Outdoors

The handcycle allows Bradley, whose legs are paralyzed, to power the bike

with her arms. Donated photos

Trail of Love

Despite paralysis, EBCI member will cycle Remember the Removal

BY HOLLY KAYS STAFF WRITER

Maranda Bradley knows exactly what her 2015 self would say if she knew what the 2020 version was up to now.

“‘You’re crazy. You’re in a wheelchair. You can’t even hold your bowels.’ That’s what I would say at this point,” said Bradley.

In the summer of 2015, Bradley, now 36, was in a devastating car accident. Her aunt was driving, she was in the passenger seat and her then-3-year-old daughter Kristin was in the back seat — on the driver’s side, thankfully. They got t-boned on the passenger side, and a spinal cord injury left Bradley’s legs paralyzed.

That medical history might make Bradley an unlikely candidate to complete the 950mile Remember the Removal bicycle route that her fellow Cherokee tribal members make each June to commemorate the tragic Trail of Tears. But in 2021, that’s exactly what Bradley plans to do, just in September rather than June. The weather will be cooler then, and September also happens to be National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month.

“I feel that God wants me to do this — as a Cherokee woman, as somebody in a wheelchair, as someone who was not supposed to live,” said Bradley. “I died twice. It’s just saying, ‘Hey, God can do anything through me.’ I want to change the face of what disability looks like.”

PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER

The idea came to her in April 2018 when she attended the Cherokee Choices Stress & Healing Arts Retreat. The Remember the Removal riders were there, talking about their experiences and urging attendees to think about going themselves. Their stories ignited Bradley’s imagination, but as a woman in a wheelchair, it seemed like an impossible dream.

“And then it came to me,” she said. “Hey, do it on a handcycle.”

At that point, Bradley had never tried a handcycle before. In fact, it had been more than two decades since she’d done much in the way of physical exercise at all. She’d loved playing basketball as a kid, but that stopped around the time she turned 12. It was a traumatic year for Bradley — she was diagnosed with scoliosis and she injured her knee, spurring years of physical therapy. But the deeper wound of that year was her dad’s decision to leave the family.

“It was a real rough time,” said Bradley. “A lot of my mental health declined because of that, and then I grew up just out there, doing whatever I wanted to do, not caring about nobody, not even myself. Now, being a mother, I want different for my own child.”

Bradley believes the bicycle trip to be a calling from God, and since receiving that calling in 2018, she’s watched the logistics fall into place. Meanwhile, she’s been working hard to get her body fit and healthy for the journey.

At the time of the accident, Bradley weighed about 330 pounds. Now, she’s down to 215, and counting. It’s a constant effort to stay true to her workout schedule and her diet, resisting the ever-present temptation to fill her stomach with empty calories. In terms of diet, the pandemic put her in a downward spiral — she kept doing her workouts, but had a hard time keeping her diet healthy.

“The biggest thing is putting my body in the mission against wanting to eat sweets, wanting to eat the bad stuff,” she said.

Throughout all this, though, unresolved questions remained surrounding how she’d find a bike and who would go with her on the journey. This year, those questions have received an onslaught of answers.

Bradley found the perfect bike at an adaptive sports store in Greenville — it’s high enough that she can transfer herself between bike and wheelchair, and it’s got a motor to help her up the hills — and this summer she received an Easterseals UCP Healthy Living Grant from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services that covered the entire $5,800 price tag. She called the grant a “God blessing.” Before receiving it, she had no idea how she’d ever afford such an expensive bike.

A friend of the family offered to cover the cost of a 14-passenger van that she’ll use as a support vehicle for the trip, and another friend will travel with her to watch out for her left side, as Bradley’s vision isn’t very good there. Still another will bike it with her. An out-of-state veteran she connected with who is also in a wheelchair will go with her as well, as will her daughter, now 9, who attends an online charter school. Her service dog Amilyah will come along, and her personal aid will drive the van.

Thanks to a wrong turn that Bradley believes was in fact meant to be, she ended up meeting a man who makes his living working with paracyclers all over the world. He adapted her bike to fit her particular needs and wants to offer mechanical support for the trip itself, though she must raise money to fund his services.

“That was supposed to have been a wrong turn, but it wasn’t,” she said. “It’s like things are manifesting along the way, things that don’t make sense.”

STEP BY STEP

That’s not to say there haven’t been setbacks. Bradley’s training took a hit this year when a pair of injuries kept her in a boot for the entire summer. On May 21, she fractured her leg in two places when nerve spasms caused it to fall off the footplate of her wheelchair and smack into the door. At the end of August, another spasm caused her to chip a bone in the other ankle. Now she has straps on the chair to keep that from happening again, but the injuries kept her in a boot from May through October. She didn’t get to ride much this summer.

“That put me really far back,” she said. “I couldn’t stand on my standing frame, and I was getting used to doing that at least two or three times a week. Now I’m doing it every day.”

The standing frame is important for Bradley to build strength and bone density — sitting all the time can make the bones weak and brittle.

The cold weather has also challenged Bradley’s progress. She can’t bike much during the winter, but when the weather’s nice, she gets out and rides, for now mostly just up and down her driveway repeatedly, an hour or more at a time.

It’s hard to say what September will bring. Nobody has ever done the Remember the Removal route on a handcycle before, and while Bradley is resolved to do as much of the 950-mile route as possible, planning for 50mile days, she knows she’ll have to skip at least some sections. Some will be too hilly, and others will be on roads too dangerous for her particular set-up.

But Bradley is going with the full endorsement of her tribe, which has provided her with maps to navigate her journey and a network of people and organ- F

Cataloochee offers program for women

A six-week winter sports program aimed at women who learn better with female instructors will be offered on Wednesdays from Jan. 13 through Feb. 17 at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley.

Women on Wednesdays will begin each week with a two-hour clinic starting at 10 a.m., with the opportunity to practice afterward through 4:30 p.m.

Cost is $110 for lessons only, with an option to pay an additional $60 for a lift ticket and $40 for equipment rental. Sign up at www.cataloochee.com or contact 828.926.0285 or info@cataloochee.com with questions.

Bradley shares a moment with her daughter Kristin and Lita, one of the family’s three dogs.

Maranda Bradley’s service dog Amilyah will join her for the ride next fall.

izations to help her along the way. She’s also received permission to use the tribal seal on the T-shirts she’s printing for her supporters.

Instead of the Trail of Tears, she’s calling it the “Trail of Love.”

“I want to do this as remembering our ancestors, but I also want to bring the love of God to it,” she said. “To show God is in the middle of your pandemic, your bad lifestyle choices, your whatever.” Her favorite verse is the oft-quoted Philippians 4:13 — “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” It’s been her mantra, and she plans to continue living by those words once she returns home. Bradley wants to be a voice for the voiceless, and particularly for Cherokee people with disabilities. There’s an acute need for more local adaptive services and facilities, she said — without them, people are living isolated lives devoid of the community and stimulation they need to thrive.

“Nobody thinks about what I have to go through,” said Bradley. “It’s hard, living from a wheelchair, not being able to walk, and having to have an aid to go with me and drive me places.”

Her new, healthier lifestyle has given her a whole new lease on life. She wants to see the tribe and the region expand infrastructure and opportunities for people with mobility challenges, and she wants to show people with those challenges that it’s still possible to hope.

“From my experience, your faith and what you believe in plays a big role in your body, what you put in your mind,” she said. “If you’re always thinking negative thoughts, that’s where your body will go. But if you think higher thoughts — ‘I will walk today. I will do great today’ — you will go far.”

The 2015 version of Bradley might think the 2020 version is nuts, but that’s OK. Bradley knows that the best version of herself lies ahead, not behind.

“I’ve come so far, but I don’t want to look back,” she said, “and I don’t want to go backward.”

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Log on. Plan a getaway. Let yourself unplug.

Registration is now open for 2021 summer and adult programs at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont.

Tremont hosts a range of outdoor programs designed for all ages to live and learn in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The 2021 program schedule features summer camps for kids and teens, family camp, professional development for teachers, photography workshops, hiking and backpacking weeks, naturalist programs, wilderness emergency medical courses and more. Programs typically last three to 10 days.

In 2020, Tremont cancelled many spring and summer programs due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, with new safety procedures in place, Tremont has been successfully hosting adult field programs this fall and plans to use these precautions and procedures for 2021 programs.

Check out the offerings at www.gsmit.org/program/calendar.

Teens explore the mountains during a summer adventure

camp. Tremont photo

Get the scoop on Island Park

Learn about efforts to restore Bryson City’s Island Park with an online presentation at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12.

Tony Ward, Western Region Program Coordinator for MountainTrue, will discuss his role in the project, which is a partnership between Bryson City, the Tuckasegee River Alliance and MountainTrue.

Ward will cover his plan to manage the nonnative invasive plant species that currently overrun the island through socially distanced, small group workdays. Descriptions of the plants they are looking to control as well as the short-term and long-term techniques the project is using to control nonnative species will be provided.

Sign up at www.mountaintrue.org/event.

Parking lot project concludes at Chimney Rock

A 10-month-long construction project to restore a retaining wall and expand a parking lot washed out during heavy rains in 2017 and 2018 is now complete at Chimney Rock State Park in Rutherford County.

Prior to the project’s conclusion, guests had to be shuttled up the mountain rather than parking there themselves. The $2.98 million project involved digging down 26 feet and removing 24,300 cubic yards of dirt, rock and debris from the foundation of the original retaining wall, as well as what was left of the old retaining wall.

Once the space was cleared, contractor GLF Construction Corporation laid 400 linear feet of 24-36-inch pipe and added seven new storm drains. More than 900 dump truck loads brought in nearly 18,000 tons of gravel to rebuild the parking area, and pavers laid 1,400 tons of asphalt. A new 670-foot retaining wall was built using 1,600 interlocking blocks with a cobblestone finish. The wall is 40 feet high at its highest point.

Tour the Southern Highlands Reserve

Tickets are now available for visitor days in 2021 at the Southern Highlands Reserve in Lake Toxaway.

This year, many tours sold out long before their dates, so buying in advance is the best bet. Private tours are also available for those seeking a personalized experience.

Find out more at www.southernhighlandsreserve.org.

Join the Christmas Bird Count

While some local counts were canceled this year due to COVID-19, many community scientists from across the hemisphere will participate in the 121st annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Through Jan. 5, bird lovers will participate in counts while observing COVID-19 guidelines. The 12 decades’ worth of data collected by participants continue to contribute to one of only two large existing pools of information notifying ornithologists and conservation biologists about what conservation action is required to protect birds and the places they need. When combined with other surveys such as the Breeding Bird Survey, the Audubon CBC provides a picture of how bird populations have changed in time and space over the past hundred years in North Carolina and across the continent.

Each individual count takes place in a 15-mile-wide circle and is led by a compiler responsible for safely organizing volunteers and submitting observations directly to Audubon. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day — not just the species, but also total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population. Masks and social distancing are mandatory.

To learn more or find a local circle, visit www.audubon.org/conservation/science/c hristmas-bird-count.

A new round of winners has been announced for the annual EcoForester Awards, honoring the people and organizations that are making a difference in forestry around the region. n Lee Hensley of the Asheville Watershed Management Team won the 2020 Root Cause Award for working to steward the 20,000-acre watershed that benefits the entire community. Clean and abundant water is a result of careful planning and wise forest stewardship. n Mark Megalos, a forestry professional with N.C. State Cooperative Extension, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his 34 years as a leader in North Carolina forestry. A professor in the N.C. State College of Natural Resources, Megalos’ skills in conservation planning and dedication to landowner education earned him this award. n Teresa and Bruce Pittillo received the 2020 EcoForester of the Year Award for demonstrating ecologically beneficial forestry on their land. Proactive forestry, forest stewardship planning and invasive species control efforts are all in use on their property.

EcoForesters is a nonprofit forest management group in Asheville whose mission is to conserve and restore Appalachian forests through education and stewardship. Each year, award winners are chosen who

Mark Megalos won the exemplify EcoForesters’

Lifetime Achievement mission and

Award in honor of his 34 approach to years in forestry. forest stewardDonated photo ship.

Environmental Justice grant available

A grant opportunity from the National Environmental Health Partnership Council is open through Jan. 8.

Three community-based organizations will be awarded grants of up to $10,000 apiece. The project aims to provide technical assistance to organizations that work to address environmental injustices.

Learn more at https://www.apha.org//media/files/pdf/topics/environment/partners/nehpc/nehpc_ejta_rfa.ashx

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Inland fishing and hunting license sales to continue to make memories and enjoy have skyrocketed in 2020, with a 23 percent the outdoors for years to come.” increase in licenses sold since stayat-home orders were lifted in May. Hunters and anglers should wear blaze orange when heading out to the

Christmas Eve woods. Missy McGaw/NCWRC photo and Christmas Day have traditionally been some of the year’s highest-traffic hunting days, so with more people likely to be in the woods this year, law enforcement officers at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are urging caution.

“There is a tendency to become complacent about safety when hunting and fishing with friends and family,” said Capt. Branden Jones of the agency’s Law Enforcement Division. “As you spend time bonding over Check out a full list of safety tips at these activities, don’t forget to keep safety www.ncwildlife.org/hunting/lawsas your number one priority. We want you safety/home-from-the-hunt.

Go to guide school

Nantahala Outdoor Center will offer its much-loved Guide School in 2021, and students can receive 25 percent off when they register by Jan. 1.

Lasting four to five days, these sessions offer top-notch training in the skills needed to pursue work as a professional raft guide for commercial outfitters, summer camps, clubs and outdoor schools. Participants will learn to read whitewater, use river signals, maneuver and rig rafts, tie knots, work with guests and perform other basic river operations.

Dates are Feb. 28 to March 6, March 7-13, March 14-20, March 19-21 and 26-28, March 2127, March 28 to April 3, April 4-10, April 9-11 and 16-18, April 11-17 and May 9-15.

Students must be 18 years or older. Course cost is $475. Register at www.noc.com/lessonstraining/paddling-school/raft-guide-school.

New bike trails coming to Wilson Creek

A project that will add 10 additional miles of mountain biking and hiking trails to the Wilson Creek Area in Caldwell and Avery counties has been approved by the Pisgah National Forest’s Grandfather Ranger District.

This five-year effort began in 2015 when the Grandfather Ranger District began a partnership with local mountain bike users and volunteers — and in particular the Northwest North Carolina Mountain Bike Alliance — to improve maintenance of the Wilson Creek Trails. Under this partnership, users saw restoration of some of their favorite area trails, including Woodruff Ridge and the “21 Jumps” section of the Wilson Ridge Trail.

Work began to formally assess needs for changes to the current trail systems, and greater connectivity for the area’s mountain biking trails was identified as a need — hence the recently approved project.

Work will begin this winter to construct new sections of trail on Yancey Ridge, Schoolhouse Ridge and Jackson Knob Trails. This work is funded through a Santa Cruz Bicycles PayDirt Grant awarded to the Northwest N.C. Mountain Bike Alliance and an N.C. Recreation and Trails Program Grant awarded to the Grandfather District. Additional work will take place on surrounding Forest Service roads through a partnership with Trout Unlimited.

COMMUNITY EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The Jackson County Public Library, The Department on Aging, and The Department of Social Services are collecting new blankets for people in need. New hats, scarves, and gloves can also be donated. Items can be dropped off at Jackson County Public Library's Atrium, the Jackson County Department of Aging's front desk and the front desk of The Department of Social Services. Items should be new and in their packaging. Blankets and other items will be available for those in need through January 15 at the three locations listed above. For more information, call the library at 828.586.2016. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of Fontana Regional Library (www.fontanalib.org). • On Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, the Jackson County NC chapter of the NAACP, along with Reconcile Sylva, Down Home NC, Change NC and Indivisible Common Ground WNC will be co-sponsoring a march and rally honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The rally will take place at Bridge Park, in Sylva, starting at 2 p.m. All are invited to attend, masked and following safe distancing. Hand signs only (no sticks) and for safety reasons, no dogs. For more information, contact Lianna Costantino at 828.331.8688.

KIDS & FAMILIES

• Cataloochee Ski Area will continue to offer its Afterschool Ski & Ride Program in 2021, using a sevenweek format that will begin the week of Jan. 5. Cost is $110 for lesson only, $130 for a lift ticket and $50 for equipment rental. Space is limited, and sign-ups end Jan. 2. Learn more or sign up at cataloochee.com/programs/afterschool-programs.

POLITICAL CORNER

• The January meeting for the Swain County Democratic Party Whittier-Cherokee precinct will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 via Zoom. The agenda will include discussing new officers and plans for 2021. For more info or to request a link, call 828.497.9498.

A&E • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Trailer Hippies Dec. 26 and David Flowers Jan. 16. All shows begin at 7 p.m. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com. • Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host The Waymores Jan. 22. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. For more information and a complete schedule of events, click on www.lazyhikerbrewing.com.

HOLIDAY EVENTS

• The annual “Polar Express” train ride is now departing from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot in downtown Bryson City. For a complete listing of departure dates and times, call 800.872.4681 or click on www.gsmr.com. • The “Community Christmas Eve Service of Candlelight and Worship” will be presented by Cowee Baptist Church at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin. Masks will be required and space is limited. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the service. This event is free and no tickets are necessary. www.greatmountainmusic.com. is a partnership between Bryson City, the Tuckaseegee n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted. River Alliance and MountainTrue. Sign up at mountaintrue.org/event. Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for: n To have your item listed email to • A six-week winter sports program aimed at women n Complete listings of local music scene • The annual “Handmade Holiday Sale,” which is normally held at Western Carolina University, will have its event go virtual this year. Those interested can view and purchase the handmade items by clicking on arts.wcu.edu/handmade. calendar@smokymountainnews.com who learn better with female instructors will be offered on Wednesdays from Jan. 13 through Feb. 17 at Cataloochee Ski Area in Maggie Valley. Women on Wednesdays will begin each week with a two-hour clinic starting at 10 a.m., with the opportunity to practice afterward through 4:30 p.m. Cost is $110 for lessons only, with an option to pay an additional $60 for a lift ticket and $40 for equipment rental. Sign up at • The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable n Regional festivals n Art gallery events and openings n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers n Civic and social club gatherings • “Winter Wonderland Nights” will continue through the www.cataloochee.com or contact 828.926.0285 or Conference, typically held each year in Savannah, holiday season in Franklin. Downtown will feature living info@cataloochee.com with questions. Georgia, will be offered virtually this year Jan. 5-7. For window displays of the holidays, live sounds of the season outdoors at the gazebo and inside stores, free holiday attractions (weather permitting), refreshments, hot cider, great sales from local merchants, and much more. www.franklin-chamber.com. • The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy has issued a challenge to complete its 60 miles in 60 days Virtual Hiking Challenge, kicking off New Year’s Day. To complete the challenge, participants must walk, run or hike 60 miles by March 1. Registration ends Feb. more information, visit www.seregionalconference.org. • Cataloochee Ski Area will continue to offer its Afterschool Ski & Ride Program in 2021, using a sevenweek format that will begin the week of Jan. 5. Cost is $110 for lesson only, $130 for a lift ticket and $50 for • First United Methodist Church in Sylva will be holding 1, but earlier registration means more time to log the equipment rental. Space is limited, and sign-ups end online Christmas worship services. "Lessons and miles. The basic cost to join is $25, with Level 2 regis- Jan. 2. Learn more or sign up at cataloochee.com/proCarols,” the Christmas story told through song and tration priced at $50 and Level 3 registration at $100. grams/afterschool-programs. scripture will begin Monday, Dec. 21. Christmas Eve Candlelight service will be broadcast live at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24. Broadcasts can be found at www.youtube.com/sylvafirstunitedmethodistchurch or www.sylvafumc.org. For more information contact the church office at 828/586-2358. All proceeds help support SAHC’s ongoing land and water conservation efforts. Sign up at appalachian.org/event/sahcs-winter-hiking-challenge60-miles-in-60-days/ • Jackson County’s annual Run in 2021 5K will be held in a virtual format this year. The virtual race begins at • A series of horticulture classes aimed at home gardeners will be offered in the New Year through Haywood County Cooperative Extension. Planned sessions are: Jan. 19, Vegetable Gardening; Feb. 17, Lawn & Weeds; March 2, Introduction to Home Food Preservation; March 18, Landscaping with Native Plants; April 13, Pruning 6 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1. Participants can run or walk 5 Trees & Shrubs. Classes, taught by extension agents ART SHOWINGS GALLERIES AND kilometers anywhere they please, submitting results by noon Jan. 3. T-shirts can be picked up between Dec. 30 and Jan. 9, with mailing available as well. Cost is $20. and experienced Master Gardener volunteers, will last for approximately two hours and be held via Zoom until face-to-face training is possible. Sign up by emailing • The Haywood County Arts Council annual show, “It’s a Register at www.runsignup.com. mgarticles@charter.net. Cost is $10 per class. Small, Small Work,” will be showcased through Jan. 9 at the HCAC Gallery & Gifts in Waynesville. • A display of 50 powerful paintings showcasing the most remote and wild corners of the Canadian Arctic is STORAGE UNITS AVAILABLE on display through Jan. 3 at the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville. Entrance to the exhibit is free with the arboretum’s standard $16 parking fee. Face coverings ONLY 1 LEFT ONLY 1 LEFT are required for visitors age 5 and older. • The Haywood County Arts Council invites all Haywood 10’x10’ 10’x20’ County studio artists to participate in the annual Haywood County Studio Tour scheduled for June 26-27, Waynesville location Canton location 2021. The artist/studio application and policies for participation may be found on the HCAC website or picked up from HCAC Gallery & Gifts at 86 North Main Street in Waynesville. Email completed forms to artist@haywoodarts.org or mail to P.O. Box 306, Waynesville, NC 28786. The deadline for the completed studio tour application is Friday, Feb. 5, 2021. The Haywood County Studio Tour Exhibit Opening Reception is on Friday, June 4, 2021, if feasible. The HCAC will follow the NC Governor’s mandates regarding COVID. For more information visit the Haywood County Arts Council website at www.haywoodarts.org. Great Smokies

Outdoors STORAGELLC • While some local counts were canceled this year due to COVID-19, many community scientists from across the hemisphere will participate in the 121st annual Call 828.506.4112 Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5, bird lovers will participate in counts while observing COVID-19 guidelines. To learn more or find a greatsmokiesstorage.comlocal circle, visit www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmas-bird-count. • Learn about efforts to restore Bryson City’s Island 434 Champion Drive, Canton, NC 28716 Park with an online presentation at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. Tony Ward, Western Region Program Coordinator for MountainTrue, will discuss his role in the project, which 21 Hollon Cove Rd, Waynesville, NC 28786

Market PLACEWNC

MarketPlace information:

The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad! Rates:

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Announcements

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Employment

FTCC - Fayetteville Technical Community College is now accepting applications for the following positions: Welding Instructor. Barber Instructor. Physical Therapy Assistant Instructor. Practical Nursing Instructor. For detailed information and to apply, please visit our employment portal at: faytechcc. peopleadmin.com/Human 910-678-7342, An Equal Opportunity Employer

PART TIME HOUSEKEEPER Jonathan Creek Inn is now hiring a part time housekeeper. Candidates must have a valid drivers license, and pass a pre-employment drug screening. Weekend availability is a must! Please apply in person.

COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now! Grants and Scholarships available for certain plicants. 833-990-0354. (M-F 8am-6pm ET)

THE JACKSON COUNTY DEPARTMENT Of Social Services is recruiting for a Community Social Services Assistant. Duties primarily involve transporting foster children for a variety of purposes such as visits with parents, medical appointments, counseling, education, or training. Candidates for this position should be highly dependable, adaptable, have the ability to lift children and car seats, interact well with children, have completed high school, and have a valid NC driver’s license with a good driving record. The starting salary is $24,168.16. Applicants should complete an application for Jackson County which is located at www.jcdss.org and submit it to the Jackson County Department of Street, Sylva, NC 28779 or the Sylva branch of the NCWorks Career Center. Applications will be taken until January 4, 2021.

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Old Edwards Hospitality Group Highlands NC Housekeepers and Dishwashers starting at $13/hour! NOW RECRUITING FOR: Housekeepers, Houseman, 2nd Shift Laundry, Turndown Attendants, Dishwashers, Cook, Pastry and Bread Cook, Assistant Farm Manager, Servers, Bussers, Catering Manager, Old Edwards Inn Rooms Manager, Reservation Specialist, Front Desk, Bellman, Night Audit, Fitness Manager Benefits offered after 90 days employment. Apply online at oldedwardsinn.com/careers or call Sydneye Turdics at 828-787-2631

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ARTHRITIS, COPD, JOINT PAIN Or Mobility Issues on the Stairs? **STOP STRUGGLING** Give Your Life A Lift! An Acorn Stairlift is a perfect solution! A BBB Rating. Call now for $250 OFF your purchase. FREE DVD & brochure. 1-888329-4579 DENTAL INSURANCE From Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. Call 1-844496-8601 for details. GET YOUR COPY Don’t Wait! The best book of herbal remedies probably ever written. For more details email James at: james.

Pets

BLACK CAT, PEACHPUFF 1 year old and rescued with kittens I raised wonderfully. petted and will purr contentedly. (828) 761 ashevillehumane.org

LABRADOR/BOXER MIX, BLACK & WHITE,WINNEBAGO smiling girl who loves to play with toys and meet people. Fine with cats. (828) 761-2001 publi mane.org

With Love & Gratitude Merry Christmas

YEAR-ROUND IMPROVEMENT

Energy Savings. Sun Control. Privacy. Protection. Innovative Sun, Heat, Glare & Fade Protection

Service throughout WNC 828.216.6018 FREE ESTIMATES by phone or text Mobile service available throughout WNC

LIFETIMEWINDOWTINTING.COM

Climate Control Climate Control Storage

Sizes from 5’x5’ to 10’x20’ Indoor & Outdoor Climate Controlled 64 SECURITY CAMERAS AND MANAGEMENT ON SITE

1106 Soco Road (Hwy 19), Maggie Valley, NC 28751 Call: 828-476-8999

MaggieValleySelfStorage.com MaggieValleyStorage4U@gmail.com

Find Us One mile past State Rd. 276 and Hwy-19 on the right side, across from Frankie’s Italian Restaurant

Phyllis Robinson

OWNER/BROKER

(828) 712-5578

lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com

The Only Name in Junaluska Real Estate

91 N. Lakeshore Dr. Lake Junaluska 828.456.4070 www.LakeshoreRealtyNC.com Conveniently located in the Bethea Welcome Center

The Original Home Town Real Estate Agency Since 1970

147 Walnut St. • Waynesville 828-456-7376 • 1-800-627-1210 www.sunburstrealty.com

Brian Noland

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL PROFESSIONAL bknoland@beverly-hanks.com 828.734.5201

74 North Main Street Waynesville, NC 28786 828.452.5809

Follow Amanda Williams Real Estate on Facebook Once a client always a friend

Amanda Cook Williams

RESIDENTIAL BROKER ASSOCIATE ————————————— (828) 400-4825 amandawilliams@beverly-hanks.com

Haywood Co. Real Estate Agents

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate- Heritage • Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com Beverly Hanks & Associates- beverly-hanks.com • Billie Green - bgreen@beverly-hanks.com • Michelle McElroy- michellemcelroy@beverly-hanks.com • Brian K. Noland - brianknoland.com • Anne Page - apage@beverly-hanks.com • Jerry Powell - jpowell@beverly-hanks.com • Catherine Proben - cproben@beverly-hanks.com • Ellen Sither - ellensither@beverly-hanks.com • Mike Stamey - mikestamey@beverly-hanks.com • Karen Hollingsed- khollingsed@beverly-hanks.com • Billy Case- billycase@beverly-hanks.com • Laura Thomas - lthomas@beverly-hanks.com • John Keith - jkeith@beverly-hanks.com • Randall Rogers - rrogers@beverly-hanks.com • Susan Hooper - shooper@beverly-hanks.com • Hunter Wyman - hwyman@beverly-hanks.com • Rob Roland - robroland@beverly-hanks.com ERA Sunburst Realty - sunburstrealty.com • Amy Spivey - amyspivey.com • Rick Border - sunburstrealty.com • Steve Mauldin - smauldin@sunburstrealty.com Jerry Lee Mountain Realty • Jerry Lee Hatley- jerryhatley@bellsouth.net • Pam James - pam@pamjames.com Keller Williams Realty - kellerwilliamswaynesville.com • The Morris Team - www.themorristeamnc.com • Julie Lapkoff - julielapkoff@kw.com • Darrin Graves - dgraves@kw.com Lakeshore Realty • Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com Log & Frame Homes - 828-734-9323 Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com Mountain Creek Real Estate • Ron Rosendahl - 828-593-8700 McGovern Real Estate & Property Management • Bruce McGovern - shamrock13.com RE/MAX Executive - remax-waynesvillenc.com remax-maggievalleync.com • The Real Team - TheRealTeamNC.com • Ron Breese - ronbreese.com • Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com • Dan Womack - womackdan@aol.com • Mary & Roger Hansen - mwhansen@charter.net • Juli Rogers - julimeaserogers@gmail.com • Amy Boyd Sugg - amyboydsugg@gmail.com • David Willet - davidwillet1@live.com WNC Real Estate Store • Melanie Hoffman - mhoffmanrealestate@gmail.com • Thomas Hoffman - thoffman1@me.com

POP TRIOS

ACROSS

1 Dreamworld 9 Pa 12 Incline 16 Big -- whale 19 Person copying another 20 Straight-ahead view 22 Dandy sort 23 "That raving guy is lying!"? [1958, 1999, 1983] 25 Regret a lot 26 Mythical ship 27 Plane-related 28 Compass dir. 29 Growing field 30 Franklin brought a certain continent's nations back together? [1972, 1979, 1983] 36 Very reactive element 40 Actor Ely 41 Inflexible 42 Assist an unwise fugitive? [1965, 2002, 1961] 49 Like cold fish 50 Muscular jerk 51 Organic compound 52 Castle encirclers 56 Join others in the attack 59 Poetic foot 61 -- long way 62 Effortless progress with zero snags? [2017, 1999, 1980] 69 Certain scroll key on PC 70 -- Dhabi (emirate) 71 Mr. -- ("Fantasy Island" host) 72 Kings and queens hold agave liquor dear? [2013, 1966, 1958] 79 High peak 80 Revered sort 81 Directs 82 Cantata kin 85 Dirt clump 87 Ph.D. or MBA 88 Allergic reaction? 93 City's main business section during a tornado? [1982, 1967, 1965] 98 The Everly Brothers' "-- Clown" 101 Bovine cry 102 Old Fords 103 Rigg made Rooney go "Wow!"? [1957, 2000, 1982] 110 Many a seized car 111 Honest prez 112 Revered sort 113 Messy stack 117 Bitter brew 118 This puzzle's long answers each consist of three of these 124 Actor Gulager 125 Extolling 126 Analgesics 127 "Keystone" lawman 128 Move upward 129 Heckling cry 130 Fresh beginning

DOWN

1 Mother of Helen of Troy 2 Love deity 3 Chest organ 4 Choir voice 5 Test facility 6 Gobbled up 7 Actor Lloyd 8 Less sweet, as wine 9 Gobbles up 10 In-favor vote 11 JFK, e.g. 12 High-strung 13 Vine-covered 14 Grassy area 15 Mom's skill, in brief 16 Fright-filled 17 Wellspring 18 Epithet for Tarzan 21 Most recent 24 Before 29 Sorbet alternative, for short 30 Shine up 31 Broody rock genre 32 Japanese dance-drama 33 Concerning 34 "So cute!" 35 Beer bubbles 36 "-- -ching!" 37 Slim fish 38 -- -Blo fuse 39 NYSE debut 43 Of ears 44 Jaunty tune 45 Frosts 46 Modular part 47 Ark-itect? 48 Charity 53 Katy Perry's "I Kissed --" 54 Toy truck maker 55 Wise guy 56 Cola biggie 57 Actor Epps of "Shooter" 58 "Ora pro --" ("Pray for us") 60 Root beer brand 62 Filmmaker Pier -- Pasolini 63 Nile's home 64 Stephen of "Ondine" 65 Suffix with play or faith 66 Kick out 67 Debt slip 68 Chou En- -- 69 Soho stroller 73 Roman 350 74 Consecrated 75 Sufficient, in poetry 76 Lamarr of "Comrade X" 77 Ticked (off) 78 Accordingly 83 Prefix with botany or biology 84 "-- Little Tenderness" 86 Lightest coin 88 Actor Griffith 89 Dol. parts 90 Farming tool 91 Barn percher 92 Slip- -- (mules, e.g.) 94 D.C.'s land 95 Silent "OK" 96 Santo -- 97 Diminutive 98 Audiophile's storage item 99 Danny of "Ruby" 100 Wrap, as a weak wrist 104 Papas' partners 105 Activist Hoffman 106 Final letters 107 Chemical suffix 108 "Over There" composer 109 Kevin of "Silverado" 113 Pitcher -- Wilhelm 114 Central Sicilian city 115 Golden -- (senior) 116 "Hey ... over this way!" 118 "Car Talk" network 119 "Mystifier" Geller 120 Chest bone 121 Artist Yoko 122 Job for AAA 123 1960s univ. radicals

ANSWERS ON PAGE 26

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Home Improvement

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Legal, Financial and Tax

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CASTILLO Tree Service, Etc, Inc.

• Dangerous Tree Removal • Pruning • Creating Views

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SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

Answers on 26