10
Abe Partridge brings the good word to WNC Page 20
On the Cover:
The Fernandezes made it a point to plant peonies on their property every year, making them comfortable in raised beds. Now they have the biggest collection in the state. In 2015, they had a big enough display to start sharing it with the world, hosting the first annual Festival of Peonies in Bloom, a tradition that will be carried on this year. Holly Kays photo (Page 28)
News
Persistent Pless pushes partisan polling play..............................................................4
HCC budgets for the coming year................................................................................6
Jackson approves juvenile crime prevention funding plan......................................7
Car show to remind people to slow down and move over......................................8
Student wins WCU College of Business pitch competition..................................9
Cherokee cannabis funding vetoed..............................................................................10
Gathering honors missing and murdered indigenous women ............................11
DA finds Lambert Wilson shooting was self-defense............................................13
Birdtown candidates share their vision......................................................................14
Abortion bill will test Republican supermajority........................................................15
Opinion
Django was a wanderer, a free spirit..........................................................................18
Embracing the sisterhood of motherhood..................................................................19
A&E
Abe Partridge brings the good word to WNC........................................................20
Escaping into a world of books....................................................................................27
Outdoors
Polish up the Pigeon........................................................................................................31
Moses Creek......................................................................................................................34
C LASSIFIEDS: Scott Collier.
N EWS E DITOR: Kyle Perrotti.
WRITING: Holly Kays.
Garret K. Woodward.
ACCOUNTING & O FFICE MANAGER: Amanda Singletary.
D ISTRIBUTION: Scott Collier.
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C ONTRIBUTING: Jeff Minick (writing), Chris Cox (writing), Don Hendershot (writing), Susanna Shetley (writing)
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Haywood Republican Rep. Mark Pless is closer than ever to getting partisan local elections in his district — part of a growing trend by North Carolina conservatives hoping to “out” Democrats at the polls this coming November, or sooner.
Pless’ plan for making some or all local elections in Haywood and Madison counties partisan has a relatively long history that extends to his predecessor, Burnsville Republican Michele Presnell.
In 2017, Presnell introduced a bill targeting school boards in Beaufort, Dare, Haywood, Hyde, Madison and Yancey counties. Chuck Francis, the chair of Haywood’s school board, voiced adamant opposition, saying that his board makes decisions based on what’s best for students, and “not based on partisan politics.”
The board passed a resolution on April 3 of that year unanimously opposing the move, when Francis was still a registered Democrat.
Francis changed his party affiliation to Republican in 2021, after winning another four-year term as a Democrat in 2020. Other members of his board swapped affiliations, flipping it from a 6-3 Democratic majority to a 6-3 Republican majority.
Presnell’s bill ended up going nowhere, but when Pless resurrected the idea in 2022, Francis was less adamant about it, saying he could see both sides of the argument. Unlike 2017, Francis’ board took no action to pass a resolution opposing the bill.
Pless’ 2022 version of the bill expanded in scope to include not only the school board but also all four municipal governments in Haywood County.
Reaction was swift from elected officials in Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley and Waynesville.
Maggie Valley Republican Alderman Phillip Wight, one of few Haywood elected officials that supported the bill, said that candidates should be held accountable if they “want to represent what the Democratic Party has become.”
The majority of aldermen on Maggie’s board, including unaffiliated Mayor Mike Eveland, opposed the bill.
Every single member of Canton, Clyde and Waynesville’s boards opposed the bill, including Waynesville’s Julia Boyd Freeman, one of the few Republicans serving on any municipal governing board in the county.
Waynesville went so far as to pass its own resolution expressing formal opposition to the bill because local issues don’t always intersect with national party platforms.
Alderman Chuck Dickson famously said, “There’s not a Republican or Democratic way to fill a pothole.”
Pless’ 2022 partisan elections bill died in committee one day after it was filed due to some technical changes that weren’t made in time.
Undaunted, Pless hinted that his desire
for partisan elections would be revived in the future.
That’s exactly what happened on March 2 of this year, with at least one noteworthy change from his last attempt — the exclusion of Haywood’s school board, which since 2022 has become an 8-1 Republican majority.
Pless’ latest effort, H264, contains another change from his 2022 bill.
Pless represents Madison County as well as Haywood, so the current bill includes the municipalities of Hot Springs, Marshall and Mars Hill.
“The voters have a right to know the basic principles these folks stand behind,” Pless said when he filed the bill. “I’d be doing a huge disservice to the voters that put me in here if I didn’t do this.”
Mars Hill Mayor John L. Chandler told The Smoky Mountain News at the time that he was totally against it, and that he wasn’t sure if he’d continue to participate in elections if the bill was passed.
Abby Norton, Mayor of Hot Springs, indicated her opposition and raised an interesting consequence of partisan elections in her town.
“I work for the federal government,” she told The Smoky Mountain News on March 3. “Per the Hatch Act, I cannot run in a partisan election. Neither can any other federal employee.”
Norton, who said she was considering retirement, felt that the bill would force her to choose between remaining employed with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and running for mayor again. She thought it was also unfair to younger federal employees, like postal workers, who would effectively be barred from running for office so long as they remain in federal service.
Pless did, however, make one concession to Norton and the Town of Hot Springs in his new bill. Partisan elections would take place there beginning in 2025. In every other Haywood and Madison municipality, they’ll begin with this year’s municipal elections if the bill is passed.
That “if” is looking more like a “when.”
Pless’ newest bill started off slowly. Filed on March 2, it went to the House’s Local Government Committee, where it sat until it came up for a hearing on April 18. At that hearing, elected officials from Clyde, Maggie Valley and Waynesville turned up in person to oppose it.
Those officials included Maggie Valley Mayor Mike Eveland and Alderman John Hinton, Clyde Mayor Jim Trantham, and three members of the Waynesville Town Council, including Mayor Gary Caldwell and council members Jon Feichter and Anthony Sutton.
“At this time when town leaders are trying to bring people together with what’s hap-
pening at the paper mill, we have a representative who’s actively trying to divide us,” Sutton said. “He’s trying to separate us into different camps of ‘us’ and ‘them’ when it should be all ‘us,’ trying to solve the issues in our community.”
The Town of Waynesville didn’t issue a formal notice of the gathering per NCGS 143-318.10(d), even though a majority of the five-member Waynesville Town Council attended the meeting to transact public business, so Waynesville’s action was possibly a violation of open meetings law.
Nevertheless, Pless tabled the committee vote on the bill after the Haywood group lobbied some committee members to oppose it.
Pless told SMN that it was because several committee members were absent, and he wanted all of them to hear both sides of the issue.
On May 3 — crossover day — Pless pulled the bill from the Local Government Committee and had it moved to the House Rules Committee, where it was passed that afternoon.
Sutton thinks that happened because Pless knows exactly how long it takes to drive from Haywood County to Raleigh.
Early that evening, the bill passed its third reading on the House floor by a margin of 69-44, nearly on party lines. Four Democrats supported Pless’ bill, while 40 opposed it. Likewise, Four Republicans opposed Pless’ bill, while 65 supported it.
The visit from elected officials in Clyde, Maggie Valley and Waynesville may prove fateful in more ways than one, especially for Waynesville — the town has two huge asks before Pless, including help with a new fire truck and a new fire station.
“He has shown that he’s not above holding grudges,” Sutton said. “I would hope he’d be a better leader than that, so I would hope that he wouldn’t hold a grudge, but he has a track record of taking things personally.”
Pless said it’s not personal.
“As a legislator, when you would like me to help the local community, your intent should be to work together, and they have proven time and time again they do not have that intent,” Pless said on May 4. “So when I choose the priorities that I want funding for, I’m going to choose the people that are working with me. Currently, that is Canton and the county.”
SMN published an opinion piece from Pless on May 3, in which he said that partisan elections aren’t the most important concern faced by North Carolinians and that most people “walk into the polls and vote for people they know nothing about."
Pless’ bill, co-sponsored by fellow House Freedom Caucus member and former Haywood Rep. Mike Clampitt (R-Swain) along with HFC Chair Keith Kidwell (RBeaufort) isn’t the only one dealing with partisan elections on a city or county level.
Currently, there are at least 10 bills in the General Assembly proposing changes to how certain govern- F
ing boards are elected, with most pushing for partisan elections where there were none before. Almost all the bills are sponsored by Republicans and target school boards, including heavily Republican counties of Alexander, Henderson, McDowell, Mitchell and Pamlico, as well as the City of Hickory, in Republican-dominated Burke, Caldwell and Catawba counties.
There’s also been a legislative counteroffensive on partisan elections — the Demsponsored H68 seeks to reinstate nonpartisan elections for the state’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, superior courts and district courts, while the Republican-led H99 would change the election of the Board of Commissioners in heavily Democratic Wake County from partisan to nonpartisan.
Although Republicans hold solid vetoproof majorities in both the Senate and the House, the defections by members of both parties on Pless’ bill raise concern that on some of these bills, a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper just might stand.
However, like Pless’ Haywood partisan elections bill, all except for the judicial bill are local bills, meaning they won’t make a stop on Cooper’s desk.
Pless’ bill was referred to the Senate the same day it cleared the House.
It could be brought up in the Senate soon, but Pless said he wasn’t sure about the Senate’s timeline.
If it ends up passing, Haywood and Madison municipalities would be required to conduct partisan primaries. Per G.S. 163279, the partisan municipal Primary Elections would take place on Sept. 12.
Waynesville Town Manager Rob Hites said it would cost the town around $13,000 to conduct the partisan Primary Election necessitated by the bill’s passage.
In North Carolina, the winning candidate of a Primary Election must surpass the
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will reduce a short section of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville to one lane near the Interstate 26 bridge — milepost 392 — starting May 14.
A temporary signal, necessary for the safety of drivers and workers, will permit one direction of traffic to flow at a time through this 400-yard section just west of the interstate. Delays should be limited to less than 15 minutes, depending on traffic. Transportation officials anticipate this short, onelane closure to be in place for approximately two weeks.
Crews from Fluor-United will begin constructing a new section of the parkway in this area that will align the historic highway with the new
threshold of 30% of all votes cast in the contest. If that doesn’t happen, the top finishers would proceed to a second primary, sometimes called a runoff.
The second primary, where necessary, would be held on Oct. 11.
Instead of only four elections taking place this year in Haywood’s four municipalities, there could be eight if more candidates from any party with ballot access shows up than there are seats available.
If second primaries are required, that number could conceivably grow to 12 elections — a primary, a second primary and a general in Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley and Waynesville.
Each of the municipalities mentioned in Pless’ bill will hold elections on Nov. 7, whether the partisan elections bill passes or not.
The filing period for candidates starts at noon on Friday, July 7 and ends at noon on Friday, July 21.
All five of Waynesville’s council members, including the mayor, are up for reelection. Due to a recent change, the top two council candidates will receive four-year terms, while the next two finishers will win two-year terms in order to set up a staggered term system. After that, all council members will be elected to four-year terms, with two seats up every two years.
Two aldermen in Clyde are up for election, as is the mayor. Canton has two aldermanic seats up. Maggie Valley has four aldermanic seats up, along with the mayor. Three aldermen and the mayor in Hot Springs are up, along with two aldermen in Mars Hill, two aldermen in Marshall and the Marshall mayor.
Nancy Allen, Democratic mayor of Marshall, has not returned multiple messages left by The Smoky Mountain News, dating back to March.
bridge over the interstate. Contract crews have cleared the appropriate property and will begin detailed earthwork as one of the first operations.
NCDOT and National Park Service officials remind drivers to remain alert, slow down and obey all signs and temporary signals.
Daily road status information is available on the Blue Ridge Parkway website.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
nership and support,” said White.
The operating budget request for the 2023-24 fiscal year shows a $317,985 or 9.9% increase over the previous year for a total request of $3.5 million. Of that, more than $1.38 million will go toward employee salaries and benefits, up from $1.33 million the previous year. This section of the budget is increasing to keep up with anticipated state-mandated pay increases.
“We keep those increases in line for fairness across the faculty and staff and we would look forward to giving those should they be awarded by the state,” said White.
The money will also go toward increased security coverage to allow for two campus security officers on site at all times. This will ensure that if one security officer needs to leave to check on another of HCC’s campuses, the main campus will still be covered.
The largest increase in costs comes from maintenance, grounds, safety and other services required for the college.
“With so many things we’re seeing inflation right now and as those contracts are coming in for the coming year, we’re seeing increased service agreement costs. In addition to the new Health Sciences Education building,” said White.
Contracted services are also increasing; custodial services have gone up in price, in addition to having to cover the new health building.
Haywood Community College has long been a foundation of education and job training in the region; the college will celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2025.
But over the last several years, between the pandemic and the closing of the Canton paper mill, HCC has proven paramount to workforce success. In budgeting for the coming fiscal year, the college has requested an increase in funds from the county commission in order to continue that work.
“In considering these additional investments in education, it helps us to have the capacity to respond in times like these unexpected times that we’re in with the mill closure, continuing to be able to provide a strong workforce for our county and our region,” said Haywood Community College President Shelley White during a presentation to Haywood commissioners. “We’ve seen lives change, we’ve seen folks lifted out of poverty, we’ve seen generational change in having access to education. And we certainly want to continue to provide that.”
Since news broke in March of the impending closure of the Canton paper mill, the college has been hard at work providing job fairs, scholarships and training opportunities for those 1,000 plus mill employees that will be out of work by June. At a May 1 Haywood County Commission meeting, Haywood County Economic Development Director David Francis said White was the
second call he made after hearing about the mill closure because he knew how important the college would be for the fallout.
“HCC is a huge asset to our county and our region,” said Commissioner Tommy Long.
Over the past year, the college has been working to expand its workforce and industry training center, also known as the hightech center. Significant grants through the Department of Labor and the Golden Leaf Foundation have allowed for an increase in short term training at the facility.
The college recently launched a new carpentry construction program alongside plumbing and HVAC training programs at the high-tech center. Over the coming year, HCC has plans to transform the exterior of the location to be able to accommodate CDL truck driver training and electrical line worker training. According to White, HCC is working with Haywood EMC to create the electrical training program which, when finished, would be the only such program west of Caldwell of Cleveland counties.
“I can tell you anecdotally from folks that we’ve talked to with the mill closure, these are the programs they’re very interested in,” White told commissioners. “We were participating in the rapid response a couple weeks ago for about 120 of the mill workers who are going to be losing their jobs and many of them talked about interest in getting a CDL or adding to their machining certifications, picking up an HVAC certification, just rounding out the skill set to help them be more employable as they go on. So particularly these programs have been of interest to that crowd.”
Commissioner Long said he has seen a similar interest.
“Dr. White I have personally witnessed several people that have said they are very interested in these trade skills from being down there myself,” said Long. “I think your board of trustees have a good grasp on what’s needed, so thank you.”
At a meeting earlier this year, the Haywood County Commission approved $500,000 in ARPA funds for the college which will be used to help transform the high-tech center for the new training programs. HCC plans to go out to bid for the project this summer.
In addition to new training facilities at the high-tech center, Haywood Community College opened its new Health Sciences Education building to students this spring semester. The college has seen a 50% increase in nursing applications for the coming year and expects to have a very large cohort starting classes in the fall.
“Through the support of the county, the Haywood Healthcare Foundation, the state, the NC Connect Bond and private donors and grants that we’ve received, we have some state-of-the-art equipment within that facility that our students here in Haywood County will be able to benefit from,” said White.
The addition of the new building is, at least in part, responsible for the increased funding request from HCC to the county for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The college receives most of its funding from the state, but the county covers operations, capital needs, facilities, maintenance for grounds and safety and security on campus, or about a third of the overall operating budget.
“We know we couldn’t keep the doors open without support from the county, so we certainly continue to appreciate the part-
“This also includes the contracted service that we have with the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office to provide the armed resource officer on campus. The officer that is located there also support the Haywood County Early College,” said White.
HCC is also budgeting for increased utility costs. According to White, Duke Energy told the college to expect an increase of 17% in energy costs, on top of the addition of covering the new building which hosts an abundance of high-tech equipment. The school will also have an increase in insurance costs with the addition of the new building.
The community college is also requesting $474,500 from the quarter-cent sales tax revenue from the county. This money will be used for maintenance and grounds equipment, IT staff equipment and minor development projects across the main campus like covered transit shelters and roof repairs to the old millhouse.
Commissioners had only praise and thanks for White.
“Thank you, Dr. White, for the ray of hope that you guys have been especially during the mill closing; on scene right off the bat and very good at helping,” said Commissioner Brandon Rogers.
“The college is a cornerstone of the community, and we see that time and time again when opportunities like what you’re doing with the folks leaving the mill,” said Commissioner Jennifer Best. “I appreciate what the school does.”
Haywood Community College will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for its expanded trail system 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, June 2. The 1-mile wooded trail has been expanded to 3.5 miles of hiking trails throughout the forested areas of campus.
The new health sciences building is responsible for increased opportunities, and costs, at Haywood Community College.Hannah McLeod photo
Three Jackson County programs will receive funding from the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council to help reduce and prevent juvenile crime.
Last week, the Jackson County Commission approved a funding plan for those programs that will help them operate for another year. Kerri Tucker, executive assistant to the county manager, gave a presentation to the board May 2 that outlined funding for each of the three programs in Jackson County.
In North Carolina, the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention partners with Juvenile Crime Prevention Councils in each county to help support, fund and subsidize local programs and services. In Jackson County these programs include the youth shelter Hawthorn Heights, HIGHTS and the restorative justice services also offered through HIGHTS.
In total, the state has allocated $128,439 for juvenile crime prevention services in Jackson County. The required local match from the county is $54,920.
Most of that funding will go toward HIGHTS, an organization serving vulnerable youth and families in Western North Carolina. While HIGHTS offers an abundance of youth services, JCPC funding helps support the Inside Out, C.O.R.E and Compass programs. These programs help youth who are disengaged from school; offer community service and educational opportunities to youth who have been court ordered to perform community service; and provide recreational therapy combined with service and adventure projects.
HIGHTS will receive just under $75,000 from state funding, almost $15,000 of county matching funds and about $25,000 in in-kind county funding.
“They do a lot of important after school activities with kids,” said Tucker.
Separately, the restorative justice services offered by HIGHTS will receive just over $25,000 of state JCPC funds and about $5,000 in both county matching and in-kind funds.
The third county program, Hawthorn
Heights will receive $28,621 in JCPC state funds and a $5,724 county match.
Hawthorn Heights started in Jackson County in 1976 and was originally a home for girls located in Dillsboro. As it evolved, the program eventually moved to Bryson City where it grew to be a home for boys and girls. The home is still located in Bryson City but serves all seven westernmost counties in North Carolina.
“So far this year, we’ve served eight Jackson County youth,” said Hawthorn Heights executive director Kara Long in a presentation to the Jackson County Commission on May 2. “I will tell you, referrals are very high for our services. Last calendar year we received 277 referrals to place youth in our program that needed a safe and therapeutic place to go. We are only a nine-
bed facility, so accommodating that demand is very challenging, very tough; there is no way we can do that realistically.”
Today, Hawthorn Heights is a shelter for kids in need of a safe place to stay. The home is utilized by juvenile court counselors in Jackson County, as well as the six other westernmost counties. Youth usually get referred to Hawthorn Heights when they are entering the juvenile justice system for the first time.
“Maybe they are truant, maybe they have a substance use charge, they’re starting to dabble with some substance use issues, undisciplined or ungovernable behavior, running away, sneaking out at night, those types of things,” said Long. “Typically our service is used for a place for children to come into our care, get some wrap-around services and support for the family and
hopefully avoid them penetrating further into the juvenile justice system and ending up in detention.”
Hawthorn Heights partners with HIGHTS, referring youth there for substance use therapy. HIGHTS also offers outpatient therapy for children who need it that don’t already have access to a therapist.
“When we have a child in our care, we want to make sure that their health overall is cared for; we’re taking a look at everything,” said Long. “So often, children come in, they haven’t seen a dentist in several years, they haven’t been to a doctor, they may need eye glasses, so we’re taking them to medical appointments and therapy appointments and working with the schools to get them on track educationally. So our hope is to provide enough wrap-around services around that child and the family so that when they transition back home, they’re successful in the home.”
This year, Hawthorn Heights has provided 385 days of care for Jackson County youth, meaning 385 combined days in which youth are staying at the facility and being cared for.
According to County Manager Don Adams, the Hawthorn Heights and HIGHTS restorative justice services more than pay for themselves. The county recently received notice that rates for juvenile incarceration have gone up from $135 to $150 per day. When a juvenile from Jackson gets incarcerated, they are not kept in Jackson County’s facility, but the county has to pay the state to keep them in a juvenile facility. The money to pay for this comes out of the sheriff’s jail budget.
“I point that out because as far as diversion from actual incarceration, if we were just looking at the numbers themselves, those 380 days next year will represent over $50,000 of diversion, just diversion,” said Adams. “So obviously we want success rates and not coming back into the system, but the reality is financially, if you were to just look at the financial side of things, that diversion actually could pay for this entire program. More than this entire program.”
The county commission approved the funding plan unanimously.
In partnership with ApprenticeshipNC and Haywood Community College, Champion Credit Union announced the launch of a Business Associate apprenticeship program in the fall of 2023.
Graduating high school students selected for the apprenticeship will have the opportunity to “earn as they learn.” This program will provide recent high school graduates with a practical pathway to a career in banking.
Apprentices will earn pay and be mentored and trained onsite at Champion Credit Union branches across Western North Carolina. In addition to a career pathway, apprentices will
receive free tuition in their pursuit of a certificate, diploma or associate degree in approved educational tracts at Haywood Community College.
The start of the apprenticeship program directly aligns with the start of the fall semester at Haywood Community College, meaning those interested in the program can start the apprenticeship and their college classes simultaneously. Depending on the educational track selected, the Business Associate apprenticeship program combines 2,000 hours of practical on-the-job training with related classroom instruction at Haywood Community College.
Upon completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices will have completed either a certificate, diploma or associate degree and have the opportunity to continue employment with Champion Credit Union.
“We are thrilled to partner with Haywood Community College to offer a program like this in Haywood County,” says Jake Robinson, CEO of Champion Credit Union. “We need skilled workers now and into the future. This program creates an excellent talent pipeline for our organization, while also creating opportunities for recent high school graduates to stay local in an industry that offers significant growth opportu-
nities. For Champion Credit Union, the mission is to improve the communities we serve. A workforce development program like this allows us to continue pursuit of that mission.”
With registration currently open at Haywood Community College, new students can complete their college application now to get the classes they need for this career path. To start the college registration process or to learn more about Haywood Community College, visit haywood.edu.
To learn more about Champion Credit Union’s apprenticeship program, visit: championcu.com/apprenticeship-program.
Following her son’s death, a Haywood County mom is on a mission to get people to slow down and move over.
A first responder is struck every fourand-half days on the side of a highway in the United States. This can be due to distracted drivers, people driving too fast, intoxicated motorists or people simply being too lazy to get over. In Brooke Lawrence’s case, it was her son, Austin Gayne, a wrecker driver getting ready to tow a dump truck off the side of a busy Orlando highway. In her son’s memory and to raise awareness for the cause she’s been reluctantly compelled to adopt, next month she will host a car show in Asheville for the second straight year.
Lawrence and her family moved to Western North Carolina in 2000, and Austin was raised in Haywood County. The whole family was involved in the community, from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to sports to the Voices in the Laurel choir. Austin graduated from Central Haywood High School and earned an associate’s degree from Haywood Community College in 2017. Lawrence said wrecker operating had long been a family business before they moved from Florida to North Carolina, and Austin wanted to follow in those footsteps.
“He couldn’t get wreckers out of his blood,” she said. “He just loved the trucks.”
Austin set out on his own and headed to Orlando, a good distance from the beaches from which his family moved north a couple of decades prior. But he knew people in Orlando and knew the money would be better. Once he got there, he not only drove a wrecker; he drove a large one meant for the likes of RVs and 18-wheelers. Instead of hauling 15 cars a day, he’d maybe only make five trips, but each one took more time and skill. Along the way, he met the woman who would become his girlfriend, and the couple had two children.
Lawrence said her son was a great dad.
“He just loved being a father, and that breaks my heart,” she said.
On Feb. 1, 2021, the day Austin was hit, the weather in Orlando was clear and dry. He was dispatched to a straight, flat stretch of State Route 408 to tow a dump truck. There were a couple of community patrol officers and road rangers, along with lights, a signboard and road cones. The scene should have been easy to see for anyone driving by. Austin stood near the back of the wrecker with a mechanic when a 1996 Buick struck them both. While the mechanic suffered serious injuries to his leg, he avoided the worst of the impact.
“My son was thrown 30 feet up over the top of the big wrecker and came down the hood and then landed in front of the wrecker,” Lawrence said. “His one boot was behind the back wheel. And his other boot was 50 feet in front of the wrecker.”
The driver was sent to a hospital with minor injuries. Per Florida state law, the
only way he could have been held accountable for the collision would have been if it was intentional or he was intoxicated, but his blood alcohol content will never be known since no one ever collected a blood sample. Law enforcement never took the time to get a warrant.
When Lawrence got the news, she left Western North Carolina at about noon and started driving. She arrived in Orlando around 10:30 p.m. At three in the morning, with no doctors around, no one to answer questions, she was allowed in to see her son.
“He looked like a complete mummy,” she said. “All that was sticking out was his left foot.”
Lawrence would be at the hospital as much as she could, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. every day.
Austin had numerous broken bones and severe internal injuries, including head trauma. For the next 26 days, he’d be in a coma. Late in that timeline, his brain swelling worsened, and doctors prescribed him a strong course of antibiotics, so strong that his kidneys failed, and he ultimately had a heart attack. While he survived the heart attack, his brain was without oxygen for several minutes.
Lawrence made the choice she dreaded,
but it was the choice she knew was right. She took her son off life support.
“The doctors and the brain surgeon said he wasn’t going to get any better,” she said.
“It broke my heart that he couldn't tell anyone goodbye, that we didn't know if he could hear us tell him that we loved him and we were so sorry,” she added.
Austin was cremated. First came his funeral in Orlando, where Lawrence said over 300 wrecker drivers — with their wreckers — showed up to pay their respects.
“All those wreckers couldn’t fit in the parking lot,” she said. “And the funeral was standing room only.”
Austin’s memory in Florida is still preserved, as that state’s legislature designated that stretch of highway to his legacy, and a sign now marks it.
“I do all that stuff for his kids, because I want them to remember him,” she said.
After the funeral, Austin’s former employer, Johnston’s Wrecker Service, drove his ashes — in the wrecker he’d operated — to Haywood County. Once they got the state line, wreckers from all over Western North Carolina were ready and waiting to bring Austin home. Just a few miles into Haywood County, at the overpass on I-40 near Exit 33,
wreckers parked with their beds down, a sort of salute for one of their own. Coming around Lake Junaluska, fire trucks and rotators had flags raised, and the NCDOT had a sign board lit to read “Austin’s escort.” Austin’s friends and family stood on the Lake Junaluska bridge and released yellow and black balloons as they held signs that said “Welcome Home Austin.”
Since her son’s death, Lawrence has become an outspoken advocate for the “Slow Down, Move Over” movement. North Carolina has a SDMO law, but Lawrence said too few people follow it.
Along with starting #AustinStrong SDMO awareness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, she has also gotten an impressive number of structures and bridges, from the Sunshine Bridge in Tampa Bay to Charlotte’s NASCAR Hall of Fame, to light up yellow in honor of her son and in recognition of the SDMO movement.
On Feb. 26 of this year, Lawrence and folks from about 75 different towing companies, along with county commissioners, Haywood County Sheriff Bill Wilke and firefighters from multiple departments, sat along Service Road in Canton beside the interstate with their emergency lights on for about 30 minutes to remind people to slow down and move over. Lawrence said it’s tough to put so much time and effort toward the cause, but she also can’t imagine anything else.
“You have to put that energy somewhere,” she said.
Next month, for the second year in a row, Lawrence is hosting a car show at the Asheville Outlet malls to raise awareness for SDMO. She said
Avery Pittman, a first-year entrepreneurship and interior design major from Startown, won first place in the Western Carolina University College of Business Pitch Competition.
“Before moving in, I tried to use a 3D room design app to input the measurements of my dorm and see the design of the room that way. However, when I attempted to do that, I realized the dimensions listed on the residential living website didn’t provide enough information for me to fully do that,” Pittman said. “I brought too much stuff and had to cram it all in. I thought, ‘Why not make something where students can see a preset of the dorm they’ll be staying in?’ It could include a 3D model where they can add items to the room like a TV, couch, microwave, along with the bed and wardrobe that already comes with the room. Before they move in, they can see a 3D model and add items, customize it and get an idea of what they should bring.”
Pittman soon found out he was not alone in his frustrations.
“I’ve talked to a lot of students who said they either completely over packed or brought the bare minimum and were calling their parents to bring them stuff,” he said.
Wendy Cagle, assistant professor in the College of Business, offered a pitch competition to her introductory entrepreneurship class and Pittman knew he needed to follow through on his idea.
Pittman credits Cagle and his project mentor professor Robert Lahm with providing him the necessary skills to create a successful pitch.
“Going into it, I really didn’t know anything,” Pittman said. “With the help of my mentors and the class, I was able to figure everything out and learn as I went. I learned a lot in my entrepreneurship class that I was able to immediately apply to my pitch idea. Rather than just listening to a lecture, I was able to apply what I was learning hands-on.”
In the WCU competition, Pittman competed against six other pitches in front of three judges. “Whenever they were announcing the winners for the Western competition, I just remember looking at my watch and realizing my heart rate was like 164. It was definitely nerve-racking,” he said.
Pittman wowed judges with an idea for 3D virtual dorm room tours for incoming freshmen.
He also competed in the Southern Conference Pitch Competition at Mercer
last year’s event was a hit, with 50 cars showing up from all over the region and even as far away as New Hampshire. This year, there will be a DJ, cloggers, face painting and food trucks, and Lawrence said it will be attended by representatives from multiple fire departments, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Asheville Police Department and Sheriff Wilke.
A South Carolina man who used social media to groom then entice an underage teen to meet him in both Franklin and Cherokee recently pleaded guilty to statutory rape, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch said.
Jonathan A. Wyles, 34, of Lancaster, South Carolina, had sexual intercourse three times in December 2021 with the then 15 year old.
Statutory rape applies to a defendant who is at least six years older than a 13, 14 or 15 year old.
Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Bill Coward sentenced Wyles to serve in prison a minimum of 240 months up to a maximum of 348 months.
“This situation serves as a cautionary tale for parents or guardians,” Welch said. “The defendant preyed on this child after targeting her for exploitation in a teen hangout.”
The victim’s mother reported to Franklin police that her child had been sexually
assaulted after the mother discovered incriminating messages on a phone.
Earlier that same month, Wyles had devised a plan for the teenager to tell her mother that she would be staying with a friend, but instead she met with him.
Franklin Police Department Sgt. Justin Norman investigated the case with assistance from Cherokee Police Department. Assistant District Attorney John Hindsman Jr. prosecuted the defendant.
The Town of Waynesville Historic Preservation Commission will host a pair of public meetings to discuss the preparation of a preservation plan for Main Street and Frog Level.
University. At the SoCon competition, Pittman had to present in front of eight judges. Both pitch competitions have been a learning experience for Pittman.
“I’m not very far in either of my majors yet,” Pittman said. “I think this opportunity really helped me envision what I want to do in the future. I’ve always had an artistic eye ever since I was little. This whole process has confirmed for me that this is what I want to do and I’m on the right track.”
Pittman wants to continue working on bringing his pitch idea to life.
“I want to take the app that I won the competition with to the next stage. I’ve talked to the Residential Living team, professors in the College of Business, my mentors, interior design professors, and I’m trying to get the app developed with computer science students that may want to collaborate,” he said. “I’m excited about furthering this idea and then coming up with other ideas I can pitch in the future.”
Pittman urges other students to make use of the resources WCU offers in the College of Business. “If any students have an idea or a simple pitch for a business, even if they're not a business major, they can reach out to any of the professors in the College of Business and they would be willing to help,” he said. “That’s something that’s been inspiring to me, their willingness to help out students.”
When asked what she’d want to tell readers, Lawrence offered a simple message.
“People just don’t have any idea how many lives are affected by a one-second distraction,” she said. “Please pay attention when driving, and slow down and move over for flashing lights.”
The car show at the Asheville Outlets will kick off at noon on Saturday, June 3.
The plan is the first step toward ensuring these unique historic areas are saved and preserved for generations to come.
The public is invited to attend to learn more about the importance of protecting historic resources and also to provide input.
The first meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on May 11 at Waynesville’s Town Hall boardroom at 9 South Main St.
For additional information, contact Byron Hickox at 828.452.0401.
Upholding a veto from Principal Chief Richard Sneed, on May 4 the Cherokee Tribal Council reversed an April decision that allocated $64 million to the tribe’s medical cannabis business. In his veto letter, Sneed expressed concern that the funding decision could jeopardize the tribe’s casino business and called for a “full accounting” of the $31 million already provided before giving the enterprise more money.
The business, Qualla Enterprises, asked Council for $63 million in December 2022, but concern about potential repercussions from the National Indian Gaming Commission, which forbids use of gaming dollars to fund cannabis operations, caused Council to appropriate only the $10 million it could identify from funds not tied to gambling proceeds. Over the following months, Qualla Enterprises and Tribal Council went back and forth about how to gather the rest of the funding.
On April 6, Tribal Council approved an additional $64 million, ostensibly marking an end to months of uncertainty for the LLC. The money was to come from the tribe’s investment accounts and its general fund. Attorney Darian Stanford of Sovereign Solutions Carolina, which Qualla Enterprises had contracted to work on the project, said this was consistent with the sources for the $31 million the tribe had already allocated. If they didn’t approve the request, several Tribal Council members said, the business would crumble, and they would lose the $31 million they had already invested.
Sneed was not present during the April 6 vote, but in previous Council meetings, he had repeatedly argued against funding Qualla Enterprises with money derived from gaming revenues. The tribe’s extremely lucrative casinos in Cherokee and Murphy operate under the National Indian Gaming Commission, which has released a memo stating that, because cultivation, sale and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law, gaming revenue “should not be used to finance
such an operation.” According to a legal opinion from the tribe’s outside legal counsel, Sneed wrote, gaming revenue doesn’t lose its origin or character just because those funds have been placed into a recipient’s bank account.
“While it remains to be seen what action the NIGC might take in response to a tribe using net gaming revenue for such an enterprise, I for one am not willing to risk hefty fines or the possibility of our casinos being shut down for violating NIGC regulations,” Sneed wrote.
After “careful research of the existing statutes and ordinances regarding the use of distributable net gaming revenues,” the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise came to the same conclusion, according to a letter it wrote to Sneed.
Sneed also argued against giving Qualla Enterprises any money at all until a “full accounting” could be made of funds delivered thus far.
“While I fully support cannabis, both medical and adult use, and I am encouraged and inspired by the work I see happening at Cooper’s Creek by our employees, I am very troubled by the lack of accountability for the managing of the business side of the operation,” Sneed wrote.
During the April 6 meeting, Finance Director Brandi Claxton asked whether Qualla Enterprises had completed its annual audit, to which the LLC’s Board Chair Carolyn West said that the business had contracted with an auditing firm, which was in the process of gathering information, but that there was no set date for the audit to be complete.
When Claxton said that tribal law requires the tribe’s “component units” to be rolled into its audit — and that units that don’t submit an audit by May 15 are not eligible for tribal funding until they meet that requirement — West pushed back on the definition of “component unit.” The category applies only to entities that receive federal funding, she said, which Qualla Enterprises does not, excluding it from the requirement.
Claxton disagreed with that assessment. According to a letter the Finance Department sent to Qualla Enterprises and tribal leaders, after reviewing the matter so did Baker Tilly, the tribe’s current auditor. Both the Finance Department and Baker Tilly agree that Qualla Enterprises is a component unit, the letter says.
When originally discussed, Sneed wrote, the combined project cost for outdoor grow, indoor grow and dispensary facilities was estimated at $50 million, but now the requested
total is $95 million — an increase of nearly 100% from original projections.
In his letter, Sneed pointed specifically to the request for proposals under which Sovereign Solutions Carolina was hired. The RFP was for construction of NextGen Glass greenhouses, Sneed wrote, but instead, hoop houses covered in plastic have been built at the site on Cooper’s Creek, projected to cost $66,000 each.
The majority of Tribal Council was convinced by Sneed’s arguments. Of the seven members of Tribal Council who voted in favor of the funding April 6, only three voted to overturn Sneed’s veto — Chairman Richard French, Vice Chairman Albert Rose and Yellowhill Rep. T.W. Saunooke, with Big Cove Rep. Teresa McCoy absent from the vote. The remaining members voted to uphold the veto.
During the same session, Tribal Council upheld a second cannabis-related veto. On April 6, the body passed an ordinance changing a prohibition against on-site cannabis consumption at “medical cannabis establishment[s].” The change would allow employees to consume cannabis on site “for the purposes of quality control.” The legislation accompanying the ordinance change said quality control sampling was “a vital function which ensures public trust in the cannabis industry” and is a “broadly accepted practice” that ensures the best quality products and consumer safety.
Sneed issued the veto “not because of its subject matter but because it is not in accord with the regulatory system the tribe has established to regulate cannabis consumption,” he wrote in his veto letter. Tribal law and administrative rules state that only someone with a medical cannabis card from the Cannabis Control Board can consume medical marijuana, the only type of marijuana consumption now legal under tribal law.
“Employee sampling for quality control purposes should not be made into an exception to this requirement,” he wrote.
Of the 11 members present, seven voted to uphold Sneed’s veto. French, Rose and Saunooke voted to override it, with McCoy absent. When the ordinance was voted on in April, it passed 9-2, with Sneed and Yellowhill Rep. David Wolfe opposed and Snowbird/Cherokee County Rep. Adam Wachacha absent.
It remains to be seen how the funding veto will affect the future for Qualla Enterprises, which has already begun growing cannabis and had planned to start retail operations this year. During the reports and announcements portion of the agenda at the end of the day, Birdtown Rep. Boyd Owle assured tribal members that Tribal Council would fund the enterprise in increments as non-gaming money became available, and that Qualla Enterprises employees’ jobs were safe.
“Nobody’s going to lose their job. We’ll get the money to them, and we’ll keep it sustained,” he said. “We hope it’s going to be productive for our people there. I just didn’t want to use gaming money for that.”
Qualla Enterprises General Manager Forrest Parker was not present for the May 4 Council meeting, but in previous discussions with Council he has said that the need for funding is urgent. During the Jan. 12 Tribal Council meeting, Parker said that Qualla Enterprises had operating funds to continue only through June 30, at which point it would need to start generating revenue to sustain payroll and production. Qualla Enterprises is “undercapitalized” Parker said April 6, hampering its ability to move forward strategically.
“We just want to get the infrastructure we need to grow the product we need, because if we don’t, we’re dead fish in the water,” he said at that meeting.
Qualla Enterprise is preparing a full statement addressing the veto, said Qualla Enterprises Executive Assistant Kara Howard. The statement had not been published as of press time.
The fourth annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relative Walk and Vigil held in Cherokee Friday, May 5, aimed to do more than raise awareness for the ongoing epidemic of violence against indigenous people, especially women and girls — it was a call to action.
“This day created for awareness also creates a fire for action,” Marsha Jackson, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Domestic Violence Program Manager, told the crowd gathered in front of the Tribal Council House. “A call for action from our community to not rest. The healing has begun and the answers that we need to move forward are made available. That is a segue way for our community to not allow any new cases to ever happen again.”
Change starts when individuals begin to participate and demand a safe community, she said, and continues as that mantle is taken up by tribal nations across the world.
In Native American communities across the country, violence is a fact of life.
According to a 2016 National Institute of Justice Research Report, more than four in five Native American women have experienced violence in their lifetime, over half have experienced sexual violence and the majority have been victims of physical violence at the hands of intimate partners.
Native women are 1.7 times more likely than White women to have experienced violence in the past year. In some counties, they face murder rates more than 10 times the national average.
Many factors contribute — generational
trauma fueling unhealthy behaviors that culminate in violence and abuse, a culture of silence among victims and witnesses, and monumental challenges in prosecuting cases involving a Native victim and a non-Native perpetrator.
Tribes are making headway against these challenges. Since 2017, May 5 has been recognized as a National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, bringing increased visibility to the issues and encouraging tribal members to stand up against abuse when they see it. Meanwhile, provisions in the 2013 and 2022 renewals of the federal Violence Against Women Act have increased tribes’ authority to prosecute non-enrolled people who perpetrate violence on tribal members.
But that’s far from enough to solve the problem.
“This crisis is rooted in racism and poverty and historical trauma,” said Principal Chief Richard Sneed. “But it is also directly related to a tribe’s inability to properly investigate and prosecute these crimes when they’re committed by non-Indians against Indians. Advocates like each and every one of you here today, along with activists from around the country, have been calling for action to address this crisis, including better data collection, increased resources for law enforcement and improved support services for indigenous women and girls.”
The walk, organized by the Qualla Boundary Chapter of the MMIW N.C. Coalition, began at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and from there the crowd, mostly dressed in symbolic red and carrying signs honoring their loved ones, walked
toward the Tribal Council House. At even intervals on the fence encircling the fairgrounds between the two buildings hung wooden, red-painted signs, each bearing the name of a woman or girl on the list. As the walk’s leaders approached each sign, they stopped, called out the name, and waited for the crowd to follow suit.
May 5 as well.
Another name will also be added — that of 16-year-old Ruby Sky Montelongo, who lived in Covelo, California. According to local news coverage, her uncle found her body April 15 in an empty field after she failed to return home that night. A 15-yearold girl has been arrested in connection with the death.
Ruby Sky Montelongo’s cousin Lou Montelongo tearfully told her story from the Council House steps. Violence runs rampant in Covelo, Lou Montelongo said — in the community of 1,500 people, her cousin’s murder wasn’t the first to happen even within the month.
“Just being there and seeing it, it made me realize so much of the violence that we face oftentimes comes from one another, because of the pain that we feel and the anger that we feel, when in reality, we’re not mad at each other,” Lou Montelongo said. “We’re just mad at the circumstances of our lives that led us here.”
Those left behind continue to bear that pain — the pain not only of their loved one’s absence, but of its impact on others.
Last year, the event honored the names of 31 missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. This year, that list holds 36 names. Two men — Kobe Toineeta and Robert Clayton Calhoun — were honored
“She was taken way too soon, her and a little 5-year-old child, which was my other grandchild,” said Myra Calhoun, who is raising three grandchildren after her daughter Jessica “Jet” Calhoun and granddaughter AhYo-Ka Calhoun died in a car crash in 2021. “I’m just trying to make it day by day, doing the best I can to raise her three children that she left behind. This was an unnecessary act. It should have never happened.”
Despite the palpable pain at the gathering, there was hope as well.
“There’s no limit to what we can accomplish when we become organized, commit to community education, work together and take care of each other. That is gadugi,” said Atsei Cooper, assistant registrar for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, referring to a Cherokee word meaning “working together.”
We Are Resilient, a podcast started by three Cherokee women in 2021 to tell the stories of indigenous women lost to violence, also recognized the Day of Awareness with a call to action. In a mini episode retelling the story of Marie Pheasant Walkingstick, whose body was found in a burned-out vehicle in 2013, the hosts asked listeners to consider writing a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, demanding renewed focus on Walkingstick’s case. The Cherokee Indian Police Department is offer-
ing a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Walkingstick’s killer. In a 2022 interview, then-Police Chief Josh Taylor said he believed there are people in the community who know who is responsible but are choosing to stay silent.
But even killers who never face prosecution still bear consequences, said a woman who introduced herself to the crowd as Janice and said her sister was murdered 23 years ago. People who commit violence
against others have to live with themselves, and with the knowledge of what they’ve done. Meanwhile, those left behind have to go on living without their loved ones there beside them.
“As time goes on, it’s lighter, but the weight never leaves,” she said. “So I came here today to console and to be consoled with all of you. But we cannot hold the anger. And we cannot keep holding on to the grief. We’ve got to step back into life, and to live fully. They would want us to.”
We have lots of great gifts!A marcher’s sign demands justice for Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, who died in 2013 (left). Myra Calhoun tells how the 2021 death of her daughter and granddaughter has impacted their family (center). The walk drew marchers from across the Qualla Boundary and beyond (right). Holly Kays photos
More than six months after beloved Swain County educator was shot and killed at his motel in Cherokee, District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch has announced that the South Carolina resident who pulled the trigger will not face criminal charges. The man fired in self-defense after Wilson brandished a handgun, the investigation found.
According to Welch’s office, the man, 60year-old Leo Preuss, and his wife cooperated with officers, including the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation agents who arrived to process the crime scene. They agreed to interviews, provided blood samples and fingerprints, and consented to personal searches and to a search of their car.
The couple’s blood samples revealed no evidence of alcohol or narcotics, while a toxicology report showed that Lambert had a blood alcohol content of 0.17.
The shooting occurred Oct. 20, 2022, after an argument in the motel between Lambert and the couple. In a 911 call placed minutes prior to the shooting, Preuss’s wife tells dispatch that Lambert had just attacked her husband. Then, she says that Lambert has come outside and is pointing a gun at her. The gunshots from Preuss’s weapon follow that statement, leaving Lambert dead on the sidewalk of the El Camino Motel.
“Although we will never know exactly what occurred that night, after meeting numerous times with the district attorney and Cherokee Indian Police, we understand why the decision not to charge was reached,” Lambert’s family members said in a prepared statement. “We have suffered a tremendous loss that the family and this community will never recover from.”
Welch praised CIPD officers for conducting a thorough and complete investigation, singling out the work of Det. Jesse Aiken, who led the effort.
Upon passage of a bill by the North Carolina General Assembly, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles announced changes to the graduated driver licensing (GDL) program for teens.
Effective May 8, teen drivers need to have their Level 1 Limited Learner Permit for six months before being able to get their Level 2 Limited Provisional License. Teen drivers are still required to: be at least 16 years old, log 60 hours of driving time, pass a road test and show printed proof of insurance in the teen driver’s name.
The requirement to advance to Level 2 had been 12 months for most of the last 25 years since the GDL system was put into place in 1997. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the legislature temporarily shortened this requirement to six months. That provision lapsed at the end of 2022, leaving thou-
“The District Attorney’s Office and Cherokee Indian Police must follow the law and evidence as dictated under North Carolina’s stand-your-ground law,” Welch said. “Based on the evidence and witness accounts, we determined Mr. Preuss was legally justified in using deadly force.”
Wilson, 68, was a Swain County native who began his career in 1975 as a teacher at Almond School and was a principal, first at Whittier School and then at East Elementary School, from 1980 to 2006. After his retirement he served on the Swain County Board of Education from 2008 to 2020 and was serving his 13th year on the Southwestern
Community College Board of Trustees — and his third year as chairman — at the time of his death. He was also a board member for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Lambert owned and operated the Drama Inn and El Camino Motel, and in October 2021 he opened Queen House Gallery in Cherokee to encourage young Native American artists and feature renowned artists.
“This tragic event has resulted in the community losing a beloved and well-respected person in Mr. Wilson,” Welch said. “Our sincere condolences go out to his family.”
sands of teen drivers and their families in limbo.
According to the new legislation, this sixmonth provision will again lapse at the end of the year. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the provision will permanently change to nine months.
Another change to the GDL system will allow Level 2 permit holders to be able to drive one passenger under 21 that is not a family member, if they are being driven directly to or from school. This is in addition to the existing provision allowing one passenger under 21 that is a family member.
As a reminder, NCDMV schedule changes went into effect on May 1. After noon, all customer services statewide are now provided on a walk-in basis. Appointments are only available in the morning through the 11 a.m. hour and can be booked at skiptheline.ncdot.gov.
Road tests, which a teen driver must successfully pass to achieve a Level 2 permit, are not available after 4 p.m.
Five candidates are running for a term representing Birdtown on Tribal Council for the next two years.
These two seats are some of the four most powerful on Tribal Council — in the weighted vote used to determine legislative outcomes, Birdtown and Wolfetown representatives’ votes count for 12, while other members’ votes count for only six or seven in the final tally.
The race’s incumbents are Albert Rose, who is seeking his sixth term and currently serves as vice chairman, and Boyd Owle, who is running for his fourth term.
Among the challengers is Jim Owle, brother to Boyd Owle — the second pair of brothers on the ballot this May. In the Wolfetown Tribal Council race, Bo and Peanut Crowe are both seeking a seat. Jim Owle appeared in the 2019 General Election for vice chief but lost to Alan “B” Ensley. The following year, a narrow vote of Tribal Council removed Owle from the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise Board — on which he had sat since 2014 and chaired at the time — due to issues surrounding cost escalation and documentation with the convention center project at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino.
Cyndi Lambert, who finished third in a 2019 General Election bid for Tribal Council, will be the first name listed on the ballot. Lambert owns multiple businesses in Cherokee but is perhaps best known as the wife of Patrick Lambert, who was elected principal chief in a landslide 2015 election but impeached two years later. Tribal Council found Lambert guilty on eight of 12 charges relating to contracting and violating tribal procedures, among others, but both the process and results were controversial among tribal members. Council members who supported impeachment struggled in that year’s election.
Rounding out the ballot is Joi Owle, by far the youngest of the candidates. This is her first time seeking elected office.
During the Primary Election Thursday, June 1, the top four vote-getters will go on to campaign in the General Election Thursday, Sept. 7, seeking one of two spots for the next two-year term beginning Monday, Oct. 2. These seats are just two of 12 Tribal Council seats on the ballot this year, with voters to select two representatives for each of six townships. Painttown, Wolfetown, Birdtown and Yellowhill all have enough candidates to warrant a primary race.
Rose and Lambert both responded to a Smoky Mountain News questionnaire asking for the experience, qualifications and political priorities they believe should persuade voters to mark their name on the ballot. Information about remaining candidates was compiled from various sources, including previous reporting from SMN, the tribal website and social media.
Cherokee voters have until May 15 to request an absentee ballot. Voter registration
is closed for the Primary Election but still open for the General Election in September. The EBCI Board of Elections is located in the Ginger Lynn Welch Complex at 808 Acquoni Road and available at 828.359.6361 or 828.359.6362.
Rose, 51, is serving his fifth term representing Birdtown on Tribal Council.
Prior to winning his first term on Tribal Council in 2013, Rose had retired from a 20year career with UPS. After retirement in 2006, he started his own contracting firm and received a General Contractor License in both heavy highway and commercial building. In 2019, he was certified as a minority-owned, disadvantaged and small business enterprise, and qualified for the Small Business Administration’s HUBZone program to fuel growth in historically underutilized business zones. Rose attends compliance and regulatory training and visits with government representatives to further understand the intricacies of the construction process and construction law.
Owle broke to the top of a pack of eight vice chief candidates in the 2019 race to face current Vice Chief Alan “B” Ensley in the General Election.
He served on the Tribal Casino Gaming Enterprise, the tribe’s gaming regulatory authority, from 2014 until 2020. At that time, he was the board’s chairman.
Lambert has been in private business for 28 years and has started multiple businesses from the ground up. She began her career working as a front office clerk for the EBCI Finance Department 1993-1997, part of the team primarily responsible for getting the first per capita distribution out to tribal members in 1995.
This would be Lambert’s first term in elected office, and she believes that “it is time for new and reasoned voices to speak up and be heard.” Her top priority would be to bring her experience and philosophy in making sound financial decisions for her businesses to bear for the tribe. Lambert wants to see the tribe invest in town and local infrastructure to bring modernization and new developments to Cherokee, and to use its resources to bring more services and opportunities to the Cherokee people.
If re-elected, his top priority would be defending Cherokee identity and heritage by continuing to pressure the U.S. Department of Interior and other agencies to resist recognizing organizations falsely claiming to be tribal nations — a category that Rose believes includes the Lumbee — and to recognize tribal sovereignty. Rose will also seek to strengthen tribal assets and investments by holding investment entities accountable and ensuring promises are delivered, and to encourage development of business incubators and further access for capital for local businesses.
Owle is seeking her first term in office. In a 2019 Facebook post, Principal Chief Richard Sneed welcomed her as a new receptionist for the Office of the Principal Chief and said she was expected to graduate from Western Carolina University that fall with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry.
In a Facebook post on her page, Owle said that it was “super important” for her to “be involved and give back to the amazing community that raised me.” A campaign ad uses the slogan “securing our future” and promises honesty, accountability and caring for elders and children.
Owle has represented Birdtown on Tribal Council continuously since 2017. He graduated from Cherokee High School, and at the age of 47 he enrolled in Montreat College, receiving an associate degree in 2004. From there he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2006 and a Master of Science in management and leadership in 2009. Prior to serving on Council, Owle worked at the Cherokee Boys Club for more than 20 years, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino for 12 years, and as tribal sanitation manager for eight years.
As a member of Tribal Council, he is assigned to the Health Board, HIP Committee, Qualla Parks and Rec, Planning Board, Social Services and Lands Committee.
This year, Cherokee voters will choose a principal chief, vice chief, 12 Tribal Council seats and three School Board seats, but not all these races attracted enough candidates to warrant a primary race. The following candidates will run in the Primary Election June 1 for principal chief, Painttown School Board and Tribal Council representing Painttown, Wolfetown, Birdtown and Yellowhill.
Principal Chief
• Michell Hicks
• Gene Crowe Jr.
• Robert Saunooke
• Richard Sneed
• Lori Taylor
• Gary Ledford
Birdtown
• Cyndi Lambert
• Albert Rose
• Joi Owle
• Boyd Owle
• Jim Owle
Painttown
• Sean “Michael” Stamper
• Andre Brown
• Dike Sneed
• Jeff Thompson
• Richard Delano Huskey
• Carolyn West
Yellowhill
• T.W. Saunooke
• David Wolfe
• Stephanie Saunooke French
• Tom Wahnetah
• Ernest Tiger
Wolftown/Big Y
• Bo Crowe
• Andrew Oocumma
• Qiana Powell
• Chelsea Taylor
• Mike Parker
• Peanut Crowe
School Board Painttown
• Regina Rosario
• Micah Swimmer
• Keyonna Hornbuckle
It’s been a little over a year since a draft of the Dobbs v. Jackson ruling was leaked, and a little under a year since the ruling was issued, overturning Roe v. Wade. Now, North Carolina’s Republican-dominated General Assembly will finally have its abortion bill — if they can get past Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s promised veto.
“The governor said he was going to wait until the 10th day to veto it, but that’s fine,” said Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon. “We will probably try to override the veto sometime after that.”
On May 3, the North Carolina House passed S20, 71-46, on a strictly party-line vote.
The next day, the Senate passed it 29-20, again on a strictly party line vote.
The bill reduces the number of weeks into pregnancy women can have an abortion in the state.
Prior to the Dobbs ruling on June 24, 2022, abortions in North Carolina could be performed up to the viability date of the fetus, usually considered to be between 24 and 26 weeks. Once Dobbs kicked the issue back to the states, U.S. District Judge William Osteen reinstated a North Carolina law limiting abortions to 20 weeks.
Last December, House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate President Pro Temp Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said they’d pursue changes to that law.
As this year’s legislative session got underway in January, Western North Carolina legislators weighed in on what they wanted and what they expected might happen — two very different things, based largely on the partisan dynamics of the General Assembly.
Haywood Republican Rep. Mark Pless said he thought a heartbeat bill would be introduced, while Macon Republican Karl Gillespie said he hoped it would. Mike Clampitt, a Swain County Republican wouldn’t divulge exactly what he wanted, definitively came down on the pro-life side of the issue, saying he hoped any bill would benefit the life of the infant.
Corbin, the newly appointed chair of the Senate’s Health Care Committee and eventual sponsor of S20, said he favored restrictions and wanted to see some bipartisanship in any bill that would end up on his desk.
Buncombe County Democratic reps Eric Ager, Lindsey Prather and Caleb Rudow all supported preserving the 20-week limit, with Prather saying that it would be “especially crucial” that Democrats stick together.
vetoes a bill, members of the General Assembly can override the veto with a threefifths majority.
Republicans ended up one seat short of that number, meaning at least one
abortion, North Carolina became a destination for women who couldn’t get the procedure in their own states.
Assuming all Democrats and all Republicans stick to their party positions,
Now, it’s even more crucial for Democrats. After the 2022 elections, Republicans came tantalizingly close to having a veto-proof majority in the General Assembly. When North Carolina’s governor
Democrat would have to break ranks and vote with Republicans against the veto to make that happen.
But that all changed when five-term Mecklenburg County Rep. Tricia Cotham, re-elected as a Democrat in 2022 with 59.1% of the vote in a district that’s 59.6% Democratic, switched parties on April 5.
Cotham’s party switch is particularly hypocritical since she promised to protect abortion rights during her most recent campaign and was once co-sponsor on a bill expanding those rights, according to WRAL.
Democrats called on Cotham to resign, or at the very least, to keep her promises to the voters that elected her five months ago.
As passed by the House and Senate, the bill imposes a 12-week limit on abortions, but preserves the 20-week limit in cases of rape or incest. A 24-week limit remains when a qualified physician identifies a lifethreatening anomaly.
Cooper, who’s warned against changes to the state’s 20-week abortion limit, has vowed to veto what he calls an “awful” bill.
“They say this is a reasonable 12-week ban,” Cooper said. “It’s not. The fine print requirements and restrictions will shut down clinics and make abortion completely unavailable to many women at any time, causing desperation and death.”
Explaining his position, Cooper said that the bill would effectively ban medication abortion at 10 weeks, and that it requires three separate in-person visits to clinics. Those three visits would make it even more expensive for women seeking the procedure, including time off work and travel expenses.
However, they’d also likely impact “abortion tourism.” As one of the last states in the South to impose post-Dobbs restrictions on
Cooper’s veto probably won’t stick.
Corbin said the bill was a compromise in that the far right and the far left both want-
ed to pull the issue to extremes. He’s not too worried about defections in his caucus on the veto override, because they did a lot of work on the front end to ensure they crafted a bill that would satisfy conservatives.
“I think I speak for the Senate when I say we feel that 12 weeks was a good place to come down,” he said.
Cooper is now openly courting potential Republican defectors.
“We only need one Republican in either the House or Senate to help sustain the veto of this dangerous abortion ban,” Cooper tweeted on May 4. “Ted Davis, Michael Lee, John Bradford and Tricia Cotham promised to protect women’s reproductive freedom. There’s still time for them to keep their promises.”
Prather said she’s following the approach of Cooper by telling constituents to contact one of the four legislators he named in his tweet, because they’d stated in the past that they were not interested in furthering abortion restrictions.
Davis, a New Hanover County rep, could be the most likely Republican legislator to avoid voting on the veto override, according to Prather.
Despite casting votes on 50 other issues on May 3, Davis “took a walk” on S20 — legislative parlance for avoiding a vote. General Assembly records list him as an “excused absence” in the bill’s vote tallies.
Tickets are $100 each. Only 225 tickets will be sold. Also, several consolation prizes to be drawn.
Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner, and that means it’s almost time for summer days at Lake Junaluska’s lakeside pool, guided cruises aboard the Cherokee IV and launching kayaks, canoes and paddleboards from the shore.
Opening day for Lake Junaluska Outfitters is May 26, and season activity passes that include admission to the pool and other perks all summer through Labor Day are now available for purchase.
Pool hours are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting. The pool is operated by Lake Junaluska Outfitters, which also offers kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals as well as equipment rentals for minigolf, tennis, pickleball, shuffleboard and cornhole.
Guided lake cruises aboard the historic Cherokee IV pontoon boat also begin May 26, with excursions between 1 and 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, weather permitting.
Hotel and campground guests staying at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center receive complimentary access to the pool, while day visitors will need to purchase a Daily Activity Pass or Summer Activity Pass to use the pool. Daily Activity Passes include allday admittance to the pool, a round of mini-golf and an hour of cornhole or shuffleboard. The cost is $10 per person per day, with group pricing of $5 per person for each person after 10 people. Passes will be available at the Lake Junaluska Outfitters window near the pool beginning May 26.
In addition to granting admission to the pool all summer, Summer Activity Passes also provide a 10% discount at The Terrace Hotel and Lambuth Inn dining rooms, 10% discount at Junaluska Gifts & Grounds, $5 discount on a round of golf with cart at the Lake Junaluska Golf Course, one complimentary round of mini-golf, one complimentary rental of tennis or pickleball rackets for use at Lake Junaluska’s tennis/pickleball courts per day, and 10% discount on kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals. Summer passes are available online at lakejunaluska.com/summerpass or at Bethea Welcome Center during regular business hours.
Summer Activity Passes can be purchased and boat rentals, lake cruises and the private pool area can be reserved online in advance at lakejunaluska.com/online-store. For more information about the pool, visit lakejunaluska.com/pool.
FUR’s sixth-annual “Wet Your Whiskers” fundraiser will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Wells Event Center in Waynesville.
“Wet Your Whiskers” is a wine/beer tasting event with an appetizer and dessert buffet. All proceeds benefit Feline Urgent Rescue (FUR) of Western North Carolina, a non-profit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of abused, abandoned and neglected cats in Western North Carolina. The event also includes a quilt raffle and silent auction.
The quilt, which measures 5.5’ x 5.5’ was handcrafted by Jane Stoner and donated by her daughter, renowned local artist Kaaren Stoner. Tickets for this special drawing can be purchased ahead of the event in person at the FUR Store, The Dog House or Smoky Mountain Dog Bakery, all in Waynesville. Tickets will also be sold during the event.
Tickets for Wet Your Whiskers are $65 per individual and grant full access to the wine, beer and
appetizer and dessert buffet. Sponsorships are $175 and include two tickets, business card display, event recognition, a sponsor gift and inclusion in a recognition ad. Learn more or purchase your tickets at furofwnc.org.
For more information about FUR, visit the website or call Syd at 847.826.5431.
A new organization in Haywood County that promotes “authentic human connection and healing through real human interactions” is opening a drop-in center.
Starting May 16, SeekHealing will be open for drop-ins from 1-5 p.m. every Tuesday through Thursday. Whether an individual wants to change a behavioral pattern such as a substance abuse habit, they want to volunteer or even facilitate a healing experience for others, they are welcome to see what SeekHealing does.
On May 16, SeekHealing will host a grand opening to explain some of what the nonprofit does. The event will have free pizza and refreshments.
SeekHealing is located at 116 Depot St. in Waynesville.
For more information, contact Toni Lynn Holcombe via email at toni@seekhealing.org.
Join community members at the Highlands Volunteer Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 8 at the Highlands Community Building, 71 Poplar Street.
The free event allows individuals who are considering donating time a chance to explore the options available with a variety of nonprofit organizations. No registration is required. Interested residents may drop in during fair hours to browse tables, ask questions about an organization’s work, the time commitment, typical schedule, etc.
The inaugural event was held in 2022 with the following nonprofit organizations participating: Big
Brothers Big Sisters, the Center for Life Enrichment, Highlands Biological Station, Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, Highlands Motoring Festival, Highlands Mountaintop Rotary, Highlands Historical Society’s Dazzling Dahlia Festival, Highlands Performing Arts Center (PAC), Highlands Volunteer Fire Department, Highlands Welcome Center, International Friendship Center, Macon Literacy Council, The Mountain, Mountain Findings, Mountain Theatre Company at Highlands Playhouse, Pisgah Legal, REACH of Macon County and Warrior Survival School. Additional nonprofits are expected to participate this year.
“Volunteering offers vital assistance to people in need, worthwhile causes and the community as a whole,” said Kaye McHan, executive director of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. “There are also personal benefits such as finding friends, learning new skills and even feeling happier and healthier.”
The Highlands Volunteer Fair is organized and hosted by The Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information about the Highlands Volunteer Fair and other events, visit highlandschamber.org or call 828.526.5841.
At 6:30 p.m. May 15, the lecture series “Where We Live: History, Nature, and Culture” will present a program titled “A Macon County Family History” hosted by Sue Waldroop.
Sue tells tales of old Macon County with familiarity. According to a press release, her style makes it seem as if “she’d just spoken to the people involved.”
The 90-year-old Mrs. Waldroop was recently chosen as this year’s Macon Matriarch by the Women’s History Trail project of the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County, an annual award given to honor a woman for outstanding service to the community.
The program will take place at Cowee School Arts and Heritage Center in Franklin.
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce welcomed Sheila Green with Hiking with Sheila to the business community with a ribbon cutting celebration last month.
Green offers an array of guided tours that focuses on full immersion into all that the Appalachian Mountains has to offer.
Once someone has chosen a customized difficulty level, Green will plan the perfect hike, including some that feature sprawling vistas or scenic waterfalls.
Green has private hikes Friday through Sunday for between two and five people or group hikes for eight to 10 people. She offers full or half-day tours and provides discounts for local residents. Sheila can be reached by phone at 828.371.1549.
This morning was one of those times when Django being gone hit home, when I got a little emotional thinking of the 11 years he was part of our family. I was up early, took a walk around Lake Junaluska, and if he was still here Django would have been excited to take that walk with me, would have been smiling the entire ride to the lake in the bed of the truck, would have needed help getting in and out due to age and creaky joints. He walked that lake hundreds of times with my wife Lori and I.
I won’t grieve for my dog like I would for a person who passes from this earth, but it’s grieving all the same.
Django came into our life when we needed him. Our middle child, Hannah, was about to graduate from high school and move to Boone for college. That meant our youngest, Liam, would be alone with mom and dad for the next three years. Lori said we should find a dog. Not that a pet could replace a sister, but we figured a dog might make the next few years more fun for Liam.
Just a few days later, one of the guys I work with said a dog had just “shown up” at his house in Cullowhee and was hanging around. He photographed the dog, made posters, put them up around the area and asked neighbors if someone was missing a dog. In a small community like Cullowhee, one would think a beautiful dog like this would be missed. No one claimed him, and his origin remained a mystery his entire life.
Drew already had dogs, so he started looking for a home for this blond beast who looked like a lab-husky mix, one eye milky blue and the other brown, about 50 pounds then as an adolescent but who would eventually top out at 85. A few days later we brought him home.
We didn’t name him right away. Later that summer, Hannah attended the Swannanoa Gathering of musicians and was exposed to the music of the French Romani guitarist Django Reinhardt. She suggested the name, and it stuck. Little did we know then that calling this dog by the name of someone known for wandering from place to place would be so appropriate for the life he would lead. Perhaps things happen for a reason.
Django was not a cuddly dog who needed our attention. He could lay around and let you pet him and he loved roughhousing in the yard, jumping and zigzagging. His one “trained” trick was catching balls or toys or frisbees in midair, but he didn’t deign to play fetch, wouldn’t listen and
To the Editor:
Journalism used to be an honorable profession, but over the past two decades or so has become a cesspool of inaccuracies, censorship and propaganda. Apparently here in our local area, The Smoky Mountain News is leading the way and Cory Vaillancourt is the lead jester. Cory’s recent articles demonstrate his inability to accurately and impartially report critical information SMN readers need.
Instead, Cory apparently has a vendetta against Haywood County’s newest commis-
bring those back to whomever he was playing with. Not his style. He could be aloof, often ignoring your commands even though you know he heard them, and he knew what you were asking. Didn’t matter. If he had plans of his own, he was off to attend to them.
Django would disappear at times. We live up Ratcliff Cove
knowledge that galavanting around might lead to problems and that the risk was worth it.
But we couldn’t pen him. Liam and I built an enclosure when Django was young, and it’s still there. As soon as we put him in, he started wailing, a painful crying that we couldn’t take. If you’ve seen the “Free Willy” movie about the killer whale kept in a small tank, think of the sound of his crying. That was Django every time we put him in that damn thing.
just outside of Waynesville. One time a neighbor who lives at the top of the mountain called and said she thought she saw our Django with another dog running along the ridgeline. My son and I drove around the neighborhood but there was no sight of Django. We then drove around to Bethel, drove up one of those roads across from Bethel Middle School and came across a pack of about 10 dirty, scruffy looking dogs. Our boy was covered in mud and cow shit and was almost totally black, nearly unrecognizable, leading the pack through an open field near some houses. We corralled him, guessing he had covered about 5 or 6 miles as the crow flies from our house.
He would often go missing. By my reckoning he got picked up by the authorities — Haywood Animal Control — 4 or 5 times, having to spend time in lockup until we could go get him. He was never contrite. He seemed comfortable in the
sioner, Terry Ramey. Readers need to know how Mr. Ramey and our other commissioners are executing the county’s business. They have a difficult budget in a challenging economy, issues with the homeless, rising crime, abundant needle litter, and the county’s largest and most important employer shutting down, among other critical items to focus on. However, Cory continues to write about Mr. Ramey’s personal life and a tax issue that is taken care of to the satisfaction of the county. Perhaps Cory can stop with the gossip and instead focus on something more important. As the “Politics Editor,” he needs to cover
Haywood County politics!
We didn’t have the heart to do it, so we didn’t, much to the dismay of those who think all dogs should only stay on the property of their owners. I apologize to those folks, but Django just didn’t listen when we tried to explain that. I always tell people that he wasn’t our dog, that he instead lived with us and had many other families and homes that were an important part of his life. He was a wanderer, a free spirit, and he made friends easily.
Django spent his entire life unpenned and loved. In truth, he could be irascible, ornery, and he was often dirty and smelly. Over the years he ended the life of many raccoons, possums and groundhogs that ventured into his territory (otherwise known as our yard), and often those escapades occurred late at night and were witnessed only by me, barefoot, barely dressed and with a flashlight, trying to get him to shut up his howling.
He loved watching sunsets from his perch in our yard, insisted on sleeping outside in frigid temperatures, and greedily lapped up the fresh mountain spring water that feeds the small creeks near our home. He would come in and get rubbed while I watched sports late night on TV. He would get protective and a little angry when anyone hugged or even touched my wife.
Simply put, a great dog. I miss him.
(Scott McLeod be reached at info@smokymountainnews.com.)
Cory also needs to take a few more journalism classes and be a bit more professional. He continues to bring up my name whenever he can and loves to call me names such as “anti-vaxxer,” and in his latest article stated that another citizen and I “commonly espouse debunked conspiracy theories during the public comment portions of commissioner meetings.”
First, I’m not a public figure but rather a concerned citizen, so it is inappropriate for him to denigrate me just because he may not agree with my opinions. I challenge Cory to debate me publicly on these “debunked conspiracy theories.” If he’s referring to my state-
ments about the lockdowns, lack of safety or effectiveness of the Covid-19 or other vaccines, the fact that masks were completely ineffective against the virus, or my concerns about the recent health department grant funding, I stand by every one of those opinions and am ready with facts and research to prove my points.
Haywood County needs good, accurate, impartial reporting and it’s a shame SMN isn’t interested in stepping up and providing that. Your paper is free for a reason …. because it is basically worthless with his quality of work.
Janet Presson, R.N., M.Ed. Waynesville
Last weekend, I flew to Phoenix for a conference. During the four-hour flight, I sat beside a lap baby. A lap baby is a young child who is small enough to sit on a caregiver’s lap during the plane ride.
Walking down the aisle, I looked at the numbers and letters above the seats. As I came to 13C, I found a young toddler staring up at me. I glanced back at the seat numbers to ensure I was at the right one. That’s when the youngster’s mom told me she had been letting him hang out in my seat while it was empty.
For about 30 seconds, I felt annoyed. I had plans to read, work on my laptop and watch a few episodes of “Daisy Jones and the Six” but knew this probably wouldn’t be possible with a squirming 15-month old beside me who could potentially grab my book or knock over my computer.
After those initial seconds, I changed my judgment to compassion. I know how hard it is to placate a squirmy, tired little human on an airplane. In fact, the babies I once entertained are now 11 and 14 years old, and sometimes I wish I could experience those early years of motherhood once again.
Gretchen Rubin once said, “The days are long but the years are short.” No truer words have been said about parenting babies and toddlers. When our kids are little, a 24-hour period can feel like days when caring for and entertaining children while also trying to maintain some sense of sanity.
Once we were in the air, the mom tried to give the baby a bottle but he wasn’t having it. He began to loudly move around and cry. She looked at me apologetically. I said, “It’s OK. I think it’s stressing you out more than me.” She laughed. Then I told her that my boys were much older but that I remember being in her shoes and that most people understand. Granted, there were probably other passengers who were irritated. I’m just glad I was the one who happened to be sitting by them and not someone hateful.
Observing the mom and dad try their best to calm and entertain the baby, I began to feel my age and wisdom as a parent. Being a mom to preteens and teens brings new challenges and worries. My kids are now faced with darker and more deceitful
obstacles, pressures and influences, so while the physicality of mothering has lessened, the emotional part is deepening I remember hearing Barack Obama say that having kids is like having your heart walk around outside your body. As a young mother, I kept Rubin’s quote close to heart, but as a mom to older kids, I think more about what Obama said.
Mother’s Day week is always hard for me. Even though I am a mom, I never think of myself on Mother’s Day. It’s always been about my mom. Before her passing, it was a day to celebrate and since then, it’s become a day to honor.
Now my favorite Mother’s Day activities involve doing something low key with my boys like a hike or long walk and finishing the evening with good food. Last year we played wiffle ball for several hours then grilled out and watched a movie. It was perfect.
This year my younger son has a baseball tournament over Mother’s Day weekend. I am looking forward to being at the ballfield on Sunday. Watching my kids do the things they love brings me so much joy. Plus, I really like all the other baseball moms and enjoy the thought of hanging out and celebrating together over the weekend.
To all the young moms out there, keep going. You are doing great. Remember that while the days sometimes seem endless, the years will fly like you won’t believe. I hope I made the mom on the plane feel a little better. Eventually, after the baby had pooped, munched on pretzels, wallowed around on the floor and sobbed with fatigue, the mom got up and walked around with him. He fell asleep on her shoulder and slept for about an hour before he was up and back at it.
And to those of you who have lost a mom, I understand. Losing a mom is such a deep anguish, even the regular days are hard, much less an entire week where signs, balloons, cards and ads all highlight how wonderful it is to have a mother.
For all the women who struggle for various reasons on Mother’s Day, let’s remember we are a sisterhood. There is most likely someone you know who has experienced or is experiencing the same hardship or struggle. Sometimes it feels good to know we’re not alone in whatever we’re battling. If you’re a mom who is feeling defeated or at your wit’s end, reach out to another mom. She’ll help you feel better. I promise.
(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist with The Smoky Mountain News, Smoky Mountain Living and Mountain South Media. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)
Rising Americana/folk singer- songwriter Abe Partridge will hit the stage at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at The Grey Eagle in Asheville.
Tickets are $17, with premium seating $25. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to thegreyeagle.com and click on the “Calendar” tab.
wrote songs for eight years and I painted for a decade before I ever did either one of those publicly,” Partridge said. “I did it primarily for myself, for my own sanity and as a means of my own salvation. I’ve always felt like you can’t never be anybody else. But, I can be the best version of myself — the artists I enjoy the most are the ones that are [the] most individual, unique and original in their approach.”
Aformer Baptist preacher and military veteran, Abe Partridge is now regarded as one of the most unique and captivating singersongwriters currently emerging from the Southeast.
“When I was 35 years old, I started singing [songs] for people,” Partridge said. “My need [was] to satisfy a longing that I had in my whole spirit to try to bring some type of beauty into the world — that’s why I do what I do.”
Now 42, the Mobile, Alabama, native has lived a wild, weird and wondrous life, for good or ill. Leaving home at 17 to start theology school, Partridge eventually become minister through the Independent Fundamental Baptist denomination.
But, upon leading his own congregation in Kentucky, the blood, sweat and tears of his calling began to falter, leaving Partridge and his
young family destitute and pondering their next move.
Not long after, Partridge joined the United States Air Force and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Between his religious background and now seeing the effects of war first-hand, Partridge began to craft songs to make sense of it all.
“One of the most incredible things about my life is that [songs] are born inside my heart. And then other people hear them when they’re out of my heart, and it impacts them,”
Partridge said. “That to me is one of the most beautiful experiences that I get to have in this life as an artist.”
If one gives the whirlwind melody “Abe Partridge’s 403rd Freakout” a spin, you’ll hear the absolute essence of Partridge — part slam poet of rhyme and reason, part existential crisis in search of purity and meaning, part preacher
of the good word that is love to fellow humans.
“Folk singers have always been important and vital. We’ve had folk singers for much longer than there’s been records,” Partridge said. “They’re a vital part of our culture, and they’ve always been at the forefront of progressive causes [and] social movements in our country — they’re heavily criticized in the process, but then lauded after the change takes place.”
Onstage, Partridge resides somewhere between renowned singer-songwriters Patterson Hood, John Prine and Tom Waits. It’s folk. It’s punk. It’s rock. Partridge’s mesmerizing presence and searing words pull people out of their day-to-day lives, out of the routine boredom and daily monotony — this sonic message of compassion and truth emerging from the ashes of sorrow and destruction.
“I didn’t start writing music or making art to sell them to people or to do it publicly. I
On his latest album “Love in the Dark,” Partridge takes inventory of a world gone mad over the last few years, or more so a rollercoaster ride of a society we’ve come to view as “business as usual.” And, in typical Partridge sound and scope, the record is this careful balance of somber sentiments and optimistic musings — pushing ahead, together.
“I don’t consume a lot of political media, but I do talk to a whole lot of people, and I don’t know very many people that are really happy about the current cultural and political climate in which we all reside,” Partridge said. “Seems to me like there’s a lot of fear and anger and hatred. If we have any hope as a society, it is going to be through art, love, beauty and hope — those types of things as opposed to just a bunch of titfor-tat political bullshit.”
Regardless of his travels across the country and around the globe, Partridge’s curiosity and restlessness continues to find deep creative inspiration from the inhabitants, geography and cultural landscape of his beloved Alabama.
“Alabama is a heavy place — it’s just filled with stories and history,” Partridge said. “It’s got ghosts in it, if you believe in such things. And there’s a lot of darkness there. But, whenever there’s a lot of darkness in places, that’s where the light shines the best — there’s also a lot of beauty.”
Hello from Room 209 at the Home2 Suites by Hilton on the outskirts of downtown Decatur, Alabama. It’s Monday morning. Cloudy skies and temperatures pushing 80 degrees by mid-morning.
Through the window, I can see the mighty Tennessee River in all its legend and lore. I’ve been down in North Alabama since Saturday afternoon. On the road and on assignment for Rolling Stone in my free time, as per usual.
This go-round it’s covering the upcoming album release for Kansas City blues guitar sensation Samantha Fish and Texas rocker Jesse Dayton, with the duo’s last show in the States before a European tour in Decatur.
Crank up the truck in front of my humble abode in downtown Waynesville with the nose of the vehicle aimed to the southwest. Cruise down the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Sylva. Cherokee. Bryson City. Nantahala Gorge. Andrews. Murphy. Onward over the state line through Ducktown and Cleveland, Tennessee.
There’s a lot of memories that flood my field-of-vision on this route that’ll pop out near Chattanooga, the city soon appearing through the windshield. Aside from family trips to spots along the coast of the Southeast, my first real taste of the interior of Southern Appalachia was visiting old friends from my days living and working out in the Rocky Mountains.
Those friends relocated to Chattanooga to be near family, and to eventually get married and start a family. But, back in 2009, we were all in our mid20s. The vast unknown future of our impending adulthood and big choices to be made — love, life, friends, careers, shenanigans, etc. — still lingered in front of us.
I remember being so enamored with Chattanooga. “I could totally see myself living here,” my 24-year-old self would say from time-to-time on the handful of trips I made from my native Upstate New York to visit my Chatta-Choo-Choo cronies.
When I finally did decide to tempt fate, and look into relocating to Chattanooga, I closest thing I found to a writing gig in or around the city was at The Smoky Mountain News. Works for me. To be able to wander and ponder in the Smokies is — and remains — a dream come true. I took the job at this fine publication, 11 years this coming August.
Rolling through Chattanooga en route to
Decatur, I found myself telling my co-pilot girlfriend the entire backstory of how I ended up in the South. Packing up my truck and bolting out of the North Country, the thoughts, hopes and fears for this new chapter of my existence.
And how I slept under my desk in the newsroom for the first week or so of employment at SMN, at least until I got my first paycheck and was able to put down funds needed for the deposit. Those restless nights laying on the floor of the office, gazing out the window and wondering what was awaiting around the corner to surprise me along this road of life.
Crossing into Alabama, the mountains of Appalachia now lowered themselves to the foothills of this rural, bucolic setting. Time seems to slow down in these parts, and happily for a roadrunner like myself. Memories of exact a year ago on assignment in
thought. Once you settle into an ideal rhythm of pace and purpose, your mind ricochets like a bouncing ball between memories, current situations and possible outcomes for whatever might be simmering in the depths of your psyche — consciously or subconsciously.
In that moment on the PMT, I kept thinking about my hometown of Rouses Point, New York. In aesthetic, the trail and nearby river reminded me of where I grew up. The scents, noises and appearance of everything swirling around my position felt like I was immediately transported back to the shores of Lake Champlain.
The rising temperature and scorching ball of fire in the sky also signaled to me that summer is just around the corner, showing up as it always does — cheerfully welcomed, but always catching us by surprise after the seemingly endless doldrums of late winter and spring.
It also dawned on me that my 20th high school reunion is not far down the road. Fourth of July weekend at the Latitude 45 bar in Rouses Point. I know this because I’m in charge of putting together the gathering. Keep it simple. It’ll be cold suds and enough space for everything to mingle, the establishment overlooking the mighty Lake Champlain.
Faces not seen in two decades since high school. Faces seen last summer. The sands of time. The fresh calendars on the wall each Jan. 1. No matter, keep moving down the road of your intent. And enjoy that jog along a dirt path on the Tennessee River in Alabama — for existence is nothing and everything, and all the wondrous things inbetween.
Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
Huntsville for the grand opening of the majestic Orion Amphitheater. It already feels like some faraway moment from long ago.
Time ticks on. Nighttime soon blanketed North Alabama. Leaving Huntsville, the truck passed by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center buffering a bustling Interstate 565, the massive rocket standing tall and proud high in the sky — this ode to the innovation, imagination and inspiration that resides at the core of mankind.
The next morning, I laced up the running shoes and headed for the Point Mallard Trail along the Tennessee River. It was already in the mid-80s. A hot sun high above. Beads of sweat immediately formed on my forehead when I emerged from the truck and began trotting down the dirt path along the ancient waterway.
The beauty of running — at least in my heart and soul is the free-flowing sense of
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The “Whole Bloomin’ Spring Festival After Party'' featuring Red Clay Revival and J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway will be held from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in The Lineside concert space at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.
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Appalachian folk act Pigeon River Messengers will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley.
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Juggernaut hard rock act Alter Bridge hits the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
4 The Dance Arts Co-Op’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Ballet” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. May 12 and 2:30 p.m. May 13 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
5 Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host The Jon Cox Band (country/rock) at 8 p.m. Friday, May 12.
‘Windswept stars blink and smile, another song, another mile’The Princess Theatre in Decatur, Alabama opened in 1919. Garret K. Woodward photo
Rising singer-songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Alma Russ and singersongwriter Bryson Evans will perform several upcoming shows throughout our area.
The series of appearances will include at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Innovation Brewing in Sylva; 5 p.m. Sunday, May 14,
at Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City; 8 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at The Scotsman in Waynesville; 7 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin.
Based out of Western North Carolina and with her unique brand of “patchwork music” (country, folk and Appalachian styles pieced together), Russ enjoys playing guitar, banjo and fiddle.
Russ was also a contestant on “American Idol” Season 16. Her most recent album, “Fool’s Gold,” was recorded in an abandoned church in the West Texas desert while Russ was on a national tour.
For more information on Russ, go to almarussofficial.com.
A community jam will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer, anything unplugged, are invited to join. Singers are also welcomed to join in or you can just stop by and listen. The jam is facilitated by Larry Barnett of the Sawmill Creek Porch Band.
The community jams offer a chance for musicians of all ages and levels of ability to share music they have learned over the years or learn old-time mountain songs. The music jams are offered to the public each first and third Thursday of the month — spring, summer, fall.
This program received support from the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of North Carolina and the National Endowment of the Arts. 828.488.3030.
• Altered Frequencies (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.342.8014 or alteredfrequencies.net.
• Angry Elk Brewing (Whittier) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows are free and open to the public. 828.497.1015 or facebook.com/angryelkbrewingco.
• Balsam Falls Brewing (Sylva) will host an open mic from 8-10 p.m. every Thursday. Free and open to the public. 828.631.1987 or balsamfallsbrewing.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host a semi-regular acoustic jam with the Main Street NoTones from 7-9 p.m. every first and third Thursday of the month. Free and open to the public. For more information, click on blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Blue Stage (Andrews) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.361.2534 or gm@thebluestage.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host karaoke at 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, trivia
at 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Smooth Goose (rock/jam) May 13 and Human Nip May 20. All shows begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 or boojumbrewing.com.
• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.634.0078 or curraheebrew.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” with Martin & Kelly May 25. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25 per person. For tickets, click on oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Jake Blount & Nic Gareiss (Americana) 7 p.m. May 11. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show. Ages 12 and under free. For tickets, click on folkmoot.org.
• Fontana Village Resort Wildwood Grill will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 800.849.2258 or fontanavillage.com.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host Jay
Juggernaut hard rock act Alter Bridge hits the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
Since 2004, Alter Bridge has been one of the most consistent bands to successfully represent the rock and metal communities with their driving melodies, blazing guitar riffs and topical lyrics that resonate with fans
Presented by Adamas Entertainment, the “Whole Bloomin’ Spring Festival After Party’’ featuring Red Clay Revival and J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway will be held from 6-11 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in The Lineside concert space at Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville.
Born in the soul-basted countryside of Alabama, and brought to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains to marinade and mature, Red Clay Revival delivers an experience that reshapes the parameters of “roots music” as it’s known.
Songsmith extraordinaire Doug McElvy lays a solid foundation at the epicenter of Red Clay’s musical magnitude. McElvy’s skillful, heart-driven compositions are orbited by the most notable and virtuosic musicians in the industry today.
Red Clay’s powerful live performance harnesses an energy that electrifies any room,
Drummonds (singer-songwriter) May 19 and Silly Ridge May 26 at Town Square on Main Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host its weekly “Tuesday Jazz Series” at 5:30 p.m., Seth & Sara May 12, The Whole Bloomin’ Thing Spring Festival w/Red Clay Revival (Americana/indie) & J.J. Hipps (blues/rock) May 13 and Shane Meade (indie/folk) 3 p.m. May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.454.5664 or froglevelbrewing.com.
• Frog Quarters (Franklin) will host Dave Stewart & Bill Peterson (Americana/folk) May 13 and Barry Roma (country/jazz) May 20. All shows are from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free and open to the public. Located at 573 East Main St. littletennessee.org or 828.369.8488.
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Jay Drummond (singer-songwriter) May 12, Joe Owens (singer-songwriter) May 13, Rock Holler May 19 and Macon County Line May 20. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open
around the globe.
Their seventh and latest album, “Pawns & Kings,” continues that trend. Teaming with longtime producer and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette, the album shines with massive, menacing arena-ready production while emerging as another sonic testament to the seasoned Myles Kennedy/Mark Tremonti songwriting dream team.
Tickets start at $44.50 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
leaving audiences with an embedded musical experience. The group has also performed alongside the likes of Larry Keel, Jeff Sipe and members of Greensky Bluegrass.
Hailing from Lenoir, the power rock trio known as J.J. Hipps & The Hideaway explores the endless depths of the blues, where a typical whirlwind set touches upon the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band and much more.
Admission is $5 at the door. Craft beer and cider will also be available for purchase. For more information, go to froglevelbrewing.com.
to the public. happsplace.com or 828.742.5700.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host Alter Bridge (rock) 7 p.m. May 13 and One Vision Of Queen with Marc Martel (rock/tribute) 7:30 p.m. May 20. For a full schedule of events and/or to buy tickets, caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host a Sunday Bluegrass Residency noon to 2:30 p.m. and semi-regular live music on the weekends. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Innovation Brewing (Sylva) will host “Trivia Night with Kirk” from 7-9 p.m. every Monday, Open Mic Night every Wednesday, Balsam Hot Club May 12, Alma Russ & Bryson Evans (Americana/indie) May 13 and 81 Drifters Band May 19. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host “Music Bingo” on Wednesdays and semi-
regular live music on the weekends. All events begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host “Music Bingo” 6 p.m. Tuesdays, trivia 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Open Mic 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Alma Russ & Bryson Evans (Americana/indie) May 20. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host trivia 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Old Time Jam 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and Shane Meade (indie/folk) May 12. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 or lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Meadowlark Motel (Maggie Valley) will host Pigeon River Messengers (Americana/indie) May 13, Andrew Wakefield (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. May 19 and Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party (Americana/indie) May 20. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on meadowlarkmotel.com or 828.926.1717.
• Moss Valley (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Food trucks and beverages
available onsite. Bring a lawn chair. Presented by Drake Software.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host Mountain Gypsy (Americana) May 12, Somebody’s Child (Americana/indie) May 13, Alma Russ & Bryson Evans (Americana/indie) 5 p.m. May 14, Bird In Hand (Americana/indie) May 19, Scott James Stambaugh (singer-songwriter) May 20 and Wyatt Espalin (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. May 21. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 or mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Nantahala Brewing Outpost (Sylva) will host Marshall Bellew (singer-songwriter) May 13, Shane Meade (indie/folk) May 19 and Heidi Holton (blues/folk) May 20. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.641.9797 or nantahalabrewing.com.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala Gorge) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows behind at 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. noc.com.
• Orchard Coffee (Waynesville) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. 828.246.9264 or orchardcoffeeroasters.com.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host
The J.W. Band (country) May 13 and Intermission (variety) May 27. All shows begin at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in downtown. Free and open to the public. franklinnc.com/pickin-on-the-square.html.
• Quirky Birds Treehouse & Bistro (Dillsboro) will host Open Mic Night at 7 p.m. Tuesdays and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.586.1717 or facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.
• Salty Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host Andrew Rickman (singer-songwriter) May 12, Bridget Gossett (singersongwriter) May 12, The Two Armadillos May 14, David Cody (singer-songwriter) May 19 and Tyler Kemmerling (singer-songwriter) May 20. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105.
• Santé Wine Bar (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.631.3075 or facebook.com/thewinebarandcellar.
• Satulah Mountain Brewing (Highlands) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.482.9794 or satulahmountainbrewing.com.
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host The Boomers May 20 and The Swingin’ Richards May 27 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and
The Pic’ & Play Mountain Dulcimer Players will be resuming in-person jam sessions at the St. John’s Episcopal Church basement fellowship hall in Sylva.
The group welcomes all beginners and experienced dulcimer players, including mountain (lap) dulcimer and hammered dulcimer players. Songs played include traditional mountain tunes, hymns and more modern music. The group meets at 1:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of every month in the basement of St. John’s.
open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Sauced (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9585 or saucedwnc.com
• The Scotsman (Waynesville) will host a “Celtic Jam” 2-5 p.m. Sundays, Rene Russell (Americana/rock) May 11, Different Light (rock/blues) May 12, Celtic Road Jam 4 p.m. May 13 and Alma Russ & Bryson Evans (Americana/folk) May 18. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 or scotsmanpublic.com.
• SlopeSide Tavern (Sapphire) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.8655 or slopesidetavern.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Jay Allen (country) 7:30 p.m. May 20. Tickets start at $18 with priority seating available. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on smokymountainarts.com or 828.524.1598.
• Southern Porch (Canton) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.492.8009 or southern-porch.com.
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30 p.m. May 16 and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.479.3364 or stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• The Ugly Dog Pub (Highlands) will host “Bluegrass Wednesday” at 6:30 p.m. each week and Darren Nicholson (Americana/bluegrass) 8 p.m. May 26. 828.526.8364 or theuglydogpub.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Blue May 11, The Jon Cox Band (country/rock) May 12, Tammy & The Tune Twisters May 13, Blackjack County May 18, Zak Saltz Band May 19 and Keil Nathan Smith & Sudden Change May 20. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.2488.
Appalachian folk act Pigeon River Messengers will perform at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Meadowlark Motel in Maggie Valley.
A duo based in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, Zach & Lori met over their common love for Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings and folk music as a whole.
Originally from Knoxville and later moved to Nashville, Zach is heavily influenced by a wide range of musical genres. From the high, lonesome sounds of Bill Monroe to the funky syncopated rhythms of
James Brown, his musical style reflects a unique blend of old and new.
Lori is a North Carolina singer-songwriter who grew up listening to Appalachian ballads and attending bluegrass festivals with her musical family. A fourth-generation ballad singer, she embraces the old songs, all while eager to share her own, which includes many of the songs from her late Uncle Bobby McMillon.
Tickets are $10 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to meadowlarkmotel.com or call 828.926.1717.
Pic’ & Play has been playing together since 1995. The more experienced members welcome new players, help them navigate their instruments, and guide them through some of the basics of tuning, strumming and playing.
The mountain dulcimer, also known as a fretted dulcimer or a lap dulcimer, is a uniquely American instrument. It evolved from the German scheitholz sometime in the early 1800s in Appalachia and was largely known only in this region until popularized more broadly in the 1950s.
For more information, call Kathy Jaqua at 828.349.3930 or Don Selzer at 828.293.0074.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Bridget Gossett (singer-songwriter) 2 p.m. May 14 and Amos Jackson (singersongwriter) May 26. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 or valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Valley Tavern (Maggie Valley) will host semiregular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.926.7440 or valley-tavern.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. 828.200.2169 or eatrealfoodinc.com.
BREAKFAST
ClassicEggsBenedict
GardenScramblewithSpinach, ParmesanandFreshHerbs
StoneGroundGrits
ApplewoodSmokedBacon&Maple
Sausage
BlueberryPancakeswithMapleSyrup
andHoneyButter
SIDES
LoadedBakedPotatoBarwith AssortedToppings&Condiments
GreenBeanAmandine
BrusselsSproutswithBaconand Balsamic
CARVINGSTATION
RosemaryandGarlicRubbed
PorkLoin
LondonBroilwithHerbButter
DESSERTS
NewYorkStyleCheeseCake
FreshlyBakedCookies&Brownies
StrawberryShortcake
IceCreamSundaes
LittleGemLettuces
CaesarSalad
MediterraneanVegetableSalad
SmokedSalmonwithTraditional
Accompaniments
CharcuterieandArtisanalCheeses
CavatappiPastaSaladwithFresh
MozzarellaandCherryTomatoes
SlicedMelonandSeasonalBerries
ENTREES
BraisedChickenCacciatorewith StewedTomatoesandRoasted
Peppers
ShrimpandAndouilleSausage
Gumbo
RitzCrackerCrustedSalmonwith LemonButter
RESERVATIONSREQUIRED 828-926-4848
Dale’s Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley will offer free admission to Haywood County residents on the first Saturday of each month throughout its 2023 season. The collection features over 375 of the world’s rarest and most sought-after American motorcycles from over 30 manufacturers. The museum is located at 62 Vintage Lane in Maggie Valley and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday until Nov. 20. For more information about the museum and its collections, visit wheelsthroughtime.com.
The Strawberry Jam festival takes place May 20-21. File photo
The 21st annual Strawberry Jam festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 20-21 at Darnell Farms in Bryson City.
The Darnell family celebrates their locally grown strawberry crop. Enjoy local music, local food, fresh fruits and vegetables, craft vendors, plow demonstrations, children’s play area, hayrides, fishing, camping, and much more.
Admission is free, with a $10 donation encouraged. Donations are for the upkeep and maintenance of the farm. For more information, go to darnellfarms.com or call 828.488.2376.
Presented by the Sylva Art + Design Committee (SADC), the third annual “Sylva Sandwich Competition” is currently underway throughout the month of May at participating restaurants around the community.
Establishments include Cosmic Carryout, The Cut, Lulu’s, Mad Batter, Meatballs, Nantahala Brewing and White Moon.
Scan the QR code at participating restaurants and vote for your favorite “SADC” sandwich. All entry fees and donations from the competition will help fund a new mural at a downtown Sylva business.
The balsamic roasted garlic grilled chicken from Meatballs in Sylva Donated photo
Proceeds gathered from this event will help fund the Sylva Skate Park.
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. For more information on upcoming events, wine tastings and special dinners, click on 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. For more information, call 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. For more information and/or to register, call 800.872.4681 or click on gsmr.com.
Canopy Housing Foundation and our Realtor® volunteers appreciate the opportunity to make a difference in Haywood County.
This year’s Realtors® Care Day held on April 28, gave Realtors® the chance to work on a Haywood Habitat for Humanity project that will soon be home to a single mother with two children.
Realtors® furthered their impact in Haywood County with an area food drive to benefit The Community Kitchen in Canton and a pet food drive for the Haywood County Animal Shelter.
On the stage
The Dance Arts Co-Op’s production of Shakespeare’s comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream: The Ballet” will hit the stage at 7 p.m. May 12 and 2:30 p.m. May 13 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Franklin.
Escape into an enchanted fairy love story. Set in a magical forest, you’ll follow prankster sprite Puck as she attempts to trick the beautiful fairy queen Titania and sets the realm of dragonflies, fairies and bugs into chaos.
This full-scale short ballet features local dance students from all areas of Macon County. For the second act of this two-part show, the Co-Op will showcase other dance genres in an entertaining variety of dance performances, including pieces in contemporary, lyrical, tap, African and jazz dance styles.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $15 day of event; with students $10 in advance, $12 day of event. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, click on smokymountainarts.com or call 866.273.4615.
The “Mother’s Day Gemboree” will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 19-21 at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building in Franklin.
Rough and cut gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits, demonstrations and more.
Sponsored by the Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the Macon County Gem & Mineral Society. For more information, call 828.369.7831 or go to franklin-chamber.com.
Realtors® collected 2,048 pounds of food and $3,025 in financial support for these organizations.
• “G&LW Wholesale Gem Show” will be held May 19-21 at the Watauga Festival Center on 6295 Sylva Road in Franklin. The trade shows are produced in many major trade centers across the United States for the convenience of wholesale buyers. For the past 45 years, G&LW’s multiple show venues have been a top gem and mineral buyer destination. 601.879.8832 or glwshows.com.
A special thanks to Songbug DJ Services for providing food for all the Realtor® volunteers.
• “Renewing the Fire Through Education” will be showcased through May 29 at the Haywood County Arts Council in Waynesville. Curated by Lori Reed, this specially curated exhibit features work of Cherokee High School students and their teachers in celebration of the unveiling of the Cherokee inspired and designed mural on the HCAC’s building back wall facing Wall Street. For more information, click on haywoodarts.org or call 828.452.0593.
• 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. For more information, email waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net or follow them on Facebook: Waynesville Photography Club.
A special gem show will be in Franklin May 19-21. File photo
• Summer Artisans Market will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month through September at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Artisan vendors and more. For more information, go to noc.com.
• Farmer’s Market (with artisans) will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through October at 117 Island St. in Bryson City. Stop by the old barn by the river for local, homegrown produce, as well as baked goods, jellies and preserves, authentic crafts and more. Food truck, picnic tables and live music. Leashed pets are welcome. Outdoor event. 828.488.7857.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering 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. For more information on the upcoming classes and/or to sign-up, click on southwesterncc.edu/scclocations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. For more information go to dogwoodcrafters.com/classes.html or call 828.586.2248.
Most of us are always on the look-out for a means of escape from this crazy old world or from our personal trials and tribulations.
We pack kids and kit into the car and head off for the beach hoping that a change of schedule and some sand and surf will bring us peace of mind. (It’s called a getaway for a reason.) Some cast aside the jailhouse garb and leg-irons of their daily lives by flopping down on the sofa every evening and flicking on the television. The more creative break out of their prison-pent stress by gardening, taking a twilight stroll through the neighborhood or calling a friend.
And some of us make our escape through books.
Those pass keys of print and ink are most often my way of leaving behind, however temporarily, the penitentiary that duty, work and obligation can sometimes become. A quarter hour on the back deck, a quick lunch at the island table in the kitchen, a few minutes at the coffee shop when I can close my laptop and cease work: put a book in my hand during these mini-breaks, and for a few minutes I’m free as a bird.
Most recently, it was a novel that unlocked my cell door and gave me those wings to fly away.
Simon Brett is British, the author of more than 100 books, including many mysteries, and I confess I’ve never heard of him. For whatever reason, his book “Waste of a Life” (Severn House, 2023, 192 pages), snagged my attention at the public library, and home we came.
“Waste of a Life” is the third in Brett’s “decluttering mysteries” — I’ve never heard of those either — and here we meet Ellen Curtis, proprietor and sole employee of SpaceWoman. “My services,” Ellen tells readers, “are called on when the amount of clutter people have accumulated gets out of hand,” and one of the people who meet these qualifications is an old gentleman and recluse, Cedric Waites. Reluctantly, he agrees to allow Ellen help him sort through his possessions and detritus, and to arrange for some repairs to his heating system and other appliances. Though they never become fast friends, the retiring Cedric seems to enjoy Ellen’s company.
And then one day she arrives to find him dead in his bedroom. Though his death at first seems natural, authorities later conclude that someone probably poisoned Cedric. A suspect herself, Ellen has reason to try and hunt down the killer, and we join her in this search.
Several features of this story attracted
me. First, only Cedric dies. In some of the thrillers and suspense novels I’ve read — I’m thinking in particular of the Jack Reacher series — by the end of the story a platoon or more of corpses litter the pages. “Waste of a Life” kept me engaged without walking me through an abattoir.
Next, much of Brett’s novel has less to do with Cedric’s murder than with Ellen’s life.
characters frequently discuss and which have some bearing on Cedric’s murder. As a much younger woman, Mim played the bohemian in London’s literary scene, and so brings some of the poets of that post-World War II scene into the story. Because of my affinity for books about books, this feature brought an unexpected delight.
Finally, though several people are suspects in Cedric’s murder, Brett gives us a quick clue near the beginning of the book as to the killer’s likely identity.
Because I am usually terrible at solving literary mysteries, I felt enormous satisfaction at correctly guessing the murderer in this whodunit before reaching the denouement.
She is a middle-aged widow who loved her husband, but in this story begins to find another man attractive. Having hit some major snags in their own careers, Ellen’s twenty-something children, Juliet — she calls herself Jools — and Ben, return to live with her for an unspecified time. The eccentric Dodge, a friend of Ben’s, works at times with Ellen carting junk out of people’s houses and is also a suspect in the murder. Ellen’s eccentric, annoying, self-centered mother, Fleur, acts like that bit of sand in a mollusk whose irritation produces a pear. A rival declutter spreads lies online about Ellen and becomes tangled up in the mystery. In other words, Ellen’s life is as cluttered up, albeit with human beings, as the homes of some of her clients.
Literature also plays a part in this plot. Both Cedric and retired teacher Mim Gilbraith possess book collections which the
One note: in the second paragraph above, “prisonpent” is a term I read long ago in Thomas Wolfe’s introductory remarks to “Look Homeward, Angel,” where he wrote, “Which of us has not remained forever prison-pent?”
Congratulations to any reader who recognized in my own sentence that echo of one of our great writers.
Wolfe’s quote brings us back to my prison metaphor. Is he correct? Are we forever locked away inside ourselves? I think not. We have ways of breaking those locks, and one of them comes with a book.
As journalist and filmmaker Nora Ephron once wrote, “Reading is escape, and the opposite of escape; it’s a way to make contact with reality after a day of making things up, and it’s a way of making contact with someone else’s imagination after a day that’s all too real.”
(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.)
Ricardo Fernandez Battini and his wife Suzanne Fernandez spent a stormy night in September 2004 holed up in their home along the Pigeon River in Crabtree, listening. Hurricane Ivan was dumping buckets on soil already saturated from Hurricane Frances’ arrival the week before, and the river was angry.
“[It was] horrible. Scary,” Ricardo said. “Especially at night when you hear the noise, hear the cracking.”
In the morning, their 30-acre farm was unrecognizable. Only three trees growing
along the river survived. The water ripped away 200 gallons of in-ground propane tanks. Replacing the torn ground would require 40 truckloads of soil. And, most heartbreakingly, the flood carried away the 300-square-foot greenhouse where Ricardo had tended his prize-winning orchids for the past 15 years. But a few of the peonies planted on the property survived. The Fernandezes couldn’t stand the thought of rebuilding 15 years of orchid cultivation, so they took their cue from the land’s most resilient flowers — they decided to become peony farmers.
After the flood, the Fernandezes made it a point to add new peony plants every year, making them comfortable in raised beds within a stone’s throw of the river that almost
ruined them in 2004. In 2015, they had a big enough display to start sharing it with the world, hosting the first annual Festival of Peonies in Bloom.
Today, the peony patch at the Fernandez’ Wildcat Ridge Farm contains 95 varieties of the showy blooms, and more than 1,000 individual plants — the largest collection of planted peonies in the state. During the festival each May, the peony beds are open for visitors throughout the month, anytime between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. People come to wander among the raised beds, breathe in the perfumed air, enjoy a bag lunch at one of the riverside picnic tables and peruse the stable of potted peonies for sale.
“We try to keep this as a place for people to appreciate what God created, the most spectacular flower, the most desirable flower in the world,” Ricardo said. “It's nice to see people coming. It’s not just the point of you need to come and buy. Just walk around and enjoy it. Smell the beauty.”
The beauty lasts all month long. The variety of peonies at the farm includes early bloomers that flower in the first week of May, mid-bloomers and late bloomers. Ricardo expects the garden to hit its peak over the next week.
In addition to traditional herbaceous peonies, the Fernandezes also tend intersectional peonies, which are a hybrid between the herbaceous variety and the shrub-like tree peony. These plants have bigger flowers and more varied colors than their herbaceous cousins. They’re also more difficult to divide — cutting an herbaceous peony root is like cutting a potato, but cutting an intersectional
peony root is like cutting through locust wood, Ricardo said.
Suzanne has a particular love for peonies, savoring their enormous blooms and seemingly limitless variety of colors. She also loves their practicality.
“They're really easy to grow,” she said. “They don't have any insect problems. The ants and the ladybugs on them in the early spring are all part of their ecosystem. They eat the sticky substance on the bud, and then it signals the plant to bloom. The deer don't like them, which is a good thing. So as long as you have full sun and well-drained soil, you're going to have a plant for hundreds of years.”
When well-tended, peonies can live for centuries. For the healthiest plants, Ricardo recommends giving them a fertilizer containing 10% each of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium when the shoots first come up and a blooming fertilizer later as they prepare to flower.
Despite peonies being easy to grow, some people still manage to abuse them. Peonies love the weather in Western North Carolina, Ricardo said, but not the thick clay soil found in most parts of it. Raised beds and clay pots make the best homes for peonies, because underneath most garden beds lurks a slick of clay that acts like a pan, capturing water and holding it close to the peony’s moisture-sensitive roots. Ricardo runs a “peony rescue” operation on the side, doctoring neglected or unhappy peonies from brown thumb gardeners.
“I get all these neglected poor peonies, that they look really bad,” he said. “The roots are black and
basically drowned in water because of the clay, and then I work on it, give them a fungicide bath and give it back to the owner.”
Looking toward the store of potted peonies awaiting purchase this May, Ricardo makes it clear that he hopes a gentler fate awaits these plants. He divides and harvests them in such a way that their root development is “incredible” by the time they go up for sale. He wants them to have long and healthy lives after leaving Wildcat Ridge.
“You’re taking my live babies, so I want pictures,” he says, a half-serious joke.
After the flood, Ricardo and Suzanne began adding new peony plants each year, slowly building up the display as they rebuilt their lives.
“We needed to start all over again from zero,” he said.
While rehabilitating a farm that looked “like a bomb exploded,” they were busy keeping their restaurant in Waynesville afloat. The Fernandezes owned Lomo Grill from 1994 to 2010, when it became Frog’s Leap Public House. As one of the region’s first farm-to-table restaurants, the business depended on produce the couple grew on their farm, making the years following the flood especially challenging.
“But we survived,” Suzanne said. “It took us a couple years to get it all back growing again.”
It was hard, but the Fernandezes are used to reinvention. Born in Argentina, Ricardo was a gymnast and a swimmer, at 18 becoming his country’s national springboard diving champion. He arrived in the United States at age 20, coaching girls’ gymnastics and then becoming aquatic director for a YMCA in New Jersey. From
Learn about the unique geology of Western North Carolina — and how to spot evidence of it while out hiking — during a program at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
Western Carolina University Professor Cheryl Waters-Tormey will give the talk, to be held in the library’s Community Room. Free, and co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. Contact 828.586.2016 or jcpladults@fontanalib.org with questions.
Explore the love-hate relationship between birds and insects during a talk from Balsam Mountain Trust Executive Director Michael Wall at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva.
there, he started coaching nationwide for the YMCA, later moving to Boca Raton, Florida, to become a judge for the International Swimming Hall of Fame Aquatic Center in Fort Lauderdale.
When an injury ended his coaching career, he and Suzanne pressed into their love of food, becoming buyers agents for clients looking to export products to Brazil, Argentina and Chile. They later focused on importing from South American countries — first produce, and later wine. In the 1990s, it was time for another change, and they moved to Western North Carolina.
For a plant and food lover like Ricardo, it was a good move. WNC’s four-season climate supports a diversity of plants, and Ricardo took a Master Gardener course to learn how to best help his “babies” thrive. He continues fine-tuning that knowledge with each passing peony season.
Today, Wildcat Ridge Farm is in its third incarnation, as farm-to-table produce gave way to orchids, which gave way to peonies. The Fernandezes also have other irons in the fire. Since 2015, they have led food and wine tours through Ricardo’s home country of Argentina a couple times a year, and in 2018 they built Haywood County’s first yurt, which visitors can rent on Airbnb.
But peony season is the highlight of the year. May is the “magic month,” when everything blooms, and the property is full of people. It’s a favorite stop for people who once grew peonies but no longer can after moving into a condo or retirement home. Vans from area garden clubs often sit in the parking lot. Parents bring their children, and artists their brushes. Picnic tables invite people to bring a bag lunch and hang out, listening to the river and smelling the flowers.
Tending 1,000 peonies is a lot of work,
but gazing over that scene each year makes it all worthwhile. Even when the flowers aren’t blooming, the peony garden brings Ricardo joy, because babying plants is what he loves to do.
“I believe that you need to have the passion in what you’re doing, and if you have the passion, you will excel,” Ricardo said. “It doesn’t matter what you do. Everybody will say, ‘Wow.’”
The Festival of Peonies in Bloom is in full swing at Wildcat Ridge Farm in Crabtree. A garden featuring 95 varieties of peonies is open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. through May 31.
Herbaceous and intersectional peony plants, and peony flowers are available for sale — just bring a bucket.
The farm is located at 3552 Panther Creek Road in the Crabtree area of Haywood County. 828.627.6751 or wildcatridgefarm.com.
Birds and insects are inextricably entwined, as shown by bird names like flycatchers, gnatcatchers and bee-eaters. But insects are more than just bird food, interacting with them in amazing ways. Wall, an entomologist who spent the last 16 years conducting research on bees and other insects at the San Diego Natural History Museum, will discuss the relationship between these creatures and how to create a better world for both in backyards and beyond.
Free, and co-sponsored by Friends of the Jackson County Public Library. Contact 828.586.2016 or jcpl-adults@fontanalib.org with questions.
Since 2021, the Highlands Biological Foundation has invested $300,000 in its University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Highlands Field Site Program.
The investment aims to provide “unparalleled opportunities” for undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience in biology and environmental science. A semester in the program introduces students to field work and environmental research, equipping them with experiences and references to move forward with their education and careers.
"The Highlands Field Site provides tremendous training opportunities for the students, and it provides a leg up for them when they're searching for their next job or position,” said Rada Petric, Ph.D., local field biologist and HFS Director. “We find that it increases the likelihood of students' succeeding and exploring spaces in the field they haven't considered before."
This program is a collaborative effort between UNC-Chapel Hill’s Institute for the Environment, the Highlands Biological Station (a multi-campus center of Western Carolina University), the Highlands Biological Foundation and several regional organizations. Funding provided by the Foundation is made possible by support from the local community. Learn more at highlandsbiological.org/foundation.
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Pick up the Pigeon River during a cleanup 910 a.m. Saturday, May 13, in Canton.
The group will meet at Pigeon River Outfitters and disperse to pick up trash along the river, greenway and town. Pigeon River Outfitters will offer free shuttles around town or upstream to get participants started on a cleanup float, with tubes, kayaks and canoes provided free of charge on a first-come, first-
served basis. Volunteers are also welcome to bring their own boats.
Gloves, trash bags, trash grabbers and safety vests provided. Bring a towel. Participants will receive a discount on their first pint at BearWaters Brewing.
Organized by Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by May 12 to Christine O’Brien at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.
After an extensive 11-day search, on May 6 the Great Smoky Mountains National Park halted its active field search for missing Tampa man Gordon Kaye, 68.
“Although this is not the outcome we wanted, we gave our best efforts and completed very thorough ground searches,” said Incident Commander James Latendresse. “The size and scale of the search were only possible with the help of our partners and the dedicated volunteers who gave their time and expertise to look for Mr. Kaye.”
Kaye was last seen near a backcountry campsite Sunday, April 23, and reported missing Wednesday, April 26. A white male with brown hair and blue eyes, Kaye is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs over 200 pounds. He is an experienced hiker, camper and hunter and had reserved a campsite at Deep Creek
The annual Kiwanis Spring Fling will return this week, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 12, at the Waynesville Recreation Center.
Absolutely beautiful 18+ unrestricted acres with endless year round pastoral and mountain views located in the desirable Bethel community with several creek and full livestock fencing.
Campground near Bryson City for 14 days. Operations will now switch from an active search to a limited, but continuous search that may include backcountry patrols, air searches when practical and outreach to hikers heading into the area. Additionally, a missing person investigation is ongoing, and the National Park Service will continue to follow up on any new information.
Over the last two weeks, more than 300 people from 37 agencies and four states searched the ground on foot, horseback and with canine teams looking for Kaye and clues about his location. Rangers also used a drone in areas where vegetation cover allowed it.
Call Smokies Dispatch at 865.436.1230 or Swain County Dispatch at 828.488.2196 with any possible sightings of Kaye or information about his whereabouts.
Inflatables will be set up in the gym with food served in Room A, and the waterpark will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission will be free during these hours, but the gym will be closed for setup.
For more information call 828.456.2030 or email lkinsland@waynesvillenc.gov
Sign up for youth tennis lessons at Mark Watson Park in Sylva through Thursday, May 15. Lessons are for boys and girls in grades 1-6, with lessons beginning on Tuesday, May 23. Grades 1-3 will meet Tuesdays at 5:30-6:15 p.m. and grades 4-6 will meet 6:30-7:15 p.m. Cost is $45 for child.
Register at rec.jackson.org. For more information, contact Andrew Sherling at 828.293.3053, ext. 6 or andrewsherling@jacksonnc.org.
An Environmental Assessment examining the impact of proposed changes associated with the Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan is out for public comment through Friday, June 2.
The plan addresses visitor experience and safety, parking and trail infrastructure rehabilitation for one of the most visited trails in the park. Public input received during civic engagement in summer of 2021 and public scoping in winter of 2022-2023 helped shape the plan. The park is conducting public scoping for the proposed plan in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and
National Historic Preservation Act.
The EA evaluates a no action alternative and a proposed action. Under a no action alternative, there would be no change to the existing Laurel Falls Trail or parking areas. The proposed action includes trail and parking improvements, rest areas along the trail and viewing platforms at the falls.
Learn more and submit comments at parkplanning.nps.gov/LaurelFalls. Hard copy comments can be mailed to Great Smoky Mountains National Park, ATTN: Laurel Falls Trail Management Plan/EA,107 Park Headquarters Road, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
An Ontario man is dead after suffering a heart attack while pedaling the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The Parkway Communications Center received a report of a cyclist in a medical emergency near milepost 430, north of Richland Balsam, at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 3. When first
Bring in your bike for a free tune-up or repair 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Waynesville Recreation Center.
Community Bike Repair Day is organized by Haywood County Recreation and Parks.
responders arrived, they found Stewart Parsons, 65, of Midhurst, Ontario, Canada in cardiac arrest. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Parsons was cycling with a group at the end of the rider line when he fell to the road shoulder. Motorists came to Mr. Parsons aid and administered CPR until medics arrived.
Learn how to take cuttings from native silky camellias, one of the region’s most rare and beautiful blooming plants, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, in Rabun County, Georgia.
Camellia afficionado Jack Johnston will teach
The 2023 Jan Wyatt Symposium will explore unanswered questions about local trout species and their health and wellbeing Thursday, June 15, at Canyon Kitchen in Sapphire.
“Talking Trout” will be a day-long exploration into the history of native trout and fly-fishing in North Carolina. Speakers will present the history of fly fishing as well as information about native trout and local river access. An array of afternoon activities will offer participants hands-on experiences in tying flies, building and casting bamboo rods and more. A Speakers Round Table will provide opportunities for more in-depth conversations with Symposium guests.
The University of Tennessee’s Smoky Mountain Field School has announced a new slate of programs for 2023, offering adults who love the Great Smoky Mountains National Park a chance for deeper connection to this landscape.
Course offerings spread from May to November explore everything from geology to wildflowers to first aid.
Courses include:
• Saturday, May 20: Waterfall Hike and Nature Extravaganza.
• Tuesday and Wednesday, May 30-31: The Light Show in the Smokies.
• Saturday, June 17: Mayday, Mayday: Plane Down!
• Saturday, June 24: Cataloochee Settlement
the class at his home nursery, and each participant will go home with several specimens. The silky camellia is one of only two species of native camellias in the Southeast and is the easier of the two to grow. MidMay is the ideal time to propagate it from cuttings.
Cost is $45. For more information, email blueyodel32@gmail.com. Sign up at alarkaexpeditions.com.
An ongoing exhibit, located in the Zachary Tolbert House at Cashiers Historical Society, will highlight the historical significance of several trout species.
Cost is $100, and proceeds will benefit the Cashiers Historical Society. Sign up under “Events” at cashiershistoricalsociety.org.
Hike.
• Saturday, Aug. 19: Historic Cataloochee Valley, Smoky Mountain Elk and More; Plant Diversity of the Smokies.
• Saturday, Sept. 23: Mystery of Monarch Butterflies.
• Saturday, Oct. 1: Bears of Our Smokies II.
• Saturday, Oct. 7: Cherokee Plant Lore and More.
• Saturday, Oct. 14: Land Navigation with Map and Compass.
• Saturday, Oct. 21: Hiking: Just Getting Started.
• Saturday, Oct. 28: Bears of Our Smokies.
• Saturday, Nov. 4: Fall Colors in an OldGrowth Forest.
• Saturday, Nov. 11: Elkmont: Transition and Change.
Register at smfs.utk.edu or call 865.974.1051.
Take a three-hour forest therapy walk 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, or 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 21, at the Highlands Botanical Garden in Highlands.
Robin Hancock of Renewal by Nature will lead this forest bathing walk, an intense yet relaxed practice that offers renewal and allows newfound inner peace and health to radiate out and positively impact day-to-day experiences.
The walks consist of a series of invitations crafted to encourage participants ot connect with nature through their sense. The Highlands Botanical Foundation is covering $25 of each participant’s program fee, allowing a discounted rate of $20 per person. Register at highlandsbiological.org.
Learn to identify trees during a moderate 6-mile hike Saturday, May 20, in the Sunburst area of Haywood County. The group will meet at 10 a.m. at the picnic tables behind Jukebox Junction Soda Shoppe in Bethel, and the hike will conclude by 4 p.m.
Shannon Rabby, lead instructor of the Fish and Wildlife Management Technology Department at Haywood Community College, will share his knowledge of trees and woody plants while walking toward a waterfall. Hikers should be prepared to hike through mud and several small streams. Bring and lunch and water, and leave pets at home.
Organized by Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College. Free for HWA members, with a $5 donation requested from nonmembers. Memberships start at $25. Space limited. Sign up with Christine O’Brien at christine@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.
Go camping with the family during an event Friday, May 19, through Saturday, May 20, at Ralph J. Andrews Campground on Lake Glenville in Jackson County.
The experience will include s’mores, a campfire and paddling. Dinner on Friday and breakfast Saturday will be provided, with kayaking and fishing offered Saturday morning. Cost is $65 for a family of four, with an additional $10 for every additional family member up to six per campsite. Immediate family will not have to rent additional sites.
Equipment rentals are available. Tents are $10, sleeping bags $5 and sleeping mats $2. Register at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program.
Adventure-themed artwork by the late William Nealy on loan from Nantahala Outdoor Center is on display through June 9 at the Reece Museum at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.
The exhibit, “Mr. December: The Life, Art & Experience of William Nealy ... Illustrator & Outdoor Sports Cult Hero,” features over 100 original maps, cartoons, comics, books and sketches. Also on display are large-scale reproductions of Nealy’s art, including an 8-
foot-tall map of the Nolichucky River. Visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a unique prize.
Nealy — an artist, author and part-time adventurer — began creating a series of hand-drawn river maps and guidebooks during the late 1970s that became popular among rafters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The exhibition, curated by Dr. Scott Honeycutt and Reece staff, features Nealy’s work, and celebrates his adventure lifestyle through an installation of various outdooradventure equipment.
For more information, visit etsu.edu/reece.
Puzzles can be found on page 38
These are only the answers.
Snapping turtles have been on my mind this spring after one showed up in our pond. Its arrival was not unexpected; it comes every spring — and with increasing presence. When Becky and I first saw the turtle years ago, it would have fit in the palm of my hand. We named it “Snappie” and hoped the little turtle would stay for a while — which turned out to be all summer. But as the turtle kept returning each spring, the cute-sounding “Snappie” no longer fit the formidable-looking reptile now living in our pond. What a long, saw-toothed tail it had grown! What a hooked beak on the end of its snout! So, we began to call it “Snapper.”
Where Snapper comes from is a mystery. All we know is it doesn’t over-winter in the pond. For one thing, there’s no mud on the bottom for a “mud turtle” — to use an old name — to burrow in for the winter. When we built the pond, which is about the size of a swimming pool, we sealed its basin with a thick liner, and covered that with flat rocks.
For another, when we draw the pond down in February to clean out the year’s accumulation of leaves, letting it fill again with fresh spring water, every overwintering creature comes to light. We don’t stock the pond with fish, but salamanders and tadpoles, looking confused as to why their water world has shrunk, swim in the pool left in the deepest spot. But Snapper is not there.
We think it goes down to Moses Creek, where there’s mud enough for it to burrow in to survive the winter’s coldest snap. There the turtle will slow its pulse and breathing until life is barely a whisper. When spring returns, it claws its way out of the warming mud and heads back up to the pond.
I’m always happy to see Snapper, but Becky has mixed feelings about it. That’s because spring is also the time when she shows up in the pond, attracted by the warming weather. A dip in the pond is all it takes to break our inner heat on the hottest days. We go in every afternoon, twice during the Dog Days.
I wade in slowly, lie back and float, looking up at our house and the trees and the blue sky. But Becky doesn’t wade. She doesn’t want to touch the bottom because of That Which Lies Below.
Nature books assure us that except when feeding on prey, such as tadpoles and frogs, “snapping turtles rarely bite underwater.” But Becky reads “rarely” to mean they can bite if they want. So, holding a yellow inner tube close, she launches with what she tells herself is a turtle-cowing big splash. I watch her float contentedly around the pond’s edge on her yellow ring, slowly kicking her legs like a frog and looking at the mosses and flowers, while the pond’s one snake peers out from a moist crevice in the rocks. I don’t tell her the kicking makes her look like prey.
Becky has mixed feelings about the turtle for another reason too. Snapper eats her water lily. Becky planted the lily in a pot, and it extends long stalks up from the bottom of the pond to unfurl heart-shaped leaves in the sun, where they slowly change from maroon to summery green. Then one morning we wake to see the plant chomped down to nubs. As if to let us know who did it, the turtle leaves a single leaf floating disconsolate on the surface, with a pie-shaped bite mark in it. The lily sends up more leaves. Again, the turtle strikes. Under such assault, the plant never grows pure white blossoms or set seeds.
Snapper makes it up to Becky when it joins us for lunch. We sit on the porch, sandwiches in one hand, binoculars in the other, knowing the turtle’s head will come up beside a certain shelving rock every few minutes. And when it does rise, our binoculars rise too. The head may stay up for just one breath, or it may linger awhile, the eye on us, rimmed by a dimple of water that looks like the halo around the head of a saint in early Christian art.
Once Snapper has its fill of air and saintliness, the head retracts, the dark shell tips down. The last thing we see is the long, reptilian tail disappearing under the rock. Becky says that tail gives her the willies.
(Snapper, Part II will appear in the June 14 issue of SMN.)
Burt and Becky Kornegay live in Jackson County.
• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m.-noon at Bridge Park in Sylva, 110 Railroad St. Special events listed on Facebook and Instagram.
• The Jackson Arts Market takes place from 1-5 p.m. every Saturday at 533 West Main St. in Sylva with live music and an array of local artists.
• Cowee School Farmer’s Market is held Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m., at 51 Cowee School Drive in Franklin. The market has produce, plant starts, eggs, baked goods, flowers, food trucks and music. For more information or for an application, visit www.coweeschool.org or call 828.369.4080.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park is once again welcoming visitors. It is open to the public each week 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. For more information email info@jacksonnc.org or 828.631.0271.
• Kiwanis Spring Fling will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 12 at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Free admission to the public during these hours.
• Memorial Day market, hosted by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, will take place 4-6 p.m. May 26 at the Chamber Visitor’s Center. There will be local woodworking, pottery and glass demonstrations and Dogs on Wheels food vendor.
• WestBridge Vocational, a nonprofit organization will host a Fire Truck Pull 1-5 p.m. Saturday, May 13, at Smoky Mountain High School Track. The funds raised are in support of its mission - connecting people to opportunity. For more information visit www.westbridgevoc.org or email mrogers@westbridgevoc.org.
• SeekHealing will hold a grand opening of its hub in Haywood County 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, in downtown Waynesville, at 116 Depot Street. There will be free pizza and refreshments and authentic human connection. SeekHealing’s Haywood Community Drop-In Center will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1-5 p.m. beginning May 16. For more information contact Toni Lynn Holcombe at toni@seekhealing.org.
• Mountain Area pregnancy Services and the WIC Breastfeeding Peer Counselor work together to provide a casual support group for prenatal and breastfeeding individuals from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesdays at Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, 177 N Main St. Waynesville, NC. All are welcome, registration is recommended. For more information please call 828.558.4550.
• The Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library Creative Writing Group meets 10:30 a.m.-noon on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.
• Knit Night takes place at 5:30-7:30 p.m. every second Tuesday of the month at The Stecoah Valley Center. The event is free and open to the public. RSVP is recommended: 828.479.3364 or amber@stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Sylva Writers Group meets at 10:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at City Lights Bookstore. For more information contact sylvawriters@gmail.com.
n All phone numbers area code 828 unless otherwise noted.
n To have your item listed email to calendar@smokymountainnews.com
• Tremont Writers Conference, an intensive five-day retreat for writers of fiction, nonfiction and poetry will take place Wednesday, Oct. 25-29. Applications to participate in the event may be submitted online now through April 30 at writers.gsmit.org.
• Creative Writing Club will take place at 3:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. The writing club is intended for ages 8-12. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Mother Goose Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Wednesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children from birth to 2 years old. For more information, contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• Wiggle Worms Storytime takes place 10:30-11 a.m. every Tuesday, at the Waynesville branch of the Haywood County Public Library. Ideal for children 2-6 years old. For more information contact Lisa at lisa.hartzell@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2511.
• Next Chapter Book Club Haywood is a fun, energetic and highly interactive book club, ideal for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The group meets every second and fourth Monday of the month. For more information, email Jennifer at jennifer.stuart@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2561.
• Storytime takes place at 10 a.m. every Tuesday at the Macon County Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Toddler’s Rock takes place at 10 a.m. every Monday at the Macon County Library. Get ready to rock with songs, books, rhymes and playing with instruments. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Culture Talk takes place at 2 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Macon County Public Library. Travel the world from inside your library. This event features guest speakers and food sampling from the location being discussed. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Art afternoon takes place at 3:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Macon County Public Library. For more information visit fontanalib.org or call 828.524.3600.
• Art in the Gardens will take place April 2-May 15 at Lake Junaluska. Artwork by Lake Junaluska community artists will be featured in several of the 16 gardens throughout the grounds. For more information visit lakejunaluska.com/activities.
• “Meander in May,” the free, self-guided arts festival organized by the Highlands Chamber of Commerce/Visit Highlands, NC will return at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 20.
For more information and a schedule of events visit highlandschamber.org.
• Concerts on the Creek takes place 7-9 p.m. every Friday from Memorial Day to Labor Day at Bridge Park. There are food trucks and beer vendors at ever concert. First concert is May 26 by The Foreign Landers. For more information or a complete schedule visit mountainlovers.com/concerts-on-the-creek/.
• Paint and Sip at Waynesville Art School will be held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7-9:30 p.m. To learn more and register call 828.246.9869 or visit PaintAndSipWaynesville.com/upcoming-events. Registration is required, $45.
• Mountain Makers Craft Market will be held from noon-4 p.m. the first Sunday of each month at 308 North Haywood St. in downtown Waynesville. Over two dozen artisans selling handmade and vintage goods. Special events will be held when scheduled. mountainmakersmarket.com.
• Smoky Mountain Event Center presents Bingo Night with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and games starting at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. For more information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.
• Chess 101 takes place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday in the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Public Library. No registration required, for more information call 828.648.2924.
• Wired Wednesday, one-on-one technology help is available at 3-5 p.m. every Wednesday at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information or to register, call 828.648.2924.
• Uptown Gallery, 30 East Main St. Franklin, will be offering Children’s Art Classes Wednesdays afternoons. Adult workshops in watercolor, acrylic paint pouring, encaustic and glass fusing are also offered. Free painting is available 10 a.m.-3 p.m. every Monday in the classroom. A membership meeting takes place on the second Sunday of the month at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Call 828.349.4607 for more information.
• “Thursday Painters” group will be held from 10 a.m.3 p.m. on Thursdays at The Uptown Gallery in Franklin. Free and open to the public. All skill levels and mediums are welcome. Participants are responsible for their own project and a bag lunch. 828.349.4607 or pm14034@yahoo.com.
• “Bloom with a View,” will take place May 1-14 at the N.C. Arboretum. The floral installation features a bevy of hydrangeas, lilies, Cala lilies and more displayed throughout the gardens, walkways and promenades. While the exhibit is on display, parking at the Arboretum will be $30 per vehicle. For more information, sot ncbloomwithaview.com.
• A hike to celebrate the Year of the Trail will reach Wildcat Falls in Haywood County on Saturday, May 13, with the Haywood County Recreation and Parks. Hike registration is $10, sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.
• Pick up the Pigeon River during a cleanup 9-10 a.m.
Visit www.smokymountainnews.com and click on Calendar for:
n Complete listings of local music scene
n Regional festivals
n Art gallery events and openings
n Complete listings of recreational offerings at health and fitness centers
n Civic and social club gatherings
Saturday, May 13, in Canton. Organized by Haywood Waterways Association. RSVP by May 12 to Christine O’Brien at christine.haywoodwaterways@gmail.com or 828.476.4667, ext. 11.
• Sign up for youth tennis lessons at Mark Watson Park in Sylva through Thursday, May 15. Lessons are for boys and girls in grades 1-6, with lessons beginning on Tuesday, May 23. Grades 1-3 will meet Tuesdays at 5:30-6:15 p.m. and grades 4-6 will meet 6:30-7:15 p.m. Cost is $45 for child. Register at rec.jackson.org. For more information, contact Andrew Sherling at 828.293.3053, ext. 6 or andrewsherling@jacksonnc.org.
• Learn now to take cuttings from native silky camellias, one of the region’s most rare and beautiful blooming plants, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, in Rabun County, Georgia. Cost is $45. For more information, email blueyodel32@gmail.com. Sign up at alarkaexpeditions.com.
• The Strawberry Jam Half Marathon/5K will return for its second year Saturday, May 20, in Bryson City. The half marathon will start at 7 a.m. and the 5K at 7:15 a.m. Registration is $70 for the half marathon and $35 for the 5K. Sign up at gloryhoundevents.com.
• Learn to identify trees during a moderate 6-mile hike Saturday, May 20, in the Sunburst area of Haywood County. The group will meet at 10 a.m. at the picnic tables behind Jukebox Junction Soda Shoppe in Bethel, and the hike will conclude by 4 p.m. Organized by Haywood Waterways Association and Haywood Community College. Free for HWA members, with a $5 donation requested from nonmembers. Memberships start at $25. Space limited. Sign up with Christine O’Brien at christine@haywoodwaterways.org or 828.476.4667, ext. 1.
• Hike from Big Creek to Walnut Bottoms in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park Wednesday, May 17, with the Haywood County Recreation and Parks. Hike registration is $10, sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.
• Free Bike tuneup or repair will be offered 9:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 20, at the Waynesville Recreation Center. Community Bike Repair Day is organized by Haywood County Recreation and Parks.
• Go camping with the family during an event Friday, May 19, through Saturday, May 20, at Ralph J. Andrews Campground on Lake Glenville in Jackson County. Equipment rentals are available. Tents are $10, sleeping bags $5 and sleeping mats $2. Register at jcprd.recdesk.com/community/program.
• Take a three-hour forest therapy walk 5-8 p.m. Saturday, May 20, or 9 a.m. to noon Sunday, May 21, at the Highlands Botanical Garden in Highlands. Register at highlandsbiological.org.
• Hike to Blackrock via Black Rock Trail Wednesday, May 24, with the Haywood County Recreation and Parks. Hike registration is $10, sign up at haywoodcountync.gov/recreation.
• The Cashiers Historical Society will host the Jan Wyatt Symposium, “Talking Trout,” on Thursday, June 15, at Canyon Kitchen in Lonesome Valley, Sapphire. For more information visit cahsiershistoricalsociety.org.
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
p: 828.452.4251 · f:828.452.3585
classads@smokymountainnews.com www.wncmarketplace.com
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.23-E-189 Cynthia Farrell, James Roy Green Jul 19 2023
Petition For Payment Of Surplus Funds
turn key restaurant in Haywood County. Prime location with access to all major highways. Call Bruce McGovern (828) 2832112 mcgovernpropertymgt@gmail.com
Administrator 3225 Blue Ridge Road, Suite 117 Raleigh, NC 27612
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.2023 E 000216
Billy Edward Cogburn Jul 19 2023
May 10, 2023
DRINKING PROBLEM?
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CENTER SUPERVISOR AT KNEEDLER CHILD
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Heritage
• Carolyn Lauter - carolyn@bhgheritage.com
Allen Tate/Beverly-Hanks Realtors - beverly-hanks.com
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• Landen Stevenson- landen@landenkstevenson.com
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• Phyllis Robinson - lakeshore@lakejunaluska.com
Mountain Dreams Realty- maggievalleyhomesales.com
• Lyndia Massey- buyfromlyndia@yahoo.com
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• Rob Roland - 828-400-1923
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