Appalachian culture tends to be portrayed in pop culture as a sort of monochromatic subsection of society made up of relatively poor white people in a rural setting. However, Chris Aluka Berry, who lives in Madison County, has sought to change that by bringing to light the lives and legacies of Black people who have long been a part of Appalachia’s cultural fabric with his book “Affrilachia: Testimonies.” (Page 16) Chris Aluka Berry photo
By the numbers: where Helene recovery stands, and where it’s going..............6 Lawmakers begin work on latest Helene recovery bill..............................................9 Haywood Pathways director recalls seven years with nonprofit........................10 Jackson TDA board seat remains vacant....................................................................11
Nominations open for SCC’s Distinguished Alumni Award................................12 WCU sees high retention rate, notable increase in enrollment..........................13
Opinion
Cash leaves legacy of progress in the Smokies......................................................14
Letter to the editor............................................................................................................14
A&E
WCU hosts faculty art showcase................................................................................21
Ready for the ‘Chili Cook-Off Stroll’?..........................................................................22
Outdoors
State intends to spray Spongy Moth treatment......................................................24 Up Moses Creek: bones of contention......................................................................26
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Thurs, Feb 13 vs Wofford – 6 pm Sat, Feb 15 vs Furman – 1 pm Thurs, Feb 12 vs ETSU – 6 pm Sat, Feb 15 vs The Citadel – 3:30 pm Wed, Feb 26 vs Wofford – 7 pm INGLES COURT AT THE RAMSEY
Sen. Thom Tillis steps off the asphalt to point something out to Rep. Tim Moore. Kyle Perrotti photo
BY KYLE P ERROTTI
N EWS E DITOR
Officials at all levels of government, including new U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, visited the construction area along I-40 near the Tennessee border to take a look at progress and renew the pledge to get the necessary repairs done as quickly and safely as possible.
Duffy was joined the morning of Feb. 10 by Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd; Reps. Chuck Edwards and Tim Moore; Gov. Josh Stein; NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins; Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke and Haywood County Commission Chair Kevin Ensley.
Duffy said that the federal government is committed to working with the state DOT and looks forward to further cooperation to expedite the project.
“I can promise you this, I’m not going to forget North Carolina,” Duffy said. “The first thing I said in my confirmation hearing was this was the first trip I was going to take.”
While most of the comments offered by officials were
promises to not forget about Western North Carolina, and especially its severed lifeline to interstate commerce, there were also a couple of new developments discussed. First, Stein announced that one lane in each direction from Western North Carolina into Eastern Tennessee will open up for traffic before March 1.
“At least it will start the process of connecting Western North Carolina with the rest of the country,” Stein said.
In addition, Duffy said that his office is working with the U.S. Forest Service to source rocks necessary for the repair only a couple of miles from the construction area, something he says will speed up the repairs.
As Hurricane Helene ravaged the region, it also washed away significant portions of I-40 in Haywood County, creating a construction area that spans about four miles. In the months following the floods, officials expected one lane of travel in each direction to open up in January of this year. However, after an additional chunk of asphalt from the eastbound lane fell into the Pigeon River Gorge in December,
delaying the reopening for what those same officials are now hoping will only end up being about two months.
Wright Brothers Construction, with GeoStabilization International as a sub-contractor, was awarded the contract to stabilize the eastbound lanes and create a safe passage for one lane in each direction from Harmon Den to the state line and also worked on the most recent repairs. That company established soil-nail walls at 10 locations in the gorge. In 126 days, that operation involved 530 cubic-yards of shotcrete, 2,088 linear feet of soil nails, 15,200 pounds of steel in the center curb used to separate lanes of travel, four miles of fortified shoulder to carry heavy truck traffic and the installation of 90,000 square feet of soil-nail walls.
According to an NCDOT press release, crews tasked with the permanent reconstruction of I-40 will soon mobilize to begin their part of the recovery in the Gorge. NCDOT awarded a contract in October in which Ames Construction is serving as the prime contractor, RK&K as the designer and HNTB as the project manager for the permanent repairs.
On Monday, Duffy began his remarks by thanking and praising North Carolina’s federally elected leaders who were present — Budd, Tillis, Edwards and Moore.
“They do a fantastic job fighting to make sure Washington understands how important this is,” he said.
Duffy pledged that the Trump administration will remain committed to not only the I-40 project, but all storm recovery efforts across the region.
When talking about what changes can be made to the federal government’s approach to the I-40 project, he said there is one idea that has almost made it across the finish line that he thinks will make a difference. While rocks needed for the repair work are currently being sourced 2530 miles away, there is a plan in the works to source it from only about two miles away. While he didn’t offer many specifics at the press event, a release sent out around the same time said that F
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffey speaks with Haywood County Commission Chair Kevin Ensley. Kyle Perrotti photo
USDOT hopes to “obtain a ‘Special Use’ permit to use rock from Forest Service land and extract construction materials from the local river.”
It isn’t yet known what the application of river rock would be. Details weren’t provided about potential environmental impacts that could come from disturbing a waterway to remove rocks, and although expediting any permitting processes was mentioned, details weren’t provided on that.
“If we get that local rock, it’s going to mean this project happens much more cost effectively, and probably in a third of the amount of time,” Duffy said. “So the Forest Service has been willing to streamline, fast track the process, and we’re hopeful that we get a positive answer, which means we get the I 40 open that much quicker.”
For his part, Rep. Edwards didn’t have much to add when it came to sourcing the rocks for construction, but he did say he was optimistic, opining that the project wouldn’t take “one to two years” because opening the highway up all the way is cru-
cial to businesses throughout the region.
When a reporter asked where that sense of confidence comes from, he said conversations with state and federal transportation officials have given him a “great deal of optimism,” barring unforeseen circumstances.
Along with announcing that one lane of travel in each direction should open by March 1, Stein reminded reporters that while state DOT workers are making great progress, there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot more funding to be secured for I-40 and beyond. Of the estimated $60 billion in total damage from Helene, Stein said about $5 billion is needed for road repairs.
“That’s an incredible amount of money,” he said. “We cannot do that ourselves. We need the help of the federal government. Our congressional delegation has been there championing our cause, but we all need to keep pressing together to make sure we have the resources that we need to get the job done. We’re not going to give up on the west.”
USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy (from left), NCDOT Secretary Joey Hopkins, Sen. Thom Tillis and Gov. Josh Stein share a laugh. Kyle Perrotti photo
By the numbers
Where Helene recovery stands, and where it’s going
BY C ORY VAILLANCOURT
P OLITICS E DITOR
While the financial impact of Hurricane Helene has been apparent since the morning of Sept. 27, 2024, economic data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce and other sources now show Western North Carolina counties started to feel the pain even before the storm hit.
Local planners are optimistic about recovery — especially with the projected reopening of one lane of traffic in each direction on Interstate 40 next month — but are tempering expectations for 2025.
In the 28 counties most affected by Hurricane Helene, taxable spending during September and October 2024 dropped by roughly $380 million compared to the same months in 2023, resulting in state sales tax collections coming in more than $18 million shy of previous year totals in those counties.
Mitchell, Yancey and Buncombe counties had the worst September of the 28 counties, with sales tax collections down 29.8%, 25.3% and 17.7%, respectively. The three counties are home to Bakersville, Spruce Pine, Burnsville and the entire Asheville metro area, all of which were heavily damaged.
Rounding out the top five were Transylvania (-17.07%) and Swain (-16.39%) counties. Although the Transylvania County towns of Brevard and Rosman incurred substantial damage, Swain County was left relatively unscathed but still suffered due to regional disruptions.
Henderson County, the second-largest county in the impacted region, finished 10th-worst, with collections there
dropping 12.6%. Haywood County was next in line, with an 11.5% decrease.
For October, Avery, Buncombe and Madison counties saw drastic decreases of 32.1%, 26.6% and 25.3%, respectively. Haywood rebounded to a 6.2% decrease, while in Henderson spending nearly recovered to the previous October’s level, down only 1.63%.
Overall, for September and October, Avery County saw the largest collections decrease, 23.69%, or about $1.1 million. Buncombe was next, percentage-wise, at -22.2%, which translates to a loss of $14.5 million.
$106 million budget has benefitted from around $16 million in state sales tax distributions each year.
The decrease in collections is thus relatively small, and the decrease in distributions will be even smaller. But as Haywood County Manager Bryant Morehead begins budget preparations for a new budget that will take effect July 1, he has the unenviable task of forecasting the lingering impact of Helene on those collections and distributions.
“We’re sitting here looking at the numbers like, is it 3% or is it 5%?” Morehead said. “We just want to get that porridge right.”
In the 28 counties most affected by Hurricane Helene, taxable spending during September and October 2024 dropped by roughly $380 million compared to the same months in 2023, resulting in state sales tax collections coming in more than $18 million shy of previous year totals in those counties.
Haywood’s 9.0% decrease put it at 9th-worst, with a decrease of $959,000 in state sales tax collections year-overyear.
As far as local government budgets are concerned, collections don’t translate directly to revenue; state sales taxes are remitted to the state, which then redistributes the revenue according to a complicated formula.
For the year ending June 30, 2024, Haywood County collected more than $59 million in state sales taxes on $1.24 billion in taxable sales. Over the past few years, the county’s
At least some of the decrease in taxable sales came due to workers who no longer had jobs or small businesses that were washed away. Unemployment in Buncombe County surged to 10.4% in October 2024, well above the 2.7% reported for October 2023. Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties all hovered around 3% in October 2023, but only Haywood and Henderson saw significant impacts in October 2024, 5.2% and 5.0% respectively.
November’s unemployment figures show similar trends, with Buncombe County peaking at
Portions of Marshall’s riverside downtown were reduced to rubble, and remain so nearly five months later. Cory Vaillancourt photo
7.4% versus 2.6% a year prior, while Haywood and Henderson rebounded to 4.4% and 4.2%, respectively.
Another big reason for the decline came in the form of tourists who, for various reasons, weren’t able to visit their favorite Western North Carolina destinations. When visitors aren’t booking rooms, they’re not buying fuel, groceries or souvenirs, they’re not visiting bars, restaurants or other attractions, they’re not paying sales tax on those items and they’re not paying room occupancy taxes.
Room occupancy tax collections in Haywood County plunged during the busy fall leaf season, usually the peak of Western North Carolina’s seasonal economy. Haywood County was first impacted in September.
“We basically lost the whole last week,” said Corrina Ruffieux, executive director of the TDA. Ruffieux explained that as Helene was widely anticipated to strike — some municipalities began preparing for the storm on the Sunday before the Friday storm — visitors began cancelling reservations. A group of travel journalists and influencers scheduled to visit HCTDA that week were among them.
Ruffieux’s assertion also applies to sales tax data; during the entire last week of that month, there were fewer visitors than usual spending less money than usual and for at least the last three days of the month, many businesses weren’t open. Those that were accepted only cash, and some, like gas stations, instituted rationing.
Haywood County occupancy tax revenues were down $84,000 (27.3%) for September, but October was much worse. In October 2023, the Haywood TDA collected $403,324. In October 2024, that dropped 43.3% to $229,000, suggesting a drop in visitor spending on accommodations alone of more than $6 million that month.
In a trend that will hopefully carry through to November sales tax data once it’s released, Haywood occupancy tax collections rebounded quickly in November, down only 3.68% or $9,000.
“We’re actually holding last year’s trend on tourism, if it weren’t for those two months,” Morehead said. “That is hopeful for sales tax, because what generates a lot of our sales tax is visitors.”
There are a few reasons for the quick rebound, Ruffieux said.
“We did work very hard to get as many
hotels as possible to accept FEMA vouchers, and people who missed their October visits still really wanted to come,” she said of those who rescheduled. Other factors include the reopening of parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway near the end of October, and the intrepid efforts of the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.
“Lake J,” as it’s called by locals, accrued $1 million in damages, including to the famed Harrell Center and the Rose Walk, and also suffered about a million dollars in cancelled reservations. More than 300 tires, along with other debris, were pulled from the lake itself. Executive Director Ken Howle
cut room rates in half, and the volume was enough to offset the loss.
“Initially it was the rescue workers and a week after the storm it became the recovery workers. Our community and staff rallied,” Howle said. Occupancy tax collections for Lake J were up 22.7% in October and 68.5% in November.
The triage portion of Helene recovery is over, and as the disaster fades from the nation’s collective consciousness, local governments are left to promote economic recovery largely on their own. Meaningful assistance from the North Carolina General
Assembly and from Congress has not been forthcoming, at least for the small businesses that power the region’s economy.
While loans with generous terms are available, they’re still loans, and businesses encumbered by COVID-era loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration generally aren’t interested. In Haywood County, where the eastern reaches were devastated by flooding in 2021, some business owners are still paying off loans from that disaster.
Last week in Mills River, Gov. Stein proposed another $1 billion in assistance from the General Assembly, matching the total of three relief bills passed in 2024. Republicans in the North Carolina House countered with $500 million in a new relief bill introduced on Feb. 4 [see RELIEF, p. 9], but it doesn’t include the direct financial assistance — grants, not loans — state and local leaders have been calling for since October.
“I’ve seen a few businesses close, for sure,” said David Francis, president and CEO of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. “People are like, ‘I’ve been hit twice, why do it again?’ But I’ve not seen the numbers [of closings] you would think, and not the numbers you hear out of other counties either.”
From his perspective, Francis sees a big S EE BY THE NUMBERS, PAGE 8
problem in the inability of businesses to secure funding. He plays a key role in the Haywood Advancement Foundation’s small business grant program, which in November announced it would provide grants of up to $25,000 to affected entities, drawing from a pool of $200,000 raised from institutional and private donors.
As of Feb. 7, HAF had granted nearly all of its funds but is still fundraising and will continue making grants as practicable. Gov. Josh Stein, in conjunction with the Dogwood Health Trust, recognized the problem as well, announcing on Jan. 31 a $30 million grant program for small businesses with annual revenues up to $2.5 million.
“I’m appreciative of Dogwood and Gov. Stein, but there’s great needs out there, the ability of businesses to access capital is huge still,” said Francis, who added that plenty of groups continue the push for direct financial assistance to affected businesses from state and federal governments. “All levels of our government need to understand how important small business funding is.”
Francis’ biggest concern remains the reconstruction of a critical piece of transportation infrastructure.
“Now that we’ve got through the holidays and are a little bit post-Helene, it’s about what happens to Interstate 40,” he said.
Interstate 40 is a critical access point to Western North Carolina from the north. Portions of the roadway were washed away during Helene, and travel into and out of Tennessee has been completely halted since then. Costly delays in commercial activity and a decrease in visitation
have ensued.
The most recent indications from the North Carolina Department of Transportation suggested at least a partial reopening by spring — until a Feb. 10 tour by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Sen. Thom Tillis, Stein, and others. At the event, Stein announced that one lane in each direction would be open by March 1 [see I-40, p. 4].
Haywood County dodged the brunt of Hurricane Helene and the financial impact thereof, but wasn’t unscathed. Cory Vaillancourt photo
If that happens, the speed with which that message reaches businesses and tourists will be important to the region’s recovery.
Ruffieux’s TDA continues to battle messaging from the immediate aftermath of the storm, including from then-Gov.
Haywood GOP precinct meetings, convention coming
The Haywood County Republican Party will proceed with its regular organizational meetings this year, but with important changes for attendees.
Precinct meetings will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15 at the Haywood County
Roy Cooper, that the region is “closed,” and businesses aren’t currently operating. While Cooper’s plea was timely and pertinent — gawkers clogging up roadways and utilizing limited resources like hotel rooms was a major concern — Ruffieux and others in the destination management industry are now fighting against millions of impressions in the national media that reinforced the now-obsolete directive, “Don’t come here.”
“We’re going to be down from the prior year. Last year was our biggest ever, but we’re doing everything we can to mitigate those decreases,” Ruffieux said. “We at Visit Haywood, and all our peers throughout Western North Carolina along with VisitNC are collaborating on marketing to counteract that I-40 concern.”
Haywood County government has been known for years to run a pretty lean operation, a fact supported by financial monitor Standard and Poor’s post-Helene reaffirmation of the county’s outstanding credit rating.
Additionally, on Dec. 2, 2024, the North Carolina Department of Commerce issued its annual list of county distress rankings, a three-tiered system that scores counties on economic well-being to encourage investment in less prosperous areas of the state. Despite the damage from Helene, the destruction of Interstate 40, the higher unemployment, the lower state sales tax and room occupancy tax collections, Haywood County was moved from the middle tier to the highest tier of prosperity, suggesting economic recovery isn’t a fantasy.
“I’m really hopeful,” Morehead said. “I’m optimistic. S&P is optimistic. And I think the state, by the tier system, shows optimism there.”
GOP Headquarters, 297 N. Haywood St., in Waynesville. Precincts beginning with letters A through H will meet at 10:05 a.m., but registration runs from 9:30-10 a.m. Precincts in this group include Allens Creek, all Beaverdam precincts, Big Creek, Cecil, both Clyde precincts, Crabtree, East Fork, both Fines Creek precincts and Hazelwood. Precincts beginning with the letters I through W will meet at 11:35 a.m., with registration from 11-11:30 a.m. Precincts included in this session include Iron Duff, Ivy Hill,
Jonathan Creek, Lake Junaluska, both Pigeon precincts, Saunook, all Waynesville precincts and White Oak.
Then, on Saturday, March 1, HCGOP will hold its county convention at the Historic Haywood Courthouse, 216 N. Main St., in Waynesville. Registration begins at 10 a.m. and closes at 10:45 a.m. The convention begins at 11 a.m.
For more information on the Haywood County Republican Party, visit haywoogop.org.
Lawmakers begin work on latest Helene recovery bill
For the fourth time in four months, the North Carolina General Assembly has introduced a bill to address lingering unmet needs in communities affected by Hurricane Helene last year — and there’s a strong chance it won’t be the last.
“Of course we know that no matter what appropriation we’re able to do it’s never going to be enough,” said Rep. John Bell (RWayne) during a Feb. 5 meeting of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, which he co-chairs. “This is a starting point with multiple bills after this to follow, but this is part of the committee process.”
Lawmakers from both chambers, along with representatives from the governor’s office and other state agencies have pledged to work together to ensure that relief efforts reach areas still smarting from the Sept. 27, 2024, storm, but the $500 million the General Assembly plans to appropriate is less than half of what Democratic Gov. Stein requested.
“The people of Western North Carolina have suffered tremendously since Helene swept through,” Stein said while visiting MANNA FoodBank in Mills River Feb. 3. “I appreciate what the General Assembly has done so far, but it’s time for us to step up and get them the money they need right now to rebuild. We can’t forget Western North Carolina — and I will do everything in my power to ensure that the state shows up for them.”
Initial damage estimates came in around $53 billion but later ballooned to roughly $60 billion.
million), homelessness support ($10 million), affordable housing incentives ($50 million) and home repair aid ($25 million).
Infrastructure repairs include $75 million for private roads and bridges, $25 million for parks and greenways and $12 million for debris removal.
An appropriation of $150 million will go to the Department of Commerce’s division of community revitalization for the home reconstruction and repair program.
Another $150 million will go to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ soil and water conservation divi-
Farmers would receive $15 million in grants for uninsured losses and $100 million to restore farmland and mitigate future flooding. Wildfire preparedness gets $19.4 million.
For families, $34.2 million supports students in storm-impacted school districts, $20 million funds food banks and $2 million assists college students facing financial hardship.
Importantly, Stein’s proposal includes direct financial assistance — grants, not loans — for small businesses and local governments that can’t afford to become tangled up with long-term loans.
Importantly, Stein’s proposal includes direct financial assistance — grants, not loans — for small businesses and local governments that can’t afford to become tangled up with long-term loans.
The General Assembly, with three relief bills in 2024, has already allocated $1 billion to various agencies and programs. In late December, Congress came through with a $100 billion relief bill but North Carolina will only receive an estimated $9 billion to $15 billion of that.
Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-Henderson), who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, hasn’t responded to an inquiry by The Smoky Mountain News as to why the funding didn’t even approach the $25 billion requested by then-Gov. Roy Cooper and a delegation of local leaders last December, much less the $60 billion needed.
Stein proposes funding for several critical issues, including rejuvenating small mountain communities and supporting local businesses left high and dry thus far.
To address housing needs, $150 million would go toward rebuilding homes with additional funding for rental assistance ($25
private road and bridge repair.
The Office of State Budget Management will receive $60 million for repair and renovation of state facilities including state parks, state forests, health care facilities and two correctional facilities, although federal funds might be added to the allocation.
The OSBM will also receive $20 million for unmet needs in debris removal, to be administered jointly by the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina (GROW-NC) and NCEM.
NCEM will get another $10 million for grants to volunteer organizations that partner with emergency management.
The Office of the State Fire Marshall will receive $10 million to distribute grants to small and volunteer fire departments for the purchase of equipment or to make capital improvements to assist with readiness for future emergency response.
The latest version, like previous bills, doesn’t mention direct financial assistance to affected businesses.
sion for debris removal, stream bank stabilization, stream restoration, cropland restoration and farm road repair, enabling farmers to resume production and protect their communities against future flood damage.
North Carolina Emergency Management will receive $100 million for
His plan allocates $150 million for business recovery grants, $30 million for smalltown revitalization and $15 million to boost tourism. Local governments would receive $100 million to replace lost revenue.
As of Feb. 5, the Republican plan wasn’t fully fleshed out, as Bell mentioned the bill was only a shell announcing the amount of aid proposed and that the committee would reconvene on Feb. 11.
“Today is not a day to put forth your concerns or questions,” Bell told the committee. “We’ll have time for that on [Feb. 11]. Today is the day to start the process on putting together a full appropriations bill.”
Mark White, of the state’s fiscal research division, elaborated somewhat on where the $500 million in nonrecurring funds will go.
When an updated bill was released on Feb. 11, it added a little more detail to White’s summary.
House representatives, mainly from the west, put forth a flurry of amendments in the committee meeting. The amendments wouldn’t change the total appropriations but rather how the money would be spent within the preexisting appropriation categories. However, the text of those amendments wasn’t immediately available as SMN went to print on Feb. 11.
Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon) speaks in support of the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part I on Feb. 11 in Raleigh. NCGA photo
Outgoing Haywood Pathways director recalls seven years with nonprofit
After serving as the executive director of Haywood Pathways Center since 2017, Mandy Haithcox is stepping down. Haithcox and her family will be moving back to Minnesota where aging family members live and need the comfort of family in their midst.
“I want people to know my leaving has everything to do with family and nothing to do with Pathways,” Haithcox said. “It’s bittersweet because the Haywood Pathways
The facility has space for 10 families, 32 men and 28 women. A release sent out by Haywood Pathways notes that the fact that 369 individuals were served shows the efficiency to helping individuals get through a bad patch, land steady employment and save enough funds to move out on their own.
“This isn’t just a Band-Aid,” Haithcox said. “It’s here to meet people where they are at and offer help to people down on their luck.”
young mothers and fathers can know their children have a roof over their heads as they put the pieces of their lives together.
All who enter the Haywood Pathways Center must sign a pledge to follow all the rules and to work on a person-centered goal plan with the support of a case manager. All must have a clean drug test to enter, and regular drug screenings are required.
Residents have six months to alter their life trajectory — more if they are working
municipal governments in Haywood will recognize the tremendous value provided by Pathways and help provide a steady source of funding.
“If we’re able to work with partners and help people find stability while gaining independence, it helps them, the community and the tax base,” Haithcox said.
As for the Haithcox family, Kurt has found a job with a Minneapolis law firm; Greta, 11, is sad to leave her friends but is looking forward to being near her “aunties;” and Mandy said there are plenty of opportunities in the homeless field in their new community. An added plus is they are moving to a state where education is ranked 15th in the nation as opposed to 43rd, where North Carolina ranks.
Center has been a huge part of my life in the last seven and a half years. I am very sad to leave.”
At the same time, she is leaving the nonprofit that provides a pathway from homelessness to independence in the best shape it’s been in for years. Year-end statistics show Haywood Pathways served 369 individuals in 2024 with the help of grants, donations and 835 registered volunteers this past year.
The organization hit a rough patch last fall when board members announced a low cash balance threatened operations of its Holy Cow food truck and continuation of the family dorm. A groundswell of community support helped turn things around, resulting in a cash balance of $428,000 by midJanuary. Haithcox wasn’t surprised at the turn of events.
“The Haywood community at large has shown support over and over again with its overwhelming presence of love and concern,” she said. “The support has been meaningful.”
Pathways celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and Haithcox looks back to all the changes since she arrived.
“When I first got here, I had to oust white-power gang members and stop people from coming in the dining room to sell drugs,” she recalled. “It’s a much different place now.”
the years is the increasing number of elderly and disabled residents staying at the shelter. About 75% of the residents have stable monthly income, where they can save money to use when it’s time to move on. They are simply waiting until an affordable place to stay opens up.
Haithcox said her fondest memories will be seeing families and individuals who successfully completed the program and later came back to visit to say, “Look, we’re still here and doing well.”
Adding the family shelter in 2019, where up to 10 families can stay until suitable homes are found, has been a huge community service, she said. Those families entering the shelter were often living in cars or camping in the woods before they found their ways to the shelter.
“This isn’t just a Band-Aid. It’s here to meet people where they are at and offer help to people down on their luck.”
recovery and support groups. Not all are ready for the life changes required to remain but are welcome to return at a later point. Haithcox said the organization, in conjunction with Mountain Projects, Waynesville Housing Authority and Haywood Habitat for Humanity, has been working to create more opportunities for both transitional and lower-income housing in the county.
— Mandy Haithcox
Through the years, mothers have given birth and had a warm, safe place to bring their child home from the hospital, and
“We’ve just started to have conversations on how to make larger scale changes in the continuum,” she explained. “Pathways can serve as the feeder organization for people starting out who could move on through the housing authority and eventually the housing provided through Habitat for Humanity and Mountain Projects.”
She said she’s hoping the county and
sulting basis until her replacement is ready to solo.
Those who have worked with Haithcox through the years marvel at her ability to remain calm, despite what’s going on. When pressed, Haithcox suggested a list of qualifications that would be helpful in the job. While her background is in social work and theology, she suggested knowing more about the business side of nonprofits coming into the position is essential.
Jeff Haynes, the president of the Haywood Pathways Center’s board of directors, was full of praise for Haithcox and all she’s done for the organization.
“We are grateful to Mandy for her consistent leadership over the past seven and half years and wish she and her family all the best in the next chapter of their lives,” Haynes said. “Haywood County has benefited from the efforts of Mandy and her staff as we continue to address the challenges of those in need in our community. We will embark on a search for a new executive director, all the while keeping the values instilled by Mandy and her leadership first and foremost in our minds.”
Mandy Haithcox is stepping down to attend to aging family members in Minnesota. Donated photo
Haywood Pathways was once a minimum-security state prison. File photo
Jackson TDA board seat remains vacant
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
Jackson County commissioners chose to delay an appointment to the county’s Tourism Development Authority Board for the third month in a row, leaving a board that has had difficulty filling seats in the past one member down when there are multiple applicants that have been vetted and are ready to serve.
At the Feb. 4 meeting of the County Commission, the board received two recommendations from the JCTDA for prospective board members — Dale Collins of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop in Sylva and Cathy Busick, a member of the Appalachian Womens Museum Board.
According to Executive Director Nick Breedlove, Collins has served a term on the JCTDA board but has set out the requisite year required before serving again.
Chairman Mark Letson sought a motion to approve one of the two candidates, but commissioners did not bite.
Commissioner Jenny Lynn Hooper asked why a third candidate, John Faulk, had not been vetted by the TDA. Letson said that while both Busick and Collins had applied to be members of the TDA board, Faulk had not.
The normal process to become a member of the TDA board is that the TDA seeks out nominations, vets any candidates who respond with interest, and then recommends those candidates to the county commission for selection. Both Busick and Collins went through that process.
Rather than selecting from the two candidates presented at the Feb. 4 meeting, the board decided to delay the appointment until the Feb. 18 meeting so that Faulk could be vetted by the TDA and added to the pool of candidates from which they can select an appointee.
This came after the county commission refused to appoint the last recommendation for the vacancy that came from the TDA, Bernadette Peters. Commissioner John Smith claimed there was a conflict of interest because Peters worked for the Main Street Sylva Association, even after Chairman Letson said he had confirmed there was no conflict of interest.
“I spoke with Mr. Breedlove after our last meeting regarding how they came to Peters being on the Tourism Development Authority, and she’s gone through an extensive amount of vetting, background checks and conflict of interest,” Letson said during a December meeting. “Peters serves more as an economic developer, not necessarily tourism development. So, if there are no objections, I do recommend Peters to be on the TDA.”
The board did not appoint Peters in December, did not address the vacancy at its January meetings, and decided not to approve the two recommendations brought forth at the Feb. 4 meeting. The vacancy will come before the board again at its Feb. 18 meeting.
A N W Y
TractorTir • Alignment
VILLE TIR VILLETIR
Nominations open for SCC’s Distinguished Alumni Award
BY HANNAH VELEZ
S PECIAL TO SMN
Southwestern Community College is now accepting nominations for the SCC Foundation’s seventh-annual Distinguished Alumni Award.
To be considered for the award, nominees must have graduated with either a certificate, diploma or degree from the institution known today as Southwestern Community College and previously as Southwestern Technical College (1979-1988), Southwestern Technical Institute (1967-1979) or Jackson County Industrial Education Center, a satellite of A-B Tech (1964-67).
“We have thousands of amazing alumni throughout and beyond our service area, and we’re always extremely impressed by the quality of nominations we receive for this honor,” said Dr. Mark Ellison, SCC’s Dean of Students.
To nominate a Southwestern graduate, visit SouthwesternCC.edu/award.
Past winners include Kyle Dowling (2019), Dustin Wilson (2020), John Mattox (2021), Jared Ballew (2022), Dr. Rivers Woodward (2023) and Lorelei Garnes (2024).
Dowling was a 2013 graduate of SCC’s Emergency Medical Science program before receiving his bachelor’s degree at Western Carolina University. Within two years of graduating, he became a supervisor and training officer for Harris Regional Hospital’s EMS Department.
Wilson, a 2003 graduate of SCC’s Outdoor Leadership program, earned his Ph.D. in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from Clemson University. His current role is Tribal Liason Coordinator at Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in Washington, D.C. Mattox, who passed away in January 2021, was a member of Southwestern’s first National Park Service Seasonal
title of Special Agent in Charge of the Eastern United States. Graduating in 2007, Ballew currently serves as Vice President of Government Relations for Taxwell — a parent
company for the Drake Software and TaxAct brands. A leader in cybersecurity industry, he’s the current president of the National Association of Computerized Tax Processors. Also a 2007 graduate, Dr. Woodward works as a family physician at Blue Ridge Community Health Services in Lake Lure. He served as a physician champion for the North Carolina Medical Society Diabetes Prevention Program, a faculty member for the family medicine residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center and as an adjunct faculty member at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Garnes, 1996 honors graduate, earned a two-year degree in Business Administration. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Technology from Western Carolina University and a master’s degree in Digital Marketing and Advertising from Liberty University. She is the founder of Digital Buzz Media, through which she has worked with over 300 businesses and developed over 200 websites.
Nominations for the 2025 award are being accepted through March 1.
In addition to being recognized during commencement, this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award will be mentioned on SCC’s website and social media, will receive an award plaque and $250 from the SCC Foundation. The SCC Foundation partnered with the SCC Foundation Faculty & Staff Advisory Council to create the award. Nomination forms will remain on file for three years for future award consideration. After three years, nominations must be re-submitted.
For more information about the Distinguished Alumni Award, contact Evan Hatch, SCC’s Executive Director for Institutional Advancement, at 828.339.4241 or e_hatch@SouthwesternCC.edu.
Lorelei Garnes was the 2024 recipient of SCC’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Donated photo
The spring semester is underway at Western Carolina University and that means looking at how the university’s enrollment is shaping up for the first few weeks of the new year.
WCU experienced a notable increase in total enrollment from spring 2024 to spring 2025, with a 1.73% increase and a 2.39% increase in undergraduate students.
The university also saw a 2.23% retention rate increase for fall 2024 to spring 2025 with a 92.14% retention rate reported.
“This year’s spring enrollment shows that WCU continues to not only attract students because of our student-center campus culture and affordability, but also keep them here to graduation,” the university said in a release. “Most notably, our impressive retention rate for our first-year class reflects not only the hard work of our students but also that of our faculty and student success staff. This is certainly something to celebrate.”
The enrollment numbers are from official census statistics compiled by WCU’s Office of Institutional Planning and Effectiveness and released Tuesday, Jan. 28.
Although classes began Monday, Jan. 13, enrollment is not official until after the 10th day of classes, referred to as “census day.” Even then, the numbers are not considered final until any errors have been corrected and the files have been submitted to the University of North Carolina system office.
a transfer student by the deadline
• Enroll full-time in a resident-credit degree program and major in a STEM, health sciences, or education field
Eligible students will be awarded $1,000 annually, and funding is available for up to three years (six semesters) based on maintaining eligibility. The remaining semesters of eligibility can be used for graduate school if the bachelor’s degree is completed in fewer than six semesters.
The transfer admission application deadline is April 1 for fall 2025 and November 1 for spring 2026.
Catamount Commitment for transfer students works in conjunction with the NC Promise program, which increases access to quality university education by reducing tuition for all undergraduate students at WCU to $500 per fall and spring semesters
WCU is also expanding its Catamount Commitment program to transfer students.
WCU launched Catamount Commitment in fall 2023 for first-year students from North Carolina who apply timely and earn fall admission. In fall 2025, a third cohort of high school graduates will reap the financial benefits and savings of this program.
Beginning this fall, select North Carolinians who earn degrees and transfer directly from a North Carolina Community College to WCU each fall or spring will receive Catamount Commitment offers.
The program provides North Carolina students with annual financial support based on their academic performance and academic program interests.
In order to be eligible for the Catamount Commitment program as a transfer student, applicants must meet the following criteria:
• Reside in North Carolina
• Complete any associate’s degree from a NC community college
• Achieve at minimum a cumulative 3.0 post-secondary GPA
• Apply for undergraduate admission as
For more information about the program, visit catamountcommitment.wcu.edu
In addition to the expansion of the Catamount Commitment program, WCU is also introducing a new Phi Theta Kappa Guarantee for transfer students pursuing campus-based programs at WCU.
For eligible PTK members, the new program includes guaranteed admission to the university (not a specific program of study); an invitation to join the Brinson Honors College; and an opportunity to compete for Western PTK scholarships.
WCU is committing 100 scholarships ($100,000) annually for PTK members. Each $1,000-scholarship ($500 per semester for two semesters with potential renewal for one additional year subject to funding availability) can be stacked with other awards and with financial aid.
For more information about scholarship opportunities at WCU, visit scholarships.wcu.edu and complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at finaid.wcu.edu.
The university is now reporting a 92.14% retention rate. File photo
With deep gratitude
BY STEPHEN W. WOODY G UEST C OLUMNIST
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has been blessed by the extraordinary leadership of Cassius Cash, the second-longest serving superintendent of our park. After 34 years of federal service, Cash retired at the end of December. He is owed a deep debt of gratitude for his 10 years as Superintendent in the Smokies.
Cash is a person with many outstanding leadership skills, always with creativity and a positive attitude no matter the challenges. There were many during his tenure with the Smokies, starting with the Chimneys fire that swept through Gatlinburg in November 2016. Next, the COVID pandemic caused the whole park to be shut down for a period, followed by a huge increase in visitation calling for a complete restructuring of park visitor usage and management planning.
Sen. Tillis should Say no to Patel
To the Editor:
When it comes to picking leaders, you’d think the minimum qualifications would include experience, integrity and a commitment to the public good. But here we are, staring down the barrel of Donald Trump’s nomination for FBI Director: Kash Patel.
This isn’t just another bad idea — it’s a threat to families across North Carolina and beyond. Sen. Thom Tillis has a choice to make: stand with the people of North Carolina or enable Trump’s dangerous agenda.
Let’s talk about Patel’s “qualifications.” Spoiler: there aren’t any. He’s never worked in law enforcement and has no experience managing an agency as large and critical as the FBI. What Patel does have is a track record of loyalty to Trump. That’s the real reason he’s in the running — not because he’s ready to lead but because he could weaponize the FBI against Trump’s so-called “enemies.” In fact, Patel authored a literal “enemies list.” If confirmed, he could use the power of the FBI to carry out Trump’s personal vendettas, not protect North Carolinians.
This isn’t just politics — it’s personal for working families in North Carolina. The FBI plays a critical role here, from tackling drug trafficking that devastates communities in Asheville to addressing cybersecurity threats in the Research Triangle. As someone who has had first-hand experience with cyber-attacks, I know firsthand how critical it is to have a competent FBI director who’ll focus on the real issues affecting North Carolinians. I also think about how law enforcement impacts our communities every day. As a council member in the Village of Forest Hills and also as a parent, I worry about the safety of my community amid the increase in fentanyl and other drug trafficking. Do we really want someone in charge who thinks the FBI headquarters should be turned into a “Museum of the Deep State?”
Through these 10 years as superintendent, there were notable accomplishments including:
• The Walland to Wears Valley section of the Foothills Parkway.
• Enhanced relationships with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and surrounding communities.
• Studies of the park's history including the experiences of African Americans.
• A close working relationship with The Friends of the Smokies organization.
To me though, there are three attributes that will define his Smokies legacy the most and they are the development and establishment of the “Park it Forward” program. As the Smokies was one of the few national parks without an entrance fee and with the large increase in visitation, it was essential to develop an additional funding source. Thus, this
LETTERS
Patel’s nomination isn’t just unqualified — it’s dangerous. Under his leadership, the FBI could target progressive organizations and activists, leaving vulnerable communities in the crosshairs. North Carolina’s history shows the need for fair and impartial law enforcement, not a political henchman who could turn our democracy into a playground for MAGA extremism.
Sen. Tillis has often talked about the importance of the rule of law. Here’s his chance to prove he means it. North Carolinians deserve an FBI director who’ll prioritize our safety and security — not someone who’ll spend their time pursuing Trump’s paranoid fantasies. Sen. Tillis, it’s time to take a stand. Vote no on confirming Kash Patel to protect one of our nation’s most important institutions.
Nilofer Couture Cullowhee
Trump sabotages cancer research
To the Editor:
Before I started my 30-year career as a pediatrician in Haywood County, I had the honor of spending many months from 1984 to1989 at the University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. I worked primarily with children's leukemia. Prior to the 1980s, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia of childhood (one of the most common children’s cancers) had been over 90% fatal. The diagnosis was devastating for thousands of children and their parents.
Many universities, medical research institutions and hundreds of dedicated doctors and scientists worked together for more than 20 years to conquer this terrible disease.
Today we can celebrate that childhood leukemia (all) is over 90% curable. It was a great victory for medical science.
So, it is with despair and outrage that I am
was the impetus for the “Park it Forward” program which Cash was able to deftly maneuver through existing park regulations and the federal bureaucracy.
Secondly, has been his support and development of the Smokies employees. Their safety and wellbeing were paramount and he stressed that they have the training and resources to do their jobs as well as develop skills for promotion within the park service.
Finally, Cash has a deep passion for our public lands and their preservation while working in partnership with surrounding communities. This has ensured and enhanced the visitor experience for those visiting the Smokies.
Superintendent Cassius Cash is a unique individual and the Smokies were indeed fortunate to have had him as their leader these past 10 years. If asked to summarize his tenure in a few words, I would say, “He got things done.”
We wish him well in his new career as Chief Executive Officer of the Yosemite Conservancy.
(Stephen W. Woody lives in Asheville and is a descendant of the former residents of Cataloochee Valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)
learning of a $4 to $9 billion cut in funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH). Elon Musk and his crew of 20-something computer geeks have decided this massive defunding is needed to “cut overhead.” With the careless and uninformed support of President Trump and Republicans in Congress, these unelected and unknown nonmedical “experts” have been given power to sabotage thousands of medical research projects in cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other plagues. The American people will pay an awful price.
Leaders in the fields of medical research are in shock. Clinical research trials of great potential are being frozen at this very moment. In the words of Jeffrey Flier, former Dean of Harvard Medical School, “A sane gov-
Constitution. So much for the people. Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, and Congressman Edwards need to hear us!
Steve Wall Waynesville
Cutting USAID hurts farmers
To the Editor:
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) buys about $2 billion — billion — in U.S. agricultural products per year. American crops like wheat, peas, lentils, rice, corn, soybeans, vegetable oil and sorghum are purchased for USAID programs. Farmers are already struggling with rising costs, lower prices, concerns about tariffs on international markets and a dwindling workforce. This shutdown by the Trump administration reneges on contracts our government made with our own farmers. It leaves already harvested crops to potentially rot in storage while people die from hunger and may result in being the last straw for a number of generational farmers in danger of losing their land.
ernment would never do this.”
We will probably hear nonsense about “diversity” being a problem in cancer research, like “diversity” caused the mid-air collision over Reagan Airport. Not likely!
Really, it’s all a great diversion from the big picture — billionaires like Musk using Trump’s 2025 playbook (which of course Trump “never heard of”) to cut billions from programs that actually help people so that Trump’s 2017 tax cut for billionaires can be made permanent. So much for the
This spending is less than 1% of the federal budget. Can we extrapolate here to what it is going to cost to subsidize our farmers for these losses if we want them to survive? Because that’s usually what happens. Can we justify the cost of lost lives? Of increased disease and human suffering? Can we justify losing standing in the world as compassionate leaders? Is less than 1% of our budget really just a bridge too far for Christian charity and a Christian nation?
D.J. Rhinehart Waynesville
‘Affrilachia: Testimonies’
Annual camp meeting at Rock Springs Campground in White County, GA. African American have been holding these multi day religious gatherings at the same site in the Appalachian Mountains for more than 130 years. Chris
experience in Appalachia
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF W RITER
“Affrilachia: Testimonies,” by Chris Aluka B erry sets out to document the Black experience in Appalachia. The book is a historical artifact that honors, represents and celebrates a diverse community whose own history is the history of Appalachia, and whose existence has shaped the region.
“The people and communities captured in these pages shall never disappear,” Kelly Elaine Navies writes in the introduction to the book. “They belong to the ancient Appalachian Mountain range, their voices forever singing in the wind, loud and clear, if only you will listen.”
Affrilachia is a term that was first coined by Frank X Walker, a poet from Kentucky. Walker began using the word in the 1990s to focus on the cultural contributions of Black
poet’s work and the term itself work to negate the stereotype of Appalachian culture that is often portrayed as predominantly white, rural and poor. Affrilachia is also the title of Walker’s 2000 book of poetry.
In this new visual history book, Berry, a photographer, storyteller and curator, gives voice to the broad spectrum of Black folks who have lived in the Appalachian region for centuries.
Published by the University Press of Kentucky in October 2024, the book contains hundreds of photographs made by Berry over the course of eight years during which time he immersed himself in the communities and lives of Black Appalachians throughout Western North Carolina, northeast Georgia and eastern Tennessee.
In addition to photographs, the book also contains an introduction by Kelly Elaine Navies, as well as essays and poetry from both Navies and Maia A. Surdam.
Want to go?
Chris Aluka Berry will present “Affrilachia: Testimonies” with local artist and storyteller
Ann Miller Woodford at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Free and open to the public. For more information visit citylightsnc.com.
Another event for the book will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Albert Carlton Cashiers Community Library. The event is free and open to the public. For more information visit cashiershistoricalsociety.org.
Cousins Drake Lewis, 11, Carson Daniels,11, Myla Lewis,17, and Adam Daniels, 20, wait their turn to get food during the 93rd birthday party for their great grandfather Montreal “Bounce” Brown at his home in Jonesborough, Tenn., September 11, 2022. Chris Aluka Berry photo
Navies is a poet, writer and oral historian. Several of her history projects are located at the Southern Oral History Program, the Reginald F. Lewis Maryland Museum of African American History and Culture, the Washington DC Public Library Peoples’ Archive and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture where she coordinates the oral history program. Surdam is a historian, educator and author who lives in Western North Carolina. She is the programs director of the Partnership for Appalachian Girls’ Education (PAGE), and her academic work focuses on rural communities.
Berry grew up in rural South Carolina and now lives in the mountains of Madison
County. He says his experience growing up with a white mother and Black father made him sensitive to questions of racial representation at an early age, influenced his early photography and continues to inform the questions he asks and images he makes. Berry got his start in photography working for The State Newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, and went on to a freelance career with work appearing in Time, NPR, The Atlantic, L.A. Times, The New York Times, London Free Press and more. His photography is part of collections at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
Aluka Berry photo
This must be the place
‘All these places had their moments, with lovers and friends, I still can recall’
Poke-O-Moonshine
Mountain.
This morning, I awoke in the guest bedroom of my parents’ farmhouse in my native North Country of Upstate New York. It was 12 degrees outside with a frigid breeze, the sun shining brightly. I rolled over and looked out the second-story window onto a backyard blanketed in snow, each flake sparkling.
To preface, I decided to make the 1,000+ mile and 18+ hour drive from my apartment in Waynesville to Plattsburgh, New York, to spend my birthday with my mom. Even though my folks are still together and my father and I are always on good terms, it was my mother who I felt I wanted to spend this juncture of my life with. After all, she’s the literal reason I exist.
Even though I could smell fresh hot coffee and hear the crackling of the wood stove downstairs in the 1840 brick farmhouse, and I also knew there was thick bacon ready to be cooked in the refrigerator, I decided I wanted to head out the front door and go hike a mountain to celebrate this milestone birthday.
So, I threw on all my winter running gear and jumped into my truck, the nose of the vehicle aimed for Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain. It’s a hiking spot in my beloved Adirondack Mountains that resides at the deepest depths of my heart and soul, this trail I’ve been traversing since I was a little kid.
When I pulled up to the trailhead, the temperature was 10 degrees with a wind chill knocking it down to four degrees. The trail is 4.8 miles roundtrip with an elevation gain of 1,450 feet to the summit and fire tower. I emerged from the truck, threw on another layer of gear, then pulled my Yaktrax grips over my trail running shoes.
Trudging through ankle-deep snow, I hustled my way up the peak, all while large maple and pine trees hung overhead, soon passing by a frozen pond, jagged cliffs covered in thick ice and a cherished lean-to enroute to the summit. Eventually, I reached the top in just about an hour. Standing atop Poke-O, I felt immense
exposed face warmed up by the rays of the sun combating the inevitable cold air of early February in this part of the globe
Turning back around from the Poke-O summit, I bolted down the mountain in a joyous trail run, ultimately making it back to my truck in just half an hour, a grin of gratitude from ear-to-ear as I bounced along the trail without a care in the world. Back down underneath the canopy of maple and pine trees. Back by the lean-to, jagged cliffs covered in thick ice and that lone frozen pond.
Later in the evening, my folks and I dressed up and went to dinner at Anthony’s Bistro, a longtime fine dining establishment on the outskirts of Plattsburgh. It’s been a culinary staple of the North Country for decades, the kind of place you go to mark a special occasion or merely want to feel special on an otherwise dull day.
Hunkered down at a candlelit booth in the corner, we ordered a hearty bottle of pinot noir from the Willamette Valley in Oregon (my favorite kind of wine, in flavor and in origin). Three glasses of red wine now hoisted up and in celebration of the moment at-hand. In that time and space, I felt very loved and happy to be there with them.
and wits are still intact, where if you can harness those things as time marches on, well, you’re truly good to go, my friends.
I also felt such a genuine love for the ADKs, these ancient mountains of my youth, so much so I have the outline of the Adirondack Park and the silhouette of Poke-O both tattooed on the back of my leg. There’s something uniquely magical and mesmerizing when you disappear into the woods up here.
The ancient dirt, hardscrabble rocks, stoic trees, flowing water and pure air of this sacred landscape will always possess a large piece of my heart. And it’s only when I return to this place every-so-often to where I can once again hold that piece, but only until the moment before I leave and head below the MasonDixon Line to my humble abode in Haywood County.
I left the North Country for college when I was 18 and never really looked back. Always wandering and pondering this great big country of ours. Always in search of the story and of genuine interactions with kind souls. And I continue to chase after the horizon on my intent, only to purposely circle back to the Champlain Valley and ADKs to refuel my body and mind.
And, for the last almost 13 years, I’ve lived and worked happily in Western North Carolina, where nowadays I find myself in this continual boomerang up and down Interstate 81 between Southern Appalachia and the North Country. Endless miles between my current home and my hometown. Endless phone conversations with loved ones way up on the Canadian Border or in-person bonding with loved ones here in Carolina.
Atop Poke-O, I stood there and scanned the enormous, frozen landscape. I smiled and thought of those who I love and miss, whether thousands of miles away or somewhere out there in the ether of the great beyond of our universe. My body remained content underneath thick layers of Dri-Fit clothing. My
I then ordered the most expensive steak on the menu, a nine-ounce filet mignon. Why the hell not, right? You only turn 40 once. To that, I’ve retained this mantra of sorts in recent years, one of “order the filet,” seeing as you never know what tomorrow may bring. So, order the damn steak and eat it with gusto. More wine, too, good sir.
Onward into the unknowns of what lies ahead. And although I don’t know what the future holds, it doesn’t matter, for it is truly about being present and in the moment. My head is held high and filled with a sincere sense of love and optimism for what comes next.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
HOT PICKS
1
Popular Asheville-based Americana/folk act Zoe & Cloyd will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
2
Musical duo Brian Ashley Jones & Melanie Jean will perform from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Cataloochee Ranch in Maggie Valley.
3
Sponsored by the Waynesville Rotary Club, annual “Chili Cook-Off Stroll” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at participating locations around downtown Waynesville.
4
Chris Aluka Berry will share his new book, “Affrilachia: Testimonies,” with Ann Miller Woodford at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva.
5
The Maggie Valley Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville.
Garret K. Woodward photo
A book like “Affrilachia: Testimonies,” full of stunning photographs, will no doubt contain symbolism and meaning that varies with each pair of eyes that take hold of it. But there is one symbol, a sort of metaphor, running through the book that is especially important to Berry.
One photograph in the book shows Deacon B.C. Mance, 103 years old at the time the photograph was made, holding a handkerchief up in front of his face. According to Berry, the photograph was not planned.
“I’m trying to make some portraits and then, just in joking with me, Deacon Mance takes his handkerchief and holds it up,” Berry said during a book event at Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville Feb. 5. “This moment happened so fast, y’all, I didn’t even know if it was in focus.”
It wasn’t until Berry got home and started going through his images that he realized what he had captured.
“As I looked at this photo, I realized that the veil was a metaphor of how black communities have been in these mountains for hundreds of years,” said Berry. “I started looking for that… I decided to start obscuring people’s faces. When you see photos where someone’s face is obscured, that person’s meant to be an archetype, that person’s meant to symbolize all those stories that we will never know, all the communities that we will never know.”
Berry invites readers to pay attention to this metaphor as they move through the book.
Of the countless communities Berry spent time in and photographed, readers in The Smoky Mountain News coverage area may recognize several. The Hillside community in Weaverville, the Texana community in Murphy, and the Mount Zion Church in Cullohwee — the same community whose history lies at the center of Jackson County author David Joy’s latest book, “Those We Thought We Knew.”
“This church was actually at one time on the grounds of Western Carolina University, but through a series of events these folks
On the beat
“When you see photos where someone’s face is obscured, that person’s meant to be an archetype, that person’s meant to symbolize all those stories that we will never know, all the communities that we will never know.”
— Chris Aluka Berry
were pushed, the university paid them so much money to make them move their church and all of their graves,” said Berry.
When Berry first went to the church in 2016, he met the church matriarch, Mae Louise Allen. She is pictured in the book, dressed in red, being carried into the back door of the Mount Zion Church.
Berry had planned to come back to photograph Allen after their initial meeting, but 19 days later, she passed away. This would become a common and distressing problem for Berry. As many as 20 people captured in photographs throughout the book have since passed away.
“It hit me hard,” Berry said. “Because I didn’t know about the history and culture in the mountains and then I was finding out and then I quickly found out that a lot of these communities are disappearing. And that’s what everyone told me, ‘Man, you should have been here 50 years ago.’”
But, Berry says, he can’t go back in time. So, he has done his best to document the moment. The stories past and present, the living and the disappearing.
“I’m a documentary photographer, so I’m not setting things up or conceptualizing things,” said Berry. “I just know, we all know, today is a day in history. Today is tomorrow’s history. That is how this project began.”
Like any diligent storytellers, Berry, Navies and Surdam seek to complicate not only the Black experience in Appalachia, but the Appalachian narrative as a whole. Throughout the book photographs, poems and essays all draw attention to the vast diversity of Affrilachian experiences.
Surdam said that several stories in the book “stand out as examples of the complicated histories, and ones that you wouldn’t necessarily know unless you’re talking to people and learning about those first hand experiences.”
While the book is not split into explicit chapters, Berry says that movements within the book are indicated by landscape photographs because so much of life, culture and history in Appalachia is dominated by the landscape.
“As you see those landscape photos, just recognize that that’s letting you know that something new is about to happen,” Berry said. “I tried to incorporate the land into this book. All of us live in the mountains, so we know what it’s like here. But I really wanted it to be to where someone that came and looked at this book that had never spent time in Appalachia, by the time they were done with the book, they would have an idea of what the landscape is, what it feels like to be here and then to also have that vibe of what the black experience in the mountains is like.”
“Of course, this book, like any book, is just a glimpse,” said Berry.
Folkmoot welcomes
Zoe & Cloyd
Popular Asheville-based Americana/folk act Zoe & Cloyd will hit the stage at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.
The innovative “klezgrass” music of Zoe & Cloyd springs from the rich traditions and complementary styles of fiddler/vocalist Natalya Zoe Weinstein and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist John Cloyd Miller.
Descending from a lineage of klezmer and jazz musicians, Weinstein trained classically in her home state of Massachusetts before moving south in 2004. Miller, a 12th generation North Carolinian and grandson of pioneering bluegrass fiddler, Jim Shumate, is a first-place winner of the prestigious Chris Austin Songwriting Contest at MerleFest and the Hazel Dickens Songwriting Contest.
Admission is “pay what you can,” with prices starting at $5 per person. For more information and/to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.
Zoe & Cloyd will play Waynesville
Feb. 21. Sarah Johnston photo
Chris Aluka Berry signs copies of new book. Chris Aluka Berry photo
Scotsman welcomes Maggie Valley Band
The Maggie Valley Band will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at The Scotsman Public House in Waynesville. A blend of old-time mountain, Americana and psychedelic indie-folk music, the Haywood County group is fronted by siblings Whitney and Caroline Miller.
The duo has gone through several changes since they first set out on their melodic adventure several years ago. But, what remains is the unbreakable bond of sisterhood, something that’s become a stronghold — and strong suit — in what it will take to break into the next level of their promising careers.
The show is free and open to the public. For more information, go to themaggievalleyband.com. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Brian Ashley Jones and Melanie Jean (Americana) 5 p.m. Feb. 15. For tickets and reservations, go to cataloocheeranch.com/ ranch-events/live-music.
• First United Methodist Church (Franklin) Mountain Voices Community Chorus, a 55Voice chorus, begins rehearsals on Feb. 3 for our summer concerts. New members welcome. We meet weekly on Monday nights at 6:30 at First United Methodist Church in Franklin. 828-524-3644.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host “Jazz On The Level” 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday, Astro Record Store (retail) 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14, Tricia Ann (singer-songwriter) Feb. 15, Chris Caruso (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Feb. 16, Different Light Feb. 21, Marley’s Chain Feb. 22 and Mike Hollon (singer-songwriter) 3 p.m. Feb. 23. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” 6-9 p.m. every Thursday ($5 cover), “Bluegrass Brunch” 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. every Sunday (free) and the “Salon Series”
with Holly Williams (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. Feb. 27 ($28.52 per person). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host The V8s (rock/oldies) Feb. 15, Jamie Saylor (Americana) Feb. 21 and Ray Ferrara (country/rock) Feb. 22. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Delphine & The Oracles (blues/jazz) Feb. 14 and Prophets Of Time (rock/soul) Feb. 21. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host an “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, Karaoke Thursdays (6 p.m.) and Saturdays (7 p.m.), with live music each Friday (8 p.m.). Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.
• Listening Room (Franklin) will host Danny Schmidt (singer-songwriter) 2:30 p.m. March 2. Suggested donation $20. Located at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.
and other performing artists.
Originally from Upstate South Carolina and a longtime resident of Nashville, Tennessee, Jones performs internationally at festivals, concert series, clubs and music education programs.
For more information and/or to make your reservation for the event, visit cataloocheeranch.com/ranch-events/livemusic.
• Macon County Public Library (Franklin) will host The Vagabonds (Americana) at 2 p.m. the first and third Monday and a “Song Circle” open jam from 3-6 p.m. the first Tuesday each month. Free and open to the public. 828.524.3600 or fontanalib.org.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” w/Frank Lee every Thursday, Zip Robertson (singer-songwriter) Feb. 14, Katen Thomas (singer-songwriter) Feb. 15, Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Feb. 22 and Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) Feb. 28. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 4 p.m. Feb. 21. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Duo Catanza (classical guitar) 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Rich Manz Trio (oldies/acoustic) Feb. 13, The Maggie Valley
Band (Americana/indie) Feb. 15, Mike Yow (singer-songwriter) Feb. 20 and Brian Ashley Jones (Americana) Feb. 22. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host The Water Kickers 5 p.m. Feb. 16. All shows begin at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• Trailborn (Highlands) will host its “Carolina Concert Series” with Brooke Campbell (singersongwriter) Feb. 13 and Melissa McKinney (singer-songwriter) Feb. 20. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.482.1581 or trailborn.com/highlands.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) Feb. 13 (free), Rock Holler Feb. 14, Lori & The Freighshakers (classic rock/country gold) Feb. 15, Karaoke With Lori Feb. 20 (free), Macon County Line Feb. 21 and Topper Feb. 22. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
The Maggie Valley Band will play Waynesville Feb. 15. File photo
Melanie Jean and Brian Ashley Jones will play Maggie Valley Feb. 15. File photo
to wncpaint.events.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. dawn@cre828.com / 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. galleryzella.com / 517.881.0959.
‘Fire Up the Arts’
Pisgah High School’s art department is in need of a working kiln, leaving students without the opportunity to explore ceramics — a transformative art form that fosters creativity, confidence and hands-on skill development.
The devastation caused by the Hurricane Helene flooding last fall has only added to the challenges, delaying access to essential tools for the Canton school.
That’s why the Haywood County Arts Council (HCAC), in partnership with Quick Draw, has launched the “Fire Up the Arts” campaign to raise $7,000 to fully equip Pisgah High School’s ceramics program.
This funding will provide a high-quality kiln, professional-grade pottery wheel, durable bats for throwing clay, metal shelving for storage and a variety of glazes to spark
Thanks to an incredible deal on nearly new equipment, every dollar counts toward transforming the art room into a fully functional ceramics studio. To make your gift go even further, a generous donor has pledged to match up to $3,500 in donations through the end of February — doubling the impact of every contribution.
“Art education is critical for fostering creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills,” said Tonya Harwood, HCAC executive director. “Claywork, in particular, provides students with a unique opportunity to connect with their creativity in a tactile and rewarding way. We’re committed to ensuring Pisgah students have access to this experience.”
With your support, Pisgah High School students can experience the joy, challenge and reward of working with clay, bringing art back to life in their classroom.
To contribute, visit haywoodarts.org.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes / 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. coweeschool.org/events.
WCU faculty art showcase
Featuring works from faculty artisans at Western Carolina University, the 2025 School of Art & Design Faculty Biennial Exhibition will be displayed through May 2 in the Bardo Arts Center in Cullowhee. Outside of the classroom, faculty members in the School of Art & Design are active artists and scholars that make significant contributions to the arts. The exhibition provides students and the community with an opportunity to view recent works created by distinguished faculty members whose primary research output is studio-based.
The museum’s hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and until 7 p.m. on Thursday.
For more information, visit wcu.edu/bardo-artscenter.
The Pisgah High art fundraiser is currently underway.
Donated photo
“Desert Gems” is a work by Nathan Ellis Perry. File photo
On the stage On the table
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host semi-regular stand-up comedy shows on the weekends. For tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Haywood Arts Regional Theatre (Waynesville) will host “Valentine’s Day Cabaret” Feb. 14-16 ($23 for adults, $13 for students). Celebrate love and joy at this intimate acoustic selection of non-musical theatre love songs from artists like The Beatles, The Carpenters, Jackson 5 and more, all performed by some of the region’s best talent. harttheatre.org / 828.456.6322.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center (Highlands) will host the “Highland Cashiers Players: Valentine’s Dinner Theatre” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-14. mountaintheatre.com / 828.526.9047.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. smokymountainarts.com / 866.273.4615.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host “An Evening of One Act Plays: Scribes Onstage” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
Ready for the ‘Chili Cook-Off Stroll’?
Sponsored by the Waynesville Rotary Club, annual “Chili Cook-Off Stroll” will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, at participating locations around downtown Waynesville.
Taking place during the long Presidents’ Day and Valentine’s Day weekend, this event is for locals and visitors alike to explore Waynesville’s charming shops, restaurants and businesses, all while sampling and voting for the best chili in town.
Grab a $10 wristband for unlimited chili samples and cast your vote for the “People’s Choice Award.” Wristbands also include unlimited rides on the shuttle service, courtesy of Cold Mountain Tubing. Shuttles will loop between downtown Waynesville and Frog Level every 15 minutes.
Half of the proceeds from all wristband sales will go to support local kids in need through the Rotary Club of Waynesville. In addition to the “People’s Choice Award,” the panel of judges will crown the “Best Merchant Chili” and “Best Restaurant Chili.”
Enhance your chili experience with a special photo with our roaming chili mascot, grab a custom t-shirt and check out special “Chili Packages” for the holiday weekend from Andon Reid and The Yellow House bed-and-breakfasts and lodging partners, as well as sales and specials from our galleries, shops and restaurants.
For updates on participants, lodging partners and sponsors, follow the event on social media: Facebook (Waynesville Chili Cook-Off Stroll), Instagram (@haychili) or email chilicookoffstroll@gmail.com.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will have its wine bar open 4-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host semi-regular tap takeovers from local and regional breweries on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. There will also be a special “Valentine Wine Dinner” at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 ($84 per person). 828.452.0120 / waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
Live with a SEAL, and salute the first president
My oldest son runs ultra-marathons from time to time, whereas for me, an ultra-marathon is staying awake from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. with just one nap. At any rate, this Christmas he gifted me with a copy of Jesse Itzler’s “Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet” (Center Street, 2016, 288 pages).
In 2010, Itzler, a wealthy man who has also run ultra-marathons, hired a retired Navy SEAL, whom he refers to in the book as SEAL, to live with him for a month and run him through a rigorous regimen of training (my use of “rigorous” is an understatement as deep as the Grand Canyon). So, in December SEAL moves into the Central Park West apartment in Manhattan where Itzler, his wife Sara, who founded the shapewear company Spanx, and their young son, Lazer, then lived.
gram was definitely effective.
On the other hand, would I want to live my life like Goggins? No way. And not just because of the pain and the training. His idea of joy, if he has one, is radically different from mine.
Here’s just one example. A couple of months after the training ended and SEAL had moved out, Itzler contacted him and invited him to come along with the family to
From that point on, Itzler’s life is turned upside down. He’s out running with SEAL through Central Park at five in the morning and at midnight in 20 degree temperatures. Under SEAL’s boot camp guidance, he’s doing timed pullups and burpees at rates most of us can’t imagine, with SEAL even yanking him away on breaks from business meetings to do pushups in his office. Commenting once on ultra-marathoners, Sara said, “It’s like they put ninety people from the insane asylum onto a Greyhound bus, drove them out to the desert, blew a whistle, and said run for two days.”
In Itzler’s case, it’s as if SEAL blows a whistle, and they run for the entire month.
It turns out SEAL is David Goggins, known far and wide across social media as “the toughest athlete on the planet.” As many people know who follow him, Goggins weighed nearly 300 pounds back in 2000 when he decided he wanted to join the Navy and become a SEAL. To qualify, he lost over 100 pounds in just three months and was allowed to join the Navy and the SEALS.
“Living with a Seal” offers readers that same sort of stick-to-it inspiration. It teaches some great life lessons about persistence, the importance of training, pushing yourself to the max, and fighting past fear and doubt. “It doesn’t have to be fun,” Goggins says, “it has to be effective.” No one would describe Itzler’s daily ordeal as fun, but SEAL’s pro-
the Bahamas. SEAL showed up with no luggage but he did bring his bike and a stationary set-up station. For the three days they spent at the beach, he never left his room, pedaling away and looking out the window at “the most beautiful setting in the world.”
Good for him, I suppose. But if someone asks me to spend some time at a swanky hotel on the beach in the Bahamas, you’ll find me down on the sand taking in the sights and enjoying the sun.
One more note: SEAL’s constant obscenities — he favored MF and the archaic word for a female dog — soon made him sound stupid and even boring.
Otherwise, if you’re not put off by foul language and you’re looking for humor and an interesting story, give “Living with a Seal” a shot. •••
City Lights Bookstore in Sylva will host two readings:
Most people call February 17 Presidents’ Day, that holiday when government buildings, schools, and some businesses close up shop and retailers offer some of the year’s biggest sales. Yet the federal government still officially designates President’s Day as “Washington’s Birthday.”
Here’s why. Until 1968, the nation recognized February 22, Washington’s birthday, as a legal holiday. That year, however, the Congress passed the Monday Holiday Laws, which created our current system of three-day weekends on national holidays and which also designated the third Monday in February as Washington’s “birthday.” This change not only guaranteed that the holiday would never occur on February 22, it also meant that the date would always fall between Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s, which is February 12.
Advertising and popular usage titled the holiday “Presidents’ Day,” which initially referred to Washington and Lincoln, but was then extended to honor and celebrate all presidents. So, while the federal government still officially recognizes “Washington’s Birthday,” most of the country has abandoned that honorific for the fuzzier notion that all of our presidents deserve their share of the spotlight.
Whichever tag we fix to this celebration, now is the perfect time to learn more about our first president and how he helped shape our nation. Visit the public library or your local bookshop, or search online, and you’ll find plenty of biographies for both adults and children.
One online resource you don’t want to miss is Mount Vernon (mountvernon.org), where you’ll find virtual tours of Washington’s home, lots of documents as well as historical tidbits, educational resources for young and old alike, and much more.
Happy Washington’s Birthday, all, and good reading!
(Jeff Minick reviews books and has written four of his own: two novels, “Amanda Bell” and “Dust On Their Wings,” and two works of nonfiction, “Learning As I Go” and “Movies Make the Man.” minick0301@gmail.com.)
• Chris Aluka Berry, author of “Affrilachia: Testimonies,” will speak with Ann Miller Woodford at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13. “Affrilachia,” a term coined by poet Frank X Walker, highlights the contributions of Black Americans in the Appalachian region. Berry's book documents their history and influence.
• Local author Jeff Sykes will present his story collection, “Touch Your Defenses,” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15. The collection's 12 short stories and novella explore coming-of-age themes in North Carolina from the post-Vietnam era to the age of social media. All readings are free and open to the public. For more information, visit citylightsnc.com or call 828.586.9499.
Writer Jeff Minick
State intends to spray Spongy Moth treatment over Haywood, Jackson
Public invited to information session about infestation, treatment
BY KYLE P ERROTTI N EWS E DITOR
Residents of western Haywood County and eastern Jackson County will have the chance to learn about the Spongy Moth infestation that has hit several areas of the region, as well as what the N.C. Department of Agriculture plans on doing about the problem.
The public information session, to be held Feb. 18 at Haywood Community College, will allow officials the chance to review the treatment plan for the infestation while also hearing feedback from members of the public.
As of now, there are three proposed treatment blocks totaling 5,990 acres
located in Haywood and Jackson counties. The westernmost corner of the area is just north of mile marker 447 of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and the easternmost corner is one mile east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 23 and Sylvan Street. A portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway between mile markers between 445 and 447 lies inside this block.
There are approximately 2,560 commercial or residential lots within one mile of the block. Although the planes will fly low over the entire treatment area, they will only be spraying over large wooded areas.
In 2023, officials caught a total of 13 male moths in these blocks. In 2024, that number increased to 2,627. One application of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki, a proven, safe treatment method, is proposed for these blocks.
In March 2023 when a similar treatment was planned for the Cruso area in eastern Haywood County, members of the public voiced concerns over property rights and the lack of ability to opt out of the aerial treatment. However, in a Smoky Mountain News story from that time, NCDA Administrator Joy Goforth said that without the treatment, these invasive creatures will continue to reproduce and gain a stronghold in certain areas.
“Spongy moth infestations alter the ecology of an area by reducing habitat, increasing erosion and other factors,” Goforth said at that time. “In addition, establishment of this pest will have grave impact financially on the local forestry and nursery industries and can impact tourism and property values.”
First described by Swedish taxonomist Carl Linnaeus in 1758, the moth’s Latin name, lymantria dispar, means “unequal destroy-
er.” Unequal refers to the size difference between males and females, and destroyer alludes to its devastating effect on more than 300 species of plants and trees. The moths can extend their range by as much as 13 miles a year.
The NCDA began to take note of the problem in Haywood County around 2019, through a trapping program meant to assess both the existence and the size of local populations. Relentless, the spongy moths are eventually expected to overtake all of Western North Carolina by 2045, but a number of treatments are available.
One caterpillar can eat 1 square-foot of foliage per day, and they especially like oaks, which are plentiful in most of Southern Appalachia.
Female spongy moths are flightless. They attract mates by releasing a pheromone that helps males detect their location. Once that happens, the females lay an egg mass, usually in trees. The egg mass can produce anywhere from 100 to 1,000 caterpillars.
One caterpillar can eat 1 square-foot of foliage per day, and they especially like oaks, which are plentiful in most of Southern Appalachia.
When they emerge from the egg mass en masse, the caterpillars can swarm, leaving behind prolific amounts of feces and endangering people and pets with the hairs on their backs, which are an irritant.
The impact of a spongy moth infestation varies year to year. The direct impact of spongy moth defoliation ranges from barely noticeable to devastating, depending upon population density, tree health and weather conditions.
For hardwood species such as oak, mortality of trees in fair or poor health or those stressed by drought or frost can occur after two consecutive years of defoliation. Trees that are in good condition will grow new leaves later in the season, but they use food reserves that were intended for the next season.
The most dangerous effect of spongy moth defoliation is an increase in tree susceptibility to secondary pests such as wood boring beetles and fungi. Older spongy moth larvae may attack conifer species, such as pines, resulting in tree mortality after just one year of defoliation. The economic burden of a severe spongy moth defoliation can be great when homeowners are faced with a number of large, dead yard trees that must be removed. Likewise, timberland owners may be faced with a reduction in timber value as valuable hardwoods are killed. The loss of large trees also contributes to erosion, which can impact water quality.
The spongy moth can also be a nuisance to the general public. In heavily infested areas, caterpillars may crawl on driveways, sidewalks, outdoor furniture, F
Want to learn more?
The public is invited to an information session on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Haywood Community College in the Main Hemlock Building Lobby. The purpose of the session is to permit NCDA&CS staff to provide information on a spongy moth infestation that has been detected in Western North Carolina, review treatment alternatives for the infestation and receive information from the public. The session format will provide adequate time for questions and public comments.
Anyone who’s unable to attend the session and would like additional information on this spongy moth infestation can contact the NCDA&CS Plant Industry Division at 800.206.9333 or 919.707.3730. Resources are also online at ncagr.gov/proposed-spongy-moth-management.
into homes, or end up in swimming pools. In parks and recreation areas, defoliation may affect the aesthetics of the surroundings.
The NCDA began the Slow the Spread program in 1992 with a goal of demonstrating that the rate at which spongy moths colonize new areas can be reduced. According to the NCDA, the project uses techniques that are both environmentally safe and cost effective.
“North Carolina is defined in many ways by its lush tree canopy and green natural resources,” Goforth said in the previous SMN story. “Through the Slow the Spread efforts, including targeted treatments where the spongy moth population is on the rise, we hope we can prevent damage to our forests. Western North Carolina won’t look like Western North Carolina if we continue to lose trees and tree canopy to pests. And that would be a shame.”
In heavily infested areas, caterpillars may crawl on driveways, sidewalks, outdoor furniture, into homes or end up in swimming pools. North Carolina Department of Agriculture photo
WNC Communities seeks nominations for Agricultural Hall of Fame
WNC Communities is now accepting nominations for the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame.
This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the agricultural sector, driving sustainability and growth in the region.
Established in 1991, the objectives of the Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame are to honor significant contributions to agriculture, to recognize individuals who have been responsible for agricultural advancement and to improve and promote agriculture and agribusiness in Western North Carolina. Selection of members for the
Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame is conducted annually, and the general public is invited to submit nominations for this honor. The guidelines, criteria and nomination form for 2025 may be downloaded at wnccommunities.org, and anyone can pick up a hardcopy at the WNC Communities office at 594 Brevard Road in Asheville. Nominations must be received by Monday, March 10, 2025.
WNC Communities will hold the annual Western North Carolina Agricultural Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Aug. 8, 2025, at the Davis Event Center in the WNC Agriculture Center in Fletcher.
Up Moses Creek
BY B URT KORNEGAY
Bones of Contention
Watching birds is a year-round pleasure for Becky and me — daily to see their beauty and vitality, their aerial acrobatics, their antics and doings that reveal their native smarts. And to make sure there are birds to watch we bait the yard. We have bird feeders outside the windows, plus several birdbaths and birdhouses here and there. The food, water and shelter are good for the birds, too, but they also cause squabbles and flutter-fights. “My turn to bathe,” says the chickadee. “No, it’s mine!” the titmouse replies as he lands on the birdbath and flares his crest, scaring the smaller one off. And when the red-bellied woodpecker swoops in with its powerful beak to feast on sunflower seeds, the yard birds scatter in a puff of feathers. Pecking orders, after all, are established by pecks.
Summer will bring no let-up in the fights. Becky will fill her hummingbird feeders with enough sugar water to quench the thirst of all the hummingbirds up Moses Creek. But a possessive male, flashing his ruby throat, will think he owns every drop. One time, a matriarchal female claimed one of the feeders and became so focused on keeping the other hummers off that she paid me no mind when, twice, I reached up and stroked her back.
Because of the backyard contention, feeding birds is not for everyone. My mother tried putting up a feeder, but her sense of decorum and fair play were so offended by a flock of piggish goldfinches that she took it back down.
I’ve heard that once upon a time there were myths about gods who had no such human scruples, gods who, for their sport, set humans on each other with treats. And if they saw that one group was about to establish a peaceable kingdom on earth, where the lions lie down with the lambs, those devilish gods would toss down golden apples, or — in today’s telling of the tale — send up some bubbles of oil, then recline on mountaintops to watch: “Look at the free-for-all!”
Backyard birders might be a little bit like that.
One thing I know firsthand about people with binoculars for eyes: at times they have to steel themselves to what they see. Once Becky and I focused in on two bluebirds checking out a nest house. Of course, that was the very house the chickadee pair just had to have. A little war of wings was waged,
opened the box and found a chick skeleton in the abandoned nest with a hole in its skull. Another lay in the weeds below. The Berry Battle this January was more fun to watch. Years ago, we planted hollies to provide cold-weather food for the birds, and now the limbs hang low with winter fruit. Last November a male robin moved in on the bounty. We think he might be the same bird we’ve watched for several winters. We call him Solitary Robin. The hollies held oodles of red berries, and he lorded it over them all. Even if a bird that doesn’t eat berries, like a wren or junco, landed just to rest, here came Solitary Robin with indignant squawks. Then he’d flick his tail and pluck a berry.
April, when the sap of spring rises in the stalk, he’ll chase her again — but this time to catch her, not drive her away. By day’s end Solitary Robin was exhausted. He’d had no time to eat. He’d given the bushes such a shaking that half his treasure now lay on the ground. It was galling to think that his loss was the ground-foraging Hermit Thrush’s gain! If he could hold out until the other robins left to roost, he’d get some shuteye. Literally, one eye shut. The other eye would stay open. There are no security cameras in animal land.
When the flock returned the next day in overwhelming force, Solitary Robin gave up. It was so unfair. The others hadn’t guarded the berries all winter like he had done. I
and the chickadees won it. They built their nest, laid their eggs, brought food to their peeping young. Then one day when both parents were busy searching for food, we noticed a bluebird at the opening, looking — to steal a line from Wordsworth — “like a guilty thing surprised.” The family birdhouse was unusually quiet after that, appeared deserted. Later in the summer I
But on the morning of Jan. 12 an irruption of a flock of robins marked the start of B-Day. Solitary Robin lunged this way and that at the invaders, never letting them relax. If they got a berry, he made sure it came with indigestion. He’d scare off one claim-jumper, only to find three more in its place. He chased away a female robin. In
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could almost hear him “sobbing, sobbing, Pretty, Pretty Robin” — taking liberty with a line from William Blake. Then, out of the blue, or so I thought, ancient words of wisdom came down to Solitary Robin: “If you can’t beat them, eat them.” We watched him gobble down 10 berries just like that.
(Burt and Becky Kornegay live in Jackson County.)
When a robin takes a bath, it’s an explosion of water and feathers. Fred Coyle photo.
Get in on the Great Backyard Bird Count Walk
As part of the Great Backyard Bird Count initiative, a global community science project that helps researchers understand how birds are doing before they undertake their great spring migration, Mainspring Conservation Trust is hosting its own event.
Though people will be collecting data to contribute to the Great Backyard Bird Count, the focus at this event will be on strengthening identification skills by discussing the birds that are encountered. This is a great opportunity for beginner birders to practice their skills before the migratory birds return, and a chance for seasoned birders to brush off the cobwebs before warbler season. This event is open to birders of all skill levels, from total newbies to total nerds.
This event is free and open to the public, including beginners, families and folks with mobility concerns.
Registration is not required, but it is recommended.
More trails open across Appalachian Ranger District
The U.S. Forest Service has reopened more trails and roads throughout areas of the Pisgah National Forest’s Appalachian Ranger District in Haywood, Madison, Buncombe, Yancey, Mitchell and Avery counties following the damage caused by Hurricane Helene.
With the support of partners and volunteers, the Forest Service has successfully cleared 137 miles of trails on the Appalachian Ranger District since the storm struck in late September 2024, accounting for 42% of the district’s trails. This includes more than 114 miles of the Appalachian Trail on the Pisgah National Forest.
The group will meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 at at the trailhead of the Jackson County Greenway (342 Old Cullowhee Rd, Sylva, NC 28779) and will arrive back at the trailhead at or before noon.
The Jackson County Greenway is a 1-mile paved path that is accessible to mobility devices and strollers, and it is mostly flat. Total distance covered during this event will be 2 miles or less, and restrooms are available at the trailhead.
Madison counties are open.
Despite the significant progress made to reopen the district, several trails and roads remain closed, including:
Avery County
• Elk Falls Trail & Elks Fall Road
Mitchell County Trails & Roads
• Poplar Boat Launch Road
• Appalachian Trail
- Indian Grave Gap to Iron Mt. Gap
- Iron Mt. Gap to Hughes Gap
In addition, the Forest Service has surveyed and cleared nearly 240 miles of roads across the district to date, accounting for nearly 76 percent of the district’s roads and providing improved access to public and local residents.
“A very big thank you to all of our volunteers and partners who continue to give their time and energy to help us overcome the seemingly insurmountable task of clearing these trails and roads so we can welcome the public back safely,” said Appalachian Ranger District Jen Barnhart.
The Appalachian Trail is open on the Pisgah National Forest from I-40 to Indian Grave Gap (milepost 241.3 to 351.8), which traverses Haywood, Madison and Yancey counties, as well as from Hughes Gap to Carvers Gap to Doll Flats (milepost 373.1 to 390.9) in Mitchell and Avery counties.
In Yancey and Buncombe counties, a portion of the Big Butt Trail from the Highway 197 trailhead (Cane River Gap) to the Little Butt viewpoint is open. The portion of this trail from the Little Butt viewpoint to the Blue Ridge Parkway trailhead is closed. All trails in Haywood and
Roan Mountain
• Cloudland Trail
• Roan Mountain
Gardens Trail including Loop A and B
• Roan Mountain Road & Balsam Road
Buncombe
County Mountains to Sea Trail
• Ogle Meadows Road
• All trails and roads within the Big Ivy and Shope Creek areas.
Yancey County
• All trails and roads within the South Toe/Mt. Mitchell areas.
• Lost Cove Trail
• Devils Creek Trail
• Bowlens Creek Road
• Hunt Camp Road
Haywood County
• Haynes Road (Hurricane Creek)
• Buzzard Roost Road
• Old Buzzard Roost Road
Madison County
• Murray Branch Road
In Haywood County, the Harmon Den Campground will open in May during its regular open season (May thru October).
The following developed recreation sites and campgrounds remain closed due to damage from Helene:
• Murray Branch Picnic Area
• Stackhouse Boat Launch
• Black Mountain Campground
• Brian Bottom Campground
• Poplar Boat Launch
• Roan Mountain Recreation Area
Please wear weather-appropriate clothing, and bring a water bottle as well as any additional tools you may want (such as binoculars, field guides, etc.). Binoculars will be available for those without their own. Those who participate in the Count on their own time before or after the walk are eligible to receive a free embroidered bird patch.
This event is weather-dependent. In the event of any scheduling changes, this posting and Mainspring’s social media will be updated, and any registered participants will be emailed. Please leave pets at home.
FIND Outdoors announces 2025 job opportunites
FIND Outdoors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting outdoor education, recreation and conservation, announced a variety of seasonal and full-time job opportunities for the 2025 season.
FIND Outdoors is hiring for multiple roles across its various locations, including visitor centers, campgrounds and educational sites. Current open positions include a number of opportunities for campground managers and hosts.
These individuals live and work on-site at some of the region’s most scenic campgrounds, assisting visitors and maintaining facilities. These roles are ideal for individuals or couples who have a motorhome, camper or similar recreational vehicle, affording the opportunity for free full site hook-ups along with a weekly stipend. Currently, positions are open in Lake Rabun, Morganton Point, Highlands, Carolina Hemlocks and the Cradle of Forestry.
Interested candidates are encouraged to visit gofindoutdoors.org/about/employment/ for full job descriptions and application details. Positions are open until filled, so early applications are encouraged.
The walk is open to birders of all levels. Jessie Stuyvenberg photo
Market PLACE WNC
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance
Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is seeking bids for the removal of crossties as a component of its 2025 FRRCSI grant projects. The scope ofline. SOW - Loading and transporting 600 tons of used crossties to the designated waste management facility. The bidder is responsible for loading and transporting all used crossties to the White
3898 Fines Creek Road, Waynesville, NC 28785. Tie staging location: 9E Hellard Road, Bryson City, NC 28713 with approx. 600 tons of crossties. Site must be cleared by 5/31/2025. Evaluation Criteria: Partial bids are accepted and may be awarded. This is a formal sealed bidding process. Bids for materials must comply with domestic steel and Buy America
participation is highly encouraged. Projects will be awarded at GSMR’s sole discretion to the supplier or suppliers whose proposal offers the best value. GSMR reserves the right to reject any and all bids. Your bid must be submitted no later that 3pm on Thursday, February 20, 2025. Formal Bid Opening Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 3pm. All proposals to be submitted to the following: GSMR, Kim Albritton. PO Box 1490 Bryson City, NC 28713 kimalbritton@ gsmr.com 828-342-6053
NOTICE OF SERVICE BY PUBLICATION
To: Matthew Richards, Plaintiff and Respondent
Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against
action 18CVD004925100 in the State of North Carolina, County of Buncombe. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows: Motion for Emergency Child Custody, Motion to Transfer Venue, and a Motion to Modify a Permanent Child Custody Order.
You are required to make defense to such pleadings no later than the court date of March 17th, 2025, and upon your failure to do so, the party seeking service against you will apply to the Court for the relief sought.
This the 27th day of January 2025.
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000013-490
Terence Robert Hooper,
Executor of the Estate of Martha Coward Ward of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Apr 22 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor Estate of Martha Coward 705 W Main Street Sylva, NC 28779
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000069-430
David F Kuehn, having
of the Estate of Curtis S Kuehn of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before May 12 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor 47 Fern St Canton, NC 28716
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.25E000028-490
Nancy Silvestri Rivera,
Executor of the Estate of Susan Silvestri aka Susie Silvestri of Jackson County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before May 12 2025, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor
c/o Coward, Hicks & Siler
705 W Main Street Sylva, NC 28779
Announcements
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Auction
BUTTERMILK FARMS ANTIQUES & AUCTION
LIVE auction every 1st and 3rd Saturday at our location - 220 Hwy. 19S, Bryson City Facebook auction every Tuesday on our FB page. All auctions start at 4 pm. Absentee bids welcome. Plenty of parking. Plenty of com-
fortable seating. Cash, Business Check or CC accepted (3% fee on all CC) NO BUYERS PREMIUM EVER Concession stand offering homemade goodness at every live auction We are now taking appointments for auction consignors. (828) 366-2215 bttrmlkfarms@ frontier.com
Lost & Found
LOST CAT Lost in Tatham Mountain Park, off Hwy 441 across from Dollar General. Male, 3 years old, neutered, orange & white. Answers to James. $100 reward for safe return. Please call Jane anytime, day or night. Miss my baby! (941) 248-4392
Medical
YOU MAY QUALIFY For are between 52-63 years old and under a doctor’s care for a health condition that prevents you from working for a year or more. 1-877-247-6750
HEARING AIDS!!
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Pets
PUPPIES!! Asheville Humane Society has puppies available for adoption; all 2-6 months old and cute as can be! Fee includes vaccinations and spay/neuter. (828) 761-2001 adoptions@ ashevillehumane.org
BLACK CAT — POPCORN Regal, 7-yr old, pleasantly plump lady; sweet and loving. Loves to observe world from windowsill. Asheville Humane Society (828) 761-2001 publicrelations@ashevillehumane.org
PET CARE If veterinary care is unavailable or un-
affordable, ask for Happy Jack® animal healthcare to treat yeast infections, hook & round worms. At Tractor Supply® & Southern States®
Real Estate Announcements
WE BUY HOUSES for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer today by calling 247-1189
Construction/ Remodeling
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CLEANUP & RESTORATION: A small amount of water can lead to major damage in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home’s value! Call 24/7: 1-888-313-1427.
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Entertainment
AFFORDABLE TV & INTERNET. If you are overpaying for your service, call now for a free quote and see how much you can save! 1-844-5886579
ECO, GREEN
Health/Beauty
ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Discover Oxygen Therapy That Moves with You with Inogen Portable Oxygen Concentrators. FREE information kit. Call 877443-0443
HEARING AIDS!! High-quality rechargeable, powerful Audien hearing aids priced 90% less than competitors. Tiny and NEARLY INVISIBLE! 45-day money back guarantee! 888-970-4637
Home Improvement
WATER DAMAGE CLEANUP & RESTORATION: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. We do complete repairs to protect your family and your home’s value! For a FREE ESTIMATE, call 24/7: 1-888-290-2264
LEAFFILTER Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most ad-
vanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 20% off Entire Purchase. Plus 10% Senior & Military Discounts. 1-877-649-1190
BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 1-877-560-1844
HOME REPAIRS Don’t Pay For Covered Home Repairs Again! American Residential Warranty covers ALL MAJOR SYSTEMS AND APPLIANCES. 30 DAY RISK FREE/ $100OFF POPULAR PLANS. 888-993-0878
WALK-IN TUB Safe Step. North America’s #1 WalkIn Tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-ofthe-line installation and service. Now featuring our FREE shower package and $1600 Off for a limited time! Call today! Financing available. Call Safe Step 1-855-9313643
SUDOKU
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
This and That
FOR SALE: 2001 HON-
DA VT600C The bike is not currently running but has a clean title, intact body and 15k+ miles. Includes original parts, with minor cosmetic wear. Perfect for mechanics or enthusiasts looking for a project. Great base for a cafe racer or custom build. Pick-up only. $800 OBO (828) 230-6009 micah.adel@gmail.com
Wanted to Buy
TOP CA$H PAID FOR OLD GUITARS! 1920-1980 Gibson, Martin, Fender, Gretsch, Epiphone, Guild, Mosrite, Rickenbacker, Prairie State, D’Angelico, Stromberg. And Gibson Mandolins / Banjos. 1-877560-5054
WE BUY HOUSES We Buy Houses for Cash AS IS! No repairs. No fuss. Any condition. Easy three step process: Call, get cash offer and get paid. Get your fair cash offer Houses: 1-888-247-1189
