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Western North Carolina’s Source for Weekly News, Entertainment, Arts, and Outdoor Information

December 17-23, 2014 Vol. 16 Iss. 29

Wilderness proposal a hot topic in WNC Page 14 Eaglenest theater in Maggie Valley to reopen Page 26

CONTENTS

STAFF

On the Cover: The town of Waynesville’s ability to sell electricity to some of its citizens has proven to be a cash cow over the decades, providing money to keep the tax rate low and finance many amenities that otherwise would be too expensive. But with new, loosened regulations for those who buy electricity in bulk, the town is obsessing over a new contract that will determine the profitability of its electric system for the coming decades.

(Pages 6-8) Garret K. Woodward photo

News Back-and-forth dickering over Jackson trash hauling contract settled . . . . . . . 4 Former and current tax collectors working well together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Macon tries to appease some, empower cops as it mulls noise ordinance. . 12 Initial proposals for wilderness areas elicits strong opinions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Macon commissioners get an earful over stand on wilderness areas. . . . . . . 15

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Scott McLeod. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . info@smokymountainnews.com Greg Boothroyd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . greg@smokymountainnews.com Micah McClure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . micah@smokymountainnews.com Travis Bumgardner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . travis@smokymountainnews.com Emily Moss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . emily@smokymountainnews.com Whitney Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . whitney@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Bradley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jc-ads@smokymountainnews.com Hylah Birenbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hylah@smliv.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeremy Morrison. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jeremy@smokymountainnews.com Becky Johnson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . becky@smokymountainnews.com Holly Kays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . holly@smokymountainnews.com Garret K. Woodward. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . garret@smokymountainnews.com Amanda Singletary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . smnbooks@smokymountainnews.com Scott Collier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . classads@smokymountainnews.com Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), George Ellison (writing), Gary Carden (writing), Don Hendershot (writing).

CONTACT WAYNESVILLE | 144 Montgomery, Waynesville, NC 28786 P: 828.452.4251 | F: 828.452.3585

Opinion Heritage tied to preserving wilderness areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

SYLVA | 629 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 828.631.4829 | F: 828.631.0789

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INFO & BILLING | P.O. Box 629, Waynesville, NC 28786

A&E Eaglenest Entertainment in Maggie Valley takes flight — again . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Outdoors Man raises money for the hungry while walking the AT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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In murky aftermath of bid snafu, truckers jostle for trash contract

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER tug of war between two Jackson trucking companies over a high-stakes contract for hauling trash was settled last week following days of political tension.

Jackson County commissioners had to decide which of the two local truckers would snag a $2.5 million four-year contract to haul trash to a landfill in Georgia.

Picking a hauler was rife with complications, however. The contract went out to bid twice and was voted on by commissioners three times over the past two months.

After the first round of bids, the contract was awarded to WNC White as the lowest bidder. But the validity of White’s paperwork was later challenged. The bid had been missing a number, which was later penciled in by a county employee.

So the first set of bids was tossed out, and White’s contract was reeled back in.

In a second round of bidding, Kinsland Trucking came in lowest. So the county awarded the contract to Kinsland.

White then lodged a protest.

With the bidding process still in dispute, the contract landed back on the commissioners’ doorstep yet again. Should they revert to the lowest bidder from the first go around, stick with the lowest bidder in the second go around, or rebid the contract one more time?

With the clock ticking to lock in a trash hauler before the current contract expires, commissioners called a special meeting last week to decide their next move.

Kinsland and a dozen of his supporters were in the audience. He had a lot riding on the outcome For 12 years, Kinsland and his team of drivers had been hauling the county’s trash to a low-cost dump in Georgia. They do 1,200 runs a year — carting off several tractor-trailer loads of trash each day. They haul off another 180 loads of recycling to Asheville each year.

Now, Kinsland’s livelihood was on the line. His four drivers would be out of work as well if he lost the hauling contract.

To make matters worse, Kinsland just ordered three new trailers the week before to replace some of the older rigs in his fleet, not realizing his contract could be up in the air.

“It was $210,000,” Kinsland said. “These trailers are over $72,000 a piece.”

Kinsland made nearly $520,000 from the county last year. The trash-hauling contract sounds lucrative on the surface.

But Kinsland said he was having trouble breaking even. The cost he was charging the county per load was no longer enough to pay his drivers, buy the fuel and keep up his truck fleet. He has four big rig cabs and 10 trailers in circulation just to keep the trash moving through the staging area.

Kinsland told the county he would have to 4 go up on the hauling fee. Meanwhile, White

Smoky Mountain News

December 17-23, 2014

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Audience members at the Jackson County commissioners meeting last week were curious to see if the newly seated Democratic-leaning board would uphold the trash hauling contract with Kinsland Trucking, run by a Republican. Becky Johnson photo

By the numbers: Jackson’s trash trucking Jackson doesn’t have its own landfill.

It’s cheaper for the county to haul off the trash and pay a low-cost dump fee at a landfill in Georgia than it would be to build and operate a landfill of its own.

• $600,000 — Projected hauling costs for trash and recycling combined in the coming year.

• 1,220 — Trailer loads of trash hauled to the Georgia dump each a year.

• 90 — Miles from Jackson’s trash staging area to the dump in Georgia.

• 186 — Trailer loads of recycling hauled to a recycling center in Asheville each year. approached the county, wanting a shot at the trash-hauling gig.

“With a second Jackson County company indicating a desire to bid, in fairness to everyone, we felt like it was only fair to put it out to bid. And in talking to commissioners they also felt like that’s what we should do,” County Manager Chuck Wooten said.

After the first bids were tossed out, Kinsland faced a tough choice. His baseline hauling costs had been substantially higher than White’s: $495 per load, compared to $450 a load. But the glitch over the fuel surcharge meant Kinsland had a second chance.

Kinsland would obviously have to come down on his bid the second time to underbid White but Kinsland couldn’t assume White

was going to stick with the same bid of $450 a load.

They had both seen each other’s hand.

White knew Kinsland would try to undercut him. So White would have to come down from his first bid as well.

But there was a catch. Go too low, and you could lose your shirt.

“I came down as much as I possibly could,” Kinsland said. Any lower, he would be hauling trash at a loss.

Had the county put the contract out to bid yet a third time, Kinsland had no wiggle room to come down anymore anyway, and would have likely kept his price the same.

NO HARM INTENDED

Knowing when the surcharge is triggered — when fuel hits $2.50 a gallon, $3.50 a gallon, or $4.50 a gallon — is a critical number to evaluate the bids.

So the county public works director, Chad Parker, gave White a ring to clear up the confusion. Parker told White he failed to stipulate when the fuel surcharge would kick in.

“They then provided that to Mr. Parker over the phone and he actually entered it onto the bid form,” Wooten said.

When commissioners initially awarded the contract to White as the low bidder — he was $45 cheaper per load than Kinsland in the first round of bidding — they didn’t realize Parker had penciled in the missing number on White’s bid.

When Kinsland requested to see the bids out of curiosity, he noticed a line written in a different pen and different handwriting.

“I started hearing there was some concern about modifications to the bid form, and I found out this information had actually been entered on the bid form,” Wooten said.

In a formal bid process it would be highly irregular and even illegal to allow a bid to be altered after it was submitted. Bids are kept secret until the appointed hour and opened all at once. There are no do-overs or missing blanks to fill in later.

But the county technically didn’t have to bid out the trash-hauling contract. It’s considered a service contract, and service contracts don’t have to follow formal bidding rules.

Parker said he viewed the bidding process as a starting point in negotiations, and his goal was to arrive at the best price for the county.

Since White was by far the lowest bid, at least on the hauling fee, Parker didn’t want to dismiss it summarily because of missing information.

“Since he was the low bid, I figured I should call him and get the surcharge filled in,” Parker said.

POLITICS DENOUNCED

As the trash-bidding dispute waged on, a commissioner election came and went, changing the makeup of the county board. Two new commissioners — both Democrats — ousted former members. The board flipped to Democratic control by a 4 to 1 majority.

And that’s where the political tension

Leading up to last week’s commissioner meeting, Kinsland argued White’s bid should have been thrown out the first time around as incomplete.

Technically, the county doesn’t There never should have been a second round of bidding, let have to put the trash hauling alone the prospect of a third round, Kinsland said. contract out to bid at all. Services Whether White’s bid was in don’t have to be formally bid out fact incomplete the first time, or whether the instructions and awarded to the lowest bidder. weren’t clear, is a matter of perspective, however.

In the bids, truckers were supposed to came in.

Kinsland is a Republican, while White is a include their standard hauling fee, plus any surcharge triggered by high fuel prices. The Democrat.

After the second round of bidding, surcharge is intended to compensate haulers if they get hit by high fuel prices over the four- Kinsland was awarded the hauling contract during the final meeting of the Republicanyear life of the contract.

Each trucker could craft his own fuel for- leaning board in November.

But White’s protest had landed in the laps mula. But White left out a critical number out in his: specifically, when does the fuel sur- of the new Democratic-leaning board. charge kick in?

H

A bomb threat was received by the Jackson County 911 office shortly before the beginning of Western Carolina University’s fall commencement ceremony, scheduled to be held in the Ramsey Regional Activity Center on Saturday, Dec. 13, prompting university officials to move the event outdoors.

WCU police evacuated the Ramsey Center at approximately 1 p.m., just as the ceremony was about to begin. Approximately 7,000 people, including about 600 graduation ceremony participants, were evacuated.

The WCU Police Department and Jackson County Sheriff ’s Office are coordinating an investigation into the incident.

The commencement ceremony began in its new venue in E.J. Whitmire Stadium at about 2:30 p.m., about 90 minutes after its scheduled start time.

FOR SOME Ironically, the county came out better as a result of the snafu. By sending the contract back out to bid a second time, the haulers came down in their prices as they tried to undercut each other.

The low bid was $10 a load cheaper than the low bid in the first round. Multiply that times 25 loads a week, and the bid do-over ultimately shaved $15,000 off the county’s annual hauling costs.

Still, the county will spend more on trucking in the future than it has been. The county paid $518,000 last year in hauling costs for trash and recycling.

It will be closer to $600,000 a year going forward. Kinsland said the rate he’d been charging the county was too low to cover his own costs, and he was forced to come up in his fee.

Technically, the county didn’t have to put the trash hauling contract out to bid at all.

Services — be it architectural work, accounting services, or trucking — don’t have to be formally bid out and awarded to the lowest bidder.

In the past, the county had negotiated an exclusive hauling contract with Kinsland.

“We have been very satisfied with Mr. Kinsland,” Wooten said.

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A HAPPY ENDING

December 17-23, 2014

“This isn’t about politics. This is about hauling the trash,” Dietz said.

“We are going to try to be as fair as we Two Jackson trucking companies angling for the can with people here.” county’s trash hauling contract traded places for the Dietz also said the new board coveted spot of “lowest bidder” after the first round inherited the contract dispute and of bids was tossed out due to discrepancies. was forced to deal with it.

“I think it was handled sloppily,” FIRST BID Dietz said of the bidding process.

WNC White ..............................................$450 per load Ultimately, commissioners voted Kinsland Trucking ...................................$495 per load to uphold the contract awarded to Kinsland. They concluded White’s SECOND BID* bid protest was without merit.

Kinsland Trucking ...................................$440 per load Commissioner Charles Elders said WNC White ..............................................$443 per load that Kinsland has a proven track record. Ramping up a fleet of tractor*Does not include fuel surcharge, which kicks in trailers to do the hauling would be no when fuel hits $3.74 a gallon in Kinsland’s bid, and small undertaking. $4 a gallon in White’s bid.

“Mr. Kinsland has the trailers ready to go,” Elders said.

Kinsland, whose base is in Speculation was rife that the newly seated Democratic commissioners would try to take Whittier, buys a lot of fuel for his fleet from the contract away from Kinsland and give it Elders, who owns a gas station in Whittier.

Elders was up for election this year, and to White, who was of their own party.

A dozen people were in the audience of during the final stretch of the campaign a the county meeting last week where commis- rumor began circulating that Elders was backing Kinsland for the trash contract sioners took up White’s bid protest.

Several were wearing Jackson GOP but- because he stood to gain by selling Kinsland tons, sending a message to commissioners fuel. Kinsland disputed that notion, chalking that their moves were being watched for par- it up to dirty politics by Elders’ opponents. tisan overtones.

Commissioner Boyce Dietz, one of the EDGING THE FUEL FORMULA newly elected Democrats, addressed the unspoken insinuation during his comments The main wrench in the hauling bids – at the meeting. both the first and second rounds – was the

Bid do-over

ers had not been fully informed the second time we made those bids.”

“His only basis is ‘Were the commissioners fully informed?’” Commissioner Vicki Greene asked.

news

Randy Kinsland has been hauling trash for Jackson County as long as the county has been in the trash hauling business. Jackson quit using a shared landfill with neighboring Macon County in 2002 and instead began trucking its trash to Georgia.

Kinsland put together a fleet of tractor-trailers and started toting the county’s trash out of state. Becky Johnson photo

fluctuating cost of fuel. It’s a wild card for the truckers.

“When I first started, the fuel wasn’t that much of an issue,” Kinsland said.

But gas prices became volatile over the past decade. The hauling fee was supposed to cover fuel costs, but if prices spiked, the base hauling fee wasn’t enough to cover the fuel costs.

So Kinsland convinced the county to build a safeguard into the hauling contract to cushion against extreme spikes in fuel.

Climbing fuel prices would trigger a surcharge to help cover fuel inflation over the contract’s four-year period.

When the latest contract was put up to bid, each trucker could devise his own fuel formula but that made an apples to apples comparison tough.

One trucker had a lower hauling fee, while the other had a lower fuel surcharge.

A missing number in the fuel surcharge formula is what caused the bids to be tossed the first time. The second time, White’s main bone of contention outlined in his bid protest sent in via an attorney, was that the commissioners used flawed reasoning when weighing the impact of the fuel surcharge.

White claimed that his bid was technically a better deal for the county. Even though his hauling fee was $3 more a load, his fuel surcharge wouldn’t kick in until $4 a gallon. With Kinsland, the county would be forking over a fuel surcharge once prices hit $3.74 a gallon.

“If fuel goes up and stays in that range, potentially the county would pay more over time,” Wooten said. “He felt like commission-

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ON THE LINE Waynesville’s electric system is a cash cow for the town, but can the good fortune continue?

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER f Waynesville has a dirty little secret, it’s this: a cash cow runs through its power lines.

Of course, it’s not dirty and not a secret — not really. Town leaders don’t hide the fact they have a lucrative electric system. It reaps over $1 million in profits annually for the town.

“It is important to the community. The money that has been generated from the electric system built the recreation center, built the parking deck, built the police department and built the new fire department,” Mayor Gavin Brown said.

They’re monuments for all to see that Waynesville is well-heeled for a town its size.

But few realize just how much the electric utility props up the town.

It pays for the perks that make Waynesville stand out – amenities that land the town on “Best Of ” lists, earn it the title of “progressive,” and score bragging points for quality of life. Ultimately, profits from its power utility fund things the town couldn’t otherwise afford.

“The number I always quote to people is how much higher our tax rate would have to be to still do the same things we do now if it weren’t for the electric system,” said Eddie Caldwell, town finance director.

The $1.2 million the town made on electric profits last year are equivalent to a whopping 11 cents on the property tax rate.

The town buys electricity wholesale and resells it at a markup to roughly 3,000 customers on its power grid.

But the wholesale price of power has been getting steeper. The town’s wholesale cost per kilowatt has gone up 50 percent over the past decade.

“That increase is squeezing us,” Brown said.

As the wholesale cost climbs, it’s getting harder to sustain the profits the town has come to rely on. That leaves two options, and they’re equally unpalatable.

One is to keep raising the rate for its own retail customers to maintain the same profit margin despite increasing wholesale costs.

But there’s a limit to how much the town wants to charge its own customers.

“The problem is, can you provide power at an economical rate?” Waynesville Utility Director Fred Baker asked.

The other option is keeping power rates low for town customers — but that means sacrificing profits.

“Any profit to be made is put toward 6 things that benefit the community as a whole.

FORK IN THE POWER LINES The town is facing a critical juncture with its electric system, one that will decide whether it can sustain its profit margin.

The town’s wholesale power contract with Duke Energy expires at the end of next year. It must now choose whether to stay with Duke or sign on with a different wholesale power provider.

The stakes are huge. If the town chooses well, it will continue to get wholesale power at an affordable rate, and continue making the profits it counts on. If it chooses wrong, it could end up with more expensive wholesale rates, in turn cutting into profits or unduly hiking rates for its customers.

“You are trying to prognosticate and look down the road 10 years from now. This is a new ballgame for the town,” Brown said.

Earlier this year, the town fielded propos-

“The number I always quote to people is how much higher our tax rate would have to be to still do the same things we do now if it weren’t for the electric system.”

— Eddie Caldwell, Waynesville finance director

eliminate or select from those three suppliers,” Town Manager Marcy Onieal said. “We felt like we needed to pause to become better versed in the critical issues that may potentially distinguish one proposal from another.”

The town was relying on its long-time energy advisor, Kevin O’Donnell of Nova Energy Consultants, to help vet the three contenders and make a recommendation.

But the pros and cons of the proposals —

each with its own share of unpredictable variables — have been more difficult to dissect than initially thought.

There’s an underlying conundrum in all three proposals: the town is unlikely to lock in wholesale power rates as low as it has had in the past, forcing some tough decisions.

“It will be hard to stay close to market retail rates and still do everything the town’s electrical system has historically done,” O’Donnell said. “That is the crux of what we are trying to do.”

None of the proposals guarantee the town a wholesale power rate for the next 10 years — and none are immune from risk.

“These rates have a lot of float in them,” Brown said.

At a town meeting in October, each of the three finalists came before the town board and made its best pitch for why it should be chosen.

• Southern Company, a private power producer with a network of natural gas plants across the South, deals exclusively in natural gas power. The cost of natural gas is low right now, but what if that changes?

• Santee-Cooper, a South Carolina public utility, has a nuclear plant scheduled to come online in a few years. When it does, it would offer the lowest-cost power, but delays and cost overruns in completing the plant could jeopardize that.

• If the town stays with Duke, it would have the safety net and reliability of Duke’s diverse generating portfolio. But fallout from Duke’s coal ash disaster carries a pricey cleanup cost, which would be passed along to the

Smoky Mountain News

December 17-23, 2014

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If you can’t make a profit off it, why do it?”

Baker asked.

That’s a question town leaders have emphasized again and again as they contemplate the looming question ahead: who to buy wholesale electricity from in the future.

“If we can’t make a profit and keep our power bills competitive, we shouldn’t be in the power business,” said Caldwell.

als from six power providers and weeded that number to three contenders.

The town initially planned to narrow in on a choice by the end of the year and enter an extensive period of due diligence during 2015 to hammer out the terms of a power contract.

It seemed the town was close to a decision, with a vote by the town board planned in November. But the town abruptly put the brakes on the process for further fact-finding.

“We don’t have enough information to

ON THE JOB James Rhinehart (above), the head of the town’s electric department, is a third generation power man for the town.

According to Rhinehart, the profits the town makes aren’t the only benefit of having you own electric system, at least as far as the

3,000 customers on the town’s grid are concerned.

“We can respond quicker,” Rhinehart said.

If power goes out, you don’t have to call a 1-800 power outage line only to be put on hold or added to the bottom of a waiting list.

“You can call the police department 24 hours a day, and they call me directly,” Rhinehart said, patting the cell phone on his hip. Becky Johnson photo

Let there be light

I

TESTING THE CURRENT

Feeling the squeeze, and passing it on As wholesale power rates have risen over the past decade, Waynesville has hiked its rates to protect its profits off its electric system, passing along the rising cost of wholesale power to its own customers.

So far, the town has risen its own retail rates enough to keep pace with the higher cost of wholesale power.

But wholesale power prices are expected to rise more sharply over the next 10 years, making it increasingly difficult for the town to maintain the profit margin it has enjoyed in the past to fund the perks and quality of life amenities the town hangs its hat on.

Worth noting: electricity use by town customers has risen only marginally. The increase in wholesale costs and retail billing reflects an increase in the cost per kilowatt hour. a fee to wheel the power from point A to point B across its lines. But it still creates options.

“The market is such now that it is hard to ignore the economics,” Baker said.

But the choice also brings uncertainty.

Whether to leave the safety net of the corporate utility giant du jour is a decision other towns with electric systems will face in coming years as well, as their own wholesale power contracts begin to expire. Waynesville is one of the first to face that proposition, however.

“We are just out in front in terms of the timing of the contract, but we are certainly not alone. We are probably the tip of the spear in terms of others that are also going to

Profits 2004 .........................................$1.35 million 2014 ...........................................$1.2 million

Cost of wholesale power purchased by the town 2004 ...........................................$3.6 million 2014 ..............................................$6 million

Retail power sales billed to customers 2004 ..............................................$6 million 2014 ...........................................$8.3 million

Kilowatt hours used by town customers 2004 ...........................................92.7 million 2014 ...........................................96.3 million

Wholesale cost per kilowatt hour 2004 ...............................................3.9 cents 2014 ...............................................6.1 cents

Electrical department operations and overhead 2004...............................................$750,000 2014...............................................$750,000 be looking,” O’Donnell said.

THE DREADED MONTHLY TRUE-UP There’s one saving grace as the town stares down the barrel of higher wholesale power rates and the prospect of incremental rate increases for its customers to make up the difference. All electricity customers in the state — including the vast majority on Duke power — will see their power bills go up, too.

Duke Energy adjusts the cost per kilowatt for its own customers every year to mirror the

increased cost of power generation.

While the rate for Duke’s customers is only adjusted once a year, the town gets hit monthly.

“They do it to their wholesale customers on a monthly basis,” Caldwell said.

A fluctuating surcharge is tacked on to the base kilowatt rate each month, a cost that mirrors the ebb and flow of power generation costs. The town has no control and no way to predict what the surcharge will be from month to month.

During the polar vortex last January, power was in high demand but supply was limited, so it came at a premium. Waynesville was hit with a $350,000 surcharge on top of the base rate that month.

Caldwell generates monthly spreadsheets of the per-kilowatt cost of wholesale power coming down the pike from Duke. The town in turn adjusts its power rates to recoup the surcharges billed by Duke.

“I have to stay on top of this or things could go south in a hurry, especially when you get hit with that kind of true-up,” Caldwell said, citing whoppers like the January surcharge.

LANDLOCKED As the town searches for ways to offset the rising cost of wholesale power, one option that’s off the table is expansion.

The 3,000 customers on the town’s grid now are essentially all it will ever have.

“We are a low-growth utility,” Baker said.

Electric utilities have defined territories and lay sole claim to the customers within their boundaries. Today’s boundaries are locked in, holdovers from the pioneer days of electricity. Whoever was first to put up power lines and bring service to an area still lays claim to that territory today.

Waynesville’s power grid once covered the whole town, but that was in the 1940s and 1950s. The town since grew, but the electric service area is limited to its original footprint.

The town’s only chance of adding customers is new construction built inside its existing territory.

Smoky Mountain News

Waynesville is entering a brave new world as it contemplates who to buy power from.

It’s never been an option before.

The town was pigeon-holed into buying power from Progress. They owned the transmission lines leading to the town’s doorstep, so Progress was the only option. Duke bought Progress two years ago, so Duke took over the town’s wholesale power contract.

When that contract expires next year, the town will no longer have to buy its power from the utility baron that owns the lines.

For the first time, Waynesville can buy its power from anyone it wants, and simply pay Duke a fee to move it along the grid to Waynesville’s doorstep.

The trade of wholesale power was deregulated about a decade ago, splitting it into separate commodities. Making the power and moving it where it needs to go — known as power generation and power transmission — could be sold separately.

The “unbundling” of electricity made it possible to buy power from a source several states away.

“It’s becoming more common to wheel power in from another source,” Baker said.

Moving power across someone else’s transmission lines comes at a cost, however.

Whoever owns the transmission lines charges

*Western Carolina University is also considered an “Electricity,” as the operator of its own utility system on and around campus.

December 17-23, 2014

town in the form of higher wholesale rates in the future. Likewise, if regulators crack down on carbon emissions, forcing costly upgrades at Duke’s coal plants, those costs could also be passed along in the town’s wholesale rates.

“We are fighting to keep our rates as close to Duke’s retail rates as possible. Where are your numbers going to be relative to one another five years down the road? Ten years down the road?” O’Donnell said.

The town has brought on a second energy consultant, UTEC Engineers-Consultants, to help analyze the pros and cons and advise in the process.

The firm will also do a technical and operational assessment of the town’s electric system.

“We are taking a brief step back. It is too big a decision to do this either hastily or in a vacuum,” Onieal said.

lectively as “Electricities.”

These towns and cities reap profits off their electric utilities, which is no different than what Duke Energy does. But instead of those profits enriching a corporation, the stockholders, in essence, are all the citizens of the community that collectively benefit, Waynesville is one of the few public power towns in Western North Carolina, however. There’s only six in the 23 western counties, and of those, four are in the foothills east of Asheville.

• Bostic (Rutherford County) • Forest City (Rutherford County) • Morganton (Burke County) • Murphy (Cherokee County) • Waynesville (Haywood County) • Western Carolina University • Granite Falls (Caldwell County)

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t’s somewhat rare for a town to run its own electric system. Waynesville’s dates to the late 1920s, on the forefront of the rural electrification push of the 1930s.

At the time, electricity was slow to reach the Southern Appalachians. Like the rest of rural America, there weren’t enough customers — or profits — to make it worthwhile for major electric companies to run their lines here.

The only way for a small town to get power back then was to build its own system.

“The hinterlands were getting ignored,” Waynesville Utilities Director Fred Baker said. “The concept behind rural electrification was if we didn’t do it, it wasn’t going to get done. That was the birth of public power.”

Waynesville ran its first lines in the late 1920s. The Rural Electrification Act, easing the way with federal support and assistance, didn’t come along until the 1930s.

Waynesville was ahead of the curve mostly because

opportunity came knocking. Carolina Power and Light was building a dam and hydropower plant along the Pigeon River at the time.

Waynesville strung “The concept behind power lines across 25 miles of rugged rural electrification mountain land, nearly to the was if we didn’t do it, Tennessee line, to it wasn’t going to get tap the power spigot of Walters Dam. done. That was the A checkerboard birth of public power.” of stand-alone electric systems — Fred Baker, Waynesville harkening back to utilities director the rural electrification era remain part of the state’s power landscape today. Only 65 towns and cities in North Carolina — out of more than 500 in all — operate their own electric system. They’re known col-

S EE E LECTRIC, PAGE 8 7

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December 17-23, 2014 Smoky Mountain News

man electrical department stays busy replacing power poles, upgrading lines, changing streetlights, swapping out transformers, trimming trees and maintaining the lines and substations. Garret K. Woodward photo

While the town agonizes over who to buy power from, in the end, it’s a role of the dice. Who knows what the cost of wholesale power will be two, five or 10 years from now, no matter who the town chooses.

And that’s a frustrating proposition. The electric system is a highly prized asset and critical moneymakcustomers on er to the town. Yet the town has little Waynesville’s power grid control over its revenue potential and will have to succumb to the whims of the marketplace. years the town has been There’s one part of the equation in the power business the town can control, however: its own operational costs. cents on the property For the past decade, the operattax rate ing costs of the electric department have held steady at $750,000 a year, a budget that includes equipment, percent increase in the supplies and salaries. The electric per kilowatt cost of wholesale department has six employees who power for the town do it all — tie in new additions to the town’s grid, repair downed lines, fix outages and replace burnt-out grid, allowing it to serve the town through streetlights.

But most of the work is preventative. The one substation if the other has to come offcrews proactively replace power poles, trim line for repairs or maintenance.

In a sense, the power system is the town’s trees hanging over the lines and perform routine maintenance on transformers and the baby.

For now, there’s no chance the town will two substations.

“An average power pole isn’t going to last sell off the system and get out of the business.

Besides, “No one has offered to come and forever,” Baker said.

The town’s electric system has 2,500 buy our system,” Brown said.

Town leaders would go to the mat to keep power poles. Crews replace 90 poles a year — so over a 30-year cycle, all the poles in town their coveted prize, as long as it’s working for will have been replaced. The same with street- the town.

“We do make money off this enterprise,” lights.

“We don’t want them all to be the same Brown said. “If we didn’t, then there would be age and all go bad the same year,” Baker said. no reason to be in the electric system.”

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But the town’s core — the area served by town power — is already built up.

Commercial growth along Russ Avenue and South Main are outside the town’s service area. The new subdivisions and townhomes being built on the town’s perimeter are also outside the town’s electric boundaries.

One growth area the town has seen is cell towers. While there’s just a few cell towers in the town’s electric service territory, more antennas and equipment are being heaped on to the existing towers to handle the growing volume of wireless data. The additional capacity added to the towers use more electricity.

The town has also seen power use increase from one of its major industrial customers, Sonoco Plastics. As for regular customers, despite the addition of computers and electronics that get charged nightly, the average household electricity use has stayed the same through the years.

“You have a lot of people switching to more energy efficient appliances,” Caldwell said. “Residential households haven’t gone up that much.”

When not responding to outages, Waynesville’s six-

HOLDING THE LINE

www.waynesvillenc.gov

The town has taken on the added expense of building a second substation five years ago.

The debt on the multi-million project is being paid off out of electric proceeds.

The second substation was a noble effort to provide redundancy in the town’s electrical

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Macon finalizes property values

• A Highlands home, valued at $14.2 million in 2007, would drop to $10.2 million for 2015. The 2014 tax was $39,500, while the 2015 tax would fall to $33,600 with a 33cent tax rate. That’s a decrease of $5,900, or 14.9 percent.

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• A Highlands home, valued at $1 million in 2007, would rise to $1.8 million for 2015.

The 2014 tax was $2,900, while the 2015 tax would rise to $6,100 with a 33-cent tax rate.

That’s an increase of $3,300, or 118 percent.

• A Highlands home, valued at $316,300 in 2007, would drop to $260,500 for 2015. The 2014 tax was $882, while the 2015 tax would drop to $859 with a 33-cent tax rate.

That’s a decrease of $23, or 2.6 percent.

• An Otto home, valued at $127,990 in 2007, would drop to $127,730 for 2015. The 2014 tax was $357, while the 2015 tax would rise to $421 with a 33-cent tax rate. That’s an increase of $64, or 18 percent.

The market’s still below where it was in 2007, but the real estate market has been growing in Macon County since 2010. Donated graphic.

Haywood’s turkey drive in full swing Thanks to community generosity, many of Haywood County’s neediest families will eat a hot turkey dinner this Thanksgiving. The Maggie Valley Area Lodging Association is once again seeking donations to help provide food baskets to those who may not otherwise enjoy this long standing American tradition.

“We’ve got the lowest tax rate,” Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin said.

“With the reval I think we’ll have the fifth lowest tax rate in the state if we do it revenueneutral.”

Though moving the tax rate to 33 cents would mean no overall change in the amount of property tax paid county-wide, individual homeowners would end up paying more or less, because some home values have fluctuated more than others in recent years. Homes whose values dropped substantially — that includes most high-end homes — will end up with lower tax bills, even with the new, higher rate. But homes whose values stayed more stable — modest homes belonging to middleincome families flood this category — will likely come with higher bills.

Distance from town is also a factor. Intown homes have changed value less than outlying homes.

This year continues a tradition — the Turkey Drive — that began in 1998, when the fledgling lodging association donated funds to help the community’s families in need.

“That first year, we were able to raise enough money to pay for 45 boxes of food and helped 45 families have a Thanksgiving”, commented Tammy Wight, MVALA President.

“The following year we started fund-raising to obtain money outside our organization and were able to buy 75 turkey boxes.”

For the last several years the organization has been able to donate meals to 250 families, enabling at least 800 people

“We have an aged population,” explained Lightner. “People want to be close to facilities. Highlands especially, they want to be close to the restaurants and the shops and they don’t want to drive the mountain roads late at night.”

Usually, property revaluations result in higher property tax bills and higher overall revenue for the county without any change in tax rate. This reval is different because the current property values were assigned at the height of a building boom that burst right afterward.

Commissioners said they don’t want to go eight years without a revaluation again, however. After Lightner’s presentation, they voted unanimously to pass a resolution committing to a four-year revaluation cycle in the future, half the time of the one they’re now exiting.

“We’ll revisit this in 2019 – or somebody will,” Corbin said.

to enjoy a hot Thanksgiving dinner.

The association works with the Haywood County Health and Human Services Agency to help determine who receives the boxes of food. All distribution is done by volunteers.

A donation of $25 or more will provide a local needy family with a whole uncooked turkey, dressing, a vegetable, dessert and even a foil baking pan in which to cook the bird.

Send donations to MVALA, P.O. Box 1175, Maggie Valley, N.C. 28751; or pay through PayPal by going to visiting www.visitmaggie.com and clicking on the donate button.

Smoky Mountain News

homesteads are going to see less decrease in taxes and more than likely, depending how close they are to the median, they’re going to see an increase,” Lightner said.

If, that is, commissioners end up doing what they’ve been talking about for the past year and increase the property tax rate enough to keep the county property tax revenue equal to its pre-reval level.

Currently, the tax rate is 27.9 cents per $100. Maintaining a revenue-neutral county budget would require a rate of 33 cents per $100. That’s the number Lightner used in his calculations when he prepared examples to share with commissioners last week. Lightner detailed what the property tax bill looked like for individual homes before the reval and what it will look like afterward, pending a change in tax rate. Commissioners have not acted to change the tax rate but have seemed favorable to it over the past year.

• An Otto home, valued at $115,500 in 2007, would drop to $111,500 for 2015. The 2014 tax was $322, while the 2015 tax would rise to $368 with a 33-cent tax rate. That’s an increase of $46, or 14.3 percent.

December 17-23, 2014

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER acon County’s tying up the loose ends on a property revaluation that will likely cause tax hikes for some and breaks for others, and the county’s tax director gave commissioners a heads up that they’ll probably be getting some phone calls over the next few months.

“There are many different opinions on value, when we do it, why we do it, and how we do it,” Richard Lightner told commissioners at their December meeting.

The county hasn’t gone through a revaluation since 2007, when property values were a lot higher in the pre-recession market. When values plummeted, the county put off its revaluation, typically done every four years, until now, when it legally couldn’t postpone the reval any longer. If properties were reassessed at substantially lower values, the county budget would either take a huge hit due to decreased tax revenues or it would have to hike the tax rate to make up for lower values.

Though things are improving, that’s still the situation. The county’s real estate value is 14.5 percent lower under the new valuation than it was in 2007, with a total value decrease of $138 million.

However, the real estate situation is a lot better than it was four — or even three, two or one — years ago, Lightner said. Finishing the reval now will mean less fluctuation in tax rates and bills than if it had been done earlier.

“Back in 2010 when you were talking about putting this off, we were hitting bottom,” Lightner told commissioners. “We didn’t have anything. This decision to postpone it has allowed us to get more of a market fix.

If you look at the $2 million [property] listings, they’ve doubled in just one year. That’s showing a real strong indicator that the market is rebounding.”

But when 2015 tax bills go out in January, Macon County homeowners will see some different numbers under payment due. The direction of the changes will depend on the value of the home, where it’s located and how much supply and demand for that type of property have fluctuated.

While people owning high-end, millionplus-dollar homes might see a decrease in their tax rate, “Those people on average

Richard Lightner, tax administrator for Macon County, laid out several examples of how the property revaluation would affect tax bills for specific Macon County homes, if commissioners voted to increase the tax rate to the revenue-neutral amount of 33 cents per $100.

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Some tax bills to grow, others to drop in postrecession revaluation

How they’ve changed

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271-79

From Hwy. 19/23 take Exit 104 towards Lake Junaluska; continue 1/2 mile to Haywood Medical Park on the left.

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December 17-23, 2014

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www.smokymtneye.com

hen Haywood County put up $35,000 to replace a chronicly leaky roof on the Pigeon Community Center in Waynesville, it was both a tangible and symbolic gesture, one that saved a major landmark of African-American community from certain demise.

Two years later, the roof is still leaking.

It hasn’t been fixed. The list of dire repairs needed for the building have grown. And the cost has doubled from $35,000 to $70,000.

But the community center can barely scrape together enough money to provide programs and services, let alone keep up an aging building.

“There is absolutely no chance they could come up with funds. And if they did, it would be at the detriment of any programming they are trying to do, which would defeat the whole purpose of having the community center,” Commissioner Mark Swanger said.

The building is technically still owned by the county, although the Pigeon Community Club gets free use of it.

Commissioners discussed whether to pony up the additional funds earlier this month.

“We own the property and have an

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Mike Matthews (left) and David Francis (right). Becky Johnson photo

Former, current tax collectors build rapport

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The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority will launch its new website that will support its “Play On” branding campaign at 1 p.m. on Dec. 17 in the auditorium of the N.C. Center for the Advancement of Teaching in Cullowhee.

The new and innovative site (www.mountainloversnc.com) was created

by The Brandon Agency and incorporates all of Jackson County’s unique attractions and amenities.

“Our goal for this launch was to completely embody the ‘Play On’ campaign throughout the site,” said Robert Jumper, chairman of the Jackson County TDA. “The website highlights the area’s stunning natural resources and provides endless options for families and outdoor lovers.”

Viewers will be able to access information from free planning guides and downloadable hiking maps to area news/events and special deals and offers from partners in the area. The site is also equipped with a weather widget that details the current forecast in each of the county’s towns.

Smoky Mountain News

‘Play On’ poised to go online

December 17-23, 2014

he outgoing and incoming tax collectors in Haywood County appeared shoulder to shoulder at the podium of the Haywood County commissioner meeting this week, pledging to work together to make the transition a smooth one.

“There’s a lot of animosity out there that has been created by other individuals, and not you two at all. I appreciate you being able to get over that,” Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick told them.

The lack of animosity was a recurring theme.

“I don’t think there is any animosity between he and I. We have been getting along great,” replied Mike Matthews, the incoming tax collector.

“Just to clear the air, we have no animosity personally,” agreed David Francis, the outgoing tax collector. “People are trying to create animosity between us and it is just not there at all.”

Francis added they are both Carolina fans, thankfully, given Francis’ ardent sports allegiances.

Matthews narrowly beat out Francis — an upset that surprised Matthews’ supporters

and even Matthews himself. Matthews was recruited to run by a faction of conservative activists who regularly decry county government and targeted Francis as an integral player in the bureaucracy they seem to despise.

Matthews didn’t personally have it out for Francis, however, and Francis realizes Matthews was merely recruited to the ballot.

While they have rejected the political baggage being foisted upon them, only time will tell if Matthews indeed breaks from the anti-government faction that pushed him to run.

The two spent a lot of one-on-one time during Matthews first week on the job, as Francis introduced Matthews to the ins-andouts of tax collecting.

“He has jumped right in there. He is ready to work and doing a good job,” Francis said.

Matthews said he is catching on to the computer and coding systems.

“Honestly, it is not as bad as I thought it would be. David has been a big help,” Matthews said.

But Francis cautioned it will probably take Matthews a year to get over the learning curve.

Commissioner Bill Upton, a former teacher and principal, was quick with a school analogy.

“From what I can see, Mr. Matthews has been a good student and Mr. Francis is being a good teacher,” Upton said, judging by the drop-in visit he paid the pair at the tax office Friday.

— By Becky Johnson

interest in seeing that it doesn’t deteriorate,” Swanger said.

In the process of fixing the roof, critical structural problems were discovered that had to be fixed first, or the new roof wouldn’t do any good.

So commissioners upped the repair allotment from $35,000 to $47,000 this summer. But more problems have since been found.

“This went over budget and that’s why we are back,” County Manager Ira Dove said.

Commissioner Kevin Ensley was ready to put the project behind them.

“Just get it fixed,” Ensley said, throwing his hands up. “Every time it seems we get past it, it comes back up.”

Commissioner Kirk Kirkpatrick said the county faces the same issue with other old schools that have been deeded over to community clubs and organizations. How long should the county maintain these buildings for use by the community clubs, he posed.

“I don’t think most of these community clubs have the money to do this,” Kirkpatrick said.

Limited preventative maintenance over the decades has led to chronic building woes at the Pigeon Center in particular, which served as an all-black school during the segregation era. It is now a gathering place for the black community and offers programs for underserved populations.

— By Becky Johnson

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Haywood to patch up Pigeon Center, albeit reluctantly

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Noise ordinance in the works for Macon Commissioners give input as planning board starts work on rules

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December 17-23, 2014

QUESTION: I have noticed you have a gluten-free section and tag items that are gluten-free – why not a sugar-free section for diabetics?

The good news is that unlike those who need gluten-free products for celiac disease or other medical conditions, someone with diabetes, whether it is Type 1 or Type 2, can virtually buy products throughout the store – as long as they are reading labels!

Carbohydrate counting is the method that the American Diabetes Association recommends (www.diabetes.org ) for diabetes dietary management of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Talk to your health care provider about referral to a registered dietitian or certified diabetes educator or contact your local hospital to find out if they offer a diabetes support group. Dietitians and certified diabetes educators often offer both individual and group classes. While it may sound like the solution is just to buy sugar-free items, often they are not helpful in controlling blood sugar.

Sometimes sugar-free items have as many or more carbohydrates than their regular counterparts and also contain sugar alcohols that can lead to gastro intestinal distress (gas, bloating and diarrhea). They may also be more expensive and have higher amounts of fat.

Smoky Mountain News

The keys to carbohydrate counting are:

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1. Checking portion sizes and reading labels for the carbohydrate amount per serving 2. Following a recommended carbohydrate amount per meal. (carbohydrates are found in fruit and fruit juices, starchy vegetables like potatoes and corn, beans, milk, yogurt, bread, cereal, rice, pasta as well as sweetened items like candy, cookies, cakes, beverages) Sweeteners can include honey, molasses, sugar, corn syrup, agave nectar, maple syrup as well as sugar alcohols) 3. Checking blood sugar regularly and taking medications - as directed by your health care provider 4. Getting regular exercise

Chairman Kevin Corbin said. “What I would vote for is a nuisance ordinance. The person who’s deliberately playing loud music for their neighbors, they’re doing it in a malicious way.”

Something that would kick in if, as Commissioner Paul Higdon put it, “you point a radio at my house and play it loud.”

The planning board has gotten a lot of concerned comments from bear and coon hunters in the area, Mason said, who are afraid that a noise ordinance could apply to barking dogs like the ones they use for their hunts. Commissioners said that they would not want to restrict that kind of noise — they just want to give the sheriff ’s office some legal basis to keep the peace.

Holland said he’s had people go so far as to leave for the weekend with “loud, obnoxious, filthy” music playing the whole time, just to get under the neighbors’ skin.

“If these people were not on their own property and were to go down the street and

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER noise ordinance could be in Macon County’s future as the planning board starts in on writing a set of draft rules this week.

The board’s been taking comment and researching similar ordinances in nearby counties since September, and last week County Planner Matt Mason came to the county commissioners’ meeting to get their thoughts on the issue.

The discussion started when Matlock Creek resident Betty Bennett approached commissioners this fall, complaining of excessively loud music and partying keeping her and her husband awake at night. Bennett isn’t the only one to “If these people were not on have had issues with neighbors purposefully playing loud music into their own property and were to the wee hours of the morning. The go down the street and do planning board has heard from a long list of people who feel the something in front of someone same way.

“In the last eight years, it’s the else’s house, you could get first time I’ve ever heard somebody them for disturbing the peace.” crying in a public meeting,” Mason told commissioners. “These people — Sheriff Robert Holland are at their wits’ end.”

With no noise ordinance in place, all the sheriff ’s deputies can do is ask do something in front of someone else’s residents to turn the noise down. That doeshouse, you could get them for disturbing the n’t usually work. peace,” Holland said. “But there’s nothing “They don’t even wait until the taillights we can do about it.” are gone,” Sheriff Robert Holland said. “They Commissioners instructed Mason to bring tell the officer, ‘You’re violating my rights and them an ordinance that focuses on deliberateI can play my music as loud as I want.’” ly produced noise in the county — excluding Because commissioners would have to the towns and extra-territorial jurisdiction ultimately approve any ordinance that the around them — giving Holland the ability to planning board came up with, Mason sought address violations with fines or jail time. the commissioners’ input on just how strict of The planning board will take up the issue a rule to write. The board was sensitive to the at its upcoming meeting at 4 p.m. on need for Holland’s department to have more Thursday, Dec. 18, but it will likely be some teeth in this area but hesitant to approve any time before a final draft comes to the comrule that could be seen as over-regulatory. missioners for approval.

“I’m not going to vote for a noise ordi“Creating the noise ordinance will be a nance if it came back to us,” Commission slow and deliberate process,” Mason said.

A

Folkmoot named a Top Ten Festival by USA Today Folkmoot USA was recently named a Top Ten Festival by USA Today, the only festival in the state of North Carolina to receive such recognition.

“The Folkmoot Festival has received many awards throughout the years, but to be featured so prominently in a national publication such as USA Today reinforces that Folkmoot is a quality event,” said Executive Director Karen Babcock.

Folkmoot USA is held annually during the last two weeks of July and brings international folk dancers and musicians from around the world to perform throughout Western North Carolina. Folkmoot is housed at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, a renovated school in the Hazelwood section of Waynesville.

For information about Folkmoot visit www.folkmootusa.org.

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To make the list Forest users debate pros and cons of potential wilderness recommendations

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ut of the gate, the U.S. Forest Service’s first stab at listing potential wilderness areas in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests met with criticism following its release in late November.

Whether concerned about which areas were on the list, which weren’t or the timing of the release, nearly everybody had something negative to say about the wilderness inventory.

“My overall opinion is that the process is incomplete and out of order with the rest of the plan right now,” said Josh Kelly of the Western North Carolina Alliance, soon to change its name to MountainTrue.

“For me to feel comfortable about supporting any wilderness, I need to know more information than what is in the criteria that is given out,” said David Whitmire, program chairman for the N.C. Bowhunters Association and owner of Headwaters Outfitters.

“I think it’s a good start. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include all the areas that should have been included,” said Hugh Irwin of The Wilderness Society.

Though the list generated concern from

Smoky Mountain News

December 17-23, 2014

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multiple groups, it’s just a first pass at narrowing down which areas of the national forest the Forest Service should recommend in its new management plan for congressional designation as federally protected wilderness. The criteria for inclusion in the inventory were a good bit looser than the criteria to earn recommendation in the plan.

Inventoried areas had to: ■ Either be 5,000 acres, adjacent to existing wilderness or self-contained to a smaller area, as in a canyon or an island.

■ Not have undergone any noticeable recent vegetation management such as logging or fire.

■ Be at least 500 feet away from any public roads.

After taking in a round of public comment on the inventory, the Forest Service will put these areas through another, more rigorous, round of evaluation to decide which ones should be recommended. The long list of considerations will include: ■ Unique ecological or geologic features.

■ The area’s size and shape, which indicate its ability to be managed for wild characteristics.

■ Opportunity for solitude and primitive recreation.

■ Presence of invasive species.

Potential wilderness additions in the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest 1. Cantrell Top, 3,062 acres 2. Unicoi Mountains/Upper Bald River, 7,837 3. Snowbird, 8,489 4. Deep Creek/Avery Creek, 1,256* 5. Joyce Kilmer Slickrock, 279* 6. Yellowhammer Branch, 1179* 7. Cheoah Bald, 6,959 8. Wesser Bald, 5,703 9. Tellico Bald, 5,451 10. Tusquitee Bald, 18,489 11. Boteler Peak, 5,503 12. Chunky Gal, 4,638* 13. Cherry Cove, 819* 14. Sharptop Ridge, 607* 15. Yellow Mountain, 1,004* 16. Scream Ridge, 1,381* 17. Barkers Creek, 1,143* 18. Ellicott Rock, 489* 19. Cedar Rock Mountain, 5,784 20. Daniel Ridge, 9,303 21. Graveyard Ridge, 2,249* 22. Sam Knob, 2,521*

23. Middle Prong, 5,427* 24. Laurel Mountain, 5,586 25. South Mills River, 12,294 26. Pigeon River, 5,324 27. Bald Mountain, 10,980 28. Craggy, 4,005 29. Overflow Creek, 3,200 * Areas adjacent to existing wilderness areas.

■ Type of fish and wildlife habitat.

■ Current land and recreational uses.

“It’s likely that just a subset of those in the inventory will be in the proposed plan for recommended wilderness,” said Heather Luczak, acting forest planner.

Though the draft management areas the Forest Service came out with earlier this fall are subject to change, Luczak said, inclusion in the inventory does not mean that inventoried areas not earning wilderness recommendation will wind up with some higher level of protection than if they had not been included in the inventory in the first place.

“The directives that we’re following are clear that inclusion in the inventory does not dictate any specific type of management moving forward,” Luczak said. “That’s not to say that we can’t consider that moving forward.”

The Forest Service will be relying partially on comments from forest users to arrive at its refined list of areas. Yays and nays tend to differ depending on whether someone’s into hunting deer, hiking the trails, speeding along on a mountain bike or preserving fragile ecosystems, but some themes emerged among forest users when discussing which areas should make the cut and which should not.

NANTAHALA NATIONAL FOREST “From Bill Van Horn’s point of view, I’m fine with all of those,” said Bill Van Horn, co-chair of the Franklin Appalachian Trail Community Committee and past president of Nantahala Hiking Club, of the areas in the Nantahala and Tusquitee districts. “I doubt if all of them would ever get through the whole process to be federally designated as

Be heard To help guide the U.S. Forest Service’s potential wilderness evaluation process, submit comments on the potential additions by Monday, Jan. 5.

A list of topics that comments should address is available online at 1.usa.gov/1B9zQw9 under the “evaluation phase” heading. The evaluation will include considerations such as whether invasive species are present, what kinds of plants and wildlife are there, current recreational uses, presence of existing structures and roads, removal from the sights and sounds of civilization and geologic and topographic features.

Submit comments to NCplanrevision@fs.fed.us or 160 Zillicoa St., Ste. A, Asheville, N.C. 28801. An interactive mapping tool at 1.usa.gov/1B9zQw9 also allows users to comment — and view the comments of others — on individual inventoried wilderness areas.

wilderness, but if they did it just means we’d have to maintain with a crosscut saw and axes as opposed to a chainsaw.”

Because no mechanized or motorized equipment is allowed in wilderness, trail crews in wilderness areas have to use oldschool equipment like crosscut saws rather than chainsaws. That means it takes more effort to maintain any given area, but Van Horn believes wilderness is worth the trouble.

“Considering wilderness is the greatest protection we could give our public lands, I don’t have a problem with it,” he said.

S EE FOREST, PAGE 16

Groups come out to applaud, question Macon anti-wilderness resolution

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“We don’t make that decision,” Commission Chairman Kevin Corbin said of the wilderness designation process. “That’s made by Congress. I’m really a little taken aback by the questioning of our opinion.”

“That was just our opinion at the time,” agreed Commissioner Ronnie Beale. “If the Forest Service comes back and makes a different decision, then our resolution is moot.”

But a board of commissioners expressing an opinion is not the same thing as a private citizen doing likewise, Van Horn countered. Commissioners should have done some more research and gotten a better feel for public opinion before staking out such an absolute position.

“When you express your opinion as the

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but was upset, more than anything, by the commissioners’ quick action on the topic.

He said commissioners should have listened to experts on multiple sides of the question before taking a position.

“We the Community Committee submit that there are some areas adjacent to the Appalachian Trail that are suitable to be considered as wilderness that would not significantly impact any other uses,” Van Horn said. “We suggest that you let the forest planning process with all its experts on either side go through that process and come out with a recommendation for all of us.”

Franklin is lucky to be so close to the Appalachian Trail and should always be looking for ways to cultivate that special relationship, Van Horn said. Wilderness could be one way to do that.

Commissioners seemed a bit flummoxed by the importance those in attendance placed on their position.

commissioners of Macon County, I take that to mean that you’re expressing the opinion of 51 percent of the county,” Van Horn said. “I’m not 100 percent sure that you had 51 percent of the voters in Macon County behind you when you passed that resolution.”

“When a governmental body passes a resolution, it carries quite a bit of weight with not only the Forest Service but any federal agency,” agreed Scott in a follow-up interview.

Commissioners made no move to renege on their resolution. However, Corbin said, he hopes to continue working with people on both sides of the wilderness issue.

“Let me agree wholeheartedly with something that Brent [Martin] said,” Corbin said. “I think people need to work together for conflict resolution.”

For those involved in the forest plan, that will be the challenge of the next two years.

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BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER roomful of hunters and hikers turned out at last week’s Macon County Commissioners meeting. It was the first meeting after Franklin Mayor Bob Scott went public with a plea for the county to reconsider a resolution it passed in July against any additional wilderness designations in Macon County.

“I would urge the Macon County Board of Commissioners to rethink its resolution opposing more wilderness areas as these few wilderness areas will be an attraction to Macon County,” Scott said in his Nov. 28 letter to commissioners. “I am asking only that you lobby for a few more areas being set aside for wilderness designation. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.”

Scott wasn’t present at the meeting, but references to his letter — and strong stances on both sides of the issue — were.

“I urge you to stand by the resolution you passed on July the eighth,” said Ruffed Grouse Society member Jim Gray, speaking for the 20 or so hunters cramming the small meeting room. “It was a courageous action and one that will prove to be the right decision over the years to come.”

Gray went on to cite the declining share of young forest habitat — a greater diversity of species live in young forest than in old — in the national forest and the difficulties wilderness designation poses to the timber cuts and burns that create young forest.

Wilderness designation also keeps out some users, such as mountain bikers, so adding wilderness with no maintained trails or roads would “benefit only an elite few,” especially during the winter, Gray said.

Already, Gray said, hunters are leaving North Carolina to bag their game rather than hunting here at home because low game populations make chances slimmer here.

“It’s time for our national forest to achieve balance between being turned into quasi national parks and managed for their original intention, which is multiple use,” he said. “The pendulum has turned too far toward preservation.”

Brent Martin, a Cowee resident who works for The Wilderness Society, was also there. He said he’d flown up to Canada to bag grouse that year, but he said that’s no reason to oppose wilderness at home.

“The Nantahala-Pisgah National Forest is 1.1 million acres,” he said. “Only a little over 6 percent of that is protected as wilder-

ness, so to try to blame that for the declining grouse population is quite a stretch.”

The divisiveness of the room, Martin said, was troubling, especially considering that the planning process will go on for another two years. He doesn’t see The Wilderness Society’s recommendations for new wilderness as excessive. The U.S. Forest Service has listed 215,000 acres as possible wilderness, while The Wilderness Society is recommending that about 80,000 be given that designation. Martin does, however, see the commissioners’ resolution as a divisive and uncompromising position.

Bill Van Horn, co-chair of Franklin’s Appalachian Trail Community Committee, said he favors some additional wilderness

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In particular, he’d like to see the Chunky Gal, Barkers Creek and Scream Ridge extensions to the Southern Nantahala Wilderness make the designation.

Jim Gray, on the other hand, isn’t really a fan of adding wilderness to the Nantahala National Forest. The Ruffed Grouse Society member feels that wilderness designation in general would be bad news for already suffering game populations — most game species require young forest habitat, which is largely created by timber cuts and fires, and those treatments are either not allowed or harder to perform in wilderness areas — and takes issue with several areas in particular.

“I have objected and still object to the Wesser [Bald], the Wayah Bald [called Tellico Bald in the wilderness inventory] and the Chunky Gal Wilderness [Inventory] Areas,” he said. “I don’t feel that they really meet the definition of wilderness because I know for a fact that the Wayah Wilderness Area has Forest Service roads crisscrossing through it.”

The Wilderness Society, meanwhile, believes that several areas in the Nantahala should make the list of recommended wilderness. Extensions to the Joyce KilmerSlickrock, Ellicott Rock and Southern Nantahala wilderness areas make its list, as do the Snowbird, Unicoi Mountains, Cantrell Top and Tusquitee Bald areas.

Hugh Irwin, ecologist for The Wilderness Society, is especially enthusiastic about

The short version ■ With some exceptions, areas that would be additions to existing wilderness areas seem to be widely supported.

■ Many of the potential wilderness areas in the Pisgah District — Cedar Rock Mountain, Laurel Mountain and South Mills River, especially — are widely opposed for wilderness designation due to mountain biking activities.

■ By and large, sportsmen are hesitant to support any additional wilderness, while mountain bikers are in favor of designation in areas without mountain biking trails. Hikers are in favor of wilderness but would like to see some consideration of the difficulties of wilderness trail maintenance in the recommendations.

Snowbird, which is currently a Wilderness Study Area, and Tusquitee Bald.

In addition to exceptionally pure water, at Tusquitee “There are a number of rare species in the Fires Creek stream and in terrestrial areas around it,” Irwin said. “The area’s very important to Cherokee history.

There are Cherokee trails in the area and a rim trail that goes around the high elevations around the watershed that’s over 20 miles, one of the most significant circuit hikes in our mountains.”

Some inventoried areas in the Nantahala, meanwhile, The Wilderness Society would rather not see designated as wilderness but believes should be managed as backcountry or special biological areas.

Examples include Boteler Peak, Cheoah

Bald, Tellico Bald, Wesser Bald, Siler Bald and Terrapin Mountain.

“We feel that all of those are valuable backcountry areas that should be protected in some way in the forest plan,” Irwin said.

PISGAH NATIONAL FOREST Concerns from mountain bikers are a big part of the conversation in Pisgah National Forest. Pisgah has a lot more mountain biking trails and a lot more mountain bikers than Nantahala, so several areas in the inventory met with universal skepticism due to high volumes of mountain bike use.

Bicycles are not allowed in wilderness areas.

“Those areas have a high concentration of trails that are heavily used for recreation,

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■ The Wilderness Society’s list of recommended additions includes at least parts of all of the extensions of existing wilderness areas as well as eight other areas. The remaining 16 areas it recommends for management either as backcountry or as a special biological area. In many cases, that’s higher protection than the management areas currently proposed.

■ Overflow Creek Wilderness Study Area was left off of the original inventory, but that was simply an oversight, according to the Forest Service. The area is now part of the inventory.

■ The Wilderness Society lists seven of its North Carolina Mountain Treasures areas that were not included in the inventory and recommends these for backcountry or biological management.

Over the River and Through the Woods

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December 17-23, 2014

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including mountain biking,” said Andy Zivinsky of Nantahala Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association.

In fact, SORBA has come out with a position statement opposing wilderness designation in the Daniel Ridge, Laurel Mountain, Cedar Rock Mountain, South Mills River, Woods Mountain and Jarrett areas.

“Those would be examples of spots that have tremendous mountain bike use, and nobody’s trying to put an end to that,” Kelly said. “They all deserve backcountry management, but they’re fine as backcountry mountain biking.”

Though Whitmire’s first love is hunting, as an outfitter he’s also concerned about mountain biking opportunities, as mountain bikers make up a sizable contingent of customers.

The areas that SORBA’s opposed to designating also appear in The Wilderness Society’s “no” list, along with Bald Mountain.

Ruth Hartzler of the Carolina Mountain Club agrees with excluding Bald Mountain, simply because designating that area would keep trail maintainers from using power tools on the portion of the Appalachian Trail that runs through it.

“There are areas around the Appalachian Trail that we would request not be wilderness, at least not right where the trail goes, so that our trail maintainers can be efficient in maintaining the trail, but in general we do support wilderness designation,” Hartzler said.

The Wilderness Society would

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like to see the Middle Prong Wilderness Extension, the Craggy Mountain area and about 1,600 acres of the 4,800-acre Shining Rock Extensions recommended.

“It’s a smaller piece right up against the existing wilderness,” Irwin said of the Shining Rock recommendations. “There’s a mountain bike trail that goes up through the area that we’re not including and some potential spruce restoration area.”

Whitmire, however, isn’t so sure about these recommendations. While he can say offhand he’s opposed to recommending the areas containing mountain biking trails, he also has some questions about the Shining Rock and Middle Prong extensions. He wonders if they might be better suited for wildlife management, especially for elk as the herd continues to grow and seek new habitat.

“They’re increasing and I know the [N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission] is trying to do some more habitat work back toward Haywood and Madison County, but that would be perfect for elk in the Shining Rock Area,” Whitmire said.

He also has some questions about how wilderness designation would affect hunting opportunities. Those opportunities have declined over the last few decades, and he questions how wilderness designation would affect species such as whitetailed deer.

“The deer populations in Shining Rock, that’s where I used to go,” he said. “Back in the early ‘80s there were deer all over that country. Very few deer up there now. Very few.”

More than anything, though, Whitmire feels like he just needs more information before endorsing any of these areas for wilderness.

“I’m not an anti-wilderness person, but I know that there’s repercussions for everything that you do,” he said, “and if you go out and make something wilderness without those details I talked about, I feel very uneasy about that.”

The Forest Service is hoping to glean some of those details from this round of comments. This forest planning process has had a lot of emphasis on public input, with the Forest Service getting even preliminary planning materials out to the public for a response.

As the wilderness inventory goes through the scrutiny of public opinion and Forest Service evaluation, Luczak hopes to wind up with a list that everyone can, if not fully agree on, at least see as a valid, well-informed conclusion.

“It’s more of a holistic consideration of designation as well as the public input,” Luczak said. “The evaluation gets at those specific characteristics of an area.”

Once written into the plan, the list of recommended wilderness areas would go to the regional forester who could forward it on to the chief of the Forest Service, who could then pass it to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, who could then forward it to the president and Congress.

The road to wilderness designation will be a long one for any area on this list of potentials.

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December 17-23, 2014

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Sarge’s wrapping gifts at Mast

Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation has been invited back for the annual gift-wrapping project at Mast General Store on Main St. in Waynesville.

There will be Sarge’s volunteers wrapping gifts for donations during store hours through Dec. 24 in the Mast lobby. Mast Store shoppers can bring their purchases to the gift wrapping table and the volunteers will box and wrap the holiday gifts for a donation to Sarge’s. One hundred percent of the donations go towards taking care of the homeless dogs and cats in Sarge’s care.

“If you would like to help with this worthwhile project, we need donations of holiday wrapping paper, tissue paper, bows, ribbons and scotch tape,” said Sarge’s project coordinator Tish O’Connor.

Those donatVisit Mast Store in Waynesville and have your gifts wrapped by Sarge’s volunteers. ing wrapping Donations are accepted. From left are Sue Libera; Laura Ivey, holding Archie; and Tish supplies are O’Connor. Carol Viau photo asked to bring

Tribe’s new justice center opens The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will open its new state-of-the-art, $26 million Cherokee Justice Center on Dec. 17 following two years of construction.

Situated on a 5-acre site southwest of downtown Cherokee on U.S. 441, the 76,000-square-foot facility will house the EBCI tribal police station, court-

house and a 96-bed jail.

Funding was provided by a U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance program to construct or renovate correctional facilities on tribal lands.

“The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Justice Center completion marks a significant stage in the reclamation of our tribal sovereignty,” said EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks. “It demonstrates our tribe’s continuing commitment to provide services to our people and toward the development of rehabilitation based on Cherokee values.”

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Jackson County commissioners will decide in the coming weeks whether to keep Jay Coward on board as their county attorney.

Commissioners will consider other candidates in January. Coward said he will put his name back in the hat and hopes to stay on board.

“Absolutely. I really enjoy it,” Coward said.

However, the county has heard from several other attorneys who say they are interested as well, according to County Manager Chuck Wooten.

The county attorney position is up in the air following an upset election in the county commissioners race this fall. Democrats took majority control of the board by a 4-to-1 margin. Coward is a Republican but says Jay Coward party affiliation has no bearing on the relationship with commissioners.

“No. Never. That is something I am proud of. In order to be professional, you have to leave politics out of the equation,” Coward said.

Coward said he would never try to lead commissioners one way or the other based on his personal views.

“I know what they are looking for from the county attorney and what they don’t want to hear from the attorney,” Coward said, citing his own experience as a commissioner in the 1990s. “I try to identify as many options as possible for them to chose from.”

Nonetheless, Coward’s tenure as county attorney came on the heels of an upset commissioner election four years ago: Democrats lost the majority on the board, the county attorney at the time retired, and Coward was hired.

Now, Democrats are back in control on the board.

Coward said the political changing of the guard is beside the point.

“They felt like if there was more than one person interested they should put it out there,” Coward said.

Coward has a private law practice in Sylva and is a well-known attorney in the region. He hails from the Coward family legal dynasty — an array of uncles and cousins that populate legal circles in Jackson and Macon counties.

Coward bills the county $200 an hour, likely a discount rate for an attorney of Coward’s caliber.

The county hasn’t gotten any formal applications yet. The deadline to do so is Jan. 2.

— By Becky Johnson

the items to Sarge’s Adoption Center, 256 Industrial Park Dr. Waynesville, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Monday to Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturdays. Or, supply donations may be taken to Waynesville Mast Store.

“We are grateful to Melanee Lester and Mast General Store for giving up a portion of the store’s lobby during the busy holiday season for Sarge’s to set up the gift wrap station,” O’Connor said.

The mission of Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation is to save Haywood County animals from euthanasia. To adopt, donate or volunteer, call Sarge’s at 828.246.9050, “like” Sarge’s Facebook page or visit www.sargeandfriends.org.

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Politics aside, county attorney search conducted out of fairness in Jackson

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Cell tower ordinance heads to county commissioners

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STANDARDS FOR RIDGETOP TOWERS Next, the board had to decide which standards ridgetop towers would have to adhere to. In a split vote, members opted to use the county definition of a ridgetop, which applies to anything that’s at least 2,500 feet high with a 400-foot drop to the valley. That covers a wider territory than the narrower state definition, which applies to ridges that are 3,000 feet tall with a 500-foot drop to the valley.

Ridgetop cell towers would also have to be at least a half mile from any public road, 1 mile from any other wireless structure, built as a monopole and either not visible or at least 2 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

“I would rather one well-located, tall tower than I would multiple smaller towers,” Graham said. “I think that’s what we were trying to do with that section was say, ‘OK, we know you’re going to want to build a tall tower, and we’re going to do that by giving you extra footage for these things we would rather you do.”

The board agreed and ended up voting unanimously to keep the heights and increments the same.

The planning board voted to adopt Jackson County’s definition of “ridgetop,” shown in yellow, for the ordinance. Ridges that meet the narrower state definition are shown overlapping in red. Donated graphic ence,” Woodard said of the canopy height rule.

“I agree,” Lipkin said. “Let’s just assume an 80-foot canopy whether it’s fully grown or not.”

That proposal met with favor from the rest of the board, which voted unanimously to allow a uniform height for ridgetop towers.

The draft would allow towers to be 110 feet high if they feature a single antenna or 120 feet high if multiple receivers are housed on the same tower, called co-location.

Ridgetop cell towers would also have to be at least a half mile from any public road, 1 mile from any other wireless structure, built as a monopole and either not visible or at least 2 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The board approved all those stipulations unanimously.

KEEPING MAX HEIGHTS THE SAME Though the board discussed changing the maximum allowed height of cell towers — not just on ridgetops but anywhere — they ended up agreeing to keep the maximum of 180 feet and baseline of 100 feet.

Companies can gain height in increments of 20 feet for camouflaging the towers or colocating antennae on them, but Kornegay had suggested that the board reduce the height gain to increments of 10, since a full 20 feet is not needed to accommodate co-location.

But Lipkin pointed out that the effectiveness of the signal also increases with height, and Graham said that the 20-foot increments were there in the first place to entice companies to co-locate antennae and camouflage the towers. Decreasing the increment might make those measures less appealing.

FALL ZONE The planning board also made changes to the so-called “fall zone,” the distance towers must be set back from public roads and occupied buildings. In the previous draft, the fall zone had been a radius of the height of the tower plus 10 percent. For a tower built to the maximum 180 feet, that would mean 1.6 acres of land.

“I called a couple of people, and towers are designed to collapse at the midpoint and then fall. Few towers fall from the base and collapse completely down,” County Planner Gerald Green told the board. Given that, he said, the 110 percent fall zone is “excessive given their design.”

Instead, Green asked that the board consider a fall zone of 10 percent more than the typical breakpoint of the tower.

Lipkin suggested an additional change.

“Let me make one suggestion that would not really affect the distance,” he said. “Let me suggest that we allow any distance if there’s not a home there, with the written permission of the landowner.”

He clarified that this would only apply if the fall zone fell within the same parcel of property.

“That seems reasonable,” Graham said.

“The other comment I would make is that we use the language ‘fall zone’ in there. I suggest we just call it a setback instead of a fall zone,” Lipkin said.

The board agreed and unanimously approved those changes to the setback — or fall zone — regulations.

And then moved on to approve the ordinance as a whole, unanimously.

From here, the rules will land on the county commissioners’ desks. There will be a public hearing, and those comments will be taken into account before a final version is approved.

At this point in the process, at least one thing is true as far as the planning board is concerned.

“I think we all know where most of us 21 stand,” Lipkin said.

Smoky Mountain News

Kornegay, Graham, Story and Scott voted to adopt the county standard, while Woodard, Brooks and Lipkin voted for the state standard.

An earlier draft of the ordinance had regulated ridgetop tower height on the basis of how high the surrounding tree canopy was.

According to that version, cell towers could not be more than 30 feet higher than the average canopy height within 500 feet of the tower. If the tower housed multiple antennae, it could be 40 feet higher.

In this go-around, the planning board opted to strike that stipulation in favor of a more uniform standard.

“It just seems like a lot spinning your wheels up there of things that are constantly changing when it’s only 20 or 30 feet of differ-

SMALLER

December 17-23, 2014

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER ell phone towers will now be allowed on Jackson County ridgetops — at least according a draft ordinance that’s on its way to commissioners after meeting planning board approval last week.

The final vote on the draft ordinance was unanimous, but the votes and discussion leading up to that final show of hands — especially the ridgetop-oriented part of the discussion — were not.

“At some point I think we come to a point where we’ve heard virtually every argument and we start repeating ourselves,” said board chairman Clark Lipkin as the meeting got rolling. “If we can restrain ourselves from repeating ourselves, we’ll move forward.”

It took a lot of conversation, though, before the board made it to a vote on the big question: should cell towers be allowed on ridgetops, or should ridgetop towers be approved only in special circumstances?

“My argument is it sounds bad when you say you’re going to allow things on a ridgeline. It just sounds bad,” said board member Scott Baker. “But when you look at where we’ve got them now and that’s the kind of coverage we’re getting with them, seeing that small speck on the ridgeline is much less offensive to me than seeing one here in the valley, right here in our face.”

“I think when you put a tower in an already-developed area, there are a lot of things I would rather not look at that are called development in our county, and they’re not pretty,” countered board member Sarah Graham. “I would rather see development of this type around other development than I would on a protected ridgeline, on principle.”

Some board members thought that the discussion of aesthetics was a moot point altogether.

“We talked to 20, 30 people in the last month, and there might have been five or six people that even knew where they were,” said board member Dickie Woodard. “Talk to the general public, ask them how they feel about cell towers and ask them to name off where those cell towers are. They don’t even know.”

And some members argued that a cell tower placed on a ridgetop spreads its signal wider and reaches more people than one tucked away in the valley. Prohibiting tower construction on ridgetops would make the business case of coming to Jackson County weaker for tower companies and would mean constructing more towers in order to achieve the same coverage, they said.

“If a company’s deciding whether to come to Jackson County or not and they say, ‘I need 5,000 people and there’s 2,500 people on one side and 2,500 on the other, they’re not going to put it up unless it’s on a ridge,” Lipkin said.

“I think that we should, in the spirit of

protecting our mountains, honor that, and if that place is the only place that they can get the service they need, there is a process written into this ordinance for them to present that argument,” Graham responded.

“I think we’re in fundamental disagreement here,” Lipkin said.

“I know we are,” Graham responded.

The board went through another round of talk on the matter before Lipkin brought it back for a vote.

“I could give plenty of arguments and counter-arguments, but it comes down to does this board want to allow towers on ridges?” he said.

The answer turned out to be yes. Lipkin, Baker, Woodard and David Brooks voted against Graham’s proposal to require companies to garner special permission to build on a ridge. Graham, Ron Story and Burt Kornegay voted in favor of the additional hurdle to ridgetop building.

news

Ridgetop towers OK’d in draft Jackson ordinance

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

This is no time to devalue our wild heritage all kinds, Superfund sites, babies and sustainably managed timber lands — the list goes on. One of the few imaginable things we can’t make is what has come to be called wilderness.

So just maybe we shouldn’t destroy a whole lot more of it.

I am not a kneejerk advocate of giving official wilderness designation and protection to every scrap of land which could possibly qualify. But look again at the reality: we’re never going to be able to make any more of it.

There are ecological arguments in favor of wilderness. There are also economic arguments, some of which Franklin Mayor Bob Scott has advanced. And there are counterarguments, but I’m not going to get into all that here. The only argument I wish to present — apart from the very personal argument that I enjoy rambling about in wild places — is one based on the very conservative concept of prudence. When there’s not a lot left of something, you shouldn’t destroy the remnant, even if you don’t always have a clear idea what you might need it for. To cite the early wilderness advocate Aldo Leopold, “The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to save all the pieces.”

That’s a practical argument. There is also an argument from respect — for the Creation, for the process of evolution, or whatever concept appeals to you. The different religions of the world have different viewpoints and interpretations of what should be expected of us by way of stewardship. But I am not aware of any religion — except maybe contemporary economic “religion,” which doesn’t recognize any God — which says “Act as if you were God; take the world and do any damn thing that suits you.”

The argument will be made — correctly — that the people

who came before us on this land, the Cherokee and their predecessors, also modified the landscape. But they had neither the technology nor the population numbers to so thoroughly alter the earth as we do. They didn’t need to designate wilderness areas because wild lands were all around them; it was part of their heritage and it is part of ours, albeit in greatly reduced quantity.

One of the things that pleases me about being an American is that we still have this heritage — something which scarcely exists in Europe, where Guest Columnist most of our ancestors came from. One of the things which makes me proud to be an American is that this country has had the wisdom to officially set aside some of our wild lands — a notion which for the most part reached Europe too late. But, like I said, they aren’t making any more.

To put this in a Western North Carolina framework, to say that there is a shortage of early successional habitat (which from the point of view of a small game hunter using public lands, there is) and to attempt to remedy that shortage by eliminating something which is also in scarce supply, and irreplaceable to boot, is not logically defensible unless you are willing to devalue our wild heritage.

Finally, I’d like to frame the wilderness argument in terms of an even larger and more important issue — climate change.

Some climate change deniers attack wilderness proposals and other efforts to moderate greenhouse gas emissions by painting scientists’ warnings as a blasphemous absurdity. How could we, as humans, be so vain as to imagine that we could

Bill McLarney

e humans are highly skilled and devilishly clever. We can W create ball fields, schools, prisons, highways, airports, strip malls, industrial parks, reservoir lakes, landfills, farms of

Faster than thought: two book covers A

“opposition research,” or, as a Chinese sage said long ago, “know your enemy.”

The second encounter came last year, some months after Obama was reelected, when you might have thought the fever pitch of election season had passed. I went into a local charity to drop off some items as donations. Before I left I looked through their Guest Columnist bookshelves and found a novel by my favorite writer and a political biography, this one of Obama. Like the Romney book, the cover of the Obama biography was also a fullpage headshot. The volunteer at the checkout counter was an old friend. I don’t recall ever having had a political discussion with her.

Before the processing of my purchases, we took time to catch up on family news. When my friend then turned to ring up my purchas-

Steve Ellis

s we leave this political season, which has been nasty, brutal and long, I’d like to offer some thoughts. If you doubt my description of nasty, brutal and long, I remind you of our recent controversy here in Haywood County over the newly elected tax collector.

My thoughts start with two casual political interchanges with friends. The first came in the run-up to the 2012 presidential election. I was reading what was then called the definitive biography of Mitt Romney. As with many biographies, the front cover was a handsome headshot of the subject, Romney, with his truly perfect hair and perfect smile. Whenever my Democratic friends saw the book, they were surprised and, to a person, immediately and anxiously asked why I was reading a biography about “that man.” It didn’t satisfy them when I would say there was some likelihood (at that point) that Romney would be elected president and I wanted to get a better idea of what made him tick and how he might govern if elected. In order to set their minds at ease, I settled on telling those friends that this was

affect the very workings of the planet and its atmosphere? This addressed to you and me — the very humans who, starting long before the concept of human-induced climate change became popular, caused the extinction of numerous species, dramatically increased the expanse of the world’s deserts, rendered sizable areas of the planet uninhabitable due to radiation, and depleted our aquifers to the extent that in some parts of the world there is not enough water to go around?

Of course we are capable of contaminating the atmosphere and altering the climate. We are also capable of choosing not to do so.

Scientists in general have come to accept that we are entering a new era of geologic time — the Anthropocene, so named because the main factor affecting our planetary environment is not glaciers or volcanic activity or meteors which might strike earth. Rather it is a single species — us.

Humility does not lie in an “aw shucks” sort of denial that we have the power to shape the future. Rather it requires that we accept that our power to affect physical and biological change outstrips our ability to understand all the consequences. If this be so, then setting aside some small fraction of our land in such a way that it will be minimally influenced by human activity is more than a conservation measure, it is a gesture of humility. As surely as the study of history, it reminds of where we came from and helps us understand the mistakes we may have made along the way. It acknowledges our imperfection, embodies our hope for a livable future and honors the Creation better than any human invention.

The planning process for the Nantahala/Pisgah national forests provides a timely opportunity to consider these ideas.

(Bill McLarney is an aquatic biologist who lives in Franklin.

He can be reached at billmclarney@gmail.com.)

es, she picked up the top book in my small stack, which was the novel. As my friend picked up the novel, she uncovered the front cover of the Obama biography and saw his photo. She involuntarily blurted out “Eeeuh!,” the same way we do when we unexpectedly taste something very unpleasant.

Each of these reactions to a book cover of a political leader was instantaneous and visceral. My friends, whether Republican or Democrat, all acted without considered thought. Besides being some indication of our polarized national politics, a parallel and probably bigger point is that these reactions show that, to a large extent, we as people are hardwired in our political convictions.

There’s a growing body of science and social science laying out this thesis, that people are not necessarily sorting out political decisions through intellectual examination; rather, they follow their individual subconscious leanings and then buttress those positions with what they think are supporting arguments (that’s why often enough we see some really weak arguments trotted out to justify emotionally reached positions).

This is a matter of basic human nature, not current political circumstance. I recently ran across this quote in a biography of President Andrew Jackson. In 1830 the battle lines that led to the Civil War were being formed. The largest political question of the

There’s a growing body of science and social science laying out this thesis, that people are not necessarily sorting out political decisions through intellectual examination ...... day was whether individual Southern states had a right to nullify a federal law that offended that state. John C. Calhoun of South Carolina was the leading proponent of nullification. Former president John Quincy Adams described Calhoun this way: “Calhoun veers round in his politics, to be always before the wind, and makes his intellect the pander to his will.” In commenting on this passage, Jon Meacham, the Pulitzer Prize winning biographer of Jackson, commented, “… but understanding the roots of irrational political sentiment cannot make such sentiment disappear.

Politics … can be largely about belief, not fact ….”

I read one of the recent books on the science of political viewpoints, The Righteous

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FASTER, FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Bibliography • Malcolm Gladwell — Blink: the Power of Thinking Without Thinking • Jonathan Haidt — The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion • Daniel Kahneman — Thinking, Fast and Slow • Jon Meacham — American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House

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 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.

BOGART’S 303 S. Main St., Waynesville. 828.452.1313.

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Carry out available. Located in downtown Waynesville, Bogart’s has been long-time noted for great steaks, soups, and salads. Casual family atmosphere in a rustic old-time setting with a menu noted for its practical value. Live Bluegrass/String Band music every Thursday. Walking distance of Waynesville’s unique shops and seasonal festival activities and within one mile of Waynesville Country Club.

REEKSIDE COYSTER HOUSE & GRILL

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Full Bar • Creekside Dining Specialty Sandwiches Crafted Beer & Moonshine

WEDNESDAY: AYCE Fish & Shrimp THURSDAY: AYCE Crab Leg FRIDAY: Surf-N-Turf Special SATURDAY: Seafood Trio Special 828.586.1985•OPEN TUES.-SAT.

438 Skyland Drive • Sylva

Exit 85 to Skyland Dr., two blocks from McDonalds

3p.m., Full Menu 3 to 9 p.m. Serving fresh and delicious weekday morning lite fare, lunch, dinner, and brunch. Freshly prepared menu offerings range from house-made soups & salads, lite fare & tapas, crepes, specialty sandwiches and burgers. Be sure not to miss the bold flavors and creative combinations that make up the daily Chef Supper Specials starting at 5pm every day.

Followed by a tempting selection of desserts prepared daily by our chefs and other local bakers. Enjoy craft beers on tap, as well as our full bar and eclectic wine list.

BREAKING BREAD CAFÉ 6147 Hwy 276 S. Bethel (at the Mobil Gas Station) 828.648.3838 Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sat. & Sun. Chef owned and operated. Our salads are made in house using local seasonal vegetables. Fresh roasted ham, turkey and roast beef used in our hoagies. We hand make our own eggplant and chicken parmesan, pork meatballs and hamburgers. We use 1st quality fresh not pre-prepared products to make sure you get the best food for a reasonable price. We make vegetarian, gluten free and sugar free items. Call or go to Facebook (Breaking Bread Café NC) to find out what our specials are.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. We serve three meals a day on Friday and Saturday, and some Sundays.

Join us for family-style breakfast from 8 to 9:30 am – with eggs, bacon, sausage, grits and oatmeal, fresh fruit, sometimes French toast or pancakes, and always all-you-caneat. Lunch from 12:00 till 2. In the evening, social hour begins at 6:00pm. Dinner is served at 7:00 pm, with entrees that include prime rib, baked ham and herb-baked chicken, complemented by seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts. We also offer a fine selection of wine and beer.

So come enjoy mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Please call for reservations and more dining information.

BRYSON CITY CORK & BEAN A MOUNTAIN SOCIAL HOUSE 16 Everett St.,Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday brunch 9 a.m. to

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

Ring In 2015!

HORS D’OEUVRES BUFFET 9 P.M.-MIDNIGHT

MIDNIGHT CHAMPAGNE TOAST

MUSIC BY DUSTIN MARTIN & THE RAMBLERS DANCING & PARTY FAVORS MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST BUFFET

Smoky Mountain News

UGLY SWEATER PARTY !

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BOURBON BARREL BEEF & ALE 454 Hazelwood Ave., Waynesville, 828.452.9191. Lunch served 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner nightly from 4 p.m. Closed on Sunday. We specialize in hand-cut, all natural steaks, fresh fish, and other classic American comfort foods that are made using only the finest local and sustainable ingredients available. We also feature a great selection of craft beers from local artisan brewers, and of course an extensive selection of small batch bourbons and whiskey. The Barrel is a friendly and casual neighborhood dining experience where our guests enjoy a great meal without breaking the bank.

December 17-23, 2014

Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Haidt studies the moral bases of political and religious beliefs. Here are some summary points from his book that fit with my discussion. There are different moral foundations that people respond to. Different people respond to different degrees to the various moral foundations.

Specifically, political liberals and political conservatives respond differently. This gives an explanation of why different people have different perspectives on what is “fair.” I recommend this book, if for no other reason, because it gives a plausible analysis of why liberals are repeatedly befuddled when blue collar voters go against what the liberals suppose to be the self-interest of those voters — they are motivated by interests other than ones to which the liberals respond.

What does all of this mean? I don’t think this new science is opening up new techniques for political operatives to lure voters to their causes. For me, it doesn’t lessen the strength of my own beliefs, but it does reduce any temptation to think my beliefs need to be adopted by everyone else. It’s a reminder of what my parents taught me about respecting others. I’m reminded that others look at things differently than I do, that I should try to understand their point of view, and try not to thoughtlessly dismiss their opinions. One of the good aspects of living in a small town like Waynesville is that the scale of life means I have friends and acquaintances who I am in daily contact with who see this same world differently, and my life is richer because of those differences.

(Steve Ellis is a local lawyer and lifelong resident of Haywood County. He can be reached at steveellis146@gmail.com.)

INCLUDING LUCKY NEW YEAR’S FOODS

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83 Asheville Hwy. Sylva Music Starts @ 9 • 631.0554

70 Soco Road • Maggie Valley Reservations: 828.926.0201

Reservations Recommended

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tasteTHEmountains Magazine. Set in a distinguished atmosphere with an exceptional menu. Extensive selection of wine and beer. Reservations honored.

CITY BAKERY 18 N. Main St. Waynesville 828.452.3881.

Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in our historic location for scratch made soups and daily specials.

Breakfast is made to order daily: Gourmet cheddar & scallion biscuits served with bacon, sausage and eggs; smoked trout bagel plate; quiche and fresh fruit parfait. We bake a wide variety of breads daily, specializing in traditional french breads. All of our breads are hand shaped. Lunch: Fresh salads, panini sandwiches. Enjoy outdoor dinning on the deck. Private room available for meetings.

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.

December 17-23, 2014

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. Friday and Saturday serving freshly prepared small plate and

tapas-style fare. Enjoy local, regional, or national talent live each Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. www.classicwineseller.com.

Also on facebook and twitter.

CORK & CLEAVER 176 Country Club Drive, Waynesville.

828.456.7179. Reservations recommended.

4:30-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Tucked away inside Waynesville Inn, Cork & Cleaver has an approachable menu designed around locally sourced, sustainable, farm-to-table ingredients. Executive Chef Corey Green prepares innovative and unique Southern fare from local, organic vegetables grown in Western North Carolina. Full bar and wine cellar. www.waynesvilleinn.com.

COUNTRY VITTLES: FAMILY STYLE RESTAURANT 3589 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley.

828.926.1820 Open Daily 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., closed Tuesday. Family Style at Country Vittles is not a buffet. Instead our waitresses will bring your food piping hot from the kitchen right to your table and as many refills as you want. So if you have a big appetite, but sure to ask your waitress about our family style service.

FILLING STATION DELI 145 Everett St., Bryson City, 828.488.1919.

Open Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sundays (in October) 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Locals always know best, and this is one place they know well. From the high-quality hot pressed sandwiches and the huge portions of hand-cut fries to the specialty frozen

sandwiches and homemade Southern desserts, you will not leave this top-rated deli hungry.

HERREN HOUSE 94 East St., Waynesville 828.452.7837.

Lunch: Wednesday - Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday Brunch 11 a. m. to 2 p.m.

Enjoy fresh local products, created daily. Join us in our beautiful patio garden. We are your local neighborhood host for special events: business party’s, luncheons, weddings, showers and more. Private parties & catering are available 7 days a week by reservation only.

J. ARTHUR’S RESTAURANT AT MAGGIE VALLEY U.S. 19 in Maggie Valley. 828.926.1817.

Lunch Sunday noon to 2:30 p.m., dinner nightly starting at 4:30 p.m. World-famous prime rib, steaks, fresh seafood, gorgonzola cheese and salads. All ABC permits and open year-round. Children always welcome. Takeout menu. Excellent service and hospitality.

JOEY'S PANCAKE HOUSE 4309 Soco Rd Maggie Valley.

828.926.0212.

Winter hours; Friday through Sunday and Mondays, 7 a.m. to noon. Joey’s is a family style restaurant that has been serving breakfast to the locals and visitors of Western North Carolina since 1966. Featuring a large variety of tempting pancakes, golden waffles, country style cured ham and seasonal specials spiked with flavor, Joey's is sure to please all appetites. Joey & Brenda O’Keefe invite you to join what has become a tradition in these parts, breakfast at Joey’s.

JUKEBOX JUNCTION U.S. 276 and N.C. 110 intersection, Bethel.

828.648.4193. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Serving breakfast, lunch, nd dinner. The restaurant has a 1950s & 60s theme decorated with memorabilia from that era.

MAD BATTER FOOD & FILM 617 W. Main Street Downtown Sylva.

828.586.3555. Open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hand-tossed pizza, steak sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts. All made from scratch. Beer and wine. Free movies with showtimes at 6:30 and 9 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Visit madbatterfoodandfilm.com for this week’s shows.

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

828.926.1616. maggievalleyclub.com/dine.

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

MOONSHINE GRILL 2550 Soco Road, Maggie Valley located in the Smoky Falls Lodge. 828.926.7440. Open Wednesday through Saturday 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cooking up mouth-watering, wood-fired Angus steaks, prime rib and scrumptious fresh seafood dishes. The wood-fired grill gives amazing flavor to every meal that comes off of it. Enjoy creative dishes made using moonshine. Stop by and simmer for a while and soak up the atmosphere. The best kept secret in Maggie Valley. themoonshinegrill.com

We’ll feed your spirit, too.

Cataloochee Ranch 119 Ranch Drive, Maggie Valley, NC 28751 | CataloocheeRanch.com | (828)926-1401

Smoky Mountain News

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828-456-1997 24

blueroostersoutherngrill.com

— Real Local People, Real Local Food — 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, North Carolina Monday-Friday Open at 11am

MOUNTAIN PERKS ESPRESSO BAR & CAFÉ 9 Depot St., Bryson City. 828.488.9561.

Open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. With music at the Depot. Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Life is too short for bad coffee. We feature wonderful breakfast and lunch selections.

Bagels, wraps, soups, sandwiches, salads and quiche with a variety of specialty coffees, teas and smoothies. Various desserts.

ORGANIC BEANS COFFEE COMPANY 1110 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.668.2326. Open 7 days a week 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Happily committed to brewing and serving innovative, uniquely delicious coffees — and making the world a better place.

100% of our coffee is Fair Trade, Shade Grown, and Organic, all slow-roasted to bring out every note of indigenous flavor.

Bakery offerings include cakes, muffins, cookies and more. Each one is made from scratch in Asheville using only the freshest, all natural ingredients available. We are proud to offer gluten-free and vegan options.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Classic Italian dishes, exceptional steaks and seafood (available in full and lighter sizes), thin crust pizza, homemade soups, salads hand tossed at your table. Fine wine and beer selection. Casual atmosphere, dine indoor, outside on the patio or at the bar.

Reservations appreciated.

Oscar Fright A New Year’s Eve Murder Mystery

Burgers to Salads Southern Favorites & Classics

PATIO BISTRO 30 Church Street, Waynesville.

828.454.0070. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Breakfast bagels and sandwiches, gourmet coffee, deli sandwiches for lunch with homemade soups, quiches, and desserts. Wide selection of wine and beer. Outdoor and indoor dining.

-Local beers now on draft-

Presented by Killer Theater

Live Music

Wednesday

Dec. 31

65

$

SID’S

per person

+tax & gratuity

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RENDEZVOUS RESTAURANT AND BAR Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center 828.926.0201 Bar open Monday thru Saturday; dining room open Tuesday thru Saturday at 5 p.m. Full service restaurant serving steaks, prime rib, seafood and dinner specials.

JOIN THE OSCAR

NOMINEES ON THE RED CARPET AT 7 P.M. AND INDULGE IN A THREE COURSE DINNER WITH WINE & CHAMPAGNE

ON MAIN

94 East St. Waynesville 828-452-7837 herrenhouse.com

117 Main Street, Canton NC 828.492.0618 • SidsOnMain.com Serving Lunch & Dinner

THAI SPICE 128 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.454.5400. Lunch: Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday noon to 3 p.m. Dinner Tuesday-Saturday 4:30 to 9 p.m. Closed Monday. Thai Spice, an authentic Thai restaurant, warmly welcomes you to experience a superb dinning experience. Don’t be timid, the food comes mild, medium, hot and Thai Hot. You choose. www.thaispicewnc.com

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LI LIVE VE Music Music W Weekend eekend F Friday, riday, D Dec. ec. 1 19 9@7p pm m

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. Each Pizza is hand tossed and made with TLC.

JJames a me s H Hammel: ammel: guitar, guitar, vocals vocals

Sa Saturday, turday, D Dec. ec. 2 20 0@7p pm m

ITALIAN CUISINE

Open Christmas Eve, call for reservations.

Joe C Cruz: ruz: p piano, iano, vocals vocals

Reservations Reservations Recommended Recommended 828-452-6000 828-452-6000 classicwineseller.com classicwineseller.com 20 20 Church Church Street, Street, Waynesville, Waynesville, NC NC

1863 S. Main Street • Waynesville 828.454.5002 Hwy. 19/23 Exit 98 LUNCH & DINNER EVERYDAY CLOSED WEDNESDAYS

Gift Certificates Available for the Holidays

serving size : ab out 50 p ag es

www.CityLightsCafe.com % Daily Value *

Tot al Fat 0g

0%

Reg ional New s

100%

Op inion

100%

Outd oors

100%

Art s

100%

Entert ainm ent

100%

Classified s

100%

City Lights Cafe Holiday Hours: 12/24:11am-4pm, 12/25: Closed, 12/26:11am-9pm

GRAB YOUR LAST MINUTE GIFT CARDS, GIFT BASKETS & PARTY PLATTERS AVAILABLE AT BOTH LOCATIONS. Perk & Pastry Holiday Hours:

271-54

Calories 0

12/24:7am-4pm, 12/25: Closed, 12/26:7am-9pm

DOWNTOWN SYLVA • NC

* Percent Weekly values b ased on Hayw ood, Jackson, M acon, Sw ain and Buncom b e d iet s.

Mon.-Fri. 7-4 Sat. 8-4

Holiday Hours:

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Country Vittles

Voted Best Steak in Waynesville

& GIFT SHOP

Classic local American comfort foods, craft beers & small batch bourbons & whiskey. Join us for Prime Rib Thursdays.

Vegetarian options available

OPEN Dec. 17-21 CLOSED Dec. 22-25 OPEN Dec. 26-Jan 4

Featuring a Full Menu with Daily Specials BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER

3589 SOCO RD. MAGGIE VALLEY

828.926.1820

Smoky Mountain News

LUNCH DAILY 11:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M. DINNER NIGHTLY AT 4 P.M. MONDAY-SATURDAY

Whole Cakes, Pies & Fall Goodies – Call 828-631-9856

RESTAURANT

December 17-23, 2014

Nutrition Facts Am ount per Serving

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Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. • Dinner Nightly at 4 p.m. • CLOSED ON SUNDAY 454 HAZELWOOD AVENUE • WAYNESVILLE • Call 828-452-9191 for reservations 271-09

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Closed since 2011, the 800-seat Eaglenest entertainment theatre will have a soft reopening on New Year’s Eve. Garret K. Woodward photo

Maggie Valley venue enters second act

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER With one flick of a light switch, Grier Lackey is illuminating a dream.

“What do you think?” he said with a smile.

Standing inside Eaglenest, an 800-seat theater in Maggie Valley, Lackey scans the enormous room, pointing out design details and other amenities offered on the premises. Closed since 2011, the state-ofthe-art facility will once again open its doors to the entertainment possibilities of Western North Carolina.

“I think it really needs to be open. I think the Grier Lackey community needs it, and I think it’s better for the theater,” the 72-year-old said. “Things tend to depreciate sitting dormant.

Though we’ve kept everything well manicured, the building is better opened than closed.”

Located on Soco Road in the heart of Maggie Valley’s commercial district, the $3.5 million, 18acre property has loomed empty, almost a lost opportunity of what could have been. Behind the building, there’s also a natural outdoor amphitheatre able to hold upwards of 2,000 people. Simply put, if run properly, it could be a game-changer for the town’s economy.

“I didn’t do this to just spend a lot of money, I built this to help the community,” Lackey said. “Most people might not believe that, but I do love this town and this area.”

HEAD FOR THE HILLS Growing up on his family’s tobacco farm in Alexander County (near Taylorsville), Lackey ventured out into the world, ultimately entering the manufacturing industry. He started his own business, Taylor Togs, which once was a national manufacturer of Levi Strauss jeans.

And all his life, Lackey’s father had a deep love for bluegrass music. His dad befriended legendary banjoist and Maggie Valley resident Raymond Fairchild.

“Dad and Raymond became real close,” Lackey said. “So, if I wanted to spend time with my father, I’d head up to Maggie Valley and go to the Stompin’ Ground.”

Lackey found a deep connection to the Haywood County mountain town. He soon partnered in running a hotel, then owned a home there for years. And as he became more and more involved with the community and its business sector, Lackey heard about another opportunity — Thunder Ridge was up for sale.

A once notorious dance club, Thunder Ridge gained a reputation as an oasis for alcohol and mischief in a region, at the time, which had much more stringent beer and liquor laws compared to nowadays. On Dec. 7, 2001, Corey Matthews of Asheville was shot and killed in the Thunder Ridge parking lot by Toren Gordon, a Western Carolina University football player.

The club eventually decided to shut down and was put on the market. Though tragedy had occurred on the property, Lackey looked at the space as something that could be trans-

Want to go?

To celebrate the soft opening of the Eaglenest, there will be a special performance by legendary banjoist Raymond Fairchild & Friends at 7 p.m. Dec. 31 at 2701 Soco Road in Maggie Valley.

Fairchild will be joined by an array of television entertainers including Leroy Troy (“Marty Stuart Show”), Roni Stoneman (“Hee Haw”), Mark & Ray Grooms (“Moonshiners”), Cowboy Caward (from the film “Deliverance”), The Hatcher Boys, the Southern Appalachian Cloggers, and more.

828.273.6074 or opryhouse@charter.net. formed, molded into a positive symbol of business within the community.

“It used to be chicken coop wire and sheet metal in here,” Lackey recalled. “We renovated completely. I spent a lot of money renovating it inside and out.”

In 2003, Eaglenest opened. It saw success in the early years, with musical acts like Percy

Sledge and Pam Tillis gracing the stage. But with the construction of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort and the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin, competition and getting people in the seats became difficult. And with the economic downturn of 2008, Lackey saw the writing on the wall — it was time to close up shop.

“When the casino came in and the economy got bad, it changed a lot of things,” Lackey said.

“And I had some health issues then, so did the couple that ran Eaglenest, so we decided to close.”

A NEW DAY

But, 2014 is not 2011. With an improving economy and health, Lackey felt the timing was right to bring Eaglenest back into the spotlight.

“We hope things will continue to grow,” he said. “And I’d be misrepresenting myself if I said this place wasn’t still for sale. It’s not an easy place to sell, but with the right person or persons, it could really do something.”

To signal their return, Eaglenest will hold a soft opening on New Year’s Eve with a special performance by Fairchild, who will be joined by an array of entertainers. Plans are already in the works for an official grand opening in the spring.

“We’re really hoping to get support for the community,” Lackey said.

Lackey noted that though he’s never taken county money, he does feel to make

S EE EAGLENEST, PAGE 29

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

I’ve always felt the greatest gift is the gift of music.

Though I’ve never been a huge fan of receiving presents (I’d rather spend quality time with a loved one, save your money), the gifts that meant the most to me where melodic. It was a dear friend giving me a mix CD of the “Best Road Trip Songs,” my uncle handing me a copy of The Who’s “Who’s Next” or my mother buying me a ticket for my 18th birthday to see The Rolling Stones on their “Forty Licks” tour.

With that said, 2014 was another year of incredible music, where I explore further down the rabbit hole of not only sound but my heart and soul, too. The beauty of music resides in the mere fact that one song, one voice, one lyric or note can change your life immediately. It’s hearing something that stops you in your tracks, makes your heart jump into your throat, where chills run up your spine, goose bumps down your arm, where every cell in your body vibrates happily.

Below are my picks for the “Best Albums of 2014.” I hope all of you out there in Western North Carolina and beyond give each of these artists a whirl, and perhaps, someone you care about will find one of these records in their Christmas stocking or under the tree.

Happy holidays, y’all.

Sturgill Simpson — “Metamodern Sounds In Country Music” For all the naysayers mumbling that “real country music” is dead, Sturgill Simpson shoots down that statement with a staggering breakthrough album. The record is soaked in razor sharp Nashville honky-tonk and AM radio rock-n-roll. Simpson himself is a reincarnation of Waylon Jennings, with six-string sidekick Laur Joaments’ slide play-

The War On Drugs — “Lost In The Dream” Right from the opening track “Under The Pressure,” you’re immediately hooked into this groove that seemingly combines 80s synthesizer-pop, Bob Dylan freewheelin’ vocals and a sense of urgency akin to Bruce Springsteen. It’s catchy yet original, a moving target of trying to figure out exactly what you’re hearing, but the ride this album takes you on keeps you buying another ticket to jump back on for another spin.

Key Tracks: “Under The The Tipping Point Brewing 4th anniversary Pressure,” “Red Eyes,” “An Ocean In party will begin at 1 p.m. Dec. 20 in Between The Waves” Waynesville.

Nikki Lane — “All Or Nothin’” Christmas in the Park will be held from 6 to If you put country legend 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Rec Park in Loretta Lynn on a motorcycle and Cullowhee. sent her towards the horizon with a bottle of whiskey and an The Darren Nicholson Band unknown bed to put her boots (bluegrass/Americana) will perform at 7 p.m. under, you’d get Nikki Lane. This Dec. 19 at BearWaters Brewing in Nashville femme fatale puts outWaynesville. law country right back where it’s The Webster Historical Society will present supposed to be — in broken its 4th annual “John Parris’ Christmas” at hearts, shattered realities and dive 5:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Webster Methodist bars where you find your feet Church. stuck to the beer glazed floors.

Key Tracks: “Right Time,” “The Ghosts of Christmas Past Tour” will be “Sleep With A Stranger,” “Want My held at 7 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at the Macon Heart Back” County Historical Museum in Franklin.

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Drive-By Truckers — “English Oceans” Seemingly a Mike Cooley love letter to the world, the Truckers have given the reins

Beck — “Morning Phase” A shooting star across the music industry, this album is a cosmic highway of sound, of intent, and of universal proportions from the iconic alt-rock singer/songwriter. The melodies constantly straddle the line between being awake and asleep, which tends to conjure the question of what conscious or subconscious state we’re actually in when we carry on into our day. The composition is a masterpiece, where Beck brings down the glorious message from above for all to hear.

Key Tracks: “Morning,” “Say Goodbye,” “Blue Moon”

Pink Floyd — “The Endless River” Twenty years since their last studio release, the prog-rock icons gathered together what was left from their 1994 “The Division Bell” album and breathed new life into it with overdubs and vocal arrangements. It’s a swan song from one of the greatest groups ever conceived.

As a tribute to late keyboardist Richard

December 17-23, 2014

First Aid Kit — “Stay Gold” Quite possibly the album of the year.

Who would have thought that some of the finest modern-day Americana songs would come from a Swedish sister duo? A hearty blend of Nashville twang, San Francisco psychedelic rock and Greenwich Village folk, this record stands alone. Meandering between heartbreak, melancholic sadness and spiritual awakening in the 21st century, the melodies find their way into the deepest corners of your mind, pulling up faces and places not seen in years, for good or ill.

Key Tracks: “Cedar Lane,” “The Bell,” “My Silver Lining”

to their six-string ace cohort on what is amounting to the finest record the Southern rock outfit has unleashed onto a flawed yet beautiful world. Always the lyrical champions of those without a voice or forgotten by society, the band seems to take a more humble, slow burn road in these selections.

Key Tracks: “Shit Shots Count,” “When He’s Gone,” “Grand Canyon”

Wright, the record showcases just how vital his touch was to the lore and beauty of Pink Floyd.

Key Tracks: “Louder Then Words,” “It’s What We Do,” “Nervana”

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Key Tracks: “Turtles All The Way Down,” “Living The Dream,” “It Ain’t All Flowers”

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Members of Balsam Range, The Molly Tuttle Trio and Meals on Wheels Program Coordinator Jeanne Naber raised $12,000 recently for the nonprofit. Donated photo

Balsam Range, Meals on Wheels raise $12K

December 17-23, 2014

On Dec. 6, acclaimed bluegrass group Balsam Range began it Winter Concert series with The Molly Tuttle Trio at The Colonial Theatre in Canton.

Along with the concert was a fundraising event to honor, recognize and celebrate the Haywood County Meals on Wheels program.

Event sponsors contributed over $12,000 to

• BearWaters Brewing (Waynesville) will have The Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass/Americana) on Dec. 19, Josh Wager (singer/songwriter) Dec. 26 and The Robinsons Dec. 27. All shows begin at 7 p.m. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.

ALSO:

Smoky Mountain News

• Classic Wine Seller (Waynesville) will have James Hammel (jazz/pop) at 7 p.m. Dec. 19. $10 minimum purchase. 828.452.6000.

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• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will have Craig Summers & Lee Kram at 6 p.m. Dec. 18 and 25, Hunter Grigg at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 and Porch 40 (funk/rock) at 7 p.m. Dec. 20.

828.454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will have the Kittle/Collings Duo (jazz) Dec. 18 and 25, The Brad Boulet & Friends Holiday Show (Americana/bluegrass) Dec. 26, and Sam Stringfield (piano/songwriter) Dec. 27. All shows begin at 8 p.m. www.innovationbrewing.com.

• Jackson County Public Library (Sylva) will present the Western Carolina Civic Orchestra during its 4th annual Community Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18. There will be an open house at 5 p.m. hosted by the Jackson County Genealogical Society, the Jackson County Historical Association and the Jackson County Arts Council. Free.

help reduce the number of Haywood County residents on the waiting list.

“We are so excited to be able to feed more seniors in our community,” said Meals on Wheels Program Coordinator Jeanne Naber, “Thanks to those who sponsored this event and especially to Balsam Range — they’re awesome.”

www.fontanalib.org or 828.586.2016.

• Macon County Community Building (Franklin) will host the High Mountain Squares “Christmas Dance” from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Western style square dancing, mainstream and plus levels. New dancers lessons will begin in January. www.highmountainsquares.com.

• No Name Sports Pub (Sylva) will have Donna Frost on Dec. 18, Darren & The Buttered Toast (funk/rock) Dec. 19, Natty Love Joys Dec. 20 and If Birds Could Fly (Americana) Dec. 27. All shows are free and begin at 9 p.m. 828.586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Oconaluftee Visitor Center (Cherokee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park) will host an old-time music jam session from 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 20. Bring an acoustic instrument to join in on the fun or just sit and enjoy the music. Free.

• Swain County Visitor Center (Bryson City) will host an outdoor Christmas concert at 6 p.m. Dec. 20. www.greatsmokies.com.

• Tipping Point Brewing (Waynesville) will have Joshua Dead (singer/songwriter) at 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and their 4th anniversary celebration on Dec. 20 with Hunter Grigg from 1 to 4 p.m. and ‘Round the Fire from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.

On the beat more. Lorraine Conard and Emma McDowell will open the performance.

Tickets are $18.

828.283.0079 or www.38main.com.

Bryson City community jam Sheila Kay Adams and Michael Reno Harrel will play Waynesville on Dec. 18.

Strand presents ‘Blue Ridge Christmas’ Carolina Brass will bring the holiday spirit to Waynesville on Dec. 17. Donated photo

EAGLENEST, CONTINUED FROM 26

A community music jam will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, or anything unplugged, is invited to join. Singers are also welcome to join in, and anyone can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of Grampa’s Music in Bryson City.

Normally, Larry starts by calling out a tune and its key signature and the group plays it together. Then, everyone in the circle gets a chance to choose a song for the group to play together.

The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs.

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

828.488.3030.

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money, but it costs a lot for liability and proper training. We could get a wine and beer permit, but we’ll have to look into it more, to see if it could work.”

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Smoky Mountain News

the business work he’d need help from the town, county and beyond — a group effort to ensure the future of Eaglenest.

“It can be difficult to get support,” Lackey said. “The county and community has not been willing to invest, and I’ve approached them many times. I don’t want to ruffle any feathers, but if you take the other big towns in this area that are going well, they invest in business, even if it’s private.”

The Eaglenest in Maggie Valley. Garret K. Woodward photo So, with the Eaglenest ready to open, and the ball Stepping outside the Eaglenest, a bluebird rolling, what about offering alcohol sales onsite? What about the idea of being able to sky shines over Maggie Valley. Lackey looks offer craft beer and wine, two booming inde- out over the property, a man ready for a secpendent industries in Western North ond chance at making a spark in the commuCarolina, to get folks not only in the door, but nity surrounding him.

“They say entrepreneurs never die, but connected with local products?

“I’m not opposed to drinking, but I’m not I’m smart enough to know someday I will,” he a drinking man. We have considered it, but chuckled. “I enjoy seeing things built and seeright now it’s not on the agenda,” Lackey said. ing things happening. I get a real kick out of it “From a profitability standpoint, people see — it’s a great feeling.”

December 17-23, 2014

Carolina Brass will feature a variety of holiday and classical songs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, at the Waynesville First United Methodist Church.

Trained at some of the country’s most prestigious schools, including the New England Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, and the Eastman School of Music, the members of Carolina Brass are known internationally for high-caliber musicianship delivered with a sense of fun. The group makes it their mission to promote the understanding of music and to improve the performance level of musicians of all ages in a fun and exciting way.

“Music appreciation happens better with live music, and hearing high quality music is the best engine for developing music appreciation in children,” said Scott Taylor, director of worship, music and arts at the church. “I hope during intermission or after the show, parents take their kids up front to look at the instruments and talk to the musicians. The kids will understand they are actually seeing the creation of music.”

Free, with donations accepted. www.carolinabrass.com.

A “Blue Ridge Christmas” with Sheila Kay Adams and Michael Reno Harrell will be at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

Adams is a National Heritage Fellowship winner, while Harrell is a widely renowned, platinum-selling Appalachian folk artist. Both encompass the history, culture and music of Western North Carolina and beyond. The evening will be filled with music, storytelling and

arts & entertainment

Carolina Brass to play Waynesville

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Smoky Mountain News

he Webster Historical Society will present its 4th annual “John Parris’ Christmas” at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at the Webster Methodist Church.

Curtis and Janice Monteith Blanton will both read the Christmas stories of Parris and the second original Christmas story that Curtis, a Jackson County writer and storyteller, has written just for the event.

Parris, a native of Jackson County, returned to his home in Sylva after World War II when he served in Europe as the war correspondent for the United Press International Association. His first published book was his war experiences, Springboard to Berlin.

After several writing jobs in Western North Carolina, Parris took on the assignment for the Asheville Citizen-Times of a column named “Roaming the Mountains.” For years, he roamed and wrote about life and people, both early and present in Southern Appalachia. His stories earned him many journalism awards and the first presentation of the Western Carolina University Mountain Heritage Award.

December 17-23, 2014

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On the street arts & entertainment

Explorer’s Club looks at world’s winter holidays

Gregg Clark will host “The Ghosts of Christmas Past Tour” in Franklin Dec. 18-19.

‘Ghost of Christmas Past’ in Franklin

December 17-23, 2014

A special holiday presentation of the “The Ghosts of Christmas Past Tour” created by Gregg and Pauletta Clark will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at the Macon County Historical Museum in Franklin.

Guests can expect new stories, surprises, hot chocolate, cookies and some ghostly visits along the way from some of Franklin’s storied characters of the past.

Cost is $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 6-16.

The Explorer’s Club will meet at 6 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

The topic will be the various winter holidays celebrated around the world. Explorer’s Club is intended for all ages, with a special emphasis on cultural learning for children.

Families are encouraged to come and join in the fun. Each Explorer’s Club will feature special guests, snacks, and crafts that all are pertinent to the theme.

This event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. This program is free of charge and no sign-up is required.

828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

Sylva holiday cookie exchange, auction A Christmas cookie exchange and silent auction will take place from 2 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 20, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva.

During the event, Christmas stories for the young and the young at heart will be told in front of a warm fire in the Asbury Room.

Santa will also pay a special visit.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Cherokee Lights and Legends Christmas will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 3 at the Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds. Interactive displays of Cherokee legends, ice skating, carnival rides, and more. An Elvis impersonator will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 and 31. Tickets for the celebration are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under age 5. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

Celebrate Christmas at SMCPA

• A wine tasting will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. Dec. 20 at Papou’s Wine Shop and Bar in Sylva. Additional savings on the tasting wines will also be available.

828.586.6300.

The production “Once Upon A Christmas: A December Prayer” will be held at 7 p.m.

Dec. 19-20 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

The event is a musical celebration of song, dance and story which brings to life many of the traditions of the joyous holiday season.

Presented by Betsy’s School of Dance and the Overlook Theatre Company, tickets are $10.

SMCPA will also be showing a handful of holiday films. “Miracle on 34th Street” will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 21, “Elf ” at 7 p.m. Dec. 22 and “The Polar Express” at 7 p.m. Dec. 23. Tickets are $5 www.greatmountainmusic.com or 828.524.1598.

ALSO:

• Christmas in the Park will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, at the Rec Park in Cullowhee. Enjoy lit scenes and decorations in the park. Visit with Santa and bring your Christmas list. Fire pit will be available for roasting marshmallows. Hot chocolate, marshmallows and coffee will be for sale for $1.

828.293.3053 or www.rec.jacksonnc.org.

• An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Dec. 18 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva. Beer specials and live jazz by the Kittle/Collings Duo. www.innovation-brewing.com.

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Refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon. Those who wish to participate in the cookie exchange should bring five dozen cookies to trade with others. Each participant will take home five dozen assorted cookies to be enjoyed over the holidays.

A silent auction with handcrafted and heirloom items will also be featured.

Proceeds from the silent auction, as well as gifts received in the donation box, will be given to United Christian Ministries of Sylva.

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• “Arthur Christmasâ€? will be shown Dec. 2021 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville.

Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children, with free daytime showings. The classic holiday comedy “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation� will also be shown Dec. 19-24.

Saturday morning cartoons will also be shown at 11 a.m. For screening times, click on www.38main.com or 828.283.0079.

ALSO:

• A screening of the romantic comedy “Love Actuallyâ€? will be on Dec. 18 at Mad Batter Food & Film in Sylva. There will also be a showing of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtlesâ€? Dec. 27. Both screenings are free and begin at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m.

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Four exhibits from the Mountain Heritage Center that celebrate Western Carolina University’s 125th anniversary are now on display at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. The exhibits will remain on view through Jan. 24.

At the front entrance to the library, the Noble Nine face jugs are displayed, characterizing the original trustees of WCU’s precursor Cullowhee Academy. The Noble Nine supported the institution’s first president, Robert Lee Madison, in realizing his dream of creating a teacher training school for Western North Carolina.

Produced in collaboration with Anna Fariello of WCU’s Hunter Library Digital Initiatives, another exhibit of pottery traditions in Western North Carolina features examples ranging from archaeological fragments through early and mid-20th century potters such as Walter Stephen (Pisgah Forest Pottery) and Louise Bigmeat Maney (Bigmeat House of Pottery), as well as some of today’s ceramic artists from the region.

Drawn from several collections of the Mountain Heritage Center, a vintage toys and dolls exhibit represents the wide range of playthings owned and used by children in Western

North Carolina during the 20th century. “Qualla Arts & Crafts: Tradition and Innovation,� an exhibit developed by the Mountain Heritage Center with funding from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation, features the work of artistmembers of Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual Inc. Founded in 1946, this organization is the oldest Native American artists’ cooperative in the United States.

828.227.3192 or pameister@email.wcu.edu.

with a neighbor in need

December 17-23, 2014

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood instructor Brian Wurst and students recently finished a project for the U.S. Forest Service to build and install a reception desk for the visitor’s center at their headquarters on the National Mall in Washington D.C. At the request of the Forest Service, the design incorporates three features: beetle-killed pine from western forests, eastern hardwoods, and a plaque from the parcel of the service’s first lumber sale. While most of the materials were donated, the desk also features wood from the HCC Campus including red oak from the site of the Regional Center for the Advancement of Children, white oak from the site of the Creative Arts Building, and serviceberry from the old professional crafts building. “It is great that out of the many, many colleges that teach Professional Crafts Wood, our name came up and we were able to complete this project,� said Wurst. “Students got experience on a real-life commission including real world experience in dealing with a client. We were able to incorporate a number of techniques that are in the core of what we do.�

828.627.4673 or www.haywood.edu.

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Books

Smoky Mountain News

Country noir masterpiece gets its due — again ne of the things that I admire about the New York Review of Books is a special honor that they reserve for what they call the “lost masterpieces of American fiction.” In effect, they acknowledge that occasionally, a major literary work goes unacknowledged. Sometimes, a decade or more goes by and then a noted American critic or author asks, “How did you miss this one?” It seems to have flown in under the radar, undetected and then passed into oblivion.

Frequently, support grows from other noted authors and critics and NYRB issues a reprint and the public is asked to Writer honor a missed classic. That is what happened with John Williams several years ago. Suddenly his work was being belatedly celebrated. Alas, John is no longer alive to watch a massive new audience read and rhapsodize about his two novels, Butcher’s Crossing and Stoner. Better late than never, I guess.

Now, it has happened again ... twice to the same book. Back in 1939, a remarkably talented journalist named James Ross decided to write a classic “noir” tale of greed and betrayal. However, it would differ in that the setting would be a North Carolina roadhouse in a little town called Corinth (not far from Durham). The time would be the aftermath of the Depression when the South contained multitudes of disenfranchised and embittered farmers. In addition, Ross seems to have a penchant for names, names that said a great deal about character. Consider the following: Smut Milligan, Catfish Wall and Badeye Honeycutt (both work for Milligan “doing what needs to be done”).

The narrator of this novel is Jack

Gary Carden

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working for Smut in his new Riverbend Roadhouse which features moonshine, illegal card and dice games and occasional brawls. There are also the clandestine meetings that Smut has with Lola Fisher, who is married to an unstable older fellow who carries a gun.

There are plenty of subplots. Smut builds a few rustic cabins out in the woods that immediately become meeting places for high-stakes gambling. The local millworkers, school teachers and visitors to the Duke football games keep the cabins rented. However, the real heart of this gritty slice of life in the country noir is the crumbling partnership between Smut and Jack.

Jack knows too much. He knows where the money came from to build the Riverbend. In addition, he not only knows where “the bodies are buried,” he assisted Smut in committing the crimes.

Smut has made promises and tells Jack that he intends to “make it worth his while,” but as time passes Jack has good reason to think that Smut might do him in. The two old They Don’t Dance Much by James Ross. Mysterious Press. 302 partners slowly become bitter pages. enemies and before long, Jack launches his own plans to MacDonald, who speaks with the same lacon- either “inherit” the Riverbend or acquire the ic, deadpan delivery as the narrator of The ill-gotten gains in Smut’s safe, more than Postman Always Rings Twice (“They threw enough to vanish and start his own roadhouse me off the hay truck about noon”). Jack has someplace else. He just needs to figure out lost his farm to the bank after another season what to do with Smut’s silent partners down of failed crops (he still owes for his mother’s at the bank. And then there is that unstable funeral), so he sells his mule and accepts a job husband who has suspicions about his young

wife, and Jack begins to develop a devious plan that bring Smut’s clandestine affair to a violent end.

They Don’t Dance Much fairly reeks with atmosphere. Everybody smokes Camels, drinks Coco-Colas, shoots pool and they love the juke box (called a nickelodeon ... the kind where you can bring your own recording), like the marvelous character Yonce who brings the hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee,” which certainly seems inappropriate for a roadhouse but highly appropriate for some of Dexter’s friend who stand in the way of Smut’s plans.

Certainly, one of the grisly death scenes in noir fiction has to be the poor fellow who gets marinated in a fermenting vat and then cremated.

The fascinating thing about the history of They Don’t Dance Much is its early reviews. People like Flannery O’Conner, Raymond Chandler and George V. Higgins endorsed the novel as a remarkable example of American crime fiction. Matthew J. Bruccoli, the editor of The Lost American Fiction Series, noted that works such as They Don’t Dance Much deserve another audience because in the last 30 years they have become “valuable social documents” of a time when the Great Depression was winding down and World War II was gearing up.

However, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the remarkable thing about They Don’t Dance Much is this is the second time that it has been so honored. Despite the rousing endorsement given to the release of the version with the George V. Higgins endorsement (1968), the New York Review of Books has now issued another printing and an introduction by Daniel Woodrell (2014).

Woodrell, who is the current reigning master of “country noir,” does a masterful job of securing James Ross’ place in the evolution of Southern “noir” fiction. Perhaps, finally, a proper audience will discover this marvelous novel. I would love to see a movie of this one.

Children’s author releases new work Local children’s author Anna Browning recently released her new children’s book, A Special Family.

This book is about a little girl, Lacey, whose dad is about to be deployed for a year. Lacey learns what “deployment” means and finds a way to be brave during such a hard time. Anna wrote this book in hopes that it would help parents in the military introduce this subject to their children.

Anna’s first picture book, Tanner Turbeyfill and the Moon Rocks, was released in May 2013 and has sold over 600 copies in the Western North Carolina region alone.

Browning grew up in Haywood County and in 2012 completed her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she took many classes in children’s literature. In addition to being a children’s author, Anna works as an administrative support associate at Western Carolina University. www.anna-browning.com or anna@anna-browning.com.

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38

Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

Hike against hunger

Smith celebrates at the top of Mount Katahdin, the end point of the 2,179.1-mile trail. Donated photo

Whittier man hikes A.T. to celebrate 65th birthday, raise money for food pantry

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER iking the Appalachian Trail had been in the back of Andy Smith’s mind for a while, ever since a coworker at Cherokee Hospital, where he was chief of physical therapy, told Smith about his 1989 thru hike. As 2014 dawned, Smith was 15 years retired and approaching his 65th birthday. He got to thinking that maybe it was time to try a thru hike.

“I really didn’t have a solid reason,” Smith said. “It wasn’t like a long-term goal that I’ve always wanted to do it. It’s something that’s been of interest, so I decided to do it.”

He started reading up on the trail, taking in journals and histories from others’ hikes, and he came across an idea.

“I’d actually read a book called A Walk for Sunshine which was from a gentleman from Ohio who used his hike as a fundraiser for his brother’s group home. I thought, ‘OK, I can do the same thing.’”

H

A WORTHY CAUSE It didn’t take long for Smith to figure out who should be the beneficiary of his hike.

Smith and his wife LouAnn had been longtime supporters of The Community Table in Sylva, giving financially and showing up reliably at functions to support the soup kitchen and food pantry.

“Without The Community Table, people couldn’t have good nutrition and the foods that they need, and I think that’s important,” Smith said. “Some people have hard times for

no reason. They need the additional support that way.”

So, Smith worked out a pledging system, himself promising $1 per mile of the 2,180mile trail and asking for pledges of a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar or dollar per mile. So far, the hike has raised about $6,000 to fight hunger in Jackson County.

“He could have gone on this hike and he didn’t have to have any link to a cause,” said Amy Sims, executive director of The Community Table. “That just means so much that he chose to do that. He didn’t have to do that.”

BEGINNING THE JOURNEY But he did, and the decision launched Smith into a 177-day-long journey toward something almost completely new to him.

Despite having lived in Jackson County for more than 20 years, Smith had never been backpacking before he started training for the trail, and he’d never even really been hiking in the Smokies. A competitive racewalker who travels to competitions all over the world, he was in great physical condition. But the rigors of the trail and complexities of gear-related decisions were pretty much new.

So he took the distances kind of easy those first few weeks, but it wasn’t long before the trail took on a rhythm of its own.

“You’re doing the same thing every day for 160 to 170 days — it’s basically almost like a job,” Smith said. “You get up in the morning, you have your breakfast, you hike for 10 hours. You get there, you get your water, you get your dinner, you go to bed. And then the

next day you do the same thing.”

There was a lot of room for thought in those days, though. Often, Smith was hiking alone, and even when hiking with a partner there was a lot of silence on the trail, a lot of time living within the space of his own head.

A lot of those thoughts would center around scenery, where to spend the night, where to get water and, a drive repeating over and over, where and what to eat.

“They say that you’re burning about six to 7,000 calories a day, and there’s no way you can end up eating six or seven a day because you’re carrying your food,” Smith said. “So in town, you make up for it.”

handily polishing off four quarts of ice cream in one sitting. Over the course of his time on the trail, Smith, who wasn’t overweight to begin with, lost 32 pounds.

“I’d been starved that way,” Smith said, though adding that the calorie deficit didn’t really cause him discomfort.

UNDERSTANDING HUNGER The process helped him reflect on The Community Table and the reason he was hiking the trail. During his resupply stops, mostly at Dollar Trees and Dollar Generals along the way, Smith would stock up on dollar pasta

How to help The Community Table is always in need of volunteers and donations, and Smith is still taking pledges for his recently completed Appalachian Trail hike.

■ Donate online, whether as a hike pledge or a general donation, at www.communitytable.org, or mail checks to: The Community Table, P.O. Box 62, Dillsboro, N.C. 28725.

■ Find out about volunteer opportunities by contacting Amy at ctofjackson@gmail.com or 828.586.6782.

Though the whole trail is 2,179.1 miles, it wound up being more like a series of threeand four-day hikes, Smith said. Every few days there’s a place to go off-trail and spend the night in a hostel or head into town for showers, resupplying, laundry and mail. During those opportunities, hikers stuff their faces with every scrap of food they can get. Smith easily completed the half-gallon challenge at Pine Grove Furnace General Store in Pennsylvania’s Pine Grove Furnace State Park,

sides and tuna cans, as well as Snickers bars and Ramen noodles. He wound up spending about $8 a day on the processed food he was living off of.

“That was another side that I thought about at times,” Smith said. “How little money sometimes we can eat on, but on the other hand if you don’t even have that much money, you’re not going to be able to get the food.”

Smith’s diet did a 180 turn during the trail, changing to consist

“I try to think back when I hiked up all these hills and all these rocks, and I still can’t believe I actually did it,” he said.

RISING NEED

For the first time, gill lice have been found in brook trout in the Southern Appalachians.

The parasitic crustaceans are common in the northern states but had never been found this far south.

True to their name, the gill lice latch onto the gills and make it harder for trout to breathe and recover from stress. The lice can hamper growth and development and may in time reduce trout numbers.

Biologists from Land Trust for the Little Tennessee found the lice in high elevation streams in Macon County while conducting brook trout surveys on private land this fall.

Anglers who come in contact with the parasite should clean their gear and drain water from all equipment before entering another stream, as well as contacting the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission at 828.659.3324 with the information. The NCWRC is currently working to determine the extent of the spread.

The opening of the Swain County Visitor Center in downtown Bryson City this year represented the culmination of a $3.46 million investment from the Great Smoky Mountains Association on the North Carolina side of the Great Swain County Visitor Center.

Smoky Mountains National Donated photo Park.

“We’ve made it a point over the last decade to focus on enhancement projects in North Carolina,” said GSMA Executive Director Terry Maddox. “Each of our three N.C. park visitor center locations tell both the natural and cultural stories specific to these important areas of the national park.”

■ The Association contibuted $100,000 to the ecosystem. new Swain County Visitor Center in partnership ■ The 2011 opening of Oconalufteee Visitor with county leaders. A museum fills the historic Center represents an investment of $3.1 milcourthouse’s upper level, and a visitor center lion. The center features an interactive indoor operated by the Swain County Chamber of museum on the history of the area and an outCommerce is on the first floor, along with a door museum depicting what a historic mounstaffed Great Smoky Mountains Association tain homestead might look like. The area plays book store. The national park is planning an host to demonstrations, old-time music jams exhibit to tell the story of Smokies creation pro- and ranger programs. ponent Horace Kephart on the first floor.

SmokiesInformation.org or 888.898.9102, ■ The 2011 opening of Clingmans Dome ext. 325.

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Visitor Center represents an investment of $285,000. Located at the end of Clingmans Dome Road, 7 miles from Newfound Gap, Clingmans Dome Visitor Center sits at an elevation of 6,300 feet, half a mile from the observation tower atop Clingmans Dome, the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains and the third highest mountain in the East.

Exhibits in the center provide an overview of the area’s history and rare spruce-fir forest

December 17-23, 2014

The feat couldn’t have come at a better time for The Community Table. By November, the Table had already surpassed its 2013 numbers of meals and food boxes served. The 2014 stats, still incomplete, are 143 percent higher for meals and 498 percent higher for food boxes than in 2011.

“We keep hearing that the economy’s improving, but we’re not seeing it right now,” Sims said.

The Community Table serves elderly people on fixed incomes, people who are between jobs, and those whose lack of access to health care for chronic problems makes budgets tight. But it also serves a lot of working families who just aren’t making a living wage at their jobs. There are a good number of obese people who use The Community Table, too, people who fill up on cheap calories like those found in soda and candy bars. Those calories cause weight gain while still resulting in malnourishment.

Many people in Western North Carolina aren’t aware that these problems are so prevalent in their backyard, Smith begins his half-gallon ice cream challenge at Pine Grove Furnace State Sims said.

Park. Donated photo That’s why Smith’s hike some days came with highs in the 20s — has been so important to The Community the strain of being away from home and the Table. It’s not just the lump sum of the hike steep mountain terrain. pledges — it’s the community enthusiasm “Maine was probably the hardest state that those pledges bring with them. there was because the first 100 to 150 miles “We have to have those champions out was very steep, uphill, rocky terrain,” Smith there to help us tell our story and to make it said. “The White Mountains were also fairly known to people that we’re here, what we’re intense.” doing and why it’s important,” Sims said.

But make it he did, completing the trail “We’ve definitely seen positive results from on Sept. 24, just two days ahead of his 65th that [Smith’s hike], and we need those birthday. champions.”

Smokies Association finishes $3.4 million investment in N.C.

outdoors

mainly of easy-to-pack packaged foods.

When he drank soda, which was often, it wasn’t diet. When he ate Snickers bars, they weren’t fun-sized.

“I drank more soda in six months than I probably had in the last four or five years,” Smith said of his time on the trail, reflecting at a different point in the interview, “The biggest thing that I’ve always noticed is you can buy 2 liters of soda cheaper than you can a gallon of milk, and that’s wrong, I think.”

With his body constantly demanding fuel for the average of 12 miles he was hiking each day, food was always on the brain.

And along with that, his pledge to The Community Table.

“There were a couple of times I was going to quit, but I couldn’t disappoint. I had to go through the whole thing,” he said.

“If I did more miles, I would get more money and that would raise more funds.”

It helped to have that extra incentive to finish, because the trail is hard. There’s the weather to deal with — though Smith experienced minimal snow and rain on his hike,

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outdoors December 17-23, 2014

Congressional act could expand National Parks The National Parks System could see its largest expansion in decades after bipartisan legislation in Washington, D.C. was introduced proposing a significant national parks package.

If passed by Congress and signed into law, it would establish six new national parks, expand nine and extend 14 National Heritage Areas. The move would shake loose a five-year stalemate on public lands measures in Congress.

“If passed, this legislation will protect places taken right out of the pages of our history and science books,” said Clark Bunting, President of the National Parks Conservation Association. “From the sites associated with the Manhattan Project to the legacy of Harriet Tubman in New York and Maryland to the North Fork Watershed in Montana and Ice Age fossils in Nevada, these are stories that deserve to be told in the name of strengthening our country’s best idea.”

Many of the proposed new and expanded national park sites would further diversify the National Park System, including the fossilrich Tule Springs site, outside Las Vegas. Many will permanently protect places that played key roles in our nation’s history, including the historic Gettysburg train station where President Abraham Lincoln arrived to deliver his seminal Gettysburg Address. And many of these sites would provide visitors with a richer adventure, including the Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve where the watershed and marble caves will be protected.

A full list of proposed areas is online at www.npca.org/assets/pdf/national-parkspackage-of-the-national-defense-authorization-act-for-fiscal-year-2015.pdf.

Alum Cave Trail restoration to close trail in 2015 Just after putting the final touches on the Chimney Tops Trail this month, the Trails Forever program in Great Smoky Mountains National Park will begin restoration on the popular Alum Cave Trail in 2015.

The crew will focus on targeted locations throughout the 5-mile trail to improve visitor safety and stabilize eroding sections. The work will require temporary trail closures throughout the two-year process.

Offering a route to Arch Rock, Inspiration Point, Alum Cave Bluffs, Mt. Le Conte and LeConte Lodge, the trail is one of the most well-traveled in the park.

Rangers respond to numerous accidents each year, especially along the upper, narrow corridors. The work will improve safety and protect natural resources through repairs to historic cable and handrail systems, reinforcing hanging trail sections, reducing erosion and improving drainage.

“Alum Cave Trail has so many unique natural and historic features,” said Trails Supervisor Tobias Miller. “Our crew is working alongside the park’s cultural and natural resource managers as we plan the restoration to insure that features are protected as we improve trail durability and safety.”

In 2015, the trail and parking areas will be closed 7 a.m. Mondays through 5:30 p.m. Thursdays, from May through November.

Trails Forever is a partnership program to provide skilled reconstruction of priority trails between Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Friends of the Smokies. The Friends have donated $500,000 to support the program, in part through the generosity of the Knoxville-based Aslan Foundation. www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/alum-cave-closure-faqs.htm

Alum Cave Bluffs. Bob Carr photo

Hike Chunky Gal A 7-mile hike along Chunky Gal Trail in the Standing Indian Area of Nantahala National Forest in Macon County will take in Deep Gap and go to Glade Gap on Saturday, Dec. 20.

The area’s name comes from a Cherokee legend about a chubby maid who fell in love a man from another tribe. The woman abandoned her family, who weren’t happy with the match, to traverse the mountains to be with the one she loved.

The group, led by Nantahala Hiking Club, will meet at 8 a.m. in Franklin and make the 23-mile drive to the trailhead. RSVP to Don O’Neal, 828.596.5723. No dogs.

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As the Mountains-to-Sea Trail nears completion, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources is looking to finish a master plan for the trail’s management by late 2015.

The plan will chart a path toward official designation of remaining portions by setting priorities for completing trail subsections. It will also unify regional planning efforts, identify potential new partners and funding strategies and establish guidelines for signs and publicity.

Planning Communities will prepare the plan for a contract price of $125,000, supported through the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund.

Public input will be a major component of the plan, so the Division of Parks and Recreation is looking for people to get involved.

“It’s important to have a guiding document that will focus our efforts for a project that has captured the public’s imagination since it was proposed in the 1970s,” said Mike Murphy, state parks director.

The 1,000-mile trail corridor will ultimately link Clingmans Dome in Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the coast. Nearly two thirds of the cross-state route — including nearly all of the distance from the Tennessee line to Stone Mountain State Park north of Boone — has been completed as a continuous, off-road trail experience.

To get involved, visit www.ncmountainstosea.org/get-involved-with-the-master-plan.

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Master plan in the works for Mountains-to-Sea Trail

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this Christmas the stuff of legends.

Open Wednesday – Saturday, Nov. 28 – Jan. 3, at 5 p.m.

(Closed Dec. 24 & 25.)

Happening for the first time, this special Christmas event is located at 545 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, NC. Stroll under the lights through fun, interactive displays that recount ancient Cherokee Christmas legends. Or come for the carnival rides, a 40-ft. Christmas tree, a visit with Santa Claus, and our synthetic ice rink. Tickets are just $5 for adults, $3 for children 6–12, and kids under five get in free. Grab your little elves and join us.

Smoky Mountain News

A $10,000 grant will go toward building up food banks in Western North Carolina in partnership with agribusiness.

The award, given to the Western North Carolina Food Policy Council, comes from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina.

“This funding gives us a real opportunity to begin addressing some of the needs we see on a daily basis through our policy work,” said Dr. Todd Collins, director of the Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University, which hosts the WNC Food Policy Council. “We’ve been operating the FPC on less than $1,000 per year since we began three years ago, so this kind of funding really multiplies our ability to make an impact.”

WNCFPC, founded in 2011, brings together agriculture and food security representatives in the seven western counties to address regional needs. The grant funding will leverage existing partnerships with regional community colleges, WCU, MANNA Food Bank, Cooperative Extension, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and many other partners to bring services into each county.

The grant will fund free or low-cost training for farms and food pantries, strategic, regional food systems planning and funding for students and travel for faculty and experts within the region in connection with the program. www.wncfpc.org.

December 17-23, 2014

Hunger initiative to build bridges with local agriculture

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outdoors

Permaculture school launches in Asheville A 12-week permaculture school in Asheville will launch in 2015, teaching students how to create landscapes that maintain the health and resilience of natural systems while also providing food, water, energy, shelter, income and spiritual fulfillment.

“There is no more waiting. We must act in accordance with what we know to be true,” said Janell Kapoor, co-founder of the

December 17-23, 2014

Permaculture School. “Understanding the language of nature and dedicating our lives to creating systems that will endure, restore and regenerate a living future for all is the invitation of our times.”

The Permaculture School is a collegelevel program taught by the region’s leading practitioners and longtime global experts in the topic. Students are eligible for college credit.

The program will accept 30 new students and 10 community members for its inaugural year, May 23 to Aug. 14, 2015. www.thepermacultureschool.org/ps or Sam Ruark, Program Director, 707.477.5211 or sam@thepermacultureschool.org.

Internships for Smokies fans Five summer internship positions are available for undergraduates looking to get involved with Discover Life in America’s mission to learn as much as possible about the species inhabiting Great Smoky Mountains National Park through the Mary Raoul Fitzpatrick Photography and Natural Science Internship.

■ The biology intern will help scientists with fieldwork and help maintain the taxonomic database.

■ The photography intern will take lots of pictures park flora and fauna, document events and organize image galleries.

■ The education intern will help with DLIA educational activities while also participating in activities to enhance his own species knowledge.

■ The public relations and media intern

will raise awareness and generate goodwill toward DLIA. ■ The videography intern will support DLIA activities where recording is needed.

The intern will also set up and maintain DLIA video storage, and perform other non-video duties as assigned. www.dlia.org/internships.

Kids center shows young skiers the slopes A new kids activity center at Cataloochee Ski Area will help young visitors improve their ski and snowboarding skills while also engaging in indoor educational activities.

The HEAD Kids Adventure Center, located on the bottom level of the Cat’s Lair Group Lodge, is a collaboration of Cataloochee and HEAD Sports. The professionally trained staff specializes in teaching kids ages 4-12 the ins and outs of skiing and snowboarding with safety always at the forefront. A helmet is included with program.

The center is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. $125 for a full day and $95 for a half day, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Prices include lift, rental, lunch for all-day participants and snack break for half-day participants.

828.926.0285.

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Comment call for red wolf rules outdoors

A series of three public hearings in Environmental Law Center on behalf of the January will take public input on the future Red Wolf Coalition, Defenders of Wildlife of protection for the reintroduced red wolf and the Animal Welfare Institute, ended in and continuation of coyote hunting in the an out-of-court agreement that daytime coyfive-county area in northeastern North ote hunting will be allowed on private lands Carolina where the wolf was reinRed wolves. troduced.

USFWS photo The hearings will all be held in eastern North Carolina, but written comments can be made by Jan. 14 online at www.ncwildlife.org/proposedregulations.aspx.

The comment period comes following the conclusion of a lawsuit waged by multiple environmental groups against the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The groups claimed that wreckless coyote hunting laws were jeopardizing endangered red wolves in eastern N.C. — the only wild population of red wolves on the planet.

Laws had allowed liberal coyote hunting in red wolf territory, including at night, exacerbating the risk that the wolves, which look similar to coyotes, would be shot mistakenly. Such accidental deaths had only. Further, hunters wanting to shoot coybeen documented. However, the Wildlife otes must obtain a special permit and Commission said that the exploding coyote report their kill afterward. In the rest of the population was a nuisence that required all state, coyote hunters may hunt any time of available tools to combat. the day with artificial lights, and no special The lawsuit, brought by the Southern permit or reporting of kills will be required.

A Multi-Lesson Beginner’s Package including FREE Elan Skis

299

$

December 17-23, 2014

Cataloochee Ski Area partners with Elan Skis this season to offer a new multi-day beginner’s package, “Slide in 5.” The “Slide in 5” package includes lift tickets, ski rentals and lessons for any five day, twilight or night ski sessions during the season, and participants who complete all five lessons will receive a FREE set of Elan skis branded with the Cataloochee logo. Lessons last 1 3/4 hours each day of the package. You must be twelve years of age or older to participate in the program.

ONLINE ONLY

Smoky Mountain News

In order to insure the best possible lesson experience and instructor availability, this package not recommended for use during holiday periods from 12/26/2014-1/2/2015 or 1/18-1/19/2015, or 2/14-2/15/2015.

1080 SKI LODGE ROAD • MAGGIE VALLEY

828.926.0285 AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY AT

www.cataloochee.com 43

44

WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS • “Understanding our Past, Shaping our Future” exhibit will be at the Chief Joyce Dugan Cultural Arts Center at Cherokee Central Schools through Dec. 17. 554.5124.

• A Ladies Night Out will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Humanite Boutique in Sylva. Complimentary and personalized styling, mini manicures, drinks and appetizers. 631.1599.

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • “Is it True? Information on the Internet” – a class that helps discern online fact from fiction, will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Macon County Public Library. Registration required. 524.3600 or cwilder@fontanalib.org.

• Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina will hold a free job search workshop from 3-5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Haywood County Public Library.

Free. Registration required: 648.2924 or at library’s front desk.

• Free GED classes offered by Southwestern Community College, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, SCC Swain Center, Room 101. 366.2000.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • A Christmas Eve-Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 23 at Vine of the Mountains in Waynesville. Child care for ages 3 under. www.thevine.cc or 452.2771 • Christmas Eve services will be held at 5:30 p.m. (contemporary), 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. (traditional) on Dec. 24 at First United Methodist Church of Sylva. 586.2358.

• A candlelit service featuring worship, singing, praising and remembrance will be held at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve at First Christian Church of Franklin. Hot chocolate and coffee afterward. 524.6840, www.fccfranklin.org or www.facebook.com/firstchristian.

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 will be shared between Highlands Emergency Council and the local food bank.

HEALTH MATTERS • A health-centered lunch and learn will be held on the third Thursday of every other month starting with a noon event called Getting Fit on Dec. 18 at Swain Medical Park. Free light lunch will be served. Presented

by Swain County Hospital and Swain County Health Department. 586.7734 or info@westcare.org.

• A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 18 at WNC Community Credit Union in Waynesville.

• An Adult Wellness Clinic will be held from 9 a.m.noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, by the Jackson County Department of Public Health at its clinic site in Cashiers. Includes blood work, EKG, blood pressure, height, weight and personal wellness profile. $40.

Must schedule in advance. 586.8994.

• The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Lowe’s in Sylva.

• The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 9 a.m.1:30 p.m. on Dec. 22 at Lowe’s in Franklin.

• The Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1-5:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 at Evergreen Packaging in Canton.

• A Red Cross Blood Drive will be held from 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at First United Methodist Church in Franklin.

FUNDRAISERS AND BENEFITS • A fundraising event for Hawthorn Heights, a teen emergency shelter in Bryson City, will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at Southern Charm Traditional Wear in Cherokee. Live music from the Buchanan Boys and discounts on merchandise will accompany an effort to raise donations of new items such as adult-size winter coats, shoes, outerwear, gas and fast food gift cards, toilet paper and cleaning supplies.

• The 17th annual Turkey Drive by the Maggie Valley Area Lodging Association. Donations benefit Haywood County’s disadvantaged residents. Every $25 will deliver a full meal to a family. www.visitmaggie.com.

• P.A.W.S. Adoption Days first Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the front lawn at Charleston Station, Bryson City.

• Salvation Army taking food and new toy donations.

Drop off donations at Salvation Army at 290 Pigeon Street, Waynesville, NC 28786. For more information, call 828-456-7111.

• Ring the Bell for Salvation Army. Contact Sammy at 456-7111, ext. 2 on where you can ring the bell.

• The City Lights Bookstore’s Holiday Giving Tree is underway. Pick an ornament from the tree and find a book for the age, gender and language listed. All Giving Tree purchases get a 20-percent discount. 586.9499.

• Help the hungry in Highlands by purchasing a $20 gift card at Bryson’s Food Store or a dinner meal certificate ($19.95) at Mountain Fresh Grocery. All donations

RECREATION AND FITNESS • The Smart Start basketball program “Biddy Ball” will be held for ages 3-6 starting Jan. 17 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. $40 registration fee. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Jan. 3. Parent or another adult must be able to attend seven on-hour sessions.

456.2030 or dhummel@waynesvillenc.gov.

POLITICAL CORNER • Haywood County NAACP will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Pigeon Community Multicultural Development Center, 450 Pigeon Street, Waynesville.

Potluck lunch followed by short business meeting. All people of good will are welcome.

KIDS & FAMILIES • Teens and tweens ornament-making activity, Dec. 17, 4-5 p.m. at Canton Library. Sign up is required. Call 648.2924 or email kpunch@haywoodnc.net to sign up.

• The fourth Explorer’s Club will be at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 in the Storytime Room of the Jackson County Public Library. Topic will be the various Winter Holidays celebrated around the world. Special guests, snacks, and crafts that all are pertinent to the theme. Free. No sign-up required. 586.2016.

• Board and card games for kids will take place from 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Macon County Public

Library. Bring a game to share or join someone else’s.

524.3600.

• Mini-camps will be held for children ages 5-12 on Dec. 22-23 and Dec. 29-30 at Waynesville Recreation Center. Each camp costs $15 for members ($20/nonmembers). Registration deadline is Dec. 15. tpetrea@waynesvillenc.org or 456.2030.

• A “Frozen” New Year’s Eve Party will be held from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Macon County Library.

Books, games, music and snack. A special dropping of a star at noon. 524.3600.

• Youth Golf Lessons will be offered for grades 6-8 at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29-31 at Smoky Mountain Country Club. $150 per golfer.

ONGOING KIDS ACTIVITIES

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Games for kids, 4th Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. Play a variety of games including AWE After School Edge Computers, board games and other fun activities. 586.2016.

• Projects and activities after school Fridays, 3:30 p.m. for school age kids at Jackson County Public Library.

Get your hands dirty with science experiments, discovering animals and making easy recipes. 586.2016.

• Adventure Club - Tuesdays 3:30 pm - 4:15 pm Grade K-2. Join us for books and hands on activities in the Macon County Public Library program room, located in the children’s area. 524.3600.

• Saturday morning cartoons play for free at 11 a.m. at the Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. 283.0079 or www.38main.com.

• Book Club - Wednesdays 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm. Books and hands-on activities for grades 3-6. Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.

• A Lego Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 3:30-5 p.m. at Waynesville Library.

452.5169.

• Culture Club - First Wednesday of the month, 1 to 2 p.m. Guest speakers, books, photos, crafts and food from different countries and cultures. Macon County Public Library. 524.3600.

• A Lego Club meets the second 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 second Tuesday of the month at 4 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library. 586-2016.

• A Lego Club meet the second Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.

• Teen time Thursdays, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., Waynesville Library. A program for teens and tweens held each week. Each week is different, snacks provided. 356.2511 • Homework Help, 3-5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays for students in grades two through six, Canton Branch Library. Former schoolteacher-turned-Youth Services Librarian Katy Punch offers homework help on a firstcome, first-serve basis. 648.2924.

• Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders holds public viewing session from 2 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of the month, 130 Frazier St., in the Industrial Park near Bearwaters Brewery, Waynesville. The group runs Lioneltype 3rail O gauge trains. smokymountainmodelrailroaders.wordpress.com.

• Free Saturday morning cartoons shown at the Strand theater in downtown Waynesville from 1 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cereal, milk, o.j. and continental breakfast (plus coffee, LOTS of coffee) at the concession stand. PJs welcome.

•Teen Advisory Group (TAG) - First Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. For ages 13-18. Teens can enjoy snacks while discussing popular young adult books, help plan events and displays for children and teens at the library, and participate in community service projects. Canton Library, 648.2924.

• The American Girls Club meets at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. The club meets one Saturday a month, call for details. Club is based on a book series about historical women. Club members read and do activities. Free. 586.9499.

• Teen Time, 1st, 3rd, and 4th Tuesdays, 4 p.m., ages 12 and up. Spend time with other teens talking about and sharing with each other. Jackson County Public Library. 586.2016.

• Explorer’s Club for kids will be held on the third of each month at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Intended for all ages, with a special emphasis on cultural learning for children. Each Explorer’s Club will feature special guests, snacks and crafts that all are pertinent to the theme for that month.

586.2016.

• Crafty Kids — Second Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m. Children from Pre-K to fifth grade will meet after school and hear stories, share about what they are reading, play games and get creative with a craft.

Canton Library, 648.2924

KID’S MOVIE • Popular children’s movie featuring Kermit the Frog will be shown at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.

• Popular animated children’s movie set in frigid era will be shown at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 22, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.

• Classic children’s Christmas Eve movie featuring bearded man in red suit will be shown at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.

• Animated children’s movie featuring characters made of popular building blocks will be shown at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.

• Popular children’s movie about a young princess with power to freeze things will be shown at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Macon County Public Library. Call 524.3600 or sign up for newsletter by writing maconkids@fontanalib.org to get movie titles.

• Free family movies are shown at 3:30 p.m. each Tuesday at Marianna Black Library in Bryson City. Disney, Hallmark and other family-oriented movies.

Popcorn is provided by Friends of the Library. Each attendee receives one free movie check-out. 488.3030.

• Family movie time Thursdays, 3:45 p.m at Albert Carlton, Cashiers Community Library. Free with popcorn.

Call for title 743.0215

KIDS STORY TIMES HAYWOOD • Paws 4 Reading, a family story time, will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Macon County Public Library. Children can read to therapy dog Murray

McFurry (grades K-6). 524.3600.

• Family Story Time, 11 a.m. Wednesdays at the Waynesville Public Library. Stories, songs, crafts.

452.5169.

• Movers and Shakers story time is at 11 a.m. every Thursday at the Waynesville Library. For all ages.

Movement, books, songs and more. 452.5169.

• Family storytime with crafts, second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Waynesville library. 4525169 • Family Story Time, Tuesdays at 10:30 for children ages 1-5, themed stories, music, and a craft. Canton Library, 648.2924.

• Mother Goose Story Time, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for babies ages 5 months to 24 months with rhymes, songs, stories, and free play. Canton Library, 648.2924.

• Rompin’ Stompin’ Story Time, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. for children ages 1-5 — children get to sing, dance, and get out all their energy during this movement-filled story time. Canton Library, 648.2924.

JACKSON • Kid’s story time Saturdays, 11 a.m., all ages at City Lights in Sylva 586.9449.

• Rotary Reader Kid’s Story time, Mondays 11 a.m. at Jackson County Public Library. A rotary club volunteer reads stories with children. 586.2016.

• Kids story time, Tuesdays and Fridays 11 a.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. at Jackson County Public Library.

Story time includes books, puppets, finger plays, songs and crafts. 586.2016.

• Pre-school story time, 2nd Wednesday, 11 a.m. at Cashiers Community Library. 743.0215.

• Preschool Story time, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m., Marianna Black Library. After a book or two is read, the children participate in games, songs, finger plays, puppet play and make a craft to take home.

488.3030.

MACON • Sing and Sing Story Time, 2nd and 4th Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome.

• Toddlers Rock, 1st and 3rd Mondays, 10 a.m., Macon Public Library. Music, movement and instruments (Designed for children 0-24 months, but all ages are welcome).

• Family Story Time for ages 0 to 5 years is held from 10 a.m. on Tuesday and Thursdays at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin. 524.3600.

• Cherokee Lights & Legends, an opportunity to stroll under the lights at Cherokee Indian Fair Grounds, will be held Wednesdays through Saturdays until Jan. 3. 59 p.m. on Wednesday through Thursday; 5-10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday; and 5 p.m.-12:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. $5 adults; free for kids under 5. Skates for synthetic rink: $3/30-minute session. www.visitcherokeenc.com.

• “Christmas in the Park” is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Jackson County Recreation Park in Cullowhee. Light scenes, decorations and a chance to visit Santa. Fire pit available; hot chocolate, marshmallows and coffee for sale, $1 each.

• Holiday Homecoming, an old-fashioned Christmas celebration with traditional music, holiday crafts, cider and cookies, will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

• A Christmas cookie exchange and silent auction will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at First United Methodist Church in Sylva. Christmas stories, visit from Santa, refreshments and silent auction benefitting United Christian Ministries in Sylva. 586.2358.

• “John Parris’ Christmas” presented by the Webster Historical Society will feature Curtis and Janice Monteith Blanton reading the Christmas stories of Parris at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Webster Methodist Church. . A second original Christmas story written by Curtis Blanton for the event will also be read.

• A Yule service will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 21 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Franklin.

736.3674.

• “Christmas On the Green,” thousands of lights and trees, is on display every night from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day in Cashiers.

• The Polar Express-themed train by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City runs though January. Event features hot cocoa, Santa Claus and caroling. www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.

• A New Year’s Eve Reception and Gala on an excursion train will be offered on Wednesday, Dec. 31, by the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City.

Info at www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.

• New Year’s Eve fireworks will light up the skies over Cherokee starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Acquoni Expo Center.

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

A&E FESTIVALS AND SPECIAL EVENTS • A drum circle and “raw-mazing” dinner will be held starting with a gathering at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Franklin. Potluck starts at 6 p.m.; drumming begins at 6:30 p.m.

• Carolina Brass, a group of North Carolina-based musicians, educators and recording artists, will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, in the sanctuary of the Waynesville First United Methodist Church. Free, but a free will offering will be collected to support church’s community outreach in the arts.

Smoky Mountain News

• Bilingual Story time – 6 to 6:30 p.m., 2nd and 4th Wednesday. Program reads a children’s book in English and Spanish at the Macon County Public Library. 526.3600.

• A Christmas concert will be held from 6-7 p.m. each Saturday in December at the corner of Main and Everett Streets in Bryson City.

December 17-23, 2014

SWAIN

• A New Year’s Eve Celebration will begin with a buffet at 5 p.m. on Dec. 31 at Fontana Village Resort in Fontana Dam. $25.95 includes dinner, live music featuring Aaron Tracy Band and champagne toast for adults. $11.95 children. www.fontanavillage.com or 498.2211.

wnc calendar

• Mother Goose Time, a story time for babies and toddlers (five months to two years) and their parents/caregivers, is held at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays at the Waynesville Library. 452.5169

• High Mountain Squares will host a Christmas Dance from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Macon County Community Building in Franklin. 371.4946, 342.1560, 332.0001 or www.highmountainsquares.com.

• Michael Reno Harrell and Sheila Kay Adams, perform “Blue Ridge Christmas” at 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 18 at the Strand in Waynesville. $18 in advance; $20 on show day. 38main.com or 283.0079.

• The Western Carolina Civic Orchestra will hold its fourth-annual Community Christmas Concert on

45

wnc calendar

Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Jackson County Public Library. Event is sponsored by the library and Jackson County Arts Council. Open house at 5 p.m.; music starts at 6:30 p.m. when Brassoon plays from the balcony. Civic Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Bradley Martin and accompanied by Dr. Andrew Adams, starts at 7 p.m. Orchestra is sponsored in part by a Grassroots Grant from the Jackson County Arts Council. 586.2016.

• Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) performs songs made famous by the Beatles, Elton John and James Taylor at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. 452.6000.

• Grammy Award nominee and best-selling author Jeff Foxworthy will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Ticketmaster.com. mfisher@cherokee.harrahs.com.

NIGHTLIFE • An open jam session will be held from 6:30-9 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 18, at Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva. Free Bring instrument, creativity, musicality and a fun attitude. 631.4466. yourgnometownbrewery.com • Donna Frost plays at 9 p.m. on Dec. 18 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• A Ladies Night Out will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Humanite Boutique in Sylva.

Complimentary and personalized styling, mini manicures, drinks and appetizers. 631.1599.

• Natty Love Joys will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 20 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Porch 40 will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• A jazz night with the Kittle/Collings Duo will be at 8 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Innovation Brewing in Sylva.

• Mike Pilgrim (mandolin), Don Mercz (guitar) and Drew Kirkpatrick (guitar) will perform “gypsy jazz” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 26, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. Dinner reservations: 452.6000.

• Joshua Dead (singer/songwriter) will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Tipping Point Brewing in Waynesville.

• Josh Wager (singer/songwriter) will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 26 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.

• Darren & The Buttered Toast will perform at 9 p.m. on Dec. 19 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• The Robinsons will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 27 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.

• The Darren Nicholson Band (bluegrass/Americana) will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at BearWaters Brewing Company in Waynesville. www.bwbrewing.com or 828.246.0602.

• If Birds Could Fly (Americana) will play at 9 p.m. on Dec. 27 at No Name Sports Pub in Sylva. 586.2750 or www.nonamesportspub.com.

• Craig Summers & Lee Kram will perform at 6 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.

454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Hunter Grigg will play at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. 454.5664 or www.froglevelbrewing.com.

• Singer-songwriter James Hammel (guitar, vocals) will perform jazz, pop and original songs at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. Dinner reservations: 452.6000.

• Hunter Grigg will perform for Tipping Point Brewing’s fourth anniversary celebration from 1-4 p.m. on Dec. 20 in Waynesville.

• Joe Cruz (piano, vocals) performs songs made famous by the Beatles, Elton John and James Taylor at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Classic Wineseller in Waynesville. He’s opened for Chicago, Bonnie Raitt and others. Dinner reservations: 452.6000.

• A game day will occur from 2 to 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.

BOOKS & AUTHORS • A Haywood county non-fiction book club meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at various locations. 456.8428.

• Write a Novel this November at the Canton Library,

3:30-6 p.m. Every Monday in November, meeting room, Canton Branch Library. 648.2924.

CLASSES AND PROGRAMS • Western Style Square Dance Lessons will be offered from 7-8:30 p.m. Jan. 12-April 20 at the Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. $65 per person. No experience or partner required. Registration underway at Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee. 293.3053 • A basic knitting class will be offered from 10 a.m.noon each Tuesday at the Jackson County Senior Center. Free. Bring yarn and needles if you have them.

586.4944 or stop by the Jackson County Department on Aging and Senior Center in Sylva.

• Nifty Needles group, which meets at First United Methodist Church in Sylva, is seeking new members to help knit and crochet warm, useful items for those in need. Supplies (yarn and needles) and lessons provided.

FILM & SCREEN • The “The Hundred Foot Journey” (comedy/drama) will be screened Dec.17 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. $6 per person, $4 for children and $3 for the Saturday matinee. www.38main.com or 283.0079.

• “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” will be shown Dec. 19-24 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. www.38main.com or 283.0079.

• A new comedy directed by Wes Anderson about a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the Republic of Zubrowska will be shown Thursday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Run time: 1:40. Rated R. 524.3600.

• A classic 1949 comedy starring Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendell Corey will be shown at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Macon County Public Library.

Run time: 1:17. 524.3600.

• Oil, Watercolor, Acrylics and Drawing classes by Dominick DePaolo, 1-3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays, Frog Level’s Mahogany House Fine Art Gallery and Studios. 246.0818. www.DominickDepaolo.com.

• “Paycheck to Paycheck: The Life and Times of Katrina Gilbert” will be screened at 7 p.m. on Dec. 19 at Buffy Queen’s home in Dellwood. Seating limited.

RSVP and directions at 926.3508, 454.5949 or johnbuckleyx@gmail.com. Donations will benefit Circles of Hope program. Potluck at 6:30 p.m.; discussion follows documentary.

• Drawing Lessons for Adults, by Char Avrunin, 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays and painting lessons from 1 to 4 p.m.

Tuesdays. www.iamclasses.webs.com or contact Char at 456.9197, orcharspaintings@msn.com.

• “The Babadook” — official Sundance 2014 Selection Horror Thriller — will be shown at 9 p.m.

Dec. 26-27 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. www.38main.com or 283.0079.

• Watercolor classes with Dominick DePaolo from 10 a.m. to noon and oil painting classes from 1 to 3 p.m. on Mondays, at Uptown Gallery, Franklin.

349.4607.

• The Indie Comedic Drama “Before I Disappear” will be shown Dec. 26-Jan. 7 at The Strand at 38 Main in Waynesville. www.38main.com or 283.0079.

• Free movie for adults at noon on Dec. 27 at the Jackson County Library. Call 586.2016 for title of movie.

ART SHOWINGS AND GALLERIES • Art by library patron Jeannie Welch will be displayed in the Meeting Room of the Macon County Public Library during December and January.

• A photography show featuring the work of Robert Ludlow is on display from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 1:30-5 p.m. on Sunday through December at Canton Branch Library. smokychess@gmail.com.

• The Appalachian Pastel Society Juried National Exhibition will be held through Jan. 4 at The Bascom in Highlands. www.thebascom.org.

• Free movie for adults at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 29 at the Jackson County Library. Call 586.2016 for title of movie.

• The Mad Batter Food & Film now showing featured films, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Thursdays through Saturdays, downtown Sylva location. Special kids’ matinee at 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free. Movie listings and information, www.madbatterfoodandfilm.com.

586.3555.

MUSIC JAMS AND GROUPS • Old-time music jam from 1-3 p.m. the third

RESIDENTIAL HOUSECLEANING

Smoky Mountain News

271-76

December 17-23, 2014

• ‘Round the Fire will perform for Tipping Point Brewing’s fourth anniversary celebration from 7:3010:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 in Waynesville.

Serving Haywood County Call today for a free estimate—828-734-0671

46

BONDED & INSURED

some artists travel the world for inspiration others

don’t need to.

Fixed to this place like strings to a guitar, our music is as loyal as its fans. It stays near the people and the venues that helped bring it to life. Jazz, country, rock, folk, bluegrass, newgrass and more ~ all live here. They were born in artists who call this state home. And the same places that inspired greats like John Coltrane, Nina Simone, James Taylor and The Avett Brothers ~ may also inspire you.

wnc calendar

Whoo… Who’s Who’s Ready Reeady Health l th & Fun? for Hea ?

Free Health Carnival! Saturday, January 10, 2015 10:00 a 10:00 amm- 2:00 pm m At the th he Haywood Hayyw Ha wo wo ood od County C unt Cou nty ty Health Hea He l th & Human Huma Hum Hu man n Services Servic Se Ser vices ice ces Agency Age Ag gency cy 157 P Pa Paragon ara ragon Pa P Parkway, arkw kwa kway, way, Suit Suite ite te 800 in Clyd Cly Clyde lyd de

(Haywood (Ha (Hayw Hay aywoo woo wo ood County Count nty ty Hea Health He l th Depa Deparr tm De tment) tme ment nt) t)

Food, games, health screenings, health insurance information, and fun!

This event will feature information and assistance in signing up for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace Need more information or assistance in getting health insurance for you and your family? Haywood Regional Medical Center can help! Call our Health Insurance Exchange help line toll free at: 1-888-982-9144 today.

This T Th h his is ev event vent nt is sponsor sponsored reed re d by:

December 17-23, 2014

The Best Deal in the Mountains!

CLASSIFIED ADS 50 WORDS OR LESS ARE

PER WEEK Smoky Mountain News

(Pre-pay only)

FREE: Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads FREE: Non-business items that sell for less than $150 $35: Non-business items, 25 words or less, 3 months or until sold

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

Call Classifieds Manager Scott Collier — 828.452.4251 or email classads@smokymountainnews.com 68793

47

wnc calendar

Saturday of the month at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on U.S. 441 outside Cherokee. 452.1068.

• Cruso Circle Play & Jam, 7 p.m. every Tuesday, Cruso Community Center and Friendship Club in Cruso. www.facebook.com/crusocircleplayjam.

• Signature Brew Coffee Company holds Sylva Open Jam nights on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Shop provides the instruments, you provide the talent. Chris Coopers’ Fusion band hosts.

• An open jam session is held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. each Thursday at Heinzelmannchen Brewery in Sylva.

All skill levels and instruments welcome. 631.4466 or www.yourgnometownbrewery.com • Golden Aires singing group meets at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday at the Golden Age Senior Center in Sylva. Secular and religious music. Performances given at area nursing homes. Singers need not be seniors to join. goldenagecenter1@verizon.net.

• Karaoke is held at 7 p.m. every other Friday at the American Legion Post 47 in Waynesville. Open to all members and their guests. 456.8691.

• Karaoke is held from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. every Friday at the Tap Room at the Waynesville Inn. 800.627.6250.

• Men Macon Music, canella singing, meets at 5:30 p.m. every Monday in the Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church St., Franklin. Visitors welcome.

524.9692.

• Mountain Dulcimer Players Club meets from 2 to 4 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month at the Bryson City United Methodist Church. Knowledge of music not required, tablature method used.

488.6697.

• Pick and Play Dulcimer Group of Sylva meets at 1:30 p.m. on the first, third and fifth Saturday of every month in the fellowship hall of St. John’s Episcopal Church. 293.0074.

December 17-23, 2014

• Jackson County Arts Council meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Monday of each month at the Jackson County Library Complex conference room. 293.3407.

• The Franklin Early Music Group meets every Monday at 9 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church. 369.5192.

• The Nikwasi Dulcimer Players meet every Thursday afternoon from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Franklin. All are welcome.

524.1040 or 524.2294.

• A community music jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month at the Marianna Black Library in Downtown Bryson City.

Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer – anything unplugged – is invited to join.

Singers and listeners are also welcome.

Smoky Mountain News

• Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild meets every Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. Blue Ridge Books, Waynesville. 246.0789.

• The Tuesday Quilters meet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church on N.C. 107. Bring your machine and whatever quilt you are working on.

• The WNC Fiber Folk Group meets weekly from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays in the Star Atrium of the Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at WCU. 227.2553 or ddrury@wcu.edu.

• Thursday Painters meet at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring your project and a bag lunch and join us for a day of creativity and fun. All artists are welcome. 349.4607.

• Rug Hooking Group, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Jackson County Public Library. Beginners welcome.

48 631.2561.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate 7mile hike with an elevation change of 500 feet on Saturday, Dec. 20. 596.5723.

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy-tomoderate 1.5-mile hike in the Standing Indian area on Sunday, Dec. 21. 765.318.9981.

Outdoors PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS • A free “Yoga for Outdoor Fitness” class will be taught 6-7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at REI Asheville. For all levels. Wear comfortable clothing and bring yoga mat, water bottle and straps or blocks.

Registration required: www.rei.com/event/63166/session/104325. 687.0918.

• A Christmas Bird Count will be held by the Highlands Plateau Audubon Society at 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 18 at Hudson Library in Highlands.

770.486.3715.

• The Elisha Mitchell Audubon chapter based in Asheville will hold its bird count on Sunday, Dec. 21. mjwestph@unca.edu.

• The Tennessee Ornithological Society will hold a count centered over Cade’s Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Sunday, Dec. 28. Susan, hoyleshrike@gmail.com.

• The Franklin Bird Club will hold its bird count early on Saturday, Jan. 3. 524.4707.

• Beginning ski and snowboard lessons start Jan. 5 at Cataloochee Ski Area. $49 for a 1-3/4-hour lesson.

Offer valid on non-holiday Monday through Friday in January. Register online: www.learntoskiandsnowboard.org.

• A learn-to-ski series organized by Waynesville Parks and Recreation will be held 4-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays in January and February. Prices per trip for rec center members are $23 for lift ticket only; $35 for ticket and rentals; $7 for helmets and $10 for lessons.

Prices for non-members are $25, $38, $7 and $10, respectively. 828.456.2030 or tpetrea@waynesvillenc.gov • A learn-to-ski series, organized by the Jackson County Recreation Center, will be held over five weeks starting Jan. 11. Lessons are from 1:30-3 p.m. on Sundays. For ages 8 and up. $175 for lift, lesson and rental; $140 for lift and lesson; $90 for lesson alone (available only to season-pass holders with their own equipment). 293.3053.

ARTS GROUP MEETINGS • Blue Ridge Mountain Quilt Guild, 6 to 9 p.m. fourth Thursday, January through October, and third Thursday, November and December in Canton.

316.1517 or on Facebook at Blue Ridge Mtn. Quilt Guild.

Branch Falls on Saturday, Dec. 20. 743.1079.

FARM & GARDEN • A training class for Haywood County’s 2015 Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program will be held from 9 a.m.-noon on Tuesdays from January through April. 456.3575. $120. Must complete class and participate in 40 hours of volunteer efforts through extension center.

• The Historic Haywood Farmer’s Market will continue through December at a new indoor location at The Folkmoot Center in Hazelwood. Held from 9 a.m. to noon featuring meats, eggs, baked goods, and winter produce. Located at 112 Virginia Ave. 550.4774.

• The Jackson County Farmer’s Market has moved indoors for the winter. It is held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturdays at the Community Table, located in downtown Sylva off Central Street between the playground and pool. 399.0290 www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

HIKING CLUBS • The Nantahala Hiking Club will take an easy-tomoderate, up-and-down three-mile hike to Yellow

• The Nantahala Hiking Club will take a moderate-tostrenuous 7-mile hike with an elevation change of 1,300 feet on Saturday, Dec. 27, on the Bradley Fork/Smokemont Loop in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 456.8895.

• An 8.1-mile hike near Bracken Mtn. organized by Carolina Mountain Club, will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 28. Contact Stuart English for more information at 384.4870 or stuengo@comporium.net.

• Nantahala Hiking Club based in Macon County holds weekly Saturday hikes in the Nantahala National Forest and beyond. www.nantahalahikingclub.org • High Country Hikers, based out of Hendersonville but hiking throughout Western North Carolina, plans hikes every Monday and Thursday. Schedules, meeting places and more information are available on their website, www.highcountryhikers.org.

• Carolina Mountain Club hosts more than 150 hikes a year, including options for full days on weekends, full days on Wednesdays and half days on Sundays.

Non-members contact event leaders. www.carolinamountainclub.org • Mountain High Hikers, based in Young Harris, Ga., leads several hikes per week. Guests should contact hike leader. www.mountainhighhikers.org.

• Smoky Mountain Hiking Club, located in East Tennessee, makes weekly hikes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as surrounding areas. www.smhclub.org.

bers. We camp one weekend per month March through November. All ages are welcome. No dues, no structured activities. Just an enjoyment of the outdoors, fellowship, good conversation, potluck dinners and a roaring campfire. Contact Lillian for more details lilnau@aol.com or 369.6669.

• Mountain Wild, the local chapter of the N.C. Wildlife Federation works to preserve and increase wildlife and wildlife habitat of the region. Free programs and guest speakers held periodically at the WNC Nature Center in Asheville. Call 338.0035.

• Free Fly Fishing Classes are offered at River’s Edge Outfitters in Cherokee every week. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. Classes will be approximately an hour and half long. For more information contact Rivers Edge Outfitters at 497.9300.

• The Jackson-Swain Master Gardeners’ Association meets at 9:30 a.m. every second Wednesday at the Jackson Community Services Building on Scotts Creek Road in Sylva. Mike Glover at 736.2768 or lmgofish@gmail.com.

• Pigeon Valley Bassmasters Club will meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at J&S Cafeteria, Enka, Exit 44 off I-40. 712.2846.

• Macon County Horse Association meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the Macon County Fairgrounds Alumni Building. Education program and business meeting. ddoster@fs.fed.us.

• The Macon County Beekeepers Association meets at 7 p.m. the first Thursday of each month at the extension office located on Thomas Heights Road next to Jim Brown Chrysler on Highlands Road. New members welcome.

• Haywood Bee Keepers Association meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the NC Ag center on Raccoon Road. hcbees.org.

• Benton MacKaye Trail Association incorporates outings for hikes, trail maintenance and other work trips.

No experience is necessary to participate. www.bmta.org.

• Smoky Mountain Beekeepers meet at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month at the SCC Swain Center in Bryson City on Almond School Road. Open to anyone interested in honeybees. 554.6935.

• Diamond Brand’s Women’s Hiking Group meets on the third Saturday of every month. For more information, e-mail awilliams@diamondbrand.com or call 684.6262.

• The Franklin Walking Club meets at 10 a.m. every Saturday (weather permitting) at the Tassee picnic shelter on the Greenway at the corner of Wells Grove Road and Ulco Drive. All fitness levels are welcome, call Linda at 421.7613.

MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDES • Weekly mountain bike ride at Tsali, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesdays. Hosted by Nantahala Area SORBA. Social ride, so all skill levels are welcome and encouraged to come. Meet in the Tsali parking lot. www.facebook.com/nantahalaareasorba. Andy, 488.1988.

• Monthly “Girlz Ride” at Tsali, last Friday of every month. Sponsored by Nantahala Area SORBA. Meet at 6:30 p.m. in Tsali parking lot. All skill levels welcome.

Social and snacks provided after the ride. 506.115, www.facebook.com/nantahalaareasorba.

OUTDOOR CLUBS • Cold Mountain Photographic Society is a camera/photography club for amateurs and professionals who want to learn about and share their knowledge of photography with others. Must be 18 or older to join. Meetings are held at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month in the conference room of MedWest Health and Fitness Center, 262 Leroy George Drive in Clyde. More information at www.cmpsnc.org or info@cmpsnc.org.

• The Cherokee Runners meets each month on the 1st and 15th of the month (if the first falls on Sunday, the group meets on the 2nd), at the Age Link Conference Room. Group runs are being held each Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. starting at the Flame. www.cherokeerunners.com.

• Small RV Camping club is seeking additional mem-

• Haywood Alliance, a local chapter of the WNC Alliance, meets at various locations each month. Get involved with protecting Haywood County’s environment, scenery and farmland from development, and encouraging politicians to take steps. Contact jeswan@gmail.com.

• Swain County Trail Runners. Long run group meets 8 a.m. Saturdays at the Deep Creek Trailhead Parking Area in Bryson City. All runs are on trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Tsali Recreation Area. All distances, paces, ages welcome. More information at 399.0989, 488.6769 or wdtreern@yahoo.com.

• The Sylva Garden Club meets at 9:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the Presbyterian Church. hooperteresa@yahoo.com.

• WNC Sportsman’s Club meets at 6:30 p.m. the first Monday night of each month at the Juke Box Junction Restaurant located in Bethel at the junction of US 276 and N.C. 110 wncsportsmansclub.com

wnc calendar December 17-23, 2014

Log on. Plan a getaway. Let yourself unplug.

Smoky Mountain News

a website to take you to places where there are no websites.

49

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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FTCC Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following position: Director of Financial Aid. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: https://faytechcc.peopleadmin.com Human Resources Office. Phone: 910.678.8378. Internet: http://www.faytechcc.edu. CRC Preferred Employer. An Equal Opportunity Employer.

December 17-23, 2014

AVIATION MANUFACTURING CAREERs. Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance Now at 877.300.9494.

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EMPLOYMENT

WNC MarketPlace

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EMPLOYMENT

Residential and Commercial Long-Term Rentals

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WNC MarketPlace

FINANCIAL

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REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT

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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

REACH READERS Across North Carolina for only $375. Run your 25-word classified line ad in 99 newspapers with one call to this newspaper, or call NCPS at 919.516.8009.

AMERICA’S BEST BUY! 20 Acres - Only $99/mo! $0 Down.

No Credit Checks. MONEY BACK GUARANTEE & Owner Financing.

Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful Mountain Views! Free Color Brochure. 1.877.284.2072 www.TexasLandBuys.com SAPA

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS. Unable to work? Denied benefits? We Can Help! WIN or Pay Nothing! Contact Bill Gordon & Associates at 1.800.371.1734 to start your application today!

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT PUBLISHER’S NOTICE All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18 This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised on an equal opportunity basis.

BANNER ELK, NC 10 acre tract adjoining National Forest, huge panoramic views of Grandfather Mountain & access to 2 lakes & 9 parks! Taking a loss, $49,900. 877.717.5263, ext691.

HOMES FOR SALE

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT

BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

STORAGE SPACE FOR RENT BULLFROG STORAGE Convenient Location 19/23 Between Clyde and Canton

5 x 10 = $25 10 x 10 = $40 10 x 20 = $75 • NO CONTRACTS • Nobody Beats Our Rates

828.342.8700 CLIMATE CONTROLLED STORAGE UNITS FOR RENT 1 Month Free with 12 Month Rental. Maggie Valley, Hwy. 19, 1106 Soco Rd. For more information call Torry

828.734.6500, 828.734.6700

December 17-23, 2014

maggievalleyselfstorage.com

Great Selection. Great Prices. Great Service ... Great People

www.smokymountainnews.com

MEDICAL ACORN STAIRLIFTS. The AFFORDABLE solution to your stairs! **Limited time -$250 Off Your Stairlift Purchase!** Buy Direct & SAVE. Please call 1.800.291.2712 for FREE DVD and brochure.

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NICOL ARMS APARTMENTS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS Offering 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments, Starting at $400 OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 10:00am - 5:00pm & Thurs. 10:00am- 12:00pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

Phone# 1.828.586.3346 TDD# 1.800.725.2962 Equal Housing Opportunity

CHAMPION SUPPLY Janitorial supplies. Professional cleaning products, vacuums, janitorial paper products, swimming pool chemicals, environmentally friendly chemicals, indoor & outdoor light bulbs, odor elimination products, equipment repair including household vacuums. Free delivery across WNC. www.championsupply.com 800.222.0581, 828.225.1075.

GLASS FIREPLACE Enclosure, with screen and heater. $100. For more information call 828.497.9452.

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 800.807.7219 for $750 Off. ENJOY 100 PERCENT GUARANTEED, Delivered?to-the-door Omaha Steaks! SAVE 74 percent PLUS 4 FREE Burgers - The Family Value Combo - ONLY $39.99. ORDER Today 1.800.715.2010 Use code 48829AFK or www.OmahaSteaks.com/mbfvc46 SAPA

ENTERTAINMENT

Section 8 Accepted - Handicapped Accessible Units When Available

(828) 452-5111 Shop us online @ www.taylorfordonline.com

DIRECTV! Act Now- $19.99/mo. Free 3Months of HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME & CINEMAX. FREE GENIE HD/DVR Upgrade! 2014 NFL Sunday Ticket included with Select Packages. New Customers Only. IV Support Holdings LLC- An authorized DirecTV Dealer. Some exclusions apply Call for details 1.800.849.3514 DISH TV RETAILER- SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. Call, Compare Local Deals! 1.800.405.5081

271-30

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828 52

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.

FOR SALE

Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

Puzzles can be found on page 62.

These are only the answers.

ENTERTAINMENT

PERSONAL

MUSIC LESSONS

A UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, Let Us Help! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation And More. Giving The Gift Of Life? You Deserve The Best. Call Us First!

1.888.637.8200. 24 hour HOTLINE. SAPA

LEARN GUITAR & BANJO With Leigh Hilger. Many guitar styles. Clawhammer banjo. All skill levels welcome. Fun, relaxed teaching style for kids & adults.

Located near Waynesville Library.

828.456.4435

MAKE A CONNECTION. Real People, Flirty Chat. Meet singles right now! Call LiveLinks.

Try it FREE. Call now for more info 1.888.909.9978. 18+.

SAPA

Pet Adoption JULIE A 2 year-old, female Pit Bull.

She is spayed, up-to-date with shots. weighs about 45 lbs., and is housebroken. She had a accident which required removal of her left hind leg. She was abandoned by her owners who left her at the vet’s who did the surgery. She loves to play at her foster home with another dog there who looks just like her.

She handles her condition beautifully. Call Now 828.788.3056.

SADIE A friendly, 2 year old, Bull Terrier mix who loves other animals.

877.273.5262.

WHITNEY A brindle, feist/pug mix.

Friendly, 1-2 years, cute. Tan and white. 877.273.5262.

GINGER A FEMALE BOXER MIX ABOUT 3 YEARS OLD. SHE IS AN AFFECTIONATE GIRL WHO WANTS TO HAVE YOUR COMPLETE ATTENTION AND LOVE.

BANDIT An adolescent, neutered, black cat. He tries to answer the

telephone. He is litter box trained. 828.586.5647.

BARNUM A purebred, 3 year old, male, 28 lb. Beagle. He is sweet, good on a leash, working on house training, and usesa doggie door.

Barnum is very laid back, but will definitely let you know if someone is at the door. Call 828.586.5186.

HANDSOME, CHARLI Is a long-haired, male cat. He is black and white. Call Now 877.273.5262

ARF’S NEXT LOW-COST Dog and cat spay/neuter trip is Jan. 26. Register in advance at ARF’s adoption site in Sylva 1-3 on Saturdays. Spaces limited, so don’t wait to register. You should’nt bring your animal to registration. Do bring income documentation if you wish to apply for free or low-income discounts. For more information, call 877.273.5262.

Haywood County Real Estate Agents

WNC MarketPlace

SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, Open 10am- 5pm, Mon - Sat. Come & let us find your Scottish Connection!

828.584.7472 or visit us at: www.scottishtartans.org.

Beverly Hanks & Associates beverly-hanks.com • • • •

Michelle McElroy — beverly-hanks.com Marilynn Obrig — beverly-hanks.com Mike Stamey — beverly-hanks.com Ellen Sither — esither@beverly-hanks.com

ERA Sunburst Realty — sunburstrealty.com Haywood Properties — haywoodproperties.com • Steve Cox — info@haywoodproperties.com

Keller Williams Realty kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • Ron Kwiatkowski — ronk.kwrealty.com

Mountain Home Properties — mountaindream.com • Sammie Powell — smokiesproperty.com

SHELLY A PRETTY TABBY AND WHITE KITTEN, ABOUT 5 MONTHS OLD. SHE'S A LITTLE SHY BUT COMES OUT OF HER SHELL AS SHE GETS TO KNOW YOU.

KAIYA -

Your Local Big Green Egg Dealer

BEST PRICE EVERYDAY

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

269-47

Mike Stamey

mstamey@beverly-hanks.com

828-508-9607

SNICKERS Domestic Shorthair cat – brown tabby, I am about 7 years old, and I’m a “plump” girl who has recently been on a diet to lose

AMELIA Boxer Mix dog – tan & white, I am about 2 years old, and a great companion. I am loving and playful, although I do still like to jump up around people sometimes and might be too much for small children. I get along well with other dogs and have also been around cats, but sometimes like to chase them.

Adoption fees vary; Contact adoptions@ashevillehumane.org.

McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern — shamrock13.com

Emerson Group • George Escaravage — gke333@gmail.com

Prudential Lifestyle Realty — vistasofwestfield.com Realty World Heritage Realty realtyworldheritage.com • Carolyn Lauter realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7766 • Martha Sawyer realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7769 • Linda Wester realtyworldheritage.com/realestate/viewagent/7771

RE/MAX — Mountain Realty • • • • • • •

remax-waynesvillenc.com | remax-maggievalleync.com Brian K. Noland — brianknoland.com Mieko Thomson — ncsmokies.com The Morris Team — maggievalleyproperty.com The Real Team — the-real-team.com Ron Breese — ronbreese.com Dan Womack — womackdan@aol.com Catherine Proben — cp@catherineproben.com

smokymountainnews.com

271-13

10-5 M-SAT. 12-4 SUN.

Domestic Shorthair cat – black, I am about 2 years old, and was brought to AHS by my previous owners because I was not doing well in their busy household with other pets. Although I am still timid at first, I have done much better in a foster home with a quieter environment. I am friendly with people and get along fine with other cats, as long as they don't pester me. I love to be petted, but not picked up. I will be a great companion for someone who wants a friendly cat but doesn't need a "lap cat."

Adoption fees vary; if you’re interested in me, please contact adoptions@ashevillehumane.org.

some weight. I am very sweet and love to snuggle. I like to sleep on your bed at night and might even work my way under the covers! I love to be petted, and will often talk to you while you love on me.

Adoption fees vary; if you’re interested in me, adoptions@ashevillehumane.org.

Main Street Realty — mainstreetrealty.net

December 17-23, 2014

ARF (HUMANE SOCIETY OF JACKSON COUNTY) Holds rescued pet adoptions Saturdays from 1:00 - 3:00 (weather permitting) at 50 Railroad Avenue in Sylva. Animals are spayed/neutered and current on shots.

Most cats $60, most dogs $70.

Preview available pets at www.a-r-f.org, or call foster home.

The Seller’s Agency — listwithphil.com 74 NORTH MAIN ST. • WAYNESVILLE, NC

www.beverly-hanks.com

ASHEVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY 828.761.2001, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806 We’re located behind Deal Motorcars, off Brevard & Pond Rd.

• Phil Ferguson — philferguson@bellsouth.net 271-12

TO ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT ISSUE 828.452.4251 | ads@smokymountainnews.com 53

www.smokymountainnews.com

December 17-23, 2014

WNC MarketPlace

Super

54

CROSSWORD

75 Hymns, e.g.

76 Appliance plug-in 77 Terrier type, informalACROSS ly 1 Tanning lotion bottle 79 Hi- - (some stereos) abbr.

80 Classical guitarist and 4 Herringlike fish lutenist 8 More savory 84 B&B, e.g.

15 1998 Apple debut 85 Move quickly 19 Confucian “way” 20 Undiluted 86 104, to Ovid 21 Qualified to join a 87 “- -hoo!” payroll 88 Cro- - man 22 One-billionth: Prefix 90 Unit for Lendl 23 “Oklahoma!” lyricist 91 1980-81 secretary of 26 1982 Disney film state 27 Ranch in the film 96 Setting of the Taj “Giant” Mahal 28 Pear variety 97 Miatas and Millenias 29 Of a certain earth sci- 99 Ireland, to its natives ence 100 Bus. get-togethers 31 “Pretty in Pink” star 102 In combat 36 Silly 103 “Tootsie” director 37 “Wait just -” 110 Item-trading place 38 Thumbs-downs 114 Dip - in (try tenta40 Don’s code of silence tively) 41 Push-button bankers 115 Vital artery 44 19th-century chief 116 “What - God justice wrought!”

49 Snaky fish 117 “More Than Human” 50 Just so sci-fi novelist 52 Above, poetically 122 In a tie 53 Cigar residue 123 Ill-fated ship 54 From Jan. 1 until now 124 Philosopher David or 55 LAX landing newsman Brit 56 Explorer for whom a 125 Stockholm loc.

Colorado peak is named 126 Dried up 61 “... - a puddy tat!”

127 Doorways 62 Fall back 128 “Stupid - stupid 64 Irish coin does” 65 Really longs 129 Walk- - (tiny roles) 68 “Three Sisters” sister 69 Member of ‘N Sync DOWN 74 Hearty hot dog top1 Charge at ping 2 Old Toyota coupe FISHY FOLKS

3 - point (center) 4 Hoses down 5 “How’s that?”

6 Coffee bean variety 7 Evil one 8 “90210” network 9 With 93-Down, put on a clothesline 10 Imminent alumni: Abbr.

11 Bit of body art, briefly 12 “- your pardon” 13 Wiesel with a Nobel 14 Western city on I-80 15 Perform plainsong 16 She sang “A Tree in the Meadow” 17 Divinely chosen 18 Hide 24 “Finally!”

25 Chinese soup additive 30 Tart fruit 32 Views anew 33 Wilson of Heart 34 Hack (off) 35 Nov. follower 39 Military hats 40 -Kosh B’Gosh 41 1980s video game systems 42 Bullfighter 43 Press secretary under Bush and Reagan 45 Costello of comedy 46 Gibson of film 47 Jorge’s gold 48 Suffix for an enzyme 51 Northeast toll road convenience 54 Luxury craft 57 “The Fresh Prince of -Air” 58 “I - hand” 59 Brit’s bar

60 Gershwin or Glass 61 Washington port city 63 Actress Everhart 66 Novelist Glyn 67 “Raw” color 70 Contact lens brand 71 Dictator Lon 72 Dernier 73 NNW’s opposite 78 Revived 80 Singer Croce 81 Sch. in Manhattan 82 Red Sox, on scoreboards 83 Seoul soldier 85 Sweltering weather spell 86 IRA choices 89 Fake fireplace item 90 Huge hits 91 Aural pair 92 “- for Noose” 93 See 9-Down 94 Rx order 95 Moving force 98 “Frasier” role 101 Mean stares 104 Drug cops 105 Summer, to Michel 106 Dinosaur sidekick in Nintendo games 107 “You - Beautiful” 108 Home of baseball’s Indians, informally 109 Welles’ “Citizen” and others 111 URL start 112 Toledo locale 113 Korda of tennis 118 Grain staple 119 Cell material 120 “Black gold” 121 Hollywood’s Thurman

answers on page 52

PERSONAL YOUR 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 $330 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! Call Scott Collier at 828.452.4251 or for more information visit the N.C. Press Association's website at www.ncpress.com

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION CAN YOU DIG IT? Heavy Equipment Operator Training! 3 Week Program. Bulldozers, Backhoes, Excavators. Lifetime Job Placement Assistance with National Certifications. VA Benefits Eligible! 866.288.6896 THE NAVY IS HIRING Top-notch training, medical/dental, 30 days vacation/yr, $ for school. HS grads ages 17-34.

Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419 MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEED! Doctors & Hospitals need Medical Office Staff! No Experienced Needed! Online Training gets you job ready! HS Diploma/GED & Computer needed. Careertechnical.edu/nc.

1.888.512.7122

SCHOOLS/ INSTRUCTION COMPUTER CERTIFICATION CLASS! Get the skills needed to become a certified Help Desk Professional!

No Experience Needed! Call CTI for details at 1.888.734.6712 or visit AskCTI.com. Training Grant Available!

AVIATION MANUFACTURING Careers- Get started by training as FAA certified Aviation Technician.

Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance.

Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance. 877.300.9494.

EARN YOUR High School Diploma at home in a few short weeks. Work at your own pace. First Coast Academy. Nationally accredited. Call for free brochure. 1.800.658.1180, extension 82. www.fcahighschool.org SAPA MONEY FOR SCHOOLPotentially get full tuition & great career with U.S. Navy. Paid training, medical/dental, vacation. HS grads ages 17-34. Call Mon-Fri 800.662.7419

SERVICES MEDICAL GUARDIAN Top-rated medical alarm and 24/7 medical alert monitoring. For a limited time, get free equipment, no activation fees, no commitment, a 2nd waterproof alert button for free and more - only $29.95 per month. 800.983.4906.

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SERVICES *REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL* Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE! Programming starting at $19.99/MO. FREE HD/DVR upgrade for new callers. CALL NOW 1.800.795.1315 SAPA DIRECTV! Act Now- $19.99/mo. Free 3Months of HBO, Starz, Showtime & Cinemax. Free Genie HD/DVR Upgrade! 2014 NFL Sunday Ticket included with Select Packages. New Customers Only. IV Support Holdings LLC- An authorized DirecTV Dealer. Some exclusions apply Call now for more details 1.800.849.3514 DISH TV Starting at $19.99/month (for 12 months) SAVE! Regular Price $32.99. Call Today and Ask About FREE SAME DAY Installation! CALL Now! 1.855.866.9941.

DAVE’S CUSTOM HOMES OF WNC, INC 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 DISH TV RETAILER - SAVE! Starting $19.99/month (for 12 months.) FREE Premium Movie Channels. FREE Equipment, Installation & Activation. CALL, COMPARE LOCAL DEALS! 1.800.405.5081

WEEKLY SUDOKU Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.

Answers on Page 52

Mistletoe’s link to romance goes way back See that green plant about the tree I’ve set a spot for you and me To experience our first kiss Close your eyes and hope we don’t miss.

— By Holly Somer

T

George Ellison

he custom of decorating with mistletoe goes back to the ceremonials of the Druids. It is a reminder of the ancient custom of keeping green things indoors in winter as a refuge for the spirits of the wood exiled by the severities of cold.

The European mistletoe was a different species than the one that occurs in our part of the world. But the early settlers soon located the American look-aColumnist like and adopted it as one of their most important ceremonial evergreens.

There are several mistletoe species in North America. The one commonly associated with the Christmas season is Phoradendron serotinum, which is found from New Jersey to Florida and into the Midwest. The generic designation is descriptive of the mistletoe lifestyle: “phor” is derived from the Greek word for “thief,” while “dendron” means “tree.” This canny

BACK THEN

Mistletoe.

plant does in fact “steal” much of its sustenance from host trees.

Mistletoe has been viewed as a pest that kills trees and devalues natural habitats, but in recent years it has also been recognized as an ecological keystone species that has a pervasive — often positive — influence over its community.

The tactic mistletoes employ to establish themselves high in the boughs of deciduous trees is ingenious. The seeds are coated with a very sticky substance (viscin) that’s poisonous to humans, causing severe irritation of the digestive tract. Nevertheless, numerous birds — notably cedar waxwings and bluebirds — are inordinately fond of the translucent white berries.

A seed that has been eaten retains its adhesive qualities in the bird’s digestive tract and when excreted clings to any branch that it might hit. Seeds also stick to the beaks and claws of foraging birds. When they pause to groom themselves on tree limbs, the birds unwittingly distribute mistletoe seeds from treetop to treetop throughout the woodlands.

Germinating seeds then penetrate their hosts via short root-like structures called “haustoria” that allow mistletoe plants to siphon off water and minerals. Because mistletoe produces its own chlorophyll, it is

Elizabeth illustration

only partially parasitic.

The tradition of smooching under the mistletoe descends from several cultures. It was a tradition of Greek festivals and marital ceremonies. A kiss under the mistletoe

was interpreted as a promise to marry.

Curiously enough, 19th century anthropologist James Mooney noted that the ancient Cherokees observed that mistletoe “is found always with its roots fixed in the bark of some supporting tree or shrub from which it draws its sustenance.

Thereby, they called by the name (“uda’li”), which signifies “it is married.”

George Ellison wrote the biographical introductions for the reissues of two Appalachian classics: Horace Kephart’s Our Southern Highlanders and James Mooney’s History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at info@georgeellison.com.

Open until 2pm

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Exit 100 off US 74 - 82 Locust Drive | Waynesville, NC 828.452.7276 | Visit SMSH.co for our Full Inventory of Bikes Tues–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 10am–5pm , Closed Sun & Mon.

55

NEW LOCATION

Our mission is to provide high quality, personalized and compassionate obstetrical and gynecological care to women beginning in adolescence and continuing through menopause.

We strive to consistently exceed the expectations of all of our patients.

Dr. Janine Keever earned her Bachelor's degree at Western Carolina University in 1996. After earning her M.D. at East Carolina University and completing a residency at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, she returned to the mountains to open Smoky Mountain Obstetrics & Gynecology in 2006. Since then, her main focus has been to provide the best possible health care for the women of Western North Carolina. Keever is a skilled surgeon specializing in minimally invasive gynecological procedures, including the 'no scar' vaginal hysterectomy. She is also active in community affairs. Keever lives in Sylva with her husband and adventurous 6 year old son.

December 17-23, 2014

Dr. Sabine Kelischek is a board certified OB/GYN physician who has practiced in WNC since 1994. She received her B.S. from Davidson College and M.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there she also studied Health Policy and International Health at the School of Public Health. Her interest in health policy took her to Washington, D.C. where she served as Legislative Director for the American Medical Student Association.She completed her residency training at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and soon thereafter relocated to the mountains to enter private practice. Kelischek loves contra dancing and sings with the Asheville Choral Society. Other interests include gardening, quilting, and literature.

Leah Trombly, WHNP is a board certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner who joined the practice in August 2014. She received her B.S. from Mount Olive College in North Carolina, and MSN from Frontier in Hyden, Kentucky. Her clinical specialties include well woman/preventative care, childbirth education, breast health, and weight management. Leah was awarded Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships in 2005 and 2010 to study Spanish in Mexico and Nicaragua and offers bilingual services.

She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant as well as a certified Independent Beachbody Coach. She is an avid exerciser, and is happily married with five wonderful children.

Smoky Mountain News

Kathy Walsh, WHNP is our newest Board Certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She recently relocated to the mountains from Illinois, where she worked for 31 years in the field of collaborative and holistic care for women. She earned a B.S. from Western Illinois University and MSN from the University of Wisconsin. Her clinical interests range from OB care and birth control to menopause and integrative medicine. She is also a Certified Lactation Educator. She enjoys hiking in our beautiful mountains.

Among her many accomplishments, she is especially proud of raising four fabulous children and finishing the Chicago Marathon.

• • • • • • • • • •

56

Yearly Exams and Paps Contraception/ Birth Control Hormone Replacement Therapy Specialized Gynecologic Surgery Minimally Invasive Surgery Prenatal Care for both Low and High Risk Pregnancies In Office Ablations and Essure Procedures Vaginal hysterectomy specialist Childbirth Education Breastfeeding Support

Both physicians are Board certified by American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Both nurse practioners are Board Certified.

For informative articles, online appointments, online bill pay and more visit our website at

www.mysmoga.com

Same day appointments available for urgent concerns. To make an appointment, call

828.631.1960 70 The Village Overlook Sylva, NC 28779