Bryson City residents decry water rate increase Page 8
Blue Ridge Parkway visitation, spending grows Page 16
On the Cover:
School districts across the state have struggled to find enough bus drivers to operate all the normal routes to pick students up for school, and Western North Carolina is no exception. However, some local school districts have taken it upon themselves to try to find solutions to provide higher salaries that will attract more bus drivers. (page 6) Stock photo
News
Rachel Hunt seeks to build on her own legacy in Lt. Gov. race............................4
Waynesville police chief to appeal certification suspension....................................7
Bryson City residents decry water rate increase........................................................8
Cherokee adult-recreational cannabis use begins Saturday................................11
Blue Ridge School families demand action..............................................................12
WCU hosts 14th annual ‘Rooted in the Mountains’ symposium........................14 Parkway visitation, spending grows............................................................................16
Already leaning into the fall season ............................................................................20 He’s not gone, he’s just getting started ....................................................................21
A&E
Shine your light: Patton Magee of The Nude Party................................................22 Harrah’s Cherokee welcomes ZZ Top........................................................................27
Outdoors
Dedicated Smokies volunteer force protects elk and people..............................30 The Joyful Botanist: Rowan on a mountain................................................................34
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There seems to be more interest lately in non-alcoholic (N
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A) out alcohol y restaurants s, or water beverages
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In the hunt
Rachel Hunt seeks to build on her own legacy in Lt. Gov. race
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
It’s a name familiar to older North Carolina voters largely due to her father’s two separate eight-year terms as the state’s governor, but Mecklenburg attorney, former House representative and current Sen. Rachel Hunt’s been building her own legacy and is poised to serve as lieutenant governor in what she hopes will be a Gov. Josh Stein administration, if they can both win.
On Aug. 28, inside the tiny Jackson County Democratic Party office on Mill Street in Sylva, Hunt spoke to an enthusiastic group of volunteers and supporters surrounded by campaign yard signs — some of which read, “I’m a Hunt Democrat.”
“A ‘Hunt Democrat’ is someone who believes that government can do good for people, can make people’s lives better,” Hunt told The Smoky Mountain News. “A ‘Hunt Democrat’ is a moderate person who believes in working across party lines to get things done and that, of course, harkens back to my father’s 16 years as governor and four years as lieutenant governor.”
James B. Hunt served as lieutenant governor under Republican Gov. James Holshouser from 1973 to 1977 and then succeeded Holshouser as governor, winning two terms and serving through 1985. After Hunt mounted an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign against incumbent Republican Jesse Helms in 1984, Hunt exited the scene for nearly a decade as Republican James G. Martin won two gubernatorial terms of his own and served from 1985 to 1993. Hunt returned, won two more terms and occupied the state’s highest office until 2001.
7 p.m. every day.”
The 2020 rematch between Hunt and Brawley wasn’t close, with Hunt topping Brawley by almost 10 points. Although Hunt said her district had changed somewhat, it still took a lot of work and perhaps demonstrated the advantage of being a self-proclaimed moderate who could talk to voters of all political persuasions.
“In the first one I had to win by going to Republican and unaffiliated households, and in the second one there were more Democrats and more unaffiliated folks,” she said.
Hunt prevailed in her 2022 Senate campaign over Republican Cheryl Russo with 54.96% of the vote in a district that had performed at 50.1% Democrat and 47.1% Republican from 2016 to 2022. It ended up being another nearly 10-point win.
Carolina’s state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and lieutenant governor all serve on the State Board of Education and have considerable influence there.
“I have heard that that Lt. Gov. Robinson has not attended board meetings himself. He has sent a surrogate, and that is not at all the way I would approach that role,” Hunt said. A recent story in The Atlantic also pointed out that Robinson hasn’t attended a single meeting of another board he sits on, the state’s Military Affairs Commission.
Regardless, Hunt said that Robinson isn’t focused on education and has simply been running the Republican playbook by demanding cuts to public school funding and promoting vouchers that go to schools that can and do discriminate against students for any number of reasons, but don’t require certified teachers and don’t report academic performance.
was the tremendous amount of work, but that pales in comparison to running her statewide campaign for lieutenant governor, a role that comes with very little formal power.
His daughter Rachel won her first House race in 2018, defeating Republican incumbent Bill Brawley by just 68 votes, out of more than 38,000 ballots cast.
“I did that by working incredibly hard. First of all, my kids were grown. They were out of the house. They were in college,” she said. “I did not have another job at that time because it took like 60 hours a week of work, raising money from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day and then canvassing from 4-
Current Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson isn’t Hunt’s opponent; Robinson is running for governor against Stein, but Robinson’s performance in the role over the past four years has cast a long shadow over Hunt and Republican nominee Hal Weatherman, who The Smoky Mountain News interviewed shortly after he announced his candidacy in March 2023.
One of the places the lieutenant governor does wield some power is in the state’s educational spaces. North
“If taxpayer money is going to a school, I say it has to be accountable to the taxpayer,” she said. “Part of that accountability is the performance reports every year and those schools don’t necessarily have to file those.”
Robinson told The Smoky Mountain News in April that he indeed wants to slash the state’s school budget, “… but when I say slash, I don’t mean redirected from education, I mean redirected to education,” instead of to bureaucrats.
That would be a tall order after his calls for the Department of Public Instruction to refuse federal education funding and the dissolution of the U.S. Department of Education as called for in the controversial conservative manifesto, Project 2025. For the 2023-24 school year, the General Assembly’s $11.44 billion in funding got a $1.66 billion boost from federal (non-COVID) funds, which go mostly towards low-income or disabled children.
“School systems are not able to take up that funding [locally] and provide the amount of money that those children need, because a lot of localities don’t have the money that your Mecklenburg County or your Wake County has. That would make education very disparate according to where you live,” she said. “That is not going to serve children or families in this country.”
Aside from funding, larger issues in the national and state educational system center on F
State Sen. Rachel Hunt won her threecandidate Democratic Primary Election for lieutenant governor back in March with 70% of the vote. Cory Vaillancourt photo
LGBTQ+ issues, like library books and parental consent. Just last week, former President Donald Trump made more false claims at a “Moms for Liberty” event, telling attendees that “the transgender thing is an incredible thing … your kid goes to school and he comes home a few days later with an operation. The school decides what’s going to happen with your child and you know, many of these childs [sic] 15 years later say ‘What the hell happened, who did this to me?’”
Last year, Weatherman told SMN that North Carolina’s teachers should tell students who ask questions about LGBTQ+ issues to “go ask your parents.” Hunt says there’s a problem with that.
“I think kids look to teachers and people at school because sometimes they can’t ask their parents. Some parents refuse to talk about issues or don’t have answers,” she said. “Parents don’t have all the answers, but teachers are incredibly important for children. They are people that we all look up to, and we need to treat them like the professionals that they are.”
The lieutenant governor also sits on the state board of the N.C. Community College System, although in early 2023 Robinson’s Primary Election opponent, Folwell, said he’d never seen Robinson at one of the meetings. Former Buncombe County Democratic Sen. Terry Van Duyn, herself a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2020, said she’s seen Robinson at “maybe two” meetings in person and that he sends a surrogate “to every or almost every meeting.”
Given funding challenges associated with community colleges of late, both Van Duyn and Hunt think it would have been better for Robinson, who also serves as the president of the Senate, to appear in person at some or all meetings.
In places like Haywood County, community colleges do far more than offer students a cheap way to rack up college credits before earning bachelor’s degrees elsewhere. Their role in workforce development is critical, and sometimes they go far beyond what might be considered their expected scope. When Pactiv Evergreen announced it would close one of the county’s largest employers with almost no notice in 2023, it was HCC and its president, Shelley White, that quickly stepped up to address immediate and long-term challenges like health care coverage and unemployment.
“I’ve always been a huge proponent of community colleges,” Hunt said. “I was the vice chair of the community college committee in the House, the only Democrat to hold that position, and I believe workforce development is the most important thing for our rural communities today. We have got to fund fully these community college programs that are going to provide workers, especially for rural areas.”
For many, the ability to work or to attend school is being undercut by the state’s ongoing child care crisis. In July, North Carolina Child Care Stabilization grants, part of President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion American Rescue Plan, expired after bringing $1.3 billion to the state’s child care providers in what the White House called the “single
biggest investment in child care since World War II.” After the long-awaited deadline, the General Assembly went on to fund a fraction of the required amount, for just a few months, but the problem will soon reemerge.
“We go back to Raleigh Nov. 18 for a week. I have not heard that they are going to take up that topic. It’s obviously whatever President Pro Temp [Sen. Phil Berger, RRockingham] wants to bring up,” Hunt said. “I would think that they’ve heard from their constituents all over the state that this is a real, huge problem. I mean, I’ve been meeting with child care providers all over the state for a year and a half, and they are just desperate to get some additional funding,”
While Weatherman’s well known among party insiders, particularly Republicans — he worked for conservative pioneer and longtime Congresswoman Sue Myrick, as well as her son, then-Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, and then for Western North Carolina Congressman Madison Cawthorn — he may be less known among voters outside those political bubbles.
Hunt, whose family name still carries a certain luster in this state, has seen her own name regularly splashed around the millionplus media market in Charlotte during her recent service in the General Assembly, which may provide an edge in name recognition over Weatherman. However, a good part of Hunt’s fortune at the polls in November will be determined by those above her on the ballot — Stein and Robinson, Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president. Polls show Trump and Harris neck-and-neck but Stein with a lead over Robinson that fluctuates but has largely remained outside the margin of error. If Stein and Harris do well, it stands to reason Hunt might too.
That would create a situation that hasn’t happened in the Old North State since Democratic Gov. Bev Perdue’s term ended in 2013, namely, a Democratic governor backed up by a Democratic lieutenant governor. Termed-out Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, has been looking over his shoulder at Robinson for the past four years and did the same with Robinson’s predecessor Forest.
“It just makes for a better state. I mean, the governor is able to leave the state, travel, get companies to come back into North Carolina without fear that something terrible is going to happen in the legislature even if we still have a Republican majority,” Hunt said. “The lieutenant governor can serve on boards and commissions, you know, just whatever the governor needs. The lieutenant governor is just there to support the governor.”
The idea of supporting the governor, at least, is one thing both Republicans and Democrats recognize.
“[Weatherman] said he wants to be a force multiplier for Robinson,” said Hunt. “He’s an apostle of Robinson. We all know that he has the same values and the same ideas for how government should work, and they’re the exact opposite of what Josh Stein has.”
Bus drivers wanted Local schools face
non-certified staffing shortages
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Finding enough bus drivers to operate all necessary routes has become a common issue for school systems across North Carolina and districts in the westernmost part of the state are not immune. With the new school year now underway, local school systems are on the hunt for these vital employees.
Jackson County Public Schools addressed the bus driver shortage during its Aug. 27 board meeting in an effort to move toward long-term solutions. But delving into the bus driver shortage reveals a more pervasive issue — staffing shortage across all non-certified, hourly positions.
“We are currently in need of eight bus drivers, multiple nutrition staff and several custodians across the district,” said Superintendent Dana Ayers. “As a reminder, all non-certified staff are paid a minimum of $15 an hour or more based on relevant experience. I encourage anyone interested to contact our human resources department or view vacancies online.”
Over the past several years the North Carolina General Assembly has mandated increases for hourly staff in the public education system, with those employees now starting out at $15 an hour.
In Jackson County, as in several others surrounding counties, certified staff like teachers and administration are left to fill the holes when a school system cannot hire enough bus drivers.
“I’m thankful for Ms. Jackson, the new assistant principal [at Blue Ridge School], who willingly drives a bus as do Ms. Cowen, Dr. Frizzell and several teachers,” said Ayers.
During its August meeting, Ayers told the school board that JCPS has been unsuccessful in hiring bus drivers and
custodians, even with print and online postings. The school system has also disseminated flyers for parents both in English and in Spanish.
Last fall, JCPS implemented a new salary study which had been in the works for about two years. The study was focused on not just what the state requires for non-certified employees but explored what JCPS could do to acknowledge and give credit to employees who have spent several years working in the district, or have relevant experience coming in. Those employees who had been with the system for multiple years saw a boost in their hourly wage after the salary study was put in place.
School Board Member Lynn Dillard requested that the board have the conversation about bus drivers and other hourly employees and said she recognizes that there are plenty of other jobs in the area that start closer to, or above, $20 per hour.
“Why should they come and work at our cafeteria or drive our buses when they can’t make enough money?”
Dillard asked, rhetorically. “If we can give the principals a $10,000 sign-on bonus, why can’t we give the nutritional staff and the bus drivers a sign-on bonus of some nice amount? And then give the people who’ve been doing those things for years and years an equal amount of money to level things out?”
In 2022, JCPS offered principals at Blue Ridge School a $10,000 sign-on bonus. Last year, the school system implemented a $3 pay differential for custodians at Blue Ridge School. Both moves were made due to the heightened difficulty of staffing Blue Ridge School. [See Blue Ridge School, page 12]
Newly elected school board member and previous county commissioner Gayle Woody noted that while people used to
seek out jobs in the school system because of the benefits associated with those positions, pay in other sectors is now so much higher that even robust benefits are less of a draw.
“So many of these resorts up in Cashiers and even some of the restaurants now are paying so much more per hour and that’s money in their pocket today, they have bills today,” Woody said.
“Those are dreadful jobs. These people get up at four o’clock in the morning and cook breakfast, then they cook lunch. And the bus drivers, my gosh, they get up at 4:30 a.m., then they come back at three and stay gone until 6 and 7 o’clock. So, I think that deserves a little bit of extra attention.”
— Lynn Dillard, Jackson County School Board member
Beyond just the hourly pay issue though, Dillard recognized the inherent strains of the hourly positions within public schools.
“Those are dreadful jobs,” Dillard said. “These people get up at four o’clock in the morning and cook breakfast, then they cook lunch. And the bus drivers, my gosh, they get up at 4:30 a.m., then they come back at F
File photo
Waynesville police chief to appeal certification suspension
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams had all of his law enforcement instructor certifications suspended by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission; however, he told The Smoky Mountain News late last week that he plans to appeal the commission’s ruling.
Adams was an instructor at Blue Ridge Community College’s Basic Law Enforcement program in Henderson County, where he’s originally from and where he cut his teeth as a young police officer. That program came under fire earlier this year when an investigation that began last year determined that “physical and verbal abuse” was inflicted on trainees by instructors, and some trainees even suffered injuries.
A video obtained by the television news station WLOS depicts a session where trainees are learning how to apprehend a combative suspect using a variety of blocks and strikes, including with a simulation baton. The video shows instructors who are role playing as belligerent suspects striking trainees. When one trainee’s helmet is knocked off, an instructor hits the trainee as he turns around with what is
three and stay gone until 6 and 7 o’clock. So, I think that deserves a little bit of extra attention.”
School board member Abigail Clayton agreed with Dillard saying that she has spoken with several bus drivers from across the district that have left, many of whom say they wouldn’t come back even if they were offered more money.
“It’s not a fun job,” Clayton said. “They can go somewhere else, they don’t even care if they’re making less money, it’s just not worth it. And I don’t think that’s just our district.”
Clayton is correct. In addition to the dearth of bus drivers in Jackson County Public Schools, Haywood, Macon and Swain counties are all currently looking to fill bus driver positions.
In Macon County, Transportation and Human Resources Director Todd Gibbs said that the school system is short drivers for one and a half routes. The school system currently runs 50 bus routes.
Including regular-route bus drivers, there are a total of over 150 CDL-holding, stateendorsed drivers employed within Macon County Schools. Many of those 150 are coaches, teachers and teacher assistants who are only willing to drive activity buses for athletic events or field trips.
Of the 55 regular-route bus drivers, 11 work as custodians within the school system, three are teacher assistants and 10 are teachers.
Haywood County is currently listing nine open bus driver positions on its website.
“Our neighboring districts are experiencing the same difficulties we are,” Ayers said.
Newly appointed Chairman of the Jackson County Board of Education, Wes Jamison, asked the board what it would take to get a benchmark for the hourly rate the school system would need to offer that would make it competitive.
“A lot of our industry, such as lawn care,
described in the corresponding article as “basically a sucker punch.”
At the time WLOS released that video, it also interviewed a former trainee who spoke under the condition of anonymity and said he didn’t think the harsh training methods would ever come to light since too many people had a “fear of retaliation.”
The North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards revoked Waynesville Police Chief David Adams’ General Instructor certification, Specialized Law Enforcement Driver Training Instructor certification and Specialized Subject Control Arrest Techniques Instructor certification.
While two instructors had their certifications restored, two others — Brevard Police Captain Danny Godman and Columbus Police Chief Kenneth Scott Hamby — also had their certifications suspended.
In May when this investigation was made public, the commission also suspended the college’s BLET program for five years.
Adams said that while he can’t discuss the specific details of his suspension, he “looks forward to clearing this up during the appeal.”
housekeeping, they are able to pay those folks a significantly larger amount of money than we can,” Ayers said.
But even if pay could be competitive, Ayers pointed out that working in the school system requires jumping through a few more hoops than other hourly-paid jobs. School employees like bus drivers and nutrition workers need to pass all of the necessary background checks and get fingerprinted.
“At SCC they have a culinary program and I’m sure they would be delighted to have internships for those students,” Dillard said.
And Moore said the board should look into “student-led jobs, like allowing students to make money that are over 16, cleaning the school up after school, helping with the cafeteria where needed.”
However, Ayers pointed out that due to
“I don’t think any of us disagree that we would love to pay these folks more. But where do we get that money from? Sign-on bonuses are great, but how long do they stay? That retention piece still has to be there as well.”
—
Abigail Clayton, Jackson County School Board member
funds.
“We’re going to be going back to the county commissioners later in the fall to ask for some additional funding,” Ayers said. “Currently, from the state we get and have to turn around and give out about a million dollars to charter schools. It comes to us, and then we have to pay it to charter schools. That’s a million bucks out of our pocket that we have to pass along to schools not within JCPS but those that are not affiliated with JCPS.”
The state requires that for every student residing in a certain county who chooses to attend a charter school rather than a school in the public school district, the amount of state funding allotted per capita follows that student to the charter school it attends. So even in the case of Jackson resident students attending a charter school in a different county, JCPS pays that per capita funding to the school in question.
“I don’t want to devalue the fact that some employers don’t have to do all the things that we have to do,” said Ayers.
School board member Kim Moore noted that with the experience and qualifications required to be a school nutrition worker, someone could probably manage a restaurant and make significantly more money.
“I’ve tried to recruit, but most people in restaurants under the manager, they don’t have to pass a drug test, only the managers,” Moore said.
As is often the case when discussing the need for bus drivers and other hourly positions, the school board’s conversation eventually turned to the question of student labor — many baby boomers might remember the days when high school students drove busses — both in the form of Southwestern Community College students, and those from high school grades within the district.
cleaning materials used by custodians and in the cafeteria, OSHA requires employees to be over the age of 18. Same goes for the bus driver situation. In North Carolina, anyone seeking a Commercial Driver’s License — needed to operate a school bus — has to be 18 years old.
While the board brainstormed several ways to mitigate the issue of bus driver and other hourly employee shortages, it kept coming back to the one underlying piece that the school board ultimately has minimal control and one that holds that holds everything hostage — money.
“I went to the county commissioners and my budget ask was over $13 million and we were given $10 million,” Ayers said. “That’s not fluff money, that’s money to cover salaries and the continued part of our salary scale implementation over time.”
Even a one-time expense like a sign-on bonus, touted by several board members, would need to be paid for through local
“I don’t think any of us disagree that we would love to pay these folks more,” said Clayton. “But where do we get that money from? Sign-on bonuses are great, but how long do they stay? That retention piece still has to be there as well.”
Woody suggested that the board consider passing a resolution that conveys to the county commission how dire the need is for additional funding to cover the vacancies.
“They loaned $2.5 million to Summit Charter School, there’s a healthy fund balance in our county,” Woody said. “I think some kind of formal resolution to the board of commissioners saying this is something that the citizens care about, we care about, and our children deserve this.”
The Jackson County Board of Education may consider a formal resolution in the coming months to request more funding for the hard to fill hourly position. In the meantime, Ayers said she will look at implementing sign on bonuses and partnering with SCC and its culinary program.
Waynesville Police Chief David Adams. File photo
Bryson City residents decry water rate increase
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
It’s been a long time coming, in a sense, but frustrations have finally reached a boiling point as Bryson City raised water rates ahead of what promises to be a few expensive municipal projects.
The furor began last month when residents and business owners noticed their water bills had sharply increased — in some cases by over 300%. For some businesses like restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and hotels that use a lot of water and can operate on tight margins, such an increase can create a serious hardship.
The start of the new fiscal year was July 1, which began the new water rates that customers saw on their August bills.
The new billing structure implemented July 1 increased the base rates while charging an extra $15 per 1,000 gallons for any usage over 2,000 gallons. Other municipalities in the region are quite a bit cheaper and set their rates based on meter size.
For example, in Maggie Valley, depending on that meter size, customers pay $50 for 15,000 gallons, $75 for 20,000 gallons, $100 for 25,000 gallons or $150 for 35,000 gallons. Additional usage is $7 per 1,000 gallons.
Similarly, for the Town of Highlands, the first 5,000 gallons are included in the base rate and additional usage is $7.50 per extra 1,000 gallons. Larger municipalities like Asheville and Charlotte charge even lower rates.
Bryson City’s new rates are based on a recommendation from the UNC School of Government that aimed to simplify the fee structure. Previously, the town’s usage charges were separate for inside and outside town limits (a fairly common practice also adopted by the likes of Highlands). Inside, the usage rate started at $3.02 for up to 5,000 gallons for water and $3.37
Bryson City has raised its water rates to pay for repairs and expansion to an aging system with a few glaring issues. Stock photo
for sewer. Outside, the usage rate started at $5.91 for water and $6.61 for sewer.
Several business owners and residents turned out at a meeting on Aug. 27 that offered a chance not only to vent frustrations but also to get some answers from elected officials and town staff in a meeting that became contentious to the point that Mayor Tom Sutton shut it down after about two and a half hours.
The Smoky Mountain Times reported on the increased rates and the ire those rates drew throughout last month ahead
of last week’s meeting. An Aug. 14 Smoky Mountain Times story features information obtained during a sit-down with town officials. In that story, it’s mentioned that the system was in a tough spot as it has such few customers — only about 1,800 water and 1,300 sewer — and multiple large capital projects on the horizon, including providing water to a new middle school and constructing a new wastewater treatment plant. In that story, Town Engineer Nate Bowe said he and other officials weren’t concerned with what other systems charge when considering the town’s F
“I realize this is a surprise to many, but that was how it was calculated in striving for a zero-sum finale at the end of fiscal year based on historic consumption of the previous fiscal year and hoping there are some efficiencies realized in the system,” Bowe said in that story.
Last week’s meeting began with Mayor Sutton explaining the situation.
“You’re probably wondering how this got started,” he said. “We’re in the midst of inflation just like everybody else in this country.”
Sutton went on to explain that money is being poured into the sewer system to contend with clay pipes that are old and leaky and have seen heavy infiltration in certain areas when it rains. This has overburdened the already aging wastewater treatment plant that is expected to cost about $15 million to replace.
“It’s literally a sprocket and chain operation down there like your bicycle on some of that stuff,” he said of the plant’s current condition.
One of the biggest issues with the outrage over the new water rates is the lack of communication between the town and the water system’s customers.
“What
address the capital improvement needs. While that money wasn’t awarded this year, he said he will renew that request next year. Some speakers got into the weeds asking questions about how the systems operate and how they are funded. Some of those speakers had done in-depth research and some had misconceptions. All were frustrated with what they considered not only mismanagement of the improvements needed in the water system but also a failure of leadership at the municipal, county and state levels to work together toward solutions.
The speaker who drew perhaps the loudest applause and the most attention once he left the podium was Paul Valone, a conservative author and activist who is especially prominent in the statewide pro-Second Amendment movement. He currently heads up the group Grass Roots North Carolina.
I see is, quite frankly, malfeasance. What I see is the deferment of maintenance and bad judgment in a way that negatively impacts not only business owners but the citizens of the town.”
— Paul Valone
“We’re working on our communication,” Sutton said. “No one’s going to tell you’ve we’ve done as good as we could in communication.”
Sutton noted that the town is developing a new website that will improve communication and that it’s also trying to bolster its social media presence. Sutton also encouraged residents to get on the town’s sunshine list, which enables them to receive emails noticing upcoming meetings, including budget workshops and the like.
“We’re hoping y’all will see this as a twoway street and try looking at our stuff,” he said.
A number of commercial and residential customers took to the podium to voice frustrations, and many were skeptical of recent meter readings that indicate massive increases in usage. Mike Clampitt, who represents Swain, Transylvania and Jackson counties in the North Carolina House of Representatives, voiced his concern. Clampitt, a Bryson City resident, is on the town’s water system and brought photographs of meter readings that indicate a far higher usage. He said the recent high readings were incorrect.
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” he told the board.
In that and other instances, Bowe and Sutton said that people should call in with their concerns, and a town employee will come check out each issue individually.
Clampitt noted in a follow-up interview with The Smoky Mountain News that he is also pursuing avenues in Raleigh to gain more funding, including an ask from the General Assembly for $10 million in state funding to
Valone told the board that he has plenty of experience lobbying at the local and state level for and against certain ordinances and legislation, which can make him an effective thorn in the side of the town board.
“What I see is, quite frankly, malfeasance,” Valone said. “What I see is the deferment of maintenance and bad judgment in a way that negatively impacts not only business owners but the citizens of the town.”
“The easiest way I can see to alleviate this problem would be to create a political action committee to start … raising money and removing members of the town government,” he later noted. “I really don’t want to do that, but if need be, I’m going to start organizing the citizens of this town in a way I do not think you will find pleasant.”
Valone also added that he is no stranger to litigation, should things go that way.
“Please, don’t make me do this,” he said.
As the meeting drew on, there were occasional outbursts from the crowd, which Sutton tried his best to quell.
“This is not the time for you to make side comments,” Sutton said at one point to a woman who began shouting that she was frustrated with her residential rate. “We’re not going to do this.”
Toward the end, as the crowd size waned, a few individuals became more hostile toward the board. During one outburst, a man in the crowd shouted, “Everyone here needs to talk to [Paul Valone].” Eventually, Sutton came to the conclusion there wouldn’t be any more constructive dialogue and called the meeting over, and the couple dozen frustrated customers headed home.
However, Sutton did have one final announcement. He told those in attendance that the town would not shut anyone’s water off, and although the details were a bit fuzzy, he also offered that anyone who was discovered to have overpaid on a bill once this is ironed out would be refunded.
Cherokee adult recreational cannabis sales begin Saturday
BY KYLE PERROTTI NEWS EDITOR
Beginning this Saturday, Sept. 7, anyone over the age of 21 will be able to purchase and use marijuana on the Qualla Boundary.
This means anyone over the age of 21 from anywhere in the country can purchase cannabis products at the dispensary. While transportation or use of the products are still illegal in counties surrounding the Qualla Boundary, as well as the rest of North Carolina, use is permitted on the boundary.
The potential transportation of cannabis has been a point of scrutiny from some surrounding law enforcement, and the district attorney’s office said in a statement several months ago that while it respects the sovereignty of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, it will prosecute anyone who breaks the law in one of the counties that comprise the prosecutorial district.
The vote to legalize adult use of marijuana came on Sept. 7 of last year and about 70% of enrolled members supported the measure.
The question tribal members voted on was: “Do you support legalizing the possession and use of cannabis for persons who are at least twenty-one (21) years old, and require the EBCI Tribal Council to develop legislation to regulate the market?” A resolution to that effect was submitted to Tribal Council in January.
On April 20 of this year — known as 4/20, a sort of holiday in the stoner community — the Great Smoky Cannabis Company dispensary opened for business but could only serve those with medical cards. People from other states — as far
away as Pennsylvania — came to the dispensary just to see how the dispensary would look, something that may be seen again in even larger magnitude come Sept. 7.
On June 6 of this year, Tribal Council approved the ordinance legalizing adult use. While some details had to be ironed out, things happened quickly, and on July 4, the dispensary began selling to any enrolled member of any federally recognized tribe.
The tribe expects its cannabis industry to become extremely lucrative, extremely quickly. Neither medical nor recreational cannabis is currently legal in North Carolina, Tennessee or South Carolina. Qualla Enterprises anticipates employing somewhere around 500 people and making enough money within a couple of years to send the tribe $260 million annually in profits. It’s also expected to make money for the tribe through generating tribal levy, akin to a sales tax.
The medical marijuana program, approved in 2021, will still serve those with EBCI-issued cards. The Cannabis Control Board accepts applications from North Carolina residents over the age of 21. The cost for issuance to residents is $100 and $50 for enrolled EBCI members. There are several approved conditions, including anxiety disorder, eating disorders and cancer. Applications can be submitted at ebci-ccb.org.
The Great Smoky Cannabis Company dispensary is located at 91 Bingo Loop Road. Anyone wishing to purchase cannabis products from the dispensary must present an ID to prove they are over the age of 21.
Cannabis sales and consumption will be legal for any adult over the age of 21 on the Qualla Boundary beginning this weekend. File photo
‘We need help’
Blue Ridge School families demand action
BY HANNAH MCLEOD STAFF WRITER
Members of the Blue Ridge School community showed up to the Jackson County Board of Education’s August meeting to express concerns regarding the state of the school.
“Our school gets forgotten about quite a bit,” said Jamie Bumgardner in a letter to the board.
Board Chairman Wes Jamison said that board members have heard some concerns from Blue Ridge families over the last couple of weeks. He said that some of these complaints are the result of misinformation.
One of the complaints from families concern staffing shortages at Blue Ridge School. The school is currently in need of a media specialist, a fourth-grade teacher, a high school math teacher, data manager, school counselor and several child nutrition workers.
“At the end of the last school year, my fourth grader asked me, ‘Mom could I have you as my teacher next year?’” said Blue Ridge School mom Kim Aiken. “He explained that he didn’t have a teacher. My heart broke for him.”
Families also complained that the cafeteria is not operation. However, this is not due to any capital issues, rather that the school system has been unsuccessful at staffing the cafeteria at Blue Ridge. [see Staffing ,pg. 6]
As a temporary fix, hot meals are being bussed twice a day from Cullowhee Valley to Blue Ridge School.
“Of course, we’re having staffing shortages district wide and we currently only have two schools that are fully
staffed,” said Jamison. “We’re competing in a very competitive job market and it’s tough for us to compete based off the amount of funds that we received for these salaries, for these positions.”
In addition to meals from Cullowhee Valley, Blue Ridge School is receiving custodial support from other schools over the next several weeks; the media specialist from Smoky Mountain High School will be assisting on Tuesdays and Fridays for the foreseeable future; the school system is looking to hire a permanent substitute that can float to fill in where they’re needed; and central office staff have been working at the school almost daily to fill gaps as well.
The roof at Blue Ridge School was originally scheduled for replacement in two years’ time, however, because there has been such bad leakage, the timeline has been accelerated and the roof will be replaced this year. The board voted on a contract for the work at its August meeting.
According to Jamison, the average age of school buildings in Jackson County is 42 years. Blue Ridge School is among the older buildings in the district.
“Maintenance issues are inevitable, and just from some of the numbers I saw last year along our maintenance staff completed about 300 separate work order at Blue Ridge dealing with various issues,” said Jamison.
Six people came to speak in public comment about the challenges that Blue Ridge School faces, and two letters were read aloud by the board clerk.
“We are not treated the same, not even close,” said Kelly Miles, a mother of two Blue Ridge graduates and one current Blue Ridge Student.
Parents took to the public comment podium to complain about leaking roofs, faulty bathrooms, staffing shortages and more.
In an effort to allay staffing shortages at Blue Ridge School in years past the school system has offered certified staff, $100 extra per month for travel over a 10-month period. Additionally, at one point Jackson County transit operat-
ed a twice-daily shuttle from Cullowhee Valley to Blue Ridge School for staff at just $1 per trip. However, that was discontinued after seven months because, on average, one adult was riding per day.
In 2022, the school system offered principals at the school a $10,000 sign-on bonus and implemented a $3 pay differential for custodians.
“We started that last year and we’re continuing that,” said Ayers.
Jamison urged members of the public who showed up to voice concern for Blue Ridge School to continue advocating to other elected officials that control the amount of funding allocated to the school board.
“I think one of the most impactful things we can do is to advocate for more funding for public education,” Jamison said. “We do that by reaching out to our state representatives, our county commissioners, we need to let them know what we want our tax dollars spent on and that’s public schools.”
Jamison said that while those officials expect the school board to ask for money, it is important for them to hear from the public and know that that is what their constituents want money spent on as well.
The chairman also emphasized the importance of community support for the school.
“There are things we can all do to contribute to our schools’ success,” Jamison said. “We can volunteer, join the PTA, advocate for more funding. For example, I know Fairview School PTA, in the past couple of years raised money for a new playground, installed it with parent volunteers. Cullowhee did the same thing a few years ago. Fairview reached out in the past week or so because they’re short staffed in their cafeteria as well and asked for volunteers and I know I saw that Gayle [Woody] was volunteering out there the other day.”
The school system is actively recruiting to fill all vacant positions.
Preorder Chris Cooper’s latest book with discount promo code
Noted expert on southern politics and North Carolina politics Chris Cooper’s newest book will ship later this fall, and with the General Election right around the corner, “Anatomy of a purple state” couldn’t come at a better time. Cooper, the Robert Lee Madison Distinguished Professor and director of the Haire Institute for Public Policy at Western Carolina University, is well-known to readers of The Smoky Mountain News and has appeared in some other publications you may have heard of, like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. He’s also won WCU’s highest awards for research and for teaching, along with the 2013 North Carolina profes-
sor of the year award from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. His 216-page “Anatomy of a purple state,” meant as a primer for political observers, journalists and anyone interested in what makes the Old North State such a fascinating blend of blue and red, is now available for preorder from the University of North Carolina Press. Visit
uncpress.org/book/9781469681719 and use promo code 01SOCIAL30 for a 30% discount. Or, support a local business by preordering from City Lights Bookstore in Sylva — visit
citylightsnc.com/book/9781469681719 or stop by 3 East Jackson Street, in Sylva.
Sept. 11 commemoration invites first responders
A free event for all emergency responders and veterans will be held in Bryson City on Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park, in remembrance of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Sponsored by retired Charlotte Fire Captain and Western North Carolina House Rep. Mike Clampitt since 2016, the event will have food available and a formal ceremony at 6 p.m. Clampitt will be on hand to distribute challenge coins. Questions? Call Clampitt directly at 828.736.6222.
Closure shorten schedule on White Oak Road
A contractor for the N.C. Department of Transportation will finish paving a section of White Oak Road in two weeks instead of months during a full road closure slated to begin the night of Sept. 3.
Crews from Keiwit Construction will close both lanes on White Oak Road under Interstate 40 at the “high bridge” for two weeks and detour traffic on a route utilized during construction of a new bridge on the interstate.
The direct detour follows Liberty Church, Rabbit Skin, Cove Creek and White Oak roads. Haywood County emergency services and school systems have been alerted of the detour route and that construction should conclude on Sept. 15, weather permitting. During the closure, crews will finish
detailed grading, pave a new surface on White Oak Road and remove temporary traffic signals. These operations may have taken up to two months to complete with single lane closures.
“We chose to close it for two weeks to provide citizens with the best possible final product and reduce the overall time of traffic impacts,” NCDOT Resident Engineer Kenny McCourt said. “This will also allow crews to mobilize to other operations in the Pigeon River Gorge.”
Transportation officials remind drivers to plan ahead, remain alert and obey all posted traffic signs.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
WCU hosts 14th annual ‘Rooted in the Mountains’ symposium
Western Carolina University is set to host the 14th Annual Rooted in the Mountains Symposium, a two-day event aimed at exposing attendees to the interwoven relationships between climate, health, traditional knowledge and the indigenous worldview. The event, taking place Sept. 26-27 at the Bardo Arts Center, promises to expose participants to the indigenous worldview, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living things and their environment.
The symposium was founded with the intention of bringing indigenous perspectives on critical issues like climate change and health into the public forum.
Lisa Lefler, founder of the Rooted in the Mountains Symposium said, “14 years ago we knew indigenous people were already talking about climate change and how it impacts our lives and health as well as mental health and we wanted to start discussing these topics in a public forum so others who may not already be familiar with these paradigms would be introduced to these ways of viewing the world.”
The event seeks to provide a platform for these perspectives to be shared, particularly among those unacquainted with them such as students and other community members. The theme for this year is inspired by WCU’s campus theme which focuses on mountain living. The theme will explore what the mountains teach us. The
symposium encourages participants to think about the mountains not as a backdrop to their lives, but as teachers that offer insight into how to live sustainably in harmony with nature.
ditional knowledge in addressing climate change. As an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Whyte’s insights will draw on both his academic expertise and his indigenous heritage. The
The committee will have Dr. Kyle Whyte as the keynote speaker this year. Whyte, a University of Michigan professor and internationally respected scholar in environmental justice, is currently a U.S. Science Envoy for the Biden administration and serves on the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, and the National Academies’ Resilient America Roundtable. His presentation and discussions will provide a unique perspective on the role of tra-
event will also feature various panels discussing Cherokee Artisans and What the Mountains Have Taught Them, Climate Change, Cherokee Choices Youth Culture Summer Camp, and Cherokee Archaeologists: Kituwah Lifeways and Change.
Several of WCU’s academic colleges, including Cherokee Studies and Health and Human Sciences, are also involved in the event. This collaboration reflects the
Cherokee belief that all things are interconnected, bringing indigenous knowledge into various disciplines on campus and in the world. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indian tribal members, including panelists, will also share their work in fields such as health, environmental science, and sustainability, further highlighting the intersection of traditional knowledge with modern-day challenges.
Attendees can expect to gain new perspectives on the relationship between the earth and humanity. Past participants have often remarked that the symposium changed their worldview, particularly in connecting dots between climate change, health, and indigenous knowledge.
A highlight of the event is the reception on Thursday evening, where the North American Indian Women’s Association will serve traditional Cherokee and indigenous hors d’oeuvres on the Apodaca Science Building rooftop with Dr. Enrique Gomez, Dr. Jane Eastman, Dr. Thomas N. Belt and Professor Brett Riggs will be sharing on Cherokee cosmology.
The event is open to the public, but registration is required. Regular registration is $159, while discounts are available for students, tribal elders and WCU faculty and staff. Learn more about the schedule and speakers as well as register at learn.wcu.edu/rooted or contact WCU Educational Outreach at 828.227.7397.
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The two-day event is aimed at exposing attendees to the interwoven relationships between climate, health, traditional knowledge, and the indigenous worldview. File photo
3
Parkway visitation, spending grows
BY CORY VAILLANCOURT POLITICS EDITOR
Visitors to one of the country’s most unique national park units pumped nearly $1.4 billion into local economies in 2023, continuing a growing trend that has powered rural Western North Carolina’s economy over the past decade.
“The 2023 visitor spending report is a reminder of the important relationship between the historic, 469-mile Parkway, the numerous communities the park passes through, and park visitors,” said Parkway Superintendent Tracy Swartout in a press release dated Aug. 27.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is different than most national parks in that it’s not exactly a single place, but rather a scenic road that passes through 29 counties in Virginia and North Carolina, connecting Shenandoah National Park with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The parkway enters North Carolina near Cumberland Knob in Alleghany County and rambles across ridgelines and steep mountain slopes for more than 250 miles until it reaches its southern terminus at U.S. 441 near
Cherokee.
Along the way, it passes through Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Buncombe, Henderson, Haywood, Transylvania, Haywood (again), Jackson and Swain counties, where visitors exit to purchase food, fuel, lodging and more.
According to a recent report released by the National Park Service, 16.76 million people visited the parkway in 2023, the first time visitation has topped the 16-million mark since 2017, when NPS counted 16.09 million.
In 2017, visitor spending topped $1 billion for the first time, up from $770 million in 2013 when visitation was just over 12 million. Spending in 2023 surged to $1.39 billion — the most ever – which approaches double the 2013 figure.
The spending supports an estimated 19,000 jobs in parkway communities all along its path, and in North Carolina contributes to room occupancy and sales tax collections.
In context, those figures constitute a notso-insignificant chunk of the National Park Service’s visitation and visitor spending. Systemwide, more than 325 million people
visited at least one of the 431 national parks in 2023, spending $26.4 billion, which supported 415,000 jobs for workers earning a collective $19.4 billion.
The majority of that spending, $9.9 billion, went to the lodging sector, while $5.2 billion went to restaurants.
Parkway-specific stats from NPS say visitors spent more than $600 million on lodging in 2023, more than $300 million on restaurants, $161 million on fuel and $130 million on retail goods.
Only California outpaced North Carolina in terms of visitor spending; the Golden State saw $3.2 billion spent there in 2023, compared to $2.6 billion in the Tar Heel State. Utah, Alaska and Virginia close out the top five states for visitor spending, respectively.
The upkeep of America’s national parks is vital to their continuing allure, but it isn’t cheap. Historically, Congress has come up well short in addressing maintenance backlogs, resulting most recently in a new system that charges for parking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park — a park that’s supposed to be free to visit. Technically it still is, but unless you walk, hike, canoe or para-
chute into it, you’ll pay the fee or face a fine. Swartout, however, mentioned what she called “generation-defining infrastructure investments” on the Parkway as a result of the Great American Outdoors Act.
The Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump in 2020; however, a subsequent and contradictory order from his administration greatly weakened it. President Joe Biden’s administration rescinded the order less than a month into his tenure, reversing restrictions on conservation projects while restoring funding meant to improve access to communities that need it most.
Now, the GAOA fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund with $900 million yearly and provides $9.5 billion over five years to address the systemwide maintenance backlog. That won’t make much of a dent in the estimated 2023 backlog of $23 billion — maintenance issues are continuously emerging — but the funding will have a local impact, especially on the Parkway.
On Aug. 26, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks F
Haywood County contains 46 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Garret K. Woodward photo
Over the past decade, visitation to the Blue Ridge Parkway has grown by nearly 40%, while spending has grown by nearly 80%. Smoky Mountain News graphic
Shannon Estenoz visited restoration projects on the Parkway, including Doughton Park in Wilkes County and Laurel Fork Bridge in Alleghany County.
“To address long-overdue maintenance and infrastructure needs, the Blue Ridge Parkway has received $253 million total from GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF), helping improve visitor experience and public safety,” Haaland’s office said in an Aug. 27 press release.
Another $41 million is on the way for Parkway deferred maintenance and repair. Paved roads take up the bulk of the funding, along a stretch through Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Watauga and Wilkes Counties.
Learn more about the National Park system’s contributions to local economies, including in North Carolina, but visiting NPS’ new data visualization tool at nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm.
Jackson TDA announces quarterly cycle for Tourism Capital Project Fund
The Jackson County Tourism Development Authority (JCTDA) has announced a new quarterly cycle for the Tourism Capital Project Fund (TCPF), beginning in 2024-25. This change aims to streamline the application process and enhance responsiveness to community projects while maintaining a structured program.
Starting with the third quarter of 2024, applications will be accepted on the following schedule:
• Third quarter, Q3 ’24: July – September, Applications Due Oct. 1
• Fourth quarter, Q4 ’24: October – December, Applications Due Jan. 1
• First quarter, Q1 ’25: January – March, Applications Due April 1
• Second quarter, Q2 ’25: April – June, Applications Due July 1
This new schedule is designed to better accommodate the needs of our communities, allowing for more timely support and execution of projects that benefit both residents and visitors.
Under state legislation, the JCTDA may expend one-third of its annual budget on brickand-mortar capital projects, including convention and conference centers, arenas and stadiums, sports facilities, performing arts venues, museums, and other attractions. This also includes parks, greenways, trails, placemaking
initiatives such as streetscapes and public art, and wayfinding.
With the new TCPF structure, funds are available for projects that are owned and operated publicly or by nonprofits. A one-to-one match is required. Eligible projects include: New construction, expansion, renovation, or a replacement project for existing facilities with a total cost of at least $25,000 and a useful life of at least 10 years.
Purchase of major equipment (assets) costing $25,000 or more with a useful life of at least 10 years.
Major maintenance or rehabilitation projects for existing facilities with a cost of $25,000 or more and a useful life of at least 10 years.
In 2023, the JCTDA awarded funding to the Town of Sylva ($367,757) for Bridge Park improvements; the project was completed in spring 2024.
Full details of the TCPF program and the application are available on jacksoncountytda.com under the “TCPF” tab. Projects recommended by the JCTDA Full Board will need to be approved by the Jackson County Commissioners.
For more information on the TCPF, contact JCTDA Executive Director Nick Breedlove by email at director@discoverjacksonnc.com or by telephone at 828.339.1160.
9
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SCC’s founding Dental Assisting class celebrates at pinning ceremony
Less than a year after starting their studies, the very first Dental Assisting students in Southwestern Community College history earned their diplomas and are addressing the labor shortage in their chosen career field.
Dressed in stylish purple scrubs, 15 graduates received honorary pins during a ceremony commemorating their accomplishments on July 24 at SCC’s Jackson Campus in Sylva.
All 15 completed 384 hours of clinical training at may welcoming dental facilities in the community. The students also had three semesters of classroom education.
Southwestern is in the process of constructing lab and clinical space for Dental Assisting in Founders Hall on the Jackson Campus, and college officials plan to launch a Dental Hygiene program — pending approval from the Commission on Dental Accreditation — within a couple of years.
For more information about training for future Dental Care professionals, visit southwesterncc.edu or contact Brooks at 828.339.4319 or au_brooks@southwesterncc.edu.
DAR
essay contest scholarship opportunities available
Members of the Hugh Rogers Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution have been delivering information packets to local elementary, middle and high school teachers over the past few weeks. These packets outline upcoming essay and video contests for fifth through twelfth graders, and DAR scholarship opportunities for rising high school seniors and college students.
All fifth through twelfth graders in Haywood County are invited to participate in the essay and video contests, whether they attend public school, charter school, private school or are homeschooled. For additional information teachers, parents or students can visit the Hugh Rogers Facebook page at facebook.com/hughrogersdar or reach out to Maureen O’Brien at maurakell@yahoo.com.
The deadline for all contest submissions is Nov. 4, 2024.
In addition to the local contests, the national organization of Daughters of the American Revolution offers 26 different scholarships for high school seniors and college students. To learn more about what’s available and how to apply for a DAR scholarship, students should visit their website at dar.org/national-society/scholarships.
Haywood Community College welcomes new trustees
The Haywood Community College Board of Directors is made up of 12 members who provide
Members of SCC’s first Dental Assisting class are pictured here with their instructors. Front row, from left: Instructor Kristy Lance, Kayla McEntire of Sylva, Nicole Toner of Whittier, Emily Pilkerton of Franklin, Diya Patel of Sylva, Ashley Lopez of Franklin and Abra Brooks, SCC’s Dental Hygiene Program Coordinator. Middle row, from left: SCC instructor Jeniffer Nicholson, Awee French of Dillsboro, Haley Henderson of Franklin, Kelle Williams of Robbinsville, and Kaylee Cornelius of Murphy. Back row: Madeline Potts of Cashiers, Akram Patel of Sylva, Kaitlyn Richmond of Sylva, Ansley Welch of Waynesville and Alexandria Trantham of Cullowhee. Donated photo
oversight for the college. Each are appointed by a governing body for a four-year term. During the August board meeting, two new members were sworn in to join the board, and one member was welcomed to serve a second term for the college.
Jon Overbay is welcomed to the board, having served on the HCC Foundation board for nine years, seven of those as board chair. He was appointed by the North Carolina Senate. Jon considers himself a native of Haywood County, and after leaving the area only for a short time to attend college, found himself back in the area in 2010 to start his business.
John Wadsworth has been a resident of North Carolina for over 35 years and was appointed by the North Carolina House. He began his educational journey at a Community College before obtaining his bachelor’s degree and encourages others to follow a similar path to gain college experience, especially if students aren’t sure about their future direction.
Tammy Hall McDowell was appointed by the Haywood County Board of Commissioners after completing her first term by another appointing agency. She has served on the HCC Board of Directors since 2020 and looks forward to continuing her service. She is excited to be part of the excellent endeavors that HCC is embarking upon.
Haywood schools receives state recognition
On Aug. 1, Haywood County Schools received special recognition during the State Board of Education meeting by North Carolina’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Catherine Truitt. In her address, Mrs. Truitt presented statewide data for DIBELS 8 testing in grades K-3.
DIBELS 8th Edition consists of short (oneminute) fluency measures used for universal screening, benchmark assessment and progress monitoring from kindergarten through fifth grade. These measures provide educators with benchmarks to assess the status and progress of all students (source: University of Oregon).
Haywood County Schools was one of eight districts highlighted for outstanding student achievement. HCS surpassed state benchmark percentages and demonstrated growth across all grade levels and subgroups. Notably, there was significant growth from the Beginning of the Year to the End of the Year in the K-3 overall composite, with 75% of students at or above benchmark by the year’s end — a 30% increase.
Additionally, North Carolina’s Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Heather Smith from Waynesville Middle School, was recognized by the State Board of Education for being named the 2024 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Teacher of the Year.
WCU Chancellor Brown announces changes in Advancement leadership
Western Carolina University Chancellor Kelli R. Brown has announced that Jamie T. Raynor will transition from her current position as vice chancellor for advancement into a new role as special campaign adviser, effective immediately.
In a special called meeting Tuesday, Aug. 20, the WCU Board of Trustees approved Ben Pendry as the new vice chancellor for advancement, as recommended by Brown. His appointment is effective immediately.
As special campaign adviser, Raynor will focus on key aspects of the “Fill the Western Sky” comprehensive fundraising campaign, which includes
a busy upcoming year with the public launch phase taking place this fall.
Pendry takes on his new role after serving as the associate vice chancellor for development. Pendry received his bachelor’s degree in political science and history from WCU in 2007.
State Employee’s Credit Union donates to SCC Workforce Con Ed
The N.C. State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation recently gave Southwestern Community College $18,000 to financially assist students who enroll in Workforce Continuing Education programs.
Thirty different students will receive $500 scholarships to enroll in short-term workforce programs that lead to a state or industry-recognized credential such as Basic Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Technician, Real Estate, Phlebotomy or Nurse Aide.
The funding is through the SECU’s Bridge to Career scholarship program. To qualify for the funding, students must be North Carolina residents who are unemployed — or underemployed — adults, military veterans or members of the National Guard.
The funds can be used to offset the costs of registration fees, required books, uniforms, instructional materials, transportation, childcare and credentialing.
Upon receiving the award, recipients are tracked to determine the number of credentials earned, entry into employment and enrollment in further education.
To inquire about these scholarship opportunities, contact Latresa Shuler — SCC’s Coordinator of Workforce Continuing Education at 828.339.4425 or ldowns@southwesterncc.edu
Already leaning into the fall season
Once Labor Day has come and gone, I lean fully into fall. I know that technically autumn does not officially begin until Sept. 22, but for my own personal joy, I’ve decided to initiate the season sooner. As I age and grow wiser, dates on calendars mean less and less. Instead, I do what intuitively feels good to my soul, and during this time of year, I’m always ready to say good-bye to summer and hello to fall.
With all this being said, I do things strategically and methodically to lengthen the arrival of the new season. I don’t pull out all the autumn decorations at once and purchase all things pumpkin spice or apple in one fell swoop. No, I do it slowly with the goal of enjoying each wonderful thing on its own. For instance, I recently purchased pumpkin spice creamer for my coffee but am only allowing myself the festive flavor a few days a week so as not to tire of it before we roll into the Christmas season. Similarly, while I may put a few natural pumpkins around the house early in September, I won’t fully decorate until later in the month because I know I’ll get sick of all the burnt orange and browns well before Thanksgiving if I do it too soon.
And let’s talk about apples. I feel like apples are definitely an early fall delight. We’ve been popping by Barber Orchards Fruit Stand routinely to purchase bags of apples and treats such as apple donuts, apple slushies and apple pies. The Apple Festival in Hendersonville already happened and orchards in our region are beaming with tourists and locals enjoying a pick-your-own adventure.
smell of pumpkin and chocolate. Along those same lines, I found a pumpkin oat cookie recipe that is also a favorite in our household. Maybe I’ll share that recipe in an upcoming Smoky Mountain News e-newsletter because it’s always a fan favorite.
In addition to the delicious flavors and smells of the fall season, who doesn’t love the crisp mornings and gor-
When you grow up in the mountains of North Carolina, the fall colors aren’t something that we view as a novelty or tourist attraction. For us locals, the stunning scenery becomes part of who we are, a backdrop to our everyday lives, and a very cherished gift for which we are extremely grateful.
Speaking of leaves changing colors, the biology department at Appalachian State University creates a yearly prediction map to help folks plan travel or fall hikes. We’ve included it with this column in case you need a little assistance planning your outdoor excursions for the next couple months, but remember, that this is simply a prediction and there will be variations.
There are other things happening now or on the horizon that make me excited for fall. In a few short weeks, the grounds of First United Methodist Church will be covered in pumpkins and then on Oct. 19, downtown Waynesville will be bursting with activity during the annual Apple Harvest Festival. The Mountain State Fair will be held Sept. 6-15 at the WNC Agriculture Center and the Haywood County Fair is Sept. 26-29 at the Smoky Mountain Event Center.
Another small pleasure this time of year are pumpkin muffins. Trader Joe’s makes the most delicious pumpkin muffin mix and only sells it for a couple months as a seasonal product. When the muffins are cooling, I drop in a few chocolate chips to offer additional sweetness. I only make these once a week and the kids get so excited when they wake up to the
DEI creates its own controversies
To the Editor:
Kudos to the Haywood County Tourism Development Authority (TDA) for rescinding the grant over the proposed passport program. The program put forth by the entity called IDEA is another example of a certain minority desiring special recognition above others and causing unnecessary controversy. The mountains are already for everyone no matter what your sexual preference might be. IDEA has lobbied for boycotts of businesses in the past, so this program was another way to get the camel’s nose further into the tent.
Haven’t we seen enough DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) nonsense? DEI policies have repeatedly proven to be unproductive and cause strife. Even the UNC Board of
geous autumn hues that will soon bespeckle the Blue Ridge Mountain range? I grew up in Weaverville, a mountain town very similar to Waynesville, and when my grandparents visited from Greenville, South Carolina, they loved driving up to Burnsville where the colors were a bit more vibrant than in town. We would collect the prettiest leaves we could find and then my grandma helped us iron them onto wax paper to make a leaf book.
LETTERS
Governors recently voted to withdraw these sexually oriented, truly racist and divisive measures from state funded schools.
If the IDEA group desires to politicize what businesses we shop at, that is the very definition of extremism. If a business does not join the collectivism with a virtue signaling sticker in their window, should they be shunned? So much for inclusion ... Ultimately, belligerent motives cloaked in pious word salad is the problem with the DEI cult because passport programs are not bad in and of themselves.
Consider if each of us has a favorite football team. No one cares if we have different choices based on our background. None of us deserve special attention from our personal choices since everyone clearly has equal rights as American citizens already. Football fans (or sex signalers) shop
As a parent, we’re entering cross country season, which I absolutely love. We have three runners in our house, all at different schools, so our schedule will be packed with meets. There’s something very special about the sport of cross country and if you’ve ever had a child participate or if you’ve coached cross country or you were a runner yourself, you know what I’m talking about. Perhaps I’ll write another column about the magic of cross country and why it’s such a magical sport.
You probably have different aspects of fall you’re looking forward to or maybe some of yours are the same as mine. No matter, it’s always fun to enter into a new season, especially one as welcoming and stunning as autumn in Western North Carolina.
(Susanna Shetley is a writer, editor and digital media specialist. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com)
at any business or read any book they desire — already. Tennessee fans are not demanding that Georgia fans shut the hell up and kowtow to the Volunteer “community.” Neither are Tennessee fans lobbying their flag be flown on government buildings or singing “Rocky Top” an entire month as a national observance. If a Tennessee couple wants a cake for their wedding and the Goergia baker refuses, the Tennessee couple can simply go to another baker instead of taking people to court for vindictiveness because they dared have a differing belief system.
So, why is a tiny minority of DEI proponents attempting to make society subservient to their alternate lifestyles at every opportunity? Certain minorities are setting society on fire to keep minorities warm. There is no need to be insecure or narcissistic. There is room for different lifestyles as long as none shoves their prefer-
ences down other’s throats. We could even have a friendly discussion over fundamental biological science or the proven negative consequences to children/teens who are encouraged to pursue unnatural sexual ideology.
And for the love of climate change fear, stop lying that traditional families want to close libraries or ban books. Gaslighting only makes groups look foolish. Attacks on free thinking the last several years via sexual indoctrination and false narratives cause division, not inclusion.
Thank you to the TDA for realizing this. Perhaps the political dogma needs to be exported to places like China, Russia or Saudi Arabia where alternative lifestyles are genuinely persecuted? Can groups like IDEA incorporate overseas and send the propaganda there?
Jim Gaston Franklin
Columnist
Susanna Shetley
He’s not gone, he’s just getting started
When I became a parent for the first time, I asked my brother what to expect. He already had two small children and another on the way.
“It’s overwhelming in every way,” he said. He was right. It was, and it has been. They grew up too fast. That’s the oldest cliché in the book, but my God. I guess I didn’t understand that giving them up to the whole wide world is just as overwhelming in every way.
We moved our son, Jac, into his new dorm at Appalachian State University. As we unpacked, I admired the view from his window. Right across the street is Sanford Hall, where my own future was formed nearly 40 years ago while I was working on my master’s degree in English.
This university has meant a lot to the Cox family. My brother and I are both graduates. My daughter will graduate in December with her degree in Elementary Education. She just moved back home long enough to do her student teaching this fall, and then Tammy and I will endure another cliché: becoming empty nesters.
We tried to pack in a lot of time together along with all the other packing in the days leading up to Jac’s departure, including an Asheville Tourists baseball game and several lengthy family chat sessions out on the deck. There was much talk of change and transition, the thrill of it, the fear of it.
Jac is plunging into a world unknown this week. He doesn’t really know anyone at ASU. He has never met his roommate, which has been a source of intense concern. He will have to redefine everything about his life, his routines, his ways and means, his social circle, his coping mechanisms, all of it.
Through the wonders of social media, he has somehow joined a garage band. He’ll be playing drums, something he was born to do. When he was a baby and could not yet stand, he loved getting a rattle or a toy in each hand and pounding away on the nearest surface, a snack tray or a countertop or an ottoman.
“That boy likes to stay busy,” Tammy said.
“That boy’s going to be a drummer,” I said.
Like everything else about this new chapter in his life, this is something new. He flourished as the tenor drummer in the high school marching band, but he has never been in any other kind of band. But they’ve got plans and a list of songs to learn and practice. There’s a Ramones song in there, which makes dad happy.
After we got him unpacked, we went out in search of a late lunch before dropping by Walmart to pick up a few overlooked items, including a remote control for his television and broom and dustpan.
Lunch was not easy for any of us. We were nearly out of time and we knew it. Jac
had become worked up with concerns about his roommate and just how he would get along in this strange new world. There was a lot of heavy sighing and head shaking, as if he were trying to chase off a bad dream.
Tammy’s eyes were wet and her lips quivering. Nothing on the menu looked good to her. We had all grown quiet, withdrawn into our own lonely places.
The server saved us. She was a boisterous, preternaturally cheerful woman named Deborah, who drove up to Boone from Morganton because she said she loved her job so much. She brought us a giant basket of free tortilla chips and a bowl of salsa. She told us about her grandchildren and pulled us out of ourselves and back into the world. She literally changed our day. It wasn’t long after we got back to the room that Jac’s roommate appeared, an amiable fellow almost as tall as Jac. We all sat around chatting for nearly an hour about everything under the sun. I could feel the dark clouds drifting away from Jac, could see the transformation in his demeanor.
He was himself again. No more sighing or head-shaking. This might be all right after all.
After a flurry of hugs and pictures and more hugs and more pictures in front of his building and then across the street on Sanford Mall, we said our goodbyes and got on the road back home.
When we got home, the stillness was the hardest part. You get used to a certain kind of comfortable noise — the sound of tires on gravel when your son comes home, the rattle of his bed upstairs when he is reaching for a cup, the banter of boys playing games on the PlayStation, the throbbing bassline of an Alice in Chains song.
When all of that is gone, the quiet that you sometimes prayed for becomes a bitter rebuke, a be-careful-what-you-wish-for blank canvas you’ll have to learn how to fill.
My boy is gone.
And then, my iPhone lights up on the nightstand. He’s sending us a Marco Polo, a live action clip of him out on Sanford Mall, first as part of a small cluster of people cheering on someone who has managed to build a gravity-defying Jenga tower and then a little later, a glimpse of his new bandmates as they all are watching a concert out on a makeshift stage.
My boy is not gone. He’s just getting started. I can hear him now.
(Chris Cox is a writer and teacher who lives in Haywood County. His work can also be found on Substack and his email address is jchriscox@live.com.)
Columnist
Chris Cox
Shine your light
Patton Magee of The Nude Party
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
It’s a hot, early evening at FloydFest, the storied independently-run music festival held each July in the backwoods of rural Virginia. With live music radiating from stages positioned in seemingly every direction, indie-rockers The Nude Party finish its set to the deafening roar of the jubilant crowd begging for just one more tune before dispersing into the next melodic adventure.
Immediately following the raucous gig — amid the fading sunset, silhouettes of concertgoers joyously gyrating in the musical moment — the band exits the bright spotlight and strolls into the backstage area, plopping down on some couches and catching their breath, if only for a brief moment of solitude.
“If you don’t love it, you just don’t do it, because there’s too many unbearable compromises to do it if you don’t love it,” said singer/guitarist Patton Magee. “So, just the fact of doing it means you do [love to do it], unless you’re just the unhappiest person walking around all the time.”
With a slight chuckle, Magee leans back into his seat and gazes across the vast landscape of the sprawling forested gathering.
Located on the outskirts of the tiny town of Floyd, Virginia, the festival itself isn’t too far from where The Nude Party formed, just over the state-line at Appalachian State University in Boone.
While students at ASU in 2012, Magee and Austin Brose (percussion/vocals) combined forces with childhood cronies Alexander Castillo (bass/vocals) and Connor Mikita (drums). Soon after, Shaun Couture (guitar/vocals) and Don Merrill (piano/vocals) came into the fold. Since then, Jon “Catfish” Delorme (pedal steel) was also added to the lineup as it stands today.
“Boone didn’t really have a thriving Greek [fraternity and sorority] scene, so the frats didn’t run the social scene, and it was pretty far away from any major city,” Magee said. “It was very much self-made entertainment every weekend. The main things people were doing were just going to shows [at local bars and venues], having house parties and house shows.”
By sparking its own flame of creative inspiration through the lens of irresponsible enlightenment in Boone and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains cradling the ASU campus, The Nude Party became infamous and
highly-sought after amongst the college students and local music freaks for their wild-nout house concerts — these happenstance spaces and places of beautiful debauchery and melodic chaos where the band could hone its craft.
At its core, The Nude Party channels 1960s and 1970s rock. It’s this infectious blend of New York City art rock a la The Velvet Underground and British Invasion-era acts like The Animals, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks, coupled with the Laurel Canyon ethos of Buffalo Springfield or The Byrds — all wrapped tightly in a melodic kaleidoscope of textures, from alt-country to punk, pop to surf rock, and beyond.
“[Starting a band], it’s that teenage obsession. You’re a teenager and you’re awkwardlyshaped, you haven’t grown into yourself, girls
Want to go?
Alt-country rockers The Nude Party will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, on the indoor stage at Salvage Station in Asheville. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 day of show. Ages 18 and over. Doors open at 7 p.m. Free parking. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to salvagestation.com.
don’t like you, and you have no risk,” Magee said. “And you get really obsessed with the music. Then, it kind of grows, where you grow into it and there’s a teenage [attitude of rebellion and freedom] that has stuck to all this somehow.”
Word quickly spread throughout Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia about this real deal, nitty-gritty rock group emerging out of Boone, which was, and remains, a refreshing sonic tone and approached compared to the rich veins of bluegrass and Americana music at the heart of the historic mountain music scene.
“It was very do-it-yourself and very fun,” Magee said. “And I felt that, in that little microcosm [of Boone], we were pleasantly rewarded for putting on shows and having parties.”
In 2018, The Nude Party signed to famed Nashville, Tennessee, label New West Records and released its debut self-titled album to much national and international acclaim by critics and the curious alike.
“With the first record, we got a lot of good press because [our song] ‘Chevrolet Van’ was on it,” Magee reflects with a slight grin. “And [we] got to play big festivals like Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza, tour with Jack White and Arctic Monkeys.”
But, when its second album “Midnight Manor” hit the streets in 2020, in the midst of the global pandemic and complete shutdown of the live music industry, The Nude Party found itself at a crossroads — where to from here, and in the “here and now” of uncertainty?
“Things cooled down a lot during Covid,” Magee said. “We’ve got a [fan] base, but it’s not as much us being media darlings like we were for a moment back there [with the first record]. So, now, we’re just doing our thing [coming out of the current third album touring cycle for ‘Ride On’].”
Recently parting ways with New West, The Nude Party are now “free agents” with a brand-new material ready for release in the coming months. According to Magee, there’s “a new live record and two new studio albums that we’re making.” Once again, the ensemble is in charge of its fate and fortune as it continues to properly-navigate the often-choppy waters of the music industry.
“It’s business. It’s a brand. But, it’s also something that’s not only evolved, it caught fire in a lot of ways,” Magee said. “What started with humble beginnings now feels more like a campfire. The coals are always burning. But, sometimes it’s hot and sometimes it’s not, you know?”
But, no matter for Magee & Co., for heads are held high, with more logs squarely placed onto the fire of intent within. And what remains is an incredibly talented rock band barreling headlong into the next, unwritten chapter of its whirlwind journey.
“The ‘roll’ part is the most essential part of rock-n-roll,” Magee said. “With us, we’re just doing our own thing, which is the only thing we really know how to do.”
The Nude Party will play Asheville Sept. 12. File photo
This must be the place
BY GARRET K. WOODWARD
‘There’s an eagle and he keeps on flying, over the mountains capped in white snow’
Hello from Cabin 156 at Tryon International, the massive equestrian center and event facility along U.S. 74, just down the mountain from Saluda. The mountains in the distance remind me of the beauty of my home that is Western North Carolina. The intense heat and humidity of this past Labor Day Weekend reminds me that I’m no longer amid the cool air of the plateau. By the time my girlfriend, Sarah, and I return to our humble abode apartment in downtown Waynesville this week, it’ll be the first taste of fall, a crisp bite in the morning air, reminiscent of my native Upstate New York during this time of year. Visions of fall foliage, warm apple cider, college football on the TV and sunset cruises along the Blue Ridge Parkway and points beyond.
And yet, even though the official end of summer isn’t until Sept. 22, I’ve always looked at Labor Day Weekend as the bittersweet date on the wall calendar — in my kitchen, in my mind. Summer now mostly in the rearview mirror. And with all of those whirlwind moments and memories, where I just am now finally feeling like I’ve earned my tan lines with enough hiking, running, swimming and lazy waterside hangs to justify the season itself.
The wandering and pondering of summer began, for me at least, in mid-May or so, with a trip back up to the North Country of my youth. Plattsburgh, New York, the Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains. Swimming in Lake Champlain. Hiking PokeO-Moonshine Mountain. Trail running Point Au Roche State Park not far from my parents’ farmhouse, the same dirt trails along the lake that I’ve happily traversed since I was in mid-
Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Mankato, and Minneapolis (including a two-day layover due to Delta issues).
By August, it was AVL fest overtaking Asheville, the Park City Song Summit in Utah and the recent Earl Scruggs Music Festival as stated previously. Hundreds of bands and thousands of songs. Discovering new tones and textures. Interviews with artists for quotes for articles backstage, sidestage, between large buses with loud motors running or along a tree line for some silence as we dive deep into the art, beauty, passion and purpose of being a musician.
And here we stand in the first week of September. Beyond the countless rock shows and the endless miles along that ole lost highway, what remains vivid and cherished in my memory are the people I’ve met. Whether it be that barber in Dickinson or the old rancher in Medora. The indigenous street performer in Billings or the bluegrass picker on that street corner in Whitefish.
Or the nice group of older couples who invited Sarah and I out to dinner on that wondrous night in Damariscotta, Maine. Or my former co-worker from my rookie year as a journalist out in Idaho in 2008, who invited us to stay with her and her family for a couple days at her home in Rapid City, South Dakota, with endless laughter and conversation never missing a beat for hours.
dle school.
Now, in full transparency, fall will forever be my favorite season. My “damn yankee” blood is too thick for the southern heat and humidity. I love traveling around this part of the country, but I purposely choose to put roots down in Western North Carolina. Give me those cool temperatures and fresh mountain air any day of the week or season of the year. In truth, I’m also one of those northern weirdos who also looks forward to winter.
It’s a point in the year when I can finally hike in the mountains without anyone around. Late afternoon sunset jogs along the Cataloochee Divide Trail or mountain biking the Tsali Recreation Area. Oh, and cheering on my beloved Montreal Canadiens hockey team at the neighborhood sports bar. That, and there’s not much of a wait to grab a table at one of my favorite restaurants, especially anything along Biltmore Avenue in downtown Asheville.
But, alas, one cannot move forward into the next season without taking a raw and real inventory of the days, weeks and months that led to this point. Within my sentimental, curious mind of wanderlust and eternal urge to see just what lies around the next corner, I find myself recalling and reflecting upon the people, places and things that I’ve been lucky enough to encounter this summer, either by glorious happenstance or purposeful interaction.
Not to mention, time well-spent with my aging parents, who are never too old or too tired for a scrumptious Michigan hot dog (sauce dog) at Clare & Carl’s in South Plattsburgh, a joyous stroll along the Bloomingdale Bog Trail in the heart of the ADKS or a sunny afternoon margarita at the Pepper in downtown Plattsburgh, friendly and familiar faces from my respective journey in life passing by, stopping to say hello and catch up over a hug and a handshake.
By June, it was another trip north. This time the nose of the trusty Toyota Tacoma pickup aimed for New England. I found myself covering the Northlands Music Festival outside of Keene, New Hampshire, a wild-nout gathering surrounding by the beautiful desolation and tranquility of the White Mountains.
Onward to the coast of Maine for lobster rolls and sunsets on white sand beaches. Just Sarah and I spending a week at a friend’s summer house. By day, it was wandering the small, bucolic coastal towns and finding places to go for a trail run, the smell of the salty air and nearby ocean intoxicating to this here writer. By night, it was putting on a dress shirt and tracking down a spot with delicious New England Clam Chowder and a local craft ale. By July, it was Montana for the Under the Big Sky music festival. Fly into Minneapolis, Minnesota, and aim for Whitefish, Montana. Roll along the interstates, highways and backroads of America. Crossing into the city limits of Fargo, Dickinson, Medora, Miles City, Billings, Great Falls, Whitefish, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, Billings (again), Buffalo,
What remains is the gratitude. And the notion that there are, truly, more good people than bad in this world, regardless of what someone high above you and I may say otherwise on TV or online. I’m out there and I see it. I see you (and you). We’re all in this together. And I’ll be the first to say how grateful I am to be on this trek and in this time and place. Stay humble. Stay grateful. Always explore. Poke the chaos of the universe and see what just may come your way. You just never know, eh? Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.
HOT PICKS
1
A special production of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6-7, 13-14, 19-21 and 2 p.m. Sept. 8, 15 and 22 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
2
The annual “Thunder in the Smokies” rally will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds.
3
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host ZZ Top (classic rock) 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6.
4
Highlands Performing Arts Center will host End Of The Line (Allman Brothers Band tribute/southern rock) 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7.
5
Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
A horse-of-course in Whitefish, Montana. Garret K. Woodward photo
‘Thunder in the Smokies’
‘Thunder in the Smokies’ returns to Maggie Valley. File photo
The annual “Thunder in the Smokies” rally will be held Sept. 6-8 at the Maggie Valley Fairgrounds.
The oldest and largest motorcycle rally in the Great Smoky Mountains, the weekend celebration will feature live music, dozens of vendors, motorcycle shows/games, prizes and much more.
For more information, a full schedule of events and/or to purchase tickets, go to thunderinthesmokies.com.
Want to learn contra dancing?
There will be a contra dance class offered from 6:30-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Macon County Public Library in Franklin.
Contra dance is considered the most accessible and sociable of all dances, with participants moving in two long facing lines or in groups, and with frequent partner changes. With its roots in the British Isles and France, contra dance has become a traditional American dance form.
and snack. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Please don’t wear perfumes or strong scents.
Admission is by donation, which helps pay for the musicians and callers for the evening. Firsttime attendees and children are admitted free.
No experience is needed to contra dance. All dances are taught. Beginners’ lessons start at 6:30 p.m. with dancing from 7-9 p.m. No need to bring a partner, but you’re welcome to do so.
You may also bring a closed water container
The event is produced by the Arts Council, Friends of Contra Dance in Macon County and the Macon County Public Library.
For more information, call 828.524.ARTS or email arts4all@dnet.net.
• Grumpy Bear Campground & RV Park (Bryson City) will host a “Native American Show” 6 p.m. on Saturdays. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. 828.788.2095 or grumpybearcampground.com. ALSO:
On the table
• “Flights & Bites” will be held starting at 4 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays at Bosu’s Wine Shop in downtown Waynesville. waynesvillewine.com.
• “Take A Flight” with four new wines every Friday and Saturdays at the Bryson City Wine Market. Select from a gourmet selection of charcuterie to enjoy with your wines. Educational classes and
other events are also available. 828.538.0420.
• “Uncorked: Wine & Rail Pairing Experience” will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on select dates at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in Bryson City. Full service all-adult first class car. Wine pairings with a meal, and more. There will also be a special “Beer Train” on select dates. 800.872.4681 / gsmr.com.
FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER WE WILL BE DONATING 2% OF OUR BUSINESS’ PROFITS TO SARGES OR THE MO F WE WILL BE BUSINESS’ A O S OFITS T TING 2% AT ONTH SEPT PR GES EMBER AR
‘An Evening of Eurasian Culture’
Folkmoot USA will present an electrifying evening of music and cultural celebration with the Black Sea Beat Society at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville. Renowned for their fusion of traditional Balkan, Turkish and Middle Eastern music with a vibrant rock-n-roll energy, the Black Sea Beat Society is set to deliver an unforgettable experience. This high-energy band captivates audiences with a diverse repertoire spanning Balkan Brass, Turkish Psychedelic, Middle Eastern classics and Klezmer tunes. Featuring accordion, a dynamic horn section, telecaster guitar and drums, the performances are a thrilling blend of authenticity and innovation.
The Black Sea Beat Society delves deep into the roots of each song, immersing themselves in the cultures and source recordings to offer truly traditional Eurasian music with a modern twist. Doors at 6 p.m. Admission is “Pay What You Can” ($22, $15, $10, $5, $0). Donations are welcome. In addition to the vibrant musical performance, attendees can enjoy delicious offerings from the Tahini Jar Food Truck, which will be onsite.
For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to folkmoot.org.
Americana, folk at Scotsman
Appalachian/indie act Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at The Scotsman in Waynesville.
Grimm marries folk/pop melodies with the lonesome sound of traditional Appalachian music. In a region with a strong music culture, it is no surprise that Grimm’s songwriting is representative of his musical birthplace: Asheville.
His songs run the gambit from an homage to a traditional country waltz in “If Not For You,” an unrequited love song driven by a Beatlesesque melody in “I’d Hold You (But I Don’t Wanna Hold You),” to a drunken party-grass song à la Old Crow Medicine Show in “Last Train Home.”
The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, call 828.246.6292 or go to scotsmanpublic.com.
Ready for classic rock, country gold?
Haywood County rock/country act Outlaw Whiskey will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Unplugged Pub in Bryson City.
Formed in Haywood County seven years ago, Outlaw Whiskey has emerged as a popular band in Western North Carolina and greater Southern Appalachia. A blend of original country and rock songwriting amid a bevy of cover tunes from the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and other marquee acts, the essence of the group is musicianship and fellowship.
In March, Outlaw Whiskey was recognized as “Band of the Year” (New Country: 50 & Over Category) by the North American Country Music Association, Int’l (NACMAI) for the second year in a row. Mike Holt took home “Male Vocalist New Country,” and Gerald Scott was awarded “New Country Rising Star Song” for the melody “Dirt In Your Hands.”
Admission is $5. For more information, call 828.538.2488 or go to unpluggedpub.com.
Bryson City community jam
A community jam will be held from 67:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Marianna Black Library in Bryson City.
Anyone with a guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, dulcimer or anything unplugged is invited to join. Singers are
• Balsam Mountain Inn (Balsam) will host an “Open Jam” 6 p.m. every Tuesday and Wood Newton & Mike Loudermilk (Americana/country) 7 p.m. Sept. 20. 828.283.0145 / thebalsammountaininn.com.
• Bevel Bar (Waynesville) will host We Three Swing at 8 p.m. every first Saturday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.246.0996 / bevelbar.com.
• Blue Ridge Beer Hub (Waynesville) will host Paul Koptak Sept. 7. All shows begin at 5 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.246.9320 / blueridgebeerhub.com.
• Blue Stage (Andrews) will host “Open Mic Night” 5 p.m. every Friday, “Andrews Idol: Season 3” 5 p.m. Sept. 7 and Joshua Quimby (Americana/folk) 8:30 p.m. Sept. 14 ($15 per person). 828.361.2534 / thebluestage.com.
• Boojum Brewing (Waynesville) will host Human Nip Sept. 7 and Rossdafareye (Americana/indie) Sept. 14. All shows are located in The Gem downstairs taproom and begin at 9 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.246.0350 / boojumbrewing.com.
• Breadheads Tiki Shak (Sylva) will host “Tiki Trivia” at 7 p.m. every first Thursday of the month and Woolybooger (folk/blues) 10 p.m. Sept. 7. 828.307.2160 / breadheadstikishak.com.
• Bryson City Brewing (Bryson City) will host The Freeway Jubilee (rock/jam) 8 p.m. Sept. 7. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0085 / brysoncitybrewing.com.
• Cataloochee Ranch (Maggie Valley) will host Marc & Anita Pruett (Americana/bluegrass) 4 p.m. Sept. 29. For tickets and reservations, click on cataloocheeranch.com/ranchevents/live-music.
• Classic Wineseller (Waynesville) will host Ron Lee (swing/jazz) 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7. Tickets are $75 per person (includes entertainment, dinner, tax and gratuity). To RSVP, 828.452.6000 / classicwineseller.com.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host Whitewater Bluegrass Co. (Americana/bluegrass) 6 p.m. Sept. 21. 828.369.4080 / coweeschool.org/music.
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.
For more information, call 828.488.3030.
• 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 / curraheebrew.com.
• Farm At Old Edwards (Highlands) will host the “Orchard Sessions” w/Martin & Kelly (Americana/country) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 6 p.m. 866.526.8008 / oldedwardshospitality.com/orchardsessions.
• First Presbyterian Church (Franklin) will host William Ransom & Yinzi Kong (piano/violin) 3 p.m. Sept. 8. Admission by donations, $10
Black Sea Beat Society will play Waynesville Sept. 5. File photo
Jackson Grimm will play Waynesville Sept. 6. File photo
Outlaw Whiskey will play Bryson City Sept. 7. Garret K. Woodward photo
On the beat
suggested. Doors at 2:30 p.m. 828.524.ARTS / arts4all@dnet.net.
• Folkmoot Friendship Center (Waynesville) will host Black Sea Beat Society (world) 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Admission is “Pay What You Can.” 828.452.2997 / folkmoot.org.
• Fontana Village Resort Wildwood Grill (Fontana Dam) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 800.849.2258 / fontanavillage.com.
• Friday Night Live (Highlands) will host Johnny Webb Band Sept. 6 and Silly Ridge Sept. 13 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 Tuesdays Jazz Series w/We Three Swing at 5:30 p.m. each week and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Groovin’ on the Green (Cashiers) will host Back Porch Orchestra Sept. 6. Shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. Donations encouraged. villagegreencashiersnc.com/concerts.
• Happ’s Place (Glenville) will host Doug Ramsey (singer-songwriter) Sept. 7 and 9, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Sept. 13 and Rock Holler Sept. 14. All shows begin at 6 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.742.5700 / happsplace.com.
• Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort (Cherokee) will host ZZ Top (classic rock) 9 p.m. Sept. 6. Tickets start at $79.50 per person. caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
• Highlander Mountain House (Highlands) will host “Blues & Brews” on Thursday evenings, “Sunday Bluegrass Residency” from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Kendall Marvel (singer-songwriter) 8:30 p.m. Sept. 26 ($35 per person). 828.526.2590 / highlandermountainhouse.com.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host End Of The Line (Allman Brothers Band tribute/southern rock) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7. Tickets are $50 per person. 828.526.9047 / highlandsperformingarts.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. 828.226.0262 / innovation-brewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will host Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Sept. 7 and Karaoke w/Spoon Sept. 13. All shows begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Sylva) will host “Music
Harrah’s Cherokee welcomes ZZ Top
Classic rock icons ZZ Top will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
Formed in 1969 in Houston, ZZ
Top is a legendary rock band known for its distinctive blend of blues, rock, and boogie. The music often features gritty guitar riffs, bluesy solos and clever lyrics, all rooted in Texas blues, but with a unique twist.
The band gained widespread acclaim with its 1973 album “Tres Hombres,” which included hits like “La Grange,” showcasing their signature style. The 1983 album “Eliminator” marked a major commercial breakthrough, thanks to its innovative use of synthesizers and music videos. Hits such as “Gimme All Your Lovin’” and “Sharp Dressed Man” have become staples of rock radio.
ZZ Top’s longevity and consistent sound have made the act a pillar in rock and blues realms. The trio’s chemistry and style have remained central to its enduring appeal, solidifying the band’s place in rock history.
Tickets start at $79.50 per person. For more information and/or to purchase tickets, go to caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
Bingo” 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Blue Jazz (blues/jazz) Sept. 6 and Natti Love Joys (reggae/soul) Sept. 13. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 828.349.2337 / lazyhikerbrewing.com.
• Legends Sports Bar & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host an “Open Mic Night” 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0403 / facebook.com/legendssportsgrillmaggievalley.
• Lineside at Frog Level Brewing (Waynesville) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. 828.454.5664 / froglevelbrewing.com.
• Mountain Layers Brewing (Bryson City) will host “Open Mic Night” w/Frank Lee every Wednesday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 6 p.m unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.538.0115 / mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com.
• Otto Community Center (Otto) will host James Thompson (Americana) 6 p.m. Sept. 6 and 20. Bring a beverage and snack of your choice. Free and open to the public. 770.335.0967 / go2ottonc.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host Stairway To Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin tribute/classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7 and “Songwriter’s Showcase 50” 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14. For tickets, 828.389.ARTS / thepeacocknc.org.
• Pickin’ In The Park (Canton) will host Rick Morris (band) w/dancers TBA Sept. 6. Shows are 6-9 p.m. at the Canton Rec Park located at 77 Penland Street. Free and open to the
• Saturdays On Pine (Highlands) will host Steel Toe Stiletto Sept. 7 and High Five Sept. 14 at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park on Pine Street. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. highlandschamber.org.
• Scotsman (Waynesville) will host Jon Cox (country/rock) Sept. 5, Jackson Grimm & The Bull Moose Party (Americana/folk) Sept. 6, Celtic Road Jam (Celtic/world) Sept. 7, Andrew Saltz (country/rock) Sept. 12 and Moon Water (Americana/jazz) Sept. 13. All shows begin at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.246.6292 / scotsmanpublic.com.
• Slanted Window Tasting Station (Franklin) will host Jennifer Alvarado (singer-songwriter) 5 p.m. Aug. 30 828.276.9463 / slantedwindow.com.
• SlopeSide Tavern (Sapphire) will host Seth & Sara Sept. 5. All shows begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Free and open to the public. 828.743.8655 / slopesidetavern.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host Departure (Journey tribute/classic rock) 7:30 p.m. Sept. 7. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
public. cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• Pickin’ On The Square (Franklin) will host Two Weeks Notice (classic rock/country) Sept. 14. 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.
• Pinnacle Relief CBD Wellness Lounge (Sylva) will host semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.508.3018 / facebook.com/pinnaclerelief.
• Pub 319 (Waynesville) will host Connor Hunt (singer-songwriter) Sept. 5, Rene Russell (singer-songwriter) Sept. 9 and Ginny McAfee (singer-songwriter) Sept. 12. All shows begin at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public. 828.456.3040 / pub319socialhouse.com.
• 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 / facebook.com/quirkybirdstreehouse.
• Rathskeller Coffee Haus & Pub (Franklin) will host Karaoke 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Trivia Night 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Frances Eliza (singersongwriter) 7 p.m. Sept. 6, Rachel Bellavance (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. Sept. 7, Open Mic w/Dirty Dave 6:30 p.m. Sept. 13 and Shane Safko (singer-songwriter) 7 p.m. Sept. 14. Free and open to the public. 828.369.6796 / facebook.com/rathskellercoffeebarandpub.
• Salt Dog’s Seafood & Grill (Maggie Valley) will host “Karaoke w/Russell” every Monday and semi-regular live music on the weekends. Free and open to the public. 828.926.9105 / facebook.com/saltydogs2005.
• Stecoah Valley Center (Robbinsville) will host a Community Jam 5:30-7:30 p.m. every third Thursday of the month and semi-regular live music on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 828.479.3364 / stecoahvalleycenter.com.
• Stubborn Bull (Highlands) will host “Live Music Mondays” w/Adam & Caroline Sept. 9 and Zorki Sept. 16. All shows begin at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. the-stubborn-bull.com.
• Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host Appalachian Smoke 6 p.m. Sept. 14. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students. 828.488.7843 / swainartscenter.com.
• Unplugged Pub (Bryson City) will host Karaoke w/Lori (free) Sept. 5, Second Chance Sept. 6, Outlaw Whiskey (classic rock/country gold) Sept. 7, Blue (bluegrass/jazz) Sept. 12 (free), Deep Rootz Sept. 13 and Lori & The Freightshakers (classic rock/country gold) Sept. 14. All shows are $5 at the door unless otherwise noted and begin at 8 p.m. 828.538.2488 / unpluggedpub.com.
• Valley Cigar & Wine Co. (Waynesville) will host Rich Manz Trio (acoustic/oldies) 2 p.m. Sept. 1. Free and open to the public. 828.944.0686 / valleycigarandwineco.com.
• Yonder Community Market (Franklin) will host Stevie Tombstone (Americana/folk) 4 p.m. Sept. 29. Family friendly, dog friendly. 828.200.2169 / eatrealfoodinc.com.
• Find more at smokymountainnews.com/arts
ZZ Top will play Cherokee Sept. 6. File photo
On the stage
HART presents ‘Great American Trailer Park’
On the wall
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host “ArtWorks” at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Come create your own masterpiece. The materials for art works are supplied and participants are welcome to bring ideas and supplies to share with each other. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• Nantahala Outdoor Center (Nantahala
Waynesville art walk, live music
A cherished gathering of locals and visitors alike, “Art After Dark” will continue its 2024 season from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, in downtown Waynesville.
Each first Friday of the month (May-December), Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, go to downtownwaynesville.com.
Gorge) will host a “Summer Artisan Market” from noon to 5 p.m. the second Saturday of the month (May-September). Free and open to the public. noc.com.
• “Art & Artisan Walk” will be held from 5-8 p.m. every third Thursday of the month (May-December) in Bryson City. Stroll the streets in the evening and discover handcrafted items, artwork, jewelry, pottery, antiques and more. Look for the yellow and
A special production of “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” will hit the stage at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6-7, 13-14, 19-21 and 2 p.m. Sept. 8, 15 and 22 at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville.
Set in Armadillo Acres, Florida’s most exclusive trailer park, “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” dives into the quirky lives of its residents. When Pippi, a stripper on the run, stirs up trouble in the neighborhood, it leads to a love triangle, a kidnapping and plenty of drama — all served with a side of laughter and a whole lot of Southern charm.
The musical, written by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso, has been a hit since it first premiered, captivating audiences with its unique blend of humor, heart and toe-tapping tunes.
Tickets start at $18 and up. To purchase tickets, call the HART Box Office at 828.456.6322 or go to harttheatre.org. HART Box Office hours are Tuesday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. HART is located at 250 Pigeon St. in Waynesville.
ALSO:
• “HART’s 40th Anniversary Gala” will be held from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre in Waynesville. Live music from the Smoky Mountain Brass Band, cocktails and dinner catered by Singletree Heritage Kitchen. 828.456.6322 / boxoffice@harttheatre.org.
• Highlands Performing Arts Center will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. highlandsperformingarts.com.
• Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts (Franklin) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. 866.273.4615 / smokymountainarts.com.
• Peacock Performing Arts Center (Hayesville) will host semi-regular stage productions on the weekends. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays unless otherwise noted. thepeacocknc.org / 828.389.ARTS.
blue balloons identifying participating businesses hosting artists. greatsmokies.com.
• “Art After Dark” will be held from 6-9 p.m. each first Friday of the month (MayDecember) in downtown Waynesville. Main Street transforms into an evening of art, live music, finger foods, beverages and shopping as artisan studios and galleries keep their doors open later for local residents and visitors alike. The event is free and open to the public. downtownwaynesville.com.
• Marianna Black Library (Bryson City) will host an adult arts and crafts program at 1 p.m. every second Thursday of the month. Ages 16 and up. Space is limited to 10 participants. Free and open to the public. 828.488.3030 / vroberson@fontanalib.org.
• CRE828 (Waynesville) will offer a selection of art classes and workshops at its studio located at 1283 Asheville Road. Workshops will include art journaling, watercoloring, mixed media, acrylic painting and more. For a full list of classes, go to cre828.com. dawn@cre828.com / 828.283.0523.
• Gallery Zella (Bryson City) will be hosting an array of artist receptions, exhibits and showcases. The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. galleryzella.com / 517.881.0959.
• Waynesville Photography Club meets at 7 p.m. every third Monday each month on the
second floor of the Haywood Regional Health & Fitness Center in Clyde. The club is a nonprofit organization that exists for the enjoyment of photography and the improvement of one’s skills. They welcome photographers of all skill levels to share ideas and images at the monthly meetings. waynesvillephotoclub@charter.net.
ALSO:
• Haywood County Arts Council (Waynesville) will offer a wide range of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. The HCAC gallery is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Sundays. haywoodarts.org.
• Jackson County Green Energy Park (Dillsboro) will be offering a slew of classes, events and activities for artisans, locals and visitors. jcgep.org.
• Southwestern Community College Swain Arts Center (Bryson City) will host an array of workshops for adults and kids. southwesterncc.edu/scc-locations/swain-center.
• Dogwood Crafters in Dillsboro will offer a selection of upcoming art classes and workshops. dogwoodcrafters.com/classes / 828.586.2248.
• Cowee School Arts & Heritage Center (Franklin) will host semi-regular arts and crafts workshops. coweeschool.org/events.
Laura Talbert is a featured artisan at ‘Art After Dark.’ File photo
‘The Great American Trailer Park Musical’ will be at HART on select dates. Donated photo
On the shelf
Living off the grid for 40 years
In a book written in a first-person, vulnerable and intimately entertaining narrative oral storytelling voice, Ken Smith takes us through his entire life — of youthful globe-trotting adventure and hardship, to an eventual life of self-sufficiency and spiritual awareness in Scotland. He goes on to survive the worst snowstorm in 50 years, injury and semi-starvation all in his attempt to reap the rewards of living a solitary life in nature.
find a way to appreciate the smallest of the gifts I’d been given.”
Smith is one tough cookie! After 40 years and at the age of 75, he is still isolated deep in the wild and reflecting on his life and sharing it with us. How lucky we are to have this first-hand account of a life lived off-the-grid. Having done this for four years myself, I not only admire what Ken Smith has been able to accomplish, but am in awe of his stamina and thankful for his deeper insights into the benefits of living the kind of life he has. Here in “The Way of the Hermit: My Incredible 40 Years of Living in the Wilderness,” (Hanover Square Press, 2024, 266 pages) we get a side-by-side, blow-byblow account of his trials and travails as well as his bliss.
Due to the personal nature of this book and the breadth of the storyline, I’ve decided that the best way to review this book would be in Ken Smith’s own words. So, I’ll attempt to act as a secondary tour guide and let Smith do all the talking.
Page 77: “I wanted to know what proper adventure felt like, in one of the most exciting places on earth. I wanted to know how I would fare, truly out on my own, and to be utterly independent of everything and everyone. Immersed in nature, neither spending a cent nor seeing a soul.”
Page 168: “A proper consideration for what we need to take from what’s around us, versus what it can afford to give up and what we can afford to give it back as a replacement. That’s where the line of what constitutes a real natural balance truly lies.”
Page 172: “My words are as much a proof of my progress as the solid building I sit within, or the log piles dotted around my house. But I personally believe that it is the affection in your words and feeling toward them that stimulates them to grow.”
Page 174: “By the time October arrives,
Page 194: “Something magical endures in the wilds up here; and when you’ve gone weeks without seeing a soul, and had nothing but the trees, mountains and this expansive loch (lake) for company, you can still believe it might yet have the power to conjure up something special.”
Page 212: “I have eaten fresh road-kill and train-kill when I’ve found it, and continue to forage seasonally, but my most regular source of wild food has always been the loch (lake).”
Page 228: “I’ve seen the most beautiful sunrises. Gentle hues or deep reds, embracing the land in a glowing performance for one very lucky set of human eyes.”
Page 94: “Sometimes you just need to get going, with little more than a ‘hope for the best,’ and then simply see what happens. Just start living as you see fit tomorrow, and then try and do it all again the next day too. You’ll get where you need to be eventually.”
Page 121: “The new year brought the very worst period of snowfall, hurricaneforce winds and plummeting temperatures. I was drowning in snow!”
Page 127: “No matter how bleak things got in my life, I would always now try to
the weather turns and the first snows and storms arrive, but sequestered safely in my cabin, with the world screaming around outside, I feel nothing but the deepest sense of comfort and security.”
Page 182: “Long daylight hours in northern Scotland forcing work deep into the evenings with cabin repairs, the log piles, the vegetable plot, and everything else which may never achieve total darkness.”
Page 187: “Midge, fly, horsefly, deer fly and slug. Give me winter any day of the week! With those devilish beasties firmly in the ground, there is nought more for the hermit to do but luxuriate in the seclusion of the Scottish Highlands.”
Page 229: “It’s nine mile walk to get to the Post Office, and another nine miles on top of that to get to town. Without a lift or train, I’m looking at a round trip to town on foot, in just one day, of more than fifty miles.”
Page 242: “Rest day for me spent only chopping 167 logs, supping coffee, finishing a proper gutting of the roadkill hare, and cooking, which is finally stewed hare with carrots, turnip, onions and parsnip. I live like a Scottish laird (lord)!”
Page 258: “No medicine gets me better quicker than the motivation I have to get back to nature, and this cabin, as soon as I possibly can.”
Page 261: “I am now hoping to live to 102. It makes a real difference, wanting to stay alive and digging in. Finding reasons and inspiration to carry on.”
Page 263: “A different kind of love has long since been born in me. A love of this place, the earth under my feet, a love of the wild and the wildlife. Then there’s the best bit of all. The peace and quiet.”
Page 264: “We do have our place in the natural order of things, you know. Our true place is lined up against everything and everyone else as an equal. We are just one creature in the great sweep of nature on the planet — another animal re warded with the privilege of walking the earth.”
(Thomas Crowe is a regular contributor to Smoky Mountain News and is author of the multi-award winning non-fiction nature memoir Zoro’s Field: My Life in the Appalachian Woods.)
Writer
Thomas Crowe
Word from the Smokies
Dedicated Smokies volunteer force protects elk and people
BY HOLLY KAYS SPECIAL TO SMN
At 3:30 p.m., traffic flows smoothly along U.S. 441 past the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The 80-some elk living in this area of Great Smoky Mountains National Park are still invisible beneath the forest canopy as the sun shines bright and warm.
But the group of volunteers gathering in the basement of the Oconaluftee administration building knows the calm won’t last. Amid the hellos and catch-up conversation about recent summer travels, they don bright yellow safety vests and gather radios and orange flags. They’re preparing for the inevitable moment when the elk will wander into the fields lining the park’s main thoroughfare, creating an impromptu roadside attraction.
It’s a situation that portends danger for elk and humans alike, and that’s why the Luftee Rovers, one of the park’s largest volunteer groups, was formed in 2012. With program costs covered by park funds and Friends of the Smokies donations, these volunteers patrol the Oconaluftee area every evening from May through the end of October, springing into action when the herd emerges. They react to ever-changing conditions, juggling a trio of competing priorities — traffic management, visitor management, and education.
“Traffic management is their primary role,” said Lauren LaRocca, law enforcement ranger and Luftee Rover program manager.
“This ensures that people are staying safe while watching the elk and driving through the park, and that the elk are protected in the most natural environment they can be.”
this area, already the park’s second-busiest entrance, has become an increasingly popular elk-watching destination. In 2023, 2.5 million visits originated there, about half a million more than when the Luftee Rover program launched in 2012.
“The more the herd and the visitation grow, the more you have to manage,” said Swain County resident Robert Triplett, one of seven Luftee Rover team leads.
Elk are both new and native to the Great Smokies. Overhunting eliminated them from the region in the 1800s, but since the species was reintroduced at Cataloochee in 2001, the herd has done well, its population more than quadrupling from 52 to an estimated 240. Since the Oconaluftee herd established itself,
Center, says one transmission. A few minutes later, another volunteer announces a large bull coming into the road near the maintenance building.
But by 4:30 p.m., nearly all the volunteers have converged at the field near Couches Creek, between Mingus Mill and Towstring. About 30 elk — cows, calves, and a couple bulls — have settled into the area. The gravel pull-offs along the road fill with cars, and traffic slows as drivers turn to see the animals.
In situations like this, the Luftee Rovers are critical to visitor safety. People exit their parked cars to get a better look at the animals, and many walk along the road or even try crossing it to approach the herd. Elk may seem docile, but they’re wild animals. If they feel threatened, they can become aggressive. With some males weighing as much as 1,000 pounds and carrying enormous racks of pointed antlers, an angry elk is capable of inflicting severe injury.
“Guys, you really need to stay behind your vehicles,” Luftee Rover Sharon Fish admonishes a family walking toward a better view of the bull across the road. “You’re really a little too close. Ma’am, he’s got a bead on you. You need to keep a vehicle between you and him for your safety.”
The group complies, retreating behind a nearby car. A friendly conversation commences as Fish congratulates them on coming on “a perfect day” and fills them in on what’s happening with the elk herd this time of year. The family is from Delaware, where elk don’t exist, and they seem appreciative of Fish’s knowledge.
“I don’t like to alarm people,” she says after they’ve gone, “but I don’t want them to be in danger either.”
This is Fish’s first year as a Luftee Rover, but it’s a role she’s long desired. During her career as a social worker at Jackson County Schools, she took her students to watch the reintroduction in 2001. Since then, she’s been “waiting for the opportunity” retirement afforded to get more involved.
Triplett has worked Monday nights at Oconaluftee nearly every week for the past seven years. As team lead, he serves as the conduit for communication between LaRocca and the Monday night team, coordinating his fellow volunteers’ efforts during the shift. The group provides a valuable service, with the 38 Luftee Rovers who worked in 2023 contributing 3,921.3 hours valued at more than $131,000. With 53 volunteers in 2024, that number is expected to be even higher this year.
On this evening, Triplett sends pairs of volunteers in three different directions, riding the three-mile stretch of 441 from Cherokee to Smokemont Campground and the adjoining Job Corps Center loop, reporting any elk sightings into the radios they carry. It’s not long before the channel starts lighting up. A group of elk is grazing the fields near employee housing at the Job Corps
I finish chatting with Fish and am ready to keep walking, but the massive bull on the other side of the road has just risen to his feet, contemplating a crossing. I stay where I am, behind a car. The elk steps forward, his enormous rack, six points on each antler, extending far above the roof of the burliest pickup truck. All along the road, heads crane out of windows and doors sit ajar as visitors aim their cameras toward him. The cows will probably follow when they realize he’s gone, says Fish. The bull evidently thinks so too. He lifts his head and gives out a single bugle — an ethereal, wild sound — and waits for his harem to come. When they don’t, he walks into the woods and begins ripping down saplings with his antlers.
“He may be frustrated now,” says Triplett, explaining the bull’s actions to a visitor. “I’d be frustrated too,” the man replies sympathetically.
That bull may find his efforts more productive in the coming F
A bull elk stands amid a herd of about 30 elk grazing in a field near Couches Creek in the Oconaluftee area.
Holly Kays photo
Robert Triplett, team lead for the Monday night volunteer crew, shares his knowledge about elk with a young visitor. Holly Kays photo
weeks, as the rut begins. During their breeding season in September and October each year, the ungulates’ hormones go into overdrive, male elk bugling and sparring in an urgent quest for female attention. This coincides with one of the busiest seasons in the Smokies; October has been the highest-visitation month every year since the pandemic. Between leaf-lookers, wildlife watchers, regular park traffic, and people just wanting to pass through to Gatlinburg or Cherokee, traffic is sometimes backed up “as far as you can see,” said Triplett. Meanwhile, elevated hormone levels make the elk even less predictable than usual.
“To have the influx of visitation at the same time as the rise of hormones in these animals, it’s a very sensitive time,” said LaRocca, “and that’s why it’s so imperative that visitors listen to the volunteers.
They’re there for their safety.”
The backed-up traffic can make people impatient, said Franklin resident Chris Cooper, who has volunteered with his wife Claire since 2014. That’s when they sometimes say unkind things or engage in “nonverbal communication” from their vehicles. But many people express gratitude.
“They understand that we don’t get paid, that this is just something we do for fun, and they thank us for our time,” he said. Once, a pair of visitors even drove into town and brought back treats from Dairy
Queen for Cooper and his wife.
Working just down the road from Fish is Liz Wilson, a retired probation parole officer. Of the many volunteer jobs she’s had in her life, this is one of her favorites.
“It’s outdoors, and it’s wildlife, and you meet all kinds of people that are generally just very excited about the elk,” she said.
For many volunteers, these interactions are what keep them coming back, year after year.
“The people are so curious, and I love that,” said Wilson. “If we can teach our people how important this park is, maybe they’ll understand that when they come through, they should enjoy it, but also take care of it.”
When viewing elk, stay out of the fields and always remain at least 50 yards away. If an animal changes its behavior in response to your presence, you’re too close. Do not feed elk or any other wild animals. Learn more about how to responsibly enjoy the elk at nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/elk.htm.
(Holly Kays is the lead writer for the 29,000member Smokies Life, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the scientific, historical, and interpretive activities of Great Smoky Mountains National Park by providing educational products and services such as this column. Learn more at SmokiesLife.org or reach the author at hollyk@smokieslife.org.)
Robert Triplett, team lead for the Monday night volunteer Luftee Rover crew, coordinates with a team member as the Aug. 19 shift begins. Holly Kays photo
A bull elk crosses U.S. 441 at Couches Creek in the Oconaluftee area, causing traffic to come to a standstill. The volunteer Luftee Rovers work to ensure safety for both people and elk in such situations. Holly Kays photo
Some areas of Western North Carolina are now in a moderate drought. From ncdrought.org
Drought returns to Western North Carolina
After a month of reprieve following an early-summer drought, parts of six North Carolina counties — Haywood, Transylvania, Jackson, Swain, Macon and Graham — are now facing a moderate drought.
Last week’s drought monitor report, amid a recent dry spell, also noted that parts of Buncombe, Henderson, Clay and Cherokee counties are at least abnormally dry, as are some of the coun-
ties in the state’s northernmost mountain region.
Groundwater and surface water reservoirs typically see higher demand for water during the summer, and the ongoing drought conditions could result in water restrictions. Some counties have updated their water conservation status on ncdrought.org.
For areas in moderate drought, or D1, DMAC recommends water users should adhere to local water use restrictions, project water needs and available water supply for 90 days, among other recommendations.
Pause on ginseng harvesting continues in WNC national forests
The U.S. Forest Service announced that its pause on issuing permits to harvest American ginseng on the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests will remain in place for the 2024 season.
Efforts to restore ginseng populations on both National Forests are ongoing. However, wild populations of the plant currently remain too low to sustainable harvest for the foreseeable future.
“We stopped issuing permits for ginseng harvesting in 2021, when the data began to show a trend toward lower and lower populations each year,” said Gary Kauffman, botanist for the National Forests in North Carolina. “We’re seeing that trend reversing slightly, but ginseng plants take a long time to mature before they reach the peak age to start bearing seeds.
”Native to western North Carolina forests, wild ginseng is a perennial plant that can live for 60-80 years. It can take up to 10 years
Smokies Life now accepting applications for writer’s residency
before a ginseng plant will start producing the most seeds; however, overharvesting in the past has made older plants increasingly rare. To help revitalize ginseng populations on the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests, the Forest Service has partnered with Mountain Horticulture and Research Center to establish seed production beds and propagate individual plants. Seeds and seedlings have been used to augment existing or establish new populations on both national forests. The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is helping to monitor the wild populations. To protect ginseng plant populations, anyone removing wild ginseng plants or its parts on National Forest lands while the pause is in place may be fined up to $5,000, given up to a 6-month sentence in federal prison, or both.
“Harvesting ginseng has a long tradition in western North Carolina, so we owe it to future generations to help keep that tradition alive by doing our part to conserve this treasured resource,” said Kauffman. “Otherwise, it could potentially become the next native species to disappear in these mountains completely.”
Smokies Life, a nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is now accepting applications for its fifth Steve Kemp Writer’s Residency. The annual residency is designed to help writers of any medium connect in meaningful ways with the Great Smoky Mountains while focusing on their craft in an inspiring, retreat-like setting.
Following the application process, one writer will be selected to live in Great Smoky Mountains National Park for six weeks in 2025. The chosen writer will have the opportunity to immerse themself in the natural environment and cultural history of the Smokies, learning about the park in ways that will inform their chosen genre — whether this is nonfiction narrative, fiction, poetry, playwriting, music or another form of writing. Applications for the 2025 Kemp Residency are being accepted now through Nov. 1.
A 30-year Smokies Life veteran, Kemp retired in 2017 after writing, editing, and directing the publication of hundreds of books, magazines, brochures and newsletters that continue to support the preservation of the national park. As part of the residency, each writer works with Kemp,
The 2024 Steve Kemp Writer in Residence Daron K. Roberts (right) stands with the residency’s namesake, who served as interpretive products and services director for Smokies Life until his retirement in 2017. Daron
Smokies Life Creative Director Frances Figart and other park professionals and partners. Previous program awardees include Western Carolina University professor Dr. Brian Railsback, nature writer Sue Wasserman, journalist Latria Graham and poet Elise Anderson. For full residency details, as well as instructions for submitting an application prior to the Nov. 1 deadline, visit smokieslife.org/the-steve-kemp-writers-residency.
K. Roberts photo.
A Ginseng plant. File photo
Haywood County reminds residents of mosquito dangers
As the summer season comes to an end, Haywood County Health and Human Services is urging residents to take immediate action to reduce the risk of mosquito and tick-borne illnesses, including encephalitis and Lyme disease. The “Tip It, Toss It” campaign encourages everyone to tip over any containers holding water and toss out unnecessary items that can collect rainwater, while also addressing tick prevention.
“Encephalitis and Lyme disease are serious health concerns that can lead to severe complications,” said Sarah Banks, Haywood County Public Health Director. “By taking simple steps to remove standing water and prevent tick exposure, residents can significantly reduce their risk of these illnesses and help protect themselves and their families.”
Tips to Prevent Mosquito Breeding:
Avoid Tick Habitats: When spending time outdoors, particularly in wooded or grassy areas, stay on cleared trails and avoid brushing against vegetation.
Use Tick Repellents: Apply insect repellents containing DEET or permethrin to skin and clothing to deter ticks.
Wear Protective Clothing: Wear long sleeves, long pants, and tuck pants into socks to reduce skin exposure to ticks.
Tip Over Containers: Regularly tip over items like flowerpots, birdbaths, and buckets that may collect water. Even small amounts of water can become mosquito breeding grounds.
Toss Out Unnecessary Items: Dispose of old tires, cans, or any other items that can collect water and are not in use.
Clean and Maintain Gutters: Ensure gutters are clear of debris and properly draining to prevent water accumulation.
Use Screens and Keep Doors Closed: Ensure windows and doors are properly screened to keep mosquitoes from entering homes.
Empty and Clean Pet Bowls and Pools: Frequently empty and clean pet bowls, kiddie pools, and any other outdoor water containers.
Tips to Prevent Tick Exposure and Lyme Disease:
Check for Ticks: After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body and pets for ticks. Remove any ticks promptly using finetipped tweezers.
Shower and Change Clothes: Shower and change clothes as soon as possible after outdoor activities to reduce the risk of ticks attaching to your skin.
Mosquito repellent (DEET and natural), BTI Briquets, and general information are available to the public in the Haywood County Environmental Health front lobby located at 157 Paragon Parkway, Suite 201, Clyde. Haywood County Health and Human Services is also monitoring local mosquito and tick populations. Residents are encouraged to report any large areas of standing water or tick-infested areas to the county’s Environmental Health Division at 828.356.2108.
Fall Plant Sale at Lake Junaluska
The Lake Junaluska Fall Plant Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Nanci Weldon Memorial Gym at Lake Junaluska.
This sale is smaller than the spring sale, according to Melissa Marshall, director of grounds, and will focus on bare root perennials, many from the flower bed at the Bethea Welcome Center. Plants include anemone, Asiatic lilies, baptisia, calla lilies, canna lilies, coneflower, daylilies, flag and bearded iris, hosta, purple heart and much more. Prices will range from $1 to $15.
Smoky Mountain Beekeepers hosting intro to beekeeping class
The Smoky Mountain Beekeeping Association is hosting an Introduction to Beekeeping class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Swain County Business Education Training Center, located at 45 E. Ridge Dr., Bryson City. This class is a great fit for anyone interested in becoming a beekeeper and will cover all the basics to get started. It’s also a good opportunity for those who just want to learn more about honeybees and the important role beekeepers play in managing these crucial pollinators
File photo
The Joyful Botanist
BY ADAM BIGELOW
Rowan on a mountain
It is the flowers, and especially the vivid fruits, that make this a very showy and beautiful tree. The flowers are white and urn shaped and are displayed in a form called a corymb. A corymb is where the flower stalk, or pedicel, of the outermost lowers are longer than those in the middle, giving the flower cluster a flat and open shape which resembles a candelabra.
Once pollinated, the fruits begin to ripen and take on a strong red to orange hue hold-
At the higher elevations in the Southern Appalachian Mountains grows a special and sacred tree whose red berries glow in the full sun against a clear blue-sky. Steeped in folklore and traditions brought by European settlers and colonizers, the sight of the rowan tree (Sorbus americanus) must have filled the hearts of Scotch and Irish descendants with nostalgia for home.
Most prefer to use the more common of its common names, mountain-ash, to describe this small tree. Adam Bigelow
Most prefer to use the more common of its common names, mountain-ash, to describe this small tree. It was given this name due to the similarities of its leaves to those of ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) The compound leaves of the rowan look much more similar to those of sumacs (Rhus spp.) than they do to ash trees. This, plus the celebration of my own Irish and Celtic roots lead me to use rowan as my preferred name for Sorbus americanus.
Puzzles can be found on page 38
These are only the answers.
A leaf is described as compound when it is divided into multiple leaflets that separate from the main, middle vein of the leaf. This is in contrast to simple leaves that have no separations and grow as a single leaf from the stem. Compound leaves can have different forms, and the leaflets can have their own stalk, or petiole, or they can be stalkless or sessile in their attachment. A palmately compound leaf, like yellow buckeye (Aesculus flava.) have leaflets that radiate from a central point and resemble the palm of your hand. Hence, the term palmate.
The rowan tree’s leaves are pinnately compound, which is where the leaflets are arranged along the middle vein — or midrib — in alternate or more commonly in opposite arrangement. Pinnately compound leaves often have a terminal leaflet at the point, or end of the leaf as is the case with the rowan tree.
ing lots of berries in the corymb cluster. These fruits are stunning and will remain on the tree well into winter. They look incredible not only against a blue-sky backdrop but also standing out as a compliment to the yellow fall color that the leaves take on once their photosynthetic work is done for the year.
The fruits of the rowan tree provide good nutrition to birds and other animals through early winter. While edible to humans, they do not taste very good. However, they are loaded with natural fruit pectin and can be combined with other tasty fruits to make a good jelly or jam, helping the jelly to set without the need for additional pectin.
I encourage you to get yourself up onto the Blue Ridge Parkway or into the Smokies to see the magical display of this most special tree. They don’t always have a good fruiting year, but this year is spectacular, and the rowan tree is ready to fill you with awe and inspire or deepen your connection with the sacred. I especially enjoy seeing the rowan in fruit in Roan Highlands. What could be better than seeing a rowan on the Roan?
(The Joyful Botanist leads weekly wildflower walks most Fridays and offers consultations and private group tours through Bigelow’s Botanical Excursions. bigelownc@gmail.com.)
photo
WNC events and happenings
COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Cruso Farmer’s Market takes place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday at the Cruso Community Center.
• The Jackson County Farmers Market meets every Saturday November through March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and April through October 9 a.m. to 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.
• Mill Town Farmers Market takes place from 4-7 p.m. Thursdays at Sorrell’s Street Park in downtown Canton.
H EALTH AND WELLNESS
• The Pollinators Foundation offers weekly Mindful Movement Qigong classes for all ages to reduce stress and improve health and well-being. Classes take place 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays at the Folkmoot Center in Waynesville. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.424.1398.
• The Pollinators Foundation and The Share Project host weekly Happy Hour Nature Walks 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays at Lake Junaluska. The group meets at the Labyrinth. For more information visit thepollinatorsfoundation.org or contact Marga Fripp at margacfripp@gmail.com 828.4224.1398.
• 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.
CLUBS AND M EETINGS
• Mountain Word Writers Group meets at 10:45 a.m. every Wednesday at City Lights Books in Sylva. Writers of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction are all welcome. Space is limited. Please contact sylvawriters@gmail.com before coming.
• Chess 101 takes place 3:30-4:30 p.m. every Friday
at the Canton Branch of the Haywood County Library. For more information, email Ashlyn Godleski at ashlyn.godleski@haywoodcountync.gov or call 828.356.2567.
• 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.
• Silent Book Club takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at the Novel Escape Bookstore (60 E Main St, Franklin). Bring your own book and whatever makes you feel cozy and enjoy a quiet, uninterrupted hour of reading amongst friends.
K IDS AND FAMILIES
• ASD Teen/ Adult Art Group takes place 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. every other Friday at the Full Spectrum Farms pavilion. Each group event has a different theme. For more information fullspectrumfarms.org.
• On Tuesdays, Kelly Curtis will offer reading services to families from 3:30 -5:30 p.m. at the Macon County Public Library. Families may sign up for a 30-minute time spot at the children’s desk or by calling 828.524.3600.
• 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.
• 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.
CLASSES & PROGRAMS
• “Return of the Elk: Ranger Talk” takes place 1-2 p.m. every Sunday at the Caldwell House in Cataloochee Valley. Walk the valley and learn about how elk — which were nearly extinct due to overhunting and loss of habitat across the continent — managed to return to the Smokies.
A&E
• The 14th annual Highlands Dazzling Dahlia Festival will take place Sept. 5-7. For more information visit highlandshistory.com/dahlia-festival.
• A new award-winning documentary on the hidden dangers of microplastics will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, at Waynesville First United Methodist Church. A panel of regional environmental and health experts will begin at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free and donations are welcome.
• Waynesville Art After Dark takes place 6-9 p.m. on the first Friday of every month through December.
• “Time of War” at Oconaluftee Indian Village takes place at noon and 3 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. A short battle reenactment performed by actors from “Unto These Hill” and reenactors from Oconaluftee Indian Village come together to depict what happens when a British militia invades a Cherokee town. Tickets can be purchased at cherokeehistorical.org or by calling 828.497.2111.
• Pickin’ in the Park takes place takes place 6-9 p.m. every Friday at the Canton Recreation Park. The events are free and open to the public. For more information visit cantonnc.com/pickin-in-the-park.
• 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 to 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 Tuesday and fourth Monday of the month. For more information visit smokymountaineventcenter.com.
Market
MarketPlace information:
The Smoky Mountain News Marketplace has a distribution of 16,000 copies across 500 locations in Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain counties, including the Qualla Boundary and west Buncombe County. Visit www.wncmarketplace.com to place your ad!
Rates:
• $15 — Classified ads that are 25 words, 25¢ per word after.
• Free — Lost or found pet ads.
• $6 — Residential yard sale ads.*
• $1 — Yard Sale Rain Insurance Yard sale rained out? Call us by 10a.m. Monday for your ad to run again FREE
• $375 — Statewide classifieds run in 170 participating newspapers with 1.1+ million circulation. (Limit 25 words or less)
• Boost Online — Have your ad featured at top of category online $4
• Boost in Print
• Add Photo $6
• Bold ad $2
• Yellow, Green, Pink or Blue Highlight $4
• Border $4
Note: Highlighted ads automatically generate a border so if you’re placing an ad online and select a highlight color, the “add border” feature will not be available on the screen.
Note: Yard sale ads require an address. This location will be displayed on a map on www.wncmarketplace.com
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE
HAYWOOD COUNTY DISTRICT COURT DIVISION
BEFORE THE CLERK
JEFFREY AMSLER-JENDRZEJCZYK
Petitioners, v. NOTICE OF SERVICE OF PROCESS BY PUBLICATION FOR THE ADOPTION OF:
MC: Amsler,
TO: Unknown Father
Take notice that a pleading seeking relief against above entitled action. The nature of the relief being sought is as follows:
Petition for Stepparent Adoption
You are required to make defense to such pleading no later than October 16th, 2024 and upon your failure to do so the party seeking service against you will apply to the court for the relief sought.
This 20th day of August, 2024
NIELSEN LAW, PLLC
Joshua D. Nielsen
Attorney for Petitioner 413 Walnut St Waynesville, NC 28786 (828) 246-9360 (828) 229-7255 facsimile
Publication Dates: August 28th, September 4th, and September 11th, 2024
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001496430
Judith Jane Fowler,
Executor of the Estate of Eric Francis Fowler of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Nov 21 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor PO Box 143 Waynesville, NC 28786
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001459-430
Sarah Ashley Burns,
Executor of the Estate of Ben McLain Burns (aka Ben M. Burns, Ben Burns) of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Nov 14 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.
All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Executor
Andrew W. Blair, c/o Adams, Howell, Sizemore & Howell, P.A. 1600 Glenwood Ave., Ste. 101 Raleigh, NC 27608
NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Case No.24E001469-430
Angela Henley, having -
istrator of the Estate of Leila Rhodarmer Harkins of Haywood County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the Estate to present them to the undersigned on or before Nov 28 2024, or this notice will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make immediate payment.
Administrator 66 Plateau Place Waynesville, NC 28786
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Medical
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Real Estate Announcements
PUBLISHER’S NOTICE
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise ‘any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination’. Familial status includes children under 18 living with parents or legal guardians and pregnant women. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate in violation of this law. All dwellings advertised on equal opportunity basis.
Rentals
SHORT-TERM ONE-BEDROOM CABIN
Woodsy, near SCC,WCU, for Visiting Nurse/CNA/ Grad Student or Vacation (couple). (828) 508-9211, eileengorton@gmail.com
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Classes/ Instruction
ONLINE PHARMACY TECHNICIAN TRAINING New Students Only. Call & Press 1. Financial Aid Available for those who qualify. 100% Online Courses. Call 844-9634157
Entertainment
DIRECTV SATELLITE TV Service Starting at $64.99/mo For 24 mos, Free Installation! 165+
THE ROD SQUAD ACROSS
1 It's removed from skim
8 Guitar's cousin
16 Nautical mop
20 Be cautious
21 Conditionally free, in a way
22 Rock's ZZ Top, e.g.
23 Building full of periodicals for soldiers?
25 Outer edges
26 Cursed
27 Takes too much, in brief
28 Moose cousin 29 Fries lightly
31 Unit of work
32 Body of water on which
35 Not sinking 40 Smart -- (wiseacres)
42 Safecracker, informally
43 Hailstorm on the highway?
45 Deg. from MIT Sloan 47 "Anaconda" director Luis
51 Savoir faire
52 Dumbbell selling for half off?
55 1950s-'70s defense gp.
56 Weapon in a boxing ring
58 MGM motto starter
59 Deliver, as a verdict
60 Politico Hatch
62 "Sure thing, guv'nor!"
64 "Sommersby" star Richard
65 Cleo's snake
68 World's best singer
Sticking the singer of "White Christmas" with a fishhook?
90 Tell the story of
"NFL Live" airer
Disconnect
Sailor's "Roger!"
16-ounce drink from a Starbucks next to
Capital of Albania
Addis -- (capital of Ethiopia)
"What a pity"
-- -Canada (oil brand)
Love, to Luigi
City near Lake Tahoe
Become silver-haired
Gawk
-- Haute
Links (with)
Higher than
Country rocker Lovett
"I did it!"
85 "This is not --" (warning label) 86 Head, in Nice
-- -ho (keen)
Raced
Blind as --
"Sauer" topping
Vanished, informally
Villains' looks
Two-legged beast
Love a lot
Of an ancient alphabet
Ranch rope
Made believe
Amp (up)
Main idea
Curing stuff
Trampled
Mythical ship
Donkey or Hong follower 114 Some sheep
"Norma --" 118 Put a tear in
-- -noir 120 Ghostly cry
ANSWERS ON PAGE 34
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REPLACE YOUR ROOF
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SUDOKU
Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!
