Rescue squad alleges former chairman committed fraud

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Alongtime leader in the GlenvilleCashiers Rescue Squad is facing criminal charges and a civil suit claiming he used lies and deception to position his construction company for a $2 million job building a new rescue station.

“We take very seriously the stewardship of our county and donated money, and provision of search and rescue and emergency medical services,” said Nat Turner, CFO for the rescue squad. “Once we identified and found these irregularities, we immediately turned them over to the county and since then have fully cooperated with government and law enforcement officials.”

The allegations span several years and feature a renovation project so faulty as to be unusable, stolen funds and an illegally executed contract.

INADEQUATE LIVING SPACE

According to a civil suit the rescue squad filed in June 2019 against the squad’s former chairman Brandy Sullivan, the roots of the story go back to 2016, when Jackson County commissioners approved a tax increase in order to fund a second 24/7 ambulance crew at the rescue squad, which is a nonprofit entity. The plateau’s population was growing and call volumes were increasing, squad leaders told commissioners at the time, and in order to serve the GlenvilleCashiers area in the years to come, they’d need more crew members and a centrally located substation at the crossroads.

While plans proceeded for the new building, the second crew was to be housed at the existing squad headquarters. Sullivan, a licensed general contractor, converted a portion of the squad’s equipment and vehicle storage garage into a living space under the auspices of Sullivan Custom Homes LLC, of which he is the president. There was no written contract for the job, but he invoiced the squad $21,520.

However, according to the squad’s suit, squad leaders would later find out that, despite including line items for design and permitting costs in the invoice, SCH never pulled any permits for the project. The finished product proved to be rife with code violations, to the point that the squad has had to rent a house for its second crew rather than using the living quarters for which it had shelled out $21,520.

SECURING AN UNLIMITED LICENSE

While certainly significant, it is the construction of the still non-existent new squad building — not renovation of the living quarters — that sits at the heart of the legal

The Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad is a nonprofit organization that provides emergency services to southern Jackson County.

Nat Turner photo

battle now playing out between the rescue squad and Sullivan, who did not return a call requesting comment for this story.

As the rescue squad began to plan and gather funds for the building, its leaders had not yet discovered the deficiencies in Sullivan’s 2016 project, and Sullivan, still serving as chairman of the board, was allegedly angling to land this larger, more lucrative job. Commissioners had agreed to underwrite a $1.8 million loan for the new squad building, with the squad itself raising some additional funds to cover costs above that amount.

However, at that time Sullivan’s company did not qualify to do the work. The N.C. Licensing Board for General Contractors requires contractors to hold an unlimited license in order to perform any job valued at more than $1 million, and SCH’s intermediate license was good only for projects valued at $1 million or less.

To qualify for an unlimited license, a company’s assets must exceed its liabilities by at least $150,000, and that benchmark appears to have been out of reach for Sullivan. According to the county’s Nov. 20, 2019, forensic audit, SCH’s had only $9,114 in working capital at the time Sullivan applied for licensure, but he used rescue squad funds to make it appear that the number was actually $161,114.

On June 29, 2017, the squad’s suit alleges, Sullivan instructed the rescue squad’s treasurer to transfer $152,000 from the squad’s account to SCH, a figure that represented “virtually all” of the squad’s operating funds at the time. The board didn’t authorize the transfer and didn’t even know it had happened, the suit alleges.

With the money in his account, Sullivan allegedly provided bank statements reflecting the artificially enlarged balance to an accounting firm that then provided him with the audited financial statement he needed to apply for licensure. Nowhere in the auditor’s report is the rescue squad identified as the source of the money — instead, the report shows the $152,000 as a long-term loan from Sullivan to his company. Sullivan allegedly generated a fictitious promissory note to give the auditor this impression.

The rescue squad’s money didn’t stay in the SCH account long — Sullivan transferred it back on July 5, 2017, less than a week after he allegedly took it. It was there long enough to fool the auditor, but when Sullivan appeared before a notary to sign his application on July 19, the money was long gone from his account, the forensic audit showed. The squad alleges that due to the “fraudulent misrepresentations” contained in the report, the N.C Licensing Board for General Contractors did not know that Sullivan did not qualify and granted him the unlimited license he sought.

The allegations don’t stop there.

The rescue squad had paid $109,351 in invoices for planning expenses surrounding the project, the squad’s suit alleges, but “despite the fact that the contracts … were between the designers and the rescue squad, Sullivan took possession of the plans,” refusing several board requests to review them. In addition, documents included as attachments with the forensic audit show that at some point in the process, the billing address that T.E. Allen Engineering used for its invoices was changed from the rescue squad’s P.O. Box to the P.O. Box number used by Sullivan Custom Homes.

“Beginning in October 2017, Sullivan took multiple invoices from Allen, added unjustified amounts to the totals and then issued inflated Sullivan Custom Homes invoices to the rescue squad for Allen’s design work,” the squad’s suit alleges.

The county’s audit includes various examples of this, including an Oct. 17, 2017, invoice from T.E. Allen to the rescue squad — but mailed to Sullivan — for $15,300. An Oct. 18, 2017, invoice from SCH then bills the rescue squad for $17,595, which includes the $15,300 engineering cost plus a 15 percent “management fee” of $2,295.

The board eventually contacted the vendors directly to obtain copies of the plans, the suit alleges, and severed ties with Sullivan. The board then had the plans evaluated and found that they were deficient in various ways — the squad had to pay about $50,000 for completely new drawings, the suit says.

AN UNVOTED CONTRACT

Sullivan still had his eye on the contract for the new squad building and signed a contract for the project on Feb. 1, 2018, starting work on Feb. 5.

The only problem, the rescue squad claims, is that the board never approved the contract and didn’t even know it existed until after the bank loan for the project was approved later that spring.

However, the conflict between Sullivan and the squad first appeared in court when Sullivan sued the rescue squad — not the other way around.

Sullivan filed his suit on Jan. 25, 2019, claiming that the rescue squad broke its contract with his company when it ordered him to cease and desist construction of the new squad building based on false allegations against Sullivan. Then, Sullivan’s suit said, the rescue squad declined to pay him for the work and materials he’d provided to the site thus far. This led Sullivan to file a lien on Nov. 26, 2018, in the amount of $22,034.55 plus interest and attorney’s fees.

According to the squad’s lawsuit, around Feb. 1, 2018, Sullivan prepared a proposed contract that would allow SCH to build the new rescue squad station for a lump sum of $1.96 million, but he never submitted it to the board for approval. Instead, the suit alleges, he “induced” Chief Carl Stewart and Treasurer Sandy Taylor to sign the document when he “falsely suggested” that the contract had been approved. Once he’d obtained the signatures, he started working on the project and invoicing the rescue squad.

By early April, board members were asking questions about Sullivan’s role in the project, and Sullivan became “agitated” at the questions, resigning from the board on April 12, 2018, the squad’s suit said. On July 25, 2018, the rescue squad served SCH with a cease and desist letter, ordering the company to stop work. The squad then told Sullivan to submit documentation for work performed prior to the cease and desist letter being issued so that all vendors could be paid for work they’d actually performed, the suit says. F

SULLIVAN’S STORY causes of action against Sullivan Custom Homes and eight against Sullivan in his

Sullivan offers an alternative version of individual capacity. Of the 19 total causes, events. In court documents, he denies that 15 claim damages in excess of $25,000, and he refused to turn plans over to the board the suit requests a jury trial to determine and avers that he had a valid contract for the total amount. the project, gathering signatures the way he did on the advice of a local attorney who CRIMINAL CASES AND A had “from time to time” served the squad. Sullivan’s suit states that he began work on LICENSING HEARING Feb. 5, 2018, and that in March, two change Sullivan is also facing criminal charges orders totaling $382,800 were added to the following a State Bureau of Investigations contract, bringing the project’s total value probe. He was indicted Sept. 10 on three to $2.34 million before a 15 percent counts, all pertaining to the manner in markup for the contractor’s fee. The change which he obtained his unlimited license. order was signed by Stewart, Taylor and The charges include two felonies — obtainSullivan, Sullivan’s suit states. ing property by false pretenses and corpo-

“Plaintiff provided invoices to the rate malfeasance — and a misdemeanor for Defendant and Defendant made some pay- giving false evidence to the N.C. License ments totaling $91,553.45,” Sullivan’s suit Board of General Contractors. reads. “Defendant did not object to Sullivan is in trouble with the licensing Plaintiff’s performance and in fact sought board too. The rescue squad brought two Plaintiff’s continued performance until, for separate complaints against him in August reasons satisfactory to itself, it changed its 2019, and a formal hearing is expected position.” sometime in early 2021, said License Board

Regarding the initial licensure and Executive Director Frank Weisner. The licensing board

“The incidents appear to be isolated, complaints claim that Sullivan failed to comply and steps have been taken to protect with state building code taxpayer dollars. We look forward to requirements and that he failed to procure proper continuing to work with the squad permits. “We investigated the — Don Adams, County Manager case. We obtained evidence that the board’s review committee deteralleged transfer of the $152,000, Sullivan mines supports the allegations, and they denies the allegations in his response to the recommend to the board that Sullivan squad’s complaint but does not offer an Custom Homes be brought before the alternative explanation. board for a hearing,” said Weisner.

Sullivan is asking a jury to award him Hearings are conducted in a similar damages in excess of $25,000. The rescue manner to court proceedings. Sullivan will squad “ratified the contract” when it be invited to present his case, and the allowed him to continue work for months board’s prosecution will present theirs. The prior to the cease and desist order, board’s authority is broad, Weisner said — Sullivan’s suit states. It accepted work per- discipline can range from a formal repriformed prior to that time, “defeating any mand to suspension or even revocation of arguments it has already raised or may later the license. raise based upon invalid contracting Sullivan’s alleged actions also resulted in authority, defective contract formation or an investigation by the county into overall other theories.” doings at the rescue squad — hence the

In its response to Sullivan’s lawsuit, the forensic audit. On May 8, 2019, the county squad denies that it agreed to pay Sullivan’s contracted with Dixon Hughes Goodman to $91,553 invoice or that the contract — ensure that financial irregularities within which it holds was never valid — included a the rescue squad were relegated to the contractor’s fee. It also denies that it had alleged issues involving Sullivan. According “ratified” the contract by its actions prior to to the completed audit dated Nov. 20, 2019, the cease and desist letter. Furthermore, the and published as part of county commissquad claims that it has paid all actual costs sioners’ Oct. 13 work session, they were. associated with the project. “The incidents appear to be isolated,

“Plaintiff has never provided an account- and steps have been taken to protect taxing of the $22,034.55, but it appears to con- payer dollars,” County Manager Don sist of the management fee mentioned above Adams told commissioners during an Oct. and a percentage markup, on what was sup- 13 work session. “We look forward to conposed to be a lump sum agreement, on exca- tinuing to work with the squad.” vation costs paid directly by the rescue When the squad and the county first squad to one of the Plaintiff’s vendors,” the started talking about expanding search and squad’s countersuit said. In an earlier para- rescue capabilities in the Cashiers area, graph, the document stated that the “pur- both the county and the squad had expectported contract” does not provide for a ed that by fall 2020 the new substation management fee and that the attempt to would have been built and in use for some charge such a fee was a “punitive action in time. As it stands, the property set aside for response to the cease and desist letter.” the station is still empty, and there’s no

The squad then goes on to bring 11 telling when the project will resume.

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Following canvass Friday, Nov. 13, Democrat Mark Jones is still ahead in the race for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners’ District 4 seat — but barely.

Election Day vote tallies put Jones, a 10year veteran of the county commission seeking to rejoin the board after losing to Republican Mickey Luker in 2016, just nine votes ahead of Republican Mark Letson, who is seeking his first elected office. That count did not include provisional ballots or absentee votes that were postmarked by Nov. 3 but had not Mark Jones yet arrived at the Board of Elections. On Friday, the board added 68 absentee ballots and 90 provisional ballots to the count.

Letson narrowed the gap by two votes, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Jones’ lead. Mark Letson Though the tally is still subject to the results of a recount, Jones currently has 10,452 votes with Letson coming in just seven votes behind, at 10,445. When results come within 1 percent of each other, candidates have the right to request a recount. Letson has made that request, and the recount is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19. However, Letson allowed the outcome is not likely to change.

“The care that they (the Board of Elections) took to ensure that the votes are counted correctly is a testament to their standards,” said Letson. “I don’t see a swing

Drop-off locations for Operation Christmas Child

More than 4,000 locations will now offer a curbside drop-off option for the

Samaritan’s Purse project Operation

Christmas Child. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National

Collection Week, Nov. 16-23.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts— filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys — to children worldwide for more than two decades. This is a project in those votes, but you never know, and as close as it is it’s worth a second look.”

Jones, also, does not expect the outcome to change.

“I’m so humbled and proud,” he said of his likely win.

Of the 336 provisional ballots cast on Election Day — ballots left out of the initial count because there is a question about the voter’s eligibility that must be settled by the election board — 90 were accepted into the final count.

“You have to go through the process, and it’s a good and fair process, and it works,” Jones said.

Letson outstripped Jones in the provisional ballots, with 56.67 percent of those votes, while Jones did better with absentee voters, receiving 57.35 percent of the vote on those late-arriving ballots. The trends follow those observed on Election Day. Jones received 72.3 percent of the 2,721 absentee votes counted on Election Day while Letson received 65.2 percent of 3,631 in-person Election Day votes.

However, Letson pointed out that while he came up short overall, he won all the precincts in southern Jackson County by significant margins, losing only four of the county’s 13 precincts. Letson lost by 34 votes in the Qualla district and pulled only 43.8 percent of 1,601 votes in Webster and 45.4 percent of 4,329 votes in Sylva/Dillsboro. His biggest loss was in the county’s secondlargest precinct of Cullowhee, where he received only 37.7 percent of 4,115 votes.

“I’m a little disappointed that Cullowhee is just determining who is our representative, but that’s the way the rules are,” he said.

If his lead holds, Jones will be part of a 41 Democratic majority on the board, with Commissioner-Elect Tom Stribling the body’s sole Republican. New commissioners will be sworn in on Monday, Dec. 7, and

serve through December 2024. that everyone can still be a part of, even with COVID-19 restrictions.

There’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. Find a step-bystep guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Participants can find the nearest dropoff location and hours of operation as they make plans to drop off their shoebox gifts at samaritanspurse.org/occ/drop-off-locations. The online lookup tool is searchable by city or ZIP code. Drop-off locations nearby include Waynesville First Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church and Ochre Hill Baptist Church in Sylva.

PERMIT APPLICATION

Notice is hereby given in accordance with NC General Statutes (G.S.) 150B-21.2 and G.S. 150B-21.3A, G.S. 143-214.1 and federal regulations at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 131.20 (b), 40 CFR 131.14 and 40 CFR 25.5 that the DEQ, Division of Water Resources (DWR) intends to amend effluent permit requirements applicable to Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC. Public comment or objection to the draft permit modification is invited. All comments received by January 29, 2021 will be considered in the final determination regarding permit issuance and permit provisions.

Blue Ridge Paper Products LLC, (d/b/a Evergreen Packaging), Permit Number NC0000272. Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC is authorized to discharge wastewater from a facility located at the

Blue Ridge Paper Products Wastewater Treatment Plant, off Highway 215 (175 Main Street), Canton, Haywood County, NC to receiving waters designated as the Pigeon River, French Broad

River Basin, in accordance with effluent limitations. Some of the parameters are water quality limited. This discharge may affect future allocations in this portion of the French Broad River

Basin. The location of the Outfall is: Latitude: 35032’08”; Longitude: 82050’42”.

The thermal component of the discharge is subject to effluent limitations under Title 15A North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) Subchapter 02B .0211 (18), which proposes thermal effluent limitations disallowing an exceedance of 2.8 degrees C (5.04 degrees F) above the natural water temperature, and in no case to exceed 29 degrees C (84.2 degrees F). The permit holder has requested a continuance of a Clean Water Act Section 316(a) variance. On the basis of 15A NCAC 02B .0208 (b),and other lawful standards and regulations, DWR proposes to continue the 316(a) variance in conjunction with the renewal of the permit.

The draft wastewater permit and all related documents are available online at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/events/public-notices-hearings. Printed copies of the draft permit and related documents may be reviewed at the department’s Asheville Regional Office. To make an appointment to review the documents, please call 828-296-4500. Public comment on the draft permit and on the proposed removal of the existing color variance should be mailed to: Wastewater Permitting, Attn: Blue Ridge Paper Products Permit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,

N.C., 27699-1617. Public comments may also be submitted by email to: publiccomments@ncdenr.gov. Please be sure to include “Blue Ridge Paper Products” in the email’s subject line.

COLOR VARIANCE INFORMATION

Notice is also hereby given in accordance with NC G.S. 150B-21.2 and G.S. 150B-21.3A, G.S. 143-214.1 and federal regulations at 40 CFR 131.20 (b), 40 CFR 131.14 and 40 CFR 25.5 that the

NC Environmental Management Commission (EMC) is requesting comment on removing the color variance from the effluent permit requirements applicable to Blue Ridge Paper Products,

LLC. All comments received by January 29, 2021 will be considered. Comments should be mailed to: Wastewater Permitting, Attn: Blue Ridge Paper Products Permit, 1617 Mail Service

Center, Raleigh, N.C., 27699-1617. Public comments may also be submitted by email to: publiccomments@ncdenr.gov. Please be sure to include “Blue Ridge Paper Products” in the email’s subject line. Public records related to the EMC consideration of the variance are located at: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/water-resources/water-resourcescommissions/environmental-management-commission-71

BACKGROUND

The effluent permit limit requirements applicable to Blue Ridge Paper Products, LLC established in compliance with NC G.S. 143-215.1, other lawful standards and regulations promulgated and adopted by the EMC, and the Clean Water Act (Act), as amended, previously contained a variance provision to the state’s narrative, aesthetic, water quality standard for color. The variance was granted July 13, 1988, by the EMC, under provisions in G.S. 143-215.3(e). Further, the variance has been continued under regulations contained in 15A NCAC 02B .0226,

Exemptions From Surface Water Quality Standards: “Variances from applicable standards, revisions to water quality standards or site-specific water quality standards may be granted by the

Commission on a case-by-case basis pursuant to G.S. 143-215.3(e), 143-214.3 or 143-214.1. A listing of existing variances shall be maintained and made available to the public by the

Division. Exemptions established pursuant to this Rule shall be reviewed as part of the Triennial Review of Water Quality Standards conducted pursuant to 40 CFR 131.10(g).”

NC DEQ DWR has concluded that a variance from the narrative provision at 15A NCAC 02B .0211(12), historically interpreted as an instream true color value of 50 platinum cobalt units (PCU), is no longer necessary. As outlined in the accompanying supporting materials, significant improvements to the instream concentrations of color in the Pigeon River, combined with specific limits on color and an updated reevaluation regarding the narrative provision and protection of the designated uses, support removal of the variance. While 40 CFR Part 131 requires that “a

State may not adopt Water Quality Standard (WQS) variances if the designated use and criterion addressed by the WQS variance can be achieved..." by implementing certain effluent measures, the permit contains technology-based effluent limits (see page 4 of the draft permit) that result in achieving the same goal and are in accordance with the most recent US EPA

Technology Review Workgroup recommendations. In addition to the removal of the variance, the 2020 draft permit includes monitoring requirements that the facility meet a monthly average delta ( ) Color of 50 PCU at the Fiberville Bridge, when the Pigeon River flow at Canton is equal or above the Monthly 30Q2 flow of 129 cubic feet per second. Previously, a Settlement

Agreement between NC, Tennessee (TN), and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required that the facility meet an instream color of 50 PCU at the TN/NC state line, located approximately 40 river miles below the discharge. A summary of the history of the variance, review of applicable regulations, and a reevaluation of the stream conditions is located at: https://deq.nc.gov/news/events/public-notices-hearings

RECOMMENDATION

In accordance with state and federal regulations, the proposed variance modification to the permit is effectively a change to water quality standards and subject to public hearing. Under 40

CFR Part 131.14 (b)(1)(v) the state has reevaluated the Color Variance, examined the highest attainable condition using all existing and readily available information and, now, provides notification to obtain public input on this reevaluation, to confirm the finding that the present condition for color corresponds to meeting the applicable criterion at 15A NCAC 02B .0211(12) and that a variance is no longer required for this facility per the intent of 40 CFR Part 131. Upon completion of the review process, and certification under 40 CFR Part 132.5(b)(2) from the

State’s Attorney General’s office that proper notification has been given, the results of the EMC decisions will be submitted to the EPA for action.

ONLINE PUBLIC HEARING

In the abundance of caution, and to address protective measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the hearing will be held online.

Date: January 20, 2021

Time: 6 pm

WebEx link: https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6dd914ab0c9b2593dbb23321a36af245

WebEx password: Nk2BCEzm7P2

WebEx phone number: 1-415-655-0003

WebEx access code: 171 787 6586 (Please see information below regarding registering for, joining, and commenting at the public hearing.)

REGISTRATION

To register for the hearing and provide your preference regarding speaking at the hearing, please visit: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3IF2etC5mkSFwzCbNftGRcM2xmuszROiks3JDQp2_RURjJSWUpMRThRSURXVzA5WFU5MkdNUzk1UC4u

Registration must be completed by 12:00 pm on January 20, 2021. If you have any problems registering online, please call 919-707-9011 or email peter.johnston@ncdenr.gov by the registration deadline of 12:00 pm on January 20, 2021.

The Division of Water Resources highly recommends testing your computer's WebEx capabilities prior to the hearing at https://www.webex.com/test-meeting.html. For instructions about digital ways to join the public hearing, please refer to the WebEx Help Center online at https://help.webex.com/en-us/ .

To comment during the hearing after your name is called as a registered speaker and/or after the hearing officer asks if any people wish to comment following the registered speakers: - If you join the hearing by phone, press *3 to “raise your hand,” speak, and press *3 to “lower your hand.” - If you join the hearing online, press the “raise your hand” icon, speak, and press the “lower your hand” icon. - The Hearing Officer may limit the length of time that you may speak, so that all those who wish to speak may do so.

Junalusak Woman’s Club decorates for fall

This year Junaluska Woman’s Club members have crafted plans for wonderful, supportive projects and fundraising events that, during the pandemic, have had to be canceled again and again.

So, when someone came up with the idea of decorating Lake Junaluska’s East Gate, several members (and a few willing husbands) were eager to get to work.

“It was a perfect early fall day with lots of sunshine and beauty from the lake as our inspiration,” said Nancy Hood.

They started with several bales of hay and plenty of pumpkins. Then they added pots of fall flowers, a few fallen branches and a couple of wreaths from leftover decorations.

One worker said that as they stood back and admired their handiwork, several folks drove by and expressed their appreciation to the group for adding the fall décor to the already beautiful grounds.

KARE Festival of Trees goes virtual

This year, the Forga Family KARE House Festival of Trees will be held virtually with 17 trees available for auction, as well as an opportunity to bid on additional auction items.

The opportunity to begin bidding will start at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 19 and ends at 9 p.m. Nov. 30. Trees will be delivered Dec. 2.

Trees will be on display for public viewing across Haywood County at Laurel Ridge Country Club, Beverly Hanks, Champion Credit Union, and Legacy Dance Studio. Normally pictures do not do them justice but there will be pictures available on the bidding site.

KARE’s child medical evaluation numbers have doubled and case numbers have increased by 37 cases in the last quarter. Visit www.karehouse.org to give a direct donation to the agency.

Drop off Operation Christmas Child boxes

More than 4,000 locations will now offer a curbside drop-off option for the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child. Volunteers are preparing to collect shoebox gifts during National Collection Week, Nov. 16-23.

Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts — filled with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys — to children worldwide for more than two decades.

There’s still time for individuals, families, and groups to transform empty shoeboxes into fun gifts. Find a step-by-step guide on the How to Pack a Shoebox webpage, visit samaritanspurse.org/occ.

Drop-off locations nearby include Waynesville First Baptist Church, Bethel Baptist Church and Ochre Hill Baptist Church in Sylva.

Baptist Children’s Homes expands

Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina is adding a key and historic component to its already comprehensive array of services to children and families.

The 135-year-old nonprofit is assuming ownership of Christian Adoption Services, giving BCH the ability to aid families with domestic and international adoptions.

“This is an extraordinary way for Baptist Children’s Homes to celebrate its 135th anniversary,” said Michael C. Blackwell, who has served as BCH President/CEO since 1983. “Now more than ever, boys and girls need to be cared for by dedicated families who can give them the love and protection they deserve. Bringing in the proven expertise of Christian Adoption Services expands our ability to offer children hope.”

Together, BCH and CAS have almost 176 years of experience in providing compassionate services to bring help, hope and healing to vulnerable children.

Raffle to benefit homeless families

On Saturday, Nov. 21, a local nonprofit focused on providing assistance to the unsheltered will hold a charity raffle — with a little help from Haywood County’s own bluegrass super-group Balsam Range.

Helping Hands of Haywood is currently offering raffle tickets for $1 each, or 6 for $5. Winners will be drawn by members of Balsam Range at 7 p.m. live on Facebook. Prizes include photo sessions, quilts, artwork, dining, pet grooming services, retail gift cards, greens fees at area golf courses and more. All proceeds will be used to help a family experiencing temporary homelessness through the EACH initiative, another local nonprofit charged with mitigating homelessness. For more information on prizes or to purchase tickets, visit www.haywoodhelpinghands.org or call 828.508.3420.

Health Foundation NIMble grants

More than 30 Western North Carolina nonprofits and public service agencies have been awarded Needs Immediately Met, or NIMble, grants from Nantahala Health Foundation in support of programs designed to achieve better health outcomes for regional residents.

Organizations located in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain counties, and the Qualla Boundary, many with immediate needs as a result of COVID-19’s impact on the region, were awarded a total of $272,882.

“The primary goal of our NIMble grant program is to ensure our quick response to meet our partners’ most crucial needs,” Nantahala Health Foundation Executive Director Lori Bailey said. “In addition to meeting these urgent needs, NIMble has helped us identify and work with organizational leaders who have developed innovative ideas for addressing the social determinants of health in our region.”

According to Bailey, more than 75% of awarded NIMble grants, or $212,499, will support regional recovery efforts.

For more information about Nantahala Health Foundation, visit nantahalahealthfoundation.org.

Evergreen Foundation awards grants

The Evergreen Foundation recently awarded $173,000 in second quarter funding to six nonprofit agencies providing programs and services for individuals with Behavioral Health, Substance Abuse and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities throughout Western North Carolina. • The Arc of Haywood County — $25,000 to replace security cameras in their group homes serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. • Hawthorne Heights — $79,551 in funding as a match for a Juvenile Crime Commission grant to resume respite services at the WNC youth shelter in Bryson City. • Youth Villages — $30,000 in match funding to provide post foster care services in WNC. Services include assisting youth with employment, housing and higher education opportunities. • Macon Citizens Habilities — $15,115 to purchase supplies to repair the roof and skylight at their day services facility, which serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. • LifeSpan Services — $13,326 to create welcoming outdoor spaces and install an automatic door at their campus in Cherokee County. • Life Challenge — $10,000 to make repairs to their sewer and water system for their program serving women with Substance Use Disorders in WNC.

To learn more, visit the web site at www.evergreenfoundationnc.org or contact Denise Coleman at dcoleman@evergreennc.org.

Haywood Hospice hosts memorial

Haywood Hospice & Palliative Care recently hosted its annual Memorial event outside the Lake Junaluska Chapel.

This year’s theme was “Creating Memories and Leaving a Legacy.” The event was open to families and friends whose loved one was in Hospice care, as well as others in our community who had lost a loved one in the past year.

Melanie Seeger, bereavement coordinator for Haywood Hospice, welcomed guests to the event and spoke on the importance of sharing stories and memories of a loved one.

“With all that has gone on this year, it was encouraging to see a good crowd come and meet outside for our memorial service,” said Chip Wheat, executive director of Haywood Hospice. “We appreciate everyone who helped make this event possible”

Haywood Healthcare Foundation sponsors the memorial event.

Macon not testing during holidays

Due to upcoming holidays, Macon County Public Health will not be conducting COVID-19 testing the weeks of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For those who are asymptomatic, and believe they have been exposed to COVID-19, follow CDC and NCDHHS guidance of quarantining for 14 days after exposure. Those who have been exposed and are experiencing symptoms should reach out to their primary care provider or seek emergency help.

For other testing sites in the area, visit: https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/about-covid-19/testing/find-my- testing-place.

Haywood Foundation grant recipients

The board of advisors of the Haywood County Community Foundation recently announced $4,090 in local grant awards from its community grantmaking fund. • $1,500 to Clothes to Kids of Haywood County, Inc. for the Bottoms Up program • $910 to The Community Kitchen for feeding the needy of Haywood County • $1,000 to the Haywood County Gleaners for general operating support • $680 to the Haywood Habitat for Humanity for the Homebuyer Education for Low-Income Homebuyers program

For further information, contact NCCF Community Leadership Officer Colby Martin at 828.358.0030 or cmartin@nccommunityfoundation.org or visit the NCCF website at www.nccommunityfoundation.org.

No time to let down our guard

If you’re feeling COVID fatigue, it’s no wonder.

It seems this all started “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” We could be so lucky. In fact, it was one year ago, Nov. 17, 2019, that the first case of the novel coronavirus emerged was reported from a seafood market in Wuhan, China. At least that’s according to Chinese government data that was reported in the South China Morning Post.

Now, a year later as I write this, life on the planet may never be the same. That’s especially true for the families and friends of the 1,334,978 who have perished worldwide; the 247,000 who have died in the U.S.; and the 4,800 in North Carolina.

I started looking back to track how we got to where we are today. Researchers who have studied samples from flu tests think travelers from Wuhan may have entered California in mid-January and early February. Cases of non-travelers having the virus were reported in Washington state at about the same time, and Eastern Seaboard cases — presumably contracted from European travelers — were also reported in February. As is obvious now, efforts to control the spread failed miserably.

The first case to reach North Carolina was reported on March 3, from someone who had traveled to Washington State. The first widespread news stories about what was happening in North Carolina started overwhelming the media over the next couple of weeks, and most of us are familiar with what happened next: Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency and implemented a series of shutdowns. On March 14, schools were ordered closed for, initially, two weeks; a week later, Cooper ordered them closed for the remainder of the year. The shutdowns Scott McLeod Editor culminated in the closure of many bars and restaurants for indoor dining on March 17. After that, it was a cascade of events, a time when the medical community was coming to grips with the reality of community spread, quarantines, shortages and deaths. The rest of us — all of us who are part of “the economy” — had to with deal businesses shutting down, job losses, school shutdowns, and re-calculating just how we get through the day and do our jobs and take care of our families.

So yeah, the fatigue is real, but here’s another truth: the worst is yet to come. New daily records for COVID cases are being set across U.S. states and in Europe. The fears of medical equipment shortages are becoming real. Morgues in some cities are once again filled to capacity.

Right now, one of our counties — Haywood — has five people with COVID in the hospital’s intensive care unit. That’s the most it’s had since the outbreak. Our friends and neighbors are in there caring those sick folks, so we can only wish the caregivers and those with the virus our best.

In the midst of all this, two vaccines are in the research and development stages. According to the Centers for Disease Control website, doses of the vaccine may be available by the end of 2020. Still, it will be several months into 2021 before it is widely available and, according the CDC, research on children and the effects of the vaccine may take longer. In other words, the first doses may not be available to children.

One of the most unfortunate outcomes of this pandemic has been the battle lines that have been drawn. Science tells us masks are effective, but some just won’t do it. Unless laws are passed mandating mask wearing, those who refuse are within their rights to put others in danger. And so we have to deal with a pandemic, a fractured economy, and fighting among neighbors about whether masks should be worn — one more aspect of the COVID fatigue plaguing almost everyone.

Fatigue, yes. But all the evidence says we can’t let down our guard. Not yet. (Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com)

The USA is on a downhill slide

To the Editor:

I hope all the idiots who voted for Biden are happy. Our country is going down the tubes.

Welcome to socialism: all our taxes will be higher, unions will take over, small businesses will close, we will have open borders, and all of our jobs will be shipped to China.

Then they will declare Biden unfit to be president and then Kamala Harris will be president and she will pick Hillary Clinton as vice president. The country will be in a shambles and it won’t take four years for the Democrats to do it. Greg Brom Waynesville

GOP leadership is sickening

To the Editor:

It sickens me — a 72-year-old, seven-year U.S. Air Force and Vietnam veteran — the depths to which this GOP administration and GOP members of Congress are descending. It has always been clear that their interests lie solely in personal power and personal gain. To believe in this GOP administration, and to support their actions and goals, requires massive ignorance or nefarious calculation of personal benefit. This GOP administration and GOP members of Congress constantly display lack of character and amorality. This GOP administration has no interest in the progress of America and the world, and seeks simply

LETTERS

and nakedly to ignore reality in favor of their twisted mindset, that only they are to be believed, that every fact illustrating their malfeasance must be fake news.

The most difficult part of governance is actual good management. America desperately needs our elected representatives to spend our money to good effect by employing personnel with provable expertise. This GOP administration has made no pretense, since the 2016 election, of having such a goal, similar to GOP administrations since the election of Reagan, who in his initial inaugural address of January 20, 1981, said, “Government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.” In fact, bad government is the problem, and the GOP excels in bad government.

This GOP administration and Congress are now engaged in tremendous lies about the American election with no apparent goal except diversion and distraction, as well as fund-raising to help pay the President’s massive debt, and firing up their base at whatever cost to America. Attorney General William Barr has unleashed his Justice Department minions in support of this farce, and Emily Murphy, a Trump appointee and former Republican staffer on Capitol Hill, now the General Services Administrator, refuses the obligations of her office to the incoming President. Meanwhile, they continue, under the radar to most people, their destruction of protections of the American commons, so their overloads are free to extract and abuse as they see fit.

We are better than this. I’m probably misquoting someone, but we all do better when we all do better. That can only happen when the GOP drastically changes its mindset, and begins to work for their boss, the American people, who hired them. Bil Aylor Bryson City

GOP ignorance is staggering

To the Editor:

Joe Biden won, period. Biden won by the same “landslide” of 306 electoral votes as Trump declared in 2016. The difference is that the margins of victory by state tend to be larger than Trump’s but, unlike Trump, Biden also won the overall popular vote.

There was no widespread voter fraud

other than the Republican attempts at voter suppression by limiting voting places and other tactics to suppress votes. The so-called “Stop the Steal” is just another one of Roger Stone’s dirty tricks warmed over for another pass at sowing discord.

What is most distressing are the elected Republicans who are placating Trump’s ego by denying Biden’s clear victory. Trump’s mental illness makes him unable to face reality, but senators and representatives don’t have that excuse. Their failure to accept reality and deal with the COVID-19 pandemic is costing thousands of lives.

The Trump administration long ago gave up trying to do anything constructive about the pandemic. That “do nothing” strategy and adherence to the fantasy that it will “just go away” are now costing thousands of Americans to die each day. The Republicans in Congress also are doing absolutely nothing. The only thing Mitch McConnell cares about is getting another ideologue appointed to a lifetime judicial appointment. They don’t seem to understand that we need to address the pandemic to get economic recovery. The apparent ignorance is staggering. With newly elected Republicans it does not look like things will get better from their end. Our local congressman seems to think he is going to Washington to fight the “libs” instead of working for the overall interests of the district, such as broadband and economic development. The new Republican senator in Alabama could not correctly identify the three branches of the federal government and claimed we fought World War II to defeat socialists instead of the white-supremacist Nazis. When someone brings up socialists or socialism, it typically means the person doesn’t know what he or she is talking about. Norm Hoffman Waynesville

The bright spots of a pandemic holiday

I’ve started listening to Christmas music cookbooks and my late mother’s holiday and it’s not even Thanksgiving, but you recipes. This year I plan to be in the kitchen know what? It’s 2020 and anything goes. baking sweets and making savory dishes. Whatever makes the world feel less heavy is Christmas music and movies: For a couallowable. ple years after my mom’s passing, I couldn’t

Most of us have listen to Christmas music or watch holiday never experienced movies. They felt too jarring for my psyche. the holidays during a My mom loved all things holiday and it just pandemic. I’m finding it a bit discombobulating. Normally this is the week I visit my boys’ schools to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in the cafeteria. Susanna Shetley Columnist didn’t feel right to experience the surfacelevel delight of music and movies. Once my grief was in a better place, I realized she’d want me to continue listening to Bing Crosby and tuning the TV to the Hallmark Channel for two months. These small pleasures are especially alluring during a pandemic when escaping from reality is truly healing. Invitations regarding Shopping small: I always try to support holiday programs, plays, chorus perform- local businesses but this year more than ances and band concerts would be in back- ever I plan to shop small. Online sales have packs. But, not this year. All of those events soared during 2020 due to everyone being have gone virtual or are not happening. at home more than usual. This has affected

Similarly, this is the time of year where small businesses throughout the country. companies, foundations, chambers of com- We’re lucky to live in an area with a vast merce and other entities are planning holi- array of locally owned shops and galleries. day parties and soirees. Between my Though it’s tempting to stay in my cozy boyfriend and me, we usually have a pretty house and order stuff online, it’s also fun to full social calendar during the month of get out and support our local economy. December. This year our weekends are free Traditions: Traditions during a pandemof festive fun but full of soccer games. They ic can be tricky, especially when a lot of tradelayed the soccer season several months so ditions involve crowds. This year we probathe kids are playing games well into bly won’t enjoy a Christmas Parade or walk December, as opposed to ending in early around the Winter Lights event at the N.C. November. Again, everything is off-kilter Arboretum. We usually visit Santa at this year. Biltmore for a fun photo, but I’m not sure if

Not only is it not recommended to he’ll be in attendance this year. Nonetheless, attend large gatherings, COVID-19 data a strange year such as this offers the chance suggests small family gatherings are petri to incorporate new traditions, such as makdishes for viral contagion. Nonetheless, I ing DIY gifts like candles and soaps or comthink most families are still trying to figure pleting a yearly holiday puzzle. out creative ways to be together this holiday Loved ones: The COVID-19 pandemic season. has brought us all closer not only to our

Wisdom coach Patricia Ryan Madson loved ones but also to the meaning of life. offers this piece of advice, “If you can’t get Whether it’s over a Zoom call or in person, out of it, get into it.” With that being said, the most important aspect of this holiday I’m trying not to bemoan the loss of a nor- season will be spending time and communimal holiday season. Instead, I’m going to cating with those I love. If there’s ever a time roll with it and find some positives. I made to slow down and make that phone call or a list of things that will make me happy this send that card, it’s during the holidays. season. A year ago we were in New York City

Advent wreath: An Advent Wreath has enjoying The Rockettes Christmas been special to me for a long time. It offers Spectacular, frolicking through Central a quiet reflective component to the hustle Park, navigating a crowded Times Square and bustle of a typical holiday season. Each and shopping at Macy’s. That’s not happenyear we craft our own wreath with a metal ing this year, for us or any other family. Yet, base, wire and fresh greenery. Each night I’m not going to let a pandemic ruin my we say a prayer as we light the respective holiday experience. I’ve accepted this year candle. In no way does the pandemic affect will feel different than years past. That us having and lighting an Advent Wreath, acceptance was the first step in finding a although 2020 will affect the nature of our unique kind of contentment in 2020. My prayers, to be sure. challenge for you is to do the same. Your list

Baking and making holiday goodies: may look different than mine, but whatever Though I have several friends who enjoy you hold close this holiday season, may it baking and making goodies during the holi- bring you authentic joy and some reprieve days, I don’t customarily do this. This year from a year that has exhausted all of us. The Smoky Mountain News published our (Susanna Shetley is an editor, writer, and digiinaugural holiday cookbook. As I was tal media specialist for The Smoky Mountain assembling the book, I enjoyed reading News, Smoky Mountain Living and through all of the recipes. Our cookbook Mountain South Media. also led me to look through many of my old susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)