Education News

SCC to host state debate

In September, students in Dr. Bucky Dann’s Social Problems class hosted debates featuring candidates for national and local office.

Following the Sept. 24 event featuring candidates for Jackson County Board of Commissioners, students will now delve into statewide issues in preparation for a debate between Joe Sam Queen (D) and Mike Clampitt (R), candidates for N.C. House of Representatives, Dist. 119. That debate will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 8 on Southwestern’s Jackson Campus.

Due to COVID-19 and related statewide restrictions, the public will not be able to physically attend. Instead, SCC will provide live streaming video at livestream.com/southwesterncc/nchouse119.

The final debate of this campaign season will be at 7 p.m. on Oct. 22 featuring Kevin Corbin (R) and Victoria Fox (D) - candidates for N.C. Senate, District 50.

Register for fall at HCC

Registration is still open at Haywood Community College for classes this fall. Online courses for an eight-week session will start in October. Choose from classes such as art and biology to humanities and music. Work from the safety of your home while saving money on your education.

According to Wendy Hines, HCC Vice President of Instruction, “HCC has increased our eight-week offerings this fall to assist students with their educational journey. A variety of courses are being offered to meet individual student needs and interests. We’re offering these courses online to allow students to be enrolled in college while balancing their family and work demands.”

Classes start on Oct. 13. For more information, call 828.627.2821, email hcc-advising@haywood.edu or visit www.haywood.edu.

WCU offers beginning German class

Western Carolina University’s Office of Professional Growth and Enrichment will be offering a five-week online beginning German language course Oct. 12 through Nov. 13.

“This is a self-contained, conversation-based beginning German course designed for adults and built around high-quality, original electronic materials,” said instructor Dr. Will Lehman, associate professor of German at WCU.

Lehman designed the electronic materials himself and they are available to students at no additional cost. Topics to be covered include: formal and informal introductions, origins and hometowns, shopping, traveling, eating, clothing and colors, among others.

The cost for registration is $79. For more information and to register, visit learn.wcu.edu/language or call 828.227.7397.

Stuff the Bus for Jackson schools

Heroes 2 Legends Wrestling is partnering with Jackson County Public Schools, the Jackson County Rescue Squad and Dr. Clifford Mault Family Medicine to bring “Staff The Buss 2020” to the Jackson County Rescue Squad in Sylva.

Last school year, while 1 in 35 school-aged students in Jackson County experienced homelessness, many others were on the brink of losing their homes if not for the support of community organizations just like this one. The Stuff The Bus program uses money donated to purchase needs that include: hygiene products, clothing, school supplies, and food, while also helping families in need reach out to other programs in the county for more long-term stability.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the bell time is at 6:30. All tickets are $5 at the door. Seating is first-come, first-serve.

SCC gets funding for Nurse Aide program

Enrollment in Southwestern Community College’s Nurse Aide program just got a lot more affordable.

The North Carolina Community College’s System has recently awarded grant money to support students enrolled in the Nurse Aide Program at SCC. The North Carolina Targeted Assistance Program (NCTAP) is a state grant program designed to increase enrollment for high-demand occupations. This year, the grant will be providing scholarships to eligible students in SCC’s Nurse Aide program to cover costs for their spring 2021 tuition.

SCC’s Nurse Aide program prepares students to become certified nursing assistants (CNAs). CNAs help care for physically or mentally ill, injured or disabled individuals in hospitals, nurs-

ing and personal care facilities and mental health settings. Working under the supervision of nurses, CNAs perform much-needed daily tasks such as serving meals, making beds and helping patients eat, dress and bathe.

For more information on the Nurse Aide program, contact Conner at d_conner@southwesterncc.edu or by calling 828.339.4459.

WCU to delay spring semester start

Western Carolina University has announced plans for the 2021 spring semester that include delaying the start of classes by two weeks, eliminating the traditional weeklong spring break and providing an abbreviated midterm break.

Instruction for spring 2021 will continue to be offered through a blend of face-to-face, online and hybrid course delivery. An abbreviated mid semester break has been scheduled to coincide with the Easter holiday, with no classes to be held Thursday, April 1, through Monday, April 5. The last day of classes for the spring semester is Friday, May 7, followed by final exams Saturday, May 8, through Friday, May 14.

Spring commencement ceremonies are tentatively set for Friday, May 14, and Saturday, May 15, although those dates are subject to change.

WCU in top listings of universities

The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of colleges and universities for 2021 places Western Carolina University firmly in an upper echelon of institutions of higher education.

WCU is among the top 10 in two categories — 10th among public universities in the South and ninth as a best value university in the South. The university also is listed as 13th best for veterans, 18th for social mobility and 25th overall in regional universities, public and private, in the South.

The listing of ninth as a regional best value is especially telling, as the university’s previous ranking of 14th did not fully reflect NC Promise, which reduces the cost of tuition to $500 per semester for North Carolina residents and $2,500 per semester for students from out of state.

Perry recognized as top professional

April Perry, an associate professor in the College of Education and Allied Professions at Western Carolina University, has been named to the Standout Blue Ridge Class of 2020 by the Carolinas’ chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The 15 honorees exemplify leadership qualities, are active in volunteer roles and have excelled in their chosen profession and community, with those selected deemed among the most prominent, influential and successful in Western North Carolina. As an honoree, Perry will participate in opportunities to network with her fellow class members, learn more about cystic fibrosis, help spread awareness about the disease and raise critical funds for research, drug development, and care and support programs.

“I feel incredibly honored to be selected as a Standout young professional for the Western North Carolina region,” Perry said. “The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is doing amazing work and research to help those in need in our community. I’ve learned so much about CF through this experience, and I’m excited to continue to bring awareness to others.”

Perry will be formally recognized for her achievements during a virtual celebration on Nov. 5.

• With the wrap up of Summer Learning and the beginning of a new school year, Marianna

Black Library thanks this year’s participants for the Imagine Your Story Summer Learning

Program of 2020. Congratulations to two well accomplished readers ALSO: — Daingr Rowlan, 8, and Oskar Rowlan, 5 — they are this year’s top reader and received grand prizes for Summer

Learning.

• Southwestern Community College is launching an “Enroll Anytime” selection of classes this semester. Students can earn as much credit as they can fit into their schedules, and new sections begin every week from Sept. 8 through Nov. 2. All classes end on Dec. 4. A complete list of course offerings is available at www.SouthwesternCC.edu.

• Lisa Leatherman, Nantahala District Manager for Duke Energy Carolinas, has begun serving as Chair of the SCC Foundation Board.

Leatherman, who has helped the SCC

Foundation raise more than $22,000 since 2015, recently secured an additional $5,000 from the Duke Energy Foundation toward the

New Century Scholars (NCS) program.

Opinion

Pless’ behavior should worry voters

When our government leaders deliberately mislead or lie to us, there is no immediate consequence. We would never hire or retain an employee who lacks personal integrity or responsibility, yet we seem to accept that the lack of integrity in political leadership is the norm — even at the local level.

It is no secret Haywood County Commissioner Mark Pless — who is running for a state House seat in District 118 — is problematic. Not only has he vehemently opposed harm reduction efforts in our community but has lambasted our homeless population and often makes gross distortions of the truth. Pless habitually claims he’s never been given facts, information and studies on these subjects — when he has in fact received the materials. He offers no feasible solution to these problems. Instead he refuses to acknowledge science-based evidence that addiction is a disease. Pless, a salesman, says addiction is a “choice.”

Pless has openly sparred with constituents who disagree with him. He has bullied — primarily females — and is disrespectful during meetings and through email exchanges. He has attempted to “humiliate” residents through social media shaming. A person with seemingly no ability to manage his impulses has no place in public service. That's right, Mark. You're a public servant. Your position exists to serve the people, not the privileged.

In a June 2020 interview, Pless claimed he left his paramedic job in 2003 because of PTSD issues. Yet in the same article, evidence shows the contrary. Pless quit after having a verbal altercation with another county employee in which Pless made threats that he would “f*%@ the system.” An advisory board wrote a letter stating he exhibited “willful and deliberate misconduct which resulted in termination of your employment.”

Obviously, Pless is giving folks the ole razzle dazzle about how he came to no longer be employed by the county. Why the dishonesty? It’s as if he’s ashamed of the termination and rumors of sexual harassment surroundHeather Hyatt Packer Guest Columnist ing his career in emergency services. A reasonable person might inquire that if Pless is not qualified to be employed by the county, then why is he serving the county in the commissioner capacity? The same man has been accused of domestic violence. His wife filed a domestic violence complaint and restraining order in 2008. According to Mrs. Pless’ own words, Commissioner Pless was having an affair with a member of their church which led to multiple physical altercations. Her report states he grabbed her by the throat, slammed her to the bed. When questioned about the nature of this incident he downplays it as “the little domestic thing.” Am I to conclude that domestic violence and misogyny go hand in hand?

Someone needs to stand up, say something. I guess I’ll be the one. This is atrocious behavior for an elected leader. With his controversial background, Pless has no place in local government. The unconscionable conduct in both his personal and professional life along with his blatant disdain for the female gender leaves me to wonder how someone like this has the arrogance to run for public office?

There is a real and worthwhile conversation taking place in our community regarding harm reduction, addiction and the non-housing issue. Unlike Pless, there are superstars in Haywood County who tirelessly serve those in need, create opportunities for change, and deliberately move towards an end which will ultimately serve us all.

We need a leader who truly lives mountain values. Simply put, mountain values to me include a sense of dignity and empathy that have been built by brave frontier men and women who endured troubled times through hard work and helping their neighbors. We need a leader who doesn’t send snarky emails suggesting he’ll “bring the homeless to your doorstep.” We need a leader who serves everyone — not just his base. We need a leader who doesn’t equate human worth to property ownership. We need a leader who not only proclaims himself a Christian (as if that somehow is an association with rightness) but in effect acts like a Christian.

Jesus might find himself caring for those in Frog Level that Pless so execrates at public meetings. We need leaders who embraces servant leadership with a clear sense of duty and guides by example.

Vote with thoughtfulness at the poll this November. Take a stand for Haywood County. Restore honor to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners. (Heather Hyatt Packer is a performance artist and podcast host who lives in Waynesville. Reach her at heatherhyattphoto@gmail.com.)

Sign drove me away from Waynesville

To the Editor:

Simply put, I’m a Texas tourist (airline pilot on leave of absence) who was on my first trip to the Hendersonville area in our motorhome. This morning, my wife of four decades mentioned Waynesville for about the fifth time, and I decided a convertible cruise down the parkway with lunch and shopping in Waynesville was in order.

On the outskirts, I was treated to the spectacle of a “Trump For President” sign with an added stinger to give it a little more white nationalist zest: “Hillary For Prison.”

Short story short, I refused to stop. KayCee had in mind an afternoon of browsing storefronts, giving our credit cards a workout — I can’t say my credit cards since she’s a retired attorney and title companies owner — but instead was relegated to sulking.

Individual expression is sure a delicate issue: any citizen can legally post some offensive icon on private property; but, visitors confronted with such are empowered to blacklist commerce in response.

I just didn’t want the day to pass without sharing my tale: that one strategically placed banner warded off at least one visitor, today. Like Crawford Ranch — it is south of our private airport in Texas and was designated prohibited airspace — years ago, Waynesville is now a big blacked-out spot on

LETTERS

our North Carolina map.

Stay healthy and safe, all.

Andy Shane Granbury, Texas

Sign stealers should be denounced

To the Editor:

Trump tends to project onto others what he is planning to do or has done. When he says that Democrats can’t win the election without cheating, what he really means is that he needs to cheat to win. We have seen this being before our eyes with Trump and Republicans dismantling of the Postal Service to hinder delivery of mail in ballots, removal of voting locations in a number of states controlled by Republicans, and various forms of voter suppression.

It would appear that some local Republicans are making their contribution to cheating. Someone is pulling up Biden/Harris signs around the county. In some cases stealing signs from the same location repeatedly. One case involved someone going onto the porch of a home to steal a Biden banner. The Democratic Party Headquarters has been vandalized with candidate signs being stolen and even the U.S. flag being taken.

These would appear to be from folks aligned with the party of “law and order” who don’t see unethical or criminal behavior as a problem. If these vandals are not Republicans, the Republican Party should denounce them. JoAnne McElroy Waynesville

Democrats want to take away rights

To the Editor:

I noticed in your Sept. 30 edition that all your letters to the editor are nothing but political ads catering to the socialist left. Also they contain many lies.

The Republicans are not gunning for our Social Security. Demanding that benefits of any kind should only go to legal inhabitants

of this country is only common sense. All illegals break the law and therefore are criminals.

Saying that the Democrats aren’t gonna take our guns away is a flat-out lie! They openly advocate taking our guns and abolishing the Second Amendment. That’s what Kamala Harris said last week.

When it comes to destroying the ACA, it should be destroyed. There’s nothing affordable about it and it’s the cause of many people being uninsured because they cannot afford the high premiums.

Abortion is not health care; when you kill a human you are not caring for that human. Abortion is plain murder. Only in the case that the mother’s life is in danger should abortion be considered. Abortion is not a right, it is a misguided court ruling based upon lies by the plaintiff and should have been repealed the day she admitted to lying. Where it comes to drilling for oil, the writers of that letter should immediately stop driving their car and stop using anything that is made from petroleum or that’s being brought to them in vehicles using petroleum based fuel. That’s 99 F