Franklin’s new town manager no stranger to WNC

BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR

Alittle over a year after she left for a town manager job in Altavista, Virginia, former Waynesville Assistant Town Manager Amie Owens has returned to the region, albeit just a little farther west.

“It was a good experience, but I just wanted to be closer to home,” Owens said. “When the opportunity in Franklin presented itself, I jumped on it.”

A Haywood County native and Pisgah High School graduate, Owens had spent more than eight years in local government in North Carolina, including almost five as Waynesville’s assistant manager after a period as the town’s administrative services director. A graduate of Montreat College, Owens earned her Master of Public Administration from Western Carolina University.

The hiring of Owens comes after the April resignation of longtime Franklin Town Manager Summer Woodard. Woodard, who had worked first as an intern and then in every town department before taking the assistant manager position in 2010, was hired as manager in 2014.

During her tenure, Woodard became highly regarded and achieved several notable successes, including bolstering the town’s fund balance. This past April, Woodard accepted a job in Reidsville, a North Carolina town of about 14,000 located halfway between Greensboro and Danville, Virginia.

That leaves Owens with big shoes to fill, but she too was highly regarded in Waynesville, so Franklin residents shouldn’t expect a decrease in the quality of services they’ve been receiving for years.

“It’s always hard to follow someone who did a good job like Summer did,” Owens said, noting that her immediate priorities were to work with council to prioritize the spending of American Rescue Plan funding by balancing needs and wants. Housing and economic development concerns will also be at the top of Owens’ list.

Outgoing Franklin Mayor Bob Scott said that although the final three candidates for the job all scored highly on testing given by the town’s recruitment firm, Owens scored the highest.

“But there was just something that stood out about her, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on,” Scott said. “I just felt she was the kind of person Franklin needed.”

Scott, who decided against running for re-election this year, said that there’s a slate of great candidates in this fall’s town elections, and feels the town is in good hands with Owens.

“I’ll say this on the record right now,” noted the usually jovial Scott, “I better not see anyone from Haywood County snooping around town hall trying to steal her away.”

Amie Owens

A federal jury in Asheville convicted Shane McKinley Swimmer, 21, of Cherokee, of second degree murder last week, announced William T. Stetzer, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Chief U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger presided over the three-day trial.

According to filed court documents, trial evidence, and witness testimony, on Nov. 10, 2018, Swimmer and his uncle, Charles Ray “Chino” West, were at his uncle’s residence on Rocky Knob Trail in Swain County, which is within the boundaries of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reservation. Trial evidence established that shortly before 7 p.m., Swimmer attacked his uncle with a baseball bat, striking the victim in the head at least nine times. The victim died as a result of his injuries. Following the attack, Swimmer went to another family member’s house nearby and announced that the victim was dead before calling 911. Officers with the Cherokee Indian Police Department arrested Swimmer shortly thereafter.

Swimmer remains in federal custody. The second-degree murder charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing date for Swimmer has not been set.

Register to vote

On Sept. 28, Americans will celebrate National Voter Registration Day with a massive cross-country effort to register voters ahead of critical state and local elections in 2021 and midterm elections in 2022.

The Haywood County Public Library is proud to be a National Voter Registration Day partner and will engage the Haywood County community by registering voters at the Waynesville and Canton locations on Sept. 28-30.

The effort’s website, www.NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org, provides a listing of National Voter Registration Day events across the country, in communities and virtually. It also includes comprehensive and state-specific resources on all things voter registration and voting more generally.

Nearly 4.5 million Americans have registered to vote on the holiday since the inaugural National Voter Registration Day in 2012. For inquiries about National Voter Registration Day at the Haywood County Public Library, contact: Jennifer Stuart 828.356.2561.

SCC job fairs move outdoors

Due to public safety concerns related to COVID-19, Southwestern Community College officials have decided to move two upcoming job fairs outdoors at the Macon Campus.

The first event, which will be focused on the trades and skilled professions, is set for 57 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 16.

Two weeks later, the general job fair will be held from 1-4 p.m. on Sept. 30.

Both events will now be held — rain or shine — on the sidewalk behind SCC’s Groves’ Center in Franklin.

A third job fair exclusively for healthcare professions is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 14, on SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva.

For more information about either of these events, contact Mike Despeaux at m_despeaux@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4212.

How to apply for FEMA assistance

Residents of Buncombe, Haywood, and Transylvania counties who were affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Fred from Aug. 16 – 18 may apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

Call 800.621.3362 to apply. The toll-free telephone lines are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Those who use a relay service such as a videophone, InnoCaption, or CapTel should update FEMA with their specific number assigned to that service.

When you apply for assistance, have the following information readily available:

A current phone number where you can be contacted; your address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying; your Social Security number; a general list of damage and losses and banking information if you choose direct deposit.

If insured, the policy number or the agent and/or the company name.

If you have homeowners, renter’s or flood insurance, you should file a claim as soon as possible. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits for losses covered by insurance. If your policy does not cover all your damage expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

Take photos to document damage and begin cleanup and repairs to prevent further damage. Remember to keep receipts from all purchases related to the cleanup and repair.

Disaster assistance may include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, along with other programs to assist those recovering from the flooding.

For more information about Tropical Storm Fred recovery in North Carolina, visit www.fema.gov/disaster/4617. Follow the FEMA Region 4 Twitter account at https://twitter.com/femaregion4.

Permits required for bridge rebuilding

Many smaller, private bridges were damaged in Tropical Storm Fred, and homeowners are understandably anxious to get them replaced.

Before starting any storm-recovery construction project, including bridges, the first step for homeowners should be to register your loss with FEMA and apply for Individual Assistance. Losses not covered by homeowners/flood insurance may be eligible for FEMA assistance.

Register online at www.disasterassistance.gov; by phone at 800.621.3362 or TTY 800.462.7585 or download the FEMA app in your favorite app store.

Be sure to call Haywood County Development Services at 828.452.6638 before starting construction to determine which permits will be necessary.

Private bridges that provide access to a single residence may need flood permits. Private bridges that provide access to two or more residences may need flood permits and building permits. More details on the process will be provided by the Development Services staff.

To learn more about permits and the permitting process, call the Haywood County Development Services office during business hours.