-term effects on everyone in this town,” Scott said.

Culpepper said he had many of the same concerns, especially after a recent response he received from Karen Gorby, president and chief nursing officer of AMC, last time she was in front of the board. When asked if she could be objective and tell the board about any possible down sides to the HCA purchase.

“She said there was no down side at all — I can’t imagine that being true,” he said. “I certainly want the attorney general to really look at this and not just rubber stamp it.”

However, Culpepper added he’d be more comfortable if the resolution simply asked the attorney general to look at it closely and ask for input on the Dogwood Health Trust board appointments.

“I think we may lose credence if we demand giving the hospital back to us if they close it,” he said. “I don’t want it to close, but I want this to be taken seriously by Mission, HCA and the attorney general.”

Councilmember Dinah Mashburn said the attorney general has been entrusted to do his job and review the agreement to ensure it’s in the best interest of the people.

“This resolution won’t put anything else upon him. My main thing is whether we like this or whether we don’t, they pulled labor

and delivery and they could pull the whole hospital out from under this,” she said. “I’m not in the hospital business and we need to let them deal with this.”

Scott disagreed, saying that the town needs to speak up and try to preserve the hospital for its residents and for the future of Franklin. He reminded the board that it was the community members who spoke up in the 1970s and saved the hospital by raising money.

“I have asked for HCA to come talk to us and they won’t — I’ve asked them to come talk about rural health care or their long range plans,” he said. “I helped raise money in ‘71 to save the hospital and I’m at the age I know darn good and well I’m going to need it.”

Culpepper said there’s nothing wrong with reminding the attorney general that the community saved the hospital before and wants more transparency throughout this purchase process.

The board agreed to work on rewording the resolution without the stipulation that the hospital must be given back to the community if HCA decides to close it or sell it.

The issue will be brought back up at the council’s October meeting.

Watch the entire town board meeting at www.maconmedia.com.

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Hurricane Florence will soon make its way to the eastern seaboard. NOAA photo

Hurricane prep begins in Western North Carolina

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Know your farm... know your farmers There is increasing interest in knowing where our food comes from. But how about milk? I recently posted a photo of a dairy farmer on his farm in Buncombe County and received this tweet in response: "This is the 1st human farmer I've ever seen who provided milk to a grocery store. The process of getting milk from a cow to my buggy is one most of us take for granted and rarely think about..."

Smoky Mountain News

Did you know that the majority of the milk used for Laura Lynn milk comes from dairy farms within 150 miles of Asheville NC? There are still family owned dairy farms in Buncombe and Haywood County that milk their cows 2-3 times each day. That milk is transported to MILKCO (owned by Ingles Markets) in West Asheville where, within just a few hours, it is pasteurized and bottled in opaque containers and becomes Laura Lynn milk as well as milk for food service and other retailers. From cow to shelf it only takes about 48 hours to get that local Laura Lynn milk to your Ingles Market! When you are driving around Western North Carolina and Eastern Tennessee, be sure and look for these signs that identify dairy farms that supply Ingles Markets... we appreciate them and their hard work.

September 12-18, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER s The Smoky Mountain News went to print Tuesday, a potentially catastrophic storm was barreling down on the Carolinas, with North Carolina poised to bear the brunt of it.

Even though the coast is some 400 miles east — and several thousand feet below — the mountains of Haywood County, preliminary reports show that if the storm continues on its present course, several inches of rain, high winds, downed limbs and landslides could come with it by the weekend.

“I just got off the phone with a hotel operator, and he said he was originally full for this weekend, but now some people have cancelled their trips because of the storm, but others who are fleeing it have gone and filled those vacancies,” said Haywood Chamber of Commerce President CeCe Hipps.

Hipps is no stranger to storms — almost immediately after starting with the chamber in 2004, she experienced back-to-back hurricanes that made their way west and caused widespread flooding in the area.

Even two years ago, during Hurricane Matthew in October, thousands fleeing the coasts made their way to Haywood County’s hotels, motels, cabins and vacation rentals.

Although it’s still early in the game in regard to where Hurricane Florence will make landfall, Haywood County could see an influx of refugees again this year no matter where that occurs.

Hipps also serves on the Western North Carolina Duke Advisory Board, and said Sept. 11 she’d just been to a meeting where emergency preparedness was discussed.

“I’ve received several emails from Duke Energy as well as the Rural Center and also emailed [Haywood County Emergency Services Coordinator Greg] Shuping and

we’re all king of getting everything together,” she said. “There’s always a sense of urgency.”

Hipps said the chamber would be on hand to dispense advice to people who call, especially on lodging. One issue she noted was that with the World Equestrian Games currently underway in nearby Tryon, the supply of hotel rooms in the region is already low.

“So Brevard, Hendersonville, Asheville, the probability that their hotel rooms are already booked is pretty high,” she said.

“Haywood is the next county over. From who I’ve spoken to — and this is from around the state, too, I think overall the business community senses that something’s different now with this particular storm,” she said.

“There’s a lot of traffic, there’s lines at the gas station.”

Already callers have begun asking Hipps about hotels in the area.

“We’ve even received some phone calls from people that want to know if they’re going to be safe here,” she said.

That question can probably best be answered by the town of Waynesville’s mayor and department heads.

At 10:23 p.m. Sept. 9, Mayor Gavin Brown sent out an email to a number of town staffers — the gist, “Are we ready?”

Just two minutes later, Police Chief Bill Hollingsed replied, “Yes Sir. Hurricane/Tropical Storm Plan in place and ready to adjust shifts as needed.”

Little more than half an hour later, a minute before 11 p.m., Fire Chief Joey Webb also responded.

“Yes sir,” he said. “We are monitoring through the state agencies and are ready to respond to whatever needed.”

With governments and residents mobilizing in anticipation of whatever comes, Hipps said the Haywood Chamber will continue to be a resource, communicating with governments, business owners and the public online, on the phone and in person.

“Everyone knows about the Chamber of Commerce and they know it’s a valued resource for information,” said Hipps. “They know we’re going to pick up the phone.

People feel like we know everything, and if we don’t we’ll try to find the answer.”

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Breaking cycles, building foundations Peer specialists go inside jail to assist inmates

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR eing incarcerated and not knowing what your future may hold is a terrifying experience, but being released from jail and having no resources to get back on your feet can be even scarier.

It happens every day. People are released from jail without a job, without money, without a place to live and now with the extra baggage of a criminal background.

How are they to overcome their past without the resources needed to secure a better future for themselves? A person’s prospects are more limited when they are struggling with mental illness or addiction, which is why the jail has become a revolving door for the same habitual low-level offenders.

High recidivism rates at the Haywood County Detention Center, some of which can be attributed to the lack of mental health services and the opioid epidemic, is the reason the Haywood Pathways Center exists today. Sheriff Greg Christopher grew tired of seeing the same people returning to jail again and again because they didn’t have anywhere else to go.

The Pathways Center — located adjacent to the jail — now provides people with a safe place to stay while they get their life back together after being incarcerated or being homeless. Even though the facilities are next to each other, Pathways Executive Director Mandy Haithcox said there’s still been a disconnect and a difficulty in transitioning people from the jail into the program.

“We had a case manager who would come over to the jail twice a month and talk about our programming and just hope they come to us after they get out,” she said. “But now we can walk them over here after they’re released.”

The missing puzzle pieces now in place are two peer specialist case workers who are now in the jail five days a week, working with inmates and helping them come up with a plan of action for when they’re released. And who better to help people overcome the hardships of drug addiction, mental illness and incarceration than people who’ve gone through it themselves?

“That’s the beauty of having peer support specialists — I have the training to help people but I’ve never lived through it,” Haithcox said.

CJ Deering and Rick Marvin have seen it all. They’ve been there, they’ve seen what addiction can do to people, but somehow they’ve come out on the other side and have dedicated the rest of their lives to helping others through it.

Marvin is a recovered addict and alco6 holic who has been sober for 13 years and

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September 12-18, 2018

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crime — they’re in because they’ve had a has been a counselor for 10 years. A former long list of minor offenses and they can’t U.S. Marine, Marvin was part of an outlaw make their bond to be released. motorcycle club most of his life, but his life “We have a habitual female looking at 24 changed when tragedy struck in 2005. years in jail for little things that just keep “I lost my 18-year-old son in 2005 to a adding up,” Deering said. drug overdose,” he said. “I turned my life Haithcox said it’s not surprising. around and dedicated my life to that.”

Statistics show that some 90 percent of He trained as an interventionist and put women incarcerated have experienced some himself in positions no one else would to kind of trauma as a child, usually physical or help people, including walking into crack sexual abuse. houses in Toledo, Ohio, to reach out to Marvin said the men in jail have often addicts. He began working inside the Florida grown up around drugs — many times it’s prison system five years into his sobriety the only money-making enterprise they’ve and designed a recovery program in Palm Beach before moving to Haywood County two years ago.

After meeting Sheriff Christopher at a recovery rally and talking about the program he created, Christopher allowed Marvin to volunteer inside the jail to help CJ Deering and Rick Marvin have been hired as peer support specialists to male inmates suffering from work with inmates inside the Haywood County Detention Center. Jessi Stone photo addiction. known within their family.

When the opportunity came up for a paid These can be hard cycles to break. Even if position through Pathways, Marvin said it someone with a substance use disorder is in felt like where he needed to be. jail long enough to detox, they lack direction “The relationship with these inmates when released and go back to the same feels natural — I have a different rapport destructive behaviors that landed them with them than a lot of people do,” he said. there in the first place.

“I don’t get intimidated — I do have some “We’re just interrupting the cycle in jail fear sometimes — but I know a lot of these but we’re not breaking it,” Marvin said. “We guys and I’ve been where they are.” have the highest recidivism rate in North Deering is in long-term recovery from Carolina right now.” drugs and alcohol, celebrating 40 years of Hopefully working one-on-one with the sobriety next month. She ran a recovery proinmates and helping them come up with an gram when she lived in California and startaction plan for when they’re released will ed what is now the largest recovery meeting better prepare them for life on the outside. in Haywood County when she moved here Deering said she and Marvin can direct peosix years ago. ple to the Pathways Center upon release, “She’s well respected in the recovery Appalachian Community Center’s Balsam community,” Marvin said.

Center, intensive outpatient services through Though she’s never worked inside a Meridian Behavioral Health Services or an detention center before, Deering said she’s inpatient rehabilitation center in Black been amazed at how receptive law enforcement and inmates have been to the new pro- Mountain.

The problem remains that there aren’t gram they’re trying to implement. enough rehabilitation centers in Western “Everyone here has been so wonderful.

The sheriff ’s department has been extremely North Carolina, let alone rehabs that will take patients without insurance. A majority supportive,” she said. “What we see in here of the inmates are indigent and can’t afford is a lot of repeat offenders because of drugs. a private-pay facility.

Nearly every woman I’ve worked with is “Peer support is a big chunk of it, but we addicted to opioids, meth or heroin.” still have a shortage of recovery and treatThough Deering and Marvin have only ment options to go along with it,” Marvin been inside the jail now for two weeks, the said. “We’re missing that piece. A lack of stories they’re hearing are heartbreaking tales of misfortune, trauma and tragedy that housing and public transportation is another piece where we’re lacking.” have led the inmates to where they are The few free resources available — like today. Deering said some of the women she’s Pathways, Balsam Center and Clean Slate talked to aren’t in jail for a major or violent

Coalition in Sylva — are at max capacity with waiting lists.

“If they get out of jail and need a safe place to live, I can refer them to Pathways and hopefully there’s room for them,” Deering said. “There’s not enough resources.”

Haithcox said Pathways is reserving four beds for referrals from the peer specialists but the rest of the male and female dorms are currently full. Pathways is in the process of adding a family dorm to house mothers with children that should be up and running sometime this winter.

Marvin said being inside the jail talking to inmates every day about their cases has also led to he and Deering being able to help relieve the detention officers of some requests from inmates that’s not in their purview — things that don’t take top priority but can mean a lot to inmates.

“An inmate’s reading glasses were broken, so I went and got him a new pair so he can read. I’m dropping off work applications for someone when I leave here today,” Marvin said. “There’s also a kiosk emailing system where inmates can email us with requests we can work on.”

Pathways was able to hire the two peer support specialists for the jail as well as two specialists to work with Pathways participants thanks to a state grant from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

“We were recognizing the opioid epidemic and looking at how can we work together to reduce the impact of that and also recidivism,” Haithcox said. “Our goal is to make sure we’re helping to impact folks so they aren’t just returning back to the negative circumstances from which they came. Pathways is about break cycles and build foundations.”

Pathways was one of only 12 agencies in the state to receive the one-year grant funding. Haithcox said her hope is that the program being created will be successful in meeting its goals so that they state will fund it for another year or to build enough community support to fund it through private donations.

“We got the money in July, hired the peer specialists at the end of August and we hope to have the program in place by Oct. 1, so we’re figuring through what we’re doing right now — seeing who’s here and what their needs are so we can be as successful as possible,” she said.

Incarcerating someone in jail costs taxpayers an average of $78 a day while one night at Pathways costs $20 and is funded through grants and private donations. If the program can help people overcome addiction and reduce recidivism rates at the same time, it’s a win-win situation for the community as a whole.

“You’ve heard it takes a village to raise a child. That also applies to an addict,” Marvin said. “All of us have hit that bottom and some of these people need a push.”

For more information about Pathways Center or to make a donation, visit www.haywoodpathwayscenter.org.

Jail diversion program aims to address opioid crisis

The Behavioral Health Evaluation Project for the Haywood County Detention Facility conducted a detailed behavioral health evaluation on a random sample of inmates during the calendar year of 2016. A total of 200 males and 83 females were evaluated using a structured diagnostic interview typically taking about 30 minutes per inmate.

Report developed by Alyssa L. Raggio, B.S., Albert M. Kopak, Ph.D., & Norman G. Hoffmann, Ph.D. Western Carolina University

Addiction

n 85.5 percent had at least one substance use disorder based on current diagnostic criteria n 67.5 percent had at least one severe substance use disorder n 38.2 percent had a severe methamphetamine diagnosis n 30 percent had a severe opioid diagnosis n 24.4 percent had a severe alcohol diagnosis n 40 percent of inmates had injected some drug in the last 12 months n 33 percent reported regular injecting

Mental health

n 48 percent had indications of possible PTSD n 34.6 percent reported a major depressive disorder in the past 2 months n 29.3 percent of inmates suffered from panic attacks n 18 percent have reported manic episodes and 11 percent had possible bipolar disorder n 35 percent met criteria for an antisocial personality disorder n 30 percent had indications of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder n 66.8 percent had been booked at least once before in the last 12 months n 43 percent had been booked at least twice in the last 12 months n 61 percent of those with multiple serious substance use disorders had multiple bookings v. 35 percent for inmates without multiple diagnoses. n 53 percent of repeated drug injectors had multiple prior bookings v. 38.4 percent who did not inject.

September 12-18, 2018

treatment for opioid addiction and other wrap-around services to indigent clients.

In the meantime, Brafford said communities must all work together to begin solving this epidemic.

“The LEAD program is an excellent example of how our community agencies can work together to break the cycle of incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders by connecting them to a wide rage of support services that often includes case management and addiction treatment,” she said.

There’s also an affordable housing shortage in the region and a lack of public transportation that are barriers to breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration, but looking at the big picture, Shell thinks Haywood County is ahead of the curve when it comes to looking at new solutions. She said Police Chief Bill Hollingsed and Lt. Tyler Trantham have done a great job of spreading the word to the community about the challenges being faced.

“We live in a very strong and united community and I think that helps a lot,” she said.

If a community member knows someone who is at-risk of being arrested and/or desires an intervention to mitigate an individual’s current involvement, ideally they will make sure the person is open to the program before contacting the police department to make a referral.

Smoky Mountain News

BY J ESSI STONE N EWS E DITOR Between 1999 and 2016, more than 12,000 people in North Carolina died from opioid overdoses.

Not only are families losing their loved ones to the opioid crisis, but addiction is also placing a heavy burden on limited local resources. Drug-related crime has led to overcrowded jails, a backlogged court system and a spike in the number of children placed in the foster care system.

Law enforcement budgets are stretched thin, the district attorney needs more prosecutors, Department of Social Services employees struggle to meet the increased demand for services and mental health and rehabilitation facilities have long waiting lists.

Realizing they can’t arrest their way out of the opioid epidemic, the Waynesville Police Department has partnered with other agencies to find new solutions to address these problems. Det. Paige Shell traveled to Seattle two years ago to learn about an innovative program called LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) that has been successfully implemented by law enforcement to address drug crime and recidivism.

“We were able to shadow their LEAD Program and learn all about their program, what worked and didn’t work, challenges, etc.,” Shell said about the experience.

Now the program is being implemented in large urban cities like Baltimore, Albany, New York and Portland, Oregon. Thanks to $250,000 in state funding for two years though Vaya Health, a push from local law enforcement and cooperation from the DA’s office, Waynesville is now included on the short list of cities implementing the program.

“A lot of other counties have Drug Court. We however do not have anything like that here. We are a rural community with limited resources,” Shell said. “However, we are also a very strong and involved community. (LEAD) gives officers another way to help people in need, instead of dealing with the same people over and over and not being able to offer a way to help them.”

The program allows low-level offenders to be diverted into treatment instead of being incarcerated and prosecuted. Community members and law enforcement officers are able to refer someone to the program pre-arrest in hopes of getting them treatment for addiction and/or mental illness before they get entangled in the criminal justice system.

“There are some restrictions, such as anyone who is on supervised probation or has a violent criminal history are disqualified. We review each case individually and if someone does not qualify for LEAD we still try to connect them to the services they need,” Shell said regarding eligibility.

If someone completes the program, his or her charges are dropped, but if they don’t, prosecutors can proceed with the original charges. Seven people have been referred to the program since April — some from officers and some from people in the community.

Part of the grant funds the salary of a case manager through North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, a statewide grassroots nonprofit dedicated to justice reform.

Gariann Yochym has jumped head first into the new position as she begins to learn more about the community and meet with potential program participants. Yochym, is originally from West Virginia — a rural state that is no stranger to the impact of the opioid crisis.

“My hometown had experienced decades of economic distress and unaddressed social issues. It was primed and ready for something to come in, take hold, and make people

feel better,” she said. “I was 17 when OxyContin made its debut in my hometown, and within six months, I had lost my first friend to a fatal overdose. We had just graduated from high school, and his stepmother found him unresponsive in his bedroom. On Aug. 24, 2018, I lost the 20th friend to a fatal opioid overdose.”

Yochym can also share stories of many more who are still struggling with addiction, cycling in and out of the criminal justice system and losing their children to the foster system. Sometimes she doesn’t know how she escaped it as she also experienced quite a bit of trauma at a young age — losing her dad in a coal mining accident and losing her mother to breast cancer. It was those experiences that eventually led her to become involved in social justice issues and get her master’s degree in social work.

Before taking the job with the LEAD program, Yochym provided re-entry case management services to people in custody at the Buncombe County Detention Center.

“I witnessed the struggles they faced as they attempted to re-enter their communities, obtain gainful employment and rebuild their lives,” she said. “It became clear to me that pre-arrest work, prevention, is where I wanted to focus my energy.”

Yochym is all about meeting people where they are — physically, mentally and emotionally. She’s there to help people, not judge them or pressure them into something they might not be ready for yet. Rehabilitation is a commitment and recovery will only be successful if the person wants the help.

When she receives a referral, she makes initial contact with the person to conduct an intake assessment to gauge what the person’s needs are — immediate and long term. It can be as simple as driving the person to the DMV to get a license, reaching out for a $30 fuel card donation to get someone to a new job or helping them fill out job applications.

If the person is suffering from addiction or a mental health crisis, Yochym can direct them to services offered with Meridian Behavioral Health Services, Appalachian Community Services or inpatient rehabilitation services.

Tabatha Brafford, director of consumer services with ACS, said the organization offers a full continuum of crisis services that are available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. In addition to a Mobile Crisis team and Adult Recovery Unit for crisis stabilization and/or detox, ACS opened a Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) in March, which allows individuals to come to the Balsam Center in Waynesville for immediate intervention.

“We are actively taking LEAD referrals. With the opening of our BHUC, we are able to provide support, clinical intervention and medication care 24/7/365,” Brafford said.

In addition to helping people with substance use disorders, LEAD aims at reducing recidivism rates in the Haywood County Detention Center, which will in turn help law enforcement keep the jail population down and will help relieve the county’s budget for the sheriff ’s department and jail operations.

“There will be ways in which this work and the relationships I am building cannot be measured. Ultimately, I hope that through intensive case management, LEAD can provide folks with an opportunity to transcend survival mode and enter into a space where they are thriving,” Yochym said. “I hope it will reduce recidivism, save critical financial and human resources, enhance public safety, and strengthen community-police partnerships.”

While having the LEAD program is a great start, WNC still lacks some of the resources and funding needed to help those suffering from addiction or mental health crises.

More funding is needed from the state level to allow agencies like ACS and Meridian to offer medication-assisted

Who’s in the Haywood Co. Detention Center?

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Recidivism

7

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Cherokee strengthens free press law With outside media ban still in effect, improvements still needed

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ree press law in Cherokee got a little more free following Tribal Council’s passage of amendments to the tribe’s Free Press Act Sept. 6, but there’s still work to do, said Cherokee One Feather Editor Robert Jumper.

“We would like to see the Free Press Act more open to the point where it’s not the One Feather only, because that’s the way it reads and it looks in the code,” Jumper said.

“We continue to press for open press — not just One Feather press but open press.”

However, Jumper said, the amendments passed last week will go a long way toward giving The One Feather the legal protections it needs to insulate itself from political manipulation and provide tribal members with unbiased news about what’s happening in tribal government and society. He’s been with the paper for six years now and said he’s been working toward these changes throughout that time.

“We have been very fortunate over the past couple of years in that the Tribal Council and the executive office have taken a very hands-off approach to The One

Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

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Feather,” Jumper said. “They are for the most part a fan of free press. They do understand the importance of having kind of an arbitrary, non-partisan voice for the people.

The issue is that we at The One Feather don’t feel like that’s truly free press, because it’s only at the discretion of those people who are in office at the time.”

UPDATES TO THE LAW Tribal Council unanimously approved amendments to four sections of the Free Press Act last week, with the law awaiting ratification from Principal Chief Richard Sneed. Sneed said he plans to sign it.

Two of the changes aimed to remove ambiguous language that provided too much legal wiggle room for interference in the paper’s reporting. A requirement that “all news articles, editorials or other matters dealing with controversial subjects shall be submitted to the editorial board for consideration and approval prior to publication” was removed, since, Jumper pointed out, the word “controversial” could be construed to mean basically anything.

In addition, the word “undue” was

removed from a section stating that the paper should be “independent of any undue influence,” as “undue” is a subjective measure. A new sentence was added stating that “any incident of political pressure or influence that threatens a staff member of the Cherokee One Feather” should be turned over to the tribe’s Office of Internal Audit and Ethics.

The amendments also included a new section of code, stating that The One Feather has the ability to use anonymous sources and does not have to disclose the identity of those sources to the government.

“We basically have protections now under the law for people who want to come to us who are afraid of retribution on their jobs, or any kind of retribution,” Jumper said.

Finally, Tribal Council approved drastic changes to the newspaper’s editorial board.

The Cherokee One Feather is funded by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians government, and its employees are tribal employees. That setup has birthed obstacles in the paper’s quest to provide unbiased, independent news to tribal members. The editorial board is intended to provide a barrier between newspaper employees and politicians. The board is responsible for establishing guidelines and policies for newspaper content, advertising and events and for ensuring that the paper maintains a

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However, under current law the editorial board is composed only of One Feather employees and the tribe’s director of marketing and public relations, which is the position that oversees The One Feather — or it did, when the position existed. It was eliminated during the later part of the Michell Hicks administration, but the law wasn’t updated to reflect that change. Instead, multiple other tribal employees sat on the board in place of that one person.

“When I came on board the explanation I got was the duties of that one position were distributed among two or three people, so those two or three people also got to sit on the editorial board,” Jumper said. “Well, after an administration change we made the case that, hey, that’s not right. The position doesn’t exist so if that particular position’s not there, there shouldn’t be a person who sits on the board just because they have some duties that relate back to that position.”

Since 2015, then, the editorial board has been composed solely of One Feather employees.

Under the amended law, those employees would be joined by three appointed positions. The Tribal Council would appoint one position, the principal and vice chiefs would jointly appoint one position and the attorney general would desig-

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OUTSIDE MEDIA

— Robert Jumper

While councilmembers approved the other sections without changes, they made some changes to Jumper’s proposed language for the editorial board.

Under the proposed language, The One Feather would give recommendations for the appointed seats before they were filled, but Vice Chair David Wolfe, of Yellowhill, took issue with that stipulation.

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RESPONSE FROM COUNCIL

“I look at a Tribal Council appointment as Tribal Council’s appointment without any ‘undue influence’ from the current board or whoever. I move to strike ‘The One Feather will provide recommendations for the appointed seats,’” said Wolfe. “We can advertise that and get resumes. We’ll do that appointment on our own.”

“The only reason we stuck that in there is if you needed any assistance from us we would provide it, but if you don’t need it we won’t provide it,” said Jumper.

Tribal Council voted unanimously to strike the sentence allowing The One Feather to recommend board members.

There was also some discussion about the pros and cons of unlimited terms. Council ultimately struck language that said editorial board members should serve “indefinitely,” but the action didn’t have any substantial effect on the law’s outcome, as members will be allowed to stay on the board until they resign or are removed for cause.

“If you guys appoint one (member) and they stay on there for eight, 12 years, it would lessen the chances of anybody having political influence over that person,” Scott McKie Brings Plenty, a longtime reporter for The One Feather, explained to Tribal Council.

While The One Feather left council chambers with a unanimous vote in favor of the amendments, its employees were also cautioned to be factually correct and unbiased in their reporting.

“There’s some stuff that’s written, and you know that already, on different outlets or social networks or whatever that’s so far off base,” said Councilmember Perry Shell, of Big Cove. “That’s my concern, that whatever actually goes into what’s written is a fact and not an accusation.”

September 12-18, 2018

nate a staff member from his office to fill the third position.

There would be no term limits for editorial board members. There would also be no requirement that appointed board members have any particular educational or professional qualifications. The Native American Journalists Association strongly recommends that editorial boards be made up solely of tribal citizens with professional qualifications related to journalism and operational management of news organizations as a way to ensure an independent tribal media. NAJA also recommends that editorial boards should have the power to hire and fire the newspaper’s chief executive, which is not the case under EBCI law.

Jumper said that, while he believes qualification requirements would be a good thing, the editorial board’s main concern was writing an ordinance that would improve the paper’s independence but also meet approval from Tribal Council.

“We were much more concerned that we get some community voices and additional community support for The One Feather, so we decided not to go the route of trying to make qualifications and trying to make it a more inclusive board for the community,” said Jumper.

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‘It can cause really negative things to happen when people feel like there’s a control, whether the government’s controlling it or whether one news agency has cart blanche over what’s presented. There’s always that perception of manipulation. We love having other voices out there. That’s what news is all about.”

In a follow-up interview, Jumper said the reception in council was “really super positive” but that there is still work to do to get Cherokee’s free press law up to snuff.

In its current form, the law always refers to The One Feather specifically, with any free press protections applying to that outlet only. It’s not a universal free press law that protects all media outlets equally.

While Jumper is happy to see improved protections for his newspaper, he said that expanding the free press law will benefit The One Feather, the government and tribal members.

“There’s always a danger in having one outlet be able to present the news,” he said.

“Whether it’s real or not, even if it’s just a perception, it can cause really negative things to happen when people feel like there’s a control, whether the government’s controlling it or whether one news agency has cart blanche over what’s presented.

There’s always that perception of manipulation. We love having other voices out there.

That’s what news is all about.”

Since April 5, The One Feather has by official degree been the only news outlet allowed in council chambers. The media ban was instituted following a move by Councilmember Tommye Saunooke, of Painttown, who during the Budget Council meeting two days earlier had stated, “The Smoky Mountain News is not quoting us

right” and that she was planning to ask council to have the paper’s reporter “step out.” However, video of the supposedly wrongfully quoted statement shows that the version printed in The Smoky Mountain News was correct.

Nevertheless, during the April 5 meeting Saunooke moved that all press other than The One Feather be banned from council chambers, with Councilmember Lisa Taylor, of Painttown, the only one of the 12 councilmembers to vote in opposition. All council meetings are livestreamed online, so other media outlets can still view the proceedings. They’re just not allowed in the room.

In May, Jumper introduced a resolution on behalf of The One Feather Editorial Board to rescind the ban but withdrew it when Principal Chief Richard Sneed suggested that councilmembers and various media outlets meet first to discuss their issues face-to-face. Such a meeting was scheduled but later postponed and never rescheduled.

Jumper said that The One Feather still wants to see the ban reversed.

“We’re really confused at why this thing exists, and we really want to try to help put things back in order,” he said. “We really don’t feel like it’s good or beneficial to the government or to the media, so we’re really kind of hoping that we can communicate that in a way that’s not offensive to the council and say, ‘Hey, can we just do away with this and not make a big deal out of it?’”

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McCoy alleges political motivation in marriage fraud prosecution Former Chief Lambert, U.S. Attorney deny claims

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER hile the federal marriage fraud case that’s been the topic of much discussion on the Qualla Boundary over the past year is winding down, FBI activity in Cherokee is likely to continue.

That’s according to statements that Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Bradley made during the Aug. 23 sentencing hearing for Ruth Marie Sequoyah McCoy, who pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and was sentenced to two years on probation.

“This prosecution of a marriage fraud conspiracy was a spinoff of a different investigation, something that in some ways is a larger investigation or investigation of — in terms of sentencing exposure for more serious crimes,” Bradley said Aug. 23, according to a court transcript. “And it is also true that our office, as well as the FBI, were particularly interested in information that Ms. McCoy, we suspected, might have about that larger investigation.”

U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger approved a less severe sentence partially due to McCoy’s cooperation with investigators, according to the transcript.

“I have also allowed for the probationary sentence in light of the history and the characteristics of the defendant. The defendant has been an official on the reservation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for an extended period of time,” Reidinger said at the hearing.

“She has, as far as the Court can tell, discharged her duties in a very positive manner there. As a result of this crime, and this conviction, she has not only lost that position but has lost that career opportunity, and that is a considerable loss that the defendant has already suffered.”

Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

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POLITICAL MOTIVATION ALLEGED

According to McCoy’s attorney Sean Devereux, the main reason she suffered any punishment at all is because of an adversarial relationship with former Principal Chief Patrick Lambert.

“Ruth McCoy was prosecuted not because of the inherent malignancy of her offense but because a political adversary (Lambert) had the ear of an FBI agent,” reads a pre-sentencing memo Devereux filed Aug. 17. “Her home; her office and her son’s home were all combed over by federal and tribal agents. Her family members and associates were threatened and 10 cajoled. In the end, despite this intense scruti-

ny and several years of loud political rhetoric, Ruth McCoy was prosecuted for the only offense that the FBI was able to find.”

According to Devereux, Lambert and FBI Special Agent Andrew Romagnuolo had a longstanding relationship that went back to the years Lambert spent as executive director of the Tribal Gaming Commission. Devereux said that the FBI maintained an office in the same building that housed the TGC. However, according to FBI spokesperson Shelley Lynch, the FBI never had an office at that address. Lambert concurred, saying that agents might show up at the casino to investigate a particular crime but never had any permanent office space there. Lambert said he has never met or spoken with Romagnuolo and has seen him only once, at a distance of roughly 50 yards away.

In comments emailed to The Smoky Mountain News, Lambert called Devereux’s version of events “defamatory lies” that border on “ethical concerns,” postulating that McCoy may have committed perjury by “presenting her lies in writing to a Federal Judge.”

“She is spreading lies and making defamatory statements about me and also about a U.S. Federal Agent,” Lambert said. “She boldly proclaims in her Ruth McCoy filings before the Federal Judge that a certain FBI agent and I have a friendship and a long-standing working relationship and I somehow have the power to direct his actions. This is simply a lie and nothing is further from the truth.”

The FBI began its investigation in Cherokee after Lambert, when still in office, completed forensic audits into various aspects of tribal government. Lambert presented a sampling of the results to Tribal Council in April 2016, stating that they showed “clear fraud, wrongdoing, crimes and a failed system of checks and balances within this tribal government,” and that he had turned the audits over to the FBI. Over the next year, politics in Cherokee turned topsy-turvy as nine of the 12 councilmembers brought impeachment proceedings against Lambert, accusing him of a laundry list of offenses, including failing to secure proper approval for contracts, issuing payments for legal work done prior to his swearing-in and illegally entering his hotel into a contract with the tribe after his election as chief.

Lambert was eventually removed from office in May 2017, with Tribal Council finding him guilty on eight out of 12 charges. The proceedings were highly controversial in

FBI agents raided Cherokee’s Qualla Housing Authority in February 2017. Holly Kays photo Cherokee, with Lambert’s supporters maintaining even after the impeachment that the charges were trumped-up and the process used to prosecute them invalid.

At the same time Lambert’s administration was facing impeachment, the FBI was building its case. In February 2017, agents descended on the Qualla Housing Authority headquarters, confiscating two U-Haul loads of records. Arrests in the marriage fraud case came on June 21, 2017, just under a month after Lambert’s impeachment.

Devereux took special note of the timeline in his pre-sentencing memo filed Aug. 17, alleging that McCoy’s prosecution was more the result of Lambert’s desire for political retribution than of any substantial wrongdoing.

He traced the basis for that allegation back to 2012, when McCoy, a supporter of former Principal Chief Michell Hicks, was appointed to the BIA post by a committee that included Hicks, according to Devereux’s memo.

Lambert ran against Hicks in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 chief ’s elections, losing each time.

According to Devereux, McCoy was chosen for the deputy superintendent’s position over a Lambert supporter.

Within 24 hours of taking office in 2015, Lambert made some controversial personnel changes that his opponents said were political retribution to those affected and earlier this year resulted in a settlement of $100,000 for each of seven former employees who sued. In Devereux’s view, the FBI case was a way for Lambert to get to McCoy, who was not a tribal employee and therefore not his to hire or fire.

Lambert vehemently denied any insinuation that he’d been pulling the strings on the FBI’s actions.

“This case was not, and is not, about me or tribal politics,” he said. “Instead it is about a convicted felon who was found guilty of defrauding the United States government and who ultimately told lies to the federal judge in

an attempt to receive a lighter sentence.”

While he hasn’t filed anything yet, Lambert added that he’s considering filing defamation of character claims related to statements in Devereux’s memo.

“She’s portraying me to be a certain way, and that’s just totally false. That’s just flat wrong,” he said.

DISCUSSION IN COURT Claims in the sentencing memo launched some discussion during the Aug. 23 sentencing hearing, when Reidinger observed that “a good deal of what you (Devereux) submitted in writing goes to the issue of your assertion, for lack of a better way to put it, that there has been a corrupt use of the prosecutorial apparatus of the federal government in this case.”

Devereux was quick to say that he wouldn’t characterize it as an assertion of “corrupt use” and that he was sorry if it appeared that way.

“It has been my experience, Your Honor, over the last 30 years of practicing on the reservation, that about every six or seven years someone will decide that they’re going to clean up the Cherokee Indian Reservation, and that effort will usually last about a year and then we’ll cycle on,” Devereux responded. “What happens when that occurs in my experience is that whoever’s in political power on the reservation at that time has the ear of the agents, not necessarily the U.S. attorney’s office.”

However, he said, he felt there was a disparity in the way McCoy’s crimes had been investigated and sentenced compared to other defendants or other unprosecuted instances of marriage fraud. The defense had presented the government with a list of other people on the Qualla Boundary who had entered into arranged marriages to enhance someone’s

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September 12-18, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

immigration status, Devereux said. He continued on to state that in contrast to the crime she pled guilty to, McCoy was in other ways a success story.

The sentencing memo went into great detail on McCoy’s difficult childhood, which included witnessing the murder of her mother, bouncing around between roughly 10 foster homes and enduring sexual assault.

Nevertheless, the memo stated, as an adult McCoy was able to earn a diploma from Southwestern Community College, work herself up to the position of deputy superintendent at the Bureau of Indian Affairs Cherokee Agency, refrain from developing any drug or alcohol addiction and provide a home for six children whose parents currently can’t care for them. “She really does symbolize lots of problems that the Court has seen over the years that you’ve been on the bench and that I’ve seen in the years I’ve been practicing on the reservation and, to an incredible degree, has overcome those hardships and obstacles,�

Devereux said. “Perhaps in some ways she’s overcompensated.�

Bradley told Reidinger that politics played no part in the government’s decision to prosecute McCoy. “This prosecution of Ms. McCoy was never motivated by politics, either on our part or on the part of the FBI,� Bradley said, according to the court transcript. “It was never motivated, you know, by a desire to seek retribution against Ms. McCoy for her political activities.�

Instead, he said, it was motivated by its relationship to the larger investigation that initially drew the FBI to investigate goings-on in Cherokee. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI were both interested in information McCoy might have about that larger investigation, Bradley said. “When this marriage fraud offense — this marriage fraud conspiracy involving her came to our attention, it struck our office and the FBI as an opportunity to engage with her and to potentially leverage her to provide investigation information with respect to other things,� Bradley said. “I’m very candid with that. There’s nothing improper about that. That’s something that happens frequently in these federal investigations.�

Information about the marriage fraud conspiracy came from “a variety of sources, including other federal agencies in other jurisdictions,� Bradley said. “In open court at sentencing the AUSA (Assistant U.S. Attorney) stated that her felonious crimes were discovered during the ongoing investigation into ‘Public Corruption’ within our tribe and certainly nothing about tribal politics,� Lambert said. “I firmly encourage the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s office to continue its ‘Public Corruption’ investigation into matters within our tribe.�

While sentences have been rendered for five out of the seven current defendants in the marriage fraud case, Ofir Marsiano and Golan Perez — both of whom have entered guilty pleas — are awaiting hearings scheduled for 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., respectively, on Sept. 27 to receive their sentences.

Devereux and McCoy did not return requests for comment on this story.

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Ghost Town sale still not final New park operator halts live webcast

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER low progress and a string of broken promises from new Ghost Town operator and former Disney exec Valeria Oberle haven’t stopped her from talking to people about her plans for the park, but they have stopped her from allowing people to record or broadcast them.

“I’m particularly excited to tell you about [my husband] Spencer and I, and why we’re here and what we’re up to,” Oberle said at a Sept. 4 meeting of the Maggie Valley Civic Association. “Let me first say I would really prefer no videotaping or audio recording please, because we do know how those things end up in the media when we don’t really want them to.”

The MVCA is a nonprofit association founded in 1970 and consisting of about 50 members. It holds fish fries, covered-dish dinners and monthly meetings where community leaders, government officials — like Waynesville’s Parks and Recreation Department — and business owners come to let the MVCA know about their organizations, according to President Denny Hoffman.

September 12-18, 2018

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But moments into Oberle’s appearance, she took issue with a live webcast that was being conducted by MVCA. “Not that I’m going to say anything that I’m not proud to say, by any means, but I just prefer that it not be on tape somewhere,” she told the camera.

“Well this has been advertised as being webcast, this meeting has,” said the camera operator, identified by Hoffman as MVCA Board member David Lybrand.

“Webcast?” she asked, shaking her head. “No.” “This is on the internet right now,” Lybrand responded. “Live. This meeting is on the internet, live.”

“Is it that way every month?” she asked him.

In the video, the answer isn’t clear although Lybrand seems to affirm; Hoffman confirmed Sept. 7 that speakers were usually recorded, and that Oberle’s appearance itself had been advertised in advance as being a live webcast on Facebook.

“I would really prefer that it not be, until we’re ready for … ” she said, until Lybrand interrupted her.

“That’s not gonna look good,” he said.

“That’s not gonna look good to be telling us to end our webcast of this. There’s a lot of people tuned in to hear what you have to

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a late fall 2018 opening that won’t — according to the state agency charged with inspecting the rides, none are certified to operate.

Additionally, during a July 3 chat at the Maggie Valley Chamber’s breakfast, Oberle was questioned as to why the property beneath those rides Oberle’s latest statements come still hadn’t been transferred from the ownership of Alaska after a previous round that Presley to her group of investors; she replied that included a vintage memorabilia “there’s been a series of closings sale that didn’t happen, and a late that have occurred and we have one more milestone closing fall 2018 opening that won’t — with a big investor.” according to the state agency As of press time, the Haywood County GIS system charged with inspecting the rides, showed that the parcels of land upon which Ghost Town sits none are certified to operate. have yet to be transferred from the ownership of Lula LLC, a North Carolina corporation registered to A Facebook post by Larry Deane to the Presley’s Maggie Valley residence.

Maggie Valley N.C. Life Facebook group Oberle did not return an email seeking offered a quick rundown of more promises comment for this story on the park’s stafrom Oberle after the webcast had ended, tus, just as she declined to be interviewed including a late spring 2019 opening that

by The Smoky Mountain News for a story will feature a fully operational chair lift, a restaurant, entertainment, games and more. July 11, citing an upcoming “media event” that never took place. Oberle also did not Oberle’s latest statements come after a return emails regarding a story published previous round that included a vintage Aug. 21. memorabilia sale that didn’t happen, and say tonight. The ones who couldn’t show up here tonight, they’re expecting to be able to see this on the webcast.”

Lybrand was then shouted down, with cries of “Turn it off!” arising off-camera. He apologized to viewers and complied.

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A graphic rendering from design company LS3P shows what SCC’s new health sciences building will look like upon completion in 2021. Donated image

SCC health building gets $2 million grant

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“We are honored and excited that the EDA chose to help fund our project. Our new health sciences building is a huge economic development opportunity for our region.”

September 12-18, 2018

— Don Tomas, Ph.D., SCC president

“We’re training people for jobs that can change their lives,” said William Brothers, SCC’s vice president for financial and administrative services. “Our graduates will find fulfilling careers, and they’ll be able to provide for their families while remaining in this beautiful region we call home.”

Upon completion, the building is expected to allow SCC to admit 144 additional health sciences students in each of the first two years after it opens. It will allow those programs to escape the constraints of the Balsam Center, which was built in 1988 to accommodate four health care training programs. SCC now has 15 health sciences programs and hopes to create three more — surgical technology, opticianry and speech language pathology assisting — pending state approval. The average starting salaries for all 18 programs exceed the state’s poverty level for a family of four, Brothers said.

Smoky Mountain News

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER outhwestern Community College’s planned health sciences building has earned recognition for its economic development potential — with dollar signs attached.

Jackson County recently found out that it landed a $2 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to help fund the project, which is expected to create 236 new jobs within SCC’s service area of Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, and the Qualla Boundary.

“We are honored and excited that the EDA chose to help fund our project,” said Don Tomas, Ph.D., SCC’s president. “Our new health sciences building is a huge economic development opportunity for our region.”

Jackson County Manager Don Adams announced the grant award during a Sept. 4 commissioners meeting that began just 22 minutes after he received an email informing him that the county had landed the grant.

“Your county attorney and your finance director spent a tremendous amount of time on this and did an excellent job of working with the EDA council and grant awards, having multiple meetings and phone conferences,” Adams told commissioners. “Two million dollars is a lot of money.”

That’s true, but the $2 million grant will pay for only about 10 percent of the total project cost. The 55,411-square-foot building is expected to cost between $19.7 and $21.8 million, not including associated expenditures such as new furniture, classroom equipment and audio-visual equipment. Funds from the N.C. Connect Bond voters passed in 2016 will provide $5.4 million and Jackson County will pay the remaining cost through

proceeds from the quarter-penny sales tax voters approved in June 2016.

With the grant award decided, SCC is now ready to move forward with the project and plans to put it out to bid within a month. The college hopes to break ground sometime this fall and is on schedule to complete the building in the spring of 2021. As planned, the three-level building will house 23 classrooms and labs, with many programs offering free community clinics.

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Haywood County tax office fiasco continues

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER ecent uproar over dozens of tax payments improperly waived by Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews seemed to be quieted with his announcement that he’d personally cover more than $1,200 of the $4,100 he’d waived.

But the situation has now grown to include lingering questions about office operations as well as the elected nature of the position, and has left commissioners questioning Matthews’ competence and his commitment less than two months before he faces a tough re-election bout.

“The office has violated the state statute,” said Haywood Commissioner Kevin Ensley.

“If this law has been broken — are there other problems? The commissioners have a fiduciary responsibility to make sure the taxpayers are protected and state statutes are followed. We must guard against [becoming] another ‘Buncombe County.’”

Ensley’s reference to Buncombe County is especially pertinent as allegations of egregious fiscal impropriety by well-liked longtime county manager Wanda Greene have municipalities across the state taking another look at their own oversight procedures.

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t its simplest, state law says interest or penalties on property tax bills can only be waived in three specific circumstances — two of those are obscure situations where the tax itself is illegal; however, the third is in the case of a clerical error.

“Macon County is very rigid on penalties and interest. We will rarely ever release either. The only time we will do so is when an error beyond the control of the taxpayer or the county has happened,” said Richard Lightner, Macon County tax administrator.

“An example would be if the bank did not post the lockbox accordingly to the date the bill was paid by the taxpayer.”

Jackson County also takes a hardline stance on waivers.

“We do not waive penalties and interest unless there was a clerical error or the payment was postmarked prior to additional interest being added to the account,” said Tax Collector Brandi Henson. “This is not something that occurs on a regular basis.”

Matthews’ office took a more lenient stance on waivers, issuing more than 120 since his tenure began in January 2015. Matthews told The Smoky Mountain News last week that it’s “usually because of a postmark issue, or if it’s an error when somebody comes in here and pays 15 or 20 bills, and one got missed or didn’t get picked up in the system.”

Interim Haywood County Manager Joel Mashburn said the waivers were discovered during a routine internal audit, and deemed improper.

Matthews owned up to his mistake and said he’d personally pay up — at least, for the ones he personally authorized. A number of

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other clerks under his purview also issued waivers improperly.

“As a courtesy we would waive the interest because they came in with the intention of paying everything,” Matthews said Sept. 5. “So that’s when I would remove the interest, because that’s the way we were taught to do it.”

Matthews’ predecessor, David Francis, vehemently denied the suggestion that the practice had been in place during his tenure.

“He didn’t learn that from me,” Francis said.

The internal audit that turned up the improper waivers only dates back to the beginning of Matthews’ tenure, so a records request was made by The Smoky Mountain News Aug. 31 for a report detailing Francis’ waiver activity.

Mashburn told the Smoky Mountain News Sept. 4 that no such report existed and there were no immediate plans to create one.

But on Sept. 7, Francis said that Haywood County Finance Director Julie Davis had indeed checked in on his waiver activity.

“The main work of this office is to follow the statutes. I would think that he should be trained, but we cannot make him, since the collector is elected and not appointed.”

— Kevin Ensley, Haywood Commissioner

“When I spoke with her yesterday she said they did go back and do a report during my tenure,” said Francis. “There was nothing that showed up in the report, but I have not seen the report.”

Later that day, Davis confirmed the existence of the report by email, writing, “After we found the problems during Mike’s tenure, we ran a report back to January 1, 2012, to see if the practice was in effect before he took office. We did not find any instances of interest being waived improperly.”

“I don’t think she’s correct,” said Matthews, who, upon viewing the report that was delivered to The Smoky Mountain News Sept. 10, pointed out two specific instances.

The first was an October 2014 bill where it appeared interest in the amount of $160.67 had been waived.

“In this case, I’m going back in the notes,” he said. “The only reason that would have been done is because the sister-in-law was supposed to pay on the account. I could say, ‘My brother was supposed to pay on my parents’ house and I’m not going to do it because he was supposed to

ikewise Francis — who lost to Matthews in 2014 by just 230 votes out of more than 18,000 cast — says it’s not about politics, but about performance.

“There’s no sour grapes. I lost. No big deal,” he said. “It’s very important this office works effectively. And when you don’t take it seriously, and you don’t go in there and you don’t work hard, that’s what’s hurtful about the whole thing. You cannot put in a full week’s worth of work during your tenure, that’s what’s hurtful. People had enough respect for you to elect you to this office, but you don’t respect the office enough to put the in effort that is needed to get the job done.”

Kirkpatrick also insists it isn’t personal, despite rumored clashes between Matthews and some current and former commissioners.

“Throughout this process, there has been an underlying false understanding that the commissioners do not want to see Mike succeed,” he said. “That is not the truth. We, along with other department heads, have assisted Mike and attempted to make sure his office does well. However, we cannot ignore the many issues that have arisen and pretend like everything is OK. I’m not much on beating people up, but I do want them to perform to the best of their capabilities. I personally like Mike and want to get along with him, but that does not matter when it comes to the county and the people.”

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Ensley also revisited the nature of the position itself; Haywood County has the only remaining elected tax collector in the state, meaning commissioners don’t have the ability to discipline or remove a tax collector in the same way they could other appointed administrative positions like a county manager or department heads.

“The clerks should know that interest cannot be waived. It is up to him to make sure they know. This is why 99 other counties have an appointed tax collector,” Ensley said. “The main work of this office is to follow the statutes. I would think that he should be trained, but we cannot make him, since the collector is elected and not appointed. I heard he has not attended all the Kevin Ensley classes needed.”

Francis, who was retained by the county to serve in a variety of roles after his electoral defeat, backed up Ensley’s assertion.

“When I was training Mr. Matthews, after about four weeks, Mr. Matthews continually missed our appointments for the training,” he said. “I just dropped off and stopped training.”

Contentious public hearings in February 2017, aired out the “elected versus appointed” debate, but after commissioners unanimously passed a resolution calling for the position to become an appointed one, no action was taken at the state level, as would be necessary for such a change.

“The office of the tax collector is presently an elected office,” said Kirk Kirkpatrick, chairman of the board of commissioners.

“The county can show the tax collector appropriate educational seminars, continuing education and training opportunities but we cannot make him go to them or use them to train employees.”

Given that the tax office handles the county’s largest revenue source, it’s importance to county operations cannot be understated.

“The efficient operation of the tax office is imperative, as this is the means for the county to collect the revenue that provides the servic-

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September 12-18, 2018

do it’ and that is not a justifiable reason to remove interest.”

Francis said no interest was waived in that case. “This was a 2014 bill [issued in September of that year], and it was paid on Oct. 31, 2014,” he said. “There would have been no interest that would have accrued on the bill until after Jan. 5, 2015. He is incorrect in that case.”

The second instance involved a November 2014 bill for $1,364.02.

“There was a check written, and it was retuned, and the interest was removed because of the bad check,” said Matthews. “A bad check is not a reason to freeze interest. I completely understand how that could happen, and why you would want to do that. I was always under the impression that was something we were able to do.”

“When it was actually paid and the interest removed was when Mike had assumed office in January of 2015,” said Francis. “I didn’t have any control over it or how payment was received or how it was credited at that time. I left in mid-December 2014.”

Francis said that two of his employees remained in the tax office upon his departure, but were both gone in fairly short order, taking their experience with them and making Ensley’s comment about “other problems” in the tax office appear more credible.

“Mr. Matthews after four years needs to own his office,” said Francis. “Two years ago I had to help him get the tax bills mailed out because he still didn’t know how to do it. This past year they had a problem with their settlement statement, they called me because they couldn’t figure out how to do it. At certain points in time, after four years, you should understand accounts receivable. There’s a certain simple accounting question one of the commissioners keeps asking, and he (Matthews) still doesn’t know the answer.”

He’s talking about Ensley.

“The formula seems to be simple — taxes collected divided by the net levy. Why did it take asking three times to get a simple formula that I still had to figure out myself?” said Ensley. “When he finally stated what it was, he stated it incorrectly. It seems after four years, he does not know the formula to an equation that he reports on every month.”

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Haywood County Tax Collector Mike Matthews (left) confers with his predecessor David Francis at a meeting of the Haywood Commissioners. File photo

es required to manage our county,” said Commissioner Mike Sorrells.

When budgets are finalized, spending numbers are based on estimated revenue collections; if the tax office can’t meet those expectations, it can play havoc with budgets, necessitating either use of the county’s “rainy day” fund balance to make up the difference at best, or the suspension of services at worst.

“The current Haywood County tax collection rate ranks 64th out of 100 counties,” Kirkpatrick said. “If our county collected at the state average, which is 1.5 percent higher than our present rate, it would mean $600,000 additional dollars to fund our departments like the Sheriff and EMS — programs that provide safety to our citizens.”

Ensley, Matthews’ harshest critic on the commission since the departure of former Chairman Mark Swanger, not only questions Matthews aptitude, but also his commitment.

“He makes around $60,000 (annually) plus good benefits. He comes into work around 10:30, 11 and leaves early — and that is if he shows up at all. Do you think that’s OK? There is no leadership and low morale in the tax collector’s office. Is that OK? If he does not work 40-50 hours a week, is he stealing from the taxpayers?”

Despite an upcoming re-election bid by the Republican Matthews, the criticism heaped upon him doesn’t seem to be the result of simple partisan politics; Ensely is also a Republican, and Matthews survived a spirited primary challenge from fellow Republican Tubby Ferguson this past May, but looks to have a tougher contest against Democrat Greg West this November.

“Republicans I know are hard-working, and work long hours,” said Ensley. “The Republican Haywood County Tax Collector, not so much. That’s what upsets me.”

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Slight slip for Haywood Schools rank Haywood Schools performance data, 2016-2017

A North Carolina State Trooper and a few good Samaritans helped save the life of a woman caught in rapids while tubing in

“First of all, no excuses. We’ve worked very hard to go from above average to really pretty good, and this is a year where we dropped nine-tenths of a point.”

— Dr. Bill Nolte, superintendent of Haywood County Schools

children. Children can write at very early ages. We have a couple other schools, Bethel, that do that.”

Bethel elementary also improved slightly, by a point, but each of the county’s three middle schools showed significant decline of between 4 and 8 percent.

The good news is, the county’s three high schools all showed impressive growth — Pisgah jumped almost 7 percent to a 70.7 rating, and Tuscola climbed almost 8 percent to 63.8.

“I’m pretty proud of our high school work,” he said. “They’ve done a good job of going back to the standards they’re supposed to be teaching, and you won’t see a room where they’re not doing that — and it

the Tuckasegee River near Bryson City.

On Tuesday, Sept. 4, Trooper J. T. Gibbs was traveling on U.S. 19 near the Governor’s Island Bridge in Swain County when he was flagged down and notified a woman was drowning in the river. Gibbs exited his patrol vehicle and observed

doesn’t matter what the subject is. I would say that 20 years ago, you could probably teach to the test. You knew the math formulas, you know how to teach students to go into a piece of literature, to find the answers, but over the last 10 years you can’t teach to the test, you have to think at a particularly high level.”

Although Haywood Early College only grew at 1.39 percent over last year, that growth puts the school in rarefied air — it’s now rated at above 95, and exact performance data is no longer scored above that level, so the actual improvement there could be much higher.

A decline of over 50 percent at Haywood’s alternative high school — from

Lindsey Lamm Woolard, 35, of Wilmington, trapped partially under a logjam.

Gibbs immediately obtained his issued swift water equipment consisting of a life preserver and throw rope. After carefully crawling onto the logjam, Gibbs

23.6 to 10.5 — is concerning, but not as troubling as the numbers show, according to Nolte.

“Those are all students who are at significant risk of dropping out of school,” said Nolte. “Students do not go to Central Haywood High School because they are in trouble. Our alternative high school is not for that purpose. You go to there because you’ve gotten behind credits, and so by design it is a school for students who haven’t done well in school.”

By comparison, Haywood County’s only public charter school Shining Rock Classical Academy, continues a slide begun when the school first opened its doors in 2015.

That year, SRCA scored a 70 — slightly above the county’s 66.8 score that year. In 2017, it dropped to 65, below the county’s 68 rank. This year, with a 14 percent drop to a score of 56, SRCA is well below both the county score of 67.1 as well as the state’s 58 average.

For the full county reports, visit www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/ reporting.

reached Woolard and placed the life preserver around her. Using the throw rope, Gibbs and other civilians were able to free her from the water’s current and pull her to safety.

Woolard was treated and released by EMS at the scene.

Smoky Mountain News

Trooper saves drowning woman

Score

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September 12-18, 2018

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT STAFF WRITER chieving high academic performance levels is one thing, but maintaining them is quite another, and after two straight years ranked 11 out of 115 public school districts in the state, recent reports from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction show that Haywood County schools slid three places to a still-impressive 14.

“First of all, no excuses,” said Dr. Bill Nolte, superintendent of Haywood County Schools since the retirement of Dr. Anne Garret last winter. “We’ve worked very hard to go from above average to really pretty good, and this is a year where we dropped nine-tenths of a point.”

The drop, from an even 68 down to 67.1, was good for a 1.32 percent decline, but still keeps the schools well ahead of the state’s 58.8 average.

“It’s never one thing, there’s a lot of moving parts,” Nolte said. “I attribute that in general to a significant year of transition.

We lost a very effective superintendent at the end of February last year.”

Nolte took over as interim at that time, and was appointed to the full-time job earlier this summer.

“On top of that, we have about 600 students that change grade levels across schools, and that makes a difference,” he said. “Some classes are uniquely talented and do well without a lot of focus.”

A number of Haywood’s elementary schools saw a drop in their ratings, including Clyde and Hazelwood, but especially Jonathan Valley.

“One of the things we focused on several years ago was technical text for elementary schools — not fiction text. And when we did that we got a really nice bump, because the real world is non-fiction. State assessments are non-fiction. Jobs are non-fiction and at least most of college, training for a new job is non-fiction,” he said. “I’m confident that we drifted away from that, and over time, our very good elementary schools drifted back to fiction. It’s interesting and captivating, but what the state wants is students who can function in the nonfiction world.”

Riverbend remains the jewel of Haywood’s elementary system, with 5 percent growth from last year’s 88.1 rating, climbing to 92.7 percent this year.

“Riverbend just stayed true to lots of non-fiction text,” Nolte said. “The other thing they do, and it also helps some other schools, is they do some early writing with

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

As the buckeyes fall, I await my old friend

Why waste money repaving a good road?

To the Editor: Repaving a perfectly good Smoky Mountain Expressway appears to be another classic example of government wasteful spending.

I used to work for a company years ago that did business with government contractors. Each year they would needlessly spend funds or risk having their budgets reduced for the next year. Is there an explanation for this repaving that citizens are not aware of? From my perspective (and others), we don’t see any purpose for this. It seems there are so many other needs that the city, county or state has and could use funds for.

If there is a reasonable explanation and if I’ve missed it, can you please reprint it?

Jack West Balsam

Op-ed needs to be read by all Americans To the Editor: This letter will by definition have to be somewhat brief to avoid backlash from those seeking bias confirmation for opposing views.

The Sept. 5 op-ed in the New York Times

falling, the noise louder than I could ever remember. Three, four, five in a couple seconds, pounding down on the gravel driveway, some breaking open to reveal the rich, mahoganycolored seed, considered good luck by many.

It was actually the fallout from two of the trees making all the noise, the trees that get more sun I suppose. I drained the dregs of the first cup of coffee, got up and wandered down the drive to peer up at the canopy to see if something was making the seed shells fall. Nothing there; it was just time.

As I craned my neck upwards, more dropped close by. I wondered what kind of damage one of those Editor husks could do dropping from 40 or 50 feet, coming down on my head.

I remembered the year our kids gathered up the treasures, gave them a quick polish and sold them at Waynesville’s Church Street Festival. They propped a table up in front of our office, which at that time was on Church Street. They made some money. A quick online search shows that a halfpound bag of buckeyes sells today for $9.99 from an outfit called Curious Country Creations. That’s about 25 buckeyes.

My kids, as I recall, asked 50 cents, and many amused festivalgoers simply dropped a dollar on the table. Apparently they had the perfectly formed little charms priced just about right.

As I walked slowly back to my book, I noticed that a lot of the other trees were already turning. I spent my earliest years in a suburb of Virginia Beach, and then a few years in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I don’t even remember fall or the changing seasons during that time.

Scott McLeod

The sounds, the feel of the coming fall is always comforting, like reconnecting with an old and dear friend.

It was just shy of 8 a.m. Saturday as I opened my book, blowing lightly at my steaming coffee. I sorted the pillows from our porch furniture on my lap so I could aim the pages in the direction the sun would appear when it cleared the mountain. Angling the book to catch just the right natural reading light is tricky early in the day on the covered porch.

My wife, Lori, and I usually play this game together and against each other, the early riser getting the best spot, the loser spending more time than the other to coax the sunlight into position.

But she was out of town, so I settled in and reveled in the chill. Not cold, not yet, probably high 50s, but the air held more of fall than summer. I remembered climbing on my motorcycle and going to work one day last week and the same thought had come: fall is coming, the wind cool, exhilarating as I thought about my riding gloves useless in the closet at home and switched on the throttle handwarmers.

As I settled in to read, the squirrels and chipmunks provided background noise. Constant running, jumping and, I guess, storing food. The sounds of leaves scattering and the vocalizations, squeaks from the squirrels and a chirping from the munks.

Our resident crows — who seemingly have lived here as long as us — joined in. They ratchet up the early morning cawing during the shoulder seasons, as if announcing something important.

But it was another sound portending fall that distracted me enough to make me turn away from the story. Three large huge buckeye trees help form the edges of the land that was cleared for our house. The large, greenish-yellow husks were

It was when we moved to Newport, Rhode Island, that I began to look forward to autumn’s coming. My father had a Navy friend who had retired to Fall River, Massachusetts, and I remember the drive up Aquidneck Island to visit them in the old country house that I think had belonged to his family. My mom would comment constantly on the leaves, the colors, the beauty. They had an old St. Bernard and two sons, and we would pile up the leaves and spend hours just jumping around and scattering them, then gathering them back up into piles.

When we next settled in Fayetteville, a land of pine trees and scrub oaks, fall meant hunting trips to the Pee Dee River area of North and South Carolina where my father’s family lived. We'd spend cool mornings and days in the woods, dogs running, just walking with the men at first and eventually shouldering my own shotgun as I got older. The days in the field were followed by massive meals and listening to the men and my aunts and cousins telling stories about the family, gossip from the textile mills where they worked, stories of previous hunts.

The buckeyes are falling again as I write this. It’s early Monday, and I go out to inspect the husks and notice the seeds are mostly gone, taken away by the squirrels I suspect.

Some say they know how much to eat to avoid the toxins, and evidence right in front of me supports that supposition: perhaps a hundred husks littering the ground and torn open, some with obvious chew marks, but only a handful of buckeyes to be found.

Fall is closing the door on summer, winter is coming. The autumnal equinox is Sept. 22. And I’m thankful to live right here, to be able to witness this annual passage of the seasons, looking forward to greeting this old friend.

(Reach Scott McLeod at info@smokymountainnews.com) platform and look at what they have done in their lives.

The Electoral College applies only to the presidential election and does not have any effect on other political races.

There are no presidential elections this year, but there will be in 2020. Whoever is elected president appoints Supreme Court justices whose appointments are for life and can determine the course of histo-

LETTERS titled, “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,” should (but probably will not) be read in its entirety by every American.

As the pundits pick and choose their ideas of the good or bad points in the op-ed, as they attempt to analyze it as biased or unbiased, as they classify it as self-serving or patriotic, I would make only one point. Read the article in its entirety and make up your own mind.

Try to ask and answer your own questions.

Judge it based on you own beliefs.

Richard Gould Waynesville

Why you should vote in all elections To the Editor: Decisions made at all levels of government (president and Congress in Washington, D.C., General Assembly in Raleigh and county commissioners, sheriffs, courts, etc.) impact your daily lives. All federal laws passed by the Congress directly impact us in our local communities. How our state representatives and senators votes on issues such as fracking, Medicaid expansion, education, etc., should be a concern to you.

You have the right to vote in county, state and national elections. Many people have fought and died for this freedom. Take full advantage of this right as your vote does count. Many elections have been won by one or two votes. Voting makes sure your voice and opinions are heard. Convicted felons can now vote in North Carolina if they have served their time and are no longer on probation or parole.

Be an informed voter. Don’t believe the negative ads you see on TV or what is mailed to you. If the person running for office is currently serving, check out their voting record.

If they have not been in office, check out their

ry for generations.

You can register to vote at any time at your local Board of Elections during regular office hours. The date for the General Election is Nov. 6. Deadline for registering for the Nov. 6 election is Oct. 12. However, you can register and vote during the early voting period from Oct. 17 to Nov. 3. In the General Election in November, you can vote for anyone from any party.

Regardless of what party you are or what candidates you support, please exercise your right to vote and vote by absentee ballot, early

S EE LETTERS, PAGE 19

Susanna Barbee

voting or on Election Day. The future of your children and grandchildren is at stake.

Mary A. Herr Cherokee

Vote to save the country To the Editor: There has been a coup unfolding in the White House. Our Republic is in imminent danger of devolving into an autocracy. The senior White House staff, a group of appointed political supplicants, who swore an oath to the Constitution, have decided that expediency justifies their illegal thwarting of the Constitution. In the now infamous op-ed letter written by a senior member of the White House staff, that anonymous writer asks us to work together with this shadow government, to support their effort to keep Trump from doing less harm to our country than he is capable of. They have convinced themselves that they are patriots, even while acting outside the Constitution. These so-called patriots have likely been perpetuating this hoax from the very start of the Trump presidency.

We have a dangerously incompetent chief executive and his senior staff is a cabal of crass, egotistical, mostly incompetent, political know-nothings. Under this

administration, the Supreme Court is being stacked illegitimately. Children have been abducted. Millions of Americans have been left without healthcare. Wealth has been stolen from middle and lower class and showered on the wealthy.

Corporations have been anointed as supercitizens, with lower tax rates than for mere human citizens and with more influence on federal elected politicians through the enormity of their campaign donations.

Our Republic has never been so vulnerable. Federal policies are being implemented by unelected, egotistical leeches. The Rule of Law is fracturing. This administration has is no respect for our Constitution. The viability of our democracy has already been considerably damaged by these political pirates.

Restoring respect for and adherence to our Constitution may take years.

What can we citizens do to restore sanity to our executive branch?

Vote!

We have heard these words before, “this is the most important election this country has held�. Usually these words are invoked when citizens are vehemently opposed to an opposing political party’s policies. The crisis this country is in now makes these previous political conflicts look like a teapot in a tempest. Your ballot in the upcoming mid-term elections is your tool to dismantle this governing aberration.

Vote! John Barry Franklin

September 12-18, 2018

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My name is Susanna and I am terribly unorganized.

I’m not a messy person or a hoarder, just disorganized. My desk is a mess of papers and sticky notes. I always have a million tabs open on my laptop. My closets and cabinets and pantry are full of stuff with no thought to rhyme or reason. I have to dig in my purse for three minutes to find lip balm.

My shoes are thrown into the bottom of my closet so it takes inordinate amounts of time to find a matching pair.

And so on and so forth.

I could learn how to be more organized. but instead I rely heavily on my memory and list making, which work well enough but leave me feeling scattered. As a single mom who works full-time, my life feels slightly out of control anyway, so I’m not helping myself any by also being disorganized.

Several years ago I read a book called The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It’s an easy read that offers practical, helpful information for living a peaceful, more productive and “happier� life. The entire book is impactful. I think I may read it again starting in January because it challenges the reader to accomplish certain tasks each month. It would be a cool read for the New Year.

One paramount quote from the book states, “The secret of adulthood is this: Outer order contributes to inner calm.�

The words seem simple, but providing oneself with outer order can be a daunting task, especially for people with brains like mine. Rubin follows with a caveat saying, “While this is true, having inner calm makes it much easier to have outer order.�

They are reciprocal. One affects the other. Some folks may start with an inner calm which allows them to become more organized or for those like me, I think being more organized will result in feeling less stressed in general.

With that philosophy in mind, I turned to Google and Pinterest in search of organization tips and strategies to get the ball rolling. Within 20 minutes of searching, I found a number of helpful resources.

The first was a quote by William Morris that said, “Have nothing in your house that you don’t know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.� A person can switch out the word “house� with “office� or “car� and the quote still works.

I’m a word person with a creative mind.

Many creative people I know are not highly skilled at organization. We don’t think in a linear way. Our minds are all over the place, which is helpful when writing or creating art but very frustrating when trying to organize a home or work space.

After reading the quote about only keeping items that are useful or beautiful, I took to my dining room table, which is the

LETTERS, CONTINUED FROM 18

opinion

My mission: outer order, inner calm

catchall place for mail, school forms, receipts and other random scraps of life.

I picked up each thing and held it my hand asking myself, “Do I find this useful or beautiful?� If the answer was yes, I put the item in its place. If the answer was no, I put it in one of four boxes.

Another piece of advice was to label four boxes, “trash,� “donate,� “recycle� and “keep.� Then when cleaning up a space, every item should go into one of the boxes.

It was also suggested to label one box “Not sure.� This may work for some people, but if I did that, I would put everything in that box and be back to square one. But it may work for you.

As I cleaned off my dining room table, I forced myself to put each item in one of the boxes. I had a friend give me a 30-minute window before he called to see if I’d finished the task. I work well under pressure, so I’m always setting timers for this or that to help myself stay focused and not get distracted. In knowColumnist ing he was going to call me in 30 minutes, I accomplished my goal.

It only took a half hour and my dining room table was clean and everything was where it should be. It felt amazing. If it hadn’t been 10:30 p.m., I would’ve tackled another space.

My dining room table experience occurred hours before writing this column, so I don’t have any other success stories yet, but you wait, I plan on using September and October as my organization months so I can fully enjoy the holidays and start 2019 feeling more calm on the inside.

The last piece of advice regards the three-year rule. Even if you find something useful or beautiful, if you haven’t used it or worn it in three years, chuck it. In fact, I may even reduce this to two years. I have many useful and beautiful things that haven’t been touched in two years. I need to donate this stuff so someone else can enjoy them.

We often can’t control what happens to us on the outside. Other people will do things that annoy or frustrate us. Work stress or life stress will send us into total tailspins. Likewise, we sometimes can’t control what happens to us on the inside. Grief, guilt, shame, sadness and other dark emotions are brutal to tackle.

With that being said, I’m willing to try anything to bring some inner calm, especially when it’s something helpful and productive like getting organized.

Rubin also says, “Accept yourself and expect more from yourself.� That’s my motto these days. I accept who I am, flaws and all, and I’m working to expect more from myself. Whether it’s motherhood, relationships, work or organizing my life, I know I can do and be better.

(Susanna Barbee writes for The Smoky Mountain News and works with local businesses print advertising and digital media strategies. susanna@mtnsouthmedia.com.)

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Taste the Mountains is an ever-evolving paid section of places to dine in Western North Carolina. If you would like to be included in the listing please contact our advertising department at 828.452.4251

An Authentic Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge.

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BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997. Open Monday through Friday. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Fresh-cut salads; slow-simmered soups; flame grilled burgers and steaks, and homemade signature desserts.

Blue-plates and local fresh vegetables daily.

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

Real New Yorkers.

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BOOJUM BREWING COMPANY 50 N Main Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0350. Taproom Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Gem Bar Open Tuesday through Sunday 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Enjoy lunch, dinner or drinks at Boojum’s Downtown Waynesville restaurant & bar.

Choose from 16 taps of our fresh, delicious & ever rotating Boojum Beer plus cider, wine & craft cocktails. The taproom features seasonal pub faire including tasty burgers, sandwiches, shareables and daily specials that pair perfect-

ly with our beer. Cozy up inside or take in the mountain air on our back deck."

BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch daily 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner nightly at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. Wine Down Wednesday’s: ½ off wine by the bottle. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks from local farms, incredible burgers, and other classic american comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available.

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

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

CHURCH STREET DEPOT 34 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.246.6505. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Mouthwatering all beef burgers and dogs, hand-dipped, hand-spun real ice cream shakes and floats, fresh hand-cut fries.

Locally sourced beef. Indoor and outdoor dining. facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot, twitter.com/ChurchStDepot.

CITY LIGHTS CAFE Spring Street in downtown Sylva.

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

p.m. Tasty, healthy and quick. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, espresso, beer and wine.

Come taste the savory and sweet crepes, grilled paninis, fresh, organic salads, soups and more. Outside patio seating. Free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly. Live music and lots of events.

Check the web calendar at citylightscafe.com.

THE CLASSIC WINESELLER 20 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground retail wine and craft beer shop, restaurant, and intimate live music venue. Kitchen opens at 4 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday serving freshly prepared small plates, tapas, charcuterie, desserts. Enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 7pm. www.classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

FERRARA PIZZA & PASTA 243 Paragon Parkway, Clyde.

828.476.5058. Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 12 to 8 p.m. Real New Yorkers. Real Italians. Real Pizza. A full service authentic Italian pizzeria and restaurant from New York to the Blue Ridge. Dine in, take out, and delivery. Check out our daily lunch specials plus customer appreciation nights on Monday and Tuesday 5 to 9 p.m. with large cheese pizzas for $9.95.

HARMON’S DEN BISTRO 250 Pigeon St., Waynesville 828.456.6322. Harmon’s Den is located in the Fangmeyer Theater at HART. Open 5:309 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (Bistro closes at 7:30 p.m. on nights when there is

September 12-18, 2018

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT Daily Specials: Soups, Sandwiches & Southern Dishes

Open Daily 7 a.m. to noon Closed Thursdays

Any day is a great day when it starts with Joey’s Pancakes!

Smoky Mountain News

4309 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley (828) 926-0212

APPÉTIT Y’AL N L BO

Mon/Wed/Thurs 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Closed Tuesday

Sunday 12-9 p.m.

Sandwiches • Burgers • Wraps 32 Felmet Street

Featured Dishes: Fresh Fried Chicken, Rainbow Trout, Country Ham, Pork-chops & more

Breakfast : Omelets, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy!

New Hours: Thurs.-Mon. Open at 7 a.m.

Breakfast served all day!

2804 SOCO RD. • MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.0425 • Facebook.com/carversmvr Instagram- @carvers_mvr

(828) 246-0927

WEDNESDAY 5-9 P.M.

THURSDAY 5-9 P.M.

SUNDAY 11 A.M-3 P.M.

Rib buffet, fried chicken, vegetables, and a twenty-three item salad bar!

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featuring turkey and dressing

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207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde

828-456-1997 blueroostersoutherngrill.com Monday-Friday Open at 11am 20

Real Local Families, Real Local Farms, Real Local Food

828.926.0201 At the Maggie Valley Inn • 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley

tasteTHEmountains a show in the Fangmeyer Theater) with Sunday brunch at 11 a.m. that includes breakfast and lunch items. Harmon’s Den offers a complete menu with cocktails, wine list, and area beers on tap. Enjoy casual dining with the guarantee of making it to the performance in time, then rub shoulders with the cast afterward with post-show food and beverage service. Reservations recommended. www.harmonsden.harttheatre.org KANINI’S 1196 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.5187. Lunch Monday-Saturday from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., eat in or carry out. Closed Sunday. A made-from-scratch kitchen using fresh ingredients and supporting the local food and local farm-totable program. Offering a variety of meals to go from frozen meals to be stored and cooked later to “Dinners to Go” that are made fresh and ready to enjoyed that day.

We also specialize in catering any event from from corporate lunches to weddings.

Menus created to fit your special event. kaninis.com MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with Sunday Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Hand-tossed pizza, house-ground burgers, steak sandwiches & fresh salmon all from scratch. Casual family friendly atmosphere.

Craft beer and interesting wine. Free movies Thursday through Saturday. Visit madbatterfoodfilm.com for this week’s shows & events.

MAGGIE VALLEY RESTAURANT 2804 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.926.0425. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Daily specials including soups, sandwiches and southern dishes along with featured dishes such as fresh fried chicken, rainbow trout, country ham, pork chops and more.

Breakfast all day including omelets, pancakes, biscuits & gravy. facebook.com/carversmvr; instagram @carvers_mvr.

RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 70 Soco Road, Maggie Valley 828.926.0201 Home of the Maggie Valley Pizzeria. We deliver after 4 p.m. daily to all of Maggie Valley, J-Creek area, and Lake Junaluska. Monday through Wednesday: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursday: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. country buffet and salad bar from 5 to 9 p.m. $11.95 with Steve Whiddon on piano. Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday 11:30 to 8 p.m. 11:30 to 3 p.m. family style, fried chicken, ham, fried fish, salad bar, along with all the fixings, $11.95. Check out our events and menu at rendezvousmaggievalley.com VITO’S PIZZA 607 Highlands Rd., Franklin.

828.369.9890. Established here in in 1998. Come to Franklin and enjoy our laid back place, a place you can sit back, relax and enjoy our 62” HDTV. Our Pizza dough, sauce, meatballs, and sausage are all made from scratch by Vito. The recipes have been in the family for 50 years (don't ask for the recipes cuz’ you won't get it!) Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC.

LUNCH · CATERING TAKEOUT & DINNERS TO GO We are a scratch kitchen!

All meals are homemade using the freshest ingredients.

We support the Local Food & Farm program.

Sunday: 12pm-6pm Tue-Thurs 3pm-8pm Fri-Sat: 12pm-9pm Monday: Closed AT BEARWATERS BREWING

101 PARK ST. CANTON 828.492.1422

PIGEONRIVERGRILLE.COM

Retail Restaurant LIVE Music

Events begin at 7:15pm unless otherwise noted.

Dinner and Music reservations at 828-452-6000.

Monday-Saturday 10:30-2:30

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DATE NIGHT: French Wine Pairing Dinner with music by pianist Richard Shulman. Music begins at 6:30pm.

Four courses, wine and music, $55 per person. Taxes and gratuity extra.

Reserve at 828-452-6000.

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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Joe Cruz - piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 WAYNESVILLE PIZZA COMPANY 32 Felmet Street, Waynesville.

828.246.0927. Open Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday noon to 9 p.m.; closed Tuesdays. Opened in May 2016, The Waynesville Pizza Company has earned a reputation for having the best hand-tossed pizza in the area. Featuring a custom bar with more than 20 beers and a rustic, family friendly dining room. Menu includes salads, burgers, wraps, hot and cold sandwiches, gourmet pizza, homemade desserts, and a loaded salad bar. The Cuban sandwich is considered by most to be the best in town.

James Hammel guitar, vocals.

Jazz, Pop, Originals.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

Whatever the Occasion, Let Us Do the Cooking!

Joe Cruz - piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Cynthia McDermott - mandolin, vocals.

Jazz and Bossa Standards, originals.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Joe Cruz - piano, vocals. Beatles, Elton John, James Taylor + More.

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Smoky Mountain News

WAYNESVILLE’S BEST BURGERS

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September 12-18, 2018

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

PIGEON RIVER GRILLE 101 Park St., Canton.

828.492.1422. Open Tuesday through Thursday 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday noon to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Southern-inspired restaurant serving simply prepared, fresh food sourced from top purveyors. Located riverside at Bearwaters Brewing, enjoy daily specials, sandwiches, wings, fish and chips, flatbreads, soups, salads, and more. Be sure to save room for a slice of the delicious house made cake.

Relaxing inside/outside dining and spacious gathering areas for large groups.

MON.-SAT. 11 A.M.-8 P.M.

34 CHURCH ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.246.6505 twitter.com/ChurchStDepot

facebook.com/ChurchStreetDepot

21

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A&E

Smoky Mountain News

For the love of the arts Macon County Art Association aims to overcome struggles

A painting by Macon County Art Association member Rod Hardeman.

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER ollowing the passing of her husband last year, after a lengthy illness, Betsey Sloan was looking for an outlet, something in her community that would nurture her creative and spiritual soul.

“So, I decided to get into my car, come here, get out, and say, ‘Hi, can I join?’” Sloan smiled. “And I’ve made such great friends here. The people here are wonderful, always helping me out and encouraging me in whatever it is I want to pursue.”

“Here” is the Uptown Gallery on Main Street in Franklin. An artisan cooperative owned and operated by the Macon County Art Association, the nonprofit gallery has been an integral part of the community for over a half century, with a physical presence in downtown for the better part of the last 25 years.

“It makes me feel very good to say that, ‘I’m a member in a local art gallery and part of an art community,’” said Sloan, an acclaimed gourd artist. “I enjoy being here on the days I work the register and meet the public, telling them we’re a cooperative, and helping visiting families and leaf peepers get a real feel for our town.”

Currently, there are around 30 members in the MCAA. Betsey Sloan Known as “hanging members,” they have their work hanging in the first-floor showcase space. There’s another 20 or so “partner members,” folks who donate funds to the MCAA and participate in the vast array of events, activities, workshops and classes offered by the organization.

“It’s important for any community to have art as one of its centerpieces, whether that’s music, art on the wall, classes in the schools,” Sloan said. “I mean, I always had that growing up, and I can’t imagine today’s kids in school not having access to that because of budget cuts. We need to keep people focused on their hometown, rather than going out of town to Asheville to do your shopping — check out local, it’s important.”

But, like most community art organizations across the country these days, it’s hard to keep the lights on. With cuts in state/national funding and a cash-strapped general public that puts buying art toward the bottom of its list of priorities, the fate of the MCAA is yet to be seen. But, in terms of financial difficulties and a diminishing membership, the hardships are definitely being felt.

“We’re having a real hard time getting ourselves known. With those involved, the numbers have dropped off, especially with the summer people. I think, because in most cases, they were elderly and couldn’t get out as much anymore, or other passed away,” said watercolor/jewelry artist Jean Blackmer, president of the MCAA and gallery director. “I guess we had a member back in the day that donated around $50,000 to us. We were down to around $5,000 and I had to go to the bank last week to take out $500 to put in the checking account to pay the bills.”

With rent, utilities and so on, Blackmer noted that MCAA total monthly overhead costs hover around a couple of thousand dollars to keep everything open.

“Last summer, we needed a new air conditioner, so our rent was raised an extra $100 per month,

F

arts & entertainment

Works by the Cowee Pottery School. “Keeping Watch at the Locks,” a watercolor painting (right) by Jean Blackmer

“Today, there has been no sales. Yesterday, there were some sales, mostly little things. People just come in, they look, and they walk out.”

— Jean Blackmer

S EE MACON ARTS, PAGE 24

Work by Jessica Henderson.

“The community is welcome to come in. We paint, we critique, we talk about the artwork and the mediums — it’s a nice fellowship.”

— Maryellen Tully

Want to know more?

For more information on the Macon County Arts Association and a complete schedule of upcoming events, workshops, classes and paint parties at the Uptown Gallery, you can click on www.franklinuptowngallery.com, call 828.349.4607, email franklinuptowngallery@gmail.com and/or “Like” them on Facebook.

The next featured event at the gallery will be “Landscape Takes Many Forms” painting workshop with instructor Diane McPhail, which will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26-27.

Fee is $125 for non-members, $100 for members. All materials included.

The following are ongoing weekly classes at the gallery: • “Middle/High School & Adult Art Classes with Carol Conti” — 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays. Fee is $80 for four two-hour classes. Preregistration required.

• “Children’s Classes with Bonnie Abbott” — 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesdays. Ages 6-12.

Fee is $10. 828.743.0200 or blrabbott@yahoo.com. Preregistration required.

• “Open Studio” — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. Free.

Smoky Mountain News

A silk painter and member of the MCAA since 2015, Maryellen Tully — who will also be co-director of the gallery next year — maintains the organization’s Facebook page.

“We’re a viable need here in the community. It’s just that I don’t know how to get the word out that we’re here. Running the Facebook page, I don’t know how to get more ‘likes’ on my page,” Tully admitted solemnly. “It’s my goal every month to get 50 ‘likes’ for our page, and we only have 200 “likes” right now. ‘Like and follow me’ is what I say whenever I meet new people.”

But, Tully’s attitude immediately shifts to one of hope and optimism when asked about the importance of the MCAA to Franklin and greater Macon County.

“It’s a great asset for our community. It fosters so much creativity and camaraderie. I think it also gives kids a Maryellen Tully different point of view to succeed in another venue. I know sports is a big thing, but so are the arts — it’s STEAM versus STEM,” Tully said. “The arts do foster creativity and innovative ways of thinking about problems and problem solving. And it gets people to meet people. You have to find a passion to keep going. That’s the key to longevity — finding your passion.”

Every Tuesday night, Tully heads down to the gallery and is part of the free open studio session. Attracting folks from all walks of life and backgrounds, Tully sees the class as a worthwhile endeavor for any and all, even if you’re never created in the name of artistic discovery.

September 12-18, 2018

which is killing us,” Blackmer said. “And we’re not making big bucks when we sell our artwork. We can’t put high prices on our artwork because it won’t sell in this area, well not like the galleries in Asheville do.”

That monthly operating cost takes a big chunk out of the gallery’s 20 percent commission sales, especially if there are days — and there are many days — when nothing gets bought.

“We’re lucky if we can even sell enough to pay the bills,” Blackmer said. “We have a lot of days where there are no Jean Blackmer sales at all. Today, there has been no sales. Yesterday, there were some sales, mostly little things. People just come in, they look, and they walk out.”

“The artists here have such great talent, beautiful talent,” added photographer/painter Cheryl Binnall, a fouryear member of the MCAA and its director of maintenance. “And a lot of people that come in here aren’t looking for art, more so something simple — cash and carry, that’s it. We might as well just have painted magnets. [Laughs].”

“We’re struggling the same as everyone else on Main Street,” Sloan noted. “People I’ve talked to, community organizers and other merchants, are all struggling. The numbers aren’t there — people are staying home and holding onto their money.”

But, aside from all the hardships and choppy waters the MCAA has been navigating lately, what’s just behind the curtain of the nonprofit is a group of determined artists and residents, all of which possess an iron will to not let their beloved organization get sunk and go under.

23

Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

arts & entertainment

MACON ARTS, CONTINUED FROM 23

24

“It’s like anything else, you’re not going to be an expert the first time you do something.

It’s all about having fun and meeting new people, and learning something new about yourself,” Tully said. “I love it because I love the camaraderie of working with other artists.

The community is welcome to come in. We paint, we critique, we talk about the artwork and the mediums — it’s a nice fellowship.”

Binnall sees the challenges facing the MCAA as similar to the challenges facing the Cheryl Binnall town itself — how you get tourists to not just stop for gas while heading to somewhere else, but also enter the shops and, perhaps, make a purchase?

“It’s more touristy, the clientele coming in. You’ve got to know the customer, so as an artist I’m constantly shifting and figuring out what the customer is looking for,” Binnall said. “We’re a small town and some of the people are just passing through. They’re looking more to Asheville or Highlands, just coming through for lunch before they carry on.

They walk through here after lunch to see what we’ve got and move on.”

“I hope it survives, because the core of this association has over 50 years of history.

And I’d hate for the gallery to be one of those business that, ‘Oh, they finally closed up because of X, Y and Z reasons,’” Sloan

added. “You can see things on the streets in Franklin, a new business comes in and three months later their windows are covered because they’ve gone out. And I would hate to see that happen here. But, I’m going to do everything I can next year to gain local support of this association.”

It’s also a tug-of-war, it seems, to even get locals into the MCAA, let alone the downtown corridor.

“People, whether they’re tourists or locals, need to know that ‘there’s art in them there hills,’” Binnall chuckled. “Art brings the beauty from the outside in here for people to see, the shine in here of what’s out there in the mountains. You look at the art and see what this town is all about. Come in and just look, come see the beauty your neighbors are creating — it doesn’t cost a fortune.”

Aside from an increasing presence in the community with its workshops and classes, the MCAA is hard at work on a master plan for the future, and also aiming to make a big push to create more partnerships and collaborations with other organizations and institutions in the area.

That said, Binnall will be the first, and certainly not the last — as seen by the steadfast and resilient nature of the MCAA — to say she isn’t walking away.

“We’re always trying to put the word out, wherever we go or whatever we’re doing. The more talent we can bring in, the better this would be,” Binnall proudly stated. “The community needs this association. It’s a great thing, because if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be here, I’d just quit — but I won’t.”

The Uptown Gallery is located in downtown Franklin.

“Come in and just look, come see the beauty your neighbors are creating — it doesn’t cost a fortune.”

— Cheryl Binnall

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

Garret K. Woodward photo

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Smoky Mountain News

With a slight jog around an empty basketball court at the The “Woofstock” fundraiser for ARF and the Waynesville Rec Center last Humane Society of Jackson County will be held Monday evening, I dribbled the from 3 p.m. to close Saturday, Sept. 15, at Soul ball with a little more confiInfusion Tea House & Bistro in Sylva. dence with each bounce.

Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Isaiah Heading up to the top of Breedlove & Scott Low (Americana/folk) at 5:30 the key, I took the first shot p.m. Friday, Sept. 14. from my “sweet spot” on the three-point line. Swish. Next The Smoky Mountain Rollergirls will continue shot from the free-throw line. the 2018 roller derby season with a double Swish. But, before I could feel header Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Swain County pretty confident that “I still Rec Department in Bryson City. had it,” I missed the next five shots. Such is life, eh?

Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will It had been years since I host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) at stepped on a basketball court, 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15. a place that was like second nature to me growing up, Right around Labor Day 2001, my whether it was endless games underneath grandmother passed away — the beloved the rim next to the barn of my childhood matriarch of our jovial Irish family. home, surrounded by endless cornfields of Carrying her casket into the Catholic Upstate New York, or running my butt off up and down the court when I played for my church that I was raised in, I took my place in the nearby pew and stared up at the ceilhigh school. ing, admiring the intricate designs depictThe fall of 2001 was the last time I was really competitive with basketball, trying out ing biblical scenes intended to strike lawful obedience and universal wonder into the and making the varsity team during my juncongregation. ior year. And with each dribble at the rec Skip ahead a week-and-a-half, and I’m center, I kept reminiscing about that time strolling into second period social studies and place in my life. Like all y’all old enough class. Ms. Trudeau. A few minutes into the to remember, our daily realities forever lesson, our principal, Mr. Mosso, walked in changed that fall following the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on live TV as with a stern look on his face. He whispered something into her ear, gazed at us gravely, we watched in horror.

Readings By A Trio of Poets

September 12-18, 2018

In pitch dark, I go walking in your landscape

Bookstore

arts & entertainment

This must be the place

then simply headed straight back out the door to the next classroom.

We all can vividly picture where we were on Sept. 11 when those two planes not only took down the World Trade Center, but also blew open a Pandora’s box of fear and isolation, of division and chaos that seemingly has never left our personal, societal and political consciousness (and subconscious, too).

I, like many of you reading this, felt like the world was going to end that day. I drove straight from high school to my girlfriend’s house the next town over. We sat in front of her TV, held hands and watched 24/7 coverage of a smoldering Manhattan.

Seventeen years ago. Has it been that long? Feel more like 17 days, doesn’t it? The whirlwind of our country and the greater world seems more like a time warp than an actual ticking clock of truth and consequence.

Like Sept. 11, 2001, this year’s remembrance also falls on a Tuesday. Though that Tuesday 17 years ago was blue skies and sunshine in my native New York, while this year is one of dark clouds and a slight drizzle in the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Leaving the rec center, I kept thinking about how far flung we all are, whether we realize it or not, since Sept. 11 occurred.

Where is all the camaraderie of building a brighter tomorrow — in the here and now — together? Variety of opinion, ideology and religion is a great thing, for it provides a platform for a true democracy.

Why do we nowadays all of sudden shutdown when someone disagrees with us? I find I learn more about myself and what the word “compromise” means when I engage in a genuine conversation with someone from a background I might not understand or even realize is a reality for others. Stop shutting down, embrace differences and find common ground. This is the only path back to normalcy and respect among our fellow citizens — of America, and of the world.

After the rec center, I went to the bar around the corner from my apartment to drink a beer and watch “Monday Night Football.” Started some small chat with the dude next to me. Turns out he’s a Southern Baptist preacher down in Georgia. Up in our neck of the woods for a retreat at Lake Junaluska. Ended up in a 45-minute conversation about religion, politics, and how to solve the world’s problems.

He’s a self-proclaimed “progressive Baptist,” to which we talked excitedly about how diversity in opinion and background is vital to our country, and how the word “compromise” is a lost art that needs to find its place in the 21st century. He champions local media, and makes sure his congregation knows that division and poisonous buzzwords do more harm than good.

“We’re all in this together, man,” he said.

When I got up to leave, I shook his hand and said, truthfully, “Well, we are friends now. It was great to talk with you, brother.” Though I’ve always remained optimistic about the future of America, I walked away from the conversation with a slight kick in my step, knowing that there are folks from all walks of life trying to make their backyard a better place, myself included.

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

11:30-12:30: Mixed Level Flow Yoga w/ Kendall • 4- 5: Beginner Flow w/ Melissa

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828.246.6570

25

arts & entertainment

On the beat

Bluegrass legends at Cataloochee Ranch

Waynesville gets in the tub

Bryson City community jam

Popular Americana/bluegrass group Ol’ Dirty Bathtub will perform at 9 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 15, in The Gem downstairs taproom at Boojum Brewing in Waynesville.

“We’ve always had energy when playing on someone’s porch, but on several occasions lately we have been able to replicate it live,” said ODB guitarist Jerad Davis. “And that’s what makes this fun — people dancing, rooms getting hot, creating an atmosphere that is as fun for those listening as it is for us onstage. That’s why we do it.”

The show is free and open to the public.

The band’s new album, “Pack Mule,” is now available for purchase. www.facebook.com/oldirtybathtub.

A community jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are 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 Grampa’s Music in Bryson City.

The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — year-round. 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.

828.488.3030.

Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

The Seldom Scene.

26

Iconic bluegrass act The Seldom Scene will perform on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.

Although the Baltimore-based band was formed in 1971, its public face has generally lived up to its name — heard by bluegrass fans all over the world, famed for its influence on the progressive bluegrass movement, but with a purposely light touring schedule aimed at keeping the band members primarily close to home.

Though many long-time fans think first of the 1970s editions of The Seldom Scene, many of its current members have actually been with the band even longer than its original members. Lou Reid, on mandolin and guitar, made his first appearance in 1986. Guitarist Dudley Connell, bassist Ronnie Simpkins, and dobro player Fred Travers have all been on board since the mid-1990s. And newest member Ron

WCU Friends of the Arts fundraiser Musician Jim Witter will present his “Time in a Bottle: Celebrating the folk Favorites of the ‘60s and ‘70s” show as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Arts at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

Journey back to the era of the 1960s and 1970s coffee houses, when the scent of clove cigarettes wafted through the air, when poets and musicians ruled the “open mic” scene. War was raging abroad, cries for peace and love were in the air, this was the setting that launched the careers of many of

Stewart, on banjo and fiddle, is hardly new to the bluegrass scene. He was playing fiddle onstage with Lester Flatt in the 1970s, at the tender age of nine.

The Cataloochee Ranch performance will showcase The Seldom Scene’s signature mix of bluegrass-styled country, rock, and even pop. Expect to hear new material as well as songs from the 2014 album “Long Time…

Seldom Scene,” the band’s first release with Smithsonian Folkways. The collection featured fresh interpretations of 16 oftenrequested tunes and was The Seldom Scene’s first studio album since the Grammy-nominated “Scenechronized” in 2007.

Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, which will be held in the covered outdoor Pavilion, are $35 per person. Prime rib dinners, priced separately, will be available before the show.

For reservations, which are required, call Cataloochee Ranch at 828.926.1401. our folk favorites: James Taylor, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin and more.

Tickets are $25 per person. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Pickin’ on the Square The Pickin’ on the Square summer concert series will feature Caribbean Cowboys (variety) at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin.

The concert series is free and open to the public. Bring your lawn chair. Food vendors will also be available. Other performers will

Kenny George Band. Phillip Douglas photo

Cold Mountain Music Series The inaugural “Summer Music Series” will conclude with its final event of the season at the Lake Logan Conference Center, just south of Canton.

• Saturday, Sept. 22: Music by The be Rick Morris (classic hits) Sept. 22, Curtis Blackwell & The Dixie Bluegrass Boys Sept.

29 and Blueridge (southern gospel) Oct. 6.

For more information, visit www.townoffranklinnc.com.

WCU clarinet, piano recital Western Carolina University clarinetist Shannon Thompson and pianist Lillian Pearson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus in Cullowhee.

The program of German romantic music

Kenny George Band, food from Hit the Pit and craft beer from Frog Level Brewing.

The gate opens at 3 p.m. with music starting at 5 p.m. The event is family-friendly. Waterfront will be open. Admission is $15 per carload, $50 for a 15-passenger van, $5 for bikes. Camping and cabins available.

To make reservations, call 828.646.0095. www.lakelogan.org/events. features Brahms’s “Sonata in Eb Major” and other works by Fanny Mendelssohn, Felix Draeseke and Norbert Burgmüller.

A member of both the Asheville and Hendersonville symphony orchestras, Thompson has performed throughout the U.S. as a recitalist and chamber musician.

Pearson’s musical career includes solo orchestral appearances with the Jacksonville and Asheville symphonies, the Breckenridge Festival Orchestra, the Western Carolina Civic Orchestra, National Chamber Players and the Brandenburg Ensemble.

The performance is free and open to the public. For more information about the performance, call the WCU School of Music at 828.227.7242.

On the beat arts & entertainment

Grammy-Nominated

The SELDOM SCENE Angela Faye Martin.

‘Women Songwriters Showcase’

SEPT. 23, 2018

$35 TICKETS

8PM

(828) 926-1401 | 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley | CataloocheeRanch.com

JONATHAN BYRD

& THE P ICKUP COWBOY “...a folk singer with the heart of a rock 'n' roll band.” - K. Oliver, Free Times

"...one of the top 50 songwriters of the past 50 years." - Chicago Tribune “Jonathan Byrd doesn't sing songs; he sings truth.” - Mare Wakefield, Performing Songwriter

Saturday, September 15 • 7 p.m.

Adults $15 / Children 6-16 Half Price; Under 6 Free

Smoky Mountain News

Jonathan Byrd is a preacher's son, a Gulf War veteran, and an award-winning songwriter from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, known for literary, outsider songs that have become campfire favorites. Multi-instrumentalist Johnny Waken cut his teeth on electric guitar in Pittsburgh with rock legend Norm Nardini, opening for The Blues Brothers Band on their Red, Hot & Blue tour in 1992. More recently, Waken joined North Carolina theatre troupe Paperhand Puppet Intervention, contributing to scores for nine shows and winning 4 Indy Awards for best original music. Jonathan Byrd and The Pickup Cowboy are musical gunslingers, vaudevillian hucksters, and old-fashioned tent revivalists. Between heartbreaking ballads and heartlifting sing-alongs, the Cowboys entertain and get audiences involved in the show.

September 12-18, 2018

There will be a “Women Songwriters Showcase” held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in the Macon County Public Library Living Room in Franklin.

Performers include Angela Faye Martin, Diane Chermer, Melinda Pennington, Linda Metz and Rachel Stewart.

Martin is a singer-songwriter, artist, and naturalist living in the historic Cowee community. She has written and produced an EP and two LPs. She recently wrote and narrated the award-winning documentary, “The Sad and Beautiful World of Sparklehorse.”

Chermer began playing and singing about six years ago back in Ohio, where she lived most of her life. She began playing autoharp with a small group, took piano lessons for a couple of years and decided to pick up the mandolin. She played and sang folk and early rock-n-roll with two local bands. She’s also a member of Franklin Overdrive.

Pennington grew up in Southeast Missouri in a small farming community on the Mississippi River. She moved to Louisiana to go to college and lived in Baton

Rouge for many years. Franklin has been her home now for nearly three years. At the age of 61, she bought her first guitar. After learning a few chords, she found that songs started coming to her and she began playing those songs for family and friends. One thing led to another and now songwriting is her obsessive hobby. Her song, “Whiskey Voice” has been recorded by the local band Paradise 56, and is featured on their latest album. She was recently commissioned by Suminski Family Books to write a children’s song, “Annie’s Song,” to accompany their book, Cowee Sam Rides Again.

Metz, a flutist, singer and songwriter, was born and raised in the Carolinas in a home where music was central. She took up flute at age 10 and it quickly became a part of her. Years later, she finished up her formal studies with degrees in Music Ed, Flute Performance, and Divinity. A graduate internship in Ghana (West Africa) fueled her love for ethnic music, an influence which can be heard on her albums with Native American flutes and penny whistle. Her professional work includes over 25 years of private flute teaching, church music directing, solo concerts, and gigging. She also has produced two albums of her original music.

Stewart is an up-and-coming musician/songwriter from Franklin. She has a style of light, acoustic pop/rock, with a lot of Christian influence in her writing. Right now, she’s doing performances around town, and is working on booking more venues to play and possibly doing some recording in the near future.

The event is free and open to the public.

They seldom tour. So see them while you can.

Do we need to say more?

‘Woofstock’ for a cause The “Woofstock” fundraiser for ARF and the Humane Society of Jackson County will be held from 3 p.m. to close Saturday, Sept. 15, at Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro in Sylva.

Performers will include Nick Prestia (singer-songwriter), Bird in Hand (Americana/folk) and PMA (reggae/rock). Admission is $5 donation, $8 for couples.

For more information, call 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

27

On the beat • The Maggie Valley Pavilion will host the Haywood Community Band at 6:30 p.m. Sept.

16. Music from the movies, from television, and with historical reference presented live.

Come early for sheltered seating, or bring a lawn chair. Free and open to the public.

arts & entertainment

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” with Heidi Holton (blues/folk) Sept. 13, Jody West & The Bossmen Sept. 14, Blue Revue Sept. 21 and Somebody’s Child (Americana) Sept. 22. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host an open mic night every Thursday, Aces Down Sept. 14, Somebody’s Child (Americana) Sept. 15, Ivor Sparks Sept. 21 and Twelfth Fret (Americana/folk) Sept. 22.

All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.

• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host Mike Jones Sept. 14 and Logan Watts Sept. 21. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.facebook.com/balsamfallsbrewing.

• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host an acoustic jam with Main St. NoTones from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 13 and 20. Free and open to the public. www.blueridgebeerhub.com.

• Boojum Brewing Company (Waynesville) will host Ol’ Dirty Bathtub (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 15 and Grayson Jenkins & The Resolutions (Americana/alt-country) Sept.

21. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. www.boojumbrewing.com.

September 12-18, 2018

• The Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host The Hot Club Jazz Duo Sept. 14, Joe Cruz (piano/vocals) Sept. 15 and 22, and James Hammel (guitar/vocals) Sept. 21. All shows are free and begin at 7 p.m. 828.452.6000 or www.classicwineseller.com.

• The Historic Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Jonathan Byrd & The Pickup Cowboy at 7 p.m. Sept. 15. Tickets are $15 for adults, $7.50 for ages 6-16 and free under age 6. 828.524.2787 or www.coweeschool.org.

ALSO:

CASUAL FINE DINING WITH LIVE MUSIC COVERED PATIO

Smoky Mountain News

LATE NIGHT MENU

• The Cut Cocktail Lounge (Sylva) will host Freddie Bryan noon Sept. 16, "Talk Like a Pirate Day" 7 p.m. Sept. 17, Andrea & Mud 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and The Fuzzy Peppers 9 p.m.

Sept. 22. 828.631.4795.

• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host Aunt Bee’s Jam (bluegrass) 7 p.m. Sept. 14, Hannah Styles 8 p.m. Sept. 15, Heidi Holton (blues/folk) 7 p.m. Sept. 21 and Cord Johnson 7 p.m. Sept. 22. All shows are free and open to the public. www.froglevelbrewing.com.

KITCHEN 743 TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY FROM 5PM UNTIL...

SATURDAY & SUNDAY BRUNCH FROM 10AM TO 2PM 743 HAYWOOD RD • WEST ASHEVILLE

28

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Wilburn Thompson Sept. 15 and Limited Distance 7 p.m. Sept. 22. All shows are free and begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.curraheebrew.com.

ISISASHEVILLE.COM 828.575.2737

• Harmon’s Den Bistro at HART (Waynesville) will host karaoke and an open mic at 8 p.m. on Saturdays. All are welcome. www.harttheatre.org.

• The High Dive (Highlands) will host DJ Jimmy Shur Sept. 21 and Stig (progressive jazz/funk) Sept. 28.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have an

O Sole Trio.

Bringing Broadway to Highlands “Bravissimo Broadway” by O Sole Trio will feature songs from over 70 years of Broadway favorites at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Highlands Performing Arts Center.

O Sole Trio have been playing to sold out venues across the country and the UK, including the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Tickets are available online at www.highlandspac.org or by calling 828.526.9047.

Open Mic night Sept. 12 and 19, and a jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo Sept. 13 and 20, Alma Russ (Americana/bluegrass) Sept. 15 and Banjo Mitch (folk/bluegrass) Sept. 22. All events are free and begin at 8 p.m. www.innovation-brewing.com.

• Isis Music Hall (West Asheville) will host A.T. Branch & Friends 7 p.m. Sept. 12, Jamie McLean Band (Americana/rock) 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 12, The Gravyhouse Storytellers (blues/swing) 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13, Ducli Ellenberger Trio (roots/soul) 6:30 p.m. Sept.

14, Taylor Martin (Americana/alt-country) 7 p.m. Sept. 14, Jonathan Scales release party (jazz/world) 9 p.m. Sept. 14, Lula Wiles (Americana/folk) 7 p.m. Sept. 15, Artimus Pyle Band (classic rock) 9 p.m. Sept. 15, Gina Sicilia (blues) 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Wild Rivers (pop/rock) 7 p.m. Sept. 16, The High Kings (celtic/world) 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sept.

17, Darren Nicholson Band (Americana/country) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18, Claude Bourbon (blues/classical) 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 and Danielle Nicole Band 8:30 p.m.

Sept. 19. www.isisasheville.com.

• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host an open mic night at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, Donna Hopkins Band Sept. 15, Formula 5 (jam/rock) 9 p.m. Sept. 21 and Frogtown Bluegrass Sept. 22. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

• Nantahala Brewing (Bryson City) will host Redleg Husky (Americana) Sept. 14, Frank Lee & Allie Burbrink (Americana/folk) 6 p.m.

Sept. 15 (at The Warehouse) and The Paper Crowns Sept. 21. All shows are free and begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.nantahalabrewing.com.

• The Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee) will host a back porch old-time music jam from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 15. All are welcome.

• Salty Dog’s (Maggie Valley) will have Karaoke with Jason Wyatt at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Mile High (classic rock) 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, and a Trivia w/Kelsey Jo 8 p.m. Thursdays.

• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host “Hoppy Hour” and an open mic at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and live music on Friday evenings. 828.482.9794 or www.satulahmountainbrewing.com.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host Wineaux Jones & The Corkscrews 7 p.m. Sept. 14 (free), “Woofstock” fundraiser for ARF and the Humane Society of Jackson County Nick Prestia (singer-songwriter), Bird in Hand (Americana/folk) and PMA (reggae/rock) starting at 3 p.m. Sept. 15 ($5 donation, $8 for couples), and Trippin Hardie 4 p.m. Sept. 29 (free). 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• The Strand at 38 Main (Waynesville) will host an “Open Mic” night from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturdays. 828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host High 5 (rock/blues) Sept. 21 and Andrew Thelston Band (rock) Sept. 28. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m.

• The Water’n Hole Bar & Grill (Waynesville) will host Andrea & Mud Sept. 14 and The Pirate Party 9 p.m. Sept. 19. All shows begin at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

828.456.4750.

• Whiteside Brewing (Cashiers) will host Isaiah Breedlove & Scott Low (Americana/folk) Sept. 14 and Bygone Blues w/Aaron Price & Peggy Ratuz 2 p.m. Sept.

23. All shows start at 5:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.743.6000 or www.whitesidebrewing.com.

On the street

The Cherokee Heritage Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

15, in Hayesville.

The rich and proud heritage of our Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), which reportedly dates back more than 11,000 years, and will be brought to life with live demonstrations and presentations at the Cherokee Heritage Festival.

Located next to the Clay County Historical Arts Museum, the Cherokee

Mountain Life Festival

Political commentator, community organizer and independent journalist Rosa Clemente will be Western Carolina University’s Civil Discourse Speaker at 7 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the A.K. Hinds University Center Grandroom.

Recovery Gala at Sylva library The Jackson County Public Library will be hosting a celebration of the end of the “Mind & Body” series at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the library in Sylva. This is the final event in the six-month health series.

September is national recovery month and a great way to wrap up all the hard work that has gone into the health series.

The library invites everyone in the com-

Ready for the Macon County Fair?

The annual Macon County Agricultural Fair will take place Sept. 12-15 at the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin.

Join the celebration, which will feature a barbecue supper, best cake contest, Special Needs Livestock Show, harvest sale, festival foods, and more. Sponsored by Macon County Horse Association. www.themaconcofair.com.

Raise the Roof with Habitat Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will host “Raise the Roof,” a fundraising event to provide funds to build a Habitat home in Waynesville, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, in Cherokee.

Don’t miss this fun evening of great food and entertainment to support Haywood Habitat. General admission, transportation included, and lodging included ticket options are available.

It’s an awesome opportunity for a great night out on the Harrah’s Riverwalk with an inspired menu, signature cocktails, lively entertainment, great raffle items like brewery

munity to come up to the library to celebrate life, network with people that have lived through similar life stories and connect with local professionals.

There will be light refreshments and the event is free of charge. For more information, please call the Jackson County Public Library at 828.586.2016. This seminar is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library.

The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org).

tours, exclusive dining, trips, and more to support the Habitat pledge to provide safe and affordable housing to deserving families in our community.

For more information visit www.haywoodhabitat.org, call 828.452.7960, or visit Jeweler’s Workbench on Main Street in Waynesville to purchase tickets.

Rollergirls bout against Charlotte The Smoky Mountain Rollergirls will continue the 2018 roller derby season with a double header Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Swain County Rec Department in Bryson City.

The junior team takes on Columbia Junior Rollers with SMRG taking on Charlotte Roller Girls B-Dazzlers. Doors open at 3 p.m. and the first whistle blows at 4 p.m. to start the Lil’ Nemesisters’ game. The adults play at 6 p.m Proceeds from the ticket sales for this event benefit Smoky Mountain Community Theatre. To learn more, visit smctheatre.com or call 828.488.8227.

Purchase tickets presale from your favorite skater for $5 or get them at the door for $7 (ages 7 and under are free). Meet both teams at a family friendly after party located at Nantahala Brewpub in downtown Bryson City. 29

Smoky Mountain News

The Mountain Life Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee.

This is a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center event. Walk around the mountain farm and enjoy demonstrations of hearth cooking, apple butter making, blacksmithing, lye soap making, food preservation, and chair bottoming. Artifacts and historic photographs from the park’s collection will be on display. The centerpiece of the event is the sorghum syrup demonstration using a horse or mule-powered cane mill and a wood-fired cooker.

Rosa Clemente to speak at WCU

September 12-18, 2018

Homestead Exhibit is a replica of a 17th century homestead complete with winter house, summer house, corn crib, multi-use shelter and mound gardens, and will be the site of the festival.

This year’s event will feature: • Dancing by Cherokee North Carolina’s Oconaluftee Living History Village performers.

• Stories about Cherokee history and culture, and demonstrations of flint knapping and woodcarving by widely recognized artist and member of EBCI, Davy Arch.

• Hoop dancing by world champion dancer Eddie Swimmer.

• Pottery demonstrations by North Carolina Heritage Award winning Cherokee beloved woman Amanda Swimmer.

• Demonstrations of arts and crafts including finger weaving, bead work, basket weaving, dart making, blowgun skills, wood carving, flint knapping, etc. by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

• Flute music by Dan Hollifield, Hayesville resident and member of the Cherokee Nation who makes the flutes he plays.

• Cherokee-related activities for children of all ages.

• Food by Reed Frybread: frybread with a variety of toppings, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages.

• Authentic Cherokee art for your perusal and purchase.

• Native plant “walks and talks” by Hiwassee River Watershed Coalition’s Tony Ward and members of Clay County Historical & Arts Council.

In addition to the festival, the adjacent Clay County Old Jail Museum will be open for the day, and features Cherokee artifacts, local history displays and art. There is no entrance fee. There will be a silent auction for work of regional artists.

This event is sponsored by the Clay County Communities Revitalization Association, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. For more information, call 828.389.3045 or visit www.cccra-nc.org.

Clemente, an Afro-Puerto Rican who was born and raised in the Bronx, New York, has dedicated her life to organizing, scholarship and activism. She is the president and founder of “Know Thy Self Productions,” which has produced seven major community activism tours, and consults on issues such as hip-hop feminism, media justice, voter engagement among youth of color, third party politics, U.S. political prisoners and the right of Puerto Rico to become an independent nation free of U.S. colonial domination.

Tickets are free and are available at the UC guest services desk. WCU students can pick up their tickets (one per person) through Monday, Sept. 17; WCU faculty and staff (two per person) can pick up theirs beginning Wednesday, Sept. 12; and the public (two per person) on Friday, Sept. 14.

The event, sponsored by the Department of Campus Activities and the College of Arts and Sciences, supports the OneBook and DegreePlus initiatives.

arts & entertainment

Cherokee Heritage Festival

Rosa Clemente.

arts & entertainment

On the wall

Youth Arts Festival The annual Youth Arts Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

15, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Sylva.

Children’s activities, live demonstrations, and more. For information, call 828.631.0271 or visit www.jcgep.org.

‘The Visual Systems of Vernon Pratt’

September 12-18, 2018

The newest exhibit in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University, “Grids & Gradients: The Visual Systems of Vernon Pratt” will run through Nov. 9 at the Fine Art Museum Gallery C on campus in Cullowhee.

Drawn primarily from the collection of

the WCU Fine Art Museum, this exhibition brings together a selection of recentlyacquired paintings by Pratt, an artist who worked at the intersection of art and mathematics. Pratt took a systematic approach to his creative process, often exploring the rich array of possibilities within a given set of parameters.

The paintings on view focus on two of Pratt’s characteristic elements — the grid and the gradient. Math activities for both college-age and middle-school students will be developed in conjunction with the exhibition to help illuminate the connections between art and math that permeate Pratt’s work.

Pratt (1940-2000) lived and worked in Durham and was passionate about the interrelationship of math, music, and art.

He taught in the Art Department at Duke University for over 30 years, developing a particular form of abstraction, which he termed “systematic abstraction.”

In the late 1960s, he adopted the motto that “simple is complicated enough,” and began limiting his palette to black, white, and gray. This led him to explore the visual potential of grayscale gradients in his paintings, and he developed a fascination with incremental form, using each canvas to create a series of visual transformations with colors, shapes, or words. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

Smoky Mountain News

Local crafter Nancy Shane will be teaching how to make a unique magazine or candy wrapper purse from noon to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Jackson County Cooperative Extension Office in Sylva.

Participants can make any size purse they choose similar to the one pictured below. Shane has been crafting since a child and especially enjoys re-purposing and creating distinctive useful items. Supply list includes clear packing tape, colorful magazines or photos, optional Velcro or short zipper.

Class size is limited. The cost for this fun class is only $10 and a reservation is required by calling the Extension Office at 828.586.4009.

• The 3rd annual “Local Arts Fair” will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept.

22, at the Big Creek Country Store in Waterville, Tennessee (Exit 451/I-40). Booth space is $10. For more information or to call for booth space, 828.476.4492.

LUNCH DAILY 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. DINNER NIGHTLY AT 5 P.M. TUESDAY-SATURDAY Voted Best Steak in Waynesville

Wine Down Wednesdays 1/2 off bottle of wine

Classic local American comfort foods, craft beers, along with small batch bourbons & whiskey.

Vegetarian options available Closed Sunday & Monday 454 Hazelwood Avenue • Waynesville Call 828.452.9191 for reservations

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Candy wrapper, magazine purse class

• A “Beginner Step-By-Step” painting class will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays (Sept.

13, 27) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. RSVP by contacting Robin Arramae at 828.400.9560 or paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• An exhibition for artisans Wanda DavisBrowne and Judy McManus will continue through Oct. 6 at Gallery 1 in Sylva. DavisBrowne’s photos are inspired by the diverse natural patterns and colors of nature, primarily flora. A glass artist, McManus was invited to join working artists at Jackson County’s Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in 2010. She also teaches classes and gives demonstrations at the facility and exhibits art in the GEP gallery. www.facebook.com/artinthemountains.

ALSO:

• Mad Batter Food & Film (Sylva) will host a free movie night at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

• The Waynesville Fiber Friends will meet from 10 a.m. to noon on the second Saturday of the month at the Panacea Coffee House in Waynesville. All crafters and beginners interested in learning are invited.

You can keep up with them through their Facebook group or by calling 828.276.6226 for more information.

• There will be a “Thursday Painters Open Studio” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Franklin Uptown Gallery. Bring a bag lunch, project and supplies. Free to the public. Membership not required. For information, call 828.349.4607.

• A “Youth Art Class” will be held from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday at the Appalachian Art Farm on 22 Morris Street in Sylva. All ages welcome. $10 includes instruction, materials and snack. For more information, email appalachianartfarm@gmail.com or find them on Facebook.

• Free classes and open studio times are being offered at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Join others at a painting open studio session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays.

For information on days open, hours and additional art classes and workshops, contact the gallery on 30 East Main Street at 828.349.4607.

On the wall arts & entertainment

How do you define ‘America’?

Randy Shull’s ‘Simultaneous Pattern.’

Workshops for artists, arts businesses

Smoky Mountain News

The Haywood County Arts Council has partnered with the Haywood Community College Small Business Center to provide workshops for area artists and arts-based businesses.

The workshop series, titled “Arts In Business,” will take place at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville. The courses will focus on refining an arts business, including valuable information about achieving success in new digital spaces.

• “Telling Your Small Business Story” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. Speaker will be tenBiz. What makes your products stand out? What is it about you that connects with consumers? When you do a good job of

telling your small business brand story, you become more accessible and make a better connection with your audience. No matter where you sell, communicating your story is critical for success in the marketplace and for tapping into your consumer demand for authenticity. Learn more about key components to include in your story and work to begin crafting or further hone your story.

• “Social Media Strategies for Small Business” from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.

Speaker will be Chisa Pennix-Brown. This seminar is designed to help small business owners put the pieces together. If you have a disjointed strategy or no strategy at all, this seminar will help to navigate your current marketing plan and enhance it.

The courses are free, but registration is required. Call the Haywood County Arts Council at 828.452.0593 or email info@haywoodarts.org to register for the classes.

September 12-18, 2018

The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center is pleased to announce a year-long exhibition inspired by and named after Western Carolina University’s 2018 Campus Theme.

“Defining America” brings together artists with different perspectives on the concept of “America” and asks visitors to reflect on the values, definitions, and assumptions attached to this concept.

The exhibition will be on view throughout the Fall 2018 and Spring 2019 semesters at Western Carolina University, beginning Sept. 11 and closing May 3. Please join WCU for the exhibition’s opening reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20. The reception will feature a gallery talk at 5:30 p.m. followed by refreshments.

Regular museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays until 7 p.m. For information, call 828.227.ARTS or visit bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

@SmokyMtnNews 31

On the table arts & entertainment

Bosu’s tastings, small plates

September 12-18, 2018

Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville will host an array of wine tastings and small plates from Chef Stacy’s gourmet cuisine, available at The Secret Wine Bar within the shop. Dog friendly patio and front garden open, weather permitting.

• Sept. 13/20: Five for $5 Wine Tasting from 5 to 9 p.m. Come taste five magnificent wines and dine on Chef Stacy’s gourmet cuisine.

• Sept. 14/21: Secret Wine Bar Night from 5 to 9 p.m.. Gourmet food, and a great wine & beer menu.

For more information, call 828.452.0120 or visit www.waynesvillewine.com.

• Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro (Sylva) will host “Wine & Cheese for the Soul” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25. The wine and cheese pairing will be guided by Caroline Martin.

Cost is $10 for five wines and cheese.

828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• There will be a free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and 22 at Bosu’s Wine Shop in Waynesville. www.waynesville wine.com or 828.452.0120.

ALSO:

• A free wine tasting will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 15 and 22 at Papou’s Wine Shop in Sylva. www.papouswineshop.com or 828.631.3075.

• Free cooking demonstrations will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturdays at Country Traditions in Dillsboro. Watch the demonstrations, eat samples and taste house wines for $3 a glass. All recipes posted online. www.countrytraditionsnc.com.

Smoky Mountain News

On the stage Fish out of water comedy

SPACE AVAILABLE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

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828 | 452 | 4251

The Overlook Theatre Company will present “The Foreigner,” an enjoyable and downright hilarious two-act comedy, at 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14-15 and 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

“The Foreigner” was written by American playwright Larry Shue and has won multiple awards including Best Off-Broadway Production. It’s a laugh-out-loud comedy full of crazy characters, absurd misunderstandings, and southern charm. It tells the story of the visit of Englishmen Charlie Baker and Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueue to a resortstyle fishing lodge in rural Georgia.

“The Foreigner” provides a delightful les-

son in the art of listening and the magic of kindness. Baker is carried away by his own whimsical imagination that leads to a hilarious climax and heart-warming ending.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students. To purchase tickets, visit www.greatmountainmusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

• There is free comedy improv class from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday at Moo Mountain Bakery in Maggie Valley. No experience necessary, just come to watch or join in. Improv teacher Wayne Porter studied at Sak Comedy Lab in Orlando, Florida, and performed with several groups. Join Improv WNC on Facebook or come to the bakery 2511 Soco Road.

ALSO:

Books

Smoky Mountain News

Tyler delivers another delightful novel ears ago, my wife and I belonged to a Waynesville book club in which a couple would act as host every month and select the book for discussion. Once when our turn rolled around I chose Anne Tyler’s Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant.

The other members seemed to enjoy Tyler’s novel, though at one point one of the women menWriter tioned that she thought Tyler’s characters were too eccentric.

“But aren’t we all eccentric?” I asked.

She thought not. We debated the point a few minutes, and then moved on to other topics.

During that debate I contended that we are all eccentric or quirky. We all have our different odd habits and ways of thinking, though we may not go to the lengths of Uncle Billy Bob, who wears his trousers pulled to his chest, collects bottle caps, addresses everyone as “Boog-a-Loo,” and has written weekly for 40 years to whoever is the current president of the United States.

But the fact is that we all possess idiosyncrasies, many of which we conceal if we are wise. Maybe we eat our meals one item at a time — chicken, peas, potatoes. Maybe we dislike the number 13 or knock on wood for good luck. Maybe we feel compelled to do certain actions that to others appear nonsensical. (I once knew a millionaire who stopped and plucked a forlorn penny from the pavement of a parking lot. “Sorry,” she said, looking mildly embarrassed. “I just can’t stop myself.” From that point on, I have never passed by a dropped coin without picking it up, so some eccentricities may be infectious.)

I still contend we are all eccentrics in our own ways.

And Anne Tyler is the queen of eccentricity.

In her latest novel, Clock Dance (Alfred A. Knopf, 2018, 292 pages), Tyler tells us the story of Willa Drake.

We first meet her in 1967 when she is a girl living with a weak but loving father and a mother who flies into a rage over trivialities. We then jump to 1977, when Willa, now in college, brings the young man home whom she will eventually marry. In 1997, her

Jeff Minick

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husband dies in a road rage accident he himself instigated, leaving Willa to fend for herself.

And in 2017, Willa, now remarried

and living with her husband Peter, a semi-retired lawyer, in Arizona, receives the news from Baltimore that Denise, her son’s former girlfriend and mother of a nine-year-old girl, Cheryl, has been shot in the leg. The caller, a stranger named Callie, mistakes Willa for Cheryl’s grandmother, and asks her to come and care for Cheryl until Denise is released from the hospital.

After this phone call, Tyler then tells us: “Of course Willa couldn’t go.

That would be crazy. She would have to call Callie back and confess she wasn’t the child’s grandmother. But first she spent an enjoyable moment pretending that she might really do this.”

By pretending, Willa makes up her mind to fly to Baltimore to serve as caretaker and substitute grandmother, accompanied by a reluctant husband who is half-convinced his wife has gone round the bend. As Willa settles into the routine of the Baltimore house and begins finding delight in the neighbors, all of whom know each other well — Peter never accepts this situation and eventually returns to Arizona ahead of Willa — she finds herself transformed. Mother of two sons whom she rarely sees, and with no grandchildren on the horizon, she finds herself enjoying her role as faux grandmother to Cheryl. She takes pleasure in getting to know the neigh-

bors — and yes, they are all “eccentric” — and soon feels closer to them than those few people she knew in the golfing community in Arizona.

The rest of Clock Dance tells of Willa’s immersion into the lives of Denise, Cheryl, Callie, and others. They take her into their confidences — she is one of the first to learn who shot Denise, and why — and Willa blossoms in her changed circumstances, feeling for the first time in years as if she had again found her purpose in living.

Though Tyler has often used Baltimore as the background in her novels, she also has many ties to North Carolina. From age 7 to 11, she lived in a commune in Celo near Burnsville, working and taking lessons from a correspondence school rather than enrolling in public school. When her family moved to Raleigh, she attended public school, graduated at age 16, and entered Duke University, where she was taught by Reynolds Price and shared a classroom with Fred Chappell, both of whom became renowned North Carolina authors.

Later, after a year of Russians studies in New York City, Tyler would return to the university, meet her future husband, and set her first novel in North Carolina.

Aware of the criticism that she writes about eccentrics, Tyler once remarked “ People are always saying we understand you write about quirky characters, and I think, isn’t everybody quirky? If you look very closely at anybody you’ll find impediments, women and men both.”

There are numerous reasons to read Clock Dance: the characters, the sometimes surprising plot twists, the fine writing that we have come to expect from a writer who has written 22 novels, one of which, Breathing Lessons, won a Pulitzer.

But a main reason why I used to read Anne Tyler, and why I now intend to go back and read some of her novels I’ve missed over the last decade, is because she is, quite simply, a delight. In spending time with Anne Tyler, we learn more about our fellow human beings, and ourselves.

What more can you ask of an author?

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. minick0301@gmail.com.)

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Poetry lecture in Highlands Dr. Catherine Carter, Associate Professor at Western Carolina University, will give a lecture titled, “Larvae of the Nearest Stare: Poetry and the Nonhuman,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Highlands Nature Center.

Each summer, the Highlands Biological Foundation hosts free evening lectures at the Nature Center on Thursdays focused on the theme of natural history and conservation, a tradition that began in the 1930s.

For this presentation, Carter will explore a few accessible, nonthreatening poems which engage with the nonhuman and report back and talk a little about what they find there and how they do that.

Audience participation is encouraged.

Carter works in English education, poetry, and American literature, and is the author of the poetry collections Marks of the Witch, The Swamp Monster at Home, and The Memory of Gills. Her work has appeared in English Education, Studies in American Fiction, Orion, Poetry, Ploughshares, Cortland Review, Asheville Poetry Review, and Best American Poetry 2009, among others, and has won several regional awards.

For more information on other programs, visit www.highlandsbiological.org or call the Highlands Biological Foundation at 828.526.2221.

‘Coffee with the Poets and Writers’ The NCWN-West’s “Coffee with the Poets and Writers” (CWPW) will feature poet Brent Martin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville.

Martin’s wife, Angela Faye Martin, a singer-songwriter and artist, will perform after Brent’s reading. The reading and entertainment are free and open to the public, and an open mic will follow the reading and performance.

For more information, contact Glenda Beall at 828.389.4447.

Folk School ‘Literary Hour’ The NC Writers’ Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

At this event, NCWN-West members will read at the Keith House on the JCCFS campus. The Literary Hour is held on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated. This reading is free of charge and open to the public. This month’s featured readers will be Glenda Council Beall, Karen Paul Holmes and Estelle Rice.

Book details Thomson’s Pulp Mill Haywood County writer Carroll C. Jones has released Thomson’s Pulp Mill: Building the Champion Fibre Company at Canton, North Carolina: 1905 to 1908.

Jones, author of Master of the East Fork and Rebel Rousers, was the 2016 President’s Award winner, from the North Carolina Society of Historians.

Jones’s release, Thomson’s Pulp Mill: Building the Champion Fibre Company at Canton, North Carolina: 1905 to 1908, is a historical novel about the intriguing story of Peter Gibson Thomson’s pulp mill and the original construction of the Champion Fibre Company.

Early reviews label the book as a well-researched and detailed account of the Champion Fibre Company’s early beginnings. About the book, Jones stated, “A year or so ago, I stumbled upon a rare trove of old photographs made during the period when the original Champion Fibre pulp mill and extract plant were under construction — between 1905 and 1908. So, I decided to use these wonderful pictures to tell the story of the mammoth pulp mill Peter G. Thomson built in Canton.”

For more information or to schedule a book signing, call Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc., at 423.926.9983, or visit www.jancarolpublishing.com.

Follow JCP on Facebook.

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

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Headwaters State Forest has three named waterfalls and 25 waterfalls total. Steve Orr photos

Nine years yields new state forest Headwaters State Forest will offer landowner education and primitive recreation

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER orth Carolina got a new slice of public land last week when Headwaters State Forest was opened to the public Thursday, Sept. 6, the first large tract to be added to N.C. Forest Service lands since acquisition of DuPont State Forest began in 1996.

Headwaters State Forest — so named because it contains the headwaters of the east fork of the French Broad River — encompasses 6,730 acres in Transylvania County south of Brevard abutting the South Carolina line and contiguous to the Jocasse Gorges Management Area, the Greenville Watershed and the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area. It contains three named waterfalls and 25 waterfalls in total, as well as 9 miles of the 76-mile Foothills Trail. Until Headwaters was created, that was the only stretch of the path not in public ownership.

“There’s no one reason why it’s a good

N

Check it out No detailed maps of Headwaters State Forest are available yet, but more information about the forest is available at www.ncforestservice.gov/headwaters. More information will be added to the website going forward.

project,” said Justin Boner, director of North Carolina real estate for The Conservation Fund. “It checks a lot of different boxes for public benefit.”

THE CONSERVATION PROCESS Getting nearly 7,000 acres of previously private land into public ownership hasn’t been an easy process, however. Any conservation purchase requires time and money to achieve — to agree on a price, to come up with purchase funds and to officially transfer the property from the landowner to the land

Michael Cheek, assistant regional forester for the N.C. Forest Service. “It is pretty significant to be able to conserve and pull into that working forest model this large of a landscape-type property.”

The first purchase was about 800 acres along the Foothills Trail, which runs along the ridgeline and state line of North and South Carolina.

“We all thought that was the most important piece to protect,” Boner said. “We wanted to ensure it stays in public use forever.”

Around 2012, the group started finding some real success in the grant-writing department, and 2013 became “kind of a banner year” for the project.

“At least 2,000 acres went into state ownership that year,” Boner said.

In all, Taylor received $28.9 million for the land, $18.2 million less than the fair The property offers a market value of $47.1 variety of habitat types. million. A $3.7 million private donation from Fred and Alice Stanback helped pay The new state forest includes 9 for the project with miles of the 76-mile Foothills Trail. grant funding totaling $25.2 million. Grants included $14.7 million from the N.C. Clean Water Management Trust Fund and the N.C. Natural Heritage Fund and $9.3 million from the U.S. Forest Service Forest Legacy Program, which is funded by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The LWCF will expire Sept. 30 unless “Congressman Taylor was kind enough to Congress acts to extend it. allow us to purchase property from him While the state celebrated completion of whenever we had the funds available to do the forest last week, its acreage could continue so,” Boner said. “He was never really expecting we have a single closing on all 8,000 acres. to grow for some time. Taylor’s property totaled 8,000 acres, and the state currently Everyone knew that just wasn’t feasible. So over the years we had 12 different acquisitions owns only 6,740 acres. Another buyer did purchase 1,000 acres of the 8,000-acre properor phases where we purchased land from ty, but there is still some Taylor land potenhim.” tially available for addition to the state forest, The conservation project has been ongoas well as some owners of neighboring propering since 2009, when Taylor approached ties expressing interest in adding their lands.

Conserving Carolina, then called the Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy, about the possi- At the ribbon-cutting event Sept. 6 Taylor bility of purchasing the land for conservation. signed a contract for an additional 120 acres.

“That’s something we’ll be working on in It was a pretty big project for a small land the future going forward is adding to it where trust like Conserving Carolina to take on, so it’s appropriate,” Cheek said. the group contacted The Conservation Fund to help out. Since 2009, the two nonprofits have worked together to apply for numerous LANS FOR THE FUTURE grants in hopes of coming up with the money to buy the land.

The Conservation Fund is winding down “This was the largest privately owned its involvement with the project, but property left out there for conservation,” said on the Forest Service end it’s just trust to the final owner, which in most cases is some government agency or another. When the property in question is more than 10 square miles in size, though, the challenge is magnified.

Luckily, The Conservation Fund — the nonprofit that took the lead on the conservation project — had an extremely cooperative landowner to work with. All of the newly conserved property was previously owned by former U.S. Rep. Charles Taylor, R-Brevard, who bought the 8,000-acre tract from longtime owner Champion International Corporation.

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Vintage trailers return to Maggie

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outdoors

Tickets are More than 50 $5 and free for vintage trailers kids 12 and will be on display under, with 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. proceeds beneSaturday, Sept. fiting Haywood 22, at Waterways Stonebridge Association’s Campground in youth educaMaggie Valley for tion programs. the annual From 9 to 11 Vintage Camper a.m., Boy Scout Show.

Vintage trailers of all types will be Troop No. 318 Hosted by the on display Sept. 22. Donated photo will host a Southern Vintage breakfast Trailer Friends, fundraiser at the campground with panthe event will include the trailers’ owners, cakes and sausage for $5. Those proceeds who will be on hand to answer questions will benefit troop activities. and share the trailers’ history.

M ONDAY-F RIDAY 7:30-5:00 • WAYNESVILLE P LAZA 828-456-5387 • WAYNESVILLETIRE . COM

Join the farm Enjoy music, food, beer, fishing and dancing during an Open Farm Day beginning at 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 15, at Emerald Gate Farm in Haywood County.

The farm is a one-man subsistence farming operation and also offers farm stays. It is located at 472 Medford Hannah Road in the Jonathan Creek area. jcdobson@gmail.com.

SEPTEMBER 22 • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The annual Big Sweep is coming! Sponsored by Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College, Big Sweep is an annual County-wide stream cleanup event that removes tons of trash from local waterways.

Volunteers will focus on Richland Creek this year and meet at two Waynesville locations, the Mountain Creek Plaza/Bi-Lo Grocery (404 Russ Avenue) at 8:30 am and Petsmart (321 Town Center Loop) at 9:30 am. Volunteers should be prepared to get wet and dirty; please wear close-toed shoes and long pants. Trash bags, grabbers, and gloves will be provided. A picnic lunch for volunteers will follow the clean-up.

RSVP by Sept. 20 to Christine O’Brien at 828-476-4667 ext. 11 or christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com.

Big Sweep is supported by the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservoirs & Community Stream Cleanups Fund and the Town of Waynesville.

Smoky Mountain News

beginning. Now that the forest is officially state property and listed as an N.C. State Forest, it will be Cheek’s job to see that it’s managed and developed to meet the goals set out for its use.

“We plan on keeping it as a working forest and really focusing on stewardship, multiple-use principles of management — managing the forest, managing the wildlife, providing for good water quality,” Cheek said.

The land has been used as a working forest for years, with Taylor and Champion International before him using it to grow and harvest trees. The state plans to continue that tradition, using the property to demonstrate different methods of forest management to aid in landowner education efforts. Signage explaining those various methods is in the works, so that all users — not just forest landowners — can gain a better understanding of forest management as they explore the property.

HAYWOOD COUNTY BIG SWEEP

September 12-18, 2018

Justin Boner (left) and Michael Cheek examine a map of the forest.

“We’re really trying to promote dispersed recreation, backcountry wilderness experience,” Cheek said. “Try to not focus people in one area but spread them out and enjoy the backcountry setting across the property.”

As is, the forest has three access points, with plans to develop a few more including small parking areas sufficient to hold five to 10 cars — no larger lots are planned, and there are no amenities such as bathrooms, trash cans or cell service. Hunting is allowed, as is hiking and backpacking.

There’s only one named trail — that’s the Foothills Trail — but the property has about 25 miles of road from previous hunting and logging activities.

“It’s got a large road system there, so we’re not planning to build additional trails,” Cheek said. “There is quite a bit of work we need to do on the road system that’s there to work on the sedimentation issues that are occurring.”

The hope is that keeping the experience at Headwaters backcountry-focused and primitive will alleviate some of the pressure on nearby DuPont State Forest, which sees substantial visitation and is an important part of Transylvania County’s economy.

“There are days that DuPont State Forest is overflowing. So, it’s great news that we’re adding more public lands, offering different kinds of outdoor experience,” said Conserving Carolina in a Sept. 7 Facebook post about the opening of Headwaters State Forest.

“DuPont’s already bringing hundreds of thousands of people to Transylvania County every year, and we think this is an opportunity to alleviate some of the pressure on DuPont,” Cheek added. “That primitive experience doesn’t quite exist at DuPont anymore. This property will fill that niche.”

haywoodwaterways.org info@haywoodwaterways.org | 828-476-4667 Haywood Waterways is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

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Run to support cancer screening outdoors

12th annual Power of Pink 5K Run, Walk and Dog Walk will be held Saturday, Sept. 29, in Frog Level in Waynesville for

The annual 5K raises money to help Haywood County residents pay for cancer screening. Donated photo the first time ever.

The race will begin at 9 a.m. with a block party from 9 a.m. to noon featuring Sound Extreme. The 5K course will be flat

and fast, starting on Commerce Street in front of Frog Level Brewing and proceeding up Sulphur Springs Road.

Proceeds from the race, hosted by the Haywood Healthcare Foundation, will allow the organization to fund mammograms and cancer screening for those in need. The previous 11 events have provided more than 1,500 procedures to more than 800 Haywood County women.

In addition to awards for typical race categories, the first dog across the finish line will receive an award.

Discounts given for groups of five. Wear pink, and bring some extra cash to participate in the raffle. Register online at www.gloryhoundevents.com.

Watch out for cyclists with Tour de Cashiers

Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

Cyclists will be on the roads in Jackson, Macon and Transylvania Counties Saturday, Sept. 15, as the Tour de Cashiers returns.

The event features 25, 62 and 100-mile routes reaching from Cullasaja to Lake Toxaway and Balsam Grove and then to Cullowhee and back toward Cullasaja. A 5K foot race is included as well.

Registration is still available, with proceeds benefiting the Cashiers Area Chamber of Commerce. www.tourdecashiers.com.

Slalom the Tuck The ninth annual Cullowhee Canoe Slalom will offer a family-friendly paddling competition beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, on a calm section of the Tuckaseigee River near Western Carolina University.

The competition will start at the Locust Creek put-in just downstream from the greenway bridge on Old Cullowhee Road, with the course including nine gates on flat but moving water and competitions for canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Canoes, paddles and personal floatation devices will be provided, but kayakers and paddle boarders should bring their own boats. All participants should bring closed-toed shoes, a water bottle and clothes that can get wet.

The course will be open for practice from 1 to 7 p.m. Friday Sept. 21. $5 per person, per event, with food available on-site for purchase. Register by 5

SPACE AVAILABLE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

36

828 | 452 | 4251

Participants navigate a gate on the Tuckaseigee River during the 2017 Cullowhee Canoe Slalom. WCU photo p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, by emailing wcucanoeslalom@gmail.com. Day-of registration not available.

Hosted by WCU Parks and Recreation Management Program students and the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. Proceeds benefit the Parks and Recreation Management Scholarship Fund.

Pick up on pickleball A new pickleball tournament will be offered this fall in Haywood County, and registration is open through Sept. 21.

The doubles tournament will be held Oct. 9-10 at the Old Hazelwood Gym with men’s, women’s and mixed tournaments offered. Participants will be grouped according to intermediate and advanced skill levels. A maximum of 60 players will compete in round robin or double elimination, depending on the number of players per division. $20 entry fee. Register with Haywood County Recreation and Parks at 828.452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

Travel the continent through photos

A tree swallow feeds its chicks.

Ed Boos photo

Volunteer for National Public Lands Day The nation’s largest, single-day public lands volunteer effort will return with

Explore the worldwide salamander capital A short hike to a research plot will give citizens the chance to become salamander scientists Saturday, Sept. 22, at Purchase Knob in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

One of the park’s salamander experts will lead this moderate-to-strenuous route, which passes through an area known as the “Salamander Capital of the World,” as it has 30 species of the slimy creatures. The group will meet at 10 a.m. and finish by 1 p.m. Participants should wear hiking shoes and bring lunch, water, warm clothing and rain gear.

Part of Haywood Waterways Association’s “Get to Know Your Watershed” series of hikes, lectures and paddle tours. Free for HWA members and $5 for nonmembers, with light refreshments provided and carpooling encouraged. No pets.

Space limited. RSVP to Christine O’Brien by Sept. 20 at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.

National Public Lands Day Saturday, Sept.

22, with an observance at the Cradle of Forestry in America.

Admission to the Cradle will be free that day, with staff offering guided hikes on the Cradle’s two trails and fun activities to encourage visitors to enjoy public lands.

Volunteer projects that day will include erosion control, mulching and invasive species removal. To volunteer, contact Clay Wooldridge at 828.877.3031 or cradle@cfaia.org.

National Public Lands day is an initiative of the National Environmental Education Foundation and sponsored by Toyota. It aims to connect people to public lands and their communities, inspire environmental stewardship and encourage use of public lands for education, recreation and general health.

This salamander will be identified, weighed, measured and released. Donated photo

A tiger swallowtail butterfly gets a taste of nectar.

Donated photo

outdoors

Photos and videos of the continent’s wildest places will be featured during a program at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 17, at the

Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Photography by Ed Boos and videos from his wife Cindy Boos show a variety of wildlife and wildlife behaviors from Florida, Yellowstone, Newfoundland, Manitoba and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Ed and Cindy have developed wildlife programs that they’ve shown in multiple states, with Ed’s photographs published in magazines including Birds and Blooms and Carolina Country.

Free and part of the Franklin Bird Club’s regular monthly meeting.

Get up close with butterflies Ecologist Jason Love will delve into the biological diversity of butterflies in Western North Carolina with a day of outdoor exploration Saturday, Sept. 15, near Franklin.

Love will lead the group through the Gibson Bottoms, owned by Mainspring Conservation Trust, to search for the elusive winged creatures and get an up-close look through the gentle use of nets. $45. Offered by Alarka Expeditions.

Register at www.alarkaexpeditions.com.

Watch for hawks It’s hawk migration season, and the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will be keeping watch Sept. 17 to Sept. 22 at Whiteside Mountain during favorable weather and wind conditions.

To join the email notification list for watch times, contact Brock Hutchins at 828.787.1387 or 404.295.0663.

September 12-18, 2018 Smoky Mountain News

mobile technology to help you get a lot less mobile.

Log on. Plan a trip.

And start kicking back.

37

outdoors

Welcoming New Adult and Pediatric Patients!

Dr. Michael Oswald

Dr. Lakshmi Swamy

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September 12-18, 2018

Locations in Franklin & Sylva

Smoky Mountain News

the Chimney. The stabilization work will Chimney Rock State Park is now hike-in take about two weeks. only following the start of work to stabilize Admission will be reduced $13 for its upper parking lot Sept. 4.

Subtropical Storm Alberto caused a section of Subtropical Storm the retaining wall on the Alberto caused the parking lot to collapse over upper parking lot Memorial Day weekend, retaining wall to forcing the park to close two collapse in May. weeks for storm cleanup.

Donated photo Since reopening in June, parking has been prohibited on the upper lot and visitors have had to be shuttled or hike up to the top of the park. While stabilization work is underway, no shuttle service will be available.

Guests will have to hike the Four Seasons Trail from the adults and $6 for children while stabilizaMeadows to the Hickory Nut Falls Trail and tion work is underway. take the Falls Trail over and up to the elevawww.chimneyrockpark.com. tor entrance or Outcroppings Trail to reach

Hike Little Bald Mountain A hike to the top of Little Bald Mountain near Pisgah Inn beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, will offer the chance to learn more about how animals prepare for winter.

Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead this moderate 2-mile hike and talk about how animals migrate for the winter and what compels them to travel hundreds or thousands of miles from home.

Free. Meet at the north end of the Pisgah Inn parking area at Buck Spring Trailhead, milepost 408.5 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and bring water, good walking shoes and clothing for changeable weather.

828.298.5330, ext. 304.

Mandatory bear canisters proposed for A.T. campers

Experience a casual, relaxing atmosphere perfect for all walks of life, from families to golf groups to ladies who lunch. We pride ourselves on using fresh ingredients from our gardens and supporting local farmers. The details are priority.

Open to the Public, 7 Days A Week!

Call 828-926-4848 for reservations.

1819 Country Club Drive Maggie Valley, NC

M AG G I E VA LLEY C LU B . CO M 38

Chimney Rock hike-in only

Increased bear activity is prompting the U.S. Forest Service to consider broadening the list of places in Western North Carolina where overnight campers will be required to use bear canisters, with comments on the issue accepted through Sept. 19.

Under the proposal, all overnight campers on the Appalachian Trail’s route through North Carolina’s national forests and in the Nantahala Ranger District’s Panthertown Valley would be required to use bear-resistant food containers.

In the past few years, the Nantahala and

Pisgah national forests have seen increasing instances of black bears exhibiting bold behavior over food, with most encounters happening at backcountry campsites rather than at campgrounds. Bears have taken food from tents and backpacks, damaged tents and stayed near inhabited campsites for hours.

The Forest Service has worked to educate visitors on bear safety using posters and postings on websites and social media.

However, potentially serious encounters have continued to increase.

Submit comments by Sept. 19 to comments-southern-north-carolina-nantahalanantahala@fs.fed.us or Johnny Wills, Nantahala RD Wildlife Biologist, Nantahala Ranger District, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, N.C. 28734.

Sweep away litter from WNC roadsides Volunteers are wanted across the state for the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Adopt-AHighway Fall Litter Sweep, running Saturday, Sept. 15, through Saturday, Sept. 29.

DOT will provide volunteers with cleanup supplies such as orange trash bags, gloves and orange safety vests. Last year’s fall litter sweep removed 76,995 pounds of litter from North Carolina’s roads and highways.

Local contacts for the Fall Litter Sweep are: n Haywood County: Tonya Norman, 828.456.5633. n Jackson County: Mildred Turpin, 828.631.5599. n Macon County: Bradley Pyle, 828.524.2517. n Swain County: Allison Edwards, 828.488.3683.

Throughout the year, volunteers from small businesses, schools, nonprofits and community groups work alongside the DOT to keep roadways clean through the Adopt-A-Highway Program. Visit www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/environmental/adoptahighway to join the Adopt-A-Highway program.

WNC Calendar COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • Fontana Regional Library now offers anyone with a library card free access to eMagazines, for reading on any mobile device or computer. This new service joins our popular eBooks and digital audiobooks selection — all available 24/7 from the library’s digital collection. To get started enjoying digital magazines as well as eBooks and audiobooks, visit e-inc.overdrive.com or download the Libby reading app. www.fontanalib.org.

• Southwestern Community College is accepting submissions from artists, writers, poets and local creatives for its biennial art and literature review entitled “Milestone.” Open to all residents of Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary – as well as SCC students and alumni. Only unpublished work is eligible. Must be postmarked by Dec. 3 and sent to SCC Milestone; Attn. Toni Knott; 447 College Drive; Sylva, NC 28779, or milestone@southwesterncc.edu.

• The annual Macon County Agricultural Fair will take place through Sept. 15 at the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin. Join the celebration, which will feature a barbecue supper, best cake contest, Special Needs Livestock Show, harvest sale, festival foods, and more. www.themaconcofair.com.

• The Smoky Mountain Roller Girls will host the Charlotte B-Dazzlers at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.

Junior Rollers go at 4 p.m. Tickets: $5 from skaters or $7 at the door. Ages under seven get in free.

• The N.C. Mountain State Fair will run through Sept.

16 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Asheville. For schedule and info on discounted tickets, visit www.mountainfair.org.

• A Community Sing in observance of World Peace Day is set for 6:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin. 524.3691 (voice) or 360.1912 (text).

• The Village Green will offer an opportunity for public participation in “Growing a Vision for Cashiers” at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25. VillageGreenCashiersNC.com, info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or 743.3434.

• “The Role of Railroads in the Emergence of Western North Carolina” will be presented by Ray Rapp from 45:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium.

• Smoky Mountains Veteran Stand Down is scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin. Haircuts, dental, optometry, veteran’s benefits, education, legal, counseling and more. Breakfast and lunch included.

Bring VA ID card or DD-214 if possible. 349.2151, ltabor@maconnc.org or cblack@maconnc.org.

• Nominations are being sought for the Mountain Heritage Awards that will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 29, on Western Carolina University’s campus in Cullowhee. Awards go to individual and organization for contributions to or playing a prominent role in research, preservation and curation of Southern Appalachian history, culture and folklore. Nominations can be sent to pameister@wcu.edu, Mountain Heritage Center, 1 University Drive, Cullowhee N.C. 28723, or drop off in person at Room 240 of WCU’s Hunter Library.

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. are Sept. 30-Oct 2; March 10-12, Aug. 18-20 of 2019 and Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in 2019. Registration and info: www.lakejunaluska.com/marriage or 800.222.4930.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • Haywood Community College’s Workforce Continuing Education Department is offering a wide variety of courses in September. For a complete listing and registration invo, visit https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• The Eggs & Issues business forum breakfast will feature Dale West, Director of the NCWorks Career Center – Macon, at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Franklin Chamber of Commerce in Franklin. Admission: $10. Register: maconedc.com or 524.3161.

• Haywood Community College will offer hunter safety courses from 6-9 p.m. on Sept. 17-18, Oct. 8-9 and Nov. 5-6 in Clyde. Preregistration required: www.ncwildlife.org.

• Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a seminar entitled “Marketing Your Business” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the College’s Regional High Tech Center, Room 3021, in Waynesville. For info or to register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• Jackie Grant, President of the N.C. Bar Association, will speak at the Haywood Chamber of Commerce Fall Women in Business luncheon, which is from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, at Wells Events & Reception Center in Waynesville. $25 for members; $30 for nonmembers. Register: https://tinyurl.com/y9tuo924.

• A ribbon cutting for “A Heavenly Quilt Walk” show is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. Show runs until 5 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22.

• Registration is underway for a “Better Communication Through Creative Play” workshop that will be offered through Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at WCU’s Biltmore Park location in Asheville. Led by Neela Munoz. $125 Pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will offer a Contract Negotiations, Liability and Risk Factors in Business workshop from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at WCU’s Instructional site at Biltmore Park in Asheville.

Ken Sanney, an assistant professor of business law at WCU, will serve as workshop instructor. Cost: $119 (includes lunch). Register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• An Excel for Beginners class will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Led by retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon. Register: 586.2016.

• Haywood County’s sixth-annual prayer walk entitled “Community March Against Drugs in our Midst” is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, starting at the corner of South Main and Academy Streets in Waynesville. 648.1358.

• Registration is underway for Western Carolina University’s High Impact Leadership program, which is from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, Sept.

24-27, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at WCU’s Biltmore Park Location In Asheville. Designed for individuals who want to take their careers to the next level and become high-impact leaders. Keynote presentation

by Kevin A. Trapani, co-founder and CEO of the Redwoods Group and chair of NC Works. Registration: $795 or $595 for nonprofits. Info and register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for Marriage Enrichment Retreats that will be offered four times over the next year at Lake Junaluska. Led by Ned Martin, an expert in marriage counseling. Price is $699 per couple. Dates

• Southwestern Community College’s Small Business Center will offer a Succession Planning for Business Class from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sept. 25. Register: 306.4426 or https://tinyurl.com/ybd5zgeu.

Smoky Mountain News

• Registration is underway for a seminar entitled “Telling Your Creative Small Business Story” through Haywood Community College’s Small Business Center.

The seminar is from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Haywood County Arts Council. Register: SBC.Haywood.edu or 627.4512.

• An Intermediate Excel class will be offered at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Led by retired Western Carolina University professor Roger Bacon. Register: 586.2016.

• The Rooted in the Mountains symposium, designed to integrate indigenous and local knowledge with health and environmental issues, is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27-28, at Western Carolina University’s Blue Ridge Conference Room in Cullowhee.

For schedule or to register: go.wcu.edu/RootedintheMountains or 227.2164.

• Registration is underway for Western Carolina University’s Digital Marketing and Public Relations Certificate program, which starts Oct. 5 at WCU Biltmore Park in Asheville. Six individual workshops ($119 each or $640 to attend all). Classes meet from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on six consecutive Fridays. Full schedule, info and register: pdp.wcu.edu or 227.7397.

• Registration is underway for the Inaugural Outdoor Economy Conference that’s coming to Western Carolina University on Oct. 5. Topics include product development, workforce development, marketing, financing and stewardship of natural resources. Early registration: $159. Outdoor.wcu.edu, 227.2587 or salido@wcu.edu.

• An all-day workshop organized by the Incremental Development Alliance, a nonprofit, will be offered on Oct. 11 at the US Cellular Center in downtown Waynesville. Cost: $200. The organization aims to teach wannabe developers of small-scale rentals how to plan, design, finance and manage projects. Presented by Jim Kumon. www.incrementaldevelopment.org.

• The African-American Business Association Workshop & Meetup is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month at the Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center in Asheville.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • Bethel Rural Community Organization will hold a yard sale from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Danny Heatherly’s Event Center in Bethel. Benefits BRCO and other community organizations. 421.0610.

• The Equinox Ranch “Helping Warriors Heal” BBQ Dinner & Square Dance is at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 in Cullowhee. Benefit to support the ranch’s program for combat veterans. Square dance called by Joe Sam Queen; music by Cullowheezer. Tickets: www.equinoxranch.org.

• Habitat for Humanity will have a “Raise the Roof” fundraiser at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the River Walk at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Food, beverages, DJ, hammering contest, prizes and more. tinyurl.com/yd28md98, 452.7960 or visit Jeweler’s Workbench in Waynesville.

• The “Woofstock” fundraiser for ARF and the Humane Society of Jackson County will be held from 3 p.m. to close Saturday, Sept. 15, at Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro in Sylva. Performers will include Nick Prestia (singer-songwriter), Bird in Hand (Americana/folk) and PMA (reggae/rock). Admission is $5 donation, $8 for couples. For more information, call 828.586.1717 or www.soulinfusion.com.

• A fundraiser for United Christian Ministries of Jackson County is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22. For every test drive taken, Andy Shaw Ford in Sylva will donate $20 (up to a total of $6,000). www.ucmhelp.com or 586.8228.

39

Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: ■ Complete listings of local music scene ■ Regional festivals ■ Art gallery events and openings ■ Complete listings of recreational offerings at regional health and fitness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings • The Community Table has a Blue Plate Special fundraiser from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month from January through October in Sylva. $7 minimum donation; dine-in or carry-out. 586.6782.

VOLUNTEERS & VENDORS • The Juvenile Crime Prevention Council of Jackson County will meet at noon on Sept. 13 in Room A227 of the Jackson County Justice Center in Sylva.

HEALTH MATTERS • An essential oils class is being offered at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 12 at Mad Batter Food & Film in beautiful downtown Sylva. Come learn how to use essential oils for natural health care. Stay after the class and make rollerbottle essential oil blends to try at home. Each roller is $5, make as many as you want.

RSVP to Wende Goode at 246.2256 or goodeoils@gmail.com. Space is limited.

• Restorative Yoga Series is set for 4-5 p.m. on Sept.

13, 20 and 27, at Maggie Valley Wellness Center. $55.

944.0288 or maggievalleywellness.com.

• A celebration of the end of the “Mind & Body: Health, Nutrition and You” health series will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Jackson County Public Library. Info: 586.2016.

• The International Essential Tremor Foundation support group meets at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Jackson County Senior Center, Room 135, in Sylva.

Learn coping skills and available products to help.

736.3165 or teddyk1942@gmail.com.

• Registration is underway for an eating disorder workshop with Linda Bacon, Ph.D. the workshop is scheduled for 12:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25, at the Folk Art Center Auditorium in Asheville. Title is: “Nurturing Body Respect: The Facts, Fictions and Clinical Path” – an evidence based alternative to weight-focused care.

Advance tickets only; no on-site tickets. 298.7928. info@crcfored.com, . https://tinyurl.com/ya9qtvhh or 337.4685.

• The Jackson County Senior Center will offer a Caregiver Education Class at 10 a.m. on the third Monday of every month in the Board Room of the Department of Aging in Sylva. 586.5494.

• A support group for persons with Multiple Sclerosis as well as family, friends and caregivers meets at 6:45 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month in the conference room of the Jackson county Public Library in Sylva.

293.2503.

• A support group for anyone with MS, family & friends meets monthly at 6:45 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at the conference room of Jackson Co. Library in Sylva. No Fee, sponsored by National MS Society. Local contact: Gordon Gaebel 828-293-2503.

• The Haywood County Health & Human Services Public Health Services Division is offering a Night Clinic from 4-6:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in Waynesville. Services include family planning, immu-

wnc calendar

nizations, pregnancy testing, STD testing and treatment. Appointments: 452.6675.

• A support group meeting for those with Parkinsons Disease and their caregivers will be held at 2 p.m. on the last Wednesday of the month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville.

356.2800.

• Dogwood Insight Center presents health talks at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month.

• Angel Medical Center’s diabetes support group meets at 4 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month in the AMC dining room. 369.4166.

• A monthly grief processing support group will meet from 4-5:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Homestead Hospice and Palliative Care in Clyde.

452.5039.

• A Tuesday Meditation Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin.

RECREATION AND FITNESS • Registration is underway for a doubles pickleball tournament that will be held Oct. 9-10 at the Old Hazelwood Gym in Waynesville. Registration deadline is Sept. 21. Entry fee: $20. Info: 452.6789 or ian.smith@haywoodcountync.gov.

SPIRITUAL

September 12-18, 2018

• Registration is underway for a Self-Directed Retreats that will be offered at Lake Junaluska in the coming months. Spend time walking the trails, meditating in gardens, in private devotions, journaling, reflecting and more. Lake Junaluska will also provide a booklet with optional agendas, resources and ideas for structuring your retreat. $97 per person, per night, including lodging in Lambuth Inn, breakfast and retreat booklet.

Other dates are available, pricing varies. Dates are Sept. 17-18, Oct. 17-18, Oct. 29-Nov. 1 and Nov. 1921. www.lakejunaluska.com/retreats.

• Yom Kippur is services start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, and 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at Mountain Synagogue in Franklin. www.mountain-synagogue.org.

• Registration is underway for Personal Spiritual Retreats that will be offered at Lake Junaluska in the coming months. Experienced spiritual directors and clergy guide you through a group centering session, evening prayer service and an individual spiritual direction session, while leaving you ample time for personal reflection and renewal. $297 for two nights lodging in Lambuth Inn, program and retreat booklet. Dates are Oct. 1-3 and Nov. 5-7. www.lakejunaluska.com/retreats.

POLITICAL Smoky Mountain News

• An evening with NC Senator Jim Davis is scheduled

www.ThePrintHaus.com

for 5-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Waynesville Golf and Inn outdoor pavilion. $20. Heavy Hors D’Oeuvres and your first beer, wine or soda included. RSVP: 506.0939 or 421.7279.

• The Jackson County Republican Party will have a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Cashiers/Glenville Rec Center. Guest speaker is Doug Farmer, candidate for Jackson County Sheriff.

743.6491.

• The Jackson, Macon & Swain County NAACP meets at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Liberty Baptist Church.

• A reception in support of Joe Sam Queen’s bid for reelection to NC House Seat 119 is scheduled for Sept.

16 at the home of Lacy and Dottie Thornburg. Parking at Webster Baptist Church, 1955 Webster Road in Sylva.

• A Pancakes and Politics breakfast fundraiser for N.C. Rep. Mike Clampitt (District 119) is scheduled for 8-10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at Jackson County Republican Party Headquarters, 91 W. Main Street, in Sylva. 371.8247.

• The Jackson, Macon & Swain County NAACP will sponsor a Far-Western Mountain Moral Monday at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, at the gazebo across from the Macon County Courthouse in Franklin. Header is Geoff McBride from “The Voice” with guitar accompaniment.

• The Jackson County Democratic Party will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at party headquarters at 500 Mill St. in Sylva.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS • Dr. Catherine Carter, Associate Professor at Western Carolina University, will give a lecture titled, “Larvae of the Nearest Stare: Poetry and the Nonhuman,” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Highlands Nature Center. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• Poets Catherine Carter, Mary Ricketson and Joan Howard will hold a poetry reading at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. 586.9499.

• The NCWN-West Coffee with the Poets and Writers will feature poet Brent Martin at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the Moss Memorial Library in Hayesville. His wife, Angela Faye Martin (singer-songwriter, artist) will perform after the reading. 389.4447.

• The North Carolina Writers' Network-West will sponsor The Literary Hour on the third Thursday of the month unless otherwise indicated at the Keith House on the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown. This reading is free of charge and open to the public.

• Registration is underway for “Mind the Music! Piano Lessons” that will be offered to ages 55-up starting the week of Sept. 24 and running through the week of Oct. 22. $60 plus a materials fee of less than $20. Led

by Susan Huckaby. director@haywoodarts.org, 452.0593 or HaywoodArts.org.

• Book Club is held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800 • Senior Sale Day is on the third Friday of every month at the Friends of the Library Used Bookstore. Patrons 60 and older get 20 percent off all purchases. Proceeds benefit the Sylva Library.

• A Parkinson’s Support Group is held at 2 p.m. on the last Wednesdays of each month at the Haywood County Senior Resource Center in Waynesville. 356.2800.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Cullowhee Valley School will have its fall festival from 4:30-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in Cullowhee.

Cotton candy booth, face painting, inflatable games and activities. Raises money for school projects and equipment purchases.

• ESTEAM (Entrepreneurship, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) – “Building Confidence Today for the STEM Careers of Tomorrow” will be held on Sept. 28 at Southwestern Community College in Sylva. For seventh grade boys and girls.

Hands-on, informative sessions. mtbenign@ncsu.edu or https://sciencehouse.ncsu.edu.

• Reservations are being accepted for a “Parents Night Out” program for kids ages 3-12 on Monday evenings throughout September at Waynesville Recreation Center. Cost is free for members or $20 for the month for nonmembers. 456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov.

• “Smoky Mountain Elk”– a Great Smoky Mountains National Park Summer Junior Ranger program – is at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 at the Palmer House in Cataloochee Valley.

ONGOING KIDS ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS • The Canton Library offers a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) program each month. At 4 p.m. on third Tuesday. Children ages 6-12 are welcome to attend. Please call 648-2924 for more information.

• Cookin’ the Books will be held at noon on the last

• Wednesdays in the Stacks, "WITS", a new program

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for children in grades 3-6, on the third Wednesdays of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Macon County Library. WITS will include lots of fun games, prizes, and hands-on activities. This club replaces book club previous held on the third Thursdays of the month. 526.3600.

• Teen Coffeehouse is at 4:30 p.m. on the first, third, and fourth Tuesday at Jackson County Public Library.

Spend time with other teens talking and sharing. 12 and up. 586.2016.

•A Lego club will meet at 4 p.m. every fourth Thursday of the month, at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Library provides Legos and Duplos for ages 3 and up.

Free. 488.3030.

• Science Club is held at 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month for grades K-6 at the Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• A Lego Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. at Waynesville Library.

452.5169.

• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.

• A Lego Club meets the fourth Thursday of the month at 4:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 5862016.

• A Lego Club meets at 4 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Legos and Duplos provided for ages three and up.

488.3030.

• Children’s craft time, fourth Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215

KIDS FILMS • “Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom”, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555.

• “Won’t you be My Neighbor”, will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555.

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • The rich heritage of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, which reportedly dates back more than 11,000 years, will be brought to life from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, with live demonstrations and presentations at the Cherokee Heritage Festival in Hayesville. Info: 389.3045 or cccra-nc.org.

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SENIOR ACTIVITIES

• Canton Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, at the Canton Library.

648.2924.

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Wednesday of the month at the Waynesville Public Library. A book club focused on cookbooks. All members choose a recipe from the book and bring it to share.

The group will discuss the good and bad aspects of the chosen cookbook. 356.2507.

(Located (Located in in the the NAPA NAPA Auto Auto Parts Parts Center) Center)

• The 11th annual Youth Arts Festival is scheduled for 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Jackson County Green Energy Park in Dillsboro. Artist demonstrations and activities in a wide range of crafts including glass, metal, ceramics, weaving, clay, etc.

Musical performances. www.JCGEP.org.

FOOD & DRINK • The ASAP Local Food Experience is scheduled for 68:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at New Belgium Brewing Co. in Asheville. Meet farmers, chefs and artisans; sample small plates and bites. Tickets: $30 and available at http://asapconnections.org. Proceeds benefit ASAP. 236.1282.

• Plains United Methodist Church will hold its annual fall barbecue from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at 2029 Newfound Road in Canton. $10 for adults; $5 for children.

• Cold Mountain Music Series will host The Kenny George Band at 5 p.m. on Sept. 22. Gates open at 3 p.m. Admission is $15 for a car, $50 for 15-passenger van and $5 for bikes. Food from Hit the Pit and craft beer offered by Frog Level Brewing. 646.0095 and www.lakelogan.com/events.

• Tickets are on sale now for “Choir Music Weekend,” which is Oct. 19-21 at Lake Junaluska. Learn and perform eight anthems, attend workshops and celebrate autumn colors. 800.222.4930, communications@lakejunaluska.com or www.lakejunaluska.com/events/worship/choirmusic.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • A “Beginner Step-By-Step” painting class will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursdays (Sept. 13, Sept. 27) at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Cost is $25 with all supplies provided. RSVP by contacting Robin Arramae at 400.9560 or paintnitewaynesville@gmail.com.

• Quilters are invited to participate in “A Heavenly Quilt Walk,” which will be held Sept. 21-22 at downtown churches in Franklin. www.smokymtnquilters.org.

• Penland School of Crafts is offering a half-price tuition to Western North Carolina residents for an eight-week session of workshops that start Sept. 23.

Openings in glass, iron, letterpress, paintings, textiles and wood. Open to all skill levels. www.penland.org or 765.2359, ext. 1307.

• Registration is underway for a retreat featuring artists Judith Kruger and Chris Liberti from Oct. 22-27 at Lake Logan Conference Center in Haywood County.

Kruger’s workshop is “Abstract Alchemy” while Liberti’s is “Strengthening the Foundation: Color, Value, Composition and Surface.” www.cullowheemountainarts.org or 342.7899.

• The Old Armory will host an indoor flea market from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. on every third Saturday. Booths are $10 each for selling items. 456.9207.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT • The Overlook Theatre Company will present “The Foreigner,” an enjoyable and down-right hilarious twoact comedy, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14-15 and 21-22 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Tickets are $17 for adults and $12 for students. www.greatmountainmusic.com or 866.273.4615.

• The Highlands Performing Arts Center will present “Bravissimo Broadway” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept.

15, in Highlands. Tickets: highlandspac.org or 526.9047.

• Tickets are on sale now for a concert featuring Jim Witter’s “Time in a Bottle” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept.

16, at Western Carolina University’s Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Fundraiser for WCU Friends of the Arts. $25 per ticket. Foa.wcu.edu or 227.ARTS. • The Haywood Community Band presents its September concert: “Americana: The West Coast” at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Maggie Valley Pavilion.

• Western Carolina University clarinetist Shannon Thompson and pianist Lillian Pearson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 18, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on the WCU campus in Cullowhee.

227.7242.

• A Friends of the Library Concert Series will feature Richard Shulman (solo jazz pianist) at 3 p.m. on

• An exhibit on photographer William A. Barnhill is on display through Sept. 14 at Western Carolina University’s Mountain Heritage Center in Cullowhee.

Barnhill documented 20th century regional craftsmanship. 227.7129.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at Bardo Arts Center will have a yearlong exhibition on the them “Defining America” through May 3 in Cullowhee. Opening reception is from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20. Info: 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• An exhibition for artisans Wanda Davis-Browne and Judy McManus will continue through Oct. 6 at Gallery 1 in Sylva. Davis-Browne’s photos are inspired by the diverse natural patterns and colors of nature, primarily flora. A glass artist, McManus was invited to join working artists at Jackson County’s Green Energy Park in Dillsboro in 2010. She also teaches classes and gives demonstrations at the facility and exhibits art in the GEP gallery. www.facebook.com/artinthemountains.

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Smoky Mountain News

• Pickin in the Square will host Caribbean Cowboys (variety) at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15 at the Gazebo in downtown Franklin. www.townoffranklinnc.com.

• The Haywood County Arts Council will hold a new showcase featuring local artist Bee Sieberg & Students exhibiting their work through Sept. 29 at the gallery in downtown Waynesville. www.haywoodarts.org.

we are opening a September 12-18, 2018

• A game day will occur from 2-9 p.m. every third Saturday of the month at Papou’s Wine Shop & Bar in Sylva. Bring dice, cards or board games.

586.6300.

• Iconic bluegrass act The Seldom Scene will perform on Sunday, Sept. 23, at Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show, which will be held in the covered outdoor Pavilion, are $35 per person.

Prime rib dinners, priced separately, will be available before the show. For reservations, which are required, call Cataloochee Ranch at 926.1401.

wnc calendar

• The Mountain Life Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 15, at the Mountain Farm Museum in Cherokee at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Oconaluftee Visitor Center event. Walk around the mountain farm and enjoy demonstrations of hearth cooking, apple butter making, blacksmithing, lye soap making, food preservation, and chair bottoming. Artifacts and historic photographs from the park’s collection will be on display. The centerpiece of the event is the sorghum syrup demonstration using a horse or mule-powered cane mill and a wood-fired cooker.

Saturday, Sept. 22, in the auditorium of the Waynesville Library.

new

• Emerald Gate Farm will host an Open Farm Day at 4 p.m. on Sept. 15 in Waynesville. Live music, potluck, draft beers, fishing and dancing. emeraldgatefarm.com.

• The newest exhibit in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University, “Grids & Gradients: The Visual Systems of Vernon Pratt” will run through Nov. 9 at the Fine Art Museum Gallery C on campus in Cullowhee. bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

• The Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum at

41

wnc calendar

the Bardo Arts Center is pleased to announce the opening of its newest exhibition “Glass Catalyst: Littleton’s Legacy in Contemporary Sculpture,” which will run through Dec. 7. Littleton’s work and other glass artist will be on display. A key work in the exhibition will be a new acquisition to the Museum's collection: a glass sculpture by Harvey Littleton entitled “Terracotta Arc.” Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Thursdays until 7 p.m. 227.ARTS or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

FILM & SCREEN • “Crazy Rick Asians” is showing at 7 p.m. on Sept.

12-13 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

• “Sorry to Bother You” is showing at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Sept. 15-16 and 7 p.m. Sept. 14-20 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

• “Upgrade”, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555.

• “Ocean’s 8”, will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 20 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. Free. 586.3555.

• “Eighth Grade” is showing at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Sept. 22-23 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 21-27 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

• “We the Animals” is showing at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. on Sept. 29-30, 10 a.m. on Sept. 30 and 7 p.m. on Sept.

28-30 at The Strand On Main. See www.38main.com for tickets.

September 12-18, 2018

Outdoors

offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• A statewide litter sweep is scheduled for Sept. 1529. Organized by the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Sign up: https://tinyurl.com/ycwc7f4p.

• “Identifying Birds of Prey” will be offered to ages 10up from 9 a.m.-noon on Sept. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• The Cradle of Forestry in America will hold a daylong celebration of the monarch butterfly from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16, in Pisgah National Forest. www.cradleofforestry.com.

• An opportunity to fly in one off World War II’s most vital Aircraft, EAA’s B-17G “Aluminum Overcast,” will be offered from Nov. 2-4 at the Macon County Airport in Franklin. Flights from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $435 for EAA members; $475 for nonmembers. Ground tours available from 2-5 p.m. Cost: $10 for 8-under; $20 for all others except veterans and active military, which get ground tours for free. B17.org or 800.359.6217.

• “Through the Lens, Birds, Bears and more” will be presented at the Sept. 17 meeting of the Franklin Bird Club. Featuring still photography by Ed Boos and video

by Cindy Boos shot across the continent. Meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

• “Intro to Fly Fishing” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Sept. 19. Meet at the Macon County Public Library parking area.

Franklinbirdclub.com.

• “Casting for Beginners: Level I:” will be offered for ages 12-up from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• A National Hunting and Fishing Day event will be offered from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 22 for ages 12-up at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard.

Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• Volunteers are being sought for work day on the Reasonover Creek Trail from 8:45 a.m.-1 p.m. on Oct. 13 in Henderson and Transylvania Counties. llbmwb@gmail.com.

• The Cradle of Forestry in America will celebrate National Public Lands Day on Sept. 22 in Pisgah Forest. Projects for volunteers include erosion control, mulching and invasive species removal. 877.3130 or cradle@cfaia.org. Info: 877.3130 or www.cradleofforestry.com.

• Haywood Waterways Association will hold its annual “Leaders in the Creek” event from 2-4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Canton Recreational Park.

Discover what lies beneath the water’s surface, interact with fellow leaders and citizens, understand the importance of clean water. Reserve a spot: 476.4667 or info@haywoodwaterways.org.

• The N.C. Arboretum will host two events celebrating monarch butterflies on Saturday, Sept. 22 in Asheville: A mini-symposium from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/y8qjrlt9) and a “Flight of the Butterflies” screening and Q&A from 6-8:30 p.m.

(Register at https://tinyurl.com/y8ek5e77). $14 parking fee.

• “Poetry and the Nonhuman” - part of the Zahner Lecture Series – will be presented at 6 p.m. on Sept.

13 at the Nature Center at the Highlands Biological Station. www.highlandsbiological.org or 526.2221.

• Registration is underway for a “Cherokee Heritage Adventure,” which will be offered by Smoky Mountain Field School on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Haywood County.

Explore the culture of the Cherokee people; students hear Cherokee legends at the story circle, play traditional games and take a nature walk. Cost: $69.

Register: smfs.utk.edu.

• Registration is underway for The Great Smoky Mountains Association’s 2018 Members Appreciation Weekend, which is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 13-16, at Fontana Village. Learn about Eagle and Hazel Creek communities, guided tours and more. $109. Register: https://conta.cc/2lHoLSI.

Smoky Mountain News

• “Fall Migration Bird Walk” – a moderate Chimney Rock Naturalist Niche Hike – is scheduled for 7:30-10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Chimney Rock State Park. $23 adults; $8 for annual passholder; $13 youth (ages 5-15) and $6 per Rockin’ Discovery Passholder.

Visit an area typically not open to the public. Advance registration required: chimneyrockpark.com.

• Blue Ridge Parkway rangers will lead a moderate, two-mile-round-trip hike at 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, to the top of Little Bald Mountain above the Pisgah Inn. Learn about the annual fall ritual of migration and some of the journeys animals take. Meet at the Buck Spring Trailhead (Milepost 408.5). 298.5330, ext. 304.

• Alarka Expeditions will lead “Butterflies at the Bottoms!” on Saturday, Sept. 15, on the Mainspring Conservation Trust lands at Gibson Bottoms, 10 miles north of Franklin. Led by ecologist Jason Love.

Registration: $25 at https://tinyurl.com/ybm2p9qc.

Info: alarkaexpeditions.com/up-coming-events.

• The Highlands Plateau Audubon Society will search for migrating birds at 7 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Meet at 7 a.m. at Founders Park in Highlands are at 7:30 a.m. at Cashiers Recreation Center. www.highlandsaudubonso42 ciety.org.

• Dupont State Recreational Forest will celebrate National Public Lands Day with a festival on Saturday, Sept. 22, in Cedar Mountain. Full schedule of events: https://tinyurl.com/y9ym376r.

• A Salamander Citizen Scientist day is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Sept. 22 starting at Purchase Knob. Short moderate to strenuous hike to the research plot. Collect salamander population monitoring data for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. $5 for non-members of Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by Sept. 20: Christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 476.4667, ext. 11.

• A Vintage Camper Show is scheduled for 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, at Stonebridge Campground in Maggie Valley. Tickets: $5. Kids under 12 are free. Proceeds benefit Haywood Waterways Association’s youth education programs.

• Franklin Bird Club will have a bird walk along the greenway at 8 a.m. on Sept. 26. Meet at Big Bear Shelter parking area. Franklinbirdclub.com.

• A “Women’s Introduction to Fly-Fishing” will be

• “Trapping 101” will be offered to ages 12-up from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sept. 29 at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education in Brevard. Registration required: https://tinyurl.com/yb28fpz8.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club holds a Saturday Work Hike on the fourth Saturday of each month. 369.1983.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Registration is underway for the Tour de Cashiers, which is Saturday, Sept. 15. Options include 25-mile, 62-mile and 100-mile for cyclists and 5K for runners. $30-$50 through Aug. 26; prices rise afterward. www.tourdecashiers.com.

• The ninth annual Cullowhee Canoe Slalom, a family friendly paddling competition on a calm section of the Tuckaseigee River, is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 near WCU’s campus. Registration: $5 per person, per event. wcucanoeslalom@gmail.com. Register by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Info: 227.3845.

• The 12th annual Power of Pink 5K run, walk and dog walk is scheduled for Sept. 29 in the historic Frog Level area of Waynesville. Fundraiser for Haywood Healthcare Foundation to support those who need mammograms and testing for cancer screening. Register: GloryHoundEvents.com. Info: 452.8343.

FARM AND GARDEN • An upcoming round of seminars will show participants how to grow ginseng. Seminars are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, at the Jackson County Extension Center in Sylva and 6-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 17, at the Swain County Extension Center in Bryson City. Registration required: 586.4009 or 488.3848.

• “What’s in Season and How Do I Prepare It?” – a cooking demonstration and tasting with John Patterson – is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13, in the Waynesville Library Auditorium. Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• A workshop on making and canning salsa is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon on Friday, Sept. 21, at the Haywood County Extension Office in Waynesville.

Registration required: 356.2507 or kolsen@haywoodnc.net.

• Local farmers can stop by the Cooperative Extension Office on Acquoni Road from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every fourth Friday to learn about USDA Farm Service Agency programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Info: 488.2684, ext. 2 (Wednesday through Friday) or 524.3175, ext. 2 (Monday through Wednesday).

• The Macon County Poultry Club of Franklin meets at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at the Cooperative Extension Office on Thomas Heights Rd, Open to the public. 369.3916.

FARMERS MARKETS • “Locally Grown on the Green,” the Cashiers farm stand market for local growers, will be held from 3-6 p.m. every Wednesday at the Village Green Commons in Cashiers. info@villagegreencashiersnc.com or 743.3434.

• The Swain County Farmer’s Market is held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Friday through October on Island Street in downtown Bryson City. 488.3681 or chamber@greatsmokies.com.

• Jackson County Farmers Market runs from 9 to noon on Saturdays at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva.

• Waynesville Historic Farmers Market runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon at the HART Theater parking lot. waynesvillefarmersmarket.com • Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon, Saturdays through the end of October, on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software. 349.2049 or www.facebook.com/franklinncfarmersmarket.

• The ‘Whee Farmers Market, Cullowhee runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays through the end of October, at the University Inn on 563 North Country Club Drive in Cullowhee. 476.0334 or www.facebook.com/CullowheeFarmersMarket.

• The Original Waynesville Tailgate Market runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of October at 171 Legion Drive in Waynesville.

456.1830 or vrogers12@att.net.

HIKING CLUBS • Carolina Mountain Club will have a 7.9-mile hike with a 1,100-foot ascent on Saturday, Sept. 15, from Pisgah Inn to Beaverdam Overlook. Info and reservations: 337.5845 or laruafrisbie@gmail.com.

• Jordan Smith, Land Conservation Manager at Mainspring Conservation Trust, will be the featured speaker at the Nantahala Hiking Club meeting at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 14, at the Macon County Library. www.mainspringconserves.org.

• Nantahala Hiking Club will take a four-mile hike on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Camp Branch. Info and reservations: 421.4178.

• Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy, two-mile hike with an elevation change of 600 feet on Sunday, Sept. 16, to Rufus Morgan Falls. Info and reservations: 524.5234.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 5.1-mile hike with a 1,100-foot elevation gain on Sunday, Sept. 16, to Mt. Pisgah from Pisgah Inn. Info and reservations: 367.7792, 367.8619 or dbass3607@gmail.com.

• Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous six-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,200 feet on Saturday, Sept. 22, on the Big East Fork Trail in the Shining Rock area. Info and reservations: 456.8895.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy, 2.5mile family hike with an elevation change of 300 feet on Saturday, Sept. 22, to Jones Creek. Info and reservations: 349.3380.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have an eight-mile hike with a 1,900-foot ascent on Sept. 23 on the Trombatore and Bearwallow Trails. Info and reservations: 703.395.5879, heyk127@hotmail.com, 239.9340, 805.660.0019 or et10n@sbcglobal.net.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 4.5-mile hike with a 1,500-foot ascent on Sept. 23 to Duckett Fire Tower. Info and reservations: 622.3704 or jckdalton9@gmail.com.

• Carolina Mountain Club will have a 13.5-mile hike of Hemphill Bald and Rough Fork Loop on Sept. 26. Info and reservations: 404.731.3119 or Djones715@aol.com.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous six-mile hike with an elevation change of 700 feet on Saturday, Sept. 29, on the Big Creek Trail.

Info and reservations: 864.784.2124.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate three-mile hike with an elevation change of 700 feet on Sunday, Sept. 30, to Wesser Bald. Info and reservations: 788.2985.

PRIME REAL ESTATE Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

Rates:

■ Free — Lost or found pet ads.

■ $5 — Residential yard sale ads, ■ $5 — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $15 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad or colored background.

■ $50 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 classads@smokymountainnews.com

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

ANNUAL FALL BBQ! Sept. 15, 2018. 4:00-7:00pm Plains United Methodist Church.

2029 Newfound Rd. Canton, NC. Adults $10, Children $5, Kids under age 5 are Free. Fundraiser for United Methodist Men. BEGINNER’S KNITTING WORKSHOP At Meeting Hall of Bethel Rural Community Organization in Bethel. September 15th, from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. We’ll Learn the Portuguese-Style Knitting.

Knitters Using a Different Style Knitting are More Than Welcome to Join and Knit Our Project!

Please Contact Us at: apallachiantrico@gmail.com to Register.

AUCTION

PUBLIC AUCTION Saturday, September 15@10am 201 S. Central Ave. Locust, NC Selling Vehicles, Trucks, Trailers, Toro Workmans Electric Pallet Jacks, Tractor & Equipment, New Tools & Products from Industrial Distributor. 704.791.8825 ClassicAuctions.com NCAF5479 LOGGING EQUIPMENT AUCTION Skidders, Loaders, Trucks, Trailers, Cutters & More, Ongoing Operation, Pink Hill, NC, Live and Internet Bidding on 9/13 at 10am, ironhorseauction.com, 800.997.2248, NCAL 3936

AUCTION

YOUR AUCTION AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! For more information visit the N.C. Press at: ncpress.com

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING

CALL EMPIRE TODAY® To schedule a FREE in-home estimate on Carpeting & Flooring.

Call Today! 1.855.929.7756 SAPA DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, Free Estimates & Competitive rates. References avail. upon request. Specializing in: Log Homes, remodeling, decks, new construction, repairs & additions.

Owner/Builder: Dave Donaldson.

Licensed/Insured. 828.631.0747 or 828.508.0316 HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

FROG POND ESTATE SALES HELPING IN HARD TIMES DOWNSIZING ESTATE SALES CLEAN OUT SERVICE • COMPANY TRANSFER • DIVORCE • LOST LOVED ONE WE ARE KNOWN FOR HONESTY & INTEGRITY

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828 Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

828-734-3874 18 COMMERCE STREET WAYNESVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA 28786 WWW.FROGLEVELDOWNSIZING.COM

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING CARPENTRY Repairs, Renovations, Custom Trim Work. 35yrs Exp., Small Jobs Okay. Free Estimates. Call Mike 828.246.3034 ALL THINGS BASEMENTY! Basement Systems Inc. Call us for all of your basement needs!

Waterproofing, Finishing, Structural Repairs, Humidity and Mold Control FREE ESTIMATES! Call 1.800.698.9217 ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The affordable solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.855.808.9573 for FREE DVD and brochure.

BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. Easy, One Day Updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers.

Call for a free in-home consultation: 877.661.6587 SAPA SAFE STEP WALK-IN TUB Alert for Seniors. Bathroom falls can be fatal. Approved by Arthritis Foundation. Therapeutic Jets. Less Than 4 Inch Step-In. Wide Door.

Anti-Slip Floors. American Made.

Installation Included. Call for more information 800.807.7219 and for $750 Off. REPLACEMMENT WINDOWS $189 Installed. Economy White Thermal Window & Labor. Double Pane No Gimmicks Just $189!!! Free estimate Lifetime Warranty 804.266.0694 Fairways Windows

PAINTING JAMISON CUSTOM PAINTING & PRESSURE WASHING Interior, exterior, all your pressure washing needs and more.

Specialize in Removal of Carpenter Bees - Cedar or Log Homes or Painted or Siding!

Call or Text Now for a Free Estimate at 828.508.9727

WNC MarketPlace

PET SUPPLIES & SERVICES

CARS -

PATENTED FleaBeacon® Controls Fleas in the Home without Toxic Chemicals or Costly Exterminators. Results Overnight! N.C. Clampitt Hardware www.fleabeacon.com HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

AUTO INSURANCE Starting At $49/ Month! Call for your fee rate comparison to see how much you can save! Call: 855.970.1224 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!!

Top Dollar Offer! Free Towing From Home, Office or Body Shop. All Makes/Models 2000-2016. Same Day Pick-Up Available! Call Now: 1.800.761.9396

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Prevent Unwanted Litters!

The Heat Is On! Spay/Neuter For Haywood Pets As Low As $10.

Operation Pit is in Effect!

Free Spay/Neuter, Microchip & Vaccines For Haywood Pitbull Types & Mixes!

Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 11:00 am - 5:00 pm 182 Richland Street, Waynesville

CARS -

September 12-18, 2018

DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY. Receive maximum value of write off for your taxes. Running or not!

All conditions accepted. Free pick-up. Call Now for details.

855.972.0354 SAPA A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR For Breast Cancer! Help United Breast Foundation Education, Prevention, & Support Programs.

Fast Free Pickup -24 Hr ResponseTax Deduction 855.701.6346 FREE AUTO INSURANCE QUOTES. See how much you can save! High risk SR22 driver policies available!

Call 855.970.1224

NEW AUTHORS WANTED! Page Publishing will help you self-publish your own book. FREE author submission kit! Limited offer! Why wait? Call now: 844.660.6943 SAPA

EMPLOYMENT ALEX SMITH GARDEN DESIGN Is seeking Full-Time Gardener/ Landscaper for Scaly Mountain, NC Location. Experience desirable, but not required. Must be a Team Player and have a Positive Attitude. Must be able to Work Outside in All Kinds of Weather and be able to Lift at least 40lbs. Competitive Pay & Benefits. Driver’s License and Clean Driving Record Desired. Please Call Mark Smolarsky 828.200.0407 or Email Kristen Landfield: Kristen@AlexSmith GardenDesign.com AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification.

Approved for military benefits.

Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866.724.5403

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

BUILDING & ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNICIAN GROUNDS WORKER The successful candidate must: have 2 years’ experience in general grounds maintenance tasks on a large such as proper application of fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides; be skilled in the operation of grounds maintenance equipment utilized in large scale situations; have experience in planting, cultivation and care of shrubs, trees and turf grasses of this region; capable of understanding and carrying out oral and written work assignments; be in good physical condition capable of performing manual labor tasks in a variety of situations and weather conditions.

Candidate must: have a valid NC Driver’s License; ability to obtain a Class B Commercial Driver’s License within 6 months of employment to maintain employment; must have ability to pass NC State certification testing to obtain a NC Pesticide Applicator’s License within the 1 year probationary period to retain employment.

Hours: M-F 6:30a.m. to 3:00p.m.

This is a permanent, full-time position.

Starting Salary: $31,200 plus full benefits package. For more details and to apply on-line up to 09/17/18, go to the following website: http://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/ 9409 WCU is an Equal Opportunity/ Access/ Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled & Veteran Employer.

BALSAM MOUNTAIN PRESERVE, Sylva. Is Seeking: Wait Staff $10/Hr.+ Tips & Housekeepers $10/Hr. No Exp. Necessary, Training Provided. Flexible Hours.

16/20 Hours per Week. Please Collect an Application from the Main Gate: 81 Preserve Rd. Sylva or email: memberservices@ balsammountain.com DEDICATED REGIONAL ROUTES Owner Operators, Drivers, Fleet Owners. Weekly Settlements. Minimum 12 months 48-53' tractor trailer experience. 800.832.7036 ext. 1626, cwsapps@ilgi.com. www.cwsdedicated.com FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Compliance Officer - PT Information Specialist: Athletics . For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer DISCOVER INTERNET INCOME Earn 5 Figures (+) Monthly Eliminate Traditional 9 to 5 Work Stress Opt-in To Learn More: get.webinnsite.com/wealth SAPA EARN BIG MONEY Part-Time From Home! Mailing Our Full-Color Sales Postcards.

800.313.0961. www.abminfo.com Referred By #8626. Steven K.

FINANCIAL

FINANCIAL

BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA CONSOLIDATED CREDIT Fed Up With Credit Card Debt?

We Can Help Reduce Interest Rates & Get you out of Debt Fast… Free Consultation. 24/7 Call Now: 855.977.7398 SAPA

OVER $10K IN DEBT? Be debt free in 24.48 months.

Pay a fraction of what you owe. A+ BBB rated. Call National Debt Relief 855.862.0096. SAPA DO YOU OWE More than $5000 in Tax Debt? Call Wells & Associates INC. We solve Tax Problems! Personal or Business! IRS, State and Local. 30 years in Business! Call NOW for a free consultation at an office near you. 1.844.290.2092 SAPA

JOLEEN - A LOVELY, DELICATE FOXHOUND ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD. BONUS! SHE SMILES! VOLUNTEERS LOVE TO WALK HER BECAUSE SHE'S GREAT ON LEASH, AND SHE IS SUCH A SWEET, FRIENDLY DOG SHE NEVER MEETS A STRANGER. SHE'LL BE A TERRIFIC FAMILY COMPANION DOGGY.

LULU - A PETITE FEMALE CALICO KITTY ABOUT ONE YEAR OLD. SHE'S A SWEET GIRL, FRIENDLY AND AFFECTIONATE, AND SEEMS TO ADAPT EASILY TO NEW SURROUNDINGS. SHE JUST NEEDS A NEW FAMILY TO LOVE.

HAVE AN IDEA For an invention/new product?

We help everyday inventors try to patent and submit their ideas to companies! Call InventHelp®, FREE INFO! 866.783.0557

Climate Control

Storage

www.smokymountainnews.com

Security: Management on site Interier & Exterior Cameras

Climate Controlled

1106 Soco Road (Hwy 19), Maggie Valley, NC 28751

Call:

828-476-8999

MaggieValleySelfStorage.com torry@torry1.com Torry Pinter, Sr. 828-734-6500

Jerry Powell Cell: 828.508.2002

jpowell@beverly-hanks.com

Find Us One mile past State Rd. 276 and Hwy-19 on the right side, across from Frankie’s Italian Restaurant

JUDY MEYERS (828) 734-2899 jameyers@charter.net

74 N. Main St.,Waynesville

44

Sizes from 5’x5’ to 10’x20’

828.452.5809

71 N. MAIN STREET • WAYNESVILLE remax-waynesvillenc.com

$641,00

4BD/5BA 4BD 4B BD/ D/5 /5B 5BA BA - 3494 349 34 494 94 Sq Ft 4BD 4B 4BD/4BA BD/ D/4 /4B 4BA BA on on Main Mai Ma ain in Level Lev Le eve vel el 2 Bonus Boonu nus us Rooms/1BA Roo Ro oooms ms/ s/1 /1B 1BA BA Lower Low owe wer er Level Lev eve vel ell Gorg rggeou eous F Fiirreeepppllac lace in Gr Gre rreea eat Roo oom Fiirreeepplac F lace & JJaac acuzz uzzzzi in M Maaste aster BD BD Exxcel xceell xc elle leent ent en Vac acat caati atio ioon Re Rent Ren enta ntaal Dec De Deck eck ck w/Hot w/H w/ /Ho Hoot Tub Tuub Facing Fa Fac accin ing ng V Viiew ieews ws Innnco ccom ome Coomp Complete mpl ple leete Privacy Pri Pr riv iva vac acy cy on on 8.62 8.62 Acr Acrreess

BrLLocally Bruce uoca ce Own M McG cGOpe oper vatetedeedrn rn occaally Ow Owned wne ned ed & Op Operated pera rat m c g overn o v err npp ropertymgt@gmail opp err ty t y m g tt@ @ g m a i l . coo m

828-452-1519 8282 1519

Vii s ual V al T Too urr at at s h a mrr o cck13 sha kk11 3 .cco com com MLS LS## 340062 400626

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a FREE info packet & Quote. 1.866.309.1507 www.BaseCampLeasing.com SAPA BEHIND ON YOUR MORTGAGE? Denied a Loan Modification? Bank threatening foreclosure? CALL Homeowner Protection Services now! New laws are in effect that may help. Call Now 1.866.214.4534 SAPA

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor, Locally Owned and Operated mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

REVERSE MORTGAGE: Homeowners age 62+ turn your home equity into tax-free cash!

Speak with an expert today and receive a free booklet. Call 877.280.0827 SAPA

NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT Architecturally Designed Home.

One-Story, 3BR, 2Full Baths with tile, New Stainless Appliances, Granite Counter tops, Stamped Stacked Driveway/Patio/Porch.

1.34 acres near JAARS in Wildwood Subdivision: 7304 Davis Road, Waxhaw, NC. Call: 704.207.6023 or 704.444.0155.

Carolyn Lauter REALTOR/BROKER CELL

1986 SOCO ROAD HIGHWAY 19 MAGGIE VALLEY, NC

828.558.0607 CarolynLauter.com

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT GREAT SMOKIES STORAGE Conveniently located off 19/23

by Thad Woods Auction. Available for lease now: 10’x10’ units for $55, 20’x20’ units for $160.

Get one month FREE with 12 month contract. Call 828.507.8828 or 828.506.4112 for more info.

VACATION RENTALS OCEAN ISLE BEACH Last minute summer vacation bargains! Mention this ad and reveive a discount on all vacation homes and condominiums. Cooke Realty 1.800.622.3224. www.cookerealty.com

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 2 & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $420.00 Section 8 Accepted - Rental Assistance When Available Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday & Thursday 8:00a.m. - 5:00p.m.

50 Duckett Cove Road, Waynesville, NC 28786

Phone# 1.828.456.6776 TDD# 1.800.725.2962

Michelle McElroy RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE

E-PRO, CNHS, RCC, SFR

828.400.9463 Cell michelle@beverly-hanks.com

74 North Main St. • Waynesville 828.452.5809

Steve Mauldin

828.734.4864

smauldin@beverly-hanks.com

74 N. Main St.,Waynesville

828.452.5809

beverly-hanks.com

BROOKE PARROTT BROKER ASSOCIATE 828.734.2146 bparrott@beverly-hanks.com Visit beverly-hanks.com/agents/bparrott

to see what others are saying!

• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com • Ann Eavenson - anneavenson@beverly-hanks.com • George Escaravage - gescar@beverly-hanks.com • Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com • Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com • Marilynn Obrig - mobrig@beverly-hanks.com • Steve Mauldin - smauldin@beverly-hanks.com • Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com • Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com • Brooke Parrott - bparrott@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com • Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com • Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com • Steve Mauldin- smauldin@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mstamey@beverly-hanks.com ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com • Pam James - pjames@sunburstrealty.com

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS We Are Offering 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting From $460.00 Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com

Lakeshore Realty

• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

Mountain Creek Realty

• Ron Rosendahl - ron@mountaincreekrealestate.com

Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com • Shirley Cole - shirleycole13@gmail.com Mountain Home Properties mountaindream.com • Cindy Dubose - cdubose@mountaindream.com

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management

• Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com • Holly Fletcher - hollyfletcher1975@gmail.com • The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com • Ron Breese - ronbreese.com • Landen Stevenson- Landen@landenstevenson.com • Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com • Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net • Judy Meyers - jameyers@charter.net • David Rogers - davidr@remax-waynesvillenc.com • Marsha Block- marshablockestates@gmail.com Rob Roland Realty - robrolandrealty.com

• Rob Roland - rroland33@gmail.com Rock Realty- rockrealtyonline.com Jeff Ferguson-jeff.rockrealty@gmail.com

OFFICE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm 168E Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

smokymountainnews.com

NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS

Equal Housing Opportunity

Berkshire Hathaway - www.4Smokys.com Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage

Jerry Lee Mountain Realty

Equal Housing Opportunity

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.735.2962

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

September 12-18, 2018

CAVALIER ARMS APARTMENTS

828.734.4822

Carolyn@BHGHeritage.com

WNC MarketPlace

LEASE TO OWN 1/2 Acre Lots with Mobile Homes & Empty 1/2 Acre + Lots!

Located Next to Cherokee Indian Reservation, 2.5 Miles from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

For More Information Please Call 828.506.0578

HOMES FOR SALE

The Smoky Mountain Retreat at Eagles Nest

• Tom Johnson - tomsj7@gmail.com • Sherell Johnson - sherellwj@aol.com

find us at: facebook.com/smnews

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 45

WNC MarketPlace September 12-18, 2018 www.smokymountainnews.com 46

SUPER

CROSSWORD

TECH COMPANY CLOSINGS ACROSS 1 No-elevator multistory building 7 Prefix with bar or belief 10 Long tales 15 Boo-boo 19 Consider identical 20 Go-between: Abbr.

21 Roping event 22 NCAA's Bruins 23 Protection for many bank tellers 26 "-- cost ya!"

27 Closeout, e.g.

28 Preamble 29 Puzzler's cry 30 Net vending 31 Kinnear of Hollywood 33 Reflections 36 Connecticut state song 41 Spanish bull 42 Actor Ed 43 Yoko of the avantgarde 44 Mall binge, maybe 48 Get a pic of 51 Wooden peg 52 "In a pickle," e.g.

54 Part of ERA 55 "Bear" of the outback 56 Insignia 58 Three-section holder of bills 61 52, to Livy 62 Spanish surrealist 64 See 6-Down 65 Simpson judge Lance 66 Probe for 68 Journals 72 Really cries 76 Bass finale?

78 Notion, in Nancy

79 Yule song 81 Syllable after "oom" 82 Element like barium or radium 88 Hard but easily broken 90 Verse-writing, old-style 91 1940s pres.

92 Pricey hotel offering 94 Pact of the U.S., Can. and Mex. 95 University of Kentucky's -- Arena 96 Some aria singers 98 Vintage auto inits.

99 Adept 100 Conflicted 102 Arbitrary security inspection 105 Collection for the Red Cross, say 110 Shrewd 111 Keno cousin 112 Water, in Nancy 113 Tweaks text 115 Unbox, e.g.

119 Napoleonic exile locale 120 2014 Kentucky Derby winner 124 Pennant, e.g.

125 From Tehran or Tabriz 126 Elegant shade tree 127 1991 horror film sequel subtitled "The Awakening" 128 "Rent" actor Diggs 129 Pastis base 130 South Korea's Kim -- jung 131 Tech giant whose name can precede nine words in this puzzle DOWN 1 Attic sights 2 Watery color

3 Abatement 4 Frilly green 5 Rugged truck, in brief 6 With 64-Across, snookums or sweetie, say 7 Real nice 8 "-- it!" (outfield call) 9 Extra entryway for bad weather 10 Physicist's work unit 11 Diametrically opposite 12 Sun Valley's state 13 Romero or Franck 14 "Help me!"

15 Parts of many rock songs 16 Eight-sided 17 Stan's pal in old films 18 Drops 24 -- -a-terre 25 Kitchen wrap 30 Genre of rock 31 Coagulated 32 Fam. member 34 High- -- graphics 35 Suffix with favor or zinc 36 Mountaintop melodies 37 Societal breakdown 38 Tyro, slangily 39 "The Spy Who Loved Me" actor Richard 40 Getting the job done 45 Brochure or blurb, maybe 46 Settle from the bench 47 Terminus 49 Stein drink 50 Too glib 52 Skye, e.g.

53 Babysitters, e.g.

55 "Krazy --" 57 Cuban patriot Jose 59 Terrif 60 Less naive

63 Most frigid 67 Compact SUV model 69 "-- a Nightingale" 70 Singer Chris 71 Basketball's Bryant 73 Select 74 Like Latvia or Lithuania 75 Sword cover 77 Duplicitous 80 Actor Hal 82 Mo. with Arbor Day 83 Reed of rock 84 Held off 85 Flyers' gp.

86 Blushed 87 Hurried, quaintly 89 "Sharknado" actress Reid 93 Occurred gradually 96 House pest 97 Mysore "Mr." 99 Ending of enzymes 101 Los del -- ("Macarena" duo) 103 Chevy debut of 2004 104 Plateau's kin 105 Rock fissure 106 Shout out, colloquially 107 Hanker 108 -- Lama 109 Devastates 114 Visiting H'wood, say 115 Black-and-white cookie 116 Atari classic 117 Jannings of "Quo Vadis" 118 "54" actress Campbell 120 U.S. org. with moles 121 Archaic "Curses!"

122 Machine part 123 Gp. with a copay

ANSWERS ON PAGE 40

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SERVICES

DIRECTV SELECT PACKAGE! Over 150 Channels, ONLY $35/month (for 12 mos.) Order Now! Get a $100 AT&T Visa Rewards Gift Card (some restrictions apply) CALL 1.855.972.7954 EARTHLINK High Speed Internet. As Low As $14.95/month (for the first 3 months.) Reliable High Speed Fiber Optic Technology. Stream Videos, Music and More! Call Earthlink Today 1.866.887.0237 HUGHESNET SATELLITE INTERNET 25mbps starting at $49.99/mo!

Get More Data FREE Off-Peak Data. FAST download speeds. WiFi built in! FREE Standard Installation for lease customers! Limited Time, Call 1.800.916.7609 SAPA

PERSONAL MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks. Try it FREE. Call now 1.888.909.9978 18+. SAPA YOUR AUCTION AD COULD REACH 1.6 MILLION HOMES ACROSS NC! Your classified ad could be reaching over 1.6 Million Homes across North Carolina! Place your ad with The Smoky Mountain News on the NC Statewide Classified Ad Network- 118 NC newspapers for a low cost of $375 for 25-word ad to appear in each paper! Additional words are $10 each. The whole state at your fingertips! It's a smart advertising buy! For more information visit the N.C. Press at: ncpress.com

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Compliance Officer - PT Information Specialist: Athletics . For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office Phone: 910.678.7342 Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu An Equal Opportunity Employer AIRLINES ARE HIRING Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. 866.441.6890

SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, Answers on 40 the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

ITEMS FOR SALE SCENTSY PRODUCTS Your Local Independent Consultant to Handle All Your Scentsy Wants & Needs.

Amanda P. Collier 828.246.8468 Amandacollier.scentsy.us apcollier1978@gmail.com Start Own Business for Only $99 LOWEST RX PRICES, EVERY DAY! Go to BlinkHealth.com to get the guaranteed lowest price on nearly all generic medications at a nearby pharmacy. SAPA BORING/CARPENTER BEE TRAPS No Chemicals, Poisons or Anything to Harm the Environment.

Handmade in Haywood County. 1 for $20, 2 or More for $15 each.

828.593.8321

WANTED TO BUY - WANTED TO BUY U.S./ Foreign Coins! Call Dan

828.421.1616 FREON R12 WANTED: Certified Buyer Will Pay Ca$H For R12 Cylinders Or Cases Of Cans.

Call 312.291.9169 or email: www.refrigerantfinders.com

YARD SALES ESTATE SALE At: 161 Dunbar St. Hospital Hill, Bryson City, NC. 9/15/18 8am-6pm Very Nice Vintage Furniture, Tools, Rugs, Lamps, Designer Purses, Shoes, Clothing, Pictures, Quilts, Books, Clocks & Many Garage Items.

The naturalist’s corner

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Hearts are a-bursting started out the front door, in the early morning light the other day, to check on the whereabouts of our newest family member Remi, a young part Shar-Pei mix we adopted from the shelter last May. Remi has recently decided when she goes out in the morning part of her doggy-duty is to go down the road to our neighbor’s house and bark, and we’ve been trying to convince her that’s really not necessary. While I was focused on Remi, trying to make sure I caught up with her before she had time to make her morning announcements I couldn’t help but notice the incandescent red glow coming from the dappled woods.

It grabbed me in a really familiar place — like when you’re going to meet an old friend you haven’t seen in a while and your thoughts and/or musing are wandering around in a kinda subconscious daydream and then you see your friend’s smile and you’re snatched back to the present and reveling in warm familiar feelings.

And the old friend I saw smiling from the dappled forest sunlight the other morning was Euonymus americanus, hearts-abusting out with love. This sparse slender

I

shrub is also known as strawberry bush, American strawberry bush, bursting-heart and hearts-a-bustin. The common names all have to do with the shrub’s fruit. The fruit is

as the fruit matures it “bursts” open to reveal five small, shiny, intensely red berries.

After Remi and I returned (bark-less!), I grabbed my camera and took a few shots of those glowing berries. I posted the photos on my Facebook page, which prompted this response from Bob Gale, ecologist and public lands director at Mountain True, “This plant is almost unnoticeable and completely uninteresting to most people (except us botany nerds) for most of the year. This is

Hearts-a-burstin with love…

Don Hendershot photo

contained in a rough globular capsule that begins to turn pinkish in late summer, superficially resembling a strawberry. Then

when it comes into its glory!”

And while it does fly under the radar most of the year, when it’s a bursting it’s

quite dazzling. In fact, this showy display prompted early European botanists to export the shrub back to Europe for horticultural use as early as 1663.

Euonymus americanus is a deciduous shrub that grows across the eastern U.S. from central Florida to Texas and north to the Great Lakes. It is typically an understory species and reaches a height of about six feet. The narrow opposite leaves grow along bright green stems and it produces small flat pale green flowers in late spring. It is a preferred forage of white-tailed deer and in places with high densities of deer it is browsed heavily greatly reducing any kind of late summer hearts-a-bursting displays.

Birds also eat the berries but all parts of the plant are toxic to domestic cattle and sheep.

It is toxic to humans too but only in large quantities. The deciduous leaves turn whitish/yellowish, often suffused with pink before falling in the fall.

Hearts-a-bursting, because of its dazzling fruit and unique fall foliage, is finding its way into more lawns and gardens. And thankfully this unobtrusive beauty is not invasive like it’s Asian cousin, burning bush Euonymus alatus.

I will enjoy my botanical friend now till it’s bereft of leaves and dozes for the winter.

Then next September, like this September and Septembers past I will once again be surprised when I “suddenly” discover my old friend in all its glory.

(Don Hendershot is a naturalist and a writer who lives in Haywood County. He can be reached at ddihen1@bellsouth.net)

September 12-18, 2018 Smoky Mountain News 47

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Smoky Mountain News

September 12-18, 2018

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