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Cherokee to offer bounty on coyotes Page 30

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Nov. 7-13, 2012 Vol. 14 Iss. 23

MedWest-Haywood hires new CEO Page 4

Understanding the area, the people who live here, and the ones who want to move here.

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CONTENTS On the Cover Republican and Democratic supporters handed out flyers at the Haywood early voting station (cover photo) for several days straight, building up a friendship as they took part in a pivotal political season for Western North Carolina. Full election coverage on pages 6-9.

News New CEO joins MedWest in midst of uncertain future ....................................4 Coverage of political races in WNC, the state and country ............................6 Longtime Sylva residents complain about noisy bar ........................................12 Sylva town board slaps fine on non-compliant business owner ..................12 Waynesville police, residents talk ........................................................................13 Vehicle taxes, tags come in one convenient package ....................................13 Haywood saves thousands after refinancing debt ..........................................13 Swain commissioners look at upping security at county building ................14 Swain committee focuses on keeping employees safe ..................................14 Police looking at more efficient way to track stolen goods ..........................15 County drills wells to test water at Francis Farm Landfill................................16 Tribe to shell out millions on wastewater plant expansion ............................17

Opinion Wage disparity will continue even after election ..............................................18

A&E Young painter begins career in Haywood County ............................................22

Outdoors November 7-13, 2012

Cherokee offers bounty on pesky coyotes ........................................................30

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MedWest-Haywood new CEO started as a nurse

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER Janie Sinacore-Jaberg will become the new CEO of MedWestHaywood in December.

She is currently the Chief Operating Officer of a 320-bed system in Muskogee, Okla. She has served as the COO and CEO of several hospitals in Georgia, South Carolina and Ohio.

Former CEO Mike Poore left in March after three years at MedWest-Haywood and took a new job at a hospital in Texas.

Poore was credited with leading the hospital on a successful rebound after a run-in with federal inspectors in 2008 prompted a temporary shut down. Poore oversaw the creation of the MedWest partnership with the neighboring hospitals in Jackson and Swain counties, helped bring several private physician practices in-house and set the stage for a new urgent care center, hospice center and surgery center.

But Poore left just as internal struggles with the MedWest partnership and financial shortfalls were coming to a head.

The challenges confronting MedWest-Haywood didn’t deter would-be CEOs — including Sincore-Jaberg — from applying for the job.

“She likes a challenge and likes to turn things around. She has had a lot of experience helping organizations move from one level to another, so there are people that look for those

F

Challenges faced by the MedWest hospital system are a microcosm of the health care issues plaguing the nation, according to Carolinas HealthCare System Vice President John Young in a quarterly hospital update to Haywood County commissioners this week.

Challenges lie ahead for new MedWest CEO

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER new CEO who will take over MedWestHaywood in December will face the parallel challenges of improving the hospital’s bottom line and capturing patients who travel to Asheville for health care.

At the same time, shifting sands beneath MedWest are threatening to disband the tenuous partnership between Haywood and the neighboring hospitals in Jackson and Swain counties that were brought together under the MedWest partnership nearly three years ago.

By all accounts, incoming CEO Janie SinacoreJaberg will have a full plate on day one.

“It is a challenge, but I don’t think it is a daunting challenge to her,” said John Young, a vice president of Carolinas HealthCare System, which manages the MedWest hospital group. “She likes a challenge and likes to turn things around. She has tremendous experience in growing business and keeping costs down.”

Smoky Mountain News

November 7-13, 2012

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That’s what hospital leaders hoped would happen by joining forces with the neighboring hospitals in Jackson and Swain under the MedWest umbrella. On the surface, merging the neighboring community hospitals would cut down on duplication — from nutritionists that plan patient meals to ordering supplies — while bolstering market share.

But, the Jackson medical community quickly became disillusioned with the loss of autonomy and has pushed back against what it perceived as a second-fiddle status to Haywood. Young said mergers are rarely easy.

“It is a hard thing to do. You got a lot of things working against you,” Young said.

The business struggles of MedWest are a microcosm of the healthcare debate playing out nationally, Young said.

Doctors are making less than ever before; rural hospitals are struggling to survive; the health insurance reimbursement system is inherently flawed: and baby boomers’ mounting medical costs are becoming an unmanage-

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able burden on society, Young said.

“You can see a national debate is inevitable on health care — and it will play out as we try to figure this out locally,” Young said in his quarterly “state of the hospital” report made to Haywood County commissioners this week. “It is a dilemma for our society.”

Young contends shoring up the financial outlook for the hospitals would go a long way to overcome the internal turmoil with MedWest.

“Our problems go away if we start to make a profit and get away from the edge,” Young said.

Jackson’s medical community, however, has cited other reasons than simply financial challenges for its soul-searching. Some believe the cultures of the two hospitals are simply different.

Whether the Haywood side of MedWest will let WestCare pull out amicably, however, remains to be seen. The MedWest board of

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directors — comprised of seven members from each Haywood and WestCare — will debate the issue during the coming months.

“The board is made up 50-50 from both sides of the system, so they are split right now,” Young said.

Young said a turnaround is on the horizon. For starters, MedWest-Haywood will save $3.9 million a year after eliminating 87positions last month. Young said the layoffs weren’t taken lightly but were necessary.

“It is a difficult situation because the hospitals have always been one of the largest employers in the county. We put this off for a long time,” Young said.

MedWest-Haywood will also be reimbursed for a multi-million dollar electronic medical record system it had to pay for upfront. Also, a new surgery center and urgent care center will start to reap benefits.

MedWest-Haywood still owes $8.5 million to its parent management company, Carolinas HealthCare System, which loaned the money to help bridge a temporary cashflow shortage. It is due back in January, but that appears unlikely to be paid off by then.

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Sylva Pediatrics picks Mission to partner with

Future of Cowee School discussed at luncheon Stacy Guffey will talk about the Macon County Heritage Center planned for Cowee School during the monthly Lunch with the League at noon on Nov. 8 in the Tartan Hall of the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin.

A plan has been proposed to repurpose the historic Cowee School as a community and heritage center. Guffey will discuss potential uses

“So, we had a working relationship with them anyway,” O’Neill said.

Mission also brings a host of resources to the table, from business management to clinical expertise.

“The management of running a practice, it seems like that is becoming ever more complicated,” said Dr. Susan Mims, vice president and medical director of Mission Children’s Hospital. “Being part of a hospital system helps preserve physicians’ ability to spend time with patients and they don’t have to be concerned with that other part of it.”

Sylva Pediatrics will be the first group of physicians in Jackson County to seek out a partnership with Mission over their local hospital.

On some level, the decision reflects dissatisfaction among the Jackson medical community with Harris’ management structure.

As part of the MedWest trio, Harris is stuck in a partnership with Haywood as well as a management contract with Carolinas HealthCare that it no longer wants to be in.

Jackson County doctors have publicly endorsed the idea of partnering with Mission instead. So it’s no wonder Sylva Pediatrics went the route that it did.

“There is a lot of turmoil. We love our hospital and would like our hospital to thrive, but we have not been happy with the Carolinas affiliation,” O’Neill said. “What I have heard over and over is we want to regain the culture of our hospital. It has always been a medical oasis. We would really and activities for the old school, upcoming events and fundraising.

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teers to help abused and neglected children as they work their way through the court system.

The Guardian Ad Litem Program trains community volunteers to be a voice for these children. Most volunteers spend four to six hours per month on a particular child’s case, which includes learning about the child’s situation, talking to the child, caregivers, professionals and others involved in the child’s life. The program requires 30 hours of training.

To volunteer call 828.587.2087 or visit www.ncgal.org.

November 7-13, 2012

BY BECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER Three longtime doctors with Sylva Pediatrics will soon come under the wing of Mission Hospital in Asheville.

The physicians will keep practicing out of their same offices in Sylva and Bryson City, and keep serving the same local patients they always have. But come January they will be known as Mission Children’s Sylva and Mission Children’s Bryson City.

The move mirrors a national trend among doctors who are increasingly trading in their own private practices for the security of working for a hospital institution.

“It is becoming increasingly difficult for a small, privately-owned practice like ours to stay competitive and provide the quality we are known for,” said Dr. Penny O’Neill, a partner with Sylva Pediatrics.

O’Neill said she and the other doctors had to choose which hospital to affiliate with — Mission in Asheville or MedWest-Harris in their own backyard. Mission made more sense for several reasons, O’Neill said.

For starters, they are a “first-class outfit,” O’Neill said.

“That is where we refer our patients for all specialty care,” O’Neill said.

Harris will remain their first choice for routine hospital care, but for highly specialized needs — like pediatric surgery, children’s cancer treatment or neonatal ICU — the Sylva Pediatrics group has always referred to Mission.

like this to become a first-class community hospital again.”

While Mission has been accused of using aggressive methods in neighboring counties — from vigorously competing for patients to trying to woo physician practices — that is not in fact the case, O’Neill said.

Sylva Pediatrics Associates approached Mission about taking over their practice, not the other way around, O’Neill said.

“We actually invited them. They did not come to us,” O’Neill said.

And Mission has assured the practice that it wants to provide care as close to home for patients as possible — not siphon them away to Asheville.

“Part of their mission is to support the practices in the community in their referral region so they can remain there to care for patients,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill said her practice doesn’t feel any pressure or obligation to send children to Mission now.

In fact, it’s a win-win for Harris. The hospital won’t lose the loyalty of their pediatric team, and likewise didn’t have to make the investment to buy the practice or put the physicians on its payroll.

The Sylva pediatricians will be the first primary care doctors under Mission Children’s Hospital. It is far more common for specialists, such as pediatric endocrinologists or neurologists, to be employed by the hospital.

“For subspecialists it is very hard to make it on your own, so the hospital is invested in supporting those physicians to make sure there is access for the people of Western North Carolina,” said Dr. Mims.

But even primary care doctors, particularly in comparatively rural areas, are giving up on the private practice model these days.

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challenges in their careers,” said John Young, a vice president of Carolinas HealthCare System, which manages MedWest.

But one reason Med-West Haywood appealed to Sinacore-Jaberg has nothing to do with the job. The mountains are beautiful and great place to live, Young said.

“You are blessed because people want to be here,” Young said. Sinacore-Jaberg started out as an operating room nurse. Most hospital CEOs these days come from business backgrounds, with degrees solely in hospital administration rather than medicine.

“She has seen health care at the ground level,” Young said.

She also holds a master’s degree in business and healthcare administration, however, as well as nursing. Her resume includes overseeing construction of a new $150-million hospital, leading organizational transitions and improving patient satisfaction scores.

The hospital board that oversees MedWest-Haywood has not formally voted to offer Sinacore-Jaberg the job. That vote seems certain, however — so certain that Young broke the news of the incoming CEO during his quarterly “state of the hospital” report to Haywood County commissioners this week.

Technically, the local hospital board doesn’t have the final say over their own CEO. Its vote endorsing Sinacore-Jaberg will be more of a rubber stamp. The CEO hiring decision is ultimately up to Carolinas HealthCare System. In fact the CEO of MedWest-Haywood is considered an employee of Carolinas and ultimately answers to Carolinas.

Sinacore-Jayberg will have no shortage of bosses, however, and will also answer to the board of Med-West Haywood, which pays her salary, and must also interface regularly with the umbrella MedWest board.

But local hospital leaders and doctors were a part of the hiring process. An employment search firm brought five candidates to the table for vetting locally. Three names were sent on to Carolinas HealthCare to pick from, but Sinacre-Jaberg was flagged as the top pick. Carolinas agreed.

“She was our first choice and the selection group’s first choice,” Young said.

She was brought back for a second interview, including a vetting before a panel of several doctors, and passed with flying colors, Young said.

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WNC voters step to the plate FROM STAFF REPORTS emperatures dropped on Election Day, with high elevation snowflakes and lowlying raindrops greeting voters around Western North Carolina, making for low voter turnout trailing that of 2008.

With troves of citizens opting for early voting — more than half those who voted in the election did so during the early voting period — “slow but steady” became the mantra of poll workers Tuesday, occasionally left wondering where everyone was.

Regardless, there was still plenty of electioneering left to do.

At the Waynesville library voting site, campaigners of every political persuasions stood patiently in a slight, freezing drizzle, holding up signs, handing out flyers and striking up conversation with those either curious or willing to talk for a moment.

Standing outside under his umbrella since 6 a.m., Western Carolina University student Matthew Campbell, 22, planned to stick to his post until the polls closed. He had two Democratic stickers plastered across his jacket, one for Hayden Rogers (running for U.S. Congress) and the other for Joe Sam Queen (running for N.C. House).

“I don’t know if this weather is affecting voter turnout, but it’s been pretty slow,” he said.

A few feet away, Waynesville resident Scott Stump, 46, a small business owner, passed out fliers and held a sign for Republican Mark Meadows — who ultimately won the race for U.S. Congress.

“I’ve got two children and their future depends on this election,’” Stump said. “I’m doing this for them and not me.”

Given the popularity of early voting, electioneering is no longer left to Election Day but instead requires a massive mobilization of volunteers to man a plethora of early voting sites for a two-and-a-half week stretch.

Across the region, early voting polling sites were packed with campaign volunteers, party loyalists, as well as friends and family of candidates, pumping their signs, smiling and waving to voters, who in turn were

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November 7-13, 2012

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forced to walk a gauntlet of political paraphernalia.

But, the last-minute literature can be very helpful. “Cheat sheets” passed out by both Republicans and Democrats contained a sample ballot denoting the party’s preferred candidates, especially on obscure judge’s races or elected state offices.

Being out there for such long stretches, day in and day out, volunteers from both sides of the aisle ended up making friends.

Remy Bohleber, a diehard Democratic volunteer, was at the early voting site in Waynesville almost every day, all day.

“I’ve had the Republican electioneer buy me coffee and vice-versa,” he said.

The volunteers got so friendly that if one or the other had to go to the bathroom, they

would babysit the sample ballots of the opposing camp and hand it out to the requisite voters. In fact, when voters walked by, they would often offer their literature in tandem, simply presenting both choices.

“If they are going to vote conservative, they take mine. And if they want to vote Democrat I tell them to ‘Take his.’” said Shirley Carlson, an early voting site Tea Party volunteer in Haywood County, flanking Bohleber.

Adding a silver lining to a muddy year of politics, a couple who arrived at the Jackson County courthouse last week to get married found themselves in the throes of early voting. It wasn’t their lucky day, however, because the pair was absent two witnesses to make the ceremony official.

Voters on the last days of early voting faced up to a 30 minute wait in line, like the one shown here in Waynesville, while those showing up on actual Election Day breezed right through. Becky Johnson photo

Voter turnout ......................................................Haywood ...........Jackson .............Macon...............Swain Total voters .......................................43,079...............28,022 ...............25,196...............10,196 Total voter turnout........................28,189 (65%)....16,890 (60%)....17,039 (68%).....5,829 (57%)

Not to worry, though, because Republican Party volunteer Jim Mueller took a break from his booth, as did his Democratic counterpart, to stand in for the couple.

For many campaign volunteers manning the polls, the election was too important to sit out.

“I feel obligated to do my part,” said Bob Williams, a volunteer handing out a sample ballot flagged with conservative picks at the polling site in Canton.

That sense of obligation carried over to the voters on Election Day, who didn’t let the rain and cold deter them.

A proud lifelong voter, Joy Larkin, 67, boasted to have once casted a ballot while in child labor, seeing as it was that important of a right to her. Exiting a Waynesville voting site on Election Day, she said she was more relieved than normal to have finally cast her ballot this year.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” she chuckled, heading for her car.

While more people ultimately voted during the two-and-a-half week early voting run than on Election Day itself, for some, the convenience of early voting doesn’t outweigh the thrill of visiting the polls on the big day.

“We usually vote on Election Day. Everybody’s down here and the excitement of the whole thing,” said Roger Patterson, the manager of Waynesville’s water plant.

It was even more exciting than normal, seeing as Patterson got to witness his 19year-old son vote in his first presidential election.

By sunset on Election Day, most polling sites were so deserted that tumbleweeds could have been rolling through. While skies got darker, and the air cooler, candidates and their supporters sized up the everdiminishing string of voters, ultimately packing up their signs and brochures early.

It’s after 6 p.m., and Campbell is still in front of the Waynesville library. He’s been standing outside the building for more than 12 hours. Without even leaving to eat, he’s stayed put until the polls officially closed. He watched the final stragglers during what should normally be an after-work rush and admitted turnout was disappointing.

“It’s not seemed like a lot,” he said. “I think the weather honestly had a lot to do with it.”

Romney wins Western North Carolina but loses nationally

BY SMN STAFF Western North Carolina voters favored Gov. Mitt Romney over President Barack Obama despite the president’s narrow victory nationally.

The red tide that swept the mountains this year favored Republicans in the White House, governor’s mansion, Congress and the state legislature. Even Jackson County, which was one of three mountain counties Obama captured in 2008, went to Romney this time around.

James Champagne, 61, of Clyde voted

for Romney, though he’s a registered Independent. He voted Republican in the presidential race in part based on the economy. But casting what he called a “value vote” superceded his concerns about the debt and job growth.

“I vote my Christian beliefs first and foremost,” he said. “Abortion and social issues are more important than economic ones.”

Those throwing their support to Obama were more likely to follow suit with a Democratic ticket. Aaron Ratcliffe,

a 20-year-old Democratic voter in Waynesville, expressed disdain for Romney.

“Frankly, I find Romney to be an out-oftouch rich jerk,” he said.

Voters frequently cited the economy as the driving rationale behind their vote — yet who they thought was the best man to ignite an economic recovery varied.

Waynesville resident Ashley Chambliss is a registered Democrat who voted a straight Democratic ticket. She said Obama has been hindered by

Congress not acting and deserves another term to further his cause.

“I really admire Obama,” she said.

“All of the fighting in Congress is not his fault. He needs four more years to complete his goals.”

Greg Stamey, 54, a Republican voter from Cruso (Haywood County), is an example of the trickledown effect the presidential race had on local and regional races in the mountains. Stamey voted for Romney for president and then stuck to a conservative ticket down the line.

th

Meanwhile, Meadows won 13 of the district’s 17 counties, including Clay County, where Rogers currently lives.

“We were pleased that the win was a large as it was,” Meadows said. “We knew we had great grassroots support.”

Meadows and Rogers ran a comparatively clean campaign. Meadows focused his campaign message on his business resume as a small business owner and Realtor, while Robbinsville native Rogers touted his roots to Western North Carolina as the main reason he was the right person to represent the mountains in Congress.

While Rogers positioned himself as a

Hayden Mark ...............................

Rogers (D) Meadows (R) Total ..........139,614 (42.6%)188,133 (57.4%) Haywood .....13,646 (50.1%) .13,604 (49.9%) Jackson........8,959 (54.5%) ...7,473 (45.5%) Macon ...........6,811 (41%) ......9,761 (59%) Swain...........3,126 (55.5%) ...2,511 (44.5%) Clay..............2,266 (41.3%) ...3,224 (58.7%) Cherokee......5,690 (45.5%) ...6,802 (54.5%)

The 11th Congressional seat includes a 17county area of Western North Carolina, including a portion of Buncombe but not the city of Asheville. Results were with 16 of 17 counties reporting.

conservative Democrat — much in the same vein as outgoing Congressman Shuler — it

Republican Mark Meadows greeted potential voters at Waynesville’s Apple Festival a few weeks ago. Meadows went on to win the 11th District seat Tuesday.

...............................................North Carolina........................Haywood ...........................Jackson ..........................Macon..........................Swain Barack Obama......................2,154,562 (48.3%) ................11,742 (42.2%) ..................8,031 (48.4%)..................5,692 (34%) ...............2,618 (45.7%) Mitt Romney..........................2,246,026 (50.4%) ................15,533 (55.9%) ..................8,212 (49.5%).................10,817 (64%)................2,976 (52%)

89 out of 100 counties had reported results as of press time Tuesday night. National results were not available by press time.

Jan Pressley of Maggie Valley, the owner of a real estate magazine, believes the economy is on the way up.

“We are heading in the right direction and we need four more years,” she said.

But Arthur Louk, the owner of a valve repair business in Waynesville, believed Romney would do more to put the coun-

try back to work. He particularly resents the high cost of health insurance he faces as a small business owner and doesn’t believe that Obamacare is the solution.

Summer Bryant, a student at Southwestern Community College, said she voted a straight Democratic ticket.

After her mother had been diagnosed

with cancer several times, she said healthcare is one of the most important considerations when voting. She believes in Obama’s Affordable Care Act and the help it offers, such as guarantees for people with pre-existing conditions.

“Healthcare is big for me,” she said.

Retired Don Morrow, 67, of

Waynesville, said he’s Independent but considers himself conservative. He said this vote had big stakes for the future of the country, and he voted for Romney. He said the outcome would dictate whether we would become a country of free enterprise or a nanny state.

“This is the most important election of my life,” he said. “It determines which way our country will go.”

But, some voters still believed in the change that Obama ran on last election and refuted Republicans claims that Obama has not accomplished anything.

“He is the only one trying to do anything,” said Monty Harris, 54, of Maggie Valley.

Smoky Mountain News

U.S. President

November 7-13, 2012

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER Republican Mark Meadows won the 11th U.S. Congressional seat with more than 57 percent of the votes Tuesday.

“We’re obviously humbled by the confidence that everybody has placed in us,” Meadows said.

Meadows is a 52-year-old real estate broker who lives in Cashiers with his wife and two college-aged children. He has never held political office before.

During the next 60 days leading up to the official start of his term in Congress, Meadows said he will be gathering input on issues from as many people as possible from all around the district. He emphasized that he plans to do what is best for the district, not for Democrats or Republicans.

“It’s being a representative, not being a congressmen,” Meadows said.

Meadows overcame big obstacles on his way to becoming congressman-elect. He competed against eight other Republican challengers during the primary and only garnered enough votes to run in a second primary in July against fellow Republican Vance Patterson. Meadows eventually beat out Patterson for the nomination and has now won out over challenger Hayden Rogers, a Blue Dog Democrat who served as the chief of staff to current U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler (DWaynesville).

“This has been a hard fought and spirited campaign,” Rogers said in a written statement conceding the race to Meadows. “I have been truly humbled by the dedication, encouragement and generosity that so many across Western North Carolina have shown me throughout this journey. Thank you.”

Despite his overall loss, Rogers won Swain County, home to his former employer Shuler; Graham County, where he grew up; Haywood County; and even Meadows’ home of Jackson County. But, it was not enough to clinch the seat.

U.S. Congress

news

GOP’s Meadows takes 11 Congressional District seat

ultimately did not sway enough mountain voters on the conservative voting spectrum.

“I think it is a ploy,” said Jeff Neff, a Republican voter in Waynesville. “This is a pretty conservative area so what are you going to do, come out and say ‘I am a liberal Democrat?’”

Playing the conservative card was Rogers’ only option, but it didn’t work, said Neff, a retired Continental airline pilot.

While Shuler showed it was possible for a conservative so-called Blue Dog Democrat to win support from rural mountain voters, he had his football quarterback stardom going for him — name recognition that Rogers lacked going in to the race.

In the end, for some voters Rogers did not differentiate himself enough from his competitor Meadows to convince people to vote for him.

Mark Engle, of Deep Creek, said he voted for Meadows because Rogers gave him no reason to switch his vote from an ‘R’ to a ‘D.’ The majority of mountain voters agreed that Meadows shares their ideals.

“He has the values that I do,” said Charlotte Henson, a part-time Nationwide Insurance employee from Bethel. Henson said her biggest concerns were the economy and jobs.

Although Meadows was against the Lilly Ledbetter Act, which extended the length of time in which women can sue an employer for pay discrimination, one voter, Daisy Phillips, 39, of Canton, said she supported Meadows because “he supports women’s right in the workforce.”

How voters leaned in the presidential race often dictated how they voted in the congressional race as well.

Jackson County voter Mark Herron, 52, asked what the point was of voting for Barack Obama as president without also supporting Democrats in Congress. He didn’t see much hope for compromise across the aisle in the coming years if Obama wins reelection and Republicans win Congress.

“Obama needs all the help he can get,” Herron said. “There’s no such thing as bipartisanship.”

Unfortunately for Herron, that’s exactly what happened — Republicans and Meadows retained control of Congress while Obama won a second term.

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Ray Rapp out Queen drubs Clampitt in House race of N.C. House

BY BECKY JOHNSON AND ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITERS N.C. Rep. Ray Rapp, D-Mars Hill, was defeated after serving a decade in Raleigh.

It was one of the most surprising election results of the night, given Rapp’s popularity, accomplishments and likeability during his long tenure.

Michele Presnell, a Yancey County Commissioner, stole the show in an upset victory over Rapp, a former college administrator. The N.C. House district is comprised of Madison, Yancey and Haywood counties.

The upset was even a surprise to Presnell herself.

“I’m overwhelmed and very humbled,” Presnell said. “No, I wasn’t expecting it. By all means, Ray Rapp has been in there for 10 years.”

Rapp was pummeled in recent weeks by attack ads on TV and a litany of campaign fliers. The tactic replicated a successful strategy in 2010 that led Republicans to take the majority in the state legislature.

“There was a significant amount of

November 7-13, 2012

N.C. House District 118 Ray Michele ................................

Rapp (D) Presnell (R) Total...............17,699 (47.4%)....18,646 (51.3%) Haywood.......7,873 (46.4%)....9,085 (53.6%) Madison .......5,346 (53.5%)....4,647 (46.5%) Yancey............4,480 (48%).......4,914 (52%)

This seat includes Madison, Yancey and half of Haywood County (including Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Bethel, Cruso, Crabtree and Fines Creek).

Smoky Mountain News

money put in by the Republicans in Raleigh to defeat me,” Rapp said. “One thing I stayed away from that I feel good about was I didn’t go negative in this campaign.”

However, Rapp’s success as a politician for nearly a decade representing Western North Carolina in Raleigh was based on his ability to also pick up votes of many rural Republicans, something Presnell had to overcome to steal the day.

For example, Janey Laurain, a Republican voter from Maggie Valley, broke what would otherwise have been a straight-Republican ticket to vote for Rapp. As the president of a state Grandparents Rights organization, Rapp met with her in Raleigh and displayed genuine interest and support whenever she reached out to him.

“You call him and he always answered your calls,” Laurin said.

Rapp also was a victim of redistricting, which redrew voting lines following the 2010 census. The new district had fewer 8 Democrats than before.

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER Waynesville Democrat Joe Sam Queen beat out Republican candidate Mike Clampitt by a commanding margin to take an open seat in the N.C. House.

Queen, an architect and businessman with a long mountain lineage, carried a district that includes Swain, Jackson and part of Haywood counties — one of the more Democratic leaning areas of Western North Carolina. Queen won in all three counties, including Clampitt’s home turf of Swain.

Queen will be one of only three Democrats from WNC heading to the N.C. House.

Queen, although seizing an open seat this time around, is a state political veteran, serving three terms in the state Senate over a 10year span. Queen lost his senate seat in 2010, however. This time, he ran for the N.C. House after long-time Rep. Phil Haire, DSylva, announced he would retire after this term, leaving the seat open and up for grabs in a district historically favorable to Democrats.

Queen’s dedication to funding education and other social programs such as health care may have carried him to victory, but achieving his goals when in office could be another story. This will be the first time Queen, in his political tenure, will be part of the legislature’s minority.

When asked how he would be effective in a Republican-dominated state government, he admitted it’d be tough.

“I’ve got to figure that out quite frankly,” Queen said. “It depends on how mean spirited the Republicans are. I’m full of good ideas and I’ll share them.”

Yet, he asserted that his campaign promise of standing up for public schools, community colleges and universities would not

N.C. House District 119 Joe Sam Mike ..............................

Queen (D) Clampitt (R) Total ..........16,593 (51.7%) 15,514 (48.3%) Haywood.....5,488 (53.8%) ..4,716 (46.2%) Jackson ........8,268 (51%) .....8,034 (49%) Swain .........2,818 (50.6%) ..2,751 (49.4%)

This seat includes all of Jackson and Swain counties and half of Haywood County (including Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, and Iron Duff). waver. Queen formally served as co-chair of the Education Committee while a state senator and said he would like to undo some of the damage he said Republicans had caused through budget cuts.

“I’m really interested in restoring educa-

tion and our historical commitment to education,” Queen said.

For his first state election, Clampitt, a retired firefighter, still made a decent showing. He earned the votes of many in the community who knew him. Also, many loyal Tea Party Patriots in the district liked his fiscal plans.

Clampitt said he was happy with the tight race and pleased with his supporters showing at the polls.

“It was a lot of fun, a lot of work, and really exciting,” Clampitt said. “I have no regrets. I’d do it all again.”

Clampitt was constantly on the go during the race, frequently appearing at events in his own personal fire truck.

He said he will remain politically active and build on what he’s started.

Although Queen’s platform may have helped him win, name recognition couldn’t have hurt when placed alongside Clampitt, who was virtually unknown outside Swain at the outset of campaign season. Queen’s long tenure in WNC, and his family’s history in the area, may have given him the edge.

For 45-year-old Susy Sims from Whittier, casting her ballot for Queen stemmed from those very factors, and what she said was Queen’s dedication to mountain communities.

“I’m voting for Queen because he comes from a good, local family,” Sims said.

Davis beats Snow by a wide margin

BY B ECKY JOHNSON STAFF WRITER Sen. Jim Davis, R-Franklin, pulled out a surprisingly strong win over his Democratic challenger John Snow in what was supposed to be razor thin race.

The election was a rematch from two years ago, when Snow was the sitting senator and faced Davis as a challenger. The race that year was tight, with Davis winning by less than 200 votes — a margin of less than 1 percent.

But this time Davis won handily, a victory no doubt due in part to the Republican trickledown effect among Western North Carolina voters casting ballots for Mitt Romney in the presidential race.

Davis was part of a Republican tide that took control of the state legislature in Raleigh two years ago for the first time in over a century. When condemned for budget cuts over the past two years, Davis continually leveled with voters in an open, honest and frank fashion he has become known for.

“It just took leadership. If it was easy it would have been done already,” Davis said.

“We felt it was important to get our fiscal house in order. We had to make tough decisions and had to live with those.”

Davis said while he is conservative, he is not a partisan. Davis is looking forward to not only retaining the Republican majority

in the General Assembly, but also picking up Republican control in the Governor’s mansion and eliminating the threat of a veto.

“Now with a Republican governor, we don’t have to worry about that. We have two years to really work hard to change the state,” Davis said.

Snow served in the state Senate for six years himself before being unseated in 2010.

And before that Snow served as a judge for more than 25 years in Western North Carolina, which continued to hold sway with some voters even though he retired from the bench a decade ago.

“I respected him as a judge. He is a good person,” said Chuck Way, a retired police officer in Waynesville.

Likewise, Kristi Wheatley, a 47-year-old voter from near Dillsboro, said her fondness for Snow began after seeing him on the bench, and she drew from that experience when deciding whether to vote for him of Davis.

“John Snow is a very fair and respectable man,” Wheatley said. “I see him as having a kind heart and being a kind spirit.”

Davis’ bigger margin was also due to his name recognition this go around.

“Last time people didn’t know me other than in Macon County so I had a lot of work to do,” said Davis, an orthodontist in

N.C. Senate District 50 John Jim ..............................

Snow (D) Davis (R) Total ..........37,660 (42.9%) 50,211 (57.1%) Haywood....11,311 (41.5%) 15,903 (58.5%) Jackson ........8,063 (49%) .....8,300 (51%) Macon ..........6,804 (41%) .....9,814 (59%) Swain...........2,642 (47%) .....2,979 (53%) Graham ......1,502 (38.2%) ..2,431 (61.8%) Clay ............2,103 (38.2%) ..3,406 (61.8%) Cherokee ....5,218 (41.5%) ..7,364 (58.5%)

The seat includes the seven western counties, including Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.

Franklin.

Snow may have done better with women voters, including Jan Pressley of Maggie Valley came to the polls sporting a button that read “It’s a man’s world … unless women vote.”

“He is anti-woman to me. He has hurt education,” Pressley said.

But other voters believed Republicans have been better for education.

“My wife works in the school system and Snow did a lot of bad things for teachers,” said Rick Wood, 52, of Sylva. “I want Davis to make a change.”

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER Commissioners Mark Swanger and Kevin Ensley — a Democrat and Republican respectively — won reelection to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

“I feel like the vote for me affirmed the decisions we have been making and the direction our board has been going,” said Ensley, a land surveyor and a Republican.

Ensley’s comfortable win was a reflection of garnering all the Republican voters, plus convincing Democrats to break ranks and vote for him based on his performance the past eight years. It was impressive nonetheless given the majority of Haywood voters are registered

Jackson to keep its current mix on board

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER The Jackson County Commissioner race was decided by a large margin, granting incumbent Mark Jones another term in office. He defeated Republican candidate Marty Jones handily, despite the county overall narrowly going for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

Mark Jones’ comment after the race was brief and to the point.

“The citizens of Jackson County voted Mark Jones, the right Jones, left in office,” he said,

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER

Sales tax for schools goes down in Swain

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER Swain County voters shot down a quartercent sales tax increase that would have funded school construction by a 3-to-1 margin.

The optional sales tax increase would have brought in roughly $250,000 a year and would have paid for a $2 million expansion of East

playing off his challenger’s campaign declaration claiming Marty Jones was the ‘right Jones.’

The win will help keep one of the progressive voices on the conservative leaning board — comprised of two Republicans, two Democrats and a conservative independent.

Marty Jones ran on a platform of rolling back some of the mountainside development regulations put in place by the previous board of commissioners. The regulations went too far in reining in growth and harmed the housing market, Marty said.

“I work in the construction business and it’s been devastating If we get Marty maybe we can change some things in the local economy,” Jackson County resident Warren Stillwell said.

Reactions from at least one voter showed a level of contentedness with local leadership, and that boded well for Mark Jones.

“Locally, I like the way things are being handled here,” said Mark Herron, 52, from Sylva.

“So, I voted for incumbents.”

Marty Jones said it is hard to tell whether his loss is a reflection of his platform or because of unrelated voting trends. He fared poorly in the Cullowhee precinct, for example, where turn out included a large number of student voters.

“With the constant number of buses coming in from campus, I had a feeling that was going to be an issue for me because the college students are predominantly Democratic voters and there were a lot of them,” Marty Jones said of his

observations at the polls early voting.

Marty commended Mark Jones on running a good race, however.

cy in government. He said many people in his constituency share those values, and that was reflected in the polls.

“I think it’s a vote for a political philosophy,” Higdon said.

Higdon differed from sitting commissioner Kuppers on several issues, advocating for lower taxes, fewer development regulations and questioning how involved the county should be in helping the school system out of a funding crisis.

Kuppers was one of two Democratic commissioners on the five-person board. Kuppers said after seeing the votes it was apparent the people had chosen his contender by a large margin.

“It was clear; it was decisive,” Kuppers said.

“The people decided they wanted to go the other way.”

Kuppers wouldn’t speculate as to whether the votes were actually a referendum on his performance or a conservative wave of Mitt Romney supporters who overwhelmingly won the county.

“I could make a whole bunch of guesses,”

Kuppers said. “But he came up with a whole bunch more votes than I did. That’s what democracy was all about.”

Kuppers’ absence and replacement by a conservative commissioner could set the tone for the next four years of Macon County.

The board has had several hot-button topics in recent years. It came under fire when it looked at implementimg regulations on steep-slope construction. Kuppers, though he didn’t say he outright supported the proposed actions, had defended the planning process. Conversely, Higdon called such regulation an infringement on personal liberties.

Yet, Higdon claimed he’s not entering the seat with a given agenda, and Kuppers claimed he’s not overly worried about the board taking a new direction after his departure.

“I have no way of looking into that crystal,” Kuppers said. “But I hope Paul will look at all issues carefully and make decisions in the best interest of the county.”

Macon County commissioner PICK ONE Paul Higdon (R) .......................9,400 (57%) Bobby Kuppers (D)...................7,069 (43%)

Commissioners Jim Tate and Kevin Corbin ran unopposed for their respective seats on the Macon Board of Commissioners. victory and said his win took place within a context of a larger voter movement.

“I’m not naïve enough to think the support was necessarily for Paul Higdon the individual,” he said. “I think there’s a movement in this country of people who think like I do, and that’s being shown in North Carolina tonight.”

He said his focus from the first day in office will be fewer regulations, less taxes and efficienElementary to solve overcrowding.

But, there was no concerted effort to inform voters on what the additional quarter cent was for. School leaders admitted the week before the election that the failure to get the message out would likely sink its chances of passing.

In fact, many voters, including 24-year-old Pelle Rudstam, who had recently moved to the area, didn’t know anything about the sales tax and so voted against it — but likely would have even if he knew it was for schools.

“I don’t particularly agree with sales taxes,”

PICK TWO Kevin Ensley (R) ..................14,797 (28.8%) Mark Swanger (D) ...............12,970 (25.2%) Denny King (R) ....................12,605 (24.5%) Mike Treadway (D)...............11,075 (21.5%)

Rudstam said, adding that sales taxes are harder on poorer people than other types of taxes.

Emily Shuler, a mom from Bryson City, said she voted against it simply because she did not want to pay more in taxes.

“It doesn’t need to go up,” Shuler said.

The tax would have also helped pay for a new high school down the road. Since the quarter cent sales tax did not pass, the county’s only options to pay for needed school construction are a property tax increase or budget cuts.

Republican Party, not any particular candidate.

“I really didn’t feel passionate about anybody,” Ewart said.

On the other hand, Kevin Alford, owner of Alford Engineering in Maggie Valley, voted straight Republican because he saw a decline in business during the president’s tenure.

“My business is down probably 55 percent,” Alford said.

Jackson County commissioner PICK ONE Mark Jones (D)..........................8,592 (53%) Marty Jones (R).........................7,565 (47%)

Vickie Greene ran unopposed to a second open seat on the Jackson Board of Commissioners.

Swain County quarter-cent sales tax

Smoky Mountain News

The Republican stronghold of Macon County chose to elect conservative Paul Higdon over Democrat incumbent Bobby Kuppers to the board of county commissioners.

Kuppers, the Franklin High School football coach and teacher who served as commissioner the past four years, is one of many Democratic casualties across the region on Election Day. Higdon, a water and sewer contractor and small business owner, won by a margin of 57 to 42 percent, riding a wave of Republican support in a conservative county turning out to vote in a presidential race.

Higdon wouldn’t take complete credit for his

U.S. or state races upon leaving the voting booth — let alone the local county commissioners’ race.

A lack of knowledge about the commissioner candidates led many to choose based on party affiliation and trickledown votes based on whether they voted for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney for president.

Donna Ewart, a 49-year-old Jonathan Creek resident, said her ballot was straight Democrat because she was felt strongly against the

Haywood County commissioner

November 7-13, 2012

Macon voters replace Democratic commissioner

Democrats. Ensley is the only Republican on the board of commissioners — and the only Republican to ever serve three terms in the history of Haywood County.

It was a much closer race for fellow commissioner Swanger, who barely edged out Tea Party candidate Denny King by about 300 votes to win a third term on the board.

“I am pleased that I won,” said Swanger, a 61-year-old retired FBI special agent who has served eight years on the board. “It doesn’t matter if you won by one vote or more.”

The two incumbents beat out their challengers King, a 52-year-old engineer at BorgWarner in Asheville, and Mike Treadway, a 58-year-old employee at Evergreen Packaging in Canton.

Voters who traveled to the polls this year were mostly focused on the presidential race.

Based on exit polls conducted by The Smoky Mountain News throughout the county, few remembered whom they even voted for in other

news

Haywood County commissioners to remain unchanged

DO YOU SUPPORT AN ADDITIONAL QUARTER-CENT SALES TAX? No..........................................3,702 (73.7%) Yes.........................................1,321 (26.3%)

The county pledged to use the sales tax for school construction if approved.

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New master plan will take 16 months to complete

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Co-chair of the campus planning committee Melissa Wargo, right, addresses a community crowd in Cullowhee. Andrew Kasper photo Each of the members brings a unique perspective to the vision of campus. For example, Peg Connolly, the Recreational Therapy Program director at WCU, said wherever she goes on campus she is thinking about accessibility for people with wheelchairs and walkers as well as transportation infrastructure such as sidewalks.

Likewise, Mark Lord, a professor of geology at WCU, said he is looking out for how certain classrooms could be updated for learning in the 21st Century.

“What I hope to bring is mostly focused on the academic side,” Lord said. “As we build the campus we hope it represents the educational mission of the university.”

Bringing buildings up to date could be a challenge. The university’s buildings range from the new top-notch health and human sciences building to classrooms that haven’t been updated since the 1970s, he said.

“It’s a daunting task overall because of the breadth of what it covers,” Lord said. “Some if it is boring, like when the roof leaks you fix it … But other stuff is more exciting like renovating and building to reflect who we are as a university.”

HERE COMES CULLOWHEE

Join November Ladies Night Out

Macon County Public Health and Angel Medical Center are hosting a Ladies Night Out talk Nov. 13 The topic will be Diabetes Awareness, and the guest speaker will be Jennifer Trippe, a registered dietician with Macon County Public Health. She will discuss ways to reduce risk for developing Type II diabetes.

The program will be held two times that day in the cafeteria at AMC. One will be at 4 p.m. and one will be at 6:30 p.m. The same presentation will be given at both meetings.

Ladies Night Out is a free monthly program on various health topics for women with an emphasis on the importance of regular

health screenings. The Franklin Bi-Lo and Fatz of Franklin are corporate sponsors of the program and provide snacks and door prizes. Dodge Packaging Specialties, Inc. provides paper products.

828.349.2426.

WCU program for intellectually disabled seeks applicants Western Carolina University is seeking applicants for the next class of its University Participant Program, which offers a twoyear, on-campus living and learning experience for college-age persons with intellectual disabilities.

Smoky Mountain News

The long process to draft the plan will include creating separate task forces to specialize in certain areas of infrastructure as well as a series of meetings with the public.

Although a steering committee of more than 15 selected members has been meeting since September to formulate the plan, last

November 7-13, 2012

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER lans made in the coming months could set the tone for the following decade or two of construction, renovation and development on Western Carolina University’s campus.

Faculty, staff, administrators and students at the school have been working since September to craft the institution’s next campus master plan — a process that is expected to last about 16 months and create a final product that is a general guideline for all aspects of the university’s infrastructure development.

The plan will address a wide range of infrastructure needs, from sustainable buildings and parking availability to preservation of historic structures.

Steering Committee co-chairman Sam Miller, also vice chancellor for student affairs, said the plan should hold big consequences for upcoming campus hotspots such as the recently acquired 334-acre Millennial Campus. The university just finished a new health and human services building there, though much of the Millenial Campus potential remains untapped.

“We have the new Millennial properties — how do we capitalize on that investment and what infrastructure would we need to support that?”

Miller asked as an example of a question that may be answered by the new campus master plan.

The master plan doesn’t go so far as to lay out specifics of construction plans or funding sources, but acts more as a blueprint for the campus’ progress. The last campus master plan was drafted in 1997, and Miller said much of the vision contained in that plan eventually came to fruition.

The campus master plan supplements the more comprehensive strategic plan drafted for the university. The new 2020 strategic plan, which the university just completed this summer, outlines overarching goals of the university, whereas the campus master plan tackles the infrastructure necessary to obtain those goals.

“It’s just now we have a new strategic plan with a new direction,” Miller said. “So the time was right that we revisit the infrastructure plan — to match the goals of the facilities to the goals of university.”

Currently, the steering committee is wrapping up a campus tour of all WCU’s facilities.

edged that the campus doesn’t really have a parking problem, instead it has a walking problem.

Yet another, Clark Corwin, floated the prospect that WCU acquire an abandoned golf course in the township and develop it into an arboretum with walking paths.

With isolated pockets of student and faculty housing and no connection to campus apart from driving or taking a campus shuttle, his major criticism of transportation infrastructure on and around campus was the lack of walking opportunities.

“We don’t have that. We get in our car to go to the Mad Batter,” Corwin said of a popular local bakery on campus. “If you can find a parking place.”

Much of the community input blurred the boundaries between on-campus and off-camMonday night (Nov. 5) marked the first of the pus. And, it soon became clear that although the focus of the campus master plan is for WCU committee’s community forums.

Cullowhee residents packed into the property, many of the infrastructure goals of Cullowhee Valley School’s library that evening the community reached across the institution’s property lines. to offer input and ask questions.

Jackson County Planning Director Gerald “We’re just getting started,” said steering committee co-chairwoman Melissa Wargo. Green, who is also on the steering committee, at “But this is a chance for people interested to tell one point spoke up to remind the crowd that us on the front end ‘here’s something we really some of the work rests in the hands of Cullowhee hope you consider’ and ‘here is something residents. Some members of the community have been pushing hard to put zoning ordiwe’re really fearful of.’” nances in place in Cullowhee to help guide develAnd the crowd let them hear it.

The group of about 20 residents, including opment.

“Not all is riding on the university,” Green future Jackson County Commissioner Vicki Greene and members of the local community said. “A lot of it will fall on the county to put those requirements in.”

Green said student apartment “Cullowhee master plan and a proposals for the area have come campus master plan — you can’t across his desk and there is no way to force them to include things likes have one without the other.” sidewalks or other forms of infrastructure that could link with the uni— Roy Osborn, Cullowhee resident versity unless the county puts ordinances in place.

But one Cullowhee resident, Roy Osborn, planning group Cullowhee Revitalization Endeavor, voiced complaints and recommen- was not willing to let the university officials off the hook that easily. He said the development dation from across the spectrum.

One woman said she’d like to see covered of a functioning campus goes hand in hand bike storage on campus, while another man with the development of a functioning commusaid development along the river would be nity. And the university should do more to supnice. The county is currently working on a port the other’s efforts.

“Cullowhee master plan and a campus masgreenway plan officials hope to connect with ter plan — you can’t have one without the the university.

Others attending the meeting complained other,” Osborn said. “There needs to be inteabout the lack of parking and sidewalks con- gration between the university and necting to campus — to which Wargo acknowl- Cullowhee.”

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WCU eyes long-term infrastructure needs

The goal of the UP Program is to facilitate the transition from secondary school to adult life through education, employment and independent living. WCU undergraduate students are recruited and trained to provide paid and unpaid support services, such as attending classes with program participants, engaging them in social and recreational activities, and helping them with on-thejob training.

UP Program participants must be between 18 and 25 years old and also have been enrolled in a high school special education program.

Applications for fall 2013 are due by Saturday, Dec. 1. The application fee, which is nonrefundable, is $50. www.up.wcu.edu or 828.227.3297 or email kkelley@wcu.edu. 11

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Sylva town board forces auto dealer to keep sidewalk promise

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER espite pleas for leniency, the owner of a Sylva auto dealership faces a $500 fine for failing to build a sidewalk in front of his car lot.

Russ Cagle, owner of Concept Automotive, initially agreed to build the sidewalk last spring but since has attempted to persuade town leaders to allow him to skirt the requirement.

The Sylva Town Board stuck by its guns last week, however, and ordered him not only to build the sidewalk but also imposed a $500 fine. If Cagle wastes more time, the fines will pile up.

The town board met for nearly two hours in a closed-door session to discuss the sidewalk dilemma, citing potential legal concerns. Complicating matters, Cagle is leasing the lot from a Sylva town board member, Harold Hensley.

Cagle had mounted a multi-pronged argument for not building the sidewalk, appearing before the board members several times. For starters, he questioned the purpose of the sidewalk, since it would not connect to any other sidewalks nearby.

But, many towns have similar ordinances with the long-term goal of creating a pedestrian friendly community one sidewalk section at a time. The requirement only applies to new commercial buildings, or in Cagle’s case, property that was rezoned from residential to commercial.

Cagle has also claimed the $6,000 price tag for the sidewalk is simply a burden for a small business owner and that the state highway department will likely redo N.C. 107 at some point in the next decade.

But his top argument was that Hensley might sell the property this winter, and the buyer would re-grade the entire property.

The town board agreed to reconsider the sidewalk requirement for Cagle if he and Hensley could provide proof that a sale of the property was pending and that future site work would affect the sidewalk.

Cagle did not comment for this story, but Sylva town Manager Paige Roberson said Cagle has now agreed to build the sidewalk after receiving a letter from an attorney working for the town. Cagle can reduce the fine if he begins to promptly install the sidewalk.

Hensley, who was forced to sit out the closed-door meeting and abstained from voting on the issue because of his role as property owner, said he didn’t want to voice his opinion on the matter.

“I wasn’t paying too much attention, and I left to go to the house to settle my nerves,” Hensely said of the meeting. “I’m 12 getting too old to hold a grudge.”

Smoky Mountain News

November 7-13, 2012

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College music scene at Sylva’s No Name Pub clashes with neighbors

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER wo years ago, Gregg Fuller tried to fill a void in Sylva’s nightlife scene when he opened the No Name Sports Pub, featuring drinks, food and live bands three to four nights a week. But soon, the increasingly boisterous crowds and loud music became a bit too much for the nearby neighbors.

Off the beaten path, the pub resides in a mostly industrial part of town. Yet, about three residents, who have lived in the neighborhood for decades, continuously call the police on Fuller’s pub, complaining about the noise it creates.

The neighbors say they miss the solitude and quiet they had before the bar moved in.

Two of the neighbors, living less than 80 feet from the bar, appeared before the Sylva town board last week to plead their case. At the meeting, 74-year-old James Lupo, who has lived in the neighborhood for 46 years, said his primary concern was the music played at the pub.

“I’ve sat in the house a few times and have had to put ear plugs in my ears on account of the noise,” he said. “They holler and carry on, and you know how those folks are when they get a few beers and everything.”

Lupo said the noise especially bothers his wife who has multiple sclerosis. He was accompanied at the meeting by fellow neighbor, Linda Beck, who said she is especially concerned for her boyfriend who has lung cancer and is laid up in a hospital bed in the living room without long to live. He has lived in that house for nearly 50 years.

“It’s just the noise,” said the 52-year-old Beck. “It wakes him up because he gets startled and he thinks someone is breaking in … It takes me a couple of hours to get him back to sleep.”

Fuller estimates he has had the police called on him about 30 times during the past year or so to check on the noise levels. The calls usually come just before 11 p.m. when Sylva’s noise ordinance reaches its sensitive hour for boisterous music and activity.

Fuller has bands most nights of the week, but said he keeps the noisy ones inside.

On the patio, he schedules one- and twoperson acoustic sets to play. To them, he recites the same nightly speech to avoid further problems.

“I tell them, ‘Last song at 10:45 (p.m.) and you’d better have your mouth shut by 10:50 (p.m.),’” Fuller said. “Because if you don’t, the neighbors will call the police department.”

He claims, because of his regard for the law, that out of all the police visits he has had to the establishment he has only received one violation — for a bar patron who went to the parking lot and began playing an acoustic guitar after 11 p.m., unbeknownst to Fuller.

Sylva Police Chief Davis Woodard said that while the bar is technically not violating the town’s noise ordinance if the bands are turned down by 11 p.m., he understands the annoyance it causes for neighbors.

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Linda Beck talks with the Sylva Police Chief Davis Woodard about the noisy bar near her house. Andrew Kasper photo “I asked (Fuller) if he’d be doing the same thing if it was his grandma living there,” Woodard said.

Fuller said since he opened two years ago, he has stretched his closing time to 2 a.m. from 12 a.m. and added live music, both to appease his growing customer base.

While several bars or restaurants in Sylva have live music once a week or so, No Name is

But for Fuller, it comes down, in part, to weighing the desires of the 300 or so patrons that visit his bar on a given night against the desires of the three neighbors that constantly hound his business.

“It’s important to me to get along with my neighbors,” Fuller said. “And I feel like I’ve done everything within reason short of shutting the place down to keep my neighbors happy.”

He said he even reorganized the back room of the Last year, Soul Infusion Tea House restaurant, moving all the arcade games and pool tables, and Bistro sparked the ire of so bands could be moved inside where they will create neighbors who also appealed to the less noise. But, he said someSylva town board. Town leaders times the complaints of his neighbors go too far. For tightened up the noise ordinance in example, while hosting an response. Under the new ordinance, outdoor benefit concert for victims of Leukemia and noise heard more than 20 feet from Lymphoma, the cops arrived and told Fuller to pack it up its source between 11 p.m. and 7 well before 11 p.m. a.m. is too loud.

“We raised $2,600, and we could have raised over $3,000 if they hadn’t shut us the closest thing to a true college bar with regu- down,” Fuller said. “I don’t think my neighbors lar live music every Thursday, Friday and like the sound of happy people.”

Saturday at least, plus an open mic night..

Woodard said for the past two weeks, at No Name is not the only local joint that’s least, the noise disputes, and apparently the been the source of noise complaints. Last year, pub, have quieted a bit. The last time an officer Soul Infusion Tea House and Bistro sparked went to the establishment was Oct. 27 to check the ire of neighbors who also appealed to the on a potential noise disturbance. Woodard said Sylva town board. Town leaders tightened up in that instance, the door to the bar had been the noise ordinance in response. Under the left ajar because it was hot inside, but closing it new ordinance, noise heard more than 20 feet solved the problem. from its source between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. is “We haven’t had any problems since,” said too loud.

Woodard.

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER committee of Waynesville residents is putting the community in the term “community policing.”

The Waynesville Police Department Community Action Forum is comprised of 13 residents from all around Waynesville who meet quarterly with police officers to talk about problems in specific parts of town. Grievances could range from a speeding through neighborhoods to a suspected drug house.

No matter the problem, the meetings give the police and residents a chance to gather and inform each other about happenings in Waynesville.

“It might not be something they want to call 911 about, but it’s important to pass it on to the police,” said Waynesville Police Chief Bill Hollingsed.

The idea of a community-feedback committee arose years ago as a way to create a direct line between law enforcement and the people who work and live in the areas they patrol.

However, the committee did not take off until 2010. The Waynesville Board of Aldermen and the police department appointed the members, each of whom represents a section of town.

Despite being around for two years, few people know about the committee or what exactly it does.

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Join the discussion The Waynesville Police Department Community Action Forum, a 13-member committee created to assist in developing a community-oriented policing program, has two vacancies. Representatives are need from the Russ Avenue Business Corridor and the South Waynesville areas. Meetings are held quarterly, and committee members must reside within the Waynesville town limits. Applications for the committee are available at www.townofwaynesville.org.

“I don’t think the community at-large really knows what we are about,” said Luis Quevedo, owner of the design firm LQ Design Options and a member of the committee.

It’s not only an outlet for residents to pass concerns to police, but also a chance for police officers to educate a small group of residents about problems plaguing Waynesville and other towns in the state such as prescription drug abuse or more recently the advent of the dangerous, but legal hallucinogens known on the street as “bath salts.”

Those residents can then share the message with neighbors or other business owners.

“You just talk about stuff, what’s going on,” said Ken Mull, owner of Bob’s Sports Store on

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cy for people who can’t pay the bill all at once.

Francis said that the tax office will work to make sure delinquent payers know that they will have to foot the bills all at once so they could opt to pay the late amount before the next bill comes. Otherwise, if they can’t afford the entire amount owed, they are “stuck,” Francis said.

In any state, drivers must renew their vehicles’ tags each year. Those caught driving with expired tags in North Carolina face a fine.

A big reason for the change is to curb delinquent tax payments.

Haywood County’s tax collection rate for personal property — which includes cars, boats, RVs and the like — was only 85 percent last fiscal year. It is far lower than the property tax collection rate on real estate — such as homes, land and buildings — which was almost 97 percent.

That’s common for any county. Real estate always has much higher collection rate than vehicle taxes, primarily because real estate doesn’t move around like cars and thus it is easier to track down the owner, and the risk of not paying can include a lien against the property.

Jackson County’s vehicle tax collection rate is 87 percent, compared to 96 percent on real estate taxes. Jackson County had $92,188 in delinquent vehicle taxes last year.

By tying vehicle taxes to registration, the change could be lucrative for the counties, particularly in the first year, when counties stand to collect the previous year’s back vehicle taxes plus significantly increase its collection rate going forward. Haywood last year had about $359,000 in unpaid vehicle taxes and other personal property. The county could reclaim most of that lost money, plus collect back years taxes — a potential windfall of several hundred thousand dollars the first year it goes into effect.

Low interest rates spur Haywood County to jump on the refinance train Haywood County will save more money annually than it originally projected after refinancing debt from previous construction projects.

County Finance Director Julie Davis told the board of commissioners in September that Haywood County could save between $35,000 to $45,000 a year in loan payments if it refinanced around $6.6 million in outstanding debt from past construction projects. However, once the final numbers came in, Haywood County will actually save $57,000 annually, Davis reported to the commissioners at a meeting Monday.

“We were very lucky,” Davis said.

Haywood County has $71.1 million total in outstanding debt, a cumulative total from 14 different past projects over the past decade or longer, including the justice center, the historic courthouse renovations, the new Department of Social Services building and numerous schools. Its interest rates range from as low 1.69 percent to as high as 5 percent.

Of that debt, the county decided to refinance $6.6 million, which will come due in 2025. The county will pay First Southwest, a Charlotte-based financial advisory firm, $15,000 for handling the refinancing.

How much the county pays each year toward debt varies, but now, it shells out about $9.4 million yearly.

— By Caitlin Bowling

Smoky Mountain News

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER n an effort to extinguish delinquent vehicle taxes, the North Carolina General Assembly passed a law that will combine vehicle property tax and car registration into one bill.

When it goes into effect, drivers can’t get their tags renewed until they’ve also paid their vehicle property taxes.

This year and in past years, N.C. residents have received two separate bills — one from the Department of Motor Vehicles for their registration tags and another from the county for vehicle property taxes.

They usually came at different times of year since car registration wasn’t necessarily in sync with vehicle taxes. But not anymore.

“It all has to be paid at the same time you renew your tag,” said David Francis, the Haywood County tax administrator.

Francis informed the Haywood County Board of Commissioners at its meeting Monday about the new process, which will allow the DMV to collect counties’ personal property taxes. The state agency would them distribute the taxes back to the counties.

Starting next year, Haywood County residents will simply receive a single bill for both their vehicle property tax and vehicle renewal.

If someone does not pay the whole of the vehicle property tax bill, the DMV will not allow the person to renew his or her vehicle tags. And, those who have neglected to pay their personal property taxes in the past will have to pay those as well before they receive their tags.

“They are going to get a double whammy,” said Commissioner Mike Sorrells.

Sorrells asked if the new procedure would offer any lenien-

November 7-13, 2012

Vehicle property tax bill will soon be wrapped in with tag registration

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Waynesville police engage residents through forums

“It is much more productive than I would have expected,” said Danny Wingate, general manager of Haywood Builders Supply. “It is a good way to get your concerns out there.”

Mull said he has noticed a difference since he and other committee members began meeting regularly with police officers.

“It helps. It really does,” Mull said.

While most of the concerns that arise during the meetings would be considered minor — like traffic problems or latenight noise or lack of lighting in certain areas — the meetPolice setup a speed sign outside Waynesville Middle School ings do focus on suspected Tuesday to keep people cognizant of their speed in a crime in neighborhoods. school zone. Caitlin Bowling photo Hollingsed said committee members have been able to South Main Street and a member of the com- relay information from others about homes mittee. “Stuff we can do to help.” where someone might be selling drugs.

The police department also reports crime “There may be certain individuals or resistatistics to committee members and tells them dences where people see a lot of traffic going what to watch out for. back and forth,” Hollingsed said. “A lot of nar“You know what is going as far as breaking cotics information comes out.” and enterings in the area,” Mull said as an The officers can take that information and example. start monitoring the situation themselves.

But, more importantly, it gives residents the But, no matter what information is shared police department’s ear to air complaints that between the two groups. Hollingsed and comaren’t considered an emergency. mittee members believe it is important simply “It may have been brought to their attention to have an open line of communication by other business owners or community mem- between Waynesville residents and the police bers,” Hollingsed said. department.

Members of the committee have found it to “It’s just a good thing to keep people be mutually beneficial. informed,” Mull said.

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Thursday, Nov. 15 Friday, Nov. 16 Saturday, Nov. 17

Swain’s courthouse metal detector not pulling its weight

81 Elmwood Way off Russ Ave.

November 7-13, 2012

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were a police officer,” said Kevin Seagel, head of the county’s safety committee, during a presentation to the Swain County Board of Commissioners.

When Seagel spoke to the commissioners, he recommended that the county move its metal detector to the front door of the administration building and install security cameras, which a security guard would monitor.

He also suggested adding a door to block off the probation offices in the building.

Currently, anyone can walk into the probation offices.

“The reason for that is that nobody really needs to be back in the probation office” without a parole officer present, Seagel said.

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER wain County may heighten security measures at the courthouse and administration building to stop guns and weapons from being carried into the lobby.

Unlike newer courthouses, Swain’s doesn’t have a metal detector at the entrance.

Instead the metal detector straddles the door to the main courtroom, ensuring weapons don’t make it into the courtroom itself but doing nothing to keep them out of the rest of the building or the lobby.

“It is really not designed for the modern security measures,” County Manager Kevin King said.

Swain County’s courthouse and administration building was built in the 1970s. It is easy w to get lost in the oddly config— ured building, which sports several doors and halls radiating out from a central rotunda. y Courthouse shootings most often occur in emotionally charged cases like child custody, divorce hearings or domestic violence restraining orders.

Court brings the two parties into close quarters, and can be particularly risky for women threatened by violent, estranged partners.

“We’ve actually seen people walk into the administration Swain County’s Board of Commissioners are contemplating moving a single metal detector that guards the building with a gun on their outside of its district courtroom to the front doors of the administration building for safety reasons.f side, and nobody knew if they

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SENIOR RESOURCE CENTER WAYNESVILLE

Detecting danger

The only thing that seems to be standing in the way is money. Security cameras, a new door and moving the metal detector, which would need to be recalibrated, would likely cost more than $55,000 during the first year and an additional $35,000 each subsequent year for a security guard to monitor the goings-on in the courthouse, King said.

Despite the cost, commissioners seemed eager to get the changes rolling to help keep people safe.

“I think we need to get moving on it pretty quick,” said Commissioner David Monteith f during the meeting last month.

Commissioner Donnie Dixon agreed, say-w ing that although Swain is a small, rural county, security threats, like a shooter, can happen anywhere.

“It happens everywhere,” Dixon said during the meeting. “Oh yes, it can happen right here.” y

Safety committee tries to improve emergency response Smoky Mountain News

W Legal Services for a Strong Mountain Community Nathan Earwood • David D. Moore

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BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER hen Kevin Seagel slipped into Swain County’s courthouse during a mock exercise brandishing a pretend weapon, it only took emergency responders one minute to find him, but by then, he had already killed several people.

Although the drill illustrated a fake scenario, it allowed employees to simulate what would happen if a real shooter assailed the building that is the epicenter of the county’s operations.

The recent run-through was more successful than when the county’s safety committee first started its monthly meetings five years ago, before a clear lockdown protocol was in place.

“I guess what that taught us was nobody knew what to do,” said Seagel, Swain

559 West Main Street, Sylva, NC 28779 828.339.1010 • earwoodandmoore.com

County’s director of inspections.

Seagal is the head of the safety committee, which is comprised of all the county’s department heads and focuses on promoting safe practices among county employees.

“We try to catch the safety stuff on the front end before something happens,” Seagel said.

Although the committee and county employees continue to run through active shooter scenarios, such an extreme event is statistically unlikely.

Fire and medical emergencies are much more likely to occur. The safety committee is responsible for educating people on what to do during those situations as well and how to prevent them in the instance of a fire.

“Fires are the big issue because it’s so easy to happen,” Seagel said. “People don’t think about it.”

During the winter, employees’ heaters are checked to ensure that they are functioning correctly and are not in danger of falling over.

Employees are also taught to keep an eye on extension cords, which could spark a fire.

“You’re going to catch nothing if you don’t look for it,” Seagel said.

Although the safety committee tries to plan for as many scenarios as possible, the truth is often times the plans aren’t needed because of prevention efforts and preparedness.

“We don’t have a whole lot of accidents, but that’s the reason,” Seagel said.

Seagel said that the employee safety training and planning has truly made a difference.

“A lot of people are more knowledgeable now,” Seagel said. “That shows us that it’s working.”

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Waynesville Police Detective Chris Chandler can virtually “walk the beat” looking for stolen goods that make their way to pawnshops and scrap metal yards using a national online registry, which law enforcement officers say should be mandatory. Andrew Kasper photo

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“They already have to collect that information by hand, and all we are asking is for them to take the same information they are already required to record and put it into the computer system,” Holland said.

However, it isn’t mandatory, so Holland hopes to convince the pawnshops and scrap yards in Macon County to participate voluntarily.

The Macon Sheriff ’s office will soon join 2,100 law enforcement agencies nationwide that use the database, which costs $2,800 per year for a subscription for law enforcement agencies. But for businesses that deal in re-sold goods, it’s free to log in.

Holland said if voluntary compliance isn’t forthcoming, a county ordinance would be the only way to make sure all dealers were on board.

At a recent Macon County Commission meeting, Sheriff Robert Holland informed commissioners he would be subscribing to the database —— and told them that in the near future it may be beneficial to pass an

ordinance requiring county businesses to participate.

“But we want to get businesses to jump on board voluntarily,” he said.

He received a lukewarm reception from commissioners, however, who are hesitant to impose further regulations on small businesses, although all they would need to participate is a computer and Internet connection.

“The effort we are undertaking is to try and protect citizens of Macon County, and surrounding counties, who are having their possessions stolen,” Holland said.

PAWN SHOPS: FRIEND OR FOE In Waynesville, police have been using the pawnshop database for two years.

“Really what this does is it gives you the ability to electronically walk the beat rather than walking to every pawn shop and knocking on the door,” said Lt. Chris Chandler. “You can do it on the computer.”

For example, Chandler said a power tool

November 7-13, 2012

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER $12,000 tractor stolen in Macon County and sold as scrap in Georgia for a fraction of the price; rusting automobiles yanked from lawns in the middle of night; copper wiring stripped from construction sites — rising scrap metal prices and subsequent thefts have prompted a new state law to counteract an increasingly attractive black market.

But since the bill passed last summer, the efforts of lawmakers are still falling short.

Many resale dealers — such as scrap metal yards and pawn shops — are operating with impunity and re-selling stolen goods.

Macon County Sheriff Robert Holland lamented the recent increase in the illegal scrap metal business, noting how the trade allows for stolen merchandise to be easily turned for a buck — and the evidence destroyed as it’s crushed or melted.

“Basically, if it’s not nailed down it’s getting stolen,” Holland said. “We have old cars that have been sitting behind old barns for 50 years with weeds and trees growing through them — and people have pulled them out with chains and gone to junk.”

The new state law requires scrap metal yards to record all the items they accept — a law that has long been in place for pawnshops.

But they only have to keep hand-written records, so detectives trying to track down stolen goods and their thieves have to visit all the pawnshops and scrap yards in person to see their lists.

Still, Holland and other law enforcement agents in the region have identified a seemingly simple solution. The database LeadsOnline acts as a national registry for goods coming in to pawn shops and scrap metal yards, providing quick and much-needed leads in otherwise frustrating cases.

Instead of keeping records by hand, all the metal yards and pawnshops have to do is enter their data into the online system instead, which can then be searched by police.

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Online database holds the key to reining in stolen goods black market

was recently stolen from a Waynesville resident. The usual routine would have consisted of contacting each area pawnshop to review records for a serial number match. However, that method can gobble up man-hours and amount to a waste of time.

Instead, Chandler searched the online database and got a hit. The nail gun had been pawned at Alan’s Jewelry and Pawn in Asheville and the personal information of the seller could lead Chandler right to the first suspect. Case closed.

As helpful as it is, the state doesn’t have a law making it mandatory for pawnshops to enter their data into the system. And few counties or towns have such laws, although Asheville does.

Chandler hopes in the near future Waynesville and other local governments in Western North Carolina will pass similar requirements.

“In my mind there is no worthwhile excuse for not participating because it is free,” Chandler said. “It provides a wealth of information, but it’s only as good as the participation in your jurisdiction.”

For now, those who do, do it by choice. It could be some pawnshops would rather fly under the radar, knowingly dealing in the seedy underworld of stolen goods.

However Carolina Pawn and Gun shop in Canton is one of the businesses in the area that opts to participate. They have been doing it for several years.

Store manager Phil Martin said over time the people selling stolen goods learn not to come by anymore. The staff also keeps a blacklist of people who have attempted to sell stolen products.

“If someone has tried it once, we won’t take anything from them again,” Martin said. “Once you’ve established yourself as being part of this, and turning merchandise over to law enforcement, then people stay away from you.”

But Martin acknowledged that some of the store’s competition doesn’t participate. He said he couldn’t make any excuses for them because the benefits outweigh the negatives.

And he said the data crunching takes him “an extra 30 seconds” per day.

“I just think that everybody should be linked to it to help out and hold down crime,” he said.

and must become a member of the Girl Scouts for $12 per year. www.girlscoutsp2p.org or 828.488.6537 or email kbartlett@girlscoutsp2p.org.

Seminar will address physical therapy, lower back pain

Girl Scouts Carolinas Peaks to Piedmont (GSCP2P) has opportunities for volunteers who are committed to helping girls develop courage, confidence and character.

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Girl Scouting – whether you have an hour, a day, a weekend or more. Specifically, Jackson County Girl Scouts is in need of dedicated adults to take on the role of troop leaders. Each troop is led by at least two registered leaders.

There is a need for troops leaders able to meet in the evening or on weekends to fit the schedules of working families.

Volunteers can serve long-term or short-term roles. They can lead a troop that meets for the entire school year, or run a program that finishes in a couple of weeks.

No previous Girl Scout experience is necessary. To volunteer, one must be at least 18 years of age or older, be a positive role model

Waynesville Rec Center basketball courts get facelift

Orthopedic physical therapist Todd Watson will speak at a free Dine and Learn seminar that addresses the links between physical therapy and back pain from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the MedWest Rehabilitation Service office on the MedWest-Harris campus in Sylva.

Watson is a professor of physical therapy at Western Carolina University and board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. Watson will help attendees learn how physical therapy techniques can be used to treat lower back pain.

The seminar will focus on the importance of early physical therapy treatment to maximize daily function and prevent future episodes of back pain.

Attendance is limited so advance reservations are required to attend.

15 828.586.7235.

The Waynesville Recreation Center recently had a new design placed on the basketball courts.

This was the first time the lines had to be removed so the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department decided to go with a new layout. The courts now have a wider baseline, darker wood in the three point area, and each court has the department’s logo at center court. Carolina Hardwood of Clyde completed the work.

“The new design adds a lot of color and we think everyone will be very proud of it,” said Rhett Langston, director of the Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department.

828.456.2030.

Smoky Mountain News

Girl Scouts offer affordable and fun activities

Haywood keeps tabs on contaminants leaching from old landfill

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BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER ight new monitoring wells will be drilled an old landfill in Haywood County, the latest step in an ongoing effort to track and measure groundwater contamination emanating from the now-closed landfill.

In 2009, Haywood County started an environmental assessment at the former trash site to see how far and how deep potentially harmful contamination leaching from the landfill had migrated. During the next two years, the county installed 21 monitoring wells and started collecting water samples for testing. A report on the initial findings is still pending, according to a presentation made to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners Monday.

The first set of wells focused mostly on how far the contaminants from the landfill had spread horizontally. The next eight, which will cost the county $155,000, will begin to look at how deep in the ground the contaminants traveled.

Although the county started its environmental assessment three years ago, geologist Andy Alexander said the water quality testing is still in the early stages.

“We are on the very first step,” said Alexander, a senior geologist with BunnellLammons Engineering, a Greenville, S.C.-based company. The engineering firm has worked on the assessment with the county since 2009.

However, nothing seems to indicate that contaminants from the landfill traveled too far beyond its boundaries.

“It doesn’t look like it’s going very far off the site,” Alexander said.

To help ensure that contaminants had not spread into private drinking water wells, some nearby property owners allowed water samples to be taken from their wells.

“There were no chemicals from the landfill present,” Alexander said.

The problem of contaminated groundwater is inevitable in almost all landfills operating prior to 1993. Regulations approved after that date require landfills to have liners, which prevent chemicals from spreading, and leachate collection systems that collect and retain rainwater seeping through the landfill until it can be treated at a wastewater treatment plant.

During the same Monday meeting, the county also allocated an additional $50,000 from its contingency fund to pay for the collection and transportation of leachate from its currently used White Oak Landfill to a wastewater treatment plant.

Haywood County budgets money each year to take care of leachate, but it is difficult to predict the weather. Therefore, it only sets aside enough money to cover the average amount of rainfall expected to mix with the garbage and become leachate. This year, only about $28,000 was dedicated to leachate disposal.

“You never budget for worst-case scenario,” said Stephen King, the county’s solid waste director.

In years with uncharacteristically heavy rains, the county must tap its contingency budget to fund the collection of the leachate.

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Tourism-driven growth in Cherokee burdens sewer system

BY CAITLIN BOWLING STAFF WRITER he tribal council for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians recently approved a $28 million upgrade for the sewage treatment plant, which will double the capacity and accommodate demand fueled in part by growth of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.

The treatment plant was first built in 1984 and could process 900,000 gallons of sewage daily. In 1997, however, the plant was updated, and its capacity more than tripled to 3 million gallons a day. After the planned expansion starting early next year, its capacity will double to 6 million gallons.

“It was just a matter of how much growth we’ve seen and how much growth is projected,” said Ken Green, lead engineer with the tribe.

The upgrade is much needed, especially since the $633 million expansion of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Resort and the anticipated addition of a massive family adventure park in Cherokee. The casino has not only increased guests coming to the resort itself — a number soon to top 4 million a year — but it has also led to people working in Cherokee and con-

T

tributing indirectly to tourism increases beyond casino property.

The need for additional capacity wasn’t unexpected.

“We did plan for some big usage,” Green said.

Although 3 million gallons is still enough capacity to handle the current demand, as Cherokee continues to develop, the wastewater treatment plant could eventually find itself maxed out — something the tribe hopes to avoid by upgrading its system now.

“That is kind of where you start planning for your development,” Green said.

On a typical day, the plant only reaches half or two-thirds capacity, leaving plenty of cushion should an influx of sewage flow in. But, heavy rainfalls or snows can flood the sewage system and lead to overflows of untreated wastewater into streams or the nearby Oconaluftee River.

“That is where we have a problem,” Green said.

The expansion will help safeguard against that.

The tribe has admitted that a few overflows have occurred at the wastewater treatment plant. Overflows sparked a lawsuit against the tribe by a nearby resident, alleging that untreated sewage has occasionally spilled

March. Construction is expected to take two years.

The struggle, Green said, will be finding a contractor experienced enough to handle to expansion.

“That is the real trick of getting someone to work for you,” Green said, adding that they don’t want any mishaps like a broken pipe delaying the project or causing a hazard.

The wastewater treatment plant will remain online throughout the construction.

“The plant will stay in operaA manhole after untreated wastewater allegedly spilled tion right up into the time the new onto a tribal member’s land. stuff comes on,” Green said.

The upgrades will include four new concrete tanks to hold the out of a manhole cover onto her property. The additional sewage as well as more charcoal filcase is still pending. ters to control the odor that the sewage emits.

The increase in capacity is estimated to The plan also calls for new pipes to carry carry the reservation through the next 20 sewage along the Oconaluftee River to the years without any need for upgrades. But, wastewater treatment plant.

Green said, that all depends on how quickly Workers have already started laying 20,000 Cherokee grows. feet of a 36-inch diameter sewer line leading to “If economic development and growth the plant. That project is expected to be comcontinues really strong, we may have to plete by this summer. address it in 15 years,” Green said.

The tribe will borrow part or all of the $28 The tribe will open bids from contractors million to cover the cost of both the expansion sometime around the New Year and actual within the plant and some ancillary projects work will begin sometime in February or with the waterlines.

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Opinion

Smoky Mountain News

Income disparity much more than a campaign issue I

Jackson commissioners off the mark on tourism

To the Editor: As a nearly 50-year-veteran of the tourism industry and one of the “authors” of the Florida accommodation tax legislation in the 1970s I must underscore the importance of preventing politicians from having anything to do with the execution of any marketing plans.

Commissioner Jack Debman insists on referring to the monies derived from tourists who pay the bed tax as being “local taxpayer monies” and thus should be under the oversight of the local county commissioners.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Except in a very rare instance, a resident of Jackson County will not be paying the bed tax.

It is a tax levied nearly 100 percent on out-ofcounty, out-of-state visitors and therefore is not a tax accountable to local politicians.

How many of the local commissioners are experts or even marginally knowledgeable about tourism marketing? One that I know of, and his business caters more to the affluent visitors, unlike the rest of Jackson County.

The county government should, like most counties, be a conduit for collecting and dispersing funds only in accordance with the approved expenditures by the tourism board.

In other words, let the board operate without political influence. The money should be in a separate account managed by the tourism board and spent according to the best interest

“redistribute” their wealth.

Let’s bring this down to earth. To begin with, it’s not business owners on Main Street in Waynesville or Sylva or in like places across the nation who are part of the problem. These local entrepreneurs may make 50 percent or 100 percent more than their employees. Maybe if those business owners are really successful and have a little luck, they pay themselves two or three times what their workers make. Perhaps a few of those success stories have a couple of really good years where they sock away 10 times what their workers earn and can see a safe retirement in their future.

These business owners will pay 33 to 35 percent in taxes. These are the people doing it right, keeping jobs in comEditor munities and putting their money into local businesses and charities.

The average CEO of a large company made 50 times more money than the average worker back in the 1970s. Today, the average CEO of the same-sized company makes almost 300 times more than the average worker. Do the math on that.

These are the companies that we are told are too big to fail, the ones the government rescues and props up and that politicians on both sides of the aisle depend on for campaign contributions and PAC support.

Here’s the truth of it. Wages have been declining for almost four decades for everyone except the top 20 percent, yet the GDP has been steadily rising. In my basic understanding of

Scott McLeod

’m a late-blooming entrepreneur from a lower middle-class upbringing. My parents came from farming and mill-town childhoods, and they bought wholesale into the part of the American dream that told them their children, through education and hard work, will do better. But their faith in my ability to move up in the world stands in stark contrast to what many Americans can expect for their own children today. In fact, since the 1970s real income for the bottom 80 percent of American families has declined. Eighty percent. That sounds preposterous, but it’s the sad truth.

This election will be decided (hopefully) when this edition of The Smoky Mountain News hits the streets. But no matter who wins, it’s this issue — which became a hot-button campaign topic — that will haunt me for the next few years. How can this have happened in this country? How has a nation that has always prided itself on egalitarian and capitalist principles let this kind of economic stratification become the norm?

Some may have been distracted by the politicizing of this issue to grasp its message: today the top 1 percent of Americans control 43 percent of the financial wealth while the bottom 80 percent control only 7 percent of the wealth. Incredibly, the wealthiest 400 Americans have the same combined wealth as the poorest 150 million people, about half the country.

Many are trying to convince you that those who are outraged by this disparity are advocating some sort of socialist fix.

That is politics, not reality. In truth, we should wonder why we have a society – and a government – that lets those making these outrageous amounts at the top of the scale somehow feel they deserve so much, that “the government” should not

to expand tourism expenditures within the borders of the county.

Unfortunately, what I see is too many political hands stirring the pot locally.

Appoint the tourism board, let them make the decisions for expenditures and the county pay the bills accordingly from the tourism fund.

As one on the sidelines and having dealt with many, many forms of “boards” in the tourism industry, we are making it a complicated issue to the detriment of the local businesses who either rely on or cater to out-ofcounty visitors.

While I respect what the county officials are responsible for in the daily operations of Jackson County, this is not a place for them to have control or final say so.

David Redman Sylva

Election is over, so use newfound time wisely To the Editor: I am writing this letter in celebration that the elections are now over.

I will not miss the never-ending supply of politically charged letters and opinions to the editor that have been inundating your publication over the past few months. It’s like having a bad case of poison oak flare up every time there is an election. While I am glad to see my fellow countrymen and women participate in the political process, I am often taken back by the

economics, that means more money is coming into the overall economy, but those at the very top are taking more than ever.

Americans celebrate capitalism and all its promise. We idolize our system of economic mobility, and there will always have to be winners and losers. But when the very rich don’t think the working people deserve a better standard of living, then the core of our political belief system won’t hold. Yes, the poor have big-screen TVs and smart phones, but they can’t afford to send their kids to college, don’t have access to decent health care, and are staring down a retirement and old age without the means to live out a modest life. The trifles don’t buy security.

Since this has become an election issue, new reports are surfacing that point to the social cohesion that occurs when income disparity shrinks. People at both ends of the spectrum feel better, and the economy does better. Just two weeks ago, a group of top CEOs said they would be willing to pay more in taxes if they could trust the government to spend wisely.

The answer to this whole issue is in an overhaul of the tax system. Say what you want, but small- and medium-sized businesses, and individuals in the bottom half (or more) of the income brackets need to pay less. Huge corporations that pay executives millions in bonuses need to pay more, as do those CEOs themselves. It’s simple from the outside looking in.

Demanding that our leaders create a fair system is not class warfare. Class warfare is what we will have if things keep heading the way they are now.

(Scott McLeod can be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)

general belief that publishing one’s political views in such a one-sided format has any effect other than irritation to others.

So it occurred to me, what will the plethora of political one-hit wonder writers do with all their free time until the next election cycle?

May I suggest the following: find a worthwhile humanitarian project to support; volunteer at a church, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, nursing home or hospital; cut some fire wood for someone who needs help with heating this winter; collect some can goods and support a local food pantry; be a mentor to some children who might need a positive role model in their life. The list goes on and on.

I have personally found that taking this approach creates a sense of individual responsibility and respect that begins to eclipse the need to focus so boldly on what politicians stand for and more importantly the need to publish such views in a paper. True hope and change begins within ourselves and how we act upon meeting the needs of others. God Bless.

Kevin Sandefur Waynesville

Points about Mormonism obviously misunderstood To the Editor: Your correspondent William Fisher has written a constructive response to my recent letter about religion and politics, which

deserves an explanatory reply.

To begin with, he has overlooked one important word in my letter — “among.” I said that the Mormon notions I cited were “among their beliefs” — thereby recognizing (though not stating) that there were others of a more familiar nature. No doubt adherents can make a strong case for the virtues of Mormonism. I readily acknowledge that they share with Christians general beliefs in God, Jesus, the Bible, salvation, eternal life, and other basic doctrines — though specific interpretations of these vary widely. But “the devil is in the details,” and to these we must also give attention.

It is natural that encyclopedias, needing to be concise, tend to present only the positive and widely accepted aspects of a topic. It is also understandable that websites and promotional materials, seeking to be enticing, tend to gloss over or ignore entirely elements they would rather not be known. For these reasons, my summary of some Mormon teachings focused on the latter kind, and drew primarily on original sources.

The sentences in what Mr. Fisher calls a “mishmash” are condensations of paragraphs in the following Mormon documents: Foreword to the Book of Mormon; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Joseph Fielding Smith; Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints; writings of Lorenzo Snow, Mormon president, 1898-1901; Sermon of Brigham Young, Deseret News, June 18, 1873; Journal of Discourses of Brigham Young; and

To the Editor: Almost all actions of politicians have unintended consequences. In times of tragedies their mistakes are amplified. Last week, before, during and after “Super Storm” Sandy hit the northeastern United States, governors and attorneys general in that part of the country put out blanket warnings that violators of laws against price gouging laws (laws meant to protect consumers from “excessive” pricing of essential goods and services during emergencies) would be thoroughly investigated and

tasteTHEmountains 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 AMMONS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANT & DAIRY BAR 1451 Dellwwod Rd., Waynesville.

828.926.0734. Open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Celebrating our 25th year. Enjoy world famous hot dogs as well as burgers, seafood, hushpuppies, hot wings and chicken. Be sure to save room for dessert. The cobbler, pie and cake selections are sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.

ANTHONY WAYNE’S 37 Church St, Waynesville. 828.456.6789.

Open for lunch Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; open for dinner Thursday-Saturday 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Exceptional, new-American cuisine, offering several gluten free items.

BIG MOUNTAIN BBQ 79 Elysina Ave., Waynesville.

828.454.0720. Open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 11

a.m. to 4 p.m. Offering a wide selection of traditional hickory smoked BBQ, pork, chicken, beef and ribs. All complimented by homemade sides and desserts. Full service catering for special events.

BLUE RIDGE BBQ COMPANY 180 N. Main St., Waynesville.

828.452.7524. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. TuesdayThursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. FridaySaturday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Blue Ridge BBQ is a family owned and operated restaurant. The BBQ is slow hardwood smoked, marinated in its own juices, and seasoned with mountain recipes. All menu items made from scratch daily. Featuring homemade cornbread salad, fresh collard greens, or cornbread and milk at your request. Old-fashioned homemade banana pudding and fruit cobbler of the season.

Catering, take-out, eat-in. blueridgebbq@gmail.com.

BLUE ROOSTER SOUTHERN GRILL 207 Paragon Parkway, Clyde, Lakeside Plaza at the old Wal-Mart. 828.456.1997.

Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friendly and fun family atmosphere. Local, handmade Southern cuisine. Now offering a full homemade breakfast menu. Also fresh-cut salads; slowsimmered 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. Call-ahead seating available.

• Great Friendly Staff • Call ahead for to go orders • Great homemade breakfast • Old-fashion homemade burgers Hours: Mon.-Fri.: 6a.m.- 4p.m. • Sat.: 6a.m. - 2p.m.

Smoky Mountain News

Consequences of intervention not so good

brought to justice for violations. While these actions may be reasonable to the emotional observer, when one applies economic logic to the circumstance it is easy to understand how laws against price gouging have actually caused the current gasoline shortages in the Northeast.

In essence, anti-price gouging laws are price controls. That is to say, they prevent suppliers of goods from charging market prices if those prices are deemed excessive by government. Needless to say, since suppliers are not in the business of losing money, when the price of any good exceeds a government mandated maximum price, suppliers will stop supplying that good. They obviously are not going to sell an item at a loss, as that is a sure recipe to put yourself out of business.

Consequently, a shortage of that good develops. We have seen this happen time and again, most notably with beef during the Nixon price controls in the early 1970s and rental properties in New York City under rent controls.

So how does this apply to the current gasoline shortages experienced by motorists in the Northeast?

Faced with threats by state officials including reductions in profits, fines, directives to set up reimbursement funds, and other penalties, merchants were intimidated to comply with the anti-price gouging laws.

Consequently, a critically important market mechanism was prevented from kicking in – namely rising prices in the face of potential shortages caused by disruptions to market flow.

You see, in the free market something valued that is in short supply will always cost more than it does under regular market conditions. That is why the price of meat rises when there is a drought. Instead of a drought, the supply of gasoline to the Northeast has been disrupted by a storm.

Although they are different climatic events, the effect is the same. Yet governors and attorneys general prevented gas suppliers from raising gas prices to meet market conditions. Because of anti-price gouging laws, consumers were able to purchase gasoline before Sandy at below market prices. It’s no wonder this temporary price control on gasoline has caused shortages in their states.

Demand was allowed to exceed supply. If the market were left to its own devices, prices would have been allowed to rise and there would be gasoline in New York City right now for emergency use.

But instead, state officials imposed a cap so every Tom, Dick, and Harry could fill up their tanks unnecessarily before the storm.

At the end of the day, anti-price gouging laws are indicative of how we have been running our economy for decades. All sorts of schemes have been implemented to help the poor, homeowners, consumers, students, the sick, the handicapped, etc, etc, etc… They all come with unintended consequences because they are based on emotions not logic. During normal times their consequences are bad enough. In times of tragedy they simply make things worse.

Kenn Jacobine Haywood County

November 7-13, 2012

Doctrine and Covenant Stories, a picture book for Mormon children (page references available on request). The only non-Mormon sources used were denominational pamphlets about Mormonism, published, no doubt, to warn their adherents against the tactics of Mormon home visitations.

Not being a scholar in these matters, I have been greatly helped in identifying these teachings and their sources by a friend and retired deacon in Florida who has researched them more fully than I. The Bible, the Quran, and the Book of Mormon all contain both uplifting and less savory elements — as do the religions they inform. The Mormon website presents the positive side of its religion, but makes no mention of the aspects described in my letter. Hence, many may not even know of them.

However, adherents, supporters, and inquirers of any faith need to be aware of and acknowledge its “feet of clay” — and then decide whether the assets outweigh the liabilities. The intent of my letter was to point out the inconsistency of making fallacious charges about Obama’s religion while ignoring the more bizarre aspects of Romney’s. I don’t want to let people ignore the latter, or pretend they don’t exist, by just looking at the glossy print materials and website presentations.

For example, the Mormon website proudly asserts that the “Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints,” by virtue of its name, is a “Christian Church.” However, its name is not to be found in the list of 37 member denominations of the National Council of Churches, or the 349 member churches of the World Council of Churches, or the 12 members and 109 associates of the World Evangelical Alliance. Instead, they energetically seek to win people away from those churches and into their own. Within the community of Christian churches, this practice is considered unethical and is colloquially labeled “sheep-stealing.” (A congregation I once served was gravely upset by having some of our faithful members persuaded by home visits of Mormon missionaries to leave us and join their movement.)

I am sorry if some were offended by my letter. I only sought to get a fuller picture before us.

Doug Wingeier Waynesville

1092 N. Main Street Waynesville, N.C. 28786

828-452-4252

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BOGART’S 35 East Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6532.

Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Serving classic American food and drink in a casual environment. Daily lunch and dinner specials. Children’s menu available.

Call for catering quotes. Private room available for large parties. Accepts MC/Visa, Discover and American Express.

BRYSON CITY BAKERY AND PASTRY SHOPPE 191 Everett St., Bryson City. 828.488.5390 Offering a full line of fresh baked goods like Grandma used to make. Large variety to choose from including cakes, pies, donuts, breads, cinn-buns and much more. Also serving Hershey Ice Cream. Open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

CATALOOCHEE RANCH 119 Ranch Dr., Maggie Valley.

828.926.1401. Mile-high mountaintop dining with a spectacular view. Join us for cookouts on the terrace on weekends and Wednesdays (weather permitting) and familystyle dinners on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. Our bountiful family-style meals include prime rib, baked ham, and herb-baked chicken; cookouts feature steaks, ribs, chicken and pork chops, to name a few.

Every dinner is complemented with an assortment of seasonal vegetables, homemade breads, jellies and desserts, and we offer a fine selection of wine and beer.

Breakfast is also served daily from 8 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch from 12 to 2 p.m. Please call for reservations.

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

ARTISAN BREADS & PASTRIES

NOW ACCEPTING Thanksgiving orders for pies or rolls. Call or stop by to place your order.

Smoky Mountain News

tasteTHEmountains

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.

BREAKFAST • LUNCH

CORK AND BEAN 16 Everett St., Bryson City. 828.488.1934.

Open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy organic, fairtrade, gourmet espresso and coffees, a select, eclectic list of wines, and locally prepared treats to go with every thing. Come by early and enjoy a breakfast crepe with a latte, grab a grilled chicken pesto crepe for lunch, or wind down with a nice glass of red wine.

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.

CORNERSTONE CAFÉ 1092 N. Main Street, Waynesville.

828.452.4252. Open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fresh meats purchased daily, great homemade breakfast, burgers made to order.

Comfortable and friendly atmosphere, with curb service available. Make lunch easy and call ahead for to go orders.

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.

FRANKIE’S ITALIAN TRATTORIA 1037 Soco Rd. Maggie Valley.

828.926.6216 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

TAKE-OUT • EAT-IN • CATERING

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Scratch-Made Fresh Daily

The Swag Gift Shop

18 North Main Street Waynesville • 452.3881 MON-FRI: 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

SAT: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. SUN: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Father and son team Frank and Louis Perrone cook up dinners steeped in Italian tradition. With recipies passed down from generations gone by, the Perrones have brought a bit of Italy to Maggie Valley. frankiestrattoria.com FROGS LEAP PUBLIC HOUSE 44 Church St. Downtown Waynesville 828.456.1930 Serving lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed Mondays. Frogs Leap is a farm to table restaurant focused on local, sustainable, natural and organic products prepared in modern regional dishes. Seasonal menu focuses on Southern comfort foods with upscale flavors. Come for the restaurant’s 4 @ 4 when you can choose a center and three sides at special prices. Offered Wed- Fri. from 4 to 6. frogsleappublichouse.org.

GUADALUPE CAFÉ 606 W. Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.9877.

Open 7 days a week at 5 p.m. Located in the historic Hooper’s Drugstore, Guadalupe Café is a chef-owned and operated restaurant serving Caribbean inspired fare complimented by a quirky selection of wines and microbrews. Supporting local farmers of organic produce, livestock, hand-crafted cheese, and using sustainably harvested seafood.

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.

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.

LOS AMIGOS 366 Russ Ave. in the Bi-Lo Plaza.

828.456.7870. Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch and 5 to 10 p.m. for dinner Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the lunch prices Monday through Sunday, also enjoy our outdoor patio.

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COPPER LEAF CAFÉ & COFFEE 3232 Dellwood Rd., Waynesville.

828.926.4486. Open Monday thru Saturday 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Enjoy the atmosphere and charm of the Copper Leaf Café’s signature sandwiches and salads featuring Boar’s Head meats & cheeses. Home-made soups served daily as well as “made from scratch” desserts. Full service Espresso Bar and a unique selection of gifts. Located next to High Country Furniture and Design.

2300 SWAG ROAD WAYNESVILLE

828.926.0430 • TheSwag.com

Thanksgiving Dinner: 12 noon - 6pm

UNIQUE GIFTS BY LOCAL ARTISTS Artwork • Apparel • Pottery Ornaments • Books • Jewelry Handmade in America Gifts

Make your reservations now and let us do the cooking.

LOCATED OFF JONATHAN CREEK RD/HWY 276 & HEMPHILL RD

Wednesday through Sunday 4:30 to 9 Located at Smoky Falls Lodge

Traditional Turkey & Prime Rib with limited menu items available.

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MAD BATTER BAKERY & CAFÉ Located on the WCU Campus in Cullowhee.

828.293.3096. Open Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Earth-friendly foods at people-friendly prices.

Daily specials, wraps, salads, pastries, breads, soups and more. Unique fare, friendly service, casual atmosphere and wireless Internet. Organic ingredients, local produce, gourmet fair trade and organic coffees.

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 loacted in the Smoky Falls Lodge. 828.926.7440.

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 4:30 to 9 p.m.; lunch Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Sunday buffet 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 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

ITALIAN

OLD STONE INN 109 Dolan Road, off Love Lane.

828.456.3333. Classic fireside dining in an historic mountain lodge with cozy, intimate bar. Dinner served nightly except Sunday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Signature dinner choices include our 8oz. filet of beef in a brandied peppercorn sauce and a garlic and herb crusted lamb rack. Carefully selected fine wines and beers plus full bar available. Open year round. Call for reservations.

PASQUALE’S 1863 South Main Street, Waynesville. Off exit 98, 828.454.5002. Opend 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.

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.

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. Live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday. TIki Bar open (weather permitting) Friday, Saturday & Sunday beginning April.

OPEN FOR LUNCH & DINNER 7 DAYS A WEEK 1863 S. MAIN ST. WAYNESVILLE 828.454.5002 HWY. 19/23 EXIT 98

FRIDAY • NOV. 9 • 8 PM

BLUES MOUNTAIN

SATURDAY • NOV. 10• 8 PM

GRAMMER SCHOOL & TOTAL WAR Tues.- Fri. 11a-9p & Sat. 12 noon - ‘til

628 E. Main Street • Sylva 828.586.1717 • soulinfusion.com

TAP ROOM SPORTS BAR & GRILL 176 Country Club Dr. Waynesville 828.456.5988. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Enjoy soups, sandwiches, salads and hearty appetizers along with a full bar menu in our casual, smoke-free neighborhood grill.

THE SWAG COUNTRY INN Hemphill Road off of Hwy 276.

828.926.0430. Serving a 4-course gourmet dinner seven nights a week at 7:00, with a social hour and hors d'oeuvres on the dog trot beginning at 6. Also offering the chef's gourmet picnic at noon every Wednesdays on Gooseberry Knob, BBQ Cookout every Thursday night and Sunday brunch each week. Daily backpack lunches are also available for hiking. Bring your own wine and spirits. Reservations required.

THE TIKI HOUSE SEAFOOD & OYSTER BAR 2723 Soco Road, Maggie Valley.

828.944.0445. Fresh seafood made to order.

Oysters raw, steamed, or fried. Hand-cut steaks. Live music, cocktails, pet-friendly patio dining with a nice fountain. Friday patio music starts at 7 p.m. and Saturday night after dinner. Live bands and a dance floor.

THE WINE BAR 20 Church Street, downtown Waynesville.

828.452.6000. Underground cellar for wine and beer, served by the glass all day. Cheese and tapas served Wednesday through Saturday 4 p.m.-9 p.m. or later. info@classicwineseller.com. Also on facebook and twitter.

Join us for

Thanksgiving dinner Thursday November 22nd Includes a full variety of delicious buffet including carved roasted turkey, prime rib, honey baked ham, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce & many other holiday favorites!

$24.95 - Adults $12.50 - Children.

Call 828-926-4848 for reservations

1819 Country Club Dr Maggie Valley, NC 28751 828-926-4848 maggievalleyclub.com

71093

Bridget’s Bistro

MEDITERRANEAN

JOIN US FOR AUTUMN ON THE PATIO ————————————

SPEEDY’S PIZZA 285 Main Street, Sylva. 828.586.3800.

Open seven days a week. Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday 3 p.m.-11 p.m., Sunday 4 p.m.-10 p.m. Family-owned for 30 years. Serving hand-tossed pizza made to order, pasta, subs, gourmet salads, calzones and seafood. Also serving excellent prime rib on Thursdays. Dine in or take out available.

Located across from the Fire Station.

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Smoky Mountain News

71234

NEWFOUND LODGE RESTAURANT 1303 Tsali Blvd, Cherokee (Located on 441 North at entrance to GSMNP).

828.497.4590. Open 7 a.m. daily.

Established in 1946 and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Family style dining for adults and children.

SOUL INFUSION TEA HOUSE & BISTRO 628 E. Main St. (between Sylva Tire & UPS).

828.586.1717. Tuesday-Friday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday noon -until. Scrumptious, natural, fresh soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. 60+ teas served hot or cold, black, chai, herbal. Seasonal and rotating draft beers, good selection of wine. HomeGrown Music Network Venue with live music most weekends. Pet friendly and kid ready.

November 7-13, 2012

MILL & MAIN 462 W. Main St., Sylva. 828.586.6799.

Serving lunch and dinner. 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

Tuesday-Saturday. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Pizza, pasta, outstanding homemade desserts, plus full lunch and dinner menus.

All ABC permits. Take-out menus available.

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.

180 N. Main Street | Waynesville NC Catering | Take out | Dine-in

94 East St. • Waynesville Book your holiday party now — 828-452-7837 For details & menus see www.herrenhouse.com Serving Lunch Wed-Fri 11:30-2 & Sunday Brunch 11-2

68585

LUCIO'S RESTAURANT 313 Highlands Road, Franklin.

828.369.6670. Serving Macon County since 1984. Closed Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

Lunch Wednesday-Friday 11:30 a.m. until.Dinner Wednesday-Saturday 5 p.m. until. Owned and operated by Tanya and Dorothy Gamboni. Serving authentic Italian and continental cuisine including appetizers, pastas, poultry, veal, seafood, steaks and homemade deserts. Selection of wine and beer. Lunch and Dinner menus. Wednesday and Thursday nights only. 1 appetizer and 2 selected entrées with unlimited salad and Lucio’s famous garlic rolls for $24.95.

Winter Special: half-off house wines, Friday and Saturday only. luciosnc.com

828-452-7524

blueridgebbq@gmail.com Closed Monday | Tue - Thursday 11:00-8:00 | Fri- Saturday 11:00- 9:00 | Sunday 11:00- 4:00

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22

A&E

Smoky Mountain News

&

ART

aspiration in Appalachia

focusing on each pupil’s strength pushed the budding artist to simply enjoy the process of creation, and not to worry about all the details of career choices.

“From the first art class, he took us and guided us,” she said. “He was really patient. He did a great job in taking each student individually and figuring out what their strengths were and their learning styles.”

Though she found a personal satisfaction in her work, Alexander was still unsure about making a stable existence out of it, even when she was in college working toward her eventual BFA (Painting/Drawing) from the University of North Carolina in Asheville. She had, and still does, toy with the idea of teaching, but between the immense support of her family and her antsy hands, she took the plunge into her passion.

“The idea of doing this slowly developed as I thought, ‘Can I really do this with my life?’ and figuring out ways to make that happen,” she said.

After she received her degree, Alexander decided to leave the area and start from scratch in a fresh environment. She got married and moved to Columbia, S.C., but soon began longing for the unique beauty of

Western North Carolina. She couldn’t shake the things that inspired her so much when she was developing her craft.

“It’s definitely the landscape. This is an inspirational place to live in, with all the beautiful scenery, weather and people. The light here changes from second to second,” she said. “In school, I couldn’t wait to leave this place. Then,

F

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER At first glance toward her work, you think Sara Alexander is a great photographer.

At second glance, you realize that’s not a picture, but a painting. The detailed, vibrant canvas is straight from the talented hands of a rising star in the Western North Carolina art scene.

Alexander lived in Florida until her family moved to Western North Carolina when she was 11. She knew from a very young age that she not only could create art, but also that she wanted to pursue something within the field.

Sara Alexander “The first time I realized I was good at it was in preschool,” said the 24-year-old, whose maiden name was Bernardi.

“I did the cover for the Thanksgiving production, and I was kind of excited about that.

Throughout school, I took art classes and I really liked it.”

When she got to Tuscola High School, it was art teacher Bill Eleazer that saw something in Alexander. His methods of positive support and

six months after I graduated college and moved away, I knew I had to come back.”

And as her quest down the rugged road of individual artistic freedom commenced, she began showcasing and selling her work.

The first piece she sold for commission was for a family friend, who wanted a painting of a city streetscape in Ft. Lauderdale, something that reminded him of the avenues he strolled as a youngster.

“I was really nervous. It took me a while to get to the point when I felt ready to give it to him. I wanted it to be right,” she laughed.

But, the piece was a success, and Alexander built upon that milestone. Using oil with her painting, which she said is easier to blend with “wetinto-wet,” she also works extensively in graphite pencil drawings and dabbles with sculpture, wood crafting and jewelry, in which she’s learning the skills needed to weld. She finds herself in this creative candy store and, by the looks of it, has a sweet tooth for anything she can get her hands on.

Growing up, Alexander had aspirations to be a mechanical engineer. Now an artist, the mindset of an engineer hasn’t left her. To curb the difficulties of the creative process, she comes up with an idea or concept for a piece and starts making a list.

“So, I have this problem I want to solve and I use a list to figure out how to solve the problem,” she said. “From there, once I got what elements I want in the piece, I start thinking about composition and how things are going to go together.”

Light, and the moods that angle and time of day create, is a common theme in her work.

She harnesses the mystery and charm of sunlight and shadows. If there’s a landscape she finds appealing, she’ll

Using oil, with a “wet-into-wet” blending technique, Haywood County artist Sara Alexander creates landscapes and still-life images representing people, places and things she finds fascinating in Western North Carolina.

SINGLES WORSHIP

Gary Carden on the porch of his Sylva home.

70689

Higher Ground Singles

Bookstore PAMELA KING CABLE will read

1st & 3rd Fridays, 6:30 p.m. | In The Venue

from her book Televenge

Bowling — Sat., Nov. 10

Friday, Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Singles Lunch — Sun., Nov. 25 12:30 p.m. | Nick n’ Nates Waynesville Study Groups • Activities • Service Projects • Outings

Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church 828.550.4650 | highergroundssingles.org

BETTY CORY will present her memoir,

arts & entertainment

Garret K. Woodward photo

Crabbing Days of an Islander Saturday, Nov. 10 at 2 p.m.

3 EAST JACKSON STREET • SYLVA

828/586-9499 • citylightsnc.com

Carden receives prestigious state award

S

Etsy.com, a site where artists of all walks of life can sell and promote their work. Those interested can view her work on her own site (www.SaraAlexanderArt.com) and on Facebook. She is looking to further establish herself in the region, hopefully getting some of her pieces in galleries around Waynesville and Asheville. It’s the first steps in a long journey, but Alexander is excited for the twists and turns an artist will confront, overcome and embrace. “It’s more that I can’t not do it. There’s a drive there that I wouldn’t be happy if I couldn’t create something,� she said. “You start with this blank canvas and by the end there is something you made. There’s a lot of satisfaction in that. I have to do it.�

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Smoky Mountain News

take photographs of a location and transfer it to a canvas. The results within each painting are warm and inviting. But, for still-life drawings, she purposely shapes a darker, more humorous emotion. “It’s so perplexing. There are so many things you can explore within light. The possibilities are endless, which is why I think I’ve been interested in it for so long,� she said. “You take an apple and put it on a table, with just daylight, and then you turn off all the lights, block the window, put a spotlight on it and it becomes so dramatic, but nothing has changed except the light. I like making everyday things appear different.�

Now residing in Maggie Valley, Alexander recently set up shop online through

“This is not for ‘Outlander’,� he adamantly said. “This is a lifetime achievement award.�

The play, which has stirred controversy and fluid conversation among different Kephart camps, was featured in Sept. 12 issue of The Smoky Mountain News — one of the first media outlets to announce his receiving the North Carolina Award.

He said there are plans in the works for Sylva to have a day in his honor this month.

Until then, you can find him rocking slowly on his porch, with his trusty dog Jack by his side. A true icon of Southern Appalachia lore and culture, Carden looks back on his work with pride, but with one eye always on the next project, next move into whatever literary projects he’ll surely dip his pen into.

Other 2012 honorees included Dr. B. Jayant Baliga for science, Lou Donaldson and Thomas Sayre for fine arts, and Janice Faulkner and Ambassador Bonnie McElveenHunter for public service.

November 7-13, 2012

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD STAFF WRITER ylva native and renowned Southern Appalachian storyteller Gary Carden received the North Carolina Award for Literature, the state’s highest honor, on Oct. 30 at a ceremony in the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. He personally received the honor from Gov. Bev Perdue for his body of work, which includes poetry, short stories and plays about the mystical people and places around Western North Carolina. “Well, I have been to Raleigh and was wined and dined by the governor,� he said in his usual humor. “I have an award hanging around my neck that weighs about three pounds and a plaque that extols my talents.�

According to Carden, his latest creation, the play “Outlander� about famed Appalachian chronicler Horace Kephart, was a catalyst for the achievement, but the real accolades come from decades of artist pursuits involving pen and paper.

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arts & entertainment

Band invited to perform Percussion ensemble at championships to perform at WCU Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band will attend the Bands of America Grand National Championships as a featured-performance exhibition band Nov. 8-10 in Indianapolis.

Each year, the top 90 high school marching bands in America convene at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, to vie for the title of the National Marching Band Champion. This year, the Pride of the Mountains was invited to perform at this prestigious event viewed by more than 25,000 participants, family members and enthusiasts. The band will perform at 2 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 9 during the second round of preliminary competition and again Saturday, Nov. 10 at the conclusion of the national semifinal round. www.prideofthemountains.com.

Western Carolina University Percussion Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, in the recital hall of the Coulter Building on campus.

Under the direction of Mario Gaetano, WCU professor of music, the percussion ensemble consists of 15 music majors from Gaetano’s percussion studio. The group performs works specifically composed or arranged for percussion instruments, including drums, xylophones, marimba and timpani.

The concert will include “Blue Rhythm Quintet” by Anthony Korf, “Mother Earth, Father Sky” by Ney Rosauro, “Essences of the Four Signs” by David Long, “Teamwork” by Lynn Glassock and an arrangement of Bach’s “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”

The event is free and open to the public.

828.227.7242.

Tickets on sale for Little Big Town

Smoky Mountain News

November 7-13, 2012

Tickets for Little Big Town in Cherokee are now available through Ticketmaster. The renowned country group will be performing at 7:30 p.m. March 2 at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center.

Little Big Town has been on top of the Billboard Country Albums Chart for several weeks with their critically acclaimed new album “Tornado,” featuring the band’s platinum selling hit “Pontoon.” Their previous albums produced several hits including “Boondocks,” “Little White Church,” and “Bring It On Home,” amongst others. They’ve had nominations at the Grammy Awards, the Country Music Association Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards and the CMT Music Awards.

800.745.3000 or www.ticketmaster.com.

N

WCU’s Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. WCU photo

Sylva hosts special candlelit art stroll

Musical family visits Franklin

Renowned variety group The Lowe Family will be performing at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.

The unique group offers a blend of show stopping classical, Broadway, Irish, jazz, bluegrass and gospel music, which they bring to life with an amazing six-part harmony that has pleased audiences around the world for over 25 years.

Versatile on more than 50 instruments, The Lowe Family has distinguished themselves as supreme performers across the globe and has earned the honor of being known as America’s Most Talented Family. Their music is accompanied by spectacular dance routines and a high-energy, fast-paced variety show. www.GreatMountainMusic.com or 866.273.4615.

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Luminaries will light the way on Friday, Nov. 9, during a special candlelit Sylva Art Stroll. Candles will light up the streets outside participating merchants to welcome strollers to shop, dine and explore the historic downtown.

Amid numerous businesses, Gallery 1 invites the public to a reception for a special art exhibit titled “The Square Foot Show” featuring art work no larger than one square foot, It’s By Nature will host demonstrations by three area artists in the mediums of clay, fiber and paper, Skinny Gallery will feature works by recent Western Carolina University art graduate Tom Pazderka, City Lights Cafe will showcase the exhibit “Southern Scenic Photography”

by Karen and Chris Mobley, Nichols House Antiques and Collectibles will present select pieces by fine art painter Audrey Hayes of Dillsboro, Survival Pride Clothing Store and Art Gallery will display art work by Smoky Mountain High School students, and Signature Brew Coffee Company will feature new art exhibits.

Presented by the Jackson County Visual

Arts Association (JVCAA) and the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Sylva Art Strolls continue through December on the second Fridays of each month.

828.337.3468 or www.mountainlovers.com.

Duo to perform at Macon library Two award-winning classically trained artists will perform traditional and contemporary works at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the main hall of the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.

Guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur have earned rave reviews in solo settings, as a duo, and with ensembles and orchestras in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Richter is a former US National Finger-Picking Champion and Uzur is former principal cellist and soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra. The event is supported by the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources.

828.524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

Harrah’s donates to food bank

Talk to discuss art after atomic bomb

Elin O’Hara Slavick, Distinguished Professor of Art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will give a public talk titled “Art after Aftermath” at 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in Room 130 of the John W. Bardo

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with authentic madrigal entertainment and costumes.

The menu will include a choice of three entrees (grilled pork loin chop with bourbon-apple glaze, honey-citrus glazed Cornish game hen, or a vegetarian plate featuring a shepherd’s pie) and will be served with wassail, salad, roasted garlic mashed new potatoes, honey-cinnamon glazed carrots, plum pudding, rolls, tea, water and coffee. Tables seat eight apiece.

Tickets are $37 ($22 for WCU students) and may be purchased in the University Center administrative offices or by phone.

828.227.7206.

Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. The event was originally scheduled for Oct. 29 but was cancelled due to weather concerns.

Slavick, primarily a photographer whose work is based on issues and ideas, will discuss her art and her curatorial activities. Most recently, she has focused on the aftermath of the atomic bomb. In her presentation, she will include photos of atomic bomb artifacts and images from her book Bomb after Bomb: A Violent Cartography. While at WCU, Slavick also will meet with and have critiques with graduate and undergraduate students.

Her visit is supported by the School of Art and Design’s Visiting Scholar Funds. The event is free and open to the public.

828.227.7210.

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SCC to observe Veteran’s Day In observance of Veteran’s Day, there will be a living history program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Cecil L. Groves Center at Southwestern Community College-Macon.

Activities include reenactments, music, campsite displays by veterans, card signings and memorabilia. Any veteran interested in participating should contact Cheryl Davids.

The event is free and open to the public.

828.306.7018.

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Smoky Mountain News

Manna Food Bank received a bounty of sweet potatoes, 342 pounds worth, grown and harvested in Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort’s HERO (Harrah’s Employee’s Reaching Out) garden. Volunteers from the HERO program learned to garden and planted the potatoes earlier in the year in an effort help end hunger in Western North Carolina and support Manna Food Bank.

Manna Food Bank has a region-wide distribution system and continues to collect, store and warehouse food items. Beginning in 2013, Manna Food Bank and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort will promote the “Grow a Row for Hunger” project, encouraging the gardening community to add an extra row in their garden to donate to the food bank. www.mannafoodbank.org or www.harrahscherokee.com.

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Tickets for the Madrigal Dinners at Western Carolina University are now on sale.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

Held annually since 1970, the Madrigal Dinners are reenactments of the pageantry, music and food of 16th-century England,

Fight Like A Girl! arts & entertainment

Madrigal Dinner tickets available

71086

WCU’s popular Madrigal Dinner is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 30. WCU photo

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arts & entertainment

Documentary series continues Nov. 13 at WCU Western Carolina University’s next film in its series from the Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers will be 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the theater of the A.K. Hinds University Center.

“Bag It,” a documentary about plastic bags, evolves into an investigation into plastic and its effect on the environment and people’s bodies.

While directors Michelle Hill and Suzan Beraza are unable to tour with the film, “Bag It” narrator and front man Jeb Berrier, an actor and host for a morning television show on Plum TV, is scheduled to appear on their behalf.

WCU’s Arts and Cultural Events series, or ACE, in collaboration with South Arts, sponsors the tour of independent films and filmmakers that provides communities across the South access to smaller films and opportunities to join film directors in discussion. All events are free and open to the public. Refreshments and a question-and-answer session will follow.

828.227.3622 or ledavis.wcu.edu or www.ace.wcu.edu.

Veteran’s Day ‘dinner and a movie’

Smoky Mountain News

November 7-13, 2012

The community is invited to attend “Dinner and a Movie” with a showing of “Courageous” from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day), at the High Street Baptist Church in Canton.

Dinner will be served in the fellowship hall from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The kid-friendly menu features

26

pizza, nachos, cookies and assorted soft drinks.

The movie begins at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. www.HighStreetBaptist.org or 828.648.8830.

An array of films showcased at library A handful of films will be shown at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.

Two films by Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai will headline the anime program from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. The program of anime, or Japanese animation, begins with a morning session featuring several popular Japanese-language TV shows. Then, after a brief intermission, the movie program begins at 1:20 p.m.

A 1937 musical comedy featuring Fred Astaire will be shown at 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. When a rumor spreads that young and wealthy Joan Fontaine will elope to marry an American, everyone assumes that it must be Astaire. While one schemer plots to bring them together, another plots to drive them apart and he has no idea why.

At 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13 Charlie Brown in a pickle as his erstwhile friends impose upon the hapless would-be-host to provide a memorable and traditional Thanksgiving feast. The library will also be giving away one free movie check out voucher to each patron who attends the movie.

All movies at the library are free and open to the public. The films are projected onto an 8-by-10-foot screen, with a theater-style sound system. Free popcorn and refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Marianna Black Library.

828.488.3030.

Strivers Row poets will bring their blend of spoken work performance to WCU’s Bardo Arts Center.

Poetry collective comes to WCU The Arts and Cultural Events Performance Series continues with The Strivers Row Poetry Show at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University.

The performance poetry collective performed at venues ranging from the Sundance Film Festival to President Obama’s evening of music and poetry at the White House. For the artists involved, poetry is not just a form of entertainment, but also a vehicle for transformation. The show is recommended for individuals age 16 and older. All tickets are $5.

828.227.2479 or bardoartscenter.wcu.edu.

The Lake Junaluska Peace Conference invites all students to attend a special peace discussion with Ms. Leymah Gbowee from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska.

Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work in stopping war in Liberia and she is one of the featured speakers at the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference. This session is free for students of all ages from middle/high school to college is part of this year’s theme: “Love in Action: the Transformative Power of Nonviolence.” Gbowee will address all conference attendees at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in Stuart Auditorium. Her address is open to the general public free of charge, but a donation is requested to help with the conference expenses. www.lakejunaluska.com/peace or 800.222.4930.

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arts & entertainment

Nobel Prize winner to speak at Lake Junaluska

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Smoky Mountain News

One Dozen Who Care (ODWC), a non-profit Community Development Corporation, recently moved to Franklin from Cherokee County to offer affordable classes in technology and other areas of learning that will further career possibilities.

A Microsoft Word class is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 14 and 21. The cost is $20 for each class.

You have been thinking about buying a digital camera, but which one? Attend the “Before you buy that digital camera” session from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 14 and 21.

Participants will learn the camera features you need to be familiar with and the camera accessories you should have so you can make an informed purchasing decision without overexposing your wallet.

ODWC is located at 245 Sloan Road, west of the K-Mart Shopping Center, just off the four-lane in Franklin.

828.369.2273 or 828.361.1941.

November 7-13, 2012

Kathryn Greeley, owner of Kathryn Greeley Designs, will be the speaker at the Women in Business luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, at The Gateway Club in Waynesville.

Titled “Professional Entertaining for the Holidays,” the event will have Greeley provide ideas and advice for attendees. Greeley has been providing professional interior design services for elegant lifestyles in the Southeast for more than 30 years. She is a professional member of the American Society of Interior Designers and is known for her gracious entertaining and expert knowledge of tabletop collections.

Women in Business in sponsored by the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. www.kathryngreeleydesigns.com or www.haywood-nc.com.

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Arts and crafts for kids arts & entertainment

Elementary school-aged children and their families are invited to ARTSaturday from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 10, in the Children’s Area of the Macon County Public Library.

Children will create take-home projects related to a Thanksgiving theme, including hand print turkeys and personalized 3-D cards. Keyboardist Lionel Caynon provides live music. There’s no pre-registration.

Children should wear play clothes and come for any part of the session. Adults will stay and work with their younger children. The event is free and open to the public. www.artscouncilofmacon.org or 828.524.7683.

Recent HCC Professional Crafts Wood graduate Samantha Mallard was winner in the Commercial/Office/Hospitality category with her Courting Chair at the International Woodworking Fair.

HCC grads win woodworking awards

The “Enchantment Under The Beard Dance,” held on Saturday, Oct. 20, by the Dixie Beard and Moustache Society (DBMS) at the Waynesville Elk’s Lodge, raised $600 for charity.

All of the ticket sales are to be split between two charities, which includes Warrior Service Dogs (WSD) and the Waynesville Elk’s Children’s Christmas. WSD provides training and supplies for disabled veterans and their dogs. The children’s

Theater presents a look at Fred Chappell

The Touring Theater of North Carolina will present “Look Back the Maytime Days: from the pages of Fred Chappell” at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Haywood Community College Auditorium in Clyde. There will also be a second performance that day at 7:30 p.m. in the Coulter Building at Western Carolina University.

Audiences will meet wise, eccentric, playful and profound members of Fred Chappell’s fictional family as they converse, expound and exaggerate. This production is an Appalachian rhapsody of voices taken from the ridges and hollows of the mountains of North Carolina and woven together with traditional mountain music. Chappell was born in Canton. He is the author of over two dozen books of poetry, fiction and criticism. He was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997-2002 and a N.C. Literary Hall of Fame inductee in 2006.

Both events are free and open to the public. At the close of the event, Chappell will be on hand for a book signing. www.haywood.edu or 828.227.7264.

November 7-13, 2012

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood graduate Samantha Mallard and current student Brandon Skupski won the Design Emphasis contest at the International Woodworking Fair.

Design Emphasis is an awards program geared toward offering design students an opportunity to demonstrate not only their talent, but also originality before a judging panel of furniture industry designers, manufacturing and retail executives, and members of the trade press who have design-oriented backgrounds.

Out of 150 entries from design schools across the country, 50 were selected as finalists.

Mallard was announced winner in the Commercial/Office/Hospitality category with her Courting Chair. Brandon Skupski claimed top finish in the Accent Furniture/Tables category for his X-Flat Table.

Beard/moustache nonprofit raises funds

Christmas provides much needed items for kids in Haywood County.

DBMS will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, at Pub 319 in Waynesville. www.dixiebeardandmoustachesociety.com.

Smoky Mountain News

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SCC to host craft festival Mountain Shapes and Colors Art and Craft Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in the Swain Center at Southwestern Community College.

The fair features a variety of arts and crafts, all made by local craftsmen and women from western North Carolina. The program will have the studios open to the public with demonstrations and workshops

throughout the day. There will be an opening of the wood and gas kilns during the festival.

SCC Clay Club will be offering two workshops to help raise funds for the club.

The first will be a Raku firing workshop.

For $10, participants can glaze a prethrown pot, and then have SCC Clay Club members fire it for them. The second workshop will feature painting ceramic holiday ornaments for $5. Both workshops are suitable for all ages and work will be ready for pick up by the end of the festival.

828.366.2000 or j_marley@southwesterncc.edu.

Books

Smoky Mountain News

29

For the love of local bookstores hen I was a child living in Boonville, N.C., a town of 600 people, my mother would load us into the station wagon twice a year — at the start of each new school year and at Christmas — and drive 25 miles to the Sears store in Winston-Salem.

That store was dinky by today’s standards, but to me it was a place of enchantment. The parking deck was on the store’s roof, and we would descend the stairs into a palace of delights: the odor of roasted peanuts from the confectionary stand at the bottom of the stairwell; the Writer toys calling to us from the shelves off to the left; the racks and racks of clothes in which my siblings and I, to my mother’s chagrin, played hide-and-seek.

Once I asked my mother why we didn’t go shopping at Sears more often. It seemed to me that this store, however diminished by today’s standards, had everything we could possibly want under one roof. “We shop in town first,” my mother said. “This town supports your father, and it’s up to us to help support it. We only go to Sears for what we can’t find here.”

My mother never knew it, but she was a founding member of the “Buy Local” movement.

Times have changed. With the click of a few buttons and a piece of plastic, we can order online anything from flowers to hammers. We can place our order at three o’clock in the afternoon or three o’clock in the morning. We don’t have to find parking, we don’t have to put up with grumpy sales clerks or frenetic customers, we don’t have to pay state

Jeff Minick

W

and local taxes. We can shop with a glass of wine at our elbow in the peace and quiet of our own home.

Which brings me to the subject of books.

Book vendors have led the charge in online

sales these last 20 years. Amazon first made its reputation selling books over the web, and its success inspired a host of copycat entrepreneurs offering books new and used via the computer. Click the buttons, pull out the plastic, and a few days later your books arrive at your door. It’s simple, easy, fun. Who doesn’t like getting packages in the mail? It’s Christmas in July.

But there’s a downside to this fun. In the last 20 years, hundreds of bookshops, large and small, have closed their doors in this country. In some cases they fell victim to their bigger competitors like Barnes and Noble. All too often, particularly in those communities too small to support one of the chain stores,

Poet series welcomes McLarney The Coffee with the Poet series continues with Rose McLarney at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. A Western North Carolina resident, McLarney presents her collection, The Always Broken Plates of Mountains. Set in Appalachia, McLarney’s poetry focuses on the mountain landscape and those living on it.

The Coffee with the Poet series is co-sponsored by the NetWest chapter of the North Carolina Writer’s Network and gathers every third Thursday of each month.

828.586.9499.

Author to read new memoir Retired WCU professor Marilyn Jody will present her new book, Letter to Emily: A Memoir, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.

Jody, who is retired as a professor of American literature at WCU, wrote the memoir as the result of a class she taught on gay and lesbian writers. Working with her students during that course, she found

these shops were throttled to death by an Amazonian boa constrictor.

Those bookshops which have kept their doors open have done so because their owners are romantic enough to believe in bookselling by hand and astute enough to make a go of their business, however threadbare their operation, by offering a variety of services which can’t be found online: readings, coffee shops, book clubs. Even so, to earn a living selling books in a shop is a dismal proposition in the long run. The independent bookseller faces savage price wars, terrible discounts from most publishers, and constant competition from online companies that never turn out the lights. To remain engaged, the bookseller must have the fortitude of a soldier who, though he wins a battle now and again, is not at all certain of the outcome of the war.

So why should we bother supporting such starry-eyed visionaries? Let’s skip the fact that this bookseller is a member of your community, your neighbor, and look at some financial reasons for giving him your dollar. You enter your hometown bookshop and find the perfect book for your Uncle Fred, an inveterate explorer of the back roads of North Carolina.

that she needed to come to terms with her own identity as a lesbian.

She decided to tell her own story openly for the first time, the story of a love between two women that has endured for more than 50 years.

Jody will read selections from the book and take questions from the audience. The event is free and open to the public.

828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.

Authors featured at City Lights A handful of authors will be giving discussions and readings throughout early November at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.

Pamela King Cable will do a reading at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, from her new book Televenge. Cable, a former mega-church member, introduces very real religious, political and relationship themes and events, as only a televangelism insider could, through her new fictional thriller. Dramatic story and character twists, and occasions when perception should not be confused with reality, Cable’s novel highlights church corruption, but most of all the idea of unconditional love.

Betty Cory will appear at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and offer the true nature of the sea’s bounty and describe the lure of a life lived by the marsh and the sea by sharing her childhood experiences,

The book costs $20 and has no discount attached to it. Moreover, you’ll need to pay taxes on the book. You’re fairly certain that you can get the book online for a few dollars less. What’s to prevent you from writing down the title and then ordering the book via the Internet, where it will be both tax-free and discounted?

Commonsense and even a small knowledge of how money works do the trick. That bookseller lives where you do. If you buy the book at his shop, he will take the $20 — he probably paid $12 for the book, plus shipping — and he will reinvest your money in his shop and in your community. He will spend the money you have given him at the grocery store, the restaurant down the street, the movie theater. Furthermore, you have paid taxes on the book, which supports the local and state governments, and he will eventually pay more taxes on the money you have given him through the sales tax in other establishments. Think about it: the more customers like you who visit our bookseller’s little shop, the more money he generates for you and your neighbors. (Eventually, our local bookseller may even have enough money for advertising in The Smoky Mountain News. This paper is free to you as a reader only because local enterprises have decided to invest in it through advertising and so attract readers to investing in them).

The holiday season is upon us. This Christmas, please consider shopping locally.

Whether for books or bells, pliers or poinsettias, spend your money on Main Street. Try using the Internet as my mother used the Sears store so long ago, as a last resort to buy what you can’t find in your own backyard.

(Jeff Minick is a writer and teacher. He can be reached at minick0301@gmail.com.)

everything from crab fishing to delicious home recipes, on St. Simon’s Island, Ga. in her book Crabbing Days of an Islander.

There will be a launch of My Bookstore and the paperback release of Ron Rash’s novel, The Cove, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. Edited by Ronald Rice, with an introduction by Richard Russo, My Bookstore is an anthology of essays by 84 writers sharing their passion for their favorite local bookshop.

828.586.9499.

Publisher to speak to writers Scott McLeod, publisher of The Smoky Mountain News and Smoky Mountain Living — a nationally distributed magazine about the Smokies — will be the guest speaker at the 1 p.m., Nov. 13, meeting of the Mountain Writers group in the Blue Ridge Books event room. The meeting is free and open to the public.

McLeod will discuss the nature and mechanics of the publishing business. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation, providing members and guests the opportunity to learn more about the business. jcwalkup@bellsouth.net.

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Outdoors

Smoky Mountain News

BY ANDREW KASPER STAFF WRITER In Cherokee, a dead coyote is worth more than a live one — about $25 more.

In the coming weeks, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian’s Fisheries and Wildlife Department will begin doling out $25 bounties to enrolled tribal members for each coyote they shoot and kill on tribal land. Cherokee hunters can exchange the coyote carcasses for money but get to keep the pelt if they want.

The bodies will be incinerated.

The bounty was recently approved by Cherokee Tribal Council and goes into effect this month. The campaign aims to reduce the number of coyotes, which are widely blamed throughout the mountains for killing chickens and picking off small house pets.

But the growing coyote population poses a unique threat in Cherokee — an expensive herd of trophy white-tailed deer. The special breed of deer was imported from Ohio to help establish a prized hunting population on tribal game lands. But coyotes are suspected of preying on the fawns.

For Robert Blankenship, the Fisheries and Wildlife Program manager, the bounty program will be a simple, and hopefully effective, way of diminishing what he see as a pest species in the area.

“On the reservation, coyotes are thriving right now and becoming a nuisance,” Blankenship said. “I know we are not going to get rid of them, but we can thin them out.”

Although there are no limits on killing coyotes in North Carolina — hunters can shoot as many they want and at any time of year, including night hunting and the use of electronic game calls — the bounty should act as an extra incentive for hunters to go after the canine predators.

Blankenship estimates a skilled hunter, perhaps with the use of electronic calls and decoys to lure the coyote in, could shoot up to a dozen in a weekend — picking up an extra $300 in cash. Traps are prohibited because they may unintentionally harm or kill a species other than coyotes.

Blankenship said he already budgeted about $2,500 to pay hunters — the equivalent of 100 coyotes.

If the program is successful though, he may divert more funds for the bounty. The tribe is playing it by ear for the moment. Blankenship said if the bounty proves ineffective or hunters find a way to take advantage of the bounty system, he may discontinue it.

One problem, of course, is knowing whether tribal members indeed shot the coyotes on tribal land.

Or whether a non-tribal member shot the coyotes and brought them to a Cherokee person to turn in for the bounty.

But if successful, the bounty will be a targeted investment. Two years ago, the tribe reintroduced white tail onto Cherokee. But, these were no ordinary whitetail deer; they are bred to weigh more than 200 pounds — dwarfing many of the native mountain deer.

But their price tag reflects their genetics. The tribe invested about $100,000 in the program, purchasing about 100 deer in Ohio and transporting them by horse trailer to Cherokee.

The Fisheries and Wildlife Program then invested time and energy in developing habitat and food plots for the deer — forage sites with plants like clover, wheat grass and chicory for the animals to munch on.

Cherokee hopes bounty will help rein in pesky coyote population

Blankenship wants to bring in 50 more deer this year and hopefully in the next three years have a herd established to a level that could sustain a bow hunting season.

Except, he worries about the impact coyotes may have on the fledgling herd.

“Basically, we started this bounty on coyotes to help protect the whitetail deer we introduced,” Blankenship said. “We want to try to increase the fawn survival rate mainly to make sure they are here for our future generations.”

In several spots on tribal hunting lands, the Fisheries and Wildlife Program installed cameras to monitor some of the rehabilitated food plots. The cameras captured footage of deer, elk and other animals frequent-

ing the feeding areas. But, the cameras also taped packs of coyotes prowling the feeding areas of the prey species.

And when it comes to a coyotes versus deer conundrum, for Blankenship, it is a no-brainer. Deer are a sacred animal, part of the Cherokee survival and lifestyle for more than 10,000 years, he said.

Conversely, coyotes are seen as a non-native newcomer — and at odds with deer.

Some biologists differ on whether coyotes belong in the ecosystem here. Coyotes migrated to Western North Carolina to fill the void left by wolves and mountain lions — which once played the role of top predators in the food chain. While coyotes migrated here by natural process, many wildlife experts — including the North Carolina Wildlife Commission — deem them non-native and would be perfectly happy to see them eradicated.

But it remains to be seen whether the bounty will have a significant impact on the wily coyotes. The reason the Cherokee — and other places as well — have considered implementing a bounty on coyotes may be the very reason one will not work: they’re prolific.

“Basically, we started this bounty on coyotes to help protect the whitetail deer we introduced. We want to try to increase the fawn survival rate mainly to make sure they are here for our future generations.”

— Robert Blankenship, the Fisheries and Wildlife Program manager

Coyotes first showed up in the region around 30 to 40 years ago, according to N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Biologist Mike Carraway. Some coyotes were also introduced illegally into the state for hunting purposes on game reserves.

Now, coyotes can be found in all North Carolina counties.

Their ability to eat everything from fruits, vegetables and insects to deer, songbirds and small game like squirrels and mice makes them highly adaptable to most habitats. They also can eat most anything in a trashcan.

Coyotes also have litters of up to eight pups per season and generally don’t have any predators.

“Coyotes are one of the most adaptable species anywhere,” Carraway said. “And they have moved here and made themselves at home.”

One challenge with bounties is that new coyotes will simply move in to take the place of those that are shot. But in Cherokee’s case, if the goal is merely to hold them at bay while the white-tail deer population takes root, it could make sense.

No estimates exist as to how many coyotes populate North Carolina, or even the Cherokee, landscape.

Yet, even with the incentive of $25 per carcass, Carraway was unsure about how effective a bounty may be in the long term.

“Bounties and hunting might reduce local populations but will not have a huge impact in the long term,” he said. “Coyotes are pretty much here to stay, and there’s not much we can do about that.”

BY DON H ENDERSHOT

Some things never get old

Charles Johnson photo

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Smoky Mountain News

Saturday with mild temperatures and clear skies. My group of “amblers” (we walk too slowly, smelling the flowers, counting the birds and turning rocks for salamanders to keep up with the “hikers”) had another wonderful day in the watershed. We were treated with good views of a couple of ruffed grouse that flushed and then flew alongside the van as we were being shuttled in to our starting point. We also got great looks at a pair of hermit thrushes dining on smilax berries.

The warm fall day provided a backdrop for at least five species of butterflies and five minutes streamside provided two species of salamanders. We also found a small stand of ladies’ tresses, spiranthes, in bloom and a hillside clump of witch hazel in bloom.

I always enjoy it when any group I’m leading on any kind of natural history walk kind of gets a collective “ah-ha” moment. We had crossed a creek and were walking the edge of a ridge, where the witch hazel was, when I stopped the group and told them to prepare for entering a different realm.

We rounded a corner and suddenly we were in one of the off-site white pine “plantations.” The understory, the diversity of tree species; the entire ecosystem had changed in just a few feet.

When these people hear talk about the need to thin white pine communities in Waynesville’s watershed, it will no longer be a statement — they will always have that essence, the knowledge of the difference between a native habitat and an introduced habitat. Sign up and come see it for yourself!

(Don Hendershot is a writer and naturalist. He can be reached a ddihen1@bellsouth.net.)

An air rescue operation was launched at 2 p.m. Nov. 2 in an attempt to locate and extract Steven Ainsworth, 56, who is from Washington, N.C. Ainsworth had become stranded the day before on a

November 7-13, 2012

Last Saturday (Nov. 3) was this year’s annual fall hike in the Waynesville watershed. The hikes started back in 2007, and I’ve been fortunate enough to be invited to tag along on most. The Waynesville watershed comprises nearly 8,600 acres, most of which are protected by conservation easements. The watershed is off limits to the public except for these annual (spring and fall) town sponsored hikes. The hikes are a way for town residents and other interested parties to get a glimpse of this wonderful resource that has been protected to insure the town has an ample supply of high-quality drinking water for generations to come.

We had hopes of providing a different hike route this fall — a trek down from the Blue Ridge Parkway — however, the inclement weather last week called for the closing of the parkway. But keep an eye on the Town of Waynesville’s website next spring as the option may be explored again.

But it doesn’t matter where you access the watershed from, once there you are immersed in an Appalachian forest story.

It’s a story far too common across the Southern Appalachians — a story of merciless exploitation and the slash and burn timbering practices of the past. According to Dr. Pete Bates, natural resources professor, at Western Carolina University and original hike leader (and still one of the mainstays) for these watershed strolls, the Waynesville watershed has been heavily logged a number of times from the turn of the 20th century all the way up till the 1980s.

Because of heavy logging, fire suppression and the introduction of a host of invasive (plant and animal) species, the Waynesville watershed, like most forests across Western North Carolina, lacks the richness of diversity, structure and composition one would see in more pristine and/or better managed forests. Bates is the head of a team of researchers and natural resource managers who have developed the town’s watershed management plan. A plan devised to allow the forest to return to a more natural, more diverse, healthier ecosystem.

Now that’s not to say that the Waynesville watershed is not a beautiful, inviting, intriguing forest. In fact, Dr. Norm Christensen, founder of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University and one of the researchers who assisted in the initial assessment of the watershed, told the Waynesville Watershed Advisory Board back in 2008 that the watershed forest was remarkably healthy and intact. He noted that the forest, like so many forests across WNC, was incredibly resilient despite, “…

having the heck beat out of it.”

He pointed to the “even-age” condition created by such heavy logging and off-site species like white pines and changes in natural forest communities brought about by the exclusion of fire as conditions that could be addressed through a sound, scientific forest management plan.

While part of the watershed hike is to point out some of the challenges facing the forest — the main point is to enjoy a great day afield in a forest that is working hard to heal itself. And that’s a pretty easy task.

The weather cooperated beautifully last

A hiker stranded on the Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was successfully evacuated by rescuers last Friday after spending one night in the cold.

remote section of the trail as a result of the snowstorm that blanketed higher elevations of the park earlier in the week.

Ainsworth had placed a 911 distress call from his cell phone to the Cherokee Police Department.

The agency then notified park and late Thursday two rangers were dispatched by foot. After a nine-hour hike through steep terrain, high winds, and four- to five-foot snowdrifts did not end with the rangers finding the lost hiker, the rescuers took shelter in one of the Appalachian Trail shelters. They later found out they were an estimated four miles from Ainsworth.

Luckily, air operations out of the GatlinburgPigeon Forge Airport were successful in locating the lost hiker and the Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter took Ainsworth back to the airport. He was then taken by ambulance to LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville for medical evaluation. He was released from the hospital that same day.

outdoors

The Naturalist’s Corner

Stranded hiker rescued from national park backcountry

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outdoors

Lily effort takes root around WCU

A WCU campus run with a twist and a message

November 7-13, 2012

Western Carolina University, as part of its Love Your Body Week, will hold a station run on campus at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 13.

The Amazing Catamount Challenge will consist of teams of up to four participants who will be given clues to take them to locations around campus and complete activities based on various principles and concepts of loving your body. Some stations will include physical activities while others will examine positive and negative portrayals of beauty in advertising and building a healthy plate of food.

The event will end by 6 p.m. and is sponsored by the Intercultural Affairs, Campus Recreation and Wellness, Aramark, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Leadership and Student Involvement. Prizes will be awarded to the top two teams.

Check-in will begin at 3:45 p.m. Inperson registration will be available on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the week of Nov. 5-9 or participants can contact Sarah Carter at sacarter@wcu.edu by Nov. 11.

An effort to re-establish a favorite local flower while also growing a scholarship fund at Western Carolina University is off to a blooming start.

Sales of Cullowhee lily bulbs and note cards, along with memberships into the Cullowhee Lily Society, have generated more than $6,000 so far for the WCU Alumni Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide annual, need-based support to a current WCU student with close ties to alumni.

“WCU alumni and the local community have rallied around this special initiative.

Their response has been outstanding,” said Marty Ramsey, alumni affairs director.

The effort to re-establish the Cullowhee lily on campus, and in the region, began to take shape last spring. This fall, bulbs and note cards were available for purchase at events on campus and at local establishments, helping to fund the scholarship as well as maintenance of lily flowerbeds on campus.

The Cullowhee lily was once common at Western Carolina but now grows in only a few spots on campus. Some speculate the water-loving plant began to disappear from the Cullowhee region when the valley wetlands were drained for farm use and later for construction. The proliferation of aggressive kudzu along the riverbanks also may have been another factor in the disappearance of the lily.

Ted Yoder, an alumnus and supporter of Western Carolina University, plants a Cullowhee lily bulb during Homecoming. Yoder’s wife (from left), Jackie, and Kathy Abbott-Beam, a WCU alumna examine their lily bulbs. WCU photo The bulbs and note cards are also sold through local retailers for $10 each. They can be found at Bryson Farm Supply and Country Road Farms Nursery & Garden Center in Sylva, Ray’s Florist & Greenhouse

in Dillsboro and Tuckasegee Trading Co. in Cullowhee. Planting information for the bulbs is included in the package. But, supplies are limited.

828.227.7335 or magill@wcu.edu.

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Asheville retailer Diamond Brand Outdoors has partnered with RootsRated.com to introduce a new, locallysourced digital outdoor recreation guide for the greater Asheville area.

Outdoor enthusiasts will be able to generate reviews of their favorite recreational areas and opportunities in the WNC region.

The goal is to provide locals and visitors with first-hand, local knowledge of outdoor recreation in the area. The plan is to consolidate networks of conservationists, outdoor athletes clubs, sales representatives, guides, authors, photographers, and enthusiasts to provide people with easy access to information about outdoor recreation opportunities.

Diamond Brand Outdoors is part of Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, a coalition of the country’s independent outdoor retailers.

“Grassroots Retailers are already the hub of local knowledge for trails, crags, and putins in their respective markets. RootsRated will give us a way to capture, syndicate, share and constantly improve this knowledge, and most importantly, make it more readily available to break down barriers to participation in these sports,” said Sarah Merrell, marketing manager for Diamond Brand Outdoors. www.rootsratedcom.

New trout website aims to hook anglers The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has fired up its new trout fishing webpage, which provides useful information for trout anglers looking to know more about their favorite outdoor pastime.

“We wanted to consolidate all the troutrelated information on our website into one page so that trout anglers could find the information they needed as quickly and easily as possible,” said Jacob Rash, the coldwater research coordinator for the Wildlife Commission’s Division of Inland Fisheries.

The website includes features such as maps of public mountain trout waters for fisherman looking to try out a new stream.

It also publishes up-to-date information such as when delayed-harvest regulations go into effect or what the size and creel limits are for hatchery-supported waters.

Information on seasons and limits for all the seven trout stream classifications in North Carolina is accessible alongside current trout stocking information and materials discussing characteristics of the three trout species found in the state. www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/Species/Fi sh/Trout/TroutFishing.aspx.

$20 through 11/14 $25 after and on race day

November 7-13, 2012

Registration online at ImAthlete.com

outdoors

Diamond Brand partners to produce outdoor rec website

Course will begin and end at PHS

Sponsored By: Untied Community Bank, Evergreen Packaging, The Mountaineer, The Smoky Mountain, News, Haywood EMC, High Street Baptist Church, Great Beginnings, MedWest, John Highsmith DDS, Mountain Sports, Yarrington Physical Therapy and Sports Care, PMSY, United Way of Haywood County, Walter Danielewski, Zavala Rock Mason, Creative Landscaping, Simple Taste Grill, Sellars Florist, Overbay Insurance Services, The Vaught Insurance Agency, Smathers & Smathers Attorneys-at-Law

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Smoky Mountain News

SATURDAY November 17th 8:30 am, Pisgah H.S.

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&(/(%5$7,1* <($56 Fourth-graders

outdoors

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conquer Appalachian trails on hiking trip

More than 70 fourth-graders and parents trekked across the Appalachians in Macon County as part of an annual student trip to Siler Bald. Eight hike leaders from the Nantahala Hiking Club â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which is the Franklin-based Appalachian Trail Club â&#x20AC;&#x201D; guided the children on the hike from Wayah Crest to Siler Bald, returning on the AT. The field trip introduced hiking to students as a health living activity. On the hike, students learned about various plants and trees and the work required to maintain the AT as a primitive hiking trail.

Prior to the hike, the NHC gave a presentation to the students on the history of the AT, the preparations needed for a day hike

Trails initiative seeks input from Haywood residents

34

volunteerism. To learn more about local hiking and volunteer opportunities to care for Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first National Scenic Trail, visit www.nantahalahikingclub.org. throughout the summer and fall to generate ideas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have had a lot of ideas from participants in the other workshops about connecting and expanding existing trails and creating new ones,â&#x20AC;? said Sarah Graham, planner with the Southwestern Commission. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a starting point, we are organizing the results of plans such as the Waynesville Pedestrian Plan, Haywood County Bicycle Plan and Haywood County Parks and Recreation Master Plan into a cohesive set of documents and maps.â&#x20AC;?

The primary product of this plan will be a region-wide map indicating where existing hiking trails, greenways, mountain bike trails, equestrian trails, OHV trails and some on-road bicycle routes are located.

Completion of the plan is expected in early 2013.

Water stewardship videos shown in Swain Four short videos that are part of a Watershed Film Series titled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Our Waterâ&#x20AC;? will be shown the evening of Nov. 15 in the fellowship hall of the Bryson City

GREEN LIVING

Smoky Mountain News

November 7-13, 2012

A public workshop focusing on ideas for Haywood County trails that could become part of a Regional Trails Plan will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the multi-purpose room at the Waynesville Recreation Center on Vance Street.

The Southwestern Commission, through a grant from the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation and its State Trails Program, is leading a regional trails inventory and concept plan for Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Graham, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties. Other workshops have been held in other counties

and the principles of Leave No Trace outdoors ethics.

The outreach to the local school, provided by the NHC, is part of the Appalachian Trail Conservancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trail to Every Classroom program. The programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key tenants are place-based education, service learning and

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drinking water in Bryson City and Sylva.

The event will begin with a 6:30 p.m. social, followed by the 7-8:15 p.m. meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a good-news story nestled in challenging issues of river water that is marred by pockets of unsightly litter, polluted in some locations with bacteria, and too often â&#x20AC;&#x201D; too muddy,â&#x20AC;? said Roger Clapp, director of the Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River. The program will include brief presentations about tap water Last month, members of the Swain High Environmentally Aware and offer everyone a Club picked up trash downstream of the Governors Island Bridge taste test of variously as part of N.C. Big Sweep. Participants included (from left) sourced water. There Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River director Roger will also be brief disClapp, Kayla Johnson, club adviser Anne Watkins, and Dylan Rose. cussion of bacteria levels in Scott and Savannah creeks, United Methodist Church. streams which do not contribute to public The videos will cover issues from litter water supplies. to bottled water, and the focus will be on www.WATRnc.org

Guided hikes continue as fall gives way to winter

near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Dec. 15. The outing will include a stop by the Visitor Center where hikers can participate

in the Holiday Homecoming festivities and purchase holiday gifts. www.friendsofthesmokies.org.

outdoors

Hike amidst flowing creeks and historic remnants along the Smokemont Loop Trail on a guided hike through the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Thursday, Nov.15. The hike is sponsored by the Friends of the Smokies.

Danny Bernstein, hiking enthusiast and author of two regional hiking guides, will lead the 6.2-mile hike. It is categorized as moderate in difficulty with a total elevation gain of 1,400 feet.

The trail begins at one of the most popular campsites in the park, then walkers will embark on the Smokemont Loop Trail. The guided jaunt is part of a series of hikes called “Classic Hikes of the Smokies.”

Participants will meet in Asheville at 8:30 a.m., in Maggie Valley at 9 a.m., or at the Park at 9:45 a.m. A donation of $35 to go to the Friends’ Smokies Trails Forever program is requested and includes a complimentary membership to Friends of the Smokies.

Current Friends of the Smokies members hike for $10. Hikers who bring a friend hike for free. To register contact Friends of the Smokies at keith@friendsofthesmokies.org or 828.452.0720.

The next, and last, Friends of the Smokies guided hike in the 2012 series will be a half-day hike along Mingus Creek Trail

An easy, historical hike on the Carolina side of the Smokies Hikers can participate in a leisurely, guided hike Saturday, Nov. 17, on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The hike will follow the Kephart Prong Trail, located just nine miles from Newfound Gap or five miles from Smokemont Campground. In total, the hike will be four miles, round trip, with an elevation gain of 830 feet.

The route will follow a varied walking surface — from an old gravel roadbed to old blacktop to dirt trail — as it weaves through an area that was a logging site in the 1920s and 1930s and contains the remnants of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, a fish hatchery, and a narrow gauge railway.

The turnaround point will be a backcountry shelter that was the site of a logging camp and recently renovated by the Friends of the Smokies. Hikers should bring warm clothes as well as water and lunch.

The trip is sponsored by the Great Smoky Mountains Association, and an alternate hike, should the U.S. 441 be closed due to inclement weather, will be the Old Sugarlands Trail, located across U.S. 441 from the Park headquarters building. This trail is also rated easy and will be about the same mileage.

Call 1.888.898.9102 for meeting time and place.

November 7-13, 2012

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36

WNC Calendar

Smoky Mountain News

BUSINESS & EDUCATION • “The ABC’s of Group Tours,” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, Old Rock School in Valdese. $20, includes lunch. Sponsored by Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership. Reservations required. Amy Hollifield, 298.5330, ext. 303, or email to amy@blueridgeheritage.com.

• The Spanish Club at Southwestern Community College will watch “A Better Life” from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, and Wednesday, Dec. 5, in room 110-111 at the Macon Campus.

• Haywood Chamber of Commerce Issues & Eggs, “Protecting Your Business by Preventing & Combating Business Fraud,” 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, Gateway Club, 37 Church St. Waynesville. Speaker is Dana Klinger, vice-president and information security officer, Old Town Bank.

• Computer class: Intermediate Excel, 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva.

Registration required. 586.2016.

• Workshop to discuss changes made to federal contracting registration process, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Southwestern Community College’s Macon Cecil L. Groves Center room 107. www.sam.gov.

Register with Tommy Dennison, Business and Industry Training Coordinator, 306.7019 or t_dennison@southwesterncc.edu.

• Fireside Chat, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, Southwestern Community College Macon Campus downstairs lobby. Topic: building and perfecting your resume. Guest speaker is Bob Holt, business administrator instructor and director of the Real Estate Licensing program at SCC. • Chamber Holiday Reception, 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, Chamber office in the historic Hooper House, 773 W. Main St. Sylva. Bring Christmas boxes filled with goodies for homebound elderly. RSVP to 586.2155. www.mountainlovers.com.

• Veteran’s Appreciation Dinner, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, Sylva Heritage Room at the Senior Center, 100 County Services Park. Members of all branches of service welcome. Veteran and one guest admitted free; $10 additional person. 586.4944..

All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.

• Three-hour Micro-Soft Word class, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 and 21, One Dozen Who Care (ODWC) 245 Sloan Road, west of the K-Mart Shopping Center, just off the 4-lane, Franklin. $20 for each 3hour class. All ODWC Small Business Center classes free to U.S. Military Veterans Registration required; 369.2273 or 361.1941. Leave message with your name and contact number. You will receive a callback to confirm.

•Free 90-minute session on how to buy a digital camera, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 and 21, One Dozen Who Care (ODWC) 245 Sloan Road, west of the KMart Shopping Center, just off the 4-lane, Franklin. $20 for each 3-hour class. Registration required; 369.2273 or 361.1941. Leave message with your name and contact number. You will receive a callback to confirm.

• Job Fair, 9 am. to noon Thursday , Nov. 15, Southwestern Community College Macon Campus.

Fairley Pollock, 306.7017.

• 2012 AdvantageWest Economic Summit, 5:30 p.m. reception, 7 p.m. program, Monday, Nov. 19, “The Western North Carolina Innovation Ecosystem: What’s Missing?” Pack Place and Diana Wortham Theatre, Asheville. $50, includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, beverages and admittance to the panel discussion. 687.7234 www.advantagewest.com.

• 2012 ServSafe Manager Certification Program, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 26-27, Haywood County Cooperative Extension, 589 Raccoon Road, Waynesville. Leader is Sherrie Peeler, extension agent. $125 includes materials and refreshments. Erin Freeman, 456.3575 or erin_freeman@ncsu.edu.

COMMUNITY & EVENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Asheville Mountain BizWorks, “ Getting Your Farm to Scale,” 9 a.m. to noon, Friday, Nov. 9, 153 S. Lexington Ave., Asheville. Speaker is Lee Mink. Free. RSVP to Ashley Epling, 253.2834 ext. 27.

• Carolina Round Table on the World Wars, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Catamount Room of WCU’s A.L. Hinds University Center. Speaker is David Dorondo, WCU associate professor of history, on “Administering Terror: The Wannsee Conference.” The Wannsee Conference was a meeting of top Nazi officials that signaled the start of the Holocaust. David Dorondo, 227.3908 or dorondo@wcu.edu.

• Open House, Saturday, Nov. 10, Western Carolina University. Register at openhouse.wcu.edu or by calling the Office of Undergraduate Admission at 227.7317 or toll-free 877.928.4968.

• Groundbreaking ceremony for new Snowbird Youth Center by Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, 9 a.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Massey Branch in Robbinsville. Signs will be posted for directions.

• War memorabilia display in honor of Veterans Day, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, Southwestern Community College Macon Campus upstairs lobby.

Fairley Pollock, 306.7017

• Nobel Peace Prize winner Ms. Leyman Gbowee will speak specifically to middle and high school students from 4 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, in Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center as part of the Lake Junaluska Peace Conference. Free. She will speak to all Peace Conference attendees at 7 p.m.

Donation requested to offset Peace Conference expenses. www.lakejunaluska.com/peace or call 800.222.4930.

• Information sessions for parents and students interested in Jackson County Early College High School, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13; Wednesday, Dec. 5; and Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, lobby of the JCEC Building, next to the Holt Library at Southwestern Community College Sylva’s campus. 339.4468.

• Free 90-minute basic internet class, 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. Limited to first 15 people. Register at 586.2016.

• Haywood County Women in Business Luncheon, “Professional Entertaining for the Holidays” 11:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, Gateway Club, Church St., Waynesville. Speaker is Kathryn Greeley of Kathryn Greeley Designs. $25, chamber members; $30 , non – members.

• Haywood Area Wholistic Integrative Practitioners is hosting a silent auction and reception, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, at “Where Angels Gather”, a holistic retail store and education center, at 124 Miller St., Waynesville. To benefit KARE. Great food, door prizes, and entertainment by local musicians. Martha Juchnowski, 558.4139 and 246.2682, or Paulette Harper 550.7685.

• Veterans Day Living History event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13, Southwestern Community College Macon Cecil L. Groves Center. Re-enactments, patriotic music, campsite displays by veterans, card signings,

and a presentation of memorabilia. Cheryl Davids, 306.7018.

• The 2012 Wrap-Up/2013 Kick-Off Combo Event for Team Captains and Sponsors of Franklin’s Relay for Life, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, The Factory. Brenda Wooten, 369.9221.

• Kids Advocacy Resource Effort, KARE, 3rd annual Festival of Trees fundraiser and live auction, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Laurel Ridge Country Club.

Entertainment by Marc Pruett of Balsam Range and his wife Anita. entertainment by local musicians, Marc and Anita Pruett and Voices in the Laurel. All proceeds to KARE. Tickets can be purchased by calling the KARE House at 456.8995 or via PayPal on KARE’s website: www.karehouse.org.

• Full Spectrum Farms fundraiser, Go Further with Ford night, 5 to 8 p.m. Full Spectrum Farms. www.fullspectrumfarms.org and www.gofurtherwithfordnight.com.

• Swain County / Golden LEAF Community Assistance Initiative – Community Forum, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, in the Mountain View Room at the Business Training Center, 45 East Ridge Road, Bryson City.

Pat Cabe by e-mail at pcabe@goldenleaf.org or 888.684.8404.

• Macon County Poultry Club, 7 p.m. Nov. 20, at the NC Co-operative Extension’s Macon County Center, Thomas Heights Road, Franklin. Free. For anyone interested in raising chickens, ducks, geese, guineas, or turkeys.

• Sarge’s Animal Rescue Foundation Adoptions, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, new adoption center at the Waynesville Industrial Park, off Old Asheville Highway.

Pet photos available online at www.sargeandfriends.org or www.petfinder.com or 246.9050.

• 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.

• Coats for Kids of Jackson County is accepting donations of good condition used and new children’s clothing and items (tops, pants, dresses, sweaters, shoes, coats, hats, gloves). Drop off locations include Cullowhee United Methodist Church and Sylva WalMart.

HOLIDAY GIVING • 21st annual running of the Haywood County Motorcycle Parade and Toy Run, noon, Saturday, Nov. 10, leaving from Canton Town Hall. Registration from 10 to 11:45 a.m. $10 per person per bike or a new unwrapped toy of equal or more value. Haywood County Toy Run, c/o Cecil Yount, 160 Bethel View Heights, Waynesville.

• The Loyal Order of the Moose will host a Christmas is for Kids Poker Bike and Car Run at noon, Saturday, Nov. 17, starting at the Canton Moose Lodge. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Five stops. Entry fee $15 a hand or 2/$25. All proceeds to Christmas for the needy Children.

Diane, 734.2234 • Egg Nog-Off, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, The Bascom, to kick off Giving Tree event. www.TheBascom.org or 404.210.4613.

VOLUNTEERING • Angel Medical Center Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop needs volunteers for six-hour shifts. The Thrift Shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jennifer Hollifield, director of volunteer services, 349.6688.

• The Haywood Volunteer Center has many openings for volunteers. The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: If you are over 55 years of age, you can receive a limited amount of mileage coverage and supplementary insur-

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 fintness centers ■ Civic and social club gatherings ance while you are volunteering. 356.2833. www.hjvc.org.

• The Haywood County Meals on Wheels program is in need of volunteer drivers to deliver meals to Haywood County residents who cannot fix meals for themselves.

Drivers are needed in the following areas: Tuesdays— Route #3, Clyde; Wednesdays—Route #5, Ratcliffe Cove; Mondays—Route $10, Bethel; Tuesdays—Route #10, Bethel; Thursdays—Route #12, Lakeview; Fridays—Route #14, Hyatt Creek/Plott Creek; Thursdays—Route #19 Cruso; Thursdays—Route #20, Fines Creek. Jeanne Naber at 356.2442 or jnaber@haywoodnc.net.

BLOOD DRIVES Jackson • American Red Cross St. Mary’s Catholic Church Blood Drive, 1:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, 22 Bartlett St., Sylva. Tony, 586.9496 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Saint Mary for more information or to schedule an appointment. All presenting donors will receive a holiday ornament.

• American Red Cross Southwestern Community College Blood Drive,10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 447 College Drive, Sylva. Amanda, 339.4305, for more information or to schedule an appointment. All presenting donors will receive a holiday ornament

Haywood • American Red Cross Blood Drive, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, Fellowship Hall Crabtree United Methodist Church, 5405 Crabtree Road, Clyde. Dave Woody, 627.3666. All presenting donors will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $1,000 gift card.

Swain • American Red Cross, Cherokee Indian Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 268 Hospital Road, Cherokee. Doris, 497.9163 ext. 6498 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Cherokee Hospital for more information or to schedule an appointment. Presenting donors eligible to win $1,000 gift card.

Macon • American Red Cross, Franklin Community Blood Drive, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, First Baptist Church, 69 Iotala St., Franklin. 369.9559. Presenting donors eligible to win $1,000 gift card.

• American Red Cross, Angel Medical Center Blood Drive, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, 120 Riverview St., Franklin. Barbara 369.4166 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Angel for more information or to schedule an appointment. Presenting donors eligible to win $1,000 gift card.

• American Red Cross, Mountain Valley Fire Department Blood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, 188 Echo Valley Road, Franklin. Joyce, 421.3454 or go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter Sponsor code Mountain Valley for more information or to schedule an appointment. Presenting donors eligible to win $1,000 gift card.

HEALTH MATTERS • Love Your Body Week, Nov. 12 -15, Western Carolina University. Full slate of events and activities. Sarah Carter, 227.2617.

• Ladies Night Out Program, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13, cafeteria of Angel Medical Center.

Speaker is Jennifer Trippe, registered dietician with Macon County Public Health. Dawn Wilde Burgess, 349.2426.

• Free Dine and Learn seminar on links between physical therapy and back pain, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the MedWest Rehabilitation Service office on the MedWest-Harris campus in Sylva.

Presenter: orthopedic physical therapist Todd Watson.

Attendance limited. Reservations required. 586.7235 to reserve a spot.

• Free shoulder pain screenings, 2 to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, MedWest-Swain Rehabilitation Services on the MedWest-Swain campus in Bryson City. Licensed physical therapist Gabriel Peterson will conduct the screenings. 488.4009.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Clip and Save Coupon Club, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tuesdays, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville.

• “Senior and Fit,” a 12-week program, 11 a.m. to noon Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department. 456.2030.

• Western Carolina University’s Madrigal Dinners, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, Grandroom of the A.K. Hinds University Center. Tickets, $37 ($22 for WCU students) and may be purchased in the University Center administrative offices (second floor) between the hours of 9 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Monday through Friday. 227.7206 or www.wcu.edu.

• Happy Wanderers senior group holds several events coordinated through Haywood County Parks and Recreation. 452.6789.

• Breakfast Buffet, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Saturday, American Legion Auxiliary of Waynesville, Legion Drive. $6 donation. Proceeds to veterans and community.

• For information on resources for older adults in Haywood County, call 2-1-1, or by cell phone 1.888.892.1162; www.nc211.org or www.haywoodconnections.org. 452.2370.

• Stone Soup Gathering, 5 p.m. every Sunday, Fellowship Hall, Bryson City United Methodist Church.

Free.

KIDS & FAMILIES

• Free shoulder screenings, 1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 15, MedWest-Harris, Sylva. 586.7235.

• ARTSaturday arts and crafts workshop, 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 10, Children’s Area, Macon County Public Library, Franklin. www.artscouncilofmacon.org or 524.7683.

• Flu shots, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Home Care service building on the Haywood MedWest campus. No appointment necessary. The Home Care building is located directly behind MedWest-Haywood. $20. Home Care will accept traditional Medicare and will file the insurance for the beneficiary. Vaccines available for everyone over 18 years of age. 452.8292.

• Towel Animal Class, 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Jackson County Recreation Center in Cullowhee.

Learn to fold towels like animals. Members free, nonmembers $1 per person. Towels provided. All ages welcome. Parents must provide supervision for children. Class limited to 25. Call 293.3053 to reserve. www.jacksonnc.org/parks-and-recreation.

Science & Nature

RECREATION & FITNESS

• The Waynesville Parks and Recreation Department is hiring basketball officials for upcoming adult basketball season. Games played 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Monday and Thursday nights. Must be at least 18 years of age. Previous experience desirable. Must pass a written and/or oral exam on the rules of basketball.

456.2030 or recathletics@townofwaynesville.org.

THE SPIRITUAL SIDE • Dinner and a Movie, 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, High Street Baptist Church, 73 High St., Canton. The movie is “Courageous.” Free with RSVP. visit www.HighStreetBaptist.org, or call 648.8830.

• Stone Soup Gathering, 5 p.m. every Sunday, Fellowship Hall, Bryson City United Methodist Church.

Free.

SENIOR ACTIVITIES • AARP Driver Safety Classroom course, 1 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 7, Jackson County Senior Center, 100 County Services Park, Sylva. Free to veterans and their families. Non veteran AARP members $12, non AARP members $14. Sheila, 631.2294 to register.

• Beginning Tai Chi Classes for arthritis, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, beginning Nov. 13, Senior Resource Center, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. $4 per class, 452.2370.

• Children’s Story time. Theme: Hug a Bear, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 7, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• WORD teen writing group (ages 13-19) 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Family Night. Theme: Goodnight, Teddy Bear. 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Jackson County Public Library in Sylva, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time. Theme: Bear Is . . . , 11 a.m.

Friday, Nov. 9, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Storytelling with Gary Carden, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Macon County Public Library will be closed Friday, Nov. 9 for employee training, and on Monday, Nov. 12 for Veterans Day. Friends of the Library Bookstore, 121 Highlands Road (Hwy 28), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Story time with Miss Sally. Theme: I Love My Teddy Bear, 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Library Closed for Veterans’ Day Holiday, Monday, Nov. 12.

• Children’s Story time. Theme: Flying South for the Winter, 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Children’s Story time. Theme: Squirrelly, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 14, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Family Night. Theme: PAWS to Read, 6 p.m.

ECA EVENTS • Extension and Community Association (ECA) groups meet throughout the county at various locations and times each month. NC Cooperative Extension Office, 586.4009. This month’s meetings include: Noon Thursday, Nov. 8 – Program Planning, Lunch and Learn ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

9:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 15-16 – ECA Craft Club Workshop: Basket Workshop, call Extension Office to sign up.

1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19 – Crochet Hats Workshop, Sew Easy Girls ECA, Conference Room of Community Service Center, Sylva.

6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 – Program Planning, Cane Creek ECA. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 – Program Planning, Long Branch Baptist ECA, home of Bobbie Brooks.

POLITICAL GROUP EVENTS & LOCAL GOVERNMENT Dems • Haywood County Democratic Party Headquarters at 286 Haywood Square, Waynesville, is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. 452.9607 or www.haywooddemocrats.org.

• The Haywood County Democratic Executive Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month at Democratic Headquarters, 286 Haywood Square, Waynesville. 452.9607 or www.haywooddemocrats.org • The Jackson County Democratic Party meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Democratic Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva. Brian McMahan, 508.1466.

• Republican NC House candidate Mike Clampitt will host Mornings with Mike from 7 to 8 a.m. every Tuesday morning at the NC Victory Office, 58 D Sunrise Park Road, Sylva. Coffee and donuts provided.

421.4945 or email morningswithmike@yahoo.com.

• The Haywood Republicans meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at GOP headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St., Waynesville. 246.7921. www.haywoodncgop.org.

Others • League of Women Voters of Macon County, noon, Thursday, Nov. 8, Tartan Hall, Franklin. Stacy Guffey will speak about plans to convert the historic Cowee School into a community and heritage center. Bring lunch and a drink. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization, which encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

• Occupy/WNC General Assembly meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Tuesday in room 220 of the Jackson County Administration and Justice Center in Sylva. 538.1644.

• A TEA Party group meets at 2 p.m. the third Saturday of each month at the 441 Diner in Otto.

Mountainpatriotsteaparty.info.

• The League of Women Voters meets at noon the second Thursday of each month at Tartan Hall in Franklin. Lunch available by reservation. Open to all. $6 for food. 524.5192.

SUPPORT GROUPS Haywood • Men’s Only Grief Support Group, 9 to 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, (second Tuesday of each month) First Presbyterian Church, 305 Main St., Waynesville.

John Woods, facilitator, 551.2095 or jhwoods55@yahoo.com; or call MedWest-Haywood, 452.5039.

• The Haywood County Aphasia Support Group, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., second Monday of each month in the Haywood Regional Medical Center Fitness Center classrooms. 227.3834.

• Haywood County offers an HIV/AIDS Support Group, 4 p.m., first Tuesday of each month at the Health Department. Anonymity and confidentiality are strongly enforced. 476.0103 or haywoodhiv@yahoo.com.

• AA meetings, 7 p.m., Saturdays, Maggie Valley United Methodist Church, 4192 Soco Road. 926.8036.

• Jackson County Democratic Party executive committee members meet at 6:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at Democratic Headquarters, 500 Mill St., Sylva. 631.1475 or jacksondems.com.

• Al-Anon, a support group for families and friends of alcoholics, 8 p.m., Tuesdays, Grace Episcopal Church, 394 N. Haywood St. Use Miller Street entrance.

926.8721.

• Jackson County Democratic Women meet at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of every month at Democratic Headquarters 500 Mill St., Sylva. 631.1475 or jacksondems.com.

• Alzheimer’s Association, 4:30 p.m., fourth Tuesday of each month, First United Methodist Church, Waynesville and 2:30 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Silver Bluff Care Center in Canton. 254.7363.

GOP

• Celebrate Recovery, 6 p.m. every Thursday, Long’s Chapel UMC, Waynesville. A Christ-centered 12-step recovery ministry open to all adults with hurts, habits, and hang-ups. Childcare available. 456.3993, ext. 32.

• The North Jackson County GOP monthly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m., the fourth Monday of each month, at the Sylva headquarters, 58 D Sunrise Park, a retail complex located opposite the intersection of Highway 107 and the Asheville Highway behind Rite-Aid Drugstore. Ralph Slaughter, Jackson County GOP Chair at 743.6491 or www.jacksoncountygop.com.

• The South Jackson County GOP monthly meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each

Smoky Mountain News

• 2012 Multicultural Conference “Creating a Church for All People,” Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, 800.222.4930 or visit www.lakejunaluska.com/multicultural.

Literary (children)

Food & Drink

• The Haywood Republicans meet at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the GOP headquarters, 303 N. Haywood St., Waynesville. 246.7921. www.haywoodncgop.org.

November 7-13, 2012

• Organizational meeting for Adult and Masters Basketball League, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, Waynesville Recreation Center. Mandatory meeting for anyone interested in entering a team in the league.

Bring $100 non-refundable cash deposit to secure team entry. 456.2030 or email recathletics@townofwaynesville.org

• Night sky viewing and first public display of new Space Shuttle artifacts, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), located in the Pisgah National Forest near Brevard. Reservations required and will be accepted until 3p.m. the day of the event. $20 per adult, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for children under 14. Register and pay online at www.pari.edu or call 862.5554. Christi Whitworth at cwhitworth@pari.edu.

• Write On! Writing group (ages 8-12), 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

month at the GOP headquarters office at Laurel Terrace on N.C. 64 east in Cashiers. Ralph Slaughter, Jackson County GOP Chair at 743.6491 or www.jacksoncountygop.com.

wnc calendar

• Free balance screenings, 1 to 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8, MedWest-Harris, Sylva. 586.7235.

• Health Screening 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14; Craft Show 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1517, Senior Resource Center Brain Gym, 81 Elmwood Way, Waynesville. Players wanted for Social Bridge, Mexican Dominoes, Word and other games. Caregivers Unite, Memory Cafe and/or Parkinson/MS Support Group Monthly Meetings. 452.2370.

• Diabetes Support Group, second floor classroom, MedWest Health & Fitness Center, 4 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. 452.8092 • Grandchildren/Grandparents Rights of N.C., 7 p.m., first Thursday of each month, Canton Library.

648.5205.

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wnc calendar

• HOPEful Living: Women’s Cancer Support Group, third Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Haywood Regional Medical Center, Fitness Center, Health Educ.

Room, Waynesville. 627.9666 or riggs_sandi@msn.com or 627.0227.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) chapter, 7 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Asbury Sunday School Room, First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. 400.1041.

• Recovery from Food Addiction, a 12-step recovery program for individuals suffering from food addiction, 5:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Friendship House, Academy St. beside Waynesville’s First United Methodist Church, 400.7239.

• Single Parents Networking Group, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Wednesdays, First United Methodist Church, 566 S. Haywood St., Waynesville, free, dinner and child care provided in fun, informal setting. 456.8995 ext. 201.

• WNC Grief Support Group is for families who have lost a child. 7 p.m., third Thursday of each month, Clyde Town Hall. 565.0122 or e-mail hotstraitcountry@aol.com.

November 7-13, 2012

• Macon County Cancer Support Group, 7p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Angel Medical Center cafeteria. In recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness month, guest speaker will be Dr. Angela Connacghton, pulmonologist. 369.922l.

• Angel Medical Center Hospice offers three bereavement support groups for people who have lost loved ones. Two Women’s Support Groups both meet on the third Wednesday of each month at the Sunset Restaurant on Highway 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

A Men’s Support Group meets the first Monday of each month also at the same location at 11:30 a.m.

369.4417.

• Anxiety, nervousness and/or panic disorders support group meets at 7 p.m. on Fridays in the basement of Highlands United Methodist Church. 526.3433.

Jackson

• Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Macon Co. Department on Aging. 369.5845.

• The Harris Monthly Grief Support Group, 3 to 4 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month, Chaplain’s Conference Room, MedWest-Harris in Sylva. 586.7979.

• Al-Anon Family Group meets every Monday evening from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sylva Methodist Church. A support group for family and friends whose lives are affected by someone else’s drinking.

• Breastfeeding support group, 9:30 to 11 a.m., first Monday of each month at the First United Methodist Church (park in back and use rear entrance) Sylva. smokeymtnmamas@yahoo.com or 506.1186.

• Men’s discussion circle, 7 p.m. Mondays, The Center in Sylva. Join an open circle of men to discuss the challenges of life that are specific to men in a safe environment of confidentiality. $5. Chuck Willhide, 586.2892 or e-mail chuckwillhide@hotmail.com.

• Al-Anon Meetings are held at 4 p.m. Tuesdays at Grace Community Church. The meetings bring hope for families and friends of alcoholics. 743.9814.

• Cashiers Cancer Care Group for cancer patients, survivors, spouses and caregivers offers support, encouragement, hope and understanding. 7 p.m., first Thursday of the month, Grace Community Church.

743.3158.

• Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Mondays, Harris Regional Hospital in the small dining room, Sylva. 226.8324 for more info.

• Jackson County Alcoholics Anonymous, 7:30 p.m., Mondays, Sylva First Presbyterian Church on Grindstaff Cove Road.

• Look Good, Feel Better is for women dealing with the appearance related side effects that occur with cancer treatments. A trained volunteer cosmetologist shares expertise in dealing with hair loss and skin change. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Harris Regional Hospital.

Sessions are offered bimonthly on the first Monday.

RSVP required at 586.7801.

• WestCare Hospice Bereavement Support Group meets

meets at noon on Thursdays at the Swain Family Resource Center.

• Grief Support Group meets from 7 to 8 p.m. each Monday night at the Cherokee United Methodist Church on Soco Road. 497.4182.

Macon

• Al-Anon meetings are held at noon every Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church at Fifth and Main in the community room in Highlands. All are welcome.

• WNC Breast Cancer Support Group meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13, private dining room next to cafeteria at MedWest-Swain, and 7 to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 27, Harris Medical Park conference room, 98 Doctors Drive, Sylva. Mary E. Mahon, RN, 631.8100

Smoky Mountain News

• Weight Watchers meets at 8:30 a.m. every Monday at Grace Christian Church in Cashiers. 226.1096.

• WNC Lupus Support Group 7 p.m., first Tuesday of each month, Home Trust Bank in Clyde. 421.8428 or countrygirl351@bellsouth.net • The Man to Man Support Group for prostate cancer patients and survivors will meet Monday, Nov. 12, (the second Monday of each month) Harris Medical Park conference room at 98 Doctors Drive, Sylva. Hugh Moon and Joe Hurt, MD are co-chairmen of the American Cancer Society support group. 631.8100

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at 3:30 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month in the Chapel Conference Room at Harris Regional Hospital.

586.7410.

• Angel Medical Center’s Diabetes Support Group meets at 6 p.m. the fourth Monday of each month in the Center’s dining room.

• Chronic Pain Support Group meets at 7 p.m. the fourth Monday of every month in the dining room of Angle Medical Center. 369.6717 or 369.2607.

• Circle of Life support group meets 10 a.m. to noon Fridays at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital. The group is for those who are dealing with any loss or grief.

526.1462.

• Healthy eating/weight control classes are held every Tuesday at noon at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service Office, 193 Thomas Heights Rd. 349.2048.

• Highlands-Cashiers Cancer Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at First United Methodist Church of Highlands. Meetings are confidential.

• Miracles Happen group of Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5:30 p.m. each Thursday and 5 p.m. each Sunday in the downstairs chapel of First United Methodist Church. 349.1438.

• Overeaters Anonymous meets at 5 p.m. on Sundays at First United Methodist Church at 86 Harrison Ave in Franklin. 508.2586 • NAMI Appalachian South (National Alliance on Mental Illness), the local affiliate of NAMI NC, meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7 p.m. at the Community Facilities Building, Georgia Road Contact Ann Nandrea 369.7385.

• Suicide Survivors Support Group. Angel Hospice sponsors a monthly support group for those who have suffered a loss due to the suicide of a loved one. This meeting is open to everyone in our community and meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 10:30 a.m. in the back room. 369.4417.

• TOPS (Take off Pounds Sensibly) support group meets 5:30 p.m. every Monday at Bethel Methodist Church.

Weigh in begins at 4:30 p.m. 369.2508 or 369.5116.

• Weight Watchers meet each Tuesday at the Peggy Crosby Center in Highlands. Weigh in is at 5:30 p.m. with the meeting beginning at 6 p.m.

Swain • Women’s 12-Step Medicine Wheel Recovery Group meets Tuesdays at 5 p.m. at A-Na-Le-Ni-S-Gi in Cherokee.

• Circle of Parents, support group for any parent,

Nov. 13, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva. 586.9499.

Coffee with the Poet with Rose McLarney • Coffee with the Poet, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva. Western North Carolina resident Rose McLarney presents her collection, “The Always Broken Plates of Mountains.”

586.9499.

A&E FESTIVALS, SPECIAL & SEASONAL EVENTS • Great Smoky Mountains Railroad presents the Polar Express, Nov. 9-Dec. 29, Bryson City. Tickets start at $39 for adults, $26 children ages 2-12. Children under two ride free. 872.4681. www.gsmr.com.

• 25th Hard Candy Christmas Craft Art & Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 23-24, Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee. More than 100 regional artisans. $4 weekend pass for adults; free for children under 12. www.mountainartisans.net or Doris, 524.3405, djhunter@dnet.net.

• Entry forms are now available for the 2012 Franklin Christmas Parade set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25.

Entry forms can be picked up at the Chamber office at 425 Porter St. or downloaded online from www.franklin-chamber.com. Entry fees are $25 for all entries. 524.3161.

• Canton Papertown Christmas Craft Fair is now seeking vendors for the event to be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Booth fees are $25 and $45.

648.0101 or www.mdcairnes@att.net.

• WCU professor Marilyn Jody, “Letter to Emily: A Memoir” 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Jackson County Public Library, downtown Sylva. 586.2016.

HOLIDAY EVENTS • Annual turkey dinner, 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10, Rockwood UMC, 288 Crabtree Mountain Road (Thickety Community), Canton. $8 for adults and $4 for children 10 years and under. Carryout will be available. Contact 648.6870.

• Howl for the Holidays, Saturday, Nov. 17, Full Moon Farm, Black Mountain. Not-for-profit organization for abused and refused wolfdogs. 664.9818 or email nancy@fullmoonfarm.org. www.fullmoonfarm.org.

• Highlands Chamber of Commerce Tree Lighting, 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Window decorating contest entry forms due Wednesday, Nov. 21. Highlands Olde Mountain Christmas Parade, 11 a.m.

Saturday, Dec. 1. Applications at Visitor Center. visitor@highlandschamber.org.

• Tree Lighting Ceremony, 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, downtown Franklin. Hot cider and cookies, music, great shopping, and candlelight service.

• Cookies with Santa, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, lower level of Franklin’s Town Hall on Main Street.

• Waynesville Christmas Parade, 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in downtown Waynesville. The theme is “Dreaming of a White Christmas” and all entries must use lights to participate in this evening event. 456.3517.

• Music, Mirth & Good Cheer—-A Family Holiday Concert by the Blue Ridge Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, Colonial Theatre, 53 Park St., Canton. $15 general admission; $10 for Friends of the Blue Ridge Orchestra; $5 for students . Tickets available online www.blueridgeorchestra.org

• Art After Aftermath, Elin O’Hara Slavick, distinguished professor of art at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, room 130 of the John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University. Slavick, primarily a photographer, will discuss her art and her curatorial activities. Free.

• The Lowe Family, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Franklin.

Tickets start at $19. www.GreatMountainMusic.com or call 866.273.4615.

LITERARY (ADULTS) • Catch the Spirit’s annual Holiday Celebration of Writers, 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Carriage Room of the Jarrett House, Dillsboro. 631.4587. www.spiritofappalachia.com.

• Macon County Public Library will be closed Friday, Nov. 9 for employee training, and on Monday, Nov. 12 for Veterans Day. Friends of the Library Bookstore, 121 Highlands Road (Hwy 28), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Pamela King Cable, author of “Televenge” an inside look at televangelism, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva. 586.9499.

• Betty Cory, author of “Crabbing Days of an Islander,” a memoir of growing up on St. Simon’s Island, 2 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, City Lights Bookstore, Sylva.

586.9499.

• Storytelling with Gary Carden, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Meditation with Corina Pia, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, 586.2016.

• Adult Creative Writing Group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. 586.2016.

• Library Closed for Veterans’ Day Holiday, Monday, Nov. 12.

• Book launch “My Bookstore” and paperback release of Ron Rash’s novel “The Cove,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday,

ON STAGE & IN CONCERT

• Essence Lounge, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, Cherokee: Karaoke, 8 p.m. to midnight, Thursday, Nov. 8; Straight No Chaser, 9 p.m., Fortunate Sons, DJ Suave, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday Nov. 9; Buchanan Boys, DJ Suave, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 10.

• Once in a Lifetime,” a satiric look back at the Golden Age of Hollywood and the birth of the “talkies,” 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, through Saturday, Nov. 10, John W. Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center at Western Carolina University. $15 for adults; $10 for seniors and WCU faculty and staff; and $10 for students (or $7 in advance). Tickets are available online at bardoartscenter.wcu.edu or by calling the box office at 227.2479.

• August: Osage County, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9, 10, 16, and 17; 3 p.m. Nov. 11, HART Theatre, Waynesville. Adults $20, seniors $18, students $8 and special $6 discount tickets for students for Sunday matinees.

Contains adult language and subject matter. 456.6322 or www.sellingticket.com/HART. • Guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur, awardwinning classically trained artists, 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, main hall Macon County Public Library, Franklin.

524.7683 or www.artscouncilofmacon.org.

• The Barefoot Movement, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva. Free. Bluegrass, folk, acoustic rock, and old-time front porch music.

586.2016 • “Look Back the Maytime Days: from the pages of Fred Chappell” by the Touring Theater of North

• “Look Back the Maytime Days: From the pages of Fred Chappell” by the Touring Theater of North Carolina, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, recital hall of WCU’s Coulter Building. Chappell will sign books and participate in a question and answer session after the performance. Chappell was born in Canton and was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997 to 2002.

• Western Carolina University Percussion Ensemble, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, recital hall of the Coulter Building, WCU. Free. WCU School of Music, 227.7242.

• Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center, Cherokee. Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

• Scotty McCreery show, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center. Open to all ages. www.ticketmaster.com or 800.745.3000.

• Styx, 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, at Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center, 777 Casino Drive Cherokee. www.ticketmaster.com.

• The hour-long radio show Stories of Mountain Folk airs at 9 a.m. every Saturday on its home station, WRGC Jackson County Radio, 540 AM on the dial, broadcasting out of Sylva. Stories of Mountain Folk is an ongoing all-sound oral history program produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia (CSA), a western North Carolina not-for-profit, for local radio and online distribution.

ART/GALLERY EVENTS & OPENINGS

• Mountain Shapes and Colors Art and Craft Fair, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov.10, Southwestern Community College’s Swain Center. 366.2000.

• WCU Fine Art Museum 3rd annual Handmade Holiday Sale, 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center, Western Carolina University.

Buy handmade items directly from artists in the WCU community. All items are priced under $100 and include silk scarves, ceramics, jewelry, knitted wear, note cards and more. Fineartmuseum.wcu.edu.

CLASSES, PROGRAMS & DEMONSTRATIONS • Western North Carolina Woodturners Club, 6 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Blue Ridge School, Glenville. Drive to the back of the school to the woodworking shop.

Visitors are always welcomed. The club meets every second Thursday at 6 p.m., March through November.

526.2616.

• Mountain Shapes and Colors, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 10, SCC Swain Center, 60 Almond School Road, Bryson City. Crafts, mini pottery classes, food. www.southwesterncc.edu or j_marley@southwesterncc.edu.

• The Cherokee County Arts Council and the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center are offering classes made possible with grants through Handmade In America and the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area. For details: 479.3364, kathleen@cherokeeartscouncil.org, or www.cherokeeartscouncil.org/craft-labs-for-artists/ • Art classes with Dominick DePaolo, 10 a.m. to noon on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Old Armory Building, 44 Boundary St. in Waynesville and from 1 to 3 p.m. every Friday at Mountain Home Collection at 110 Miller St., Waynesville. Watercolor classes will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon every Monday and oil painting classes from 1 to 3 p.m. every Monday at the Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Registration requested. For Armory classes call 456.9918; for Home Collection classes call 456.5441; for Franklin classes call 349.4607.

• Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will host Creative writing workshops. $35. For details: 631.4587 or www.spiritofappalachia.org.

• The Smoky Mountain Knitting Guild is offering free Learn to Knit classes for both adults and children at the Waynesville Library on Tuesdays. The adult class meets from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Children (boys and girls ages 8-12) meet from 5 to 6 p.m. Pre-registration required. 246.0789.

FILM & SCREEN

• A new signing choir begins rehearsals from 3:30 to 4 p.m. Sign language used in connection with song.

Open to all willing to learn. 476.4231.

• 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.

• Haywood Community Band meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Thursday at Grace Episcopal Church. 452.7530.

• 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 to12:30 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 • 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

• Movie Night for adults and teens, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 8, Jackson County Public Library, Sylva, Call for title. 586.2016.

• Watershed Film Series, “It’s Our Water,” 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, Fellowship Hall, Bryson City United Methodist Church. Enter through back of building.

Directions available at www.WATRnc.org.

• Movies at Jackson County Library, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Thursdays. Free. 586.2016.

• Movies at the Cashiers Library. The library shows movies on the first and third Thursdays of each month at 3 p.m. The movies and popcorn are free, but donations are appreciated. For titles and times, visit www.fontanalib.org/cashiers.

• Movies at the Marianna Black Library. Family movie days are Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. Classic movies are shown the second and fourth Saturday of each month at 4 p.m. Other films are also shown throughout the month. Movies and popcorn are free to the public.

488.3030 or www.fontanalib.org/brysoncity.

• Movies at the Macon County Library. New movies, documentaries and foreign films every Monday at 3:30, Wednesday at 4:30 and again at 7 p.m., and Classic Matinees at Fridays at 2 p.m. The movies and popcorn are free, but donations are welcome. 524.3600.

DANCE • Second Sunday Contra Dance, 2:30 p.m., potluck at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov.11, Community Room on the second floor of the old courthouse in the Jackson County Library Complex, Sylva.

Charlotte Crittendon will call the dance to the music of Out of the Woodwork. Bring covered dish, plate, cup and cutlery and water bottle. Ron Arps at ronandcathy71@frontier.com.

MUSIC MAKERS • Signature Brew Coffee Company holds Sylva Open

membership to Friends of the Smokies. Current Friends of the Smokies members hike for $10. Hikers who bring a friend hike for free. 452. 0720 or keith@friendsofthesmokies.org.

• Hike of the Month, Great Smoky Mountains Association, Saturday, Nov. 17, Kephart Prong Trail, North Carolina side of the park (nine miles from Newfound Gap or five miles from Smokemont Campground), easy four-mile roundtrip. Call for meeting time and place. 888.898.9102.

• The “Shadow of the Bear,” located in southern Jackson County near Cashiers, is visible for about 30 minutes daily between 5:30-6 p.m. from mid- October through early November, as the autumnal sun sets behind Whiteside Mountain. Jackson County Visitors Center, 800. 962.1911, or www.MountainLovers.com.

• Sons of the American Legion Turkey Shoot, 9 a.m. every Saturday, Legion Drive, Waynesville. Benefits local charities.

• The local Audubon Society is offering weekly Saturday birding field trips. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Highlands Town Hall parking lot near the public restrooms, or at 8 a.m. behind Wendy’s if the walk is in Cashiers. Binoculars available. www.highlandsaudubonsociety.org or 743.9670.

• The Gorges State Park is looking for volunteers to assist in maintaining existing trails and campgrounds in the park on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting. Bring gloves, water and tools supplied.

Participants need to be at least 16 years old and in good health. Registration not required. Meet at 17762 Rosman Highway (US-64) in Sapphire. 966.9099.

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS • WMI - Wilderness First Responder Recertification (WFR Recert), Nov. 9-11 and Dec. 7-9, Cullowhee.

Three-day course recertifies WFR, includes adult and child CPR. Landmark Learning, 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.org.

• Dirt, the Movie, 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, Clayton Municipal Complex, highway 76 west. Offered by Sustainable Mountain Living Communities.

706.782.7978 or smlcinc@windstream.net.

Outdoors OUTINGS, HIKES & FIELDTRIPS • Nantahala Hiking Club, 2-mile strenuous hike, Saturday, Nov. 10, to the South Face of Whiteside Mountain. Awesome rock structures and views of Whiteside Cove. Leader advises wearing lugged boots and gloves; bring weather protection, lunch, water, and camera. Meet at 10 a.m. at Whiteside Parking Lot (parking fee or Golden Age). Jim Whitehurst, 526.8134, for reservations. This is the last time Jim will offer this hike.

• Nantahala Hiking Club, 7-mile, moderate-to-strenuous hike, Saturday, Nov. 10, on Coweeta Lab Ridge Trail to Dyke Gap, returning on the Gage Trail. Meet at 9 a.m. at Westgate Plaza opposite Burger King in Franklin, Gail Lehman, 524.5298 for reservations.

Visitors welcome. No pets.

• Nantahala Hiking Club, one-mile easy-to-moderate hike, Sunday, Nov. 11, on Rufus Morgan Trail. Two small stream crossings. Meet at 1:30 p.m. at Westgate Plaza opposite Burger King in Franklin. Joyce Jaques/Bill Crawford, 410.852.7510, for reservations.

Visitors welcome. No pets.

• Classic Hike of the Smokes, Thursday, Nov. 15, Smokemont Loop Trail. Meet at 8:30 a.m. Asheville, 9 a.m. Maggie Valley or 9:30 a.m. to carpool to trailhead at Smokemont, one of the most popular campsites in the park. 6.2-mile moderate hike, led by Danny Bernstein. $35 donation for the guided hike to go to the Friends’ Smokies Trails Forever program, includes

• Regional Trails Plan public workshop, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 15, multi-purpose room, Waynesville Recreation Center, Vance St., Waynesville. Hosted by the Southwestern Commission to generate ideas for future trails in Haywood County, including greenways, mountain bike trails, equestrian trails and hiking trails.

• WMI - Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Dec. 1321, Cullowhee, and Jan. 5-13, 2013 in Asheville.

This nine-day comprehensive wilderness medical course is the national standard for outdoor trip leaders. Landmark Learning 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.org.

• WMI Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) Jan. 7- Feb.1, 2013 in Asheville. This 30-day course provides certification in NC EMT-basic, National EMT- Basic and Wilderness EMT. Landmark Learning, 293.5384 or main@landmarklearning.org • Franklin Green Drinks hosted by Macon County Chapter of WNC Alliance, third Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Rathskeller in downtown Franklin. Green Drinks is a time for local folks to get together and socialize and talk about environmental or social justice issues.

Smoky Mountain News

• The Waynesville Public Art Commission seeks an artist for its fourth outdoor public art project to be located in the Mini Park at the corner of Main and Depot Streets. The theme of the piece is Wildflowers of the Smokies to honor the historic connection between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Town of Waynesville. The selected artist will receive $12,500 for proposal development, fabrication and installation. www.townofwaynesville.org or call 452.2491.

• North Carolina Glass 2012: In Celebration of 50 Years of Studio Glass in America, exhibit through Friday, Feb. 1, Fine Art Museum at Western Carolina University.

Jam nights on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. Shop provides the instruments, you provide the talent. Chris Coopers’ Fusion band hosts.

November 7-13, 2012

• Luminaries will light the way during a special candle lit Sylva Art Stroll, 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, Sylva.

Demonstrations and exhibitions at Gallery One, It’s By Nature, Skinny Gallery, City Lights Café, Nichols House Antiques and Collectibles, Survival Pride Clothing Store and Art Gallery and Signature Brew Coffee Company. www.mountainlovers.com.

• Beginning Glass Tumbler Class, 45-minute time slots from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, Green Energy Park, Dillsboro. $40 per person; limited to 8 students.

631.0271 or www.jcgep.org.

wnc calendar

Carolina, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, Haywood Community College Auditorium. Chappell will sign books after the performance. Chappell was born in Canton and was the Poet Laureate of North Carolina from 1997 to 2002.

COMPETITIVE EDGE • Turkey Shoot-Out Golf Tournament, 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and Sunday, Nov. 11, Maggie Valley Club.

926.6013.

39

PRIME REAL ESTATE

INSIDE

Advertise in The Smoky Mountain News

ARTS AND CRAFTS

MarketPlace information: The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 every week to over 500 locations across in Haywood, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties along with the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. For a link to our MarketPlace Web site, which also contains a link to all of our MarketPlace display advertisers’ Web sites, visit www.smokymountainnews.com.

ALLISON CREEK Iron Works & Woodworking. Crafting custom metal & woodwork in rustic, country & lodge designs with reclaimed woods! Design & consultation, Barry Downs 828.524.5763, Franklin NC

Rates:

ABSOLUTE REAL ESTATE AUCTIONSat. Nov. 24 at 11am. Lumberton, NC. Free Lunch. 10% BP. Small & Large Lots. 110 Acres. NCLN858. see www.meekinsauction.com

AUCTION

■ Free — Residential yard sale ads, lost or found pet ads.

■ Free — Non-business items that sell for less than $150.

■ $12 — Classified ads that are 50 words or less; each additional line is $2.

■ $12 — If your ad is 10 words or less, it will be displayed with a larger type.

■ $3 — Border around ad and $5 — Picture with ad.

■ $35 — Non-business items, 25 words or less. 3 month or till sold.

■ $300 — Statewide classifieds run in 117 participating newspapers with 1.6 million circulation. Up to 25 words.

■ All classified ads must be pre-paid.

AUCTION AUTOMOTIVE SHOP Equipment- Saturday, November 17 at 10am. Genuine Care Car Center, 192 River Park Road, Mooresville, NC. Everything must be sold! 7 above ground lifts, Hunter alignment equipment, Hunter Tire Changers/Balancers, NC State Inspection, Office Equipment, more!

See our website: www.ParkAuctionRealty.com or www.AuctionZip.com, ID#14226.

Terms, Directions, Information: 336.263.3957. NCFAL#8834

Classified Advertising: Scott Collier, phone 828.452.4251; fax 828.452.3585 | classads@smokymountainnews.com

AUCTION SATURDAY 5PM Dept. 56 Village & Christmas Items. Curio and oak shelf units, toy chest, vanity dresser, bedroom set, tools (Craftsman, Royobi, B&D, hand & power tools and loads more), lawn trailer, compressor, screened gazebo.

Great buys at our end of the year auction, we are full! Preview at: www.ReminisceAntiques.com Reminisce Auction, Franklin, NC 828.369.6999 Ron Raccioppi NCAL# 7866

WAYNESVILLE TIRE, COO

Serving Haywood, Jackson & Surrounding Counties

R

DI

SC OV ER E

ATR

PE

INC.

Offering:

MAJOR-BRAND TIRES FOR CARS, LIGHT & MEDIUM-DUTY TRUCKS, AND FARM TIRES.

Service truck available for on-site repairs LEE & PATTY ENSLEY, OWNERS STEVE WOODS, MANAGER

MON-FRI 7:30-5:30 • WAYNESVILLE PLAZA

456-5387

71337

BANK OWNED, ONLINE ONLY Auctions, 150 Lots & 1 Restaurant, 3 States, 21 Counties, Auctions End 11/15, 11/16, 11/19, 11/20 at 2pm. See Website for Bidder Centrals and More Information. Iron Horse Auction Company, Inc. 800.997.2248. NCAL3936.

SCAL1684. www.ironhorseauction.com $$$ WE WILL AUCTION $$$ Your Guns, Gold, Silver, Coins, Antiques, Estate or any Quality items for you. Reminisce Auction 828.369.6999.

AUCTION AUCTION Utility Equipment & Trucks, November 10, 10am, Gastonia, NC. Selling for PSNC Energy. Service & Pickup Trucks, Backhoes & More!

Motley's Auction & Realty Group.

804.232.3300. www.motleys.com.

NCAL#5914.

PICTURE FRAMING EQPMT AUCTION Thursday, November 8 at 10am.

420-A West Fleming Drive, Morganton, NC. Wizard CMC 8000 Mat Cutters, (6) Mat Cutters, Vacuum Presses, Pistorius Saws. www.ClassicAuctions.com.

704.791.8825. ncaf5479.

HUGE AUCTION Friday Nov. 9th at 4:30pm. Over 800 lots to be sold! Partial Listing: Quality furniture, primitives, glassware, antiques, Longaberger basket collection, collectibles, cast iron, household, box lots, used furniture & TONS MORE!! View pics & details @ www.boatwrightauction. com, Boatwright Auction, 34 Tarheel Trail, Franklin, NC 28734 828.524.2499, Boatwright Auction NCAL Firm 9231 TAX SEIZURE AUCTION Saturday, November 17 at 10am.

201 S. Central Ave. Locust, NC. (East of Charlotte) Selling Bass Boat, Cars, Trucks, Cat 953 Loader, Lawn Mowers, Snap-On Tool Boxes, Tools, 1945 Willis Jeep. www.ClassicAuctions.com 704.791.8825. ncaf5479.

BUILDING MATERIALS BUILDING MATERIALS: White pine and hemlock rough sawn lumber and timbers. Also custom sawing available. Some walnut and cherry. Free sawdust and firewood available. Smoky Mountain Timber, 3517 Jonathan Creek, 828.926.4300.

HAYWOOD BUILDERS Garage Doors, New Installations Service & Repairs, 828.456.6051 100 Charles St. Waynesville Employee Owned.

CONSTRUCTION/ REMODELING 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 or 828.508.0316 SULLIVAN HARDWOOD FLOORS Installation- Finish - Refinish 828.399.1847.

ELECTRICAL BOOTH ELECTRIC Residential & Commercial service.

Up-front pricing, emergency service. 828.734.1179. NC License #24685-U.

CAMPERS TRAVEL TRAILER 2006 Prowler Regal, 34’, 2 slideouts, fully contained with a Deck.

Parked in Hillbilly Campground, spot #12. $12,000 for more info call 352.874.1350

CARS - DOMESTIC DONATE YOUR CAR, Truck or Boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 877.752.0496.

TOP CASH FOR CARS, Call Now For An Instant Offer. Top Dollar Paid, Any Car/Truck, Any Condition. Running or Not. Free Pick-up/Tow. 1.800.761.9396 SAPA

AUTO PARTS DDI BUMPERS ETC. Quality on the Spot Repair & Painting. Don Hendershot 858.646.0871 cell 828.452.4569 Office.

ENTERTAINMENT SCOTTISH TARTANS MUSEUM 86 East Main St., Franklin, 828.584.7472. www.scottishtartans.org. Matthew A.C. Newsome, GTS, FSA, SCOT., Curator & General Manager, Ronan B. MacGregor, Business Assistant.

R

LEGAL NOTICES

Condado de Swain es un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. Las minorías y las mujeres se les anima a presentar propuestas. Las empresas históricamente subutilizadas se les anima a presentar propuestas. Condado de Swain se reserva el derecho de rechazar las propuestas de todas y cada una.

Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otra lengua a petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Joan Stillwell al 828.507.8958 o en 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, Carolina del Norte 28713.

EMPLOYMENT A FEW PRO DRIVERS NEEDEDTop Pay & 401K. Need CDL Class A Driving Exp. 877.258.8782. www.ad-drivers.com AIRLINES ARE HIRING Train for hands on Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA approved program. Financial Aid if Qualified Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance.

1.866.724.5403. SAPA

Great Smokies Storage 10’x20’

92

$

20’x20’

160

$

ONE MONTH

FREE WITH 12-MONTH CONTRACT

828.506.4112 or 828.507.8828 Conveniently located off 19/23 by Thad Woods Auction

AVIATION CAREERS Train in advance structures and become certified to work on aircraft. Financial aid for those who qualify. Call Aviation Institute Of Maintenance 1.888.212.5856

BAYADA IS CURRENTLY

Seeking RN’s and LPN’s Part Time or PRN 8 Hour Shifts One-on-One Private Duty Nursing

Call Today 828.667.3200 or visit us at: www.bayada.com DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HOUSING. Salary range $57,678-$85,612.

See www.ci.albemarle.nc.us for more information. Deadline November 30, 2012.

DRIVER$0.01 increase per mile after 6 months and 12 months. Choose your hometime. $0.03 Quarterly Bonus. Requires 3 months recent experience. 800.414.9569. www.driveknight.com DRIVERS CDL-A Experience Pays! Up to $5,000 Sign-On Bonus! Tuition reimbursement up to $6,000. New student pay AND lease program.

Call or Apply Online!

877.521.5775. www.usatruck.jobs DRIVERS Class-A Flatbed. Home Every Weekend! Up to 37c/mi. Both ways. Full Benefits. Requires 1 year OTR Flatbed Experience. 800.572.5489 x227. SunBelt Transport, Jacksonville, FL.

Puzzles can be found on page 45.

These are only the answers.

smokymountainnews.com

El Condado de Swain es un empleador de igualdad de oportunidades. Las empresas pequeñas y / o de las minorías y de negocios históricamente subutilizadas (HUB) a que presenten sus propuestas. Todas las partes interesadas a que presenten sus propuestas. Condado de Swain se reserva el derecho de rechazar cualquiera o todas las propuestas. Esta información está disponible en español o en cualquier otro idioma bajo petición. Por favor, póngase en contacto con Cindi Woodard en 828.488.9273 o en 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, Carolina del Norte 28713 de alojamiento para esta solicitud.

Swain County is an equal opportunity employer. Minority and women are encouraged to submit proposals. Historically underutilized businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. Swain County does reserve the right to reject any and all proposals.

This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Joan Stillwell at 828.507.8958 or at 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC 28713.

PROFITABLE ILLINOIS BUSINESSES For Sale By Owner. Many Types, Sizes, Locations terms. $2 to $15M. Other stats available. wwwBizSale.com 1.800.617.4204 SAPA

71338

November 7-13, 2012

The County of Swain is an equal opportunity employer. Small and/or minority firms and Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) are encouraged to submit proposals. All interested parties are encouraged to submit Proposals. Swain County does reserve the right to reject any or all proposals. This information is available in Spanish or any other language upon request. Please contact Joan Stillwell at 828.507.8958 or at 101 Mitchell Street, Bryson City, NC 28713 for accommodations for this request.

NC LICENSED BUILDERS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The County of Swain has received a Grant from the North Carolina Community Investment and Assistance to provide housing improvements for homes spread throughout the County.

At this time Swain County is requesting proposals to stick build one house for the 2010 Scattered Site Housing Program. (Under the CDBG guidelines we must provide the homeowner with three (3) different houses even though only one (1) house will be selected.)

Interested persons should contact Joan Stillwell at 828.507.8958. Bid packets will be available November 12, 2012 – November 20, 2012. To be considered, all proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the following clearly marked “Proposal for House Plan #1”, “Proposal for House Plan #2”, “ Proposal for House Plan #3” and must be received no later than 10:30 a.m., November 21, 2012 at the address below: Swain County Manager’s Office 101 Mitchell Street Bryson City, NC 28713 Attn: Joan Stillwell/CDBG

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

WNC MarketPlace

DEMOLITION AND CLEARANCE SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The County of Swain has received a Grant from the North Carolina Community Investment and Assistance to provide housing improvements for homes spread throughout the County.

Swain County is requesting proposals for Demolition and Clearance Services for one (1) property for the 2010 Scattered Site Housing Program.

Interested persons should contact Joan Stillwell 828.507.8958.

To be considered, all proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope with the following clearly marked “Proposal for Demolition and Clearance Services” and must be received no later than 10:00 a.m., November 21, 2012 at the address below: Swain County 101 Mitchell Street P.O. Box 2321 Bryson City, NC 28713 Attn: Cindi Woodard

LEGAL NOTICES

FIND US AT

facebook.com/smnews 41

www.smokymountainnews.com

November 7-13, 2012

WNC MarketPlace

EMPLOYMENT

42

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR For small nonprofit animal welfare group specializing in spay/neuter. Self-directed with proven ability to work/collaborate with diverse groups of people.

Background with data-driven program evaluation and track record of effectively leading an outcomes-based organization and staff. Nonprofit experience and past success working with a board of directors and budgets a plus. Fundraising, marketing, and public relations experience.

College degree and strong written/verbal communication skills required. Candidate must show specific examples of strategies developed to take an organization to the next stage of growth.

Salary $30-35k with benefits.

Send resume to: search@hawaspayneuter.org

EMPLOYMENT HEAD START TEACHER Two Positions - One in Haywood Co. and One In Jackson Co. Candidates must have a B-K or BS in Early Childhood Education, computer skills, will be responsible for classroom paperwork, have the ability to work with diverse populations and community partners, have 2 years experience in Pre-K classroom and have good time management skills. This is a 10 month position with full time benefits of health, dental and vision insurance, life insurance, retirement, and short term and long term disability.

Applications will be taken at Mountain Projects, Inc. 251 Old Balsam Rd, Waynesville 28786, or 25 Schulman St, Sylva, 28779. Pre-employment drug testing required. EOE/AA.

Flossie Girl - A pretty gray and white tuxedo kitty with beautiful amber eyes. She loves people and will make a wonderful pet!

Ann - She has some of the physical attributes of the Mountain Cur with her beautiful blond coat and bobbed tail. She has an incredibly sweet and gentle disposition.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FINANCIAL

DRIVERTango Transport now hiring Regional OTR Team. Top Pay. Plenty of Miles. Great Home Time. Family Medical/Dental. 401k. Paid Vacations. Call 877.826.4605 or www.drivefortango.com

HELP WANTED!!!

Make $1000 a week mailing brochures from home! FREE Supplies!

Helping Home-Workers since 2001!

Genuine Opportunity! NO experience required. Start Immediately! www.MailingCentral.NET SAPA

$$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!!

Injury Lawsuit Dragging? Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hours? Low rates. Apply Now By Phone! 1.800.568.8321. wwwlawcapital.com Not Valid in CO or NC. SAPA

JOB OPENING: JACKSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY COMPLEX The Jackson County Public Library is looking for a team player. The position is a 20 hour per week Technical Services Assistant I. Duties involve processing new library materials to expedite availability to library patrons. Experience with Dewey Decimal System and MARC format is desirable. Public service experience and high school diploma or GED mandatory for the position. Preference is given to those with previous library experience. Hours include nights and weekends. Pay is $9.00/hour.

Only applications submitted through the North Carolina Employment Security Commission will be considered. Position is open until filled.

For further information, contact the ESC at 26 Ridgeway Street, Sylva, NC 28779.

The phone: 828.586.4063; Job Line: 800.768.5627; Fax: 828.586.3041; email: esc.jobs.sylva@ncesc.gov

NOW HIRING! National Companies need workers immediately to assemble products at home. Electronics, CD stands, hair barrettes & many more. Easy work, no selling, any hours. $500/week potential. Info 1.985.646.1700 DEPT NC - 4152 (Not valid in Louisiana) SAPA

BEWARE OF LOAN FRAUD. Please check with the Better Business Bureau or Consumer Protection Agency before sending any money to any loan company.

SAPA

MEDICAL CAREERS BEGIN HERE Train ONLINE for Allied Health and Medical Management. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified.

SCHEV authorized. Call 1.877.206.7665 www.CenturaOnline.com SAPA

TRUCK DRIVERS WANTEDBest Pay and Home Time! Apply Online Today over 750 Companies!

One Application, Hundreds of Offers! www.HammerLaneJobs.com.

SAPA

MOVIE EXTRAS Earn up to $300 per day. No experience required. All looks and ages.

Call 1.877.744.4964 SAPA

GOLD AND SILVER Can Protect Your Hard Earned Dollars. Learn how by calling Freedom Gold Group for your free educational guide. 888.478.6991

O-Op - REGIONAL. Pay Increase. $0 Down Lease Purchase. Class A CDL / Home Weekly.

New pay packages. Call now 1.800.446.2864 or go to: www.driveforwatkins.com TANKER & FLATBED Independent Contractors! Immediate placement available. Best Opportunities in the trucking business. CALL TODAY 800.277.0212 or www.primeinc.com TRUCK DRIVER/OTR$1000 Sign-On Bonus!! Competitive pay & home time, safety bonus paid quarterly, vacation & benefits. Family Environment. Applicant must possess CDL Class A. Contact Corney Transportation.

1.800.354.9111 ext. 7 (Judy).

FINANCIAL

BUY GOLD & SILVER COINS 1 percent over dealer cost. For a limited time, Park Avenue Numismatics is selling Silver and Gold American Eagle Coins at 1 percent over dealer cost. 1.888.470.6389

FURNITURE

LUMBER WORMY CHESTNUT LUMBER 10 Boards - 13” x 5/4 x 12’.

Some 6 feet sections. $400 828.627.2342 HARDWOOD LUMBER SALE All remaining lumber must go!

Best offer over $4,000. Call 828.627.2342

HEAVY EQUIPMENT SAWMILLS From only $3997.00 - MAKE/SAVE MONEY with your own bandmill.

Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. FREE Info/DVD: www.NorwoodSawmills.com.

1.800.578.1363, Ext. 300N.

PETS HAYWOOD SPAY/NEUTER 828.452.1329

OAK PANNELED TOOL CHEST 27x32x17, has inside tray.

Would make a great coffee table! $150 Call 828.627.2342 COMPARE QUALITY & PRICE Shop Tupelo’s, 828.926.8778.

HAYWOOD BEDDING, INC. The best bedding at the best price!

533 Hazelwood Ave. Waynesville 828.456.4240

LAWN & GARDEN HEMLOCK HEALERS, INC. Dedicated to Saving Our Hemlocks. Owner/Operator Frank Varvoutis, NC Pesticide Applicator’s License #22864. 48 Spruce St. Maggie Valley, NC 828.734.7819 828.926.7883, Email: hemlockhealers@yahoo.com MANTIS DELUXE TILLER. NEW! FastStart engine. Ships FREE.OneYear Money-Back Guarantee when you buy DIRECT. Call for the DVD and FREE Good Soil book!

888.485.3923

Prevent Unwanted Litters And Improve The Health Of Your Pet Low-Cost spay and neuter services Hours: Monday-Thursday, 12 Noon - 5pm 145 Wall Street

REAL ESTATE ANNOUNCEMENT EVER CONSIDER A Reverse Mortgage? At least 62 years old? Stay in your home & increase cash flow! Safe & Effective! Call Now for your FREE DVD! Call Now 888.418.0117.

SAPA

Pet Adoption Jack Russell. He weighs 10 lbs., is very friendly, and active. This black and white boy needs to be placed where there are no cats.

Call foster home at 1.877.ARF.JCNC. LITTER OF FIVE - 11 week old Beagle mix pups. They are scheduled for spay/neuter surgery on 10/29/12. They could go to their adoptive homes only after they return from their surgery on October 30th. Call 828.293.5629 for more info GABBY - Is a beautiful, female, Lab mix. She is four months old, happy, energetic, but is recovering from a bad chemical burn on her back. She will need a forever home as soon as she is released from her vet. She may have a scar, but that's all. Call 828.293.5629.

POLLY - Senior Lhasa Apso mix.

She is sweet and housebroken.

Here coloring is off white. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC. MILA - A two year old Elkhound mix. She weighs 27 lbs., and is blackish colored. She needs work on puppy behavior. Call 1.877.ARF.JCNC. RASCAL - A cute terrier/corgi

mix who is 3 years old. He weighs just 16 pounds. He is neutered, housebroken, and current on all his shots. He plays well with other dogs, but he is frightened of people. His not a lapdog, nor does he like to be on a leash. He is a good porch dog; he'll sit there all day and bark to let you know if someone is coming. He doesn't run off once he is used to being at his new home. Call 226.4783.

CLARA - A 2-3 yr old "Whatizit?"

She weighs 68 lbs., is friendly, and shaggy. Call 877.273.5262.

SUSAN - Two year old great cat.

She is very affectionate, litter box trained, and is good with other cats and dogs. She is quite talkative. 828.586.5647 CUDDLES - Female, Terrier/ Hound mix. She got her name because she likes to cuddle. She is very friendly with people and gets along well with other dogs She is white with brown spots.

Cuddles is 2-3 years old and weighs 26 pounds. She is making progress on being housebroken. Call 828.226.478.

GEORGIA LAND SALE! Great investment! Relax & enjoy country lifestyle! Beautifully developed 1 Acre - 20Acre homesites.

Augusta Area. Beautiful weather.

Low taxes/Low down. Financing from $195/month. Call Owner 1.706.364.4200.

SAPA NC MTN LOG CABIN Shell on 1.72acs. EZ to finish. Reduced $79,900 OR New 2bd 2ba, 1200sf cabin on 1.87acs. $139,500. Owner must sell. Call 828.286.1666.

OWNER WILL FINANCE. Bank or seller won’t finance? We help! No qualifying. No credit! Low down. Call Today! 1.800.563.2734. kanthony@cigrealty.com

GRETTA - Shepherd Mix –

1 BEDROOM APARTMENT Above Gallery, W/D, Heat & Air, Clean & Ready to Live In, All Hookups Available. $575/mo.

Move in with First & Last. Call 828.400.1041 or 828.400.1040

CRS, GRI, E-PRO

ann@mainstreetrealty.net

506-0542 CELL 71325

101 South Main St. Waynesville

MainStreet Realty

(828) 452-2227 mainstreetrealty.net

Phone # 1-828-586-3346 TDD # 1-800-725-2962

facebook.com/smnews

Equal Housing Opportunity

SMN 71332

WE SAVE YOU MONEY

TUPELO’S

Mountain Realty

Ron Breese

BEST PRICE EVERYDAY

Broker/Owner

INDOOR & OUTDOOR

10-5 M-SAT. 12-4 SUN.

FURNITURE

2177 Russ Ave. Waynesville, NC 28786 Cell: 828.400.9029 ron@ronbreese.com

www.ronbreese.com Each office independently owned & operated.

71245

ANIMAL COMPASSION NETWORK Pet Adoption Events - Every Saturday from 11a.m. to 3p.m. at Pet Harmony, Animal Compassion Network's new pet store for rescued pets. Dozens of ACN dogs, puppies, kittens and cats will be ready to find their permanent homes. The store also offers quality pet supplies where all proceeds save more homeless animals. Come see us at 803 Fairview St. (behind Province 620 off Hendersonville Rd), visit www.animalcompassionnetwork.org, or call 828.274.DOGS.

Pro/file

ON DELLWOOD RD. (HWY. 19) AT 20 SWANGER LANE WAYNESVILLE/MAGGIE VALLEY 828.926.8778

smokymountainnews.com

brown, I am about 7 years old and I’m a loving, sweet-natured girl. I have been through basic obedience training and get along well with other dogs. I do fine with kids but probably need to be in a home without cats. $125 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 258.4820 animalcompassionnetwork.org.

APT. FOR RENT UNFURNISHED

Ann Eavenson

November 7-13, 2012

ESTHER - Hound Mix – reddish

HOMES FOR SALE BRUCE MCGOVERN A Full Service Realtor shamrock13@charter.net McGovern Property Management 828.283.2112.

Ann knows real estate!

OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Wed. 9 am - 4 pm & Thurs. 9 am - 3 pm 168 E. Nicol Arms Road Sylva, NC 28779

VISIT ARF ON SATURDAYS 1-3 To register for November 12th low-cost spay/neuter trip.

tan/buff & white, I am about 5 years old and can be a wonderful companion IF I am the only dog!

I’m sweet and intelligent, and very well mannered in the home with no chewing of furniture or belongings, or raiding of food from tables or garbage cans. I sleep in my dog bed (and not in yours!), ride well in the car, and know all the basic obedience commands plus many more! I love all people including young children, by my ONE PROBLEM is that I do not like other dogs. I will growl and bark and will not tolerate them. Since I am almost perfect otherwise, I just need a person/family who will work with this and I let me be an only dog. $125 adoption fee, Animal Compassion Network 258.4820 animalcompassionnetwork.org.

*FREE FORECLOSURE LISTINGS* Over 400,000 properties nationwide. LOW Down Payment. Call NOW! 1.800.498.8619 SAPA

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WEEKLY SUDOKU

Super

CROSSWORD

60 “Look -!” (“Aren’t we a pair!”)

62 High fortress in MEN OVER BOARD Scotland ACROSS 1 Tree with chocolate-yield- 69 Attend as a visitor 72 Wood shoe ing seeds 73 1959 Neil Sedaka hit 6 Shoulder blade 74 “Filling Station” poet 13 Attempted 77 Agreeable 20 Stop prematurely 78 Prefix with center or der21 Emmy winner Janney mal 22 Program that blocks 79 Watering aid pop-ups 23 Person used to increase 80 Golda who succeeded Levi Eshkol a candidate’s popularity, 83 Kind of acct. that e.g.

25 Found a radio station on accrues interest 84 Give guff to the dial 87 Stage design 26 Inventor who rivaled 88 “There’s no - team” Tesla 90 Stinging plant 27 Caviar source 92 - to the test 28 “Wild Thing” rapper 93 U.S. gas brand Tone 95 Hit for Abba 30 “Zip- - -Doo-Dah” 98 Ending of ordinals 31 Bumper flaw 99 “Kung Fu” star David 32 Radiance 101 City laws: Abbr.

34 “It” novelist 102 Theme of this puzzle 38 “Ah, OK” 40 “The Dukes of Hazzard” 104 Western lily 106 Valet for the Green co-star John Hornet 42 Zeta follower 110 Highway cost 43 Singer with the Pips 47 “You’ve Got Mail” direc- 111 Marne “Mrs.” 112 Precursor of reggae tor Ephron 113 Li’l tyke 48 Tiny amount 115 Tourist guide 49 Acting in place of a 118 1959 romantic comedy ruler appropriate for this puzzle?

50 Punker/folkie DiFranco 122 Campsite shelters, col51 Huge lectively 52 Aruba, e.g.

123 Attributed 53 English rocker Brian 124 French playwright Jean 54 Writer John 125 “Roots” Emmy winner Dickson 126 People painting, e.g.

56 Yemeni port 127 It merged with Kmart 58 Inclined SUPER CROSSWORD

DOWN 1 Like Batman 2 Residence 3 Actor Farrell 4 Three-time president of Haiti 5 Artist Dix 6 Baglike part 7 Light cigar 8 Lets enter 9 Hookah, e.g.

10 D.C.’s land 11 Like valleys 12 Shakers founder in America 13 Furry guard 14 School Web site suffix 15 Indian flatbread 16 Adjust a bit 17 Trendy weight-loss plans 18 Of the East 19 Outlaw type 24 Things eaten 29 Expressing views 33 Albanian currency unit 34 “Zip it up!”

35 Blast creator 36 Ending for auction 37 Gun lobby inits.

39 ‘N - (pop boy band) 41 Hi-tech film effects 43 Oily stuff 44 Soup bean 45 Rabbit’s tropical lookalike 46 Quaint ointment 51 Sailor’s bed 52 “- uphill climb” 55 Surrealist Magritte 56 Hoffman of the Yippies 57 Bands of two 58 Frau’s cry 59 With 116-Down, classic

arcade game 61 T-shirt data 63 Strike while the iron 64 Catches 65 Wish (for) 66 Mournful 67 Place 68 Ten plus one 70 Brief sleep 71 Sendai sash 75 Axiom’s kin 76 Hotel chain 81 Like some painful hairs 82 Necessary: Abbr.

84 Watch from the stands 85 Penned 86 Brit. island in the Atlantic 87 Penny pincher 88 Hospice 89 Bladed boot 91 Alabama city 93 Elec. coolers 94 Séance reply 95 HST follower 96 “- for Alibi” (Grafton novel) 97 Drink with 114-Down 100 Kind of acid in vinegar 103 Thin boards 105 Bistro patron 107 “32 Flavors” singer Davis 108 Less savage 109 “Golden Boy” playwright 112 Dirty stuff 114 Hen’s clutch 116 See 59-Down 117 Grow mature 119 Med. service 120 Air quality gp.

121 Bouncers check them

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bi-monthly magazine that covers the southern Appalachian mountains and celebrates the area’s environmental riches, its people, culture, music, art, crafts and special places. Each issue relies on regional writers and photographers to bring the Appalachians to life.

In this issue: Revitalizing native language in Cherokee Knoxville, Tenn.’s, new heyday Destination: Tuckasegee towns of Jackson County, N.C. Canning and recipes PLUS ADVENTURE, CUISINE, READING, MUSIC, ARTS & MORE

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November 7-13, 2012

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A short bout with Victor the Bear Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Smoky Mountain News in November 2001

George Ellison

Victor bodied me down on the mat and sat on top of me. Tuffy sauntered over and asked: “That about it, Superman?” I agreed that it was apparently all over.

He gave Victor a command to “Stand,” which he did, and Tuffy helped me up and led me to the cage door. He next gave Victor a Brownie drink as a reward. Tuffy then let the next “opponent” into the cage.

The Victor the Bear era was surely one of the high-water marks on the Cherokee Indian reservation in regard to tourist participation opportunities.

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.

In June 2005, a selection of his Back Then columns was published by The History Press in Charleston as Mountain Passages: Natural and Cultural History of Western North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Readers can contact him at P.O. Box 1262, Bryson City, N.C., 28713, or at info@georgeellison.com.

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Smoky Mountain News

of a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game, a local radio station sponsored a “Beat-TheBear Night.” Fans were promised that radio announcers would wrestle the bear and also challenged: “And how would you like to wrestle the bear? I mean, five of our listeners will each get to wrestle Victor for 60 seconds (Thump) or less, whichever comes first. Just write to us and tell us why you would like to wrestle Victor.”

I’m not sure about Victor’s heritage. He has been described by one source as an Alaskan black bear. He was certainly larger than the eastern black bears found here in the Smokies region. Without exaggeration, I would estimate that he stood about 6-foot-6inches when up on his hind legs and weighed about 500 pounds, give or take 50 pounds. Not a small big bear.

And Victor could wrestle. He was a great wrestler. He defeated the likes of Gorgeous George and Wahoo McDaniel in their prime. A poster at Saunooke’s declared (with perhaps a little exaggeration) that his record before he retired was 2001-0-1. The tie reputedly came when some a pro football lineman from New England got in the arena and wouldn’t really wrestle Victor. He just kept body-blocking him and running around inside the big cage until Victor got tired and frustrated and sat down.

If you want to see some great video action of Victor in action against The Destroyer, another pro wrestler, go to www.thedestroyer.com/photos4.htm on the Internet. The Destroyer was actually holding his own against Victor until he got disqualified for trying to trick the bear.

Back in 1976 I was working in the Smokies and had to drive past Victor’s place coming and going. One day I went in and watched some of the local talent wrestling Victor. One young Cherokee fellow got scared when they let him in the cage and tried to outrun the bear. Victor was on that guy quicker than a duck on a junebug.

You’d suppose that few people would want to wrestle a bear, but in Cherokee in those days there was always a line of guys at the cage door waiting their turn. Most lasted about half a minute. I had wrestled in high school. I thought I saw a weakness in Victor’s technique. I didn’t think I could whip Victor, but I did suppose that maybe I could get his attention and hold my own for several minutes.

The next Saturday my wife, our three children, several friends, and I drove over to Victor’s place and went in. I got in the participant line. I recall being a little apprehensive, but not too much since Victor had been de-clawed and had a wire muzzle on his snout.

When my turn came, I pulled off my shirt, underneath which I had a T-shirt that had a picture of Superman on the back and S-U-P-E-R-M-A-N spelled out on the front.

The crowd went wild, but as I was entering

the cage the bear’s owner and attendant, whose name was Tuffy Truesdale, leaned over and whispered in my ear: “The bear can’t read.”

Victor would actually lock up with you as the match began, just like in real wrestling. I swear that it felt like locking up with a freight train. My favorite move in high school had been the Fireman’s Drag.

Just after locking up, you slip your right arm under the opponent, grab his far leg and roll him to the mat. I wasn’t a very good wrestler in high school, but I could take anybody down with that move. It was my specialty. So, after locking up with Victor, I slipped my right arm under him and reached for his far leg. When I stretched as far as I could and could only reach as far as the bear’s belly button, I knew that I was in immediate trouble.

Victor’s only move (his specialty) was to grab the opponent, throw him down on the mat, and sit on top of him until Tuffy gained a verbal submission. That’s exactly what happened. It was all with over in about 35 seconds.

November 7-13, 2012

This is a bear story. Unlike many bear stories, this one is true.

Tourism started in Western North Carolina during the post-Civil War era, but it wasn’t a huge factor in the region’s economy until the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was founded in 1934. All of the communities in WNC were influenced by tourism, but none more than the lands held by the Eastern Band of Cherokees on the North Carolina boundary of the park.

By the postWorld War II era, Cherokee had become one of the major destination Columnist points for tourism in the eastern United States. Some of the attractions that evolved — the “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Qualla Crafts, and others — were substantial attractions and have endured.

Others were less substantial and have faded into the mist. One of my absolute favorites in this category was the Dancing Chicken. It was well worth the quarter you put into the slot in the chicken’s cage to see him go into action in anticipation of the cup of cracked corn that he got after each performance. Man that chicken could dance!

We’re not talking Fred Astaire. The Dancing Chicken’s style was a cross between the Scarecrow in the “Wizard of Oz” and downhome mountain clogging.

Another more substantial attraction that nevertheless didn’t withstand the passage of time was Victor the Bear at the Chief Saunooke complex. The complex today is still impressive, stretching along the Oconaluftee River with a gem mine, tubing center, an indoor gift mall, and several different types of bears in an assortment of pits. They even have cuddly cubs. The complex was the creation of Osley B. Saunooke, who died in 1965 at the age of 58. As “Chief ” Saunooke, he became the world heavyweight wrestling champion when he defeated Tom Johnson in a grudge match staged in Boston in 1938.

But Victor, alas, is no longer there. Back in the 1970s, you could pay a small fee and go into the old wooden amphitheater (which later burned down and was replaced) and see Victor. He was located on ground level in an iron cage about the size of a circus ring. If you really wanted to do so, at no extra charge you could go into his cage and wrestle Victor.

Victor is one of the towering figures in the annals of bear wrestling. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show. During the half-time

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Smoky Mountain News November 7-13, 2012